Simona

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From Chapter 3: Unlikely Friends

“My prince, if I could be so bold and comment that jealousy doesn’t suit you.”

“Me? Jealous of… that.” Damian pointed at Jon who started moving his whole body as if dancing, the small gust of winds around him slowly lifted the leaves and small dirt debris from the ground. He twirled them around him into a spiral, the few leaves dancing in the air along with him. The crowds continue to clap and shout happily as they were left awed by his small feats. Damian’s face grew somber when he noticed Raven at the front of the crowd cheering and laughing as she encouraged her friend’s strange behavior. Damian could feel his heart sink to his stomach, his nostrils flared, and a small puff of smoke escaped from his lips.

Jason couldn’t help but let out a small snort, as he leaned closer and whispered in the prince’s ear, “Practice your breathing young prince, we don’t want a fire to erupt within the palace walls.”

Damian only gave him a side glance before rolling his eyes and looking back down at the courtyard. He could hear Jason sigh next to him. “But jealousy aside, we should be glad Lady Raven found an ally, in our world being on your own is the most dangerous if you’re a target to those who want to bring the world to darkness.” Jason said in a low voice that Damian only heard the first half of his statement.

“Mm? You’re right, I am happy to know she wasn’t alone at Crescent Island, and maybe I should make it an effort to make the airbender an ally.”

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From Chapter 4: The Unknown

“Life is filled with dangers and unknown, it’s up to us to find the light even when all seems impossible. Find what we’re really meant to do in this life, find the purpose we were put here and understand the great spirits design for us. Maybe our purpose could be simple as bringing others happiness, maybe climbing the tallest mountains to know what above other than endless skies with gust of winds, explore the oceans depths and learn it’s secrets. Go into the deepest and darkest cave and learn what the eye cannot see. Visit the ancient volcanoes and learning how they keep blazing for centuries till they erupt with full fury.”

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“Tim! I’m ready, let’s go before we miss out on my friend’s party… Wayne why do you have a kids fake vampire teeth?” Connor asked as he came in dressed in tight black leather suit, black marks all over his face and hands, and pair of round dark purple shades taking the appearance of rock star singer.

“Tt. Your brother got me these… I should had given him a better description on what I wanted.”

Connor scoffed, “That was your first mistake, never have Jon go shopping for you. Give me a minute.” Connor left and heading to the direction of his bedroom.

Tim smiled and walked inside the room and sat next to a chair facing Damian. He crossed his arms over his chest and continue to just stare at his younger brother, which was starting to annoy Damian even more. “You have something to say, Drake?”

“What kind of vampire are you going for? Cuz without the teeth I can’t tell, you look like… well you look like you.”

“I was aiming for a more modernize look, you know how trendy werewolves and vampires are right now.”

“Good point and Jon is dressing as?”

“Werewolf… more modern version as well, though he got himself this headband with ears and a tail he attached onto his belt.”

“Where is he? And come to think of it I haven’t seen Raven since she left for school, in the morning.”

Damian stayed silent for a moment. He wondered if having one of his siblings stay after the school play would be okay. Now looking at it he was partially grateful having someone to talk to other than Jon. Although half of the time he was always at bickering and fighting his older siblings sometimes they knew when to act like brothers to him, making him feel happy. “Jon left like two hours ago to help set up a booth at the school’s campus for extra credit. Raven was part of the planning committee, so she had taken her costume in her school bag and change over there.”

“Oh cool. That school of theirs is really outgoing, like planning a mini Halloween fair for the student body and having a haunted house? Like I wished the Academy would be that fun.”

“You can always come and enjoy the fair yourself, you can go with Connor, the school’s event is open to the student’s family.”

Tim smiled as he leaned back onto the seat and stretched his arms, “Nah, I’m good, besides the party Connor invited me to sound like really fun.”

“So are you and –” Damian started, unsure if he could ask.

“We’re looking into it but so far everything is going fine… we’re taking things slow so yeah.”

Damian smiled, he didn’t know how to respond since this kind of topic he wasn’t very familiar with and yet he could somewhat relate to. All he could do for his older brother was place a hand on his shoulder and just look at his brother who returned; smiled at him.

“So, I found an extra pair of unopened fangs teeth, they have some sort a solution inside so that you can mold the fang on your natural teeth. It should allow you to close your mouth and you can speak properly. Oh, and I also found some fake blood you can drip from your mouth.” Connor announced as she came into the room and handed Damian his supplies. He took them and thank him as Tim patted Damian’s shoulder before leaving for their party.

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Damian had arrived at the school’s campus and searched the grounds lined with various games and food booths. At the end of the path, was the entrance to the school’s gym which had been turned into a haunted house. He grinned when he found Jon trying to get a child to play at the bean bag tossing game, he waved and caught Jon’s attention as he signaled another student to take over as he left and joined Damian.

“Yo Damie! What do you want to do first?”

“Well you helped out these past few weeks, what should we do first –”

“Um… excuse me, are you’re Jon Kent, right?”

Both Damian and Jon turned to find dark hair female student dressed like a Greek goddess, wearing an armored breastplate and a matching skirt. “I’m Donna Troy, Lead Student Coordinator for the school’s events. I wanna thank you for the helped you been providing us, I was wondering if you were free to try out some game booth together?”

“Uh…”

Damian lifted a brow and smirked, Jon was sometimes a little shy when it came to girls approaching him. He lightly tapped his friend’s shoulder before whispering, “You should go, I think she digs you, dude.”

Jon turned to Damian sharply, awestruck before taking a deep breath, “Uh… sure… do you wanna do the bobbing for apples booth?”

“Sounds fun! Let’s go!”

Damian couldn’t help but chuckle lightly as his friend was immediately dragged from him as he watched Jon give him a hopeful thumbs up before disappearing in the crowds of students and families. He sighed and looked around, he saw many were enjoying the festivities in pairs or groups. Perhaps he could find something to do on his own or find a place to be on his own for the remainder of the night. Damian placed his hands inside his pocket and accidentally hitting his music play button:

“This innocence is brilliant…

I hope that it will-”

He jerked at the first sound and immediately took his phone out and click the song to stop. His smiled, replaced with a somber look as he pulled up his photo gallery finding their group picture from their class’s play. There he stood with his class and with Raven by his side, smiling towards the audience, holding hands as they bowed.

That night Raven had gone to meet with Malchior, it didn’t bother Damian too much, but he had to wonder why she had lied where she was heading to. After some minutes Raven had returned like nothing had happened and no one questioned her, not even Damian who wanted to make sure she was alright. 

Damian closed his gallery app before clicking onto his call history debating whether he should call Raven and spend time with her. He stopped his thumb; Raven had been working tirelessly on the school’s Halloween fair so she must have finished and went to spend time with her boyfriend. Damian let go of a heavy sighed as he turned his screen off not knowing what to do.  

“Why all alone Wayne?”

Damian’s soul practically left his body for moment as he turned around and saw her standing right in front of him. Under the night sky, the full moon’s glow, and the little lighting emitting from the lanterns cast a soft glow on Raven and her Halloween costume. She had dressed as her own version of a Shadowhunter. Wearing black leather jacket, tight leather pants, black combat boots, and a whip attached to the side of her hips with a black cloak tied around her neck.

She was beautiful.

“Uh… Raven… I’m just taking a moment for myself.”

“Tired already? I just saw Jon minutes ago and said you had just arrived.” Raven said as she crossed her arms, her eyes taking his whole form, probably examining his costume. “Huh… wouldn’t never have pegged you to be into the vampire scene.”

Damian rolled his eyes, “it was Jon’s idea, he dressed like a werewolf and told me to dress like a vampire. We were supposed to be arch nemesis, so he wanted us to be ‘the vampire and werewolf duo that were actually friends.’”  

“Got it, but I have to warn you if I find you’re luring pretty girls for substance then you won’t leave me no choice but to end you… Vampire.” Raven smirked as she detached her whip and pointed it towards Damian. Who in returned lifted his arms half-way in surrender.

Smiling towards her and showing his fangs, “Well Huntress, I will have to abide to the rules but do dispose of me swiftly if you catch me taking a single drop from a beautiful maiden.”

“Ha-ha, c’com let’s go check out the haunted house.” Raven grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the crowds, slightly pushing others to allow them passage as they got neared the gym’s entrance. To their surprise there was a long line of students and family members wanting to go inside. Raven was still holding onto Damian’s hand rather firmly, “let’s come back to this later, I’m a little hungry actually.”

Damian only nodded as he continued letting her lead him through the crowds before they found a booth selling loaded fries and cold drinks. Being a gentleman, Damian took out some cash and paid their meal even though Raven argued that she wanted to pay. He grabbed their order and together found a table to sit down, away from the crowds so they could have a conversation. He watched Raven scarfed down a few fries in no time and taking a long sip of their soda. “Something on your mind Raven?”

Raven continued keeping her gaze down on the food before looking at Damian for a brief moment. She stood up abruptly and walked around the table to sit down next to him, resting her head on his shoulder.