Light and the Night Sky

Sorren

Hours passed while she was locked in the shrine, during that time she decided that the did think she was a nun. It was better than a threat, right?

Eventually night came, and her bladder could not hold out any longer. Just as she was going to knock on the door, the cat-like woman appeared before her. She waved her head for Daphne to follow, so she did. To her relief, directly to the bathing room that had a toilet. After relieving herself, she was once again stripped naked and scrubbed her already tender skin raw.

After she was dressed in new clothes, with a new hair style, she was paraded to the same small room with Lirael. This time, the other fae was here the one that looked like him but was childlike. He jumped to his feet when he saw her, a smile cracking his beautiful face. “Daphne!”

Surprised she smiled, then waved. She was pushed in the room a little further before the door shut behind her. The fae then pointed to his chest and said with too much confidence “Sorren.”

That caused her to giggle then nod. “Sorren.” He was very childish; it was like talking to an eight-year-old. A dangerous eight-year-old, but a child still.

Lirael met her gaze then pointed at the chair. “Daphne.” His voice churned her name over in a way she had never heard. Startling her for a moment, but she focused and walked forward taking a seat. She came up with a plan while waiting all day. If she was able to suddenly understand words, perhaps if she really focused on what they were saying she could learn them faster?

Or could she go so far as to ask them? Sorren might find like a game, but Lirael was still and unknown. Reaching forward she grabbed a bun, held it up and pointed at it. Looking at Lirael, he nodded giving permission to eat it but not understanding. Smiling slightly, she pointed at herself. “Daphne.” She then pointed at the bun.

That caused Sorren smile and snatch the bun from her hand, looking over at him he smiled. A word crossed his lips that contorted in a way that she could not explain but she understood the word immediately. “Bread.”

She repeated the word back to him and she could feel something cross in her mind that she had no words to describe. It felt like she knew the word but did not know the word. With a small eye roll from Lirael, this continued for a while until she had the words for all of the food furniture in the room. Eventually she ate what was close to roast beef and salad, then was released for a walk with Sorren. Lirael grew tired of the word game but did not stop what she learned was his younger brother from continuing.

It was after dark now; Sorren led her down paths outside randomly stopping to point at something and say its name. She would repeat it back to him causing him to smile back at her, though his was definitely handsome the cheerfulness in his actions cause her to forget. Everyone here was so damn attractive yet it was ok.

He slowed to a stop, turned to her and winked. Smiling she then followed his gaze; it was only then that she could see two fae going at it. Hard. They likely did not notice their observers. “Sex.” He said quietly but proudly.

She repeated it, looking away but trying not to laugh. Daphne then motioned a different path, which he reluctantly followed. This continued on until he walked them back to the towering castle, though the halls and not down the stairs? He walked her to a room on the second floor, opened the door and revealed the simplest room she had seen yet.

It was easily larger than her thousand-foot apartment, had what looked like a king size bed at the far wall with book shelved on the nearest wall. There was a desk that was grander than anything she had ever owned. The room was furnished with a lounge chair deeper red than her dress and tapestries draping the walls that had serpents and keys lightly etched into its design. This must be where they house the nuns.

On the far wall there was a balcony, a door with windows stood closed before it.

Before she could admire it anymore Sorren turned to her and said “Room.” The word twisted in her head before she understood. He pointed at her then spoke “Your room.”

She repeated it but he laughed, a deep throaty laugh. First, he pointed at her, “Your room.” Then he stood behind her, reached over her shoulder and put a hand on her chest. “My room.” Alarm raced through her for a moment until she realized what he was trying to do. Possession. He was trying to teach her more than just descriptive words.

Signing, she nodded. “My room.”

He nodded, then turned around and shut the door. Not much for goodbyes then.

Daphne smiled and shook her head, at least she had a bed to sleep in tonight. Walking over to the lounge chair, she reached up to her hair and began detangling whatever the cat fae had done. She wanted to sleep however would not be able to do so like this.

When her hair was free, she wandered the room quickly before settling in the bed. It was soft and smelled like embers and sandalwood. She had to survive. No matter what. That means tomorrow, she needs to train harder and learn more of the language.

Most of all, don’t think of the people she left behind. Abandoned. That is not surviving.