Chapter 100 It all backfires

Chapter 100 It all backfires
….
‘...I knew that you could always find me. The fiend has succeeded with the plans that we could not deflect. I understand that your Kingdom is in ruins, vulnerable to the Meadow Hill pack. Therefore, if you, King Leon, cannot take immediate actions as discussed, then your Kingdom shall suffer inevitable repercussions of providing shelter to the forbidden. I shall end this letter here, I believe we will meet by sun rise after I have received your response.

Farewell.
Lady Blackwin.’
….

Evyths breath caught, her palms forming heat as the letter in her hand slipped from trembling fingers.

Not that it terrified her as she would expected but something stood out.

“Providing shelter to the forbidden…” those words rang in her mind. It meant something deeper.
Not war, not anger, not even authority, it meant… her.

She was the forbidden one being sheltered by the king. Every finger pointed at her, what she represented and what she carried. Did it also mean that Leon was right when he said that if she found out about the truth it would destroy her?

And, was that the reason why Valerio asked her to return to Ravencroft with him? Was Raven and the hunters, if their alliance had solidified, coming for her? What did all of this mean?

The world around Evyths blurred into nothingness. The upsetting feeling tasted like poison on her tongue.

Why was she just piecing it together now?

Evyths steadied herself holding the desk, a twisting rumbling in her belly like nations at war.
All of everything had started to make sense and her body, even her children, were reacting to it.


By the time Evyths was in her room, her mind clouded right thoughts that wouldn't stop gnawing at her. The intense feel of danger nighed.

Evyths had even drafted a letter in the best possible way that she could to send to Valerio and Elena the moment she saw the crow standing by her windowsill.
Like it felt the situation, like it could tell.

As soon as the crow flew off with the letter tied around its neck, a knock on her door interrupted the damning silence that consumed her.

Evyths straightened dress, swallowing her. She had not left her room for hours because of the guilt she carried after everything that Adler and his father had told her.

The knock grew persistent, Evyths scurried to the door.
Once it opened, her gaze fell on Selena's poised composure.

Evyths' blinked surprisingly. “Selena,”

“I apologize if I interrupted your solitude.” Said Selena, her tone calm. “I was hoping that we could… talk.”

Evyths didn't reply immediately. She moved away from the door as Selena gave a curt nod walking in. The rich smell of fresh flowers left traces behind the beta's steps.

They sat on the cushion, both waiting for the other to speak.
“I do not have wine to offer but there's milk…” Evyths broke the ice.

“Oh,” Selena waved dismissively. “You will need more of that. Do not worry about me.”

Evyths nodded gently, her hand unconsciously on her belly. “You wanted to talk.” She reminded Selena when it grew awfully silent.

Selena’s head bopped twice. “Yes. I have questions that I believe you have the answers to.”

Evyths' fingers recoiled, not sure if she really had answers just yet.

“What is going on within the court? The king had not made a move after Meadow Hill's attack on our livestock…”

“I do not know.” Evyths breathed as Selena's brow cocked in disbelief. “I know but the king would not tell me anything. Our problem isn't Meadow Hill, Selena…”

“Then it is the sorceress? And the hunters?” she cut in instantly.

Evyths snapped back. “How did you know about the hunters?”

“I did my research…” Selena answered, pulling out an old parchment from under her boots. Handing the item to Evyths. “I know what they look like now. Melanated, greasy skin touched by the sun.”

Evyths split her gaze between Selena, who was undoubtedly smart, and the parchment that carried drawings of the hunters and their Kingdom situated in Asterfall.

“Wait, you know so much about them already? Asterfall?” Evyths asked as Selena nodded.

“I did not know their Kingdom until I found this parchment in my father's old debris…” she exhaled, her eyes wandering about the room before it met Evyths again. “So tell me, are they our problems, Evyths?”

Evyths hesitated, the words heavy her mouth. “I am not sure I should tell you—”

“Evyths,” Selena interrupted, taking Evyths' hands, her eyes glistening with desperation and tears. “I trust you and that is why I am here. Have you seen the lower city? Have you seen what our kind suffers? The hunger, polluted water, infested farmlands—Evyths, all is not well.” Selena's tone cracked, freeing Evyths’ hand

She rubbed her face across, blinking nonstop. Evyths watched, speechless.

“You are in the palace, you cannot understand the grief that most werewolves carry. Our lands are being invaded. Have you thought about omegas, like you…” Selena paused ad Evyths’ jaw clenched. “They die faster, they pray to the goddess each day until the temple no longer contains them. They prayed for a miracle. Liberation. Help. And you came… I know that you have found out about almost everything, if not all, yet why can you not help us?”

“It is not that easy, Selena. I tried and…” her gaze lowered. “I ruined it all.” She said.

“I learned so much information that threatened the hope I once had in myself.” Evyths to finally look at her. “I am not sure what the goddess wants me to do now…”

Selena couldn't utter a word. If the only one she had put all her hopes on didn't have the hope, then how else can Davendale be redeemed?
Regardless, Evyths thought about Selena's words. It only meant that her suspicions were accurate.

Given the letter from earlier, it was an added reason that proved Leon's estranged trade with Raven and possibly hunters.

“What do you suggest we do then? We cannot sit by and wait until the king acts. We know he wouldn't…” Selena found her voice.

Evyths shook her head. “The problem, like you said, isn't the king, it's the sorceress. If Meadow Hill packs are threatening Davendale's survival, it could also mean that…” she paused, contemplating. “It could mean that the sorceress,”

Selena shifted, looking away as if thinking deeply.

“How? Do you mean that she is threatening the king?”

Evyths' mind flashed back to the letter she had read and then replied; “Yes. The king will not tell but something binds them. Something we must find out first.”

Before Selena could speak or digest Evyths’ appalling allegory, she spoke again with urgency.

“Come with me, I have to show you something.”


By now, Evyths and Selena were standing before Davendale's crest, a distinct wolf head carved in gold details, the painting just above it.

Selena could have asked why Evyths was showing her a drawing she had never really noticed but something caught her eye.

The black tears on the woman's face.

Selena's eyes narrowed, like her vision could already magnify the image.

“What does it mean?” Selena asked finally.

“Exactly what I have been thinking, what does it mean?” Answered Evyths. She scoffed. “I have witnessed Lady Blackwin’s black tears back in Ravencroft. Only sorceresses could have that distinct trait. But… What I do not understand is why an image like this could casually hang on this wall. What ties a werewolf to a sorceress?”

Evyths' words hung between them. The heavier the thought, the heavier revelation.

For once in Selena's life, she had never looked deeper than she had upon her sharp senses until this.
It didn't make sense and yet, somehow, it did.

“Oh no, I cannot believe this.” Selena sighed in frustration. “For years, I did not think this portrait meant a thing. I merely took it for someone with incredible artistry…”

“I would have said the same had I not seen Lady Blackwin's tears.” Evyths stared back at the painting. “I can assure you, this means something.”

“I agree. And… I have seen a few of these around the castle, especially the library. Perhaps we could look in, maybe there's a cue.” Selena suggested. “And Evyths, you are brilliant to have joined the pieces.”

A small thankful smile sat on her lips. “Yhe vampires thought me a lot. They don't just see, they feel.”

Selena beamed. “True.”

A beat of silence slowly crept in, eyes on the crest.

“You know what, we should go to the library now…” Evyths interrupted.


When Evyths and Selena reached the hallway that led to the library, Evyths could feel the intensity of the atmosphere. The closer she drew, the more the dread that loomed.

“Should we tell Adler?” Selena chimed in.

“I am not sure how he would take it. Until we are accurate, he does not have to know yet.” Evyths said.

Selena pushed the heavy doors as it creaked loudly. They slipped inside, the thud reverberated.

Instantly, their eyes fell on someone leaning against the shelf on the east wing, the book in their hand dropped to the ground. .

“What are you… doing here?” He asked.