RAVEN'S POV:
My legs kept advancing ahead despite the extremely crowded bazaar and it was much more difficult than I'd actually assumed to maintain a mortal pace whilst the monstrous force within that kept urging me to speed up. I kept pulling down the hood of my leather coat lower than it already was in a pathetic attempt of hiding my identity. So much trouble just for a single rendezvous out of the castle and I swore to myself that I wouldn't spare a single living cell in the body of the person who I'm supposed to meet if they bail on me at the last minute.
"Come on! Where the hell are you?"
I was cautious enough to keep my thoughts to myself. However, my inhuman senses kept invading the minds of every other person in that whole place without both mine and their consents as well. I gravely wanted to get away from all the unsought thoughts and utterances I kept hearing due to my diabolical dynamism. The noises were too troublesome to tolerate as I found my hands covering my ears tightly but the sounds seeped through the slimmest membranes in my satanic senses.
"Did you hear that monstrous growl?"
"Oh, God! How many souls did he slaughter this time?"
"It has been long since he last emerged, isn't it?"
"He is the most ruthless monster in the whole land."
Thanks to the unbidden aptitude I've been accursed upon, I heard almost every single hate and taunt ridiculed upon me. A damaged part of me was drastically offended by their obtuse judgments. They didn't know me. They never knew me. They never knew the anguish and repentance that's masticating my dark heart for centuries now. They never knew the agony I grieve every single night since the first time the cursed crimson coated my hands. They never knew and will never know how harrowing this life on hellfire is for me to keep striving for control over my own sanity and the satan that's always waiting in his dark wings to be unleashed. Nobody knows but me. Yet, here they are. Believing every vile lie and violent personification about the beast in me that Alastor Demogorgon threw at them.
"You've earned your aggressive reputation back, I see."
Among the mob of oblivion men who kept alleging me based on fabricated indictments, my so-called supernatural senses finally heeded the one voice I've come out to find. Just then, I caught a glimpse of the very dirty blonde hair the earlier voice belonged to, from the corner of my eyes.
Without thinking, I crushed through the cramped passage, unintentionally shoving some strangers out of my way with a bit of extra force that I should not probably apply. Soon, I was out of the busy bazaar road and was cutting across a few empty alleys before spotting the same blonde again. Despite how desperately I wanted to speed my way towards my target, I still chose not to and strolled in my most mortal-like speed instead.
"You're slow."
"You're late."
"Am I?"
"Aren't you?"
"I don't think so."
"I do think so."
"You could be wrong."
"Oh! I'm never wrong, Legion Demogorgon."
His sharp eyes narrowed in anger as he visibly clenched his fists behind his back. Sensing the near victory in our verbal war, a smug smirk made its way onto my face. He shut his raging eyes and inhaled a rather deep breath before slowly stepping towards me. His steps were menacing but mannerly at the same time.
"My name is Legion Avery and never. Never call me that if you wish to keep your head above your neck to wear that bloody crown of Crimson, Raven." He warned in his calmest tone but I could hear the intimidation loud and clear in his icy voice.
"Whatever, Legion. Avery or Demogorgon, you're still my little brother and you can't do a bloody heck about it- Oh my my my- Did you grow taller again?" I offered my usual smile of apology after being the impulsive idiot I truly was as his tensed muscles tardily relaxed a little. After a few solid seconds of scanning my face with his most imprudent expression, the younger boy finally smirked.
"I did and you can't do a bloody heck about it either, brother." He dropped his defensive stance instantly and engulfed me in his lean arms. I realized how he indeed had grown notably taller in just a couple of months and his messy hair appeared longer as well.
"How is Hogan doing by the way? You were gone longer than usual this time."
"Father is fine and he asked of you too. He said he missed having you around. You should visit him when you can, Raven."
I know I should and I missed him more now than ever. To be honest, Hogan Avery has always been the better father figure than Alastor Demogorgon had ever even tried to be. And it never ceases to amaze me till now, when I think of Hogan's undying love for my late Aunt Phobe despite her highly abhorred aristocratic half-bred status. The man left me more wonderstruck when he claimed his love for her only kept multiplying after her demise. Unlike someone else that I know of.
"Watch the threshold," Legion cautioned as he took the lead.
We ducked under the lower towers of the old tavern and headed straight below the basement. The stench of cheap liquor and perhaps some spoilt food invaded my nostrils and once again in gratitude to my inhuman senses, every unpleasant odour smelled utterly amplified. I had to pinch my nostrils shut until we crossed the stinking storage and stepped inside the vault. Legion noticed my obvious discomfort but the boy simply let out a mocking chuckle.
"Pardon the discomfort, your Highness. Why don't we just meet at your magnificent fort the following time? I bet you have various regal fragrances there." I kicked the back of his ankle and he tripped in his steps whilst still chuckling at my implicit protest.
"Shut up, Legion. You don't get how awfully amplified everything is for me. Be pleased that you are not a complete crossbreed because honestly, I don't deem that you'll be able to handle all the annoying details, brother." He shut the metal door behind me as I walked further inside the vault. Instantly spotting the dimly lit passage that led to the secluded tunnel ahead.
"Of course, I am indescribably pleased about that. Though sometimes I do envy your invincible powers, I still am grateful that both my parents are half-breeds."
"Yet you are still the most valiant warrior in all of Crimson Crown." He scrunched his nose while folding his arms across his chest. A habit that he always exhibited whenever he is disagreeing with a discussion.
"Valiant enough to be your Wise Commander when you take the crown?" The indifference was intense in his question.
"Valiant enough to take the crown as well, if you would thrive harder." I mimicked his defensive stance as he shook his head in disagreement.
"You're dodging. That's not the question, Raven."
"I have way too much crimson in my hand than the crown, Legion. So, believe me when I tell you that I don't want more."
"I can help you clean the crimson on both your hand and the crown, Raven. You are a better man than Alastor. You just need to believe in your-"
"How the hell am I supposed to believe in myself whilst the burdensome existence of a brutal beast that's been feeding off my own blood? You've witnessed it slaughter and I would rather sacrifice my heinous body to the hellfire than allow that morbid massacre to recur."
"Raven, you've got to stop condemning yourself for the past. It was not-"
"ENOUGH!"
A deep growl left my mouth as it visibly daunted the younger boy. He took a few cautious steps backwards before clasping his long limbs behind his back again. He had returned to his defensive stance. My darkening irises constricted further as he kept glaring daringly into them while his own blue orbs blackened with determination. I knew he wanted nothing but a virtue for me but as I've affirmed earlier, nobody except my own odious self knew me better and I'd be damned if I end up disappointing the only person I care deeply for, after my deceased mother.
"You know my mother used to tell me that although Aunt Edith was the most humanlike in the family, her adamance was always way monstrous. I see the genes in action every time you rebel." He offered a soothing smile which I immediately embraced without another thought.
"I was always envious of their sisterhood, to be honest. How could they be so different but so united at the same time? I never understood that kind of sibling bond. Until you, my little brother." I reached out and ruffled his now longer hair as he stumbled away in annoyance.
"Stop calling me that! I am not exactly the idea of little anymore, Raven." He protested like a kid before jogging out of the passageway and into the tropical territory of Ceres Grove.
Situated at the very end of the Crimson Crown kingdom, Ceres Grove had strategically become our secret spot to share undercover analyses over all these years. Two tall stallions were readily expecting us as we reached towards the tip of the tunnel that led into that dark forest. Right away, we headed into the vast woodland and shortly, our clandestine cottage came into our range of visions. The enthusiastic smile on his sharp features only kept spreading wider as we reached closer to our destination and that intrigued my genuine curiosity.
"Tell me you had found them, Legion." Even I wasn't sure whether it was expectancy or desperation that echoed deeper in my voice. I could sense him grinning wider from the back as I followed him into the cottage.
"Yes, I did and the best part is, I think I might as well have found them." My eyes couldn't contain the shock in their sockets as I stared longer than I thought I would at the object he retrieved from the oak chest.
"Bloody hell..." I tried touching what my sight couldn't trust seeing but that only increased the incredulity in my instincts.
Both my eyes and fingers explored the incredulous object in my hand with keen curiosity. Every evident side and sculpture were expertly engraved in the darkest hue of amber with a mixture of golden alloy. A single radiant amethyst embellished the imperiality of the object in the heart of its one side while the other side bore a single letter symbol, carved in equal sovereignty. My thumb brushed over the verboten symbol when a sudden shiver spread down my spine.
The majestic beauty that adorned the lower half of that masterpiece momentarily blocked my brain from noticing the dangerously double-edged sharp upper half with a glorious glare more blinding than the brightest celestial eclipse. Judging by the master craftsmanship and keen assortment of material, I bet the blade would never omit the slightest stain even after an entire centenary of a heinous bloodbath. Despite the intimidating image of that object, I could almost shamelessly admit the satisfying pleasure that followed the earlier shivers.
"Don't be deceived by the blinding beauty, Raven. Both of its edges are brutishly coated with the most virulent poison I've ever known to exist."
The beauty with a beastly side beguiled my interest. Legion handed me a plain sheath made of black leather with the very same symbolized letter sewn skillfully on its axis as I slipped the regal dagger safely back in its case. Once again, my fascinated fingers grazed over the elegantly embroidered letter. Cursive ends on both sides of the majestic letter 'מ' were carved in a contour of magnificent wings in the most subtle manner.
"I found it in the middle of Valerian Woodlands just a few days ago. The scene had sceptical evidence of blood spill but any trace of assailant or victim were already wiped clean by the time I arrived." He reported in detail while I kept the evidence back in its chest.
"I'm listening..." I hummed as my attentive eyes met his again. He curtly nodded before continuing his narration.
"Since both, the weapon and sheath were located at two different spots and a debatably farther distance from the scene, I'm guessing, the victim must have fought back or at least attempted to escape the attack." He proposed his rough deducement as I pondered over his details more.
"Valerian Woodland is only days away from Crimson Crown and that means, the owner of this dagger might as well was headed in our direction before the attack. It is clearly not a common occurrence for a customized Montgomery dagger to be obtained ownerless out in the nowhere considering it has been at least a whole century since we had any sort of angel episode in our provinces, Legion." I was desperately sifting through several possibilities of a cogent crime scene in my head.
"Are you trying to imply that this could be a planned assault, Raven? Valerian Woodlands is a vast forest with various wild animals to my knowledge. It could have been a hyena hunt as well." His intonation was sceptical as his naturally intimidating eyebrows narrowed further.
"Hyenas won't hide their hunting traces, Legion. It is either a pre-plotted attack or-"
"-Or other availing parties intervened the hyenas' hunt." We shared a silent nod of approval as he completed my hypothesis.
"Please tell me that you're suspecting Alastor Demogorgon too." I slowly shook my head while pacing back and forth. My hands were clasped in front as I contemplated the vague plausibility.
"His search troupes are currently on hold from Montgomery hunt. They are still pretty caught up with the escape of the protest prisoners since the last full moon. Speaking of which, did you manage to get them all away without any troubles?"
"You mean, the prisoners that you released on last full moon? Yes! Didn't I tell you that I found them too in the first place already and yes, I definitely got every one of them away without getting myself killed by them while doing so. Thanks for asking, brother. I'm still alive, thanks to my survival skills." The hint of humourless sarcasm was hideous in his voice as I threw him a disapproving glare.
"You should start speaking less of your levelled mind, Legion Avery. Otherwise, I'm afraid you'll be damned to face dreadful consequences due to that unfiltered mouth of yours sooner than you should."
"Then you should start acting less of your ludicrous mind in that case, Raven Demogorgon because I still am badly bothered by that mindless stunt you pulled. Their bites are bloody lethal to our race, regardless of blood purity. You of all people, were well aware of the rumoured cure that allegedly compromises those prisoners' beastly form and yet you still chose to release them on the very night of their whelming power. If it wasn't for me, those beasts would have butchered you into bits." Anger was overtaking the concern in his harsh tone.
"At least, that could have ended the beast in me, I suppose." My statement sounded way more wretched than I thought it would. Legion threw his hands in the air in utter disbelief before he appeared before me at his inhuman pace. His cerulean eyes softened with warmth as he held my shoulders.
"You have to stop resenting yourself like this, brother. There may be a beast dwelling in you but that doesn't define your true self. Despite being the descendant of the devil himself, you have been striving for the freedom of those very subjects who abominate you in the oblivion of your altruism. Our quest troupe is almost there now, Raven. We are getting closer to the Montgomeries and we will find them this time. Do believe me and please... Please believe in yourself too." Despite the tough exterior, his tender eyes and delicate voice gave away the undivided affection he had for me.
He was right in a way too though. I have been heeding uncountable attempts at locating the almost forgotten angelic lineage of Crimson Crown's rightful rulers. Back then, I never really used to pay any attention to Meredith's tales about the Montgomery bloodline's mighty valour before. However, my immature prospects towards my eternal life had a drastic shift on the dreadful day I killed my own mother because I lost without a fight to the bloody beast that feasted on my weakness. Since then, I have been fighting with all my force to pay for my sin by various means.
I kept colliding with King Alastor only to amplify his hatred towards me just so that he would extend to deem me unfit for the throne. I delegated my own troupes in Legion's lead to discover the long lost royalties and also dismiss King Alastor's appointed angel hunters at the same time. I kept releasing the cursed prisoners on their most powerful nights, effectively putting myself and the rest of our sinful race at the risk of death only to set those captives free of their beastly forms. All of these, under the cruel accusation of mercilessness, slaughters and apparent evil by the very subjects I've been thriving to protect.
Certainly, I aspire to find the fallen angel descendants and aid them in claiming their rightful crown but what nobody including Legion himself knew was my actual agenda behind this entire heroism. Along with the crown of Crimson, I hoped the Montgomery Angels would seize my cursed living too. To be deprived of this demonic existence by the beatific hands of that holy ancestry is the only reason for all of my apparent altruism. I am no saint in this war since I solely wish to unbind my odious self from this obscure cycle of remorse and agony.
I am still a selfish beast, I supposed.
"I may not be a pure crossbred and yes, I do loathe the demonic side of me but still. The immense power the beast from within bequeaths me upon is worth all the agony, Raven. I am not proud of it but I won't deny that I became stronger since I'd embraced the superiority. As much as you may hate it, sometimes, you just have to believe in the beast, brother."
A helpless smile slipped from my lips as I pondered over his words. Although he was younger than me by a few decades, the weight of wisdom his words yielded was utterly astonishing. Perhaps someday, I will be able to believe in myself again but to believe in the beast that butchered my mother was something I could never imagine. Reaching over to touch his rowdy hair, I gently tousled the unruly curls he'd swept back as his shoulders relaxed a little at the tender contact.
"Let's get these angel ancestries back at their rightful throne, brother. Maybe then- They might help me to bridle and possibly believe in the bloody beast in me."
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