If you have any questions, click the link above to join our discord, or you can direct any questions to The Living Council at their personal accounts: @slightlyrebelliouswriter23 @acciomanorian @clockworkgraystairs @kevin-day-is-bi @booksandlewks
Fandom: Folk of the Air
Rating: M
Warnings: Attempted rape/non-con, Canon-typical violence
Read on AO3 here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51081748
Written for Folktober Day 9: "My sister, the serial killer." Hosted by @jurdannet and @jurdannetrevels
come on, we can't delay
It's past midmorning when Cardan's tail twitches over her calf in response to a sound outside their door, his way of waking her up quietly and discreetly.
They've been sleeping in after a revel, one of many, and Jude isn't exactly happy about the interruption. She stumbles from bed, grabs a robe and a dagger, and heads to figure out who needs them. Cardan, the opportunistic creature, has already closed his eyes again, with no intention of getting up.
"What is it?" Jude demands of the wide-eyed messenger. She's passed a note, hastily scribbled onto the back of a receipt:
Will you help me build a snowman? Come on, we can't delay. -T
Under that is an address.
Jude snorts. Trust Taryn to use Disney songs and their dark TikTok counterparts to send coded messages. And okay, they've seen that film a dozen times with Taryn's little one and Oak, the adults miming will you help me hide a body... behind the kids' backs. But it's still a gamble.
"What the fuck, Taryn," Jude mutters, and scrambles to put on some clothes.
The address is a nice suburban house in the human world, too nice for what's waiting inside. Taryn's covering her face in one corner, her shirt blood-soaked and torn. The fae guard Jude has ordered to guard her twin sister is standing in the hallway, shame-faced. He's likely responsible for getting the message to Jude, but he doesn't seem to have been of much help.
"What's happened?" Jude demands, her own shadows scattering to search the house. She tosses Taryn the leather jacket she was wearing, watching as her sister pulls it on, covering up red marks which are rapidly becoming bruises.
"Jude," Taryn sighs, weirdly collected and resigned. She isn't in shock or crying, as Jude perhaps expected. She's just resting her forehead against her hand, looking tired.
Taryn gestures a hand towards the living room, and Jude briefly inspects the man who has bled out on the sofa. The tiny dagger she gave Taryn for Christmas lies abandoned on the blood-splattered floor. Jude can assume what happened: the two glasses of wine, the signs of a struggle, Taryn's ripped clothes, the bruises forming on her twin’s wrists and neck.
"He wasn't successful," Taryn calls, and Jude picks up the dagger before she returns, washing it off in the kitchen sink.
"Good," she comments shortly, and then more softly, "Want a hug?"
They're not exactly the hugging type, but Taryn sinks into her arms and trembles lightly, Jude's shadows already at work on the cleanup.
"I don't... He didn't. End of story." Taryn's voice is firm.
"Certainly his end," Jude mutters darkly, and to her surprise Taryn laughs. It's wild and perhaps a bit unhinged, but a laugh.
"You and Madoc taught me well."
"You did good," Jude says into Taryn's hair, softer than she intends to.
"Clearly I have bad taste in men," her twin sighs, and Jude doesn't bother denying that. Taryn wouldn't listen right now, anyway. Instead she says,
"Disney, Taryn? Really?"
"Hey, it worked," Taryn defends, but Jude can hear she's smiling. "Besides, it's not like we ever made up a code for I killed my date who wouldn't listen to the word no and I need help."
"My sister, the serial killer," Jude jokes, though Taryn doesn't exactly fit that definition. Taryn huffs a laugh against her throat. "Best not mess with you."
Taryn hums in agreement.
"Let's get out of here," Jude suggests. "And perhaps shower before you gain the nickname bloody mummy at home."
📢 Summary: Cardan finds a mysterious door while drunk and decides to walk in. What he didn’t expect though, is that on the other side he’d end up in the human world, meeting a Jude that grew up there and has no knowledge of Faerie. A silly conversation ensues.
✏️✏️✏️
Cardan had made it past a mysterious door in the palace. He had never seen it before though, maybe he was just so drunk out of his mind that he had imagined it. Yet past the door, there was the human world. Okay. Well now there’s no doubt about it, not only is he drunk, he’s also high off his ass.
The door behind him had disappeared. Now, how to make it back?
As he was quietly freaking out, a girl appeared out of the not so dark shadows of the human world (because of the light pollution) and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Yo, you good?"
The girl looked exactly like Jude, well, aside from not having a missing finger. But somehow he could still feel that this was Jude, not Taryn. She was wearing jean shorts, high boots that ended just under her knees and a huge red and black sweater that had a stylized "Brooklyn" print on the back. She looks like what Jude would’ve looked like had she grown up in the human world away from Faerie, Cardan thinks.
"...Jude?"
At his question, the girl looked surprised.
"Yeah? Sorry. Do we know each other?"
Cardan blinks. The very "overly-human" looking Jude blinks.
"Uh you just seemed really lost there, and it’s late. Oh wait, I know. You must be someone from my school, right? I’m really sorry, I’m bad at memorizing faces and names… Though with how handsome you are, I’m surprised I forgot."
Cardan has no idea how to react or even what to say. Should he even say anything, actually? She looks him up and down, almost scrutinizing his clothes before something seems to click in her brain.
"Ooooh so you’re like, cosplaying, right? Nice. What character?"
Under the streetlights, despite not being his Jude, this Jude is also incredibly lovely and pretty. Oh well. If this is a dream then Cardan will at least enjoy himself, why the heck not. What is she talking about? Cosplay? Cardan digs his mind and remembers his nephew Oak desperately trying to explain to him some human words and terms. He’s pretty sure cosplaying was something like a roleplay.
"Um. I’m Cardan. Cardan Greenbriar from…" He pauses. If he were from a story what would the name of the book even be? "...I suppose The Queen of Swords would be the title." Jude blinks at his peculiar way of phrasing his answer but she shrugs it off. When Cardan had first read Alice in wonderland, Alice seemed to obviously be the Jude of the story. Now, knowing her better, she might actually be the Queen of Hearts. Though swords might fit her better.
The Jude from the human world hums.
"Never heard of it. Sounds like a fantasy type of story though, with like- love, war and betrayal. Lots of frustrating betrayals that end in more wars, then more love."
Cardan laughs awkwardly. Why is she nailing this? This Jude’s fiction literacy must be high, unlike his Jude who’s less interested in books than scheming. She then asks for his real name, in a panic, since he cannot lie on his identity, he asks her to call him by his "cosplay name" whatever the fuck that’s supposed to mean. Hornless Jude laughs at his dedication to the character. Then they walk, she explains how he must sober up so she can lead him home to safety.
"Why don’t you think about your safety first, Jude?"
The girl looks up to the starless sky.
"Hmm. I’ll be fine, I’m familiar with the surroundings. Also…" She punches the air in a couple of swift motions. "I’m trained in MMA! Pretty cool, right?"
Cardan’s confused at whatever those letters mean, unfortunately Jude takes his confusion as disbelief.
"Oh come on, I’m serious! I know it doesn’t look like it because my sweater is hiding my upper body but- Agh. I’ll just show you!"
She takes the sweater off, revealing her abs and firm arms. She was only wearing a sports bra underneath… Cardan is unsure if checking out this Jude would be cheating but he can’t help himself. Satisfied with how the boy looks bewildered, crownless Jude puts her sweater back on.
"See? Anyway. I don’t know what you were smoking but it’s gotten you high as fuck bud. Still can’t remember where you live?"
Cardan shakes his head since he can’t open his mouth to lie. He does remember where he lives with his awesome and hot wife but he’s not sure how to make it back.
"I’ll be fine. There’s no need for you to lead me anywhere, I’ll find my way back once I’m sober."
"Uh-huh. You say that but you were getting high. Alone. In an empty street while cosplaying some ethereal elf prince."
"King now. Not prince."
"Gee, sorry." Very human Jude rolls her eyes with a smile on her lips. She must be thinking that the guy is cringy for committing to the bit so hard. Nonetheless she’s amused by this encounter as well. Cardan looks at her relaxed smile in awe, he wishes he could also make his Jude smile like this. Unfortunately, his Jude is much more difficult and shy with her smiles.
"... And you know, that King has a very amazing wife. Thus the title."
"So the wife is the main character?"
"Mh-hm. She wields a sword and is skilled in the arts of war. And she rose to power in a land where she didn’t belong at first."
Hornless Jude whistles.
"She sounds like a badass."
Now that’s a word Cardan knows. Again, thanks to Oak but this one was way easier to grasp and remember.
"She is."
"Is the King any good then?" She asks half-mockingly, yet her tone is gentle.
Cardan ponders.
"He’s… a great pillow to sleep with."
"Wooow."
"A clever and funny boy."
"Uh-huh. And let me guess: he’s fun at parties?"
"Oh, absolutely. He’s the King of revels."
"So, with a bit of an alcohol problem? It checks out."
"It checks uh- yes?"
Cardan is not sure what checks exactly, all he knows is that the alcohol problem is in fact there and oftentimes, the only way for him to not drink at all in a day is to make a promise to Jude after she scolds him about it. His Jude. Now that he thinks about it, just before he walked through that door wasn’t he drinking again?
A voice rings out in his head. Cardan Cardan Cardan. He looks at crownless Jude and his vision blurs.
The next time he opens his eyes, he’s lying on his bed, probably looking like he’s completely out of it while Jude is calling out for him, slapping his cheeks not so gently and tugging at his clothes. Probably trying to take them off so he can sleep tight.
"Cardan." Jude utters, clearly unimpressed by his sorry state.
"My Jude!" Cardan cries out happily as if he hasn’t seen his wife in days, despite him literally dreaming of her any day she might not be home in his arms. But there she is.
"God. I was gone for only a day and one night, is it really so unbearable to be without me that you absolutely need to get drunk?"
"Ahaha, you have no idea!"
She rolls her eyes, exactly like the Jude in his dreams. My recollections of her are so accurate. Cardan tells himself, proud of his visions and vivid manifestations of her. Needily, he pulls his beautiful wife towards him.
"Come here…" His eyes are sparkling over the haziness, no matter his state, Cardan always lights up at the sight of his wife in front of him. Jude thinks he’s silly but enjoys it nonetheless. Giving up, she joins him.
"You have an alcohol problem, Cardan, please try to cut down on it."
"Yesss anything for you, Queen of swords. But oh- Whenever will you call me by a sweet nickname???"
Jude laughs under her breath at how ridiculously cute her husband is.
"Yes yes hubby. Anything for the King of getting shitfaced."
Cardan snuggles in his wife’s arms and an image of the other Jude flashes in his mind. I’m trained in MMA! Pretty cool, right? It’s a comforting thought to believe that a Jude who would grow up in the human world would also have arms as strong as his Jude. But still, this is truly home and she belongs here. Not anywhere else, not in a world where he wouldn’t have been able to meet her.
✏️✏️✏️
That moment when you realize that this fic is just Cardan bragging about his wife... to his wife from another world 😂 God this is just- well, it’s so very Cardan.
And don’t forget: If you’d like to decrease the amount of my sad girl hours, please consider leaving comments/tags! 💖
Folktober2023 Prompt: "Seven Devils - Florence + The Machine" 😈❤️🔥
An attempt by
Hosted by @jurdannet and @jurdannetrevels
📘 1 200+ words
😎 Characters: Cardan, seven devil-Judes (each for one sin)
✒️ Tags: ??? I don’t even know but spicy stuff is implied near the end
📢 Summary: For some strange reason, Jude has been split in seven. Each one of them has quite an eccentric personality, yet Cardan loves it. Surrounded by his wife’s seven different "selves", the poor man has no idea in how much danger he truly is.
✏️✏️✏️
Jude had been split in seven.
Overnight, just like that, no one knew how it happened, why it happened or how they could turn it back. All they knew is that the seven of them were causing mayhem across the entire palace.
The one claiming to be the best amongst them all was supposedly the avatar of pride. She did what she wished without asking for anybody’s permission nor opinion, no matter how arrogant or cruel. “I’m the Queen of this kingdom. Dare say anything and see how that goes for you.” She announced, all haughty.
Another one kept sneaking off into the treasury, if only to just lay there and claim that everything in it was hers everytime her husband walked in. She didn’t care for anything else, just admiring the gold, the gems and asking for more and more artifacts, more and more treasures to be found and brought in. Truly the avatar of greed.
Then another would look at the fae, their perfect figures, shiny skin and silky hair, their natural strength and aptitude for magic. “Scum. They’re wasting their gift. Had I been born like them, I would already be the incontestable ruler of both worlds. The fae and the humans.” The avatar of envy, truly green with envy. Her stares full of resentment could stab and kill, making the fae run away from a “mere mortal”. She’d laugh and scoff at their cowardice.
The fourth one kept flipping out at any small fault she could find in- well, anything. The carpet in the hall had a small stain? Incompetent servants. She poured bottles and bottles of wine on the rest of the carpets, increasing the amount of work. Was the meat too cooked? Or not cooked enough? Careless chefs. She threw the food back to the kitchen’s floor. “Start over.” she’d say. Her husband keeps drinking and looking at the 6 others? Horny lunatic of a husband. She pinned him on the walls and the ground sometimes, launching herself at him, making it hurt so bad. Or, well, according to the King it hurt “good”. The avatar of wrath didn’t mince her words nor actions, yet the High King loved it.
Though the next one might actually have been the most problematic for the King, and that was because she was both his fantasies come true and a nightmare to handle, how to turn her down when she’s so overtly needy? So clearly using seduction to break him? The avatar of lust was truly frightening and impossible to deal with.
The sixth one couldn’t stop eating. A banquet had to be held the whole day to keep her satisfied. And magically, she could gobble down an impossible amount of food, as if her stomach had no bottom. “Tell the chefs to cook faster!” The avatar of gluttony had an insatiable hunger. She was burning through the food stocks of the palace as if they were matchsticks.
And finally, the last one just slept the day away. At all times, she could be found in the chambers. Thankfully, the least troublesome of the bunch, the servants were glad of the ease with which she could be handled. All they had to do was to stay quiet while coming in the mornings to clean the rooms, of course trying to wake her was useless anyway, and besides, it was better to leave her be. The avatar of sloth was truly a godsend when you compared her to the other six.
Pride, greed, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony and sloth. With each of them, horns in their hair, it truly looked like there were seven devils.
The servants would cry about the irrational demands they would get, they begged the Council of the Living to find a way to bring their “real” Queen back. Seven Judes was way too much to handle. Fand and Tatterfell were worried, as well as Cardan. Or, as much worry as he could muster at least. He loved it and wasn’t even trying to hide it. Seven Judes? This must be heaven. Though with their big personalities, none of them were really willing to spend the night with him aside from the avatar of lust (for naughty reasons) and the avatar of sloth (for, well, just sleeping but it was still nice.)
In addition, with how busy Jude usually made herself be, it was honestly nice to have seven selfish Judes, always at home, making the palace grounds so lively and animated with fun incidents and filling the halls with the cries of desperation coming from the servants.
Fortunately or unfortunately, this hell-heaven had only lasted a week. Eventually, the “higher ups” of the courts had found some way to merge all of them back together into one body. Cardan felt like it was a bit of a pity though, not like he didn’t want to have his Jude back, but a couple more days wouldn’t hurt. Though knowing his wife, once she’d be back to normal, she would definitely scold him for making this go on longer than necessary.
And so he’d decided, he gave the greenlight to the Court of the Living to carry out whatever solution they had found, all he fully understood was that it was 100% safe and that was enough. Yet knowing that they would all be gone by tomorrow, for what was remaining of the day, he had been particularly morose, sulky, gloomy. Whatever else you could say about a man who was so love-starved that having seven devil wives running around was actually pleasant to have.
And yet, even as the devils they were, it seemed like they still loved their Cardan nonetheless. Their dear little hubby. Their needy little man. So for once -and for the last time, actually- the seven of them showed up for the night. Even the Jude of sloth was awake. Cardan was confused at first, then excited and giddy, then horrified when he realized what was about to happen to him. It would be so, so good. So terrifyingly good and he wasn’t sure if he could survive this.
“Maybe we shouldn’t.” He muttered under his breath.
Jude of pride possessively pushed him down on the bed, smirking.
“Oh, but isn’t this what you’ve been hoping for? The past seven days, that’s all you’ve been thinking about, am I wrong?”
Cardan stayed quiet, since he obviously couldn’t deny his way out of this. How painful is it that lying is never an option? Doomed to always tell the truth or not tell anything at all.
Following the lack of a response, the seven Judes looked at each other in agreement. We’re gonna fuck him, right Jude? Oh Jude, we’re so gonna fuck him. Silly little husband can’t even escape his seven devils, his seven wives. Poor depraved baby is about to overdose on our love, isn’t he? Oh he so will.
They don’t even need to communicate audibly, their gazes speak for themselves. Although they are separated, they all still originate from the same body after all.
And as they smile and start to lower themselves on Cardan, leaning over him, looking at him, crawling to him on the bed and overwhelming him with their gentle yet demanding touch, a thought flashes through Cardan’s filthy, submerged mind.
Ah. I’m about to die.
✏️✏️✏️
Not super satisfied with this one, ngl. From here onwards, anything I might write will be more rushed than my earlier fics because I’ve been preparing the earlier ones since the beginning of october. This one however, I wrote it in 2-ish hours.
I also thought about doing this premise in reverse (with Cardan splitting in seven devils) but it seemed to fit Jude more since she literally has horns. Also, seven Cardans might be too much for me to handle lmao, only thinking about it already makes me kinda hot and bothered whoops.
ANYWAY please leave comments and tags to support me emotionally! 💖
Title: this is our place (we make the rules)
Pairing: Jude/Cardan
Rating: T
Read on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/51059275
Written for Folktober 2023, Prompt 13: Accidental summoning. Hosted by @jurdannet and @jurdannetrevels
---
The delegation from another court was being exceptionally rude. Oh, they were disguising their attempts at undermining her, a mere mortal, and Jude was accustomed to that. She'd long since learned that ignoring it usually worked better than sticking her dagger into visiting dignitaries. Her subjects were used to her by now, but visitors always took a while to understand that they were taking commands from someone they usually would consider a plaything or a nuisance.
But the members of this particular delegation were also not so subtly pointing out what a huge mistake Cardan had made in marrying her, along with other barbs. Those aimed at how her human fertility hadn't yet helped secure the Greenbriar line made Jude see red - they were insulting Oak by forgetting his existence. The fact that Jude and Cardan had been trying for a child unsuccessfully for half a year was not common knowledge, and they were grasping at straws.
She wouldn't let them get any from her.
Jude lounged on her throne, trying her best to look regal, disinterested and snobby. They didn't know that she was fuming inside, and that if someone would draw a cartoon of her at that exact moment, she'd be having steam coming out of her ears.
She didn't like people being rude to her. She didn't like people being rude to Oak. And she definitely didn't like people being rude to Cardan when she couldn't put them down - the pleasure of insulting him was reserved for her, and her alone.
Sighing for the hundredth time in the space of an hour, Jude shifted restlessly on her seat, disguising it as a careless shrug of her shoulders.
"I don't see how that is related to the matter at hand," Jude lied – because she did see – and continued to act indifferent to their thinly veiled insults.
"Ah, of course not, your Majesty," the leader of the delegation bowed and scraped and failed to conceal the disgust on his face behind a simpering smile. "May we inquire as to the availability of his Majesty, the King?"
"Alas," Jude drawled, spinning her bejeweled dagger slowly and pinning the leader with a stare, "he is still occupied with other matters. It has been merely minutes since you last inquired." She stroked the arm of her chair, twisting her fingers into the vines and pulling some mental strength from the way they came alive for her. She was the rightful Queen, after all, and she would deal with this, no matter how much she did wish Cardan was here. They made a formidable team, these days, and while she hadn't lost her bloodthirst or edge, Jude felt like she'd gotten used to him having her back. "I, also, wish his Majesty my husband were here to hear your... Charming opinions."
And bash you over the head, perhaps. Though violence was more her style.
She pulled on the vines again, and hoped Cardan's meeting would be over soon so he could get here and help finish what she's started. Her patience wasn't infinite. Stretching lazily, Jude was about to start offering up some more cutting remarks, when the vines on the throne beside her came alive, and Cardan melted out from them.
Startled, Jude met his gaze, and found him just as confused. He covered it up quickly by casting a look at the visitors and gauging the mood of the room: Jude, internally fuming; visitors, too self-confident for anyone's liking. He threw a dark stare at the group gathered below the dais, and turned to Jude with a flourish, bending to kiss her hand.
"You called, dearest?" His smirk was both smug and amazed.
And indeed she had, she realized. She'd wished for him here and Elfhame had responded.
An accident, she mimed out of sight of the others, and said haughtily, "Our guests required more than my presence," and Cardan's eyes flashed.
"Did they, now?" He murmured, taking a seat by her side, shifting his suddenly cool gaze from her to the visitors. "And who are you to requireanything of a Queen, let alone my Queen?"
Jude let a wicked grin spread across her face, leaning back to watch the show.
After that, the summoning was not quite accidental anymore. Jude had the time of her life scaring the defiance out of anyone questioning her by summoning Cardan out of shadows and vines.
And if Cardan in turn summoned her to whatever corner he was skulking in to divest her of some clothes, Jude wasn't complaining.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
It was amusing when the villagers created stores to tell others of the evils I had committed. I enjoyed hearing their screams as their eyes met mine shaded from the light of the moon under the forest’s trees. It was especially delightful to watch how their tears stained their cheeks as I sucked the life energy from their friends and family as they watched in horror.
Vampire!Cardan
Cardan's POV
Finally a new fic for this year's folktober!! This isn't at all what I was expecting to write, but I had fun! Partially inspired by Bram Stroker's Dracula, with TFotA characters.
Folktober 2023, hosted by @jurdannet & @jurdannetrevels
Folktober2023 Prompt: "My sister, the serial killer." 🔪🌼
An attempt by
Hosted by @jurdannetrevels and @jurdannet
📘 1 400+ words
😎 Characters: Taryn, Jude mention, Myriadh, Tatterfell, The Ghost/Larkin
✒️ Tags: self-reflection, sharing, sweet
📢 Summary: Taryn has made it to her sister’s place along with her attendant Myriadh. As she learns that Jude’s not home, Taryn decides to take a stroll in the palace's "garden", which is also the graveyard of Elfhame's enemies. More specifically, the ones who have fallen under Jude’s sword.
🧐 Author’s Note: Part 2 of the Taryn 3-parter I have prepared for Folktober! First part was for "Corn maze" and the third and final part will be out for "graveyard meet-cute"!
✏️✏️✏️
As we arrive at the palace, I'm immediately recognized to be the High Queen's sister. Before, clothes and crown aside, it was still sometimes a bit harder to tell, but now with the size of my belly, we are unmistakable. Myriadh extends her hand to me as I'm about to jump out of the carriage, I politely hold it, not actually putting any of my weight into it.
We pass through the front garden that is used to make all visitors fear for their life. Each spot of the garden is covered in a different type of flower which gives it a strange charm, yet knowing the reason behind such an arrangement makes the fae sweat from anxiousness. It has only been 6 months since Jude and Cardan are both reigning over Elfhame, yet all those flowers show the amount of fae Jude has killed.
All traitors and enemies. Jude is now known as the mortal high queen who ends the fae's immortalities. She has already outlived all the fae in this beautiful graveyard by killing them. This graveyard that everyone has to pass through in order to enter the palace. She was now a Queen but still very much with the spirit of a killer. Though maybe it sounds too harsh, I should say assassin since her killings supposedly have meaning. "Don't fuck with me." That's the meaning. I breathe the scent in. I love it. Myriadh is trying to keep a straight face but I can tell she feels a bit uneasy by the sight.
Well, to be fair, I also feel a bit uneasy at the sight but for a different reason. Witnessing how beautiful the fae are even after their death. Not like us, rotting corpses with no pretty flowers to grow from our bodies. The only flowers on top of our graves come from those who miss us. And by how inconsequential I am, I'm not sure if anyone other than my siblings and child will leave flowers on where I will rest. I sigh at the depressing thoughts. Pregnancy mood swings be damned. Pheromones be damned.
"Are you feeling okay, my liege? Shall we go back after all?"
"No need. It won't take long."
I make my way to some guards, they inform me that my timing is unfortunate, that my sister has left just a little while ago. Thus I ask for Tatterfell. When they invite me in, I turn them down. We make our way through the garden, I catch so many new flowers that weren't there 3 weeks ago, last time I visited. I like finding new flowers, wondering from what type of fae they're growing out of.
And before I can stop my big mouth from spilling the words, they're already out.
"I'm so envious, you know."
Myriadh blinks at me, not sure how to answer since my words are so half-assed and nonsensical. So I continue.
"Of you. The fae. You're all beautiful from the moment you're born, magnificent while you live, powerful when you die and still beautiful after death. I mean, you've been living with me for the past 4 months Myr, you've seen how bad I look in the mornings."
I think back to how Locke looked when I killed him. When yellow roses grew out of him as I tried to dispose of his body. I thought it was so unfair, he was still flaunting his superior beauty at me even from beyond the grave I wanted to put him in. I think of how I would eat those faerie fruits at his revels as if I'm a pet of a wife, a fun little human who will obey the whims of her caring husband. Oh so benevolent for marrying a human who's only redeeming quality is being agreeable. Pleasant to spend time with because she'll listen and laugh, and agree.
Myriadh gathers her thoughts, probably trying to find a proper way to answer me. I like that about her. How careful she is with words and etiquette, maybe just as much as Oriana was. I miss her.
"Although you are right, I believe humans have things that may stir up envy from the fae's side as well."
I fake a laugh like I always do. I hope it doesn't sound too bitter.
"Is that so? Tell me."
We're now standing in place, I realize this might take some time so I sit at a bench and gesture to her to do the same. She sits next to me, but not too close as a sign of respect for my personal space.
"Do you know how old I am, my liege?"
Of course I know, I remember everything I'm told.
"If I remember correctly, 120 years or so?"
Rhetorical question, I know I'm right.
"Yes. I've been trying to have a child my whole life." She pauses. Probably measuring her words again, trying to not make it sound like she's accusing me of being too ignorant, too unaware of what they might go through in their long lives. "It's something I've been yearning for, giving life. Twenty years ago I gave up and made my way to the human world where I worked at a daycare for a while, putting the little ones to sleep."
I turn my head towards Myriadh, my eyes that were focused on the garden are now observing the faerie woman who looks like she can't be older than 25. She spares me a glance, seeing that I don't look offended but rather shocked, she continues.
"Homesickness got the better of me in the end, I came back recently. And, well… my coworkers started to wonder why I didn't seem to age at all despite having worked there for 20 years."
I chuckle, this time a real laugh.
"I guess you didn't think that far ahead." I smile kindly.
"I guess not. I should've glamored myself to slowly look older and older through the years. If I had made myself suddenly look older after hearing them gossiping about it, it would've been strange." She agrees.
I see now. To her who tried to have a child for a century, I must sound quite small-minded with my beauty talk. It's not like my envy has dissipated but it's good to put things in perspective.
Far away, I see a familiar figure approaching us. Tatterfell.
I tell her about my request to have the maze around my house be eradicated. She doesn't ask me why but she notes how, although Jude isn't home at the moment, since the request is coming from me, it can be done easily. Before going back to work, she shares with me something unexpected.
"Consider visiting us more often. Although Ju- Her Highness is often busy, I suspect she misses you. I have no answer to give her every time I'm asked about your whereabouts and she has seriously considered sending some of her people to guard your household."
"... Are you sure you're allowed to tell me this?"
Tatterfell shrugs and smiles.
"So you're still more preoccupied about etiquette than your sister's care for you. That's good to see, Oriana would be proud of the consistency."
I blush. I know this is not a jab at me since Tatterfell isn't the type to do so and she must truly believe the words she's saying, coming from her mouth this is not sarcasm. Yet I feel embarrassed at the idea that I haven't changed all that much.
Tatterfell leaves us be. I suppose it might be good to go back now.
As we're walking back to the carriage with slow steps, Myriadh looks as if she wants to tell me something. I welcome her to do so.
"Well, about before-"
Her sentence is cut short as a figure is suddenly in front of us. As if it materialized out of thin air. Myriadh jumps in front of me in a protective manner, she's about to open her mouth, letting her voice put the creature to sleep. But having the time to process the sight, I quickly realize it's not a creature.
"Wait!" The indistinct voice begs. I hold Myriadh's arm, a sign for her to hold on.
Hood down, mask off, the individual suddenly becomes recognizable to us. Jude had gifted the court of shadows some masks that can blur their presence. I realize now this is what it was. The faerie, or rather, the half-faerie standing in front of us is actually Larkin. Better known as the Ghost amongst his "fellow colleagues" if we can even consider spying and killing as work.
He shoots a smile at me, a tense one. And suddenly, I’m not so sure on how to act anymore.
✏️✏️✏️
I’m excited about the next and last part!!! (For obvious reasons at this point.) Let’s say that the "character interactions" I wrote for the next part were... interesting to figure out? 😂 I’m quite pleased with it although I know it won’t get much traction since the central character in this is Taryn 🫠 It’s okay girlie, if no one’s here, I’m here!
📢 Summary: A young vampire-fae is abandoned by his family and thus, having nowhere to go, he spends his days lying down on some hay and talking to cats. That is until a mortal girl finds him, takes him to her home and feeds him.
✏️✏️✏️
The boy was lying down on a bed of hay in an empty stable, it had been abandoned so the child was using it as a refuge. It wasn't so bad, the child thought, he had a roof over his head and the cats and kittens would come to visit him from time to time. He was trying to avoid the thought that they were probably pets who had a home to go back to while he didn't. Surely their masters would wait for them before the sleeping hours in order to close the doors.
Cardan swept the thought away everytime it popped in his head. Especially since his lack of a home with a loving family wasn't his biggest problem. His biggest problem was the unquenchable thirst he had. No matter how much he drank from dead animals it was useless, and the boy didn't have the heart to drink the blood of the cats, his only occasional visitors. So he was left there, sometimes biting down on his own arm to drink his own blood. Which was stupid. If any other vampire saw him doing that, they'd note how pathetic and unbecoming it was of him. "How can this child possibly be from the royal bloodline?!" They'd say.
Whatever. Cardan didn't care because no one looked his way. Not his Father, not his Mother, not his siblings and certainly not any of the folk who assumed he was some bastard child of low rank if they happened to run into him. His run down clothes, his unorderly hair. It all looked as unroyal as it could. Absolutely no one ever guessed his identity, unless it was one of his unfortunate siblings who were so embarrassed to stand next to him that they'd either pretend to not notice him or throw mocking comments at his sorry state.
Cardan's days were full of nothing. No friends, no games, no food, no education let alone books. The boy could read but that ability was useless to him without anything to read. Days, weeks and months were mingling together. What day is it today? Who cares. All upcoming days will be the same anyways.
"...Hey?"
A voice from outside, a young girl probably around the same age as him. What is she here for? If it's to mock him then he'd better ignore her. Cardan stayed still, his face turned towards the inside of the stable. He was pretending to sleep. It was a poor attempt.
"Are you okay there? There’s no need to pretend, I can tell you’re awake."
Having a short fuse, Cardan wondered why he had even bothered trying to ignore the girl in the first place. He shifted on the hay, turning his body to face her, whoever she was. And what a surprise it was. A human girl was standing over him, he had never seen one so close, let alone interacted with any. All he knew is that she smelled delicious and he was starved. That could be bad.
Cardan frowned at the girl and made a dismissive gesture with his hand.
"Leave, you dunce. Haven't you been taught not to approach the fae?"
The girl gave him a look. She was utterly unimpressed with his attempt at making her leave. Looking at it closer, despite being human, the girl was well clothed, her hair must've been brushed a few hours ago and they were made up into little horns, although by now it was obvious that she had moved around way too much for the strands to stay in their place. She had a sword at her side and… a missing finger? No, only a part of it. But just as he had guessed by her voice, she must be 11 or 12, around the age when the girls are slightly taller than the boys.
"Soon, some goblins will be coming to camp around here, I would advise you to leave." The girl announced then paused. "...Unless you have no place to go to?"
Her tone wasn't mocking, yet Cardan felt annoyed anyway. Who does she think she is? He'll stay wherever he wants. Even if it can't be in a house, as a prince, the land of his father is also his, thus he can choose to stay wherever. Or so he'd like to convince himself.
"I do. This is my place. Now scram."
Feeling overwhelmed by the delicious smell coming off the girl, he turned away again as he was initially lying down. Only this time, he put his arm over his nose, trying to block the scent in vain.
There was a slight silence again, then the sound of the girl's footsteps carried away into the distance. "Good." Cardan thought, as he could breathe freely again. However, his relief was short-lived as the girl's loud footsteps came back, and before he could yell at her to leave, he felt a light impact near his back. As if something was thrown on the hay he was lying on. Cardan turned over to look at the object he expected to be something to mock him. A brush used on horses maybe? But no, it was merely an apple.
"Have that, I'm not hungry." The girl said.
Cardan didn't know what to do. Hate and mockery were easier to deal with than whatever this was. So instinctively, he turned to anger by default despite there being nothing to be angry at. Only a kind gesture.
"You dare look down on me, human? Take your pity back!"
He threw the apple back at the girl, only for her to catch it skillfully and throw it right back at him again.
"Of course not, I wouldn't dare to look down on a prince. I only wanted to share my food, for I believe you'd enjoy it, and I'd like your highness to enjoy a delicious apple."
Confused, the words barely registering, Cardan blinked.
"So you're aware of who I am?" He asked.
"I didn't at first. But as I thought of you on my walk back, I realized that the youngest prince is rumored to have black hair and a tail. It was only a guess, but I'm glad I was right."
The boy looked down at the apple again. So there was still someone in this world who acknowledged him as a prince. Who didn't doubt his legitimacy. Somehow, that felt good. His anger was cut short and he cleared his throat, trying to sound more collected now that the girl was aware of his title. Despite the title in question not having resulted in anything pleasant for the short 11 years the boy had lived so far.
"Very well, mortal. I accept your present."
The boy bit into it, savoring the sweet and fresh juice. He tried to savor it as much as he could while eating, but his thirst was making him eager, making the intervals between each bite shorter until there was nothing left to bite into. Cardan looked down sadly at what was left of the apple: the middle portion that would make him look pathetic if he ate it as well.
"As I thought it wasn't enough to quench my thirst."
The girl had been closely looking at him all the while the young vampire was devouring the apple.
"Then what would be good? Water?"
The boy suggestively looked at the girl. You. He thought. You would be enough.
"I need some blood from time to time but I haven't been able to get any lately."
"Would some of mine do? My name is Jude by the way."
The boy was shocked at the offer. Is this human just senseless? Offering herself to him like that. And her name's Jude. Her name infuriates him for no tangible reason, even making him confused at his illogical feelings.
"Don't be stupid. I could suck all the blood out of you right here, right now. Be thankful for my benevolence and leave."
The girl made a face, thinking.
"Would you like to come for dinner at my house today?"
If this little girl keeps talking, Cardan feels like he'll go insane. She's not making any sense, yet… and yet… he knows. He has heard of her. Two human daughters adopted by general Madoc. Cardan might not be any better than a rat right now, but rats are great at gathering intel. Folks will just say anything in front of you if they believe you have no importance.
"... Very well." Cardan stood up. "Bring me to your household, human."
Jude furrowed her brows as she wanted to be called by her name now that the boy knew what it was. Not "mortal" or "human". Nonetheless she brushed it off and led the boy away from the stable towards a faerie not too far off from them. Probably a nanny. Cardan notes that the servant's name is Tatterfell.
And as they silently make their way to the girl's house, the man Cardan assumes is the general is sharpening a blade outside. He stays away as the girl explains to her adoptive father who he is and why she has brought him here. Which is apparently because "he's the youngest prince and he needs a place for today" since the goblins that are setting camp will be coming near the place he was staying at. She doesn't say that the place in question was an abandoned stable, but by the way he looks and how Madoc looks at him, Cardan supposes no more explanation is necessary to get the picture.
There would be no advantages in taking him, but as Cardan mentally prepares himself to act proud and leave, Madoc accepts. The next thing he knows, he's getting bathed, brushed and dressed in new clothes, albeit with difficulty considering it has been a while since someone took care of him and he's throwing his temper at every awkward feeling and movement he feels over his head and body.
At dinner the oldest daughter doesn't show her face, only the twins and recently married parents are here. Oh, and the baby is supposedly asleep and fed somewhere. How lucky that he was born wanted and loved. Cardan thinks but pushes down. He's not sure how to act, how to talk, or if he should even attempt anything at all. He knows that everything they're doing for him, he won't be able to pay it back. A fresh apple? It could more or less easily be taken care of. But all of this? Absolutely not.
Cardan has nothing aside from his official title and he knows it.
After dinner, Jude insists on bringing him to her room despite the fact that a different room has been prepared for him for today. He lets himself be led there, as he knows that indulging in her whims is the least he can do right now.
She shows him her plushies, her books and her practice swords as if it's supposed to be interesting in any way. Cardan is much more interested in the books to be honest, and the plushies just seem like a waste of space on the bed to him. Since he has never had any, or if he did, he doesn't remember.
At first Cardan attempts to act stoic, but as the girl keeps talking, Cardan realizes how fun it is to listen, then to answer and be heard in turn. To have someone eagerly waiting for your comments and insights. It feels good to be seen and heard.
He keeps looking at himself in the mirror of her room, saving the sight of his fancy clothes in his brain. Remember well, this is always how you were supposed to be dressed. This is how you would have looked if you were smarter, useful. If you had more value for Father, maybe.
And as the time to go to sleep approaches, Jude stops him from leaving.
"Will you drink my blood now? Even if you're not hungry, you must still feel a bit thirsty, right?"
Cardan blinks.
"Are you not worried I'll drink all of it?"
The girl smiled, a cheeky smile. As if she's about to reveal the smartest trick ever.
"Well, earlier I was. But now that I've done all of this for you, your pride wouldn't allow it."
Of course. Bargains are big in Faerie. A human who has spent more than a few years here would obviously know. Still, the boy is confused.
"I don't get why you're so hung up on that. You do realize that I'll never be able to pay all of this back, right?"
The girl sits on her bed, taking the plush snake into her lap and petting it as if it's a real animal.
"Well… When I saw you there, then realized who you were, I didn't like it. It was wrong. So I figured that maybe I could try to make it right if you allowed me to, I'm glad you did. Seeing you like this is a proper payback in its own way."
The girl's hairstyle was unique. It’s quite funny: two small horns sticking out, yet at that moment, to the boy she looked like an angel.
"... You’re weird. In fact you’re not making any sense but-" The boy fiddled with his tail, trying to speak up in vain as his throat was getting tight from the thirst and the tears forming in his eyes. "Still, I understand. Then give me some of your blood, I promise to not overdo it."
The girl smiled and put the plushie away, almost as if she was inviting the boy to sit on her lap then drink her blood. I’m not a little kid. Cardan thought, instead sitting next to her on the bed. The truth is, the young vampire was very nervous. He had only drunk blood from dead or almost dead animals. It didn’t taste good, honestly, but at least it filled his stomach and satiated his thirst for a while. This would be the first time he would get to taste human blood from a young girl like him, he just knew her blood would taste good. Not only because of the common sense of: young and well-fed human equals delicious blood. But also because she just smelled good.
And she was waiting for him, not at all scared at the idea of getting bitten in the neck by a blood-sucking creature. Ironically, Cardan was the anxious one in this scenario. Excited at the idea of drinking great quality blood but feeling shy at how he’s about to feed off of someone else. Awkwardly, he tilted his face over her neck, getting closer then unsure on how to bite, where exactly to bite or how to place himself.
"You can hold onto me." The girl pulled his hands towards her in a friendly manner. "And I’m not scared of pain either, feel free to start anytime."
Jude. What a peculiar human. Drowning his worries in her scent, the boy finally bit onto her and she didn’t even cry out. Only a little flinch which seems amazing for a first time, Cardan thinks, not like he has ever bitten anything other than a dying animal though, so he can’t even pretend to know. But what he does know is that his nose wasn’t lying, this blood tastes like the finest meal he could ask for. He doesn’t want to stop which is worrying, however he relaxes remembering that he gave her his word just before biting her. He won’t overdo it. He’ll only take a fair amount.
And that’s what he does. Although he’d like to keep going beyond what he needs, as soon as he feels his thirst settling down, he pulls away. Then, realizing that he had subconsciously held her in his arms, he pulls away further, getting up from the bed.
"I didn’t realize. I hope that didn’t inconvenience you." Well, more than I have already inconvenienced you today with my bothersome presence.
Jude laughs.
"No worries. I can let you borrow one of my plushies for the night if you want?"
Cardan blushes at the childish offer and turns her down, once again failing to realize that they are still children and that it is perfectly fine to seek comfort in an object. The girl rolls her eyes at how profusely he turned her down, as if it was shameful to even offer.
"Okay prince. Then would you like to sleep in my arms?"
"Stop talking crazy. Your father will be furious, and the servants have already prepared another room anyway."
"But my room is better! The guest rooms are cold and empty."
How insulting. The boy had been sleeping in stables for years, surely nothing could be more cold and empty than that. He kept those thoughts to himself though, complaining and talking back so much towards your host is not a good look to have. Cardan sighs in defeat.
"Will it make you happy? If I slept in… Well, if I slept next to you." Too embarrassed to utter "In your arms" the boy changed his terms.
"Very." Jude said, not looking all that happy. Not as happy as Cardan hoped she would. She’s probably only taking pity on him. But at this point, even if it was pity, being taken care of does feel good and the boy can’t bring himself to end the charade.
So jumping under the covers, Jude pulls Cardan close and holds him dearly. The young vampire lets himself relax and for the first time since forever, his sleep is so peaceful that he dreams a good dream. Maybe getting himself a plushie wouldn’t be so bad after all.
✏️✏️✏️
Instead of going with a "hot vampire Cardan" entry, I went with something cute and comforting. Though if I had to continue the AU, I’d say that once they become adults, it would be revealed that all of this was just a ploy from the beginning and Madoc was actually using Jude to get Cardan in his house as "another spare" besides Oak. But hey, let’s uh, not ruin the moment with that and stick to their wholesome friendship, right? 💖
Please consider leaving comments/tags to increase the amount of my smiles in a day! 💫
If you have any questions, click the link above to join our discord, or you can direct any questions to The Living Council at their personal accounts: @slightlyrebelliouswriter23 @acciomanorian @clockworkgraystairs @kevin-day-is-bi @booksandlewks
