Changeling
Chapter 2.2

Frantically, I reached for the delicate ribbons holding my skirt in place and pulled at them with all my might. The mousy fabric billowed around me like a stormy sea, finally falling to the ground in a heap of folds and ruffles. I kicked it aside, determined not to let such a cumbersome garment hinder me any longer. The cool night air nipped at my bare legs, the slip that remained on doing nothing to ward off the chilling night air, but I paid it no mind as adrenaline coursed through my body. I would warm up quickly once I started running.

For a graceful moment I couldn’t feel anyone perusing me, but it didn’t last long. My feet faltered as the damp, green moss covering the soil gave way beneath me, and I stumbled forward up the steep hill. Every breath was a struggle, the sharp air searing my already tired lungs. But still, I pushed on with determination, heart racing as I fought my way to the top. Finally, the ground became level and I could run unhindered; that is, until I came upon a circle of toadstools. They stood in a perfect ring, their red caps dotted with white spots, radiating an eerie energy. A sense of foreboding washed over me as I barreled through it, still, I couldn’t resist the primal instinct which drove me forward.

I was in no way prepared.

The darkness of the forest suddenly gave way to a blinding light, searing my retinas and disorienting me. My eyes strained to adjust as I stumbled forward, my feet getting caught on gnarled roots and tangled underbrush. With every step, I could feel the ground giving way beneath me, sending me hurtling down a treacherous slope littered with jagged rocks and fallen trees. The branches and twigs clawed at my body, tearing at my clothes and drawing blood from my skin. My screams echoed through the empty forest as I plummeted towards what seemed like certain death.

My cry of pain was carried away by the wind, quickly disappearing as I continued to fall. The impact came much faster and harder than I had expected, leaving me stunned and motionless. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth as I tried to comprehend what had just happened. My entire being was crying out in agony.

Only after too long did I open my mouth. “Fuck!” Every inch of my body ached as I struggled to sit up, the taste of blood in my mouth. The forest was eerily quiet, as if all its inhabitants were watching and waiting for me. I turned to look behind me, tilting my head upward to see the cliff I had just descended. There were no signs of anyone else nearby.

I was well aware of the stories. I wasn’t naive. Somehow, I had stumbled into the realm of the Fae. There was no other logical reason for my sudden relocation. One moment, I was running through a circle of mushrooms; the next, I was here, stepping out of that same circle. The odds were almost unbelievable. I couldn’t go back to where I came from. Instead, I had to keep moving forward and search for another way home. Gingerly, I rose to my feet and took a deep breath.

A gnawing feeling of unease consumed me as I stumbled through the forest, a mix of hot and cold sensations coursing through my body. Gasping for air, I stumbled to a nearby tree and leaned against it, trying to steady myself. The scent of earth and wood filled my senses as I inhaled deeply, ignoring the sharp burn in my chest. Looking down at my body, I took inventory of my wounds. Scratches crisscrossed my legs, turning my once neat, creamy slip into a tattered mess resembling frayed tassels. Blood trickled from a particularly deep gouge on my calf, dripping down my pale skin and pooling around my ankle bone. A small light suddenly erupted from the ground, where a drop of blood fell, illuminating the surrounding area. In an instant, tiny flowers and fragrant herbs sprouted from the ground around my feet, their vibrant colors and sweet scents filling the air. The shrubs curled up my legs like a fond cat might do.

My breath came in ragged gasps as I watched in disbelief as my blood transformed into a lush green foliage. The shock of the sight was overwhelming, making it difficult to catch my breath—I couldn’t breathe. The once smooth fabric of my binding now felt like a vice around my body, cutting off my air supply. Frantically, I clawed at the tightly cinched corset, trying to free myself from its suffocating grasp. As the itching pain intensified and spread throughout my body, I let out a guttural scream that echoed through the room. In a moment of desperation, I tore at the cords holding me captive and finally broke free from the confines of the corset. My breasts fell free and the strange pain dissipated, leaving me feeling both relieved and bewildered by the surreal experience.

I felt them before I could even register what it was that I felt. I quickly turned to see, but my long hair obstructed my view. With a quick tug, I pulled back the black strands and looked again.

Wings.

As I turned to glance behind me, my four delicate, translucent wings twitched and fluttered against the thin fabric of my under gown. The lower pair seemed strained, struggling to keep up with the swift movements of the upper pair. My neck ached from being twisted so unnaturally far, so I stretched it quickly then looked again. There they were, still attached to my body like an otherworldly extension. Each wing shimmered in the sunlight, reflecting shades of iridescent greens and blues. A sense of both awe and discomfort washed over me as I contemplated these strange appendages that had suddenly appeared on my back.

How in the fuck?!

I slowly let my wide and feverish eyes wander away from the wings that seemed impossible to be real, and instead took in the unfamiliar surroundings around me. However, I was so consumed by my own thoughts that I didn’t truly see or register anything around me.

What did it all mean? How was it possible that I had wings? Suddenly, memories from my childhood flooded back, taunting me with the same word that the villagers used to condemn me: changeling.

My mind raced with questions, doubts, and fears. The possibility of not being my parents’ biological child shook me to my core. Could the Fae have switched me at birth? And if they did, what happened to their real daughter? The warmth of the summer sun couldn’t thaw the chill that spread through me. I was torn between wanting to know the truth and dreading what it might be.

I took a deep breath and stood up, my heart racing. I couldn’t linger in this place any longer. The dark figures that had appeared in the shadows of the human world were likely from this realm, and they could easily replace their way back to me. With determination, though it trembled within me, I started moving forward