Author's Note: The next chapter in The Raven is here! I'm having a lot of fun working on this story and I'm a little surprised at how easily it seems to be flowing considering I started it so long ago. Knowing my luck I just jinxed myself, but oh well. Hopefully I don't run into any major blocks anytime soon. I hope you continue to enjoy this story and please leave a review letting me know what you thought about this chapter. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VIII and all of its characters are property of Square-Enix. I make no profit from this story and this is a work purely for entertainment purposes.

The Raven

Chapter 3

By Phoenix DeFuego

Rinoa sighed for the eighteenth time. Her earlier excitement had completely vanished and now she was utterly bored out of her mind. Surprisingly, Rinoa had yet to meet her father tonight. When the three women had arrived at the Caraway estate Rinoa had been relieved, even though she was fully expecting it, to find her father absent. He had been at court either discussing past victories of a bygone era or licking some noble's boots no doubt. The ladies had retired to one of the many parlors and Quistis clicked her tongue in annoyance at not being greeted by the host himself. Rinoa had heard Quistis' rants on social decorum before and knew that her agitation was born of the sensibility that it was an affront to have servants greet the guests of honor instead of the host. Rinoa didn't mind in the least and would be very happy if she didn't see her father the entire night.

She took a small degree of satisfaction knowing that her father was a military man and that as General of the Galbadian Army, social decorum was not one of his strong suits. It had been one of the deciding factors in allowing Rinoa to live with Quistis, so she could learn the social graces of a proper lady. Rinoa sniffed in disdain at the very idea of becoming a proper lady. She wasn't about to become some glass encased doll for some future husband she didn't even love to display. The thought of a future husband naturally led Rinoa to think of Seifer. Rinoa could not deny that she found him very attractive, but she was not entirely sure that she loved him. There was no denying that he was remarkably handsome, however she always felt there was something missing. She was keenly aware that Seifer viewed her eccentric lifestyle as childish and she feared that if she were to accept Seifer's advances her days of going on adventures would be over.

"I'm glad you could make it," a deep voice said behind her. Rinoa had been so lost in her own thoughts she had failed to notice the last man she wanted to see walk right up to her. Swallowing a groan of disappointment and pasting on a pleasant look, Rinoa turned to face her father.

"Hello General," Rinoa greeted with a polite smile, her doe eyes glaring daggers into his soul. General Caraway was a tall middle-aged man with hints of gray beginning to dust his slicked black hair and his face was weatherworn and battle weary with deep wrinkles in his brow and around his mouth. He was wearing his ceremonial uniform with decorations and sashes for his many accomplishments for the glory of the Galbadian Empire. He looked every inch the polished and seasoned warrior that he was and it sickened Rinoa to her core.

"You look beautiful," Caraway commented.

"Thank you," Rinoa replied stiffly through a forced smile.

"You're well?" he asked.

"Very," Rinoa replied, trying hard not to snap at him. Rinoa had no qualms about getting into a shouting match with her father, but the tongue lashing that Quistis would give her afterwards wouldn't be worth it.

"Good," said Caraway. There was an awkward silence between them for several moments until the general finally collected himself and said, "Well, happy birthday." Rinoa nodded her head and politely thanked him. Caraway nodded before turning on his heel and walked away to tend to his other guests. Rinoa sighed in relief and felt her entire body relax at the sight of her father's retreating back. That had gone a lot smoother than Rinoa had anticipated. Rinoa felt panic suddenly flood her veins as she spotted Seifer searching the crowded parlor. She did not want to deal with Seifer so soon after dealing with her father. Rinoa weaved her way through the crowd, avoiding Quistis like the plague since the devious blonde would undoubtedly alert Seifer to Rinoa's presence, and entered the adjoining ballroom.

Rinoa slinked through the crowd of people lined around the edge of the dance floor and slowly made her way to the parlor on the other side of the ballroom. As Rinoa crept through the crowd she smiled to herself when she noticed Selphie dancing with every man that asked her. At least one of them was having a good time tonight. Rinoa chuckled and shook her head as she realized that Quistis was most likely enjoying all of that sleep inducing gossip. Rinoa breathed a sigh of relief once she finally breached the threshold of the second parlor after slipping past a horde of well-wishers. She frowned when she realized that this parlor was even more crowded than the last and was slightly surprised that the majority of the occupants were female. Looking around in order to learn why there was such a concentrated mass of twittering women, Rinoa noticed that the parlor had been dressed in crimson drapes and that the lighting had been muted. There was a small circular table in the center of the room covered by a crimson cloth matching the dark red drapes and a fire had been lit in the ornate fireplace along the far wall, giving the room an intimate, almost sensual atmosphere; but it was the person sitting behind the table that had Rinoa gaping in awe.

He was the most handsome man Rinoa had ever laid eyes on and his beauty stole her breath away. His silky chestnut hair had a shaggy cut and he had bangs that framed his face. His sharp, angular features gave him an almost elven appearance and the paleness of his skin was accentuated by his dark attire. He wore a crisp white shirt with a black waistcoat and was wearing a tailed black coat that was left unbuttoned. He wore a black necktie and his pressed pants were also black. His polished black dress shoes were hidden beneath the tablecloth and there was a pair of black gloves laying on the tabletop. He was currently in the middle of foretelling a lady about her future and yet, as if sensing Rinoa's gaze, he suddenly looked up and turned his gaze directly towards Rinoa. She noticed there was a mysterious scar that arched across the bridge of his nose, which only added to his exotic allure, however it was his eyes that made her gasp aloud. She had seen those eyes before!

Rinoa felt her entire body tremble as she gazed into those hauntingly familiar eyes. Those stormy gray depths had peered at her before, not from a man, but from a raven; the raven from her dream! Confusion, excitement and fear all swirled within Rinoa in a tumultuous whirlwind as she stood rooted, transfixed by this man's intense stare. It seemed that The Raven was just as entranced as she was. When their eyes had first met Rinoa had clearly seen the surprise in those piercing eyes of his and watched in fascination as it morphed into a much more complex mixture of emotions. The way he was looking at her, it was almost as if he had been expecting her. Rinoa felt a chill run down her spine. She felt an undeniable pull towards this mysterious man and it felt like nothing else existed as she stared into his desperate gray eyes. Rinoa suddenly blinked in confusion. Desperate? Why was there desperation in those gorgeous eyes of his? It almost felt like he was silently pleading with her for something, but what? The Raven blinked and returned to his fortunetelling, ignoring Rinoa's presence completely. What had passed between them had taken mere moments, however, Rinoa felt as if she was waking up from an incredibly long and deep sleep. Who was this man that so captivated her attention?

When The Raven had finished his predictions he leaned back in the wide armchair he was sitting in and bowed his head, as if the foretelling had been taxing and he needed a brief respite. Rinoa wondered if he was genuinely taxed or if it was just an act as Quistis had cautioned. Quistis was convinced that the man sitting before Rinoa was a charlatan, but the women that filled the parlor obviously believed that he possessed supernatural powers. Personally, Rinoa did not believe in anything she could neither see nor touch, but in light of so many believers she was unsure if she could simply dismiss this man's claim to the supernatural. Rinoa suddenly arched her brows in surprise as she saw Lady Harrington sit before The Raven. Lady Harrington was a distant friend of Quistis and an acquaintance of Rinoa's. From what she gathered, Lady Harrington had always been a level-headed woman and never given to fanciful superstitions or whimsical musings, so it was surprising to see her sit before the dark seer and have her fortune foretold. Rinoa smiled to herself as she speculated that Lady Harrington was simply having some fun and enjoying the services of a handsome young man. She nearly laughed out loud when she realized that it was likely over half of the women in this room were here simply because of The Raven's good looks.

Rinoa watched in fascination as The Raven gathered his strength and straightened his posture. As he looked up and his gaze finally fell upon Lady Harrington for the first time, Rinoa watched in shock as all of the color instantly drained from The Raven's face and a look of horror twisted his features. The Raven let out a startled yell of terror and leapt from his seat, knocking his chair over in the process. A few women screamed in fright at The Raven's sudden outburst and with a terrified gasp The Raven begged to be excused. He gave a curt bow and fled the parlor, leaving a room full of terrified women trembling in his wake. Rinoa frowned and followed The Raven out of the parlor. If he really was a charlatan, like Quistis suspected, and he derived some sick pleasure from terrifying women, then Rinoa was bound and determined to give him a piece of her mind. Rinoa pushed through the crowd and caught a glimpse of him just as he passed through the glass doors at the back of the ballroom leading out into the gardens. Rinoa shoved her way past the sea of people as the guests flocked towards the terrified shouts of the frightened women.

When Rinoa finally made it outside, the sudden change of going from the noisy, hot indoors to the chilly quiet outside was disorienting and Rinoa had to take a moment to catch her bearings. Once she had regained her footing, Rinoa immediately scanned her surroundings and was relieved to find The Raven leaning against a nearby railing that overlooked the gardens below. Under different circumstances, Rinoa noticed that their surroundings could be considered quite romantic. Stars filled the black heavens and a full moon bathed the manicured gardens in its white-blue glow; however, Rinoa was too upset at the moment to take in the beauty of her environment. The Raven heard Rinoa's footsteps and glanced at her from the corner of his eye as she approached. When she stopped beside him and stared at him expectantly, he leaned more heavily against the railing and hung his head with a heavy sigh. Although he seemed much calmer than before, he was still clearly shaken. After a few moments of Rinoa silently staring at him, The Raven lifted his head and gazed out onto the gardens.

"I apologize, I was not prepared to see…" The Raven shook his head, unable to complete his sentence.

"See what? Death?" Rinoa sneered. Hearing the condemnation in her voice The Raven turned his head and looked at Rinoa with guarded eyes.

"You don't believe in me do you?" he finally asked after a moments pause.

"Should I?" Rinoa replied.

The Raven scoffed and with a rueful smile said, "It would be someone like you, wouldn't it?" The Raven shook his head and with a mournful sigh returned his gaze to the gardens below. Rinoa was confused by The Raven's words and insulted by his tone of voice.

"I beg your pardon?" Rinoa asked defensively.

The Raven suddenly stood straight and faced Rinoa as he said, "Your pardon milady. I simply meant it appears you are one who does not believe in what she cannot see or touch."

"Some would call that a virtue," said Rinoa.

"Prudence can be a virtue," The Raven nodded. "And yet you love a good mystery," he added.

"Mystery?" Rinoa asked confused.

"You witness a frightening scene in a crowded parlor and chase after a dark stranger, only to confront him all alone in the dark," said The Raven. As he spoke he slowly approached Rinoa and his voice had taken on a dangerous tone. Rinoa felt her heart race as The Raven stalked towards her, stopping less than a foot away from her. She realized that the alcove they were now occupying could not be seen from the ballroom and there was no one in the gardens outside; they were completely alone. Rinoa felt a jolt of fear race down her spine as she realized too late the dangerous situation she now found herself in. She didn't know the first thing about this man and she was completely cut off from the other guests. Her heart was pounding and her breath quickened as The Raven invaded her personal space. Rinoa felt torn between the need to flee to safety and the inexplicable pull she felt towards the man standing before her.

In a low tone of voice he said, "You are either remarkably brave, or remarkably foolish." Given their current circumstance, Rinoa felt she was the latter. The Raven stared into her wide eyes and said, "You feel inexorably drawn towards mystical mysterious. You chase after magical artifacts to unravel their secrets and to explain away their fanciful mythology." Who was this stranger that knew her so well? How did he know what Rinoa felt when she pursued an archaeological dig simply by looking into her eyes? With a dark grin he said, "I guarantee you, I am by far the most complex mystery of magic you have encountered yet."

"You are mistaken sir," Rinoa stuttered. "I do not believe in superstitions or magic."

"No," He replied with a smile. "You believe in only what you can explain." The Raven retreated several steps and said, "Allow me, then, to reveal some of the mystery surrounding myself." With a slight bow he said, "I am Leon Hart, at your service milady."

Rinoa lifted her chin and said, "I am—"

"Lady Rinoa Caraway-Heartilly, I know," Leon interrupted. He smiled at the shocked look on her face and said, "It does not take a clairvoyant to know who you are milady. This is, after all, your birthday party and the nobility are notorious gossipers." Rinoa felt her entire face flush with embarrassment as Leon pointed out her own foolishness. Of course he knew who she was, everyone here knew who she was; she was the guest of honor and the reason for this entire gathering. Now that she thought on it, that was probably how he knew everything about her; simply by listening to the gossiping guests.

"It seems that all that is needed to be a clairvoyant is to be an excellent listener," Rinoa sneered.

"Ah, yes, well I do admit that a part of my act requires a bit of subterfuge," Leon admitted almost sheepishly.

"And a great deal of theatricality," Rinoa frowned.

"Of course," he readily confessed. "No one would pay to see a male fortuneteller if I did not add a little flair; however, you must know that what transpired tonight was no act. I was not prepared to see a cor… a vision… in a place like this tonight."

"And what horror did you witness when you gazed upon Lady Harrington?" Rinoa asked skeptically. Leon gazed at Rinoa for a long moment and debated if he should divulge his foresight. If this brazen woman who stood before him really was the woman who had been haunting his dreams, then he would have to convince her that the supernatural was a reality. Leon gathered his courage and took a deep breath.

"In a few hours that woman, Lady Harrington, will be brutally murdered," he said with finality.

"Murdered?" Rinoa gasped. Leon nodded his head with conviction. "And did you happen to see who the murderer might be?" Rinoa asked in a trembling voice. She backed away from the man standing before her, fearing for her safety. Leon shook his head, his sharp gray eyes carefully watching Rinoa's every move as she tried to subtly back away from him. "It would be easy to predict a murder if the seer and the murderer were the same man," Rinoa accused fearfully. Leon frowned at Rinoa's accusation.

"I can't choose when I see a person's death. On my life I swear I have never laid a hand on any of my patrons!" Leon swore. He advanced a step with an imploring look on his face and could not explain the stabbing pain he felt in his heart as he watched Rinoa take a quick step back with a terrified look on her face. Leon halted his advance and held his hands up in a placating gesture. "I would never do you any harm," Leon said with a pained look on his face.

"There are many ways to end a person's life without touching them, Mr. Hart," Rinoa said fearfully.

"Call me a charlatan if you must, but I beg you, do not for one instant believe that I could be capable of such a horrible thing as murdering someone!" Leon implored. He needed Rinoa to be on his side and he felt despair and fear grip at his heart as the situation quickly began spiraling out of his control. He knew in his heart that it was a fact that Lady Harrington would die this night, but he felt a sliver of self-doubt run through him at Rinoa's continued accusations. What if he really was the murderer? Leon instantly dismissed the idea and refused to believe that he would commit such a crime. Lady Harrington was a stranger that meant nothing to him, he had no reason to kill her. He knew that Lady Harrington would be murdered, but he was at a complete loss as to how to convince Rinoa that he was not the murderer.

"Rinoa? Are you alright?" a male voice suddenly called out.

"Seifer!" Rinoa cried out in surprise. She had been so focused on Leon she hadn't even noticed Seifer approaching.

"Are you alright?" Seifer repeated his question as he reached Rinoa's side. His jade eyes were filled with concern and his familiar presence instantly chased away Rinoa's fears.

"Yes, I'm fine," Rinoa replied with a demure smile.

"It seems you've created quite the stir," Seifer said as he glowered at Leon.

"Yes, it seems I went a bit overboard with my performance," Leon replied disdainfully. "However, I seem to recall being commanded by the General to make this a night to remember," he said.

"It would seem you've succeeded," Seifer practically snarled.

"So it would seem," Leon growled. The two men shared a heated glare of contempt for one another and Rinoa swallowed nervously as she felt the tension in the air rapidly rising.

Rinoa gently touched Seifer's arm and said, "Lord Almasy, I'm afraid all of this excitement has worn me out. Shall we retire to the parlor?"

Seifer turned to Rinoa and said, "Of course milady!" All traces of anger instantly vanished from his face as he graced her with an indulgent smile. Seifer gave Leon a scathing glare in parting before turning all of his doting attentions to Rinoa as he escorted her to the parlor. Leon scowled as he watched the couple walk away into the brightly lit mansion, leaving him alone in the dark.

Closing Notes: Well, there you have it! Squall has finally made his appearance! Is he really clairvoyant or is he a murdering con-artist? Why does he need Rinoa on his side and why didn't he give her his real name? So many unanswered questions, and this story is just getting started! There seemed to be a bit of a rivalry between Squall and Seifer at the end, hehe! These chapters seem to be going by rather quickly, and I'm debating about making the next chapters a bit longer. Please leave a review and let me know what you think about the plot so far and if the chapters are too short, too long or just right.