Chapter 152; Awakening the Past.

The candle flame danced across the stonewalled chamber in a long, waving shadow, Reika was seating there with her legs folded like the monks do. The heavy, musky scent of sage and wildflowers hung in the air, scents left from the ritual conducted earlier in the day, their soothing nature not quite help to balm the restless spirit of Reika. She sat cross-legged on the hand-woven rug, plunged deep into her thoughts eyes-closed in meditation, while her hands fell on her full tummy. Which was now six months old. Her heart beat echoed rhythmically with the heavy stillness of old magic in a circle around her as her hand came out to extend touching her knees, she was ready to find inner peace. But instead of the peace she was looking for, a vision sliced through her meditation like a blade. First, it was only darkness: heavy, suffocating and endless. Then, out of those shadows, appeared a form. Reika's breath snagged on that sight, even though within her vision she was breathing gently. Instantly, she could identify the form. It was Riftan, her stepbrother. He was… different. His eyes were red like hot coals, while dark smoke emitted around him. He was holding in his hands something small and terrifying-a skull, with hollow sockets, and it was staring from its point at Reika. "Riftan?" Her weak shaking word thundered And then, of course, he said nothing. But Riftan lifted his head, his red eyes looking at her. A twisted grin stretched across the face-nothing near the tenderness of childhood memories. His voice finally came, riddled with the tone of evil. "Bring me her soul." In that vision, Reika fell back and she began to run in fear. Then in but an instant, Riftan began chasing after her quicker than any human should do. Panic flooding her mind, she ran but her feet barely touching the floor. "Reika!" The voice of the monster came between Riftan and Reika. "You will not escape me!." She kept running faster. The darkness closed in upon her, cold and suffocating, until- She came to consciousness jolting back into her body. Reika's eyes snapped open, and she heaved a sigh of relief. In her chamber, the candle which had burned steady through the night now flickered low, casting dim shadows on stone walls. Beads of sweat fell upon her forehead, and her hands instinctively went to her belly, the soft kicking of the baby calmed her. But the fear would not go away. She got up without a wasting another moment further. She began walking down the hallways of the coven of witches, her footsteps urging her along with graceless haste. She had to see Elira. Elira sat in the small chamber of sanctuary, surrounded by ancient scrolls and bottles of potions. Her hair of silver shone in the dim light, sharp emerald eyes snapping up instantly as Reika burst in. "Reika?" Elira sprang up; her calm face was now etched with concern. "What's wrong?" Reika hadn't spoken yet, huffing hard, trying to shake off pictures that haunted her. It was something out of her worst nightmare, refusing to be forgotten. "I-I have seen a vision" Reika finally managed in a shaking tone, even then trying so hard not to breakdown'. Elira ushered her further into the room, making her take a seat in one of the many chairs. "Tell me all about it." Reika closed her eyes for a moment, forcing her words out around her breaths. "It was Riftan, but I'm sure, he wasn't himself; his eyes. they were afire like flame. There was something, some sort of dark smoke about him, and a skull in his hands. And he kept saying..." She paused and looked at Elira with terrified eyes. "What did he say? " She asked. "' he said Bring me her soul'," Her Voice was shaking now. At this, Elira's face darkened, her jaw clenched. For several moments, she said nothing at all, her mind working through what this meant. Then she spoke finally, low and grave. "Something evil is coming," Elira muttered, rising to pace the room. "I have felt it before, I felt the shadow creeping in. But this-your vision-it is more than just a warning. It is a sign. It's a confirmation, Rieka." Reika swallowed hard, and unconsciously her hands lay over her swollen belly once more. The baby kicked in agreement once more, seemingly knowing that mother was quite close herself. "I'm afraid," Reika whispered low, gleaming in her eyes. "Not for myself but for my child. And… I miss Lleus." Her voice stumbled slightly over his name."I pray he'll be here when the baby is born." Elira hunched down beside her, laying a reassuring hand atop Reika's trembling ones. "You are stronger , Reika. You have been through fights that would have broken you, but you came out strong. And you will get through this too. And we will find Ileus. I promise you that." Reika exhaled shakily, still nodding as her heart raced with fear. "I don't know if I can do this without him." "You are not alone," Elira reminded her softly. "You have me, the coven, and strength within you. lleus may be gone, but his love is inside you. Every heartbeat, each breath you take, you have him with you." She wiped away a tear, anchoring herself with the words of Elira. Drawing her upright then. "Then we prepare. If something dark's coming, it won't get us unprepared." She smiled soft, though the shadow in her eyes was yet a reflection of concern. "That's the spirit I know. We are going to start strengthening the protection spells around the coven, and you." Elira dropped her gaze down to Reika's belly, a smile pulling warmer. "You focus on staying strong for your child. That little one is going to change everything." Reika nodded, placing both hands upon her belly as if to shield the life within. What was to come, she had no idea, but of one thing was certain-she would fight for her child, for lleus, for herself, whatever darkness lay ahead. Somewhere deep within the heart of the underworld, Riftan's eyes suddenly opened.