"I really don't want to tango with that guy again," Jake said leading Raven from her room to the main room of the Tower.
"I felt Marcus's demonic power," she mumbled.
Noticing her shaking, Jake sat beside her rubbing her back to calm her down with some of her herbal tea to sooth her nerves.
Standing there with his arms crossed, "Any chance we can take him out before he can cause any damage," said Nightwing.
Shaking her head, "I felt him, but I couldn't place where he was."
"And until I can sense him, I can't find out where he is ether," said Jake kissing Raven's forehead, "you guys might as well go back to bed," standing up, "and I'll stay up in case something happens."
They didn't have much choice in the matter. They could stay up and be drained the next day if something should happen, or leave it to Jake since his healing factor could keep him awake better and longer. Yet, he still doesn't get. Sitting in the main room in his regular clothing, playing on the game station, he got from Cyborg and Beast Boy. Pausing the game, he took a sip of whiskey and took a moment to think.
What had happened to Marcus the last time they fought? Last time Jake saw him, he was on the floor after the blood portal drained his powers. How he managed to gain more power if he had been stripped of it? A headache was developing.
"He has become more," he heard a voice say.
Shooting up, he drew his gun. Spinning around, he leveled his gun at what looked like a five-year-old girl with shoulder length white blonde hair and wearing completely white clothing.
"Who are you," he asked, "and how did you get in here?" plus how he didn't hear her movement.
Staring at him with sympatric eyes, "The one known as Marcus no longer exists. He has become a true devil. He has become Sin. He also has become allies with a walker of the underworld. You cannot defeat them alone now."
"Sorry, but I fight to win," he said, "Now tell me who you are and how you got in here."
She still didn't answer him.
"When you feel the most alone, call them, and they will come. Your friends will not abandon you." Jake's normal method of solving his troubles.
And with that a blinding white light appeared.
Awaking up in a cold sweat, Jake was still sitting on the couch with the game in front of him flashing the 'YOU LOSE' sign.
Staring at the clock, which read 6:30 in the morning, "That was weird, even for me," he grumbled before downing the rest of the whiskey in the glass.
Getting up, he turned off the game station. Deciding to get a head start on breakfast before everyone else woke up, he headed to the kitchen wondering two things. How the hell did he manage to fall asleep like that, and what the hell was that dream all about?
Watching Jake from her crystal ball, "Sister even with help, Sin's too much for him and his friends," mumbled the black robed girl, "Where's that demon killer at?"
Finishing his breakfast, Jake stood on the roof staring at the stars smoking a cigarette.
The dream still fresh on his mind. The message he couldn't understand. It might be a vision of some sort. Not a little girl, that's what really had him through a loop. Slow thinker at work.
A sharp pain causing him to slap his neck, "Fucking mosquito."
Staring at his hand, it wasn't a mosquito. It was a dart. Feeling woozy, he felt ton of bricks hitting his senses.
" What the fu…" a boot slammed into his face sending him backwards
Slamming into the metal wall of the roof access to the Tower, "Now that was a cheap shot," he groaned getting up.
Cracking his spine back into place, he stared at his attacker.
With huge red muscles underneath a black coal armor stood a demon. The biggest demon he ever saw.
Smiling, "Like my new appearance, hunter?"
That voice sounded familiar.
"Marcus?"
Raising a finger, "Actually, I go by Sin now," flashing his pure evil smile, "I guess you can say I have become the sin of man."
Unsheathing his claws. "Then I guess it's time the sin of man paid his dues."
Charging forward, not even wanting to talk to this guy who was bad news sensing his stronger power. In a flash, Sin gripped Jake by his neck causing his feet to dangling two feet off the ground.
"Master, I own you twenty dollars," said a voice to Jake's right, "He was predictable," causing Jake to look over and stare at a hideous face that looked like half of it had been cut up then sewn back together, as the other half look like a normal man.
It seemed like his whole body was this way.
"You may address me as the hell walker, but the name's Malso," he said with a smile.
Hell walker, as long as he was still alive, could move between earth and the seven levels of hell, hence the name.
"Now hunter…in a year my hellion army will rise up to crush this earthborn scum," Sin said smiling.
"Why warn me then?" remarked Jake.
"I tell you this, because you and your hunter companions can't stop us," walking towards the edge of the roof, "also I would prefer to have our fight before we win even through you won't see it coming."
Realizing the arm holding Jake up was the same arm he cut off before. In a desperate attempt, he tried piercing the armor to slash that arm off again. The armor prevented his claws from making that plan work.
Sin's smile grew wider.
"I'm a full fledge demon now, things like that won't be so easy, hunter. My appearance has something say before we part."
"Pass on a message to my pet, the girl named Luana, but you would know her better as Hazara." said Malso. "Tell her then when this is said and done, I will finally take her as the pet she was meant to be."
Dangling Jake over the edge of the roof, "A year, hunter." said Sin revealing his five feet wingspan, "You have that long till the end of the world," releasing Jake.
The hell walker simply faded away as Sin flew off.
Jake fell a long way down hitting a ledge causing him bounce rest of the way down until he bounced off a concrete wall onto a car which broke his fall and popped his joints out of place. It felt like there was kind of a poison working through his body which didn't help things. Rolling off the car, he managed to get out his communicator.
"Cyborg, Nightwing, somebody…I need a medic," Jake said.
Passing out, he missed, "Jake, this is Nightwing, what's wrong?"
And then he laid his eyes upon her
That's when the trouble soon began
And Leroy Brown he learned a lesson 'bout messin'
With the wife of a jealous man
He's bad, bad Leroy Brown
Meanest baddest man in the whole damn town
Badder than old King Kong
Meaner than a junkyard dog - Big Bad Leroy
Slowly waking up, his ears detected the hum of machines, and people talking.
"Whatever dropped him did a number on him and some kind of poison is slowing his healing factor," said Cyborg.
"Believe me when I say it wasn't fun," Jake said opening his eyes.
He saw standing on one side of his medical bed was Raven while Cyborg on the other side. The rest of the Titans stood around the room.
"Who did this to you?" asked Nightwing.
"Marcus, although he's going by Sin now," groaned Jake, "God knows why. But he wasn't alone. He's working with someone called Malso. They told me in a year they're going to attack the city with an army of demons."
"Is it just me," asked Jinx, "or are there a lot of demon armies out there?"
"Armies aren't hard to come by if your powerful enough," replied Jake, "The more power someone holds, the more they control through fear and pain," looking up, "But right now, we need the other hunters; no way can I do this on my own plus I need to warn Hazara."
The round object entered the Earth's atmosphere. Flames covered the object. It struck then skipped across the water surface. Stopping, the hatch opened as it was sinking. The occupant swum out only to get picked up by the Coast Guard.
Her knees nearly buckling with her last reserve of her royal defiance, the black hair, orange skinned woman said, "I am Blackstar. I need to see my sister, Starfire."
She passed out.
The Titans answered a call from the Coast Guard while Jake had the hunters in the main room of the Tower.
So, here they were again, back at the Tower, Jake noticed a lot of partner shipping been going on. Otomo and Hazara seemed to be partnered up. Daira and Altair wore Robotech Defense Force uniforms. Etana and Cray were partners now.
"It seems Marcus has returned," said Jake trying not to pass out from the poison.
Staring at Etana, "I thought you were keeping an eye on him after he lost his powers," said Daira.
Rubbing her head, "I was, till I looked away for a minute, and when I looked back, he was gone. Only a pool of blood was left."
"It doesn't matter at this point," said Jake, "I thought he was dead before that blood portal opened up, and we know how well that ended. But right now, that's not the point. The point is, we need to find out where Sin is bringing his army through, and find out where this Malso hell walker came from."
Hazara flinched and seemed to go cold at mentioned the hell walker's name.
"Hey, Hazara, are you ok?" asked Altair.
"She remembers her master," broke through the air.
It was Malso. Followed by a cold feeling. Demons appeared around the room grabbing the hunters before they knew what hit them, pinning them to the ground or walls around the room.
Appearing in the middle of room, Malso gleamed with somewhat of an apparent victory. He ignored the grunts and the pissed off comments they made. His focus was completely on Hazara.
Slowly walking towards her, "My dear sweet Luana," he said smiling, "how long has it been, years? And my, what a lovely new face cage you have on. Nothing like the bridle. I believe it looked better on you then this joke of workmanship."
Growling, "How about I run you through, then you wouldn't be in such a good mood."
Smiling, he motioned the demons around her to back off. Taking a moment of hesitation, Hazara launched forward, pulling out her daggers with rage in her eyes.
"Stop!" ordered Malso.
Stopping in half stride, she couldn't move any further. Malso approached her as Otomo struggle against the demons that held him.
Tracing Hazara's cheek with his finger, "Have you forgotten, my pet? I won you. The curse I placed over you, allows me to play with you as I please, and no choice for your body but to obey."
His demon half fade away being replaced with human features. His shaved head sparkled from the fading sun. His eyes were red with passion.
"I'm sure you remember this face, the one you fell in love with so long ago. The one that turned your body against you. The one that order you to kill everyone that meant anything to you."
For those who didn't know her stopped struggling while those who did, had sympathy in their eyes.
Noticing this, Malso stared at the paralyzed Hazara.
"You haven't told them I guess," backhanding her which sent her into a corner, "Stupid girl."
Shink. Cutting through the demons holding him, Otomo had the blade of his katana's pressed against Malso's throat.
Staring into Malso's eyes, "You will not harm her," threatened Otomo.
Raising an eyebrow, Malso's fist connected with the Ninja's exposed stomach. Otomo shot back like a bat out of hell slamming into the wall where he was once pinned. Cracking the wall, Otomo was knock out with one blow.
"Pathetic," said Malso.
"I'll show you pathetic," growled Jake.
Roaring like a girl, Jake unsheathed his claws slicing the demons that held him.
Going into his battle ready stance, "He can't bounce back, I can," charging forward then through Malsco getting his claws stuck in the wall.
Laughing, "Oh my, out of time already. No matter, I just came to see my pet once more and offer her a chance at her freedom. Beat me and I'll remove your curse and leave you alone. I win, you're still my pet and you must leave with me," fading away.
The demons holding the other hunters faded away, too.
Able to move again, Hazara clenched her fists focusing her mind on keeping her balance.
Freeing himself from the wall, "Get him to the med center!" shouted Jake checking on Otomo.
Cray and Altair were already beside him.
"He's hurt bad, I'll need time to heal him," Altair said.
"Help him. Etana," he said turning.
He noticed Hazara was gone.
