Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans.
Warning: ...and a voice says it is the last day... is a page break.
Chapter Two: Seeking Faith
Keol stared out the train window, watching the ground rush by. Leaning against the cool glass, his mind wandered back to that morning.
"No, you're the only one we can spare to look for it. Not that you're expendable. Like Arella said, you're 'hidden' from the others, so you'll have the best chance of slipping by the enemy." Mirror ruffled his hair, grinning at him. He looked up at her, still confused.
"But what am I looking for?" came the innocent question.
"Kalios' Heart." Raven appeared beside the two. "Malchior spoke of it to me- to taunt me." Her eyes were grim. "An object of power, ancient but formidable. Rumors of its creation say that a girlchild, tainted by demon blood, foraged the Heart to defeat herself." Keol listened raptly, absorbing her words.
"But how am I supposed to find it?" Raven didn't respond but placed two fingers upon his forehead, on which no chakra gleamed.
"Close your eyes." He did so. "Now look within yourself; look to the blurred edge between the human and demon, where only your will keeps the mingled blood safe. Dive in. Dive in and down. Can you feel it? The ghosts of humanity reside in there, shadows of what have been. In the darkness is one that calls to you. Like to like. It pulls you, and you alone, for you have no barriers against it." He saw it suddenly. A glowing shape that drew him towards it, a knowledge that this was what he was looking for.
"Keol." Armory's voice jolted the 10 year old out of the trance and he opened his eyes to see her calm face. Only then did he notice the ripple of unease that moved beneath that surface.
On impulse he opened his arms and hugged her, feeling the release of tension in her body.
"Be safe," the woman whispered, pressing her cheek against his unruly hair. They had a special bond, for Keol knew her only as Armory, and had given his sister the chance to rebuild herself- and learn to care.
" 'Course," the boy said, his voice slightly muffled. When she drew away he felt something pressed into his hand.
"For luck." Armory studied him for a brief moment before stepping back and letting Changeling face his son.
"Go for it, Keol." The man said affectionately, smiling at him. Keol stood straighter, suddenly determined that he not lose the trust they were placing in him. Throwing a stiff military salute, he was rewarded with his father's laugh and a return gesture.
Then the brave façade faded and his shoulders slumped forward, worry clouding the brass eyes. "What if I screw up?" Someone hugged him from behind- Mirror, he guessed.
"Stupid. Keep thinking that and you will," she teased. "Time to go." The youngest Titan hesitated, looking at his assembled family, and then nodded, turning to face the city, already being drawn south, as his sisters had known he would be, by the Heart.
Now that he thought about it, Keol realized he was scared. It was his goal to be stronger, to prove to his teammates that he was good enough to be a Titan. He knew he was weak, and made up for it with sheer determination. His talent was more useful for information than action, but Nightwing had promised to teach him martial arts with Starfire's alien techniques for bonus if he didn't find another style of fighting.
It was then that the prickle of warning swept over the boy; his head jerked up just as the train squealed to a halt. Astonished and speculative murmurs broke out, quieting as the passengers caught sight of the hooded figures approaching the cars. As the roiling dread grew in his stomach, Keol realized that the Blood had moved earlier than they had expected.
Reacting to the sound of the door opening, he reached out and locked the sight and movement of all those in a 50 foot radius. It would give him a chance to get out unseen and unhindered; after that he would be on his own.
The doorway was filled with four of the disciples; the boy squeezed through and leapt out the entrance to the linked cars. Hitting the ground running, Raven's son knew the 'stasis' placed on the people wouldn't last much longer. With a deliberate focus on the internal pull, Keol altered his path slightly and ducked a branch, heading deeper into the forest. No one would remember the ten year old who had sat in that car, holding the band of yellow, green and violet someone must have given him.
...and a voice says it is the last day...
/flash of white light/bright sensation of spinning/falling/twisting/
"That's our cue," Raven said softly, letting her daughters deal with the telepathic connection subtly. "Focus on it- her. Call her, because she hasn't been to Earth for as long as I've been alive." The three did, Mirror expanding the power Raven supplied as Armory honed it to a fine touch. All felt Arella latch onto it with a sure grip and pull herself to them.
A slanted disk of blue and white opened six feet above ground, spilling out a woman who landed on her feet, still wielding the twin swords in her hands. White hair whipped in her face as she lifted them with a shout, dealing with the winged demons before the others could react. One last one jumped out of the portal, hissing as its red eyes glowed with hellish intent. She crossed the blades and pulled as it tried to swerve in the small space, severing the head. As the portal closed Arella sighed, beginning to wipe the iron clean on her coat as the corpses puffed into smoke.
"That was unpleasant," she commented lightly as the swords slid into their sheathes with only a light metallic rasp. Then, looking up, Arella met Raven's eyes. For a long moment the two probed, testing both strength and feelings impartially, before mother touched daughter on the shoulder in a quiet gesture of love. "It has been too long, Raven. And unfortunately the business which brings me here is not that of pleasure, as you too know to well." Raven nodded, something in her outline softer than before as the Titan accepted her mother's unspoken apologies.
"As I know too well." Arella's violet eyes shifted, landing on Mirror and Armory.
"Ah! So these are the ones I sensed during our contact, Raven." A quick frown creased her brow. "Is there a third, or was I mistaken?" Mirror grinned, reassured at this friendly behavior from someone she hadn't known existed until three days ago.
"No, we sent him to get Kalios' Heart." A considering look entered Arella's eyes at that and she nodded, turning her head to watch Raven.
"Yes, that was wise of you. If he succeeds it will help our efforts greatly." Armory's blue eyes darkened slightly at that statement. Her grandmother caught it and faced her squarely as Slade's former apprentice was taken aback at her quick perception.
"I am not being unfair when I say this, child. But we cannot afford to have any illusions!" The forcefulness behind her strong words was absorbed by the silent woman who didn't challenge her grandmother farther, understanding what she meant.
"Now! You are Changeling, I presume?" And the introductions, swiftly done, went on.
...and a voice says it is the last day...
Sel roused from his sleep, blinking as clouded eyes protested the sudden light. Light from the door, and the only other person who had the code for it was-
"Mirror?" He asked groggily, propping himself up on his elbows. Outlined by the yellow light, she stood awkwardly, eyes downcast on the floor. Her blue cami and silk shorts didn't leave much to the imagination and he would have been slightly embarrassed if he hadn't seen the heart breaking expression on her face.
"What's the matter?" She shifted uncomfortably and concern grew as he gestured for her to come and sit. She did, sitting on the star blanket with her arms locked around her knees. The air wielder didn't press her to speak, for she did after drawing a shaky breath.
"I have dreams- nightmares. In them I-" and she choked on the words. "I do horrible things. You die in my dreams, Sel. I kill you in so many ways- and I enjoy it. God, Sel," her green eyes turned to him, unimaginable horrors in them. "I laugh. It feels good." Tears brimmed and spilled as Emily battled fear, demonic memories and urges.
Sel listened to her words, cold with creeping horror, and found that love overcame fear, moving him at the sight of her tears. The kiss was bittersweet, salty with her tears, gentle in its reassuring kindness. He broke it off when he felt her startled laugh grow, the tears slowing their fall.
"Emily, I know you. I love you. And that's how I know you could never do that." His eyes searched hers as she looked at him, relaxed in his arms.
"I just wish I could be that confident," she murmured. Sel brushed away the hair from her face, careful not to cross the unspoken boundary that both had come to.
"Trust me." Because I love you. The words passed between the two as they fell asleep, resting in each other's arms.
Author's Note: Yes, Sel and Mirror are still virgins. Deal with it. Anyway, onto the reviews!
Reviews
animeobsessed3191: Hope you liked this chapter as much as the first.
TDG3RDThanks for the review! I'm glad you like it.
cd lover: Um, right, the robbers... uh... got stuffed into a big bag and taken to the police interragation chambers. I think.
Phonix-Rising: Infuriating (in a good way) cliffhangers? That's a new one... but I'm glad you like it!