Just want one thing

Just to play the king

But the castle's crumbled

And you're left with just a name - Metallica

Sitting there, he held Raven close, not wanting to lose her again. He managed to grab his pistol even though it only had one round in the chamber. His ears detected someone entering the rec room. Bringing his gun up, ready to shoot whatever force barging in.

It was the Titans and Hunters bleeding from various cuts. Using his remaining good arm Cyborg held a passed out Hazara over his shoulder.

Altair rushed forward.

Checking Raven's pulse, "She lost a lot of blood," asked Altair, "What happened?"

Still recovering from the knife that almost stole his soul, Jake stared at the cross. Following his gaze, Altair saw the sacrificial cross, and nodded. She stabilized Raven who barely able to stay awake.

With concern in her eyes, "How bout you, you look worse then shit on a bad day."

"I'll be okay," mouthed Jake.

His healing factor took a beating still working on more serious injuries.

She nodded. Otomo walked over and checked Marcus. Sensing the evil in him, Otomo checked to see if he was dead.

Walking in, Jinx braced herself against Cyborg.

Looking around, "Looks like they would have gotten away with it if you hadn't been here."

Jake gave a slight laugh which proved a mistake.

Moaning, "Ghost from Christmas Past," slowly opening her eyes.

Staring at Jake's battered face, and she gave a small smile.

"You're a little late," she remarked, "Did you forget something?"

Everyone in the room, who could, laughed, minus Beast Boy.

"How come everyone laughs at her jokes and not mine," he said coldly.

Beast Boy, Beast Boy only caring about something no one else would.

Collecting themselves, Jake had Raven in his arms. Cyborg placed Hazara on one of the counters. The others were searching for a spot to relax after the whole ordeal.

The sun broke over the horizon, the color of deep red. The bowl of blood erupted into fire. A fierce wind whipped through everything. Strong enough that they needed to brace themselves from being blown around.

"What is going on?" screamed Terra, "I thought we won!"

Same question run through Jake's head. A laughter over the wind caused Jake's eyes to rest on Marcus's body which began to slowly rise.

"Foolish mortals, though I and my minions defeated, the prophecy spoke of this day, there is nothing you can do to stop destiny," he said with a horrific smile on his face.

The fire in the bowl of blood began to rise, till it was hovering in mid air. Lighting crackled from the orb of fire searching for energy. Launching out several bolts of red lighting, nothing hit nothing, but one struck Marcus.

He smiled, spreading his arms. The flames began to burn hotter as he screamed, "YES, GIVE ME THE POWER I, WHA, WHAT IS HAPPENING?"

Like all foolish beings before him, Marcus thought Trigon the destroyer would honor his promise of giving Marcus power if he helped the demon come to power. Like a demon's word is ever any good even making a deal to save his worthless life. But rather then giving power, it was taking it from Marcus.

"SABAOTH, I HAVE BEEN BETRAYED!" screamed Marcus, "HELP YOUR FOLLOWER."

Trigon's voice filled the room, "You fool, do you think that I would allow you any power, there was never a Sabaoth, this was apart of my plan to enter and conquer the world of mortals."

Shocked, Marcus released he got played like a fool better then a fiddle. Hell anyone, even a dim wit like Jake the Gunslinger, could have told him that.

The lighting disappeared from Marcus collapsing to the floor barely clinging to life.

The surface of the stone cross was cold. Blood gushed from her slit wrists and she was complaining about the stone surface being cold, Raven needed to rethink her priorities. Marcus, the one who slit her wrists, kept babbling about how her father promised him great power. She wished he would hurry up and kill her already plus Jake and her friends showing up to save her only happened in the movies.

Her blood gushed down small trenches craved into the stone. It flowed out of a hole between her feet into a clay bowel.

Her eyes became hard to keep open. Her ears detected the sounds of fighting whicht was becoming muffled.

As darkness engulfed her consciousness, the thought of her father winning and her friends failing crept into her mind. No, she couldn't think this way, but it was difficult as coldness swept through her body.

"Jake, I love you," was her last thought as she slipped away.

"Not your time to die, Raven," woke her mind up.

"Who are you?"

"The Ghost from Christmas Past. Now wake up woman!"

Her eyes opened to the sight of Jake's relieved face.

"You're late," she remarked, "Did you forget something?"

Removing his attention from the fading image of Raven, Rath focused on the four glowing eyes that were staring at him.

"Stop using images and illusions, four eyes!"

Chuckling, "Like father, like son."

The four eyes were joined by the rest of Trigon who towered over Rath.

Slamming his right foot onto Rath's body, Trigon stared into the opened portal. It showed his daughter, her friends and those losers, the Demon Hunters.

"Foolish mortals, though I and my minions defeated, the prophecy spoke of this day, there is nothing you can do to stop destiny."

A powerful blast under Trigon's right foot sent him backwards and onto his ass.

"That's 'though I and my minions were defeated'," remarked Rath brushing himself off, "plus you forgot about the deal you made with my father. Rest is null and voided."

Getting up, Trigon brought his hands together and sent an energy beam at Rath. Bringing his cupped hands together, Rath sent an energy beam to meet Trigon's energy beam. Both beams slammed into each other. It was a stalemate. Not an inch was giving.

Trigon slowly started to weaken. He needed energy fast. Staring into the portal, he saw Marcus. Marcus's life energy started leaving him and being absorbed by Trigon.

"You fool, do you think that I would allow you any power, there was never a Sabaoth, this was apart of my plan to enter and conquer the world of mortals," was his answer to the shocked Marcus.

Now back to killing Richard's son so he could conquer the world of mortals. Slowly his energy beam inched towards Rath then Trigon started to fade away. No, how could this be happening? Then it hit him, someone closed the portal.

"Think you won, David?"

"You'll be back and I'll be waiting to collect your head."

Trigon faded away leaving Rath alone.

They stood up staring at the orb floated outside the tower. Moving, Etana had to be sure Marcus would not stand again.

"We have to close it," stated Raven.

"How?" asked Daria, "We don't even know what that idiot used to open the portal."

Shaking her head, "It's a blood portal," remarked Raven, "opened with blood, and it can only be closed with blood," preparing to jump into the orb.

"Hold on," said Jake grabbing her, "I didn't risk my soul and my life, just for you to go and die on me."

"But too many lives are at stake," she said looking at me, then lowering her face, "and its because of what I am that put them in danger," holding back her tears, "I have to close it."

Staring at the girl half demon, he fallen in love with. Kissing her, a kiss goodbye. While kissing, he charged the last round in his gun. Then he shot the girl I loved. Staring at him in surprised, her mind fell back into darkness. Holding her close, he whispered into her ear even though she properly couldn't hear him.

"I promised I would always protect you, and I will."

Picking her up, he handed her over to Otomo

"Take care of her, friend," he said, "make sure she is safe."

Staring at Jake, Otomo spoke the four words which meant everything to a ninja like him,

"You have my word."

Nodding, he turned towards the portal. Too many people suffered by his hands. Ignoring the protests to stop, nothing they said could stop him. He rushed forward tossing away his useless weapon which clacked against the ground. Snitking his claws which shined in the blood red light, he sailed out the window causing them to hold breath and wide eyed as he flew into the portal. Crackling, the portal began to shrink. After a moment, a body fell out of it as the portal closed. Jake sacrificed himself to prevent the suffering of all causing angels to cry for his soul or laugh at his male stupidity.

"Star!" from Nightwing proved a little late as she already flew out the window.

Catching her friend halfway down the tower, she slowly brought his body back into the room. Laying his body down on what remained of the rise between the sitting area and the window, Starfire fell into Nightwing's arms.

"Why he have to die?" cried Starfire.

No answer.

Opening his eyes, he picked up his bo staff which returned to cylinder size, and returned it to his coat pocket. Getting up, he walked towards metal door. Pushing the door, he stared at the barrels of Kramer pulsar rifles pointing at him.

Listening to the hum coming from those rifles, "You assholes recovered fast," remarked Rath putting his hands into the air.