Chapter 103 Could never have

Chapter 103 Could never have

Raven circled Evyths. Not once, but twice. She studied the werewolf, from the smell of her paws to the strand on her head. It was not shock or surprise, it was something deeper. The very thing that had now taken over her.
The very thing that carried something capable of harnessing and defeating the void. The very thing she could never have.

Raven finally stood before Evyths. Her black painted lips curled into a smile. Gloomy. Too contemplative.
Evyths remained still, her heart hammering against her chest. Not that she was scared that Raven would destroy her but because her kind were already endangered given Raven's abrupt presence in the palace.

“I heard that…” Raven began calmly, using her finger, twirling some strands of Evyths' auburn hair around it. “you have longed to see me,”

Evyths' fists rolled and loosened. “You heard accurately.”

Raven retracted her finger. “Oh. My sources are reliable then.”

“Are they?” Evyths’ brow raised. 

The temperature in the room grew colder. Cold enough to freeze a cub to death. Evyths watched Raven carefully. 

Some time ago, she trembled at the sight of the sorceress, but now, she understood something about her that she longed for centuries. 
Belonging. 

Raven laughed, piercing the silence. “You are so wrong, your thoughts.”

Evyths straightened a little. How could she have forgotten that Raven could read and feel someone's emotions?

“I am not wrong,” Evyths said quietly. “You want to belong but you have suffered rejection—”

“You know nothing about rejection.” Raven cut in impatiently.

Evyths delayed speaking. “I do. A considerable amount. And more.”

Raven started circling Evyths again, this time, faint streak of dark tendrils emanated from beneath their feet. It wasn't to consume Evyths, it was a merely a reminder of what she was.

“Leon has told me all about your escapades. And I am not surprised. Basically, you lured a king to his doom. He is weakened and corrupted by you and everything that you represent.” Her breathy voice chimed in. “But Evyths, I am no longer at war with you…”

Evyths scoffed, blinking. “What changed?”

“Nothing.” Raven paused by the shelf, her long, black, sharp talons dragged across the books. “I just expanded my horizon, looked beyond Ravencroft and you. Why kill a werewolf if I could destroy an entire pack? Why destroy a vampire who betrayed me if I could poison its source and legacy?”

“By so, you mean treason…?” Evyths stiffened.

Raven looked slightly past her shoulder, her frown thick. “By so, I mean retribution.” Raven, then, moved away from the shelf as her gaze darted to the white furry cloak laid on couch. 

The same cloak Kaya used to wear. Of course, Valerio had to gift Evyths something as priceless as that given his relationship with his sister. The answer was simple; he valued Evyths much more than anyone knew.
That alone made her heart twist. It could have been her. Not Evyths.

Her eyes finally landed on Evyths who remained unshaken. Guarded. 

“Think.” Said Raven. “Ravencroft has endured centuries of stagnation. Davendale has suffered the consequences of violence and toxin. But with my vision, I bring new reform. The vampire system was pure until you infiltrated it with your stench…”

Evyths shook her head gently, trying to understand where Raven was driving at. 

“Of all species, it just had to be you…” Raven groaned and vanished, her words came to Evyths as a whisper that echoed loudly in atmosphere. Evyths looked around, but failed to find the sorceress whose words had now scattered across the room.

“Evyths, I will end you. I will end your service. I will end the very thing that makes Valerio craze over you. I will make sure that you suffer the consequences of his actions.” She said. “You came, you broke a solemn devotion. However, I will not cause any pain directly to you — that would be too easy, I know exactly where to inflict it…”

Evyths shook her head frantically this time, her face squeezed angrily.

“You will do no such thing. If you want me, take me.” Evyths stated firmly, her tone fearless yet sharp. 

Raven menacing chuckle rang. The mockery in her tone gnawed at Evyths like a dark cloud in the sky. 

“You are worthless to me, Evyths. Not even Valerio again.” Raven finally appeared, directly behind Evyths. Evyths spun to her immediately, catching the glimpse of the black tentacles that started to surface from the sorceress’ feet, keeping her afloat, two feet taller than Evyths. 

Evyths took three steps back, watching. Speechless.

Raven’s eyes turned completely black, making Evyths heart drop. “Since you have endlessly intruded our business, well, I shall tell you.” Raven moved closer to Evyths but Evyths took steps backward until her body hit the wall. “I have come to impose a new dawn. Davendale is tied around my finger. You cannot redeem it. And if you dare interfere, I know exactly what to take from you.” 

The tendrils twirled around Raven as she vanished into a dark vortex that  appeared over her head. 

Evyths instinctively dropped her eyes to her belly. She did not need to join the pieces. It was all clear now. Raven owned Davendale and saw her as a threat. The drawings? The writings? The Dewwater history? They all made sense now, drawing up the puzzles 

If her assumptions were correct, what she had assumed to be worse had only been the bit of it. 

“Dear goddess…” Evyths rushed to the couch to grab the cloak but something shifted. Sooner than she had expected.

She looked around and then noticed her belly, it had grown bigger and heavier. Like the children in her couldn't wait.

Evyths' hands flew over her mouth, eyes welling up.

She could have been excited about the nighing delivery but no, Raven had just made a part of her intentions known. Usurping Davendale.

Evyths paced, her thoughts rattling in her mind. What she had tried to avoid had come. If only the king would confess what he had traded to Raven, then maybe they could start from there. 

Evyths sat, her feet swollen with the weight of her pregnancy.

Evyths leaned forward, elbows planted on her thighs. Her fingers interlaced as her eyes gently closed, taking in a deep breath.

Immediately, before Evyths could realize what was happening, she saw a faint face that she recognised. Adler, riding on a horse with soldiers riding along side him. 
Emerging into a burning fire, lounging their swords towards the grim flame.

Evyths' eyes jolted open, widely. She whimpered, heaving heavy breaths. 

“No. No. No, no, no, no…” .