Moon Goddess Priestess knew that she would have to get back to the party. Taking this deal meant she would forever have the herbs that she needed to protect her Pack. She would be able to fend off illness and magical attacks. The benefits of this were endless and she had prayed to the Moon Goddess many times about this. It was only now that Raven was at full strength that she worried regular herbs would not be enough to protect her. The Alpha King would likely rip anyone to shreds that contribute to Raven’s death or illness. And pups! Who knows what kind of trials a hybrid high born pure line would come. “I am coming. Meet me in the clearing. I bring good tidings” The Priestess linked to Beta Chance. She turned and grabbed the tea she had made to make Raven’s body open to pregnancy. She would bath her in these tea leaves and oils anointed for their union. While she put her vials into her robe she felt Prince Vlad’s vial. Pulling it out she unlocked a box inside of the cupboard. It
Raven sat reading her mothers books while nestled in her corner covered in furs. Candlelight flickered in her eyes scanned the words of her ancestors. The language was long lost to anyone outside of her family. Her mother came in from hanging the herbs she had just harvested so they could dry. The sweet soothing scent of lavender and lemongrass filled the room. As Mama wiped her hands on her apron a smile grew across her face. Watching her only child absorb the family knowledge so eagerly warmed her soul. "I'm going to run out of books for you to read soon, aren't I?" Raven glanced up at her Mama and broke her attention from the book smiling. “I hope you have been stirring the stew. The potatoes seem to be ready." She poked them with the two pronged fork. One plump potato clung to the fork glistening in the candlelight. Ravens stomach growled. Hearing how hungry her daughter was she held up the potato and asked Raven to come taste test the stew. Taking two beat up metal plates, Raven
Bradford thought to himself how she had great strength to be able to make it inside her house after the waves of his hypnotism. Seeing Ms. Bellavonnes charms are still active meant she was still alive somewhere and he had to get that cure. "Your blood ties are like maps. With your blood, a path to her will reveal itself and I can present my request to her. I will be able to calm the madness in return." Raven pulled the strands of hair that had fallen out of her braids behind her ears. Saving her words, she replied in thought, "One more question." Knowing anyone who means her harm can not pass the charms, "Why haven't you come inside by force?" Barren was found out. His intention to take her blood whether she agreed or not would not let him move forward. "I'm afraid I can't. I will require the invitation. How about this?" Bradford chanted a truth binding spell and stretched out his palm to shake her hand. Then he said to her mind, " Come out and ask me, as I cannot lie to you now."
Energy coursed through Bradfords veins. From inside a flame licked and curled through the tunnels of life giving tendrils. Bradfords head shot backwards as the steering burning pain ravaged him momentarily. Raven looked curiously at his body contorting. He seemed to ignite internally. Sweat kissed his skin and she wondered if her mother’s blood caused such pain. Suddenly, Bradford stood at attention and began sniffing the air. Following the pull he began to follow a path. Raven snatched his coat as she ran out the door after him. A strange soft glow appeared in front of him as the wind picked up swirling the leaves around them. A disembodied voice echoed through the dancing leaves, “Leave me be or find your end.” Tossing his coat over his shoulders as he kneeled against the pain, her ears honed into her mamas voice. “Mama?!” Raven closed her eyes and tried to see her. Through the trees she pushed her vision, past the broken creek and over the barrows. Still nothing. Bradford seemed
It was chill on the air this night while a soft fire glowed in the hearth. The soup still boiling, Mama asked Raven, “You can’t forget to stir. My dear child, I hope you’ve absorbed all these books. You’ve read them many times.” Alexandre looked wistfully at the pot. This soup had been cooking ever since they settled here. The cabin was half covered by moss and Ivy when she acquired it. The wild flowers grew and the trees made a dome of beautiful protection. The Forrest has only grown since then. The magic has filled the space with such a warm safe feeling. “I did stir it. And added a few things. Found some mushrooms and grabbed some more herbs“ Raven didn’t even look up from her book as she twirled a loose curl around her left index finger while she held a book by the spine absorbing the words from the pages. Alexandre admired her child. One day they would talk more about her father and why he was really gone. Her thoughts shifted to more painful thoughts, “This mission may keep me
Bradford noticed the glowing light disappaiting before his eyes. He either had found her or she worked a spell to conceal herself. The aroma of lavender and lemongrass filled the air as he slowed his pace once again. Alexandre listened for Ravens breathingl. “It’s steady but labored. Her heartbeat seems to be strong enough to handle the elixir.” Stepping from behind them out of the trees, Bradford sensed her and immediately turned to face her. He watched her eyes dart over her daughter looking for a bite or something to indicate her state. “She was trying to find you. I gave her a small amount of my blood so she could keep going. I feared you would detect our arrival and flee before I could speak on my Elder Lord’s behalf to you.” “If she dies…Stop wasting precious moments stumbling over your words and tell me which fate befell her? Poison? Enchantment? Did you bite her?” Her eyes flashed with dark hues. Her eyes peered into Bradford’s thoughts and she spoke clearly in his mind,
“Mama? Is that really you?” Licking her lips Raven began to open her eyes. Looking around the surroundings looked familiar as she batted her eyes. It smelled like home. Her mama moved her hair off of her face. The tendrils had loosened in her journey. It had only been a few short years and yet her daughter hair had grown and she was a woman now. The little girl she left behind was gone. Bradford watched the scene and felt like he was seeing firsthand what maternal love and protection looked like. It had been too many years since he had experienced these feelings and the discomfort was his alone. Shuffling his hands he waited patiently as Alexandre tended to her daughter. Raven awoke. She stood up timidly. She looked at the hearth containing the same carvings as home. The glow illuminated a small cauldron over the fire. The mantle held books and melting candles. Wax danced down their stalks. Vases held dried flowers and herbs. The enchanted bookcase had a place here as well. “Why?”
“We have been in hiding for centuries now. Having a baby with the Bitten was a tricky process. The pregnancy lasted years instead of months. Many had tried before and failed. But I was a part of an old clan as well. One that had been casting for centuries before me and power had only grown in the battles among my people hungry to control it all.” Raven sat blank and overwhelmed. Her whole life she felt different. She had no idea that she was as old as centuries. She felt like a young lady. Her body had grown into a woman. Don’t the Bitten stop aging when bit? Mama sensed her anxious energy and heard her bouncing thoughts and questions. “My beautiful daughter. We are in fact older than a human can live and because of our power, I fought to find freedom. Just give me more time to explain before it is too late.” She glanced at the Barren and saw he was intently listening to her every word while glancing back and forth between mama and Raven. “After years of ritual of blessing my womb