The Reaper's Wicked Obsession

Chapter 24: Reaper

The ship kept experiencing shockwaves, suddenly it wasn’t because of the battle but something supernatural was at play.

The sea diverged and pushed through, colliding with the vessel and taking it apart. The force caused the crew to be lost at sea and some held on for their dear life.

Isadora held on as best as she could but it was difficult with the occasional sea water splashing on her face, each time she would struggle to breathe until it felt like she was suffocating, on the verge of letting go from her death grip.

"TAKE THE HELM!" Baldy clamored, but it was chaos trying to keep on their feet with the shockwave.

They were unable to reach the quarterdeck and take the helm to navigate them out of this mess.

Isadora fell to her knees but still held on, trying to stay in place or else she would be hurled out of the ship into a much more dreadful fate.

Baldy marched towards her and clutched her arm. "You’re going below deck!" he hauled her along, however, Isadora opposed by holding onto the bulwark making Baldy struggle with his advances.

Frustrated he smacked her against the face to knock her out and proceeded to throw her over his shoulder. "Get working nuggets and let’s get outta here!" he barked and marched forward but came to a halt when his eyes found the quarterdeck.

The splash of water got on his face and it wasn’t easy to make out the silhouette he spotted there. He squeezed his eyes shut and opened them, he must be seeing things because silver eyes were staring back at him.

The sudden sound of loud croak grabbed his attention, he quickly darted his gaze to the sails and found hundreds of ravens flapping around like an ominous sign.

"Merciful Almadra" he mouthed mercy to the Allmother.

So many ravens in such a place? Where did they come from? The sign of death was upon them, Daudi was present!

The thunder struck heavily and the sea calmed, but the croaks got louder causing fear.

Baldy glanced back to the quarterdeck and realized what he saw wasn’t his imagination, something or someone was there watching him with silver eyes like the crescent moon.

The stories sang to their hearts, spiked their terror, and shook their bones.

"Reaper" one of the crew muttered in fear before screaming and casting himself offboard to drown rather than face him.

"Steady your hearts lads!" Baldy barked, despite having sea legs he would stand strong for his Pirate Lord.

He swore and dropped an unconscious Isadora on the floor and pulled out a flintlock. "Come on. Coward!" he pointed his weapon and others did too.

But their aim wasn’t steady because it felt like they were pointing meaningless weapons at an entity that outmatched them. The stories were true and they knew they stood no chance, no one said the Reaper would haunt their ship.

"You want the lassie huh? then—" he could not finish his words because a massive man twice his height was suddenly before him.

"Coward? That’s a strong word don’t you think?"

At the gravel voice, he raised his gaze and met a smirking Kraven with a crazed look in his gleaming eyes. Shaded silver hair damped with blood as well as his attire.

With trembling eyes, Baldy descended his gaze and found two severed heads of his crew.

Kraven raised the mutilated heads. "They were the ones who put a bullet through my skull" he flung them somewhere before cracking the stiff muscles around his neck. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed.

Baldy’s eyes trembled at the glimpse of the hole at the side of his head.

"I should count myself lucky it didn’t pierce too deep"

In a state of alarm, Baldy aimed his weapon and pulled the trigger, crimson droplets splattered on his face but it wasn’t what he thought. Kraven had gripped the muzzle causing the pellet to hit his palm instead.

With a sharp intake of breath, Baldy parted away from the inhuman Fae who had a twisted tolerance for pain, blood trickling from his hand but he remained unfazed, like the calm before the storm.

But the chaotic looks in his eyes told him this man was beyond deranged.

The thunder stuck, vibrating the mind and soul, further intensified the situation, and everyone remained still not daring to move.

Kraven had not made a move; however it seemed he had already caused damage, using their mental weakness against them.

"I only need one of you alive," Kraven declared, raising his bloody hand and taking a lick, a smirk plastered on his lips. "Which will it be then?"

"SHOOT HIM!" Baldy roared, it was a weak battle cry but before they could pull their trigger they caught up in flames, several arrows pierced their bodies causing them to torch up.

Amid the screams, Kraven walked to Baldy. "You’ll do" he grabbed his chin in an iron hold, prying his mouth open.

Baldy’s eyes widened when a raven forced its way into his mouth. His choking sound filled the area until it eventually ceased.

Kraven released him and he fell on the floor coughing profusely, his mind rambling about if what just happened was pure imagination for there was nothing amiss.

"Isadora!" Rav rushed to her unconscious form and held her in his arms.

He took a sigh of relief when he heard her steady beating heart. He mentally cursed for not arriving sooner, the pirates were a heavy nuisance and caught them off guard.

Thornfoot was a bastard for selling them out.

"Is she dead?" Kraven asked, feeling dizzy. Though there was no pain, his body signaled the strain.

"No," Rav replied sternly, suddenly aggravated by such a question. He glared at Kraven. "Is that what you really want?"

"Maybe" Kraven replied, his hands twitching.

He had forced the shadows out again and now his mind sings with bloodlust.

"Get her out of my sight" he said with clenched teeth, turning away.