1 CHAPTER ONE

The wind swept up, gathering leaves and dust around the village as the sky rumbled. It was the beginning of a storm.

Reen peered out from the tight hole he was in and stared into the dark distance. There was no one in sight.

After receiving endless taunting from the kids at the square, he had allowed them to push him into a hole and didn't object even when he could've pulled out but now he couldn't because his legs were numb from the amount of time he'd been in there, he couldn't move, he'd tried screaming but it didn't change the fact that the town square was seluded.

He was used to this; being the strange and left out one but he'd thought everything would change if he allowed the other kids to push him around, that  he'd be accepted the moment he moved in with the Grace but he had been wrong, no one wanted to accept him or liked him because he was an outcast.

Everytime he walked into the village to gather food, eyes would follow him disgustingly  because he didn't belong in this town, because he wasn't a being, he was just an ordinary human at the mercy of The Grace.

A sound went off in the distance signalling the start of a storm as droplets of water beat against Reen's skull.

If he had been a witch, he'd have cast a protective spell to cover his head but he wasn't and he couldn't. He was stuck here till The Grace realized he was missing and hopefully came looking for him.

Drops grew into steady droplets as the sky grew more darker and rumbled violently.

"Who we are, is a kingdom" Reen murmured, leaning his head against the wet sand. "A big powerful one"

He was cold and also terrified but he didn't want to be, he didn't want to cry because it made him look weak and that was what everyone thought he was.

Weak for being human

Weak for being too feeble

Everyone else also had complains about him being just human

The axe welders hated him because he couldn't swing an axe

The witches hated him because he couldn't cast a spell

The Serres hated him because he couldn't cause hullucination and gather thoughts

Even the Grace never seemed to notice he was there.

They had probably forgotten about the storm and buried their neck in a book the moment he'd crossed the door and bid them goodbye

He had a lot to learn from them but it felt like everyday they were waiting for the day he'd walk away.

He knew about them, he knew they were the sigil of the council, he knew they were bad, he'd heard a lot of rumor about them but they were feared a lot because they'd killed a lot of people.

He didn't want to judge, he didn't want to think about it because he feared they would know if he did.

Reen buried his head in his laps stiffing back his sobs as lightening stroke in the distance, illuminating a man in dark Cloak hidden behind the growing fog

The wind picked up and dirt rose, moving towards the hole and Reen's head rose.

Rain pounded heavily and immediately picked up as dirt and water filled the hole. Reen closed his eyes

There was nothing else he could do, he was helpless and alone.

He was moving, but his body stuck to the hole like a wet sand  It was more likely he had left town but he wouldn't know due to the fog covering everywhere

Reen felt cold. His brown shorts and black crown shirt weren't built to prevent cold so he tightened his arms around his sides praying he didn't trespass into forbidden grounds

He didn't want to die or end up a slave

Few minutes later his head dissapeared behind the fog

*********

Inside an old town house hidden behind an alter and trees, the Grace sat alert as a figure stepped past their barrier. It was here.

Their day of reckoning had begun.

They had known this day would come which was why they had sent Reen out of the house. If he was here the figure would no doubt kill him first before taking them

"It's such an honor" the figure spoke up stepping further into the house, it's bare feet echoing around the house like the clap of thunder outside.

It was clothed in a dark Cloak that hung off it's body like an overgrown vine as the council's sigil shone as bright as day in the house

He who beareth  the sigil upholded the sigil, that was the law.

"The council would like to meet you rats" It stepped into their room and Jo arose, flinging her book at him. His disrespect was unquivering.

He waved it as easy as she'd taught it to.

"The beginning is neigh and your end is here. I feel death clouding you like it's puppet and you may meet it here" He said defiantly raising his head up and the storm raged on.

"The only one dying is you" Anne replied twisting her lips into a smile and a chilly wind swept into the house turning off all the candles

They wouldn't die. The council needed them and the thing standing here was mildly off . Yes, they might be tortured but that'll be where it ended.

They had to pay for refusing to live under the thumb of the council as the Grace

Jo turned to her sisters who nodded. It was time to go.

"What about Reen?"

Their unspoken question flitterred through her mind. As the eldest of the Grace, her responsibility was to them not to Reen. He would be fine, all he needed was time and undoubtful thoughts.

Their presence would remain with him through every day. He was marked.

He had never left

"Goodbye Reen" they said as they stood up and followed the figure out the door

******

Reen awoke two days later in the woods, not inside a hole.

He stood up, wiping the dirt off his hair, face and clothes before looking around the forest.

He was definitely lost.

There was nothing but trees and dirt....

"Aaaaaah" Reen screamed as a burning sensation pressed into his left palm. He jumped high, waving his hand in the air.

The pain in his Palm bit at his skin making tears sting the back of his eyes. It felt like his hand was being cut off

After a few seconds it stopped and he looked at his bloody Palm hissing at the burn

"It hurts" he mummered to no one in particular as he stared at his Palm

There was nothing there, only a lot of blood and a pain which hurt a lot

Reen didn't understand what was happening to him. Was it the witches again, was he trespassing on holy ground?  We're the witches pranking him?" He tried to think but the searing pain in his left Palm made it impossible

Maybe he should get out of here

He stuck his left hand into his pocket and walked.

   

A/N

Hello friends, if you enjoyed chapter one of my book don't forget to hit the like icon and comment if you have any questions. Thanks

avataravatar
Next chapter