RAVEN

CHAPTER 4

The Mind's Mirror

       It began silently.

     She felt weightless, afloat in the darkness.

       Until she could see the light rippling in the surface above, reminding her of where she was. She found the shimmering walls of water and the quiet peace beautiful. A masterpiece in the making.

       Raven could feel as if there was a heavy blanket over her, slowly lulling her into a sleep-like state. However, the ocean was a graceless entity. The icy-water shocked her system, tearing through her body like a thousand knives cutting deep within, drowning her thoughts, her mind, everything.

        It seeped into her ears, her nose, her lips, and flooded through her veins. It gushed down into her lungs, causing a surge of intense pain to ricochet off her ribs and around her torso, the salty liquid stinging her eyes until she was blinded.

        She could feel her lungs screaming for air, as her legs and arms thrashed around inside an invisible prison. Her hands clawed at the sea, desperately trying to keep her head above the watery grave that waited to swallow her whole. She searched blindly for something to keep afloat, a raft of wood, the shore, anything to keep her alive for a little while longer.

          The frigid finger of realization poked its way through her fear and made her realize the truth. She could sink, right here, right now and no one would find her. She could die here and bury her past with her. And no one would have to know. The temptation was great, to just give up and let everything go.

           Her vision became dark and deluded, letting the sea engulf her and let the water take her to the depths of the ocean. Her body was numb, too tired to fight for survival. It was there she shut her eyes and waited for the end to come, almost praying for it, so she could see the faces of her dear family once more.

           Fate, however, had other plans. She felt herself being tugged upwards, by a hand on her wrist, sputtering air when she reached broke through the surface. The world stood still for a moment, as the moon rose behind a shadowy figure, whose golden eyes were the only thing she remembered as she slips awake.

~ ♛ ~

           Nightmares have always been a repetitive process. Some days, Raven wondered if she pissed off the god of dreams in her past life, hence why her sleep always ends up with her waking up first thing in the morning with the flashing image of gold at the forefront of her mind.

        It first started after the baptism, with vague recollections of what happened in her slumber. Over time, she began to remember bits and pieces of water and moonlight. It was vivid, but at the same time cryptic. Raven had an inkling suspicion that it could be the work of the tree. But why?

             Preoccupied with where her thoughts were taking her, Raven chose to focus on other things instead. On the floor of her nursery, she sat on the carpet playing with a small porcelain doll that had been given to her by Ophelia.

         Mentally, she arranged all her experiences in chronological order and by importance in the shelves of her inner library. A habit she had gotten used to doing to keep her sane, the skeletons in her closet were hidden at the deep recesses of her mind. Out of sight.

             She could easily tell, from the outfits, the furniture, and even the way the people around her spoke. She surmised that it was similar to the 17th to 18th century, the Victorian era. An aristocratic society of noblemen and women.

             From the King, all the way down to being a Baron. It followed a monarchic system, that was headed by the royal family. All she knew was that Viktor was one of the four dukes in the kingdom and Ophelia, who never discussed her background, took over managing the household when he was away.

             Raven meticulously adjusted the clothes on the black-haired doll, peering into its glassy blue eyes. Smiling, she placed the doll right in front of her and continued to play.

~ ♛ ~

         The night was descending, yet it was still brightly lit in the area. A lively tune resounded in the living room, improving the mood of anyone who heard it.

             "Fly me to the moon. Let me gaze upon the stars~". Ophelia sat in front of an upright piano made of beautifully carved rosewood, her slender fingers gliding across the keys as she sang and swayed to the music. By her side, Alistair nodded happily and sang along with her, sometimes pressing a key or two in delight.

             The duo was so absorbed in their performance, that it was endearing to see. Viktor and Raven reclined at the couch, both focused on doing their own thing as they listened.

              Viktor was busy flipping through a book while taking occasional sips from his drink every now and then whereas Raven watched the infectious atmosphere with a blank expression whilst brushing the hair of her doll.

             Every moment she spent living with them, the more suffocated she felt by their love for a baby whose soul wasn't even that of their real daughter. Many a time, she wondered whether that baby's soul still lived within the body, biding its time to take over. Or maybe she finally broke down from the accumulated stress of everything that's happened to her in her short lifetime.

             A whirlwind of emotions threatened to burst through her chest as she stared at the way Ophelia looked at Alistair. It reminded her a lot of the days when her parents were still alive. When she could still hug them or talk to them about her day. Although she would never admit it, all Raven wanted was to be loved and to love in return.

         She closed her eyes, feeling the heat of the fireplace slowly warming her heart. In an instant, the vulnerability she displayed vanished from her face.