Tattered Wings

Episode 5

1 week later

I had recovered from my minor injuries. Madja was in today for a wellness check- up typa thingy, I dunno. I wasn't really listening.

I've grown more comfortable here. I've only been here for a short while, but I love the night court. Azriel came by every day, he would often take me on small walks around the mansion, and I even gained a pound.

I was still wary as Madja checked over my arms. She unwrapped the bandages on my hand, I hadn't seen it yet since she wrapped it. I gasped, and moved all my fingers. It was sore, but they... My hand was fixed- mostly. My hand was still covered in burn marks, and a few of my fingered were angled slightly odd, but... It looked normal. I almost wanted to cry at the sight. I had a normal hand. A hand that wouldn't hurt if I picked up a cup and put weight on it.

"We'll go through some strength exercises and therapy for your hand, but, your another step closer to being healthy again." Madja said with a smile as she saw my shocked reaction.

"Alright, I'm going to use some light mist- don't worry, it won't hurt. Just to check with any injuries." Madja said. She had tried to use her magic like this before but I freaked out so much she couldn't. But i nodded, seeing how much she's done for me already.

A light pink dust started to swirl around you, a small cluster focusing on your ribs, and a large mass forming on your damaged left wing, while a little bit in your right wing. I watched in fascination, not fear, as the pink dust that smelled like berries swirled around me. She frowned as she saw it from around my ribs. I knew that she knew my wings were damaged beyond repair, that much is obvious with just the naked eye, but the ribs.

"May I?" Madja asked. I looked up at Feyre and Azriel, they both nodded yes, as in full support. I hesitated. I would have to lift my shirt, right? She could easily touch me from there. She could to so many things. She could kill me if she wanted to.

"You don't have to lift your shirt, just let me feel." She said, sensing my apprehension. I still hesitated.

"Y/N, this is for your own good." Azriel said. I looked back at Madja, but slowly, every so slowly, still keeping my eye on her as I laid down. she came to my side and felt my ribs. At the touch I wanted to scream, cry, run away, anything. But I stayed still. She put a slight amount of pressure on my ribs and I hissed in pain, but remained unmoving.

"Fractured ribs. That's strange." She muttured.

"Her ribs are fractured?" Feyre said, shocked. "They haven't healed yet?"

"They must've been severely broken when she got here. Her healing is still slowed down a bit from the faebane and her weakened state." Madja reminded Feyre.

"Just keep your movements more gentle, no extreme excersize, no roughhousing, the usual." Madja said with a smile.

*Later that day*

My ribs had been bothering me for a while, but I didn't think a whole lot of it, my entire body hurt, was that not normal?

A knock sounded at my door. I took a deep breathe reminding myself that there aren't enemies here, that in safe, and that I'm in control.

"Come in." I said, forcing myself to swallow my fear.

"Hello y/n." Rhys said as he entered my room. I frowned. Rhys has never talked to me one on one before. I took a step back, aware of the fact that I was alone with one of the most powerful men I've ever met.

He put his hands up in a 'I surrender' way, but I still didn't bite it.

"I have something I wanted to show you. I'll have Azriel stop by later to show you if you want instead. It's a gift, I promise, you'll like it. It's safe." Rhys said.

"What... What is it?" I asked nervously, taking a slow step backwards.

"It's here in this house. A library." He said simply, sensing my apprehension and nervousness around him.

"I'll have Azriel show you later." He sighed, knowing I still wasn't comfortable with him.

After he left, I don't know why but I was so shaken up. I couldn't eat my breakfast or lunch, completely skipping both meals.

He could've used me, raped me, beat me. I was all alone with the most powerful person, powerful man. I sat on the edge of my bed, too lost in thought to make sense of my situation.

Their here to help. Remember. They've been nothing but kind and thoughtful

They want to use us. Make us gain their trust till we do their bidding. Do hell with them all!

If they wanted my to do something I would've done it by now, they would've forced me.

They want to give us hope. Us hope! Then crush us! Rip their heads off! Burn their hands, cleanse them off this world and -

A knocking came in the door, I yelled come in, seeing Azriel step in. He was wearing his usual Illyrian armour, I stared down at his boots, remembering how when he rescued me from off thr mountain, that was the only part of him I saw before passing out.

"Cmon, there's something I gotta show you." He said, interrupting my raging thoughts. Gladly. I needed out of this room.

We walked to a new part of the house I hadn't seen yet, how big was this place?

"This once is owned my Feyre and Rhys. Your in the city of Velaris, a very well guarded and warded city. No harm will come to you here." Azriel said. "This, is the library. Here, we have acolytes and priestesses from all over. There's only women here." He explained as I entered the library. It was massive, floor to ceiling bookshelves, and endless levels of books from what I can tell. .

"This is the head priestess, Clotho." Azriel said. She nodded, pulling out a pen and writing something down before handing it to me. I haven't read a singly word in decades, and even then my knowledge went to basic levels.

"Nice... To... Meet you... Hope... You... Fit in." I sounded out each word carefully before looking up at Clotho and Azriel.

"Thank you for letting me come here" I said respectfully before giving a small bow.

"Do you have trouble reading?" Azriel asked.

"I have some basic knowledge... I'm just slow." I said sheepishly as he led me down the halls. I learned to read when I was young, but I never got the chance to learn more before my father chained me up and sold me.

"Down here there aren't any men. Only ones that are here are permitted by Clotho. This is a safe space for you." He said. "No harm will come to you here. If you wish you can spend all your time down here." He began explaining the history of the library. He said it was became a safe place once Rhys became high Lord, and that he shelters maybe beings here.

"Oh, and over here, is Nesta. Feyre's older sister." Azriel said, pointing to a girl who had a cart and was organizing books in-between shelves.

She looked beautiful. Way more pretty than me. Her hair braided and twisted over her shoulder. Her features sharp and defined, she held authority, someone not to be messed with.

"Hey Azriel, this the new girl everyone's talking about?" She asked, eyeing me up and down, her eyes not leaving me. I instinctively backed up a slight.

"Yeah. This is Y/n. I was hoping you could show her around the library. I think some of the acolytes are uncomfortable with me here." Azriel said. Nests nodded, and Azriel winnowed away, leaving me alone with her. I swallowed, trying to push down my fear as I was not left in an unfamiliar place, surrounded beings I didn't know.