The full moon shined brightly in the clear night sky. Sitting upon a branch in the forest below was a young man. Upon closer inspection, however, and with a trained eye, one could see the abnormal red eyes. In fact, his dark skin was covered in an array of red tattoos. His loin cloth draped to cover himself, his spear laid below on the ground against the bulk of the tree. His mouth upturned into a smirk as he stared at the weapon below, as if one as strong as he needed a weapon. He had hair that was tied back at the nape of his neck with a leather strap. Absentmindedly, he wiped across the back of his neck ridding himself of the condensation of the rain forest. 'Where is she?' Just as that thought crossed his mind, a beautiful woman stepped out of the forest. She was donned in a white underdress only contrasting wickedly with her dark black hair. Barely audible was the tips of her silver horns that curled forward towards her forehead like a crown. She glided to a stop, bathed in the light from the moon. The man slid from his place on the tree branch, gracefully landing on the balls of his bare feet, the necklace around his neck making a slight rattle, the only noise audible. He stepped into the light of the moon that shown between the branches of the trees that surrounded them. The woman tilted her head back to look up at him, a wicked look in her silver eyes. He face was petite, beautiful, with large round eyes and a slightly rounded nose. Her lips were full and naturally pouted, painted in the brightest shade of red, like fresh blood. The man slipped one hand behind her neck, cupping the back of her head in his larger hand. Red eyes met silver as a spark lit the space between them. In no time he had her lips to his, his fang nipping her lip to taste the blood that flowed throughout her body. The vampire gripped the woman, the demon, closer to his body. In the heat of their shared kiss, however, she tasted it. The blood of another woman. The blood of a woman on his tongue. With a growl the woman retreated out of the light but did not lose the light in her eyes.
"You dare to drink of a mortal! Am I not enough for you," she questioned her hands beginning to glow with dangerous energy. The vampire flicked his tongue out against his lip, savoring the taste of his demoness' blood. It screamed power. It was power.
"I was thirsty my little witch. I cannot always control the hunger. The men of my village are known for our appetite," he grinned then, puffing his chest out. Though goading her, he could not help but to remember the voluptuous woman in his bed a mere few hours earlier. Her body could not compare the goddess in front of him, her insistent screams of pleasure had killed his ears, but draining the life from her veins had been completely worth it. His mind was brought back to the present as the woman began to glow eerily. Inwardly wincing, he stepped forward to wrap his strong arms around her waist pressing their bodies together. She was immobile though, not yielding to his body.
"I am sick of your infidelity, Rorak! I do not care of the men of your village munch on those mortals all night long, you are mine." She hissed out the last word staring up at him. "It is time you learn your place vampire. It is time that you learn who you belong to!" She began speaking in foreign tongue, a language from another time and place as power began to build around her. Rorak's eyes widened as he stepped away, for once feeling the immense power of the woman in front of him. The power leaked from every pore of her body, coming in waves across the forest floor towards him. He tried to move, jerking the muscles in his legs commanding them to move but he was stuck in place. The power incased his legs, burning into his muscles, into his blood as it climbed up his body. A scream was ripped from his throat, his body contracting as he fell to the ground. After her spell was complete, the power dissipated, leaving behind the weak but smirking demoness.
"Let us see who sates your thirst now Rorak." She soon fell limp beside her lover, as he would always be.
I woke with a start, brows crunched in confusion at the dream. Taking a deep breath it was as if I could still smell the flowers and rain present in the forest of my dream. Another thing I became aware of was the arm draped across my waist, my back pressed against the strong chest of Kevin. Sighing happily and momentarily letting the dream escape my train of thought, I snuggled back into him and his warmth. A moment later I felt his lips drift across my neck in butterfly kisses, stirring the need in me again.
"Good morning, Raven." I shivered but grinned turning to look up into his blue eyes. I reached pushing his hair back off of his face before gripping my fingers into his hair, pulling his lips to mine. He leant over me then, swiftly placing me on my back. His tongue delved into my mouth as his chest pressed firmly against my breasts causing a slight moan to drift from my mouth. I ran my hands up his arms, feeling the hair against my skin, the muscles flexing underneath my fingers causing me to grin into his lips. He leaned up then, looking down at me with an unreadable expression as his fingers caressed my jaw. "Did I hurt you?" I blinked slightly thrown off by his abrupt question. He started to get up moving carefully as we untangled our legs. He stood by the edge of the bed in all his naked glory, causing a blush to rise on my cheeks, and offered his hand. Taking his hand I too stood, letting the sheet fall away to reveal my body. Resisting the urge to cover my body, I let him lead me to the bathroom we shared. Flipping on the light he turned me to face the full length mirror. I tilted my head studying my body. I had various bruises along my arms and hips down to my thighs. Tilting my head more I could make out the hickies that littered along my neck, even down to my breasts. He turned me then to the side, showing more evidence of our coupling. I kept an unreadable expression as I met his eyes in the mirror, feeling the guilt radiating off of his body. Inwardly smirking I raised my hand to brush my fingers across my red and swollen lips.
"Well," I started running my fingers down my neck unable to hide the shiver as they brushed against the sensitive skin. "It looks like I'll be wearing some pants today." I grinned up at him but he just frowned letting go of my hips.
"I am so sorry Raven. I had no idea I was being so rough… God I am so sorry." He looked down at me, guilt now evident in his eyes. I frowned then as well, reaching to scrape my nails over his chest.
"Don't be Kevin. It doesn't look like you got off scratch free neither." I tapped my nails on the fading scratch marks marring his chest. Before he could utter another apology, I stood on my tiptoes to kiss him again. "I do not regret it. In fact I could go for another round right now." I blushed but reached between our bodies to lightly stroke him. Immediately he growled, resting his forehead against mine, gripping my hips.
"As much as I would love to delve into that with you, I really, really would, you need to eat Raven." At his mention of food my stomach let out a loud rather unattractive growl. I blushed beat red, the warmth spreading across the top of my chest. Determined to get some time with him, I gripped him tighter lightly tugging him to the shower.
"Let's clean up first," I whispered trying to look at him seductively out from under my long lashes. He let a smirk cross his face, his eyes turning a dark black as he followed me into the shower.
About an hour, and one stormy love making session later, we made our way down to dinner. I could tell it was Cyborg's cooking, the scent immediately watering my mouth and reminding me exactly how long I had gone without food. For the first time in a long time I was famished. I felt happy, and for me that was a rare but welcomed feeling. Casting my gaze over to the vampire beside me I couldn't help but smile. It was because of him that I felt this way, and it was because of me that he had such a smirk on his face. After the shower he had changed into simple black sweat pants and t-shirt. His hair was pulled back at the nape of his neck in a tie, a few left to frame his muscular face. Covering his eyes was a mask much like Robins but with a small red x in the center across the bridge of his nose. Feeling my gaze on him, he turned grinning at me flashing his fangs.
"See something you like my little witch?" I shoved him playfully but he only chuckled and grabbed my hand in his. I couldn't help but remember the dream then, his words drudging it up to the forefront of my mind. Frowning I stopped and told him I would meet him at the table. He shrugged and pecked my lips before jogging into the kitchen promising to save me some food. I bit my lips watching him as he jogged, my eyes going from his broad shoulders, down his muscular back… Whoa there Raven… Blushing to myself, I phased up through the tower to my room. For a moment I breathed in the scent of Kevin before walking to one of my many bookshelves. Running my fingers over the covers, some tattered in places, some brand new, I kept searching. Finally my fingers landed on the book I was looking for. Pulling it from the shelf I blew gently across the cover, the dust floating down. Grinning I held it to my chest as I created a portal stepping into the kitchen. I was met with an odd site. Cyborg was laughing his ass off, pointing a finger at Beast Boy who was bent over the trash can gagging. Raising an eyebrow I sat down beside Kevin, settling the book in my lap where it rested on my sweatpants. Kevin was chuckling at the sight, Robin and Starfire in a heated but quiet argument.
"Robin what is wrong with you," She asked in a whisper, her eyes showing worry but also anger. Robin scoffed and turned his back to her which only seemed to infuriate her more. She turned her back to him then but met my eyes. She gave a small smile before looking down at her bowl of chili beans. Robin turned to look at her before his eyes caught mine. However, the only emotion that ran through me was anger. I grinned before turning to Cyborg.
"What's so funny?" Cyborg turned his head momentarily shocked by my appearance before he broke out into another grin.
"I tricked Beast Boy into eating some of my extra meaty chili," he said buffing out his chest. I laughed slightly before looking at the extra green boy that was taking his seat again. Casting Cyborg a glare he grabbed the chili I assumed was the actual vegetarian chili. He grumbled before beginning to eat, while Cyborg still smug began to eat his. A bowl was set in front of me then. I followed the muscular arm up to see Kevin grinning down at me. I smiled thankfully before beginning to eat. I groaned at the flavors that lit up my tongue, downing the bowl in mere minutes. I looked up to find three pairs of eyes and two masks on me.
"Sorry, I am about to starve," I mumbled and sat straighter meeting Cyborg's eyes. "You know I love your chili." I smiled at him which seemed to shock them even more.
"Well thank you, Rae. It's just…lately you haven't been eating well. Hell you have even lost weight." I could place the worry in his eyes and frowned.
"Yeah, dude, you haven't been your normal withdrawn self either. You've been like extra-emo." I wanted to roll my eyes at Beast Boy's grammar but couldn't bring myself to. I frowned looking to meet the eyes of my teammates. Cyborg, my brother by choice, was normally not hard to read. But I could feel his worry and concern flowing off of him. Beast Boy, who normally radiates nothing but happiness, was also worried. I shifted my gaze to Starfire and for the first time allowed myself to truly look at her. She was always worried and concerned, her motherly attitude would not allow for anything else. But as I looked at her, I saw fear in her eyes. The same look in her eyes that night she caught my cuts on my wrists. I guess in cutting myself off from my own emotions, I had cut them off too. I had been so caught up in my own pain and just ignored everyone else. I felt my frown deepen.
"Is it alright if… after we all eat we could sit and talk? There is some things I need to say to everyone… and then I found something on X as well." The others nodded but I felt a spike of anger from Robin with an undertone of fear. 'Let the asshole be scared. We should just tell the whole team what he has done!' Anger screamed in the back of my mind. I frowned and took my book walking to the couch to wait, my appetite gone. 'How am I going to explain my depression to them? I can't tell them everything…'
'Technically Raven you can and you should' Knowledge spoke. I frowned deeper looking down at my hands. 'It will kill Starfire… the other Titans… What do I do?' I sighed and stood, unable to keep still. I walked along the glass wall, tapping my fingers against my lips. 'What do I do?'
A while later the others walked in followed by Kevin. I sat on the table in front of the couch, clutching the book in my lap. I met Kevin's eyes first a silent question in my eyes. He smiled and moved to sit by me, offering his silent encouragement with his hand on my back. For a second I ignored the others to smile at him with a nervous smile.
"Is there something you wish to talk about friend Raven," Starfire asked pulling my gaze back to her. I nodded quietly trying to find my words.
"I am not good at talking about my feelings… but I would appreciate if you would all wait until I am done to talk," I asked looking up and waiting for them all to nod before continuing. "For the past few months I had sunk into a depression. A deep dark depression… I am not going to lie to you. Part of that was caused by the break up… but not all of it." I cast a look up to see the guilt in Starfire's eyes and she looked away not meeting mine. I pulled the sleeves of my sweatshirt up, revealing the scars. "I know I told you they were from the fight Star, and I am sorry for lying. I started hurting myself. Something I haven't done since I was a child." I looked down then, unable to meet their eyes anymore. "Last night I tried to kill myself." I heard the others gasp, all but Robin who clenched his jaw and Kevin who pulled me to his side. "Kevin saved me, healing my wounds and feeding me his blood to heal me. If not for him, I wouldn't be here… and I am so sorry… for being so weak. For not thinking of all of you. The darkness just pulled me under and I gave up... this morning I promised myself no more. No more cutting no more suicide no more depression. I refuse to give up anymore." I looked up then, uncaring as the tears fell from my eyes. Cyborg was the first pair of arms to wrap around me, pulling me to his chest. Beast Boy was next, crawling as a small kitten into my shaking hands, mewing and purring against my chest. Starfire stood as well, hesitant but I pulled her into the hug whispering my apology to her. For a while we just hugged, the two men sitting there glaring at each other.
"Rae you said that was part of the reason… What else is wrong? We can't help unless you tell us," Cyborg whispered in my ear pulling back to look at me. I felt fear creep up, not knowing what to do or what to say. I backed away slowly, letting Beast Boy fall from my arms. I looked down clenching my fist.
"I can take care of it Cyborg. It's for the best." I crossed my arms hugging myself staring up into his eyes, one human, and one red.
"Raven if you almost killed yourself you obviously can't. We can help you, Rae. Please," he whispered his own fist clenching then. I opened my mouth to talk but Robin beat me to it.
"Cyborg she didn't want to kill herself. If she did, she wouldn't be here. I think she is just trying for attention and to get me back." It was in that moment, you could hear a drop of a pen. In fact, you could hear the air whistle as Kevin grabbed Robin by the neck slamming him against the wall. He had him raised off the ground, his hand constricting around his neck cutting off his airway.
"What the fuck did you just say?!" Cyborg's eyes widened, Beast Boys mouth dropped and Starfire gasped.
"Robin, dude, that was wrong," Beast Boy mumbled. No one moved to stop Kevin but I reached, laying my hand on his back. He dropped the red faced Robin to the ground and turned pulling me to his chest. Looking over the top of my head he met the eyes of Cyborg.
"You want to know what's wrong with Raven? This asshole has been sleeping with her since they broke up. He has used her empathy, her love against her. And when she refused?" Kevin turned to look in my eyes as I shook with more tears now. "He fucking raped her. Like he has done countless times before... like he did yesterday that finally pushed her over the edge." When I turned my head to the other titans I knew… All hell was about to break loose.