reiven2017

[reiven2017]

Maybe sometimes I start to hate my brain.😑

[reiven2017]

Главы: 6

Rachel wanted to go home. She just wanted to get home. The only thing that held her back were the two huge wolves outside the door, the iron lock, and the fucking fate that had clearly decided to laugh at her. As it was, everything was fine...Oh, right! She's also getting married soon. But I have no idea for whom yet.

[reiven2017]

Gotta use dem read more links amigo. The wall of texts hurts

Maybe I'll use them next time, amigo. I feel sorry for your tired eyes.

[reiven2017]

Delicate steel.

Chapter 5

The knuckles on Damian's hands turned white as he gripped the steering wheel with force and the artificial leather under his palms creaked pitifully.

He sat in his car for 40 minutes and could not and did not want to think, his body did not obey commands while only her smell was in his head. The smell of his steam.

He used to think that the torment was not knowing if his true mate existed in the world, but now, when he knew that she was there and lived somewhere nearby, Damian was going crazy and realized that he was ready to burn in Hell just to see her. To feel her scent again, dispersing the blood in his veins. The smell, with the help of which he felt alivefor the first time in all 17 years.

At first, having felt a strange smell and an inexplicable reaction of his wolf, Damian did not know what to think, believing that this was just an idiotic joke of his brain. He had been so used to loneliness for many years and already seemed to have reconciled himself to his fate and experienced panic, realizing that the wolf was glad to smell a couple. To tell the truth, Wayne didn't know why he was afraid, this was all new to him and he had no idea what to do with it.

Wayne didn't know what this new feeling was when he caught himself thinking that he was angry after learning that Grayson met his couple first.

The guy gripped the steering wheel with a new force, anger and something else burned his body from the inside, when he thought about Richard's hands touching his mate, his eyes saw his mate, he spoke to his mate and heard her voice, and Damian was forced to be content and rave only with a barely perceptible smell.

He was ready to personally interrogate Grayson, as long as it took and even more until he compiled a complete list of all the people he had met this week. Time, place, description of a person all this, he is ready to knock it out of him by force if it becomes necessary.

The very next day it became clear who she was. More precisely, almost nothing has become clear now. Dick, exhausted and tired from the endless questions of the evil Alpha, suddenly dug out a strange incident on the road from the depths of his consciousness. He did not remember anything important and valuable, except that the girl had strange, bright hair and he helped her with a panic attack. He didn't know the face or the name, and he didn't remember it.

The information about her attack caused Damian's parents to worry, but he dryly ignored them, turning only one thought in his head about hair. The next day, his people were already scouring the city and the search continued until now and Damian did not know a week or less had passed since that moment, but his patience was dangerously exhausted and the guy did not know how much longer he would hold out in ignorance of where his mate was.

Rumors that the heir of the Wayne family finally had a couple scattered like a flock of birds, and after the rumor reached the neighboring flocks. Damian was congratulated by other wolves, asking about how soon he would bring his mate to the pack, and he just waved away their questions, asking himself the same question.

His family called him crazy. He saw only her, his wolf felt only a couple, and this sometimes became dangerous.

Occasionally, at night, the guy woke up from the fact that he felt someone else's emotions. It happened insanely rarely and felt intangible and so far away that Damian began to feel that he was really slowly going crazy. Sometimes he stopped understanding what he was feeling, and for someone in whose veins Alpha blood flows, it was disastrous. Wayne was still a fucking Alpha and the concern for his mate was becoming very problematic for his affairs.

All this made him restless, anxious, nervous, and he hated it.

Now the guy was standing on the side of the road, the engine of his car was not turned off, and his phone was bursting with calls and messages. His cell phone screamed again, pulling him out of the bottomless world of emotions, reminding him of what Damian was doing and was going to do, as his thoughts went to the damn ass as soon as he felt the echoes of other people's emotions again.

This time, it was something remotely similar to fear and it made his wolf howl in despair that he was not there at that moment to protect her. Damian tried not to think about anything bad. Just the thought that something irreparable had happened to his mate and the guy couldn't restrain himself from growling.

Wayne blinked stupidly, trying to normalize his vision, looking at the windshield of the car, but his gaze disappeared somewhere in the distance. He followed the drop of water running down the glass with his eyes and shuddered sharply, returning to reality. Damian took a deep breath, trying to start reacting again and grabbed the phone with an uncoordinated movement. He saw a couple of missed ones from his father and Grayson, and his brain finally began to convulsively return to reality, trying to start working again. He was driving to the pack council when the guy was overtaken by the emotions of his mate and unable to cope with it, Damian was forced to pull over to the side of the road.

They even washed about his mate, made him weak and Damian became disgusted with himself and his pity. He was fucking Wayne, a fifth-generation Alpha, and he shouldn't have been sitting around melting like a stupid boy dreaming of a girl.

The thought made him frown. He sent a quick message to his father that he would be there soon and threw the phone on the back seat, rubbing his face. Damian was no longer going to be driven by emotions and behave like a madman in love. He doesn't even know who she is, and already breathes unevenly at the thought of her. It was insanely stupid for Damian.

The guy growled angrily and pressed the gas pedal harder than necessary. He still has a question about the pack council, and if Damian doesn't show up there during this time, his family will raise the issue of his execution.

                                                           ======

At the same time, on the other side of the city, Raven was once again asking how she had allowed herself to be persuaded to do this, standing in front of an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city and frowning listening to the muffled music coming from the half-broken windows.

These five hours in her life were the most intense in her entire history and Rachel was afraid to think what would happen next. She barely fought off Rogers with a wardrobe of indecently short dresses and won her right to stay in shorts with a T-shirt and a jacket. Roth wondered where Amy had gotten these dresses and if Mrs. Rogers knew about their existence. After slipping through the window in her room, she and Amy found themselves on the street, where, according to her, a taxi was waiting for them. The car was really standing a few houses away from Rach and she allowed herself to be seated in a rather muddy-looking car, clutching a knife in her pocket all the way, and then she was happy to stay in the car after seeing the place where the party was taking place.

Rachel had never been to a party before and was not eager. She had a list of what was bad and what was good, and the parties just related to the terribly bad. She knew that this was bad, partly because it was at one of the parties at the age of 16 that her mother met Rachel's father, Traygon, and became pregnant. She also did not like a large crowd of people who were under the influence of alcohol and carnal desires and she herself had never had a love for this kind of event and she had a hundred and one reasons why it was just a terrible idea.

But she was still standing there, giving her hoodie to Amelia, who was shivering in her dress.

-" How would you like to go home and forget the way here? " Rachel drawled warily as she dodged a drunken crowd of teenagers.

She looked at Amy, who was trying to force a smile, but her eyes were just as uninspired looking at the gloomy building in front of her.

Rogers tangled herself more tightly in Raven's sweater, casting a brief glance at her, trying to distract herself from the darkening facade of the building and the growing sense of fear. It was the first time she was so far from home, and if it hadn't been for Raven, who agreed to go with her, Amelia would never have decided to do this.

- "I didn't know you had so many tattoos. " Rachel smiled dryly.

"More than twenty...I think. I've never counted them.

"Do they all mean something to you?" Rachel frowned, thinking about the answer to the question. She didn't want to lie to Amelia, and lying was never her strong point, but it would be better for both of them if they were just stupid drawings without meaning and without what was hidden under them.

- "no. Just pictures." she smiled.

- "Cool. Amy's distant reply sounded." The girl nodded in the direction of the warehouse. -" I think so...should we come in? Michael...he should have been there a long time ago." -" I prefer to stay here. "Rachel caught the girl's reproachful look and just shrugged.

But Amelia Rogers wasn't the one who hesitated for a long time.

"Raven?" Amy said, glancing at the building, and Raven's name sounded questioningly on her lips. Roth looked at Amy for a few seconds, her thoughts were still against this whole terrible idea for the sake of one stupid boy, but she perfectly saw the love in the girl's eyes just at the mention of his name and smiled encouragingly at her, gently squeezed Amelia's hand.

Even if Raven had a certain fear of the party, strangers and the unknown, now...and even before that, she will not be able to say no when her hand is squeezed as the only support.

And Rachel Roth was the one who thought about others, much more than about herself.

Amelia nodded, a smile bloomed on her lips, and after returning the hoodie to Raven, she proudly walked to the warehouse, blowing a kiss to her friend. Rachel only quietly grinned after her, catching up with the girl and not noticing how wild, red-flushed eyes looked at her from the shadow of the forest surrounding the warehouse, and the toothy mouth stretched out in a cold snarl.

                                                    ======

From the first moment they entered the warehouse, the thundering music deafened Rachel and she hovered in space for a second, trying to orient herself. There were neon signs everywhere, music and smoke, and Raven counted about ten couples kissing as she and Amy walked down the corridor and shyly covered her eyes with her hand, at the sight of not just kissing couples. Rogers snickered maliciously at Rachel

's reaction.

- "Shut up." Raven grumbled, still half covering her eyes with her hand.

She learned early what sex is because her mother saw fit to tell her about it at an early age and Rachel sometimes hated her for it.

Raven didn't know if it was related to Angela's pregnancy or if it was just her parenting method, but she remembered closing her ears to her mother's words, blushing in every possible way. Even now, having already a driver's license and a mental disorder, Rachel never considered herself old enough and ready for this, without ceasing to be embarrassed and it was quite stupid in her opinion, but she couldn't do anything about it.

She grimaced, feeling annoyed when some left-handed dude blew cigarette smoke in her face, continuing to follow Amelia down the corridor. She didn't know if the girl had been here before, but of the two of them, Rachel thought that Rogers knew what she was doing, so she just followed her.

The music grew louder and minutes later a massive door appeared at the end of the corridor, and behind it a huge room. The sharp smell of alcohol and something sweet hit Rachel's nose, sharpening her senses and she had to admit that the club looked much better inside than outside. It was a large, spacious room, in the center of which was an improvised dance floor, a DJ booth and hundreds of people, covered with music and alcohol. At the end there was an iron staircase and Rachel followed it with her eyes, paying attention to the fact that there was something like a second floor on top, where the party guests were. To her right was a large neon-lit bar, to which Amy dragged her through the crowd, grabbing Rachel by the arm.

She barely caught Amelia's words to the bartender over the loud music, but the next minute Raven was staring in disbelief at the machine in her hand, in which an amber liquid was splashing.

- "Is it necessary? "- she said and felt Amy roll her eyes almost to the ceiling, standing with the same glass and smiling provocatively.

-" Yes, especially for a boring ass like you. "Raven looked doubtfully at the glass again, completely sure that it was something alcoholic. Probably not once in her life had she stood and breathed so close to alcohol and did not even expect to drink when she agreed to a party, but the amber liquid in her hand aroused her curiosity. Rachel had no idea what the hell was in her glass and it did not cause confidence, although she trusted Amy, but her cheeky side of character began to take up and Rachel tried to sniff the drink, catching the mocking look of the bartender. It made her pride growl.

- "How about something else and non-alcoholic?"

"Oh, my God, Rachel, just drink this!" Amelia shouted, trying to shout over the loud music and drained her glass in one gulp. Raven stepped back, and after a few seconds she couldn't breathe as her throat burned and her lungs filled with fire as she tried to breathe. It was bitter, sharp and hot, but Rachel hummed to herself when the first sensations subsided and a pleasant sweet taste was felt on the tongue. It was a sharp contrast and it seemed to stop the time inside her and Raven caught herself that she liked it. The corners of her lips lifted in a satisfied grin and she defiantly licked her lips, collecting the remains of the drink, seeing how the young man behind the counter nervously swallowed.

Sometimes Rachel did it before she thought about it, but alcohol inspired her with confidence that previously she would not have had enough for this. Amelia watched this scene with the pleasure of a mother for her child.

- "Why didn't you tell me earlier about the magical effect of alcohol on you? I would put it in your lunch every day." - she drawled mockingly, replacing their drinks. Raven shrugged, twirling the glass in her hands and drank without hesitation. She felt her brain beep a warning signal to her, but ignored it and heard Rachel call sharply. She barely managed to leave the glass on the counter before Ro was dragged back into the crowd.

- "Let's go dance."

- "What about your adventures with Michael? " Raven finally remembered their main goal.

"That's why we're going to dance, Rachel...I saw him near that column." Amy whispered conspiratorially in her ear and led them to the one Raven Colon understood. They squeezed in between the flow of people, slowly dancing to the music Rachel tried to concentrate, the alcohol hit her well in the head, but she continued to wander with her eyes in the direction where Amy was nodding. Then she saw him, a dark brown-haired man with gray eyes, vaguely known to her from her friend's love stories as Michael. He seemed to be playing football...or not, and that didn't interest Raven much.

"What are you going to do?" Rachel asked.

-" Push us off. Amelia's immediate response came, and Raven's eyebrows shot up in surprise when it sounded like a well-thought-out plan from Rogers ' mouth.

- And?

-" Now we will pass by him and you will accidentally  stumble and push me into him. " Amelia dictated, and shot Rachel a furious look. "Don't you dare miss."

- "And he will save you from meeting the asphalt like a prince?"

- "Exactly."

- Okay. - if it hadn't been for the two glasses she had drunk, Raven would never have agreed to such an adventure, but now she found it somewhat funny.

"If you do it right, I'll get you some more of those cocktails." Amy smiled cheerfully.

"Oh, this is definitely getting interesting."

                                                           ======

Raven leaned against the bar, irritably trying to wipe off her beer shorts. Some drunk idiot decided to flirt with her without being able to connect even two letters and stumbled, overturning the contents of the glass on the girl. Her head gradually began to spin, and her vision became blurry and indistinct, and she felt her body relax and get drunk, making her pliable and sluggish, and Rachel suddenly frowned.

Oh, yes, Rachel Roth, keep digging your own grave.

Rachel grimaced irritably, rubbing her face and returning the remnants of her mind, she was determined to get out of here before it was finally too late. She would have done it much earlier if it hadn't been for Amy, who, as expected, fell into the arms of her prince and flew away from Raven on the wings of love, forcing Roth to hang out near the bar, ignoring her anger at her friend.

She was angry at Rogers for just leaving her, but at the same time she was worried about her. Amy hadn't been in her field of vision for a long time, and Raven tensed her eyebrows on the bridge of her nose. Theoretically, Amy was with Michael, which means no one else could threaten her, but Rachel was the one who knew what girls in love could do and it covered her with a wave of nervousness. Maybe she was exaggerating, or maybe it was the effect of alcohol on the brain, but panic slowly rolled up to her throat and Raven rushed into a bunch of dancing people with a clear goal to get her friend away from here.

She didn't know how much time had passed, but a sharp sense of danger and panic didn't stop leaving Raven and she wasn't sure if it was just because of Amy.

Rachel suddenly found herself barely breathing as she scoured the building in search of a friend and her gaze involuntarily stopped on the man.

He was there, standing in the darkest corner of the opposite wall and his eyes were incredibly glowing when the man looked directly at Raven and she felt a herd of goosebumps run through her skin as soon as she could recognize in his dangerous and cruel smile, the local leader of the football players and her nedo-rapist Jonathan Wild.

He was looking at Rachel and only at her, and when he caught her eye, he grinned caustically. Raven swallowed hard.

Fuck.

The fear for her friend faded into the background. Now Raven was beginning to fear for herself. She didn't know what Wilde was capable of, but the fact that he was right here and right now, watching Rachel with fierce eyes made her doubt that it was an accident and her body froze with fear and Raven didn't know that it was possible to sober up so quickly.

She watched as Wilde moved in her direction, waving away everyone who got in his way, and this pushed Rachel to take a few frightened steps back. She needs to run. Right now. Her eyes carefully and warily slid around the room and Raven clung to the green sign "exit" under the stairs, and without wasting a minute rushed there. She felt like vomiting was rising in her throat from sudden movements and convulsive brain work, but she continued to confidently make her way to the exit through the crowd of people.

Grabbing the door handle, she forcefully pulled the iron door, literally falling out of the building, covering her mouth with her hand and leaning over the cold iron railing, spat the bitter taste of alcohol on the asphalt. Her head was buzzing, her hands were crumpled, and the fabric of her black shorts was soaked through with beer, viciously sticking to her body and she opened her eyes wide, staring into the forest.

Damn Data with its solid thickets.

Rachel tried to figure out what to do next. She had no idea where she was and was going to bite off her finger from anger that she didn't pay attention to the road when she and Amy were driving in the car. Her phone, of course, was happily left at home. And who could Raven call when her parents had already had their third dream, believing that their daughter was sleeping in her room with a girlfriend.

Amy. Raven could only guess where this woman had gone, but at least she was sure that she had a phone and money with the prince and urged herself to calm down mentally, her problem with the ferocious Wild hung over her a danger sign and Rachel had to move away from the building a few steps, I hope that she was able to break away.

Several long minutes passed, Wilde did not appear, but her nerves were on edge, Rachel stopped breathing, then inhaled sharply without taking her eyes off the iron door. The music continued to be loud, and Raven knew that no one would hear her screams from here. She shuddered.

Don't you dare think about it, Rachel Roth. You made it. You ran away. Well done.

In the next minute, her blood cooled and stopped, and her mind completely refused to accept what was happening. Raven heard a branch snap at her side and she heard a growl. A wild, bestial and dangerous growl, not capable of being made by a person. She swallowed hard, her muscles stretched into a rigid string and she did not remember how she turned around, meeting the gaze of three pairs of eyes. Wolf's eyes.

[reiven2017]

Delicate steel.

Chapter 4

Rachel literally fell out of the building, covering her mouth with her hand and leaning over the cold iron handrails, spat the bitter taste of alcohol on the asphalt. Her head was buzzing, her hands were wadded up, and the fabric of her black shorts was soaked through with beer, sticking viciously to her body, and Raven found herself trying to count how many fingers she had on her hand.

Oh, she was in a complete mess and this is one of the worst decisions of her life..

A week before.

A gust of cold wind blew, a page of Rachel's textbook gave in to it, but the girl just calmly continued to sit in place. It was a lunch break, at this time of the year, usually all the students preferred being in warm buildings with heating and no one pokes into the street, so Rachel Roth went there with a cheerful gait.

She looked around the empty yard and noticed a large spreading tree in a remote part of the territory, and went there.

Raven sighed softly, finally getting rid of the stuffy rooms and the walls pressing down on her. Today seemed to be preparing her for the meat of something shitty and quietly mocked her without wasting a minute. In the morning, she spilled coffee on her jeans and there seemed to be nothing to put on others, but her mother reported too late that all the few things Raven had that reached at least to her knees were left in the laundry, so after glancing sullenly at herself in the mirror before going out, Roth continued to adjust the edges of the dark skirt that seemed too short to her.

She had no particular love for things that, with a slight gust of wind, could easily disgrace her. Sometimes it seemed to Rachel that she was naked, even though her legs were hidden under the thick material of black tights, but this did not save her from feeling insecure and a certain fear.

Raven was about to put up with the fact that she would go in jeans with a taste of coffee, as her mother did not tolerate any objections, waved her away and just as quickly shoved the girl into the car, offering to take her to school.

The day promised to be outstanding when the fifth whistle reached Raven, and after even more stupid words of teenagers at her school, and the girl was finally convinced of her hatred for this wardrobe item. She measured these stupid asses with a contemptuous look, squaring her shoulders and barely restrained herself from showing them a dirty gesture in response. Even if she felt naked and confused under their greasy gazes, she would not have given them the pleasure to find out about it.

For this reason, Rachel was immensely glad when she went out into the street, she came across only a lonely asphalt and a dim sun in the sky. It was cloudy, it seemed that the air was saturated with moisture and the sun's rays only occasionally reached the ground. Yes, it was cold, especially the hardships of the weather were felt in the skirt, but it was much better than sitting and listening to the students talking about their ass.

The girl shoved her phone into the very bottom of her denim bag and tried to concentrate in silence on the books scattered around her.

It took some time before Rachel's eyes refused to accept new letters and leaning back against the trunk of a tree, she literally felt someone else's presence, and then a mountain of muscles obscured her field of vision, and the smell of cologne hit her nose. Roth made an irritated face. She had a strange ability to recognize a person without even looking at him.

— "You're as beautiful as ever, Rachel." she knew the owner of such a smug voice and did not want to look at his even more smug face.

Rachel chuckled vaguely. She wasn't in the mood for conversation.

Especially with him.

"What do you want, Wilde?" he chuckled. "And as friendly as ever, my lady." " Raven gave him a cold look from under her lashes, and then went back to reading. History had never been her favorite subject, but it was much more interesting than watching Jonathan Wild and listening to his stupid flirting. He hadn't ambiguously annoyed her at school for several weeks, had he come all this way just to talk to her?

Raven was not the most desirable girl at school and did not try to attract attention to herself as many did, but simply lived by studying and this should logically provide her with a quiet life, but as they say, nothing is impossible and by some miracle it was the local football leader who fell on her. To the envy of the others and unfortunately for Rachel, but she found it extremely annoying and problematic for herself.

Her goal was to attract as little attention to herself as possible, and this pompous mountain of muscles and testosterone literally broke all her plans, considering for herself as her own law that every girl was crazy about him as soon as he appeared within a radius of ten meters. So, to get rid of him, the only thing she needed was like a breath of fresh air on a stuffy evening, and Raven barely restrained the rude comment that was ready to escape from her lips when Wilde sank down next to her on the withered grass and frowned disgustedly at his expensive designer jeans.

Is the big boy afraid of bugs?

Raven wanted to leave this place before he said anything else annoying and annoying. Of course, she could have stayed where she was and pretended that Wilde simply did not exist, enjoying further joyful solitude, but something in his gaze alerted her Mouth. She had already turned to take her backpack and get as far away from here as possible, when she felt a heavy hand on her shoulder, and then she was pulled back, making Rachel instinctively twitch at this touch.

Physical contact was never something pleasant for Rachel, and even more so when someone so unceremoniously interfered with her personal boundaries.

And? It seems to me, or his hand really lies on my shoulder

The thought made Roth frown. She turned her head in the direction of the teenager, caught in his, at the very moment when his lips stretched into a narcissistic smile and Raven felt anger creep under her skin, making it hiss like a snake and spraying blood in her veins. Rachel hadn't always been so aggressive, but his actions had awakened old fragments of memories in her, her brain was convulsively thinking and she couldn't restrain herself. At least, that's what she wanted to think.

She felt rage and irritability drown her head in one, her eyes went dark, and her lungs seemed to be on fire, and Raven tried to start breathing again.

"Come on Raven" - Roth was going to roughly shut him up before he said anything else, but her words stuck in her throat like a lump. —" I understand that you are new and you must be embarrassed by such attention from a guy like me, but, honey, don't be shy. When I saw you today in this charming skirt..". — Raven felt his gaze darting boldly over her body, and the corner of his lips lifted in a vulgar grin and she felt a wild need to hit him between the eyes. She jerked sharply again, ignoring his plaintive sigh when she probably hit him on the liver, trying to get rid of his obsessive hand on her body, finding it rather frightening that he was so much stronger than her and John, noticing his pressure and the girl's tightly compressed lips, pulled away, but still not giving Raven final freedom.

He smiled again, thinking that the sight of his snow-white teeth would relax the situation and it seemed that he did not care at all about what was happening right in front of him. John took a quick glance at the only entrance to the courtyard where he and Raven were, and his eyes darkened, shimmered with a strange shine. His hand came out from behind his back and wrapped around the girl's waist like a snake.

This left Rachel with no questions about why he had found her. And it made her lower lip tremble, from a moment of anger that came over her.

Raven looked at him carefully, noticing that despite the way he smiled sweetly and made eyes, pretending to be a completely relaxed person, his fists were tightly clenched, and sometimes his breathing was interrupted. Roth had no idea about him, except for a wild boy's fantasy in his head and a passionate love for football, and this was a dangerous fact for her.

"You know you're just wasting your time with me, Wilde," Rachel said through tightly clenched teeth.

She ran her hand down her skirt, lightly brushing the pocket of her hoodie, and she frowned before her hands itched, ready to beat herself. Roth had heard rumors a couple of times about Wilde's sudden change of mood when he refused girls, but these were just stupid rumors and Raven had no desire to check them. For some reason, that didn't stop her from thinking about her folding knife.

Of course, it was today that you didn't take your knife to Rachel Roth.

She was sure that her mother had checked ryukaz before leaving. It made Raven groan in resignation.

"Maybe, but it makes the thought of you even sweeter." - Roth wasn't even going to think about what thoughts about her were in Wilde's head, but for some reason it made her blue eyes turn black with anger. If he continued to behave in this  way, Rachel was not sure that she would be able to restrain herself. Her brain was boiling, her breathing was sharp and ungainly, and she was almost afraid for her sudden change of mood, if she didn't know the reason. She felt her nails involuntarily dig into the soft fabric of her palms. She knew how dangerous she could be.

This is Wild, a local favorite and the best athlete in Data, whose cups are personally signed by the mayor of the city. And this Rachel, a girl who was expelled from a prestigious school for a fight and disliked the local teachers. Anyone who listens from the outside will burst into wild laughter, completely disbelieving and denying everything with the cells of his soul that such a handsome athlete harassed such as Raven. This caused a wave of rage in her.

Rachel was sure, or wanted to be sure, that he was just playing with her. But he wouldn't rape her in the middle of the day and in the school yard, would he? It was stupid, even for him.

But everything happened faster than she wanted and Raven heard him swear dirty, his football bomber creaked softly as John reached for Rachel's face, squeezing her chin and pulling her towards him, and she did not immediately realize that he was looking at nothing else but her lips.

She caught his hungry gaze, just at the moment when their faces were literally a centimeter apart, when her eyes were flooded with scarlet lead, and the cruel side of her character obscured all sane thoughts.

- !Rubbish!! Raven wasn't the one who went along with someone and restrained her anger, and before she could stop herself, her fist shot up and she heard his painful groan as Jonathan Wyald, like a beaten dog, jumped away from her.

She was sure that she would regret it later.

Raven was trembling with anger and the adrenaline in her blood exceeded the norm when she felt a wild burning in her hand and winced, wiping the blood on her knuckles on her black hoodie. It wasn't the first time Rachel had been involved in a fight, so she was sure that she had broken the guy's nose. She was enjoying the contorted and stunned expression on John's face as he fell on his back.

Raven jumped to her feet, too fast for her, regretting it when her eyes went dark for a moment and grabbed the bag from the ground with a trembling hand. I had to get as far away from here as possible.

— "You're going to regret this, bitch."his voice, low and guttural, turning into an animal growl, only vaguely resembled human speech, causing Raven to turn around.

Wilde's eyes were burning, they were fierce and animal with anger, his chest heaved and fell heavily, and in his hand he clutched the earth and the wreaths on his neck swelled and reddened. He was like a wild animal whose ego was deeply and painfully wounded.

Raven smiled dryly at his words.

She might regret it, but it would teach him manners.

Roth had already sent one like Jonathan Wild to a hospital bed a few years ago and then, without doing it earlier, this delay cost her the most expensive thing she had. She imagined in her place those girls who shuddered when John carelessly passed by, smiling and laughing, and they were afraid of male touches, and Rachel barely stopped herself from putting his head against the wall. She barely stopped her justice-hungry nature from breaking something else to the asshole.Raven always chose justice, but she had a separate place in Hell for people like Wilde. Thinking that they are allowed everything and not thinking about the consequences.

Roth swallowed the acrid lump in her throat and her eyes stung from wet tears. She roughly wiped her eyes with her sleeve and rushed towards the school without wasting a minute. Rachel was barely restraining herself from hysteria, she was still reeling from a fit of rage and Raven knew that if she didn't get out of there, her nerves would break like a guitar string. She felt that the sleeves of the hoodie had become wet and sticky, and her brain was trying to restrain the painful urges of her bleeding palms.

                                                       ======

The next day, Rachel came to school with her hands bandaged and already mentally prepared for the fact that the scandal and the drama of Wilde would spread throughout the school, but instead she found the usual situation and the absence of Jonathan himself.

He didn't show up for the next few days either, and Raven didn't know whether to be happy or cry.

She occasionally caught strange glances from the guys on his football team, but she wasn't going to treat it as something dangerously warning. They were always limited to just glances, and as long as it didn't interfere with Rachel's life, she just brushed it off as an annoying insect. But this did not escape the attention of her new friend.

Over the past couple of weeks, he and Amy had been communicating quite well, and Raven had to admit that she found her an interesting conversationalist.

Amelia did not require her to answer and girly chatter, occasionally joked about the name of Rachel and knew how to be everywhere and at the same time nowhere. She was a wild fan of rock bands, but became a victim of her conservative and domineering mother forcing her to be a lady even sitting on the toilet. And it also turned out that Amelia Rogers was considered an outcast at the Data school, which seemed crazy to Rachel. Even in her medieval dresses and bows on her hair, Amy did not stop being cheerful and perky and Raven had no idea how someone like Amelia was labeled an outcast.

Raven's sincere question, why the girl is considered an outcast, caused a wave of laughter and unrestrained laughter in Amy for several minutes and Roth simply left the topic alone.

It was recess, Raven was rummaging through the depths of her school locker, being annoyed and looking for a book, and Amelia Rogers was standing next to her, occasionally throwing her comments.

Amy took a close look at the football team's table and held out her hand, intrigued. — "I'm definitely sure that you did something wrong." Rachel took a sharp breath, hoping that it would remain unnoticed for Amelia, but the girl continued to study the table carefully with the athlete and Raven urged herself to calm down mentally. - "what?" she felt Amelia roll her eyes and continued in a tone as if Raven was five years old and they were learning numbers. - "Wilde has been missing for several days, and his friends are not taking their eyes off you and it all looks suspicious." - "Don't talk nonsense." - "Oh! You're a terrible liar, Rachel Roth." - "Maybe it's you who are bad at recognizing lies. "Raven snapped, feeling guilty when Amelia stared at her questioningly and immediately regretted her words. It wasn't Amy's fault that Rachel was a complete mess.

Rachel exhaled wearily, leaning her forehead against the cold metal and whispered softly. - "I'm sorry. " she heard Amy snort softly at her words and felt the girl immediately break into a smile. "Come on, you're allowed to be the Raven Queen." Rachel rolled her eyes at the silly nickname Rogers had given her — " And to be honest, Your Highness looks like a piece of shit." — "It's...just bad lighting here." Raven pouted slightly - "Continue to amuse yourself with this". Amelia clucked and waved her hand around Rachel's figures. — "That's all, literally radiates the energy of sullenness and lame shit." -" Thank you. "Raven scowled, pulling away from the cold metal and leaning her back against the lockers. She shoved her hands into the pockets of her dark jeans, took a slow breath and tried to force something like a smile out of herself. - "Bring back the sullenness, now you have such a look as if I'm torturing you." Amy said with a smile, but her eyes twinkled excitedly. "Oh, to hell with it". Raven grumbled, leaving Amelia standing by the lockers. "Yes, escape from reality, Rachel Roth, and return to your kingdom of darkness. " Rogers chuckled, catching up with the girl. It was at such moments that Rachel wondered how Amy became her friend. She shot a frown at her friend's remark, but it made Raven think and she stopped on the toes of her sneakers. She wasn't running away from reality, was she? She had no reason to.

"I can see that you've gone back to your terribly gloomy thoughts, but!" Amelia playfully played with her eyebrows, attracting Raven's attention as they turned to"wards the algebra classrooms. Rachel arched a! questioning eyebrow, wondering what had come to the girl's mind this time. They stopped at the entrance to the classroom when Rachel stared incredulously at Amelia, who had a cheeky grin on her lips and mentally asked herself how many times she would regret it. -" But?"

                                                           ======

Raven continued to ignore Amy's stupid idea of a party and was almost not surprised when she came h"ome to find angry text messages and a number of missed calls from Rogers. She felt a wild desire to erase this day from her memory and just put on her pajamas and go to bed. But during this time, she tormented herself with an argument with Amy.

—" I don't even want to know how you know about the party at the docks. " Raven grumbled into the phone, throwing herself on the bed. There was interference on the line and it seemed to the girl that someone was sneaking on the other end of the wire. —" I have connections, oh, my dear Rachel. "Amelia whispered. -" It sounds threatening...and why are you whispering?" -" Don't be such a bore and agree! "Amelia exclaimed sharply, and Raven restrained herself from covering her hands over her ears.

Rachel wondered why she was so caught up in this conversation, and not just tu"rned off her mobile phone. Roth was sure that she would not leave her room even at gunpoint, especially alcohol and sweaty people were never in a number of her priorities, so even the very essence of the conversation caused her irritation. She was grumbling, rubbing her eyes, still not understanding what Rogers was up to, puffing and mumbling into her phone, as if she was running from a herd of bulls.

— "I still don't understand how you're going to pull this off, living under the same roof with Mrs. Rogers." — "I have a plan." -" A plan? I hope I don't have just anyone involved in it." It was at this moment that Rachel caught a sound from the first floor and her mother's voice was heard on the phone. The girl's eyebrows shot up in surprise, she took the phone away from her face, listening to the sounds on the first floor and moaned in resignation, reproaching herself that she should have foreseen Amy's madness for this party.

Raven frowned and said angrily through her teeth.

—" Don't you dare say you're at my house." - all she heard before the line ended was a cheerful "Late", and then the front door in the hallway slammed shut and Angela chattered amiably on the first floor. Someone was having a nice conversation with her mother on the first floor, and knowing and confident in who exactly it was, Rachel wondered if it was too late to run, but she heard footsteps on the stairs, and then Angela came into her room and Amy's wide smile appeared in the doorway.

Rachel was going to wipe that smile off her face as soon as her mom stepped into her room.

-" Raven, why didn't you tell me that you and Amelia have a joint project?"

Do we have one?

Rachel stared at her mother with incomprehension, noticing how Amy was gesturing obscenely behind her back. Roth cleared her throat, quickly trying to correct herself and smiled at Angela. -" I'm sorry, Mom, I was just going to let you down and warn you, but I didn't know that Amelia would come so quickly. " this answer seemed to satisfy her mother. "Make yourself comfortable, honey, and call me if Raven doesn't feel well. Oh, I'll call right away and warn your mom that you're staying with us for the night, as you asked." Angela looked painfully happy, and Rachel wondered what Amy had already told her mother.

Asked for it?!

Rachel wasn't sure that she hadn't said it out loud and was extremely sorry that she hadn't put the locks on the door, continuing to watch in disbelief as Amy broke into an innocent smile that Raven knew wasn't innocent at all. The very presence of Rogers was the end of the world, and now Raven was well aware of the purpose of the" project", but still did not intend to participate in it.

Rachel narrowed her eyes dangerously when only she and Amy were left in the room. —" And how do understand this?" —" This is my last attempt to persuade your evil ass to come to the party." Rachel grumbled irritably, rubbing her face. — "Why me? I think I made it clear that I don't look like a lover of parties and crowds of people...especially as you suggest that I do it when you personally told my mother about our "project"." "Oh, don't fuck with me, Rachel Roth. My mother on the eve of the evening read me another monologue about how you again escaped through the window." -" Let's say, but this does not negate the fact that I'm not going to go to any party." Rachel said dryly, in a tone that absolutely brooked no objections. Amelia could go on as long as she wanted, but Roth's conviction that this was a terrible idea had a great cost. "Michael will be there," Amy said uncertainly, hiding her eyes on the floor. Rachel grumbled again, pacing the room. —" Is he that important to you?" - "Yes! I've been pining for him since high school, and yesterday I was finally convinced that he broke up with a girl and this is my chance! " Raven looked at Rogers incredulously. She was sure that Amy was not exaggerating her feelings for the boy. Amelia always made Rachel sit next to his desk, she was there when he needed answers to tests and Roth once again pulled Amy out of thoughts about their wedding and hamsters. This caused her inner resolve to falter. — "Well, yes, and seeing you among drunk and sweaty people, he will immediately explode with love...have you tried just talking to him at school?" "No one does that, my friend..." Rachel cast a frown at Amelia. -" well, except for you, but people like Michael need to be impressed, and not hang around with empty conversations. That's why I have to be there." -" Call someone else. I'm the last person who should ask to go to the party." Raven saw Amelia hesitate, seeming ashamed of something. - "But? — "I have no one but you". Raven felt Amy's voice tremble and moaned in frustration, now she just hated herself for never being able to stand on her own for a long time and allowed herself to be made into a living doll, but no matter how uncomfortable Rachel felt in a large crowd of people, she just couldn't turn her tongue to say "no". —" I'm going to your damn party."

[reiven2017]

Delicate steel.

Chapter 3.

Lately, she felt worse than usual and listening to the words of the teachers, Rachel knew that she should listen, or at least not be distracted, but all she had the strength to do was just slowly watch from the side as her brain turns off and her soul leaves her mind. It was a strange state of emptiness. If only old death would mock her, taking away, then returning life and watching it as if it were a scene from a TV series. Rachel just snorted at the flow of bad thoughts. But no matter how much Roth tried to deny reality, reality did not want to leave her and Raven had to admit to herself that after unsuccessful attempts...she's getting worse.

Rachel barely flinched when the disgusting ringing of the school bell reached her ears and shivered again, shifting in her chair. It was chemistry, this subject had never caused Raven any problems or not ligaments, but now she frowned at the barely completed test and in one quick movement shoved it into the pile of others, wondering what would happen after. The figure should not worry Rachel much, but for some reason she felt like a fool.

Raven clucked disapprovingly at her behavior, attracting the attention of some people. If she's going to keep whining, she should at least wait until she gets home. She looked around the audience, stumbled upon the fact that half of the class had safely left the lesson, and the other was intensely discussing the test and finding nothing interesting for herself, pushing her chair back with a creak, began to collect things.

For some reason, this action aroused the silent interest of her classmates. They gave her a close look and Rachel was sure that she heard the word "Mouth and strange" several times in their sentences, but decided to keep it to herself, only smiling with one corner of her lips at this. She was quite calm in such situations. Rachel never tried to have communication with someone and this was the norm in her behavior, even when it caused disapproval from society, she simply allowed people to call herself a country. The only mistake in the conversations at the last school made much to be desired and left some scars on her, so Raven with firm confidence did not want to repeat this. Rachel winced wearily, feeling a subtle tingle in her temples and she stopped in the doorway of the classroom.

Of course, we didn't need Rachel Roth's migraine for a full ass.

======

The road to the house took no more than half an hour and Raven breathed a sigh of relief when she saw a white fence in front of her and a strange garden gnome who reminded her of a homeless man. She slipped through the fence, hoping that she did not fall under the attention of her very sensitive neighbor, Mrs. Rogers, who considered it her civic and even heroic duty to monitor every plot standing on the street. Rachel glanced at the windows in the neighbor's house, noticing that the lights were not on anywhere and mentally thanked God for such luck.

Mrs. Rogers was a plump lady, in the very, as she herself said, the dawn of strength and energy, with a rather fancy nachos on her head resembling a poodle. She had narrow blue eyes, but she always looked at everyone with a squint that seemed from a distance it was only two blue stripes. She had a button-up nose, like the most aristocratic lady, and she always kept white gloves on the belt of her floral dresses. In general, she was such a not very kind, but very curious woman with an overestimated sense of elegance and royal chic. So when Mrs. Rogers saw Rachel on the eve of the party in shabby jeans and a stretched T-shirt and Oh my God!without a bra, it seemed to the girl that she was declared war without any warning.

For this reason, now the Mouth was trying very hard not to catch her eye. She didn't care much about this woman's opinion, she always felt like talking to her during an interrogation and wondered if other people had the same thing, but it was easier to get around the problem than listening to an hour-long monologue about how Lady should behave.

Rachel darted across the yard just as quickly, almost hitting a flower pot and killing lilies, when the front door finally closed behind her. She cast a frown at her sneakers, with the remaining pieces of earth from the battle with the lilies, and was reaching to take them off when she heard her mother's voice coming from the kitchen. - Ria, is that you? She heard her mother talking to Ben in the kitchen, too quietly for Rachel to hear, but enough to arouse suspicion and the girl mentally tensed. From the kitchen there was a variety of different smells of food and it was quite strange for an ordinary Friday. Rachel finished with her shoes and was about to dive to the second floor, annoying herself on the topic of why her mother was so prepared, when the doorbell rang behind her, and voices were heard on the street. She could recognize this voice from a thousand others.

Oh, no.

Mrs. Rogers.

Raven was ready to literally howl with despair.

Angela came around the corner in time, dressed in a blue dress and with perfectly smoothed brown hair, which was a rarity, and clicked disapprovingly at her daughter's martyred expression. - Don't make such a plaintive look, honey, yesterday I told you that I invited our neighbors to our house for dinner. - Rachel stupidly patted her eyes looking at her mother. Mrs. Roth's eyes narrowed menacingly. - Just don't you dare say that you forgot. Raven batted her lashes again, but her mind was still racing.

Oh, yes, that day you decided to listen to Rachel Roth.

- We will talk about this topic again, young lady. - her mother finished sternly, and Raven realized that her death was close and was willing to at least die at the hands of her own mother than from the chatter of Mrs. Rogers. Angela pulled a smile to her ears, rushed to open the door to the guests. Rachel wearily lowered her gaze to the floor and her eyes involuntarily widened. Hands.

Fuck.

Rachel continued to pick at the vegetable stew with her fork, remotely listening to the conversations of adults. It had been an hour since their friendly neighborly gatherings and Raven was ready to personally dig a secret passage with a spoon to escape. At first, she received a contemptuous look from Mrs. Rogers, then she found out that Mr. Rogers was quite silent and neutral in his behavior, which Raven immediately liked, the next shock was that this woman has a child and even more, the same age as Rachel, and this gave way to a conversation on the topic " They will become friends!".

Raven lifted a despondent gaze from her plate and looked at the opposite side. Amelia Rogers. Yes, if Rachel imagined her neighbor's child, then everything was not so sad in her thoughts. Her curly blonde hair was pulled back into a tight bun and tied with a pink bow, a white cardigan, a mint knee-length skirt from probably Grandma Raven's time, and shoes. A set like from the TV series Poirot for some flower seller whose husband died on the same flowers. Not that Raven was the one who judged people by their clothes, but she judged by Mrs. Rogers. She carefully watched how Amelia sits, sometimes says something quietly, and then buries herself in her plate. Rachel couldn't stand it. Mrs. Rogers didn't even stop watching the girl as she ate.

Probably in my mind calculating whether she holds her elbow at the right angle.

The thought made Rachel chuckle softly, and she immediately regretted it when Mrs. Rogers ' narrowed gaze fell on her. Raven swallowed hard. She was ready to sink through the ground even if only to avoid the beginning tragedies from this look.

- Mrs. Roth, I heard from Amelia that your daughter has become one of the best students in the school in such a short time. - Rachel appeared, or she heard the teeth of this stone woman grinding. She cast a quick glance at Angela, who was smiling broadly like any mother, pleased with the praise of her child, looked at Amelia sitting in front of her, holding her breath, and mentally groaned. This was the beginning of a great tragedy.

- Yes, Rachel can be proud in this regard. Studying has always been quite easy for her. Raven smiled tightly at her mother, hoping that everyone present would believe this, but she continued to watch Mrs. Rogers carefully from under her brows. She looked sternly at her daughter, pursing her lips, seeming to accuse her of something that was clear only to them, and Rachel frowned. And what was that just now?

- It's wonderful, it's great when children spend time studying. Angela would have liked to put in a word, but Mrs. Rogers continued sweetly without paying attention to her. - Although, when I first saw Rachel, I did not think that Amelia meant her. - The woman smiled sweetly, covering her rather unpleasant words and sipped her tea as if nothing had happened. - Jeans, a split T-shirt and hair...I will always be categorical against an unnatural hair color and I could not even imagine that this girl would overtake my daughter over the past few weeks. Raven was sorry she hadn't put laxatives in her tea. She looked at her mother, who was taken aback for a moment, not knowing how to react to these words, but then she caught herself and tried to put a friendly tone in her voice. "Rachel, honey, would you be so kind as to show Amelia your room?" At the sound of her name, Amelia jerked her head up and looked at Rachel for the first time. Roth thought she saw a flicker of interest in her eyes. Rei nodded dryly to her mother and did not even look at the guests as she left the table. Raven waited for Amelia to follow her before leading her to her room on the second floor.

As soon as the door to her room closed, Rachel wasn't the only one who breathed a sigh of relief. - Fuck. 

Fuck.

Raven did not immediately realize that these words came from the mouth of that sunny girl Amelia. Who had not uttered a word at the table under the gaze of her mother and who was now sitting impressively cross-legged on her bed. Amelia continued in a tone that didn't match her outfit at all. "Sometimes?" Raven arched a questioning eyebrow at her, receiving a short laugh from the girl in response. She shook her head thoughtfully, and then smiled wryly. - Okay, always. - Amelia.. - Amy. Call me Amy. I can't stand being called Amelia. after a pause, she added cheerfully. - I feel like a flower in a flower bed. Raven smiled with one corner of her lips. She liked Amy better than Amelia.

Amy stood up, her eyes caught on the poster on the wall and smiled.

- I'm glad to find someone in this hole who appreciates the Rolling Stones band. Amy Rogers is always at your service. she held out her hand to Rachel in a friendly gesture, and Roth returned the gesture. She smiled wryly, looking at this handshake, but inwardly shuddered with panic and mental pleading. Her heart began to beat faster, and Raven swallowed hard, unlike Amy, her palm was not so perfect. Raven hoped that this would go unnoticed by her new friend.

- Rachel Ariella Roth. But you can call me Raven. - she saw a playful smile flash across the face of her new friend.

- Wow. I thought they called me shit. Rachel rolled her eyes at this comment, her palm remained in Amy's grip and she still felt the tension in the muscle from this contact. She noticed how Amy was carefully examining her from head to toe, lingering on Raven's hair, which was scattered around her shoulders in disarray, and was already ready for another portion of ridicule.

- And to be honest, the hair fell off the heads. Is it pink? Or purple? My conservative maman will probably allow me to paint mine only in the next life. -  Amelia continued cheekily, releasing her hand from her mouth and from her grip and sitting down on the bed again, tucking her legs under her. Raven hoped that Amy didn't hear her soft sigh and glanced at her palm, crossed her arms over her chest. She swallowed convulsively, thanking God that everything was fine.

- It's not paint. Raven cleared her throat, and Amy stared at her questioningly, eager for an answer. Rachel already mentally regretted that she continued this topic, and did not say her usual "oh,yes". But to some extent, she really liked Amy, which is already difficult to do, especially considering that they have only known each other for a couple of hours and it will not be possible to return their words. - I was born with this hair color. - Cool. Amy said in surprise, but immediately grabbed the phone when the melodious symphony of the bell rang. Raven smiled to herself. She was sure that Mrs. Rogers had chosen the bell. Roth saw a flash of displeasure on Amy's face and she made a displeased grimace at Raven. - Yes, Mom...I got it, okay, I'm already going down. - Amy dropped the call, muttering something else into the phone with displeasure, and Rachel could almost feel how she swore so dirty. Amy jumped to her feet deftly, straightening her skirt and straightening up, smoothly walked past Rachel. - Well, what? Do I look like my maman? Amy asked, twirling her eyebrows merrily. - No...and this is good. - Amelia laughed. - I like you, Raven. - she said honestly, and Raven stared at her stupidly, having no idea how to react. - It was nice to meet you, I hope I'll see you at school tomorrow? 

 Rachel smiled softly at this and nodded curtly. Amy seemed satisfied with this answer, and with a parting wink at Raven, she headed for the exit. Just as she was leaving the threshold and closing the door, Amelia suddenly stopped and nodded at the box in the corner of the room. - And what happened to the mirror? Rachel swallowed dryly and suddenly felt like she was running out of air. - I squeezed my mouth out of myself, and bit the inside of my cheek, trying to show something like a smile.

======

Last night, she found herself really looking at her figure in front of the mirror. Her skin became several shades lighter, even having a natural dead pallor and convinced that there was nowhere else to go on white, Rachel looked at herself in the mirror with mute surprise, noting how ghostly and angular her body had become.

Not that she considered herself an ideal of beauty before, no, Raven was normal, and her hair was quite abnormal, it was a riot of colors from the roots to the tips, but now it was strangely frightening to look at her body and not recognize it in the reflection of the mirror. Her numerous tattoos contrasted so vividly with her skin that they seemed to glow with black funnels and Rachel was unable to understand and determine the time when her body became alien to her.

The girl gently ran her fingertips along the curves of her body, circled the roughly protruding collarbones, followed the bone on her wrist with her eyes, and with a contemptuous grimace, pulled her hand away as if from fire. It was painful, scary, and completely unexpected to look at myself.

It's disgusting.

The sarcastic voice of reason sweetly reminded her that this was her handiwork, it was only her own fault, bothering and bothering her every day, it seemed with the sole purpose of driving her crazy and Rachel got angry. Her fists clenched involuntarily, and her knuckles turned white from such pressure, and in the dry silence of the night room, the wet sound of blood drops hitting the tile was cut through. Raven looked down at the floor and bit her lip, feeling the salty taste of tears and tried her best to restrain the plaintive moan that was ready to break from her lips as emotions one by one flooded over her. She frowned, opened and closed her eyes, squinted and threw her head to the ceiling, as if trying to bring back tears from shame, from guilt and excitement, from a caustic feeling of euphoria, but she continued to feel stupid. Oh, Gods, she was so stupid. What happened in the past should not matter in the future. She kept repeating it to herself throughout the whole evening, like a memorized mantra.

And she almost  believed it, picking up the fragments of the bloody mirror from the floor.

[reiven2017]

Delicate steel.

Chapter 2.

Raven wondered for a long time when this happened.

Her morning started quite early, but all she remembered was how, having discovered the opportunity, she immediately slipped out of the house and was about to walk, as at the most inopportune moment she was overtaken by a panic attack.

As if this is the right time.

She remembered only how at one moment it became dark in her eyes, and oxygen stopped flowing into her lungs. It was happening so violently and swiftly that Raven felt like she was dying. Fear slowly settled in the very center of her chest and that's it. One slightest fear filled her entire body. She remembered how she sank onto the wet asphalt, her body, legs, arms, head ceased to obey her and she was unable to stand on her feet. The breathless fit continued and seemed not going to stop and Rachel lost hope for a split second. She did not remember how much time had passed and how long she was already on the side of the road, when she caught the movement next to her, and then she was smoothly put on the curb. Raven was still tossing between panic and reality, but she could feel how all this time someone was carefully giving her water. The stranger seemed not for the first time to see such a development in front of him, his actions were clear and careful, just what Raven needed. And then, when she came to her senses and the stranger was still trying to offer her help and take her to the hospital, the girl thanked him dryly, but completely withdrew from persuasion. All Raven remembered was the man's pale blue eyes before he disappeared around the corner.

Rachel winced and remembered another attack without much enthusiasm. This shit was repeated to her without any schedule or even warning and Rei sometimes felt that her body was demanding her death. She could not control the work of her brain at such moments and it was quite irritating and problematic. It made her ... vulnerable. And that's exactly what Raven hated the most.

She had a rather bad habit of switching off and thinking for too long, so she was not embarrassed when a floating hand appeared in front of her eyes.

“Hey, if you’re not going to hang around here forever, I advise you to go home. - Raven dismissed the remarks of her classmate and he grunted in response, left the class.

She blinked a couple of times, returning to reality, and then her face took on her usual sullen expression and Rachel glanced at her watch. 8:30. The last lesson ended 40 minutes ago, which means that she was passed out all this time and Rachel moaned pitifully, dropping her head in her hands. She is confident that her mom is going to arrange an execution at home for another curfew violation.

Excellent.

She took the phone out of the back pocket of her jeans and turned it on and off. A couple of missed calls and threatening sms from my mother were highlighted on the screen of her mobile phone and Rachel decided that she would somehow sort it out later and, taking her bag with her, left the empty audience. In the school corridor she met only a couple of cleaners and two students, but they immediately disappeared into one of the school toilets and Raven had little interest in what they were going to do there. In the front, huge doors appeared and, wrapping herself tighter in her kurta, thrusting her hands into her pockets, Rei greeted the cold autumn wind with a shiver. It was late autumn outside and in Day, a fairly northern city, it felt a few degrees colder. Rachel let out a breath, mentally wondering if it was as cold in New York this time of year, and a warm cloud of steam began to billow from her lips. She followed this short journey of warm air and caught herself with a soft smile on her lips. It was strangely calm. Even though she still has a problem with her mother, Rachel continued to stand on the school porch, inhaling and exhaling air. Everything in this city was strangely calm and quiet, but Rachel didn't mind that much. She had been here for about two weeks and was satisfied with everything, and deep down Raven was ready to admit that she even liked Date. It was a small town, abandoned in the thicket of the forest, with its legends about heri and about the brave discoverers. It was not as famous as Las Vegas and not as densely populated as New York, but that was its sweet charm.

Raven rubbed her hands, trying to rid her body of the approaching cold. She frowned, increasing the friction between her palms, but she was still cold and Raven wasn't sure if it was the weather. There was a short whistle and Rachel reflexively paid attention to it, lifting her head and fixing her gaze on the forest in front of her. Dusk had already fallen on the street, so the huge tundra and the trees in front of it were several shades darker, but it did not look frightening, one could say that Raven liked just such a forest more. Dark but quiet and calm. Maybe her gothic nature was played out in her, but in Raven there flashed a fleeting desire to walk there, but ... she was sure that the sound came from there. Rachel shivered chilly and rolled around in place, looking around.

Several minutes passed before Raven's phone rang again and the girl frowned in resignation. If she continues to be here and not at home, Raven is not entirely sure that she will have a home at all. She threw a last glance at the night forest, saying goodbye to him for today and ... froze in indecision. If it was a stupid game of her sick mind, then she gave her brain minus 10 points for a bad joke and asked to bake it in the hospital. In the very center of the forest, where a huge black hole gaped and it seemed that all objects in it were disappearing, there were two glowing lights. They did not move, did not move, even when a gust of strong wind blew and Raven grabbed the bag on her shoulder more tightly, they did not flinch, continuing to loom in the very center. Rachel frowned, a fine line on her forehead, but in her mind she felt a lump of fear slowly creep down her throat. As if even the air froze in tension, afraid to move in front of this devilry and deathly silence fell, Raven literally felt how life had stopped, and her heart was pounding anxiously. Part of her analytical and rational brain insisted that this was some kind of misunderstanding, but something was wrong in these lights. They shone with a bright, yellow light and they seemed to be conscious, as if someone, or something, was looking at her from there. Rachel narrowed her eyes, swallowing nervously and mentally urging herself to calm down.

Of course, we did not have enough to make friends with the Martians Rachel Roth.

It was the first thing that flashed through her thoughts, before Raven's eyes involuntarily widened with horror and instantly enveloped in a wave of fear. The blood in her veins became a lump and Rachel was sure that she had stopped feeling the pounding of her heart. The lights moved and after a split second, it seemed a huge, black spot, dimly resembling a muzzle, half hidden in shadow with eyes glowing with a bright yellow light and looking directly at her.

Hell…

Rachel blinked, unable to really accept in front of her and when she opened them, neither the eerie glowing lights, nor the unknown creature was already gone. In the blink of an eye, the air became alive again, the sounds returned, in the distance there was the noise of passing cars and the dead silence evaporated.

Raven swallowed hard, looked around the darkening forest and turned sharply, walked as far from this place as possible. She did not turn around, but with each step she took, she increased her speed, remaining with the only thought in her head - to bring down.

When some ass happens, it's never too late to dump Rachel Roth.

===========

Damian sat back wearily in his desk chair, massaging his face with his hands, hoping to get the paperwork out of the way as soon as possible. Unfortunately, questions from the pack were not resolved by themselves and for a long time hung over the younger Wayne as a heavy pendulum of danger and the guy ditched the whole evening for this. Sometimes Damian began to regret that he lived in the modern century, and not in the Middle Ages, where all questions and reflections were solved alone by the menacing growl of the alpha.

He frowned again at another piece of paper with numbers, as his ears caught on the first floor the joyful exclamations of his mother and Damian mentally whined knowing perfectly well who could deserve such a warm welcome. Grayson. The happiest ass in the world and also his older brother. He was aware of his arrival ... well, of course, his entire family and some members of the pack kept buzzing about it throughout the week, causing more and more irritation in Damian. Not that he hated Richard, he was as unbearable as his brothers ... well, he had some advantages over Jason, but several rather stupid personalities once said that they were not happy to see the gloomy cloud of the younger Wayne at the head of their pack, and would gladly replace him with the sunny boy Richard Grayson. After that, Damian was completely furious. He himself did not understand how his older brother manages to be so liked by people, but even to some extent he envied Grayson ... although, on his deathbed, he would not dare to admit it even to himself. So, now he wanted to feel like a 17-year-old teenager and lock himself in his office, gloomily ignoring what was happening. So he did, and even when he heard how his whole family spilled out on the first floor and Talia displeased asking about where Damian had gone, the guy stayed where he was.

It didn't take long before his secret hideout was discovered and loud footsteps were heard, and the next minute Grayson's pretty face appeared in the doorway.

Ugh you.

Damian wasn’t quite sure he hadn’t said it out loud.

- And I'm glad to see you too, brother. Richard opened his bear hug and a smug grin spread across his face.

“Don't be like Jason, Grayson, degradation doesn't suit you. Dick ignored Damian's disgruntled grumbling as he brushed him off and walked over to the table.

- And you become like the old grumpy wolf Demi.

“Forgive me for upsetting your hopes. Wayne was going to continue to ignore Dick, but as the man approached his desk, Damian didn’t consciously stiffen. Either Grayson had successfully changed his perfume, or some strange, but rather disturbing, smell appeared in the room. Wayne looked up from the pile of papers and sucked in air through his nose with all his might. The pupils of his eyes dilated as if after a strong rush of adrenaline into the blood, and his brain slowly floated. Smell. A subtle, almost imperceptible scent made Damian's blood burn hot as fire, and his wolf whined inwardly.

Dick watched the change in his brother's face with a mixed expression and stepped back reflexively as Damian rose abruptly from his seat, never ceasing to sniff. All the same, he is a young alpha ... what can get into his head Richard had no purpose to know. But when Damian seemed unable to find anything within a radius of a meter, approached Dick and began to sniff with the same eagerness, the man could not help laughing.

- Wow, take it easy, I understand that you missed me, but can we limit ourselves to hugs? - but Damian obviously did not listen to him and did not hear. He, like an instinct, walked around Grayson's circle, sucking in air and seemed not to notice what was happening while in his world. He eagerly grabbed his brother's hands, sniffing and froze for a moment in that position. Several seconds passed before he returned to the starting position and without opening his eyes, clenching and unclenching his fists, he firmly asked and was surprised at how unfamiliar his voice sounded. His question turned more into a kind of command and a rude uterine growl, which are on the verge of little politeness.

“Now Grayson, you’ll tell me in detail about your day. - a mute question arose between them in the air, when Dick raised an eyebrow inquiringly, being in confusion from his brother's rudeness and strangeness, he wanted to joke about the change in the mood of the young alpha, but stopped ... Damian finally looked up at Richard ... eyes bright and burning with green flame ... Grayson swallowed involuntarily and tensed, mentally preparing for something bad.

[reiven2017]

Delicate steel.

Summary:

Rachel wanted to go home. She just wanted to get home. The only thing that held her back were the two huge wolves outside the door, the iron lock, and the fucking fate that had clearly decided to laugh at her. As it was, everything was fine...Oh, right! She's also getting married soon. But I have no idea for whom yet.

Notes:

In general...I decided to finally finish this chapter, because what I published earlier was just a draft and it happened that I deleted the work. Ahem, ahem.

Chapter 1: 1

Chapter Text"I don't know, damn it," Damian snarled back, his lips pinched into a thin line. His patience was running dangerously red, and his annoying family never stopped asking him questions, and Damian didn't know how close he was to killing each of them. "What do you mean, you don't know, Damian?" Your eighteenth birthday is coming soon! "I'm aware of that. Damian said dryly, turning to the window and trying to ignore the circle of people gathered around him. Sometimes, in his head, he would quietly start hating them all. The boy heard his sister snort at his answer, and before she could open her mouth to say something even more irritating and irritate him, his father intervened. "Damian." Bruce called coldly — " Stephanie's right. The day of the Blood Moon is approaching, and whether you want it or not, you must find a mate. It's a tradition." — Steph smirked like the Cheshire cat. "Come on, Dad. Maybe our little Alpha likes to go to "girls". " - Damian gritted his teeth and said nothing at Jason's snide remark, hoping that if he continues to ignore them, then maybe everything will be fine?The alpha genes were already boiling in him, the wolf was growling in frustration, and Damian was ready to howl in helplessness. He hated family advice, but when it came to his marriage and finding a true mate, it didn't seem so bad to hang himself and rot in a barn somewhere. Maybe now from the outside he looked like a "little capricious Alpha" with his behavior and an offended frown, but if such a strategy would bring him the desired silence, Damian was ready to play along. Despite the fact that he was the future Alpha of the pack, the new leader, and should have been able to solve problems diplomatically, or be able to kick ass, now he would have been happy to be somewhere in the mountains. Or on another planet. He could have left at any moment, ignoring the drama of Stef and the grinning Jason, if not for the glaring eyes of his father and mother. Damian knew he was being stupid. But he did not know the answer to the question that had been nagging at him for about a year. And every day it annoyed him more and more.From the very first day of his birth, Damian was different from the other wolves. Even in the cradle, he was different. The guy turned early to become a wolf, too early for any measurements, and after the Alpha blood in him awoke with extraordinary speed and as it turned out, he is the new Alpha, which further complicated the situation since he was the youngest son and theoretically could not inherit the Alpha genes. But no, it did happen. Everyone expected that his older brother Richard, kind, cheerful and resourceful, able to talk or at least tolerate people, and most importantly already having a couple, would take the place of the leader and everyone would be happy to the point of screeching bones. How wrong they all were, and how no one expected the Alpha genes to wake up in their youngest son, the rude, silent, and insufferable Damian, known as the walking mess and without a true mate at 17. Many people only laughed when they heard that the Alpha Force appeared in the younger heirs, but when they met with Damian, not a single question remained. He was young, but the Alpha genes had awakened in him with the strength and power of a mature wolf, which gave him even more advantages in the piggy bank of oddities. His relatives got married almost from the first day of birth, his sister was already engaged, his friends were already engaged and even some children in the sandbox already wore special marks saying that they have a couple! And Damian... Damian was broken. Broken almost from the very first day of life. The day of his coming of age was approaching, and the council and the entire pack were now on edge, watching his every move and not losing the chance to slip him a wolf at every opportunity in the hope of finding the one that made him even more exasperated. During this week, he had seen so many women's faces that they were all mixed up in one mess, and he didn't even remember their names. His position in the

pack is already pretty shaky, and if he doesn't find a mate before his birthday, Damian may not be the leader. < i>Worst of all, he won't last long without a pair. "Well, look at him! He's not even listening to us!" — Stephanie fell silent again, seeking support from her father. Of course, her position doesn't weigh in the balance, and the whole pack doesn't sit on her neck and fall asleep with eternal questions that he doesn't know the answers to. Bruce sighed heavily, casting a pleading glance at his wife. He knew that it wasn't easy for his son to come to terms with his new Alpha status and his new status in the pack. Despite all the responsibilities Damian had to deal with, he was pretty good at it, but the question of his true mate was always going to be a hell of a lot harder. Talia gave him a quiet smile, putting her hand on his shoulder. "But if brother can't find a mate on his own, then we have to help him! Damian chuckled softly. If only it were that simple, but only the Gods themselves could help him. - "Dad! I know who is perfect for the role of the Moon! Christy! She is younger than my brother, but she is a beautiful and strong wolf. Christy will fit perfectly into our family! " - Steph screamed again to her father. But then Damian's patience reached the end, driving the Alpha genes in his blood, and his wolf growled inwardly at his sister. Damian didn't like that part of himself, but he was grateful for the Alpha Force now, as Stephanie immediately fell silent. "That's enough," he said, as his sister jerked behind her father, hiding her eyes in shame. "Just because she's your friend doesn't mean she's my mate, Steph. His voice, menacing and guttural, turning into a growl, echoed off the walls of the mansion, causing Steph to shudder slightly and hunch over, hiding behind her father. His emerald eyes, a little silvery, swept around the room, and when they met his mother's distressed gaze and his father's frown, he frowned sternly. Maybe tomorrow he will regret his lack of restraint, but right now the only thing he wants is to get as far away from them as possible, so as not to see himself as a leper.***Perhaps if the town of Date, in northern Switzerland, could be described in three sentences Raven would have said " Forest. A large forest. The devils of the big forest. " and it would be clear to everyone what kind of place this is. It wasn't that she was against nature, but she had lived most of her life in gray and gloomy New York, so the forest was her first shock when she moved. Her mother recently remarried after a failed marriage with Raven's father and an accident with her sister, and now they are all together, the whole friendly family decided to change their place of residence. As if they don't have enough problems. Rachel didn't listen much to her mother's speech in the front seat, plugging her ears with headphones, knowing that she was talking more for her stepfather. Ben wasn't a bad person. He joked stupidly, smiled affably and believed in a happy life, dreaming, according to him, of a large family. He didn't touch Rachel, and he didn't bother her with father-daughter chatter, so he was the best option for her and her mother, Angela. To be honest, he never bothered Rachel at all.When Ben expressed a desire to move, to give in to a quiet life, Rae was not so against it. She didn't have any friends in New York, or anywhere else, so she was neutral about the idea of moving. So she ended up in Switzerland, in the back of an elderly pickup truck, in the middle of the woods and 7 miles from the city of Data. "Rachel!" — through the wall of music, the girl heard her mother's displeased voice and quietly rolled her eyes. - "Yes? Rachel replied tonelessly, still wearing her headphones, and turned to the window. She stiffened quietly. Maybe this way they'll know she's not in the mood to talk. "Could you please put the music down, young lady? I want to talk to you. "- "Well, of course to talk, and I thought we were going to drive the ball." barely restraining the sarcastic remark that was about to fly off

her tongue, Rachel still put the headphones in her bag and raised an eyebrow at Angela questioningly. "So? — " "There's a new school waiting for you, Rachel. New acquaintances". Angela's words flowed smoothly, and her sweet smile suggested doubts, and Rachel inwardly guessed that this conversation had been planned in advance. The girl chuckled to herself. "Ben and I are well aware of your difficulties in communication and all that concerns friendship, and we are immensely grateful to you for so easily agreeing to move, but if you have a problem again, like last time..." Rachel's eyes dimmed. Her heart stopped for a moment, silent for a second, and her nails dug painfully into the soft skin of her palm. The world seemed to stop, and my lungs were on fire. So that's what it was all about. Her lips parted in a venomous grin, and Rachel gritted her teeth. Rey saw a small flicker of pain cross Angela's face, her lips pressed into a thin line, and her face lost any hint of a smile, and with a curt nod to Rachel, the woman turned away. Rey exhaled heavily, holding her breath. She leaned back in her seat, pressing herself as close to the window as she could and crouching in a corner of the darkness, only now feeling the pain in her arms. She slowly opened her hand, coldly watching the tiny drops of blood gather on the skin that had been severely pierced by her own hand, and immediately closed her hands. She didn't have the energy to look at it again, and the only thing that distracted her was the huge sign with the big black letters "Date. A place where people become one with nature.»

[reiven2017]

Happy birthday to you.

His son was a professional killer, Robin, the grandson of a bloodthirsty psychopath, and an insufferable child. Damian could have been expected to do anything and more, but when he approached Nim, his expression more somber than before, and quickly asked what seemed like a simple question, Bruce fell into a stupor.

Bruce was busy working in his office, completely focused on the documents and didn't even hear the door to his office open. He glanced briefly over the top of his glasses before returning to his work. "I'm listening, Damian. "it's been a few minutes. Damian wasn't happy about the idea of asking Bruce for help, but he wasn't going to listen to Dick's taunts, and Alfred, with his stiffly English manner, wasn't the right person to turn to with this question, so he didn't have many options. Wayne finally asked.

Bruce stopped writing, raised his head, and looked at his son with a strange expression on his face.

"Did he hear correctly?»

-" Damian?" - "What? I didn't think I asked anything so weird. " The boy said irritably, frowning and watching intently. "No, I said. Of course not. Just...why would you do that? " He could see his son pondering the answer for a moment, unsure whether to trust Bruce. - "You need to. "Damian's voice was cold, and there was an impenetrable mask on his face, and the man realized that he would not get a more detailed answer from him. — "So, what do you usually get for your birthday? "The boy repeated the question more impatiently. Despite his cold tone and stony expression, the slightest bit of nervousness in his demeanor was conspicuous. "Usually?" Bruce looked thoughtful. —" It depends on who exactly you are giving to, a woman or a man, and what else this person loves or is interested in. Probably the most common gifts are books or some useful things." Bruce continued to watch his son, finding his behavior strange, to say the least. Damian was still a rather obnoxious and sullen child, he had no friends and it didn't seem to bother him much, but his son never did anything for nothing, so there was something to worry about. He could see the gears turning in Damian's head as he pondered Bruce's words. It was several minutes before he seemed satisfied with the answer, and with a curt nod to his father, Damian left.

A week had passed since that incomprehensible conversation between him and Damian, and Bruce was still wondering why his son needed this information. Just as he was beginning to forget about it, the man standing in the doorway caught Damian doing something very strange. Sitting in his room, surrounded by a variety of new, apparently just bought things, from the TV to the candy, the boy stared intently at the wrapping paper in front of him. His gaze, pinned to the object in his hands, did not bode well for this colored piece of paper, and over his angry mutterings, Bruce heard a couple of words. —" It shouldn't be any harder than holding a gun." the man heard his son repeat it a couple of times, as if to convince himself of this, but the crumpled pieces of paper, scattered and viciously crumpled, said otherwise. Bruce could see how Damian was annoyed by this activity, but despite this, the boy continued to try to wrap something that looked like a box more or less neatly. Alfred stopped beside the man, carrying a tray. "Master Damian has been doing this since this morning. I am absolutely sure that I heard a couple of obscene expressions in Arabic and saw a spot of glue on the carpet, but despite this, he makes a success. This box looks neater than the last one." "The last one?" Bruce asked. "Yes, sir. If my memory serves me correctly, this is the 8th box in his hands in the past five hours. The first two were painful to look at. "The butler spoke in a monotone, but then his lips stretched into a small smile. —" I'm surprised Master Damian is so diligent and patient." "Me, too. Patience is not the best side of his character. Do you know who this is for, Alfred?" "No, sir. Master Damian didn't tell me who we owed this debacle to, but I think we'll find out soon enough. Bruce heard a crash in the room and turned away from the other man to look at his son. Damian struggled furiously with the tape, his eyes burning madly, and Bruce wasn't entirely sure that he wouldn't tear down the mansion by the end of the day.

November 15. An unremarkable day for everyone else except Damian. A whole week of effort, his frayed nerves, and his unequal battle with scotch had been all for this day. He got up, a few hours early for school, and in less than a minute, his nervousness had reached its limit. Thinking about it, he squeezed out almost the entire tube of toothpaste, then spilled coffee on his pajamas, forgot to walk Titus, and the most terrible thing for him almost lost the object of his efforts. Gift. Beautifully packaged, with purple bows at the top. He ignored the questioning looks from his father and Alfred as he stalked back to the car, clutching the gift in his right hand and the flowers in his left. Amazing white roses from the main garden of Gotham City. Don't go into the details of how he got them. Damian continued to ignore the strange smiles of the butler and Bruce, mentally rolling his eyes and realizing that this was not all they had to do.

When the stone mass of Gotham Academy finally came into view, Damian was already nervous. Not that it was so difficult for Damian Wayne to walk up and hold out his hand with a gift, saying a few words, but now he was as worried as ever. It was the first time he'd ever given her anything.< i> Yes, it was the first time when he gives something. . He just didn't know what to expect or what to be prepared for. Maybe she wouldn't like the gift. Or she doesn't like gifts. Or something else, and that was all he was thinking about right now. But the moment X has arrived. Alfred dropped him off at the main entrance, smiling calmly at him and wishing him a good day. Damian stumbled out of the car, almost tripping over his own feet, and frowned grimly. As if it's his shoes that are to blame for his being such a mumbler. His gaze swept the landing in front of the main entrance, and Damian stiffened as his eyes caught the girl. Rachel found Damian's gaze as well as his, and smiled at him warmly, waving her hand vigorously. The boy sighed softly, mentally urging himself to calm down, and in one superhuman quick step, he was at her side. Raven stared in surprise. Damian, without taking his eyes off the floor, in some uncoordinated movement, handed her the flowers, literally thrusting them at her, and quickly began to repeat them. - "Happy birthday, Rachel Michaella Roth! I bought you a present and I'm going to give it to you and I really said it." he pulled out the gift with the same quick movement, placing it in the girl's hands, without looking up from his shoes in embarrassment. It was a few agonizing seconds before he caught a movement from Rachel, and then the warm touch of her lips on his cheek. Damian blinked dumbfounded, pinned to the spot only by touching the tips of his finger to the cheek where the girl had kissed him.

[reiven2017]

I'm back with you!

I'm finally back not only on Wattpad, but here as well! I don't know about you, but I'm so happy! I have something very big planned for you this week. Wait for it)))

[reiven2017]

Monopoly with me.

Chapter 4.

When she regained consciousness, her head ached unbearably and whined, and her body refused to obey. The pictures before my eyes were blurry and indistinct, and every minute they were extinguished in the darkness. Her body ached unbearably, it seemed as heavy and exhausted as never before, and burning lumps of poison gathered under her skin in places where there were bleeding bruises and bruises. She couldn't move her head, she couldn't even open her eyes, she couldn't do anything. Absolutely nothing. Her unhealthy consciousness threw her up and threw her into some kind of terrifying darkness where sounds came only in distant parts, and colors drowned in darkness. While conscious, when she was thrown out of this state for a split second, she felt a flash of pain and distant voices. These voices were clearly not kind and did not try to help her, on the contrary, the cold completely washed over her entire body and fettered fear. Finally, she woke up from delirium. Her head didn't hurt so much that it was already good , although she felt her body like a corpse. A soft, painful moan escaped Raven's lips, so quiet she wasn't sure if she had made it up. The girl did not know how much time had passed. She closed her eyes tightly, her body still not fully owned by her when, after several attempts, she was finally able to open her eyes. A faint, barely perceptible light fell from a single torch on the wall. He then extinguished, then caught fire again, and his flame was fighting the draft. Raven was lying on the cold floor in the very corner of the small room. On all sides it was surrounded by stone walls, only in front there was a thick black lattice. It was definitely an unfamiliar place for her. And Raven didn't really want to meet him. Panic quickly shocked her veins. The girl tried to move and roll over onto her back. The raven put her hands out in front, slowly and uncertainly leaning on them when she felt the palms of flames douche and the skin burned. She fell heavily and the room was filled with the sounds of her plaintive anguish and quiet sobs. Raven stared at her palms in amazement and felt her hands shake and her eyes filled with tears of despair as she saw her right palm cross a huge bleeding cut. She tried to touch the cut, hoping it would rob her of the creepy mind or the remnants of delirium. But her hopes were not justified, and as soon as her finger touched her palm, she felt something sticky and vile on them, and then the skin, cut and terrifying. Raven jerked her hand back as if scalded by boiling water, and her eyes filled with unshed tears of pain. The cramps and burning from the cut were unbearable. The crow barely sat down, hitting its back hard against the masonry, moaning painfully. Blood gushed from the wound, and before Raven could pour it all over the floor, the girl unwound an old rag over her shoulder and bandaged the wound. When she was sure that this was all she could do, Raven tried to examine. She didn't remember anything. Not how she got here, nor anyone who threw her here. She was clearly sure that the bars were locked and she was being held hostage here. And certainly no one will give it a key so easily. Rachel tried to remember how she got here. The confusion in her head mingled with a slowly approaching panic as tiny snippets of memories began rushing into her mind. She remembered how Zahir was shouting something, and then a huge detachment of guards appeared, someone swung at her, Zahir hit him, throwing a knife into her hand and commanding something, and then, then everything was as if in a fog ... Raven grimaced, her head ached again, not being very happy with so much information. She looked around again, trying to find something. But her gaze only bumped into cold stone walls and a lone torch. It was bad. It was all very bad.

***

Damian's blade cut the air at the head of his sparing tailor with lightning speed, and he heard him growl pitifully, rebounding, gasping for breath. This would be the third person in the last hour who was unlucky enough to stand up against Demian in a duel and after a minute he was moaning in pain and his training clothes were cut to shreds. Damian, with a light movement, put the blade to the man's throat, ready for the next step and his icy eyes looked lazily at the loser.

- My Lord. - the clash of the sword on the armor of Cairo cut the numb silence in the hall as he stood on the threshold of the room with two guards on both sides and bowed respectfully. Damian grunted in annoyance, half-removing the blade from the poor fellow's throat and threw a piercing glance at Cairo.

- I hope, Cairo, it's worth it that I interrupted the training. - Demian said coldly, finally putting his sword aside and to him in silence, as if on command three girls ran up. Two threw an emerald robe over his shoulders, while the other served him a glass of wine. Zakir straightened up and approached the master. His voice sounded dry and cold as he spoke in monotone.

“My Lord, I beg your pardon, but this matter requires your attention. - when the Lord silently nodded to him, Cairo continued. “Last night there was a complete robbery of the House of Advisor Badid and one of the members of this group was caught.

- I think you yourself know very well what to do. I see no reason for my attention to this. - Damian's voice boomed harshly, and people next to him involuntarily shivered. But Cairo insisted on its own.

“I assure you, my Lord, it is worth your attention. - Cairo said conspiratorially, and his eyes seemed to sparkle distantly.

***

Raven absentmindedly awoke from a nap when the clang of metal was heard somewhere from the side and heavy footsteps quickly approached her. She frowned, gray fearful shadows fell on her face and panic ran through her body in a torn layer. Something was happening and this sixth sense of hers told her that it was clearly related to her. She convulsively tried to get up, moaning in pain and leaning against the wall and pressing her sore hand to her chest, and in the other tightly clutching a piece of cobblestone and hiding it behind her back. The crow, under the influence of fear and panic, gripped the stone with such force that its uneven edges dug into the skin. It was the only thing that somehow betrayed her confidence. She shivered and was filled with panic at the thought of what these people could do to her when she was so scared and vulnerable. The blood dried on her body was a kind of warning sign of danger for the girl, but whoever these people were, Raven was not going to surrender without a fight. She stumbled back, straightening, determined to act and clutching the stone in her hands as two heavy shadows appeared in front of the cell's bars and Raven swallowed convulsively.

***

The raven hit hard, unable to keep herself on her feet, and fell to her knees when she was roughly pushed in the back. It still hurt under the ribs, there was something incomprehensible in her stomach and it seemed to be on the verge. Shine. There was still not enough to vomit. Raven threw a menacing look at the guards, mentally cursing each of them before her eyes stumbled upon the mark on their uniforms that everyone dreaded and her eyes widened with horror of realization. The girl abruptly got up and looked around nervously, examining the room where she was, silently pleading with God that her guesses would not come true. It was a huge, spacious marble hall, the size of any other in her life. Everywhere it was surrounded by columns of black marble, and between them there were stained glass windows. Emerald curtains hung from the ceiling, embroidered with gold thread. In front of her, at the end of the room, on a hill, stood a throne, all in gold, with artfully sculpted details and velvet-emerald trim. Behind the throne were huge windows, from the canvas to the floor and the whole room, in various niches and places there were strange plants of extraordinary beauty. The hall literally breathed high cost and wealth and shouted to everyone in the face about his royal title. Fucking shit. The pieces of the puzzle slowly but surely formed in her head and the whole gravity of the situation fell on her with a strong blow. The palace of Lord al-Ghul. And a few minutes ago, she was in the fucking dungeon of the palace of Lord al-Ghul, from where, according to the stories of the old people, no one has ever returned alive. And Raven wasn't sure she wouldn't be one of those poor fellows. Anxiety, mixed with fear, hammered in my chest, and all the insides seemed to be twisted into a wound inside, expecting an inevitable fate. A minute passed, two, ten, and she was surrounded by the same silence and the languishing tension pressed on her, the thoughts in her head nervously screamed at each other, interrupting her common sense and depriving her of all meaning. Her breathing quickened, and her muscles cramped from more and more incoming waves of fear and panic. She needed to calm down and Raven understood that very well. She was left alone and no one except herself would help the girl, and panic and fear for her would not pave her way to freedom, so the Raven exhaled heavily and mentally urged herself to calm down. She was alone and she knew how to be alone. She always saved herself and here and now this should be no exception. She will be sentenced to death. She was caught red-handed at the crime scene and she could not escape punishment, Raven mentally winced and tried to drive this thought away from herself as far as possible. No, she will be alive and well. She'll figure out how to get out of here. She always did that. The main thing is not to show fear or these yard dogs will devour her with giblets and not choke.

The raven mentally tensed, her lips compressed into a thin strip as the guards, as if on command, all straightened and bowed their heads respectfully. The approaching footsteps of several people echoed in the hall. She fleetingly caught snippets of their conversation, when all voices and sounds as if by unvoiced order died down and Raven felt a burning gaze on the back of her head that seemed to burn every part of her body. There was something wrong ... or rather, something was wrong. She felt nothing but this look. Her lungs were chained by fire, and her heart froze in place, as if it would obey orders. The world would have faded at one moment and mixed into a monochromatic mess, sounds, voices of people left, only this strange feeling of warmth remained. But then she was thrown out of this trance and Raven regained consciousness, breathing heavily and trying to restore blurred vision. Footsteps near her intensified, echoing in the head with drumbeats, but she did not pay attention to this, too confused by this flash. Someone stepped forward and stood directly opposite her. Raven lowered her head to the floor, habitually hiding her face in shadow. The man threw a gaze at her, mixed with something strange, deep inside and his tightly compressed lips did not bode well, but he still remained silent.

“This is her, my Lord. One of those thieves. " - for a moment Rachel's eyes widened, and her heart stopped when she heard the word "Lord" as if the first. Lord al - Ghul stood opposite her, carefully examining and only the playing veins on his icy face expressed emotions. The girl felt a strange thrill in the very center of her chest. His icy gaze slid over her, but for Raven he was not so cold, she felt more than felt something tender in it, enveloping and soothing, but immediately, embarrassed by herself, stopped. She should feel fear, panic, and at least in extreme cases aggression, but not as warmth and calmness emanating from his stoic figure of the Lord, recognized as a tough tyrants and dictator.

You haven't even seen his face, Raven! Wake up, you're half way to your grave, you idiot.

- "What's your name?" - unexpectedly for all those present, asked the Lord and his suppressive tone cut off all questions. After a pause, thinking tensely to say her real name or nickname, Raven answered dryly, praying that her voice would not falter. No, her real name has always been something sacred to her, which gave her a certain self-confidence, knowing that it would not be pronounced by anyone except a person close to her.

- "Raven." The lord frowned.

- "I asked about your real names, not about the name of the yard." - the man's eyes flashed warningly in her direction and although Raven did not see it, she felt a dumb threat hanging between them in the air, as a warning sign in case of her disobedience. In a place of fear, she experienced irritation, a strange feeling mixed with a share of protest, against his decree. Yes, she wanted to spit on the fact that he was a fucking Lord and the fact that her fate is now in his hands and depends on her unquestioning obedience, she will not tell him a damn thing.

- "Then, you will have to confine yourself to the "courtyard nickname", Your Majesty." - threw Raven, proud of herself and not regretting a single spoken word. A short, almost imperceptible wave of whispers passed through the hall, and Raven caught the movement somewhere behind her. Fast, firm steps were rapidly approaching her and did not bode well for the girl, and she shrank, ready to strike in retaliation for her insolence.

“Don't you dare, Cairo." - blow, which did not follow. The man froze literally a step away from her, nailed to the spot by the Lord's short command. Raven blinked in bewilderment, too stunned by these words to avoid being hit. Confusion filled her and she was grateful that her lowered face was not possible to see. But then, like a bolt from the blue, another command of the Lord sounded, now addressed to her.

"Show me you face." - Raven immediately reacted to this, demonstratively pulling her naked and the man, whom she understood to be called Cairo, again wanted to teach her a lesson in politeness, but the Lord's hand blocked his way. The man bent over a little, grabbed her chin sharply, seemingly being in a kind of impatience and pulled her upward, opening a view of the girl's face and freezing, but his stupor did not last long, the Lord seemed to be preparing himself for a long time for something remote and understandable only him. His bewilderment, growing brightly on his face, faded as quickly as it appeared. The lord, slowly, as if regaining control and forcing himself, removed his hand, with a short gesture weightlessly passed the back of his hand along the line of her chin, as he immediately fell into place, his icy, soul-chilling gaze returned to its place and he straightened up, his posture again became straight and royal and proud, and the Lord, turning on his heels, without turning around and without throwing a glance, went to the exit. All that he said before he disappeared behind the massive doors was one pitiful proposal:

"Her custody."

[reiven2017]

OMG

Alternate universe

[reiven2017]

From ridicule.

Chapter 3.

Rachel heaved a sigh as fatigue crept up on her again. She never considered herself an ACE in French, but he gave in to her and she even had an excellent in this subject. Until this moment. Roth sat alone in the empty library of the Academy, fiercely wrestling with a French essay, cursing herself once again for mispronouncing a sign or an accent. Damn that French guy. Rachel closed her eyes wearily, putting down her books and leaning on her hands in shock. It was late in the evening and she had lost count of how long she had been here. A thin ribbon of annoyance was already creeping up her throat, and she let out a startled sigh. She was tired again, the walls of the library were crushing her, and the oppressive silence was no better, and for a moment she thought she was delirious. She wasn't supposed to think about things that seemed delusional and didn't make sense to anyone. She was just a stupid girl. Rachel shook her head, rolling her eyes in exasperation as unnecessary thoughts began to creep into her head one by one, making this evening even more annoying and unbearable. She shouldn't have thought about him. It's only been 5 hours since their first "meeting"...not that it bothered her, but the itchy feeling in her chest prickled uncomfortably, making her turn back again and again to the boy with the dark skin and those inviting eyes ...

But...He's just a normal boy. He's just an ordinary person. Yes. It has nothing supernatural or magical about it. Right? He just pushed her, even though he accidentally bumped into her and they didn't say ten words to each other, so why did HIS name stick in her head? Why did her cheeks turn so treacherously red and her heart sink at the mere sight of those predatory emerald eyes? She didn't understand herself, and she didn't understand why her body responded so responsively to his warmth. She could and did control her emotions while remaining calm. But in that incident, near the office with Damian, all her calmness went to the pussy and she stood like a fool with her hands on the floor, redder and aleeya like a first-grader. Was she ill? Or maybe it's just her mind playing tricks. Were these normal feelings? When in one moment, literally the entire universe exploded into a million bright stars in her eyes and the images in her head blurred, when only his silhouette was visible in this light and when she was unable to look away from him? She was sick and she was sure it was bad. Goosebumps ran over her skin and her Scarecrow firmly stated that this is bad. Damian Wayne was a danger. Solid danger demolishing everything in its path and invisible obstacles. She heard the girls whisper breathlessly about his "bad guy" reputation and the big cough behind his back, and how they dreamily imagined themselves in his girlfriend's shoes, giggling happily. She had heard from Gar about his expulsion from the previous school. And from other schools, too. Rachel Roth was a good girl in every sense of the word. Like a good girl, she should have stayed away from him, not looked in his direction, and erased his name from her memory. From her mother's sad experience, she knew what it was like to get involved with bad guys and had no desire to repeat her story. Rachel Roth lifted her head, pulled her textbook closer, and puffed hard. She pushed the image of him out of her mind, sealing it forever in the back of her mind like a bad dream. Rachel Roth was a good girl, and Damian Wayne was a bad guy. And she was still going to write a damn paper.

Rachel gave her cousin a quiet smile, glancing across the room and giving her a thumbs-up. In response, Layla sent her a haggard look and a frowning smile as she let out a weak moan at the elated Mouth. Rachel giggled and turned to the Board, leaving her cousin to her mourning. This was the first class of the week in literature, and her love for this subject was not selfish, so Leila took a back seat. There was no annoying green spot, and Rachel sat alone at her Desk in complete silence for once. Bliss. She sighed with satisfaction when the bell rang and the old teacher, Miss Smithers, came into the classroom with her usual limp on one leg. Miss Smithers was an elderly woman, with a high gray hairdo and always in a clean, pressed pink suit. She was meticulous as hell, but she was also a soft and fun woman. Rachel always liked her bright pink suit. Or when she put in her hair, kakoenibud jewelry and podderzhala the Empress. Miss Smithers was one of her favorite teachers for her kind nature and Rachel was also one of her favorite students. As soon as jenna entered the classroom, she looked at everyone sternly, then smiled cheerfully and began her story in her only French accent. She liked to say a little French, which always seemed funny to Rachel when there was a knock at the office door and the headmaster came stumbling up to Miss Smithers. They were whispering about something and after a minute of meetings, Mister ........he turned to the class and solemnly adjusted his tie.

- "Dear students, I want to introduce you, your new classmate Damian Wayne." - a wave of whispers passed through the class, and then the voices faded as, slowly, like a hunter inspecting his prey, he entered. Fuck. Rachel felt like she was falling and she wasn't sure if she was on the ground anymore. Her blush returned as she gazed shamelessly at his figure. Damn it, he was a fucking model! No, of course they'd met before, but then she wouldn't even have had the courage to look at him. Now she was blushing and Alea thought it was a good thing, or her own feet would fail her. The gray school jacket clung to his broad, elaborately sculpted shoulders, and he was wearing it over a black shirt that wasn't buttoned with the first two buttons. His dark skin was not just beautiful, but perfect, kissed by the sun and shrouded by God. His plump lips curved beautifully, and his cheekbones courageously emphasized his appearance, adding even more charisma to the image. There was a noticeable scar above his left eyebrow, and now his charisma was mixed with something dangerous. She gripped the edge of her skirt sharply, hoping to stay on this earth with a clear mind and a firm memory. It couldn't be true. It doesn't have to be true. She had just made up her mind the night before to forget his name like a bad dream, and lo! Here it is! She tried to calm her breathing, counting to ten and ignoring everything. She doesn't need to worry. He probably didn't even remember her name? Isn't it? Of course, why would he remember her? As soon as she calmed herself by letting go of the irreparably ruined skirt and finally looked up, she was met by emerald eyes that were unabashedly scanning her figure. Oh, she wasn't sure she wouldn't be dead by the end of the day.

She was paralyzed again, and as for the first time, she stared at him, frozen, unable to move or tear herself away. Her heart thumped in her chest, and her blush deepened when Damian gave her a predatory wink, ignoring everyone else. Fuck. No, she was definitely dead. He continued to stare at her, oblivious to the sidelong glances and the words the headmaster said to IMU, focusing only on her. And of course, the only thing she had the brain for, if not the cynical brain, was to quickly look down at the floor, again clutching her hands to her school skirt and pretend to Shine, Rachel! Just wonderful! She was grateful for the opportunity, since all her classmates were busy with Wayne and the rumors about him, and her mood changes were not unnoticed by anyone. There were ragged voices behind her, and a curious gaze was boring into her back. Leila, she won't leave her alone. The voices faded and Rachel didn't seem to notice, too stunned by what was happening. Someone next to her pushed back a chair and someone's things fell on the Desk next to her.

His voice, dangerous and hoarse, filled her entire body from the tips of her fingers to the top of her head, and she clenched her knees together convulsively. She took a deep breath and looked up at him timidly.

- "Hello". she answered, hoping he wouldn't notice the tremor in her voice. Damian tilted his head slightly to the side, a faint smirk playing on his lips, and his eyes flickered lasciviously toward her lips. Rachel's stomach clenched like a coiled spring, her mouth went dry, and she swallowed involuntarily.

"I didn't expect to see you here. Before she could think, the words came out of her mouth and She bit her lip in confusion. Damian's lips curved in a wry smile and he just as unceremoniously continued to stare at her, sitting half-sideways. Rachel turned away from him, hiding her confused gaze in her book, and tried to concentrate on what Miss Smithers was saying. He was just an ordinary boy. She shouldn't react to him like that. "And so, Rachel Roth."Just Rachel," she said quickly, without looking up. Just don't look at him. Just don't look at him. Just don't look at him. She knew that if she met those emerald eyes again, all the words would just lose their meaning, and she would look like a weak-willed doll. "So, Rachel, what are you doing tonight?" Rachel drew in a sharp breath, blinking in confusion. Just don't look at him. Just don't look at it. "Forgive. What?" Damian moved a little closer, so that Rachel could feel his hot breath on her skin, and said, " I'm sorry. "I want to invite you to a party." Roth's hand was frozen over the notebook and she stared at it blankly. Her brain was overheated, unable to figure out what to do with it or how to behave under the gaze of those emerald eyes. Just don't look at him. Just don't look at him. Just don't look at him. Damian's eyes narrowed dangerously, and in one sharp, quick movement, he slid two fingers under her chin And turned her face toward him. "I don't like not being looked in the eye. he hissed threateningly, and it could be interpreted as an order that required no reservations and that Rachel didn't have the strength to disobey. She looked at him warily, without any second thought, biting her lip between the rows of snow-white teeth, and was momentarily startled when Demian's eyes flashed with something dark and the pupil in his eyes widened. "I'm still waiting for an answer, Rachel."..I da agrh...don't know."the thoughts in her Golva were tangled up in a huge tangle and all that she managed to put together was a pathetic sentence. Wayne chuckled, and gently, almost imperceptibly, traced the line of her chin before removing his hands from her face and speaking calmly. "I think it is-Yes." Miss Smiter coughed indignantly, drawing attention to herself. "Am I bothering you, young people?" Damian stood up easily, his impenetrable mask falling back into place and a cold aura enveloping him. He picked up his bag from the Desk and walked calmly over to Miss Smithers. "I'm sorry." he said as he left the classroom, just as the bell rang for the end of class.

[reiven2017]

From ridicule.

Chapter 2.

72 hours before the "disaster".

It probably all started with a flight from Hong Kong. And in Gotham it was over. Damian, with a blank expression on his face, simply walked past his brothers at the Gotham airport, pursing his lips into a pinstripe as the curses were about to break from his tongue. He was angry, annoyed, and the least he wanted to was to fall into Grayson's eternally optimistic arms. Just an hour ago, Bruce informed him that the Gotham Academy would gladly accept him and Damian could begin his studies this week. He pretended to ignore it, but nevertheless narrowed his eyes cautiously when Bruce had already more eloquently made it clear that he would now go to this country Academy. He got into a fight in his last school for which he was expelled, only for the sake of that this very school would finally become "the last" on his list, but no, the father of the SNVV fused him. Wild indignation arose in him and anger ran through his veins when he asked her father for the hundredth time why? He received his higher education at the age of 10, he was taught by the fucking Ras al Ghul and Damian already has two fucking doctoral degrees, so he thought the issue with his education was settled long ago and should not have been brought up to the negotiating table at all. But, bitch, no, he was wrong. Now he will again have to go to school. Damian cursed everything on his way, menacing shadows fell on his face in a thick layer and some people shook off of him by inertia. He swiftly walked into the parking lot, oblivious to the rain, anger still seething in his veins when he heard something like a "little asshole" in his back. Damian was pretty sure the voice belonged to Todd. Damian stopped in the middle of the parking lot and lowered his bag with a crash, firing a vicious glare at Jason. Damian was going to kill him.

48 hours before the "disaster".

He wasn't sure he could handle it all. He was ready to beg Jason to take him. No, I'm not ready. Damian stood in the director's office. Mr. Deck jumped briskly, ripping his ass off the leather chair, and broke into a Cheshire smile. He was not a tall man, in a gray suit with a bald head and a thick belly pulled together by suspenders. Damian was sure that if the man ate something else, the braces would not save him. Damian's impenetrable gaze and stone mask returned to their place and he, without an emotional look, listened to the director's long and pretentious speeches. About how glad he is to the new student, about how incredibly happy that it was their school that was chosen to teach the future heir to the Waynes, and blah blah blah. Damian almost vomited from such a feigned amount of falsehood, but he hid it behind an inconspicuous gesture. He immediately gave Mr. Deckt the nickname "kiss my ass." As soon as Damian crossed the threshold of the study, all eyes were fixed on him for a moment. For a moment there was a dead silence, Wayne cast a cold look around the audience before the director next to him caught himself and emotionally, without removing his stupid smile, introduced Damian to the class. "Come on, work, kiss my ass." The corner of Damian's mouth twitched in a cheeky grin as he caught an appraising glance and raised an eyebrow inquiringly at the group of girls who giggled happily and continued to whisper among themselves. Like a flock of hyenas. Mr. Deckt finally ended his show and showed Damian to class, letting him know he could choose his place. How cute. He deliberately walked slowly between the rows, predatory examining everyone. He's not going to stay here for long, so at least his departure should be made memorable.

24 hours before the "disaster".

The lesson ended painfully slowly and Damian was ready to kill with a glance the mumbo at the blackboard, who had been trying to squeeze out a couple of geometry mumbles for 15 minutes. Wayne leaped from his seat as soon as the bell rang, before one of his pesky classmates had time to stick to him and literally ran out of class. Until I came across another body in front and myself. He heard a quiet squeak and reflexively jerked his hand, holding in place the person whom he carried out of his way. Finally he deigned to look at the victim of his attack ... and froze. A girl looked at him with wide violet eyes of a doe. He held his breath as his eyes eagerly devoured her. He swore that her skin was like milky velvet, soft and warm to the touch, without a single flaw. She had gorgeous violet deer eyes framed by fluffy black eyelashes. Her soft pink lips were now sandwiched between white teeth and he literally glared hungrily at every detail. The girl flapped his eyelashes in bewilderment before recovering. A blush filled her face, her knees buckled and turned into cotton wool, while Damian devoured her with his gaze and she tried to hide her embarrassment by lowering her gaze to the floor, when some unseen force literally did not let her leave him. Her face was reddened even more when she felt a pleasant warmth emanating from the place that was literally burning, where his hand was calmly resting on the curve of her waist. Someone next to him coughed in displeasure, drawing attention. Exactly, Garfield. She completely forgot about him.

- Wow, man, it was tough. Logan stared at them tensely. A sense of poisonous possessiveness crept slowly up his neck and he gripped the strap of his backpack. Dream Damian found the strength to breathe, tearing his eyes away from the girl, well, removing his hands, looking lazily at Logan. Wayne bristled and soft anger ran through him. Wayne didn't like Garfield from the first minute. - Okay, now you can take your hands off my girlfriend. Garfield said venomously, grinning. No, Damian hated him. He removed his hand from the girl, but without moving away from her, he remained standing next to her. His eyes flickered dangerously towards Logan and then faded for a moment.

- I'm not your girlfriend. - the girl shook her voice, proudly lifting her chin and narrowing her eyes. Damian's lips curved into an open grin as he busily tucked his hands into his trouser pockets.

- Yah? And she doesn't think so. Wayne replied mockingly. The girl was involuntarily upset when she felt the pleasant warmth from his hands disappeared, but she wrote this feeling away. Logan looked at her, confused, and then shifted his gaze to the free-spirited Wayne.

- And you, sir, next time look where you are going. - her voice involuntarily trembled, for a second she was robbed, when she again met her gaze with predatory emerald eyes. Damian nodded apologetically, as if making an apology. She turned on her heels and walked away with a quick step, but before she could take a couple of steps, she was grabbed by the wrist.

- Hey. What's your name? Damian asked softly.

- Rachel. Rachel Roth. - She quickly threw, turned around and disappeared around the corner.

- Ray! Wait. Are you offended? - Logan rushed after her.

[reiven2017]

I don't like being cute. And at night I choke in my tears. I love the silence, and after that I miss the noisy parties. I hate lies, although I am the best representative of it. I don't like being photographed, although I like photography. I am made up of contradictions. I'm like a book with two covers and. The first one you see immediately. The second is more difficult to get to the bottom of. And the very essence of the book is sometimes not even clear to me.

[reiven2017]

.

I write well, only about what I know. Trying to Express your idea based on your own beliefs is also cool, but the idea of the work itself will not be so cool. It's like judging a movie by its trailer. You will have millions of ideas about it, but you will never find an ending. It's hard for me to describe my feelings. It's not because I'm some kind of robot, it's just hard for me to understand the very idea of feelings. It's hard for me to write about falling in love because I'm not familiar with it yet. I am familiar with Heartbreak or disappointment, I can describe it in some way. But it is difficult for me to write about love and light feelings. I'm still trying to be someone, and I'm really trying to learn, but it's not working out the way I want it to.

[reiven2017]

From ridicule.

Chapter 1

Chapter Text

Rachel winced at the acrid smell of her aunt's strong black coffee that reached the second floor. She had just left the room, the wall clock was ticking, and the time of the first school day after summer vacation was approaching, so she resisted the urge to go back and lock the door. Especially her cousin, Leila, very emphatically and eloquently made it clear that this year they really need to be on time. I think the only reason we've been late for the last couple of years is because of Leila.Fie. She didn't know why, but her hatred of coffee passed the mark of "Wipe off the face of the earth", but her aunt Alice liked this drink, so Raven, pulling something like a smile, quickly slipped into the guest room, ignoring the annoying stench. "Good morning, aunt." "Morning, honey. - Wow. She's got another new order, is that it? Rachel smiled softly, leaning her body against the bar, casting a warm glance across the room at the busy woman. - Exactly. another girl came in, hastily gathering her curly hair as she went, and pulling her jacket over one shoulder unsuccessfully in the process. Leila was a complete mess this morning, unlike Raven. Roth didn't like to sleep too long and had no problem getting up early, so she was always willing to go to school and try to look not only shittily beautiful, but also neat. Her hair was pulled back in a low ponytail, her uniform was clean and ironed, and her ballet shoes were polished. From the very morning it was clear that today's day was more hectic than the rest of its brethren, and Raven suppressed a wave of laughter that was about to burst from her lips when Layla, cursing everything in her path, made it to the hallway without strangling herself with a tie. Wow. Is it going to snow today, or is it all-peaceful house day? Roth cast a skeptical glance at her cousin, and her face contorted into a puzzled expression for a moment. Rachel raised an eyebrow, not entirely sure what to see. Her cousin, who despised and resented a thousand taunts in the face of makeup-clogged girls, stood in front of the mirror and put on her lipstick with an awful precision. Pink. It is very pink. Wow. "What's that?" Rachel shot a sly glance at her cousin, and her face took on a cheeky grin. She had learned her cousin's words by heart, and even the slightest change in them gave her Cause for suspicion. Her curiosity snickered at the new victim. Oh, Yes, it's definitely going to snow today. "What do you mean?" Leila looked up from the mirror, giving Rachel a brief, too-brief glance, and then went back to her makeup bag. - You look at each other. Roth said casually, watching the girl with interest. "Um ... no...you're definitely imagining it. Layla applied another thick layer of mascara to her lashes and looked herself up and down in the mirror, then winked at herself with satisfaction. OI-Wei. This is something new. Leila's self-esteem was bordering on narcissism. She had always considered herself beautiful without makeup. And so it was. The girl was tanned and pumped up. She had shown some promise in volleyball, playing for the Gotham Academy team, when Rachel preferred quiet reading in the library. She had a wild and passionate temper, and her brown eyes were full of devils. Leila could show off her ample bust size, forcing her to swallow the poison of her classmates and swallow the drool of guys. So the last person in their family who needed arithmetic was Rachel. The satanic-looking gray Rachel Roth. She wasn't a very thin girl, but you couldn't call her fat, either, but her cousin had assured her that she had a Golden mean, or whatever that might mean, so RAE had long ago given up on her appearance and just let people think she was weird with her purple hair and big purple eyes. Roth continued to stare at Leila, noticing that she was wearing a much shorter skirt and blouse with a much more expressive neckline. Now Rachel could call her usual dark skirt, just above her knees, a nun. Leila snorted, looking up from the mirror and irritably switching her attention to her Mouth. - So. Stop being detective shit, ray. after a pause, she added. "And look at me like that." "But you certainly don't look your usual self today." Is something going to happen? Rachel protested softly, trying not to press her cousin any further, and her lips curled into a tender smile. She left her mug on the table, kissed her aunt good-bye, and went into the hall, putting on a warm coat. "It's just that your sister, Rachel, wants to impress a guy...and it's really, wow. Alice muttered in a monotone, her eyes still fixed on the tablet. - Maman! Leila exclaimed, casting a murderous glance at the woman. The corners of Rachel's mouth twitched in a playful smile as she looked at her cousin's stunned face. She was scurrying into the corridor, trying to get out of the mother-daughter battle as quickly as possible, when the smithy gave her one of those withering looks. - It is not something to be ashamed of, Lalaila. the girl clucked in exasperation and frowned, folding her arms over her chest as she stared at Alice. "You know I hate it when you call me that." - You also know that I don't like it when you call me maman. Rachel giggled softly into her jacket sleeve, pulling her headphones out of her pocket, and walked calmly to the Academy.

Roth was sifting through a textbook in the school locker when a green-haired boy came into view. Oh, no, Garfield Logan. The main school athlete and known for his adventures among girls about little to great, playboy. He was older than her by a year and had a brilliant reputation and fame, girls hung around his neck and were ready to get into his pants at every opportunity, but he surprised everyone a year ago with his interest in Rachel. This became the most enviable topic of discussion for a month and the most important problem for the Company. The girl was never interested in him and did not understand what he found in her. Hey liked the quiet and the old library, and he needed someone who liked football and loud parties. Well, or at least someone who understood football. She didn't particularly like the way people started treating her. That is, some spat at her back, others tried to curry favor. But no matter how much trouble Logan brought, she gave him what he wanted, though not exactly what he expected. They began to communicate without crossing the boundaries of friendship at the whim of Rachel. But Garlfield became more insistent with each passing month, and no longer seemed to share the line between them. Of course, Rachel was ironically or ill-fated pure and innocent, kind and all the cells in her body believed that there was nothing wrong with being patient and giving Gar minutes of happiness when he accidentally called her his girlfriend, or hugged her shoulders. She rolled her eyes dejectedly and closed the door with a soft creak, turning her attention to the guy. Rachel hoped there wasn't an irritated look on her face and Logan wouldn't notice. - Gar...hi. the frown on his face puzzled her, and she arched a questioning brow. "Is something wrong?" "Why are you avoiding me, ray?" his voice was low and his obvious displeasure slipped through him like a thin ribbon. He did not take his gaze from her Mouth as the girl momentarily faded away. What do you mean by that? More precisely, what do you expect to hear from me Guarlford? That you, I'm sorry, got tired of following me around last year, huh!? Swallowing the words that were about to fall from her lips and fall on him, Rachel straightened up and gave him one of her sweetest smiles. No. Garfield is a sweet and kind boy and he doesn't deserve such disrespect from you, Raven. "No, I'm not avoiding you. You know me, first day of school and all that, the joy of meeting the library and that dam, I'm in a trance. a wistful expression crossed Logan's face as he scanned her for signs of deception. Rachel was nervous. Panic ran through her veins. Lying had never been one of her strengths, and she knew it. She was about to say something in her own defense when Gar burst out laughing, throwing his head back. "You should have seen your face, ray. he quieted his laughter and straightened up beside her, hands in his pockets.- Exhale, I know what you are in ahuya from school and do not get mad at the lack of your attention. - too freaked out? The boy arched his eyebrows and cast a playful glance at his Mouth. Rachel rolled her eyes at his advances. - I'm sure you survived it. she gave him a soft smile again, moving down the hall toward the classroom as Logan settled in next to her. Well of course. "How was your vacation?" I heard you and Lailai left of Gotham? "no," he said casually, keeping pace with her. Rachel thought for a moment as all sorts of thoughts raced through her mind. How did he know they were leaving? No, where he could have found out. Nervousness slowly crept up on her and She swallowed the lump of irritation in her throat, glancing briefly at his innocent face before turning her attention back to her shoes. - Cbms...we went to San Francisco. It was quite fun. the vagueness of the answer didn't seem to bother him, and Logan whistled happily. "Wow, so San Francisco?" I envy you with the blackest envy. - No need, I think you had a great time, too? she raised a quizzical brow, making her look interested. "You're always right, ray. Although I didn't bask in the sun, my vacation in Gotham was great. - next, followed by a cheerful and very energetic, filled with delight chatter about his sporting achievements in the summer and about what a new car his parents gave him. Class. Raven nodded politely when he paid attention to her in the intervals of his bowing and assiduous chatter, when he tried to praise himself and the car as much as possible. Roth stifled a laugh. Oh, Yes, he wouldn't die of modesty. By the time they reached the classroom, his inexhaustible supply of words and energy had evaporated, and Gar scratched his head nervously. "Listen, Ray. Roth turned her full attention to him, watching him with the eyes of a DOE. His nervousness increased and he tried to hide it behind a high-pitched smile. "This Friday, Jackson is having a party at his house and you would...maybe we could go there together. before she could react, Raven collided with a man coming out of the classroom. More precisely, they ran out of the classroom. She swayed, trying to balance not only herself, but the books in her hands, as a strong, large hand rested firmly on her waist, holding her in place. She raised her eyes to the stranger and met his gaze for a moment, frozen by the shock of electricity in her veins as the amazing emerald eyes stared back at her.