RAVEN

CHAPTER 1

Crimson

            Vivian wakes at the base of a lone barren tree, fiery blue and mysterious. It took only a moment for her to realize that she was all alone. The first thought that came to mind is that she is dead, followed by the implication that she could be hallucinating. Maybe this was the so-called afterlife, where she would be judged for her crimes – not that she had many.

             She swallows, sitting up and looking around. It felt far too realistic. From the sound of dried leaves crunching underfoot to the chilly breeze that raised goosebumps under her skin. The strong smell of smoke, gunpowder, and charring flesh was gone, replaced by the fresh scent of the forest. She could still remember pulling the pin and watching as everything went down in flames. It's not easy to forget the searing heat and that of shrapnel digging into her skin.

            Her eyes darted around, seeing that other than the tree, everything else was enclosed in jagged crystal stone. Vivian's heart hammered against her chest as she stood up, carefully circling the trunk. There was a strange force urging her to touch the tree and against her will, her hand reached out, tapping lightly on the rough twisted bark.

            At first, nothing happened but out of the blue, an illusory image played out her whole life like a movie. Her parents, grandparents, and even her uncle who took care of her until she died. Memories of the life she had lived from childhood to her teenage years. Slowly, her world fades to black as the memories came to an end.

~ ♛ ~

            The full moon hung high in the sky, the light reflecting on an open window of a gothic manor. Inside the room, a crowd of midwives and a physician scurried about. Vivian's eyes snapped wide open, immediately regretting doing so as the light pierced straight through the back of her skull. The world spun, and everything looked skewed and blurry. She could vaguely make out the wired bedframes, bespoke wood flooring, and a tall man looming over her.

            "She's alive!"

            An elated voice was heard from the man's mouth. He was the doctor assigned by the Duke to take care of his wife Ophelia and their newly born daughter. Not long after childbirth, the baby was confirmed as stillborn. It is not uncommon for something to go wrong during labor. In dire circumstances, sometimes both mother and child faced death.

            However, everyone remained apprehensive – for one could never predict how the family would react to such news. While the nurses tried to calm the near-hysterical woman, the doctor racked his brain for a plausible excuse to get them away from the Duke's wrath.

            It was during this time that Vivian's soul was sent into the dead baby, resurrecting the body to life. Vivian noticed that her body was smaller compared to how she originally was before she fainted. Her perspective of people grew bigger to the point that they were giants next to her.

            In her disoriented and confused state, she failed to notice the widened eyes and gaping jaws of the occupants in the room. Even the middle-aged woman, who was screaming and crying a few minutes prior abruptly stilled.

            It's a miracle. The doctor praised inwardly, shoving his amazement to the back of his brain. "How could this be? We had run different tests only to have the same result. Dead." He muttered under his breath, taking the baby from the maid holding her.

            He inspected her from head to toe, still wondering how she came back to life. It seemed even he knew that he was taking a lot of time, as he could feel the piercing stare from the mother, burning a hole through his head.

            "Milady, would you like to carry your daughter?" The doctor inquired. That question didn't even need to be answered as the female made grabbing motions in an attempt to hold her baby.

             Her indigo hair formed a stark contrast to the paleness of her skin. It reminded Vivian of her mother back then. Maybe it was the way her eyes crinkled when she smiled or the adoring look, she gave when she cradled Vivian in her arms. Everything felt surreal.

             Vivian could see her reflection in those clear pools of grey. A baby swaddled in a beige blanket. Somewhere in her head, she struggled to come to terms with this new mother's appearance compared to her old one. Deep inside, she understood that there was no going back. That this is her new life, whether she liked it or not.

             Although there is no scientific explanation as to how her soul managed to enter a younger body, at the very least there should be an answer as to wh—the sound of the door slamming open cut off Vivian's thought process.

             Her head turned towards the source of the noise, as did everyone else in the room. A blond-haired man dressed in fine clothes stood at the entrance of the doorway. Striking with high cheekbones and thin lips. His hooded crimson eyes coldly observed the people inside, softening slightly when it fell upon his fatigued wife.

             Vivian could tell from the respectful gazes of all those present, that this man was the one in charge. From what she had gathered, he may be the father of this body. She watched as the man strode forward, making a beeline towards her.

             The physician and the midwives shuffled aside, shoes squeaking against the polished floor. Her eyes followed his movements as he settled down on the side of the bed. Vivian involuntarily flinched when she felt a cold hand stroke down her cheek. Even in her previous life, she had never let anyone get that close to her face after the incident.

              Her so-called parents fell into the rhythm of a light, easy banter. Their words started to sound muffled to her, perhaps she had used too much energy trying to understand the situation she was in.

             "Viktor......scared..........she....", Vivian could only hear snippets of their conversation, her eyes fluttering closed, only being able to hear the last few words before she fell asleep.

              "Our little Raven."