'Mama? Where are we going?'
Everything had been fine until those blasted horns had sprouted. These things can bypass a few generations be damned - it was no devil child of theirs, and they weren't about to raise one.
Confused but not yet aware of what her mother had planned, Delilah stumbled to keep up with the hurried steps, almost tripping at times if not for the bruising grip around her wrist. As much as she begged to slow down, or tried to ask why they'd hurried out to the forest in the dead of night, none of her questions were answered. Her mother refused to look at her, keeping her gaze forward as the forest grew darker with every step.
When the two had finally stopped, they stood before a stone well that couldn't have a visible bottom. For all Delilah knew, it might have gone right through to the other side of the world. Not too far from the grim truth, really. She clung to her mother's leg as a voice called out, echoing off the well's stones.
"Is this the child?"
"Yes." Her mother had snapped, stamping her leg to have Delilah fall off, grabbing her by the back of her dress to keep her from running away. "Just as we agreed. I don't want people thinking this foul creature has any association with us at all."
"Mama, what do you mean?" Delilah whimpered, tears already rolling down her cheeks as the child struggled to understand the situation. Whatever was at the bottom of that well filled her with a cold dread like she'd never felt before, from her toes all the way to the tips of her horns. "I wanna go home!"
Neither of the other parties answered her distress - instead, a long piece of parchment suddenly spat soared out of the well, unrolling to stop just by her mothers feet. The mysterious voice called out again in something of a sing-song tone;
"As we agreed~ by the mark of your true-name's scrawl, the child's custody shall be mine, soul and all. You and your husband will have memories none - whilst she and I to be bound as one."
"You can't trick me with your clever words, you said I would be compensated!" The older woman scowled, resulting in an amused tittering. A few seconds later, a small soggy sack was tossed out as well, making a significant clinking sound like several handfuls of coins.
"Mama--" Delilah croaked hollowly, a few cogs slowly beginning to turn about what was being arranged. She was being abandoned. Sold? Sacrificed to some hellish pit-creature, all because of the small knubs of horns that had sprouted - the way that her fingers had began to grow sharp pointed nails. "Mama, I love you--"
But the scroll was already rolling back up, having been swiftly signed with no hesitation. Delilah had kicked and screamed, tried to wriggle out of her dress, but she was simply too weak in a world much bigger and stronger than she was.
The last thing she remembered in these fragmented memories was the rushing blackness of the well closing in on her, and soft silked gloved hands catching her before she could hit the bottom.
A voice spoke, sounding so very different to how it sounded when she was above the ground. It was.. soothing. Sweet and melodical. How could she have been afraid of such a being, who was now gently rocking her as painted lips pulled back wider.. and wider.. and wider..
"Hello, Dummy."
