Ellu kiddies and welcome to the next chapter of 'What is to Come'. I have officially decided that I am not going to change the title. It fits, and I've had people say the same line at least twice. So, pleh. I'm happy, (I think) only 9 days of school left. I'm not excited yet, but the most I'm looking forward is writing my heart out all summer. But anyhoo…

Disclaimer: I simply and sadly (for me) do not own Teen Titans. Please don't sue me. You'll be paying for more for the lawyer than what you'll get from me. Like "cutting your throat to cure a nosebleed." (some quote from some dude that did some important thing in history)

Lain: Yeah, I can see where he sounds like a Harry Potter character. I never meant for him to appear like that, but I guess he does. Maybe Snape, only with short hair. And I can't wait for book 6 either! My dad got me a free voucher thing for when it comes out for my birthday. So now I can just walk into Books A Million and get one!

XXXXXX

What is to Come

Chapter 6ix: Unleashed

XXXXXX

Karigan started off her slumber peacefully, but since she didn't have the herbs in her tea, she was having a dream she wasn't supposed to have, but one that would help her greatly.

Karigan was in a vast cave. Where, she wasn't sure. As she looked ahead she saw Xaphtious, or a figure that looked like him. She couldn't tell, her vision was blurred and unfocused. A split-second later a gigantic black ball of something, probably flames, came hurtling towards her, or whoever's eyes she was looking through. Her hands raised and ejected a large fireball of her own, and after it left, she felt strangely empty inside. The two missiles collided and produced a blinding white light that soon went dark.

She had left the cavernous room and entered a shadowed circle of stone pillars. About ten feet in front of her was a large, glowing obsidian throne, and on it sat a large red demon with flowing white hair and four yellow eyes. She had no idea who it was, but he looked extremely angry, and trying to control it.

"This changes everything." He growled, standing up. "Fool!" he roared, pummeling one of the pillars with lasers from his eyes. Karigan didn't know who or what he was referring to, but she was curious nevertheless.

Karigan snapped her eyes open and found herself back in her bedroom with sunlight peeking through the curtains. Groaning, she rolled over on her side gently and slowly. She'd have to heal her burns, at least after she had something to eat. Karigan gingerly clambered to her feet and headed for the bathroom, keen on enjoying a long, hot shower.

XXXXXX

Raven quickly opened her eyes and the bright sun blinded her for a moment. She quickly blinked it off and scanned the air for power traces. There was a strong stream that rang out like a fog horn; it was Xaphtious. Raven hurriedly stood up and rushed downstairs from the roof to stop what could destroy them all.

XXXXXX

Karigan reentered her room, drying her hair her hair with a towel as she went. Suddenly a dizzy spell swept over her, halting her movement and making her lean against the room for support. Flashes of black skies raining great balls of fire appeared in Karigan's mind, arousing the demon within her. She saw each of her friends, all burning and their mouths twisted in silent screams. There was a new feeling growing within her; a surge of unknown and uncontrollable power. That power was strong and deadly, and it desperately wanted to escape. Her demon side was getting stronger; feeding off the power Xaphtious sent via the attacks, and it wanted out. Karigan sank to the floor and screamed until her throat hurt, but she didn't stop, she couldn't stop.

Everyone that was awake in the Tower looked in the direction of Karigan's scream, the same thing going through each of their minds.

"What the-" Cyborg whispered, looking at Starfire and Robin in confusion. They both stared back at him as the doors of the common room opened and Beast Boy strode in, fully awake.

"Dude, who screamed?" no one voiced an answer, but Robin had a pretty good idea on who did.

"It's probably nothing, but I'll go check it out." Robin said, standing up and walking out of the room. As soon as the doors slid shut behind him, he took off for Karigan's room at a flat-out run. He knew fully well what was going on, and vow or no vow, he was going to have to confront Karigan or Raven.

Raven reached Karigan's room shortly before she screamed and she could instantly tell that the situation was not good. She rushed forward to help her friend but Karigan held out her hand a blasted Raven against the wall. Raven looked extremely shocked, but she steeled her expression when she realized what was going on. Karigan lifted her head from her hand and gave Raven a lopsided evil grin. Her eyes were exactly like her father's-completely and utterly black, and her skin was paler than even Raven's, almost to point where she looked albino. Karigan lifted her left arm and squeezes her hand shut, cutting off Raven's air supply. Raven collapsed to the floor on all fours, clawing at her throat for air.

"A-Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos." She gasped, knocking Karigan off her feet and breaking the hold she had on her.

Raven stood up, her eyes glowing white. "Karigan, snap out of it; the demon's not in full control yet." She figured it wouldn't do much, but she had to at least try. Her friend grinned even wider.

"Karigan no longer controls me." She spat, her voice deeper and raspier, sounding more like a man's voice than her normal one. Raven rose into the air, her hands crackling with ebony energy, preparing for the worst.

Karigan was suffocating in her own mind, suspended in a vast expanse of darkness, all senses failed her. Her eyes were open, wide with fright, and she could see a shadowy outline of what was going on outside the realm of her mind. Her demon side was almost in full control, and it (or she?) was fighting Raven mercilessly. Karigan watched helplessly in horror as the battle waged between her friend and herself. She needed a distraction and soon, something that would occupy her demon's attention and power for a moment so she could break free from her prison. Karigan could feel herself growing weaker with each passing second, the demon sapping all her power and energy for its uses. The turn of events outside her mind brought Karigan's focus away from her musings. The demonic Karigan seemed to have the upper hand, and she could Raven's strength slowly slipping. Raven was stalling a blazing fireball with her powers, as the demonic Karigan kept pressing the missile on her. Cracks were forming in Raven's ebony shield; Karigan gasped and cupped her hand over her mouth, praying for any kind of distraction.

Robin sprinted up the stairs, too impatient to wait for the elevator. Why did all of the rooms have to be on the top floor? When he got closer and closer to Karigan's room the feeling that he wouldn't like what he found grew in the pit of his stomach. But that didn't stop him; upon reaching her room, he opened the door and was ready to barge in, but the scene before him stopped Robin short. Raven was hanging in the air, and from looks of it, using all her strength to stop the fireball in front of her from coming any closer. The ball of flame undoubtedly came from Karigan, who had her back to him, but Robin wasn't sure why the two were dueling. Robin's entrance had attracted Raven's attention for a split-second, causing the fireball to inch closer.

"Karigan, no!" Robin cried, lunging for Karigan at top speed. Karigan turned at the sound of his voice, her captivating emotionless eyes meeting Robin's a split-second before he tackled her to the floor.

A new hope surged through the trapped Karigan-her distraction had come. As soon as she and Robin hit the ground and her demon side became momentarily distracted, Karigan fought for control over her body. The miniature battle sapped her remaining strength, but in the end she prevailed. All her senses came flooding back in an onslaught of confused, familiar but welcome feelings. She gasped for air after regaining control, and began shivering uncontrollably; she was so cold, almost to the point where she was hypothermic.

As Robin got up off of Karigan, he could tell she wasn't in good shape, and cast a side-long glance at Raven, who looked very tired.

"Here, put her on the bed." Raven ordered, pulling back the covers on Karigan's bed. Karigan was shivering violently, her skin still extremely pale and her eyes gaunt and distant; but Raven didn't know if she was in any other pain or danger. Robin complied and picked Karigan up and laid her gently on the bed. Karigan winced as her touched her burned stomach and shoulder.

"What? What is it? Are you hurt?" he asked worriedly. Karigan shook her head.

"No. No, it's nothing." She whispered, her arms draped over her stomach. She was trying to conceal her injuries. Robin frowned.

"It's not nothing. Let me see." He persuaded, lifting Karigan's arms off her stomach. She didn't look at him, but instead stared at Raven, wondering if they should tell him about yesterday's events. Karigan bit her lip as Robin gently unwrapped her bandages. His eyes widened in shock at the severity of Karigan's burns. The skin beneath the protective wrappings was badly burnt, at least second or third degree by the looks of it. Most of her stomach was white with little leathery patches of black, and on the outside of the burn, which stretched to either side of her body, was bright red with blisters, and surprisingly, looked wet.

"What happened?" Robin breathed slowly. Karigan glanced again at Raven, searching for answers and assistance. Robin noticed their exchanged looks.

"No. No more secrets. I want the truth. What happened?" he demanded more strongly. Karigan sighed dispiritedly, torn between telling him what had happened or not.

"You want to know the truth? Fine, I'll tell you." She didn't mean to sound irritated, but could tell that's how she came off. "Yesterday when I disappeared for a couple hours I wasn't meditating like Raven said. My father had come here trying to get me on his side. I went to meet him a little ways out of town in this forest. We had words and he tried to kill me, and in doing so bringing out my demonic side. I got away with the burn on my stomach," she struggled to sit up, and winced when Robin touched her shoulder, "and one on my right shoulder. Xaphtious' fire harms me like a normal fire would you." She explained.

"Wait, your dad's that crazy that wrecked downtown?" Robin asked. Karigan only nodded. "And what was this just now?" he questioned.

"I was simply unprepared. Xaphtious attacked my mind, unleashing my inner demon, which was fighting with Raven when you arrived." Robin exhaled slowly.

"God Karigan he could've killed you, and you sit here and talk to me as if it was something that happened every day!"

"The thing is," Karigan spoke up, "it could." Robin knew what she was indirectly hinting at, but didn't say anything about the subject.

"We need to get you to a hospital or something; those burns need to be treated." Karigan shook her head stubbornly.

"They'd ask questions and the answer is something I couldn't give them. Besides, I was going to heal myself today, but…well, I'm in no fit condition to do it now." She explained, letting out a large yawn. Raven took this chance to get Robin out of there; the rest of the team was undoubtedly getting suspicious.

"You need rest; I'll bring up food and tea." Karigan nodded as her stomach grumbled loudly.

"Thanks."

At first when Raven floated towards the door, Robin wavered and didn't move for a moment, but shortly followed Raven back downstairs.

XXXXXX

Raven had guessed right about the rest of the team getting apprehensive. Cyborg had been pacing ever since Robin left the common room and Beast Boy was sitting on a stool thinking up atrocious explanations for their friends' strange behavior. Starfire, (being as innocent and naïve as she was) tried to deny the possibility that her fellow teammates and friends had been keeping secrets from them. Even the very thought appalled and frightened her greatly.

Cyborg was growing increasingly frustrated by his friends' lack of presence, and something in his gut told him that there was much more to Karigan and Raven than met the eye.

"Or Kari's and Raven's brains could've been infected by microscopic earwigs and they are slowly going insane." Beast Boy rambled on. Starfire turned her attention on BB, looking very distraught.

"Certainly not the unfriendly Earwigger's of Sector 4 of the Gargordian Galaxy! We Tamaranians defeated them long ago after an assassination attempt on our Grand Ruler." Cyborg stopped pacing and Beast Boy talking, both wearing an equally confused expression. The snapped out of their puzzled stupor when the door opened and Robin and Raven entered. Their leader approached them and Raven went about the kitchen making some tea and food.

"It was nothing major." Robin began nonchalantly, "Kari just had a nightmare." Cyborg, Star, and Beast Boy stared at their leader, not believing his explanation fully.

"We do not believe that is the truth, Robin. We wish to know what is going on with friend Raven and friend Karigan." Star said in a small, quiet voice. Robin met each of their eyes, and he could see they really didn't believe him. He shook his head, either he was telling them that that wasn't the truth, or he couldn't tell them. Either one and they still wanted to know what was happening.

"What is going on, man?" Cyborg demanded. "Ever since Kari told us that she had a demon dad her and Raven, and even you, have been acting weird."

"Yeah dude, what's up? We can help you guys only if you let us." Beast Boy spoke up. Robin shook his head again.

"Really, it's nothing, you guys." But even his tone didn't sound convincing and he could tell that they still didn't believe him, but would let the matter alone for the present. Their uncomfortable silence was interrupted as Raven exited the room without saying a word.

Raven sat the tray of food she had prepared down on Karigan's lap and her mug of tea on the nightstand.

"Thanks." Karigan said before diving enthusiastically into her food. She practically inhaled her food and it was all gone in about seven minutes, including most of her tea. Karigan sighed and stretched, yawning loudly.

"Ugh, now I feel like I could sleep for days." Raven nodded.

"You should sleep, you need the energy." She said, the tray of dishes and Karigan's empty mug floating in the air behind her as she took her leave. Karigan yawned again and settled down comfortably and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

XXXXXX

When Karigan awoke from her dreamless slumber the sun was high in the sky, and her clock read 1:00 pm. She felt extremely well rested, stronger, and reenergized compared to hours before. Her wounds festered annoyingly, and she flared up and healed the burns, bruises and itchy scratches instantly. She unwrapped her bandages and was happy to see that the burn on her stomach and from what she could see on her shoulder were both gone. There was some mild to severe scarring, but that Karigan could live with; she'd just have to watch what she wore, that's all. Karigan sighed and stood up to go take a shower; the scars were just another obstacle she'd have to overcome.

Karigan let the steaming hot water pour over her battered, but healed, body. Even though she had erased all physical evidence (except the scars) form yesterday, her muscles still ached from being blasted ten feet in the air. But the shower relaxed her muscles and eased her worries.

The bathroom was filled with steam when Karigan finally emerged from the shower. She wiped off the mirror and stared at the young woman looking back. If eyes were windows to the soul, Karigan's was a very troubled and restless one. Her eyes momentarily flashed black. Karigan scowled and blinked, her eyes returning to their normal blue hue.

"Yeah, I know you're still there, and that's where you'll stay." The demon in her chuckled.

"We shall see…"

Beginning to get a little angry and annoyed Karigan stormed out of the bathroom, strengthening her hold on the demon. She had more important things to think about than that bitch constantly reminding her of what was to come.

Once Karigan had cooled down enough to be around people, she strengthened her barriers, tied down her emotions, and tried to look at least a little cheerful. Her stomach growled loudly and she decided she couldn't put off going downstairs any longer.

The kitchen wasn't in its usual tumult when Karigan stepped through the door. The strange silence deafened Karigan as she sat down beside the others for breakfast. The tension was so palpable that you could cut it with a knife. Cyborg kept shooting glances at Robin, Raven and herself as they ate in silence. Karigan couldn't identify the expression on his face, but it made her uneasy and she felt like she was under close surveillance or interrogation. Cyborg was more and more suspicious of his friends' actions the past few days, and the unusual incident this morning had only increased his curiosity. Starfire did not want to believe Cyborg's ideas, but she had silently admitted to herself that it actually made sense. She also had the feeling that Robin had lied yesterday about why Karigan had screamed, but she could not come up with another explanation. Beast Boy didn't know what to think, but the silence was becoming unbearable.

"So, uh-" he tried to speak up, but Cyborg interrupted him by quickly standing up and taking his plate full of half-eaten food to the sink. No one said anything about his abrupt leaving, but the tension in the room went beyond the breaking point. Everyone's eyes, except Karigan's, watched Cyborg tentatively. Karigan knew fairly well what was coming next, but she tried to ignore it and act as if nothing had happened; but she couldn't disregard it for long.

"Tell us the truth." Cyborg said quietly, his hands resting on the counter and his back to all of them.

"Sorry?" Robin responded, knowing fully well what he was referring to. Now Karigan set her fork down and listened, eyes downcast.

"I'm talking about the lie you this morning." Cyborg answered coolly, turning around and looking Robin directly in the eyes. Karigan could feel his gaze roving aver her back, searching for a response to his accusation. The half demon sighed. Lies, everything was lies. She was tired of lying, and tired of pretending everything was alright when it wasn't. Something had to be done, before Karigan lost the rest of her friends and only true family. One more lie, one last cover-up; that was all she would do.

"I'm telling you Cyborg, I told you the truth." Robin insisted desperately. Cyborg shook his head, not believing a word that his leader said. Karigan stood up, preparing to intervene if necessary, and brought her empty dishes to the sink. She turned around and looked up at Cyborg, her older brother, as it were, masking her emotions.

"Really, Cyborg," she started, laying her hand on his arm, "It is the truth, trust me." Cyborg still looked doubtful.

"What is the truth then?" he pursued further.

"That-" Karigan faltered, she didn't know what excuse Robin had used to cover up for her scream. That you had a nightmare, came Raven's voice in her head. Karigan sighed inwardly.

"I just had a night mare." She recovered, hoping he didn't notice her pause too much. Cyborg seemed to relax a little, not seeing through her lie and her mask. Karigan allowed herself to smile slightly, hoping that would erase most of her friends' suspicions. Her lie must've worked, since Cyborg smiled back. Or at least, he wanted her to think that it had worked.

"So who has KP?" Karigan asked, the static tension in the air lessening dramatically. (KPKitchen Patrol. Doesn't make much sense, but that's what it's called school when you have to clean the bloody tables and such. I mean, who the hell would want to patrol a kitchen?)

"Beast Boy has to." Robin spoke up, also bringing his dishes to the sink. Beast Boy groaned loudly.

"Aw, man, do I have to?" he started up complaining; but Karigan knew he wasn't going to get out of it. Obviously he knew it too, because he abruptly shut up after Cyborg and Robin gave him death glares. Karigan smirked and walked over to Raven.

"Do you have any books on in-dimension jumping?" she asked, hoping Raven wouldn't want to know why she wanted such books. Her friend merely nodded and left the room with Karigan closely behind her.

It turned out Raven had books on demons, demonic activity and such, but only two on going to different dimensions and the dimensions themselves. Karigan excitedly thanked Raven and left for her room quickly, never giving Raven a chance to ask why she wanted them. Karigan plopped down on her bed and opened the cover of the first book; it was in the same language as the book her father had given her. She was just beginning to read the first sentence when the alarms went off.

"Hey Kari, we gotta go!" came Cyborg's voice from outside her room. Karigan groaned loudly and shuffled out the door.

XXXXXX

Haha, so how'd you likey? Well that's nice. Any ideas to her dream and what she's thinking about? Ha, you'll find out later. Three more chapters at least. Don't expect an update any time soon, I've barely started on the next chapter. Blame that on stupid school. Well, leave a review, and bye!