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the stove and pulled out a box of ginger tea. She moved to another cabinet and took out a mug.
    “What are you not telling me?” Raven all but yelled.
    Diane turned around. “They are facing a death judgment.”
    Raven paled. “A death judgment? You mean they could die? Ethan could die?”
    Diane nodded. “I’m sorry.”
    “I have to go. I have to stop it.”
    “You can’t.”
    “But Ethan—”
    “Ethan knew. That’s why he didn’t tell you.”
    Raven trembled. “Ethan knew and he didn’t tell me?”
    “He knew you would try to stop him and the others from going. He also knew Cerberus would kill you the minute you showed up to rescue them. He knows you important and your safety must come first, no matter what happens to him and the others.”
    “But I—Ethan can’t die. None of them can die. Not because of me and what I did. It’s not fair. There’s got to be something that I can do . It’s not their fault, I’m the one to blame. I’m the one who should be facing Cerberus. I’m the one who turned Jay to stone. I’m the one who killed him.” Tears ran down Raven’s cheeks.
    “I know.” Diane’s voice was soft. She went over to Raven and hugged her. “I wish there was something I could do or say to make this whole situation better.”
    For several minutes Raven cried on Diane’s shoulders. “It’s not right. They shouldn’t be punished for what I did. I’ve got to do something.”
    “There’s nothing you can do. I know it’s not the answer you want to hear.” Diane pushed a lock of Raven’s hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear.
    “Can’t I—”
    “No.”
    Diane’s phone rang.
    The upbeat tune made Raven sick at her stomach. She moved away giving Diane some privacy. Even though she heard Diane talking, she didn’t pay any attention to what the woman was saying. Raven was trying to grasp the idea of Ethan and the others facing death because of her actions. Deep down, she had known what she had done to Jay would come back to haunt her, but she didn’t think others would suffer because of her. It wasn’t right.
    “Raven?”
    She looked over at Diane.
    “I hate to have to do this, especially right now, but I have to go to the hospital,” said Diane as she grabbed a tissue from the box on the counter.
    Raven wiped her eyes. “Is it the professor? Is he okay?” She took the tissue Diane handed to her and blew her nose.
    “Ryan’s fine. That’s who I was talking to on the phone, but a friend of ours was in a terrible accident.”
    Raven n odded but didn’t say anything.
    “I need you to stay here. Don’t go anywhere. Stay in the house.” Diane picked up her purse and keys. “Promise me you will stay in the house.”
    Raven nodded again.
    “And call Leslie to come stay with you. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Diane left the house.
    Raven locked the back door then went and locked the front door. Slowly she climbed the stairs and headed to her room.
    Closing the door behind her, she took off her jacket and tossed it over the chair at her desk. Raven looked around the room, wondering what she should do. Her eyes stopped on her bed. she stared at it for several seconds while her brain processed what she was looking at.
    Propped up against her pillows was an envelope with her name on the front. Absent-mindedly Raven started playing with the disc on the silver chain around her neck.
    She went over to the bed and picked up the envelope and turned it over. Carefully, she broke the seal and opened it. She pulled out the card inside and a ring fell to the bed.  Slowly she opened the simple white card.
     
    Raven,
    My heart and soul will always belong to you.
    I will be with you always.
    Y our devoted mate,
                                Ethan
     
    Fresh tears rolled down Raven’s cheeks. She picked up the ring and looked at it. The ring was a simple silver band, but etched inside it was Raven and Ethan’s names.
    Raven slipped the ring on