Chapter 10: The Wager
Robin and Starfire came to the door Persephone had directed them to. Faint music could be heard from the next room. Robin grasped the door latch, depressed it and pushed the door open.
The music grew louder but it was not overwhelming; These Things played from a small sound system glowing faintly in one corner of the room. On the far side of the room a young man was seated on a bed hunched over a large sketch pad resting on his knees. His hair was short and a thin goatee covered his face. His attention was focused on a camelback couch situated between him and the doorway.
Raven's cape and gauntlets were draped over the back or the couch; her boots lay on the floor to one side. A bare leg and foot rested on one side on the couch, on the other end Raven's head rested on her hand.
Raven's head swiveled around shortly after the door opened. "Hey guys," she causally greeted them. "Where's BB and Cyborg?"
"Um, hey Raven, Morpheus?" Robin said hesitantly, uncomfortable with the scene unfolding in front of him. Morpheus casually raised his hand acknowledging their greeting then returned his attention back to his sketch pad.
"They're downstairs eating," Starfire quickly answered.
"What!" Raven's eyes opened wide in horror. She jumped up, grabbed her cape, shoved her feet into her boots and scooted across the floor until theywere firmly in place. Without a word she sprinted past her friends and out the door.
Morpheus sighed, put down his sketch pad as the music suddenly halted. "Well, I guess I'll finish this later."
Beast Boy and Cyborg sat contentedly at the table. Persephone had brought them more bread and a fruit basket. Beast Boy looked up and noticed Raven sprinting towards them. "Here comes Raven." Cyborg turned to see her coming. "She looks like she's in a hurry. Wonder what's up?"
Raven made it to the patio and collapsed in a chair panting fiercely attempting to catch her breath. Cyborg and Beast Boy sat indifferently. Beast Boy grabbed an apple from the basket and took a bite.
Raven cringed then frowned at her friend's actions. "You can't eat anything," she gasped straining to catch her breath, "or you'll be stuck here forever."
Cyborg and Beast Boy froze momentarily absorbing Raven's announcement. Both looked at each other in fear. "Oh no I've eaten forbidden fruit!" Beast Boy proclaimed.
Persephone walked over to the table and placed a small saucer in front of Raven with a lemon slice on it. "Oh that's only my husband's food. This has no strings attached." Persephone put a tea cup on the saucer then a small metal strainer along the cup rim.
"Really?" Raven looked up in surprise. Persephone nodded and held up a small steaming kettle. "Yes please," Raven answered feeling slightly relieved; at least her friends would not suffer her fate.
Morpheus led Robin and Starfire back to the patio shortly afterwards. "Was it something I said?" Morpheus posed his question to Raven regarding her sudden exit. Raven returned an annoyed look then took a sip of tea.
"Morpheus filled us in on what's going on." Robin took a seat at the table.
"Is there no way we can return to the surface world with our friend?" Starfire asked
"I'm afraid not", Persephone replied "My husband's a bit stubborn on these points. But I might be able to work something out when he gets back."
"We will not leave without our friend," Starfire quickly countered slightly annoyed with the situation.
"Well, it looks like we have house guests," Morpheus dryly announced.
"Wanna bet?" Raven quickly countered.
"Bet?" Morpheus replied with a small smirk.
"Wait, I don't want to be stuck here for the rest of my life," Beast Boy blurted out. "I'm too young to be dead!" Cyborg quickly smacked the back of Beast Boy's head. Beast Boy regained his composure. "Thanks, I needed that."
"Any time," Cyborg happily replied.
"Sorry I'm not interested in souls," Morpheus replied. His eyes drooped as he suddenly lost interested in Raven's proposal.
"How about our stereo system?" Raven countered.
"No, not that!" Cyborg blurted out half in tears.
"Come on Cyborg, it's for Raven," Beast Boy mocked Cyborg's distress.
"It would look good in my room," Morpheus started to consider the offer. "I'm not sure though, my Dad would be pissed." He looked over at Raven trying to extract more.
"Ok, how about we throw in the game consul," Raven countered.
Robin, Beast Boy and Cyborg gasped in horror.
"You've got a deal." Morpheus extended his hand to Raven to seal it.
"One condition, we chose the challenge," Raven withheld her hand.
"Sure, what can you possibly come up with to beat me," Morpheus confidently replied. He shook Raven's hand sealing the deal between them.
Raven turned to her fellow Titan's, "Ok, guys we need to come up with something we can beat this guy at."
"I've got it," Beast Boy quickly blurted out, "dodge ball!"
Raven paused in horror. "Are you always this stupid or is this a special occasion." Beast Boy returned a puzzled look.
"Dodge ball," Morpheus laughed accepting Beast Boy's strange challenge. "Perfect, it's so non sequitor."
Beast Boy laughed reacting to Morpheus' assessment. "No dude, it's called dodge ball." The others groaned at Beast Boy's reply.
"Beast Boy be quiet, you're embarrassing us." Cyborg shot an annoyed look at his friend. Beast Boy shrugged unsure of what he had done wrong.
"You kids will have to do that outside; I don't want anything broken in here," Persephone announced. "I'll send James over to keep an eye on you."
"Come on Mom, we'll behave," Morpheus protested. Persephone shot a motherly glare at her son who quickly backed down. "All right, we'll be outside."