3

Raven went straight up the stairs to her room.

Her father made sure the room was kept clean and ready for her if she ever decided to come home. Nicklaus called up after her.

"We are still going to hold your wedding in a few months. Matthias sent over the design for you gown last week. Nonody thought you would give up Hades, even after you left."

Raven turned to look at her father at the top of the stairs. "Did he use my idea for the design?" Her idea was to use pale blue fabric with grey feathers for the skirt and a diamond encrusted bodice that was in the style of a corset. The front hooks would be ivory buttons through lace loops with silk ribbons at the back. The design would play off her Ice Queen persona that Hades loved so much. The veil would be a pale blue tule with diamonds throughout and a tiara that was made of platinum and diamonds to look like a snowflake. The shoes were silver encrusted with sapphire and diamonds. Nicklaus smiled. "Of course he did. The best costume designer would be stupid not to use your own idea for his niece's wedding. Hades went with a ball theme. The guests must where ball gowns and be prepared to dance. He is adamant that this would cement your identity as a Queen among her subjects." Raven nodded and went down the hall to her room. The entire second floor was hers. She had a piano room, a sun room, a library, and finally her suite. She walked into her bedroom suite and sighed. She remembered the first time she slept with Hades in that bed. His care and love as he took her over and over. She laid down on the bed and let the memory of him holding her take her to sleep.

She was woken up the next day by her phone. She knew it had to be Chris, looking for her. She silenced her phone and got up. It didn't take him long to realize that she was gone from the apartment. She checked her messages and sure enough she had several of them from Chris, begging her to answer his call.

(Baby, where are you? I tried your agent but she said you fired her and split. Please tell me where you are so I can come get you.)

(Ray, honey answer me! I'm starting to worry.)

Raven laughed at his use of a nickname she hated. Her mother called her that just to piss off her father. She loved her name. It was a beautiful name that only a select few shortened to Raven. She didn't bother to answer him. She received a text from her mother next.

(Come home immediately. I forbid you from seeing your father.)

She sneered and then instead of replying to her she sent her a location ping. It showed her in the Medici estate. Then she tossed her phone on the bed, not bothering to take it with her as she went down to breakfast.

Nicklaus was on the phone when she arrived in the dinning room.

"Did you honestly think Ravenna would go to you when she needed help? Sera, don't forget who raised her. My Princess always comes to me when she is hurt."

He paused to let Sera speak. Then he laughed darkly. "My Princess is safe and sound in my estate, far away from your cold blooded husband and stepdaughter. Never even dream of taking her away from me again." Then he hung up the phone. Nicklaus turned to smile at his daughter. "I'm guessing she contacted you?"

"Yes, and instead of answering her, I sent her my location. I'm done being stepped on by that family." Her father nodded then sat down beside her as they ate their breakfast. "Hades called. He contacted your cousin Nikolai, he will be your assistant. He is on his way over with the new contract, the contract for the Variety show and the scripts for the roles he mentioned. He wants you to audition for the parts before you leave Friday. So this afternoon is the 'Heart of the Beast' and tomorrow is 'Sunshine'. The first one is the role for the Villainess, and the second one is for the role of the second female lead. The producers don't know that it's you auditioning for the roles. I found out that Ariana is auditioning for the female lead of the 'Heart of the Beast'. I'm looking forward to how she will react when you get the role of the Antagonist."

"Don't worry Papa, I will behave. Mostly." Raven smiled coldly at the thought of seeing Ariana at the audition this afternoon. "Hades will meet you there. Remember to bring your A-Game."

Raven nodded and then the conversation moved on to the wedding plans. Raven decided to use the Royale Hotel, the ball room there was perfect for what Hades wanted. "I'll book the entire Hotel for the guest and wedding party. We'll go with a winter ball to match your dress. My assistant is already creating the invitations. Who do we RSVP?"

"The family. Send one for mother and her family. I want them to witness my rise. Then send one for the Black family. I miss Landon."

Landon is Hades' sister and Raven's best friend. They were in the same private school all the way through pre-k to graduation. Everyone thought that Nikolai and Landon would become an item, but no. It was Ravenna and Hades. Niki only saw Landon as a sister. "Very well. Then I'll send the rest of them to your costars and the film crews you were a part of. That will make this a bigger ball. I'll have to book the room at the top of the hotel." Nicklaus sighed and pouted at his precious daughter. "That's fine. I have always been kind to the people I work with. This will capitalize on that. Making me a likable Queen."

"Cousin! It's so good to see you!"

Nikolai walked in with his briefcase. The Medici family genes were strong as strong in him as they were in Raven. The Blue black hair and eyes so dark a brown they looked black. Her eyes were emerald green and she had platinum blonde hair. It was the reason Hades called her the Ice Queen. Hades himself had obsidian black hair to match his ice blue gaze. Why her family called her 'Black Bird' was a mystery no one could figure out. Nikolai sat down beside her and opened his briefcase. "The first one is the company contract with Medici Media. It states that you have full control over any deals you want or don't want with no repercussions. The pay is 60-40 for each film or contract deal signed. As your assistant, I take %10 of the %40 that is signed over to the company. Tobias takes %10 and the company gets %20. The social media accounts are handled by Tobias as your agent/manager. But he already stated that this would be controlled by you as well. Just sign the last page and I'll give you the two scripts and the contract for 'High Life'."

Raven read through the contract. The social media accounts under the name Ice_Queen were handed over to her as stated in her contract and full control of her career was also dictated by the Chairman, Nicklaus Medici. Satisfied, she picked up the pen and signed her name with a flourish. Nikolai took back the contract and handed her the contract for 'High Life'. "This sates that you will appear as the Host for this season. The activities listed are for you to arrange for the guests to your island. There is kayaking, scuba diving, a yacht ride and beach games. The guests are supposed to be under your control. You set the activity and they must comply. Hades is there to act as a prop for you. He is to make sure that the couples are doing the activities you assigned. The fact that it's live streamed means that any gossip or juicy news is going to be published in the episode. Remember that, the couples are supposed to be together for the duration of the show and no one is to swap partners. That was Hades' idea. This way Chris can't try to partner up with you for hype or to try and win you back." Raven smiled coldly and signed her name. Then he held out both scripts. "This afternoon is the audition for 'Heart of the Beast'. As soon as your ready we will head there. I recommend doing scene 34. It will play to you persona and give the producers a chance to watch you shine."

Raven turned the page to the scene and read the lines. It was the part where the Villainess truly turned her back on the Villain. She began her rampage against the heroine after her husband (the villain) took the heroine as his mistress. The hero would kill the king in the name of the Queen's honor and become the love interest of the Queen.

She nodded to Nikolai then started to read the rest of the script.

The movie was pretty good. The male lead was supposed to learn why the Villainess hated the king so much and through trials and bloodshed he would win her heart. The female lead for this movie was basically the reason behind the Villainess. She had seduced the King, (the villain) and turned him against the Queen (the Villainess). The male lead would defeat the king for the Queen and then the female lead would perish. Making this a redemption tale.

"I like the plot but, why is it written as me being the third female lead and not the female lead? The Villainess is the actual female lead in the story."

"This was written by Hades. So why do you think?" Raven laughed. "Of course. Who plays the hero?"

"Hades. He said this would cement his rise in acting with you. Or in his words, 'no one else is suited for the role'."

Raven stood up and grinned. "Let's go terrorize Ariana."