“Tell me again the story of how I came to be yours.” I ask Mum over a half finished breakfast as she flips through a dossier.
“Hm..?” She eyes up and half puzzled asks, “What a strange request to something you already know.”
“I was just wondering if you had remembered anything new or different.”
“We have the case open, Sabine, but you would be the first to know if anything new came in.” She says emphatically.
“I know..” I'm now feeling guilty. “I was just wondering about my Fae or if there was anything unusual with me?”
She cocks an eye. “‘Unusual’? It’s pretty unusual to find a nearly one year old in a locked half-burnt empty apartment. No identification, no furniture, no food. Nothing but the clothes on your back. What do you mean?”
“Uh… “ I feel the suspicion rising. Not what I intended to do.
“Uh It’s actually for one of my classes. I want to do an essay on my background. A study on assimilated fae.” I hate lying to her.
“Is it cheating to do it on yourself?”
“Well after 20 years my memory is not getting better, so it would probably be best if you go talk to your uncle. He’s a walking computer like that and he’s actually the one who found you so he would have better insight.”
“Oh.” How did I not know that?
After a couple sleepless nights, I pussy up and catch him in the lab. He’s mixing a weird glowing blue solution when he is aware of my presence before I can knock. No surprises for him. “Hi Sabine, what do I owe this pleasure?” He’s so jovial in his restrained, knowing way.
“Hi Uncle Abe.” I try not to appear nervous.
“Come in!” He motions to the chair next to him. I follow suit and take out a notebook and pen to commit. “What’s up? That’s what the kid say right?” I chuckle slightly.
“Yes ‘the kids’ do say ‘what’s up.’ Um… I wanted to ask you a couple questions.” I pause and he looks at me slightly puzzled. “For class.” I interject.
“Oh of course! What kind of subject? What class is this for? You know I applied to be a professor myself, but they said I didn’t have the right relatability for it and that my time out in the field was too consequential for them to relinquish my duties.”
“Right… uh it’s for my Human and Fae Communications class. Uh, I wanted to ask if someone could be two separate Fae ethnicities and have there been any examples of that?”
“Multiple Fae ethnicities, you say….” Shit did I blow my cover? “That is an interesting thought. Well, in my experience it is complicated and quite rare, if not almost impossible. You see, usually the offspring does not last long in our world. Perhaps take the situation of a Selkie and a Harpy, nearly impossible to breed, but even if they did I doubt that child would possess both of their parents attributes, nor would it be able to successfully live in either’s preferred habitats. It helps when the genes are more compatible with each parent. Take Nuala and I, she is High Elf and I am Ichthyo Sapien, but we both have intuitive powers and if we, and I don’t know if this is her desire with I, but there is most likely a 67.7% chance that the child would not make it past infancy. Now I'm not quite sure all of its potential genes or how its complexion would transpire, but it is an interesting idea to think about. Would they have higher intuitive powers, have her golden hair? Would it have gills!? Or her..”
I cut in, he’s losing the plot a bit.
“What happens if the powers are not compatible? Would one edge out the other? Would that child have both?” I sputter.
“There are few texts on Fae of multiple races. But in my reading, usually whatever is the dominant gene is the one that prevails. Incompatible Fae abilities sometimes are what lead to offspring not surviving. Say myself and Liz. She is made of fire and my flesh is too sensitive for her flames. There would be a less likely chance for our offspring to survive, and oftentimes what is produced is a grotesque form that does not reach maturity.”
“What if they are not compatible but not opposite? Has anyone tried Fae eugenics?”
“I had read of a man back in the 16th century who captured Fae men and women and forced them to copulate in the hopes of creating a Fae with immense power. A lot of his experiments ended in failures and he was eventually brutally murdered by a Minotaur he had been torturing.”
“Yes, cruelty is not in short supply. But Sabine, it is peculiar that the human race can withhold Fae genes better than others. A scientific mystery. Maybe something beyond what we know. Oh sorry for the rambling. Did that answer your question?
“Uhhh yea thanks.” It did not. I pack up my untouched notebook and sling my bag around my shoulder.
“Auntie Nuala has been away for a while now. When is she supposed to return.”
“Ah she told me by the 15th. Did you need something from her?”
I look at my phone.“Oh look at the time, got to go Uncle Abe!” And book it. I hear him say “bye” as I run off.
Why would they keep something secret about me? What’s more embarrassing than being a succubus. It worries me. Makes me fearful of myself. I’m sick to my stomach. I’m weighing my options of how to find the truth. If Uncle Abe found me and I assume touched me with his insight, he would know what was wrong, right? Would he have kept that a secret from Mum and Pop? What could be so terrible that he would neglect to reveal that information. My head begins to pang. Should I return to the cells? They’ve been down there for years, it’s not like me being down there will let them out somehow. Nuada does seem to have some sort of control down there which is worrisome. And how would I even get back in?
As I'm detailing a potential break-in to the most secure prison on this side of the hemisphere, my phone begins to ring. Its Auntie Nuala. Damn you Uncle Abe. I hesitate to answer, but it's not like she can tell if I’m lying from a phone call. She has no insight over the phone… I answer.
“Hi Auntie Nuala! How are you?” I force a smile and try to remain calm.
“Hi Sabine, I am well. Abe called to let me know that you might have a question for me?”
“Ohhhh..” I stutter. “Hmm no, I was just wondering if you could bring me back some Connemara Toffee?”
“Oh.” She pauses for a moment. “Of course. Is that all?” She sounds apprehensive.
“Uhhh yep! Um I’m actually in the middle of something Auntie, but can I call you back later?”
“Okayloveyoubye!” I push out in a single breath and hang up. I can't keep this up.
“Alright that’s it for today. Just a small reminder that your paper on the mating rituals of Arthropods is due in a week. Please don’t wait til the last minute to turn it in.” Agnarsson pleads. I’m lost in thought as he’s relaying this and I overhear that priest again.
“So Luther, what are you going to do when you get your badge?” Asks a dirty blond haired boy with blue eyes and too much bravado to hold him.
“As you all know I have a riotous journey to strike down the evils that plague our land. Mark fear in the unholy creatures that feed off of us and destroy our virtuous morals. I must admit I am buzzing with the excitement to be able to carry out our Lord’s will with justice. Just thinking about those evil creatures makes my blood boil.” Fucking hell, he’s the worst.
“Have you heard of what kinds of things they keep in the basement? I bet there’s some pretty evil things down there. They say they’re the worst of the worst.” Another voice asks. Wait, I know this guy.
“Disgusting things, I say, just you wait till we graduate and I can show you the fullness of his holiness!” Sounds like a euphemism for his pencil dick.
“What if you could show us sooner rather than later?” The boy asks.
“Explain.” Uh oh this does not sound good.
“I swiped a key card off my dad. Basically the skeleton key to this place, probably even opens the cave they keep Hellboy in.” He snickers. Oh fuck that’s Agent Tom’s kid, Dean Dumbass Manning.
“Yesss!” Two girls squeal with delight. Shit, that’s not good. Should I even intervene? On one hand, what would they possibly do? Open a cage? Get themselves killed? Release some sort of hostile Fae into the world again? Maybe it’s what we deserve? I could also report them, but I feel like that’s also going to end poorly. The fucking nepotism that runs this place. Or could I kill two birds with one stone?
“We should do it on a night when everyone is out on a mission to not gain suspicion.” ohmygods they really are going to get themselves killed.
“Lets discuss this in the group chat later. I gotta go study before my next class.” They begin to pack up their materials and file out. My phone buzzes. I glance down at it to see a BPRD Infirmary notification. Not now. But not a bad idea. I quickly dig through my bag and pull out my old prescription. It works or… I overdose. I down what’s left, dry and in my split second of inattention, I almost miss Dean on his way out. I follow him out of the class and down the maze of corridors. This is a stupid plan. I’m going to get caught. I can’t just- He stops at the end of a hallway and takes out his phone. Bingo . Privilege does lead to a certain ambivalence. I move quickly and put my hand on his shoulder.
“Hey Dean, can I ask you something?” He turns to me and in that moment I shift. I kiss him and my black eyes turn into a gold halo. There’s almost a glimmer about me as I inhale deeply. I haven't fed in a while, and with my resistance to my meds I need it. He tastes like sourdough. Nothing special, but satiating enough, and after being starved, I feel a welcome strength returning. Oh, gods please dont let me fuck this up. I need to make this short. I feel him getting weaker, and then his arms go limp. Fuck. It takes all of my willpower but I push away. I take a second to look at him, slowly letting go. He immediately falls.
“Fuck! Shit.” I grab him before he completely collapses. I go to check his pulse. Thank god it’s faint but it’s there. I have enough strength to hold onto him as I am looking frantically around me. Okay no one is around. To my left is a custodial closet. Wow, my lucky day. I drag Dean over and go to turn the handle. Fuck, it’s locked. Who locks a closet? What else can I do? The other side of me is an unmarked room. I carefully place Dean on the ground to check. This time I have better fortune, the handle moves. When I open the door it appears to be an empty classroom. Trulys gods’ favorite. I go back to collect Dean and swiftly move him into the room. I turn him over and immediately start rifling through his pockets looking for the key card. Nothing in his coat, or bag, but when I turn him over and reach into his back pocket, there it is, just loose. How men don’t lose anything is a surprise to me. I have no idea what I'm gonna do with him now. He’s not dead, but he’s weak. I have only fed a couple of times in my life and most of the time they have not ended this relatively well.
“Hey!” I hear a voice from behind me.
“Hey you! Close that door!” I feel a compulsion and immediately shut the door.
“Oh. Okay.” That was fucking weird . The room loses its light, and my eyes adjust to a cozy storage room filled with camera equipment and accessories. The room is L-shaped with a couple computers and printers stationed. Next to those by the door is a bookcase filled with what I presume to only be photography books. In front of me is a checkout desk. Stacked with paper and one of those vintage bank lamps. And then finally off to the side a room filled with red light. A darkroom, this is the academy’s photography lab.
“Didn’t you see the goddamn sign in bold on the door?”
“I honestly didn’t.” I finally get a good look at them and I see a soft iridescence to their skin. Their hair is braided down and then forks off into 4 singular long purple toned braids that reach down her back.
“Cool thanks.” They open the door to return to the darkroom.
“Wait!” They stop and turn. “Uh…” I hesitate. “Uh, actually can you watch him for a bit?” They look down at Dean.
“Is he going to get up and leave that door open?”
“Probably not. ” They shrug.
“Fine.” They go back into their room.
I fly back down the hall to the cells.
“Hey!” I knock on the glass of Nuada’s cell. He’s in the back left corner of his cell surrounded by stacks of books, flipping through one of them. He looks up with an initial glance of annoyance, but his scowl turns to a sinister smile when he sees me.
“Good evening Sabine, nice to see you again.”
“Yea great to see you too” I respond with sarcasm. “I talked to Abe.” He gets up from his book and tucks a lock of his hair from his face, behind his ear.
“Oh, and what’s the verdict?”
“Why do you think I'm here? He’s the one who found me.” I put my hands on the glass. Nuada smirks and walks slowly over and mirrors me, as he places his hands on the glass as well. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, concentrating.
“Hm, it’s faint. But stronger than before… and feels sharp, no, hot. Like a heated coal… oh.” He carefully pulls his hands away from the glass and they look red.
“I can’t read it clearly. The thickness of the glass doesn’t help either.” I touch the glass and it does feel irrepressibly warm. I touch my hand to my cheek, but feel no difference. “It’s not that you feel hot. It’s something else, it feels like something was placed upon you. Something in you is slowly burning and getting hotter.”
“Like what? A parasite? Or a disease or something?”
“No… it feels almost like a curse.”
“Well that’s extremely fucked up. How do I know this isn’t just a ruse? I feel like someone would tell me if I was cursed. I don’t feel or look any differently.” But then I remember that’s not entirely true, I have been feeling iller in the morning, but I thought that was a side effect of the pills…
“It’s not like that. There are lots of different types of curses, some that are temporary, some not, some that appear like something else, and even some that take time to develop. Like a seed growing inside of you.” He points to my stomach.
“So… what do I do? How do I get rid of it?”
“Well, you need to know what the curse is to lift it, but I can’t even read it because it’s either too young or too hot for me to see it clearly. My sister might not even know what it is either. We can wait for it to develop and see what happens… but you might not like that outcome and we don’t even know when it’s done manifesting.”
“So I'm just supposed to walk around like nothings wrong with me now? Like I don't probably have a mysterious burning curse that is growing everyday until an undetermined amount of time and then something , most likely BAD will happen to me?”
“Yes, that is correct.” He says it so frankly.
“I can’t help you with being locked in here, but.” His words turn sour.
“What if I look into this? This is old magic but not unknown. Perhaps Abe has a book that speaks about curses like this in his library?” And this must be how he takes me for a ride.
“Oh! And why would you want to help me? What do you get out of this?”
“Take it, I'm feverishly bored being trapped in here for over 20 years. It’s been too long since I’ve had anyone to converse with. My sister rarely visits me anymore and I haven’t seen her in 3 moons.”
“So I'm just supposed to trust you on your ‘goodwill.’ This all sounds like a ruse to somehow grant your freedom.”
“I won’t say that I haven’t thought about it. But if no one else has told you, not your family, doctors….friends? It seems like you don’t have many other options.”
“Hmm. And you don’t want anything out of this?”
“Well I didn't say that per say. How about if I figure it out you grant me a favor.” I don’t like this one bit.
“How do I know that this isn’t just one big lie? You could be making all of this up. Maybe you placed some enchantment on your cage.”
“Of course, that could be true but this glass cage.” He knocks on the glass and it illuminates a multitude of magic canceling sigils. “I am not incapable of lying but I am restricted from using anything against you. You can believe my words or don't, it matters to me not what your outcome is. I have nothing to lose anymore.” There sounds like some sorrow in his last words.
“ If, and this is a big if. But if it is a curse, what should I do?”
“Now I'm not sure how it’s manifesting, but from the size of it, I presume that it’s already started to cause some physical symptoms that maybe you’re aware of?”
“I still don’t trust you.”
“As you shouldn’t. Come closer, just let me feel it with you once more,” he says. I walk closer to him and he follows me with his yellow eyes. I feel no malice from him. As I touch the glass. He puts his hand out as well.
“It’s getting hotter.” He closes his eyes. “It’s radiating. Pulsing almost. I doubt it would even register for Hellboy or Mrs. Sherman.”
“But… Abe and….” He opens his eyes.
“My Sister would.” So they have been keeping secrets and maybe not just from me.
“What would they be so scared of that they wouldn’t tell Hellboy and Liz?”
“I’m not sure.” He removes his hand from the wall and it’s a dull red once more. “But there is a tome upon your Uncle’s shelf. I’ve seen it before and know it contains old writings of ancient curses. Maybe this one is written in its pages.”
