Dark Blood - A. Volturi

Chapter 10

Raven's POV (First Person)

I rushed back to my room and closed the door, breathing heavily even though it was unnecessary. I leaned against the wall, and slid to the floor. I was completely at a breaking point.

First, Alec knows my secret and could expose me any moment.

Second, He beat me in training without his abilities.

Third, if we were in an ability fight, he could kill me long before I could.

Was my cover really blown? At this point, I was just counting days and nights until it was. And that would mean only one thing. Death.

I slowly stood up, my figure shaking, and unconsciously I reverted back to my original identity.

It was truly frightening. Nothing was going as planned. I was at the brink of exposure. I really couldn't do anything. This was the end of it all.

Alec's POV

Aro called us into the throne room, saying he had news.

"Ah yes, Alec, Jane, Demetri and Felix. I have something important to share. I have located a vampire who can communicate with the dead, and give them a choice of coming back," Aro informed us.

I immediately paid attention. Was this possible? If so, could I bring back the real Jade? Expose Raven?

"I would like you to find her and bring her back to us. Her name is Rori. She travels with another, named Ashton. Bring them both back," Aro explained, "I have great expectations from both of them.

Oh, great expectations alright. Perfect. Raven, you better stay on guard all the time, because you're about to be exposed.

Raven's POV

I heard the summons for a meeting echo through the halls, but I couldn't move. My legs felt like stone, and the walls of my room seemed to close in around me. Aro's summons were never optional, yet the thought of standing in the same room as Alec after last night made me want to vanish into the shadows forever.

He knew.

There was no mistaking the way he looked at me, like a predator circling its prey. And now, with Aro's mysterious news, I couldn't shake the feeling that my time was running out faster than I could handle.

Forcing myself to stand, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My real reflection. Raven Corvenn. Cold, calculating, and ruthless. The facade I had worked so hard to build felt more fragile by the second, as though Alec's knowing eyes could shatter it with a single glance.

I sucked in a breath. No. This wasn't the end. Not yet.

Whatever Aro was plotting, I'd adapt. That's what I've always done—adapt, survive, and climb higher. But deep down, fear clung to me like a second skin. Alec wasn't just a threat to my real identity. He was a threat to everything I'd worked for, and worse, I couldn't read him like the others. His cold, sadistic nature kept me guessing, making him dangerous in ways I hadn't anticipated. And his ability was dangerous, especially if his sister helps him.

Alec's POV

As we left the throne room, Aro's words played over and over in my head. A vampire who could communicate with the dead. Rori.

The possibilities twisted through my mind like a storm. If Rori could truly bring the dead back, then Jade—the real Jade—could return. And Raven's little charade-act would be over.

She thought she was clever, but she underestimated me. Last night confirmed everything I'd suspected for weeks. The way she moved, the subtle differences in her demeanor, the cracks in her carefully constructed mask.

I didn't expose her—not yet. Timing was everything.

But now, with this new mission, I had leverage.

"Demetri, Felix," I called, my voice cold as we made our way down the corridor.

They stopped, turning to face me.

"Prepare yourselves. We leave at dawn," I ordered, keeping my tone even.

Jane raised an eyebrow. "What about Jade? Shouldn't she be included?"

"She'll only slow us down," I replied, glancing toward her closed door at the end of the hall. "Besides, she's not ready for something like this."

Jane tilted her head, studying me with suspicion, but said nothing.

I smirked inwardly. Let Raven battle with inner turmoil. Let her unravel herself while we found Rori. Because when the real Jade returned, there would be no place left for Raven to hide.

The game had begun.

A/N: Okay. I'm sorry. This chapter is short and stupid, but I promise what's coming next will be worth the wait. But for now, who do you think is going to end up with who?

Happy New Year! I'll post in 2025 ^-^

Jade