To Love A Monster

Chapter Twelve

Raven stepped into the tunnel, her eyes squinting to adjust to the darkness. She started to walk down the dark path for what seemed like an eternity. Finally she reaches a doorway. The door itself was very large with dark wood and intricate designs etched into the wood. She gently pushed on the door and it gave no resistance. At first the room is so dark that Raven can't see even with her candle. Until many candles in the room lit up by themselves, spooking Raven in the process.

She set her candle on a nearby table and looked about the room. There she found a bed, a night dresser, some tables, a couple chairs and a broken mirror very similar to the one she had. The room looked like it hadn't seen people in a long time. Dust collecting on everything. She looked around some more and found some little items here and there: a silver brush, a necklace, some old stockings, a tube of lipstick and a ratted old book.

Why are these things down here?

And so dusty?

Whose are they?

Raven wondered all this as she looked around. Her movements across the floor caused dust to swirl about, tickling her nose.

"Aaachoo!" Raven sneezed.

"Bless you." a voice said from behind.

Raven spun around to see Nyx standing against the door frame, her eyes scanning the room and then looking right into Raven's frightened ones.

"N-nyx, I'm sorry I found this tunnel behind my mirror.. And I just..."

Nyx smiled slightly, "It's quite alright dear, I know you were just curious. I do not mind you exploring. I just ask from now on if you don't come in this particular room, nothing but sad memories I'm afraid." Raven nodded and walked towards the woman.

"Whose things are these?" she asked quietly.

Nyx looked deep in thought as she spoke "It does not matter, now lets leave this place before you catch a case of death."

Raven didn't like the way Nyx said that, nor how she ignored the question.

"Please.." she grabbed the woman's hand just as they stepped out into her room.

"Please tell me." she looked at the older woman with pleading eyes.

Melting the woman's heart a bit she decided to tell her. "It's a rather long story Raven... One I'm not sure you'd like to hear just yet, it may... Cause negative feelings towards me. I'm not ready for you to hate me just yet."

For the first time Raven looked at Nyx and didn't see a strong, confident woman, she saw a broken little girl and she felt a tear slide down her own face. Glancing up Nyx reached to wipe the tear away.

"I don't think I could ever hate you Nyx, please I'd like to know, please don't keep me in the dark." Nyx held her face for a moment longer, her use of words cracking her even more, before dropping her hand.

"Very well, I'll tell you. Not here, maybe somewhere more pleasant." Nyx got an idea.

"Dress a bit warmer and meet me in the room you first arrived in and we will go to discuss it."

She took one last look at Raven, walked to the bedroom door and left. Raven was happy to get to know the mysterious woman a little better and quickly got ready to meet her. Not knowing that her world would be turning upside down, again...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dressing warmly, at Nyx's request Raven walked into the room to find the woman staring out the window. She cleared her throat to let Nyx know she was there. Turning her gaze away from the window and facing the girl, Raven could see sadness in her eyes.