Author's note: Here's another clip from the Bennets escape together AU. Where Elisheva's crush is among the victims of the Black Carriage because somebody was jealous.
The sun began to set, casting a warm, golden glow over the quiet street. Raz and Elisheva found themselves standing under the flickering lamplight, their laughter blending with the soft evening breeze.
"So, when can I see you again?" Raz asked, a playful smile tugging at his lips.
Elisheva's eyes sparkled as she replied, "How about tomorrow morning? We could go for a walk in the meadow, just the two of us."
Raz's grin widened, his voice filled with anticipation, "That sounds perfect. Count me in."
As their conversation carried on, unbeknownst to them, a figure watched from a nearby rooftop. Someone who had never experienced jealousy before, but now, an unfamiliar sting gnawed at their heart as they observed Raz and Elisheva's joyful exchange. They couldn't bear the thought of someone else capturing Elisheva's attention.
Meanwhile, Slarb the Fang, who harbored a deep grudge against the Igiby children and Elisheva alike, had been spying on Janner and Sarah Cobbler earlier. The opportunity for some form of revenge danced in his wicked mind.
Descending from the rooftop, Slarb found himself approached by an equally vindictive character. Their identities hidden for now, they whispered an intriguing idea into Slarb's ear, a plan that would torment the outlander girl who has befriended the Igibys.
Later that night, when the moon hung high in the sky, the infamous Black carriage made its rounds through the town roads. To the shock of many, including those who were not on the snatching list, Raziah Goldwyn and young Sarah Cobbler were among those taken away, swallowed by the darkness of the carriage.
The next morning, Elisheva woke up with eagerness in her heart, ready to see Raz and solidify their plans. However, her path crossed with Slarb, who appeared just after he had taunted Janner Igiby with news of Sarah's fate.
The Fang sneered, his eyes gleaming with malevolence. "Well, well, well. Look who it is. The little outsider."
'Oh, great. The one Fang who looks like he broke right out of Arkham Asylum,' she thought sourly, her heart pounding with caution. Elisheva's gaze narrowed as she locked eyes with Slarb, her disdain evident. Memories of their initial encounter flooded her mind, the vivid recollection of him intending to bite her that day still fresh in her thoughts. She couldn't forget the sheer terror of that moment, knowing full well that one bite from a Fang could kill a grown man in seconds.
For the past two weeks, she and Zev had managed to avoid him, understanding the peril that lurked beneath his twisted grin.
Her frustration turned to a mixture of anger and fear, her voice trembling slightly as she addressed him.
"Ugh, you again? Don't you have some other innocent victims to terrorize?" Elisheva grumbled, her voice laced with a mixture of annoyance and apprehension.
Slarb's smirk widened, clearly delighted in her discomfort. "Plenty of victims. But I always have time for you," he retorted, his tone dripping with fiendish pleasure.
Elisheva's eyes darted cautiously between his face and the green Fang's venomous canines, unable to shake the chilling awareness of the danger he posed. She had to tread carefully, keeping her emotions in check while maintaining a safe distance.
"Yeah? Well find someone else to play your sick games," Elisheva retorted, her voice quivering slightly. She couldn't afford to underestimate the danger, not when a single misstep could lead to her demise.
Slarb's grin twisted into a malevolent sneer as he reveled in her unease. He took a step closer, his intentions clear. "Think you're safe, don't you? But I know things. I know what happened to your precious Raziah," he hissed, taunting her with the threat of his knowledge.
"Dude, that's the oldest line in the 'stranger danger' rules, and I'm not falling for it," Elisheva glowered, her voice laced with defiance.
However, Slarb persisted, claiming the truth of his words, relishing in the discomfort he was causing. Elisheva's heart raced, her fear warring with her determination. She mustered her strength, refusing to succumb to his manipulations.
"No, I don't want to hear any more of your bogus threats and lame yarn. You just leave me alone!" Elisheva snapped, her voice filled with determination as she turned away.
Fueled by determination, Elisheva stormed off toward the Goldwyn house, her steps heavy with defiance. She intended to prove Slarb wrong, to show that his words were nothing but twisted lies. But when she reached her destination, her heart sank like a ship pulled beneath the relentless waves.
She stood frozen a few yards away, her eyes widening in disbelief. In the Goldwyn house, the young man's parents stood huddled together, their faces etched with devastation. Raz's mother clutched a crumpled handkerchief, her eyes red and puffy from the previous evening spent worrying about her son. His father's shoulders slumped, weighed down by the weight of uncertainty and fear.
Eiran Goldwyn, Raz's sagely grandfather stood beside the pair, his face a mix of profound sadness and simmering anger. His fists tightened and his jaw clenched as he struggled to contain his emotions.
Their voices, filled with anguish, reached her ears as they shared their fears and regrets. They mentioned Raz had been taken that very night in the Black Carriage!
Oh no. Slarb wasn't lying. Raz… he'd been taken!
The awful truth hit Elisheva like a tidal wave crashing against the shore, shattering her hopes and dreams.
"No, it can't be," she whispered, shaking her head in denial. Seeking solace and concealment, she ducked behind a nearby tree, its branches offering a shield from prying eyes.
Leaning against the rough bark, Elisheva ran her trembling hand through her hair, her fingers getting tangled in the strands. The truth penetrated her mind, piercing her heart with an acute ache.
Unable to contain her anguish any longer, Elisheva buried her face in her hands, her whole body shaking with silent sobs. Tears streamed down her cheeks, wetting her palms as she struggled to find solace in the darkness of her despair.
Time seemed to stand still as she released her pent-up emotions, allowing the weight of her grief to wash over her. The pain was overwhelming, crashing like a tempest against her fragile soul. Her cries echoed through the quiet street of the town, a raw and haunting melody of sorrow.
In that moment, Oskar Reteep, stepped out from his shop.
A flash of blue caught his attention, and the old bookshop owner watched as Elisheva ran off, her tears flowing freely, and called out to her in genuine concern, "Elisheva? Elisheva! Wait, what's wrong?"
But the young woman didn't stop, she raced onward.
Zouzab climbed down from a bookshelf, shaking his head. "That is so sad." The ridgerunner said with a brief look of sympathy.
Oskar, his concern growing, glanced at Zouzab, his voice filled with urgency. "Zouzab, what happened? What has upset her so?"
"Ah, tis a truly sad affair," Zouzab replied with an obsequious tone, "Such a tragedy has befallen our dear Elisheva. The young man she held dear, Raziah Goldwyn, was snatched away in the dead of night."
Oskar's eyes widened, mirroring his shock. "What, taken by whom?" he asked, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and confusion.
Zouzab, his mask of concern slipping momentarily, allowed a hint of a smirk to grace his lips. "Ah," he replied, his voice dripping with false sympathy once more, "the world is a cruel place, and its no secret the Fangs are masters of their malevolent craft."
The news sent a chill down the old scholar's spine, as he understood. There was little doubt the Goldwyn boy had been a victim of the Black Carriage. "Oh, those poor young ones." Oskar murmured.