The Reaper's Wicked Obsession
Chapter 36: Reasons For Damnation

Chapter 36: Reasons For Damnation

"I can’t believe he’s acting this way," Nyssa said, pacing back and forth, unsettled.

Her hands on her waist and a deep frown pared on her features. "We haven’t seen him for winters after he took Rav and left for a journey and now he’s back with a filthy mannfae"

Logi flinched at her words but said nothing.

"Who cares if she’s a weaver? That doesn’t mean she’s capable of anything. Did you see how he spoke of her?" anger fumed through her and her teeth ground together.

’How dare she?’

"Are you even listening to me Logi?!"

Logi was engrossed in carving a rune into the square piece of wood, the eager scrape of his blade echoing through the room.

Raising the unfinished piece, he blew away the fine dust.

"I’m busy, I don’t have time to listen to your rambling," he said, dismissively waving a hand as if she were nothing more than a passing nuisance.

"Aren’t you concerned?" she enforced. "You made a wager"

"And the odds are against him. You said it yourself, having a weaver’s ability doesn’t mean she’s capable of anything"

"Still... We both know Kraven never acts without a reason. Think about it, he brings a stranger and declares she trains for the Hunt, violating our sacred law"

Logi dropped the wood like a discarded piece of trash, his fingers tapping against the table as his mind drifted into deep thought. "Of course, it is all part of his plan, what I don’t understand is why,"

~♧~

Rav strolled the threshold erratic and worried. He placed his palm on the wall, and the stone door jogged open. He hurried inside, his eyes inspecting the vast bedroom with dim lighting.

"Isadora!" he called.

"R-Rav?"

He turned but he could not find her anywhere in the room. "Where are you?"

"H-H-Here"

He followed the sound of her voice until he found her just beside the bed in a corner, knees to her chest, shivering like a leaf.

Her hair stuck to her face and her clothes to her body.

"Alda!" he hurried to her side and took off his jacket using it to cover her trembling frame.

"What happened?" he asked worriedly.

"H-H-He p-pushed me into the water, I-I-I got out but it became so c-c-cold," She gripped the jacket around her tightly. "I-I-I-I couldn’t find the d-door and t-the f-fire..."

Rav turned to the fireplace and found out the wood had turned to charcoal. He sighed, closing his eyes briefly. "It’s alright"

She suddenly grabbed Rav’s hands with her cold ones. "Please take me out of here" she begged.

Her eyes moved around the room erratically like something would emerge from it.

"Don’t worry" he helped her up her feet and led her out of the room. "Let’s get you out"

~♧~

Isadora couldn’t stop taking in the vast view, seeing this place from a window was one thing but having to gaze upon its dark magnificence right in the center of it was another, it felt like a whole new civilization.

The way the buildings hooked to the crooked rock like it was carved from the very rock itself.

She had never known buildings to have such structure, she only knew them to be built on lands where the lights reached.

This place was built within a mountain and it made it look like it was one with it.

The denizens going about their business offered an outlook of an ongoing daily activity, even though none looked like your regular locals, it was like the Isle they visited. Everyone seemed to have an unknown story to them.

"What is this place?" she asked, unable to contain her curiosity. The eagerness to know its history. It was old, current, and astonishing.

She never knew something like this could exist without outsiders wanting to explore such a fascination.

"The Raven Court,"

"The Raven Court?" She tasted the name on her lips and it caused goosebumps against her skin. It was what Serena mentioned. "I-I have never heard of it"

Rav’s lips tugged in a smile. "That’s because it isn’t supposed to exist,"

She visibly gulped. ’This is their base’ she thought for certain.

Yet, it was not exactly how she expected it, she pictured a rundown place because of the criminal penalties but this was far from it.

It looked like a haven.

Serena always told her how life was sad and dangerous for outlaws, barely making an honest living.

"Who rules this place?" she asked, a place like this must have a leader.

Maybe she could appeal to him... he could free her or make sure she doesn’t have to deal with Kraven again. She could bargain her abilities too as a price if he grants her wishes.

Rav stopped in his tracks at her question. He glanced over his shoulder wondering if he should give her an answer to that question but he chose silence.

Isadora watched as Rav continued to lead the way on the bridge without any answer.

She figured this was one of the things he kept, either way, she would find out and bargain for her freedom.

She doesn’t know what lay ahead for her outside this mountain but she would take that chance any day.

"This is my place"

Isadora eyed the building and the warm lights coming from it.

Rav led her inside the house, candles were lit and the common room was wide, it was portable and yet comfortable.

"I haven’t been here for winters, cleaned most of it but it’s still a mess"

Isadora’s eyes glanced to the fireplace and walked closer to get warm, sitting on the fur rug and pulling the jacket more to her frame.

’It smells like him’ she thought, slowly bringing it to her nose to take a whiff.

"Here, these should do"

She stopped her action and turned to Rav with red cheeks.

"Here" he handed her clothes.

"T-Thank you"

A smile found Rav’s lips, he sat beside her. "Listen" he began in a serious tone. "I tried my best but there is nothing I can do now, it’s been decided"

Confusion found Isadora’s amber eyes. "What’s been decided?"

Rav took a deep breath. "I think you should have some rest, I’ll get the room ready for you upstairs"

Isadora stopped him from moving when she grabbed his arm. "I have had rest"

Rav gulped. He thought deeply about how to tell her and wished to avoid it as best as he could, she’s been through so much and he dreaded there was more to come than she could handle.

"Rav, what’s going to happen to me?"