Hello all and welcome back to the second to last chapter of Dark Deal.
That's right, WE'RE ALMOST DONE!
After this story Is finished I will be working on a few other projects, like Feelings and some others. Fun stuff coming up so I hope you all enjoy! But don't worry I'll still be working to finish this series I've come to write and love, and I hope you have to.
This is an intense chapter so I hope you enjoy.
On with the show.
Chapter 9: Souls of the forgotten.
Robin put a white sheet over Slade completely covering his now lifeless body. Was it really over? Was Slade Wilson really . . . dead? The greatest enemy of the Teen Titans . . . gone? Just like that? All those nights looking over papers, clues, photographs, evidence, any and everything and it all just ended like this? Not in the heat of battle, but a few mutated cells? Robin still couldn't believe it, and whats worse he actually felt . . . bad. Maybe not so much for the mercenary, but for those whose lives he ruined, especially his children. Joeseph, and apparently Rose, but in the end Slade attempted to make things right. Still Robin was sure it wouldn't be enough to save him from his fate . . . whatever it was.
He left the cell shutting the door behind him to find the three other teens waiting for him, two villains and the daughter of a villain. When did THIS become his life?
He approached Rose, who was leaning against the wall with her arms folded over her chest and head down, and put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry about . . . uh-"
"It's okay Robin. You don't have to say anything. You guys weren't exactly BFF's or anything" she said not looking up. "Slade didn't want anyone to know about me being his daughter. He wanted me to have a better life, maybe the life of a Titan like Joey, but he knew there was no way you'd consider it if you knew he was my father."
Robin was about to protest her statement, but she wasn't wrong. Of course if being teammates with Raven taught him anything it's that you can't judge anyone on the soul basis of who they were related to. He didn't know Jericho well, but from what he did know, he knew he was a sweet boy. Large explosions began to rock the tower telling them they should probably get outside.
"If your here on a truce then help us protect our home." Robin said to the villains.
"I gotta couple hundred grand that says I have too." said Red-X already heading to the exit.
Rose shook her head with a roll of her eyes, but followed Red-X. Robin looked confused and looked to See-More as if he was going to give him the answer.
"Don't look at me, I have no idea." he said. "Look Robin . . . I . . . uh-"
"Who ordered this attack?" Robin asked getting to the point.
See-More took a breath, unsure if he wanted to betray his former headmaster, but a quick recap of the days events convinced him that Brother Blood did NOT have his or anyone's best interests in mind. "Brother Blood got wind that Jinx was dying. I don't know how, but as soon as he did he organized this attack on your tower to finish the job, and you all in the process." Robin narrowed his eyes on frowned. "If I had known he wanted us to kill her and you, I would have said Hell No-"
"And you did, which is the only reason I'm trusting you to help us out now. Don't make me regret it." Robin's tone was serious and left no room for forgiveness if See-More betrayed them. He gulped, but nodded his head tell the Titan leader that he understood. Both boys followed the sounds of battle, but Robin's communicater started buzzing. See-More looked behind him to check on the Boy Wonder.
"Keep going. I need to take this." See-More did as he was told as Robin flipped his cummunicater open only to frown with a narrow of his eyes at the cowled man on the other line.
"What is it Batman?-"
"Robin you need to do a head count of all the female Titans in your vicinity, then get a location of one Dr. Arther Light." The Dark Knight said in a hurried tone that Robin found unnatural and odd coming from him.
Robin furrowed his brow. "Why on EARTH would I do that?"
"I do not have any time to explain. The short version is that Carnus Valogneus did something to him and now he is extremely dangerous, especially to your female Titans, now get a headcount and find Dr. Light. When you know were he is contact me. Batman out." The screen went blank leaving a very confused Robin staring at the yellow device. Robin rolled his eyes, but did as he was instructed. Yes Batman was a bossy controlling ass, but Robin trusted his judegment and he wouldn't ask him to do something without a good reason. He clicked on the mutli-channel function on his communicater.
"Calling all female Titans report your location and status immediately." he called. Over the next few minutes he heard from each lady Titan from around the country first before he heard from his own teammates.
"Starfire reporting from outside the tower." Robin could hear the sounds of battle in the background.
"Raven reporting from the room across from the med bay."
"Constantine with her!" Robin heard the sounds of Raven shoving him away and muttering things under her breath.
So far everyone had called in . . . except.
"Robin to Kole . . . Kole do you read . . . Kole?!"
Rose, Red-X and See-More headed up the stairs to the second floor where they could hear the sounds of Robots invading the upper parts of the tower.
"What's the plan?" See-More asked. Being used to attack stategy's from the H.I.V.E. he was used to their being some sort of plan, even if they rarely if ever worked out.
Rose rolled her eyes. "See a robot, kill it."
See-More shrugged. "Simple, I like it." The three burst through the doors, intent on ripping apart any robot in their path, only to see the battle was already done.
Malundra and Zatanna stood in the wreckage of destroyed Blood Bots when the three other's burst onto the floor.
"Sorry did you want us to save a few for you?" Malundra quiped.
Rose relaxed her fighters stance. "Kinda."
Malundra smirked. "You still may yet. Follow me." The four teens followed the witch in the direction of the room that housed Jinx.
Jump City Forest. Donna and Drake.
Drake brought one of his swords down on Donna who crossed her wrists together above her head, her metalic bracelets blocking the strike. Sparks flew at the contact with the unbreakable metal, her Amazonean strength helping to hold firm. She pushed, with all of her strength, the sword away, then Drake brought the blade on his other arm towards her left side. She blocked it with a downward block of her bracelet, then leapt backwards bringing her foot underneath his head. He teetered backwards, but quickly croutched low and spun around whiping his tail into the Amazon. As soon as she landed on her feet, his thick tail hit her in her side, knocking the wind out of her and sending her into a tree.
The tree splintered slightly under her unnatural strength, then slumped to the ground with a tremendous pain in her side. Looking up she saw the Dragon approach her, it's blades slowly retracting into the armor guards on his forearms.
"Go ahead." she coughed. "Finish me."
Drake looked down at her, tilting his head to show confusion. "Why would I do that?"
Donna chuckled spitting blood. "Because I did this." She bolted toward Drake with her fist colliding with the side of his head, denting his armor, but before he could counter attack she threw a punch from her lift fist into this head. On an on she struck, until Drake brought his left wing in front of him blocking her left hook, then through the membrane of his wing he punched the Amazon sending her flying back, but at least missing the tree this time. Donna got to her feet, slightly dizzy, but still good to fight off the Dra-
Her ice blue eyes scanned the Dragon oddly.
Instead of the usual bright light that accompanyed a Dragon Knight's change, Drake simply shrunk down in size, his bones cracking, muscles tearing as the scales on his body became skin, his wings and tail vanishing, his claws becoming human fingers and toes, his snout shrinking to human size, and his horns vanishing. After what looked like a painful few seconds the Dragon was gone, replaced with a young handsome man.
He swore under his breath as Donna got to her feet. "I didn't think Dragon Knights had time limits on their Dragon bodies."
"Well mine did." Drake snapped. He tried to focus on any part of the Dragon that was lying dorment inside of him, to hopefully change back, but it was gone. He was human again and powerless. He had to shrug it off and took a fighting stance. "I believe we were fighting."
She eyed him oddly. "Well yeah, but your powers are gone, it wouldn't be a fair fight."
"Hey I may be powerless but I can still hold my own against an Amazon."
Donna, that he had a lot of fire in him even without his abilities, still a true warrior wouldn't attack an opponent weaker then them. It wasn't right.
"Drake that's enough." Both of the combatants looked off to the older man who had gotten to his feet, proping himself up with the golden Dragon rod he held. "Even with your skill as a fighter you wouldn't stand a chance."
Donna turned to the elder Knight. "Well I wont have any issues taking you down."
Without a seconds hesitation, Drake stood between his uncle and the vindictive Amazon. "Not on your life." he snarled.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "I am honor bound not to harm you, but the same can't be said for him. I understand he is your family, but attempted to overthrow the people of this world with his own Dragon army."
"My uncle was framed." Drake shot back. "Everyone knew it except for Hippolyta who was slightly bitter for Drakull attacking her people. Something you weren't even around for."
Donna tensed. True she wasn't there, but she knew the stories and saw the damage the Dragon Drakull left behind. "That's irrelevent-"
"No it's not! It's the reason your attacking us. You do realize him and I are the only one's left right? So even if you did kill us, or trap us of whatever it is you have planned, what good would it do in the long run?"
"He's right young lady." said Draco. "However you are right about one thing, and thats the fact that I was building an army without my brothers knowledge."
Drake went rigid. He turned slowly to his uncle. "What are you talking about?" he breathed.
Draco sighed. "I was building and army, but not to 'rule the world' or whatever Hippolyta believed. I built an army to protect out people from the real problem. Corwin and Tharog were so busy worrying about what the Amazons would do to us, and Tharog wanted to appease them, we failed to see the real threat. You know of whom I'm talking about Drake. The very reason you had to leave your home, the women you love, and stay in a frozen sleep for over a thousand years."
Drake paled as realization came to him. "You mean you KNEW she would attack us?"
Draco shook his head. "I didn't have proof that the Azarathian would declare war on us, but I wanted to be prepared. However when I was discovered with an army of my own Dragon Knights it was taken the wrong way. I was accused, tried and sent to the Prison Hell Dimension. I didn't get back out until the gate was opened about three years ago."
"What Azarathian?" Donna was closer to them now, listening to every word Draco was saying.
"I'm referring to Amberlyn. The Red Witch of Azarath."
Donna's eyes went wide. "I've heard stories of her. She is said to be the most powerful witch in creation." Donna looked at the ground, a thinking expression over her face as she put pieces together. "Wait . . . Amberlyn attacked my people and they barely survived."
"Her beef was with the Dragon Knights." Drake said angrily. "She attacked my home and slaughtered hundreds of us, but she left the other lands live." He turned to Donna, a dark glare in his eyes. "So maybe next time get your facts straight before you start punching someone out. If it weren't for us, the Amazon's may have been a memory instead of my people."
Donna felt an incredible guilt weigh on her heart. All this time she thought the Dragon Knights wanted nothing but to plunge the world into fire, and here their were, the last of their kind because their families made the ultimate sacrifice so the other lands could live, like the Amazon's. She hung her head in shame.
Drake was about to yell at her again when his pocket began to vibrate. Irked that his tirade was interrupted he grabbed his phone and hit speaker.
"What?" he said loudly.
"Drake it's Robin, is Kole with you?"
Donna's head shot up. Robin? Why was Robin talking to the Dragon? And how did THEY know Kole?
Drake had a confused look. She should be at the tower by now. "No Kole isn't with me. I told her to meet me at the tower. Why?"
"How do YOU know Kole and Robin?" Donna asked but Drake ignored her.
"Robin were's Kole?" Drake asked in a demanding tone. Draco eyed his nephew with caution, not liking his tone, or where this conversation was going.
Drake could hear the sounds of frustration from the Boy Wonder. "Look we're just doing a head check of all the Titan girls . . . and we can't find Kole."
Drake tensed, anger flashing in his eyes. His loaner Dragon form was gone and he wouldn't be able to shift again, but the look in his eyes held a firey red stare.
"Robin. Answer me truthfully." Drake said through his teeth. "Why? Do you? Need to know? Were the Titan girls are?" Draco continued to look over the younger Knight with great concern, and wished pity on anyone who may have harmed this girl.
Titans Island.
Cyborg blasted another Blood Bot, but just like what had been happening throughout this entire battle, two more took it's place. The Blood Bots just continued to pour unto the island from the water below and attempted to gain access into the tower. By this time Mammoth was on his feet again, and Private Hive had joined the combat. Starfire floated to her metalic friends side.
"Friend their are so many to fight! We need assistance!" Cyborg looked around letting out another beam from his cannon. Kid Flash was getting tired, Blackfire was doing battle via hand to hand combat with her hands and eyes glowing violet with the giant Mammoth, the one known as Risk was fighting with Private Hive, Cheshire was slicing apart bot after bot but was faring as well as Cyborg and Starfire.
"Were are we going to find help? Rob and See-More are taking care of the stragglers that got inside a-"
"Gnark!" Cyborg turned his head and saw Starfire fly to the caveman who was laying on his stomach unconscious and burned. Cybog ran beside him and started to scan him.
"He's ok, but in very bad shape."
"Cyborg!" Starfire began throwing starbolts at advancing robots while Cyborg tried to ressesitate the young caveman. The bots were baring down on them now, threatening the lives of the metal man, the alien and the unconscious caveman.
Over the sounds of battle, explosions, and battle cries they heard a loud howl of hunger and rage fill the air, drowning out all other noise and pulling all attention to the sky. After a thundering collision, a crater was formed on Titans Island shooting out dust, rocks, and a cloud of dirt, and in the center was a towering wall of black and silver fur, teeth, claws, and crimson eyes, hungry for battle. Next to the Beast was a man in a suit, with black combed hair and red eyes.
With a british accent Landon addressed the giant wall of teeth and fangs next to him with one simple command.
"Kill."
The Beast leapt at the Bots Ripping and Tearing them apart one by one.
Landon felt a tiny hand grip his own.
"Uncle Landon, what would you like us to do?" Landon looked down at the three children, small baby, and Teddy bear that he brought with him.
"Landon?" Landon's attention was drawn to the archer, his arm against his chest as it had been broken. "Did you bring . . . my daughter . . . to a battle?" He said glaring.
" . . . maybe . . . "
Inside Titans Tower.
With one arm around the girls waist holding her firmly against him, Dr. Light searched the tower for a vacant room. Kole's hands were pinned to her sides as he lifted her with effortlessly. Strange. The Dr. Light she knew from before wasn't this strong, or this daring, or this frightening. It was the look in his eyes. When he looked at her, she could swear it was like Carnus Valogneus staring back. Dead lifeless eyes filled with nothing, but evil and a need to inflict pain. She squirmed in his grasp, kicking at him with her feet which only knocked her black flats off.
"Let me go!" she screamed.
"Shut up!" he yelled back twisting her harshly in his arm. She yelped at the discomfort which only fed his hunger for power and dominance over this small girl, and finally the last door he opened was a bedroom and with a rough toss, threw the girl inside. She hit the floor with a grunt, the PCC around her neck chaffing horribly against her skin. "Normally I would want to take my time, but I am on a time constraint. I have no idea when that oaf and your scaly friend come along."
The thought of her big brother and new boyfriend filled her with a sense of courage, she knew one of them were coming for her, she just knew it. She stared up at him with hate. She wasn't a hateful person at all, but this man in front of her brought out her ugly angry side. "Lay a hand on me and they'll rip you to into pieces, and that's if their feeling generous."
He sneered at her, his lust filled eyes looking over her petite frame with a hunger, and need. She had dolled herself up for her date with Drake, which made her all the more delicious to him. "I think I'll take my chances." He charged at her, grabbing her by her arm when she tried to move out of the way. She cried, the grip of his hand like iron as his individual fingers dug into her arm. He threw her with ease to the other side of the room were she landed on the empty bed. It was at this point that Kole knew what was about to happen to her.
She turned around to face her attacker and was pinned to the bed by the villain. She struggled, but he pulled himself on top of her, his legs straddling her stomach, grabbing her wrists and forced them to the bed. She wasn't going anywhere. This wasn't about the act of intercourse, this was about power and control. The need to inflict fear and pain on any and everyone, and he was going to start with this tasty treat now pinned underneath him and at his mercy. Next he planned on teaching the dark witch a lesson she wouldn't forget.
"Stop fighting!" he snarled. "Stop fighting and I'll promise to be gentle." He leaned close to her taking a long enhale of her hair and neck. She pulled her head away but it wasn't far enough as his nose brushed against the bare flesh of her neck making her shudder in panic. "You wouldn't want it to hurt too much four your first time now would you?" She kept her eyes shut tight, tears pouring down her cheeks, she prayed that this was all just a bad dream and soon she would wake up in Drake's arms where she was safe. "LOOK AT ME!" She gasped in fright as his grip got tighter on her wrists. Slowly she turned to look at him, her cobalt eyes clittering with her tears. "Good girl. Now tell me you fear me." His voice was low and husky, his face inches from her own, the emptiness in his eyes suffocating. She gulped, not remembering how to talk. "SAY IT!"
She yelped again, and took a small breath. " . . . I-I . . . "
The door was kicked in.
. . . .
Dragon Knights were supposed to be masters of their emotions, especially their tempers. The term "Hot Head" had to come form somewhere after all. It wasn't common knowledge what the consequences of an enraged Dragon Knight were, given that it only happened a handful of times, but the stories discribed it as beyond catastrophic. The last time a Dragon Knight had completely lost control . . . well lets just say it was easier to blame Pompeii on a volcano.
But Drake didn't have his Dragon powers now did he? But that didn't make him any less lethal.
He felt the rage fuel his every move, his every step, his every breath. The blood pounding in his ears, his eyes seeing a bright red, his grip tight around the sword he carried. There he saw her. The innocent, kind-hearted, sweetest soul Drake had ever met, was laying underneath this deviant as if she was nothing more then an object for his sick pleasure. The young women who had his heart was about to be defiled, and this fact alone fueled his blind rage. His grip was so tight on the blade his knuckles were white, all training, all rational thought went flying out the window with each breath, and all there was in his mind, was a hate induced NEED to kill.
And kill he would.
Dr. Light brought up his hand, shooting a beam of yellow light at the Knight. Drake moved effortlessly out of the way throwing a wire from his belt and it wrapped around the villains neck. With all of his strength, he pulled on the wire, cutting into Lights throat, and pulled him off the girl. He stumbled off of her, but quickly got to his feet, ignoring the warm trickle of blood from his neck, and shot another beam at Drake. He ducked, then pressed the button on his belt pulling the Doctor to him. With a warm blast of light, he shot the center of the wire which cut it in half releasing the hold that Drake had on him, but it didn't stop him.
With a yell of anger, Drake charged at Dr. Light, who had his hands up and at the ready to shot another blast of light at him, but Drake didn't care that he was going to be shot. He was going to make him hurt. He was going to make him bleed and nothing would stop him in his pursuit. Dr. Light shot at the Knight, only to have his blast miss him entirely as he seemingly vanished into thin air. Puzzled, he looked around the room and found both the girl and Drake were gone. The reminisce of black mist floating in the air.
. . . .
Drake felt the usual nausea in his stomach. In his blind attack he didn't take notice of the familiar black mist form around his body and transport himself and Kole to another part of the tower. Getting his barings he looked around, and found the Demon King standing in front of him, the mist still pulsing from his body from the teleportation. Drake quickly remembered his fury, and vow to kill the villain, and made as if to move past the demon, but Landon stood in his path.
"Get outta my way Landon." Drake snarled, not stopping his advance.
Without fear, or hesitation Landon repsonded with a calm, "No."
His anger boiled over. "I said get the FUCK OUT OF MY WAY!" Drake grabbed him by his collar and attempted to move Landon aside by force, but the Demon was stronger then the powerless Knight and easily pushed him against the wall.
"Liste-Listen to me!" Landon yelled, Drake fighting uselessly against his grip. "Look." He directed his attention to the young girl who was curled up on the ground, her clothes ripped and her eyes filled with tears as her sobs filled the quiet halls of the tower. Drake could feel another emotion begin to shine through the rage, a need to hold and comfort her overcoming him. Landon brought Drake's attention back to him. "She dosen't need the MONSTER right now, she needs YOU. Do you understand?" Drake took a few shaky breaths, and seeing Kole in this state began to calm his anger. Wordlessly he nodded, and once Landon believed him, released his grip and patted him on his face. "Good boy. Now go take care of your girl." Drake dropped his sword with a clang and ran to Kole's side wrapping his arms around her. She returned the favor with a tight squeeze around his waist, as tightly as she was able, and sobbed into his chest
Landon watched as the two held each other, his eyes flashing a furious red. "Leave the Doctor to me." he said quietly and vanished form the hallway. Drake, not hearing what he said, turned around but he was already gone. Hopefully to finish what he started.
. . . .
Dr. Light left the vacant room, a frown twisting on his face. His plaything was gone, now he was stalking the halls looking for the girl and her so-called protecter. Maybe he should just forget about her and move on to the witch. In his frustration he didn't notice the lights above him flickering, but he did notice that it got much colder around him, so much so that he could see his breath. He stopped when he saw something move out of the corner of his eye. Looking at the around his surroundings he could have sworn he saw something move, but there wasn't anything there. He continued walking, but he kept seeing shadows move out of the corners of his eyes, but when he would turn to look at them they would vanish. He froze when his ears picked up the quiet sounds of wailing and moans of agony.
Dr. Light went rigid, a shiver running up and down his spine, his eyes fixed on the shadows that were now MOVING, and they were moving towards him. As the shadows got closer they began to take on a humanoid shape, with arms and fingers reaching out to him in a begging like fasion. Like vagabonds begging for a scrap of food or clothing, or even spare change. He backed up against the wall looking at the moving, humanoid shadows that were creeping along the ground, walls and ceiling. His heart beating out of his chest and only got faster and faster once the shadows began speaking to him.
" . . . help . . . us . . . "
" . . . please . . . "
The shadows moaned, groaned and wailed as they reached out for Dr. Light begging to be set free of whatever prison they were trapped in. He attempted to run towards the exit that was in his sight, but as soon as he stepped on a spot were the shadows waited, they REACHED from the very ground gripping at his suit, legs and ankles. He retreated back into the safe spot were the moaning shadows weren't touching, and began searching for a way out.
"Stay back!" he screamed shooting rays of light at the approaching shadows. Some vanished, but then two more took it's place. He continued his attack until he heard the sounds of his suit powering down, leaving him in complete darkness.
The moans of the shadows continued, but now was accompanyed by the sound of footsteps moving down the hall and towards the Doctor.
"Help!" he screeched, not caring who it was. He scrunched his eyes trying to see who was coming towards him in the darkness, but all he could see were a pair of floating red eyes. Both watching him with anger and a sense of pleasure.
A dark british voice echoed from the darkness addressing him. "You attempted to defile a young women who has stolen the heart of my dearest friend and brother." The voice cut through him to his very core freezing his insides causing him to tremble uncontrollably, his breathing becoming erradic, and the terror in his eyes filling the red-eyed entity with glee. "I see your scared of the dark." The eyes bored into him, once again soaking in his terror. "Good. Because your never seeing the light again."
Instantly the shadows crawled towards Dr. Light emerging from the floor, wall and ceilings and grabbed onto the villain in their ice cold shadowy hands, and began to pull him into backwards INTO the wall.
"NOOOOOOOOO!" He shrieked attempting to run away, but the grips of the shadow hands held firm dragging him into the darkness of the shadows. "HEEEEEEELP! HELP ME! PLEASE! SOMEBODY!" He sobbed and cried and clawed at the ground until his fingers were bleeding in an attempt to get away from the shadows. Their moans of hopelessness and pain began to get louder and louder until finally Dr. Lights wails joined the masses of the souls lost in the shadows. Once the villain faded into the shadows, the light returned, once again the hallway was empty.
Jinx's room
"We're running out of time love." Constantine had his glowing red yellow hand over the pink haired sorceress. "She dosen't have much longer."
Raven was pacing back and forth so fast she almost tripped over her own cloak, feeling incredibly useless. "We need more time."
"I have contacts in the veil that could give us some time-"
"It dosen't mean anything if Malundra and Zatanna don't get back here." More explosions sounded outside the tower. "Plus our current distractions."
Constantine ran a hand through his dirty blonde hair. "I'll go look for Zatanna, but Malundra should-"
"-be here by now." Malundra strode into the small room, with Zatanna behind her. See-More, Rose and Red-X stood by the door. She turned to them looking past the magician behind her. "You three make sure no one comes within a hundred yards of this room." They nodded in understanding and shut the door. Once that was done, she turned to the others. "What are we waiting for?"
Constantine snickered then withdrew the stone from his pocket. "Zatanna I need you here," he gestured to the foot of Jinx's bed, "and Malundra here." He pointed to the side of her bed. Constantine held up the small stone aiming it over Jinx's chest. "Each of you take a side." Both of the female spellcasters put their hand on the side of the stone. "Now close your eyes and focus on healing this girl, I'll handle the rest." The nodded, bowed their heads and closed their eyes. Constantine took a deep a few deep breaths, then his own eyes began to glow a redish yellow as he spoke an incantation. With each word, the spellcasters could feel their own magical energy being pulled from their bodies and into the stone. The powerless empath watching with fascination.
A soft pink energy flowed form Malundra, a light blue from Zatanna, and a redish yellow from the conman, and each stream of light entered the amethyst stone. Their energy's began swirling inside the stone mixing together like bright paint, then at the bottom of the stone came a pure white energy flowing into the pink haired girls chest. She jerked slightly, but then her body relaxed and excepted the white energy now flowing through her. Raven stood back in amazment, noting how the pure white looked somewhat like her pure form. Oh how she missed that form, and her powers. There was something she'd never thought she'd say, but she was tired of feeling useless all the time.
The doors opened behind them, and Raven immediately went defensive, but relaxed-slightly-when she saw it was Landon.
"Raven darling. I need your assistance with something. Please bring a first aid kit if you'd be so kind."
Raven looked at him oddly, but grabbed a nearby kit and approached him. "Why?"
Landon didn't respond at first, he just walked to the stairwell. "You'll see."
Outside.
The entire group of heroes, villains, and other company watched in utter amazement and slight fear at the sight before them. The black as night Beast ripped through the robots like they were made of tissue paper and tossed aside as insignificant pieces of nothing. One by one they fell, until finally the entire island was clear of Blood Bots, the human villains, Private Hive and Mammoth, cowering and cuffed, having a code brown in their pants for fear that they were next. The Beast's head surveyed the area making sure the island was clear of robots, per his King's instrcutions, finally it was just him, his packmates, and his King's team, whom he was told not to harm.
"Is that . . . friend Beast Boy?" Starfire asked looking over the Black Beast.
"I . . . think so." Cyborg began scanning the Beast with his equipment. "Well . . . It's kinda Beast Boy. Whatever form this is seems to be smothering our little buddy underneath."
Starfire let out an "oh" of understanding, which got wider when the Black Beast was engulfed in black mist, then was replaced with the lanky shape shifter they knew and loved, sort of.
"Oh . . . man . . . "
Looking at the familiar complextion of, what Beast Boy called, the Nega-Beast Boy both Starfire and Cyborg exchanged VERY worried looks. Without another word the now grey changeling turned and headed into the tower. His movements were void of the usual Beast Boy joviality, and instead seemed more robotic in nature, but Cyborg couldn't worry about that now. His teammates, and company were in need of medical attention.
"All right. Everyone follow me back to the tower and we'll getchyall pacthed up." The group nodded with various nods and noises of understanding, then followed Cyborg and Starfire into the tower.
. . . .
The Medical Wing was packed, so they had to narrow it down to the more serious injuries. Kid Flash was just exhausted, but went about helping the others while the one called Risk wasn't hurt, in fact he had no marks on his body at all which facsinated Cyborg and Starfire, and they both made a mental note to ask about this guy sometime later. Blackfire and Starfire both had minor injuries that their alien phisiology could deal with just fine, but the tension between the two was heavily felt and obvious, so everyone kept their distance. Gnark however was probably injured the most, with Kid Flash and Risk trying to bandage him as best as he could.
Sometime later Robin and Donna, who had returned with Drake Daniels, entered the medical bay and attempted to help out were they could. Probably the most unsettling however was Beast Boy, or Black Beast as Cyborg started to call him. He stood against the wall, his glowing red, pupilous eyes monitering everyone in the Bay, unblinking. It was unsettling yes, but he stood with a protective posture, as if ready to strike at the first sign of touble. It made Robin think of the green version of the Beast when it was protecting Raven, but now he was protecting all of them.
"Is that even still . . . Beast Boy?" Kid Flash asked eyeing the odd grey changeling.
Robin shrugged but Cyborg got an idea. He approached the Black Beast and cleared his throat. "Hey BB. What do you call two banana peels?" He waited a beat. "A pair of slippers!"
Silence.
The changeling kept his face foreward, the only movement coming from a slight twitching of his ears at the sounds of the the hustle and bustle of the Med Bay, or the twitch of his nose. Cyborg turned back around and shrugged in defeat.
"We'll need Landon or Malundra to take a look at him when they can." said Robin with his arms folded. He looked Black Beast up and down and over again, and he couldn't find any evidence of him anywhere.
"Yes I do hope one of them will be able to bring Beast Boy's handsome green color back."
Both boys turned with large eyes to the alien princess. "Uh . . . you think he's handsome?" Cyborg asked.
Starfire looked at them like the answer was obvious. "Of course. In comparrison to this form, green suits him much better." Well even the boys could get behind that, still Robin tried to ignore the comment all together, and did so by looking for Speedy who seemed to be missing.
"Where's Speedy?" he asked.
Kid Flash reponded. "He and that black hair girl Cheshire took Raven's kids and headed out of here." Kid Flash looked at Risk who was still helping Gnark and stepped closer to the three founding Titans. "Did any of you notice the little baby he was holding?
Robin was confused, but Cyborg and Starfire both nodded and on the other side of the Med Bay, Donna turned her head and was listening intently.
"Yeah what was that about? And did you notice how pissy he got with Landon when he brought her here?" Cyborg asked. "And It may just be me, but did that baby . . . kinda . . . look like him? At least had his hair?"
The four Titans looked at each other with uneasy looks. "Pfft! No!" Kid Flash answered. "I mean come on. Speedy? I mean yeah he's a tomcat, but he wouldn't . . . would he . . . ?"
Donna looked away, a large lump forming in her throat.
Drake's room.
"YOU BROUGHT 'MY KIDS' TO A BATTLE!" Sure she was powerless but that didn't make Raven any less frightening as she glared daggers at the Demon King who was pinned against the wall under her stare of fury.
"Hey I'm not a babysitter all right, I'm a King, and I had to get here a-and help, a-and . . . " He bowed his head. "I'm sorry."
Raven was seething and was about to lay into Landon again when her attention was pulled away by a voice from the bed. "Could you guys save the hair pulling for another time?" Raven and Landon looked over to find Drake gently bandaging the wounds on Kole. Her clothes had been ripped and ruined so they had to be removed, Raven helped the girl get into a pair of Drake's sweatpants and a shirt that was clearly way to big for her, then they both worked on bandaging her.
Drake finished up and looked up at her. "That's done. Is there anywhere else?" She slowly shook her head, her eyes not leaving the floor. Drake moved his head underneath her, so that she was looking at him. "Do you need anything?"
Kole was quiet a moment as she thought. "Something to drink."
Drake looked to Raven. "I'll make her some tea." And she left the room, making sure to give one last glare to Landon, telling him they weren't done yet. He sighed in relief, for now.
"What did you do to him?" Landon looked to Drake, who had his hand on Koles. He assumed Drake was asking about Light.
Landon remained calm, not feeling an ounce of guilt as he answered. "I sent him to the Shadow Realm."
At first Drake looked at Landon surprised, but that quickly faded, once he remembered what the deviant attempted to do to Kole. "Good." he said with a flash of anger in his tone. There was silence for a few beats. "Kole do you need anything else?" She lightly shook her head. "Just Gnark, when he's done being patched up," she looked up at him, a ghost of a smile on her lips, "and you of course."
Drake nodded, then turned to Landon. He didn't need to say anything for the Demon King to know he wasn't needed anymore, and without protest left the room, leaving the two alone. They sat in silence together a few minutes, while Drake thought of what to say to her. What do you say to her? Yeah the bad guy was gone, and would be suffering for eternity, but that didn't take away what he tried to do to her, the very thought continued to fill Drake with a firey anger, which continued until he felt Kole squeeze his hand.
"He's gone now, please don't be angry." she said sofly.
"How can I not be after what he-"
"But he didn't, because you came for me." She put her hand under his chin and lifted his eyes to meet hers. "Just like I knew you would. I don't like it when your angry, please."
Drake couldn't help but let his anger melt away. He didn't deserve her, not in the slightest, and yet she saw the best in him, and wanted to see it every minute of every day. Drake pulled her hand away, kissed her palm, then gave her a quick kiss on her lips that she returned eagerly. They nuzzled their forheads together for a moment before she spoke again.
"I'm kind of tired." Drake helped her into his bed silently laughing at how large his clothes were on her. "Can you stay with me?"
He looked down at her and smile tucking a loose strand of her pink hair out of the beautiful face. "Of course." Drake laid down next to her and wrapped his arm around her. She pulled herself as close as she could to him and set her head on his chest. They laid there for a while, Drake rubbing her back in circles to help calm and comfort her.
Sleep was taking the young girl, but she needed to say one more thing to her new boyfriend. "I'm glad it wasn't you that hurt him."
Drake leaned his head against hers, kissing the top of it. He wanted to make him hurt and suffer an excrutiating pain, but in the end he was glad to. He wanted to be better, he needed to be better, for this beautiful soul laying next to him. She was what made him feel . . . human.
The medical bay emptied, and now the Titans and friends were in the common room, save for Gnark, who was laying unconscious on one of the beds, the three founding Titans, and Black Beast, who continued to stare blankly into space, and nothing his teammates did seem to snap him out of it.
With all the commotion going on, no one noticed Landon slip into the Med Bay and grab a glass of water.
"I hate Mondays." he said to no one in particular, but once he spoke he got the attention of the three Titan members.
"Landon I need you." Robin said getting his attention.
Landon refilled his glass taking another drink. "Why Robin this is so sudden. I'll have you know I'm an expensive date." Robin glared, clearly not in the mood for his sacastic crap. "Let me see if I can answer your questions for you. Constantine, Malundra and Zatanna are hard at work fixing your friend, and so far so good. Raven and Drake are with darling Kole at the moment bandaging her wounds in privacy."
Robin had completely forgotten about Kole, but at least she was with Drake which eased his guilt. "Why is friend Kole being bandaged in privacy?" Starfire asked, beating Robin to the punch.
"She had an unfortuneate run in with a deviant Dr. Light. He harmed her, in more ways then one, and wished for privacy. So Drake and Raven are tending to her right now."
Robin remembered that Batman had warned him about Light, but he was still unclear as to why. "What happened to Light?"
Without any emoiton or remorse Landon answered, "Just consider the matter dealt with. Kole is doing fine too by the way thank you for asking." He finished his water and set the glass down.
Robin thought back to the conversation with Slade, and how he was asked by Landon to kill off any supporters of Trigon, both human and Demon alike. Add that to what he had done to Adonis, and Robin was finding that he shouldn't be turning a blind eye to Landon's shinanigans. "Is it safe to assume he might be dead?" Robin asked with he fixed glare at the Demon King.
Landon smirked. "He's not dead. He probably just wishes he was."
Robin eyes went wide. "What did-"
"I know what your going to say, so let me put your concerns to rest. Civilization has always asked that we treat criminals better then they treated their victims so we don't stoop to their level, and 'Rise above' the monsters of this world. What you have to understand, Boy Wonder, is that I am not apart of your 'civilized society' and not just because I am a Demon. I am apart of something much . . . older. Meaning I can do what CIVILIZED individuals can't do. Something I take great pride in." Landon remembered fondly the punishments he dealt out over the years as a Demon punisher under the guided supervision of Carnus Valogneus, an intoxicating nastolgia came over him at the sweet memories.
Before Robin could repremand him (having the false delusion that the KING OF DEMONS might actually listen) Cyborg stepped in.
"Hey Landon we were wondering what is up with BB?"
Landon, seemingly forgetting all about him, turned to the grey changeling. "Oh yeah. That. Well his Demon side is taking his body for a test drive." Landon seemed unphased by the changelings current condition, but the others were clearly worried.
"So is Beast Boy still in there?"
Landon looked back at him, and shrugged. "Haven't the foggiest. I'm not arguing with the results though."
"Well we are." Robin said. "He's not our friend, we don't even recognize him."
Landon scoffed. "What? I'd think you'd like him more-" The sounds of shattering glass drew everyone's attention to the doors. There stood Raven, the tea she made for Kole on the ground, her eyes locked unto the changeling, her mouth opened in shock.
"B-Be . . . ast Boy." She hesitantly moved towards the grey shape shifter, and to everyone's surprise, Beast Boy moved towards her.
"My Princess." he said getting down to one knee. "What do you command of me?"
Raven wordlessly looked around the room to the others, who were just as lost as she was. Landon however looked on with facsination.
"Interesting." he said quietly.
Raven looked back down at Black Beast, who sat there awaiting orders.
"Uh . . . stand up?" Instantly Black Beast got to his feet. She smirkd a bit. "Um . . . hop on one foot?" He hopped on one foot.
"Oooo now make him go clean his room." Cyborg said. "NO! Make him eat meat."
Raven jerked her head towards the metal man, her face set in a menacing scowl. "No," she hissed, "I don't want to control him. He isn't a servent or a pet, he's my-our friend." She looked back at him as he still hopped on one foot. "Stop that!" He stopped.
"I do not understand. Why does he listen to you, and why does he call you princess?" Starfire asked.
Raven blushed slightly. "Well technically . . . I am a princess." Her teammates jaws hit the floor, but thinking about it further it made sense. She was the daughter of the Trigon after all.
"And since she was here first, and because she's prettier, Beast Boy wont listen to me if she's in the room. But if she were to leave, he would take orders from the next hellion baddass, make sense?" Everyone excepted Landon's explanation.
"Okay so how do we get him back?" Raven asked, trying to ignore the creepy way Black Beast stared at her.
"Well we do what we planned before. We need to tether his demonic side to something, which was what you were in the middle of when this whole mess started."
Raven was hit with realization. She bolted from the Med Bay and headed for her room, once inside she ran past "her Kids", Speedy who was being patched up, Cheshire and the baby they were holding (they had some serious explaining to do for that) and grabbed the item she planned on giving to Beast Boy. She sprinted back to the Med Bay with her team staring at her puzzled.
"We tether his Demon side to this." she held it up for them all to see.
Landon stared at it with a twisted expression of confusion on his face, but the others knew the profound impact that the little penny in her fingers had on Beast Boy and on her.
Next up the conclusion of the Dark Deal!