Page 22 of Chased By the Fairy

He was just doing what he needed to survive until he could figure out a way to escape. He couldn’t do that by sleeping at the bottom of the pond, as Mr Toad so crudely put it. Then again, that might be better than some other alternatives.

He opened the door behind the stage and was instantly greeted by multiple sprites. The males wore similar outfits to what he was forced to wear, while the women wore a more feminine version of it – a skirt and bra.

There were little battery operated mirror vanity tables so they could check their outfits, while a lounge was off to the side if they wanted to rest.

On a long table that had a white cloth over it, he eyed the food freely available. An array of fruits, nuts, and bugs were presented in bowls, and they could eat at their discretion.

Apparently, Mr Toad took very good care of all of them.

“Oh wow, you did such a wonderful job,” the butterfly sprite he saw the very first night here said to him. His voice was kind, and he seemed to understand the apprehension Sorrel felt about being complimented. He’d faced similar things because of what he was and the beauty he held. “You looked like you belonged on the stage!”

“He’ll be stealing all our regulars at this point,” a ladybug sprite said, her little spotted red wings fluttering. She was much smaller than Sorrel and her voice was difficult to hear. However, onstage she was lively and bright with her dancing. She gave a giggle. “You’ll bring the hibernating animals back out of their nests if you perform any better than that.”

Their compliments dismayed him. He hadn’t even put any effort into his dancing for a reason. He didn’t really want more attention and was hoping people would have found it terrible. Most of the current patrons were regulars, or those who were living in the toy cruise ship to hide from winter. He didn’t want any of them to ask for a private show. He was terrified of what would happen behind closed doors, especially from long-term admirers.

Winter had come.

Already the world was dotted in snow and the breeze that came through the toy boat was colder than any Sorrel had ever felt. In just a few days, the world would turn icy and unforgiving.

“You will have to strip next time,” a ferret sprite bit at him. “Master Toad won’t tolerate this for much longer. I’m surprised he’s being so patient with you, but it’ll end soon enough if you don’t give him what he wants.”

She had once been Mr Toad’s favourite, but she wasn’t being rude in hateful spite. She was right, and in her own way, she was protecting Sorrel. She attempted to look out for all the dancers.

“I don’t want to,” he answered back. “The fact I even got on stage was enough. I don’t want to show off my body – except to the one I love.”

She scoffed at that, and he turned his chin up at her.

Then she folded her arms and turned away, not seeming to understand Sorrel’s point of view. She enjoyed the fame this line of work gave her, especially since she brought in the most coin. It helped her ego and made her feel beautiful, despite being a furry, fanged ferret sprite.

“Suit yourself, then.”

“Leave him alone, Elena,” the butterfly sprite said with a sigh, placing his hand on Sorrel’s shoulder. “Just one step at a time. You’re a natural – there’s no need to be shy.”

Sorrel shuddered with repulsion just as Mr Toad entered and narrowed his eyes on him. “You, come.”

“Told you,” the ferret sprite whispered.

Sorrel’s shoulders slumped at his captor’s stern features and tight expression.I did what he wanted.He danced, so wasn’t that enough for now?

Sorrel quickly raced after him, knowing it wouldn’t be wise to disobey.

With the two guards as usual following closely behind, he was taken to Mr Toad’s office. They were told to wait outside after Sorrel entered.

“I did what you told me to. I danced,” Sorrel rushed out, keeping his side to him and refusing to look at the ugly toad. He fisted the sides of his genie pants, bunching the material in his hands. “Just give me time to get used to all this.”

Give me time to figure out how to escape.That’s all he needed: a plan. He’d been here two nights. He just needed to get his bearings and he could figure a way out.

Greta told him he was smart, and all the work he did on her farm made him strong and fast. He was tiny, but he wasn’t useless.

“You did a great job out there,” Mr Toad complimented. Sorrel’s lips parted in surprise, and he turned to face him – only to find him swiftly approaching. “So good, in fact, that I don’t think I can wait anymore to have you.”

Sorrel’s eyes widened just as Mr Toad grabbed him and slanted his large, bumpy mouth over his own. Then his cold, amphibious body pressed into Sorrel’s as he was shoved against the wall.

Bile rose in his throat and his gut squirmed with anxiety. His tongue was strange – both wet and sticky – and it pushed at his lips like it was attempting to force its way inside.

Sorrel’s mind howled in protest, and he managed to shove him away.

“No,” he demanded, wiping the back of his wrist against his lips to get rid of the disgusting burning sensation on them.

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