Raven woke to the sun pouring in through her window. She growled, rolling over to hide in her blankets before her hair pulled her back to reality. She sat up slowly, feeling her hair brush her cheeks.
Her head felt so much lighter as she ran her hands through the uneven strands. She slid out of bed over to her small mirror, frowning at the new look. A soft knock came at the door making Raven jump nervously.
"Raven honey?" Clair called out. "Are you awake?"
"Yes mom. Just getting dressed. I will be out in a minute!" Raven answered, hurrying to her closet. She glanced between her casual dresses before pulling out her training leathers. She felt safer in the pants and stiff leather vest after being attacked in that useless dress.
She paused to glance in the mirror one last time, smiling at the look. It would take some time to get over the loss of her long hair, but it would grow back. She needed to put on a brave face. For her mother. A second knock had her rushing to the door, opening it up to Clair.
"How are you feeling?" Clair asked as Raven's smile faltered.
"Alright. Not great, but it's getting better." Raven told her honestly as she squeezed past her and down the hall. She frowned when she saw Hank sitting at the table reading a flier as he sipped his tea. "It's rare to see you home on a Thursday." Raven noted as Hank glanced up at her.
"It's Friday now. You missed Thursday. And I am only home because I have the late-night shift at the party tonight." Hank told her as he pointed at the seat across from him. Clair hurried past her as she prepared a plate of food. Raven sighed, taking a seat, thanking her mother when she placed the food in front of her. She had been out for a full day already? No wonder Clair seemed worried about her.
"What happened honey?" Clair asked, ignoring her father's grunting.
"Some girls from class just wanted to talk. Things got out of hand because I didn't pay attention to the situation like I should have." Raven told them quickly as Hank sighed.
"Did you remember any of your training?" Hank wondered as Raven nodded slowly. Hank grunted leaning forward in his seat. "Did you decide not to put it into use because they were worthless girls that wouldn't stand a chance?" Hank inquired as Raven frowned at her food.
"At first, but then when they attacked, I couldn't fight back because I was being restrained. That and my skirt kept getting caught making it hard to move. Pants are so much easier to fight in." Raven decided with a nod as Hank huffed. He got up grabbing a piece of fabric and bringing it back to the table.
"Do you know who this belongs to?" He asked sitting back down. Raven picked it up, frowning confused.
"She wasn't the one who attacked me." Raven blurted as she considered it. She noticed her father nodding as if he already knew who it belonged to and how she had been involved. "Rosila has never hurt me. Physically." Raven mumbled as Hank let out a frustrated sigh in agreement.
"Rosila? Kielia's girl?" Clair asked as Hank nodded slowly. Clair frowned, getting to her feet to pace. Kielia and Clair had grown up together as friends. They had both met their husbands together at the castle, though Clair had found her happily ever after, Kielia's happiness ended rather abruptly. Clair hadn't known her friends' husband very well, but she had been more interested in Hank, not his childhood friend.
After the incident that brought Raven into the world, Clair and Kielia had a falling out. Kielia wanted nothing to do with Clair once she took in the traitors' offspring. Raven was nothing more than an innocent baby, but Kielia refused to see it that way, declaring their long friendship over.
Clair didn't blame her, but it had hurt. It hurt worse to watch her old friend fall into such a dark path by choice. If only she could let go of her pain and anger, but Kielia was determined to hold a grudge. Seeking revenge by tormenting her husband's love child.
Hank watched his wife pace, glancing at his quiet daughter. He knew she would grow up different from the rest of them, looking more like her birth mother and nothing like his old friend. He would have never known they were related, if he hadn't come himself to plead for Hank to take his child in.
To protect her, Hank and Clair decided to be open and honest with her about everything. Raven knew Rosila tormented her because she blamed her for her mother's life choices. That poor girl. At least Raven had him and Clair.
"There is no use fretting about Wednesday. So, let's focus on yesterday." Hank purred at his wife, getting her attention. She wrinkled her brow at him as he gestured towards Raven. Their daughter frowned confused as Hank rolled his eyes. "I believe someone slept through their birthday." Hank told them in a pained voice. He chuckled when Clair lit up dashing down the hall. Raven blinked at them confused, frowning at her father.
"My birthday wasn't yesterday." Raven accused him as Hank simply whistled reading the flyer with false interest. Clair returned with a simple white box, sealed with twine.
"We know, but we wanted to give this to you as an early gift since tomorrow will be too late. Open it." Clair encouraged as Raven giggled at the pair of them. Hank was trying to act like he was bored as Clair bounced excitedly on her feet. Raven pulled on the twine, lifting the lid off the box. She gasped when she saw the violet dress. The silver trees sparkling in the early morning sunlight. She pulled it out gingery, holding it to her as she twirled around.
"How? I thought this was already reserved for someone else?" Raven wondered as Clair and Hank chuckled.
"I know the seamstress quite well. I placed an order a while ago and she recently finished it. Your mother took you by the store to get your reaction. Elaine, the older woman and seamstress, could double check your measurements while you were visiting the store. She is very good at what she does, so the dress should be a perfect fit. Just in time for the ball tonight." Hank told her with a wink. Raven ran over to them, hugging them close.
"I love it! Thank you!" Raven gushed as they hugged her back.
"Now go hang that up in your room, we need to head out and run a few errands if we are going to be ready for tonight. At least even out your hair. I'm sure Clover can do something. Chop, chop! Let's go! There is a ball to attend!" Clair declared making Raven giggle as she hurried away to hang up her dress. She wasn't going to let Honey or Ginger get the last say about how she looked or felt. They didn't deserve to win.
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