Ashes of Revenge

Chapter 14: The Art of Lying

Fire encased and burned Raven's body.

She wanted to get out.

Run–

Scream–

Escape–

But she couldn't.

The voice resonated through the air.

That voice that she now knew.

Heat–

Pain–

Death–

***

Raven jerked and sat up, trying her hardest to get air into her lungs. She could feel her sweat making her body hot and yet cold at the same time.

Death was standing in front of her, and he simply pointed behind her. She turned around and immediately became confused. Richard was flying outside of her window, tapping his knuckle against the glass.

She groggily stood and opened the window. A pounding headache had decided to appear, and she didn't know if it was because she was hungover or if it was the nightmare.

"What?" she asked as she rubbed her head.

"Get yer things."

"Why?"

"To earn back what yeh lost last night."

"I have a headache," Raven groaned.

"I don't bloody care. Yeh were tha one that chose to get wasted off yer arse."

Raven groaned and walked to the small pile of clothes, putting on her boots before throwing her cloak over her. She picked up her sword from the ground and slid it into the sheath. She walked to the window and began to climb out of it, guessing that if Richard was flying outside, he didn't want them to be seen by the Knights. Sitting on the window sill, she saw that the sun hadn't even fully risen, and with that recognition, she wanted to cry.

Richard placed his hands under her armpits, and they floated down to the ground where Colt was.

Colt's arms were crossed over his chest, and a mad and tired expression rested on his face. His hood was over his head, but it was still clear that he was hungover as well.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Death falling from the window while . . . saluting her? He shot into the ground and disappeared.

"Go," Richard said.

Raven threw her hood on and walked away.

Colt went his own way.

Richard walked in another.

***

Fernando walked down the hallway and tapped his knuckle against Raven's door. His mouth opened, and her old name tried to form on his lips, but he forced her new one to come out, "Raven? The Queen and Prince are eating breakfast, and they have invited you and your friends to join them."

No answer.

"Raven?" he asked as he slowly opened the door. His heart skipped a beat when he saw an empty room.

He went to Colt's room and opened the door: nothing.

Then to Richard's: nothing.

He cursed under his breath and walked out of the building and to the Tavern, where his Prince and Queen were eating. They were both wearing new, elegant, expensive clothing that was, of course, green.