by Ali Winters
“How?”
“You fought becoming a reaper, I persuaded you so that you would come to me of your own volition.”
“How did you convince me, Silas?” she demanded again. “If I were a hunter, I never would have joined you willingly!” Blood pounded in her ears, and her body shook from the effort of holding her anger back.
“You would, and you did. It was easy. You were such a predictable mortal.” He chuckled and moved around the small kitchen. With a relaxed demeanor, he picked up a random object and turned it over in his hand.
Nivian shook her head in disbelief. “You threatened Caspian?”
“Caspian?” He turned to her. A deep laugh rumbled up from his chest. “No, my little reapling. You did not care what happened to him.”
Nivian wrinkled her nose. “Then how?” If she didn’t care about Caspian, then what could Silas have used against her?
“You honestly do not remember? You really are quite naïve.” He leaned against the counter across from her, still laughing quietly.
Nivian’s blood boiled. Why did he insist on playing these games with her? She wanted to know the details surrounding her death—and her past life—and this was exactly the reaction he wanted from her. She didn’t care if she was giving him what he wanted. “Silas, tell me what you did or get out!” she yelled, pointing to the door, finally reaching her breaking point. He wouldn’t tell her what she needed to know. She clenched her jaw, determined to find out one way or another.
“Very well,” Silas said, turning to leave. “If you don’t follow through with this mark, I will send as many reapers after the hunter as needed to make sure it is done. I don’t care if I lose every last one. It will be done.” He paused, “In fact I might just do that anyway.”
With the threat left hanging in the air, he disappeared.
Nivian ground her teeth. Kain had powers that most reapers couldn’t get past, but if Silas sent all of them after him as he said, even Kain wouldn’t be able to survive. She chewed her lip. Kain only left a while ago... I wonder if he’s still awake.
Snatching her cloak off the wall hook, she threw it over her shoulders and vanished, reappearing inside Kain’s apartment. She could have walked over and knocked, but this was too important to waste time. Glancing around the dark space, she hoped he’d be wearing more than last time. With light steps, she walked over to where he slept on his foldout couch and gently sat down next to him, tapping his shoulder.
“Kain,” she whispered. He didn’t move. “Kain?” This time, she poked his face. He grumbled and rolled over, turning his back to her. Rolling her eyes, she sighed and shoved him harder. “Kain, wake up!” she whispered harshly.
“Wha—Who, what?” Kain mumbled as his eyes snapped open. The light from the moon shone through the window highlighting his less-than-thrilled face.
“What the hell, Nivian? I’m pretty sure I explained the knocking on the door thing to you already.”
Nivian didn’t speak. He was right, but she was too worried about him to let it get to her. Her eyes dropped to the floor.
“What’s wrong? You’re not hurt are you? What happened?” He pushed himself up to sitting.
“Kain, I think you’re in trouble.”
“Nivi, it’s late.” He ran his hand over his face and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“Silas came to visit me. He told me he would send other reapers after you.”
“That sounds bad.”
“It is. You need to hide.”
Kain rested his head in his hands. “Okay. I’ll leave for somewhere safe—first thing in the morning.” He dropped back down and pulled the covers over his head.
She grabbed the blankets and yanked them off. “You can’t wait. You have to go now. He could be calling on them right now to go after you.”
With a loud groan, he pulled himself up off of the couch. “Fine, okay. I’m up. I’m up,” he grumbled as he walked to his dresser and pulled out a shirt.
At least he wore sweatpants this time.
“So any ideas on where I should go? You always seem to be able to find me.”
“I’m not sure. Do you have any hunters you could ask?”
“I could call my fa—” He corrected himself, “Holter. He might have an idea.” Kain reached for his phone and dialed. The conversation was short. “He’s on his way over. Thanks for the warning.”
Nivian nodded but stayed put. She wasn’t about to leave until she knew he was safe.
“Was there something else?” he asked, flicking on the overhead lights and blinking rapidly.
“No.” She took a seat on an old worn chair off to the side.
“You might want to be gone when he gets here.” He opened the fridge, took a swig of milk and placed the carton back.
“I am worried something will happen if I leave you unguarded. It will be okay, I have my cloak.” She was a little nervous at the thought of being in the same room with two hunters at one time, but Kain wouldn’t let anything happen to her. She pulled her hood over her head and sat with her head down while they waited.
Nivian startled at the loud knocking. Kain pushed himself off his chair and walked to the door. Nivian felt her nerves prickling. She didn’t know this hunter. What if he was someone from her past? Her heart pounded in her chest at the sight of him as alarm and curiosity mixed.
She stood to go. Okay, he’s here. I can leave now. She told herself, but her body refused to obey.
“What is that thing doing here?” Holter pulled back, gathering energy. The bright golden light of his power glowed in his palms.
“Don’t touch her!” Kain yelled, he took a step forward and placed his body between them, pulling her close behind him. Nivian ducked her head down and gripped the back of his shirt as if her life depended on it.
“What is a reaper doing here, Kain?” Holter demanded.
“She’s the one who warned me. She won’t hurt me.”
“You can’t trust a reaper, son.” Holter poised to attack. “Move!”
“I trust her. She could have attacked me many times by now, but she hasn’t. She’s different than the reapers you talked about. Now back down!” Kain ordered
Holter reluctantly dropped his hands, standing straight. He wouldn’t attack, for now, but he would keep his guard up. “Why would a reaper try to save a hunter?” He released his hold on the light, letting it fizzle out.
Nivian, still gripping Kain’s shirt tightly, didn’t want to come out from behind him.
“It’s okay, Nivian, I won’t let him hurt you.”
Taking a deep breath, she let go of his shirt. Kain stepped to the side, gently pulling her forward until she stood next to him. She leaned into him for support and raised her head and met Holter’s gaze. Their eyes locked.
“What the hell?” Holter bellowed. His mouth dropped open. Nivian cringed, expecting an attack.
“She didn’t do anything!” Kain put his arm in front of her, pushing her behind him again.
“No. I—” Holter started. “How is this possible? What trick is this?” His mouth twisted up into a sneer.
“What are you talking about?” Kain asked.
“I know that face. The hair is different now—but I know that face,” he whispered. Slowly, he approached her.
Kain stiffened, pulling Nivian tighter against him. “Stop calling her ‘that,’ she has a name.”
Without taking his eyes from her, Holter said, “It’s okay. I won’t hurt her.” His voice was soft.
“I’ve never seen you before,” she said. “You couldn’t know me.” Nivian timidly raised her gaze to meet his.
“I know your face. It’s been so long since I’ve seen it.”
Kain cautiously moved to the side to let them talk. Nivian felt comfort in Kain holding her hand. He could pull her out of the way if Holter decided to attack.
“You are no reaper,” Holter whispered, his voice barely audible. “How is this possible? You’re
dead.”
“What are you talking about?” Kain asked. “She’s a reaper.”
“How do you know me?” Nivian droped Kain’s hand and stepped forward, “please tell me?”
“It was just before The Dissension.”
“When I was a hunter?” she asked.
“Wha— You were a hunter?” Kain asked, stunned.
“Yes.” Holter nodded. Neither he nor Nivian paid any attention to Kain. “You were a hunter once. We had been at peace with the reapers. However, it was a strained, fragile peace. You had come to me afraid for your family—for all of us. You wouldn’t tell me why. I tried to reassure you it was all right, that things were in balance. You wouldn’t listen. The next day I found you downstream. You had fallen into the river on your way home that night and drowned.”
“I didn’t drown—A reaper attacked me. I was marked,” she corrected.
“Can you tell me why you were afraid that night?”
“I don’t remember anything before I died.” She dropped her head.
Holter nodded, rubbing his chin. “This could work for us.”
“You were a hunter?” Kain repeated, looking down at Nivian’s face. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I only started to remember bits and pieces recently. There wasn’t a chance to tell you, or I would have.” Her cheeks flushed.
Holter looked back and forth between them, his eyebrows drawn together. “Nivian, tell me what the reapers are planning.”
Nivian pulled her eyes away from Kain’s and addressed Holter. “I couldn’t tell you even if I wanted to. Kain is my mark, and I have no choice but to carry it out. I won’t betray my kind.”
“Is this a trick?” Holter demanded as he grabbed her arm and jerked her forward.
“No,” Nivian recoiled. “Silas threatened to send every reaper after him if I didn’t.”
“Stop it!” Kain yelled at Holter. “She wouldn’t warn me if she was after me. We have a deal!”
“A deal?” Holter scoffed. “Reapers will use any means necessary to accomplish their goal. They are not to be trusted.”
“You just said you knew her—she used to be a hunter!” Kain grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the other man.
“Used to be a hunter. She’s either with us or with them. Since she is refusing to tell us what they are planning, she is clearly against us. Look at her—She is no longer a hunter. Her whole existence is a trap for us!”
“I’m not on anyone’s side,” Nivian cried. “I am being forced to carry out my mark on him. I could have done it already if I wanted to. I wish I didn't have to do this, but that doesn’t mean I’ll betray the reapers. If I have to fight him, then I’ll make sure its a fair fight.”
“I called you here because she warned me, so I could hide where the reapers couldn’t find me.”
“No such place exists, Kain. I’m sorry.” Holter shook his head. “I wish there was.”
“What about where you went with that blonde girl?” Nivian asked.
“Karen?” Kain asked.
Nivian nodded. “I tried to follow you, but something happened when you were on the plane. It was like hitting a wall. The plane vanished.”
“I am afraid that is not a possibility at this time,” Holter cut in. “The island is gone. It moved, and none of us have the new coordinates of the current location yet.”
“How is that possible?” Kain asked.
“Yeva has more powers than you think. She has been moving her camp often since she woke.”
“You have to protect him. Don’t let them touch him,” Nivian pleaded. Silas might win the war against the hunters by forcing her to play his games, but she wasn’t about to let any other reaper take him.
“That is not feasible, little reaper,” Holter said. He narrowed his eyes, his posture ready to call on his powers.
Nivian glared at him, taking offense to his words. Little? She might be small, but she wasn’t little. She held her chin high. She was done letting this hunter intimidate her.
“Fine,” she snapped. “I will hide him myself.”
She had no idea where she to hide him, but she was determined to find someplace safe while she made sure the others weren’t after him. Nivian grabbed Kain’s hand and pulled him to the door.
“Hey, wait! I need shoes,” Kain pulled against her. She let go of his hand and glared at Holter. Kain grabbed a pair of shoes that he had carelessly kicked to the side of the room.
“Kain—” Holter pulled his son up short.
“No, I’m going with her. She will keep me safe.” He pulled away and rushed to get his things.
That man was of no use to them. Kain quickly slipped on his shoes and took her hand, walking out the door. Not bothering to look back, Kain called over his shoulder, “Lock up before you leave!”
Twenty-Six
Kain
“Nivian, where are we going?” Kain asked, as she dragged him by the arm down the hall.
“I don’t know, Kain.” She stopped to look back. “I will figure something out. I promise.”
Kain nodded. His hair was disheveled, and he looked exhausted. She felt bad for dragging him around, but his life depended on her.
“I still can’t believe you were a hunter.”
“Now isn’t the time,” she said giving his arm a tug. “We can figure it all out later.”
He looked up when she stopped and mumbled groggily, “We didn’t make it very far.”
Nivian ignored him and pulled out her key, unlocking the door to her apartment.
Kain looked at her, both eyebrows raised. “Is this the hiding spot?” he asked. “Wouldn’t I have been just as safe at my place?”
“We aren’t hiding you here. I just need to think, and until I find somewhere to hide you, I don’t want to let you out of my sight.” She pushed the door open.
Kain stretched out on her couch while she paced the room. “I’m just going to lay here and rest until we figure something out.”
The sun was starting to rise, and he had just drifted off when she smacked the arm of the couch right next to his head.
“I’ve got it!”
Kain sat up, startled. “Geez, Nivi, you really need to stop waking me up like that. Sleep deprivation can eventually lead to death,” he grumbled, rubbing his forehead.
“Sorry,” she said sheepishly. “I have an idea. I’m not sure if it will work, though.”
“At this point I don’t care anymore, all I want is to sleep for more than a few minutes at a time…”
Mouth drawn in a tight line, Nivian pleaded, “Kain, please, this is important.”
“Okay, I give. What’s your idea?” Kain asked, and sat up.
“I’m going to take you to Mophar. I don’t know if it will work or if you’ll live—but it’s the only option. No reaper will ever look for a mark there. Not even Silas.”
“You’re not sure if I’ll live or die? Don’t you think that defeats the purpose?” He raised an eyebrow at her.
“No, because if you live, then we get more time. If not, then… at least the others didn’t get to you first.” Nivian paused, a sense of inadequacy sweeping through her. “I’m so sorry, Kain. They can track you anywhere on earth. This is the only option. It’s up to you to decide if we do it or if we risk fighting now.”
Kain shrugged. “Will it be quiet there?” he asked.
Nivian furrowed her brows. “Quiet? I suppose it’s always quiet there.”
“I’m in. Let’s go. I need to get some rest, or I’m already dead in the water.” Kain scratched his head. “So, uh, where exactly is it?”
“We have to transport there.”
“I’m ready.” Kain stood with his arms stretched out, his face tilted up.
“What are you doing, Kain?” Nivian asked, arching an eyebrow.
“I’m waiting to be teleported.” He dropped his arms to his sides and looked at her.
A blush crept into her cheeks. “That’s not how it works.”
/> “Then how?”
“Transporting requires a cloak.” She lifted the edge of her cloak.
“Well, where do I get one?”
“Kain,” her blush deepened, “you will have to share this one with me.”
He bit back a smile, but couldn’t keep the laughter out of his voice. “I don’t mind if you don’t.” Kain stepped closer, until he stood in front of her. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
It wasn’t as though stores sold a reaper’s cloak. Nivian held her breath as she wrapped her cloak around Kain and focused. She had never tried transporting more than just herself before. She concentrated on the Forests of Ari and held him tightly against her.
“This is kind of nice,” Kain murmured. He looked down at her and wrapped his arms firmly around her waist.
“Shush. I need to focus,” she scolded.
A light tingle ran over her body, quickly turning into sharp pulses of electricity. A fierce pressure surrounded them, and then—it was gone. They landed in the forest with a hard thud. Crumpling to their knees, they tumbled apart. Nivian put her hand on her head to steady the dizzying effects as Kain rolled onto his back, gasping breath.
“That was awful. Is it always like that?”
“No,” Nivian panted, “I have never transported anyone with me before. I think there might have been some resistance to your hunter’s blood.”
“Let’s not do that again,” he begged her as he lifted himself up onto his elbows.
“I think we might have to if we want to get you home.”
“Crap.” Kain dropped back to the ground.
Camira
Standing in the back of the throne room, Camira watched as Silas looked out over the sea of black cloaks of those he had called. Each reaper kneeled down on one knee. Never before had so many gathered in one spot for a single mark.
“Reapers,” he called out. “I am assigning you all the same mark. In all history, nothing such as this has been done. We are dealing with a mark more dangerous than any human. Not since The Dissension has there been a mark so important. We have found a hunter who has powers much stronger than we have ever seen before.” His voice boomed, echoing off the stone walls. “You will all track down Kain Evers. Do not underestimate him. Seek him out—but do not attack on your own. You will go as a group and carry out the mark as one. Now, go. Rid this world of the imbalance this mark is threatening.”