Chapter 23 – The balverine deal
I knocked on Reaver, I entered the manor.
"Where's Reaver?" I asked
"Right here." Reaver came up behind me.
"Where are the rebels?" I growled
"Follow me." Reaver led me into a chamber, in a cage sat the leader of the men who had aimed at Darrian and Walter. I raced over, the man's eyes widened in surprise.
"Are you ok? Where are the others? Are they ok?" I asked
"The others are dead…" The man sighed, I knew it… I turned to Reaver.
"Reaver! Let him go!" I growled, the thief grinned.
"what is his freedom worth?" Reaver asked
"Uh?" I glared at him " Freedom is the most important thing for the people!"
"Who about you fight a friend of mine, if you win, you both go free. Lose and you join him." Reaver said
"Fine." I growled, Reaver smiled, the cage was pulled up.
"LOOK OUT!" The man yelled, I turned to face a giant balverine. Before I could react, it wacked me across the chamber. I hit my head, I fell unconscious.
I woke up in a room, I looked around. I was Reaver's room! I got up, my weapons had gone, and I was in a nightgown.
"Finally, the party will be starting soon." I heard a annoying happy voice, I grabbed a pillow.
"You bastard!" I threw it at him. Reaver dodged and tutted.
"Such language." He smirked. "Now get ready, your gown is over there." Reaver left. I went over to a stunning white gown, a guild seal broach sat between the hips, 3 long pieces of silk fell from it. Blue, Red and yellow. I gasped, the colours the symbols had glowed when we did the ritual. Blue strength, Red will and yellow skill. White for all 3. Reaver must of made it for me, or at least designed it and forced someone to make it. I was happy he remembered that day though. I changed into it, I looked at myself in a mirror. I closed my eyes sighing. I felt something cold against me neck, my eyes opened. In the mirror, I saw Reaver behind me, locking a steel collar around my neck. I immediately tried to get it off, until Reaver grabbed my hands. I looked at him, and then looked down, He knew why I acted so.
"You remember the deal. If you won, you would have gone free with that rebel friend of yours. But you didn't so…" Reaver took my chin, forcing me to look up. He was smirking.
"I should of known you would play dirty." I growled. I was suddenly filled with concern. "that man…Is he still alive?"
"Of cause." Reaver said "Well, for now, anyway."
"What do you expect from me?" I asked, my voice shaking.
"What do I expect?" Reaver smiled, I began to dread my words. "I expect you to be a good pet and follow my orders." I looked away; I had no chance but to do as he says, for now anyway. I could on;y hope Darrian and Page would come soon.
Hours later, I stood at Reaver's side overlooking the chamber from earlier. The man, who I learned was called Kidd, was alive and well, but still trapped in the cage. The doors opened, I saw Page and Darrian, I went to tell them to get out, but Reaver pulled me against him and covered my mouth.
"Kidd, where are the others?" Page asked
"Dead, all dead. Reaver knew you would come." Kidd said "He has that woman from eal…" Kidd could finish as the cage was lifted up, after Reaver tapped something. I began to struggle, Darrian was in danger, as was Page and Kidd… I had to help!
"Millaray!" Page yelled
"So, you don't know the truth?" Reaver grinned
"The truth?" Page repeated
"She is really my aunt. Hawk." Darrian said, I looked at him.
"Your…aunt!" Page and Kidd gasped
"Hawk, you said they knew." Reaver took his hand from my mouth.
"I said Darrian knew!" I growled "Darrian, be careful, he's…" Reaver covered my mouth again. I looked down at Darrian, he was glaring up at Reaver.
"Let her go!" Darrian yelled, Reaver smirked and released me from his grasp. I fell to my knees, I was still chained to the wall though. Darrian could see that, I looked at him sadly. Page was watching me surprised. "Are you ok Auntie?"
"I'm fine." I said "I've had worse, be careful…" I looked up at Reaver, he was looking at Page and Darrian.
"Shall we start the entertainment?" He asked
"You expect us to entertain you?" Page growled, I rolled my eyes, did she knew Reaver at all.
"Of, course, it is just a game my sweet." Reaver grinned "it's simple, I spin, you die, we watch. Really, it's a riot." He tapped the ground; I heard something spin, when it stopped, a gate opened. Darrian looked up at me.
"Show him the power of our family!" I smiled, Reaver kicked me in the back. I doubled back, I didn't cry out, but tears streamed from my eyes. Darrian swore at Reaver and stormed the gate, Page followed him. The guests moved to a different Room, but Reaver knelt in front of me.
"All I expected was for you to be a good pet, you are impossible to handle." Reaver placed a hand on my cheek.
"Did you really expect me to listen to you for long?" I growled
"Yes." Reaver said
"You have learnt nothing about me…" I groaned, my back was now killing me. Reaver looked at me as if he knew the pain I was feeling. "Haven't you got guests to entertain?" Reaver left, closing the door, I straightened my back, whimpering in pain.
"Hawk, behind you!"
"Huh?" I dodged and faced my enemy, it was a shadow, a light fell across his face, it was the man with the scar, but he doesn't have a scar.
"You'll join your dear parents now."
"Hawk, no!"
"NO!"
I shook my head, the man with the burn, was an enemy. But he knew my past, though he wanted to kill me. I forgot those thoughts as Reaver and his guests came back in. Darrian and Page were down below, unharmed. I smiled at them, I nodded proudly at Darrian. Reaver spun again, Darrian and Page went into another chamber. It happened 2 more times.
"You had to ruin my entertainment by not dying." Reaver sighed "But this games tiresome and my guests, they grow restless."
"No need to be restless sweetheart, Barry hatch is here to take care of you." Barry said, I could help but find myself smiling, as I watched Darrian and Page. I heard the thing spin another time. "you've got a strong grip, I like that in a woman…oh, ah…Reaver!" I turned to see a balverine, digging it's teeth into Barry.
"BARRY!" I cried, I threw a punch, sending the balverine back, Barry had teeth marks across his chest.
"Hawk…" Barry groaned.
" It's okay ... You're going to be fine! " I said. I turned to see Darrian and Page fighting balverines, they had been parted, 3 balverines each.
" help them, I'll keep fighting until the end." Barry groaned
"Then... " I stopped, Reaver had pulled me up, he halt on to the chain of my collar. I said nothing else, but watched. Darrian got into trouble, I felt something pulse in me. "Darrian!" I yelled, he wouldn't win in that state! Reaver pulled me back. I had to help. I closed my eyes, pain pulsed in my head . I had to help, my version blacked out.
" Auntie Hawk..? " my vision returned, I was Darrian and Page
" What happened?" I asked
" You took on all those creatures..." Darrian said
"You did mock them a lot in the process, don't you remember?" Page asked
"I guess... My power lost control again." I mumbled.
"How interesting... " Reaver said, I glared up at him. Part of the wall had been ripped away, I touched the collar around my neck, I used my strength to pull it part, it clattered to the floor. Darrian helped me up, Page drew her gun and aimed at Reaver.
"There's no point, he's the best marksman, no one can shoot him. ' I told her" Believe me, I've tried. " She sighed
"True, but Hawk remember our deal." Reaver said
"Ergh... " I groaned. There was a clatter, Reaver dumped my bag and weapons into the chamber. Darrian went to get them. Reaver left, I was confused, either way, I used inferno to melt a hole in the bottom of the cage. Kidd jumped down. Page had to support me, I was too weak to stand myself.
"Let's get back to the base." Page said
" I'll carry Hawk." Kidd lifted me up, I winced, my back still hurt.
"Are you okay?" Page asked, as we left the manor.
"I'm ok, just worn out." I said "I'm not as young as I used to be. Things were easier back then. "
"I can't believe you are Hawk!" Kidd smiled
"You've heard of me... Don't you hate me?" I looked at him
"My grandmother told me how you saved her and her friends when they went into the hobbe cave, I can't remember where." Kidd said. Before I could answer, a town crier was calling about a royal speech.
" I'll go, I'll see you back at base." Darrian said, he looked at me. "Rest up." He raced off, Page and Kidd said nothing more as they carried me back to base.
" Hawk!" Walter gasped, Kidd sat me in a chair. "What happened?"
"The 4th time..." I sighed
"What?" Page asked
"The 4th time I have been betrayed by Reaver. " I said " not very surprising though. "
"Kidd, you're back!" I saw an old woman. She looked at me in disbelief. I, unsteadily, got to my feet and walked over.
"Annabella..?" I asked
"Hawk... You haven't changed." She smiled "Really..."
"You have really grown up since I last saw you." I smiled, then looked serious. "Did you learn your lesson?"
"Yes, leave adventuring though hobbe infested caves to you and Sparrow." Annabella nodded "I was so worried when Sparrow claimed you turned against us. But, you have a fair few people who believe in you."
"Wait, you two know each other?" Walter asked
" Yes, when she was a kid, Annabella and a few friends thought that they could copy me and Sparrow to be 'great explorers' . So, they went into a hobbe infested cave. " I explained" Wasn't it Johnny who it was too late to help? "
"Yep, 5 went in, only 3 came out. Johnny and Caroline were the two lost." Annabella said "Hawk saved me and the other two just in time."
"But, as a hero, you shou... " A rebel began
"Being a hero, doesn't mean I can save everyone." I told them, before they could finish. Ben walked in looking depressed "Ben?"
"Major Swift is dead." He said
"What!?" I cried, everyone fell silent.
Author's note : hiya people! Fable lunatic was right in a review on my hero twins story... I need to update more often. At the mo, they are the only two stories I don't have writers block on. Anyone with ideas for my other stories will be greatly appreciated. So, I will try and update more often, I have written up to chapter 30. And, thanks to Tia, I have a second story planned, you are going to learn more about Hawk's lack of power control in the future and WHO she becomes XD. Hope you enjoyed this, please Review, I am dying to know your opinions. Tatty bye.