Corrupt

Chapter 9

My mind spins. 

That can't be right. They can't be right. 

In the last few hours, my whole life - everything I've ever known - has flipped on its head.

That can't be right. They can't be right.

"You're a liar," I declare, voice cracking slightly. Daeva - Raven - sighs, dropping their eyes to the ground. But the words stick in my throat. Somehow, deep down, I know that there must be more to this story. After all... I watch their gaze, full of that quiet exasperation I know so well. They are undoubtedly Nikolas' eyes: shimmering velvet green. 

"You really believe that, huh?" Though the words are strong, I catch a glimpse of pain behind their mask.

I can't let myself be tricked.

"Go on then, prove it. Prove to me you're not a villain, Raven."

Silence. I continue.

"Your case isn't currently looking great. From what I've been told, you're an evil murderer. Oh, and you stormed our castle, killed our people, kidnapped me, and trapped me here." 

"I'm sorry about that, darling," Daeva chuckles humourlessly. "Honestly I am. But you have to give me a chance to tell you otherwise. Just a chance to... To tell my story." They pause again, glance to the ceiling, cringe slightly and add a muttered, "Please." 

I mull over my incredibly limited options.

"Okay," I reply hesitantly. "I'll hear your story. Everything. If you prove not to be an evil murderer, maybe I'll trust you. A little bit."

Daeva/Raven nods. 

"I can't believe I'm doing this," they sigh. "Where do I start?"

"The beginning." 

I lean back, forgetting I'm not in one of the cozy armchairs I'm used to, and fall clumsily backwards. They throw out a gloved hand to catch me, the leather brushing lightly against the back of my neck, making the hairs stand on edge.

"Careful, sunshine. Down here's not the best place to die." They take a deep, shaky breath. It echoes around the claustrophobic cavern as they run a hand through their wine-red hair. "Right, okay. My name is Raven Umber. Well, that's my real name, at least. Nikolas Umber is my older brother. When we were younger, we discovered our powers. Quite by accident. The powers of fire. The ability to control fire, and to manipulate it." As they speak, sparks flutter and dance in their palms. "Of course, it... Well, nobody... Nobody wanted us after that. We were left orphans in a great war. We had only each other. But... Our powers... When we were together, they... Malfunctioned. Became too hard to control. It was terrifying. But I was 12. There was killing in the streets. Something had to give. I never thought it'd be..."

Their voice trails off as they gulp down a breath of air.

"Nikolas... Well, you know the story. He left me alone one day, whilst I was sleeping. When I woke up, he was gone, and the next thing I knew, he was the King of Vaskouyae, he had taken down the enemy. I didn't even see him. Not for weeks. Nobody understood what had happened. I did. I knew it had to be his powers. Our powers. A month later, I found my way to the castle. Guards tried to keep me away. They wouldn't listen to me, wouldn't believe my story. So I had to... To take matters into my own hands. I only meant to hurt them a little, to make them back off. Then they were dead. My powers were wild. I was too out of practice, too close to my brother. I knew I had limited time after that. I was a 12-year-old criminal while Nikolas was a hero - I had killed, as had he, but it was different. I couldn't tell that to everyone, though. So I just ran. Ran to find him." 

Another pause. I envision the scene: the child criminal, dashing through the castle halls, desperate for their lost brother. 

Surely this child cannot be the evil Daeva Korren. Daeva Korren is terrifying. This child is terrified.

"I don't know how far I ran, but I did find him in the end. Sat at a desk. He looked so... Different, dressed in all these posh clothes, perfect. My brother, the King, the hero. At first I was so happy to see him. But he... Something inside him was different, too. Like he was drunk from the power. He told me to leave. I refused. He was all I had. I was all he had. But it wasn't like that anymore. 'Our powers can only destroy each other', he said. I tried to tell him he was wrong. We could handle them. It turned out I was wrong. When he... He tried to warn me to leave, I suppose, with a small flame, but it... It got out of control. So quickly. Then he was burning, and the room was burning, and there were guards everywhere. I was being dragged away, and I was screaming, but he wouldn't listen, couldn't listen. Next thing I knew, I was an exiled murderer, the villain of Vaskouyae. I was left here, in these awful streets. I'd tried to assassinate the King. I was as evil as you could be."

I stare, gaping, into their eyes, unable to find a single word to say.

"I can guarantee that whatever you've heard isn't the truth, Lynette Answatch." 

"How do I know you're not lying?"

"Nikolas is a liar. I tried to reach him. I really tried. I sent letters, I tried everything. With every try, Daeva became more evil. Daeva had done something even worse. The lie became more and more twisted. Over the years, more and more people have shown up here. Not quite my story. But all of them have been sent by the King. Jesper. Mav. All of them. None of them are bad people. It's Nikolas."

"But he..."

"Lynette, you have to believe me." Something about that - them finally using my name - tells me that they're serious.  "Nikolas is a liar. Vaskouyae is not at peace. It's not the perfect little country you've been told it is. We live here, in these streets, like rats. Anybody who goes against the King ends up here. Those people you saw earlier? The ones who killed Jesper and Mav? They're his Watchers. The Lazifi. They kill us. They'll take any opportunity to kill us. Do you understand?" 

"I... Who are you? Really? Are you Raven Umber, or are you Daeva Korren?"

"Raven Umber was killed by their brother. I'm Daeva now. But Daeva isn't who you've been told they are. Nikolas is a liar, Lynette, you understand me?"

I don't want to believe them. Nikolas is not a liar. He's perfect. 

But is he?

"Why did you kidnap me?" I ask bluntly, fixing them with a steely gaze. They seem to quickly stifle a laugh.

"Okay, first, I'd rather we didn't call it kidnapping. Second, we'll get to that later. Okay? But, put simply, it's because you're... Different. I can tell. You're strong. You're smarter than the rest of them. Well, other than the whole..."

"Look, I know Nikolas. He's not evil." 

"You're wrong, sweetheart," they reply grimly. "I wish I could tell you that your perfect little unicorn world is real. But you have to know the truth. You're smart enough to know the truth. And your truth is a lie. Okay?"

"He can't be evil. He's done so much for us."

"That's exactly what he wants you to think!" Daeva springs to their feet, slamming a hand against the wall. I flinch backwards, involuntarily. "Lynette Answatch! You are smarter than this! You have to listen to me!" Before I can blink, the cool press of leather is on my cheeks, their fingers pressing into my skin. "I promise you I'm not lying, Lynette. Please believe me. We are dying. He is killing us. Okay? Vaskuoyae is under control of a liar. I'm not lying, Lynette. Please." 

There is a spark of passion in their stare, anger in their rushed breaths. The emotion is real. While it all seems so wrong... Something in my heart tells me I should listen.

"If you're lying to me..." 

"I'm not, darling. Promise." 

"You say that like it means anything." 

"It does."

"How do I know you're not lying?" I make one last desperate attempt.

"You don't. You just have to trust me for that one."

"So... Everything I know is a lie?"

"Afraid so," they shrug.

"Alright, Daeva, I believe you. So, what are we going to do?"