Chapter 24

Forgive and Never Forget

Alexander

I stood in the entryway for an undeterminable amount of time since Raven left for The Crypt. I wasn't sure what part of the exchange with my bride surprised me more; her ability to block me from her mind, her anger at my praise for her power, that enticingly sexy body of hers wrapped in Steampunk burlesque fashion, or the way she wittingly reprimanded me with lust in her eyes. In other words I was completely rendered speechless. And she knew it! A slow smile began to form on my face, and my eyes felt heated letting me know they were burning red. My feisty little vixen will need to be rewarded for having bested me. I turned away from the door and chuckled silently to no one as I ascended the creaking staircase and went to the room I prepared for her.

My parents have used this room during their visits. But as the largest room of the mansion, I felt my bride deserved it more. She has so much more space here than what we share in the attic. I only meant for her to feel comfortable. And yet I agree that I had been foolish to make the decision for her to 'sleep' here instead of by my side where she belongs. Perhaps it was the thought of what had happened to her last night that made me think she'd want to be alone. Of course she would have needed me to comfort her! I'm an idiot for not seeing that. It will be remedied, I decided. This room is meant for my bride and my bride only. I will have to get Stormy to give me ideas on how to prepare a 'personal space' for Raven. It'll also give me the opportunity to speak with Billy. I know Raven decorated her home, and I want to see what her tastes are for her surroundings, he could help me with that.

There is a smaller room next to this one that serves as an office where Jameson and I keep business records and my listing of assets. The Study down stairs has been refurbished during the day by Jameson to service the home schooling classroom for the twins. The attic had always been my sanctuary for my paintings. Perhaps I should reserve another room specifically for Raven and I to call our coffin room. Even I know that the small hidden room in the attic is a tight fit for the larger coffin. But it was fine for me. However, as she said this morning, I needed to be more considerate. I could use that little room instead to store my inventory, the completed artwork. With that said, the twins won't be the only ones in need of a new room. And I knew someone who could help to ensure the best room reserved for privacy, a room that is known to be under a 'sensory barrier'. A hidden room I've never been able to find. "Să prezinte, bunica." (Come forward, granny.)

Raven

Oh my damnit! That was close. Even though I know Alexander would never intentionally hurt me, I still didn't want to find out how far I might have pushed him from my taunt. Not cool, Raven, not cool at all. … But he did deserve it for trying to make me feel grateful of me being inferior to not only him but my kids as well. Yeah, thanks a friggin lot, my darling! Pfft, my ass!

I parked my car in the employee-designated parking lot and turned of the ignition. I had a pint of Alexander's blood during breakfast along with the children, so I was feeling fairly energized this evening. Alexander drank human blood, so I know he was feeling anything but weak from losing three pints. There was no way in hell on earth that I was going to stick around if he decided to have an 'Aggressive Alex' moment. Then again, Alexander is very good at self-control when he consciously reigns in his anger… so he could just be keeping it bottled up until I get home. Fuck!

I breathed a measured breath to calm my inner panic. I got here about half and hour earlier than my shift would start. In 'Jagger terms': I'm right on time. When I calmed my heart rate to a slow and silent beat, I stared out the car window at the employees' entrance. Then I rolled my eyes when I noticed Jagger let Luna have her way to put up a sign that said "Slaves Only". I hope she realized Jason uses that door, too. How either of them put up with her, I'll never know. Sometimes I wonder if they just give her what she wants when it doesn't cause damage just to shut her up. That thought made me start laughing abruptly to myself. Then I literally jumped and panicked when I heard a knock on my door. It was Sebastian. Again I rolled my eyes before I opened the door, grabbed my purse and stepped out. "You nearly gave me a freak attack!" I scolded him. Looking at Sebastian then made me think about last night. "Thanks… for coming for me. Um, I really don't want to talk about any of it. If that's why you're here, by the way." Sebastian shuffled his feet a bit and looked a bit embarrassed.

"Of course, I'm glad Alexander called, but I would have helped if I knew what was happening even if he didn't… before Alexander came, I used to fly above your car to make sure you got home safe. Now that Alexander came back, I figured you'd be fine, but I understand and respect your decision not to talk about it. But that's not why I came to talk to you," he rushed. I leaned against my car to settle while he continued so he knew I wasn't going anywhere.

"Okay, thanks then. For all of that, I mean. So what do you need to talk about Sebastian?"

"I want to seriously apologize to you for everything else. Not by Alexander's order, but because I did have my faults in this. I shouldn't have tried to take advantage of you while Alexander was away. In my defense, I truly was drunk and would have probably made a move on Luna just to get punched out by Jason. I'm an asshole when I'm drunk and I wish I had better control. That's still no proper excuse because regardless, I mistreated you and betrayed my best friend." He paused and I nodded and bit my lip to avoid a verbal response. He's right about it not being a proper excuse but that he was truly sorry at all was enough for me to let it pass. Especially because Alexander already beat him up badly. I can't imagine how bad it must have been for it to be two nights ago and Sebastian was still sporting a black eye that was now a fading purple and green, as well as a red stripe across the ridge of his nose. On those parts, I knew Alexander crushed his nose and probably broke his face in whole. Vampires heal fast especially when they're actively feeding, as I know Sebastian does. So for days to pass without a complete recovery means the injury was near lethal. Alexander nearly beat him to death, literally. A twinge of guilt surfaced at the back of my mind when I realized I wouldn't mind if he did.

"Ok, well, I got to get to work so…"

"And I'm sorry for avoiding you all these years, and not letting you feel like you could come to me about your kids. I did it because…" then he stopped and looked up at the night sky as he tried to explain what the real problem between us was. When he looked back at me, my heart almost broke at the sight of unshed tears forming in his swollen eyes… almost. "I did it because I love you, Raven," what the fuck? "I love you like a sister," oh, ok then, "and having to be around you when you were heartbroken was heartbreaking for all of us. I can't speak for everyone when I say this, so I can only speak for myself. If I had to watch you cry by yourself and pretend to smile around us, I'd end up having to tell you the truth, and that was a betrayal to Alexander that would have had me haunted down and killed." Is he for real? "I know there are things you're not allowed to know just yet, and I know Alexander is the one who'll need to tell you when you're ready. But all I can say about it is that there are laws in our world that are mystically enforced. If anyone broke those laws, it would be known, and we, along with anyone else who knew or were involved, would have to pay the price. Me telling you something I was mystically bound not to tell would have put everyone in danger, but I would have been the one killed." And here I am, the model for a lack of respect for authority.

"Not to mention that if Alexander didn't do everything in his power to do what he was supposed to be doing, you would have been in a very dangerous position. He was not allowed to leave, Raven… Alexander has people above him just like he and many others are above me. The Vampire world isn't all romance and adventures forever, Rae. I mean, it can be if you're in a good spot and don't break the laws. Personally, I don't usually give a damn about the laws, but when its something as serious as all this was for Alexander, and the fact that he gave me a mystical command, I have to obey. I wish I were strong enough to have been a better friend to you over the years Raven, so I could have also been like a godfather for Lexy and Alex. But as Alexander said eight years ago, 'I'm too soft'. One sob story from you and I would have caved like a castle of card. Then we'd all be on a run for our lives. Yes, this is another excuse, but it's also the truth. Watching you from far away had to be enough. Now we all know that I'm a terrible watch dog." With that he looked at me sheepishly. A single tear had fallen during his explanation. And I realized there was so much I really didn't know and understand. But Sebastian's explanation did give me a better insight than thinking they all flat out snubbed me.

I smirked at his last comment and decided that now that there was a real reason for everything, I would just have to accept it. "Well at least he's here now. Thanks for telling me this Seb." He brightened a bit at my use of his old nickname that I gave him when we met. "How can I not forgive you now when you had a mystic bullet to your head?" I don't think he fully understood that I'd completely forgiven him because he started to sulk and slump his big shoulders. For the third time tonight I rolled my eyes and grunted my frustration at the cluelessness of my mate's best friend. Sebastian looked at me then and I couldn't help but pull him in for a hug. What can I say? The big failure of a guard dog needed it. "Thanks for being loyal enough to keep us all safe from your big mouth."

"I've got your back." Was all he needed to say.

"Well I'll see you around later. I'm officially on time and in 'Jagger Terms': I'm late." We laughed and I walked towards Luna's stupid sign. Now that I was in a better mood, I decided to grab my silver sharpie from my purse and cross out 'Slaves' and wrote above it 'Minions'. If you're gonna be a cryptic bitch, Luna… Then learn to do it right! I leaned back to admire my work and smiled to myself before going in.

Two Hours Later (1am)

So far the night has been going along smoothly. The patrons of 'Above the Crypt' weren't as grabby with me as they usually were. Most of the patrons were vampires. Very few humans had gained access. Whenever a human participates in the box dancing or giving out flyers to help promote the club, Jagger gives them VIP access to Above the Crypt. As for the vampire patrons, only the ones who were members to The Dungeon at the Coffin Club in Hipsterville were allowed lifetime access to the upstairs. However, a new idea is starting to make me understand the use for The Covenant below the Crypt. I wondered if I could get Jagger to hear me out without going overboard on the idea. Maybe I'll talk about it with Alexander first in case it's something Phoenix would be against. I'd really hate for Alexander's alter ego to throw out one of my promotional ideas.

"Raven!" I heard Luna call me from the private lounge area and turned my head to see her. I raised one arched brow at her and she waved me over. Before going to her I gave each patron in one of the curtained booths their drinks. When I was done and followed Luna behind the wall to the hall, she spoke in urgent hushed tones. "It's time for your break, but before you go my brother has something to say to you!" Then she popped out her hip and pursed her lips. She's mad about the signs I guess. I rolled my eyes at her pose and thrust the server tray to her chest and let go so she could grab it. Without a word I strutted down the hall to the last door where Jagger liked to be. Before I could knock, the door opened and one of the box dancers stepped out. Her eyes were glazed and her lipstick was smeared. EWWWWWW! I sooooo don't want to know what she was doing with my boss. It better not smell like sex when I go in there, or this little prego batty might just throw up. It's not like I'm a prude or anything, but Jagger and his perverted habits just gross me out. I respect him as a businessman, and for looking out for his people… but that's all I can take. Then again, I'm really not one to talk… at least he was behind closed doors. With that thought, I stepped in with whatever dignity deigned to form within me.

"You wanted to see me?" I said. Jagger was standing in front of the window looking out at the tree line with his back to me.

"Yes, I did." He said then paused and turned around to add, "There are many things I wanted to discuss with you. I know you're taking your break now so I told Moira to bring you something. Please sit." He gestured to the loveseat in front of the coffee table.

"Great thanks, I had some things I wanted to talk about too." He nodded and went to the mini bar to prepare a drink.

"What'll you have?" he asked referring to the drink.

"Anything non-alcoholic and bloody will be fine." He nodded and began mixing drinks. He remained silent so I filled it in. "Thanks for everything, by the way. I forgot to tell you yesterday. You saved my relationship with Alexander by helping us out with the alter." He looked startled but nodded in acceptance. "And thanks for not firing me for… you know, being with Alexander… like that," I had to clear my throat and palm my blushing cheeks out of embarrassment. "Again, I'm sorry about that."

Jagger came over and handed me my drink before sitting with his on the curved couch across from me. "You're welcome. And let us remember what the doors up here were meant for." I nearly spat the mouthful of my A Very Bloody Mary when he said the last part but caught myself.

"Yeah, I'll be sure to remember that. So what did you need to discuss?"

"For starters, I know about your incident at home and wanted to make sure you were alright. Are you alright, Raven?" I was not surprised that Jagger knew, but it was not a topic I was ready to talk about. I probably never will be.

"I'm fine, I wouldn't hesitate to let you know I couldn't make it if something was seriously bothering me. To be honest, I really don't want to talk or even think about. But thanks for your concern."

"Fair enough. Next topic on our list," thank the seraphs, "I take it Luke and his band won't be playing for a while until they settle whatever personal problems the each seem to be having. So we'll need to go over entertainment spots. DJ from last nght agreed to play every other night for four nights, so we need the nights in between to be filled."

For the next hour we discussed business related issues that need to be resolved while we ate. Turns out, Jagger was amused but actually preferred my version of the new employee reference signs. When we finished on a good note, I got up to leave for my next two hours before going home, but Jagger stopped me to ask what I had wanted to discuss. "Oh, right!" I recalled what Alexander advised before I left home. "I just came into my power and I can't fully understand enough to control it yet. So you're gonna wanna keep me out of the bar for awhile until I'm confident I won't blow something up." I watched the confusion on his face and didn't know what else I should tell him.

"I understand. You don't need to explain. But keep me updated on your progress. You're one of my attractions at the bar. Romeo will bartend full time, while you take on some of his other jobs until I get someone to help him out, preferably female. You should seriously consider and let me know about co-owning with me Raven. You're an asset and it would keep you plenty busy."

"Thanks, I am thinking about it, it's definitely a good opportunity for me. It's just the timing. Now that I'm pregnant and Alexander's back, I don't know how long I can keep working until I need to rest, then be with the baby. I don't want to do this half-hearted, not fully committed. You know?" I tried to explain.

"Relax Little Bird, I am prepared to make adjustments. And being co-owner doesn't mean you'll be on feet. You'd have an office or can even spend some nights working from home. Technology is used to make life easier you know," he chuckled, "I'm in no rush, but the sooner you let me know, the sooner I can make necessary arrangements whether you decide yes or no. I do have other clubs to run you know. Many of them are co-owned. Like The Coffin Club, as you know, is now co-owned by Phoenix. I'm starting up a new club in New York that I also need to focus on. Go on and get back to work, we'll continue this another night." I nodded and went on with working while thinking about all Jagger said, and how I could try to make it work. I seriously need to talk to Alexander about all this.

By the time I got back to serving, I noticed Billy and his friend Az sitting at one of the bar tables near the railing that overlooks the dance floor. I grabbed a service tray and walked over to them. "Hey you two, what are you having?" I asked normally, they turned and realized it was I.

"Sis, what happened I've been waiting for you to call me back?" he asked with a 'what gives' face. Has my phone been ringing all this time?

Before answering, I checked my phone in the pocket of my skirt and realized I left it at home. "Oops, sorry Billy-Man I left it at home. What's up are you okay?" I asked concerned.

"I'm fine just wondering why our house looks like a setting in Friday the 13th? I get a call from Alexander telling me to bring your clothes, you're welcome by the way, and then Sebastian is telling me to stay with Az for the week." Then to Az he says with a wink, "Which is totally cool with me by the way." I look at her and she rolls her eyes while still blushing and grinning.

"Hey Raven, it's nice to see again. I am so loving your outfit, right now. Next time I'm at your place, I'm totally raiding your closet!" I love Azzy, she's like a neon-colorful version of me, and I told her as much with a side squeeze.

"Thanks, it's great to see you too. You know we could hang out without Billy if you ever want a break. But this actually isn't one of my usual outfits, although it is hot, I agree with you. This is actually my uniform for serving up here. Which reminds me, I'm in a tight spot with my boss right now so I need to get back to work. So I can't chat too long." Then I responded to Billy's concern. "I'm fine little bro, but we just had a break in last night and everything is taken care of. And Sebastian's right. Until we get the place back in order, you'll need to get what you can and crash with a friend. Or you can stay at the mansion if you want. Alexander's been wanting to get caught up with you."

"Alright, but no thanks to the Alexander part." Billy was obviously uncomfortable with the topic due to a certain guest. So I just gave him my last shot at getting him to open up.

"Think of Alex and Lexy, Billy. We are all family, we need to be getting along, at least find a way to be civil." With a big huff, he finally nodded and I decided to treat them as a thank you. "I'll bring you both something, on me. So, what'll it be?"

I went to get their drinks and appetizers with a smile as I thought about how much better things could be when we're all getting along again. Sebastian and I were okay now. Maybe he and Alexander are too. Hopefully Alexander and Billy could make amends as well. I don't fool myself into thinking we'll all just forget about the hurt, but if we can all find a way to forgive and move on, and then maybe it'll help our wounds hurt less. I don't really know how I feel or if I even care about getting along with Onyx and Scarlett again. There were things in that area that were my fault, things I'd have to apologize for if I wanted a chance at a recovery in our friendship. Scarlett and Sebastian are together, so I don't want it to be awkward and tense. Onyx might be Luke's mate, and he's my best friend… if he still wants to be, and I don't want her to think we'll be flirty when she's not around. So much was going to need to be mended between the lot of us. It made me miss what it's like having friends again, especially Becky.

When I got back to Az and Billy, I saw Billy getting off the phone and then look at me. "That was Alexander, he wants me to come by… so," he grimaced as he said, "… Time to get this over with, I guess." He threw back his shot and raised both eyebrows at Az. "Do you want to stay longer, or would you like to come keep me company."

"I'll stay and eat my free snacks. Raven can drive me to the mansion and I'll meet up with you there, 'okay?" she said, popping finger shaped chicken finger in her mouth. She's totally good for him. He nodded and got up. With a kiss on my cheek, then a lip lock with Az, he left. Before I left to go to another table I caught her ogling his backside and tapped her on the head with my tray and laughed.

The rest of the night went smoothly, and I was grateful for the lack of drama. Hopefully with Billy and Alexander getting together, Alexander won't remember my taunt. Two hours had passed quickly. Right now, Az and I are in my car talking about random things like school, her family that lives out of town, what's going on in the day. I didn't know if Billy told her about vampires or vrekeners, so I never mentioned anything that could be pointing towards our supernatural lives. One thing we did not talk about was our guys, which was actually a relief. "We're here. Do you want to come in?" I asked as I pulled up to the mansion and parked next to Billy's car.

"Yeah, thanks. I really need to pee. I had waaaay too many of those Ghoul Juices. But they were just too good!" I laughed and we got out and went inside.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Next chapter will be out before the end of the month, so stay tuned. All readers, please review and let me know what you think!