The Fae Slums: A Short Story

The Fae Slums grew in the gaps and cracks in the tapestry of Madrience, the side alleys and crumbling blocks left to rot away by human society. The trash-strewn alleys offered one of the few refuges to the fae who were otherwise rejected and thrown out of society. The area received no funding from the government, and the jobs that were available for the fae did not pay enough for them to fix up the area on their own. But even in the desolate impoverishment of the slums a few buildings provided shelter against the unforgiving world around them.

One such place was a room in a warehouse that was abandoned by local businesses at the north end of the slums that served as a place of worship for The Church of Sylvia. Compared to the surrounding area, the walls and floors of the room were clean and in good repair. White, orange, and yellow bioluminescent lamps lit the room and the pictures of the gods of the pantheon shared by the fae and

Silvio looked relatively human for a fae, although he was more spindly. He had bristly grey hair and extremely white skin that had a blue tinge in the right light. As always, he wore frayed and faded work clothes that smelled of ash and smoke. Silvio frequented Ines’s restaurant since she decided to renovate the place and open it up to all species, and he helped introduce her to the fae pantheon when she first joined the religion. Ines made a point to keep in touch with him.He was a good acquaintance, although he tended to complain about his job. Yet, knowing the working conditions in El Gris, Ines couldn’t blame him. He heaved a long sigh as he slouched on the bench next to Ines.

“Hello Silvio. Rough day at work?” Ines asked as Silvio sat.

“Just as always. Il Lupo decided we are not working hard enough, and increased our hours, again.”, Silvio