The Anti-Fairy Tales The Giant's Battle Arc Part One

 The First Day

Pheoshan woke very early the following day after Engleman showed her what her duties would be, now that was was his slave. This would be her first official day that she would be working for the giant. She, as she was thinking, massaged her neck, relieving the soreness from having to wear the collar. 

She looked at both Cimus and Egoso, both sleeping in each other's arms. Both were trembling. She walked up the pair and stroked their heads. This helped calm them and they relaxed. She kept doing this until they were fully resting.

Don't worry. I'll get you out of here.

This, she realized, would also be the first day she should try to find a way to escape the giant. However she knew that this would not be the best day to try. After all, she knew that she could not afford to make a mistake. She knew one wrong move would land her in greater trouble. So she knew she would have to butter Engleman up and do all that she could to gain his unwavering trust. Yet she had to be even more careful in this regard. After all, she did not want to look suspicious or come across as trying too hard to impress the giant.

She breathed in and out as she could feel her body shaking with fear and another emotion that she could not quite describe. She had to do this until she too had become calm. If she did not calm herself, then she knew that she would make a mistake. She knew that she would have to use all the skills that she learnt as Cinder Umbrella. 

She looked back down at Cimus and Egoso. Whatever her plan was, she would have to think of a way to get them out of this place too. Yet she knew that there was only a slim chance of her actually doing that. After all, she knew that her escaping would be one thing but getting them out along with her would be another. However, she felt in her heart of hearts that she just could not allow herself to leave this place and leave them behind.

She then heard a key tuning. She looked over to see the giant at the bars. 

Here goes nothing! She thought, gently resting the sibling's heads down.

She climbed to her feet and then walked to the giant. He pulled her out and gave her the bottle. She took it and took one drink and grew. She was soon the size of a small giantess. He gave her a shovel.

"Here. Get out the golf and clean it."

She took it and nodded. She looked in and scooped up all of Egoso's gold dung. She was given a bucket and she put it all in. She was then taken to a room when it was filled with gold! He gave her a bucket of water and cloth. She then cleaned all the gold and ensured that it was squeaky clean. She then cleaned one after the other until they were all clean. She then gave the clean gold to the giant. He took it and put it in an oven where he melted them into gold bars.

"Good, thou cleaned well!"

"Thank you. What is next?"

"Breakfast!"

"What would you like?"

"Bacon, eggs and beans."

"So to the kitchen next?"

They soon arrived in the kitchen, where Engleman gave her another drink of the strange potion.

"Right, where is the bacon and where are the eggs and beans?"

"Wash thine hands while I get them out."

She nodded as she did. She then lit the hob and poured some oil. Soon the beacon and eggs were sisling and the beans were boiling. She became aware of Engleman watching her carefully. Yet she did what she could to keep herself calm and put a false smile on her lips. She had to resist the temptation of trying something. She knew that she also had to make sure that this food was the best that the giant had ever tasted. If the food was good, she knew that he would be won over a little.

She soon put it upon a plate and placed it right in front of him. He looked at it suspiciously and then the moment he tasted the bacon, his eyes lit up. He tasted the beans and the eggs.

"Wow! Thou can cook!" He exclaimed, through a mouthful of food.

He soon ate everything on the plate. He licked his lips and smiled as he leaned. 

"Girl! That was the best meal that I have ever had!" He shouted. "Quick! Bring Cimus! I want her golden music."

She nodded.

"Thank you sir!" 

She soon walked to the cell.

"Cimus, he wants you."

She looked down with sorrow in her eyes. She nodded. She walked into her hand. She carried her over to Engleman and placed her gently upon the table. He gave her a harp. The moment she touched it, it turned to gold. She let out a deep breath then started to play.

Pheoshan felt chills run down her spine and sorrow filled her heart. She had never heard such a beautiful melody. It sank deep into her. It cut like a knife, pricing into the hard shell and puncturing the real her. It also felt like the gentle notes embrace her, like a mother's embrace. Whispering in her ear that it was alright.

"Sing! Sing!"

She let out a sigh.

"One will soon thine victory bring,

One will free the three I sing,

The power of the dish,

Made from the fish,

Leads back to the royal,

Where one is very loyal!

"The Demon King's power grow,

From the seed from long ago,

Upon the moment of truth told,

Destiny be revealed by man old,

All the power will be known,

By then the seed will have grown!"

He bellowed out a laugh as he clapped.

"Why! That reminds me of a time when I killed a rival giant Gantara! She was a very beautiful giant. I wanted her, I had to have her. I did all to get her." He said, glancing at Pheoshan. "And I mean 'all'. When I finally had her, she tried to kill me and escape. Then to punish her, I tore her apart, slowly. I pulled limb from limb and then I ate yet alive."

He licked his lips.

"And I will do it again, if I get hungry." He said, resting his hand upon his chin. "Then there was her sister. I took a fancy to hear too. She too, I ate. Both tasted far too great, but nothing like the meal that thee hath cooked this. I should hath had thou cook them! I know how good it would hah been."

"Have you killed more sir?" Pheoshan asked, trying not to vomit.

"Oh yes! I hath desperate many enemies and many many more families and none hath even proven to rival my power!" He laughed, banging his first upon the table. "Here, let me tell thee all about them!"

For the rest of the day she served him while he told her of all his feats. All of them shocked and horrified her to the point, she started to tremble. She did nothing to challenge or interrupt him. She encouraged him to continue. Trying to keep her mask in place.

By the time she was back in her cell. She had a lot to think about as she fell asleep.