A/N: Azerath, Metriom, Zynthos. Azerath, Metriom, Zynthos. Azerath, Metriom, Zynthos. Azerath, Metriom, Zynthos. Azerath, Metriom, Zynthos....okay I'll stop now.

He doesn't bother me, he's not the same person, why should I care if he's on the team or not? That means less work for me, doesn't it? And besides, if everyone's occupied with him, I can have time to myself. It won't bother me, it is illogical that it would bother me. It was Malchior pretending to be him, not him at all. This isn't working, I must clear my mind, think logically. He is a wizard, a great wizard. Not only could I benefit from his knowledge, but he would be a great addition to the team as well. So why does it feel like my heart is being strangled when I look at him?!

Raven opened her eyes to find that her black energy waves were surrounding her entire room, threatening to start working their destructive force if she did not calm herself. She forced her body and mind to relax, concentrating only on floating, cross-legged, in mid air. "Azrath, Metriom, Zynthos. Azrath, Metriom, Zynthos." She repeated, feeling her power leave the room and reenter her being where it was safely kept at bay. She cleared her mind, thinking of wide, open spaces, fields of grass, endless skies. Her mind was free from all earthly ties, it was free to touch the endless expanse. Nothing could touch her, nothing could keep her back, she was—

Knock, knock, knock.

Of course, she should have expected it. After all, most of the tension in the air was because of her, of course her presence would be missed. She should have known.

"Raven?" It was Robin this time, she had expected Beast Boy or Starfire.

Raven opened the door so that only half her face was visible. "Yes?" She asked, as if this were a normal day and she was going through her normal meditation exercises.

"Um, you kind of left us and...well, I want to let you know, that if this bothers you, Beast Boy and I will vote against him joining with you." He told her.

"Beast Boy?"

"Yeah, we're here for you Rae!" The green teenager said, squeezing his head into view from behind Robin. "If Rorek makes you uncomfortable than he doesn't have to join! Besides, we already have the best magic-user in the universe. Right Robin?"

"Right! So should we tell the others it's a no go?" Robin asked her.

If I am to truly set my mind free, I must confront that which causes my emotions to surface head on. Hiding will not free my mind. Raven told herself. "No," She said after a moment of this meditation, "Count my vote as a go." She said.

"Are you sure?" Beast Boy asked.

"Logic says that we will only benefit from his presence, logic also says that if there is a problem, his membership is not permanent until we have all worked together for a few months." Raven said.

"Logic doesn't always have to right solution." Robin pointed out.

"No, but running away from one's problems is never the answer. Count me in." She said.

"No really, man, this movie rocks! You gotta see it!!!" Beast Boy exclaimed, as he and Cyborg proceeded to drag Rorek into the entertainment room.

"Run while you still can." Raven said while passing them in the hall.

"I think I will take your advice." Rorek said, suddenly changing directions and following her now. The two guys discovered (three moments later) that they were no longer holding onto anyone.

"Aw maaaaaan." They wined, sulking on down the hall in defeat.

He's not following me, this is just the only other way to go, it is, after all, a hall. He is not following me. Raven told herself as she headed for the living room. She walked over to the large window of the otherwise empty living room and settled herself, cross-legged, in the air before the view. She'd missed being able to meditate here, it had such a nice view, especially at night when the buildings were all alight and the lake sparkled with the reflection. But it wasn't so bad during the day either.

"Azrath, Metriom, Zynthos. Azrath, Metriom, Zynthos." She repeated. My body is a barrier, the physical world is all that keeps me from the limitless expanse. But my mind is free, my mind is vast. I cannot be touched, I will not be limited. My mind is clear of all worldly thoughts...why is he still here? "Azrath, Metriom, Zynthos." He is not here, nothing is here, there is no here, there is no there. Space is but an illusion, the body is a shell, a shell that I can be released from. I must purify my mind, clear it of all thoughts, all worldly feelings, of all emotions. What is he staring at?! "Excuse me, it's hard to concentrate when you're staring at me." She said, a note of irritation in her voice.

"Oh, forgive me, I was just wondering if I could join you?" He asked.

Raven sweatdropped. Well, if he was meditating instead of staring at her, she could concentrate much better. "Suite yourself." She said, turning back around to face the window again. She floated over to the side so that he had plenty of room. He settled himself in the air beside her, mimicking her position.

"Could you explain your method to me? I'm afraid I've never come across your form of meditation." He asked.

"Very well. First you must find your center, concentrate on it, obtain a connection with yourself. Your center is your inner self, the point where everything is emitted from, thoughts, feelings, emotions, reactions, everything. Then you must clear your mind, think of nothing and everything at the same time. Thoughts and memories that trouble you the most, or will get into your way, will come to you. You must take them apart, weed through them, and cleanse yourself of them. You must take control of yourself, be in complete command of all emotions, all thoughts, and then push them all away. Purify yourself of these worldly things, the body is a shell, and these things are barriers that will leave you forever trapped within this shell. Your goal is to become limitless and untouchable, but you can only do this through complete purification. Nothing in the outside world matters, nor should it hold your attention. Meaning you have to stop staring at me." She added, opening an eye at him.

"Oh! Right!" He said, turning his head towards the window and closing his eyes.

"Now, repeat after me." Raven said, closing her eyes again, "Azrath, Metriom, Zynthos. Azrath, Metriom, Zynthos." She said. He then said it after her. "Now say it with me and remember what I told you." She instructed. Their voices then became one, saying the same thing at the same time. Raven relaxed her body and her mind, and then began to cleanse herself.

"This is difficult to do while flying." He said.

"You don't have to do it while levitating, though I would suggest it as it will improve your focus. I never said you'd be able to accomplish all of that your first try after all." She told him.

"I see. I suppose I will merely concentrate on finding my center then." He said.

"A wise choice. Try again. Azrath, Metriom, Zynthos." She said, once again going through the process of cleansing herself. And then,

Smack! Raven twitched and slowly grabbed the blob of smelly socks off her head.

"STANK BALL!!!" Cyborg yelled.

"Dude, you just hit Raven....see ya!" BB exclaimed, high tailing it away.

"Huh?" Cyborg looked over, and found Raven, eyes glowing white, holding the stinkball which was engulfed in her black fire. "Uh, now, now Raven, it's all fun and games. I mean, you love Stink Ball, dontcha?!" He asked nervously. Raven threw the blob. "AAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!" Cyborg yelled, running away from it. The ball followed him around the corners and would keep following him until it hit and left a nice bruise.

"Hn, hnhnhn."

"What are you laughing at?" Raven asked, not at all amused.

"We're suppose to be controlling our emotions, aren't we?" He asked.

"And who says I wasn't in control?" She responded, taking her place in the air again, "They know better than to 'stink ball' me while I'm meditating." She told him.

"I see, shall we continue then?" He asked.

"Oh Raaaaaaveeeen!" Called a cheery voice. "There you are!"

"Actually, it seems you'll have to continue without me." Raven said, sweatdropping as Starfire grabbed her arm.

"Oh you will not believe it, Raven! I found a set of clothing that you would look absolutely gorgeous in! I took the measurements of the costume still in the laundry room and went shopping for something when I found it! Come on, you must try it on!" Starfire exclaimed, dragging Raven along behind her.

Raven's eyes widened in dread, "Oh no. Um, Starfire? Can't we talk about this?" Raven asked.

"We can talk about anything, Raven!" Starfire exclaimed, "Lets go to my room to talk!" Raven grimaced.

"Uh, Star? While this outfit might look good on you, it is not something that I could wear even if I wanted to." Raven said. Starfire had, somehow, gotten her into a soft pink, long sleeved, tankini top, cream-colored skorts, a pare of white boots that came to her knees, some gold and silver jewelry that went with the outfit, and had also put her hair up into a pink ribbon ponytail that let two locks of hair frame her face as bangs. All in all, she looked like a crow trying to wear peacock feathers. Likely, Starfire's image of her in it had her with a completely different skin-color and hair style.

Starfire sighed sadly, even she could tell cheery colors did not work with Raven's complexion. "Perhaps next time, then, I shall make sure to buy dark and dreary colors." Starfire said.

Raven frowned at her reflection in the full-length mirror. She didn't want to wear the outfit no matter what color it was in, but Starfire had only meant to do something nice for her, even if she was vastly overdoing this 'girl friends' thing a little. Raven inwardly sighed. She closed her eyes and put her hands together, murmuring a quiet spell.

When she opened her eyes the sight that greeted her was actually rather pleasing. She had turned all the pinks into black, the white into blue, and any gold colored jewelry turned silver instead. The only thing that needed manual alteration was the bow on the ribbon. Raven undid the bow and instead turned it into a regular knot.

"Oh Raven!" Starfire exclaimed with a gasp of delight. "That is wonderful! I am overjoyed that you have turned my misguided gift into something that looks so good on you! I am overjoyed!" She said. "We must show the others!"

"Uuuuum." Raven's eyes went wide. 'Show the others'? She'd rather die than let any of the boys see her wearing this! Especially Ror—no, especially any of them! "Starfire, I don't think—" She tried, no good.

"Oh but we must show them! It looks so good on you. Come, I shall call them all to gather." She said, dragging Raven out the door.

"No, no no no no no." Raven grabbed onto the doorframe with her free hand and tried to stop Starfire from getting her into the living room.

"You beat me! How did you beat me! No one has ever beaten me! Are you sure you've never played this game before?!" Cyborg was yelling. Raven made a desperate grab for the banister, and missed.

"I assure you I have not." Answered Rorek's voice. Raven caught the banister this time and held on for dear life. Pleeeeeease don't let him see me like this! She mentally begged.

A door opened, "Oh good, you're all here. Where's Raven and Star?" Robin's voice asked.

"Dunno, I think they went out." Beast Boy answered.

"We are here, Robin!" Starfire called, emerging into view from the door that lead to the stairs.

"Uh, Star? What's up?" BB asked.

"May I present," Starfire let out a grunt, "Raven!" She exclaimed, meticulously pulling Raven out into the open.

All eight eyes went as wide as tennis balls. The stupor broken only a moment later by Beast Boy turning into a dog and going, "Ar, ar, arooooo!" and panting. Now it was Raven's turn to stair with wide eyes, and red cheeks.

"Whoa! Nice new look, Rae!" Cyborg exclaimed, suddenly at Raven's side so he could see her up close.

"Uuuuh." Raven shifted uncomfortably. Shoot me now. She thought. She looked at Robin as if to say "help!", but even he was too surprised to do so, and apparently interperated her glance as asking for his opinion.

"Uh, yeah. It looks, ah, very good on you." He then looked at Starfire, who was swelling in pride. "Uh, exactly how did you get her to wear it?" He whispered.

Starfire was about to answer, when Rorek's voice cut the conversation like a knife, "Personally, I believe you're dress looked much lovelier on you, Lady Raven."

Everyone stopped to stare at him in amazement. "Uh, I mean, it's just that..." Rorek tried, instantly recognizing that he had said something wrong, but not a moment later everyone was back on Raven.

"You wore a dress?!" They all exclaimed at the same time, including Robin.

Alright, this is going a little to far. "He's talking about my nightgown." She told them, allowing her irritation to enter her voice as a warning. No good.

"Really?! How come we've never seen it?!" Beast Boy exclaimed.

"You must let us see you with it on! It must look so pretty on you!" Starfire said.

"Uh, guys?" Robin said, apparently being the only one to notice Raven's growing temper.

"Yeah, come on!" Cyborg put in.

"Pleeeeeeeease?" They all asked at the same time, giving Raven large grins.

That did it.

"NO!" She yelled, the force of her anger throwing them all backwards. Rorek had to dive down in order to avoid getting hit. "I AM NOT GOING TO PUT IT ON!!! WHAT AM I, SOME DOLL NOW?! I WILL NOT WEAR MY NIGHTDRESS JUST SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AND I REFUSE TO WEAR THIS AGAIN EITHER!!!" She yelled. The glass window and the TV screen both shattered, the furniture was turned over, and any loose, breakable objects fell off their original place and broke on the ground. When it all settled down, Raven was nowhere to be seen.

Raven bolted her door and went straight for her closet, changing as fast as she possibly could. She then put the entire outfit in a box and put it on a shelf in her closet among other boxes and such.

She had to calm down, she had to relax, she had to control her emotions, and that included her temper. How to calm down, how to calm down....

She turned on her stereo system and used her power to change out the CDs without touching them. She looked at the song choices she had on her two other Nightwish CDs and chose Wishmaster. The song The Kinslayer, looked good. She put the player on that number and started playing it on a slightly louder volume than what she usually had.

For whom the gun tolls
For whom the prey weeps
Bow before a war
Call it religion

Raven pulled out her most recent magic book and started to read while she listened to the music playing in the background.

Some wounds never heal
Some tears never will
Dry for the unkind
Cry for mankind

"Raven?" A voice came from her door, along with a knock. Raven turned her music up louder.

Even the dead cry
- Their only comfort
Kill your friend, I don't care
Orchid kids, blinded stare

She closed her book and merely sat cross-legged on her bed. She couldn't read if her music was so loud, perhaps if she let herself get lost in the music instead.

Need to understand
No need to forgive
No truth no sense left to be followed

Why did they have to make such a big deal about it? The only reason she even put it on was for Starfire, had she known the hyper girl would want to show her off to the guys she would have never agreed to it. And you'd think they'd know her well enough to realize that she didn't like being made a spectacle of. Starfire, on the other hand, would have a blast with it, she'd love to try on different outfits. But Raven wasn't Starfire, in fact they were almost complete opposites.

"Facing this unbearable fear like meeting an old friend"
"Time to die, poor mates, You made me what I am!"

Raven took some deep breaths. And Rorek, who did he think he was!? Mentioning her nightdress like that when technically he wasn't even suppose to see it, no one was. She didn't even want him to see her in that outfit either—no, not just him, everyone. Okay...maybe he was a special case, but only because he was new and she didn't know him that well.

"In this world of a million religions everyone prays the same way"

"Your praying is in vain It'll all be over soon"
"Father help me, save me a place by your side!"
"There is no god Our creed is but for ourselves"

Maybe she overreacted, maybe she really did look that good in the outfit. But did they have to go on about it like that?! They knew she didn't like it, they should have been able to tell she was quite uncomfortable with it.

"Not a hero unless you die Our species eat the wounded ones"

"Drunk with the blood of your victims
I do feel your pity-wanting pain,
Lust for fame, a deadly game"

She'd never been so embarrassed in all her life! Well, maybe she had, but that wasn't in front of...that didn't involve an exposed middle and short skirt-like outfit.

"Run away with your impeccable kin!"

"- Good wombs hath borne bad sons..."
- Cursing, God, why?
Falling for every lie
Survivors' guilt
In us forevermore

What was with this music? It wasn't helping her at all! In fact it was making her even more edgy. She shifted in her position a bit and tried to meditate, but how could she meditate like this? No, she had to...was someone calling her? She couldn't tell. The voice of the singer was echoing in her ears, off the walls, and into her mind.

15 candles
Redeemers of this world
Dwell in hypocrisy:
"How were we supposed to know"

Raven tried to open her eyes, but she couldn't. No. She thought, on the verge of panic. She couldn't stop it, she had to turn off the music! But how?! Where was she? Were was the music? Where were the others? Make it stop! She tried to scream, but nothing came from her mouth.

4 pink ones
9 blue ones
2 black ones

"I think we should be worried." Beast Boy said outside.

"Oh it is all my fault! If only I had not made Raven do something she was uncomfortable with!" Starfire exclaimed, close to tears.

"No, Star, its all our faults for making such a big deal about it." Robin said.

"Me especially, right?" Beast Boy asked in despair.

"No, I think that would be me. It might have been wiser if I had just kept silent." Rorek put in.

"We're all to blame because we all made her uncomfortable. Right now, however, the best thing to do would be to leave her alone." Robin said.

"I do not think that even that would be a wise decision." Rorek said, pushing Robin, who was the closest, away from Raven's door. He then pointed to the ground. Dark smoke was beginning to seep from beneath the door.

"Uh oh."

A/N: MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! CLIFHANGER!!!!! Ahem, anyways. I think the schedule is probably gonna be once every 1-3 days, depends on how well I can keep myself on this kick, which might be well indeed if I keep re-watching Spellbound