"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 like other children and give her a hard time. Not to mention he was quite handsome. Islinda couldn't help but push a strand away from his face. The young boy would break ladies' hearts with his beauty when he grows.
If only she knew.
"Big Sister, there's food already."
"Huh?" Islinda arched her brow, "What are you talking about?"
Without waiting for a second, Islinda was out of her small room, her heart pounding in her chest as she anticipated punishment from Madam Alice while a small part of her hoped that what the young boy said was true. Islinda got into the living room and stopped short at the sight.
"Why are you late for breakfast?" Remy glared up at her as she served the food. They didn't have a separate dining room in their cramped cottage and usually set up a table whenever they needed to eat.
Hence it was shocking to Islinda that Remy had done everything. No, the brash sister never cooks and refuses to perform any chore in the house. What was going on? What brought about this sudden change? Was this the same Remy or has an evil demon possessed her?
Or perhaps, this was a new torture tactic. They perform kind acts for her, lowering her defenses in return and striking when she least expects it. Islinda was more fearful than before.
As if that was not enough, Remy inquired, "What about the boy?"
"T-the boy?" Islinda croaked, shivers climbing down her spine. Does she intend to harm him too? "You mean E-Eli?"
"Yes, Eli. Children need food to grow. Get him to the table."
Islinda swallowed a lump in her throat, what does she have in store for the boy? But then, she would be stoned by the villagers if she harmed Eli and Remy was too proud to end up that way. Perhaps, she indeed had a change of mind. Before Islinda could question her sincerity, a small hand took hers.
She looked down to big innocent eyes, "Big Sister, aren't you going to eat?"
Islinda looked between Eli and Remy, wondering how to explain to the young boy that they shouldn't trust her only for Remy to rush over to her side and pull him to the table.
"You should sit and eat, Eli," Remy said with reverence and a hint of fear on her face which Islinda saw and frowned. Remy didn't look like she would poison the boy, if anything, she looked scared instead.
Something was up.
It couldn't be that Remy finally thought about her behavior last night and repented. Perhaps, their ancestors visited her in a dream? Islinda thought of all possible scenarios that could explain her odd behavior, but none of them came close to the truth.
She was not the only one perturbed by her behavior because Madam Alice arrived and was wild-eyed at the scene.
"What is going on here?!" She thundered, staring at the boy with nothing but contempt. Just as Remy had felt last night, the boy was nothing but a beggar Islinda brought from god knows where.
"You shouldn't shout early in the morning, Mother. Sit, breakfast has been made. You taught me not to talk at the table."
"Remy..." Lillian, the younger one stared at her sister in confusion, "Are you alright?"
She shrugged, "Of course, why wouldn't I be?"
It was a relief to Islinda that she was not the only one put off by Remy's behavior. She wasn't seeing things.
"Would you all sit down for breakfast or you can leave the table if you're not hungry?"
It was not an order but no one could reject food, not even Islinda. If this was a new ploy to harm her, then she had to eat enough to be able to survive whatever evil plans awaiting her.
However, the instant Islinda lowered the spoon into her mouth and chewed the food, she halted. By the gods, she should have known not to trust Remy's food and others must feel the same because Madam Alice was glaring at her, blaming her for this ... disaster. She was supposed to prepare breakfast, not her good-for-nothing daughter.
However, unlike them, Eli was busy eating his food. He could feel the food was horrible compared to the ones Islinda prepared for him but it bore no sustenance for him and was almost like dumping sand into his stomach. He had to keep up his ruse of being human - and did not know he was overdoing it.
"I'll die from food poisoning if I continue eating this," Lillian was the one who spoke up, dropping her spoon in annoyance.
She stared at Islinda with scorn, "This must be your form of vengeance, isn't it? Letting Remy ruin the food that was hard to get by." As if she was the one that made the dangerous trip to the woods.
Islinda wanted to retort, but she sealed her mouth shut. It's not like she had forced Remy to cook. Nor is it her fault her sister is a terrible cook either.
"And did you forget to mention this beggar?" Madam Alice sneered.
That was when Islinda finally noticed Eli wolfing down the food and stopped him. That might be bad for his stomach. Remy indeed prepared poison for consumption.
"He will be gone today, I think so..." She swallowed, "The village chief would help me find his -"
"What village chief?" Remy cut her off rudely, "The living or the dead?"
"What do you mean by that?" None of her words made sense.
"News came an hour ago that the village chief died in his sleep last night. So I ask again, what village chief are you referring to?"
The blood drained from Islinda's face and she shot up to her feet. Before anyone could tell what she was up to or even stop her, she had run out of the cottage barefooted.
No, this can't be happening, Islinda thought as she ran to the chief's place. It can't be true. If the chief was dead, who was going to find Eli's mother or parents? She promised the boy that he would be reunited soon with his family. But with the chief's death, it would take weeks to coronate another?
What was she going to do now?