Author's Notes

To bloodshark, you'll see what happens to Red X next chapter - you'll see him then, and he will be surprised that Raven knows his secret identity. You'll also see soon what becomes of Malchior.

To JP-Rider, Robin (or Claw now) has definitely gone on a dark path. He isn't paranoid but definitely obsessive and angry, certainly seeking revenge on Raven.

Now, let's continue the story.

Raven was currently taking refuge in a forest in the Swiss Alps. She had gotten back from her little excursion in Tanzania and was now just lying on the ground, looking at the sky.

Raven quietly thought, I have to admit, I have missed these long quiet periods alone in the woods. It clears my head and freshens my system.

Raven brought a small salad, a sandwich, and a thermos of tea with her, which was a picnic for her. Her last picnic was when Cyborg's battery failed. She thought about how that was the day Starfire began drinking mustard and Beast Boy tried to get her to eat tofu dogs. Ever since, BB left her alone about it - something she was thankful for.

Raven began drinking some of her tea while eating the salad. She took her time eating it - she had nowhere to be right about now.

After finishing her salad and sandwich, Raven decided to continue walking through the forest. She felt it was relaxing to her - she rarely could go through the woods. Robin mandated that if a Titan was to go into the woods, they weren't to go alone. Raven thought, What a fucking hypocrite.

Suddenly, a burst of fire cut off Raven before she could continue through the woods. She turned her head only to notice a creature she wished she never had met - the dragon Malchior.

Malchior said, "Oh, Raven. I cannot believe we met again. I have dreamed of seeing you again. And how I have dreamed of destroying you. My favorite was chaining you up, disemboweling you, and burning you to a crisp."

Raven remembered what Malchior was saying - it was one of her nightmares, one that happened the first night she was in that cell.

Raven replied, "Malchior, the experience is so fucking unpleasant to see you again. I was starting to think I'd never have to see that ugly-ass face of yours ever again."

"And when I get my way, you never will. You'll never see anything again. I will kill you."

"I am a lot stronger than last time. I doubt you would be a match for me."

"Let's put that to the test my dear."

Malchior ignited a large ball of flame towards Raven. However, Raven created a soul-self shield that deflected Malchior's fire, not wavering in the face of the attack.

Raven responded by pushing the shield towards Malchior, and Malchior could not oppose the blast as it crashed into him. He was pushed back, shocked at the strength of her attack.

Raven levitated up towards Malchior, beginning to fire black energy towards the dread dragon. Malchior tried to block Raven's attacks, but she had more demonic power on her side. Malchior's magic had some strength, but was nothing compared to Raven.

"What the fuck are you doing here, Malchior?", Raven yelled as she threw more black energy at Malchior, causing some of his scales to peel off.

"I was freed on the condition I destroy you. Apparently they had a vendetta with you", Malchior calmly stated.

"Who?", Raven yelled.

"Claw. He took the Book of Noll from the man you sold it to. What was his name? Oh yes, Delgado. And don't expect to speak to him again."

"You fucking murdered him!"

Raven threw an enormous fist of black energy at Malchior, smashing him into the ground.

"No. Claw did to spring me. He had a vast knowledge of your magic, something I was surprised about."

"Who is Claw?"

"I'll never tell. My proverbial lips are sealed."

Raven was infuriated - Malchior would not tell her who Claw was. Who tried to kill her - the third attempt on her life in a few days.

In pure rage, Raven yelled one of Malchior's spells, "Payrek eschem louvesce", which proceeded to unleash three bolts of black lightning into Malchior's chest. Mere seconds later, Malchior's dragon heart stopped beating.

Raven flew back to her bag and picked it up before teleporting away.

At Titans Tower, Jinx and Kid Flash were striking up a conversation in the main ops room while the other Titans were fighting XL Terrestrial and the Wrestling Star.

Jinx asked, "How fast can you go?"

The speedster responded, "Speed of sound. What exactly do your powers do?"

"They affect the way something normally functions - how it works becomes how it fails. Why'd you pick the path to good?"

"Figure there weren't too many evil applications of my speed. Plus I am a good samaritan at heart. Why did you pick evil?"

"Look at me. I don't scream good. It was never an option for me. My powers are only destructive, not good."

"I'm sure there is something in there that has a heart for other people. I know it. In my heart and my brain."

Jinx and Kid Flash then got into a very tight embrace, that lasted for more than a few moments.

When the two let go of their embrace, the other Titans got back from their fight.

Cyborg asked, "So how is the young couple doing?"

Kid Flash said, "Good. Well, good for a first date between a criminal and a superhero."

Starfire added, "Oh that is so wonderful. Maybe you will be the team's first couple."

Beast Boy said, "That would be hard to believe, but it's true. Raven left the team, Terra's in stone. There go my love interests, and Robin was removed, that takes care of Starfire, and Bumblebee is on the fritz with Cyborg."

Jinx asked, "So Kid, do you want to go out on a date soon?"

Kid Flash replied, "Sure. Friday night, Sweet Dreams Parlor."

Jinx sweetly added, "It's a date."

Claw was watching the news in London inside his hotel room when he saw that Raven had killed Malchior.

Now, he was wanted for homicide in London and he was no closer in killing Raven than before. He never realized that Malchior had nowhere near the strength he had believed when he attacked the Titans.

Claw checked the tracker, tracing Raven through Paris, where the Brotherhood of Evil had been slaughtered a few days earlier. He also knew Raven had been in Hamburg when Jinx had attacked her.

Claw was going through the mail, using a satellite in an attempt to get fixations on what messages Raven had received. Maybe he could get a location and find where Raven has been, maybe get ahead of the tracker.

Suddenly, Claw found the message Ravager sent Raven. He knew he had to go to Tanzania.

Unfortunately, Tanzania was in the middle of a civil war - Raven had been lucky since the lake house where she met with Rose was not anywhere near the fighting. There were no flights in between England or anywhere from Europe to Tanzania. Claw would have to get to Africa without a direct flight.

So, Claw boarded a one-way flight from London to Sofia - the first flight he could get on. It would be a long road ahead to Tanzania.

At her safehouse in Nigeria, Zatanna was just about to meet with the mercenary she had hired to eliminate Raven.

Walking in through the door was Grant Wilson, aka Red X. Zatanna welcomed in Red X to the safehouse.

Red X asked, "Why'd you pick me to eliminate the bitch? You had bigger, stronger, more powerful people."

Zatanna replied, "I know that. Boy, for an egotistical criminal, you sure are self-conscious. I need you because you can elude Raven's empathy. You can sneak up on her and take her down. Robin designed the Red X suit, Grant. He designed it to defeat Raven. And you are twice as competent as he in that."

Red X said, "Thanks. So when will I get the xenothium?"

Zatanna said, "Right after Raven's heart stops beating. I want her dead. Find her."

"With pleasure."

With that, Red X teleported from the safehouse, leaving Zatanna alone, waiting for the fight between Red X and Raven.

Suddenly, Zatanna got a voice message from the Justice League. They wanted to make contact with her, since she vanished a few days ago.

Zatanna accepted the call and on the line was the Atom.

Zatanna asked, "Why are you calling, Ray?"

The Atom responded, "I needed to make sure you were alive, Zatanna. You were in Hamburg two days ago, when Raven was fighting Jinx. You were approaching the scene when the two vanished."

Zatanna asked, "A strange coincidence. Nothing more."

The Atom stated, "You know I don't believe in coincidence. Jinx has since been moved to Titans Tower in Jump City. The Titans are saying it is for security reasons, and Batman's orders keep us out of the city. That isn't a coincidence. What are you hiding, Zee?"

Zatanna asked, "None of your business."

"I have a feeling you are feeling alienated after the vote of confidence on Robin. You are hiding out, plotting something. I know you are up to something, I know you are hiding something. I will find out."

"If I tell you, would you accept it?"

"I can't tell you. I honestly don't know."

"If you accept, you'll meet me in Nigeria tomorrow morning. If not, you won't come. But if you don't show, don't expect to find me here tomorrow night. And there is no backing down from whatever will come your way."

"We'll see tomorrow where my allegiances lie - with the rest of the League or with you."

With that, the Atom closed the video chat. Zatanna was getting nervous - the League was beginning to doubt her, question her. She needed Raven dead or she could try to prove the magician's treachery.