Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans.
Chapter 6.
Hunt the DemonGormancer strode through the halls of his citadel.
He took an ornate lance from a bounty hunter attendant.
He continued down a long flight of stairs until he reached a large room.
At one end of the room was the hunched form of a massive creature. It stood up on hearing its master enter the room and the chains binding it to the wall jangled.
It resembled a bat in shape but it was massive, easily twice as big as Beastboy in pterodactyl form.
The creatures head was cat-like. It had a long barbed tail, which was swishing from side to side as Gormancer approached.
Despite his armor, Gormancer leapt gracefully onto the creature neck and ripped the chains binding it to the wall out with one hand.
He kicked his steeds flanks and shouted, "forwards Aggrail!"
Aggrail leapt up and launched itself into the air.
Gormancer smiled to himself. The hunt was on.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cyborg and Kaylin were surrounded.
Kaylin was surrounded in a black aura and increased in size until he could easily be mistaken for a panther. "Ready metal man?" He said.
Cyborg leveled his sonic cannon, "always."
Kaylin lunged at one of the bounty hunters, striking it with his claw, tearing three long rents in its armor.
Cyborg let rip with his cannon blasting bounty hunters left, right and center. But they were quick and lethal. Before Cyborg knew it he had three crossbow bolts sticking in him.
Fortunately they only hit the metal parts. Cyborg swung a fist at one of the bounty hunters but it dodged and another leapt towards Cyborg, digging a slim dagger into his shoulder. "Hmmm." It hissed. "Why don't you bleed human?"
"Cause I ain't just human." Said Cyborg, he gripped the bounty hunter in one hand and hurled it at another, causing both to fall to the ground.
Cyborg unleashed a blast from his sonic cannon at the prone forms of the bounty hunters.
The blast raised a dust cloud that obscured them from view for a moment. When it cleared it revealed the two bounty hunters completely unharmed.
"Is that all you can do not-human," sneered one.
"Behold the power of the bounty hunters." Growled the other, it drew a long serrated sword and advanced towards Cyborg.
With lightning fast reflexes the bounty hunter lunged at Cyborg cleaving off his arm with a sweep of its sword.
"Hey! What the…?" Cyborg stared in disbelief. "Oh! You did not just do that!"
Two more bounty hunters advanced on Cyborg, swords drawn.
"Enough!" The melee abruptly stopped at the sound of the voice. "AZARATH METRION ZINTHOS!" The combatants watched in shock as Arellas hut was encased in black magic and torn apart, hurling blocks of wood toward the bounty hunters.
Cyborg was watched in awe as the bounty hunters were crushed under the bombardment of, what had once been, Arellas house.
"Whoah." Was all Cyborg could say. He picked his arm out of the rubble and turned.
Raven and Arella were standing in the ruins of the hut, Raven had her arms raised.
"Well done Raven." Said Arella. "It was probably time for me to move anyway."
Raven lowered her arms. She looked around. "Kaylin!" She snapped. "Drop that! You don't know where it's been."
Kaylin obediently dropped what he was holding in his mouth. It looked suspiciously like a bounty hunters arm. He reverted back to regular size and leapt onto Cyborgs shoulder.
"Need a hand?" He laughed.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It look like we've hit a stalemate." Said Sashiill. She had been about to slit Robins throat when she found herself staring down a pair of starbolts. There was a growl behind her that told Sashiill that a green carnivore was prepared to attack.
"Remove your blade from Robins neck." Said Starfire angrily.
Sashiill smiled, "what will you do if I don't?"
In response, Starfires eyes began to glow green.
"I will repeat myself for your benefit." Growled Starfire. "Remove your blade from Robins neck."
Sashiill gently withdrew the blade. "Fine." She snarled. "But if I were you I'd watch my back…" She didn't say anything more because Starfire punched her in the face and Sashiill collapsed.
"That was a bit unnecessary." Said Robin, rubbing his neck.
"She is a Clordiffing Zarglhoph." Said Starfire. "We should just leave her here."
Robin was in the process of binding Sashiill's hands, "no," he said, "that wouldn't be right. And I do not like the idea of her stalking us when she wakes up. I want her in our sight at all times."
"What about when she takes a bath?" Said Beastboy hopefully.
Starfire hit him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Darkstorm launched himself towards Terra and Rorek. As he swept over them feathers scattered from his wings.
Rorek raised a shield of white magic. The razor sharp feathers clattered off the shield.
"Hezberek Necronum Mortix." He chanted. A wave of magic swarmed over Darkstorm.
Darkstorm beat his wings and the spell faded. "Necrotier Esseferr Aldairium!" Croaked Darkstorm. A beam of dark magic lanced from his beak and Rorek dived to one side.
Where the spell struck the ground began to turn black and shadow tendrils leapt from the earth like obscene plants.
Darkstorm cast the spell again causing another patch of ground to sprout writhing tentacles.
The tendrils began to spread and grow until Terra and Rorek were surrounded.
Darkstorm landed in the center of the ring of writhing black tendrils. "The roots go deep and spread," said Darkstorm, "thus neutralizing your power my dear Terra."
Rorek stepped in front of Terra, "don't do anything too hasty Darkstorm."
"Alright," said Darkstorm, "you're a man of honor, so let's make this an honorable fight."
"How so?" Inquired Rorek.
"Just swords." Said Darkstorm. "No magic."
Terra snorted, "how are you going use a sword? You don't have hands!"
Darkstorm sighed. He shook one wing and feather floated out and stuck into the ground. It slowly began to form into a feather-shaped black sword.
"Like this." Said Darkstorm. As Terra watched Darkstorms feathers disappeared and his wings became arms. His talons shrunk and became feet. His beak shriveled and his face became human. In a few moments a man was standing before Terra.
He was wearing a black robe and his black hair, moustache and beard were neat and well trimmed. He had a very haughty look about him.
"Darkstorm is a Demonolith." Said Rorek. "That means he chose to make his soul-self into his permanent self. But a Demonolith can become their former self for a period of time. I believe Darkstorm can remain human for twenty-four hours. While human a Demonolith loses all of their powers."
Darkstorm drew his sword, "duel by swords it is."
Rorek drew his own sword. "I must warn you." He said. "Dragonsbane is no ordinary sword."
Darkstorm smiled, "neither is mine. Ready?"
Rorek adopted a fighting stance, "whenever you are."
Darkstorm lunged forwards for a strike, Rorek blocked. He parried the next lot of Darkstorms strikes and darted forwards for one of his own.
As the swords clashed Terra watched in amazement at each strike and counterstrike timed so perfectly, the two combatants looked so graceful.
Terra had never really been in awe of fighting but she was now. This display of speed and agility made her wonder why they needed magic at all.
And the fight had only just begun.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Your move Blackfire."
Blackfire smiled at her friend over the chessboard. She moved a pawn to the end of the board and replaced it with a rook. "Check."
Wraithe moved a bishop to block the king and sighed, "be careful with your next move Blackfire."
Blackfire smirked and moved her queen, "checkmate," she pronounced.
"You're far too hasty," said Wraithe, "she moved her other bishop and smiled at Blackfires disbelief, "I believe that's check and mate." She pronounced.
Blackfire scowled, "okay, very well done Wraithe."
Wraithe smiled and looked down at one of the pawns, which appeared to be sweating. "Alright," she said, "I'll turn you back. But if you think of slapping my behind again…" She snapped her fingers and the pawn became a frightened looking young man who ran for it as fast as he could.
"Hmm." Said Blackfire. "What would have happened if I'd taken him?"
Wraithe smiled, "it would be pretty unpleasant for him that's all I'll say…"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cyborg pushed his way through the forest with ease. Raven was following in his wake with Kaylin perched on her shoulder listening out for trouble with his sharp ears. Arella brought up the rear, crossbow in hand.
Arella had never been very strong, at least in character, Raven mused. She was always very distant and mournful. It was probably why Wraithe had turned out the way did. But now Arella seemed much more confident.
Kaylin flicked his ears, "I hear nothing," he murmured.
"Good," whispered Raven, "let's hope it stays that way."
"Unlikely." Muttered Kaylin.
They managed to make it through the forest without incident.
They walked out onto the plains.
"We must hurry if we want to reach Azarath." Said Arella, "I'd advise travelling at night as well as day."
"Sure." Said Raven.
Kaylin suddenly stiffened, "what is it?" Asked Arella.
Kaylin looked up, "something. In the air."
Raven looked up and saw a familiar shape flying towards her. "Malchior." She breathed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Darkstorm blocked another swipe, "you fight well Rorek." He said, "for someone so old."
"Ah," said Rorek dodging a blow that could've cleaved his head in two, "but I don't age." He swung his sword gracefully only to have Darkstorm block again.
Rorek leapt back and shouted, "Asafen Clenisek!" White magic lanced from his fingers.
"I thought I said no magic!" Barked Darkstorm.
"True." Said Rorek, "but the spell wasn't meant for you." The wall of shadow tendrils began to recede. "Terra go! I'll deal with the bird."
Darkstorm snarled and lunged with another strike. Terra leapt onto a boulder as Rorek parried the blow. Terra hovered into air, watching the two combatants recede into the distance. She didn't want to abandon Rorek, but he could probably manage on his own.
Terra cast one last longing glance at the fighters, now just specks, and hovered away to continue her search.
She didn't know where to begin.
Suddenly and shadow passed over her and Terra looked up and screamed.
"Don't be like that." Croaked a deep voice. "I'm not here to eat you."
"Who… who are you?" Squeaked Terra.
"My name is Malchior." Said the creature before her. "And I am here to tell you that we are all in danger."