The Raven Part 4: Devil of the Falls

Chapter 2

Pam walked down the street towards Jake and Rebecca's apartment. She'd told Beth that she was going out to run some errands, and despite her girlfriend's desire to accompany her she had insisted that she stay home. She had promised to try out some new game for her when she got back. She hated lying to her, she really did, but she simply couldn't tell her where she was going or what she was considering doing. She was still on the fence about going to to Raven Falls in pursuit of power, but she felt that it was the only way to regain herself. She was reminded of a line from one of Beth's games as she weighed her options, "Without strength, you cannot protect anything," and as cliché as it might have been to take advice from a game there was sound knowledge in that line.

This was something that she had to do. She hoped that Beth wouldn't be too upset at the prospect of returning to Raven Falls. From what she'd heard, the place was like something out of a horror movie. She wasn't worried about herself, however, but she did worry about both Jake and Beth. Beth was clearly reluctant about the idea of going back, but Jake seemed on board with it. Jake had been...different since everything with Ashley. He had been putting on a front for herself and Beth, but she could tell, even without her empathy, that something was bothering him. She'd caught him staring off a handful of times since then, almost as if he was lost. Those few times his emotional state had shifted and spiked between anger and pain. It reminded her of the night of her death and the feelings that Beth had had. There was an overwhelming sense of failure emanating from him, but whatever it was he was keeping it to himself.

She felt slightly bitter towards Rebecca as well. Her former mentor had taken on the role of his protector and guardian throughout his recovery, but it seemed like she was still only serving herself. To an extent, she could understand that habits built over centuries took time to break, but if Jake truly meant everything to her then she would have been trying harder. She questioned just why exactly she continued to try maintain a friendship with the woman, but if it weren't for her then she would still be a menial street performer. Loathe though she may have been to admit it, she owed a good deal to Rebecca. That debt, to some degree, included her relationship with Beth. Still, debts only got one so far. However, she couldn't act on suspicion alone. Until Jake voiced his issues aloud there was nothing she could do.

She ascended the stairwell to Jake and Rebecca's apartment and felt a wave of emotions flood her senses. A tidal wave of rage, disappointment, and guilt coursed through her and caused her to pause. She hoped that one of the other tenants was having a dispute, but deep down she knew exactly where these feelings were coming from. If she had to wager a guess it would be that Rebecca wasn't taking the news of her rejection well. The woman had never been one to respond well to being told no. It was one of her defining traits that had drawn her to such a dastardly path. Being unable to simply take what she wanted anymore was surely only adding fuel to her fires.

Jake grimaced as he rested on his knees before Rebecca. He had just finished licking the sole of one of her boots. The foul taste was still permeating his taste buds, and while he didn't necessarily mind he wasn't thrilled with the reason behind this. To say that Rebecca had been upset upon finding out that Pam wasn't interested would be an understatement. She had accused him of not trying hard enough to persuade her, of failing yet again, and proceeded to tell him how useless he was. He'd received several lashings with a flogger he'd purchased shortly after they moved in, but that hadn't been enough for her. She thought it best to remind him of his place by making him worship her boots. The well worn and rancid leather tasted awful and was only outshined by the growing resentment that was building inside of him. How many times was he going let himself be blinded by false promises and fairy tails? He wished he could say that this would be the last time, but truthfully he doubted it. With Ashley gone, Rebecca was all he had left in this world.

A rousing kick to the face jarred him from his thoughts and knocked him to the floor, "Are you listening to me?!" Rebecca demanded, "I asked you a question, Jake, and I expect you to answer me when I speak!"

He hadn't heard her say anything, and now all he felt was a ringing in his hear. He picked himself up and rubbed the side of his head, "I'm sorry, I didn't hear what you asked," he admitted.

"You will address me as your mistress, your Goddess, or at the very least mam!" she yelled, "I may not have my powers, courtesy of your incompetence and your harlot friends, but I will be treated with the respect I deserve!"

He grit his teeth at her scathing remarks. He tried to remind himself that she was angry and that she didn't mean what she said, but it was becoming more difficult with each outburst she had. "Forgive me, Goddess," he forced himself to say, "Can you please repeat your question?"

She huffed out her response, "I asked just what you intend to do about Pamela's rejection. I won't have that knowledge falling into the hands of some disgusting inbred hillbilly!"

"What would you have me do?" he countered, "I can't very well force her. I understand that Abigail having your book is dangerous, but the last time I went there alone I almost didn't come back. If you send me there by myself then you could lose me forever."

She scoffed at his words, knowing there was truth behind them, "Then what good are you?"

There was a crack in her furious disposition for a second. Jake saw it, even hidden behind her hurtful question. She knew he was right, but she was too proud to admit it. There was only one thing that he could do that would appease her, "May I clean your other boot, Goddess?" he asked, swallowing what little pride he had left.

There was a flash of joy that flickered behind eyes at his request. She hid it behind her domineering demeanor, however, and her tone was mostly apathetic, "I suppose you still serve some purpose. Get to work and don't miss a spot!"

Maybe this should have bothered him more, but when he was serving her he didn't think about anything else. His visions of Ashley, regret over everything, and doubt all faded away in favor of making Rebecca happy. Despite everything, his face had a ghost of a smile as he said, "Of course, my Goddess."

Pam had been standing on the other side of the doorway for almost ten minutes. She'd received a couple of strange looks from people entering or leaving their homes. A quick glare from her had caused them all to disperse and ignore her. The feelings she'd sensed had become overwhelmingly strong as she approached the door. She'd overheard Rebecca yelling at Jake through the door and debated on turning and leaving. She wasn't fond of being referred to as a harlot, but in truth she'd she'd called worse. What really bothered her was the prospect of once again doing her old mentor's bidding. She'd come a long way in stepping out of Rebecca's shadow and doing this meant bending the knee to her once again. For all of her talk, there was still that nagging need to please the ancient amazon in the back of her mind. It was something that she knew Beth would never understand, and it was the basis of her connection with Jake. She understood just how deep and fundamental Rebecca's dominance and control truly went. She honestly wasn't sure if she would ever be completely free of the thoughts and feelings that came from years under her thumb.

She summoned her courage and reached for the handle. It didn't budge, but rather than knock she used a minor spell to unlock the door. She heard the lock release and turned the handle to a sight she'd seen many times before. Jake was on his knees with his tongue running along Rebecca's left boot. The sight brought back memories of her time before ascension. She had been one of Rebecca's favored submissives due to her dutiful approach to worship. The thought was somehow both revolting and stimulating. She wondered how it would feel to be back on her knees paying tribute to someone like Beth. The thought sent a shameful sensation through her as she stood there watching the scene unfold.

She cleared her throat after another second, "Am I interrupting something? I can come back, if you two prefer a bit of privacy."

Rebecca was the first to look up, but she could feel Jake's embarrassment. She knew he didn't want her to see him like this despite knowing this was the norm. She also knew that he would abide by whatever Rebecca decided, "Pamela, what an unexpected surprise. Have a seat, Jake was just indulging in one of his more intimate interests. Take a break, my dear, we'll resume once our company has departed."

It was a lie and both she and Jake knew it. She was almost positive that Rebecca was aware of her knowledge of it, but she wasn't going to call attention to that fact. She had come here to discuss business, and she would keep things as professional as she could. She waited for Jake to pull away and stand before moving to take a seat on their couch. He hid his face as best he could and excused himself leaving just her and Rebecca alone for a moment. "Do you want to explain why you're after your old grimoire?" she finally asked, "I know that you sent Jake in an attempt to persuade me to accompany him, and that you were hoping to prey on my desire for strength. Don't waste my time by denying it either, Rebecca, I've known you long enough to know how your mind works."

Rebecca crossed her legs and smiled at her in a confident and unnerving manner, "Was I wrong?" she asked, "Look me in the eyes and tell me that knowledge doesn't entice you."

"You're evading my question," Pam replied.

"Obviously it does, otherwise you wouldn't be here before me," Rebecca continued, "Does Elizabeth know you're here, Pamela?"

"Answer me," Pam said, ignoring her attempts at getting under her skin.

"She doesn't, does she?" Rebecca asked with a wider grin, "How absolutely delicious! Not only are you still willing to serve your Goddess, you're willing to go so far as to lie to your beloved pet!"

Pam practically jumped out of her seat, and sent a wave of power rolling off of her in an attempt to intimidate the former villainess. To her ire, she didn't even flinch, "You will keep her name out of your mouth, Rebecca, now answer my question!"

Rebecca uncrossed her legs and leaned forward ever so slightly, "Are you threatening me, Pamela? Do you honestly expect me to believe that you'd do anything to harm the woman who raised you from the gutter you once called home?"

Pam felt herself falter at the tone in her voice. Despite the gap in their abilities, she couldn't shake the gnawing attachment she felt for the amazon before her. She tried to hide the quiver in her voice as she replied, "I'll do what I have to if it means getting you to talk. Answer my question, why are you seeking your grimoire?"

"Sit down, Pamela, before you embarrass yourself further," Rebecca said leaning back in her chair, "If you want answers, then I shall give them to you. After all, we both know how this is going to end."

"Stop it," Pam said, disliking what she was insinuating.

"Sit. Down. Pamela," Rebecca repeated with an authoritative tone that had her body acting of its own accord, "Good girl, you never forgot who your Goddess was did you?"

Pam looked away as she folded her hands in her lap, "Don't call me that, not now and not ever again."

"Don't tell me you've forgotten all those nights you spent serving me, my little apprentice," Rebecca said with a coy grin, "You always did enjoy letting me take the reins and you loved it when I praised you. Deep down, you're still my submissive little subordinate."

Pam closed her eyes in an attempt to block out the feelings that welled within her. She opened them to glare at her old master, "I am not yours," she said definitively, "If anything, I'm Beth's."

Rebecca laughed at her reply, "Elizabeth, really?" she asked, "You expect me to believe that that little slave of yours holds any semblance of power in your relationship? She's as submissive as she is worthless."

That did it. Pam found a sudden resolve in herself and was back on her feet before either woman could blink. A set of ethereal chains formed in the air and coiled around Rebecca's menacing form. Though she was bound to the chair, she still held a wicked grin on her face which furthered Pam's anger. "She is not a slave!" she boomed and tightened the grip around her friend, "I won't have you disrespecting her in front of me. Beth may be my pet, but deep down she has the potential to be dominant. After all, she killed me, Aurora, Nastia, both of your sisters, and she almost bested you!"

Rebecca's face fell into a snarl at the reminder of Beth's accomplishments, "Don't you dare bring up my family and what that whore did to them," she warned.

"Or what?" Pam demanded, "In case you haven't noticed, you dense imbecile, you're powerless against me. I could end your miserable life with the flick of a wrist and no one would mourn you!"

"But you won't," Rebecca replied, "Besides the fact that we both know Jake needs me, you still belong to me deep down. Some part of you always will, I made sure of that."

"How can you be so heartless in the face of everything you've done?!" Pam practically screamed, "All you do is poison those around you! Aurora, Bitchbreaker, Alexis, Nastia, and even Jake suffer and bleed for your selfish ideals. Tell me how it is that you can live this way knowing how much misery is left in your wake!"

"What is going on?" Jake's voice cut in, interrupting the two women's argument.

"Go back to your room, Jake," Pam ordered, "Your caretaker and I have some personal business to finish."

"Don't you dare give him orders!" Rebecca said, "Have a seat, Jake, you can see your friend for who she really is."

"Can one of you please explain what is going on?" Jake asked.

"Pamela is threatening my life," Rebecca answered.

"I'm reminding her what happens when someone disrespects the woman I love," Pam clarified, "She seems to think that Beth, my girlfriend and your best friend, is some worthless slave."

Jake looked between them as the spoke. He turned to Rebecca and asked, "Is that true? Did you call her that?"

"I only spoke the truth," Rebecca replied.

The chains tightened around her and she grimaced at the discomfort, "You see, she still holds her in such a lowly regard," Pam said looking at Jake, "Nevermind that she wiped out everyone who served her, myself included, and nearly toppled her regime!"

"Alright, that's enough," Jake said, already growing sick of the women's argument, "Pam, let her go...please, for me if nothing else."

Pam stared at him for a moment before letting her hand go slack and dispelling the binds. She looked away from the pair of them before glaring at Rebecca as she spoke, "See, at least somebody around here knows where they belong."

"Enough, Rebecca," Jake snapped, "Do what you want with me, but Pam is supposed to be your friend. She respects me and my choices, so you should at least try to respect her and Beth's. Times like this I wonder why I even bother staying with you, honestly."

Pam watched Rebecca closely as a rush of pain shot through her and a look of hurt crossed her face, "You don't mean that," she said.

"Every time I think you're changing you go and pull some shit like this," Jake said, bitterly, "Pam has done nothing except try to help you. Hell, she's all you have left, and yet you want to try to belittle her and her love life. Why would anyone want to be with someone so full of hate?"

"I-excsue me," Rebecca said before rushing off and locking herself in the bathroom.

"Man this shit is getting old," Jake said after a moment as he plopped down on the couch.

Pam stared off after Rebecca before turning to her friend and sitting herself down beside him, "I take it this has been happening a lot then," she said.

"You don't know the half of it," he said, exasperated, "I know she doesn't completely mean all the hurtful things she says, well I think she doesn't anyways. She'll make strides that make me think she actually cares about me, but then she falls right back into her old ways. Tell me the truth, am I fooling myself with believing she wants to change?"

Pam sighed and rubbed her temples, "Honestly, I don't know. She's got me just as baffled as you, but then again you and I both got the brunt of her for a long time. I don't know if we both want to believe she can change, or if we just think that because some part of her is ingrained in us. Hell, maybe we're both crazy."

"You're dating a woman who murdered you and I'm dating a woman who tried to steal my soul, there's no maybe about it, Pam, we're both batshit," he said with a grin.

She smiled and let out a light chuckle, "You've got me there. I take it she was punishing you for failing to convince me to go to Raven Falls?"

"That obvious, huh?" he replied, "Yeah, pissed off might be the understatement of the year as far as her reaction to the new, but I wasn't going to and I'm not going to force you and Beth into something you're not comfortable with. Where is Beth anyways?"

"She's...at home downloading Devil May Cry Five," Pam replied, "She doesn't know I'm here, and if you breathe a word of it I'll make you wish that Rebecca was punishing you."

"Easy, you know I'm not going to betray your trust," he said, "Why are you here, anyways?"

She chewed on the inside of her cheek for a moment while she debated on her answer. She decided to be honest, since he was going to find out sooner or later, "I came to discuss this damned book that she wants. I'm curious to know if it is her grimoire from legend and just why she wants it back."

"So you came for answers and because you want to get stronger," he clarified, "Goddamn if she doesn't have the two of us pegged."

"You more than me, in that regard," she joked.

He elbowed her playfully, "Shut up," he said, "Can you be serious for a minute? She knew that I'd cave to her and that you'd come to her eventually in pursuit of power…"

Pam leaned back against the couch and stared up at the ceiling, "We are either predictable or foolish, not sure which."

"Both, probably," he said, "You have any idea how pissed Beth is gonna be when she finds out we're going to Raven Falls?"

"Who says we're going?" Pam asked.

"You wouldn't have come here if you hadn't already made up your mind," he answered.

Pam rolled her eyes but relented, "She's scared more than anything. You know how she is, all that fire and rage just to cover up her fears. Am I making a mistake?"

Jake shrugged, "This isn't exactly my idea of a vacation, but if that book is as powerful as she says it is then at least we'll get something out of it."

"Assuming the book is there and we get it, we'd be returning it to Rebecca in the long run," she said, "What is she planning, Jake?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose and debated on betraying the little trust that Rebecca had left in him. There was still a large part of him that didn't want to do this, but he couldn't bring himself to tell her no. He hoped that maybe Pam would have the resolve to put a stop to it, though, and so he confided in her everything he knew, "She's trying to figure out some way to regain her strength. Ashley was the first part, and I'm guessing that book holds the keys to unlocking the rest."

"I see," Pam said, "Black hells, that woman will never be satisfied...very well then. It looks like we're taking a trip out of town."

His heart sank at her words, "You want to help her?" he asked, shocked at her words.

"Of course not!" she said, "But if not this way then she'll find another means to restore herself. At least this way we know what power is there, and it gives me a chance to study her grimoire and see just what sort of knowledge is within."

"So, to you, this is like an insurance policy," he said, "I'm not sure I like it, but I can't argue with your logic either. You're right, if it isn't this then it'll be something else. What are we going to tell Beth?"

"Nothing," Pam replied, "There is little to no reason to include her in this plot to restore your girlfriend."

"She's not...well honestly I don't know what she is to me half the time," Jake admitted, "Lying to her is your prerogative, and while I don't think it's a good one, that wasn't what I meant. I meant, what are we going to tell her about the trip?"

"Ah, leave that to me," she replied, "It won't be easy, given how terrified and apprehensive she is about returning there, but all I need to do is remind her that she won't be alone. I hate lying to her…"

"Then why don't you tell her the truth?" he asked.

"Rebecca's hatred for Beth is evenly matched with hers, you know that," Pam replied, "Despite how our relationship may look from the outside, I don't completely control her thoughts and emotions. If she learns that I've had any sort of hand in helping Rebecca she…she might…"

"You think she would leave you," he finished, after watching her trail off and close her eyes. He continued when she nodded, "I don't think she'd go that for, Pam, you mean the world to Beth. Hell, she's said it herself that you were the only person throughout the whole of her time in the castle to show her kindness. You took care of her, you continue to take care of her, and I think that's what matters most to her."

"Would you be so willing to share such a shameful and dastardly secret with her?" she asked, "How long did you keep your infatuation and budding relationship with Rebecca a secret? She is...she's all I have left, Jake. I gave up everything for her."

"She knows that deep down," he offered, "I'm not going to tell you what to do, but I will tell you this. Back at the tower, Beth knew that what happened was because of me. She knew that and all she wanted was an explanation. Even when I was too far gone, she didn't give up on me. She'll be mad, we both know that, but she doesn't abandon the people she cares about."

"I can't tell her, not yet," she said after a moment of silence, "I hate it, but I hate the fact that she still has some kind of twisted hold on me more. Do you think less of me for lying to her?"

"No," he replied, "I know, better than anyone, how deep her control goes. It isn't easy moving past it, but that doesn't make you any less of a person or a hero."

"I'm no hero," she said, "I am the farthest thing from that."

"You're dating a vigilante, and you're working to keep one of the most dangerous villains from succeeding," he countered, "Like it or not, you're one of us now. For the record, I was afraid of the same thing while I was keeping my nights with Rebecca to myself. Funny how I've fought women two and three times Beth's size and she still scares me more than most of them."

Pam smiled at the thought, "A bundle of terrifying rage in an adorable little package," she said with a light laugh, "Her temper makes her seem larger than she is, almost like a small dog."

Jake laughed at the comparison, "I wouldn't tell her that, then again I don't think she's shot you with those rubber bullets before."

"No, but she did spend an evening beating me senseless," she countered, "I'd never felt such determination marred by an intense pain. She really is something else."

"Tell her when you're ready," he finally said, "Hell, burn the book once you're done with it. Get stronger, that way if and when Rebecca manages to regain her powers you'll be ready. We need you. Someone has to keep us in check."

"I didn't realize I was looking after you as well," she joked.

"You're one of the only people I trust these days," he replied, "Most women I know or meet who have your kind of personality only want to take advantage of me. I want to believe that Rebecca has my best interests at heart, but I know for a fact that you do."

"Just don't expect me to dominate you in any sort of bedroom environment, you're really not my type," she joked, "You can put on a skirt all you like, but that doesn't make you a woman."

"Hey, first off I pull off a skirt damn well," he joked earning a laugh from his friend, "Second, the last thing I want to do is piss off Beth. Seriously, Pam, at the end of the day her and I need someone like you looking out for us. Having someone with actual powers makes a big difference in our line of work."

"You two really are hopeless without someone to guide you, aren't you?" she asked.

"I wouldn't say hopeless, but it helps having a firm hand every once in a while," he said.

"I'll take that as a compliment and admission that I'm right, and with that I believe I'll take my leave," she said as she stood up, "You're a good friend, Jake, and I hope that Rebecca doesn't take advantage of and abuse you. You know you can always talk to me or Beth, right?"

He smiled and stood up to walk her to the door, "I know, and I appreciate it," he said, "I'm fine, but if anything happens I'll be sure to give you two a call. Does this mean we're going after the book?"

"Against my better judgement, yes I believe it does," she said, "I'll be in touch about when we leave either later tonight or some time tomorrow. You can inform Rebecca that you convinced me to go, and that I will convince Beth that this is something necessary. Do not tell her that she played any part in my decision."

"Don't worry, I'm not going to give her that kind of satisfaction," he said, "What are you going to tell Beth?"

"I haven't quite decided," she admitted, "It may be time for me to talk to her about why my attitude has been in a state of flux as of late. In truth, I came here with my mind already made up in hopes of getting stronger. I've felt stagnant and like my growth has been stunted, and it has caused my demeanor to slip with her more and more. She hasn't done anything to warrant such behavior, however, and my hope is that if I can get off of this blasted plateau that I can once again be the woman she fell in love with, the woman she needs."

"You know that you're perfect to her as you are, right?" he asked.

"Were you both born this cheesy or is it a submissive thing?" she asked with a roll of her eyes, "I need this, Jake, I need to do this for myself. By raising myself to new heights, I can raise her as well. It is important that I nurture her growth, but I can't do that if I remain the way that I am."


"I didn't realize being dominant meant being philosophical," he said, "Look, far be it from me to say anything about how you operate, but I know how Beth sees you. I'll be with you every step of the way, however, and if this is something you feel you need to do then I'm with you."

"It is, make sure you tell Rebecca to keep Beth's name out of her filthy mouth unless she wants a lesson in true power," she said as she placed her hand on the knob, "Call me if you need anything, but if not then I will contact you with details soon. Farewell, Jake, it's always nice to be able to talk one on one."

"I'll pass on your message, take care, Pam," he said as she stepped out the door.

He closed the door behind her and turned back to his now empty apartment. He debated on going to check on Rebecca, but honestly there was a part of him that just wanted to enjoy the peace while it lasted. He suspected that she was probably in the midst of either some form of meditation or she was trying to pull herself together. So instead he chose to head into the study and keep the door open. If it wasn't for the fact that this happened as often as it did he might have felt bad. As it stood, he knew that she needed time and when she was ready she would seek him out. Their apartment wasn't massive by any means, and she generally knew where to find him. In the meantime, he would do some tinkering and maybe some light reading. Although, he did wonder if he should find the best route to Raven Falls since that was to be his next destination.

An hour and a half later, Rebecca entered the study. He had been sitting at his workbench fine tuning a tracer he'd been working on. He heard the door creak as she nudged it open and set his tools down. He turned around on his stool to face her and asked, "You alright?"

"Fine," she replied, though he could clearly see that her eyes were red from crying, "Did you and Pamela enjoy your time together?"

"We did actually," he answered, "We talked about a few different things, and I actually managed to get her on board with going after your book."

"Really?" she asked, surprised, "How did you manage that?"

He shrugged as he turned back around, "Told her the truth and I wasn't a dick about it. She came here wanting to know why you wanted the book, but she had already made up her mind about it. She wants to get stronger so she can nurture and protect Beth and her growth or something like that."

"Of course she did," she said dryly, "I knew that she wouldn't be able resist the allure of power."

"Yeah, she wanted me to tell you to keep Beth's name out of your mouth," he added, "She really didn't appreciate you bad mouthing her like you did."

She frowned, "I suppose it is admirable that she cares so much for her. Did you mean what you said?"

He sighed and set the screwdriver he had just picked up back down. He turned to look into her eyes as he spoke, "Honestly, Rebecca, part of me did. You're all over the map and I'm getting sick of falling for your lies."

"I have never lied to you," she defended before quietly asking, "Do you hate me?"

"Hate, no," he replied, "Maybe I'm a fool, but I still love you. That being said, I know plenty of people who love someone but can't be with them."

"You'd leave me?" she asked, sounding both hurt and shocked.

"I don't know," he admitted, "I've never met a woman quite like you. You're smart, gorgeous, strong, dominant, funny, and when you're not plotting to kill or enslave my friends you seem like you want to get better. I keep holding onto the idea that you might actually want to turn your life around, but then you go and belittle me and my friends, hate on Beth, and now I find out that you're antagonizing the only friend you have left in this world."

She bit her lip and looked away as she processed what he said, "I know, I know! I can't help it, though. I've wandered this earth for centuries alone, and after everything I've been through it is difficult for me to trust anyone. I've no love for...well you know, and I simply cannot understand why Pamela even bothers trying to maintain this friendship with me."

"Because you took her in and gave her hope," he explained, "She is someone who holds that sort of thing in high regard. She wouldn't be the woman she is if you hadn't shown her that magic isn't something just out of fairy tales. She wouldn't have Beth if you hadn't taken her in, hell she probably wouldn't be alive if you'd left her on the streets."

She was quiet for a moment before she muttered, "I don't deserve you or her."

"Don't get melodramatic on me," he said, "Just answer me honestly, do you really want to change?"

"I don't know," she admitted, "There are times that I do, but then there are times where this wretched mortality makes me want to pull my hair out. Life without magic or power is impossible, honestly, Jake how do you do it?"

He rolled his eyes, "I just said to not be dramatic," he said with a smile which earned him a stern glare, "Rebecca, you're not powerless and you're not alone. I've lived my life without magic and it's not as difficult as you think. I hate this saying, but you kind of have to take it one day at a time."

She scoffed at that and received a pointed look from him. She sighed and tried to apologize for her reaction, "Such an old cliché, it dates back further than I think most people realize. I appreciate the sentiment, and I appreciate that you've staged with me throughout my transition."

"Can I ask you something?" he asked.

"I don't see why not," she said.

"What do you intend to do if you get your powers back?" he asked.

"My intentions are to fix you once and for all, Jake," she said, "I want to undo all the damage you've endured and take away all your pain and suffering."

"What's life without a little pain?" he asked, "Why can't you do that without them?"

"Spoken like a true masochist, my love," she said with a smile, "Without my gifts I am not myself and I feel like little more than a shell. I need them so that you don't have to endure these damnedable mood swings I seem to be plagued by."

"I'll never understand your point of view, but I'll do what I can if you can promise me that we move forward together," he said.

"Of course, my love," she replied, "All I've ever wanted is for us to be together and to move as one."

"Now, I believe we were in the middle of me worshipping you when Pam arrived," he said.

"I was punishing you, but I think you deserve a little reward for convincing Pamela to join our crusade," she said, "Why don't I take these boots off and let you indulge in your deeper desires."

He flashed her a smile and simply replied, "That sounds amazing, Goddess."

Pam walked through the door to her and Beth's apartment with a few bags in hand. She'd decided to pick up a few groceries for their home along with some takeout for tonight. She'd been wracked with guilt since she left Rebecca and Jake's over everything she and Jake had talked about. She knew that she would eventually have to tell Beth about what Rebecca was up to, but first she had to convince her that going to Raven Falls was for the best. She knew it wasn't going to be an easy conversation to have, though, and for the time being all she wanted to do was curl up with her Kitten and watch something. She had originally intended to cook for them tonight, but had decided to order out instead. The whole ordeal with Rebecca and the following talk with Jake had left her mentally exhausted.

She looked around the apartment and noted that everything looked to be cleaned and fresh. She smiled to herself as she walked in and set the bags down. Before she could call for her, Beth walked out of their room with little more than her collar and a t-shirt on. She was happy to see her, that much Pam could feel. "Someone's been a busy girl while I was out," she said.

"The game took a while to download and I wanted to wait for you before starting it up," Beth explained, "So I figured I'd go through and try to get the place cleaned up the way you like it. I thought that might help your mood a bit, you seemed a little off this morning."

She hadn't realized that she'd been projecting her problems as much as she had. She made a mental note to work on that. She crooked her finger at her girlfriend who eagerly approached. She threaded her arms around her and gave her a light kiss before pulling away, "I have been a bit moody as of late, haven't I?"

"Yeah, I'm not falling for that," Beth replied earning a laugh from her girlfriend.

"I'm serious, Kitten, I know I've been difficult as of late," Pam said, "I hope to turn that around soon."

"Well, to be fair, I can be pretty difficult," Beth said, "Everything okay?"

"I wouldn't have you any other way, Kitten," Pam joked, "It will be, I have some things that I want to talk to you about, but that can wait until the morning. Tonight, I just want to rest and be with you."

"Did I do something wrong?" Beth asked.

"No, of course not," Pam replied, "It's just something that we need to discuss together. Can we please just take tonight to relax for ourselves?"

"I'm not going to like whatever it is, am I?" Beth asked.

"Probably not, Kitten," Pam answered honestly, "But know that whatever happens I will keep you safe. Nothing, and I mean nothing, will ever keep us apart again."

"Okay now I'm nervous," Beth said.

"Do you trust me?" Pam asked.

"Most of the time, yes," Beth said earning a pointed look from her lover, "You know I do, I love you."

"Then trust me when I say we will talk about it tomorrow, and that no matter what happens I'll keep you safe," Pam said.

Beth sighed in defeat and looked away. She craned her neck when she felt Pam scratch behind her ear, "Fine, but you owe me some game time if I have to wait," she said.

"Of course, Kitten, and I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that I'm better than you at this game," Pam said with a smile.

"It doesn't make sense!" Beth argued, "You don't even play games, so how the hell are you better at Devil May Cry than me?!"

"Because you don't look for patterns, Kitten, you just rush in hacking and slashing," Pam explained as she walked around her towards their room.

"It is literally classified as a hack and slash game, it's not a fucking puzzle!" Beth called out after her.

"Then how come I can beat very hard and you can't?" Pam asked and when she heard Beth grumble she asked, "What was that?"

"Because you're better than me," Beth said in a disgruntled tone.

"That's a good girl," Pam said, "Come along then, let's see what all the hype is about."

"Yes mam," Beth said as she trailed behind her.

Pam smiled to herself as she walked into their room and sat on their bed. She just wanted one more night of normalcy before telling Beth of her plan. One night of the two of them cuddling, even if it meant she was playing a game. She didn't mind it, in fact she actually enjoyed the series. She would tell Beth tomorrow, and she was sure that it wasn't going to go well. She vowed, however, that she would get her and Jake in and out of Raven Falls in one piece. She wasn't going to lose the happiness that she had finally found. Besides, it was only a small town filled with backwater simpletons. Whoever this Abigail was, she was confident that the three of them would be more than capable of handling her, and if anyone hurt her beloved or her friend she would make them suffer.