Chapter 22: Shirley

Nikita had wanted me to scare them... just so that the camp wouldn't ever rise up against him again. I really didn't want to do it, and I could protest all I wanted in my mind, but it was like I was some kind of giant puppet and I had say and do whatever he told me.

I hate not having free will.

Right now I was performing a spell... that would make Ruidi and Caiyi crippled for the rest of their lives. I apologized to them mentally, but I knew that it would do me no good. Nobody could hear me.

On my sixth spin around them, a hand suddenly shot out of the darkness while I was flying around them at full speed. Surprised, I got caught off balance. The hand held me in a grip of steel, and flipped me over in the air. The air rushing against my wings pushed me hard down onto the stone floor, and my head bounced on the dirt.

I tried to stand up, but the hand still held me down. I looked up, and my eyes locked with the multi-colored swirling ones of Raven's.

"Let me go!" I shouted at her. I struggled under her grip.

Her eyes glinted. It wasn't a merry or mischievous twinkle, more like the cold sparkle of ice. "If that be your wish, then I shall." Her hand left my shoulder.

In one swift, practiced movement, I pulled out my electric bow, which I had named Aurore Boréale, and nocked an arrow, pointing it towards Raven's face. The metallic tip of the arrow sizzled with electricity.

"Surrender your weapon!" I commanded her. I just needed to do one mission... then Nikita would let me go. Back to my friends. Back to the camp. And then I could apologize. It was the only way out.

It was when I saw Raven's eyes glint coldly again when I realized I had made a mistake.

Suddenly my weapon disappeared.

"Do you think that I would allow a bow made by my own hands fired against me?" Raven asked.

Then I remembered how Alcyone gave it to me.

Raven spun toward me whirling with astonishing speed. But too bad she didn't know about my other powers. Even though she might read minds and predict my next plan, not even she can get into my "safe spot". At least, I think so. So I decided I could give some false attacks.

Raven

"Please be seated." I instructed Shirley, gesturing towards a nearby igneous rock.

"I would like to stand, if you don't mind," She stated.

"Very well," I nodded and took a seat.

I am confident that this girl is unable to hurt me. Though she was presumably the most capable mortal I knew, her thoughts remained open to me. I understood that she had her own thinking space and, and I respected that. After all, everyone needed their own private area.

Inwardly, I sighed. I did not wish for this outcome, but it was imperative for me to at least glean some information from her. It would benefit both of us, I attempted to reassure myself. Besides, I shall only use the most basic of attackers.

Somehow, I wasn't convinced.

Shirley

Raven's level gaze penetrated my mind. Literally. I could feel her attack- wraithlike shadows flew from her mind into mine, probing the fragile barrier I had been able to hastily throw over my brain.

I worked from the inside, reinforcing the wall over my mind. Then I sent my own sparks of light to attack Raven's.

There was nothing. It was like Raven wasn't there at all. But that was impossible, everyone had to have a consciousness, a soul, a mind, along with thoughts. And no matter how well hidden you could always sense it there. But there was nothing. My lights weren't able to find anything at all. The only logical conclusion was that Raven wasn't standing in front of me. But she was. And she was solid, I knew from her iron grip.

I urged my shining orbs of light deeper into the shadows where Raven's mind was supposed to be. And suddenly, we were sinking.

I pulled free of her mind and back to reality. Raven was looking at me with an unfathomable expression. She stretched one hand out, and in it was a vial, full of milky-white liquid. "I bestow upon you this gift." Raven said with an almost-smirk and a condescending tone, pressing it into my palm.

I glanced at it suspiciously. Who knew what Raven could be planning? I was actually tempted to smash it onto the floor, but I hesitated, for some odd reason.

Shirley! It was Nikita's voice, piercing through my thoughts. WHY ARE YOU OUT IN THE OPEN?! Come back to the base at once! I wanted to say no, to disobey, to stay here and ask about what the heck the vial was for, but then my body jerked mechanically and I disappeared into the trees, vial still in my hand.