"Hello, Raven. It has been a long time."
A shadow had emerged from the dust.
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The Mark
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My fists were already tingling with energy before he had even finished his sentence.
"Raven," Beastboy whispered, falling into combat position beside me, "Who is this guy?"
I shook my head slightly. "I don't know who you are," I said, addressing the masked figure, "But I do know where you're going."
A long chuckle was his only answer. "Raven. Dear, dear Raven. Didn't Arella ever tell you about me? Perhaps you do not know me, but surely you recognize this?"
Arella? How did he know my mother's name?
Slowly, he stepped into the flickering firelight, his sure steps making no noise on the concrete. A symbol glinted bright on his chest, revealed by the orange light. A curiously twisted S…I drew in a quick, involuntary breath. I knew better than anyone what it meant.
He must have noticed my surprise, because I could sense his malicious pleasure, and I knew he was grinning under that mask of his. Step by step he approached me, his every step confidant. I stood frozen, the Mark burning into my eyes. He couldn't be back, I had banished him forever from this dimension! No!
A black shield flashed between him and me. His hypnosis was strong, stronger than any other I had ever experienced, but I wasn't the daughter of Trigon for nothing. The connection broke. Beastboy jumped out from behind me as a tiger, all claws outstretched. He slashed, but the man simply sidestepped him with a low chuckle that was almost immediately drowned out by Beastboy's frustrated roar. His eyes glowed red, and Beastboy fell to the ground on all fours, human once more. Straining to keep his head up, he glared at the man, his gritted teeth bared in a feral expression of hate.
"Foolish. Mere strength will not take me down."
The man suddenly froze, his face gazing somewhere behind me. I heard it too: rapid footsteps coming towards us.
"Raven!"
"Robin!"
"Next time, then," the man said in an almost singsong voice, backing into the dark smoke, leaving Beastboy panting on the pavement. I attempted to restrain the retreating form with my powers, but to my surprise, they were deflected with ease. I gazed dumbfounded at the place where he had disappeared. He hadn't even cast an incantation or made any physical move…
"Raven. You're all right."
It was Robin. I could tell he had been worried, even with that mask of his.
"Was anyone hurt?" I asked as coolly as I could.
He shook his head. "No. We managed to take down two, but the rest disappeared like smoke. And the two we did apprehend committed suicide right away."
"Never mind them. We know who's behind this. He showed us."
Beastboy, still panting heavily, spat out the word he like it was poison.
"He?"
"Robin, it was the Mark of Scath. It was Trigon's mark."
Robin's mouth was one grim line across his face. "I know. Look."
In his palm was a circular piece of paper, the crooked S of the Mark drawn in blood. There was a silhouette of a raven with wings outstretched superimposed on the Mark.
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"So, Brother Blood was the head of the Church of Blood, a cult that worships Trigon?"
They had heard the full story. All the things I had held back, even at the End of the World. About my mother, Azarath, Blood. Everything.
"Dude," Beastboy breathed, "That's deep."
Cyborg shook his head disbelievingly. "Man, and I just thought he was a psychotic principal obsessed with crime."
Starfire hugged me, tears glistening in her eyes. "Oh, friend Raven," she whispered. She didn't have to say another word. She understood the most, because she at least, had heard part of it way back at the beginning when the Puppet King had switched our bodies. She knew how hard it was for me to tell the team about my past.
"But why didn't Blood take interest in you before?" Cyborg asked. "He was more obsessed over me the last time we met. Why you? Why now?"
"I don't know." My voice was emotionless. "It's possible that he didn't recognize me, since all he did was play matchmaker."
"There's just one problem." We all stared at Robin, who was standing in front of the sofa with a pensive expression. "Brother Blood is in prison at Steel City. If he was loose, Titans East would have contacted us."
With her arms still around me, Starfire said, "But perhaps this mysterious personage was not the Brother Blood of whom Raven spoke. Perhaps it is another cult member."
"No." Robin's gaze was piercing. I did not look away. "No," I repeated. "If they chose death over capture, it would only be under the order of Brother Blood."
"But then…" Cyborg looked at all of us. "Maybe they've got another leader. Could happen."
"Maybe…" was my only reply.
"Look," Beastboy, who had been oddly quiet, burst out angrily. "I think we're missing the point here. They're after Raven! Who cares who that guy was! Raven's in danger!"
"Danger's part of our job description," Robin said unsympathetically. Beastboy opened his mouth furiously. "But," Robin continued, raising his hand and cutting Beastboy off, "Beastboy's right. I think we all agree this cult is after Raven. They've tried twice to cut her off from all of us. Raven is in danger, so our first priority is her safety."
"I am not going back to the Safety Room," I stated firmly. "Trigon can't be back. Nothing's worse than him."
"Maybe. But this cult can still harm you."
I pushed Starfire away as gently as I could under the circumstances. "I'm fine. They can't hurt me, I'm their master's daughter." A note of irritation crept into my voice.
"There are other ways to harm than the wounds of the body."
It was Starfire, her voice quiet and her eyes veiled. Robin immediately went over to Starfire to hold her hand tightly. Beastboy and Cyborg looked confused, but I knew, and it seemed that Robin knew. Her experience with the Gordanians had not been as simple as she had led everyone to believe. They had used her in more ways than one.
"I know you all care for me," I said softly, "But I'd rather face danger than live like a prisoner. Last time I knew when my father would come. This time no one knows when the Church of Blood will act again. I might have to be in there forever."
Robin sighed. "Fine. But Raven," I looked up, "You are banned from all missions until further notice. One other Titan will be with you at all times." I frowned resentfully but nodded.
He tried to smile. "I would make us all sleep here in the Ops Room, but I don't think you would agree as far as that."
"Definitely not." Thanks.
Robin looked at Starfire. You're welcome.
Cyborg stood up and went to the panel at the back of the room, rapidly adjusting a few things before pressing his palm to it.
"Lockdown initiated. I've increased security, so no strolls outside until I wake up and deactivate it, or else the alarm'll go off." He looked pointedly at Robin. "It's late. We should all go to bed."
Starfire pulled gently at Robin's hand, and for once, Robin did not argue. "Cyborg's right. Good night."
"Good night," I echoed, but made no move to get up from the sofa.
Silence. Then,
"Go to bed, Beastboy."
He was still hesitating halfway to the door. He glanced guiltily at me.
"Aren't you going to bed?" he asked.
"In a moment. There's a lot I need to meditate on."
Beastboy seemed to make up his mind. He came and sat down next to me.
"I'm not going to bed until you are!" he announced rather childishly.
I rolled my eyes. "You aren't five. You're old enough to go to bed by yourself."
"That's not the point – " He suddenly stopped and gritted his teeth, clutching his side.
"Beastboy!" I swiftly reached out to place my hands over his. Periwinkle light coursed through my hands and into Beastboy. A moment passed, and his breathing slowed to normal.
"Are you all right?" My voice was quiet.
"Yeah, I'm fine…I guess I'm not up to taking two blows in one week," he replied, straightening up with an attempted grin that was nevertheless half a grimace.
"Did Blood hurt you much?"
He shook his head. "More my ego than anything. I hated feeling helpless while he was trying to get to you."
I suddenly noticed where my hands were. I sharply drew them away.
"It's…it's late," I stammered, looking down at my hands. For a split second, they seemed to be covered with blood. The vision passed as quickly as it had come.
"Raven – "
"Good night."
My voice held a finality that made it clear that the conversation was over. He clenched and unclenched his fists.
"Good night," he said. "Sweet dreams, and don't let the Blood bugs bite." He smiled brightly at me. A fake smile.
The door closed definitively behind me.
"You too," I whispered as my feet carried me to my room and onto the bed, "you too."
Ha! I'm back! I told you I'd be. It's getting easier to write in Raven's POV. Review to wish me luck on my next chapter! It really does help, you know.