Okay, I'm back! new story, original idea and hopefully better quality. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: As much as I hate to admit it, I do not own Teen titans or any of the associated companies.

Just hide here.

Those had been the last words she'd heard from her mentor, Azar. Her ears ached for some sound, any sound to take her mind off the violence and her fear. A large bang startled her and she shrank against the wall instinctively, forgetting that there was no one there to see her. The lights had failed long before and she imagined all sorts of monsters creeping up on her but she knew that couldn't happen for Azar had sealed the room with magical and physical protections so her charge wouldn't be found.

Raven's purple hair was greasy from not being washed. It hung lank and limp and she brushed it out of her eyes. Her stomach growled and she desperately wished for some food. How long had she been here? Why had she been abandoned?

All of a sudden, there was a bright flash of light as the room lit up. Amethyst eyes began to blink rapidly, trying to adjust to the change.

"We found her! She's in here!" Raven flinched away from the noise. A stranger garbed in a travel stained brown cloak continued to speak rapidly in a language she didn't understand.

A rough hand grabbed her and pinned her against the wall. Her captor wore a hood that cast most of his face in shadows and was so close she could smell his breath. It stank of meat.

"Where is she, wench?" The man made an attempt to speak in her native tongue but he had a strong accent and slurred his words.

Raven shook her head slowly, unsure of who he was talking about.

"Answer me!" She shook her head again. Where was Azar?

"Azar!" she called out, the same way a child called to their mother for help. But after days of not drinking, her throat was parched dry. She could barely manage to speak, her throat hurt too much.

"Yes, Azar! Where is she?"

Piercing yellow eyes focused on her intently and she shivered with fear. He was rocking back and forth on his heels impatiently.

Raven pursed her lips tightly together, refusing to say a word. She might be young but she wasn't stupid. These people meant her and Azar ill. She wasn't about to betray Azar's trust, not now, not ever!

"TELL ME!"

"I can't!"

His voice took on a menacing tone. "Can't? Or won't? Maybe you need some… motivation?"

Too late she realized it would have been better if she'd kept her mouth shut. A stinging blow hit the side of her face and she almost fell over with the sheer force of the blow. A kick to the gut winded her and had her down on the ground whimpering. She curled up into the fetal position as blow after blow fell down on her. Salty tears began to fall as Raven began to cry.

The pain stopped and for a while, all Raven could see was black boots. It was a while before she'd recovered enough to think rationally and look up. Her captor was staring intently at the doorway where another black clad figure dueled with a tall lady in a white cloak. Long dark blue tresses tumbled down to her shoulders and her sapphire eyes were intent and focused. It was none other then High Priestess Azar.

The dark figure wielded a long wooden staff and for a moment, Raven was convinced Azar was going to win. The priestess' hand glimmered as the staff came down and it struck an invisible wall. Hand to hand combat commenced with Azar holding her own. She was beautiful and fierce- like a dark panther, sleek and elegant but deadly. A blow sent her adversary spinning across the room into the far wall. She hurried over and knelt down over Raven.

"I'm sorry I left you- is anything broken? What did they do to you?" Her hands expertly checked for breaks and finding none she straightened. "We haven't much time. It won't be long. Can you stand?" Raven smiled but shook her head. Azar was here, everything was going to be alright.

She looked up into Azar's face and held up her hand for help that would never come as she tried to get up. A moment of shock and then pain passed through Azar's face for a moment. They had forgotten Raven's torturer, the second guard. With a sickening squelch, he pulled the bloody dagger out. Azar crumpled to the ground, as her life's blood left her. With the last of her strength, she turned to face her young charge. Her eyes were a mixture of love and pain.

"I'll watch over you, Raven." She whispered before the man stabbed her again. He kicked her dead body and stepped over her. Raven stared in shock, her young mind trying to find a rational explanation for what had just happened. Raven backed away into a corner as the man approached. This wasn't supposed to happen!

He reached towards her and she flinched involuntarily before whimpering. "Go away…I don't like you…"

"Too bad, little missy." He leaned in close. "You don't have to like me."

He brought his foot up and for one moment, seven year old Raven Roth realized nothing was ever going to be the same again as his boot came crashing down on her face.

And through the misty haze of pain, Raven saw her mentor smiling down at her before her world gave way to black.

Ok... so how was it? Any better? Let me know and REVIEW!

xoxo Amethyst