Taken

Chapter 13 (Part 1)

The days that followed had me falling into a monotonous routine. One that left me with far too much time to wonder about things I couldn't change. Like everything Ash must have been suffering in my absence. The stress and worry left me even more determined to break him out of that basement, even if it meant finding and dragging down one of those machines that cut through metal with a blue flame to do so. Bolt cutters were never strong enough to cut through the thick metal holding him captive. The one time that they were, I had chosen the worst moment to attempt it. That freedom was very short-lived.

Aside from accompanying Hilda into the surrounding forest to forage for mushrooms, berries, and the odd medicinal plant here or there that were harder to come across, I didn't leave the house or the surrounding property. Not for any potlucks, trips to the market, or to have tea with Hilda and her friends in town. I stuck to the house, the one place I knew I was somewhat safe in this world.

When I wasn't spending my morning feeding and giving water to the animals, collecting eggs, or helping Hilda in the kitchen or with her garden, I was continuing to gradually learn more about this realm through books and unexpectedly television. It served as a great tool to learn more about Fae and what other horrors I could encounter while here. It was also horrible for my self-esteem and mental state. Fae were as beautiful as they could be deadly. They were enthralling creatures, their perfect appearances causing insecurities to rear their head when I realized it wasn't just the limited few I had encountered.

But, I had more pressing worries to focus on.

It shouldn't have been surprising to discover that the mirror over the fireplace doubled as a TV given all the other familiar devices here that would typically require electricity. Here, they were powered by stones that had magick infused into them so anyone could access it. Anyone who could afford to.

It seemed that Silas and his mother were struggling to do so this year, especially with me adding to their expenses.

The two had sold enough at the market I steered clear of to be safe to get me new boots and a heavy winter coat before the first snow had fallen the following week, but it was evident from Hilda's stress-filled rants that they were short on stocking up on animal feed and fire stones with recent price hikes now that demand had risen. The stones infused by the Summer Court allowed those who couldn't produce fire from thin air to access it and its warmth when necessary. It was necessary in these plummeting temperatures. A mountain of blankets might have worked two weeks ago, but they wouldn't be able to keep us and the animals warm for the weeks and months to come.

Each of the courts produced their own infused stones. Those who were powerful enough to do so were employed by the Royal families of each court and earned enough to live comfortable lives while earning their courts even more. The stones were initially created to aid those of their own courts with weaker abilities, but it didn't take them long to learn how profitable they could be if they expanded their customer base to the others. They made the strings of each of the courts accessible to a degree to all. At a steep price, making it a luxury and difficult for those who needed them most to obtain.

Although Hilda had assured me they could light fire the old-fashioned way which would require a bit more attention and effort, I still felt a bit of guilt for being a burden. Even if she didn't deserve it after what she had done. It had me trying to help out more than I already was. My attempts backfired when I had tried to milk the goat for her while she worked on her most recent batch of cheese to sell to make the remaining coin needed before the snow made it nearly impossible to venture down the rural road into town. It ended with spilled milk and me with a welt on my cheek from being kicked in the face.

The swollen and highly visible flesh had given Silas pause when he brushed past me the next morning. His eyes lingered on the purple and blue that painted my cheek before he continued on his way. It was the most attention he had paid to me since we had spoken that night two weeks ago, the one where he told me he wished he had left me to die.