Raven's Rose

by Deanna Kinney

  Jordan rushed in, throwing his backpack on the table. He was always late to these things. As soon as Raven spotted him, he rushed over to inquire. “Jordan, did you see Sophia this afternoon?” He didn’t want to alarm anyone, but keeping the anxiousness from his voice wasn’t easy for him.

  Jordan shrugged. “Oh, yeah. I saw her after school. She seemed fine to me.”

  Raven suspected that Jordan might still be slightly sore over not winning Sophia for himself. “Oh. Well, thank you.”

  Raven continued to pace even as Levi began the meeting.

  “Does anyone know where Eli is? He’s missed three of these meetings already,” Levi remarked. “Raven, do you know where he is?”

  Raven was pulled back into reality then. “No. I am sorry, but I do not know where Eli is today. He has been gone all day long. I am sorry, Levi, but I must go. I fear something has delayed Sophia, and I am concerned. I will try to hurry back.”

  Levi appeared worried as well. “Yes, of course. Please call me as soon as you find her. God’s speed.”

  “Thank you, Levi,” he said, exiting the room with velocity and grace. He entered the car garage seconds later, jumping into his car and accelerating up the ramp and into the forest.

  He reached the school in record time and ran from the car and into the building. The sun barely had time to touch him, but he was already beginning to feel the effects from it.

  After searching most of the building, he finally located her in the library. She was exiting the room with books in her arms. She jumped when she spotted him. “Oh, Raven! You scared me. What are you doing here? I thought you had a meeting.”

  “I was worried about you. I tried reaching you on your phone, but you did not answer. Is everything all right?”

  “I’m such an idiot. I’m so sorry, Raven. My cell battery died. I must’ve forgotten to charge it last night. I thought you’d be preoccupied in the meeting. I really wanted to get these books for a report due soon. Please forgive me.”

  He took all of her books into one hand and pulled her against him with the other. “I am just so relieved that you are fine.”

  He snuggled her neck, and she giggled. “Well, I don’t know about fine. If you keep doing that I’m going to be very worked up.”

  He pulled back and gave her a wicked grin. “Well then. Let us get you home as fast as possible.”

  Before she could respond he scooped her up into his one arm and carried her from the building. As he was placing her in the car, however, he stumbled. She stiffened, and he knew she had noticed.

  “Raven, maybe I should drive. We need to get you out of the sun right away. I can tell it’s affecting you.”

  He grinned. “It is not the sun that is affecting me, my love. It is you.” But he knew she wasn’t buying it at all.

  They were halfway home, taking curve after curve on the winding mountain road, when suddenly a dark Humvee with darker windows came flying up fast behind them. Raven didn’t want to alarm Sophia, but he instantly had a bad feeling about this vehicle.

  “Hold on,” Raven told Sophia as he rolled down his window and tried waving them past, but they wouldn’t have it. They sped up, tapping Raven’s back bumper.

  “What do they want?” Sophia yelled, clearly shaken.

  “Here, call Levi immediately!” Raven said, pressing his phone into her hand. He then took the wheel firmly with both hands. “Hold on!” He sped up, taking the curves way too fast.

  Sophia pushed the buttons with urgency before glancing back at the big vehicle. “Raven! Look out!” she screamed as the Humvee slammed into the rear of their car, pushing them over the edge of the road and flying into the air.

  Raven blurred as he unbuckled his seatbelt and dove in front of Sophia, shielding her body from the impact.

  The car slammed into a tree, catapulting Raven’s body through the windshield, over the hood of the car, and into the forest.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The meeting was finally over and Levi felt it went pretty good, despite two of his key players being absent. Then he remembered Rose and started to retrieve his cell phone when Charity entered the room.

  “Hey, puppy. How did the meeting go?” she said playfully, wrapping her arms around his neck as she leaned in for a quick, but sweet, kiss.

  He pulled her into his arms as close as he could possibly get considering the huge protruding belly between them. “It went well. Raven had to leave, and Eli was another no show though.”

  She pulled away in a huff. “That stinking Eli! What’s his problem anyway?”

  He let out a deep sigh. “Who knows.”

  “You know, maybe we should have him neutered. That will keep him at home.”

  “Hmm,” Levi said, rubbing his chin, seriously considering it.

  She laughed, taking his hand in hers. “You know this rubbing-the-chin thing is becoming a familiar trait of yours, but it’s cute.” She winked at him. “Did, you say Raven had to leave?”

  Levi nodded, rubbing his chin again, still pretending to think.

  She pushed him playfully. “Stop that. Why did Raven leave?”

  Levi pulled her into his arms and proceeded in telling her what happened.

  “Well, did he call you to say he found her?”

  He released her and pulled out his phone. “I was about to check when you came in.” He pulled up his messages. “Here’s one from him.”

  “Well, aren’t you gonna listen to it?”

  “Yes ma’am,” he responded in mock irritation. As he pressed the button and began to listen to it, all he heard was Rose scream the words, “Raven! Look out!”

  “Raven and Rose are in trouble!” he shouted, dialing his phone again.

  Charity was quick. She grabbed his phone but instead, inserted her fingers into her mouth and created the most ear piercing whistle heard to date.

  Within seconds most of the pack were rushing inside the Meeting Room.

  “Okay,” Levi started, “Raven and Rose are in trouble. It sounded like a car wreck. Let’s split up and search. Be on your guard. Raven had to have had a reason to wreck. Maybe it’s the sun, or he may have had outside help.”

  Charity started to follow when Levi grabbed her arm. “Oh no you don’t. You stay here and take care of yourself.”

  “I don’t think so. Those are my friends out there.”

  “And I—will—find—them. Please stay here and keep you and our babies safe.” He smiled a gentle smile and ran his hand down her cheek. “Please, kitten. For me?”

  She sighed. “Fine. But please call me as soon as you know something.”

  That was easier than he thought it would be. He was sure she’d give him a hard time about going, but he couldn’t bear the thought of her and the babies in danger. No one knew yet what they were facing. “I promise. Thank you, baby.”

  He was rushing out the door. “Levi!”

  He spun to face his wife—her beauty so overwhelming it struck him almost speechless. “Yes?”

  “Please be careful.”

  He smiled. “Always.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Rose slowly opened her eyes. She ran her hands up and down her body. She seemed to be okay. But how was that possible? Raven had thrown himself in front of her. That’s why she wasn’t injured.

  Raven!

  She unbuckled her seatbelt and pushed on the door. It wouldn’t open. It was crushed in, and no matter how hard she pushed, she couldn’t get it to budge. “Raven!” She had to get to him. She knew he was injured. He’d flown through the windshield.

  The windshield.

  She climbed over the glass, careful not to cut herself. She felt sore, but she continued to climb out and over the hood. She stumbled as she landed on her feet. “Raven!” she called as she moved through the forest searching for any movement, or any noise alerting her to his whereabouts. “Raven!” She suddenly thought she spotted movement ahead. There was a figure lying on the ground. Was it Raven? The forest was sheltered fr
om the sun, and it was hard for her to see, but there appeared to be dark figures standing around him. Had she hit her head? She reached up to touch it when a hand came around her neck, and before she could scream, she slipped into darkness.

  * * * * * *

  Raven moaned as he slowly pulled himself to a sitting position. He ran his hand across his face and felt blood. He had a gash in his head, and it was bleeding badly. His thoughts were confusing, but he thought there was someone important he should remember, maybe someone he should be looking for.

  He tried to get up but fell again, too weak to move. Suddenly, he registered a presence. He glanced up and recognized the familiar villain. His stomach knotted.

  “Well, hello Brother. It seems we have finally found you.”

  “Griffin,” Raven spat, watching his brother, along with the rest of the coven, taking a stance, surrounding him.

  “It is nice to see you too. I have to admit, I didn’t think we would get lucky enough for you to make another mistake so soon. When we caught your scent some weeks back near the high school, we put a tight watch on the school. It was easy enough with just the one werewolf watching over the school. I do believe Levi is getting sloppy. I was curious as to what would make you take such a chance knowing we were looking for you. I have to say I am disappointed to find that answer.

  Suddenly Raven’s mind cleared long enough for him to remember. “Sophia!”

  Griffin laughed. “Is this what you are looking for?” A vampire, he instantly recognized as Randolph, stepped into view. He was a giant vampire and hard to miss with his white skin, white hair, and even whiter eyes. And, lying limply in the albino’s arms, was his Sophia Rose. Raven tried to get up, but two others grabbed him and pinned him down.

  “Don’t even think about trying anything foolish. Let me introduce you to our newest family member. She will make you regret it.” Stepping out from the others came a beautiful, statuesque woman. She was bald with some sort of tattoos trailing up her neck and around her ears. Raven couldn’t make out what they were, black hearts perhaps, but he did notice the two whips coiled up against both her hips. Her hands rested upon them and seemed to itch with anticipation. Her eyes were golden, almost like the werewolves. In another time he could have admired her beauty and fierceness, but that was the old Raven.

  “This is Maurie, and to stare her down is to cause your own death. If you say her name is a boy’s name, or make any reference to the talk show host, she will split you in half with her whips. It is best not to talk to her at all. You have been warned.”

  Raven did his best to ignore those statements. “Griffin, let Sophia go! You have me, now let her go!”

  “You know, I do not think I will.” His voice instantly turned from taunting to fierce. “I think she is coming with us.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  “There it is!” Hector yelled, spotting Raven’s car mangled against the tree.

  “Well, this is his car all right,” Levi said, inspecting it further. The others came around him with worried looks on their faces. At once, they all caught the familiar scent of their enemy. “Search the area now!”

  Shifting into their werewolf forms, they all broke off in search of their friends. Before long, they came to the spot where Raven’s blood lie pooled on the ground. Some shifted back into their human forms. Josh was the first to speak. “It looks like this is where Raven and Rose’s scent ends, but the vampire scents continue north. Shall we pursue them?”

  “Yes,” Levi answered. “But first we need to regroup. We’ll need to make some calls and get all members active. This means war, and we need to be prepared. Let’s get back to the facility. We don’t have much time. We will make them regret the day they took our friends,” he growled.

  * * * * * *

  Back at the Drake House, Levi made the calls and all active werewolves rendezvoused in the Meeting Room, worked up and ready for a fight. He knew all of them had come to respect Raven and were happy he had found love with Rose. As he watched his pack gather and talk strategy, their anger grew and he was glad for it. Their anger would give them the ammunition they needed to win this battle once and for all.

  Charity was huddled around Rose’s parents, comforting them, and Levi was about to make his way over to see how they were coping, when Eli burst onto the scene. “I’m in too! You can’t leave without me!”

  “You need to stay here with your parents,” Levi said, coming up in front of him.

  “No way, Levi! That’s my sister out there with those monsters! And Raven is my friend! I’m coming!” Eli’s voice was a mix between a growl and a yell. His face was burning red with anger and determination. The look he shot Levi made it clear this wasn’t up for discussion.

  Levi lowered his head and sighed. “Well, let’s go then.”

  Eli rested his hand on Levi’s shoulder. “Thanks, Brother.”

  This warmed Levi instantly. He did truly love his brother. “We’ll find them. I promise you that.” He turned to the others. “There’s just one more thing we’re waiting for,” he said, glancing at the door, “and here they are.”

  Everyone mumbled their disapproval as Wesley and some of his pack came into view.

  “Levi, what are they doing here?” Eli growled.

  Levi knew Eli was most likely remembering the day in the clearing when Wesley defeated him in battle. Eli wasn’t ready then, but thanks to Levi’s training, he was sure that his brother was ready now. “I invited them here. We need their help if we’re gonna win this. We have no idea what we’re walking into, and we need to be prepared. Last time they had more vampires than we’ve ever seen together. Now, I know they haven’t had much time to regroup, but we can’t take any chances. These are our friends, and we want to bring them back alive.” Levi scanned his group with a challenging look. “Any comments?” he asked, hoping they would just accept the situation. They really didn’t have time to debate the issue.

  “More importantly, we need to wipe this vampire scum from the earth,” Wesley said, smirking.

  Charity added, “Gee, Wesley, remind me why I haven’t missed you a bit.”

  He started to approach her but stopped himself when Levi growled a warning. “Oh, Charity, you know you missed my unique charm.”

  Levi watched as Charity seemed to stop and study him then. His black hair was a sloppy spike and his arrogance was the same as usual, Levi noted with annoyance.

  “Hmm, well unique is right,” she said, her face turning sincere. “Just go and save my family, okay?”

  Wesley also turned serious. “Of course,” was all he said as he nodded and turned to join the others who were already running from the room.

  “Levi!” she called.

  He did a sharp turn and was in front of her in a flash. “What is it, baby?”

  “Please let me come?”

  His heart jumped in his chest. He loved this woman more than anything. He knew it was hard for her to stay behind, but she and the babies’ safety needed to come first. “Oh, kitten,” he sighed, taking her face gently in his hands. “You need to stay here and keep everyone calm. The Jameson’s need you too. And you’re supposed to be on bed-rest for the babies. You’ve saved us lots of times, now let the werewolves do the saving. We need to earn back our pride, ya know.”

  She smiled at that. “Okay, but Levi?”

  “Yes,” he whispered, touching his lips softly to hers.

  “Promise me you’ll be careful. And please come back. We need you,” she said, rubbing her hands across her belly.

  He peered down into her tearful blue eyes. “I will always come back to you, kitten—always. I promise.” He kissed her one last time and disappeared from sight.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Raven’s mind was a blur as he faded in and out of consciousness. He wasn’t aware of where he was, or how long he had been there. All he knew for sure was that he was injured and his strength was gone, and unless he fed, it wouldn’t return. He thought he heard someone calling hi
s name somewhere in the cloudiness of his mind. He tried to focus on the voice, listening with the feeble strength he had left. Slowly, it became clearer.

  Sophia!

  He snapped to, trying to jump up but was unable to move. Not only was his strength truly gone, but he was wrapped tightly with chains covering his complete upper torso. He struggled, but it was no use.

  “Get these chains off me!” he barked, only to be answered with laughter. Now that he was awake, he could see where he was. It was his old home—his mansion. The same one he brought Charity to many months ago. “Where is Sophia?” he demanded through clenched teeth.

  “I can’t believe you chose another bride. Was I not good enough?”

  He recognized the whine right away. It was Cassie, his old bride. Well, they were not truly married. Not like him and Sophia. His voice was strained. “Cassie, I need to feed. Please, help me.”

  “I am sorry love, but you left me. You chose those nasty werewolves over me.” She was whining in full force now, her long blonde hair flowing all around her. “You chose that human girl, Charity, over all of us. And now you married one of them. Did you think I would not find out? I have been looking for you for a while now. I saw your wedding picture in that stupid little town paper. How could you?” She slapped him then. His head flipped back and snapped, making a loud crack. She gasped. “Oh, love. I am so sorry. I did not mean to hurt my love.” She knelt down by his head and cradled him. Suddenly, Raven’s head snapped up, and he sank his teeth deep into her neck, sucking with urgency. She screamed. He knew he wouldn’t have long, and he was right. Three vampires rushed in and threw him across the room. He smacked hard against the back wall, knocking pictures down on top of him.