Fallen Darkly

K.Blacre

Can't Explain

Strange things stirred inside her gut. She couldn't explain them and didn't want to. She did know, however, that she had to consult her emotions. Her room was now totally destroyed as she teared it apart, desperately looking for the mirror.

"Where is it!?" Her lamp suddenly shattered, casting the room in darkness. She sank to the floor, leaning against the dresser. She looked around the room, trying to hold herself together, but knowing it wouldn't work no matter how strong she pretended to be. She was falling apart. She didn't want to believe her father was screwing with her mind again. She couldn't. She'd banished and held him in check too many times. It didn't feel as if this was her father's doing. It felt as if...as if her heart was being ripped in two. Her body felt like it was constantly on fire and her stomach seemed jumpy whenever she was around Szephyn. There was a light knock on the door.

"Raven?" It was Starfire.

"Go away."

"I have left you alone too many times. I believe it is time that you let me in, Raven. I heard your cries. Please."

"I said go away!" She heard a burst and thought it was something outside her room. There wasn't anything more in her room that could blow up. There was a little squeak when the object burst. Raven knew it came from Starfire.

"You need a friend. I wish only to speak with you, please."

"No. I'll be fine. Leave." She heard a sigh of defeat and then the departure of footsteps.

"You mustn't turn everyone away, Raven." She looked up to find the girl standing in the middle of her room.

"Go away."

"No. You need to pull yourself together." Raven looked up sharply, her eyes glowing red instead of black.

"I said go away!"

"Do you wish to know who you are, Raven?" She walked steadily forward. "I can tell you that, and who I am."

"If you know so much, tell me what's going on with me. Who is Szephyn?" The girl stopped and looked away from Raven. She then looked back.

"The demon princess is awakening. I was sent to help. After I learned I could not help enough, I sought out the other half to your soul." Raven's eyes slowly returned to their normal, dark purple color.

"What are talking about?"

"You know your father, but you don't need him. There are others you need but do not know. I came to only try and help. But, I need you to help me. I can't do this alone."

"Do what?"

"Help keep the demon princess within."

"You said you were the demon princess."

"I did." Raven's eyes widened, filling with tears.

Szephyn sat curled on a chair while the other three stared daggers at him from the couch. Starfire walked back into the living room and Szephyn looked up.

"She would not speak with me." She said. "I do not know how to help her."

"Well, we can't just let her tear up the entire tower." Robin said.

"She won't tear up the tower." Cyborg said.

"She's just upset. She just needs time to think." Beast Boy said. Starfire nodded.

"Beast Boy is right. She needs time to think. But I do not want her to do it alone. We are her friends and should be there for her."

"Yeah. She's gone through a lot lately. The arrival of pretty-boy elf doesn't help." Cyborg said. Szephyn didn't respond to any of it.

"How would you know she's been through a lot?" Robin asked.

"Because, we've all seen it! Just because you've got this theory that she's the one behind that girl doesn't mean you have to treat her like shit, like she doesn't have feelings!"

"What would you know about feelings!? You're a machine!"

"Robin!" Starfire yelled. Cyborg looked down, then back up at Robin.

"You know what, I am a machine." He got up and started walking away. "But I'm not cold." He took the elevator down.

"Robin! You shouldn't have spoken to Cyborg like that! Of course he's a machine, but he's not all machine! He has a heart."

"Something our great leader lacks these days." Beast Boy said as he got up and walked out.

"I don't have to listen to this. I'm going back to Gotham." He got up and took the elevator down. Starfire went to the window and saw him ride off on his bike.

"No." She whispered.

"Is it usually this lively around here?" Szephyn asked. Starfire looked up.

"I'm sorry. I had forgotten you were there."

"It's alright. You're all just a little upset."

"Why did you embrace Raven as you did?" He looked into her emerald eyes, almost startled by the question.

"I...don't know. One minute she was in the doorway, the next she was in my arms. I don't have an explanation, but I really don't think there is one." All the lights in the tower suddenly went out. "Somehow, I don't think that was a wire."

"Raven." Starfire quickly flew through the building to Raven. Szephyn followed behind her. The door flew open ahead of them. Starfire touched to the floor and walked in, looking around the dark room. Everything was there but in a mess. Only one thing was missing. "Raven is gone." Szephyn felt his heart nearly leap from his chest.

Author's Note: I appologize for this chapter being short, but I had to cut it off here. I'm trying to extend the story as long as possible because it's reaching its climax. I'm not sure what's going to happen later on, but things are unraveling and rather fast. Tell me what you think and if the characters are still, for the most part, right. I'm following my summary best I can as to not confuse you guys so tell me if you are confused. Thanks for reading and all the reviews. They mean a lot to me.