Retaliation: the beginning

Chapter 39:"Unexpected visitor_2"

He's gorgeous don't you think?

Isaac Harper ladies and gentleman!

actor's name: Santiago Cabrera

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Little Harper went down the stairs, exhausted. He didn't even know how he'd managed to get up in his state, but his throat was too dry so he decided to drag his feet down to the kitchen and grab a bottle of water. The thought of curling back up in his bed with a good book had certainly motivated him more than he could believe.

Yeah my life is not so bad, he thought, convincing himself. He didn't know if he was really happy but he hoped that happiness would turn into a capital which would defer to his next life if he reincarnated. I hope to be a hedgehog or a turtle but not a human being, he thought, trying to open the bottle cap.

He had wrestled enough in this one.

"Need a hand?" said a husky voice behind him.

The one thing Elias hadn't expected was to see the back half of his father, the one he couldn't stand, the one who walked out on him months ago.

Many times, the young boy imagined meeting his father again and truly giving the man a piece of his mind. Plenty of circumstances had materialized in El's visualization- they may have started differently but all ended the same.

After all those thoughts, Elias was spectacularly disappointed by the completely anticlimactic turn of events that had led him to the fairly elusive man. He hasn't seen his sloppy stand in such a long time, but what shocked him the most was his uncle who just came from the kitchen with a glass of whisky, clearly it wasn't meant for him.

"Hey kid. What are you doing up so late?" He said.

Elias sincerely hoped that if he was reincarnated he would have better karma than his life now.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Come on kid," The sheriff started but Isaac held up his hand interrupting, his sleeve slid to his elbows easily.

"I think I deserve that." He scratched the back of his head, "So, how have you been?"

"Don't force yourself, I know you don't care."

"I'm sorry," Isaac had a pained expression, frowning. The little one was in a strong position, he drew nearer to him. "I suggest you take your sorry excuse and get out, because if you came to get me, I'm not going anywhere."

"I'm not asking you to," Isaac smiled weakly "I just came to-" He started when he heard someone knocking at the door.

Elias frowned and looked at the clock. Who would show up at 5 a.m?

"Are you expecting someone?" Isaac addressed the sheriff who shook his head. His body tensed, eyes fixed at the door.

The knocks became more insisting and Elias rolled his eyes. There was only one person who would knock at his door that way.

Aaron.

Elias sighed and went to open the door when he felt a warm hand holding his.

"Don't." it was the first time he ever saw his father's serious face. He was being paranoid for some reason, his steps were careful looking behind every now and then and when he reached the knob he turned it as quick as the wind.

Caught in surprise Aaron winced "Hello?" he said with wide eyes.

"Raven?" Isaac didn't hide his shock, his eyebrows rising as his gaze became more insistent. As if he was seeking some resemblance to somebody.

"You know him?"

Isaac was surprised and didn't answer right away, throwing a skeptical look at Aaron over his shoulder before he spoke "sheriff will you give us a moment?"

"Sure I'm needed at the station anyways," he said before he went out the door "My home is yours."

"Thank you." Isaac nodded closing the door behind Aaron.

"So?" He started, frowning when he was only met with a hard glare, "I see you two have met."

"I see you're back," Aaron countered "for good? Or just bouncing around?"

Isaac turned from his spot, glancing at Ely for a second. "I came to see how you're doing."

"Well as you can see I'm doing fine without you" he paused, trying to find the right words to hurt him even more, "How's your girlfriend?"

Isaac sighed rubbing his eyes "Tessa is not my girlfriend," he looked at his glass then back at Aaron "She's...my friend, like he's yours."

Ely frowned, his father never talked about her before. Every time he tried to bring her up Isaac darted away or changed the subject. Until then, Ely had been convinced that he was always right even if he wasn't. He doubted it now.

"How do you know each other again?" Elias tried once more but Isaac was silent for a long moment as he fiddled with the empty glass he held in his hands.

"He's a friend of the family." He turned and placed the glass at the counter near the door.

Aaron snorted "I wouldn't call myself a friend back in the days," He told, scratching the back of his neck, like it was embarrassing to talk about it. "I was more like your service dog."

Isaac held up his hands "Hey don't blame me, it was orders."

"Yeah the previous huntsmen were a pain in the ass." Aaron bit back "I hope things will change now that you're one of them."

"Eh?" Ely had started to twitch more than usual, a clear sign that he was getting antsy, "What does it mean?" he asked irritably, "You're a huntsman?!"

Aaron tapped his fingers against the counter."Oh yeah, didn't he mention to you?" He addressed the older man, "He knowseverything."