47. Mother-in-Law from Hell #2
Muscles coiling tight with anger, I ask her with open disbelief, “I am selfish? All these years I’ve taken the shit that he and his other sons have dished out.
While you were drowning in demon brew. You didn't even care! And now you want me to get back to being their punching bag because the heat is on you. You disgust me.”
“I did all I could to survive. You're a grown male demon. You can take a few hits. You must return with me right now! Please, Ifrinn! He…he beats me.” She changes her tactic, turning on the pitiful act.
“Fuck! Do you even listen to yourself? I don't care what he does. Fight back! Escape! You have your horns. You can go anywhere you like. Don’t stay with that bastard.”
“I can’t! I’m his queen.” She wails, citing the pathetic excuse.
“What queen? You’re just one of his whores! In fact he treats the whores better than you.” I scoff, feeling disgusted that someone this awful has birthed me.
“Watch your mouth! I am still your mother!” She shouts.
“You haven’t been my mother for a long time.” I grit out, towering over her and she shrinks away.
“Please, Ifrinn.” She tries to shed a few tears but my heart remains unmoved. I’ve seen her watch silently, uncaring, as father beat me as a kid. Doing nothing to protect me over the years. Taking no responsibility.
“I’d rather break my own horns than return with you to that filthy hellhole.”
“You don’t mean that!” She whispers, shocked, and that’s when Flame steps forward. She had been keeping a low profile so far. I felt her presence the moment she followed me. Mother on the other hand didn’t realize we have an audience. Her usual shortsightedness would be her downfall one day.
“Stop being such a pathetic excuse for a mother. He doesn’t want to go with you.” Aleiraah states firmly, standing beside me.
“You!” Mother spits venomously at Aleiraah, and I position myself slightly in front of her slight frame to shield her from Mother’s gaze.
“How dare you? You’re the reason my family is falling apart. Stay away from my son!” She points a shaking finger at Aleiraah. “You seduced him! You broke our family!” She grows increasingly hysterical. Her cowardly act, forgotten.
“Right!” Aleiraah scoffs, folding her arms. “A family where he’s treated like dirt by his dear brothers. And his own father asks him to service whores.”
“Lies!” Mother yells and I look at her disbelievingly. “They’re just protective of my Ifrinn! What would you know? You are just an orphan.” She sneers and I roar, having heard enough of her nonsense. “Enough! You will not speak to my mate like that. Apologize. Right now!”
She looks taken aback as Aleiraah turns to me in surprise.
“You can't treat me this way, Ifrinn. We’re family.” She lowers her voice, pleading once again.
“Do you have a split personality or something?” Aleiraah asks curiously and mother screeches, spittle flying. “Stay out of this, you bitch!” Balls of hell fire materialize in her hands and I immediately slide in front of Aleiraah.
“I’ll snap your neck without a moment’s hesitation if you even think about harming my mate.” My voice takes over a menacing quality. Whatever she sees in my face has her paling and gulping in fear.
“I can’t..I can’t return without you.” She starts mumbling frantically. And then starts pulling me along with her using her summoning spell.
“Mother.” I threaten, feeling the compulsion of the spell in my bones, my body tensing up. She’ll use it to drag me to Mytherrian hell with her.
Fucking selfish!
“Stop it!” Aleiraah commands with urgency, trying to step around me, but I push her back, shielding her once again. I’ll not risk her safety for any reason.
There’s only one way to break free forever from their toxic control. I look at my mother’s face twisted in concentration as she mutters the summoning spell with all her power. And then at Aleiraah who looks afraid. For me.
I offer her a small smile, reassuring her. Mind made up, I don’t hesitate.
Stepping forward, I catch Aleiraah’s whispered, “Rinn.” I mouth––it’s okay––offering a brief glance before turning toward the female who birthed then abandoned me.
With a deep breath I grab both my horns and before I can second-guess myself, I break them off with all my might. An ear-piercing roar tears from my throat, the pain debilitating.
Aleiraah yells my name but I don’t have the strength to reach her. Dark spots swim in my vision. I’m drowning in a sea of pain, my head feels like it’ll explode. Collapsing on my knees, I vomit on the grass.
Mother screeches from nearby, “What have you done?!” But I can’t even lift up my head.
After I’ve emptied my guts, slowly I become aware of a soft hand running soothing circles on my back. Aleiraah’s panicked voice reaches my ears. “Breathe Rinn, breathe. Please. Azael’s going to be here soon. Just hold on.”
“N..no!” I cough, and it shoots a sharp, blinding pain to my brain.
“I’ll be ok. Just…just need some time.” I manage to say and then promptly heave again. It feels like someone’s plunging hot pokers into my eyes and my vision sways.
“You fucking whore!” Mother howls. “Look what you made him do! You must have threatened him with the bastards you’re carrying. Oh my, poor baby!”
“Watch it, bitch!” Aleiraah’s voice cracks like a whip and her glowing rings appear in my periphery.