Yay! Chapter 8!

So...this chapter just introduces a certain maniuplating womanizer...oO

For the past week or so, Raven had been trouble sleeping at night. The memories of the blades slicing her pale skin was all too fresh in her mind, and Azar's black and white shot, the one taken before she went officially missing, that had been almost a month ago now, haunted her and her dreams.

And so she'd slipped into a small, dark room in the recreational area of the building, which few people knew about, frequently. She would sit there, herbal tea in hand, and just think.

Sometimes, as Azar had instructed her, she would mediate to soothe her mind. She had been so used to the darkness, that a sudden entrance of light, an umbra of a person in the center, nearly caused her to faint. Even though she had barely been grasping her mug, it shattered and the pieces scattered across the floor. Raven would later assume she had dropped it in all the commotion.

Someone had opened the door and discovered her.

"Many apologies, Miss," A harmonious, British voice called, weaving its way through Raven's body and soul. The voice was familiar to her, like a beautiful silk thread, it could never be forgotten.

She choked on her words and bent over to gather up the shards.

The voice's owner approached Raven without caution, gently picking up some of the sharper or larger pieces. She mumbled something about it not being necessary, but the murmur was hushed.

"A lady should not strain herself with such a task," The voice sang, brushing against Raven's hand as she reached for a shard. The blood rushed to Raven's cheeks, resulting in her face turning several shades of magenta. "And to whom do I have this pleasure?"

"Raven," She'd managed to stutter out, once again bringing a lock of her hair behind her ear.

"A lovely name for a lovely lady."

Raven blushed harder.

The figure bowed. Raven now got a second chance to look at him as the light hit his face. It was the boy from so long ago, pale-haired and blue-eyed. "I am Malchior."

"That is…a unique name," Raven finally said.

"As is Raven," He replied mysteriously. Raven left it at that.

"Tell me Raven, why do you sit here alone in the dark? Surely such a beautiful girl as yourself should be safely tucked into bed, sleeping soundly."

Beautiful? No one ever called her beautiful before. This boy certainly knew a way to a girl's heart.

"I…couldn't sleep," She said, hugging her arms to her body.

"I see. Well, for your best interests, I think it would be wise for you to get some sleep."

Raven nodded and quickly brushed past him, their shoulders touching for one brief instant.

Raven flushed again and quickened her pace.

"Goodnight, Raven. Perhaps I shall see you another time," He called from behind her.

The next morning, Raven awoke feeling more refreshed then she had in a long time. She showered at her usual time, meditated for a while, and then had waited for her friend and roommate to arouse from sleep.

Karen slept in that morning; she had been up all night studying. Eventually, Raven left a note for her friend on her nightstand and slipped out the door to the lunchroom. It meant she'd be eating breakfast alone, if she ate at all, but she did not mind.

The moment she slid her tray onto the plastic-coated table, she sensed a presence behind her.

"Raven? Is this seat taken?" A pale hand gestured to an empty seat across from the dark-haired girl.

"Yes," She replied bitterly. "The figment of my imagination that replaces all wanting of friendship is currently residing there." Raven regretted the moment the words left her lips.

But he did not back off, as most would have by now. "Touchy subject, I presume."

Raven murmured thanks in her head that he did not leave.

The minute he was seated across from her, half of the student body's eyes were on the two. They all knew of the boy's games, and after returning recently from a month of reasons unknown, this much was clear: He was not to be taken lightly.

But of course, Raven was the new kid, and knew nothing of this boy's treacherous past.

She could feel all eyes boring into her back, and the looks she received. She assumed, of course, that she had done something wrong, or a new line of gossip surrounding her had come into play. But something was not right about one of the stares. She turned slowly to see a very angry looking Gar. His table mates looked almost equally angry, excluding one girl who looked confused amongst all of it, but he was by far the worst.

As Raven followed his gaze a little farther, she noticed he was not staring at her, but at Malchior, who was currently ignoring all looks aimed towards him.

Thoughts rushed to Raven's head by impulse. Was…Gar jealous?

Almost minutes later, Karen settled herself next to Raven, not noticing Malchior.

"Hey Raven. At first, I was a little worried, but then I saw your…note…" Karen trailed off as she eyed Malchior at their table. Her mouth was open and her eyes were slightly squinting, as if trying to figure out what the hell this guy was doing with Raven. She knew all to well of this boy's history.

Leaning over Raven so no one else would be able to hear, Karen cupped her hands around her ear and whispered, "Raven, Hun. We need to talk. Now."

Raven looked at her in awe, wondering what could be the cause of the stress in her friend's voice. But Karen never got her chance. The minute the words left her lips, a bell sounded. Breakfast was over, and the school day had begun.

As soon as Raven's foot entered the dorm room proximity, she was greeted by unfriendly stares and grunts. Wally, Karen, and Jen shared a look of worry and anger.

"Raven…where were you?" Karen gritted through her teeth, though looking somewhat relieved.

"What…what do you mean?" A momentary loss of memory swept Raven's mind. She searched it, hoping to find the correct answer.

"Oh, I don't know. Lunch…a certain class you didn't attend?" Jen spat, tapping her fingers against her arms.

Oh, shit.

"I…I ate with Malchior today. He asked me if I would like to join him for lunch, and it just kind of made me forget…"

Karen breathed hard, as though trying to forget Raven's last comment. "That is somewhat understandable. What I don't understand, is why you bailed on class. You know how important it is!"

"And, you left me hanging with Diane-the-wonder-girl," Jen added.

Wally hung back, waiting for his moment to strike.

Raven was at a loss for words.

Karen's face finally softened. Seeing the action, Jen cocked her head at her.

"Raven…there is something you need to know about Malchior…"

"YO, Raven!" The loud, angry voice of Vic blared through the door, disrupting Karen from explaining it. Behind him stood an even angrier Gar, even angrier then before, an-angry-but-not-so-much Rich, a worried Kori, and an annoyed Terra.

"We need to talk about your little boyfriend."

Jen snorted and admired her nails, where Wally's eyes narrowed as he resumed position next to Jen. Karen stiffened.

"Thank you, Sparky," She hissed, extending the word 'Sparky'. "I was just getting to that. Though, I'm not sure why you would care."

"Why we would care? Raven is our friend and we care very much for her!" Kori shouted from behind Vic, raising an arm and pointed finger.

"Really," Wally finally commented, spitting on the word. "Not from where we stand."

Rich peered over Vic's shoulder to see his friend, normally a very hyperactive and spunky boy, frowning reasonably at the group. "Wally?" He whispered, shocked at the remark.

The red-haired boy turned his head away and looked to the ground.

The two groups of friends-who-were lashed out at each other and resulted in a full-blown fight. Raven, in the middle of it, was cowering in the corner, near to tears. That was when the passing eyes of Malchior landed on her. The fight had moved into the room and no one noticed Raven slip out, despite the fact that their argument centered on her.

"My dearest Raven, what ever was that about?" He asked as they strolled down the hallway. He had only known her for less then twenty-four hours, but had already burrowed his way into Raven's heart. She could not resist him.

"I'm…not sure," She lied.

"Come now, don't lie to me," He soothed, reaching for her hand.

She melted with the gesture. "They say there is something I do not know about you, something that I should know."

For a fraction of a second, a near evil grin rested upon his features. But then she blinked, and he was staring, wearing a look of astonishment.

"I cannot see why. Is being your friend a crime?" He asked innocently.

Raven did not reply. "Perhaps they are jealous. These are the friends, who replaced you with the blond girl, are they not?"

Again, came no answer. "And now that you have something nice in your life, instead of trauma, they do not wish for you to have it?"

"But…Karen…Jen…Wally…they were my friends. They did not leave me…"

"Right now they haven't. Were they also not trying to tell you something unfortunate about me?"

"Well…"

They had reached the other side of the building; the boys section. As they came to a plain-looking door, they parted.

Malchior let go of Raven's hand, but not before giving it a slight kiss. "Until next time, my dear Raven."

"Until next time…" She whispered back as the door closed.

Oh, he's smooth. Not much else to say...but don't forget to review!