Chapter Fifteen: Demon Desires

(Two months after #14)

Forest Gates was an area of the city that housed the mayor, several members of the city council and the like. So someone moving in was a big deal.

A woman with dirty blonde hair and brown eyes smiled at the cameras but looked uncomfortable with all attention. At her side was a little girl with blue eyes and white blonde hair. She looked to be about eight or nine. She clutched a small doll to her chest and watched the photographers with wide eyes.

No one noticed a blonde girl with yellow eyes walking down the opposite side of the street. She paused watching the display of flashes and shouting of the reporters.

Beside her a shadow reached out and touched her arm. She glanced at it then jerked her head "Come out, no one's paying any attention."

The shadow took form becoming a boy "Robin said they might have a lead." he paused looking at the people "What're you doing here anyway?"

"That little girl… her aurora's bigger than it should be, much bigger."

"You think she's got some kind of powers?"

"I'm not sure; I'll come back later and check it out. Let's go." Robyn said turning and following Shadow into an alley. The boy's body dissolved slowly and took Robyn along with it. The two forms raced over the street towards Titan's Tower.

"I'm telling you guys this doesn't make any sense!" Robin yelled waving a piece of paper over his head.

Red-X turned away from a computer and raised a brow "Sure it does Robin. You would never suspect anyone from Forest Gates so why not hide there?"

"He has a point." Shadow commented as he and Robyn appeared on the sofa beside the others.

Robin shook his head "Where were you Robyn?"

"Forest Gates; some one just moved in there. Bunch of reporters and junk." she paused "It was a woman and a little girl. The girl… she looked funny."

"What do you mean?" Jinx asked glanced over at the girl

"Her aurora was very strong for someone so young."

"Could you say that in English for us who don't want to stress our brains?" Kid Flash asked propping his feet up on the coffee table and leaning backwards

"It means she could have some sort of power. I couldn't get a very good look since there were so many people. I'll go back tomorrow."

Starfire floated into the room. A smudge of ink was under her cheekbone and she held up a piece of paper victoriously "We have done it!" she exclaimed.

Cyborg walked in after her wiping his hands on a rag "I managed to construct a probable picture of our little friend. We can run it through the computers and check it out."

As the group crowded around them Shadow backed up a step touching his forehead. Raven and Red-X noticed and pulled him aside

"Are you alight?" Raven asked, her eyes searching the boy's for any signs of pain or distress

"I've been feeling a little funny lately, like I'm all fuzzy." Shadow admitted

"Maybe you should go home for a little bit. I'm sure Gar would appreciate the company." Red-X suggested.

Shadow shook his head "No I want to help; besides the dark of the moon was last night and I was fine. Maybe I'm just going shadow too much."

Raven frowned "Your powers thrive on being used. The more you use them the stronger they should be. Go in the kitchen and I'll make you some tea. That should help."

Shadow protested but finally obeyed. Raven spoke with Cyborg in hushed tones and the cybertronic man nodded.

Shadow rubbed his temples. His mind refused to clear. All he could think about was darkness, night, and shadows. The thoughts went in a loop. A harsh ache rose up in his chest. He groaned softly from the pain. A terrifying roar filled his ears and the boy was lost.

Raven walked into the kitchen and frowned. Shadow was not sitting at the counter. He must've gone up to his room. Maybe he wanted to be alone. The boy was a very private person and valued his privacy almost as much as Raven did herself. So she decided to leave him alone until he reappeared.

A dark haired girl danced alone. Her hips moved easily to the beat. She wore low rise jeans and a black halter top.

Across the club Shadow watched her with slightly glowing eyes. Her soul was ripe and it would most definitely ease the sharp pains in his chest.

The girl smiled as she felt someone put their hands on her hips. She turned around and saw a boy about her age. His hair was black and so were all his clothes. He smiled at her

"Hope you don't mind if we dance for a few sings." he murmured just loud enough for her to hear

"Not at all. I'm Holly by the way."

"Shadow."

The two danced for a little then Shadow made his move. Holly continued to dance even as the black form stroked her face. She probably thought it was Shadow's hand. Suddenly her blue eyes started to fade away and were replaced by hollow black orbs. Shadow sighed in sweet relief as the warm feeling of the girl's soul ebbed into him

"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" a voice screamed. Black power lashed out and tore the girl from Shadow's grasp.

The demon was thrown up against a wall roughly by two arms of solid concrete. The lights of the dance club stopped flashing and totally flicked on revealing the Titans and Outsiders.

Raven's eyes blazed with power. Jason's hands glowed a brilliant yellow as he held Shadow against the wall. A white mist floated around the room before slipping into Holly's body. The girl gasped and sat up. Tears of fear pored down her face as she looked around wildly. She started to run but Robyn stopped her

"Don't worry. He can hurt you anymore." she murmured as the girl broke down from terror

"That what you think." Shadow muttered.

His body ebbed into a black mist and he slid through Jason's bonds. An electrical blast riddled through him and Shadow was forced to take up his human form again. He growled

"That's three times daughter of Trigon. And I don't take rejection well."

"You'll just have to deal." Raven retorted

"You think you can protect this boy?" the demon laughed "He is mine. We are the same. His body can not last without a soul to hold onto. Sooner or later he will buckle."

Shadow's body shook violently then he staggered a few paces. When he looked up his eyes were no longer glowing and he looked confused

"W-what happened? Why is everyone staring at me?" he asked looking around at the crowd of teenagers.

Nearby Holly stopped crying at stared at the boy before slipping away in the crowd. Raven grabbed Shadow's wrist and her eyes flashed white. A black mark burned into the boy's skin. He yelped and pulled his arm away

"What was that for?"

"That will keep your demon side under control until the next dark of the moon. Now come on we're going home."

A white bird appeared and scooped up the group. In a loud rumble of power they disappeared from the club.

Shadow sat on the sofa, his head in his hands. In front of him Raven paced, her cloak flying in the wind she was making

"Raven, would you stop? I'm getting holes in my shoes just watching you." Jason said leaning against his propped up hand.

Beside him Shadow's shoulders shook and he looked up. A shadow of one of the tables floated over and wrapped itself around his hand. He frowned and shook it off

"I can't believe I let that happen again. It's not even the dark of the moon." he whispered

"Shadow-." Jessica started

"I almost killed that girl! And…" his hands shook and he clenched his hands tightly. A tear leaked from his eye "I liked it."

"But you are a friend! Not a person who enjoys hurting others!" Starfire exclaimed in alarm

"I can't help it Star." Shadow murmured.

"There has to be a way we can prevent his from happening." Cyborg said addressing Raven who had yet to speak. She looked up

"I'm afraid… I don't know how to stop it. What his other side said is true. Shadow's powers thrive on two things. Being used constantly and souls. Without those two things his powers either fade and the demon would take another host or the demon would leave and Shadow would die. I just don't know."

"We can't let this happen! There's gotta be a solution." Robin exclaimed. The others murmured in agreement.

"You guys don't get it!" Shadow yelled drawing their attention "This demon isn't using me! I am a demon! I've just been able to control it. But I've always isolated myself. I've never been around people much. And… I've always had blackouts a lot. I guess that was when my other side took over."

"Don't talk like that Shadow. We'll figure something out. I'll go talk to Knowledge and see if she knows anything."

"No… look I just want to be alone for a little bit okay?" the dark teen got up from the sofa and walked through the doors disappearing as soon as they closed.

Shadow walked down the street his hands shoved in his pockets. One of his hands was covered in a black mist. He passed several houses before coming to stop at one. Gathering his courage he walked up to the door and knocked softly. A woman answered it. She looked down at him and smiled a little

"What can I do for you?" she asked pleasantly

"I was wondering if Holly was home."

"She sure is." the woman turned around and yelled "Holly! Someone here to see you." she turned back to Shadow "You just go sit down and she'll be down in a sec."

Shadow nodded and sat on a couch in the large living room. The woman ducked into another room leaving the boy alone.

Seconds later Holly came clattering down the stairs. She still wore her jeans but had a sweatshirt on instead of a halter top. She froze seeing Shadow

"What are you doing here?" she stuttered. Her tan skin paled and she trembled from head to toe. She looked ready to faint

"Look I just wanted to apologize for what happened." Shadow said standing

"You mean for trying to steal my soul? Or whatever you were doing."

Shadow rubbed the back of his neck "I guess… I didn't mean to. It's… complicated." he paused watching the girl who had stopped trembling and drawn her lips into a thin line "Well I'll just go now." he headed for the door but Holly spoke softly causing him to halt

"You don't have to leave."

Shadow turned back around and stared at her. She had crossed her arms and met his eyes squarely "Are you sure?"

"Positive…" her gaze softened and she smiled "You know I don't think you're really a bad guy. You've just got some problems."

Shadow laughed at the irony "Problems. Well I guess you could call them that."

"That person who tried to hurt me. He wasn't you was he?"

"Not exactly. Like I said it's complicated." Shadow mumbled looking away for a moment. Then he lifted his gaze

"Why don't you sit down? I'd like to talk to you." Holly invited.

Shadow cast a nervous glance over his shoulder

"I… shouldn't." he mumbled. He glanced at his wrist. The mark Raven had given him seemed to taunt him. Reminding him of what he hid.

"Well then at least let me walk with you for a little bit." Holly wheedled already reaching for a coat.

Shadow sighed "Alright, I guess it wouldn't harm anything. Is it alright with your mom?" he asked pointing to the room.

Holly nodded and poked her head in the room "I'm going to go out for a little bit. I'll be right back." she said. There was a noise of agreement and Holly walked over to Shadow

"Let's go."

The two teens walked along the street slowly. A cold wind whipped around them but Shadow didn't seem bothered despite his thin jacket. Holly glanced at him

"Aren't you cold? It's freezing." she asked curiously rubbing her arm and burrowing into the collar of her warm coat

"No. Demo- I have a very high tolerance for the cold." he caught the word 'demon' before it slipped out thankfully.

Holly gave him an odd look then turned her attention to the glowing Titans Tower

"Do you live there?" she asked pointing.

Shadow shrugged and scuffed his feet on the pavement "Sort of. I don't live anywhere for long. It's…"

"Complicated?" Holly guessed

"Ya."

The two fell silent again. Shadow looked up at the moon but had to look away. He hated the moon. Or at least part of him did. In a nearby alley there was a crash and a shadow raced at the two. It bowled into Shadow almost knocking him over. He grasped the silhouette gently and his eyes glowed slightly. Then he released it and turned to Holly

"It gotta go." he said turning to leave.

"Will I see you again?"

Shadow paused and for a moment his control wavered. His wrist burned and the desire was shoved away "Ya, meet me here tomorrow afternoon."

(Whew! Very long chapter! Well next chapter I PROMISE you will find out the new villain! Man this thing is getting long! Toodles!)