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

Chapter 58 - Clay

Loud music is playing, and I've already forgotten where Raven is. After witnessing Sloane trying to dance all over me, she probably left for home. I observe as snowflakes fall from the sky. I imagine us just standing there, holding each other tightly, while the snow swirls all around us. I wish I could kiss her like this. I am startled out of my thoughts when Brie begins to scream.

"Clay!" Brie yells. "She's gone. I can't find her anywhere." There's panic in her eyes.

"Who?" I ask, my heart racing.

"Raven!" She panics. "She isn't answering her phone." She runs her hands through her hair. "She said something was off about tonight. Clay, what if something bad happens to her?" I feel a lump form in my throat as I try to calm her down.

Sloane is on the phone, and I can make out what she says over the music, telling whoever is on the other end to kill her. I run toward her and grab her wrist.

"Where is she?" I growl through my teeth.

"Who? Raven, oh, we don't have to worry about her anymore," she says, grabbing my arm; I shake her off.

"Get off me!" I warn her. Logan comes running. "I have her scent." I turn to Sloane and bark. "If she's hurt, I will kill you."

"The bitch deserves whatever happens to her after taking you from me and what her family did to mine." She states.

"Clay, let's go!" Logan shouts.

"Waste of time. You're already too late," she smirks, yelling after us. We take off after her scent since we don't have time to be late, she has to be okay, and I should not have left her alone. She wouldn't have attempted that earlier foolish stunt if I wasn't so arrogant. If I hadn't pushed her, she would have been with me rather than out on her own. We try to follow her footprints as we sprint through the forest, but the blizzard has covered everything, obscuring any trace of her. We stop at the cellar; her scent is coming from there. I run down the stairs.

"No!" I shout and run towards her. No pulse, I can't hear her heart, she's dead.

"She's dead. They killed her!" I shout, tears pouring down my face. "Raven, baby, wake up; please, I'm so sorry." I hold her lifeless body in my arms, feeling completely helpless and devastated. "NOOOOOO!!" I scream, that it's filled with hurt and anger.

Logan puts his hand on my shoulder. "It's going to be okay," He says.

"How? How is any of this going to be okay? She's dead because I wasn't with her." I turn to hit the wall, watching it crumble under my fist. Brie walks over to something in the corner and looks at us. We move closer, and I see that it's...

It's a Lycan?

"No, that's not possible. Those don't exist," I say, walking backward.

"He's dead," Logan tells Brie softly.

"Who's he?" I ask, my eyes still fixed on the lifeless Lycan.

"Zack," Logan says, "He was brought here to protect Ray until she got her full powers. It looks like Sloane knew about it and used him as bait to get to Raven. He died before Raven could save him."

What is happening?

I run my hands through my hair, sliding down the wall beside Raven's body. "What else are you keeping from me? What haven't you told me?" I look over at Brie; she sits down, moving the hair away from Raven's face. She looks down at her best friend,

"She had to die to be able to manifest the rest of her powers. That's why she distanced herself from you. This wasn't the plan. Zack being in danger must have changed her course of action. She knew you wouldn't go along with the plan we originally had." She looks up at Logan and says, "Run home and get three bags." Logan nods and disappears.