Six days worth of torture was leaving me cranky.

That was a nice way of putting it.

"I'm sorry little bird," Malchior sent me sad eyes as he hooked my shackles to the ceiling again.

I snapped at him, elongated teeth click together as Rage burned deep inside of me. I couldn't push it back, couldn't control the overflowing anger.

I didn't want to.

Six days of having my skin carved with the same marks of Scath over and over again, each time deeper as my demon healing kicks in to remove the scars.

Six days of being force fed some foul smelling porridge that I can't seem to throw up.

Six days of chants and chains and pitiful glances from the monster that locked me up.

It was so hard to fight against the Rage.

It was so hard to want to.

But I didn't have a choice as the spell Zatanna created for me requires most of my concentration and resolve. It bounced around in my head and on the tip of my tongue and murmured in the delirious hours of the morning where I could almost imagine I was anywhere other than a stone room marked with negation runes.

They were weak runes at best as I could still feel the pull of my magic, still feel the ebb and flow of emotions near me. The sheer madness radiating off Deathstroke was helping to steel my resolve. I was lucky they hadn't bothered to take the charm from around my neck. It would ultimately be their biggest mistake as it bolstered the spell bouncing in my head, assuring its success.

I could see the dwindling light of day through a high window as I ignored the sting of Malchior carving the runes into my body once more.

Tonight would be a blood moon. If I had to bet my life on it tonight would be the night of hell's release.

I did everything I could to clear my mind so the time spell could repeat on a loop.

Once Deathstroke began his ritual it would trigger the spell. Regardless of what happens to me when Trigon steps through the portal all of time will stop, except for those wearing charms of my favor.

Hopefully the Titans will be able to handle it from there.

Time seemed to drag as Malchior finished the final mark, smearing my own blood against my forehead as a sign he had finished his task.

"I didn't know what I was getting into," he sighed the words before stepping away. I did my best to ignore him and focus on the spell as daylight quickly faded to night.

"You're really breathtaking, you know that? I took it for granted and now I'm going to die for it."

I blinked at him in response. Months ago I might have had a thousand questions, each with its own insecurity. But now I had to stay on task or else everything would be fucked. I took a deep breath to focus as Mal seemed to find distraction from something in the distance.

First in Latin, and again in English, the words played through my head as Malchior whispered more weak apologies.

'Tempus fluit

Tempus linguae'

Suddenly time seemed to speed forward as the sounds of fighting could be heard in the distance.

"Dude hurry up!" Adonis' voice screeched at Mal and I ignored it as the foundations began to shake around us.

'Et scindit portal

A summo'

Mal pulled my shackles from the hook, dropping me to the ground. Pain radiated from my skin but I ignored it as the blood smeared against the bright white of my silk dress.

'Daemonium cadit nisi Pater'

Familiar shouts could be heard in the distance as I was dragged through one of the many halls of the underground sanctuary.

'Tempus erit omnino cedant in nihilum'

"Hurry you fool! Get her in the circle!" Deathstroke roared as we entered the summoning chamber. Adonis picked me up by my waist, hoisting me over his shoulder as the Titans broke through the door.

'Time flows

Time stops'

"Get your hands off her!" Garfield's mighty roar shook the building as my shackles were locked into the circle.

'The portal splits

From the top'

Blood from my open wounds dropped onto rune lines as Deathstroke began his own chanting. I ignored it all as my eyes followed Garfield's every move. My chest tightened as the thought of this being the last time I ever lay eyes on him.

'Unless the demon father falls'

Rage roared through me as Adonis slapped Garfield into a support pillar. It felt like a separate entity as the spell continued in my head.

'Time will cease to exist at all'

Sharp pain registered in my back as fire seemed to fill my veins and Rage fought against the pull of whatever chanting Deathstroke had done.

My eyes wouldn't leave Garfield as my vision blurred and the pain spiked.

Before my consciousness faded I sent him a final goodbye.

Koriand'r

Raven was high on a dias as the team entered a circular room filled with statues of various robed creatures. Each held a different face, but all felt vaguely like that statues held in Raven's Nevermore. Koriand'r took a moment to study her surroundings before leaping into action.

They fought a against a tide of robots as Malchior and Adonis led the defense. Kori shot worried glances at Garfield as she flew above the brawl to attempt and rescue her dearest friend.

Deathstroke was chanting words that buzzed in Koriand'r's ears as she approached, words that spoke of terrible pain and the ringing bells of chaos. As Kori neared the dias with bolts blazing the shock of a barrier ripped through her, dropping the alien princess from the sky.

Bones and skin bruised as she dropped onto the fallen bodies of robots, sharp metal tearing into her. The proud warrior refused to give in, however, and so she stood, clutching her dislocated arm to her side as a demonic scream tore through the room. The air began to rise in temperature as the dias began to glow a bright red. Garfield gave an answering roar, something between a wounded animal and feral beast.

Raven was floating in the center of the dias with an ornate dagger shoved through her back, dark blood staining what was once white fabric. The blood slowly dropped to the runes beneath her and a different kind of scream ripped through the room. Hell seemed to be opening up before them as a large clawed hand reached up from the floor and wrapped around Raven's body.

Garfield began fighting tooth and nail to free himself from the hold of multiple teammates as Deathstroke began laughing.

"Now you puny Titans shall fall to the might of a god!"

As all focus narrowed in on Trigon's ascent Terra attempted to sneak her way to Deathstroke's side, only to be caught in a death grip by Adonis.

"I've been ordered to get rid of you however I like!" The boy sneered and fear lanced through the blonde as her oxygen was slowly choked from her.

Kori felt righteous fury burn through her body as the demon lord rose from his prison. The room around them began to crumble as the monstrously sized being continued his escape.

Soft words spoken in Raven's low voice seemed to reach her as the ceremony neared its completion.

"Time flows

Time stops

The portal splits

From the top

Unless the demon father falls

Time will cease to exist at all"

A blinding light seemed to radiate from Trigon's hand as his army followed him from the pit before the portal closed. Trigon screamed as if burned and dropped Raven, yet the demoness did not fall. Four red eyes studied the huddle of Titans before her as the blood seemed to clear from her silk dress.

Trigon attempted to bat his daughter away, but a barrier of pure light blocked his access. The light that radiated from the girl before them grew in such intensity that all were made blind for a brief moment before gusts of wind pushed them back into crumbling walls. For only a moment Koriand'r could make out multiple Ravens floating in a circle, and then the light was gone and there was only one.

Her silk dress was a deep crimson and the four demonic eyes adorned her face. She looked much like the Raven they all cared for so dearly.

But just as much of her did not look like their Raven.

Spiraling horns grew through deep purple hair. Sharp fangs scraped her bottom lip as she snarled at the hulking mass that was her father. Long claws extended from blackened hands, the color flowing up her arms until it slowly faded to a soft grey. Her legs were much the same. Glowing red runes decorated her skin, marks of scath to show her lineage as Trigon's spawn.

"What is this blasphemy?" Trigon roared. Raven simply placed claws on her hips as she faced against her sire.

"Contingency plan." Her voice was two toned and echoed. She looked over her shoulder once at the Tamaranian warrior, and the soft words Kori heard suddenly made sense.

As did the unspoken command from her comrade.

"At this time we must retreat!" Kori yelled. Titan eyes swiveled to look at her incredulously until Adonis threw Terra in the general Titan direction. A mark of Protection glowing against his armor.

"Don't let them escape!" Deathstroke yelled. All eyes turned to Richard for two long moments before he gave a small nod. Garfield fought against the hold of his friends as they raced through broken doors and up crumbling stairs.

It wasn't until they collectively reached the top, where there had once been a panicked sermon for the Church of Blood going on, did they realize something was vastly wrong. Something other than just a demonic overlord and Raven's makeover.

Every single person who had been running around like headless shriekers were now still as stone.

Unfortunately the Titans did not have the time to gawk as footsteps could be heard behind. While they were a rather large group compared to Adonis and Malchior the latter had abilities the Titans were not yet aware of. And an army of hellspawn.

As quickly as they could the group towed an uncooperative Garfield into another silent building across the street just in time for their pursuers to lose their trail.

After much fighting and yelling and hiding the Titans were finally as safe as they could get in one of Batman's many hiding houses. Terra had been dragged along and was cuffed to a chair. Dark bruises coloring her tan skin nearly black. She was silent, but seemed to cringe every time Garfield passed by as he was grumbling and growling and obviously displeased.

Garfield was not very in control as something was causing him to pace and snap at whoever attempted to provide conformiting words.

"What the hell are we supposed to do!" Garfield punched a support beam and the silent titans heard the wood crack within as the shapeshifter stared at his fist.

"Friend Raven has given us a chance. Didn't you hear her gift before the light?" Kori stepped forward. All eyes turned to the alien princess, various looks of confusion and anger spread across the team.

"You mean the gibberish?" Wally asked.

"It was Latin," Jinx growled at her boyfriend, "I just didn't have enough time to translate."

"I must have learned the Latin when the exchange of languages occurred."

"What's the-" Richard began but was quickly interrupted.

"She kissed Raven when she crash landed here, we don't have time for that. What did she send us?" Jinx pushed forward, hands gripping Kori's shoulders.

"Time flows. Time stops. The portal splits, from the top. Unless the demon father falls, time will cease to exist at all." Kori recited the words in the same sing song prose the Raven's disembodied voice used.

Jinx's grip released slightly, but her brows furrowed as she did her best to asses the words.

"What does that mean exactly?" Garth asked and Karen shook her head.

"Raven has given us a clue!" Kori said in a delighted tone, trying to lift the Titans spirits.

"Now we have a puzzle and a demon." Victor groaned before flopping down on one of the couches.

"How the hell are we suppose to fix this?"

"You find us," Raven's voice was soft as she stepped into the room. Gone were the horns and claws and scary parts. This Raven, however, wore yellow.

"Friend Raven!" Kori yelled in delight.

"Knowledge," Raven stated with a head shake. Kori's mood only dimmed a little, but before anything else could be said Garfield was wrapped around the girl, crushing her to his chest as she let out half hearted complaints.

Kori deflated some until Richard placed a hand on her shoulder and the warmth of infatuation filled her. Or maybe it was love. As of now the alien was uncertain.

"Do you know what's going on?"

"That is Knowledge, one of Raven's many faces. Though I do not understand why she is here."

"Maybe if the green bean would quit hogging her we can get some answers!" Speedy yelled and Garfield hissed. It was a feral sound that caused the room to fall silent once again. Friend Garfield had been very different since the kidnapping of Raven. Every day growing more angry and animal like. Now he was much like a feral beast and it worried most of the Titans.

"Garfield, now is not the time," Knowledge was cool and calm as she attempted to wiggle from the boy's ironclad grip.

"I can't let you go," there was a whine in his voice as Knowledge pulled away.

"Compromise. I have valuable information, but if I cannot breathe I cannot help!" There was frustration there, but without the usual bite. More clinical. "Sit and I shall allow you to hold me."

The Changeling jumped at the chance, pulling the demoness down onto the couch and arranging her in his lap, his arms wrapped around her like a vice. Vic gave them some distance, worried something might explode with the sheer amount of emotion the boy must be feeding her.

When nothing happened the collective Titan's worry grew.

"Zatanna assisted Raven in adding more steps to her plan, past just creating charm bracelets for protection." Knowledge began without preamble, But was stopped when Garth raised his hand.

"Should she be in here listening? What if there's a bug on her?"

"They would have found us by now," Richard stated with a firm frown. He gave a curt nod to Knowledge and the Raven clone continued.

"Raven has split herself into the different aspects that make up her personality. Should we continue to be separate then Trigon will remain imprisoned in this timeless void for all eternity, as will you."

"Why has she done such a thing?" Koriand'r exclaimed, worry beginning to take over.

"The ceremony used drained every ounce of power in her blood. Without time to recharge Trigon would certainly have destroyed Raven to prevent her from sending him back."

"Then what about the red Raven with the horns and stuff, isn't she in danger being left behind?" Wally frowned and murmurs spread through the Titans at the thought of their comrade falling while battling alone. Garfield tightened his grip on Knowledge while nuzzling her back for comfort. Kori studied his actions, saving the information for later.

"Rage is… different from the rest of us." Knowledge seemed unsure, but after a moment of wrestling with the thought of sharing verses not she nodded and continued. "Rage is more than just Raven's anger. Rage carries Raven's demon magic with her, and she can feed off the anger of others to fuel her power. In her present company it could be limitless. But that makes her dangerous as well. While she is an aspect of Raven she is also… not. Should Rage be successful in felling Trigon before we reconnect all the pieces of Raven's mind you would certainly win the fight, but there is no guarantee you wouldn't have a stronger enemy on your hands."

"So we're fighting against a clock that's not ticking. How many aspects has Raven split herself into?" Richard stepped forward, the wheels in his mind already turning to devise a plan.

"Nine including myself and Rage." Knowledge squirmed as Garfield's warm breath seemed to tickle her through the thin material of the silk dress she wore. "Each are scattered across the city to make it more difficult for our father to reconnect the pieces and allow him free reign over the world."

"Nine of you and nine of us," Richard murmured, excluding Terra from the count which the blonde noticed and hung her head. "Someone needs to assist Rage, two against one is hardly fair. I can stay and coordinate with Knowledge."

"I'll take Rage," Jinx volunteered and Wally almost lost his mind.

"You're not getting yourself killed!"

"I won't," the girl shrugged, ignoring the pleading look her boyfriend sent her way.

"I shall commune with the others and provide their locations shortly. Rest while you can as the army Trigon brought with will surely be joining the fray soon."