Mated To The Cruel Prince
Chapter 72: Fed Into Her Darkness

Chapter 72: Fed Into Her Darkness

Note : This Chapter is dark and can be triggering for some.

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What in the world possessed her to decide to take on Eli all by herself? Islinda thought as she approached her family house with her heart hammering in her chest. Having walked from the marketplace, she had the time to think and the anger fueling her decision slowly ebbed away, leaving nothing but fear in its wake now.

However, this was Eli and as malevolent as the Fae had been, they had once shared a bed. Islinda shuddered at the memory, hoping to the gods he didn’t do anything weird to her while asleep. But Islinda knew deep down she would know if he assaulted her.

She remembered the times she would sleep on the cot, only to wake up and find herself on the floor the next day, everything had been his doing. Why did he push her away? Didn’t he not like others sharing the limited space with him? Perhaps Islinda was blinded by Valerie’s kindness that she assumed Eli would do the same, considering their relationship.

Islinda assumed she would get him to leave the human realm peacefully. Banishing him away to the Fae realm should be revenge enough for the soul he had taken. She was the one who introduced him to everyone’s lives and would be the one to send him away.

She has not thought about how to explain the situation to her step-family when one of them opens the door, but seeing was believing and Islinda would open their eyes to what they were oblivious to.

But then, no one came to the door because it opened on its own with an eerie creek that had Islinda drawing her bow in a matter of seconds. However, it was just the old hinges protesting, and just like the other day, it seems her family was not home.

Nonetheless, Islinda would not be deceived and moved with stealth knowing she was dealing with a deadly creature. She had seen Valerie’s powers and could not go against him, not even in her wildest dream. Valerie had told her that all Fae came from different courts and she had no idea what wretched magic Eli would be able to manipulate.

On the bright side, she had the element of surprise and the trickster Fae would not see her coming. Islinda cautiously walked through the short passageway that opened into the living room, her feet as light as feathers. The house was silent as if no one was home and when nothing happened for over a minute, Islinda dropped her defenses and was able to breathe.

Where has everyone gone? Did they leave with Eli? The name sent a tremor down her spine. Was he still keeping up with the pretense of being a child? Where did he go with her family? Surely, he does not plan to kill them too? Her stomach churned at the thought.

"I knew you would come back." Someone said and Islinda whirled around with wide eyes, her heart almost jumping out of her chest with her lifting her bow instinctively only to realize that it was....

"Remy....?" Islinda sucked in a sharp breath, having no idea how to deal with this one. It had been easy saying she would be able to handle her family, but the reality was different from imagination.

Her step-sister has been her abuser for years and has become inured to the maltreatment, she couldn’t stand up to her. Remy was strong - when it came to beating her; Islinda was not confident of defeating her.

"For once, I decided to have patience and it finally paid off," She said and Islinda gave her a blank look, none of her words made sense.

Remy eyed her weapon and said, "Do you plan to kill me? Is that why you snuck into the house days ago and took it?" She huffed.

"Oh, this..." Islinda lowered her bow at once. She did not come to attack her family but Eli, she reminded herself of that.

She took the quiver off her shoulder, and propped both weapons up against the wall. Islinda then turned to her, "Where is Eli?"

"Why? Do you plan to take him away the same way you ended Ryder?" There was an unwavering malice in her eyes that made the hairs on her arms stand on edge.

Remy was furious and in that state, she didn’t think before reacting. Islinda sucked in a sharp breath, bracing herself for what was to come.

"I didn’t kill Ryder," Islinda stood her ground, her small hands balled into fists. She has been away all this while, what makes her think she would brutally kill her "beloved" with her strength?

Moreover, the killer was roaming free and had beguiled her. She has to snap Remy out of whatever charm Eli has her in. But Islinda rethought that decision when Remy slapped her hard on the cheek without warning and her vision swarmed.

She staggered backward, tasting blood on her lips and anger coursed through her body. How dare Remy?! Islinda was done with this family and the only reason she was back here was to correct what she had done by bringing a malevolent Fae into their lives and this is how she thanks her.

"Remy...." Islinda’s eyes flashed when the girl took another threatening step toward her. She did not come home to be beaten up and would fight back - even if Remy would win in the end.

But Remy was not listening, consumed by her righteous anger, "Because of you, Ryder is dead!"

She raised her hand to hit her again but Islinda grabbed it, staring back at her with the same fiery intensity in her eyes.

"Why hit me over a man that wasn’t even worth it?! I am your sister for crying out -!"

The rest of her words were lost when Remy hit her with her other hand and Islinda whimpered in pain this time, seeing stars.

"I should just kill you! You don’t deserve to be alive after what you have done and I hope you rot in hell!" Remy growled and before Islinda knew what was happening, she was flung to the floor like some rag doll, bringing down some of the properties in the living room with her.

Pain pierced through her and that was when she realized Remy meant to kill her, her pulse racing. In an instant, Remy was upon her and her hands curled around her throat, choking her.

"You should just die! Die already, you bitch!" She sneered, the hatred in her eyes, marring her expression and turning it into something grotesque.

"N-no Remy...." Islinda kicked out from beneath her, struggling for life but Remy straddled her, a fiendish delight etched in the smile as she watched her struggle for life.

"Just die already, you stubborn fly!" Remy spat, her eyes wild as if she was high on drugs or perhaps was so excited she couldn’t wait to celebrate her death already.

She continued, "I should have done this years ago, perhaps then, Ryder would be alive and he wouldn’t have to look at you. You always act high and mighty just because you’re good at everything, but you’re nothing but dirt and to that dirt, you would return today."

Darkness swarmed at the edge of her vision and her lungs craved air so badly that it seemed like her heart might implode very soon. No, Islinda refused to die like this. Not when she was so close to her freedom. Everything she has ever done was for her family and they repay her this way?

So she began to search blindly for anything that would give her an advantage. Valerie would come back for her and she would only see him if she were alive. The thought of him powered her when she was close to unconscious and almost at the last minute, her hand closed an object.

An arrow.

Her quiver must have fallen when her murderous step-sister tossed her to the ground and one of it rolled towards her. Without a second thought, Islinda picked it up and stabbed Remy with it. The girl had been so high with her desire to end her she didn’t see the move coming until the arrowhead punctured her neck and blood spurted.

"Y-you...." Remy let out the strangled word, her eyes wide with shock. She was so confident of ending Islinda that she did not see her own death coming.

With an anguished roar, Islinda sat up and pulled out the arrow, prompting more blood flow only to stab her in the neck again, Remy whimpering. Shaken and clouded by the fear and emotions, Islinda stabbed her over and over, pouring out the years of anger and abuse on her till Remy stopped breathing.

She was dead.

Islinda tossed the arrow away and stared down at her bloody hands that were beginning to shake, reality dawning on her. She just killed Remy. She killed her sister.

No, no, no, it was self-defense.

But even as she said that Islinda knew deep down that she had fed into her darkness and truly wanted Remy dead for what she did to her.