The Reaper's Wicked Obsession-Chapter 232: The Bait

"Let me go!" Isadora shrieked, trying to fight her way out of his hold, kicking into the air.

"I’m sorry, I can’t," Logi pleaded, desperate to get her further away.

Isadora slammed her boot into his foot, earning a pained growl from him.

She tore herself away from his hold using all the strength she could muster.

She pinned Logi down with a look that could cut through glass, slightly regretful that she had hurt him, but he left her no choice.

"We left him!" She exploded.

Logi’s jaw tightened. He didn’t like this either, but it was the only way. "He can take care of himself," he said with certainty.

"We can’t just—"

"Kraven made me promise if our mission was ever discovered, he would be the bait," Logi cut her off.

"Bait?" she said with wide eyes.

Logi sighed a shaky breath. "He knew the numbers would be too much if we ever got caught, and Aric would use his Serpents as a shield. There was no other option."

Isadora staggered back. "This is all my fault."

None of this would have happened if she hadn’t acted on her own.

"We need to keep moving before they find us," Marek said. "They are occupied, but I don’t know for how long."

"How do you think he found out our location?" Logi asked, but it was more of a rhetorical question. "He had you followed."

Marek swallowed thickly. "I think so too," he said with sad eyes, looking away. "All those words about trust," he scoffed. "They were all lies."

"Now you know."

"I’m sorry, I didn’t believe you," Marek said.

Suddenly, a monstrous roar filled the air. It was distant, yet strong enough to send a deep chill down their spine.

"What in Krig’s name is that?" Marek voiced, with wide eyes.

"Kraven," mumbled Isadora.

Before she could process her actions, her legs were already moving.

"Isadora!"

She didn’t stop or look back—her movement was aided by the adrenaline coursing through her veins, as she sprinted back toward the direction of that sound.

She flew down the stairs and made a turn, but an arm wrapped around her, and a hand covered her mouth, pulling her back into the dark.

She writhed in Marek’s hold. From this spot, she could see Kraven, and the scene horrified her to the core.

He was brought to his knees, with chains coiled around his neck, arms, and legs. There were runes carved on the iron, glowing a radiant gold like the sun.

"How do you like my invention?" Aric asked with his smirk curled on his lips. "Of course, it wasn’t entirely my idea." He crouched in front of him. "The Court sends their regards."

Marek’s features paled as the truth unfolded before his eyes again. His master served the Five Courts. It was a discovery that shocked him to the bones.

The entire time, he thought the only greater power his master served was Krig, but he was wrong all along.

Logi was right.

Kraven snarled as the chains scorched through his skin, his dark weaves sucked out, leaving him completely drained and powerless.

The pain was unimaginable. Whatever these chains were, it was capable of inducing what he thought he had lost a long time ago.

Isadora wriggled desperately in Marek’s hold as his growls got louder.

"There’s nothing you can do," Marek whispered to her. "You go there now, it’ll be doing more harm than good."

Isadora knew that, seven gods, she knew it was all pointless! But seeing him in pain—something she never thought him capable of—watching him on his knees, shattered her heart.

He was hurting. And all she could do was watch!

Amidst her struggle, the tip of her boot scraped the floor, the sharp sound filling the air. Marek’s heart momentarily stopped, and Isadora’s body froze.

Aric slowly turned his head, eyes narrowing. "Check!" he ordered.

Kraven discerned this, and he reacted, ignoring the splitting pain that made his limbs heavy.

He balled his fist and yanked his arm, the Serpent holding onto it was thrown in mid-air, landing on the other, who walked toward that area.

Kraven repeated this action, bodies flying until his binds were almost freed.

Aric stretched his hand, infusing his aura, and the runes engraved on the chains responded to his call.

It beamed a luminous glow, and the rest of the Serpents grabbed it and tugged tighter.

Kraven growled as the chains constricted against his skin, digging into his flesh and reaching his bones.

Endless tears streamed down Isadora’s eyes, her cries quelled as Marek hauled her away.

Aric grasped Kraven’s hair and forced his eyes on him.

Despite it all, Kraven had a smirk on his lips, and it caused irritation to crawl down Aric’s spine.

Kraven gave him a bloodied grin. "You look angry, Aric, not satisfied enough?"

"Look at you," he mocked. "The terrifying Reaper on his knees. I’m going to enjoy every bit of your misery. I’m just getting started."

~♧~

The Raven Court

Rav pulled on his bowstring, three arrows lined his bow. He kept his pungent scarlet eyes on the mark, and then he released.

It sped toward the bullseye and struck the center in a single motion.

Rav exhaled sharply before reaching for another arrow in the crate beside him.

"You wanted to see me," Ekko said, suddenly behind him out of nowhere.

"Yes," Rav replied, lining five arrows this time and pulling on the string.

But then he lifted his aim and released. The arrows flew, descending and striking the wooden targets.

"Nyssa’s been odd. I’m sure you have noticed her behavior these past moons."

"Do you mean her choice of partner or judgment?"

Rav scoffed and faced Ekko. "I should’ve known you were keeping an eye on her already."

"I’m not a creep if that’s what you’re implying."

"That is not what I meant," Rav replied.

"Since you’re suddenly so interested in Nyssara’s activities, there’s something you should know as well."