Raven wasn't sure what to do now. His older brothers had all gathered by now and the man in white stared them dead in the eyes. He didn't smile, his face emotionless as everything seemed so eerily quiet.
The man stepped closer and closer until Kieran held out his sword. Raven half wanted to ride back to the castle and call for his mother, but he was no longer that scared boy from his childhood years. He was a warrior like his brothers. He had to act like it.
But as Raven tried his best to choke down the fear in his throat, the man only seemed to grow impatient. And that's when he noticed the other bodies. Three bodies lay piled up behind the man, almost covered by a tree. How many people had he killed? The sirens had only been ring a few moments ago. Why was nobody on patrol today? Where were the other guards?
"You are being taken to the queen for questioning at this immediate moment." Kieran spoke without a single ounce of hesitation. Raven wished he could do that.
"And why is that?" The man asked, his eyes shifting to the woman on the floor.
"You are a murderer! How many people did you kill?" Kieran's voice grew angrier, and so did his posture. One thing about the eldest child, he had a temper.
"Oh, assuming now aren't we? I've just come to visit and-"
"How. Many. Did. You. Kill." Kieran spoke the same as someone would count.
"Five." The man grinned.
"He's telling the truth…Jett, grab him. Raven, get out of here." Pitch turned to look at the two. Jett didn't take kindly to being order around by his little brother, but he moved quickly and wrangled up the man.
Raven watched, feeling uneasy. The man didn't resist in the slightest. That was a bad sign, nobody just gave into being arrested. Pitch glared at him as he still hadn't left the scene, but the request only annoyed Raven. He looked back at his brother.
"Why?" He asked, getting off the horse. Pitch began to protest but Raven spoke again. "I'm not a child. Her family…"
Raven knelt down and inspected the body, reaching out his gloved hand. He felt her face and then her pulse. She had obviously been shot. Raven looked up and took note of the gun and knife Jett was confiscating from the man. Kieran kept his guard up, positioned perfectly so that he could attack the man from any angle.
"Raven, I said to go-"
"I heard you, Pitch. But I think I can handle this…take the man back to mother and have her decide his fate." Raven stood and took a moment to look over the man. "He will pay for killing our people, yeah?"
"Exactly, little brother." Jett agreed before tying the man to his horse. He just smiled lazily at the siblings.
"Why so happy?" Pitch asked. He gazed at the man with an annoyed and uncaring expression.
"I've always wanted to meet the queen of my least favorite kingdom." Was all he said before Jett rode off.
Pitch immediately turned to Raven. The youngest could only avert his own eyes and stare at the bodies. Kieran quickly rode around and ushered everyone into their homes. A messenger would have already been sent to the queen for the other kingdoms, alerting them of this man. Despite the war, this news had to be spread. In case he had comrades or something.
Each body was different. This woman was pregnant with a bullet hole in her head. Raven and his brothers stalked to the three behind the tree quickly. There was another body who's throat had been slit, a man with glossy black eyes and he seemed to be a noble. Bad timing to be in this town. The next body was a teenager, a girl. She had blood dripping down her neck as well. Two of her fingers had been cut off and she looked as though she'd been crying before her death. The next body was a boy, no older than twelve. He had a bullet in his heart. Raven grit his teeth as he had seen this kid running around before. He was so young and happy, how had he gotten caught up in this?
"Hey. This is only four bodies." Pitch noted out loud, his eyes glancing at their area. Raven spun around as well. He noticed his horse running off in a different direction.
With a quick look at his brothers he took off to catch up with the Black Knight. With a few heavy breaths, he finally made it, stopping as soon as he saw the scene. Most of the towns people had gathered around right here, right beside a small bakery. And hanging right on the sign, a noise rapped around their neck, was Mrs Kilo. She was a nasty old woman who always started fights, her husband was the owner of this bakery. The woman had just reached her nineties and she was getting sick as is…seeing her dead almost broke Raven's heart. And in such a cruel way, how had nobody stopped this?
Kieran and Pitch rode beside him, also gaping at the crime scene. How many people had he really killed? In how many towns? Kingdoms? Raven knew this wasn't his first rodeo. He silently prayed his mother chose execution for these murderers. That was what he believed that man deserved.
The three princes quickly worked to round up the villagers and send them home, other guards finally showing up. After an agonizing lecture from Kieran they quickly got to work moving the bodies and preparing a funeral. It wasn't the first funeral the Onyx kingdom would host, as they had been in war for eighty years. But this was unexpected and so soon after peace had just ended. And on top of that, nobody knew this man. He was obviously not from the other kingdoms, due to his attire. Unless..somehow…
Raven knew there were many possibilities. It wasn't hard to make different colored clothing, but to go out of their way for this one psychopath? And white. He'd obviously chosen to wear something none of the other kingdoms would expect. And somehow, the Onyx villagers knew of this man. What was the gossip at the masquerade? Had another kingdom taken a visit from this man?
The three rode home, setting their horses back in the stables before running to the throne room. Jett was stood their with the man and the queen in her throne. She was covered head to toe as always, but the stern look in her eyes was as cold as steel and her children knew she would not be lenient.
"Five of my people. You think this will go without punishment?" The queen stood tall now, walking over.
"My queen, I didn't expect your boys to run into town so fast. It wasn't fair on my part." The man spoke, only lifting his head to look at her.
"You are a monster." The queen walked over and looked to the four princes. "Take him to the balcony. Ferdinand, please tell everyone that there will be an execution. Now."
Nobody said anything as Jett and Kieran followed their mothers orders. Ferdinand, the queen's advisor, quickly ran to alert the town. Pitch and Raven followed their older brothers, none of them speaking. They were all grieving too. They were always grieving.
The man would protest every once in a while. He obviously didn't plan to be killed. Kieran shoved against the edge of the balcony, hands tied behind his back. He whispered something to the man, something Raven could only guess was a threat. Then they all stood to the side, Kieran still holding onto the man.
"You got any comrades?" He asked, his gaze shifting to his younger brothers.
"No, my prince."
"Which kingdom do you work for?" Jett asked, tilting his head.
"None, my prince."
"Then what are you doing here? Why are you killing?" Pitch leaned against the balcony, pulling some glasses out of his pocket and putting them on.
"I'm bringing faith to myself. I'm getting revenge." The man laughed. He laughed so hard that Raven almost backed up and off the balcony.
"What did they do to you." Raven spoke, more of a statement than a question. It was as though he didn't want the answer, as though he already knew.
"They wronged me, my prince. They killed my mother, my prince. They killed my inner child, as well as my actual child." The man twisted his head as crowds started to gather in front of the castle.
"Who killed your mother and child?" Raven asked again.
"The ones I killed…but I'm missing one.."
"They couldn't have..one of them was barely a teenager."
"My daughter's enemy. That child drowned her in a river…" The man's voice broke with each word.
"And the baker's wife?"
"I killed the baker's wife…because he killed mine."
"How?"
"He baked her some bread, filled it with poison. His wife had requested it since she was jealous…"
"And the other people?"
"They…they helped. They did wrong things, wrong things to my family. I lost them all!" The man was yelling now. Kieran shoved him to get him to shut up.
Raven took a long sigh. Hearing this almost made him believe this man was innocent. But how had they not known those people were murderers? People died every day, sure, but in the main town? The princes would have been the first to take charge of these murders.
"You are thinking how you never noticed?" The man tilted his head again. Raven looked at his brothers who had the same grim expressions. "My daughter was found dead in the river, they said it was an accident. The little boy came to my home and joked it up, said he did it himself and nobody would believe my wife and I. My son..he was rejected by this girl and killed himself. My wife then bought some bread and ate it, she died and I found traces of poison. My final son…he impregnated a woman and she admitted to tricking him. I killed her. I killed her husband too. And the last man..he fired me because of all the deaths in my family."
Raven felt the sorrow build up. He had never been one to wrong someone for getting revenge. It was the human mind that made you think it would help. And these people…these people had been awful. Except for maybe the teenager. Raven hoped she hadn't meant to cause a suicide….but everyone else? How could you do that to someone…and under their kingdoms laws? It didn't explain why they weren't aware. Raven had just one more question.
"Are you happy you got revenge?" He asked. His brothers turned to him as their mother stepped onto the balcony.
"Prince Raven, right? I always liked you from the moment you were born. I knew you'd be a justice seeker…and if it really is my time to go, I suppose I'll tell you. No, I am not happy about the people I killed. But there are others like me. Others who wear white and fight for their lives because the world hasn't seen them the way they were meant to be seen. We call ourselves the monochromatic. White has always been our color, no matter which kingdom we were born into. Raven…I seek that those people don't share my fight. Some of them may not have killed like me, and some of them are young. They don't know any better, they were thrown into an awful world. Keep an eye out for the people in white, Raven."
Raven wanted to ask more questions. He wanted to know more things. But the man somehow flipped himself forward, falling from the balcony despite Kieran's grip…he must have loosened at the story, as they were all in shock. A few screams were heard along with cheers and applause. But they hadn't killed him. Raven had almost protested against it. He knew his fate, and he gave it to himself. Raven wasn't sure if that was an act of bravery or stupidity or guilt.
What he did know? Raven was positive he needed to find these people. The people in white. The people who seemed to call themselves outcasts. Raven knew this would be a new adventure for him. He needed to know more. And as he listened to the painful crack of bones against concrete, to the crying of children and screaming of the shocked people, he knew that man probably didn't deserve such a painful death. He wondered what it felt like in his last moments. Falling, knowing this was the end. Knowing no hero would swoop down and catch him as he hit the floor. Knowing nothing could change what he had done.
Raven wondered if the man really had been guilty. If the man had deserved this punishment. And if his story was true, which Raven had a gut feeling it was, he wondered if those people should have been punished too. Although, death and fear seemed to be good for so called murderers. Raven then thought back to the man's story. He had a final son. A son who lived in the village maybe? Or maybe he was another person dressed in white. Whoever it was, Raven needed more information.
"Ray?" Pitch shook his brothers shoulder, a sad and worried expression all over his face. His brothers were standing around him and their mother looked off the balcony in silence.
"W-what.." he stammered, looking away.
"Good job." They all said in unison. Raven felt his usually cold heart swell with those words, but he continued to look away.
"I need to find out more, okay?" He spoke up. Kieran hesitated at that.
"Baby brother…" he started, looking at the others. "You are fragile. Let us handle this?"
"No!" Raven was done being babied. "I need to do this, you guys. I need to prove myself and..he spoke to ME. Not you, not mom, me." He let out a sigh.
His brothers stayed silent, but the feeling was mutual. They agreed. They all agreed. This was the right thing to do, yeah? He would find out who these people were and he would help them. If it were his brothers, they may have taken no mercy to the people in white. But Raven had sort of an understanding. He was an outcast too. Maybe not the same, but close. He was alone we much as he was loved. He'd understand those people better than his brothers.
Raven walked to his room, feeling sluggish. He'd have to lift his spirits before doing his research. And there was one thing in particular he wanted to do. Raven packed a bag, gathering food and clothes and supplies for a long journey. He dressed in newer clothes and let his white curls fall down. He then bid his goodbyes.
His mother cried. For the first time in so long, she clung to her baby and she sobbed. She yelled that she wanted him to stay, and then kissed his head a million times. She begged him to stay safe and to come home soon. She expressed her fears and her sorrow. Raven could only love his mother more. She then calmed herself down and his brothers were next.
Kieran pat him on the back and gave him a sad gaze. No words needed, he knew what he was talking about. Kieran knew battle more than anyone in the kingdom. He knew danger. Raven could appreciate his brothers concern.
Jett walked up after, pulling Raven into a hug. More of a squeeze, if anything. He smiled at the warmth and the words of encouragement. Jett mentioned how he would be taking over Raven's room if he didn't come back, to which Raven rolled his eyes. He was happy to hear the joking tone.
Finally, Pitch. He straightened his glasses and took out a notebook, handing it to Raven. He requested that he write in it every day, in case something happened or he went missing. At least they would have something to remember their little brother by. Raven swore he would write in it as soon as he got in the carriage and everyday after that, before being pulled into another hug by Pitch.
And with that hug, it only grew bigger. They were all hugging now. This would be the first time Raven wasn't home. The first time he would leave the kingdom without his family. And for some reason, all he could feel was excitement. It continued to build inside of him, growing and growing with each step out the doors and to the carriage. And when that carriage door shut, Raven knew he would be okay.
He knew that with all of this, with everything that had happened today, there was one thing that would help him through the quest. He looked out the window as the usual downpour began. The trees passed him by and the villages of Onyx passed him too. He knew that this next destination would bring him happiness and overall peace. He knew that this would be okay, because this was his fate.
"You've got this, Raven. First stop, The Crimson Castle."