B.O.E.- Chapter 21: Raven

 Raven felt the world spin but wasn’t sure if she’d moved a muscle. She became aware of the soft mattress and pillows before the blanket suddenly grew uncomfortably warm. She shoved off the blanket but the world spun even faster. She took a deep, slow breath to force her eyes open and stared up at the ceiling for a minute. She was covered in sweat and moving felt like gravity itself was pushing on her. Still, she forced herself to slowly roll over the side of the bed to stand and make her way to the bathroom; unable to walk in a straight line.

Stupid, stupid, Raven, her mind scolded as her temples began to pound. She locked the door and quickly made her way to the sink. She wasn’t sure she could blame the hangover for her sore thigh muscles or her knees. She noticed the red mark on her neck as her mind suddenly remembered why she was so sore:

 

His hands pushed her face down onto the carpet, her arms still secured behind her and her ankles separated on the brace so she couldn’t kick. “I can’t forget your collar.”

Her insides froze as he fastened the thin leather strip around her neck before grunting as he pulled her up slightly with it. She gasped in air before her weight tightened the strap further, cutting off her air.

“Is that too tight?” he whispered behind her.

Her insides began screaming warnings at her. She tried to remain perfectly still but he jerked his grip and the strap tightened again. She let out a garbled shout before he loosened his hold, letting her fall onto the carpet again. She dragged in air before he yanked her up again.

“You feel that, Raven?” he growled behind her. “This piece of leather means you belong to me.”

She grunted as her cheek hit the carpet again. She panted for air and let out a soft whimper of relief… right before he pulled her up again. She felt her body begin to panic struggle before he let her hit the carpet again.

“Please…” she gasped for air.

“Now answer me,” he growled. “You left your apartment... The one I've been paying for. Where have you been staying?”

He yanked her up again and his lips tickled her ear. She let out a garbled whimper as her lungs screamed for air again. She heard herself gurgle in response before he let her go again. She panted; her eyelids growing heavy.

“At a safe house… had to leave... enemies found me… I lost their trail,” she replied breathlessly.

“Is that why you asked me for extra eyes on Anise?” he asked and she nodded. His grip tightened on the strap around her neck and she felt the world begin to fade. “You’d better not be lying to me, Raven.” Kurt released her and she dragged in a last breath before being swallowed by the dark.

 

With a shiver, she focused on the faucet and felt her stomach suddenly lurch. Clamping her mouth shut, she dived for the toilet and managed to open it before she heaved. When she finally stopped, she flushed and fell back on her ass on the cold tiles, panting.

That asshole, she crawled toward the sink and gripped the counter top to pull herself to her feet. I'm going to kill him slowly. She watched the water flow into the drain. Then she turned it off and moved to the shower.

A few minutes later, she dried off and pulled on clean clothes. She needed to get down to the kitchen before the giants did. She hoped they had the ingredients she needed for her personal hangover cure elixir. Hasn’t failed me yet, she thought as she slipped on a comfortable pair of sneakers and walked out of her room.

She made her way down the same flight of stairs as last night, opting not to banister slide this time. She turned at the bottom and eyed the door she’d entered. She tiptoed closer and pressed her ear to it. She could hear deep snoring from inside. Did they fall asleep in there? Are they hung over? She wondered as she tiptoed away toward the dining room. The kitchen had to be connected to it, right? She made her way to the swing door that the servant had taken their empty plates before serving seconds and entered a giant kitchen with dark wood cabinets, grey marble counter tops and stainless-steel appliances. She noticed every inch of it was spotless as Luther was chopping away across the island in the middle. She let the door close behind her but before it made a sound, the servant whirled around and lowered his knife.

“Good afternoon, miss Raven. I’m afraid you’re a bit early for breakfast,” he greeted with a soft smile. “Would you like me to make you something or would you rather wait for the Masters?”

Raven shivered at the word and waved his offer away, “I just wanted to make a quick blended drink.”

“Not a problem,” he moved to a cupboard and pulled out a blender for her. “Would you like me to assist?”

“It’s fine. I got it,” Raven shook her head as she neared the servant, eyeing him when he stared at her for a second longer.

Luther quickly turned away and continued chopping. Raven let her eyes wander over him, trying to figure out something about him but her groggy mind wouldn’t cooperate. She began to reach for the fridge when she glanced at what he was cutting. Then she eyed the other ingredients he had laid out and her arm dropped.

“Something wrong, miss?” he intoned, turning to her.

Raven kept her eyes on the cutting board, “Are you human?”

“No, miss,”

Raven met his grey eyes and masked her expression, “Can you read minds?”

Luther chuckled heartily, refocusing on his chopping. “What gave you such an idea?”

“I came here for those same ingredients,” she indicated the board.

“These are merely items for breakfast, miss,” he smiled softly.

Raven crossed her arms and regarded him. “What exactly were you going to make with chopped tomatoes, ginger, avocado, oranges, spinach, nuts, coconut water and bananas?”

He froze and she could tell his mind was working.

Loaded oatmeal, she thought and quickly ran through a few other wrong answers.

“A loaded oatmeal, miss,” he turned to her with wide eyes when she smirked.

Lying to me right now isn’t going to work, she thought.

He sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly. “I would prefer if that fact remained between us, miss Raven.”

Raven picked up the cutting board and began pouring the ingredients into the blender according to her recipe. She capped it and blended the ingredients together into a thick red shake. She needed a way to strain the chunks and glanced around to see Luther already holding a small mesh strainer and a glass over the sink. She poured the juice into the strainer and set the blender back in place as he handed her the glass. She still didn’t answer as she sipped the shake with a sigh.

Finally, she met his patient gaze and nodded. “I’ll keep it quiet as long as you never share whatever you read from my mind and let me help you with breakfast after today.”

He grinned, visibly relieved, and nodded. “I have misjudged you for the second time, miss. I hope you will accept my deepest apologies.”

Raven shrugged, sipping her drink and feeling a lot better. “Whatever.”

“Would you like me to prepare more ingredients for you, miss?” Luther asked.

“You know how I spent my night, don’t you?” Raven asked and he nodded. “Do vampire’s also get hangovers? Are you a vampire?”

“I am not a vampire but yes, they are susceptible to a hangover if they indulge too much,” Luther nodded.

“I should make this for them. It’s partially my fault they’re still knocked out,” Raven sighed and he chuckled.

“I am sure they will be most appreciative,” he began to chop more tomatoes as she finished her glass.

Together they prepared three more glasses and he set them on a tray.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go deliver it? I could stay here and do the dishes since you cut the ingredients,” Raven argued as he handed her the tray.

“This is your invention and idea, miss Raven,” he shook his head. “You needn’t fear them for they surely fear you.”

Raven heard herself laugh and she turned to the swing door just as it opened. Her eyes zeroed in on a pair of golden eyes and froze, the chill in her spine making her smile fade. Goddamit, she cursed angrily as she and Isaac kept eye contact.

B.O.E.- Chapter 20: Isaac

 Isaac watched as Raven hooked her arm on the bedpost, her knees giving out slightly so she’d lean onto the mattress behind her. He almost moved forward, thinking she was falling, when she looked up at him again.

“You said I had nice hair,” she mumbled and he froze. “Well, you have nice eyes.”

Isaac stared, unsure of what to do. “Thank you?”

She smiled lazily at him. “You’ve been watching me since I got here. Why?”

“I was ordered to watch over you while you stayed here,” he replied, eyeing her carefully. “Are you okay?”

“Is that the only reason?”

He stared, his nerves oddly flaring. What sort of answer is she hoping for? “I volunteered,” he answered.

“Why?” she asked, her head tilting.

“I take responsibility for getting you in this mess,” he watched as she oddly looked sad.

“I guess that’s true,” she sighed.

“Why do you ask?” he watched her sway slightly.

“I don’t know. I don’t exactly date so having some guy be all protective feels weird,” she shrugged.

Isaac froze as her words rattled his mind. His Brothers had said the same thing to some extent. Crap, he cursed to himself. “Sorry,” he muttered.

“No, it’s fine,” she suddenly grinned. “It’s sort of… nice.”

He shifted his weight as a chill ran down his spine. He didn’t know how to respond.

“I don’t wanna make it awkward…” she continued quickly. “Just wanted to tell you that I appreciate it. Even if it seems like I don’t.”

Isaac glanced away from her for a second. She must be very drunk, he thought and oddly, that disappointed him. Maybe I can use this…

“So, you don’t rely on Anise?” he asked.

Her eyes blinked at him as she remembered her words. “Oh… pfft, like I could,” she let out a laugh. “She’s too… pure.”

He noted her suddenly sullen look. “Everyone’s gotta have a confidant. Your father?”

Raven rolled her eyes and leaned onto the bedpost, her arms clumsily crossing across her chest. “My father… his favorite phrase is ‘Trust no one and no one can spill your secrets; friends are a weakness.’ I only send him a letter if I’m desperate.”

Isaac stared for a second before glancing away, realizing his hands were fisted. What kind of man would raise their child like this? He had to continue this conversation before she fell asleep from being so damn drunk. Then he’d have a talk with Liam. “And your mother?”

Raven suddenly snapped her head to him, a frown on her face as she fiddled with her locket. “What about her?”

Isaac noted her unease but pressed on anyway, “Did that necklace belong to her?”

Raven bowed her head before taking a deep breath, “She gave it to me when I was four. I don’t usually take it off except to shower. It has a picture of us when I was a baby. She gave one to Anise before she…”

Isaac stared as her eyes watered suddenly and she turned away to wipe at her tear. He felt a sudden urge to move forward but froze as she turned back, her eyes still watery.

“It’s not something I’m used to talking about,” she sniffed and gave him an accusatory look.

Isaac raised his hands in peace, “I’m sorry. I imagine it’s a painful memory.”

She relaxed and resumed her original position; leaning against the bedpost. “How old are you? Like a century?”

“Four,” he corrected and watched her eyes widen.

“And your parents?” she asked.

Isaac glanced away. “We haven’t spoken to them in a long time. They prefer it that way.”

Movement made him glance back to see her begin to slump.

Racing forward, he caught her before she hit the floor.

He felt her shift and watched her turn to lean on him, pressing her face against his chest. He tensed as he felt her warmth seep through his clothes. He heard her sigh and suddenly felt very constricted in his own clothes. He froze as her body relaxed, molding to his perfectly.

Goddess on High, he grit his teeth to control a sudden urge in his gut.

“Raven,” his voice was gruff and he prayed she couldn’t hear it. He shifted enough to glance down to see her eyes had closed and noticed she was breathing deeply.

She’d fallen asleep.

He hooked his arm under her knees and picked her up to lay her at the center of her bed. He lifted the blanket and draped it over her after removing her shoes. He moved away quickly and watched her for a second, making sure she was still asleep. Her words replayed in his mind.

There is no chance this woman could wish to know me, he thought. She is a killer… a hardened warrior. Just like me.

He glared at the floor. He could still feel the warmth of her body on his. How perfectly she fit into his arms.

Glancing at her peaceful face once more, he dragged himself away to the door. He had planned to hit the gym before he found her on the stairs but now all he wanted was a shower. A long and cold shower.

Under the water, he thought over her answers. Trust no one… friends are a weakness... What kind of man would instill these lessons into their own daughter? With this kind of mentality, she would have had a lonely life. She only had to rely on her father and her sister… maybe that’s what he wanted. But why?

Isaac wondered about her father but there was no way she’d answer his questions. She hardly answered him now that she was drunk. Maybe he could get her to open up about her mother. She seemed fond of those memories despite them being painful. If she meant what she said about teaching the Brotherhood some of her technique, maybe they could get her to open up a bit.

Still, he had to give Liam, Wyatt and Ruben a piece of his mind… for fun.

B.O.E.- Chapter 19: Raven

That night…

Dammit, Raven searched through every inch of her room, pushed every panel, and yet nothing could give her what she wanted. She wished she didn’t have to resort to this, but without another choice, she tucked her tank top into her pants and walked to the door. After a hell of a three days and checking to make sure Anise was okay, she needed this.

Raven shut her door and swiftly moved to the stairs. She sat on the banister to slide down. Before she hit the bottom, she leaned back and managed to flip onto her feet. She straightened and heard noises from the door behind her. It was more than one voice. The laughter she heard was what made her move forward before she thought otherwise.

She froze, hand outreached. Her original plan was to ask Luther for help. Why was she standing here?

Before she could leave, the door opened.

Raven froze and stared into a pair of purple irises as a giant hand closed around her wrist (and forearm), yanking her in.

“Raven?” Wyatt sorta welcomed.

Raven straightened up and glanced around to meet Wyatt’s, Ruben’s and Liam’s eyes. She eyed the glasses of amber liquid that each vamp held and closed off her face for one she hoped was mocking, “What’s a girl got to die from to get a drink around here?”

The three chuckled and Liam gestured her toward a love seat sofa in front of Ruben. Raven took the farthest corner, facing the door as he sat beside her, swirling his glass.

“What’s your fancy?” Wyatt asked, turning to a shelf with an assortment of glass bottles.

“Guess,” Raven challenged playfully and was rewarded by ‘oo’s and chuckles. She liked these three; they didn’t stare daggers at her just for standing… unlike Zeke and Damian.

“Oh, a challenge, ay?” Wyatt leaned toward her, his eyes calculating.

Raven met his gaze, unmoving.

“You’re not a whiskey kind of lady,” Wyatt deduced and Raven smirked.

“Correct,”

“I believe you’d like something in the tequila variety,”

Raven frowned thoughtfully. On any occasion where she felt at home, she’d say yes. But now, surrounded by vamps and after what she’d had to live through, she’d go for something efficient. “Nope,”

Wyatt stroked his chin while the other two smirked at them. “A vodka gal, huh?”

Raven nodded. “Yup,”

Wyatt pumped his fist victoriously, “Alright, then. Lady’s drink of choice?”

“You know what? Surprise me, bartender,” Raven leaned back into the cushions as the other two stiffened with a hiss.

“Not a smart move,” Ruben warned.

“Wyatt tends to load his mixes,” Liam muttered, sipping his.

Raven eyed their glasses. “You’re both drinking straight whiskey on the rocks, no?”

Ruben chucked and leaned forward, offering his drink.

Raven took his glass and sniffed it under their gazes. She could smell the orange zest on the rim and the brown sugar at the bottom. She took a quick sip, the acrid liquid smothering the sensitive sides of her tongue. She felt it burn down her throat as she handed the glass back and merely cleared her throat as she settled back in the cushions. “Not that horrible,” she said and their eyes widened. “I was expecting more.”

Wyatt bounced excitedly as he moved back to the bar shelf.

“I hope you know what you’re signing up for,” Liam sighed beside her.

“If that drink is any indication, I shouldn’t be worried,” Raven smirked and received more ‘oo’s.

“If words could kill, I’d be a dead man,” Wyatt joked as he offered her a glass with dark rose liquid. Raven took it and sniffed it.

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, vamp,” she muttered and he chuckled.

Raven took a sip and felt the immediate burn. It coated her mouth in a spicy perfume and lit a trail down her throat as she swallowed. The liquid then lit a fire in her gut and she welcomed the shivers in her spine. The burn felt like it was cleansing her from the inside. With a sigh, she relaxed and saluted Wyatt, who was watching her. “Well done, vamp. I’ll ask for more when I’m done.”

Ruben shook his head with a smirk as Wyatt moved back to take a seat.

“Holy shit, woman,” he sighed.

“What?” Raven eyed the group and took another sip. “I can’t drink?”

Liam was the first to speak. “You’re cut differently from the other humans we’ve met.”

Raven sighed. “I guess that’s true.”

Ruben cleared his throat. “Speaking of, I’m a little surprised you’re here with us.”

Raven stared and decided to use sarcasm, “Um, I’m getting treatment for the toxin in my veins?”

Ruben’s eyes flashed before he outright laughed at her joke. His laugh sounded hearty; as if it came from his non-existent belly. “You know I mean you hanging here with us.”

“Oh, I was pulled in,” Raven nodded toward Liam.

Liam raised his drink, “She was looking for this. I figured we could help.”

Raven stared at him. How the hell does he know that?

Wyatt leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “And for my services, I would ask but a small favor from you.”

Raven met his eyes and raised an eyebrow, forcing the cold feeling in her gut away. “I’m going to ask what before I agree.”

Wyatt grinned mischievously, “Teach me some of your moves.”

Raven froze.

“Your technique is unique and so damn fluid,” Wyatt continued quickly. “It’s impressive and I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“And he’s gone all over the world to learn different styles,” Ruben added in helpfully.

“I would be honored if you would teach me,” Wyatt continued.

Raven thought about it for a second. Teaching him the basics to her technique would open her up to see what skills these vamps had. Know your enemy to destroy your enemy, her father had taught her but these guys weren’t her enemy.

Couldn’t hurt to learn more though, Raven thought. She sat up and looked Wyatt over, “Just you?”

Liam shuffled and she turned to him. “Actually, I had hoped to ask you to teach me as well.”

Raven met his purple eyes before glancing at the silent Ruben.

Ruben swung back the last of his drink and took a deep breath, “I’m interested too.”

Raven slowly nodded before raising her glass. “I owe you giants so… yeah. I’ll teach the Brotherhood a few moves.”

Wyatt stomped his foot, “Yes!”

Liam swirled his glass around with a small smirk. “Thank you.”

“I am quite excited,” Ruben said softly.

Raven took a deeper swing of her drink and let the burn wash through her. “A few rules? No super speed, no extra mega strength and no biting.”

Wyatt smiled widely, his fangs peeking at her. “Perish the thought.”

Raven narrowed her eyes before masking again and taking another sip. She could feel the drink begin to affect her and relax her muscles. She drained the last two gulps and raised the empty glass. “Could I have another?”

Wyatt nodded and took her glass before also taking Ruben’s.

“Pace yourself,” Ruben’s eyebrows were raised. “You are smaller than us.”

Raven eyed them. “Are you on your firsts?”

Liam shook his head. “I’m on my third. Ruben is now going on his second.”

Raven glanced at Liam for a second. “Your third?”

Liam gave his glass a small sad smile. “I tend to stop after my fifth.”

Raven felt her eyebrows shoot up. She took back her glass from Wyatt and took a sip. Then she shifted enough to get a better look at the purple eyed vampire, who leaned back into the sofa cushions as if to let her get a better look. She eyed him from head to steel-toed boot. “What’s your deal?”

One of his eyebrows perked up with a slight smirk. “What do you mean?”

Raven crossed a leg over the other as she played with the condensation on the side of her glass. “You’re not as muscled as the others so your thing has to be technical… or mental?” she guessed and noticed how Ruben took in a breath.

“You are dangerously close to insulting a very terrifying man,” he warned.

“Am I?” Raven asked but her eyes never left Liam’s.

Liam’s smirk grew. “No, you’re not.”

Raven took a swing from her drink again.

“You are welcome to speculate about me all you wish,” Liam continued. “I will tell you if you are correct.”

Raven glanced at Ruben and Wyatt, noticing they had their full attention. She looked back to Liam to see him staring at her just as intently. She knew the drink was affecting her but not enough that she couldn’t still control it and herself. She placed her mask back on and eyed the vamp in front of her. “You’re the one who set up my provided cell phone,” she accented this by pulling out the phone in question.

Liam nodded. “I did.”

Raven smirked. “I imagine you copied it to monitor how I use it.”

His eyes flashed but he shook his head. “I did not.”

“Yet the phone had a tracker on it,” Raven set the phone on the low table between their shared seat and Ruben.

Liam’s eyes had widened. “I’ll admit to that.”

Raven kept her muscles relaxed as she continued, “So you’re the techy guy of the group. You set up the security cameras outside and I’m guessing the alarms inside.”

Liam’s grip on his glass tightened a bit but not enough to break it.

“That’s why you’re not as muscle bound. You use your head,” Raven concluded.

Liam stared at her for a count of five before he chuckled. “Alright, you’re good.”

Raven smirked and took a victorious sip of her drink.

“Try us next,” Wyatt said excitedly. “Usually, I’d expect this from Liam but oh, his face was so priceless.”

Raven repeated his words in her head. So Liam can deduce information too?  But how in the hell did he know I wanted a drink before I stepped in here?

She turned to Wyatt and eyed him next. She took in his celebrity appearance and well-toned arms, noticing how they balanced his massive chest. He suddenly leaned back in his seat and she noticed his flat stomach with ab muscles. There was a little fold to his middle but nothing too noticeable. She looked up at his face to take in the jawline and the sparkling eyes.

Raven leaned on the armrest, resting her head on her palm. “Really?”

“Whatcha got?” Wyatt challenged with a grin. “I’m intrigued.”

Raven heard the others snicker. “What if I’m right?”

“I’ll let you know,” he promised.

Raven blinked and looked down at her glass. “I’m scared if I offend you that I won’t get a refill.”

“I swear you have nothing to worry about,” he reassured after a chuckle.

Raven fought her own smile. “Okay… you have a lady.”

Wyatt’s grin faded as he frowned, “You knew that already. You’ve met Mary.”

Raven lifted her head from her hand to point at him. “Even if I didn’t, it’s written all over your middle.”

The others laughed as he frantically checked his stomach.

“You’ve probably prided yourself on your model looks for years before she came around and changed that. You haven’t really kept up with old habits,” Raven continued as he frowned at her. “You act like a lady killer and will flirt but she owns you.”

Ruben was laughing loudly now.

“Anything else?” Wyatt asked, somber now.

“You’re probably a lefty so I’ll fix my training to suit you but you’ll need both if you wanna master my technique,”

“You’re ambidextrous?” Liam asked curiously.

“Only when I have to be,” Raven took a sip of her drink before meeting Wyatt’s eyes again. “The first thing you asked me about was my technique. The fact that you asked me to train you and the way you did it means you’re curious but also a true fighter. You probably remember all the fights where you almost lost, searching for a way to improve. You’re always improving.”

Wyatt raised a giant arm to rub the back of his neck, his muscles relaxing but his cheeks suddenly getting rosy. “You’re good,” he let out a long breath as he brought his arm back down. He leaned forward in his seat, bowing to her. “Full marks.”

Raven took a full swing of her drink as the others also congratulated her.

“Impressive,” Liam nodded.

Raven met his eyes and felt her own narrow at him. He grinned and met her gaze, giving nothing away. He wants to hide? That’s fine, she steadied her face as well before turning away.

“Ruben’s up,” Wyatt pointed at the giant.

Ruben raised his free arm, palm open. “Nope! No, thanks. I think I know myself pretty well.”

“Oh, c’mon,” Wyatt urged.

Raven eyed the giant as she raised her glass to her lips. She noticed the thin silver chain link around his neck beneath the flannel lapels. A small delicate shape pushed slightly against his thin shirt and she made out the shadow of a curve. A heart maybe? That’s odd for such a flannel wearing lumberjack, she thought as she took a quick sip amidst their chatter. Then it hit her like a gut punch as her own necklace shifted on her neck.

She looked down again, leaning forward to rest her forearms on her knees. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled and froze when they quieted down.

“What?” Wyatt asked.

Raven looked up and glanced between the three giants before letting her eyes meet Ruben. “I’m sorry,” she repeated and watched his expression begin to wince. She sat up and smirked, “But I’m two for three. You like those flannel shirts way too much.”

Wyatt chuckled and soon Ruben joined in, looking relieved.

“You’ve worn like six different ones since I’ve gotten here,” Raven continued. “It’s not even that cold yet.”

Ruben grinned at her. “I like the material.”

Raven drained her drink and raised the empty glass at Wyatt, “So, do I get another one?”

Wyatt took her glass, “Yes, miss. You’ve earned it.”

Raven met Ruben’s eyes as he walked away to refill her glass. She gave him the smallest of nods and he tilted his glass to her. Wyatt returned with her refill and Raven quickly spoke before he could, “So, wanna share your most embarrassing fight stories?”

“Why should I?” Wyatt challenged with a smile.

Raven played coy, “Well… I could try to speculate or you choose what you want me to know.”

The color drained from his face slightly as he weighed his choice.

“Will we know yours?” Liam asked.

“Sure,” Raven tilted her head. “But you have to finish that. I don’t like matching you when you’ve had a head start already.”

The other two oo’ed.

“Deal,” Liam drained his drink and leaned over to hand it to Wyatt. “Ruben?”

Ruben sighed and drained his own glass. “I think we’re going to be in trouble tonight.”

“Lady’s orders,” Wyatt smirked as he went to refill their glasses.

The rest of the day was spent with the giants sharing their tales of battle and interrupting each other to fact-check. Raven actually felt relaxed and the last seventy-two hours were momentarily erased. She managed to keep her third glass partially filled while the others consumed more without noticing. She could feel herself at a perfect level of intoxication by the time her eyes felt droopy.

Raven excused herself and drained what remained of her glass, hoping she could make it up the stairs to her room before it hit her even harder. She left the room as they bade her goodnight and leaned on the wall after closing the door. She took a deep breath to steady her swimming head. Then she pushed forward to catch herself on the banister.

Glancing down both sides of the empty corridor, she felt herself laugh softly.

I like those giants, she followed the banister around to the staircase and began to slowly climb. But I like that giant bed more.

The world see-sawed for a moment and she froze, gripping the banister tightly. When everything steadied, she continued her way up.

I think I shouldn’t have finished that last one, her mind scolded as she stopped again. How many more stairs are left?

“Raven?”

Raven looked up.

Isaac was standing at the top of the stairs, staring down at her curiously.

Oopsy, her eyes travelled down from his golden eyes to his lips and then lower still to take in his thin sleeveless deep red shirt. It hugged him well but she wondered if it was the shirt… or his muscles pushing against the material. He wore grey sweatpants and she had to tear her eyes away before she began thinking about that too much.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Peachy,” Raven answered and could hear herself slur. Craaaaaap, her mind sang.

“Are you… drunk?”

Raven couldn’t stop her sudden giggle but managed to stifle it. She swayed suddenly and grabbed the banister at the same time something grabbed her arm. She looked up at Isaac as he stood not a foot away. His brow was slightly furrowed but honestly, he still looked so damn handsome.

“Um… thanks,” she mumbled and his grip relaxed slightly.

“Why…” he sighed through his nose. “Where were you?”

“You mean where was I drinking?” Raven used the arm he refused to release to point at the door by the base of the stairs.

Isaac’s frown deepened. “Liam…” he growled.

Raven grinned slightly. “Is that his favorite room or something?”

“Something like that,” Isaac’s eyes looked her over again. “C’mon. The stairs are dangerous for you right now.”

Raven couldn’t argue before he helped her up the stairs and toward her room. “If you’re mad about me being alone, I wasn’t. Wyatt and Ruben were there too.”

Isaac turned to her just outside her door, his eyebrows up in surprise. “Why would you think that?”

Raven shrugged. “You won’t let me go.”

Isaac looked at her arm as if realizing he was still holding her but didn’t let go. “I’m making sure you don’t fall.”

Raven didn’t reply as he opened her door and pulled her in.

“I’ll tell Luther to bring up some water,” he grumbled.

“I have water,” Raven pointed to her bedside table where she had a few water bottles.

“How much did you have to drink?” he asked and Raven heard herself giggle again. This time she noticed his frown fade a little as he watched her.

Why is he so close to me?

Raven shrugged a little. “Enough,”

“How often do you drink?”

“Not often,” Raven used her free hand to count down. “It’s been… like five minutes.”

“Five minutes?”

“Since you’ve been holding me,” Raven answered with a smile and he dropped his hand.

“Sorry,” he muttered.

Raven waved his apology away and unsteadily made her way to the bedside table. She picked up a bottle and broke the seal, drinking half of it.

“So… what made you decide to join them?” Isaac asked and she noticed he’d crossed his arms.

“What’s with that?” she pointed her finger at him. “Are you mad that I spent time with those guys instead of you?”

He frowned. “Why do you keep saying that?”

Raven eyed him carefully… well, as carefully as she could right now. His muscles were tensed as if he was trying not to do something, his frown was back and his eyes were practically melting into her.

He couldn’t be… jealous, could he? Her mind danced in circles. Why would he be? *gasp* Does he like me? No… that couldn’t be it.

“I was going to ask Luther to find me a bottle of something,” she started as she set the waterbottle back on the bedside table. “When I got to that door, Liam literally pulled me in. Then I just hung out.”

“Hung out,” he repeated.

“They wanted me to use my skills to figure them out. Liam’s the tech support of your group and Wyatt is the pretty fighter who’s gaining weight because of his lady,” Raven reported and watched his lip twitch a little. “Am I accurate?”

Isaac shifted his weight. “Yeah.”

“Cool,” Raven leaned onto one of the bedposts with a smirk. “There’s something I wanted to ask you, though.”

He eyed her. “What?”

Her grin faded as she thought of Ruben’s necklace. “What’s Ruben’s story?”

Isaac glanced away quickly. “You didn’t use your skills on him?”

Raven hugged herself and reached up to her own necklace. “He didn’t want me to… but I did notice something.” She watched his eyes zero in on her locket as she fiddled with it.

“I’m sure he’d like to keep that to himself,” Isaac grimaced slightly.

Raven eyed him and met his eyes when he looked back at her. She read the pain in his eyes and felt it hit her too. She shouldn’t push the issue. Then she remembered something else, “Oh, crap. I left my new cellphone on the table.”

“Pretty sure you’ll get it back tomorrow,” Isaac said and he tilted his head. “Have you used your skill on me?”

Raven felt her face blush but couldn’t control it now. “Not really,”

“Not really?”

“Well, I noticed Zeke is your brother… your twin?” she watched him nod before continuing. “But I don’t really want to figure you out like that.”

He dropped his arms. “Why not?”

“Where’s the fun if I learn everything about you at once?” she admitted.

“You wish to know me,” he concluded and she could hear his voice change slightly, becoming softer.

Raven glanced down at her shoes for a quick second before peeking up at him. She couldn’t meet his eyes and cleared her throat. “Just a little bit… maybe…” she took a deep breath to steady herself but the world suddenly moved without her and she grinned. “Jeez, Wyatt’s a decent bartender… I haven’t felt like this in a while.”

She glanced at Isaac to see his eyes practically swimming as he stared at her. “What?”

“I figured you hated having to confide in me,” he stated.

Raven felt those words hit her hard. Before she could speak, she pressed her pounding temple with a groan. “Yeah, I guess I do come off as a bitch, huh?”

Isaac’s eyes widened. “Sort of.”

Raven let out a laugh as her temples settled. “Sorry,” she started, noticing how he was watching her with surprise. “I’m not used to… relying on others.”

He nodded slowly. “I’ve noticed.”

Raven felt the world fade around her, giving her a sort of tunnel vision. Crap those drinks were strong, her mind grumbled as she looped an arm around the bed post to stay standing. Goodnight.

The world dimmed completely and she was floating in darkness.

B.O.E.- Chapter 18: Isaac

 Where could she be? He growled as he eyed the time. She said three days. She said she would notify me about now. Did she lie? Have I failed?

Just then his phone rang and he sped to answer it.

Instead of Raven, he heard Ruben,

“Isaac, she’s back.”

“Where?” he was already reaching for his loaded jacket.

“At the college,” Ruben reported.

“I’ll be right there,” he didn’t even set the phone down as he pulled on his coat and tapped into his speed.

“I wouldn’t scare her. She’s holding something,”

Ruben’s voice barely registered with him as he sped toward the college.

The past three days were hell. He could hardly sleep thinking that she was spilling information about their location. Or the other scenarios that his mind came up with. What if the Disciples had gotten to her? What if they killed her or worse, infected her completely? What if they were torturing her for information on them?

He felt the night air brush past his hair as he moved and finally slowed down when he was close enough to Anise’s dorm. He glanced around and noticed her figure walking along the quad, holding a large flat box. He quickly moved forward and came up behind her, catching a strange scent on her. He hung up the phone before Ruben spoke again and set a hand on her shoulder to stop her but she immediately bent forward.

He froze, confused, when her leg suddenly came up and swung into his left cheek. He stumbled more out of shock than actual pain before she whirled around again and pushed him further aside with a side kick. Then they both straightened up and she took a stance against him.

Isaac raised his hands in peace and watched her green eyes suddenly recognize him.

Raven sighed and crossed her arms, frowning at him. “Sneaking up on me? How’d you think that would go?”

He could hear Ruben’s chuckle from the neighboring shadows but ignored him. “Sorry. Just wanted to talk.”

Raven turned from him and bent to pick up the box. She turned back to him and he caught the strong whiff of melted cheese.

“Pizza?” He asked, his nose wrinkling.

“Anise was hungry,” Raven shrugged. “Who’s got watch tonight? You?”

“Ruben,” he corrected.

“Tell him to take the night off. I’m spending the night here,”

“You are?”

“I am,” her eyes narrowed.

“Where have you been?” he watched her shift as if suddenly uncomfortable.

“I had business. It’s handled. I was gonna text you once I got settled in with Anise,” she replied.

“You were supposed to check in earlier,” he reminded her.

“I tend not to text and drive,” she tilted her head coolly and he fought his growl of annoyance at her dismissal.

“If it was only business, why’d you shake Connor?” he felt a strange fire in his gut but wasn’t sure what it was.

“Why’d you have me followed if we were supposed to be building trust?” she countered before taking another step back.

Isaac stared. She was acting differently but he couldn’t put his finger on it. She obviously wanted to get away from him but was it because she wanted to get to Anise… or something else? “Where did you go these past few days, Raven?”

Raven suddenly snapped her head to the left as Ruben moved to join them and Isaac felt his eyes zero in on her neck. There was a new mark but she’d tried to cover it with makeup… was that a fucking hickey?

Before he could get a closer look, the wind picked up and blew her hair over her shoulder while simultaneously sending a waft of cheese at him.

“Hey, Ruben,” she greeted when the male neared them. “Good news, you have the night off. I’m staying with Anise tonight.”

“Great,” he gave her a soft smile. “She’s been doing yoga for a while now. She has great balance for such a small figure.”

Raven glanced between them and shifted the box, taking another step back. “Can we continue this tomorrow? The pizza’s gonna get cold.”

Isaac was about to argue when Ruben cut him off.

“Of course, we’ll see you tomorrow. Enjoy your girls’ night,”

Raven stared and Ruben winked at her.

Isaac watched her back away from them before she turned away to enter the dormitory. Then he turned to Ruben with a frown.

“Demanding answers from her isn’t going to get her to open up, Isaac,” Ruben muttered before he spoke.

Isaac let out the growl he’d been holding. “Thought Liam was the psychic?”

Ruben chuckled. “And yet even the blind could see what’s going on.”

Isaac frowned at his flannel wearing Brother and followed him as they moved to his car. “I think I’ll stick around for a bit.”

“Being creepy and clingy isn’t the best route either,” Ruben sighed, rolling his eyes. “Want my suggestion?”

Isaac frowned at him, debating his own answer. Something was up with Raven but she wasn’t going to tell him anything. He nodded.

“Let’s go buy the ladies a bottle of wine so they can enjoy their night. I’m pretty sure Raven didn’t bring any in that tiny pack of hers,” Ruben suggested. “We’ll drop off the bottle at the door and leave them alone. She’ll come back to the house tomorrow.”

“You’re sure about that?” Isaac asked and knew he sounded challenging.

Ruben smirked. “Bet money on it?”

Isaac sighed. “Like I’d help your dirty habit of being right.”

Ruben chuckled and they went to the nearest liquor store. They had a quick moment of figuring out which would be the best wine with pizza when they settled on a sweet bubbly Moscato. Isaac quickly wrote a note and delivered the bottle to Anise’s dorm himself. He set the bottle on the floor and knocked, speeding away before they answered it.

Then he forced himself into Ruben’s car or he’d never leave the college.

“How about we scout the town nearby?” Ruben suggested as he drove them away from the college campus.

Isaac grunted his consent, hoping a few disciples were nearby.

 

The next day, he woke up at the usual time and made his way down to the kitchen for breakfast. He felt his cell phone go off and read the text from Liam.

‘She’s in the garage. Connor said she wants to talk to you.’

He frowned and replied, ‘Why didn’t he text me?’

‘He was on his way to work.’

The cop had avoided him since he failed to follow Raven.

Isaac sped to the garage and slowed to enter through the door calmly. She was leaning on the same Rogue she’d left in, typing something into her phone. Just then his phone buzzed again and he checked to find a text from her.

‘Can you meet me in the garage?’

He chuckled softly as he moved closer, holding the phone visibly as she looked up at him. “Good afternoon,” he greeted.

Raven put away her phone to cross her arms as she considered him. Then she moved closer and he froze, a little apprehensive at her strange tranquil expression. She met his eyes for a second before lifting her left hand, a folded piece of paper between her fingers. “‘Sorry. Enjoy your night and I’ll see you tomorrow’?” she recited, a smile playing on her lips.

He briefly wondered if she was making fun of him. “Wrong wine?”

She let out a quick breath almost like a laugh and pocketed the note. “No, she loved it. Drank more than her share. Thank you… oh, and thanks for the car.”

He relaxed slightly as he took back the car keys. “No problem.”

She glanced away and that was when he noticed that her clothes were different, she had showered and her pack was gone.

“What happened to your other clothes?” he asked curiously and her face immediately closed off.

“I must have left them at Anise’s,” she half-shrugged. “We already ate breakfast at the college so I’m just going to head to the gym for a while.”

He nodded and let her brush passed him out of the garage. He smelled the lily scented soap but it was wrong. There was some strange spice to it that made his stomach tighten. Shaking the thought away, he followed to head to the kitchen to eat.

B.O.E.- Chapter 17: Raven

Raven climbed up the steps from the subway and glanced at the clock on her own cellphone. The ride was only an hour so she wasn’t late as she followed a few riders around the corner. She kept her face placid but inside, her stomach was in knots.

Why was Conner following me? Had Isaac sent him? This definitely isn’t helping him with the trust thing, she thought angrily.

She briskly walked to the next corner and waited for the light to change.

With a quick glance around, she eyed the others around her, noting how they all had the same somber expression. Most of them were staring down at their phones, paying no attention to the world around them as they moved through their day. She briefly wondered how they would react if they knew what she did.

The light changed and they all began to walk across the street.

She’d never been able to block the world with her phone but she also didn’t know a whole other world of vampires and inhuman soulless monsters were at war. She’d never have believed she’d be dragged into the middle of it either. Yet, here she was.

With a deep breath, Raven ducked into an alley, breaking away from the clueless public. She moved passed a few buildings before using a wall to grab onto a fence. She pulled herself over it and ducked down to peek around a picket porch.

The neighborhood was quiet and orderly, the lawns were all mowed and the town homes were massive. No one would suspect anyone with a sordid past to live here in this walled off utopia.

The sun set cast a long shadow beside every home and she used it to make her way to one near the end of the block. She eyed the large double doors at the top of a few pristine white steps, a chill running down her spine. The sun continued its descent as the wind began to pick up, almost as if pushing her to get this over with.

With a steadying deep breath, she climbed the stairs and knocked on the door.

The door on the right opened and she was greeted by the barrel of a gun.

“Calmly, place your bag and your cell phone in the box to your right,” a voice ordered.

Raven slowly removed her bag and placed both items on the box just inside the door. She stepped over the threshold when beckoned but didn’t move forward.

“Take off your shoes,”

Raven slipped out of her running shoes, wishing she could put them to use.

“You know where to go,” the woman who’d spoken said behind her when she was done.

Raven already had her eyes on the door to her left. Focusing her face muscles, she pushed herself onward and lead the way to the room as the woman with the gun followed carefully.

She entered the large dimly lit room and refused to look at the man leaning on the desk across from her.

“You were almost going to be late,” he said, his voice sliding over her like oil.

Raven didn’t reply or let her face betray anything but she could smell the whiskey he was already drinking.

He gulped a big swing. “Strip.”

Raven unzipped her thin jacket and tossed it aside. Next, just to get it over with, she undid the buttons on her jeans and stepped out of them to also toss them onto the polished floor. She reached for the hem of her shirt next. As she pulled it over her head, she could practically feel his eyes raking over her body.

“Those are new,” he pointed out, his eyes on her side.

Raven didn’t respond as she dropped her shirt next to her pants. She didn't let herself shiver as the damn AC sent an icy breeze over her exposed skin. She pulled on the inner fires of her hatred to warm her as she stared at the insult to humanity as he sipped his drink.

His eyes traveled back up to meet her eyes with a smirk. “You know what I want,” he chuckled.

Raven fought the urge to take the gun away from the woman still standing behind her to shoot at his hideous smirk. She took a deep breath before letting her legs buckle, her knees hitting the hard, cold floor. She set her hands on her lap and kept her eyes on her knees, trying to ignore him as he let out a breathy groan.

“Beautiful,” Kurt muttered. “Now, we may begin.”

Raven felt herself tense just before a needle dug into her neck from behind.

The world began to spin without her and she clung on to the feeling, welcoming the blackness. She just wished it would last the next three days.

Raven ran into the living room, her necklace bobbing around her neck, and hid behind the sofa as she heard Anise counting in the next room. She was only three so she couldn’t count properly and Raven pressed her hands over her mouth to keep from laughing. Just then her father stormed into the room from the kitchen and her mother moved up to him.

“Honey, calm down,” she hissed, her eyes glancing toward where they heard Anise count.

“They found us, Grace,” he muttered, his voice a growl. “They want to take you away from us. From me.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” her mother promised, trying to meet his eye. “I chose you and I do not regret a moment.”

Her father’s hands fisted. “That won’t stop them.”

“Then we leave. We find a new place to make our home,” she held his head and forced him to turn to her. “John, we’ve created two miracles. I will not let anything happen to my family.”

He dragged in a deep breath. “I could call in a few favors to help us get started. We’ll leave before the month is out.”

Her mother smiled widely and planted a kiss on his lips. “I’ll make the girls’ favorite to tell them the news.”

She moved back into the kitchen as her father sighed.

“Ready or here I come!” Anise shouted, her voice trembling as she ran into the room. “Hi, daddy. Have you saw Raven?”

“She’s behind the sofa, babe,” her father answered and Raven gasped, her heart hammering in her chest as she moved out of her hiding spot. She met his eyes as Anise rushed to her. Then her father winked at her and went to his study.

“Found you!” Anise giggled, throwing her arms around her middle.

Raven forced herself to smile down at her sister as the sunlight from the window glimmered on her identical necklace. Then she tickled her, “Okay, now you hide.”

She watched Anise run away from her before staring after their dad. How did he know she was there?

B.O.E.- Chapter 16: Isaac

   The next day...

    "You trusting me now?”

    Isaac met her unwavering gaze for a few seconds before handing her the keys to a black Nissan Rogue. “Three days?”

    “Three days,” she nodded. “I’ll call you when I’m on my way back so you don’t have a cow.”

    He could feel his jaw tensing to keep his remark down. Instead, he managed to calmly ask, “Same time?”

    She winced a little, “Give or take two extra hours.”

    He nearly growled as he followed her toward the car.

    “I’ll be back,” she assured him as she opened the door and tossed in her pack. “Even if I really wanted to, I don’t break my deals.”

    Before he could ponder that statement and her sudden somber tone, she got into the car and slammed the door shut. He watched as she started the engine and drove out of the garage tunnel that led out to the driveway nearly a mile away. As soon as the bumper disappeared, he grabbed for his phone and speed dialed Liam.

    “She’s on the move,” he growled as soon as the vamp picked up.

    “I’ve already got Connor tailing her at a safe distance. She’d found one of the tracking devices on the phone but she couldn’t have known about the car,” Liam reported. “I know you won’t take my word for it so come here already.”

    Isaac was on the move and hung up just as Liam opened his room door. He stepped in and glanced around.

    The room was more like an office with a little bed pushed into a corner. Books, binders and papers were organized on multiple desks throughout the right side of the room. The left was reserved for another large desk with four giant computer screens. Two of the screens were displaying the layout outside in four split feeds each, one was covered in code that made no sense to him, and the last screen was a bird’s eye view of the city as it moved around streets.

    “I’ve been following the car’s tracker and continuously pinging the cellphone to get a clear trace on her movements. At least both the phone and the car are in the same place,” Liam reported before he could ask.

    “Where is she going?” he asked, watching the streets moving along the screen.

    “I couldn’t tell you until she gets there,” Liam frowned. “Her decisions are almost erratic. I can’t get a clear vision on her.”

    “You talking satellite or your own thing?” Isaac asked.

    “Both,” Liam grumbled, typing furiously.

    Isaac stared. He wasn’t sure how his talent worked but he’d never seen the man so irked about it. He went back to watching the screen when his phone rang,

    “Connor,” he practically barked.

    “We’re headed South. Is that synced up with Liam’s screens?” the cop asked.

    “Yes,” Liam muttered before he could relay the message.

    Isaac turned on the speaker and held the phone between himself and Liam.

    “I’ve been tailing Raven since she left. She hasn’t been trying to shake me so I don’t think she’s noticed me,” Connor reported.

    “You’ll lose her if she does,” Liam warned.

    “I’m doing my best. Especially now that I know who she is… crap!”

    Isaac stared at his phone when the cop let out a slew of curses. “What?”

    “She’s parked the car,” Connor reported and Liam looked up at the monitors.

    “Affirmative. Movement has stopped,”

    “Where is she?” Isaac asked.

    “She’s getting out of the car,” Logan reported.

    “There isn’t movement,” Liam frowned.

    “She’s moving down to the corner,” Connor continued, sounding like he was moving too.

    “There isn’t any movement!” Liam stated, panic lacing his voice.

    “Stay on her, cop,” Isaac growled.

    “She left her phone behind,” Liam cursed. “We’re gonna lose her.”

    "Your vote of confidence is motivating,” Connor snapped and cursed. “Fucking hell… a subway. She’s going down to a subway.”

    Isaac felt a chill run down his spine, spreading slowly through his body. “Don’t lose her!”

    "She’s parting the crowd like Moses! How in the hell is she doing that?” Connor growled. “She got on a train. I might lose y—”

    “Connor?” Isaac murmured before raising his voice. “Answer me, dammit!”

    The connection died and he could feel a part of him dying with it.

    He stared at the blank screen on his phone, his body colder than before. He held it tightly but focused on not breaking it. Liam didn’t speak and the air grew heavy around them as they waited. Isaac could feel his muscles tensing as he stared at the little plastic device in his hand. If he could will Connor into calling him back, he would in a heartbeat.

    After a few grueling minutes, the phone rang and he immediately answered,

    “Connor.”

    “Isaac… I’m sorry…” the human sounded out of breath. “She made me… I lost her.”

    Isaac could hear himself growl and the male hurried to continue.

    “She got on a Northbound train and I followed her in but then she got off with a rush of people in the next stop. She made it seem like she was going to the exit when she jumped from the top of the stairs. I tried to get back down but she got on the train just before the doors closed. I swear she winked at me as the train left, cheeky bitch.”

    Isaac set the phone beside Liam lest he crush it as his hand involuntarily fisted. He growled and eyed the shuttered windows. Damn sunlight!

    “You tried, cop,” Liam muttered.

    “I know Luther’s on the job but I think I’ll go relieve him until sundown,” Connor sighed.

    “Smart idea,” Liam agreed and hung up. He sighed, “Isaac.”

    Isaac refused to turn around.

    “I apologize,” Liam muttered. “I should have known she wasn’t to be underestimated. She is cleverer than me.”

    Isaac nodded, agreeing only with the last part. “It’s not your fault. We keep thinking she’s human… but she isn’t. Not really.”

    “Let off some steam at the gym, brother,” Liam suggested. “Night will soon be upon us and then you can go hunting…”

    “Have you checked the weather, brother?” Isaac growled and turned to meet his purple eyes. “It’s windy. Her scent will be gone by the time night falls. A storm is coming. She knew what she was doing. Of course, she did,” he ended quietly as he rubbed his temples.

    “We’ll give her the three days and begin our search again,” Liam promised.

    Isaac grabbed his phone and left, heading right for the gym.

    Hours later, he reached up to replace the punching bag. Then he crouched to clip it to the hook on the floor. He moved back and experimentally moved the bag around to make sure it was stable. Then he began to beat the ever loving heck out of it.

    Why did she dodge Connor? Where was she going? He thought angrily as he moved around his target. Did she plan this from the beginning?

    He bobbed back and jumped forward to punch the bag.

    She’ll come back. I didn’t fail, he tried to reassure himself but even his own mind knew he sounded stupid. She wouldn’t jeopardize our secrets… would she?

    He growled and punched the bag harder, the chains tinkling. What loyalty did she owe them? She’d only had one treatment session so no one knew the results despite the doctor’s reassurances. She could be anywhere.

    His fists flew through the air as he picked up speed. He wanted to hunt, to be out there looking for her… but the storm was well timed and would blow away any chance at catching her scent. He shouldn’t have let her leave.

    With a grunt, he let go of his control and the force of his punch broke the chains, sending the bag flying away from him.

    “Well, aren’t you hard at work.”

    Isaac dragged in a deep breath before turning to grab a new bag. “Problem?”

    Zeke moved into view, eyeing the pile of destroyed punching bags. “I believe that should be my query.”

    Isaac proceeded to hook the bag onto the awaiting hooks. “Leave me alone, brother.”

    Zeke crossed him arms. “Just tell me you understand my concern here.”

    “I understand your concern,” Isaac muttered, throwing punches.

    Zeke chuckled and neared. “I cannot consciously make getting rid of me so easy for you.”

    Isaac sighed but continued his punching. He pulled back on a punch when he noticed his brother’s face behind the bag. He frowned at him, “What are you doing?”

    Zeke held the bag, bracing against it. “Luther’s going to give you an ear full if you destroy any more bags. Continue your pouting, pretend I am not here.”

    Isaac sighed. “Thank you, little brother.”

    He saw Zeke’s jaw clench before he continued his onslaught. His mind continued to war with itself but he couldn’t help the odd feeling that something was wrong. Her last words about not going back on a deal and the look in her eyes… like she was dreading going to wherever she was going.

B.O.E.- Chapter 15: Raven

 

    Raven watched the yellow-eyed giant walk away to the door but she hadn’t heard a knock. She guessed he could hear something she couldn’t. She tried to stay relaxed but felt her muscles involuntarily tense up when she saw the doctor at the door.

    Isaac let him in and the Doc made his way up to her left side.

    “Good evening, Ms. Raven,” he greeted with a small smile. “How are you feeling?”

    Raven was about to answer but thought better of it; her throat was still impossibly dry despite the water. So she typed out a message on the phone’s notepad app. “You didn’t mention I could’ve died during the procedure.”

    She tried to angle the phone to him but her arm refused to cooperate enough. She turned to Isaac as he returned to her right side and he read her message aloud. She noticed him frown at the Doc and wondered if he was directing her anger because she couldn’t… or it was his own.

    “Ah, yes,” Dr. O fidgeted a little. “Considering the toxin had a few days to truly grip onto your system, it would take a bit of effort to release it. I had high hopes for your survival, however, based on the results from the tests prior.”

    Raven pursed her lips as she typed out another message for Isaac to read, “Why can’t I talk?”

    “I believe the toxin centered in your throat was highly affected by the treatment. It may take longer for your throat to recover than the rest of your body,” Dr. O stated thoughtfully.

    Raven watched him carefully move aside her old cell phone and her necklace to place a rolled-up kit on the bedside table. Before she could type out the message, Isaac spoke,

    “Pass me the necklace, Doc,”

    She stared as the necklace was passed along over her. Then Isaac set it beside her on the bed.

    “It looks delicate,” he muttered, seeing her watching him.

    Raven was about to type out a question when she felt the Doc’s cold hand move her left arm toward him. She watched him sanitize the inside of her elbow and typed out, “Do you need so much blood? I feel like a pin cushion.”

    The Doc chuckled and picked up a needle. “I do apologize, Ms. Raven. As this is a very interesting case, I would like to be as thorough as possible. We must learn as much as we can about your condition and that does call for constant tests.”

    Raven sighed heavily and stared up at the canopy as he pricked her skin. She felt the jiggle as he attached the tube to collect her blood flow but refused to look. She focused inward and checked her own recovery. Her muscles were basically liquid and waking up slower than she would have liked. She could move her fingers and hands but not her arms. Hell, if she tried to make a fist, her muscles practically rioted against her until she relaxed again.

    I hate this, she grumbled in her mind. I can’t fight. I have to rely on Muscles. I can’t even walk!

    As if to underline this, she tried to wiggle her toes again but they refused.

    “What’s wrong, Raven?” Isaac’s voice asked and she noticed his intense stare.

    This guy takes his promises too seriously, she thought before typing out, “My legs won’t move now and I feel like passing out again.”

    “I do recommend plenty of rest,” the Doc answered when Isaac read her message aloud. “You may have random instances of unconsciousness but with time, you will adjust to the side effects.”

    Raven felt him remove the needle and quickly bandage her up. She watched him carefully cork the vial of her blood and slide it into a pouch. She couldn’t help but wonder if he seriously needed so much blood.

    Suddenly, she felt the phone in her hand vibrate. She opened the messages app and opened Anise’s recent text.

    “Hey, Raven.”

    This was odd. Usually, Anise called her by her nickname. Raven frowned slightly and replied,

    “What’s up, sis?”

    “Well, Ms. Raven, I will ask that you contact me tomorrow to report your progress,” the Doc said. “I am sure you will be up and moving again.”

    Raven switched to the notes app to type out: “Sure, Doc. We’ll see.”

    “If you do not experience any nausea within the next two hours, I suggest eating a light soup,” the Doc recommended.

    “I’ll walk you out,” Isaac growled as the Doc chuckled.

    Raven felt the phone vibrate again as both vampires moved away from her. She opened Anise’s message and felt her blood run cold. She forced her heart to relax before the vamps could pick up on her sudden change. She reread the message and quickly ran through a list of possible actions.

    “There’s someone here asking for you. Says he’s a friend of yours? A client?”

    Raven figured she shouldn’t worry her sister just yet so she sent. “At the college?”

    She distantly heard Isaac shut the door to her room and begin to move back to her side when she got Anise’s reply,

    “Yeah… he says you didn’t check in for an appointment? His name is Kurt.”

    Raven couldn’t hide her eyes from widening and knew Isaac must have noticed. She sent back a quick, “Hold on.”

    “Raven?” Isaac frowned curiously.

    Raven opened the notes app and typed, “Could you pass me my old phone?”

    Isaac nodded once and was on the other side of the bed in an instant. He moved back around and set the old phone in her right hand. “What’s going on?”

    Raven didn’t try to answer him. She was busy typing in a phone number she’d memorized to send a quick text message. “I got your message. Not tomorrow. I need a favor.”

    She waited, feeling Isaac’s stare heavy on her skin.

    “What favor?”

    “Extra surveillance during daylight. I’ve got full hands.”

    “It’ll cost you,” came the reply. “In two days, for 72hrs. From now on.”

    Raven pushed down the sudden wave of nerves and replied, “See you then.”

    She deleted the messages, locked the phone and grabbed the other one to send Anise a text next, “Sorry, he’s a client and a friend. Guess he got worried lol.”

    She waited for a reply, forcing herself to relax. I can’t believe that asshole made contact, she thought to herself with a sigh. I need to fix this.

    “Raven,” Isaac interrupted suddenly, eyeing her hand. “What’s going on?”

    Raven opened the notes app and typed out, “Just something I forgot to do. I handled it.”

    He frowned but gave her a quick nod. He busied himself with pouring her another glass of water and she typed out another message,

    ‘Remember those days I told you that need to head out? I need to be gone the day after tomorrow for a few days.’

    Isaac’s frown deepened. “You did mention that.”

    Raven waited as his mind worked. She erased the message and prepared to type again.

    “You still don’t want Luther to drive you?” he asked and she typed out, “No.”

    “So, you’ll need one of the cars,” he pointed out.

    'Preferably a small one. I’m not sure I wanna drive an SUV' Raven typed out.

    “You’re not gonna tell me where you’re going, are you?” he asked but he didn’t even glance at her answer.

    Guess he’s not completely stupid, Raven thought.

    “You’re asking for a lot of trust, Raven,” he muttered, his hands fisting at his sides. “We cannot allow our existence to be compromised.”

    Raven wished she could ask the multitude of questions she felt like asking but resorted to typing out, ‘You asked how you could earn my trust. What better way to earn yours?’

    He crossed those massive arms and stared down at her, hard. “Perhaps sharing some details about yourself would help. You raise a lot of questions.”

    Raven sighed and felt her eyes roll. She typed out, ‘When I get back, I’ll answer a few.’

    She watched him think about it for a few long seconds. He sighed suddenly and moved away. Confused, Raven watched him go back to the plush chairs and pick up a book. He sat down and began to read.

    What the fuck?! She would have frowned if she could.

    He didn’t speak to her and she wasn’t going to wait forever.

    Eventually, her eyes grew heavy and she was out cold again…

 

    Raven raced across the grassy yard, heading to the familiar white wooden fence that lined the property. The grass was drying out in places because of the drought or at least that’s what Dad would say. She could hear the little girl behind her giggling as she clumsily followed. She let out a giggle herself and stopped for a second to let the girl catch up. Then she took off and heard the girl shriek with laughter behind her. She ran straight for the fence and pretended to hit it, falling back onto the grass heavily and closing her eyes.

    She heard the little footsteps rushing to her; the laughter had stopped.

    “Ray?” she squeaked and her soft, small hands touched her face.

    “AH!” Raven suddenly reached up and pulled the little girl into a bear hug, making her shriek in surprise. She buried her face into the little neck and blew a wet raspberry as the tiny creature struggled in her arms.

    “EW!” she cried out giggling.

    Raven laughed with her and held her until they finally relaxed.

    “You’re silly,” Anise giggled.

    Raven laid back down to stare up at the cloudy sky. It was probably going to rain soon and she hoped so. The grass needed it.

    “Excuse me,”

    Raven bolted back up as her eyes landed on a pair of strangers just outside the fence. She quickly grabbed Anise and held her hand but didn’t answer them.

    “Is there a Ms. Grace here?” the man continued; his voice friendly.

    “Uh, do you mean Mrs.?” Raven asked in a small voice.

    “Not to us,” the man’s voice had hardened before his expression relaxed again. His grey eyes had flashed but were back to normal as he examined her hair. “You’re her daughter, aren’t you?”

    “Both—” Anise began but Raven was already moving backward toward the house shouting,

    “DAD!”

    A woman with long black hair was the first out of the house and at Raven’s side before their father finally came outside, gripping a serrated hunting knife. Raven felt her mother’s gentle hand on her back, edging her softly toward the house.

    “Take your sister inside, darling,” she instructed calmly, her eyes on the men.

    Raven nodded and continued to the house, gripping her sister’s hand.

    “Don’t turn back,” her father muttered to her as he passed to stand beside his wife.

    Raven kept her eyes forward but could feel Anise struggling to turn. Inwardly, she struggled not to turn around too. She wondered about the men and why they were there. How could eyes do that? Did she imagine it? What did he mean mom wasn’t a Mrs.? She’s married!

    That’s how that works, right?

    Raven took quicker steps and stopped only when she felt her hold on Anise slip a little. She turned back to see that Anise had fallen to her knees. Quickly helping her back up, Raven continued pulling her along. She made it into the house before she heard her father harshly speak to the men. She pushed Anise back so she could shut the door, blocking out any further sounds.

    Should I lock the door? She wondered, staring at it.

    “Ow,” Anise whimpered behind her with a sob. “Eww… red…”

    Raven spun around and saw the red pouring out of Anise’s knee.

    With a gasp, she grabbed her sister and took her to the nearest bathroom by the stairs. She sat her on the unopened toilet lid and dove under the sink for the first aid. She began trying to dress the wound but the blood wouldn’t stop.

    Raven pressed onto the wound with a fresh gauze as she undid her small tennis shoe. She tore off the sock that had soaked up a lot of the blood. She heard Anise whimper and froze.

    “Ow!” she whined and reached down to where she was pressing.

    “Sorry, too hard?” Raven asked and looked at her hand with a gasp. The gauze was soaked through already.

    Raven looked back up into Anise’s face to see her eyes a little droopy and her skin a little paler. She didn’t know what to do. Tears welled up and made the blood shimmer like rubies.

    “Mom! Dad!” she screamed when she heard the door to the yard close.

    Their footsteps came rushing and she looked up into their blurry faces.

    “Anise? Honey?” their mom rushed in and crouched in front of her while Raven moved out of the way. “We have to go to the hospital. She’s lost a lot of blood already,” she said after a second.

    Raven stepped out of the bathroom as her father wrapped a long bandage tightly around Anise’s thigh just above her knee.

    Then the three of them were rushing out of the house to the car and speeding to the hospital.

    After the doctors took Anise and they were sitting around the waiting room, Raven watched her father walk up to her.

    “How did she get hurt?” her father demanded; his equally green eyes trained on her.

    “We were walking to the house and she fell,” Raven answered softly.

    “We’ve told you to be careful with her,” he continued with a huff. “You can’t be so rough. She’s only two.”

    “I didn’t mean to…” Raven felt a tear escape and reached up to brush it when she saw the blood on her palms.

    “We have to let the doctors do what they can,” her mother sighed, walking to them from speaking to the nurses.

    He turned to her now. “I told you something like this would happen.”

    She faced him and met his frown. “Yes, we knew the possibility and I regret nothing. You’ve lived a long life and so will they. Raven’s almost six and healthy,” she reached up and cupped his cheek. “I love you… and your imperfections.”

    With a deep breath, her father’s expression relaxed and he turned his head to kiss her mother’s palm. Then he sat down next to Raven with a sigh.

    “C’mon, honey,” her mother reached for her. “Let’s give your father some space and we’ll wash your hands.”

    Raven followed her mother.

 

    “Raven?”

    Raven forced her consciousness back and eyed the dimmed room until she noticed the behemoth half-shadow standing beside her.

    “How are you feeling today?” he asked.

    “It’s morning?” Raven asked, her voice stronger than before.

    “Around eleven,” he nodded. “Can you move?”

    Raven tested this by moving her arm out to the side, bumping into the phones that hadn’t been moved. She brought her arm back in and raised it to look at her palm as she fisted her hand. “I’m better than before.”

    Isaac smirked. “You’re not throwing punches yet but it’s a start.”

    Raven eyed him as she schooled her expression a little, remembering her promise to answer his questions. She wiggled her legs a bit before bringing her elbows back to lift herself a bit. She scooted herself back to sit against the pillow behind her and relaxed with a sigh. “Thanks for keeping an eye on me while I was… out.”

    He nodded before he shifted slightly. “You think you can stomach some food?”

    Raven thought of food and felt her body’s reactions to the idea; her belly rumbling. “I think I can manage.”

    “I’ll bring you something,” Isaac promised and paused by the door. “And I’ve been thinking over what you said. You’re right. I’ll trust you to go out and do what you need to. In turn, I hope you’ll trust me enough to be honest with your answers later.”

    Raven met his eyes when he turned back to her. She still couldn’t believe someone would have golden eyes; even vampires. “This is only a temporary arrangement. If this treatment works, I’m leaving and would prefer to have some things kept secret. I promise to answer what I can, honestly.”

    He didn’t reply as he left the room.

    What questions is he going to ask me? What the hell could he want to know? I’m not here to make friends, she wondered.