An Unexpected Ally

An Unexpected Ally

Raven’s head bobbed up and down slightly as she fought to stay awake.  She had been propping her heavy head in her palm for support but that just made it more tempting to doze off in the middle of English class.  That would not look good on her record.  And given how prim and proper Grimorum Academy pretends to be it would definitely go on her record.  So she HAD to find a way to stay awake.  

*But it’s just so HARD!* she groan mentally as she did her best to hide the yawn she failed to suppress. *How do these superheroes do it?*

~I assure you I have no idea.  Nor do I particularly care,~ Goregoth sniped.  

*I wasn’t asking YOU it was a rhetorical  question!  And what have you I told you about listening in on my thoughts?!*

~I can’t UNHEAR your thoughts wench!~  

*Well then shut your invisible yapper!*

She paused for a moment and glared down at the bracelet on her right wrist in preparation for another snide mental comment.  When known came she smirk in triumph then pulled the sleeve of her black school blazer back over it.  Of course it was mostly a symbolic gesture but it made her feel better.  At least that little exchange helped wake her up a bit.  Not that it did her much could since she still had to sit there until class was over and the lack of activity might put her back to sleep.  Not that the class was boring, in fact she liked English the best out of all her classes, but right now she just didn’t feel like being in school.  The light nights really were starting to catch up to her.  Which was kind of bad since she was just starting out and all.  

She tried to keep herself occupied by subtly glancing around the classroom to see what some of the other students were up to.  Some, like her, were trying to keep themselves awake while others discretely played on their phones.  A few seemed to be just doodling idly in notebooks as some actually seemed to actually be taking notes.  

At least that’s what the *girls* of the class were doing.  The *boys* on the other hand all stared at the front of the class in complete attention.  Although that was less about what was being taught and more who was teaching it.  Raven frowned just a bit as she too looked toward the young woman currently writing on the chalkboard; their teacher Ms. Glass.

She was certainly a lot different than the other teachers at Grimorum.  For one she was actually HAPPY!  Cheerful even.  Sometimes a little TOO cheerful.  She was also much younger than them, probably in her late 20's or early 30's.  She had incredibly full hair that fell down to the small of her back and was that strawberry blonde color that fell somewhere between blonde and red.  Certainly a lot more than her own dirty blonde hair.  She had violet colored eyes that always seemed to sparkle with energy when she spoke.  

But none of that was the REAL draw.  No...THOSE were on display when she swung back around to address the class again.  The way they swayed inside the white blouse barely containing them one would think they were trying to break free.  

*Seriously how does she not fall when she does that?!* Raven practically shouted. *Those things look like they shot past double Ds awhile ago.  They gotta be at least Triple Ds or maybe even Es!  It’s ridiculous!  Especially with the way all the boys drool over her,* she glanced around again at the boys eagerly trying to ask the question Ms. Glass asked and she rolled her eyes in annoyance. *I swear I could practically swim in the drool they’re all leaking.* She then shuddered at her own statement. *Okay that was just a gross idea.*  

She pushed that disgusting thought as far down as she could as she looked the classroom over again.  She couldn’t help but snicker a bit when she noticed some of the boys had crossed their legs and were squirming a bit as if they suddenly needed to get more comfortable.  Or keep something very embarrassing hidden.  

*Looks like someone hormones are getting the better of them,* she thought with a smirk. *Not like it’s that hard with boys this age.  Just show ‘em a pair of boobs and they’re all horn dogged up.  Cause, you know, why would you want to get to know a girl for her personality or charm or anything like that?!*

~I’m sensing quite a bit of jealousy and inadequacy in you now,~ Goregoth remarked.  

*I told you stop doing that!* Raven chided.  

~I have no choice girl!  I’m telling you so YOU can stop having your vile human emotions that sicken me so!~  

*Well excuse me for having identity issues!  I’m a teenager!  It’s what we do!*  

~Bah!~  

Raven huffed then propped her head up again stared forward once more.  Apparently she had missed something because Ms. Glass had turned back to the chalkboard and was writing something new on it.  As she stretched her arm across the board, the right sleeve to her blouse peeled back a bit and revealed something about her that did catch Raven’s eye.  There on her exposed wrist was a small metallic silver bracelet with a gem set in the center.  Just like the one on the girl’s own wrist.  The only difference was that while Raven’s gem was red, Ms. Glass’ was teal colored.  The teen was fixated for a moment, seemingly unable to wrap her mind around the fact that was right in front of her.  

*Hey is that really...?* she mentally asked her down bracelet.  
~It’s quite possible,~ Goregoth answered cryptically.  

“Helpful as always,” she whispered in annoyance.  

“What was that Ms. Lane?” the teacher asked, turning to face her.  

“Oh!  Um...I just meant that your insights are always helpful in understanding the assignments is all,” Raven quickly made up with a big grin.  

“Well that’s wonderful!” Ms. Glass cheered.  “Maybe you’d like to meet me here after school to discuss them further!”

“Uh...sure...I guess.  Why not?” she replied weakly.  

She ducked her face behind a hand as the rest of the class let out an ominous “Oooooh” towards her.  Thankfully her embarrassment didn’t have to last long as bell sounded not too long after the incident.  She quickly gathered up her stuff into her bag and moved as quickly as she could towards the door.  She cast one last confused glance back at Ms. Glass who not only returned her gaze but also gave her a seemingly knowing wink.  

The rest of the day past in a blur as she tried to figure out just what Ms. Glass may want and just what HER having a bracelet too actually meant.  She wouldn’t have to wait very long for her answers though as soon enough she found herself standing outside the door to English class where she knew Ms. Glass was waiting for her.  She took a deep breath before she reached up and gently knocked on the frosted glass of the door.  

“Come on in Raven,” Ms. Glass’ cheerful voice called from the other side.  

She pushed the door open and cautiously stepped inside.  

“You wanted to see Ms. Glass?” she asked.  

“Indeed I did,” the blonde woman replied.  “Don’t worry you’re not in trouble we just need to have a little chat!  Come on in and have a seat!” she padded a small wooden chair beside her desk.  

Raven closed the door behind her then walked over to the offered chair and sat down with her hands placed neatly on her lap in the manner the academy had taught them when speaking one-on-one with a teacher.  

“Oh there’s no need for that!” Ms. Glass waved off.  “This is completely unrelated to school.”

“So...then what IS this about?” Raven asked with an arched eyebrow.

“I think you know,” the woman stated as she pulled the sleeve of her sweater back to reveal her bracelet.  

Raven hesitated for a moment before she pulled her jacket sleeve back to show off her own red gemmed bracelet.  

“How did you know?” she asked sheepishly.  

“I thought I noticed it a few days ago but wanted to make sure before I said anything,” Ms. Glass explained.  “And of course I noticed you’ve been a bit more tired then usual in class lately.”  

The girl winced a bit at being caught and her cheeks flushed in embarrassment as she looked away.  

“Sorry...” she mumbled weakly.  

“Oh don’t worry about it!” the older blonde waved off.  “Trust me I know all about how demon slaying can drain you!”

“You do?”

“Of course!  You don’t think I have this thing as just a fashion statement, do you?” she smirked and gently tapped her bracelet.  

“I guess not.  But if you’re out there too, how come I haven’t run into you?” Raven asked.  

“Well how long have you been doing it?”

“Um...couple weeks I guess,” she shrugged.

“Then that’d be why,” Ms. Glass explained, giving her a playful point.  “I’ve been doing this for years and it DOES keep you rather busy.”

“YEARS?!” Raven exclaimed in shock.  

“Oh just about two or three, no big deal.”  

“But it IS a big deal!” the girl cried out practically hysterically as she jump up from her seat.  “You’ve had that thing attached to you for years?!  How long do they stay on?!”

“From what I’ve read, until the wielder dies,” Ms. Glass said seriously.  

~Which is exactly what I told you when we first bonded,~ Goregoth pointed out.  

“Oh shut up you!” Raven screamed at her wrist.  

She then realized she had said that out loud then looked back at Ms. Glass rather awkwardly.  Before she could explain herself, the teacher raised a hand to let her know it was okay.  

“So yours can be a mouth too, huh?” she smirked.  

“You too?” Raven asked as she sat back down.

“Yep,” Ms. Glass nodded as she looked at her bracelet.  “They don’t seem to like people they don’t see a ‘strong warriors’.  Or maybe it’s just women.  They ARE demons after all.

“So many of these things are there?”  

“Well...” the teacher started as she leaned back in her chair, which inadvertently made her large bust stick out even more and cause Raven to shrink back a bit, “...from what I’ve researched there are six bracelet weapons and six masks.”  

“Masks?’ Raven repeated, titling her head a bit.  

“Yes.  It seems these twelve demonic spirits were bonded to these items for...some reason and then brought to our world through black magic.  Where, as you can imagine, they caused quite a bit of trouble over the centuries,” she explained.  

“Yeah he tells me that pretty much all the time.”  

“Kind of annoy isn’t it?” Ms. Glass asked with a knowing smirk.  

“Very!” Raven said back with a small laugh.  

~No more annoying than YOUR inane thoughts!~ Goregoth shot back.  

“Yeah, yeah,” she dismissed then looked back at her teacher.  “So how do you know all this stuff anyway?”  

“I’m an English teacher, I love to read!” the older woman replied in her usual cheerful tone.  “Plus it helps having a cousin that’s big into magic over in England.  In fact she’s one of the superheroes over there.  Goes by the name Gothica.  Actually I have a picture of me with her and a few family members here...”

“Ah no, that’s fine Ms. Glass I don’t really...”  Raven tried to politely decline.  

Unfortunately she was far too late and the older blonde was already digging through her purse.  Soon enough she produced a small picture and handed it over to the braided girl.  Raven tentatively took it, intending on giving it just a quick glance to be nice, but her eyes nearly bugged out of her head when she actually saw it.  

*W-what the hell?!* she could barely keep from screaming aloud.  

There in the picture was Ms. Glass along with a dozen or so other women and girls of various ages who all seemed to have one thing in common.  Or maybe that should be TWO.  It was a beach picture two so they were all in swimsuits of varying sizes that showed off their VERY well endowed bodies.  Even the girls around her age seemed far more developed than they really should be.  

*Jeez is the whole FAMILY like that?!* she remarked.  

~Body issues.  Yet another thing about humans that disgust me!~ Goregoth growled.  

“There she is,” Ms. Glass noted, pointing to a black haired woman in a dark blue string bikini.  “Quite a powerful sorceress that one.  Full of lots of helpful information on these things and all sorts of other nasty supernatural things.”

“Oh...well..isn’t that...nice?” Raven stammered, her left eyebrow twitching a bit and her feelings of inadequacy flaring up again.  

“So anyway,” the busty blonde said as she took the picture, “would you like to see my blade?”

“Huh?” the girl asked, still a bit dazed.  “You mean right here?”

“Why not?  I don’t think anyone will spy on us.  Come on, I’ll so you mine if you show me yours,” Ms. Glass teased with a wink.  

“Jeez do you have to say it like THAT?!” Raven snapped, her cheeks turning a bright red.  

“Oh relax!  I’m just having a bit of fun!  You’re gonna need to find a way to do that if you’re going to be a demon hunter!  It’s the only way to stay sane!”

“I’ll take your word for it,” she muttered.  

“Anyway, how about that game of show and tell?” Ms. Glass prompted again.  

Raven shook her head at the way she insisted on saying it but nevertheless she stood up and pulled her sleeve back again.  With a quick mental command it shimmered then shot off her wrist and shifted into it’s scythe form.  She quickly grabbed the handle and held it at her side.  

“A scythe, huh?” Ms. Glass asked, giving it an appreciative once over.  “Not bad.  But check this out!”

With that she stood up and pulled her sleeve back as well.  She held out her right arm with her hand held open.  The flash of her bracelet slid under her palm and she wrapped her fingers around it right as it solidified into a sword handle.  A rather intricately designed one as well, featuring a battle scene carved into the ivory.  The green gem from it’s bracelet form sat just above the pointed hand guard, resting in the hilt of the katana blade.  

“So a sword, huh?” Raven remarked, echoing Ms. Glass’ earlier comment.  “Are they all different weapons?”

“Yep!” the teacher replied, resting the back of the sword against her shoulder.  “Haven’t found out what they are yet but I’m working on it.”  

“Does yours have a name too?”

She nodded.  “Calls itself Hatefeeder.  Yours?”

“Goregoth,” Raven answered then shook her head.  “These things really go for the dramatic names, don’t they?”

“Well the are *demonic* spirits,” Ms. Glass smirked.  

~Do NOT make light of my name!  It has-~

*Struck fear into the hearts of countless brace warriors, blah, blah, blah!  I get it!* she mentally snapped at him.  

“Well I think that’s enough.  We should probably put them away before someone DOES walk in,” Ms. Glass suggested.  

Raven nodded and in two more flashes the weapons were back on their wrists.  They were silent was they sat back down and stared at each other awkwardly for a moment.  

“Soooo....now what?” the girl asked.  

“Well...” the teacher mused as she tapped her chin, “since I know telling you NOT to do this won’t really matter in the long run I suppose I’ll have to work with you!”  

“What?!”

“It’ll be so much fun!” she cheered and clapped her hands together.  “I’ll be your teacher both in and out of school!”

“I...I don’t know...” Raven started but was caught off when she was suddenly drawn into Ms. Glass’ impressive bosom.  

“Oh this will be great!  We’re sure to make the perfect time!  Heck we might even grow to be like sisters!” the enthusiastic woman gushed.  

“I can’t wait...” the blonde girl mumbled into the breasts inclosing her head.  Her eyes suddenly popped open when she realized she was missing something crucial.  “And I can’t breathe!”

“What?” Ms. Glass asked, looking down at her.  

“Can’t breathe!” she cried out again, this time struggling against her teacher.  

“Oh,” she replied and let her girl go.  “Sorry.  Sometimes I forget what these things can do.”

“No...problem,” Raven said between deep breaths.  Once she fully recovered she stared at her teacher again.  “So Ms. Glass-”

“Oh please, call me Joanne.  Actually call me Jo, all my friends do.  And that just seems fitting since we’ll be working together,” she explain.  

“Okay then...Jo...when exactly do we start this partnership?”

“How about tonight?” Jo suggested.  

“Tonight?  That soon?!”  

“Well why not?”

“Um...” Raven struggled to find a reason but couldn’t think of one.  “I...guess it’ll be okay.”

“Wonderful!” Jo clapped again.  “Then meet me tonight around eight right outside the school here and we’ll get started.”  

“Alright.  Then...I guess I’ll see you tonight,” she said unsurely then caught up and started to leave.  

“See you tonight partner!” the older woman cheered one last time with a wave.  

Raven suppressed a shudder and hurried out the door.  Once she closed it she let out a soft side and leaned against it for support.  

*What did I get myself into now?* she wondered then glanced down at her wrist. *You know there are days I REALLY regret putting you on.*

~For once we are in complete agreement,~ Goregoth said.  


The End.