The Reaper's Wicked Obsession-Chapter 225: Seed Of Doubt (1)

Fear spiked in Kyla’s brown eyes, and her body trembled too. "Y-You’ll have to kill me because I won’t yield!"

Isadora froze at her words. She was willing to be killed? Was pleasing Aric so important that she didn’t consider her own life?

This struck a nerve in her. She shifted her gaze to Aric, who remained unfazed, waiting for the inevitable.

His decree was final. And it only burned more fury in Isadora.

She turned her wide eyes back to Kyla’s horrific ones and in an instant, her eyes turned milky white and she grabbed her axe and slit her own throat.

Isadora gasped in shock as blood sprayed across her face. Her axe slipped from her grip. The clatter rang through the air.

Kyla choked on her own blood, tears slipping from the corners of her eyes as she struggled to speak, only for a gurgle of blood to bubble from her mouth.

Then life drained from her eyes, and her body dropped to the ground.

In a raspy breath, Isadora moved her wide eyes back to Aric, he remained unbothered as well as everyone else.

"You dare disobey your warden?" Aric’s voice cut through the air.

"Seize her!" Marek ordered.

Two Serpents grabbed Isadora.

Aric rose to his feet, his footsteps echoing as he closed the distance between them.

"It’s a pity Kyla was a disappointment. She failed in her duty." He pulled his attention to Isadora. "And you?" He grasped her neck, squeezing hard.

Isadora struggled, but his grip only tightened until it felt like her throat would crush.

"Another pity, I saw potential." He released her.

Isadora coughed and wheezed as she tried to catch her breath.

"Lock her up in the cold cell. I’ll decide what to do with her later."

They dragged Isadora away as she squirmed to break free.

"The rest of you, do not worry, another Matron shall be assigned to guide you." He walked away, Marek following behind.

"Marek."

"Yes, master?"

"I’ve got a feeling that Fang is a ravenite."

His blood ran cold.

"I never knew the Reaper sent women to do his work. So much disappointment today."

Marek swallowed hard.

"Go, finish her off. I’ve lost my interest."

"Yes, master." Marek bowed.

~♧~

"Let me go!" Isadora fought through their grip, but it was a futile attempt; they might be brain-dead, but they were still strong and massive enough to overpower her.

But after the minutes of pointless struggle, her body stilled. They were taking her to a place called the cold cell.

’Serena might be there,’ She thought, hopeful that her desperate search would come to an end.

But suddenly the Serpent’s movement still. The sickening sound of flesh splitting open followed.

She gasped and shifted her gaze just as their heads dropped from their shoulders, their bodies collapsing soon after.

’What happened?’ Isadora thought in shook.

Her heart momentarily stopped when she felt a presence behind her.

"There you are, darling. I’ve been looking for you," Kraven mused behind, grasping her chin in a bruising hold, the heat of his body jolting her body with sparks.

"Kraven," she said breathlessly, eased but still shaken up.

"Logi said I should trust you." He pulled down the veil concealing her face. "I do, Isadora, but I don’t trust when you’re not in my fucking orbit."

She gasped when he forced her chin back, the back of her head met his chest and her eyes were pinned on his.

The rest of the world ceased to exist.

Marek made a turn leading to the corridor, but he came to an impulsive halt when he saw headless bodies and a massive Fae standing with the Fang.

On instinct, he reached for his axe, yet an arm seized him and pulled him into the dark.

Marek pushed off the intruder and turned. His eyes went wide the instant he caught green eyes staring back at him.

"Logi what—"

"I wouldn’t do that if I were you, the last thing you want to do is fight the Reaper."

"The Reaper?" Marek said with trembling eyes. The same Fae known throughout the lands as a sadistic killer? Feared by all warriors and the Lord of the Raven Court? And his master’s greatest foe?

He wouldn’t have believed Logi’s words if he hadn’t seen the headless bodies. That was the Reaper’s trademark when it came to his kills.

"He’s here." He took a step back in shock, as a bone-chilling terror bled into him. "There are three of you."

"What did you tell Aric?" Logi demanded, determined to get answers. He might be considerate of Marek, yet he wouldn’t dare to put his Lord and Lady in harm’s way.

"I told him nothing," he replied. "But that was a mistake." He turned to leave, but Logi rushed and blocked him.

"You can’t tell him, Marek. I won’t allow it."

"That the fucking Reaper is here to take his life? What do you expect me to do? Just stand and watch my master die?!"

"He’s my Lord," Logi confessed. "You tell Aric about his presence, I’ll never forgive you."

Marek barked a laugh. "Never forgive me?" He closed the distance between them until their faces were inches apart. "I gave you a chance to leave, Lo. You forced my hand."

"I won’t leave until I finish what I came here for."

"You mean your Lord wishes?" He backed away like he couldn’t bear to be in the same space with him.

"Look around you, Marek!" Logi snapped. "Aric needs to go down. I saw the weaves at the top of the tower. How many air weavers have been drained to keep this storm up? The ocean is full of unrest too."

"Is your Lord any righteous? He built a forbidden Court to disrupt the balance in the realm!"

"You and I know very well who really disrupts the balance. Have you forgotten that the Five Courts is responsible for so much carnage? They are the reason the pure bloodline of the royal family was wiped from existence. They are the reason why we were born slaves."

Marek swallowed hard.

"At least my Lord fights to disrupt the cruel balance forged by those heartless bastards. And you?" He stepped closer until he backed Marek against the wall. "You serve a master who’s a puppet for them."

Marek’s heart skipped a beat, his eyes going wide. "W-What are you talking about?"

Logi scoffed. "You didn’t know, did you? Your reverend master... serve and does their bidding."

"No, you lie!"

"Do I?!" Logi seethed at his face. "Some disciple you are if your master has left you in the dark for so long!"

Marek growled, pushing against Logi’s chest. He pointed a finger at him. "You’re saying this because you don’t like the idea that I serve him!"

"I don’t," Logi confessed. "But I don’t need a lie to get you to see Aric’s true colors."

~♧~

The First Floor

"Dead?" Aric questioned, facing his disciple. "What do you mean, dead?"

"The Serpents were dead when I got there."

"And the Fang? There’s no possible way she could have taken down my best Serpents herself. Did you see anything? Another ravenite?"

Marek’s fist clenched tightly behind him until his nails drilled into his flesh on the verge of drawing blood.

Aric narrowed his eyes. "What did you see?" he asked in a low, dark tone.

"Nothing. When I got there, I didn’t see the Fang, just the bodies."

Aric nodded slowly, walking to Marek, he placed a hand on his shoulder in a pat. "I’ve been hard on you, haven’t I?"

"No."

"It’s okay. You’re the only one I can trust, yet I push you too much for perfection." He moved his hand and stroked the back of his neck. "I do that because you’re the only one worthy of carrying the Serpent’s name when I die."

"Is that what I am to you? Another successor to continue the Serpent’s name?"

Ari chuckled. "Alda forbids! You’re like a son to me." He pulled away and stepped closer to the wooden table.

"A father should tell his son everything."

"Yes, I’ve no secrets, my son." He faced Marek. "Why the questions? Is there something troubling you?"

Marek chewed the inside of his mouth, forcing himself not to speak because if he did, only the gods knew what he would pour out.

He knew he shouldn’t believe Logi’s words. For all he knew, he could be doing this just to throw him off track.

He had trusted Aric with his life and believed the story of hunting criminals to make the realm a better place.

Aric always told him their purpose was far more than hunting criminals.

But there was a voice at the back of his head that instilled doubt. The thought of his master serving the Five Courts.

"I know you would tell me anything," Marek began. "May I ask a question?"

"Whatever troubles you, tell me."

"If there was a chance to serve a higher power, even though it goes against our code, would you do it?"