Chapter 19
Geo force sat on the edge of a cliff, reflecting on everything that had happened since his return to Jump City. The prince had learned that his sister had returned, only to reject him and the rest of her old life. To make matters worse, Raven had cast a spell on him, to bind them together forever! "I just can't believe she'd do that without asking me first!" He thought to himself.
Bryon stared out over the Horizon, scanning the city. The Titans were right... this place had changed a lot while they (and he) had been away. The pizza place was gone, as was the prince's favorite bookstore. Even the coffee shop he and Raven had gone to was nothing more than a pile of rubble. What was it Terra had said? "Things change... people change..." Bryon repeated the word under his breath. He knew, now more than ever, how true those words were.
"Everything changes." He thought to himself. "Everything around us is always in motion. Places, events, even people are always changing..." Geo looked up into the sky. "Terra was seeking a normal life, a change that would have brought an end to all the chaos she's experienced. An end to much of her pain." The prince looked back out at the city again. "And Raven was seeking a change too, one that would bring and end to her loneliness."
Suddenly, a thought struck Bryon. "Have I only helped to add to their pain?" He asked himself. "Was my anger at Terra and Raven a product of my own selfishness, my resentment of change?" Geo suddenly felt a pang of guilt over how he had treated Raven and his sister. "I wish I could speak to ether one right now..."
"-Bryon?-" Raven's voice echoed in his mind, starling him. He had forgotten about the telepathic aspect of the bond!
"-My angel!-" he thought back to her happily. "-I'm so glad to hear... er, receive your thoughts!-" He closed his eye. "-Raven, I am so sorry I treated you like that. You were right, I was willing to let the spell work.-" He admitted, opening his eyes again. "-Can you ever forgive me?-"
"-Only if you can forgive me, Geo." She replied."- I still should have talked to you, before I cast the spell.-"
Bryon smiled. "-Perhaps I should come back to the Tower.-" He told Raven. "-Where we could talk about this face to face.-"
"-Yes, I would like that very much-" Raven said enthusiastically.
Standing up, Geo-Force flew out over the city, heading straight for Titan's tower.
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In the caverns beneath the Hive academy, a small group stood assembled. Among them were academy students Phobia and Shimmer. Houngan, the purple robed Voodoo shaman, stood beside the mercenary Red X. And Dr. Jayce stood beside the simplified Terra. They were waiting on the leader of the H.I.V.E. to arrive.
"What's taking the old man so long?" Red asked, annoyed.
"Be silent, heretic!" Hougan snarled. "The master will arrive when he is ready!"
With all the waiting, Jayce's mind began to wonder. She looked up at the gargoyles lining the ceiling. Suddenly, she saw one of them move! "What's that ?" The doctor shrieked in Terror.
One of the statues detached itself from the wall, and flew down to stand beside them. Red X and Shimmer took a fighting stance, but Houngan raised his arm to stop them. "Calm yourselves. It is only Brother Blood's servant, the Gargoyle."
"What is he?" Jayce asked, looking at the beast in disgust. The creature had Grey skin, a powerful body, and gray, leathery wings. It was like something out of a horror movie.
"The Gargoyle was once a man named Bromwell Stikk." Houngun explained. "He came to Brother Blood...badly injured, and begging to be healed." The Voodoo shaman looked back at the creature. "the master offered him a bargain... He would heal Bromwell, if Bromwell agreed to Serve the Hive."
Houngan smiled. "Stikk agreed, and we used one of Dr.Jayce's potions on him." he gestured toward the Gargoyle. "This was the end result."
The doctor stared at the creature in horror. Her science had done this?
Just then, Brother Blood entered the Room. "Ah, good! You're all here!" He said enthusiastically. "Time to initiate my plan!"
"What are yours orders, my lord?" Phobia asked obediently. "We await you command!"
"Red X...Shimmer...Houngan...Phobia... and Gargoyle...My Fearsome Five!" Blood looked back at them. "You five shall travel ahead to Jump city. It will be your job to keep the five Titans busy." He gestured Back to Terra. "While they are distracted fighting you, Terra here will demolish the city!"
"A transport is waiting to carry you to jump city in an hour!" Blood turned to leave the room. "Now, go and prepare yourselves! Go forth, and bring glory to the Hive!"
Blood climbed the Stairs, leaving the Fearsome five to ready themselves for the task ahead.
