Ok so this chapter scared the shit out of my grandmother and I'm still not sure if I should be proud of myself or not lol. So for the most part I would like to point out that there are a lot of Shakespeare references in this particular chapter (hope you're not fucking board yet) and a lot of the symbolism comes from folklore and mythology. A lot of the dialog is written in code so it would be in your best interest to read it carefully. I'm gonna do a little begging here, please, please review. I took a lot of risks with this chapter so any feedback about anything you either love or hate would be appreciated. Also there are some religious aspects to this chapter. I mean no disrespect, I am in no why trying to belittle anyone's beliefs. Thanks for following and reviewing I do not own teen titans, king diamond characters or quotes from William Shakespeare.
With Love- Ophelia
Chapter 11
Fair is foul & fouls is Fair
There's a place we can all be together
Where the moon and the stars reside
There's a place we can go where we'll sleep forever
-The Birthday Massacre
Robin walked up the stone stairway, under the light of the moon as it hung over him watchfully. Before opening the heavy door, he looked up at its face, wondering how something so beautiful could exist among things so hideous. He'd parked the car a few blocks away so he wouldn't be seen near it. During his walk, he'd reapplied his mask and pulled up the hood of his coat to keep his face further concealed.
He placed his hand on the door and took a moment to think of the last time he'd ever stepped foot in a church. Robin had never actually been the religious type, even when he was a boy. His parents, being traveling circus performers, were more superstitious in nature then religious and were cautious of old wives tales. Bruce himself had little need for religion, but wanted Robin to go as a child only to see if it was something he found comfort in. However, much like Bruce, it was hard to believe in something that left too many unanswered questions.
Robin pulled open the large door and stepped inside the old building. He looked up at the high ceilings that arched over him. He may not have believed in God, but he couldn't deny his architecture to be one of great beauty. His eyes fell on the striking stained glass that filled the windows with their great detail and color.
He took a seat in one of the back pews and waited for Detective O'Brien. He looked up to see the large crucifix sitting with great honor at the altar and a young nun lighting candles around it. He leaned back feeling out of place, and questioned why he even agreed to meet the detective in a church of all places, especially this one.
His mind fell back on the unsettling memory of he and Raven trying to find refuge within the old walls, recalling how God turned a blind eye. He remembered the look on Raven's face and the defeat in her eyes, hoping maybe God would save her, but as always, he never came.
The memory was painful, and he felt his own disappointment sink in. He and Raven had actually spoken about their ideas of faith and ideology once or twice with Raven being the more understanding of the two. She'd always been the most spiritual of the Titans, following a code and living by a set of expectations of how her life should be lived. Her beliefs were close to paganism, being set by the original Azar in the 14th century after fleeing persecution from the Spanish Inquisition. She, along with her followers left this plane in hopes of creating a culture based on pacifism and going back to the old pagan beliefs they'd been forced to abandon. Ultimately Azar's teachings would be founded in the idea that all life is connected and the universe works as one to balance itself. Meaning, everything has life, and has a beginning, a middle and an end.
Raven herself truly believed in this philosophy and also the law of threefold, which meant any ill will shall be returned to you three times in effect. Raven explained it as Azar's way of saying karma would always come back to you and when it did, it would be three times worse.
Robin laughed a little to himself realizing how ironic his thoughts were. He was after all sitting in a church, thinking about a dead religion that was spawned by one of the darkest times in Christian history. Not that it didn't fit the recurring theme he'd been experiencing the last few weeks. Deep down he knew to accept Trigon's existence he'd also have to accept God's, but if anything it only left him with a bitter taste.
"You look troubled young man," Robin looked up to find a priest standing over him, "if you are in need of guidance, God is always willing to listen."
Robin let out an uncomfortable laugh at how ironic the priest's words were. "That's the problem, I'm pretty convinced he's not."
The priest sat down next to him, though he, in all honesty, wished he wouldn't. He didn't come to ask for advice or a reason to put faith in God, but he held his tongue while the priest continued.
"It sounds as though you have little faith young man?"
"Try none." Robin replied numbly, not realizing how belittling his tone sounded.
The priest raised an eye brow, "What do you mean?"
"In my experience, I do believe that God exists, but I have witnessed his absence far more than I've ever seen his presence."
"I know what you mean, I have been a priest for over twenty years now and I, like you, have seen the Devil far more then I've seen God."
Robin rolled his eyes at how unfortunately true that was and not just because of Trigon. In the time he'd spent dedicating his life to helping other's he'd seen evil take on many shapes and faces. He'd seen and experienced things that gave him nightmares and even made him question if his existence even mattered. He just couldn't have faith in something he didn't understand. "Why is that?"
"That's a difficult answer my son. Evil is always looking to capture us in its grasp; its mission, to make us deny God and to cast him out of our lives."
Robin silently sighed at the answer mostly because he felt it was sort of generic and second, because in a way he knew it was true. The essence of Evil was corruption and he knew first hand that temptation made people do horrible things. "I understand that, but why does God allow it?"
"You ask some very difficult questions my boy." The priest laughed, "But I think that has something to do with balance, there is no light without darkness."
"So you're saying that without evil there can be no good?" Robin questioned and raised an eyebrow.
"If you had nothing to fight for, would you be who you are?"
Robin sat back speechless, unsure of what to say. The question raised a good point. If he had no one to fight, who would he be? Still, the thought left him bewildered and unsettled. He didn't want to think he needed something to fight for, but in the end everyone does.
Robin looked over at the priest and noticed his nose was beginning to bleed. This slightly alarmed him and he voiced his concerns. "Are you alright, you're bleeding?" The priest placed his finger tip by his upper lip and looked down at the crimson substance. His eyes squinted as his brow furrowed with question. He looked back at Robin who seemed to becoming a little uncomfortable at the sight before him. "So I am." The priest responded somberly when his eyes flared with a looked that Robin had only witnessed once before. "Oh shit." He mumbled as panic began to take hold of him. He heard a crash and instinctively covered his head in a protective manner and ducked. From the corner of his eye he saw a gray blur of feathers as it fell to the red carpet, its feathers trailing softly behind. A laughter soon filled the void of short silence and he looked up at the alter to see the young nun smiling rabidly.
With shockingly white eyes she looked back at him, an inconceivably look on her face. "Typical little Robin, always trying to save the world from its own demise." Robin looked up in disbelief as the young woman spoke in a hollow voice. "Well this time the world will bleed, much like that thorn in your chest." Suddenly the lights in the church went black, leaving only the candles lit with fire. The doors quickly crashed open, startling him, and a heavy gust of wind filled the old church with a bone chill cold. "Do you feel that little Robin," The Priest said staring at him with cold eyes, "It's the cold hand of death and she is coming for you, you and your nest." Robin stumbled back away from the demonically corrupt man, his nose still draining blood. Stepping out of the church pew, he turned to find the priest miraculously standing in front of him. In astonishment the boy moved back trying to create a real distance between them.
"Who the hell are you?" He demanded in fear reaching the other end of the pew. "I am only but a manifestation of evil, a child of hell." The man said once again appearing behind him. "And you, little Robin, are only but a protector, a soldier fighting a war you can never win. Because in the end, humanity will burn for its sins. Evil will always overcome this world." "That isn't true! People may make mistakes or lose hope, but everyone is not as weak as you think!" Robin shouted in a heightened sense of fear and frustration. "Yet, evil is what drives you boy, now isn't it?" Robin's eyes widen at the priest words. "It's at your core much like your mentor. You stopped believing in God the day your parents died and you let evil drive your passion for right." The man turned and picked up the dead Robin that lay on the church floor.
"God turned away from you and left that thorn in your chest, your heart still bleeds from it now." The woman said and began to move toward him, taking the lifeless creature from the priest. "You my little Robin like your mentor, fly upon broken wings, carrying your thorn with resentment, calling it a sense of right. God permits evil because it is necessary; it has a place in all of us."
The woman reached out to touch the young man's face, but he pulled away in revulsion, her words driving deep into his core. He couldn't bring himself to speak, as fear was tight in his throat and his mind filled with venom from a poison tongue. "It's time to fly back to the nest now little Robin, for it is on fire, your children will burn." The priest said looking back at him, his eyes white with sin. "Quietly before her merciful hand takes them from Their cruelty," he shouted bitterly. Robin felt his heart sink as his realization began to sink in. My team, he thought and gathered his motivation to turn from the demonic beings and ran out of the church. Before crossing the threshold he looked back at the evil duo one last time. They smiled with angst and in unison said, "Hurry now before the flames consume your life from its fulfillment." With those words Robin ran out of the church and bound down the steps to the sidewalk, crashing into Detective O'Brien. "What hell are you doing, son?" The detective questioned. Robin who was still overcome with shock could hardly explain, but fruitlessly tried. "I need to get back to the tower." He said frantically, realizing that he'd parked nearly four blocks away. "Shit!" He exclaimed with panic on his face. "I'm sorry, I have to go." "What? Why the hurry, is someone in trouble?" The Detective asked with concern. "I don't know, but I think something terrible is about to happen." "Get in the car, I'll drive you." He replied with a fierce look. Robin didn't protest and followed the man's instructions. Within moments the two set out for the tower, the siren crying loudly. All the while Robin frantically thought of the words the creatures had spoken and fearful of what he might find upon his return.
333
Raven began to stir, as images of black eyed children and ghostly figures filled her head with unsavory sights. They ran through her mind like bleak photographs, causing her to writhe in protest. In her sleep she could hear an erratic sound of a metallic nature accompanying the images. As she became more conscious she began to recognize the sound as the devils cord. A musical interval composed of three different whole notes also none as a tritone. Raven began to feel something provoking her, conjuring her deepest darkness and all the hell that came along with it.
Her eyes flew open and she took a long breath trying to bury the evil in the depths of her soul. After a few moments of muttering her mantra she was able to gain most of her control, but her demon half continued to claw at her surface. The sound still played on in the distance, varying from different octaves as though calling her name. From the texture of the sound she could tell the music was conjured by an electric violin. Its distinct sound filling her mind chaos.
She propped herself up on her elbows trying to regain her full awareness. She looked at her surroundings to find them dark and dimly lit. Several candles burned by the bed she was placed on. Their scent filling the room with sage, sandalwood, and gardenia petals (all herbs and organic matter used to contact sprits.)
Sitting up she ran her hand through her hair which had become unpinned, leaving her with soft waves that fell against her face. She looked around to find both her coat and shoulder bag gone. She felt a slight panic at the realization since both the box and her communicator were stored in them.
Suddenly she heard the violin cry loudly as it called for her attention. Her heart tightened at the sinister sound as the Devil's cord continued to pull the string of her inner demon. The sound made her ears burn with both loathing and passion as she tried to cover them in resistance.
"Please stop, please stop, please stop," she whimpered to no avail. The music continued, demanding she follow.
She felt her will began to weaken and her body longing to comply with the intoxicating sound as it overcame her. She shakily lifted herself off the bed, taking a moment to look at the old wooden furniture and the strange relics that surrounded her. Moving to the doorway, she pushed passed an old curtain and found herself in a narrow hallway. She looked to the floor to find it lit with candles and numerous feathers scattered among them. The scent of a fire burning filled her nostrils as she reached the end of the hallway. Before her she saw an arched entry way constructed in stone and soft chanting began to break through the sound of the violin. She could hardly recognize the words the language formed, but she eventually came to untangle them as Middle English.
Raven took a long breath before pulling the curtain aside, bracing herself for what possibly waited behind it. She exhaled and freed the fabric from the door and took sight of the three wyrd women standing before her. They froze as though trapped in time. Raven looked on at them perplexed as they remained motionless. Suddenly, Abigail slid her bow vigorously down the strings of her violin making it cry loudly. Raven felt her core shake at the sound, her inner demon basking in its agony. The black-haired girl looked at the young woman in a haunting manner and said mischievously, "A drum, a drum, the Raven doth come."
The Fate known as Jane looked in Raven's direction with her plastic smile adding, "Care to join us my dear, we are happy you're hear."
"We have much to discuss, please sit with us." The last Fate said in rich Scottish glick from over her shoulder. She flashed Raven a wyrd smile and slid her finger tips along the crimson blade of the knife she held. She turned to her, her hands stained with blood as it ran down her forearms making a mess of her pale skin.
Raven looked back at the red-haired woman fearful, her heart beating loudly beneath her chest. She was older, looking to be in her early forties with delicate crow's feet and thin lips. Her eyes were a vivid green nearly glowing in the firelight. Her red hair was vibrant and even rivaled the beauty of Starfire's, yet the woman herself was by no means as beautiful as the other Fates. The three women looked back at her as she stood in the doorway and dare not move.
"Why so shy child, it was Fate you seek. We shall tell you of your destiny," the Red-haired woman said as Raven caught a glimpse of a dead raven that lay bleeding on the table behind her. "Let me see thee little wicked girl." The Red- Haired woman said taking Raven's wrist in bloody hands. She cringed at her touch, the woman's grip slick with blood. "Thou art not damned to this world," she whispered and pulled Raven to the vacant chair at the center of the table.
Abigail placed down her black violin and took a seat opposite from Jane who was wearing nothing but white. The woman turned, her red waves flowing soft behind her. She stepped to the opposite side of the table, turning her back to Raven once more.
"You have come here for answers, which you shall receive, but in return what shall one offer?" She asked and began cutting into the raven again.
Raven winced still shaken from all she had taken in. With an unsteady hand, she reached under her collar, pulling free the cross she let suffer around her neck. "This is all I have to offer you three. It's the only thing that I truly value."
Jane took the cross in her hand condescendingly, "We have little need nor desire for religious objects. The price we ask must be paid with a different fortune."
Raven closed her eyes realizing what they'd meant. "Then take what you want."
Jane placed the crucifix on the table and took in her hands a pair heavy shears as moved over to Raven. "You are really quite fair, my dear," She cooed tracing her finger nails along Raven's arm and placed the blades of the shears by her neck. Raven gasped as the cold metal lightly ran across her skin and woman in white smiled. "Let us start with a lock of your hair, and a taste of your fear." Jane then forcefully clipped a piece of her violet hair and returned to her seat.
Abigail leaned in and took Raven's hand in hers. "A taste of your fear and an once of your life." She swiftly pulled out a knife and cut Raven hand forcing her to bleed into a stone bowl. "I'm sorry for the pain my dear, it just means you are alive."
She freed Raven's hand and she pulled it away, clutching it as began to heal almost instantly. Both Abigail and Jane looked at each other and smiled, exchanging the same look, leaving Raven uneasy. Jane placed the lock of violet hair in the bowl where it was mixed with the blood.
Raven took a moment to look around at the room. The brick walls and thick wood beams were aged and the stone fireplace burned furiously from the far wall. On the shelves sat jars filled with strange objects and substances as many candles flicked wildly around her. The air was filled with the scent of burnt wood and multiple herbs. "What the hell have I gotten myself into?" Raven muttered unaware. The two Fates at her sides looked back at her turning their heads at the same time as though one entity.
"It is not Hell you seek,"
"But Hell that seeks you."
The two woman smiled and Raven felt her eyes widen at their stare. The Red-Haired witch pulled her head up from its downward position and said, "If you wish to begin, please set flame to your life." Raven remained silent with only Jane and Abagail looking down at the stone bowl. Abigail peered back at Raven without a word, but something in her eyes told her what she needed to do. Raven leaned forward almost unsure. She looked down inside the bowl, the contents soaked with her own blood. She looked back at the young Fate beside her in hopes of a reassuring look. She nodded slightly, her eyes waiting soft with anticipation.
Raven placed her thumb and index finger close to her lips only inches away from the bowl. With a snap of her fingers she exhaled a soft breath and her crimson hair caught fire. Suddenly both Abigail and Jane stood up from their chairs startling Raven as she jumped back. The two women both leaned on the tables facing her and the three witches began chanting.
"We the ties of life and death,
call upon with bite of breath.
Tell us of all fair and foul,
let us see beyond this hour."
The Red-Haired woman turned and in her hand was the small heart of the bird. She threw it down into the flames to burn with Raven's hair and blood. The flames rose high upon contact as though giving it life. Raven looked on in awe, her eyes wide at the sight before her. In all her years at Azar's side she'd never seen witchcraft like this before.
The three witches remained frozen as they looked up at the billowing smoke as though lost in trance. Raven looked at them curiously, unsure of what to expect. They were as still as statues and their eyes refusing to blink.
"Is every…" Raven began, but was cut off as the wyrd sisters suddenly came to life.
They looked back at her with fingers to their lips, instructing her to remain silent. The Red-Haired Fate rolled back her head, running her bloody hand down her neck and over her chest as she began, "Your secrets are painted in blood red, bone and ivory, your body remembers what your mind cannot." She looked back at Raven with her piercing green eyes and continued. "You dear Raven, are the daughter of 3 and the being of 9, but 9 is not truly your name, you are at too cras, much like the raven. Your mother named you for knowledge and wisdom; you have the power of mind as you are a warrior of knowledge. But still, you are the daughter of 3 and as the raven you are burning, but never consumed. Your father's flames are always around you, but will never become you. Your will is your own; your destiny does not belong to him. For it belongs to Fate."
"So you're saying Trigon doesn't have any power over me?" She questioned with caution.
"Your flesh belongs to him as long as you take breath, you'll never be truly free of him."
"But you just-"
"Silence, you are not listening, you need not hear what we say, only understand what we tell you." She snapped causing Raven to jump at her tone. "You, my child, have a mind filled with scorpions, they poison your thoughts with uncertainty and fear of who you are to become. You shall lead three lives, but never live to see four. I see a young man thou art in love with. You are his reason for breath; I see you have cut your name into his heart. Your devotion to him will be his second breath. You live your life in fear of death, but fear death you must not. You shall never be killed by life nor the living. You will only die at the hand of death."
Raven remained silent looking back at the woman who stared at her, her eyes filled with fire and hands outstretched with painted flesh. She looked over at Abigail, who was the only Fate to portray a smile on her face as she rose from the table. She walked over to a chest off to the far corner of the room and picked up an object wrapped in a silk shawl. Without words she placed it down and unwrapped it, revealing the old box Raven had stored in her bag. Abigail sat down again and produced the necklace known as "The eye."
Raven look at the box and hesitantly asked them what is was. The three woman looked back at one another and then to Abigail who looked over at Raven. "The object in question is called a Coffin. It is used to trap and repress evil entities." She opened it and removed a large beetle. "The insects you see are but the shell of Their physical manifestation. They no longer need this embodiment; They have moved on to infest the flesh." She placed the creature down and moved on to the lid. "They were nailed within Their Coffin with 7 silver spikes, one for each arm, hand and knee, with the 7th being driven through Their mouth so that They could never rise and cause evil again."
Raven swallowed her discomfort and pushed on. "What are They?" she asked softly
"They are a demonic union that have come together to create one entity. Apart, They cannot rival your power, but as one they equal and possibly even surpass yours. They've nothing to lose, where as you have everything to. They are known as The Takers of Children or The Collectors, sent by Trigon himself to harvest innocent souls to be devoured in Hell."
Raven felt her guilt pulling at her heart and her concern for Terra became clear in her eyes. "How do I stop Them?"
"You are the one They have truly come for, They won't cease until They have claimed you." Jane said with her high class British accent. "Your soul is too valuable for Trigon to lose."
"There has to be something? I can't just let Terra suffer for all of eternity on my behalf. Please, I came here seeking your help." Raven pleaded with desperation clear in her voice.
"And help you we shall, but it is not that simple my dear. What you are asking takes Time and more importantly the right Time. But you need not worry in the end things will be as they are." The Red Hair woman said taking a seat.
Raven furrowed her brow painfully, "What does that even mean?"
The woman leaned forward and pulled Raven close with her bloody hands. "You will know when the Time comes."
Suddenly the door open and Raven turned to find the young man she remembered as King standing in the doorway. At first she didn't say anything, but felt her anger boil at him for poisoning her. He stepped into the room followed by the young woman who'd lured her away from the safety of the upper floor. It was then she realized she had no idea how far he'd taken her or if she was even in the same building at all. For all she knew, she wasn't even in Jump City anymore. She felt her fear spike when King sat down behind her only a few feet away.
"We're in the middle of a meeting, what are you two doing here unsummon?" questioned the elder Fate.
King remained silent as the young woman lit a cigarette and responded flamboyantly. "King here has a message for the little Raven girl, I'm just here for the entertainment my mistress."
"Is this true, King?" Abigail asked looking in his direction. "If so, then from whom?"
King leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees, "Her mother."
Raven felt her breath tighten and pulled her hands free of the woman's bloody grip. She turned to him, though still cautious of his presence and sighed, "My mother?" He only nodded as Raven felt a rush of sadness swimming to the surface, but didn't know what to think. "How do I know she's really there, that you're not just making it up?"
"Because he isn't," Abigail said sternly, "King is a medium. He not only speaks with the dead he can see them as well."
Raven looked over at him again noticing his eyes were cast upward toward at the glare of firelight. For a moment he looked as though he were entranced, his eyes clearly captivated and his mind numb to the world around him.
His eyes closed a moment and it appeared as though he were letting go of something. His eyes opened and fell on Raven again as he said, "Your mother said to remind you that she named you Raven."
Raven felt a tear fall from her eye and slip down her cheek. "Is that all she has to tell me?"
"No, she wants you to know the truth; she wants you to know about the Oath."
Raven turned to The Three Fates sitting before her with glassy desperation and said, "You know about the Oath?"
"Of course we do. Handing Count De La Fay's soul over to Trigon was by far one of the more fulfilling things I've ever done." Abigail hissed.
"Who?" Raven replied looking over at her with question.
"Now Abigail, you should know better than all that Raven has no knowledge of the La Fay Family." The Red witch said. "It's not her fault her grandfather lied about who he really was."
Raven's eyes widened with shock at the woman's words, "My grandfather's name was Jonathan Roth, wasn't it?"
"No, your grandfather's name was Jonathan La Fay he was third generation of the La Fay family," Abigail said letting her frustration boil a bit.
Raven's confusion took over as she looked back at the young Fate. "Then why did he go by Roth?" She questioned.
"Because he was running away from who he was. Now Raven, you should know that better than anyone."
"Abigail stop it," The Red witch demanded. "She doesn't know about the Oath or the true the fate of her family."
"Well maybe it's time she learned." She snapped rising from her chair and looked down at the young raven. "So let me ask you this, are you ready to go home, Raven?"
"Home?"
"Yes, that place in your nightmares truly exists and if you are ever to know who you really are it can only be found there."
"But what about Terra and my friends, I can't leave them alone with Them?"
"Your friends are not your concern at the moment and if you are to defeat Them you must go to the place where this all began." Jane added weaving a lock of vivid red hair.
"Unfortunately, Jane is right, you must go, if you don't you will never achieve your true destiny."
"And what is that?" Raven snapped.
The three Fates looked at one another then to Raven and said in unison, "We already told you. You must not hear what we say; only understand what we tell you." Their voices were poetic and lyrical as though they spoke as a chorus.
Raven only looked back them realizing that they'd told her all she need to know and the true meaning of their words rested within the verses they'd shared. Her life was of broken pieces she needed to put together, lost within code.
"Now that it's settled, I will meet you there when the moon is high." Abigail turned and began to walk off toward the hallway.
"Wait," Raven called, "I don't even know how to get there."
Abigail turned with her stone face and replied, "King will take you."
A look of distaste fell over Raven's face as she looked back at King who also seemed displeased with the request. "You want me to trust the guy who slipped me a magical rooffie?"
"Hey, I only did what I was told." King said in his defense. "But Abigail, is it actually necessary that I take her?" He questioned with fear present in his eyes.
"Yeah, if King doesn't want to take the little birdy, I'd be happy to." The pink hair girl said in a mischievously playful voice.
"No, I want King to do it. He too has history there, he must face it." Abigail said before slipping away behind the dark curtain.
King nodded in defeat and the Red-Haired woman added, "Well then I my dear I wish you luck on your journey, I hope that you find all you are missing." She rose from her chair and pointed to the pink haired girl. "Now Angel, before you go off to find some poor young soul to fall in love with you, cleanup this mess" She said pertaining to the mess of blood and feathers that awaited their disposal.
"You three never let me have any fun, not even after I colored my prefect blond hair this awful shade of pink!" She sighed loudly throwing a fit.
"Get over it, Angel." King said in frustration, rising from his chair.
Angel took the deceased raven in her hands without even a second the thought and approached him. "Tell your grandmother and Missy I said, hi." She said leaning in.
King let out an unpleasant grunt and stormed off behind the curtain letting more fear fill the air.
Raven looked on confused as her eyes fell on Angel who by now had undone the straps to her garter belt and unlaced her corset. "If anyone needs me I'll be keeping Vol company in the bar."
Raven watched as she slipped out the door and looked down at her bloody wrists and hands. She felt herself become sick momentarily as she held them down in front of her in disgust. The red gore practically glowed against her wintery complexion, looking far more vibrant in contrast. Your secrets are painted in blood red, bone and ivory, replayed in her head as she realizing the symbolic nature of the verse.
She looked over to find herself alone with Jane who sat with her plastic smile looking back at her. She was still dressed in her Victorian finery with a high lace collar and her hair styled with elegance. Raven looked down again at the beautiful hair she was weaving. Its red color was rich and unique as she'd only seen one other person with that color before.
Raven let her eyes fall on the woman's form. Her face was still painted to perfection and her beauty was absolutely flawless to the point it was unnatural. She noticed the woman wore a chain of braided hair around her delicate neck. Its color a lovely brown very similar to her own. She looked over to the eye that now lay on the table, recalling the vision it showed her and sound of that voice.
"Who is Molly?" Raven asked in a bold tone.
Jane stirred, keeping herself composed as King reentered the room, "I have no idea whom you are speaking of."
Raven looked down at the red hair once again, but this time with more raw emotion in her voice. "Where did you get that hair?"
Jane stood up and looked over at King who waited in the doorway unsure of what to do. "Pretty girls such as yourself should not ask such trivial questions, they may not like the answers they find." She said wrapping her fingers around Raven's jaw. "You should really get cleaned up, you don't want to be filthy upon your home coming now do you?" Jane questioned in a catty tone. "Though no amount of water could ever truly cleanse you of your natural impurity now could it?"
Raven pulled away from insulted, feeling the sting her words left on her ego. Jane only smiled, her false kindness still sadistically painted on her face. She gracefully motioned for King to approach them and he did so.
"Now King will take very good care of you, Raven." She added as she began to move away toward the door way.
King place down a basin of warm water in front of her. Raven hesitantly picked up the damp cloth and began to wash away the blood that clung to her skin. As she was doing so, King noticed a cut on her shoulder and reached out to touch it. Raven immediately pulled away in distrust, her boundaries clearly crossed.
King apologized and moved away from her. Raven continued washing her hands, never taking her eyes off the young man. She may have forgotten her better judgment once, but she'd never make the mistake of letting it happen twice.
"I swear if you even lay a hand on me, I'll make you wish you were never born." She hissed cautiously.
King shrugged, "It's a little late for that," he replied, "and give me some credit. Do you really think I would be stupid enough to think that someone as intelligent as you would be foolish enough to fall for the same trick twice?"
Raven furrowed her brow in question, "I don't know, are you?"
King smiled and took the basin from her and handed her, her coat, "If I am, then you have every right to end my existence."
Raven took her coat with wary smile and asked, "How come no one around here ever gives any straight answers?"
"That's the thing Raven we do, you're just not listening."
