Stars filled the sky as she walked along the sidewalk, struggling with the weight of Gray, who stumbled drunkenly beside her.
"I got that summertime, summertime sadness," Gray sang off-tune as she crouched under his weight.
"Come on, we're almost back at your house; just a few more blocks," she urged.
"You, Raven, are so beautiful." He began, as his focus was now on her, leaning closer to her. "I want to kiss you," Gray slurred, staring at her mouth and leaning in slowly. She leaned backward, trying to put distance between them, her eyes squeezing shut.
"Little Raven," a familiar voice called out, causing her to peek through her lashes to see Dorian standing before her. Gray was no longer advancing toward her.
"Dorian," she gasped in shock. "Why is he here?" she thought.
"I felt your distress through the link. I take it this is the distress. Shall I take care of it?" he asked, staring down at Gray, whom he held by the back of his collar.
"Wow," Gray gasped, staring up at Dorian, who towered over him. Dorian glared down, releasing his hand and causing Gray to fall to the ground.
"No, thank you; this is Gray. Gray, this is Dorian," she introduced them.
"Her boyfriend," Gray said, struggling to stand up from the ground.
"No, he isn't," Raven corrected, trying to manage a situation she should never have been in. "He is" Raven began but stopped as Gray hunched over, vomiting on the sidewalk.
"Puking," she concluded, shaking her head at him.
"May I ask what you are doing with him?" Dorian asked, staring at the scene in front of him.
"It was a school dance, and Wren asked if I could go with her cousin. He hadn't had a date since his last breakup, and I said I would think about it, so he asked me to accompany him. I couldn't bring myself to say no. But as you can see, he's not in the best state; he got drunk. I would have driven home, but I didn't bring my car, and I couldn't find his keys."
"So, you went to a school dance with a stranger?" Dorian concluded.
"He's not a stranger; he's Wren's cousin."
"You need to make new friends," he said, as Raven pulled on Gray's arm, trying to get the boy back on his feet.
"What are you doing?" Dorian questioned, staring at Raven as she tried to lift him.
"I can't just leave him here."
"If you think I'm letting you go home with this guy, then you're mistaken," he said, stepping in front of her as she reached for Gray.
"You're not touching him." He glared at her as Gray fell backward, almost knocking her over, but Dorian caught Gray before he could touch her.
Throwing him over his shoulder, Dorian asked, "Where to?" his eyes piercing into hers.
***
Reaching the front steps, she said, "Here, let me." She was about to reach out to help sit Gray down gently, but Dorian had other plans. He dropped his arm, causing Gray to fall to the ground with a loud thump. Raven stared at Dorian in shock, meeting his gaze. "What?" he questioned her innocently.
"Nothing," Raven sighed, reaching out and knocking on the door. She waited, knocking a couple more times until a man who looked exactly like Gray but was older opened the door.
"He got drunk at a school dance?" his father questioned.
"Yes."
"I am sorry for my son," Gray's father apologized.
"It's fine," Raven assured him with a small smile.
"What am I going to do with him?" His father took him inside.
"Their ancestors would weep at the disrespect he showed to a lady."
"I should head home. I don't want my aunt calling the sheriff and people looking for me." "Nobody will touch you," Dorian told her as he unfolded his arms, reaching out towards her, gently pulling her into his embrace, gripping her body against his. "Close your eyes," he whispered into her ear. Her eyes closed instantly as she felt his hand on the back of her head, pressing her face into his shoulder. Then she felt air under her feet; the ground had disappeared.
They came to a stop, her feet gently placed back on the ground as she took in their surroundings. Trees were everywhere, and water was rushing nearby.
"The cabin?" she asked, confused, pulling her arms away from him.
Pushing open the cabin door, the boundary spell no longer worked; he stepped into the cabin, flicking the light switch on and illuminating the room.
"You have been quiet for the last couple of days," he stated.
"You noticed. I thought that being a normal teenage girl would take my mind off everything that has been going on lately, especially today."
"It is the anniversary of the day they met," she told him.
"How did they meet?" he questioned her, a small smile on her face as she recalled the moment, lighting the candle.
"They met in high school; he attended a different one and was on the basketball team playing against her school. As she walked down the hall while the players headed to the gym, he noticed her. She said he couldn't stop staring. While other kids avoided her and called her names, he didn't care. She had to stay to report on the game for the newspaper. His team won, and everyone blamed her for jinxing their school ever since she arrived, they had won no games. Before he could speak to her, she had left. But one day, he was waiting for her by her bike after school. He tried to make conversation, but she was uninterested and cold, leaving him behind. He started showing up occasionally, following her to ensure she got home safely. One day, he was late, and she was worried. When he finally appeared, he was bruised from a fight. For the first time, she showed concern for him and helped treat his wounds. After that day, everything changed, and they fell in love," she recounted.
"I believe it's my fault they're both gone. If I hadn't been born, perhaps they would still be here," Raven said, Dorian gazing across the table at her.
"But here we are," she let out a soft laugh, tears in her eyes. "If only I could bring them back," she muttered, brushing away the tears, her gaze settling on the spellbook.
"Maybe I can," Raven said as she quickly stood up, took the spell book from the shelf, and placed it on the table, flipping through the pages.
"Love?"."
Rummaging through the books
"Love," he repeated.
"I can bring them back; I can bring them back."
"Raven," he said, now standing in front of her. "You can't bring them back."
"Why can't I bring them back?" she turned to Dorian, who shook his head at her. "Because it's not natural."
"Please," she whispered desperately.
"With the way your ancestors created spells, there's always a price to pay; if you take, they take something of yours," he told her gently, his hand softly gripping the back of her neck.
"But they will never see me graduate, meet the love of my life, or their grandchildren, please," she pleaded with him. "I want them to have the life they deserve, not one filled with death. They were so deeply in love. That's love worth living for," she said, taking a breath after calming down slightly, her gaze shifting from the spell to meet his. "Do you know when it gets worse?" she asked him, but only silence followed. "It's when you've grown accustomed to their constant presence, and then, when the contact ceases, you're left alone. Yet, you still see others with their loved ones, and I don't get jealous; I pray for them. I pray that their love any love may be shielded forever from this pain. Everyone deserves to be loved and to have that love," she whispered.
"Esti dovada asta," he said, releasing a tearful laugh. "I don't know what you just said," she replied, taking the book from her hands. "The magic you seek to perform will only bring you sorrow. Your mother and father are in a place where they are cherished and cared for together. They are at peace with each other," he said, closing the book and placing it on the shelf beside them.
Extending his hand to her, he asked, "What?" She looked at him, puzzled. "You went to a school dance and did not enjoy it, so for tonight let's be normal, if that is what you wish," he said, offering his hand to her.
"May I have this dance, little raven?" he requested, offering his hand to her while the other was tucked behind his back.
She smiled at him, placing her hand on his. He drew her close, gazing down at her.
"Do you mind?" he gestured toward the old radio. With a snap of her fingers, a melody began to play from it.
As the music filled the room, he took her hand, pulling her close. She stumbled into him, but he caught her, holding her close.
With her hand in his, they began to dance in the confined space, his shoe nudging the small couch aside to make room.
"They would want you to be happy, and they too would wish for you to have a good life," he assured her.
As he dipped her, his gaze never left hers. "I am not the only one who seems to have something on their shoulders," she told him, giving him a knocking look. "There are many things on my mind, but you do not have to worry about it," he shared. "Are you sure?" she questioned him, her eyes filled with worry. "I am sure," he told her before twirling her. They continued dancing until the song ended. Her eyes, heavy with fatigue, closed gently as she leaned against him, and soft sounds escaped her as she fell into a deep sleep. Dorian stood still, gazing down at the girl in his arms while the music blared. He reached out and turned the radio down. Raven stirred slightly in his embrace. He lifted her carefully and stepped out of the cabin, ensuring her safety.
Raven clung to him tiredly as he carried her. At the side of her house, she slid from his arms and stared at the building. He urged her, "Close your eyes, little raven," and swiftly carried her back, leaping into the air to land on her balcony. She blinked her eyes open and slid from his arms.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice weary. She opened the door, stumbled slightly, and he reached out to steady her, but she was fine.
"Be careful, love."
"Uh-huh," she murmured as she collapsed onto her bed.
"Good night, Dorian," she mumbled, drifting back to sleep.
"Good night, little Raven," he said with a smile.