500 Miles Hellfire 2
By Princess Alexandria
Raven only had the one bag as she stood on the sidewalk in Vegas, waiting for Heather. She was a little surprised that her flight was a little early. With all the flights Raven had taken that had only happened twice.
A car pulled up and once again Raven looked inside it, this time to actually see her friend looking at her. Heather had a serious look on her face as she opened the door and stepped out. "Raven, is that all your luggage?" It sounded doubtful.
"Yeah." Raven picked it up and moved to the car. "Thanks for coming."
"Things haven't been very calm around here lately." Heather said and it hinted to a lot more story. Raven opened the passenger side door and tossed her bag in before getting in herself. "There was a murder at my club and the detectives have been asking a lot of questions." Heather spoke as she started to drive.
"Is Rachel okay?" Raven asked quickly.
"Yes," Heather gave Raven a small smile, before it faded. "It was one of my newer employees. She offered to switch for the wrong man. The detectives feel they have enough to prosecute him, but things are a little tense at work now and there is a chance that the detectives will be back and may ask about you if you are there." Heather glanced at Raven. "Do you still want to come to my place or should I drop you off with Drahke or Lois?"
Raven hadn't considered staying with the other women. It was Heather she needed right now. "No, I should be fine." Emma had told her that Selene had been quiet a long time and probably got herself into trouble. That was the only monster still out there with enough power to be a problem, and if Raven wasn't using a real name and could change her fingerprints she should be fine. "Um, Heather." Raven felt a bit awkward and didn't want to go into details more than once, but, "I mutated a bit more. I became a shapeshifter and I can't scream or even talk loudly without creating a portal to other worlds."
"Really? I'm sure that has a story behind it." Heather wasn't even a mutant and she took it so calmly. "Oh, don't worry. I'll let you sleep tonight. We can talk tomorrow."
"Are you okay?" Raven asked, not able to see a hint that what was happening at Heather's club bothered her, but knowing it did. Heather cared a lot about her people and her friends. Other people might not see it, but to Raven Heather seemed a little off.
Heather's smile was brief. "I'm fine. Thank you." Raven could feel the power and confidence that Heather exuded as if it were a living thing. "And you aren't. There are too many shadows in your eyes Raven. Why did you come here now?"
"I need you." Raven sighed heavily and turned to look out the side window as Heather drove. "A lot has happened and you said you could help me get in touch with my inner Mistress and I think I really need her. My life is my own now, and I don't know what to do with it or how to do it anymore." Heather just nodded, as if she expected that answer and Raven felt her sense of hope that she'd learn to make sense of her life increase just knowing that Heather would help her.
…………………….
Mornings were a little later in Heather's home. The late nights were a normal thing and with how little sleep Raven had the night before at Emma's she had no trouble sleeping even later than Heather. Her sleep was troubled, but Raven was a little better off than the night before.
In pajamas just for the comfort of them, Raven walked toward the noise in the kitchen. Heather was standing at the stove and Raven could smell breakfast in the air. "Good morning." Heather smiled a little at her. "Breakfast will be ready in just a few."
"Thank you." Raven nibbled on her bottom lip a moment. "I shipped more paintings to you before I left there."
"You've got more than enough for a showing now Raven. If you don't have to run anymore, perhaps you should consider it."
"Yeah maybe." Raven sighed and moved to sit at the table, not really considering a show just yet. She was going to do one when she felt a little more secure, but not now. Even without a big name some of her work would sell, and Raven might need the money. "How's Zoe?" It worked in making Heather smile.
"She's started college. I miss having her around, but she's doing very well."
"Good." Raven thought of her own boy, the one she hadn't talked to since she walked away. Maybe she could call him, actually hear from him. Years of hiding had managed to make Raven overly cautious about doing it before she was sure it was okay. "I left Terrance at a college."
"I know, you wrote me about it." Heather turned to do something on the stove and then moved to sit by Raven at the table. "Drahke might want to know you're in town. Did you want me to call her over?"
"Later?" Raven didn't want Drahke to drop everything and run for her again. The woman most likely had her own life now and Raven wanted to see her, but she could wait. "I'm not planning to leave right away. Is that okay?" Raven had to ask again. "I can work around here or see if Lois still wants to hire me to pay my way."
"I could use a little help around the club. Nothing you can't handle." Heather seemed thoughtful. "You said you want to find your inner Mistress, but Raven is it just your inner one or do you want to more? Are you wanting to explore your Dominant side more?"
Raven blushed and glanced away for a moment as she considered that. It really couldn't hurt to know more, it might be hard, but it was time to learn how to explore her sexuality a bit more in depth from someone that would explain it and teach Raven to do it right. Raven had muddled through on pieces of memories and instinct with Mystique, but that wouldn't be enough for some others that were actually as into the power plays as Raven.
"I will push your limits Raven, I will take you to the edge of your endurance and make you walk along it before pushing you past it. If you came to me to learn this, you will learn it well. For you it will be harder at times." Raven's heart was beating faster at Lady Heather's words. The woman hadn't needed an answer. "We can make a Mistress of you, but Raven a true Mistress needs to know herself first, and a true Mistress is not unfamiliar with the submissive's role. How much do you want this Raven?" Lady Heather sat so straight, looking commanding in even daily wear clothes.
"I need this." Raven spoke slowly. "I feel half formed sometimes, like I'm almost there but it's always out of reach. I know I wasn't a good Mistress to my last lover, but she didn't need that. It was my kink and pretty much mine alone with her."
"But things have changed." Lady Heather stared at Raven. "You need to change with them." Raven looked down as she heard someone else say it. "What's changed?"
"It's a long story." Raven sighed, knowing that for anything to make sense to Heather, Raven would need to tell her everything. "A very long story."
"Well, then we should probably have breakfast first." Heather stood up and moved back to the stove.
Once breakfast was done Raven started from the beginning. She sat in Heather's living room and told the woman about her mother kicking her out. Raven talked about her time training with Tessa, and that time after Tessa had gone. Tearfully Raven talked about finding herself trapped in her own body and being forced to submit. Heather didn't pace, she didn't go pale, she didn't do any of the things other people had done, but she still felt comforting.
It was lunch and they ate quietly, talking about Zoe and Terrance as a break, but then the serious talking continued. Heather had small chores to do around the house and Raven helped her while Raven talked about living on the run and she slowly and painfully admitted to her suicide attempt. Heather's eyes had flashed with some anger at that moment, but again Heather just listened. Raven felt like her soul was ripped bare as she talked, sharing her emotions and pain. Raven laid her soul out for Heather to help her fix. Raven talked about her relationship with Drahke and with Mystique. She just touched on her relationship with Tessa and her strange relationship with Emma, but Raven's own confusion about that kept that part of the conversation brief for now. She talked about Genosha and Ellie. She talked about Destiny and Christy. Raven haltingly and painfully even talked about Selene and Shaw. Raven talked all day long, until it was time for dinner.
At that point Raven could barely make herself talk at all, and Heather carried the polite and gentle talk for the meal, telling stories of her own times over the past few years, none of which were as painful as Raven's own. Raven did her best to respond, but eventually Heather just sighed and spoke softly. "Raven, once you're done eating you could soak in the hot tub for a little while and go to bed."
"Isn't it work time?" Raven glanced out at the sky. It wasn't dark yet, but it was summer. It was still late enough for the 'bad boys' to be there.
"I'm short on Mistress' with the murder. I can shift them around to give you a little time." It sounded good. "And we can talk some more tomorrow." Heather reached out and caressed Raven's cheek before grabbing her chin and holding Raven's head still, looking into her eyes. "You can't just spill pain all at once like this and not feel it. Healing takes time Raven, and you're trying to do it too fast. It took over a decade to get you to this point. A decade of betrayals, pain, and loneliness." Raven's eyes watered. "I'm not a licensed therapist."
"I trust you." Raven's voice cracked. It was tired and sore from overuse. There might have been a way to make her mutation deal with that, but Raven didn't bother with it. "You understand me and I feel safe with you."
"Well then, Raven you need to relax and then you need to sleep. Tomorrow is a new day." It sounded like a promise and a command.
………………..
A few days later Raven stood in the middle of the basement with a pad of paper in her hand and a pen tapping at her lip as she stared at the sheer number of paintings along the wall. Heather had purchased a wall unit to help stack the paintings, but it was still taking up a good deal of space. Raven glanced over to the other wall and the door in it. That was where a new venture of Heather's was. She'd rented that space to another business and if Raven weren't taking up this space perhaps Heather could make another office down here.
Maybe that comment about a showing wasn't just to get Raven's art career moving. Maybe any more art would cause space problems. Raven glanced at the shipment that had arrived that day, the one that inspired this inventory effort. With a sigh Raven moved to the upper rightmost painting and looked at it, remembering when it was created. She took in the style and started her inventory, dividing her art by style on the sheet of paper.
"Raven." Heather's voice traveled down the stairs even though the woman didn't. "I have a request of you. My new class has an uneven number of students." Raven's jaw dropped just a little, before she took control of her shock and moved to be able to see the woman at the top of the stairs. "And there is one woman I believe could use a partner."
"I thought you'd," Raven started to talk, but slowly trailed off.
"Raven," Heather started down the stairs, her high heeled boots clicking with every step. "We need to start from the beginning, and I think you'd benefit more from a stranger at this point. This week is just lecture and some show and tell with the tools of the trade."
"I don't know." Raven hesitated.
"She's coming early for lunch and to chat before the class. Join us and if you want to you can offer to be her partner, otherwise I'll see if Rachel can walk her through this." Heather reached the bottom stair. "It's up to you, but I feel this woman is trustworthy."
"And if I can't hide my mutation?"
"Well, we'll need to see how open minded she is, but is that really the problem Raven?" Heather had this way of staring that made Raven feel like she was exposed. "You can always quit, but is that what you want to be? Someone that quits?"
"I'll be right up." Raven didn't bother to reply to the slight taunt. It was a Mistress thing, Raven suspected, because while it wasn't as heavy handed as Emma's comments, it felt familiar.
"Dress the part." Heather spoke just a moment before Raven shifted into her leather pants and halter. "That is handy." Heather smiled just a little. "But it lacks that leather smell, and I like the smell of leather."
"I'll have to work on that." Raven started to follow Heather up the stairs. "These classes, I want to know both roles."
"Of course my little switch. You'd just need to find a partner willing to trade off." Heather sounded like she was teasing. "The good thing about this woman is that she has no partner, she's very opened to the lifestyle, was opened to a woman as a partner for the class and doesn't seem like the type to abuse her power."
"You like her?" Raven asked, starting to feel a little better with the positive review the woman was getting.
"Catherine was one of the criminalists that investigated the murder here. She spent hours going over the pool house looking for clues, wandering the club and she never once had that look in her eyes that said what we do is deviant or wrong, she was intrigued and interesting." Heather glanced back at Raven. "Then she called after the killer was found and asked about what we do. I'm not charging her for the lessons."
Raven's eyes flittered around, looking at Heather carefully and wondering at another question. She didn't ask.
They'd just barely gotten to the kitchen when the buzzer signaled someone at the club door. "Raven, could you finish setting the table while I greet our guest?"
"No problem." Raven felt a bit nervous, but really, the woman didn't even know Raven was interviewing her in a way to decide if she could trust her enough to try this. It was in a classroom environment, it didn't require a lot of trust, but Raven needed to feel somewhat safe with the woman.
The woman's voice seemed pleasant enough as it traveled down the hall. Raven finished setting the table and was working on dishing up the plates. "Raven, I'd like you to meet our latest student, Catherine" Lady Heather spoke as the two entered the room. Catherine was a honey blonde, just a little taller than Raven, but that still kept her on the short side, and she wasn't dressed for a BDSM club.
"Did you make this?" Catherine took a deep breath, clearly impressed with the meal. The blonde smiled at her and Raven started to relax at the friendly behavior, feeling a little hopeful that this just might work. There was something welcoming about the woman.
"No, I'm a lousy cook." Raven smiled and shook her head. "Lady Heather does all the cooking." With clients around Raven always remembered to use the woman's Mistress title, showing her respect.
"Well it smells delicious." Catherine appeared comfortable, far more comfortable than Raven had been the first time she'd stepped into this place, or the second time, or fifth time.
Lunch was interesting. Raven found herself studying the blonde as unobtrusively as possible, looking for hints of compassion, which she found, hints of strength, which were in abundance. She could see the woman as a Mistress, but she wasn't so sure about Catherine being able to switch so Raven could explore her own dominant side.
Heather really could have been a telepath, Raven thought as Heather turned to Catherine and brought up Raven's concerns. "As part of training, all Dominants need to experience the submissive's role. It helps to make a Mistress understand her submissive better and to know what certain things feel like. One who hasn't tasted the whip or felt the chains will have little insight into their submissive's needs."
"Well," Catherine appeared to think for a little while and Raven found herself wondering if that was the deal breaker for the blonde. It would be a shame because Raven had almost talked herself into doing this. "That makes sense, but my partner would need to be pretty trustworthy for that. I'm a little concerned that pairing up will be taken as meaning something, or that I'll get someone a little too interested in the whip if you know what I mean." Catherine's concerns were the same as Raven's and it was the last piece Raven needed to make up her mind.
"I," Raven noticed Catherine turned to her and it made her blush, feeling a bit awkward even though this was the right place for this. "I need a partner, but I'm a switch."
"A switch." Catherine tilted her head just a little, and gave a small encouraging smile. "That's both submissive and dominant?"
"Yeah, I want to learn both." Raven's nervousness started to fade and her voice was a little more confident.
"Well, we can take turns. I think I'd be hard pressed to find a better partner for this." Catherine's smile was slightly wicked, but still somehow not too flirtatious. Raven had the impression that Catherine flirted often and meant nothing by it. In fact she reminded Raven of the prostitutes she used to work with a little, it was the little things, like the subtle flirting that was almost always going on and the apparent awareness of her own body. She would be a perfect Mistress with a little training. Hopefully Raven would be able to pull off the same herself.
"Thanks." Raven turned to stare Heather in the eye and nod just a little. It was a little too early to tell, but it looked like the Mistress had once again been right.
……………….
Raven caught Catherine's eyes as the stepped into the room and then looked over at the seats in the back of the room. The largest room at the club had chairs set up facing the front, which was a table with several familiar looking things and a calm and collected Lady Rachel, the coteacher for this class. Lady Heather was talking with a couple in the corner before class and Raven resisted the urge to go to either of the teachers, the only people she knew.
Raven took in the people in the room, glancing around at what must be about ten couples, her and Catherine included, but the other couples seemed more comfortable together. "We're the only made couple." Raven muttered quietly to Catherine. "And that tall man with the dark hair is a little too interested in us."
"Lesbian fantasies I'd guess." Catherine spoke quietly back. "Or he would never let a woman dominate him, but is attracted to a dominant woman."
"I think he'll drop out the second he hears he has to play a sub for a little while." Raven's eyes moved to his partner. "Poor girl."
"I wonder how many of these people take the domination out of the bedroom?" Catherine leaned closer. "Do you think I should cut your meat for you at lunch and lay out your clothes for the morning?" Raven quickly turned away from the other students to stare at Catherine, relaxing when she notices the teasing smile.
"Very funny. I think you'd look good in a leather mask with a zipper mouth." Raven teased back and then sat back in her chair as Lady Heather moved to the front of the room. The other students all sat more attentively and the few standing moved to sit. Raven's Art History class never started so smoothly. Perhaps Raven should have gone into that classroom in Dominatrix gear and offered to spank the tardy students. Raven grinned a little at her own thoughts, but hid it as Lady Heather looked at her and tilted her head a little, in her what are you thinking way.
"Hello class. I've met most of you, but for those that I haven't, I'm Lady Heather." Lady Heather turned to Rachel, "And this is Lady Rachel. We'll be teaching this class as a team effort, but there will be times that we split the class up to talk with submissives and dominants separately." Lady Heather had that whole stern schoolteacher thing going, and if it weren't for her Mistress clothes it might seem that was all she was. "We will meet once a week for two hours each time until the middle of December. Our class will cover the basics. Clothing, bondage, whips, chains, tying knots and what not to do when you do it, the role of pain, the basics of creating a dungeon of your own, but do know that we rent out space here for private play and it is far better stocked than most home dungeons could ever be." Raven felt a surreal quality to the college class atmosphere not matching the words she was hearing. It was actually comforting, even with the daunting list of topics they'd cover. "we'll touch on role play, and we will constantly be stressing the importance of communication. This is Domination 101, welcome to the class." Lady Heather smiled just a little.
"Are you just waiting for the syllabus to be handed out and to hear how grading is done?" Catherine leaned closer and whispered in Raven's ear.
"Keep talking during class and she'll discipline you." Raven smirked a little and didn't turn to see how Catherine took that comment. Raven wondered briefly if Catherine would ever want that as much as Raven would.
With a hint of a blush Raven looked down over at the front table and wondered if she should talk more in class herself, but she couldn't bring herself to make Heather have to punish her, and most likely it wouldn't be anything interesting anyhow.
"For those that complete this class we offer a variety of seminars on topics we touch on in class, for those that want more detail. Those are held Thursday afternoons." The introduction continued. "I know that this class has a mix of the experienced and those new to this." Lady Heather actually looked at Raven when she said experienced. When the woman looked away Raven noticed her partner was looking at Raven with a question in her eyes.
"I've done some." Raven whispered, not wanting to get into details just yet.
"Next class we will talk about clothing and then you'll all be expected to get some of your own." Lady Heather had moved around to stand behind Raven. "Stand up Raven." She spoke slowly and Raven stood up. "Raven should be the tamest dressed one here. She could almost go out to the mall in this. After our talk about clothes, you'll be getting a makeover Raven." Lady Heather continued to move away, but Raven didn't sit just yet. "You may sit Raven." Lady Heather finally told her and Raven sat back down. "I do want to make one more thing clear. It shouldn't be necessary to say it, but the submissives in this room are not public property and any dominant that fails to respect that will be banned from the club for life. No one touches anyone else's submissive without permission from both Master or Mistress and slave." Lady Heather's voice was stern and commanding. It got quieter, but no less demanding. "I will enforce this myself." The teacher shared a glance with Raven and Raven felt the protection Heather was offering. This would be a safe place, Heather was promising her that.
"Do you think she's had problems before?" Catherine asked, her voice sounded a bit apprehensive.
"No, I have." Raven turned to look at Catherine and when Catherine's expression changed to understanding Raven looked away before it became compassion or pity.
………………..
"Raven." A familiar voice spoke and Raven turned from her nearly completed inventory of the art to see her ex standing on the stairway. Drahke took a few more steps down the stairs. "How have you been?"
"I've joined the class Heather teaches." Raven made a face, as if she wondered why she'd done something that insane. Catherine had left a few hours ago after promising to show up a little early for class next time so they could talk, since they were partners and the only two partners that didn't know each other.
"Really?" Drahke looked a little surprised. A moment of silence that showed she didn't know what to say about that filled the room before Drahke came up with something. "That means you'll be staying at least three months." Drahke spoke softly.
"Yeah," Raven took a deep breath and looked into Drahke's eyes. "My name is Christine Taylor, but I go by Raven. I always thought you should have known. It always felt wrong that you didn't."
"You aren't running anymore, are you?" Drahke didn't comment on the name, even though Raven had wanted to tell Drahke so many times before.
"No, not anymore." Raven smiled just a little at the joy and relief on Drahke's face. Drahke hugged Raven so tightly, showing her concern in the iron grip she had on Raven.
"Why didn't you call me?" Drahke pulled back and asked, sounding a little put out by that. "I came to have dinner with Heather and she told me you were here."
"I was afraid you'd drag another lover away from a nice vacation to see me, and I'm staying a while this time." Raven smiled just a little, remembering poor Alexandra.
"I don't have a lot of vacation time anymore." Drahke motioned for the stairs and Raven set her inventory list down before following the woman up. "The X-Ranch keeps me busy." Drahke's voice sounded cold and it worried Raven.
"Drahke?"
"I'd like you to come see it now." Still Drahke sounded upset, hiding it poorly. "It's just what I'd envisioned." Raven stopped them in the hall, in spite of smelling dinner and stared into Drahke's eyes.
"What is it?" Raven demanded and Drahke didn't seem surprised by it.
"The company that backed me called today and told me that the CEO didn't know about it and when he found out he wasn't happy. Now they want to back out. I can't afford to buy them out. This could ruin me." Drahke told her and Raven could feel the helplessness coming off of Drahke. Raven sighed and looked away a moment.
"How much?" Raven asked, afraid to hear the answer. When Drahke told her Raven grimaced.
"I don't even own half. If anyone buys it out I'll lose control. They'd been content to let me run it, and now I know why." Drahke shook her head and Raven felt ill.
"Ah jeez." Raven hurt for Drahke, and her mind returned to the inventory she'd been doing just minutes earlier. "Did they at least offer to give you time to try and raise the money?"
"Not much. They gave me some, but I don't have the connections to pull this off." Drahke spoke but slowed down as she was saying it as she stared at Raven. "Why?"
"It just seems pretty lousy." Raven sighed and started toward the dining room again, but her mind was moving fast on someone else's problem.
Dinner was strange, that was all Raven could think of. She was suddenly aware that both of the other women had problems in their lives, and it wasn't something either would have told her before was it? It made it clear that things had changed and she wasn't seen as the fragile one anymore, but it also made Raven want to solve the problems. To help the people that helped keep Raven sane back when she barely was and made her feel cared for.
Heather was clearly working a bit too hard and Raven would need to step up and do more around the club. Raven thought of that as she listened to Heather talking with Drahke about the murder and briefly about the investigator that was now Raven's partner. That turned into Drahke smirking at Raven. "A cop? You paired up with a cop?"
"Actually she's a crime scene investigator." Heather corrected Drahke before Raven could.
"She's nice." Raven added, but really she didn't know much about Catherine. Drahke raised an eyebrow. "It's just a class. Heather would have told me if I was expected to actually DO anything with her." Raven trusted Heather to not trick her into something, to warn her. Heather gave Raven a small smile at the trust and Raven smiled back.
"I'm still surprised you agreed to the class." Drahke's teasing tone was completely gone. Raven could see why Drahke seemed concerned. The evenings making love and the struggles Raven had gone through with this back then probably made this seem strange.
"I'm hoping that my next lover will understand this part of me." Raven said quietly, moving some gravy around on her plate and watching the fork as she did it.
"I need to get some work done." Heather spoke and Raven knew the woman probably did have work, but she was also giving Raven the place for privacy. "I'll see you later Drahke. I'm sure you'll be visiting more now." Heather smirked just a little and glanced at Raven, before leaving taking her plate to the kitchen on her way out the door.
"Thanks for dinner." Raven called after the woman.
"Why are you free to stay now?" Drahke asked quietly and Raven knew it wasn't a short answer.
"Let's clean up and then we can talk." Raven stalled a little, but with Heather cooking Raven did the dishes. It was a whole four days of this routine, but it was one Raven planned to keep. She'd find other ways to help out around the place as well, because she wasn't paying for anything.
As Raven rinsed the dishes and put them in the dish washer her mind went over what to tell Drahke; the truth of course, but not as much as she told Heather because that would take all night. In the end Raven started by explaining that she had been an Xman, and about the club and the Professor's betrayal. She talked about how two of the three monsters she ran from were either dead or captured and the third was missing. The worst of all three was still out there, but Raven was told by her precog dead friend that she didn't have to run anymore. It sounded ridiculous as Raven said it and Drahke occasionally had an expression of disbelief on her face as she heard it.
As they talked Raven moved closer to Drahke and was leaning against her listening to her heart beat. Drahke's hand caressed her back. "An Xman." Drahke spoke quietly.
"More like Xman reserve. I didn't get out much." Raven noticed the touches changing. "Drahke."
"You know that isn't my real name either." Drahke spoke quietly.
"I wrote your paychecks. I know your names Melissa." Raven had been privileged to know all the prostitutes real names when she worked there, she never used them, but she knew them.
"Never call me that." There was just a little bit of command in her voice, but it was enough to remind Raven that Drahke used to be Lady Drahke here. Raven had never met Lady Drahke, it was something her ex kept hidden from her because Raven had problems with it back then. Drahke's voice softened and she asked a familiar question. "Are you with anyone right now?"
You'd think that was an easy question, Raven thought to herself and sighed. Her sigh stopped Drahke's wandering petting hand. "I don't know. I have someone, but I just don't know." Raven sighed again and cuddled closer to Drahke. "I needed some time to think about it, so I came home." The petting resumed slowly. "You?"
"Nothing too serious. I'm seeing a married woman once in a while." Drahke spoke and Raven went quiet. "Her husband is a gay politician and needed a beard." Still, there was no future there. Thinking of the only three women Raven had heard of with Drahke, this one included, Raven came to a realization about her ex. Her ex didn't want long term relationships, either by design or subconsciously, she picked unavailable women.
It was too late to bring up that fact at the moment. Raven glanced at the clock and knew that Drahke would be leaving for work soon. Drahke continued to pet her and Raven continued to cuddle, even though she was confused and knew better than to get involved with this ex until she'd figured our her relationship with her other ex. Drahke, ever perceptive about Raven's needs, seemed to realize that because the petting wasn't as sexual as it had been.
Once Drahke had left, Raven shifted into clothes a bit more appropriate for walking through the club and went to find Heather in her office. The sounds of whips and the few screams were becoming normal to her again. Raven nodded briefly to Lady Rachel as she passed her in the hall.
Lady Heather's door was opened and Raven moved to stand in the doorway, watching the Mistress work on the computer for a moment. "She needs help." Raven spoke quietly.
"Yes, she does." Heather didn't offer anything else, just waited for Raven to talk. A lot of their conversations went that way lately, Raven considered it counselor mode.
"It's more money than she could ever get." Raven sighed and moved to lean on the wall, her arms crossed in front of her. "And only three months to get it."
"It could have been worse." Lady Heather stopped looking at her computer and stared at Raven.
"I have a lot of art downstairs." Raven swallowed and looked down. "It's taking up all your space anyway. Maybe I need to find out what I need to do to sell it."
"She won't take your money." Heather stared at Raven and smiled just a little, "but she would take you on as a partner in the business."
"I don't know that I could make enough to pay this off." Raven didn't balk at the idea of being a part owner of a brothel, after all if Irene could do it Raven could. Raven's mind wandered just a little and wondered if Lois had been an ex of Irene's, if they were following a similar path into this business.
"You are underestimating your value again Raven. You've got some great pieces of art down there. I'd suggest more than one showing so that you don't saturate one area, it might bring the prices down. I have connections in LA, I could help you. Do you have any connections at all in New York? That's another artist city."
"I might." Raven sighed and thought about the woman most likely to have connections in New York. Emma wasn't likely to help her. Maybe Ororo knew some of Peter's old connections. He'd had a showing or two. "And I might know someone in Toronto that could help." Raven had left Toronto with a few friends she'd wanted to keep in touch with. Two got letters from her once in a while, but she hadn't talked with them since she left. It was a familiar routine.
Three shows, Raven might need to do a few more pieces, but then she could have enough for three. Some pieces would be very hard to part with and Ellie's portrait wouldn't be on sale, not even for Drahke.
"I'll make a few phone calls tomorrow." Heather told her. "And you need to get a grasp of the worth of your art quickly. Underselling yourself now will hurt more than just you this time." Raven nodded that she understood. It was a problem she had, but she'd get the research done and come up with prices that actually fit. Raven wasn't an amateur artist, she was just an artist that didn't have the opportunity to sell her real work very often. It meant that this was a seller's market, she told herself. Raven originals were rare.
"That's what I like to see. Your inner Mistress leaking out." Lady Heather smiled at her. "You don't need the paintbrush anymore."
"I need to make a lot of calls." Raven would call all those she'd stayed in contact with to let them know her art shows were in the works and to finally hear from the people she'd learn to care about. "Long distance calls." If she was going to call Janette for help in Toronto she might as well call the others.
"I'll lend you my cell phone. I don't pay for long distance." Heather sat back and watched Raven. "How do you feel?"
"Good." Raven nibbled on her lip and smiled. It felt really good to be able to help. It might not be enough, but it would be significant. "I feel really good." Losing the art would be worth it for this. "This has to work."
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The next morning Raven sat on her bed with a cell phone in her hand. She was a little surprised how easily Janette accepted Raven's disappearing. She was more upset about Raven calling her in the morning, even though it was early afternoon in Toronto. "You know I sleep during the day."
"I'm sorry I forgot you live on vampire hours." Raven leaned back, tired of her bitching out. The strange silence on the other end had Raven concerned. "Janette?"
"Well, I may sleep during the day, but I hardly think that means I'm a vampire. Many other people sleep during the day. You used to." Janette's cultured French accent spoke quickly, but then Janette changed the subject. "I'm sorry about my temper. I'm very cranky in the morning. Why did you call?" It sounded like Janette was finally waking up.
"I wanted to ask for some help." Raven felt strange calling for something after taking off like she had, but Janette was her first call of the day. "I need to sell some art. I'm planning a few shows and I'd like to do one in Toronto."
"You NEED to? That is not good. Nicholai always felt depressed after selling art. Why do you need money?" Janette's ex husband had been an artist, a fact Raven had counted on when she called, hoping Janette would have those contacts.
Raven knew Janette was a little open minded. "My ex was a prostitute and she created a brothel. Her backer is backing right out and it'll ruin her." Raven sighed. "I'm buying a brothel, or at least part of one."
"I'll arrange it for the Friday after your country's Thanksgiving. You'll find nothing in America for that time and you need to schedule the others." Janette paused. "Art sells better with the artist here. You'll need to arrange to come to Toronto by Friday early afternoon." Janette was suddenly very helpful. Raven felt the beginnings of a real belief that this could work. "Bring some of your darker works. The clientele I expect to show up will be rather," Janette was clearly thinking of an American word, "gothic, I believe you call it. But many are also rather rich." It sounded like Janette was describing herself as well. "I'll arrange everything. You can ship your art to my club."
"Thank you. I'll call you later to get the detail." Raven smiled and after a few brief words hung up so that Janette could go back to bed. Her mind was already picking out the pieces she knew she had that would qualify as dark. She actually had a lot that would fall into that category, especially her latest pieces.
Raven took a few minutes looking over her inventory and making marks on the pieces that would have to go to Toronto, but really she was stalling. Finally she picked up the phone for another call. Terrance's voice was still a surprise even though she'd called him. "Hey Terrance."
"Raven?" His voice went a little high with shock. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I've stopped running." Raven smiled a little as she envisioned her boy. "So I thought I'd invite you to an art show or two I'm going to do." They talked for so long Raven had to find the charger and plug Heather's cell phone in to finish it. Thankfully it was the weekend minutes they were using up.
"Did you know that Emily was in the Witness Protection Program?" Terrance said suddenly and Raven was surprised he would let that slip on the phone. He knew better. "She's stopped running too. Her real name is Alexandra and she's a lawyer."
"I know. Is she okay?" Raven really didn't want to tell Drahke something happened to Alex, and the woman was too nice to not care about.
"She moved back to New York. Want her number?" Terrance must have been shuffling through papers, based on the noise coming through the phone. Raven turned her inventory list around and found her pencil, jotting the numbers down. New York, what were the chances that both of Drahke's witness protection girlfriends were from New York? Maybe Raven should ask where the married woman came from.
When she hung up Raven started to dial another number and it still wasn't Tessa. Tessa was on her list of calls to make, and Raven knew she was stalling.
"Hello," A brisk voice answered the phone and it wasn't Alex. Raven looked at the number again and then spoke.
"I'm looking for Alexandra."
"She's not doing any interviews." The woman spoke sternly.
"I'm a friend." Raven wondered what was going on in Alexandra's life. "Raven, we spent some time together when she was in the WPP." WPP was what Alex had started calling it after a while.
"Raven?" The voice was friendlier. "I'm Olivia. She's in the shower, but she isn't going to want to miss your call. I'll get her." Raven put all the pieces together and realized that Alex had her Olivia back. Drahke's hearing that name made all the sense in the world now and Drahke had been right.
When Raven finally hung up with Alexandra she felt a bit stunned. The woman was powerful and rich, who knew. Also who would have expected Alexandra to have all the contacts necessary to set up a showing in New York? She'd jumped to arrange it when she heard what Raven was doing and why.
"Raven, I have a lead on a show for the last week of October." Heather said as she stepped into the room. "Will that work?"
"Sure." Raven had three shows set up and it only took a couple of her hours. Of course it was because other people were willing to deal with the business end for her. "I've got Toronto for November and Alexandra is living in New York. She said she could get me a show."
"I thought she was in the Witness Protection. You could call her?"
"I ran into her again in a different life." Raven looked down to see if the cell was still fully charged. "And I'd left Terrance in the same city. She has her life back now and it was in New York too."
"Well, this is coming together." Heather glanced at the way Raven was holding the phone. "I'm going to the store. We don't even have anything for lunch. You can keep calling as long as you need to." It was understanding and encouraging without Heather actually saying anything about how hard these calls were.
Raven just tried to relax as she listened to Heather getting ready and leaving. As the door shut Raven took a deep breath and called another number. She didn't recognize the voice answering. "Can I talk with Tessa." Raven said once she was given the opening.
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Raven felt nervous as she shipped out the painting for her first show, the one in LA. In the past five weeks she'd added a few pieces to each show that were more specific to the area. It was easier for New York and Toronto, because she'd lived there, but LA was a place she'd visited a time or two.
"Phone." Rachel called out the door while holding the cell out. "Sounds sexy." Rachel spoke more quietly as Raven got close enough to take the cell phone Heather had her add to Heather's account. It was Raven's and she'd only taken it off to deal with the shipment. Lately she'd been getting quite a few calls as Janette, Alexandra, Joseph Heather's LA contact, and Tessa called her at least twice a week. Other people that Raven had known called occasionally now that they had a way to, and Terrance checked in weekly as well. It was still a strange feeling being able to talk to everyone and that everyone wanted to talk to her. No one had held a grudge very long, her goodbye letters over the years had explained it well.
"Hello." Raven spoke while watching the UPS truck drive away.
"Don't hang up." The words were a command and Raven's jaw dropped to hear that voice again.
"Emma?" Raven's eyes dropped to the driveway as she wondered how Emma got this number. Tessa promised she'd stay out of it, that she wouldn't try to play matchmaker anymore. Raven just assumed that would mean not giving away her number as well.
"I saw you'll be having a showing in Manhattan. It wasn't hard to convince Stephen that I needed to be able to call you." Emma's voice was still cool and Raven was just waiting for the threats to begin. Stephen, who was that, Raven thought for a moment and realized that Alexandra had said that name before. "I got your letter."
"I'm sorry." Raven's voice was teary as she hugged her other arm to her body. After a few weeks Raven had written Emma a new letter explaining the alternate future Destiny had warned her of. She wrote about how much it had hurt both Christy and Raven to do nothing, but exactly why they had let the future run its course.
"You don't know that any of this would have happened." Emma was still cold and Raven glanced up when she saw Rachel coming closer. Raven shook her head, not wanting to explain this phone call and not wanting the backup Rachel seemed willing to offer.
"Can you say there was no chance? I'd heard about some of your students Emma and it didn't seem too far fetched to me." Raven's voice was a little shaky, but still stronger. "I even know who Selene would have tortured, and that poor girl didn't deserve that. Death, I wasn't lying to you when I told you death was better. I would still rather die than let her have me again." Tears streamed down Raven's face as she hugged herself with one arm and moved to walk towards the side of the building, seeking shelter and privacy. "You don't understand," Raven's voice cracked. "She really is a monster. I couldn't, no one should have to, God Emma. How could I let anyone go through that? Selene didn't just rape my body Emma, she raped my soul. Over and over again, the things they did to me. How could I let a teenager go through that? I couldn't. I couldn't." There was nothing but silence on the other side. "And Destiny said others would be like her. One Selene is more than enough, No Selene should exist. Pure Evil, she's pure evil." Raven leaned against the side of the house hidden from view. "They would have hurt you, and I didn't hate you. I never did. I never hated you. No one deserved that Emma. No one." Raven took a shaky breath, hoping that Emma was still on the other side listening, because she couldn't hear her. "I'm sorry. If there had been anything else I could have done, anything, but there wasn't. I asked, I asked so many times and there wasn't." Raven stopped talking, but her breathing was ragged from the pain. She whispered so quietly, "I didn't do it to hurt you."
"I have to go." Emma's voice was tight and Raven swore she heard tears in her voice, but then there was nothing as Emma hung up on her. Raven turned and rested her forehead on the building as she tried to take deep breaths, to try and calm down. Finally she gave up and stopped breathing altogether so that she couldn't do that gasping pained breathing anymore.
"Dammit." Raven muttered and resisted the urge to crush her phone, putting it in her pocket before she damaged it.
"I think we should practice meditating before class today." Lady Heather's voice wasn't a surprise. The woman was almost like an empathic tracker the way she always seemed to find Raven when Raven was having problems. "Come here, we'll do it in the poolhouse. A Mistress needs to be calm before she engages a slave or she might hurt her." Heather spoke without too much sympathy and it helped Raven calm down enough to nod. Raven needed to get control of this or it would control her. That was an important lesson she'd been working on for weeks, not repressing and not dwelling.
They walked quietly toward the poolhouse, the water helped Raven be calm. "Are you okay?" Lady Heather finally asked quietly.
"I will be." Was Raven's only reply.
…………………
Catherine seemed to caress her coffee cup as she sat at the kitchen table with Raven. "How was your LA showing? I would have loved to have come, but getting time off work is impossible right now." Raven smiled just a little at the memory of that showing.
"It was great. They took me seriously as an artist and my stuff sold for more than I ever thought I could really get." Last Friday had been great and Heather had gone with her, since it was her contacts that set it up. She did say she couldn't go to Toronto, but that was because of the lousy timing. Zoe would be home for Thanksgiving. "I really thought I'd overpriced." Raven added more quietly, remembering her panic moments before the show started and the urge to run around changing the price tags. And the few pieces that were bid on went up to twice what Raven would have tried to sell them for. Emma wasn't the only one that liked Raven's abstracts. "Did you do the homework?"
"I tied so many knots my fingers ached." Catherine sighed. "And let's just say when your daughter finds a bunch of rope in your bedroom, saying its macramé doesn't work." Raven chuckled. "I have a wonderful attempt at a slipknot hanging from my wall as art now." Raven bent forward as she laughed at the woman.
"Oh man, and I thought Terrance finding the scarf we'd used as a gag was bad. I had to wear it at least three times to pretend I actually got it as clothing." Raven blushed at the memory, but Catherine laughed. "I didn't even know how to wear it as an accessory. I had to buy a pin to make it work."
"Well today we see if all our hard work paid off." Catherine said and Raven stopped smiling. She had a question to ask.
"Would you mind if I tied you up first?" Raven asked quietly and looked down at the table. Catherine got bits and pieces, but todays lesson would be hard on Raven. "I think if I see you do it first I might be okay. It takes a lot of trust to let someone tie you up." Raven's jaw clenched.
"I can go first." Catherine spoke gently. "And I did learn to make good slipknots. I can untie you very fast if you need me to."
"Thanks." Raven looked up. "But I can do this." Her expression was determined. "I just can't do it first, but I can do it." Raven had worked hard on this, preparing herself for tonight. Raven did meditating, visualizing, hell even almost tying herself up for periods of time, just so she wouldn't embarrass herself in the class. Raven didn't want to use her safeword in a classroom environment. It seemed weak to be frightened then.
"Alright." Catherine nodded and went back to drinking her coffee.
"Did I ever tell you how glad I am you're my partner?" Raven spoke quietly before taking a sip of her own coffee. Some of the other couples in the class were a bit scary, but Catherine really seemed trustworthy.
"About as many times as I've told you. I really would have quit if I ended up with someone like Stephanie or Zack."
"That's Lord Zack to you." Raven mocked him, her mutation making it a little too close to real without even realizing she'd tapped into it. Catherine didn't catch it, she just laughed.
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