Raven looked at the old man that had drawn her halfway around the world. His ancient eyes seemed fathomless. They made Raven feel like an infant. That, mixed with his ability to force her soul-self to travel or assume a shape left her feeling powerless.
Well... Talk. You summoned me here. Who is the demon with no eyes? what do you have to do with anything?
The old man smiled sadly as he watched the demoness. His voice was clear and strong, but his manner of speaking led one to believe that he considered every word as he said them.
"I am what's left when that monster and it's master finishes what they start." Raven quirked an eyebrow and crossed her arms as she watched him. he cleared his throat. "My name is not known anymore, even to myself. That Demon stole it when he took everything else from me. It was chosen that I should remain alive and alone." He said. The mans voice didn't break, although a single tear slid down his face." I am the shadow of what remains, only held to this life by the burning hatred I have for the creature that has taken notice of you." had Raven been in her physical body, she was almost positive that she would have gotten goose bumps. She had heard of such horror stories growing up. Much like the boogy man, however, she had thought they were tales to caution the youthful from reckless action. "The Demon goes by many names. His... pet, the eyeless one is called The Thief." Raven nodded after a moment as understanding came to her in a rush.
The Thief stole your name, Didn't it?
The old man nodded as his jaw clenched. Again, He cleared his throat and continued to talk.
"Though, Puppetmaster might be a better term for that thing. It is a master of subterfuge. It will always be five steps ahead of any plan brought against it."
Then I should leave the tower. I can fight it elsewhere and leave my team out of it. That way they can be used against me.
"If only such a thing were true." he said as he shook his head." I have fought them many times. The Master AND the servant. Always when I find their next target they have already gained many footholds. I would not be surprised if he already has turned one of your team against you." The man said softly. The implication was more then Raven could handle, considering she had just been told that a Demon of greater power then her father was targeting her friends to get to her. Her power lashed out against the barrier and the old man shook his head." Tell me, young one. Has anyone in your team seen him in their dreams? Have they changed?" Raven nodded slowly after a moment. Beastboy had. He had listed all the ways he was changing to her not a month ago.
How do I stop him then?
"The short answer is that you can't. I have tried a thousand times to stop them before, and nothing works. they always get what they want."
BULLSHIT!
Again the barrier lit up like a magnesium flare as her energy lashed out against it. she slammed against the barrier in frustration. The show of emotion was intense, nevermind that it came from Raven, who had always considered herself in control my necessity.
You can't tell me someone's coming for me and expect me to just give up! I can't accept that!
"Good, because I am not asking you too. I have spent centuries developing a rite to stop them. It a very powerful magic, But I will not be able to get close enough to the Demon to use it. You could though. He always reveals himself personally to those he targets."
So I would just have to cast the spell and I stop them?
"Its slightly more complicated then that, but essentially. I will be casting the spell from an as yet undetermined location. all you have to do is wait. When he takes form, no matter what it is, you say the completion word and the energies I will have gathered will flow thru you and destroy the demon. My name may not be restored, but this will ensure no one else suffers as I have."
Ok. Say I take this at face value. What's the Final word? What effect will this have on me?
"It will not affect you in the least. I have worked long and hard to make sure that the spell will only end The Thief and it's Master.. The word is Esrut." Raven nodded after a moment.
From Onasarian, 'To destroy completely'. The man, for the first time looked surprised.
"You know of Onasarias? I thought the knowledge lost to all but the oldest." Raven didn't reply. She spent a great deal of effort ensuring that her mind stayed blank as well. Her Doppelganger had taught her that information. Now that Raven seemed to be pulled into a game of chess with Immortals that vastly greater experience and time, she didn't feel like revealing too much of anything was a good idea. The man may have questioned her if a distance roar hadn't shaken the small hut in which they resided. Raven glanced to the door and found that the mans makeshift spell had started to falter.
"He is coming closer to finding me. This conversation is over." The old man said as he waved his hand. Immediately the circle around her blinked out and she felt herself sling-shotted thru the Nothing. she knew once she got back to her body she was going to puke.
XXX
"So all I have to do is protect Raven?" Beastboy asked as he walked with Bane down a street. The road was in some small town, somewhere rural. It was all an illusion of course. Beastboy preferred this, though. It was better then floating.
"Yes. Even from herself. The tasks before her will be challenging. Most would break before making it halfway thru what she will do. She will begin to think that those around her are being manipulated. she will push everyone away. You CAN'T let her push you away or she will fall. I think you can do this though. I've been watching you for a long time." The man said as they stopped on a street corner. Beastboy nodded.
"I can protect her. I'll do whatever it takes." Beastboy said as he grinned. The man nodded and chuckled.
"Of course you will. That's why we came to you." Beastboy nodded confidently. "Just remember. If she doesn't do this, if she can't strike down Trigon, then she will die." the man said, an edge of concern entering his voice.
"I know.. I heard you the first time. I just.. Why me? What makes me so different?" The man smiled knowingly as he sent a hand on Beastboys shoulder and led him into a building.
"Because, My little green friend, You love her.. You have for a long time." Paintings filled the walls of the dusty shop. each picture was a moment he shared with Raven. the man lead him thru images of their fights against bad guys and monsters, thru the times she threw him out of a window, and stopped on one of them sitting on the beach. It was the day Raven had called him a man. "When even your conscious brain wasn't working, when all you had were the animal instincts locked away in your genes, you still protected her. even at your lowest, when you attacked your own team, it was for her safety.. My good man, no one could do this job BUT you. That's why your powers have been growing, that's why the instincts are coming closer to the surface. you are learning to tap the powers of the animal kingdom thru small shifts, not big ones. This will help you save her, let it happen naturally." he said. Beastboy nodded. he never saw the net closing around him. "Can you do this Beastboy? yes.. Will you, would you stake everything on protecting her?" he asked as they stopped at an empty table. Beastboy nodded as his brow furrowed.
"And if I do all this.. If I protect her, she won't be stuck anymore, Trigon won't be able to come after her anymore?" he asked. The demon nodded and clapped him on the back.
"Of course. You will set her free from her past, and Raven can finally be the woman she has always wanted to be." Beastboy smiled at the thought of it. A happy raven, one not scared to destroy everything, one that could smile and laugh.. one that, his most secret voice whispered, could maybe love him. Bane saw the shift in the boy, the moment of silence and, like a spider descending on a fly, closed the net around him.
"Look, I know that it sounds like a lot, so here is what I will do." He said as he waved his hand over the table. A classic quill and parchment appeared on the table top. As Bane spoke the words revealed themselves on the Parchment.
"I swear, On my True Name" a long word with too many vowels appeared on the paper "That if you can protect Raven from everything that would hold her back and help guide her to the Destruction of her father, then I will make it so she can feel without reprimand or consequence, The reasons of her birth and her father will never haunt her again." As he finished a dotted line slowly appeared, almost as if the ink was leaking out from the page itself. he picked up the quill and handed it to Beastboy. "All you have to do is sign on the dotted line, and you will be able to give her everything she has ever wanted." Bane said, and Beastboy, the poor befuddled shapeshifter who had never dealt with demons before, slowly took it from the man. one of the feathers sliced his finger and Beastboy yelped. Beastboy couldn't have seen the catch, that the words the demon had said could have meant any number of things. the soft scratch of the quill against parchment filled the quiet building. and all at once, with the document signed, Bane started laughing." I knew it.. You are the one.. Go to her, for her enemies have already planted the seed of doubt in her. Do not speak of this moment. knowing it could make her doubt you, my little changeling. Good luck." Bane said. and with that Beastboy woke up.
The first thing to strike him as off was that he was in Ravens room... in her bed. And raven sat in the corner facing him. She floated softly a few feet off the ground and smiled when he slowly began to sat up. The he realized her eyes were not purple, but white. he could see the circle of her pupil, but only because of his new found hyperawareness. Beastboy suddenly felt like a spooked animal, and was about to run like one when Raven opened her mouth.
"Heya cutie." She said with a bubbliness that reminded him of Starfire.
"Uhm... hey." raven let her feet drop to the ground as she sauntered over to him, hips swaying as she eyed him. "You aren't Raven." He said, though for some reason his throat felt really dry.
"Heheh Got it in one. I'm her Doppelganger. I help her cope so she can feel." She said as she sat on the bed and looked at him. "You were having another nightmare so I brought you here. Your room was a little thrashed. Not romantic at all." She said lightly. Beastboy gulped and went to slide off the bed and to the door. Unfortunately a small scoot from Ravens doppelganger put her between him and the edge of the bed. A smile caressed her face as she watched his growing uncomfort."you know, You have no need to be embarrassed. There are guys in the world that would KILL to be there." The Doppelganger chuckled.
"Yeah, I bet none of em know this could get them killed." He said as he watched her. The doppelganger leaned over slowly, her grin growing in size as she got closer. Beastboy felt his heart jump into his throat as she closed the gap between them.
"Don't worry. I'm not gonna kiss you. I njust need a really good meal today, so I'm setting the table." she said, her eyes alight with mischief.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Beastboy asked. Little did he know, He was about ten seconds from finding out. Almost immediately after he spoke Ravens eyes changed. Color swirled from the edges back into the Iris, and all at once the poor shifter realized he was now looking at Raven. Raven froze as she realized that the beautiful emeralds she was staring at were Beastboys eyes. She was leaning over her bed toward him, and their faces were inches apart. They both held their breath. Beastboy was about ready to be thrown out of a window, and Raven was waiting for something to explode. Seconds ticked by as the blush ran up her face and she immediately slid away from Beastboy. Her hood came down and she let a single Icy sentence slide past her lips.
"What are you doing here?" Beastboy cleared his throat as his brain scrambled to find coherent words.
Its my fault hon. He collapsed so I brought him here.
Why in the nine planes of hell were you so close to him?!
To prove a point.
REALLY? What point is that? I'm so embarrassed, how could you put me into a position like this?!
Nothings broken.
Raven stopped and looked around. The Doppelganger was right. Nothing was broken. Nothing had even shifted.
What's going on?
I noticed it after he rescecitated us. He's... Balancing us. there are still emotions to feed on but I don't feel them lashing out. I think when he saved us something changed. I wasn't to find out and I figured this was the best way.
Raven heard her door open and she glanced over. Beastboy was leaving. when Raven looked back on this moment, she could tell. This was the first domino. Raven had always thought about what she was doing before she acted. This time was different. Her hand raised up and she yanked the changeling back into the room before the door shut on him, and beastboy yelped as he was pulled back into the room. Beastboy stumbled and nearly fell on his backside as he tried to recover his balance.
" .. I need to talk to you." He looked at her, slightly shocked but with the hint of a grin beginning on his face.
"You can just ask, Rae. You don't have to yank me around like a rag doll." Beastboy said with a laugh. Ravens brow creased as she bit her tongue. The Doppelganger was silent. Of course she would be, this was the one time Raven needed a guiding hand, It only made sense the thing she ASKED for help would give her any kind of advice.
"Why do you stay around me? I've done a lot of mean things to you. Why do you still even talk to me?" She asked with closed eyes. Silence filled the room like a tangibale force. She had bared so much in asking such a simple question. Raven never showed her fears. She couldn't, normally. and now she was facing a fear she had long held, one that was not to different from the one Beastboy had brought to her. No awnser meant no acceptance. The last thing she ever expected to happen decided to defy her expectations and do just that.
Raven felt the softest press against her upper lip. Her eyes snapped open as Beastboy filled her senses. She could smell him, still clean even, and feel the contour of his lips gently against hers. everything in her screamed danger, begged for her to run away as electricity shot thru her. Beastboy raised a hand to cup her cheek as he pressed softly, the gentlest of questions that were never spoken. The thing that shocked her most was that nothing was exploding, or melting, or flying off the walls.
Raven kissed him back. She slid foreward slowly and pressed against him as her fears switched from something exploding to this moment ending. her heart.. Hurt, but in a good way. It was an ache that made her feel alive. The kiss deepened slowly and she found her hands against his chest. Beastboys free arm wrapped around her as they kissed and for the most blissful of moments she felt like a real, normal person. When they broke away from eachother both found themselves gasping for breath. her skin tingled and grew warm where his hands had been, and her heart begged her to return to his embrace. her mind was frustratingly blank and she was shaking slightly. Beastboy smiled as he caught his breath.
"I hope that was a good enough awnser..."
