Chapter 4. King Easton: Eurasian Eagle Owl
Queen Nox smiled politely and courteously. She tilted her glass towards the young servant girl, whose name she made a noted point of never learning, as the Queen's gaze shifted to this younger and less perfect Raven Harpy something dark and ominous flickered and flittered across her black beady eyes.
This sent a chill up the spine of the servant girl.
Neither the dark glint skirting across the Queen's eyes nor the quivering - even as brief and momentary as it was - escaped from the wise and sharp eyesight of King Easton. The eyesight and accuracy of it... of a Eurasian Eagle-owl Harpy, was on par with that of a Raven or an Eagle. The only difference was that owls could see in the dark and eagles and ravens could not distinguish things at night as accurately. Then there is also the sharp and cutting intelligence of the owls."Raven Queen," Boomed Lord Easton, waving his hand and bowing slightly at Queen Nox, before turning slightly to do exactly the same towards the servant girl. In his peripheral vision, he noticed a slight tension in the side of the Queen's jaw visibly. Confirming his thoughts, "We are humbled by your hostess skills and your welcome. Your staff is also a delight. While serving us well, this one, in particular, is a treat to the eye," Waving toward the servant, he continued, "What is this one's name?" Daring not to narrow his eyes, instead, the Eurasian King smiled.
His son's uncertain what was going on so simply stood partially behind him bored, pawing through more of the books and analysing the room bored, awaiting their bloodline being poured. Having made a point to never learn any servant's name, the Queen was both irritated by this King and furious that he bowed to both her and a servant. Treating them the very same, where she was a Queen and this girl... a mere servant! One who should think herself favoured for being allowed such a position. Yet, her notion was that learning any name meant that whichever servant may work longer for the Royal family than most servants had ever. The old and trusted head of housekeeping was the exception to this rule - Maven. She was one, whom Queen Nox quite enjoyed as a servant. That raven was becoming elderly but she was very efficient.The turnover of staff was high, perhaps notably more than most expected. Due to the harsh and cruel treatment that most staff received from the Raven Queen. "This is-"
"Queen Nox, please save your voice for more important issues." The servant interjects quickly. Saving the Queen from any humiliation, and also reasserting her lesser status as a servant and the lesser importance again of a servant's name. "King Easton, I am Lyla of the Raven Harpy Clan. For the duration of your stay, I believe it is myself that will be assigned to you." Lyla made a point of looking around the room at the other heads of houses, or those accompanying the young noblemen present as their chaperones.
"Queen Cassandra." The servant girl turned to look at the female Peacock Harpy, before turning to the other older owl who was slightly smaller, with ruddy hair, "King Rouault. I believe it is the same for you, in that it is I who will be in charge of attending to all of your needs. Please allow this to be my formal introduction to yourselves, and do not hesitate if you would require anything of us, for the duration of your stays."At this, a very small smile appeared on Queen Cassandra's thin lips. If Lyla had not been a Raven Harpy, she may not have even detected such a meek smile. "Thank you Layla. Are our rooms ready?"
"Yes..." King Rouault chimed in, "What of our luggage also?" Prince Kavan n looked at the older male accompanying him at this, placing the ornately gold embossed navy book back onto the shelf and sliding it neatly back into a uniformed space.
From the corner of her eye, Lyla could see that the Raven Queen was grateful to have been freed from a question by King Easton which any staff member would know that she could not answer.
There may be consequences later for interrupting her... but they would never be anywhere near as bad, as consequences for allowing, and knowingly so, any type of humiliation to befall her. Particularly when it was so easily solved. The last servant to allow such to occur left the Raven Clan territory entirely, and has never been heard of since! Even Sephora and Seraphina had said that they hadn't heard from her and that this had not been one of the servants which they'd known about, to have been able to help. Of course, this had raised staff suspicions of the Raven Queen tremendously.Yet, gossip in both noble and royal households from staff is common.
This is just one house that the staff members definitely did not want to get caught, due to notable repercussions.
While all of this was going on, King Easton had been surveying the interplay of the room. Analysing both Queen Nox and Lyla's reactions. As well as the other older members of other clans who accompanied differing suitors for the princesses.
At this point the servant girl met the Queen's eyes again, nervously curtsying with an, “of course, your Majesty.”
The servant dashed out of the room, a slight breeze followed her trail. Between the time she had left the room, and returned, the three young owl suitors had shuffled together. A light intellectual and eloquent discussion could be heard among them. Their adult elders had also shuffled closer, but remained distant and only eavesdropping on the conversation. For Owl Harpy - eavesdropping on any discussion was not considered rude, but a courteous mark of respect for what the other individuals had to say. An outsider to the conversation who butted in, should either have authority on the subject or have some extremely relevant information. Otherwise, it would be considered extremely rude. Most often, one was invited into conversation with an Owl Harpy. This was completely contrary among, Hawks, Eagles, and Falcons.Eagle Owl Harpy seemed to be the only one who bridge these strange cultural gaps when they met. Raven Harpy could surf this, and gauge socially without the awareness of the familiarity. Really, the latter clan was the so-called, "dark horse socialites," of the harpy clans. More often considered, among all Corvid Harpy, to be the most manipulative and deceptive.
After returning with another servant, this girl had a navy blue-green sheen to her nails and hair, whereas the first servant girl, Lyla, had a mahogany-ruddy hue. She had been helping to carry two pitchers and half pre-poured tasters goblets of dark red wine, it wobbled in the glass as the two girls entered the room.
The Raven Queen seemed pleased on seeing their return, almost... an uncharacter relief. Chatter had built up during the servant's absence, and once again returned to the room. Queen Nox was chatting with the dull-looking woman from the peacock clan. Though, it was not as boisterous as it had been before when the first servant girl had entered the room. Most notably, that loud and particularly, booming voice was nowhere to be heard this time. Lyla wondered who this had been, as she entered the room with the other servant. Allowing the guests full view of the glass silverware goblets, and the pre-poured sloshing red liquid.At this, the guests flocked over one by one to collect their drinks and take their first few taster sips. Sampling the delightful flavour. The only ones in the room who refused were those from the Peacock Harpy Clan; Queen Cassandra, who was still talking to the Raven Queen. Her face contorted in a very obvious fashion.
Of both the servants in the room, only Lyla could compare the lack of animation in her complexion prior. It was a strange change but it spoke a lot about her character. She would not be a guest who would smile easily and any complaint would be made painfully obvious. Lyla knew that she would have to pay a particular eye to detail around Queen Cassandra with this. She would make a point to tell the other house servants of this revelation later, so as not to have any complaints... and the dismissals, disappearances, deaths, or varying injuries resulting from them having been brought to the Raven Queens' attention.The large, older man, with red eyes and lighter hair, finally broke away from listening to the young owletts' conversation, between themselves, and took a cup as the dark chestnut, servant girl poured a top-up into another's glass from the silver pitcher. Looking at the wine he lifted his hand to motion her to end the pouring.
Taking the cup to his lips to take a sip, he glanced over to Queen Nox with a small, yet sly, smile apparent in his eyes; despite not actually being smiling, “Blood wine!” The man boomed.Hmm, Lyla, the ruddy-dark complexion Raven Harpy Servant, thought to herself, This is our guest with that deep and booming voice... I wonder if the two owls with him are similar. It is strangely smoother than a raven's voice but just a deep one. Less raspy. The servant girl tried to shift her thoughts, as she realized that she found the deep booming voice attractively exotic. This was a King; King Easton, of the Eurasian Eagle Owls, and she... she was a servant. Hammering that home like Queen Nox had dug her nails into her co-worker's face earlier.
With that image and the distinct pang of fear that accompanied it, the blush which had risen to her cheeks subsided momentarily.
Fortunately, everyone in the room seemed to have been busy and it appeared that no one had taken any notice. King Easton was focused fully on Queen Nox and nothing else. His coy and collected expression never wavered, and neither did the intensity of his clearly piqued interest. It seemed random to Lyla... but perhaps this had been something the young Owlets had been discussing amongst themselves.“Queen Nox, you are spoiling us already before the festivities begin! Will you’re daughters be joining us for such a treat?” King Easton's eyes narrowed coolly. Yet, it was ever so slight, that you would have to be as close as this servant girl to realise.
Even with the vision of a raven. The blue-green-hued girl never noticed as she topped up the glasses of Prince Kavan and King Rouault who were really 7 paces away from her at most. This servant was more relaxed. She hadn't seen someone's face sliced open on a whim yet, or any of the Raven Queens' cruelty yet. This new servant was a new start. The severity of this household hadn't yet hit her. It may not be until the recent events and festivities are over. As when politics were in play, Queen Nox's conduct tended to shift.
“My darling daughters will be joining us all for a late breakfast, further on in the day. There are still some others to arrive, but we shall not dither until they decide to join us.” The Queen only answered after a few sips.
Was she nervous? Or had the servant girl misread? When had Queen Nox ever been nervous? Who was this harpy male, King Easton, to be able to do this much to halt the Raven Queen in her tracks?“My servant here,” The Queen motioned to the girl beside King Easton, “In fact, she and the other present, shall assist all of you in showing you to your rooms once you have had your fill of the wine. I must step out to attend to some far more trivial matters very soon, regarding the Raven Clan. Please enjoy you’re staying here and let me know if these two displease you in service in any way.”
The servant girl only recovered from questioning what she had witnessed after a young Prince Lucas politely asked her for a further top-up pour of the blood wine.
Chapter 5. King's Kindness Sephora had stormed out of her sister's room and chambers entirely, and gone back to her own. Both of the girls were mostly dressed at this point, even though she was wearing less makeup than usual. Due to this, Sephora looked far more stern than usual. Unfitting for her and contrary to her usual demeanor, which all the servants of the house knew her for. Instead, right now, icy blue eyes burned with a fidged and cold fury; with the force of a midwinter's blizzard behind her. While the twin sisters were nothing like their mother, in terms of her cold and collected cruelty, they did share with her a fiery temperament. While one of the house servants flinched out of Sephora’s way as they met her piercing gaze; like a sharpened icicle. The servant was Lyla, one that Sephora was quite familiar with and even liked. They were of similar ages and for a servant girl, found Lyla very pretty and easy to talk to. Lyla knew in her heart that nei
Chapter 6. A Perfect Black Diamond Among Us All After realising that it has been Seraphina who had called, “Lyla?” , lightly, yet authoritatively; Lyla,the servant girl had turned her head back, toward the direction Sephora had initially walked from. In a comical way, Seraphina had been peeping her head out from her room, it was so comical that Lyla had to really do her best to remain professional and not laugh upon seeing such a sight! After a moment, the servant had realised that the young miss had looked rather upset. “I thought I had heard you outside.” The older sister of the two had always been Lady Nox’s favourite. A large part of that was how similar Seraphina was in terms of Raven beauty standards; onyx black eyes and hair as black as night, where her sister with icy blue, pale eyes, was treated with far less respect. All the household staff had taken notice. Yet despit
Chapter 7: Sephora's StormAt the same time, Having stormed out of the castle, carved into and out of the pique of the mountain top, Sephora's chest heaved with anger as her head whirled with upset. The entire time she was blinking back tears, and this was mostly what her concentration was on. Her fist were balled by her sides, shaking, so tightly that her knuckles were a peculiar shade paler than she already was. The younger twin was having to face and confront a whole mix of overwhelming and different emotions. She had been, and still was, so in her own head that Sephora doesn't even notice Lyla, due to how upset she is! It wasn't just the young servant girl, that both twins enjoyed having around, it was all of the staff she passed in the house. As she had passed the another two hallways, and turned into the main foya she had anothe four members of staff attempt to speak to her
Chapter 8. Much is Broken Since she had been flying just below cloud cover, to hide herself easily from any harpy/ies who may be flying back to the Raven Kingdom, Sephora hadn't noticed the lack of creatures below her at all. To a human, this might seem a trivial detail. Yet, hawks, eagles, ravens and other such harpy all had some of the sharpest eyesight around. Owls, could even see details in dim lighting, or the complete darkness, where the ravens, eagles and hawks would fail. If it had taken her so long to notice that there was an absence of any movment... of any life... this was wrong. "This is wrong..." Sephora muttered out loud, to herself. As she continued flying back and forward in a grid pattern, her stomach felt like it was dozens of miles below her, - on the forest floor. Every fiber of her being was screaming at her that something was very off... what sh
Chapter 9. Something Bloody With powerful and sure momentum of her black wings, Sephora flew over towards the bloody claw marks indented into the ancient tree; which had been torn in half. Gently she touched one of her fingers against them mark. Going by the size of this... perhaps there was a bear here? As she considered this further, Sephora looked again at the surroundings and shook her head. If there was a bear here, it was more likely to have gotten caught up in... whatever, had done this and whatever this was. For a flitting moment, Sephora gave a silent thought to the bear which likely got caught up in this. Is that what the blood and fleshy chunks were? The heckles on the back of her neck stood up in fear. Though she would never admit it to her mother... What could eat a bear? Certainly, Sephora was no fool. If it whatever did this could kill and eat a bear... then it could kill and eat her too. She gulped. Shaking the thoughts out of her head and lo
Chapter 10. The Crimson Blood-Hounds "Remember the name of the wolf who will defeat you."Lorcan Whitelaw, had howled viciously at me through his wolf form. It wasn't a battle I had been intending to have to fight. It wasn't even a battle I was expecting to have to fight. This was- er, had been my Beta. My second in command. The one within the Pack who had held my most trust and confidence... the one to whom I had told everthing. No Alpha ever wants to have to admit it to any fellow Pack member when they have any sense of genuine fear about, well, really any given situation. No Alpha wants to have his Pack believe that they wouldn't have any threatening or harmful sitaution under control. Yet, the very real and terrifying threat that the re-emergance of the Dark Ones' had brought with it, an ominous cloud of dread for what was
Chapter 11. Angel of Death I tried to open my eyes but they were so heavy. As heavy as my chest felt, as it heaved attempting to, simply, get air into my lungs; just breathing each breath was accompanied by a piercing, stabbing, pain in my side and back My body was too heavy to move. I had been certain that I had heard footsteps, and then heard talking. It was a bell-like voice which I had heard. I was so sure I heard it. Once something began shaking my shoulder lightly, with all the strength which remained in my body I willed my eyes to open. They had truly felt, like lifting concrete shutters. My body was fighting against all of my movments. The scent of blood whafted strongly all around... it was my blood. Unmistakeably. I was aware of just how injured I was. How much Lorcan had layed into me with each claw and each of his bite
Chapter 12. It is your kingdom At the same time, as Sephora taking a flight out of the Raven Kingdom, and over to the Ancient Forest, to calm her mind and straighten out her thoughts, Lyla the young servant harpy was helping Seraphina finish her hair and make-up before the late lunch, where the twin princesses were supposed to have their formal introductions with the suitable male bachelors who had already arrived so far. Really, Seraphina had used the exercise of finishing getting dressed and ready for the occasion, as an excuse to talk to Lyla honestly and frankly. Among all the servants, Lyla had remained in the castle a short while now. With their mother’s cruel and cold disposition, alongside her temper many servants often quit, died or went missing after several months. Being of similar ages with Seraphina and Sephora, the twins always entrusted her and spoke