The Raven's Source

Chapter 49 - Premonitions

Cerno stepped out of the car and stretched his body toward the sky as far as he could after the long car ride. He smiled then turned around, holding his hand out to Rose to assist her as she herself got out. "Happy New Years Eve, Rosie. What do you think?" he asked, looking up at his newly completed home.

"The new house looks great," Rose said as she took it all in. It was still larger than a regular family home but she knew it was mostly since it would still be utilized for business affairs and larger parties. The new manor had many more windows though, taking after Sheja and Leena's home.

"Shall we go in and take a look around? After we get settled in a bit, we can check on everyone. I mean, I'm assuming everyone is fine since Saorsa is still standing and not on fire," he said with a playful chuckle. "And we didn't receive a bird about Leena, so I'm guessing things are still quiet with her."

"Maddie's already expecting us as well," Rosalie mentioned as she pulled her jacket around herself a little tighter. Saorsa had a few days with warmer, sunshine filled weather while they were away and much of the snow had melted, but the sight of the remaining snow still made her shiver. "And you'll want to ready your snow-troupes again, I heard at the gate that this beautiful weather isn't going to stick around for too much longer and we're going to get more snow."

"Good to know. And is Madeleine feeling better? I didn't want to subject her to such a horrible human—if one could even call him that—while she was fighting the cold she came down with. I know Yaya is probably going bananas that we haven't interrogated him yet."

"Really? She's probably gone bananas just because you let him live. I don't think she cares to hear his reasonings," Rose said.

"You're probably right," he admitted. "But he's about to face his greatest torment in the next few weeks and every day we get closer and my father's still lamenting over it—it makes my heart soar." He hung up both of their jackets in the closet by the front door. He looked around with a smile, seeing the large living room that was warm and inviting. Just like Shej and Leena's home, it had large, two story windows to give a beautiful view of the city below. "He doesn't want to see my sister live happily. He tried everything he could to keep her from procreating, especially knowing they too were having twins because it meant more powerful children. Leena having those babies and Sheja being there for it all is currently our father's darkest seed of hatred."

"It still amazes me that he'd be upset about the twins. We have no idea their genders, they could be strong boys which makes them perfect according to the world."

"But it's unknown and they carry the blood of not one, but two Taboo's. That's why he's hated them long before he's had a chance to meet them."

"Deranged."

"That's putting it mildly," Cerno snorted as he started down the hallway. He paused and looked back as his sister's voice announced itself from the living room area.

"Anyone home?" Sheja said as she let herself inside.

"Yaya," Cerno said with a smile, walking up and wrapping his arms around her.

"Welcome back. How was your business trip?"

"Busy," Rose answered with a chuckle. "But thankful it's done and we're home."

Cerno nodded in agreement.

"What were you guys doing, anyway?"

Cerno smiled happily. "You'll see."

"It's a surprise? You suck at surprises as bad as you suck at acting," Sheja teased.

Rosalie laughed before turning and walking down the hall towards the kitchen.