Page 60 of Dark Elf's Good Girl
She wails loudly, her cheeks stained with tear marks. Her cries suddenly quieten down as I realize she’s fading fast.
Have I come too late to save her? Or just in time to watch her die?
My heart breaks as I whimper in fright.
That damned monster Calix!
My brother stands over her, a dagger sitting in its sheath on his waistband. He sweats profusely, clearly having exerted himself with his torture this time. Panting breathlessly, he turns with wide eyes to face me.
Expecting to see alarm on his face, his expression quickly changes to one of malice. His mouth coils up into a disgusting smile as he wipes a pool of sweat from his forehead.
For a moment, I wonder if this is all a nightmare, if I stumbled into my worst terror.
No, this is real. It’s time to face Calix and finish this once and for all.
25
ISLA
Am I dreaming or do I hear the voice of Aiken calling out my name? I hear it again but it sounds distant and faded.
I’m just dreaming, there’s no way he could have found me so quickly…
“Isla! It’s Aiken!”
This time, his voice is clearer and closer. I crane my neck upwards, spotting Aiken standing in the doorway of the cabin. Behind him, the late afternoon sun shines brightly, painting him like a knight in shining armor.
The sight of him fills me with such overwhelming joy that I forget about the searing pain spreading throughout my body. I can’t believe he’s real and that he’s here.
“Aiken!” I cry out to him. I try to move but my wounds suddenly flare up in pain, causing me to grimace. As I do so, Calix casts a spell my way, tightening the restraints holding me down. I find myself dipping in and out of consciousness, scared each breath will be my last.
If I die now, at least I got to see AIken one last time…
“Isla, try not to move!” exclaims Aiken. “You’re hurt badly!”
Blurrily, I watch on as he directs his gaze to his brother. My vision clears, displaying a raging look within the flicker of his eyes.
“Calix, you sick bastard! What the fuck do you think you’re doing to her?”
“What does it look like?” he hisses. “I’m having some fun with little old Isla here. That’s the whole reason why I brought her back in the first place. I couldn;t have my way with her in the manor because of your constant poking around.”
“This isn’t right,” says Aiken. “This is insane!”
He steps forward with a look of desperation but is halted when Calix raises his dagger, pointing it at his younger brother.
“You should not be here,” he snarls.
“Let her go Calix,” says Aiken in a calm tone, raising his palms. “She hasn’t done anything wrong.”
“That’s not the point now, is it?” chuckles Calix. “Are you forgetting the fact that she belongs to me?”
Aiken’s eyes dart to me. His fists clench as though he controls the urge to spring to my side.
“For you to interfere in my business with her would count as theft of my property,” says Calix in a snarky tone. “Even you being here is already infringing on some sort of law, I’m sure.”
Aiken’s mouth quivers. I can tell from the look on his face he’s trying to come up with something. It can’t be easy when there's a knife pointed your way.
“Besides,” quips Calix, pulling back the knife to admire it. “You’re too late to save her.”