The Broken Raven - A Paradox Of Two Worlds Series Book 1

Chapter 10- Raven

I know it's time to leave when I hear Clay ranting at Sloane. I silently leave, hoping that Brie and Logan are still there. Fortunately, they are conversing while standing beside Logan's car. "Hey? Can I catch a ride back to the apartment before you go out?" I ask Logan.

"Of course, get in," he says. As I sit quietly in the back, waiting to get home, I feel my phone go off.

Hey, it's Clay. Where did you go?

"Who gave Clay my number?" I ask both Brie and Logan.

"He took Brie's phone last night and found your number. Sorry, we should have told you," Logan says, looking in the rearview mirror at me.

"Whatever." I muster out; it's not like I have to answer him. I slump back into my seat when my phone goes off again. This time he is calling me, and I hit ignore. We pull up to the apartment. I hop out and say thanks, then head up.

⁂

I drop my bag on my bed and lay down in my room. How does Mr. Michaels know my mom? Does he know my dad? I don't have many memories of them, but others have told me that I have my mother's laugh and appearance, but I am my father's obstinate and unyielding twin. They are there while my eyes are closed.

My mother was a horrible person in my memory. She seems to have never had any interest in me. Dismissing all I did, including my actions. When dad was there, she was the mother of the year in my recollections, but as soon as he left, she treated me like a useless little girl. At times, I questioned her decision to keep me around. I don't know the feeling of a mother's love.

On the other hand, I was Daddy's little girl. I remember laughing and having fun with him. He loved working on cars. I would always watch him, and when he died, I continued. He once claimed that he was raising a girl who wouldn't require anything from anyone. He was mistaken because I did need him.

I built this wall after losing my father to protect myself from anyone penetrating it and to cut myself off from everything. I changed into the girl I am now because I realised that if the person I loved most in this world were taken away, love wouldn't exist. The person to love is not me. All I wanted was to have fun, cause trouble, and engage in improper behaviour. I was your girl if you wanted to have a good time.

Guys kept wanting me to fall apart so they could play prince charming, but they kept forgetting who I was and that they couldn't pick and choose who I would be. As a result, if they needed perfection, they quickly realised I wasn't for them. I'm very reclusive. I can't explain why, then, I feel the way I do about Clay.

Dad always told me not to give my heart too soon; that's one of the reasons I have a wall up. I would never let sweet talk win me over, but then I realise his dark eyes could hypnotise any girl.

⁂

Time passes by as I'm in my thoughts. Once I recognize it, I get up and organise my books for school. I dump all my books out of my bag on my bed. I need to get all my stuff together for classes tomorrow. I start organising all my books when one book catches my attention.

How did this get here?

I didn't purchase this. It's old and ancient, with writing on the front. The small writing underneath the title reads Historia et Carminibus; Latin?

-History and spells of the Beauregard Clan.-

What is this? And why is my family name on this book? It can't be about my family, but then again, I don't know much. My aunt never talked about them.

A gust of wind blows behind me. I turn to see Clay standing at the balcony doorway. I dropped the book from my hand; he startled me. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," he says softly.

"It's called a front door. Next time, use it!" Frustrated, I pick up the book and put it on my desk. "It was you this morning in my bedroom? Wasn't it?"

"Sorry," he says softly, putting his head down.

"What are you doing here?" I ask him.

"You haven't been answering any of my calls or texts," he says.

"Some people would take that as a hint," I say, sitting on my bed. It takes everything in me to resist placing my head on his shoulders as he sits next to me. I always remind myself that all we have is merely for enjoyment.

"Why are you here? Won't your girlfriend be mad at you for talking to me?" I right out ask him.

"Who? Sloane?, God no, she's not my girlfriend. She's just someone who is hung up on me and can't get it through her head that she is nothing to me." He pauses and looks down, as if thinking about something.

"Well, it looks like your little one nightstand scheme didn't work with her. You have a psychopath on your hands." I start laughing, and he agrees and starts laughing with me.

I feel comfortable around him. I feel myself falling for him. No, I need to keep my defences up. But what if there is that slight chance that he might feel what I'm feeling? Brie has said we are very similar.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure!" he says.

"Do you ever regret leading those girls on?"

"All the time." He replies. "You?"

"Sometimes," I respond. People's feelings may not affect me, but the consequences I regret.

"Well, I guess we're both broken then," he says, trying to lighten up the mood. "Yeah, I guess we are." That is all I can muster.

I get up and go to the kitchen to make us coffee. I desperately need caffeine. We sit and talk about life. I go over in mt mind how Brie told me to stay away from him and that he would hurt me, but I'm also hoping that I will be the one to bring down his walls.

"Hey." I start. " So Brie told me to stay away from you, but I don't think you're that bad. I want to be friends with you, but that's all." I laugh.

"Logan said the same thing. He didn't want me near you, but you're right. I need a friend like you in my life," he says with a smile, sticking his hand out.

"Friends?"

"Friends!" I laugh.

"What's so funny?" He asks.

"I'm dying to see how this friendship ends."

"Yeah, I'm curious to know when you will cave." He laughs.

"I'm not caving. You will, though." I laugh with him.

⁂

We sit in silence as time passes, and I can't help but wonder. "Why is Sloane so cruel? I've heard she hurt the last girl who liked you."

"She did," he replies.

"What's her story?" I can't help but ask.

"Um, remember that war that some vampires started years ago?" I nod. "Well, her parents were the leaders of that war. They died, so she grew up with family friends who thought her parents were crazy. It turns out she is just as crazy as they were." He says.

"Well, that makes sense. She was the one who made you lose your humanity, wasn't she? I ask. He nods. "How? If we are going to be friends, you need to tell me the truth."

"I don't want to scare you. I was a monster back then," he says slowly. I grab his hands in mine. "Try me," I say.

He takes a deep breath and begins to tell me his story. It's a tale of addiction, betrayal, and the dark places he went to escape his pain. As he speaks, I can see the shame and regret etched into his face. But I also see the strength and resilience that kept him going. I listen intently, offering words of support and understanding. By the time he finishes, I feel like I know him on a deeper level. And I'm grateful for the trust he's placed in me.