A Court of Ravens and Shadow

4

Rhys thrums his fingers on the hard wood table, his leg crossed on the other. Cassian and I look to each other in the silence. We knew better than to press Rhys when he was in deep thought, his near violet, blue eyes focused on the distance of the room.

It had been exactly three minutes and eighteen seconds that Rhys had been in this state of ponder. I see Cassian shift in his seat, impatience rising in him. As if sensing his brother's impatience, Rhys snaps his head back to us, "and you are sure of this, Az?"

"Indeed. My informants never lie." I clarify. Rhys nods in understanding, his hand resting on his chin. "However, Alira cannot be included in this matter once more. She is to... remain here in the house. She will be of no need." I consider for a moment, "We will go in the night, she shall sleep, as per Madja's orders." I affirm, nodding.

Rhys quirks his head, Cassian nods in understanding. "Az is right, Alira should rest, the herbs appear to have made her..." Withdrawn? Distant? "Calmer." Cassian suggests. I shift my eyes to the floor, a cold chill crawls down my neck.

It had only been last night she confessed her goings to me. I knew the herbs weren't working. They were of no use. Placebo some might argue. Her distance masked as calmness, was all a façade for the rapture that was unveiling in her mind.

After hearing of her visions... thoughts, I knew a mess was brewing. A mess in which I had play partial to. Guilt roils over me. I shake it off, lifting my eyes back to Rhys'.

"We will set off this evening. Return to the forest. Move the dime. And we will not return." Rhys confers to us. We nod in agreement. He stiffens, looking sharply to the both of us. "Do not let any of those spirits attach themselves to you. The torment they bring, it won't be pretty & it will be very hard to fix."

I recall a wives tale originating from the Soulless woods. It was said that when a spirit, or spirits for that matter, attach themselves to you, you do not know until it has outwitted you. The spirit, soulless, showing itself as a person, manifests as your deepest innermost thoughts, desires, terrors, all to torment you in one way or another. Be it, something you wish to have but cannot. Or something you fear.

The terrors that would be seen if a spirit manifested from the memories that exist within my mind. The pain. The torture. The years of abuse. I banish the thoughts to the back of my mind. These are the thoughts that terrorise my mind in its quietest state. Where my mind is at peace, a beast of horror prowls, ready to pounce.

To the contrary, the desires that would manifest, I would never let the spirit see the light of day.