Chapter Twenty

The next two days passed swiftly for Ravenscroft. More because he knew that on the morning of the third day he would once again see Danni than the tremendous workload he had been given. It seemed that his duties had more than doubled since his meeting with Danni, but that was a sacrifice he was willing to make to be able to see her. His only fear was that Danni too might be subjected to double duties.

“What are you so happy about, Kat?” Max spat at Ravenscroft through the reflection of the lone cracked mirror in the cell. He was busy shaving with the community razor, a razor that was so dull that it gave more razor burn than it took off hair. Normally Ravenscroft didn’t even bother with waiting for his turn, but the prospect of seeing Danni again did strange things to him.

“Nothing.” Ravenscroft fell into a practiced sullen expression. He did not trust his cellmates as Danni trusted her. If he breathed one word of escape to them it would be all over the prison within a day. At the best that would result in a prison riot, but most likely it would just end up having him along with Danni and all her friends hauled away to God knows where.

“Stop looking at me.” Max growled while moving the razor along his throat.

Ravenscroft adverted his gaze, but not for the Demon Dog’s sake. He was beginning to visualize the straight razor moving along Max’s throat in a horizontal manner, leaving a beautiful thin red line where it had passed.

He quickly shook his head and forced all thoughts of killing Max out of his mind. He hated what the virus had done to him. Before his parents had died he would never have dreamed of taking another person’s life, but after it had been survival of the fittest until the Mall Rats had taken over. Kill or be killed. Ravenscroft had killed, and once he had the taste of blood in his system he found it terribly difficult to get rid of.

“Wild Kat!” The voice of one of the Chosen guards called from outside the cell. “The Lieutenant would like to see you.”

“Lieutenant?” Ravenscroft’s eyebrows shot up and he noticed his cellmates giving him suspicious looks. “What does she want with me?”

“That’s no concern of yours.” The arrogant guard sneered. “When the Lieutenant summons you, you go or you live to regret it. You got me?”

Ravenscroft nodded, annoyance filling him. He was tired of being ordered around by these guards, these people who felt they were so important as the strutted around in their blue woolen robes. Ravenscroft would love to destroy the whole lot of them, but he knew he couldn’t do that. Several of them were innocents led astray. He had to remember that.

He followed the guard out of his cell and down the long maze-like corridors in the direction he assumed Alana’s office to be. He had never been summoned to her office before, but somehow he had not been surprised, especially after he learned of Danni’s frequent visits.

At first Ravenscroft attempted to memorize the route the guard took but after he passed the same storage room three times Ravenscroft realized the guard was leading him in circles to throw him off. After that he lost himself to his thoughts, mentally preparing himself for what he was positive would be a long string of questions he didn’t know the exact answers to.

Less than fifteen minutes later the guard hesitated at an unmarked doorway. He glanced over at Ravenscroft and nodded. “Go inside.” The guard instructed him. “If the Lieutenant is not already present you will wait for her there.”

Ravenscroft shrugged his shoulders and pushed open the doorway that led into a spacious and expertly decorated office. The lieutenant had impeccable taste, that was certain, and it was obvious that many of the plunders from the city had been sent to her. Ravenscroft briefly wondered at the relationship the lieutenant must have with the Guardian, but did not have time to dwell on those thoughts as the lieutenant herself stepped through the door seconds after he did.

“Ravenscroft.” Lieutenant Alana greeted him with a strange smile, a smile that turned his blood cold and warned him once again that he had to be on guard around this reptile. “So good to meet you. I have heard much about you.”

“You have?” Ravenscroft, never one to be intimidated, stared defiantly back at her. He knew that Danni could not have spoken to her about him, only that he was the father of her unborn child.

“Yes. Many things.” Alana’s smile was sickeningly sweet. “I wanted to see for myself what sort of man you were.”

Ravenscroft just stood there, uncertain how he should respond. He meet Alana’s eyes and held them, for the first time noticing that they were not as hard and cold as she tried to make them be. Again, Ravenscroft wondered at Danni’s words, how she told him the lieutenant seemed to have a soft spot for her. He had not believed her then, but now looking at her Ravenscroft began to doubt his initial reaction.

Alana’s smile had turned into a smirk as she cross the room and took her seat in the elegant high backed leather chair. “Please, Ravenscroft, leader of the Wild Kats,” She motioned to one of the chairs in front of the desk. “Take a seat.”

Ravenscroft did as he was told, still watching her eyes. She had not made eye contact again and he wondered if he had possibly shaken her, but her facial expression was still a mask of practiced aloofness.

“You may be wondered why I called you here.” Alana pursed her lips as she glanced over towards her computer screen.

“I was a bit curious.” Ravenscroft replied his tone defiant, but he quickly covered for it. “But it is not my place to question my orders.”

“Of course not.” Alana rolled her eyes in a most un-Chosen like fashion. “Ravenscroft, if that is indeed your real name, don’t think I buy this submissive attitude for one minute. I know exactly why you’ve been so compliant these past three days.”

“You do?” Ravenscroft gulped, hoping his expression had not revealed his nervousness. Could she have already heard of their plans to escape?

“Yes. I do.” Alana’s expression suddenly changed from arrogance to sympathy. “I hear congratulations are in order.” She said softly, almost kindly.

“I, uh, yeah.” Ravenscroft nodded, visualizing Danni in the back of his mind. He could see her nine months pregnant, stomach swollen and looking absolutely gorgeous. His stomach fluttered strangely and Ravenscroft began to wonder what power Danni had used over him to get him to react so to just the mere thought of her.

“I will be honest with you, Ravenscroft.” Alana studied him carefully. “At first I didn’t believe that you were the father of Danni’s child. It was well known in the city that she was involved with Bray. That was why The Guardian expressed such keen interest in her. And yet, knowing you and the type of man you are, you would not care if a woman was married if you wanted her, would you?”

Ravenscroft frowned, completely thrown off by Alana’s statement. “I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying.”

“I was married to man like you once.” Alana began to finger the slender silver ring she still wore on her left hand. “He professed that he loved me, but he only wanted one thing. The one thing I wouldn’t give him before we were married. Anyway, after I left he wasted no time in getting involved with someone else. He’s married to her now. Unfortunately for them, the Chosen took over the day after their wedding and now they’re separated. We’ll track him down soon enough and then we will kill him.”

Ravenscroft blinked, taken off guard by the hatred that gleamed in Alana’s eyes. Before he could stop himself, he found himself asking, “Why are you telling me this Lieutenant?”

Alana stopped and looked at him, her expression full of emotion, vulnerable emotion. “The Chosen normally are not so kind to expecting mothers. They rarely allow her to see the father of her child. But I took pity on you. See, I was pregnant once.” A strange distant smile flitted across Alana’s face. “A boy. I just know it. But I lost that child. The same day I lost my husband.”

Ravenscroft nodded in understanding, though he was more confused than ever. It was becoming more and more obvious to him that this lieutenant had many deep emotional issues.

“I was not always a part of The Chosen, Ravenscroft.” Alana’s eyes grew misty as she spoke. “I was once a Mal— Well, I was a part of a peace-loving tribe. It does not matter who. But he changed me. It’s all his fault that I’ve become this.”

Ravenscroft remained silent, mentally taking notes. She had almost said her tribe name and a strange hunch had come to him. He would have to talk to Danni about it to see if it could possibly be correct. If he was, then they stood a greater chance of escaping than he originally thought.

“You remind me of him.” Alana murmured, shaking her head. “So handsome. Your hair is different, but you have the same attitude. The same carriage. Everything.”

“What was his name?” Ravenscroft inquired gently. “If you don’t mind me asking.”

“I don’t mind.” Alana locked eyes with him, the emotional vulnerability melting away to be replaced with the hard icy gaze that Ravenscroft had become accustomed to. “But I will not tell you, Ravenscroft. You are far too clever. Just like him.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”

“Yes you did.” Alana smirked. “But that’s alright. Maybe someday I will tell you, Ravenscroft.” She reached across the desk and touched his hands so suddenly that he pulled his hands back startled.

“Guards!” Alana shouted suddenly, all traces of the emotionally starved young woman she had been moments before gone.

“Yes, Lieutenant?” The guard Ravenscroft recognized as Simon appeared in the doorway.

“Ravenscroft has another meeting me must be getting to. I will not keep him any longer.” Alana stated simply. “Take him away.”

~*~*~

Danni nervously paced back and forth in the same observation room she had met Ravenscroft in three days prior. She had stopped to gaze at her reflection a few times, touching the delicate twists that Aya and Silver had helped her with. The new style had made her jagged cut look less severe, though it did absolutely nothing for the long scar that ran down her face.

“Who am I kidding?” Danni quickly blinked back the tears that had started to form the instant she looked at herself in the mirror. “No one will ever want me now. Not when I look like this. Not even Bray would want me if he were still alive.”

“That’s not true.” The soft husky voice of Ravenscroft sounded from the other side of the room. Danni whirled around, her cheeks flaming that he had overheard her belittlement of herself.

“Oh!” She gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

“I can tell.” Ravenscroft’s dark eyes were twinkling mischievously. “I wasn’t interrupting anything, was I?” He queried as he crossed the room, his hands falling to her waist in a most natural way.

“No.” Danni shook her head, her cheeks still scarlet. “I was just, well, I was just looking at myself in the mirror.” She found herself being honest. “I didn’t like what I saw.”

Ravenscroft’s eyes gentled as one of his hands moved from her waist to her face, cupping her cheek then tracing his forefinger along the slowly healing scar. She knew it was still red and angry and even after the stitches were removed it would be ugly and white, marring her for life. And yet when Ravenscroft traced his finger along her face it almost felt whole again.

A small shiver raced down Danni’ spine as she collapsed into his arms, all her strength evaporated. “Oh Ravenscroft.” She murmured softly into his chest. “You don’t know how good it is to see you again.”

“I hope this is for real and not just for our audience on the other side of the glass.” Ravenscroft quipped as he tipped her head up so she would look him in the eyes. “Because I need to be honest with you Danni, I haven’t been able to think of much else these past few days except for you.”

Danni stared at him, open mouth. He was so forward and teasing. She couldn’t tell if he was being serious or not. Something inside her hoped that he was being serious, but doubt nagged her in the pit of her stomach and she knew she could not let herself be hurt again.

“We have an audience again?” Danni found the first words that came to mind.

“I’m assuming so. We’re back in good ol’ Observation room three, aren’t we?” Ravenscroft chuckled. “Shall we give them a bit of a show?”

Danni nodded, licking her lips in anticipation. She hoped her face didn’t look too eager as she stepped closer to him and brought her arms up around his shoulders. He leaned forward and gently pressed his lips against her own. It was a simple kiss, nothing nearly as deep or passionate as their last two kisses had been, but it was enough to send Danni’s stomach swirling inside her.

“Let’s sit down.” Ravenscroft led her after they parted. “You look exhausted. How have you been sleeping?”

Danni shook her head. “Not well.” She admitted. “It’s hard to sleep through the night and even when I manage to sleep through most of it I wake up really early sick to my stomach.”

“Morning sickness, right?” Ravenscroft nodded with understanding. “But it should pass soon, right?”

“I-, well, I don’t know.” Danni admitted, feeling her cheeks coloring. “I think I’m only a month and a half pregnant or so. So I could only be halfway through with the nausea and then some women have it through their entire pregnancy.”

“You won’t.” Ravenscroft assured her, his voice so full of confidence that Danni found herself believing him. “It will all be over soon.”

“I hope so.” Danni nodded, her eyes downcast. But deep inside her she knew that after she gave birth it would be just the beginning. After several seconds of silence ticked by Danni looked up to find Ravenscroft still staring at her, tenderness in his gaze that unnerved Danni and made her wonder if this amazing young man sitting across from her was really for real.

“I just came back from a very interesting meeting with our Lieutenant.” Ravenscroft stated breaking the silence.

“Alana?” Danni stared at him in surprise. “Just now?”

Ravenscroft nodded. “I came directly from her office to here.” He explained.

“What did she want?” A strange feeling of jealousy crept inside Danni and she quickly pushed it aside. She would not let this relationship be marred with the ugly green eyed monster, even if it was only a pretend relationship.

“I’m not really sure.” Ravenscroft mused, rubbing the soft stubble that had begun to grow on his chin. “She was acting highly peculiar. I’ve never had a meeting with her before, at least not one on one so I don’t know how she normally acts, but I have a hunch she doesn’t cry in front of all her prisoners.”

“She cried?” Danni gasped staring at him in surprise.

“Well, she got really misty eyed.” Ravenscroft leaned forward, taking her hands in his own. Danni refused to acknowledge the tingling sensation that shot through her entire body as he did so. “She kept saying that I reminded her of her husband. And then she said she had been pregnant once, though I think she must have lost the baby.”

“Interesting.” Danni frowned. “Do you think that might be why she’s being so soft towards us?”

“Maybe.” Ravenscroft nodded. “But do you remember how you told me you thought Alana had liked the Mall Rats before the occupation?”

Danni nodded.

“I think you may be more right than you know. I think she was a Mall Rat.” Ravenscroft announced.

“What?!” Danni shook her head, her eyes widening. “No, that’s impossible. I would know any Mall Rats. I know I would.”

“But you weren’t a Mall Rat from the start, were you? Could there have been any girls that you didn’t know that were once Mall Rats?” Ravenscroft prodded gently.

Danni hesitated, her mind going instantly to her predecessor in Bray’s bed, everything slowly beginning to fall into place. She had never met Amber, only heard many things about her. She was a leader, strong and passionate with nerves of steel. She had loved Bray deeply, or at least that’s what Danni had been told. But she was dead. Bray told her himself.

“It’s impossible.” Danni whispered. “She’s dead.”

“Who’s dead?” Ravenscroft leaned forward, his dark eyes glowing with anticipation.

“Amber.” Danni stated the name. She had made all efforts not to ever say that name, and now she found it falling freely from her lips. “She was Bray’s girlfriend before me, but they weren’t married.”

“Are you sure?”

Danni found the doubt in her stomach begin to grow. She honestly didn’t know. Bray had told her that they had been involved but he had never mentioned marriage. Of course Amber had always been a very delicate subject between them. It was possible they had been married and Bray had never been able to tell her. And there was that ring… She knew Bray didn’t have it any longer, that he had left it with her grave…

“No, I’m not.” A cold feeling crept through her as she said the words. “Bray and I never talked about her much. It was, uh, well, it wasn’t exactly an easy topic.”

“Understandable.” Ravenscroft nodded. “I have another question. Do I remind you of Bray at all?”

“No.” Came Danni’s instant answer, but as she stared at Ravenscroft all the longer she realized there was much about the handsome young man sitting across her that did remind her of her former lover. “Well, maybe a bit. You’re not the same coloring at all, but there’s something about your eyes…”

“Alana mentioned attitude. Carriage.” Ravenscroft stated. “I only met Bray a couple of times and I wouldn’t exactly compare myself to him, but who knows what the eyes of a woman sees.”

“Oh Ravenscroft.” Danni’s stomach lurched painfully inside her. “It’s her. It has to be. There’s no one else it could be.”

“Are you certain?”

“No. Of course not. I never met the woman, but it’s the only thing that makes sense.” Danni felt her heart begin to break inside her, though she didn’t exactly know why. “Why else would she want to tell me of Bray’s death herself? And she seemed so shaken up about it…”

“Danni,” Ravenscroft whispered, his hand squeezing hers gently. “I know this is a lot to realize, but this is a good thing. A very good thing for us.”

Danni nodded, knowing he was right. “Should I confront her the next time I talk to her?”

“No. Not yet.” Ravenscroft shook his head. “Let’s wait a bit longer. We need to be sure because if we are wrong…”

“I know.” Danni pursed her lips. “But somehow I don’t think we are.”