Confrontation

Elfy didn’t understand what the issue was. She was confident in keeping her darling safe from everything and anyone. And her smile showed this confidence, but somehow, it seemed to disturb Effy.

So, she schooled her expression, turning her mind away from the thoughts of bloodshed and back to something she enjoyed more. Thoughts of more intimate exchanges between two partners, for example.

That said, Elfy had to be considerate. She extended her hand, offering to take the small package that was all her darling owned. “May I?” She wiggled her fingers, offering to carry it.

“Um…” Effy hesitated, the usual lack of confidence showing. “I can carry it myself?”

Acknowledging it for what it was – a lack of experience in how to deal with kindness – Elfy formed one of the trusty water tendrils and snatched the package out of her darling’s hands, hoisting it behind her.

It was so adorable how such a simple display of water control amazed her darling. Elfy glanced at the window she had entered through and decided it was too small for an actual human to squeeze through. So she took the lost girl’s hand and guided her towards the doors.

“I know you can, but I want to spoil you. You deserve it.” She airily explained, finding herself standing in an opulent corridor. “It seems humans have learnt to decorate their houses much better while I slept.”

Of course, looking back at Effy’s room, she found the drab simplicity of the past. It was another proof of how poorly her darling had been treated, and it made her feel hatred for the humans who had done this to her.

Effy stopped next to her, and she felt how cold the hand was in her palm. Afraid. Yes. Her darling was afraid, the panic held back only by their close contact.

After not discovering an ambush waiting for them, Effy intertwined their fingers, changing the handhold. “Um… Sleeping. I am… I don’t know how nymphs work. Do you need to sleep?”

“Hmm… Do we?” Elfy pulled her darling towards the rhythmic sound at one end of the corridor, where she found a cabinet with a pendulum swinging behind a glass door with two branches going over a series of numbers. “No, we don’t in the same way humans do. But we do get tired. Exhausted by the world and the passing of time.” She paused. “What is this?”

“The clock?” Effy clarified. “Um, it shows time… You don’t know what a clock is?”

“Interesting. Perhaps I slept for longer than I thought.” Elfy hummed, leaning closer to the device. “How does it work?”

“It’s… Actually, I am not sure? It’s expensive, so I am not allowed to touch it.” Effy pulled Elfy away from the thing. “And we should go.”

“Yes, we will.” Elfy turned her head towards the inner parts of the mansion, spotting an expansive living room full of more interesting things. “Curious.”

“No, no. We should go. What if Madame and the head maid come back? We will be in trouble! So much trouble! Madame is always guarded!” Elfy begged. “The rest of the servants haven’t spotted us. Eric probably made sure nobody was nearby. We should leave. Please.”

But truthfully, Elfy didn’t plan to leave. The exploration of the curiosities she found was just an excuse for the most part. She indeed was interested in the paper with the impossibly neat letters on it, but more importantly, she wanted to meet these people who had thought her darling could be pushed around.

To linger for longer, she picked up the papers from the table and studied them. “This is not written by hand.” She concluded.

“They use a press, I think.” Effy groaned. “Elfy. Please… We have to leave.”

“Hmm… In truth,” Elfy started, knowing she had to be fair to her darling. “I wish to meet these ‘employers’ of yours. Perhaps exchange a tentacle or two with them.” She bared her teeth, wondering if Effy would want to see it.

“Elfy… I don’t know… Madame is an important person. If something happens to her, it won't just end with the local guards chasing after us.”

While it was tempting to let her darling’s words sway her mind, Elfy shook her head. “You said it yourself. The… What was his name? The corpse is already made. They won’t let us go. So, isn’t it better to deal with everything here and now?”

They stared at each other, making Elfy wonder if this would turn into their first little spat. It would be cute if it would. But the sound of horseshoes on the cobblestone closing on the mansion proved their escape was not meant to be.

“Too late…” Effy muttered, looking at the window showing the path towards the main entrance. “They are back.”

Elfy wondered if she would spare any of them. Perhaps the Madame should be left alive? The woman had not harmed her darling directly, so if she begged for her life, she might consider it. But the head maid had to die, regardless.

Even as the main entrance’s doors opened and people entered the mansion, she continued to contemplate how much she should kill. If Effy had been more reluctant about how she had ended that bug, she wouldn’t act this overtly, but…

“Who are you?”

A sharp, commanding voice demanded an explanation for her presence. Lazily, Elfy turned around to find a stern-looking old maid sending a scathing look their way. Currently, it was focused on Effy. But then it slowly travelled to her, freezing at the sight of her face.

                                                                                *******

Effy could barely breathe or move. The head maid’s murderous glare brought the years of bitter experiences to the forefront of her thoughts. Subconsciously, she scooted closer to her solace. Her girlfriend’s presence was the only thing that kept her standing where she was.

The movement brought a change. The head maid’s stare moved from her to Elfy, momentarily stopping the woman in surprise before a gleam of understanding filled her expression.

“So not only did the whore run away, leaving her daughter here, but she also had more children. Tell me then, Olivia’s daughter. Did you come in hopes of meeting your sister?”

That wasn’t right. Elfy wasn’t her sister. No. Why would the head maid think she was? Who was Olivia? “Ran away?” She whispered, her mind already having arrived at the answer. “You said you don’t know who my parents are…”

Despite it being just a murmur, the head maid picked up on the sound. “Of course I knew my own daughter. But not whoever bedded her. I raised a cheap whore, and that will not repeat.”

“... what…” A single word was all she had. The implications of those words battered her mind. She swayed, remaining standing only thanks to her girlfriend supporting her.

“If you are wondering why I didn’t tell you, it is because I didn’t want you to get any ideas.” The head maid stated matter-of-factly, signalling to someone behind her. “Not that it did much good.” She grumbled as a bored-looking guard stepped next to her. “It must be my late husband's blood. His cousin was into revolting things.”

“You… You are my grandmother?” Effy grabbed Elfy’s hand, feeling afloat. The world around her kept changing and morphing. She couldn’t plant her feet for even a moment.

“Certainly not by choice. But I did my duty and fed you. You had a roof above your head and work to do.” The old crone kept her head high. “While I failed to keep you proper, I did good. And Eric will do the rest.”

“Ahahaha!”

The room halted as the clear laughter washed away the unpleasant atmosphere. Elfy’s amusement agitated the new arrivals. Because there was no happiness in what usually was an expression of joy. This laughter was filled with mocking disregard for the past and the planned future.

“Silence, child.” The headmaid’s disturbed expression hardened. “Grab her, Vincent. Both of them.”

The distracted guard looked up from the jiggling breasts and placed his hand on the sword at his side. He stepped forward, the weapon and the leather armour giving him confidence against what he perceived were just two young women.

“It’s good that I came.” Elfy’s bubbly voice kept pulling the world into her pace. “And I regret not waking up sooner to bring you away, darling.”

A sense of weightlessness captured her, taking Effy’s breath along. Finding herself in Elfy’s hands, she wriggled, not knowing what to do about the incredible chest crushing against her. It was distracting, too! She wanted to question the head maid. Ask about… about everything! But no words formed on her lips as the world rushed ahead.

After taking a few steps, the guard’s steps slowed down. “Harriette… Doesn’t this woman match the descriptions of the intruder?” He pulled out his sword. “Go warn the madame. And call other guards. As for you –

“Don’t be a fool! They described a demon! This is just a woman. Do your job and get them both into Effy’s room. I don’t have time for this. Madame needs me, and I still need to find Eric.”

“Oh, Eric is dead.” Elfy’s tone took on an actual tone of happiness. “I drowned him and dumped him outside. I did good, didn’t I, Effy?”

Confused, Effy managed a slow nod. She couldn’t figure out what the correct reaction was. Her heart told her it was a good thing, but her mind tried to cling to the reality she had been forced to endure for all these years.

“Harriette”. The guard was now visibly sweating. “I don’t think she is a woman. Or a huma –”

The head maid didn’t listen. “What? What did you say, child?” Her face paled before growing redder than ever. “Eric would not…” She suddenly pivoted, vanishing in the corridor. “ERIC? Where are you, Eric?”

“Ah…” Effy reached after the woman. She had just learnt she was her relative…

“Effy”. Elfy cradled the poor girl closer. “I know you are confused. But this does not change the fact she treated you like a slave for all these years. She is not your family.”

Once more, Effy was reminded her girlfriend was not human. Because what was hidden behind those words was cruel, even if it was justified. “You want to kill her…” she stated, knowing it to be true.

“How many years did you spend coming to me? Every day, you visited me and poured out your heart. You did not name anyone, kind as you are. But do not think I am a fool. I know all the crimes this woman has committed.” Elfy spoke, creating a water lance beside her. “All the times she took away your food. The way she forbade you to talk with anyone. How she made every choice in your stead. The unjust tirades you had to weather. Every time she dared to lay her hands on you, I can recall. This woman can not be forgiven.”

It made sense. It really did. Effy sank into the breasts, wondering how her life would turn out. Because, frankly, she had no defences against Elfy’s words or actions. She just felt all the water nymph said and did was somehow right. “Mhmm…”

The hum was the signal. Elfy’s power manifested in the gruesome way it could as the water lance shot towards the guard, who just exclaimed as his chest was pierced before falling into silence forever.

With that, Elfy glided forward, carrying Effy towards the revenge she hadn’t asked for. Her eyes sought out the water nymph’s only for her to discover the girl's face was hidden behind the breasts.

So, instead, she looked at them, ignoring the thud of a body hitting the ground.