Blood Secrets: Tales of the Children of the Moon

Chapter Thirty-Nine: A Haunting Letter

Angel pulled the truck up in the driveway of their house and shut it off. He and Ravyn got out of the truck and walked, hand in hand, up to the front door, quickly unlocking the deadbolt and the lock on the door knob. They went inside and Ravyn immediately ran- as well as she could in the condition she was in- up the stairs and to the master bedroom. She grabbed her- now old- black school backpack that she now used to stash the things she needed into whenever she went somewhere. She pulled down some clothes from the hangers and out of the dresser that was built into the wall of the walk-in closet and stuffed them all in the first compartment of her three compartment style backpack. She then went over to the computer desk where all their game systems and TV were set up on top of. She opened up one of the drawers and pulled out her sketch book and tracing pad and then pulled open the one on the other side and grabbed her artists kit, placing all of them delicately in the second compartment.

Angel walked into the room and leaned up against the door jam. "You almost ready to go?" He asked. They had planned in the end, that they would stay up at Bill and Angela's for a couple days, after Ravyn had mentioned to Angel and Vixen, that she had gotten a sudden bad feeling in her instincts shortly after Dave and Terry had left. Vixen had immediately understood and told Ravyn that she could take all the time she needed up in Hayward and that Ashley and herself would take on the clients that Vixen had set her up with. Ravyn had thanked Vixen for understanding and she and Angel had headed for home, making it come full circle to what she was doing in that moment.

Ravyn nodded as she zipped up her backpack and slung it over her shoulder. She went into the master bathroom and grabbed her toothbrush, cinnamon flavoured toothpaste, hair brush, straightener, and make-up kit. She then went into the shower and grabbed her shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and bath poof that she used to wash her body with. Angel handed her a small plastic baggie that he had grabbed from the kitchen before he had made his way upstairs and Ravyn placed her toothbrush and toothpaste inside it, zipping it up and throwing it, along with all her other bathroom things, into the third compartment of her backpack. She slung it over her shoulder once more and turned to Angel. "Now I'm ready," she said, smirking at him. Angel rolled his eyes and took the backpack from her, slinging it over his own shoulder before he made his way down stairs, Ravyn following behind. "You want me to drive or do you want to do it?" He called back to her as Ravyn slowly made her way down the stairs. "I'll drive," she replied as she made it to the bottom of the stairs, following him out the front doors and locking them behind her. Angel tossed her the keys to the truck and got in the passenger seat, throwing her backpack into the back seat. "Hey! Be careful with that!" Ravyn yelled, glaring at him as she got in the driver's seat and fixed it to where she could reach the pedals. She cursed Angel for being as tall as he was, whenever he drove and then she drove after him. She ALWAYS had to fix the seat because of it and she found it to be a major pain in the ass.

Ravyn put the key in the ignition and turned the engine over as she started the truck. Immediately the CD they had in the stereo system, "Myths & Legends of Kamelot", by a band named Kamelot, beginning to blast the beginning to the ninth track, "The Haunting". Ravyn's head bobbed up and down as she turned the music up louder, singing along with the song as she made her way down the street, heading for the exit to the Highway a few streets down.

After a few minutes Ravyn turned into the right lane of Eat Briggsmore Avenue, reached the Highway CA-99 North exit to Sacramento (California), that would take her onto Highway where she needed to go. Of course she wasn't actually GOING to Sacramento itself, but this was the fastest route to Hayward. She sped up the truck until she merged into the lane next to her, staying in the right hand lane and continuing down the Highway until she 241 exit, leading to CA-120 Highway, expertly navigating the large curved road, even though every time she took it, it made her want to close her eyes until it was over (not that she would do that while she was the one driving of course). She merged onto the CA-120 Highway and got in the far left lane, driving at the legal speed of fifty-five (miles per hour). She drove down the highway for a long period of time (or so it seemed), until the Highway merged into the I-205. She drove for another long period of time, silence mostly filling the car and the only sounds being the "We Stitch These Wounds" album that Angel had put in once the Kamelot album had finished. They listened to the new album, Ravyn singing along with Andy on the CD as the Highway merged into I-580 until she reached the Castro Valley exit. Ravyn flicked on her blinker and merged all the way over to the far right lane and took the Castro Valley/Stonebridge exit and slowed down as she drove to a stop sign at the bottom of the exit. She flicked on her blinker once more as she stopped, turning right as she began to drive once more. She stopped at the street light, which had just turned red, and merged into the left hand lane, flipping her blinker on once more. She waited for the light to turn green and then turned onto Castro Valley Boulevard and drove for about three minutes, until she reached Mattox road. That was when she saw the apartment complex, Alpine Vista Apartments, on her right and flicked on her blinker signaling she was going to turn right, one more time. She turned into the apartment complex and looked around the parking lot, trying to find a parking space. It took her a moment, having to have to turn around and search a bit more before she saw someone leaving their parking spot. She flicked her blinker to the left and waited until the car in front of her turned and left the apartment complex. She turned into the parking spot and shut off the truck after parking it. She opened her door at the same time as Angel and the two of them made their way towards the apartment Angel's father ans Angela lived in on the second floor.

As soon as they reached the door, Ravyn's instinct feeling became more prominent in her mind, and she grabbed Angel's arm right as he was about to knock. "What's wrong babygirl?" He asked, worried. Ravyn shook her head, not understanding WHY her instincts were screaming at her that something was wrong. "I dunno, for some reason my instincts are screaming at me saying something is wrong," she said as she looked at the front door to her father-in-law's (or soon to be father-in-law) apartment. Ravyn grabbed the large bowie knife that she carried at her hip- a weapon that she even carried a concealed weapon permit for at all times so she never got busted by any cops that may stop her- out of its sheath and placed it, blade facing her inner arm, in her left hand. She moved in front of Angel and knocked on the front door and waited. She heard shuffling from inside the apartment and then the chain lock on the door sounded, being unlocked, as well as the deadbolt lock. And then the door opened, a man with short cropped black hair and matching coloured mustache and goatee, stood in the door, dressed in a black t-shirt and pants.

It was Bill.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! What's that thing doing out honey?" Bill asked when he saw the bowie knife out and ready to be used. Ravyn sighed in relief and placed the bowie knife back in it's sheath. "Sorry Dad," she said to Bill as she latched the strand of leather that was connected to the sheath and meant to hold the knife in place. Bill looked at her concerned. He loved Ravyn like she was his own daughter and had been as protective of her as Angel was, especially after they had met when she was sixteen and he learned about her past. But that could also be the Werewolf instincts within him. He treated Ravyn as one of his pack mates, and soon, come this October, she WOULD become one of his pack, her and Angel planning to marry this Halloween.

"Is everything alright sweetheart? You seem tense," Bill said, still concerned as he pulled his daughter-in-law into a tight hug. Ravyn and Angel shook their heads as the three of them walked inside the house, Angel closing the door behind him. The three of them sat down on the couch and Ravyn began to explain. "I don't know or understand why, but my instincts have been going haywire since earlier today, shortly before we left to head up here," she said. Bill's brows scruntched up as he listened to her explaination. "Well, what have your instincts been telling you he asked, getting up from his seat and heading into the small kitchen next to the living room where they had been sitting. He opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water and two beers, and sat back down in his seat, handing the water to Ravyn and the second beer to Angel. While he knew his son was only eighteen (turning nineteen on the twenty-sixth of September), he knew his son had always drank responsibly ever since he was seventeen. He knew his son wouldn't go overboard on the alcohol at all, especially while he was in his father's home. "For some reason," Ravyn said, starting to explain as she took a sip of her water. "For some reason, my instincts have been telling me that something bad was going to happen to someone I care about, soon, and it got stronger the moment we came to the door. That's the reason I had Belladonna out," she explained, speaking of her bowie knife, that's blade was completely coated in enough Belladonna excract to kill a person in minutes.

Bill looked at her concerned once more as he and Angel took a drink from their beers. "That was the reason why she came with me today and we brought her clothes. We were wondering if we could stay for a couple days, see if her instincts blow over or something," Angel explained as he took Ravyn's hand in his free one. Bill nodded in understanding. "You guys are welcome to stay for as long as you need, you know that," he said, patting Ravyn on the knee. Ravyn and Angel nodded. "Where's Angela?" Ravyn asked, suddenly realizing the the red headed Irish woman wasn't in the house. Bill smirked. "She'll be home in a minute. She stayed over at the bingo hall for one more game that had started shortly before I left. I actually just got her about five or ten minutes ago," he said, smiling. Ravyn and Angel smiled and nodded before they got up and went down the short hallway that lead to the only bathroom in the house and the second bedroom that was both his and Angel's sister Ruby's whenever they visited their Dad.

Ravyn laid down on the queen size pillow top bed,sighing in relief as she propped her feet up. One thing she hated about being pregnant? The fact that she couldn't stand for long periods of time anymore. She was just glad that her job at the shop didn't have her standing all day long. She didn't think her body could handle it if it did, at least not in the condition she was currently in.

Angel turned on the small flat screen TV that was propped up on the wide, large dresser that sat across from the bed and plugged in the PS3 that he shared with his siter whenever he was up here. He booted up the PS3 and picked up one of the many games that sat on the dresser. He turned to Ravyn. "Wanna play Silent Hill?" He asked, holding up the game case. Ravyn looked up at the mention of one of her favorite games and smiled. She knew this was the one thing that would help her get her mind off the feelings resonating from her instincts. She nodded and took the controller he handed her as he popped the disc in the game system and waited for it to boot up.

Ravyn and Angel spent three hours playing Silent Hill 2 on the PS3 before he suddenly heard her stomach growl. He chuckled as he got up from his spot on the bed, grabbing the controller from her and pausing the game. "Come on, I'll take you out to eat. Where do you want to go?" He asked. Ravyn thought for a moment then answered. "Can we go to Olive Garden? It's been forever since I've been there," she asked, smiling. Angel smiled as well and nodded before he grabbed his leather jacket and handed it to her. She pulled it on, knowing that even though it was summer time, it still got cold as it turned from mid day- when the heat of the day was at it's highest peak- todusk and then night- when the heat began to disperse and it became cooler and colder. She knew she would need the jacket now of all times because of how dark it was outside. She was surprised at how dark it had gotten. They must have been playing the game for longer than she got, which was one of the reason's she didn't play SH2 as much as she used to. She would get so into the game that she would lose track of time.

Angel and Ravyn left the bedroom, closing the door behind them and walked down the short hallway once more until they stood in front of Bill and Angela's door. Angel knocked on the door and waited for his father to answer it. They were slightly surprised when the red headed, freckled skinned Irish woman that was Angela opened the door and poked her head out. She smiled when she saw Ravyn and Angel. "Hey guys!" She said, coming out of the room and hugging the both of them. Ravyn smiled, her mind slightly eased now that she knew Angela was safe and home. "Hey Ange," she said, hugging the girl back. "How have you been? Oh my god!" Angela exlaimed when she got a good look at Ravyn. She placed her hands on Ravyn's belly and squealed. "Their getting so big!" She said, rubbing her hands over Ravyn's belly. "And you Missy, your getting even more beautiful every time I see you!" Ravyn laughed. "I don't FEEL beautiful at the moment," she said. "I feel like a freaking Orca." Angela tisked at her. "You are definitely NOT an Orca girlie, your a beautiful young woman that's soon going to be a beautiful Mommy," she scolded lightly. Ravyn smiled. "Thanks Ange," she said. Angela looked up at Angel. "So what are you two up to now?" She asked. Angel smiled. "I plan on taking her to Olive Garden for dinner tonight," he said. Angela nodded. "Nice place, very fancy," she commented. Angel nodded. "We just wanted to know if you and Dad wanted to join us before we headed out?" Angel asked. Angela looked back in the bedroom at Bill who shook his head. "We already ordered Chinese food for dinner," he called out to them. Angel nodded. "Okay then, we're off. We'll be home soon," Angel said, waving to the two of them. Angela waved back and hugged them. "Have fun you two!" She called out as Angel and Ravyn left the house and headed for the car.

Angel pulled into the Olive Garden parking lot and cut the engine, getting out of the car and running over to Ravyn's side and opening the door for her. Ravyn smiled and took his hand, stepping out of the truck and walking up to the door. Once again Angel opened up the door for her and waved his hand, telling her to go inside before him. "After you my lady," he said, bowing and speaking in an immitation of a British accent (or the best he could do of one). Ravyn smiled and made a small curtsy to him. "Thank you kind sir," she replied before walking through the door. Angel took her hand once he walked through the door and the two of them walked up to the small podium that sat at the end of the walk way, the girl standing behind it grinning like a fool. "That was the cutest thing I have ever seen!" She gushed as she pulled out two menu's for them. "Table for two?" The girl asked and Angel nodded. The girl took them through the restaurant and seated them at a small booth in the back of the room. She smiled as she handed them the menu's as well as a wine menu. Angel looked at the wine list, thinking it over as he tried to remember the type of wine Ravyn liked. "Can I get you anything to drink?" The waitress asked, holding a small notepad, her pen poised over the pad. Angel looked over the list one more time, his eyes returning to one wine in particular. "What is the 'Seven Daughters Winemaker's Blend Rich Red' wine like, do you know?" He asked the waitress, who nodded and pulled out a small booklet with all the wines listed on them and their descriptions. "The 'Seven Daughters Winemaker's Blend Rich Red' wine is a red wine, obviously as it says it in the name," the waitress said, blushing a bit. Ravyn and Angel smiled at her and waited for her to continue. "The wine is a wine made of carefully chosen grape varieties, crafted together into a sophisticated yet fun wine. Like you and your friends - all different and yet so perfect together. Enjoy our red blend on it's own, or with light pasta and red sauce, grilled poultry or beef dishes. Deep ruby red in color, The intense aromatics offer several pleasant surprises. The nose lends blackberry, soon following lavender and vanilla begin to show. This smooth, and intriguing wine shows exuberant fruit flavors. The wine opens with succulent red fruit ranging from blackberries and dried cherries. The presence of Syrah compliments the wine with a closing note of peppery spice, for a memorable finish." The waitress looked up once she had finished reading off the brands basic description of the wine and it's flavours.

Angel caught Ravyn's smile as she listened to the waitress and nodded, smiling himself. "I think we'll go with that wine," he said nodding. The waitress nodded and wrote down the wine on her notepad. "Alright, I will be right back with your wine and you can order whenever your ready," she said as she left to the kitchen area to get their wine choice. Angel smiled and took Ravyn's free hand over the table as she opened her menu and flipped through it. "Know what you want?" He asked. Ravyn shrugged. "I'm just looking to see what else they have, but more than likely I'll end up going with what I always ordered when I came here," she replied as she flipped to the last page and sighed. "Yep, going with my usual," she said closing the menu and pushing it to the side. She squeezed Angel's hand and smiled at him. "Thank you for taking me here tonight babe. It's been so long since I was last here, I actually kind of missed it." Angel nodded as their waitress returned, holding a bucket filled with ice, the bottle of wine they had chosen inside of it, as well as two wine glasses in her other hand. The waitress placed the two glasses in front of them and placed the bucket in a small holder that was at the front of the table. She then pulled out the wine bottle and held it out to Angel, making sure she had grabbed the right one. Angel nodded and the waitress proceeded to open the bottle, taking a moment to let it breathe before she poured a small amount in Angel's glass. Angel picke up his glass and swirled the ruby red liquid around, before he smelled it and finally took a taste of it. He smiled after he swallowed. "Yeah, this is perfect," he told the girl. The waitress smiled and proceeded to pour the wine into the two glasses. Once she was finished, she placed the bottle back in the bucket of ice and pulled out her pad once again, pulling her pen out of the small bun she had created from her auburn coloured hair. "Ready to order, or do you need a few more minutes?" She asked. Angel looked over at Ravyn, who shook her head. "I think we're ready," Angel said, looking at the waitress again. The girl nodded. "So what'll it be for you both tonight?" She asked.

Angel looked over at Ravyn, waiting for her to order. "I'll have the clam linguine," she said, watching as the waitress wrote down her order. "And for you, sir?" The girl asked, looking up at Angel. "Same thing," he replied, which caused Ravyn to raise a brow at him. Angel shrugged as the waitress wrote down his order as well. "Alright then, I'll be back with your orders soon," she said, placing her pad back in the pocket of her apron and sticking her pen back in her bun. The waitress left and Ravyn looked skeptically at her fiancee. "Do you have any idea what that dish even tastes like?" She asked. Angel shrugged. "I'm sure it's pretty good," he responded as he took a sip of his wine. Ravyn did the same and smiled. "This is really good. Good choice Babe," she complimented. Angel smirked. "I thought you'd like it," he commented as he squeezed her hand. Ravyn smiled and took another sip of her wine as they waited for their food.

About five minutes later, the waitress returned, carrying a tray with two shallow bowls filled with the pasta. "Here we go," the waitress said as she placed the bowls in front of Ravyn and Angel. They smiled and thanked her. "Is there anything else I can get for you tonight?" She asked, looking between the two. Angel shook his head. "No, I think we're okay," he told her. The waitress smiled and nodded. "Well, if you need anything else, don't hestitae to ask, and please, enjoy your meals," she said, taking the two menu's and leaving them alone to enjoy their dinner.

Ravyn and Angel talked quietly about nothing in particular as they ate their food, enjoying the wine that they had ordered as they ate. Once they were finished their waitress returned. "Can I get you anything else tonight? A desrt perhaps?" She asked. Angel looked over at Ravyn who shrugged. "What would you recomend?" She asked the girl. The waitress smiled. "Honestly? I'd recomed the Seaonal Sicilian Cheesecake." Ravyn grinned widely when she heard the word "Sicilian", her happeneing to be of a Sicilian heritage from her mother's side. Angel caught her grin and nodded at the waitress. "I think we'll order two of those please," he told the waitress. The girl smiled and nodded, heading to the kitchen once more. She returned shortly afterward with two small plates in either hand, a slice of the cheesecake on the plates, covered in strawberries and a strawberry sauce. The waitress placed the two plates in front of them and then pulled out a black leather notebook that held their check. "Thank you for choosing Olive Garden tonight, and I hope you return again soon. Have a wonderful night," the girl said as she placed the notebook on the edge of the table. Angel and Ravyn thanked her and then each took a bite of their cheesecake.

Ravyn groaned in pleasure as she tasted the cheesecake. "This is freaking Heaven!" She exclaimed as she took another bite. Angel smiled. "Glad you like it," he said as he took another bite himself.

Once they had finished their desserts Angel placed the money he owed inside the little notebook and added another twenty on the table as a tip. He took Ravyn's hand and walked out of the door, heading for the truck. "Ready to go home?" He asked. "Not really," Ravyn replied as Angel opened the door to the passenger side and helped her inside the truck. "But I'm getting pretty sleepy so maybe we should head home," she said and Angel nodded as he closed the door and went over to the driver's side and got in, leaning over and kissing her cheek before he started the truck and backed out of the parking spot and headed down Hesperian Boulevard towards home. They never would have expected to see what they did when they got back.

Angel pulled into one of the open parking spots and helped Ravyn out of the truck once more. They began walking towards the apartment when they suddenly caught sight of two police vehicles that were parked right under the apartment. Ravyn's heart dropped into her stomach as fear filled her, her instincts screaming at her, saying something was majorly wrong. Angel caught sight of the police cars too and looked at Ravyn beofre running over to them adn up the stairs to the apartment.

The door was open, looking like it had been kicked open, and two strips of yellow police tape was pinned over the open door, creating an X. "What happened?" He yelled as he tried to get through the door. A police officer, who had been speaking with the next door neighbor, ran over to Angel and Ravyn, grabbing Angel by the shoulders and holding him back. "Sir, I'm sorry but I can't let you inside," the cop said as he struggled to keep Angel back. "This is my Dad's place," Angel explained, stepping back from the cop and hugging Ravyn who buried her head into his shoulder, tears streaming down her face. The cop asked a series of questions to Angel, who answered them to the best of his abilities, growling when the cop asked if he had any idea who could have done this. Ravyn was the one who answered.

"Raymond Vegas," she said to the cop, who raised a brow at her. "Why do you think that miss?" He asked her. Ravyn sniffled. "He's made threats and attempts on our lives before. He was also the one who murdered my whole family years back. The cops never caught him, or his gang that was with him," she explained as a team of EMT's that had pulled up downstairs, brought two stretchers up the stairs and into the apartment. Ravyn cried out as she saw the stretcher's. "No..." she whispered, covering her mouth with her hand. "Oh Goddess no... Please no," she cried. Angel pulled her into a tight hug, tears streaming down his own face. The cop looked at them sympathetically. "I'm sorry for your loss, but I have to ask you to give me a statement for the case. We'll run this Vegas through our crime detection program and hopefully get a match, but that's all we can do right now, at least until the coroner finishes with the autopsies," he said. Angel nodded and pulled Ravyn tighter against him. "Can you please have someone grab the black backpack in the second room down the hall? It's my fiancee's and it has everything she owns and cherishes inside of it," Angel asked of the cop, who paused for a moment before nodding. "I'll get it personally," he said before he went through the front door and into the house, heading for the bedroom.

Ravyn and Angel stood outside, giving their statements to the police, beofre they finally headed for the truck, planning on staying at a local hotel for the night. Once they arrived at the hotel and checked in, Ravyn and Angel went into their room and Ravyn immediately pulled out her sketch book, planning on sketching out a profile picture of what Vegas had looked like all those years ago when he had murdered her father. As she opened up the book, a small slip of paper fell out of it. Ravyn picked up the paper and unfolded it. Her eyes widened in fear as she read the words on the page. "Angel..." Ravyn whispered. Angel, who had been on the phone with Vixen and the others, telling them what had happened, turned and looked at his fiancee's frozen form. "What's wrong? What happened? Hang on Vix," Angel said as he came over to Ravyn's side. Ravyn shakily handed Angel the slip of paper who quickly read it over. He froze for a moment before picking up his phone that he had placed on the bed. "Vixen, I need you and the others to get here as soon as you can. Bring Faith and Jarreth. We're going to need them," he growled before hanging up the phone. The slip of paper fell to the ground as he grabbed Ravyn up and pulled her into a tight hug.

"If you ever want to see your sister's again, you WILL do as I demand. If not, Sorcha and Katerina's blood will be on YOUR hands. I shall be awaiting your reply soon.

- Vegas"

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Notes

Author's Note:

Oh shit! This can't be good! I really hated killing of my father-in-law and his fiancee but I unfortunately needed to to keep the story going in the way it needs to.

I'll start the next chapter tomorrow. I have to get to the dishes and then I'm going to bed (I'm so tired lol).

Until next time guys! See you on the other side and Blessed Be!

- Kyrie Kerr