Chapter 8: Knocking Down the Door
"It was nice of Charon to drop us off so close to the front door," Starfire said. The rest of the Titans made their way thought the front gardens towards the castle's main entrance.
"That's because of my card," Beast Boy burst out in anger. "Raven owes me a month's worth of bathroom duties for this. I can't believe I lost that card before I even got a chance to play it!"
"Are you finished?" Robin countered.
"Yea, I think so," Beast Boy glumly answered. "Man this place is gloomy."
"Well what do you expect from the king of the underworld?" Cyborg countered. "I don't know guys but I think we're going to have a hard time getting Raven out of here, willingly."
The Titans arrived in front of the massive doors to the castle. "Well now what?" Beast Boy asked unsure how to proceed.
"Well, I vote for a dramatic entrance," Cyborg said as he walked over to one of the massive gargoyle statues. He proceeded to pick it up and lower it into battering position. Beast Boy quickly morphed into a gorilla and joined in. The two boys leveled the statue, then retracted it and thrust it into the door. A large crash echoed in the courtyard. The doors shook but do not give. Cyborg and Beast Boy retracted their makeshift ram and thrust it back into the door. The statue's head broke off on the ensuing strike. Beast Boy and Cyborg quickly stopped and leveled the remains of the statue.
"That's not good," Cyborg said slightly concerned.
"Put it back someone's coming to the door," Robin cried. Cyborg and Beast Boy quickly put the statue back in its place. Starfire grabbed the head and flew up to replace it just as the doors swung open.
"Welcome Titans," Persephone happily greeted them. "Please come in we've been expecting you."
"Um, thanks," Robin sheepishly said as he and the others filed through the massive doors. Persephone closed the door behind them causing the decapitated head to fall to the ground and shatter.
"Did you have trouble finding the place?" Persephone inquired as she lead the Titans through the front corridor.
"No, Charon was kind enough to show us to the front door," Starfire replied. She took the front spot with Persephone as they walked down the darkened hallway. "That was very nice of him." Persephone continued as she led them into the courtyard.
"Wow, this is not what I expected from the outside," Cyborg commented as the rest of the Titans surveyed the unusual scene.
Persephone laughed lightly. "I can't tell you how many people have said that to me. Please sit down and relax. I have some freshly baked bread if anyone is hungry."
Cyborg and Beast Boy rushed to seat themselves and began helping themselves. "Man nothing like a good meal after a long journey, huh Beast Boy?" Cyborg grabbed a roll and handed the basket to Beast Boy. "I couldn't agree more," Beast Boy replied happily.
"Please," Starfire interrupted, "is Raven inside this castle?"
"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself." Persephone answered. "I'm Persephone, Morpheus' mother. Both of them are upstairs in his room. You can go up and let them know you're here."
Starfire and Robin return a confused look. Persephone pointed towards a path leading further into the garden. "It's down that path, past the fountain and up the stairs; the second door on the left." Robin and Starfire nodded in acknowledgment and headed down the path to find Raven.