The Iron Hostage (An Iron Fey Fanfiction)

Chapter Four: A Meal and a Friend

Kenzie laid on the floor crying for hours. She couldn't move her arms, left leg, or right foot. She was positive that she was going to be paralyzed. She couldn't even turn to see who was coming into her cell. A pair of green legs sat down in front of her, placing a tray of food in front of her.

Steaming soup and bread. It smelled so good to Kenzie. "The queen wishes you to have this."

Kenzie forced herself to look up at the girl. She was pretty. A nymph. Kenzie looked at the food. It looked so good, but she couldn't. Titania gave her that. She vowed not to take from her. That would just give her more power.

"I...I...I'm not....hu...hungry." She whispered to the nymph. She frowned.

"Queen Titania wishes you to eat."

"Why? So that I will listen to her? No." Kenzie turned her face into the ground.

"What shall I do?" The nymph asked. Kenzie didn't answer, another Summer fey did.

"Make her eat it. Queen Titania said she is to eat." This one was a man.

"Hold her head back so I can get the juice in." The nymph said.

The male fey grabbed Kenzie by her hair and slipped a hand under her chin. Next, he used a hand to open her mouth. Kenzie still had broken bones, she couldn't reach her hands to them to stop them. The nymph opened a small vial filled with liquid and poured it down her throat. She was glad that it didn't burn at least.

After the liquid had gone down, the male let her go and Kenzie fell to the ground. The nymph stayed with her as the male walked out. "I'll tell Queen Titania that the at least the juice has been consumed."

"Yes." She waited until the male was gone before talking to Kenzie again. "Please, eat something. It will help you.". Kenzie looked up at her.

"I shall not eat when she tells me to. Titania does not own me!" The nymph frowned at her.

"I know how you feel about her, but there is no need to give up eating. You'll need it. Bonecrusher will come back."

Kenzie wondered why this fey was being so nice to her. She looked over at her. "Why are you trying to help me?"

"Because I don't like seeing people hurt. This is my one way to help."

Kenzie allowed her to feed her the soup.

***

Titania was still in her throne when a male came over. "The mortal has ingested the juice my lady. She'll be fully healed within hours. Shall I go and get Bonecrusher?"

"That's good for now." Titania smiled a wicked smile, "And, let's not bother Bonecrusher right now. Or you'll be his next victim." She had seen him go off with the nymph that was dancing just a few minutes ago. She turned to the male fey. "How long until Oberon comes home?"

"A few days." He replied. Titania sat back. That wasn't enough time to do as she wanted with Kenzie. Oberon would find out by the time he got back. She couldn't have that.

"We'll have to speed up our process then. Leave a message outside Bonecrusher's room, do not go in or knock, and let him know that he is to go ever other hour. We'll give her a mega dose of the juice to keep her able to be broken. With the amount of pain we cause her, she'll think it's been weeks. Go now. I don't want to see you until you have finished all your duties."

"Yes my lady." The male fey bowed and ran off to do as he was told. Bottle up multiple juices that had a fast action, and write the note for Bonecrusher. As he went along, he picked up a few friends to help him. He knew that if he didn't have this all done by nightfall that he'd be in trouble, and he had days worth of work to get done.

The female nymph from the cell walked by him in the kitchen with the tray of food. The only thing gone was the soup.

"You got her to eat it?" He asked surprised.

"Yes, I talked her into it. She got much stronger while eating. She was able to sit up without pain."

"Good. Titania is speeding up our plan."

"That's a good thing and a bad thing. I don't know how much her mortal body will take. She could die before Titania's end plan is fulfilled."

"She won't let that happen." The fey said as he mixed the large vat of juice to be bottled for Kenzie. The girl fey looked down away from him. She cared about Kenzie. She didn't want her hurt. However, Titania had a plan, and no one could help her. She just had to stay a small, yet loving part of Kenzie's stay here.

***

Kenzie woke up and the fey girl was sitting back in front of her. "Ready to eat again?" Her tone was happy, yet sad.

"I'm not hungry though." Kenzie answered, sitting up and facing her.

"Just at least eat the bread and have a sip of something." She pushed the tray towards her. Fruit, warm bread, and a purple cup of something sat on it. Kenzie picked up the bread and pulled off some pieces.

"What's your name?"

"Deliah."

"That's pretty." Kenzie said, talking with bread in her mouth. She took a sip of the juice to wash it down. Something seemed off about Deliah, but Kenzie would find that out later.

"Who was the guy from yesterday?"

"That was Deeter. My brother." She looked away from Kenzie.

"What is Titania planning with me, Deliah?"

"I can't tell you, for I don't even know all the details. Just do this. Don't fight as much, it will be better for you."

Deliah picked up the tray while Kenzie still held the bread and walked out of the cell, having a guard shut it closed. She left without another word to Kenzie.