Raven's Desires (Night Hunters)

by Reily, Aminta

  “I guess Etan will never like you,” Shane told him.

  “I have this gut feeling that he works for Alec. Oh, Jasmine just told me that Alec and Raven moved back into the house.”

  “Really? Why would he do something like that?”

  Kristian scratched his head. “I have no idea what Alec is up to. Maybe he has perfected that mind wiping drug. I got to Raven earlier. She spoke to me and just when I had her, Alec wiped her memory again. I guess that’s what happened, anyway.”

  “We need to get out of here,” Shane stated.

  “I know. I tried to get Jasmine to help out, but she would not help me out at all. I will escape here and get back to Raven.”

  Shane stared at him. “You know that she will bring you back here probably. Then you will get double your time for escaping. If you succeed.”

  “I know, but I have to take the chance to see her again. You know around two the field gets weaker. The control panel room is right next to Jasmine’s room. When she thinks I’m sleeping I’m going to sneak in there and lower one side of that force field. They will not notice I’m gone until the next morning’s roll call.”

  “How are you going to get out of your cell?”

  “You know this place is old and a lot of things don’t work properly. I will place steel in the latch of my door. When it closes, it will not click. They don’t usually lock the door to the courtyard because they assume that everyone is sleeping. After that, it’s clear sailing.”

  “Yeah, until they pop you in the ass with a tranquilizer dart.”

  “I’m willing to take that chance to at least see Raven one more time. I love her, Shane, and it will not go away. It just grows more and more every day.”

  “She’s your mate and it will never fade.” Shane quieted for a moment. “I’m going with you.”

  “What? No, I’m not putting your life in danger by trying to escape in your weakened state. I’m so angry with you for getting locked up with me.”

  “Arthas is an asshole. I told you he hated me and now you see it. Two hundred years in prison because I said his wife is dead in bed. No pun intended. It’s crazy that people would let him get away with this.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “I think it’s time to overthrow Arthas and get a new councilman.”

  “Yes, we can think about that later—for now, we have to get to Raven and get her to remember me so we can get her to remember what Alec did.”

  “Wait,” Shane said and stopped him from standing by grabbing his arm. “What if Raven killed someone? Will they put her away for that?”

  Kristian shook his head. “Not when she was ordered to kill. If she was under her own influence then I would say yes. But since she wasn’t, then, no.”

  “You are right.”

  “Are you sure you will be able to do this with me?”

  “When are you planning this?”

  “Tomorrow night. I will get more blood from Jasmine and make sure you can feed without making me weak.”

  Shane nodded.

  The bell rang, meaning free time was over and it was time for them to go back to their cells. Kristian stood from the dirty floor.

  “You know, I never said thank you. You are a true friend to spend two hundred years in prison for a crime you didn’t commit.”

  Kristian turned to Shane to see a smile on his friend’s face.

  “You get so sentimental at times. Just know that when or if we get out of here, you can’t kick my ass for being a pest for at least fifty years.”

  “How about a month?”

  “For going to jail for you? No deal. But you make sure I get lots of sex and I may overlook this.”

  Kristian laughed. “Deal. I’ll toss you the wire when Jasmine comes to get me later.”

  * * * *

  Alec released the female’s neck who moved under him in pleasure when the front door opened, and a blast of bright like shot into the room.

  “Pleae, please don’t stop,” the young girl begged as he looked at his slayer.

  Raven closed the door and walked over to him. She looked at the girl under him. They were still fully clothed but he was getting around to taking her virginity—he just wanted to taste more of her blood first. Virgin’s blood could be as addictive to him as slayer’s. Different from before, he was now able to control his need for Raven’s blood. That,, and the fact that his Master would kill him where he stood if he mistakenly killed Raven.

  “Kinda young isn’t she?” Raven’s voice was cold when she spoke.

  Alec knew that Raven had been getting attached lately. She never showed him any sexual emotions, but he was sure that if he tried, he would be able to have her. He moved from over the girl, who grabbed at his hand, making him look down at her.

  “Please, take me.”

  Erica, if that was her name, reached down and touched herself through her pants. She moaned out, trying to entice him.

  “Sleep,” Alec said, and Erica went limp, releasing him.

  “Why aren’t you in school befriending that warlock and witch?”

  Raven stalked him, pressing a finger to his chest.

  “Why did you come around? I was doing just fine, playing miss innocent until you showed up.”

  “I wanted to make sure that they saw me.”

  Raven paced away from him. “Well yeah, that would have come later, but not now. They were already falling under my powers.”

  Alec grabbed her shoulder. “You think you can get them to perform this spell for us?”

  “I am sure I can. I think if I promise the brother pleasure, he would do anything for me.”

  “Don’t get over confident—I heard that slayer’s pussy isn’t as great as the blood is.”

  Raven placed her hands on her hips. “You are such a dick sometimes.”

  Alec growled and charged her. His hands gripped her shoulders, holding her in place. Raven was much stronger than he even though he was over six hundred years older than she was. But this wasn’t about who was the strongest, it was about control. Raven had a domineering side to her and he refused to let her think that she could control anything between them. He would control her, and she would like it.

  “Don’t push me, Raven. I let you have your little temper tantrums, but don’t take my kindness for weakness. I just don’t want you fucking this up. Those two are very special to this spell. Everything is set up and ready to go now. I just need to read the god damn spell and get Anarisan out!”

  Raven took two deep breaths.

  “Whatever. Look I’m going to go take a nap, has Elisabeth cleaned up there yet?”

  Alec released her and she moved away from him.

  “Yes, she has almost cleaned the entire top floor.”

  “Good. I’ll let you get back to your little virgin, I have a date with a brother and sister at nine at the Dark Corner.”

  “Good. Make sure to move this quickly and try to stay away from any vampires who were here before we left. I don’t think many know you by your face, since Kristian didn’t really introduce you to the world.”

  “I know the drill. See you later.”

  Alec looked around when Erica groaned before waking.

  “Wow, what happened? Did I fall asleep on you?”

  “Yeah, but you can make it up to me.”

  Alec flashed his fangs at her knowing that it would scare her. This time he wanted a little fear in her blood to get his blood flowing.

  Chapter 13

  Jasmine got out of her car and looked over at Arcadia. She had been in this god forsaken place for almost five hundred years, five hundred, long, painful years. Being almost twenty eight hundred years old, she thought she would have found something or someone to entertain her. Nothing like that ever crossed her path. No mate to make her want to spend every waking moment with him.

  Nothing.

  That was why with Kristian, she felt hurt for the loss of his mate. At first, when she stood trial with Kristian, she took him for just a
nother criminal.

  For years she thought Raven was dead, never really knowing if Kristian lied about her being alive. It shocked her when she found out Kristian hadn’t been lying at all. No slayer would be with Alec unless he had some type of control over her.

  “Jasmine?”

  Jasmine turned around, drawing her gun from the holster at the sound of her name.

  The guy lifted his hands in surrender. “I come in peace!”

  Jasmine sniffed twice and knew that this was a shadow demon, not a real danger to her kind. Fighting a shadow demon would be like fighting a fly, not really a match. She stared into his black eyes for a moment, then took in the rest of his appearance. He was short, very short compared to her. He had black hair that seemed to be falling out, if the hair on his white shirt was anything to go by.

  He seemed, disturbed—worried.

  “What do you need, demon?” she asked as she placed the gun back into her belt.

  “My name is Dominick.”

  “Okay, what do you need, Dominick?”

  The man took a deep breath and dropped his hands.

  “Is Kristian Blackburn in there?” he asked, motioning to the building with his head.

  “Why?”

  “Is he?”

  “I can’t disclose that sort of information to you, you know that. Now what do you want?”

  The man handed her a bag. “I have had the solution for years now. I wasn’t going to give it to Kristian because I thought he killed those humans, now I know he didn’t.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Well, for one, Raven was taken by Alec. I have proof of it. I scoped out Blackburn’s house for years, hoping to come up with some clues. The maid was cleaning up and was outside dumping trash. She knew I was there and called for me to come to her. She told me that she watched this CD just before hiding it and she knew I worked for the council. Alec thinks the maid is still under his control. She’s only pretending so she could keep an eye on Raven and make sure she doesn’t get hurt.”

  “What is on the CD?”

  “It shows Alec making Raven inject herself with the solution.

  “Okay, but you do know that this CD doesn’t mean that Kristian didn’t kill those humans.”

  Dominick shook his head. “I examined the picture of those females Kristian was supposed to have killed over and over. I zoomed in on the bite mark on his mate’s neck when her and Alec fought. You can clearly see that Kristian’s bite is a lot smaller than the ones on those girls’ necks.”

  “Why, why didn’t you go to the Council with this?”

  “I did, but Arthas doesn’t have time for it. He didn’t even want to look at the CD. I told him and he said that it did not change the case. My findings of the bite marks meant nothing and in anger, Kristian could have bitten wider.”

  “And you didn’t believe that?”

  “No. No matter what, I know that the bites on the girls are not Kristian’s bite marks.”

  “What’s in the bag?”

  “The solution.”

  “To?”

  “I analysed the solution that Alec came up with. It took me almost years to find a way to reverse it. I did, and if Kristian injects himself with it and then has Raven take his blood, it will reverse what Alec did to her and restore her memories.”

  “Why not just inject her?”

  “It’s strong, really strong, and I don’t want to kill her. If Kristian injects himself, he would live. His blood would trigger her memories, unlocking that part of her brain Alec has blocked.”

  Jasmine looked at Dominick.

  “It’s nice and all, but Raven is dead and Kristian has a hundred and ninety more years to go.”

  Jasmine couldn’t tell him that she knew Raven was alive. She didn’t know if she could really trust Dominick.

  “I know she’s alive. Alec didn’t kill her because he had other plans for Raven, I know it. He wouldn’t go through having someone invent that mind control solution without a cause. I know you may not believe me, but Kristian is telling the truth. If Raven confesses he will be a free vampire. She will remember everything she has done now and before Alec erased her mind. The Council is not fair, you have to make it fair, Jasmine. Please.”

  Before Jasmine could speak, the demon had disappeared into thin air, leaving her with the bag in her hand.

  “What’s that?” Etan’s voice made her turn to look at him.

  “Why?” Jasmine asked with a snarl on her face.

  Maybe Dominick felt Etan’s presence and that was why he left.

  “I saw the demon talking to you and I came out to make sure you were okay.”

  Jasmine looked into Etan’s black eyes.

  “Why are you lying to me? You do not care for my well-being. You can’t wait until I leave so you can run this place.”

  Etan took a deep breath.

  “No, it’s not that at all. I just want you to understand that these are criminals. Criminals! They didn’t get in here for doing good things. Most of them feed on humans and kill them. Just like your friend Kristian. He killed humans and yet you baby him like he only slaughtered a sheep.”

  Jasmine grabbed his shirt, lifting him off the ground. She absorbed some of his power so he couldn’t just materialize and escape her grip.

  “You listen to me. Blackburn is not my friend and if I catch you saying that again I will rip your throat out. I do not baby any of these demons and I will not be accused of doing so. I do my job and try to get information from them. If you have a problem with that, then tough. My job is to counsel them so I know they will be reformed before going back to the streets. I want to be sure that no more humans are killed.” Jasmine pulled him closer to her. “Do you have a problem with that, Miller?”

  Jasmine called him by his last name, letting him know that she was not trying to be his friend so he would be sure to treat her with respect.

  Etan stalled for a few moments before nodding.

  “Yes or no.”

  He ground his teeth before speaking. “Yes.”

  Jasmine released him. “Don’t worry about what I’m doing. Just make sure you are back on time tomorrow night. I have something to do and I’ll be back in about one hour.”

  “What do you have to do?”

  “My shift starts in one hour. Until then you are not to question what I’m up to. I will be back.”

  “But you said you would come in early to relieve me.”

  “Yes I did, but now I have other things to do.”

  Jasmine got into her car and drove off.

  * * * *

  Raven walked into the Dark Corner Café twenty minutes early. There were kids all over the place. Some were eating while others talking and laughing. Wow, they’d even extended the right side and built a small dance floor. Nice improvements. The metallic music streamed through many speakers set up around the building. Teenagers were jumping around on the dance floor having a great time.

  A flash of light hit Raven hard enough that she had to close her eyes. Just for a brief moment she saw herself being tossed in the air, hitting the wall where the new dance floor was.

  “Oh my god! Raven? Is that you?” A female’s voice yelled over the music.

  This female with light red hair and dark green eyes ran up to her, wrapping her arms around her. Raven tensed, ready to push her off her but she waited to see if this female had her mixed up with someone else. Really, she couldn’t, because she called her by her name.

  “I’m glad you are happy to see me, but I don’t know who you are.”

  The lady released her then took a couple of steps back. She looked at her closely.

  “It’s true, you really don’t remember me?”

  Raven shook her head. “No. I’m sorry, but I don’t know who you are.”

  “I’m Veronica, Veronica Anderson. We were like best friends years ago. How could you not remember me? What’s happened to you?”

  Raven shook her head. “I don’t remember. I’m s
orry, but maybe you have me mixed up with someone else.”

  Raven turned to walk away from the female.

  “Wait,” Veronica said then gripped her arm. “You are Raven Nowles aren’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “And Kristian is your mate?”

  “Fuck no. That man will rot in hell.”

  Veronica frowned at her. “This is crazy.”

  “You said we were friends long ago, just how old are you?”

  “Can we talk in private for a moment?”

  Raven didn’t see any harm in it. She followed Veronica to the back of the café.

  Veronica closed the door and offered her a seat on the couch in the office. She leaned against the desk staring at her for a moment.

  “God, if you aren’t the Raven I know, you look just like her.”

  “I don’t remember a lot of things before I met Alec. Things here and there, but not much about my baby years.”

  “Don’t think I’m crazy for asking this but you are not human, are you?”

  Raven inhaled, “What are you?” Raven asked, ignoring her question.

  “You know, Raven. You tell me.”

  Raven stood from the chair, and walked up to the woman.

  “You were once human, very human, but now you are a Shadow Demon. How is that? What Shadow Demon would change a human?”

  “Let’s just say that I have a great master who changed me.”

  “Why would you become one?”

  “Raven, have a seat.” She waited until Raven sat back down before continuing. “You were kidnapped years ago by someone, I don’t know who or what. They said that you died in your parent’s house fire. The police found three burned skeletons and that drove Kristian insane and he killed some humans. At the time I didn’t know what Kristian or Shane was—I found out later when this guy Simon came to me the night you disappeared. I didn’t believe him at first, but he showed me things I never thought possible. He told me he would give me eternal life if I promised to run some businesses for him. This is one of them. I come around every now and then to check in on the place.”

  “I don’t know how true this about Kristian and I, but I never knew Kristian before I met Alec.”