Hungry is the heart

Chapter 11. Eat, Eleanor, Eat

'Have a seat,' the goddess said while walking into an extravagantly decorated dinner room. Statues lined the wall, holding candles in their grey hand. The light of the flames was shattered on the white floor. Under a ceiling of blue flowers stood a large wooden table. Silverware rested on blue velvet. The bowls were filled with colourful fruits, cut meat, vegetables, and loaves of bread in all shapes and sizes.

Eleanor stared at the table in astonishment. She had never seen this much food in one place. Not even during the harvest festival. But here it all was laid out, seemingly just for them. She didn't even recognize most of the foods. What if they weren't what they seemed? Was this Soliste's way to force her to eat another heart?
Silently, she slipped into her chair, trying to avoid the silver eyes in front of her.

Soliste sat down on the other side of the table and filled her own plate with meat. 'You chose a pretty dress.'

Eleanor pressed her lips together. Soliste really had done it on purpose, and she wanted her to know.
'Why don't you answer, dear? Am I lacking in my hospitality?'

'No, I'm sorry.' Her heartbeat quickened.
'Are you really? You look worried.' Soliste leaned forward. 'You aren't hungry, are you?'
Eleanor bit her tongue. She didn't want to play along in this game, but she didn't know how to stop it. All the words she came up with remained stuck in her throat.
'Just tell me, there is nothing I can't solve. You can be honest here.'

'Can I?' Her lips trembled as they touched. She didn't dare to look up.

'I am nature, Eleanor. I am the one who gave you your thoughts, who gives your lungs the strength to breathe. Why would you be afraid of the things that make you human?'

It felt like the goddess looked through her like glass. She was the one dealing the cards. So what really was stopping her? She was human. She couldn't fight the will of something that was this much bigger than her.
Eleanor stared silently at her own shadow, with its wings and strange antlers. She suddenly had trouble breathing. The goddess was lying. This was a trick. One she had almost fallen for. 'I... I am no longer human.'

'Is that so?' Solistes eyes looked white. She came closer as her figure extended over the table. Her nails scratched over the wood. 'Or is that what you want to be? To define nature, just like everyone. Ready to destroy everything I rein over.' Her exposed teeth were masked by a smile. She slowly leaned back into her chair. 'Tell me, Eleanor.'

'Isn't nature just as destructive? Just as hungry?' Eleanor's voice was a mere whisper. She was death after this. The goddess would sink her nails into her chest and pull her heart out. 'I-I'm not different from anyone else.'

The goddess nodded slowly. Her sharp teeth punctured her own lips. Causing red to flow from her mouth. 'Then why don't you eat like them? I didn't invite you to watch those eyes of yours stare at my table.'
Eleanor nodded softly. The goddess wouldn't let her go, if she didn't. She needed to just grab something. Maybe Soliste would let her leave after. She looked across the table in a panic, until she noticed a bowl with red fruit. They looked a lot like apples, but with a weird red crown instead of a stem. They felt saver as the meats.
She grabbed one of them and brought it to her lips. Her lips slit over the cold fruit while she bit down. A bitter-sweet taste filled her mouth.
She looked down at the fruit in her hand. It was white with small reddish orbs in the centre. Red sap dripped over her fingers. She quickly laid the fruit on her plate and licked it from her fingertips, to prevent the red sap from staining the tablecloth.

Soliste gestured to the table. 'Eat, Eleanor, eat.'
It wasn't enough. They weren't done until she finished. Silently, Eleanor continued eating the fruit, before moving on to eating bread and vegetables. She watched the goddess silently, waiting for a reaction or a signal that she had to eat the meat. But Soliste remained still, like one of the statues along the walls.

Only when Eleanor finished her plate, the goddess rose from her seat. Leaving behind her untouched food, as she walked around the table. 'Let's go for a walk.' She offered her hand.

Eleanor stood up and placed her trembling fingers in those of Soliste. When would this be over? What was the goddess trying to do? Was she here just for her entertainment and pleasure? A toy to be played with and thrown away. Or was there something behind those cold eyes? A being aware of a bitter truth, Eleanor still had to learn.

Soliste pulled her through her hallways. Their footsteps echoed like drums in the silent wing. Almost rhythmic, but always broken by a pause or stutter, before they truly were.
'Eleanor,' Soliste said her name as if she pulled her out of a group. 'Let's stop pretending. I can feel your fear move the air. I don't want you to think that way. Can we come to an agreement?'
Eleanor looked up. The goddess wouldn't do that. She had nothing to gain from a mortal. 'Why would you offer, if you can take everything you want?'
'Why didn't you grab the food from my plate? It stood right in front of you.'

'Because that would be rude.'
Soliste nodded, letting go of her hand. 'You might see me as cold and cruel, but I don't take what isn't mine.'

Eleanor stepped back. 'What do you want from me.'

'I want to make you a promise.' Soliste straightened her back. 'As long as you are under my roof, you won't have to fear me. Within the borders of this house, I won't harm you or change your form in other ways.'
'What do you want in return?'
'Nothing, I don't want to fight a war with you, my dear.'

'How do I know that.' Soliste smiled. Her fingers slipped between the leaves of her dress, pulling out a brown cord with a yellow stone. She attached it around Eleanor's neck gently. 'This is our symbol.'Eleanor pressed her hand against the amber. It felt cold against her fingertips. Was this the truth? Or just another form of deceit? If this wasn't a fight, why had the goddess put so much effort in showing her control?Eleanor couldn't find the courage to ask. 'Thank you.' Al she got in return was a small nod. There was a brief silence before the goddess continued walking. 'Now you understand, I want you to know you are free to eat and drink anything our tables offer. You already traded your humanity, so there is no reason to go against your new nature. There is no price you didn't already pay.' She slowly walked up to the wall of thorns that separated them from the other parts of the building. As she raised her arm, the branches curled aside. 'You are free to go.'