Chapter 5 Voices and dreams

(The world of RAWA)

Hariel sat alone in her room now very much in tune with her new reality. She woke up hours ago from the sleep Rebekah had put her in and immediately demanded an explanation. This time she was more than prepared to take all they had to say in.

"I am a witch" She repeated looking at her hands in amazement and as if to agree her fingers emitted a tiny spark that had her moving back a little.

Seconds later she giggled. "I'm running from my own fingers now?" Then it finally hit her that she just did magic albeit not so much, she started freaking out.

"What? What is it?" Lazarus ran in holding a stick.

If not for how scary and serious the whole thing was Hariel would have bursted out in laughter on seeing her father so disoriented.

"I...spark.....it...of ...fingers".

Lazarus paused trying to understand her but finally gave up when he couldn't .

"English dear".

"A spark came out of my fingers" she repeated more clearly.

Lazarus felt a relief course through him immediately. Sighing he sat by her.

"A lot of things are bound to start happening my dear and I'm afraid we have the littlest of time to prepare".

She didn't say anything and he decided to continue.

"Your father never wanted you to come back here for your own good".

He kept talking while Hariel got lost in thoughts at those words "your father"

Lazarus had told her all about him and her birth. Apparently apart from being a witch, she was royalty. A child born to save the world because of a prophecy. It was laughter worthy if you weren't the said child and if it was a joke.

Her biological father, the king of RAWA had wanted to shield his precious daughter from the claws of the prophecy and had sent her along with his trusted right hand, Lazarus, to the human world.

Lazarus and his wife Rebekah had no problem complying as Rebekah had long wished for a child since she couldn't bear one and Lazarus could never say no to his king and friend.

The king had made them promise never to return to the world of witches. He had told Lazarus of his plan to give birth to another child and just sell a believable story on the death of his firstborn child being Hariel. After all, the prophecy clearly stated his firstborn child.

There was only one reason he gave that they were to return to RAWA and that was if the king couldn't bring forth another heir.

One would think the goddess would just go ahead and choose some other heir right? But the laws surrounding RAWA were different. The whole world could go down in shambles if the right heir didn't ascend the throne and as far as Hariel lived, she was the only heir the throne would recognise.

"Wait, what did you just say?" Hariel snapped out of her thought.

"We had to mask your scent in order for you not to be recognised?" Lazarus asked.

Hariel scrunched her face in confusion at his statement but that still wasn't what had caught her attention. "No, the other thing you said"

"Your uncle plans to ascend the throne?".

"Yes! That" Hariel halted Lazarus as he was about to ramble out all he had been saying for the past minutes.

"If he wants to ascend the throne, why am I needed?. Can't we just let him?". Hariel questioned, finally having a bit of relief that she could actually escape this weight that's resting on her shoulders.

"Have you been listening Hariel?" Lazarus wiped at his face frustrated "you're the only heir RAWA'S throne would recognise. If your uncle ascends that throne, we are all doomed. Not just because of the law but because your uncle is a tyrant".

Hariel didn't seem fazed.

"You see no problem in that?" Lazarus asked, baffled.

"Am I supposed to?" She replied exasperated

Lazarus laughed bitterly "Hariel you still don't understand, do you?".

She looked at him obviously not understanding why he was so worked up.

"Hariel the entire RAWA is now in connection to you" Lazarus explained "They feel it but are probably not understanding why and this might make them think your uncle is probably a rightful heir seeing as you're supposed to be dead and the late king had no other child. And if that's not enough for you then you also have to understand if RAWA goes down, so would you"

Hariel's eyes widened "are you trying to say I'll die if I don't take up the throne?"

Lazarus looked at her with sad eyes and the underlying answers sunk right into her head causing fear to wash over her.

"This isn't fair da....." she paused at the last word looking at him. Was she still going to refer to him as that?

Sensing her inner turmoil, Lazarus sighed "I am still your father regardless Hariel".

"I'm scared dad" she whimpered.

Lazarus hugged her, hating to see her this sad and broken especially knowing there was nothing he could do about it. This was her destiny and the lives of so many depended on her now.

He wasn't sure about his thoughts but he was now having an inkling on what the prophecy might have been referring to as "doom". He couldn't help but wonder if they only helped push the prophecy to come to pass when they took Hariel out of RAWA.

*******

"Come on child, don't be afraid"

Hariel walked cautiously to the lady whose face wasn't visible. Normally she would ignore somebody she didn't know but the aura this woman possessed was almost irresistible.

"Sit".

The one word echoed with melody and Hariel was quick to obey. She didn't want the woman to stop talking. She concluded that she liked her and as funny as it sounded she didn't want to leave her presence.

The woman laughed "oh but you'd have to leave Hariel. They need you".

Hariel looked at her in confusion but waved it off nevertheless. Her melodic voice was speaking and that's all she cared about.

"Listen up child!". This time the voice was stricter like a mother telling off her child.

Hariel still found it enchanting regardless. It was like the woman was trying to be what she was not. She wasn't wicked and that was a fact Hariel could tell but still, she gave undivided attention to the woman. She didn't know why she felt the need to either.

"You have to be strong. RAWA needs you now more than ever" the woman spoke, rubbing circles on Hariel's back as she laid on the woman's laps.

"I know it's all not clear right now but you need not slack around child" She raised Hariel you by her chin "You're the chosen one for a reason".

Hariel didn't feel the need to answer but she was very much attentive to every word that was uttered by the woman.

"Look" The woman pointed to one part of the place Hariel now noticed looked like an open field.

Hariel gasped with the picture that played out before her. Different bodies were dropping and like she was stabbed she held onto her chest gasping for breath.

"Wh....what's happening t....to..the...them?" she struggled but managed to get out.

"There's only so much I can do child" the woman now stood in front of her blocking her view from the disturbing sight. "Some things just can't be controlled even by me. What you're seeing right now is the image that would likely take place if you don't fight away the evil that is about to take over RAWA".

Hariel stared wide eyed at her, still trying to breathe properly.

"The blood of RAWA would be on your head dearest child"

How does one begin to carry a whole world on their shoulders?, Hariel thought. Just some days ago she was out partying with her friend and now she's here carrying hundreds of life on her shoulders?. How unfair!. Life sure knew how to pick its target.

"You have to fight Hariel!".

_______

Hariel woke up with a start breathing heavily.

She thought back to every word that Lazarus had told her and every word of the strange woman in her dream that she now realized sounded a lot like the voices she'd grown up hearing in her head. Then and there Hariel came to a conclusion.

Her door opened and her parents came in with little smiles.

Hariel couldn't give one back. She was now on a mission and with renewed confidence she asked.

"What do I have to do to get my throne back?".