19. Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

Korbin

I kept my hand on Rook's shoulder, letting him lead me as we headed deep into the Witches' Quarter. I'd never liked this place. Without sight, I was more sensitive to the touch of magic, and I could feel it brushing against my skin as we walked along the streets. Charms and blessings, wards and warnings, all jumbled together to either keep people away or entice them in. It was a confusing mix, and it left my body feeling a little on edge.

Rook's shoulder was tense beneath my fingers, no doubt feeling the weird press of magic without being wholly aware of it.

"We aren't far," Raevyn said, her melodic tone wavering slightly with nerves. When she'd told us about Nissa and what her coven had allowed her to do, I was furious. I had always been a stickler for rules, and I hated that the rules now prevented me from putting fear into Nissa's heart. I wanted to burn her skin from her bones, carve out her eyes and shove them down her throat, make her bleed and—

"You alright there, love?" Rook asked softly.

"Yes, why?"

"Because you're about to rip my arm off with how you're gripping it."

I loosened my hold on him. "Sorry."

"Raevyn?" he asked softly.

I nodded. I just wanted to wrap her up and make the world pay for what it let happen to her. No one deserved that.

"I'm worried what she might do when faced with collecting Nissa's soul." I wouldn't put it past Raevyn to submit to the vengeance burning in her core. "If I were in her shoes, I'd be wanting to rip the woman to shreds."

"Such violence and such pretty words," Rook purred.

"Stop it," I admonished, but he just laughed under his breath.

We all walked as a group towards Nissa's house. My understanding from her file, was that Nissa was some sort of ambassador for the Raathmore coven. A go between for the witches and other territories and species. I remember the days before the Veil fell, when humans ruled and supernaturals kept to the shadows. Us Revenants were always part of cultural folktales though. You could find traces of us in tales all across the globe and I understood that. We were linked with death and people feared death, so it was only natural that stories were invented to make them feel more comfortable with it.

I imagine if anyone saw us now, we'd be pretty intimidating. We moved like shadows, slow and graceful, dressed all in black and death magic clinging to us in a way that would have you running. No wonder there were so many horror stories about us. We radiated death.

Rook stopped walking and the footsteps of the group halted around us.

"We're here," Raevyn said, and I felt her move closer to me, the scent of lavender and lilies growing stronger. I wanted to bury my nose in her hair. Which was odd. I hadn't been tempted by anyone since Rook and I had become a pair. But there she was, enticing and within reaching distance. It was a little unsettling if I were being honest with myself. I felt disoriented, like the balance of things had shifted, and when she'd made me cum earlier… fuck, just thinking about it was making me hard and now was not the time for that.

"Have you been in the house before, Raevyn?" I asked, hoping she would help get my bearings before I went in.

"Only once. I came with my grandmother when Nissa first moved here. They enchanted the house with protection spells and celebrated Nissa's new role." Raevyn paused, and I could hear the faint sounds of her gnawing her lip.

I turned towards her, an idea forming in my head. "May I try something?"

"Of course," she replied instantly.

"Always so trusting." I chuckled and held out my hands towards her face. She reached out and grabbed my wrists, lowering them slightly.

"I'm not that tall," she said, but there was an amusement in her tone.

"Sorry."

I heard Rook step away and talk to the others in a hushed tone. Then footsteps echoed down the street as they went to look around the perimeter. Apart from us, no one was here. It was quiet. Too quiet for a street full of houses, if you asked me.

I cupped her face, my thumbs resting at her temples. Her skin was so soft, and I wondered if her skin was this soft everywhere.

"I want to access your memory of this place," I said. "Is that okay?"

She nodded, then cursed under her breath. "Sorry. Yes, that's fine."

She muttered something about being stupid and that I couldn't see which had a chuckle breaking free from my lips. "Raevyn, my hands are on your face. I felt you nod."

"Gods, I'm such an idiot."

"Nope, you're adorable."

There was a sound of a palm hitting skin and her head tilted down between my hands.

"Did you just face plant?" I asked, amused.

She went silent.

"Raevyn?"

"Urgh, yes, I face planted. Sorry."

I laughed. "You don't need to be sorry. Trust me, when you do something worth punishing, you'll know about it."

She gave a sharp inhale, and my entire body went warm. I needed to get this back on track. Now was not the time to be thinking about how warm her ass would be after I'd spanked it.

I spluttered a cough. "Um, just relax and think about the last time you were here."

"Okay."

"Close your eyes, Raevyn. And count backwards from ten."

Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six…

M other's dress has a small hole in it. Where the seams met in the back. There was a faint red mark peeking above the neckline where Grandma had hit her with the cane. She will be disappointed that Mother had let the marks show. She never likes anyone else seeing her handiwork.

Today should be my fourteenth birthday, but instead, I'm watching Nissa preen under the attention of Grandma. Her laugh loud and obnoxious. If I weren't worried about losing my eyes, I'd roll them. But I knew my place. I carried the bags, the coats, the food. I was little more than a servant.

"Raevyn, come." Grandma beckons me over in her sharp tone. I slowly walk down the long corridor, past a lounge and into the wide open kitchen. A perfect spot for potion making. There was a large island, with a rack suspended above it. Nissa will be able to hang all her herbs, and utensils from it.

"Have you finished gawking, child?" Grandma asks and I know I will pay for my curiosity later.

I nod and hand over the basket. She snatches it from my hand and shoos me away. I'm no longer required.

I walk back the way I came, but my mother grabs my arm as I stroll past.

"Don't touch anything and stay out of sight."

"Yes, mother," I reply dutifully.

Her grip tightens around my arm, her nails digging into my skin hard enough I know there'll be little red crescents left behind, but I don't flinch. I don't show her the pain.

"I'll call when it's time to leave," she hisses, then pushes me away.

I take off, heading up the stairs and out of the way. There's an upper hallway with several doors and I pick one at random, hoping to find a small space to curl up in. I open the door and step into a study, the walls lined with books and a small armchair beneath a large window. A perfect spot for reading. I pick a tome of spells off the shelf and settle into the chair, disappearing into learning about magic for a few precious hours.

The door slams open and Nissa walks in, her face twisting cruelly. She would be pretty, if her face wasn't always curled in a sneer.

"What do you think you're doing, Null? Don't you know it's rude to snoop?"

My heart leaps in my throat, panic making blood roar in my ears. "I was only staying out the way."

Nissa screams at me as she lunges forwards, her fingers twisting in my hair and pain slices across my scalp. She pulls me from the chair and throws me on the ground. Pain radiates through my hip and elbow.

"Stupid girl!" she yells before backhanding me across the face. My lip splits and blood pools in my mouth. "I'll have you whipped for this."

"No!"

"Maybe your grandmother will let me whip you myself."

"NO!" I scream again, something alien unfurling inside me. Something dark. Something evil.

"What are you doing?" Nissa looks panicked. "Stop."

I'm going to make her pay. I'm going to make her suffer.

I laugh, the darkness within me taking over, swallowing the light.

Then there was nothing.