Of Thorns and Glamour

I will Grant Your Wish

I was about to take off my dress, when I heard a knock that was practically banging on my door and a shaking of my locked door knob. "Lily open the door, it's only me," I hear my uncle call on the other side. His words slurred together and he sounded inebriated. "I have to tell you something, please," he pleaded, and my love for my uncle brought me to the door. "I need you to understand I didn't want any of this for you my little fledgling." I opened the door finally and he practically fell through it.

I have never seen my uncle so disheveled before and I can smell wine on his breath. His skin had a few iridescent black feathers poking out and some shed from his skin as he moves to sit on my bed. "I'm sorry, Nuir put shimmer in my drink, the fucking bastard." I blink, it dawns on me that it was probably to prevent him from stopping Nuir from forcing my hand in marriage to Barakah. Shimmer was the few drugs that could make even most gods out of their minds and I was told to never drink it no matter what.

"Uncle, are you alright?" I ask him impatiently, worried someone will come. I lock the door so it might give me a second warning. He tries standing up awkwardly, as his face gives way to a painful expression. His familiar crow flies from his shoulder as if to avoid what was coming next. "Maybe you should lay down and we can talk later, I have to go back out to meet with mother." I lie through my teeth and he notices my dress was somewhat unlaced.

He stood up abruptly, swaying, and I notice he stood on giant crows feet. Whatever my father spiked in his drink was powerful as I have never seen my uncle's crow form before. He observes intently my room, his eyes glowing as he is walks to my wardrobe. His claws clink on the floor as he moves and he rips open the doors to find only clothing inside. "Do you have someone in your room?" He asks in a serious tone, still sluggish and breathing heavily.

I blush and shake my head in response, and he continues to search and looks underneath my bed. I remember I hid my satchel there. "Uncle I don't have anyone in my room other than you. I was getting changed because mother told me to."

Liar.

My inner voice hisses at me, my stomach turns and I look away from him, "Just go ahead and tell me what you were going to say." There is only silence from him and I finally glance back at him and his eyes were distressed, he wasn't looking at me though. I turn around to see what he was staring at and it was Nuir. I didn't hear him come in, I don't think he even opened the door.

"Yes Malphas, tell her." I try to move away from him, but his hand grips down at the arch of my neck and shoulder. His sharp nails less tender unlike my uncles and dug deep into my skin. I wince, but he didn't let up, if I pull from him I know I'd start to bleed. I try to tell him that Malphas was relaying a message, but Nuir tightens his grip on my shoulder, silencing me.

Uncle's face became schooled, "I was going to tell her that she needs to hurry up and change. Lilith is waiting for her." It's like he was never drunk, but his hands he was trying to hide were now black claws. Malphas' shadow expands ever so discreetly and I can see it elongate to convert the darkness of under my bed to be pitch black. 

As if he was trying to hide my satchel. 

I can feel my palms become sweaty, and my shoulders began to shake. "If that is all then I will get to it," I tell the both of them. I was extremely thankful that my uncle covered my story as Nuir opened the door behind me letting go of my shoulder.

There was a disappointed sigh from him, "Malphas you can leave now." I thought they both were going, but when I look back at Nuir his face shows me nothing. "I need one last word with my daughter." He must had figured out my plan to escape. I don't think I am very clever, but surely he couldn't had figured it out that easily.