Day 46-
The end of June brought a huge heat wave through the Grounds. Which meant a lot of the employees were working extra hard to keep the Grounds and animals healthy. Cy and Robin went out daily to the vineyards to make sure they were being watered regularly. Terra was spending almost ten hour days on the main Grounds trying to keep up with the weather. BB had recruited Jinx to help maintain animal welfare.
That left Raven alone most of the time. At the moment, she lay in her bedroom on the floor staring up at her ceiling. A favorite past time since she had been adopted. Life seemed to be at a stand still. Councils every few days with Father Demesthanes, wedding planning with Miss Tayfler and final Funeral Ball arrangements with Jinx.
Raven sighed. The recent weeks since her trip had been quite uneventful. Everyone made an extra effort to stay on her good side. Except BB who wasn't allowed in the vicinity as her. still the thought of what he had been doing made her cringe. It brought new rage to her.
But she tried not to think of it. Even the others had taken to trying to get Raven less upset with BB. Apparently the whole situation had sent him in to a minor depression. Even Robin tried to get her to see it on the bright side.
--
"He's hasn't told us a thing you ever said to him. it really annoys me sometimes. I mean, I've been friends with him for years. I've known him almost as long as I've known my family." He said as he paced the room in front of Raven.
Raven sat in a chair writing. Every now and then she'd look up to him as he talked. He had taken to rambling on and on recently. And she was never really sure why or what it was about. He just talked for a while, switching subject sometimes in the middle of another. It amused Raven. Either he was getting nervous or this is a new side of him she hadn't experienced before.
"Good. then I don't have to kill him." Raven said simply.
Robin turned to look at her with a slight grin. "So… you let him sleep with you this entire time." He stated, knowing this subject would get under her skin. But that dangerous side of her was very appealing.
Raven glared to him over her notebook. "I think I need a pet. Someone I can confide in without having to worry whether or not they can talk or change shape."
Robin raised a brow. "You want a pet?"
Raven nodded. "Something without high maintenance but big enough for me to cuddle."
Robin had a sudden flash of her cuddling himself. The thought made him smile. "I'll look into that."
"I wasn't asking your permission, Tim. I was simply stating."
Robin grinned again. He liked the fact that she was the only one calling him Tim. Like a secret nickname only she used. "What are you so intently working on?"
Raven kept her eyes on the notebook in front of her. "If you must know, it's my vows to you."
Robin nodded. His mood suddenly dampened remembering what his vows consisted of and he began to pace again.
--
Raven sighed. The ceiling wasn't much entertainment. "There's got to be something to do." She complained aloud.
With the thought brought a knock on her door. Although she really didn't feel like company, she almost openly welcomed it right now. she jumped to her feet and almost ran to the door, throwing it open.
Terra stood with a lazy smile. She wore her normal cloths consisting of Capri pants and a black tee with carpenter boots. Her blonde hair in a loose ponytail. She was covered in sweat and dirt.
Raven moved aside to allow her entrance.
Terra walked in tiredly. "Do you mind if I use your bathroom? You're the closest to where I was working."
Raven nodded. "Help yourself." And she shut the door watching Terra retreat down the hall.
A few moments later she returned and sat on the stool opposite where Raven stood in the kitchen. She had poured a tall glass of ice water and handed it to Terra.
She thanked her justly before emptying it in one drink. "It's miserable out. Last time I looked the thermometer said 107 degrees."
Raven nodded. "According to the weather channel, we won't be getting rain for a few days yet. This hot streak's not going anywhere any time soon."
Terra groaned. "I was brought back for this? I should have stayed there."
Raven looked to her sideways. The thought never occurred to her to ask Terra where she had been sent off to. "Where did he send you anyways?"
Terra gave her a small smirk. "America. I went to the Bruce Wayne manor. I worked on the grounds there while utilizing Mr. Wayne's huge legal library to research law."
Raven nodded.
Terra stood. "I'd love to stay, but unfortunately I have a few more hours to put in today."
Raven walked her to the door and waved her off as she watched her make her way over the grass to the mini garden she had been working on previously.
A little after noon and Raven was on her way to her hair appointment. Apparently she needed a 'trial session' of the styles she would be wearing come her wedding day. As far as she was concerned bald would be just fine. Though she wasn't up to shaving her head.
She set it in her mind to enjoy the day. A quiet few hours to herself in which she'd be pampered. In the comfort of air conditioning to boot.
After quite a few up dos she chose a simple down instead. Nothing really at all. A strand from each side would be twisted to the back to look like a small halo. Then they wanted to discuss make up. Here Raven put her foot down.
"Are you saying I need make up?"
The lady shook her head fiercely. "Of course not dear. But to touch up a few blemishes--"
"So I do need make up?"
"No. no. you are just beautiful."
"Then I don't need it. Correct?"
"That's right. None at all." She said with a smile.
Raven smiled shortly and got to her feet.
The car took her back to the Grounds stopping at the main house. Talo was there to greet her. He opened the door with a slight bow and offered her his hand. She took it graciously and stepped out of the cool back seat to the hot afternoon sun.
"I am told to escort you to the first floor study. There packages await your approval." He said leading her up the stairs.
"Packages?"
"Yes, Mad' am. I believe wedding supplies and such have arrived today."
Raven nodded watching the scurrying inside.
"The preparation for your engagement party is well under way. I believe you and Jinx should be finishing up last minute details this afternoon if I remember correctly."
To that she scowled as they rounded into the large study. There were boxes upon boxes waiting her attention. "When's Tim supposed to be here?"
"I am afraid he is unable to make it. He and Cy are still in vineyard 7. they are encountering some delays. I do apologize for any inconvenience this may cause."
Raven really frowned now. there was way too much to look at in here. She was almost sure this couldn't all be wedding details. "Thank you, Talo."
Talo bowed lightly and retreated from the room. with a heavy mind, Raven made her way to the first box. The tag read 'Mr. Drake, Miss Delpheki from CrystalsInc. Box 1 of 7.' The box was quite large. And glancing around the room, she found the other 6 identical boxes. So she needn't open them all.
She tore the tape off neatly and flipped back all four flaps. Styrofoam peanuts littered the top, concealing its contents. The invoice resting on top read '1 bride, 1 broom, 1 moh, 1 bm, 3 bm, 3 ush, 4 parents (mob, fob, mog, fog), 1 officiant, 10 sib, 8 close, 2 reg'. that meant nothing to her though.
Digging down, her hand met something wrapped in cardboard. Pulling it out, she decided it was a plate. She gently undid the packing tape holding the cardboard in place and discarded that on the floor before then pulling away the bubble wrap. Simple black with a single purple rose in the middle. The edge was etched with silver and across the tip was sketched 'Usher'. Turning it over she read the engraving:
Tim and Raven Drake
Twenty-third of August
In the year of our lord
It was a nice plate. Though she didn't remember ordering the writing on the front or back. she figured Robin had done so and set it on the top of the box. Then she did the math quietly. If there were seven boxes and each held thirty five plates… that was…
"Two hundred and forty-five. We only invited less than a hundred." She said aloud to no one in particular.
"Sorry?"
Raven turned to the voice. A young lady was standing there in the door way. Raven assumed she had been walking by when Raven had her realization. She shook her head. "Nothing." And turned back with a light grunt.
Moving on to another box she tore through the packing tape there and pulled out a package of napkins. They were dark blue. Reading the invoice here they sent five hundred. Though that was all right. Quite a few people needed more than one napkin anyways.
The next held the silverware. 'box 2 of 4. 300 knives, 1 pk serving-civilian silver' They were nice. Plain Jane just like they wanted.
'box 8 of 8. glasses- 1 bride, 1 broom, 1 moh, 1 bm, 3 bm, 3 ush, 4 parents (mob, fob, mog, fog), 1 officiant, 10 sib, 8 close, 2 reg' they were just as they decided on there too. The fogged black crystal with the darkened rose wrapping around the stem and top. The base read 'Mother of Bride' The thought occurred to her to smash it and then have it placed on a wooden platter and served to her. though she decided against it and set it back on the top of the box as well.
Another set of boxes (25) held the centerpieces. Each held a six. A large black bird with burning red eyes. Its wings were spread and it looked like it was glaring at the person. It was made of a crystal that looked like it held clear black liquid in it. Raven picked that out herself.
The next two boxes held the favors for the wedding attendants. Along with the plates and glasses they would all be taking home too, Miss Tayfler suggested something else as well. If for nothing else then to just take up room. So they decided on clear mini boxes holding glass beads in the colors of their wedding.
The next box held all the place settings. They looked to be just plaques. She guessed when the RSVP's started coming in these would be sent to be engraved. They were a simple black and when engraved would have silver writing.
Raven looked around. Finally the boxes were beginning to wind down. It helped that so many of them were duplicates and she need not open them all.
Another five boxes held table cloths. Black. And the next held the guest book.
"Hey."
Raven turned a little to look at Robin. She had a very tired bored expression.
Robin chuckled. "I see you're having fun." He sat on a chair off to the side.
"The best. Here." She slid a box his way. "Start opening."
He lightly tore the tape off and peered inside. It was the dark purple cloth to run the length of the isle. "Two hundred yards." He read off the invoice. "How long do they think we're walking?"
"I'll be walking it. You stand in the front and wait for me." She said as she tore into another box.
"Right." He stood and poked in all the other boxes checking out the contents of these.
"Who are Janice and Thor Rodriguez?"
"Driko's Prime Minister and his wife. Why?"
"Did we invite them?" Raven said pulling a box off the top of another.
"I don't think so. But that doesn't mean my parents didn't. Why?" He asked again.
Raven started peeling the tape off the box in front of her. "Because we received a package from them."
Robin turned and watched her open it. Out of it she pulled a large bag with a king sized bedding set. "100 pure satin sheets, four pillow cases for king pillows, 100 chenille blanket with down feathers. Black and green." Raven read off the package she pulled out.
Robin looked at it sideways. "Engagement gifts. There must be a card somewhere." He walked over and sifted through the other parts of the bedding set that remained in the box until he found the envelope. He opened it and read the card aloud. "Dearest Robin and Raven. We regret to inform you that will have to miss your remarkable engagement party. We are needed elsewhere. We send this gift in our wake and wish you two the best time. Congratulations. Janice and Thor"
Raven had opened the top of the comforters plastic and was running her hand across it. "They have good taste. This is the softest blanket I've ever felt."
Robin smiled lightly and ran his hand across it too. "You're welcome to it."
Raven set it back in the box after resealing the bag once more and moved it to the side. She pulled the next box and read the label here.
"Nori and Pam Drake."
"My aunt and uncle on my father's side." Robin said as he pulled the tape from the box. This time the gift was wrapped in another box with giant elegant bows on it.
"Should we wait to open it?" Raven asked running her fingers down the ribbon.
"Nope. We can open it now and then put the ribbon back on it. No one will know the difference."
Raven chuckled lightly and shook her head even as she began to pull the ribbon from it. Opening the box they found a set of 8 bathroom towel sets consisting of one giant towel, one regular sized towel, one hand towel and one wash cloth each. "Egyptian Cotton 800 gram towels."
"Wow. These are almost as expensive as the bedding itself."
She rewrapped the towels and set them next to the box of bedding while Robin read the card to her. "We're sorry to have to miss this joyous occasion. Little Nori has surgery the day before and the doctor has advised us not to travel. We hope you enjoy yourselves and wish you all the best. See you on your wedding day. Love, Nori and Pam, Little Nori and Josse."
Raven looked around the room at all the boxes as she leaned back against one brushing her hair from her face. "Should we just leave this all here?"
Robin nodded. "The wedding stuff, yes. The gifts we'll have someone bring to the Funeral and set with the others on Saturday."
Raven sighed. "It's that soon, huh? I keep thinking this is all a dream and eventually I'll wake up and be back home in my own bed. And when I tell my mom about it, she'll laugh and say I'm only 13. Too young to get married."
Robin didn't say anything. He knew she wasn't talking about her adoptive mom either.
Even after going through all the boxes, Raven only seemed to pass a little over two hours. It was still well before five in the evening. They had stayed in the study for a while afterwards just enjoying the cool air. They didn't talk a whole lot. Again Raven listened to Robin ramble for a while before they decided to find the others and get some ice cream.
"Do you mind if BB comes?" Jinx asked. She knew it wasn't all that long ago that she really disliked him. but it had been so longs since BB had spent time with her and the others that she really missed him. even his new attitude.
Raven shrugged. "Whatever."
Jinx smiled and called him over the radio. They all sat in the upper game room at the bar. Robin sat on the far end with Cy next to him. Jinx's empty seat was between Cy and Raven. Terra came trotting in a short time after and taking a seat next to Raven.
Raven noted she must have had an exceptionally better day than she was having earlier. Her normal playful smile was back in place and her eyes danced with mischief. It always seemed to make Raven smile.
Robin on the other hand hated how much time the two of them were spending together since she had come back. It annoyed him that Terra would be the one friend she'd willingly smile for. That she'd willingly spend time with just for fun. The one person she'd talk to about nothing in particular. Why couldn't she see what Terra was really like? More importantly, how can he get her to talk to him like that?
Jinx skipped back over reclaiming her seat with a small smile. "He's on his way."
Terra grinned. "Good. I think we should all play a game while we eat."
There were many nervous glances and threatening looks cast her way.
Raven chose not to notice. Instead she leaned on to her elbows against the counter and looked to her. "What do you have in mind?"
"I was thinking a card game. Something fun like go fish or… something else."
Raven smirked. "Yea. Ok." She turned to the others. They all seemed to let out a breath.
Cy nodded. "I'm in."
Jinx forced a tiny smile. "Yea, me too."
Robin only gave a single nod.
Terra smiled to them all. "Great. I'll go get the cards." And she stood, brushed her pony tail back and skipped out the door.
They all looked after her. except Raven who sat comfortable with a small smile.
Talo came in holding a large serving tray with six bowls of ice cream. Setting it down he passed them out and place the others in front of the emptied seats before asking if there was anything else they needed.
Most gave a sardonic nod. Raven gave him a smile and a 'no thank you' which caused the others to look at her sideways.
Talo left as Terra came strutting back in holding the deck in her hands. A few moments later BB came simpering in watching the ground he walked on as if it would turn to fire at any given moment. The thought had crossed Raven's mind but she passed it ignoring him completely.
He took his seat across from Cy as they all circled with each other to make it easier to play and reach the cards. They ended up on the floor because the bar was serving to be too much of a challenge. And as Cy pointed out it was too hot to have to think too much. With a laugh they all agreed and ended up in a sphere on the floor while Terra dealt them each seven cards.
"We're just playing a normal game, right?" Robin asked glancing at Terra.
"Are there other ways to play go fish?" She asked in an almost Star-like voice.
Robin shrugged. "No idea. Just thought I'd ask."
Terra nodded. "No. A normal game." And she looked down to the cards she held in her hand.
Raven did the same but she felt the others glance among themselves before doing the similar.
"So… who's going first?" Jinx asked.
Cy volunteered himself. "BB. Do you have any… threes?"
BB handed one over to him avoiding Raven's eye. This was alright. Since it seemed her look could kill.
Cy placed his double on the floor in front of him and scanned his cards. "Terra. Do you have a queen?"
Terra shook her head causing her hair to dance around behind her with a smile lingering. "Go fish."
Cy made a mock pout and picked a card up before looking to Robin.
Robin gave him an almost bored expression. "Don't you think we've grown out of this game?"
All eyes wound their way to him. Some glaring… some blank… other with raised brows.
"I'm just saying. Maybe we can modify it to make it more… our age."
"Like?" Raven asked somewhat annoyed.
"I don't know. Something so we can socialize too."
"We're listening for a suggestion." Terra placed her cards face down in front of her and picked up her ice cream spoon, licking off the melting ice cream.
Robin watched her for a moment before looking away. He glanced to his cards and around the room. "How about… at the end of your turn you chose a word and everyone has to say the first word that comes to their mind."
There were looks of consideration and then nods all around.
"But this is only meant to be fun. No manipulating or anything. Deal?" he made a pointed look to Terra.
She ignored it. "I'm in."
Robin nodded and then looked to his cards again. He surveyed them once and then looked up. "Raven. Do you have any tens?"
Raven shook her head. "Go fish."
Robin picked up a card and then thought of his first word. "Spaghetti." And he turned to BB who sat next to him.
"Food." He answered quietly and looked down.
Terra smiled. "Stains."
Raven nodded. "Italian." Looked at Cy.
"Italy."
"Napkin." Jinx smiled. "For future reference, can it be a group of words?"
Robin nodded and looked to BB once more. "Your turn."
"Jinx, do you have any aces?"
Jinx shook her head. "Go fish."
He sighed while picking up a card. "Sorry."
Terra thought for a moment as her mind drew a blank. "Forgiven."
Raven's face hardened when he'd said it. "Betrayal."
"Second chances."
Cy gave a metallic blink. "Apologize."
Robin stayed silent for a moment. "Done wrong."
BB visibly sunk.
They played for a long time. They kept playing go fish but now with the word that was said anything could go. A story, an action, a word: anything. They were all getting along and laughing, having a good time. Raven had stopped giving BB the cold shoulder, though she was not nearly ready to forgive him yet, if ever. And the others had seemed to put aside their harsh feelings towards Terra, and like wise.
Cy chuckled and looked down at his cards. "Jinx, do you have an eight?"
Jinx shook her head. "Go fish."
Cy smiled and while picking up a card he said the word he first thought of. "Cheese." Then he sat back to the position he was in previously.
Robin looked at him sideways from leaning on the chair he had pulled up behind him. "Cheese?" He narrowed his eyes and thought about it. Then a smile graces his lips. "When I was eleven and Kendra was thirteen, we were sitting at home in the kitchen while Rosen was making us grilled cheese sandwiches. He likes to make us laugh so he does strange things. This particular time he was going to flip it in the air like normal and catch it again in the frying pan. So he flipped it up but he wasn't paying attention so it hit the ceiling and came back down on his head. As if that wasn't enough when he tried to figure out what happened, he put his hand down to balance himself and hit the handle to the other frying pan and sent that sandwich flying across the kitchen, over our heads and into a wall. Kendra and I laughed so hard we fell from our seats onto the floor."
After a moment to process the information, they all laughed too. When it had calmed once again, BB took a moment to think. "Dairy." He said blandly.
Jinx shook her head. "Is that all you think about? Food?" she sat in the same spot as before, between Cy and Raven. One leg was curled under her and the other bent with her foot in front of her other ankle as she leaned over.
BB smiled a little. "Yes. Food and animals." He thought back to when he had said tofu about an hour ago. The words coming from them were 'cardboard, dirt, disgusting' among others and scrunched up faces and tongues being stuck out. "But at least I don't kill animals or fill them with hormones to get food from them to eat."
"Mmm… meat. I love steak. Rarely cooked of course." Cy teased.
BB made his own face scrunch. "You're like a cannibal. You eat it while it's still bleeding. That's just wrong."
"But it's so good." Terra added from her prone position on the floor. She lay on her stomach, her elbows propping her up and her feet kicking every now and then. "With a little poached eggs."
"And a tall glass of ice cold milk to wash it down." Jinx finished.
BB gave them all sour looks causing them all to laugh. He turned to Terra as he sat back and crossed his arms to pout. "You're turn."
Terra clambered up to her knees and wrapped her arms around BB and Raven's necks pulling them in to her so both of their heads touched hers on respective sides. "Say Cheese." She called.
BB fell off balance since he was still pouting. He toppled backwards bringing Terra with him who dragged Raven down too. There was a mixture of feet and cards being tossed in the air and thumps on the ground. All around them roars of laughter pierced the air as the cards finally settled back to the floor.
The three of them sat back up laughing as well.
A deep satisfying breath passed through them all as the smiles still lingered.
"This is fun. Laughing, playing, getting along together." She looked to Terra. "All of us."
Terra gave her a smile. Not one of her mischievous or tormenting smiles. A normal friendly smile. Raven noted this was the first time she had seen her with a normal smile.
And all too soon they were interrupted by a phone ring. It was quite humorous to see all of them take out their phones and look to see who was ringing. It turned out to be Jinx.
"Bonjour?" A pause. "Merci beaucoup." And she hung up while getting to her feet. "Raven, you and I are needed in the Grande ball room."
Raven sighed and got to her feet. "Sure."
Jinx waited for her to join by her side before they proceeded out the door.
There were still smiles remaining about the remaining four as they looked from one to another. Robin started picking up the cards about them.
"So… now what?" Cy asked.
Terra sat back on the mountain of pillows Raven had been using that she scoffed from a room across the hall. "I don't know. We could just hang out. Maybe watch some TV or something." She suggested enjoying this time they were all spending together.
They all looked at her strangely. "What?"
"It's just weird seeing you like this." BB said for them all.
"Like what?" She asked with an unpleasant look.
"Not trying to start trouble. Not manipulating the situation so we say something that we don't want to." Robin said truthfully.
"Not setting us all in traps so everything we want kept comes spilling out because we feel the need to defend ourselves." Cy added.
Terra shrugged. "I am human, you know. I like to have fun just as much as the rest of you. I figure you're all digging yourselves in a big enough hole the way it is. I'm not going to pretend I like what you're doing or that I'll respect all your wishes. But not everything I do's about making you all look like fools. You do that enough on your own."
Robin opened his mouth to counter but closed it before sound came out. She talked truthfully. The air about her was calm and relaxed. She wasn't trying to make them irritated like normal. That expression wasn't there. And they all felt it. She was right in a sense.
"But I will be the first to say 'I told you so' when the time comes. So… about that movie." She continued still leaning back against the pillows.
The boys all looked between themselves.
Cy stood. "I'm up for a movie."
And they all headed for the nearest entertainment room.
x-x-x-x-x-x
they walked through the door to the bottom of the giant stair case and circled around to the front. The room was enormous.
Currently the chandeliers were being lowered, the electrical candles were having mini shades placed on them and black mesh draped over them to dim the light and cast dark glows once rose again. And it worked greatly. Jinx smirked a little at the thought.
The tables were being set around the edges scattered in a checkers like pattern. Every other one in three rows were off set from the other. All draped with black table cloths and over with a spider web looking sheet of fabric in the darkest shade of gray imaginable before it actually turned to black itself.
The center pieces were the theater faces. One happy and one sad. A third was set to them and the expression was horror. In the center a tall black candle sat unlit until the actual night.
The table settings themselves were black china. The silverware hoary with black bases. The cloth napkins black as well. Littered on the table would be black rose petals.
"I was going to go with plastic settings so everything could be completely black. I thought it would hold a nice touch and give the impression that it was a huge joke. But Mrs. Drake put her foot down when she saw the order."
Raven gave a weak smile. It would have been amusing.
Jinx pointed out a couple more things as well. There would be black balloons set loose to linger at the ceiling with black ribbon coming down from them. She said it would look like black rain and the balloons would help give a depressed feeling as the already darkened light reflected off them.
The balcony doors' curtains would be replaced with black suede like material. It gave the heavy, dark impression that she was looking for. She had considered corduroy but that was even too much for her to consider spending on curtains. She knew had she ordered it and Robin signed it like he did all the orders without looking at them, then they'd be ordered and delivered. But they were just too outrageously priced for her liking.
Out on the balcony the benches had been re-cushioned with black velvet on the wicker back and black corduroy pillows to off set it a bit with the different texture. She said it toned down the elegancy and gave her a way to get the corduroy in.
In various places bouquets of black flowers were scattered around in Asian black vases.
To one side of the room by the entrance from which all the guests would be arriving sat a large oak table. Very large. Upon it were the two gifts she and Robin had already opened accompanied by three others.
On the opposite wall stood an identical table that she assumed would be for food.
Raven nodded. "This is amazing Jinx. You did a wonderful job."
Jinx beamed. "Thank you. There are still some last minute touches that will be pulled out but not until the actual morning and right before guests start to arrive."
"You can plan anything you want from now on. I'm so impressed."
Jinx blushed and seemed to stand a little straighter. "I'm glad you like it. Even though I know I'm not supposed to be happy about this whole thing, I had fun doing it."
Raven nodded while walking around the room a bit. She noticed a stage like platform where she guessed the band would be. Jinx informed her that the band was fairly new and when she gave them the list of music they were to play, she instructed them not to practice all that much. She wanted the screeches and the mess-ups. "It's a funeral engagement party." She had informed them. "I want nothing happy and if we're pleased with your performance, I can assure you that you're name will be given out to everyone with a high profile in this country." With that their eyes had lit up and they agreed right on the spot.
Raven took a hold of Jinx's arm and started leading her out. For a minute Jinx thought she had done something wrong. But the look on Raven's face said otherwise. She was clearly still in a good mood. Even a light smile graced her features. So Jinx just followed or rather let herself be lead.
After a few moments, Raven found her way out of the main house. the atmosphere had gotten exceptionally cooler as the evening progressed. Once across the field,
Raven still didn't bother to slow down. She just kept hold of Jinx and kept up her pace.
Jinx tried not to get nervous. But seeing the last time Raven got mad and what she was able to do to the entire Grounds without lifting a finger spooked her. And now they entered the wooded area surrounding the Grounds. She let a shiver pass through her.
Raven felt the uncertainty in Jinx. "I'm not mad so relax. We're almost there."
Jinx nodded though that really didn't make her feel better.
Soon they arrived in front of the stream and the 'fort' that Raven had fixed a while ago. The rocks sat peacefully as the sun fought its way through the tree's canopy. Streaks of light danced all around, in some places giving it the appearance a rainbow was shinning down on them. Others merely looked like a supernatural presence was floating around. The place truly looked enchanted.
Raven let go of her arm and crossed to the little river.
Jinx looked around. It took her a while to recognize the place. It had been years since she had been there. Not really all that long, but that long since this place had actually looked beautiful again. "Whoa. You fixed the hideout."
Raven looked over to the fort. She nodded.
Jinx waited for Raven to tell them what she had brought them out here for. A few minutes later she did.
"I thought we could start to work with your powers a little bit. Maybe just mess around till we figure out what exactly they are."
Jinx's face lit up some. "Really?"
Raven nodded giving her a small grin. "You did such a wonderful job on my funeral; I thought we could start now instead of wait any longer."
Jinx was almost giddy with excitement. "Ok. I'd love to try now."
Raven nodded. She lifted herself on to one of the larger rocks and faced her. "Now, from what I've gathered, you 'jinx' things when you're mad. Or upset. But you never know how it happens just that you know you did it. By a feeling you get? Explain that feeling."
Jinx sat on the ground a few feet in front of her and looked up to her. "Right before you arrived here Terra and I had gotten into another fight. A rather large one. we were screaming and getting carried away. She had raised a huge rock and was threatening to heave it at me. When she raised her hands back and the rock followed like she'd taken it over her head to get some momentum I held my hands up like I was going to block it. Though it was like three times as big as I was. I got this strange feeling that coursed through me. I heard myself repeating within my mind 'don't let it hit you. break it. Make it fall. Fall into little pieces.' It was like… something was boiling up inside me. And once I had pictured what I'd like the rock to do, that feeling coursed fast. Like when you're heart beats real fast and you can feel your blood start to pump in response. Then all the sudden when she had started bringing her arms down again to throw it, that power just shot from my hands and the rock exploded all around us. Fell into millions of small pieces. We both just kinda stood there and blinked for a minute. And then we walked away. I knew it had come from my hands. It was like I could feel something walk through me and it left through my hands."
Raven listened closely. She said in her mind what she wanted to do. She pictured it. And when she felt threatened she made it happen. That gave her an idea. She slid down from the rock and Jinx watched her. without telling her what she was doing, Raven consumed the large rock she had been sitting on with her energy and lifted it above her head like she would throw it too.
Jinx's eyes widened and she stammered to her feet too while taking a few steps back. Raven's eyes were glowing a soft white. There was no other sign of color but that while. The thoughts ran through Jinx like wild fire. 'White hot? Is she really mad? What'd I say? Can I break it again? Fall to pieces like rain.' And again she could feel it course through her. Faster and faster. When she saw the picture in her mind, it shot from her hands and the rock exploded again. It rained all around them.
When it had cleared she looked to see Raven holding her hands up under a black iridescent umbrella smiling. When she lowered her hands, the umbrella faded to nothing and she stepped closer to Jinx.
Jinx blinked. "Why'd you do that?"
"I wanted to see your reaction. I tuned into your thoughts to hear what happened. Then I felt what went through you. Right now it seems you can only do it in self defense. When you feel threatened you do what you think you need in order to clear you from danger."
Jinx thought about that. It made sense. It wasn't really when she was mad that she made things happen. When she felt she was in danger. In a path of destruction. Sometimes when she was mad things would happen too. But not like this. She smiled too. "Can I control it?"
Raven nodded. "You control it now, you just don't realize it. It's not driven off your feelings like you might be thinking. It's driven off your will. You have your mind set to stay safe so you make it happen. You thought I'd throw the rock at you so you made it explode. Same when you thought Terra was going to do it too."
Jinx's eyes widened. "Yea. But I don't get it. How do I do it without thinking I'm in danger?"
"I think it's a matter of concentration. Like I said, it's powered by your will. As long as you want something to happen bad enough, you can make it happen."
The thoughts overwhelmed her. There was so much she wanted to make happen. So many things. So many possibilities seemed to present themselves now. America was starting to hold more hope.
Raven narrowed her eyes with a frown. "I guess I should make this clearer to you. You're not telepathic. This isn't powered by your mind and you have no control over anything but that power that escapes you. Besides that, right now you're weak with it. Thirteen years its lain dormant within you, except for a few occurrences here and there, so you need to build it. But I repeat you're not telepathic. You cannot communicate or manipulate anyone's mind."
Jinx got the point. She couldn't make Robin realize that he still loved her. It wasn't that kind of power. Her mood sombered a bit. She nodded. "What is it that I have then? Or what is it that I… control?"
"You control nothing per se. I speculate this is more a form of magic than anything. It was born into you. you didn't acquire it or stumble upon it. It's engrained into your DNA; written on your soul. It's a part of you."
Jinx widened her eyes. "Do you mean to say I'm a witch?" She asked in disbelief. It sounded absolutely ridiculous. They only existed in fairy tales.
"I have ideas. Witch maybe not. Until I learn more and see what else you can do, I can't be sure."
So they tried to get this 'magic' of Jinx's to respond on command. Through a number of exercises they tried to call it out of her. The closest she was able to do is when she thought a large tree branch was falling and she looked up pointing at it and it snapped in two, sending a piece of it a few miles away. It was in fact just swaying in the wind.
When they had finished it seemed as though Jinx could only call upon this magic when she felt threatened. Her will wasn't strong enough to make it obey her commands. When they parted ways, Raven made her way back to her suite thinking of different ways she could get it to work with her. She couldn't make her feel threatened all the time. There had to be a way to make this happen.
Day 49
She looked at herself in the reflection of the full length mirror. Her hair fell straight just a little past the mid point at her neck. Her black dress very simple and plain. Even now she wore her black boots, refusing to wear any sign of dress shoes at all.
She could hear the guests entering a couple floors below her. she sighed and turned to the door. It was shut lightly as she made her way slowly to it. Quietly, making sure she wasn't making any sound whatsoever, she opened it and stepped out. She crossed the hall to the balcony over looking the ball room below. All along this side of the hall was an indoor balcony over looking the ball room. directly under her was the two story flight of stairs her and Robin would be descending from in a little over an hour.
And people were starting to pour in. she laughed inwardly at the bright colors a lot of them were wearing. She could imagine their gasps at the chosen decorations and the atmosphere presented by said decorations. The band was playing quietly some dark dreary music. As per Jinx's request to them, it sounded like they hadn't practiced at all.
Foot steps sounded behind her and she tensed. Raven knew Slade would be here. The thought that he'd already made his way up to find her sent her mind racing with a way to escape him.
"Kinda spooky, isn't it?"
Raven relaxed realizing it was Robin who had made his way to her side. He leaned on the edge looking over as well. She nodded. "I like it."
Robin smiled. "Me too. She did a good job."
Raven thought so too. The place looked amazing. It gave the off the knowledge that only money could put this kind of outfit together and yet it was simple. Nothing about it would let you know that this was an engagement party. It looked, maybe not like a funeral, but definitely not like a happy occasion. Maybe like a Halloween party where the guests were told the theme was elegant.
Robin pointed out various guests that made their way in the doors three floor below them. A whole lot of family members entered in groups. She could see when Star entered in holding the arm of a red haired man.
"No doubt their child will have red hair." Raven said lightly.
Robin chuckled. "I know. We all said the same thing when we met him."
And then Slade walked in with a rather scrawny looking woman on his arm. She was almost too thin. Her hair was a mousy shade of brown and she looked rather plain.
"She was really beautiful when we first met her. Very pleasant and a wonderful smile. Slade managed to change all that."
"Do they have kids?"
Robin nodded. "Three. Grant, Joey and Rose."
The thought surprised her. The girl looked so frail.
"They're here too. My guess is in the nursery with Benedict, Luann and Tanner. Along with my other nieces and nephews."
"They all have kids?" Raven asked somewhat put out by this thought.
"No. Matt and Caddy have two: Saijack and Spinner. Libby and Hal have four: Alika, Otto, Roscoe and Kade. Jay and Jiann have one, Tobie, and pregnant with their second. Kendra and Bill don't have any yet."
A sudden wave of dread swept through her.
Robin continued on. "None of them are like Slade. My other brothers are nothing like him. they're all really good guys. And the two my sisters married are good too. Kendra and I used to be really close. We're only a couple years apart after all. And for a while Jay was always with us too. But he got married when I was twelve. Then it was just me and Kendra. And then when she left… it was just me. Kendra came back a lot to visit with me after she got married. But soon, she was always tied up in family affairs. Then I was told I'd have to be married too. I don't know why I never saw that I'd have to be even after seeing all my siblings get married. My brothers didn't lead on that it was that big of a deal. But as close as Kendra and I were… I just don't know why I didn't see it." He stopped and gave a quiet, bitter laugh. "So on top of losing my favorite sister, my best friend, I had to lose Jinx too. I still kick myself for being so stupid and blind. I should have stopped getting close to her and saw this pattern of my siblings getting pushed out into marriage. But I was forcing myself to see that this wouldn't happen to me. Maybe they didn't already love someone so they had to get married. I was just being naive. Just stupid I guess."
Raven said nothing for a long time. She listened to him and watched everyone below them. She pictured all the kids. She pictured a young Robin watching every one he loved getting married. One person at a time being taken from his life. And a heart wrenching little boy crying as he watched Kendra leave him too. It was like a movie playing itself out in her mind. A horrible movie she wished she could just push the stop and eject button and it would all be over. Or a big fast forward to the time when they're all happy.
But this was real life. Not a movie. Not a story with a fairy tale ending. Not even a horror book where this would drag for a long time and then just end, either good or bad. It just went on, grudgingly slow. Every detail was etched in to them with a needle, making sure every second was felt. She couldn't close the book, ignore the reader or stop the movie. She had to live this life.
It was then that it dawned on her. she finally realized that they were in this together. He came from his own tragic story. His own childhood being torn apart. He lost everything he loved over time. Everything he thought he knew was torn from under him as it was her too.
She sighed and looked down to her feet. "I'm sorry."
Robin turned to her still leaning on the railing. A soft bland smile formed. "Don't be. I'm surviving. Eventually I'll make this right. Maybe some day when we get to where we're going, we can make a sort of 'underground railroad' for all the forced relationships in this country. Ya know? Rescue them all. Give them a choice and means of freedom."
Raven looked up to him. The corners of her mouth curved a little as she gave a slight nod.
He looked back over the side as he watched everyone start to form a neat semi-circle around the ball room dance floor and the stairs leading to it. his parents stood to one side. Hers to the other. It was almost time.
He pointed over the side. "Cy's by the band. BB'll be making rounds. Terra on the dance floor and Jinx patrolling the exits. They'll all be watching you and Slade at all times. just in case."
Raven spotted them all. "What about you?"
He gave a slight chuckle. "I'll be with you, obviously."
Raven smiled lightly. "Right. How could I forget?"
He felt the mood dampen and knew it wouldn't lighten again for a few hours yet. He looked around the room a few times. the table of presents was piled high, over flowing to the floor and surrounding chairs. In the opposite direction stood the table of food surrounding an enormous black cake. He grinned.
"I noticed this earlier when I came out here to watch them set up." He rounded behind her and moved her gently to the left with his hands on her shoulders. Then he pointed to the cake.
Raven looked at it. it was black and gray. It looked like it had been torn apart before clumped back together and then iced that way. There were two tiers to it, the poles holding it also black and blended in almost completely. "I don't see what I'm looking for."
Robin looked over her head and moved her a little more. "See it now?"
Raven narrowed her eyes and examined the cake. Then she smiled giving a quiet chuckle herself. It wasn't just clumped together in any particular way, if looked at in the right angle, the clumps were strategically placed. To form the shadow of a skull.
"Jinx is brilliant."
The band below them stopped.
Robin sighed. "Come on. Better to get this over with then put it off any longer."
x-x-x-x
The stairs were two stories high as previously stated. When they reached the second floor going up, they separated to the left and right. Presently Robin awaited Raven's appearance. He stood centered on the second story landing looking up the stairs to the left. His hands in his pockets causing his unbuttoned dress coat to open. He wore no tie, just a black shirt with the top button undone. It was his own style. The only dress up he ever did. for anything.
She appeared a moment later. Her dress fell almost completely to the floor. It was sleek and hugged her loosely. The straps were thin and neck line moderate.
Robin watched her bring her hands up and sweep her hair up into an extremely messy pony tail. There were bumps all through it and she missed quite a bit along the back and some on the sides as well. Two strands framed her face.
Robin couldn't help but smirk.
She lifted her dress a little and started her way down the steps. He watched her booted foot settle on the first before another came down on the next. He had to swallow a smile completely. Raven was rebelling any ways she could think of. it was classic.
She met him in the middle where they faced each other for a moment. She could see in his eyes that he was laughing. She gave him a ghostly smile in return.
Simultaneously they both faced the crowd. There were so many people there. Raven looked among the faces for familiar ones. She could spot their friends, his parents and hers (whom she gave no visible notice of), some of their relatives and those who were obviously his siblings.
Robin pulled his hands out of his pockets. He didn't really offer her one. they both seemed to be contemplating whether or not to take the others hand or if she should take his arm or what they should do. In the end, after Raven had spotted Slade's grin, she took Robin's hand in her own and made the first move down the stairs.
The crowd watched. They were stunned into silence. Both their faces looked hard and impassible. He looked royally ticked off while she looked testy and mean. But no one dared move or say anything. It was so quiet everyone could hear the tapping of their shoes on the marble floor echoing off the walls around them.
Talk of their wedding details and other such concerns centering the two of them had slipped through the lands and to ears of them all. Was it true all these rumors? Was she really as stubborn as they said? Was it true that she had changed the happy boy to someone dark and insolent?
As they looked, it would appear the answer to be yes. The room was dark and gloomy. Their friends all in stoic moods wearing dark apparel. Them both, in complete black.
At the bottom of the stairs they stopped and Raven released his hand with a scowl to them all. Her parents were to her right. His to his left.
Mr. and Mrs. Drake stepped up on the steps behind them, joined closely by Mr. and Mrs. Delpheki.
"We are extremely appreciative you could all join us on this quaint occasion." Mr. Drake paused while he eyed the room. "We are here to commemorate this joyous celebration of the union of my youngest son, Robin Drake and the beautiful, Raven Delpheki."
There were claps and forced smiles around them before it hushed again and they continued on.
Cy stood to a far end in the back of the crowd. He watched his two friends up there stand as still as a painting. And as vacant as well. They weren't listening to a word anyone said. He sighed inwardly. They deserved to be happy. It gave him a new renowned determination to make this plan of theirs work.
BB hid among the shadows near the side. He wanted nothing more than to find some loop hole in this whole deal, run to the front of everyone waving a paper high above his head shouting, 'stop.' Raven would be so thrilled she'd forgive him for being the animal and not telling her.
Terra also stood among them all. She centered herself in the midst of the crowd watching the front. She now wore her trademark tormenting grin. But this time it was for another reason. Not to make anyone's secret known, but to plant certain 'rumors' in their guests' minds. It was part of making this 'celebration' miserable and she planned to do a damn good job too.
And then there was Jinx. She wore a sour face. This should be my ball with him. My engagement party. They should all be looking and awing me. She doesn't even want to be there. Neither of them wants to be up there. He may want to be with her now. But that doesn't mean he wants to marry her.
And then the short speech was over. The Drakes came down to the side of Robin and the Delpheki's to the side of Raven.
She turned to see his parents talking to him and he being snappy and quiet. Then her parents started to say something to her. she looked straight out among the crowd.
"Oh, Raven. You look absolutely stunning. So grown up." Mrs. Delpheki cooed.
Raven gave her no response.
So she tried again. "I am so amazed how different you look. You've finally let your hair grow some. You're growing up so fast."
Again, nothing.
"Please, Raven." She finally pleaded. "Say something to me."
Raven gave a slight yawn and glanced back at Robin who was still talking to his parents. He had his arms crossed now with a contemptuous look. His father looked slightly put out. But she didn't listen enough to hear the conversation.
"Raven." Her father droned. "Speak to your mother."
It was that unspoken demand she was brought up to obey. So she opened her mouth to speak. But they would not like the words. Without looking at them, she spoke. "I do not need to obey your orders anymore, sir. I listen to one man, now. And you are not him. Good day, Mr. and Mrs. Delpheki." She put as much spite and hate in to you as she could. This wasn't hard since she was feeling particularly hateful right now. Raven reached for Robin's arm once more which broke the quiet argument he was enraging upon. His hand dropped to grab hers and he led her away from them.
Both sets of parents looked downright stunned. Mr. Delpheki looked appalled. His wife was sobbing. His parents looked flabbergasted as they strode off.
Again the crowd was silenced. No one had ever seen this before. Not in person anyways. Usually it was whatever he said, whatever he did, whatever he gestured she fell silent and jumped to. But this was like looking in a mirror. She defied a male, gave the slightest gesture to Robin and he stopped talking completely, turned his back to his parents and followed her wishes.
Wide eyes washed over them as they stood in the middle of the dance floor. He turned his back to everyone and faced her letting her hand fall from his.
For a moment there was silence. In the background Cy motioned to the band and they started a rickety version of a screeching waltz.
So they danced.
"No one's talking or moving." She said to him so only he could hear.
"I know."
"Why?"
Robin gave her a small smile. Small enough for her to see but not for anyone else. "Because I listened to your silent command."
Raven narrowed her eyes. "But I didn't tell you to do anything."
Robin gave her a minute to rethink the last few moments. And then it came to her. "Oh. Sorry."
Robin again smiled faintly. "Don't be. I'd do it again."
A while later the dance ended and Robin led Raven from the dance floor. Others were starting to dance and mingle now. And the couple was starting to be bombarded with guests.
Star rushed over to them first and threw her arms around Raven's neck in a somewhat gentler hug than the last one she had received from her. "Oh, Raven. You look absolutely stunning. I love what you have done to you hair as well."
She seemed to be looking at it in awe.
Raven looked at her strangely. She felt Robin chuckle beside her. "Uh, thanks, Star."
The red-haired man they had spied from the third floor up came rounding behind Star dragging his arm across her lower back. She turned to him with a shinning grin and then back to Raven. "This is my husband, Oliver. I believe I have mentioned him to you before." And she blushed slightly recalling what she had informed her friends of their personal lives during truth or dare. "This is Robin's fiancé, Raven."
Oliver held out his hand to shake her own. "It's a pleasure, Raven."
Raven did the same and gave him a kind smile accompanied by a nod. "You have quite the wife."
Again Star blushed. Oliver smiled a little wider. "Don't I know it."
They stayed and chatted for some time. A short time from their departure, Matt and Libby made their introductions with their spouses. Raven rather liked them. They seemed absolutely nothing like Slade in the least. Even their resemblance to him was minimal all though they were the other part of the triplets.
They both seemed very fond of their youngest brother and teased him a little like older siblings do. They all ended up sitting at a near by table and ate while they chatted and reminisced of old times at the Grounds. Raven was able to witness some retellings from when Robin was a young child. Much to his dislike, though he did laugh.
As the majority of the triplets left them, Robin's last brother made his way through the crowd guiding an obviously impregnated woman along with him. Jay introduced himself and his wife, Jiann. Raven remembered briefly that Jiann had willingly slept with Slade thinking it might get her out of marrying. Now though, she looked almost happy. And Jay seemed to really like her, if not love her. he held her close, kissed her softly from time to time and constantly rubbed her stomach. It was sweet.
As they also left them, Raven noticed they were the least closest in relationship with Robin. Robin and Jay seemed pretty distant from each other. Though they were fairly close in age.
From the side of her, Raven saw Robin get shoved a little and turned to see a somewhat tall woman standing there with a wide grin. Her hair was long and just as black as Robin's with the same eyes as his too. She guessed this to be Kendra. And she was right.
Robin turned right after Raven did and grinned from ear to ear while pulling his sister in for a hug. "Nice way to greet me when you haven't bothered to visit for months." He jeered.
Kendra laughed hugging him back before pulling back from him and looking at him. "You seem to grow a little more every time I see you."
"Well, that's only natural. I haven't quite figured out how to stop that yet."
She smiled and hit him playfully before turning to look at Raven. Her expression flickered a little looking at the young girl and her empty look.
Robin introduced them at once. And they shook hands almost silently. Robin raised a brow. He turned to Kendra with that look. "Whatever you've heard it's not true. She's not a bad person and she's not a bad influence."
Kendra didn't say anything. She only smiled.
Raven crossed her arms lightly. She wasn't quite sure why she got the impression that Kendra didn't like her, but it's not like the girl tried to hide it either. Nor did she deny it when Robin addressed the fact.
Robin frowned a little more. His favorite sibling and the one he was going to be with not getting along wasn't a good thing. actually it was an absolute nightmare for him. he sighed. "I mean it. I sent someone out filling everyone's heads with crap. I think it sort of fits the mood."
Kendra gave a scouring look around. "You used to like brighter colors." She stated in a somewhat monotone.
"This was my idea. I came up with the theme. Raven had nothing to do with it."
Raven saw Kendra's expression turn to a small surprise.
In his pocket Robin hit the coded call for Terra and she came swaying over bringing a few eyes with her as well. And she saw the seriousness of the conversation. Her normal smirk vanished. "What's wrong, guys?" She looked between the three of them.
"When I sent you out tonight, what were the instructions I gave you?" Robin asked her keeping her eyes locked with Kendra's.
Terra glanced between the two of them and then to Raven briefly before answering. "To patrol the dance floor while on my watch. While mingling spread some juicy gossip." For some reason she knew to answer honestly and not mess around here. There was a strange silence between the three of them and she got a bit uncomfortable.
"Has anything you said been true?" Robin continued.
Terra tried to remember whether things were supposed to be true or completely made up. And though she struggled to remember exactly her instructions, she couldn't remember them word for word. So she deemed the truth was best. "No. I thought they weren't supposed to be truthful." She answered in a small voice.
Robin nodded. "They weren't. Thanks."
Terra felt a bit lighter about it before giving them strange looks and turning. That was perhaps the weirdest conversation she had ever been involved in. Then she went back to her business and resumed her mission.
Kendra lightened up a little and turned her gaze on Raven who had crossed her arms and had a brow quirked. "Sorry. I hated the idea that you were… but I never believed a word that they said about him." She gestured to her brother.
Raven immediately wondered what it was Terra was saying. The thought entered Robin's mind as well and he looked out after Terra.
Eventually her husband, Bill, came and scooted her off.
Behind them a voice startled Raven and made her blood run cold.
"Little Brother."
Raven cringed. Robin growled slightly and turned with Raven. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close.
Raven examined the girl to his side. She was even frailer than she had looked before. Her eyes were tired and seemed to constantly be filled with fear. She was almost as pale as Raven except she looked emotionally dead to the world. But she gave Raven a kind smile. Albeit it was small, barely there, but a true smile.
Next to Raven, Robin was glaring daggers.
Slade had the same cool appearance about him as normal. "My wife wanted to be introduced to your fiancé." He said coolly as if it was a peace offering. His eyes fell upon Raven. "Raven, I'd like to introduce to you my wonderful wife, Bri."
Bri gave a slight nod and offered her hand. Raven took it. She was so weak and cold. Raven wondered if she really was near death.
Robin knew it was all a lie. It wasn't by Bri's request that they come and visit. It was Slade's excuse to make it clear that he still had his mind made up. Glancing to Raven, whom all eyes were on, he hoped she saw through this too. But she seemed too infixed with Bri to be paying attention to anyone else.
in a bold move, Raven looked up to Slade with hard, infuriated eyes. "Maybe later you will save me a dance, Slade."
Robin's eyes went wide.
Bri almost stopped breathing and looked to her with horror. Did she know what she was doing?
Even Slade's expression wavered. But only for a moment. "Absolutely. I'd be honored." And then they were off.
Robin looked to her with utter surprise. "What was that?"
Raven took his hand and guided him away from the many ears around them. "I want to get Bri away from Slade." She said flatly.
Robin looked at her. "Ok. We'll arrange it so she can come with us."
Raven shook her head. "No. Like in the next following months. She's in danger."
Robin looked at her strangely. "What do you mean? I don't think he's actually abusing her."
Raven shook her head. "No. She's not gonna make it a whole lot longer. She's so unbelievably weak and lacking life that it scares me."
"I don't understand." Robin began but before he could finish Raven intervened.
"Trust me, Tim. I know. I felt it. Can you help me get her away from him?"
Robin watched her for a very long time. It was the first time ever she had asked him for help. The first time she had ever asked him for anything. He gave her a small smile and a single nod. "We'll make it happen."
"The kids too." She added.
Again he nodded. "I promise. We'll get her and the kids far from him and safe."
She gave him a satisfied smile. "Thank you."
Almost as if there was a signal that the conversation had ended, Star came trotting up behind Raven. She leaned in close to her ear and said lowly in a calm soothing voice: "I know what you're planning. And I want in."
Raven's face became blank and turned to her at once.
Star stood before her just as model-like beauty seemed to glow around her like always. "Oliver and I want to join in this plan of yours. We would like to accompany you to your new destination and new lives, hopefully finding one to our liking as well."
Raven listened more to her tone than her words. She was serious and calm. She spoke quietly enough so no one else could hear her except the two she was addressing. Raven looked beyond her to her husband. He was standing a ways away listening to Libby talk animatedly about something. He looked over with the trace of a smile and there was an understanding that Star had told her of their plan. He gave her a slight nod which she took as they were serious. Then he turned back to Libby and Raven back to Star momentarily before turning to Robin.
Robin was just as astonished as she was. "How did you know about our plan, Star?" he asked in a business-like tone.
"It was something Raven had mentioned a few weeks ago during my last visit. I had not been paying a whole lot of attention until this night. Then it became apparent what it had been about. Do not fret though, my friends. Oliver and I can be trusted. Albeit our relationship is well and healthy, we dream of more. There is no blackmail in this request."
Robin and Raven exchanged looks and together nodded.
Star smiled appreciatively. "We thank you and will assist in any way. Just let us know."
Robin gave her a simpler nod before asking: "Does anyone else know of our plan?"
Star shook her head and her fiery red hair spread in a wild dance. "Not to my knowledge. I believe only those of us involved as well as my husband is aware."
"We need to keep it that way, Star. This is a delicate plan and if the wrong ears get a hold of it, it could all blow up in smoke."
"I understand completely. And I assure you that I am trustworthy, as is Oliver." She placed her right hand over her heart. "I solemnly swear."
With a last nod from Robin she hugged them both once more before turning and retreating. It left them both silent in the new revelation.
"We don't plan on any others joining us, correct?" Robin asked watching those on the dance floor.
"Are any others in a position where they need or want freedom?"
Robin considered all his siblings and their spouses. All of them, even Kendra, seemed happy enough. And the only friends he had bothered to make were either those at his boarding school or those already living on the Grounds and would be accompanying them as well. "No. I think we've covered everyone."
Raven nodded.
A short while later they were standing in front of the balcony door. Robin was involved in conversation with Jay, Jiann and Kendra. Raven made her way out on to the balcony where she looked over the grounds.
She inhaled deeply the fresh scent of the out doors. The grasses had just been cut this morning sending a wonderful spring like aroma to tickle her senses. The sun was set in the distance and the moon was high in the sky. There were millions of twinkling stars all around and she searched for the belt of Orion.
Raven leaned on the balcony rail and peered over the side. They were only on the third floor to the house. Below where she stood was a magnificent fountain. It glowed all around it like everything was littered with glitter including the water itself. Everything seemed to have that haze as if it was from the most delightful fairy tale.
And then it would come to an end.
A hand slid down her back. A chilling hand giving her goose bumps. She stood straight and turned on her heel to come face to face with Slade. He wore a wicked grin.
Raven took a few steps back as he took a few approaching her. Her gaze fell briefly to the door they had each in turn come out. They were shut and curtains drawn. Her eyes trained back on him. How did he manage to get out there without her knowing? How could she have missed the doors closing?
He continued to advance on her as she continued to back up. Her eyes darted around for anything she could use to assist her situation. Anyway she could escape. And her eyes landed on the surveillance camera. Without so much as a hint to what she was doing she used her telekinesis to shift it so it faced them perfectly. And her eyes landed once more on Slade.
She had backed up as far as she could go. Her back was to the railing behind her and his smile seemed to turn more sinister knowing he had her cornered. "Nowhere to run now, Raven. No one to help you out of this jam."
Raven's mind raced. There had to be someone realizing she was missing. They were all supposed to be watching her and Slade alike. Someone would surely note her disappearance.
He seemed to have read her mind because he answered her very thoughts. "No one will notice. I coaxed my dear little brother into a dance with his forbidden love. Terra is being occupied by Star. I had a simple discursion done up to take Cy from the place and BB left quite a while ago. It's just me and you now."
Raven wished with all her might that her hero would show up out of nowhere. He'd swing down on his grappling hook, sweep her in his arms and carry her off somewhere else. Alas, that dream also dwelled in America.
Instead he closed the remaining space between him. raven felt a monster grow in the pit of her stomach as she clenched her fists. But he seemed to see this and grabbed them both bringing them behind her back and enclosing them with one large hand. The other he dragged back around her hip and up to her breast where he gave her a squeeze. It wasn't hard enough to hurt her a lot but enough to make her uncomfortable.
The next thing she realized was something forcing its way between them. Her eyes widened as she looked to Slade. His gaze fell down as well and he dropped her hands as he saw the large tail end of a giant snake slither its way around him a second time. With seemingly little effort, Slade was pulled roughly with much force half way across the balcony.
The snake wrapped around him a few more times as the large furious face made its way up to meet his. The python hissed sticking its poisonous tongue threateningly close to Slade's face.
"Let. Me. Go." Slade hissed back.
The python seemed to have disappeared into the air as a giant green lion fell to the ground a few feet in front of Raven.
And then it all made sense. This green animal was BB. BB had come to her rescue.
The lion gave a quiet growl as he backed against Raven's legs sideways, keeping his large green eyes fixed upon Slade. He bared his teeth with a low roar.
Slade seemed almost unfazed by this. His expression turned hard and determined as he approached the two. "Get out of the way, BB." He stretched a hand out to move him.
BB snapped barely missing his fingers as Slade jerked them back.
"You almost bit me." He said stunned. "You'll regret that." He sneered afterwards.
"I'm afraid you'll be the one to regret this."
Slade turned to see Robin crouch low and kick his feet from under him. he landed with a thud. Robin backed up and looked down at him. "I told you to stay away from my fiancé, Slade. I mean it. Don't lay a hand on her."
Slade climbed to his feet and took on a fighting stance. "Remember, Robbie. I had the same training as you. You really think you can take me?"
Robin's face never changed. He stood completely unaffected by this. "Don't hold your breath, Slade. I'm no match for the likes of you."
Then the balcony doors swung open and the large dark skinned boy stood there with his arms crossed looking down harshly at Slade.
Raven recognized him immediately as Cy. But this Cy was missing his body armor. It was such a curiosity.
BB shifted back to himself but kept himself in front of Raven blocking anyone's path to her.
"Am I interrupting something?" Cy's voice boomed.
Again Raven was taken aback by what was happening. Cy's voice seemed to change from that of the fun loving teenage boy to that of a big brother all pissed off. And now that she thought of it, all three boys were different. Robin's face was impassible. Almost daring anyone to try and cross him. And BB didn't so much as seem like that wimpy tofu eating scrawny raccoon anymore. Now he looked stone cold and mad beyond reason. Like he had something to defend and hell-be-it if something would stop him.
Slade seemed to look between them all weighing his options. Seconds later he was risen into the air on a large chunk of the stone floor beneath him and sent flying into the grounds. Terra emerged from the doorway right behind Cy with her hands held out in front of her and her eyes glowing bright yellow. Again Raven noticed her change in demeanor. Not anywhere near troublesome. Not a manipulative teenager anymore standing before her. Now she was just as determined not to be crossed as the others who stood defending Raven as well.
Before Terra dropped her hands, the hole in the stone floor seemed to close itself and sealed perfectly blending in with the rest. Her hands went to rest by her sides and the glow from her eyes faded.
All eyes fell on Raven. She just stood there still trying to take it all in.
"You ok?" BB asked taking a step back from her.
Raven looked to him with a still shocked expression. They worked so well like a team. BB guarding the gold. Robin the rival match. Cy's presence taking the villain's attention so Terra could do away with him. a well oiled machine working with each other's strengths and for each other's weaknesses to attain the common goal: Raven's safety.
"I'm fine now. Thank you." She offered him a small smile. One enough to let him know she was done holding her grudge against him.
BB smiled a little and backed away.
Raven looked at them all. They all held warm smiles to her. "How'd you know? Slade said he had you all sidetracked."
"He saw me leave." BB started. "I only left to change into an insect to stay closer to you. When you went out on the balcony I was sitting on the wall listening to Jay tease Robin about old times. I must have gotten caught up in it because next thing I knew you were gone and the balcony door was shut."
Raven smiled. "I'm suddenly very pleased that you spy on me." Her gaze shifted from the blushing green boy to Robin. "How'd the rest of you figure it out?"
"I told them." Bri came walking around the corner. Her voice seemed strained and just as weak as she was physically. "I saw the look he gave you when he introduced us. So I watched him. When he went after you on the balcony I went to find Robin."
"I called the others in search of you. When I called BB and he didn't answer I knew he was in animal form and couldn't talk. Which could mean a number of possibilities except I knew when he didn't change back to answer he was staying that way for a reason. So I continued on the way while I sent Bri to find Terra and Jinx while I called Cy down too."
"I can't talk when I'm in animal form." BB informed her. "It's the one thing I would change if I could."
"When you turned into that python, were you really poisonous?" Raven asked curiously.
BB nodded. "Yea. I take on all traits of the animals I become. Right down to the poison in their teeth."
Raven was somewhat amazed. Then her curiosity went to Cy. "I didn't know you could take that off." She eyed where his armor would be.
Cy's smile turned into a miserable grin. He held up both his hands showing her the rings he wore on both middle fingers. "It's a hologram. I am really part robot. It's not removable."
Raven gave him a sympathetic look of apology before glancing to Terra. Terra grinned madly. "I've been dying to send him flying since… I met him. He's lucky I didn't crush him completely."
While she talked Raven made another note that it was the first time her voice had portrayed malice.
"You're like some small unorthodox army."
They all chuckled lightly.
"Thanks."
Bri nodded once before taking a step back. "I need to get back to where I was before he gets back inside."
Her voice was still small and weak as she turned giving them a tormented smile and vanished back in the crowds. She walked slowly, like she'd lose strength all together if she didn't take her time.
Raven's heart went out to her. she could very well have just risked her life to help her.
Robin started to fume again. "This has got to end. But no one's going to believe that's what he does to all the females. No matter what, it's his word against theirs."
Raven gave a small twisted smile. "His word against the camera's."
The eyes on her narrowed in question.
Raven glanced up to the surveillance camera that was still pointed directly at her. All their eyes followed. "I moved it when I saw the doors were shut. So we caught it all on tape."
"Genius." Terra beamed.
x-x-x-x
Mrs. Drake apologized continuously in tears. "I had no idea. Raven, I'm so sorry. I could have prevented this. What kind of mother am I?"
"This is outrageous." Mr. Drake stormed as he paced in the security office before turning to his wife. "You're a wonderful mother, Nora. Our son has been poisoned. I am deeply sorry, Raven. I had no idea he was capable of being so cold hearted. So cruel. Where he learned to womanize…"
Raven sat amongst the others who had been out on the balcony minus Bri who was purposely left out of the story. Raven nodded.
Mrs. Drake continued to sob in her hands before standing and heading from the room. Mr. Drake frowned after her. "I knew she'd blame this on herself. She put all she had in to raising you kids. And then Daniel has to turn around and… when I get my hands on him…" He kept trailing off.
x-x-x-x-x
A while later, Raven found herself sitting at the fountain with the others. Slade had been sent away, ordered to stay off the Drake Grounds until further notice. Bri sauntered along behind him with their youngest child sleeping in her arms and the other two trailing along behind her. Slade gave them all a pointed look. It was obvious he wasn't done with this yet.
Raven sighed looking to her lap. She was overly thankful for her friends tonight. And tonight she understood they were in fact her friends too.
-LC