The Dungeon of Intense Purification

(Background info: Eva-Claire Yellowblossom has been entrusted with the care of Princess Stephanie Goldmaracynthia Bell, a royal fairy who was stolen from the higher world and raised on earth where she later became a leader of criminals. Although Eva-Claire is an exceptional mentor, it is feared that she might secretly be using cruel and unconventional methods to reform Stephanie.)

Previous part.

“Lead the way, Stephanie,” said Eva-Claire, and pointed to the plain white rug that was on the kitchen-diner room floor.

Stephanie slowly removed the rug and discovered the trapdoor that led down into the dungeon. She had her basket of bread and water with her. The loaves were wrapped in cloth and the water was contained in stout glass bottles with rolled up leaves from the Yallavine tree in the necks that served as lids. Leaves from that tree took a very long time to decay and were very sturdy and useful for many things.

While opening the trapdoor, Stephanie realised that despite how difficult it felt, she must make one last stand for herself. This could be her last chance to avoid the horrors that awaited her in that gloomy, cruel abode. She made a strong mental effort to summon enough courage to turn around and speak but felt overwhelmed by a paralysing weakness and fear.

Eva-Claire sensed what Stephanie was thinking and said, “don’t try my patience, Princess. Get down there and let’s have you trained and purified in order that you may reign as the next Queen. Your own mother’s time will come one day and she will sense the need to pass her power as Sovereign on to you. You need to learn how to function as a ruler of fairies but you are very far behind in your education and you lack efficient training in the powers gifted to you. But above all, you are a victim of darkness. Earthly corruption has invaded your heart and deeply sullied your inner brightness. You know this, Princess. You have known it for a long time. You knew you were going down the wrong path ever since you were a child of tender age in the lower world capital of central Britain.”

At last, after another mighty effort to speak, Stephanie managed to get some words out but could not yet turn around and face the Mentor. “Please. I can’t cope with this. I want Vanessa.”

“Trust me, Stephanie, I will not enjoy putting you through this process. But Vanessa is too soft-hearted and will only hinder your progress if she finds out about this. Now move. Go down into the dungeon and I will follow you. After the initial fifteen strokes, you will have recovery time, after which education and training will follow. Come the following day, it will be only fourteen lashes. All you must do is keep to the schedule and keep our secret, and you will be purified within fifteen days. I will let you see Vanessa this evening since I sense she is anxious and worried about you. But do not dare tell her about your punishment by transient or intransient fire or about this dungeon.”

Feeling utterly feeble and powerless, Stephanie broke into a quiet sob as she descended the stairs that led all the way down into the small, ugly dungeon. Bones from small, long dead creatures lay here and there and there was a slight echo whenever any sound was made.

To her surprise, a voice inside her told her clearly that this program was good and that it would work. She would convert from her old ways and at length become a renowned, mighty and well-loved leader of fairies.

She then felt able to look over her shoulder. All was dark now, since the trapdoor had been shut behind them. Eva-Claire stationed herself at the foot of the stone stairway. They were now far underground.

After a brief silence, a rushing sound was heard; similar to that made by a car as it races past you at top speed. Then a loud whacking sound followed that made Stephanie jump with fright. It had to be the crack of a whip and at last, she turned around with a gasp.

At first, all that could be seen was a long, thin wire or cable. It was glowing with a yellow light at the tip and then became red further up. She noticed that the whip had tiny jagged teeth that would serve as small, nasty hooks. At this, she felt her mouth drop open and her lower lip quiver as she froze again and began shaking with fear and anticipation.

Eva-Claire continued first to taunt her by wielding the whip and slashing the air. The dull rocky walls echoed to the frightful sounds of loud swishing and snapping. After cracking the whip for the sixth time, the most heated part at the end, burst into bright and ferocious flames that leaped high into the air, revealing a terrifying look of merciless rage in the eyes of the mentor. These flames then flung themselves at Stephanie and she turned and ran, doing all she could to deflect and avoid them. They were like fiery darts that strike and then fade away, leaving small stab wounds and burn marks.

It was sharp agony and she very soon thought of Keltolkia, remembering how she had ruthlessly flung throwing knives at her again and again in the name of ‘training,’ and without providing sufficient padding against those cruel, lethal blades. She also thought about all the other ways in which she had abused, mocked and tormented Kel.

She was now on the ground squirming, shrieking, cursing, groaning and grovelling about in anguish as the ‘real punishment’ began. Those fiery darts were apparently only a ‘warm up.’ The first slash from the burning whip wrapped around her five times and was then pulled back. The burning teeth on the whip ripped open her skin and mingled her blood and flesh with flame and steel. At least, it felt like steel. And she kept imagining the steel knives which she and other gang members had unleashed on the helpless young woman who had been relentlessly pressured into joining the Safter Streets gang.

One lash from that whip could potentially leave five scars since the first one left her with five stripes from the top of her body below the neck, to her waist. She needed to keep rolling on the ground among the carcasses of unknown animals in order to put out the flames that attached themselves to her after every blow.

After what seemed like an eternity of brutal, burning pain and raw, traumatising anguish, she was finally left exhausted on the ground and two small potion bottles were left beside her. One was to be used on her skin while the other was to be consumed so as to revitalise her. Her whole body was now a swollen, burnt and pitiful sight.

She saw the potion bottles but couldn’t move an inch to get them after such an ordeal. Eva-Claire left her for the time being and waited for her to use the potions and recover. But when she came back down to her and realised that she still hadn’t moved, she administered them herself and after gradually feeling the effects and recovering somewhat, Stephanie fell into a half-dazed and melancholy silence.

The rest of that day was spent studying and writing things down where she had a candle provided for light. She complained and pleaded many times with anger and tears for fresh air, more leniency and more food and drink, but Eva-Claire never relented or gave her anything that wasn’t part of the program.

But as promised, she was let out of the gloom of the dungeon that evening so that she could meet with her maid in the room that she was supposedly staying in.

Eva-Claire came out of the hermit abode and saw the maid approaching. After looking at her carefully, she said, “I know you have brought food with you to give to Stephanie, Vanessa. Leave it outside.”

After casting her eyes down and blushing slightly, Vanessa reached inside the top part of her dress and pulled out a little silk bag containing some savoury foods that she had made herself for Stephanie. She then left the bag on the ground and Eva-Claire allowed her to enter the quiet and mysterious abode.

“Stephanie’s in there,” she said, pointing to the spare room. Vanessa slowly walked inside.

There was Stephanie in black attire and folding her arms with her eyes wandering about the place. She glanced up at Vanessa but didn’t say anything. She then coughed and looked away.

Vanessa came up and hugged her. “Ah, Lady Stephanie! I’m pleased to see you. How are you?” But Stephanie pulled away and said, “don’t do that. Leave me alone, please.”

“As you wish, my Lady. Let me just have a look at you. Oh, for goodness’ sake! Your hair is messy, your nails need a clean, and she hasn’t washed you thoroughly or put your dress on properly! This isn’t right! You are the Princess. I know she is trying to reform you etc. but that shouldn’t come at the cost of your royal dignity and integrity. Come on. You’ll need a bath and a new set of clothes, instead of that shabby black garment and your hair will also need to be fixed before I leave you today.”

There was silence.

“Lady Stephanie? Are you okay? Is something going on that I should know about? Hey. Look at me. My Lady? Look at me.”

“Eva-Claire! Help me!!” Stephanie suddenly shouted out in desperation. “I want Vanessa to leave me alone!”

The mentor came to the door of the room and signalled for Vanessa to leave.

“This is outrageous!” said Vanessa. “You are up to something, Eva-Claire, and I will be informing the Queen this very evening.”

“And what will come of that, Vanessa? I foresee that the Queen will side with me anyhow. She needs me to do what I judge to be necessary for the reform of her daughter. I am simply following her explicit order. Do not tell me how to do my duty.”

“Let me talk to you outside,” Vanessa demanded.

Eva-Claire complied. “Wait there, Stephanie,” she said.

“I will not tell you how to do your duty, Eva-Claire, but if that dangerous fairy is pushed too hard, it could render her more closed off than ever from her rightful path.”

“This is how it must be, Vanessa. Ask me no more questions and do not disturb this mentorship again unless it is strictly necessary.”

Vanessa sighed and departed.

“Stephanie? Go and sleep in the dungeon. What were you thinking? Making Vanessa all suspicious by being aloof and calling out for me as if you are protecting a secret? You could have been far more shrewd than that.”

“Oh, please. I’m feeling faint. Let me sleep in this bed tonight.”

“No. That’s not part of the program. Down you go. Move!”

Intervention From Below

As the days of Stephanie’s purification and training continued, Joyce pleaded several times with his parents and with the Queen to visit her but he was always strongly advised against it. They said it was important that he should wait until her training and purification were complete.

But unable to stop thinking about her, he ended up setting out by himself, despite the potential dangers of travelling on one’s own that close to the Outer Lands where the banished and fallen ones dwell. He took Gallinor, his beloved steed, two finely crafted swords and revitalised what little higher world power he had learned in his time, and set out.

As he neared the destination, his heart began to sing with excitement and joy at the prospect of seeing Princess Stephanie once again. She was now seven days into the horrifying program of intense purification. But Joyce knew nothing about this program. Only Vanessa had some idea but even she did not know how bad it was or that there was a hidden dungeon inside the abode of the mighty and feared Hermit Fairy of the North.

Eva-Claire sensed his approach when he finally emerged into view. She called out to him. “Rider! What brings you here at this hour of the night?!”

He looked ahead and saw the shimmering figure and felt her frightful power which made him begin to lose heart. He would not be able to get past her. He would have to talk his way into the hermitage if he were to succeed in seeing Stephanie.

“Hail, great one!” he said, “I propose that you let me have a few moments in the company of the Princess. I have every confidence that if she sees one who loves her, she will be more motivated to complete her training and get through the process of reform she is under while staying with you.”

Eva-Claire thought about sending him away but his idea did in fact seem to make sense.

“Then tie up your steed fair and gentle visitor,” she said encouragingly. “And leave your swords outside. I will then grant you a brief visit to the Princess. Make sure you encourage her to persevere and give her all the love she will accept from you. But you must keep it brief.”

Joyce felt overjoyed. “Why, thank you! My gratitude can hardly find words here!”

Eva-Claire then went down to rouse Stephanie from her slumber. She dragged her up the stairs, out of the dungeon and into the spare room. “You have a visitor,” she told her.

Stephanie was silent for a moment but then asked, “who?”

“A lover, it would seem.”

Joyce was then allowed inside. His face lit up with joy when he saw the princess. “Stephanie! How wonderful to see you! But it is painful to look at you! What rigours are you being subjected to here?!”

She looked away and shrugged. He came over and she let him embrace her. Next he slowly went to kiss her on the cheek, but she moved away.

“Oh, come now, Princess. Do you turn away from love?”

“I… I’m not ready.”

“I come here to encourage you, Lady Stephanie. What better form of encouragement can one have than the delightful ardour of love?”

“Um… okay. Maybe.”

“Maybe, what, my Lady?”

“You can maybe give me one kiss then.”

“This is wonderful,” he said with a charming smile and a glint of delight in his eye. “But don’t look away, Stephanie.”

She then looked at him but with an air of impatience. She then offered him her cheek. “Go on then. Just kiss me and be done with it.”

“And why not a kiss on the lips, my Lady?”

“Okay, because I don’t love you. I’m unworthy and my heart is still with the Lower World, not the Higher World. That’s the problem here. I’m just being honest with you.”

“Why not make more of an effort to overcome those thoughts, my Lady? You are becoming more and more worthy by the day and soon your heart will be here, where you truly belong. You are in line to become the next Queen! Please, Lady Stephanie. Allow yourself to be loved and return love when you feel comfortable. One kiss could change everything. Let me love you and perhaps you will find space in your heart to love me in return.”

“Thank you for being so patient and understanding, Joyce. Okay. One kiss won’t hurt, I suppose. I’ll try and put my heart into it, haha.”

He slowly moved in and they kissed. He was careful not to overdo it and slowly withdrew just as she seemed to be enjoying the experience. As soon as she had kissed a fellow higher world being, she suddenly realised more than ever, just how foolish it was to keep resisting her true place as Princess in line for the Throne and there was a lot to love about Joyce.

Suddenly, there was a shout from Eva-Claire. “I sense the approach of someone else! Joyce! Have you brought someone else with you?!”

“No, great one!” he said and left the room. “I will return shortly, my Lady,” he said to Stephanie.

Next came an explosion followed by two thuds. Stephanie opened her door a jar and peeped outside. There was thick smoke and a kind of zapping sound with tiny flikerings of light and sparks. Eva-Claire and Joyce lay motionless on the kitchen floor.

Next, a figure entered the abode. It was wearing black and a hood that obscured the face. Stephanie felt drained of energy and simply asked in a polite tone, “hello?”

She then realised that the figure in black was an Irish girl from the Lower World. She had red hair and a rather crafty expression. “Hello yourself, Princess Stephanie. Raven Eagle-Bane at your service. Your companions there are paralysed but they will awaken before long. I’m offering you a chance to take a dose of this. It’s advanced Nixalmania. We can take it together. It will send your life essence back to the Lower World. Quickly, Stephanie. Make up your mind. I won’t force you either way. But you have a choice to remain here or go back to Earth.”

“You’re a witch, aren’t you?”

“A humble human. And yes, I do work for a witch, but I know you’re not happy here, Stephanie. You are more like humans than fairies and they are holding you here against your will. Why not embrace your old self again and go back to the Lower World?”

“I sense you are telling the truth, Raven. Okay, thank you. Give me one of the injections.” She sensed that Raven and whoever was above her would try to overthrow the Higher World but she didn’t believe they would be able to succeed. And this was a precious opportunity to get her own way at last. Too long had she submitted unwillingly to the fairies.

Raven smiled and gave a little chuckle while carefully handing one of the small tubes with its slender needle to Stephanie.

If she were to return to Earth, Stephanie would be a lot more powerful this time than she ever was before. But if she stayed in the Higher World, she would finally reform herself and become a competent and mighty leader of fairies.