Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans. I only own my characters. I do not own the poetry of Lord Byron, nor of William Blake. I do not own the Dragon Runes.
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Kali walked quietly down the hall, doing her best to keep silent so she wouldn't wake her grandparents. Their room was across the corridor from hers.
She entered the kitchen and glanced at the clock. "7:28", it read. Kali shook her head. Why in the world do I wake up early on weekends? she wondered. She walked over the cabinets and grabbed the bread. Removing two slices (avoiding the one on the end), she put them in the toaster and pushed them down. The teen then set about making herself some tea. Herbal, of course. Like her grandmother, herbal tea was her favorite kind. She put water into the kettle and put it on the stove to heat. After that, she got out the tea ball (A/N: it's a perforated metal ball that you fill with tea. You let it steep in hot water then pull it out with the short chain attached to it). Next, she selected some herbs from the cabinets: hibiscus flowers, rose hips, lemongrass leaves, orange peel, spearmint leaves, rose petals and a pinch of stevia. These she put into the tea ball, and, when she was satisfied that the water on the stove was hot enough, put the tea ball into the water.
A moment later, her toast was done, so she set about spreading peanut butter and jelly on it. After she put her toast on a plate and had put away the pb&j, she went over to one of the bookcases in the living room and chose a book, an anthology of poetry. Her tea had to steep for at least ten more minutes. She read for more or less that amount of time, then put her book down and re-entered the kitchen. She removed the tea ball from the kettle, emptied the soggy herbs from it down the drain, and left the mesh sphere in the sink. After that, Kali selected a cup from the sideboard and poured herself some tea. Taking her plate and cup, the teen walked out to the back patio and set her breakfast upon the wrought iron table. She darted back inside for her book, subsequently going back outside and settling down to read and munch on toast.
Kali had finished her toast and working on her tea when she heard the patio door slide open. Looking up from her book, she saw a older man with green hair and skin emerge from the house.
"G'Morning, Grandpa." Kali grinned as the man kissed the top of her head."'Morning, kiddo," he responded, sitting down next to her. "How's my beautiful grandchild this fine morning?"
"Ok, I guess. Where's Grandma?" Kali wanted to know.
"Meditating," the green-skinned male replied, gesturing dismissively. "What're you reading?"
"A book of poetry."
"Which poem?" Kali turned her book around to show him.
"Lord Byron's "She Walks in Beauty". It's one of my favorites." Her grandfather studied the page.
"I see. Read it for me?" Kali smiled crookedly.
"You can read, Grandpa!" The man grinned, exposing beastlike canines.
"I can, but I like hearing your voice." The teen smirked and rolled her eyes.
"Ok, Grandpa. Here goes:
She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow'd to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair'd the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!"
Kali's grandfather hummed contentedly, his eyes closed.
"Very nice. Read another?"
"Why not?" Kali mused. "This one's called "The Tyger" by William Blake.
Tyger, Tyger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? & what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
When the stars threw down their spears
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tyger, Tyger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?"
Kali read various poems to her grandfather for the next half an hour, then at last lay down the volume.
"I have to go now, Grandpa," she said. "I'm going to be late for the choosing today." The green man made a face, and quick as a blink transformed into a cat. He looked at her with his big green eyes.
"Please stay?" Kali smiled ruefully and scratched behind the cat's ears, making it purr.
"Can't, sorry. I said I'd be there, and if we get picked, I'll get to see Ruben!" The cat shifted back into a man.
"Oh, alright. Shoo. But make sure you tell us if you get to go gallivanting off to New York." Kali gathered up her plate and empty cup.
"Don't worry, I will. Lemme say g'bye to Grandma first."
Kali scurried inside and placed her dishes in the sink. She then headed down the hall to her grandparents' room. She knocked gently on the door.
"Grandma?" she called. There was no answer. Kali opened the door and saw her grandmother sitting in the lotus position, meditating still. The elderly woman's eyes were closed, and there was an expression of peace on her face. Her long, graying black hair cascaded down her back, free of the braid she normally kept it in.
Kali crossed the room to where her grandmother sat and placed a hand on the woman's shoulder.
I'm going to The Haven, she whispered through the bond they shared. I'll tell you if we get chosen, ok?
Very well. Her grandmother's voice sounded calm and relaxed within Kali's mind.
Love you, Grandma.
I love you as well, Karis. Be cautious, her grandmother cautioned.
I know will. See you later, ok?
All right. Goodbye, then.
Bye.
Kali broke the connection and left the room, leaving her grandmother to her meditation. The teenager went into the living room, and with the help of her grandfather, moved a few chairs out of the way to clear a space big enough for a spell. Taking a piece of chalk from her pocket, she drew a Celtic triad within a circle on the floor. Within the top loop, she drew Mah, the Dragon rune of swiftness. Next, inside the botton right loop, she sketched Shaan, the rune of mages, and in the bottom left loop, Abanen, rune of the astral plane. Lastly in the center, she drew the Blinking, or teleportation, rune. Kali then replaced the chalk in her pocket and glanced at her grandfather, giving him the signal that he should stand clear. He complied, moving back far enough so that he wouldn't be affected by Kali's spell.
The teenager stepped into the center of her circle, standing atop the meeting of all the lines. Shutting her eyes, she fed magic into the marks on the floor, feeling rather then seeing them begin to shine with the silvery light that was her magic. She then awoke each rune in turn, Mah, Shaan, Abanen. When they were at last shining brightly and she could feel the energy coursing through the symbols below her, Kali awoke the final rune, the Blinking rune. Power exploded beneath her as the spell roared to life, transporting her out of the house. When she was gone, the sliver triad faded, until there was nothing left to show that it had been there, not even a single solitary chalk line.
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Long chapter this time! 00 Constructive criticism welcomed! Flames accepted! Oh, and Kudos to those who've figured out who Kali's grandparents are! Peace and Oreos, Onyx