Broken Lines Of Silver

Author: ChristinaRoss

Disclaimer: Teen Titans and its characters are not mine. Amie, my sweet Silver Tigress, is, however, mine and I've grown to love her… and hate her. She reminds me of another someone who I also love/hate, me! I think it's the insecurities and sensitivities.

Author's Notes: Now all shall be revealed… ooh… mysterious. Here is the explanation for my madness, as promised. It will all make sense now, I hope. Flashback in bold. Sadly, there are only a small handful left of chapters for this story but I have decided to make a stunning sequel which will knock your socks off, hopefully. And I am forced to give my prop-ignition (she told me to use that word, she has powers beyond mine!) to my sis again for Amie's… "thing" in this chapter. She gave me, sort of, the idea and I just embellished upon it. Oh, and this chapter is dedicated to my dedicated fan and beta reader, kairistwin! Read, Review, Enjoy!

Chapter 11:

Painful Illusions

The silver-eyed brunette whirled around frantically, toward the abyss, which lay behind her. He's not here. I must be hearing things. He's not here. I'll just head back to the tower and everything will be fine. He's not here. Yes, it'll all be fine. He's not here. Or maybe Raven will notice I'm missing and she'll come looking for me. He's not here. I'll be safe. He's not here. I'm only hearing things. He's not here. It's just my mind playing tricks on me. He can't be here.

Her silver eyes focused deep within the darkness, waiting to hear any other chilling sounds but none came. She sighed in relief and turned to continue her journey back to her temporary home. From the shadows, a hand escaped swiftly placing itself upon the distracted girl's shoulder. The young woman would have leapt into the air if her body hadn't tensed from the touch. "Where do you think you're going?" a sinister voice asked from the shade. "Are you too busy on your little 'vacation' to even say hello? I'm crushed. Maybe I'll have to end it if you're not going to appreciate what I allowed you to get away with."

Amie's body began to tremble and she closed her eyes tightly, hoping that it would extinguish the tormenting voice behind her. Her attempt was a failure, as she could still hear his nauseating chuckles. "Leave me alone," she breathed crossly. "You don't want to know who I've made friends with. And once they find me here with you, you're going to wish you never set foot into my life."

The voice moved up close to her ear and whispered amusingly, "My dear, I know all about your new pals. And I am not the one who set foot into your life. I merely dragged you into mine." The mysterious, wicked man cupped a palm around the girl's mouth to prevent her from screaming and dragged her into the shadows, furthering her into the alleyway and out of sight.

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"We have to find her!" Raven exclaimed, panic burrowing itself into her heart. "She couldn't have gone far this fast. We should spread out and search the nearby area in sectors." The powerful heroine stood in front of her teammates, everyone calmer now than before and focusing on the speaker. It had taken her a while to settle the horde down to explain the disappearance of the person they were trying to protect. Her body and mind were tired from their earlier dispute. Amie, how could you run off like that? Please be safe. I don't know what I'd do to myself if you weren't.

"We can break up into small teams," Raven suggested, not actually meaning for this order to be debated. "Robin can go with Starfire…"

"I do not wish to go with him. He does not like me and therefore I am obliged to feel the same way." The indistinctly looking strong woman folded her arms over her chest and flicked her head up to demonstrate her displeasure.

Raven sighed, discouraging herself. "Don't start this again, guys. We need to work together as a team to find Amie."

"I don't want to work together. Not with any of you," Robin announced, mimicking Starfire's previous actions.

"No. Listen, we have to stop fighting amongst ourselves," Raven was desperately trying to mend the shattered friendships among the teens, not only for Amie's sake but also for their own.

"For once, I'm with bird brain on this one. I bet I could find her by myself. If we work under Robin's command, we'll just end up running around in circles aimlessly, like we always do. Count me out," Cyborg threw in his opinion as he exited the room.

"Cyborg, wait," Raven said, frustrated beyond all repair at how the team was falling apart piece-by-piece. "Argh. You people are impossible!"

"I'm out of here too. I'm going to find her much quicker than any of you losers. I can turn into any animal I want to so I can search the skies and roads and seas all super fast. Later, dudes. Much later." Beast Boy followed Cyborg's preceding path, leaving the tower in his own search.

"Damn it. Don't you see what's happening to us? Robin, why aren't you stopping any of them?" pleaded Raven, eyeing the disgruntled lad.

"What's the point? The Titans are no more. It's over, okay?" he growled bitterly, exiting himself.

Raven turned to the remaining person, still pouting over her loss of Robin. "Come on, Starfire. It's just you and me. We have to find Amie…"

"Robin is correct, friend Raven. I am afraid we are no longer colleagues. We should depart our own separate ways. I am truly sorry but I will find our friend, Amie, by myself."

"But, Star…" With that, Raven was alone in the large building, talking only to memories. Those foolish imbeciles! How could they leave like that? Break apart so easily? Fine. I'll find her. They'll be too busy with their own egos to find her but I will. I have to. Don't worry, Amie. I'm coming. I'll protect you. As she left she heard the distinct sound of glass shattering and tried to get a reign on her loose emotions once more.

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The merciless predator hauled his innocent prey deep into his lair to devour her there. Sir threw Amie to the ground and took a seat behind his great desk. He placed his booted feet upon the fine wood and leaned back in his cushiony chair.

"Why do you want to keep me so badly? You don't even like me," Amie questioned from her spot on the cold ground, tears swelling in her silver eyes.

"Because you're actually quite useful. Besides, it's fun having something to toy with," Sir sniggered, amused by her suffering.

"Useful? You think I'm useful? At what, your perverted sex games? Or your petty thieving and dealing?"

"Don't be foolish," he said, sitting himself upright. "You have much more potential than that and you've proved it."

"What are you talking about? You know, never mind. I don't care. The Teen Titans'll save me soon. They'll take me away from you… you… you monster," she spat callously. She scooted back, as far as possible, from the evil man, pressing her back up against a wall and cradling her knees tightly.

"Don't throw around such harsh words, my Silver Tigress, especially when one could use them against yourself."

"I'm nothing like you. Those things you made me do were not my fault. I had no other choice but to obey."

Sir bent over his desk, resting his chin on his folded knuckles. "How right you are, my dear. But I am referring to something bigger, something far worse. I'm talking about how you managed to split apart the Titans," he chided charismatically, his voice dripping in delight.

Amie felt as if she had been physically slapped in the face again and she stared at the man's outline, stunned. "I did nothing of the sort! They were just arguing! They didn't split apart! It's not my fault!" she screamed, his accuse stinging her.

She could see the figure rise and fall as he snickered. "Oh, the Titans are no more by now, that I guarantee. As I also guarantee that you are the one to blame for this, crying shame. Well, you and you're psychic abilities, and of course a little of my help."

"Psychic abilities? I thought you were crazy before but now… now you're just insane!"

"No, Silver Tigress. You may not know it but you have the rare ability to manipulate minds. And this is the reason why you are at fault for the fall of the beloved Teen Titans."

What the hell is he talking about, 'manipulating minds'? I have no special powers. He must have finally snapped after I ran away this time. He could be even more dangerous than he was before!

Sir eerily grinned in the darkness, Amie unknown to this action, lost in her own thoughts. "I'm not insane, my dear," he assured her, pleased with his good efforts in spooking the girl. "You do have powers, you just never knew it. I wouldn't let you. How do you think the Titans started their disputing? You. You watered the tiny seed of jealousy and lust and pride within all of them, causing it too grow uncontrollably until it destroyed them all. You truthfully thought that Robin and Beast Boy were so madly in love with you? And Cyborg was truly that envious of the Boy Wonder? And Starfire was so easily turned from her friends and her love by just a mere mention of you? And of course, let's not forget your new girlfriend…" Amie's muscles stiffened. Raven. "You honestly believed that someone, especially Miss Raven, would ever love you?"

"Yes!" Amie yelled, enraged. "Why not?" How does he know all this?

"How absurd. It's really quite pathetic the way your mind works, unaware of half the things going on in there. Those people felt those feelings because you put them there. You implanted those urges, those emotions, those ideas. You set up a very large illusion for them. It's all fake. None of it real, not even Raven's love for you."

"You're lying!"

"Why would I lie to you? Don't you see? You're just as bad as I am. You hurt the Teen Titans. You hurt them all and they can't be fixed. And it's all your fault."

"Stop it! I'm nothing like you! You're lying! I can't control minds or feelings. It's not my fault!" Tears streamed from her eyes as she sniffed and sobbed.

"Believe what you want," he cajoled. "But it still doesn't change the truth."

He's lying! He must be. He's just trying to hurt me, trying to make me scared. Raven still cares about me. It wasn't fake, was it? It can't be! But what if he's right? Am I really to blame for their fighting? Even if I don't have these powers he speaks of, am I still the reason behind their argument? Is it my fault? Yes, he must be right. "How do you know all this and I don't?" Amie asked hatefully.

"I knew you'd ask that," he replied, his voice chilling. "I discovered your true powers ten years ago, a week after I first brought you into my home…"

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The man briskly strutted down the cold corridor, full of purpose, and his mind focused on the business he had before him. When he finally reached the middle of the long path, without warning, the dank hallway disappeared before his eyes, transforming into a charming apartment room. He stopped dead in his tracks and stood perfectly still, unsure if he should move, not knowing what was happening or why. What the hell is going on?Isn't this interesting. How did this happen?I know I've seen this place before… recently. It's… that officer's place! Craine, wasn't it? …The girl's.

A familiar scene danced in front of him, a bulky man and petite woman collapsing to the ground and life seeping out of their frozen bodies. The man was shocked, seeing this similar event occurring only about a mere week ago. It was almost identical to what had actually transpired but instead of himself standing in the shadows, all that could be seen piercing through the blackness were a pair of glowing, red eyes and a set of sharp, white fangs. The unnerving, memorable sounds of blood curdling screams and gunfire echoed through his ears.

He waited patiently for several minutes while the incident completed itself and the memory faded away. The powerful man was returned to his hostile hallway, doubting he had even left the location at all, and he made his way urgently to the little girl's room. He didn't bother to knock, she would have nothing to hide from him and privacy was a privilege she didn't deserve to have while in his headquarters. The door whisked open and he marched in, scanning the room with his irritated eyes for the small, brown haired guest of his, a nuisance he was soon going to rid himself of but now had doubts about that previous decision.

The seven-year-old girl was crouching in a corner, her bony knees drawn close to her skinny body, and she was weeping softly into her folded arms. The egotistical man made his way over to the crumpled figure, his path bare due to the lack of furniture in the girl's appointed room. Before he could reach his target, the gloomy room disappeared, just as the hall had, and was replaced by the murder moment being replayed again. It swished by him faster this time, the painted world whirling rapidly around, objects and faces in a complete blur. Yet, in spite of everything, he could faintly make out the brunette's outline a few steps away from him in its folded form.

He pushed his way through the illusion and managed to reach the girl's side, bending down to look more closely at her buried face. She was still crying profoundly and he placed a rough hand on one of her bare shoulders. Her head snapped up, surprised by the company she failed to notice she had. The vision vanished once more.

"I want my mommy and daddy," the girl whimpered to him, her silvery eyes glistening from their moisture. She was completely unaware of what had just taken place in her room, the reenactment of her parents' murders.

"You can't see them," he replied coldly, not caring if his words hurt the girl. It's strange. This… thing seems to have her own special abilities and she doesn't even know it. She is too young to realize what power she holds. I wonder what she can do. Perhaps I should keep her around. This skill could come in hand for me… but I must know more. Know the full extent of her abilities. He lifted the girl up by her scrawny arm and hauled her out of the room. "Come with me, my dear. We're going to do some tests. You like tests, don't you?" he smirked, not looking at her as he spoke.

The girl shook her head. "No. I like games."

"Well, this will be like a game. What you have to do is behave and do exactly as you're told."

"Then what?" she asked, wiping the tears from her face with her free hand, her mind temporarily off of her homesickness.

"Then, we get to decide if you get to stay or not. And if you make me happy, you'll be able to see your parents again real soon," he lied, placing the perfect bait for the girl to comply with all his wishes. The man grinned and led her down to his abundant lab, which was occupied by many hardworking men in white coats hunching over different machines and substances.

They spent the entire day running test after test on the child's mind and she tried her best to be quiet and not anger the dark man. The man looks happy so I must be doing a good job at playing the game. It's not a very fun game but I won't tell him, he might get sad. Then I won't get to see mommy and daddy again. He promised I could see them if I made him happy and he is happy, so I can see them soon.

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Raven fluttered frantically through the air in unsystematic directions, unsure where to go, only knowing she had to look somewhere. Where are you, Amie? How could you leave like that? I need you. Do I mean that? Do I really need her? It's like she has me under a spell or something. I do need her. I have to find her. She has to be safe.

The heroine searched for over an hour and panic began to take its toll on her body. Where the fuck is she? Those pig-headed bastards are trying to find her on their own, when we needed to look for her together! I wonder if any of the others found her yet? Maybe I should radio them and ask. What else can I do? I've searched high and low with no success and time is running out.

She settled herself onto the hard ground and reached to for her communication device, switching it on. Maybe it was a bad idea to turn it off in the first place, they could have found her a long time ago and have been trying to contact me this whole time.

A crackle on the other side of the communication link interrupted her hopeful thoughts. "Who's there?" she asked hurriedly, her voice showing her obvious excitement.

"It's me… Amie. I… need your… help," the device sputtered back in response.

Raven's heart raced simultaneously in excitement and relief at hearing the girl's sweet voice. Amie! Thank goodness. My help? Is she in trouble? "Amie, where are you? Are you in trouble?"

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"I'll admit, it took me a considerable amount of time to fully comprehend you're talents and even more time to establish a way for me to harness your power," Sir said as he paced around the room with his chest puffed out in pride. "But once I gained control of it, things were a lot easier for me and my… interests, should I say. I was no longer dealing in petty drugs and stolen merchandise. I branched out and expanded my business affairs to include far more rewarding tasks. I built up my empire into what it is today and created an army of minions to do my bidding. I became a notorious villain that the Teen Titans try so hard to defeat."

He certainly does love the sound of his own voice, doesn't he? Wait. What did he say? The Teen Titans? They know him? How? Who is he really? Why hasn't Raven come to save me yet? I must have been gone for over an hour now. Does she know I'm in trouble? I miss her so much.

"And it's all because of you. I suppose I should thank you, my Silver Tigress, but that's not my style."

"I fail to see the link between me and the Titans besides me staying there for a few days to get away from you," she spat coldly, gazing at him. I still can't believe the shit he was rambling off to me. Powers? Invoking illusions into other people's minds? How is that possible? Raven, I'm scared.

Sir chuckled, amused by her ignorance. "My child, yes you ran away from me but it never struck you as odd that I didn't immediately come and retrieve you? I wanted you to go there. Everything that happened in that tower, around that team, was all planned out months, even years, before. I was waiting for the perfect moment to let you free, allow you to seek safety out within their hands, and it was now. I have the capability to use your powers as I want you to. I made all my dealings go easier, ripping off the other party, by getting you to portray a better deal in their minds. And when you fled to the Titans, every single thing you did, I made you do. I know everything that went on, and I should, I did plan it myself in precise details. I used you to make Robin and Beast Boy drool over you. I used you to fuel the flames of Cyborg's jealousy over Robin's leadership. I used you to cause Starfire to long over Robin and become angry with him for not complying since he lusted for you. I used you to play with Raven's emotions, at first sending them erratically free, until she mended that problem, and then causing her to also fall for you, ultimately triggering confusion and an emotional draw back. You are the reason the Titans have split apart and now they will found out themselves just how horrible you are as they end up battling each other in the final showdown to the death."

"No!" Amie screamed, reaching up to grab onto him as he passed her by. "No! You can't do this. It's all a bad dream. You can't! You can't just use me like this! I'm not to blame! I'm not! It wasn't fake!" A flood of tears flowed from her eyes and she blubbered pitifully. It can't be! I love her too much and to have it just be a trick to have her feeling the same way I do… it's not real. It has to be real. I don't want to get hurt. I've been hurting for too long and then finally I met Raven and all the pain went away. I was happy. But now… now if it's just a lie then I'm all alone again. Alone with him. Raven…

Sir smacked her back to the ground and bent next to her, pulling her face close to his by her hair. "I can do this and I will, as long as I have this control device right here." He pointed to a black, thick bracelet-like device strapped around his forearm. "You are to blame, my dear. Face it. You are no better than I am. If it weren't for you, the Titans would still be together and they wouldn't be dying so soon. You are such a disgrace. I could have offered you the ultimate power over the world with me but I knew you'd react this way. You're weak and disgusting. No one loves you, not even Raven. It's all just a fantasy. You lied to her and you used her. Now you will hurt her for good. All five of them should be getting a distress call from you right about now and they'll all come dashing to your rescue only to meet their own doom amongst themselves. And after those pesky teenagers are out of the way, I won't need you any longer." He released his tight grip of the brown strands and left the room without another word, preparing for the super heroes' arrivals.

"No," Amie whispered weakly, "No. It's my fault. All my fault…"

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After receiving some vague instructions and information, Raven found the location Amie described to her over the communicator and sneaked into the shifty building, entering a large, open room with only a couple of broken machinery lining the walls. She walked around, skimming the surroundings, looking for any trace of her close friend, her love. "Amie?" Her voice bounced loudly off the walls and rang back in her ears. "It's Raven."

Behind her, a crash boomed as pipes and metal scraps clattered to the ground. She spun around swiftly, her eyes glowing white from within her hood. "Who's there?" she growled, ready for any threats so long as it would get her closer to finding Amie.

A plump, green goose waddled out from behind the mess and morphed into a grinning lad. "Oops. Sorry, Rae." He rubbed the back of his head nervously and then frowned. "Why are you here anyways?" he asked in a casual tone.

Raven lowered her hood and was about to answer his peculiar question, when another hero decided to join them. The redheaded woman floated from the shadows and landed between her former partners. "Greetings, Beast Boy. Greetings, Raven. I have been informed that friend Amie may be in some dire dilemma somewhere in this place. I have come to…"

"What are you guys doing here?" a young male voice interrupted, flaring with a bit of annoyance. Robin and Cyborg stepped into the light and rested next to the others.

"I'm here to save Amie," Cyborg informed seriously.

"No way, dude! That's why I'm here!" Beast Boy exclaimed, flailing his arms about.

"I am also here to rescue her. She has sent me a message informing me of her whereabouts. She said she was in some sort of trouble," Starfire added her reasons, worried.

"I got that too. She was pretty vague but I got here as soon as I could," Raven stated dryly.

Robin pushed his way to the center of the crowd and announced, "Well, you guys came here for nothing. It was me she was calling and I'm here to save her. So you can all just leave now."

"I'm not leaving. She wants me to save her. Not you," Beast Boy poked Robin's hard chest in a mock intimidation.

"I wish not to depart either. She is my friend and I want to help her," Starfire pleaded sadly.

"Yeah, me too. So get off your ego trip and push aside, bird boy. Let a real man show you how it's done." Cyborg brushed past his ex-leader and glanced down at the mini display on his forearm.

"You're going to use your sensors to scan for her? Oh, how manly," Robin spat sarcastically.

Raven observed from a distance as their previous argument rose again. Idiots. They're forgetting completely about Amie again. Well, I'm not sticking around here to see this fight again. I'm going on my own to find her. The dark sorceress disappeared within a black portal beneath her feet as she went to search the rest of the building for the lost soul.

Just as Raven left, a man stepped out of the shadows, grimacing at the squabbling teens. "Hello, Robin… and others. How good it is to see you again."

The former Titans broke apart from each other's necks and gasped at who stood only a few feet before them.

"Slade," Robin hissed.

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DBZmotoko: Yes, congrats on your victory! I can't promise anything bad won't happen to Amie. There will be many more if a sequel! I'll keep up the fast updating. Thanks!

sexychicky862: Order of my favourite colours are: Green, Blue, Red, Orange, Purple, and Yellow! There is reasoning for Robin's reaction, it will be righted in the end. Thanks!

The Sacred Rose Forgotten: It's alright that you didn't review last chapter, I just died a little inside, that's all. Where from this grand country, Canada, are you from? Me: Ottawa! Thanks!

ZackSamurai: I cannot guarantee Amie's safety; you'll just have to see. I have read your story and thanks for the tip. I like reading my reviewers stuff. Thank you and come again!

D. Montgomery: There will be a very good reason behind Robin's reaction, besides the fact that he's a jackass. I love your enthusiasm. Thank you for compliments and review!

Rabid-Gouki817: I'm glad I could catch the essence of males feuding over a female. I would have made Raven do that but I needed Amie to get hit accidentally. Thank you!

AsiaRe: I shall not make you wait long then. I love leaving a chapter with a good cliffhanger; it almost guarantees people to return to conclude. Thank you for the review!

sweetnsexy2688: Why do you people make me cry? I sat waiting by the computer all night! That is a butt load of pleases. I guess now I'm obliged to write more soon. Thanks!

inu-yaha 1234: Ooh! A longer response from you! I'm honoured! Perhaps 'Sir' will be killed, perhaps not. And Amie with powers: you've jumped ahead of me. Thanks!

Reya Guardian of Azarath: Word about my weakness to capitals really must be spreading around. Your stories rock too! Thank you for the rockin' review and compliments!

FeelinIt: Ooh, how will this tale unfold? What will happen next? I'm glad to see I have you on the edge of your seat. Thank you for taking the time to read and review my story!

kairistwin: Excellent job on sneaking. Die Sir and Robin in a horrible death! There shall be more RxA-ness, I think. Thank you for your time and money! (oops, that slipped out.)

TheGirlWithDemonicTemper: Wow, a demonic temper? I don't want to tick you off then so I will update, update, update (I tire too easily) soon! Thank you very much!

vinnie the geek: Good to hear you forgive me and are not disappointed by the small teases throughout. It's okay about the lateness. Thanks for the compliments and reviews!

Mephisto2022: I've been thanked for what I do! I don't know why you haven't found it sooner, but I'm glad you found it eventually. Hope the special feeling was a good one. Thanks!