Shangri-la

Gothic: This story is going to kick ass is it? At least that's what somebody was kind enough to say in a nice review. Thank you Toast! Anyhow, for those of you who haven't read up on the Teen Titans history in the comics, Arella's part in this fic will be revealed somewhere around these next two chapters, Draygion's will be revealed too.

Kitty: Gothic owns nothing. No suing now, that's naughty.

Draygion: On with the ficcie!

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The flittering shadows of the Titans were illuminated against the warehouse as they made their way to the entrance. Robin's forehead was in the 

permanent crease of a frown for now, as Raven was unusually angry, whilst Draygion let out a quiet growl every so often.

"Shall we use the front door, or shall I make one?" Cyborg asked.

"Go ahead. They could use another front door." At Robin's words, Cyborg let all hell loose as he blasted the wall cleanly from its roots. The Titans charged through the second it was safe, the darkness surrounding the world around them closing in.

"Damn! What's the point of luring us here if their no one waiting for us to go psycho on their buts?!?!" Robin words seemed indeed, correct for a minute. Then, the hunched servants of Slade appeared out of nowhere, in every space there was possible. The way they had come in was blocked, all other exits were guarded, and escape was impossible.

What was worse was the ragged breathing of the Demon Servants, the selected few members there who were moving in on the 6 teens, who were in the middle, from the darkest shadows. Draygion whimpered, hiding behind Robin, and Raven's breath was quick, in nervous little gasps.

"So, Titans," the main leader of the group drawled, "I see you arrived in good time. Now, hand over the demons, and the rest of you don't get hurt.

How many times have I heard that line before? Is it a historical line of some famous bad guy or something? Robin thought.

"And if we refuse, and let you try and bring us by force?" Raven stated.

"Oh you'll come. Because if you don't," he clicked his fingers, and a half conscious woman was dragged forward, "she will die, and her body will be decapitated." The demon chuckled, and the thin light in the room from the entrance showed the woman to be severely injured. Her head lolled in a downward direction, her condition preventing full consciousness. Draygion, who had been growling continuously since the demon had demanded him and Raven be handed over, let out a full cry of attack, and lunged for his guardian with a snarl of anger. A demon darted forward and punched him full on in the stomach. Draygion howled in pain as he went flying backwards, crashing into a wall and falling, stunned, onto the stone floor below.

"Draygion!" Raven's eyes glowed white in anger, as she unleashed her power upon the demons.  Just as she was about to blast the demons to hell, one spoke again.

"If you want to see your brother as well as his guardian dead, then keep going. If you actually want them alive, then lower your attack. " The demon glared at the Titan's, as Draygion was dragged forward, still dazed, by two of Slade's henchmen. "Now." He hissed.

Raven sighed, and then vanquished her attack. She lowered her arm, and her pupils returned to her still angry eyes.

"Good girl."

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In the Thirteenth dimension, on the planet of Azarath, two demons were conversing in a cave. One of the demons was male, with a shaggy beard that had a light green tinge to it. His clothing was green robes, ( A/N: similar to the ones Professor Mc Gonagall wears in Harry Potter.) and his skin was green. A diamond in the shape of a star shone on his forehead, and his eyes were the same of a normal human, only they were the pupiless demon style, like Trigon's. The other was female, her youth clearly visible. Her midnight black hair fell to her shoulders, 4 equally black eyes showing pity and yet still strength. Her skin however, was the same light lilac that Ravens was, the same shokra shimmering on her forehead. A black cloak lay on the chair behind her, the rest of her body enclosed in tight, black, slightly skimpy clothing. The two were engaged in very close conversation.

"Come now Zuthion, you know that whilst the demon is there, there will be no harm."

"But my sister is in danger. If the Earth woman is killed, then despair may consume her into darkness. Not only will Earth be in grave danger, but so will demons if she returns to here to find her father."

"Perhaps you are right. Her father is a ruthless demon, one who will, and has destroyed many lives. If she is consumed by the darkness, she returns, and she and her father fight, then yes, I do agree with you. "

"Agree on what exactly?"

"That it could kill us all."

The two demons exchanged dark looks before the younger female gathered her things together and made for the exit. Just as she was about to leave, the older demon called to her.

"Oh, and Zuthion?" The female demon turned to look at him. "Remember, she and him are not alone. If the worse comes to the worse, her friends will always be there."

The demon gave him a nod of approval, and left the cave.

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Back on Earth, in the middle of the warehouse, screams echoed upwards as a demon's whip lashed across Draygion's back. Every so often, the demon flicked the whip across the still form of the woman next door, causing a groan, but not much other reaction. Raven had lowered her eyes in shame long ago. The other Titans looked on, terrified of it happening to them. Eventually, when the demon ordered Slade's minions to bring the Titans to him, Robin objected.

"You there! Bring The Titans to my whip." The demon barked.

"Hey, wait a minute! Why are we getting tormented too, when it's Raven you want? We could attack you, even if she can't." Noticing Raven's glare, he added on a bit. "Uh, sorry Rae, but there's no need for us to get hurt."

"And if we were injured, there'd be no one to rescue you." Beast Boy remarked.

"Oh you won't attack us. If anybody here tries to attack us, the woman and the demon boy die instantly." The leader demon hissed. "And I'm sure you wouldn't wish that pain on your friend." He added sarcastically.

Robin snarled as viciously as Draygion had, then allowed himself to be led with the others to the demon's whip.

The following two hours seemed to go on forever, every single second full of nothing but pain and torture. Eventually, they allowed the Titans to stand properly again, the blood from their wounds falling and trickling it's way to the floor. Then, as the leader grabbed Raven's arms, holding her in a tight grip from behind, other demons snatched up the remaining Titans and flung them through the exit, which the seemingly wise minions had move away from.

"Let me go! Now!" Raven's eyes glowed white as she struggled to escape from the iron grip.

"Now, now. There'll be none of the telekinesis, unless certain people are going to die." Realising her mistake, Raven relaxed her anger, but was still angry.

"Let Raven go. What do you want her for?" Robin called from where he and the others had been chucked out of. The demon merely chuckled, not answering Robin. Nobody had noticed the consciousness of the battered and bruised woman, not until she spoke in answer to Robin question.

"Because….she….is…..needed….to…release….Tri….gon…fro-" The woman abruptly stopped as she received a sharp kick to the chest.

"Shut up! You will die for that!" To which Raven really pissed off the demon by her next remark.

"Well, if she's going to die without me having to kick your asses, then…" Her eyes glowed white, as her hands glowed with her famous black/white powers.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you Raven." Slade's drawling tone called from the other side of the room. She won't die. A lot of torture, but never death." He stalked over to where Raven was being held, eying the others at the entrance.

"Slade!?!? What are you doing here?!?!" Robin prepared for battle.

"Claiming what will guarantee hell on Earth Robin.  Trigon is a most powerful demon from the planet Azarath in the 13th Dimension. He will kill you puny humans without remorse, and help me rule this planet. Sadly, I need to kill your friend, or influence her with darkness to release him. Pity really."

"You actually think my father will serve you like a lap dog? He will kill everything on this planet including you, and won't even think of laying a finger on me. Earth will be nothing more than a barren plain, without you in sight on the horizon." Raven received a violent slap across the cheek from a minion for this, before Slade clicked his fingers. Several more minions stepped forward.

"Here. Take her. Chain her up at the base. And take the demon boy with you. In fact, you can take both of those bitches with you. " Slade laughed slightly.

The Titans could only watch, as their friend was dragged away, the woman and Draygion with her. The sadness and worry  was in her expression, but her eyes said something else.

Help me.


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Gothic: Ohh, a cliff hanger! Who is Draygion's guardian? Will Raven be rescued?  Will Slade succeed and release Trigon? Oh so many questions -

Kitty: The answers in the next chapter! Reviews please! And in case you don't where to click, let me help you out:

|         It's…

|        Just…

|        Down…

|       There…

|        At bottom….

|       Of this…

|       Arrow!

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