somewhatifs

Just outside the boundaries of the Hidden School, far away enough for it not to need the glamour spell to keep from sight, was a small clearing that the half-demoness could rely on to replenish any absences from her resources. It didn't look like much, sure, but if one was experienced and knew where to look, it was a treasure trove filled with irreplaceable materials.

Raven loved her students, and her patience was boundless, but even she had her limits. On the very rare occasions where the teacher could sense her students weren't in a mischievous mood, the nature trove doubled as a place to let loose and relax, an opportunity she seldom had. And as she hummed, and picked, and plucked, stuffing this and that into jars, she gradually became unguarded, her walls came down, her skin turned red, a far cry from the pale charade she kept up outside her school. Her horns branched out, two eyes grew into four, and her gem became seen. Her wings, feathered and tandem, slowly slid out. Too relaxed was she to notice any of her natural features making themselves seen to her, nor the hidden pair of curious green eyes that had been watching her.

It wasn't until the deliberate clearing of a throat meant to catch her attention had she realized what was going on. Everything disappeared, from her horns to her wings. Gone in the blink of an eye, until the only things left were her human features, a pale blue-eyed human facade before she even thought to look at who was brave enough to make themselves known.

Raven didn't give the intruder time to look at this new version of herself. Instead, she pivoted on her foot and bolted, hoping to make it to the tiny gap in some nearby bushes for her exit.

Not a single step later, a pair of tan, calloused hands gripped her wrists and pinned her back to the nearest tree. A firm, unyielding grip let her know she wasn't going anywhere without his say-so.

A low and sultry voice drawled with conviction as she panicked.

"Going somewhere?" A man, dressed all in black and devilishly handsome, asked.

"Not with you," Raven replied evenly. She decided to test her restraints. If she could catch him off guard for even a moment, then perhaps it would be possible to-

A firm squeeze from him let her know whatever she was thinking was foolish.

"That's a shame. We could get to know each other better, do some talking. Maybe about what I just saw?" (change later) He looked down at her with a little knowing smile as he referred to her damning slip up.

"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about," she replied innocently as she did her best to appear clueless.

He gave a light grin as he shook his head in disbelief at her audacity to deny everything to his face. No, no, no, he thought. That wouldn't do. He knew what he witnessed. If she wouldn't admit to what she knew he saw, then he would find another way to see her like that again, whether it was by her own admittance or by his provocation, and he chose the latter.

"You're an awful liar, demoness. Truly awful," he leaned in closer, whispering, "who knew that's what this corner of the woods held? Wouldn't it be a shame if anyone were to find out about you? Why, they'd all want to come here and take a look now, wouldn't they?"

Raven's eyes narrowed in anger at his statement. The thought of being revealed by a mere human with a penchant for meddling where he shouldn't made her lose her composure all too quickly. She didn't bother trying to convince him against what happened anymore, as her human features disappeared all at once in the blink of an eye. She broke out of his grip and used her wings to fly and spread them out menacingly a foot above him, making sure he had to look up just to see her.

"Oh really?"

Running, or freezing up. A look of fear and terror, and screams were what she expected. In her experience, humans were intrigued by what they thought was dangerous and unknown. Each one was fascinated with the idea of befriending them. They loved thinking that they were somehow the 'chosen' and 'special' one, special enough to be the only possible person able to befriend and care for her without getting hurt. Until, of course, she got too dangerous for their liking.

One of her father's genetic features was enough to draw them in and give them ideas. Two was pushing it. Three was what drove them away for good, because by then, she was too much of a demon for them to romanticize her.

What she got instead was different. Instead of him making a run for it as she expected, she got a look of stunned wonder. If she really looked, the moonlight revealed a hint of blush on his cheeks, of all things, and Raven couldn't tell if she preferred this response or the usual.

He shook his head, seemingly changing his mind. "No, not really. Not anymore. I'd hate to even think about someone being as lucky a man as I to be able to witness you." His eyes roamed around her figure, taking her all in without a hint of fear in his eyes. Not once did a flicker of doubt, or anything that would suggest he wanted to leave and come back with pitchforks and torches, cross them.

The man, whom Raven could now see was handsome by the moonlight, slowly reached his hand out, as if he was scared he would spook her away. He gently grabbed her ankle and dragged her down back to the ground, his touch lingering more than necessary as it lightly trailed on her thigh while she made her way down. He didn't bother trying to hide his wandering eyes.

Raven had to stop her jaw from dropping at his actions. He knew what she was and what she could do to him if she so chose. He knew, yet he had the audacity, the confidence to not only have no fear whatsoever of her, but to touch her gently as if she were some divine being from heaven instead of a creature from hell.

A pair of muscular arms caged her against the tree, one on each side of her head. He leaned in close and was about to say something, but Raven decided to take advantage of his entranced state and quickly darted under one of his arms. She created just enough distance so she wouldn't have to worry about him bringing her back again.

In her flustered state, Raven struggled to find the right words to cuss him out, and the arrogant stranger took great delight in this fact.

Enough, she thought. She couldn't believe how much her attempt at intimidation had backfired. She lightly ran through his mind, still not convinced he didn't have an ulterior motive. When she didn't see anything beyond a desire to explore, she stepped away from him.

Raven refused to let herself believe that this was someone really willing to see every part of her with no conditions. There was no way a random human could just stumble upon her in all her demonic glory and not feel the slightest hint of anything to suggest he feared her.

The cold, crisp breeze swayed Raven's hair to one side as she peered at him with her four red eyes. Though she didn't believe it, if he really did happen upon her by chance, then that meant he was an average human. This far into the woods, an average person would have a difficult, near impossible way of finding the exact same spot again. Of that, Raven decided as she prepared to take flight, she would make sure of.

"I hope I'm not boring you," the man said as he watched her prepare to leave, "I would hate to think I'm not interesting enough to keep your attention."

"No, nothing of the sort. I just find that I have better things to do than waste my time with a human."

"What makes you think I would waste your time? There's plenty of stuff we could do at night together." He gave her a sly smile before looking her up and down. Raven scoffed at his antics and stretched her wings, but before she could take flight, he stopped her with a question.

"Will you ever come back?"

"That's assuming you'll be able to find your way back here again."

"Assume that I will. I'll be here again next week. Same time. Will you?"

"Assume that I will," Raven said as she began to hover above the ground. "But don't think that means we'll keep seeing each other after that. You merely strike my curiosity, that's all."

He chuckled as she gave her cold response. "I'll be sure to keep you curious, then."

Just outside the boundaries of the Hidden School, far away enough for it not to need the glamour spell to keep from sight, was a small clearing that the half-demoness could rely on to replenish any absences from her resources. It didn't look like much, sure, but if one was experienced and knew where to look, it was a treasure trove filled with irreplaceable materials.

Damian knew what would happen next as he made his way to his destination. The body would be turned into an expendable soldier, designed to obey orders only from the League of Assassins. A soldier without the faults of human emotion. 

A beep sounded from his phone and he kept his tone neutral for the person calling him.

"Hello, Mother,"

"My son. I assume you accomplished your goal." 

It wasn't a question. 

“Yes. The body will be at home in a day, Mother. The mission was a success.”

Not a moment later, she informed him of his next mission. 

“I expect you to be at home in no less than two days.” There was a pause, and if Damian listened closely, there is a slight soft note in her voice as she asked him if the mission went well. 

The next few minutes were filled with Talia telling him about his next mission. Damian listened intently as he drove back. When she finished, she disconnected first, as always. 

He missed the days when his mother's voice was filled with softness reserved especially for him, when he could call out to her with the voice of a son, instead of the voice of a soldier, merely carrying out orders. He shook the reminiscent thoughts away, knowing they would merely make him falter and become weak. 

(Raven's hand trembled as she drew the last sigil. A giant pentagram on the floor was the only thing keeping her father restrained, and she grimaced at the thought of him getting out. The last step would be to connect the gem to the pentagram so she could monitor him. 

Already, she could feel him reaching for a way out and pounding against his shackles. )

Sunsets were a rare thing to witness at the academy, so Raven had decided to let the students have the morning off to watch. The academy was hidden in a forest and shrouded in paranormal fog and mist, so sunsets didn't happen often, much to the disappointment of her students. 

Raven lifted her face towards the sun and spread her wings. It wasn't as warming as it would be without the mist, but it was enough to make her appreciate it more. The weight of her horns slightly dragged her head back as she relaxed. She found the weight comfortable, a grounding reminder of what she protected and fought for. Another moment later, the sunset turned another shade of orange and sunk lower. 

She could already sense the waves of disappointment that would soon emanate from her students at the loss of the sun, knowing that they would soon have to retreat into their classrooms.

Years of hard work and pain have gone into the founding of the hidden school. It had been Raven's hardest accomplishment, but worth the effort. Now she got to help the youth that was in her predicament. Different, struggling, and afraid. Raven's current goal was to make a change for them because, in her heart, she accepted a harsh truth. No one else would, so she would have to. 

It got lonely, especially during the quiet of the night. When the students were asleep, the classrooms were still, and nature was in the background Raven's thoughts drifted far away, escaping to a place hidden away for the protection of her students. Staying there lingering, stirring up longings until she had enough.