Crimson Tether

Bradford thought to himself how she had great strength to be able to make it inside her house after the waves of his hypnotism. Seeing Ms. Bellavonnes charms are still active meant she was still alive somewhere and he had to get that cure. "Your blood ties are like maps. With your blood, a path to her will reveal itself and I can present my request to her. I will be able to calm the madness in return."

Raven pulled the strands of hair that had fallen out of her braids behind her ears. Saving her words, she replied in thought, "One more question." Knowing anyone who means her harm can not pass the charms, "Why haven't you come inside by force?"

Barren was found out. His intention to take her blood whether she agreed or not would not let him move forward. "I'm afraid I can't. I will require the invitation. How about this?" Bradford chanted a truth binding spell and stretched out his palm to shake her hand. Then he said to her mind, " Come out and ask me, as I cannot lie to you now."

Raven recognized the spell but concluded she couldn't let it be known she was a caster as well. She spoke aloud again, "How do I know you won't harm me? You try to lure me out of safety to have your way with me? Are you not afraid of the Mad Bellavones coming out from her recluse state to protect her daughter from harm?" Raven closed her eyes and tried to find her mama with her Ravens flight. Soaring over the treetops, the Birds Eye's flickered through the canopy of the great forrest searching for Alexandre Bellavonnes or any hint of her presence.

"I have to trust that if she did think I meant evil she would have already made a mess of me."

There was no hint of her mama. Raven had to do this herself. "Keep looking, my friend." Pulling the latch she opened her door once more. Each footstep took her closer to the Barren and, she feared, the danger that silenced the forrest. She still could not hear even a chirp uttered. There were mere footsepts between them. It was only now he saw her emerald green eyes. The light seemed to be absorbed into them and they shone from the inside out. Bradford wanted to wrap his gift around her but he could not. The wind gently blowing her loose tendrils of hair had him in a trance. The sweet smell of lavender reached his nostrils. His eyes traced her tender throat down to her figure. Tiny waist and large hips, ample bosoms and perky heart shaped lips.

"Well. I'm going to take a chance on you. Please don't make me regret it. I want to find my mama, also. Maybe we can help each other." Raven extended her hand and took his. He lifted it to his lips and placed a cold kiss upon it. Ravens eyes widened and she jerked her hand back. "Your lips...they're..."

"Yes. Now, allow me to explain what I can do with you inside. I'm quite the cook and know of a stew that you simply must try. This conversation will take a while and you need sustenance."

Raven considered the danger of trusting the Barren but curiosity compelled her to hear what the Barren had to say. She needed to know how he found her. The charms were supposed to work on the Bitten and humans. Pondering the possibilities of what herbs she could tend and blend with the recipe to extend that to all other creatures, it was decided. “Good Barren Whitley, would you treat me to your stew and a conversation inside?"

“As you are inclined, Miss." Bradford stepped across the charms and felt exhilarated by the charge inside it. He felt every cell awaken and found he was intoxicated by the scent of Raven. He himself felt dizzy as he walked closer to the cabin. The air felt thick and heavy, like wading through deep water. Raven stepped forward and placed her hand up on his broad shoulder. Warmth rippled from her hand straight to his heart. He felt more clear and continued into the cabin. Opening his coat he pulled out a rabbit and laid it on the table. Removing the coat he laid it folded next to the door on the side table. Bradford rolled up his sleeves and rinsed his hands in the water bowl on the counter.

They began to talk. Bradford began his tale at the receiving the request from his Elder Lord as he dressed the rabbit for the stew. The journey to his Villa was long and arduous however he yielded himself to reading. "I see you read as well?" He pointed the knife towards the shelves.

Raven never broke eye contact with him as she sensed that every glance was recording what she had and he seeks a blood tincture. His intense voice and warm aura conflicted with his feelings. He was alluring and beautiful but he was a predator. Raven grabbed a piece of raw potato and nibbled as she spoke, “So let me understand properly, as you have stated, you have been anointed with a quest to retrieve my mama to aide you in creating “Exivo” which you are tasked with presenting to your Elder Lord. Does that cover that much?"

The fire burned under the soup caldron as the vegetables became tender and the meat, white and juicy, dancing in the stew. The aroma reached Raven and she felt pangs of hunger. A lot of time had passed since she last ate. Walking over to the cupboard, a loaf of crusty bread was retrieved. She began unwrapping and placing it in the center of the table atop the cutting board. She sliced through the bread and placed large portions on each metal plate. Bradford walked over to the pot and stirred again. He never forgot to stir. He took the ladle and scooped up a bit to smell it. He pulled out a satchel from his vest pocket and took a pinch of something and sprinkled it on top of the stew. He detected her concern and without even looking at her said, "It's herbs and salt. It's for..."

"Flavor?" She giggled as she missed that about her mama. Her cooking was so delicious. Raven knew she could cook meals that satisfied but something about her mamas cooking was so...much more. " Precisely, Miss. Much more." He took her plate from the table and put the stew atop the bread. The vegetables and meat smelled and looked so good. Raven grabbed her spoon looking at the dish hungrily. "Go ahead. Taste it." She remembered her mama and how she always let her taste the meals when they were ready. A smile crept across her lips and she dipped her spoon into the dish scooping up a hearty bite. Steam rose from her plate as she blew on the spoon. Gently taking her bite she clenched her eyes shut as her tastebuds exploded with familiarity and happiness.

Bradford watched her as she ate. He ate along side her so she wouldn't feel uncomfortable sitting at the table with a marble statue who doesn't eat. He could taste the stew and knew it was his best one yet. Rabbit is perfect for this stew, much better than mutton or beef. He relished how she consumed his hard work with focus.

"Now. Continue. I need to know what the blood tincture is for." Raven looked back up from her plate for the first time since she took the first bite.

"That matter I can't share. It isn't known to me. Elder Lord requests it. And I require to satisfy the quest."

Raven stood up with her empty plate. There was half a cauldron of stew left and contemplated a second helping while they continued to converse. "This is your home, eat as much as you can stand to." Bradford stated softly and with a gentle nod. Ravens cheeks flushed and she went back over to the stew and grabbed another healthy scoop and placed it in her empty bowl. As she sat back down, Bradford had sliced her another piece of bread sliding it into her plate.

"Barren, you don't seem to have evil intentions but I still don't know your nature. What do you need with MY blood?"

“I need it to track your mama. I have stated as such and I haven't hidden my intentions." The thought of hurting her now offended him as she had charms of her own and he hadn't seen anyone enjoy a meal as spirited as she was. He thought, "I would have liked to have been a cook in another life."

She had a mouthful of food and a thoughtful expression. "You keep evading my question."

Bradford realized she wasn't going to be distracted by his antics. "All right. I have to drink it. The dark abilities will awaken and I will be able to find her wherever she's gone to from here."

Raven dropped her spoon. Her head started spinning. She could feel the warmth pulsing through her veins. Her hands and arms began to tingle and she felt an overwhelming sensation to lay down. "Raven, please go ahead and rest. We can answer this when you wake. I swear on truth I need your help but I won't take it." She slipped from consciousness and he caught her head with his palm. Lifting her up gently Bradford took her to her bed. Pulling back the curtain and placing her down he knealt beside her.

"How is this woman so strong she can survive here with no help? Everything in the wild wants to kill you and yet she has no fear." He pondered. Footsteps surrounded the cabin. There outside he saw blurs of agile animals running around the cabin. Bradford took interest and stepped out onto the porch. He brushed the herbs away from his face and dodged the feather wind catchers to get a better handle on what was happening. Without warning the animals started swarming him. He pushed forward and a powerful pulse shot forward and the animals all skidded to a stop, some of them hitting an invisible wall.

Shaking their heads they began sniffing the force field. Some hooved at it. What were these animals doing?

“What is your problem?!” Bradford shouted to the stampede attempt made by these creatures. By all accounts, these animals don’t typically act in unison. A stag with enormous presence walked closer as the crowd made a path for his graceful approach.

Bradford heard the stag speak to his mind, “I am the Great Stag of the forrest. I can feel my lady at all times and we speak at great lengths. What business have you to come and put her in danger?” He couldn’t believe it. This Stag was speaking to him! He could read the Stags thoughts.

“I admit my intentions aren’t pure. I am quest bound and determined to acquire what I need. I am growing to greatly admire your Lady. There will be no harm by my doing that will befall her. I give you my word.” Taking a bow to the Stag, he lowered his eyes and listened.

“How can I take the word of the Bitten? You changed into this creature but others are born and grow into monsters. It’s hard to tell what kind of monster you are. Raven is a part of the forrest. She was born here and has always lived here. We will protect her with our lives. The Madam had asked this of us. We will protect her.”

Bradford realized he needed their help as well, “I am Barren Bradford Whitley. The Elder Lord requires the Exivo spell and I have been tasked to acquiring it from Alexandre Bellevonnes. I mean no harm but I do require a bit of it.”

Raven stirred inside and could hear the quiet conversation beginning to heat up between the Stag and the Barren. She rose to her feet and slipped her shoes back on. Walking towards the Stag passing the Barren she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thank you for coming. As you know I haven’t determined whether his intentions purely mean well or if there will be problem. But right now, I can ask him anything and he won’t be able to lie to me.” The Stag stepped forward and smelled her scent on his palm. The scar from the spell remained etched onto his skin. “Ask him if he will protect you from harm, even from His Kind.”

“Well, Barren, do you intend to protect me from any harm, including from the Bitten?”

“I intend to protect my Elder Lords interests and cannot protect you if He were to inflict harm. He is my maker and he alone I cannot break the bond with.”

The Stag took another domineering step forward slowly, “Mark my words Barren Bradford Whitley, the forrest does not forget. We always reclaim what’s ours when fools finish playing their foolish games.”

“Thank you Great Stag. Thank you all my friends. The garden in the forrest needs to be harvested before it dies in the coming frost. I’m almost completely stocked up so join me in getting what you can also.” They all followed her to the garden. The garden was fully replenished from the last harvest already. This magic garden grew back in lightning fast timing. Rabbits came forward and took cabbage and carrots, piglets rooted up potatoes and all animals found seeds or food that would help them. The magic of the forrest kept this garden and all who occupied it.

“Now we have a mama to find. My friends will be with us and I will be with you. I cannot let you bite me but I can give you a vile of my mamas blood that you can drink. It’s old but it will be sufficient for your scrying.” Opening the door she walked to the cupboard and knocked three times. Glowing light surrounded the doors and then she opened them. Inside now were bottles and elixirs, potions and medicines, tinctures and other items for making them. From the back of the space she pulled a small black box out of what seemed like solid wood. Inside this box, there were viles of blood. She selected the one in the center and closed the box replacing it to its hidden sanctuary. Closing the doors as the glow dissipated, she turned to the Barren and handed him the vile.

Bradford took it into his hands and ripped the wax cork out. He dumped the contents into his throat and felt the warmth course through his veins.