Raven

Part 5

As the door slams shut behind the cat, the infirmary falls eerily silent. I can hardly look at Andrei, the anger in his expression is something I’d hoped to avoid. I won’t be able to hide much longer. He’s innocent, not stupid. “Raven, I’m so sorry! I’m such an idiot! I thought I was strong enough and that I could protect you, but I’m just a stupid weakling… I was pathetic. How am I a Chosen?” Andrei leans forward, holding his face in his hands. “Protect me?” I frown, “I wasn’t the one that needed protection.” “But all that death!” He groans, “What is a Chosen who can’t survive without someone there to bring him back to life? It was so reckless!” I sigh. He’s got quite the complex. “Chosen doesn’t mean invincible. You guys die all the time. Usually there’s ambrosia on hand. I just had to improvise, not a big deal.” I hop off the table and stretch my arms above my head, “Hell, there’s one guy who just can’t stop dying. It’s like a daily thing.” “Raven… I can’t sleep.” He lifts his head, eyes red and puffy. “Every time I shut my eyes, I feel the deaths again and again…” The pain in his expression breaks my heart. “I wish I could tell you it gets easier.” He hangs his head again, “I’ve faced death before, and even caused it when I had to, but… To feel it over, and over… That’s something entirely different. I don’t feel like myself anymore.” He looks up with begging eyes, “How do you do it? You’re immortal and you can heal others. How do you do that?” I smirk playfully, “One question at a time sweetheart. How do I deal with death, be immortal, or heal?” To my relief, he cracks a smile. He stands up with a hand on his hip, “God I’m glad you’re okay. I needed you. Thank you.” I raise an eyebrow. He looks like he’s wearing the same clothes as before, dirt and all, and his hair is loose and messy. “Geez… How long was I out for?” “Three or four days.” He replies simply. My heart sinks into my stomach, “And you were here? In this room?” He shrugs, “Well, mostly. Kerry kicked me out when I tried to give you ambrosia. Finn stood guard the whole time. I was sort of scared to come in with him here until I offered to read to him.” He picks up a beaten blue journal from the table. I rub my forehead and drag my palm down my face, as though that will wipe away the nausea and the tremor in my limbs. Much longer and I would have woken up, unable to control my hunger. They were so close to death, and they had no idea. “Yea, ambrosia would have been bad.” My voice shakes, “I’ll need to have a chat with Furball…” Andrei frowns, “Why? He’s the one who told Kerry it would hurt you. How did he know that anyway?” I run my fingers through my hair, “Ambrosia only works on gods, demi-gods, and Chosen. It’s lethal to everything else. Obviously, I’m not one of those three things.” “Then… You’re a…” He hesitates. “One of a kind, I’m afraid.” I chuckle, “I was a… Sort of a failed first draft, if you will.” The boy’s face scrunches in confusion, “What?” “What were you going to say next?” I concede. May as well tell him now. He waves one hand, “Ahh, whatever. So, how about we get ourselves cleaned up, hmm?” He winks. I narrow my eyes and cross my arms. He averts his gaze to the wall sheepishly. “It’s nothing, really…” Clearly, he’s figured it out, and would rather be in denial. I barely manage more than a whisper, “Do you believe all demons are evil?” Andrei’s jaw falls open with an audible ‘pop’. His eyes bulge and then he reels back, “I… I… Based on my training, and personal experience… I’d say yes…” He scratches his head, looking everywhere but at me. I fidget with the folds of my sleeve, “Isn’t it a just little ridiculous to stereotype an entire range of species?” The brunette tips his head, “But demons hate humans, especially Chosen… Don’t they? I mean, I’ve been fighting them my whole life! It’s what we were trained for.” I shoot a glare at the naïve young man, “Don’t believe everything the Order tells you, Andrei. You’d hate people too if they started hunting you and your kin like animals.” I stick my nose up slightly, “Did you know that the Order also hunts down Angels? I don’t suppose you consider them evil too, do you?” His face flushes a deep pink, “I’m sorry. I’ve been rash and offended you. I guess I still have a lot to learn.” I turn away, pouting, “Maybe you’re not ready to know.” “What? Why not? Please, Raven, it’s killing me! I want to know!” I clench my shaking hands into fists, “Because, you’ll hate me too…” Andrei scoffs, “And I thought I was being irrational. I thought we were past secrets.” He pauses briefly, “Raven, I’ve come to realize I care very deeply about you, even without knowing what you are. I thought you felt the same, but perhaps I was wrong. Maybe you’ve just been protecting me because I’m a Chosen.” He turns away, tapping the blue book on his shoulder. “I… need to be alone.”

I catch his arm, “I didn’t save you because you’re Chosen.” His head hangs, and he mutters almost too quiet, “You should have let me die.” I cup my palm over his cheek, lifting his face until I can see his big puppy eyes, “In all my years, I’ve never been so afraid. Watching you die haunts me more than memories of Hell.” His beautiful, rainbow eyes dance across my face, expression torn. “Damn it all…” The book thuds against the floor as his hands grasp the sides of my face, his lips crashing recklessly against mine. So many emotions wash over me, I feel more than a little dizzy when he pulls away. I take a deep breath and shake my head, “Fine. I’ll show you. Just… Resist the urge to stab me, okay?” Andrei grins, and hold both hands out to show he’s unarmed. I unbutton my jeans and his eyebrows shoot up. His breath hitches when I pull them down, and then take off my shirt. I place both on the cot, leaving me in my black underwear and bra. “Oh my… Maybe we should take this back to my room?” He hums. I laugh, “If you still feel that way in a minute, I’d be happy to.” He glances at the door, and chews his lower lip, “Should I take a seat?” “Probably.” I shrug, but I don’t wait. Like ripping of a band-aid, my form shifts. Patches of pinkish red scales bubble up onto my skin, my fingernails turn to short black claws, eyes become catlike, tongue forked like a snake. Small horns grow from above my temples, curving back just above my hair, and a long thin tail sprouts from my rear. Andrei stumbles back with a gasp. He tries to sit but pushes the chair and falls to the floor hard. His eyes seem to scan every inch of me, his expression slowly changes from shock, to awe. He slowly rises to his feet without blinking, and a coy smile crosses his lips, “You still look like an angel to me.” I blush bright red. That’s definitely not the response I expected. He moves closer, until he’s right next to me. His eyes are focused on my back, where my tail swishes anxiously from side to side. He starts to reach for it, but hesitates. “Is it ok?” He turns to glance at me, his face hovering just above my head. I nod once. He cautiously strokes the short red fur that only grows there. “It’s just like a cat tail.” He giggles childishly. I can’t help smiling, overwhelmed with relief, “You’d be surprised how similar demons and cats are.” Andrei flinches, “Please don’t be like Finnigan! I swear he has no conscience.” I laugh, and as he smiles down at me, he notices the horns. He touches their smooth surface, eyes wide.

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