This is a work of FICTION, made by and for adults 18+.  The following chapter includes depictions of mourning, sexual assault, battery, cutting, severe trauma (night terror, panic, dissociation), bludgeoning, murder in self-defense, battery, non-consensual bondage, murder by immolation, androphobia, consensual intoxication (aphrodisiacs), crying from overstimulation, fainting through energy loss, and sensitive terminology (cunt, slut). Reader discretion HIGHLY is advised, and a summary of extreme events is included.

Extreme content warning. Reader discretion is HIGHLY advised. A summary of major plot points will follow.

The dark of rest was hardly peaceful, and Aileene eventually found herself in the clearing again. ‘Make me—’ “I— I don’t even know you!” Aileene spirited away.

Hagan’s voice was faint and didn’t halt her; then she barely heard, “I SAID STOP!!” A heavy weight brought her to the ground. While his voice garbled, Hagan turned her before striking her cheek and holding her wrists. With her waist straddled, Aileene cringed as he kept shouting.

‘Y-YOU’RE HURTING ME!!’

“You know… maybe they were right…” Aileene cowered at his glare. “The forest girl caressed by fire making faery rings barefoot in the snow. His snicker felt the worst as he accused, “He was even right about your—” Aileene pulled a hand free and reached for her knife.

Aileene’s arm swung; she peeked to blood streaking down Hagan’s neck. She found a rock and it came down on his head again and again until Hagan stopped moving. Before she could process what happened, another voice altered her to men closing in.

‘Oh, no. This isn’t—’ She backed away, “I— I didn’t—!” Aileene was surrounded. She slipped. “No— I—!” The rock and a sharp sting left her senseless.

When next Aileene became aware, her arms were tied overhead and a man was tapping her cheek. “There’s the cunt. Had a nice dream, changeling?”

“What?” ‘Changeling?’

“We caught you red-handed. You killed Hagan and you surely killed the rest of your family too.”

“W-what?!”

“Did you lure him into the woods with your dancing, is that how you did it, changeling? Charming him like a slut so you could murder him in cold blood?”

“But I—!” A punch to her stomach halted her.

“Don’t try and deny it! We passed your faery rings! WE CAUGHT YOU IN THE ACT!!”

“Bu—” Tears fell, “But I-I’m not— a fae—!”

“THEN HOW,” he pulled open her eyelid, “do YOU explain your eyes?! HUH?! I knew both your mother and grandmother and NEITHER OF THEM had emerald eyes like yours!!”

“I—!” she sobbed, “I don’t know! My mother said— they must have been— a gift!”

“A gift?” Aileene screamed as an agonizing trail seared down her face. Though he said something, Aileene couldn’t hear as the pain intensified and finally ceased. “You know, I never got to meet your father. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?” Ablow to her chest shocked her.

The dark smoke clued her that something was wrong. Then Aileene noticed the growing heat. ‘Wait—!’ She acknowledged the pile of wood beneath her. ‘Wait, you—!’ She tried to struggle, but every movement forced pain to course throughout her. Fire tickled her ankle and dread set in. Aileene looked down and realized, ‘Wait— This is—’ The tears streamed as she recalled her mother’s funeral pyre. “Please..!” Aileene yelped as her skirt came aflame.

‘Not here! Please!’ Crying out, the burn traveled up her leg but she couldn’t get away. ‘I CAN’T! PLEASE, NO!!’ The crackling encompassed her and suffocating clouds blocked her sight. “Please, no—!!!” She found her voice only to scream as her fiery curls came alight. Finally, the air itself seared with each breath.

Aileene took one last gasp. “NO!!!!”

Summary of events. Reader discretion is still advised.

In her sleep, Aileene ran from Hagan again, hardly hearing his cries. Tackled to the ground, she’s struck on the cheek while accusations are thrown at her.

When his grip slipped, Aileene reached for her knife and blindly swung, cutting Hagan’s throat. She found a stone and her hand flew until she was safe; or so Aileene thought. A group of men approached and she could only panic as they closed in; a rock came down on her forehead, shocking her into a daze.

When she came out of her daze with taps to her cheeks, strange allegations of her being a changeling and killing her family only left her more confused, and she couldn’t defend herself as the torture began. A blow to her stomach winded her, allowing her accuser to hurl more insults. As tears fell and her words escaped, she was inquired as to how her eyes looked so different from the rest of her family. Saying that her mother called them “a gift” earned searing pain, trickling blood, and the promise to cut out her “gifts,” leaving her terrified.

A harsh blow to her chest left her in agony and began Aileene’s final torment. Fire closed in around her as she realized she was standing upon her mother’s funeral pyre, helpless to escape her fate as she begged for mercy.

End of extreme content warning.

“NO!!!!” She jolted awake screaming.

“Aileene!” Mera tried to console, “It’s okay!”

With one look at the mannish figure, Aileene fled. “St-stay—” She stopped upon reaching the opposing couch. After looking around, still finding herself in the grand cottage while the snow concealed the sunlight, Aileene began to wail.

“It’s okay…” Mera came over and sat next to Aileene. “It’s okay.” She reached over but stopped short. “Are you—”

Falling into her, Aileene continued to bawl as she confessed, “I— I was so scared.” She curled into Mera as she held her. “Those men. They— they chased me, and hurt me… I… I didn’t have a choice. I had to kill him… or… or… I don’t know— what he would have done to me…”

“I know, Aileene. You didn’t have a choice.”

Her sympathy did little to calm Aileene’s tears. “But they still hurt me… They burned— they… they killed me… right… right on… my mother’s pyre… I— I didn’t even know what to feel… but… I couldn’t even see her in the end… And it hurt… so much… I… I still feel the heat on my skin.”

“I– I’m so sorry, Aileene. I wish there were something I could do to help.”

Pushing in, Aileene insisted, “Just don’t let go. Please…”

***

Time passed, though neither could tell as the snow continued. Though her cries did calm some, Aileene couldn’t quell her sadness. Exhaustion set in, but she couldn’t rest; fear held her awake.

“Hey, Aileene,” Mera eventually spoke. “I’m sorry I can’t do more to help, but there might be something I can do that’ll… distract you.”

“Please,” she pleaded, “anything is better than feeling like this.”

“Okay, well… if you smell my aphrodisiacs, you’ll probably start to relax… Hopefully…”

Aileene clutched onto her. “Do it. Please…” For a while, nothing happened. She continued to wait for anything to change, but it was hardly distracting from her fear. “Why isn’t anything happening?”

“I— Maybe you have to be more relaxed for it to work.”

Frustrated, Aileene could only cry harder. With another moment to breathe, she asked, “Can you pet my head again?” As her hair was caressed, Aileene felt her heart flutter. The gentle strokes were soothing and deepened her breathing. It wasn’t too long before her cries calmed some and she felt relaxed again. “Uh, Mera?” The scent of flowers slowly crept into her senses. “I— I think it’s working. I smell… My chest— is…” She peered up and saw Mera’s face; in the soft lighting, she could see that Mera was actually quite attractive. She found herself longing looking at her lips. “I… I want to… kiss you…”

 Mera met her gaze. “If you’re sure.” She leaned in and Aileene embraced her; their lips touched and Aileene’s heart became light. She pulled Mera close and grasped her robe tight.

‘I— I want more.’ She gaped to speak, but—as if to grant her unspoken wish—Mera touched Aileene’s tongue with hers. She gasped before reciprocating the movements, albeit clumsily. While Mera used one hand to continue petting her head, the other slowly wandered Aileene’s body. Gooseflesh covered her skin and Aileene pulled Mera in harder. With the gentle pull on her lips and another tender caress of her side, she lamented, ‘I want— more…’ She pulled away. “Mera…” She stopped her embraces. “I— I want… more.”

Looking at her with care, Mera once again assured, “If you’re sure.” She leaned down and kissed Aileene’s neck.

Her heart throbbed and she gently moaned. The tender pecks thrilled her, but the yearning didn’t cease. “Mera, m-more… please!” The next kiss pulled on her neck and Aileene swooned at the firm touch. ‘Oh, Brigit… My chest…’ “Mera…” Too flushed to continue, Aileene grabbed her hand and guided it to her breast. She sharply gasped as Mera touched her, gently massaging her until Aileene guided her to be rougher. ‘It’s not… enough… I… I want more.’ She looked into Mera’s eyes. ‘Mera… What comes next?’

Tenderly gazing at her, Mera looked down for a moment. “Are you sure you’re ready?”

Aileene nodded. Her legs shuffled and her lip quivered. “I… I want… I-I need… more… Please… show me.”

“If you’re sure.” Mera’s hand slid down and rubbed Aileene’s inner thigh. She shuddered at the touch, grasping Mera’s wrist and guiding her to where her desire was growing. With a sensual caress, Aileene gasped. She pulled Mera in harder and groaned as she rubbed over her robe. Her hips bucked; Aileene began to thrash before losing her balance and falling back. “Careful.” Mera caught her and gently set her upon the sofa before continuing.

“Oh, Mera,” she whined, “it feels… so good.” Holding her lip, Aileene pushed her away to pull up her skit. Her flush worsened as the air lapped her crotch, but Aileene ignored her embarrassment. “Please… touch me more…” Reaching between her legs, Aileene cried out. “Oh, Mera…” Her hips rocked and her moans sharpened as she trembled into the couch. “Oh, Brigit…” Chest heaving, she implored, “Kiss me more.” Lips locked, Aileene’s elated signs were muted but not halted until Mera moved onto her neck. The stronger pull made her shudder and she clenched Mera’s hand between her thighs. “Mera… I— I don’t… Wh-what—?!” Aileene yelled as a wave of pleasure overwhelmed her. Tears fell from her cheeks and she clenched while her body convulsed.

Suddenly, Mera pulled away. “Aileene, are you okay?”

Her senses came back enough to pull Mera back in. “No, DONT!” She thrashed but did her best to hold on. “Don’t— stop…”

“But, Aileene, you’re crying.”

“I-it’s just— a lot. I— I am enjoying it. Please… don’t stop yet…”

 Mera stared before finally giving in. “If you’re sure.” Aileene moaned as the rubs forced her to writhe.

“Oh, Mera,” she called. “It’s… I…” Her breaths choked.”

“It’s okay, Aileene. Let it come.”

With her command, Aileene rocked as a wave overtook her. Her calls cracked and tears welled again. “Oh, Mera… don’t… stop…” Her trembling left her unable to hold on and soon Aileene felt weak. As the waves weakened, the smell of flowers faded and she eased into the sofa. Mera fixed her skirt then eased Aileene’s head onto her lap. Tenderly drying her eyes, Mera pulled her from a trance. “Mera,” she whispered, “I’m tired now.”

“I’m not surprised. You gave me your energy with your orgasm.”

“Or-gasm?”

“It’s what those strong waves of pleasure are called. Not everyone experiences them, but it seems like yours are especially intense.” She patted Aileene’s head. “You should get some rest.”

“Rest… That sounds… nice.”

—Spoiler—

It seems an unfortunate event would be what brought these two shy lovers together, but is this the end of Aileene’s bad dreams? Chapter 6: Nightmare continues this unfortunate saga, but perhaps this will finally be the beginning of happier times.

—End Spoiler—