"Hi I'm Laurianna Aberdien but most just call me Laurie" She gave him a sultry wink. His face lifted in a half smile half smirk. Layla went next. "Hey there. I'm Layla Thomas. Your student council president. If you need help with anything academically or unacademically related let me know." She also followed her introduction with a wink. Her innuendo plain as day. She could never behave in such a fashion. She mean it quite literally. I was not allowed by any means to wink at a man. Unless shewas wed that is. The only way her parents wouldn't have a coronary over such behavior. She supposed it would be rude not to introduce herself. "Raven Storm-Valencia." She mumbled not really greeting them. At her name both males gaze snapped to her. They seemed to be truly looking at her for the first time. Taking in her appearance and body. They seemed to be measuring her against some pre ordained idea. They acted as if they were expecting her. But that was impossible she'd never seen them before in her life.
But you felt as if you recognized him
A voice whispered in her mind. Her subconscious was right. She had felt as if she knew him. Go to him he will help with what is coming.
Feeling slightly psychotic she focused on the present. And the people in front of her. Who were turned towards each other. Seemingly having a silent conversation. Something passed between them. Lorens eyes seeming to ask a question the rest of us couldn't hear. The man gave the slightest shake of his head. If I hadn't already been watching they're exchange I'd have missed it entirely. His chin jutted in her direction. Loren turned his gaze back to her. Schooling his face into a unreadable mask. These men seemed to know who she was already. That gave her the chills. It scared her in a way nothing else ever has. She worried about there intentions. What did they want? And how did they know of her. Perhaps the adoption agency. Late recomendees she supposed. The idea was far fetched. She knew she was grasping at straws. But did she really want to know the true reason? No most definitely not. The older man smiled a warm cautious smile. Welcoming us past the doorway. Leading us past his supposed son. He introduced himself as "Tomas Knight-Aumont." Her head reared to look at him. The name sounding eerily familiar. A ghost of a memory just on the edge of her vision.
Remember Ravenna it might be the one thing that saves you I'm ashamed at you for having forgotten your roots. No matter you'll remember one way or another. They're coming for you. You must survive. The fate of our race depends on it.
Her mind whispered to her. Surely she was crazy. Race? As in humans? Dear jesus she needed an aderal. Or maybe the drugs would make the psycho sense worse. One thing she was going to do was rest. Get her inner crazy under control. Laurie squeeled. "Hey I've heard that name before." She frowned in confusion. Laurie knew him too? Mr. Knight chuckled. Then proceeded to explain the reasoning for them to have heard the name but not know the face.
"My name should very well sound familiar to you. I would assume you've read my book. 'Mutually divided' well I would hope you have." His words registered slowly to her brain. He wrote the book our English class was reading for the semester? It made sense now why he would not be teaching that class. He confirmed her suspicions when Layla said
"OMG you wrote the book we read for our English class assignment and the one we're reading this semester too."
He smiled an odd grandfatherly smile. "Yes dear. I did. Which is incidentally why I won't be teaching the English class this year. But history is just as suited to my skillset." His cryptic words pipued her interest. " How do you mean?" My question seemed to surprise him just as much as myself. Her friends eyes widened in clear astonishment . The fact that she was actively engaging in a conversation was a surprise but the fact that she initiated a conversation was downright appalling to them.
"Well Ms. Storm" he said her name with none of the menace Eligh had. Rather with a warmth of familiarity. It surprised her and put me on alert. No one talked to her with such warmth even staff used clipped crisp tones with her. Eligh used to but now. He could barely even look at her with out sneering. He continued on despite my inner monlogue.
"I am quite the traveler. Culture isn't acquired sitting in a class room my dear. Its best to see the world to be able to teach about it with any success." His words surprisingly made a certain sense. Its much easier to teach about things you know it have seen personally. Even though its history and no one could have seen the past. Going to the places where these events happened probably helped you understand more. If you talked to the people of that country about they're peoples history it would give it more value. Definitely make it more memorable. Also to hear a first hand recount would be incredible.
" I suppose that makes a kind of sense. Have you and your son traveled anywhere that's overly fascinating?"
His eyebrows lifted at the mention of Loren. Eyes amused a small smile pulling at his lips. A chuckle from Loren made her wonder what she had said wrong.
"Oh dear one there seems to have been some confusion. Yes I adopted Loren. But he's not my son." Her face nose wrinkled in confusion. His words made no sense. Adopted but not his son. They had almost the same last name. Wait! Almost the same. But not the same. Who is he? She had planned to investigate this further. But seeing the confusion on her face he gave an explanation. Giving her no reason to investigate him.
"Sorry perhaps explanation is further needed. In truth I am Loren's biological uncle." The truth of his words snapped a memory forward in her mind.
She was looking at a faded older photograph left from her fathers old box of things set in the garage of things they had at their previous home. Before her mom left. The box had moved around with them for as long as she could remember. When her father had passed out from the night of heavily drinking. She snuck into the garage and found it in the back of the stack. Lifting the lid of the box she pulled out the first thing she laid hands on. The old photo was yellowed. She only glance at the photo and the name written on the back in her mothers spiral writing before theire was a loud knock on the trailer door. She shoved the photo back in the box and went to answer the door. Thinking it was probably just another druggie wanting a fix of whatever her dad was selling. But when she opened the door. It was anything but. A guy in a suit walked in with a certain kind if arrogance. Only a fed would have the audacity to walk in uninvited and look totally unashamed at the intrusion. Especially given her fathers proffession. He began asking both her and her father questions. She was young. But even still she understood what was going on. This was a drug bust. Someone had narked on her father. He would be going away for awhile and not on vacation like most kids think. She knew he would be doing hard prison time. She was whisked away by child services and put in a room an office probably. They began asking questions. If she knew her step father was in to drugs using and selling. She hadn't really been paying too much attention to his words. Until that one word. The word that changed her world forever. Stepfather? She answered but with a question of her own. "Who are you talking about? I don't have a step dad. Unless my absentee mother got married recently. I only have my dad. My dad Aiden Andrew Jacobs." She said each word slowly. Saying his full name so they had no doubt as to exactly who she was talking about. The social workers brow furrowed in confusion. Eyes squinting behind her glasses at some file on the table. Probably her personal file. In a monotone voice lacking any emotion for the blow she was about to deliver. Voice sounding robotic and rehearsed in nature. "Ravenna that man is not you father. Both your mother and father have been missing for years. That man is your mothers legal husband." I cringed at the term 'legal husband'. My eyes began to water. "Wait so my father is gone too? As well as my mom?" Her face looked sour as if I was truly moronic for questioning what she already explained. Though her voice held more compassion than her face. In a somewhat softer tone. Social worker lady spoke. "Yes sweet child. No one has seen or heard from your parents in 8 years. Why do you think your step father moved you so abruptly. You were so young when she disappeared. The fact that they both disappeared on the same day rose many suspicions. He was trying to save you
from the humiliation. Of suspected foul play or even perhaps adultery. Kids can be so cruel at such a young age."
The scene disappeared. Her memory shattering into nothingness. She looked around noticing that others were entering the class room. Her friends had already sat down and she'd just been standing there staring at her hands visibly shaking. Layla patted the seat next to her. While Laurie motioned for her to sit down. Both had questions swirling in there eyes with a curious gleam. Though they would probably never actually ask the questions they seemed so desperately wanted to. People out here were so cautious with questions. Never wanting to ask something offensive. Unless of course the intention was to offend. Only in a small town like this could someone ask such offending questions with there innocent tones, bright smiles , while twirling a strand of blonde hair to throw off the fact that most the girls here were down right hateful. Clearly she spoke from personal experience. Tomas put his hand on her arm.
"Are you alright Ravenna?" She mumbled a quiet "Yes" and gave a polite before taking her seat head hung low weighted from the shame of having had a flashback of such a emotional mentally changing moment in public. Especially when it was evident people had taken notice of her strange actions. Neck bent so low it ached in the pain of her mortifyingly public moment. Taking her seat she saw Laurie eye Layla. Asking a question with her eyes. Probably wondering what the hell had happened like the rest of the class. Laurie turned to her a question simmering in her eyes.
"What was that all about are you okay? The teacher seemed a little overly familiar." Raven just shrugged. She wasn't sure why Tomas touched her as if he knew her already. He looked at her in the same way as if he had known her for generations. Turning ber back on both Laurie and Layla she looked down to her text book hoping for a distraction. As if just really noticing this Raven realized Laurie for some reason was in front of her instead of on her other side opposite of Layla. It was a unusual for her to just give up her seat. Actually it was unheard of. Turning her head to see who occupied the seat in question she was fully prepared to have the teen move immediately. She looked staring into the amber eyes of Loren. His eyes were inquiring asking her a question never to be spoken aloud. Her heart started thruming in her chest. The thumping surely being heard all through out the room. He gave a cold stiff nod. Polite but not overly welcoming. Why did that send a pang to her chest. Why did her heart falter then sink at such a polite but imeprsonal gesture. He turned away from her an unusual look on his face one she couldn't quite make out. What did it mean? As class started Tomas or rather Mr. Knigt began talking about what to expect in this years curriculum. We usually only studied boring tedious subjects such as America's advancements through out its history as well as old wars and revolutions that no ond of this generation particularly cared about. But this year we'd be learning the type of history I find most fascinating. The study of countries far and wide. European, Mediterranean , African you name it he'll try and teach it. Mr. Knight has been quite literally everywhere. We'll discuss legends and where they originate from. Its one of the only good things about being a small town teacher. The fact that you can always teach exactly what you want in the way you want so long as it gives the children a sense of culture and is unbanned. Although Raven wasn't sure that the townspeople ever expected these very different kinds of cultures to be taught at their children's highschool. As Tomas closed the lesson for the day she realized she'd missed pretty much every of what he'd been talking about and would be utterly clueless when they continued the topic tomorrow. The bell rang. As she rose to collect her bag hastily shoving her untouched notebook into the pocket. She felt a soft tap on her shoulder. Turning to the sidd she saw it was Loren.
"I'd be happy to reteach it to you after school today. It seemed your mind elsewhere." Raven looked at the tiled floor her face growing red. The fact that he had been caught not paying attention for the umpteenth time today was a bit humilating. Soon people would question her brains functionability or lack of. Lord knows she had started too.
"I would really appreciate that. As you seem to have noticed my thoughts keep leading me away from my present reality."
He laughed a warm merry sound at the odd way she had worded her response. Ripping off a piece of notebook paper he scribbled something down in flawless handwriting.
"Here. Let me know when you want me to go over it with you." She looked down curiously at the scrap of paper in her hand. In his elegant script he had written his name and most surprisingly number as well as what she presumed to be his home address. He gave her one last smile and a small wave before he strode out of the class room. When she turned back to leave as well Tomas was looking at her an apprehensive expression on his rugged face. A curious cat glint in his eyes. He beckoned her forward. She approached him slowly caution in her unfaltering steps. When she reached his desk he was smiling at her all traces of apprehension gone. The curious glint in his eyes turned to merry and warmth. His teeth seemed to shine as bright as his eyes. Radiating in such a muggy room. He had an actors smile without the undoubtedly fakeness of it. He leaned over reaching down into a bag on the floor. Seeming to be his personal bag. She was confused. What could he possibly have for her. Someone he had just met. That lingering unease returned. The sense of a knowing deja vu. She waited in an almost fearful state to see what he was about offer her. He pulled out a thick piece of paper. It was folded and sealed with some sort of wax crest. On the front written in bold calligraphy was her name. Her full name. One she never spoke of by choice. She looked up at him in both confusion as well as suspicion. At her expression his smile seemed to get even brighter and his eyes seemed to glitter.
"Just an invitation dear child ; not any thing creepy." My fear must have been plain as day on my face because that could be the only reason for his knowing her exact thoughts. With that as his goodbye he retrieved his bag from the floor and swiftly exited the room. Leaving her with even more questioning thoughts than when she entered. Her next class was Gym or P.E. as some call it. When she entered the gym coach had already begun dividing them up into different grpups for select gymnastic routines. She was quite fit as she pretty much had to be since her friends had forced her to join the cheer squad as well as the dance team. She kind of stood out from all the girls on the cheer squad though unsurprisingly. They were all blonde and thin with not much of a figure as well as they were all tan and always had to have the newest designer clothes with theyre hair and nails styled to perfection and make up somewhat overdone for a day at school yet still tasteful. They all had to drive the best expensive cars money could afford. She however was very different. Her hair was a midnight mass of curls and though they had a few brunettes an even a few red heads they all leaned towards a lighter color. The brunettes caramel hair and the red heads more blonde than strawberry. But not Raven. Her hair just had to stand out in all the wrong ways. She wasn't pale but she didn't have the skin deep sun kissed tan they all had here. She didn't care for the finer things in life even if she could afford them. She worked of course but not enough to be paying every bill , all her necessities and still have money left over to spend on the pretty things of life. It's hard to have to work nights and then go to school throughout the day. But then she has to go to her adoptive families home and take care of the younger children there while cleaning and still have dinner on the table when they got home from work. So to say her sleeping is almost non exitstent is not an exaggeration. Though she did set aside a meager amount of money to further her dreams of escape. Someone unbeknownst to her puts a thousand dollars into her bank account. She's looked into it having it traced. But the furthest back they got was that the money was deposited by a company in Romania. When she googled the company all she read was that it was a company for research projects for experimental purposes founded by an 'old money' family in romania years ago. She knew nothing else. As Raven thought about the money once more she lifted her leg to do a standing split. Her group closest to the gym door. As soon as her leg made contact with her raised arm.
The gym door busted open a loud banging process. To her surprise and utter shame Eligh Heron crossed the threshold striding in as if he hadn't caused a scene with the banging door. He stopped directly in front of her group the girls giggling with their flirtatious smiles. When he finally noticed her he did a jaw slackened double take a hisslike breath escaping from his parted lips. His eyes roamed up and down her assesing every inch of her slim toned body. From where she touched the tip of her toes and then slowly downward lingering momentarily on where her leg began the split. Needless to say he stared at her crotch. Provoking an already gathering heat curling through her nerves. His eyes dropped lower to the floor as if just realizing his movements somewhat inappropriate. When Raven finally had the sense to bring her leg back down, Eligh was still looking at her like she was a snack he was about to devour. Clearly not remembering they weren't alone in the room. She glanced around the room trying to hint at him. She saw everyone else had already noticed they're heated exchange they're eyes full of shock and jealousy at the fact that she had once again caught his attention. Yet they still hadn't reallt acknowledged each other in the way she was sure they soon would. A chill crept up her spine at the thought of that exchange that was undoubtedly closing in on them. Her classmates had never and would never know that she and Eligh had done more than talk and flirt at that party. A Party thats seemed to happen so long ago. He was her first and so much more she couldn't bear to admit to him. He had planted more than a seed of love in her that night. He had given her the most precious gift. Life. A baby girl. One who was out there in world waiting for them both to go and be with her. A 3 yr old raven beauty who Eligh would never know about. No one knew of her. Let alone who the father was apart from a few doctors her parents and some government officials. Her friends didn't know. She had no one she could confide in really. For she left her small town to go out to the country side of the state and finish up the rest of her pregnancy. At her adopted families wishes she gave her child to they're sister and her husband. Only to look after until she graduates. Her baby girl goes back to being her responsibility the moment the celebration ends. That thought terrifies her as much as it warms her heart. Going back to reality she was startled out of her thoughts. As Eligh walked by her in a state of shock he approached her coach. They began what seemed to be a debate. Eligh clearly displeased. With a final shake of her head coach gestured towards Raven and the rest of her group. Eligh shaking his head walked back toward them agitation displayed plainly on his face. Stopping just short of the teens. The girls kept giving him appreciative glances. People were still quietly chattering. He rose his hand in a silencing motion. An eery silence overtook our section of the gym as we waited for him to speak.
Fate of a Raven (A Moon Cursed Book 1) Page 2