Fair Maiden - Alcina x Fem Reader

1: Burned By The Devil Himself

You stare into a wooden pail, half full of dull and murky creek water. After a long evening of tending to the seemingly endless chores your father demanded of you, you finally had the chance to bathe yourself. Although you were sure that the unhygienic sate of what filled the bucket couldn't quite wash away the grime that covered your body, You are thankful that you can at least attempt to remove the irritating and unpleasant soot from your skin.

Before you begin scrubbing the remnants of todays hard work from your hands, you pause and glance at the dim reflection of yourself in the water. The features of your face are delicate, although slightly masked by the dirt speckled across your skin. Your hair is matted and unkempt, greasy from the lack of a proper bathing. Underneath the unsightly mess, you can see the faint resemblance of your mother staring back at you.

You were always told how much you look like her. Fair skinned with the slight natural blush of rosey red cheeks, mid length ginger hair, deep blue eyes, and a smile that could light up even the darkest room. You certainly got your smile from your mother. It was your favorite feature of hers, and you were thankful that you were blessed with the same. However, you hadn't seen that radiant smile in quite a while. Not since your mother passed.

It's been 3 moths since she was attacked by the creatures in the woods. You still can't grasp the fact of her being dead. Life was far from the same without her. When she was alive, life was enjoyable. You spent all your time helping her with chores, reading stories by the fire, strolling through the village, and learning to paint as elegantly as she could. You were practically attached to her hip, ever since the day you were born. And now, without her, you felt utterly alone. Like a piece of you died with her. In a way, that's exactly what happened.

Now, you were left to take her place as the lady of the house. The idea didn't seem so bad at first, you were doing the same tasks you assisted your mother with. However, even the fond memories of those activities were no match for the dread you felt when your father noticed even the smallest imperfections. He was ruthless and evil. You never understood what your mother saw in him. The only thing you could see was an absolute disgrace of a human being.

Shivering at the though of him, you finally reach into the bucket and splash your face with the cool water. Once your face was scrubbed of the filth, you begin to wash your hair the best you could, untangling it from its disheveled state. You grab a small cloth from the linen bin and begin to wash the exhausting day from your body. Once you have successfully cleaned yourself and feel a little more refreshed, you slip on your raggedy night gown and go to empty the dirty water outside.

Opening the door, you're hit with a cold breeze. Holding yourself with your free arm, you try to tame the goosebumps that have pricked your skin. As you make your way to the garden to empty the bucket, you examine the sky. Summer had ended and fall was beginning to take over. The tree tops swayed with each gust of wind and the clouds covered any hint of a blue sky. Leaves crunched below your feet with every step. You love how the leaves hold beautiful warm colors once they fall from their branches. Some yellow, some orange, and some red.

You're so distracted by the drifting leaves that you fail to notice your father standing a few feet in front of you. Without realizing he was there, you crash into him, covering him and yourself with the water you had just bathed with. Your heart races, realizing what had just happened.

"Father. I-I'm..." You stutter before being cut off with a harsh slap to your face.

"You little bitch!" He yells behind bared teeth.

You try to collect yourself, but the stinging handprint distracts you from finding your voice. You can't say that you're shocked that he laid a hand on you, this wasn't the first time. Looking at his wild expression, you could tell it wasn't the last.