a-hah! it's not a one hit wonder! back by no demand whatsoever, it's nightfall! … yeah, if you guys could review this time… that'd be great. not that I'm trying to push ya or anything…

Disclaimer: I still don't own the Teen Titans. If I did, they would still be on TV, Terra wouldn't have come back, and the Titans Night would be on the show.

-Elias's Anguish-

Parkreiner. A feared name, associated with slayers, hunters, and the damned. That name still holds some power in these days. A cursed clan, everyone born to that name is destined to burn in eternal flame, unless they can redeem themselves by slaying unholy creatures. Most accepted this fate. One did not.

"Dammit, Elias, kill her!" Elias looked back at his younger brother. "She's done nothing wrong, Stefan!"

"She's a demon, spawn of the devil himself! You must kill her! You know our fate. We have to do this. Besides, you're the only one in the family who doesn't enjoy this!" Elias looked down at the girl who lay at his feet. She whimpered as she sensed his gaze. "No, I won't!"

SHNICK! Stefan Parkreiner pulled the blade back, reforming the metallic limb back into his hand. "You weakling. Rest assured, Father will hear of this."
"You bastard. That girl was innocent! What gives us the right to do this?" Stefan snarled. "It is our destiny! Now stand down!" Elias had had enough. "Why? Why should I stand down? You're my younger brother! Show a little respect! It's my choice, and if I decide that hell is better than killing innocents, so be it!"

His brother's hand reformed into a metal blade, but Elias didn't notice it. "Stand down, brother..." "No, you monster! Don't you see? We have no right to be doing thi- Urk!"
Elias fell, a shocked look on his face as he grabbed at his brother's hand. "Listen, brother. We do this because we have to. Now I'm taking you home."

Several days had passed since the incident involving the demons. The elder Parkreiner brother had had his wounds bandaged, and was recovering. Elias slipped into his father's study, aware that he was about to be seriously reprimanded. "You wanted to see me, sir?"

Joshua Parkreiner glared at his son. "You've made a grave mistake, Elias. Our family has a legacy, and a curse. You know all about that. It's time you accepted it. I'm sending you to Rapture."
Elias gasped, but only bowed his head, nodding. "Yes, sir."

Five months after his fate was sealed, Elias had become accustomed to life at Rapture University, the training facility for demon hunters founded and sponsored by the Parkreiner family. Tyrone Washington glanced over at Elias, his friend and roommate.

"Yo, Eli, you okay?" Elias shook his head. "I dunno, Ty, I dunno. I've been here a good five months, Lord knows I've done perfectly good theory work, I know Father's been watching me, and yet I've heard nothing. I mean, sure, my practical work is down the drain, but I'm beginning to think they've forgotten me..."

"Have faith. I'm sure your own family wouldn't disown you. I bet that just because you're bemoaning them, there'll be something for you in today's mail." Elias snorted. "I doubt tha-" Knocking at the door interrupted their conversation.

"Letter for Elias Parkreiner?" As Elias closed the door, Tyrone smirked. "Told you."
Elias quickly read over the letter, his eyes aglow. "This is perfect. Father says that he's still disappointed in me, but he's going to give me a chance to redeem myself. Word is that there's a hive of demons in the western United States, and I'm to go there and destroy them. Transportation has already been arranged." Tyrone whistled. "Good luck, man."

Elias stepped out of LAX two days later, looking around at this new place. "Well, let's see what we can find..." Extending his supernatural senses, Parkreiner picked up on the demons somewhere to the south. Pulling out a map, he scanned for a place such a hive could stay. "Jump City..."

Several hours and one annoying taxi cab driver later, the demon hunter stepped out of his cab, slamming the door. Night was falling on the city, and Elias felt not a little uneasy. Jump City was not a peaceful place. As he stood there, the window of a nearby jewelry store shattered, and gunfire rang out into the night. Shocked, Elias only watched as five costumed teens, about his age, leapt to the attack. The whine of a charging energy rifle distracted his attention. Spotting the thief with the weapon, he ran towards him, drawing a small knife from a duffel bag on his back.

"Azerath, Metrion, Zinthos!" Those three words echoed through the night as a small, black wormhole opened up in front of Elias. The hunter, the rifle, and several pieces of trash were sucked into the rift. His scream was swallowed as well.

Elias awoke some time later, unbearably hot. Looking about him, he witnessed souls being tortured all around. He realized where he was. His father and brother had been right. Hell was to be his final resting place. He blacked out.

A young man awoke in a black nothingness. Looking around himself, he saw tiny pieces of debris floating about. He felt his grip on reality slipping. He knew not who or what he was. All he knew was that he was lost in this void. He watched as a floating piece of junk sailed at him. He gasped as it impacted with his shoulder. Some semblance of sanity returned to him, then slipped away.

Shocked, he scrambled in his bag, which was still strapped to his back, pulling a knife from it,. Experimentally, he drug the blade across his skin. At this new pain, his senses returned once more, only to be lost.
He continued with his self mutilation, floating alone in that void of nothingness.

He didn't know how long he had been trapped in this void, only that he had been there for too long. He was tired of this. He was weary of the prison of darkness he was trapped in. So far, he had only cut his skin. Now, he poised the knife over his heart, jerking into it harshly. Light exploded in his sanctum. Gasping, he managed to float towards the light.

Suddenly, he was thrown from his hell, leaving his heart behind him. He found himself in an unknown room. He drug himself out of the room and into the hallway. He passed out in a larger room.

The next morning, as he awoke, Robin frowned. He could smell blood in the Tower. Making early morning rounds, he came upon a trail of black ichor leading from Raven's room into the common room. The leader of the Teen Titans quickly pulled his communicator from his belt, awakening the Titans and summoning them to Raven's room. The team silently followed the trail, gasping collectively as they came upon the body of the unknown man on their floor.

The man awoke about a week later in another strange room, this one white. A redheaded young woman floated over to him as he stirred. "Robin, our guest has awoken."
Several more teens filed into the room, each stranger than the last. First, a masked teen made his way in, wearing a brightly colored uniform. Next came a blue-cloaked girl with purple hair. Following her was a short, green boy and a tall, half-metallic African-American.
"Wha- Where am I?"

"Titans Tower, home of the Teen Titans. I'm Robin, and these guys are Cyborg, Raven, Beast Boy, and Starfi-"

"Greetings! What is your name, where do you come from, what is your favorite color, and will you be my friend?"

The man stared blankly, then shook his head slowly. "Way too fast there, Starfi. I don't know the answers to any of your questions, but I will be your friend."

"GLORIOUS! You may call me Starfire or Kori!" The Tamaranean wrapped him in a hug, and he groaned.

"Err… Star?" Cyborg tapped the alien on the shoulder. "You're doing it again."

"Hehe…"The man looked back across the bay at the giant T. After having discovered his new powers and almost destroying the tower, he had decided to leave, despite Robin's offer of a spot on the team. However, he had taken a communicator with him.
He turned from the sight, intent on heading out into the world and finding a way to get his true form, and his memories, back. Until that time, he took the name of the feeling that plagued him. Anguish.

Anguish grinned to himself as he looked across the bay at a tower he hadn't seen in two weeks. It would be good to see the Titans again, as well as the new faces. He had received the word some days earlier that Robin had found five other prospects to add to the team.

The sun was just beginning to set, casting a beautiful red glow over the city. This effect was lost, however, on the young man climbing up the rocky shore to Titan's Tower. For one, his eyes were covered by the bandana wrapped around the top of his head. Second, he had other things on his mind.

So, there it is. Chapter the second. Hope y'all enjoy.