The darkness that lies within us
is far greater than the darkness
that lies outside.
~Fyodor Dostoevsky ft [The Book Of Pride]
***
[Book Recommendation: Agnus Dei by Samuel Barber (Adagio for Strings- choral version)]
Thunder clashed against the sky, echoing the outrage like sentiment, when someone walked into the house, quietly shutting the oaken door behind.
Her petite figure blended into the darkness of the manor only coming alive at the illumination of lightning. Taking off the hood of her cloak revealed a dirty wavy brown hair soaked by the rain, a pair of bright blue eyes, and her red cherry lips extricating a long deep sigh.
She hung her cloak at the corner, and the retired umbrella begging for urgent repair, her soft footsteps rechoing in the silence.
The wind bellowed through an open curtain, and she shivered, moving toward the window.
Her footsteps were as soft as the innocence in the dull spark of her eyes and lightning flashed across the sky, conveying the manor's gothic glare.
Drawing the curtains close, she stepped back, the chillness of the night's rage biting into her skin, as the absence of the hearth's warmth had long faded into an empty area colliding with the atmosphere's cold ambiance.
Pulling off her gloves, "Alaric?" Her delicate voice broke the stillness when she called, rubbing her palms to build heat against her cold fingers as she sauntered towards the row of stairs.
Lifting her skirt, she climbed each staircase ushering herself above into the gallery. And her gaze unconsciously diverted, noticing the faintest things— including the picture frame holding a family of four.
Her heart clenched.
There was once a time when it would've been replaced with servants and guests. Once a time the silence was in contrast to the music and voices blaring in the air in a loud menace.
Once a time when the chandeliers— now dead and empty— sparkled brightly against the marble floors. And the tapestries conveying adventures, secrets, and life, vanished into the void, an emptiness concealed in-depth within any soul.
And the stillness which would have been different as the medieval-looking kitchen once burdened with cooks, stared emptily at her.
The manor itself once with life, power, and treachery, was currently an abode made from stone walls sharpened by age.
Executing the last stair, she took a right turn, stopping before a wooden door. Knocking, "Alaric?" She called, placing her ears at the surface.
It was quiet on the other end, and she pressed on, the sound of her heartbeat replacing the silence.
"Alaric, can you hear me?" She quietly called, pressing her thin lips together. The same silence responded, and she attempted to grab the doorknob but stopped midway.
The furious clash of thunderstorm almost jerked her, and she took in a deep breath, stepping away.
Thinking he was probably asleep, she made an effort to leave when a small whimper caught her hearing.
"Alaric?" She called, this time, urgently, hurrying towards the door. "I'm coming in," she said and without warning, gripped the knob.
Dear heavens… she found herself praying when she pushed the door open, to be greeted by the tired creaking of the aged door and the sight of an empty bed.
She could swear her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach at this. She managed to move her legs and walk into the room, shutting the door as quietly as possible, and letting it lock with that same old creak.
Her breath caught. "Alaric?" Her voice was barely audible when she called. Fear gripped her insides.
Another faint whimper responded and her eyes scanned the room, alertness kicking in. Where was he?
Suddenly, she spotted a slight movement under the bed. His small frame was hidden in darkness, trembling uncontrollably.
She rushed to his side, gently coaxing him out. "Alaric, it's me. You're safe." Her heart clenched at the state she found him in.
But he continued shaking when she pulled him into her embrace. She almost regretted it, judging from how drenched and cold she was, but the feeling of the heat spread across her body without remorse.
He was burning and she was shivering.
"Shh," she coaxed, wrapping her arms tightly around him. "It's Ravenna. It's me, Alaric. No need to fear. No one is coming. I'm here."
"R-ravenna?"
Ravenna trembled when she heard the fear in that small whisper, and the broken words made her heart clench firmly. "Yes, it's me. It's Ravenna."
Alaric's eyes were wide with terror as they locked onto hers. "R-ravenna… I-I saw him again… I-I saw him… He's coming for me."
Ravenna's heart dropped into her stomach. Not due to the revelation but the fear in his eyes. In his tone. In his body movement.
There were times he had nightmares but among those times, he had never been this scared before. A new sensation was something she had zero knowledge about.
However, there was something in it which frightened her. Perhaps the manner in which it was disclosed or the peril lingering somewhere outside.
Her grip tightened around her brother. "No one is coming. No one is here." She promised, snuggling closer, hoping at least the little friction would induce some kind of warmth. "You're safe with me. It was just another night-"
"It wasn't," he whispered, shaking his head. "This time, t-they held me. All seven of them. They whispered strange words and… and I was burning… burning in their flames… burning in their sins."
Ravenna turned pale and her breath seized when he made those words. But when the words hit her harder, 'burning in their flames', she felt her body being triggered.
Her mind staggered on the past trauma that seemed to reopen at the mention of the encounter and at the word 'burn'.
She clutched him harder, his fear becoming contagious. But she was firm not to let it consume her. She had to be strong for him.
"T-they won't take you away from me." Ravenna found herself stuttering as she tried to control her twitching fingers that called for something, and she rather curled them into a small fist.
Alaric's gaze clung to hers. "What if he finds me? W-what if he takes me? What if-"
"He won't." Ravenna cut him off with a frown. Finally, there was life in those eyes, something fierce. "I'll protect you. I won't let anyone near you," Her determination hardened when she made that promise. "No one." She added, her trembling replaced by firm determination.
He did not comment, clinging to her arms, and letting the embrace wash over his fear.
Ravenna released a silent sigh, looking at the curtain half-opened to reveal the stormy weather behind. A flash of lightning ran across the sky, accompanied by a boom of thunder.
They stayed like that in each other's embrace for a long time. The silence was half comforting, and half resolved.
"They are coming."
Ravenna's brows furrowed when he declared and carefully pulled away to meet those perfect eyes, ones that never failed to remind her of someone.
And another that was perfectly inherited from their mother. She brought him back to her arms where they lay on the bed. "Who?"
"The Lords."
"Alaric…"
"I saw them." He pressed. "I saw them flying. Towards the village, towards the street, and into the castle."
"I didn't know Lords had wings,"
"They transform," he answered. "That's why they are called sins."
"Sins don't have wings…"
"Their sins are dangerous, that's why they need to flee."
"And how do you know this, entire little one?"
"She tells me."
"The Angel?"
There was a faint blush on his cheek when she asked and Ravenna couldn't help but bring herself to smile. Was he blushing? He was so adorable. "Yes." And he answered. "But she was scared."
"Did she mention?"
"They promised to come for her. They want us both."
Ravenna was confused. No, it was confusing. "Alaric, she's not real-" It was the nth time she indicated, and every time she did, it felt like preaching to a rock.
"She is," He reacted. "She's just… just… afraid." He sighed at the end. "… and I can't help but be too. They want us. They say we are the lambs. They speak of holy matrimony, and they speak of sins. They want her because she's powerful, but why not leave us alone? We are all freeborns, aren't we?"
"Isn't that anger I hear in that voice?" Ravenna teased.
And he shifted. She could swear his ears were red and his cheeks… goodness, he was flushed. Is her little brother really… smitten?
"Goodnight," he wished, hiding under the blanket that swallowed him whole, leaving Ravenna unable to chuckle silently at this reaction.
"Your prayers," she reminded.
"I have said them."
"Then I'll stay up till you sleep,"
"I won't run, Ravenna. I'm not a boy,"
"You are just seven."
"Sir Reginald says the spirit is not measured in years. One is aged according to one's deeds. And I'm not afraid. I mean… I'm trying not to."
She furrowed. "What else did he mention?"
"That a true man fights off his fears by facing them, and not hiding behind the walls," He pulled the covers and looked at her. "I want to be a true man. I want to face my fears. I want to fight them, to protect myself. To protect you. And her," He didn't sound sure, but the fierceness in his eyes covered the truth.
Ravenna chuckled softly. "Protect me? I should be the one-"
"I want to learn how to fight. I want to practice swordsmanship when I grow up. I shall work as a lad in the armory as a start. Then I'll become a knight."
"Alaric-"
"Please," he begged, causing Ravenna to swallow her next sentence. "Let me make something out of myself. Let me go out there and face the world, not hiding under the curtains like a lame boy…"
"Do you-"
"… so you would have to work there no more."
***