Threads Of Destiny:Echoes Of The Pendant Book Two-The Raven's Shadow Chapter Ten-The End

CHAPTER TEN

Raven was losing hope. Suddenly, a crashing sound echoed through the blood-stained battleground. Raven took a quick glance over at Dylan. Shadow had barged in and attacked Razor.

She was bravely fending off the five people, just enough for Dylan to stumble away. Thanks Shadow! They continued to fight, all four of them. Even with Shadow’s help, Raven could tell they were slowly losing the battle. Saber was still struggling with the person, but as he pinned him down, another jumped on him. Dylan was trying to fight off even more of the Spellbound, but failing miserably. Razor was grappling with Shadow and managed to kick her against a tree. And Raven herself was trying to get a grip on Axel, who had attacked her under Razor’s spell.

Finally, Razor’s group had surrounded them. Dylan, Saber, Shadow, and Raven were back to back, trying to defend themselves. Raven looked desperately at Axel’s violet eyes. Don’t you recognize me? Suddenly, Axel’s expression changed. From blank, to a faint smile. “Raven?” He whispered. Shadow looked around and pointed at the Spellbounds. “Look,” she murmured. Raven looked. The Spellbound’s eyes were returning to normal.

“Run,” Dylan hissed. Then, without a warning, he attacked Razor. The Spellbounds’ eyes were back to normal in an instant. He’s distracting them! “I can’t leave you!” Raven yelled. “Come on!” Saber grabbed her hand and sprinted. “This way, I have a hidden place!” Shadow said quietly. She sprinted, and Saber and Raven followed. She took one last longing glance at Dylan, fighting for his life as Razor’s group mobbed him, Razor taking control over the Spellbounds once again.

Soon, they’ve reached a darker part of the forest. Shadow brushed back a bramble bush to reveal a hidden entrance. She entered, and they followed. “It’s temporary,” Shadow said. The place had a pool of water and dense trees surrounding it. “It should do for now.” It looked like Shadow had built shelves stocked full with herbs and food, as well as supplies and weapons.

“It looks well taken care of,” Saber observed. Raven was still thinking about Dylan. Could he possibly still be alive?

“I need to go back for Dylan,” Raven said.

“He’s going to die,” Saber said mournfully.

“I’m not losing hope,” Shadow insisted. “And neither is Raven.” Raven looked at her gratefully. “But common sense tells us we should not go right now. They might be searching for us,” Shadow continued.

After a little while of spending time in Shadow’s place, they set off to find Dylan. Shadow had equipped them with daggers. They hadn't walked for long when they heard mockful laughter. “Quiet!” Shadow hissed sharply when Saber accidentally stepped on a twig. Raven gently brushed back a bunch of ferns to reveal the battleground where they previously fought. Dylan was crumpled on the ground. Razor was standing over him.

“Weakling! Driving yourself into battle like that!” He jeered. He had an expression of scorn. One of his minions kicked Dylan hard in the stomach. Dylan didn’t even protest. His eyes were closed in agony as spasms shook his entire body, and he was hugging himself, looking small compared to Razor’s strong group. “What are you, a mouse?” Razor taunted. They were playing with him like a toy before they’re going to kill him!

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“We need a plan,” Shadow said quietly. Raven was in full panic mode. Her heart filled with pain and pity for Dylan. “If we kill Razor, the Spellbounds would be free to help us, and the rest would be vulnerable to attack,” Saber concluded. “Which one of us is quick and sneaky?”

“I am, but I’m not in the best condition at this moment,” Shadow said. Raven looked her over. It was true. She was battered pretty badly from the battle, and so was Saber.

“Raven, you have to do it. You can do it. You’re in the best condition,” Saber murmured.

The next thing she knew, she was creeping out of the ferns slowly. Razor’s back was turned to her. Raven clutched the dagger tightly. All she had to do was jump on Razor’s back and slit his throat. And she had to do it fast. Oh gosh, what if I mess up? That’ll ruin everything! Raven was trying hard to control her fast heart. I can do this. Dylan was the expert assassin here, not Raven. She never had any experience with killing people. Yet, she felt like she knew what she was doing.

She counted herself down. Three, two, one…Raven lunged onto Razor’s back and drove the dagger across his throat.

Razor made a gurgling sound and collapsed onto the ground. “Y-you fool!” He gasped. “I would’ve made the world a better place.”

“No, you would’ve destroyed the world and enslaved all the people!” Raven muttered. Razor’s eyes rolled back and glazed over. He was dead. The Spellbounds were free. Raven grabbed the pendant. It is rightfully ours.

“Raven?” Axel approached her. His eyes were back to an amber glow. “Thank you.” Another person walked up to her and stood beside Axel. “Hi. I’m Ansaldo. Former leader of the Eclipse Tribe.”

Raven gasped. She never had thought that she would meet the first leader of the Eclipse Tribe! She must’ve missed him in the frenzy of the battle. “Woah…” Raven’s voice trailed off in admiration. He was her role model. “Go check out Dylan,” Axel murmured softly. Raven jumped back from her shock and ran over to him. He was lying on the ground with an expression of pain on his blood-strewn face. “Dyl?” She breathed. “Raven…” He could barely croak out her name.

“Is he going to…” Shadow trailed off. Raven didn’t even notice her and Saber kneeling beside her.

“No. It is not his time to join us yet,” Axel replied.

Axel began to walk away when Raven called him back. “Wait.” Axel turned around. “What’s wrong?”

“Can Shadow go with you? She doesn’t belong in the Umbral Realm. She belongs in…” Raven hesitated. “...the Serenity Realm. Sure, she wasn’t that good when she was alive, but she has been a huge help to us. We wouldn’t have survived without her.”

Axel looked like he was deep in thought. “I suppose she wasn’t really sinister. Yes, why not?”

Shadow blushed. “Really? Thank you!”

Axel smiled warmly at her.

“Shadow.” Raven turned to see Dylan struggling to talk. “Before you go, thank you. I wouldn’t have survived without you,” he breathed. “I’m sorry I had to kill you.” Shadow turned as red as a tomato.

“It…was nothing,” she mumbled. “And it was either me or you. You deserve to live.”

“It was something. I’m sorry. I’m sorry I never got to know you.”

“I understand,” Shadow smiled. “You belong with Raven. I know that now.”

Raven suddenly sprang up and wrapped her arms around Shadow. Tears began to fall from her eyes. “Thank you for everything. I’ll miss you.”

“You are so emotional!” Shadow snapped, but Raven could tell that her eyes were filled with tears as well. This was her destiny. Her’s and Shadow’s.

“Dylan, you should come and comfort your girlfriend,” Shadow teased playfully. Raven sighed, half-happily, half-annoyed. No matter what, Shadow always recovered her nature.

CHAPTER TWELVE

“What will you do about Figure?” Raven asked Axel. “Well, we aren’t Spellbounded anymore, so we’ll find a way to deal with him, no worries,” Axel replied. “Now, ready to go back?”

“Yes,” Raven said. She had enough of an adventure for now. Axel’s palms filled with a blue glow and it burst open. The dazzling light blinded Raven.

When her vision cleared, she found herself in her bed. Dazzling light broke through the window. She guessed it was early afternoon. Saber and Dylan were back in theirs. Dylan moaned with pain. “Hey, you okay?” Raven asked gently. “I’m fine, just give me a second.” He curled into a ball and took some deep breaths. He was really badly battered. Blood soaked his hoodie and pants and there were gashes along his body. “We should’ve waited until his wounds healed completely before going back in!” Saber groaned. It was true. Dylan’s wounds had reopened. “You do not seem okay,” Raven said. “I’m okay,” Dylan breathed, still clutching himself. “You are NOT okay!” Raven insisted. “Come on, we’re bringing you to the emergency room.”

Saber and Raven got bandaged and clean while Dylan was in the room. “Let’s go check on him,” Raven said. They walked to the emergency room. Dylan was lying there. He had changed into clean clothes, a black jacket and sweatpants. “Are you feeling better?” Saber asked. “Yes.” This time, Raven believed him. The blood was gone and he was bandaged up.

“Oh, and I forgot to give you this,” Raven said suddenly, taking off the pendant around her neck and handing it to Dylan. “Thanks,” Dylan replied. “Thorn would still want it, as long as she is alive, even maybe when she’s dead,” he added bitterly.

“It’s okay Dylan,” Raven said, feeling a sense of purpose. “We will be with you all the way.”

EPILOGUE

Thorn was red from fury. She stormed over to Snake. “You better not betray me too,” she snarled. “I-I won’t, ma’am,” he stammered. “Good, cause all of my assassins have betrayed me. You will be my FINAL assassin. If you don’t do as you’re told, then you will die!”

“Yes, Thorn,” Snake said with a bow.

“Good, good. I like this one,” Thorn hissed. “We will begin training right away. You will get the pendant when you are ready. You will kill without thought when I’m done with you. You will NOT betray me!”

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THREADS OF DESTINY, ECHOES OF THE PENDANT BOOK THREE: SNAKE’S VENOM