The air in Raven's room was suffocating, the darkness clawing at her as if it carried memories of its own. She stared at the letter Alice had handed her, its edges worn, the ink smudged in places, as though it had been clutched too tightly by trembling hands.
"They will come for you. Trust no one."
The words lingered in her mind, tangled with the faces of Ragnar and Vance. Could she trust either of them? Both men swore allegiance to her, yet there was an unsettling unease she couldn't shake. Ragnar had always been fiercely loyal—or so he claimed. Vance, on the other hand, was an enigma, his actions unpredictable, his intentions unclear.
The silence was broken by a sharp knock on her door. Raven tucked the letter beneath her mattress and called out, "Come in."
It was Vance.
His tall frame filled the doorway, his dark eyes scanning the room before settling on her. "You've been avoiding me," he said, stepping inside. His voice carried an edge of accusation masked by a smile.
"I've been busy," Raven replied, forcing a casual tone.
"Busy unraveling secrets?" He crossed his arms, leaning against the wall.
Her heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"
Vance tilted his head, studying her. "Alice has been visiting you more than usual. And I couldn't help but notice how tense Ragnar has been around you lately. Care to share what's going on?"
Raven narrowed her eyes. "Why do you care?"
"Because whatever you're digging into is dangerous. And if you get yourself killed, it'll make my job a lot harder."
"Your job?"
"Keeping you alive." His voice softened, but his gaze remained intense.
Raven scoffed, brushing past him toward the window. "You're more concerned about your own survival than mine."
Vance didn't deny it, which unnerved her. Instead, he took a step closer. "You underestimate me, Raven. I know more than you think."
She spun around to face him. "Then tell me what you know about Alice."
The question caught him off guard, but only for a moment. He recovered quickly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Alice? Why would you ask about her?"
"She's been acting... strange," Raven lied, testing him. "Almost like she knows something she isn't telling me."
Vance's expression darkened. "Alice has always been strange. But if you're implying she's hiding something, you might not be wrong."
Raven's stomach churned. "What do you mean?"
"I've seen her sneaking around the estate at odd hours. Talking to people she shouldn't be talking to."
"Who?"
"Ragnar, for one."
The revelation hit her like a blow. "Ragnar?"
Vance nodded. "They think they're being discreet, but nothing escapes me."
Raven's mind raced. If Alice and Ragnar were conspiring, what were they plotting? And why?
---
Elsewhere in the Estate
Alice paced the length of her quarters, her usually calm demeanor fraying at the edges. Ragnar sat in the corner, his arms resting on his knees, his expression unreadable.
"She's starting to ask questions," Alice said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Let her," Ragnar replied. "It's only a matter of time before she uncovers the truth anyway."
Alice shot him a glare. "And when she does? Do you think she'll forgive us?"
Ragnar shrugged. "Forgiveness is irrelevant. Survival is what matters."
Alice stopped pacing, turning to face him. "You're playing a dangerous game, Ragnar. If Vance suspects—"
"Vance is too busy chasing his own shadows to notice ours," Ragnar interrupted.
Alice sighed, rubbing her temples. "This wasn't how it was supposed to go. She wasn't supposed to come back."
"And yet she did," Ragnar said. "So now we adapt."
Alice clenched her fists. "You don't understand. If she finds out about—"
"She won't," Ragnar cut her off, his tone firm. "Not if we stay ahead of her."
But Alice wasn't convinced. The weight of their secrets was becoming unbearable, and she feared it was only a matter of time before everything unraveled.
---
Later That Night
Raven couldn't sleep. The weight of Vance's words and the unease that had settled in her chest kept her awake. She decided to take a walk, hoping the cool night air would clear her mind.
The estate was eerily quiet as she wandered the halls. Shadows danced on the walls, their movements unsettling in the dim light. She found herself drawn to the east wing—a part of the estate she rarely ventured into.
As she turned a corner, she heard voices.
Raven froze, pressing herself against the wall. The voices grew louder, and she recognized them instantly: Alice and Ragnar.
"...can't keep this up," Alice was saying, her voice trembling.
"We don't have a choice," Ragnar replied.
"She's already suspicious. If she finds out about the child—"
Raven's breath caught in her throat. The child?
"She won't," Ragnar said, his tone icy. "Not unless you slip up."
Alice's voice wavered. "And if she does?"
"Then we do what we must."
Raven's blood ran cold. She stepped back, her foot landing on a loose floorboard that creaked loudly.
The voices stopped.
"Did you hear that?" Alice whispered.
Raven turned and ran, her heart pounding as she fled down the hall. She didn't stop until she was back in her room, locking the door behind her.
Her mind raced with questions. What child were they talking about? And why were they so desperate to keep it a secret?
One thing was clear: she couldn't trust anyone.
---
The Next Morning
Raven decided it was time to confront Alice. She found her in the garden, tending to the roses with trembling hands.
"Alice," Raven called out, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her.
Alice looked up, her eyes wide with surprise. "Raven. What are you doing out here?"
"We need to talk."
Alice hesitated but nodded. "Of course."
Raven led her to a secluded corner of the garden, away from prying eyes. She turned to face Alice, her expression stern. "I overheard you and Ragnar last night."
Alice's face paled. "You... what?"
"You were talking about a child. Whose child?"
Alice opened her mouth to speak but faltered, her gaze darting around as if searching for an escape.
"Answer me," Raven demanded.
"It's... complicated," Alice said finally.
"Make it simple," Raven snapped.
Alice took a deep breath, her hands trembling. "Before you died—before the original Raven died—there was... a child."
Raven's heart pounded. "Whose child?"
Alice hesitated, tears welling in her eyes. "Yours."
The world tilted beneath Raven's feet. "That's impossible," she whispered.
Alice shook her head. "It's the truth. And if Ragnar finds out you know, he won't hesitate to silence you."
Raven stepped back, her mind reeling. The child wasn't just a secret—it was a weapon. And she was caught in the crossfire of a battle she didn't fully understand.
But one thing was certain: she had to find the child before anyone else did.
---