Islinda tightened her grip around Eli's small hand, as if afraid that it would slip and she would abandon him like his mother did. Yes, she has bought the idea of him being abandoned by his mother and trusted the boy now.
There was no way a Fae trickster would follow her to the village without fear of being found out and overpowered by the humans. Moreover, no Fae could be as adorable as this kid, especially with his chubby cheeks that she was almost tempted to pinch - well, maybe Valerie.
Islinda's cheeks heated up, why would she think about the Fae that kissed her at this point? Clearing her throat, Islinda focused on her journey and cleared her improper thoughts. She was a lady for crying out loud.
Islinda walked on for a while when she turned back and realized that Eli was struggling to match her pace. Ahh, she must walk quickly and his small legs couldn't keep up with her. So she suddenly stopped and the boy stopped too, glancing up at her with questioning eyes.
"What is it, big sister?"
"Forgive me for being ignorant," Islinda said, "It must have been hard for you to walk with me all this while. But don't worry…" She stretched out her hand with a big smile, "Come on, let me carry you and hasten our journey."
"What?" His lips twitched and there was a stormy look in his eyes, not that Islinda noticed. How dare this mortal…?!
"Come now, don't be shy," She cajoled him and before Eli could protest or even think of escaping, she had already hunched down in front of him and tugged him forward by wrapping his small arms around her neck. Hence, he was left with no other choice but to let her piggyback him.
Damn, Islinda broke out in a sweat. For a young child, he was quite heavy. Islinda thought her hip was going to break in two. However, she couldn't give up, that would be embarrassing and the boy would be disappointed with her. Hence, she gritted her teeth and stood up, slightly jerking him forward and balancing him on her back.
"Big sister…." The boy said timidly as if afraid to speak up, "I am quite heavy, aren't I?"
"What?" Her cheeks were flushed and her heart began to race, "Of course not! You are perfect." She lied through her teeth. Damn it, he was quite heavy but she couldn't say it to his face and traumatize the young child.
"You can put me down, big sister. I eat a lot and my mother says I look like a bloated steamed bun." Eli said emotionally, fiddling with his hands wrapped around her neck.
Pity and anger stirred inside of Islinda because of his words. What kind of mother says that to her child? Islinda hadn't even met his mother and she decided she hated her. She would give that woman a piece of her mind when she finds her.
Thanks to the anger now coursing through her veins, it fired her up and she continued the journey back to the village with Eli perked on her back. It was almost sundown, she had to get the child to the safety of the village. Islinda's protective instinct was roused and she was grateful to have been the one to stumble upon the child and not a trickster Fae. If only she knew.
She heard humans captured by those creatures end up as their slaves for the rest of their lives. Islinda couldn't imagine poor Eli being maltreated from a young age, it broke her heart. Perhaps, she was good to a fault, but Islinda believed fate brought him to her for a reason.
It was nearly sundown by the time she arrived and the snow had stopped which meant more people were out. As a hunter, Islinda was well known in the village and curious eyes wondered about the child she carried on her back. Thankfully, none of them bothered her and she could tell Eli didn't like their scrutinizing gazes because his grip tightened around her neck.
"Don't worry, you're safe with me. No one would lay a hand on you, I'll protect you." She gave him a reassuring smile from over her shoulder. But the boy gave her a blank look and it made her wonder if he was not used to kindness from strangers. He intrigued her.
The village chief's red brick house came into view and Islinda was filled with nostalgia when she remembered having once lived in a house as large as this. But that was all in the past and she was scared of what her future looks like with her step-family.
Some of the villagers had come to meet the village chief with one of their problems or more, which meant that Islinda had to wait her turn. Islinda put Eli down and heard a crack in her waist. The gods knew it took her everything not to crumble on the ground and rest without care.
Instead, she leaned against the wall by her side and caught her breath. Her hips hurt. Her body hurts. Everywhere ached.
A small hand clasped hers, "Big sister, are you alright?" He pouted his lips, looking at her with big, pitiful eyes.
"Of course, I'm alright!" She was dying right now. Islinda needed to go home and get a rest while someone massaged and rubbed her aching back with a warm towel. Unfortunately, none of that was impossible. The closest to that wish would be her stepmother scalding her with hot water instead.
Islinda shivered involuntarily, having realized she had been away from home for hours and knew not what awaited her there. She swallowed nervously. Yet Islinda did not regret her actions because, for the first time since her father's death, she felt alive.
Her first kiss was given to Valerie, a Fae and perhaps, it thrilled her because it was a forbidden affair, and she couldn't wait to see where it led. Probably heartbreak, they were worlds apart.
But then, what is the fun of living If she doesn't take the risk? The future is unknown and anything could happen.
She needed something to happen.
"You can see the village chief now," Those words were a huge relief to Islinda who had been impatiently tapping her foot against the ground. She was so full of nerves and wanted to get this over with already. Islinda rose from the bench, pulling Eli to his feet with her and flashing him a gentle smile when she saw the questions on his face. He was a quiet yet observant kid and Islinda was extremely grateful she didn't have to deal with any childish tantrums because she was exhausted. She said to him, "You don't have to be afraid, Eli. This is the house of our village chief and he would help us find your mother, okay?" The boy nodded his head in acceptance and Islinda was so awed by his obedience that she couldn't help but reach out, attempting to ruffle his hair playfully only for his cold gaze to cut through her and she stopped short, her hand hung midway. What was that? Her heart couldn't help but skip a beat and it wasn't out of excitement but fear. Eli was merely a child but
"Where have you been?!" Madam Alice round on Islinda as soon as she came into the house. Not that Islinda did not see it coming, which was why she quickly pushed Eli behind her so he would not see the scene. Madam Alice was so furious that she didn't notice the young boy until Remy said, "Who is this boy and where did you pick him from?" The disgust in her tone and the way she looked down at Eli as if he was mere dirt made anger course through Islinda. Eli wore simple clothing of a shirt and trousers, but the addition of her thick and longer coat stunted his height and was off-color, hence making him look a bit haggard. Even at that, one could never mistake the boy for a beggar because Eli looked healthy and fine with his chubby cheeks. The beggars Islinda knew from their village were malnourished and sickly thin; you could see the outline of their ribs. If there was a beggar here, it would be her family because they would have been out begging for food in this cold winter if it wa
"Come, lie with me, Eli," Aldric raised a brow at that comment until he realized that she meant it literally and his excitement faded. Tsk, what a disappointment. He almost thought that she was giving herself to him and he would have taken her up on the offer. It was not every day that a woman offered her body to him. But then, it was understandable since he had glamoured himself to look like a child and the human would be committing a crime if she forced himself on him. That is if he doesn't kill her first for trying such. However, Adric was not ready to end her pathetic mundane life yet until he understood her relationship with his brother. Humans were less than animals in Aldric's sight. A race responsible for their own annihilation was not worthy of his respect. He knew them for their selfish ambitions and wickedness except for this female human in front of him, she was the most foolish of them all. She was smart yet stupidly naive. How could she trust so easily? Or has no one
Panic rose through Remy when she was unable to move a muscle. It was a lucid dream and she should be able to direct and control the course of her dream. But that wasn't the case. It was almost as if she was pushed into the seat of a carriage ride and someone else manipulated her dream. At first, she was unable to see anything past the encroaching darkness that sent chills down her spine and her instincts warned her to run! To wake from this slumber! But there she lay helpless, squirming in real life, not that there was anyone to help her. And suddenly, there he was, hovering over her, it was the young boy that the bitch Islinda had brought home. Remy should not be afraid of him but it was the feeling of a prey recognizing a bigger predator. There was a menacing energy around him that made her heart begin to pound loudly in her chest. Something was not right about the boy. "Ahh," He rasped, taking a good look at his handwork, "You don't look so scary anymore, do you? How easy it was
"How do I look?" Maximus twirled around in her new dress stolen from a villager's clothing line. Yes, they were in the village now at Issac's insistence. Her shy Fae threw quite a tantrum, insisting to meet her master now. Hence, she decided to train him like a dog by feeding him crumbs. Haha, she was joking. Maximus merely brought him to the village where the master was, enough to satisfy his desire but not exactly feeding him the information he needed. Issac was relieved now, she was no longer naked and his tunic had been returned to him. However, her scent now lingered on the material and she smelled like lush green grass and the wild. Issac caught him at last, horrified at the thought that he found the scent desirable. He stood straight at once, this was all a distraction. The sooner he was back in the Fae realm, the better for him. "I don't see the prince," He reminded her the reason he had agreed to come to the village with her - after helping her steal clothes of course. Not
"Good Morning big sister,"A grinning face was all she could see and Islinda nearly stumbled off the cot in the process. He startled her and how did she wake up this late? The sun was already peeking out through the window, her stepfamily was going to kill her."What's wrong big Sister? You look worried?" Adric inquired, noticing how quickly she made her bed."Eli, this is not the time for this. I need…." What does she need? She needed a breather, "I need to go about my morning chores and make sure the family is satisfied else they would take it out on you…." Islinda trailed off when she realized that was not the right thing to tell a child.She cleared her throat, coming to take Eli's hands in hers and bent to his height," When people are hungry, they get angry and do crazy things. But don't worry, no one will touch you." She smiled at him brightly, hoping that was enough to assure him.Now that she thought about it, the boy was more mature than she thought. He didn't throw tantrums
Islinda didn't know she got to the chief's place, her mind had been racing the entire time. How could the man die at a critical time like this? If he were going to die, he should have at least found Eli's parents first before leaving. Now, she was left all alone to deal with the burden. The chief's place was filled to the brim with sympathizers who had come to offer their condolences to his family. It wasn't until that moment that the cold began to get to her and Islinda looked down to discover that she was barefooted and her toes were beginning to freeze. The shock had been so great, it had stripped her of all sense of reasoning. "Aiyo, how could you come out like that? Even if the chief's death is shocking, we cannot afford to lose a young soul too!" It took Islinda a minute to realize that the elderly woman was speaking to her. Islinda knew one from the marketplace, having sold one of her small animals to her. "Ahh, this…." She shifted on her toes uncomfortably, now embarrassed
Issac was red-faced and looked like he was going to combust anytime soon. Just as "her poem" suggested, he was riding Maximus, her horse form, but not in the way she suggested. It seems that after passing her test, she had dropped all forms of pretense with him and now, he was on a talking horse. Yep, as if it couldn't get weirder. How couldn't he have seen the signs? Everything was pretty much obvious that she was not a normal horse. But then, Maxi was good at pretending. Now, he had to suffer through her horrible rhyme filled with sexual innuendo. "I'm satisfied with my ride,Now I've got to shake, shake, shake Shake my beautiful ass…." "Alright, that's enough!" Issac shouted and didn't need to ask twice, he got off the horse, his actions nimble and swift. He had been a soldier in the king's army after all and didn't find dismounting a horse one bit stressful. However, he was glaring at Maximus now, his ears were going to bleed anytime soon if she continued with that horrible p