They say no girl who enters the Fae realm ever returns — not whole, not alive, not at all.
For years and years, the exact same ceremony took place in the grand mortal and Fae realms. It was a binding ritual — a way to knot the fraying edges of two ancient realms together: the hauntingly beautiful Fae world and the crumbling mortal one.
The kingdom once harmonious with nature is now steeped in ancient superstitions. The Mortal world is now on the brink of its magical awakening, long bonded to the Fae realm.
Every year, one mortal bride is chosen to enter the fae realm and serve as a link between worlds. Failure to honor the bargain or attempts to break it would only end in a death sentence.
Yet, , the daughter of one of the nobles in the mortal kingdom was now throwing a fit. She wouldn't be backing away that easily. If anything, she was a fighter.
"Why not the king's daughter? Why me?" Zera's lilac eyes gleamed with fury as she glared at her mother. "Their court needs this alliance more than ours. Let them pay the price."
Her mother, ever the uncaring brat who only ever thrives for money and power, gave her a dismissive wave, "As the daughter of a noble, you are just as responsible as them." She said, her fingers dabing lipstick across her already bloody red lips, more interested in her reflection on the mirror than her daughter's query. "Besides, you are more suitable than a pampered princess."
Zera's fists curled at her sides. Was this truly the price of nobility? To be offered up like some cattle, dressed in silk and sorrow?
"Are you for real? I'm your blood and flesh! Your only daughter! How can you trade me for money and power? Do I mean nothing to you!" She yelled, face painted red from the anger coursing through her veins.
Her mother Selene turned around, face bored as she held her gaze, "Ah, you know what Zera," A sigh flew past her lips, "The world we live in cares more about wealth and power than these cheap sentiments. You need to learn that, my child." She stood up from her cushioned chair, "Sometimes you need to mute your heart and go with the brain."
For a moment Zera stood there stunned, her feet seemed to be rooted into the floor. Her mother's words were sharper than the sharpest of swords, it dug deep into her heart and drew blood. How could one be so cruel to their own child?
"I— I could die!" Her words broke at the edge, tears climbing up her throat. "I could die and all you care about is your wealth and power?"
"Ah, don't be so naive." Selene pinned her with a look that called her stupid. "Did you really believe all those baseless claims by the people? I thought you were better than that, Zera."
"If anything, you are the one who has no knowledge about things here!" Zera said through her gritted teeth, "Has anyone ever come back after they got into the Fae realm? What about Lord Camerin's daughter? The Lord Vylern's daughter? Where are they?!"
Her mother gave her shoulder a hard push, and it made her stumble a few steps back. She glared at Zera as she taunted, "Don't you dare talk to me with that tone! I'm your mother! Have some fucking respect, young lady."
A humorless chuckle slipped through Zera's petal lips, disgust and disbelief etched into her face, "Treat me like your daughter first."
Selene let out a long breath, "Zera," She said calmly, "what you heard was nothing more than stupid tales. Maybe the daughters of those Lords are not coming back because their life in the Fae realm is better than the one here. Who will ever leave such a luxury? You could also have a great life in that world, they would be kind to you. You always loved fantasyland dear, now your life is being turned into a fantasy."
"Don't fool me!" Zera yelled, all the anger and anguish bleeding out of her words, "If they are to treat us kindly, then why did they always put us to suffer? What is the point of this whole bargain?!" Tears streamed down her plump cheeks, dripping down her chin. "I'm not going to the Fae realm and marrying a beast! I have dreams, I would not let anyone crush them!"
Selene slammed her fist against a wooden bench, the loud thud echoing in the space between them. "Stop with that! You are spewing nonsense! Do you really think the king will let you live peacefully if you refuse to fulfil his wish? You know it, you know what happened to the people who have failed to fulfill the bargain, you will die!"
Zera's breath caught in her chest at her mother's outburst, her mind buffling. Why did it have to be her! Why did her fate have to be so damned?
Before she could say anything, her mother started to speak again, her voice strained and her resolve crushed. "You think this is about you?" she asked. "About your dreams, your choices? Open your eyes, Zera. If you defy this bargain, it's not just your blood they'll spill. It'll be your mother's. Your brother's. Everyone you love."
Zera's heart stuttered. She took a step back, lips parting. "That's not fair…"
"No," Selene said bitterly, "It never was."
Silence hung between them, sharp and breathless. It stung her.
Zera's knees gave out, and she sank to the floor, arms wrapping around herself. The fight drained from her, all that was left in her was chilling terror.
"I just wanted to live," she whispered. "That's all I wanted."
Selene knelt beside her, but didn't reach out. Her voice softened, though it still carried steel.
"Then marry the beast. And live."