Trapped

Chapter 1

 Naesala scrubbed the floors with vigour. She knew that if she didn't do her chores properly, she would be punished. Again. Naesala couldn't help it though, her chores were so boring and she slipped into her own world of fantasy often. Naesala hummed a merry tune as she continued scrubbing the floor. She wasn't a very good singer, in fact, she was terrible, but she liked to imagine she had the voice of an angel and entranced everybody. "Saly!" a sweet voice rang out. A girl with auburn hair and blue eyes strolled in the room. She, like Naesala, wore a black and cream maid uniform. "Hi Topaz." Naesala replied with a smile. Topaz grinned and spun. "You'll never guess what!" she said giddily. Naesala sat up on the floor and shrugged. "A Fey merchant asked to see me tonight!" Naesala could understand why, Topaz had beautiful red hair that fell down on her shoulders like a waterfall. She was tall and lithe and had freckles sprinkled all over her face. Topaz had startling blue eyes that sparkled like sapphires when she was happy. Naesala knew she was beautiful too, but all elves were beautiful too. Topaz was an elf too, Naesala's cousin, and before the war they lived in luxury and comfort, but when the elves lost the war to the fey, their fathers were executed, mothers and siblings exiled and they were taken to be servants for the family of the Fey queen. There was no chance of winning the war anyway. Fey had stronger magical connections, they were connected to the sun and the moon, while the elves were connected with aspects of nature, like fire and water. If Naesala refused to serve the king, the remainder of her family would be killed. Magic had dwindled out long ago, but the elves were still in service. "Saly!" "Saly!" Naesala blinked. Topaz was waving her hand in front of Naesala's face. "I said, will you do my evening chores for me, while I go out?" Topaz asked. Naesala sighed wearily. That meant she would have to do twice the work and have 2 times less sleep. Topaz looked at her cousin hopefully. Naesala sighed again and gave in. "Sure, but don't stay out too late." Topaz nodded seriously. Everybody knew that if you stayed out too late, then bad things could happen to you. Really bad things. "Thanks Saly!" Topaz said gratefully. She skipped out the room humming a local folk song. Naesala looked at a grandfather clock in the corner. 5:50. Dinner was in ten minutes. Naesala stood up and stretched. She winced as she stretched. Her back was still throbbing intensely. She would have to visit the staff doctor after dinner. Naesala straightened her crumpled uniform and strode out the room. As she walked, her mind wandered as she wondered what merchant was meeting her older cousin. Suddenly, she crashed to a stop. She had walked into a man. Not just any man though. The Fey prince. Prince Crudelis was known for his manipulative nature and habit of causing people mental, emotional and physical pain for entertainment. "Sorry, your highness." Naesala stammered in terror. The prince scanned her up and down in amusement. He smiled at Naesala in a way that made her skin crawl. He was handsome but he had a predatory presence that overwhelmed any charming features he had. Crudelis smiled, in what he probably thought was a friendly smile, and winked at Naesala. "Accidents happen all the time." Naesala nodded quickly. Crudelis kept his eyes fixed on her face and said, "I hope we meet again." With that he walked away and left Naesala alone in the middle of the corridor. Naesala shuddered. She never wanted to see the prince again. Ever. She turned around and headed to the laundry rooms, she should probably start her extra work now. Besides, if she went to dinner, there was a risk of meeting the prince again, and she did not want that.