This is a work of FICTION, made by and for adults 18+. The following chapter includes depictions of severe trauma (shock, terror), abuse (emotional, physical), discrimination (speciesism (humans, hybrids (human/demon), interspecies coupling (humans/demons)), transphobia, queerphobia, sexism), sex-negativity, kidnapping, non-consensual bondage, branding, severe pain, graphic violence, body disfigurement, bleeding, and sensitive terminology (fuck, queer, mongrel). Reader discretion is HIGHLY advised, and a summary of traumatic events is provided.

Warmth encased Aileene as she peacefully slumbered, but the intrusion of light slowly roused her. She felt Mera cuddling against her back, safely holding her in a comforting embrace. With a grumble, Aileene stretched as she was sweetly greeted, “Good morning.”

Eyes still closed, she hummed back, “Good morning.”

“Did you sleep well?”

She hummed in agreement before finally looking back. “You?”

“I did.” She clutched Aileene closer. “I really love getting to sleep next to you.”

“I do too.” Aileene turned to nuzzle against Mera. “It— makes me feel safe— waking up next to you.”

“I’m glad. I hope that every morning can start this way.” She tiled Aileene’s chin up. “There’s another way I’d love to start my mornings, my love.”

Aileene’s heart fluttered with Mera’s slight grin. “And,” she coyly wondered, “what’s that?”

“Enjoying breakfast in bed.” She leaned in to embrace Aileene. Clutching Mera’s robe, she eagerly kissed back until a whoosh and gust of wind alerted her.

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

“What the fuck is going on?!” Mera’s expression turned to panic as Aileene spied a pair of black wings unfurling behind her.

A cold sweat formed on her brow as Mera turned. “Father..?” The tall figures’ golden skin, hair, and eyes were unforgettable, though not so much as his imposing presence.

“I leave you alone for three days and you’re already sharing your bed with a human? Disgraceful.” He looked to the side and picked up the book of poetry. “And this?! Don’t tell me you’ve fallen in with this queer filth. Fancy yourself a woman, now?? Well,” he tucked the book into his black sash, “I guess that explains why you’ve always been so weak.”

“GIVE THAT BACK!!” Mera reached for it but her father struck her.

“Pathetic.”

“MERA!” Aileene tried to comfort her, but the man grabbed her arm and ripped her from the bed with a sharp cry.

“HEY!” Before Mera could strike him, her father grabbed her too.

“It’s time for a lesson.” As his wings wrapped around them, the world shifted and Aileene became disoriented. She didn’t have time to observe her surroundings when the blackness opened before she was thrown against a wall.

“AILEENE!!” She fell to the cold, stone floor in her daze before seeing Mera being restrained with her arms overhead, held in place by a golden glow. “STAY AWAY FROM HER, YOU BASTARD!!” Unmoved by her threat, he approached and forced Aileene up. “LET HER GO!!” Her yelps of pain did nothing to sway him as he held her arms up and gripped her wrists. As he let go, Aileene found a similar glow affixing her hands in place. She stared at Mera in fear while her father approached a burning hearth; only now noting it, the cackling of flames made Aileene’s heart drop as she recalled the heat of her funeral pyre.

He pulled the book out. “Men have no use for this.”

“What are you doing?!” Her father tossed it into the fire. “NOOO!!!” Flames slowly consumed the pages as Mera cried, but he cared not as he pulled an iron from the hearth. As the coals fell away, a white hot tip revealed an unfamiliar symbol engraved in metal.

Mera’s cries slowed as she watched her father turn. “Meranlynx!” She fought against her bonds. “Dont!!” Her anger was barely visible through her fear.

With a step towards her, Aileene began to panic as realization set in. “Wait…”

“MERANLYNX, DON’T DO IT!!” His approach continued.

“There’s only one thing to do with a sinner.”

Wide-eyed, Aleene begged under her breath, “Please, no,” when he reached her.

“LYNX!! IF YOU TOUCH HER I’LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!!”

The hot iron neared her skin and Aileene thrashed away; he grabbed her leg and held it down, but she still struggled against the pain. “It’s time for your punishment.”

“NOOO!!!” they both screamed, though Aileene’s cries were deafening as the burning iron scorched her skin. The pain in her thigh was unbearable and Aileene soon fell limp as she fainted with tears streaming down her cheeks.

***

Slowly coming out of her daze, the agony shocked Aileene awake. She yelped before becoming aware of a commotion; struggling to open her eyes, she peered to find Mera—adorned with raven wings and coiled horns—locked in combat with her father. Swords brandished, Mera’s much shorter than her father’s, they exchanged blows while Mera yelled out with each strike. Her face held fury and contempt like Aileene couldn’t imagine, but it seemed to matter little. 

As Mera failed to stop a blow before it sliced into her shoulder, Aileene finally noticed that her whole body was covered in cuts. Blood trickled all over while Mera fought through the pain, but she couldn’t land a blow on her father no matter how hard she tried. ‘How— how is this fair… She’s fighting so hard, but— he’s just so big…’ With a few more cuts, Aileene understood, ‘He’s going to kill her…’ His sword came down towards her head and cleaved the left horn while scratching Mera’s face; as she cried out, fresh tears fell down Aileene’s cheeks. ‘Oh no, it’s happening again.’ Mera struggled to ward off his strikes as Aileene realized, ‘I’m going to lose someone I love.’ She peered up at the leather band around her wrist. She closed her eyes and cried. ‘I can’t…’ The strap fell to the ground with an unceremonious thump. ‘I can’t lose you too…’ Willing herself to peek, Aileene saw Mera’s face, filled with shock and pain. ‘Please, I can’t lose you.’

Seeing tears trickle down Mera’s cheeks broke her heart. Her agony couldn’t be hidden as she continued to fight but, as she took more cuts, Mera mouthed, “I’m sorry.” She dashed back and enveloped herself in her wings.

“THAT’S RIGHT, RUN AWAY YOU MONGREL!!” Into the blackness, she disappeared. Aileene’s heart eased as her head fell and she fainted once again.

Summary of events. Reader discretion is still advised.

From seemingly nowhere, Mera’s father appeared, cursing the sight before him. After taking her book of poetry, Lynx grabs both Mera and Aileene before teleporting them away. In a stone chamber, both of them are restrained before Mera’s book is tossed into a burning hearth. He next retrieved an iron from the fire and used it to brand Aileene, causing her to faint from the pain.

As Aileene awoke, she found them engaged in combat, while Mera displayed her wings and a coiled pair of horns. The battle was very one sided, both due to Lynx’s greater stature and his sword, which was twice the length of Mera’s. After she received a multitude of cuts from failed attempts to stop his blade, one came down and cleaved her left horn while scratching her face.

Aileene realized she’ll lose another loved one if the fight continues. In desperation, she ended the contract between her and Mera, letting the leather band around her wrist fall. Though Mera can’t hide her despair, she continued the fight for a short time before retreating, granting Aileene’s unspoken wish to not watch her die before she passes out again.

End of extreme content warning.

—Spoiler—

I don’t have much to say, or much I can say. I knew writing this chapter would hurt but I feel… hollow… Like a little light has gone out. Is there any hope for Aileene? Find out in the final chapter of this novella, Chapter 14: Salvation.

—End Spoiler—