Red Like Roses

Chapter 4

Crow leans back in his chair and takes another drink from his canteen.

"Raven's gone and done what no one else has dared to do." he says finally. They were back in Heather's room discussing how to take down his twin, Solace's mom.

Ugh she's gonna hate fighting her mom. Solace is too nice she still loves her mom even after the woman went and abandoned her before she even turned one.

"She's clearly after you," he continues,"but why? Based on what you've told me they all see like capture missions. No real injuries, no large squads. They all start off as small, swift group which you typically use for infiltration and capture."

"Why would Raven want to attack her family anyway?" Heather asks.

Wasn't hurting Solace by abandoning her enough? Heather asks herself quietly seething with anger at her step mother.

"She doesn't see you as family anymore. If you aren't a part of the tribe you are the enemy." he says with a sigh," It's kept them safe for years.... But is also turned Raven into a heartless monster." They sit in silence for a moment listening to the fire crackle in Heather's fir place. She always preferred the warmth of a fire to a heater.

Probably from my days on the road, she thinks to herself.

Crow clears his throat ," The question remains why does she want to capture you? Why not kill you? No offense." His eyes find hers briefly before he leans back thoughtfully. They fall back into silence each with their own thoughts. At least Crow speaks.

"I need one of your trainees, the best at stealth."

" Why?" Heather asks eyeing him warily.

"I need to spy on Raven and I may need back up," he says with a small sigh knowing what was about to happen.

I did train the girl, he thinks to himself. A smirk showing on his face.

Heather leaps out of her chair.

"WHAT?! NO!" Heather yells."If you need backup take me or a fully trained personnel!"

"It's too dangerous to take you and you can't spare anyone fully trained who has been assigned their position. I need your BEST trainee." He reasons.

"But if I.......," Heather sighs and her shoulder slump showing the vulnerable little girl beneath the mask of a deadly leader.

She shouldn't have to go through this, thinks Crow as he looks at her, Not yet. She's so young but has such a huge burden.

Heather looks up eyes determined once more. Her posture returns and her air of strength and superiority comes back.

I'm the leader. I have to be strong, she thinks, I was born for this. I believe we can be an army. We will win this.

"If i were to give you my best stealth trainee.....I would be giving you Meghan," she says finally," I ....... I can't do that." Crow looks up at Heather meeting her gaze with his own steady determined one. She wavers slightly.

"She'll be safe with me I promise." Crow walks up to Heather and places a hand on her shoulder look her dead in the eye. At last she sighs and takes out her communicator.

"Meghan...., please see me in my room." she says after a moment of hesitation. She hangs up after getting confirmation from Meghan and rubs her temples.

"I'll wait outside,"Crow says as he leaves the room. As soon as the door has closed behind him Heather pulls up the sleeve of her long sleeved black and red dress with a combat skirt. She looks down at the blood soaked bandage grimacing. Remembering how she had given herself the deep scratch when she jumped out of her bed trying to escape her attacker that day. She grits her teeth as she takes off the bandage sticky with her blood. She walks into the bathroom, quickly washing off the blood before grabbing new bandages and an ointment. As she exits the bathroom she finds her Uncle and her sister Meghan in her room. Meghan looks towards her wearing her usual small smile which quickly disappears as her eyes widen landing on Heather's wound. She lets out a small gasp as Crow stands up walking towards Heather his usual crimson eyes ablaze with anger making them look blood red.