Feathers and Souls
On faded wings the color of death, it came.
Never sated.
Never satisfied by sacrifices of the past.
An omen of pure darkness. A mirage… until it wasn’t.
Ever present, and relentless in its constant pursuit.
That Raven. The one with a single silver tipped feather at its wing. A beast of pure blackness with an intent three shades darker.
Legend said if you were chosen, there was nothing next. You ceased to exist. Disappeared. But Raul knew the true horror behind it all. Of everything he dared never speak.
And right now, he was frozen to the very spot. Two beady black eyes and a sharp knowing gaze from between worlds had him pinned. The very depths of what was to come in the next three seconds the only future he would likely ever see.
He let the rocking chair creak forward, worn deck planks groaning in protest as if they could sense the terror swimming through his veins.
“Caw,” the Raven said, corners of its mouth just behind the beak curling upward.
Raul narrowed his eyes. “Don’t toy with me devil bird. I know who you are.”
“Then you know what comes next Raul,” a voice said, slipping through his thoughts.
His fingers dug into the arm of the rocker until the tips grew white. The smooth walnut finish passed down through five generations no help to him now.
The Raven lowered his head. “Do run… it’s been far too long since I’ve had a proper chase…”
A humid breeze caressed the back of Raul’s neck halting the drop about to dampen his collar. He let his gaze drift upward, over the shadow perched on the steps of the deck into the thick wooded tree line. There had to be something, anything to break what was about to happen. He pulled at the neck of his faded red and yellow flannel, tilting his head to the side for more air. “Time. I need more time.”
“You’ve had two decades…”
“I’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s here.”
“And yet I tire of waiting for you to fulfill your duty.” Feathers ruffled from beak to tail and the bird took two steps forward. Long pointed nails scraping across the smooth cherry finished wood. “Or have you forgotten the bargain you made for your wife’s soul?”
Raul rubbed a calloused hand over the three-day stubble of his face and leaned elbows out over quaking knees. “You know I haven’t.”
“Be that as it may… If I leave, a soul must depart with me. No exceptions, even for you.”
“No,” Raul yelled, leaping to his feet.
The back of the rocker slammed into the wood shake siding of the house.
“You can’t. I’ve done everything you asked. More.”
“The price for your freedom is another’s soul. There is no difference this time… You know that. Each delay you insist upon comes at cost. Another will take your place. That is… the only way.”
“Please. They’re all I have.”
“Choose, or I will not hesitate to select for you.” The raven narrowed hardened eyes.
Raul clenched his jaw so tightly one of his fillings popped.
The raven fluttered onto the rough wooden railing. “Who will it be Raul… Clock is ticking.” He scraped his beak against the timber, sharpening each side. “Leila? With skin of fine porcelain and twice the gullibility of her beauty.” Three more scrapes. “Bethany? Who has the fire of her mother but none of the willpower.” He stretched his wingspan to full breadth. “Or maybe,” he dropped his voice to a low whisper. “You will finally part with Sonya… Her sleek dark locks just as black as my heart. Temperament ripe for…”
“Stop.” Raul let out a steady stream of air through tight lips.
The Raven slowly folded his wings back in place, tilting his beak to the side.
Raul lowered his pointer finger toward the bird. “If I give you a name you leave this time for three decades. I don’t want to see you any sooner.”
“You delay and then dare make demands of me?” He lowered his head and stilled.
The Adams apple in Raul’s throat pitched up and down, but he steadied his voice before opening his mouth again. “You ask too much of me.”
“I never ask. And in five seconds, without a name your wife will know why that is firsthand.”
Raul let his head fall to his chest. When he finally spoke, the words that came out were almost nonexistent. “If you leave us for three decades… Sonya will go with…”
“Agreed,” the Raven said before Raul could even finish the sentence. “You would do well to remember why I still allow you to be… When I return. If you haven’t succeeded. I will take all of you. Damn the consequences.”
And as dark wings took to the skies toward the back of the house for claim of payment, Raul fell to his knees. Head buried in sullied hands, he choked out his next words. “Forgive me dear daughter. Oh God, please forgive me… You are the strongest among us. The only one who stands a chance in this Hell of finding a way out for all of us.”
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