Death's Daughter

Chapter fifty four: The death crisis

"What do you mean this isn't the first time?" I ask, astounded at this new information.

"Raven, my son isn't the first to be given this curse. It may be rare, but not the first case of it" Blake announces to me, closely walking towards the nearest window.

"Many eons ago, a foolish sorcerers apprentice had this curse. That's how the world saw it anyway. A curse. The apprentice? He thought it was the most extraordinary gift he could ever have been given. For his whole life he was brandished an outcast. He wanted revenge on the wizards circle. And that's exactly what he did"

"What do you mean?" I ask Blake, knitting my eyebrows together in confusion.

"I know you may believe that dear old dad was always on top of his game, keeping the underworld up to his standards. But I'm afraid you need to think otherwise. There was a time when dad had to go to extreme measures to keep the underworld going. And it's all because of the stupid apprentice" Blake hissed the words out, almost as if they were poison on his tongue.

"Father would never allow that to happen" I say in denial, folding my arms over my chest like a spoiled child.

"That apprentice went on a killing spree. He felt power surge through him after every kill. He killed the wizards circle with fire in his eyes.  That's when dad stepped in. He had created a special black crystal which was forged in the river Styx, and because it contained this water from the lost souls, it prevented any magic linked with death to be used. So the curse was kept at bay, and the apprentice foolishly ran with his tail between his legs"

"But if this crystal worked, why not make one for Edward?" I enquire, utterly confused.

"Because Raven, only the god of death can make one, and my pride is too large for me to ask my dad for assistance. Not that he'd help me anyway" he puffs out his chest as the words slip from his tongue.

Honestly, his head's too big for his body.

"Then what threw father off his game?" I ask, returning back to his story.

"The deaths the apprentice made threw the underworld off balance. Practically all of the reapers had to go out into the world and escort the souls back to the underworld. Even Styx himself was busy that day. Due to all these souls appearing in the underworld that were not destined to be there in the first place, dad had to use a very old tradition that had been forbidden by the fates. But he was left with no choice, so he returned the souls back to earth in new forms. And that was how the method of being reborn was brought back"

"Brought back?" I hear Harriet ask from alongside me.

"Yes, brought back. Are you deaf as well as dead?" Blake sneers at the witch.

She did kidnap his son after all...

"Well if this method has been brought back, then my life isn't over!" Harriet exclaims with hope in her eyes.

I turn to catch Blake's gaze and realise that what the witch is asking for is easier said than done.

"Easy there Witch" Blake spits out, taking a deep breath in.

"It was brought back, but that doesn't mean it's used. After all, it was banned by the fates, and our father is quite commonly known to be on the fates permanent bad side. He did elope with a human after all"

"Immortal" I budge in, correcting him.

What can I say? It's the little details.

"You sure you want to get involved blue eyes?" Blake says, raising an eyebrow in my direction.

Subconsciously, I lower my eyes to the ground. I had completely forgotten my situation here.

"Blake what was the point of this story anyway?" Sarah huffs, looking longingly at the door knowing her little baby is just beyond it.

"I thought my point should've been obvious by now. Seriously, none of you get it?" He asks frustratedly, turning to each of us.

"I thought you were supposed to be the smart one" Blake seethes in my direction.

Gulping, I think back over his words.

What connection could there possibly be with his story?

The only connection I can think of is just proving that Edward isn't the first to have discovered this curse. Is father the one to blame or something? I just don't understand... what on earth is Blake hinting at? Why am I not understanding this?!

I am the smart one after all. I'm the future heir to the underworld throne.

So why does this all seem to be blowing over my head? What could this story possibly mean?

But if that's not the right answer....

Then what is?

As I'm pondering through my thoughts, the door barges open and in comes Rayne with an evil glint.

"How did you get out!" He screams, looking at the two ghosts in the room.

Harriet's face turns stone cold at the sight of her so called "father" whilst Sarah seems to be petrified as if he's the ghost instead of her.

Heh. How ironic.

I stare at Rayne a moment longer and then it hits me.

"Oh no" I gasp out, impulsively taking a step away from the wizard.

Blake let's out a dark chuckle at my revelation.

"So the penny's finally dropped, hasn't it my dear sister" he says, smirking towards Rayne.

"What on earth are you playing at boy" Rayne says, marching over to my brother.

"Nothing really" Blake shrugs.

For a moment, the whole room is silent. Not a word is spoken for the next five minutes.

I'm too shocked to speak.

Sarah is too scared to move.

Harriet just simply glares at Rayne.

Whilst my brother and the wizard seem to have a staring contest between themselves.

But that's when the silence comes tumbling down as Blake utters one word.

"Apprentice"