Raven - Part Nine

Raven - Part Nine
by
N.C. Weber

    Raven gaged her next actions carefully.   "I think I'm going to need help with this one.  I've never run into a ghost that turned violent before."

    "Aren't we too far north for slave plantations?" asked Dr, Haversham.

    "I'm...not sure," admitted Raven.  "History was not one of my favorite subjects."

    "Well, you should know as much history as you can learn if you're going to be dealing with ghosts on such a personal level, young lady," scolded Phoebe.  For a brief instant, she reminded Raven of her mother.  "And rest assured," continued Phoebe, "that is a lack that sorely needs addressing.  I intend to address it."

    Raven managed to stifle a groan of dismay.  She learned very quickly that Dr. Haversham could not be dissuaded from a course of action once her mind was made.  In that regard, she made a staunch ally.  As an antagonist, she was implacable.  "In any case," said Raven hoping to derail further conversation in that direction, "I need Corbie.  Mr. Baker, could you open the front door for me, please?"

    "What about the ghost in my restaurant?" he asked petulantly.  His fear having been completely spent at this point, he was now reduced to whining.

    "If you open the door," assured Raven, "I'm almost certain that I can get rid of your ghost problem."

    Spurred by this positive diagnosis, Roderick quickly went to the front door, unlocked the dead bolt, and opened the door wide.  He didn't know what to expect once the door open.  Were they going to shoo the ghost out the door like deer that had wandered in uninvited?  Whatever he was anticipating, having a large, black raven swoop into his restaurant certainly wasn't it.  The bird landed deftly upon the outstretched arm of Raven Dark who apparently had been expecting him.  Roderick winced in empathy as he watched the raven dig its claws into the girl's flesh, but she didn't seem to mind.  In fact, it looked as if she hadn't even noticed.  As if that wasn't enough, the bird was vocalizing to the girl as if it were talking.

    "He threw me across the room," explained Raven.  "I knew I could touch ghosts, but I didn't realize that they could interact with me "  Corbie released a few guttural croaks.  "You're sure?"  Corbie bobbed his head.  Raven sighed.  "Alright."

    The large bird took flight from Raven's arm and landed up in the rafters.  Raven stepped forward toward the fireplace.  The ghost was still standing there, scowling.  "Sir, you must leave this place," she announced sternly.

    "Another slave revolt, is it?" growled the man.  "I know how to deal with your kind."  Reaching into his coat, the ghost pulled out a flint lock pistol.  "Okay," mused Raven.  "That was unexpected."  The ghost raised his weapon and pulled the trigger.  Raven flinched in anticipation of a bullet, but nothing happened.  The ghost stared at the gun as if it had just insulted him.

    "Are you alright?" called Dr. Haversham.  "You sort of cringed for a moment."

    "He pulled a gun on me," replied Raven.  "I guess it wasn't loaded."

    "Would it have hurt you if it was?" inquired Phoebe.

    "I...don't think I really want to know," said Raven with a weak smile.  She faced the ghost.  "Sir, you are no longer amongst the live.  You are a spectre, a shade."

    "Leave my home, wench," yelled the ghost angrily.  "Torment me not with your useless yammering."

    "He's not listening to me," said Raven.  Suddenly, Corbie launched himself from the rafters and glided downward toward Raven.  This time however, he landed claws first into her back, directly between her shoulder blades.  "Ow, what are you doing back there?"

    Phoebe Haversham was too stunned to utter a sound.  The bird began digging into Raven's back.  Roderick looked as if he were going to be sick.  Golden light pour forth from the furrows in Raven's flesh.  Soon, Corbie had torn a hole large enough to burrow into.  All that showed were his wings which began to grow larger and larger.  The torn flesh of Raven's back sealed itself up around the wings.  Eventually, it began to look as if Raven herself had wings.  Finally, without warning, her black colored clothes began to gradually fade, becoming a brilliant white that seemed to glow with a light of its own.  The feathers of her new wings also changed from glossy black to a pristine white.  Raven's reddish brown hair began to brighten as well, until her hair glowed as white as her clothing.

    What shocked Phoebe the most was that Raven seemed to be oblivious to the change.  She continued to speak firmly with the ghost, urging it to listen to her.  As she did so, he voice began to take on a different quality.  Phoebe couldn't quite describe it.  It was as if Raven's voice was gaining weight.  The sheer force of it weighed heavily upon her mind, and she felt her legs weaken as they brought her to a kneeling position.  Roderick was practically prostrate on the floor, covering his ears and hiding his eyes.  The light that emanated from Raven lit up the entire restaurant.  There, beside the fireplace, Pheobe could see the ghost without the aid of touching Raven's skin.

    "You are no longer among the living Jeremiah Eldred," said Raven.  "Leave this place.  Leave behind your hatred, your bigotry, your small-mindedness."  The ghost's demeanor had visibly altered.  It was peaceful.  The scowl had made his face seem heavily lined, but now that had changed.  Raven reached out a hand to him.  As the ghost did the same, he stepped forward.  When their fingers touch, the radiating light became overwhelming.  Phoebe could no longer safely watch.  She quickly turned and covered her eyes with her forearm.  It seemed as if the light was pouring through her entire body.

    Then, just as it reached a point where she could no longer stand it, the light winked out.  The sudden absence made her skin ache, as it had been cut off from nourishment.  Phoebe revealed her face and looked about the room.  Once again, it was quite dim, with only the sconces and the faux fire in the fireplace to provide light.  Raven stood where she had always been, transformed back to her normal self.  She was looking about with a confused expression.  Corbie was nowhere to be seen.

    "Hey, where'd that ghost go?" she inquired.

* * *

    It was an awkward drive home for Raven.  Dr. Haversham had been looking at her quite strangely ever since the ghost had disappeared.  Raven wanted to ask if anything was wrong, but something held her back.  She felt as if she had missed something portentous, something important.  Finally, Raven managed to strike up the courage to speak.

    "Dr. Haversham..."  The car veered wildly in a midst of screeching tires before regaining control of the road once more.  Dr. Haversham was breathing heavily, as if she had just been frightened.  "Whoa, Dr. Haversham, are you okay?"

    "I'm sorry," said Phoebe in a tremulous voice.  "I guess I'm still a bit spooked by all that."

    "Spooked?" asked Raven.  "By what?  Last I saw, you were like a kid in a candy store when you first saw the ghost.  What changed?"

    Dr. Haversham glanced sidelong at Raven.  "You did."

    Raven self consciously looked down at herself, but saw nothing that wasn't what she expected to see.  "I don't see anything different about me."

    "Well, not now, no," said Dr. Haversham, "but when Corbie attached himself to you..."

    "Attached himself to me?  What are you talking about?"

    Dr. Haversham turned to look at Raven full on, an expression of incredulity upon her face.  "How could you not have noticed that?"

    "Notice what?" shouted Raven.  This guessing game was beginning to get on her nerves.

    "You became...an angel."

    Raven stared hard at Dr. Haversham, expecting to see a smile or a pleasant look.  Instead, she found fear.  More than fear.  Absolute terror.  "Phoebe, take a deep breath, and explain to me exactly what happened.  Think of it as giving a report on a finding you've made."

    Dr. Haversham took in a shuddering breath and began to tell point for point the exact events of the evening.  What Raven heard issuing forth from Dr. Haversham's mouth was too incredible to believe.  Yet, she knew Phoebe Haversham well enough to know that she was a woman not given over to flights of fancy.  This was a logically minded woman of science.  Raven knew that what Dr. Haversham told her was true, and yet she found it very hard to believe.  There was no way that she could any kind of angel.  She would definitely be having words with Corbie when next she saw him.

   "I don't know what to say," said Raven.  "Hell, I don't even know what to think."

   "It was the most incredible thing I've ever seen," replied Phoebe.  "I mean, I'm not what you'd call religious.  I did grow up in the Church, but as an adult, the things that were said started to ring hollow.  I think that's why I became an ethereologist.  I wanted...no, I needed to find my own answers."  She glanced at Raven.  "I think you might be my ticket to finding the answers I seek."

   "Me?" asked Raven.  "How so?"

   "Well, not to put too fine a point on it," said Phoebe, "you have a direct line the the Powers that be."

   "I'd hardly call a possesed bird a direct line," grumped Raven.  "On top of that, I'm only told things as they are needed.  I don't think I can get you any answers."

   "Well of course you won't get them directly," said Phoebe.  "Life wouldn't be as interesting if someone just handed you all the answers.  But with you, I know I'll be heading in the right direction."

   Raven stared at Dr. Haversham for a time.  "I think you're making way too much out of this."

   "With respect," answered Phoebe, "I don't think so."

   Raven saw a new look on her companion's face.  One of hope and enlightenment.  Raven decided to let it go.  At least she's not afraid of me any more, she thought to herself.

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