"If you write it, they will come…." Sorry, freaky TV commercial that is bugging me. Anyways, here's chapter 9. I'm having more and more fun writing these chapters. This one will be great. Also, a word to my phans: I know Masquerade is after AIAOY, but I decided, that since I'm sorta kinda following the movie in my plot, AIAOY will be AFTER Masquerade. Or during it. Whatever, lol.

Chapter 9 includes a a plan for a party, a shopping trip, talk of masks, a forgotten object, andan abandoned rose.

Disclaimer: Ahh….who's cares, anyways? As long as I'm not skipping around and calling myself ALW/Joel Schumacher or whoever made TT, right?


"Remind me again why we're doing this?"

"Dude, this is a great idea! We haven't had a party in….well…."

"We've never had a party," Cyborg interjected. "And this is going to be the hit of the city! C'mon man, haven't you ever thought about it? Total knockout, raise-the-roof, til-three-in-the-morning, all-out HALLOWEEN PARTY!" Cyborgs eyes bulged to a gigantic size at his over-enthusiastic behavior.

"Yeah, that does sound like fun, but-."

"C'mon Robin, what harm will it do? Look, ever since Figaro left here three weeks ago, Raven's been pretty down in the dumps. More than before, even though it's not really possible…" Cyborg gave Beast Boy a look of pure venom. He smiled apologetically, truly looking sincere. "I think it would be nice if we could do something to get her mind off the situation." Beast Boy's cute elfish ears perked up in their attempts. A Halloween gala had been Cyborg and Beast Boy's only hope for some fun around the Tower, and a party seemed just the ticket. Behind everyone's back, the two teens had been cooking up a plan…and a juicy one, at that.

"Well, I guess we could do something." Robin gave the boys a skeptical look. "You haven't already set a date…have you?"

Both put on expressions of mock dismay. "Robin, do you really think us capable, your teammates, your best friends, of doing something so twisted behind your back?"

Robin raised an eyebrow, a smile of amusement tickling his face. "And….how long have we known each other?" he asked ironically. Turning away from them, he headed towards his room. With one last glance, he threw back at them, "You guys can plan what you want. But be warned…" He put on a face of the deepest seriousness. "Dress as a clown, and I will Punjab you."

Cyborg and Beast Boy looked worriedly at each other, turning back to Robin, only to see he had gone.


Starfire strolled through the hallways, humming a foreign tune sweetly. It was a crummy day outside, one filled with thunderstorms and cloudy skies of grey. As she hummed, occasionally a few words would slip through her lips. "Masquerade…paper faces on parade…Masquerade, hide your face so the world will never find you…"

Passing through the same corridor was Raven. As she headed closer to the melodious voice, she noticed Starfire coming around the corner. Jumping into the air, Starfire flew over to her friend's side.

"Raven, friend, have you heard the news?"

Raven, taken aback by this enclosure of space, took an involuntary step backwards with a wry eye. "What news?"

"The news about the festivities we are to partake in!" Starfire was bouncing with giggles, her green, green eyes shining widely. "Tomorrow evening is going to be our first 'house party'! Ooh, it shall be so much fun! We will, of course, have to travel to the mall of shopping, and find good costumes….I hope the others have found their costumes. Beast Boy did mention the supplies he needed…"

Raven had no time to process what she said, for Starfire's words became jumbled after 'Tomorrow evening'. Hearing the name of another titan, Raven jumped at the opportunity. "What did Beast Boy have to do with this?"

Starfire immediately silenced, looking a bit meek. "Beast Boy? Oh, I suppose he is to be thanked for coming up with the idea…"

"Starfire….our last party did not go so well. Parties and I…we don't click. Why doesn't anyone consider how this will affect me?" Raven was feeling helpless, a pleading look coming over her normally strong force field of feelings.

Starfire scratched her arm uncomfortably, trying not to meet the empath's eyes. "B-But Raven…we are having this party for you. We wanted to make you forget the…" Starfire stopped herself, looking up from her shy facade. "Raven, please, it will be so much fun! We are inviting the Titans East, the others from the Tournament of Heroes and Heroines, and other friends that Beast Boy and Cyborg know!" Starfire let loose a giggle, starting to shake with excitement. "But, best of all…."

Raven looked apprehensive. "What's the best part?" Besides the end of the party, she mentally added.

"The theme of the festivity is 'Wear a Mask'!" Her grin was now so big, her dark orange skin was beginning to look sunburnt. "Cyborg and Beast Boy came up with the idea that everyone shall wear a mask! And at midnight, we all guess who the other is!"

Shocked beyond point, Raven stared at her friend in disbelief. She couldn't believe her ears! Another party…for her? I should have just rejected them a second time at my birthday party…

Starfire took Raven's silence for leave to continue. "Some of us will know who the others are, but it will just be fun to guess and unmask our friends!" She squealed with glee, taking Raven's wrist in anticipated exhilaration. "Come, we have not much time to find our costumes!"

"But, I…" Raven was cut short, for a blast of adrenaline swept through her body as Starfire flew down the hallway, Raven barely managing to keep her feet on the floor.


"Robin, you can't wear your usual mask, everyone already knows you by that." All of the titans were assembled at the mall's Halloween shop, looking through the already picked-over racks and searching for the greatest outfit.

"I never take my mask off," Robin commented, in a tone of uneasiness.

"Please, Robin? You can wear a different one! Here, how's this delightful piece?" Starfire walked over to the teens with the most hideous gargoyle mask in her grasp. Its four teeth shone eerily with glow-in-the-dark paint, and small, squinty beads for eyes.

"Uh, Star…that's really ugly." Robin took the head from her, placing in into a bin filled with red eyeballs.

Raven kept to herself, hardly looking around. As she glanced out the store window, every five minutes or so, she would see a dark streak of lightning flash across the night sky. She let a sigh breeze her lips. Every since Figaro had left, she felt more alone than ever. Even when they were arresting criminals, she felt like someone was watching over her…a guardian angel. Now, as she walked in the city or flew over it, she felt haunted…still watched over, only less wholesomely. She started walking away from their group, finding herself searching through a basket of paper 'Masquerade' masks. Every one was a different shade, a different style. Some were red, black, some sparkly, some made of plastic, some of paper. All symbolized the same thing: The need to hide.

Beast Boy found his way over to her. Placing a concerned hand on her shoulder, she turned around to meet his gaze. "Hey…" he started timidly, a smile of reassurance casting over his face. "Are you okay?"

Raven looked down at the mask in her hand. It was white, and ghost-like. Somehow, it reminded her of Figaro, in an unholy and unnatural way. "I'm fine, Beast Boy. I just….feel empty, I suppose."

Beast Boy looked truly saddened, his bright eyes becoming dull and gloomy. "I know it must be hard for you, for him to have left, but we're trying the best we can to make you feel better." Beast Boy let a small smile creep into the corners of his lips. "Okay, party….maybe not such a good idea. But we wanted you to see that people do care and that you have lots of friends. Figaro…he wasn't good for you. He did steal that talisman, and…and maybe he wasn't as good as you thought."

Raven looked at Beast Boy curiously. She found herself staring at the mask again. A small, green hand placed itself over it. "Raven…we're still here for you. I know you miss him…" In his eyes, Raven could see he truly meant it. His loss of his past friend made her feel that they shared a special friendship that none of the titans neither understood nor shared. She placed the mask delicately back in the bin, and received Beast Boy's hand as he held it out to her. "I think," he said, his eyes shining deviously, "that I may have found the perfect costume for you."


It was six o' clock. The time rang through the stories of the tower as it chanted the occasion in a haunting tune. All was quiet as the teens prepared for the celebration. Streamers of black, red, orange and white were hung, the light system was set up and casting fluorescent colors across the room, the music was playing moodily, and the scene was set for a frightening night.

Raven held her head up as she slipped her costume over her shoulders. She had decided, for the party, to wear a simple black, floor-length gown, black, lacey gloves, black boots and a silver mask that almost blended in with her skin. Looking at herself in her small hand mirror, she shuttered as she remembered the vision she had seen in her dream. Examining herself thoroughly, she noticed how well a silver necklace would look at her throat. She felt a cold sensation of recollection trickle down her spine.

Slipping into the empty hallway, Raven hovered over to the room where Figaro had hid the Dominatio Talisman.

Flashback

Figaro stood at his window, watching the raindrops trail down the frozen glass. Raven watched him silently, her heart beating in rhythm with the thunder. He turned to her, his face a portrayal of secrecy.

"Raven, I need to tell you something." He looked grave, his aura coming off in waves of chilled apprehension.

"Your team might figure out that I stole the talisman, and when they do, they aren't going to be happy about it." He paused, stepping closer to her and wrapping his arms around her in a comforting hug. She was still, only letting him embrace her with a sensation of momentary contentment. "I want you to know where I have hid the talisman, so that if I have to leave, you will still be able to save yourself." Breaking away from the hug, he walked over to his bedside. Getting onto his knees, he slowly removed the rug that adorned the floor, revealing a secret brass latch. Lifting the latch, Raven gasped as she saw the concoction in the dark hole, startling in its glowing glory. He motioned for her to join him on the floor. Sitting beside him, he looked into her eyes carefully, touching her arm gently. "If something goes wrong, you must put this on, Raven. It'll be ready for you soon. When you do, only say these words," he picked up a sheet of paper, "and slip it around your neck." He placed the sheet of paper back in the floor and closed the portal. He stood, sliding the rug back over the floor, and helped Raven to her feet. He touched her face tenderly, kissing her on the cheek. "Be strong, dearest, the time is almost at hand."

End flashback

She walked into his room steadily, as if walking upon holy ground. She looked around the room, critiquing every object. In the setting of the sun, the room cast dark shadows on everything, the floor, the walls, the furniture. She walked towards the single window of the room, gazing into the scarlet colored skies as night approached. Suddenly, she felt a chill creep across her cheek. Turning to her left, she noticed a single red rose on the bedside table. Cautiously, she picked up the rose, smelling the delicate petals. It was blood red, the steam freshly cut, the flower still damp. She lifted her eyebrows, fixated on the flower and how it could have gotten there. She turned on her heel, sliding the rug in the process. The door to the hole was staring at her, almost mockingly, to open it. She felt spooked, as if this were planned. Leaning over to open it, she stopped herself, floating into the air and flying as fast as she could out of the room.

In the shadows in the room, a figure stirred.


Okay…I know I wanted to make this longer, but I realized this chapter would be way too long for just one chapter alone! So, part II will be coming your way shortly, I promise you.

Reviewer time:

Alotua: I don't think I answered your reviews last time. I'm sorry! Thanks for the compliments! Yah, BB and Rae rock. Hehe. Actually, Dominatio is Latin for something along the lines of domination. If you look up Latin words and/or names, you can also see why I chose the name Figaro.

Blonde Shadowcat: Yeah, I was like…scarf? Raven? Uh, no. How 'bout cape! Lol. And you think Figaro is the Phantom. Interesting. I'm glad someone figured out my hinting. Lol. I love that lyrics from PoNR..but I can't remember how she sings it! And it's driving me crazy! Lol. Thanks for reviewing!

Sapphire: Yay! Another phan. I love when phans review to my story. I'm totally obsessed with POTO. I love it. Masquerade is such a fun scene in the movie. I'm sorry you guys have to wait longer for the actual party...but I want this story to be long! Lol. Stayed tuned!

Moo: Thanks for reviewing!

Steve-Racer: Um, I'm supposing your talking about Figaro. Well then…LMAO! Heheh. Thanks.

I remain your loyal servant,

StakeMeSpike04