Revelation of Raelia: Book One

by Tammy W. Pechin

  After we finish with everything, we head back to the Kallem's house. It's already evening, and the sun will be going down soon. Shortly after we arrive, he starts to prepare our meal as I sat down on the bed, even though I know I am not supposed too. Lingering there waiting for Coven to notice, because I know he won't approve, but he seems quite and distracted right now. So, I lay down and put my hands behind my head and close my eyes just for a second. Until I jump at the sound of a door shutting. I look around to see Kallem standing inside the door and looking right at me. I look over quickly at Coven who is also looking at me with panic in his eyes. I quickly dive off the bed falling on my ass into the floor and start scooting backwards slowly while I look at them both.

  “I am guessing she isn't learning much while she is disobeying the rules and not helping prepare food with you.” Kallem remarks to coven while his eyes are locked on me.

  “I'm sorry, I didn't even notice her laying there, and I was distracted with dinner.”

  “It's okay Coven. I know you were busy. Raelia has the tendency to behave this way.” Kallem states as he continues to glare.

  “I didn't think you were coming back until late tonight or tomorrow?” I questioned, but before he could answer, the door suddenly opened behind him. In walked another man just a bit younger than Kallem, with short scruffy hair, and a rough five o’ clock shadow, similar body size and height to him. His clothes were worn, and his body appeared tense with heavy wrinkles under his eyes for someone of his age.

  “Things didn't go as planned. This is my brother Raveer, he will be staying with us for a few days, maybe a little longer. Depending on if he causes any ructions during his stay. The both of you should get along just fine, since you both seem to know how to create turbulence all the time.” Kallem explains as he helps Raveer with his bag.

  I couldn't help but notice the look of brotherly discomfort, which I am assuming that Kallem doesn't want his brother around for some reason and it isn't as simple as he causes a little trouble. I sat there in silence observing them as they joke around with Coven about what's for dinner. Kallem never said anything about his brother coming back with him, and Coven seemed to not approve of his brother staying with him by the silent commentary of glances that Coven and Kallem shared when Raveer wasn't looking.

  Raveer comes and plops down on the bed near me, keeping his eyes on me the entire time. The hairs on my arms stand up as he looks me over.

  “Brother, you didn't tell me you had a servant. I thought you were against all that stuff?” Raveer questions his brothers' intentions for having a servant.

  “It's a long story for another day Raveer.” Kallem says as he sighs, dropping his bag on the floor beside the bed.

  “You wouldn't want to trade her, would you? I could use me a servant, especially one that red hair like she has.” Raveer says jokingly, in a dark sadist tone.

  “Seriously!? I'll be the first to admit she is a total pain in my ass, but I really could use the help around the house since I am so busy all the time with work. Also, I can't even believe I need to say this to you considering the situation; but you need something to barter, or even a home. Which, I will remind you is the reason you are here with me is because you have neither.” Kallem proclaims with somber expression towards Raveer.

  “Well if you change your mind, then I'll take her off your hands and I can pay you back eventually. You know the home problem is temporary, so let's not go into that right now, it will blow over.”

  I know that tone of voice that of Raveer has, and there is no way I am ever going anywhere with him. The sound of his voice alone, sends chills down my spine. His appearance is haphazard, he is the kind of person that would not only endure the chaos of our current world but find pleasure in using it to his advantage.

  “Ha, if you have a home to go back to brother. If you get voted out because of your behavior, then you won't have anything left to return too. Serves you right, you can't seem to stay out of trouble. You always act without thinking, like you're unaware of the consequences. You're not a child anymore Raveer, and I don't want to have to step in when you make poor choices” Kallem preaches as he scalds his brother's lack of emotional control.

  “Don't start, I had a few drinks and William started in on me again about not standing guard on my shift; one thing leads to another. Long story short, it's not my fault that he is always on my back for every inconsequential thing.” Raveer turns away from his brother ignoring his Kallem's concerns.

  “Well, it's your responsibility and you have to do your part. If I remember correctly, the last scuffle you got into, was after a few drinks. Oh, and that one was also not your fault.” Kallem states tilting his head at him.

  “Coven, I can take over from here. Thank you for helping me out. You go ahead and go home so you can get back to your work. Kallem grabs two bowls as he dismisses Coven to go home.

  “No problem Kallem, try to have a good night.” Coven leaves to finish his work as he will have loads to catch up on.

  Kallem fills two plates with food as he walks over and sits them down firmly on the table, as they clank against the wood, then grabs a seat and sits down.

  “Yeah, yeah, you sound just like William with your nagging. It's no big deal, I will sort it out eventually. You're right I am not a child anymore, so I don't need a parent.” Raveer's voice rings with aggravation as he navigates to grab the plate from the table and sits down across the bed as he begins to eat.

  I sit there in the floor for a moment, watching them eat. Scared to speak, I decide to eventually stand up and walk over to fix myself a plate. Walking very slow and cautiously as I do. I grab a plate before I am interrupted by Raveer.

  “What do you think you're doing?” He asks in a sarcastic tone.

  “Nothing, I just…” As I lay the plate down quickly and it clanks against the counter making me jerk.

  “You are not allowed to eat with your master, or even in the same room as in some cases. You always eat after, if anything is left.” He announces loudly.

  “Kallem?” Questioning in a whisper.

  “He is correct. You must wait, and I will allow you to eat in the same room, but the rules are as he has said. I am tired, could we just not argue about this right now.” Kallem answers with a sigh of correction.

  “But…” The word slips out before I realize what I am doing, and I am interrupted once again.

  “No, don't you dare question it. You wouldn't dare do that if I was your master. Now, go find a place to sit where you can't be seen and remain silent.” Raveer commands in a domineering tone.

  Rendered speechless I quickly take the farthest path away from him diving into the bathroom. I sit down on the floor as I feel my heart skipping a beat. Normally I would say something, but I don't know what it is about Raveer that my intuition tells me to avoid him at all costs. I can still overhear their conversation in the other room.

  “See brother, you need to put some fear into her, and she is easily dealt with.” Raveer instructs his brother.

  “Guess so, I'm new at this and I guess I do feel a little bad for her sometimes. Maybe, guilty that it has to be this situation.” Kallem already finished his food and I can hear him cleaning his dish.

  “You shouldn't, she has a place and unfortunately for her it's to be a servant. If you feel sorry for her, then she will walk all over you. Like I said, I'll happily take her off your hands. I promise I would have her trained like a dog within a week.” Raveer gets up and takes Kallem his dish.

  “I'll keep that in mind, which worries me about your morality a bit sometimes. If I feel like I can't control her then I will have to trade her anyways. However, for now I think everything is fine. I think I just need to be firmer and she will eventually shape up.”

  “Ok, well I am going to go out and see Jenni, don't wait up for me.” Raveer grabs a jacket out of his bag and drops his plate off on the counter.

  “Fine, just don't come home in the middle of the night, because I wi
ll think it's the girl trying to sneak out.” Kallem says in a fathering tone, as I quickly peak out of the bathroom to see him making another plate of food and hiding again.

  “I won't. If I get lucky, then you won't see me at all tonight.” He jokes as he winks at Kallem before he slams the door behind him.

  As I sat in the floor listening to everything, I started to crawl on my hands and knees to the edge of the bathroom door again to peer around and see if Raveer was really gone. To be quickly surprised by a set of legs that appear from beside the bathroom. My heart stops as I am still on my hands and knees and my eyesight follows the legs upwards to see Kallem standing there.

  “He's gone. Here, some food. Also, you look ridiculous right now.” He lays it down on the floor in front of me.

  I quickly get up on my knees and grab the plate as I start to eat. He is clearly still very agitated from his brother's behavior; I think to myself.

  “You don't have to stay in the bathroom, since he is gone.” Kallem announces while he walks away frustrated.

  Trying to stand up while holding the plate, and the plate tilts and some food almost spills off. This is ridiculous, I'm acting like a scared child. I can't believe the way he treated me. What's worse is that I allowed it, but why? Why does he intimidate me? Why did Kallem let him? Laying the plate down on the ground, I slowly manage to get up, before bending over and picking the plate back up. Then I take it over to the table, I sit down and begin to eat. Kallem is taking a few passing glances at me as he continues to clean up. In my mind I struggle as I want to say something, but I don't want him to repeat anything I say to Raveer.

  Fish isn't really my taste, but Coven's cooking is the best. I manage to eat enough to fulfill my hunger. Getting up and taking the plate to wash it, I hear Kallem shut the bathroom door and turn on the water. Did he just leave me out here alone, door unlocked, no restraints? I contemplate as I look around for a minute as I lay the dish out to dry. Raveer may be close by, but it may still be worth the risk if I make a run for it. Inching towards the door, until it dawns on me what Kallem said to his brother about trading me to him. If I try to leave while Raveer is staying in Oaken Wood, then he may actually consider trading me instead of continuing to deal with me. I stand there having a stare down with the doorknob, while I wonder about the implications of my actions. Lifting my hand to grip the old metallic door handle, I hear the water turn off. Quickly dropping my hand down to my side and turning around, I run over to my little corner and crash down against the floor. Ugh, I could have made a run for it, but I didn't. Now I get the pleasure of seeing Raveer in the morning; lucky me.

  Shortly after Kallem walks out wearing nothing but a pair of shorts low on his hips, showing off his masculine figure. “Good, you're still here. Guess that Raveer did put the fear of God into you. He has the tendency to make people fearful. He isn't the most moral person, but you'll get use to him being around after a while.”

  “Doubt it. He makes me nervous.” I get distracted as I notice a faint scar across Kallems rib cage on his left side.

  “Raveer is very blunt and opinionated, like you. He rubs people the wrong way; some don't appreciate his straightforward opinions. Moreover, he drinks too much and that's usually what brings the worst out in him. However, that being said, there is no need to worry about him. Honestly, sometimes I think he is hopeless and helpless. I try to hope he will learn and be a better person as he ages, but I am not going to hold my breath.”

  “Well he seems to approve of slavery, and I have no desire to find out how he would treat a servant that he owned. The total lack of morality I gathered by him comparing training me like he would a dog.” I spread out in the floor on my back, stretching out.

  “Good, then you'll be on your best behavior while I have him around.” Kallem smiles, as he grabs a blanket from a trunk on the floor and plops down on the bed.

  “Let's hope that it's not for very long. I feel like he is much more of a problem than I can be.” I yawn and roll over on my side.

  “Here, it's going to be cold tonight.” Kallem says as he tosses a blanket down on top of me.

  “Thanks.” I say with surprise as I cover up my legs.

  “Welcome. Honestly, I hope Raveer isn't here that long either. I don't need any more trouble. Anyways, I am going to sleep now, I'm exhausted. Good night Realia; thank you for not speaking ill to Raveer regardless of how he treated you tonight.”

  “Uh, good night.” I mumble, closing my eyes. He just thanked me for not defying Raveer but honestly Raveer makes my bones chill and I have absolutely no desire to ever test a person that feels that negative that I am forced to be in close proximity with. He makes Will'ers look like harmless kittens if you ask me. I shiver just at the thought. I am exhausted, hopefully tomorrow will be a little less stressful as I drift off into a deep slumber.

  CHAPTER 5

  HEARTLESS NATURE

  T

  he smell of food fills the room as I wake to find Kallem cooking breakfast. This is a first and surprisingly it smells amazing. I'm he didn't shocked he didn't make me get up and cook for him, since that's why he had Coven train me. My stomach rumbles at the smell, I sit up and rub my eyes. Maybe if I help him cook, he will let me have some of the food, I wonder to myself.

  “Can I help?” I ask as I stand up and walk towards him.

  “Its fine, it's almost done. You can lay two plates on the table for me. My chair was finally repaired and delivered this morning, if you could bring it over from beside the front door.”

  “Two plates, is Raveer back?” As I begin looking around nervously.

  “No, a plate for you and one of for me.”

  “Oh, I'll just go sit down until your finished eating then.” I lay the plates down on the table and drag the second chair to the table.

  “You can sit with me, Raveer isn't here yet.” Kallem brings the pan of food over and puts it down on the table as he fills both plates. He also lays out two fresh apples on the table which I haven't had an apple in ages.

  I sit down across from him and watch him start to eat before I pick up the silverware to eat myself. It was short lived; the door busts open. Immediately I dropped my spoon in shock.

  “Brother I'm … Oh shame, shame. You yourself aren't following the rules, then how can you expect to have a compliant servant? Get up girl and leave your plate.”

  Almost falling out of the sit, I stumble out of the room and into the bathroom to sit without saying a word.

  “Is it necessary to be so cruel to her? She had the opportunity to run and didn't take it, so I was cutting her some slack.” Kallem questions his brother with annoyance.

  Raveer sits down at the table and begins to eat my serving of food as I peak around the corner from the bathroom door. There goes the apple, he is going to eat my apple! I really can't stand him. I just want to scream so loud, and I have nothing to put over my face to muffle the sound.

  “That's the problem brother, she shouldn't be rewarded for being obedient. You will take her fear away. This is exactly why she refuses to conform.” Raveer tries to convince Kallem that it's not cruel to treat me like he does.

  “Maybe your right, but she is human and it's hard for me to treat anyone that way. Honestly, it perturbs me to know that it comes so easily for you.” Kallem says with disappointment.

  “Well I'm being realistic; she is a servant and you are not Kallem. Her status is of no importance to me, and we have rules in place to keep society comfortable for those with a higher status. If I become empathetic then I may find myself as a servant one day. You should be cautious, because if you allow yourself to feel for her, then you could end up losing everything you have built here.”

  “I suppose you are right. It's going to take time for me to adjust to this situation. I can't just ignore that a human should be treated like a human.” Kallem's face filled with worry and discontent.

  “Don't worry. While I am staying with you, I will help out train her. Between the both of us,
I think she will shape up. Your kindness is your strong suite Kallem, but it's also your weakness.” Raveer snickers with a one-sided grin.

  This isn't what I need right now. Raveer is brainwashing Kallem into believing that societal nonsense. I'm not sure what to do, but I feel that things are about to get even more ugly for me. Escape, or stay here and pray that Raveer doesn't stay here for much longer. If I get caught escaping while Raveer is around, then the consequences would be far more severe with him whispering in Kallem's ear and influencing him. I'll just have to wait it out for a few days and stay out of the way.

  “Girl, get out here now.” Raveer orders.

  Quickly I dart out from the bathroom and stand there looking down at the floor.

  “What's her name anyways?” Raveer questions his brother instead of speaking directly.

  “Raelia.” Kallem responds.

  “Okay, Raelia. Start washing up, then I want you to make the bed. After that you can go sit down in the corner until your needed.” Raveer nudges me towards the dishes that are waiting to be cleaned.

  I turn towards Kallem to look at him briefly to see if he has any saying about his brothers' demands of me, but as soon as his eyes meet mine, he quickly looks away. I am really starting to wonder if he fears his brother, or if he is buying into the muck that Raveer is feeding him. Either way I want to scream at them both and run out the door, but I don't. Instead I start washing the dishes and making the bed. Listening as they continue their conversation about other things.