Chapter 20: I Want To Stay With You

"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 his piercing gaze almost gave her a heart attack. The hairs on her arms stood on edge and she could still feel the chill. Doubt set in and Islinda began to wonder if she had made a deadly mistake. What if he was …. 

However, before Islinda could establish her suspicion, Eli surprised her by taking her hand which was suspended awkwardly in the air, and began to rub it down his silky dark hair. Her brows lifted, confusion written all over her face at the gesture. 

"You can pet me all you want, big sister," He smiled brightly, and innocently that Islinda forgot all about her suspicion. 

Perhaps she had misunderstood everything. But Islinda knew clearly what she had seen and it remained as a niggling feeling at the back of her mind. Maybe he was not comfortable with people touching him and had startled him, Islinda made up excuses. 

Who knows? Islinda might have known the truth at that moment, however, her simple, kind human heart would not accept that the sweet, chubby child she found was a trickster Fae. 

Eli held her hand firmly and she glanced down at it, the gesture melting her heart. She said, "Let's go." 

Together, the both of them were led into the village chief's office. The village chief was an old man in his late sixties with dark graying hair and green eyes that had shone brighter in his youth. However, he was strong enough to lead their small village. While Islinda was busy taking in the man's features, the young boy at her side assessed their environment cautiously. 

"Islinda, what brings you here? Did your stepmother fight any of the villagers again?" The old man asked from behind his desk, having not noticed the young boy. And yes, her family was known for obviously "great" reasons. 

"No, it's not that…." She pulled Eli to her front and the old man was able to see him. 

"Whose child is that? I don't remember you getting pregnant, not that I would be surprised if any of your siblings have been secretly raising a child." 

Islinda went red in the face, scratching the back of her head awkwardly. Yes, being embarrassed by her family was an understatement, yet she was unfortunately stuck with them. 

"No, I found him." She answered, hoping to be done with this as soon as possible. 

The village chief asked her, "You found him?" He now stared at Eli, scrutinizing him intensely, "Where did you find him?" 

At that question, Islinda stared at the boy unsure. He didn't need to hear this aspect of their conversation, yet she could leave him alone either. Call it instinct but something told her that Eli would vanish the instant she keeps her eye off him. 

"His mother left him in the woods, quite close to the divider," She opted for the word "left" for "abandon", making sure the chief got the message. 

The man stiffened, his eyes going slightly going wide before a look of worry took over his features. The villagers hated the word, "Divider" knowing the wall was merely a bridge from their world to the world of the creatures that had once wreaked havoc on their lands. 

The chief sighed deeply, "I would have to ask around and seek out neighboring villages about a missing child. It would help if he's able to provide a description or information about his mother but it's late already and I believe the child must be exhausted." 

As if on cue, Eli staggered and Islinda caught him instinctively, a bout of fear seizing her body. Guilt gnawed at her chest, the boy must be tired after that trekking through the woods - even though she technically carried him here - he must have roamed the woods in search of his mother and should be hungry. 

She turned to ask the chief, "Is it possible for you to take him in for the night? I can't take him home to -" 

Eli cut her off, wrapping his waist around her waist. He wailed, "No, big sister. I want to go with you." 

For a child, his grip was a strong vice and Islinda could not get out of it even if she tried. 

"Eli, you don't understand. I cannot take you to my -" 

"No, big sister. Please, don't leave me like my mother too. I want to stay with you. Don't leave me too." 

Her heart constricted at those words, feeling Eli's fears as tears rolled down his beautiful face and her resolve fell. She could not do this. Islinda could not leave him alone. 

"Fine, you would come with me." She had no choice but to give in, unable to stand him being heartbroken, "You would come with me." She squatted down and wrapped him securely in her warm embrace. 

Hence, while Islinda wondered how she was going to face her family with a young child, Eli thought,