Chapter Fourty Three: The Meeting

As the night went on, more and more people gathered was in the castle. Though the hall was immense, there was almost no room to move around because of how many gathered, crowding into every single corner of it.

As the king took his place front and center, Raven used this time to make her way out of the castle and down the street to Penny and Embers home, knocking on the door first and awaiting an answer. Eventually, the door swung open and Penny was there to greet Raven. " Come on in " Penny welcomed.

Raven stepped inside the home, surprised at how clean and quaint it was.. She took her seat on the couch that was offered by both Ember and Penny and stared up at them questioning why is questioning why they would want her to meet with them.

" So, I'm guessing you wanna know we wanted to meet with you " Penny clasped her hands together as she tried to come up with a reason that would not jeopardize anything to do with the future.

" We wanted to know how you feel about the Princess" Ember blurted out as she shoved a sugary cake down her throat. Raven thought for a moment, trying to assess the best possible answer.

" I do not mind her, though I believe that some of her opinions and views may be misguided. I believe that she is young, and with time she may change. Though, she has a rage burning inside of her. It's a rage that I don't feel will be easily quenched. And if I am being honest, that concerns me. I know that it bothers the others as well but they are far to afraid to say anything " Raven confessed as Penny listened and focused on every word. " I think that the kingdom was once ruled by a fair and impeccable sense of equality and peace. And now, everything feels so isolated. The Lycans barely communicate with us anymore, which is completely understandable given what we did to them. And then, the Vampires are now planning to work with us. Which seems like a bad idea because they can't be trusted whatsoever. The things here in the kingdom that are said about the Lycans, I feel should be more appropriately aimed at the Vampires. But that is just me" Raven seemed very well spoken and highly logical which made Penny so proud. Seeing the woman who gave birth to her. The woman who she was a part of. The woman who was one of the greatest witches of all time.

" And the people that don't agree..have they tried to speak out? " Ember asked, wondering what sense of a rebellion there was against the royal family. " No. Most are scared they will be outcasted from the castle. And with the amount of enemies that we have made out there..I can't blame them" Raven knew that things were bad in the kingdom but if anyone were to try and leave, they would not make it for very long. And that is why she has remained for as long as she has. " Earlier, you said you were forbidden to use your powers. Why is that?" Penny questioned, wanting to learn more about her mothers abilities.

" Well, Witches is that work within the council are not allowed to use their abilities within the walls. This comes from both fear and caution. The Royal family has no intention of putting themselves at risk. And they know that some of the decisions that have been made are very controversial, and they are willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that it doesn't come back on them from their own people"

This seemed rather smart to Penny. Keeping anyone from uprising against them. Though it was still unfair. " If someone was to rule with truth and understanding, then there wouldn't be so much fear" Penny argued and Raven agreed.

" But that is not the only reason that I am specifically not allowed to use my powers " Raven added. " My parents died when I was very young.. And I knew I was witch at a very early age. Mainly, because when my parents were found, I was the only one near them so it was assumed that I was the one who killed them. When I was a baby, my parents did their best to make sure I knew how to use my powers because even as an infant, I could understand how to do even the most basic of spells. But I never killed my parents, I had way more control than that. Even though, the reasons for their deaths being that I somehow lost control over myself and killed them in an accident. Which is why I was never sentenced for their deaths. But, I know I didn't kill them. I still don't even know or remember what happened on that day. It's like, everything is blank to me for some reason" Raven stared off into the distance as she remembered stumbling across her parents lifeless bodies, still believing them to be alive at the time. It didn't take too long however for her to realize how wrong she was.

" So after several elder witches looked over me, and forced me to use some of my abilities, in their collective minds, I was considered dangerous. So, my powers were binded by them and now, at best, I can change bed sheets and dust and that's about it" Raven smiled, trying to be as cheerful as she could despite the sadness within her heart and soul. " I am so sorry that happened to you" Penny offered her condolences though Raven seemed to be fine.

" Either way, it doesn't really matter now. What's done is done" Raven kept her hands on her lap and looked around the room once more before resting her eyes on Ember who was cramming another snack into her mouth. " So what about you two? " Raven asked, wanting to learn more about the strange duo.

" Well I was born here...or at least in the Underworld" Penny answered. " But when I was an infant, I was sent to Earth and that is where I met Ember " Penny looked back to Ember who was finishing her snack and waved at the two.

" What is earth like? " Raven had always wondered what other worlds would look like though she knew she would never be able to see them for herself. " Well, it's alot like the Underworld just less colorful " Penny explained. " And less assholes " Ember smiled as some cake fell from her mouth and onto the counter.

" Ah. Well, it sounds better than here in some ways " Raven looked down to the floor, trying to hide her sadness which Penny caught immediately. " If you want to go that badly, you should go. We could take you sometime.." Penny offered which caught Ember by surprise.

" Really? You could do that? " Raven squealed with excitement as Penny nodded, assuring her that the task was easy. " I would forever be in your dad if you could manage to do that" Raven smiled as Ember walked over and took a seat beside Penny.

" It wouldn't be a problem. But first we have something we have to do. And it might take a while" Ember chimmed in which seemed to intrugue Raven. " What is it that you both need help with? I'll do whatever I can to aid you " her voice still extremely upbeat from the possibility of seeing Earth.

" Well, this is something that we are not entirely sure you'd be able to help with. It's something that, well, you probably would not understand nor forgive" Penny answered, trying to choose her words carefully. " Hm..are you going to Kill the Princess? " Raven asked which shocked by Penny and Ember who quickly answered " No" .

" I mean, I'd love to kill her but I don't think that would really fix anything " Ember joked even though she was far more serious than she let on.

Penny was debating telling her mother the truth but she knew that it could risk so much if she did. And that it would make this mission worth nothing.

" We do have to kill someone..but..well its complicated. Killing this person will save this world but it will also be something that Noone will forgive us for" Penny explained, hoping that she could remain as vague as possible.

" How do you know that killing this person would actually save this world? And what would it save it from? " Raven asked, though Penny hesitated to answer, needing a moment to think.

" I think it's pretty safe to say that this world is eventually going to be caught into a war. This being based on how things are being done within the kingdom itself. I think we all know that" Penny answered.

" And whilst Killing this person would not prevent the war, it would prevent a bigger catastrophe in the future. This person is beloved, and well respected. But, his existence inspires others to make the wrong decisions and it leads to something far worse in the future" Penny explained which had more than peaked Ravens interest now.

" So...you two are from the future? " Raven deduced which made Penny and Ember panic. It was too late to go back now and they were almost completely sure that if they lied now, Raven would sense it.

" Yes.." Penny answered to which Raven seemed surprised but not too much.

" Hm. Well, if you two are from the future to fix huge mess then things must get pretty bad" Raven laughs. " You could say that.." Penny answers, her mind now scrambled with what to say and with what not to say.

" Well, if you need help then I will aid you the best I can. I'm not sure what I can..being bound and all..but I'll do whatever I can" Raven offered her assistance even though she knew she was limited.

" You won't be much help to us if you are obligated to the castle though. And with the bindings, it might just put you in more danger" Ember reasoned as Penny stood up and sat down beside her mother.

" If you were free, and weren't obligated to stay here any longer, would you leave? " Penny asked in a serious tone. " Its not that I am not free, it's that I have nowhere to go" Raven explained to which Ember countered " Yeah. But with your powers you can probably go anywhere or do anything. Hell, you could go to Earth if you wanted to. Live out in the woods, live on the run, do something! Anything! " Ember felt like Raven was trapped by the debt that she owed and believed that it was only a way to keep her contained.

" You don't need the kingdom. They keep you bound because they fear you. Hell, I bet the royal family fears you and yet you are not even a threat. You don't seem to want to hurt anyone. So if you were free, you wouldn't cause any issues. Though, you have to believe in yourself. Hell, we could help you. We could find you a place, help you get everything set up so that you don't have to be here anymore" Is Ember assured Raven.

All of these scenarios sounded absolutely wonderful to Raven though she still doubted that she could survive on her own. She had been taken in at such an early age and suffered such a great trauma, that she wasn't sure she would be stable enough to do so. Not to mention that she had not used her abilities in so long that she was entirely sure she would even be able to cast a spell at this point.

" I'll help you " Penny assured Raven who was still trying to process the entire offer. " I could teach you how to use spells and defend yourself. Trust me, this will be good for you " Penny smiles, trying to comfort Raven enough to agree who finally does. " I mean..okay but we are going to have to make it quick because I am expected back at the castle soon and if I'm not there, I won't make it very far. If you two can find a way to break the bindings, then I will meet you here tomorrow and I will take my leave from here. Thank you" Raven pulls Ember and Penny into a tight hug, one that Penny wished would never end. " I must head back now, I will see you both tomorrow. And good luck " Raven smiles excitedly as she opens the door, closing it behind her and runs back to the castle.

" We are really freeing your mom huh?

" Yup. We are"