"How is the alliance and your plans with Grayson Vale and young Klaude Vale going?" Ebony asks her older sister, as they sit in Cierra's study, sipping from nightshade wine.

Cierra carefully places her glass down, the movement refined and graceful, like all Cierra's moves as Ebony knows well after all these years.

"Sister, it is going exactly how I planned," Cierra says in a calm voice, though Ebony detects the smugness behind it, "Klaude is naive and clueless much like his father but Arwen has fallen under his spell just as we planned."

Cierra then picks up her mirror that she always carries with her and checks her immaculate silver hair that has loose two strands on either side of her face. She already knows that her hair is perfect but she checks it anyway to fuel her own vanity. Ebony laughs, shaking her head,

"At least Prince Grayson Vale is rich and powerful, brother to Valostra's King and he has fallen under your spell," Ebony says, "much like the fools before him."

Cierra laughs, a cold laugh and smiles at her younger sister as she replies, "Men are fools little sister, especially mainland men, they forget too easily that this island is very much run by women; that is why the Goddess sends three queens, there are never kings, only the king consorts of each Queen Crowned of Fennbirn Island."

Ebony nods, as she always does to appease Cierra. Cierra Raduron, is the most feared woman on the island, placing Andrea Arron into a close second.

Sometimes looking at the two sisters you could mistake them for mother and daughter rather than sisters, for their mother, Keira Raduron, had Cierra when she was only sixteen and Ebony when she was thirty. There is a fourteen year difference between both of them and their only similarity is their silvery hair through Ebony's is slightly lighter.

Cierra has begun to show slight wrinkles despite her desperate attempt to cling to her youth, she is still a beautiful woman, but an ageing one in her mid forties. That is why Ebony suspects that sometimes Cierra is jealous of Ebony, for Ebony has no wrinkles on her perfectly smooth youthful face and is only in her early thirties. Cierra envies Ebony only for her youth and Ebony suspects that she is also jealous of her rival Andrea Arron, who is a few years younger than Cierra but still retains her beautiful classic Arron youth with her icy beauty. That is a personal grudge between Cierra and Andrea but the family rivalries go much deeper.

The Arrons and the Radurons have always competed for the title of the most feared and powerful family on the island. Though neither family would dare openly challenge the warrior Murtras from Bastian, each Murtra woman is usually blood-red haired with ravenous glints in their famous flaming green eyes.

Both families often laugh at the idea of the most important naturalist family, the Milones, ever being a threat. Ever since the Legion usurper, Jules, tried to take power and died the Milones were stripped of their power for a time and by the time they were forgiven. Their power and influence had shrank to barely anything. Though they still had a strong naturalist gift so they supplied the crown with food.

Old Gwyneth Milone has five girls, all of them known for something. Ebony remembers meeting them once on a trip to Wolf Spring and she remembers their names: Kaya, Greer, Adela and the little twins Lucie and Cori.

Their only weapons left are their little familiars of small dogs and birds and the ability to bloom flowers, they weren't going to take the title of most feared family anytime soon.

The Westwoods however, had power but they were calm and placid in their approach to life on the island and the Westwoods' tempers only showed when provoked but the Arrons and the Radurons never attacked them.

"Indeed sister," Ebony says, blinking as she emerges from her thoughts and takes another sip of her wine, "Indeed."

"To us little sister," Cierra says, smiling with rare emotion as she picks up her glass and raises it towards Ebony.

"To us," Ebony echoes, clinking her glass with Cierra's before both of them drain their glasses completely.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Arwen rides on Eli through the Raduron lands, feeling like she is flying and laughing as her loose curls float over her shoulders as she races Klaude.

The young handsome suitor had suggested they go on a ride together and that they now have a race on their horses. Arwen had at first been skeptical but she has not had this much fun since her childhood games at the Black Cottage with Nalani and Carina. She hasn't had many friends growing up, just adults who were tasked with raising a queen to someday kill and rule, they know nothing of raising a child.

It is a couple of weeks ago that Arwen had been forced to kill the young prisoner at Lacton Square and then the nightmares that followed it. Klaude has comforted her ever since and Arwen feels herself growing closer to him. Ever since that night where he helped her.

Klaude has been trying to have fun with Arwen to cheer her up but there were some silent moments between them, as they both have an obvious attraction that they both cannot ignore, even though they both try too.

Honestly she did not like him at first, he annoyed her but she has grown to like him in these past weeks. Somehow something has changed between them. Arwen cannot afford to move their relationship slowly, not when she could be killed very soon. It's better to have lived, loved and lost then to never have loved.

One evening, many Radurons and important shadows had come to Draven Mansion for a small ball and Arwen's friend and maid, Darcia had teased her relentlessly after Klaude had spent the whole night looking at Arwen and she at him. They hadn't been able to keep their eyes off of each other and even a half blind man could've seen the clear chemistry between them, they didn't even have to utter a word to each other for someone to see the new romance that has blossomed between them both.

They had both mutually decided to explore whatever it is that is between them and it has been going well so far. Arwen trusts him a bit more now.

Shouting at him as he passes her, riding a beautiful white stallion from the Raduron stables they begin to slow as they reach the tree which they agreed was the finish line of sorts

"I think I win," Klaude says gleefully as he turns his horse to face her, swinging his legs over as his dismounts.

She turns to look at him, not bothering to suppress the smile that has come onto her face, for being around Klaude is the only thing that makes Arwen happy in the world of death that she lives in.

"Klaude you cheat!" Arwen says, getting off of Eli laughing, walking over to smack his arm gently, "you started before me."

Klaude matches her smile with a small happy one of his own, as he strokes her cheek gently, "Well I like to win," he says leaning closer to her, "no matter what the cost."

Klaude goes to kiss Arwen but she stops him with her hand and gives him a cheeky smile,

"You're not getting a kiss from me that easily," she says tilting her head playfully, "you may be a suitor and I may be allowing you to properly court me now but that doesn't mean that you will win a kiss from me straight away."

Klaude leans back, a half smile playing on his face, as he leans close to her again but surprises Arwen as he leans past her face and starts to nibble her earlobe.

Arwen immediately pushes him away, gasping. She is shocked. Everything between her and Klaude is new, she has never had any experience with boys before; what she feels for Klaude is strange and indescribable but Arwen likes it, as she likes spending time with Klaude which makes the feelings grow. But she has never felt that sensation before, she feels strange and she's not sure if she likes it or dislikes it. But she wants to feel it again, as it is an addictive sensation.

"I don't know what to do," Arwen suddenly says, confusing both herself and Klaude, "I've never felt this way before in my life. Sixteen long years on this island where I have been raised to kill my sisters and I have never had this feeling and then one suitor from the mainland appears and creates a new emotion within me, making me forget all the horrible things that I will have to face in the future." She sighs shaking her head, "I don't understand it."

Klaude looks down at her, a hidden emotion within his eyes and then he kisses her and everything she was, everything she is, is just swept away all by him.

It is just them for this blissful moment.

They stay there for a moment, locked in each other's embrace. The moment settles and stays for an eternity before it rushes away as they reluctantly pull away to breath.

"You don't have to understand it Arwen," Klaude whispers, "some things are beyond your control, even the the Goddess' and what we have is one of them. We should treasure it."

She her head again, still dubious to what the future holds,

" "This has all happened so fast," she sighs, her expression becoming increasingly doubtful, "and I am not certain of it as I am not certain about many things. This liaison has been all passion and no logic and that worries me."

Klaude immediately goes to stroke her cheek in comfort again,

"Arwen do not worry yourself with thoughts of doubt, especially about us," he says, smiling to reassure her, "enjoy this because you may not have much time left to enjoy such simple things."

Her expression immediately darkens as he reminds her of all her worries. Even though it pains her, he is right, she may be very much dead after the upcoming Ascension Year begins.

She offers him a small smile, the only indication of happiness she is able to give, "You are right Klaude," She says and lets out a chuckle, "lets enjoy this and damn the consequences."

"Damn the consequences," Klaude repeats, laughing slightly, "I would never of thought that you would say such a thing." His voice then drops to a whisper, "But passion makes us wild, reckless but it offers happiness and a thrill and in this plain temporary life, passion is what we live for and once we have found that feeling, it drives us through life."

"That speech was rather passionate in itself,"Arwen says, giving Klaude a full smile as she lowers her voice and says innocently, "but I don't think I have enough of it and I think you may need to give me more."

Klaude smirks at Arwen's subtle suggestion as he goes to kiss her once again.

They kiss and kiss and kiss, because every time they do the euphoric feeling of passion fills them both once more and they both cling onto it, savouring it. They make each other feel alive and send an electric energy through each other and Arwen will hold onto any feeling that makes her feel alive, for in a year's time Klaude may be standing alone, without her if she has died at one of her sisters' hands. He may very well end up marrying Nalani or Carina. Although that is unlikely.

If she dies, she will always think of these small moments that she shared with Klaude, and Arwen will make sure that as death welcomes her, she will savour the feeling of being alive and being with Klaude.

Klaude kisses her head almost in farewell, "It's time to head back, I have business to attention to," he murmurs as his pale hands run through her dark curls.

They pull apart and Arwen only nods and whispers, "Alright." "

"Until we meet again," Klaude says, stroking her cheek and then he goes to mount his horse.

"Until we meet again," Arwen confirms, giving a small wave as she stays behind. She doesn't want to return to Draven Mansion just yet.

But as he leaves a small smile plays on her face and she cannot wait to tell Darcia about the early evening's events.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Savouring the feeling of Arwen's lips on his and the feeling of the wind on his face, Klaude rushes down the corridor, late for his meeting with a certain Raduron woman.

As he reaches her door, he knocks politely and only has to wait a few moments before a muffled voice tells him to enter.

He complies and steps into the room. He walks further in, looking at all the lavish silver and decorations and ornaments. Then he glances at the silver and black curtains and tapestries hung on the walls. The tapestry hangs on an entire section of the wall and has sewn portraits of the entire line of Radurons with their names and births. Even though there are many portraits and names, there is still plenty of room for the future Radurons of Fennbirn Island.

Klaude notes the portrait of Cierra, with her name sewn in an italic handwriting underneath and her date of birth and the one above her which reads Keira Raduron with a portrait of a woman that looks exactly like Cierra except harsher if that's possible.

Next, he looks down, there is a large intricately detailed carpet that covers the middle of the wooden board floors everything is refined yet beautiful but also sinister. The carpet is near the fireplace which roars with shadowfire, the dark flames daring Klaude to reach his hand in. He soon turns his attention away from the fireplace and to the long gleaming black table where an array of papers and maps are all stacked in an organised manner, but Klaude knows that Radurons are never messy, they are calculating and organised, always with an agenda and a plan.

He looks to the middle of the table where a woman stands, with her back to Klaude, she is writing at an impossibly fast pace.

Klaude clears his throat to get her attention and she turns around.

Ebony Raduron is the face he sees and her face morphs into a sinister smile as she nods in greeting at Klaude, her silver hair shining in the light streaming through the windows.

"Hello Klaude," she says greeting him politely, "it is nice to see you again." She pauses before continuing as she gets straight to the point, "Have you started breaking the alliance between your father and Cierra?" Ebony asks, a small essence of impatience in her tone.

She smiles, and it is more sinister than any of Cierra's wicked smiles, almost snake-like, more suited to a poisoner than a shadow.

"No I haven't," Klaude admits, "I have been comforting and wooing Arwen, I have been too busy to start unravelling the alliance between my father and Cierra."

Ebony's smile drops as her smile turns sour and her tone becomes demanding and venomous, "We must begin. There are four steps to this plan. One, break the alliance and take away her power. Two, get Arwen on the throne. Three, kill Cierra. Four, take her power and her place."

Klaude's head snaps up at this, "Kill?" He asks, "I thought you were going to banish her."

Ebony shakes her head, laughing at Klaude for a moment, "Klaude, as long as my sister is alive my own power will never be secure, she will never stop plotting until the day she dies. She may have been born before me but she does not deserve to be the matriarch of this family, that honour should belong to me not an ageing old crone."

Klaude stays silent as he takes a deep breath to calm himself and then looks back up at the wolf in sheep's clothing that is Ebony Raduron.

"I'm playing both sides,"he says to Ebony, "Yours and Cierra's, I'm letting Cierra and my father think that they're winning but I am genuinely helping you. I know that you already knew this but I am scared. If Cierra finds out she will have my head and if I stop our alliance then you'll have my head as well."

Klaude takes a deep breath before looking back at Ebony and continuing, "Ever since I first saw Arwen I loved her, with one look I felt like I'd known her for an eternity, Cierra and my father both think that I have no real feelings towards her and I'm just manipulating her. But I think I do have genuine feelings for her and I am not truly manipulating her, I am manipulating Cierra."

Ebony nods, saying, "You know Klaude, even though you are a pawn in both Cierra and I's plans, both times an aware pawn, though Cierra remains unaware of this, I have grown fond of you. Unlike Cierra, I care for Arwen like a daughter and I see that you care for one another and you make her happy that's why you must continue to make her fall for you, so that when the time comes for her to choose a king consort she will choose you without hesitation and when she is queen crowned she will always take your counsel and then you will always take mine, ensuring the monarchy will be safe."

Klaude shakes his head his conscience weighing on him again as he is reminded of how he is manipulating Arwen in a way. He's not sure he wants to continue.

Ebony coughs delicately in a deliberate way before continuing, "So Klaude, I offer you another proposition as a personal reward for being my pawn and hoodwinking Cierra. Once you and I take Cierra down and I take her place and once Arwen kills her sisters and becomes Queen Crowned you will obviously become her king consort but I will also gift you some of Cierra's holdings, her trading roots, her allies and her money. You will be rich beyond belief and will bring great honour to your family. You will be the first king consort to truly have some of your power of Fennbirn that doesn't just stem from your queen."

Klaude tries to mask the shock on his face and goes to speak but Ebony holds a hand up to stop him as she continues, "And if you wish it I will help you take your father down and any of your enemies. You and I will be allies and I will gift you one favour. You may call it in and anytime and it can be anything. But when you make your decision, choose wisely."

Klaude nods, staying silent for a moment. "I appreciate this gesture Ebony and I can't deny that the promise of power is appealing to me, though in regard to the plan, Cierra does not trust anyone, how will I get her to trust me?"he asks.

Ebony immediately laughs, "there is no need for you to get her to trust you or for me to lead Cierra into a false sense of security, we are sisters and I am one of the few or perhaps the only person whom she truly trusts. And that's what will make it easy to take her down and likewise with your father."

"Take my father down?" Klaude asks carefully and Ebony shakes her head in dismissal,

"Of course not, I just meant that he trusts you so you can break his alliance with my sister more easily. Anyway, don't fret about it now, you are to leave for Prynn in a few days time to meet Queen Carina at the Black Council's will and keep an eye on her due to that recent poisoner assassination attempt on Queen Nalani's life."

Klaude just turns around, unable to face Ebony as he says quietly, "Your plotting will one day be your downfall Ebony."

To that, Ebony remains silent. But little does the mainlander know that Ebony's plotting would one day be his downfall instead ...