Fairies of Desire

EPISODE 11

Hanging high above the Great Tree, Onyx found himself at his breaking point.

Food rations were low and were only given once a day. Beatings for information on Night Clan and his father. Hanging in a rusty cell that was attached to a thin branch. A branch that threatened to snap at any moment, or if the wind was strong enough.

Thinking of that branch made Onyx think of his brother, Branch. Had he and their father received the wings of Luther and Ray? Had they assumed that Onyx met a worse fate or was dead as well?

I know Queen Vex is celebrating my demise… Onyx thought to himself.

Days had passed now since his capture. How many exactly, Onyx didn’t know. He hadn’t bothered to count.

However, Onyx knew his own father wouldn’t avenge him. He knew his stepmother was raising a glass in victory. Branch was probably sleeping and drinking with the female fairies, trying to suppress his own sad feelings about Onyx’s ‘death’.

Onyx sighed and turned around in his cell. His black swallowtail wings were sore and numb from being closed these past few days. He felt hungry and exhausted.

“Guards!” Onyx shouted at the top of his lungs.

A blonde Sun Clan warrior, whom Onyx recognized now as Campbell, flew up to his cage.

Campbell crossed his arms when he arrived. “What?”

***

“WHAT?!” King Roland bellowed in surprise.

Onyx knelt before him, staring at the ground in defeat and despair. His wings were still tied together and his hands still bound.

He now knelt before King Roland and the royal family as they dined together for lunch.

Silver, who had visited and given him advice days before, was there. She sat next to a brown curly-haired, wingless fairy. This fairy looked down at Onyx with such a look of disdain, disgust, and cruelness that it outmatched King Roland’s.

“You mean to come here, before me and my family, and swear your loyalty to me!?” King Roland said, standing from his chair. His monarch wings fluttered in anger. “You entered my territory with your men unannounced and uninvited, tried to lay your hands on my heir, and now you beg for mercy?”

“I have nothing left for me in Night Clan,” Onyx said. “No one is coming to save me or look for my remains.”

King Roland snarled at him. He then looked behind Onyx and looked at Campbell.

“What do you think of this, Campbell?” he asked him. “You and your men have been around him the longest.”

“It's been a week since he was imprisoned, Your Majesty. He is showing the signs that he has given up hope and is broken.” Campbell said proudly. “Perhaps it would be best to let him live. He could have useful information about Night Clan.”

King Roland looked around and looked at the wingless fairy. “Thorn? What is… your opinion on this?”

Silver and the rest of the ladies sitting at the table looked at Thorn in surprise. Even Onyx was curious to hear what he would say.

Thorn crossed his arms. “I think you should kill him right here and now.”

“Thorn!” An older female fairy woman scolded.

Silver grabbed his arm. “Isn’t that a little… cruel?” she asked him.

Thorn looked away and looked at Onyx. A hatred burned within his eyes for Onyx, and he didn’t understand why.

“The boy said so himself. His clan won't look for his body and no one is making plans to save him. If we kill him, that’s one less Prince and future King of Night Clan we have to deal with,” Thorn stated. “Along with this, he has the blood of Void in him. What if he has the power of Night within him?”

“The power of Night disappeared with Void. Just as the power of Light did with the disappearance of the Light Fairy.” Queen Helena said.

“We don’t know that,” Thorn said. “He could be hiding his own power until the shackles are off.”

“If he did, then wouldn’t he have used his power when his comrades were getting dewinged? He could have used it to kill Helena.” Silver said.

“Why are you defending him?”

Silver shrank back a bit. “I am not, I-I-I just mean… well, maybe Campbell is right. He could be more useful for information against the Night Clan. King Evermore is a jealous and vengeful fairy.”

Princess Helena sighed and crossed her arms. “As much as I hate the fairy, I also hate to admit that Silver and Campbell are right.”

The older fairy woman, whom Onyx had begun to assume was the Queen, spoke up.

“If Night Clan attacked once, they will attack again. We are their closest neighbors, and we are responsible for helping bring Void down.” She said to King Roland.

King Roland sighed and looked at Thorn. Thorn was staring at him hard.

Onyx felt surprised when he saw the King's wings twitch in nervousness.

“I'm sorry, Thorn, it's… It's 3 against 1.” He spoke.

King Rolan then turned around to Onyx. Onyx looked up at him in concern, wondering what he would say. King Roland nodded to Campbell, and the warrior began to untie Onyx’s wings and hands.

“You are under house arrest, Onyx. You are allowed in the Great Tree only. You will be escorted and guarded at all times, even when you sleep or use the restroom.” King Roland announced. “However, fail to earn my trust and scheme a crime, any crime, and I will see to it you are dewinged and beheaded.”

Thorn sighed in frustration and looked away. Silver looked over at Thorn worriedly.

Onyx smiled at her and then back at King Roland. He stretched out his wings. They fluttered in pain but it felt relieving to even spread them open. Onyx rubbed his wrists and let out a breath.

“I assure you, King Roland, I will earn your trust and faith. My father has turned his back on me for the final time.” He spoke.

Onyx meant it. To his eyes, there was no reason for him to wait and hope any longer. He would make the best of this situation and try to live a new life. He wouldn’t be ‘the grandson of Void' anymore.

“Good to hear,” King Roland said. “Now, since we will be spending a lot of time together in the Great Tree, I shall introduce you to my family.”

He then stood to the side and held out an arm to the long dining table.

He pointed to the long-haired princess whom Onyx’s comrades had tried to kill.

“This is Princess Helena, my oldest daughter. She is my heir to the Sun Clan throne. The guard behind you is her fiancé, Campbell. They are to wed in the fall. Sitting next to her is my wife and queen, Queen Lohnni.”

He introduced. “Across the table, is Silv—P-p-p-princess Silver.”

The word was stammered and corrected quickly. Onyx looked at King Roland and saw he was eyeballing Thorn nervously.

That’s at least the third time… Who exactly is Thorn to make a king act so scared of him? Onyx thought.

“Princess Silver is my youngest. She is Moon-cursed, which will explain why she is so… um, unique looking. I do apologize in advance if she acts rashly and out of place.” King Roland said, “Next to her is her fiancé, Thorn. He is a former warrior of the Bone Clan, and I grant him authority over you as well. If he tells you to do something, you must do it.”

“Father, do we get authority over Onyx as well?” Helena asked, waving a hand fan at her face.

“No. Only me, your mother, and Thorn do.” King Roland said.

“Sir, perhaps I should take Thorn's place,” Campbell offered. “Thorn gets too drunk and can't make decisions when he drinks.”

“I have made my choice.” King Roland said, and then hardened his stare at Campbell. “And I will no longer allow you or anyone to speak ill of Thorn anymore. He is my future son-in-law and is now a valued member of this tree.”

Campbell seemed taken aback but nodded.

King Roland looked down at Onyx. “I will place you in a guest room for now. This is your only chance. Don’t make me regret it, boy.”