The Raven and the Witchhunter

by H. M. Gooden

  "Shall we? There's a place to your specifications just a block from here. If I may have the honor of escorting you?" Vanessa gave her a cheeky smile and Emma Jane accepted. Together they walked the short distance with their arms linked. Vanessa felt almost delirious at what was happening. She knew they were still in danger, her in particular, if what Emma Jane and Evelyn said was true, but she didn't care. For the first time in forever she felt like being stupid and ignoring everything and just focusing on the woman beside her. But her stomach was hungry even with the butterflies, so lunch was definitely in order. They arrived at the deli and Vanessa guided Emma Jane over the threshold, hearing the old-fashioned bells chime as they pushed the door open. It was a seat yourself affair, with a cafeteria-type feel, old tables, and checkered tablecloths.

  Vanessa let Emma Jane sit in the booth while she sat across from her in one of the beat-up chairs. It was more comfortable than it looked and a waitress came by instantly with menus, asking for their drink orders even before they'd settled into place.

  "We'd like your milkshakes," said Vanessa, reassuring Emma Jane who looked surprised at her presumption. "Seriously, they make the best milkshakes. You have to try one. I'll have strawberry."

  "I guess I'll have a chocolate one, thank you," Emma Jane said, one brow raised behind her sunglasses, which she'd put back on for their walk.

  "I promise I won't order food for you, unless you want me to, but these milkshakes are the closest thing to heaven you can buy for under five dollars. You'd regret it forever if you didn't try one."

  "How would I regret something I've never tried?" Emma Jane asked, teasingly.

  "Trust me, you would. Don't question the milkshakes," said Vanessa with a mock-stern tone, causing both of them to burst into laughter.

  Lunch was every bit as comfortable as Vanessa had promised. She'd ordered the Reuben with a salad and Emma Jane had gone for the Mac and cheese. They'd laughed and joked and teased each other about nothing of consequence, until they finished their meals and decided to share a piece of apple pie for dessert.

  EMMA JANE LOOKED AT the pie before she gazed up at the vivacious woman sitting across from her with wonder. She felt as excited as a kid at Christmas during the time before her family had died. It was such a strange feeling that it took a moment for her to place it. It was happiness. Being with Vanessa made her happy. Not because of her mission, not because she was here to protect her, just because she was here, with her. She hadn't had a relationship of any kind except distant acquaintances since her family had died, unless you counted Samuel, so she had no idea how to negotiate the strange new ground. She could feel her heart fluttering high in her throat and a weird tingling in her stomach. When Vanessa held her hand, even after she'd warned her she was dangerous, she'd wanted to cry tears of joy. This day was the most amazing day she'd ever had.

  "Take a bite," Vanessa said, holding a forkful of pie toward Emma Jane.

  Emma Jane leaned forward and accepted the pie, feeling the warm apple crumble into sweet deliciousness in her mouth. She opened her eyes, about to tell Vanessa of her pleasure, but found herself trapped in a pair of eyes that glowed a beautiful dark blue, with the words and pie crumbling, forgotten, in her mouth. She was so beautiful, she thought, and smiled softly instead.

  "Good, right?" Vanessa said, smugly pleased with her reaction, not realizing Emma Jane had been struck wordless by her, not the pie.

  "Mmm, yes, very good," Emma Jane replied, then flushed, earning a curious look from Vanessa, who flushed pink as well before laughing at herself.

  "Well, I don't know about you, but this is the best date I've been on in forever." Vanessa's eyes sparkled with excitement as she watched Emma Jane's reaction, appearing both nervous and gleeful as she stretched her hand across the table.

  Date. The word hit Emma Jane with the weight of a thousand bricks. Date. She'd never been on a date, with anyone. She'd never thought it would be with a girl when she was younger and thought about relationships, but she found that she didn't care in the least. Things were different now, people could date whomever they wanted. She'd grown up where these things weren't spoken of, but when she examined her feelings about being on a date with a woman, she realized she only felt excitement and happiness, without any of the societal constraints she'd expected to feel. Her heart only had room at this moment in time for Vanessa. Emma Jane smiled and accepted Vanessa's hand.

  THE DAY FLEW BY FOR Vanessa. She'd taken Emma Jane to most of the popular tourist places, but also to many of her own private, special places she'd grown to love during the time she'd been in the city. They weren't big or fancy, but Vanessa wanted to share them with Emma Jane. They were currently resting in the park near the apartment, the same place where Vanessa, Cat, and Evelyn had first met Mai. It had become one of Vanessa's favorite places to relax and because it was almost always deserted, she also practiced her wind magic and transformed into a raven there whenever she had the chance. After she’d made sure the coast was clear, Vanessa demonstrated her power for Emma Jane, who’d been awed.

  “That’s incredible,” she breathed, her swirling eyes alight with the sight of Vanessa as a black, human-sized bird. Vanessa transformed back, enjoying the familiar tingle of energy which rippled over her entire body. She always felt stronger after being a raven. She joined Emma Jane on the bench she was sitting on and chuckled at her expression. “I’m glad you approve. I like to fly away some nights after a stressful day, but I haven’t had a chance lately, with everything that’s been happening.”

  They were sitting on the same bench underneath the pergola where the stone dragon used to be when she’d first moved to San Francisco, enjoying the sound of the trickling stream and the nature all around them.

  "Did you enjoy today?" Vanessa asked Emma Jane, hoping she'd made up for some of the sadness she'd seen in her new friend's eyes earlier.

  Emma Jane removed her glasses and looked at Vanessa, her eyes glittering with emotion. "It was perfect. I don't think I've ever had a better day."

  Vanessa smiled with satisfaction. She was great at putting a party together for a crowd, or entertaining the masses, but found quiet one-on-one activities more challenging, except with Emma Jane. She felt she could spend days not even talking with her, just being together. As Vanessa smiled, she took Emma Jane's hand into hers again and turned to face her.

  "I'd like to do this again. It's almost time to go back, and I know Cat will be home soon, but I just wanted you to know it's the best day I've ever had, too."

  Vanessa leaned in, needing to be closer, watching as Emma Jane's eyes widened and her breathing increased. They met halfway, warm lips touching lightly, tentatively. Vanessa felt the same warm tingle she'd felt on touching Emma Jane's hand, but on an entirely different level. The heat was intense and flooded every molecule of her being. She felt hungry. She needed to get closer. She deepened the kiss, feeling Emma Jane's surprise when her tongue lightly touched, then delicately entered her mouth. They sat that way for several minutes, exploring each other with soft lips and mouths. Finally, Vanessa drew back with a shudder, her heart racing and chest heaving. She watched as Emma Jane opened her eyes, seeing the same look she knew must be reflected in hers, a mixture of surprise, desire, and something deeper.

  "Wow," Emma Jane said, softly. "Are you okay? I...think I lost control of myself for a moment. Did I...?" she trailed off, concern replacing the emotions that had been on her face a moment earlier.

  Vanessa nodded her head, still breathing deeply. She'd experienced what it felt like when she’d had her soul drained in high school and knew she didn't feel anywhere near as bad as when that had happened, but she was much more tired than she should be from a simple kiss, no matter how incredible it had been.

  "I'm okay," she started, trying to reassure Emma Jane. "I think that was the best kiss I've ever had. But..." Vanessa said then paused, giving her a look full of regret. "I think we may have to limit how many I'm allowed. Kind of like me and lattes."

/>   Emma Jane's face fell. "I was afraid of that. I guess...we should just stay friends then. I wouldn't want to hurt you, not ever."

  Emma Jane looked up and Vanessa saw tears gathering, changing her usual opaque white eyes to dark thunderstorms. Vanessa put her finger to Emma Jane's lips, then shook her head.

  "No, that's not what this means. We'll figure something out. I'm not quitting this early in the game. Besides," Vanessa said, smiling. "I just happen to have a handy little aura-energy-fixer back at the apartment. It's not a long-term solution, but it may be enough for right now."

  She watched as hope flitted across Emma Jane's face, before her expression retreated into her familiar stoicism. She stood up and put her sunglasses back on. She hadn't been using her cane while she'd been using Vanessa as her guide, but pulled it back out of her purse again, the snap of the cane signifying the end of their stolen day together.

  "Sure. Well, like you said, it's time to return. We can talk later."

  Vanessa sighed but didn't argue. She knew that a lifetime of behaviors wouldn't be so easily changed just because someone assured you things would be alright. But that didn't mean she'd stop trying to convince her otherwise and Vanessa was nothing if not stubborn. With her mood recovered almost to its earlier level, she walked beside Emma Jane without complaining or trying to guide her. She felt the loss of their earlier intimacy keenly, but wasn't going to push Emma Jane.

  Not yet, anyway.

  CHAPTER TEN

  As Vanessa expected, Cat had beat them back to the apartment. She unlocked the door to the familiar sound of Cat's god-awful screeching in the background.

  "Oh my god, Cat! There are people here. Can you please stop killing whatever that poor animal is and give it a decent burial?" Vanessa yelled over the din and heard the sound of Cat's disgruntled 'hmmph' in the living room.

  It was a long-standing family joke that Cat sang like her namesake, which was to say about as well as a feline. Vanessa wasn't exactly a triple threat when it came to her singing, but she was miles better than her sister, a fact which she loved to rub in. The familiar teasing also lifted her mood. Funny how bugging your sibling always did that.

  Cat flounced into the room with a sparkle that belied her words. "Har-de-har. I didn't stop singing because you told me to, you know."

  Vanessa looked at her suspiciously. "Wait a minute, why are you so happy right now? You should be all sad and depressed after studying all day.

  Cat blushed but refused to tell Vanessa what she'd been doing. "None of your business. Anyway, I'm back to see how your day went. Did you guys run into anything?" Cat's red cheeks faded back to their usual pale cream as she changed the subject and Vanessa rolled her eyes.

  "Fine, I won't pry. Our day was...really good," she hedged, unsure how much to share with Cat about her recent serious emotional revelations. They weren't really related to the current mission or danger, but they were still important to her. She glanced at Emma Jane, not sure how much to say when Cat suddenly gasped. Vanessa looked at her sister, only to find Cat inspecting her with the funny expression she got when her aura vision was active.

  "What happened? Did you guys get attacked again? Are you okay?" Cat reached out for her sister, touching her hand and instantly Vanessa felt a surge of energy.

  "Hey, thanks! No, I'm fine. By the way, what did you see there?"

  Cat shook her head. "It was weird, kind of like dark patches, but different. It wasn't broken or dark, the way evil usually changes an aura, but more like your batteries were low, you know what I mean?"

  Vanessa caught Emma Jane's stricken look and reached out to pat her on the shoulder. "Hey, it's not your fault. Don't worry about it."

  But Emma Jane didn't or couldn't accept her reassurances and shook her head. "I...need to go the washroom." Moving away from the sisters, she slid past both into the living area then disappeared toward the bathroom.

  Cat looked at Vanessa, her eyebrows raised. "What was that about? She seems pretty upset."

  Vanessa sighed and sat at the small kitchen table, taking off her shoes. "Yeah, she is. So, one thing I learned accidentally today is that she can absorb the power, well, the life energy really, from living creatures."

  Cat gave her a ‘well, duh look’, which caused Vanessa to laugh. "Yeah, I know you were here when she told us about Samuel, but she thought as long as she didn't touch people for long, things were fine, remember?"

  Vanessa waited for Cat to nod, then continued. "Well, that's maybe kind of true." She looked away from Cat, not sure how to tell her what she was feeling.

  "I think I understand," Cat said quietly, sitting down next to Vanessa.

  "Really? Because I'm not sure if I do." Vanessa searched her sister's face, her mind full of so many thoughts but unsure how to verbalize them to her. "I don't know if you've noticed or not, but I've been lonely this last year or so. Watching Mai..." she trailed off, shaking her head. "Well, it just reinforced how amazing life can be when you aren't alone. The way she is with Jake and with their cute little babies." Vanessa felt tears starting to well and Cat leaned over to pat her hand.

  "Hey, I get it. I want that too, someday. Soon would be nice, but what can I do? It's going to happen when and if it's time. But I think I know what happened with you guys today."

  Cat tilted her head, her eyes looking as if she were using her aura vision again, and Vanessa knew Cat did, in fact, know. Her sister was absolutely impossible to try to keep secrets from. If she didn't guess what was going on with her based on her years of being a creepy, quiet person who listened, then she could see things in her aura. But this time, Vanessa only felt relief sweep over her.

  "You and Emma Jane, you guys have something. I can see that your aura has changed." Cat waved away Vanessa when she tried to speak. "No, the color has shifted as well, not just the dark patches."

  Vanessa frowned. "What does that mean?"

  Cat shrugged. "Beats the hell out of me. I've never seen that before when someone isn't sick. But..." Cat said, then bit her lip. "When was the last time you used your powers?"

  Vanessa thought, then remembered the park. "I shifted earlier today into my raven, which was fine, and I had the usual burst of energy after."

  Then Vanessa remembered the kiss had been after that and wondered. She'd been tired until Cat had boosted her. She must have looked confused, because Cat nodded wisely.

  "Could you try now, just something small? Tell me if it feels the same."

  Vanessa wasn't sure where Cat was going with her train of thought, but knew it wasn't a joke so she stood up and concentrated. As she was in the house, she tried to levitate herself only slightly, using the air to boost her up. She managed it, but landed a few seconds later and sat down, shaking her head.

  "Okay, that was harder than usual. It worked the same and all, but it kind of felt like I had a hangover," said Vanessa then smiled, before adding, "not that I've had a hangover recently. I certainly didn't have anything to drink in the last few days. You've been with me."

  Cat nodded solemnly. "I wondered if that would happen."

  "If what would happen?" Vanessa still had no idea what Cat was talking about until it suddenly clicked. "Do you mean...."

  Cat nodded, lowering her voice before speaking again. "Yes. I don't think it's just energy that Emma Jane can absorb. Think about it. In the club, she became really dark and angry after her tussle with the mirror lady. After spending the day together, I could see your aura was a little off and just now, you had a hard time with your usual powers."

  Vanessa slumped onto her forearms and groaned. "Oh, God. Poor Emma Jane. No wonder she's so scared to get close to anyone. And she probably doesn't even know about that little detail."

  Cat frowned in agreement. "No, I don't think she does."

  Just then, the hiss of a quick intake of breath came from the entrance to the kitchen. Cat and Vanessa turned to see Emma Jane standing there, looking pale and devastated.

  "Wait, Emma Jane..." Vanessa st
arted.

  But Emma Jane brushed past the two girls, opening the door and running down the stairs. Vanessa was impressed by how quickly she moved for being visually impaired before her brain kicked back in.

  "Cat, we have to go after her! We can't let her leave like this. I can't let her leave..." Vanessa leapt out of her seat, tears threatening to blur her vision.

  Cat nodded. "Of course. Let's go. Do you have your house keys on you?"

  Vanessa nodded, shoving her feet into her shoes, then raced out into the evening, pursing someone that had begun to mean more to her than anyone except her family.

  VANESSA AND CAT CAUGHT up with Emma Jane after just a few minutes. Cat had used her aura vision to scope out the signature of a very sad and unusual aura in the park, sitting on the same bench Vanessa and Emma Jane had sat only an hour earlier, and Vanessa had followed her lead, running as though her life depended on it.

  Now, she approached her carefully, as though she were a wounded animal. Vanessa worried that one false move would cause her to bolt. "Emma Jane?" She spoke softly, advancing toward her with one hand outstretched.

  Emma Jane flinched when she touched her, but finally looked up. Vanessa's heart broke when she saw the wet trails across her high cheekbones.

  "Oh, Emma Jane."

  Vanessa dropped down onto her knees, taking Emma Jane's hands into her own and looked up into the saddest, most beautiful eyes she'd ever seen.

  "Please don't leave me," Vanessa whispered, knowing that her feelings were clearly written on her face.

  "Or me. I may not need you as much as my sister appears to, but we do need you to help us with this witch." Cat walked up behind her sister, but didn't intrude into her personal space. "Also, keep in mind I'm able to reverse any of the drain you're worried about causing. It's kind of what I do. Believe me, I've dealt with far worse when I was just learning what to do with my powers, so this is nothing for me."