《The Raven Girl》The Raven Girl- chapter 23
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I walked the corridors without any sense of direction. Why the hell had I kissed Dante that way! I saw a staircase and headed downwards. All the exits were guarded by soldiers so the only way I was going to cool down was to head to the lower floors beneath the ground. For half an hour I wandered until I heard a strange noise that caught my attention. It was the wind. How was there wind all the way down here? I followed the strange whooshing noise occasionally hearing an odd voice probably from a servant. The floors beneath the castle were not as glamorous as the floors above. Damp clung to the stone walls and there was a smell of must about the place. The wind got stronger and voices got louder. The wind seemed to whisper to me in a language I recognised, it beckoned me to follow it away from the grandeur of the great halls of the upper floors down into cold damp lower floors where not even the servants slept. Hypnotically I followed the whispering in a strange like daze until I came to a door with the words ‘THE AVIARY: DO NOT ENTER’. I blinked, an aviary was a giant bird cage. Why did Dante have an aviary? Did he keep birds? Curiously I put my hand on the door latch unsure whether to open it and take a peek inside. Maybe this is where he use to keep me, I smiled to myself thinking about my new pair of wings. I could open the door a crack and take a peek, I was the princess after all. I lifted the latch and opened the door an inch. A cool breeze rushed through the crack in the door carrying the most offensive smell. My gut instinct was to slam the door shut, but something overrode that instinct. I needed to go through the door. I had to. The feeling was urgent and imperative so I covered my nose with my hand and walked in. It was like Alice walking through the looking glass. One moment I was in dark cavern corridor the next I was stood on a stone plateau looking out into the darkness of a massive cavernous void. A giant cave with great iron bars dividing the room it in half and dimly lit with flaming torches. I moved across the plateau to a wooden platform and stairs. There was a big angry sign reading ‘DANGER’ but I ignored it and descending the staircase down to the wet slippery cave floor. The light down here was poor. Only this side of the bars were lit, the other side was complete blackness. I stood quietly trying to peer through the blackness not knowing what was on the other side of these bars. Suddenly two giant circles appeared in the darkness reflect the dim light like a cat’s eyes would. I jumped out my skin nearly screaming. The pair eyes drew closer until a large violet and gold silhouette of a dragon’s head was just visible. I wanted to run, I was so scared but a voice called to me,
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“Are you ready to atone for crimes you have committed raven?” The dragon asked with an air authority.
I had no idea of my previous life, but the decisions I had made back then had a devastating effect which people are still paying for now. Catherina’s tearful eyes flashed through my mind and deep down I knew that this was destiny.
“I don’t know my past, but I know that people are hurting because of it and I want to help stop that pain.” I said honestly.
The dragon moved closer revealing to me the source of the terrible smell that clung to the air in this cave. Large angry infected wounds covered the dragon’s body, so terrible and violent I burst into tears. The poor creature must be in agony. The dragon seeing my sadness explained,
“I was captured and beaten by your husband’s soldiers. The wounds you see on my body never heal because the vampire soldiers come every evening open up any healing wounds with blades and whips. I lay here in my own filth day after day, the flesh on my body rotting, I am nothing short of being a living corpse.”
“I’m sorry, I will beg Dante to free you.” I said tears running down my face.
“Your husband will show no mercy to a dragon. You pleas will fall upon deaf ears.”
“Please, there must be something I can do.”
“There is raven, but first you must prove your worth.”
“My worth?” I asked.
“I know you are planning on running away again.”
“I have too, Dante is going to kill Morgan if I do not!”
“Do not worry about the fox, she must walk her own path and you must walk yours. Fate will keep from the vampire armies that roam this world.”
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“How do I know she will be safe?” I asked.
“Because she will.”
“Okay, so how do I prove my worth?”
“By taking a leap of faith.”
“A leap of faith?” I replied.
“From the highest window of the highest tower in the castle.” The dragon replied.
I paused- the dragon literally meant a leap not a metaphoric leap. It wanted me to jump off a real tower. Confused I asked,
“Is this some sort of exercise? Do you want me to fly or something?”
“No, you must not fly, you must keep the leather bondage on your wings.”
“You’re kidding.” I said flatly.
The dragon shook her head. “Because of your cowardliness I have lost many family and friends and years of my own life. I need you to prove to me that you are willing to go through any pain to bring about peace.”
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Soul Augmentation
What happens when you have no potential. What happens when everyone has such high expectations, only to be disappointed. What happens when you are so weak that even your soul takes the form of a slime. You will get cast out, spit on, hated, laughed at and pitied. I can't take the contempt and pity anymore. I'm done with those disdainful stares and hateful whispers behind my back. Even if I need to twist my body and break my mind, I will go forward. Even if I have to corrupt my very existence, I will do it. I will gain power and will not stop until I’m on the top. This is my first novel. I intend to complete it. English is not my native language, I will always be grateful if you point out any mistakes I made. Comments and feedback are always welcome as long as they are constructive. Also have some mercy with the ratings, this is my first novel so I’m still in the process of improving my style. I hope you enjoy! Edit: also if the picture does not conform with copyrights I will immediatly take it down when asked.
8 118I can skip between worlds!!!
Togaraki Suya is a normal high school 2nd year student with a very normal life. One day when he is returning home from school, he meets an accident,....almost. He returns home thinking that he was very lucky that he was safe. But when he enters his room, he slips on a banana peel that he had carelessly tossed the same morning and hits his head on the doorknob. He looses his consciousness and when he regains it, there is an old man in front of him who calls himself GOD. God allows him to reincarnate in another world of his choice with a unique ability that he wants. He chooses a world and ability that he likes and starts his adventure in the new world. But soon he feels sleepy so he goes to sleep. But immediately he wakes up in his room, his head still hurting from being hit. Did he just dream or was it a reality? Or did he just develop multiple personalities??
8 196Idealism
Why am I even writing this Anyways I woke in a frenzy of enthusiasm and energy much like Karkat whenever he's embarassed or somesuch but whatever I can do whatever I want so I'm gonna write a story fueled by hate and rage and see if you like it becuase I know I sure won't total amateur here but whatever Jane Crocker don't you go and establish either a fascist regime or control the entire political climate but whatever, I can do whatever I want so here you go "Idealism" :the unrealistic belief in or pursuit of perfection The world probably can't be perfect but I shall write an unrealistic story on how it could be driven towards perfection I tagged it as Contemporary but if you look it up it shouldn't be tagged as such because this isn't believable at all
8 195Study Tips
These study tips helped me. I hope it will help you guys too.
8 81From This Dream
Life for Karen Fairchild is complicated in so many ways. But some moments are beautiful and amazing.
8 76The A.I.P. Mystery
At Ms. Pinnicle's San Francisco Orphanage, there is a detective. An detective that has a mysterious case, involving the A.I.P. mystery.
8 151