Eternal Starlight: Celestial City

Chapter 13

Wraithkin re-entered his tent, his gaze falling upon Elowen, who lay there, bloodied and vulnerable, her head resting on the lap of Riven, the spymaster. A tumult of emotions surged within him as he reflected, "She was right about one thing; I am indeed terrified, yet I will not allow her to see that fear." Despite being the second most formidable entity in existence, Wraithkin could never shake the reality of who truly held the first position—Elowen herself. His eyes narrowed with a mix of hatred and envy as he regarded her; she was the most feared being ever to walk the lands of Eldoria, a fact that gnawed at his pride and fueled his rage.

A sinister thought crept into his mind as he pondered his next move. If Elowen refused to bear his heirs willingly, he would take matters into his own hands and force her to do so. The notion of unleashing his warriors upon her sent a dark chuckle bubbling up from within him, a twisted satisfaction at the prospect of bending her will to his own.

Wraithkin reveled in the art of dismantling the spirit of others, relishing the power he wielded to strip away their will to live, leaving them in a state of despair where they would surrender to their grim fates. The thought of breaking someone down to such a degree brought a twisted smile to his face, as he envisioned forcing her to bear his heirs, regardless of her initial resistance. He would not hesitate to use violence to bend her will, ensuring she ultimately capitulated to his desires. With a renewed sense of purpose, he felt a spring in his step as he devised his sinister plan, keenly observing his warriors. Among them, he noticed a newcomer named Raven, a striking beauty who, while captivating, paled in comparison to Elowen. "Raven," he called, and she turned to him, her violet eyes reflecting both curiosity and respect. "Yes, My Lord?" she replied, her tone submissive. "I need you to make a woman in my tent more presentable; can you handle that?" he instructed. "Of course, My Lord," Raven responded promptly.

"Good, the sooner, the better," Wraithkin urged, and without hesitation, she abandoned her tasks to comply. Upon entering his tent, she was met with a shocking sight: a woman lying on the floor, barely clinging to life, her condition a testament to Wraithkin's cruelty. Raven's eyes widened in horror as she processed the scene before her, and Riven, grimly stated, "He did this to her," as Raven's gaze fell upon the broken figure, a chilling realization settling in her heart.

Raven approached the scene with a mix of horror and resignation, her heart heavy as she witnessed the brutality inflicted by Wraithkin. Despite her shock, a part of her had anticipated such cruelty. She halted her advance, pivoted sharply, and exited the confines of the Wraithkin's tent, determined to gather the necessary supplies from the healer's tent nearby. Armed with healing remedies, she stormed back, her resolve unwavering as she found the girl still motionless on the ground, while the male prisoner gazed down at her with a look of despair.

The man’s voice broke the silence, filled with confusion, "What are you doing?" Raven's response was a mere whisper, laced with urgency, "I'm here to help her." She quickly explained the dire situation, noting how the shackles were hindering the girl's ability to heal. As she carefully removed Elowen's clothing, the sight of her bruised body sent a shiver down Raven's spine; the marks were a testament to the violence she had endured. The woman whimpered at Raven's touch, prompting a heavy sigh from her as she assessed the damage. "Her ribs are broken; one more hit, and she would have been dead," she murmured, her heart aching for the girl. Raven redressed Elowen after examining her.

Raven laid out the vials before her, her voice steady as she addressed the male prisoner, "This will help her. It won't erase the bruises or mend the broken ribs, but it will ease her pain." He nodded in understanding, yet Raven felt a strange connection to Elowen, a flicker of sympathy igniting within her. Unable to suppress her curiosity, she asked, "Is... is she your mate?" The man responded firmly, "Elowen isn't my mate." Raven's eyes widened in disbelief as she looked down at the woman, realization dawning upon her. "This is Elowen? From Light Court?" she asked, and the man confirmed with a nod, deepening the gravity of the moment.

Raven carefully propped Elowen up, her mouth agape, revealing bloodied teeth. With a swift motion, she used her teeth to uncork a vial and delicately poured its contents down Elowen's throat. Elowen coughed slightly, but Raven continued, opening one vial after another until the last was emptied. As Elowen gasped for breath, regaining her composure, Raven stepped back, moving towards the water basin. She soaked a rag and knelt before Elowen, gently wiping the blood from her face, a tender act amidst the chaos.

"Thank you," Elowen managed to say, her voice thick with emotion. Raven simply nodded in response.

"Are you okay?" Riven inquired, concern etched on his face.

"Yeah, I think so, Riven," Elowen replied, fatigue evident in her eyes. Just then, Wraithkin entered the tent, a sinister smile playing on his lips. "Ah, Raven, thank you for cleaning Elowen up," he said, his tone dripping with malice. Raven's anger flared at the sight of him, but she quickly concealed it, maintaining a facade of respect. "You're welcome, My Lord," she replied, her voice steady. Wraithkin then turned his attention to Elowen, his smile widening as he asked, "So, Elowen, since you are conscious now, would you accept my offer to bear my heirs?" Elowen's eyes narrowed in defiance. "No," she shot back, her voice laced with fury.

"I anticipated your refusal, but your opinion holds no weight in this matter; I was merely attempting to extend a gesture of courtesy by asking.” He responded with a sinister chuckle, "Once I am finished, my men will have their turn with you." Wraithkin's laughter echoed with a malevolent undertone, revealing the dark intentions that lay beneath his seemingly polite facade.

Elowen's voice filled with fury as she declared, "I will kill you; I will not hesitate to eliminate you and your feeble army. I will drag you back to a time when civilization was nothing but a distant dream. When the name Wraithkin is mentioned, it will be met with confusion and scorn, as if to say, 'Wraithkin? Who is that?' Your legacy will be nothing but a whisper lost in the winds of time."

Wraithkin let out a low, menacing laugh. "What makes you think you can escape your chains of iron? Do you really believe anyone here would dare to free you? They are all devoted to me, isn’t that right, Raven?" His gaze shifted to Raven, a wicked smile spreading across his face.

Raven gave a slight nod, affirming the alliance.

"They are nothing but loyal dogs, responding to their master's command, Elowen," Wraithkin declared, his smile growing more malevolent with each word.