Incubus I (UNDER EDITING)!!!

Chapter 58

   

                           They didn't make a fire that night, but stayed wrapped up in blankets,  except for those who kept watch. Well hidden in the cave,  those who could sleep did, and those who couldnt, just lay still,  or joined the watch. some of Knightsbridge patrol teams, passed a couple of times,  but none seemed to notice them, as they were well hidden in the shadows of the moonless night.

Edda still kept to herself,  not wanting to talk to no one. She skipped dinner that evening and went to sleep , earlier than the others.
Rava after hearing the news too didnt take it well,  but retained his relaxed state of being. As joined the nights watch too, as a result of his inability to catch some sleep.
He noticed Kelvin's wolf too hadn't followed them there,  but there was no way he could go in search of it.

He walked back into the cave to find Ava, and he did find her, reading from a piece of paper, with a small flame she had conjured up in her hands. He could tell that she was reading hurriedly, like she was afraid someone or something would sneak up on her, and just as he had thought she would, she put out the flame immediately she felt movement around her, and he could hear sounds that sounded like she was tucking the papers in a pack or something.

"what's that" he inquired closing the gap between them as he too a seat next to her.
"it's nothing" she said, intertwining her fingers.
"nothing? " Rava inquired quite surprised
"I could swear I saw you reading from those papers now "
"well... Those are just recipes for making an elixir "
"and what does this elixir do" he asked, with a tone that revealed his heightened curiosity.
Although she knew he couldn't see her, she tilted her head to the side,  revealing displeasure at his inquisitiveness.
"can you just stop it with the questions " she said coldly.
Rava's jaw dropped,  not expecting her to go on the offensive at all. He sat there for a bit, finding it difficult to believe she had said that to him.

Next,  he got up and walked out of the cave,  annoyed. He then began to wonder what it was that was written in those papers, thinking perhaps she was doing something,  and his curiosity could ruin it.
But what he couldn't understand was, why she was being so secretive if it was a good thing.
She couldn't possibly be walking with them with alter motives he thought,  considering how close she was to the princess, and how long they had known each other. Nothing he thought of about her being against them made sense, so he dropped the thought,  and focused on the source of anger. Although it wasn't like him,  he was slowly beginning to regret stooping so low to her level.

"Rava" she called from behind him,  in a low, remorseful tone.
He almost turned at the tone of her voice,  but was still angry.
"I'm sorry" she whispered
He didn't even her the courtesy of a reply even though he sensed the remorse in her voice.
"I just havent been myself all day,  considering what happened " she explained, but still didn't get a reply.
She took a step forward,  but he tilted his head diagonally sideways and she stopped,  grabbing the message.
"don't you get it, I wasn't in he mood for the questions "
Rava still remained silent.

"Aren't you going to say something" she asked.
Rava took a moment, to turn around to her,  and remained quiet.
She spread out her arms inquiringly, expecting at least a word
Rava drew a deep breath when said to her calmly
"just so you know, I didn't come back for anything or anyone, but you"
After this he took a couple of steps back to the edge and jumped off, to the lower grounds.
She ran off to the edge and looked down,  but couldn't see a thing as it was too dark down there.
She rubbed her palm against her forehead a repeatedly, has she receded into her thoughts.

"we both know you don't care about him as much as he does right " Natasha said from behind her
"excuse me" Ava said turning back to her
"cmon Ava we both know you're not capable of love " Natasha responded.
Ava didn't respond at first,  but tilted her head to the side.
"and you know this how? " she asked moments after
"you really want to do this? " Natasha asked.
"if they can't discern who you are, you should know by now that I can"
Ava smiled at this sentence "of course yes"
"and by now you should know what I'm capable of " Ava said closing the gap between them.
Natasha swallowed hard against the lump in her throat as Ava threateningly walked around her.
" what do you want with them" Natasha asked nervously
"that is not your business " Ava responded.
Natasha turned around immediately Ava got behind her away from her line of sight completely,  but she was gone.
Natasha looked around her,  but there was no sign of Ava.

Her heart leapt, when Ava re-appeared behind her, in a dark purple ghostly glow, and grabbed her neck.
Chocking in Ava's grip she noticed a crescent moon mark on her forehead.
"En_chan_tress" she croaked. Ava nodded in acknowledgement.
" you will not stop me" Ava responded squeezing tighter
Natasha immediately opened her palm, bathing Ava in flames, forcing her to let go.
She staggered off to the edge of the cliff, coughing with every move. 
She motioned to stand,  but Ava smacked her off the cliff, into the trees below.
She stood up there listening to the sound of slapping leaves and snapping branches as Natasha fell,  till she heard a loud thud, a few seconds after.
"what's going on here" Vulcan sounded from behind.
"oh it's nothing I was just taking a leak " she replied.
Turning around " you mind staying up here with me a little bit, it's really creepy out here tonight.
Vulcan looked around for a bit, he examined the dying flames on the ground.
"were those really necessary?" he asked pointing to the fire.
"for a place as dark as this... Absolutely " she replied
"hmm...just make sure to stay inside its not safe out here" he implored  and then continued his watch.
Ava heaved a sigh of relief,  and then retreated back into the cave.

Edda woke the squad up early, assuming the role of the captain , she ordered that they be ready to move out at first light, and they all obliged, they were packing up at Dawn, when Natasha staggered into the cave.
She limped, till she was sure they could see her before she crashed against the walls for support.
Rava and Marcus immediatelywent to help her. They took her by the arms,  and set her down on a blanket that hadn't been rolled up.

Her eyes were red from lack of sleep,  she had suffered cuts and scratches, and had a stake planted in her arm.
Rava's eyes grew wide when lifted the other arm, and realized it moved freely, he swallowed against a lump in his throat when he realized it was broken.
"who did this to you" Aureathria asked. Kneeling at her side and examining the wounds,
She tried to reply, but just coughed more blood. It was obvious she was loosing it, unable to speak anything, even a word of a spell, neither could she move her hands anymore, consequently, unable to heal herself.
"we need to help her" Aureathria said, looking round at them all.
Edda just stood in the distance, too shocked to move.
"there's nothing we can do" Carina said,  "she's done"
Aureathria looked down at her with glassy eyes, as she Intertwined her fingers with Natasha's.
"you're gonna be okay"
At this point Ava returned into the cave from her clean up,
And saw them at it. Aureathria looked up at her as she entered, and called for her help.
Ava looked round at the others first,  before getting on her knees beside her.

Natasha was gradually getting unconscious, but when she noticed Ava at her side,  from the corner of her eyes, she grunted, and mumbled something no one could understand, but everyone could sense the rejection.
Ava closed her eyes and touched Her hands, in a bid to connect with her subconscious, filling it with images of her killing the rest of the squad.
In her discomfort, Natasha kicked and kicked, like the rest her body was bound,  but it was useless, she hadn't even noticed when a tear escaped her lids, and ran down the side of her face toward her ear.

Ava disconnected herself from her mind, and then raised a brow at her. Natasha gave up, and nodded with a shiver, she thought about the hurtful compromise she was taking,  but of what use was she to the squad if she died now. She had to live to fight another day.

Aureathria grabbed Ava by the neck with an inquiring stare," what did you do" she asked.
This act threw everyone off, causing them to rush to separate them. They were cationing Aureathria when they heard Natasha's coughing.
Aureathria immediately returned to her side, and helped subdue it.
"Aurea... Let...  Her..  " she mumbled, Ava got down at these words and started the healing spell.

                    A few hours after noon,  Natasha sat up from her sleep,  like she'd had the worst nightmare ever, problem was she couldnt remember what she saw.
Aureathria was asleep at her side,  but her movements woke her up.
"thank God you're awake... what happened to you "
"what do you mean,  what happened to me" I just woke up
" no I mean, what happened to you last night... How did you get those cuts "
Natasha examined her arms with a shocked expression.
"that's funny...  I didn't have these last night"
"so... you don't remember walking in here this morning, or anything apart from laying down to sleep, Aureathria asked,  trying not to give away too much details.
"no... Should i?" she replied
"no, its fine"
"you sure "
"yeah...  Absolutely " Aureathria concluded,  rising on her feet and waking out the cave, in a bid to find Ava.