Chapter 31. Down To The Dungeons
Waiting for Maven to arrive at Doctor Ingram's home, he had finally persuaded Sephora to remove her blood-stained royal garments and go for a shower, although black never stained with blood, the fabric itself would never quite be the same after trying to get that volume out.
The older Raven also managed in the same swoop to convince the princess to release, to the doctor's well-trained eyes, the mostly-dead human carcass. He was certain this had been the correct decision. Allowing him time to examine the body thoroughly, while the sweet, young, princess showered and cleaned off as much of the blood as she could.
Not all had access to baths, and showers themselves were not entirely common below the nobility's ring. The Doctor's home in the noble quarters was one of the least grand, tucked in a forgettable corner. The type of home that would be given to new nobility, who had been granted titles or who worked in the castle providing essential services, was for those who vied (knowing or not) for the privilege of being granted a new title. At least the Doctor had showering facilities; this was the place she had flown to for help, and so Sephora would shower.
To Sephora's surprise, Maven's sister had turned out to be Doctor Ingram's mate. This was the reason that the old servant had come by here, as she often did. It was like clockwork when she visited right after work. Often with her, she would have the leftovers - if you could call them that, as it was most of the dishes that went uneaten, if they didn't need to be put down the garbage shoot. Dropping in any leftover food that wasn't eaten from that day.
The youngest raven Princess, Sephora was now sitting in Doctor Ingram's, with a borrowed green dress from... possibly Ingram's mate.
The werewolf was unconscious and in its human form, lying on the large table - the surgery was the doctor's largest room.
"That thing is not staying in here. They are not even supposed to be real!" Ingram tried to soothe his mate, but her protest was more terror than anger. Her protest... It made sense to Sephora.
Werewolves were children's stories, told to young hatchlings. Usually, their tales coincided with appearances of creatures called 'the Dark Ones' that even harpies once used to have caution against. No one had seen a werewolf in centuries, much less and longer had it been since anyone actually laid eyes on a Dark One. Werewolves were long thought extinct, and Dark Ones... they were an item of children's tales to keep young ones from venturing outside the city before they were older and more capable.
The princess circled the table, which the human lay on, once. 'For a creature of lore... here I have one all for myself.' Sephora mused to herself, 'What else is mother hiding?'' Her thoughts drowned out the squabble between Ingram and his mate.
After learning of what was on the table, not a human... or avian, something... else... she had instantly freaked out at him. Beginning to yell and then, scream at him to, "Get it... that THING, out of their house." Her reaction was instant, once he told her what the creature was. "This is dangerous, sweetheart. Not just politically and socially, that creature could kill all of us in this room if it really is... a werewolf." She eyed the form lying on the table as she slurred the last one. To her, it might as well have been an incurable injury that need not have happened.
All before she locked eyes with Sephora.
Who was still sitting in her feathered chair, looking as innocent as she ever did. Maven, the old housekeeper of Royal's castle, remained neutral and just watched the commotion for a few minutes before yelling. She had heard the rumors about Sephora's behavior but had never chased them up, for fear of the Queen's wrath. They had never seemed to quite fit with what she knew the princesses to be like. They had both cared for many of the staff over the years, especially those Lady Nox scorned and harmed... but not in an intimate way.
"QUITE!" The old harpy raised her voice, not quite a yell, but enough to catch attention.
Everyone immediately hushed.
The old servant's eyes met Sephora's icy blue eyes, like their once old and kind king's. A wave of nostalgia seemed to hit Maven, and though her yell worked, she no longer yelled... instead, a soft fondness colored her tone. "The young Princess has an idea for how to deal with this situation, doesn't she? That's why she's here. That's why she's brought this... werewolf to you... Ingram… to heal it for who knows what? Who else in the Kingdom could either princess trust with near enough a bloodied corpse, let alone without knowing that it wasn't a human corpse, without the Queen finding out."
Ingram, awkwardly cut in here, "Well, they-, it-, are human. Just not fully-"
Maven and her sister both looked as if they were ready to throttle their fellow older harpy, with equal fury, when Sephora spoke and saved the day.
"You want the Werewolf gone; I want the werewolf not on death's door and snuck into the castle. I will inform my mother of its appearance when the time suits. It appears as though our wants are aligned, and Doctor Ingram thought you would be in the best place to help me with this, Maven." The Princess chimed cheerily, "What was the situation in the castle as you left?"
At this last question, everyone quickly hushed up to listen.
"Hmm… well, let's see." Maven ran over the Breakfast being delayed to a late lunch for Sephora, and yet Sephora was not present. Detailing Seraphina's keen interest in one of the Owl Princes, Sephora narrowed her eyes a little at this, part curiosity and part envy, but not enough to be noticeable and quickly resumed the poker face their mother had so often insisted they practice. Not the sweet innocent one, but the calm one, for once, she was now grateful of.
As Maven went on to explain that all of the guests had taken note of Princess Sephora's lack of presence, and that the other servants had noted whispers on this. Princess Sephora's forehead crumpled, "Yes. Yes. I am aware." Throwing her hands up a little, "I missed the first large, important party where I might first meet my mate, the one mother decides is a suitable arrangement politically. However, I found a dead human... werewolf! Along with some of our ancient forests's destroyed. Once made aware, I am certain my mother will be more forgiving than usual. If another Clan is behind this, it will be seen as a declaration of war. Others have tried in the past. That werewolf is the only witness to what happened at that scene. It was barely a survivor… your husband," Sephora nodded towards Doctor Ingram, "Had such skill in stitching this creature up and identifying it, that it is not dead, and I do have a witness. However, if my mother finds out about this prior to getting the information myself, I will be far worse off."
With a sigh of annoyance, mixed with a heavy burden that is being the known and constant disappointment, Sephora continued, "This may be what proves my worth to my mother, the Queen. What were the rough positions of everyone in the house tonight, Maven? Are or were there any guest plans you were aware of before leaving?"
After hearing the Princess's plea for help gaining recognition from the Queen, and the very real, possible threat that the unconscious werewolf had witnessed in the ancient forest. It made sense to every raven harpy in that room to assist the princess in discovering what the imposing threat was, and more importantly, who was responsible.
At this, the old Raven Harpy leaned against the wall and considered the last moments of the days' events, before detailing them thoroughly; Lord Fielder's drunken state and Master Fenn taking him to his quarters. Both of the Eurasian Prince's keenness on a long session in the baths, and drinking some of the blood wine. Detailing Lord Easton's plans for some discussion with Lady Nox, one that their mother had not knocked down.
Sephora raised a curious eyebrow at that, but her face softened to remaining sweet and innocent the entire time. She had always seemed younger than her twin sister in appearance and manner, at least in this way. Often being mistaken for a sister some years younger – despite being identical in almost every other way, apart from their eyes.
After a long time spent deciding and a few injections of the aesthetic, from one of Ingram's medical drawers, later, it was decided.
Maven would sneak the werewolf into the castle tonight, making use of a delivery that was left at the servants' entrance of the castle. It was a cart of vegetables for the Peacock Royals. This is how the old housekeeper would assist Sephora in getting the werewolf into the dungeons.
Waiting until the chef was finished for the day and had returned to his humble dwellings in the noble sector was important. Any other rogue pieces, such as the peacocks, as they were the only group' Maven had been unsure about. Would be dealt with as and when they came up. None of the guests had even laid eyes on Sephora as of yet, which would both be of use and a hindrance.
Under the cover of darkness, the old housekeep helped Sephora fly the unconscious werewolf, still in human form, back up to the castle from the Nobles' Section. Ravens were almost invisible at night thanks to the colour of their wings; the nobler, the more effective this was. Its uses increased with rank and ability, and why for ravens, a mate with pure black wings and eyes, and… really anything dark, was so highly sought after.
They quickly covered the unconscious shifter, temporarily stashed in the small cart of vegetables. "Okay, Princess… you'll need to go ahead 'nd check if the coast is clear. If you're stopped, I'll wait to wheel this one in." Her voice was so low it was almost a whisper.
Sephora nodded and slipped back into the castle through the same back door that she exited.
This was quite exciting to her. She had often snuck male harpy in and out of the castle for her own enjoyment - sometimes noble boys or knights that took her fancy.
The Queen, Lady Nox, was unaware. She thought of it as normal for a royal. For Sephora to have many adoring male harpies from lower classes… and male servants were not taboo for raven society but considered an indulgence. Although, unless one was widowed, those other... purposes would never be permitted. However, for a princess… and one such who was unwed, a male servant? It would never have been deemed fit. Only after being widowed were royals and nobles allowed to indulge in such practices. They had obligations to royal duties first.
A werewolf was not a lower-class male harpy, which made it all the more exciting for the princess... so much so, that Sephora couldn't help the moisture between her legs at such a thought. 'The werewolf owes me a blood debt, for saving his life.... he can't refuse my will as long as it doesn't bring his death or mine.'
She walked in proudly, her wings high. Sporting the dark green dress of a noble, donated to her by one of Ingram's patients, or perhaps it was his mates. Though she hadn't seemed annoyed at her wearing the dress, perhaps not wanting to claim something so colourful was hers, so that thought was dismissed.
The kitchen was empty and the coast was clear, so the Princess went back towards the door at double speed. This was risky, and none of them could get caught.. Popping her head back out the door, the princess nodded to Maven.
As quietly as one can wheel such things, as the small carts sometimes clank and squeak, the pair of them moved the cart with food into the large kitchen storage area. It was an area for servants, and an area that nobility and royalty seldom saw. The werewolf was still unconscious, but in the moonlight, Sephora couldn't help but marvel at the dark colour of his skin; it wasn't snow white like hers...
"Princess, what now?" The old servant's voice was hushed.
Now that they were at the dumbwaiter, without saying a word, Sephora immediately opened the doors. Behind it lay the off-food shoot. Both of them hauled the males lean but muscular body – a fact that the Princess clocked – out from under the layers of vegetables. It was instantly clear that he would not fit, and it would be foolish to even try. "This is a squawk-up that I may have made, Maven... the cart will not fit into this room."[1]
Even Maven was flabbergasted that she had just heard the young princess use such terrible language! Ready to scold her, before she realised the amount of pressure the Princess must have been feeling due to the dangerous covert nature of what they were sneaking into the castle – dangerous in multiple ways.
If the creature woke up? Its hands were bound, but would that hold one of the uncontrolled shifters? Was he one of those? The thoughts swirled around in body ladies minds, without needing to be relayed to one another.
If the Queen caught them, the old servant knew that death was a very real possibility and being fired would be the least of her problems, if not having her wings ripped from her body, - a punishment that should Lady Nox deem fit, was one she used on all raven harpy for a crime all would deem worse than death. It would render her to the lowest parts of the Kingdom… where those born without wings struggled to survive, to the dwellings in the lowest rings…
As these thoughts flashed through Maven's mind, she opened the garbage shoot and motioned Sephora to place the Werewolf inside.
Though it had been cleaned recently by one of the new servant boys from the lower rings, the garbage shoot area was cleaned almost every day now, and certainly, at least it would no longer smell the entire kitchen wing of the castle out; it still reeked of rotten food and particularly meat on occasion. No one ever went all the way down to clean it.
Sephora's eyes lit up at this last-minute adjustment, "You are a genius, Maven!" As she lugged the dead weight over to the hatch, which was large enough, designed to cope with the corpse of a wild dear or boar, and so they tossed him inside. "That will take him almost directly beside the old, disused dungeons."
The old servant shut the hatch over. Pulling upwards as the mechanics caused it to curve around.
"Thank you, my lady." She smiled with some beads of sweat forming in her hair. As the Princess grabbed her hand gently, in excitement and triumph at a somewhat successful plan.
The princess calculated what she would need to ensure he was held securely in the dungeon. 'The werewolf is deep in the lower disused parts of the castle now.'
"May I now take my leave? My own mate will be worried? I know that my sister has informed him that I will be late home from the castle, but, my lady, it is now too late and any more he will be worried." With her explanation, Sephora bid her take her leave, and immediately rushed down the long, disused, servant's spiraling narrow staircase to the lower disused sections. The lowest section... being the older and now disused dungeon.
The princess descended the stairs quickly, to find her werewolf in the depths of her castle, and get him to the disused dungeons quickly... what was it that Corvin had told her werewolves supposedly hated... that type of metal... and did the old dungeon already have that?
[1] A harpy wide version of fuck-up or cock-up