London, sometime in the mid 1800's. ~ I had the strangest notion that I'd seen him before. At first, he looked like any gentleman you'd see escorting a lady down the street. But he turned around, his black hair shielding his face for a second before he looked up. His bright blue eyes pierced through mine, and I felt a heat rush to my face. I embarrassedly looked away, thumbing the handle on my parasol. He surely knew I was staring, quite rudely too. Keeping my head down, I turned to leave the tree I was under, until a low, yet musical voice stopped me. "Milady, wait..." he called. I froze in my tracks, turning around, my skirts following in a graceful motion. It was the gentleman who had caught me staring. Averting my eyes, I answered him quietly. "Yes?" "I know this idea sounds preposterous, but, do I know you from here?" "I...I do not know. But I had the same notion, that I knew you as well." "Pardon my asking, but, would you grant me the honor of escorting you?" he asked, his eyes glinting with hopefulness. I tried to hold back my utter surprise. It wasn't every day that I had been asked to be escorted. Nodding slowly, I smiled. He held out his arm, and I looped mine through the space, holding my parasol with my free hand. "Oh! Forgive my rudeness, I hadn't asked your name." He paused for a moment, looking at me. "Ryan." Ryan? What a peculiar name. I'd never heard it before, but it sounded familiar, almost. "My name is... Raven." I sighed. Beautiful? I hardly thought so. My father studied wildlife, and of course he would name his only daughter after a bird. Others had made fun of my name in the past, making me dislike it more. I looked up, noticing Ryan's silence. He had a faraway look in his eyes, it made me want to question about his thoughts. Ryan looked at me, a slow smile spreading across his lips. "Raven... what a beautiful name." ~
The next day, I woke up from a dreamless sleep, groaning in agitation. I had to get the dagger back. Satan had given it specifically to me. And if he found out she had it... Raven. Much to my dismay, the thought of seeing her brought an involuntary smile to my lips. I quickly tried to set my mouth in a straight line. She was on the very edge of my memory, but something was blocking where I knew her from. What was it? And that painting in her room. Raven was an extravagant painter, the portrait of me almost looked like a photograph. But the setting looked different... like somewhere in London? The time looked off too, like she put me far in the past. The background was familiar also, like I'd been there before. I grimaced, getting to my feet. I wanted answers. And the only way I could piece together my broken memories, was to get closer to Raven. Whether I liked it or not. I tugged a shirt on, and slid into a pair of jeans, grabbing a backpack on the way out. I had done this before, faking to be a student to find a target I had. But this time, I felt Raven needed to live. I wanted her to- I shook the thought from my head. This was business. After my job was finished, she would die. Like she was supposed to last night.
New York, 1926 ~ I sighed and shifted in my seat at the bar counter. My friends dragged me to the speakeasy tonight. I'd rather have stayed at home, reading something. I didn't know what was so fun about rowdy men that smelled like gallons of liquor. I really couldn't understand why mediocre singers that couldn't hold a note were considered entertaining. Since that was all that was in a speakeasy, I was having a horrible time. Twirling the ice around in the cold glass, I stared into it, bored. The music was blaring, it was late, and I wanted to go home. A tap on my shoulder made me turn around, irritated. The men here rarely took no for an answer. This one wasn't an exception. I'd already sent him away a few times. Leaning towards me, the guy grinned, the smell of liquor dripping off his breath. I cringed, inching away. "Can't you take a hint? I said go away." "C'mon lady, don't be like that." he slurred, grabbing my arm. "Hey!" a voice rang out. We both looked up to see a well dressed guy in a suit. His blue eyes angrily bore into the man who held my arm, and I felt his grip loosen a bit. "She said leave her alone. So I suggest you take her advice, and get lost." he said. His voice was calm, but there was an undercurrent of controlled rage in it. The guy quivered a bit, and he wiped his shaggy blonde hair out of his eyes, letting go of me. "I-I... uh, yeah." he stuttered, walking back to his table. The guy paused a minute, looking at me, his blue eyes warming up a bit. "Are you okay?" "Yes. Thanks." "Great," he smiled, pulling up a seat next to me. "Let me buy you a drink." ~