I will be your reaper...

**Warning** This chapter contains elements of abuse and kidnapping. You can skip to chapter two if you do not wish to read. Aradia's Pov - Seven years old. Cold. So cold. Day in and day out, it was just cold. The sound of water droplets from a leaky pipe in the corner of the ceiling slowly hitting the floor. A man throws two metal trays of porridge on the floor every day at the same time, only once a day. Cells lined the walls - four on one side, four on the other - not all of them full, but most of them. Three hundred and sixty-seven days. Day in... Day out... I vaguely remember blurred faces when I closed my eyes. My parents and older brother. A woman with snow-white hair to her ankles, a man with midnight black hair styled messily on purpose and a teenage boy with the same black hair. Their laughter was sweet, their voices calming and genuine, filled with love and loyalty. ???: "Aradia, come and give your mother a hug!" Aradia: "Yes, papa! We're coming! Let's go, Erebus!" I yell happily, pulling my twin brother with me to our parents. ???: "Ah, you've finished your classes, my dearest siblings? Come, let your big brother kiss you!" Erebus and I are pulled into the loving embrace of our mother while our brother kisses our cheeks and father envelops us in his strong arms. These dreams are the only thing that keeps me from freezing to death. We were loved deeply... And yet, now, we sit in a cell among other prisoners, slowly wasting away. It's been so long that I don't remember how we got here. Just flashes of being attacked by wolves and running, then waking up here. That was a year ago... And now, my brother lies dying next to me, his breathing weak and raspy. He's so skinny and starved that his breath rattles his ribcage and he can no longer open his eyes. Although I am his older sister, my brother protected me from being whipped, kicked and punched. Now, because of my weakness, the person that I am supposed to protect is dying, and I don't know what to do. I've been giving him his porridge along with mine in hopes that he'll get better, but it only seems like he's getting worse. The wounds on his back from that silver whip are infected and when I ask for medicine, I get a sneer and a kick in reply. "A-Aradia..." he whispers, his throat so dry that even saying my name causes him to cough. "Stop...Giving me your food...I'm going to die...You need to eat them both instead..." My eyes well up immediately as I crawl over with both trays and place his head on my lap to prop him up "Nonsense, Erebus! You're going to get better, I'll make sure of it! Just stay with me, brother. I promise I'll be your protector from now on." he smiles at me weakly but shakes his head "Aradia...In our next life, I want to be your twin again...I'll be older this time, so I can protect you" he splutters yet again and I rush to feed him some porridge that he has no choice but to swallow. A husky, older voice came from the cell next to us. It's a man that I've grown accustomed to calling 'Uncle Felix'. "He's right, Dia. I can hear his heartbeat getting slower. Today will be his last day, my girl..." Uncle Felix sounds just as sad as I. These prisoners have treated us well over this year and even tell us stories to put us to sleep. I know that Erebus is dying. I know that we all are. But I don't want to hear the truth. I feel rage bubbling inside of me and my neck snaps toward the older man, a deep growl escaping my throat as I yell "I won't allow it! Erebus will live, and I will protect him for the rest of my life!" I blink in shock... Confusion? Uncle Felix looks just as perplexed as I, and he slides over to my side of his cell bars. "How curious! To be this young and already have a wolf is unheard of...Unless..." He quickly bolts to the other side of the cell and whispers something to the others. The next thing I know, the 6 prisoners are kneeling in submission to me. Now, I'm even more perplexed. I don't understand! "Dia, it's okay. You don't need to understand. But you do need to get out of here. Put Erebus down quickly and come here. I'm going to teach you how to communicate with your wolf but first...I'll make a bond with you. A blood bond that can never be broken. A promise that you and only you have my loyalty. Once you're out of that cell, the others will do the same, okay?" I don't understand anything at all but I nod regardless. Anything to get out of this cell and save my brother. I watch as he cuts into his hand with his own claw and then asks for my own hand, warning me he will be doing the same. I gently place Erebus' head onto the floor and scoot close to the bars, feeling the man's claw cut through my palm and I barely wince - This pain is nothing compared to those whips. He clutches my hand with his own and I feel a strange tingle between the wounds as he swears his oath; "I, Alpha Felix Monroe, swear my loyalty to you, Aradia." The tingles stop as our palms unclasp, but for some reason, I feel stronger. I look at my healing palm and then at the man on one knee in front of me "Uncle Felix, you're an Alpha? Then why are you here?" he shook his head as if to say it was a story for another time. He sits cross-legged in front of me and notions that I do the same, so I follow suit and stare at him. "Dia, I know that it's hard. But I need you to clear your head. Close your eyes and take a very deep breath in, hold it for five seconds and then slowly breathe out. Repeat that process while you think of something that makes you happy. Don't be startled when you open your eyes." I nod and do exactly as instructed. Time is of the essence, but I refuse to rush and mess this up. It's my only chance to get Erebus out of here. The more that I breathe in and out while trying to find peace in my mind, the quieter it gets. So quiet that the water droplets I've been hearing for a year are gone. I hesitate for a second...It's the gentle breeze against my cheeks that urges me to open my eyes. My breath hitches in my throat as I'm now sitting on lush green grass, surrounded by flowers. It's the very field from my dreams that I saw. My whole family went on a picnic - both my parents, my brother, Erebus and I as well as my extended family, it seemed. We had a blast and had to be carried home by Papa. Tears start to sting my eyes but halt when a silver-white wolf approaches. The wolf was huge, bigger than an Alpha wolf. Their eyes looked as though they held the full moon inside of them. It was a breathtaking sight, and the closer the wolf drew, the calmer I felt. "You're finally here, child." She spoke. Her voice was soft and comforting. She came closer, nuzzling her elongated snout into my face. On instinct, I reached up and softly stroked her. Her fur felt as though it were cool silk beneath my palms. "Hello...Who are you?" She stops nuzzling me and sits directly in front of me. Her beautiful eyes seem to be filled with sadness but also rage and happiness. "Darling child, I am your wolf. Artemis. I've been with you from birth and have seen your life thus far. I originally didn't intend to show myself to you until you were older and stronger, however...I have decided to show you a small portion of what we will be in the future by lending the power to you now. However, doing so with such a frail body will have consequences. It will take such a toll on your body that you will be asleep for a few days, perhaps. At worst, you could die. Is...Is this what you want?" I nodded immediately, furiously. It didn't matter. "Erebus...He needs me. I need to protect him. As long as he is safe, I will give my life." I was determined. The look in my almost-neon turquoise eyes probably said the same. Artemis yet again nuzzled me for a moment and then nodded "Indeed. That is our little brother and you must protect him well. His wolf, Hodr is much too weak and won't be able to show himself for a long time...Protect our brothers, Aradia. Protect Erebus and Hodr." She really didn't need to tell me that. I was resolved to give my life for them already. Artemis placed her large paw onto my hand and a surge of power rushed through me, my eyes shining brighter than usual and my silver-white curls glowing with ethereal light. It was beautiful and I felt powerful, but it was painful, honestly. It felt like my bones were very slowly breaking. I closed my eyes and scrunched up my face. Opening them again, I was back in my cell, being looked upon with awe.