Revelation of Raelia: Book One

by Tammy W. Pechin

  “Yeah, let's go.” He says presenting the open door with one hand.

  I shuffle quickly across the room past him and out the door keeping an eye between both of the villagers and the door. He walks closely behind me as he shows me out other people start to gather and talk. As we exited the area into the woods, we preceded to walk in uncomfortable silence for a good five minutes before he decided to dive into an unwelcome conversation.

  “I am curious, I doubt you have survived this long alone. Where did you come from before this?” He begins to question me.

  “I told you, a cabin shortly before this.” I answer, avoiding telling him any more information.

  “Before that?”

  “Really isn't important.” Answering with a quite tone, continuing to avoid eye contact.

  “Well, I didn't ask if it was important. You seem very anxious and distracted; it isn't easy in this world these days, if you're not able to focus and keep sharp.” He said, as if he is almost concerned with my wellbeing.

  “I really don't want to talk about it, just let it go.” I demand, I stop looking at him long enough to get eye contact before I continue walking.

  “I would love to do that, but it's not going to happen. I am stubborn; were you a servant?” He continues to question, touching my back with what to him would be considered lightly but to me is with some force to it considering his size.

  I stop again and quickly turn towards him. “So, what if I was? Is there any difference, is it any of your business? I'm not now, and I can survive on my own regardless of your or anyone else's opinion.”

  “Sorry, I thought you may have been…” He starts to state, with concern as his eyebrows raise in response to my defensive tone.

  “Why do I look like a servant or something, I am not wearing the clothing of a servant… am I?”

  “Wait a second just cool down…I was a servant myself for a short time, and once you are forced into that lifestyle, then there is this fear in your eyes that never seems to leave. Your eyes tell me everything that I need to know about your past. I'm grateful to have found a community that doesn't participate in such cruel practices and someday hopefully you will find your own safe place to call home.”

  “Well, I am free now and that's all that matters. I never want to be stuck like that again…” I stop talking and I start walking off.

  “Why haven't you joined a village? I mean because your chances of being caught as a rebel is inevitable again. Possibly worse things in fact, it isn't safe being alone out here anymore, no matter who you are.”

  I stop again and look at him, trying to decide if I feel like explaining my back story. Sighing to myself, before I take a deep breath and continue.

  “So, if you must know, which I'm thinking if I don't tell you then you will just continue asking anyways. I am trying to find my parents who disappeared a while back, I got captured on my search for them, and they traded me to someone that wouldn't let me leave the village. I escaped eventually after many attempts to get free. My owner didn't understand I had to leave, to continue searching for my parents.” I explained, turning back around and continuing to walk away.

  “Wait, how long ago was this? I mean, when did your parents disappear?” He questions as he catches up with me. I can hear the crunching of the ground as he approaches quickly.

  “Honestly, I don't know, I was stuck in the last village so long I lost track of time. Maybe three months back, don't really know. Seems like it's been forever, but I know that my perception of time is off.”

  “There were some traders that stopped by the village as fall was approaching, months back. They had an older male and female that they wanted to trade with us. Said they got lost looking for a village that had technology, they asked our people for food. We gave them food since there was about five of six of them and we didn't want any trouble. Told them we had no idea what village they were talking about that we didn't venture outside of our small area.” He recalled.

  I immediately stop, staring at him with tears building up in my eyes and my heart pounding.

  “What did they look like?”

  “A woman maybe late 40's and a man same age maybe middle 50's. The man had red toned hair, blue eyes and was unshaved and the woman with light brown hair and had a scar across her arm. I don't remember much more but could that be them?”

  Immediately I knew, as I broke down into tears, I collapsed onto my knees on the ground. He quickly sits beside me with his arm around me.

  “Where did they take them, do you know? The only village with technology that I am aware of is the one that I came from which had solar power, which I know they are not there.”

  “No, I know they left in the same direction we are headed because I tracked them for a bit to make sure they didn't return to steal any more food, since we wouldn't give let them take any for their journey.” He explains, still embracing me as I try to collect myself.

  “Did they seem like they were okay… were they injured or anything?” I sniffle as I look at him in the eyes.

  “Yeah, they seemed fine, they were hungry and dirty, and I made sure they let both of them eat some food before they all left. I must be honest with you though, by now they could be anywhere. I don't know, but there is a horrible village called Black Gates. It's still far from here, however they have loads of servants and it's an extremely dangerous place. I only know because one of our villagers was a servant held captive there for a few months, she was beaten badly but managed to just escape and we found her in the woods nearly lifeless close to our village. She told us all about the Black Gates and the cruelty of the insane man that runs that place.”

  “Please don't tell me that, what if that's where my parents were taken.” I state with worry, sitting directly up.

  “For their sake I really hope not. I understand you want to find them, and I doubt that anything I say is going to change your mind, but I would advise you to stay far away from there. If it were my parents, I know I would also dismiss what I just said and do it regardless, but I will caution you none the less.” He warns, as he moves his arm from around me.

  I jump up off the ground knowing what is inevitable like the gates of hell are awaiting me. I dry my eyes and brush off my clothes.

  “There really isn't a choice. Like you said, you know if it were your parents what choose you would make.” Accepting the challenge as I look down at him.

  “Understandable. I fear for them as I do for you. May the Gods be with you on your journey, but I believe mine is finished here. It's time for me to return to my own village. When you find you parents if you want, you're welcome to come back and see us so that we know you found them and that you are safe. My name is Indigo by the way, what is yours?” Introducing himself, he stands up and pats me on the back.

  “Raelia. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction Indigo. I will be coming back this way to go back to check on someone after I find my parents. Of course, I will stop and maybe you can help us out with a meal on our journey home, whatever home is now.”

  “Raelia if you make it out of Black Gates then will make you a feast. I will keep you in my thoughts and I know you will find them with that determination I can see in your aura. Goodbye Raelia, I will keep you in my thoughts.” Indigo bids farewell, as he takes his hand away from my back and turns to walk away as I watch him disappear into the distance with the light from the sun glaring off his skin between the trees.

  I stand there in silence as the sound of his footsteps has dissipated leading into a stillness that has broken my mind as I stand there trying to find the motivation to turn around and head towards Black Gates. Taking a deep breath, I wonder how sane it is to even consider doing this, as my mind resets back to ‘I don't see how I have any choice’; I turn slowly around and begin walking with a large stride into the unknown. Dread spreading through my body at the thought of how far it may be and the fear of the worst-case scenario's compiles in my head. It's strange but I feel a tingle throughout my bo
dy like the one you get listening to a song that just is too close to how you feel at that moment and all the hairs stand on your body. Seriously, I am considering how easy it would be to turn around and go back to Oak Woods.

  CHAPTER 12

  BLACK GATES OF HELL

  A

  fter three days of walking I come into clouds that eventually give birth to freezing rain, okay it's not that cold but as it starts to pour on me, my faith slowly darkens into sadness. I haven't seen anyone, unless you count squirrels, birds and one rabbit that scared me half to death. Don't judge me I am exhausted; you walk all day and sleep on the cold ground, constantly on the lookout and see how skittish you are. My food that I had brought with me ran out this morning… and now with the overcast and rain all I want is to do is find some type of shelter soon. My clothes are getting heavy from the rain, and I start to slump and drag with exhaustion. Until I hear noise in the distance, I keep turning around trying to gage what direction all that noise it coming from.

  “What is that?” I say out loud in confusion, I'm probably just being delusional at this point.

  It doesn't take long for me to figure out which way the sounds are coming from and I start walking cautiously towards what I assume must be a village. Finally, I made it, it's the village that I was looking for, I think. I wonder around, keeping an eye out for anyone that may be nearby until I see men.

  “Damnit, guards…of course they have guards.” Sighing to myself.

  Hiding behind a distant large oak tree, there is two guards in front of these black iron gates that are rusted and misshapen, well that answers why this place is called Black Gates. Part of me is jumping up and down saying ‘I found it!’ the other part of me is saying ‘I hope you don't regret this, you're an idiot if you go in there.’ Problem is, how do I get in? They have concrete walls, iron gates and guards on duty. The noise is so loud coming from inside the walls, lots of commotion and chaos. Suddenly, I hear the guards opening the gates, there is sounds like a violent confrontation coming from inside the walls. The guards quickly run inside the entrance of the gates after they open, and you see them dragging out three men and tossing them towards the woods. I get closer staying low to the ground and crouching behind shrubs to watch. The men refuse to leave by the looks of it, I can't make out anything more than them bellowing out that they want their Gold and Copper. Why would a village want those resources, what is going on here, do those things still even have value? The guards keep pushing them back towards the woods until one of the three men, a heavy muscular man in a ripped-up shirt, dirty looking; punches one of the guards right in the face. One punch and the guard fell backwards onto the ground and then you see four more guards come out of the gates from inside the village. The three men take off into the woods as all of them leave the gates wide open while chasing the men through the woods.

  Opportunity calls, I run up to the gates and walk casually through like I own the place now that all the guards are busy chasing those men. This is incredible, it's overcrowded with people everywhere. Lots of rough shacks, tarps, and skins hanging out in the open. I walk around with my wet clothes; fitting in with my dirty and soaked clothes like the rest of people here. For the extent and capacity of the village, everyone looks miserable, and in worse health then anywhere I have visited before. Strangely this reminds me of an industrial driven area with an abundance of metal workers everywhere. Weaponry as just as plentiful as the population, I overhear people talking below a makeshift cloth canopy about the three men that I saw being kicked out. They were claiming to not be paid for working in the mines. So that's what's going on here, why pay people, don't they have servants to do their dirty work for them. I listen carefully and observe; servants are clearly present but seem to be owned by mostly the people that are appear cleaner and healthier, so I assume these people have more power here. I continue walking around and taking in as much information as possible. In a place like this, no one would notice anyone new walking around because everyone is too busy drinking, fighting, and working to notice my existence.

  There are some people at the market area gather and talk about all the commotion, I grab some clothes from off the side of one of the carts. Immediately I sneak behind a building off towards the outer side of the city, and closer to the walls. I change into a flowing low-cut blue shirt and soft black cloth pants both obviously handmade and might be easily recognized once notice they are gone. In other words, it's time to wrap this up and get moving before people start searching for these missing clothes. The rain has finally stopped but the air is still full of moisture as my hair is still damp and messy. Okay, I know they have personal servants and mining servants here; now I just got to figure out if my parents are being held as either. As I make my way around most of the village with caution, I come back to the front just in time to watch them shut the black gates. “Shit!” I didn't think about how to get out once the gates were shut, everyone in my life always said I am impulsive, good thing they can't see me right now. Wait, if they have mining servants, then before dark they will open the gates to let them in after a day's work. I just need to wait it out and keep out of sight since I am sure by now the merchant has noticed her clothes are missing from the cart. I take shelter behind one of the shacks where I can keep an eye on the gates. Hours pass and as the sun begins to sit, I see the gates open. Guards escort servants covered in smut and mud-covered bodies into the gates. All the servants separate and head to watering stalls and start to clean themselves off the best that they can, but their skin is clearly stained with the dirt deeply imbedded in the cracks and wrinkles of their skin. I watch each one come into the gate carefully, my eyes widen with shock as the last two people walking through the gates are them….my parents! I jump up from the crouched position on the ground and start to rush forward before my brain interrupts. I stop; I can't just run up and grab them. I need to get a plan fast to get us all out. Creeping around behind houses I make my way to the where everyone is washing. I come up quietly behind and try to get their attention.

  “Pssst…. hey you…” They turn towards me as I hide at the side of the building with a slight shadow over casting over me.

  They glow with excitement and look around to see if anyone is watching. Edging towards me slowly until under the shadows with me. Quickly we all tightly embrace with anxious eyes looking around to see if anyone is watching.

  “I am so happy to find you both. I'm so sorry it took me so long. I thought I would never see either of you again.” Tears roll down my cheeks.

  “Oh, dear it wasn't your job to hunt us down. You have no idea how happy I am to see you, but this place isn't safe you have to get out of here before you end up working in the mines as well.” Mother says still looking around paranoid that someone may notice them.

  “I'm going to get you both out of here, we can go home finally.” Urging them to come with me as I grab their arms.

  “We can't just go back home Raelia, it isn't safe anymore and eventually we would be found again.” Father says with rationality as he stops me from tugging at their arms.

  “What? We can't stay here either!” Looking at him with confusion.

  “Of course, and we don't want to stay here but we have to plan this out. We should consider going to somewhere we can get into with trade to become part of a tribe or village for safety. We were wrong, were not able to survive without help.” Father explains.

  “Wait, you want to join a village. What about you mom, is that what you want too?” I turn thinking she may feel like I do; not buying into this village lifestyle. I look at her with one eyebrow raised and widened eyes filled with tears and confusion.

  “Life just isn't the same as it was, and we need to accept that. We need to have security and safety and that's the only way to keep out of the open. We are sitting ducks back at the house. We need to go somewhere, and we need to have enough supplies with us to buy our way in once we get somewhere safe. This has gotten far worse than even your dad and I ever thought it woul
d get. We kept our concerns to ourselves, we didn't want to scare you and thought you were not ready for the truth of what we would soon face.” Emma explains.

  “Okay, if that's what you both want. I'll make it happen; we can do this together. I just want to be with you both again. Let's get out of here!” Grabbing both of their hands again.

  Part of me does want to return to Chaos, Kallem and Coven. Maybe this will all work out because even if I am stuck as a servant, then that's a price I would pay to be with my parents and know they are safe.

  “You, still the same girl. Always in a rush, never thinking through your movements. Wait… Tomorrow when we go to the mine. Watch and follow us after they open the gates, find a way out. I will cause a distraction; just go, keep your distance. Be smart, please think before you do anything.” Emma said, placing her hand on top of mine as I slowly let go of her hand.

  “We love you.” They both say, as I watch them walk away and separate into households with other servants. I am left standing there, still covered by the darkness watching the sun set completely as I slide my back down the wall of house onto the ground. Sitting there with tears rolling down my face once again without my permission and I start to notice the temperature has dropped significantly in the small time I had been distracted, I hadn't noticed till this moment. My stomach growls and aches, at this point I am unsure if it's the pain of reality sinking in or hunger finally taking over after all the stress.

  I reach into my bag and pull out jerky that I snatched off another cart earlier and eat while as I try to make myself control my overwhelming emotions and prepare for whatever will come tomorrow. Knowing my parents are here, alive and safe is somewhat comforting but not being able to leave right now is unsettling at the same time. More time here is a huge risk and at night with the temperatures dropping is going to be hard to endure being outside all night. Ready for anything that comes my way, I sit the down spending the night plotting in my mind a plan of escape until I fall asleep leaning up against the side of the wall off and on throughout the cold night.