Raven sat on the edge of her bed, the faint morning light filtering through the curtains. The weight of Alice's words crushed her chest, leaving her breathless. A child? How could such a monumental truth have been hidden from her? She raked her fingers through her hair, her thoughts spiraling in a storm of questions.
Her reflection in the mirror stared back, foreign and familiar at once. Did this child—her child—know she existed? Or had Ragnar and Alice wiped her from their world entirely?
A knock broke her thoughts. It was soft but insistent.
"Raven," Vance's voice called from the other side of the door. "We need to talk."
She hesitated. Vance was dangerous, but his sharp intuition could be useful. She opened the door just wide enough to meet his gaze.
"What do you want?" she asked.
Vance leaned against the frame, his expression unreadable. "You've been keeping secrets, and I don't appreciate being left in the dark."
Raven arched an eyebrow. "You, of all people, talking about secrets?"
He smirked but didn't respond, his silence more unnerving than any argument.
Finally, Raven sighed and stepped aside. "Fine. Come in."
Vance entered, his presence filling the room like a shadow. He closed the door behind him, his gaze sweeping over her. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Maybe I have," she replied, her voice flat.
Vance crossed his arms, studying her. "Does this have anything to do with Alice?"
"Why do you care?"
"Because whatever you're unraveling has Ragnar on edge. And when Ragnar's on edge, people start dying."
Raven stiffened. "What do you know about Ragnar?"
"More than you'd like," Vance said, his voice low. "But I'm more interested in what you know. Or what Alice has told you."
Raven hesitated. Could she trust him? Vance had always walked a fine line between ally and adversary, his loyalty shifting like the tides. But right now, she needed answers, and he was her best shot.
"She told me about the child," Raven said, watching his reaction closely.
To her surprise, Vance didn't flinch. Instead, his expression darkened. "So, you know."
"You knew too," she accused, her voice rising.
"Of course I knew," Vance shot back. "Do you think Ragnar would have let me stay in his inner circle without knowing all the pieces on the board?"
Raven's fists clenched. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because it wasn't my secret to share." His tone softened. "And because I wasn't sure you were ready to hear it."
Raven turned away, her hands trembling. "Do you know where the child is?"
Vance hesitated, and that brief pause was all the confirmation she needed.
"You do," she said, spinning to face him. "Where is my child?"
"It's not that simple," Vance said, his voice cautious.
"It never is with you," she snapped.
Vance sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Listen, Raven. That child is more than just your blood. They're a weapon, a bargaining chip in a war that's been simmering long before you came back."
Her stomach turned. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that if Ragnar knows you're looking for the child, he'll make sure you never find them."
---
Meanwhile, in Ragnar's Chambers
Ragnar stared at the old photograph in his hand, the edges worn from years of handling. The woman in the picture was radiant, her smile bright, her eyes filled with a joy he hadn't seen in years.
Raven.
But not the Raven walking the halls now. This was the Raven he had loved, the one he had lost. And the one whose secrets still haunted him.
"Still brooding, I see," Alice said as she entered the room.
Ragnar didn't look up. "You should be more careful, Alice. She's asking questions."
Alice's face tightened. "And you're doing nothing to stop her."
Ragnar placed the photo on the table and turned to face her. "Do you think I enjoy this? Watching her stumble through the ruins of her own life, piecing together truths that could destroy her?"
"She's not the same Raven," Alice said, her voice softening.
"But she remembers enough," Ragnar replied. "And that makes her dangerous."
Alice hesitated. "What are you going to do?"
Ragnar's jaw tightened. "What I must. The child must remain hidden."
"And if she finds them?"
"Then we'll ensure she never leaves with them."
---
Back in Raven's Room
Raven paced the length of her room, her thoughts racing. Vance watched her silently, his expression unreadable.
"We need to find the child before Ragnar does," she said finally.
Vance leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "And how do you plan to do that?"
"I'll start with Alice," Raven said. "She knows more than she's letting on."
Vance nodded. "She always does. But be careful. Alice is loyal to Ragnar, and if she senses you're getting too close, she won't hesitate to shut you down."
Raven met his gaze. "Then I'll have to make her talk."
Vance smirked. "I'd pay to see that."
But Raven wasn't in the mood for jokes. She was done playing games, done being kept in the dark.
It was time to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.
---
The Confrontation
That evening, Raven found Alice in the library, pouring over an old book. She approached quietly, her steps soft but deliberate.
"Alice," Raven said, her voice steady.
Alice looked up, her expression guarded. "Raven. What can I do for you?"
"We need to talk."
Alice closed the book, her hands trembling slightly. "About what?"
"You know what," Raven said, her voice firm.
Alice hesitated, then sighed. "This isn't the time—"
"Then make time," Raven interrupted, her eyes blazing.
Alice stood, her composure slipping. "You don't understand, Raven. There are things—"
"Things you've been hiding from me," Raven finished. "I'm done being kept in the dark, Alice. Tell me the truth. Where is my child?"
Alice's eyes filled with tears, her mask of composure finally shattering. "I can't," she whispered.
"You can," Raven said, her voice softening. "Please, Alice. I need to know."
Alice's shoulders sagged, and for a moment, Raven thought she might actually tell her. But before Alice could speak, the door burst open.
Ragnar stood in the doorway, his expression thunderous.
"What's going on here?" he demanded.
Alice froze, her face pale.
"Nothing," Raven said quickly, stepping between them.
Ragnar's eyes narrowed. "Don't lie to me."
"I'm not," Raven said, meeting his gaze.
But Ragnar wasn't convinced. He turned to Alice, his voice cold. "Leave us."
Alice hesitated, then fled the room, leaving Raven alone with Ragnar.
"Stay away from Alice," Ragnar said, his voice low and menacing.
"Why?" Raven challenged. "Afraid she might tell me something I'm not supposed to know?"
Ragnar took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. "You're playing with fire, Raven. Don't forget who you're dealing with."
But Raven didn't flinch. "Maybe you should remember who you're dealing with."
For a moment, neither of them spoke, the tension between them crackling like a live wire. Then Ragnar turned and walked away, leaving Raven alone in the suffocating silence.
---