Reaper

Chapter 18

Darkness surrounded me again when I woke up and I felt my heartbeat start to pick up again before I realized that I was not the one causing it. I assumed that the sun hadn't risen yet. I squinted my eyes and looked around the room. It was unfamiliar and I couldn't recall seeing it before. I closed my eyes, panic starting spread through my chest again.

A soft snore broke through the panic, alerting me to the realization that I wasn't alone. I shifted slightly, opening my eyes as I did so, and looked in the direction of the snoring. Anna lay curled up in a small chair next to the bed. Her dark hair fell across her face and covered one of her eyes and part of her mouth, a few strands swaying because of her breathing.

Why is she in here? Where is everyone? I started to sit up but I paused when Anna stirred in the chair. Slowly, I managed to stand and walk out of the room. The cottage was silent, save for two quiet voices talking. I shuffled down the hall to the living room, where Will and Aria sat, deep in conversation. I stood in the doorway, listening to them talk.

"-she fainted and Thomas carried her back here," Will said.

"Was she alright?" Aria looked worried, her brows drawn together and her hands folded tightly in her lap.

"She was pale and her skin was ice cold. Thomas said it was like carrying a block of ice. He was worried that she'd hurt herself."

Aria let out a sigh. "I hope she doesn't let this keep her from using her powers. I don't want her to be afraid of who she is."

"Morgana won't let that happen." He sounded so confident and sure; but I didn't-I couldn't-agree with him. I was terrified that I wouldn't be able to control my powers. I had nearly hurt my brothers, Anna, Lauren, Claire, and Thomas. What would happen if I wasn't able to stop it the next time? Who would be hurt?

"Honey, what are you doing out of bed? You should be resting," Aria said. I startled, not expecting to be noticed even though I was in plain sight.

"I, uh, I-I couldn't sleep," I said quietly. I clenched the skirt of my dress tightly in one hand.

"Come sit down," she said gently. She stood and helped me slowly move to an armchair. I sat down, nearly sinking into the cushion. "How are you feeling?"

Exhausted, I thought. My bones feel like lead and I just want to go home. "I'm feeling alright," I said instead. "A little tired, but I feel better than last night." My eyes widened when a question ran through my head: Did Mother and Father know where I was?

I must have asked it aloud because Will said, "James and Katherine know that you're with us. After you fainted, Thomas carried you back here and Lauren and Claire came with us. I made sure that you and Anna were in her room and I went with Lauren and Claire back to James and Katherine's cottage. I explained what happened, told them that you were safe, and had a small argument with James about whether or not you were truly okay."

"Why did you argue with him? He already dislikes our family, this will only make it worse," Aria groaned.

"Mother, he said that we wouldn't be able to take care of her; that we don't know what we're doing."

"That doesn't make it okay, William."

He flinched at the use of his full name. "But he-"

"She's right," I interrupted. "Father has a grudge against this family and your argument with him only added more fuel to the fire."

"Why does he have a grudge against us?" he asked.

"It's a deeply rooted dislike that has been in the Craften family ever since the catastrophe between George Craften and Charles Ravencroft," I said quietly. "Father is slightly indifferent about it but he still hates Charles for accidentally burning Eliza."