As the night descended upon the castle, Ravena felt a renewed sense of determination coursing through her veins. Though her body still bore the lingering effects of Sylas's brutal assault, she refused to let pain deter her from her quest for freedom and vengeance.

With bated breath, she waited in the darkness, her eyes fixed on the window overlooking the courtyard below. Hours passed like an eternity as she lay in silence, her senses sharpened to the slightest sound or movement.

Finally, she caught sight of Sylas's figure approaching the castle, his silhouette illuminated by the pale moonlight. With practiced stealth, she remained motionless, ensuring that no light escaped from her hiding place to alert him to her presence.

As Sylas entered the castle, She steeled herself for the moment of reckoning that lay ahead. With her shard of glass concealed within her bandaged hand, she adopted the same position in which Sylas had left her, her resolve as unyielding as steel.

Every fiber of her being was focused on the task at hand, her heart filled with a burning determination to face whatever dangers awaited her beyond the castle walls. For the sake of the world and all those who had suffered at the hands of the corrupted heroes, She was prepared to confront her demons head-on, no matter the cost.

As the footsteps approached and then halted outside the door, Her heart pounded in anticipation. She held her breath, her muscles tense with readiness as Sylas conversed with someone just beyond the threshold.

"Has she not woken up yet?" Sylas's voice echoed through the room, his tone tinged with impatience.

"No, sir. There has been no sign of movement or noise all day," came the reply from the unseen figure.

"Very well. You're dismissed," Sylas declared, the sound of keys rattling as he unlocked the door.

Ravena remained perfectly still, her eyes fixed on the doorway as Sylas entered the room, his gaze falling upon her motionless form. "Ah, my dear Ravena! It's been a tiresome day, but now I finally get to enjoy some quality time with you," he said with a smirk, his fingers grazing her cheek.

Ravena's jaw clenched, her eyes burning with fury as she fought to maintain her composure. She held her ground, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.

But before she could make her move, Sylas's attention shifted. With a disdainful sniff, he wrinkled his nose. "Ugh, I smell like a pigsty. A quick bath is in order before our little rendezvous," he muttered to himself.

With a renewed sense of determination, She steeled herself for what was to come. Her resolve hardened, fueled by the burning desire for vengeance that consumed her.

While he was luxuriated in his bath, Ravena remained as still as stone, her every muscle poised for action. She knew that any hint of movement could alert him to her deception, so she waited patiently, her heart racing with anticipation.

Finally, Sylas emerged from the bath, his demeanor smug and self-assured. He cast a mocking glance at Ravena, his words dripping with disdain. "My dear Ravena, still lying in bed? Are you still recovering from the pleasure I bestowed upon you last night?" he taunted. "But fear not, my sweet. I have plenty more delights in store for you tonight."

With a predatory grin, Sylas crawled onto the bed, his touch sending shivers of revulsion down Ravena's spine. She clenched her teeth, suppressing the rising tide of anger and disgust as he trailed kisses along her neck.

As he moved to uncover her, Ravena's heart pounded in her chest. She knew that her moment had come. With a swift and practiced motion, she revealed the shard of glass hidden beneath her bandaged hand.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

When Sylas's hand grazed against the makeshift weapon, he recoiled in shock, his expression twisting in pain and fury. In that brief moment of realization, Ravena met his gaze with steely determination before striking out with all her strength.

The shard of glass found its mark, plunging into Sylas's eye with a sickening squelch. His agonized scream echoed through the room as Ravena delivered her retribution, her resolve unyielding in the face of his suffering. Seizing the opportunity, Ravena sprang into action, swiftly making her escape through the open window.

Outside, the wind whipped at her hair as she climbed onto the roof, her heart pounding with adrenaline. In the room below, the sound of Sylas's cries had alerted the guards, who burst in with concern etched on their faces.

"What's wrong, Lord Sylas?" one of the guards exclaimed, rushing to his side.

"Run after her!" Sylas commanded, pointing urgently towards the open window.

The guards hesitated for a moment, their eyes widening in alarm as they spotted Ravena fleeing across the rooftops. With a sense of urgency, they scrambled to pursue her, struggling to navigate the precarious terrain.

Meanwhile, Ravena reached the tip of the roof, her eyes scanning the surroundings for an escape route. Spotting the castle walls not far below, she spotted a lone patrol guard unaware of the chaos unfolding within the castle.

Summoning all her courage, Ravena leaped from the roof, her body colliding with the unsuspecting guard in a swift and decisive blow. As the guard crumpled to the ground, dazed and unable to rise, Ravena wasted no time in making her next move.

With a final leap from the castle walls to the safety of the ground below, Ravena's escape was complete. With each step she took, the distance between herself and her pursuers grew, until she disappeared into the darkness, leaving the chaos of Valedrian Castle behind her.

Back in the room, Sylas gritted his teeth against the pain as the bandages were wound tightly around his injured eyes. Moments later, Thorne, Darius, and Lyra arrived, their expressions a mix of concern and frustration.

"Oooh-- What a mess," Darius remarked, surveying the scene with a shake of his head.

Thorne wasted no time in getting to the heart of the matter. "What happened here, Sylas?" he inquired, his tone stern.

"Sly bitch managed to escape," Sylas growled, his voice laced with anger. "I was just about to have some fun with her when she stabbed me in my damn eye."

Lyra scoffed at his words, her disdain evident. "Should've let me handle her instead, you degenerate," she spat.

Sylas bristled at the insult, his temper flaring. "You want to talk, you slut?" he retorted.

"Say that again, I dare you," Lyra challenged, her hand hovering over her dagger.

Before the situation could escalate further, Thorne stepped in, his authoritative voice cutting through the tension. "That's enough. We have more pressing matters to attend to," he declared, casting a stern gaze at both Sylas and Lyra.

Reluctantly, Lyra withdrew, her anger simmering beneath the surface as she sheathed her dagger. Thorne turned his attention to the window through which Ravena had made her escape.

"Lock down the city and initiate a search," he commanded, his voice brooking no argument. "Ravena must not be allowed to leave Valedrian."

With a sense of purpose, the guards sprang into action, mobilizing to carry out Thorne's orders with unwavering determination.