Mollifying Entropy- I do not own True Blood. I do own all of my characters and the plot of this story.
It's so dark and cold. I would like to say how long I've been here, but it's been so long I cannot recall days. The darkness hides the sun from me; I find I cannot even remember how it feels on my skin. Erosion covers the bars of the cage in which I am imprisoned. Rust covers my hands as I grip the bars. A strong disheartening smell fills the room with decay. Every once in a while you can hear us cough from it. The stone ground smooth under me, though freezes me to the core. Yelling can be heard around me, but the darkness makes it hard to place where they are. The piercing scream filling the empty space could be beside me or across the room. Or maybe they are all mine? I really cannot say anymore. I won't say that I've lost all hope, but as I sit in the dank cage craving daylight, wearing rags, lips cracked from dehydration. Well, one could understand why I maybe lacking in faith.
A door creaks open letting some candle light in cell which confines me. It cast light on three other cages in the room, each of us placed in a corner; faces disappearing in the shadows. We stay silent as thick boots hit the floor breaching the distance between us and them. A part of black boots with steel on the toe stops in front of my cage. The metal is dull, but I can still make out my shape in them. Heavy keys clank together when they unlock the large lock, rough hands reach in grabbing my arm. I scoot farther away, though he is stronger dragging me out.
"None of that." He encourages pulling me to my feet; however I've been sitting so long my feet won't work. They ache as I try to stand feeling numb and a sharp stinging.
The man takes under my arm supporting my weight. I keep my head down focusing on how to walk. The movements feel so foreign. How long has it been? My legs are streaked with mud and I have bruises on my arms. We walk out of the room and I turn to see two other girls following me. Wait, there were four? Glancing to corner two I see the men pulling out an ash colored body, a limp arm slumps to the ground and a man moves to reposition the body. Lifeless grey eyes stare at me. The girl's mouth appeared ajar and her red curly hair was in a matted mane. Her body contorted in an awkward angle as they pull her out further. I study the way her limbs looked stiff and bloated, though I find my examination to be ephemeral as the man blocks her dull face again.
"The witch didn't make it." One of the men growls taking her arms as the other takes her legs. She looks on void of emotion with a blank expression. I can't help, but to be a little envious. She escaped. I'm still stuck here.
The man pulls me with him tugging me along. The cool air causes me to tremble. My legs still scream from motion, but seemed to dulling. We walk into a hallway, the bright lights stinging my eyes making me light headed. I clench my eyes tight, but the lights still penetrated causing me the see flashes of pinks and whites. My head throbs and I stop feeling disorganized. My bare feet scrap over the floor as they drag. I stretch every muscle trying to rid them of their stiffness. My shoulder throbs causing me to let out a hiss.
"Almost there." He whispers into my ear, I jerk away from the sound. He pats my arm despite my recoiling. I couldn't tolerate touch, couldn't handle everything so soon. He turns back to the other men, "Move the crates." His voice sounding rougher with them.
He turns me to us to the right and pushes me in. I open my eyes seeing a small table and chairs. The other girls stand close behind. We gravitate towards each other, stronger in numbers I suppose.
"Sit." He snaps to us.
We all stay in place until he takes a threaten step closer. Each of us takes a chair shivering and keeping our heads down. Another man brings four slices of bread and cups of an unidentified liquid. He places each plate in front of us until reaching the empty chair. He nods and takes the plate back.
"Each of you is to eat your bread and consume the entire contents of your drink. Any of which you refuse you will be beaten and force fed. Is that understood?" The man who dragged me in announces his broad arms folded over his chest. I notice his dark eyes and hair. His beard hung low looking bushy and untidy.
The two girls beside me hesitate. Each of us stared down waiting for the other to move. I stare down at the plate refusing to touch it. The man sighs,
"Last chance."
When we still refuse to move he comes up to the girl in the middle reaching for her. He grabs a handful of her hair and jerks it downward causing her face to be inches from the plate. Without thinking my hand wraps around his thick wrist and my other holds her long hair easing the tension as he pulled. Her hair felt dirty in my hand. Its auburn color faded. The man releases her hair turning to glower at me. His hand was gripping my chin with brutal force.
"You are going to be trouble aren't you?" His cool breath hitting my cheek while he studies my face. His tone hushed like we were sharing a secret.
'Yes, I will make your life a living hell even after. I will escape this place and I will take these girls with me. You will regret the night you stole me from my tree. Those weeks you spent hunting me like an animal. I plan to kill each and every one of you involved in the most painful way possible.'
I shake my head taking the bread in my hands, picking off a piece and popping it in my mouth swallowing the dryness. He turns to me watching as the other girls follow my lead. The girl in the middle brushes her calf against my own
'Thank you.' A soft voice echoes in my head, I nod discreetly tapping her leg in return.
I decide to chug the liquid smelling the medication in it. The flavor was bitter and it had a grainy feel. After, I scarf down the bread hoping for it to absorb most of the drugs. As soon as I'm done I begin to feel the effects.
My body became limp and sluggish. The girl beside me takes my hand in a tight grasp as she also seems to sink. I notice she also holds the younger girls hand. I make to move, though my legs seem to oppose the idea. I stand only to feel my knees buckle. One of the men catches me lifting me into his brawny arms. My struggles go unnoticed as I try to fight against him still gripping the girl's hand.
Our captors break our bonds carrying us to a new location.
My eyes fall closed, but I know we're not going the same direction we started. Night sounds around us. I hear water and bell chimes. Men were shouting orders causing my head to throb. I feel my body being moved to another person. This one had warm skin and his heart beat felt like drum as I rest my head on it.
"You must behave phoenix. Our captain doesn't take kindly to merchandise that causes him problems and you're too beautiful to be abused. I know you're scared, but you must be good."
The mysterious voice had a new accent, thick and inviting. The owner of the voice gave my forehead a quick kiss before moving me again. I'm placed in another cage. The lock clicks as my carrier leaves. Opening my eyes I see very little. The room is pitch black, but I can sense I'm in an enclosed space alone. I close my eyes again drifting off, feeling the medicine take full effect. There was nothing left to do, but sleep.
Authors Note: Hello my lovely friends! I have missed you like crazy. Here is another story with our favorite Phoenix. I suppose this could be called a prequel, but it's not really. More of another life Nix lived. This one will have Rixon and eventually Godric. Considering I'm swamped with life the updates may be a wee bit sporadic. Hopefully, I will be able to regulate them. Let me know what you think of the new story.