A Dance with the Devil

Prologue

I thought love was just a mirage of the mind,

it's an illusion, it's fake, impossible to find.

But the day I met you, I began to see,

that love is real, and exists in me.

- Chris Farmer

Prologue

“How far do you want to go?” Trevor asked dryly, not even bothering to take his eyes off the road for a second. This was the first time he spoke since we left the City about two hours ago. I stared at him for a moment with slight confusion, trying to read whatever expression he was wearing.

Frustration? No.

Anger? Certainly not.

Regret? Not a trace. He looked a bit bored but that’s it. That’s all I could make out; the rest of him was unreadable. I barely see this side of Trevor and when I did, I would always be dying of curiousity. But of course, I wouldn’t let him know. I gave up and averted my gaze back on the road.

“As far as this car could go,” I finally said.

Trevor suddenly pulled the car into a halt, making it stopped on the middle of the road. Luckily, there were no other vehicles around, probably because its already past midnight and we’re in the middle of nowhere in some countryside. Trevor’s fingers were tensing on the steering wheel as he turned his head to look at me. “This is far as I could drive you, your highness.”

I frowned in confusion, “What?”

“What?” he mimicked, a little exaggerated then he rolled his eyes. “If you don’t give me directions as to where in the world are you planning to go, this is as far as I could take you.”

I stared at him in disbelief but I couldn’t say anything to defend myself. I was the one who drag him along in my troubles since I transferred in his school. Sure, he’s already a trouble maker himself with all those school fights, pranks and frequent absences he’s had. He even made it to the top of the on probabation students list, having me as his runner up. But I owed him a lot for helping me to keep a bad reputation at school. Just by sticking up to him the teachers hated me and it certainly helped for my father to notice me.

That’s all I ever wanted. Attention.  

Only when I’m in trouble, my father would show up himself. He wouldn’t bother to scold me. He’d just go out of his precious office, talk things out with the school and then go back to work. But at least I get to see him. And if I’d done a great job getting in a big trouble, my father would have a long time to talk things out with the school and would ended up staying a night or two at home. With me and my brother.

Only at times like that, I’d be convined that I still had a family. That I still had a parent. Trevor knew all of that. As shallow as it sounded when I told him, he still took me in his group saying that boldness is a rarity for a girl. I didn’t know the real reason though but it felt like in some ways, our situation was the same. He rebelled because of family matters.

Maybe that’s why we get along just fine.And now I brought him into my biggest trouble plan so far. Stealing a car and running away. And I was starting to feel guilty.

“I’m sorry.” I blurted out, putting my thoughts into words. I couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“Raven,” he said in a serious tone, “Do you know why I came here with you? Or why did I even go along in this…crazy idea?”

I furrowed my eyebrows at him. I had come across of that question on our way but my head never gave me a sure answer. I thought it was out of pity…or he was also using the opportunity to rebel against his family. I was guessing it’s more of the second one.