Stone Crest: Rise of a Raven

34. Chapter 34

Chapter thirty-four

Raven

I sit on the edge of the bed with my legs crossed, watching Presley sleep like a stage four creeper. Maybe if I just lay down with her and fall asleep, I will wake back up and this will all be a dream. Presley would be up informing me about something unrelated to anything in particular and maybe Locke wouldn’t be my professor. He would just be a hot guy on a motorcycle. Oh, and fully human. As in not a canine with giant fangs and a full on fur coat.

“Raven.” The soft voice flows from the doorway and I turn to see Autumn.

“Come on in.” I wave. “She’s sleeping.”

She has a small tote bag with her, and she places it on the bed next to me. “Locke wanted me to check you out. You cool?”

I nod, glancing down at my torn shirt with slight embarrassment.

“Anything hurt?” She asks.

“Not really.” I bend my arm, showcasing a nasty cut on my elbow. “This stings a little, other than that it’s fine.”

“I’ll clean it up.” She unzips a pouch. “Your face didn’t cut. Might bruise though.”

I watch her sort through the items. Like she does this everyday. Like Locke gives orders and everyone just follows them. Makes a phone call and everyone shows up.

“Are you a nurse or something?” I ask as she unpacks some gauze and bandages.

“NICU," she answers. “Give me all the babies.” She swipes an antiseptic wipe over my wound. “I’d take them over a grown adult any day of the week.”

She spends the next few minutes in silence as she patches me up. Both times I’ve been to this house I was being bandaged up like some casualty of war.

Her arms reach out to pick up the last piece of gauze when her long sleeve rides up on her arm. I don’t miss the light blue bruises dotted near her wrist. Like someone dug their fingertips into her arm. My eyes flicker to her face, but she just clears her throat and tugs her sleeve down. After she’s finished, she moves to check over Presley.

“He’s a good man, Raven,” she says as she examines all of Presley’s exposed skin.

“Yeah.” I clear my throat, unsure of what to say.

Or what he even is.

“I’m not sure what happened, but I can guarantee that he cares for you.” She glances at me.

“Why do you say that?” I tilt my head.

“Because he’s never brought a woman into this house.” She grabs a blanket and gently lays it over Presley.

“You’re in this house,” I point out.

She chuckles. “You know what I mean. I’m here for Locke. Not with him. We are family… you on the other hand…”

“I’m his student, Autumn.” I lift a shoulder. “And he’s…...something I’m not.”

Her smile is small as she picks up her bag. “You have no idea how long he’s waited for you, do you?”

“What do you mean?” I ask as I tuck my knees to my chest.

He’s made that comment to me more than once. I thought it was just a figure of speech. Since he’s at least a good ten years older than me.

“You should rest. When she wakes up have her drink plenty of liquids.” She smiles one more time before giving me a wave. “It really was nice to finally meet you.”

She leaves the room, and I fall back into the pillows, my head in one place and my heart in another.