Journey of a Girl

The Purple House: Chapter Eleven

Credence had waited long enough.

When she heard the voice of her intended behind the heavy door, the timbre of it sent a shiver through her.

"A lovely bride deserves a handsome groom," Lilith said.

"What she deserves does not matter," came the cold answer.

An odd thing for him to say, Credence thought. Perhaps he was just as nervous and impatient as she was.

She touched her hair, making sure a strand hadn't fallen out of place, and gave a heavy sigh as the voices outside continued to argue.

"Get on with it," the Collector demanded, and Credence agreed, for she had grown bored of sitting alone.

If Lilith wouldn't let him in, she'd do it herself.  

Credence walked to the door and placed her hand on it. She wanted, needed, to see him.

"My price for giving her over, you remember?"

This caught Credence's interest, and a pinprick of doubt touch her heart. What did Lilith mean by 'giving her over'? Credence was a person, not a broodmare.

"And Galeia's bones? Where are they?"

The pinprick became a dull throb.

"At the old house."

"I never congratulated you on killing her."

The air flew from Credence, like a punch landing hard on her chest.

Ma...

Ma was gone?

"I choked the life from her."

Credence turned and ran from the room.

The only door that led outside was blocked, but Credence knew where there were windows, and she moved to the kitchen and pulled herself through one, despair driving her onward. Her dress caught on a stray nail but she ripped it away and raced into the night.

He killed her.

Credence would never see Ma again. The last of her family was gone.

When did it happen? How long have I been alone in the world?

Credence cried as she ran, but the woods remained silent and uncaring around her. She pressed on until the breath left her lungs and sweat fell into her eyes.

I'll kill him.

She promised it over and over, a grim mantra to spur her forward. She willed her words to become a spell, and imagined choking the life from the Collector just as he had done to Ma.

I'll kill him. I'll kill him. I'll kill him.

Caught in her anger, Credence didn't notice figures moving in the woods, until a net flew through the air and covered her, and a sharp yank pulled her to the ground. She gave a short yelp before her mouth connected with dirt.

A voice carried in the darkness.

"What is it? A fairy?"

"It's a lady," said another.

Light bathed Credence's face, and a torch illuminating a nasty-looking man came into sight. 

"Pretty thing. Look at her dress."

Another man joined him in the light.

"Wedding runaway," the second man said. "Got cold feet, love? Didn't want the sot your folks picked for you?"

The men laughed and a third joined them, holding the ends of the net that trapped Credence. She thrashed around to free herself, kicking and biting, but the men remained unconcerned.

"Don't have to worry about that wedding anymore, little beauty," the man holding the net said. "We'll see you to someone proper."

"And they'll see us to some proper coin."

"Aye, she'll fetch a good price."

The man holding the torch put his fingers to his lips and blew a piercing whistle through his fingers.

"Oi!" he called out. "Hold the carts! We lucked out on one more here! A woodfolk princess!"

Several men spilled into the light, and their hands fell upon Credence to pull her from the ground. She fought to little victory, but managed to kick one of her captors in the face.

"Spirited thing, aren't you?" the brute said as he cradled his nose. "They like that in the towns."

He raised his fist and struck Credence across her cheek.

The world fell to black, and the stranger slung her over his shoulder to carry her off.