Dagon never actually wanted Étaoin’s actual opinion on anything, but at least he was taking good care of her for the time being. The potion had healed most of her wounds. While not what she was used to, the food she was offered was nice, infinitely better than what she'd been surviving off. The sprite didn't know how the serpent got clothes here so quickly, but he'd given her an entire wardrobe, begrudgingly existing out of mostly skimpy outfits. Apparently they were bought in Twilit Eden, domain of lust. It was almost nice, spending those few days with him, if it weren't for the fact that she was being treated like a favorite pet.
Then the dollhouse was finished. At first Étaoin was excited. She'd been feeling so trapped in that jar, left to eat, sleep, and relieve herself in such a small space. Meanwhile, the dollhouse was the size of an actual small house for her with all amenities. It was shaped like an opened doll house so privacy was non-existent, but that wasn't anything new. It had a flat roof to serve as a workspace for Dagon, with a tower sticking out of the corner of the roof, a swing occupying it, meant for her to keep him company as he worked. A small opening allowed him to give her things there, separating the two with one of those gooey barriers.
Sure, Étaoin was trapped, but for being in Tahl'karrser, and compared to how the first parts of her life on the plane had been, she was doing well for herself. Dagon hadn't been the worst. He spent a lot of time with her which helped her from getting bored. Anyone who entered the room was always curious about her. She understood her purpose, to make other people jealous that Dagon had someone so adorable and pleased to be his personal little advisor and cheerleader. She didn't really care.
It was in its own way rather painful to balance knowing that this might be her best afterlife while being sealed in a glass house and living her life dictated by someone else. She'd barely tracked the days since she was in the glass house.
Then things started to change. She wasn't sure why. Maybe her novelty had worn off, either to Dagon himself or to those around him. Maybe it was something more malicious. Maybe it had something to do with Dagon’s first wife, Cecaelya.
Cecaelya was… an obstacle. It was clear the monstrous, cuttlefish-like mermaid did not like Étaoin despite the fairy’s attempt to be nice. She was going to be a problem, Étaoin just didn't know yet how. Cecaelya had become really clingy. Dagon in turn became more possessive. Controlling.
Any good will Étaoin had for her cage faded away overnight.
Sleep, eat, shower, no getting dressed, swing, read, sleep.
She was getting out.
Sleep, sleep, shower, dress up, read, sleep.
Dagon would puppeteer her for hours if not days at a time. He'd make the entire house dark save for the room he wanted her to be in, and then for her to pretend like she wanted to be there or had things to do there. He'd correct her with a kind of cocky contempt if she started doing the wrong thing.
Sleep, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat, eat-
Étaoin couldn't anymore. She felt like she was about to explode. Every bite became smaller and smaller, and she could feel the contempt in Dagon's eyes as she couldn't oblige his orders anymore like an icy knife in the back of her neck. She shot him a pleading look.
“Eat, Bug.”
She hurled, coughing as she fell onto hands and knees on the floor, intermediately ejecting more of her stomach's contents until there was nothing left.
The serpent tutted with a disappointed look on his face. “Now look at what you did, Bug. Such a waste of perfectly good food.”
She hated this.
“Please forgive me,” the sprite groveled hoarsely, her throat irritated from the acidic contents that had just passed through, “I'll clean it up immediately.”
She could see the smile in his eyes even if his lips hadn't moved.
“And waste all this food? Do you really think so little of everything I do for you as to throw it away when it's no longer perfect?” he pouted.
She hated him.
Her eyes fell to the acidic paste on the floor. Tears started to form and roll down her cheeks. “P-please don't make me do this… just tell me what you really want…”
In a maybe surprising turn, Dagon moved to lay down on his pile of pillows, resting his head on his arms as to be on the same level as Étaoin, right outside the glass wall. “I want you to completely give yourself up to me, Bug. Everything that's left of you that's of any value, you will give to me and this can all end. I want you broken with just me to give you purpose and a reason to be at all. Then, when I am bored of you, I'll let the water crush this little castle and you'll smile because it will entertain me to see every bone in your body snap like a twig. Now eat, Bug. Unless you want to disappoint us both with an untimely demise.”
Étaoin sobbed as she got to the task at hand.
He was going to pay.
It was all she could think about. It's all she let herself think about so she wouldn't have to think about what's in front of her, or about the acidic taste in her mouth.
He.
Was.
Going.
To.
Pay.
It repeated in her head like a mantra. Getting away from here wasn't good enough, not anymore, even if it was the highest priority.
He thought he was going to break her?
He had another thing coming.