Star-Crossed Betrayal: Chapter 5
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It was not particularly difficult for Kali to find Blackfire. She did have to find her by scent for the most part, but the alien's scent was easily recognizable among the humans. Toward the end of the hunt, it was simply a matter of looking at how the crowds on the sidewalks were parting. Either because she was intimidating or because she was lovelier than most people would have hoped to see walking the city streets, people gave Blackfire plenty of space and did not look her in the eye.
So unwilling they were to glance her way that it almost went unnoticed when she vanished suddenly. Blackfire struggled the moment a hand closed around her neck, but stopped when she was dragged into the air. The claws she felt digging into her skin were a dead giveaway, even without the theatrics of being taken out of the city by rooftop. Her trip ended in the mountains just outside the city, and she was unceremoniously let go of before she could get on her feet. Because of that, she landed on her back on the ground, looking up at Kali.
"What the hell was that for?" Blackfire demanded. "You could have just talked to me back in the city!" Kali turned away from her and sat down a few paces away.
"Raven and Starfire are coming here at midnight," she said simply. "You're going to deal with Starfire on your own." Blackfire half expected the strong mountain winds to die at the statement, but they continued to blow. Her hands snapped closed into white-knuckled fists. The muscles that bunched up first were the ones on her back, hunching her over slightly. A tic started near her eyes as energy gathered in them.
"What?" The angry snarl did not faze Kali in the slightest. Her eyes were fixed on a small pile of pebbles a few inches in front of her toes. She leaned backward, barely dodging the star bolt Blackfire hurled her way.
"Here's a new deal," Kali murmured. "You learn to fight your own fights. I keep the money you paid me." She paused, turning to glare at Blackfire with haunted, rage-filled eyes. "You didn't tell me where Chaos was. You're lucky I don't kill you and everyone else in the city. Now sit down and shut up."
Blackfire, for once, did as she was told. She strode to a large boulder a few yards away and sat atop it, putting her fists in her lap. It was six hours to midnight. She'd use that time to let her own fury grow.
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Starfire woke to familiar, comforting darkness. She recognized the texture of the sheets on Raven's bed under her fingertips. A scent wafted from the pillows under her head. Years ago, she had gone to a silver moon without a planet a few parsecs from Tamaran. The air on the moon had been sweet and crisp, and the scent from Raven's pillows was exactly the same.
For many minutes, Starfire did not move. Her mind was blissfully calm, as she had thought of nothing but Raven since waking. She did not think of the past few days, instead content to lie still and silent. Warmth and softness nearly drew her drowsy consciousness back into sleep, but the fact that Raven was not near made Starfire get out of the bed. Rather sleepily, she made her way down to Ops.
Cyborg and Beast Boy were engaged in a ferocious video game duel when she floated into the massive chamber, yawning and rubbing one eye. Robin sat on the couch a good distance from the duo, as they were prone to leaping to their feet suddenly and doing victory dances when winning combos were landed. He was about to laugh at Beast Boy's high-bouncing kangaroo dance when he heard the hiss of the door.
"Hey, Star!" he called after seeing her. He smiled and waved at her, standing up to face her. Halfway up to the ceiling, Beast Boy heard Robin speak. So shocked and overjoyed to see Starfire up and about, he forgot he was so high up. He hit the ground with a resounding thud, but recovered and turned to a small green kitten. With loud squealing meows, he sprang over the couch and into Starfire's arms. Cyborg and Robin strode over to her, Cyborg's grin massive and Robin's smile honest.
"Good to see you up, Star!" Cyborg laughed, clapping the red-haired young woman on the shoulder. Starfire smiled and laughed, scratching Beast Boy behind the ears. He indulged himself a moment, purring, before hopping from her arms and turning back to his usual humanoid form.
"We totally thought that the freaky demon hurt you again!" he said. "And we were gonna wail on her if we saw her—like this!" He began to throw punches and kick at the air, adding his special brand of cheesy sound effects. In the middle of a dramatic finishing pose, he noticed that the smile had fallen from Starfire's face. He stopped posing and lowered his gaze slightly, worrying his upper lip with his fang. "Sorry. Um, we're glad you're OK."
"I am glad to be unharmed," Starfire murmured. She glanced around the room, a small cold sphere in her chest growing slightly when she did not see Raven anywhere. "Please, where is Raven?" Abruptly, the coldness doubled in size. "Has…has something happened to her?"
"She's fine," Robin said quickly, reassuringly. "She's on the roof right now. She's been up there since we got back a few hours ago."
"But why is she there and not with us?" Starfire asked.
"My guess is that she's meditating. She's probably getting ready for—" He stopped in mid sentence, looking away.
"For what?"
"She said…she's going to fight Kali." The cold sphere in Starfire's chest swelled and exploded, sending a cold wash running under her skin. She turned and flew from the room. Robin watched her go, but did not linger.
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Raven sat on the roof's edge, watching as the sun vanished below the horizon. From behind her, she heard the stairwell door open. A moment later, shaking arms wrapped around her shoulders from behind. Her cloak fluttered from the rush of air that came when Starfire dropped to her knees. Faintly, Raven could hear Starfire's tears as they fell onto her shoulder. She reached up with one hand, touching Starfire's arm gently.
"I do not wish for you to fight her," Starfire whispered. "I do not wish for you to be injured. Please, dearest Raven, please." Raven turned and put her arms around Starfire to complete the embrace. Starfire held her tight, quietly crying and trembling.
"It's all right," Raven said. She rubbed Starfire's back slowly, the way she always did. Starfire let out a soft sob at the familiar and comforting feeling of Raven's fingers on her skin, wishing and wishing that it would not end. She held Raven against her, desperate to keep them exactly where they were. After some time, Raven reached up and wiped away Starfire's tears.
"It's all right," Raven said again. "Don't worry. I know what to do."
"What?" Starfire asked. Raven gave her a small, secretive smile.
"Let me worry about Kali," she said. "I want you to think about what you're going to do about Blackfire." Starfire's eyebrows went up. She had not forgotten that her sister was the cause of all the pain she had suffered, but she had not wanted to think of that fact. With a sigh, she turned her gaze away and sniffed once.
"I will fight her," she said, her voice strong. She looked at Raven, and her voice grew soft when she spoke again. "Please, Raven, promise to me that you will not be hurt." In absolute seriousness, she lifted the pinky finger of her right hand and held it out to Raven. It took no thought for Raven to reciprocate the gesture, linking their fingers together. She shook, sealing the vow with another smile.
"It's going to be a full moon tonight," she murmured. "We can watch it rise." Starfire nodded and settled herself next to Raven. With her arm over Raven's shoulders and Raven's arm around her waist, they sat and waited. They watched as stars appeared and the moon rose—as the light gently took in the darkness. They sat and watched, holding each other close.
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The moon hung high in the black sky above—in exactly the place it always was at midnight. Kali closed her eyes, drawing in upon herself even further. Faintly, she could sense the two heroines' approach. She heard Blackfire stand from her boulder suddenly and knew that they were in sight. A soft crunch of gravel marked their landing on the ground. Kali stood up and opened her eyes, finding Starfire and Raven standing before her.
Six hours was long enough for Blackfire. She did not fire off a snippy comment or witty insult; she charged at Starfire with her fists glowing. Starfire leapt into the air and Blackfire raced after her, flinging star bolts with every ounce of strength in her body. Kali watched them for a moment and turned to look at Raven.
Again, there were no words. Kali drew her sword, staring at the reflection of the moon in the silver blade. When her hand started to shake, she gripped the sword tighter in an attempt to make it stop. The shaking only increased, and the hurt she felt in her chest pummeled at her ironclad heart. The fissures in her guard—ones that had appeared only hours earlier—grew, and finally broke it completely. She rushed at Raven with a howl, aiming a thrust at the young woman's heart.
Raven dodged to the right, and ducked quickly when Kali stopped, whirled, and swung the sword at her head. A simple thought summoned her sword, and she thrust at Kali's shoulder. The demon woman did not dodge, only jerking away when the blade tip pierced her skin. Her foot came up from the ground and slammed into Raven's stomach. The blow lifted Raven off her feet and pushed her back through the air. Before she landed again, Kali rushed again.
Far above, dark violet and bright green light collided and burst into a brilliant explosion. Flurries of star bolts drowned out the light of the stars above. Punches struck chins and chests, and kicks hit knees and ankles. Every blow traded could have easily smashed through steel, but would only result in painful bruises on bones for the two aliens.
Slowly but surely, Starfire gained the upper hand. Her strikes found their targets and she dodged away from most of Blackfire's attacks. She was focused where Blackfire was erratic, able to summon more strength and more energy. By the time the next pair of star bolts flew from Blackfire's hands, the twin blasts from Starfire were three-quarters of the way there. A new explosion blossomed, close enough to Blackfire to make her lift her arms to protect her face.
Starfire flew through the fireball with her fists forward, crashing into Blackfire. The older woman bent slightly from the twin punches to her stomach, unable to react when star bolts flowed from Starfire's hands. Flying unwillingly backwards, Blackfire's anger swelled as her subconscious finally told her the truth.
It should have been obvious to her when she tried to take over Tamaran. Although her powers had been nearly tripled by the crystal she had worn, Starfire had beaten her. Blackfire had only faced opponents she knew were weaker than herself for years. She took far more pleasure in lording over her opponent than in victory alone, and she paid for her arrogance. Her strength and her skills had diminished.
Starfire was stronger and faster than Blackfire had been in her prime, and was fighting with everything she had. There was no way for Blackfire to win, and she understood that with the next blow. Starfire caught up to her and lifted her fists high over her head, energy surrounding her hands. She brought her fists down, hitting Blackfire in the middle of the back and sending her flying at the ground.
The ground shattered when Blackfire hit it, dirt and dust erupting in a blinding cloud. Starfire swooped down into the cloud and landed, taking a few slow steps. Her sister did not attack, and, when the cloud settled, Starfire found her unconscious in the rubble. Starfire allowed herself a small smile at her victory, but the sound of magic against metal made her turn about quickly.
In terms of knowing a style, Raven and Kali were equal. They had been taught the same attack patterns, and the same methods of defense. In either offense or defense, they were mirrors. They knew what was coming by the smallest change in the other's stance or how the sword was held. Were the knowledge of the technique the only measurement of the fight, they would have fought forever in a stalemate.
While Kali was more experienced in duels to the death and completely willing to kill, there were far more factors stacked in Raven's favor. Raven was simply more powerful. Her magic made her faster and stronger, and she was absolutely calm. Desperation and rage and hurt did not rip at every part of her as they did to Kali.
What guaranteed Raven's victory was none of this. The battle would be won because Kali wanted to lose. She did not dodge, instead letting the blade cut into her. Only when she was wounded did she move away and start her assault anew. She quickly grew covered in wounds, her blood leaving footprints in the dirt after every step. Her breath came raggedly, and her strikes came slower. Raven saw her weariness, felt her pain, heard the soft sobs that wrenched free of the demon woman's throat.
When Kali rushed headlong at her once more, Raven kicked her hard in the chest. Kali hit the ground and was only able to rise back up to her knees. She coughed, drops of blood shaking free from her wounds at the jerking of her body. In the back of her mind, Raven noted that the blood dripping onto the ground was red and remembered that black blood was unique to one demon. With that memory, she let her sword fade away.
"Better finish things, Raven," Kali muttered.
"Things are finished," Raven replied.
"I'm still alive. Kill me, or I'll come back for Starfire's head." The threat once could have angered Raven—driven her to action. Now, as Kali knelt weeping and nearly begging, Raven felt nothing but pity.
"I'm not going to kill you," she said. Kali's eyes went wide in shock, then narrow as tears burned them. She bowed her head, hands going limp. After a moment, she lifted her sword from the ground by its blade. Raven saw her turn the sword around and position it over her own heart with shaking hands. "Kali, wait! Don't!" Kali looked up with a sad smile and pulled the sword at herself.
Her fingers slid along the blade as if it was wet ice, and the edge did not cut her hands. She unexpectedly thumped her chest as her hands slipped from the sword. Kali stared at the sword as it hovered in the air, untouched.
"Kali." She was unable to turn around completely, as the owner of the sweetly familiar voice knelt down and wrapped her in a warm embrace before she could move too much. "I'm sorry." Kali touched one of the arms around her and found it was real. "I'm sorry all of this happened." She felt the gentle kiss laid on her forehead, and tears came unbidden from her eyes.
Chaos paused, hearing the faintest sound of rocks shifting. She looked up and found Blackfire struggling to her feet with energy dancing in her hands. Raven and Starfire turned at Blackfire's enraged scream, reflexively drawing back at the sight of the mass of the energy in her hands. Before her scream had ended, Chaos stood before her.
The next scream from Blackfire came when Chaos grabbed each hand and crushed every bone in them. She fell to her knees, Chaos still holding tight to her ruined hands. Chaos regarded her with narrow eyes, frowning down at her.
"First thing," she murmured. She tightened her grip on Blackfire's hands. "You do not attack someone while their back is turned. Second thing—" She ground the broken bones together. "—You do not try to attack someone so close to my little blackbird. And the last thing—" She lifted Blackfire off the ground and stared her in the eye, six red eyes flashing. "—You never try to attack the woman I love."
Black flames danced into the world through Blackfire's skin. She screamed for only a moment before she was consumed and turned to ash. Starfire stared as the ash was carried away on the wind, turning to Chaos with wide eyes. Chaos looked back, closing her eyes with the faintest bow of her head.
"Chaos?" Kali stood up and took a shaky step toward Chaos. Her eyes were wide with disbelief. At the sight of Chaos's smile, Kali smiled and went to her. She collapsed against Chaos in weariness and pain and absolute joy, pressing her face into the taller woman's chest. Chaos picked her up and held her close. She began to walk away, but paused and looked at Starfire once again. There was nothing for her to say, and so she did not try. She merely bowed her head once more before turning to Raven.
"Thanks," she murmured softly. "It'll be all right." She smirked slightly. "Here's hoping I don't have to come back in a week. See you around, little blackbird." She walked away, wings manifesting and lifting her and Kali into the air and out of sight. Raven did not watch her go, reaching out and taking Starfire's hand in hers. It was a long time before they went home.
—to be concluded—