My Immortal

The Battle Within

**The Next Day**:

 Dean sighed; as he watched the others work on the moves Zander was showing them. It was late afternoon and all of them had been training since after breakfast. Dean was feeling more confident than he had ever felt now that he was truly at full power and their training was going well. Despite his new confidence though, he was still bothered by something, something that had shown up with his full powers, something he hasn't told anyone about. It wasn't something obvious or something he couldn't control, but it was there inside of him and it made him uneasy. What it was is a desire...no, a need for bloodshed, it was like his mind and body focused on the need to not only end Vassago's life, but to end it bloody and painfully. It wasn't like he couldn't control himself like when he had gone through the bloodlust, no, this was something entirely new and different.

 When he first transformed back in the woods, he had felt it as soon as he opened his eyes and saw Keeper and Zander arguing. He had felt the desire for bloodshed and his body had transformed on its own from mortal to his Vamp side and then quickly back to mortal. He brushed it off though as just his usual thoughts of revenge, it didn't feel any different to him at the time, so he didn't think anything of it. The fact that it disappeared as quickly as it came only made him even more sure that that was what it had been. It wasn't until later that night after Roman slept, that the feeling returned, it was like someone had turned off everything else in his brain leaving only thoughts of bloody revenge turned on. He not only had the desire for it, but there were images too. Not wanting to disturb or worry Roman, Dean had managed to gently untangle himself from Roman and left the room. The thoughts of evil only intensified and so he decided to go for a run to see if he could forget them.

 It wasn't until he had returned from his run this morning and found everyone awake and eating breakfast together that his thoughts returned to normal. Honestly, it wasn't the thoughts and images themselves that bothered him; being what he was blood and violence were both apart of him and they had stopped affecting him a long time ago. What did affect him though was the pure evil behind them and worst of all...how much he enjoyed it. He was tempted to question Keeper about it, but he didn't knowing that even though the asshole did know a lot, there was a limit to even his knowledge. Dean sighed, as he ran his hands over his face, sensing his unease, his Raven who had been silently keeping watch in a nearby tree became restless too. It flew to him and landed on his shoulder and began to pace back and forth, crying out softly.

 "Oh, calm down, you feathered pain in my ass, I'm fine." Dean said sighing, instantly the Raven stopped its pacing and sat silently on his shoulder. "You know, I think you need a name, don't you?" He added smiling, as he pet the Raven.

 "A name?" Keeper said confused, as he joined him again after being sent by Dean to check on the other's training. "Don't be ridiculous, he already has one, the Raven Of Mourning."

 "Yeah, I know what he's called, Keeper, but I think he needs a new name and he belongs to me, right?" Dean said annoyed.

 "I suppose in theory, yes." Keeper answered. "But, what name could you possibly give it that would invoke as much fear and dread in others just by hearing its name that the Raven Of Mourning does?"

 "Why does it have to do that?" Dean demanded confused. "It's just a name, dammit."

 "Why would you not want it to?" Keeper replied confused.