The Reaver Chronicles: Raziel (Book 1)

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

The bucket finally reached me but I was spinning. My mind wouldn't quiet down long enough for me to make a rational decision. I didn’t have to get inside… I could just stay down here. Right? I knew I was trapped no matter what I did… And if the Reaver didn't kill me, my mother would... At that moment, I didn't know which thought was scarier… It was a lose lose.

I hesitated and looked back up at the Reaver who was waiting for me. I hadn't even reached for the rope and bucket yet. I still wasn’t sure if I even would. He seemed to be waiting patiently, but why wouldn’t he? He knew I had no other way out. “Take the rope.” He said. The way his voice sounded as it echoed between the flat stones and nestled its way into my ears, struck enough fear into my small body that I listened.

Immediately I grabbed the rope and climbed into the bucket. It was really the only thing I could do being 9 years old and stuck in an impossible situation. I had no other option and we both knew this. I guess if this sealed my fate to death, then I was dying today… All these thoughts, and many even more irrational than those, flashed through my mind as I was being pulled up. My fear started to rage out of control as I was getting closer to the top. I inhaled slowly and looked up, catching his eyes again before quickly looking away.

I had never seen a Reaver in person before, and definitely hadn’t ever been this close to one. And from everything my mother had taught me about Reavers, I never wanted to be. I just kept replaying my death over and over while trying to hold back tears that were threatening to fall down my cheeks.

After what seemed like forever, I got to the top and the Reaver reached his hand out to grab me. I had no idea what to do… It was like all of my lessons my mother had taught me went straight out the window. I completely froze up. I swear I wanted to fight and protect myself, but I didn't even flinch at his touch as he grabbed my arm and helped me down gently.

Surprise overtook me when both feet hit the ground and I was still very much alive. So much for being able to take care of myself... "There you go, little one." He said softly, ignoring my very obvious fear towards him. I didn’t reply, unsure of just what I was supposed to say. Thank you for not killing me? I mean, what do you even say? What do you even do?

I was pulled from my internal panic when the Reaver spoke. "Now how did you manage to get all the way out here anyways?" His voice was soft, and gentle. I assumed he was trying not to scare me even worse, which confused me as I was expecting my throat to be ripped out. I knew better than to believe his silky lies though, this was how they got you… Fake trust.

I couldn't even bring my mouth to speak. I just stood there, staring at him, fear struck, still trying to hold back the tears that I could feel trying to burst through. I should have ran… I wanted to run, I wanted to scream, or cry or yell… Fight… Anything but stand there frozen in time like an i***t.

I was torn from my panic when he turned around after putting his suit jacket back on, and locked those deadly golden eyes straight onto mine. I shuddered under his fiery gaze. He was so f*****g scary. He may not even have to touch me to cause my death. I swear a heart attack was imminent… If I thought I was scared before, that was nothing compared to what I was feeling now. It was full blown panic at this point.

Once I snapped out of my temporary stupor I realized that his eyes were like molten gold. The color seemed to be moving within itself as if his eyes themselves were actually molten gold, and it was being poured back into itself. His expression when getting a good look at me was confused at first. I still didn’t move, unsure of what I was even supposed to do next.

He raised one eyebrow as if he was trying to figure something out. Then something that resembled realization crossed his features, followed by surprise, as he looked past me into the woods behind us. I had no idea why he was surprised, so I turned to look at what he was looking at, when I heard a deafening growl.

I covered my ears just as a huge silver wolf with eyes just like mine, platinum silver, jumped from the trees and charged straight at the Reaver. Panic, again, flooded my chest as I realized that this was my mother! How did she find me? I mean, she had to have known this was the only place I would have run off too. But still, I was very shocked.

I wanted to scream, and yell at her to run, or do anything to stop my mother from attacking from fear of what he would do to her. But I was frozen in place, riddled with fear, once again. I was completely terrified, and forced to stand there and watch, helplessly. To my surprise the Reaver didn't move an inch. Instead, his face hardened.

Every feature he had was outlined as if he were chiseled straight from stone. His golden eyes darkened to almost black. He put out his right hand, open palm, and threw what looked to me like a fluorescent green fireball at my mother. It engulfed her, and the force of impact knocked me back onto my ass. A green string of light and fire stayed attached to his hand as if it were a rope. Wherever his hand moved, my mother inside of the fireball, moved with it.

Just as I thought he was going to throw her back towards the forest with a flick of his wrist, I finally gained my composure and screamed as loud as my 9-year-old self could. My scream wasn't filled with legible words. Instead, it was only a sound. One full of raw emotion, laced with fear and despair.

He stopped and looked directly at me. We locked eyes and I knew this was my only chance to try and save her… I overcame my fear in order to beg for my mother’s life. He probably thought he had just scared me. He had no idea who this Wolf was to me. "Stop!!" I cried, taking a step towards him. His hand stopped mid throw, as he narrowed his eyes onto mine.

I had no idea where I got the courage to continue to speak, but I was feeling like it was life or death at this point. "Please, no… Please put her down! She’s all I have! It’s my fault she’s here! I snuck away from home… Please don’t hurt her." I pleaded. I knew I was rambling, but I tended to do that when I was panicking. I forced back the lump in my throat, as a single tear rolled down my cheek.