A/N
So first of all, I'm sorry (to those of you who read Raven's story at the time that I was writing it) that I took so long to get this up… but in my defense it was my last year of secondary school last year, and I was really stressed about getting in my first choice collage.
Also I wanted to write at least 10 chapters before I started uploading this to avoid long lapses between updates. And I had to do some research to see if the idea I had was possible and I wanted to make the story fit into the original timeline which the books set. So again I am really sorry.
Now about this story, if you don't know who Raven Astery and her brother are then here is a link for you to go and read the first fic (if you can get throw all my spelling mistakes that is) s/11947653/1/Remembering-Raven . Done with that, great. This story will mostly take place in Japan – a country I have never set foot in – so I will probably mess up the culture and geography. Apologies if my ignores offends you.
Also I noticed this with my first story as well, that my train of thought seems to confuse people a lot, so I will do my best to answer the questions you may have, if they are not spoiler territory. But, I'm not really a fan of author's notes, so if it looks to me that the answer will come out in the next chapter or so then I will leave it to you to figure out. Sorry if this displeases any of you.
PS: This will spoil Summer Shadows so read at your own risk.
And now let's get started with the story.
Prolog
Stellan's pov
Tanya; my little sisters best friend was an interesting person to say the least. She looked to be about twenty five, maybe a bit older, it was hard to get an accurate reading because she seemed to be really skilled at doing her makeup.
Judging by the way she talked and her body language it was obvious that she cared about Raven and that she had been horribly betrayed at one point in her life and I'd say that it had happened in the last five years.
The way she held her son's shoulder while Raven introduced us was indication enough. She was a woman who did not trust people easily.
The kid on the other hand was a different story, he was hugging Raven and me before Ray had even finished explaining our relation to them.
He wasn't skipping now, I'm pretty sure I lost him at the "all things have a wavelength and molecules" Raven had thought that understanding how gravity worked might help the kid with his gift. But it seemed to only make him sleepy. He was now leaning on his right arm brown hair falling to cover up his closed eyelids.
I could still hear Raven and Tanya talking up stairs so I picked up a book from the sixth sheaf and started reading.
I was half way throw the book when my sister walked in, Jamie's mother in toe.
"Told you" Ran grinned "so, how far did you get before he snoozed off?" she motioned towards the child. .
"Energy and mass are equivalent, therefore gravity can be used on everything" I answered after rethinking to the exact moment when I heard the boy's bereaving even out.
"I'll put him to bed" Raven said taking the kid in her arms and walking out with him. The boy nuzzled his face in her neck. I could see Tanya trying to protest but I put a hand on her shoulder "can I have a word with you?"
Tanya looked at me skepticism in her eye. I'm positive that that had something to too with the fact that she most probably believes that I abandoned my sister on purpose. So I pressed "it's about Raven" her eyes softened at my sisters name.
"What is it?" she asked voice soft and laced with worry.
"It's about her subconscious" I started but stopped seeing as she pulled on one of those faces that people wear when they don't understand.
I gave her what I think looked like a gentle smile "just listen for a while, alright? I'll try to put this as simply as possible, but I'm not good with small words. To be honest I wouldn't tell you at all, if you weren't Ravens most trusted friend, and I think that you have the right power to help her." She nodded.
Good at least she didn't panic easily. You can see it in a person' eyes even if they are good at hiding it.
"I'm sure you are aware of the fact that my sister didn't exactly have a happy childhood" I started again "and since we have been living together I have notice that she has many nightmares. Nightmares that get her so frightened that her power starts acting out of instinct to protect her." Tanya's eyes widened.
"But she never had nightmares while we were living together, nothing of that magnitude anyway" the woman was completely astonished by what she had heard.
"That's because before, there was Genevieve. She probably made sure that Ravens dreams were peaceful, or if that wasn't possible, she would provide her with comfort, so that she didn't feel as scared. But now for the first time in her life, Raven's alone in her head, and I believe that her subconscious might be leaking memories that she has had sealed up since she was seven"
"And that's not good right" she questioned.
"She has sheered about a dozen of her bed sheets." I sighed and her moth opened with shock.
"Raven thinks that it's about controlling her power because Genevieve use to help with that as well, and she's convinced that she hasn't gotten a handle on it yet. Though I'd say that she's pretty much at the same level she was at before parting with the spirit" I finished my explanation.
"That's horrible, why didn't she tell me?" Tanya croaked her face red with shame.
"You know full well why she didn't tell you" I maintained my calculating voice "she doesn't want people to worry about her. She's always been like that, ever since she was kid"
"How to you think I can help?" she asked all fired up.
"If I'm not mistaken" I started knowing already that I wasn't "you specialize in barriers. I was hoping you could help her strengthen the barrier between her conscious and subconscious mind." I looked at her, she was nodding like people tend to do when they are thinking about something or if they want to seem as they understand. But Tanya was intelligent so the second option was highly unlikely.
"But how am I going to get in there, you should know as well as I do that Ravens mind is one of the hardest to infiltrate, with all the levels and doors and tunnels" she paused "it's like a maze in there"
"Well of course it is. It's only natural to have your mind protected at all times, but our genetics help with that" I mused thinking of how usual minds worked and comparing them to our families.
"Anyway she trusts you so you could just ask her; see if she'll let you in. I'd do it myself but I can only locate the problem and come up with a solution according to the information available. But if the issue really is caused by the lacks density in her inner barriers then you'd be the only person with the needed skill set and close enough relation to her" I summarized the theory I had come up with a couple of weeks ago.
"And you really think, that she will listen to someone when they are concerned about her wellbeing? She has jumped out of a third floor building more than once to get away from the Caesi's you know" Tanya crumpled "if you didn't know her better you'd think she was suicidal"
My smile softened "she's not that bad anymore, besides if she was suicidal she would have been dead a long time ago"
She gave me a look; that resembled one of mothers pissed-off-but-polite-about-it faces with frightening accuracy. I felt bad for the kid, a mom that can make that face was a mom not to be recanted with.
I let my face fall into aloofness "so you'll talk with her tomorrow, thanks you're the best" I was about to walk away when Tanya said "that is not how you ask for favors"
I turned to her "I wasn't asking for a favor" she opened her mouth but I didn't stop "I set the time for a favor you already agreed with. The favor was you asking Ray about her mind and helping with it if there is a problem, remember?"
She stared at me, like a lot of people to when I point out the mistakes in their logic. A mix of annoyance and bewilderment.
Hearing the kettle go off in the kitchen I walked towards it.
