The Raven and the Witch Hunter Omnibus

THE WEDDING CHAPTER 3-2

Emma Jane pursed her lips, nodding glumly. "Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I really want today to be special for you."

Vanessa smiled, relaxing back into Emma Jane’s arms then reciprocating by wrapping her own arms around her as she snuggled closer.

"Don't you know that every day already is special, just because you're here?" Vanessa drew her head back slightly to look at Emma Jane. "The reason I wanted to have this ceremony and party today isn’t just because I wanted to have a big party where I got to wear a white dress."

Vanessa shook her head and Emma Jane could feel the love radiating out of her smile.

"It's because I want everyone to know that you belong to me and I belong to you. I know my parents wished we’d been together longer and done this with them present the first time, but I didn't want you to run away. I wanted to tie you to me." She gave Emma Jane a sheepish look, then shrugged. "This is just another layer to bind you to me and my world. I realize that's completely selfish, but I don’t care one iota."

Emma Jane smiled, bestowing a brief kiss on Vanessa's lips. "Well, if it's selfish, then I'm selfish too, because that's the only reason I agreed to do this in the first place."

At Vanessa's look of surprise, Emma Jane smiled. "I want everyone to know to know that you belong to me, as well."

She saw the exact moment when the last trace of anxiety departed from Vanessa's eyes. It was the moment she saw the deep, sapphire blue turn into a warm, inviting pool that made her want to sink into the depths and never leave. This time when their lips met, the delicious fire was there. They lost themselves for one perfect moment as they rode the twin waves of love and desire.

A loud rapping on the door harshly interrupted their warm cocoon of love. They pulled back, Emma Jane feeling somewhat bewildered as Cat's voice floated through the closed door.

"Vanessa? Emma Jane? Are you guys in there?"

"Yes, you can come in, Cat."

Vanessa pulled back, her breathing shaky and her hair slightly disheveled from their embrace. Emma Jane felt a twinge of sadness as Vanessa straightened her appearance, but a surge of excitement replaced it as she realized their big moment was almost here.

Cat stood in the doorway, her eyebrows raised as she assessed them. "I'm thinking it’s a good thing I knocked first?" Cat wiggled her eyebrows, giving them a mischievous look.

Vanessa rolled her eyes. "Hey, it's your fault if you see something you don't want to. There's a reason why Mom and Dad taught us how to knock on the door from an early age."

Cat shuddered with mock disgust. "Oh my god, Vanessa. It's bad enough watching my sister make out with someone, but please. Do not put thoughts of Mom and Dad in my head. There’s way too much going on for me to be able to handle that today as well."

Emma Jane laughed, remembering how the McLean’s still looked at each other after a quarter century together. "Well, you’d better make sure that you keep knocking, Cat. If I'm not mistaken, I think that might actually be the reason your parents wanted their own place for the week."

Emma Jane laughed even harder as Vanessa and Cat shuddered in unison.

"Emma Jane! Don't go there," said Vanessa, curling her lip and looking as though she’d bitten into something rotten, then all three of them burst into laughter. Once they’d calmed down, Cat returned to the reason she was there.

"I came to tell you that all the guests are here. Emma Jane," Cat looked directly at her.

"Yes?" asked Emma Jane, wondering what could be so important for Cat to suddenly become so solemn.

Cat wrinkled her nose, hesitating before finally speaking. "I think Samuel is here. And he looked...." Cat pursed her lips, squinting one eye as she searched for the right way to say it. "He looks nervous."

Emma Jane nodded, her suspicions confirmed at that moment. "Can you send him in? Do we have time to talk to him first?"

Cat nodded. "Of course. It's your day, so take as much time as you need. I think everyone who's coming has been seated now, so we’re just waiting for you. Everything should be ready to go, but I thought you'd like to know that before..." Cat stopped, giving Emma Jane a look of concern.

"Thanks, Cat. You’re right. Send him in. I'd like to talk to him before we proceed."

Although Emma Jane hadn't shared her suspicions with Cat, she could tell by the look on her sister-in-law's face that she had her own. With both Emma Jane and Vanessa feeling so anxious about today, it was no surprise that her perceptive, aura-reading sister-in-law would also be worried that something evil was about to crash the party.

Cat nodded, slipping out of the room to return a minute later with someone Emma Jane hadn't seen in what felt like years, but who hadn't changed at all.

"Samuel."

Emma Jane spoke only his name, but knew by the look on his face he understood everything she was feeling. He was a man of few words and their time together had been one of periods of quiet reflection interspersed with hard training. But when he’d spoken, she'd always felt that he said three times what anyone else could impart in terms of wisdom. It was because of him, and him alone, that Emma Jane had managed to triumph in one way or another against every creature she’d hunted so far. While she may not have always succeeded in killing or even containing her adversary, she'd always escaped to fight another day. All thanks to the man now standing in front of her.

Samuel stood quietly, dressed in a simple black suit, looking traditionally Western until you noticed the snowy white braids which hung down his back, nearly reaching his waist. When she’d first met him, his hair had been steel gray. He'd already been old when she was a child, but he was much older now. She wasn't sure exactly when he'd been born, but knew he was coming up on the hundred-year mark, if he hadn’t already passed it. He seemed ancient now but still stood straight-backed and proud, looking as immovable as the mountains themselves. He had a strong nose and chin, with his skin permanently tanned by the suns of many summers.

"My girl. You look happy," He said, giving her a proud smile and nodding once, as though bestowing his blessing on her.

Emma Jane bowed her head, smoothing her dress as she smiled back at him. "Thank you for finding my grandmother’s dress. It's more beautiful than I remembered from her pictures and it makes me feel like I have her with me today."

Samuel nodded serenely. "You're welcome."

He turned his gaze upon Vanessa, who’d stood with Emma Jane when she’d gotten up to greet him. He examined her carefully, then a smile broke out on his face as he turned to Emma Jane with an unexpected look of almost childish glee.

"I did not realize."

His voice was quiet, but Emma Jane could hear amazement in his words, and she was surprised. Samuel had never been shocked or amazed by anything he’d encountered that she could recall.

"Did not realize what, sir?"

This time, Samuel beamed. He reached his hands out to Vanessa, who extended her own with a look of confusion as Samuel took them both in his to examine her with wonder.

"I knew you’d found someone with magic to be with, but I did not realize you were married to Raven."

It was Emma's turn to look at Samuel with confusion. "I'm sorry? What do you mean? This is Vanessa. I told you that she can change into a bird and has air magic. Don't you remember?"

For a moment, Emma Jane wondered if senility had caught up to Samuel, but when he gave her a chiding look, she once again felt like a child who had disappointed her teacher.

"You didn't tell me your beloved was Raven. You know who I'm talking about. I've taught you all the old stories."

Emma Jane shook her head, still perplexed, until she realized what Samuel was talking about. Now it was Emma Jane's turn to look at Vanessa with amazement. Her mouth dropped open as she put the pieces together.

"I never even considered that to be real."

She shook her head as the tales of Raven, Coyote, Spider and all of the other traditional Cree legends, along with all the Celtic myths, flooded into her mind.

"Okay, I'm missing something," said Vanessa, looking between Emma Jane and Samuel with suspicion. "Why are you guys calling me Raven?"

Vanessa had succeeded in retrieving her hands from Samuel, who now stood silently watching Vanessa with a bemused smile on his face, so Emma Jane jumped in with answers for her wife’s consternation.

"In our culture, there are many tales of animals with supernatural abilities. They are thought to be gods or magical creatures. It is always wise not to anger them, but they are a part of the fabric which makes up our everyday lives. When Samuel says you are Raven, he believes that not only can you turn into a Raven, but you actually are the mythical Raven from our legends."

Vanessa shook her head. "No, that's not possible. I'm not a goddess or god. Not like Evelyn, not even with half as much power as Cat."

Emma Jane shook her head. "Legends are like that. I’m thinking that if you look at your own culture, Vanessa, and talk to your dad, you could find that you might be the present day manifestation of the Morrigan."

Vanessa shook her head, crossing arms. "Nope. I definitely don't have that kind of power."

Emma Jane shrugged. She knew there was no need to belabor the point, but she also knew that legends and myths had a funny way of having a basis in reality.

"Maybe not. But that’s why Samuel is looking at you the way he is. He's impressed with your abilities, so I think that means he approves of our relationship."

Vanessa uncrossed her arms and gave Samuel a hesitant smile. "It's nice to finally meet you, Samuel. Emma Jane has told me many wonderful things. It sounds as though you’ve had an incredible life." She trailed off lamely, giving Emma Jane a slightly panicked look.

Samuel nodded, still smiling at Vanessa. Emma Jane knew that no matter what else happened today, Samuel was happy with who Emma Jane had found for a life partner.

"Yes, I’ve had a long life, full of many adventures. I have many tales I could tell you, but we need more time for that. I understand you are looking to do an exchange of vows in front of everyone at this time." He looked between Emma Jane and Vanessa, nodding once when they both answered in the affirmative. "And you are both aware of what is coming?"

Samuel looked at Emma Jane after his calm pronouncement with one eyebrow raised. She felt her heart sink, having hoped her feelings were wrong and merely a product of social anxiety.

"We've both been...inappropriately anxious," she replied simply, catching Vanessa's answering nod out of the corner of her eye.

"I'm not a nervous person, Samuel, but I’ve been finding myself very anxious about this ceremony." Vanessa shook her head irritably to punctuate her statement. "I'm an actress. I make my living in front of strangers. I’m used to acting crazy in front of large crowds. I had no problems saying I do when we did this the first time, so I know it isn’t fear of commitment, either. But something about today has been making me act out of character. If I didn't know better, I’d say I had stage fright." Vanessa glowered at the idea. "I do not get stage fright."

Samuel nodded, then began to pace the length of the room between the window and the door as the girls observed him in silence. Emma Jane was familiar with Samuel and knew he was thinking, and when he was thinking, it was better to let him move and wait until he was ready to speak again. She glanced at Vanessa, giving a slight shake of the head when she seemed as though she might speak, biting back amusement as Vanessa appeared to be choking on the words she’d been about to say.