A raven flew up to me. I stayed up in my tree, my gear tampering with my balance. It was plenty bad on its own. It didn’t need help. I sighed, and jumped down from the дерево as I heard my name. No, I didn’t need anyone to know my secret. Not her, not yet.
I awoke to the beeping of my alarm. It was a cold December morning. I would Любовь winter, if it just wasn’t so cold.
I ran over to the window. Of course, the weather channel lied again. Last night they predicted it would snow, but did it? No. That meant I would have to go to school. I hated school, hated it with a passion.
I threw open my closet door, and grabbed a pair of tight black pants. I put on my silver studded belt, off the shoulder, black tee, and converse. I put my пересекать, крест ожерелье on. It looked gothic, and satanic. I didn’t mean it that way, though. I’m a total Иисус freak, but I liked darker things.
My parents had already gone to work by the time I had made my way downstairs. I made myself a bowl of cereal, and took about three bites before realizing, I didn’t put молоко in it. I was a head case.
I tossed the cereal after realizing we were out of milk. I walked to school. On my way there, I was listening to my iPod. Then, I noticed a boy walking on the other side of the street. He was walking in the same direction I was. I couldn’t really see his face. All I knew was he had black hair to his shoulders, wore tight jeans, and a black leather jacket.
I was usually hyperactive, and loved to meet new people, but something about him made me stop dead in my tracks. I had never seen him before. It was odd, seeing a new person. Our town rarely had new people. I lived in a small town, near the border of northern Maryland. I didn’t really like it, but it could be worse.
I arrived at school, still thinking about that boy. I had Остаться в живых him when I stopped to tie my shoe. My nose was red. My fingers were frozen. Then I stopped dead in my tracks when I reached my locker.
The boy I had seen walking stood leaning against the Стена pretending to listen to a teacher. His name was Mr. Finnegan. I didn’t really like him, или at least, I didn’t like the way he ran his class.
“Miss Benet,” Mr. Finnegan yelled at me. I tore my gaze away from the boy, and walked over to him.
“Yes, sir?”
“This is the new boy. I want Ты to Показать him around, get him comfortable with the school. He seems like he would get along with you,” Mr. Finnegan gave me a once over and walked away. I hated it when people did that, it made me feel like I was up against a firing squad. I’m guessing he thought we would get along because of our similar clothing.
“I’m Raven,” the boy stuck out his hand. He had a deep voice. I now saw he had grey eyes. They were beautiful. He wore black sneakers and eyeliner that came down his face. It swirled down his neck. For a moment, I wondered if it was eyeliner, and not a tattoo. His hair fell down in front of his face, and he wore crosses as I did. On the right side of his lip was a ring, like mine, but his was black, mine was silver.
I looked at his hand and grinned. I jumped on him, and gave him a hug. “That’s how I do things,” I giggled. “I’m Lucia.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Lucia,” Raven returned the hug. “What’s your schedule?” He asked running his eyes up and down me. He had a glimmer in his eye, but I couldn’t read it.
“What’s yours?” I asked grinning. He pulled a paper out of his pocket. I snatched it out of his hand. He laughed.
“Well then,” I looked over his schedule, and gave it back.
“Same as yours,” I grinned. What a coincidence. Of course, there was no such thing, right? He seemed really nice. I hoped we would be friends. I was known as the loner at school. If I had him by my side, I wouldn’t be a loner anymore. “Where is your locker?”
He jammed a thumb at the locker he leaned on. “Mine is the one beside of yours,” I pointed to mine. A piece of paper was taped on it. Ugh, again? I tore it off, not bothering to read it. I was used to this treatment. I was the nerd, loner, and so called Эмо kid at my school. I was the primary target. The students were funny. I had gotten into so many fights-with boys and girls-and won, yet they still messed with me.
“What was that?” Raven asked looking at the paper on the floor.
“Nothing,” I shrugged it off. “Let’s get to class. I don’t want to be late,” I grabbed his wrist and pulled him. I felt really comfortable around him. I just met him, yet I felt like I had known him forever. When I touched him, he let me. Most people I first met would look at me funny, but not Raven. He only grinned at my childlike behavior.
Weeks passed, we had grown closer. I found out his birthday was in November, like mine. He was born at the beginning of the month; I was born near the end. It was funny how much we had in common. At the same time, though, we were so different. I was childlike, and hyperactive. Raven was jaded, and calm.
We sat at lunch; it was the день before winter break. Raven and I were in the back of the cafeteria making fun of the school’s food.
“No, really,” Raven laughed, pointing at a brown blob on my tray, “that has to be the worse thing they’ve served all year.”
“No way, yesterday’s gray whatever was much worse,” I giggled.
“What’s so funny over here,” I saw a розовый finger nailed hand on the table. I looked up her slim arm, and her just-got-a-whiff-of-shit face was staring at me. Raven had been lucky since he had been here. No one had messed with him. Everyone directed it toward me, but only after he had let me out of his site. Not something he did too often.
“What do Ты want, Desdemona?” I asked looking at her long, curly blonde hair. She had розовый lips, and green eyes. I wanted to перфоратор, удар, пунш her in the face, and walk away. She was one of those people I didn’t like.
“Me, want something? From you, the little freak?” Desdemona сказал(-а) with a syrupy sweet tone. I wanted to vomit. I also wanted Raven to leave. I didn’t need him getting involved.
“I could say the same for you, darling,” I spat the word darling at her as if I were throwing a box of nails at her. I smiled cruelly at the thought of nails in her body. I could watch her bleed to death slowly. I shook my head, couldn’t think about that now.
“So,” Desdemona picked up my necklace, examining the blood red пересекать, крест that hung on the end. “You’re a devil worshipper?”
I sighed. She knew as well as anyone that I was a Christian. For God’s sake, she had seen me praying in the bathroom before. “No, Ты ignorant fool,” I said.
“I’m no fool. I believe that to be you,” She pointed at me with her bony finger. I stood from the table.
“You really don’t want to get into it with me here,” I said, staring into her eyes.
“And why not?” Desdemona growled.
“I will knock Ты on your pink, fluffy ass, and every single person in here would see it,” I had fought Desdemona before, and won. It had been a год или two ago, but I knew I could do it again. At the time, I had also had two muscular guys on my back trying to get me away from her. They had both been sent to the E.R. with bloody noses, and bruised groins. Imagine how that looked, me being petite and scrawny.
“I have еще back-up than last time,” she smirked.
“Wussy,” I spat. “If Ты really want to hit me, do it.”
She looked at me with fear and anxiety in her eyes as she raised her hand.
“Do it!” I dared her. Desdemona’s fist snapped forward. I caught it, and pushed it back down to her side. Shaking my head, I turned around to get my bag. When I turned back, Tyler, a muscular guy, with brown hair hit me in the face. I fell over, hitting my head on the tile floor. I was going to return the blow. Before I could get off the floor, I saw Raven doing it for me. Tyler laid on the floor, moaning.
“Now,” Raven stood, looking at everyone in the cafeteria, “if I catch any of you, so much as looking at Lucia the wrong way, I’ll do to Ты what I just did to him,” Everyone looked at Tyler with wide eyes. I gasped; I’ve never had anyone to defend me like that. It was nice to know someone had my back. Yet it was embarrassing to have everyone else in the room know it too.
Raven offered me his hand and pulled me up into a hug. His leather, gloved hand petted my long, silver hair. My hair was naturally silver; I didn’t dye it, like most people thought. It was a birth defect. The silver hair matched my electric blue eyes. I was a freak of nature when it came to looks.
Raven pulled back and looked at me. He had a look in his eyes I could not read. He held my hand, and we walked out of the cafeteria.
He led me to a лестничная клетка, лестница no one used. We sat on the steps. Raven lifted my bangs from my eyes, and examined my face.
“Are Ты okay?” He asked, concern flashing in his light grey eyes.
“Yeah, it didn’t hurt that bad. Imagine the same thing, but being on вверх of a five-foot platform. Then falling off onto the pavement,” I remembered a fight I got into with the most muscular guy at the school. I got up and kept fighting, but I was pretty busted up by the time it was over.
“When did that happen?” Raven looked stunned. He kept looking at my face and holding my hair.
“The beginning of this year,” I said, rubbing my wrist. I had fractured it during the fight. I had phantom pains every now and again.
“If only I’d have been here sooner,” Raven сказал(-а) looking down at the step.
“I know how to fend for myself. I’ve had to do it for a while,” I said, remembering in kindergarten, how I would get pushed, или shoved. I would always do it right back. I was a fighter.
“I wish Ты didn’t have to,” Raven said.
“It has made me strong,” I said. If all the shit I had been put through never happened, I would be like Desdemona, a conformist. That’s why I got so much shit, I was unique. What do Ты expect, though? People hate change.
“That’s why I Любовь Ты so much,” Raven said, making my eyes go wide. Love? “You go through so much and instead of whining about it, Ты use it to your advantage. Lucia, you’re small and delicate, yet Ты can hit like a full grown man who works out daily.”
I swallowed hard, trying to take in what he had just said. My mind still lingered on the word love. “Love?” I raised a brow. Raven looked at me and chucked a little. He seemed so confident.
“Lucia, I’ve been meaning to tell Ты this for a long time,” Raven took a breath, and moved his hands from my hair, to my hands. “I Любовь you. I shouldn’t, but I do.”
“I-” my сердце stopped beating at that moment, because Raven’s lips were on mine. I pulled back. “I Любовь Ты too, but I don’t understand…Why shouldn’t Ты Любовь me?”
Raven looked toward the wall, sitting up straight. His brow furrowed, and his eyes were wide. What was going on? “Meet me at the bridge later. I’ll be there for a while, but not before eight. We will talk, I have to go. Get to class,” Raven stood and kissed my forehead before disappearing through the door.
I sighed and stood, knowing I would have to deal with the aftermath of the incident at lunch. Lovely. I went to my locker, removing my calculus book. I walked to the room, and took my сиденье, место, сиденья behind Desdemona. Beside me sat her man-whore, Tyler. The boy who punched me in the face.
Desdemona turned around to face me. She grinned an evil grin. Her розовый fingernails were on my desk. I fought back the urge to хлопать, привкус them off, and spit in her face.
“Where’s your little boyfriend? Did Ты scare him off, too?” She put her bottom lip out, and gave me щенок dog eyes. Desdemona was a bitch.
“No, I think that was you. And he’s not my boyfriend,” Sure, Raven may have told me he loves me, but that doesn’t mean we’re together.
“Really, Ты two are so similar,” Desdemona put her hand on my wrist. It burned. Where was the holy water when I needed it?
I jerked my wrist away from her. “Can Ты please just leave me alone?” I asked desperately. All I wanted right now was to be able to think about the past час in peace. или worry about tonight.
“Oh, but why?” She asked in her syrupy sweet tone that made me sick to my stomach.
“I’ll knock Ты into Далее week,” My lip curled up slightly. My fists and jaw clenched.
“You wouldn’t want to do that,” сказал(-а) Tyler. I hadn’t been aware he was listening in.
“And why not?” If looks could kill, he’d be dead. Tyler just winked at me and turned around.
“We’ll tell Ты after class,” Desdemona whispered. She turned as the teacher walked in.
“Turn to page-” I didn’t catch the rest, I was already to busy thinking. What did she mean after class? Where did Raven run off to? Why did he go? Did he really Любовь me? What was Raven planning to tell me tonight at the bridge? I had no Ответы to these questions.
The колокол, колокольчик, белл rang, calculus was over. I hadn’t managed to catch a single thing the teacher said. I prayed we didn’t have homework, I stood from my desk. Desdemona stood looking at me.
“See something Ты like?” I smirked. Комментарии like these were my undoing. Desdemona shot me a death look.
“Tyler, I believe Ты should come here,” Desdemona сказал(-а) sweetly. Great, I was going to have my face injured for the секунда time today.
“Yes, babe?” Tyler looked down at her. How could a guy possibly like her?
“I think we do need to be speaking with Lucia. The thing we were talking about earlier, remember?” She winked at him. My brow furrowed, this couldn’t be good.
Tyler grabbed my hand, and Desdemona walked behind us. “Where are we going?” I asked.
“You’ll see,” Desdemona smirked. I felt my chest tighten, my breathing sped up. The teacher didn’t look at us as we walked out of the door. They took me down the hall, and down some stairs. We were in the basement. It was dark, and smelled of paper, and chalk. I remembered being in junior high, and the older kids telling me about the haunted basement. They сказал(-а) the ghouls down there would kill you. It scared me at the time, now I thought it was funny.
“So, why are we in the basement,” I asked. I liked the dark; they were only doing me a service.
“Tyler, do Ты have the ropes,” Desdemona asked. What would we need ropes for?
“Yeah,” He сказал(-а) in a ‘duh’ tone.
“Well get to work,” she snapped. I felt Tyler put my hands behind my back. He tied my hands, Далее my feet. I kicked out at him several times, but he managed to bind them anyway.
“Finished,” Tyler сказал(-а) somewhat bored. Why were they tying me up in the basement? This made no sense whatsoever.
“Now!” Desdemona yelled. What? Then, I felt it. People were kicking me, and punching me. I could tell from the blows that it was mostly guys, probably Desdemona’s cronies. I screamed in pain as they hit injured spots repeatedly. Through all my shrieking, I could hear Desdemona laugh. That’s when I stopped making noise. I couldn’t give her that satisfaction.
After what seemed like an eternity, the kicking stopped, and they abandoned me in the basement. I was still tied up. I was probably bleeding. I wanted to bleed to death in the spot I laid in. I hurt so badly, and I couldn’t медведь with the pain of Desdemona getting me. I was going to kick her жопа, попка if I could manage to get out of here.
My body started to feel weak. My eyelids were getting heavy. A cold sweat forming along my brow line. I was about to pass out.
“Lucia,” I heard a voice say. “Lucia, is that you? Oh my God! Mr. Finnegan, we need an ambulance!” It all went dark after that.
I awoke in my room. I didn’t quite remember what had happened. My parents had already gone off to bed. The clock read ten p.m. Raven was going to think I stood him up. I stood from the bed, and walked over to my window. I hadn’t been hurt too badly in the fight. I had some internal bleeding, and some bruised ribs.
I climbed out my window. I was still going to go to the bridge. I felt bad about the situation with Raven. I didn’t know where he lived, so I prayed he was still at the bridge. I slid down the roof, and collided with the ground. I cursed, and ran down the street. I still had on my clothes from earlier today.
I ran all the way to the bridge. It was large, and made of stone. Trees surrounded the bridge. I walked on it, and placed my hands on the stone railing. I looked out at the water it stood over. I took a deep breath, wincing. It hurt my ribs. I heard a rustle.
I looked up at the trees. I saw black, and it wasn’t the night sky. Was it a bird? No…
“Raven, is that you?” I сказал(-а) up into the tree. If it was a bird, I was going to feel stupid. “Raven?” I heard a thud behind me. I turned. Raven stood looking at me. Leaves were in his long, black hair. I reached up and brushed them off.
“Hey,” he сказал(-а) his expression unreadable, like always.
“Look, I’m so sorry I’m late. Desdemona and Tyler tied me up in the basement and-”
“Desdemona and Tyler? Did they not get the warning earlier today?” Raven interrupted me, anger flashed behind his eyes.
“Let me finish,” I said. “They tied me up in the basement, and a got a few other guys to beat the shit out of me. I’m okay, though. I only have some bruised ribs, and some internal bleeding,” Raven stared at me with wide eyes.
“You call that okay?”
“Uh, yeah,” Raven shook his head. “What?” I asked.
“You are…there isn’t even a word for it,” Raven said. His make-up casting an odd glow from the moon light.
“Whatever…What did Ты need to tell me?” I asked not wanting to get off the point why I was here.
“I Любовь you,” Raven looked into my eyes. Genuine Любовь laid in his grey ones. My сердце constricted.
“I Любовь Ты too,” I сказал(-а) back. I knew I did, saying it aloud made my knees go weak and my vision blur.
“Good,” he said, and kissed me softly.
“But earlier, Ты сказал(-а) Ты shouldn’t Любовь me. Why?” Was there someone else? Was I not good enough?
“I don’t want Ты to be upset when I tell Ты this, Lucia. This is вверх secret, only one person may know, and that is you,” Raven was serious. I nodded. He took a deep breath, and took my hands. “I’m the Энджел of Death.”
I gasped. I had only read about this in books. I didn’t know the Энджел of death was real. “You’re serious, right?” I looked at him incredulously.
“I’ll Показать you,” Raven let go of my hands. He took off his leather jacket, and tee shirt. The makeup ran from his eyes to his neck and down his arms. It stopped at his wrist. His chest was pale like the rest of him. Raven had muscle. His abs and chest were so defined. He turned. Two Энджел wings were drawn on his back. Raven turned back to face me.
“It’s not makeup,” I сказал(-а) touching his face where the mark ran down.
He shook his head. “No, Lucia, it’s not. It’s the mark of the Death Angel,” Raven sighed, and wings came from his back. They were black with blood red tips.
“How are Ты here? Aren’t Ты supposed to be dead?” I thought Ангелы of Death had to be dead.
He shook his head and chuckled. “Half dead. Demons were attacking my soul, and I had another Death Энджел fighting. The demons got half of my soul before Cedric destroyed them.”
“Who’s Cedric?” I asked.
“My old partner. He was an Энджел of Death,” Raven said.
“Your partner? Was?” What had happened to Cedric?
“Death Ангелы have to have a partner in crime. Cedric’s partner had just died and he was looking for a new one. Then, he happened upon my half-dead ass. I became an Энджел of Death. For a partnership to be formed Любовь must be present, so it wasn’t easy at first,” Raven said.
“Did Ты Любовь Cedric?” I asked. I wanted to be the only one he loved, but if it was in the past…
“Not at first, no. He was gay, and I thought I was straight. I had to get out of it, though. We both needed a partner, so I went bisexual. I eventually came to Любовь him,” Raven looked into the water. He looked sad.
“What happened to him?” I asked putting my arm around his waist.
“We got into a nasty battle with some demons. He didn’t make it. That’s why I’m here. I’m in Поиск of a partner,” Raven сказал(-а) turning to look at me.
“Why here?” I asked. Did he want me as his partner?
“I don’t know. I felt a pull toward here,” he сказал(-а) dully.
“Is half dying the only way to become an Энджел of Death?” I asked curiously.
“No, there’s a ritual that can be performed. Cedric had it done on him; he сказал(-а) it was extremely painful. He сказал(-а) he could feel his soul ripping in half,” Raven said.
“So, have Ты found a partner yet?” I asked.
“I have, but if she’ll accept is a different story,” Raven said. “Lucia, I shouldn’t Любовь Ты the way I do. You’re too good. I need someone vile, and cruel like Desdemona, but no. I get stuck with you. You’re good, and holy. Everything an Энджел of Death shouldn’t be, but here I am asking Ты anyway. Lucia, would Ты like to be my partner?”
The world stopped, and I became asphyxiated.
“Lucia?” Raven looked into my eyes, his brow furrowing. Then I turned and ran. I heard Raven’s voice calling after me, but I didn’t care. I just kept running.
I ran until I got home. I climbed up the gutter, and jumped into my room, locking the window. I was shaking and cold. My ribs hurt from the running. I went into the bathroom, and got into the shower. I didn’t bother to take off my clothes. I just stood there letting the water hit my back.
Then, the realization sunk in. I had just run away from the guy I love. I sank to the душ floor and started crying. The water was scorching hot now.
I felt a hand on me. I looked up expecting to see mom, instead I saw Raven standing in front of me. He pulled me up and hugged me. We stood like that for a few minutes, and then he turned the water off. Raven grabbed a towel and wrapped it around me. My clothes were wringing wet. His was too, from being in there with me.
We walked to my bedroom. He handed me some pajamas to change into. I went to change. Why did he come back? He must’ve hit his head. I came back into the room. Raven was dry and laying on the bed. I went over and joined him. He hugged me, and I fell asleep in his arms.
I woke up with eyes burning a hole through me. I looked up, and Raven was staring at me.
“Good morning,” He сказал(-а) in a deep voice.
“Same to you,” I сказал(-а) smiling like a fool.
“Have Ты thought about it?” Raven asked. He was talking about me becoming his partner.
“I have, and I decided that, I will be your partner,” I said. His face lightened up. Raven was thrilled.
“You’re sure? Ты won’t ever be able to see your family again, Ты know?”
“That’s fine, I’d rather be with you,” I said. I had never been close with my family anyway.
“You will have to go through the splitting process,” Raven said.
“I know,” I said.
“Stay there,” he said. I did as he said. “Shut your eyes, and try not to scream.” He must’ve been doing the ritual now. Raven put two fingers on my head, and traced down to my heart. He jerked his hand to the right.
My back arched upward. I felt like I was being ripped in half. He continued down to my stomach, he jerked to the left. I cried out in pain. I was being трещина, сплит in half. Raven’s hand started going back to my head. He reached my skull, and went in a zigzag pattern down my head. I screamed, my head felt like it was coming open. Then, Raven took his hands away from me.
I sat up, not feeling any еще pain. “Well?”
“I’m done,” Raven stared at my neck as I felt something like hot metal up against it. I put my hand on it. Nothing was there.
“It’s your mark coming in,” Raven said. He led me over to the mirror. I was dressed in a tight black tank top, with tight black jeans, and black boots. My mark swirled down the side of my face, down my neck, and extended to my wrist. My wings were black, with golden tips. I wore a пересекать, крест around my neck. I looked up at Raven who was smiling at me.
“What?” I asked.
“You’re beautiful,” he leaned down and kissed me. Raven took my hand, and walked me over to the window. We jumped out of it, and ran to the bridge.
“What’s that noise?” A screeching came from nowhere.
“A soul’s being attacked,” сказал(-а) Raven. “Let’s go.” We ran to the other side of the bridge. A forest lied there, and we went inside. The screeching became louder. A young girl sat, with a cloaked creature in front of her. “Stop!” The demon looked up at Raven, and flashed a grin exposing his fangs.
Two еще demons appeared from behind the trees. They advanced on Raven. I ran over to the girl, and started fighting with the cloaked creature. He hit me in the face, and I kicked him down. He rose, and pushed me. I fell hard. Before he could get back to the girl, I hit him in the back of the head. He fell, and vanished.
“Lucia!” I heard Raven yell. I looked over at him. A blade was through his chest.
“Raven!” I cried and ran over to him.
“Lucia, I Любовь you,” Raven touched my face so lightly I wondered if it was just my imagination. “You can do this on your own. I will see Ты in whatever life is after this, okay? I will wait for you. Never stop fighting. I Любовь you.” I sat and held his hand tight as the rest of his soul slipped out of him.
“I Любовь Ты too, Raven,” I said, removing the blade from his chest. He was dead, and the girl was too. I was the only one remaining. I took the blade and threw it. It crashed into a tree. I watched as it fell.
“My flawed wings will carry me, and I will avenge you,” I сказал(-а) to Raven‘s unmoving body. “I will be the Энджел of Death, and carry on the legacy. My flawed wings are no match for the forces that took Ты away from me. I will come back for you.”
I left the forest with a promise for Raven. I stood atop the bridge feeling the cool, crisp wind hit my face. I felt something on my shoulder. I looked up at it. A big, black bird sat on my shoulder. He cawed softly. I smirked. The bird was a raven.
Then, I left, and carried on, as he would’ve wished. The bird was my companion, and partner. I believed Raven was watching over me, until I joined him in the afterlife.
I awoke to the beeping of my alarm. It was a cold December morning. I would Любовь winter, if it just wasn’t so cold.
I ran over to the window. Of course, the weather channel lied again. Last night they predicted it would snow, but did it? No. That meant I would have to go to school. I hated school, hated it with a passion.
I threw open my closet door, and grabbed a pair of tight black pants. I put on my silver studded belt, off the shoulder, black tee, and converse. I put my пересекать, крест ожерелье on. It looked gothic, and satanic. I didn’t mean it that way, though. I’m a total Иисус freak, but I liked darker things.
My parents had already gone to work by the time I had made my way downstairs. I made myself a bowl of cereal, and took about three bites before realizing, I didn’t put молоко in it. I was a head case.
I tossed the cereal after realizing we were out of milk. I walked to school. On my way there, I was listening to my iPod. Then, I noticed a boy walking on the other side of the street. He was walking in the same direction I was. I couldn’t really see his face. All I knew was he had black hair to his shoulders, wore tight jeans, and a black leather jacket.
I was usually hyperactive, and loved to meet new people, but something about him made me stop dead in my tracks. I had never seen him before. It was odd, seeing a new person. Our town rarely had new people. I lived in a small town, near the border of northern Maryland. I didn’t really like it, but it could be worse.
I arrived at school, still thinking about that boy. I had Остаться в живых him when I stopped to tie my shoe. My nose was red. My fingers were frozen. Then I stopped dead in my tracks when I reached my locker.
The boy I had seen walking stood leaning against the Стена pretending to listen to a teacher. His name was Mr. Finnegan. I didn’t really like him, или at least, I didn’t like the way he ran his class.
“Miss Benet,” Mr. Finnegan yelled at me. I tore my gaze away from the boy, and walked over to him.
“Yes, sir?”
“This is the new boy. I want Ты to Показать him around, get him comfortable with the school. He seems like he would get along with you,” Mr. Finnegan gave me a once over and walked away. I hated it when people did that, it made me feel like I was up against a firing squad. I’m guessing he thought we would get along because of our similar clothing.
“I’m Raven,” the boy stuck out his hand. He had a deep voice. I now saw he had grey eyes. They were beautiful. He wore black sneakers and eyeliner that came down his face. It swirled down his neck. For a moment, I wondered if it was eyeliner, and not a tattoo. His hair fell down in front of his face, and he wore crosses as I did. On the right side of his lip was a ring, like mine, but his was black, mine was silver.
I looked at his hand and grinned. I jumped on him, and gave him a hug. “That’s how I do things,” I giggled. “I’m Lucia.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Lucia,” Raven returned the hug. “What’s your schedule?” He asked running his eyes up and down me. He had a glimmer in his eye, but I couldn’t read it.
“What’s yours?” I asked grinning. He pulled a paper out of his pocket. I snatched it out of his hand. He laughed.
“Well then,” I looked over his schedule, and gave it back.
“Same as yours,” I grinned. What a coincidence. Of course, there was no such thing, right? He seemed really nice. I hoped we would be friends. I was known as the loner at school. If I had him by my side, I wouldn’t be a loner anymore. “Where is your locker?”
He jammed a thumb at the locker he leaned on. “Mine is the one beside of yours,” I pointed to mine. A piece of paper was taped on it. Ugh, again? I tore it off, not bothering to read it. I was used to this treatment. I was the nerd, loner, and so called Эмо kid at my school. I was the primary target. The students were funny. I had gotten into so many fights-with boys and girls-and won, yet they still messed with me.
“What was that?” Raven asked looking at the paper on the floor.
“Nothing,” I shrugged it off. “Let’s get to class. I don’t want to be late,” I grabbed his wrist and pulled him. I felt really comfortable around him. I just met him, yet I felt like I had known him forever. When I touched him, he let me. Most people I first met would look at me funny, but not Raven. He only grinned at my childlike behavior.
Weeks passed, we had grown closer. I found out his birthday was in November, like mine. He was born at the beginning of the month; I was born near the end. It was funny how much we had in common. At the same time, though, we were so different. I was childlike, and hyperactive. Raven was jaded, and calm.
We sat at lunch; it was the день before winter break. Raven and I were in the back of the cafeteria making fun of the school’s food.
“No, really,” Raven laughed, pointing at a brown blob on my tray, “that has to be the worse thing they’ve served all year.”
“No way, yesterday’s gray whatever was much worse,” I giggled.
“What’s so funny over here,” I saw a розовый finger nailed hand on the table. I looked up her slim arm, and her just-got-a-whiff-of-shit face was staring at me. Raven had been lucky since he had been here. No one had messed with him. Everyone directed it toward me, but only after he had let me out of his site. Not something he did too often.
“What do Ты want, Desdemona?” I asked looking at her long, curly blonde hair. She had розовый lips, and green eyes. I wanted to перфоратор, удар, пунш her in the face, and walk away. She was one of those people I didn’t like.
“Me, want something? From you, the little freak?” Desdemona сказал(-а) with a syrupy sweet tone. I wanted to vomit. I also wanted Raven to leave. I didn’t need him getting involved.
“I could say the same for you, darling,” I spat the word darling at her as if I were throwing a box of nails at her. I smiled cruelly at the thought of nails in her body. I could watch her bleed to death slowly. I shook my head, couldn’t think about that now.
“So,” Desdemona picked up my necklace, examining the blood red пересекать, крест that hung on the end. “You’re a devil worshipper?”
I sighed. She knew as well as anyone that I was a Christian. For God’s sake, she had seen me praying in the bathroom before. “No, Ты ignorant fool,” I said.
“I’m no fool. I believe that to be you,” She pointed at me with her bony finger. I stood from the table.
“You really don’t want to get into it with me here,” I said, staring into her eyes.
“And why not?” Desdemona growled.
“I will knock Ты on your pink, fluffy ass, and every single person in here would see it,” I had fought Desdemona before, and won. It had been a год или two ago, but I knew I could do it again. At the time, I had also had two muscular guys on my back trying to get me away from her. They had both been sent to the E.R. with bloody noses, and bruised groins. Imagine how that looked, me being petite and scrawny.
“I have еще back-up than last time,” she smirked.
“Wussy,” I spat. “If Ты really want to hit me, do it.”
She looked at me with fear and anxiety in her eyes as she raised her hand.
“Do it!” I dared her. Desdemona’s fist snapped forward. I caught it, and pushed it back down to her side. Shaking my head, I turned around to get my bag. When I turned back, Tyler, a muscular guy, with brown hair hit me in the face. I fell over, hitting my head on the tile floor. I was going to return the blow. Before I could get off the floor, I saw Raven doing it for me. Tyler laid on the floor, moaning.
“Now,” Raven stood, looking at everyone in the cafeteria, “if I catch any of you, so much as looking at Lucia the wrong way, I’ll do to Ты what I just did to him,” Everyone looked at Tyler with wide eyes. I gasped; I’ve never had anyone to defend me like that. It was nice to know someone had my back. Yet it was embarrassing to have everyone else in the room know it too.
Raven offered me his hand and pulled me up into a hug. His leather, gloved hand petted my long, silver hair. My hair was naturally silver; I didn’t dye it, like most people thought. It was a birth defect. The silver hair matched my electric blue eyes. I was a freak of nature when it came to looks.
Raven pulled back and looked at me. He had a look in his eyes I could not read. He held my hand, and we walked out of the cafeteria.
He led me to a лестничная клетка, лестница no one used. We sat on the steps. Raven lifted my bangs from my eyes, and examined my face.
“Are Ты okay?” He asked, concern flashing in his light grey eyes.
“Yeah, it didn’t hurt that bad. Imagine the same thing, but being on вверх of a five-foot platform. Then falling off onto the pavement,” I remembered a fight I got into with the most muscular guy at the school. I got up and kept fighting, but I was pretty busted up by the time it was over.
“When did that happen?” Raven looked stunned. He kept looking at my face and holding my hair.
“The beginning of this year,” I said, rubbing my wrist. I had fractured it during the fight. I had phantom pains every now and again.
“If only I’d have been here sooner,” Raven сказал(-а) looking down at the step.
“I know how to fend for myself. I’ve had to do it for a while,” I said, remembering in kindergarten, how I would get pushed, или shoved. I would always do it right back. I was a fighter.
“I wish Ты didn’t have to,” Raven said.
“It has made me strong,” I said. If all the shit I had been put through never happened, I would be like Desdemona, a conformist. That’s why I got so much shit, I was unique. What do Ты expect, though? People hate change.
“That’s why I Любовь Ты so much,” Raven said, making my eyes go wide. Love? “You go through so much and instead of whining about it, Ты use it to your advantage. Lucia, you’re small and delicate, yet Ты can hit like a full grown man who works out daily.”
I swallowed hard, trying to take in what he had just said. My mind still lingered on the word love. “Love?” I raised a brow. Raven looked at me and chucked a little. He seemed so confident.
“Lucia, I’ve been meaning to tell Ты this for a long time,” Raven took a breath, and moved his hands from my hair, to my hands. “I Любовь you. I shouldn’t, but I do.”
“I-” my сердце stopped beating at that moment, because Raven’s lips were on mine. I pulled back. “I Любовь Ты too, but I don’t understand…Why shouldn’t Ты Любовь me?”
Raven looked toward the wall, sitting up straight. His brow furrowed, and his eyes were wide. What was going on? “Meet me at the bridge later. I’ll be there for a while, but not before eight. We will talk, I have to go. Get to class,” Raven stood and kissed my forehead before disappearing through the door.
I sighed and stood, knowing I would have to deal with the aftermath of the incident at lunch. Lovely. I went to my locker, removing my calculus book. I walked to the room, and took my сиденье, место, сиденья behind Desdemona. Beside me sat her man-whore, Tyler. The boy who punched me in the face.
Desdemona turned around to face me. She grinned an evil grin. Her розовый fingernails were on my desk. I fought back the urge to хлопать, привкус them off, and spit in her face.
“Where’s your little boyfriend? Did Ты scare him off, too?” She put her bottom lip out, and gave me щенок dog eyes. Desdemona was a bitch.
“No, I think that was you. And he’s not my boyfriend,” Sure, Raven may have told me he loves me, but that doesn’t mean we’re together.
“Really, Ты two are so similar,” Desdemona put her hand on my wrist. It burned. Where was the holy water when I needed it?
I jerked my wrist away from her. “Can Ты please just leave me alone?” I asked desperately. All I wanted right now was to be able to think about the past час in peace. или worry about tonight.
“Oh, but why?” She asked in her syrupy sweet tone that made me sick to my stomach.
“I’ll knock Ты into Далее week,” My lip curled up slightly. My fists and jaw clenched.
“You wouldn’t want to do that,” сказал(-а) Tyler. I hadn’t been aware he was listening in.
“And why not?” If looks could kill, he’d be dead. Tyler just winked at me and turned around.
“We’ll tell Ты after class,” Desdemona whispered. She turned as the teacher walked in.
“Turn to page-” I didn’t catch the rest, I was already to busy thinking. What did she mean after class? Where did Raven run off to? Why did he go? Did he really Любовь me? What was Raven planning to tell me tonight at the bridge? I had no Ответы to these questions.
The колокол, колокольчик, белл rang, calculus was over. I hadn’t managed to catch a single thing the teacher said. I prayed we didn’t have homework, I stood from my desk. Desdemona stood looking at me.
“See something Ты like?” I smirked. Комментарии like these were my undoing. Desdemona shot me a death look.
“Tyler, I believe Ты should come here,” Desdemona сказал(-а) sweetly. Great, I was going to have my face injured for the секунда time today.
“Yes, babe?” Tyler looked down at her. How could a guy possibly like her?
“I think we do need to be speaking with Lucia. The thing we were talking about earlier, remember?” She winked at him. My brow furrowed, this couldn’t be good.
Tyler grabbed my hand, and Desdemona walked behind us. “Where are we going?” I asked.
“You’ll see,” Desdemona smirked. I felt my chest tighten, my breathing sped up. The teacher didn’t look at us as we walked out of the door. They took me down the hall, and down some stairs. We were in the basement. It was dark, and smelled of paper, and chalk. I remembered being in junior high, and the older kids telling me about the haunted basement. They сказал(-а) the ghouls down there would kill you. It scared me at the time, now I thought it was funny.
“So, why are we in the basement,” I asked. I liked the dark; they were only doing me a service.
“Tyler, do Ты have the ropes,” Desdemona asked. What would we need ropes for?
“Yeah,” He сказал(-а) in a ‘duh’ tone.
“Well get to work,” she snapped. I felt Tyler put my hands behind my back. He tied my hands, Далее my feet. I kicked out at him several times, but he managed to bind them anyway.
“Finished,” Tyler сказал(-а) somewhat bored. Why were they tying me up in the basement? This made no sense whatsoever.
“Now!” Desdemona yelled. What? Then, I felt it. People were kicking me, and punching me. I could tell from the blows that it was mostly guys, probably Desdemona’s cronies. I screamed in pain as they hit injured spots repeatedly. Through all my shrieking, I could hear Desdemona laugh. That’s when I stopped making noise. I couldn’t give her that satisfaction.
After what seemed like an eternity, the kicking stopped, and they abandoned me in the basement. I was still tied up. I was probably bleeding. I wanted to bleed to death in the spot I laid in. I hurt so badly, and I couldn’t медведь with the pain of Desdemona getting me. I was going to kick her жопа, попка if I could manage to get out of here.
My body started to feel weak. My eyelids were getting heavy. A cold sweat forming along my brow line. I was about to pass out.
“Lucia,” I heard a voice say. “Lucia, is that you? Oh my God! Mr. Finnegan, we need an ambulance!” It all went dark after that.
I awoke in my room. I didn’t quite remember what had happened. My parents had already gone off to bed. The clock read ten p.m. Raven was going to think I stood him up. I stood from the bed, and walked over to my window. I hadn’t been hurt too badly in the fight. I had some internal bleeding, and some bruised ribs.
I climbed out my window. I was still going to go to the bridge. I felt bad about the situation with Raven. I didn’t know where he lived, so I prayed he was still at the bridge. I slid down the roof, and collided with the ground. I cursed, and ran down the street. I still had on my clothes from earlier today.
I ran all the way to the bridge. It was large, and made of stone. Trees surrounded the bridge. I walked on it, and placed my hands on the stone railing. I looked out at the water it stood over. I took a deep breath, wincing. It hurt my ribs. I heard a rustle.
I looked up at the trees. I saw black, and it wasn’t the night sky. Was it a bird? No…
“Raven, is that you?” I сказал(-а) up into the tree. If it was a bird, I was going to feel stupid. “Raven?” I heard a thud behind me. I turned. Raven stood looking at me. Leaves were in his long, black hair. I reached up and brushed them off.
“Hey,” he сказал(-а) his expression unreadable, like always.
“Look, I’m so sorry I’m late. Desdemona and Tyler tied me up in the basement and-”
“Desdemona and Tyler? Did they not get the warning earlier today?” Raven interrupted me, anger flashed behind his eyes.
“Let me finish,” I said. “They tied me up in the basement, and a got a few other guys to beat the shit out of me. I’m okay, though. I only have some bruised ribs, and some internal bleeding,” Raven stared at me with wide eyes.
“You call that okay?”
“Uh, yeah,” Raven shook his head. “What?” I asked.
“You are…there isn’t even a word for it,” Raven said. His make-up casting an odd glow from the moon light.
“Whatever…What did Ты need to tell me?” I asked not wanting to get off the point why I was here.
“I Любовь you,” Raven looked into my eyes. Genuine Любовь laid in his grey ones. My сердце constricted.
“I Любовь Ты too,” I сказал(-а) back. I knew I did, saying it aloud made my knees go weak and my vision blur.
“Good,” he said, and kissed me softly.
“But earlier, Ты сказал(-а) Ты shouldn’t Любовь me. Why?” Was there someone else? Was I not good enough?
“I don’t want Ты to be upset when I tell Ты this, Lucia. This is вверх secret, only one person may know, and that is you,” Raven was serious. I nodded. He took a deep breath, and took my hands. “I’m the Энджел of Death.”
I gasped. I had only read about this in books. I didn’t know the Энджел of death was real. “You’re serious, right?” I looked at him incredulously.
“I’ll Показать you,” Raven let go of my hands. He took off his leather jacket, and tee shirt. The makeup ran from his eyes to his neck and down his arms. It stopped at his wrist. His chest was pale like the rest of him. Raven had muscle. His abs and chest were so defined. He turned. Two Энджел wings were drawn on his back. Raven turned back to face me.
“It’s not makeup,” I сказал(-а) touching his face where the mark ran down.
He shook his head. “No, Lucia, it’s not. It’s the mark of the Death Angel,” Raven sighed, and wings came from his back. They were black with blood red tips.
“How are Ты here? Aren’t Ты supposed to be dead?” I thought Ангелы of Death had to be dead.
He shook his head and chuckled. “Half dead. Demons were attacking my soul, and I had another Death Энджел fighting. The demons got half of my soul before Cedric destroyed them.”
“Who’s Cedric?” I asked.
“My old partner. He was an Энджел of Death,” Raven said.
“Your partner? Was?” What had happened to Cedric?
“Death Ангелы have to have a partner in crime. Cedric’s partner had just died and he was looking for a new one. Then, he happened upon my half-dead ass. I became an Энджел of Death. For a partnership to be formed Любовь must be present, so it wasn’t easy at first,” Raven said.
“Did Ты Любовь Cedric?” I asked. I wanted to be the only one he loved, but if it was in the past…
“Not at first, no. He was gay, and I thought I was straight. I had to get out of it, though. We both needed a partner, so I went bisexual. I eventually came to Любовь him,” Raven looked into the water. He looked sad.
“What happened to him?” I asked putting my arm around his waist.
“We got into a nasty battle with some demons. He didn’t make it. That’s why I’m here. I’m in Поиск of a partner,” Raven сказал(-а) turning to look at me.
“Why here?” I asked. Did he want me as his partner?
“I don’t know. I felt a pull toward here,” he сказал(-а) dully.
“Is half dying the only way to become an Энджел of Death?” I asked curiously.
“No, there’s a ritual that can be performed. Cedric had it done on him; he сказал(-а) it was extremely painful. He сказал(-а) he could feel his soul ripping in half,” Raven said.
“So, have Ты found a partner yet?” I asked.
“I have, but if she’ll accept is a different story,” Raven said. “Lucia, I shouldn’t Любовь Ты the way I do. You’re too good. I need someone vile, and cruel like Desdemona, but no. I get stuck with you. You’re good, and holy. Everything an Энджел of Death shouldn’t be, but here I am asking Ты anyway. Lucia, would Ты like to be my partner?”
The world stopped, and I became asphyxiated.
“Lucia?” Raven looked into my eyes, his brow furrowing. Then I turned and ran. I heard Raven’s voice calling after me, but I didn’t care. I just kept running.
I ran until I got home. I climbed up the gutter, and jumped into my room, locking the window. I was shaking and cold. My ribs hurt from the running. I went into the bathroom, and got into the shower. I didn’t bother to take off my clothes. I just stood there letting the water hit my back.
Then, the realization sunk in. I had just run away from the guy I love. I sank to the душ floor and started crying. The water was scorching hot now.
I felt a hand on me. I looked up expecting to see mom, instead I saw Raven standing in front of me. He pulled me up and hugged me. We stood like that for a few minutes, and then he turned the water off. Raven grabbed a towel and wrapped it around me. My clothes were wringing wet. His was too, from being in there with me.
We walked to my bedroom. He handed me some pajamas to change into. I went to change. Why did he come back? He must’ve hit his head. I came back into the room. Raven was dry and laying on the bed. I went over and joined him. He hugged me, and I fell asleep in his arms.
I woke up with eyes burning a hole through me. I looked up, and Raven was staring at me.
“Good morning,” He сказал(-а) in a deep voice.
“Same to you,” I сказал(-а) smiling like a fool.
“Have Ты thought about it?” Raven asked. He was talking about me becoming his partner.
“I have, and I decided that, I will be your partner,” I said. His face lightened up. Raven was thrilled.
“You’re sure? Ты won’t ever be able to see your family again, Ты know?”
“That’s fine, I’d rather be with you,” I said. I had never been close with my family anyway.
“You will have to go through the splitting process,” Raven said.
“I know,” I said.
“Stay there,” he said. I did as he said. “Shut your eyes, and try not to scream.” He must’ve been doing the ritual now. Raven put two fingers on my head, and traced down to my heart. He jerked his hand to the right.
My back arched upward. I felt like I was being ripped in half. He continued down to my stomach, he jerked to the left. I cried out in pain. I was being трещина, сплит in half. Raven’s hand started going back to my head. He reached my skull, and went in a zigzag pattern down my head. I screamed, my head felt like it was coming open. Then, Raven took his hands away from me.
I sat up, not feeling any еще pain. “Well?”
“I’m done,” Raven stared at my neck as I felt something like hot metal up against it. I put my hand on it. Nothing was there.
“It’s your mark coming in,” Raven said. He led me over to the mirror. I was dressed in a tight black tank top, with tight black jeans, and black boots. My mark swirled down the side of my face, down my neck, and extended to my wrist. My wings were black, with golden tips. I wore a пересекать, крест around my neck. I looked up at Raven who was smiling at me.
“What?” I asked.
“You’re beautiful,” he leaned down and kissed me. Raven took my hand, and walked me over to the window. We jumped out of it, and ran to the bridge.
“What’s that noise?” A screeching came from nowhere.
“A soul’s being attacked,” сказал(-а) Raven. “Let’s go.” We ran to the other side of the bridge. A forest lied there, and we went inside. The screeching became louder. A young girl sat, with a cloaked creature in front of her. “Stop!” The demon looked up at Raven, and flashed a grin exposing his fangs.
Two еще demons appeared from behind the trees. They advanced on Raven. I ran over to the girl, and started fighting with the cloaked creature. He hit me in the face, and I kicked him down. He rose, and pushed me. I fell hard. Before he could get back to the girl, I hit him in the back of the head. He fell, and vanished.
“Lucia!” I heard Raven yell. I looked over at him. A blade was through his chest.
“Raven!” I cried and ran over to him.
“Lucia, I Любовь you,” Raven touched my face so lightly I wondered if it was just my imagination. “You can do this on your own. I will see Ты in whatever life is after this, okay? I will wait for you. Never stop fighting. I Любовь you.” I sat and held his hand tight as the rest of his soul slipped out of him.
“I Любовь Ты too, Raven,” I said, removing the blade from his chest. He was dead, and the girl was too. I was the only one remaining. I took the blade and threw it. It crashed into a tree. I watched as it fell.
“My flawed wings will carry me, and I will avenge you,” I сказал(-а) to Raven‘s unmoving body. “I will be the Энджел of Death, and carry on the legacy. My flawed wings are no match for the forces that took Ты away from me. I will come back for you.”
I left the forest with a promise for Raven. I stood atop the bridge feeling the cool, crisp wind hit my face. I felt something on my shoulder. I looked up at it. A big, black bird sat on my shoulder. He cawed softly. I smirked. The bird was a raven.
Then, I left, and carried on, as he would’ve wished. The bird was my companion, and partner. I believed Raven was watching over me, until I joined him in the afterlife.
this is my first story that i made on here i'm still decideing if i want to make еще of this book или not i am still decideing on a tittle name.please do not hesitate to criticize i need it.thank Ты <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 I Taylor Ann Smith was not happy.I was very mad.How dare them! i thought angrily to myself.how dare them decide who i marry!.this all happened when i came down for breakfast."Good morning mother,good morning farther."i сказал(-а) happily.Mother was cooking eggs and тост while father was waiting."Hello darling"said Mother cheerfully as she sat a plate of eggs and тост in front of me."good morning taylor" farther answered. his plate."what's happening today?"i asked still eating."well.. mom started looked unconfertable...we decided who Ты were to marry"."What!" i cried almost chocking on my food.