Zelds POV
My eyes were on the trees watching for any sign of the enemy. We weren't near the front lines so if they managed to hold the other packs off we stood a good chance of Raven having enough time to do whatever it was she was doing.
I chanced a glance towards her. She had been omitting a faint glow from her very skin for some time now. I had a bad feeling that there was more to what she was doing. Something told me that whatever she planned might take her away from me.
'We will not let that happen.'
'She's a goddess Lone what could I possibly do to stop her?'
'There is always a way. Believe in your mated
bond with her.'
'I want to but...'
I looked towards her again, her face only just visible through the leaves of the mighty oak tree.
"Well well well looks like we finally found where your hiding."
My head snapped around a growl escaping my throat. Idiot! I let myself get distracted! Staring up at Raven was Shiya her clothes covered in blood as was her face. Drops of it hit the ground from her chin of her human form. Quell was in wolf form by her side a constant guard eyes on me, teeth bared.
Raven hadn't moved she seemed oblivious to Shiya's arrival. Quickly I positioned myself between them causing Shiya's eyes to turn towards me, a cruel smile forming on her lips.
"Do you really think you have the power to stop me?"
I bent my knees growling preparing myself for the fight I knew was coming.
"You'll never reach her."
Shiya laughs at my words sharing a look with her lapdog.
"You hear that Quell he thinks he has a chance. Seems like Damien wasn't the only delusional wolf around here. Don't worry little bro you'll join that power hungry aloha soon enough."
The implication of her words had my fists clenching. Had she really killed Damien or was she bluffing? I know he was on the front lines and last time I spoke to him he was going after Shiya.
'Rav is she telling the truth?'
Raven didn't answer I tried again but there was some kind of barrier blocking my mindlink with her. I chanced a glance towards her, Quell took the opportunity and attacked head on. I only barely managed to raise my hands to block him from biting into my neck as I was knocked to the ground. I was pinned down pain shot up my arm, my own blood dropping my my face. I saw Shiya go for the tree, summoning my wind I knocked Quell off me shifting in record time I lunged for Shiya from the side planting myself between her and Raven my teeth bared in a deep growl.
'I said you'll never reach her!'
I expected her to shift but what she did instead had my hackles raised. Instead of canines a pair of fangs snapped out of her jaw. It was this moment that I realised I couldn't sense her wolf. The reason she hadn't shifted this entire time was because she was no longer a werewolf but a vampire just like Luna.
'What did you do Shiya?'
Shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly she answered out loud.
"What I had to do to beat Raven. My wolf was weak, pathetic. She couldn't give me what I wanted so I ended her life so that I could be stronger."
'YOU KILLED HER! You killed your wolf to become a vampire! How could you? Seara was apart of you and you ended her life like she was nothing! What the hell is wrong with Shiya? Is your jealousy really worth all this?!'
Quell returned to Shiya's side both facing me knowing to get to Raven they had to get through me. My words however seemed to make Shiya angry. I could tell in the way her eyes bore into mine.
"You have no idea Zeld! You have no idea what it feels like to have your own mother turn her back on you! To have you father favour Raven over his own flesh and blood! Even you the orphan who my father brought home and treated like his own son!"
The laugh that escaped her mouth was like some crazed lunatic with an eerie edge to it.
"You know what the funniest thing is when Tharon brought you home I was happy. I thought that bringing you home would mean that I could finally have one person on my side. I wanted so much for you to be a real brother, to be my family. Someone I could share my pain with and relate to since those with my own blood didn't give a dam about me."
Her eyes stared daggers at the tree behind me.
"But even you cared more about her then you ever did me. I had no one, my whole life no one cared. Not until Quell came to me and told me about Luna and what she had planned. It was then that I knew I had no choice. I did all of this so that everyone sees just how important I am. After tonight Raven will be a thing of the past. The moon goddess will be no more. All her wolves will be gone and a new race will reign. As a vampire I will create my own family, my own race. A race without Raven and without wolves. I will rule them all and no one is going to stand in my way not even you little brother."
Before I could say anything else both of them jumped in to attack. It took everything I had including my wind to keep them both back. I don't know what was going on with Raven but she had still not let down her barrier on her mind and I had no time between fighting off both Quell and Shiya to try applying pressure to it.
Shiya's fighting style was so different without her wolf I was only just managing to deflect her blows to stay alive, but the strain of fighting them both was starting to become too much. My wolf form was tiring.
'Lone we need to hold on!'
'I know but she's too fast, we haven't even landed one blow.'
I was too slow with her next attack as her fist connected with my jaw knocking me to the side my back hitting a nearby tree. Quell took the opportunity to pin me down his teeth sinking into the scuff of my neck. Lone yelped in pain but Quell didn't go for the kill.
From the corner of my eye I could see Shiya approach. I tried to stop her with my wind but she waved the magic away with her own power. Kneeling beside me she bared her fangs at me in disgust.
"Your pathetic wind can't stop me Zeld. It's too bad Ravens so out of it I would have enjoyed making her watch while I drained you dry."
'Shiya please you don't have to do this. I know I hurt you. I wanted to be your brother just as much as you did but you never let me in. You were to fixated on your jealousy for Raven you never let any one in. Please don't do this your better then this, don't let Luna destroy everything that you could still be.'
Leaning in I could feel her breath at my ear.
"It's too late little brother. Too late for me, too late for you and soon too late for Raven."
I struggled against Quells hold as she went for my throat no doubt to suck me dry. Suddenly there was a scream coming from the tree. Shiya swung around as The tree itself light up with a blinding light. Distracted quells hold on me loosened. Without thinking I dislodged Quell and grabbed his neck snapping it with one quick shake.
Turning on Shiya the light from the tree was too bright I could no longer see where she was.
I stood stunned as the trees around the oak started to glow aswell. The energy that Raven had shown me only hours ago that flowed through connections started to become visible as they flowed into the tree and Raven.
'RAV!'
At my mind linked outburst the light exploded like a shockwave that expanded out knocking me back. I struggled against it pulling myself to my now human again feet pants had magically appeared covering my nudity.
As the light dissipated the oak was gone and in its place was Raven. She held Shiya up my her neck her feet now off the ground. Raven seem ethereal like she was there but not there. Her human body the one I had touched so many times gone. Her black hair had lengthened stretching to her thighs a long white gown like a Roman goddess flowed over her delicate skin. Her features more pronounced and more beautiful then I'd ever thought possible. She was My Raven yet she wasn't.
"Rav?"
My voice was cautious the look in her eyes scaring me making me wonder if she was still the Raven I loved. Shiya struggled against her hands gasping for breath.
"Rav let her go."
She ignored me as her head tilted to the side like she was curious with Shiya's reaction. Before I could stop her she snapped her neck and tossed her to the side like she was yesterday trash.
I couldn't move, my heart beat widely in my chest. The look in her eyes was so cold it was like she didn't even care that she'd just killed her own sister.
"Death is not the end. Even for one as troubled as her."
Ripping my eyes from the tangle of lifeless limbs that was now Shiya my eyes met Ravens once more.
"Why did you do that? What's going on Rav? What is this?"
A smile curved her lips, I smile that held no emotion. A smile that sent chills down my spine.
"That was her punishment for killing one of my wolves. I am what I have always been without the trappings of human flesh. I am a goddess Zeldius of the forest lakes pack and as goddess it is my right to punish those who would do harm to those under my protection."
She stepped closer, in my fear I stepped back making her pause a curious look in her eyes.
"You fear me?"
I nodded.
"I fear what you have become."
A sadness crossed her eyes hurt by my words. It disappeared to be quickly replaced with a look of resolve. Raising her hand something grabbed me from behind as tree branches wrapped around my limbs pinning me to its trunk. I struggled against them back I had no hope of being free. Slowly she approached her feet I notice bare of any cover as flowers bloomed beneath them which each step she walked. When she was close enough she reached her hand out. Inches from my cheek she stopped something in my face gave her pause. Pulling her hand away one year escaped her eyes it sparkled it the moon light as it made its way down her cheek.
"You will be safe here Zeldius I'll not have you harmed as many others have by her hands. This has always been my burden to bear and should never been yours or any one else's. Lead them well when I am gone."
She started to turn.
"WAIT!"
She frozen but she did not look back.
"There is no time I must finish this before he comes."
"Before who comes? Rav please tell me what's going on?"
Turning her head slowly to met my eyes I saw a hint of the Raven that was my mate.
"I'm sorry Zeld this was the only way I will always love you."
With that she was gone. I couldn't even track when ch direction she was headed and I struggled in vein to get free of the branches that held me.
"RAV! PLEASE DONT DO THIS!"
I yelled till my voice was hoarse but it was useless. She had gone to fight Luna and I could do nothing to help her. I was stuck her while she was fighting. Her words kept repeating in my head, before he comes. Who was she talking about? What would he do when he does come? All of these questions ran through my mind. She'd told me she wouldn't sacrifice herself yet with her last words that's exactly what she was doing. In returning to her goddess form she had already sacrificed herself. She was so cold, so detached. No I saw her face with those last words she was still Raven. Still my mate. I had to help her. Whoever this being is that scared her I will not let her face it alone. I will get out of this tree if it's the last thing I do. I will save my mate.