The Reaper's Wicked Obsession
Chapter 90: Be Careful Of What You Desire

Chapter 90: Be Careful Of What You Desire

Isadora stood before the mirror, she didn’t have a wink of sleep. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying all night.

Gently, she pulled her hair behind to reveal the imprint of a bruise around her neck. She swallowed hard, before moving her hands, her red weaves slipped in and healed the skin.

She remained still as she stared at her reflection, the memories of the night flashing like a nightmare.

She did something to him. She knew she did but didn’t know what. Her body shook, suddenly reminded of the presence inside his head.

What he had within the depths of his mind almost ripped her apart. It was frightening and the more she thought about it, a piercing headache came.

But it was undeniable... She wanted to understand it.

’You never learn, Isa,’ she thought, scolding herself mentally.

He clearly tried to kill her again... how many times has it been? She had lost count of it and it was suddenly becoming a regular occurance.

Does this have to do with his... thirst?

Alda! The headache was coming back again.

Isadora inhaled sharply, shaking her head and took deep breaths. She wrapped her hair atop her head and walked out of her room, going down the stairs.

She found Rav, seated, with a wooden bottle of ale and a cup on the table.

"Isn’t it too early to drink?" she asked, with a forced smile. If she acted brooding in front of him he would know something was wrong.

And she didn’t want that.

Rav flinched, suddenly aware of her presence. He turned to her and smiled, mirroring the one Isadora had on.

"How are you?"

Isadora gulped at the question and chose to redirect it, not trusting herself to give a solid lie. "I should ask you that."

He chuckled softly. "Just a dinner went wrong." He shrugged his broad shoulders like it was nothing but she could tell there was more

"How was your night?"

Isadora stiffened as the memories came through like a shockwave but she shoved it off and locked it away. "Couldn’t sleep."

"You’re straining yourself too hard, I saw you training with..." he trailed, narrowing his eyes.

"Vanya, her name is Vanya."

"Ha..." he murmured while taking a drink.

Her eyes saddened, he didn’t look his usual self almost like something was bothering him.

Isadora took his hand and said softly. "Talk to me, Rav."

Rav gulped, feeling her small warm hand on his, it was comforting but it didn’t make him feel any better.

Mentally he was still at that dinner, and the word he said to Kraven still haunted him like a hawk.

"I said something I shouldn’t have to a friend. Something I know affected him, I know it did."

"You’re talking about Kraven," she said, her body tensing. She’d wished the topic wasn’t about him.

Isadora’s heart broke for Rav, knowing the person he thought of as a friend had thoughts about killing him.

The words he said last night still disturbed her.

"How could you..." she began with a heavy tone. "Consider him a friend... knowing that he’s..." she couldn’t finish.

She didn’t want to call him mad after seeing a fragment of what lived inside his head. It didn’t feel right.

"Mad?" Rav finished in a teasing tone. A smile tipped at the corner of his lips. "He is, but he’s still my friend."

Isadora couldn’t begin to understand the kind of relationship they had but she won’t question it.

"It’s not his fault," he murmured while drinking.

This spiked Isadora’s curiosity. "What do you mean by that?"

"Do you think he’s mad because he wants to? It’s just something he can’t escape, something he’s burdened with. He knows what he is and deals with it in his own way."

Rav’s eyes grew wistful with the memories of the past. "He doesn’t hide from it."

"I can’t understand him," she confessed, unable to hold it in anymore.

Rav laughed lightly. "No one can, Isadora. That’s Kraven for you. Alda! I still don’t even know why he dragged me across the continent for five winters."

He spoke the rest of his words in Faetong.

Silence passed between them. It wasn’t awkward, just a comfortable one.

"It’s been a wreck," Rav finally spoke, nodding as if he could finally realize it. "I’ve forgotten what I was meant to do. I let my emotions get the better of me."

He moved his scarlet eyes to Isadora. "I had a sister, Eris. You remind me so much of her. So sweet and yet such a brave soul. I see her in you"

A sting found Isadora’s chest, at the sudden realization he saw her as a sister. She swallowed back the uncomfortable emotions, focusing on the ones absorbing his beautiful rubies.

"What happened to her, Rav?" she asked, in a shaky tone.

He swallowed hard. "I couldn’t protect her," he said, taking another drink.

Something told Isadora he didn’t plan to say anything further on that matter and she respected that.

"That’s why I’m protective of you and I’m sorry if I hurt you in the process." He placed his hand on top of her own and gripped it tightly. "So please, Isadora, do not go through the finals. If I lose you then I’ve failed you too."

He was still desperate to protect her and it warmed her heart.

"Rav..." she began, cupping his cheeks, brushing the rough skin where a few stubble beards were growing, with her thumb.

Unknown to her, red weaves slipped into his head.

Rav closed his eyes, sighing as his sad expression eased, he felt lighter and the pressure that had hung over him all through the night was gone.

In return, Isadora’s mind and body became heavier. Realizing the pressure drowning her, she pulled her hand away.

"I-I-I should get ready, I still have training." She hurried upstairs.

"Isadora!" Rav called, rising to his feet but the respond he got was her door slamming shut.