19. EIGHTEEN

EIGHTEEN

S lowly landing on Basalt Island, Davina observed the chaos that unfolded among the earthy islanders. Her eyes traveled across the looming heavy clouds that had black slithers of smoke traveling in and out of what seemed to be the base of the storm. Different ratioed cackles rang through the air as the mists of ink spilled around the entire island. Her hair flared up whenever the figures of smoke zoomed by.

Hot gusts of wind rushed between her hair strands and fingers as thunder boomed above the island.

Davina eyed the slithers of darkness, which seemed to have a mind of their own. Dozens of fearful Basalans had been running in the opposite direction of the storm. The Basalans let out shrieks of terror and darted glances as they searched to escape from their homeland. Some of them bumped into Davina while they tried to rush to safety.

Raven had attacked Basalt enough already, Davina was going to end this war today. She recalled what Ron had said about Basalt being the most attacked, and it was true, that Basalt had to be the weakest island out of them all. Something itched at Davina's brain that there was something more.

Davina despised how Basalt, the most beautiful of all the islands, was being replaced by decay and ash. It was as if Raven was going to each beautiful spot of Basalt to put an end to beauty and start a reign of destruction.

"I almost had another accident at work because of her."

She found Beacon beside her, staring at the dark clouds ahead. Shadows continued to swoosh past them, while more shadows seemed to fly closer to the storm. His hair had also become messy.

Beacon's eyes darkened.

"What's wrong?" Davina asked.

"She's here," Beacon said.

The young Captain followed his gaze toward the cyclone of darkness, and not too far from it, Davina was able to find her below the dark horizon dancing and twirling above a shattered roof. Raven was enjoying this. She took pleasure out of the destruction and sorrow she was causing.

Davina's armor screeched as it immediately began to cover her figure while her lip quivered with rage.

"Let's get this over with," Davina muttered, eyes set on the villainess.

"Wait," Beacon said. "We need a plan. We can't just rush into battle without having a strategy."

Beacon and Davina stood in the middle of the running mobs of Basalans.

Magnar, help me.

"Call all the Soldiers and Apprentices. Apprentices stay on the ground while Soldiers work their way up; the Protectors to the very top. Ask the Leaders to stay in Castellum and guard the people that search for refuge," Davina commanded.

"What about you?"

"I'll wait a few minutes, help the people get out of here. If you're not back in five minutes, I'll go in alone to distract her while you guys arrive." Davina turned to him. "Understood?"

Hopefully, Ron kept true to his word and would fight with them in the battle.

"Understood." He nodded curtly. "Davina," he said.

"Yes?"

"Please be careful," Beacon noted.

"Don't worry about me." She smiled.

Beacon pursed his lips, his brown and gray armor shined under the darkness. His hands faced the floor before he shot high into the dark sky.

As Beacon flew away, a little boy fell to his knees, but the boy's Basalan neighbors continued to rush past him as he tried to help himself to his feet. Davina shook her head with indignation before swiftly running to his side, holding out her hand for him. His eyes shimmered as he looked at her, a deep frown painted over his face. She sent him a gentle smile to reassure him that she was there to help.

Hesitantly, he took her hand. "Hurry and head over to Castellum. You'll be safe there."

The young boy nodded with fear-stricken eyes and ran toward the Bridge of Basalt along with the others on his island. The Basalans looked like little ants running out of their colonies.

"Head to Castellum! Everyone, go, go, go. Hurry! Go to Castellum!"

Most Basalans turned to each other in confusion when they heard her command. Davina sighed in frustration. She knew that people hadn't respected her because of her birthplace and family name, but she couldn't help but wonder whether the Bellatormans' ego had been too thick for them to accept her advice to get to safety in the middle of a dangerous situation.

"What are you standing there for? Go!"

The Basalans flinched before running toward the Bridge.

She then marched through the crowd into the field of Bloom, which had turned ashen gray. She could feel her heart breaking at the reign of death that hung upon the once magnificent field of Bloom.

Davina returned her eyes to the figure that jumped joyfully above the terrible gifts she left for the islands of Bellatorm. She wouldn't allow her emotions to stop her from attacking Raven. The ancient witch was merciless in her attacks and so would Davina. Raven danced over a battered manor. She hoped that the family and servants in there were left unpunished by Raven.

Raven's cackle rang into her ears as Davina reached the decayed land that surrounded the broken manor.

Davina heard various thuds behind her. She turned and found Snow and Valerie letting go of one another, a trail of white ice left behind them. Davina turned to her left to find Beacon arriving with Caleb, and Cara arriving with Leilani. Cara's vibrations allowed her to fly short distances.

Each of them wore their polished armor. Each armor was beautiful. Different shades of green, brown, yellow, pink, and white covered them. But she didn't spot his dark blue; Ron wasn't there, which caused her heart to ache. He promised that he would try to understand.

Davina exhaled. She couldn't be emotional, not right now. She couldn't be weak before the battle that awaited her. Ron could not affect her in such a way, not in a moment like this. Not when her life depended on it. Davina inhaled as she closed her eyes to focus on her breathing. She would repress it, at least until she finished off with Raven.

"I want you all to work your way to the top. The other Soldiers and Apprentices will clear the way for us. Keep your eyes on your surroundings, don't let them lay a finger on you," Davina ordered as she stretched her back muscles. "Are you guys ready?"

"Yes, Captain," they replied in unison.

"Then let's drag her out of our islands and shove her deep into the oceans of death," Davina spat.

Davina reached within herself and pulled out the power of her wings, causing a bright lavender light to cloud her vision. She extended her wings before flapping them swiftly, then pushed herself up into flight. While she remained suspended in the air, she was able to watch her friends charge against the Predators for entrance to the manor. Soldiers and Apprentices, in their fighting leathers, flooded the gray meadow by the manor.

The Predators that guarded the entrance of the mansion stumbled over their own feet as they neared the Bellatorman warriors. This would probably be one of the most difficult battles in the history of Bellatorm. Despite Raven's control, which caused them to become Predators, they were still their neighbors. The Soldiers and the Island Protectors used their weapons, hands, or steel to overpower the Predators that began to swarm out onto the open dead field.

Iron clashing with flesh filled her ears.

She watched the Soldiers and Apprentices' pained looks as they defended themselves against their possessed neighbors, giving them a quicker death than the one Raven would have.

Davina observed how Beacon easily overpowered the Neptulan Predator that was attacking him. Cara used her vibrations to shatter a crowd of Basalan Predators while Leilani and Caleb held hands as their free one commanded thorned roots of the island's core to wrap around those who searched to attack them. Valerie blinded the Predators with just a glimpse at her palms while Snow used the ice daggers that came with her armor to slice at the others that came her way.

It was time.

Time to set aside all her disbelief and put her training into practice.

Davina breathed in before diving down en route to the roof, where Raven was still twirling about while also flapping around her black layers of clothing. As she reached closer, the wind burned Davina's face, but she continued nonetheless. Anger pulsed deeper into her veins by every inch that she neared the Dark Mistress. Davina pulled her wings back in, letting herself free-fall through the air, toward Raven.

Her fist collided with the villainess's ice-cold skin. Raven's humming came to an abrupt stop as she grunted. Davina used this distraction to wrap herself around Raven's body and slam her into the level below the rooftop.

As they collided through the wood, before they reached the final floor, Raven grabbed Davina's shoulder and pushed her away. Davina flipped mid-air, then slid her feet across the floorboard to regain her footing.

Davina could feel her pupils tingling, knowing all too well that her eyes were flaring with violet flames.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Davina yelled.

"Enjoying my stay in Bellatorm, of course," Raven chuckled.

Her jaw clenched as she reached for one of her swords that was set on her back. The purple sword slithered sharply as Davina sliced it through the air and held it before herself.

"That sword will do nothing against me." Raven sighed. Her facial features had been covered with a different mask that night. " You can do nothing against me."

"How about we try it out and see if what you say is true," Davina claimed, slicing at the villainess's right arm.

Raven quickly stepped aside. Davina followed after her, using the first slash as a diversion, and sliced Raven's torso.

"If it bleeds, then it can die." Davina smirked, holding high the long blade with Raven's black blood dripping from its edges.

"Fine, let's play it that way," Raven spat.

Raven aligned her palms before a large dark sword appeared between her palms. Raven wasted not a single second to slice her black sword at Davina as if trying to cut off her head with one single swipe. Davina ducked and took the opportunity to land a harsh kick over her stomach. Davina pulled out her other sword and used the blades as shields against Raven's black sword. As Raven's sword collided with Davina's, her hands violently vibrated. Davina hissed as her hands quivered against the hilt of her blades.

"Getting scared there, Vivi ?" Raven taunted.

That angered her even more.

"Not even a little bit," the Captain chuckled.

Davina pushed against Raven's strength, using the heels of her feet to give her support. Davina was quick to kick the sword out of Raven's grip causing her to stumble but then quickly regaining her step. "Is that all you're capable of?"

Davina's eyes continued to flare with fire.

"That was nothing," she muttered.

Raven reached for her silver holster, Davina jumped aside from the daggers that Raven threw at her. She eyed the daggers that landed on the wall, a hole sizzled and melted open. Her eyes widened and turned back to Raven before the Dark Mistress slammed her fist against Davina's mouth.

Davina jerked to her left, her violet eyes dimming to their usual brown. The splattering of her blood over the wood beneath her echoed into her mind. Raven raised her long legs and kicked Davina's chest. She coughed as she landed on the creaking floor.

She would not allow herself to be overpowered by Raven. Davina lifted herself from the ground, setting one sword back into its holster on her back.

"Have you finished yet?" Raven chimed.

"No," Davina replied.

She was going to end this war today, Raven would not terrorize Bellatorm anymore.

Davina slashed her sword, but Raven dodged continuously. Davina slid her foot across the floor, Raven jumped. As she slid back upright, she recovered her step to block Raven's sword from slicing her open. Davina moved to the left, her sword pushing Raven's blade away from her. The villainess spun and lifted her leg to land a kick to Davina's stomach. Davina stumbled back before doing a half spin to land a stab at the witch's chest, but Raven was quick to slam her sword onto Davina's back, causing the Aurisan Captain to propel face-first onto the ground.

Heat rushed into Davina's cheeks as she leaned on her elbows. Raven set her heel over Davina's spine, scratching her armor, and pushing her onto the floor once again. Davina wheezed from the impact, her sword slipping from between her fingers.

"Poor Vivi," Raven cooed. "Giving herself over for the people who do nothing but belittle her."

Raven slammed her heel into Davina's shoulder, her armor ripped open. Davina shrieked as she felt the tip of a blade piercing her skin mercilessly. Raven pulled Davina's shoulder with her heel, forcing her to face the busted ceiling, allowing the Captain to gaze upon the dark sky.

As Raven pulled the blade out of her shoulder, Davina wheezed again. "What does it feel like, Davina? To be scorned and rejected by the people you love the most?"

Raven kneeled beside her.

"Doesn't it feel much like a knife to the heart?" Raven asked.

Davina's cheek throbbed violently as a deep numbness spread from her shoulder to her wrist, the first lesion that hadn't been given to her by her parents. Truthfully, it hurt a little less than all the burns she received at home.

Why was she thinking of her parents at a moment like this? Davina questioned herself as Raven pulled out another blade, twirling it between her fingers.

Truthfully, she didn't understand to a complete extent why she cared so much to fight this war. All she knew was that she had to protect her siblings, and also her parents. Because she hoped that her mother would change and give her the affection Davina prayed daily for. Davina hoped that Nico would finally become the father that she desperately dreamed about. She was fighting for a possible, yet unlikely, better future.

"They don't deserve your sacrifice, Davina. This is all they'll do to you."

Raven raised the blade, aiming for Davina's chest. Davina quickly grabbed Raven's forearm, but her lesioned shoulder screamed with pain. The Dark Mistress set the palm of her hands on the hilt of the blade as Davina tried to pry her off. Davina heard the screeching sound of her armor opening. The blade was beginning to reach closer and closer to her skin.

Until there it was.

Blood dove to the surface of her beige skin as the pointy edge of the knife ripped her open. Tears flowed from her eyes, spilling onto the planks below her.

This was nothing, Davina told herself.

Because no matter how much Raven was right, she couldn't give herself over to the darkness.

"Tell me, does it hurt, Davina?"

The blade pained her flesh, but this was nothing compared to the wounds that Nico and her mother left in her soul.

"I-I've b-been through worse," Davina croaked.

Davina slightly slammed her head against the floorboard from the agony. Her face reddened from the strain of not letting out a cry. Raven slowly dug the tip of the knife deeper into her flesh, its pointy edge pulling out more hot blood onto her chest.

"I have to admit, I liked Freya more than you. You'll never be a single drop of the Almenara that she was and I consider that a great disappointment. I expected more from you, Davina."

Raven sighed and pulled out the blade from Davina's chest. Davina felt like she could breathe now that the knife was out of her flesh.

"But I'm going to keep my promise to you, I'll give you more time to become a better warrior. I'll see you later, sis," Raven whispered.

She looked at Raven, the Dark Mistress stood tall, a smirk etched on her face as she stared ahead. Someone was there. Could it be Ron? Hopefully, it was.

Davina wasn't able to recognize the person who stood before her as her eyes closed from exhaustion.