Sorry it's been a while. busy graduating and traveling to Germany. I've actually had this chapter done for some time I just never got around to putting it up. sorry.
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Chapter Seven
On the way back to the tower, the Titans were quiet.
"Do you think this could work?" Cyborg said breaking the silence. He was gesturing to the two vials and flower Starfire was now holding.
"Can't be sure, but I don't trust him." Robin said, narrowing his eyes in thought.
The other two Titans were only slightly surprised. Cyborg didn't think he would just give away a rare plant so easily. Starfire didn't like the feeling she got from him and the general atmosphere of the store. For Robin it was how he knew Raven knew magic without any of them saying so. He also agreed with the other two's points.
"What are we going to do?" Cyborg asked.
Robin sighed. "Hopefully Raven will be awake when we get home or at least soon. We'll ask her if she knows anything about Elathan or whether this stuff will help." Cyborg nodded and they returned to their silence.
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Beast Boy sat next to Raven's bed, filled with unsaid worry. The Titans had left a little over an hour ago, Raven state hadn't changed as far as Beast Boy could observe. Nothing seemed to help. He tried talking to her, he even sang, but the only thing that gave him comfort was to hold her hand. She would squeeze his hand, unintentionally of course, but it helped Beast Boy know he was there for her, and who knows, maybe it did help, but she didn't stir, didn't wake, just continued on with her relentless nightmare.
A sound suddenly and quietly escaped Raven's lips.
Beast Boy suddenly perked up. He thought he knew what she had said, but dismissed it as being impossible. She had just whispered his name if he had heard her correct. Her hand suddenly tightened, squeezing his hand harder than before.
Beast Boy's eyes darted back and forth looking for any other signs of conciousness. "I'm right here Rae." He said squeezing her hand back.
Her eyes opened quickly, then almost shut again, squinting against the sudden light. "Beast Boy?" Raven said in a shaky voice.
"Raven, are you okay?" Beast boy asked quickly.
Raven pushed herself up into a sitting position, her hand clutching her head. "My head. I …" Raven stopped closing her eyes again. A short grunt of pain sounded quietly.
Beast Boy was about to try and comfort her pain with his words, when the door opened letting in the other three Titans.
"Good she's awake." Robin said striding across the room to Raven's bed, the others following right behind him. "Raven, I met someone who says this can help you," he said holding out two vials and a black flower. "I'm not sure he can be trusted. I need you to tell us if these would help or only make things worse."
Raven opened her eyes with effort, hand still clutching her head. She had a hard time focusing on what the objects were, faces blurred and colors mixed. She could hardly make sense of anything, mind mixing thoughts and making it impossible to think straight let alone answer Robin's vital question. "I…" Was all she could get out before losing track of what she wanted to say.
"Raven!" He said, "I need an answer!" He said moving the three objects closer to her. "Concentrate."
Raven looked into his eyes, or really his mask.
"What's going on?" Beast boy asked worried Robin was overwhelming Raven.
Robin ignored his question but calmed his voice. "Raven, will this help you?"
Raven looked at the objects trying to figure out which object would do what, she couldn't concentrate on the answer as to how they would effect her all together, but the flower…"No!" She yelled recognizing the black flower Robin held in his hand.
Robin threw the objects in Cyborg's direction, he caught them out of pure reflex and handed them to Starfire who stared at them not knowing what to do with them.
Robin leaned in closer to Raven who had closed her eyes again and laid back down, still awake, but who knew for how long. "Raven," He said softly, "does the name Elathan mean anything to you?"
Raven snapped her eyes back open and turned her face to him. She looked exhausted. She wanted to tell them the truth, Everything she knew, but…
She looked away. "No." she replied softly pain in her head fading quickly, but a sick feeling replaced it in the pit of her stomach. Her hand fell away from her head. "Why do you ask?" She asked sitting up.
"He's the one who gave us those things," he said gesturing to Starfire who still held the objects. "He said they would cure the nightmares. What would they really do?"
"Not what he said they would," Raven replied.
Robin twisted around and started for the door. "I knew there was something off about that guy. Titans, let's go!" He said. "I have a feeling he might be behind this."
Cyborg and Starfire followed, Starfire finally getting rid of the weird objects on a side table next to one of the beds. Beast Boy stood in place unsure of whether to go and help or to stay with Raven.
"Go help them, I have a feeling they'll need you." Raven encouraged feeling slightly better.
"But," Beast Boy half heartedly protested. He wanted to catch whoever was doing this to Raven.
"I'll be fine. I feel a lot better already. I'll just make myself some food. I haven't eaten in a while." When he didn't move, she continued. "Go! I'll still be here when you get back."
Beast Boy gave her a quick smile before chasing after his Teammates. The sick feeling that had started in Raven's stomach grew ten times worse with the lie she had just told. She knew what had to be done.
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The four Titans hastily made their way back to the strange store to confront Elathan. They came to the building, but what they had seen just an hour ago was all gone. The door was boarded up and inside was nothing but a few rats and empty boxes. It was as if it had never existed.
The Titans, confused and angry, returned back to the tower.
"Are you sure it was there?" Beast boy asked, not quite sure his friends were in their right mind.
"We're sure." Robin said angrily making his way to the med bay. "Maybe Raven has some ideas as to how it could be done." He said as the door opened. Raven wasn't there.
"She must be doing more research in her room." Cyborg suggested. She wasn't there either.
Raven was nowhere to be found.
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What do you guys think happened to Raven? Chapter eight is almost done and will hopefully be up much sooner.
