A/N: OK EVERYONE! here i am with another tt story! i know i took a looong break but i had to make it perfect! and this chapter is longer than i usually write, i'm trying a new longer chapter policy hehe. Well i hope you enjoy and please R&R! Constructive criticism, love notes, and if u hate it u may flame, but i hope you all enjoy! ... and this story does not reflect a murderous spirit in me, i'm not a maniac... just so you know. enjoy!!

The feared disclaimer: I don't own anything in TT, cuz if i did (a) i wouldnt have 2 write this and (b) raven and beast boy would have hooked up in the movie. Stay back blood thirsty lawyers!

Island Paradise?

One

It Begins

The rain fell relentlessly in unending sheets of gray that drown out the moon and suffocated the stars over Saturn Island. The streets were silent and the usual vibrant nightlife was fairly still. Saturn Island was an island not far from Jump City; it would have taken no more than an hour to reach it by flight. It was the type of night that you could imagine yourself around the fireplace or under a blanket and reading a good book or watching a good movie, and that was exactly what Lucy Evans was doing.

Lucy was twelve years old and she was watching the Spongebob Squarepants Movie (don't own) in her parents' room. Her baby sister, Samantha, was sleeping peacefully in her crib despite Spongebob's raucous laughter. Her seventeen year old brother, Jake, was out at a party in downtown. The rain pattered against the roof, and it soothed the girl as she laid her head back against a soft pillow. Slowly, Lucy lolled off to sleep…

A sharp rapping at the front door snapped Lucy awake. The rain was falling heavier than ever and lightning flashed through the air. The thunderclaps erupted in the night sky, and momentarily, Lucy was deafened. She looked over at the digital clock on her parents' bedside table. 12:00 AM. "I wonder if it's Jake," she shrugged and stretched as she rolled off the bed. Lucy reached the top of the steps and froze. Her mother and father were standing in front of the open door, and the battering rain wet the rug.

In the frame of the door was the most frightening figure Lucy had ever seen. The cold sweat upon her face froze and she felt as if though her heart at stopped at the very sight of the figure.

It was extremely tall, and clad in all black. It was wearing a large, wide brimmed black hat that sat jauntily upon its masked head. The head was wrapped in cloth and through two eyeholes, Lucy saw a sick yellowish glow. It wore a long, ripped black coat and its chest was wrapped in dark cloth like its face. The buckle on its black leather belt was large silver skull, and its boots were horned. Lucy could barely make out the hilts of two swords from the shadows of his coats.

She couldn't imagine why her mother or father would let such a vile looking man into their house.

"Please sir, ma'am, I'm tired, and I need a place to stay," the thing grumbled and took a step forward.

"Uh… I'm sorry sir, but we don't have any extra rooms," Lucy's father gulped.

The thing shook its head. "Is that so?" he asked icily. "Well perhaps I can make room."

"W—wha—"

Lucy screamed as tears immediately came to her eyes. Within seconds two odachi blades had been unsheathed and swept clean across her mother and father's necks. The severed heads rolled onto the ground and blood splattered onto the wooden floor and the rug at the door. The bodies fell to the ground and the thing looked up and the sickly yellow orbs were now blood red. Lucy screamed again and ran up to the room she had just been in. Her heart was racing and her thoughts rushed to Samantha. Lucy slammed the door shut and locked it quickly. She sighed as tears came to her eyes, and she turned around.

A bloodcurdling scream pierced the air as Lucy beheld the man before her, cradling Samantha in his arms. "W—who are you?" she sobbed. "And why?"

The thing looked up at her and shrugged.

"P—please don't hurt my little sister, please," Lucy fell to her knees and sobbed. "Please…" she whispered.

The thing laughed a sickly laugh. It reminded Lucy of a dying animal. "You love the girl… I never felt love."

"I'm sorry, but please, don't kill her," Lucy cried.

"Poor girl, all must feel my pain," the thing shook its head. Lucy's eyes flooded as she looked up. The man threw the child up into the air, immediately making the baby cry, but her cries were soon silenced as her head rolled across the ground.

Lucy screamed and tears fell down from her eyes. The man dropped the little body and stepped in the blood over to Lucy. It bent down and made her stare right into its gleaming eyes. "P—please, just, put me out of my misery," she pleaded.

"Good girl," he whispered. "Thirst for death as I have for the past decades."

Seconds later, Lucy's headless body joined her family.

The thing stood up and minutes later, it heard sirens heading towards the house. "My, pesky neighbors alert the police quickly, maybe they'll be next," he laughed again and stepped over to the window, which shattered as if a hammer had crashed into it as he stepped onto the sill. The sirens were growing louder and the thing looked at the bloodstained room and looked on his hand. There was read gleam on it. The thing blew on the blood and it flew off its hands and onto the wall, forming letters. The thing smiled beneath its mask and then there was a flash of lightning. After the lightning faded, it was gone.

On the wall was written two words:

It Begins.

XXXX

It was a dark and cold night in Jump City. Rain fell in huge waves from the sky relentlessly, and the streets in the city were flooded. The water level had risen so much that parts of the harbor were submerged, and the base of Titan's Tower was barely above the water.

In the darkness of her room, the quiet singing of Raven's mantra mixed with the rhythmic drumming of rain on the roof and windows. Raven sat cross-legged on her bed, muttering the phrase over and over again. Just as she felt herself come to an emotional peace, the face of a certain changeling came to her mind. Raven growled and shook her head, momentarily pausing her soft incanting.

Lately, Raven's thoughts often trailed to Beast Boy, and as much as the little green boy annoyed her, she couldn't help but laugh at his lame jokes deep down inside, and within her, Raven couldn't deny the burning feelings she felt for him.

But she suppressed it because she was Raven. Emotionless. Cold. Lonely.

Raven breathed deeply again and chased the face of Beast Boy away from her thoughts. She relaxed her muscles and after a second deep breath, began chanting once more.

"Azarath Metrion Zinthos… Azarath Metrion Zinthos… Azarath Metrion Zinthos…"

Then Raven felt something strange… it was a slight prodding at her subconscious, as if someone was attempting to break into her thoughts. Raven pushed it away, but felt it get stronger. Then she felt the unmistakable feeling of a second presence in her room.

No one should be in my room.

Raven's eyes shot open just in time to see a slight rustling in the shadows. Lightning flashed through the sky and she saw a crouched figure hunched over in a corner, hidden by darkness.

"Who are you?" Raven asked monotonously, yet her voice was saturated with authority. She buried the fear beneath her and levitated off her bed. Attempting to appear calm, Raven hovered a few feet until she was six feet away from the corner. She brushed her dark hair that she had grown out of her eyes and squinted, attempting to make out the outline of the figure. Raven still felt the prodding at her mind and had to continue to push it away.

"Reveal yourself," she ordered. There was a stir of motion.

Raven squinted harder. I don't have time for this.

The fear was building up, though. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" Raven burst out in fear. Black tentacles wrapped around the corner and squeezed tight around a figure. Raven felt a strong resistance… someone, or something, was fighting her powers?

Sweat beaded on Raven's forehead as the force grew stronger. She couldn't hold it much longer… The half demon squinted and with difficulty, through the darkness of the stormy night, made out the figure of a young boy wrapped around in her spell.

Then the pressure became too much. Raven cracked. Falling to her knees, Raven gasped for breath. She had never met such a strong resistance. Sweat stung her eyes and matted her hair. She felt a throbbing pain in her head, and she had all but forgotten about the boy crouched in the corner of her room. Raven's heart was racing, and the fear had risen up into her chest and head. Her breathing was fast and she suddenly became cold.

"W—what is this?" she wondered.

Raven closed her eyes and remembered the boy.

She struggled to her feet and grabbed at the nearest bookshelf for support. She switched on a light, and for the first time in years, Raven's room was bright. But she was far too tired, confused, and scared to care.

For the first time, Raven got a clear look of the boy.

He was dirty and his clothes were torn. His hair was shaggy and dirty and he held an old and tattered blanket tightly around his thin form.

"W—who are you?" Raven asked wearily. "And what are you doing in my room?"

"Please ma'am, I'm tired and I need a place to stay," the boy sobbed.

Raven closed her eyes and rubbed her temple with the hand that wasn't supporting her body. "You can't stay in my room, there's no room," she replied.

"Is that so?" the boy asked, slightly icily. "Well then perhaps I can make room."

"What?" Raven opened her eyes and screamed. Her eyes grew wide and her pupils small and she fell to the ground with a loud thud.

Before her was the most gruesome thing she had ever seen. It had four glowing red eyes and huge fangs. It's skin was black and twisted horns shot out of its head and back. Its claws were yellow and sharp as a sword. It opened its maw and released a loud roar before it pounced on Raven.

"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" Raven managed just in time. The thing crashed into a black shield and toppled over it onto Raven's bed. It dug its claws into the mage's bed before pouncing again. Raven rolled out of the way and telepathically picked up and launched a huge bookshelf at the beast. The creature swept the shelf away carelessly with its huge claws. It opened its jaws and released black fire.

Raven barely escaped being charred as the tunnel of flame shattered Raven's window and left a gaping hole in her room. Rain poured into the room and howling winds deafened the sorceress.

Her little strength that she held was fading fast… was she going to die now?

Her vision became blurred as the creature was about to come over her, and as consciousness left her she saw a green form pounce on the beast…

XXXXX

Slowly, consciousness returned to Raven. Her eyes cracked open, although her vision was blurred, and she attempted to sit up. Immediately a sharp pain shot up through her spine. She grunted and lay back down, and looked around. She was in the Medical Wing, as she could tell by the wires that were attached to her and the bleeps of her heart beating. The door slid open and Raven made out the blurred lines of the other Titans.

"Friend Raven, are you unharmed?" she heard Starfire asked, and then the alien's arms were wrapped around her.

"I'm fine," Raven replied, shrugging the alien off and again tried to sit up, ignoring the sharp pain that slowly faded.

"You really had us scared Raven," Robin said, putting his hand on her shoulder.

"What happened?" Cyborg asked.

"I don't really know…" Raven rubbed her head. "I was meditating and I felt this presence, and it was this little boy, but then he turned into that monster… it would have killed me if you hadn't shown up. I felt extremely weak, as if all my power just left me…"

"It was not us who saved you, friend," Starfire said. "It was Beast Boy."

Her vision was slowly returning, and Raven saw the annoying green one behind the others. "Really?" she asked doubtfully.

The other three nodded and parted.

"Oh… hey Rae," Beast Boy blushed. "Yeah… I heard you scream and then the big thud… I guess it was the wall breaking. So I came. I fought that thing off until Robin, Cy and Star came."

"Well thank you," Raven replied, knocking the thoughts of Beast Boy saving her from her mind. "How long have I been in here?"

"A day," Robin replied. "Beast Boy chased that thing away, but it might be loose in the city… we haven't heard any reports of it, but still…"

"A day?" Raven sighed… a day without meditating or herbal tea. "Well I'm getting up," she shrugged and slid out of bed. Her muscles were tight, but the pain in her back had faded to a slight sting.

"Are you sure you are capable of walking, friend Raven?" Starfire asked.

"I'm fine," the half demon replied and led the way, slowly out of the med room, picking up her cloak that someone had removed on the way out. She made her way to the kitchen and within minutes she had a cup of warm herbal tea. The hot liquid slid down her throat as she took a seat, but the haunting memory of that beast, and the weakness she had felt still probed her at the back of her mind…

XXXX

It was later that day when it happened.

The sun was setting and Raven had moved her belongings to Starfire's room, where she would be staying until repairs were made to her room. The temporary fixing was a large piece of cardboard stuck into place…

Starfire's bright room wasn't exactly Raven's ideal place for meditation, so she had seated herself in the common room and was deeply immersed in a thick volume.

Suddenly, the alarm went off. The red light flashed through the rooms and the loud siren blared in Raven's eyes. She sighed and shut the tome as she floated over to the computer. By this time, Robin, Starfire, Cyborg and Beast Boy were all in the room. Raven couldn't help but notice Beast Boy's continuous glances towards her…

Robin pressed a few buttons on the computer and a large, unknown face appeared on the screen. The man was tubby with curly white hair, and a thick snow-white mustache and beard. "Who's the Santa?" Beast Boy said under his breath.

"Please, who is this Santa that you speak of?" Starfire asked loudly.

Robin shook his head and returned his attention to the screen. "Sorry sir, but if you don't mind me asking, who are you?"

"Oh yes," the man said worriedly. "Sorry, Titans. I'm the mayor of Saturn Island."

"That's that island not too far from here isn't it?" Cyborg asked.

The mayor nodded. "I need your help Titans. Yesterday night, a murder took place on our island. A family of four, the Evans, was found dead in their house, all of them beheaded. Their only son, Jake, was at a party at the night. The murder is strange and slightly unnerving; there has never been such a murder on Saturn Island, and it has thrown our small community into worry. Written in blood in Mr. and Mrs. Evans' room were the words It Begins. Besides the bodies, there's no evidence. No footprints anywhere except for the Evans', and nothing that could lead us to a suspect."

"You want us to be security guards," Raven said flatly.

"Please Titans, the people will feel safer with you here."

"Hold on a moment, sir," Robin said and signaled for the Titans to huddle. "We can't deny him. It sounds serious."

"But Rob, don't forget that monster's probably on the loose here."

"I know, so all of us can't go, maybe two or three of us."

"But who, friend Robin? It does not feel right to separate us," Starfire sighed.

"As hard as it may be to believe, Raven, I'm not sure how much good you'll be against this monster here. From what you say, it just drained your strength. So you should go probably."

Raven had seen this coming… even if she didn't particularly care for the idea of being alone with one of the other titans for as long as it would take to crack the case.

"Fine," she shrugged monotonously.

"Um… I'll go too," Beast Boy volunteered, blushing slightly.

Robin cocked his eyebrows, and Cyborg looked at the changeling like he was insane. As for Raven, she could barely breathe. Beast Boy? But why?

Secretly, she knew she was flattered.

Starfire merely smiled slightly.

Robin shook his head. "OK, fine… Raven are you sure you're alright to go?"

"I'm fine, Robin. My strength is back and everything is fine."

Robin nodded slowly.

The titans turned their attention back to the Santa-like-man.

"Raven and Beast Boy will be there by tomorrow."

"Thank you Titans!" a small smile came to the man's face. "I'll set up reservations for you in the finest hotel on Saturn Island, the Titan Resort." The next moment, the fat man was gone.

Raven sighed. "I suppose I should go and pack."

A black aura encased Raven and in the next instant, she was in Starfire's room.

As Raven packed, she couldn't help but smile. Alone with Beast Boy… it would be interesting.

A/N: well... wat did you think?? I hope u liked it! i had fun writing it, i scared myself writing it, but i had fun!