A/N) This is a time skipping Au. I skip by three years between each chapter.
It's why it'll probably not be longer than four or five chapters
Raven watches it burn.
Her home - her safe haven, her world - burns. Her mother burns with it.
"Take her to the square! We've had enough living in fear! The demon witch dies, tonight!"
They fear her - she can practically taste their fear, their madness, their desperation to ride themselves of a being they can't understands - and don't want to.
Raven doesn't shed tears; she doesn't scream against her gag or wince when they yank her wrists raw with the rope they've sawed around her pale skin. She looks at them through clumped bloodied bangs of once shimmering dark hair, eyes blazing red, blood smeared across her cheeks mixed with the soot from her beloved home. The air filled with an acrid wood smoke, a stench that makes her stomach roll and her heart clench in anguish.
But her face remains impassively made of stone.
They took her childhood, her home, her beloved mother, and now, they wanted her life.
They drag her up to the stake, wood and straw piled around her legs as they surrounded her, jeers, and curses, and nasty words flung at her, they don't sting her - not like they used to when she was a child - now they make her want to laugh. Their fear and urgency to ride her existence from this world, makes her want to laugh. But at the same time she knows - the dark power inside her finds their fear exhilarating. She pities them. She will not lash out; she refuses to give into the powerful urge she has to kill them all where they stand.
She refuses to let their fear and murder be justified. She refuses.
"Light her up!"
The flickering torches fall. Her dark eyes watch the flames catch and devoured the dry wood and straw like a hungry wolf, it licks and gnaws its way up, the flames spark on her skin, she can smell the wood and her flesh starting to sear, she can't feel anything yet, she hums her mother's song and closes her eyes, letting herself except the vile fate for sins and crimes she did not commit.
I'm coming mother.
Then - screams, fear shifts into terror, anger shifts into anguish and pain, screams echo - she feels a throbbing in her chest - she feels the heavy heart beat, it beats with her own, faster and faster, rage and blood - she tastes them both in different ways, her eyes flutter open and she gasps, pain suddenly racing up her legs where the fire had started. Burning - searing - torturous pain, she whimpers, her chest heaving - her eyes blur through the smoke, she sees movements, quick, sharp, deadly movements. A roar screeches out and people scream for their lives. What -what - the smoke is cut through with powerful slashes of claws and swift swipes.
Raven screams - no longer able to fight off the pain, she screams - and cries and - and something flies towards her, powerful, strong, and heavy, it slashes her rope off and she doesn't see what happens next - her screaming stops and she succumbs to the delirium from her burns.
Darkness is cool and sweet.
"You brought an outsider to our home!"
A sharp slap echoes and Raven startles at the anger that rolls in waves towards her, she gasps and hisses when she tries to move her legs but finds she can't. She looks down, chest heaving, there is no pain - but she sees the terrible mess of her legs. The skin is raw, open, blistering, bubbles filled with water and she doesn't look like skin anymore.
She can't feel it.
It's worse then she thought.
"Raven?" The soft familiar voice she hasn't heard in nearly three years startles her.
"What?" She breaths and looks up - the Changeling, her changeling she'd found - the one she'd saved those years ago, before she found out she was indeed descended of a demon and a witch. "You - you!" She can hardly believe her eyes as she takes him in. Still bare except for the hide colored pants he wears, only this time - it's affect is quite different. He's grown, not too tall yet but taller than a ten-year-old. Signs of broadening shoulders and built muscles under smooth cool green skin, he gives her a soft smile that shows a hint of fangs - they'd grown too.
Raven's heart aches and tears suddenly well in her eyes. "You left - and you never came back." She whispers, having forgotten her troubles for the moment. "You left me all alone. You were my only fried and you - left."
He gives her a guilty look, eyes saddened as he drops them to his bare feet. "I couldn't' come back - they wouldn't let me. I- I'm sorry Raven,"
She shakes, lips trembling as he comes closer. He smells the same - but he feels different. All that energy that she used to absorb rolling off of him wasn't there anymore, it was - confined somehow, only appearing in short bursts that he would tamp down quickly.
"I missed you." She admits finally, having no energy to be angry, or hurt, at him. He was a secret creature; she'd told her mother about him after a year of missing him. Mother had believed her -at least she said she did, but she also said to be careful and forget about the little Changeling - because history often repeats itself only - sometimes. . . the second round is worse.
"I missed you too, I'm sorry - really - I - I came to the edge of the woods every day to see you - but you couldn't see me." He says quietly and sits on the soft earth next to the bed she was on. It was made of piled straw and woven leaves tied around it. He reaches a hand for hers. "I'm sorry I was almost too late." He looks at her swelled and blistering legs with such pain, Raven sucks in a sharp gasp at the weight of it.
"It - it wasn't you're doing, those villagers. .. they've been wanting to kill me for so long it's just - they finally had enough." She closes her eyes and wills the image of her mother, her weak, sick mother - burning to death in the cottage that she couldn't get to in time - away. But then they'd come for her.
"Why? Why did they attack you this time?" He asks, voice low and eyes wide and open for her to look into. She tightens her grip on his.
"Because there hasn't been rain in a few years - they blamed us for the crops dying and the animals and the diseases that came for their children. They believed we'd cursed them so they - " She gasps, the weight of her loss chipping at the wall she's practiced for three years, ever since her mother explained her natural abilities to her.
Emotions Raven - that is where you draw your strength from, but be careful, if not controlled - you could destroy with them.
She gulps down the anguish and fear that shakes her heart and makes her stomach tie into thick knots, her eyes squeeze shut. "Where am I?" She asks, voice high and thin.
It takes him a moment too long to answer. She opens her eyes to see what she already feels from him. Anxiety, fear, uncertainty.
"My home."
Raven's heart jumps and she snaps her head up, eyes wide as she takes in the surroundings. She knew this place smelt different - it had strong emotions swirling around like waves, continuous and exhausting. She was in a green alcove, an ancient willow tree bent over the four walls as a replacement for a roof, the long flexible branches swayed above and some fell into the room, above her head The ground was bare and there lay an odd glowing plant in the corner for light.
"You live - here?" She breaths in awe.
"Yes. This is my village - they - they didn't like it that I brought you here." He bites his lip in worry. "I - I don't believe they'd harm you, because I won't let them but - they may be - hostile towards you. I'm sorry Raven." He hangs his head in apology and she can't help the sudden spike of fondness that ripples through her.
"It's alright - "She sucks in a sharp breath, "Thank you - for saving my life." Her pain mounts and she wants nothing more then to sleep forever.
"Raven? I - you're burns - we have a shaman who can care for it but - it doesn't look like it'll heal completely. . ." He looks at her legs regrettably.
Raven smiles a small controlled smile at him. "I will take care of it. But I suppose I must leave before I anger your good people any - "
"Stay." His hands grip her shoulders with gentle firmness, "Stay - don't worry about them. You just - take all the time you need. Please Raven, it's the least I could do for - leaving for three years."
She glances at him from under sooty lashes and wills herself not to absorb his desperation. "I - are you sure?"
"Yes, stay as my guest, they won't have anything to say about you. I promise."
So she stays
She stays until she heals her legs with the spell her mother taught her.
She stays until she has enough energy to walk
She stays until he asks her not to go.
She stays . . . longer than she thought she would.
The village - once he was able to take her out - was small, enclosed in a deeper part of the forest, hidden by this brush and trees. A crystal pool surrounded by willows and a high stone wall was their source of water, Raven couldn't understand where the water was bubbling from, she sensed magic - the houses where like the one she's stayed in, build under and around huge trees with more stories and memories then the people themselves.
The people were few, there were children around, small, wide eyed and curious about the strange pale skinned demon witch that floated amongst them, but they did not fear her. The adults -his family - didn't take so kindly to her. They avoided her path, they tucked their children away and they hide their fear and disgust.
He assures her constantly that they won't hurt her. He doesn't understand - they already have. . they feel for her the same way her village had - they were just like the people of her village.
It was disappointing, magical creatures such as them to fear her as ordinary men did.
"They'll come around, once they see how kind and safe you are."
"I don't believe they will." Raven insists, she really should find another place to go.
"Where would you go? Have you ever left the village Raven?" He asks as they walk slowly through the village to the pool where some children splashed inside of. They're lighter dies own when they spot her.
Then they look around to see if anyone else has noticed. Slowly, one green skinned girl, wades out of the water and reaches for Raven's hand, her big green eyes wide and curious. She tugs, Raven doesn't move for fear of scaring her.
"Come play with us." The girl smiles, her fangs small and growing in.
Raven's heart jolts at the words and kind faces of the children as she follows the little girl into the cool clear water up to her waist and slowly the other children float around her and smile.
Bright white smiles against multiple shades of soft green skin. Raven can feel their acceptance. They don't genuinely hate her –they are curious, intrigued, wondering about this new being that doesn't look like them – why did their parents warn against her? Why did the adults fear her?
Raven almost wishes she could tell them the truth. But she holds her tongue –
"They like you." Changeling smiles behind her. She can feel his excitement at this. His happiness that someone – besides himself – accepts her.
She wishes she could enjoy that feeling. But she smiles softly anyway and lets the children take her further out into the pond. They teach her how to float on her back and play their games they'd normally play while practicing their shifting.
The games get louder, the splashing harder, the laughter brighter. Raven's head hurts but her heart swells in joy that she won't allow herself to express. It's too dangerous. She shouldn't - something could go wrong if she does. She's still practicing her control.
"Look out!" One of the little girls cries and Raven gasps, hitting her head against a sharp stone, jutting out of the dripping mountain wall that surrounds the back of the pool. With a groan, her feet slip from underneath her and she falls with a terrific splash into the water.
And she can't get back up, her head spins and she's sucked into a hole she didn't know was there – it didn't feel natural – it felt – as if someone had hidden this hole, this spot, with magic. And she'd accidently broken it.
When Raven wakes up she's gasping for air, sputtering and – she can't see anything. It's pitch black, and cold. Her eyes blink rapidly to try and absorb something. She makes out shapes, jutting shapes, something drips, her harsh breaths echo – she's in a cave.
A dark cave.
With soft muttering words under her breath, Raven lights a small fire in the palm of her hand – she tries not to think about how she'd almost died because of fire.
The small flame shoots giant shadows that flicker and throb against the cavern walls. Then – she sees them.
Symbols, pictures, vivid and sharp against the damp stone walls.
Raven's eyes absorb them, following the trail – reading the story it has to tell . . .
Of the Changelings and the humans- of the love between the two that destroyed their lives – of the war – of the hate and fear and misunderstanding . . . of everything that when wrong.
She gasps, a sharp pain stabbing her heart and she realizes – his was mothers' story. This was the story she loved to hear as a child. This was why the Changelings were so -afraid, so limited, so – hidden.
It was true, it was all true and – her eyes land on the final message.
'To those of our future, we fear this battle has come to an end. If we manage to survive – there will be a time when history repeats. Please – don't let it.
Understand each other
Love each other
Live together. So that there may be a chance for peace.
Prince Savant
Raven's hand reaches for the name, the signature written in blood, they shake as her pale fingers brush the cold stone. That pain she felt, rushes up her arm and into her chest and Raven knows – that pain . . . it was left behind from the ones that wrote this story. It was left behind to show – to tell . . . to warn.
And Raven can feel all the pain, all the anguish, and hate, and fear – she can feel it course through her heart and she buckles to her knees in a mess of sobs.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry you had to suffer. The sadness washes over her an envelops her tightly as she cries, cries for the lost souls, for the wasted lives, for the broken love.
"Raven?" Her name echoes softly in the cavern, and she feels him before she sees him.
No – fear spikes through her and she whirls around to her feet. He stands there, torch in hand, the flame flickering deep shadows in his developing face and the fear grips her again.
No.
She sees the pain – the potential disaster, the humans – they'll find her – they will find her and – and if she's here they'll - they'll kill, they'll kill again.
She was a fool, a complete and utter fool. Mother told her, she told her – being a demon witch, one of the most powerful combinations of species . . . it was a curse she would have to bare – control. Suffer. Alone.
She needs to leave.
Before history repeats itself and it's her fault.
"I need to go." She whispers. The words breaking her heart. "I need to leave."
"What? Why do you – why?" He dares to step nearer.
She steps back as she shakes her head. "I need to go. I – I have to – if I don't, your tribe, your people, they will suffer." Please, please understand. He was her only friend – this hurts her so much. So –so much.
"Please. I need to leave."
"Raven, Raven wait, wait!" He props his torch in the wall and reaches for her, grasping her cold pale hand with his warm one. "Wait." His fear and confusion seep into her and she almost flinches out of his grip. He looks at her with wide searching green eyes. "Why do you have to leave? What are you saying? Nobody will hurt you – or us. Don't – don't do this. Please." He tugs her closer. "I don't understand but I . . . I don't want you to leave."
The warmth and longing that spill out of him shocks her. It shocks her so much she gasps and tears blur his face. No – no he can't possibly - "I – I – "
He reaches for her face, his hand caressing the side of it as she cries quietly, his thumb brushing the tears from her. "Don't go."
She takes in a deep cold breath and forces herself to withhold her sadness and looks at him, eyes shimmering with forcefully held tears. She reaches both hands for his face and he radiates confusion. Cupping his face in her hands she manages a small smile.
"Thank you." Her hands glow softly as she breathes a spell. "I – I'll miss you . . . my friend."
"Rae – "He gasps, his eyes fluttering shut and he falls forward, going limp in her grip. Raven allows herself the weakness to cry as she tries not to lose control, dragging him out of the cavern and settling him outside once she tracks the entrance.
She lays him on the soft grass crowing beyond the cavern entrance, she doesn't know which part of the forest this is but she's sure he'll find his way home when he awakes.
With one last lingering look, she brushes his dark hair out of his face and softly traces his cheek with her finger tips, her eyes taking him in so she can remember him – he's still so young – barely her age, a developing young man of a beautiful, magical species, that deserves to live. . . she wants him to live.
She just . . . can't be here to see it.
Her curse to bare. . . alone.
With a soft kiss to his forehead, she stands and takes in a deep breath, pushing away her saddens and aching pain, closing her eyes and chanting a spell her mother told her would help her escape to where no one would find her if she needed to.
Her tears blur his face as she starts to fade from his presence. "Good bye, please, be happy."
And she's gone.
Sniff sniff . . . sorry guys. Raven needs to work some things out.
See you next time!
