"Alright, ya'll! Who wants some of my world famous four bean and three meat chili!? And before you ask, grass stain, I made I vegetarian batch just for you, even though that just ruins it if you ask me."
Cyborg was never known for putting on a fancy spread. Unlike the meal earlier in the day at the French restaurant his spreads were more "down home", as in he just plopped huge pots of chili on the table and everyone helped themselves. Jinx smacked her lips as this was one of her favorite dishes. She greedily reached for the ladle, only to have Raven beat her to it. As the demoness served herself she gave the blond woman a fleeting glance, before handing over the ladle. As Jinx served herself, Raven whispered "Don't eat too much."
Jinx recalled the pills Raven gave her. She wasn't feeling ill yet and was wondering if the pills actually worked, before remembering that Raven gave them to her. Of course they worked, they just had yet to kick in. Jinx served herself a very modest serving. Artemis did the same, after which the two Wallies nearly finished the pot.
Soon dinner was over and everyone pitched in to clean up. Robin reminded everyone that it was movie night and it was Starfire's turn to choose the movie, and she selected an old Disney classic: The Jungle Book. Raven of course had already read Kipling's original version of the story, and restrained herself from criticizing the changes Disney had made to the story. Beast Boy and Starfire sang along to the movie's songs while Raven and Jinx quietly rolled their eyes. He even morphed into a bear during "The Bear Necessities "
Jinx and Artemis took their second pill before the movie began and to their surprise they began to feel its effects. At first they had no appetite for snacks and as the movie progressed they felt worse. They quietly sat through the movie and once it ended the Titans performed a quick cleaning in the common room before calling it a night and adjourning to their rooms. As instructed by Raven the two women took their third pill and within minutes of consuming Jinx was bent over in pain, silently cursing Raven and her stupid pills. Artemis was faring no better as she threw up.
Raven was right about the Wallies not pestering the women for any bedroom gymnastics that night and they were taken to the infirmary, where after examining them Cyborg announced a prognosis: they had a stomach flu. He prescribed them some pedialite and sent them off to bed.
-( - )-
8 hours later …
Artemis opened her eyes. Raven has instructed her to take another pill in the morning, but she was convinced that would not be necessary for one simple reason: she felt even worse than the night before.
"Jinx, babe; how are you feeling?"
"Worse." Artemis gurgled in reply as she wondered what were the ingredients in Raven's magic pills.
Jinx was faring no better, and the young women were taken back to the infirmary, where Cyborg scratched his bald scalp wondering why the women were in such bad shape.
"Let me try my healing powers." Raven volunteered.
"Go for it; I'm out of ideas." Cyborg replied.
Raven approached the blond first and her blue healing light appeared. Jinx moaned in relief as some of the pain subsided. She repeated the task with Artemis.
"I'm afraid that all I can do is alleviate their discomfort." The violet haired Titan announced. "I can't actually heal them … the virus is just going to have to run its course. I'm sorry."
"It's OK, Raven; I'm sure they appreciate it." Robin remarked.
Jinx and Artemis nodded their agreement. Then, just as Raven has expected, the crime alarm went off. Robin ran to a satellite console in the infirmary and typed furiously. Within moments the crime scene data appeared on the screen.
"Just as I was expecting: two bank robberies downtown. This should be easy. Raven, are you OK staying behind and watching over the ladies? I know you and Beast Boy work together."
"Don't worry, Raven; I have BB's back." Local Wally interjected.
It was all going according to plan.
"Thank you, Wallace; I appreciated it." She replied.
"We're good then … we need to hurry … Titans Go!"
The combined team, sans Raven and the two sick women, rushed out the infirmary door. Raven saw Beast Boy and Starfire flying downtown, while the speedsters and the T-Car made their way on the ground. She approached the two women and gave each one a strange looking red pill, which they eagerly consumed. Almost instantaneously they recovered from their illness.
"I trust the antidote worked."
"It did, but did you really have to make us feel like we were dying?" Jinx protested.
"The subterfuge had to be credible." She replied in a flat monotone as she opened a portal. "Now if you ladies will follow me." She gestured at the portal.
-( - )-
Neither Jinx or Artemis had the power of flight and as soon as they stepped through the portal they went into a free fall, screaming as they tumbled through a dark void. Within moments Raven caught them with her dark energy.
"Raven, where are you taking us? All I see around us is a darkness." Artemis shouted.
Jinx began to sniff the air. After getting a good whiff she smelled sulfur.
"Raven, please tell me that you aren't taking us to Hell!"
"We're going to Hell!?" Artemis shrieked.
"We're not going to Hell … I'm taking you to Outer Perdition."
"Outer what?"
Jinx groaned. "Outer Perdition is Hell's equivalent of Purgatory."
"And why are we going there?"
Before Raven could answer the emerged from the void and landed in front of what looked like a macabre looking castle.
"Technically, we aren't there yet. Follow me and keep your mouths shut. Understood?"
Jinx and Artemis nodded. The followed Raven up to a moat of lava that surrounded the castle. Artemis had to suppress her gag reflex as the moat reeked of burnt flesh. She looked down and saw the remnants of what looked like demons sizzling in the magma. She was going to ask Raven about why those dead demons were in the moat, but recalled Raven's admonition and kept her yap shut.
Raven approached the spot where the drawbridge would lower. As she stopped a guttural voice shouted from the one of the castle's ramparts.
"Who approaches Outer Perdition?"
"Tell the master of this realm that the Gem seeks audience with him."
There was no immediate reply. Jinx felt goosebumps form on her arms. She looked down into the moat and wondered if she would soon be joining its unfortunate inhabitants. A load creaking sound interrupted her train of thought as the drawbridge began to come down.
"Audience has been granted."
Jinx suddenly decided that she would rather go back with visiting Wally to his dimension and live out the rest of her days as Artemis Nguyen than cross that drawbridge.
"Do not keep the Master waiting. It would be unwise." The otherworldly voice admonished them.
Raven calmly crossed the drawbridge. She stopped and turned to face her companions.
"If you value your lives you will follow me now."
The two women, who were trembling so hard that they could barely walk; stumbled across the bridge and followed Raven into the great unknown inside the castle walls.
-( - )-
The castle's courtyard was unlike anything Artemis had ever seen before. There were bubbling lava pits, which Raven warned them to steer clear and not approach. But that was not the worst of it. The courtyard was overrun with some of the vilest and macabre looking creatures the archer had ever seen. They came in all sizes, shapes and colors. Horns, fangs, wart encrusted hides and unusual limbs were par for the course. And the stench made Artemis gag more than once.
Jinx kept her runaway mouth shut for a change and took in the surroundings, unable to conceal her horror. Seeing the Hellish landscape around her made her repent of everything bad she had done in her life.
As they made their way across the courtyard towards the castle's main entrance they were intercepted by what appeared to be a Cyclops which carried a frightful looking mace in its right claw. To their amazement Raven seemed unfazed by what was happening around them. The Cyclops, which was about twenty feet tall, stopped in front of them and bowed to Raven.
"The Master is ready to receive the Lady Raven. Follow me."
The monster turned and walked to the castle's entrance, which was a huge cast iron door that looked at least 100 feet tall. The door was pulled open by what appeared to be a platoon of Trolls. The Cyclops led the way in and the sight that greeted them took Artemis's and Jinx's breath away.
On a huge throne in the middle of the room, which was made of brimstone, sat a red humanoid creature. It had antlers, white hair and four crimson red eyes. As they approached the throne hundreds of demons bowed to Raven and backed away with great deference, not even daring to gaze upon the violet haired Titan.
Artemis began to tremble uncontrollably, until Raven placed a hand on her shoulder and literally sucked out all of the fear in her mind. Jinx stared breathlessly at the red giant, knowing well who he was.
Trigon grinned, which sent shivers down Artemis's and Jinx's spines.
"What brings my daughter to my humble abode? Have you brought me these two wenches as reconciliation offerings, dear Raven? I hope these ones are sturdy, as my current bedroom wenches did not survive last night's pleasure and are no longer of any use to me, and I have no others to satisfy me at this time."
The two women felt a full blown panic attack coming.
"No, father; I do not come bearing gifts."
"I see. I have also received word that you have chosen to mate with the green one. I trust he will be able to satisfy your carnal desires."
Raven was unable to conceal her surprise, but she quickly recovered. "Yes, we are now betrothed."
Trigon chuckled. "You are surprised that I knew. I know many things, Raven, and I know why you brought these women here. Did you bring it with you?"
Raven drew Lucifer's fang from her jeweled belt and raised it so he could see it. Trigon looked at it with longing eyes.
"I have wanted this relic since long before the Earth was formed. How did you come to possess it?"
"It doesn't matter, Father. The only real question is: do we have a deal?"
Trigon leaned forward on his throne. His grin intensified.
"We do." He replied.
"Then let's get this over with. After you restore them to their original forms I will give you the relic."
"Not yet, dear daughter."
Raven frowned. "You said we had a deal."
"We do. I will undo the spell, but there is a condition."
"What condition?" Raven asked, unable to hide the irritation in her voice. "I am giving you Lucifer's fang for what it a trivial task for you to do. What more could you possibly want? Don't tell me you want them to service you."
Trigon laughed and the whole castle shook.
"They are beneath me, daughter; just as your mother was. They have nothing that I desire or want."
Raven's patience was growing thin. "What do you want, father?"
"It's very simple. To break the spell, your companions will have to confess their infidelity to their mates."
-( - )-
You just knew that Trigon would make things complicated, right?
