"Lord Azkariel... Lord Azkariel, have we really reached Ravencrest?" The panicked, loud voice in the early morning jolted Raze from his slumber. Feeling annoyed, he opened his eyes to find Meribella's gaze. Her face appeared devoid of colour.
"Could you speak a little quieter?" Raze suggested, lightly touching his ear with a finger to show that her voice was too loud.
He opened the carriage door and stepped out, scanning the surroundings. The other Lords were nowhere to be seen. Turning back to Meribella, he extended his hand with a faint smile. "Welcome to Ravenfalls."
Meribella ignored Raze's offered hand as if it were invisible. Instead, she held the carriage door to steady herself. Raze cocked his head to the side, curious about what Meribella was doing, and when he noticed her beginning to step down from the carriage stairs, he immediately blocked her path, his hand still outstretched.
"There's no limit to arrogance, it seems. When someone offers a hand, you should take it."
"I'm sure the moment I hold your hand, you might pull it away if something else catches your attention. The risk of falling from this carriage because I trusted you is higher than if I rely on myself," Meribella retorted, her gaze locked on his.
"I have heard women never let things go. Now I see how it can be quite annoying," Raze responded, maintaining his offer. "You have two choices, Meribella: stay in the carriage or take my hand like a noblewoman would."
"I am not a noblewoman anymore, thanks to you," Meribella forced a smile, her tone laced with bitterness. "I am merely Miss Meribella Faye now."
"You will soon be the bride of Ravencrest, which elevates your status above that of noblewomen. Don't sell yourself short, Meribella," Raze responded, attempting to reassure her.
Her jaw tightened, and she shot him a glare. "I will never let you sacrifice me in the name of Marriage. I only belong to Edwyn..." Meribella's voice trailed off as Raze gave her hardened expression.
"I would tread carefully with my next words if I were you," he warned her. "It is a sin to think of another man when you are about to be married off to someone else. It is not...Meribella?" Raze challenged her, his eyes narrowing as if daring her to defy him.
Same old male chauvinism tactics. Meribella thought, "When men can have multiple wives, why can't a woman have the same liberty?" Meribella retorted as she tightened her grip on the sides of the carriage door to steady herself.
"During the Stone Age, humans mirrored animal behaviour. As society evolved, kings often married multiple times for political alliances, while commoners would remarry if they could not have children with their first wives. These actions were justified until greed and lust took over," Raze explained. "Do you really believe that it's solely men to blame in today's world? Don't women also play a role in seducing men and drawing them away from their families?"
"Are we really discussing morality here?" Meribella scoffed, incredulous.
"You initiated this by putting all the blame on men. No man would stray if women didn't make themselves available. If only all women supported each other, no man could take advantage of any woman," Raze's tone was so impersonal, as if he were imparting wisdom to one of his followers. "Of course, there are unfortunate ones forced by men's lust or the family. But you need to consider both sides of the equation." His golden eyes bore into hers, unyielding. "I may not live among humans, but I do have knowledge… Meribella."
Meribella stared at him in silence for a moment. Was he really lecturing her on morals after kidnapping her? Her lips parted, but she forced a bitter chuckle before she could respond.
"Your talk is like the sinner offering a lecture on virtue," Meribella said, her lips pursing as she held back her disbelief. "After kidnapping me twice," she emphasized, "and breaking your promise, you dare preach about morals?" She let out a sarcastic chuckle. "What's next? A sermon on honesty from a—?"
"And I did tell you I will regret the rest of my life for breaking my promise," Raze interjected, his voice steady.
Meribella's grip on the carriage door tightened further, her knuckles now bone-white. "Do you really feel regret?" she demanded, her voice rising. "Or are you just reciting human morality for the sake of basic ethics? I did not feel or see any remorse in your eyes, Lord Azkerial." Her voice cracked as she continued, her anger giving way to raw emotion. "You didn't even say sorry to me."
The silence that followed was heavy. Raze's gaze remained locked on hers before he spoke in a firm voice. "Action conveys more than words, Meribella. Besides, my way of expressing remorse is something you might find struggle to cope with."
When those words were spoken, her anger wavered for an instant, giving way to a brief hint of an emotion she couldn't quite identify.
However, she won't be that easily swayed. She opened her mouth to accuse him and to deny him the pleasure of triumphing in their conversation, "And when did you do that, Lord Azkeriel?"
Suddenly, the carriage horses bolted, jolting the vehicle violently. Meribella struggled to maintain her grip on the door. Standing a mere step away, Raze watched her with a calm, almost serene expression, as if the chaos swirling around him barely touched him.
Meribella's grip slipped, and in a moment of panic, she reached out towards Raze. "Hold me!" she cried out as she lost her balance completely and fell right into Raze's arms. The carriage was large and far higher than any she had ever seen, with four steep stairs to ascend and descend.
He pulled her tightly against him, securing her with one arm around her waist while her own arms instinctively wrapped around his neck. They were pressed together for a moment with their faces inches apart. Their breaths mingled with each other. Meribella felt his warm breath on her skin. The sudden closeness sent a shockwave through Meribella's body. Her heart raced, and a blush crept over her cheeks, turning them a delicate shade of red.
"I came for you to get you away from the grasp of that serpent, the King Mayan," he said, his golden eyes locked onto hers. "I wrapped the cloak around you to keep you warm, to shield you from the cold that seeps into the bones. And those apples," He paused, his gaze unwavering as if daring her to look away. "I placed them beside you as an offering—a gesture of care for your hunger." Raze knew that the last part was partly true, but it was accurate that he was the one who kept it next to Meribella.
Meribella's heart fluttered unexpectedly. She hadn't realized she had been holding her breath until his closeness overwhelmed her senses. He continued to gaze into her greenish-blue eyes and speak as though he were sharing a secret meant only for her. This closeness and warmth between them felt alarmingly natural.
Her eyelids fluttered, a wave of embarrassment washing over her as she whispered, "You should let me go."
But Raze didn't move. Instead, he tilted his head slightly. "Are you sure you won't fall right into my arms if I let you go?" His expression remained serious, though his words carried a playful tone.
Meribella's cheeks burned hotter, her eyes snapping up to meet his, startled by his implication. "W-what do you think I am? A child still learning to walk?" Her voice was soft, tinged with embarrassment from their proximity.
"If you had simply taken my hand earlier, none of this would have happened."
"Will you put me down now?" Meribella asked, her voice embarrassed and slightly annoyed, wanting to regain some distance from him.
Raze slowly released his hold on Meribella, ensuring she stood steady on her own before withdrawing his arm from her waist. She felt delicate in his arms. The lingering touch caused him to clench his fists, feeling the sensation strongly as if she were still there.
She was the woman who did not look away when he was choking Mayan. Rather than pleading for Mayan's release or quaking in fear as most would, she held Raze's gaze unflinchingly. At that moment, it seemed nothing else mattered to her but him and her anger towards him. Her firey eyes accused him of breaking his promise, and she despised him.
"Let's move," Raze remarked, diverting his thoughts and focus from Meribella, and she went along.
Meribella followed Raze with uneasy steps. She started observing the lush, vibrant surroundings of Ravenfalls. Despite her situation, she couldn't help but be drawn in by the beauty of the place.
"Where are we going?"
"To my home," he answered briefly. Meribella followed behind him as Raze's long legs allowed him to stride far ahead of her.
With her argument with Raze behind her, she noticed that people had been watching them. When she turned around to see the carriage, it was no longer there.
"Where did the carriage go?" she murmured, more to herself than to Raze, her voice tinged with confusion.
"It returned from where it came," Raze answered while he adjusted his pace to match hers.
Meribella was surprised to see Ravenfalls town's beauty. It was the town ruled by Raze Azkariel. Surrounded by dense jungles, untouched by outsiders.
"Where is the waterfall that this town is named after?" Meribella inquired with curiosity. Raze glanced sideways at her and then immediately faced forward.
"It's a bit of a distance from here."
"Is it pretty?" she asked.
"That's what people say."
"Don't you like it?" Meribella turned to look at him while still walking.
"I haven't given it much thought yet," he replied, causing Meribella to frown. She thought she might never understand him. 'I mean, who does not know about their feelings when he called this place his home?' she wondered.
She focused on taking in the view. Every home was covered in vines and gardens with fruits and vegetables. Streets were lined with towering trees, while pathways made of large smooth stones were easy to walk and ride. Cobblestone sidewalks were only meant for walking. Water flew through the settlements in small, clear streams, and the town square had a fire that never went out, burning as a symbol of their strength.
"It's beautiful here," Meribella couldn't help but admit, despite the circumstances that had brought her to this place.
"I'm glad to hear it. Hopefully, that makes your stay a bit more bearable." Raze's lips twitched into a half-smile.
"No, thank you, I am going to find my way back to Edwyn," she declared boldly that she was going to run away from Ravencrest. She began with confidence but soon trailed off when Raze halted and glared at her. He didn't have to utter a word; Meribella grasped the shift in his golden irises to a blazing orange. But that wouldn't intimidate Meribella.
"Is your hatred for Edwyn the reason why you kidnapped me? To insult him? Is that why you don't want to hear me mention him?" Meribella sought further clarification, "And about the forged letter? How did you even manage to replicate my handwriting?" Meribella walked around, more confused about everything. She had not seen the letter yet, but she knew she had never written a single letter to Lord Azkarial.
"You were the one who wrote that letter," Corrected Raze, making Meribella frown, "and secondly, I have no interest in Edwyn. He can marry whoever he chooses, but not you," Raze responded.
"Why me?" her question hung in the air, and Raze's gaze remained fixed ahead. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost contemplative.
"You'll understand soon enough," he said, his tone leaving no room for further argument. But Meribella was not one to be silenced so easily.
"You keep saying that, but I'm tired of waiting for answers," she retorted.
Raze stopped abruptly again, turning to face her. For a moment, she thought he might finally give her the answers she sought. But instead, he simply said, "You'll know when we reach my home. Until then, save your questions."
Meribella clenched her fists, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "You can't just—"
"I can," he interrupted, his voice firm but not unkind. "And I will. Now, walk faster...You know, it won't be as easy as you think to run away from here," he said slowly, his golden eyes darkening. "Ravencrest is guarded not just by men but by nature itself. The forest around us is home to creatures you have only heard of in tales."
"Are you attempting to frighten me?" Meribella's gaze flickered, and she swallowed hard, "because it's not succeeding." She lied, and Raze caught that.
"Then you are braver than most." Raze's faint smile returned as he resumed walking. "Be my guest and explore," he added, quickening his pace while grasping Meribella's wrist to encourage her to keep up.