The Raven's Chronicles. Rage of the Wraith

Chapter 17. The Mara

Somebody gave him a strong shake and Jules opened his eyes. Tears made his vision blurred - he saw only a dark figure leaning over him. Screaming, he tried to kick it.

"Wake up, for the goddess' sake!" Ravin pulled him up. When Jules recognised his master's voice he stopped fighting.

He awoke overwhelmed by all the sensation of the real world mixed with the one from his nightmare. He saw Ravin's worried face on the background of their dim bedroom, but under his eyelids, his little sister still smiled at him. He heard the hunter's voice, but Maya's words echoed in his ears. He felt the mattress below him, but he could swear there was sand under his feet and between his toes.

A quiet sob escaped his mouth and he broke in tears. He shivered uncontrollably, like in fever, hot and cold at the same time.

"Jules," Ravin pulled the boy up into a sitting position. His voice, deep and calm, reassuring, seemed to come from far away. "Tell me what happened."

"My - my sister," Jules shook his head violently. He couldn't catch his breath. "Maya and my mom - they... they d-died again and I- I couldn't stop it!"

"Jules," the man frowned, and the boy lowered his head, too ashamed to look into his master's face. Then he felt Ravin grabbing his wrist, "Give it to me."

"What?"

He clutched the necklace. His fingers were clenched on the crystal, and blood, both fresh and clotted, covered his skin and the pebble. His hand ached.

The hunter straightened Jules' fingers gently but firmly; the boy couldn't bring himself to let go of the stone, and he felt a strange urge to stop his master from taking it. He sniffled, watching the mage placing the necklace on the bedside table.

"Ravin, there is something wrong with the crystal, "Jules tried to muffle his sobs.

"I have already realized that," the hunter pulled the boy closed, embracing him with one arm and slowly rubbing his back with the other. Jules let his head rest on his master's shoulder, being both ashamed for acting so childishly and relieved. He tried to focus on the warmth provided with Ravin's aura and body. His master gave great hugs that came with the soothing feeling of strength and safety of his muscular arms, and Jules felt like the pieces of his soul were being put back together. "Calm down. It wasn't real."

"But it was all my fault!" Jules buried his face in the cloth of Ravin's shirt. He clung to his master's side. "Maya is dead because of me!"

"What are you talking about, Jules?" Ravin's hand moved to the boy's head and rested on the mop of is curly hair. "You were nine years old, for goodness's sake! You couldn't do anything, you -"

"That day, she wanted to go to the cliff with me," Jules clenched his fists so hard his right hand started to bleed again. "But I didn't take her. I was angry with her. If I only-"

"Now listen carefully, 'cause I'm not going to repeat myself," Ravin's voice sounded deep and firm. "It wasn't your fault. You couldn't have known. It was a coincidence - an awful one, but still only an unhappy concurrence of events. Do you understand?"

"Yeah, yes, I do..." Jules took a deep breath and pulled away. He wiped his eyes with the inner side of his palms, but tears wouldn't stop running. His heart had broken and now its pieces were leaking out with his tears.

Ravin handed the boy a handkerchief and the boy blew his nose loudly.

"But there, in the dream, there was a voice... It talked to me, and it said it could bring my mom and my dad, and Maya, back to life..."