A/N : Ok so I have some super important announcements! Make sure you read. Here we go: 1.) I AM SO SORRY. I'm sorry for the long update and for the other announcements. 2.) This chapter was originally suppose to be one awesome epic amazing action packed chapter. But as I was writing it slowly grew longer and longer until I had written more than the first three chapters put together. So, I regrettable had to divide it into three different parts. I've finished the first two parts and thought I'd go ahead and post them so ya'll didn't think I had fallen of the face of the earth. 3.) I will be going on vacation. WAIT DON'T SHOOT! I'm only going to be gone a week! I'll be leaving tomorrow, which is Friday for those of you who don't own a calendar, and be back the next Friday. So you'll have to wait for the next exciting installment until then. 4.) Parts of these chapters were a little rushed because I wanted to get it posted before I left. I apologize for any mistakes and I'll be sure to fix them when I get back. 5.) I think that's it… oh wait! I added a poll! Check it out! Just remember… not everything is as it seems. O.o 6.) Guess that's it for now… enjoy!
Chapter 4 : The Oasis
"Beast Boy! Quit drooling on me," Raven complained in her usual monotone. The green titan's sleeping head had rolled over to rest on the empath's shoulder and a long string of saliva was making it's way down her arm. With her free hand, Raven pushed the changeling off her and onto Owen. The satyr cringed away but there was only so much space before he was crushing Starfire against the window.
"Uhh Beast Boy?" Owen muttered while poking him lightly. "Can you uhh… wake up?"
"Don't bother Owen," Robin spoke up from the front seat. The Boy Wonder was currently messing with the map, trying to make sure they were going the right direction. "A fog horn couldn't wake Beast Boy up."
"Man, you just don't know how BB's mind works," Cyborg commented as he drove down the road. "All you have to do is say something about tofu, Owen."
Owen looked down at the drooling shape shifter. "So uh Beast Boy? You want a… tofu burger?"
Immediately Beast Boy's eyes snapped open. "Huh? Tofu? What?"
Cyborg chuckled. "Told ya so."
Beast Boy let out a yawn as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Dudes are we there yet? This drive is so boring!"
The friends had been driving for hours on end and after multiple restroom breaks and wrong turns, the group had finally made its way to central Utah. The landscape consisted of miles of sandy desert, interrupted only by a few cacti and rocky cliffs that towered out of the sand. The sun was now beginning to set and so far there was no hotel or town in sight.
"Are you sure you're reading that map right?" Cyborg questioned, leaning towards the team leader. "What the…? Man, you're reading it upside down! We're suppose to be going north to get to Salt Lake City, not south!"
Robin scowled over at the half-robot. "Don't blame me! Star, why on earth did you buy a map in Japanese?"
Starfire stared at her boyfriend in confusion. "I do not understand Robin. I could read the map of places just fine."
The titans groaned in unison.
"You can read Japanese?" Owen asked, impressed.
"Oh yes, I learned when we were in the Tokyo!"
"Yeah yeah, Japanese, so cool. Look can we talk about foreign languages later? We're in the middle of no where and I'm starving!" Beast Boy complained just as his stomach let out a fierce rumble.
"Friend, if you are hungry, you may share some of my delightful mustard," Starfire offered, holding up a jug of the yellow condiment.
"Uhh, no thanks Star."
Robin grunted, throwing down his map in frustration. "There's no turnoff road from here that leads to Salt Lake City. We're going to have to continue in this direction." The leader turned around to gaze at his friends in the backseat. "Can one of you fly out there and see if there are any towns nearby?"
Beast Boy sighed. "I'll do it. One more minute of watching Star eat might make me puke."
The changeling quickly took the form of a hummingbird, motioning with his wing for Raven to roll down the window. The empath obliged as Beast Boy took of with a flutter of his wings. Unfortunately, seconds before the green bird reached the opening, the window suddenly rolled up and the teen to crash unceremoniously into the glass. Beast Boy chirped as he collapsed onto Raven's lap before returning to human form.
Cyborg burst out laughing as he took his finger off of the window control. "I'm… sorry… couldn't… resist!"
After recovering from his collision, Beast Boy leaned back casually against the door, placing his hands behind his head.
"Hey Rae, how's it going?" The green titan asked with a mischievous grin.
"Beast Boy," Raven said coldly. "Are you going to… I don't know… get off of me?"
"I don't know…" Beast Boy's voice feigned nonchalance. "I could use another nap."
Without another glance at the changeling, Raven reached for the door handle and yanked it open in one clean motion. Beast Boy's eyes widened as he hung for a moment above empty air, his arms flapping as he tried to maintain his balance. Raven let a small smile spread across her face as she poked the green teen lightly in the chest. With a girlish shriek, Beast Boy tumbled from the car into the dirt on the side of the road. The empath reached out and solemnly closed the door, acting as if nothing had happened. The remaining titans reacted similarly but Owen seemed genuinely concerned.
"Umm is he gonna be...?" Owen stopped abruptly as a green cheetah appeared next to the car. Beast Boy's eyes glared fiercely through the window while his fangs were revealed in a twisted expression. With a final snarl, the changeling took the form of a hawk and spiraled into the evening sky.
Beast Boy had always loved flying. The feeling of the wind beneath his wings was a sensation that just couldn't be matched. No matter how many forms he took, this would always be one of his favorites. The gentle air currents allowed Beast Boy to glide along with ease while the hawk's sharp eyes could pick out every little detail of the beautiful desert landscape. A snake, slithering across the sand in pursuit of a mouse. The long shadow of a cactus towering from the sand. Even a small desert flower, that managed to survive in these harsh conditions, wasn't left unnoticed. Beast Boy could have gazed down at the desert for hours. But of course, he had a job to do.
The changeling soared through the air, following the winding path of the road. Below him, Beast Boy watched as the T-car sped along. With his keen ears he could pick out bits and pieces of conversation. Raven's stern voice trying to calm someone down. Starfire's happy tone. Suddenly, Beast Boy cried out in a hawk's equivalent to laughter. It sounded like Robin and Cyborg were arguing again.
The teen did a few quick flaps, pushing himself ahead of his friends. The barren land stretched on into the horizon, broken only by rolling hills that appeared in the distance. Behind them towered monstrous, white-capped peaks. The Rocky Mountains.
There was no town or city in sight.
As Beast Boy prepared to return to his friends and deliver the bad news, a flash of color appeared at the edge of his vision. A strange speck of blue in an otherwise golden landscape. Curious, the changeling glided towards the mysterious shape that sat in the foothills ahead of him. As he drew closer, the outline stabilized to reveal a medium sized building with a quaint cottage look. In front of the lawn sat a sign that read "Blue Shark Inn."
Delighted with his discovery, Beast Boy quickly flew back towards the car. The sun had finally sunken beneath the horizon and the desert was wrapped in dim shadows. Adjusting to the changing light, the changeling took the form of an owl and his nocturnal eyes blinked while scanning the road for his friends. The teen let out a small hoot as he resisted the urge to pluck a rat off the ground. He was hungry, but not that hungry.
As Beast Boy soared over a sand dune, the T-car's lights came into view like two beacons in the dark. Sensing his presence, Raven rolled down the window and the shape shifter swooped in, taking his place between Owen and the empath.
"There's an inn a couple miles up the road," Beast Boy stated before Robin could open his mouth to ask. "We should be there in a few minutes."
"Glorious!" Starfire exclaimed as she slurped down the remainder of her mustard.
"Nice work Beast Boy," Robin commented as he swiveled around in his seat. "I told a certain titan there was nothing to worry about." The group in the backseat moaned as Cyborg and Robin resumed their bickering.
The friends were still fighting about nothing in particular when they pulled up next to the inn. Immediately the group fell silent, completely stunned by the beauty of the place. Even Beast Boy, who had seen it before, had to hold back a gasp as he saw the inn up close.
The lawn alone was a lovely sight to the eyes of the titans. After hours of driving through the desert, the inn's yard resembled an oasis. Grass sprung up everywhere in different shades of green, accompanied by clay flower pots that lay on either side of the sidewalk. Rusty lanterns were lit every few feet to illuminate the dark yard and fireflies flickered in the bushes. Two weeping willows sat in the dark, their branches casting long shadows on the earth. At the end of the walkway stood the inn itself. The lower half of the structure was white rock while the top half was stucco and painted a light blue. Huge windows were all along the front, each one framed in stylish white trim.
"Wow," Beast Boy muttered in awe as the group made its way up the sidewalk.
"It is most beautiful," Starfire agreed.
Owen was the only one who seemed unfazed by the inn. In fact, he looked almost nervous.
"Um guys? I have a bad feeling about this place. It smells like… monsters."
"What are you talking about?" Beast Boy sniffed hard and his mouth immediately began to water. "All I smell is food! Tofu and… pizza!"
It was Cyborg's turn to smell the air. "I think your nose is off B. It smells like steak, bacon, and… maybe even sausage! Besides, who would be making your nasty tofu?"
As Cyborg and Beast Boy began one of their usual food debates, Starfire placed a comforting hand on Owen's shoulder. "Do not worry friend, I am sure all will be well."
The satyr's eyes remained troubled but he nodded slightly.
"Well let's see if they're open," Robin suggested as he rapped the door lightly with his knuckles. For a moment, only silence emerged from behind the door but after a few seconds it slowly creaked open. Beast Boy leaned closer to the entrance, his jaw dropping at what he saw.
Standing before the friends was the most gorgeous woman they, or the males at least, had ever seen. Her long blonde hair cascaded over her bare shoulders, framing her face with its gentle waves. She had brilliant blue eyes while her smile was a dazzling white. Even her skin was smooth and flawless. All she wore was a simple green tank top with denim shorts but it managed to make the woman look even more amazing. The only thing that seemed odd about her was a small snake tattoo that wound its way up her calf, stopping just short of her knee.
"Welcome to Blue Shark...Oh my!" The woman exclaimed while running her eyes over the group. "What are you kids doing way out here in the middle of the night?"
Robin made no move to speak as he was still captivated by the woman in front of him. Rolling her eyes, Raven elbowed him in the ribs, promptly snapping him out of his trance.
"O-oh," Robin stuttered. "We're um traveling to the great lakes and we got a little… lost."
"You poor dears! Well come inside this instance and we'll get you something to eat. You may call me Mia," The glow of the lanterns reflected eerily off of Mia's teeth as she waved the friends through the doorway.
The group quickly followed their hostess into a lovely sitting room which contained a few large couches and beautiful old paintings. Mia made small talk as she led them farther into the inn, stopping at last in a spacious dining room. The table was an obvious antique and stretched the entire length of the room, having enough chairs to seat dozens of guests. A huge buffet was layed out on the table, the food ranging from fresh lobster to tofu burgers and pudding. At the sight of the feast, Beast Boy let out a little moan, his stomach grumbling in hunger.
"It looks most delicious!" Starfire complimented.
"It does indeed," Mia replied, but her eyes were on the friends as she spoke. Owen gulped noisily. "Well go ahead, dig in!"
Mia's permission had been the only thing holding Beast Boy back. In less than a second he was around the table, swallowing food like he hadn't eaten in weeks. The other titans followed his example while Owen held back, nibbling on a napkin. Something about this place still felt wrong.
With his mouth stuffed with food, Beast Boy turned towards Cyborg and waved a tofu hot dog in his face. "Dude! You have got to try one of these!"
"Listen grass stain, for the last time, I am not eating your nasty tofu!" Cyorg picked up a hamburger and pork shop instead and held them out to his friend. "Why don't you try one of these?"
"Dude! I've been those animals! Would you go and eat me?"
"Naw man. Didn't your mom ever tell you? You're not suppose to eat green meat."
But even the boys' fighting couldn't ruin the meal for the others. The food was the best they'd ever tasted and none of the friends stopped until they were practically bursting at the seams. Even Owen joined in, his fears giving in to his hunger.
Robin groaned as he flopped down in a nearby chair. "That was amazing."
Mia smiled, patting the Boy Wonder lightly on the head. "I'm glad you enjoyed it dear. Now, how would you all like to see your rooms?"
The friends nodded and Beast Boy yawned loudly. The changeling's lack of sleep the night before was really taking it's toll on him and he felt like he could sleep for three days straight.
"Stewart!" Mia called out, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. After a few awkward moments, a large man stomped into the room. He had huge beefy limbs, each one bigger around than Beast Boy's head. His face was strangely blurry and the changeling had to squint hard to make out his features. The man wore a simple pinstriped suit that looked way too small for him and his right hand kept reaching up to figit with the tie.
Stewart turned towards Mia, wearing a fierce scowl. "Yes?" His voice was blunt and coarse, containing zero emotion.
"Please take our guests to their rooms."
The man scowled harder but he motioned for the group to follow him. "Come."
Stewart led the friends out the door they'd come, taking an immediate left towards a small staircase. The monstrous man began the trek up the stairs, each step creating a booming sound that echoed throughout the inn. Owen and the titans shadowed him silently, feeling uncomfortable now that their welcoming hostess had left them.
At the top of the stairs stretched a long hall that ended in a large window. Outside it was pitch black except for a few stars that shown through the clouds and the dim light that could be seen from the lanterns. Doors were located on either side of the hall and Stewart mechanically motioned to the first six. "Here." The butler handed them each a long brass key before making his exit back down the steps.
Silence followed in his wake as each of the friends walked to stand in front of their doors. Robin was the first to speak, his voice oddly apprehensive.
"Well team I guess this is good night. Get some sleep," the leader then swiftly opened his door before disappearing inside. The titans exchanged nervous glances and good nights before unlocking their own rooms. Beast Boy's door creaked open slowly as he fumbled for the light switch, the intense darkness in the room sending chills down his spine. When at last he felt the familiar shape, he flicked it on, expecting a monster to be waiting for him in the shadows.
The green teen sighed in relief. Not only was there nobody else in his room, but it was just as beautiful as the rest of the hotel. A huge king-sized bed sat to his left, it's giant red comforter looking very appealing. Two couches sat closer to the windows, which were covered in gold curtains, and a large plasma screen TV hung on the wall.
Beast Boy looked towards the bathroom, thinking how wonderful a hot shower would feel. Unfortunately, the changeling could hardly keeps his eyes open and he collapsed on the bed, not even bothering to change out of his uniform. Just as he was about to give in to sleep, the shape shifter's sharp ears picked up a strange banging sound from down the hall. He promptly ignored it. That was something Stewart could take care of. Right now all he wanted to do was sleep...
A/N : On to the next chapter…
-FlamingSky