A Court of Ravens and Shadow

7

Unable to shake the eerie sense of being watched, I run my hand through my hair as I pace back and forth. The dim early morning light filters through the window, offering a soft & solemn glow.

No sleep was had following our arrival from the forest. I am sure both Cassian and Rhys suffered the same, questions ricocheting through our heads. Thinking back to the screams that shred through my head when the seventh ring was activated, a shiver crawls down my body. Screams of torture. The wind, as if it were a cage you could not escape. The seventh ring was the ring of torture. Souls that when disturbed, terrorised with restriction & torture.

And now that the third ring had been activated, what havoc may it reap. What emotional turmoil will be drawn on to terrorise. Sighing in frustration, I swing my wooden door open, in need of air. Descending the stairs and through the entry, I reach for the front door, but a faint black glimmer catches my eye. Turning my head towards the side room, I see Alira stood motionless, her back to me.

"Alira" I call, mild confusion lacing my voice. It is when I get no response, no movement, I take curious, cautious steps towards her. "Hey" I call again. As I reach her, my breath catches.

Her eyes glow fiercely, the blue igniting like a blue flame, vacancy in her face. Grabbing her shoulders, I search her face "Hey! Alira! Hey" I call to her. No reaction, no recognition. I shake her gently, searching. But she was frozen, as if she were elsewhere.

Moment's pass, "Alira" I call again, this time, more frustrating cutting through my voice. Shaking her again, I see her pupils dilate, the simmering in them softens, her body coming to life again. She sucks in a sharp breath as she shakes her head. I let out a breath of relief, my panic dissolving, my heart beating.

"Azriel" she whispers, as she looks up at me, her eyes boring into me. Dropping my hands from her shoulders, I push out a look breath, dragging my hand on my forehead. Before I can ask her what happened, she looks down "it happened again".

"And what did you see?" I ask. And as I ask, clarity hits me. Looking over Alira, her black hair hanging to her waist, sways as she shakes her head. My heart beats quicker, as I absorb the realisation.

"It was the rings, the ring, glowing in the dark of the forest." While Alira knows about the rings, she does not know of last nights mess. What had been activated. My breathing steadies, drops shallow almost, as I observe her in front of me. How could she be? A rare kind. A rare skill to be bestowed. Her face, clueless to what I now know, clueless to her own being. Confusion & frustration grip her mind, reflected right back in her face. Her eyebrows crowded together.

Dropping my hand from my head, heart beating, I reach my hand out to her face. Gently, hesitantly, tucking the hair that falls over her face, back behind her ear. She looks up at me again, wide eyed, her face calming a notch. I strange emotion washes over me so delicately, it almost feel like a winter chill.

Pulling my hand back, I shake my head looking downward. "You do not have any idea of what you are harnessing?" I ask her, honestly. Looking back at her from my eyebrows. Her eyes crinkle - confused again. Letting her think for a moment, I cross my arms, standing straighter.

"You are one of the rarest kinds. This gift, I have only seen a couple of times in my years." I begin. She shakes her head, not quite following.

"You are a seer, Alira." I reveal. It takes a moment for her to process my words, but I can see, the veil in her eyes dropping as she too realises. Clarity.

A seer, a special type of Fae, who are presented visions of the future, the current. They are blessed with the burden of seeing.

"But how am I to train this power, this ability? There is no other seer's around Azriel." She explains quickly. Her mind clearly racing.

I stifle a chuckle. Shaking my head, I step closer to her again. "And you do not know who I was trained by?" I begin, she shakes her head. "When my powers started to manifest, not one shadowsinger was around to help me. But who was around, was a Seer." I pause taking a breath in. "You see, the skills that help refine the powers of a Seer, is that very similar to a Shadowsinger. The two, they go hand in hand." Her eyes flicker with hope.

"And this Seer, are they still around?" She asks.

I look away. my mouth twitches as I remember the cruel, grim fate of my teacher. I block the memory from my mind. Never had I seen once succumb to their own abilities. To be torn apart from the mind. To whither away. "No." I answer, more sharply than I had intended.

She looks down, mild sorrow in her eyes. I look over her, my eyes skimming her face. Tanned skin, eyebrows strong, a perfectly pointed nose, lips full, and a chin so delicate. "But I will train you. I will help you." I say firmly. She looks up at me with apprehension, once again her eyes flickering with hope.

Stepping even closer, my heartbeat quickening at the proximity. I feel the heat radiating between the two of us. If Rhys were to walk in here... I shut down the thought. I would know he is awake before he would himself. My shadows would let me down like this...

Her eyes bore into my, so intensely. Suddenly, it is much harder to breathe. I fight the urge to reach out to her again. "I wont let you down." I manage to get out before sucking in a sharp breath and stepping past her. "I need some air" I say as I leave her in the room, exiting out the front door.

My heart races. My body hot. I Walk. And walk.