After a while, Avarice allows me to roam the rest of the house, though some places were prohibited, which Asmode and Nihasa dutifully  enforced, as long as I’m wearing Chretta. The halls were carpeted in green velvet, the wall paper was mint colored, nearly everything was green, even the lights. The only non-green things were the dark oak floors, wall trimming, stairs, golden Dragon decorations, and the paintings. One painting in particular caught my eye, the woman in the picture looked suspiciously like Avarice, or perhaps he modeled himself after her.

On the days I’m kept in Avarice’s room, I pass the time playing with the tiny Dragons that worm their way in through some unseen entrance. They love curling up against Avarice just as much as they love swatting at the loose strings hanging from my oversized sweater. I was doing just that when, one evening, Avarice’s door caved in. Startled, I roll myself under the bed, some Dragons follow me under while others scatter to other hiding spots.

“Angel~” The intruder hissed. “Come out and play. Hiding from me is pointlesss, I do not need my eyes in order to ssmell you.”

It’s Addanc.

I slap a hand over my mouth to silence the impending retort. How dare he call me Angel, I’m Niceoan, we don’t go around calling Ignaisins Demons!

I listen to his careful steps around the room, holding my breath. Once, one of the braver Dragonlings darts from their knook to defend their sanctuary. However, by the sounds of it, Addanc batted them away as easily as he had trumped the door. 

There’s a pause, then hands seize my ankle, dragging me from my spot under the bed. “Found you!”

I shriek, kicking out and grabbing at anything within my range to hinder his progress in dragging me the rest of the way out of Avarice’s home. Outside the door, Asmode is gathering Nihasa up in his arms. She’s covered in blood and most of it’s coming from her throat. Asmode does not look at me as he flees from Addanc.

I only allowed myself to be taken once he'd hauled me out the front entrance. Being so high off the ground, I was rather content with being carried than dropped, my wings were useless to me anyways.

For the first time, I’m out of the house. The world outside that suffocatingly green and black mansion held more color than a meadow in spring, brighter color, more beautiful colors. Dynamic, strangely shaped towers decorated in gargantuan exotic flowers.

Passing from one city to the next, the colors shifted from pleasant to garish. Deep plum trimmed in gold everything. Then the buildings became giant trees, coated in thick layers of blue bioluminescent moss; definitely poisonous. At least the building still sustained their natural stone greys. For all I knew, this was the consequences of living my entire life on an island of dull whites and pale blues. Back then there wasn’t enough color but now there’s too much.

I’m distracted by the sights until we touch down, then I thrash and kick to my heart’s content. Addanc is unfazed, he hoists me over his head like some new trophy just won, holding me in a way that prevents me from squirming so much. Ignaisins rally, hooting and grabbing for my wings and are scared off by Addanc’s aggressive hissing. They settle for fighting over the few feathers that fall off on their own.

Addanc carries me into one of the trees, heading down a dark cavern, rendering me completely blind. Except, the walls are decorated in the severed feathery-wings of various colors, illuminated by glowing crystals growing from the high ceilings. My heart lurches at the sight of them, there are so many of them too.

He turns a few corners before taking me to a dimly lit room and throwing me down. The floor is scattered with bones, a mountain of them piled in the corner, and the smell is nauseating.

“Alright, ‘Zavarice,’ if that’s even your name, I’d like you to meet my brother: Revel.” Addanc whistled, sharp and curt. The scrape of claws answered from somewhere behind, followed by a low rumbling growl.

I turned on the sound, staring as a fat beast rose from under the bone mountain.

“I promised him, ‘one limb now, the rest later.’ Oh and he likes to play with his food.” Addanc said, stepping away.

The Ugale came in heavy, throwing the whole weight of his shoulder onto the sharp end of my bone. His scream was deafening, the shrill noise echoing off the walls dissonantly. Scooping up another bone I skittered away, making it as far as the door. Wedging the new bone between the frame did no more than crumble to dust when I tried to drive it further in.

A familiar thumping sound whirled me around. Coming face to face with the glinting white teeth of a Ugale's gaping jaws, I did the first thing that came to mind. My arms came up on their own, shielding my neck from the inevitable attack. Once his maw locked down on what poor thing found itself between his teeth, there was no certain way to pry him off.

I can hear Revel’s teeth drilling into the bone of my arm, ripping up flesh and muscle like a hound rips up a couch cushion. His hawk-like foot has me pinned to the floor while he jerks my arm from side-to-side. He’s trying to tear my arm out of its socket and I should be screaming but I’m barely even registering the agony it should be causing.

Then Revel freezes, there is a banging sound coming from the door that stops everything in its tracks. Addanc pauses at the handle before pulling it open. Avarice sweeps into the room, a large red man trailing him.

My vision is swimming dangerously when Avarice points at me and says: “Try not to pass out.”

Avarice threw himself at his brother, digging his sharp nails into Addanc’s bare shoulder, forcing the serrated sears from his hands. "Theif," he hissed. "It's one thing to rob me and another to scare my Dragonlings the way you did. Not to mention, you almost killed my housekeeper.”

"I can't help myself! He looks just like her and those wings..." Addanc’s eyes wandered back to me, he was practically drooling.

Avarice shoves down his brother, he picks up the Trire and waves them menacingly at Revel, who scurries back to his bones. I cough as the air I was being deprived of suddenly floods my unsuspecting lungs.

“You’re bleeding a lot.”

“I’m fine.” I insist, though my breathing is shallow.

"Then stand."

"I..." I trailed off, blinking away another assault of drowsiness.

Avarice shook his head and gestured at me. "Carry him."

Despite my anemic delirium, I recognize the red beast that takes me into its massive hands. Then the memory of plummeting into the autumn-stained forest hit me full force, accompanied by the image of this bull-like creature chasing me down at an alarming speed. With that, I squirm, writhing against it’s tightening grip.

“Oi, relax,” Avarice assures, placing a steadying hand on my shoulder. “Zeldris is practically harmless unless you piss him off, which is super easy so stop fighting him when we’re trying to help you.”

Against my instincts, I let myself go limp and lose myself in a haze.

~~~

Icy palms pressed my cheeks, shocking me into clarity.

“He wakes.” An effeminate silvery voice mused. My eyes instinctively snapped to her wings, three pairs of them, all blacker than a moonless night sky, colorful hues unveiling themselves in the shifting light. The Goddess, The Fallen, appeared as youthful as any immortal would be expected to be. Richly dark brunette curls, glossier than a mirror in the flickering candlelight.

The Fallen took my arm, dabbing at my wound as gently as possible with a wet cloth she manifested from seemingly nowhere. Still, I flinched at the biting pain. Once she was satisfied with her work, she passed her fingers over the ruptured tendons and broken skin, weaving my arm back together effortlessly with her power. “How about those wings now?”

I nodded and moments later my wing was good as new excluding the glistening peach scar.

“The feathers will never grow back, old wounds always scar, especially if you don’t allow them to heal.” She scolded, Avarice’s cheeks turning a deep mahogany.

“Thank you.”

She smiled again. “I appreciate the company. And before you go,” She traced a phantom crescent on my forehead with her fingertip. “There, no need to hide anymore, you’re now under my personal protection.”

“What does that mean?”

Avarice answered for her. “It means the other Ignaisins can’t get too close to you.”

“Does it affect you too?”

Avarice blinked. The Goddess stifled a laugh.

“Please,” I beg. “Avarice, I need to go home. I have a little sister to look after, she can’t defend herself.”

“How old is she?”

“Almost fifteen.”

“I think she can manage.”

“You don’t understand-”

“No!”

“You can’t keep me here forever, you either let me out, or I let myself out.”

“Angry clients are a whale’s pod more intimidating than you.” Avarice purrs and pinches my cheek. “It’s cute that you try anyways.”

I slap his hand away. “‘Protecting’ me is going to be a lot harder now that Addanc’s paraded me around the countryside.”

“The Fallen has granted you a boon, her mark will ward them off just fine. All I have to worry about is keeping you from leaving.”

“Why Niceoans of all creatures to display in your Aviary when you already have a Zoo with those baby Dragons trashing your place?”

“A child that looks like an animal does not mean they should be treated as one.”

“I’m not an animal either!”

“You may as well be. I’ve never had a beast spit and claw at me the way you do.” Avarice smirked. “Except I kinda enjoy how feral you are sometimes.”

“Do you let him treat all Niceoans so insolently, Goddess?”

“Heh, you overestimate me, kid. Some few centuries ago, I promised to preserve Ignaisin culture, and since Avarice hasn’t harmed you, nor taken your wings, I see no reason to intervene.”

“But you’re a Goddess! You can do anything you want, go anywhere you want, what are you sitting here babysitting heathens for?”

“Because I cannot leave,” She states matter-of-factly, seemingly unbothered by it’s reality. “I’m a prisoner here, sealed away by my very own sister or, as you know her, The Ivory Maiden.”