Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault

I sat down at the same table he was sitting at earlier. This was so stupid, why had I decided to come here. I went to get back up when I heard a deep chuckle sound behind me. I spun around quickly to see him sitting one table over from me.

"How do you keep doing that?" I snapped.

"I'm afraid you are going to need to be more specific than that." However, a knowing smirk was written all over his annoying face.

"Showing up out of nowhere!" I seethed clutching my cloak tighter to my body.

"You are the one who showed up to my tavern." He chuckled.

"Yours?" I questioned with wide eyes suddenly feeling like a moron.

"I did say my tavern did I not?" His brow raised.

I just rolled my eyes going to stand up to leave but he was quick to stand in front of me.

"You came here for a reason. What is it?" He asked in an oddly soft manner.

"I-I don't know." I whispered. "I just need answers, but I don't know how to get them."

"That fucking sucks." I shoved at his abdomen but not enough to hurt him, before trying to push around him. He quickly grabbed ahold of my bicep, pulling my body back in front of his inhumanly large one.

"Ask." He said so quietly I nearly missed it.

"What?" I asked dumbfounded.

"I will not repeat myself." He spoke nodding his head at the chair I was just sitting in. I froze for a second contemplating my options before deciding it couldn't hurt. I sat down on the wooden chair and watched him do the same across from me.

"I-I am looking for someone." I told him avoiding his eyes. "But I don't know this place and I-I don't know what to do."

"Then figure it out. Whining about it isn't going to change anything. Make a fucking plan and get your shit together. Is that why you were with that dirtbag?" The asshole.

"He doesn't seem like a dirtbag." I mumbled.

"Did you forget about the fact that you likely would've starved to death if they hadn't realized they needed you?" He spoke, anger simmering in his eyes. Why did he care?

"You need to be smart, Eleia." He growled quietly. "You are going to get yourself killed."

"How do you know so much about me?" I whispered to him. "Tell me who you are, please." I nearly begged.

He seemed to be fighting himself internally until he sighed before muttering a name.

"Theo."

I hesitantly stuck my hand out.

"What the hell are you doing?" He snapped glancing at my hand.

"I'm Eleia, nice to meet you Theo." I spoke quietly. He looked at me with disgust. Oh.

I quickly pulled it away.

"I-I should go. They are probably looking for me." A lie. He knew it was a lie too. He just gave me a subtle nod before I got up turning my back to him. I walked out of the tavern, the bell chiming behind me as the cold winter wind, greeted my cheeks. I took a deep breath as I walked down the stone path. It was dark out now as I walked, occasionally people would walk by, but it was far less crowded than during the day. The moons and countless stars shimmering in the night sky.

I looked at the various shops as I walked by, this place felt so unique and beautiful. It was refreshing to see compared to the identical brick buildings that lined street after street in the human lands back on Wyllis. The craftsmanship of each shop was unique and detailed here, large windows at the front of each for people to look in. I would keep doing that if a hand didn't grab ahold of my body, tossing me into a wall. Hard.

I groaned out in pain as I looked up at the clearly drunken male. I tried to scoot away but the pain exploded through my abdomen when I tried to sit up. I cried out, screaming hoping to get anyone's attention.

His disgusting, grimy hand covered my mouth, muffling my screams. I kicked and thrashed against his body trying to do anything to get away from him. My nails clawing at his skin and trying to yank his filthy hands off of me.

I was able to free my arm elbowing him in the gut as hard as I could. He cursed out before gripping me harder and throwing me against the side of the nearest shop. His hand wrapped around my throat cutting off my air supply. I clawed at his hand trying to free myself, but it was no use. Black spots danced across my vision as I heard the zipper of his pants. I could feel his hand invading my underwear through my waistband. I screamed as loud as I could trying to kick my legs. He reached for the waist of my pants trying to pull them down.

No. No. No. No. I don't want this. Why won't he listen.

I tried to fight him off, but I was too weak against an immortal. Tears ran down my cheeks uncontrollably as I screamed out, hoping anyone would come and stop him.

He was about to yank my pants down further when he was ripped from my body. I would've collapsed if it weren't for the arms that caught me.

"You're alright." His voice whispered against my ear. I felt my eyes shut as I rested my head against his chest.

"Where are you hurt?" He asked me softly.

I just looked up at him with wide eyes. Tears still running down my cheeks.

He reached up cupping my face with his hands as sobs wracked through my body.

"You are safe now." He kept repeating, I couldn't tell which one of us he was trying to convince.

"I need you to tell me where you are hurt." He spoke, his voice more commanding and serious than before. "Now Eleia. You can do it, tell me."

I reached for my sore and burning throat. He quickly swatted my hands away looking for himself.

"Can you stand?" He asked. I just nodded as he pulled me up, letting me lean against his side. He pulled a dagger out of a sheath I didn't even notice he had. I flinched back on instinct, but to my surprise he flipped the blade so the handle was facing me.

"This kill belongs to you." He spoke nodding towards the disgusting male who was trying to crawl away on the ground.

"I-I can't do it." I whispered, tears rushing down my cheeks. "I-I can't k-kill someone." My voice coming out raspy and low.

"This...being..., just tried to rape and probably kill you, Eleia." He growled his voice laced with anger and malice.

"I-I can't." I whimpered pathetically as I raised the dagger over the man.

He walked past me and slammed the dagger down on the man's crotch. He screamed and wailed out in pain. Blood drenched the front of his jeans and pooled around his body, staining the ground red.

Theo grabbed my waist and pulled my body against his. My hands were shaking uncontrollably, and I soon realized my whole body was.

"It's the shock." He whispered to me, sensing my panic. "Just remember you are safe now, no one is going to touch you like that again, I promise you." His voice low and almost threatening.

He shrugged his cloak off wrapping it around my body as he walked me towards the floating island.

He led me towards the stairs before gently placing me on my feet. I went to shrug off of the cloak to hand back to him, but he stopped me.

"Keep it." He whispered reaching out and tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. I felt too scared and empty to even react. "Go inside, Eleia." He whispered. I nodded before turning on my heel and wobbling towards the steps as I clutched my likely broken ribs.

I walked up the stairs slowly before dropping to my knees, halfway up.

I glanced behind me to see Theo had disappeared.

I cried out in frustration as I struggled to get back up on my feet.

"Eleia?" I glanced behind me to see Milo rushing towards me.

"What the fuck happened?!" He breathed, reaching to grab me. I felt his hands touch my skin but all I felt was the man's disgusting hands on my body. I cried harder and thrashed away from him.

"I won't touch you, okay?" He whispered, taking a step back.

"I need you to tell me what happened, okay?" Suddenly the door burst open, Oren and Axel rushed out, hurrying to come to where we were on the stairs.

Oren went to reach for me too, but I flinched away.

"I need to see where you are hurt." Oren whispered, his eyes darkening when he noticed the bruises that were likely littered across my throat.

I didn't have time to warn them as nausea ripped through my body. I vomited over the stairs behind me, as my body shook violently.

"Dammit." Oren mumbled before his hands were on me. I screamed out trying to get away when I felt a hand touch my head. Then there was just darkness.

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"Come on sweetheart! It's time to open presents!" Mom's excited voice filled the room as she brushed her fingers through my knotty hair. She pulled me into her arms, squeezing my body against hers.

"Mom!" I squealed pushing her away as endless giggles flooded the room. She set me on the floor, my bright blue pajama set, was covered in snowflakes for Winterfest and my feet were covered in fluffy light pink, polka dot socks.

We both darted downstairs to see Dad sitting on the couch, several neatly wrapped boxes were lined up in front of the small cardboard fireplace he had made from scratch! He was just the coolest.

I rushed over and right into his arms as he gave me the best hug ever!

I opened the first present after finding my spot on the couch in between Mom and Dad. I pulled the fluffy silver ribbon off and yanked off the lid. I froze when my eyes were met with a black leather-bound book, with letters on it that I didn't recognize. I looked up at Dad with a puzzled look, but this wasn't my dad. His eyes were missing, and dark voids filled them. His lips curled up into a sinister smile baring the viciously sharp, rotted teeth. I screamed out throwing the box at him as I fell to the floor in front of the couch. Scooting back as fast as I could.

I looked over at mom to see her body bend in ways that shouldn't be possible. Her forearms bending to allow her to walk on all fours. I screamed out in terror the closer she got, crashing into the fake fireplace dad had made.

I heard footsteps get closer as a hooded figure burst through the door, my real mom and dad appeared at the bottom of the steps, screaming out in horror as they watched their imposters get closer. Mom and Dad sprinted towards me blocking me from the others. I heard loud shouts before everything faded into nothing.

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I shot up out of the bed gasping for air as my hand clutched at my chest, pulling at my loose shirt, trying to get the neckline far from my throat.

"Woah! Hey, hey, hey!" Oren's concerned face filled mine as he placed his hands on my shoulders. I immediately felt my whole-body tense at the unwanted contact. He must have noticed because he hesitantly dropped his hands to his sides.

"Leave." I jumped when I saw Evelyn walk in the room, her long, light blue silk dress flowing around her body, her long dark blonde hair, was in loose curls flowing down her back. Her stomach was still swollen.

"Evel—"

"Oren, go." She cut him off, holding the door open for him. He glanced at me one more time before pushing past her and out the door.

She closed it softly, the door shutting with a soft click. She walked closer to the bed, her dress swaying around her body and reflecting the dozens of candles lit in this room.

"Is it alright if I sit?" She asked softly. I scooted back slightly but nodded my head. She sat down and glanced across the room at the fireplace. The real fireplace.

"I heard what happened, I want you to know that the man is being searched for. I had to go in your mind to put you to sleep painlessly. When I did that, I saw... I s-saw what happened." I felt the tears fall down my cheeks before I furiously wiped at them.

"You are safe here." She spoke, but I couldn't miss the way she almost seemed unsure. "He will be dealt with when he is found."

"Found?" I asked quietly.

"Yes, he wasn't where..." Her voice trailed off as she looked away from me.

"T-There was a man, I saw in your mind, that you met with. Who was that?" She asked me. I looked up at her with a confused look.

"Does it matter?" I asked harsher than I intended.

"If it is who I think it is, then yes, Eleia." She spoke seemingly trying to keep her calm.

"He was just someone I met at the tavern." I spoke not wanting to go into detail, especially without knowing what she saw.

"Should you be in here?" I asked after a few minutes of silence. "Y-You just had a baby." I spoke with wide eyes.

"We heal faster than humans do, especially with the help of a healer as skilled as Oren." She smiled softly. "I wanted to thank you, Axel told me what you did for us, by taking Atlas away from everything. I wouldn't want him to ever see something...so, brutal?" She spoke letting out a humorless laugh.

"Would you like to meet him?" She asked quietly, smiling softly.

I just nodded returning a smile. We both got up and walked out the door. She led me down the hallway and up several stairs. I could hear her wince every few steps, but she was good at masking her pain.

Once we got to the room, she pushed open her door, to reveal Atlas sound asleep leaning against Axel who was laying on their bed holding their son. He glanced at me warily and eyed his wife, clearly questioning why I was here.

"This is Zion." She smiled softly, lifting up the little bundle from the bassinet. I let a goofy smile take over my face as I looked at the adorable sleeping baby. She rocked him softly before glancing at her family. They seemed like they were having a moment that I wasn't meant to be a part of. I quietly excused myself and walked back towards my room, when I felt the urge to speak with Oren. I turned on my heel going towards the main staircase. I walked down it cautiously, glancing around me, scared that the man was going to appear out of thin air. Especially knowing that they can't find him.

"Eleia." I jumped and spun around to see Oren walking towards me.

"Are you... are you alright?" He asked softly, seeming genuinely worried.

I just nodded, words not forming at the moment.

"I want to show you something." He whispered leading me back up the stairs. I hesitantly followed, remembering what happened the last time someone told me that.

I followed him down the hallway and now I felt unsettled as I stared at the same door that Avery had locked me out at.

I stared with wide eyes as Oren shoved the doors wide open, hooking the doors on a rope I hadn't noticed the first time to keep them splayed against the walls and wide open.

He nodded his head towards the small balcony of sorts.

He walked over to the ledge resting his palms on the rails. I stood next to him looking out at the vast snow-covered mountains. The twinkle of stars and moons illuminating the night sky. The people, the size of ants bustling about in the streets. Each store and house had a warm and homey glow to it. It felt like something you would only see in a storybook for kids. The tall pine trees decorated the edges of the area seeming to go on forever. It was magical.

I glanced up at Oren and gave him a small smile.

"I'm sorry your first time here, was not how it should have been." He whispered, his eyes swimming with emotion as they connected with mine. "I would like to change everything that is in my power that has gone wrong. I don't want you to hate it here."

"It is beautiful here." I blurted out. Debating in that moment if I should just throw myself over the ledge then and there.

He just let out a deep chuckle. "I suppose it is." He smiled revealing his beautiful smile.

Why does everyone have to be so beautiful and handsome here? It's not fair.

"Thank you." I added. He looked down at me with a questioning gaze. "For helping me, after realizing I was who I said I was." He just frowned but nodded.

"I hope to one day make it up to you." His voice had gone softer than I had ever heard it. He hesitantly slid his hand over on the railing, overlapping his pinky with mine. To my surprise I didn't pull away.