Ashes of Revenge

The fire danced and swam around Raven as smoke painfully infiltrated her lungs. She felt as though her skin would begin to melt off any second.

Different voices said her name, a name that she found foreign to her. The voices got louder and louder until they were pounding against her skull as if a rock was being bashed against her head.

A dark outline of a figure stood in the fire a few feet from her.

Raven stumbled backward and tripped over her own feet. A scream ripped through the air as her palms became engulfed in searing pain. Bringing them to her face, she saw her burned-off skin. Her widened eyes left her hands and landed on the fire that was only a few inches away from her.

The figure looked at her. “I’m sorry, my dear.”

She breathed out a short breath, and the flame lunged at her.

***

Raven sat up in bed as she breathed out in short pants. Her hands roamed her body in search of the heat but only found a thin layer of sweat.

That voice. She didn’t know who it belonged to; she didn’t even know if it was real. All she knew was she hated that voice.

Colt and Richard were still asleep.

Her shaking fingers ran through her damp hair. All she wanted to do was forget, and the only way she knew how was to get unbelievably drunk in a short amount of time.

She slid out of bed, and the room immediately began to spin and swirl as a headache thudded against her skull. She looked around for her pile of clothes, desperate to get changed and leave. Her oversized white shirt was sticking to her skin due to sweat, and it was one of the most uncomfortable things she had ever experienced. She stepped forward on shaking legs and tried to still her body by wrapping her arms around herself.

Finally, stumbling to her clothes, she threw off her shirt and put the long sleeve leather one on. It wasn’t ideal, but it was better than nothing.

Raven lumbered down the stairs and to the counter, where the same barman sat, asleep in a chair. She sat on a stool and banged her fist against the counter. The man awoke with a startle before his eyes landed on her.

“What da yeh want?” His accent had more of an edge to it, a heavier version hers. He had a thick frame and his light green eyes literally glowed in the darkness.

“A drink. . . ,” Raven said in an un-wantingly quivering voice. Her glossed over eyes stared at him.

The edge the barman had disappeared. He turned and began to make it as Raven stared into the abyss - the headache thudding.

The cup slid to Raven, and she snatched it without even having to look. The pint met her lips, and instantly, she began to drink as much as she could. The alcohol was still as bitter and disgusting as it had been when they first arrived, but that didn’t matter right now.

Each Kingdoms’ alcohol and food had a different taste. The Farian Kingdom had a sweet, almost addictive, and sensual taste. The Mundus Kingdom was slightly bitter, but still incredibly enjoyable, at least in Raven’s opinion. The Monstro Kingdom had the most bitter and least pleasant Birra Raven had ever had. In terms of the Telik and Shifter Kingdoms, she had no idea but knew they would be distinctive.

“Sa, what species ar’ yeh?” the man asked.

“There was no sign,” she mumbled.

“What?”

“There was no sign sayin’ yeh didn’t welcome particular species,” she gritted out. If he even thought of kicking her out, she would set the entire pub on fire.

“I’m just curious.”

After not being able to determine a motive, and simply being too tired to care, she decided to tell. “Mundus.”

“Coulda fooled mey.” Raven looked up at him, knowing what he was saying. Her scars itched, and she was reminded that she didn’t look like a Mundus.

She took another sip. “Does me bein’ a Mundus bug yeh?” Raven asked. The lovely alcohol was beginning to soften her up.

“Na, Farians bug mey.”

“How come?”

“They ar’ sneaky little bastards thad ar’ good for nothin’ except stealin’. They disgust mey, sa yeh better keep an eye on yer friend.” Farians were known for stealing. They could make small objects disappear into their hands.

“This comin’ from a Monstro subject?” Raven laughed after the statement. She was almost done with the drink, and thankfully the Birra was stronger than most, making the awful taste worth every terrible sip.

The man nodded.

“What’s yer name?” she asked.

“Malik.”

Raven puffed out a laugh. “That’s quite a name.” She raised her pint. “Can I have another?”

Malik gave her a sad smile as he began to prepare another drink.

Raven’s finger traced the table. The scarred tissue barely allowed her to feel the differing textures.

“What’s yer name?” Malik asked.

Raven paused for a few seconds. “Can’t remember,” she said with a sly smile, making the message clear.

Malik slid her the drink. “What brings yeh down here?”

Raven took the time to take a sip of her drink, and when she placed it on the table again, tears were in her eyes. “Bored.” She didn’t care if he was asking why she was in the Kingdom, that was the answer he was getting.

Malik placed the copper pints back onto a shelf.

She drank more.

***

Colt twitched as his fingers desperately grasped onto his clothes. The knives on the top of his hands shot through his skin. He jerked, and his head slammed into the headboard, surging him awake.

With heaving breaths, he stared at a wall and crossed his arms over one another, holding himself.

He needed to go outside!

He needed to get out!

He needed fresh air!

He needed-

A loud snarl snapped him back into reality and he remembered where he was . . . he couldn’t go outside. . . .

With that realization, more panic seeped into him and before he could comprehend that he was moving, his sweaty forehead was pressed against the glass.

He relaxed faintly and turned to look at the bed to make sure he hadn’t hurt Raven. However, the bed was empty.

“Yeh ok?” Richard murmured, causing the startled Colt to shift into a defensive stance on pure instinct. With his wings out, the Farian was barely visible in the unlit room.

He relaxed and nodded, gesturing to the bed. “Raven is gone.”

Richard turned and examined the darkroom before he sighed. With one flap of his wings, he was on his feet and walking towards the pub, both knowing that’s where she would be.

When they got to the first floor, they were relieved and traumatized. She was sprawled out on the counter, lying next to a cup that she had been vomiting into.

“She’s been soberin’ up for ovar an hour now,” Malik informed.

“How many drinks?” Colt asked.

“Aroun’ six,” Malik responded.

Colt sighed before he walked back upstairs to grab money.

Richard and Malik stared at each other as the air immediately grew tense.

“Some time away from a Farian might da her some good.”

Richard stayed silent. It was all he could do to keep from beating the man bloody.

Colt descended the stairs with a bag of money. “How much?” he asked.

“Ten livres.” Colt handed the Monstro the money.

“Can I have a pint of water?” Richard asked.

“Ten livres,” Malik responded.

Richard sighed and motioned for Colt to give the barman the money, which they were now low on. Malik handed Colt the pint.

Richard leaned over the counter to look at Raven. Malik watched him, making sure he wasn’t stealing anything. Seeing that she was thankfully done throwing up, Richard grabbed her leg, dragged her off the bar, and threw her over his shoulder. They all walked upstairs and into their room.

Under normal circumstances, Richard would have dragged her outside and thrown her into one of the muddy puddles, but he wasn’t going to risk them getting attacked by Monstros.

Richard placed Raven on the ground and grabbed the water from Colt. He held it over the knocked out Raven and poured it on her.

She sat up with a gasp. “What tha bloody hell?!” she coughed and spat as she tried to stand and escape the puddle around her. Her world tilted and spun and she fell to her hands and knees again.

Richard grabbed the collar of her shirt and stood her up. “What do yeh mean “what tha bloody hell”?!” His voice boomed against the room, demanding silence. “Yeh just got wasted off yer arse an’ now we’re low on money! Yeh know we are bein’ overcharged here!”

“I’ll get money tomorrow!” She shoved Richard away from her, nearly tumbling to the ground again.

Richard grabbed her arm in a vice grip, and they both stared at each other. Richard’s angry eyes bore into Ravens’, but he saw another emotion. Her eyes held a watery glint to them, and her skin was pale against the darkness. Richard looked down and saw that the hand on the arm he was holding was faintly shaking. Slowly, his fingers slipped away from her.

Richard pinched the bridge of his nose when he realized why she had done it and how he had acted like his pa, disgusting himself. There were times, like this one, where he needed to be harsher on either Raven or Colt, and it was well deserved, but the last thing he wanted to be to either of them was his pa.

“Yeh had tha dream, didn’t yeh?” Richard asked. Raven stood there as she looked down. “Shite Raven.”

“What do yeh want me to do? Have me screamin’ yeh awake cos’ I had a bloody nightmare?!”

“That’s exactly what I want yeh to do. How often do yeh even have ’em?”

Seconds of silence fell between all three as they waited for an answer.

“Every time I go to sleep.” She finally answered him. Her hand brushed against her nose. Colt knew she had nightmares every night and she knew he did as well. The pair had decided to keep it to themselves as to not give Richard something to stress about.

Richard sighed; he thought that her nightmares had improved. She told him they had!

Their room shook when a Monstro slammed against the outside wall.

“You should have told us,” Richard said.

“I know,” she mumbled as she brushed her hand against her nose. “I will next time . . . I just didn’t want yeh to worry or stress.”

“Promise?” Richard asked. “Both of yeh,” he added.

She smiled as she flicked her fingers, causing the water to strike Richard in his face. “Promise,” Colt and Raven said.

“Ok,” Richard murmured as he stiffly sat on the bed. Colt and Raven slowly sat on either side of him. There was no point in sleeping now; they were fully awake.

Richard’s wings expanded, and he wrapped them around Colt and Raven.

Raven slumped down more as she read Richard like a book - he felt responsible for not knowing. She bit her bottom lip and thought of something, anything to say. “So. . . ,” Raven trailed off, “I think I have a plan for today.”

“What are yeh thinkin’?” Colt asked

“We need more money, yeah?” They both nodded. “I say we have some good oll fashioned fun.”

“But it’s rainin’.”

“If tha rain stops, then we’ll have some fun.”

They nodded as they stared out the barred window, watching the rain thud against the dirty glass.

VP IS NOW PUBLISHED SO GO BUY AND REVIEW IT ON AMAZON AND GOODREADS!!!!