Disclaimer: I don't know Teen Titans…

Also, semi disclaimer—I was browsing through some fics and I noticed there is another one that has a very similar title to this story, and I just wanted to say I was not aware of that at all ;; Soo I wasn't trying to copy them or anything….Just thought I'd say that here to be safe.

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"We'll wait till dawn. Let's see if she starts talking when the sun begins to rise."

While legends of vampires had spread all around the land, many aspects of the dark creatures had been greatly exaggerated. She could not and would not even if she was able to, turn into a bat. A wooden stake through the heart might hurt, but would hardly cause her to die. Holy water burned, but didn't destroy, and crosses were merely a nuisance. And whoever got the idea that vampires were repelled against garlic needed to be killed very slowly and painfully. Like a simple plant could stop a vampire?

However, like most legends, there was truth in it all. And one very real truth was that they couldn't stand the light. They were creatures of darkness, and the glow of the sun would be fatal.

She stared for a moment at the two boys, doubting they were the kind to actually go through with such a plan. The hero type never could do anything that cruel.

"Really?" Her icy voice mocked his words. She was after all the daughter of Trigon. She might not be particularly proud her father was a diabolical being, but after living with him all her life, this hero wanna be boy wasn't about to scare her.

He ignored her, sitting on the ground around the tree, the other guy following suit. They were talking together in hushed whispers, mostly over what to do if she really didn't talk. While they probably meant for their conversation to be too low for her to hear, they seemed to not realize exactly how strong her vampire senses were.

She heard every word quite clearly.

"What if she really doesn't know anything? We are just wasting time then."

"She came from the direction the castle is supposed to be. She's a vampire. Right now, she's our best bet." The leader said with determination.

"Uh huh, but you aren't really going to wait till dawn are you?" It was unusual for someone to actually show concern towards her well being. While she really didn't feel she particularly deserved it, it was very…refreshing.

The smaller boy shot him a venomous look. "They have Starfire! I'll do what it takes."

"Come on, Robin, let's not become like them." The other said lightly. He received anther glare. "Hey, hey, I want to do everything to help Star too! I don't want to start killing innocent people though." Raven felt her heart twist a bit as he said those words. Innocent people. The picture of the kind boy from the chicken coop came to mind.

I shouldn't feel guilty…I'm a vampire...I'm meant to kill…she said tightly…but those words held only partial truth. Ever since she was a girl, she never taken to killing. Her father tried to beat her out of her ways…Shivering from what the man would do to his own daughter, she knew it was unlikely their friend would survive the night, once he took an interest in her again.

"Um, miss, you okay?" Opening her eyes, she realized that during her thoughts, the two of them had been watching her. Robin was it?—was looking at her skeptically, as though expecting a trap. The other actually seemed worried.

"I'm fine, minus the entire being tied to the tree bit."

The bigger guy laughed. "Yah that would put a damper on things." She studied him. It was…an odd feeling to have someone talk to her so easily. The people who knew who she was either treated her with contempt or coward in her very presence. And the people who didn't….rarely ended up living long. Robin sighed and shook his head at him.

"We are trying to intimidate her to get information….not go all buddy buddy."

"Ever heard of the good guard bad guard routine?"

"This is no time for jokes."

"Lighten up."

"Starfire could already be dead! And you are telling me to lighten up?" He looked at him incredulously.

"Well then, why don't we actually go look for her instead of wasting our time here?" The other challenged back.

"Because we can't get to the castle ourselves!"

"And who says that she can!" The stared at each other for a moment, sparks flying between them. For reasons unknown to her, she actually felt desire to help them.

"I do." She said, her monotonous tone breaking the fight instantly. Suddenly, she had both of their complete attention. Now she didn't know what to do with it. "I can't show you though." She said tightly.

Robins eyes narrowed and he took a few menacing steps toward her. "And why is that?"

"Because I really don't feel like dying today." An honest answer seemed sufficient. She doubted her father would actually kill her…but she had no doubt that he'd torture her to the point where she did wish she was dead. She didn't feel too inclined to tell this to the two however.

The shorter boy chewed over the words for a moment, seeming to actually somewhat understand her predicament. "If we left you here, you would die anyway."

"I don't trade one death for another." She said darkly. "How about a deal?"

"I'm listening." He said, one hand on his chin.

"I will save your…friend. And you stay here."

"Why would I trust a Vampire?" He spat at her.

Her expression and tone unchanging, she continued. "Because you have no other choice."

"Why don't you just show one of us where it is?" He shot back quickly. It made sense for him not to be entirely comfortable in letting her go, when she might end up giving in and leading them to it later that night. Or sunrise…

"What can it hurt?" The boy, who had been quiet during their conversation, suddenly put in. "We let her go, and continue looking for a way in the castle. If she runs off, well damn. If she doesn't, then we might get Starfire back."

"Aren't you being a little too trusting?" Robin said darkly. The other guy shrugged.

"I see we have two options. Waiting here or try to find another way in. I think we have more a chance in finding Star if we start looking on our own." The leader seemed conflicted, not entirely sure which would be the best course of action. Growing tired of waiting, Raven concentrated, her eyes turning ebony as they swirled with magic. Robin, who had been looking at her during his decision making, suddenly became lost in her eyes, falling forward.

"Heeey," the other guy leapt to his feet, staring at Raven.

"He'll be fine. If we wait much longer she will be dead." She said coldly. He stared at her, then back at Robin, then finally groaned loudly before untying her.

"I can't believe I'm doing this." He let out a deep sigh. "Girl, you had better bring her back, otherwise Robin's never going to let me hear the end of this."

"Raven." She corrected.

"What?"

"If you call me Raven again, I'm going to have to hurt you." Her voice was dark and menacing, but the guy didn't seem to be affected by it at all. In fact, he was laughing.

"Alright, alright, Raven. Now go before Robin has a cow." She gave him an icy glare before rising high into the sky, heading back to her home with determination. She might feel sorry for them, but they certainly had no rights to order her around.

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Feeling a sense of deja vu as she landed back on the palace steps, she opened the door, freezing as she heard a loud scream down the hall. Forcing herself to walk slowly, she pushed her fears that she was too late deep down inside of herself.

The hallway never had seemed longer. Each step seemed to only move her a fraction down the path. And the entire while, all she could hear was screaming.

Finally, she reached the throne room, feeling a sort of twisted relief to see that the person inside the cage wasn't the one being tortured. Looking at her father, she saw he a young boy lying in a twisted position at his feet, his limbs contorted at impossible angles. Removing her eyes from the sight, she silently made her way to the cage, looking at the person within.

The person's eyes were half closed, her eyes blank and lifeless. 'Awake.' She muttered, watching with satisfaction as the girls eyes flew open, blinking a few times to relieve her dry eyes. "Are you Starfire?" She asked. The girl nodded, and was about to open her mouth to speak when Raven put a finger to her lips. "If you want to live, don't move, and don't make a sound. Robin sent me." The girl's eyes flashed in recognition and nodded excitedly. She wasn't sure if her plan would work…and chances were that it wouldn't. But, it seemed to be worth trying if it would relieve some of the guilt she had been feeling.

Straightening up, she noticed her father was looking at her in a bemused look, entirely aware she had been there the entire time. Blood was spreading around the body before him, and Raven winced at the sticky, squishing sound it made as Trigon stepped through it. "Daughter…have you come to join in our sport?"

The scent of blood invaded her nostrils as he came close, a smell which both sickened and enticed her. She gave into the enticement, letting her eyes give off a look of hunger she knew she couldn't hide. Her father simply chuckled.

"Can…I have her?" It wasn't hard to look hungry. It wasn't hard to suddenly be run by animal instincts. And the very fact that it wasn't hard made Raven's stomach twist even more.

"Hungry?" He gave her a look of satisfaction, and with one hand wiped away a smidge of blood off his cheeks. "Let's not say I ever denied my daughter anything…" Taking that as a yes, she easily removed the lock with her magic and levitated the girl out. "But…you must kill her here." She paused, the flaw in her plan very much apparent.

"You know I like to feed alone."

"Humor me." His words were not a suggestion. Inside, she felt herself weighing very carefully her options. She didn't have to save this girl. In all honestly, even trying as she was doing now was foolhardy and dangerous. Yet…the image of countless victims she herself had drained, most in times of weakness when her darker side had taken over, haunted her mind. Their faces spun in her head, each one as innocent as the next.

Raven wasn't a killer. And her father knew this.

Slowly, the girl—Starfire she thought, correcting herself—floated towards her. The girl was trying to not appear afraid, putting her trust in Raven, someone she had just met. For some reason, that made the entire thing harder.

The question 'What should she do?' ran loudly in her mind. The choice between the girl before her and Trigon leering at her in obvious expectation. The choice between her fear of her father…her own instincts…and the twisted feeling that none of this was right, that she shouldn't be doing this, despite what Trigon would do to her.

Slowly, she realized what she had to do.

Looking into Starfire's eyes, the girl fell into the vampirical trance that so many people did. The girl was calm…she wouldn't resist.

Bending down, Raven's teeth smoothly sunk into the girl's soft flesh, hating the smile that appeared on her fathers face. Hating the satisfaction he was getting in watching her taste human blood. Hating that a part of her enjoyed it.

After a few seconds, Raven stopped, the girl falling lifeless to the ground. She hadn't taken enough blood to completely kill her, but she knew she was at the very edge of death's door. Trigon didn't seem to notice, and with one eerie smile said, "You've made your father proud…"

"Not something I'm particularly proud to do." She muttered darkly, her voice just high enough for him to hear. He raised one eyebrow menacingly.

"What did you just say?" Trigon the Terrible wasn't about to be insulted by anyone, much less his daughter. Raven fought with her father rarely, already knowing who would be the winner. Still, she forced herself to look him straight in the eye.

"Killing hypnotized people isn't my idea of fun."

"You're right—I prefer it when they are alive and kicking." Her father said back, his words laced with anger. She felt herself tighten her fists angrily.

"I did as you asked—what more do you want?" Her voice was cold, but her own anger was betrayed in the flickering of rage in her eyes.

"One day, daughter," He said the word like it was poison in his mouth, "You will be the one reveling in your bloods victims…whether you like it or not." Raven was angry, but a part of her him told her this was the time. For her plan to work, she'd have to act now.

She'd snapped before during an argument with her father, so it wouldn't be too suspicious. Black magic covered her hands and she sent the cage that had very recently been holding the girl flying into the throne in the room. She was never stupid enough to attack her father directly…well she had once, and the consequences had taught her never to again. Still, messing up her father's thrown room was something she did, since she knew it irritated him for her to do something this childish.

"Foolish girl." He hissed. She didn't say anything, using her powers to smash the windows in the room, and then tossed the mangled body of the boy out through one, and the other through another one. With Starfire's, she made sure the girl fell into one of the trees, breaking her fall. With the other body…she really didn't' care.

"What are you to do without any blood to revel in?" She said quietly. His eyes glowed red and she felt his power encasing her, squeezing her entire being. Somewhere far away, she heard a snapping sound, and until the pain registered though her body did she realize it was from her. Forcing herself not to scream, she squeezed her eyes shut as her father continued to use his magic, breaking a bone here, and another one there as his magical grip over her slowly constricted.

Finally, not being able to stand it any longer, she let out one hollowed scream, and then was silent as her father tossed her carelessly into the wall. Walking slowly over to her, he gripped her around the throat and lifted her in the air. "Remember who you are dealing with, my dearest daughter." He hissed at her. His fingers dug deep and then he threw her one last time towards the entrance of the room. "Go."

Raven, knowing that this was a dismissal, slowly dragged herself to herself to her feet, almost toppling down when she realized that one of the bones that had snapped was that of her leg. Taking in the pain, she hobbled down the hall and forced herself to crawl up the stairs. Her healing powers were already playing into affect, but she knew it would still be a day or so before she was up to her full potential and she had hardly time for that. Starfire was still in the tree, hovering on the brink of death.

Finally she made it to her room, and swung open the door. Her room was as dark and grim as the rest of the castle, with books littering the ground, and odd artifacts adorning the walls. There was no windows in her room, the only light coming from lit candles. They cast dancing shadows over the walls and the floor, as though the very night was trying to escape in some ghoulish fashion.

A white piece of chalk came levitating to her hands, and she quickly drew out an elaborate design onto the hard stone floor. She was preparing to cast a spell, one that she had learned when she was young, that allowed her to transfer some of the blood she had taken into another form. Vampires often used this when going traveling to regions they weren't sure would have any…people. It only worked with human blood, so she rarely had the need to use this spell, considering her own eating habits. Now, it would be the only thing to save that humans life…if it worked.

Another flaw in her plan was evident, and she was well aware of the risk. Raven had never tried to send blood to another human. It wasn't so much that she hadn't thought about it…on more then one occasion she wished she could give all the blood back to the victim she had preyed on…in most cases realizing that she had drained them to death and it would be no help either way. It was hard to control her desire when it reached its maxed.

The design finished, she stood in the middle, raising one hand upward and the other in front, gathering her dark powers. "Minuo Atrum Lamia." She spoke the words softly, feeling faint as suddenly a red haze lifted off her body, spinning together in a tight circle before finally turning into what appeared to be a red stone.

Feeling both bitter and glad that she had already fed tonight, the blood she removed didn't increase her hunger too much. It would be pointless to save the girl only to then kill her again.

Tired, hurt, and rather angry at the world, she forced herself to keep her mind only on the plan. She had to get to the girl now. After that, get to the lake. Then come back into the castle and hope the sun hadn't risen.

With everything that had been going on, time certainly wasn't at a standstill, and she knew that it wasn't on her side either. Why she was risking so much to help these people, she couldn't fathom. Maybe her human side really was starting to show up. Or maybe she was too proud to not finish what she had already started. Either way, she forced herself to use her magic to create a dark portal at the edge of her wall, and stepped though it, now outside of the castle. Levitating high into the air, she looked over to where the girl should still be. Starfire was still in the tree, draped in a reckless fashion over one branch, looking like she could slip off at any time.

As though to echo her thoughts, as sudden breeze shook the tree, sending the half dead girl plummeting to the ground—to be narrowly caught in a dark veil of Ravens magic. Filling her strength being sapped quickly by the use of magic, especially since her body was still working hard to repair itself, she flew haphazardly through the air with Starfire in tow, back towards the spot she had just been earlier tied up in.

For a second she was afraid that they had left, that they had gone on with the search and wouldn't be there when she got back. However, as she got close, she realized that was not the case.

"Still here I see?" She commented as she landed, with Starfire beside her. Robin was glaring at the other boy with death eyes, probably only very recently been woken up by the spell she had cast over him.

"See, I told you so." He smirked at the leader, who was already rushing over to the girl.

"Starfire!" Kneeling down, his face was etched in worry and fear. "What happened to her?" He demanded.

"Step aside." Raven said smoothly, taking out the stone she had just recently obtained. Placing it on the girls chest, she mentally crossed her fingers as she whispered, "Reverto." The blood seemed to wobble for a second, as though unsure whether or not to enter the body, but finally it soaked through. The effects were instantaneous. The girls pale face began to show life once again as they filled with soft pink. Her breathing, almost nonexistent before, now began a fresh. "It worked." The flicker of surprise did not go unnoticed towards Robin.

"It worked. Meaning it might not have worked?" He demanded. Raven simply shrugged, the motion sending pain through her body as she discovered another bone that must have been ruptured from before. Oh goody. She mentally thought. Her pain didn't go unnoticed, and the two of them looked at her, suddenly very much aware of her haphazard look. Self conscious, she realized being a play toy of her father for those few minutes probably didn't make her look in top shape. "Are you alright?" The boys tone was much softer now.

"You don't look so good." The other said, looking concerned.

"I'm fine." She didn't feel like explaining what had actually happened while in there. "I should go—"

A soft groan from the girl interrupted her words, and she draw back as the two of them huddled close to her, their worried expressions almost too much for her to take. Friends that cared for one another...it wasn't so much that she didn't know of it…it was more like it was a foreign concept to her life. Living alone with her father and the occasional undead beasts that drifted in and out didn't make for good company…and if she happened to befriend someone, the moment her father found out about it, they were killed. As simple as that. She knew better then to mingle too much with others. Besides, once the girl told them that she had been the one to almost kill her, she doubted that they'd be so friendly.

With that in mind, she silently disappeared into the darkness, and then into the sky. Saving a human, while helping with her conscious, still didn't change that she didn't belong in their world.

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A big thanks for those that reviews …I think I'm going to go with the BB and Rae coupling (he really is going to show up eventually lol). Anyway, like I said before, reviews help me update faster… Oh, and the magical words Raven uses are Latin, in case you were curious.