The Bird Queen, Part 1: Suffering

    "Does it hurt?" the boy asked. He smiled as the Bird Queen cringed and coiled up into the fetal position. He obviously knew the answer to his own question, but couldn't help in savoring the girl's pain.
    Alijarah looked up at the barred roof above her, only to be brought back to the reality of her torture. If only her late father's crows could swoop down and help her. Of course they can't, she thought. They're too scared of this guy. Her thoughts were then interrupted by the sudden burning of her wings. "AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!" Her shrieks echoed throughout the barely sunlit cage, making her captor very pleased.
    "Don't go wandering off to other places. You still haven't answered my question."
    "You putrid little Dorgriyah!!!" Alijarah stumbled to sit up and face the boy. "You've never felt the need to solidify bloodlines before. Why are you so interested nowaaaaaAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
    The boy poured more acid from the flask he had in his hand, this time right on the Bird Queen's back. "Now, now. Watch your language. That's no way to speak to the Jaguar King."
    "More like Rat King! The only respect you deserve is me spitting in your face and haragg once I'm out of these chains."
    The Jaguar King grimaced and kicked her in the face. She fell backwards, but still gave him that look of defiance. Still won't break, he thought. He then grabbed Alijarah by her hair and dragged her to the back of the cage, slamming her onto the wall. He leaned in until he was only inches away from her face and whispered, "You think you still have power even now, but you're nothing more than a pile of empty threats. You want to know why I want to solidify our bloodlines? It's because you need to be controlled. You having authority over anything or anyone will lead to nothing but discord."
    Alijarah whispered back to him. "The Great Aviary's bloodline is matriarchal...It's always had a queen."
    The Jaguar King stood and walked away. As he exited the Bird Queen's cage, he felt the need to say one last thing. "Until now. I'm about to break that cycle." He turned to show that evil smile of his once more before finally going on his way.
    Alijarah was left alone in the cage. She tended to her injuries as best she could, struggling to hold back any sort of tears which may form. Her wings could still move, but it became a question of if she would ever fly again. And if she couldn't fly, how would she ever regain her freedom?


                                                                                                            To Be Continued...