#in-hellfire

Send 🎤and my muse will tell yours what they think of them!

I only met her once, but I’d seen and heard of her all the time. There wasn’t anyone who worked in the palace that didn’t know about the King’s favorite, though few understood her presence. I was among them, although not many understood why I was in this position, either, so I couldn’t really speak much. To say the least, she did pique my curiosity.

I remember when I first saw her, I was taken aback. Those of us on the lower tiers, imps, succubi, incubi, and the like, we’re not used to seeing scars. Those of us who serve a purpose of some sort can expect to be patched up, if we weren’t already born or spawned with the ability to heal, and anyone else can only hope to be disposed of quickly and painlessly. We don’t “waste” resources here, after all. But there she was, walking about without a care in the world, as the crowd around her sneered at the thought of a “useless” imp being allowed among them.

Her right side had it the worst. Missing her eye, ear, hand, and a large section of her leg, as well. She had a prosthetic leg to get her about most days, though it clearly pained her, as the poorly made piece caused her to limp wherever she went. Even so, she seemed undeterred, offering everyone she met a confident smile, as the King himself eagerly welcomed her in to private chambers. 

I found myself wondering how someone so beloved by the royal family could be seen doing so poorly, though I’d heard from others that she was too proud to accept very many gifts. Despite the King’s wishes, she was known to pass them along to those she believed needed it more than she did, and could instead be seen always in tattered rags and always, always thin from lack of food. She never sought help, and whenever she visited, it was only ever to catch up with the King and his family, before she’d return to the slums to care for the next generation of imps.

When we did meet for the first time, it was late in the night. I’d been working such long hours, I’m sure the exhaustion could be seen on my face. She stopped me quite suddenly, standing in the middle of the path to my office, and asked me if I was “that fancy incubus everyone was talking about.” The next thing I knew, I was being dragged around the castle’s corridors, believing she had some task for me from the King directly. Only our journey ended right back in my private room, where she pushed me inside much to my confusion.

“Make history tomorrow,” she told me. “You won’t do your kind any good if you kill yourself now, would ya?” Then my door closed, and that was the last I’d seen Sawyer.

I know now that she had plans, and knew it would cause catastrophe to anyone who got in the way. Aside from the royal family, of all people she was making sure stayed out of the mix, she singled me out. Now every time I look at Shey, I think of this single moment, and I remember someone who managed to stand out among people who saw her as a waste.

I’m sorry, Sawyer. One day, I’ll let Shey remember you again.

“Really, don’t think anything of it. Believe it or not, I’ve been there before, so consider it my paying it forward.”

Aelis smirked, looking the king up and down briefly.