Chapter 2

That night, Raven fell asleep, but as she did, she had a nightmare that her father had returned and he was looking for her. "It's a dream," she said to herself, but then yelped in surprise when she felt the heat of a fireball land near her. She began to run, hearing her father's cruel voice calling to her.

"Go away!" She yelled, trying to use her powers, but that only worked for a short time.

He continued to chase her, throwing attacks at her. She tried to hide, but any hiding spot she found was soon destroyed by her father's attacks. In escaping from one such spot, Raven tripped and fell down, turning quickly and putting her arms up to defend herself.

Just then, a cloaked being appeared in front of her. "Raven, take my hand," a soothing voice said, reaching out a hand to her. "I can help you, but you have to hurry."

She hesitated a bit before seeing her father launch an attack at the cloaked stranger. Seeing this stranger was indeed on her side, she reached out and grabbed his hand. "Look out!" She warned him.

The stranger pulled her into a hug and picked her up, quickly taking flight. "Cover us!" He said to another cloaked being who arrived just then.

The other cloaked stranger quickly activated his powers, a golden glow coming from him and stopping Raven's father's attacks. She was stunned to see it before looking up at the one who held her. "Who are you?" She asked.

"Someone who can help," he said. "Raven, open your eyes, young one. Open your eyes and all this goes away."

The other cloaked being joined them. "We need to leave! Now!" He said.

The surrounding suddenly changed and Raven gasped awake, disoriented for a few moments before she became more aware of her surroundings and the fact that she was being held. She looked to see a tall, tendriled being with black hair and neon accents holding her and gazing at her worriedly with blue-and-yellow eyes. "Shh, you're safe now, child," he spoke in that same soothing voice from the first cloaked being.

"That horrid being was using her nightmares to try and find her," said another voice and she turned her head to see a tall being with a top hat and yellow eyes. Raven began trembling in both fear and anxiousness, with the two sensed and their faces took on looks of sympathy.

"You've been through so much, young one," said the tendriled being, one of his tendrils coming closer and touching her shoulder, making her flinch a little, but the tendril just rested there until she saw the man close his eyes. "So much negative energy."

"Her poor heart was just barely holding on," the top-hatted man said, his hands glowing gold.

Raven began trembling and felt a gloved hand gently cup the left side of her face. "Shh, we've got you, little one," the tendriled being said.

"We're here to help," the top-hatted man said, one of his gloved hand gently cupping the right side of Raven's face, his thumb catching a few tears. "You poor child. You're exhausted."

"Anyone would be after dealing with what she has been dealing with," the other said as both began using their powers together to help the teen heroine recover.

Rachel came in right then. "Mansion's on Level 7 Lockdown and all the items needed to stop this kind of threat are in place," she said before looking at Raven and going up to her. "You okay, Raven?" She asked.

The girl shook her head and Lance stood up, still cradling her in his arms. "Balan, can you get a bowl of cool water and a washcloth? Rachel, can you get some chamomile tea?" He asked. "Meet us in the living room."

"Sure thing, Uncle Lance," the young woman said, heading to the kitchen.

"I'll get those immediately," Balan promised before heading to the restroom.

Lance carried the teen downstairs. "Who are you?" She asked. "And...how did you...?"

"Know you were trapped in a nightmare?" He finished her sentence. "My counterpart and I can sense when someone is in trouble and we've been watching you ever since Rachel called us."

"Rachel called you two?" She asked.

Lance nodded. "She overheard you and your friend talking and grew worried for you," he explained. "So she called in some reinforcements to not only help you, but also to prepare for the battle that is on the horizon."

He entered the living room and sat down on the couch, setting her in his lap just as Balan reappeared with the water and washcloth. He dunked the washcloth in the water and wrung it out before giving it to Lance, who accepted it with a nod and began gently wiping the cloth over Raven's face. She held still in surprise at both his gentle touch and how he was caring for her as if she was his own child.

Rachel came in with a cup of chamomile tea and handed it to Raven, who accepted it gratefully and began sipping it. As she did, tears stung her eyes. "I...I want him to go away," she said.

"Your father?" Rachel asked.

Raven nodded. "He'll keep trying to find me," she said.

The young woman got a text on her phone and looked to see who it was from and she smiled when she saw it. "Then let today be the last day you ever have to worry about him," she said, standing up straight.

Raven looked up at her and her eyes widened upon seeing several aliens that looked alike come into the living room. "Say the word, Rach," Taurus said.

"We're ready to send that monster far away," said Zeus.

Cetus looked at Raven. "Hold tight to Lance, young one," he said. "Though that monster cannot enter in here, it's best if you are holding onto someone to keep him from getting to you."

Balan looked at them. "Are you all sure you can all do it?" He asked.

"We can," Alien X said.

"And we will," Celesto said.

"Raven is under our protection, which means we will protect her always," Apollo said.

"Especially if we high officials work together," said a new voice and they saw the new Celestialsapien come in.

"Draco!" Zeus said joyfully, hugging him. "When did you arrive?"

"The other day, when I sensed Rachel was looking to see about freeing Raven," Draco said. "You all were right. She is very much a fighter and a good ally, just like her uncle."

"He taught me to fight for my family and to always protect them," Rachel said. "And when I promise to protect someone, I never go back on my word."

Balan smiled. "Holly and John would be proud of you, my little magician," he said.

The young woman smiled at her uncle before looking at the Celestialsapiens. "Alright, what's the plan?" She said. "Because I'm not about to let a monster like that into my house."

"He won't step foot in this Mansion," Taurus said firmly.

"As soon as he arrives to Staybrook, we will act," Cetus said.

Lance lifted up his head. "He's outside," he said.

Rachel looked outside and nodded. "He's right," she said before grabbing her Proto-Tool. "Alright, let's get to the roof. Uncle Balan, can you use your magic to reinforce the door and windows?"

"Yes," he said, doing so at once.

Lance's tendrils came out and began forming a cocoon over himself and Raven. "You and I will be safe in here," he said to her as she clung to him and he held her protectively. "I won't let him hurt you again, Raven."

Rachel and the Celestialsapiens got to the roof where they saw Trigon and the aliens got their powers ready while the young woman held up her Proto-Tool. "Not another step, monster!" She called out.

He paused and looked at them before laughing. "Futile," he said. "And worthless."

Draco narrowed his eyes. "Not this family," he said before a powerful beam shot from his hands. "Drive him back!" He said.

The others quickly shot beams from their hands while Rachel fired her Proto-Tool, the attacks hitting Trigon and he staggered a bit before looking annoyed, but just as he took a step, he suddenly was lifted up into the air. "Now!" Zeus said firmly.

A portal opened behind Trigon and he was forced back into it, looking at them all before seeing Rachel glare at him. "Never bother my family again," she said firmly. "That includes Raven."

A final burst of power from the beams the Celestialsapiens shot knocked the monster into the portal. "No!" He cried out as the portal sealed up around him and closed, leaving no trace behind.

Draco's, Zeus', Cetus', and Taurus' eyes all glowed for a brief moment before Draco turned to Rachel. "It's done," he said. "That monster is forever falling and will never break free of where we've sent him from."

She nodded. "Thank you," she said.

"But there is something we have to do," Zeus said. "We have to break the bond between Raven and her father."

"Let's go do so then," Taurus said. "That child's been through enough grief."

Nodding, the group went back down to the living room and Balan looked up and the cocoon protecting Lance and Raven pulled back, the two looking up at the Celestialsapiens. "Is he gone?" The girl asked.

"Yes," Cetus said. "But to ensure he can never find you, we must break the bond you have with him."

Raven looked worried and Zeus placed a hand on her shoulder. "You'll be free of him, Raven," he said. "You deserve that much."

Tears stung her eyes and she looked at them. "Will it hurt?" She asked.

"No," Draco said soothingly.

"We'll help too," Balan said and Lance nodded.

Rachel moved the coffee table out of the way and Lance stood up, moving the couch to allow the Celestialsapiens to circle it. He sat back down with Balan beside him and the seven Celestialsapiens around them. Rachel herself stood firm at the entryway of the living room as the Celestialsapiens' hands began glowing. Raven began to glow too and she grew afraid. Lance gently squeezed her shoulder. "I've got you, little one," he soothed her.

His words helped her calm down and soon Draco stepped back, prompting the others to do the same. "It's done," he said.

Balan and Lance at once began using their healing powers to help ease Raven's mind. "Rest, dear one," Balan said soothingly.

"You'll have undisturbed rest tonight," Lance promised.

The teen heroine felt tears sting her eyes as it sank in that she was finally free. "I'm...I'm really free of him?" She asked, hope in her voice.

"Yes, Raven," Zeus said with a smile.

"You are free of him," Alien X said, also smiling.

As relief filled her, so did tiredness and she closed her eyes, falling into a peaceful sleep.

Raven has been freed at last, but the story's not over yet. :)

Please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418

A little more info on Draco: He's as tall as Zeus, Cetus, and Taurus and has green and silver eyes. He has four bands on each of his arms, the left ones being gold and the right ones being red. He is the final Celestialsapien High Court Official of the group. He has watched over Rachel and her family for a long time and was waiting for a time when he could join the family as his companions had. He has a huge soft spot for both children and animals. :)