The Reaver Chronicles: Raziel

by Gift .

  “Rayne, get up. You are strong, get up on your feet!” It shot. Alarmed at the darkness's tone, I did as directed. I stood back up to my feet. “Good, now you have a choice, you can let the anger take over you as it just did. Or you can let the anger fuel you as it previously was.” The darkness explained.

  “Feed off the anger, feed off the rush, and use it to make those who harmed you pay.” The darkness exclaimed. I could feel the icy warmth rushing through my veins, it was shuddering as if it were excited, something I had seen the shadows do before.

  “All you have to do is let me in, I can help you.” It purred. I was snapped from my mind when I realized Raziel had me in his arms. Apparently I did pass out, because he was lightly smacking my face.

  I came to, “What.. what happened?” I said softly. “You passed out! Are you ok, how do you feel?” Raziel exclaimed, worry clear in his voice. “Im fine, I just worked too hard I think. I’ll be fine, I just need to sit for a minute” I said, as I got up out of Raziel's arms to my marks dismay, and sat up on the bench in the grotto.

  My head was swirling with everything the darkness had just said. “All you have to do is let me in”, wasn’t the darkness already in? I was so confused. I shook it off, confused or not, the darkness wasn’t going to train for me.

  I got up, brushed myself off and got back into training. I was determined to master my abilities and then I would deal with Alpha Drake, and Raphael. Even saying his name made my whole body shudder, and the icy warmth washed over me like a soothing blanket.

  There was no doubt in my mind Raphael was going to pay for what he did.

  Chapter 46

  (Raziel)

  I couldn’t help but worry about Rayne, Something was different since she lost her mate bond. There were times when she was perfectly fine, she seemed normal, everything was ok. Then there were times when I could feel something, something dark, a darker energy trying to push its way through.

  I didn’t know what it was, but I could only assume it had something to do with her losing her mate bond. I tried my best to conceal my worry, but everytime it threatened to take over, I could see it in her Platinum eyes.

  She didn’t know, but they had black smoke looming in them when it was near. She was progressing amazingly with her Reaver abilities though, and I was impressed but expected nothing less from a Reaver who came into her abilities never being raised in a coven.

  I knew she was special from the moment I laid eyes on her when she was 9 years old. I just didn’t realize the extent of it, but I was starting to.

  She had been focusing extremely hard the past couple of months and keeping busy in her training. I thought it was good for her to get a distraction, something to focus on rather than Raphael and losing her mate bond.

  It seemed to be doing well distracting her. There were times though that I could see her starting to get an empty look in her eyes. It was like she was there but she wasn’t really there. And that’s when the black smoke flooded into her eyes, and immediately after she snapped back and continued working.

  The black smoke is what I was most worried about. I was snapped from my internal chatter when I noticed Rayne had stopped training and she was just kind of standing there for a second. She then fell to her knees, I rushed to her side immediately.

  I looked into her eyes and they were completely black which was way different from what they usually do, and then she just passed out. I was panicking and grabbed her before she hit the ground. I was holding her in my arms shaking her trying to get her to wake up but she was not responsive.

  I turned on my vampire hearing which I did not use often, too many noises to tune out, and I could hear her heartbeat and slow and steady breaths. So she was alive, she wasn’t in distress either. She was just unconscious?

  I slapped her face softly trying to wake her and she finally started coming too. “What.. what happened?” She said softly. “You passed out! Are you ok, how do you feel?” I exclaimed, the worry was clear in my voice. “Im fine, I just worked too hard I think. I’ll be fine, I just need to sit for a minute.” She said.

  She got up and climbed out of my arms, walked over and sat on the silver bench. She sat there for just a minute, I could see an internal battle in her facial expression but Wynter wasn't speaking so I had no idea what she was experiencing.

  She then got up, brushed herself off and got right back to training. Every thought possible was going through my mind.

  Had she called the shadows? No that's impossible, I was with her the entire time after she lost her mate bond, she never called them. I couldn’t fathom just what she may have done to cause her eyes to cloud over with that black smoke. And when they went solid black, that was terrifying.

  I was so worried about her and lost in thought that I didn't even realize she was talking to me until she materialized right in front of me. “Oh my god, Rayne! You didn’t even stumble that time!!” You materialized and it was as if you were already here! You did it!” I exclaimed.

  Her face lit up with joy! She started jumping up and down screaming, which made me laugh, and for a second I forgot why I was worried to begin with.

  (Rayne)

  “I did it!!! I did it! Yessssss!!!!!!” I exclaimed while jumping up and down in place. I had been practicing that for weeks and this was the first time I hadn’t stumbled when I did it. I was definitely getting better, stronger, more in control.

  I felt the icy warmth wash over me as if in approval of my progress. This is exactly what I was planning on, I needed the control. I needed to be able to control my abilities. Mostly for myself and my vendetta for revenge.

  But also because it was my birthright. Being a Reaver, I fucking deserve to have these abilities. Those thoughts startled me for a second. That was the darkness talking, I knew it.

  All of my newfound confidence and cockiness was the darkness. I can't say I didn't like the feeling though, it was doing more than just filling the void in my heart.

  I felt powerful, magnificent, like a goddess when the darkness was with me. Who wouldn’t want to feel this way all the time?

  Wynter hadn’t said much since we lost our mate bond. I know she appreciated the darkness filling the void, but she wasn’t ready to move on yet. She was still mourning.

  I was there for her, and just let her know when she was ready I would still be here. She had recessed to the back of my mind more often than I’d like to admit, and the darkness helped fill her void as well. As the days went on of training and learning, I was getting used to the quiet in my mind. Something I hadn’t had since I was 15 and turned, bringing Wynter to the forefront of my mind.

  It was as if the quiet helped the darkness grow. I hadn’t spoken a word about the darkness to anyone still, not even Raziel. I realized I wasn’t crazy, and the darkness was real, but I didn’t care if it was dangerous. Without it I was nothing, I was weak, with a void and an insatiable sadness.

  I refused to be weak, to be that girl who couldn't protect herself. I needed the darkness, I told myself. In the past week I had learned how to call the darkness when I needed it rather than waiting for it to find me.

  I could tell that Raziel had no idea what was going on, but he could tell something was going on. I could tell by the way he looked at me sometimes. The worry in his face gave him away. He did his best to push it away and support me no matter what but he could tell something was off and he didn’t like it.

  He was loyal to a fault, always right at my side if I needed him. He wasn't prying or pushy and did not force me to talk if I didn't want to. He was a damn godsend honestly.

  The darkness also helped me numb the effects of the mark when I wanted to, so I could focus. I couldn’t have my feelings for Raziel getting in the way of my training. Plus I knew he wasn't ready to make the mark permanent yet, he said so himself. It had already faded completely once, and I made him re-mark me. It was halfway gone again now anyways. I was sure I wanted him, wanted this mark. I wasn't about to let anyone else have the ch
ance of marking me again.

  Fuck that, the mark was only allowed by Raziel, which is why I made him keep marking me once it faded. But while I definitely wanted the mark to be permanent he wasn't ready yet.

  I wondered what his hold up was, but never bothered to ask because I have been so busy dealing with training and the darkness, that it wasn’t really at the forefront of my mind.

  I'm sure when the time is right, then the time is right. In the meantime he gets to just keep marking me. I snickered at the thought of making him mark me over and over. He never said no, though I could feel his reluctance I didn’t care.

  I was feeling rather confident in my abilities at this point and I decided it was time to make a trip back to my pack, and speak to my Alpha.

  It had been about 2 months total since everything happened and I hadn’t said a single word to him since. Honestly I didn’t care if I ever did, but he wasn't going to get off scot free, hell no.

  He will pay for his part, I will make sure of it.

  Chapter 47

  I waited until Raziel left for his coven meeting before I materialized to Alpha Drake. He was in his office mulling over some papers.

  He was wearing only a pair of red gym shorts without a shirt. His hair was messy as if he had been running his hand through it recently. I couldn’t help but notice his perfectly olive colored skin reflecting every muscle that rippled down his chest and arms in the glow from his desk lamp.

  He had a glass of brandy on his desk but it looked like he hadn't touched it, the ball of ice in the middle halfway melted. He looked up and we locked eyes. He didn't move a muscle, but I could see the emotion flicker in his eyes. Confusion first, then curiosity, approval, and lastly fear mixed with desire.

  You’d be wrong if you didn’t think I dressed up for this. Oh I definitely did. I was wearing a black mini skirt, with thigh high black and silver boots. I had a silver crop top hoodie that almost showed my breasts when I put my arms up, but stopped just before as a tease. And my hair was down in beachy waves which I knew he loved.

  I knew Alpha Drake's feelings for me, and I decided it would make it that much more satisfying to toy with him like he's been toying with me all these years.

  This was thanks to the darkness of course. Once I learned to call the darkness forward I realized we could communicate, much like myself and Wynter used to. She was still hibernating and with such a devastating loss I wasn't sure that she would ever recover honestly.

  “Alpha'' I said coldly. He stood from his chair, and took a step towards me. “Rayne'' He said back, less cold than I, but still cold. I could see him eyeing my figure, which made the darkness revel. Our plan was working that was for sure.

  Just the sound of his voice made my blood boil though. Flashbacks of that night came racing through my mind. Alpha Drake apologizing, The tear I saw fall from his cheek, his little sister Reya, then him kissing me, and handing me basically directly into Raphaels arms....

  I called the darkness forward and reveled in the icy warmth it showered over me. The memories just fed the darkness. Before Alpha Drake even knew what hit him, I had him by the throat and slammed him up against his office wall.

  I could hear his men scrambling to get to the door, I used magic and slid everything in his office in front of the door to keep them out.

  I locked eyes with Alpha Drake and while his face was still solem and he wasn't moving a muscle under my grip, I could see the fear in his eyes.

  “You didn’t think you would get away with it did you?” I snarled, my face inches away from his. “My fucking god Rayne, you are sexy as fuck right now.” He growled back. I could feel the lust rolling off him in sickening waves. My mark was on fire at his advance.

  “Am I? Oh, I hadn’t noticed” I purred. I brushed my lips against his and I felt his body tense at my interaction. Good this is exactly what I wanted. I wanted him to want me, I wanted him to want me so bad it hurt, and then just when he thought I was going to give him what he wanted, I was going to kill him.

  I used my other hand to run my finger down the side of Alpha Drake's face, and used my thumb to pull his bottom lip down a little. The darkness was using my own memories to guide me.

  I could tell by his eyes, Alpha Drake was scared as fuck but he was also extremely turned on. I placed my other hand on my Alphas inner thigh, just close enough and squeezed tightly. I felt his whole body tense, then I moved my hand and placed it on his chest right where his heart was.

  I could feel it beating out of control, and just before I could reach in there and fucking rip it clean out of his chest I was suddenly engulfed in a green flame.

  "Rayne, No!" Raziel shouted. He succeeded in getting me away from Alpha Drake but he couldn't keep me contained. Feeling the icy warmth of the darkness I threw my arms down and out to both sides and destroyed Raziel's fireball, releasing myself and landing gracefully on the ground on one knee.

  I looked up and locked eyes with Raziel. My mark exploded at his proximity, I took in his features. He was fucking magnificent standing there in a blaze of glory. He was furious, and he looked like a God worthy to stand by my side, with his tousled golden blonde hair, and his powerful stance.

  I couldn't help but admire him. I was still fucking pissed, the darkness was feeding off my anger, but he was equally pissed, and I could see fear as well in his eyes.

  Destroying his fireball was something he didn't know I could do, and I knew I was going to get drilled about it later but I didn't care. Alpha Drake hadn't moved an inch, and I couldn't blame him.

  I stood up, "He deserves everything he gets'' I spat through gritted teeth. I could feel the darkness swirling around me like a tornado, egging me on, with every ounce of hostility in the room feeding the whirlwind.

  "He had no choice, Rayne!" Raziel shouted. I turned my glare to my Alpha, “You ALWAYS have a choice” I spewed.

  “Did you?” Raziel asked? I stopped for a minute, god damnit why does he always have to be right! "I don't care, he doesn't know what I lost. He doesn't know what Happened!" I snapped back to Raziel.

  "I know Rayne, I know. But he was forced just like you were. You don't have to do this." Raziel pleaded. He closed the gap between us and took my face in his hands. My mark exploded at his touch sending lightning coursing through my body.

  I hadn’t used the darkness to dim the fire from his mark because I didn't actually think he would follow me here. I closed my eyes and I could feel the darkness slowly dissipating.

  I knew Raziel was my safe space and he could calm the darkness. No! I needed the darkness. The internal battle between Raziel's mark and the darkness felt like a clash of fire and ice coursing through my body bringing me to my breaking point.

  I stepped out of Raziels grip, threw my arms down and out to my sides again and screamed as loud as I possibly could. The darkness reveled in my release throwing everything including Alpha Drake and Raziel across the room into the adjacent wall.

  They both looked up at me in shock. I felt the icy warmth wash over me again. “You’re fucking lucky, Wolf” I spat, and then I turned to leave.

  But before I could materialize away I suddenly fell to my knees and felt as if I were about to pass out. Then I heard the darkness. “You can do so much more Rayne, so much more with our power.” The darkness purred.

  “I know, I have been practicing, I'm learning.” I said back. “If you just let me in, I will take the reins, you just have to say it'' The darkness purred.

  I could feel the icy warmth leaving my grace, sending me into an empty void, a pit of despair and longing. A feeling I had been trying so hard to escape these past months.

  I had been doing anything I could to get away from the emptiness, the pain, but I knew deep down that I would never get away from this feeling. I had no other choice if I wanted to be able to maintain my composure ever again.

  Nothing else mattered to me in that moment except my freedom from the looming agony.

  “I accept,” I said.

&n
bsp; Chapter 48

  Within seconds it was as if my entire body was consumed by the darkness, I was suspended mid air, surrounded by a whirlwind of dark smoke and I could feel the darkness engulfing me in a blast of icy warmth, removing any ounce of the void I had once felt.