Ellen kneeled on the floor, naked, feeling the sting of her Mistress’ wrath on her arched back. It had been a while since the spiked belt marked her skin and though she hated it with a passion, she had no choice but to endure. She had failed her - she knew that now - and there’s nothing worse for a slave.

Mistress Tatiana was enjoying the punishment too much and so were her daughters. Whatever feelings of sympathy they had experienced for the young girl’s plight were now nothing more than an illusion. The word of the day was “revenge” but for that they needed information.

“How do we get your fairy friend over here?” Drusilla asked.

“If I call her, she’ll come. She’s never far away,” Ellen muttered.

“And how do we trap her once she’s here?” Mistress Tatiana growled.

“That I don’t know, Mistress.”

“Why not?”

“We never spoke about anything like that. She was helping me. It never crossed my mind to imprison her.”

“Hmmph, I suppose that makes sense, but we still have a problem. I need to know how to bring her to heel, so she’ll get us what we want.”

“Mother, I have a suggestion,” Prudence intervened.

“What is it?”

“Why don’t we just resort to good old blackmail? If Ellen is so important to her, we threaten her life and reap the rewards.”

“Hmmm, normally I would agree with you,” Mistress Tatiana scratched her nose and frowned, “but since she’s a magical creature, she has the upper hand. If she casts a spell on us, we’ll be powerless to stop her.”

“Then we need to take away her magic,” Drusilla said.

“That much is obvious, but how? Ellen, I don’t suppose you know anything about that either, right?”

“There may be a way...” the young servant sobbed.

“Oh? In that case, what are you waiting for? Spill it!”

“Wait until midnight to contact her. You can probably catch her off-guard then.”

“Why? What happens at midnight?”

“She said that the magic flow becomes erratic at that time, and I know it’s true because it happened to me. It was the reason I had to leave the ball in such a hurry. Her powers will go haywire and she’ll either be unable to use them or refrain from doing so for fear of the consequences.”

“Now there’s something we can definitely use! Why didn’t you say that right away, you stupid girl?” 

“I’m sorry, Mistress. It only came back to me now.”

“Well, whatever... Still, it would be wise to have an additional advantage and not just rely on luck. Girls, I have a task for you.”

“What is it, mother?” Prudence asked.

“Head over to town and check the library for books about fairies, sprites, and all forms of supernatural creatures, namely anything you can find about possible binding rituals. I will not underestimate this foe. Do you think you can do that without drawing too much attention to yourselves?”

“Of course, mother, but what will you do in the meantime?”

“I’ll continue to press this wretched girl for more information. If she remembered this just now, who knows what else she could be hiding?”

“Fair enough, but don’t damage her too much, so we don’t lose our advantage.”

“Don’t teach me how to do my job! I was playing this game long before you were born, so don’t forget it.”

“Of course, mother. Come along, Drusilla. We have books to read.”

“But I don’t want to go to the library!”

“We’re going and that’s final. Move!”

Prudence dragged Drusilla down the stairs, leaving her mother to her designs. The last thing she saw before closing the door was the maniacal grin that reminded her of just how fucked things could get when she didn’t have her way. Ellen’s torture at her hands would not be over any time soon.

“Now that’s just you and me again, you know what’s coming, right?” the matriarch asked.

“Please, Mistress,” Ellen said. “No more. I promise I’ll be a good slave again.”

“Your promises mean nothing when you were so quick to turn against me. Your meddling could have destroyed this family for good. I gave you purpose and the joy of service, and you spat on my face and stabbed me in the back. No doubt you would have continued to undermine us at every turn had you not been exposed and returned to your proper state of mind You deserve everything that’s coming to you and the only reason you’re still allowed to breathe is to facilitate our ascension. After that, well... after that, you’re as good as dead. The palace’s servants will undoubtedly make a better job than you. Stand up and spread your ass cheeks. Do it now.”

“Mistress? Please, what are you going to do to me?”

“Whatever the hell I want. Since you were so keen on fucking me over, let’s see how much you enjoy being fucked. Spread them far and wide and take it all for me. Don’t you dare scream once or you’ll regret it even further.”

“Yes, Mistress,” Ellen assumed her humiliating pose and moaned when the wooden-like implement pushed inside her ass, the rhythmic thrusts pushing her to the brink of insanity. If she still had an ounce of free will in her, she would have cried for help, but it was already too late. All dreams had shattered, and the magic that had awakened her rebellious soul no longer flickered behind her eyes. The Lady Sin would not rise again.

* * *

Prudence and Drusilla’s trek to the city was short and inconspicuous, despite the sulking of the latter. Asking her to waste her time consulting old tomes was a nightmare, no matter the subject. Drusilla hated it so much that the first thing she said when they arrived at the library was,

“How about you do your research and I go check out some fabrics for a new dress?”

“I have a better idea. How about you try hard not to let mother down this time? We have a golden opportunity here to get what we always dreamed of, and I’d rather not waste it,” Prudence replied.

“Well, I don’t like this. I don’t like it one bit.”

“You don’t like anything, sis. Let’s go.”

The Main Library was an opulent stone building in the northern part of town that was said to house the greatest collection of books on the continent. Its construction was attributed to Prince Phillip’s great-great-grandfather, Tybalt the Wise, a scholar that had spent half of his long reign meditating on the matters of the soul and how one could prevent it from falling prey to the vices of the body. A painting of him, wearing his favorite ceremonial green garb adorned the well-lit entrance as they stepped inside.

“Looks like a very boring man,” Drusilla yawned, the musky scent of old books and parchments driving her nostrils mad.

“You couldn’t be more wrong. He was an incredibly spiritual person, that’s true, but he also had a secret, or several, if the old stories are true.”

“What stories?”

“King Tybalt also had a fascination for alchemy and often disappeared inside the castle to pursue his passion. No one ever proved if his so-called experiences on the transmutation of matter were true or not, but the fact remains that the kingdom’s wealth tripled while he sat on the throne.”

“That seems like a bunch of horseshit to me, sorry.”

“It would be most appropriate for a young lady to not tarnish this house of knowledge with such vulgar language,” a powerful woman’s voice echoed in her ears.

The two sisters turned in the direction of the sound to face a petite woman wrinkled as a plum but with a pair of eagle-like eyes that could pierce straight into her soul. The Head Librarian wore an elegant black dress with a white collar and cuffs. She had short silver hair, a perfect Greek nose, and over thirty years of experience tending to the enlightenment of everyone that wished to learn more than the world dared to tell them, provided they were always respectful and polite.

“Forgive me, I meant no disrespect,” Drusilla covered her mouth with her right hand.

“And yet, disrespect was still allowed to flourish, and may it be the last time as long as you’re inside these walls. Welcome to our library. My name is Maxine. How may I help you today?”

“Good afternoon, Maxine,” Prudence replied. “My sister and I were just discussing the legends of King Tybalt, and it seems we got carried away. Apologies if the language used was crass.”

“Your apologies are accepted, but my request remains. You’re in a place of culture and beautiful women like yourselves should know how to behave. I believe this is the first time you are visiting us, am I correct?”

“Indeed, you are,” Prudence nodded. “We’re searching for something special which we hope can be found here.”

“All queries for knowledge are special in their own way. and there has never been one I couldn’t fulfill. We are home to all you can imagine and more. Do tell me what drives you so we can begin right away.”

“Could you lead us to the supernatural section, please?”

“Supernatural, you say?” the older woman let out a curious smirk. “What manner of supernatural dealings? Angels? Demons? Witches? Mermaids?”

“Fairies,” Drusilla replied. “We’re looking for everything you have on fairies.”

“Everything may be too tall of an order for the two of you. The Fair Folk has been the subject of countless studies over the generations and even though their sightings have dwindled, they remain a popular subject. Unfortunately, there are too many types. Are you looking for brownies, sprites, pixies, devas, dryads, changelings...?”

“We’re not exactly sure how to classify it,” Prudence said. 

“I see... Is there anything else you can tell me so we can narrow the search parameters?”

“You’re familiar with the Cinderella story, I presume.”

“Who isn’t?” Maxine chuckled. “Every girl that has read or heard the story from their mother or grandmother dreams of being swept away by a handsome prince but I dare say that anyone that waits for magical carriages and crystal shoes will never go far in life. You wish to know more about the character of The Fairy Godmother then?”

“Yes. We wish to explore it further. Can you help us with that?”

“Yes, I’m sure I can. I just need to consult our records, so if you’ll be so kind as to wait here for a while...”

“Of course. Thank you, Maxine.”

“You’re welcome. Be right back, ladies.”

“I hope we don’t have to stay here for long,” Drusilla yawned the moment the librarian disappeared from view.

“Will you stop complaining already? Mother gave us a task and we’re seeing it through no matter what. You don’t want her to do to you what she’s doing to Ellen right now, do you?”

“She wouldn’t...”

“This is our mother we’re talking about. Of course, she would! Have you forgotten what you had to suffer through when you were a child?”

“No, Pru, I haven’t, but I still don’t like this, okay? Everything was simpler before this supernatural revelation. I wish we could just forget this was a thing and go back to our normal lives.”

“You and me both, okay? Unfortunately, it’s too late to stop now. However, if we get everything done correctly, we can still hope for something as close to normal as possible.”

“May the gods hear you, sis.”

Maxine returned a few minutes later with a handwritten list containing the references of the shelves they were to peruse. “It seems we have more material than I thought, and there are a few more volumes in the Underground Archives as well. Should you need them, I’ll be happy to accommodate, but for now, please follow me.”

The three women ventured deeper inside the library until they reached a spiraling staircase that led to the second floor. Stained glass windows depicting a fierce battle against a majestically winged creature were visible to the right, while the panels to the left exhibited a more bucolic scene, with multicolored flowers and vines enveloping a brown-covered tome. It was the old crest of Tybalt the Wise preserved for future generations in all of its reflective glory. Looking at the heraldry imbued them with an overwhelming sensation of calmness as if no harm could come to them and everything that happened in that space was sacred. Both Prudence and Drusilla felt it the most, imagining that the old king’s spirit was there with them looking for any sign of corruption in their hearts and if he were to find it...

“This way,” Maxine led them across a row of dimly lit shelves and headed right. A square table awaited them, with two thick volumes already in waiting, courtesy of one of her assistants. “Please take a seat.”

The two sisters complied, the golden book covers demanding their attention. “These two are the most emblematic books about classic fairytales and the story of Cinderella as a whole,” Maxine explained. “They’re the best place to start, even if they’re dense. While you take a look at them, I’ll arrange for the others to be brought to you.”

“How many books are we talking about?” Drusilla shuddered.

“Not counting the ones in the Underground Archives at least thirty more, young miss. You two have a lot of reading ahead.”

“That’s what I was afraid of,” she thought, her down-turned lips revealing her true feelings. 

One by one, the other books arrived at the table, all of them filled with colorful descriptions and spectacularly drawn imagery to accompany them. A handful of them was immediately cast aside, comprising nothing more than literary ramblings about the true significance of the fairytale and its main characters. One that looked promising early on soon devolved into rambunctious fiction with erotic overtones that would make any religious person blush. It got a good laugh out of them, but nothing more.

Three hours later, and after exhausting the material of the Underground Archives, suddenly there was light. An esoteric study on the true nature of fairies that explored their multiple appearances in Western literature led them to a dust-filled tome, complete with strange summoning incantations and a sleuth of magic circles capable of denying both their entry and or influence. The appendage mentioned yet another book also by the same author where such rites were further deconstructed.

“I think we’re on to something here,” Prudence said.

“I think you’re right. It’s about time,” Drusilla noted.

Outside, the sun was beginning to set. If what they had in their hands was the real deal, they didn’t have much time to get things ready. The witching hour would soon be upon them, bringing with it the confrontation that was to forever change their lives.