Hope & Determination
Raven
Ipushed open the low white fence that surrounded the graveyard. Not all children were buried here, as some would be buried with their parents, but there were still many graves. It was strange to know that I had a brother that I had never gotten to meet.
I looked down at the grass that was sprinkled with daisies and buttercups.
Scattered between the small graves were several cherry blossoms. I walked through the graves, scanning the names for my brother’s, and stopped when I saw a young woman bending over, placing an orchid on each grave.
She turned, sensing me watching her, and gave me a small smile.
It took me a moment to realise she was the omega who I had seen in the kitchen the other night.
“Sorry…” she said, stepping away from the grave. I waved my hand.
“Oh, don’t apologise! I’m just searching for a grave…” I said, giving her a small smile.
“Whose?” She asked. “I might know, I visit often.”
“Oh… Renji Jacobs.” She frowned, paused, then turned and pointed to the far side.
“It’s under that cherry blossom tree,” she said.
“Thanks…” Goddess, I didn’t even know her name.
“Nina,” she said with a smile.
“Thanks, Nina,” I said before walking through the trees.
I stopped and stared at the marble tombstone.
I could just about make the name out. It was so small that if I had never been told, I would never have realised that my brother was here.
I dropped to my knees, feeling my eyes sting.
I felt as if I had been robbed of something.
This was my brother, someone who I had a part of inside of me, someone who had died but left me a gift, and I couldn’t even spend a moment of my time to thank him or to remember him?
I didn’t even know of his existence. Some sister I was.
I looked at the date on the tombstone. He had barely been three years old. I placed my hand on top of the grave.
“Hi. I’m Raven, your sister,” I whispered, fighting back my tears. I wanted to say so much more... but where do I start? I sniffed, reaching into the pocket of my hoodie and taking out a small octopus plushie.
“And this is Sparks.” I said, “He’s for you.” I placed him against the tombstone near the flower Nina had left. “Where do I start… well, I’m sure you are watching down on us wherever you are, but I still want to tell you about myself…”
Evening had fallen. My morning at the grave had felt like I had a burden lifted, and I promised to visit often.
I had just rung Damon’s doorbell. I had the journal and stuff in my backpack; even if Liam wasn’t going to tell anyone, it wasn’t something we could just deny.
If Damon had no answers, then we needed to tell someone like Aunty Red.
Liam had asked what I had told her, and I told him she knew about us.
He didn’t ask me anything further after that, but I could sense his irritation.
I knew he had been busy with other stuff today.
I wondered if he planned to come to my room tonight, although Aunty Red’s words rang in my head.
Treat them equally... but I also knew she didn’t know about Liam’s curse.
Hence I needed to tell Damon that. I rang the doorbell again, frowning when no one answered. He knew I was coming…
Damon?
Yeah?
I’m at the door?
Oh, shit, sorry! Mom’s asleep, I’m coming!
Sure enough, the door was pulled open by a very wet Damon, a towel around his waist and water trickling down his body. My heart thudded as my eyes trailed over his sexy body before I blushed, looking away.
“Umm, sorry, didn’t realise you were in the shower…” I said, unsure if I should hug him or not.
Oh, who cares? I hugged Liam shirtless. I moved closer, giving him a quick squeeze around the waist, much to his surprise. His arms wrapped around me, pressing me into his chest. My cheeks were burning when I moved back, my stomach fluttering, and he cocked a brow.
“I wasn’t expecting that.”
“Why not? I am a very huggy person,” I said, closing the door behind me.
“Mhmm…” Damon replied with a smirk. “You had something serious to talk about, right?”
“Yes…” I replied, sighing.
“Alright, let me go get dressed and I’ll be down in five. Actually, better come on up. You can wait in my room.”
“Okay,” I said, following him upstairs.
I entered his bedroom, watching him grab some boxers and pants. I turned my back, allowing him to get dressed, my stomach fluttering nervously.
“Alright, all done,” he said, coming over to the bed. He pulled the duvet up and made some space for me to sit. His room was a mess, I wouldn’t deny that… “Take a seat,” he said, running his fingers through his wet locks.
“Thanks. Okay, I need you to pay attention. This is serious,” I said, unzipping the bag and taking out the book, notebook, and card. Taking a deep breath, I told him everything I had learned.
Thirty minutes later, Damon was frowning. He had asked a few questions, but for the most part, he had listened and skimmed through the book towards the end. He now stood there, his emotions a mess.
“There has to be more. What did Liam say?” He asked, concern clear in his powder-blue eyes.
“Liam? He said whatever is meant to be will happen. He seems to have just given in,” I said. Sighing, I placed my head in my hands for a moment. Damon crouched down before me, placing his hands on my knees.
“He’s going to be okay. We aren’t going to let anything happen to him,” he said firmly, his scent clouding my senses. I looked up at him.
“Of all the Deimos princes, why Liam? Why someone who was so sweet and giving? Why did he deserve all this?”
“He didn’t, but he is probably the one capable of doing this, of ending this curse. Even if he is the darkness, he has good in him. Darkness doesn’t mean evil,” Damon said, taking my hands in his. I nodded and took a deep breath.
“I also told Aunty Red about us…” I said, feeling a sliver of guilt at what I was about to say next. “This morning… she walked into my room when Liam was there.” There it was the flash of pain, but it was gone as quickly as it came.
“Oh, so how did she take it?” He asked with a small smile.
“She said I need to know what I want and to not favour one of you over the other… and ultimately, if things don’t work, I will have to choose one,” I said, feeling my chest squeeze painfully.
“Well, don’t think you need to treat us equally. We both know Liam is going through a lot. Right now, he needs his mate and friend. We need to be there for him, not make him become even angrier and more bitter,” Damon said. Oh, Liam, if you knew how much your friend cared for you…
I stood up, feeling even more confident, knowing that I wasn’t alone.
“So, what do we do?”
“The answer lays within…” Damon murmured. “Within the prophecy or within Liam? I swear we need to rip this thing apart like a damn Shakespeare play.”
“English was Liam’s forte,” I grumbled. Damon chuckled.
“Yeah, well, guess we need to pull our socks up,” Damon said.
“Hey, I did good, okay? I got a B…” I grumbled. “You barely passed!”
“That’s because I hated reading. I only passed because Liam did my coursework.” He grinned and I smiled. Oh, how I missed those days.
“There is someone who’s a pro in literature…” Damon said hesitantly. “Someone who might see something we didn’t.”
“Who?” I asked.
“Robyn. She’s still studying literature and history, and she’s smart.” I felt a pang of pain, but I nodded. If Damon could be selfless, then why couldn’t I?
“Perfect, then we should ask her. She can be trusted, right?”
“Yeah,” Damon said. He walked over to me and cupped my face, making my heart thunder. “This will be nothing more than her helping us.” I smiled, looking up at him.
“Do I even have any right to act so selfish?” I asked, smiling softly. Damon smiled back.
“Of course you do, and I like it,” he whispered huskily. “I do care for you, Raven.”
“I know,” I said, staring into his eyes.
His smile faded, his gaze dipping to my lips. He slowly looked back into my eyes as if seeking permission, his heart thudding as fast as mine was.
“Can I kiss you, gorgeous?” He asked quietly.
I nodded slowly, and Damon leaned down, claiming my lips in a soft, tender kiss.
A wave of tingles rushed through me, the sweet taste of his mouth and the softness of his lips making my heart race like a galloping horse.
I slowly placed my hand on his chest, kissing him back, but before we could deepen the kiss, Dad’s voice erupted in my head.
How dare you? Where are you?
I flinched, pulling away.
“Hey, are you okay?” Damon asked, worried. I nodded.
“Yeah… Dad’s just…”
“Raven!”
Both of our heads snapped to the window. Dad was there, and his anger was clear. I had no idea what I had done this time.
Damon and I quickly rushed downstairs, not wanting to disturb Aunty M with Dad’s shouting. I pulled open the front door to see Dad standing there, his eyes blazing as he glared at me with such hatred that my heart skipped a beat.
“Who told you about him?” He hissed, advancing towards me. I stepped back, flinching, a vague memory of long ago flitting through my head. Dad had never hit me, had he? Subconsciously, something didn’t feel right. He stopped a few feet away, holding out Sparks.
“I said, who told you?” He thundered.
“What the… calm down,” Damon said warningly, placing his hand on my back comfortingly.
“I’m talking to her,” Dad hissed back, shaking Sparks in front of me.