Out of the Darkness

Within 15 minutes we had every piece of armour and every weapon that we owned laid out for Raven to pick which ones she would need. Although considering she held the sword that made her the ultimate destroyer I don’t really know what we had that could even match that. She went through picking up a few things and testing them out. By the end of it she had a variety of guns, knives, lasers, explosives and poisoned darts.

“Are you really going to need all of this?” James asked her.

“I have no idea, but it’s better to be prepared. In all honesty, I don’t know if any of this will be of any help. After all, I haven’t managed to beat him yet.” She replied.

“You don’t sound quite as confident as you did before.” Alistair pointed out, Jonathan had notified the angels that Raven was about to rescue the hostages.

“Oh I will beat him. I’m just keeping a level head, not getting too over-confident.” Raven replied. She walked to the front of the room and traced a large rectangle in the air. “With this you will be able to see everything that goes on, without being restricted by what only I can see. I have also made it so you will be able to hear all telepathic conversations I have.” Raven explained to us.

I pulled her aside for a moment before she left.

“Raven, please don’t do anything stupid, make sure you get out of there alive.” I said to her.

“I will do what is necessary.” That wasn’t exactly the response I was hoping for, but I suppose I should have expected it.

She stepped back and closed her eyes. I could feel magic build up in the air around me and the screen came to life. Adrian and the young girl were in the same cell as before, with their ankles and wrists bound by chains. There were two guards standing watch, but there were bound to be more nearby. Raven hadn’t told us her exact plan, but I trusted her to do what she thought was best.

‘Don’t react to my voice. I’m going to get you out of here but there is something I need you to do.’ Raven spoke directly in to the young girl’s mind. Just as Raven had instructed her, she didn’t move a muscle, or react in any way. ‘I need you to get out of this room, somewhere private.’ Raven told her.

‘How?’ The girl replied telepathically.

‘They have to let you use the bathroom right?’ Raven asked without pause, she had already pre-thought this part. We watched the screen as the girl got to her feet, she wobbled slightly as she rose. Adrian as well as the guards looked at her when she stood.

“Sit down.” One of the guards ordered. The young girl cleared her throat before she spoke.

“I need to use the bathroom.” She told them clearly, not showing any fear that she was bound to be feeling.

The guards stepped towards her menacingly and she looked as if she were going to flinch back in fear.

‘Don’t be afraid, I will not let them hurt you.’ Raven whispered in to her mind and her words seemed to give the girl courage as when the guards approached her, she stepped forward, staring them straight in the eye.

“Fine, come on.” One said and opened the cell, and unlocked the chains around her wrists and ankles. “But no funny business.” One of the guards led her down the hallway to the bathroom whilst the other stayed to guard Adrian. The guard was going to follow her in until she turned and raised an eyebrow.

“A little privacy please?” She said sweetly and he nodded, stepping back and allowing her to close the door.

‘Ok, I’m alone. What’s the plan?’ She asked Raven in her mind.

‘I’m going to channel enough energy through me and in to you so I can transport to your location. You mustn’t say anything to me when I arrive, I don’t want anyone to over-hear, only speak to me via your mind. Do you understand?’

‘Yes. But be quick, otherwise they will get suspicious.’ The girl replied.

There was a surge of magic in the room again, centred on Raven. After just a moment, Raven disappeared, and re-appeared in the young girl’s location. As soon as she was in front of the girl she wrapped her arms around Raven. Surprised, she returned the girl’s hug. They pulled apart and the young girl took on a ‘let’s get down to business’ expression, which reminded me a hell of a lot like Raven’s usual expression.

‘What’s the plan?’ She asked Raven telepathically.

’This.’ Raven replied and transformed her looks so she was completely identical to the young girl. She looked confused for a moment but then understanding shone in her eyes.

‘You’re going to go out there as me and then beat the crap out of them?’ She asked Raven.

‘Not quite, and I don’t think you should be using that kind of language.’ Raven replied, sounding very strict. ‘Just follow my lead ok?’ She asked and the girl nodded.

Just then the guard burst in.

“Hey what’s taking so long-? Wait, what’s going on here?” The guard asked confused.

“This.” Raven said pulling out the sword that made her unbeatable and charged towards him. The guard managed to grab her arms and hold them behind her back within seconds. I was wondering what the hell was going on, Raven would never be taken down so easily, almost without a fight. It must be part of the plan.

“Now you, walk in front, and don’t try anything.” The guard said to the girl.

‘Do as he says, it’s all part of the plan.’ Raven told her telepathically, confirming my guess. They got back to the room where Adrian was still locked up in, the other guard turned around in confusion.

“You didn’t mention you had twin daughters Adrian.” One guard said to him.

‘Play along.’ Raven told him telepathically and fixed him with a look.

“Well you already had one of my daughters, I wasn’t about to give you a free ticket to the other one.” He said to them.

“What’s going on?” A voice said behind them, which I recognised as Damon’s.

“It turns out, the angel has twin daughters. And the second one showed up with this, trying to be the hero.” He said, holding up the sword that we had recovered earlier today. He had wrapped it in a torn piece of clothing, knowing that the sword only had one controller, and not wanting to risk any reaction the sword might have to changing hands.

Damon studied Raven intensely, but she didn’t give anything away, didn’t even move a muscle.

“Is that so?” He asked, still looking at Raven. He took a few steps forward until he was staring down at her.

“Something like that.” Raven said and in a flash her hand shot up and dove in to his chest, his eyes widened in shock. Raven pulled her hand out of his chest and when she opened her fist we could see the demon’s heart still beating, dripping with blood. It was impossible of course, hearts couldn’t just beat of their own accord, and no one could still be alive without their heart.

“Raven.” Damon snarled.

“The one and only.” She said sweetly as she transformed her looks back to how we were used to her looking.

“You wouldn’t.” Damon growled.

“Are you really in the position to challenge me Damon?” She asked with a devilish look in her eyes.

“Guards.” Damon summoned. Raven looked around the room once and all of his guards dropped to the ground dead. “I guess I’m not the only one that hides power.” Damon added, no doubt wondering how she managed to kill his guards with a single look.

“I guess not.” She replied coldly. I didn’t quite understand what was going on, but we watched impatiently as Raven took one more look at Damon, raised her arm, and put his heart in her mouth. With every time she chewed his heart, Damon visibly grew weaker. They met each other’s eyes, his held hopelessness, hers held murder. She did not feel any sympathy for him, but of course he didn’t deserve it. When she swallowed the remains of his heart he fell to the ground, dead.

More of his guards appeared then, just moments too late and stared in shock at Raven. They crouched in to fighting positions, baring their teeth at Raven. “Are you seriously going to do this? I killed your leader, you are weaker than him. Just because there are more of you does not mean I will lose.” Raven said clearly. “Most of you must have families, leave now and you can return to them. I don’t really care either way, I have no family so failure does not matter to me, and neither do your deaths.” There was a moment of silence whilst they thought about what she said.

Some stood tall out of their fighting positions. More followed, realising their lack of chances. Raven nodded to those who had surrendered and they transported themselves out. She turned towards those who were left and picked her sword up off of the floor, where it fell when she killed the guard. Many recognised it of course, and those who no longer fancied their chances with Raven having that sword disappeared also.

Those who stayed charged towards Raven as one and as they did she pushed the young girl back behind her. Raven made quick work of the challengers, having them all on the ground dead within a few minutes.

She approached Adrian’s cell and pulled away three of the bars, allowing her to enter. She crouched down and snapped the chains with ease.

“Can you walk?” She asked him and he nodded. They stepped out of the cage and joined the young girl. “Time to head back.”