Chapter 13: The Kiss of Gossamer Wings: Part 3
Lark recovered her cloak and veil and pulled them back on, concealing her true form indignantly. Quietly she closed her eyes and allowed herself to take on the form of Terra again. It was a lovely form, the siren noted, and with a small smile to herself she shed the cloak and veil at her whim. Adjusting the strap of the heavy sword now fastened across her back. Making her way from the center of the road to the window she heard Raven speaking.
"We need to get to Zinthos…"
So that was where the two were headed. Lark smirked and closed her eyes, moments later the horrid grey wings sprouted from her back and she took flight. So off she would go to Zinthos. Her large and portentous wings beat at the air and the dark and looming shape of the siren disappeared into the dark.
Raven brought her hand to Beast Boy's shoulder and prepared to teleport them to Zinthos when Beast Boy's communicator went off. It startled both of them and for a blinding moment the fretful kiss was forgotten. Opening the communicator they were greeted by Robin's furiously red face.
"Dude, are you ok?" Beast Boy asked in wonderment at the pale boy's cherry appearance. Robin winced and they heard a piping voice behind Robin.
"Robin… please, simply inform them of our intentions…" Beast Boy quirked an eyebrow.
"Right, well, we're heading back to Earth. To say the least I'm not on Galfore's happy list at the moment…" Robin sighed. Raven's inquiring face edged on screen and Robin ran a hand through his hair, the bright red of his face draining just a little. "Hey, Raven, hope you guys are fairing a little better than we are. Galfore caught me and Star making out in the garden and he wasn't real thrilled… Plus we should get back to Jump City case of emergencies or something," Robin coughed. Raven nodded in understanding. She supposed they weren't doing so bad on Azerath… if you took out the encounter with Alipes and Lark stalking Beast Boy and the fact they were not anywhere close to getting to Latsiere in time… it was Wednesday and she had be rid of Trigon by Saturday. She sighed and haltingly explained they would be en-route to Zinthos in a few moments. A small, golden hand rested on Robin's shoulder and he moved out of the way to reveal Starfire dressed in what could only be assumed as a Tamaranian ball gown.
"Friends… I wish you Godspeed on your journey. Aferlion cyver morinyay lis shion." The princess stated in stoic voice, her emerald eyes knowingly piercing the red of Raven's. The T-com went blank. Beast Boy looked over at Raven curiously.
"What did she say?" Beast Boy asked in confusion. Raven frowned. She had never known Starfire was fluent in the ancient language. It had been used amongst the three inhabited royal planets and had eliminated problems when an Azarian tried to speak with a Zinthosite or a Metrionian or the other way around. Raven assumed Starfire must have squired the language from her but still…
"She said… Let the dawn goddess free. But the dawn goddess… was my mother…" Raven tilted her head in confusion. What did Star know she had not been telling them? What did she know about Raven's mother? Raven shook off the strange thoughts and returned her gaze to Beast Boy who still seemed slightly unwilling to make eye-contact. Again placing her porcelain hand on his shoulder she took up her chant and they were consumed in the form of a black raven. The form flew up to the ceiling of the room and, as in the previous teleportation voyage, disappeared into a portal.
Raven and Beast Boy dropped softly onto a marble floor. Standing, Raven blinked, willing her dizziness to leave. Once steady she ran through her head the various precautions they would need to take on Zinthos. She remembered the large rose that graced the back of her cloak and a prickle ran through her body. Hastily removing the garment she groaned; again made aware her uniform had gone a brilliant scarlet. Beast Boy stood as well and he tilted his head in confusion. Why had Raven taken off her cloak? She never took off her cloak.
"Why…" he began to ask her but she cut him off.
"The rose is a symbol of war on Zinthos. Don't ask…"Raven said shortly. She quickly pushed the onslaught of memories coming to her from her mind. She hadn't meant to bring the war… she hadn't known her blood would conjure demons… she hadn't known she was denied the privilege of holding a fresh cut rose. She had only wanted to touch its petals… but thorn was in the way. She hadn't thought one drop of her blood staining a white rose's petals would have summoned all of Hell. She hadn't known. Raven quietly placed the cloak in her bag and pulled out one of her normal blue ones. However, the moment it fastened onto her shoulder's it shifted and seethed and turned ebony, again the scarlet rose emblazed itself across the back.
Raven cursed and removed the cloak as well. She stuffed it back into her bag and instead rummaged to see if she'd brought any other clothing. Indeed she had… It had been meant as a reminder of her mother, she'd never planned to wear it. She'd only brought it along because she took it with her on all her trips to all of the places she lived. She pulled out the garment and she could feel Beast Boy's eyes alight on it. Raven ran her hands over the material. It had been the dress her mother had worn on Raven's naming ceremony… when she'd become Capria…
"Beast Boy turn around and make sure no one is around. I need to change," Beast Boy nodded mutely and turned away to do as she requested. Raven looked around her. Zinthos was made of solid marble and it was quite a spectacle to see the various plant-life springing effortlessly up through the hard surface. Raven quietly moved behind a large bush and changed her clothes. She lightly slipped into the pale peach silk and shivered as the cool fabric of the dress pooled around her. The slim straps fell around her shoulders and she felt strangely self-conscious to the way the silk danced on her curves. She hugged her arms around her and dropped her head, looking unhappily at the ground. Her mother's dress did not change appearance, much to Raven's relief. Hesitating, she picked up her leotard and her belt. After a moment she decided to refasten the belt around herself. It hung lightly off one hip and again she felt self-conscious. It was not as if her leotard wasn't clingy as well… but usually she was hiding under her cloak. At the very least the pale color didn't stand out as sorely as the red leotard had. She stuffed her clothes into her bag and adjusted her wrist cuffs, the red jewels catching the light of Zinthos' day star.
Raven emerged quietly and cleared her throat, indicating Beast Boy could turn around again. He felt himself go numb when he saw her, her long maroon locks trailing down her bare shoulders and the thin fabric lying so close against her. Raven looked down at the silk swirling about her feet and sighed.
"Let's go find someone who can help us," she suggested gently. Beast Boy tore his eyes away from her and nodded without a word.
Tell me everything,
Let me take it to heart,
That you
My dear,
Are not so cold
As you believe.
Let me try to understand
The good I know you have,
That we may share,
A secret.
Author's Note: ah, yes, two chapters in a day... aren't we feeling special. Well, I was in a good mood so you know... Please review! BTW... how much trouble do you think Raven can get into? Tsk, tsk, inadvertantly summoning all the minions of hell just because she pricked her finger on a rose thorn... some how I find that morbidly reminicent of Sleeping Beauty in a strange and twisted way...
