Dust (Of Dust and Darkness) - By Devon Ashley Page 0,16
that’s what we assume. Our two groups are independently making two very important ingredients for it. And it’s not the spriggans. It’s the faeries they work for that want it.”
“Faeries? They can make this stuff themselves. We shared the recipe ages ago. What do they need us for?”
Juniper shrugs. “A lot of work goes into making a dust this powerful. Why make it yourself when you can force slaves to make it for you?”
Slaves. Just the thought causes anger to boil ferociously within me. It must show on my face because Juniper is quick to add, “Don’t do anything foolish, Rosalie. If you want to survive here, you keep your head down and your mouth shut anytime a spriggan is near.” I want to ask what happens to those that don’t, but she’s determined to bring our conversation to a close when she adds, “Now eat quickly. You have a long day before you and you won’t be fed again until nightfall. Today you’ll be working with Holly, so please do as she says and you’ll make it through alright.”
Juniper gives my shoulder a quick squeeze before walking off and calling for Holly, who obediently makes her way to her. I scarf the mash down as the two pixies clearly discuss me; Holly briefly peeks over Juniper’s shoulder to look at me, confirming my suspicion. The mash isn’t that bad but it would seem more fulfilling if it were heated. I grab a wooden cup beside the mash pot and dip it into a bucket of water. I’m drinking my second cup when I eye a bowl of mash on the ground. My stomach grumbles and I long to take just a little more, but guilt immediately floods my senses. I know that bowl belongs to someone here, but after being starved for several days, my survival instincts kick in and selfishness tries to take over. I withhold the urge to snag the last dish and try to fill my stomach with a third cup of water. I feel bloated but even that’s better than starving. If we truly did have unlimited water, I’d fill myself up until I spewed it back out again just to avoid feeling starved.
I take a few laps around the pit to ease the cramping in my calves, as my legs are still shaky from their ordeal. My eyes sneak a peek at the food area and I notice the last bowl is gone, and I’m grateful I didn’t give in to temptation. Holly catches up to me on my third lap, smiling weakly as she approaches. “Hi. I’m Holly.” Her voice is familiar, and I suddenly realize that it was Holly holding me up last night as Juniper fed me.
“Hi. Rosalie,” I reply. Normally pixies would flutter their wings in a manner of respect upon meeting someone, but with steel clamps weighing us down, we settle for a brief moment of awkwardness. Holly is one of the pixies with a bluer hue and now up close, I can tell her black hair shimmers with royal blue as well, just like the red naturally found in my chestnut colored hair that shimmers in the light. Her eyes are cool grey and her eyelashes are still thick and full, despite the lack of nutrition taking a toll on the rest of her body. I couldn’t help but look at her body with regret and wonder how long it’ll take before I look like that too.
“How long have you been here, Holly?”
She licks her cracked lips and replies, “I was stolen about two years ago, when I was nineteen.”
I withhold the urge to widen my eyes as I am overcome by shock. Twenty-one? She looks at least thirty right now, what with her dried out skin and stress wrinkles smothering her forehead and the outer edges of her sagging eyes. However, there aren’t any creases framing her mouth. Guess she hasn’t had a reason to smile these past two years.
And then a horrible revelation occurs to me. “Holly, who’s been here the longest?”
“Juniper. She’s our eldest and sort of like a mother to us all. I think she’s been here fifteen years now.”
I gasp, but catch myself before bursting my thoughts aloud like earlier. With a lot of restraint, I quietly respond, “So she’s probably really only in her thirties. I thought she was in her fifties at least.”
Holly nods. “That’s what years of working sunrise to sundown without a day off can do to you. Her