A/N: Standard Disclaimers Apply

Chapter Six: Divine Retribution

The village of Bavrov sat nestled in an idyllic valley, tucked away in the time lost country of Zandia. The villagers now lived as their ancestors did, herding, farming, and staying out of trouble. The man with the flashy smile and the flashy car came and went, with only the young girls remembering he had ever existed at all.

Lujic Cusceco, the village veterinarian, drove one of the only trucks in the village. He simply called his old, blue, four-wheel drive "The Beast" and drove along the old, winding, dirt road into Bavrov to check on Gildra the Herdsman's dog.

He slammed on the breaks.

Bavrov was a burnt shell. Some of the old structures still glowed red and smoke blackened the air. Cusceco flung the door open only to have his senses assaulted by the woeful cries of victims, the stench of burned human flesh, and the heat still coming from the rubble.

"Sweet Mother of God," he gasped. Cusceco grabbed his medicine bag. He wasn't a medical doctor, but he could offer whatever help he could.

"Maria!" he said recognizing the uncharred remains of a shall. He knelt by the woman to discover it was too late. She had been beaten to death and then set on fire. The doctor said a quiet prayer for the woman's soul and walked down the middle of the street, hoping to find any survivors.

"Hello!" he called. "Is anyone there?"

Cusceco shielded his eyes as he drifted through the smoke. He saw several forms standing in the village square and jogged up to them. Suddenly he fell, hit from behind by something blunt. The doctor sprawled on the ground, but was hoisted by two people. He groggily looked around. They were men in red robes and drug Cusceco into the middle of the assembly. They threw him to the ground at the village well.

Another robed man stood. He, too, wore red, but ornate black and gold embroidery decorated the hem of his robes.

"Where is the stranger?" the leader asked unemotionally.

"The who?"

"The stranger that was here several days ago, doctor. He took something from us, and we want it back."

"I… don't know what you're talking about," the veterinarian said honestly.

"Unfortunate. We had a pact. We were to live in peace without interference, as guaranteed by your forefathers. For generations the pact has been kept, but now…."

The leader took a slow, deep breath.

"I ask you again, who was that man?"

Cusceco groaned, "I don't know, some Frenchmen. He stayed in the room above the Wolf's Head and was gone the next morning."

The leader knelt, cupped the doctor's chin with his hand, and kissed Cusceco's forehead.

"I forgive you. Bless you, my son."

He walked away and the other red robed people descended on Cusceco with staves and spears.

…..

Raven lit a lavender and vanilla scented candle and sat on the floor. She crossed her legs and took the lotus position. Her hands rested palms up on her thighs. Here large violet eyes closed slowly, and she paid careful attention to her breathing. Her charkas were out of balance, and she slowly breathed her mantra, focusing her mind and spirit. Raven pictured a tranquil lagoon in her mind: deep, unfathomable, and a near midnight blue. Warmth filled the witch as she thought about the ocean breeze and sparkling white sand. The breeze brushed through her like fingers and across her lips like a kiss.

A slight moan escaped her lips as they parted. Her legs slid closed, as she felt the imagined kiss deepen. A name formed at the back of her mind, as she craned her neck, feeling the kiss drift from her lips to her shoulder. She prayed that he could really kiss like she imagined, and Raven rubbed her knees together slowly.

She let out another small moan and whispered his name.

…..

Vic slid the straw into the smoothie he just finished for Jinx. The pale sorceress smiled up at the massive teen and swirled the straw through the thick drink. She remembered the HIVE's school dance, where she and Vic spun the night away.

She still hasn't forgiven him.

But he was so damn good looking.

Kory sat on the large sofa. She purred and nuzzled the top with her magnificent head. Her eyes closed and she could smell Robin's slightly spicy scent on the furniture. Her fingers kneaded the spot lightly, betraying her species origins as felines, and released more of Robin's scent. She breathed in and purred even louder. A primal warmth started to overtake her and she began to run her hands slowly along her body.

The willowy girl sat straight up and took a long, shuddering breath. Vic and Jinx looked up, not realizing they were about to kiss.

"Star?" Cyborg asked. "You okay?"

"No, I am not," she said. Her body felt like a lit match. Her senses were on overload. A desperate need hollowed her, one she knew could only be filled by Robin.

Starfire flew to her room and leaned on the door. Her body glistened with perspiration, and her most sensitive parts ached. For no explainable reason, Koriand'r was desperately aroused.

"X'hal, why is this happening?"

…..

Robin stepped out onto the landing pad. He glanced around at his second home, the dark, dank, sinkhole that tried to suck out his soul. But he beat it. He beat the cave.

"Master Richard!"

Robin turned to face the tall, thin, crisply dressed man, and a smile actually creased his lips. Robin rushed over and clapped his hand on the other's shoulder.

"Alfred!"

"It's always a pleasure to see you," Alfred said warmly.

"I feel the same way." Robin came close to asking about Bruce.

"Dudes! I can't believe I'm in the honest to god Batcave!"

"It appears that you inadvertently brought a friend," a bemused Alfred joked.

Robin turned to see Garfield Logan wandering about, staring at everything he could. "What the hell are you doing here?" Robin snarled.

Beast Boy turned eyes wide. He glanced around and tugged at his collar. "Um, yeah. Well, you know how much I love Paris, yeah, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, you know? Anyway, you said you were going and I thought you might need…"

Garfield droned on, but Robin heard the soft sounds of waves lapping against the shore. A lavender scent wafted in and he felt as if someone wrapped arms about him. He felt a pair of soft hands dance along his chest.

Richard, Robin heard at the back of his mind, come to me, please, Richard. I need you.

Raven?

We have a bond…

…..

Shimmer brushed her fingers through Ravager's long, silken hair. She subtly changed the air around them, and they both breathed in vapors of Ecstasy. Their kisses became hotter, and their hands began to mutually explore their bodies. The redhead leaned the white haired woman back and began to lick the nape of her neck.

"Oh, Rose," Selinda moaned.

ENOUGH!

Shimmer and Ravager were thrown to opposite ends of the room. Ravager was the first to get up. She turned to see their leader standing in the doorway, two pinpricks of glowing black light smoldered under his hood.