The Raven & The Wolf

Chapter Thirty-Nine

When I wake, I sit up and curl into a ball, crying. I knew today was going to be a hard day, but not this hard. I can’t be mad at Stanya, she tried to save my life. The Fates fought dirty, and they won. They went after someone who was nowhere near as trained as I am to be dealing with the Fates. She thought she was saving me, when in reality, they should have asked why were they willing to take my life when I haven’t made a deal with them? I’m devastated that everything I fought so hard for, has been destroyed.

“Nat, I’m so sorry.” Stanya says, reaching for me. “I-I thought they had killed you.”

I wrap my arm around her. “It’s not your fault. You didn’t know. They didn’t play fair.”

“It was horrible. They told us you were dead. Gedric has been stuck like that since they told us that. Halthin actually started crying. They were so convincing.”

“I know, they made me watch so I would know when you made the deal. I couldn’t let them do that to you. I tried to warn you, but that bastard lied and said it was my magic failing.”

“They’re pure evil Nat. They were only using me.” She sobs harder. “I feel disgusting, and horrible, and useless.”

“That’s what they do,” I say, pulling away from her. She looks at me. “They used you Stanya, there is no shame in that. I’m just glad you got out of it alive.”

I glance over at the boys and Gedric is just standing there pale as can be, looking like he might actually vomit this time around. Halthin is giving me looks like he’s unsure what to do.

When my eyes land on him, he finally speaks. “How are you alive? You were so cold and so pale. Gedric felt your heart stop.”

“Haven’t you three learned to spot illusions?” I ask then shake my head. “Sorry, they invented them, so that wasn’t fair. It’s still a little sore for me.”

I turn my head to Gedric. He’s not moving. I look over to Drew, and he’s passed out on the floor. I let out a deep breath from my nose. “Halthin, please get Drew onto the bed so he can lay down. Stanya, help him will you? I’ll see if I can get Gedric to snap out of it. It’s literally the only thing I can do right now.”

They nod while Stanya is still crying. I turn my legs to get off the bed, making room for Drew. Gently, I touch Gedric’s arm, making his eyes move towards me. “Hey big guy, are you doing okay?”

“Nat?” He asks, his voice unsure.

I nod, “It’s me, and no I did not die.”

Gedric grabs me into a tight bear hug, making me gasp; but not from the sheer pain that he has caused from my shoulder. “I felt your heart stop. How are you alive?”

“It was an illusion. They knew I wouldn’t give them what they wanted, but they knew Stanya would in order to save me. I couldn’t let them take her life in an exchange to bring me back here. I had to make a deal with them.”

He squeezes me tighter, holding me closer to him, but I can’t really breathe. “Never do that to me again.”

“It wasn’t my call,” I tell him with my very limited air supply. “Gedric, I’m not going to be able to breathe soon.”

He lets me go, my lungs automatically gasping as I take in air. He looks me over, “What deal did you make?”

“I believe my exact words were, “If Ari is defeated, with not just the Champion, I will bend to you Fates, and follow in servitude. This is for an exchange that if I win, the Servants of the Fates shall be released from your rule.” But they only agreed to Articus, so I’m hopeful I’m going to win this one.”

“How in the name of those moronic Fates, can you look me in the eye and say that? I can’t beat Ari alone.”

“My words were; “If Ari is defeated with not just the Champion,” meaning not just you. So in other words, if you’re not the only one to work in defeating Ari, then I don’t have to serve them.”

I hear a distinct roar as the ground shakes, making us lose our footing. This makes me laugh while the ground shakes under us for a few minutes. “Looks like someone just realized they were tricked.” I look up at the sky and shout, “Fairs fair!”

The ground stops shaking in that moment, allowing me to stand back up. “What was that?” Halthin demands from me.

“I believe the Fates and I have reached an accord.” I straighten myself. “I hate to think what it is though.”

“What do you mean by that?” Stanya asks me, still sniffling.

“I believe it means, game on,” I look over at her and give her a smirk. “If they get to play dirty, then so do I.”

“Nat, no.” Stanya tells me. “You promised Brin.”

“What did she promise?” Halthin asks, giving me an unsure look.

“That she wouldn’t go for her Masteries until her overloads are in control.” Stanya says, looking at me like I’ve snapped.

“Why is that important?”

“If she learns to astral project, with her level, she can do what the other Servants have done and enter the Fates Plane and fight them.”

“I already know how to since Brin taught me.” I put my hand on my hip. “Articus nearly succeeded more than twice in his attempts. I can finish them.” I tell her.

“With that arm?” Stanya demands. “And he only had to fight three of the Servants. You have five, and one of them is Articus.”

I smirk, “I know.”

“Then you’re either insane, or stupid. You can’t maintain the necessary concentration to astral project that long, with the amount of pain it will put on your body. Unless you’re a sadist like Articus,” Stanya folds her arms.

“Or I’m angry enough that I just don’t care.”

“Either way, that will put you straight into an overload, so you’re forced to wait until you’re finally recovered. That gives me one month to talk you out of that asinine plan.”

I roll my eyes, but she has a point. I’d die before I even left my body. “Either way, my greatest weakness will become my asset when I’m in that realm.”

“Why is that?”

“Because overload doesn’t apply to me in that plane.”

“But is sure as night applies to your body,” Stanya hisses.

“Which is why you pull me out of it right when it’s about to hit.”

“You’re mental,” she screams at me, taking me by surprise. “I just nearly lost you again Nat, I’m not going to let you go that easily next time. If I have the chance to stop you, I will.”

“Stanya, they’re trying to kill me,” I tell her. “Right now, fighting back is my only chance.”

“Then what’s stopping them now?” She yells. “Why haven’t they forced you into an overload? You made that blasted deal with them. They got their way. You’re going to serve them.”

“Because until I can fight Ari, that deal isn’t valid.” I go and I touch her arm, giving her a sincere look. “Stanya, this is not something I can avoid by simply hiding my face. This is coming for us whether I like it or not.”

“But why you?” She demands, tears in her eyes.

I sigh and gently pull a small drop of her magic and touch her head, like I have done hundreds of times before, and play what happened to her in her mind. Stanya eyes widen while the scene plays and I watch her flinch, knowing what part she has gotten to.

When Stanya eyes focus, she gives me a helpless look. “He was so angry.”

“And mean,” I say, agreeing with her. “Do you see what I mean? I can’t hide from this.”

“No, we can’t hide from this.” She takes my hand. “If you pick a fight with one of us, you get both. Remember that.”

I nod and hug her quickly before letting go. “Always.” I look over to Gedric and Halthin. “Can you stand spending another battle with me?”

The men both nod and grin. Gedric gives me a pointed look though. “So when do we get to learn about Ari?”

I smack my forehead. “I totally forgot about that. How about tomorrow night? We’ve already had a pretty rough day.”

“Deal,” Stanya says quickly. “Now how long is Drew going to be out?”

I cock my head as I look at him. “Not sure. I’ve never been taken by a Fate before.” I look at Gedric. “What do you think? You’ve been taken by a Servant.”

Gedric folds his arms as he shakes his head. “It’s going to be awhile.”

“Now do we want to leave Nat alone, in case the Fates try to off her early?” Stanya asks, looking at me.

I roll my eyes. “Good luck with that.”

“What if you don’t make it to your battle with Ari?”

“Then the terms of the deal was never reached, so it’ll be pointless to kill me now.”

“So what’s the plan then?”

“Train the boys, and you. Also research. We have yet to do that.”

“As long as someone doesn’t get angry, I think we’ll manage to get out and look at it.” Stanya purses her lips. “Still, I don’t want to leave you alone. I don’t trust the Fates after what I just saw.”

“So are you moving into my room, or am I moving in with you?” I ask her, deciding to give into this battle. I know I won’t win this one.

“I was thinking Gedric moves in with you.” She grins, amused by my faint blush,

“What?” Gedric and I demand together.

“Get two beds, and a partition, and you’ll be fine.” She says, waving me off. “It’s literally the only way I’m going to be content with this. Gedric is the only one that can handle your overloads. Drew can, but I doubt his wife will be thrilled with having a female roommate.”

“No, she wouldn’t.” A sweet voice says, interrupting our conversation. “Now what happened to my husband?” I turn to see a woman with Gedric’s sandy waves, her hazel eyes also match his. It’s surprising how much of a striking resemblance he shares with his mother. She’s about as tall as Stanya, maybe a hair taller.

“He was taken over by a Fate,” Gedric says, going to her. “He’ll be alright Mother.”

“Why was he taken over by a Fate?”

Everyone looks at me, but Gedric is the one to answer. “Because the Fates wanted to strike a deal with Stanya to give Natasha back after they kidnapped her.”

I slightly nod my head at that. That’s actually a pretty fair description to what happened.

Gedric continues. “Only they were just using her to get Nat to make a deal with them, since they want Nat as a Servant.”

“I’m sorry, what was that?” Angela says, looking either confused or staggard, I don’t know.

“We better go put Natasha to bed,” Stanya says quickly. “She’s been through a lot today.”

Stanya grabs my arm and starts to pull me away. “Freeze!” She tells us, making us stop in mid step. She’s technically not our parent, but her tone is enough to make us feel like we’re in trouble.

“Turn.” We reluctantly turn around, and I see Gedric smirking behind her. She smiles at me. “I take it you’re Natasha.”

I nod and extend my hand. “You must be Angela.” After she shakes my hand and lets go, I speak. “Drew mentioned you’d like to meet.”

She nods as she looks me over. “Servant of the Fates, huh?”

I smirk, “There’s a bet I’d have to lose first, and I don’t plan on losing.”

Her eyes narrow. “You’ve made a deal with them?”

“It was that, or let them kill Stanya,” I say shrugging.

“So you saved your friend?”

“No, I saved my sister.” I say, remaining firm against the implications her tone implies. “Her life is worth this cost to me. Even if I end up in eternal Servitude with those despicable beings.”

She looks me over. “I can see why my son likes you so much.”

“Mom!” Gedric yells while I blush, a bit unprepared for that response.

“Excuse me,” I say while Stanya chuckles.

“Mom, don’t.” Gedric says quickly.

Angela smirks. “I’ll be overjoyed when you become my daughter.”

I choke while Gedric reaches for his mother. “Okay, that’s enough out of you. Look at that, an unconscious Dad,” Gedric says, grabbing her shoulder and turning her away from me. “Get her out of here,” he tells Stanya.