I will be your reaper...

Living to fight another day...

Aradia's pov - seven years old

My silver-white curls were glowing with power, my neon turquoise eyes apparently holding the authority within to command each person in their cells to kneel in submission. My body felt like it was on fire and all I could do was stare at the gentle blue glow on my hands. It wasn't until Uncle Felix reached out and placed a hand on my knee that I looked up to see his teary eyes "Aradia... You must go now. Erebus is getting worse" My eyes snapped to my little brother who was burning up with fever. What little breath he had was incredibly heavy. I quickly stood and rushed to him, placing a hand on his head. It seemed like my abilities were being used on instinct, and they calmed his raging fever slightly and his breath began to return to normal. I quickly rushed to the door, something telling me that I should just grab the bars and pull.

They easily tore open, creating enough space for my small body to make it through with Erebus. I picked him up in my arms, feeling the scarred whip marks of his back graze against my skin. He groaned my name and I shushed him gently, reassuring him that he would be okay. He fell into a deep slumber as I carefully and slowly slid us both through the bars and placed him on the floor. I walked over to Uncle Felix's cell and did the same thing, watching him squeeze out of the gap. I did it again for each cell that held a person and each person kneeled before me. Four of the prisoners requested to make the same blood bond that Uncle Felix had made, and I quickly agreed. Each one seemed to boost my power.

When it came to the last two, a man with shaggy honey blonde hair and green eyes and a woman with flaming red curls and purple eyes, they confessed that they were not wolves, but a witch and a warlock. They asked if I could rid them of the metal tag around their ankles so that they could perform something similar called a 'blood anchor' ceremony with them. I, of course, agreed and immediately tore the metal devices from their ankles. I watched as they sighed in relief, feeling their magic spring back through their veins.

"Dia, I've been telling you stories for a year and yet realize I never mentioned my name." The woman chuckled gently, touching my face "My name is Celeste Hawton, high priestess of the Gaia Coven. I will tell you my story when we meet again, but for now, I swear my loyalty to you." She looked to one of the wolves for assistance in cutting her palm and a woman with chocolate brown hair obliged. Celeste dipped a finger into the blood of her palm and pressed it to my forehead while speaking "I, Celeste Hawton, High Priestess of Gaia, swear my loyalty and power to you, Aradia, daughter of the moon". A cool tingling crawled up my spine and I shivered while Celeste giggled and asked the chocolate-brown-haired woman to cut my palm in return. Again, my palm was cut, and I was instructed on what to do and say.

I dipped my finger into my blood and pressed it onto Celeste's forehead "I, Aradia, daughter of the moon, accept the loyalty and power of Celeste Hawton, High Priestess of Gaia". The cool tingling returned and Celeste brushed my cheek again. "My primary ability is ice, which is why your body probably feels cool". I nodded in understanding and the warlock beside her smiled and gestured for assistance from the chocolate-brown-haired woman. He did the same thing as Celeste, just differently with his name and title. "I, Jaxon Beaumont, Elder of the Blue Grove Coven, swear my loyalty and power to you, Aradia, daughter of the moon". This time, a gentle breeze crawled up my back and I smiled, now understanding what his primary ability was as I returned his gesture.

I was bonded to all six adults present as they smiled at me. "Your names and titles. I wish to know them all". Uncle Felix stepped up first and bowed his head "Alpha Felix Monroe of the Brave Heart pack", A man with almost navy-black hair and green eyes stepped up next, bowing his head "Alpha Michael Storm of the Black Storm pack", the woman with chocolate brown hair and brown eyes next, dipping her head "Luna heir Jessica Grey of the Grey Dawn pack", another woman with blonde hair and yellow eyes after her, lowering her head "Beta Sophia Miles of the Howling Cove Pack", next up the two covens, stepping together and dipping their heads in unison but speaking in rank order "High Priestess Celeste Hawton of the Gaia Coven" and "Elder Jaxon Beaumont of the Blue Grove Coven".

I breathed in and out, turning on my heels and picking Erebus from the floor. I held him tightly in my arms while my body still burned as if on fire. Though, after bonding with Celeste, the fire seemed to be less painful. "Let's go, then." The six followed me up the staircase from the dungeon and I touched the door, the metal bursting from its hinges and alerting the group guarding this dungeon. "Dia, we will keep them from following you. You run as fast as you can, as far as you can and get help for your brother. Don't worry about us, we'll find you" said Uncle Felix, touching my shoulder. They all ran by me and began to fight, tearing the opponents to shreds. Celeste put her hand on my shoulder and squeezed gently "Aradia. Bonding with you has given us more strength, so don't worry about us and just run. Keep running until you can't run anymore... And get stronger. Your future is a bright one. Become so strong that no one in this world can look down upon you", I nodded as she ran to join the fight.

I took the opportunity to run, not looking back, no matter how much I wanted to. Perhaps it was our bond, but I could feel their affection and loyalty to me. Now, they had given me the chance to run uninterrupted to a place that would help my brother. I ran through so many corridors, trying to figure out the exit. It wasn't until the cold smell of snow hit my nostrils that I knew I was free. We were free. My feet were frozen as they carried me as fast as possible through such thick blankets of snow that covered just above my ankles. I stumbled every so often, feeling the exhaustion of using my powers and running. I was so tired... So hungry...

I couldn't give up. I gripped my brother's body tighter in my arms and ran faster. I was adamant to heed the words of Celeste. I would run until I was physically incapable of running anymore and then, I'd get stronger. I'd train and become so strong that no one dared to look at me funny or mess with my brother. Even though my eyes were heavy, and my brain was scrambled, my body was on autopilot. Running in a random direction as fast as possible and not stopping until safe.

How long was it? Was it as long as it felt? It felt like I had been running for hours, maybe even days. My mouth was so dry. I checked to see if my brother was still breathing and, to my relief, he was. Which meant it hadn't been days, maybe an hour or so. But I was going to keep running no matter what. It was then that my ears picked up muffled sounds in the distance ahead and my eyes widened. A surge of adrenaline took over and pushed me forward even further. Now, in my eyesight, there were individuals on patrol, perhaps. Talking to a beautiful woman with black hair and violet eyes, her arms exposed to reveal both tattoos and scars.

Immediately as I huffed, they all turned to look at me wide-eyed, some of them shouting 'halt' but I couldn't "M-My brother... You need... You need to save him...!" I gasped for air as I fell down. Erebus was now covered in snow. The woman yelled at the men to stand down and not attack children, but I was only interested in reaching for my poor brother who was now probably freezing because of me. I began to sob, dragging myself to him with all that I had in me "E-Erebus... I'm sorry, big sis didn't mean to drop you, I swear! I'm coming, I'll get you out of the snow. Please don't die. I swore to protect you, please give me the chance!" I sobbed loudly, feeling the horrified and emotion-filled stares of the people patrolling while the woman rushed toward us, my vision getting blurred. I swear she was yelling something to those people, but what, I have no idea. All I felt after that was being cradled in what felt to be warm, loving arms.

Maybe... Just by a miracle... I might live to fight another day.