Chapter 1. Times of Change
“Seraphina,” It was the youngest twin, Sephora, who spoke. It was early morning and the sisters’ were getting ready to head down to the kitchen for breakfast so Sephora was sitting in front of an ornate, twisting, vanity table made with dark wood combing her long black straight hair. “We turn 18 next week! Isn’t it exciting?” Her beautiful, pale, icy blue eyes held nothing but the pure excitement of an innocent child. Glimmering with possibilities, she beamed brightly at her older twin sister.
***
It was only by their eyes that the twins could be told apart at all. In every other way, they were identical. As harpy twins who had hatched from the same small clutch of eggs, they had been expected to be identical in every way. Yet, their eyes were wildly opposite.Much to Queen Nox's despair.
Sephora had the old and king harpy King's eyes. Yet, she and her sister never really knew her father. He died while they were still so very young.
For children in the Raven Clan of the Harpies, youth to maturity had the unusual feature of maturity where a child’s eyes would usually be extremely bright while young, and deeply darken with maturity. The difference could be so great in colors; sometimes from white, icy-blue, to yellow, orange, and even red to the sought-after brown or onyx black eyes.
The darker the eyes the more beautiful the raven.
This was also the same expectation held for hair, although this did not change from the time they were hatchlings. The skin of harpies, usually nobles and royals, was usually fair as fresh snow...or the bones of a clean-picked corpse.
Nonetheless, these were what was held to be the epitome of Raven Harpy beauty,
Anything else was imperfect.
Sephora was imperfect.The imperfect princess.
All the while, Queen Nox embodied these raven beauty qualities perfectly and entirely!
As the children from her only clutch ever laid, the twins were regarded as highly sought-after treasures by all eligible nobles from the Raven Clan, for a successfully negotiated mating. For years Queen Nox had refused to guarantee either her daughter's hands to anyone male.
To any male, of any Clan and instead had used her children, their beauty and pedigree like it were a carrot stick.
Affirming that they would have a chance for her girls to choose the pedigree of their own mate, and thus of their children as their suitors of preference were known, - her daughters had been used as political carrots being dangled, so close but out of reach, all of their lives without knowing.
Not only that but the Raven Queen held that naturally intimidating and deadly aura. A femme is fatal for the ages. As gentle and beautiful as an iron rose, but twice as cold. "The Iron Rose," was a nickname given to her by a distant harpy clan, and it had stuck. One that she prided herself on.
For males of the Raven, Harpie this same beauty standard was fully expected. Dark hair. Dark Wings. Dark eyes. Fair skin... but it was something very rarely seen in females of their Raven Harpy Clan.
It was known that females of the Hawk and Owl Clans certainly held more intimidating and dominating presences more often. That was the nature of their clan’s DNA.
***
Simply, Seraphina rolled her board midnight black eyes at her sister's whimsical and childish words.
For once they held no hint of warmth for her younger sister but contempt. Seraphina, as always considered her response more measurable than her sister, Sephora's outburst. “It will be one grand affair after another. For weeks, over these next few weeks. I suppose that much is true and I'll do my best duty to enjoy it before I'm mated... you should do the same, Sister.” Seraphina gazed at her sister’s exposed black wings, which draped to the floor while she sat, not wanting to meet her sister's eager countenance. At least, not directly and the mirror allowed for a proxy.
Those wings were identical to her own so she couldn’t help but think, You’re going to get the bottom of your wings dirty, sister!! Mother will kill you for being imperfect, today!
While Sephora couldn't hear her, she followed her sister's gaze to her wings and raised them, and adjusted her posture, "It's not like I'm the perfect sister anyway. Not that you would understand. You are the favorite."
Seraphina reached over to take her black and intricate breastplate off of a bust that wore it when she did not.
The raven twins knew each other too well. Even without meeting each other’s eyes, they usually had a keen sense when something was wrong with each other.
While Seraphina attempted to mask her anxiety and resistance with boredom, Sephora couldn’t drop the feeling that there was more to her attitude. Her gut was usually right on these things after all.
Sephora tried to keep her attitude positive and her enthusiasm up despite her sister being chilly to the touch of today's so important and pressing subject.
Even as twins, the sisters could fight but it rarely meant anything. There was never anything of so much importance as to hold a raven’s grudge against one another.
"No," Seraphina snapped, going back to fastening her breastplate over her dress, so that the ensemble came together, "You aren't the perfect sister. How could you possibly understand how I feel today? Mother's favorite, you have no idea what that's like. What today and the coming weeks will be like, for me."
Sephora nearly fell off of her seat at the dark dressing table, as she turned as fast as the wind at her sister's words. Her mouth was agape and her eyes were incredulous. Daring her sister to repeat her words.
After a moment of silence, Sephora finally replied, “How?! How can you say that? We will finally be adults and get to decide who will be our betrothed… our mate for life! If we’ll get to live at one of the other Harpy Clans - if we even want to… you know..." The youngest sister tried to bring back the light-heartedness of sisterly conversation, using the main topic of gossip she had come to learn.
Seraphina's words were sharp and they had cut her where she knew it would hurt but Sephora tried to dismiss this and pressed on lightly, "I heard the Peacock Harpy Clan have a bolder son that’s eligible and actually considering coming to one of the eligible balls. I've never even seen a Peacock harpy before, never mind met one.” Sephora raised her eyebrows twice teasingly, Attempting a cooky grin,
“I know mother is so serious about, ‘Royal and noble duty,’ to carry on the lineage but isn’t it fun to think about all the amazing parties that are finally going to be thrown in our castle for this?” For the youngest twin was fully dressed, ready and even eager to attend. She flopped back onto her sisters' dark couch, still keeping her jetblack wings raised.
Erupting in loud and squawking laughter, at the mere notion of a member of the Peacock Clan being so bold to daringly attempt to court them, “Hahaha, little sister you are so precious sometimes, little sister.” Seraphina’s abdomen tightened painfully with so much laughter. She placed a hand on her stomach and one on the light-grey walls with wooden paneling.
Thankfully, her breastplate was not fastened and in place.
In an instant, Seraphina’s demeanor entirely changed, “You assume mother would really allow you to marry a Peacock?” All cheer had now drained from her face. A crueler streak emerged, “You are really stupid if you think so Sephora.” She held a sharp and serious observation of her sister for a moment.
That dark-piercing narrowing of her eyes made her younger twin flinch backward, ever so slightly. There was no mercy, there was only a cold glassy gaze present
At this, the younger twin sat upright on the couch and moved further back onto her seat, ever so slightly, and placed her sister's comb back onto the dressing table in front without looking away.
To someone unaware of Raven Harpy'sy customs, they might have assumed she stood her ground, or even that she was mirroring her older twin’s seriousness. Sephora had already given her ground; she wasn’t used to her sister being as cold, cruel, and ominous as she was now. At least, not towards her.
There wasn’t even a challenge here as there may normally have been. Just Seraphina attempting to use cold authority to hide her own sense of anxiety and dread for being paired and matched for life, as uninterested disdain.
Reeling back from her jolt she turned back to the mirror. A loud bang erupted from her small pale hands as they slapped loudly against the vanity table. Disturbing the assorted beauty and care items perfectly placed on it, “What is wrong with you today, Sister?!” The chair screeched on the floor as Sephora thrust it back with her thighs as she stood.
“I don’t know…!” Taking the b**e Seraphina bit back, flailing her hands. The older twin bit back. Her icy blue eyes so cold they could summon frost in her younger twins heart, “My sister wants to marry someone of the Peacock clan! That… That you can actually entertain that idea! That you can be so willfully glad and excited to have mother marry you off to the noble or king’s son she deems her most preferred male for you. You’re kidding yourself if you believe she’ll truly let you choose, and not make it seem like it’s the mate you truly want.”
Any kindness and excitement from the younger sister had now been swiftly chilled, “I never said I wanted to marry a peacock. It was only gossip I heard from one of the maids, while only trying to make you feel better. You're usual smile is rather lopsided today sister.” Sephora had thought that she had been patient enough.
With that Sephora flared her wings to ripple the air currents in the room angrily, as she left the room. She was already in her open back dress set, for today and had only meant to finish brushing her straight hair. Taps on the marble floor outside the room grew fainter as she moved further down the corridor.
All Seraphina had done was make her little twin sister mad at her for nothing.
In her heart, a part of Seraphina knew that she might come to regret projecting her anxiety as bitterness onto her younger twin. Though this feeling was fleeting, and it was a premonition as quickly discarded as it had arrived.
Have I sown unnecessary seeds of resentment? She thought, as her gaze looked towards the door, that her sister had stormed off through, and had left. Sighing at the notion, the older sister went to reorganise the items on the vanity table before finishing getting dressed into an off-shoulder dress befitting of a royal like herself. It was edgy but suitably so for a Raven.
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Chapter 2. The Raven Queen Carrying an instantly recognizable sense of confidence and purpose which blended; that unmistakable click, click, click of heels hitting the gray marble floor rang out loud echoes from the caverns hallway. They came from one prominent figure; a gorgeous lady who radiated an aura both immensely regal and all the while, unsettling to bone-chilling degrees. Her hair, the shade of shadow, was worn in an exquisitely crafted spiraling braid, ending at the back of her head. At the front was a petite black woman's hat, barely distinguishable from her hair as dark as the night itself. The front of the little hat rolled with a black beaded, mesh veil with only just covered the bottom of her cold, black and calculating eyes. Such dark hair, eyes, and clothes; such dark and distinguished features contrasted so distinctly against her skin, - as white as bone. Even as a royal… and among nobles of Raven Harpy, she was an incomparable dark beauty of the Raven
Chapter 3. Gathering of Harpy Clan Chiefs Queen Nox came forward, pausing at the doorway as she smiled and looked around the chamber. The maid kept her gaze fixed on the ground, but the grin was plainly visible in the corner of her eye. That the Raven Queen could even smile was a revelation to this servant; unless she saw this for herself, she wouldn't have believed it if another of the staff had told her of this. Most of the maids and even the Chef whispered about how she was supposedly born incapable of a laugh or a smile. Only when Raven Queen remarked, "If you desire to serve me well, daughter," did she seem to be smiling so softly. Speaking through her teeth, just quiet enough, that no one else would hear what was said. "You will remember to never run... and surely never overtake my step or dare to keep me waiting." She raised her chin to meet the servant's gaze, and once the maid finally noticed that the Raven Queen had begun to elevate her hand, she flinched backward with
Chapter 4. King Easton: Eurasian Eagle Owl Queen Nox smiled politely and courteously. She tilted her glass towards the young servant girl, whose name she made a noted point of never learning, as the Queen's gaze shifted to this younger and less perfect Raven Harpy something dark and ominous flickered and flittered across her black beady eyes. This sent a chill up the spine of the servant girl. Neither the dark glint skirting across the Queen's eyes nor the quivering - even as brief and momentary as it was - escaped from the wise and sharp eyesight of King Easton. The eyesight and accuracy of it... of a Eurasian Eagle-owl Harpy, was on par with that of a Raven or an Eagle. The only difference was that owls could see in the dark and eagles and ravens could not distinguish things at night as accurately. Then there is also the sharp and cutting intelligence of the owls. "Raven Queen," Boomed Lord Easton, waving his hand and bowing slightly at Queen Nox, before turning sli
Chapter 5. King's Kindness Sephora had stormed out of her sister's room and chambers entirely, and gone back to her own. Both of the girls were mostly dressed at this point, even though she was wearing less makeup than usual. Due to this, Sephora looked far more stern than usual. Unfitting for her and contrary to her usual demeanor, which all the servants of the house knew her for. Instead, right now, icy blue eyes burned with a fidged and cold fury; with the force of a midwinter's blizzard behind her. While the twin sisters were nothing like their mother, in terms of her cold and collected cruelty, they did share with her a fiery temperament. While one of the house servants flinched out of Sephora’s way as they met her piercing gaze; like a sharpened icicle. The servant was Lyla, one that Sephora was quite familiar with and even liked. They were of similar ages and for a servant girl, found Lyla very pretty and easy to talk to. Lyla knew in her heart that nei
Chapter 6. A Perfect Black Diamond Among Us All After realising that it has been Seraphina who had called, “Lyla?” , lightly, yet authoritatively; Lyla,the servant girl had turned her head back, toward the direction Sephora had initially walked from. In a comical way, Seraphina had been peeping her head out from her room, it was so comical that Lyla had to really do her best to remain professional and not laugh upon seeing such a sight! After a moment, the servant had realised that the young miss had looked rather upset. “I thought I had heard you outside.” The older sister of the two had always been Lady Nox’s favourite. A large part of that was how similar Seraphina was in terms of Raven beauty standards; onyx black eyes and hair as black as night, where her sister with icy blue, pale eyes, was treated with far less respect. All the household staff had taken notice. Yet despit
Chapter 7: Sephora's StormAt the same time, Having stormed out of the castle, carved into and out of the pique of the mountain top, Sephora's chest heaved with anger as her head whirled with upset. The entire time she was blinking back tears, and this was mostly what her concentration was on. Her fist were balled by her sides, shaking, so tightly that her knuckles were a peculiar shade paler than she already was. The younger twin was having to face and confront a whole mix of overwhelming and different emotions. She had been, and still was, so in her own head that Sephora doesn't even notice Lyla, due to how upset she is! It wasn't just the young servant girl, that both twins enjoyed having around, it was all of the staff she passed in the house. As she had passed the another two hallways, and turned into the main foya she had anothe four members of staff attempt to speak to her
Chapter 8. Much is Broken Since she had been flying just below cloud cover, to hide herself easily from any harpy/ies who may be flying back to the Raven Kingdom, Sephora hadn't noticed the lack of creatures below her at all. To a human, this might seem a trivial detail. Yet, hawks, eagles, ravens and other such harpy all had some of the sharpest eyesight around. Owls, could even see details in dim lighting, or the complete darkness, where the ravens, eagles and hawks would fail. If it had taken her so long to notice that there was an absence of any movment... of any life... this was wrong. "This is wrong..." Sephora muttered out loud, to herself. As she continued flying back and forward in a grid pattern, her stomach felt like it was dozens of miles below her, - on the forest floor. Every fiber of her being was screaming at her that something was very off... what sh
Chapter 9. Something Bloody With powerful and sure momentum of her black wings, Sephora flew over towards the bloody claw marks indented into the ancient tree; which had been torn in half. Gently she touched one of her fingers against them mark. Going by the size of this... perhaps there was a bear here? As she considered this further, Sephora looked again at the surroundings and shook her head. If there was a bear here, it was more likely to have gotten caught up in... whatever, had done this and whatever this was. For a flitting moment, Sephora gave a silent thought to the bear which likely got caught up in this. Is that what the blood and fleshy chunks were? The heckles on the back of her neck stood up in fear. Though she would never admit it to her mother... What could eat a bear? Certainly, Sephora was no fool. If it whatever did this could kill and eat a bear... then it could kill and eat her too. She gulped. Shaking the thoughts out of her head and lo
Chapter 49: The Green Dress Servant.{{The following events happened prior to the Peacock's finally leaving the Ravens Kingdom. Chapters released in the wrong order.}} The Peacock Harpy Prince named at 23, has encouraged and covered the younger Eurasian harpy princes at 19 to help him commit an unspeakable act. Raping one of the Raven Servants at the castle. The Raven servant who ends up getting this, is not a servant at all. It is Sephora the youngest Raven princess and heir, dressed in a green noble robe and brassy body plate. As she is not wearing her usual black royal garments, he doesn't recognise her fully due to his fetishism for a Raven mate. Caruso begins by stroking the Raven Harpy Servants Hair and Feathers, as she is reasting on a large food storage box. He begins taking off her breastplate, moving thr hem of her dresses breastline to reveal and fondling her petite breasts with his long boney hands. "Oh, how I have waited for this." He says as he moves his other hand
Chapter 48: The Unravelling The sun hung high over the rolling meadows of the Peacock Kingdom, casting a golden hue that shimmered like jewels across the landscape. Caruso, the second prince, stood on the balcony of his opulent chamber, gazing out at the vast expanse of greens and golds, his mind swirling with thoughts darker than the shadows cast by the fluttering peacocks below. For too long, he had been a mere pawn in the grand game of royalty, but today, he felt the stirrings of true ambition. “Solomon,” he called, his voice dripping with a mixture of excitement and unease. The advisor entered swiftly, his broad build filling the doorway. Solomon was a Eurasian Eagle Owl harpy, tall and mountainous in stature, with feathers that glinted like polished wood under the sunlight. His presence was commanding, a stark contrast to Caruso’s more delicate frame, yet it was the wiry strength of the advisor that had often proven invaluable. “Your Highness,” Solomon bowed slightly, his e
Chapter 47: A Blood Debt Slave The werewolf lay unconscious in his human form, restrained by shimmering unicorn shackles that bound him to the wall and floor. He was strikingly handsome, with olive skin and dark hair that framed his face, while his stubble was evolving into a full beard. Sephora, the youngest princess and the daughter of the Raven Queen, approached this hidden prisoner, a secret unknown to her family. As Sephora settled into the ornate chair nearby, a wave of drowsiness washed over her. The effects of the enchanted atmosphere began to take hold swiftly. Suddenly, a shadowy figure emerged before her, drawing her attention. "What do you desire?" she asked, her curiosity mingling with a hint of authority. "I am Nikolas, and I demand my freedom from these binds," the figure replied in a deep, strained voice. "And I am not your toy. You can not control me." She smirked, undeterred by his resistance. "I have come to offer you ecstasy in your shackles. Whether you li
Chapter 46: A Walk Through the GardenAfter the breakfast, calling on Sephora, Maven suggested they take a walk through the noble quarters gardens. As the Raven palace did not have its own, it surrounded on all sides by steep cliffs.Sephora was hesitant at first, but Maven assured her that it would be a good opportunity to clear her head and get some fresh air.Maven's once black hair was now mostly grey, with strands of salt and pepper running through it. Her hair was still long and silky, falling in cascading waves down her back, but thcolouror gave her a more mature appearance. Despite this, Maven still had a youthful glow about her, with smooth, unblemished skin and a slender figure. Her Raven wings, too, had aged, with feathers losing their glossy sheen.In contrast, Sephora's hair was jet black and perfectly straight, reaching down to her hips. Her hair was her crowning glory, and she took great care to maintain it. Her wings were also a jet black, much like her mother's, and th
Chapter 45: The Prince Peacock & PawnThe Peacock Prince, Caruso, was obsessed with the idea of having a mate that was so different from himself; not one that came from the same vibrance in colour and culture as him, or worse... dull, boring beige with personalities to match. Just like the female harpy of the Peacock Clan.Caruso had dreamed of a Raven or Dove as a mate for a long time at this point. With their sleek black oe white feathers, to complete his vision of perfection. The thought of having a partner that did not contrast his vibrant plumage was simply unacceptable to him. He had become so fixated on this idea that it had turned into a dangerous obsession.He spent his days and nights obsessing over the Raven Princess because of this. The idea of a Dove mate thrown away upon learning that the Raven Queen was accepting noble and royal bachelors for her to consider for her daughter's mates.After learning this, Caruso studdied up on any information he could get about the Rave
Chapter 44: The Tea PartySephora had been looking forward to the tea party with Prince Kavan all week. She had spent hours picking out the perfect dress and practising her small talk. As a member of the Raven Clan, Sephora had never had the opportunity to interact with the Tawny Kingdom's royals before. She was excited to learn more about their culture and traditions.When Sephora arrived at the Tawny Kingdom's palace, she was greeted by Kavan himself. He was dressed in a formal tunic that matched the colours of his Clan's coat of arms. Sephora couldn't help but notice how handsome he looked."Welcome, Sephora," Kavan said, offering her his arm. "I'm so glad you could make it.""Thank you for inviting me," Sephora replied, feeling a little nervous.As they walked through the palace's ornate halls, Kavan began to tell her about the Tawny Kingdom's history and customs. Sephora listened intently, fascinated by the differences between their two Clans. She had always known that the Tawny
Chapter 43: Reliable Allies After breakfast with Sephora, Prince Kavan seemed to be delighted to discover that she was even more gorgeous than her sister. However, the event with the cured fish that prompted her to gag forced him to remain to ever have reservations regarding her etiquette and suitability for a mate. His mate. Kavan arrived at the realisation that he ought to make the best of the prospect which had been granted to him via the Raven Queen. Boldly seeking out Queen Nox, he solemnly took on the responsibility to enlighten her about the entire incident: The music room was where he saw the criminal peacock assault the young servant harpy, and where he immediately intercede. Queen Nox, who more or less observed the inquiry and verification, eventually came to the conclusion that he was a dependable and trustworthy political ally, herself... who, conveniently, maintained values that were within accordance with the Owl Code of Conduct. This meant that limits within which sh
Chapter 42: A Bittersweet Morning Even yet, Seraphina had no idea what had taken place the previous evening when she awoke the next morning. After devouring such a lavish and extravagant supper, what Prince Caruso tried to accomplish after that was beyond the comprehension of any other royal in attendance. Other, than Lady Cassandra. Thanks to the quick and noble deeds of Prince Kavan, and response of him in informing Lady Nox; she to now knew… yet, could not understand why a guest had acted in such a way. She hadn’t liked him, or the way he spoke. Finding him rude. Yet, she had not expected that he would attempt to commit a crime like that! Here in her Kingdom. Further, right here in the Queen’s own castle! Seraphina knew and anticipated that Sephora would try to slip silently into her room because she had messed up, - big time with their mother. Pleading for Seraphina to use her position as heir and favourite to help convince her mother to go easier on her. To let her away
Chapter 41: Calling on SephoraMaven, who is in charge of the housekeeping for the Raven Royal family, and Lady Nox collaborated in planning a visit to Sephora for breakfast. Young Master Fenn was keen on attending the arrangement. It was not often, that anyone got the blessing of the Raven Queen to Call on either of her daughters. Despite the fact that Maven had informed Sephora, the younger of the Princess twins, that it had to occur before lunch, she firmly believed that she had some leeway in determining when this would actually happen. She obviously didn't. Certainly not when her mother was directly involved but Maven didn't want to ruin the surprise for the bachelorette princess.At the long, dark, ornately carved table with a glass top, Sephora sat facing the entrance to begin trying her first-ever Eurasian breakfast. The flatbread was an odd thing to her, as was each dip, but if the chef was sure the honey and date mix would be something her sweet tooth could sink into? Well