Hey guys ^-^

I hope you're enjoying reading "Stay" as much as I enjoy writing it :D All the cursive writing is a flashback! In whole flashback chapters I'll just change the (present day) and have normal writing ^-^

Have fun :D Go Iron Fey, hehehe

Apart

(present day)

Skylin

Never had I seen myself where I am today. Put in a place of sorrow and misery. My loss was still a fresh wound that I wasn't sure would heal. Sometimes it felt like a virus that had been spreading all along, but I was too stubborn and in denial to stop it. I let it spread and grow, taking over until fighting against it was simply too late. The moment I finally realized that, seemed like it was yesterday.

"Kensley, wait!"

I ran after her, breathing hard.

What she had done had gone too far. I couldn't even stop her in time before she had killed those poor fey. Innocent and unsuspecting of their fate. I was still in shock from seeing her vicious behavior, the look of satisfaction on her face, making them kneel before her. The thrill she felt, hearing them beg for mercy, their whimpers resounding all around her.

I weaved through trees, barely avoiding tripping over several roots. The deep snow didn't make it any easier for me to catch up. Sure I could use my powers, but there was no need to. She would tire out soon enough. All she wanted was to get away from the scene. Just thinking of what I saw made me run harder, with a new urgency. I had to reach her.

That was the first time I had been afraid of my own sister. The first time I had seen her embrace her essence, closest to her true form than she had ever been. Killing whoever didn't bow to her. She was lethal, cutting down anyone who did not adhere to her wishes.

My heart hammered in my chest as I continued my pursuit. A vast snow clearing greeted us as we rushed out of the trees. Kensley steered towards the large ice bridge that led across the gorge. I hadn't even realized we had gotten this far from the castle.

"Kensley, stop right now! Stop being foolish!"

Unexpectedly, she whirled around.

"I'm the foolish one?! You're the fool! Do you even know what we could have? What we could be?"

Her fists were clenched in anger. I could feel how livid she was, how hostile. I needed to tread lightly.

"What you did back there is not who we are. You know that is not who we are."

"Oh, what are we then? Do you expect me to sit down and behave like a good little girl, Sky?" she asked mockingly.

"Walk among these people like we are equal? Is that what you want?"

Her voice rose with each question, one more vicious than the last. Turning away from me, she leaned on the railing of the bridge. Dreamily, running her fingers over the top, the old snow fell to the ground, only to be replaced by the new. Tilting her head up to the sky she took in a deep breath.

"We are not equal to them. We are far more superior, capable of more than they could ever dream of. Did you see the fear in their eyes? Trembling and screaming. They were pathetic. They knew who was truly powerful."

She gave a humorless laugh, before fixing her gaze on me and gesturing towards the castle.

"That Queen Mab thinks she is the fiercest and most coldhearted of them all. Sitting upon her icy throne, playing with her little toys. I admire her sadistic streak, but that bitch hasn't seen power yet. Imagine what it would be like to make her kneel."

"That is not who we are!" I yelled at her. I couldn't believe the words coming out of her mouth. Moving forward I tried to make her see reason.

"What has come over you? Where is the Kensley that I know? You know we are here for a bigger purpose. Not for power, or greed, or taking over a whole nation, but to guard what is ours."

Taking my last step towards her, I looked at her face, beseechingly searching for an ounce of hope that she would be swayed from her insanity.

"The prophe-"

"Oh, stop with your prophecy" , she spat into my face. The venom leaking from her voice leaving me taken aback.

"The prophecy can be taken care of another time. Besides who knows how accurate that oracle is. The old hag is outliving her days. It is time we started thinking of ourselves, Sky. Do you not see that I want the best for us? This is our chance, sister. We will have everything we've ever wanted. Treated the way we should be treated."

As I looked on at her earnest plea for me to join her, I felt panic rise within me. I was losing my sister.

"Kensley, please stop", I shook my head.

"Don't do this. Please, you don't have to do this. If you're not happy there are other ways for us to be happy, but don't abandon who we are."

There was a moment of hesitation, considering what I had said. Until her face dropped. Like a switch had been flipped she turned stone cold. Looking at me as if I were a stranger. Someone, she had never known. Leaning in close, the dark abyss of her red eyes, stared into the depths of mine.

"You are just as pathetic as they are. Goodbye, sister."

Catching me off guard, with one push she made me fall over the edge. My right shoulder hit one side of the icy gorge, pain shooting up my arm. Before I could focus, I hit the other wall, a grunt escaping my lips as more pain erupted in my back. Calling on my essence, I conjured up two ice axes, holding them up, ready to impact with the next wall I was heading towards. Firmly gripping them, I rammed them into the wall. They pierced the ice, cutting through it as I slid down several meters. Ice splinters shot into my skin, making me grit my teeth from the sharp stings. When I came to a stop, I took in a few breaths before climbing up the gorge. Reaching the surface, I hoisted my body over the edge and quickly stood up.

My eyes frantically searched for any sign of Kensley, when they landed next to the bridge. A deep sorrow weighed down on me. A single tear escaped my eye, instantly freezing at the touch of the cold Winter territory. I angrily wiped it away. This was not the time for tears. I had to be strong, for the both of us.

Carved into the snow was the message 'I hate you'. I looked on to see her footprints already disappearing. Yet, I could still sense her. I could feel her through the bond we shared. However far away she was, I could feel her. The perks of us not only being guardians, but sisters.

Kensley showed such conviction, such determination. I didn't know why I hadn't seen it before. She was set on her path of destruction. It seemed that not even I could stand in her way. Regardless, she would go on without me. The damage was done. Even though our bond wasn't broken, I knew my sister was lost to me.

Kensley was no more.

Giving the wire nymph a curt nod I closed the door to my chambers. Though simply a guest room, the Iron Kingdom did not disappoint in hospitality and making their guests feel as welcome as possible. At least I could have a comfortable stay. Walking over to the bathroom, I ran myself a bath to relax my aching muscles and clean this filth off of me.

While waiting, I wandered over to the bed and ran my hand over the soft, cream-colored silk sheets. They reminded me of a time I would have never dreamt of feeling such a soft fabric. An empty smile graced my lips as I thought of how far I'd come, yet how unmistakeably far behind and blind I seemed to have been. A knock on the door caught my attention.

"Who is it?"

"Puck, but some call me Robin Goodfellow, others just Goodfellow, I've had Robbie too. Then again-"

Rolling my eyes, I shut off the bath and opened a door to the still rambling Puck.

"Most just call me Puck though," he finished with a proud grin. I returned his gesture with a smile and gave him room to step inside.

"Tomorrow's show time, eh?" he said, moving over to sit on the window sill.

"I suppose so. The king and queen will need to know the plans I have made. We must create a strategy," I replied, not knowing what else to say.

Puck twirled the tip of his dagger on one finger, gazing intently at me.

"This is really happening, isn't it? Psycho tries to take over the world," he moved his hand in a rainbow gesture, before cringing away from my withering stare.

"Jeez, okay, too soon for jokes."

Again the room was filled with silence. An awkward air after seeing each other again after so many years. So many decades. Especially under the given circumstances.

"I just can't believe it," he continued. "Sure, Kensley was a bit rowdy, liked to fight, joined in on pranks here and there. She never struck me as the malicious type. The 'I-want-to-rule-the-world-type," he paused then frowned.

"Okay, let me take that back. I remember the time she almost eliminated my existence. Not cool."

My eyebrows furrowed I tried to remember the prank he was talking about. I knew of my sisters jester-like behavior. The little wars she hedged with the prankster. However, at that time I didn't recall any attempts on Puck's life. There was only one prank that ever devastated Puck.

"Are you talking about the time she put pink hair dye in your shampoo?" I deadpanned.

"Hey, don't give me that look. I was facing a crisis! How would the ladies take me seriously with cotton candy on my head?" he cried out, acting overly dramatic.

I chuckled lightly but was cut off by a loud yell.

"PUCK! I WILL KILL YOU FOR THIS!"

"Whoops, looks like socket head has tasted my oh-so-famous hot sauce I'd picked up in Mexico," he explained with a smug smile. "I better get going."

He paused in the door, looking back at me. He hesitated, before sighing. His eyes holding sincere sympathy.

"I'm sorry, Sky."

I nodded my understanding. Closing the door, I exhaled the breath I didn't know I'd been holding in and stepped into the hot bath. Letting the water wash over me and send me into forgetfulness. If only for a moment.