Birdcage
Chapter one
The ballroom was decorated with crystal chandeliers and vibrant red curtains that began at the ceiling and ended at the floor. Golden carved vines scrolled up the walls and around the entrance. Each corner was decorated by an angelic marble statue holding a candelabra with wings stretching several feet on either side.
The design caught her attention, feeling somewhat familiar, like something from one of her books. She searched her mind, trying to recall where she'd seen this place only to realize she wasn't really sure how she got here. Turning her attention to the people also in the room she noticed that she didn't recognize anyone. Their outfits were as ornate as the room. Somewhere in the background she could hear soft music playing which prompted the crowd to dance. Just as she wondered where the music was coming from there was a soft tap on her shoulder.
The man who stood before her was much taller than she was as he offered his hand. Glancing up at him he smiled a bright grin that should have made her more cautious but instead she took his hand as he led her to the dance floor. Taking a moment she looked down to see she was also dressed for the occasion. Her dress was a deep purple trimmed with black lace-suitable for her although she wasn't sure how she wasn't tripping over the hem.
Still taking everything in she suddenly realized the man was speaking to her and she hadn't been listening. Turning her focus to him she found herself lost in his presence. His long white hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail and contrasted against his dark skin. His stunning icy blue eyes held her attention as he looked her over. He smelt like smoke as well as spice and she noticed his black suit seemed tailored to his slim frame. She must have been staring as he let out a soft chuckle that pulled her gaze up and she again noticed his unsettling smile. Pointed teeth revealed an almost maniacal smile. It reminded her of a shark and she stumbled over her own feet and they came to a stop on the floor. The room went silent as well and the other dancers around them slowed their movements.
"Is something wrong?" She felt like she was struggling to listen to him as she turned back to him again.
"This isn't real," she answered slowly as she watched the whole scene before her slow to a halt.
"It is if you want it to be," his response was not what she expected him to say. She turned back to him just as he reached up to brush her violet hair behind her ear, the gesture caused her to pull away. The lights dimmed suddenly and a second glance around the room made her realize she had to leave. The statues in the corners became distorted, their expressions no longer placid but twisted in anger. The outstretched wings were now featherless boney claw like remnants that felt as though they were reaching for her. The once golden vines turned black sending ash into the air.
She took several steps away from him letting out an irritated sound. His expression didn't change which made her even angrier.
"Who are you," she growled at him. Despite her obvious disapproval of this situation he moved towards her again, wrapping his arm around her waist.
"Your future, of course," he spoke softly into her ear. She instinctively tried to push him away only for him to remain close. She went to quote her spell only for her voice to cut out. He laughed softly as her hand shot up to her throat. The sound grated on her nerves. "It's time to stop playing heroes." By this point it was just the two of them but she couldn't focus on where the rest of the people had gone. He leaned in again, his tone slightly above a whisper, "You know you don't belong anymore, Raven."
Before she could respond, everything began to shake around her as the scene disappeared. There was a familiar low humming that pulled her from her sleep. Blinking several times she suddenly sat up from her bed with a jolt. The silence of her dark room brought an odd sense of relief. She took several deep breaths in order to calm down. Mentally she berated herself for getting so caught up in a fantasy especially one she had created. Normally her sleep was dreamless which she assumed was a result of her constant control of her emotions.
"It was just a stupid dream," she grumbled quietly to herself before tossing her covers off to head downstairs for a cup of tea. The trip downstairs was uneventful which was no surprise since she was there alone. The tower felt cold and she rubbed her arms some as a way to distract herself from her thoughts. Entering the main room she wished she had grabbed her robe before coming down. She thought she heard a rustling in the room and paused to listen for a minute. The only movement in the room was the clock on the stove, the soft bluish hue caused shadows to shift slightly as another minute went by. She hadn't realized she had been holding her breath but slowly released it as she turned on the light and filled the kettle at the sink.
She had been alone for almost a month now and was perfectly okay with it. She had kept in communications with Cyborg and Beast boy who were on a long term mission up north. They weren't sure when they would be back but knew she could handle anything that came up plus by now they had an entire network of heroes if she needed anyone. Robin and Starfire were on Tamaran and she wasn't sure if or when they were coming back. The alien planet had reached out to Starfire asking her to come home. It was very odd considering how long she had been on earth and hadn't heard from them. Robin had decided to go with her which only made sense considering how serious their relationship had gotten in the last year. Although when Raven thought about it she couldn't help but wonder what he planned to do during their time there.
"Your future…" The sudden reminder from her dream caused a chill to run up her back. She wasn't sure if she would be able to get back to sleep at this rate. The kettle started to whistle and she absentmindedly removed it from the stove without needing to touch it. Quietly the hot water poured into her cup behind her as she continued to stare at nothing in particular. She had had nightmares before, ones far worse than this one. Scenes where the city lay in ruins before her as dark smoke filled a red sky, her Father's broad frame silhouetted in the distance. She could hear his maniacal roars of victory. She shook her head trying not to think about it. Finally she let out a huff as she brought her mug to her hand and she cradled it as she inhaled the rising steam.
These days it really was the little things that brought her comfort. Not that she normally minded being alone or the blissful quiet. Was perfect for reading and she had managed to get quite a bit done while the rest of the team was away. The only thing that pulled her away was the occasional attack which she usually handled with ease. She had hardly noticed her isolation during these past weeks…until now. Now the tower felt thick with emptiness, it's halls and rooms more silent than she even cared for. Maybe that was what brought on the nightmare. She brushed that thought off as she took a sip of her tea. That was when she finally noticed it.
Maybe it had to do with her emotions being so off since she awoken from her troubled sleep. Or that her nerves were starting to calm down. The reason really didn't matter at this point, it was just her brain trying to make sense of what she was feeling now. The feeling of someone else in the room.