Fair Maiden - Alcina x Fem Reader

34: Three Words

"Wake up."

Your mothers voice pulls you from your slumber. Your eyes slowly flutter open. You're laying in your own bed, covered in soft blankets. Glancing down at your arms you see two needles secured in your skin with a red ribbon holding them in place. Clear tubes dangle from their ends, their length reaching up behind you. Your eyes follow their span, leading you to two nearly empty bags. One contains a clear liquid, the other dripping red. You lift your hand to the ribbon and pull its strand, releasing it from your arm. Your shaky fingers begin to pull each needle from your skin. You wince as it slides out from inside you. Once one needle is out, you pull the other. Releasing them, they swing in the air, tapping against your bedframe. The sound startles something below you. Slowly, a large hairy body begins to rise from the ground. It swiftly turns it's head towards you. Your eyes widen as you recognize the furry face in front of you.

The lycan lets out a soft whine and cocks it's head. It's mangy tail begins to sway behind it. He steps forward and lowers his head to meet yours. You press your forehead against his as he moves close to you. A relieved rumble vibrates in his throat.

"Hello, sweet boy." You whisper.

He steps back, allowing you room to sit up. You do so, slowly. Your body feels stiff, allowing for nothing more than small gradual movements. Noticing your struggle, the lycan slides his head behind you. He gently nudges you upright. Once you're stable, he steps back once again. You look around the room. You expect to see more familiar faces, but the only one in sight is the face of your befriended lycan.

"Where is everyone?" You ask him.

He responds with a soft grumble and lowers his head. He opens his jaw, jagged teeth clenching the blankets that cover you. He lightly pulls them away, removing you from their warmth. He stands and grumbles again. You slide your legs from the bed, dangling them over the edge. As you place your feet on the ground, you reach out to your lycan in search of support. He moves closer to you, offering you his neck. As you stand, you wrap your arm around it - grasping his hair between your fingers. You feel dizzy for a moment, but it quickly clears. The lycan bobs his head forward, gesturing to the door. You take a step, attempting to regain the movement of your legs. You take another, and another, and another. The stiffness begins to subside as you make your way to the door, lycan supporting you as you walk. He nudges the door open, revealing Alina's bedchamber. As you step through the door, you realize that it's empty.

Your lycan leads you out of the room and down the hall. The castle is filled with an earie silence. Not even the chatter of working maids sound within distant rooms. You reach the stair case that leads to the grand hall. You glance over to the balcony. A flash of faint memory hits you.

"Stay with me, draga mea! Stay with me!" Alcina urgently pleads.

You shake the memory from your head as the lycan pulls you towards the stairs. You grab the railing with your free hand, slowly taking each step. You glance into the grand hall. Warm sunlight flows through the large windows. You see green grass sprouting outside. Treetops gently sway in the light breeze. The last you remembered, the ground was covered in muddy puddles and patches of remaining snow. You glance at the castle door - another memory striking you.

"You stupid man-thing!"

Alcina.

Your father whips you around, back now against him once again. His hand releases from your throat, holding your body still as the knife rises to replace his hand. It's blade presses into your neck, tearing a few layers of skin. Your eyes meet Alcina's. You can feel fear pulsing through you, and she can see it. Her own blades erupt from her finger tips.