Chapter 17: Burning of the Call
Raven racked her brain for any early memories of Zinthos. Who could help them? She frowned in uncertainty. A sudden jolt sent her mind reeling. The mirrors of Philnay! She now clearly recalled the dazzling, gem like flowers weaving along an intricate maze of vine covered, stone walls… a startling contrast to the consistent marble throughout Zinthos. She closed her eyes and quietly whispered her mantra. A very tiny version of her black raven flew from her mouth and darted out of the room. In Raven's mind eye she was zipping past the lush landscape of Zinthos, watching as the pearl white marble gave way to a deep rose colored marble, a thin layer of pale pink sands swirled and shifted over the surface. Her raven flew swiftly towards the imposing walls of the gardens. The mirrors of Philnay could show her exactly what she needed to know. The raven neared the garden and phased through one of the gold-ivy strewn walls. For a moment the ebony spirit raven hovered. Raven allowed herself to fall into the mind-conjured bird and attached herself to it so she could feel and hear everything the raven did.
Veering left she followed the maze blankly. Raven honestly had no clue where she was going, she was just moving with the way her instinct told her… unconsciously retracing the path she'd traveled as a child when she'd first glimpsed earth. Finally, Raven saw her destination. Eight perfectly circular pools ringed the edge of the clear, their waters undisturbed. The eight pools were such that the light of Zinthos' day star cast certain shadows over them and caused them to mirror the eight phases of earth's moon. Raven mentally hovered over a central pole that stretched up as high as the giant stone walls. It was made of pure bronze and when anyone of telepathic ability channeled their powers through the pole it was amplified enough that they could use the pools as gazing portals to other places. Raven didn't need the pole. Her powers were actually too strong to risk amplifying them.
Raven felt a little better knowing where she needed to go next and allowed the mental bird to dissipate. She pulled herself back to reality and looked around the room. Where was Beast Boy?
Beast Boy had assumed Raven was asleep when he saw her lying on the bed, her eyes closed. He had missed the fact she was slowly chanting her mantra. Beast Boy moved swiftly in his falcon form, flying high and quick in the same path Raven had mentally taken but moments before. The marble gradually shifted from white to rose and the billowing sands soon became visible as well. Beast Boy flew harder, Lark's beckoning song resounding in his skull. He saw the walls of the Philnay gardens looming up ahead and flew over them, blindly following the tug of Lark's presence. He found her at the center of the garden, stretched out on a stone platform. She had shed her previous garb and was now clothed in a light dress of white muslin. It draped over the side of the platform and mingled with the many shimmering flowers below. He perched near her and shifted to human form.
"How are you, love?" she asked silkily, playing with a lock of her golden hair. Beast Boy shrugged.
"Better now that I'm with you," he smiled. The Siren laughed.
"I almost lost you earlier. That disgraceful demon child is meddling with our… relationship," she murmured. Beast Boy frowned and nodded. Why would Raven mess with him and Lark? "Come kiss me Beast Boy," she crooned. Beast Boy nodded and lay down beside his mistress. He pressed his lips lightly against hers and she gave a slight murmur of discontent. "She's breaking my hold. Why? Why do you still want her?" Lark asked unhappily. Beast Boy tilted his head.
"Raven? I love Raven. That's why I want her," he responded. His moment of freedom earlier had weakened Lark's hold over Beast Boy. Lark frowned.
"Perhaps, this is not the right shape." She stated. Beast Boy felt an odd twinge in his mind and blinked hard. He opened his eyes to see Raven lying on the platform, rather than Lark. Her hair fell silky and lavender, her eyes alluring violet. Beast Boy blinked again, shocked.
"Raven?" he asked. Lark hesitated. If the only way to have him was to make him believe she was Raven then so be it. His flesh was too tender to waste. She licked her lips at the thought. Eventually, when he was fully trusting of her… when he thought she was Raven… she would lure him back to her home where she and her little harpy daughters would make a lovely meal out of him. She smiled.
"Yes, it is me," Lark simpered. Beast Boy furrowed his brow but she pulled him forward into a demanding kiss. "Love me," she whispered. Beast Boy looked at her, dazed.
"Of course," he murmured.
Raven frowned. Where was he? Her scarlet eyes went blank. A vision flooded her in full force. Lark, transforming into… herself? Lark was using her form! She saw them kiss and then the vision ended. Raven's eyes blazed with wild wrath and her temples pounded with insane anger. Her hair flew wildly about her head and she narrowed her eyes. A sudden sweep of black consumed the girl and when it dissipated, Rage stood with clenched fists. RavenRage blinked her four eyes darkly, her lips forming a cruel line. Vaulting into the air, RavenRage seemed to transform into the mental raven and with a loud screech the bird flew up through the ceiling and out into the Zinthos night. Only four large wing beats were needed to carry the dark beast out to the gardens. She landed silently but her presence was readily noted by the Siren. RavenRage stood, her body nearly consumed by black flames, licking at the silken dress and obscuring her clenched fists which were also ablaze with black fire. Beast Boy started in surprise.
"Raven?" he asked in confusion, looking at RavenRage oddly. "Raven?" he repeated, this time looking over at Lark. He shook his head, perplexed. RavenRage visibly snarled and whirled to face Lark, the black flames blazing a sudden red. Embers and sparks spewed from the fire and RavenRage's four eyes brilliant crimson. She narrowed her eyes and advanced on the defiant Siren.
"You whore! How dare you seduce him after my warning! You will pay for disregarding my promise," her voice was strange, that of both Raven's and that of Trigon laced into one horrifying sound. RavenRage seemed to swell in size and she towered up into the night, her body extended by black claw-like appendages made of her aura. The tiny light cast by Zinthos' two moons was completely blocked out and the only light cast came from the sparking fire half consuming RavenRage. The Siren looked stricken.
"Beast Boy, who is that? What is she doing?" Lark whimpered. Beast Boy looked wildly to and fro.
"Raven!" he asked both at once. Lark nodded.
"Yes, Beast Boy, it's me… Raven," Lark hastily assured him, looking at him with wide and imploring violet eyes. Beast Boy looked up at RavenRage.
"Don't hurt Raven!" he yelled angrily. RavenRage looked furiously at the changeling.
"I am Raven you dolt!" she shrieked. RavenRage plunged down towards Lark, her hands blazing. Two huge pillars of black aura appeared on either side of the Siren and wrapped her up. RavenRage seemed to rip open a hole in the air with a black aura claw. Two huge, hazy spirits with deathly black eyes flew out of the portal. RavenRage consumed each in her black energy and the black eyes shifted into those of Trigon. Swarming at Lark, the girl shrieked and tried to wrangle free from the grasp of her black bonds. The spirits viciously assaulted the Siren. Lark screamed and began to belt out a long wailing song, calling for Beast Boy to save her. The changeling's eyes glazed and he vaulted in the way of the spirits to save "Raven."
RavenRage's eyes widened in horror as he leapt in the way of the attack, shielding Lark's breaking body. "NO!" Raven screamed, Rage dissolving back into her. She heard Beast Boy cry out and then she plunged into darkness.
To give myself under
Complete control
Of that which really is,
My inner self,
The one that screams,
When I am all alone.
It is to commit,
A fateful crime,
And plunge us both
Away.
So here I stand,
Wearing a veil,
And covering what is really me.
Author's Note: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I would like to forwarn you that the coming chapters will have considerable gore and violent internal struggal. Lark obviously couldn't go bibi without something happening. Don't worry though, Beast Boy isn't dead... yet... just kdding. I think. Hey, do you guys like the new summary for this story? I also want you all to know that if the rating goes up to R it is purely for oncoming drama and angst and violence. No lemons. Well, that's all the news for now, please review! Oh, and if you're a fan of the poems and support the Starfire/Robin pairing, you might like my short fic "To One Another" which contains one of my longer poems... ok, it's REALLY long...lol.
Love, Princess Starfire of Tamaran
