The Fury of the Night
Chapter 15: A Time of Learning-Raven
Raven's crimson eyes shone brightly as they reflected back the light from the fire barrels and many candles in the chamber. She smiled softly as she looked around the table, taking time to look into each set of eyes before she spoke. She sensed the anticipation coming from Marko, Paul, and Dwayne. Curiosity and a little apprehension came from Star. She could feel David reaching out for her with his mind; he swirled around her with a thousand soft caresses and a gentle squeeze to her small shoulders, all the while giving her a small grin from the other end of the table as his icy eyes never strayed from hers.
"I do not know the exact time of my creation, as "time" as you know it does not exist in the place I am from. I was created from the purest fire of the great altar of my home by Abaddon, the archangel who holds the key to the abyss." Raven looked around the table as her words settled. The boys were listening raptly while Star's eyes widened.
"I am no demon, Star," Raven said quietly, trying to keep the girl calm. "You have heard the words 'archangel' and 'abyss' and have seen my red eyes and the fire held within me. You assume from these things that I am something from hell as you imagine it to be. I assure you, I am not a thing born of hell, nor of heaven, but only of flame. Home to me is the same place your creator spoke of. The being who created David was flame-born as well. He was an original being, never having known life, set upon this plane of existence as I was. He was sent to create more like himself, discretely and chosen with care to rule the night and keep it in balance. He chose well; one of those he picked was David." At this, Raven paused briefly, sending a small smile to the other end of the table where her Night King took a sip of his wine. David gave her a nod of acknowledgment in return as she continued.
"David in turn over the course of his death, or second life if you prefer, has chosen his own to keep hold on the night. He holds much power, your creator." Raven said, looking at the boys. "You know he walks the night as vampire, but he also dances behind the curtains of history as he shared with you earlier. He is a Destroyer, influencing the outcome of events not only through sheer muscle, but through deviousness and cunning that is unparalleled. A master of imposing his will upon others, your creator is to be feared and respected. He is of the underworld as well as the night, as am I.
"Before I tell you of myself, I would have you understand the underworld first. It is a vast place, not on this plane of existence, though it's inhabitants may cross over as they desire or by their master's bidding. Hell is contained within it, but there is so much more there. Anubis and Osiris walk there alongside Keres, Hecate, and Shiva. There are gods, dark lords, devils, and demons. Hellhounds, shapeshifters, and shadow-walkers dwell together. Many worlds converge there. Many beings of many worlds. All with a specific purpose." Raven paused there, looking around the table again, pleased to see that the boys and Star were all remaining focused.
"I am a Death Dealer. An executioner of souls and ender of being. It is my purpose to kill souls by sentencing them to the pit ruled by my master, Abaddon. It perhaps sounds like the cruelest of fates, to be sentenced to eternal damnation, but I can assure you that I do it with discriminate purpose. Only the foulest of mortals are sent there-those who would harm innocent souls such as children, those who torture, who rape, who beat and bully. Mass murderers, serial killers, and those born without a conscience. On occasion I am also called upon to end those without souls-beings who dwell beneath who have gone rogue. They never go quietly and it is by direct combat that I dispose of them. I serve my master well and have never faltered in my duties."
Raven looked at Star and plucked a thought from her head. "Go ahead, Star. Ask your question. The reason we sit at this table now is so that you may have knowledge."
Star's eyes widened and her mouth opened slightly. She hesitated for a moment then spoke.
"It….it sounds like you do good things. You get rid of bad people and bad…things. I don't quite understand how you are a being of dark when you do good. And why are you a vampire if you are…something else? How does that…how…why?" Star finally gave up in trying to ask her question.
Raven smiled then, a real smile intended for Star alone. She was proud of the girl for getting to the heart of the matter.
"Star, I am many beings in one. I am the red-eyed being of darkness who sits at this table with you, able to produce flame at will." Raven held out her small hand and a ball of fire erupted into being and danced in her palm. Her nimble fingers played with the flames, twisting them and raising them to the ends of her fingertips to hover in the air, then pulling them back again. She snapped her fist closed and the fire popped out of existence. She blinked her eyes slowly, and her eyes changed to the color of stormy skies.
"I am the gray-eyed woman who can move amongst the humans in the evening hours."
She moved then, standing from her chair and jumping up lightly to land on top of the table. She tipped her head back and held her arms out to her sides as bright orange-red flame burst out from her entire body with an explosive noise that echoed in the chamber. Star involuntarily withdrew back in fright, clutching at the arms of her chair, letting out a small scream. Marko reached out and placed his hand on her arm as Paul did on the other side.
Raven's flames turned in on themselves and snugged her body, seeming to turn into molten liquid. Her talons erupted from her skin and when she brought her head forward and opened her eyes there was only blackness there.
David couldn't take his eyes from her. He couldn't believe the strength of her pull. She was the most magnetic, most beautiful, most deadly thing, and she was his. His eyes followed every flame, every curve of her body. The poison that had begun to drip from her talons and the venom held in her fangs called out to him. He wanted to be engulfed in those flames, wanted to burn from the dark poison, wanted to taste the venom. Most of all, he wanted her back in his bed, wanted to love her, wanted to make her scream…His flashing blue eyes met with her ebony black and he returned the fatal smile she cast his way.
Raven slowly walked the table top to stop before Star. She knelt gracefully before the girl, and tilting her head to one side spoke.
"You are delusional if you confuse me with an angel from the Realm of Light, though I do rid this world of much evil. I am cruel in place of kind. I terrify instead of instilling calm. I am a being of fire and flame from beneath. I am a Death Dealer from the House of Abaddon. To you, I am life and death, and if I choose, you will bow before me and lick the floor at my feet. Do you understand, Little One?"
Star had been recoiling in shock and horror, held in place by Marko and Paul. Now she stopped struggling, almost stopped breathing as she stared into the blackness where eyes should have been. She began to lean forward slowly, that blackness pulling her.
"Do you hear, Little One? Best to answer and not come closer; you smell of your creator and his blood is like the song of a siren to me. I would hate for you to lose your face; it is pretty…." Raven reached out a hand covered in molten flame and stroked the side of Star's cheek.
Star, mesmerized, replied so quietly it would have been inaudible to a human's ears. "Yes, yes, I understand. You're so beautiful."
At this, the boys chuckled and Paul and Marko loosed Star's arms.
Raven rose and moved to stand before David. She leaned over him as he tipped his head back and gazed up at her. She ran her claws lightly through his hair and hissed lowly at him. He answered in a rumbling growl that made her smile, fangs long and sharp dripping death onto his face. He reached up and ran his finger through the trail of venom that sizzled on his cheek and then placed it in his mouth, sucking on the sweet hell. Turning, she took a step and knelt before Dwayne. She extended a hand to him and he took it without hesitation. Her fire flowed up his arm but did not burn him.
"Like you…much. Loyal, strong, true." Dwayne smiled at the deadly being and nodded in appreciation. Raven's fire pulled back from him and she rose, turning to kneel in front of Paul.
"Like you much as well…Wild, fearless, born for battle." she said, reaching out and placing her fiery palm beneath Paul's chin. Paul nodded to her as Dwayne had done with a grin on his face.
Raven then moved before Marko. She smiled a smile of death and delight and said, "Like you too, very much…Smart, fierce, thirsty for truth." Her flames reached out to dance around Marko lightly, snapping and cracking. Marko grinned almost sheepishly and nodded.
Raven stood and moved across the table. Reaching her end, she turned to face them, and in a flash of fire, stood before them again in human form, her eyes snapping red. She hopped backwards off the table and sat in her chair, tucking one leg beneath her. Star had followed her every movement raptly.
"I am all these things. All these beings. And I am vampire as well. Beings who dwell in the underworld do not need to drink blood or eat flesh. Our sustenance comes from the alter of flame. Fire is the food that strengthens us. When we travel here, to this plane, or to another, where we are away from our home for a lengthy period, we must take nourishment into ourselves to keep our strength. Most of us chose vampire form; it offers the greatest pleasures. We can mix with mortals and feed from them freely in the night. We can enjoy the beauty of the world-art, music, books. We can dance, laugh, indulge in every pleasure of the flesh.
"Your creator and I must do more than drink blood because we are more than just vampire. We must eat as well. Eating of flesh and marrow gives us the longevity we need to be away from our home for longer times. Drinking is sufficient for you as you are from this plane, vampire in truth, yet created from diluted blood-David's pure blood mixed with sweet wine. If he so chose, David could feed you directly from his veins, and you would become what he is. You would change yet again, becoming a being of the underworld. You would be given purpose in the House of Destroyers and welcomed there. It should be known, though, that with more power comes much greater responsibility. And there is no escape from it. Failure or refusal to take on duty is met with death. And then you will face the House of Abaddon. You will face a Death Dealer. You will face me or one of my brothers or sisters. And you will not win."
The boys all looked at each other then. There was so much more to this eternal life than they had known of, and they were finding it almost overwhelming.
Raven caught their mood. Smiling lightly she said,
"Do not fret. It is a lot to take in. There is much more to learn, but this will suffice for the moment. I would encourage you to relax, discuss amongst yourselves what you have taken in, or simply reflect on it in private; whatever appeals to you." Her smile faded then and she looked at the young girl. "Star, I would suggest you mull over your situation carefully. The longer you wait, the weaker you become no matter how often you drink of the bottle. Soon you will begin to get sick and you will be stricken with pain greater than any you have ever known. You will cry mercy and your creator will have none."
Star's eyes widened and she looked at David. He spoke in a serious tone.
"It is as she says, Star. Your time is almost at an end. None of us can chose for you. You know this. You must kill soon. Or be killed."
Raven and David exchanged silent thoughts and Raven spoke softly.
"I cannot help you, Star. It would create a rift between David and myself. You are his creation and I cannot interfere, neither to help nor to hinder. That is the way of things. I can only reinforce the words I spoke to you previously. A thing dreaded is best done and set behind you. Think on that instead of the actual deed itself." and with that, Raven rose and rounded the table, meeting David where he had risen to stand. He spoke to the boys and Star then.
"Go if you wish. Move about. If you need, you may hunt. If not, relax, entertain yourselves. There is another matter to be addressed this night but it is of grave importance and I want your heads clear and open when you hear it, so we will break. I will call you when it is time to reconvene at the table."
The boys dipped their heads in acknowledgement and stood, stretching and then began their ever-present teasing and shoving, moving away from the table. Star rose as well, walking to her sleeping area and disappearing behind the curtains there.
David looked down into eyes of vermillion and pulled Raven tight against him while hers came up to encircle his neck. His head descended and quickly captured her lips in a deep burning kiss as her claws sunk into his back. Teeth became fangs that clashed as tongues tasted of another's desire and bodies sought to melt together. Breath came hard and fast, and they broke apart with eyes flashing stormy ocean blue and arterial blood red.
"Outside? The last of the storm still lingers, M'lord." Raven said with a wicked smile.
"Outside. Up on the cliff so that I might see the lightning reflected in your eyes." David rumbled, grabbing her small hand.
Together, they ran swiftly from the cave and hand-in-hand flew up the sharp cliff side to land upon stone that stretched out over the ocean far below. Rain continued to fall and thunder rumbled as David embraced Raven again. He moaned against her lips as she reached down, rubbing him through his jeans.
"Mmmm….My Dark Goddess….I want you so much. I want you NOW." As he spoke, Raven moved her hands to his belt buckle, then the button and zipper of his jeans. She then lifted her arms above her head as David pulled her camisole over her head and tossed it aside. He dipped his head to suck on one perfect breast and then ran his lips over her neck, causing her to cry out in the rainy darkness. When his lips pulled back, she shimmied out of her leathers, kicking them impatiently out of the way as David kicked off his boots, shedding his jeans. He let out a growl that reached far into the woods and out over the dark ocean as Raven fell to her knees before him and took his hard length into her mouth. His hands twisted into her hair and his fingers roughly massaged her head as she worked on him. His face changed to true and his head tipped back, yellow eyes on fire as the rain pelted his flesh of stone.
Raven felt the harsh cliff rock beneath her knees and David's fingers rubbing her scalp. A delightful contrast, she thought. Taking a brief glance up, she growled low in her throat as she took in the sight of her lover looking as fierce as the Dark One himself. David's hands lowered to beneath Raven's arms and he lifted her up above his head, running his tongue over her smooth flat stomach and nipping at her hip bones then lowering her slightly as her legs went around his waist. Raven shrieked, the sound of a banshee, as she was impaled upon David's hard length and she dug her claws again into his back. His fangs settled into her shoulder, holding her in submission as his strong hands held her hips, moving her up and down. Lightning flashed and thunder cracked as she gazed down at him with heavy-lidded eyes. David looked at her face then, lit by lightning, alive with pleasure, and knelt, laying her back onto the cold wet rock, never letting himself leave the comfort of her body. His hands cradled her head even as he thrust into her cruelly hard. Snarls and growls and hisses rose in the night, and they quickly came close to the edge together. Raven's small hand rose and she placed it on David's cheek.
"Mine." she whispered as rain fell down upon them and formed puddles around their bodies.
"Mine." David echoed, looking into her eyes and far beyond, into her soul. "Through the end of this time, into the next, and the one after."
Their bodies came together then in a moment of ecstasy that froze them both. They were engulfed in purple flame and as Raven's eyes shot open, she noted the flames of pure black shot through with orange that mixed with her own. They were David's own, and she was overjoyed to see them, knowing it marked something between them. Something serious and true.
After a few moments, David's head dropped onto her shoulder and his body fell hard on top of hers. Raven welcomed his weight; it gave her comfort even as she sought to catch breath that was not needed but which pleased her, as it carried his smell into her. They nuzzled each other gently and then David rolled from her to sprawl upon his back, thoroughly sated. Raven rolled on her side upon the hard rock, her head resting on one arm, and took in the sight of him, dark flames licking over his body, twisting and lifting, melting into the darkness of the night.
"His fire is even darker than that of Nyx." she thought, a small grin upon her face.
David reached out a long arm then, letting it come to rest upon the curve of her small waist.
"My Beautiful Bird, the gifts you have given me make me speechless." He rolled onto his side facing her, eyes dancing over her face lit by a hazy moon that peeped out from behind a cloud. "I fear though, that by giving to me so freely, you only make me want to take from you. I want more and more."
Raven smiled, all sharp fang and delight, and replied, "Knowing that you want makes me want to give, My Night King. It would seem we are trapped in a vicious circle." She moved then from her position beside him on the rock to set herself on top of him, leaning over, rain pouring from her long hair onto his belly. She dipped her head and kissed him deeply, and their flames met together and rose high into the night above the cliff top. David sat up, holding her on his lap and set his fangs into her arm hard. Raven did not pull away but instead forced her arm further into his mouth, causing her flesh to rip beneath his deadly ivory.
He moaned in pleasure and sunk in deeper before releasing her and tipping his head back to assess her beautiful face.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" he asked in a voice with no teasing present. "You know my emotions towards you are strong and only growing stronger and there is likely more pain than pleasure to come at some point."
Raven took ahold of his chin and lifted his head slightly. She then leaned in close to his face and answered, "And what have I done that would make you think pain is not the same as pleasure to me, My Dark Heart?"
David was silent a brief moment, then he laughed. "You are a treasure to me. A dark box full of black diamonds."
"And to me, you are wicked delight. Your moods are my moods; your pleasures, my pleasures. I am enjoying you much." Raven replied. She stood then, her fire flashing and winking out. She extended a hand down to David, and he took it, standing in a flash and bringing her hard against him. His flames of midnight black mixed with orange enveloped them both then disappeared out into the darkness, slowly fading.
"Come." he said, kissing her forehead. "Let's have a swim before heading back for the continuance of our meeting."
"I'd like that much." Raven replied, kissing his chest. They were both laughing as they raced to the edge of the cliff, diving off at the same time. Their energies mingled, each sharing adrenaline and the sated feeling of time spent in each other's embrace as they dove deep into the cold water and came to the surface, embracing again amidst the dark waves. They swam for some time, diving to touch the ocean bottom and shooting into the air. At last, they flew back up to the cliff top and retrieved their clothing, now soaked through, and returned to the cave opening. Hand in hand and completely naked and unabashed they entered the main chamber. The boys greeted them with light teasing and mock whistles and David scowled at them playfully as he led Raven to the passage that went to his room. Once there, they dried themselves and then dressed and returned to the main cavern, whispering of things of passion and snickering like two naughty children. David took Raven's hand and brushed her knuckles with his lips.
"Back to it?" he asked quietly.
"Back to it." she replied with a smile.
"Back to the table." his deep voice carried through the chamber. His boys immediately headed towards the table and Star came from around her curtains as well.
David watched them regroup and thought of how proud he was of them. They were strong and smart. Even Star showed bravery this night.
"It will be interesting," he thought, "to see how they fare through the next part of their education." With that, he moved to seat himself and leaning back, lit a cigarette. He exchanged a look with Raven, and she once more began to address them.