Flickering Shadows

By: Pakkrat

Chapter 12: No more questions, only answers

Note: A long chapter, with a twisty path and action. I don't own Teen Titans and a lot of this stuff, duh. I don't own the Monty Python skit… but it's hilarious! I figured we needed some humor especially with what happens in this chapter.

Sometimes, we have to look back at our past and ask questions. Why did I do that, or why didn't I do that? However, dwelling on our past can be like a personal hell. Forever looking at our mistakes we find great pain. Trapped on the brink of darkness, where all our mind can do is flicker shadows… those shadows that were our mistakes, our failures, and our great losses. One man defines that very well, Slade Wilson.

Slade stops at the stone bridge; he looks over to see Pakkurath was there. "What the hell do you want?"

Pakkurath looks at Slade, his brows glare in hate, "You think you're the only one who has suffered Wilson?" Pakku laughs mockingly, "You want to save her then get through me… if you can."

Slade grips the sword, "Sure, if you say so." His eyes glow bright in blue fire, "Just warning you it isn't going to be pretty."

Pakkurath chuckles as he removes his shades, the eyes were not there instead he had two eye sockets. "Yeah, I can see how ugly it got from here with you!"

…Blood Church…

Frylock sort of looks over Terra with his Fry-dar thing. Shake paces while Meatwad is nibbling on some wood. Shake snaps "How can you eat at a time like this?"

Meatwad shrugs, "It's my nerves. Every time I get nervous I have to eat." Shake smiles adding, "It's no wonder why you're so fat."

Frylock screams "Would you two knock it off? She has a concussion!" Frylock looks over Terra, "Man, this is bad."

Ignigknot walks out adding, "And now it has just doubled in terrible horror Fry-man!"

"That's right!" Eer grabs his pistol, "Bow down cave-man, cause we are going to mess you up!"

Frylock glares before firing his eye beams and blowing up their guns, "Well, now what?"

Eer and Ignigknot look at each other, Ignigknot asks "Was there a plan B Eer?"

"Naw man, we're stoned out of our gourds. We just came up here to get some smokes!"

Terra now starts to stir, she opens her blue eyes and sees Frylock and the others, then the Mooninites, "Oh-kay, my head hurts and I'm seeing things. Akaige must have smacked me pretty hard."

Frylock looks stunned, "He caused that? He said you couldn't handle his separation from you."

Terra nods, "That guy wasn't lying, but only because he slammed my head into the pavement." Terra stands up rubbing her head, "He's up to something bad. I remember a little bit, but honestly I can't remember a whole lot." Terra looks up and glares, "I do remember one thing. We have to stop this fast."

Now everyone looks as four teens run into the church Robin and Cyborg both swing over the podium and benches to close off the passage. After that Robin lays back and sighs deeply as Starfire floats asking, "Do you feel the HIVE children are somehow stronger?"

Robin looks up sweating "Yeah somehow."

Beast Boy sees Terra, "Terra? Is that really you or… that other guy?"

Terra looks him in the eyes seductively before grabbing his cheek, "Take a guess."

The barricade is blown open by a purple bolt and Blackfire floats up with her eyes glowing, "What's the matter? I thought we were having fun!"

The HIVE kids come in smiling; Gizmo charges his cannons asking "Any last requests?"

Terra screams "Hold it!" she runs between the two sides, "Listen, you don't want to die right? Well if you keep fighting on their side that's all you'll end up with!"

The teenage villains look at each other worried, Jinx groans as she had to admit the whole blood church thing was more than they usually did. "Okay, I admit this stuff has been weird but why do you think we'll get killed?"

Mammoth nods, "Yeah, it was Trigon and Blood who said we'd be fine!"

Terra nods, "You probably would have been screwed over by them too, but this other guy has something else in store! He's called Akaige and he has been playing all of you as fools!" the teenagers all look surprised Terra walks to the steps asking "What do you say? Help us out and live?"

Jinx rolls her eyes, "Like there was a choice?"

…The Chasm…

Wade holds onto the stones before making another leap and grab. He makes little head way as the chasm seems to be too dark to see where he's headed. Wade reaches up again to have his hand grabbed, "No… Slade!" Wade looks up and sees the strange claw holding his arm. The claw restricts up the cliff wall bringing Wade up to the top. Wade pulls up and sits there looking at Akaige, "What the hell are…"

Akaige shakes his head, "Now, now! Not right now. You and Blood have some things to take care of."

Wade rubs his head, "Yeah, I'll take the secret path and get there quicker, probably even before Slade!"

Wade ran off, Akaige sighs deeply as he follows behind on the secret path, "I love when a plan comes together." Akaige snickers, "That and when they give an idiot the secret shortcuts to somewhere."

…Main Chamber…

"Feeling tired my dear?" Brother Blood grins a little sadistically, "I understand you are going through a great deal of pain. Your humanity is slowly being purged from your soul, replaced by the demonic blood of your father." Blood turns seeing the girl Raven has her hair longer, her form glows with red markings.

Raven's dress has been torn off from the midsection, arms, and back leaving a slither of her dresses bottom at her pelvis, and the upper parts of her top over her chest. The scarlet red outfit Slade bought her seems pretty bad but maybe if she didn't seem so tired she might have worried about it.

Raven looks up her ragged, tired face to Blood her eyes forming red ones, "I'm going to feast on your soul…" she says slightly, but in a deep tone.

Blood shrugs, "Too bad I already sold it to my master. So you would only feast on a more flesh and bone course." Blood blinks, "Wait that and metal, almost forgot I did myself in robotics."

Blood fastens adrill onto his right knuckle, grinning a little side smirk Blood asks, "Have you been in for a recent checkup?" Raven snaps her fang teeth; Blood barely lost his fingers, "Whoa! I guess not!" he cackles a little to himself as he hears her back seems to snap a little, "Ah, the wings should be forming! Seems I am running a little low on time so let's get moving more quickly!" the drill begins to whirr, "Oh, this might hurt like hell. Luckily, I'm not the one that will feel it!"

…Stone Bridge…

Slade leaps over the charging fireballs, he dodges again in a roll before the next one. Slade turns up and sees Pakkurath is now in the air, his left hand manipulates the air into orbs of flame and stone, the fires strike in cinders that burn sore as they explode like chaff as it flutters all around. Slade ignores this pain as his own hands burn with the blue fire. The gift of Raven he knew thankfully how to use from Trigon. Slade tosses up his hands together and fires two pillars of fire that swirl around each other as serpents, dancing in parallel fashion on the target.

Pakkurath raises his metal arm and blocks the fires. The arm heats up and burns red hot on the side but Pakku was not hurt from the thermal pads in the socket. "Nice try Wilson! However, I expected many tricks under this place! You can not outdo my powers in the magi!"

Slade screams "Your magi can kiss the brownest part of my white…" Slade runs and jumps off a protruding rock stalagmite, then his fists burn as he closely comes in on Pakku letting his fist strike hard. Pakku was able to block with his forearm the one punch, but the second one comes from the other side and hits the jaw making the flying sorcerer now plummet fast. Pakku lands and skids a little before pushing up. His lip bleeds but a smile perks up, "Now I am really pissed!"

Pakku floats up quick before flinging his open palms back then forward, hurling them again and again. Slade couldn't tell what was happening till everything was getting dark, he looks up seeing the hanging stalactites from the roof were coming down like daggers. Slade hops and leaps from each one as they strike the bridge. The bridge cracks a little but does not crumble. Pakku growls lowly as Slade gets to the other side and makes a dash to the exit, "NO!" Pakku flings his two palms and makes them constrict, the entrance crumbles in on itself like fingers had dug the stone dirt in on itself.

Slade skids to a halt and looks at the only path to Raven, "Raven…" he looks heartbroken for a moment but then his view turns back in a scowl, "You have been pushing me too long kid. Move these damn rocks!"

Pakku snarls his tusks, "Never!"

"Do it now!" Slade demands with the sword's tip at the magi, "Do it or I swear if she's dead, nothing will save you from my wrath!"

Pakku floats there a moment, his un-lensed eyes look on sadly, "… Wrath, of all things. What is the point anymore?" Pakku floats down and lies at the stone bridge, "Why must I have nothing? Why must all the dreams I had be gone?" Pakku looks up coldly, "You had your happiness! Why must I not have mine?"

Slade shrugs, "Who knows, who cares? I do know she's waiting for me and I won't let you stop me!" Slade makes in a stance with the sword; Pakku looks at this and snarls before thrusting his palm vertically towards him. Slade hears the rocks move, he looks sort of surprised "Get going!" Slade turns back to Pakku who sort of sat slumped over, "She needs you. Don't fail her like I did."

Slade looks a little perplexed, but he agrees he has to go. Slade runs the hall screaming "Thanks kid!" and he's gone in a flash. Pakku sighs deeply on himself, "I'm a failure like he said I was."

…Paths and Turns…

Terra looks over, "So we all understand now?"

Everyone shakes their heads yes except one green changeling, "Er… all except after 'So here's what is happening!'"

The others fault slightly; Terra gives a small smile saying "Okay B.B. I'll explain it again for you."

"Well, Akaige started making up a plan for Trigon off the Blood Church angle. Then something came up Akaige realized no matter what he did the Bloody Angel plan from Trigon would never work. He told Trigon but Trigon was all, 'I am Trigon the Terrible! This plan will succeed!' and so Akaige just gives up and moves onto his own plans."

Beast Boy blinks, "Shouldn't that be it then?"

Gizmo who also listened to the things Terra said originally groans, "Does he ever listen? Akaige didn't just give up! He realized if one demon wasn't going to listen to reason, maybe another wouldn't. Enter in the sons Pakka and Pakku. Akaige had them take his plan to Trigon, and knowing how stubborn Trigon was he figured one of them would make a deal." Gizmo shrugs, "Seems that Pakku made the deal with Trigon kind of screwing us all over now."

Beast Boy nods, "Oh! I see, so that is what was happening?"

Terra shrugs, "The most I can understand. I think there is still some other things but I only had a glimpse." Terra looks at the chamber they enter; it leads down two paths, "Wow, where should we go?"

Robin looks at them, "Do you guys know which way takes us to the final chamber?"

Jinx looks, "Oh I remember! The left!" she makes a step down that path, "No, wait… might have been the right."

Several groans and Jinx glares, "Okay I know! It had to be the left! Come on already!"

They took the left tunnel but behind them clacked metal feet. Pakka listened in on the whole thing, "I see. So that was why he wanted us here." Pakka looks on the right path, "Pakku has to know we might still have some time."

…The Ritual Chamber…

Blood steps back with his thumb up like an artist, "Hm, not bad!" he chuckles as the tired Raven has fallen unconscious from the ordeal. "I must say I feel like a kindergartener again! Finger painting is so much more fun with blood!"

A stone moves on a set of stone stairs, Wade exits the hole and runs over to Blood yelling, "Slade is on his way! Any word from those brats?"

Blood looks back, "None, and Pakku seems to have been gone too long." Blood wanders his eyes up seeing a figure loom out of the hole, "You idiot!" Blood reaches for a blade, "You lead him here!"

The blade seems to move off the table and towards the figure. Akaige reaches out his palm and lets the blade spin off the ground and stick from its tip across his palm. "Do not fear me priest! I am merely here to rub Trigon's nose in his mistakes."

Blood looks nervously at Raven, Akaige chuckles adding, "I won't interfere with your ritual. I see some more interesting events are still about to play out." Akaige drops the knife and sits on the steps, "Let's see how long Slade takes to get here."

Blood pulls his collar as Wade looks confused, "What the hell is your problem?"

"I don't like this! Trigon never mentioned him on our side."

"I'm not on your side." Akaige sits with his claw tapping the stone impatiently, "Slade better hurry the hell up, I'm getting bored."

…The Bridge…

Pakku sat with his metal arm tossing stones in the lava below. His shades shattered her didn't care about the eyeless slots of his viewing the energy pouring up like smoke. "The demonic energy is rising up. The ritual must be finished, or close to it." Pakku hears the tacking sounds, "Pakka, when did you get back here?"

Pakka clacks over to Pakku, "Earlier." Pakka looks at the stones and asks "Was this all for that woman?"

"Yes."

"Was it revenge?"

"No… hope."

"Ah… hope is as dangerous as revenge. Our father always said hope and revenge are the two forms of last resolve in 'Perfect Prey'." Pakka looks on the lava as it seems to spew up a little, "Hope makes men stronger, Revenge foolish. So are you sure it was hope?"

Pakku looks at his brother, "Perhaps not." Pakku sighs, "I wanted to overshadow that bastard! His plans seemed perfect; they had no real way of stopping the ritual. When Trigon takes her as his own flesh and blood, there is nothing that can stop him! He'll have her and his power as one. Nothing, I mean nothing can stop that power."

Pakka shakes his head no, "Then why would a master strategist and tactician like Akaige not use it? Something must have more power than Trigon. That is why that monster came here to see the force itself." Pakka leaps up on Pakku's shoulder, "You know our father. He has a dark pride for the powerful ones. Those who fight with extreme force and resolve. Heroes and saviors of life, the ones that make great sacrifice for their hopes. He must have found one here somewhere."

Pakku looks at the tunnel, "I think you're right. He has found a stubborn one. Slade."

Pakka nods, "I see, Slade may be the one he wants. Then maybe it was Raven? Or both? I wish I knew." Pakka leaps off "You do know why we are here, correct? We were supposed to be his powers here. Without a proper ritual Akaige is using shadow energy to form a metaphysical apparition of himself. If we are not here but in our own world Akaige will loose his powers in this realm. You know what has to be done to stop him."

Pakku looks at Pakka, "I see… death?" Pakka nods, "We will reform in our world, the one you and I created. Still, I'm not ready." Pakka screams "It must be done! The sooner we are gone the sooner Akaige looses his powers in this world!"

Pakku nods, "I agree," he grabs Pakka by the head, "Then you may go! I have to stay and make him suffer!"

Pakka snarls out, "Look at you! Look at your arm you're turning into him!" Pakku pauses, "You want the shadow realm you want to take it from Akaige! Just like he took it from Naimus! Don't be foolish, this is the on…" Pakku drops Pakka into the lava and watches a small collection of white smoke disappear to the air. Pakku looks at his metal arm and grins, "Perhaps I do wish for power. Either way I will show Akaige, our father just what power I already do have."

…Another Chamber…

The titans walk into this one large chamber of stone. On one wall is what looks like a stone face with a mustache. Opposite of it were tons of skeletons and skulls. Robin takes a deep breath, "Wow, this doesn't look good."

"BEWARE!" the titans jump as the stone face has awoken and screams this. Cyborg screams "Whoa! A talking rock!"

"I am not a talking rock! I am… a… um…" The stone face looks up, "Hm, it has been a long time since I actually said who I am."

Frylock raises his radar, "Hey, something is moving! All the way at the other end of this chamber!" they all look over to the tunnel at the end of the room. The stone face smiles his mustache, "OH! The Beast of Brutality!"

The others look at the stone face worried. Robin asks "Um, what kind of beast?"

There is a loud roar, the face looks up confused, "Let's see, it's been so many years since the last massacre." The titans and others grimace, "I mean, body parts flying everywhere. Blood seemed to coat this cave for days on end to tell you the truth."

Another roar and Beast Boy runs over and tries shaking the rock, "Dude! What is it?"

The stone looks at Beast Boy, "Oh! Cool! A goblin!"

Beast Boy blinks, "What? It's a goblin?" his mind sees a giant green monster, "Oh man!"

"No! You're a goblin!" Beast Boy pales as the stone starts to rant off on the last time he saw a goblin. Mammoth shrugs, "I think he's senile or something."

Blackfire looks over, "Hey! That thing is getting closer!" she looks and sees a shadow in the tunnel coming closer, and larger! "Oh wow! Come on what are we fighting?"

The stone face looks over, "Oh!" he coughs to clear his throat, "BEWARE! Those whom dare enter this place must challenge the beast of brutality. He with the teeth or torment, and legs of lost hope!" The children are getting frightened, "The ears of endeavors cruelty, and puffy tail… of pure evil!"

The titans look around, Cyborg asks, "Teeth, legs, ears, and puffy tail? That sounds like a…"

The shadow hops out; a small white rabbit looks out twitching its nose for several moments. The heroes look slack-jawed, Beast Boy goes, "Dude… it's a rabbit!"

Shake screams, "You have to be kidding me! I was standing here about to pee myself…" Shake looks shifty eyed, "I mean, Meatwad was about to pee himself…"

Meatwad looks up, "I wasn't going to do that."

"Shut up you little rolls of fatty juices and ground beef-back!" Shake waddles towards the rabbit grabbing a bat, "Wait here! This is a job for the master, Master Shake!"

The stone face screams, "Holy crap! Don't do that!" Shake snaps "Shut up you idiot it's just a rabbit!"

"Don't you see the teeth? That thing is a monster, a natural born killer! He has a mean streak a mile wide!"

"Shut up!" Shake steps next to the rabbit, "Okay, time to say nighty-night Bugs Bunny!"

There is a loud screech sound, Shake screams loudly as a straw and gloves came flying with red spray. The heroes look horrified as Meatwad has a glove fall on his face, "DAMN!"

The rabbit sits there wiggling its nose as the bottom stub of Shake sort of waddles a little before sitting still. Frylock looks wide-eyed, "It just… I mean, did you see what it did?"

Beast Boy blinks, "Man, I never knew rabbits could do that!"

The rabbit looks on the other heroes. Robin grabs his staff, "Titans, Go!"

The rabbit's eyes glow red; his teeth seem to grow sharper as it screeches up. The rabbit comes barreling on the heroes leaving a trail of dust. The stone face screams, "I freaking told you! Nobody ever listens to me! Do they think I'm just here for looks?"

…The Ritual Chamber…

Slade stops outside the doors that have Trigon's face. "Hm… wonder if I'm on the right track?"

Slade looks at the large two-door monument and pushes on it. The doors won't budge, "Fine! Some real elbow grease is in order!" Slade's eye glows and the doors seem to turn red hot before finally they broke off the hinges. Slade looks up at the startled Blood and Wade, "Ah, hello boys!" Slade takes a step forward, "Miss me?"

"Any slower," Slade looks startled at Akaige, "And we'd have to worry about you being too old for this!"

Slade looks between the three, "So, you all want to try me? Come on I have more than enough fire to burn you all down!"

Wade grabs for his guns, "Argh! Someone give me a freaking brake!"

Blood looks over at Wade, "I can do that!" his smile grows sadistic as he points out his palms, "Acuraeum Insignium ven Trigon!"

Wade looks up before the fires burst out on his person. Wade screams loudly as his whole body seems to tense then becomes limp. Wade twitches his right eye and looks with red flames. "Cool…"

Slade takes a step back. Blood grabs the axe Pakku stole from Slade once before, "Wade!" Blood tosses the axe and Wade grabs it. Slade looks at Wade and sees the axe; he stood almost like him with the sword. Slade looks at Akaige, 'He planned this out, my darker self.' Slade takes his sword and raises it, 'Well if he wanted a show he's going to get it!' Slade screams charging and striking with the sword as Wade parries with his axe.

Akaige seems to bob his legs smirking, "About time I can enjoy a good show."

…The Beasts Chamber…

Robin is running with his staff up in a downward swing but as he struck the rabbit has passed by it. Robin now vaults inches from the razor fangs and leaps up. The rabbit skids and turns back to charge again. Robin lands and looks back at rabbit gasping at its drooling bites. A blue beam hits the rabbit and bounces it off from Robin. Robin pants in relief as the rabbit now skids to the ground.

Cyborg runs up and helps Robin up, "Aw man that is one nasty rabbit!"

Robin rubs his head, "You keep him busy! I'll go see if that rock thing knows how to kill it."

Gizmo leaps above the rabbit, "AH!" the rabbit is latched onto one of the legs chewing it to bits, "Hurry up already!"

Robin runs over to the rock face, "Hey, how do we kill that thing?"

The rock rants off about how no one listens to him but Robin screams, "How do we kill this thing?"

The rock blinks, "Oh? Hm, I think it was the Holy Grenade."

Robin blinks, "Holy grenade?"

The rock grins, "Why yes, the holy hand grenade should be able to put that beast down."

Robin grins, "Great! Where can we get one?"

The rocks blinks, "I don't know. I think they only had one and they used it on the Beast senior."

Robin groans the noise of Meatwad rolling away screaming as the rabbit chases, makes Robin scream "Come on! There has to be something else!"

The stone thinks a little, "Hm, how about the combustible carrot?"

Robin smiles, "Where is that?"

"Oh, I'm the guardian of that. None may take it without going through me!"

Robin gleefully screams, "Hey Mammoth!" Mammoth runs over, "Smash this rock will you?"

The rock sweats wide eyed, "Hold it!" he rolls out and to the ground showing a glowing gold carrot, "Just take it, crazies!"

Robin grabs the carrot and tosses it to Cyborg, "Cyborg, get it to eat this!"

Cyborg reaches but his hand is gone, "YO!" he looks to see the rabbit gnawing his hand, "Ah! My hands!"

Beast Boy sees the carrot and turns to a green rabbit. Beast Boy grabs the carrot and starts to hug it, the rabbit looks over and snarls chasing over at the two. Beast Boy runs with the carrot. Then an explosion later Robin sighs in relief, "Wow I'm glad it is over."

The rabbit returns and soon a frizzled Beast Boy stumbled over collapsing. The rabbit snarls and drools until a beeper sounds off. The rabbit looks at his right paw and shows a watch, "Ah crap… time to go to my kids recital, all 500 of them." The rabbit starts hopping away. Jinx blinks raising her hand to ask what just happened but Blackfire just slaps her mouth shut, "You know what, I don't even want to know."

The heroes go to leave. The rock asks, "Hello?..." he sweats a little, "Um, a little help… anybody?"

…The Ritual Chamber…

Wade plows down his axe but Slade leaps back away from it. Wade screams as he now points up his fists making the fire spray like a flamethrower. Slade raises his palm making a shield of blue flame. Wade screams an obscenity before flinging the axe like a discus. Slade leaps up over the axe and comes back down in an arc with the sword. Wade hops back from the sword calling his axe from the side. Slade misses and then stares up, "What did I ever do to you Wade?"

Wade strikes and locks weapons with Slade. They bear off each other and Wade growls through his teeth, "You were always better, and stronger! Everyone looked up to you and ignored me! Our mother, father, teachers, I hated you!"

Slade pushes back Wade, "That's idiotic! Why would it matter so much?"

Wade grins holding the axe at his side, "Life is about being the best. About always having others under you, it is how I live." Slade looks at his feet and thinks about his life, "Strength, power, control oh my dear brother! It is all that matters. In my eyes with those things all else means nothing. I wanted it all everything you had was a sign of greater strength. Now I have a chance to have it and I'm taking it!"

Slade smirks up and says, "You were so jealous weren't you?" Wade glares, "Not for my power, the strength. The fact I had it all once. A wife, family, and you took it all away. To sit there and say you were jealous of my strength is sad." Wade sits there snarling as Slade screams "You think you can take that all away and just make me weaker? It only made me stronger, more determined to keep the things I still have! Come on lets finish this!"

The two run at each other and seem to burst in one large flush of flame. Wade and Slade speed to a halt with weapons at their sides. The strange room has gone silent, Blood bites his lip in expectation but Akaige just smiles, "That's right, get stronger Wilson."

Wade twitches, his axe falls from his grip as he leans on his knee. Then his body burst in flame and all watch as the red flames leave ash. Slade stands tall with his eye watching some cinders roll up and past his face. Slade looks past the flaming embers to Blood who stands fearfully, "Let her go!"

Blood gulps a lump in his throat, "D-Do you know what I am?" Blood speaks in a near shake, "I-I am the chosen minion of Trigon! I am his loyal companion to this world! You strike me and you seal your own fate!" Blood's face then twists. Slade takes a startled stance as a hand rips through Blood's face. Blood looks back at the four red eyes burning at his face. The white hairs are long and flutter with power up and down. "Foolish mortal. Your fate had been sealed long before now!" Blood's body burst in flame and soon his garbs, metal, and skeleton crumbles before a new figure. The figure stomps a hoofed foot on the burnt skull letting a long red cloak to fall over its frame. Red blood wings rise behind the beasts back as the fanged mouth grimly grins on Slade. Slade looks in horror at the tail of a serpent that rolls back and forth with a female form. "Raven?"

"No."the voice was not hers; it was Trigon. "This is the power of Bloody Angel! My daughter's demonic essence as it rules her form! However, her demonic blood is my blood and so I rule her flesh now!" Trigon looks at Akaige, "I told you Akaige! It is destiny I rule this flesh, I am stronger in her body!"

Akaige shrugs, "I never said you couldn't rule her flesh. I only said you're not going to succeed with that form." Trigon snorts before stomping off the pedestals towards Slade. Slade looks mortified as he stood seeing his beloved Raven there, but not there. "Raven… please answer me."

"She can not answer you mortal! I am the one in control! She is merely my filthy daughter! This is my body now, as she was always mine to determine the fate of!"

Slade shakes his head, "No! She doesn't have to do what you say! Let her the hell go!" Slade runs towards Trigon with his sword raised but as he came closer he saw Raven not Trigon. Slade stops short and drops his blade to his side, "I can't…"

Trigon smiles, "You said he would stop me Akaige! It seems your mind deduced a false outcome!" Trigon sideswipes Slade into the opposite wall, Slade slams so hard his one shoulder cracks and he begins screaming. Trigon stomps over with the loud hooves, Akaige chuckles to Trigon, "Perhaps, oh terrible Trigon. Or perhaps you are underestimating both my words and your enemy! I said Slade was the result of your defeat in that form!"

Trigon looks back and snorts, "You are being a foolish one Akaige!" Trigon turns and swings up his tail, "I am a demon royal! I am a master of fire! I far surpass his mortal powers even with my daughter's link to him!"

The tail strikes down and Akaige hears the shrieking cry of Slade, "Hm, his power is only so great. I agree, at the moment he can not overtake you. Slade, you agree yes? Your power is not enough to take Trigon."

Slade looks up with his eye cringing with the pain in his bones. Trigon bends down and grabs Slade to raise him up by the back of the collar. Slade now looks at Trigon holding him up. Then again, he didn't see the monster. What he saw was Raven. Yes, even in this state he saw her. She was the girl that saved him from all that misery. The woman that shared with him those moments of touch and kiss, even that bond. Even now Slade felt his bond with her as she seems sad and angry at the same time. Slade's eye becomes large; he looks at Trigon and lays his palm on their cheek, "Raven, I love you."

Trigon glares before swinging his fist into Slade plowing him across the room. Slade slams against the next wall and groans in pain before looking out and pushing off to his feet, "I won't give up Raven. I believe in you like you believed in me!"

Trigon roars up and raises both hands into the air. A large orb of molten flame forges before being tossed out. Slade bears his flame against it, "I won't leave you Raven! I'll always be there for you!" the ball keeps coming and finally rips through the blue flame to burst on Slade, he's smoking under the heat but still holds his stance.

Trigon now slams Slade over the wall and grips tightly on the throat. Slade looks with his eye watering as Trigon screams "You fail mortal! I am the one who is in control!"

Slade smirks and says, "You will always be loved Raven. At least by me."

Trigon's eyes begin shaking, his hands let loose and Slade falls to the ground coughing. Trigon steps back and snarled as the tail begins to disappear, "It can't be! I am stronger! I am a demon royal! I am a master of great, omnipotent power!"

Akaige sort of sits and watches smiling, "I warned him." He jumps down and sighs, "He can't say I didn't warn him."

Trigon stomps back and watches the hair he had turning lavender and the cape purple, "NO! It is impossible! I am stronger, better! What is this blasphemy?" Trigon looks at Akaige "Why did you not warn me?"

Akaige falls off his spot with his feet kicking up, and then scrambling up Akaige yells, "I told you several times but you never listened!" Trigon falls on his knees with his once hellish form changing to a more feminine form, "Well don't feel too upset Trigon. Once you're gone a much more deserving force of evil will take your place." Akaige leers his eyes as he points his claw up, "Yours truly, but of course."

Trigon looks over aggressively, Akaige shrugs to the stare, "Come now Trigon! You and I both know if this plan failed your claim would have been lost. Wouldn't you rather it is a demon like me that gained power not some low class fool instead?" Trigon launches himself at Akaige; Akaige sidesteps to scream, "Show some restraint Trigon! You have no reason to be so upset! I gave you all the chances to take my warnings but you and your pride!"

Slade grabs his sword and tried to ram it through Akaige, Akaige rises up his claw and grips the blade, "Not you too! Come Wilson you know your place don't you?" Akaige pulls on the sword dragging Slade closer before pushing him back into his previous spot.

Akaige misses the surge of power from Trigon, "My last ounce of power in this girl will be used to make you pay!"

Akaige looks back to be blasted square in the chest by a flaming arrow like shot. The arrow bends in on Akaige's chest launching him back hard. Akaige shakes his head before flinging his fist down on the blast, Akaige then stomps forward flexing his claw wide, "I didn't want to do this yet!" Akaige digs the claw fast and strong to the wide red four eyes. They slowly dissipated as red four eyes to two confused lavender ones. Akaige snarls lowly tossing Raven off the claws and to the ground before snapping "What a waste."

Slade looks on that blinking, "No…" he crawls slowly towards her thinking that didn't happen. How could it? She and he, they were… he traversed hell and found how important she really was. He fought his worst fears for her! Hell, he was able to face the worst of things in a hope she was going to be there. Slade cradles her in his arms seeming to hold off the tears in his eye. A pale hand rises up to Slade's face and taps slightly against his chin with the frail fingers. "Slade…"

Slade smiles a little bit, she speaks this weak little tone nearly a whisper, "Thank you for coming… I knew you would."

The hand seems to falter a little; Slade grabs it and brings it to his cheek. He feels the warmth slowly becoming cold, "Raven! Don't leave me!"

Raven smiles meekly, "Never… Wilson." She lets her eyes close, "I love you… always…"

The room is now colder as the warmth in her hand was gone. Slade closes his eye and allows those tears he hid fly free. Sobs and cries Slade pulls her closely to his shoulder.

"Sad… well, to me it's freaking hilarious!"

Slade's eye pops wide and his nose snarls in wrinkles. The eye moves up in a slight flare of hate. Akaige stood there with his cloak draped over his one side letting the claw hang loosely outside the other side. Looking down his hood was like the reaper himself in many ways. Akaige simply stares down his upper body hovering forward a little as if asking 'was it time?'

Slade lays her there slowly and stands up, "You…"

"What? It's bad enough the only one here worth my time has just died! I came here to see what Bloody Angel was going to be like, now what do I do?" Akaige turns back away from Slade, "I'm starting to think this was a waste of my time."

Slade's trench starts to flutter a little, "Don't you turn your back on me you bastard! Do you know who the hell I am?"

"Aggravating!" Akaige looks over his shoulder noticing the way the trench was moving, "Could it be? I never thought about that…"

Slade clenches his fists tightly and raises his shaking arms to his chest. Stones start to shake free from the roof and Akaige rises up his arms to block a sort of light. "I… am…" Slade's eye glows brightly with a white fire and soon his back rips open with white flaming wings, "Slade Wilson!" Slade screams with his last words and the wings seem to burn brighter and brighter. Slade keeps screaming as the room seems to be scorched and the walls break apart some. The room becomes a large crevice of stone where stood Slade with Raven at his feet. Slade is breathing heavily with his fists clenched. Akaige had not moved with his arm held up creating a purple barrier around his form. Slade looks hatefully until he hears coughing… at his feet? Slade looks down to the form of Raven looking up slowly and smiling, "Raven?"

Slade falls at his knees quickly while Raven stirs a little bit. Raven looks a little confused herself, "I thought I was dead."

Akaige nods, "You were. However Slade just wouldn't let that happen. As you were on the brink he used that little bond of yours and his to call upon a very interesting power." Akaige sees them both look at him he just chuckles as he was reaching his human hand at the hood's buckle, "It seems that he called on Bloody Angel. Or whatever it is you have inside you now that Trigon has lost his connection. Who would have thought you both would have so much power?" Akaige tugs the hood letting the buckle let go and the cape and hood fall, "I'm so excited! This is going to be a real interesting battle!"

White silver hairs fall from the no longer hooded visage. From the neck up the skin is a pale gray with human features. The brows seem to bend at an angle, wicked and pointed the fangs show from a large grin. The hair was flowing, and had two gray elfish like ears that pointed up with the sounds of growling. Akaige sees the surprise, "Did you expect something more gruesome? Trust me this face does nothing to symbolize the monster below it." It was odd but Akaige was fairly handsome even with the pupil less eyes, they instead seem to be a purple mist that grows brightly with his rage and anger.

Slade feels Raven tug his trench, "Slade! I can't move my body is too weak!"

Slade looks down and nods, "I'll take care of him! Don't worry Raven I have him."

Slade grabs her and pulls her into his arms like a wife. He looks to see Akaige didn't attack; he moves her to a wall and smiles to her "I'll make little work of him!"

Raven smiles before seeing a shadow loom over the two. Akaige has leapt to strike his claws in the back of Slade when another figure appears and rises up his one palm pushing Akaige back. Akaige lands with his heels digging to see Pakkurath between him and the other two, "You won't win father! This time I have the upper hand!"

Akaige smiles his fangs widely, "Oh really?" Akaige gleams his eyes to the son, "Because you are my link? My conductor?" Pakku looks worried, "It is true. Without a proper ritual being here made me desperate so I used you as a conductor from my world to here. You are a Kagejin no matter how much you deny it. That allows me to siphon the power of my world to myself to keep this form together. Knowing that you killed your brother sending him to that hideout of yours making it so I need you." Akaige chuckles, "You took advantage of a situation knowing I can not kill you now. My son, you and I are oh so similar."

Pakku growls with his metal arm rising up to his face, "No… I am not!" Pakku screams as he uses his powers to rip the metal arm off his one shoulder. The arm falls to the ground sparking before Pakku looks up, "I'll never become you! I am not going to be your heir!"

Akaige slinks his eyes pleasingly, "Oh, but you have my child you just haven't noticed yet."

Slade stands up after brushing Raven's hair back. She looks upset as she was stuck there, Slade asks, "You want to help me beat this guy?"

Pakku looks at Slade and grins, "If you want the help from a demon?"

Slade shrugs, "Whatever, she's half demon so does it matter?"

Akaige glares as he rises up his claw "No more shadowed pasts, no more doubts, and no more questions." Akaige gives a sadistically wide grin, "I only have the answers that come in death for you all!"

Note: The last chapter is next, the biggest fight is next, and so much for all those twists and turns. I hope you are still reading, review please! I hope you liked it, I'm almost done! That and I started my next Slade/Raven fic, it is called "Brittle Glass". Also, thanks to Psychic Werewolf Assassin for using my character Akaige in his story "The Hunter". Also Z. Brite for using my character in "In Heat" too. Hopefully you can all take a read because they are great stories. They both have fun ideas and most importantly good twists.