Chapter 7
It was raining.
Thunder clapped made its rumbles, like a boiling ball going down the lane, or the continuous stomping of feet by twenty people.
Raven opened the door to the Chapel; she was soaking wet. The baby might get a cold.
"Father Thomas?"
Her call went unanswered.
The Chapel was empty, desolate, and deserted. Candles were lit dimly, giving off a faint glow that hardly lighted the room, making it difficult to see.
Raven slowly approached the altar.
Father Thomas came through the door to the back room.
"Raven?" he muttered uncertain, "Is that you?"
"Yes, Father," she answered, but when Raven noticed Father Thomas' blank eyes, she gasped.
"Oh God! What…? What happened?"
"I lost my sight."
"How?"
"I don't know. But it happens. That's life."
Then he pointed in some random direction, but Raven understood that he meant to point to a crucifix.
"Perhaps he is testing me…"
"I'm sorry."
"Oh, It's quite alright, my dear," he said compassionately, "Now, Raven, why did you come here on this awful night?"
"I… I need a place to stay."
Father Thomas smiled gently, obviously he knew that she had left Wayne Manor.
"A Chapel is no place for a young lady, Raven, much less a mother. It is a place of worship."
Then, sensing her distress, he added, "But I'm sure you could stay… for a little while."
"Oh thank you, Father Thomas!"
"Although I don't think I'll be much help with the baby, considering my recent… condition."
He led Raven into the library, and toward a door on the left. Raven had never been in this room before.
"Now, this is where Jeff would sleep. It's not much, mind you, but he didn't complain."
Jeff's room was considerably smaller than Raven's. And albeit she was used to a large room, so that she could 'space out,' this would do… temporarily.
"Thank you."
Father Thomas left her, closing the door. Raven glanced around the room. The old wooden walls were painted white, and a small closet was next to the door. Raven noticed that Jeff did, in fact, wear more than the typical jeans and white collared. The bed was made nicely, as if untouched in years… literally. But it was small too, and she wondered how someone as tall as Jeff managed to fall asleep on it. There was a headboard behind the pillow of the bed, with a lamp there for some late-night reading. A small table was next to it, with a frozen alarm clock that didn't tick or move, and pictures of Jesus Christ and his mother Mary.
Raven wondered where she was going to put Constantine. She was foolish, and forgot the crib at the mansion. She opened one of the small six drawers that were positioned below the table beside the bed, took blankets from Jeff's bed, filled one of the drawers, and placed her infant son in it.
Though a baby, Constantine knew that he too did have much space.
Hopefully Mommy will let me play on the floor at least.
Raven watched her son fall fast asleep in his new bed, and she too lied down. The room had a cold feeling about it, and Raven knew why. The room had been uninhabited for so long that the warmth from a human body had left it. Raven also felt sad from the memories that filled this room.
And just when she thought she had Jeff all figured out, here was a secret he kept from her.
But to that she knew why he did also. He never told her about this room either one: because he was ashamed of it, or two: because he did not want to be tempted to do anything Raven would not have been ready for.
Remembering her self sacrificing husband, Raven closed her eyes and fell asleep on the mattress.
---
"Miss Raven, you're fired."
Two weeks past, Raven had found a job in a small fast-food restaurant. But now it seemed that the opportunity had disappeared.
"Please, Mr. Aziz, give me another chance," she pleaded
Raven was wearing a sauce-stained apron, and a small back-carrier held Constantine, fast asleep.
"Your baby has been distracting you too much," he explained, "You can't be breast-feeding and diaper-changing when there's a rush. The point is, Raven, you're just not good help."
"But, please. I really need the money. Please, just another chance. This is the only place that accepted me. I can't afford a sitter. Please."
She was referring to Father Thomas, who had spent the last weeks in Rome with the Pope. Apparently, something happened. But without him, Raven had no food. She had to find a job.
"Oh alright. One more chance."
"Thank you!" she cried as she embraced him, "Thank you so much!"
"Okay! Okay! Get off me, please. Get back to work."
---
One year later.
There was a knock at the door.
The door to Raven's apartment. After a long time of working and slaving over mere hourly wages, then being promoted to higher ranks, Raven was finally being able to have her own place to stay. It wasn't large, but just large enough for a mother and her son.
Raven was wearing a pink spring dress that went down to the ankles, and a yellow apron over that. Her hair had grown much longer, for she had disregarded the idea of cutting it anymore. It lengthened down to her shoulders, and two strands of hair hung over her eyebrows, went down her cheeks to her chin.
She answered the door.
A familiar face was staring back at her. A man, long black hair, tied in a pony-tail and slicked back, was in a dark suit – black tie, jacket, and pants, with a white dress shirt. When he spoke, Raven immediately recognized his voice.
"Raven?"
He no longer wore a mask. Raven replied, "Hello, Robin."
"Good. You remember me."
"It's good to see your eyes instead of that mask, but whatever happened to the Teen Titans?"
"The four of us split up. Cyborg and Beast Boy went on to form the Teen Titans as a global organization, along with Speedy, Aqualad, and the others. It's mainly a training center for young superheroes and meta-humans."
"And you?"
"I went back to Batman," Robin said, "He and I are partners now while I attend college. I help out whenever I can. Beast Boy, Cyborg and I stay in touch. Oh! These are for you."
He handed her a bouquet of purple flowers. She took them and blushed, not knowing what to say.
"Um… Thank you."
It occurred to Raven that Robin was making a social visit, but not just to catch up. He must have wanted something else. She also realized that he had been standing at the doorway the whole time.
"Oh! I'm sorry for being rude. Please come in."
He stepped in and looked around the apartment. It wasn't as fancy as his place, but Raven kept it clean.
"So, whatever happened to you and Starfire?"
"I'd rather not talk about it."
There was a long pause, the Robin began, "Raven, I'm guessing that the years have been hard on you, and that you're alone… it doesn't have to be that way."
"I… I…"
Then he eased in and made to kiss her. She felt herself drawn to him, and her eyes slowly closed. Suddenly, they shot open as she saw Jeff behind Robin. She immediately drew away, disallowing him to kiss her.
"I'm sorry, Dick. I can't."
"Why not?" he asked confused. He saw the look in her eyes, and knew what she was thinking. Hadn't a year been long enough? Then he spoke very bluntly.
"Raven, Jeff's dead."
"I… I know. I just can't."
Constantine was heard in the other room, the sounds of his cries disturbing the silence.
"I have a baby, Dick. Jeff is my husband."
"But he's dead!"
"That doesn't mean I won't see him again. I want to remain faithful, just like would be for me. You're not mad are you?"
"No," he lied, "I'm not. I guess I should be leaving."
Raven didn't say anything.
Robin walked out, and closed the door behind him.
Raven pondered whether she had made the right choice. But she knew that he would understand, sooner or later, that they weren't meant for each other, and that she'd only cheat him of his true love.
Despite this, Raven understood why Robin revisited her.
---
"Good day, Class."
"Hell-ll-o! Mis-ter Jon-der-ston!" The entire class said in unison.
"Alright, we will begin with a question. Many of you believe in God, yes?"
The little boys and girls nodded.
"Very well. Let me ask you this: Did God create everything?"
There was a long pause, each student didn't know who was to raise his hand.
One gray-skinned hand slowly raised. It was a boy with gray-skin and navy blue hair.
"Yes?" The instructor inquired
"Of course." The boy answered.
"Aha! You have fallen into my trap finally, Constantine. Your arrogance got the better of you this time. If God created everything, how does evil exist? God must have created evil, showing yet again that God is just a false manifesto of a pathetic religion desperately grasping for something to believe in."
"God did not create evil." The small boy stated
The teacher raised an eyebrow, "No? You believe God exists and created everything?"
The little boy tried to explain, "What is the definition of dark? Dark is simply the absence of light. Theoretically, darkness does not exist, it is simply a term we use to define and display something that is without light. What about cold? That is simply the absence of warmth. Again, something must be present for there not to be cold or dark. There must be warmth and light. They are both terms we have to show the lack of either energies. The same is true with God. When God is not present somewhere or in something, we label it evil – just for the sake of calling it something. God did not create evil."
There was a moment of silence after he had finished. Then the entire class exploded, plaudits were heard in every echo of the room, and the teacher lowered his head, ashamed.
"Who told you that, young man?" The teacher probed maliciously
He smiled and answered simply.
"My mother."
---
"Yes. And how does that make you feel?"
"Well, um… actually…"
Ring! Ring! Ring!
"Oh, excuse me. I have to take this."
"Of course, Miss Raven."
Raven stood up and walked to a corner, pulled out her cell phone and answered it.
"Can this wait? I'm with a client."
A voice was heard on the other end of the line, "Terribly sorry, Miss Raven, but I believe your son, Constantine, has gotten himself into trouble… again."
"Mmm-hmm."
"Erm, would you mind…?"
"Oh yes! Right away. Sorry."
She turned to her patient, "I'm sorry, Mr. Napier. Could we pick up on this tomorrow?"
"Oh. Sure."
"Yes, I'm sorry. My son seems to be at the principal's office."
She opened the door, and walked out. Her voice said one last thing.
"Help yourself to the chocolates."
She quickly got into her blue Cadillac XLR, and drove off.
There was a hot pie sitting next to her that she was saving for lunch.
Guess I'll have to offer a peace pie.
Her car quickly approached the school, she parked, and exited the car.
She wore a beige business suit, with a blackish shirt behind it, nice light-brown high heels, and a beige skirt that went down knee-length.1
Carrying the pie, she entered the school's quiet hallway, and walked toward the office labeled "Principal."
The sound of her high heels made a distinct and repetitive noise as she strode down the marble hallway.
Clok clok clok clok clok.
She opened the door, and looked around the small office.
The principal was there, with a look of severe disappointment in his face, and 8-year-old Constantine, with a look of solemn guilt and shame in a frown.
"Thank you for coming in, Miss Raven," the principal said kindly, "and taking time off from your busy schedule."
"What seems to be the problem?" she sat down next to her son
"Well, it seems our lad, Constantine, is a bit of a rebel. He has little respect for authority, and just today, he got in a bit of a spat with one of the teachers."
"He- He was trying to say God didn't exist!"
"Connie, let the man finish."
"I suggest that Constantine write a letter of apology to the offended teacher. Are you in agreement with that, Miss Raven?"
Raven nodded seriously.
Then a small smirk came across the principal's face.
"Also, it appears that your son has been getting into a few fights with some of the other students, physical fights."
"Is this true, Constantine?"
"Well, yeah! They- They call me a freak!"
Raven suddenly felt anger, but composed herself.
She turned and smiled to the principal, "Is this true, sir?"
"Yes, Miss Raven."
Then his smirk grew even larger.
"Your son is sort of a…"
"What?"
It was the same old thing again. Someone pointing out Constantine's "illegitimacy," even though technically he wasn't. Again, someone calling Raven a whore. Again, someone announcing her inexperience and lack of discipline. Just like when she was a little girl, someone calling her a freak.
Raven's anger grew so much that it became noticeable. The principal's smirk disappeared, and realizing that he shouldn't have pissed off a major superpower, recoiled. Fear was smitten across his pathetic face.
Raven became aware of his feelings, and regained control.
"Well, I'll just take my son home now."
"G-Go right ahead. I'm sorry ab-b-bout all th-this."
"Oh! I baked you a pie. Come on, Constantine."
She led her son out, leaving the pie on his desk.
The door closed.
A sound of splat-explosion was heard, followed the distinct smell of cherry.
Raven and Constantine giggled to each other on their way out.
---
Raven hovered in mid-air, legs crossed, humming to herself and reading a book.
Constantine walked in. After that incident with the school, Raven opted to home-school him. But now, they were on a break, and Raven was catching up on a story she had long set aside.
"Mom?"
"Yes, my son?"
He slowly approached her, and she closed and put down the book. Still hovering, she smiled at him.
"What is it?"
"Um… The kids at school… they have two parents… mommies and daddies. How come I don't have a daddy?"
"Oh, Constantine, you do. You have a daddy. And he loves you very much."
"How come he's not here now?"
The familiar tears came to her eyes, she hadn't spoken of her husband in a long time.
"Well, he… died."
That was something Constantine understood.
"Oh. Why?"
"He… He died for you and me."
There was a long silence.
"What was he like?"
The sound of that question and what it meant… and more importantly what it asked about, made Raven happy.
"He… was… like a guardian angel. He was brave, despite his lack of strength or power, and he was determined… determined to fulfill his destiny."
"What was his destiny?"
"His destiny… was to make you, Constantine."
"Why?"
"I… I don't know yet. But I'm sure it's important."
Constantine sat on the ground, looking up at his mother.
"What else was he like?"
"He was so devoted to me. I never truly understood… how much… how much he really loved me. He loved me so much… he… gave up his life. He always comforted me, and he was the first and only person who could get close to me and who I let get close. I wanted to give my life up for him, but… he beat me to it. Constantine, your father was a great man."
"What was his name?"
"Your father's name was… Jeff."
Constantine raised an eyebrow, "Really? Oh. I thought he had a cooler name."
"Like what?"
"Like… The Terminator!"
"The Terminator?"
Constantine laughed.
When he caught his breath, he asked, "What did he look like?"
"Just like you."
"Really?"
"What? You thought he looked cooler?"
"No, I just thought he looked like… you."
That remark made Raven cry. It was too much.
"Mommy, why are you crying?"
"Because," she sniffed and sobbed, "I… I miss your daddy so much."
"Well, if it makes you sad, Mommy, I don't want to talk about it anymore."
"It… It doesn't make me sad." Raven said as she wiped the tears
"We'll talk later about it, okay?"
Raven nodded.
As Constantine walked away, he heard her voice, "Where do you think your going?"
"Uh…"
"You need to meditate."
"Aw man! Right now? C'mon! Why?"
"You know you've had those powers since you were four. You need meditation to hone those skills and keep your emotions in check."
"But you don't! I see you crying every time I turn around!"
Raven ignored Constantine's disrespect, "C'mon. You need the tranquility anyway."
He frowned.
"This is not a punishment, son. You know you need this."
"Oh all right."
He hovered next to Raven, crossed his legs, and began chanting with her.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos. Azarath Metrion Zinthos. Azarath Metrion Zinthos…"
