Chapter 3:
Sneaking and Hauntings
Raion rode through the forest, he soon arrived back in town. By this time the sun was going down, he moved quickly and quietly through the streets so as not to draw attention to himself. He moved to the back of a building and released the horse he rode in on. Then climbed up the wall and to a window at the top. He crawled in and turned around to close to the window then heard the sound of a pistol clicking behind him.
“Make one more move and I’ll blow your brains out.” Said a woman’s voice behind him. Raion grinned and raised his hands playfully.
“Now, now Misty, is that anyway to treat a paying customer??” He asked with a grin.
The girl eyed him, “Raion?” she asked curiously. Raion turned around and removed the hood from his head.
“Ah, Misty I am shocked! Ye be holdin a pistol to me back like this??” He said playfully, his hands still in the air.
The black haired girl with red eyes looked at him annoyed, “You know as well as I do, Raion I can’t take any chances. Besides what if it had been a thief or even worse a royal solider?” she asked him still holding the pistol at him.
“Now why would they be comin through the window?” He asked with a smile on his face.
“Not funny.” Misty said with a firm tone.
“Tell me Misty, may I be puttin me hands down now??” He grinned at her.
“Oh for crying out loud.” She said annoyed with him once more. She lowered her pistol and sat down on the bed. Raion lowered his hands and moved over to the dresser, he took off his cloak and placed his bandanna back on his forehead, then turned and leaned against it with his hands crossed over his chest.
“Misty, listen closely, there is a girl I met today. I told her if she ever needed to contact me, she come deliver a message here to you. Her name is Star, either she will come or a servant of hers. Ye take the message, though she only knows me as Daniel. Understood?” he asked her getting more serious.
“A servant?? So this girl is well to do, eh??” Misty asked raising an eyebrow.
“Yes, but there is something about her, I be feelin connected to her. I hope she will contact me. So will ye do it Misty??” He asked her.
“Yea, I’ll do it.” Misty said reluctantly. Raion laughed at her reaction.
“Good, it’s getting late, I need to clean up and go meet me crew. I will be back here around ten. Though if she shows up, ye are to get me the message immediately. Understood?” Raion asked him.
“Yeah, I understand, Brayden.” she said, blowing her hair out of her face. She stood up, her brown pants fitting tightly against her body, wearing a blue button up shirt. “Good luck tonight. I better be goin, got me a tavern to run.” she said turning and walking to the door. She stopped and looked over her shoulder, “And next time, give me some kind of warning ok?? Besides it looks bad for business with you climbing in and out of that damned window.” She said with a wink, she opened the door and moved out. Raion turned and chuckled to himself, he sat down in front of the mirror and thought back to earlier when he met Aster.
“Something about that girl. I wish I knew what it was, though I got a strange feeling that I know her from somewhere. Like we met before, I wonder if this has anything to do with those dreams of mine.” Brayden said looking into the mirror, his voice soft.
He looked in the mirror, remembering her hair, her look. There was a light in her eyes that triggered something inside him. Then he started to remember the scenes from his childhood. A young girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. Him and his parents on a ship, heading somewhere quickly. He lowered his head and held it with his hands as images began to play over and over.
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“Mama, where are we going?” a young brown haired boy asked.
“The royal family needs our help son. I will count on you to help keep the princess safe, when we arrive.” A woman with blonde hair and green eyes stated softly. The surroundings of the ship seemed plain to him. He nodded to his mother. Just then he turned around hearing an explosion.
“MAMA!” he shouted in surprise and almost fear.
“Brayden! Get in the closet and hide now! Do not come out till I come get you.” the woman said franticly. The little boy did as he was told, he ran to the closet and hide, his mother ran out of the bedroom quarters and into the hall of the ship. Explosions and sounds of fire and swords could be heard, screams soon filled the air and then silenced. The little boy sat there, hiding, trying to stay calm. Just then the door opened and he looked up to see a big man standing in front of him in pirate garb. He stood to his feet and ran at him.
“WHERE’S MY MAMA AND PAPA!!??” he screamed trying to be strong and courageous. The man laughed at him and picked him up.
“Sorry little one, they be gone now. Ye be all that is left.” The man said, he threw Brayden on the bed and turned and looked at him. He didn’t see any fear in his eyes, just anger. The man was ready to kill him then and there, but instead he spoke up again. “I like ye courage, little one. I think I be keepin ye boy. Maybe if ye are lucky ye will and I will take ye under me wing.” He said. The man picked him up and carried him out of the room, under his arm. Brayden looked down to see his parent’s lifeless bodies, and did his best to hide his tears.
“Mama, Papa.” He cried softly.
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Brayden snapped out of it and looked at himself in the mirror. “These nightmares are getting worse. Now I be gettin them in the day time. Who were those people? I can’t remember. Were they really me parents?? Was I really someone else?? Everything is just so confusin. Well enough of this Raion, time to get ready and meet with ye crew.” He asked himself softly, then he shook his head and focused his thoughts on Aster, smiling once more. He stood up and walked into the bathroom and showered.
