Trapped in an Iron Grip

Fairy Tales Will Fuck Up Your Kids

Trigger Warning: This fic will have depictions of death, violence, blood, torture, mutant vampires, and all that sweet stuff in RE Village.

Happy Reading!

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"Long ago, a young girl went with her mother to pick berries for her father who was hard at work. But the forest greeted them with a dark, cold silence, the bushes empty. Yet, determined to find the berries, the rascal broke free from Mother's grasp and vanished into the trees.

"Mother's worried cries faded fast as the girl ran on; over vine, and under branch and into the forest deep. Feeling strange eyes upon her, the girl recalled Mother's scary bedtime tales and her throat became bone dry. Then, the Bat Lord appeared! He greeted her warmly and bit his own wing.

"'Come, child. Quench your thirst,' he said. So she drank the thick, dark blood and smiled with joy.

"Passing through a graveyard, menacing storm clouds loomed and the air turned bitingly cold. The girl was shivering in her thin clothes. Then a Dark Weaver appeared, and with a click of his fingers, crafted mist into a beautiful dress.

"'Come, child, warm yourself,' he coaxed. So she clothed herself and smiled with joy.

"Across waters deep and ominous she went, hoping a boat she found would carry her home. But hunger's grip tightened and her heart grew heavy. Then the Fish King appeared and offered one of his many fins.

"'Come, child. Eat your fill.' So the girl ate and smiled with joy once more.

"Continuing on, she soon entered the forest's dark heart. Then an Iron Steed appeared, bearing a beautiful, golden gear. The creature said nothing as the girl approached... and snatched what she thought was another gift.

"The horse grew angry and summoned the other monsters.

"Terror filled the girl's heart as a wild wind rose about the beasts. Suddenly, a witch appeared- dark, yet regal.

"'Gifts we gave, but more you took,' she snarled. 'So more, in turn, is due.'

"In a blink, the girl was trapped inside a mirror...

"...There, she's asleep," Mia whispered, closing the storybook.

You look at your sister wide-eyed. "No thanks to that story."

"Yeah, what is with the creepy story? She's only six months old," Ethan sighed, slightly amused and uncomfortable.

Mia shook her head and smiled. "Woman at the store said it was traditional." She handed the book over to Ethan. "A local tale. Besides, Rose doesn't seem to mind."

"Because she doesn't understand it," you rolled your eyes at your older sister.

"Thank God," Ethan said under his breath. "We moved here so she wouldn't have to deal with any of that, remember?"

"There is nothing wrong with my memory," Mia snapped, sounding defensive. Almost as if she flipped a switch, Mia's small smile reappears. "You're just being paranoid. Both of you."

That was weird, you thought as Mia tried to reassure you and Ethan. Ethan didn't seem too convinced either.

"It's not-" Mia cut Ethan off with a small movement, as if to warn him, "never mind, I'm sorry. But I'm not paranoid, I'm just cautious."

"Then, go cautiously take your daughter to bed," Mia teases Ethan as she hands him Rose, "I'll finish diner."

You all stood up and Mia turned around to go into the kitchen. You turned to Ethan with a concerned look on your face.