Revelation of Raelia: Book One

by Tammy W. Pechin

  “She wouldn't have dropped it if you hadn't opened the door with such force, even I jumped. You're drunk aren't you!” Kallem blurted out as he gets up from the table bringing the plate to the kitchen while observing Raveer walk.

  “Realia, take this plate and clean it.” Kallem requests as he brushes his hand on my back and it snaps me out of my shocked position. My eyes still wide, as I look at the dish noticing the dish had broken that I dropped, and I take the dish from him and just look at it while I process how bad this situation could get.

  “Yeah, I had some drinks, but they cut me off… so here I am. I went to Jenni's, but she wouldn't let me stay.” He thumps down on the bed with his hands behind his head as a pillow.

  “Raveer, you have to stop this. You can't continue to live like this, and I can't keep protecting you when you go off drinking and causing issues.” Kallem scolded, as he stands over Raveer.

  “I am an adult, I'll do whatever I want, besides I didn't cause any problems tonight; I came home. So, stop complaining. Now leave me alone so I can get some sleep.” Raveer commanded like a king.

  I am still standing in the kitchen observing the two of them babble on when there is a knocking at the door that interrupts the conflict. Kallem stops arguing and goes to answer the door; it is someone in the village needing to see him right away, someone fell and has a broken leg coming back from the woods in the dark, from what I overheard.

  “I have to leave for a bit, I will be back as soon as I can.” He looks at me as he notices my nervousness.

  As he walks out of the door and shuts it, I am stuck standing there rubbing my hands together with my mouth still slightly open as I wanted to plea for him not to leave me alone with Raveer. I quickly go back to washing up and picking up the broken plate. Once I finish, I walk as quietly as possible to my area and sit down. Then I look up to notice that Raveer is already standing over me, just looking down at me. My heart starts pounding as I am filled with dread just by the expression across his face. I press my back firmly against the wall as I look back down at the floor as if I didn't see his face. Just try to ignore him and everything will be fine.

  “My brother is naïve you know. He allows you to do as you please, and even eat with him. It's so improper and you should know your place and your position as a servant. If you were mine, then you would have consequences for things like breaking that dish.” He leans over and grabs the ankle cuff and puts it on me and locks it.

  I don't even have time to react; I immediately start to tear up and my breathing becomes rapid.

  “You have nothing to say do you, you know why? Because, unlike my brother you respect my authority. Kallem is too restrained with you, maybe he has some little crush.”

  “I am glad you don't own me; Kallem does and he will make those decisions about rules or punishments. I've been doing anything he asks and trying to behave.” I say nervously looking at the floor.

  “I suppose, but I don't see the harm in having a little fun with you myself since my brother is clearly not going to.” He squats down in front of me and runs his hand through my hair.

  “Stop touching me, I will tell Kallem, I swear.” I insisted pushing his arm away with force.

  “You will not, if you do, I will make sure you disappear. There is lots of people I could find to take you off my hands.” He threatened as he comes closer.

  “Please, I am not doing anything wrong; just sitting here like I should be. Think about it, you'll upset Kallem if you do anything.” Fear flows over me as he runs his fingers across my cheek and across my lips, stopping with his index finger over them.

  “Don't worry, like I said, you're not going to tell him.” He puts his hands on my shoulders pushing my back firmly against wall.”

  “I promise I won't say anything, you've been drinking, you're not thinking clearly.” I urged him to reconsider his actions as I look straight into his eyes and try to appeal to his logic.

  “I wouldn't worry about me. I've wanted this ever since I first saw you.” He moves his hands down from my shoulders to my chest over the cloth of my dress.

  As I realize that I am not getting through to him; I push him as hard as I can across his chest making him loose balance and fall backwards as I stand up and try to get away until I remember the ankle cuff. Shit, what am I supposed to do? It doesn't take long before he slams me back up against the wall. At first, I am too scared to move as he begins to kiss me and I don't know how to respond. Then as he slides his hand down my abdomen and across my hips, grasping my dress and starting to lift it. I could fight him, but what if I do? What will Kallem think of me, what will Raveer tell him I did if I leave any bruises on Raveer. I can't restrain him he is too strong. There must be a way to get out of this, but if there is any fight then Raveer will blame it all on me and then Kallem will never forgive me. He will trade me off for sure. I don't know what to do. Then I remember Coven is just right next door.

  “Stop! I will scream for Coven; he will hear me.” I push him back as he grabs my upper arms and slams me back again. Putting his hand over my mouth. I try to scream for Coven, but it's muffled, then I just bite his hand out of instinct. He jerks away quickly, and I scream as loud as my lungs allowed.

  “Coven!!!! Help!!!” I wail and try to get my breath.

  “You bitch, you bit me!” He slaps me across the face as I am once again to terrified to move. He grabs me around the throat, still pressing me against the wall.

  Someone starts beating at the door, as Raveer is interrupted I attempt to scream with his hand still gripping my throat. The door opens and I try to see as he is gripping me tightly with his hand on my neck.

  “What is going on?!?” Coven says as Raveer lets go to see who it is as well.

  “This is none of your business, go home servant! You cannot enter without permission. Now get out!” Raveer screams at Coven.

  Coven with wide eyes quickly turns and walks out to the door shutting it.

  “No, Coven, please wait!” I yell and plea for him to help me.

  “Now, where was I?” Raveer readjusts his focus.

  Raveer puts his hand back over my mouth as he feels all over my body attempting to undress me as I fight against him. He rips my dress down the front as he tries to get it off while I am forcing him away from me with my hands.

  “Wait, Stop! Coven saw you; he will tell Kallem. So, stop this now.” I try to remind him that he has already been caught and that his brother will know what he did.

  He takes his foot and kicks me behind the knee, and I fall hard onto the floor. He lunges on top of me as I scream for Coven and Kallem relentlessly every time his hand moves away from my mouth.

  “Kallem will not believe a slave over me.” He claims, as if Kallem isn't aware of Raveer's flaws. He continues to rip at my dress till there is almost nothing left as I continue to struggle with getting him off me.

  Suddenly the front door opens with such force the entire house seems to shake. Raveer is startled and turns to look, but before he even has time to respond. Kallem grabs him up by the back of his shirt and pulls him straight off me and pushes him away.

  “What the hell is wrong with you? Are you insane? The entire neighborhood could hear Realia screaming for help.” Kallem shouts as he keeps pushing his brother's chest backwards repeatedly.

  “She is just a servant! Anyone that owned her would do the same!” He cowardly attempts to defend himself.

  “Let me get this right, because she is a servant you can rape, and torture her? This is not what civilized people do Raveer, not to anyone. I want you out, pack up your bag and go stay with someone else for tonight. I will deal with you tomorrow when I have had time to calm down.” Kallem grabs Raveer's bag off the floor and tosses it at him.

  “Fine! Sticking up for that worthless servant instead of your own brother. I have other places to go where I can let loose.” He turns and looks at Raelia with anger, “I'll take care of you eventually.”

  “Just go!” Kallem points at
the door. Raveer charges out not even shutting the door behind him.

  Kallem walks over, slams the door and turns the lock before he rushes back over to where I am sitting in the floor a complete mess, halfway laid down and sitting up, trying to hold together the shreds of my dress with teary eyes.

  “I know you're not okay, I am sorry. I should have listened.” He reaches out to put his hand on my arm.

  I jump away as I am trying to pull together the remains of my dress as I notice how much of my body is showing. Trying to just get my breath and understand the situation. I suddenly burst into tears. Kallem rushes to grab me a blanket; bringing it back and wrapping it around me as I grasp it tightly around myself.

  “I couldn't be sorrier; I honestly didn't know Raveer would ever do something like that. My love for him clouded my judgement.” He sighed sitting down next to me.

  I can't respond. I need time to figure out how I feel about everything and to be alone for a while.

  “Will you please talk to me?” He asked as he pulls the blanket over my feet.

  “Yeah, I can, you didn't listen! That's correct! He was going to ….” I stuttered as I break down again into a sobbing mess.

  “I know your upset, but you need to breath.” Kallem wraps his arm around and pulls me tight. I just fall into his shoulder, burying my head into his shirt as I sob uncontrollably. He holds onto me, rubbing my back.

  “I won't let him come back around you, I swear. I wanted you to live here with me, because I thought you would be safer here with me then on there on your own. Obviously, I should be doing a better job of that.”

  “Does that mean you are going to let me leave now?” I stop crying long enough to make eye contact.

  “No, I just should have been able to protect you as I intended and listened when you told me earlier the way he was acting, but I didn't and once again I'm sorry.”

  “I don't want to be here; I want to go home. You can't force me to be here forever, eventually I will find a way out.” I announce with a look of discontentment.

  “That may be the truth, you're upset right now. I think in time you may be able to understand why I think it's best for you to be here.”

  I turn away from him; laying down as I weep to myself. Gripping the blanket tightly around myself I then cover my head as Kallem continues to try and comfort me and I no longer even notice him touching me… I am just lost in myself and the sorrow all hits me at once. Eventually Kallem gives up and leaves me to grieve in peace as I move over to where I sleep. He comes back with some lavender and lays it at my side. I've never felt so, empty and for a moment I had no thoughts, words, feelings other than emptiness and hopelessness. Sleep, it makes everything better, and so I slept.

  I think Kallem knew to let me be alone and let me go days without making me do anything or forcing me to speak. He didn't enforce locking me up and we just went on without even acknowledging the cuffs were not on. Things became unspoken and silent, and I found nothing worth fighting about. Kallem kept asking me if was okay, and the answer became the same each day. I'm fine. The second week the leaves started to fall, I felt like I had gotten a routine and with it I slowly started to think more clearly. I spent my days staring out the window watching the leaves cover the ground as I prepare to embrace winter. Sometimes watching coven through the window as he works in the garden, but he tries to stop by and check on me daily and he does make me feel better at times.

  I did the chores that were required of me each day, and eventually Kallem appeared to trust me to be alone in the house without running off. I got closer to him as I got to help him more with his work. While there was still the occasional argument, Kallem did try to listen to my complaints more often and at least try to understand how I felt. I think I have learnt that the less I argue, the less I get an ankle cuff which is by far the hardest part of being here.

  CHAPTER 6

  COMING TO TERMS WITH MY FEELINGS

  E

  verything was peaceful until a new problem arose, and that was a lady that Kallem was giving care for in the village for a broken finger one day. He didn't know her very well because she had just come to the village shortly after I arrived. I kept telling Kallem that I thought she liked him as more than a friend, but he said I was reading into things too much. Which leads me into what was eventually bound to happen.

  “Raelia, please make sure the house is clean before I get back tonight. Krista is coming over for dinner and to show me some herbs that she has grown herself that she wants to trade.” Kallem says as he gathers his things to run out to the market for supplies.

  “Oh, dinner really? Might that be a date?” I asked smirking at him.

  “No, it's not a date. I don't think it's a date. I told you once before she doesn't like me in that way Raelia.” Kallem insists she has no romantic interest in him.

  “I think your wrong, but okay I will make this house spotless.” I say with a condescending tone.

  “Raelia, I will see you later. I have to get going to the market.” Kallem leaves quickly with his bag in hand.

  I spend the day cleaning as I said I would. Then run next door to say hi to Coven and see if I can get any left-over bread from him. We have gotten closer in the last few weeks and we are good friends that check in on each other almost daily even if it's a chat through the window since I am not allowed out as often as him.

  I creep up to his kitchen window, not wanting him to get in trouble for me bothering him and look in to see if he is alone. He appears to be, so I tap on the glass to get his attention.

  He comes over and opens the window up “Hello you, where is Kallem?”

  “He went to the market for some supplies, but he didn't make me go so I thought I would come by and see you really quick.” I say peaking my head into the window as he continues to work.

  “Oh, why didn't he just send you to the market instead of going himself? I know you enjoy trips to go shopping and get out of the house. Is he still not letting out alone?”

  “Not really, but I guess he wanted to shop himself since he is getting food for his dinner date tonight with Krista.” I gush with sarcasm as I roll my eyes.

  Coven drops what he is doing and comes to the window, “Wait, did you say Kallem has a dinner date tonight. That can't be right, Kallem has literally never ever had a date that I am aware of since I have known him.” He gasped at the very thought.

  “Kallem claims it's not a date, just dinner to talk about herbs she wants to trade.” I say in a doubtful tone.

  “Oh, so he says it isn't a date, but you think it is. Now that makes more sense, because Kallem really never talks about dating.” Coven disregards what was said and goes back to doing his work.

  “Wait and see, I am telling you both; Krista has the hots for him. Tonight, she will make a move; I will bet on it. If I am wrong, then I will help you cook an entire day when Kallem is away. However, if I am right, then you will come over and cook one of your yummy meals for me. Deal?”

  “You have yourself a deal my friend. Now why don't you get back home before Kallem comes back and catches you over here gossiping with me.” He laughs as he points for me to go back next door.

  “Okay, I will go, but first do you have any left-over bread I can have. Kallem has been so busy that he didn't buy any food yet and when he comes home, I am going to be stuck in the bathroom I think so he can have some privacy with Krista.” I say rolling my eyes.

  “Fine here just one piece, and I had this fruit left over from my breakfast, you can take it. Go home now and eat. I will see you later.” Kallem points me home again after handing me the food through the window.

  “I'm going. Thanks Coven.” I grab the bread and eat it walking back to the house. I go inside to relax and eat the leftover fruit. Coven always looks out for me; I am lucky to have him right next door to talk to and bug him for bread.

  I hear a banging on the door, and I go to open it. It's Kallem at the door.

  “Sorry my hands were full, and
I couldn't grab the handle without putting everything down. Here take this bag and help me start unpacking this stuff.” He hands me one of his bags.

  I start digging out the food, there is fruit, bread, vegetables. He never get's this much food in one trip. I look over at him to make a remark about all the food but before I say anything, I notice him unpacking a new shirt for himself and I watch as he puts it on. I don't know why but I felt myself start to get annoyed. He never got me this food, and he hasn't bought himself anything new since he has known me. This is totally a date. I was right and Kallem knows I was right, otherwise he wouldn't have gone to all this trouble.

  “What?” He asks as he notices me giving him an glaring at him with agitation.

  “Oh, nothing, I just was wondering why you decided to get a new shirt for tonight?”

  “I saw this at the market and I just really liked it, don't you like it?” He asks me, looking down at the shirt as he buttons it up.

  “Yeah, it looks good on you, I think. So, what's with all this food then?” Changing the subject.

  “Well I told you we have a dinner guest tonight. Just wanted to be accommodating I suppose. Plus, you're always complaining about there not being any food.” He says as he buttons the last button and comes over to start preparing dinner.

  “Don't you want me to cook? Or do anything?”

  “No not tonight, you can have tonight off, and just relax. Just don't interrupt in any way while Krista is here.” Kallem commanded as he continued to go through the food.

  “So, this is a date then?” I had to ask it's starting to drive me crazy.

  “Again Raelia, no it is not supposed to be a date. Even you have me nervous and its not even a date because you keep bringing it up.”

  “Okay, sorry don't get mad.” I say with a sarcastic tone as I walk away.

  “I am not angry, just enjoy some free time and I even got you a book at the market today to read in your free time. So, maybe you can do that tonight, so you won't be bored. Reading is a luxury and I had to make a big trade to get that for you.” He hands me a book that is in fact an old magazine more than a book, but it is something to look at I suppose. If I had a pen, I could draw on it which would be nice as well. You don't really think too much about one day not being able to read and things like pens and books a luxury.