Disclaimer: You know the drill
A/N: I'm sorry my precious reviews that this chapter took forever, I'm out of the hotel and I couldn't get connected for … how long exactly had it been? I'm so sorry!
But I know sorry's just ain't gonna do it for you people so here's the twentieth (CHEERS I made it to the twentieth chapter!) for you guys to read.
ENJOY!
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I Saw This Once
Out of the limo Raven's blue slipper stepped to the ground gracefully, with the toe portion curled up in a very Indian fashion the golden charms and anklets jingled and jangled on her right ankle. Her long flowing ruffled Gypsy styled dark purple violet skirt complimented her grace as she reached out a hand for the vale to take and help her out of the car. The golden coined belt that hung down her left hip jingled along with her anklets as well as the golden cuffs on her wrists with the dangling noisy coins.
The cuffs helping to puff out her long bell sleeved white blouse that was generous enough to stop just below her chest to show off a generous amount of skin. Then to finish her outfit was the dark blue midnight cape that clipped at her chest with an emblem of a black raven in the red gem. A hood going up over her head to cover over the upper portion of her face with her eyes … but her eyes had help, complements to the black mask.
Her violet eyes shone under the moonlit hour and the bright festive lights that lit the grounds that hosted the grand masquerade ball. Raven gave it all a critical one over and sneered, Seen better … she thought with a snobbish air about her as she walked up the steps that lead into the ballroom. Lifting the front half of her skirt, she was just about to reach the top when her name was called, "Arnelle? Arnelle Roth … would that be you dearest daughter? I don't remember inviting you to my party."
A shiver went down her spine when his voice slithered into her ear and settled, turning back and dropping the front of her skirt she was surprised at the stillness of her voice when she addressed him in return. "Ah, Trigon Mark Scathe … hmm … I knew I smelled suspicion, and about the invite? Well, let's just say I let myself in, daddy, but enough about me. How's the weather?"
Sarcasm with out a second thought to the man that could have Malchior or even Rorek killed in an instant? Where did that come from? Angel … she thought with an irritated inward scowl, Unbelievable that he isn't even here and he still finds ways to torment me! Insufferable!
The suite-wearing businessman dressed himself in just that and an old Victorian cape draped over his shoulders. A blood-red mask covered over his eyes … simple … but effective enough to send another shiver down Raven's head spin when he loomed over her. His eyes boring into her soul and claiming what he could find to claim of her through fear. She showed none, and she'd never give him anything.
He smiled … but it was a false smile …
It wasn't a real smile that said: "Have a good evening."
It was the smile that promised: "You've crossed me for the last time … watch your back, cause I'll be chewing on it."
The Stony Ice-Queen hidden behind the Sorceress-Mask and Hood, held the Demon's glare. From whom she had learned to be heartless, Raven couldn't help to notice the irony of it all as he nodded his head and continued into the ballroom. Raven sneered and bowed her head to allow for the hood to cover over her face. Following into the ballroom and looking around to all the hidden characters, masked faces, and laughing frauds … the young businesswoman gulped.
Suddenly finding herself to be very small … very insignificant and nothing … she fell back a step – she didn't belong … she couldn't do it. There were too many people and Trigon had recognized her even with her back to him! Who's to say that someone would find out who she was … someone important that could blow her cover wide open!
Too dangerous … I have to – she turned her back, but jerked to a stop, her cape flowing around her as she bumped into one of the guests. The man stumbled and held her shoulders to steady her, "Hey! What's the rush?"
Raven never dared to look up or even wonder faintly why was it his mask had a distorter built into the thing. Instead she pushed passed him to run down the stairs, her hood flying back to reveal her violet silky hair. The man she ran into had protested her sudden leave and rudeness, but she didn't listen to him, she just kept running down the stairs and around to the Maze Hedges.
With only one thing in mind …
Dangerous … too dangerous …Into the Maze she ran and didn't stop, until an arm shot out to hook around her waist and pull her to the side with her back against the hedges, frightened she looked up into ice-blue eyes that glared at her disappointedly, "I knew you'd chicken out."
The first thought: Rorek, but hearing that one line it switched to Ronan and when Raven looked him up and down she had realized he was a bit taller then Rorek. Older, and more cheeky with just the narrowed shape of his eyes, Raven bit down on her lip and pushed him off. "Chicken my ass! I can't go in there! If I do I'll be –"
"You're being fucking paranoid Sin!" Ronan shouted uncharacteristically serious, startling her to back into the hedges, "Jesus Christ! Ever since that damn Angel kid came into your life you've been out of focus! FOCUS NOW! We need you to stay on top of your game, if you fall we all do!"
Raven shook her head vigorously, "Ronan! Shut up okay! Just shut up! I'm trying my hardest to stay on task, but it's not Angel that's throwing me off, never was! It's … it's … GOD! It's complicated all right! But I promise you it's not Angel! If anything … he – oh forget it, I'm going back in."
With a flip over her cape she turned the corner and headed back to the estate, but Ronan grabbed her arm and pulled her back to face him. His ice-blue eyes appeared to be glowing in the darkness that surrounded them, no enhanced lights … just his wise-old eyes, "I'm just looking out for you … every Nightrider is … even the ones that want your throne, hell even Control Freak, he never says a word about your identity every time he gets caught. You earned that respect and you earned yourself a good long lifetime of bragging rights … I just hate to see you loose it because of some … some kid."
"Ronan …" Raven sighed and slipped from his loosened grasp, "… Ronan … I promise I'll get things straight … but like I said, Angel isn't my full problem."
Ronan shot her a dry look, Raven sighed again … "Okay … so maybe he's a bit of the problem."
The elder brother of Rorek still fixed her with a: "Yeah right look."
"…" Raven huffed, "He's most of the problem then, but he isn't all of it!"
Ronan rolled his eyes, "Yeah … and I'll believe that when this is all over with."
Raven growled, "Ugh! I wasted enough time here! Leave me alone! I have to go back in there and find out what's going on between Slade and Trigon."
"I won't keep you," Ronan chuckled when Raven glared at him, he waved a good-bye and walked deeper into the maze, "see ya when you get home Rae-Rae!"
God that guy can change personalities with a drop of a penny, Raven thought with a shake of her head and a smoothing back of her mused violet hair, lucky she had a hood, other wise she'd look kind of suspicious coming out of the hedges. Taking a breather and holding her own Raven closed her eyes and reopened them to show a calm collective stoic girl. Stepping out of the maze and back into the ballroom, hood up and head cleared – well enough so she didn't flip out when she saw the crowd.
Into the room she walked and gracefully glided across the floor looking around to try and spot the reasons she dragged herself so close to many breakdowns within the past week.
However fortunate or unfortunate enough for her, the "reason" had found her. By mere happenstance glance to her left for some unknown reason, Raven did a double take in order to make sure what she saw was for real … and in deed, it was. There, standing suspiciously at the corner of the ballroom in the dark, Trigon and Slade stood talking … and another third party dressed in an odd garment and topped with a skull-mask. Raven scoffed, Halloween came early, wonder if that's Robin … no … it can't be, Slade wouldn't be stupid enough to have Robin stand around next to him while discussing privet matters with Trigon … or would he? Knowing Slade … I think he would … but Robin wouldn't even be here with Slade unless his mother was here.
To confirm what she was thinking she looked around for Robin's mother and smirked when she found the woman among the other rich wives, laughing and playfully slapping another young man's shoulder. About Robin's height with his hair, Raven raised a brow and looked back at the young man with Slade taking a closer look at his height she sneered, Knew it wasn't Robin … Robin's shorter, the one Miss Richards' with is him … god damned masks, can't tell who's who for your life!
They were moving, Raven pushed herself through the crowd towards the trio that slipped behind a current that hid a hallway she knew led deeper into the building. Away from partygoers and prying eyes (or more likely her spying eyes since Trigon knew Arelle was around). The masked fellow glanced back to make sure no one else was following and as if fate would have it Raven bumped into another guest.
Forcing her to apologize her hood came down for the second time that night and the man turned away, disappearing behind the curtain. Raven apologized once, twice, and thrice in order to calm the guest down. Even bowing low while picking up the front of her skirt and marching towards the curtain feeling like an idiot. Pulling her hood back up with a huff she made it and carefully pulled the curtain aside to see if there were anyone guarding the hall.
No one but the beautiful art pictures hung up on the walls.
Footsteps down the hall; Raven squinted her eyes and smirked when she saw the shadow of her father turn a corner. Holding her skirt she ran down the hall as quietly as she could with the jingling jewels around her person, it was an impressive feat that she hadn't have called attention. Sliding up against the wall and peeking around the corner to catch her father's cape – or was it the skull-masked man's cape – fluttering around another corner.
Eyes narrowed she chanced it and decided to follow, even if it was the skull-head he'd know where Trigon and Slade are and what they're up to. Again staying as quiet as she could she followed and watched as he entered a large doubled powerful and polished oak wood doors. Closing it behind him she walked up to it and pressed her ear to the wood, cursing, Shit! It's too thick! Should have known Trigon would do something like this … maybe … holding her breath and grabbing onto the golden handle.
Raven gulped and gently pushed it down listening closely for a click and quickly cracking it open she released the handle and peeked through the small crack to see her father and Slade. The third party somewhere off to the side of the large office room Raven recognized to be Trigon's back up space. Raven moved a clutch of her hair behind her ear so she could hear everything clearly.
" … I guess if Slade says you're a good-boy then I'll … trust you," Raven snorted inwardly at the word "trust" coming from her father's mouth. It was actually given a new meaning in Raven's point of view … and it spiked her curiosity even further when she realized he was addressing the guy in the skull-mask.
"Whatever floats your boat big-guy, I'm just here for the ride, nice party by the way," said the skull-head in his distorter, Raven ignored the irritating tone and scoffed.
Arrogantly cocky son of a cheeky chickadee, Raven scowled and rolled her eyes, Go figure he's with these two, no one in their right mines would ever think to pair with Trigon or Slade … stupid ass.
Raven watched her father's face contort up to one with skepticism and boredom, obviously showing that he'd dealt with idiots the same as the Skull-head. Slade side glanced the young man, "Yes … but I assure you that he can be completely trusted to keep his mouth shut. He'll be taking over my company in the future to come, so I thought it best if he watched how the big-boys play. I guess you can say … I consider him somewhat my little … apprentice."
A shiver shot down Raven's spine when she heard the way Slade had said apprentice. It was just as bad as her father's way of speaking … but Slade's had a sick twisted feel to it. The young man he had been talking about seemed to cringe as the snake slithered into his ear and sent a cold unforgiving chill through his body.
Though Raven ignored him, he wasn't important.
Trigon nodded, a sarcastic smirk upon his face, "How precious … besides all the formalities … what are you proposing Slade?"
Slade gave a smug smirk of his own, "Well, if I help you chase the little riffraff's out of the boulevard and help you get rid of Arnell … I want 50 of her profit."
Raven raised a brow at knowing they were pricing her.
"10," Trigon argued with a frown.
Slade retorted, "25."
"30, and that's being generous of me."
"… 35." Slade pushed, but this point Raven was so tempted to jump out and shout her own opinion because they were talking about her as if she was already dead!
Trigon held out his hand to shake, "Deal."
Slade sighed dejectedly, but bounced back, and shook the demon's hand, "Fine … but in the case of the GT I'm sure you have no problem with sharing all it's little secrets with me … now are you?"
"Of course not," Trigon chuckled, "with the way Sin runs around in it like it's some kind of toy is just wrong. So I guess it's only far that I share the secrets within with someone."
"Good, so glad we came to a deal." Slade pulled his hand away and looked to the silent young man next to him "let him be a witness to our deal. Either of us go against one another then let the consequences commence."
Trigon nodded, "Very well, fair enough. Now let us return to the party, and I can introduce you to our misfortunate young lady … that is if she's returned from growing a backbone."
Raven scowled, Bastard, gritting her teeth and clenching her fists trying so hard to hold her rage down as she pulled away from the door and ran down the hall to hide around the corner. Waiting and listening to their footsteps disappearing towards the party, she peeked around the corner and watched them turn the far corridor, finally leaving her in the hall all to herself. Smirking she ran back to the room, she wasn't through with him yet, she was going to figure out any and all of the things she could about Trigon's plans.
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Through the curtains Trigon allowed for Slade and the skull-head to go through first. Without issue they walked and separated at once, Trigon into the party and Slade towards the exit. Down the stairs and snapping his fingers to the vale to get his car, Slade turned to "Robin" and smirked, "I hope you learned something there Robin, I really am sincere when I say I want you to take over Logan Industries. I really think you're fit for it."
"Robin" scowled and looked off to the side watching Slade's limo pull up and the vale opening the door for him waiting for him to enter. Though he stood there waiting for "Robin's" response, what he got was a snort, "Look, I could really careless what the hell happens to your stupid company. I don't want it … but just for the sake of my mother … I'll talk about it with her …"
Slade nodded and patted him mockingly on top of his head, "Trigon was right, you are a good boy."
Fucking retard … touch me again and I'll … chill Angel! Holding his temper Angel sneered snorted and watched Slade pull out of the driveway, making sure he was gone; Angel turned back and ran up the stairs. Making sure to keep from Trigon's ever knowing, ever watchful eyes he moved through the crowd back to the curtains. They know Sin, and I bet her files in that damned computer! Plus, they're planning to kill Arnell … Raven … over my dead body will that ever happen.
Reaching the curtains and throwing them open he ran down the hall towards the office room he was once in. Rounding the corner, then the next he reached the doors and pushed it open. Slamming it shut, praying he hadn't made such a ruckus he turned towards the desk where the computer was and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw it was turned on …
Eyes narrowed in suspicion he looked around wearily, That computer wasn't on when I was here … someone's in the room …
Carefully he tiptoed through the room preparing for any kind of attack, even going over to the fireless fireplace and taking out a poker. Holding it tight, and glaring around the silent room he stalked quietly towards the desk.
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Raven hid herself under the large expensive (what wasn't expensive in the room?) though she knew it wasn't exactly the best of places to hide and possibly her stupidest idea yet. She cursed herself over and over and over again when she remembered she hadn't have turned off the computer. Whoever had rushed the room was sure to notice! Sliding her skirt up passed her thigh to show a holster with a gun strapped, she made a grab for it, but stopped.
She didn't have a silencer!
Again cursing herself for being so stupid she pushed her skirt back down and reached around the desk to her father's lower drawer, knowing that he kept one of his favorite daggers under the neatly filed papers. She pulled it out and carefully closed the drawer back up; unclipping the blade from its silver sheath she paused that it actually had two blades. One smaller then the other, though both connected to the same handle.
Raven ignored it, thinking it would come in handy.
She kept her breath steady and waited for the right time to strike.
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OH-NO! Angel look out! Raven he's coming! Think they'll realize who's who before they kill each other? But then again … through out this whole story, it just seems like these two can hardly get along with out one of them (Raven more likely) trying to kill the other. (Shrugs) We'll see in the next chapter – I'll try as hard as I can to get it in as fast as possible, but no promises.
My stupid house STILL has no connection.
(Drowns in tears, comes back to life for the sake of her reviews)
Yeah … heh … sorry about that … well, um, yeah, so please be patient with me. The Internet likes to reject me.
L8er daez