Defiant Blood - Blood and Bone Saga
Chapter 1
Defiant Blood is the Second story of the Blood and Bone Saga, Following Torn Apart which is the first.
Torn Apart and Silent Glances (Which started the Ron and Pansy Story) can be found on my published fics
-Venom X
Ron stood glaring at the creature. A pillar of shadow. Cloak covering its body entirely it seemed to radiate a darkness, the edges blurred the background as if bleeding through. Ron could see inside the cloak, black on black it shimmered in many shades, all bright and glistening, they were feathers. He looked to see its face, an unmoving mask with dark circles for eyes, in the centre prominently sticking out was a large great curved beak. Ron had a vision of a plague mask.
Ron's anger was back. "What is name?" he shouted.
"Corvus!"
The two stood staring at each other, Corvus looked him up and down as Ron did the same. Ron knew when he was doing this as his beak rose and fell. "You, your Corvus?"
"It know'zes me?"
Ron took two steps closer, only feet from it as his anger surged, "It does!" he growled. It didn't matter to him that it towered a good two to three foot over him. "What did you do to me? To Pansy!"
"What'zes I do?", Corvus took a step forward, or he at least glided, there was no telling under his shroud.
"Naw fuck that, you understand me perfectly", his hand clenched, "What did you do to her!"
"I watched!" it's voice echoed through Ron, "what's you do's to Corvus, you make's me see's you. It like ghost to Corvus, it's… torment's".
"I do's nothing!" Ron shouted.
"Then Corvus say's same!"
They again stood in a clear standoff, neither backing down. "I don't know what power I have here, but I've surprised myself already", Ron warned.
"Ron want's fight Corvus?"
"That depends, what do you know about our dreams, Ron's and Pansy's, Dreams that hurt Ron and Pansy?"
"Dream's… hurt Ron?" as Corvus asked this Ron couldn't help but feel a part of his anger relent.
"I'm unable to see why but, it's like that bothers you", Ron thought. It was then that Ron started to see a change in how his thoughts worked. He was still voicing every time he had a thought in this place, but now in his mind, he was noting things that remained there, unspoken. Only as he questioned what he saw, as a thought, was he speaking them.
"Corvus think's dreams shouldn'ts hurt'zes anyone", its head swayed as it spoke. "Pansy is Ron's mate? One Corvus seen's with Ron, with white… skin's and black's tops".
"My mate? I guess you could say that, well, she was". Corvus's head bowed and Ron couldn't help but see this as a nod of recognition, maybe a condolence. "You speak's so much clearer's now'zes".
"Corvus fast learner's. Why Ron thinks Corvus make dreams hurt".
"You really didn't do anything to us?", he sighed, "sorry, you not's do'zes anything's to hurt'zes Ron and Pansy?"
"Corvus not know Ron's was real's, he does not try to do anything's, only watch'zes and learn's".
"I apologies", Ron said, but Corvus only stared, "I sorry'zes?"
"You regret's?"
"Yes, I suppose, I regret's I shout's and blame Corvus".
"Corvus accepts".
Ron turned and some how knew that Corvus would follow. The place that he'd manifest as a library was grand and vast, he supposed taking a walk would be worthwhile. "You really are getting good at talk'zes".
"Corvus trying's. Tell Corvus, what way's did Ron and Pansy hurt's".
"Oh", Ron said, "well it very strange, but Ron start screaming and hurt friends, but I didn't know'zes I was hurting them. Then later Ron's arm hurt's, like fire". Ron stopped turning round, as Corvus was no longer at his side. He had stopped, staring motionless at Ron. "What?"
Corvus's shape changed; his shroud lifted at the front. Ron likened it to an arm pointing under a cloak. Looking down at himself he turned his head then saw it.
Ron staggered backwards as he saw he had no arm, he raised his right arm and it was there, his hand in front of him, but his left. "I've no arm!" he looked up at Corvus, dumbfounded, how had he never noticed.
A vision overwhelmed him, and he staggered back falling into a bookshelf. The end of something long and thin was in his face, then there was a flash of brilliant light and something shattered. His head was thrown to the right as the rest of his body remained glued to the spot. The vision in his left eye went dark, he tried to strain but everything was red until pitch black. His head rolled concussed from some force; his vision swayed to the left. He could only just make out with what remained of his sight. His arm was gone, there was a red mass, pink flesh and white bone, but no longer a piece of him he'd known his whole life. His eye rolled up and black shapes moved, exiting his vision.
"Move it, all off you, get out of here". A voice shouted, it was deep and raspy.
His vision was blurring, all he could see was the expanse of darkness in the sky, glittered with tiny lights. There was a howling on the wind that reached his ears. Then a black shape returned and became fuller.
"I'm sorry lad", that same voice rumbled out, "I really am, hold on though, she's coming, you can hear her". The shape stood and was gone again, small silence remained until there was more howling. "Lumos", he heard another growl.
Ron's head reeled as his head swam now, feeling a sickening drunkenness take him. The howling was back, but now it was different, his head was registering it as shouting, someone shouting a name.
"Ron I'm coming, shout out. He's up the hill, Deatheaters!".
Ron tried to focus on the blurring stars, if they'd come back into focus, he could stay awake instead of sleeping. His heart, he noticed had been racing. But now he felt it slow, and as he realised, he felt a strange pulsing in the mass at his arm.
Frantic footsteps sounded around him, then an almighty scream woke him from the drunkenness, but it was strong, he was lulling again, ready to drop back off.
"Ron! Gods no! Ron say something, look at me, look at me love!" a face came into view, pale but blurred. There was a scent though, it was about the only thing he could concentrate on. Black Cherry and Amber, Pansy's scent, she wore it daily".
"Pa…sea", he couldn't speak.
He felt his body move and there was the mildest realisation he wasn't fixed to the spot anymore. A pressure built near his shoulder, the figure that he was sure to be Pansy rocked him as she fought to do something to him. Whatever it was, the pressure built.
"You're not dying, you're not allowed to fucking leave me, you hear!"
He heard more howling, or screaming, it was hard to tell. But the mass of colours invading his blurred sight increased as shapes moved around him and he was vaguely aware of hands touching him.
He felt as someone took hold of his head. Something pressing into his face and he knew something about this was important. He knew the stars were there, blurred above him, but the shape in his foreground, he had to see it, to concentrate.
He forced his way out of the emersion of drowsiness engulfing him. As he did the haze cleared and Pansy's face formed, pressed into him.
"Sea".
She gasped, "Don't speak", he heard her moan, and he felt her pull his head to her lap. Holding him to her, she leaned down above him looking as beautiful as he remembered. "Just lay there, help's coming I promise".
He wanted to speak to her, but he knew he was weak, he tried to pull her close, but she tried to stop him. She was crying as she took his hand and placed it to her lips.
"I'm dying!", the thought hit him hard. But it also came to him quickly, it needed to, because he knew now why he felt like this, he only had so long left.
"My pocket!" He managed, remembering what he'd swiped from Pomfrey, "please".
"Dreamless sleep!" Pansy breathed.
"I want to go dreaming of us", If he was going then he wanted her there with him, in his mind.
She poured some down his throat and he just managed to swallow it. Like a kick from a horse, he felt his head explode with a swirling mass of dark clouds come to take him off to sleep. He knew this was it, he had seconds.
He pulled her head down one last time, her scent the last thing he smelt, her eyes the last he'd see. He just managed to get the only three words out that mattered as his eyes closed.
Ron thrashed wildly as he emerged from his own head, like drowning he spluttered and panted his way back to consciousness. He was on the floor, "bloody hell!" he shouted as Corvus's face appeared looming as he bent over him. Scrambling to his feet he backed away for space as his mind race.
"Corvus was think's Ron had gone".
"Jeez…"Ron continued to pant, he took a deep breath and found his bearings, "sorry mate I just, I had…vision's of…why I is here".
"Ohh!" Corvus said loudly, "you see's it, that a powerful things to see, Ron is ok?"
"Yeah, I think so, wow that took me out of it". He leaned against a bookshelf and looked at his arm, apart from the fact he'd only just realised he had no arm, it was now only just hitting him how it appeared. It wasn't that it was gone and only some part of it remained, "no, it's more ethereal than that like it doesn't belong anymore, its not gone so much as, I don't know, doesn't exist".
"Corvus did not know'zes how he could get's back to his realm".
"What? Why?"
"Ron was gone for…", Corvus swayed, "time!"
"A long time? How long?" Corvus only swayed back and forth in response, "Corvus doesn't know'zes, Ron understands, sorry mate".
"What this is", Corvus glided closer, "Mate's?"
"Oh not like Ron's and Pansy's. Two meaning's, it's friend, companion's", he only loomed in his looming ways, "Confidant? Comrades? Familiar-…".
"Argh", Corvus said triumphantly, "Familiar, kin but not kin, that mean's mate?".
"Yeah, that's about right, Mate, closest is Friend, kin who'zes not kin. Unless it's like Ron's and Pansy's", Ron was impressed.
"Corvus is asunder that Ron think'zes mate", as Corvus said this Ron tilted his head, "asunder, shock, reassuring's shock".
"Oh your shocked in a good way, well hopefully that's cool", Ron smiled.
He loomed again, "temperature's?"
"Fuck sake. No mate, cool is temperature's yes, but can also mean good, positive".
"Mord! Word'zes are hard's". He leaned again looking at Ron's face, "Mord? Mord is…", Corvus suddenly bellowed out, it was deep and resonating, "Mord!"
Ron stood shocked for a moment until he started to laugh, "Mord!" he shouted back, "I like's Mord". He patted his chest then bellowed out himself, "Fuck!"
"Argh!", Corvus shouted laughing, "Fuck! Yes, cool!"
"Ha!" Ron barked and pointed at him, "that's right, good!".
"He's got more of a deep echoing voice now were here, it's not as gravely or sinister somehow like it was before I made him appear", Ron thought allowed.
"Why Ron do's this? He speak to Corvus in's good voice, then speaks to no one in he's own word's".
"I see, wow your getting so clear when you speak now", He looked and frowned, "how the Mord does I say's this", he started to point to his head and mouth as he explained, "thought, come'zes out of mouth when's should stay in head. Here not stay'zes in, comes out".
Corvus slowly turned left and right, Ron took it as a shake of the head. "Corvus only speak, not know's what thought is".
"Maybe it's a thing from my world", Ron said, "my world? Maybe this is a different world, Mord knows!"
"Realm!"
"What?"
"This is Night Realm, this is place for souls, when'zes they move on".
"That's what this is, the Night Realm? So, so I am dead then? I figured", he thought the last.
But Corvus leaned, tick-tocking, Ron also decided this was his way of communicating he didn't know or wasn't sure. "No!"
"No? I'm not dead?"
He leaned, "Not's sure, you should be but, Corvus never seen'zes like's a Ron before's. You different's. This place soul's come who pay".
"Pay, pay what?"
"Pay, not go's next place".
"What are they paying though?"
"Blood's, Bone's".
"Blood and Bone?" Ron's eye's widened, "as in Blood and Bone must always be paid?" Corvus nodded, "Shit!" Corvus leaned in response, "What? Shit? It's like Mord, only…Shit!" he shook his hand and looked shocked.
"Argh", Corvus nodded, "Rass!"
"Rass! I like it". Looking back up he frowned, "so how does one pay blood and bone?"
He swayed, "each is differen's, some's give little and stay short's, some give lot's and stay's long".
"So, what do they give?" Corvus raised an arm, under his shroud. Ron looked to his own missing arm, "you take body parts? Why?"
"Blood's, Bone's".
"So you mean literally, we pay with Blood and Bone. The Mord do you do'zes withs it?"
"Mistress, she takes essence, puts'zes it back into world".
"As?" Ron stepped closer, "Magic! How did I know that! Am I right?"
"Ron's is smart".
"We pay Blood and Bone with our bodies, and she recycles the energy back into magic, well that's not grim at all".
"Not grim", Corvus nodded, "needed, it is kindness! Wizards'zes no longer prey to god's. No longer give'zes Blood and Bone's in offer".
"You mean sacrifices?" Corvus nodded, "Rass!" Ron sighed, Corvus nodded again. Ron turned and started to continue the walk that they'd started finally. "So are there a lot of…Female's come'zes to Night Realm?"
"First born's?"
"Exactly!"
"Yes, they's is meant to pay".
"Why though", Ron said feeling it sadder now he thought about it.
"Mistress is female, she pity female for pain of life's. She make Night Realm for female to give Blood and Bone but not suffers".
"Women don't suffer here?"
"No thing's suffer hear, but females has'zes stronger control here. After time it becomes haven for memories".
"You mean like when I saw Pansy?"
Corvus stopped, he nodded, then shook his head, "Ron's has power here Corvus not seen, it's not same's. Corvus not understand's. Female's can live's happy here's. When debt is paid'zes, they go next place. Ron's can move through Night Realm's in way's he shouldn'ts".
"Really, that's kind of horrible yet nice at the same time. So one day Pansy will be here but it's ok because she'll learn to control it and be happy?" Corvus nodded and it made him feel a strange relief, "my sister too?"
"All, only houses with's no Dagger has men come's".
"And it's not so nice for them?" Ron asked, Corvus swayed, "not sure eh?"
"So, what's different about me", as he said it a thought came to him, "Ginny has a dagger! Should I even be here?"
"No!"
"So why am I?"
"Ron not's dead", he swayed, "but is dead, Corvus see's both".
"What do you do Corvus, what'zes Arcane does for Mistress".
"Account".
"Account? For what?"
"Blood's and Bone's"
"You're an accountant?" Ron laughed, Corvus's head turned, "Sorry. So what do you account for, I get what, but, what like the souls and stuff".
"Parts", Corvus echoed.
"Rass, so you just deal with body parts all day, grim. So what, you take the parts she decides and then slowly they give up piece by piece or something".
"She take's, then Night realm take's what Mistress leave's. In time's all magic's is drained's and only pure soul left, for next place. But Ron's has drawn magic's he use in Night Realm and yet he still has self in's Celestia", again he saw Ron's mouth open, "your world's".
"I didn't know it was called that. So, I'm here or not here. And I have power I shouldn't, I don't get this".
"Tell Corvus of what's dreams did to Ron and Pansy with pain".
"Oh yeah, well like I said. I woke up and started attacking my friends", he looked up, "I didn't mean to, I didn't know it was happening. Then they tried to fight me to stop me, but I was too strong, like really strong. Then I…" He stopped, as did his companion. "Then I woke screaming your name and Death!"
"And Pansy".
"She did to, eventually, she held her stomach, that's where the pain was, and on her eyes", something in Ron grew again and it wasn't friendly. Corvus's head lulled, dropping low. "Corvus! You said you had nothing to do with it".
"Corvus not hurt's, you is mate!" he boomed.
Ron was taken back by this, "ok, so what then".
"Corvus think's he did it, without's knowledge. Corvus kept seeing sign's of Ron, they scared Corvus, they like ghost, seeing parts like Ron's arm's. It appeared to Corvus, he thought it was other's playing with my mind's. Then on night's I see's Ron and in his dreams's. Through dreams's I see's Pansy. But Ron see'zes Corvus too and in Celestia he's cannot understands what he sees. Nots comprehends and sends him mads".
"It was you!"
"Corvus had's no awareness!", he seemed to shift uncomfortably, "Ron was connecting to Corvus through's Night Realm, from Celestia. This is not's possible's".
"Mord!", Ron swore out, again it relented within him, unable to feel he could blame the creature.
"Mord!"
"So I was connected to the Night Realm and you said you think I'm drawing power, is that why I could withstand so much". Corvus nodded, then shook his head, "you think so but not sure", Corvus nodded.
Ron was about to walk on when he paused. "You've dropped the zes' friend".
"Ron is good's example to watch", Corvus said.
Ron nodded, "I will try to keep dropping the odd one in, in politeness", Corvus nodded back.
Ron started to walk then paused, "wait a minute, when someone dies, if they lose a limb, arm'zes, in Celestia, do they lose it in Night Realm or next place?" Corvus shook his head, "so where's my friggin' arm?"
Corvus's beak lifting, averting his gaze, "Corvus has it".
"What the hell, why do you have my pissing arm!"
"Corvus not know what it was-…"
"Yeah yeah", Ron said impatiently, "like ghost, and?"
"And Corvus see it not severed by Mistress, and that's it is attached's to Celestia. So's Corvus think's he should keeps, and keep's the energy's for himself", again he shifted and Ron knew this was him embarrassed as he spun slightly left and right.
"Why energies?".
"It what we lives off, what Mistress pay's servants of Death. Soul essences".
"You've eaten my arm!"
"No!", Corvus seemed repulsed by such a thing, "I has it, at office".
"Office? You work in an office?" Ron said in disbelief.
"What's wrong's with that?"
"Nothing", Ron shook his head in amusement then sighed, "Not cool mate".
"Argh Mord!" Corvus said in frustration.
"Let's go get it!" Ron said suddenly, "why not, we can get it and I can start looking how I can get out if here".
Corvus swayed then stilled, leaning down at him. "You can'ts!"
"Can't what?"
"You can'ts leave or come to my Realm, that's Shadow Realm, impossible".
"Well how come I know I can? How come you know so much and yet I just, know that I can". Corvus shook his head, "I know you don't know mate; I can just feel it. Dead or no, I'm moving on".
"I not's know where to go", Corvus reminded him.
"That's true, well lets walk until we find it, were not going anywhere in the meantime. I think I've been here at least a century now and I haven't thought about food once so this place sustains".
They started to walk and as they did Ron spoke up, "I'm sorry's I keep's doing's that. Going's from trying to Speak'zes your words then forgets'ing and speaking's only mine".
"It's alright's", Corvus said, "I learns it well now and you's it at explaining's when I don't understands. Your word's is easy to understand's how you talks, I always picks thing's up quickly".
"Good man", Ron beamed, "sorry, Good Arcane's".
They walked for an unknown time, but Ron suspected it was anything from a few hours or a few days. After this he stopped. Corvus, explain what you saw's when you came, when you followed's my voice's".
"Hmm", Corvus looked around, "In Shadow Realm I was in my home's, then's I hear's Ron's voice. So I goes over to find's where's and I see's black is bleeding into wall's like black water's making shapes. Then's you spokes and I see's bleeding's is door and step's through. That's when we talk but Ron not see's me and I only see's part of Ron. Until you, mani…mani-…".
"Manifested you, yeah. Ok, lets head back to the library entrance".
They walked for a while with nothing other then intuition. Ron had had a thought, that he said aloud, that he thought that now they looked for where they'd already been, they'd find it sooner. As they went Ron couldn't help hide his curiosities and stopped to pick up a book off the wall.
"There must be billions upon billions in here?"
"There is", Corvus agreed, "trillions, and yet's only one's".
"Only one?"
"Yes, one book's, a billion possibilities. You will find's whatever your desires is to read's at the time of reading".
Ron looked down at the leather-bound book, fancy gold writing scripted the title. "Silent Glances? That's a shit name, what's it about?". He opened it knowing the blurb was the only way to find out. "Start of the Fifth-year term for Ron and Pansy begins with a strange new way of bringing the school together. Meanwhile they both unknowingly deal with similar issues of feeling alone, identity and the changes that drive them to grow past who they once were. Gal's of green, Seahorses and silent flight await… who wrote this crap!"
"You did's"
"What?" Ron said confused.
"You read's what you wants to read, what your heart's desire".
"Death's gift?", Corvus nodded in answer, "so you could spend an eternity in here reading and never get bored because there's always a book you'll like, it always just happens to be the perfect book, the thing you crave".
"Ron's is smart! Cool?"
"Yes very, except apparently my head wants to read about me and Pansy's beginnings this year".
"Not head, heart!" Corvus said poignantly.
Ron looked down at the book, it made him think of all the windows in his corridor. "It's all her, Pansy, she's everything in my version of the Night Realm, and nothing else".
"Ron loves his mate?" Corvus asked.
"I, err… that's a difficult one to answer there bud".
"Why?"
"Well, we only just got going, we only just started. It's a bit early, you know?"
"No", Corvus said stoically, "Corvus see's Ron in Night Realm, through Celestia and Shadow Realm. Ron's dreams project Pansy through three realms. That is power, how this not love?"
"Look", Ron said, "when you put it like that, it's amazing, I wish she was here to hear it herself, I'd get so many brownie points but. I can't just, just say it".
"Why? Corvus loves his mate. He knew's it the moment's he saws her".
"Wow, really, lucky guy. So, we really do need to get you back, she'll be panicking".
"No, she dead", he replied without missing a beat.
The shock of hearing it stopped Ron in his tracks, "Corvus… I'm sorry".
"Corvus understands Wizard kind is like's human's, they compassion for loss. I accepts your compassion. Thank's you, friend".
Ron carried on walking as Corvus moved on. This was the first time he started to wander without Ron leading and he knew it was a reaction to pushing on from this.
"May I ask how she, passed?"
"She's suffered a sickness, very young's. Too young for Arcane kind, we mate for life's, I will not take another until next life's".
"Mord Corvus, I mean it mate, I'm really sorry".
"Corvus will be withs Rook in next life, but he still think's on her greatly".
"Rook, was that her name?" he nodded and Ron decided he didn't want to make the giant think on it any more than they had.
Let's go, if you can returns to your mate, I wish to see's that you do. Then you tells her you love's her".
Ron didn't say anything, accept to nod in agreement for him as they carried on walking, but their conversation forced Pansy into his mind. It didn't take much for her to dominate his head space like this, but now he felt an overwhelming wanting to see her. He'd had this the whole time, but the idea he could leave, however unknown it was, with now this, it made him desperate.
"Wait", Ron stopped and picked up another book, "You said these books are personal to me right, and they read as stories I want, whatever my heart desires?" Corvus nodded, "So right now I desire getting you home so I can see Pansy. So, if I look at this book…'Navigating the Unknown, a Ron and Corvus tale' See! Maybe we can follow this home".
Corvus looked down, Ron took it as confused, "Rass!", he said deeply, "Ron's is greater at's puzzle's than' Corvus is at learnings words", he sounded triumphant.
"'Ron picked up the book, the idea making his companion sound his approval'", Ron read aloud, "see, I think it's working, that's us, and this conversation. Lets go on".
They began to walk as Ron read, "it's not exactly a gripping read but…'Corvus glided as Ron strode, they spoke about the strangeness of their situation. This being nothing new, they had both covered a great many things the other found strange and baffling. They neared a great junction of aisles, shelves upon shelves of endless stories, leather and brass as far as the eye could see. At the centre of the junction a row of tables, chairs, sofas. This was a cross station to sit in comfort, but Ron knew he had to venture on from this paper metropolis. He looked up looking to see the staircase leading to the lower aisles and understood he needed to take the left most route".
"Mord, that was a long way of saying go left, Hermione would be a help here".
"But idea workings".
"Yeah maybe, can't hurt to see. Wonder if anyone's worked this out before and tried to leave", Ron pondered, "Down here and follow it to the right".
"Corvus is doubtful's, most who placed in Night Realms is always contempt's, not wish to leaves".
"How come?" he couldn't imagine anyone wanting to willingly be dead.
"It is there times. They knows it's, they…accepts. Ron does' not accept's, that is why's Corvus think's he will prove Corvus wrong's and escapes this Realm…to his mate".
"Well I'll take that as a good sign, Rass, we should have took that left, look. 'Ron realised his mistake as he led them right, to enthralled listening to his friend'".
"Shit", Corvus agreed.
More time passed, an unknown amount as was usual when Ron sensed something. "Corvus, do you feel that?", he signalled he didn't, "it's like something strange in my stomach, in here, pulling me…wow that tingles! The air, it's like it's alive with energy or something".
"Corvus feels…nothing, but he trusts what Ron senses. Do you know's the way's?"
Ron frowned as his head processed what he felt, "I do", he thought, "I feel like I just follow this feeling and…".
"Shit!" Corvus said in astoundment, there was a door in front of them as they turned the corner. It must have been twenty feet in hight, solid ebony carved wood and seeping a dark aura through its gaps all round.
"Well, if that doesn't scream Shadow realm then I don't know what does!" Ron said impressed.
"This not door's Corvus come through's!" Corvus looked the door over then down at Ron.
"We carry on or say Mord it, and go through, that's the thing about doors, you can step through them in both directions".
Corvus stood swaying, his beak looking up at the great door. "Corvus agree, Mord it!"
Ron stepped forward and expected to put everything into pushing the thing open, but it slowly started to inwardly open freely. As it did clouds of purple and black began to swell out from within. Deciding the only way to find out was to step through, so he did.
Ron stepped into shadow, as he did it didn't relent and something in his mind told him to keep going. His senses told him to put his arms out, reach blindly for security but that pull in his stomach didn't, it just said to keep going. A few more steps and Ron breached into clear air and light began to fill his vision.
"Wow!" he breathed, "when I thought clear air and light, I expected… something else". He was stood in a world of sepia, its black and greys only visible against its browns and reds. The effect was jarring, Corvus came through next to him and looked like an image right out of an industrial age. The air was cold and thick with gleaming particles that floated around him everywhere. The effect was as dark and mysterious as it was beautiful. "I don't know what I expected, but this isn't it!"
"This works!" Corvus exclaimed.
"Work?"
"My works, we's are in my work's".
Now Ron looked past the tones and palate of the place and he started to take in the sights. The place resembled Gringotts in many ways and in many others, nothing he'd seen before. It had that look of a place where people worked, collecting and counting but then it had so many bizarre and strange contraptions. To his eyes he couldn't tell how someone like Corvus could use any of it, but this was not his world. "I doubt much of what I see will make sense to me".
They moved further inside to where Ron was led through corridors and doorways not unlike in his own world until they entered a large open area. There were desks and what he assumed were privacy screens, on close inspection he saw they were made of something other than anything he'd seen before. Like minerals both wood and metal, but old and full of elaborate carvings. Most thing's here had that same feel of grandness and opulence.
"What's this?" Ron looked down at his hand, he was holding a large leather like wallet, opening it he found it was full of dots and patterns that moved before his eyes. He had been holding the book he'd used in his library and with the spectacle of entering another world, he hadn't noticed.
"Look's like book", Corvus said looking down.
"Yeah, I know that, but it's not anymore, what happened".
"No, it is book, that book from my Realm. Things should's not pass from one realm to another's. Not withouts Mistress".
"You mean you can read this?", Ron said holding it up.
Corvus's shroud raised and as it did he lifted the book into the air where it floated for him to read. Being a wizard from a world full of levitation and manipulation this wasn't a shock, so much as a revelation.
"We must moves, now!" for the first time Ron felt a force pushing him, it seemed to be guided by Corvus and having just seen him levitate the 'book', he understood it to be him pushing Ron to move.
"What's is it? Ron asked.
"Book says someone coming's. Ron cant's be seen here!" Corvus's force pushed Ron into what he could only describe as a cloakroom. Going inside he saw a long line of materials, like garments hung up. "Ron take shroud, hides, not talks".
"What, this?" Ron asked as he reached out, Corvus bowed nodding.
Ron's hand grasped what he took to being a dense and heavy looking gauge as he lifted it, but once his fingers touched it, he realised it was anything but. He threw the feather light cloak over himself, and his world exploded into pulsating black lights and neon abstracts, like seeing in negatives.
"It's so light, and thin", Ron breathed as he thought, "it's more than that, like silk, no, water!"
"Ron must be silent", Corvus said rushed, "go to shadow".
"Who'zes there'zes?" another voice called.
"What does he mean go to shadow?" Ron thought as silent as he could, "be still? Don't move?" Then Ron played the facts, "under this the spectrums incredible, like I can see the clear maps of shadows being cast. He calls it a shroud, not a cloak. Shroud of darkness, of shadow! That's it, in this… maybe I'm invisible when in shadow".
Ron saw another look from Corvus, "I wonder if he still hears?" Corvus's head bowed, "shit this is gonna be difficult", Corvus bowed again, Ron rolled his eyes and stepped into the shadow.
Another Arcane entered, it was shades lighter than Corvus and not as tall. Ron could see a stark difference in pattern on the creature's mask. It's mask was still a beak, though again alternatively shaped like the difference in a person's face.
"Corvus! What'zes you doing here'zes, skulking's in the work'zes. Looking's for more ghost'zes?" the creature laughed; its voice much higher than Corvus. Ron had an instant dislike that he quickly had to silence himself from thinking on, blanking his mind.
"Crowdah", Corvus boomed, "I hear to return'zes things I forgot'zes I had".
"What thing'zes, what's you have?"
"That's is Corvus's business and not'zes Crowdah's. Corvus does not's ask why'zes Crowdah is here's. Corvus not cares".
"Fine's, where you been'zes, you been's gone for day's, the Mistress has asked Crowdah where'zes you is".
"Corvus imagine's Crowdah enjoy'zes talking shit about's Corvus to Mistress".
"What'zes that word's, what'zes Shit means", Crowdah asked.
"Shit mean's… pleasant, nice!" Corvus said this as his head leaned back. Ron saw it and knew he was amused with himself; he had to stifle his own laugh.
"Crowdah is shit", Crowdah said, "Crowdah is always talking shit, especially about Corvus".
"I can's imagine!" Corvus's head swayed at the same time Ron snorted as he couldn't contain his own laughter. He threw his hand over his mouth.
"What'zes that!", Crowdah said as his frame span round. "What'zes you got's in here'zes with you?"
Corvus hesitated and remained silent for a moment, "Ghost", he said flatly.
"Genius", Ron thought impressed, again his hand covered his mouth, knowing he was an idiot he at least didn't voice this time.
"But Crowdah hear'zes it!"
"Crowdah is more's like Corvus than's he realises", Corvus said playing it off well. Crowdah backed away, Ron assumed offended.
"Crowdah hear'zes a noise, not'zes a Ghost. I is not's mad Corvus. You should's watch'zes yourself's, trouble is coming's your way'zes from Mistress one day's!"
Crowdah left and both remained silent before Corvus finally spoke. "Ron? You are still here's?"
Ron pulled the hood of the cloak off his head and the sepia world appeared around him. "Can't you tell?"
Corvus shook, "shroud is powerful, one given by mistress to us for work's. You are wearing's Crowdah's".
Ron laughed, "maybe he shouldn't leave his thing'zes lying round, anyone could come along and take it his shit…for good".
Corvus boomed laughing, "quite! You should keep's shroud on while we here".
"How do they work?"
"Shrouds? They are made of shadow and darkness for when's she wants sends us other Realm", he looked back at Ron, "there'zes are many Realms, we's are not aloud in Celestia. But other Realm's we go's when she needs tasks. These help's keeps hidden, from all".
"Wow, when I had it on its all-contrasting shades and bright lines like edges is made of lights, shadows are blues".
"Hmm maybe wizard kind see's different from Arcane kind, you see's were's shadow starts and end's?
"I do, very clearly", Ron answered.
"Then it works as it should's. If worn enough's you can push shadows, make bigger and stretch, make new shadows to move in. Mistress hads her owns, they make's her invisible's, but some lost there's and it angered's her. Wizard kind found's them and she banned Arcane's from their Realm and made new shroud's, less powerfuls than her's…".
"But still powerful enough. Amazing! But that's weird because I'm sure I've heard a story about it", Ron said in wonder.
"You has?"
"Yeah but I don't remember it, I'm sure it was an old Bard my mum read me and Ginny, It mentions Death and a cloak, but I don't remember any more. My friend has and invisible one though, a cloak I mean, been in his family a long time I think".
"Ron means it?"
"Yeah, what, your not gonna' say it's one of Deaths?
"It's very possibles", Corvus admitted.
He led them out of the room and over to a workspace. Here he began motioning to things and levitating objects. Ron wasn't sure exactly what it was but then he didn't see there would be much he'd understand.
"What are we doing here?"
"This Corvus work desk's".
"Ok, so?"
"So Corvus is retrieving something's from safe place's".
"Ok", Ron looked around some more, then as he did, he saw what looked like corked wood pieces framed in iron, inside were thousands of dots that gleamed like stars, they formed swirl after swirl. Something about them reminded him of how the book now appeared. "What are these Corvus?"
"Pictures, that one's is Corvus with his Rook".
Something bit at him and as it did, he felt something between him and the strange giant. "All this mate and friend stuff, I can't help but ask, do you have many friends Corvus?"
"Corvus…" he started then went silent, "Rook had friends, many'. She was very popular, Corvus became's unpopular when he married's Rook".
"Oh, you got the prettiest girl in school!" Ron smiled.
"Rook was… exceptional's. And Corvus only had's friends through Rook. When Rook went next places, Corvus remained alone. Ron's is first friend's Corvus has made… and liked".
"Rass! Again, I'm so sorry mate. I can't help thinking that in some weird way I understand you better than my wizard kind friends. Even if I can't get out of here, I'm glad I met you".
"Which is why's we should hurry's, Corvus must see Ron back, back to his Rook".
Ron had to swallow down a lump in his throat.
Corvus rose, "Argh", he said triumphant, "here it is". Corvus seemed to conjure or transport something from elsewhere to in front of them where it fell and with a hollow knock.
"What is it?" Ron said looking down with a frown. He was looking at what looked like an ancient chard set of bones that made up an arm. It was black and withered, almost revolting to behold. More so was the fact that it seemed to be oozing blood from the top, Ron decided, the shoulder.
"Arm'zes!"
"Yeah I can see that mate, whose?"
"Ron's!" Ron looked at him and Corvus bowed his head, "Corvus said he has it, Ron can take's it now, back to Celestia. Corvus hopes it will return to you".
"That's my arm? Look at it, what did you do with it?"
"No", Corvus said, "Ron remembers book, thing's changes when crossing Realms. This not even look's like what we usually sees them as".
"And your keeping it in your… what is that, your draw?" Ron's jaw hung open in disbelief.
"Where else does he keeps it?" Corvus asked as though this was a stupid question.
"Fuck it, whatever, not even the weirdest shit I've seen!" Ron threw his arms up with a manic laugh.
Corvus too was laughing now. Ron reached down and picked it up with hesitation. As he did though his fingers passed straight through it. He looked down at it and then at Corvus in confusion, again he tried and again his hand phased straight through.
"Mate what's going on?" Ron said, "look I can't grab it".
"Rass! Corvus can't take it through for Ron, it won't works".
"But if I can't get it out of here, how do I get it back to Celestia?" Ron said in panic.
Corvus slowly tilted his beak from the arm to Ron, "he doesn't", he said gravely.
"Oh Rass!" Ron sighed, "I've really lost my arm", he thought, "they fucking blew it off". He looked at Corvus, "who blows off an arm! What sick Mord thought of that".
"Ron is worlds away from Pansy", Corvus said seeming to speak very softly. Ron looked up to him frowning, "Corvus would offer more than arms and legs to have his Rook back".
"Awe mate! You can't do that to me" Ron moaned, "I mean I'll never play Quidditch again, I'll never be able to, I dunno', pick things up like I used to. I'll have to relearn everything I know. I'll probably look ridiculous".
Corvus put his beak in Ron's face, "Would you take's all that over's never touching her again? Or is it worth's the trades to be alive with your one arm to holds her with. Ron's is already strong's with Night Realm power's, you can carry's her with one arm's. You can'ts hold's her from here!"
There was a long silence as Ron stood stewing, Corvus's words hit straight away. It was just a hard pill to swallow so quickly. "Ron would gives more than his arm'zes for Pansy", Ron said finally with a smile.
"Good!" Corvus boomed, "lets us go!"
Corvus led Ron back down through, what he assumed he would call a building. Under the cover of the Shroud, Corvus kept the book to hand, but it seemed the place was abandoned at this time. They reached the great door and Ron stopped.
"I thought we needed to go to your home?"
"Corvus will remember the way's from Night Realm library to the door and goes through alone after Ron's is out of Night Realm and back in Celestia".
"Corvus what happens if Death catches you helping me like this?" Ron asked as the thought came to him.
"Corvus isn't sures, this has never happens. Corvus doubt's she is aware of your presences".
Ron pulled off the Shroud as they began to walk through, folding it up he dropped it on the floor. As Corvus passed through Ron paused looking back at it on the ground. Despite its look it was so light and small when folded, If the Shadow Realm had claimed his arm, then he guessed this small offering was something in payment. Picking it back up, he pocketed it and left.
A/N
Chapter 2 uploads immediately after. I'll not state what days this fic will upload on as I grossly understated last time saying twice a week was my aim and I think Torn Apart was completed in just over a week.
Wounded I haven't used the cover image I made of Ron and Pansy dancing, it's everything. But I had an idea with this cover and Ron looks perfect so something I look forward to when Part 3 comes along. Which may be called Torn Asunder, not sure. If I do I'll have wished this was also a Torn but with the themes in this story, Defiant Blood really spoke to me.
Oh and Corvus has morphed somewhat as a character, he was more a catalyst in the concept than a fledged character. But After I got half way into this I realised the expressionless giant kind of lovely in his way and I just love his and Ron's banter.
-Venom x