There's a reason the guard didn't come into this cell with me: Ravenna is a wild young woman. Seeing her up close like this, I start to doubt my previous judgment about whether she's truly a villain, because sensuality and danger go hand in hand with this femme fatale.
Saliva catches in my throat, and I stand there like an idiot in the middle of the cell, staring at this leggy goth woman before me.
No, Darius, focus! Love doesn't exist! You can't fall in love, remember what your exes did!
With a thought capable of appeasing any man's sexual desire, a sigh escaped my chest, finally bringing enough lightness for me to take a step forward and raise a finger to my lips as a sign of silence.
Unfortunately, I'm met with nothing but dear Ravenna's icy gaze, only to see her right hand emanating strange electrical sparks from her fingertips.
Yeah, I'm screwed.
A flash of light floods the room, only for me to see a burn mark appear right between my legs, inches from frying my feet.
Not even Bluetooth is getting through my ass anymore. Firstly, let it be clear that I've never had contact with Ravenna, neither in this life nor the previous one. She's an extra character, a secondary one destined to die for the MC's inflated ego. Meaning, secret information about her is scarce.
"Hahaha, it's been a long time, hasn't it?"
"I didn't order you to speak."
Heavy dominatrix aura, huh...
The only information actually available is what's recorded in this body's memories and what's provided in "Sword of The Iron Maiden." She's a traitor to the crown, imprisoned for attempting to take a count's life, and of course, with an incredible arsenal of magic at her disposal to finish anyone off.
As for the veracity of this information, I'm not even sure. Darius Moonlight is a boozer addicted to pussy; how the hell would he know anything about politics? Anyway, I have to keep up my act, the captain must be listening at the door.
"Seriously, is this how you greet me after so many vows of love...?"
She raised an eyebrow, black sparks crackled again over her fingers, ready to burst into another lightning bolt to castrate me. It wasn't a warm lovers' reception, but rather a reception worthy of death.
Well, only now do I realize how much I underestimated everything.
From my perspective, Ravenna Galbraith wasn't just "another extra" in the story; quite the opposite, this crazy woman is too powerful compared to handsome me.
I'm a pathetic bastard son, who can at least act and has a bit of money in his pocket to cover his expenses, but other than that, I'm still human!
If the bald guy weren't around, I'd talk to her more normally, but I have to maintain the facade... Come on, shine!
"My goddess!" I make the most ridiculous bow, both hands on my chest and throwing myself to the floor. I just don't touch her because I'm afraid of being immediately toasted. "You don't know how much it hurt to stay away from you all these days!"
The static present at her fingertips intensifies for a moment, I even believe I saw a demon dance around her black nails.
"Did they send the Moonlight bastard to mock me before the gallows? These aristocrats…!"
"No!"
My shout is so loud that the air around me seems to grow heavy. Come on, shine, kid! Unleash that energy within you, pull on the power that emerges in situations of fear, and find a way to turn this situation around!
"I threw myself in front of the Duke's entourage just to see you! I bowed my head to my father and begged, cried, and made every possible effort just to find you here! My feelings are true, Ravenna!"
She blinks several times, clearly doubting my sanity. This is a sign of weakness. I kneel and raise both hands, like a beggar pleading for a coin to buy booze.
"It's real, my heart is pounding so hard it feels like it's going to explode now! You can touch it, feel it!"
I push myself forward, reaching her legs, but Ravenna leaps back, dodging my advance. Tsk, if I were a little faster, my strategy would have fully worked, but at least she gave up on conjuring magic and frying my brains.
"Do you think this act will spare you?"
"It's not an act, my love. My being here is proof of that, or if you want, touch my heart. How much I've loved you… how much… how much I tried to free you from this…"
The final nail in the coffin: crocodile tears. Even if she's somewhat evil, there must be some traces of empathy or at least a thought of "I can use this guy"; I want to cling to that kind of idea that will emerge.
"Really…?"
"Yes! More than anything! I swear!"
Ravenna sighs. The magic swirling around her hands disappears, which means she's let her guard down for now. That's a good sign, at least I won't turn into roasted chicken for lunch.
She still stares at me, dissecting my skull with her gaze. The warmth of the magic has dissipated, a shame my ass is still clenched as before, and her predatory instinct about to devour me doesn't seem to want to vanish.
I finally stand up and take a step forward, just enough to speak very softly:
"I need to tell you something, but I need you very close."
She doesn't move. Time to risk it… I touch the tip of my finger to her hand and close my eyes. This is it, heavens, take me!
Huh? Nothing? Absolutely nothing? Not even a reaction? I open my eyes with an absurd start, discovering that I'm completely whole, with no part of my body out of place, and proceed to hold her cold skin.
I lean a little closer to her neck, like a false lover. At first glance, it's a good idea to wrap my arms around her waist to look like a young couple in love, but I'm sure I'd explode the instant I tried that.
My lips approach her ear slightly, finally allowing me to whisper:
"I can get you out of here, I just need to know where the evidence to condemn the count is."
"And why should I trust you, a Moonlight bastard who hasn't even learned about politics, coming on your knees swearing love to me with cheap theatrics?"
"Uhhh, if it's no trouble, I can help you with something that interests you greatly: the Silver Scar ritual."
Those words freeze Ravenna instantly. There are a series of complicated reasons why our dear vampire would be conflicted hearing something like that: in short, she's a witch, and witches are somewhat persecuted by the clergy and the Magistracy of Sages.
I'll avoid using too many terms or complicated words, because common sense will tangle me up if I think too much about these things. Ravenna wants to perform this ritual for some reason I'm not exactly sure of, since she died, nothing ever happened in the original project.
There are characters who went through the Silver Scar, but it was never shown in text or on screen what the hell happens. Anyway, I have a basic idea of what to do, which is why I need to pull the right strings to hook this beautiful goth's attention.
I only know my plan worked, judging by her shocked and simultaneously thoughtful expression.
Time to put the nail in the coffin.
"It's a take it or leave it, Ravenna. Even if I'm a trap, can your situation get any worse?"
She bites her lips, trying to find a loophole to break my arguments and get rid of me.
"You don't know what you're talking about."
"I know enough," I retorted in the same tone, without hesitation. "Liquid silver, blood of a consanguineous relative, hellish pain, and reciting an elven chant in total silence…"
"That only tells me you studied. Not that you're on my side."
"I am. If I weren't, you would have killed me already. What I said was the sign. I'm here because I know no one else would come."
I glance quickly over my shoulder, just to see the immobile silhouette of the captain outside the cell. Then I turn back to her.
"I need something to free you. A loophole, a letter, any damn thing that can blow up those stuffed shirts' seats at the trial. I'll find a way to be there, to raise my hand at the right time, I just need you to give me ammunition."
Ravenna analyzes me with narrowed eyes. Cold again, zero affection. It almost hurts my heart.
"And what do you want in return?"
"A favor. You'll know when I collect."
She looks away for a moment, as if the ceiling gave her more confidence than my nerve. I'm cute, come on, she shouldn't have a problem looking at this face.
"There's a compartment in Count Vandric's office. At the pedestal of the stone raven. Inside it, there are records of illegal asset transfers linked to a magistrate of the court itself. It's enough to postpone my execution, or burn down the entire courthouse, if you've got the balls."
She turns slowly, almost cutting my neck with her metallic-gray eyes similar to a dagger.
"Bring that to the trial. If you betray me…"
The tip of her finger glimmers again, with a thin, subtle black electricity.
"...I will curse you even in the afterlife."