yumemiruhana: I don't know, every story I read has her name spelled differently... oh well, everyone knows who I mean...
Dark Shadow 01: Yes, Raven will tell them her story in basis. Sorry for reviewing late as well, I got sick...TT
§
She walked slowly down the frozen, colorless roads. Her black cloak swished gently at her heels, violet eyes capturing everything, and yet seeing nothing. Celeste was remembering.
§
"Celeste, come on!" Arielle sighed dramatically at six.
"What are you leading me into now Arielle?" Celeste's twelve-year old self asked with mock irritation.
"Somewhere fun!" The younger girl jumped, her light amethyst hair swaying in its tie.
With a laugh, her elder sister ran ahead.
§
Her feet clod silently on the dusty road, taking paths without conscience. Celeste passed her old school, now nothing more then a pile of bricks. A clearing where she had painted a carnival ride blue, and even the Halloween store she had her first job at. Memories ran over like paint on a canvas. They dead world faded, and was replaced by colors and sounds. Happiness, rebellion, sorrow, regret, all faces of a life she once knew.
With a sudden halt, she turned to see a small, winding brick path. Each stone was as familiar as the small, two-bedroom house had been. Though it had no color in reality, she saw it as it once was. The walls were a dark ivory, black shutters drawn over three large windows. The large door was made of dark wood, but there was never an air of foreboding. Perhaps it was the beautiful crimson roses that crept up one side, or the untamed grass. No matter what, that dark house had always been a refuge from the harshness of the outside world.
616 Manor Lane, Jump City... An address flowed into her mind, followed by a word.
Home... Without a second thought, the dark woman slid toward the house.
§
"It has been hours." Desparos stated worriedly as his vivid eyes scanned the alien world.
"Did she say where she was going?" Raven asked, finished briefing her friends with her mother's history.
"Somewhere safe, which I doubt." He replied with annoyance.
"Home," Adena stated calmly.
"What?" BB asked the small girl.
"Mistress Celeste has gone 'Home'. Where is home? I thought home was back in Azerath." Adena continued, her red eyes curious.
"616 Manor Lane, Jump City..." A spark went off in Arielle. "That is where we used to live. Celeste must have gone there!"
"Home," Adena repeated strangely.
"Do you think you can still find it?" Robin asked quickly.
For a moment, she looked around at her fallen world sadly. Then a brave smile lit her face. "Yes"
§
Her heart thudded hard against her chest, emotions swirling around in her head, making her usually steady hand shake. Celeste sat down gently in the frozen cushion, which instantly lit to a pale yellow hue and softened at her touch. Her normally sharp sight was blurred as Celeste looked at the lone figure in front of her.
A stone man of startling craftsmanship stood in front of her. His callused hands were bent over a frozen dish, wiping off little specks of grime. His hair, even through the stone was detailed and life-like to astounding for any worker. Thinning, it hung higher up on his forehead then normally. Two eyes were looking down at his work, eyes filled with permanent dejection. The soft features had been tattered with a few lines, but the long nose, wide lips, thick eyebrows, and probing eyes remained intact. His stature was tall and lean, the beginning of recessions showing. He looked older then he should.
Time seemed to fade as Celeste's eyes trailed over his form, memories floating along with wisps of regret, guilt, and protective fondness. Years seemed to fall away, and yet they had never seemed so long. She contemplated something for a moment, and then decided with uncut thoughts. Entrancingly, Celeste pulled herself out of the soft cushion and began walking to the man in the other room. As in a dream, her graceful form floated across the ground. Everywhere her heavy boots tapped, color spread out brilliantly against the drab background. The carpet became a worn jade, the walls a pale off-white, scratched and faded. The kitchen tiles wove out a design of hexagons, a masterpiece of shapes withins shapes that would make anyone dizzy after prolonged staring. Sky-light blues blended with stronger turquoises and obsidian black to form a multi-colored floor. Carefully stepping around the small, circular table she approached the man. A foot away she froze, an uncharacteristic emotional display showed on her face. Fear, longing, uncertainty, love, sorrow, age; they all blended to paste shining eyes and tight skin. Then, with practiced ease, she breathed in. Once, twice, the last step; and then her slender hand descended lightly onto the old man's stone form.
"Friend Celeste!" Starfire burst through the door, momentarily pausing to look at the bizarre splash of color.
"Sister!" Arielle climbed through the door, walking to the kitchen and halting with a sharp intake of breath.
§
Color sew through the man's body. His hair became dark gray, eyes a stunning lilac against peach skin. The cracked lips flourished into deep red, eyebrows deepening, and even the polo shirt and slacks he wore changed to their separate blue and tan. He blinked.
With a shake, the plate clattered back into the empty sink, water splashing from it.
"What—Who...?" His voice was soft as he spun around, flinching as he saw the group standing in his house.
There was a pause.
"C-celeste?" He gasped, eyes widening in shock.
"Hello father," She replied with gentle emotionless.
His eyes wandered farther, catching sight of the younger girl.
"Arielle?" He croaked, unable to move.
"Daddy!" She ran to him, embracing him warmly while tears ran down his face.
"I—I thought you were both dead." The man cried.
Celeste gave him a comforting smile. "Arielle can explain it. We have been... away." The commotion in the small kitchen allowed her to slip out of the room. Passing Raven, she paused and whispered.
"You may go meet your grandfather if you wish. He is a good man, and will love you no matter what."
"Where are you running off to?" She asked, intuitive to the way her mother was fading from the room, a trick she herself often used.
Celeste's dark violet orbs fell on a graceful photo, her pale hand grasped the frame for a moment, then she replied as color washed over it.
"To meet someone."
Raven didn't press her, but looked over to where Arielle was leading her father to the colored chair; sitting him down to tell the story.
"Go over and talk to him." Robin's voice muttered close to her ear.
With a shrug she replied. "If he doesn't hate me... then I will."
§
Celeste strode past the ground quickly. Arielle and her father were too emotional to notice her quiet leave, Raven would not tell, but Desparos would be on her heels in less then a moment. She had felt the probing crimson orbs on her back the entire time. Of course, he wouldn't know his way, and it would take awhile for Arielle to calm down enough to tell him. The Mistress of Azerath had purposely lifted Trigon's spell from the photo, allowing them to know where she was going. She would have enough time to finish what needed to be done.
Rounding the next corner, she paused at a familiar house.
No, he will not be in his childhood house. His dreams were too big, no he will be in the Temple Manor. She thought of the house, subconsciously teleporting to it.
§
"One day we are going to get out of this old city!" He exclaimed, letting her hand go to exaggerate the words with excited gestures.
Celeste laughed. "Tell me, oh wise fortune teller, what does our future hold?"
The boy, no older then 17, stood beside her on the faded stone wall, a mock look of superiority on his aristocratic features.
"I have seen a wedding, deep in a wild tropical island, under the night sky with stars as our lights and candles as our flowers."
"And what of the bride?" Celeste's sixteen-year old self asked with slightly sedated tones.
He grasped her, catching her from a dramatic fall.
"She is the most beautiful of all mortals, even outshining the stars in her flowing ivory dress."
With a content smile she bent back, completely relaxed in his grip.
"And the groom? What does he look like?"
"A fat toad."
She laughed again, pulling herself up.
"Well, I can't have that. Perhaps if I kiss the toad, he will turn into a prince." She leaned closer to his light skin.
"If such a fair lady were to kiss him, he would surely become the wealthiest of all men." He replied, startling pale green eyes glowing back out under dark brown locks.
She complied with a gentle brush against his lips.
"And where would they live, this mysterious couple?" Celeste questioned.
He grinned, a deep fire lighting his eyes. "Far away in Italy, in the large Manor that was once used as a temple for the Romans, for it is the most intriguing and beautiful house, only matched by its Mistress."
Her artistic face broke into a soft smile under the hallowed moonlight.
§
The story had been told, and as predicted the man, now known as Dale, had no hate for Raven; but rather a kind of instant love for the granddaughter he had never known.
"Put that hood down," He commanded not unkindly.
Raven complied, trying to sort her own feelings for her grandfather.
His lilac eyes searched her face, a sandpaper finger tracing her cheek.
"You are your mother's daughter." Dale said softly with wise eyes.
Raven didn't know what to say.
"It's your eyes, you have that same look Celeste always had, dreamer's dark eyes." He continued. "And you'll reach that dream someday."
With an odd shuffle, Desparos cleared his throat.
"Although I am glad that you have found each other," The guardian began. "My charge has wandered off again."
Dale eyes Desparos strangely, a knowing smile creeping on his lips. "Celeste's guardian—eh?"
The demon nodded, unsure of what to say.
"Where has she gone now?" Arielle asked with a sigh.
"The picture," Raven said at once, walking over to grasp it.
The frame was a delicate silver, detailed with a sky, birds, suns, stars, and moons circling. The photo itself seemed old, with faint tearing at the edges, but still in good condition. It was Celeste, a sixteen or so year old girl with wavy black locks that shaded purple-blue in the soft light. Her pale complexion was unbroken, and small, artsy features harmoniously blending with 'dreamer eyes' and a soft smile. Their was a boy next to her, a year older then her by looks. He had fair skin, a shade or two darker then her. His deep amber hair was angled down to neck, long stands sweeping occasionally into pale green eyes. High arching eyebrows, strong lips, and prominent cheekbone showed his descent from some ancient culture. His lean form was relaxed as he winked at the photographer, holding an arm around Celeste's shoulder.
"Kage," Arielle and Dale said in union.
"It was her boyfriend." Arielle explained quickly. "Before she was... captured."
"I think I still know the way to his house." The woman added.
Her father shook his head. "No, Kage left this city a year after he graduating High School. He only stayed to see if your sister would return, spent days out looking for her... I think he lives in Italy now, in the old Manor they went to visit one summer."
"Temple Manor?" Arielle asked, unsure. "I have never been. There is no way for me to help find her."
"I can find her." Adena's small voice peaked over them. "But she wants to be alone..."
"Please take us to her Adena. We don't want anything to happen to her." Cyborg said soothingly.
The girl eyed them all with a strange wisdom in her young eyes. Then she shrugged, and replied, "Link hands, I can take you to Mistress, but not Father Dale, magic is bad for mortals and it might hurt you." Her face was informative.
"I'll stay with him." Arielle said instantly.
Adena nodded, her black hair falling straight down her back. So old for someone so young.
As they linked hands, Raven felt her power fed to the child.
"Erathorn, Maduane, Mih'dean..." She repeated the strange phrase, a shadow cloaking them. My sworn blood calls to my Mistress. Raven translated silently.
§
The mansion was huge, spacious and carried a forlorn beauty. Tall pillars stood in the entrance-way, columns of ivory leading to the arching doorway. Black, white, and red roses grew healthily around the manor, giving it a wild look. The house stood three storied high, renovated long from its original temple format. The walls were pale gray stone, high stained glass windows refracting. Her footsteps poured color along, undoing Trigon's spell to freeze life. Head held high, she went through the arching doors.
The first room unfolded to a dusty red carpet, spiraling staircase leading upstairs. Celeste's strange senses felt a life, trapped by dark powers, up in the master bedroom.
Regally walking up the stone steps, her heart pounded. Through a lamp-lit hallway, past closed and open doors. Pausing occasionaly to look in she made her way down the long hall. She came to a large sweep, door crannied open. Celeste walked through decisively.
The floor lit to a deep jade carpet that muffled her steps. A sprawling bed took up one corner, sheets a fine silk of black and green. A single window took up almost an entire wall. Murals of crusades and gods pasted around the walls, along with antique tables with photos.
Her subconscience marked each detail of the room, but her higher intelligence was locked on the stone man standing passively by the window.
Her face darkened, but her stride increased; touching the carefully carved hand. Color washed over his features. The hair had darkened, still unaffected by gray. The lean face structure remained, but his hair was cut more manageable, light eyes easy to see. A faint scar crossed his nose, making him resemble a Roman solder. His lean frame had gotten taller and filled out slightly, but no fat clung to his form. The skin had darkened another shade or so to have a pale golden flush. With a shudder, the man in his forties shook himself, looking younger then he really was.
Grasping the windowsill to hold himself up, Kage took a rattling breath.
"Monster—Sapphire, take Ben and Ally..." The words bounced off his lips.
"Is that her name," Celeste asked softly, turning to the frozen woman in mid-step.
"She is beautiful."
Kage blinked in confusion, seeing his dead room lit only by Celeste's path.
"What happened?" He had not yet turned to the woman.
"A demon under-lord has risen, and claimed this world for his own. The mortals here have been trapped under his power." Her voice was glassy.
Now, he turned to the woman. Her black cloak fell lightly to her ankles, her dark eyes unfathomable.
Kage stared at her for a moment, unsure.
"Who are you? Are you here to save us or something?" He asked, his voice low and placid.
Celeste had her back turned, her dark hair rustling purple in the twilight. "I will save you."
"Why have you... helped me?" He stepped closer, trying to get a good look at her.
"I only wanted to... see I suppose." Her voice faded out, a deep note of sadness.
"Is something wrong?" Kage questioned, circling slowly around.
The flicker of movement made her turn slightly, but it was enough. The violet eyes pierced him under strands of hair, pale skin gleaming.
He stopped, disbelief for the first time on his features. "Celeste?" His calm voice carried a hoarse sorrow.
Turning away, Celeste continued,
"I saw your daughter on the way in... She was perfect."
"Ally, and Ben?" Kage's voice shook.
"He was in his cradle, I didn't get a good look at him. But if he has his father's genes he must be lovely." For the first time in over sixteen years, her control was breaking.
"Celeste... is it really you?" His voice escalated, echoing off the stone.
The woman turned around, eyes meeting. She didn't have to reply.
There was a silence, as the two studied each other.
"I—I thought you were dead." Kage chocked.
"I was captured by the same force that now holds your world." She moved, her cloak swaying ever so slightly.
He didn't even doubt her statement.
"I looked for you, everyday after you left. I... I thought you had been kidnapped." The man murmured, eyes never leaving the woman in front of him.
"But I was, and for all these years I have been." Celeste replied softly, unable to keep the pain from her voice.
Old instincts struck him as he stepped forward to comfort her.
"I am happy for you. You have a good life, and a caring family." The Queen of Azerath said.
"I loved you Celeste, I still love you." He cried softly, walking over to a locked draw, pulling the key and unlocking it. Pictures of them, poems and promises unfulfilled littered the drawer. He pulled out a small, velvet box colored gray.
With a light touch, she lifted the spell from the box, giving it a black velvet color. She opened it, and inside was a ring. The band was pure silver, a white diamond glittered in the shape of a crescent moon, twin topaz stars on inlaid on either side.
"I was going to give it to you on your graduation." He explained loftily.
She shut the box with a soft thump, and looked at him with regret.
"It was a nice dream Kage, but I am not the same; you are not the same... Our lives were forced apart by fate, for better or for worse, we cannot change that."
He blinked, understanding in his eyes.
"But... if this hadn't happened, if you had never been taken; would you have come with me?" Few words spelled a lifetime.
Celeste paused, her eyes shining.
"To live the life Sapphire has now, with you and children... I would have been happier then any."
"I used to feel like I was betraying Sapphire. I imagined little Ally with dark hair, and Ben with your pale skin... Part of me was always married to you." He admitted gently.
Celeste layed the box back into his hand, curling his long fingers around it.
"But that part is free now. A part of me will always love you Kage, but both of us have grown. Your heart now belongs to this life, as mine belongs to another. You cannot lead two paths. Live, and be happy." Her words were laced with power.
"I will never forget you." He sighed softly, as Trigon's magic wound over him again.
"Nor will I." Celeste whispered, allowing the magic to imprison him again. He would be free soon enough.
And with that she turned and ran. She raced down the stairs and out the hall, hair streaming as her cloak billowed. She ran from her life, her first love, her happiness. And at the end of her journey, was a daughter, a duty, and perhaps even, another chance at love. There was no turning back.
§
The group appeared at the top of a gray hill, overlooking a great house with telltale splotches of color.
Adena pointed softly to the faded playground a few feet away from them.
Celeste sat on a still swing, her long hair falling over her face silently.
"What is wrong with her?" Beast Boy muttered to Robin.
"I don't know." He whispered back.
There was a great pause of stillness, and then little Adena walked over to her mistress.
"Are you crying?" Her eyes seeing far more then any mortal eyes can.
With a muffled sob, she grasped the child's hand, a tear trailing down her cheek.
"I'm alright now, I'm alright."
§
A/N- I did tell you they were going to get longer. This just gave some vague details on Celeste's past, allowed Raven to see more family, and set everything up for my end. Next chapter has a lot more of the Titans, and a lot more action. Sorry about the minor fighting, but there is going to be a whole battle scene at the end. Anyways, review and tell me what you think!