Nymiria pulled the boy into her arms, her heart breaking when his wiry limbs circled around her waist. He buried his face into her, letting out small sniffling noises. “That rune has protected you all from his charm?” His head bobbed up and down against her. She glanced at her hand that was still curled around the shard of porcelain and then looked at the wall. “Could you sense that I’d done that—that I carved that rune into the wall?”
Another nod.
All of the air felt as if it’d left her body. Raven looked up at her, feeling how rigid she became. When he saw where she was staring, his brow furrowed. “What is it?” He asked.
Nymiria wet her lips. “Raven,” she began. “Have you ever heard ofBodhi?”
“The God of Purity?” He hummed. “I’ve spoken to him, actually. Quite often. He visits me sometimes. Talks to me about…everything, really.”
She looked down at him, tilting his chin up in her direction so that she could observe his eyes. It didn’t take but a quick glance for her to see it—the celestial gleam in them.
Raven is a godling. He is Bodhi’s heir.
Glancing around the dungeon, Nymiria took hold of Raven’s hand and pulled him out of the cell and down the hall. There was a door there, one she’d discovered was a broom closet when she’d been detained for her brawl with the Orc Aziel killed. She remembered Raina going in and retrieving a broom and dustpan.
She opened the door and motioned for Raven to go in. With a cautious look over her shoulder, she stepped inside and pulled the door shut. His eyes glowed as he looked up at her. And though it was dark in the cramped space, she could see just enough of him to be able to tell that he was confused.
“I need you to do something, Raven. I need you to try and get this thing off of my neck, alright? I don’t have the power to do it, but I thinkyoumight be able to.”
“Why do you think that?” He asked.
“Everand put an enchantment on the dungeon. Did you see how dark it was when you came down here?” He shook his head. “Well, itwas. But the moment you came in, all of that darkness went away.” When he didn’t respond, his brow still deeply furrowed, Nymiria wondered if she should just tell him his truth. She didn’t want to frighten him with it, but perhaps tell him just enough so that he could help her get out of that dungeon and get to Aziel.
She took Raven’s face into her hands, rubbing over his round cheeks to soothe his worried mind. “Raven, I believe that you have the ability to erase enchantments and spells. That rune that you showed me—it is a rune for purification.”
His lips twisted to one side, thinking deeply. “That would make sense, I suppose.” He started. “And, what? Am I supposed to draw that rune on your collar?” The moment he lifted his finger and pointed at the iron shackle around her neck, the metal popped apart and fell away. It clattered to the floor in the space between their feet, both of their eyes moving to where it now rested. “I presume pointing at it works, too.”
Nymiria’s hand moved up to her neck, rubbing at the aching feeling that still crawled over her skin. It wasn’t bone-deep pain anymore and she could already feel that power inside of her flickering back to life again, filling her veins with that distinct heaviness she hadn't realized she missed.
Raven continued to stare up at her, eyes wide and waiting. “What now?” He whispered.
She slipped her hand into his, giving it a gentle and assuring squeeze. “I go find Aziel.” She said simply.
The safest thing for her to do was leave Raven behind. Even though she wanted nothing more than to take him with her, she did not want Everand suspecting anything about her brother or what he truly was.
Before they left the dungeon, Nymiria erased the rune from the wall and pieced the pitcher back together, using her power to make it look as if nothing in that dungeon had been disturbed. Raven locked the cell behind them, giving the illusion that Nymiria had simply vanished into thin air. Raven led her back towards the door at the end of the hall, conjuring a small flicker of light to assist them in darkness once the door closed behind them. Nymiria was surprised to find that the broom closet was not much of a broom closet at all—it was a corridor.
They walked hand in hand through each twist and turn. Down one flight of stairs and to the left, continuing straight until the stone tunnel gave way to a rounded opening concealed by a dense overhang of vines. Raven parted them, peering out into the open night at the rolling hills and the large body of water that sat nestled at the foot of them.
“Alright,” he said, gripping her hand as he stepped out and onto the grass. He’d moved through whatever boundary Everand had set with such ease, but Nymiria was still skeptical, still cautious as she followed him. Once they were a few yards away from the palace, Raven released her hand and turned to her.
She hugged him close to her, placing a kiss upon the top of his head before pulling away. “Remember what I said,” she whispered. “Even if you feel the rune calling you, youwaituntil you are sure you can get out. If Everand is around, youmustplay your part. Understood?”
Raven looked so unsure—nibbling at his lower lip with worry. Nonetheless, he nodded. “Understood.”
“Aziel and I will befine. He’s much stronger than Everand.”
“What if he’s enchanted him, too?” Raven asked, his panic evident. “What if he doesn’t believe you?”
“He’ll believe me.” She said, trying her best to give him a reassuring smile. She wasn’t sure if her words were to convince her brother or herself. Either way, it offered very little hope at the moment. The only thing she could do was try. “You should go back now.”
Her brother nodded. “Be careful.”
“I will.”
He hesitated for just a moment, glancing between the palace and the horizon before he finally turned and walked back the way they came. Nymiria waited until he was concealed by the vines that fell over the opening before she turned and started towards Aziel’s palace, running as hard and as fast as she could until it came into view.
She let out a cry into the night—one mixed with both joy and terror as she reached the stairs, fighting the urge to collapse with relief when she found that the entrance had been left unlocked. The moment she broke through the door, she could tell that it’d been tainted with Everand’s power. The only logical explanation as to why she sensed him so strongly could only be due to one thing—a God Stone. He’d placed them somewhere. And as long as they resided somewhere within distance, anything that stone touched would be consumed with his magic. Everyone would be affected.
