Chapter Three

Excited murmurs and whispers flitted about the hallways of Ever After High, swarming like bees and stinging Raven's ears. She knew they were talking about her.

While she was glad to finally be officially off-the-book now concerning her fairy tale role as 'Evil Queen' it was just sad that even now people were questioning her motives, and expecting her to change her mind.

They'd begun to spread these silly fables that she had blackmailed Rotbart into taking her role, or that she was secretly in alliance with him to end Apples fairy tale once and for all. They'd even accused them of being secret lovers, and that Rotbart had chosen to take on her role in the hopes to spare his beloved...

"Eew.. not with my own brother, what is wrong with you people?.." Raven shuddered. While they weren't too far away from the truth with that last one, it was most certainly not a case of Rotven (RotbartxRaven, the latest hashtag spreading around the mirrornet).

However, while they shared a mother, thanks to her brother's intensely blazing red hair, its hard to believe they were even associated with each others family..

Both ends of the family ended in definite tragedy, but her brother gets a nice drowning death, rather than horrific suffering. Now, though, all that would change. An uncomfortable feeling rose up in her stomach and she had to find an empty classroom to think for a moment.

Yes, she always had wanted to be free from her predetermined story, but not at this cost. He had been so determined though, and arrogant too even.

The incident, which happened only days ago, replayed in her mind, as fresh as an apple;

XxXxXxX

"I will not accept no for an answer. I refuse to let you risk that kind of demise." He had said, a hint of irritation creeping up in his voice.

Raven clenched her fists, fighting back her powers as much as possible, and she stomped her foot, "No! You don't have to take my place, and I won't let you do it! We are the only family we have left, Rotbart, what do you think will happen after you..." She drew back a breath, tears streaming down her face.

He folded his arms and looked away, "Either way I'm destined to die, but I would rather it be in your place. I just want to be sure nothing happens to you."

Raven screamed furiously, "I don't need your help! I'm rewriting my own destiny just fine! Now stop being a demented excuse for an antihero and blacken up again!"

She shot him with her magic and he blocked it with his own spell.

"I liked it better when you were the more evil one out of the two of us!" She wept.

He knelt down to where she had slid to the ground, and he embraced her. "I know you just don't want to see me get hurt, but trust me, I know what I'm doing. And I don't doubt your rebellion, I just know unless someone steps up to take your place they will never stop pressuring you."

She hated him so much right now, but gripped him tightly, not used to feeling helpless like this and she muttered, "Why? Can't you just..." She trailed off not knowing what else to ask.

He drew back and stood straight, smiling partially down at her, "I guess I've finally joined your rebellion come to think of it, haven't I?" He joked.

She glared up at him and replied, "You're supposed to be seeking a better ending, not a worse one"

He shrugged and said, "But my ending will be happy. You get to live and be free..." And he almost added the part about Duchess, but even with his sister he was just a bit too proud to reveal it. He didn't want to become thought of as some hopeless romantic.

Raven was still unconvinced for the most part, "But you will still be gone." She said.

He laughed, half annoyed and the other half amused, "Do you doubt my skills of evasion so much?" He asked.

"I think you're forgetting that my side of the gene pool comes with stronger magic." He teased.

Raven scoffed, but didn't take the bait, not wanting to fall for his friendly banter. Nonetheless, she nodded her head.

"Fine, I suppose you do have a better mastery over disguise and concealment."

She took a while to further consider it, knowing that if he was right about his skills, he could probably evade imprisonment and death for years upon years, thus prolonging his life.

"Would you visit me? I mean...if you went into hiding after..." She asked, standing up finally.

He grinned wickedly and replied, "If I feel like it."

She sighed. "Fine. Let's go see the headmaster about this."

XxXxXxX

In the abandoned classroom she had found her way into, she laid her head down on the table and decided maybe a little nap was in order after such a tiring week. She just wanted to get this year over with...

But now, she supposed, things couldn't possibly get worse.

"Ah, Miss Queen, I've been searching for you..." A grim voice spoke suddenly.

Raven shot up and her heart sank as her eyes met with the condescending, always plotting headmasters.

"May I speak with you for a moment?" He grinned.

To be continued~