The day had begun like any other, the sun casting its gentle rays upon the fae realm as life flowed in an intricate dance of beauty and magic. Elvira and Alvin had shared a moment of laughter and playfulness beneath the canopy of trees, the echoes of their connection reverberating through the air. But as the day wore on, a sense of unease began to weave its way through the glade.
It was in the soft glow of twilight that Queen Amalthea approached Elvira, her presence commanding attention. A solemn gravity seemed to hang about her, her expression a mixture of sorrow and purpose. Beside her stood a figure that Elvira had never seen before—a fae woman with an otherworldly aura, her features delicate yet ethereal.
"Elvira," the queen began, her voice carrying a weight that seemed to reverberate through the very air, "there is a fae ceremony, one of great significance and importance. It is an event that only those of fae lineage can attend."
Elvira's heart clenched with a mixture of apprehension and confusion. She held Alvin a little closer, her gaze shifting between the queen and the mysterious fae woman. "But... what does that mean for Alvin?" she asked, a sense of foreboding settling in her chest.
The queen's gaze softened, empathy shining within her eyes. "Fear not, dear Elvira. Alvin will be safe in our care during the ceremony," she reassured, her words carrying a sense of sincerity.
Reluctantly, Elvira handed Alvin over to the queen, her heart aching with the weight of separation. "Promise me he'll be well taken care of," she implored, her voice tinged with both hope and trepidation.
"We give you our word," the queen replied, her tone gentle yet resolute.
As the queen and the mysterious fae woman departed, Alvin cradled in the queen's arms, Elvira's gaze remained fixed on their retreating figures. She felt a mixture of longing and uncertainty, a feeling that was only amplified by the impending ceremony that loomed on the horizon.
Hours passed, each minute feeling like an eternity as Elvira's anticipation mingled with a sense of impending dread. And then, as the stars emerged in a tapestry of shimmering light, the queen returned. Beside her stood a figure that sent a jolt of shock through Elvira's veins—a fae woman, radiant and otherworldly, her presence seeming almost too beautiful to be real. It was the girl that her father had brought, the one is supposed to be dead.
What more worried her was the absence of Alvin in the queen's arms. Her heart pounded in her chest, a rising tide of panic threatening to engulf her.
"Elvira," the queen's voice was gentle, a balm to her frayed nerves. "I would like you to meet my daughter, Aine."
"Where is Alvin?" She gritted out, "your majesty."
"You know that Aine was lost to us, taken by the clutches of death," the queen continued, her voice carrying a sense of sorrow and hope intertwined. "But through a rare and ancient fae ritual that was found in the witch's books, we were able to bring her back from the realm beyond."
Elvira's breath caught in her throat, her mind struggling to comprehend the implications of the queen's words. Aine had returned from the dead—brought back through a fae ritual that surely held immense power and consequence.
"But..." Elvira's voice trembled, her gaze darting between the queen and Aine. "Where is Alvin?"
The queen's expression softened, a mixture of understanding and sympathy emanating from her. "To bring Aine back from the realm of the departed, a sacrifice had to be made. A life for a life."
The weight of the truth settled upon Elvira like a heavy stone. Her heart seemed to shatter within her chest, the realization hitting her with a force that left her breathless. Alvin, her precious Alvin, had been the sacrifice.
YOU ARE READING
Hybrid
FantasyA human and a hybrid baby? What could go wrong? Elvira had been snatched away from her normal life and is now stranded in an unknown world with just a baby. She meets a demon who is captivated by her species, is he going to ruin her or become her sa...
