Prolog

When people die, their souls have eternal rest however there are certain individuals that the universe are simply not done with. Their souls are recycled. Case in point a certain individual happens to be traveling by comet towards Earth. Another case was played out on Earth in the temple of the Blood Brothers. It involved the Teen Titans, Blood Brothers and Raven.

Returning

Aftermath of Raven's resurrection littered the inside of the Blood Brother temple. Those didn't die by sacrifice or by the Teen Titans were finished off by Deathstroke and Ravager.

The blood that was left over drained into a gutter under the floor. It flowed through the pipes of an ancient drainage system. It poured out a hole in the ceiling of a forgotten underground room. A milky white sphere on a stone pedestal got soaked from the rain of blood.

The surface of the sphere started to bulge. The movement from the sphere pushed it off the pedestal. It started to metamorphose into a human form.

The blood finally stopped flowing. It dripped against the pedestal. During the metamorphosis the blood on the floor was absorbed by the sphere. The metamorphosis stopped, leaving a naked body on the floor.

Standing up, eyelids opened. Blue eyes stared at the pedestal, watching the blood finally stop dripping. The nose allowed air to enter newly formed lungs. Black hair covered the scalp. Black trimmed beard and mustache covered the chin and lips.

His left hand grasped the top of the pedestal and turned it clockwise. A trapdoor opened and a statue rose from the floor. A black robe with red trim draped over the statue.

His right hand grabbed and removed the robe off the statue. His arms slid through the sleeves. Finally the robe covered his shoulders.

Pushing the pedestal down revealed steps behind a stone wall, bare feet followed the steps up. The feet stopped at the end of the steps, allowing those blue eyes to study the carnage around him. This brought a smile on his lips.

"She's mine," was detected by his ears.

Moving towards this voice, he discovered Sebastian's broken body, at lest he was still alive. Bodies were draped over his still living body.

"Who belonged to you?" brought Sebastian back to his senses.

"Raven, daughter of Trigon."

"Ah, the ritual worked."

Puzzlement was sketched over Sebastian's face. Blurring of his vision meant his time in this body was nearly up.

"Who are you?" he grasped.

This brought laughter from the bearded man.

"But first, what name was wasted on you?"

"Sebastian."

"Since the pleasantries are over," he remarked, "Now where's Raven."

"Didn't give your name."

"My identity isn't important," he answered, "the whereabouts of Raven is. So where is she?"

"With the Teen Titans," with little strength left, he repeated, "Who are you?"

"After all these centuries, they forget."

"Forget what?"

"That I created The Blood Brothers or at least they were based on The Demon Hunters."

Puzzlement became fear.

"Can't be him. Merlin killed him."

"Well," bending towards Sebastian's face, "if a toad like you, Sebastian, can bring Raven back, then Richard Clarkstone can return," holding his right palm up.

Grasping the back of Sebastian neck with his left hand, he asked, "What makes you think Raven belongs to you?"

Small sphere of energy appeared over Clarkstone's palm.

Keeping his gaze stared at the sphere, Sebastian answered, "It was written that the hand of Trigon's daughter was promised to me."

"Mistranslation, she belongs only to one," shoving the sphere into Sebastian's face.

Screams blocked out, to anyone listening, "Only the son of Clarkstone will have the hand of Trigon's daughter.

In San Francisco, Titans Tower stands with a night sky and the Golden Gate Bridge as a background. Within the building, mixture of happiness and despair existed. Raven returned. The happiness belonged to those who knew her. However some that remembered why she died in the first place. That was the despair.

Raven felt both. Being an empath allowed this. Right now she was more contempt staring at the stars. She felt happiness. However she knew this could not be her for Kory was behind her.

"Yes, Kory?" she said without looking.

"Sorry, friend Raven," Kory said trying to control her feelings, "if I was bothering you."

"Why, for being a friend?"

Kory had something to say, however it was difficult for her. That was an understatement, given the level their friendship went before Raven's death.

"Say it, Kory."

Instead her orange arms wrapped around Raven, "This says more then words, friend Raven."

"I know."

Kory's emotions flood through Raven. Raven wanted to fight this, but she knew it was a waste of energy. Kory wasn't trying to hurt her. How can one hurt with so much love? By suffocating you with their arms, lucky for Raven, Kory knew when to stop.

Releasing Raven, "Look," pointing to a shooting star, "it's an earth custom to make a wish upon seeing one."

"I have nothing to wish for," staring at Kory's orange face, "When I have friends like you."

This brought a smile from Kory. Grabbing her friend's hand pulled Raven inside the tower.

"Can't miss your own party."

If Raven could've groan, she would've had.

The falling star, that Raven and Kory witnessed, changed course. It landed in the bay. Stream marked its entry into the water. Stream disappeared leaving a black wide brim hat behind to float on the water.

A hand burst out of the water and held down the hat as the hat moved towards the shore. Slowly a head appeared above the water surface causing the hand to move off the hat and fall beside the owner's side. Finally black boots walked on solid dry ground.

Water dripped off a black trench coat as blue eyes studied the San Francisco sky line.

"Where the hell am I?" escaped from his lips.