Tales of the Ice Harpy from Glacia

Rook nodded. "Maman dreams of this frequently," she said. "Always the same dream. For years now. Down to saying the same exact things. And my birthday is nine months after their wedding. I am not Step-Father's child."

She gave Raven a hard look. "I am your get, Mother. Maman has always been very clear that I am yours. At the same time she tells me to keep far away from you. You are a danger! To me and to Maman and to everyone else!"

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"No, no, no," Raven said, but the memory of the costumed boy on the roof who had told her she'd interrupted his brother's wedding came to mind, and her heart almost seemed to stop.

"I am not that same Raven," she said, standing up and taking a step toward Karla's bed, wanting to reassure Rook as much as herself. "That was not me. I would never do such a thing, I swear."

She'd been so scared her dark side wasn't vanquished with her father. And now she knew she'd been right to be worried.

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As Raven took that step closer, Rook squealed and tried to burrow behind Karla. Her fear was very real, arcing out from her in waves. An Ebon-gray shield shot up encasing Karla and Rook both.

"She cannot get us, Maman," Rook babbled. "The shield will keep us safe."

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Pardon Karla for a moment. She was just going to marvel at the shield, reaching out to touch it. It was hers. It felt like her, like her own Craft. But so much more than she had access to right now.

"I--your Maman made this for you?" she asked. It hadn't faded to invisibility like her shields usually did, but instead a kind of hazy translucence that pulsed ever few seconds, sending out a beacon of Craft.

Way to stay focused on what's important Karla.

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Rook nodded, pulling out a small pendant. She didn't have a Jewel like the others did--she didn't even have proper Craft--but her Maman had created a special necklace for her to wear, with an Ebon-gray chip set inside.

"You made this for me after she tried to snatch me away one time," Rook explained. "You knew my dreams could leave me vulnerable, so you made me a dreamscape to play in, whenever I went to sleep, Maman. But Mother found her way inside. Called me a cuckoo, said that I was the reason that you and Step-Father could never have the children you wanted." Rook drooped a bit; looking guilty. "So I tried to run away and Mother was waiting. But then Step-Father flew up to get me back. He and Mother quarreled, but he took me away and brought me home to you, Maman. And so you made me this necklace so I could always be safe."

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Raven sank down to the floor between the beds, sitting back on her heels. "I am sorry, Rook," she murmured. "I am sorry that this is the Raven you have come to know, and for all that she has done to you and your Maman and Step-Father. But I swear to you, I am not she, nor do I ever wish to be. Is there anything I can do to prove this to you?"

It was hard to hold on to any hope that there was, though. Her fear was so strong, and to know that somehow she was the cause made Raven want to run away and throw up.

Edited Date: 2011-02-14 08:12 pm (UTC)

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"Take the shield down, Rook," Karla commanded gently. It was odd, being inside a shield of her own Craft that she couldn't control or break free of.

She sent a pulse of love and comfort Raven's way, an empathic hug since she couldn't let go of Rook to do so. It would be cruel to the little girl to do that.

"You must listed to your mo--to Raven," she continued. "This is not the woman you have feared your whole life. She is my friend and a good person. She loves me and your Step-Father very, very much. She's a Healer and a protector. She would never, ever hurt you or anyone you love."

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Rook watched Raven distrustfully for another minute and then reluctantly brought down the shield. "If she loves him so much, why did she take him away?" she muttered. "She sends you a bouquet of feathers sometimes. She says she will give him back if you give me to her, but you refuse. She is not good, Maman. She is evil."

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"Do you possess powers like mine?" Raven asked carefully. "Are you able to sense the emotions of others?"

She let her shields drop completely, hiding nothing from the child if she chose to look. All of it, her horror at what her other self had done, her fear that she would ever do the same, her deep affection for Karla (and, well, her stunning inescapable awkwardness with Warren), was there for her to see.

"Look at me, Rook," she said. "Tell me what you feel."

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"Maman says I am not supposed to speak of what I can do," Rook said. "She says if you knew what I am capable of, you would redouble your efforts to get to me. I must never use my abilities where others may see."

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"This Maman says you may," Karla said quietly. "In fact, I am asking you to. Whatever the Raven in your home is like, this is not the same one. She will never become the mother you so fear. I won't let her. But you must understand that no matter what the future may hold for all of us, this Raven is not the one you know. And the things you say are hurting her, because she loves us both very much."

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Rook was troubled but she trusted her Maman more than anything in the whole world. So, trembling, she leaned forward and met Raven's eyes for the first time.

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Raven looked back, almost afraid of what she'd find. But she drew in a surprised breath, her eyes growing wider. Much like Karla had felt the link to the magic of the Ebon-gray shield Rook had created, Raven felt a connection to this girl, but something much deeper than magic. In her eyes she saw her own soul.

"Karla," she said, tearing her gaze away to look at her friend. "She is me."

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"Nooooo!" Rook howled tearing herself away and diving behind Karla. "Not! Not! Not! Not! Not! Not! Not! I am not evil! I am myself and no one else!"

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Karla grabbed for her, pulling the little girl into her lap and holding her close. "Shhh, shhh," she said, rocking gently. "It's okay, little love. I'm here. I'm here."

And fixing Raven with a 'No, seriously, wtf?!?'expression.

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Her shields were still down, so Raven tried to think back to her to spare traumatizing Rook even more. Her thought were tinted with guilt for that. No, nothing evil, I did not feel that. It is not a sense of being related to me, though there is that, too. Within her is my soul...like the Ramat Stone.

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*How is that even possible?!*

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She said I -- this other Raven -- implanted her within you. But I do not understand why she would do such a thing if she were evil. You are truly someone I would entrust with my soul, but to place it within you as an act of violence...I could never do that.

She looked at Rook, her heart aching to comfort the girl, but she didn't dare move closer.

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*So Rook is kind of...one giant, living, breathing Ramat Stone?* Karla was having a hard time wrapping her mind around that concept. *But she's...also a little girl! She's not a miniature you! She doesn't look like you or sound like you. She's her own person, isn't she?*

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Raven was struggling with the concept as well. I think so. She has her own soul. But there is a piece of me as well, pure and untainted.

But why would she force that within Karla and then try to take the results back?

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*But why...?* Karla's thoughts were a mirror to Raven's, yes. *Okay, so...Rook is like a miniature Ramat stone, yes? Why did you give me mine?* she asked, darting a look towards her jewelry box.

Though her thoughts were elsewhere, her arms were still wrapped around her--their--daughter, whispering words and endearments to her. "Don't cry, my love. It's all right. Maman's here."

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So if something happened to me, if I became overcome by evil again, you could find me and use it to restore me. Raven's brow furrowed. But I did that now, when I am in control, as a precaution. If I were evil, I would not wish to give you that power. Unless she somehow did not know that was what she was doing.

Oh, canon, you so wacky.

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*Or maybe she wasn't entirely evil?* Karla asked, feeling like she was groping for metaphorical straws. *She still had the part of her that was good enough for the Ramat Stone, right? Maybe the good part was in control long enough to give it to me because she knew I'd protect Rook? And now there's nothing left but evil?*

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Perhaps, Raven thought, gnawing on her lower lip. Though if it was in control, I do not think she would allow herself to hurt you as she did.

She shook her head, rubbing her temple. None of this made any sense.

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