Page 10 of Fated Unkindness
Upon returning to Ravendene I expect the same welcome as we always get. However, that is not the case today. The face I have been longing to see is not in the group greeting us. The look on all the faces that are there to welcome us home are somber. Something has happened.
“I urge someone to speak swiftly about what is causing the taste of duress in the air right now.” I boom from my horse. A guard flinches and another begins to walk up to where I am, handing me an envelope. My heart skips a beat at the handwriting addressing the letter to me.
Cano,
I’m so very sorry we cannot have this conversation in person, as I would have loved to see the look on your face as you read this. You of all people know how much I love a good debate. However, this particular subject was not one that was up for debate any longer—I have left Ravendene to continue Dax’s mission. We are looking for his and Trent’s younger sister Mel. It is dear to my heart that she is searched for as thoroughly as possible and you of all people should understand why I feel this way. It hurt me that you are the reason Dax went out on his own when you denied his request for a rescue party. As I knew you would deny my own. I only wish that Dax had asked me for help, maybe then he wouldn’t be in the situation he has found himself in. We are alsogetting what is needed to cure Dax of this curse he is under. Hopefully, before it's too late. I know this is unsanctioned, and quite frankly, I couldn’t care less.
You should be with us. With me. If you truly cared for me, you would have been.We will return as soon as we can. Do. Not. Come looking for us. We are all trained well and will be fine. Even though I’m pissed at you. I am sorry to worry you, nonetheless.
I’m sorry it had to come to this,
Raelle Apus
I’d say I was speechless but I’m not. This is exactly something that Raelle would pull, and I can only guess who the ‘we’ is. Trent and Kait are surely right alongside her. “Motherfuckers.” I spit out as I dismount my horse handing the reins to the stable boy who has come running to assist.
“Sir, I—I’m sorry I couldn’t stop them. They left this note with another and crossed through the boundaries somehow undetected. I—I didn’t know they were gone until I found—”
“ENOUGH,”I shout. Stopping the stuttering fool of a guard before he can say any more. I’m so angry that I can feel myself starting to lose control of my form. My claws begin pressing at the backs of my hands wanting to burst through and shred something. I clamp it down as best I can as an animalistic growl bursts from my throat in Flynn’s red face. “Bring a bottle of my best bourbon to my library and confirm my suspicions for me, would you? Check to see if you can locate Kait Divins and Trent Fornax…”
I sit in the wingback chair behind my desk in the library. The leather is cool against my burning skin, and I swirl the golden liquid before knocking it back in one go. Fucking Dax. I suck my teeth as the bourbon's smooth burn works its way down my throat. Dax is always at the heart of my problems. Now here I am, fuming over Raelle making this decision without my approval. Without even consulting with me, before sneaking off in the night. I knew she wanted a rescue mission to be deployed. I didn't think she was stupid enough to be a part of it. Flynn returned not long after I left him confirming what I already knew. Kait and Trent are gone as well.
With the last of the sun breaking into the library, and after more than a few measures of bourbon, I make my way to the infirmary to pay my good friend Dax a visit. Walking into the dank room I sigh; the only sound is the door clicking shut behind me and a crackle of the fire in the far side of the otherwise small room. “Dax you fucking asshole. I hope you can hear me” I say, as I sit in one of the chairs at his bedside. It has been nearly a month of him laid up in here. His body wasting away. Such a shame. “You know…” I splay myself out on the chair and kick my head back to look at the ceiling. “I never wanted things to be this way. Raelleleft with your annoying-as-shit little brother. You know that? The fierce amazing woman I never would have expected to land in my lap, that I care for ever so deeply. Ran off into the night looking for a flower… and a girl she will never find…” I raise my voice some, sitting up to look Dax in the face. I wish he could see the wrath in my eyes as I narrow them on him. “To fix your godsdamned mistake!”
I rub my hand down my face, and chase the anger with a swig of bourbon from the bottle I brought with me. “I wish I could kill you, you know? Solve all my problems in one swift push of my blade. Of course, I wouldn’t be so lucky though. I know this curse you have upon you. And I know that only it will kill you. Your last breath will come brother and soon, I promise you that. Unfortunately, it will not be me who takes it from you. This curse will eat away at your body and soul until there is nothing left unless you get the cure.”
I laugh darkly, as I stand sauntering over to the fire. I place my bottle on the mantle and turn to look at him again. Raelle will not be the one who will break this curse. She won’t find the Moon Flower. That is only part of this curse that is on him anyway. The other part will be much harder to find because it simply does not exist. The book detailing everything needed and how to create the elixir was destroyed in the fire Dax created. The same fire that took his parents' life. Ironic really. Dax was dead as soon as he decided to cross that line into the caves of Castenelle. I will be here for Raelle when she returns and realizes the flower is not enough. I get why she wants to save him. Her family was killed, and she would do anything to help someone be reunited with their family members. She knows what it’s like to feel that desperation. But I too know that pain, that desperate ache deep inside, andit's precisely why I’ve chosen this path. I know Dax is responsible for my own parent's death. His parents hiding the fact.
What she doesn’t know is that the girl is safe enough, and being cared for very close to home. That’s also something that she will not find out for a long time to come. Young Mel has an important role in my plans for the future, as does Raelle. Little does she know; I was the reason she found Ravendene. She was corralled right to my clutches. Dax was right about the long game. He just didn’t realize I was already playing, and he was just a pawn.
I stride over to the bedside once more, leaning down to whisper in Dax’s ear. “I can’t wait for the day you take your last breath and your power transfers. I will be one step closer to the redemption I seek.” I nearly spit the last part through my teeth. I stand and turn on my heel leaving the room and the stagnant air around the shell of a man that once was. Dax Fornax-Ravendene has been dead to me for years. This just brings me one step closer to seeing it happen literally.
My dreams troubled me while I slept last night. Sticky with sweat, the stench of smoke clings to my skin burning my nostrils.It was only a dream, fucker. Brush it off,I tell myself before splashing my face with water at the sink and deciding that is not going to cut it. I strip down and take a cold shower. I feel like it will take hours to wash the feel of that dream off of me.
After getting dressed I glance out of the large arched window in the corridor. The sun is just cresting the mountains. It's early, but not too early for a training session. I’ll go work off this feeling. It’s just something about it that brings a sense of déjà vu. Perhaps it wasn’t merely a dream, but something I read of time or two.Maybe I should talk to one of the seers, the way it felt, it could have been a warning, or maybe the gods of old are approving of my plans.
“Or you could be a drunk asshole who has an overactive imagination.” I chastise myself.
I’ve spent enough time thinking about it. The gods of old are dead and gone, and now it is my time to rise. I run my hand over my short hair and down my face, clearing the thoughts clouding my head, and make my way to the training center. Normally Raelle and I are getting up at this time, and going for our morning run to warm up for our session. It feels bizarre not to have her here after the year we have created this habit.
We haven’t been separated since she arrived here in Ravendene. I haven’t allowed it. It’s too bad that she is such a big part of my plans. She’s such a pretty thing and has such a fun, tight, curvy body. At least I was able to make use of her, while I wait for the right time to get rid of all the baggage weighing me down. Beginning with the reason I came into power of this territory, Dax Fornax-Ravendene will always have the upper hand on me, as long as he’s breathing. When he is no longer in the picture, and the other two Fornax siblings are dealt with, I can complete the power transfer. No one will be able to challenge me for what I plan to claim. By the time I have everything lined up, Raelle will be mine to control, and when the time is right, she will join the rest of her family.
Chapter nine
The caves weren’t toofar out of the way, considering our situation. We were able to get some rest, regain our strength, and heal properly. It would be so much easier if we weren’t on Demetrey territory, but we are still on their putrid land. Within a day we are creeping back to the edge of the village, near the bridge where Trent and I found each other. Luckily, I guess I had told him what flower we were looking for to break this curse on Dax.
My time in the library back in Ravendene served me well because that is where I had apparently found a book that told us all about different curses, magics, and elixirs. I had told Trent all about it. The dagger isn’t the only thing we need though to make the cure elixir. We need the moonstone dagger, soil from blessed land, and blood as the substance of life. Not only that but weneeded to hurry because none of us are sure how long he has before there is no coming back.
The town we arrive in is quaint. The dwellings that line the cobble streets are crumbling and small, the gardens that surround them barren. Many of them are not constructed well and more than a few of them we have passed would hardly be considered livable. One of the larger homes we see has a line of clothes hanging out to dry which we take advantage of. There are only two cloaks, one looks like a good fit for Trent which is a blessing because the boy is not small and the one he allowed me to borrow is on its last wear with damage. The other would work for either myself or Kait.
“I got this. Stay here.” Kait runs the short distance between us and the clothesline. She hops over the short crumbling stone wall and snatches the cloaks. I guess our luck is holding steady because just across the way I see another cloak and a set of leggings that would be perfect for me, since mine are currently shredded. I motion to Kait pointing out what I see and she winks back as she stealthily hops the barrier between the two yards once more and snags them for me. Trent sticks his elbow in my side and smiles wide at me.
“Chill Rae. We will be fine.” We take only what’s needed for some coverage because Demetrey could still be looking for us. I don’t think they’ve caught onto our change in direction though and believe we are safe for now. I still have a hard time calming down though. I bite my lip as I look around the quiet village in the early morning hours, most are still sleeping. Only the sound of the birds waking and singing their early morning songs plays in my ears. I guess looping around so you’re headingtoward those who wish you harm isn’t the normal decision one would typically make, and I try to infuse myself with some confidence.
We get away with swiping the items we need, then make our way into the town center. “We need to find the apothecary. They will either have what we are looking for or may be able to point us in the right direction.” I whisper, tucking my chin and draw up my hood to ensure my hair and face are covered. The brisk air worked in our favor, making it easier to hide our features.
“We can’t just walk in there asking for the flower. It’s rare and it may raise suspicions. We can’t be found out again while we are here. No splitting up this time either” Kait says, casting her eyes to the side in Trent’s direction. He just grins at her.
“Let me do the talking. Follow my lead.” Trent winks then picks up his stride a little. He sounds confident enough I don’t question him. I feel that the least amount of talking I do the better. We find the apothecary fairly quickly. It’s a quaint shop with a wooden sign painted yellow above the door naming the store Bella Luna Apothecary. When we enter, a bell above the door chimes. The thick scent of incense, earthy lavender, and sage envelops us, and I notice a hint of lemon verbena. The balmy lemon scent reminds me so much of my mother that my heart drops into my stomach and takes my breath away as my grief tries to overwhelm me. The reminder of the salve my mother would use to ease the pains left by the hard days working in the fields makes my heart ache.
