Chapter Twenty-Three: Changing Fate

Today was the day.

Today Raven is going to start her journey to Lapis City and marry Oliver Tarren, the first son of the Tarren family, one of the most influential families in the city.

She would be sent into the city starting today, and after the two-day journey to the city, she would be staying at the Tarren mansion for a few days before the wedding ceremony.

Anna was crying, as she knew there was a chance of her never seeing Raven again. Raven was trying to lock herself in her room, but she knew she would have to go eventually.

Alex, however, had other plans.

Alex was away from the house, practicing his newly acquired origins. He had possessed it for about a week and a half. So he was still fairly new at using his new power.

He was practicing using both his purple and black lightning and determining the strength of every spell he used.

"I won't allow this marriage to happen, no matter what." Alex thought to himself. "Sadly, Raven, I won't be able to help you immediately, but I promise you. I will not allow this to happen."

Alex came back to the house to the sight of Raven, Anna, and Eve crying. Veronica and Mary weren't crying, but they did have upset emotions on their faces.

"Alex!" Raven said as she ran over to Alex, hugging him.

"Please stop this from happening. Please!" Raven begged him.

Alex returned her hug and whispered into her ear, "Raven, I promise you I will save you. Just be strong for a few days for me, and I'll save you."

Raven, still crying, nodded her head and started to walk to the carriage as she said her goodbyes to everyone.

"Im so sorry, Raven." Anna said as she was crying.

"It's okay, mom." Raven said, holding a small smile. "I have faith in my brother."

Anna didn't expect that response. "What did she mean by having faith in Alex? What's going on?"

Raven got onto the carriage. With her was one maid from the main household, along with two of the black armored guards of the main house and three normal guards with regular steel armor. They would escort her on the trail to the city and protect her from any bandits that might come. While Alex didn't like leaving his sister's safety in the hands of others, he knew the black armored guards were very well trained and were capable of protecting Raven if the need arose.

Raven stared out the small window at everyone and waved with a small smile. However, it was clear as day that she was still very upset, as tears were still coming down from her eyes.

The carriage left, and while everyone was upset, Alex had a different expression: anger.

He knew at that moment he couldn't save her, which made him angry. If he had his way, he would've run away with everyone; however, he knew that was not an option, At least not yet.

"What did she mean by having faith in you, Alex?" Anna curiously asked.

"Mom, just trust me and everything I say tonight. Please." Alex told Anna.

Anna couldn't help but be curious, but she knew Alex had something planned, he would never let Raven go without fightin. She would just have to wait and see what he does but she does wonder why she has a feeling that everything is about to change.

Later that day, Alex learned that Edward had left the main house to visit the Goldburn mansion in order to ensure that the marriage between the two was set in stone. Which made Alex's plans all the easier.

That night, Alex got out of bed, walked into his mother's room, and woke her up.

"Alex? What are you doing?" Anna asked, still groggy.

"Mom, remember what I said earlier? It's time, start packing the essentials now. Food, clothes, medicine, whatever you can." Alex explained.

"Alright, but Alex, what's going on?" Anna asked.

"Well, Mom, I'm freeing all of us." Alex said.

"The less you know the better, at least for the moment." Alex thought to himself. He didn't want to involve his mother with the details, because he knew she would try to stop him and he would let her. It's his mother after all.

"Now do get the second step ready for me." Alex thought to himself walking down the hallways of the house. He arrived and a door and knocked but then opened the door saying.

"Veronica its time."

Veronica was just woken up so she's still a bit groggy

"It's time, young master?" Veronica asked.

"It's time for what we talked about; Mom already knows; tell Eve to start packing. I have to take care of something. I'll meet all of you at the Waterfall when I can. From there, we head to Lapis City. If, for any reason, by midnight I'm not there, go without me." Alex said.

"Understood, and be safe, young master." Veronica said as Alex left the room.

Alex had spent the past few days planning this; he told only Veronica about his plans since he figured she could be trusted.

Alex then grabbed his tachi and left the house, starting to head for the Blackwood Mansion.

There weren't many guards on patrol around the house due to some of of them being away with Edward on his trip. Making this all the easier. Alex used to the cover of night to appraoch the back of the mansion.

When Alex got near the back entrance to the house, he saw that the kitchen, where the entrance was, was empty. He then put on a mask similar to his master's, except instead of a white mask, it was black. He then also put on a black cloak so he could blend into the darkness of the house.

Alex got through the door and out of the kitchen when he spotted one of the black armored guards by the staircase. He needed to go up the staircase, so he knew he would have to handle this quickly. He pulled out the dagger Mary had given him, and using his lightning to enhance his speed, he jumped up on the guard and stabbed him in the neck at a spot not covered by the armor. He put his hand over the mouth of the guard to stop him from screaming and slowly let him down as the life faded from the guard's eyes.

Alex dragged the now-dead guard into the dark kitchen as quietly as he could. He hoped the darkness would cloak the body from any wandering eyes.

He went up the staircase and saw an old butler carrying an empty tray. Alex decided to sneak up to the butler and stab him in the neck, just like the guard. He had nowhere to hide the body, so he knew he would have to be quick. Alex arrived at a fancy but familiar door.

"That bastard's office, huh? Let's take a peak." Alex thought to himself.

Alex got into the office and looked around on the desk going through his files and paperwork. However, one folded piece of paper he found inside a desk drawer had garnered his attention.

He was reading what the papersaid, and it took him by surprise. It was a recipe for a poison that you can't smell or taste. A subtle method of assassination.

However, Alex kept reading and saw something he never wanted to find. He had expected it but didn't want to believe it.

He put the folded-up piece of paper into his pocket and kept walking with even more determination.

He didn't want to be right, but the evidence was there. A note about poisoning Anna: he had always wondered, because his mother was very strong, how she could be paralyzed in the future, as Xymaris told him when he was young. She said that his mother would be poisoned and paralyzed; however, he knew one truth that couldn't be argued. Nobody could get near her that she did not trust.

Alex gritted his teeth as he was about to walk into a room a few doors down from Edward's office. He saw the decor outside of the room and knew it was a 50/50 chance so he cracked open the door and peeked inside . Edmund was sleeping on the fancy bed with an unknown woman next to him.

"Ah, the horny bastard really can't stop, can he?" Alex thought to himself.

Alex snuck into the room and got near the bed. Once he got next to the two held the dagger to Edmund's neck, cutting him open slightly. Meanwhile, the woman who woke up tried to scream, but Alex pointed his palm at her with a ball of lightning coming out of it.

"Don't even think about it; you don't want to die for this prick, do you?" Alex threated.

The woman staying silent shook her head side to side, which made Alex smile.

"Good, go into his drawer and take all of his gold that you can find, call it my treat, then leave through the back exit, and if I hear you scream or warn anyone, I promise I'll kill you after i'm done with him. Understood?"

The woman nodded her head, grabbed all the gold she could carry, and left.

"Now where to start with you, Edmund?"

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shoutout to niznet for the 3 power stones on the last release though, I appreciate it!

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