Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans
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Chapter Ten: Rescued
Red-X lowered the binoculars from his masked eyes. He passed them over to Starfire "I don't see any lights." he told Robin "But they could be under the house."
"Or they could not be here at all… I had some people pull up info on Slade. He's the suspect in thousands of assassinations but they can't pin anything on him. That either means he's got cash or he's smart. In this case it's both… Batman has tangled with him once before. He says that for some reason he's obsessed with destroying me."
For some reason Starfire found this funny. She giggled hiding her mouth behind one hand. "Please forgive me, I tend to laugh under stress." she said when she finally calmed down.
Red-X shook his head and stowed the equipment. "Alright let's go."
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Wintergreen sighed as he heard the doorbell ring. Getting out of his armchair he walked down the hall to the front door. He opened it slowly. "May I help you?" he asked mechanically.
Three very oddly dressed children were standing out on the front steps. One he recognized as Robin from Mister Slade's news clippings. The girl looked like on of the thieves Miss Terra had described to him one night over dinner. The third was clad in all black except for a mask that looked like a skull with a red X carved into the cheek.
"Hello." the one with the X said cracking his knuckles "We'd like to talk with Slade. Is he home?" he braced himself for the door to close.
"I apologize, Mister Slade has returned to Jump City." Wintergreen replied "If it is business you wish to speak to him about you will have to go there."
Starfire's eyes glowed neon green and her fists lit up with starbolts "Where are my friends!" she demanded pointing the energy blast at the man's head.
Wintergreen paled slightly and backed up a few steps. Robin reached out and latched onto Starfire's arm "Chill Star," he whispered "Let me try. Then you can kick his butt, K?"
The alien beauty let the starbolts fade and crossed her arms with a snort. Red-X leaned against a pillar "You got the floor kid. Five minutes before I start busting heads."
Robin glared at him and turned to Wintergreen "Sir, are you aware that your employer has taken two of the Teen Titans into custody along with two wanted thieves?"
"… I am. I wasn't supposed to know anything about them but Miss Terra let it slip over dinner one night."
Robin's masked eyes narrowed and he dared a step further into the mansion "Is there anyway you could tell us where they are?"
The butler seemed to hesitate then motioned for them to come inside. The threesome followed him down a flight of stairs into a dreary basement. Wintergreen pulled a rug aside, revealing the faint outline of a trap door in the concrete. Starfire kneeled over the door and heaved at the ring. She grunted as she hauled it open. "Heavy." she gasped.
"Slade's got superhuman abilities. It wouldn't be heavy for him and Terra could just open it with her powers easily." Robin said slithering down into the hole.
"Do you three wish for me to come with you?" Wintergreen called down the ladder "Or would you rather I not interfere?"
Red-X's head popped out of the hole startling the old man. "The less you know, the less you can tell the police." he said with a smile in his voice.
The thief, hero, and whatever Red-X was, found themselves in a long dark hallway. Starfire's left hand lit up with green light creating a ten foot circle.
They passed several doors but all of them were unlocked. One was a gym. Another was a kitchen, a third was a bedroom. The fourth was a control room.
"Alright then, let's see what Slade's little cameras can show us." Red-X quickly scanned panes. Most of them just looked into empty rooms. No Raven, Kid Flash, Jinx, or Beast Boy.
Starfire wilted and hung her head "Where are my friends?" she whispered softly. Tears dripped onto the floor.
Robin reached over to touch her shoulder. Behind them the door slid open and someone fell stumbled inside with a grunt.
"Terra!"
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Beast Boy rammed his shoulder into the mirror. It shattered littering the ground with glass. He stepped back breathing hard. The only mirror left in the circular room showed Slade's reflection.
"Face it boy," he said with an evil smirk beneath that stupid mask "She never loved you. Who could?"
Beast Boy roared in anger and leapt at the mirror "Shut up!" he screamed slamming his fist into the mad man's face. The mirror shattered.
He fell to his knees panting. His gloves were torn to shreds and his knuckles were bleeding. He clutched his head in his hands and let the tears fall among the blood, glass and pieces of his broken heart.
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Kid Flash was running. His blood roared in his ears as his feet pounded on the earth. He didn't know where he was all he knew was that he was going.
Suddenly he saw Slade standing in his path. He skidded to a stop and looked around to see if his friends were at his side. They weren't.
Slade lifted a gun "You may be able to jump around at the speed of sound," he commented aiming "But you stopped. That makes you a target. A target I can hit."
Kid Flash was frozen to the spot. Cliché but it was true. He heard the gun go off and watched the bullet heading towards him. And yet that was all he could do. Watch.
The lead made impact. The speedster screamed in pain and fell on his side, clutching his left knee as blood spurted through his gloved hands.
Slade grinned "No more running for you."
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Jinx was kneeling on the floor; the carpet around her stained blood red. In front of her was a man slumped forward into the ground. The witch's pink eyes were wide as she stared at the corpse in front of her. Her mouth hung open in pure shock.
"Killer." said a voice behind her.
Kid Flash stepped out of nowhere. His face was turned down in a scowl.
"Killer." another voice echoed.
Wally moved into view. He was glaring at her.
"Killer." that was Raven's voice.
"Killer." Starfire repeated glaring at the young hexess. Her eyes glowed with pure malice as she gazed at the witch.
Beast Boy and Robin stepped into the circle that was surrounding her "Killer." they bother said in unison.
Jinx looked around the faces "No," she whispered "No! I didn't do it! I swear it wasn't me! It was her!" she whirled in a circle "Wally! You have to believe me!" Jinx pleaded "It's me! It's Jennifer! We go to school together! I wouldn't do this!"
"Killer." the red head said in a cold voice.
Jinx backed away from him. She turned to run but Raven blocked her path "Killer." the empath whispered her white eyes blazing in the shadow of her hood.
The young thief turned to go a different way but each time she was faced with someone. Each time the same word was repeated "Killer."
"No!" Jinx screamed holding her head "I'm not a killer!" she fell to her knees sobbing.
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Raven smelled smoke. She smelled brimstone. She knew those smells all too well. She knew where she was all too well. She was in hell.
"Welcome home my daughter." a deep brass voice rumbled. A huge red demon with four yellow eyes, shoulder length white hair, and antlers sat in a huge stone throne.
Raven levitated to her feet "This is not my home." she retorted "My home is on Azarath with Azar, the monks and my mother."
The demon smirked "Yes, of course; that is why you are terrorizing the mortals on Earth." the grin showed off rows of sharp white teeth.
"Get away from me!" Raven yelled "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" the familiar inky cloud surrounded her as she moved through the dimensions.
When she reappeared she was in the middle of a street in Jump City. For a moment she panicked then realized that no one was going to notice her.
Above the city was a huge black and purple dragon. It breathed fire down onto the buildings, laughing as people screamed in terror. Its red eyes focused on Raven. It flew over and landed in front of her "Hello my sweet Raven." it greeted blowing smoke into her face.
"Go to heaven." Raven spat using the worst insult she could think of.
The dragon clicked its tongue "Such a spirit." the great beast's form twisted and shrank until it was a man with snow white hair and bright blue eyes "I will have to tame it when we are married. It should not be too difficult."
"Shut up!"
The man moved towards Raven and lifted her head "Why fight it Raven? Your father can give you powers you have never even dreamed of." he smiled "Sooner or later you will have to return to hell and then you will become my bride. As was prophesied at our births." he leaned down and kissed the half demon on the lips.
Raven bit him. Hard. He pulled away laughing as the blood formed on his lips. Raven growled in frustration "Shut up Malchior!"
The outline of a huge raven appeared in the sky. It cried once then disappeared into a portal.
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Okay everything that the girls experience is going to be important in the sequels...
This year at my school a family I know, their dad got cancer. He died the weekend right before school ended. So if you could all keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Raven's Shadow Of Light
