This Prison

Chapter Two

Destinies

(A/N: this is starting of two years later.)

"There has to be a way to stop it!" yelled a certain violet-eyed girl in rage. She threw a book across the chamber in anger, rather out of character for her. She suddenly sat down, head in her hands. She let out what seemed to me a sob and began to chant her words of power, often referred to as a mantra nowadays.

"Azarath Metrion Zinthos. Azarath Metrion Zinthos. Azarath Metrion Zinthos…" The young girl trailed off into mutters. Her back straightened as if she had been jabbed with a pin and she held her middle digits to her thumbs. Her small gray hands rested themselves delicately on her knees. After a few more rounds of her chant, the dark girl was suspended in midair. It was an amazing feat indeed. Levitating, in my day, was nearly impossible to achieve. Azarathian meditation, though, was one of the most challenging forms of meditation I have ever attempted.

And yet, before me hovered a lady who'd perfected it in her earliest years of life. It was simple to the dark one; it was simple as breathing to her.

The girl went on with her session for quite a time. It was a good hour or two before any interruptions were seen. Then again, it could have been a good time sooner. I have really let my sense of time slip away whilst being trapped in this book for a thousand years.

At first, the meditator went rigid. Her eyelids pushed themselves together, attempting to block something out. Her thick eyebrows knit themselves together. Her muscles tensed. I was not surprised in the least. Ever since her sixteenth birthday, she had been having…interruptions in her sessions. I'm sure if I'd had a real mouth, I'd have been smirking. After all, who did she think she was, trying to pull the wool over a demon's eyes?

Over the next few minutes, her breathing became more and more irregular and her body shook. I could tell the visions before her frightened the girl to no end. She had it against her all along. It is no wonder she was easy to fool. I thought. She was frightened and uncertain of her future. That is why she was so happy to have me about.

Suddenly, her eyes finally snapped open. Shock and fear shown in the glossy violet orbs. Her hands shot out from her sides, as if to catch herself. Instantly, she fell onto her bed from lack of concentration.

"I can try…" She muttered with a cracking voice. I chuckled to myself. As if a mere girl could stop a demon. It was even less likely of her to defeat her own father.

Trigon was this girl's father. He had sired her for his sole purposes: to aid him in the conquer of the Earth and its universe. This was a prophecy predicted at her birth. She'd known her destiny all her life, and still, she rejected it. Why she did not wish to end a world which caused her to suffer so baffled me.

Yes, this girl, Raven, still suffered here, as in all places. She was constantly rejected and taunted and called names of all sorts. Her "friend"…the green one…he has still teased her of being creepy since my return to the book. Raven hides her emotions from her friends, especially Beast Boy. The days that happened, Raven would disappear in her chambers for the remainder of the day to cry. She'd steal several glances at my chest and mutter and shake her head. Surly she was remembering me. There were other times where Raven would just sit in her room all day long. She'd never eat or sleep or even read her hundreds of blasted books. Instead, she'd sit, embracing her knees, staring at the walls with tears in her eyes. She would not cry, only let her wide eyes brim with the liquid. Why would this pathetic girl sit idle all day?

And soon enough, my answer came. It came in the form of a bird, oddly enough. You see, unbeknownst to the others, the dark mystic has a little pet, if you will. A bird. A raven to be more specific. It perches on the headboard. Raven calls the raven "Merrill". The girl will talk to Merrill and stroke his feathers affectionately, once again, out of character. And she finally let slip quite a shocking tidbit to the bird a month or two ago.

Flashback

"He never notices me." She spoke softly, barely audible. The bird let out a soft caw as if to respond. "He only notices Starfire." Raven sat on the bed, holding out her arm for her pet to land upon. It fluttered over, cawing again. "I just wish…I wish he loved me the way I love him." I am sure if I could speak outside of the book, I would have tsked. Not a soul could love her; not a soul could understand a demon…unless it was another demon. I pushed that thought aside and listened intently. "I shouldn't kid myself should I? Robin is out of my league."

End flashback

And I'm sure if I could have made any noise whatsoever with the book closed, I would have laughed.

Raven sat on her bed, and suddenly, I felt her eyes on my prison of a chest. She stood up, and to my surprise, strode over to the box and lifted the lid without hesitation. She lifted my book out of it, blowing dust off the cover.

"Malchior?" She questioned. I was too stunned to reply. She flipped through the pages of my book. She found my page, and our eyes connected. I hesitated before speaking.

"Need my help again, do we?" I spoke slowly. I wasn't going to let old wounds heal; not a chance…

"Yes." I looked at her with narrowed eyes. I hadn't actually expected her to admit she needed me, of all people (or books) for help. Not that I actually would help her.

"You cannot stop your destiny." She stared at me in confusion. Her brows were knitted again.

"How do you-"

"Know? Well, sweet Raven, I've been watching you." She visibly cringed at the sound of my old term for her. "I scarcely know how I am capable of it, but I have been able to see all that goes on within these walls. I have also been able to, unbelievably, access your minds." I watched as her eyes widened. I chuckled. "All of your minds." Her jaw dropped.

"What? How…"

"I haven't the slightest idea, fair lady. But I will let you know, the one called Robin is-"

"I don't care! How long have you been doing this?" she spat.

"As long as your spell has trapped me within the book." She shut her eyes, as if thinking.

"Did you enter my mind?" She asked slowly. Anger was rising. Unfortunately, I had not been capable of entering Raven's thoughts. It had been too well protected.

"No; I have not."

"Liar."

"I do not-"

"Liar!" she cried. "Tell me-"

"Raven? Who are you talking to?" a voice asked through the door. Raven's eyes widened as the one called Robin began to enter the code to her door.

………………………………...

A/N: Oh, no! Another cliffy! So how's the chappie? Sorry it took me so long to update. I was trying to figure out which way to take the thing. Hoped you liked it! Please review!