All that we see or seem
is but a dream within a dream.
~Edgar Allan Poe
***
CROAK!!!
And she gasped.
Ravenna's eyes shot wide open in terror as her heart raced wildly. Beads of sweat formed a river on her forehead, highlighting the spirit of her ideal and her hand settled on her chest.
She was met with the warm sunlight streaming through her familiar window. It was yet again another morning with the same particular dream.
The exact one every moment she shut her lids. Properly placing the hand on her thumping chest, a sigh escaped her lips.
It has been five years since Ravenna kept dreaming of strange people. Strange faces she couldn't recall. Or was it the raven's caw? Or was it the voices…? And a shiver ran down her spine.
She sat up, rubbing her temples, trying to shake off the vivid images. But they lingered when she did, most especially haunting her.
Scars. Monsters.
She gulped the lump down her parched throat as it echoes in the depths of her mind and swings her legs over the side of the bed, her feet meeting the cold floor. And she was reminded of that voice again.
'Kill her…'
"Ah," She hissed, overcoming the overfamiliar malevolent buzz which came after.
It was reiterated, over and over again, disturbing and poisoning her thoughts. The intensity and its monstrous rhythm never cease to kick her heart down her stomach.
She stumbled out of bed, and staggered to the kitchen, although, Ravenna doubted her appetite was still intact. It happened every single morning.
Her footsteps were soft and delicate upon her arrival and she found Alaric eating breakfast.
His scarlet eyes widened when he saw her. "Good morning," he greeted, setting his spoon on the table and dropping the tea cup back on the saucer.
"Good morning," she wished back, settling on the stool opposite him.
"I made some for you," he pushed the plate of bread garnished with scraps of cheese to her side, and she acknowledged with a small smile.
"Thank you," she mouthed, bringing the plate towards her. It smelled delicious yet her stomach never grumbled in anticipation. Instead, it made her feel nauseous.
"The magistrate left something this morning," he informed and Ravenna instantly shot a look. "He dropped it at the doorstep. I waited until he had left before picking it up,"
Ravenna released a small smile. She wondered what its content was about this time.
"We owe a lot," he said, sipping his tea without sparing her a glance and Ravenna's appetite went to dust.
House Vale was the only surviving property belonging to the Vales… and the most expensive. When their parents died in a fire mishap, this house wasn't spared. It took everywhere, living no place untouched, but the building remained firm and unwilling. It was believed to be cursed, something made from Ireworm—Witch tears.
The Vales were considered 'traitors' to Vladoryn—the Usurpers—by tapping into unholy magic, but it wasn't truly proven. On that day a trial was held to prove their innocence, was the day they died in a ghastly fire accident. Since Vladoryn was built firmly on laws, the case was nullified however judged valid based on the strong evidence.
House Vale being one.
It was said the house never took a hit, as strong as steel and iron, and impossible to penetrate. It was like trying to force a nail into iron, proving the rumors true.
Every single thing was taken away. Their province and rights— Amberleigh, the lands, their finances, and their will— all gone into thin air.
The only thing that was left was House Vale. Since the flames spared no beauty of it, it was considered of no worth. However, it was cursed.
Lady Isolde Vale, her mother, had Ravenna before that accident. Everyone knew she carried another baby in her womb before the unfortunate death, but no one knew the baby survived. To them, the Vales had one child.
As punishment, Ravenna carried the cross of House Vale—now known as Fallen House Vale.
She was spared the verdict of death, and hence, based on the will, was offered this house, only if she worked for the castle starting from the age of fifteen. But that wasn't the reason House Vale was given to her.
It was to prove that this house was uttering profanity and her family were traitors of Valdoryn, seeking after the magic of Witches—the outcasts—for power, and she was among them. Because her sister was one.
Bonding her to the Ashwraithe was the only way to monitor her closely. But deep down, Ravenna knew they were after power. Just like she figured Witches were baits to exactly what they wanted.
Over the years, they started capturing witches, proving her hypothesis true. No one knows exactly what they do to them, but rumors have it that they extract and burn them at the stake.
But Ravenna knew that wasn't all. Perhaps something darker than Valdoryn ever held, all for the sake of power and superiority. Humans most likely, like to feel superior.
And still over those years, Ravenna's presence to them gradually started feeling like a traitor's daughter, a servant, to the royalities. A complete rag at their disposal.
Until five years ago, the magistrate started showing up at their houses three times in a year, only to find out how much they owed since their parents' death. It cost way more than the castle's earnings.
To get that amount, she'd have to work harder, mostly times ten, almost all her life to raise such an amount, which Ravenna has been struggling with.
Though she reimbursed a few amounts almost every month, it still didn't reach even half of what was owed.
However, this was the fourth time this year the Magistrate showed up. She knew she had only a very little them left before an action would be taken.
With a sigh, "I'll handle it," and grabbed her bread. Madame Lorraine promised her something of worth only if she worked the whole day.
Perhaps changing her routine from afternoon till the next morning would support her enough since she couldn't do the morning shift.
But in the meantime, she couldn't leave Alaric all by himself. And another sigh escaped her lips.
Alaric passed her a small look, before returning his gaze.
Breakfast was quiet as usual as the siblings ate in silence. Just the soft clank of spoons or teacups whenever it was placed down.
Forcing another bite, "Alaric?" she called, grinding the small portion.
"Yes?"
An uncomfortable silence followed before she spoke again. "How did… I mean, when did I return home last night?" Something about the weather made her ask and she locked her gaze onto his.
"The usual time you return," he answered, unsure of her sudden question. "Is anything the matter?"
"I came home… all by myself?" she slightly whispered the last words, and Alaric looked at her with questions in those eyes.
"Where are you going to bring someone?" He asked.
"Y-No, I mean, no," she stammered, shaking her head. "I just wanted to know,"
She grabbed the teapot and poured some for herself, her movement slow and calculated. Then what was it with the weather?
"-would be more interesting," A monstrous voice echoed in her head, causing her movement to be a bit jerky.
"Are you alright?" Alaric's voice got to her amidst her internal chaos and she inhaled, swallowing next.
"I-I'm fine," she shook her head. Was she? Somehow, she knew what she saw. But it didn't seem like a dream. More of a…
Oh, she was sick.
"I'm thirsty…" The food she swallowed suddenly felt like ashes in her stomach as her hand slipped causing the hot coffee to spill on her dress.
"Ravenna!" Alaric shouted in panic and ran to her side. He quickly grabbed the teapot away from her before it could slip through her fingers and fall to the ground. It sizzled on her dress and the evaporation somehow mingled in the air.
Ravenna regained her senses when he called her name as her eyes widened at the damage she had done to herself.
Oh no…
The hot coffee had stained her clothes, providing vapor, yet she scrutinized the stain in an unaffected manner.
Her brows knitted.
"Are you alright?" Alaric quickly asked, taking the napkin and wiping her gown. He hissed when the heat of her garment touched his hand. "You should be careful!"
Ravenna still didn't respond. Her attention was in a haze. Suddenly, it felt like words were being deprived from her.
Just like that day.
Alaric's eyes widened when he mistakenly touched her skin. She was burning! "Ravenna!" and it was then that it occurred to him that the heat from her dress wasn't from the coffee that had poured on her, but from her body.
"Ravenna…" but she was falling when she heard her name for the last time as her vision blurred, and the chair scraped against the floor, before succumbing to another darkness.
***
"-she be alright?"
Ravenna heard a familiar voice ask when her eyes fluttered open. She blinked, confused, trying to recall how she ended up in her bed but her whole body ached, and she winced.
The last thing she remembered was walking back to Amberleigh surrounded by…
"Ravenna?"
Monsters, she whispered to herself.
Alaric knelt before her, holding her hand. "Ravenna, oh God, I was so scared,"
Ravenna met Alaric's gaze and at that moment, reality grasped her whole. Everything instantly faded and all she saw, all she could feel was his warmth.
His face looked worried as he searched her.
"Let her, young man," A gentle voice spoke from behind him. It was a woman in her mid-thirties who smiled warmly towards her. "How are you feeling, Ravenna?"
She opened her mouth to speak, but her throat was sore.
"Get her water," the lady instructed, and Alaric hurried to the kitchen before returning with a cup of water.
Then she approached her.
She helped her sit, watching Ravenna gulp the water like she had been deprived of it for ages.
When she emptied the cup, she handed it back, her face drenched in sweat and her eyes weak from slumber.
"You're only stressed. You have overworked your body far too long, Ravenna. Symptoms like these are expected," She said while Ravenna struggled to sit properly.
"I-I'm fine, just…" Her hand flew to her forehead when she winced. "… a strange headache,"
The lady placed her hand on her forehead. And she frowned. "You're burning again," she noted carrying a displeased gaze.
Grabbing a wet towel, she placed it on her head and said, "It would help reduce your fever in the meantime,"
Ravenna held the towel with her left hand as Alaric's grip on her hand tightened. "You'll be fine,"
"Mm," she said, feeling dizzy all over again. "What time is it?"
"It's past two in the afternoon," he responded.
"I have been asleep for that long?" she questioned herself. The tall looming structure of the castle's image visited her headspace.
Oh no… "I need to go to the castle…" She had already missed a few days without permission. Missing another would only add unnecessary punishments. The last thing Ravenna wanted was to face the faces of the Ashwraithe's.
The thought of it made her skin crawl.
"You can't go to the castle today, Ravenna. You need rest." Alaric's voice sounded displeased.
"I have to go. I won't risk further punishment-"
"Well young lady, I'm sorry to disappoint, but you are in no condition to move or work. Like I said earlier, your body needs rest and Alaric is right. It needs time to recover..." and she lost what the lady was saying.
"Mm…" Ravenna whined, struck again by that terrible headache. Her vision was obscured and when she couldn't try fighting as she kept pressing until eventually, she succumbed to another rest.
However, the last face she saw was filled with so many scars that caused her to gasp.
***