Novel & Cerita The Raven Book Store

I agreed, already imagining the spread of snacks and drinks. After our grocery run, we made our way to ‘Bejeweled’, the flagship jewelry store and head office of Raven’s company. The store was a masterpiece of modern elegance, its exterior adorned with sleek, black marble and gold accents that shimmered under the soft glow of the streetlights. The name Bejeweled was etched in bold, cursive letters above the entrance, exuding an air of sophistication.

Raven reached for a pack of cigarettes and held out the packet for Elena. She shook her head. “I don't smoke.” “Yet…” Raven added. Silently, Elena watched Raven place the stick of cigarette between her lips and light an end on fire. Raven didn't look like most of the girls back home. Dark purple hair that shimmered faintly under the light, tanned skin, face piercings and a tattoo sleeve. Raven blew out a puff of smoke. “So what're you in here for? You know majority of the people who join in are homeless people who've got no place to go.” She eyed Elena briefly. “You don't exactly look like you've been homeless.”

“Bring the Black Coast shipment codes, the account access, and every fucking file you stole.” A sob caught painfully in my throat. What the hell were they talking about? “I swear I don’t know anything,” I whispered desperately. “I don’t even know who Ravens is.” One of the men barked out a laugh. “Damn. She really clueless.” “Not our fucking problem,” another muttered. The gun pressed harder into my skin and my breathing immediately turned shaky again. “You hear that, Ravens?” the man said into the phone. “Fourteen hours before we paint the floor with her brains.”

I felt tears stinging my eyes as Raven lay motionless in my arms. She was breathing, but her heart was still racing. Her eyelids started to flutter, then she slowly opened her eyes. “Raven, I’m so, so sorry. Please forgive me. Do you need me to take you to the clinic?” Raven did not say anything. She just lay there staring at me. Which I think was even scarier than when her eyes had been closed. But as my gaze roamed over her face, her lips stretched into that beautiful smile that I love. “Will it always be like that?” She asked as she licked her lips.

Raven couldn't help but wonder what other surprises lay in store for her in this mysterious encounter with Adaora. As she reached out to grab the book, her heart skipped a beat. It was the one she had been searching for, The Night Watcher and The Vampire. She breathed a sigh of relief as she flipped open the book, eager to delve into its contents and find the answers she was looking for. The previous night, she had only briefly glimpsed at the title, without taking the time to look at the book's content. As Raven perused the pages, she couldn't help but notice that the vast collection of books that surrounded her were paranormal books.

The moment she let out a gasp and faked a dizzy spell was the moment I knew I had made a mistake. Raven's love for books was evident in the way she threw herself into reading the historical book about stags with the title, “The existence of the great stag,” which she came across. I had to close the book shut myself. She resumed browsing the shelves and gushing over the books. “Can't I just live here?” She asked. I sighed for the umpteenth time, “Raven we may or may not even be allowed to be in here right now.” “Fine, fine. Let's go.”

What has changed? "I know it's been forever." Raven sighed dramatically, bypassed me and dropped into the seat next to Mom. It was weird to see them both together. Raven looked the same as usual, though. Her arms were decorated with sparkly bangles and bulky rings lay on her fingers. She pushed her black hair over her shoulder and it cascaded softly down her back. "So, where are you both off tonight, then?" Mom asked excitedly, sounding like a teenage girl. "There's a New Year's Eve party at Ross's house," Raven began. "I know it's going to be good because my horoscope says I should focus on myself more for this month so that means I'm getting blackout tonight."

Raven, a sixteen year old girl, walked home from her part-time job at the library. She felt as if someone was watching her. She looked around the near empty streets, seeing nothing. Raven picked up her speed. She should have been home hours ago, but she had gotten caught up in a mystery novel, losing track of time. Her parents will be furious with her once she gets home.

I say, “we start with the beginning. The Warren bloodline. The Hallow. And why you were hidden.” The barn smells like dust, old wood, and the faintest trace of sage from rituals long past. Raven stands in the center of the room, arms wrapped around herself, eyes scanning every corner like she’s trying to memorize it all at once. She looks so much like Delaney in this moment it hurts. I clear my throat and walk to the old cabinet against the wall. The hinges creak as I open it, revealing a stack of worn books, a few relics wrapped in cloth, and an old leather‑bound photo album. Raven’s eyes follow my hands. “What’s that?”

Holden mumbled, resuming his smoking. Raven stopped on her track on walking past a room whose door was slightly open. Stepping back, she slowly fully opened the door before stepping in. The room turned out to be study room because different books can be seen arranged in shelves and their was a study table with a lamp stand on it and books littered on the table. On the walls were pictures of definitely unknown people. Raven's eyes widened when it caught something on the table. The one pendant she has been looking for. It was right before her, pleading and begging her to grab it.