Raven Ashfury; the darkness approaches

14

Into the shop walked Alec, accompanied by a feral looking wolf, a blood-soaked vampire and an elf – that looked almost normal compared to the other. They had all one thing in common; black veins that stood out clearly. Their eyes were pitch black – but the vampire still had red eyes and the eye white had turned black. There was blood dripping down his mouth, like he just drained someone's blood. The wolf's hair stood upright, many wounds and scars were seen underneath his black fur. The elf's silver hair had gotten dirty, and at some parts it was red and stuck together – as if it had been in blood. Alec had just like the others many wounds and scars all over him.

Varitan and Loona could only stare as they approached the register. Varitan turned around and held Loona close to him.

'Go upstairs.', he whispered. 'Get a weapon and get Raven out of here. Don't wait for me.', Loona nodded, and with a last glance at Alec, she sprinted up the stairs. Varitan stood with his back toward Alec for a few seconds. He heard screaming outside, and he feared the worst.

'Good evening.', he said as he turned around. He gave them a fake smile, trying to act as if he didn't notice the black veins and unusual features. 'What can I do for you?', Alec squinted his eyes as he looked at Varitan – as if he knew what he was trying.

'We're looking for someone.', Alec's voice sounded rough, hoarse, but not like Alec's actual voice.

'Doubt if you can find them here, it's just a bookstore.', Through the windows Varitan saw a house light up into fire. He gulped. This wasn't good.

'Raven Ashfurry.', Alec spoke. 'Where is she?'

Before Varitan could speak, someone walked down the stairs. He wiped his head around, afraid it might be Raven, but it was Skye. She took one glance at the visitors.

'Well, this is unusual, is it?', she said bluntly. Elijah stepped forward, ready to attack, but Alec stopped him. Varitan looked at wide eyes how his grandmother approached him. 'Well, go upstairs to your wife.', she chuckled. He almost wanted to complain about the fact that Loona was not his wife yet but still his girlfriend, but he stayed silent. This was not the right situation.

'Are you sure?', he asked the old woman.

'Yes, yes, now get your ass upstairs.', Skye said, pushing her grandson away from the counter and up the stairs. 'I have handled this bookstore hundreds of years before you, young man.', Varitan took one last glance at Skye, but then rushed upstairs. To his horror, Loona and Raven were still there. When Raven opened her mouth to ask what was going on, he shushed her quickly.

'They might be able to hear you.', he hissed. 'Why aren't you two gone already?'

'Skye told me that she'd come and get you.', Loona whispered, swinging Varitan's cape around his neck. 'We have your weapons, let's go.', Varitan put on a belt with a holder for a sword, swung the vessel with arrows on his back and held the bow in his head as he rushed to the window.

'You have a weapon as well, right?', he asked as he looked at Loona. He knew how bad she was at handling weapons and how she hated violence. But she nodded, and that comforted him. He opened the window and climbed out of it, standing on the roof, waiting for Raven and Loona to get out.

Raven climbed out easily, and Loona followed. Screams were everywhere. Even in the dark evening, they could see clouds of smoke fly up into the sky, covering the entire night sky. You could hear demons growling, screeching and people trying desperately to save their families. Varitan walked in front of them as he walked to the end of the roof, balancing on a small stone wall as he stepped off it. He put the bow on his back as he helped both Raven and Loona get off the roof – he was taller and could reach it easier than the girls.