Bound to the Broken

Olysea

3,652 days.

10 years.

That’s how long it’s been since the world ended. Since civilization as a whole has crashed. Becoming nothing more than a playing field for supernaturals that seemingly crawled out of the depths of the shadows to gain a standing ground to us humans. The worst part about it all? It worked.

“Olysea, those dishes better be done by the time I take this laundry to the washers, understood?” Madam Tara clasps the large laundry basket filled to the brim with clothes used by the Fae and their visitors. Ones that would have her head if a smudge stained them in her presence while she washed them. Knowing that fact, I can see how tightly she holds them to her hip, her arm a barrier for the top opening. The warmth of the water slid up to my wrists as I nodded and turned my attention back to the dishes, searching through the water for the rest of them.

The one thing I hated most about chore duty was dishes. A decade ago, it would’ve been different. This castle would have never been built, I’d have gotten a regular job like humans did before this corruption ever happened, and I would know what the future holds for me. But right now it just seems like an endless amount of work that you never finish, then you die. I grab the sponge and wring it out, scrubbing another plate with enough force that could possibly take the golden design off if I weren’t careful. After rinsing, I fan it a bit in the air before taking the drying towel off the counter top and wiping it dry. A hand comes from behind and plucks it from me.

The red chipped fingernail polish tells me exactly who it is and I smile a bit before I speak.

“I was beginning to think you got snatched up by a rogue fae there for a moment.”

Ashira’s soft blue eyes roll at me before a grin breaks out across her face as well. From her pinned up blonde hair to her light makeup I can tell she’s been wandering the castle amongst the Fae, desperately wanting to be seen by the ones who don’t see us at all.

“There is no such thing, Oly.” She reaches for the next plate I finish up. She rinses and dries it before setting it aside. “Go with me tomorrow. View things the way I view them and try to make a spot for yourself amongst them.”

The plate underneath my hand snaps into two pieces and every human servant in the area spins around to stare at me. Every hand frozen in place from whatever it may be that they’re tasked to do to look at me. I swallow before lifting the plate out of the water and a part of me sends a silent prayer that maybe it was my imagination. But when the plate rises above the water in two completely separate pieces, my stomach turns upside down.

“It’s okay, they won’t notice one plate missing.” I say surely, but my voice shakes as the statement slips out. The smile I slip to everyone else is the slimiest I’ve ever given and I can tell it’s like glass for them. They all see right through it. The water drips off the broken plate and my hands as I walk over to the trashcan and toss it in. Ashira’s gaze is locked in on me and I can feel it just like the rest of them that are staring. As I make my way back to the sink and clear my throat, chatter and movement erupt back throughout the room again, helping me breathe better.

“You know they definitely will notice.”

“And I’ll deal with it when they do. Payments go out today and I’m not risking losing my entire check over a plate.” I mumble, my eyes glued to the water now.

I see Ashira shift, placing her elbow onto the countertop while she looks at me.

“All the more reason to grow your social level within the castle. The visitors aren’t half bad and the High Fae can be a rough crowd but when they get used to seeing you about and get used to your presence you’re in.” Her words only shove at me. Everything about the statement is the farthest from the truth when it comes to the Fae. I’ve been a servant in this castle for a little over six years now and while I haven’t flaunted around, I’ve also not been a fly on the wall. I’ve been around plenty and yet I haven’t earned a single glance from one, not that I’ve wanted to either. If you’re on their radar you’re already in over your head.

I’d prefer to skim by and make my money. Rather than try and befriend the supernatural beings that stomped the human race down to nothing but a helping hand for them.

“And The Choosing is in two days.”

I pull my hands out of the water and dry them off.

“Let’s call it what it really is, shall we? An auction. For humans.” I murmur and Ashira’s cheeks pinken at my words. Her lip purses for a moment before she takes a breath and continues with her previous statement.

“The Choosing is a way out of getting out of working yourself to death. Getting chosen to go to Evalith Academy is a gods given gift in disguise and you should want that position just as much as any of us.”

The Choosing is the farthest thing from a gods given gift. Getting chosen along with a group of people your age to attend the same academy as the children of the Royal High Fae was nothing of the sort. A way to get the chosen few primed and ready to serve the next generation of High Fae to whatever extent they desired. After all, there were only so many High Fae here in the court but there are many more common Fae and those aren’t seen with the same importance. A handful of common Fae are tasked to watch us young servants to see who would be placed in The Choosing, and only the ones that are exceedingly good at their jobs get picked. Not that I have much to worry about there. Hence the split plate in the trashcan right now.

But instead of saying that, I tighten my lips and nod like I agree with her statement because with her, there is no changing her mind. And if I’m honest, who can blame her? She’s just trying to grasp on to what little bit of light she sees in this dark world. Even though we’d be assigned to a young High Fae at the academy, that’s still better than being stuck here working for the Common Fae that pass through the doors as well as the royals. Double the work is never all that fun.

“Glad to see that all the dishes are done.” Madam Tara’s voice erupts through the silence that had seeped in between Ashira and I, grabbing my attention. “Now, get to the gardens and tend to the flowers before the sun rises too high in the sky. We don’t need them wilted and dull before the royals wake.” Her eyes fall onto Ashira and the way Ashira curls up into herself at the glare tells me she’s in for one long lecture. One that I do not want to be present for, so with that I nod at Madam Tara once before scurrying off towards the exit of the kitchen. I don’t even try to hide the fast pace in my stride as I leave the area. Heading towards one of my favorite places here. The gardens.

I keep the fast pace as I move past the brick walls. Every day seems like a repeat of the last but being able to get a breath of fresh air instead of being stuck in the kitchen or the laundry room is top tier. For a moment, only a moment, I can forget everything and just breathe in the beauty around me.

When I finally reach the arched doorway that leads out to the gardens, the sun floods the hallway and excitement pumps through me. I’ve seen these gardens thousands of times in the last six years but somehow it never gets old. Reds, oranges, yellows, and blues all flourish into sight as I step out into the open area. Flowers stand tall at every corner of the place, all confined to a perfect, above ground circle. But still manages to bloom stunningly nonetheless. Staring down at each and every one of them I find a small piece of hope within the silky petals. If they can grow into astonishing objects even with the confined space they live in, then maybe I can too. Maybe, just maybe, there is more out there. More to come. Until then though, I’ll tend to the kitchen and the gardens as I’m told. Only when I get the chance to break free and grow as tall and bloom as colorful as these flowers, will I take it.

My hand reaches out and grazes the soft red flower to my left. It’s petals sliding through my fingertips with ease as I move past it and continue through. I can spot some plants that have wilted off a bit so I take and pluck those up before continuing through the pathway until something the color of lavender catches my attention out of the corner of my eye.

Its delicate, floppy petals seem to fully emerge from the bloom which is odd this time of year. The usual budded Ashen Bite is on display and for a moment, I lean forward, taking in its dangerous beauty from afar. Lords know if I were to touch it, my last breath would be drawn at that exact moment. I’ve seen it a handful of times and the warnings being spewed from Madam Tara about it never left my mind. But looking at it without anyone spouting something about the dangers of it or the lethalness of its touch, it’s… Beautiful.

Footsteps snapped me out of my daze and I lifted my stare from the plant to a yellow one nearby, tugging the flower’s stem between my fingers. The action only half made me seem as if I were doing something, but the voices that etched closer didn’t seem to notice.

“The prophecy cannot be right. I’ve done everything in my power to change its course and so far it’s worked. The gods make mistakes, it happens, and this is one of them.” The voice of the king is unmistakable, and I freeze completely. My entire body feels like it could shut down at the depths of his tone. I remind myself to grab the pitcher full of water and actually do something instead of standing there. My hands shake as I ease water over the plants bit by bit, moving away from where the two individuals are, not wanting them to think I’m eavesdropping.

“Yes, they can make mistakes but I’m not entirely sure this is one of them. Look.” At the female’s words, I glance up for a split second. My face is hidden a tad behind some of the taller plants but I can still see the king and the woman pretty clearly. The king’s eyes land on the Ashen Bite in its full glory and something in his eyes flare with anger, as if the plant being in full bloom was a bad thing. To my knowledge it is one of the only plants that hold a plethora of medicine for the Fae for any sickness and any wound they may receive. It’s versatile in what it can do for them and speeds up the healing process to record breaking timing.. It blooming this early should be a good thing.. Right?

“The Ashen Bite isn’t supposed to bloom until winter.”

“Yet here it is, in full bloom at the beginning of autumn. Sire, I don’t mean to offend you by any means but I think you should-,” The woman’s voice is cut off by a loud pop and before my eyes, the woman drops to the ground, her neck snapped to the side. A gasp escapes me loud enough for him to hear. Whatever gods above must’ve taken pity on me because he doesn’t even look my way. Giving me a chance to ease towards the servant’s pathway, back into the castle without a single glance from the man himself.