Chapter Fourteen: If Not For Ignorance

Jason was still shaking when he stormed into the white-marble hallway and up to Charity, who was sitting sideways on a carved marble throne, playing with a white bird. She looked perfectly smug when she smiled up at him, the cockatiel sitting on her finger flying away at the sudden movement.

"Let me guess," she began, but the look in his eyes stopped her short.

"Go away." He didn't bother to move his mouth more than necessary.

"I've been wondering when you'd show up," she replied, still grinning. "After all, I figured you'd be more worried about what would happen if you left her alone.

Jason jerked his eyes to meet hers, though unwillingly. "What do you mean?"

"Apparently, you didn't know, but… Michael went to go visit your apartment this afternoon. You weren't there, of course." She took a slow breath and straightened slightly in the regal chair, her legs still thrown over one armrest. "And, being Michael, he felt the need to contact you. I don't know why or how he had planned to…"

"Faster," Jason ordered, almost a growl. "Speak faster."

"Fine," Charity laughed, tossing her hair behind one shoulder and raising a brow. "Michael then showed up here"—Jason stiffened—"and ended up telling a fascinating story about some files stored on your computer about a certain girl, who just happened to show up at the door right then!"

Jason managed to keep a neutral expression. "And?"

"And he said how strange it was for you to keep someone as a pet—"

"She's not my—"

"And he said that he felt her had to do something, so, under the direction of Gabriel and the strange little voice in the back of his own head, Michael knocked her out flat."

He had the extreme urge to hit something. Someone, even. Like Michael. "Where is she now?"

Charity pursed her lips. "Damn. I figured you'd react much more violently. I mean, Michael never does anything like that. Aren't you surprised?"

"Michael? Yes. But 'under the direction of Gabriel,' he'd do anything. Charity, where is she?"

Rolling her eyes and turning away from him, she waved her hand vaguely. "Oh, you know. Around here somewhere."

"Charity!"

"Raphael!" a voice called from the curtained archway to the left of the throne. "Why are you here?"

Jason raised his cold glare to the pale girl who had just walked into the room, clothed in entirely pink and black cow print. Her hand rose to her mouth in objectionable shock, her silver bracelets and purple nail polish glinting obnoxiously in the light of the torches lining the walls. Besides the numerous piercings on each ear and the mace hanging on a rusty chain around her waist, she looked relatively normal.

"Elizabetha," Jason addressed her, dipping his head while smirking in a mockery of respect. "A pleasure."

"Of course." Her otherwise melodious voice was tainted with spite as she tucked a piece of her short, dark blue hair behind her ear. "It's always a joy to see you again, Raphael."

"Jason," he corrected moodily, about to turn his attention back to Charity when he noticed something in her hand. Half of its wrapper was peeled back and a bite mark made it clear that Elizabetha had been eating it. "Is that...?"

"It's butter," she nodded, suddenly amiable as she licked the end of it. "You never told me earthly food was this good!"

"It's… butter…" Jason felt sick from just watching her eat it. "That's so—" He shook his head. "Nevermind that. Charity, where's Raven? I need to get to her before she—"

"She's in your quarters," Elizabetha laughed, crossing in front of the throne to exit through the opposite archway after taking another bite. "That weird girl? Yeah… and she'll be waking soon, I wager. I have to go see Gabriel, so I'll talk to you later, Charity. 'Kay?"

"Fine," Charity answered, resigned.

"She's in my room?" Jason stormed closer. "You put her in my—"

"Gabriel did," she answered quickly. Tipping her head back, she closed her eyes. "And I'm sure she won't see anything if you get there fast enough."

He didn't move for a moment, debating if he should reply, or thank her, or merely remark with some witty banter. "See you," he said at last, limply raising a hand, hastening to go through the door to the left of Charity.

Jason had never before traveled to his room as fast as he did then, but the minutes that passed were still drawn out and never-ending. When he finally got into the chilly, stonewalled bedroom, he sighed in relief.

Raven was lying on her side, tangled in the black sheets. "Jason?" she asked, and he froze.

She can't be awake! he thought, teeth gritted. When she didn't turn to look at him but instead mumbled something imperceptible, he relaxed. Sleep-talking, he grinned, cautiously coming closer until he was leaning over the edge of the bed. His fist instinctively clenched when he noticed the slightly darkened spot on her right temple. "Michael," he groaned, but then slapped a hand across his mouth. Shhhh! he warned himself.

Jason didn't move for a few minutes. Something about watching her sleep made him calmer. The steadiness of her breathing, of her chest rising and falling at perfectly timed intervals… He yawned, and laughed softly until something made his stomach tighten. The cut on her cheek had bled slightly in his absence, and a wet drop of crimson glittered at the end of the tiny trail it had forged.

He leaned over her face impulsively, watching the torchlight flicker in the drop. It wasn't until Raven's head jerked subconsciously that he realized his face was at the base of her neck, his lips hovering less than an inch from the side of her throat. His whole form stiffened.

"Stop it," Raven murmured. She was still asleep, but Jason pretended she wasn't.

He ripped himself away, falling backwards onto the stone tiles in a daze. Not again. A tremor ran through him just as someone knocked lightly on his door.

"Father," a sardonically sharp voice said. "I don't believe I told you to retrieve the girl until I was done with her." A pause, and then, "Open the door, Father."

Jason scrambled to his feet, taking long, unneeded breaths to ease his nerves. "Yes?" he asked automatically, swiftly pulling the door open. As he had predicted, hazel eyes clouded by strands of brown hair met his own. "Gabriel," he nodded.

"Don't pretend you didn't know it was me, Father," he smirked, pushing Jason aside and almost dancing the Raven's side. "Such a pretty creature," he purred. Looking up at Jason, he raised a brow. "What's wrong? You look exceedingly flushed."

"Nothing's wrong. Are you done?"

Gabriel smiled—Jason felt as if he was missing something, as if some inside joke had been mentioned past his line of knowledge. "Yes," he said smoothly, running a finger down her neck. "Would you mind if I put something on her?"

"What?"

Gabriel extracted something from his pocket, holding it out for Jason to see. "A… necklace, of sorts. If you don't mind."

"What does it do?" he asked skeptically.

"Nothing to hurt her," Gabriel chuckled darkly. "It'll keep her safe." Without consulting Jason again, he looped the thin silver band around her neck, clicking the fastening shut. "Yes, now I'm done." Jason winced away as Gabriel cupped his chin in his icy hand, running the nail of his thumb down his cheek and smiling slyly. "Be careful when you leave with her, and tell her to clean up her wounds. I wouldn't want anything bad happening to her, now would I?"

Jason groaned as soon as he was alone in the room. It annoyed him, not knowing what the sleek smile on Gabriel's face was for. What had he meant, 'I wouldn't want anything bad happening to her'? And 'such a pretty creature'?

I'm definitely missing something.

Jason shivered and turned his mind to Raven, who was still sleeping in complete bliss a few feet away. Resurfaced hatred ran through him for a minute second, and then he closed his eyes to deter his mind from the speck of blood. Damn. He raked his fingers through his hair in annoyance. Damn! I don't—

His eyes shot open again as Raven said something else that was not quite discernible. Hesitating first, he bent down to pick her up, one arm around her back and other beneath her knees. He flinched and almost dropped her when her head slumped onto his chest. Her breath was startlingly warm.

This… is going to be difficult, he concluded, and then slowly moved toward the window.

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I'm being stupid… laughs