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.

B.O.E.- Chapter 14: Isaac

 

    I would recommend leaving her on the stretcher, Master Isaac,” the Doc’s eyes were wide with worry.

    “She wished to return to her room,” Isaac answered tightly. He glanced down at the woman in his arms. Her sharp green eyes were closed but her expression was so relaxed. She looked so delicate and yet he knew otherwise. The fact that this warrior woman was reduced to such a helpless state gave him a chill. He’d made her a promise to protect her and he could think of nothing else.

    “Perhaps that is not the most—”

    Isaac eyed the Doc and watched the thin vampire sigh in defeat.

    “Very well,” he picked up a plastic bag and slid her belongings into it. “The treatment worked well, given the circumstances.”

    Isaac could hear himself growl and the Doctor spun back to look at him. “She barely survived.”

    The Doc handed him the bag, extending his arm as far as he could to keep his distance. “An unfortunate possibility due to her humanity. She is quite resilient, however. By tomorrow, we will run another test to see how the treatment is affecting the toxin.”

    “You said it was promising,”

    “Tomorrow we shall see exactly how promising, I’m afraid,” the Doc held his hands behind him. “As for now, I recommend observing her temperature. Should she spike a fever, it must be dealt with given her weakened state. When she wakes, she may experience the side effects mentioned earlier and I recommend plenty of water and light foods until she feels stronger. She must not exert herself for a full twenty-four hours after the procedures.”

    “Got it,” Isaac gave him a nod. “Anything else?”

    “I suppose not,”

    Isaac began to turn away and remembered to move gently, “If you think of anything else, call me.”

    He walked away from the Doc as fluidly as he could and used his back to push open the swing door. He carefully moved down the hallway and up the first flight of stairs.

    A small sound had him frozen with his foot on the last step before locating the source of the sound.

    It came from Raven.

  He watched as her expression scrunched up for a brief moment before her weakness dragged her under again. She sighed and further relaxed in his arms.

  After a second, he continued up the stairs and down another hallway to the last flight that would lead to her door. He moved as smoothly as he could to not bother her again, hating his limp for the first time in a hundred years. He pushed the thought of how light she was from his mind as he moved.

    At her door, he adjusted his grip carefully to reach for the knob. He then pushed the door open with is foot and moved into the room. He moved up to the bed and carefully laid her on it, dropping the bag to maneuver her form better. He slid the bed covers out from under her and covered her with it. He stood still for a moment to listen to her rhythmic heartbeat and steady breathing before moving away from the bed.

    Isaac froze when his foot hit the bag, wincing as it rustled. With a quick glance to make sure she hadn’t stirred, he picked up the bag and took out her shoes. There was something shiny in one of the shoes. He plucked out a small oval locket from her right shoe and held it up.

    The silver chain matched the silver pendant as it glinted in the dim light from the surrounding lamps. He set her shoes down and moved to set the locket on the table beside the bed.

    This must be an heirloom, he thought, eyeing the necklace. It was small and delicate but quite ornate. Maybe it has a picture?

    Isaac frowned and held the locket out, almost placing it on the table. He really shouldn’t open it. He could already imagine Raven’s glare in the car when she suspected he’d listened to her conversation with her sister. Granted, he was guilty.

    She just granted me a way to earn her trust, he glanced at her sleeping form on the bed. This would surely make her backtrack. What’s one quick peek?

    Isaac grit his teeth and eyed her for a while longer, making sure she was still out cold. Then he opened the locket.

    Inside was a picture of a woman with long flowing black hair, holding a baby. Despite how small the picture was, he could tell the baby had green eyes. The woman wore a long elegant dress and a soft smile. She had a far look as if looking at whomever was holding the camera.

    This might be Raven’s mother! His mind yelled as he glanced back at the woman who gave him headaches. Except for her hair, Raven did not look like this woman. They shared a similar widow’s peak but Raven’s features were sharper compared to the woman’s. The baby, however, was strikingly similar to Raven… and she was smiling.

    Isaac stared at the baby. He wondered how such a pure, small thing could grow up to be a secretive, hardened killer.

    He closed the locket and quietly set it on the table. Then he fished out both the cell phones and set them on the table too. Just as he was making his way to the little sitting area, there was a knock on the door. The knock was soft enough that only his ears picked it up so he moved to it without checking on Raven.

    Isaac opened the door to see Luther holding up a tray with a pitcher, a glass and a straw.

    “The good doctor suggested I bring up some water for Ms. Raven,” he explained.

    Isaac took the tray and noticed the small brass bucket full of ice.

    “Ah, yes,” Luther noticed where his eyes had fallen. “The doctor had mentioned her side effects and I took it upon myself to include the ice and a few extra towels should they be necessary.”

    Isaac eyed the servant for a second. “Thanks, Luther.”

    The servant bowed and made his way back down the stairs.

    Isaac closed the door and locked it. He carried the tray to Raven’s other bedside table and then took a seat in one of the sofas. He suddenly noticed he’d taken her seat when he’d first shown her the room. He realized that he had a clear sight of the windows that faced the grounds and of both the exit door and bathroom door.

    Of course, she would choose this seat, he chuckled to himself.

    For the next few hours, he sat there and periodically paced the room. He had wished he’d brought a book to read to pass the time. Or perhaps a smoke. Would the smell bother her? He had sworn to protect her but… protect her from what?

    The Brotherhood of Eternity lived here and very few were privy to that information. Hence, the shock of her ability to find this place. This was the safest place for her.

    All he could do was wait for her to wake up and make sure she wasn’t heating up.

    Oh, right… he made his way back to her and eyed her. She hadn’t moved a muscle for hours except to breathe. She didn’t seem to be perspiring either. Yet, he figured he’d be remiss if he didn’t at least check.

    He raised his hand and pressed the back of his hand softly onto her forehead.

    He could feel how soft her skin felt against his own as her natural heat seeped into his cold hand. He kept his hand there for a second before moving on to the side of her face. Against his icy skin, he could only guess that she was at her normal temperature. She didn’t feel drastically hot against him so he began to move his hand away when she stirred.

    He froze.

    Raven sighed and he swore she had leaned ever so slightly into his hand.

    There was another knock on the door and he quickly snatched his hand back. He kept still to make sure she wouldn’t stir again before practically speeding toward the door.

    That didn’t just happen, he thought as he reached for the doorknob.

    “Good afternoon, Master Isaac,” Luther was back.

    “Luther,” he greeted automatically, his mind still on what happened.

    “I brought you a few reading materials should you need them,” he held up two books.

    Isaac took them and eyed the servant, “Luther, be honest with me.”

    “Of course, Master Isaac,” Luther bowed.

   “You can read minds, can’t you?” Isaac asked for the hundredth time since he’d known the servant.

    Luther fisted his hand over his chest, “It would be an honor to hear your thoughts, Master Isaac, but I would never accede having such a burden.”

    Isaac stared as the servant bowed again and left swiftly. He closed the door again to go back to his seat. Luther was a crafty one. He always seemed to have a different answer. He wondered over the man’s words as he took his seat and set a heavy booted foot on the little table before him. He forced himself to relax as he opened a book but could still feel Raven’s warmth on his skin.

    He sighed. Being basically dead, he was accustomed to being cold. He always figured it a poetic way of being frozen in time. He had seen many lives come and go; always doing his duty since his transition into a full vampire. Hollywood was misinformed in that vampires are made. Fact was, they were born. Born of both human and vampire or two vampires; as his niece was. Dead yet alive and ageless.

    He glanced over to Raven again. Human born yet somehow had transitioned into a killer.

    Goddess, watch over Leela, he prayed suddenly. When Leela turned twenty-two, she would transition into full vampire, and he hoped all went well. He knew his niece to be a sweet, intelligent, little child who already demonstrated a physical strength akin to his kind. He hoped that even with her father and uncle being warriors that she would live a life away from their war. He couldn’t imagine her taking up a sword against the Disciples.

    Soon, he got lost in his book and managed to finish it. When he looked up, the blinds automatically opened to let in the moonlight and the dim lights began to brighten a bit. He set the book down just as he heard a grumble on the bed.

    Crap, I should have turned those things off, he cursed and stood up.

    Raven groaned softly as she forced her eyelids open before wincing them shut again.

    Isaac quickly grabbed the remote and dimmed the lights. He guessed his quick movement was a mistake as Raven suddenly turned to him. She let out a strange, raspy shout before her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she was out cold again.

    With a curse, Isaac pressed a hand into her throat. He relaxed when her heartbeat felt like it was growing steady again. He kept the lights dim and kept his position in case her condition declined.

    After a few minutes, he heard her breathing change and she was forcing her eyes open again.

  “Easy, Raven,” he muttered before she stressed herself again. “You’re back in your room, as you asked, and it’s just us. You’re safe.”

    Raven’s muscles visibly relaxed and he wondered if she was aware of it. Her eyes slowly opened this time and stared up at the ceiling for a second. Then she found his eyes.

    “How do you feel?” he asked carefully.

    He watched her throat work before she moved her lips. Her voice was a raspy burst of air but he could make out, “Like… train wreck…”

   Isaac moved to the tray and poured some water into the glass before adding the straw. He held it so the straw would tickle her lip. “Here,” he offered and he could make out the gleam in her eye. “The Doc recommended water,” he added innocently.

    He watched as she took in the straw and drank half the glass of water. Then he set it back on the tray.

    “Doc wants to run another blood test to see how the treatment affected the toxin,” he reported and heard her sigh heavily.

    “How… long… asleep?” her raspy voice asked.

   “About twelve hours,” he watched her eyes widen before she looked him over curiously. “I read a book,” he lied casually.

    Her expression practically screamed, ‘for twelve hours?’. He gave her a tight smile. “I’ve had practice sitting around for hours.”

    Raven glanced away from him and began wiggling her fingers.

    “The doc says to take it easy for a while,” he continued, watching as she rotated her arms experimentally. “Which means your fight with the cop will have to wait a few days.”

    Raven sighed and stopped moving. “Not… set… yet…”

    Isaac chuckled. “That’s good, then,” movement made him glance toward the end of the bed. She was wiggling her toes. “You don’t need to get up, you know.”

    Raven met his eye and he could practically see her waging war with herself.

    The wiggling stopped.

    “Awake…” she rasped. “Relieving… you…”

    Isaac stared at her. Seriously? He felt his face muscles frown at her as his insides began to boil over. He wanted to snap at her. Wanted to curse and yell so loud at her stubbornness that the windows would shatter. It took most of his effort to stop his growl. If he let loose, this infuriating woman would shut down again and he would get no answers. His duty to the Brotherhood relied upon determining if this woman was a threat to them. All he could determine now was that she was a giant pile of questions and, by God, he was going to get some damn answers.

    Not even a deep breath could erase all of the frown as he spoke, “My agreement was to watch over you after the treatments. As I understand it, there will be more. Unless you plan to ask me every time, I think my agreement still stands.”

    He watched her eyes widen indignantly but continued anyway, “Besides, you couldn’t defend yourself against attacks right now anyway. Until you’ve fully recovered, you’ll have to rely on my vampy strength.”

    At this point, she wasn’t glaring at him but her eyes were narrowed into slits. If she could move, he was sure she’d have thrown a punch.

    Hoping to ease the tension, he raised his arms, “Hey, Doctor’s orders say you can’t stress yourself for at least a day or two. Take it up with him… if you can speak loud enough.”

    Raven’s expression darkened for a second before she relaxed and the tension left her muscles. She let out a long hissing breath and seemed to consider his words. Then she looked up at him again, a spark of panic in her eyes. “Anise…?”

    “We’re doing shifts at night and the cop has four of those days covered,” he could see her question and continued, “He’s randomizing the day watch and Luther’s covering the last three days.”

    Raven’s jaw worked like she wanted to say something.

  “I know he doesn’t look like it but Luther can hold his own,” he defended the servant and she shook her head.

    “Not… that…” she rasped and tried again. “Feel… bad…”

    Immediately, he felt himself tense up. “Why? Do you feel a fever? Or do you have to throw up?”

    Raven grimaced and spoke again, “No… never mind…”

   Isaac relaxed but knew she wanted to say more. He sped around the bed to the other bedside table and picked up her new phone. He reached over and set it into her left hand as she turned to him. “Try texting?”

  Raven’s muscles shook with effort as she lifted the phone and tossed it toward her right hand before collapsing. Then she weakly moved that hand. She unlocked the phone screen and opened a notepad app. Then her thumb slid over the keyboard.

    Isaac moved back to the other side as she worked and looked at the screen when she tilted the phone his way.

    I feel bad Luther is part Anise’s detail. I know you giants have your own business but that dude does so much already.

   Strangely, he felt his chest expand as she looked back into her green eyes. “He’s happy to do it. I think he has a soft spot for you.”

    Raven began typing beneath her first message, Is he human?

    Isaac shook his head. “He’s not a vampire if that’s what you wanted to ask. He’s immortal but none of us are exactly sure what he is. He’s been with the Brotherhood since before I joined. I suspect he’s been here even longer. We trust him.”

   Raven seemed to accepted this and typed again, Is the Doc coming or do I have to go meet him?

  “I think he’s coming here,” his phone starting ringing at that moment. “Hold on.”

    He checked the ID and answered on the second ring, “Hey, Doc.”

    “Master Isaac, how is my patient?”

    “Losing her patience but she’s conscious,” Isaac reported.

    “Excellent. I will be there soon to collect a bit more blood and ask some questions,” the Doctor said. “Have her drink some water and we’ll see if she can stomach food after my visit.”

    “See you then,” Isaac hung up and turned to her. “Doc’s headed up.”

    Raven sighed and stared up at the ceiling.

    “He said to give you more water,” Isaac picked up the glass with the straw again and this time, she drank without issue.

    “Thanks,” she croaked, her voice a little stronger.

    “No problem,” he set the empty glass on the tray. Silently, he hoped he’d been able to get through to her at least a little bit. Those were some high walls she had (for good reason) but even the slightest budge would ease some of the tension in his shoulders.

     Before they could say more, there was a knock on the door and he went to answer it.

B.O.E.- Chapter 13: Raven

 Raven?”

Raven heard his voice but didn’t respond. She didn’t move. She was staring at the dash but not really seeing it.

The ride back to the mansion was quiet and only took a few minutes but her mind had raced with enough thoughts and questions to last the rest of the month.

*What are the chances the Doc found a solution? What if it doesn’t work? What if it kills me?*

Raven felt them stop moving as he killed the engine. Damn ‘what if’s were going to kill her before any of her father’s enemies could.

“Raven?” His voice finally broke through the cacophony and she turned to him, face still under control. “Are you ready?”

She could hear the caution in his voice as if he was trying not to worry her. As if he could help with that. She quickly checked her heart rate to make sure it was slow and steady. Her face was still relaxed and she was sure she looked bored. She could tell they had made it back and reached for the door without answering him.

Raven got out of the car and closed it as his massive form moved to her. She mentally sighed that he was sticking to her side as they moved through a door to the rest of the house.

“Shall I take that for you, miss?” Luther quickly moved to them.

Raven was about to say no but the servant continued,

“The Doctor awaits you in his wing if you would like to meet him,”

Raven felt her muscles move automatically and handed the servant her backpack. “Thanks,” she muttered and he smiled at her warmly.

The servant moved away and Raven stared down the hall, suddenly feeling the air heavy.

“Lead the way,” she glanced toward Isaac, who was staring at her.

He nodded once and began to move forward. She followed as he led her through the hallways… or were they corridors? She tried to pay attention to anything else except where they were headed. She watched Isaac move in her periphery and noticed the knives he had strapped to him. She made out a few throwing stars and could see a gun holster. He was armed tonight but he wasn’t armed yesterday… was he? She should have been paying attention.

*He probably doesn’t trust me after yesterday’s conversation,* she thought.

Raven frowned slightly. Why did that bother her?

*I’m not here to make friends. I’m here to get cured and get the hell out,* she reminded herself. *I need to get back out there. For Anise.*

They got to the Doctor’s door and he held it open for her.

Repeating her last thought, Raven moved passed him to the brightly lit room.

“Ah, greetings again, Ms. Raven,” the Doc moved to them quickly.

“Hey,” she gave him a quick nod, her eyes sliding over a few sharp medical instruments. “Will it work?”

The Doc shifted uncomfortably and his eyes glanced over to Isaac. “After extensive testing, the results seem promising. I would like to conduct one final quick exam by taking a bit more blood.”

Raven sighed and held out her arm. “Go ahead.”

The Doc chuckled and bent her arm back in, holding her hand. “Just a pinprick this time is sufficient.”

Raven let him extend her finger as he lifted the little device. She recognized it but couldn’t steel herself against the quick prick. She gasped and jerked softly. “Sorry,” she forced herself to relax and kept still.

“Be back in a moment,” the Doc quickly collected a drop of her blood and gave her a cotton ball to press onto the wound. He moved away quickly to a microscope.

*I hate those damn things,* Raven growled to herself as she looked anywhere but at the giant beside her. She stared at her quivering finger uneasily. Her hand would be useless for her Quick Points method and she’d have to rely mostly on her right. For now. *Why’d he have to use that finger anyway?*

“You seem nervous about something,” Isaac noted beside her and she instinctively pushed down her thoughts and controlled her body.

“Do I?” she asked back and heard him sigh.

“Raven, you don’t have to pretend. I know this isn’t easy but it’d get better if you’d begin trusting me. Even if just a little.”

“You’re asking me to just grant something that has to be earned?” Raven met his yellow eyes questioningly but could find no frustration this time. He was being absolutely sincere.

“What can I do to earn your trust?” he asked softly and Raven felt as if she should trust him on a trial basis at least. She thought about it for a second but couldn’t come up with something he could do to earn her trust. She’d never had this sort of thing happen to her before.

“Oh, dear,” she heard and immediately whirled around to the doctor.

“What?” she was about to ask but Isaac’s voice had asked instead.

“Ah, Raven, do you wish I speak to you in private about the treatment?” Dr. O walked back to her, looking grave. She didn’t hear Isaac say anything so she guessed it was her choice.

“Just tell me,” she sighed.

The doctor blinked before regaining his composure. “The treatment is based on treating the toxin through a type of radiation so our goal is to isolate it and dissolve it for this cannot be surgically removed. The test subjects I used to experiment had already succumbed to the toxin so the results were… messy. Yet the blood sample I took from you showed promising results after being exposed to a lower dose of treatment,” the doctor paused before continuing. “What I also found was that the treatment will need to be consistent and there will be pain involved.”

“Type of radiation,” Raven repeated. “Does that mean you’re putting me through chemo?”

“Almost. You will have to be exposed to radiation to increase the toxin’s effect before the rest of the treatment dissolves it.”

Raven couldn’t speak for a second. She didn’t like this. Unfortunately, she had to try it… for Anise. “What are the side-effects?”

“You will not lose your hair, if that is a concern. You will, however, lose motor functions,” Dr. O said and she felt really cold. “Only for movement, I assure you. The treatment will leave you very weak where you won’t be able to move. You’ll sleep for hours afterwards so it’d be best to do this in the early morning. When you wake, you may experience nausea, dizziness, headaches, vomiting, and feel very sensitive to the touch.”

Raven felt slightly dizzy without the treatment already. She was going to be obsolete due to all this. Curse that night in the park!

“I can set up a hospital bed here, if you wish, so you may rest after the treatments,” the doctor offered.

Raven thought about it for a second. They were just under the first floor. Here, she’d be exposed. Here, she could be attacked if anyone with the same training as herself found a way through the yard. Her enemies could be hunting her now…

“Actually, can you give us a second?” Raven asked and the doctor walked away with a nod. She turned to Isaac, who was watching her with a confused expression. She knew she couldn’t stay here. Not only was there no bathroom for the possible vomiting session but waking up to all those medical instruments at fault for her condition would be an absolute nightmare.

“Look, this is horrible for me to admit but I’m a little nervous about the side-effects,” Raven forced herself to say and took a deep breath to continue before Isaac could respond.  “And I don’t want to wake up with all those knick-knacks being the first thing I see so… I was wondering if… since I’m going to be so weak I can’t move… and considering your vampy strength… if you could…” she couldn’t do it. *God, I’m so pathetic!* “Um, forget it.”

“No, go on. If I could what?” Isaac urged helpfully and Raven avoided eye contact.

“If you could move me to my provided room instead,” she forced on. “And possibly… stand guard.”

“I would be honored to watch over you,” Isaac said with a slight bow that made her feel worse about having ever asked.

“Thanks…” Raven immediately turned away to walk up to the doctor, suddenly eager to get through the treatment to forget this moment. “Ok, doc. Let’s do this.”

“If you are ready, please remove all electronics or metals on your person including your shoes and lie on the stretcher,” the doctor instructed and indicated the stretcher that slid into the machine.

Raven took out her cell phone and the cell phone Isaac gave her. Then she removed her necklace that she always hid under her shirt, feeling very naked. She placed them in a metal container the doctor indicated to. Then she undid her boots and placed them beside the table with the rest of her things. Then she moved, barefoot, to the stretcher and laid down, feeling very uneasy. She felt something hook around her right wrist and tighten.

With a jerk, she raised her head to watch the doctor strap her right wrist,

“Hey, what—”

“I’m sorry, miss. This is to ensure you do not move a muscle while in the machine. Believe me, it will be necessary,” the doctor said and began to move to her right ankle next.

Raven had the sudden urge to kick the doctor away, untie herself and run the hell outta there when she noticed Isaac was now at her side. She met his eyes and found herself feeling calmer about the situation as the doctor continued to strap her down. She stayed still and forced the same control onto her face, masking her turmoil.

Finished, the doctor rolled over a metal table with three needles on it. Raven pushed down her fear of needles and tried not to look. She always hated needles and immediately refused when her father wanted her to apply Botox to her face in order to manipulate her features.

The doctor wiped the side of her neck with a sanitation wipe and then picked up a needle, saying, “This is the first of three stabilizers that you will need because of the level of radiation. This first one I must inject into the main spot of concern.”

Raven knew what he meant and steeled herself, trying to keep relaxed. “Do it,” she ordered.

She could see the doctor near his hands to her and held her breath when she felt the needle push into her throat with a small burn. She felt him inject the stabilizer and inhaled as it burned more. She didn’t feel the needle slip back out so much as see the doctor’s hands move away. The stabilizer was still burning and it was slowly increasing.

“This won’t cause brain damage, will it?” Raven felt herself ask as the burn moved up her jaw and down to her collarbone.

“None whatsoever,” Dr. O said with a soft chuckle she wanted to hit him for. Next, he wiped the inside of her right arm before applying a second needle there.

As the burn continued to spread from her neck, Raven felt another start at her right arm.

“Is this shit supposed to burn?” she asked next as the second burning sensation moved to her fingers and up her arm.

“Normally, I’d say no. Yet, in your circumstance, the toxin is making this burn,” Dr. O said as he moved around her to her left arm and began to wipe it clean for the last needle.

When the two burns met at her shoulder and began to wrap around her right breast, she felt herself start to lose patience with it and nearly fought the restraints so the third needle wouldn’t inject more of this pain into her. But Raven forced herself to hold on as the doctor injected her once more and her left arm started to burn.

Raven had a strong inkling that if she wasn’t strapped down, she’d be clawing at herself to stop this fucking burn spreading through her.

“Now, I would wait a minute before inserting you into the machine but I have a distinct impression that the stabilizer is spreading quickly,” the Doc said to her right.

“What the fuck gave you that clue?” Raven asked as the two burns met in the middle of her chest and began to spread down her body and fill her head.

“You’re sweating and gripping the straps,” he replied calmly and she could hear the whirr of a machine starting up.

“Aren’t you a fucking Sherlock?” she snapped as her temples nearly exploded. Her neck, precisely where she’d cut herself, was the epicenter of the burn. It hurt there the most.

“Raven, you know he’s trying to help you,” Isaac’s voice scolded her. She would have laughed if she wasn’t busy trying not to scream.

“You could’ve fooled me,” she grunted as the burning sensation pooled around her abdomen and slowly spread on.

“Let me know when it gets to your legs,” Dr. O said patiently.

Raven tried to breathe through it as the pain pounded in her temples and the burning sensation attacked both her thighs at the same time. “There,” she panted, straining against the straps holding her. The burning nearly cramped her shin muscles but she pushed a finger deep into her thigh muscles, tripping the nerve to numb her legs. She would not add muscle cramps to this already annoying pain.

“Alright, I’m going to insert you into the machine so try your best not to move while you’re in there,” Dr. O instructed and Raven felt the gurney tremble as he pushed it. Forcing herself to remain still, Raven watched as she entered the machine and listened to it start up again.

*I hate this. I hate this!* She yelled in her mind, realizing the machine was like the one used for CAT scans if a bit tighter. She wouldn’t have been able to move much even if she wasn’t strapped in.

“I’m going to turn on the radiation for thirty seconds,” Dr. O’s voice said. “Don’t move.”

Raven would have yelled at him to stop wasting her time when the lights around her turned on and the burning that filled her turned into an inferno. Forcing herself to stay still, Raven took deep breaths and gripped the straps for all she was worth. The inferno got worse and there was a ball of pure agony at her throat.

Sound was filling the machine.

It was horrible and full of pain and she wished it would stop as it rung in her ears.

It took her a second to realize that she was screaming.

Quickly slamming her mouth shut, Raven felt her eyes stream with involuntary tears. She was panting now in pain and getting weaker by the second. She felt tired suddenly and her heart was beating so fast, it might just give up in all this madness. She closed her eyes and the simple action felt amazing. She suddenly didn’t care about her heart stopping. If it did, she’d be calm and relaxed. She’d be at peace away from all this pain. Away from obligations. Away from people trying to kill her. Away from having to always fight.

*Anise*!

Raven snapped her eyes open.

The lights of the machine shut off and she felt herself grow extremely dizzy as the doctor pulled her out of the machine. Her body didn’t feel like it was on fire anymore but she was sure that it was smoking.

*That was not thirty seconds…*

She felt the darkness begin to creep over her but she had to stay awake. If she gave in to sleep, she might never wake up. She felt so close to just giving up.

Distantly, she was aware of two male voices speaking near her and of someone placing a finger on her throat but their words didn’t make sense. She tried to say something but only let out air. The overhead lights were too bright; she couldn’t see anything.

Her eyes had closed again.

Next thing she knew, everything hurt so horribly that she wasn’t sure if she blacked out or just couldn’t concentrate on what was happening. Her head swam like she was moving too fast and she felt her world spin.

Then everything was gone.