The Reaper's Wicked Obsession

Chapter 25: Mornings Are Just Recounts Of The Night’s Events

Isadora was startled awake, trying to measure her breathing and make sense of her surroundings.

At first it was blurred and a sudden voice startled her, her mind reliving the events, the scary-looking pirates, and suddenly everything going blank.

"You’re okay"

Her vision cleared and scarlet eyes stared back at her.

"You’re alright," Rav said in a soothing voice before stretching his hand to her, his grip around something, it was a flask.

Gulping in thirst, she reached for it and took heavy chugs to sedate her patched throat before coughing and spilling the water that found the way to her throat.

The strong urge to vomit overwhelmed but she tried to hold it in.

Isadora sighed in relief when Rav helped stroke her back. "You didn’t have to go through that" his voice was edgy, filled with concern, and yet dangerous.

When the nausea was finally gone she turned to him with a quivering breath, her body shook on autopilot of the unknown, in response he took her hand and held onto it tightly.

Rav was reticent at first but he knew this was what she needed right now, a sense of comfort for someone who knew nothing about it. She’s been locked up in a brothel all her life and finally, at the chance of freedom, she met something far worse.

"You’re okay" his voice was far deeper.

Isadora’s body was able to calm down a bit however she did not break eye contact with him, she couldn’t because the color seemed to draw her into a sense of ease she had never felt before.

They were akin to rubies she once had, a gift from someone she healed—which Dashwell took after.

’His eyes are beautiful’. Completely taken unaware by her thoughts she averted her gaze and took her hand away from his hold.

Rav only offered a smile in return, at least she wasn’t shaking now.

Desperate to cut the awkwardness, Isadora opened her mouth to speak. "I was sold to pirates" She pointed to the red skull tattoo that mysteriously found its way there, she was yet to recall how it just magically appeared there.

Rav gritted his teeth upon seeing the rune but his anger was not justified, he knew this because he did a shitty job keeping her safe. ’They almost took her away.’

When he gets his hands on Thornfoot he would be sure to burn him alive, he can’t believe the dirty bastard double-crossed him. Thornfoot was loyal as long as he got his gold—which he gave. So what pushed him to make a move against them?

The thought of Kraven’s threat back at that alley was enough to answer. Rav mentally cursed at the realization before rubbing his temples, along with an extreme sigh. "You don’t need to worry about the pirates anymore"

Isadora gulped not knowing what to think about his words, she could only deduce that he had succeeded in taking them out, there was a strange solace at that thought.

He went out of his way to protect her and she was grateful, no one had ever considered her safety it was always about the price on her head.

"Thank you for saving me," she said with a faint on her lips. If it wasn’t for him who knew how much her fate could have changed? The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know.

Rav opened his mouth to speak but paused when the look in her eyes turned apprehensive.

"Kraven..." she said shakily... the scene of Kraven getting shot flashed in her head, his limp body and the blood. "...he’s dead"

Rav stiffened at her words before running his hand through his ash-blond hair stressed about the whole thing. "He’s not"

Isadora snapped her eyes back to him and stared at him like he had two heads, what he said did not make sense. "He’s dead... the pirates killed him, they—" she couldn’t finish because Rav’s serious expression didn’t change.

He’s telling the truth.

At the sudden realization, she shook her head slowly, her body suddenly growing tense and her nerves spiking tenfold.

The sound of ravens she heard before she passed out wasn’t her imagination after all.

She felt ghoulishly strange when she thought he was dead and she couldn’t explain that feeling however after finding out he miraculously survived a shot to the head.

She felt paralyzed as if all her nightmares were awakened, and at the same time she wanted to see for herself how true this was.

Rav didn’t know how to begin, he didn’t want to put her in yet another situation but she was the only one that could do it. He knew for a fact Kraven wasn’t that determined to end her life. He still pondered the reason why Kraven had taken his interest in her.

"About Kraven..." Rav began and she stared at him with animosity in her eyes at the mere mention of his name. "He need to heal"

Isadora swallowed a lump in her throat. Terrified about going to him.

"If not for him, do it for me" Rav pleaded.

Isadora looked away.

Rav was worried she might not agree to it, perhaps she wanted him to suffer like she did. But her reply surprised him.

"Okay"

~♧~

Isadora went above deck and the sunlight hit her eyes, she used her hands to block the rays while squirting them to take a better look.

She gasped upon seeing the vessel, it was a miracle this thing still floated, it was in bad shape but the survivors got to work and they patched it up.

The flying seagulls making calling sounds at the top of the sails—made a clear indication that they were close to shore.

Isadora gave way for a sailor carrying boxes before a caw distracted her.

A raven was perched on the bulwark flapping its wings and diving into the air.

She followed it to the quarterdeck and her breathing ceased when the raven perched on Kraven’s shoulder, a wide grin that meant no good on his lips.

"Hello, love"