Song of the Raven

by zhaohuanshi

50,000 years ago, Andulvar Yaslana ended up ensnared in his the schemes of his best friend's then-wife, which had not only cost him his true love, but perhaps lost the one chance that could have prevented the war from rising...

Prologue

Andulvar Yaslana, the Demon Prince, studied the second-to-last portrait on the wall where all those who were and had been Witch were acknowledged. Old and worn, the portrait was displayed next to the portrait of Jaenelle, the current Witch, the dreams of all, and not just a few. Draca, long ago, had explained that someone who were Witch were made from only one kind of dreamer. Some were strong, some were soft. The portrait he was studying of a Witch who was born from the human Blood's dreams. She hadn't been a Queen, hadn't been anything but a small bridge, a light in a temporary darkness that certainly wasn't the Darkness.

And Hekatah had destroyed her.

Glancing from Jaenelle's portrait and back again, he started to compare the eyes. They both had the same haunted, maelstrom eyes, except Jaenelle's were a sapphire blue's while the last Witch's were gold. She'd been from Hayll; it was hard to imagine now Witch coming from that damned place. But he'd remembered. Oh, how he'd remembered.

"You have come to ssay goodbye?"

Andulvar would've tensed if he hadn't known that voice. He felt his heart lodge in his chest, felt it become hard to breathe. That damn word made it seem so... final."Yes. I suppose so."

"Jaenelle will sspiral, Yasslana, ssoon. You musst be ready, or the Blood will be destroyed." Draca smiled. "You sstill misss her?" she asked, pointing at the portrait.

"Of course," Andulvar replied softly, his voice wavering. "I've always missed her."

"You sstill love her?"

Andulvar closed his eyes and took a deep breath as her voice came into his mind, saying words he'd ached to hear.

"I love you, too," he had replied.

The Demon Prince opened his eyes. "Yes."

Draca urged him forward. "Do not ssay good-bye, Yasslana. Sshe waitss for you in the Darknesss. If you remember her when you step into the abysss one lasst time, if you can remember your love, sshe will come to you."

Andulvar said nothing, trying to hide the emotions that came rushing at him. To see her again. To be with her again. After 50,000 years to see the woman he loved again…

Eager, he whipped around and moved down the hallway, ready, as the memories of over 50,000 years ago floated into his mind…