Son of hell - Blood of wolves

Chapter 2 - Family Ties

Aragen loved her father. During her adolescence their mutual beliefs and attitudes began to diverge and Aragen rebelled against her father's rules. However, in her life there was nobody more important to her than him. She greatly admired him and secretly wished that someday she would make him proud of her.

As she was sitting at breakfast, watching Maura, her father's sister, folding furs and getting ready for their journey, she was overcome by strange feelings. Sieena, Aragen's mother, had been chosen by Ragar himself. Aragen was therefore his direct descendant and sole heir. However, wolves were allowed to mate with other females of the pack in order to perpetuate the race. Aragen already knew that continuous mating amongst themselves could only lead to their eventual destruction. Now she looked at Maura and her bulging belly, where another of Ragar's offspring grew.

"Are you looking forward to it?" Aragen turned to her sister Amitha.She did not know what Amitha meant by the question. Amitha turned her head towards the pregnant Maura."To our new sibling! I'd like another sister. It would be great if there were three of us, wouldn't it?"

"I would like a strong brother, one who would stand beside me." Amitha smiled and bit into a raw roe liver.The pack breakfasted at a single table formed by adjacent boulders.Nobody knew about Aragen's nocturnal revolt.Her father was apparently trying to ward off the hostility of others. If they were to find out, Aragen was convinced that they would not condemn her. On the contrary, she thought they would regard her actions as a sign of courage and strength.

"I don't want to leave this place," Amitha sighed. "I love the local cliffs. You know how much I like climbing the peaks and taking in the fresh air. I almost got used to living here. We will probably never settle down, will we?"

"Amitha, I did something yesterday. That's why we're leaving," Aragen continued slowly. She wanted to boast to her sister, to show her her superiority. Amitha was one year younger.They had the same father but different mothers.

"What did you do?" Amitha began to poke around with curiosity.

"I killed a human."

Amitha's eyes widened. "I don't believe you!"

"I swear by the Lord of Hell."

"Wow," Amitha chuckled all excited. "How did you dare?"

"I'm tired of just dreaming." She knew that Amitha would ask why, so she answered right away: "It was the most powerful experience of my life."

Amitha grabbed Aragen's hands, her eyes shining. Her skin was not as dark as Aragen's, but she had her father's deep blue eyes. Strands of light brown hair fell over her shoulders, while her narrow pink lips burst into a smile. "Sister, that's amazing! I would never dare, but I've imagined many times what it must feel like when they are dying in my hands! Tell me, did he suffer a lot? Did you feel his pain? I knew that you could it, Aragen, I knew it."

"Amitha, his suffering rushed through my veins and his screams entered my heart. It was pure ecstasy."

The girl closed her eyes so she could better imagine the scene. "Our father must have been mad."

"Yes," Aragen's gaze hardened. "But he did not break me."

"Aren't you afraid of him?"

Aragen turned to the table and took her share of venison. "Afraid is not the right word."

Drel sat down next to them, once again with that crazy expression in her eyes. "Have you already told her?" she asked excitedly.

"She knows about it?" Amitha looked scornfully. She never liked Drel because she hated foolishness. She considered Drel's existence to be the ultimate foolishness. She could not guess how much intellect was hidden behind Drel's mask.