A Raven's Darkness (Book 1)

Chapter 14: Lucendo

Brady's Point Of View:

I'm guessing that what I saw was a dream. The shape shifter who gave me my curse stood right in front of me in the form of a wolf. I found myself in snow, just like when we first met. I looked to my right and I saw nothing but darkness. I turned back to looking in front of me. The only light in sight was the shapeshifter. "Have you come to talk to me?" I asked the wolf. The wolf howled and changed into a woman. Her four legs became two legs and two arms. She stood at 6' 3'' tall and was thirty-two years old. Her long brown curly hair was covered in snow and her light green eyes seemed to pierce my soul. Her black cape flowed from behind her, revealing the Jadern's blue stripe clan color upon her back. Finally, her dark brown communicator was in the form of the curse branch that wrapped around her right ankle like an anklet. "I have come to talk Brady. I said that I would look after you after all." She whisked her fingers in the air and I saw images of wolves running. Then, It vanished. "Just as the wolf runs, you have been running from me." I grunted. How did she find me? Is the curse mark some kind of tracker as well? "How can you talk to me now?" She laughed. "I contact people in their dreams, another gift of mine. I was fortunate enough to find you knocked out." I felt snow lightly kiss my cheek. "I'm listening." She continued. "You used your curse three times in a day. That allows me to contact you in this state for a few hours. Your body must heal itself this way." My left bare hand tightened into a fist beside me. "What is it that you wish?" She turned, lifted up her hand, and smiled as a bird found itself onto her hand. "Be as the bird. Still and unmoving." I narrowed my eyes. She rolled her eyes. "Stay still."

Noame's Point Of View:

Melkin chuckled. "You worry even if you don't show it beautiful." I shrugged it off. "Everyone worries at some point in their lifetime." He considered this. "Maybe so, but you hide it." I didn't want to get emotional with Melkin. "Brady is different though, isn't he?" He continued to ask. I was trying to be silent. "Noame, please answer me." I turned to face him. "Yes, he is. I have protected him since he was an orphan as a child." Melkin looked sentimental. "I-I'm sorry Noame. I didn't know." I shrugged it off. "Don't worry about it." We continued our five-mile walk in silence. It was tense between us. When we were nearly there, Melkin finally spoke. "Please forgive me Noame. I don't want this to come between our friendship." I sighed, shifting Brady on my shoulder. "I forgive you Melkin. We can talk later. We have to get Brady some help before he dies." I dragged onward with Melkin at my heels. Less than a mile remained. "Noame, wait." He pushed me down behind a boulder. "What?" I whispered. He pointed forward and I hid while looking. We arrived at the camp.

Magpie's Point Of View:

The purple blob jumped toward my face and I was helpless to stop it. The shadows kept me still as the blob hit my cheek. I gasped as it ate away my skin like acid. I struggled to pull away from the shadows but failed. "Macht." 22 My body glowed and everything was pushed away from me with a great force of inner power. I grunted, stood, and felt my burned acidic cheek. It almost caused a complete hole in my skin. "Try harder Cynthia.  I haven't even broken a sweat." Her face showed her intense anger toward me. She raised her staff, causing the shadows to disappear into the wall. "One on one then, you old woman!" She replied as I chuckled. "Let me show you this old woman's skills." She twirled her staff in circles, shooting off cursed taboo magic globes toward me. I hit each of them with my hands, burning them in the process, while getting closer to her. "This magic has changed you." I say as we go into hand-to-hand combat. My fist met her face and she shrunk back. "No, my king has saved me!" She replied in a deep voice. "Let's see if he saves you now." I grinned and shot a blast of air at her knees. "Lüftchen." 23 She gasped and fell flat on her face.

Lucendo's Point Of View:

I gazed at the only window in my dark and lonely room. I wanted to be dead so badly, for anything would be better than being a prisoner here. But, I remembered my Sid was out there somewhere, alive and well. I stood at 5' 2'' tall, had tan skin, and was thirty-eight years old. I was in a short crimson red dress that was very fancy, with diamonds embedded into the neck of the dress like a necklace. My purple-striped black Raven clan robe was hooked onto my back, despite their attempts at burning it. My long and straight brown hair with black ends was neatly brushed to perfection. My hazel eyes were dimmed, from loss of hope. My feet were bare and my toenails were painted crimson red. Of course I was well dressed, for I was a war trophy. I was someone to show off as proof that the Craven Commander, Coren, bested the Raven Clan ten years ago in the Great War. The soreness of my wrists caused me to look down at my hands to see my wrists bleeding from my handcuffs. My handcuffs were finely crafted and the chain that held my handcuffs tied me to the bed, which meant I had no chance of escape without a key. I heard footsteps coming toward my room and then a knock at my red door. I made my face appear emotionless. "Come in, Gary." Gary opened my door and walked in with a plate of food. I got the best of food and clothing but the worst of treatment. Gary was the only one who truly cared about me as a person. "Good morning Mrs. Warren. I have your food ready. Where do I need to put it?"