A/N: And we're back. Let's get after it.
DemonKnightOfHell: Glad to be back!
HDbookworm12: Thank you, I tried to keep her as close to canon as I could while still making her character make sense given her new background.
kotomi101: Thank you, the chapter felt sort of off to me, but I'm glad it landed well. And don't worry, at the risk of sounding spoilery, that definitely won't be the path I take.
Chadbunger: That's good to hear; I'm working on it in the background at the moment, but I'm not ready to start posting it yet.
suprumme: I've noticed that too, but I'm going to try my damnedest not to be one of them. Also, that's a fantastic fic idea. I'd 100% read that if not write it at some point, if you're cool with me using the idea.
XIII
The house of Lilith was as opulent as one might expect for a demon of her status. More black stone architecture was the defining feature, interspersed with red and gold. It was rather Victorian, overall, and Jinx could envision it hosting an elegant ball as easily as she could a gathering of vampires.
The inside was of a considerably lighter palette, but there was no time to take in much else, as their hostess was already in the foyer to greet them.
"Hello, Raven, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Lilith was about as stereotypical as a demon could be; purple skin, bat wings, spaded tail, and a pair of back swept horns were the most obvious details that set her apart from a human. Of course, one could be forgiven for overlooking these traits in favour of her other... assets, as gravity had apparently elected to ignore parts of her entirely.
"Just visiting today. My friend asked if she could meet you." She gestured with a hand toward Jinx, who stepped forward to take the offered handshake.
"Hi, I'm Jinx."
"Hello, Jinx, I must say, it's been quite some time since- Well, that is interesting." Lilith's smile was unnerving, to say the least.
"Uh, something wrong?" Jinx asked hesitantly.
"Oh, it's nothing, you just... remind me of someone I haven't seen in quite some time. Raven, would you mind if I borrow your friend for a little while?"
"As long as she's alright with it."
"Would you indulge me, Jinx? It'll take around an hour or so."
"Okay, I guess. What do you need me for?"
"It's complicated to explain, but nothing harmful, I promise." She put a hand on Jinx's shoulder and began leading her towards one of the rooms numerous exits. "Oh, Raven, do feel free to use the, er, chamber; I really should give it a name of some sort, shouldn't I? Well, you know the one." Raven nodded, waving for the boys to follow her.
"So, where're we headed?" Mammoth asked.
"A special room, designed to induce serenity. It's extremely potent magic; even the Flash would feel compelled to sit still and relax, provided one could get him in here." She came to a stop, opening a featureless white door into an equally white, though not blindingly so, circular room, nearly featureless itself if not for the three cloud-like seats spaced out in a triangular fashion. "You may join me, if you wish, or you can wait out here. If you do stay, I'm going to need you to stay silent; I have some thoughts to sort out." She didn't wait for an answer before floating over to the seat farthest toward the back and immediately settling into a meditative position, the "chair" quickly conforming underneath her.
"So, Jinx, tell me what you know about demons." Lilith had led her to an uncharacteristically small, candlelit room for such a grandiose abode, apparently her private study. Both Lilith's seat and the chaise Jinx was sat upon were upholstered with a curious looking leather that Jinx decided not to think too hard about.
"Eh, not a lot about demons themselves, other than what I've picked up from Rae, but she's not usually the topic of conversation. I mostly have an above average understanding of demonic magic, at least for a human."
"I suppose that much would be the minimum to be expected of one in a situation like yours. And was Raven the first demon you'd ever met?"
"Far as I know, 'less a demon was the one to scramble my brain when I was younger." Lilith took on an inquisitive look, so she continued. "Caught amnesia when I was a kid, never really recovered."
"That's rather interesting, you're a metahuman, correct?" Jinx gave a hesitant nod. "The hair, the skin, even your teeth could be explained away, but your eyes are far too convincing to be anything but genuine. Would you mind telling me about your abilities?"
"Oh, uh, sure. I'm a mage, but I can't really show you anything right now."
"That's quite alright, a demonstration won't be necessary." She leaned forward, lowering her voice a bit. "Before I ask you anything else, I want you to know, I am Raven's mentor first, and Trigon's subject second. I'm sure you've already figured this out, but Raven isn't exactly the most sociable demon. This in itself isn't exactly something to worry about. However, and I'll ask that you not tell her I mentioned this, you are her first real friend. I'm not about to jeopardize that for the sake of her father's vitriol. Now, I can't detect even the tracest spark of magic from you which means one of two things. Either you're the weakest of your kind in existence, or the two of you have taken it upon yourselves to suppress that magic."
"So is it not the majority of demons that hate chaos magic, then?"
"Hardly. Trigon is the one who can't stand it, and before you ask, I can't tell you why. I'm afraid that is a story pertaining to his Majesty's own past, and it would be something of a betrayal of his trust to be the one to tell you."
"Understandable, I suppose."
"I'm glad you agree. Now, I didn't bring you in here just to tell you you've been caught out. We've already established what you are; I'd like to try and determine who you are."
"Okay, what do you want to know?"
"I'm afraid I need to elaborate. You are an orphan, correct?"
"Legally, yes. Officially, I have no idea."
"Well, I believe I may your answer. The friend I mentioned earlier, her aura is remarkably similar to your own, even muted as it is, not to mention the physical similarities, though I'll admit they aren't as prominent. If you would be so kind as to give me a strand of your hair, I would be able to tell for certain."
"Hold on, you're telling me you know who my mom is?"
"I won't make a promise I can't keep, so right now, I'll just say I have a very firm hunch."
"So who is this friend?"
"I'd prefer not to say before I can confirm it."
"Uh, alright... so, you just need the one hair, yeah?"
"Just one, yes. The spell I'd be performing will consume it, so you needn't worry about leaving a piece of yourself here."
Jinx thought on it for a moment. Even if this was all a ruse, which was unlikely, given Raven's trust in the woman, she couldn't really see any negative outcomes from this that couldn't be dealt with. Although, there was one thought that was bothering her.
"I don't know, I've kinda put that part of my life behind me, I'm not sure if I wanna go digging it up."
"I can certainly admire that decision, but please hear me out. My friend has been missing for a very long time, now. This spell may be my only chance of finding her. I realize that may be a bit of pressure, and I apologize for that, but I'm afraid I don't have a lot of options. I won't force you to say yes, but just know that I would be indebted to you if you do.
Jinx deliberated for just another few seconds before plucking out a strand and holding it out for the demoness. "Okay, I'm gonna let my curiosity win out this time."
"Are you?" Lilith looked like she was trying to stifle a laugh. "I hear curiosity can be quite dangerous for-"
"Please don't." Jinx deadpanned.
They stared at each other for several seconds, while Lilith's shoulders shook with silent laughter. "...For cats." She did let it out now, but did her best to quiet it down quickly. "I'm sorry my dear, you're already in the Underworld, the irony was just too much."
"Fine, I walked into that one." Jinx admitted. "So what happens now?"
"Now, the years I've spent searching will, hopefully, come to fruition."
Mammoth walked into the room a bit uncertainly, but quickly became more than ready to stay here a while as he felt the tension leaving him. He took a seat, and it felt as though he'd achieved Nirvana.
For so long, he'd been their team's unofficial bodyguard. Even after Raven showed up, the habits formed from keeping an eye on a pair as unpredictable as Jinx and Gizmo for years did not leave one easily. He hadn't even realized how stressed he was until it was literally melted off of him.
With a sigh that sounded more akin to a lion yawning, he settled into a comfortable position for a nap that he sorely regretted not being able to take sooner.
Gizmo was even more skeptical as he followed his teammates into the room, though even he acquiesced to the room's ability soon enough. He felt his limbs sagging with tired weight, and his mind was right behind them.
He wasn't sure how exactly he felt about that. His default state of mind was to have a thousand and one different thoughts and ideas running through his head at any given time, and to have all that almost forcibly shoved onto the back burner...
"Yep, I'm done." Gizmo turned around before he'd even made it to the remaining chair, feeling much more comfortable once he was back out in the hallway where his thoughts returned to normal.
Raven was deep in thought now, in a very literal sense. Mammoth's breathing was louder than the average person's, but not enough to disturb her as she retreated within herself. Reality faded around her, and reassembled as something starkly different.
The layout of her own mind was something she assumed would apply others' minds as well, or, at the very least, those who were magically inclined, and for the most part, she was right. Jinx was not the first person who's psyche she'd fully entered, and she was unsure of the reason behind the sheer scale of it. Was it due to the same force responsible for her amnesia? Or was there yet more to Jinx herself that even she didn't know?
'I'm getting off track.' Raven refocused, willing her surroundings to further solidify. Her feet touched down on the stone floor of a large, circular chamber with a multitude of doors in every direction. She didn't need to consult every part of herself for the... Well, it wasn't necessarily a problem, per se, but it was certainly a distraction.
The first door she'd be going through was an easy choice, and with any luck, the only one that would be needed.
The throne room of Logic was in an unexpected state of disarray. Various memories were being played on repeat, nearly all of them revolving around a single pink-haired figure. Shadowy assistants were scattered about, writing things down, studying documents, or bringing things to a white-cloaked girl floating in the center of the room.
"Oh good, you're here." A mirror image of Raven's own features looked down at her, looking as stone-faced as a demon could manage. "I assume I don't need to explain this situation." She waved an arm, gesturing around to their general surroundings.
"No, I think I can take a guess." Raven drew closer to her. "But can you tell me what exactly is causing this uncertainty?"
"Well, the simplest explanation would be infatuation." The aspect focused on a specific memory. It was one of their training sessions, and Jinx was doing particularly well. She danced around their mechanical enemies as easily as if the entire event had been choreographed. Beams of pink energy surged in all directions as she dismantled the opposition, leading to an awkward moment for Raven, too distracted watching her teammate to notice a rather large weapon being swung her way. The fact that she let herself get hit was extremely embarrassing, and ripping the bot in half did nothing to get the blood to vacate her cheeks.
"But...?"
"I sense her own being may be even more complex than we thought." Several still frames of Jinx were pulled up, each showing her using her abilities intensely. The images shifted suddenly, darkening her form, and bringing her aura into view. "Even if we didn't find her physically attractive, she is quite the curious anomaly besides. Tell me what you see here." She turned back to the images, all now dominated by a blazing fuchsia inferno. However, there was more than just magical energy that could be seen, if only just barely; strings of what looked to be written characters dotted the frames, but they looked completely alien to Raven.
"Are those words of power? I don't know any of these."
"No, we don't, and neither should she. These words, they aren't mortally derived."
"Then where would they come from?"
"I think they may be something... metaphysical. It would make the most sense as to why we can't understand a single thing about them. Father, as powerful as he is, is a god in name only. These, however..." she traced one of the words with a finger. "I believe these are truly divine."
"Divine? The same being who took her memories?"
"Possibly, but it seems a bit odd that they would both hinder and empower her at the same time. For the moment, I suggest we keep a few eyes on her; I don't imagine that will be a terribly difficult task."
"I suppose not." Raven decided to ignore the fact she was being teased by her own psyche. "Is that all you had to say, or can you provide some insight for the actual reason I'm here in the first place?"
"If you wanted emotional assistance, you've chosen the wrong door. But then, you already knew that."
Jinx watched Lilith work with muted fascination. The hair she'd provided was placed in a glass bottle that was then left suspended in the air in the middle of the room. Lilith moved with a practiced efficiency, tossing containers of varying sizes as she found them, each joining the bottle seemingly of their own volition. After she'd apparently found all she needed, she turned to face the collection of fluids, powders, and other ingredients, reciting an incantation with a speed Jinx had never witnessed before, to the point she had no idea what language it was even in.
As she spoke, everything started moving once again, mixing, pouring, stirring, and all other methods of combination simultaneously, the empty containers shelving themselves, until all that was left was the original bottle, now filled with a bright white liquid. This, the demoness plucked out of the air, taking it to a curtain that was then pulled aside to reveal an alcove containing a stone bowl on a pedestal, filled with water so clear and still it was almost invisible.
Slowly, the bottle was emptied into the bowl, the milky substance swirling on its own until it completely covered the top of the water. Finally, Lilith dipped a single finger in, disturbing the once serene pool and sending small waves in every direction, and when it settled again, they were left with a familiar sight now occupying the top layer in the bowl.
"Uh, no offense, but are you sure you did the spell right?" Jinx looked down in confusion. She recognized the face shown to them, but the odds of it actually being the right person seemed ridiculous.
"Perfectly, why?"
"It's just, I know her. Or, well, I sort of know her. She works for the school I go to."
"And you're one-hundred percent certain of this?"
"Definitely. Her name is Melanie, she's... actually, I'm not sure what her job title is, I think she's some kinda secretary."
"Wait just a moment, you're saying this woman," Lilith pointed at the bowl for emphasis. "is tasked with keeping things organized?"
"I mean, among other things, yeah. What's going on here? Either you're wrong, or she's not who I thought she is, so... Who are you saying she is?"
"This is, well... hm, there's really no delicate way to put this, is there? This is Eris, goddess of chaos, and you, my dear, are her demigod progeny."
The disorganization of her emotional demesne, while not unexpected, was much more pronounced than usual. Of course, the room's primary occupant was unbothered by this, and even seemed rather lax in the chaotic atmosphere.
"It's about time." The aspect addressed her. "This is an overdue conversation, and delaying the inevitable achieves nothing."
"Can we skip the self-lecture, and just get to the part where you're helpful?"
"I suppose, but the point still stands." She focused a memory of one of the many nights Raven had watched Jinx sleeping. There was an undeniable air of possessiveness to the event, and all others like it. "You didn't come here for advice, you came for validation. I've analyzed the possibilities and probabilities a myriad of times with Logic, and the conclusion is always the same."
"...Which is?"
"You already know what you want, and what you need to do. Mother seems to like her, and we already have a good start on warming her up to Father."
"Hmm, I suppose you're right. Very well, I'll... I'll do something soon."
"Excellent."
"Demigod?" Jinx was skeptical. "How exactly is it that this is the first I'm hearing this? I've spent the entire memorable portion of my life around metas and the like, and never once has anyone suspected I was anything but one of them."
"Have you ever met another demigod?"
"No, well, other than Raven. And that's another thing, shouldn't she have been able to tell?"
"Well, as far as the mortals are concerned, they mostly see what they want to see. To one who doesn't know the truth, you do fit quite well as a meta, so they would have no reason to think otherwise, especially considering just how rare it is to find someone with your particular lineage. As for Raven, her brothers and sisters are the only other significant experience she has in that particular field, so I can't say I'm surprised she didn't know, either."
"Ok, that's fair I guess, but what about her?" Jinx pointed to the bowl again. "You said she was 'missing', but she's never seemed like she was in any kind of trouble."
"That is... odd." She knit her brows. "Still, I'd like to be certain she's alright. I realize that sounds a bit silly when talking about a goddess, but divinity is not without its weaknesses."
"Sure, but it kinda sounds like you're asking for permission..."
"Sort of, but it's really Raven I should be asking. This school is her place of residence, yes?"
"Yeah, we all live there at the moment."
"Exactly, and for a demon of her stature, it would be improper to simply waltz up whenever I feel like."
"I can see that." She nodded. "So, we done here, or is there anything else?"
"Right, let's get you back to your friends."