Meanwhile, Raven walked into his workshop, the familiar scent of leather and metal and polish filling his senses. His employees, a small group of specialized artisans, looked up in surprise, then broke into wide smiles and greetings. He was back. Raven, the Raven they knew, the one in the impeccably tailored coat, the one with the precise hands and demanding eye for detail. Only now, his hair was silver, not black. But the intensity in his gaze, the commanding presence, that hadn't changed. He was still the same Raven, the one who, even with silver hair, could make heads turn.
After a few hours of settling back in, catching up with his team, and overseeing some projects, Raven couldn't shake off the nagging worry about Shu and Mr. Joe. He told himself it was absurd, that he was being ridiculous. He should focus on his work, on the reason he was even here. But the image of Shu, laughing and carefree, kept popping into his mind. He wondered if she'd gone to college.
He wrestled with the idea for a while, pacing restlessly around his office. If he went to her college, she'd think he was spying, distrusting her. She'd be annoyed, push him away. Yet, the thought of Mr. Joe anywhere near her… it was like a physical ache in his chest.
Finally, he couldn't stand it any longer. He told his assistant he'd be back in a bit, grabbed his coat, and drove to Shu's college campus. He knew the layout, having visited briefly once before. He found the teachers' and guest cafeteria, a pleasant space overlooking a manicured lawn. He ordered an Americano, the bitter coffee a welcome contrast to the sweetness of his anxiety. He scanned the room, trying to be casual, discreet.
And then he saw her. Shu. Sitting at a table near the window. And next to her… Mr. Joe.
Raven's blood ran cold. He watched, frozen, as Shu laughed, her head thrown back, a radiant, genuine smile lighting up her face. Mr. Joe leaned closer, saying something that made her laugh even harder. Raven's jaw tightened. He didn't like it. He really didn't like it.
He watched them for a few agonizing minutes, a knot of jealousy twisting in his stomach. Shu didn't talk to him like that. She didn't smile at him like that. Had he done something wrong? Was there something inherently unlikeable about him? He clenched his fist around his coffee cup, the ceramic warm against his skin, but doing little to quell the burning anger that was starting to simmer within him. He had warned her. And she was sitting here, practically glowing at the attention of the very man he told her to avoid. He was a fool to think he could just walk back into her life and… and what? What did he even expect?
He watched them, his Americano forgotten, the bitter taste now mirroring the bitterness rising in his own heart. He couldn't understand what to do, how to react. He was caught in a tempest of confusion, jealousy, and a growing, unfamiliar feeling of… possessiveness. He wanted to march over there, pull Shu away, and demand to know what she was doing. But something held him back. Fear? Pride? He wasn't sure. He just stood there, a silent observer, watching Shu smile at Mr. Joe, and feeling a rage building within him that he hadn't felt in years.
The laughter echoed through Raven and Shu's house, a melody that had been absent for too long. Roxy's bright eyes sparkled as she chased Faith around the living room, their childish giggles filling the space. Ri, Jihu, Fang, and Ash watched on, smiles softening their faces. The air thrummed with a lightness it hadn't possessed in years; Raven and Shu were finding their way back to each other, and the joy was palpable. Only Jihu held a shadow in his heart, a secret heavier than the festive atmosphere. He knew the truth: Raven was fading.
That afternoon, the happy chaos reached a crescendo. Faith, Jihu's son, a miniature whirlwind of energy, tugged at Raven's hand. "Mr. Raven, play! You promised! You and Roxy, play with us pirates!"
Raven's heart swelled. He looked at Roxy, her face alight with hope, then at Faith, his small face earnest and pleading. He couldn't refuse. He was about to kneel down, to join their game, when a wave of dizziness washed over him, a sudden, chilling weakness that stole his breath. His vision swam for a moment, and the vibrant colors of the room seemed to dim. He caught himself, his hand instinctively going to his chest, a familiar ache settling there.
He forced a smile, masking the tremor in his voice. "Roxy, Faith, you two start without me, okay? I… I need a moment. I'll join you in a little bit."
Faith, bless his innocent heart, puffed out his cheeks. "No! Now, Mr. Raven! You said you would!" He stamped his foot, small but firm. "You can't go back on your promise!"
Raven's patience, already frayed by the relentless fatigue gnawing at him from the inside, snapped. Irritation flared, undeserved and sharp. "Faith, I said I have a problem right now! I will play with you later! Go play with Roxy!" His voice was louder than he intended, edged with a harshness that made Roxy flinch.
Roxy's happy face crumpled. Her lower lip trembled. "Dad?" she whispered, her voice thick with unshed tears. "Why are you angry? We just wanted to play…" She took Faith's hand, her small chin lifting in a gesture of wounded pride. "Come on, Faith. Let's go." They turned and walked away, their small figures radiating disappointment and confusion.
Regret hit Raven like a physical blow. Shame washed over him. He'd scared them, hurt them, for no reason other than his own failing health and the suffocating fear that clung to him. He watched them go, a knot tightening in his stomach. He hadn't meant to lash out; he just felt so… weak.
He sank onto the sofa, the joyful energy of the room now feeling like a mocking echo. He pressed his fingers to his temples, trying to quell the throbbing pain behind his eyes. Siphoning. He needed to siphon soon. The word tasted like ash in his mouth.
Siphoning spiritual power. A grotesque necessity. It was the only way to temporarily replenish his dwindling life force, a desperate, draining process that twisted him into something monstrous. A skeletal parody of himself, all sharp angles and hollow eyes, devoid of warmth or recognizable humanity. He couldn't let Shu or Roxy see him like that. The thought alone sent a shiver of revulsion through him. He could imagine Roxy's terror, Shu's horrified recoil. No. He would carry this burden alone.
Jihu, ever perceptive, had seen the brief flash of pain, the subtle pallor that had flickered across Raven's face. He'd seen it all too often lately. He followed Raven into the quieter study, closing the door gently behind him.
"Brother," Jihu began, his voice low with concern. "This can't continue. This… temporary patching. You know what's happening. You're depleting yourself. You're fading."
Raven sighed, running a hand through his already dishevelled hair. "I know, Jihu. I know."
"Then tell me," Jihu pressed, his voice urgent. "How long until the next siphon? How long until… until it's too late?"
Raven avoided his gaze, staring out the window at the sun setting, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple – colours he might not see much longer. "I don't know, Jihu. Soon. Too soon."
Jihu's frustration was palpable. "Raven, I told you before. This isn't sustainable. You're losing your abilities, one by one. You'll become nothing, just dissipate into the air. Is that what you want? To leave them like this?"
Raven clenched his jaw. "Don't you think I know that? Don't you think I'm terrified?" His voice was rough with unshed tears.
"Then tell Shu," Jihu pleaded, his voice softening. "Tell her the truth. Let her help you." He paused, then spoke the words Raven dreaded, the words he'd been desperately trying to avoid. "There's still… there's another way, Raven. But you have to accept it."
Raven's head snapped up, his eyes meeting Jihu's with a mixture of fear and resignation. "What way, Jihu? You know I've tried everything."
Jihu hesitated, steeling himself. "You need to… bond with Shu, Raven. Truly bond. Make her your mate. Vampire mate."
The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Raven recoiled as if struck. "No. Absolutely not. I won't."
Jihu's anger flared, fuelled by desperation and love for his friend. "Why not, Raven? She's your wife! She loves you! Why won't you even consider it?"
Raven turned away, silence stretching between them, thick with unspoken pain. Finally, he spoke, his voice barely a whisper. "You know, Jihu… four years ago… when Shu and I first… reconciled… I… I wasn't myself. I was still battling… things. And I… I forced myself on her. I… I took from her. And she… she never forgave me for that initial violation, even when we moved past it and rebuilt things. She still carries that scar. I saw it in her eyes for years. And I… I don't want to do that to her again. Not ever."
He continued, his voice laced with agonizing self-awareness. "If I tell her I'm dying… maybe… maybe she would offer. Maybe she would, out of love or pity or… duty, agree to become my mate, to share her life force, to save me. But Jihu, I don't want her to give me her power out of obligation. I don't want her life diminished because of me. I don't want her to be bound to me out of fear or pity."
Jihu placed a hand on Raven's shoulder, his anger melting into understanding. "I understand, Raven. I truly do. But… we have to find a solution. There has to be another way."
Raven's carefully constructed composure crumbled. He turned to Jihu, tears welling in his eyes, his voice breaking. "Jihu… lately… I've been thinking… if… if Shu could be happy… with someone else… after I'm gone… I… I wouldn't object. Truly. I want her to be happy." He choked on the words, a raw sob escaping him. "But… but the thought of seeing her with another… it tears me apart. It's like… like my chest is being ripped open. But… I have to leave, Jihu. It's inevitable. So… so maybe it's better if she finds someone else. Someone who can… who can be there for her, for Roxy." He forced a weak, watery smile. "Whatever. It doesn't matter now. We shouldn't be out here anyway. Someone might overhear." He attempted a lighter tone. "First, heal me, brother. Then… then maybe I can manage a few minutes of pirate games before… before I can't anymore." He forced himself to his feet, turning towards the door, Jihu following, his heart heavy with grief and helplessness.
Neither of them noticed the shadow in the hallway, the slender figure pressed against the wall, hidden from view. Shu stood there, frozen, every word, every heart-breaking confession, piercing her heart like shards of ice. She had been drawn by the raised voices, by the unusual secrecy that had become a wall between her and Raven. Since their reconciliation, she had tried to bridge the gap, to draw closer to him, but he had kept her at arm's length, a polite but firm distance that had baffled and hurt her. She had sensed something was wrong, something hidden. She had even confided in Fang, her oldest friend, about her unease, but Fang, bless his loyalty, had claimed ignorance, though his evasiveness only fuelled her suspicions. They had never kept secrets from each other before, Raven, Jihu, and Fang, the three boys who had grown up together, sharing everything with her and Ri. Why now? What was Raven hiding?
Now she knew. The truth, brutal and devastating, had crashed into her world. Raven was dying. He was sacrificing himself, his life, to spare her. And he believed she hated him, still punished him for a moment of darkness years ago. He couldn't see the love that still burned bright within her, a love that had weathered pain and regret, a love that had blossomed anew.