Griseo, Gregaia
Daeva
"Did you find her?"
My hands trembled upon hearing her soft voice, but don't be deceived because she's already angry and frustrated once she talks at that level, I stared at the Olc who avoided her gaze and pressed their faces on the ground. She hasn't changed even though we were all reduced to the lowest forms, Astrid, as what we call her still carried the same malevolent aura, since the beginning before the fall.
"Aren't you going to answer my question?"
I guess that's my queue to spill the tea for their sake.
"Lady Astrid, may I be allowed to speak?"
Even though her face was hidden behind a dark veil, I can clearly see read her reaction and she's not going to be happy once I'll tell her the bad news.
"You may speak, Lady Daeva,"
I bowed my head slightly before I sprinkled the blue powder on top of my crystal ball. The ball emitted purple and red hues before revealing the clear image of the events that took place yesterday.
"Milady—"
"Hush, darling, you were given the chance to speak but wasted the opportunity,"
Like a river, she moved gracefully as she approached my crystal ball. Her finger played on the images that appeared and smirked.
"So, this is the reason why you failed to bring her back?"
I lifted my head and smiled.
"Milady, it seems that a powerful Draoidh had helped her while she was escaping from our men,"
She suddenly laughed and began to wave her hand in the air.
"Powerful? You think he is powerful enough to defeat our men?"
I shook my head and bowed.
"My apologies, Lady Astrid, the draoidh isn't powerful like what our men perceive, he's only smarter,"
Astrid nodded in approval and moved. Her hips swayed as she walked towards them.
"With the firearms and magic weapons that my brother created, we are invincible, but sadly, we have men who didn't know how to use their brains,"
I rolled my eyes as she began to count them one by one.
"We have a total of 20 useless idiots in the room, hmm,"
Astrid began to click her tongue after she counted her fingers. I'm guessing she's calculating the number of men she sent to her brother Remus for the following months.
"Lady Daeva, call the wraiths and drag to these fools to my brother's den,"
I bowed my head as I ring my little silver bell three times. The ground began to shake and the men started to weep, some even begged to give them another chance to capture the escaped prisoner but Astrid was unmoved. The wraith appeared on the ground and began to drag them underneath. When the last cry of the man echoed on the ground, Astrid slumped on her chair and began to rub her head.
"Lady Astrid, did you drink the potion I gave you?"
She lifted her veil and raised her brow. She, no, WE, was truly different from our previous forms.
"I need her blood, you know that,"
I bowed my head once more and offered to massage her hand instead.
"Lift your veil Daeva, we're the only ones left in this sad room,"
I pretended that I didn't hear her request when she suddenly sits straight upon hearing the familiar sound of footsteps. She swiftly covered her face with the dark veil; I quickly moved away and stood beside her when a tall handsome man stepped inside the room. I never liked him in the first place, until I learned the reason behind my hatred for him.
"Lord Eir, it's been a while since we last heard from you,"
Chasin Eir, the heir of Daimon Eir who was a direct descendant from the man I hated the most.
"Greetings Lady Astrid and Lady Daeva, I've come to offer my apologies on Leda's escape,"
I only rolled my eyes at his exaggerated tone but I know that Astrid was head over heels on his charisma and for his dominating aura.
"Your apology is graciously accepted,"
But I'm still having doubts where his loyalty truly lies.
"I've come to offer my aid,"
Astrid remained amused in her seat when four cloaked figures went inside the room. They vary in height and physical appearance but they all display the same aura.
"Milady, they are mercenaries from the dark fae tribe,"
I raised my brow and stared heavenwards, how on Gregaia did this person get hold of these savages?
"Impressive, you found yourself a group capable of defeating ten thousand foot soldiers,"
Your ancestor is currently cursing you in the afterlife and looks like you'll be getting an earful from him when you meet him.
"Milady, if it would lift your dull spirits, I am requesting a duel with one of your pets to prove that these men are capable of anything, even killing the appointed one and her comrades,"
He's overconfident, but it's no doubt, he got it from him. I wonder what his expression is when he faces defeat. Is he going to throw tantrums or summon a firestorm? I'm excited to see him get trampled because of his pride.
"What do you think Lady Daeva?"
I quickly nodded and pointed at one of the Draven that was standing in one corner.
"I would like to see that young man over there fight Lord Remus' new creation,"
Astrid's eyes twinkled and with the snap of her finger, the Draven moved forward and stood tall and proud. It's quite odd because he looked familiar, but I couldn't recall where I've seen him before.
"Do you accept the challenge, savage?"
The Draven nodded his head. He was more muscled and taller than the rest of his group but the twinkle in his eyes hid his real age.
"Yes, milady," He said.
I begin to ring my silver bell two times and the room began to change. The dome opened and the columns groaned as it transformed. The darkroom was filled with light, and then it disappeared. Only the thundering roar and the screams of Lord Remus' creatures filled the air. The Draven remained unmoved but when Chasin ordered them to move they disappeared and reappeared on the empty seats of the arena.
The young Draven stood in the center of the arena and like his kin he was unmoved with the blood-curdling screeches from the monsters.
"Choose your opponent, Draven,"
He bowed his head and slowly rose from the ground and tested their ferocity,
"Milady, I will happily quench my lust for blood with one of your strongest monsters,"
Astrid raised her brow but before she could speak, the stone entrance towards Lord Remus' den moved. Three Olc were pulling the iron wagon which Lord Remus requested from our "benefactor" where he hides his most ferocious beasts.
"Who dares to mock my pets?"
He was standing on top of the huge iron box with his arms crossed and began to adjust his spectacles.
The young Draven sniffed the air and smiled, whatever is inside that box, it must be one of his new creations.
"Ah, Chasin, I see you bought fine men,"
He looked down on the Draven and jumped off the box.
"A young boy?"
He muttered.
Lord Remus laughed and patted his soldier gently.
"This is only temporary my friend," He said as he motioned the Olc to move away from the box. Something terrible was inside the box which made the Olc ran as fast as they could.
"Chickens, I'll turn you into one of my skadus later,"
He fumbled for the crystal keys inside his pocket and went towards the iron wagon.
The terrible echo continued and as Lord Remus approached the iron box, it only got worse.
"Easy my pet, you'll have your snack soon,"
The Draven remained calm as he stared at the iron box.
The keys jingled as he opened the box, a mathan dubh; no it wasn't a mathan dubh. It was similar to a mathan dubh, only more frightening and eviler.
"I call her, Druj,"
The beast was ten feet tall and it had sharp spikes on its back and its sides. It had eyes like the color of blood and it had no teeth. Its hide would be difficult to penetrate, a distinct characteristic of its original form which Lord Remus kept. There was no fear in his eyes and there was even a hint of excitement which was a contrast to his possible demise.
"Let's see if you can handle the ferocity of my new pet!"
Lord Remus disappeared only to reappear beside Lady Astrid and smiled brightly. Everyone was waiting for the Druj to move from her iron wagon but she didn't move. She rose and began to sniff the air, but instead of charging the Draven, it stayed in its box. I began to channel its energy until I discovered the reason why it wouldn't move from its box.
"What's wrong my sweet?"
Lord Remus tried to approach his new creation but Lady Astrid stopped him.
"Be patient, dear brother," she said.
The Draven started to move towards the iron wagon and that's when the odd thing happened; the beast became agitated and Lord Remus wasn't happy about this.
"Lady Daeva, you picked the right Draven to finish the task, cleanly,"
The leech commented and whistled a short high note. The Draven took something from his pocket which made my heart beat wildly. I know I've seen it before, but I couldn't recall where. Even Lady Astrid raised her brow when she saw what the Draven was carrying.
"Is that a flute?" Lady Astrid asks as she focused her eyes on the Draven.
"It's not just any flute, Milady,"
Upon sensing that the Draven was near the iron wagon, the beast jumped off but instead of attacking him like he was ordered to do, it ran as fast as he could. The Draven smiled as he raised his flute and began to play one high note which made the Druj stop. He started to play three different notes of a sad melody and the Druj slowly walked back towards him. It moved along the sad melody that he was playing and something happened; the beast started to cry.
"It's not supposed to cry,"
Lord Remus muttered and his eyes seemed to be shooting anger towards the Draven. He was known for taking the souls of his victims before he turns them into one of his own.
"It's not supposed to cry!" He shouted which made Chasin smile.
The Draven started to play a frenzied tune which made the Druj run as fast as it could. It collided on the walls of the arena and lost one of its spikes on its side.
"What are you doing?"
Lady Astrid held Lord Remus' hand and gently patted it,
"My dear brother, don't be sad, it only means that your creation needs more improvement, right?"
Lord Remus flinched and lowered his head. The smile he displayed a while ago was gone and it was replaced with a sour expression.
The beast rolled on the ground and destroyed one of the columns. Huge stone blocks fell on top of the Druj which made Lord Remus scream.
"You killed my pet!" He began to stomp and his fingers began to emit dark violet light and his eyes glowed.
"You will pay for this!"
Lady Astrid held his hand to calm him down a bit before whispering the words,
"Hush, my brother, you will forget about what happened today,"
Lord Remus' eyes began to grow heavy until he finally fell asleep on his sister's lap.
"Draven, I'm impressed with what you did, but I am not happy that you made my little brother upset,"
The Draven kneeled in front of Lady Astrid and then he rose.
"You're worthy of my recognition, I guess,"
She said as she continued to gently stroke Lord Remus' head.
I finally remember where I saw him. It was two decades ago on top of Mt. Airini where he stood beside Pyry.
"What is your name Draven?"
The Draven's opal eyes shone. It was the same eyes I once stared at before I made a decision that scarred me for life.
"My name is Hal, milady,"
How did he survive the battle? And why did he use a different name? Why?