Raven's Revenge: Paranormal Prison Romance (Paranormal Prison Series Book 2)

by Naomi Martin

  “Thank you?”

  He chuckles. “I believe you’re not here to do me any harm. I don’t usually see assassins as petrified as you obviously are.”

  The woman on his right looks disgusted—and still terrified—but mostly disgusted and remains silent. As does the other man. They both slowly edge behind the President, obviously intending to use him as a human shield if this all goes to shit. Apparently, loyalty only goes so far.

  “Who are you, kid?”

  “My name is Raven McCabe,” I tell him. “And I know you’ve been fed a lot of stories about people like me—supernaturals. I know Colonel Villa has been filling your head with all kinds of horror stories about us.”

  He nods. “We’ve had discussions, yes.”

  “I’m here because I want—no, I need—you to know he’s lying,” I tell him, putting as much earnestness into my voice as I can. “Not only that, he framed a man I love for the murder of Senator Cook. The senator’s death was all Villa’s doing.”

  “Is that so?”

  I nod. “Yes,” I explain. “Villa murdered Cook… or, at least, he used one of the shifters he controls to do it.”

  “Forgive me if I say that sounds pretty… far-fetched,” he says.

  Moving slowly so I don’t spook the two people who are now firmly hiding behind the President, I slip my phone out of my pocket and call up the recording I made out on the highway. Sharpe looks intrigued, so I hold it up.

  “P-permission to approach?” I ask.

  He laughs heartily, a surprisingly good-natured sound. His two aides, or whatever they are, exchange a look, their expressions caught somewhere between horror and disbelief.

  “This isn’t a court of law, but I appreciate the effort at tradition and formality,” Sharpe says. “You may approach.”

  “I’ve been told I’m not the most diplomatic person ever,” I tell him. “Some say my interpersonal skills are lacking.”

  “You’re blunt and to the point. I can appreciate that,” he says. “And it might surprise you to know, I’ve been told I’m not the most diplomatic either, so you’re in good company.”

  I nod and offer him a weak smile. “Thank you, sir,” I tell him. “I just want you to know that most supernaturals—like most people—just want to live normal, peaceful lives. Yes, there are the outliers, the ones who do terrible, unspeakable things. But the same can be said of the normal human population, can’t it?”

  Sharpe steeples his fingers in front of him and nods. “It most certainly can.”

  Though my hand is still trembling, I set the phone down on the desk and hit play. In the background, we can hear the sound of men yelling and the occasional burst of gunfire, but then the Colonel’s voice, which is unmistakable, floats out of the speaker. As he listens to Villa’s confession, Sharpe’s face grows red. But then his expression shifts, becoming hardened with anger. And when it finishes, he picks up my phone and plays it again, his face growing ever darker with each syllable Villa utters. And when it finishes playing a second time, he sets it down on the desk and looks up at me, silent for a long moment. I can see the myriad of emotions playing across his face and realize in that moment that he’s not weak, like Villa claimed. He’s deliberate and thoughtful. And most of all, he’s angry. I would hate to be Villa once Sharpe gets ahold of him.

  “Colonel Villa,” he says. “Is he alive?”

  I nod. “He was when I left him out on Highway 80,” I say. “As were all of his men. You’re going to have to replace some trucks, but as far as I know, all of his men are alive and well.”

  He drums his fingers on his desk, and I can see the silent debate going on in his mind. I’m not sure exactly what he’s debating—perhaps the best way to execute Villa? Or maybe me. I’m not entirely sure at this point. All I know is that he is deep in thought and I can practically see how much this revelation is pressing down on him. Finally, he looks up at me.

  “This is a lot to take in,” he says.

  I give him a smirk. “You should try living the life I’ve lived for almost two years now. Most of it on the run from Colonel Villa and his men.”

  “Raven, tell me something,” he says. “Are you free for dinner? I think you and I have a lot to talk about.”

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Raven

  It’s a couple of weeks after my impromptu meeting with President Sharpe and we’re all sitting in one of the hotel’s conference rooms. Several large, flatscreen TVs are mounted to the walls around us, and couches, chairs, and bean bags have all been spread out around the room. There are a couple hundred of us crammed into the room, waiting.

  There’s a nervous energy permeating the room and excited chatter filling the air. I swear, you’d think we’re about to watch the Super Bowl or something. Which is insane, given the fact that we have no idea what’s going to happen. For all we know, President Sharpe’s address may be the commencement of an all-out war on us. For all we know, he reinstated Villa and imbued him with all new, evil powers. We just don’t know right now.

  “It’s hope you’re feeling,” Zane says, as if he’s reading my thoughts. “It’s hope that everybody in this room is feeling.”

  I nod. “Yeah. I can see that.”

  “We all want to believe Sharpe will do the right thing.”

  “I just hope we’re not disappointed.”

  Dora said our group’s leadership had gotten word that President Sharpe would be delivering an address from the Oval Office tonight. Her sources inside the government relayed that Sharpe had been talking to a lot of people since I left him that night, including our people inside Congress. What they haven’t told us, though, is how those conversations have gone, or what Sharpe is going to say tonight. On that, he’s kept his own counsel.

  I look over at Dora and see her sitting close to a guy I know to be a Water Elemental… Donovan, I think his name is. I wouldn’t say they’re snuggling, but there is definitely some flirtatious touching going on between them. Dora sees me looking at her and her cheeks flush. But she smiles, and for the first time since I’ve known her, she looks… happy.

  It’s a little disconcerting. Sort of like watching a dog wearing a tutu and riding a bicycle, but if she’s finally opened herself up and found somebody, I’m genuinely happy for her.

  “I didn’t think vampires blushed,” I say.

  “Given that we’ve been together for almost a year now, I’m appalled by how little you seem to know about vampires,” Zane admonishes and flashes me a smile.

  “I know the important parts,” I retort and give him a flirty wink.

  The four of us are sitting on a large, plush couch, waiting for the show to begin. After I took out Villa’s convoy out on the highway, the attack on Meridian obviously never came, and when I got back, there was a feeling of lightness around here I haven’t ever felt before. Zane’s right. There is a sense of hope in the air. Everybody seems to be smiling, laughing, and enjoying themselves. And I have to say, it’s a really nice change of pace.

  “So, do you know what Sharpe is going to say tonight?” Elliot asks.

  I shake my head. “No. He just listened to me. Asked questions. Took it all in,” I explain. “But he didn’t say what he was going to do or even what he thought about it all. He just listened.”

  “What’s your sense of him?” Gray asks.

  “I got the sense that he’s a decent man. Honorable,” I say. “Oh, he’s definitely afraid of us. Scared of what we can do. There’s no question about that. But I think he actually spoke with me in good faith.”

  “I would hope, after you played him that recording, that no matter what, Villa is done,” Elliot says.

  “I hope he’s in the Pit,” I remark. “And honestly, I think that recording is the only reason he took me seriously. The only reason he didn’t have me shot on sight. Well, that and the fact that I’d bound and gagged him when I popped in.”

  “That’s my girl,” Zane says. “I love your sense of diplomacy.”


  I laugh and give him a kiss on the cheek.

  “I’m surprised you didn’t kill Villa when you had the chance,” Zane says. “It’s all you’ve thought of for months. It’s what’s been driving you.”

  I nod. “It was. And I was going to,” I admit. “But when I had the chance, when I was looking him in the eye… something changed. I realized that I wanted to be better than him. I didn’t want to be a monster. I thought that breaking the cycle was more important than exacting my pound of flesh.”

  “Your wisdom grows by the day,” Zane says, and I can tell he actually means it.

  “Everybody quiet. It’s almost time,” Dora calls out and hits a button on a remote.

  The buzz of conversation around the room dies down as screens come to life. The news anchors are informing the viewers that they’ll be cutting away from their broadcast to air President Sharpe’s address. A couple of moments later, Sharpe’s face fills the screens. The anticipation in the room is palpable, and my heart and stomach both ripple with fear. I want to believe he’s going to do the right thing, but I know that most politicians go whichever way the wind blows. They’ll do whatever is popular. Or just expedient for them.

  I want to believe that Sharpe is different, though. I think he’s a good, decent man. And I got the sense that he wasn’t fully on board with Villa’s plan, but he felt pressured to do it because he believed Villa’s lies. Believed we were out there running around all willy-nilly, killing everybody who crossed our path because that’s what Villa told him. I want to believe I showed him differently. Having that recording certainly helped, and I’m glad I had the foresight to tape Villa.

  “My fellow Americans… we are living in extraordinary times, and it has come to my attention that we are living among extraordinary people. People of truly astonishing abilities. Many of you watching this, I know, already know of the existence of vampires. Shifters. And Elementals. This is not news to you. But for some of us, this is a revelation. And, personally speaking, the events of the past few days, and getting the chance to meet and spend some time with one of these extraordinary people has been a truly eye-opening experience for me.”

  I feel the eyes of everybody in the room turn toward me, the weight of their gaze palpable. I shrink back into the couch, taking refuge beneath Zane’s comforting arm, and try to shut everybody—and that feeling of their eyes upon me—out of my mind.

  “Now, I know most of our first reactions to something different—something potentially dangerous—is to lash out from a place of fear. A place of ignorance. People who are different are often called monsters.

  “I’m no different from many of you in that regard. My initial reaction to learning of these… supernatural beings… was shock. Fear. And, to my eternal shame, I authorized a policy of extreme violence against them.

  “But I am here to tell you, in no uncertain terms, that I was wrong. I had the good fortune to spend time with a quite insanely courageous young woman, who showed me just how wrong I was. About a great many things. She taught me I was wrong to fear. She showed me these supernaturals, as they’re called, are little different than you and I. They have hopes. Dreams. Fears. They want the same things in life than we want. They want to love. They want to be happy. And, most of all, they want to live in peace.

  “Now, obviously, like any demographic in this country—in this world—you are going to have exceptions to that rule. There will be bad ones. Just as there are among our population of non-gifted people. To believe otherwise would be ignorant and hypocritical.

  “But I come before you tonight in the spirit of kinship. Fellowship. And I call on all of you, my fellow Americans, to embrace the diversity that is only growing within our population. Diversity is our strength.

  “In the coming days, I plan on proposing several initiatives to help mainstream these extraordinary people into the fabric of our society. With the help of Congress, I plan on extending the protections minority classes enjoy to these people, as well. I will also be introducing various other measures aimed at ensuring the peace and prosperity of our people. I will keep you apprised of everything I plan to do.

  “We are living in extraordinary times and we are seeing history being made. I, for one, am overjoyed by this. I embrace this heartily. And I hope you will, too.

  “You will be hearing from me again very soon. Until then, good night and God Bless these United States.”

  As the news anchors come back onto the screens and begin to discuss the content of the address, Dora hits a button on the remote and the screens go dark, plunging the room into a stunned silence. It’s as if everybody in the room is holding their breath, not daring to move a muscle. A moment later, as if it was choreographed or something, the room explodes in cheers and shouts of joy, and the pounding of feet on the floor. All around us, people are hugging and kissing, crying, and celebrating. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding and I throw my arms around Zane. Then Gray. Then Elliot. Then, all four of us embrace one another in a joyous group hug.

  What we’re feeling right now is hope manifested. What we’re feeling right now is our first taste of freedom. For the first time since we came into our powers, we are truly free. We will no longer have to look over our shoulders, or fear men in black uniforms dragging us away in the night. We’ll no longer have to worry about being tortured or killed. We’re free to live our lives.

  “You did it,” Gray says. “I knew you’d do it!”

  “I guess I’m going to have to find something else to nag you about, huh?” Elliot says with a laugh.

  Zane smiles at me. “I believed in you from the start,” he tells me. “I’m glad you have finally decided to do so as well.”

  I’m surprised when I feel the tears spilling down my cheeks, but soon realize they’re tears of pure and utter elation. It’s been a long, hard road, one filled with fear, pain, and of course, tremendous loss.

  But now, at the end of that road, there is nothing but pure and unadulterated joy. Elation. And, of course, love. As I look at my boys, I feel whole and complete. I’m ecstatic, knowing that our dreams are going to come true.

  We have our whole lives to look forward to, and it’s going to be a life filled with nothing but love and peace. We all exchange a look, sharing the knowledge that our days of fighting are done. Our days of pain and hurting are over. And all that’s left is to get on with living the life we all want to live.

  And I, for one, can’t wait to get started enjoying it. Together.

  The End

  Other Books By Naomi Martin

  Sapphire Bay High: Dark High School Bully Series

  Fae Unleashed: Paranormal Academy Reverse Harem Romance