Disclaimer: I don't have the rights to the Teen Titans, but I do for Ghost Blade.


Chapter 7.The Voices

"She saved you, you know?" Raven said.

Valere had awake from a month long sleeping fest and was presently trying to rebuilt his muscles by walking around the island. Raven had be relatively quiet until then.

"I know." Valere responded. "Zelda has great power. To know when I'm hurt from that distance, and to think that it'll continue to grow as she does. She will be a great hero and I think she already knows that."

Raven looked at her love and noticed that he was looking into oblivion, despite not really having eyes under the bandages. "What is it?"

"I heard them." He responded. "Voices I knew, but couldn't put faces to. They kept talking to me, telling me things that were distorted, things that I can't remember." Valere turned to Raven. "But, before them, there was another voice, Malchior's. I need to talk to him later."

They continued to walk the beach, hand in hand.

--- --- ---

Raven sat Valere down in the chair in front of his desk that had Malchior on it.

"Long time, no see." Malchior said. Raven gave the book a dirty look. "I meant it as a greeting."

"Just call for me when you're done." She told Valere. before kissing him and leaving.

"A little over concerned, don't you think?" Malchior asked.

Valere shrugged. "I am blind."

The book snickered. "I guess she forgot you can sense soul energy."

"Seems to be so." Valere responded. "I've got a question I need answered. You spoke to me while I was unconsciousness when they first brought me back here after the battle with Blood and Slash."

"Correct."

Valere shook him head. "That wasn't my question. While you were talking to me, did you hear any other voices?" The silence that followed the question unnerved him.

"I did, but all I know is that it was a girl's voice." There was something in Malchior's voice that was even more unsettling. Even worse, Valere couldn't hear Malchior's thoughts.

"What do you know?" There was anger in Valere now. He knew it was important that he found out what was going on. He knew the voices were important too, even though he couldn't put a face to them.

"Please, for everyones sake, forget about them." Malchior did know something, but he had found a way to hide it from him.

Valere got to his feet and walked to the door. "You might not help me, but someone else will." And, with that, he walked out the door.

--- --- ---

Raven turned to her door as it swished open. Valere walked in and sat down on the bed. "I need your help."

"I don't think you do. I asked you to call for me when you were done, instead you walk back here and sit down on the edge of the bed perfectly. I think you can handle you're self fine."

Valere smiles evilly for a moment. "I know, but not with that. I need you to put me in a coma and then enter my mind."

"What!" Raven practically yelled out. "Do you have any idea how dangerous that is? Do you know how many deadly factors are involved with trying that?"

"Are they all on my part?" He asked.

Raven didn't want to answer because she knew what his response would be. "Yes."

Valere sighed. "I really need you to do this. I need to find out who's voices I heard. Malchior knows something and he's found a way to prevent me from hearing his thoughts. I also think I know who Slash is. I need to figure out what's going on." Valere knew that Raven didn't want to risk it, but he needed her to do this.

"Fine." She motioned to the bed. "I need to to go to sleep. When you've fallen asleep, I'll do the rest."

Valere kissed her, then went over to Zelda, who was asleep in her crib, and kissed her on the forehead. He then lay down on the bed and soon fell into sleep.

--- --- ---

He was in a city that he had long ago left, not on his own free will, but by the hands of a man he'd never forgive. The man who was responsible for his pain.

Images of his battles in this city, passed him by. All those he had killed were being killed again before his eyes. All the people he loved and lost were dying once more. He was in his memories.

Then, they all stopped. Everything faded away as Raven appeared next to him. She took his hand.

"I'm over here."

Someone in the distance of the white void, waved to them. Suddenly, they were standing right in front of the person. It was a young woman, wearing a dark red, leather bodysuit. She had long blond hair and green eyes.

"Help me, I'm trapped!" She yelled.