I know I said I was going to take a break, but I can't help but still write, thought my work will reflect my mood. Chapter Three will be up tomorrow.

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Flown down by ravens and stolen by the dawn's first rays, night mares stalk the night. Through dusty windows and cracked glass, they watch the weary rest till mornings rise.

Chapter three. Alone fallen, together stronger than ever known.

The large house seemed to loom out, almost to tumble or spill onto the street. People walking past it on the street, would step onto the other side of the road to avoid it because it seemed to emanate a sense of fear or forbidding. The history of the house contained no nasty surprises and shockingly enough there was no skeletons hiding in the closets or buried in the well, in fact if it wasn’t for the lack of a paint job and the run down state of the house it would have been a charming home.

Provide one could ignore the chills down the spine feeling that gathered and grew when a person visited the house. It was the land itself that was the problem, the reason for the fear and dread. The house was built on what had years long past been the hanging gallows. After the economy and technology boom, Bowerstone had grown and grown and grown, with housing being a problem the mayor had resorted to building on nearby areas, one of which happened to be the gallows.

A pub sat nearby to the house and the area surrounding seemed to be a converting location for low life’s such as murderers, thieves, drunkards and thugs. Among the surviving class of parasites that lived off the higher classes, were the assassins, the hire by order killers. Two such individuals were hiding out in a seedy pub among the dirty streets of what was known among the people as Gallows’s walk.

Hiding behind a mask of fraudulent identities, the two assassins known to each other and all they conversed with as Mr White and Mr Black. Mr White was tall and fat with annoying habit of cleaning his nails with his dagger; his preferred form of killing was to slit his victim’s throat and leave them to bleed to death. Mr Black was the opposite, Short and thin he loved nothing more than cleanliness that bordered on the line of obsession, his favourite form of killing was poison, quick efficient and completely undetectable.

How these two completely contrary characters came together was simple, they had been given an order and placed together in the hopes if one failed the other would succeed. They now sat facing each other in a mock tableau of two brothers fighting. The real truth behind the argument was the two men were arguing thought of a much darker matter. The choice and form of killing for the young child that they had stashed away in the bedroom.

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Flown down by ravens and stolen by the dawn's first rays, night mares stalk the night. Through dusty windows and cracked glass, they watch the weary rest till mornings rise.

Rose lay on the bed staring wide eyed at the cracked ceiling above her head. She squashed the tear that sat in the corner of her eye. Her head hurt and the rope tying her hands together was scrapping the skin off her hands. She whimpered quietly and slowly eased into a sitting position so as to stare out the window. A small sparrow flittered past the wind and she shifted closer to press her face against the cool glass.

Condensation littered the window and she rubbed her forehead across the surface to wipe a small circle to view the world through. Staring with large blue eyes at the cold world outside she shivered and struggled for the third time to free her hands from behind her back. Scratching the skin and leaving a thin line of blood down her back, she finally managed to slide her hands free.

Jumping in joy, she squealed happily. Clutching her hands to her chest as the door to the room creaked open slowly and Mr Black poked his thin angular face in the room. Watching her with beady eyes that reminded Rose of a nasty rat, he turned and shut the door. Scurrying over to her, he sat of the bed beside her and looked out the window, turning to her with an emotionless gaze he spoke in a low voice "You don’t look like a daemon, but then again they come in disguise to trick the wicked and punish the " his voice hissed through his teeth and he leaned forward to scrutinize her.

Rose turned to face the strange man and stopped clutching her hands to her chest. "Daemon? I’m not a daemon, but you are a bad man! You stole me from Emily! Emily’s sad now and it your fault! Mummy’s not going to be happy! She hurts people when she not happy!" she cried in a high voice pushing Mr Black off the bed. He tumbled off and landed in a heap, standing to his feet quickly he strode over to her and grabbed the rope from her hands, grabbing her hands he pulled the rope tighter so it dug and bit into her skin.

Rose winced but straightened her face so as to not show weakness, she wouldn’t let the mean man know he had hurt her. She poked her tongue at him and trod down heavily on his foot. Growling at her he lifted his hand to slap her as the door to the room banged open suddenly and the fat form of Mr White waddled into the room. Mr White stood still and snapped at Mr Black, "Leave the child alone Blackie, we got better things to do then rough up little girlies" he said smiling ly at Rose, she shivered and spat in his face.

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Flown down by ravens and stolen by the dawn's first rays, night mares stalk the night. Through dusty windows and cracked glass, they watch the weary rest till mornings rise.

I like what you've done, and welcome back from your 'break'

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1 year on the forums and counting! Get it? Counting? Oh never mind...

Thanks. It wasn't much of a break.

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Flown down by ravens and stolen by the dawn's first rays, night mares stalk the night. Through dusty windows and cracked glass, they watch the weary rest till mornings rise.

The tears wait to fall but from my eyes they remain unshed. My heart aches and my lips tingle, your touch is like poison and your love is the very thing that kills me. You are more harm than heal and your words slice through my armour. Questions race through my mind and the answers escape all but the veil of reality.

He woke from his sleep and the words still rang in his mind. Echoing the pain that sliced his heart in two. His eyes stared out to sea and they fell to shadow his cheeks, dusting them gently before opening to ease the tear onto his cheek slowly, he raised his head to the sky and smiled sadly.

"What do you see young one?" she asked standing behind him with her hand resting heavily on his shoulder. He rose from his seated position and walked towards the waves that crashed and broke on the sandy shore. He turned to face her and smiled cruelly showing his sharpened canines, she drew back with a gasp and shied away from him.

He smiled again and stepped towards her, his eyes narrowed reflected the darkness that dwelt within his heart. "My son! What has become of you?" she cried clasping her hands to his face, she cradled him in her gaze. Her eyes widened as he slid the blade deeper into her stomach, she stepped away and stared down at the wound and up at the one who had caused it.

"I am no longer your son this day," he cried staring up at the sky, "From this day forth I shall be called Shadowwalker!" his words overshadowed him as he walked away abandoning Theresa in the sand. Her heart beat and her blood pooled among her, she stood slowly to her feet and cried out, "from this day forth you’re heart will no longer beat and your blood will no longer run through you’re veins, till I die I claim this you shall be forever more undead!" she fell to her knees and coughed the blood onto the sand.

Shadowwalker shook from the memory and stood to his feet among the rubble that lay at the bottom of the ravine. His hand drifted to the cut that laced his side, he stared to the darkened sky and smiled cruelly. His gaze dropped to the body laying several feet away, strolling over he stood by Caron’s body, he grabbed a nearby stick and prodded the body, with a swift kick it flew through the air and slumped against the wall.

Shadowwalker bent down and whispered into Caron’s ear, "Awake! I have still need for you yet!" with a low groan Caron stood to his feet and started walking toward the large tumbling town. Shadowwalker smiled wider, "Oh my little bird, little bird why have you flown? So far and so swift, you have barely grown. Oh great eagle, bold and brave, so bright, so happy, why do you look so grave?" he laughed coldly and started after Caron, following him on the path to the town of Bowerstone.

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Flown down by ravens and stolen by the dawn's first rays, night mares stalk the night. Through dusty windows and cracked glass, they watch the weary rest till mornings rise.

Rose drew her breath through clenched teeth. Her eyes watched their slow and methodical movements. Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. Like the swinging of pendulum. She shook her head, feeling the lingering touch of sleep that had begun to drift over her senses. Her hands stung, she opened and closed them wincing with the pain from having them held in place so long.

She stood to her feet slowly and they ignored her, knowing from the last ten escape attempts she wouldn’t get far. As they predicted she made it to the door and collapsed weakly against it. Banging her body against its solid frame. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. She lifted her head and stared at them angrily. Her glare spoke more than words could; they had gagged her after she had screamed out for help.

A single tear trickled down her cheek and dripped onto the floor. Her soiled gown and torn skirt lay spread out around her and she whimpered, shivering from the damp chill that emanated from beneath the door. She stood and stumbled back to the seat beside the window, shrugging the small moth eaten potato sack they had provided as a rug on to battle the cold.

A whispering sigh escaped her lips and she pressed her face against the glass, a snowflake fluttered down from the lofty heavens above. Glittering. Glinting. Flittering. Flitting. Down. Down. Down from the skies. Softer than feathers. Lighter than air. It froze in the air and she sighed mystified at its beauty.

"It’s lovely ain’t it?" his breath stank of cheap brandy and she shifted along the seat away from him. She continued to stare out the window, avoiding Mr Black’s gaze that was now directed straight at her. She shivered feeling worried by this sudden attention, he shifted next to her and leaned towards her, shifting away quickly she fell into Mr White’s arms as he stood behind her.

His breath whispered over her neck and she shivered. "Where you going darlin’? The fun just about to start" she inched away from Mr White, but his grip was solid and piercing down on her shoulders. She struggled against his grip but it was relentless he would not let up. Pressing weight down on her, she crumpled forward with a cry at the pain.

"She’s not going anywhere Blackie, are you sweetheart?" Mr White said with a cruel smile. Rose whimpered quietly and struggled weakly against his grip. They laughed coldly at her cries, mimicking them mockingly. Crash! The door slammed suddenly into the wall. They turned suddenly to watch a very drunk and dishevelled Michael stumble into the room.

"What. What. What’s going on here?" he mumbled confused squinting at them through one eye. "Why is there four of you?" he stumbled over to Mr White and wrapped an arm around him, swinging him away from Rose. With a relieved sigh she sat up from her crouched state, she watched Michael swinging Mr White around and around in an odd dance that end with him tipping White down and dumping him on the floor.

Michael strode over to Rose and offered her a hand. With a wide smile, he blinked at the surprised girl. Noticing the ropes round her hands and the gag round her mouth, he released her from the ties and helped her off the seat. Taking the floor with his new partner, Michael began to dance to the shocked expressions of Mr White and a now fast asleep Mr Black.

Mr White rolled round and round on the floor, struggling to reach his feet so as to stand. Finally lying exhaust in a ball, he stared up at the ceiling and wondered how he had come to be in this odd predicament. Entering the world as a young wide eyed boy with the abnormal love for the dark streets of the poor, he had been abandoned at a young age to survive the icy cold.

Taking in by a nice old lady whose hopes of having a son were sadly lost on the young lad, who repaid her kind offer by slitting her throat and starting himself on the lonely path that all killers tread. Mr Black snorted in his sleep and stuck out a thin foot, tripping Michael as he swung a very merry Rose round the room.

White groaned and struggled once more, this attempt paid out, slowly rising to his feet he glared at Michael. Striding over to confront the man, who had rudely interrupted his and his associate’s evening. He stood before Michael and raised a hand to tap him on the shoulder when Michael confused by his gesture assumed he wanted to dance with Rose. Sliding out of place Michael eased Mr White’s hands into Rose’s and pushed them into the middle of the room.

Seeing her new dance partner wasn’t as pleasant and kind as Michael, Rose struggled against White’s grip. Unfortunately White seeing this as a sudden turn of luck gripped her hand tighter reluctant to let her escape again. Michael sat beside Mr Black and nudged him aside to make more room. Smiling and clapping to an imaginary beat only he heard in his head, he swayed completely oblivious to Rose’s desperate looks and White’s smug sneering smile.

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Flown down by ravens and stolen by the dawn's first rays, night mares stalk the night. Through dusty windows and cracked glass, they watch the weary rest till mornings rise.

Ahh Micheal, the silly duffer!

update!

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1 year on the forums and counting! Get it? Counting? Oh never mind...

He's drunk. Thanks.

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Flown down by ravens and stolen by the dawn's first rays, night mares stalk the night. Through dusty windows and cracked glass, they watch the weary rest till mornings rise.

The edge drew with a sharpened blade and a hollow wind that blew without regret. She stood at the edge of a world and on the pinnacle of a lifetime spent running. She shook her head; she was finished running and had hung up her boots long before now. Throwing back her head and staring at the sky she sighed.

She knew without looking, could feel without thinking that he was behind her. Watching. Waiting. Seething. Sating. His hunger for vengeance would never be filled till his heart was returned and that would never happen. She took a trembling step forward and fell. Down. The wind howled her name and cried bitter tears as she flew down. Her hair spread a cloak around her and she smiled.

Shadowwalker shook his head, she was dead but she had been dead to him long before now. Shaking his head he walked away from the edge and Theresa’s broken body at the bottom of it. He strode back to Caron. Standing beside the man, he would not meet his emotionless gaze, instead looking towards the silhouette of Bowerstone.

"We all got to die sometime, hers was just soon then I expected, pity it was not by my hand" he seemed to speak the words not to anyone in particular although he were assuring himself that it was justified he had been in fact the death of his mother. Caron nodded his head; he could speak but to sully such a sad moment with spiteful words at Shadowwalker would be a waste.

He followed after his master, knowing he would continue to do so till his soul was returned and that would be when Shadowwalker died. He shook his head, Shadowwalker would never die, his heart had died with Theresa. Raven, her image sprang to mind and a tear trickled down, he would never be with her again! His body was not his to control, his control stole from him.

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Flown down by ravens and stolen by the dawn's first rays, night mares stalk the night. Through dusty windows and cracked glass, they watch the weary rest till mornings rise.

you like killing off characters don't you?

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1 year on the forums and counting! Get it? Counting? Oh never mind...

Not like but death happens to be a force that exists. In Albion death is an accepted part of life.

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Flown down by ravens and stolen by the dawn's first rays, night mares stalk the night. Through dusty windows and cracked glass, they watch the weary rest till mornings rise.

Raven stood in the alleyway, alone and shivering from the oncoming storm her thin cloak barely covered her or protected her from the chill. Shadows stood all around her and she shifted from foot to foot, a message had been delivered to her current address and she had arrived at its directions. A shadow stepped out from behind her and revealed itself to be none other then Shadowwalker; he smiled maliciously before seeping back into the darkness unseen by Raven.

She shifted again from foot to foot getting more and more nervous by the moment. Turning in motion to walk away she stopped at a sound and turned back to face Shadowwalker as he appeared suddenly. She stepped back in shock and slowly backed away from him, "You’re dead" she cried dropping to her knees. "No my dear, I’m very much alive thought I can’t say the same for you’re child" his words whispered and she turned white rising to her feet quickly.

She turned and ran from him; he stood and didn’t step to follow after her instead standing and laughing coldly. Her footsteps echoed down the long alley and his laughter followed after her. She ran and bumped into a person standing at the end of the alley, the light from the moon shone down and she gasped at the lit face of Caron, his sad eyes reflected back at her and he whispered, "Please don’t hate me" before easing the blade through her belly.

She stopped and collapsed in his arms, tears pooled at her eyes and she stared at him in shock words barely slipping past her lips. "Caron?" she whispered, lowering her trembling hands to her stomach as the blood slowly began to seep through her clothes. She shivered and closed her mouth slowly, her eyes glazed over and she barely felt the coat he wrapped around her or the kiss he planted on her cheek.

His footsteps faded softly as he seeped back into the darkness he had appeared from. Shadowwalker stood at the end of the alley and watched Raven collapse. He smiled turning away; with the flick of his coat he was gone. Raven sat as the snow fell, her gaze rose to the sky and she felt nothing, the tears fell and her eyes closed but no sadness ate at her heart because it no longer beat.

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Flown down by ravens and stolen by the dawn's first rays, night mares stalk the night. Through dusty windows and cracked glass, they watch the weary rest till mornings rise.

Chapter Four will be up soon. Hoping you all liked my little cliff hanger.

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Flown down by ravens and stolen by the dawn's first rays, night mares stalk the night. Through dusty windows and cracked glass, they watch the weary rest till mornings rise.

Chapter Four. One card left to play.

Hollow, did any of them understand the feeling? Fools! They could not comprehend the loss, the emptiness that dwelt within his chest. The aching loss. The hollow cavity that served only to remind him of what once had lived within the space in his chest. His heart stole from him, oh but he could still feel something, yes he could still feel the burning anger that fuelled his existence.

Revenge such a sweet word it slipped from his lips like honey. He stared at his puppet that stood before him. No more the master was Caron, now the dancing mannequin upon the strings he pulled. Shadowwalker shook his head and turned away his discontent was obvious and he bored of this charade.

Stalking away from the alley he had abandoned Raven; he stepped through the snow and heard Caron’s footstep stop falling short of his own. Unsure of this sudden occurrence, he stopped and turned to face Caron. Watching Caron with a blank stare, he motioned with his hand for him to follow. Caron simply stood still in the snow and Shadowwalker sighed annoyed with this show of independence.

Shaking his head wearily he stepped toward Caron, all the time watching him. As he drew closer he saw a glint in Caron’s hand, he had kept the blade! Wondering about this odd habit, he stepped back glancing about the empty alleyway they stood in, he thought back to his own betrayal.

"Why have you kept it?" he whispered stepping towards Caron with watchful eyes. Caron turned his head and stared down at the blade, his raised his head and blinked his eyes meeting the gaze of Shadowwalker. He raised the blade so it shone between them; "This?" he asked his focus on the glinting blade whose edge was marred with Raven’s blood.

Shadowwalker watched him taking the steps that now separated them. "Yes" he whispered softly still watching Caron. Wary of him suddenly moving to attack, Shadowwalker moved to disarm rather then attack. A snowflake fluttered down from the sky and Caron watched it with sad eyes, he knew what Shadowwalker thought but no idea of attacking lingered within the depths of his mind.

Knowing soon Shadowwalker would stand next to his and steal the blade from his hand; he gripped it tighter in his hand and blinked thinking about what he was going to do. Lifting his gaze to meet Shadowwalker’s he stabbed the blade into his heart, removing suddenly he stabbed it back in. Dropping to his knees he watched Shadowwalker stop shocked mere footsteps away from him, he knew he would never understand his act of selflessness but Caron didn’t care.

Lifting his head to the sky, he felt the tears slip down his face and blinked. His heart didn’t ache but then again he was dead wasn’t he. He laughed emotionlessly and dropped face forward into the snow, hands lifted him up and he stared into Shadowwalker’s eyes. "Why did you do it? I can’t bring you back now!" Shadowwalker snarled at him, staring down at his confused.

He nodded his head and smiled coughing up the blood as it rose to his throat. "You knew! You knew and did it for that very purpose! You want to die! Fine die but you’ll never see her again!" Shadowwalker snarled spitting the words with an angry glare that spilt him in two. "What?" he whispered shaking his head not understanding the complete intent of Shadowwalker’s words, "What do you mean?" he cried trying to stand.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" he screamed, staring into Shadowwalker’s cold eyes and he shivered feeling the cold icy chill breath into his bones. Shadowwalker stood and walked from him, standing at the edge of the alleyway he stopped and turned back to stare into Caron’s eyes knowing soon he would die.

"You know what I mean" he whispered watching Caron blink and wipe away the tears. "I’m going to save her; I’m going to save her so she will live and you never see her again!" he roared turning away, his cloak whipped about in the sudden storm that had appeared out of nowhere.

Caron watched him leave and knelt down in the snow; he watched the snowflakes fall and felt the world drift pasting him by. He would die, soon so very soon but it eased his weary heart and mind that she would be saved even it was just to hurt him. He shook his head; he hadn’t wanted this any on this but the wheels of fate and destiny were unjust as they were swift.

Questions littered his mind, like papers caught in a whirlwind they twisted and twirled round and round. Would Shadowwalker arrive in time? Was the baby dead? Had the strike been to low? He had tried to aim high so as to not harm his child she was carrying but with such uncertainty he could not be sure.

His eyes wet with tears and his blood seeping out, it escaped his body like the tears bled from his eyes. Why had he done the deed? Hadn’t that been the question Shadowwalker had asked? He knew why, he knew. This control Shadowwalker had over him, this puppetry he had become had taken its toll and freedom was what he had ached for. Freedom from the hurt and pain he had caused Raven, death seemed his only escape even if it meant never seeing Raven or his child. At least this he could gift his beloved, the freedom from hurt and pain but at what cost?

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Flown down by ravens and stolen by the dawn's first rays, night mares stalk the night. Through dusty windows and cracked glass, they watch the weary rest till mornings rise.

Shadowwalker stalked through the snow, walking back the way he had come. He hadn’t expected it but who did? Who did expect to come back the way they had come and undo the damage they had purposely caused. Life was full of unexpected surprises, Caron’s sudden suicide being one of them.

Selflessness act it had been but it would not serve him well; no it would he thought shaking his head slowly as the smile crept onto his face. The wind breathed new life into the streets and whirled his coat around his. He continued on walking deep steps into the snow wonderland, undead he didn’t feel the cold it was a small something to be thankful for but with that exclusion of feeling he lost also the taste and smell of food, the feeling of a lover’s kiss, the beat of his heart.

His mother’s curse had stolen his heart but he had paid her back for that little nasty surprise. He had stolen her youth and with it her magic, living life at only half the amount she had begun at, had slowly eaten its way at her mind and not being able to live without her lifeblood Will. She had taken her life; he snorted and lifted a foot to shake the snow that gathered on it away.

The alley ended and he soon stood at the edge of the road he had abandoned Raven on. Its long stretch of empty path shocked him and he ran forward, twisting and turning searching for Raven. Her cold motionless body remained out of his sight and he groaned, standing to his feet he wiped the snow away and sighed. The damn witch! It seemed she had more life in her than he had given her credit for.

He had stabbed her with a dagger, through the stomach and not only did she live? No, she walked away! He growled deep in the back of his throat and moved forward searching the snow covered ground for signs of her direction. The new snow had laid a clean slate over the path and her blood trail was covered, hiding the trailing walk she had slowly taken towards Emily’s house.

He brushed aside the layers of cold sleet and snow, showing the droplets she had littered along her walk. Striking out a path through the snow, he followed her path, not knowing where it would lead or what state she would be in when he found her. He sighed and hoped deep down she was alive, not because he cared about her wellbeing or that of her child but because he wanted Caron to suffer for besting him.

Oh he was vengeful, yes but because it had been the only drive keeping him going all these many decades. With no feeling but angry, he had come to live for it, to relish the delicious taste of revenge and pain. He smiled maliciously; he would bring Raven back yes but to punish both her and Caron. For he was the bringer of pain and misery. The slayer of all that was and honourable in this world.

His raised his head to the sky and roared, "HEED ME RAVEN, I WILL FIND YOU AND WHEN I DO. YOU WILL WISH YOU HAD DIED!" He smiled coldly and walked on following the path; he would find her and bring her back so that when he was through with making her pay, he could kill her again.

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Flown down by ravens and stolen by the dawn's first rays, night mares stalk the night. Through dusty windows and cracked glass, they watch the weary rest till mornings rise.

That last chapter was........ chilling.

Everything's , but could you work on checking your grammar...... pleeeeeeease?

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1 year on the forums and counting! Get it? Counting? Oh never mind...

Yep. Sure to do it in the future.

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Flown down by ravens and stolen by the dawn's first rays, night mares stalk the night. Through dusty windows and cracked glass, they watch the weary rest till mornings rise.

Her blood spilt out among her and each step she took was pure agony. Sending tendrils of pain up from her feet to the wound in her stomach. She clasped her stomach tightly, praying she would survive to make it to Emily’s door. Every movement caused her to stop and wait, hoping that it was the baby kicking, silently telling her that it was still alive.

A trail of blood led behind her and she wondered if she was dying. So how she doubted it, she lifted her head and laughed manically, her hair drifting a black halo around her. She trudged on, taking each step although it were her last and praying along the way that it wasn’t.

She didn’t want to die, alone and cold in an alleyway for her body to be found the next day when the guards walked the streets. She blinked as her eyes began to feel heavy and slowly draw close. No. No. No. She thought shaking her head severely; I cannot sleep in this dank alley.

"Must keep going" she growled gritting her teeth against the pain, she would not let it beat her! Who was she, some lowly farmer’s wife? No! She was the Raven’s Wing, the infamous assassin known to all of Albion. A mere knife wound would not stop her! She had fought countless men over decades and outlived all the great heroes. She would not die now, not like this, not here!

She took another step and collapsed in the snow, her feet aching and her head spinning from the blood loss. Two hands slipped underneath her and brought her back up to her feet, standing next to the kindly stranger she turned her head to thank them but stopped when seeing who it was.

She shook her head and struggled from their grasp, falling back onto the soft snow. She lay on the snow watching the sky; they lay beside her and turned their head to also stare at the blackened sheet that lay above. She turned her head and sighed, accepting she would not make it alive without their aid.

Slowly easing onto her knees with a grunt, she stood to her feet yet again with their helpful hands. Leaning on them as a crutch, she walked the small remaining footsteps to Emily’s door. Leaning slightly downwards against the door, she banged heavily and collapsed into Emily’s arms to her shock when she opened the door.

"Raven!" she cried in shock, struggling to hold her up. She gave out a cry in surprise at the blood oozing from the wound. "Oh Raven, what has happened to you?" she wept dragging her with the aid of Garth to the bed. As Raven lay resting, her wound healed by the famous will user, he and Emily sat beside the fire conversing as to how he had found Raven laying in the street.

The next morning broke with soft rays and she eased from the bed with a groan. Two strong hands pushed her back down under the covers and she looked up into the dark eyes of her old friend; she smiled wearily and slipped back under. "So it wasn’t a dream?" she croaked her throat dry from screaming in her sleep.

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Flown down by ravens and stolen by the dawn's first rays, night mares stalk the night. Through dusty windows and cracked glass, they watch the weary rest till mornings rise.

"No, Raven’s Wing, it was not" his rumbling voice lulled her and she closed her eyes to watch him through her lashes. "Ah, then Caron is alive and Shadowwalker too" she sighed softly, slipping slowly back into sleep. Garth stood stunned and stepped back at her words, "What?" he cried shaking her furiously.

"What did you say about Shadowwalker?" he asked staring into her sleepy eyes. She struggled to focus on Garth’s worried face. "Why does it matter?" she asked with a yawn, rubbing a sore hand across her eyes. She stopped rubbing her eyes at his look, "What?" she asked watching him drag the chair over to the bed.

He sat down in the chair with a sigh and she watched him with confused eyes. "What’s wrong Garth?" she asked looking him up and down noting the stress in his face, the grey in his hair and the slight tremble in hands. "You’re worried, aren’t you?" she said with an exhale, easing into an upward position in the bed she spread her hands in her lap.

"How can I not be worried Raven’s Wing? Dark deeds have been committed, Theresa’s dead and the Hero’s Magician is lost. Tell me how I cannot be?" he spoke with a world weary voice and sighed deeply, lowering his head to rest in his hands. Raven spoke no words of sympathy, she was white with shock and surprise lit upon her face.

"Theresa is…..dead?" she whispered blinking quickly to hold back the forming tears. "How?" her voice wavering under the lining emotion of sadness that slowly crept upon her. Garth raised his head and slipped her hand into his, grasping it tightly he cleared his throat and spoke staring out the window, "not how but rather who".

"Who?" cried Raven turning suddenly to stare at Garth with surprise. "Who would want to harm Theresa?" she demanded throwing Garth’s hand away, he shook his head and sighed "who do you know to have a grudge on Theresa?" he said sarcastically. She lowered her head and uttered under her breath "Shadowwalker" Garth nodded his head in agreement.

"Indeed, no one wished more ill unto Theresa than that of her own son. The evidence speaks against him, for he was also spotted near her place of death in the presence of another" Garth said rising from the seat with a groan. He patted Raven’s hand and smiled tiredly before turning to bow to Emily.

The door closed behind him and he leaned against it with an exhausted sigh, he had not told the entire truth to Raven’s Wing and he felt the overwhelming feeling of guilt rise in his chest. Rasing a hand to rest on his chest, he shook his head and stepped away from the doorway. She already had a great deal of stress of which to worry about why should he wish more upon her?

No, he did not he thought sighing again before walking slowly away from the comforting house. This would be the last time he would see Raven’s Wing, their paths would not meet again and he stared at the sky wishing he was not about to commit the deed he had in mind. For the will user it was the hugest betrayal he could act upon his dear friend of many years. He was about to reveal her location to their great enemy, "Shadowwalker" he greeted the necromancer as he stood from the shadows that gave him his name.

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Flown down by ravens and stolen by the dawn's first rays, night mares stalk the night. Through dusty windows and cracked glass, they watch the weary rest till mornings rise.

Garth's betrayal and Chapter five will be up tomorrow. Cause I love cliffhangers.

 

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Flown down by ravens and stolen by the dawn's first rays, night mares stalk the night. Through dusty windows and cracked glass, they watch the weary rest till mornings rise.

He turned back to the house and the two women who occupied it now, completely unaware of the betrayal he was about to commit. How could he do it? How could he commit such atrocious sin against the memory of his and Raven’s Wing’s friendship? How could he indeed? He thought with each step that took him closer and closer to their enemy, the one in which he now seeked to do business with.

He was turning his back on their friendship, his heart cried. Committing an awful treachery against a beloved friend, it wailed. His mind spoke no words but a simple question, why? He fought against his heart, against his mind, against his very beliefs. Against moral decency, against his very own soul.

How could he do it? He thought struggling to even take the last step that would stand him next to Shadowwalker, the ultimate betrayer of them all, the man who had betrayed his own mother! His mind shuddered the thought and stilled its protests with one final sentence, how could he betray the one who had saved him?

His memory dragged him back to that fateful night all those dark years ago. Laying in the bottom of a cell in his hometown, he had raised his head to stare at the moon through the bars, wondering about what the future led for him. Hanging at dawn, according to his jailers and bailer. For a crime he had committed as a boy? He had cried to their cold silently uncaring hearts and turned backs.

A stalking shadow nearby had heard his cry and answered his prays sent to the heavens. Slipping him from the cell and out of the death sentence, they had stowed away on a boat ironically called new wings, arriving at the sweet shores of Albion the next morning. Turning to his new found friend, he had proclaimed them bonded forever and such a bond could not be broken he thought shaking his head as he eased from the memory.

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Flown down by ravens and stolen by the dawn's first rays, night mares stalk the night. Through dusty windows and cracked glass, they watch the weary rest till mornings rise.

Chapter five. The dagger in my heart, the betrayer by my side.

Shadows spread about a cloak around Shadowwalker, shrouding him from view. Any observers of the acquaintance would have assumed and noted that Garth seemed although to be speaking to thin air. Garth’s steps showed a path in the snow and he now knelt in the blanket of white that lay a sheet above the ground.

A rose of red spread among his feet and his breaths drew a ragged stream into the cool icy air. His eyes watched Shadowwalker with surprise and confusing, "Whhhhhy?" he stuttered, his teeth chattering from the cold. "Why did you shoot me?’ he cried struggling to stand to his feet. He watched Shadowwalker turn and slowly walk away, the pistol in his hand still smoking a wispy trail in the air. "We had a deal! A contract! An agreement!" Garth called out standing to his feet, he stumbled after Shadowwalker.

BANG! Garth tumbled back, slamming into the snow. Red flowers blossomed in the white snow. He stood to his feet again, his breath becoming wheezy and thin. BANG! He tumbled again, flipping in the air. Falling to the ground, he stared up at the sky. BANG! BANG! BANG! Three in succession, it seemed ironic to him, he thought as the tear trickled away from his eye.

Shadowwalker stood over him, watching the life bleed out of him with slow painful breaths. His chest rose heavily and he coughed, trying to breath with tears shining in his eyes. "Why?" he croaked staring in to the black soulless eyes of his enemy, Shadowwalker snorted and turned away, his footsteps crunching in the snow. "You weren’t going to go through with the deal and I was going to shoot you either way if you had. You’re too much of a liability to leave alive" he stated with his back to Garth, slowly disappearing from view.

Garth lay staring at the sky, his mind thumping around in his skull. It had already told him off, almost screaming the praise ‘I told you so’ repeatedly in a shrill tone. His heart wept bitter tears, berating him for believing Shadowwalker’s obvious lies. It ached in his chest, the bullets lodged in his sides and heart poisoning him slowly.

"You’re a fool, you know that don’t you? That you’re a complete and utter fool!" Raven hissed leaning down at him. Emily stood behind her watching him with shocked eyes and lingering tears, that made his betrayal sting all the more. He deserved this, he thought angry with himself for thinking of doing such a cruel act towards his friend. Raven leant down and eased an arm underneath his back, leveraging him upward and onto his feet.

He stared at her with surprise at the apparent offer of friendship, Raven was going to forgive him, although he had been about to betray her! He shook his head graciously with tears brimming in his eyes; it was more than he deserved he thought standing to his feet. Raven looked directly into his eyes and shook her head, "I’m never going to forgive you, Garth" she whispered turning away from him.

He felt the world slide beneath his feet as the guards stepped forward and clapped the irons on his wrists. His eyes drew wide and he turned to her back, "Raven, Raven? Raven? RAVEN!" he screamed as the guards slowly began to drag him away.

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Flown down by ravens and stolen by the dawn's first rays, night mares stalk the night. Through dusty windows and cracked glass, they watch the weary rest till mornings rise.

Next post either tomorrow or day after.

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Flown down by ravens and stolen by the dawn's first rays, night mares stalk the night. Through dusty windows and cracked glass, they watch the weary rest till mornings rise.

Her back still turned to Garth, Raven stood perfectly still. His screams reverberated through the alley and Emily flinched as the guards raised the batons to silence him. She stepped forward and stopped, turning to Raven and then back to Garth. She rushed forward towards the guards holding a limp Garth in their hands; she grabbed at him and struggled to hold him upright. He stumbled into her arms, still bleeding from his wounds.

"Raven, please, you can’t do this to him! Raven please?" pleaded Emily grasping to Garth as the guards struggled to drag him away. She turned to Raven, crying and pleading, "Raven please? Please Raven! Raven I love him" she screamed as Raven started to walk away. The guards gave a final tug and dragged Garth from Emily’s arms, struggled to stand, her mouth gapping at Raven’s betrayal.

She stood to her feet and ran after Raven, tears streamed down her face as she stumbled at every upward turned stone. "Raven! Raven! Raven? RAVEN!" she screamed after her as she turned the corner and disappeared from view. "RAVEN!?!" she howled dropping to the ground; she lay sobbing as the figure stepped from the shadows and tapped her softly on the shoulder.

Her face wet with tears and white with shock stared upward at the mysterious figure, she scrambled to her feet and slid away from the man who seemed to be draped in shadows. He smiled warmly and she gave a sad one of her own. "My dear, whatever is wrong? What reason does a beautiful girl such as you have to be crying about?" his smooth voice soothed her tears and she sat beside him on the street and told him of her woes.

Shadowwalker knew a fortunate bout of luck had dropped into his lap, when he walked upon the sobbing form of Raven’s friend lying in the street. He slipped his sincerest smile on and slid forward from the darkness. He would comfort the girl and gain her trust, asking her to do a deal in return for Garth’s freedom; he would then betray them by killing them both.

The sweetest part of the plan? She would be the one to betray Raven, therefore instilling his advice into her, none should be trusted. None but your enemy, he thought with a growing smile that had began to spread onto his lips

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Flown down by ravens and stolen by the dawn's first rays, night mares stalk the night. Through dusty windows and cracked glass, they watch the weary rest till mornings rise.