Artemis Chapter 7: Into Her Mind
Author's Note: So last chapter I left you at Artemis and Beast Boy leaving the rooftop to rejoin the other Titans. I'll stay like this for a while then jump to Raven's room at night. I know. I love jumping around time-wise, but I'll try to stop. Anyway, this chapter is a little different than most. But I'll let you figure out the rest as you read. Also, I have been watching Scrubs nonstop, so attribute Cyborg's overall cockiness to Donald Faison's character. Personally, I don't think this makes him out-of-character, but to each his own. Please, don't kill me for this chapter. Honestly, it's filler that I needed to get out there in order to progress the plot. I'm working through minor writer's block left over from cramming my high school book reports into four days. As a bit of relief, though, I'm watching The Roast of William Shatner, so you KNOW I'm laughing.
Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans! So STFU lawyers!
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Artemis and Beast Boy rode the elevator in silence. She leaned against the wall with her eyes closed. She had forgotten what riding in an actual elevator felt like, as opposed to the "rectangular box of death" she had in at her old apartment building. When the doors opened, it was a much quieter scene than it had been when Beast Boy had left. Cyborg stopped eating everything in sight and was instead playing video games on the massive television, with Robin playing against him. Raven was curled up catlike on the end of the couch reading the same book Artemis had seen earlier. Starfire was reading a magazine at the table and drinking what appeared to be a gallon jug of mustard.
"So is this what do you guys do?" asked Artemis. Her and Beast Boy both plopped down on the couch and watched Robin futilely try to pass Cyborg's car on the television.
"Pretty much. Crime has been down for the past week so we just chill," replied Beast Boy.
"Sweet." Artemis smiled appreciatively at their idea of 'down-time'.
On the screen, Cyborg smashed Robin's car into a cliff, and won the game. "HA! Take that Boy Blunder! Who got a high score? Cyborg got a high score! Boo-yah!"
"You cheated! I want a rematch!" yelled Robin.
"No way, man. I beat you fair and square," said Cyborg, laughing. This made three times that Cyborg had recently crushed Robin
"Like hell you did! I want a rematch!" Robin yelled back.
Cyborg stood up on the couch, controller in hand, making the couch bend under his enormous weight. "No way! I am proclaimin' it to the the rooftops: I am the best video game player that has ever lived!" He jabbed a finger in Robin's face. "Say it!"
Robin stood up just as quickly, ready to defend his position as 'Video Game Master'. "Not a chance!"
Cyborg refused to back down. "Say it Bird Boy."
"Fine! You're the best video game player in the world," grumbled Robin. He was beaten... for now. But he would get his revenge when the time came to draw up the new combat training schedules. Oh, Tin Man is going down.
Cyborg cupped a hand to his ear. "I can't hear you..."
"Do I have to repeat myself?" asked Robin exasperatedly.
Cyborg thought about it, stroking an imaginary goatee. "That depends. How many times have I kicked your sorry butt in video games?"
Robin sighed. "A fair few."
Cyborg laughed. "Oh come on man! Just admit it. You can't beat me!"
Artemis watched the two go back and forth like tennis players at Wimbledon, their insults getting more colorful by the minute. She looked at the screen. The game in question was one of her favorites. It was big in the arcades, and she spent a good portion of her hard-earned cash to get her name on top of the high score list. I wonder...
"You know if the 'best video game player in the world' doesn't mind, I'd be happy to play a game," said Artemis.
Cyborg laughed as Robin handed off his remote to Artemis, glad for some fresh meat. Robin was smirking, he could tell that Artemis was better at the game than Cyborg thought. 'Crush him' he mouthed. Artemis took the remote with glee, winking at Robin. Cyborg sat down next to her, starting up a new game. "Alright, Artemis, I won't go easy on ya, so get upset if I whup your butt into the next century!"
----TEN MINUTES LATER----
"You, but, I, you beat me! How did you do that?!?!" Cyborg was wide-eyed. Well, as wide-eyed as you could get when one of your eyes was robotic.
Artemis grinned as she entered her initials on the high score list. "Never underestimate a girl with a near unlimited supply of quarters and quite a bit of free time."
Cyborg stared at her in shock. "But you, you-"
"Oh, don't tell me that the 'Great One' is tongue-tied," said Robin.
"Could you enjoy this any less?" asked Cyborg.
Robin considered the question, stroking his own imaginary goatee. "That depends. Hmm.. No. Don't think so." Maybe I'll go easy on Cy. This is a much more fun method of torture.
Raven lifted her eyes from the book she was reading. She sighed. Artemis was so like her sister. Pretty, funny, she seemed to click with all of them. And Raven didn't trust her. Not one bit. Artemis seemed to lay down her entire story when they first met, but you could never know for sure. Even if she was telling the truth, Raven would still have doubts. She never sensed deception from her, but some people are accomplished liars. Raven sighed again. I sense she will be here for a while. I should get used to her presence. But that doesn't mean I have to like it.
----LATER THAT NIGHT----
The anger woke Raven up first. She could sense it with her powers: a current of raw, raging emotion. It started as anger, before fading into regret and sadness. A rare mote of optimism found it's way through before the anger resurfaced. It was a consuming anger, like a lit candle when it was held before a curtain. It raged and roiled, with the slightest hint of self-control holding it back. Raven could catch words, screams, and a few flashes of imagery. She saw a red sword quite a bit, as well as a bloody black one. For a millisecond, she saw a red eye, one with a bit of grey in it, and Slade's easily recognizable mask. The images were, disturbing, to say the least. Raven extended her mind and explored throughout the Tower. The other four were asleep, which left one logical conclusion: Artemis. It seemed that she was outside, above her on the roof.
Raven pulled on her cloak and leotard and walked out the door. She levitated silently down the halls until she got to the elevator that led to the roof. She walked inside and pushed a button. When the doors slid back the rooftop was empty. She walked around looking for Artemis. She found her sitting on a chunk of rock hovering near the far edge of the roof. Her back was facing Raven. She was sitting cross-legged with her hands on either knee. She almost looked peaceful, but the intense waves of emotion around her counteracted that.
Raven walked over to the edge of the roof. "Uh, Artemis?"
Artemis turned and stood on her rock. She raised a hand, and it moved forward to the edge of the roof. Artemis stepped off the rock onto the rooftop. The rock, now that Artemis was no longer on it, plummeted to the ground. "Hi, um, Raven was it?"
Raven nodded. "Yes. So, what were you just doing?" Raven could feel the conflicting emotions around Artemis. In Raven's mind, it was like Artemis was surrounded with a dull, wine-red glow, an aura, if you will.
Artemis shrugged. "Meditating, in a sense. I just needed to relax. What are you doing?"
"You woke me up."
"I woke you up?" Artemis was disbelieving, as she hadn't been making any noise. "Was I thinking too loud, Raven?"
Wow. The newcomer even has beginner's lever sarcasm. One up on her sister in that respect. "Sort of. I'm an empath, you see, which means I sense emotion. So it wasn't that you were 'thinking too loud', it was more your overwhelming anger."
"Oh. Well I have had a lot of things to sort out now. You can't blame me for being a bit angry."
"Right."
Artemis tilted her head to the side, curious. "Why is it we don't talk much? I mean, I've only been here for a day, that's true, but already I know way more about Starfire then I expected to know and I've talked with Beast Boy. I haven't tried talking to Cyborg." She laughed quietly. "He might still be mad at me for beating him. But you and Robin are the only ones who haven't spoken with me yet."
"I don't really do talking. Neither does Robin." She allowed herself to have the tiniest of smirks. "Unless of course Starfire is involved."
"I knew it! They so have crushes on each other!" She laughed, but then quickly grew more serious. "So why don't you do talking?"
"Usually I don't have anything of interest to say. Not everyone likes to talk to the "creepy goths with dark powers."
"Dark powers?"
Raven lifted her hand and a black claw formed in midair. It followed her hand motions for a minute or so before fading away into nothingness. "I'm not just an empath. I'm also a telekinetic and a telepath."
"You mean you can enter people's minds?"
"If I wanted to. I try not to. Some people consider it an invasion of privacy." Raven looked around. "I should head to bed."
Artemis didn't give up; she wanted to have a chat with Raven, and she was determined to get one. "The moon is young. We could chat for a while, so I could get to know you. I might be here a while. I should get to know my new roommates."
"No." Raven's voice was firm and unyielding. It took her time to open up to her friends. She just wasn't that type of person that shared everything, like Starfire. And she definitely wouldn't tell Artemis anything. She could betray them all in a heartbeat. She turned to leave.
"It's because of Terra isn't it? Is that why you won't talk to me? Because of what my sister did?" Artemis looked down, disappointed. "I should have known I'd have to pay for that."
Raven winced inwardly. Artemis was more perceptive than she gave her credit for. Inside her head, Wisdom and Knowledge were giving her a lecture. "She seems sincere enough, Raven. At least try to talk to her." She could betray us. "From what she has told us, she owes Slade nothing. He has tried to kill her, and he killed her people. Worse still, he is responsible for her sister's fall." True, but she could have been lying. Raven did not believe her words as she spoke them. Her emotions had backed her into a corner. "As you say Raven. Just remember not to judge people before you get to know them. We know how you hate it." With that, Wisdom and Knowledge withdrew into their own parts of Raven's mind, and she was left to her own devices. Damn emotions and their guilting!
Raven sighed. "I suppose if you'd like we could talk in my room." Raven walked over to the elevator. "But only if you don't touch anything."
As soon as Artemis walked inside Raven's room, she felt as though she'd entered a tomb. The walls were painted a deep purple, accented with flowing black ivy designs. There were bookshelves upon bookshelves, taking up a great portion of the room. Artemis fascinated by the many paintings and statues, but even more so by the large, ornate bird cage hanging from the ceiling, and the large raven inside it. Artemis walked over to the bird, smiling as it stared at her with its big, black eyes. "Hello. What is your name?"
"Her name's Lenore."
Artemis' throat tightened at the mention of her mother's name. "What did you say?"
"My raven. Her name is Lenore. You know from the poem The Raven by-"
"Edgar Allen Poe. I know it's one of my favorites. Lenore was my mother's name."
"Oh."
Artemis looked a book lying on the desk, and gasped when she saw the title written across its spine. "I don't believe it! It's a copy of Book of Azar! Where did you get this?"
Immediately the book was encased in a sphere of black energy. "Don't touch that!" Raven chided harshly. "It's the only copy I was given."
"Are you Azarathian?"
"Yes. What of it?"
"Nothing. It's just that my mother was fascinated by Azarathian culture." Artemis looked at the book with longing. "She always wanted to read The Book of Azar."
"So I take it that Azarathians knew of the Elemental Plane?"
"From what I knew they were neighboring dimensions. However the people of Azarath didn't like to associate with us. We were too 'emotional and warlike' for their liking. Although it probably didn't help that the only time Azarathians made contact with the Elementals, they were attacked by members of the Fire Sect. They left shortly after that and the Elementals never saw an Azarathian again."
"May I ask you a question, Artemis?"
"Go ahead."
"What was your mother like?"
Artemis took a few seconds to answer her question. "She was kind and strong. She cared for others first, and herself second. She saw the best in everyone, and she was a wonderful mother. I miss her dearly. Raven, may I ask you a question?"
"Shoot."
"What was my sister like when she was here?"
"She was very- energetic. Everyone became fast friends with her. She seemed to know exactly what to say, but at the same time was more lost then anyone I have ever met."
Artemis smiled sadly. "She did not change much, then. Now when you say 'everyone', are you including yourself?" Raven's silence was all she needed to answer her question. "You did not trust her, just as you do not trust me."
Raven nodded silently.
"Why?"
"After Terra, it is hard for me to trust people. For all I know, you will betray us just like she did."
"But I won't."
"I have no way of knowing that."
Artemis thought for a few minutes. "There is one way."
"Enlighten me."
"You could read my mind."
Raven sighed. "I wish it was that simple. To sift through memories, I would have to enter the person's mind. To do so, I would need the person's express permission that not only can I enter their mind, they would not harm me while I did so."
Artemis met Raven's eyes. "You may do whatever you need to do, and I will not hurt you while you do so."
"Alright then. Have a seat. This may take a while."
Raven walked over to one of her many bookshelves and pulled out an ancient looking spell book. She started flipping through it until she found the entry she was looking for. Once she found the page she sat across from Artemis, and placed the book between them.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" asked Raven.
"Yes."
"Alright. You'll go into a sort of trance while I'm in your mind. You won't feel anything, so try to relax. And above all, do not open your eyes until I say to. Hold out your hands." Artemis obeyed and held her hands out in front of her, palms down. "Close your eyes."
"Raven?"
Raven looked up from her book. "Yes?"
"Just remember: You had my permission to enter."
Raven nodded, and laid her hands on top of Artemis', closed her eyes, and began to chant:
"Azariòn Metûle, Azeriòn Caprie
Azule Epthirion, Metrion Metrie
Se Mor'anor Ones Fiana
Metûle Metrion Ones Kiana
Metzion Kiranos, Forsana Metabos
Ut het filamos!"
A jolt of violet electricity shot through Raven's hands. It sparked and sizzled in the air before sinking in between Raven and Artemis' eyebrows. The room was swept up in a miniature whirlwind. Air currents swept around them, blowing anything that wasn't tied down, but neither of them opened their eyes. Somewhere in the background, Lenore cawed as her cage was being blown around.
Raven felt as though she was spinning in the air. Then suddenly it all stopped. She felt herself falling through the air, before crashing into what felt an awful lot like grass and pine needles. She cracked open an eye experimentally. She was lying on her back in what appeared to be a forest. She sat up to take stock of her surroundings.
The smell of crushed pine needles infused the air with it's heady fragrance. The moon hung high in a starry, cloudless sky. Occasionally moonlight filtered in through a gap in the pine trees. The sound of owls could be heard clearly, as could the sound of a cracking twig whenever a rabbit or another small woodland creature traipsed through.
So this is Artemis' mind. It's interesting to say the least. It's definitely more imaginative than mine. Now, where would her memories be? If I were in my mind, they would probably be with Knowledge. But I have a feeling that her emotions aren't personified like mine. I suppose I'll just have to look around.
Raven sat up and began walking. Artemis' entire mindscape seemed to be a forest. An extremely realistic forest at that. The monks of Azar had told her that the more creative a person's mindscape was, the more they let their emotions roam. And from the looks of things, Artemis' emotions had a field day. She hiked through a seemingly endless expanse of pine trees before she came to a small clearing. She felt as though she had been hiking for hours, but she knew in the real world, it had not been more than a few minutes. A person's mind was like that. You could spend what felt like years in there, but in reality it was no more than a few hours.
She stretched her sore muscles and readjusted her cloak. Then, she heard the unmistakable snap of breaking branches. It's probably just a rabbit or something. Or a virtual rabbit. Or whatever you call things in here. She resumed her stretching. Snap. "There it is again," she muttered. She heard something else. It sounded like someone plucking a guitar string. No that wasn't right. She had heard that sound before. Oh, what was it? Raven's eyes widened in realization. A bowstring!
Raven ducked, and not a second too soon. For a few seconds later, an arrow whizzed it's way past where Raven's chest had just been, burying itself deep in the trunk of a pine tree. Her muscles tensed, and she immediately got ready for combat. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" she cried, calling on her powers. Nothing happened. Raven's eyes widened. My powers don't work in here! She threw herself behind an enormous pine tree. After what felt like ten minutes, she relaxed and stepped back out into the clearing. Whoever they were, they were gone.
Just then something sharp and pointy was jabbed into the back of Raven's neck, drawing a bit of blood. A cold, female voice broke the silence.
"You have trespassed into sacred territory, human. Now you die."
END
Author's Note: Ha-ha. I love the cliffy too much. Poor Raven, it seems Artemis' mind does not like being intruded upon. Sorry for not updating sooner. I had high school reading stuff to do. Ahh! School starts the 1st! Luckily for me though, my birthday's on Labor Day, so I get it off. Yayness! Remember, REVIEW!!!!! People who review are not sent to alternate dimensions by Raven. So review and stay tuned for the next chapter: Aderes!
Artemis out.
