The Forbidden Child

Swallowed Whole

{Lilliana’s POV}

Kneeling there within the dirt of my crops, I scooped up the strawberries, and cucumbers that I’d planted, tossing them into the basket. I worked hard collecting all of them that were ripe before moving on to my green beans, tomatoes, potatoes, and lettuce, finishing it off with picking all of the blackberries from the bushes along the back fence of the garden. I needed to collect as many as possible, today’s my 24th birthday, and I promised not to spend another birthday at home with my cat, and a tub of ice cream. This time I’d go out, go dancing at one of the clubs, or go get a drink at a bar.. at least go out to eat. The more I thought about it, the better another night curled up on my couch with my cat, my fuzzy blanket, a tub of ice cream, and a good book sounded. Maybe I could skip one more birthday.. it isn’t as though I have any family or friends to celebrate with. I’ve been alone ever since I could remember. I bought this farm.. grown my own crops.. I barely go into town unless I need something I don’t have or can’t make.

I sighed, brushing the sweat off my forehead with my arm before bending down to grab my basket. My long half black and half pale blonde hair falling in waves all around me. My hair goes down to my mid thighs, and though the color appears unnatural, I’ve never had any roots grow out from the blonde side. My hair is just naturally blonde on one side, and black on the other. Because of the unnatural colors of my hair, paired with my golden colored eyes, sadly, I’ve always stood out in a crowd, which is part of the reason I don’t go out often. Getting gawked at by strangers, and having people whisper about your looks isn’t something I’m very fond of, though I’ve grown partially used to it. I looked down into the basket, it was practically full, when suddenly, I heard Coal’s meow behind me, pulling me from my thoughts. I turned to see my green eyed, black cat standing on the fence. He jumped onto the basket I was holding with my fruit and vegetable haul, curling up and poking me a few times with his nose. I pulled the basket against me, and kissed the top of his head. “Did you come to save me from my harvesting?” I asked, a slight giggle rumbling in my chest. “You have perfect timing, I’m practically done.” I said, packing the basket towards the house.

Looking down at the basket, it was hard not to notice my arms, they were covered in sleeve tattoos.. tattoos I didn’t remember getting. It’s so strange.. my whole body is covered in scars, and tattoos that I have no recollection of. Everything before my 20th birthday is just gone. I’ve gone to doctors before, trying to find out what was going on, with me, but they weren’t sure either, they said there isn’t anything physically wrong with me, so there’s not much that they can do. I’ve tried therapy, hypnosis.. meds.. anything and everything to find out what’s going on with my memories. They never found anything, so now I’m just stuck in this body with scars and tattoos that I don’t recognize.

My eyes trailed down my arm, and over to Coal who was bundled up in the basket. I smiled, continuing to make my way back towards the house, when a sudden rumbling caused me to stop. The ground beneath me shook, and I could hear the earth cracking open all around me. Bits and pieces of stone and dirt crumbled away around me, leaving me trapped on a platform of rocks. I grabbed Coal from his place in the basket and pulled him tightly to my chest. I set the basket down and took off running towards the edge, but it was too far. I couldn’t make it.. I looked down at Coal, kissing his head one last time before I began to throw him, but it was too late. The earth opened under us and we fell down, into the deep dark crevices of rock and dirt. My vision completely fading as the earth swallowed us whole.

I felt soft fur and hands against my skin. Fingers brushing through my hair, and hushed giggling all around me. “A human!” A woman shrieked.

“A human!” Another giggled.

“A human!” A third voice chimed.

“Here? In the garden?” The first voice said.

“In the garden!” The second giggled once again.

“In the garden, with us!” The third said.

“Human, awake!” The first voice demanded.

I groggily opened my eyes taking in my surroundings. I was in a forest.. massive trees, and beautiful flowered bushes grew wildly all around. My eyes shifted, seeing three women in front of me. It was strange.. they were pale, as pale as milk, and each of the three had different bright hair colors. One was pink, another a pale yellow, and the third was a beautiful green color. “The human, she’s awake!” The third voice chimed in, I looked to see the pale green haired woman staring at me, her eyes wide as she scanned them over my body. The three of them were practically nude, only a thin see through fabric laid across them, their long hair covering all of their bits. “Human.. I am Giora!” She smiled brightly.

“I’m Yelena!” The yellow one giggled.

“And I am Peonora!” The pink one smiled to me, leaning close and brushing my hair from my eyes. She gasped and pulled her hands away from me as she stared into my eyes. “Child.. you must hide those eyes.. and that hair..” she said, standing and walking towards a tree. I watched as she gently touched her hand to it, and it glowed a bright pink color. She stuck her hand into the tree, pulling out a white, sheer flowing dress with gold strings to hold it up around my neck, and a long white cloak with an oversized hood. “Put these on child, to blend in, you must stay hidden from the creatures of this realm.” She said, handing them to me.

“W-What’s happening? Am I dead?” I asked as I looked up to her, she was much taller than me. She was nearly 6’0 while I stood at my measly 5’2. My body was curvy, and I did often draw attention with my looks, but I suppose wherever I am now, with these nearly nak** women, that have strange magical abilities, it may be best not to draw any unwanted attention.

She shook her head. “Child, you are in the land of the gods, Elovair, we, are the forest nymphs.. and I’m afraid such a tiny human like you will be out of place.. and danger would find you much too easily.” She smiled.

Elovair? I’ve heard that name before.. and of course worshipping the gods was in constant practice back home. I thought that no one knew the name of the home of the gods.. but here it was, and I swear I had heard it before. I shook the thought from my head, my mind racing with so many different thoughts and feelings in this very moment. I tried calming myself, knowing that at the very least, I could ask these women my questions.