Henry introduced the man to me, “Ebony this is Edvard, Edvard Ebony.”

Edvard bowed in old fashioned way while I just stood there is silence and disbelief.

“We met in you chambers once before.” Edvard said politely.

Henry raised an eye brow, “Really? How lovely.” He shrugged indifferently.

A strange question floated in my head and immediately I let it tumble out of my mouth, “I’m just curious and I know this may sound a bit random but if we are siblings where are our parents?” I asked.

“These icy mountains are the gods that bore you and I, sister; and this tree is there gift to us.”

The tree was not particularly large or tall but there was something about its shape and presence that made it seem impressive and almost supernatural. The bark was a bluely gray colour and the branches and leaves entwined with an unnatural kind of symmetry. The ravens perched comfortably looking down at me with their black glassy eyes listening to our conversation. I’ll admit that the whole talking to a man/bird in front of an audience of birds was a little weird and perhaps almost laughable but deep inside me there was a sort of familiarity which made me doubt for a second the life I had lived on the mortal realm. The love for my mortal family was strong but there was some sourt of supernatural affinity between myself and this place that had a much deeper and darker pull. My brother walked towards me distracting my little awestruck moment.

“Ebony, why are you not with your husband.” He said, the politeness and warmth draining from his voice.

Indignignation boiled up inside me, I wanted to point out that it was not my duty to stay with a man who has abducted me against my will from my home and more importantly this man actually threw me out! I felt my chest puffing up but Henry’s hand fell onto my shoulder.

“There was a slight misunderstanding.” Henry said smoothly.

“Misunderstanding!” I scoffed. “You ki-”

Henry grip on my shoulder tightened like a metal vice threatening to crush my bones. I gasped in pain before I could even finish my sentence. My brother watched the abuse and turned a blind eye. If some guy hurt my little sister like that I would kick his ass instead of just turning away and pretending it didn’t happen.

“Whatever you did Ebony, you must remedied the situation immediately.” Edvard said.

“But I didn’t- OUCH- Henry!” I snapped as his fingers bit into my shoulder.

“Ebony, stop playing about.” Edvard said impatiently.

A sudden image flashed into my head of Edvard sat at a large writing table repeating those same words with the same bored expression on his face. The image streaked across my mind leaving me feeling very dizzy.

“I-I…” I murmured leaning against Henry unconsciously for support.

Edvard looked across at me and rolled his eyes and tutted irritably.

I heard Henry’s voice say something but nothing made sense. My hearing shut off around me and there was a flash of blinding light in front of my eyes and then blackness.

Snowflakes drifted across my vision carried by an icy cold wind. The coldness of the snow burned against my bare skin. Henry was stood over me looking down. He had removed all my clothes except my bra and panties. Smoking a cigarette he towered over me, “Don’t worry love, I’ve got a plan to get you back in Dante’s good books.” He said.

“What did you do to my clothes?” I shivered.

“Nothing, I-” Henry’s voice faded into blackness.

It was so cold, so very cold.