Ashes of Revenge

Raven tapped her knuckle lightly against Colt’s door. It was sometime after midnight, and Death had already given her the ritualistic nightmare. Her breathing was still slightly heavy, and her eyes were watery. Instead of Death loosening up on the horrific dream, he was somehow making them more realistic.

Everyone had decided to stay in the town for an extra night so they would have more time to gain back all the supplies that had been lost in the fight.

She was still a little hungover, so drinking was out of the equation. And despite them no longer being in the Monstro Kingdom, the streets were just as lively at night with peasants finding multiple ways to gain some money. If Colt was asleep, she didn’t want to wake him, but she also didn’t want to sit in her room alone.

Death was looking at her, adding to the awkwardness and making her want to walk away. Before her foot could even move, the door opened.

Colt tiredly leaned against the doorframe. His white undershirt loosely hung onto his figure, and some of his scars were more visible than they had ever been. Faint definitions of lean muscle showed on the exposed areas.

“Hey,” his groggy and hoarse voice said.

“Sorry if I woke yeh. It’s nothin’.” Raven began to walk away, but Colt grabbed her arm and turned her back towards him, still half asleep. He quickly let go before he overstayed the touching limit.

“I haven’t been able to sleep, yer fine. What’s goin’ on?” Now that Raven was presented with the question, she didn’t know or want to answer.

“Nothin’.” Raven began to walk away again.

Colt once again pulled her back. “Nightmare?” he asked.

Raven looked to the side and shook her head. “No,” she finally answered. She began to walk away.

Colt once more pulled her back to him. An amused smile began to appear. “It’s fine. C’mon.” He motioned with his head for her to follow him. He held open the door, and Raven walked into the room, which was an exact replica of hers - a small bed against the center back wall with a lone chair in a corner. All of the windows had been opened, causing the dirty jade curtains to blow with the faint breeze.

Colt took his foot and placed it behind the leg of a chair and kicked forward. The chair slid across the floor and stopped near the bed. Raven sat in the chair, and he sat on the bed.

“What’s up?” Colt asked.

Raven picked at her lip and shrugged.

“How’s yer hand?” Raven outstretched her hand to him. Colt gently grabbed her arm, careful not to touch her skin, and pulled it closer to the oil lamp. “Feelin’?”

“I can grasp things better an’ feel slightly more, but,” she paused as if searching for words, “it won’t be tha same.”

“It doesn’t look infected, an’ the tissue seems to be healin’ well.” Colt let go. He leaned the side of his head against the headboard, causing a few strands of hair to slide onto his forehead. The small amount of light made his skin that warm color she loved. A minuscule thought floated into her head, making her question if his hair was soft - if she would be able to feel it with her damaged nerves. The very thought of not being able to do so scared her. “Still hate Dara an’ Victor?”

The question hung in the air for a few seconds.

“I don’t know.” Raven sighed.

Colt raised an eyebrow.

“They seem nice, but . . . it’s just strange. I don’t even know how I feel about tha situation.”

Colt gave a faint smile. “Question?”

Raven nodded once.

“What happened when yeh were with Ash?” His voice turned heavy.

Death appeared behind Colt.

“What do yeh mean?” she asked.

“I mean, what happened? Did he hurt yeh?” Colt’s eyes turned the two different shades of silver.

Death placed a finger over his lips, telling her to be silent. But Raven wasn’t focused on him; instead, she was focusing on Colt. He was in his Shifter form. He never allowed his eyes to go to his natural Shifter color. He hated every aspect of the Kingdom and wanted to distance himself from it as much as possible - except for his knives. She had only seen his eyes like this when he was beyond angry, and she honestly couldn’t comprehend the fact that he would get upset about Ash possibly hurting her.

“Nah, he didn’t hurt me,” Raven finally answered.

Death leaned down, appearing out of Colt and blocking Raven’s view of him. He was now invading Raven’s precious space. His cold fingers grabbed her chin, and he leaned in closer. “I can see why you want to protect Colt. Hopefully, you don’t screw up.” His thumb rubbed against her textured skin, making her want to move away, but she couldn’t. Finally, he released her and disappeared.

“Swear to me. Swear to me that Ash didn’t lay an unwanted finger upon yeh.” He couldn’t stomach the thought of anything happening to her. If she had been hurt while he hadn’t been able to protect her-

Raven grasped his hand. He jerked his hand back, nearly ripping it out of hers. Reminding himself that the gesture wasn’t meant to hurt him, Colt looked down at the rare contact. Not only did she never do anything remotely close to this, but she hated anyone touching her burned skin. Now, she was actively allowing him to hold her hand.

Colt slowly looked back up at her.

“I promise yeh, he didn’t hurt me,” Raven said in a voice that almost resembled a whisper.

“Good,” Colt’s voice mimicked hers. “Because I hate when yeh get hurt,” he mumbled. His thumb began to run up and down her hand. He felt as the small gesture made Raven’s hand tense.

“It’s gonna happen sooner or later.”

“I know, I just. I just don’t like it to. . . . That night when I hurt yeh, I never forgave myself.” His thumb froze, and his grip tightened around her trembling hand.

“That was an accident, Colt,” her voice strained as she only focused on his hand, touching her scars.

“Did it leave a scar?”

“Colt-”

“Did it?”

Raven only nodded.

“Can I see?”

Raven’s mouth opened and closed multiple times, but she couldn’t find a word, let alone a sentence, to either deny or accept his question.

“Here,” Colt said as one of his hands left hers, and he partially pulled up his shirt. Long and small scars were desolately scattered over his stomach and sides, but the one that stood out the most was a puncture wound like scar resting between two ribs.

The shirt fell back into place. He looked up at her with glossed over eyes, remembering how the wound was one of the best and worst things that had happened to him.

“It hurt,” Colt said. “It hurt so much. I just know I was chokin’ on my own blood an’ I couldn’t breathe.” He swallowed, controlling himself. “I woke up on tha edge of a cliff . . . someone tryin’ to throw me over.” He breathed in again. “I killed him.” His jaw twitched. “I killed ‘em an’ ran.”

Raven breathed in deeply. This wasn’t new information; both she and Richard knew. But, this time, there was something about seeing him so mad and distraught that drove it home. It made her chest tighten, and anger overtake her body. She wanted to take Colt to his Kingdom so he could kill the rest . . . but that would come later.

Raven’s free hand grabbed the bottom of her shirt and lifted it ever so slightly, revealing a small straight line of a scar that resided on the area just above her hip bone - burn marks around the injury.

Before Colt could look at it for too long and grow even sadder, Raven pulled her shirt back down.

Colt continued to stare at the area. “I’m sorry.”

“Yeh were havin’ a nightmare-”

“An’ that’s supposed to be an excuse?”

“Yeah, it is. Look, I’ve dealt with much worse. I promise yeh, it didn’t even hurt.”

Colt looked down at the scars on his arm. His eyes seemed to lock onto the wounds, and he couldn’t look away, despite how much he wanted to.

Raven’s eyes naturally followed his. Her hand left his, and she gently traced over the scar as if telling him that it was ok. Because, to be honest, that was the only way she knew how.

She could feel the varying textures.

Raven removed her hand, but Colt grabbed it again. She now became aware of the burns on her skin, and she tried to pull her hand away. Colt pulled it back and placed her hand back on his scar, reiterating what she had unspokenly said.

They both didn’t know if what they were doing was accurate in terms of sentiment. Both had gone without it for so long that they had forgotten what it was supposed to feel like or how they were supposed to apply it.

Their heartbeats resonated throughout their bodies, and the air grew thin. The feeling they had was a strange, almost unwanted feeling, but at the same time, neither wanted to pull away.

“It’s ok,” Colt said. His hand loosened around hers, but she grasped at it. Tentatively, his thumb began to rub the top of her hand again, sending small chills throughout Raven’s numb nerves.

She noticed how Colt’s two different colored eyes played off one another. The dark brown opal eye made the dark sapphire one darker while, simultaneously, the blue one made the brown one into a light topaz.

He looked at her eyes and immediately got lost in her now autumn ones. They were so soft, but he knew they could turn lifeless in a second. But, right now, they were so soft . . . so beautiful.

The heartbeats thudded throughout their bodies.

***

Richard stumbled out of his bed and stomped on his boots. His stiff wings expanded and dragged against the floor. He opened the door as he yawned. Right as he did so, he was met with Fernando.

“The Queen has invited you and the others to breakfast.”

Richard nodded and walked down the hall. He opened Raven’s door but was met with nothing. He sighed before he walked to Colt’s room, Fernando still following him. Richard opened the door and was relieved to find Raven and Colt.

Many times, Raven would go out in the middle of the night and get wasted. He knew he was either going to find Raven passed out somewhere or thankfully find her with Colt. Every night, he hoped she would be with Colt because if she were injured while he was peacefully asleep, he would never be able to forgive himself.

Raven was still sitting in the chair, and Colt was still on the bed. The majority of their stealings were on the bed in neat piles; Raven’s was bigger than Colt’s.

Colt rolled the dice on the night table. A burst of laughter ripped through the air as Colt’s arms shot up in success. He picked out a few items from Raven’s pile.

Before this, they had played multiple rounds of Raven’s favorite board game, and, of course, she had won the majority of them. After so many losses, Colt made them gamble using his method of rolling a die to a selected number.

Raven quickly snatched the die and rolled it. She cursed, and Colt laughed more.

“Wanna trade a diamond necklace for seven livres?” Colt asked.

“That’s possibly tha worst deal I’ve ever heard. No.”

“It’s an amazin’ deal!” Colt exclaimed.

“Yeh must be dense in tha head if yeh think that’s a good deal,” Richard chimed in. They both turned and looked at him, not even knowing when he had entered. “Come on, let’s go.”

“Where?” Raven asked.

“I don’t know. If yeh wanna eat breakfast, we can. If yeh wanna go explore, we can too.”

Raven and Colt looked at each other before they turned back to Richard. “Explore,” they both said.

After so long of not eating proper or sumptuous meals, even the thought of one so rich as yesterday made them queasy. They would much rather eat an apple with some bread.

“Ok, come on,” Richard said as he leaned against the doorframe and waited.

Colt and Raven began to collect their winnings as Fernando watched on, knowing none of it was theirs.

Richard pushed himself off the door frame and began to walk out; Raven and Colt followed. As he walked down the hallway, Richard’s wings expanded to the point where parts of it were rubbing against either side of the wall.

Fernando had to admit it was weird seeing a Farian like Richard. He had been to the Farian Kingdom multiple times and had seen numerous Farians. But Richard was different. While they all had a similar structure, they held their wings differently. Most allowed their wings to flow or un-tense around them so its real beauty could be taken in. However, the majority of Knights, Nobles, and Royals made their wings stiff, showcasing their size and adding a level of threat to themselves. It made Fernando question what Richard’s role in the Kingdom had been, or if he even had one.

When they made it down to the first floor, Richard’s wings went back, and his markings became the rich black. He grabbed the hood of his cloak and tossed it over his head. Walking outside, he veered away from the Tavern. Raven and Colt followed him, their cloaks over their heads and covering their bodies.

Fernando began to walk to the Tavern to inform the Queen and Prince of the groups’ decision.

Fernando bowed deeply before he rose. “They have informed me that they would rather explore the town, my Queen.”

Dara gave a small genuine smile and nodded.

Victor laid his fork and knife down on his empty plate and stood up. “I’m going to go walk around,” he said.

“Will you want guards with you, my Prince?” Fernando asked.

“No, I think I’m fine.” With that, he walked out of the Tavern and into the town, immediately standing out. His clothes were nicer than anyone else’s, and his crown was attracting attention. Nevertheless, he walked away from the Tavern and towards three people. They were standing by a body of water, and horses were grazing around them. Two men looked as if they were walking away from the group.

Fernando walked out of the Tavern and closely watched Victor, making sure he knew where he was going.

As Victor got closer, he could make out the figures. Richard was sitting on a branch of a tree. Colt was leaning against the base of the wood. Raven was pacing in thought.

Raven froze when she saw Victor walking to them. Richard and Colt followed her gaze. “What are yeh doin’ here?” she asked.

“Nothing, just thought I would explore the town.” Victor came to a stop in front of the tree.

“Why would yeh wanna do that? This town is a dump,” Raven said. Victor only shrugged. He had to admit that this town was in terrible condition. There were no Noble houses, and it was beginning to overpopulate due to Monstro attacking the bordering villages.

“By tha way, it’s not tha wisest thing to walk around with yer crown on with no guards.” She pointed behind him, and he turned around, seeing peasants looking up at him as they continued to work.

He swallowed and faced the trio again. “Yeah, but I didn’t feel like having them.” Raven faintly chuckled as Colt and Richard watched on. “Can you teach me how to steal?” Victor’s question came out of nowhere.

Everyone grew tense and silent.

“What makes yeh think we know how to steal?” Raven asked with a slight edge to her voice.

“I know you stole money from the Official the other day.”

“Does it look like I have that kind of money on me?” Raven asked. “Or any of us have that money? No one in this bloody town has that kind of money.”

“Why do yeh wanna know how to steal?” Colt asked.

Victor only shrugged.

“Look,” Richard said as a small gust of wind blew through Victor’s hair. “Yeh don’t wanna learn how to steal.”

“Why?”

“Because yeh don’t need to.”

“But everything is handed to me. I want to be able to gain something by myself.”

“Fair enough,” Raven said. All eyes turned to her. “I take it since yer not half a species yeh were a Noble before yer mum married tha King?” Victor nodded. “If yeh wanna steal, then yer goin’ to have to build up a better awareness of yer surroundings,” Raven continued. Victor was slightly confused by her wording. “But if we are bein’ honest . . . that’s not gonna happen.” She shrugged.

“I have good awareness.”

Raven shook her head. “Listen, I can tell, yeh wouldn’t like stealin’. It’s too dangerous an’ I know yeh wouldn’t be able to handle yerself in a fight.” Victor opened his mouth to counter, but Raven beat him to it, “I believe yer nanny wants to talk to yeh.” Raven was quick to change the subject.

Victor turned around and saw Fernando walking towards them.

When Fernando reached them, he bowed and rose. “We are ready to head out.” There was a moment of silence before his face became more than concerned. A pale color washed over him, and he knew that he shouldn’t have left Victor alone. “My Prince, where is your crown?”

Victor’s hands fell onto the top of his head, and he became horrified when he found that his headdress wasn’t there.

Richard hopped down from the tree and tossed Victor the crown.

“Like I said,” Raven said as she mounted Herbert, “better awareness.”

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