Chapter Text
Monster - Imagine Dragons
I've turned into a monster // A monster, a monster //And it keeps getting stronger
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The moment I woke up I was immediately on edge for what the day was to bring. Our High Lord, Tamlin, had been roaming The Spring Court in his Beast form for months, the once beautiful, sprawling manor house was now in horrendous ruin. As such, he had announced that he would be going door-to-door to collect the tithe, especially since so many had not deigned to attend the previous tithe due to his uncouth behavior months prior, including the horrific treatment of Feyre Archeron the darling of our court and Cursebreaker of Prythian.
Me and my mom were too foolish to stay away from the last tithe even though we had no money to pay for it. To say it didn't go well, would be a colossal understatement. We were ordered to pay double this tithe, or face the consequences. I know it goes without saying, 6 months is not really a good amount of time to scrounge up enough money to pay a years worth of tithes. Ever since my dad left us before my 30th birthday 20 years ago, thing have been tough and money tight. Sure, we could pay the tithe in non-monetary things, but all we have to our name is this shabby hut that's barely worth the dirt it was erected on.
I was pulled from my musings by a roar from down the road, followed by a blood curdling scream. Dread quickly flooded my stomach and I knew Tamlin was only a few houses away. For all I knew these were the last few minutes of my so-called immortal life. What was the point of being born immortal only to have my life snuffed out at the young age of 50? What a waste.
I got out of bed and put on my nicest dress - just a Spring Court Green chemise with a yellow bodice over it. Nothing fancy since we are really poor. I looked at myself in the cracked mirror on the wall of our shared bedroom and sighed exhaustingly. My doe-eyed bright green eyes stared back at me, seeing that my skin was lightly tanned from spending time outside in the spring sun yesterday looking for anything in the forest to help pay our tithe and my dark brown hair reached my mid-back as I twisted it into a braid which I pulled the tail of over my shoulder to hang in front of me.
Quickly I went to the living area to find my mom sitting on a wooden chair, her emerald green eyes like a mirror to my own looked up at me with a fretful expression. I didn't even feel bad for her. She brought this on us by not even trying to support me after my dad left because she was so depressed.
Just as she opened her mouth to say something to me, a horrific knock echoed through our shack. Tamlin was here.
My mom was so frozen in fear, she couldn't even get the door, so, of course, I was the one to do it. Immediately my blood ran cold, as I saw his gaping maw dripping with blood, and strings of saliva.
"TITHE" he roared in my face angrily. Months of existing exclusively in his beast form had made Tamlin feral and even more heartless than when his heart was turned to stone by Amarantha. I looked to the ground beside him and gasped as I saw the arm of my neighbor spat at our doorstep. He was clearly not in a good place right now. "PENUMBRA FAMILY, YOU OWN THIS COURT DOUBLE YOUR MISSED TITHE," his words were barely understandable through the beastly growls. My mom whimpered behind me.
I whipped the spit from my face before replying, "We do not yet have the funds gathered to pay double the tithe. We are very poor and hardly have enough to eat." Tamlin's growls grew in extreme frustration.
"THIS COURT IS HURTING FOR MONEY RIGHT NOW, YOU ARE NOT SPECIAL IN THAT. I WILL RETURN IN 3 COURT DAYS, AND IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE CORRECT AMOUNT TO PAY TO ME, YOU KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN..." His blood covered snout was mere inches from my face. It was a wonder that I didn't faint from fear. He snarled at me which made my mom scream before he trounced off to the next house.
I closed the door and slid down it's length until I was seated on the floor with my back against the door. I looked to my mom who appeared to be about to vomit all over our shabby livingroom. I am feeling so numb at the reality of our fate, that I can't even muster a tear. I looked to her, just as she finally said the first thing she has said all morning.
"Saraphyna, what are we going to do?"
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A/N - Well, that was the first chapter! I hope you guys liked it, I know it is a little slow right now but I assure you things really pick up in chapter 2, I just have to set the scene with this first one. Any feedback, interactions, thoughts or comments are greatly appreciated and make me do a little happy dance! :) I plan to update this fic regularly and I can't wait for you to read what is coming next!
Starlight & love,
Sara