By the time Idris lost his head, the courtyard was splattered in blood. Ambrose screamed a long slur of obscenities as he ran about in circles like a raving madman, holding up the severed, bloody head of Idris for all to see. Of those that watched, only the humans recoiled in disgust and hurried away. The Ravens stood quietly by as they watched their leader transform before their eyes. Emrys winced as his father wailed and shrieked repeatedly until his throat went dry. This was not his father. Emrys now feared he had lost his father to insanity.
This horrific ordeal would be too overwhelming for anyone to deal with, much less such a young man still in his teens. My heart broke for Emrys and his family, and I could no longer think about it.
I willed this dream to fast forward and sought a happier memory; the bittersweet joy of caring for his new baby sister and watching her grow. Emrys followed his mother’s example, teaching Amrita to enjoy reading and learning. He taught her to be an honest, respectable person – always setting a good example, and maintaining all the excellent character qualities his mother had imparted to him. It wasn’t always an easy task to care for this child, but he did his best. She was all he had left of their mother, and he watched over her like an older brother would, as they were both motherless. He enjoyed seeing her grow into a lovely young lady, and he loved her dearly. Being age seventeen when she was born, he was able to relate to her almost as a father would have, and he refused to think that any of the negative traits of her real father, Idris, would ever be passed on to her. Once Amrita joined him in the Raven society, they became even closer as he taught her all their ways.
When Emrys took over as Regent, he sometimes sought his sister’s advice. It didn’t matter to him that she had the blood of Idris. As far as he was concerned, their mother gave them the same beginnings: wisdom, intellect, and good nature. Together, they made a good ruling unit, although Emrys alone was recognized as true Regent. Their relationship changed once she met and married Larkin. But Emrys was happy for his sister, and more often than not, satisfied with the way she had grown and matured.
* * *
I heard Emrys’ voice calling to me, gentle and subdued. I felt his warmth, and smelled his sweet-smoky scent as he sat on the edge of the bed. He helped me sit up, holding my head in his palm. Small waves of charged particles flowed through his hand into me.
“It is time for another drink, my lovely one,” he said, keeping his voice low to protect my sensitive ears.
Suddenly feeling a new unquenchable thirst, I was more relieved than thankful when he put the goblet to my lips once more. It tasted just as amazing as the first time I drank in his life force, perhaps even sweeter. An unexpected moan slipped out as I sipped the smooth red liquid. His blood had a heavy, rich flavor - one I was already addicted to and knew I would crave again in no time at all. I emptied the goblet and licked my lips with a sigh, savoring even the tiny bits that lingered on my mouth.
Emrys eased me back down onto the pillow and then kissed my forehead. This time his lips were only semi-hot, a tangible improvement since the last fiery kiss. I hoped to open my eyes soon, without the feeling of them bursting into flames. For now, I made sure they stayed closed, keeping the cloth in place to block out any little glimmer of light. And then I slept.
* * *
I had more dreams then; visions of partially hidden pathways leading to unknown places. In the far distance, I saw a castle sitting atop a hillside. A moment later I found myself closer to the hillside, directly in front of the castle. Crouching on either side of the large arched entryway to the property, giant ornate statues of lions stood guard. Perched on the top of the brick archway was a huge carved sculpture of a raven. His head cocked to the right, endlessly watching over the roadway. I wondered whose property this was and immediately knew: it belonged to Ambrose and his family. At the same time, I realized that this memory came from Tansy, the woman who not only helped raise Amrita, but also turned Emrys. This was unbelievable! A memory that had been imparted to Emrys during his transformation! Tansy had been brought to the castle as a young woman to help care for Ambrose when he was a child, and this was her first vision of the estate. Seeing only a few images of Tansy’s memories during her stay was enough. What a good feeling to discover she truly cared about Amrita and Emrys when they were children. I was glad to know they had not grown up completely without the compassion and guidance of a gentle woman’s touch. But for now, I much preferred to know more of my one true love, and how he spent his long lifetime before finding me.
A second later, I was in the window seat of an airplane, looking down on the earth. Far below loomed nothing but endless acres of the deep, dark ocean. Emrys sat alone in first class. He seemed apprehensive, unsure of an idea forming in his mind. He tapped his foot as he thought about it, feeling a bit anxious. He toyed with the idea of changing the rules that the Ravens had in effect for well over one hundred years. Although something this big would require a unanimous vote, he doubted that could ever happen. Too many of the Ravens were set in their ways, unwilling to bend or change; and he felt his hands were tied.
Leaning to reach for a magazine, his black hair fell forward. Two women sitting behind him whispered to each other, although not quite soft enough, and he heard everything they’d said. He chuckled to himself as he listened. Their remarks, for the most part, sounded positive, exclaiming how handsome or poised he was, how distinguished and elegant he appeared, even though his hair was longer than most women’s were. Their conversation reminded him of how women often gawked at him and some were even brazen enough to approach him. But I sensed his disinterest. He waited for something deeper, something real; at the very least, he wanted a love similar to what Amrita and Larkin seemed to have together. Or, the same as what his parents used to have. He remembered the last time he put his sign on a woman, and when she had chosen another, he vowed never to be that gullible again.
But here he was, on the way to Providence, wondering if he was breaking his own vow. Would it be worth all the effort it would take to find the one Sibelle had prophesied about? Sibelle had told him that this one would be different. She was the one he was meant to be with, that if he had sought Sibelle’s guidance earlier, he would have known that the other girl was not. He had a lot of doubt, even though this time he had done it differently.
He remembered watching as Sibelle drank the small vial of his own blood. She had explained to him the promise of The Veinvedia. A true Raven prophet was given a glimpse into the future of the individual whose blood she drank. Blood vision she had called it. Afterwards, she gave him her prophecy, which came in the form of a riddle. It was up to him to decipher, and find his true love.
As he left her cottage her words rang in his head over and over: “May the Veinvedia guide ye, Emrys!”
And now he found himself on a plane heading for America. Unbelievable as it seemed, his destiny just happened to live in the same town where the next Gathering was to be held. He had only a few months in which to locate and place his Signatus on her. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a small notebook and started looking for the page where he had scribbled the words as Sibelle gave her prophecy. He believed he had most of it figured out, and he had re-read her riddle so many times, he knew it by heart. Nevertheless, he found the entry, and read it once again:
True fortune told with no pretense-
Your fate is sealed in Providence.
Tho’ on this eve ye shall see two-
A single Rose calls forth to you.
Ye shall spy yon dark haired lass-
When ye gaze beyond the glass.
Eyes of blue, hair liquid black-
Flowing freely down her back.
Many eyes shall turn her way-
When she smiles at end of day.
Listen! Thoughts of innocence-
Still ye seek more evidence!
Have ye seen such beauty; rare?
Fear not when it draws your stare;
For she sees deeply in your eyes-
>
And knows within you are no lies.
The truth revealed with proof ahead-
When the raven’s eye glows red.
And when ye drink down her last breath-
This lass shall never taste of death.
Trust your instincts, and two shall be-
As one - for all eternity.
Living Immortality.
* * *
At this point, knowing I was dreaming, I thought about how very weird it would be to see myself from Emrys’ perspective. I pushed further into the future: to his memory of seeing me for the first time.
* * *
It all started on a hot and humid evening late in summer. He made sure he kept to the shadows, moving only when necessary and then so fast - no one noticed him at all. He knew she’d be there - at the same pub the girls always met for pizza. The new term was about to begin, and many of the students had already moved back into their dorms.
After a little detective work, he found two women with the last name of Rose who were beginning their senior year. He was intrigued with the fact that they were descendants of his father’s acquaintance from well over one hundred thirty years ago. Perhaps this did mean something after all. He began to allow himself to feel some excitement at this new possibility. What if Sibelle’s prophecy was true?
He sat alone in a dark corner, waiting, watching. His corner grew darker yet, once he blew out the lone candle sitting in the middle of the table. The pub began to feel crowded and noisy. There were too many loud talking, obnoxious people - men and women alike looking for one thing only, someone to hook up with, just for the night. It sickened him that no one in this generation seemed to be interested in lifetime commitments. But then, they were only human.
A redhead walked in wearing a pair of shorts and a tank top. She came with a girl wearing a sundress, her long hair braided and pulled back into a ponytail. He listened to them chattering as they looked around for a place to sit. They wondered when Lizzy would get there. As it was, they chose a table directly across from his, and just as the chattering was about to drive him out of the pub altogether, he saw a movement through the glass window; a woman who had long dark hair walking toward the door of the pub. His mind went back to the words of the prophecy: a dark-haired lass, beyond the glass. He knew she had to be the one when he saw that she looked just like the other girl with the braid. He recalled more from the riddle: Tho’ on this eve, ye shall see two - A single Rose calls forth to you. She wore her hair down, flowing long and straight, black as coal, shimmering and shining, and as she came in the doors, she waved at the other two girls. She wore a pair of black capris and a white t-shirt. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. Even though she looked exactly like the other girl, her twin, there was something different about her. He perceived something pulling him in toward her; connecting them. He sensed emotions being stirred up that he had never felt before. And, he simply could not get over how beautiful she was.
Her smile lit up the room. Heads turned to watch as she eased through the mass of tables and chairs. Her hair glistened in the soft candle light, nearly as black as his own. Her almond-shaped eyes were dark blue, outlined with black eye liner. They appeared at once intelligent and yet innocent, intense yet soft, and they smiled along with her mouth which was adorned in ruby red lipstick. Her mouth! Lips that were full and sensuous, lips he began to imagine pressing to his own mouth, with long and lingering kisses.
He was amazed at the way she could make even a t-shirt look magnificent; the way it clung to her body, caressing every rounded curve, showing the slightest sliver of bare skin near her navel. His gaze was drawn then to her throat. The skin was ivory and silken, her soft hair drifting down around the sides covering up the most appealing area, the side of her neck. He was enchanted by her beauty, but even more than that, he felt like he already knew her. Never before had this happened. His hands begin to quake with electricity, and as he rubbed them together he was filled with a new and unexpected excitement.
As she approached the table, her smile said she was happy to see these girls, and as she got closer, he realized he could actually hear her thoughts coming through as loudly as if she spoke directly to him! If he hadn’t seen her closed mouth, he wouldn’t have believed it, but he heard: I shouldn’t be wasting my time, I should be getting my things unpacked, setting up my computer, and organizing my books for class. This year is going to be so long, I just know it. I wish it was over already. Look at all these people, eating and drinking and carrying on like nothing else is as important in the whole world. I don’t even belong here, I should be living...Aww, look how cute Lindy looks with her hair in a braid like that, and Fiona looks radiant tonight. And then he saw her lips moving, and she said, “Hi Lindy, Fiona. Did you order yet?” He found her voice to be as entertaining and delightful as her unspoken words.
He sat there all the while the three girls ate their pizza, listening to their conversations and the random thoughts going through Elizabeth’s mind. It never once occurred to him that he could be eavesdropping; the prophecy told him to listen.
She thought about her classes, and what she’d do when she graduated in June. She thought about their dorm room and how crowded it would be, and she tried to pay close attention when either of the other girls spoke, but time after time, her mind wandered back to all the work she should be getting done. She didn’t have one unloving or unkind opinion in her mind regarding her sister or friend. Even the childish antics of her fellow students were only a slight irritant in her mind. He could not find one bad, unwholesome, selfish, self-serving idea inside of her. The closest thing to negative was when she worried about her own looks, which he found incredible, since anyone with at least one working eye could see how ravishingly beautiful she was. She appeared to have no egotistical or narcissistic thoughts. What surprised him the most was that he was already convinced: he was absolutely, irrevocably, madly, head over heels in love with this raving beauty. She was so pure and innocent, so beautiful, everything he ever wanted in a woman, and so much more than he could ever have imagined.
Still, he stayed back in the shadows, and she did not notice him, but only because he did not let himself be seen. He needed to observe her to see how she lived her life, to make sure she was genuine and as innocent as he believed her to be, and now, more than anything, he needed to find a time and place he could put his Signatus on her without her knowledge.
* * *
This dream had captivated me, and I wondered if Emrys could see me smiling right now as he watched and waited for me to wake up again. But I wanted to go forward again. To the day he placed his sign on me.
* * *
He had followed the three girls to the mall and watched as they bought tickets to the movie. Waiting only a moment, he bought himself one ticket and found a seat a few rows behind them. Before the movie ended he got up and moved to the row just behind theirs. He knew he had to time it just right, and not be too obvious in his movements. He waited until she had leaned forward just enough to reach his hand between her head and the seat and as he placed his thumb on her he felt the jolt of electricity pass between them. It was stronger than he expected, and she jumped forward and yelped. He stood immediately and whispered, “Sorry.” As he exited the theater he chuckled to himself as he heard her complaining about rude people. Ah, I did have some flaws!
From that time on, his thoughts of possessing the woman became more intense, and even though it was hidden from view, his raven image marked her. This mystical sign would draw her closer to him and open her eyes up to the truth of what their future should be. As he walked out into the mall he looked down at his medallion, thinking about what Sibelle had said, and he pondered ways in which to get Elizabeth to touch it.
He remembered Sibelle’s exact words: “Once the lass touches it, ye will ken she is the one. I have given ye many proofs. Dinna waste them.”
He realized getting her to touch it would not be an easy task. He would eventually have to meet a
nd speak with her for the final proof, even though his mind and his whole being had already told him she definitely was the one. This final proof would be helpful if there arose any doubt in the future.
As he walked through the mall, he recalled some of the stories Sibelle had told him through the years. He had often asked her questions about her own origins and how she came to have such prophetical powers. She once revealed to him that, when she was but a babe, she had been given her first drink from the skull of a raven, which gave her powers of prophecy and wisdom. She had told him she was born on an island near the west coast of Scotland over seven hundred years ago. The place was called Hebrides and it dated back to 6500BC, the Celtic era, when many legends were born. It housed the Callanish stone circles where mystical events occurred frequently. Another time she mentioned that this isle of Hebrides was known to inspire many visitors throughout the years, some of them she’d even met in person. She loved to speak of the famous men she had met throughout all her years there, though no one took it as bragging as she spoke in a quiet, humble manner. His memories of Sibelle’s voice came through so vivid and real that I almost felt like I had gone with him and heard her speaking myself.
“Mendelssohn composed one o his famed overtures while livin here, and George Orwell wrote his book, 1984, while on the nearby isle of Jura.” She smiled her crooked little smile, a frail looking woman, with wild, curly brown hair and violet eyes. No one would expect her to be a day over forty, yet he knew better. “Och, and there wis that lad wha wrote his screenplay while on holiday at Eileen Shona; Barrie was his name, ye micht remember the yarn o Peter Pan?” Her smile widened then, and Emrys wondered what she was thinking, though these details she kept to herself.
“William Wordsworth wrote one o his most famed poems wi the setting in the Hebrides.” She said, “but dear, Emrys, I am doon wi all me memories for now, if ye seek to ken more, ye’ll have to find oot for yerself.”
The Ravenswynd Series - Boxed Set Page 20
