Chapter 40: 040: FOLLOW YOU TO THE AFTERLIFE AND DRAG YOU OUT!

I could feel the trembling gazes from the others, but Bibi, her lips widened to utter more curses. I didn’t give her the chance. I immediately left, gently sucking on my bottom lip.

I staggered to my room, feeling lightheaded. Why did I suddenly feel dizzy? But then I reached for the berries in my pocket... they were glowing faint purple, and mist swirled in the air... was I seeing things? I gently wiped my eyes and stared again. It was still the same thing.

I staggered but managed to rest my hands on the wall beside me and steadied myself. Just then, I lifted my gaze and right there Elowen was standing in front of me.

"Raven, why did you cause such a commotion outside?" she asked, her voice cold, different from the tone she usually faked.

"Oh, you stopped faking it?" I said mockingly, twitching my lips. She laughed, but then it turned dark. Her hands folded underneath her chest and she gave me a cold, sinister look.

"Sister, don’t mess with Bibi. I can’t afford any issues that you will cause. She’s the Empress’s niece, don’t you understand?" she snapped, and I rolled my eyes.

"Aah, you want to lick her boots because of that? Where is the almighty, fearless Elowen?" I managed to voice out, and her brow furrowed. She gritted her teeth and reached her hand forward, but I slapped it away. She sneered, and then her eyes flickered with something.

"What happened to you?" she asked, but nothing escaped my lips. I need to leave, I thought, and took a step, but her shoulder bumped into mine. I staggered, and her hand reached for my hair.

"Don’t tell me you got weak after fighting. Raven, I expected more from you. Your mouth is obviously stronger than your body. I don’t care if Bibi rips you open, but don’t drag your mother or me into it," she added again, and I groaned.

"Oh my gawd, do you always have to rant like some kind of bird?" I groaned, bored, and watched as she gritted her teeth in anger. Just then she smirked and moved closer.

"Sister, you better get yourself treated. Who knows, your heart might just stop beating one day," she threatened. Those words weren’t full of concern but malice. Her pupils dilated at the berries in my hands, yet she didn’t say a word. Suddenly, her hands reached out and shoved me hard. I lost my balance.

*Hiss*

I sprained my anles due to her push. I couldn’t help but feel my body move backwards slowly. There was a stair behind me. No one knew I was here, no one would come to help—ugh, worst of all, Elowen’s face was all smug. Looks like I’m not getting out of this uninjured. I closed my eyes, ready for the impact, but instead my body rested on something soft... gentle.

My eyes snapped open. "Huh?" I thought in confusion, wanting to look up, but I felt dizzy and stopped.

"Bibi," Elowen muttered under her breath, and her eyes suddenly shifted.

"Sister, are you okay?" she asked, stepping closer, feigning worry, but Bibi stretched her hands, gently curling them to protect my face and body.

Elowen stopped in her tracks and bit her lips. "I would never hurt my sister," she said, biting her lips, as soft tears fell down her cheeks.

I felt so angry hearing those false words and fake tears. Elowen... did she think this was over? I’ll surely take my revenge. I gritted my teeth, ready to say something, but Bibi suddenly pinched my waist. I didn’t understand what she meant, and I didn’t trust her entirely. I gently pushed her off my body.

"I’m okay," I said and gently walked away, trying not to act weakened. I couldn’t be weak now, especially not in front of Bibi.

"I really didn’t push her. I would never," Elowen said, and Bibi finally spoke.

"I know," she said, but her voice was cold. She walked off, and I heard retreating steps.

I didn’t look back. I just dragged my feet to the other stairs... but everything felt like it was expanding and shrinking at the same time. I stopped in my tracks and felt my body fall backwards, but a hand suddenly circled around my waist.

"Weren’t you boasting earlier? What is wrong with you, Raven?" she asked sarcastically, but then I saw her eyes land on the berries in my hands, and her eyes widened. Her other hand immediately covered her nose... and I heard her muttering curses under her breath.

"Are you stupid, Raven?" she snapped, and I lifted my hands, staring at the berries.

"No, I’m not," I said, but instantly she snatched the berries and held them in her hand.

"These are poisonous hallucination berries, don’t you know?" she snapped, but nothing escaped my lips. I had already passed out, but I could still feel movement around me.

"What did you do to her?" I heard Azrael’s cold voice, and Bibi’s lips parted, but Azrael snatched me away from her, he stared at the berries in her hands and chuckled.

"So you poisoned her," he said, and Bibi gasped, staring at the berries in her hands.

"I didn—" but Azrael took me in his arms and glared at her. "Follow me."

I guess that was the last thing I heard before passing out instantly...

After a few hours, I opened my eyes. It was dawn, and the chirping of insects echoed loudly around. I groaned. Why did my whole body suddenly feel swollen and aching? I gently placed my palm on the bed, pulling my body upwards, when Veyra’s hand reached out. I trembled, but he softly pinched my cheeks. That subtle action dragged me awake. I gazed at him and the others staring at me.

"Are you okay?" Liora asked and moved, sitting beside the ward bed, and I laughed.

"Why do you all look like someone died? I’m perfectly fine," I said. I felt much better and no longer lightheaded, but scanning the room... where is Bibi?

"Where’s Bib—" I didn’t finish my words when a chair was pushed over. Bibi was tied to it, her eyes dark. The moment she saw me, disgust flashed in her eyes.

"You ungrateful pig. I saved your life. How dare you tie me to this chair?" she snapped, panting heavily, exchanging angry glances between me and my beastmen.

"What happened?" I couldn’t help but voice out in shock, and Veyra chuckled.

"Well, we had to tie her up. She wouldn’t confess she poisoned you... and we didn’t want to hurt her till you were awake," he explained.

I couldn’t help but bury my hands in my face the moment they said those words, and my body began to jerk.

I could feel their worried gazes, and my beastmen hurried over, their hands gently resting on my shoulders.

"Are you okay?" Ryker asked, and Liora stood up.

"I’ll call the nurse," she said, but my hand shot out and held hers.

"It’s okay," I said and lifted my gaze. I was laughing so hard. It was so funny what they did. I could feel everyone’s confused gaze on me, but I still laughed and gently wiped the small tears resting below my lashes. I breathed out softly. I don’t remember ever laughing like this throughout my pathetic life as Rosette. I closed my lips and watched everyone gaze at me.

"She didn’t hurt me, but where are the golden berries?" I said, and everyone seemed to calm down. Bibi’s eyes softened, but it was quickly replaced with anger.

"Our score isn’t settled. Untie me," she snapped, exchanging looks with my beastmen, her eyes telling them to do as she said, but they ignored her and turned to me.

"Those berries were poisonous. Why didn’t you mention it earlier when you arrived? What if something worse had happened and Azrael didn’t find you?" I felt Ryker’s helpless, worried voice rise... he was scolding me...

I didn’t know they were poisonous. I thought they were edible and probably cost a fortune. I didn’t read about fruits in the story, so it wasn’t entirely my fault.

"Keep your voice down. Don’t yell at Master," Veyra said softly and turned to stare at me.

Was he going to support my actions? My eyes beamed and my lips parted, but—

"Really, Ryker is right. Do you know what would have happened if you had ingested those berries?" he snapped, and I blinked, trying to find something to say, but nothing came out. I turned to Liora, but she looked away.

"I’m also angry... you would have been hurt," she mumbled softly.

I sighed and rested my hand on my temple.

"Geez, don’t gang up on me. I understand," I said, rolling my eyes, but it seemed to only agitate my Beastsmen.

"Out," I heard Azrael’s cold voice. Liora didn’t say a thing and walked out, dragging Bibi and the tied chair.

"Liora, are you betraying me?" I yelled, staring at the annoyed looks on my beastmen’s faces.

"Really, I can explain..." I said, but they kept closing in, and I shut my eyes...

But instead, Veyra’s head rested on my forehead, and Ryker gently held my legs, massaging softly...

Huh?

Even Azrael just stared down at me with angry eyes, but his hand reached out and gently caressed my hair.

"Before you do anything, do think about us, Master. We were so scared... don’t get hurt," Veyra and Ryker said in sync, and Azrael added...

"If you seek death... we will follow you to the afterlife and drag you out!"