Raven's Nest
Shun's POV
I opened the doors to the old beat down building and made my way through the crowd of people and hoped to spot out Travis. I looked around through the dancing, smoking, and drinking crowd and saw him upstairs drinking alone like usual. As I made my way upstairs I had to get a lot of people off me especially the girls since they were all over me. Once I got upstairs though I saw Travis and headed toward him and sat down across from him.
"What brings you here? You usually don't come to these types of places." Travis greeted as he took another sip of his drink.
"I know, but I need your help Travis." I said getting straight to the point as he lifted an eyebrow tome.
"What exactly do you need help with?" He questioned.
"It's about the Summer King and some of the other courts." I explained.
Suddenly he stopped drinking his drink and turned to me with a confused and curious look on his face. He set his drink down on the table and folded his arms together and leaned back in his chair.
"What about them?" Travis asked.
"I know we don't usually deal with their affairs, but this time is different. I think one of my friends might be starting to get involved with them." I tried to explain, but Travis sighed.
"Shun we've been over this already. I can't stop them from doing what they do with those humans. I'm sorry if your friend is mixed up with them, but-."
"No it's not like that Trav," I interrupted and he remained silent waiting for me to explain.
"I can't say right now. There's too many people around, but believe me Travis my friend is different. If any more of the courts find out about my friend like the Summer King did, then she will find out too. Once they find out what my friend has . . . It might turn into an all-out war between the courts." I explained.
Travis remained silent for a while sipping his drink once in a while. He seemed to be thinking over what I told him and debating to help me or not. After a long silence soon enough he spoke up again.
"I can't promise anything Shun, but I'll see what I can do for your friend. Meet me back here tomorrow sometime in the afternoon. I'll arrange a private room for us where we can talk alone." Travis said.
I stood up from my chair now along with Travis as I shook his hand in mine and gave a small smile to him out of appreciation.
"Thank you Travis, I owe you." I told him about ready to leave, until he spoke.
"You look terrible Shun . . . You know you can't keep feeding with just that. You need to other to satisfy your other hunger." Travis explained and I shook my head to him.
"I told you, I won't do it even if it starves me. I won't fall for their influences like before, that's why I distant myself and avoid touch."
"But that's what you need in order to survive, Shun. It's different for you now, you know that."
"I've been doing fine without it so far and I don't plan to start it now. I'll see you tomorrow."
Without any words left to say, I headed down stairs and out of Raven's Nest. I will not be fooled again. I will never let myself be influenced again by one of them, even if it kills me.
Alice's POV
"Order up Alice for table one!" Mr. Misaki exclaimed.
"Got it!" I replied as I grabbed the food and headed to table one.
I can't believe the week went by so fast. It seemed just yesterday I was having a picnic with my friends. Thinking about the picnic though also makes me think of that time with Luke and Shun. I was still confused and lost of what happened that day, but I promised Shun I wouldn't mention it to him as long as he didn't distance himself from his friends. To my surprise he's been really holding up the end of his bargain as he's been coming to the café every day since that day. Sometimes we would just stop by, but sometimes he stays and talks with all of us like before much to my happiness.
Suddenly the front door opened and there came in Shun right on time. He noticed me and gave a small smile and wave as we went to take a seat at a booth. I went over to him after I got table six's order and started to take Shun's order.
"Just tea please," He said handing me the menu and I smiled.
"Coming right up," I said about to get his drink, until I felt him grab my wrist.
"Shun?" I questioned as I turned back to him with a confused face.
"I was hoping I could talk to you for a bit actually." He said and I was a little surprised by his sudden wanting to talk.
"Umm sure, just let me hand in the orders and I'll take my break early." I told him as he left go of my wrist and nodded.
As I started to walk away, I suddenly felt my heart racing a little. I placed my hand to my chest and tried to take deep breathes to relax myself. I don't know why, but Shun grabbing my like that just took me by surprise. After I gave in the orders, I told Runo I was going on my break early to talk to Shun. I then got Shun's tea and headed back to the booth and delivered it to him and sat across from him.
"Thanks," He replied as he took a sip of his drink.
"So what is it that you want to talk about?" I asked and for a moment he didn't reply right away, but soon he answered.
"Have you seen Luke in the past week or anyone you know like him come around here lately?" He asked me to my surprise as he was the one bringing up this conversation and not me.
"Actually no I haven't, is that a good thing?" I asked hoping and would answer at least this question.
"Yes very," He replied with a small laugh as he sipped his tea again.
For a while we remained in silence, as I had no idea what to talk about after he had brought up that conversation I thought we weren't ever going to have. Suddenly it was beginning to feel awkward as none of us would say anything. I felt a little nervous now.
"I'm sorry," Shun suddenly spoke making me look up at him in surprise.
"For what?" I questioned out of confusion.
"I know you want to know more about what happened between Luke and I back when we had the picnic. What he was talking about and all of that stuff, but . . . right now I just can't bring myself to tell you everything." Shun explained gripping the cup in his hands tightly, before speaking again.
"I won't lie to you there's a lot of secrets I'm keeping from you and everyone. I want to tell you everything, but . . . It's safer if none of you guys knew." Shun continued.
"They why tell me this?"
"Because you were right, you guys are my friends and I know you'll have my back no matter what. I know I can rely on you guys for anything."
"So why are you only telling me this? Aren't you going to tell the others?"
"I want to tell the other, but . . . I think you'd understand more than them about all of this stuff. Plus, you're really the only person I can really trust and rely on out of our group of friends. I mean after we saved the world and all, we did get to know each other more. We were really good friends, until I . . . ruined it."
I noticed a hint of sadness now in Shun's eyes as he stared down at his tea in his hand. I gave a warm sincere smile to him and then spoke.
"You didn't ruin anything Shun. Besides I get it. I mean even though I don't know what happened to you back then, you did come back to us. You may have changed a little, but I can still see some of the old Shun we all know and love." I smiled as he stared at me in surprise and blinked a few times.
Realizing what I had said, I felt myself turn as red as a tomato out of embarrassment on what I just said. However, then I heard Shun start to laugh all of a sudden making my eyes go wide in surprise. I haven't heard him laugh in such a long time. It was like seeing the old Shun again right in front of my eyes and soon I started to laugh too.
"Thank you Alice," Shun smiled to me as I smiled back.
Shun's POV
After my talking with Alice at Misaki's café, it was time for me to head over to Raven's Nest no matter how much I didn't like it there. With all the smoke it was already hard to see let alone breathe there, the loud ear ponding music, and the overpriced drinks that place was just crazy. Once I opened the door and let myself in, I noticed there were more people here than usual tonight to my surprise. It was hard making my way through the crowd and hearing people call for me, but I had to get to Travis. Soon I made it upstairs and went into the room number he texted me to go in when I got here.
As I made my way to the room, I ignored what I had heard and saw as I passed by each room. It was pretty weird as I passed the rooms, but I had already gotten used to it by now as I usually come here to visit Travis and other people. Once I made it into the room, I saw Travis waiting there along with Mira much to my surprise. I looked to Travis and only shrugged and then I turned back to Mira.
"What are you doing here Mira, I have to talk to Travis . . . alone." I said.
"Anything you tell Travis, you know you can tell me. Besides Travis here came back home a little drunk last night and told me you wanted to talk to him about a certain friend of yours who could be in trouble." Mira explained as I glared at Travis who put his hands up in defense.
"To be fair one way or another Mira was going to find out and you know that." Travis explained as I just sighed deeply and sat down folding my arms together and leaning back on the couch.
"Fine," I simply replied and started to explain to them everything.
. . . . .
"Are you absolutely positive about her . . . gift?" Mira asked and I nodded to her.
"Luke knows about her too because he was just about reveal himself to her, until I stopped him." I explained.
"If word gets out Shun about her, then she'll be in serious trouble. I haven't seen someone with a gift like that in a long time." Travis replied.
"Why's that?" I asked and Mira and Travis remained silent as I looked back and forth at them, until Mira finally spoke up.
"Because the last time someone had a gift like that well . . . Let's just say that they became a threat to the High Court and the Queen ordered her death by her bloody men." Mira stated making my hand roll up into a fist.
"A gift like that is very rare and if your friend has that gift then we're going to have a huge problem if the High Queen finds out and if she finds out as well then-." Travis explained.
"We're screwed," Mira interrupted.
"My question is why would someone want her? I mean why her gift?" I questioned.
"There's more to her gift then you know. You're still new Shun, but that gift she holds is more then what you think it is and is she were to become one of-." Mira explained.
"No! She won't, I won't let that happen." I cut her off.
"Still if she were to become one of us, then she'd be a bigger threat then her. I'm just saying Shun that if you plan to protect this girl, then she needs to know what is going on and who we are." Mira stated.
"It might not be what you want, but eventually she's bound to find out especially since Luke already knows about her. If that Summer King is already interested in her, then you know he'll stop at nothing to get your friend into his court." Travis added as I just groaned and sighed.
"These courts are becoming so unbalanced. A war is coming and with the courts in the shape they are now, there's no telling what might happen." I sighed.
"Which is why we're Solitary and we don't deal with the other courts affairs, especially with the war that's about to take place." Travis said.
"I know, but if she wins then we're as good as dead." I replied.
Suddenly a loud shriek of terror came from outside the room. It must have been coming from the other room. We sat in our seats and looked at each other and signed.
"Poor girl . . . it's just sick what those people will do to girls like her." Mira said as we nodded our heads.
Soon the screams became louder and it began to sound like as if someone was dying. It was a girl screaming in terror. This rarely happens, but when it does it's never a good sign and since it's none of our business we stay out of it. Suddenly though I began to hear the girl's voice a little more clearly as she demanded the person to let go of her. Her voice seemed all too familiar. Soon my eyes widen in shock and fear. Without even realizing it I was already standing up with my eyes wide open.
"Shun, what are you-?" Mira said, but I lifted my hand to her.
"SOMEBODY HELP!" The voice cried and my eyes widen as I headed straight out the door.
"Shun!" Travis and Mira yelled, but I ignored them and I went next door and started banging on the door as hard as I could.
I knew that voice all too well . . .
"ALICE!" I shouted.
Alice's POV
"Are you sure you don't mine sweetie?" Mrs. Misaki asked and I smiled warmly at her and nodded.
"It's no problem at all, I'll be back soon." I replied as I headed out the door.
I was currently on my way to the market to pick up some groceries for the café. Business has been booming lately and we seem to always keep running out of supplies it seems. I didn't mind going to the market, as it gave me a chance to get some fresh air. As I made my way to the market, I would look around and still see certain people stand out with their eyes glowing sometimes. I wonder why I started to notice them now. Suddenly I bumped into someone and quickly apologize, until I looked up and almost gasped.
In front of me was that same guy from the mall, I had meat about a month ago. A grin started to spread across his face, as I knew he had remembered me. I started to feel that strange feeling again as his eyes started to glow at me. I was about to take off running, until I felt his hand grab my arm and pull me closer to him. He then leaned closer to my face and placed his hand under my chin to make me face him.
"You know what's really funny? I was just thinking about you and thought hey, why don't I go and pay the pretty girl a visit. Looks like you came crawling back to me though." He smirked as I kicked him in the gut making him back up a little and letting me go.
I started to take off running without looking back. I just kept running and running, but right when I turned the corner he was already there waiting for me. Fear began to rise in me as I had nowhere to run and no one to call help for. He slowly walked toward me with that grin on his face, which caused me to back away from him.
"I knew you'd be an interesting girl, I just didn't know you could be feisty as well." He spoke.
"Stay away from me!" I exclaimed as he laughed making me feel afraid.
"I know you can see it . . . My eyes and sometimes body glowing. I know you know that I'm different, but trust me when I say you haven't seen anything yet." He grinned widely.
Suddenly I started to notice something begin to drop around him. It looked almost like a shield or force field coming down and revealing his true self. That's when I gasped, my eyes widen, and my legs trembling. Soon I slowly fell to the ground as there now stood in front of me a glowing radiantly at me that it was hard to stare at him at first. Then I noticed his eyes had glowed and he seemed to look more . . . beautiful. As he slowly walked toward me I noticed a sort of small trail behind him of his radiance. He slowly pulled me up by my arm and grinned to me.
"It seems my powers of influence don't seem to work on you, but no matter. In either case, you're still coming with me." He grinned.
Just when I was about to pull away from him and start a fight, I watched as he threw something in my face that made me sneeze at first, but then all of a sudden made me feel dizzy and tired. I felt him let go of me and I leaned against the wall trying to steady myself. Soon though my vision blurred and my body felt weak. Just when I was about to fall, I was suddenly caught by the guys arms. I slowly looked up to him, feeling so tired and dizzy. The last thing I remembered before passing out was that stupid grin on his face.