Page 12 of Venom Sweeter than Honey
At least the military might give me the direction and violent purpose I need.
RAIA LUNESSA VIOLETTE VALE
9 YEARS OLD - NARUDI - BELLORUM
Tap, tap, tap.Already knowing who it is, a grin lights up my face even before I turn to see my raven friend, Horus—the name was mutually decided upon. My fingers are swift to unlock the window where he waits, hopping in anticipation as the wood frame squeaks open. A small pebble—so very near the same shade of lilac as my eyes—drops from his beak onto the sill as he coosin greeting, making my heart trill with gratitude.
“Thank you, dear friend.”
Dark, intelligent eyes observe me as he nuzzles my hand. The nictitating membrane of his eyes slowly closes as he watches me. I read somewhere that it’s a sign of trust and affection. Seeing it makes sweet emotion swell further. “Love you.”
My finger strokes the back of his neck, marked by a shock of white feathers as he mimics my words in a surprisingly soft, deep voice.“Love you.”
That’s all it takes for my nine-year-old chest to explode with too much love for my tiny heart to hold. Horus clicks and coos, nuzzling and nipping gently at me with his beak as tears burn my eyes.
“I brought gifts for you too.”
The feathers at the back of his neck rise as he trembles with excitement and coos again. Reaching into my pocket, I inwardly cringe as my fingers curl around the dead mouse I found in the shared hallway of our apartment building. I present it to my friend and set it on the windowsill. Horus gives me a few happy clicks before he lowers his head to my hand for pets.
“And don’t think I forgot about your dessert. I’m not a monster.”
I retrieve the few grape halves I saved for him from my lunch and offer them to him in my upturned palm. His feathers flare and shudder as he clicks before swiftly snatching them from me, swiftly gulping each one down, all manners and dining etiquette abandoned.
A giggle bubbles out of me.
Until my mother opens our shared bedroom door.
“Violette, darling–”
Her words are cut short at the sight of the raven. “Raia Violette, what did I say about—” Horuscawsloudly, flapping his wings in aggravation before snatching up the mouse and flying away.
A scowl etches my face by the time I turn back towards her. “You scared him away.”
My mother’s expression softens. “Your father is about to arrive. You must be on your best behavior.” Her eyes examine me, brow furrowing. “Where’s your brush? We need to tame that rat’s nest.” My mother’s hand ushers me swiftly into the small wash cabinet of our apartment to stand in front of the dull, tarnished mirror.
My teeth grind together as she picks up our brush and begins to tear through my locks. “Ow!”
“Hush, Vi. We only have a few minutes, and you know how much it upsets him when he sees you looking like a feral gangalarus.”
The yanking of the blasted hairbrush knocks against the nubs of my tender, growing horns, making me growl. “I wish I were a gangalarus. Then I could breathe fire and have foot-long claws to ensure I was never hungry or harmed.”
My mother’s lips purse as if to hide her grin.
“And I’d have beautiful, puffy fur that never needed taming. I could splash around in the mud, climb trees, and tear my prey limb from limb. I’d be beautifulandpowerful.”
Mouth twitching, her eyes remain serious. “Oh, my sweet, but you already are.”
One day, I pray.
“So if you could be any animal, that’s what you’d be? A gangalarus?”
My brows tense with consideration.
This is a very important question.
I’ve studied just about every known beast in our realm.
“No. I think a chimaera would be the best animal anyone could ever be.”
