Sorry I haven't updated my story recently, but my computer went on strike and wouldn't work. Well I hope that you've been enjoying the story and so far from the reviews you have. I'm sorry that some of you haven't enjoyed my side comments, but that is my writing style and I can't help that. I will try to keep them to a minimum. In the mean time enjoy, and please review!
One's WillAfter a moment of shock Sara stepped aside and opened the door wider to allow better access.
"Sure you two can stay here, the bed's over there."
Raven nodded and carried Ian into the apartment. Sara shut the door and hurried to clear off the mess on her bed (you know, tangled sheets and such). Raven gently turned Ian in her arms with her mind and laid him down on his stomach.
"Sara I need you to get me some scissors, hot water, a washcloth, gauze, bandages, and Vodka."
"Right…. umm…what's the Vodka for?"
"I need to disinfect his wounds and I know that you'd more likely have Vodka then rubbing alcohol."
Sara shrugged and went to gather the items. Raven removed her jacket and sword. After thinking about it, she also took off her long sleeve shirt figuring that it would only get in the way (Now stop right there pervs! She's wearing a black tank top and sports bra underneath). Sara returned with some of the supplies and then promptly left to fetch the Vodka and hot water. Raven went to work on what was left of Ian's shirt with the scissors. After stripping off the last of the bloody rags Raven took the bowl of hot water that Sara had just brought and dipped the washcloth into it. Wringing it out slightly, Raven gently bathed Ian's back, to rid it of the blood. Removing a majority of the blood Raven grabbed the Vodka and doused the washcloth. Taking a deep breath, Raven wrung it out on Ian's back. The two women flinched as they watched Ian's muscles spasm and convulse in protest. A grunt of pain escaped Ian as he gripped the pillow beneath his head.
'Shh dragon… it's all right, you're safe now. Lady Sara and I are here to protect you. I know that what I'm doing hurts, but it is necessary. We don't want you to get sick, so just try to relax and I'll try to make it as painless as possible.'
Raven paused for a moment, and then she brought her hand up to Ian's face. Closing her eyes, Raven put Ian to sleep and sealed him away in his mind. This would enable her to treat his wounds without him experiencing any pain. Sara watched as Raven did this and couldn't help but ask.
"What are you doing?"
" I'm sealing Ian in his mind and putting him into a semi-coma so that he won't feel any pain. He'll be all right, I'll take him out of it when I'm done."
"Oh," was all that Sara could muster. Raven was a lot more powerful then Sara had thought. Raven continued to treat his wounds, but this time Ian's body remained motionless.
"Sara could you go through my coat's pockets, there should be a jar in one of them."
Sara searched the coat and came up with a black jar, which she handed to Raven. Raven unscrewed the top and applied a generous amount of white salve to Ian's wounds.
"What is that?" questioned Sara.
"It's something that Ian uses on cuts and stuff that helps him heal faster. Irons had it created so that even if he beat Ian the night before, Ian would be no-worse-the-wear the next day to carry out his chores," Raven's voice was bitter and hateful. Sara always wondered how Ian seemed to heal over night whenever he was injured. Raven then made Ian's body hover a few feet in the air so she could wrap the bandages and gauze around his torso. After making sure that the dressings were secure, but comfortable, Raven lowered his body. She then released Ian from the mind seal and just let him fall into a dreamless sleep. After gathering everything, the two women left to let Ian rest. Raven told Sara that she was going to get their bags from the car. When she returned Sara suggested that Raven should go take a shower while she made some coffee. Raven dressed down in sweats when she exited the shower. After about a cup or two of coffee Sara finally asked,
"How long has Irons been abusing Ian?"
Raven sighed, "Since we were children. He use to beat me too until I could control my gifts."
"And after you could control them, your gifts I mean."
"I was sent away…"
****(Flashback)****
Twelve-year-old Raven was helping thirteen-year-old Ian clean up his recent 'lesson.' Rage filled Raven as she cleaned yet another gash that Irons had inflicted.
"I'll get him for this dragon, I swear it!"
"Birdie please don't, I don't want you to get hurt too."
Raven remained silent, which made Ian think that she wouldn't do anything; big mistake. Early the next morning Irons woke up in his luxurious bedroom. Upon opening his eyes, Irons was confronted with Canary Yellow walls covered with butterflies and flowers of all different colors. Irons scanned the walls in mute horror, when his gaze fell upon a painting of a raven.
Later that day, Irons had Raven strapped to a rack and was beating her senseless.
"You impudent child! What were you thinking, what made you think that I would condone such behavior?"
As he continued to yell and beat Raven, she never once made a sound. Irons was in mid-swing when he was suddenly thrown back and collided with a wall. Raven's straps undid themselves while Irons tried to regain his thoughts. Shocked and dazed Irons stood up, still unsure of what happened. Raising his icy blue eyes, Irons found himself staring into a pair of glaring eyes. Raven looked at Irons with something akin to disgust. Suddenly things started to fly off the tables and smash into walls. The windows shattered and voices raged. Irons fell to the floor in agony. His head felt like someone was pressing a red-hot poker to his skull while scooping out his brain with a spoon made of dry ice (inventive, isn't it?). He felt like his insides were trying to make their way out.
'How does it feel?'
The question echoed like a church bell. Irons looked at Raven's approaching figure.
'Hurts, doesn't it?'
"Why are you doing this?"
'To show you what it feels like to be beaten and tortured, to let you know that you are helpless and completely at my mercy. Scary, is it not?'
It was then that Irons realized that Raven never once moved her lips.
"You…you c-can con—control it now…"
'Yes, the only thing that your LESSONS ever taught me was how to control me gifts. To use them to subdue you.'
"But how?"
'Each blow you dealt sent me deeper and deeper into my mind. Haven't you ever noticed that I never screamed or struggled? I went into my mind and searched for the gate that has been preventing me from controlling my powers. But now I have control.'
Irons quivered in a puddle of fear (or perhaps a puddle of something else!).
"What do you want?"
'You are to never strike Ian or myself ever again, understand?'
"Yes I understand."
'Quote the raven Kenny, Nevermore.'
*****
"…and then I passed out from exhaustion. When I came to I was in Asia. Irons sent me away because I was no longer controllable, but Ian, Ian could still be manipulated. Irons continued to beat, torture, condition, and mold Ian into his perfect poetic warrior. Ian's loyalty was never questioned… that is until you came along."
Sara almost chocked on her coffee, "Excuse me?"
An impish smile found its way onto Raven's face, "What is it that they always say? Men do crazy things for the ones they love."
~~~~~
There I finished that chapter. Well I hope you liked it and I'm really sorry about how long it took. I will be putting out a few chapters this week to make it up. I'm going to finish this story before the end of this week hopefully. Well please review and I'll return soon with a new chapter!