Surviving the Death Chapter 96: Banquet [ 2 ]

Chapter 96: Banquet [ 2 ]

’Huh? Who’s this?’

Scar thought, confused.

Ray was dressed like a priestess, wearing a long black habit with wide sleeves and a veil that frad her face. A silver cross pendant hung around her neck, reinforcing her sacred the as a nun.

She had the appearance of a fallen nun, maybe a cursed saint. But that wasn’t the shocking part. Ray was a child. She couldn’t be older than eighteen. How had she cared for his mother? Nuns took youth elixirs, he knew, but this woman should be sixty-sothing!

Scar’s throat tightened. How was he supposed to handle this? Call her Ray? Use so title? She looked young, sure, but still older than him. Did that require formality?

They stared at each other uncomfortably for a long mont. Up close, Ray’s eyes looked older and more mature, betraying her real age. Didn’t make this less tense though. Amber had abandoned him again, disappearing the second she’d made the introduction.

After another awkward mont, Ray gestured toward a balcony.

"Young Master, could we speak over there for a mont? Forgive

for saying this, but you seem too confused to deal with this on your own."

Scar nodded in understanding.

He didn’t know how they got there, but standing on the balcony beneath the scarlet moon, the awkwardness faded sowhat.

"You truly resemble your mother, Young Master. I had expected your father’s golden eyes, yet it seems fate granted you your mother’s beauty too."

Ray exhaled deeply.

"If I am being honest, I did not expect you to bear the golden eyes either. Perhaps I allowed my pessimism over your parents’ departure to cloud my judgnt, but I believed fate would strip you of the Rovers’ pride as punishnt."

Scar shifted uncomfortably. He didn’t know what to say. Ray was getting emotional. Emily had been like a daughter to her. She’d done what no slave was supposed to, fought for her freedom, and died before she could taste it.

"When I looked upon you earlier, it felt as though Emily herself stood before . Whenever discomfort found her, her shyness betrayed her thoughts, just as yours did monts ago."

Ray took a deep breath.

"I’m glad... she was blessed with a wonderful child like you. Now, whenever I look at you, I can rember her."

Scar couldn’t imagine Ray’s pain, but he knew his own when his parents died. Terrible didn’t cover it. Sotis he wished he’d been braver, had fought for them. He was supposed to be the one who died that day.

"I’ve heard so much about my mother lately... but the woman I grew up with was nothing like the one everyone describes."

Scar looked out over the courtyard, watching people chat and laugh without a care in the world. The way it should be.

"She was gentle, kind... sotis even naive. She never scolded , never once raised her voice. No matter what mistakes I made, when my father lost his temper, she would stand in front of

and protect , convinced I didn’t know any better, even though I always did.

"Can you believe it? She was afraid of cockroaches. She’d panic whenever one appeared and call

to save her from it. I guess those were the only tis she saw

as soone strong instead of her fragile little baby."

Scar smiled, feeling nostalgic already.

"I do not claim that what others say about her is false; I simply never ca to know that side of her. You would understand her better than I ever could, considering you were the one who raised her."

Ray looked confused for a mont.

"You hold

in far too high regard, Young Master. Though I lived with Emily, I cannot claim to have raised her. My duty was rely to train her without rcy, so that she might one day surpass

as a nun. Had I been a true mother figure to her, she would surely have spoken of

to her cherished son."

Scar stayed quiet, letting her words linger. She was downplaying how much his mother ant to her. But he understood, she just needed permission to feel. More silence, and she’d open up.

"Your mother was unlike any child I’ve ever t. I first saw her in Montreal, when I accompanied your father to assist the injured after a Scarlet Kin attack. She was alone, her whole family buried beneath the ruins of their ho. Yet, even faced with the corpses, she betrayed no sign of emotion.

"When I saw a child display such bravery, I imdiately knew she would beco the perfect nun. At that ti, the Rover family prohibited bringing soone in to care for them, and even with your father’s influence, it was no simple matter. They proposed that I look after her elsewhere. They were willing to fund her care, but never within the estate itself.

"Strangely enough, Emily did sothing even I did not anticipate. She knelt before the Rangers and pledged her very existence to the Rover family. That was the sole reason they allowed her to remain.

"Throughout the ti I spent with her, she never displayed a single emotion. She finished all her training in only seven years and was prepared for the elixir of youth by the age of twelve. Even I could not have imagined such a feat.

"Your mother was strong, capable of killing without a second thought. She operated best in the shadows, and her seemingly innocent appearance made her all the more formidable. Even as a child, God Killers considered her dangerous.

"There was a ti when the Royal family of Barbados, along with several other powerful families and even the Romans, secretly tried to purchase her, despite knowing that a nun’s loyalty could not be bought. She was that remarkable. Everything shifted, however, when she reached your age and fell in love with your father.

She smiled awkwardly.

"Forgive , but I cannot claim the mories you have of your mother. Between us, there was only the bond of teacher and pupil, fleeting though it was. Still, it brings

comfort that she beca a loving mother, rather than the bloodthirsty monster we once feared."

Things were clicking into place. The Rover family couldn’t let his father marry his mother, and now Scar understood why.

Unlike Amber, who swore loyalty to Scar alone, Emily was different. She’d pledged herself to the entire Rover family. Marriage to Bryan would create another contract, demanding loyalty between husband and wife. Conflicting oaths.

There was nothing the Rovers could do except oppose the marriage. A nun’s loyalty was permanent. No revocation, no bargaining. Breaking it ant death.

He couldn’t help smiling. His parents had a forbidden romance, and he’d never even known.

Before Scar could say anything else, Ray hurried to speak.

"I appreciate sharing this mont with you, Young Master. It’s nearly ti for your dance, and I wouldn’t wish to keep you any longer."

Scar replied with a smile, and Ray walked away.

He’d nearly forgotten about the dance. He’d had a few lessons on it but had no idea who he was even supposed to dance with. He just had to find Amber.

After savoring the breeze and thinking about his mother, he went back inside to find Amber. It took so searching, but he spotted her on a balcony with Valentine. Too far to be certain, but Amber looked like she was crying again. Valentine tried to console her, but nothing seed to help.

This was the second ti today he’d seen her crying. She’d refused to open up, so there wasn’t much he could do. They didn’t really know each other well enough.

While he stood there, stuck and uncertain, soone waved enthusiastically. Julien.

He hurried to join them. Purple was devouring sweets, Mingle looked calm as usual, and beside them stood an unfamiliar woman. Brown hair, red gown adorned with diamond lace.

The woman intercepted him before he reached the group, hand out for a shake. Standing this close, sothing about her struck him as Purple-like.

"Your cousins are handso, yes, but I didn’t think anyone could outshine them... until you. You’re a breathtaking young man, and even the invincible nun can’t compare to your charms."

An awkward smile crossed Scar’s face. More complints in one day than he’d ever received. Was it just the fancy clothes? He’d always looked the sa, and nobody had noticed before.

Sure, he knew he was decent-looking, but this was excessive. The only other ti he’d been complinted this much was as a kid, when Isaac took him shopping, and they’d score free items because of his appearance. He’d assud people were just nice to children.

This woman couldn’t stop gushing about his appearance though. He hadn’t realized looks could generate this much attention. Maybe he was a lady killer after all.

Before the conversation went any further, Julien interrupted. Purple continued demolishing her sweets, unbothered.

"I think Scar’s getting uncomfortable. Mind holding on just a little while longer?"

’Oh, finally!’

Scar exhaled in relief.

"Scar, et Marvel, Purple’s cousin. She ca all the way here just to see you... though I have no idea why."

Scar shared the confusion. Marvel’s smile told him enough, though, whatever she and Purple were plotting wasn’t good. Still, he gave her a proper greeting before addressing Mingle.

"You’ve been busy! I have to say, I’m impressed. You’re really holding your own, especially for your first ti."

Mingle said with a taunting chuckle.

Scar wasn’t concerned about that, though, there was sothing he needed to confirm.

"How’s Emma? Is she conscious now?"

Mingle’s expression darkened for a mont.

"She remains unconscious, though the reports indicate she could regain consciousness at any ti."

Scar let out a relieved breath. He’d been thinking about Emma nonstop, even after getting revenge for her. The thought of her still unconscious weighed on him. But this was good news.

He continued having a detailed conversation with Mingle about Emma’s situation until suddenly, a cold breeze swept through the room, drawing everyone’s attention to the entrance.

His heart skipped a beat. Scar didn’t have to guess. No one else could give him this feeling — chills running through him, heart pounding with excitent. Haven.