Faery Island

Murder at Home

Chapter XXIII – Murder at Home

Erin

"What do you think you have been doing watching me?" The red headed fey growled at her. His large hand covered her mouth and she screamed in fear. He violently shook her and she screamed more. She was scared, she couldn't fight back, she wasn't allowed too. The Slave Law forbidded it and was punishable by death.

"Don't you dare scream. Answer my question." He said, at the same time releasing her so suddenly that she dropped to the ground. Dirt flooded around her and into her lungs making her cough.

"Why?" He asked, his shoulders moved with each breath. Erin couldn't say anything but stare at him. "Why!" He screamed, making her flinch away from him. He might attack her at any given moment and it only grew.

"Why do you look like mom?" He screamed. She blinked a few times, the fey looked as if his own question shocked him. His eyes grew wide, almost as if he was the one scared. Erin recognized those eyes.

They were the same eyes she saw in the mirror everyday.

"Why. . ." She was unsure how to speak to the fey. He was emotionally unsettled and strong. "Why do you look like me?"

The faery only seemed more afraid and shock, as if her own voice frightened him. He looked as if he was about to be sick and soon, he ran away.

She sat there on the ground for a moment, looking at the place that the faery had been. Her body still shook from the confrontation, but she was left with no answer. Who was he? Why did he look like her? Why did she look like his mother?

The one question that still haunted her the most was the same one who haunted her for her whole life. Where was she from?

____

The next day guards tromped Amarathine up and down. They went from the Goddess quarters in and out. Living in Amarathine all her life, Erin got to where when someone disrupts the peace it was obvious.

It was obvious something horrible had happened.

Erin had been picking fruit in the Garden. The loan apple tree shaded the rest of the harvest, delicious red apples hung from the tree and she picked them one by one. The garden teemed with other slaves. Somehow, she noticed they were short handed. Even though she didn't know his name, she knew the face and the boy was no where to be seen.

Soon her basket became full and she carried the load through. There was no sign of the red headed faery today.

"Hello Erin," a familiar and kind voice said, taking the basket from her arms. "How are you today?"

Ztnook grinned at her with his foxy features, his teeth were pointed and gleamed. He was a common trader who did more betting than trading in Amarathine, but nice despite being known for scams.

"Fine I guess," another group of guards had marched pass them as they spoke. "Do you happen to know what's going on?"

Ztnook watched the guards passed and folded his hairy arms. "Well, I heard they found a slave's body outside the wall late last night, early this morning."

"Outside the wall?"

"Yeah. He was torn to shreds, laying in a messed up heap out there."

"Do they know what happened?"

Ztnook shrugged and shook his head, he didn't seem to care about much going on. It was just some new gossip to him. "Have no idea. And hey! What I've heard it doesn't sound like an beast like they suspect, trust me I should know." He momentarely flashed his fangs, unthreatening but to get the joke.

"You think a faery did this? But how?" Erin was confused. "There's no way he could have gotten across the wall, no one can."

"There's faeries that are pretty beastily and agile, darling. If they were skilled, knew what they were doing they might be able too. Like shadows, they could come and go with the light."

Erin didn't say anything. Her mind was still trying to wrap itself around someone crossing the wall.

The red headed faery came to her mind.

"Have you seen the new red headed faery here? Big, and aggressive?"

Ztnook rose a furry eyebrow. "Yeah, why?"

"I don't remember any trials lately, and I haven't seen him around," Erin wasn't sure how far to go with her thoughts. "He grabbed me yesterday. He was demanding me to tell him why I look like his mother. . . I've never seen him in my life."

Ztnook whistled. "That's a weird one. And first off, slave or not, no one grabs my darling, even if he's a pyscho."

"So you don't think it was really anything? He's not connected? Being familiar to him is just a conquencedence?"

"I don't think its nothing he harrassed you, but honestly some people are hermits and don't leave their houses. Maybe he's one. If it makes you feel better I'll keep a eye on him."

"Thank you," she smiled and nodded.

"My pleasure."

Ztnook was the closest thing she had to a friend. It was hard sometimes not to embrace him for all that he's done for her. Strict codes kept her from showing any kind of affection, even platonic affection was foridden. Even for the highest ranked slaves like herself.

Erin folded the silky dress neatly. Sweet, flowerly bath soap had become intoxicating in the Goddess's wash room. Water trickled quietly into the bath where the goddess laid unseen through the curtains.

Erin worked quietly and sluggishly.

"Child, is there something troubling you?"

She was somewhat startled by the smooth, motherly voice. "No, no, my Goddess."

"You know, I'm aware of lies. . ."

Erin signed, and continued folding. "There's this man."

"Love?" The Goddess asked quickly, but suddenly changed her mind. "No, that's not it. . . What is he to you?"

"I don't know him. But he thinks I look like his mother. . . I've never seen him before."

"Have you tried talking to him?"

"Not really, no. . . ."

"You should. Everything may become clearer."

Horns blew, breaking their discussion.

"The Trails."