The Sweetest Of Snares

Author's note: The first part of the story describes suicidal thoughts, so please don't read this if that is upsetting to you. Also, this is a follow up to my other story "If You Must Live", but it can be read alone.

The sun was shining in all his undaunted glory, chasing away any clouds foolish enough to try and mar the immaculate summer sky. A lazy breeze dispersed the afternoon heat, keeping the temperature from becoming stifling. It was a perfect day. The kind that one remembers from childhood and yet, never encounters again. Ironic, truly. Davka thought numbly. Still, it is a nice parting gift from the world, in a way. Everyone deserves a beautiful last sight.

           The oppressing grief that coated her every thought for the last few weeks was strangely absent today, and in its place grew a profound sense of calmness, coupled with a dour sort of determination. Nothing mattered anymore. No one was left to care. Lara, Tar, the old hunter, even the crone, were all gone. The woman was walking slowly towards the clearing, taking the time to carefully memorize her surroundings. The way the light slipped through the leaves, the smell of the dry, coarse earth, the odd shaped rocks; they all gained some sort of extraordinary importance today. Davka couldn’t tell if she was just nostalgic while saying her goodbyes, or if she was searching for a sign to stop.

           The lonely funeral march came to an end soon. A fruitless journey always takes you back to the starting place. We spend our whole lives waiting for this or that, chasing time just so we can get closer to our goals; tragically, it’s only when we stop moving onward that we realize, time was the one in pursuit of us. We are masters of nothing, truly. Davka lied down on the prickly grass, pouch of poisonous leaves in hand and readied herself for the final step.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Stomach purging magic tastes fouler than putrid meat, and it hurts like anything, to boot.” a refined male voice sounded from somewhere to the right, but when she checked, no one was there.

“Apologies. Do allow me to make a proper introduction.” continued the speaker. A tall man, with strange, aquamarine skin appeared next to her and bowed deeply at the waist. Luscious, silver hair that glimmered like liquid moonlight streamed across his shoulders, dancing gently at the slightest movement. “Oleander. I would offer my family name as well, but I am told it is quite a chore to pronounce in your tongue.” he said with a charming smile.

Davka was painfully unimpressed with the newcomer. She considered just ignoring him until he went away, although, seeing the expectant set to his features, that was a very unlikely outcome. The woman was in no mood to entertain this conversation. I’ll just let him tire himself out by talking alone. Oleander seemed completely unbothered by her lack of participation and simply maintained the alluring act.

“It saddens me beyond words to see someone so young brought to such despair.” the blue in his eyes appeared to swirl and shimmer, like waves caught in a storm, yet somehow, they still appeared to be filled with compassion. “Boundless cruelty from others who deem themselves better, hardships gathered upon hardships”, his face scrunched in unmistakable sorrow at the state of the world. "A noose of poverty, sickness and exhaustion that coils tighter and tighter around one’s core, refusing to let go. Hope that never lives to greet the dawn. Purposelessness”. Oleander sat down next to her, letting out a shuddering breath. Empathy and understanding were radiating from his entire being. Against all reason, Davka found herself entranced by the lilt of his voice and cultured speech; she discovered that she craved to hear what he had to say. Perhaps there is an option for me. A better one! The tinniest flicker of hope ignited in a forgotten corner of her heart.

“If I may be so bold as to suggest an alternative, I hail from Lyriaris, a most bountiful land, with kind, open-minded inhabitants”, Oleander glanced over at her, before winking cheekily and carrying on “Furthermore, magic is brimming throughout the kingdom, as friendly and willing to obey as a favored pet.” A finger reached out to gently caress her hand. Their gazes locked, and she physically couldn’t draw away. The wind started to howl brutally around them, encircling the whole glade with a frigid barrier. “I could...take you with me, if you so wished. You are, frankly, wasted here. Clearly, you share a stronger likeness to me and mine, than to them.” , the offer was presented with colossal intensity. Like the whole world was waiting in the balance for her answer. He is right. What is left for me here, anyway? All my dreams could come true, just like that. I could find a place where I belong! Where no one ever leaves me again!

           Davka was about to agree unreservedly to the proposition, when a whisper of caution caught up with her. Why help her, a stranger? And who is to say that there are no unspoken terms to this arrangement? I almost fell for it. It’s such an obvious trap.

“I appreciate your kindness, sir Oleander, but I am afraid I must refuse.” She pulled herself upright, slipping out of his grasp and squirming further away. Disappointment was plainly written all over his face. Still, there was no anger, only a cheerless acceptance.

“Your need for vigilance is understandable, my lady. May I, then, dare to suggest some magic lessons instead? You truly do strike me as one of my kind and it would be such a shame for you to remain... untutored.” he said benignly, without a trace of deception. Davka considered this, analyzing it carefully for any hidden meanings. None were easily apparent.

“These lessons would take place here, yes? And last no longer than, say, two human hours? With no obligations to continue, at any point, or any payments to be expected?” she asked sternly. Oleander surprised her by laughing warmly at the bargaining. His voice was drenched in fondness when he replied, “Spoken like a true fairy! Yes, all the aforementioned conditions are perfectly satisfactory to me. The only “payment” I require is that you deign to think some more upon my initial proposal. The decision is, naturally, up to you”.

“I agree, only to the terms previously stated. Nothing more, nor less.”, Davka felt it safer to add. Consorting with fairies begged for a very precise agreement in order to avoid disaster. The man smirked wolfishly “We have a deal, treasured one”. It was only now that she noticed the wind had stopped sometime during their conversation. How odd.

For three months, the teaching affair went down exactly as discussed. No attempts at kidnapping or changing her mind by force, no pressuring on making a choice; just a substantial amount of unsubtle flirting on Oleander’s part. If Davka was being honest, she quite fancied the handsome fairy. Nevertheless, she wasn’t gullible enough to take his advances seriously. At least, not until this afternoon.

           She came to the clearing at the same time she always did, but weirdly, he wasn’t there, waiting. Well, it’s nice to not be on the hearing end of a lecture about punctuality, for once. The changeling was thinking about how to best tease him for the misstep, when a voice broke through her musings.

“They call you the princess of this forest, born and raised by its wild inhabitants. Although, I’m told the birth part is not quite true.” A beautiful figure tore away from the encompassing shadows; with skin of a violet so dark it could be mistaken for black and bioluminescent locks of pure lilac. The ensemble was completed by a hauntingly delicate visage. Oleander himself was inhumanly fair, but this was a whole different league. Her amethyst eyes had an empty gleam to them, as if something was draining her of life and yet, when they settled upon her, a determined spark ignited in them.

“I do not have much time. I came here to deliver a warning: don’t acquiesce to travel to Lyriaris, when he shall ask it of you again.” , her tone was pure steel, leaving no doubt about the gravity of the matter. “Oleander speaks as prettily as flowers bloom, but all of his words are bathed in deceit. He will lie to you about the price you ought to pay for crossing over.” the statement came out with the same unwavering resoluteness as before, except, there was something pleading about her current expression. “You must not believe him. It will cost you that which brings you the most joy in life and in return, you shall gain a mountain of sorrows”. The fairy was noticeably trembling in agitation, the taunt lines of her body betraying a terrible fear. “Please, listen to what I have told you, if you desire to continue seeing him, that’s fine, however, never go with him.” the woman threw her a fraught parting glance and vanished just as abruptly as she had arrived.

          Davka was shocked still, mind still reeling from the encounter. Thus, when a disheveled looking Oleander materialized in the clearing just a few heartbeats later with a flowery apology already spilling from his lips, she didn’t mention the incident. Davka resolved to watch his behavior more closely from now on, just in case.

           Everything came to a head three weeks later, when she found her tutor curled in a small ball on the ground, sobbing his heart out. Davka laid a comforting hand on his shoulder and he instantly turned around, crushing her in an embrace. The fairy started gently swaying them both back and forth. “Oleander? What’s wrong?”, he didn’t answer right away, electing to clutch her tighter instead.

“Deidra, that snake...” he grunted out between bitter tears. Resting his forehead on her collarbone, he sniffled pitifully, “She tricked my parents into agreeing to a betrothal, even when she knew I loved another!” Oleander looked up at her with heartbreaking adoration and slipped an affectionate hand into her hair “I am dreadfully sorry, dearest. I have always had my heart set on you, but I am powerless to forestall this”. A churning started in her gut. Could it be?

“This... Deidra, does she have purple hair and eyes?”, Davka asked quietly. It would make sense, warning her away so she can swoop in. And I actually gave credence to her tales, despite having no evidence of dishonesty from Oleander. Damn my paranoia!

He nodded in befuddlement, pulling slightly away to give her a confused stare, “How did you-“.

“She came by, a while ago. Spun some story about you trying to manipulate me into joining you in Lyriaris.” , shame coursed thickly through her. “ I... didn’t exactly believe her... but, neither did I refute her claims. I felt that I didn’t know you well enough to wholly trust you”. The fairy flinched harshly, almost as if slapped, a look of hurt glazing over his sea imbedded eyes. “I’m sorry, Ollie.”, she finished lamely.

He looked up at the sky and gulped drily, then he croaked out, “Do you still think that?”

“No! No, I swear I don’t.”, Davka argued vehemently. Oleander remained motionless for a few minutes, just staring at the canopy of trees in front of them. Dark clouds were gathering to blanket the sun, with bright specters of lightning erupting now and then. Suddenly, his head snapped up and a sort of frenzied trance fell over him.

“Then come with me!” he exclaimed as he grabbed both her hand in his. “I am aware this is far from ideal and I had every intention of courting you at length, but it’s the only way we can be together!” his desperation was obvious. “They can’t marry me off to her, if I am already wed.”, he begged earnestly. Davka wasn’t sure she liked where this was going and she didn’t know how to gently dissuade him. Though, isn’t this what she wanted? She could admit it to herself: she was absolutely enamored with Oleander. Would it be so bad? He clearly cares for me and while it’s kind of soon, isn’t love what matters most in a marriage? She deliberated for a few more moments, but the answer was obvious.

“What do I have to do?” his grin was so wide, it practically split his face open.   

He waved his palm in a circle and the clearing parted like a heavy curtain to reveal an abyssal hallway. Davka thought she could make out some a scattering of tiny lights in the enshrouding shadows. They look like... stars?

“Step in, beloved. Have no fear, it won’t harm you.”, Oleander reassured lovingly. “Don’t worry about the price either; it will merely be some old memory or childhood trinket. Nothing you will miss.” , he carefully tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, before motioning for her to go.

           She stepped in the darkness, cloaked in confidence she didn’t really feel. All of her senses were useless here; everything was distorted and ultimately blended together. Her head started to spin from the confusing influx of sensations and pure agony shot through her right arm. It felt like the entire member was melting away. “Oleander! Help me!”, sadly, no one did. Davka collapsed on the floor, convulsing in pain. She rolled around in a desperate attempt to put out the invisible flames. Nothing helped. For what seemed like hours, the excruciating torture ravaged incessantly through her body until, mercifully, she blacked out.

           The first thing she noticed was the smell. Stale air, thick with humidity and an undertone of mold. Then, the biting cold hit her. Where on Earth am I? A sharp ache tore into her shoulder, making her groan out loud. Her arm was so heavy, she could barely lift it. When she finally opened her eyes, a horrified scream ripped out of her throat. No, anything but this! I will never be able to paint again, not with this monstrosity. Let it be a nightmare, please, let it be just a nightmare! Alas, it wasn’t. Her arm truly was replaced by a smooth chunk of golden crystal that perpetually ached.

“I did try to warn you. Why couldn’t you have listened?”, a hunched figure spat out bitterly. When her eyes got accustomed to the dimness she saw a sight that froze her to the core; a heavily pregnant Deidra was sitting on a grimy cot, covered in bruises and dirt.

“By the Gods, what happened to you?”, the revelation washed over her like a torrent. “Oleander. But... why? And why bring me here as well?”, the woman gave her a disbelieving glare.

“Why do you think?! Fairy parents must endure the payment in order for their offspring to be able to live here. So, dear, old Oleander decided to cheat the system and have the two of us suffer while he gets away scot free!” her rage was plain to see, given the white-knuckled grip she had on the bed frame.

“That’s not my child, he can’t-“

“Since the two of you are married it makes no difference, the magic recognizes you as an option. That’s all he needs.” Deidra slumped back in hopelessness. Davka's heart crumbled into dust by now, she was sure. The only person she had left, who supposedly loved her, was just an egotistical, greedy worm. Of course! This always happens to me, when will I ever learn... An idea burst forth from the flood of despair.

“What if the baby is born in the human realm?” the woman observed her with guarded curiosity. “If it doesn’t live here, no one has to pay any price! Oleander will have to do it himself if he wants to raise them here that badly!” the fairy was attentively mulling over her words.

“I don’t know how to survive there. I wouldn’t even have a place to live.” , she stated warily.

“You can stay with me, in fact that might work out for the best since we are both tied to the bastard. We can fend him off together!”. Hope momentarily shined in her amethyst eyes, before it was promptly snuffed out.

“And you would do all this out of the goodness of your heart? Please, I am pregnant not stupid!”

“You tried to save me first! I don’t doubt him finding out is how you got those bruises!” at Deidra’s violent shudder she softened her voice “Consider it simply returning the favor.”

“I can make a portal to your world, but you will have to direct it to your residence”. Davka gave her a questioning glance that had the fairy shrug her shoulders sadly “I had nowhere to go. It’s why he chose me, I think.” She wanted to reach out and console her; however that would probably not be welcomed.

“All right, I’m ready. Let’s dump this loser!”, they immediately appeared into a small cottage hidden inside a rotten oak. Home, sweet home, she though miserably.

 The following months were strangely calm, with no trace of Oleander. She and Deidra got along fabulously and took care of each other; a strong friendship was forged through their mutual enemy. Davka still couldn’t bear to see her old canvases and paints, knowing what she lost. So many drawings left unfinished, so many ideas that she will never be able to commit to paper. The physical pain got better with time, but the emotional one will forever be present. She knows that her housemate pities her greatly. Deidra even kindly offered to try and create art under her instructions. It helped, a little. Nevertheless, some prices are never worth paying.