Raven had been leaning back on her elbows as Maddy's story began; now she was propped forward, her mouth hanging open to reveal the shocking pink of her tongue behind her blue lips. Maddy met her astonished gaze and winced, seeing judgment. So the relief when Raven clapped her on the back and whispered "good for you, honey," was as intense as the shame that had washed over her as she confessed. Nonetheless, she shook her head.
"Good nothing, Raven. I could have killed her. I wanted to kill her."
"But you didn't. And you did kill him. Fiskel." Maddy flinched, flushed. Raven gave her shoulder a light shake. "Don't do that. Don't be ashamed. He had it coming a hundred times over, Maddy. You know that, right?"
Madeline gave her an opaque look.
"Maybe. Maybe he did."
Before Raven could ask her anything more, Maddy pressed ahead with a question of her own.
"Raven, I don't want to pry, but… Your son. Karol. And Azazel. They're not here, are they. They're not with you?"
She's learned, thought Raven ruefully. I always told her the best defense is a good offense. It was a question she knew she'd have to answer eventually. But somehow, she'd hoped it wouldn't hurt as much as it still did. Hope. She scoffed internally. Like should. Like fair. It was a word for those who could afford it. She pushed the emotion away from her, heard her own flat, toneless voice as if from far off, a stranger's voice.
"I haven't seen Karol in over eight years."
Maddy waited for more explanation. When it didn't come, she probed clumsily.
"…and Azazel?"
Mystique's eyes filmed, closed.
"Him too."
Madeline put a hand on the blue girl's forearm, started to ask the obvious question, couldn't.
"Are they… together?"
Raven looked at her at last, her yellow eyes inscrutable – although Madeline thought she could detect a flicker of something – rage? pain? – deep within.
"I sure as hell hope not."