Darren continues to speak but my mind is far away... centuries ago to be exact.
My wicked-ass grandmother killed my parents. Everything I've known has been a lie. I remember the day we couldn't find Elsie. Unfortunately, I remember it clearly. Every fucked up detail is burned into the memory of my brain. My mother's screams, my father's howls. I remember holding my brothers as I broke apart.
I even remember when my grandmother dragged us away from the village square telling us a spell would be cast in order to bring Elsie back. All she needed from us were special ingredients from the woods. Crows.
Without hesitation and through the pain, my brothers and I grabbed our nets and went hunting. Crows are carnivorous and we always had to run them off our kills so catching them wouldn't be difficult.
Using our nets we caught three and brought them back but Merelda stopped us.
"Your mother, foolish woman, went and cast the spell but we must hurry and protect ourselves." The memory of her haggled voice is clear in my head even to this day.
"But we have the crows you said you needed. How can she cast the spell without the birds?" Drac had asked.
But Merelda wasn't hearing it. She pulled her limbered hand from the pocket of her apron and blew some sort of black powder in our faces while whispering unintelligible words.
My brothers and I soon blacked out but her final words to us before the blackness took our sight was, "Stupid boys."
Shaking myself from the memories, I focus on Drac. Out of us brothers, Drac was closest to our mother. I wouldn't say he was a momma's boy but he was always quick to do her bidding and make her special gifts like the carving of a bird he once made her. Draven carved a buck for her, antlers and all, while I carved a miniature tree with a hollow.
We all loved Mother, more than anything in this world but for Drac... this news is like losing her all over again.
"We will avenge her, brother. I promise you here and now. Merelda will suffer for our mother."
Drac's face is stoic and completely blank of any hint of the raging inferno beneath his surface but when he speaks it shows.
"Each bone will be removed from her body."
"She will need to be tried by the Elders," Darren says like his word is fucking law.
Mine and Drac's growls echo around the room in response but Ronny speaks up.
"Hell no she won't, Dar. She killed our parents and theirs, not to mention the countless True Bloods she murdered to save her hide. There's no way we can leave justice to the very people who work side-by-side with the cunt."
My embers heat at my Black Bird's words. There's no one on this planet who can understand what my brothers and I are feeling except these sisters.
"Dare Bear, if you fight us on this I will never forgive you," Roxy says as she stands and rounds the couch to Drac's side. "We're doing this with or without your help but we'll have a better chance if you're with us."
Darren drops his head for a moment before nodding. "Fine but you three girls need to work on your magic first."
He picks up one of the books and flips it open. The book is aged and looks as if it'll fall to dust if you handle it without care but Darren flips through it with ease. All of the scents in the air remind me of Merelda and I have to keep myself from tossing hellfire at them.
"This book states that the Blood Crows must have a talisman to keep their magic from becoming unpredictable. Has anything new begun to happen with you?"
Ronny blushes and clears her throat, "Uh, yeah. I think I have levitation abilities. They're chaotic though and come when I'm surprised or... when my mind is otherwise preoccupied."
She tosses a glance at me and bites her lip. I reach behind her and lightly pull on her hair. Why is she suddenly shy? Ronny doesn't really give a shit what anyone thinks.
"Oh! So when you guys are fu-"
"Stop! Don't say any other word, Roxy! I do not want to know." Darren’s eyes are glowing brightly as he looks right at me.
I'm most definitely not afraid of this man but Black Bird seems to care for him so I'll indulge him. For now.
"Listen, I know that you have become bonded to my daughter but let me warn you. I know how to break a bond and if you break her heart in any fucking way, I will cut the ties and feed you to the gators. I don't give a shit if you're a hellhound, I will do it. Same for you, Drac. I will not hesitate."
My respect for this man just shot up some. He's protecting who he sees as his little girl and I can definitely respect that. Drac nods and bites back a smirk.
"Yes, sir. I understand." I'm able to cover my smile much easier. A Fairy will never be able to harm us but I wouldn't doubt he would leave us with some everlasting marks.