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Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans so lets not try and sue me since I don't have anything to sue for.
Ch. 3: Truth and Choices
Fire burned around me. Jump City lied in ruin. The tower nothing more than a broken metal skeleton slowing sinking into never-ending heat. I could see my father as he towered over the landscape, four burning eyes sending a shiver down my spine. I malevolent grin crossed his face as I watched him march toward me, toward the four statues that were formally my friends. My body was paralyzed. I couldn't move. I couldn't help them. "Now to show you the price of having friends daughter." A massive foot came down crushing Cyborg and Beast Boy in an instant. I tried to cry out but no sound could be heard. Another foot came crashing down finishing off Starfire. I'm so sorry. I wanted to scream, yell, anything but that was not to be. Suddenly I could hear Robin's voice. He was real. He would save me. I was pulled back to the scene in front of me as I watched Robin struggling vainly in the grip of my Father.
"So this is the one who dared love a monster such as you. How pathetic. A mere human believing himself to be worthy of my one and only daughter." A dark life echoed the entire city.
"Raven! Help me please. Why are you just standing there!" Robin cried out. I wanted to help but I just couldn't move. I could feel the heat building around me as the symbols Slade placed on me formed. I wanted to tell myself this wasn't happening that this was only a dream but I could feel true terror building within me.
"Now dear daughter. It is time to punish you for trying to resist me." I watched with horror as Trigon began to squeeze Robin within his grasp. I could hear the sound of cracking rips and tearing flesh. I wanted to shut my eyes and cover my ears but I could not. Robin tried to scream but I doubt his lungs even could manage that. I bloody mess of gore and bone landed at my feet. What was left of Robin's face stared up at me still trying to mutter one word: Why? I could feel vomit rising at the sight yet I could not look away. I'm so sorry Robin. I should have never allowed this to happen. Why didn't my mother end this before I was born. My mind swam with dark thoughts only to be interrupted by my Father's voice.
"The prophecy shall be fulfilled. Both the innocent and the tainted shall be sacrificed to open the gate. The Last of the Fallen is the key to unlocking my prison. Very soon my daughter. Daddy is coming for you."
I shot up from my bed in a cold sweat to the sound of windows shattering somewhere. I tried to raise my hand to wipe my forehead only to find it being clutched in the hands of Robin. I ripped my hand away from him noticing the look of shock and sadness that barely crept into my face.
"Never touch me Robin." I threatened in my best emotionless voice but I knew I missed the warmth. I thought back to the dream and reprimanded myself for such thoughts. Can't let anyone get close, can't let anyone care for me.
"How are you feeling Raven" Robin asked with deep concern in his voice. "You've been out for about 5 hours.
"Fine." I replied a little more coldly than anticipated. "How is Cyborg?" I enquired. I was curious to know about the condition of my surrogate Big Brother. He was probably in worse shape than me anyways. I felt fine. Really, I did I tried to convince myself but I know I was far from fine. Damn Nightmares.
"He's good. The blast overloaded his system. It was pretty powerful and it was simply too much for his body to take. He's already back on his feet ranting and raving about exactly what he's going he's going to jam into Brother Blood when he sees him again." I could see that trademark lopsided grin forming on Robin's face. I tried to stop myself from smirking but couldn't
"At least its better than him fighting with Beast Boy about meat." I droned sarcastically.
"Yeah well I'm sure that will come up eventually. Just have some patience Rae." Was Robins reply.
"Didn't I tell you not to call me Rae," I said giving him a death glare. He only chuckled.
"Here Rae. I brought you some tea. Figured you'd want it when you woke up." I gladly accepted it but gave no response of any thanks. I was silently fuming about the whole Rae thing.
"So are you sure you're feeling better Raven because I wanted to ask you a few questions."
"Ask away. I feel fine." The words left my mouth before I could stop them. What was he going to ask me. Please don't be about emotions. Please don't be about feelings. I could feel nervousness running through my body but I revealed nothing. In retrospect, I wish he would have just confessed undying love to me right there instead of asking me what he did.
"Well when you were getting attack, I heard Brother Blood refer to you as the Daughter and said something about a Gate. I was hoping you could fill me in on anything you know." Instantly the coffee mug in my hand exploded into a million pieces. Robin shot back from the resulting explosion trying to cover himself. I could feel the cuts on my hand starting to bleed from the shrapnel but I didn't care. With that one question I somehow knew that I was going to have to fill them all in on the truth, the truth I had ran from and hidden for my entire life. The time had finally come and I felt at least they should know the truth before I ran again.
"Gather everybody in the main room Robin. I'll explain there, just leave me alone for a few minutes."
"Alright Raven but first you have to let me bandage your hands." I looked up at him and could feel the emotions pouring off him. I nodded my head in silent approval going against every rational thought in my head at that moment. I could heal myself on my own. I didn't need him. I didn't need him getting any closer to me than he already was but I simply couldn't resist as he tenderly began wrapping my hands. After he finished he stood up and silently left the room as I pondered exactly the ramifications of what was about to happen.
Everyone had gathered in the main room and all eyes turned to me as I glided in. Immediately Starfire was upon me embracing me in one of her bone-crushing hugs. I allowed her to do it without resistance because when it came to Star, resistance was just waste of energy. I may give Star a lot of grief but I did care for the girl. She was the only female around and by default I had spent time with her. Over time I had grown quite fond of her antics and even envied her in so many ways. She was so beautiful and carefree, freely expressing everything she wanted to. She was everything I wasn't but I did not hate her for it, but rather her loved her for it. If an occasional hug was all I had to give to make her happy, I would do it.
Finally Starfire let go and I straightened out my cloak. I could feel everyone's eyes on me and I half expected so corny joke from Beast Boy but I think even the young shapeshifter understood the importance of what I was going to say. I wasn't everyday that I called a team meeting to discuss well, anything.
"I know you all have a lot of questions for me. Questions I'm sure you've had for a very long time, especially following Slade's recent interest in me and I've finally decided to answer a few of them. I do not expect any interruptions." I glared at Beast Boy making sure he understood and he nervously nodded his head in agreement. I looked at Robin. His face as unreadable as his eyes, but I could feel what he was going through. It was as if he knew nothing good would come from this.
"First off, I am half-demon. That is where my powers come from and that is why I have this strange appearance." I saw Robin frown slightly at the end of my comment but he said nothing.
"I come from a world called Azarath. It is a dark, cold dimension that on occasions demons are allowed to enter and interact with the inhabitants. It wasn't until not that long ago that a great leader named Azar lead the people against any entering demons, closing all access off.
However, a few people did not believe in Azar and chose a different path. They chose to embrace the demons presence rather than scorn it. My mother was among them. In the end, these people made a terrible, terrible mistake. They allowed the most powerful demon of them all to enter into their world, if only for a few moments. On my world he was known as Trigon the Terrible. On most other worlds, he is known as Satan." The room had gained an eerily silence. Everyone was trying to take all this in. I'm sure it wasn't an easy fact to learn that demons did indeed exist and the devil that everyone feared so much was real.
"As if knowing his entrance into the mortal realm was only temporary, Trigon planted his seed into my mother. He raped her." I stuttered for a second at his part but quickly returned to my stoic self. "That is how I came to be. I am the Daughter of Trigon. Lord of the Underworld. Ruler of Hell. My father is Satan, and I am his Gateway into the Mortal Realm. Slade is his emissary and it is my destiny to bring Hell to the universe. Slade is back to open the gate that will allow my Father to permanently enter this realm."
I hung my head in shame as I finished my words. I knew they were all judging me. I could feel their eyes on me. Disgust, repulsion, Hate. I knew without even look at them these were their feelings. Suddenly, I felt a hand be placed on my shoulder. I looked up, already knowing it was Robin. I could feel his eyes trying too look into my soul, yeah right, a half-demon with a soul. I looked to the other members of my team and was shocked to see something I thought I'd never see. Within each of them I saw acceptance, love, and the desire to stand by my no matter what. I wanted to break down and cry tears of happiness. I wanted to embrace each and every one of them. Tell them thank you for simply being. I wanted to hug Robin and never let go. Despite all my desires, I knew what I had to do. If I ran then they would be safe, Robin would be safe. I slowly stepped back from Robin looking back to the floor.
"It is for all these reasons that I am leaving. By tomorrow I will be gone from your lives so that no harm will come to you. Now if you excuse me I have to go meditate." Before anyone could say anything, I had phased through the floor, fighting back that one inevitable tear that would escape from my eyes.
Robin P.O.V:
Back in the main room, everyone stood in shock. The information was tough to take in. It was finally understood why Slade had returned. What Raven was. At that moment, none of that truly mattered to me. The only thing that mattered to me was that Raven had said she was leaving us, leaving me. I tried to put on my leadership mask to try and talk to the rest of the team but I couldn't do it. My emotions were just too much. A cold, metal hand was played on my shoulder the same way I had placed mine on Raven's shoulder. I looked up into one human eye and one red artificial eye. A small smile spread across Cyborg's face.
"I don't know about fearless leader, but I think our number one priority right now is to make sure that little lady is safe and doesn't go nowhere without us." I couldn't help but smile at him. I saw smiles forming on all my teammates faces at the comment as well. I felt reenergized and stood up straight, confidence radiating off of me.
"You're one hundred percent right Cyborg. Let me go talk to her, and I'll straighten out this whole mess, and right after that, we start figuring out a way to send Blood, Slade, and whoever else straight to Hell." He gave me a silent nod of approval. I spun around, cape billowing out behind me as I sprinted toward Raven's room.
