On Grim Wings

Upon Raven Feathers Onto Dreary Night

As the silhouette of the two broke the monotony of the midnight sky. Nevermore quickly scanned the ground and the situation that laid before her.

On a curious impulse due to gossip, she'd entered the home of the heiress of a large company that was only rumored to exist. It'd only been her intention to get some answers to questions that plagued her, not to then depart with the heiress in tow as her pupil, let alone her prisoner.

Two things became more and more apparent. One that they flee the city before her obviously over-protective father realized she'd left. And two, as marvelous as a show as she put on in the apartment, these wings were practically wax made and were dissipating with every wing beat. A safe landing in an unpopulated locale would grant them greater blessing than an oasis would grant a lost soul in the desert. Yet sure enough, there was no better place to find shelter than the slums. No one desires to be caught at night on those streets, especially in a city such as this.

"My apologies Miss Tepes but this shall be an unfortunate landing.", Nevermore whispered to her passenger. Orella clutched to her more fiercely than anyone had ever done so prior.

"What does that mean?" Orella trembled.

Nevermore's silence only further spawned unease in the heiress, "Brace yourself."

They descended rapidly as Nevermore's wings became torn and ragged. She extended her legs out, her body could easily survive such an impact but her passenger's durability was unknown to her. With a thud and a running stop Nevermore impacted the ground and barely managed to bring herself to a stop.

"Are you well enough to walk Miss Tepes?" she implored.

Orella trembled in her arms, the girl hadn't even stepped outside her house, let alone take to the skies.

Nevermore decided that it'd be best not to inform her of the fragility of her wings, lest the maiden pass out entirely.

"Y-Yes...I believe so.", Orella muttered. The Heiress was silent enough as is, save for her two outbursts in their discussion prior. Yet now she spoke with such softness that even the mice in hiding would sleep through her speech. Orella sheepishly lowered her legs to the ground before almost stumbling over. She seemed surprised when Nevermore caught her.

"I feel it best that you walk, my dear Tepes. Were you to be injured it'd make both of us far easier prey for the scavengers."

"I...apologize."

"No need. Though I've come to realize something quite...difficult." Nevermore said as she looked over Orella. Her white hooded dress made her look like the figure of a specter rather than an heiress. Almost instinctively, Orella brought up her hood that only served to cover her beautiful red eyes. Nevermore smirked though it was obscured through her mask.

"My dear Miss Tepes, you're the spitting image of a white lady."

Orella looked her arms over and seemed visibly confused.

"I suppose I am?"

"No, I was referring to...nevermind it, merely a passing thought. Whilst it seemed unwise to delay our departure perhaps I should've given you a moment to change your attire to something less conspicuous. Most folks in these parts don't own pure white garments due to the difficulty in cleaning them and the likeness of them becoming disheveled once more."

"...perhaps we should go back?" Orella mumbled. Nevermore's eyes shifted to the heiress, visibly unnerving her.

"Miss Tepes, you seem to have lost the three reasons that's simply impossible. Firstly, you are an heiress and I, for all intents and purposes, am your kidnapper. If we return to your abode the best case situation would be a swift execution for myself and for the key to your cage to be discarded, to be seen nevermore. The second being that as soon as your disappearance is made known to the public, far more malevolent kidnappers will come your way, once we leave the city the risk of ruffians reduces rapidly."