The biggest witch hunt

Chapter 6

“Rylie, get down here.” I heard my father call sternly, I pushed my dolls to the side and ran down the steps towards him, “is olly here to play?!” I asked hugging him tightly.

My fathers slow response to hugging me back threw me off a little bit, “is something wrong?” I asked looking up at him wide eyed.

I heard him sigh as he turned and led me into his study.

My mother, Oliver, and his parents sat on the couches talking casually, abruptly stopping as I walked into the room.

Oliver looking at me with some pity in his eyes, I didn’t understand.

“Ry, come sit next to me..” my mother said softly patting the couch. I glanced at her and Oliver’s mother and they both seems to share some odd look with each other.

After what seemed like forever, my father cleared his throat, “Can we tell her already, so we can move forward with our lives Raelynn?” My father called towards my mother from behind his bar.

My mother put her arm around me and gave me a tight squeeze before sighing and turning towards me, “Ry, it’s not happening now, or for a long time, but you need to know as we will be starting you on classes and lesson and will have you monitored from this day forward. Your 8th birthday is coming up, that gives you ten years to prepare.” She said with a steady tone, not breaking eye contact with me until I looked over at Oliver’s mom, still with confusion all over me.

“Lillian and Derrick help your father and I have you..” she started to say slowly, “with the agreement that you’d marry their son when you became of age” she finished as her voice cracked.

I remember my heart swelling because I loved him so, but the worry over took me as my fate was sealed and I was still uncertain of it. 

My legs felt weak and I looked over at Oliver wide eye with tears, him returning the same look —

I sat up in a cold sweat from my dream and looked around, my bed no long with Oliver in it. My heart pounded with panic and instantly looked at my door, it was cracked open.

‘I locked it. I locked it. We didn’t leave. He stayed’ I thought un-surely to myself as I slid out of bed into my slippers and slowly walked towards the door.

I couldn’t shake the grim feeling from the vibrant flash back I had with my parents.

“Nathaniel?” I whispered out into the hallway, I got no response.

I opened my door and walked toward the steps when I noticed a small glimmer of light towards my tearoom.

My heart stopped for a moment before I was able to move.

I walked back into my room and grabbed a small pocket knife I had on my vanity and slowly walked toward my tea room, once by the door I tried to push in on it, nothing.

Completely closed.

“It’s not fair! She never asked for this!” I heard Oliver’s voice through the door whispering 

Angrily, I knew he was speaking of me.

‘Why is he so angry’ I thought as I turned the knob so slowly, as I opened the door I saw Oliver leaning over a pile of herbs laying them out as a small pot next to his seemed to be at a boil.

I felt like a child again, sitting on the couch looking at him wide eyed, unknowing of my future.

He felt my presence as I saw the muscles in his back tense, and then his jaw line lock as he turned towards me, his Carmel eyes looking like embers from a fire, “Nathaniel...” I whispered out as I barley could say anything, his demeanor spoke power, fear, obedience, leader.

I was captivated by him, more than usual.

I felt myself step towards him as he took a step and he stopped, c*****g his head to the side.

“Aren’t you going to run?” He asked with no emotion. I shook my head as I was unable to speak. The corner of his mouth upturned a little bit before he continued, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to leave you, I just have some work that needed to be tended to..” he let his words drift off.

I was standing in front of him by now and took his hands with mine and looking into his eyes, “I was having a nightmare... then I thought you left me..” i whispered watching the fire in his eyes die out, returning to his Caramel color, tender and sweet.

“I will never leave you Rylie,” he started to say sternly “I promised you before you fell asleep I will protect you, always. I mean it” he said leaning down kissing my lips hard. 

My heart dripping honey as I felt I could physically feel his love for me through our exchange.

He turned towards the herbs and shook his head very slightly, almost as if he didn’t want me to see it, I stepped back and let out a small sigh, “what were you doing?” I asked hesitantly, I was nervous of what his answer may be.