Raven Cromwell ~ The Vampire/Witch Hybrid ~ A Vampire Diaries Fanfiction

Chapter 25 ~ Tension

"Drinks, for me and my girl" Damon smirked, looking briefly at the bartender and then back at Raven.

She pulled up a seat and smiled fakely "I'm your girl now? I thought you said that you didn't care about me anymore?"

"Yeah and then you went and got yourself killed-" he said a hushed tone "Wasn't worth holding a grudge on a corpse"

"Charming" she smiled conceitedly.

"Well, you're probably the only vampire who can die from a hybrid bite and still wake up looking-" Damon looked Raven up and down "attractive"

"Careful Damon, your compassion is showing" Raven replied smugly, downing her glass.

"Okay, what is up with you?" Damon pressed, dropping his smile.

"You snapped my neck! And I got killed...again" Raven pointed out "I'm allowed to be a little mad at the world right now"

She collared the bartender to pour her another glass but when he came over, her eyes pricked a deep red.

"Hey...hey! Look at me" Damon urged, pulling Raven away from her murderous glare.

"If there's anyone that can teach you control, it's me. Or Lexi...but she's...anyway" Damon coughed awkwardly.

"And why should I trust you?" Raven contended.

"Because you trusted Klaus...and Kol, of all people" Damon highlighted, sipping from his glass.

Raven huffed "Kol held me as I died in his arms and Klaus taught me how powerful my magic can be. Not to mention that he-" Raven stopped and gulped "found my mother"

After realising she had other more important places to be right now, Raven stood up abruptly.

Damon grabbed her hand on the way out "Where are you going?"

"To get answers. I don't need an escort. I promise I'll stay out of trouble" Raven nodded convincingly before vamping away.

Damon returned to the bar, finished his drink, slid money across the counter and returned back to the repair shop.

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"Raven, how lovely it is to see you, alive and well" Elijah greeted at the door with a warm smile "You look extravagant"

Raven looked down at her tight black dress and thigh high boots "It's not everyday you wake from the dead...although, for me, it is becoming a rather common occurrence" she smiled with annoyance.

"I am deeply sorry on behalf of my sister. I give you my word Raven-" Elijah took her hand and kissed it lightly "She will not cause you any more harm"

"Oh brother, how noble you are-" Klaus entered but stopped speechless and Raven.

Raven smirked confidently and then took his hand "I need to speak, in private"

She led him off, down the hall and up the stairs. She passed the room Klaus had once laid her in and instead, wandered into a large master bedroom, filled with paintings.

"The biggest room in the house, I don't suppose it's yours?" Raven deduced, letting go of his hand and brushing her fingertips against the artwork on the wall.

"Ah yes, careful luv, they're antiques" Klaus pressed, straightening the canvas.

"I didn't know you painted" Raven laughed, picking up a paintbrush and swirling it round, mimicking Klaus' brush strokes.

"When you're immortal, you pick up a few hobbies" he shrugged with a proud smile.

"Isn't it a bit egotistical to have your own artwork strung up around your own house for everyone to admire?" Raven teased, folding her arms.

Klaus held up his hands in admission "Call me a narcissist"

Raven laughed a little and Klaus smiled back, taking the paintbrush off her.

"You wouldn't want to get that dress dirty" he advised.

"I thought it might be too...slutty for your tastes" Raven vocalised, perching on the end of his bed.

Klaus shrugged "I like a woman who looks like she knows what she wants...and by the way you led me up them stairs, I'd say you know exactly what you want" he smirked, leaning over her.

Raven raised one eyebrow, gazing up at him and ran her fingers along his belt.

"I want-" she stood up, her lips inches away from his "to find out about my mother" she whispered, pushing past him.

Klaus exhaled in confusion "I totally misread that situation" he muttered to himself.

"Klaus...is my mother alive?" Raven pressed further, folding her arms.

He sighed and collapsed in his chair beside the bed.

"She is alive" he revealed.

Raven's eyes flashed with joy for a moment.

"and she is just as beautiful as you are" he admitted.

Raven ran her fingers through her hair is disbelief "I need to go. I need to see her. Take me to see her!" she demanded.

"Raven, your magic, your hunger-" he stood up abruptly and held his hand against her cheek "It's unpredictable and dangerous"

"Then I'll get it under control" she answered "We can practice my magic more and Damon will teach me how to satiate the hunger. Then when I'm fixed, you can take me to Nevada"

"You're quite full of demands, little hybrid" he raised his eyebrows.

"Will you help me or not?" Raven asked impatiently and Klaus nodded.