As Her World Falls Down

Chapter 3

My head ached, it hadn't hurt this bad since spring break my first year of college, and if I was being honest it wasn't the only thing that ached. I rolled over to try and make myself more comfortable until I could remember why in the world it felt like I had run a marathon and then drank an entire liquor store after my victory. Instead of rolling onto a cold pillow though I rolled over onto a cold, packed, dirt floor. I froze, forgetting then pain. This isn't right, I'm not in my bed... and if i'm not where in the hell am I? I stifled a groan as I forced my self to sit up, leaning against the wall to steady myself as I my body shook from the effort. I let out a controlled breath as I let myself relax into the stone wall a chill running up my spine and the hair on my arms raising to the icy contact. A cold sweat dripped down my face for my efforts and I brushed it away with the back my unusually pale hand, like I was ill of something. Drugs? I racked my brain on what I had been doing before I had ended up her but I was a blur of music and the memory something sweet that lingered on my lips. I spat onto the floor disgusted by the thought of it but not entirely sure why that was. I tried to look about the room but a wave of nausea rushed over me every time; I kept trying in vain to scope out what I assumed was a locked room or cell of some sort from the couple of glances I had managed to sneak.

I don't know how long I stayed there leaning against the wall before I heard someone enter what sounded like a door on the opposite side of the room. A wicked chill entered the room and I knew I wasn't going to like whoever was standing there staring at me as I lay prone against the wall.

"Not so tough are you precious with faerie wine still wavering in your blood are you?" a cruel, eloquent voice asked. I knew that voice, but why? I moved my head to get a look from behind my tangled mess of blonde hair, finding caramel, gold eyes boring into me. Anger flooded through me as a snippet of memory flashed before me, I couldn't remember why but it was his fault I was here. I found a rush of energy and forced myself up and charged at him, swinging my fist at his smirking face intending to break his perfect nose. Just as my ungraceful hit was about to land my target disappeared and I toppled forward into the ground with the strength of my punch, face first into the dirt not even able to catch myself. My stomach lurched with the fall and I managed to crawl onto my knees before retching my guts out onto the floor. All energy to attack being sapped away with every time my stomach contents spilled onto the floor. I couldn't decide if I wanted to scream in frustration or cry at the blatant weakness that I was showing to this arrogant bastard, I chose neither and mentally begged myself to stop throwing up before I passed out from exhaustion.

I tried to focus on remembering what happened, which was also giving me mild relief from what was currently occurring. I remembered those eyes and focused on the thought of them, a flash of a club, a shimmering drink, dancing uncontrollably, a dark hallway and then nothing... I tried focusing on words instead, what had he said? Faerie wine? That can't be right faeries don't exist so how could they create wine. My stomach apparently differ.

I backed away and rolled unto my side as my stomach finally eased up but with it came a weariness that threatened to have me black out into the puddle that now lay on the floor. I steadied myself on my side as brief pictures from first aid training reminded me not to fall asleep on my back or stomach, just in case I assured myself.

"Awww and I was so hoping you'd still have some more fight left in you. How disappointing." he mocked from somewhere I couldn't place anymore. I had entirely forgotten why I had even started puking in the first place, s**t. I mentally cursed myself for forgetting I was in the presence of an enemy, and a foreign one a that. Fear crept like ice through my veins as my body refused to follow my plea to run, to move, to do anything. I peered past the mess of tangled hair that lay like a crashing wave in front of me, preventing me from seeing nearly anything before me. A pair of boots approached me, impeccable in make, dark brown leather with not a spec of dirt on them, almost too clean. I couldn't even bring myself to cringe away from him as the boots stopped right before my prone, useless body.

"Tell you what though for that amusing little stunt you just managed to pull even through the effects of faerie wine I'll answer one question for you" he purred, leaning down over me, his breath sweet, almost too sweet, as it passed over my face. I couldn't see him but I knew he was close, too close. One question. One question... There was only one I could think of in my terror.

"Where am I?" I breathed, earning a chuckle from somewhere near my face.

"Well you're not in Brixton, or even on the mortal plain anymore to be exact" he said lowly, caressing each word. Riddles, I should have figured I wouldn't get a straight answer. Oh right faeries don't give straight answers, but rhymes and riddles and tricks. And if I believed that faeries existed then I would suppose I'm in the Faerie realm I thought laughing at my own thoughts.

"You honestly me to expect I'm in the Faerie realm?" I laughed meagerly.

"Smart girl precious. Almost tempting fate by laughing at the idea don't you think?" he asked, a dark undertone laced his voice.

"And what I'm supposed to believe that you're a Faerie?" I laughed again, tempting the only semblance of control I had by mocking him. A low growl rippled out from above me and I knew my comment had hit it's mark, arrogant male with a need to be known and wanted.

"If you don't believe now you will soon enough" he spat, venom dripping from his words. I felt a breeze brush past my face and then what must have been the door slammed and the room trembled with the burst of power and then is dissipated. With the vacuum of power that had been sucking up all the air in the room gone I finally felt all my muscles relax, the adrenaline that was keeping me awake evaporating with each second. What did he mean? I'll believe soon enough? Worry pulsed through me as exhaustion claimed me once more.