'And now we're dancing like the dance of the seven veils, every move closer till the moment we lose ourselves.' - Lucie Silvas

CHAPTER 2 - FALLING

That night, Raven stayed alone in her room. She still didn't feel 100, that knock on the head done her no justice. She managed to get a decent nights sleep though, considering. She woke up quite early, got dressed in her blue leotard with matching cape and boots, brushed her violet hair and made her way downstairs to breakfast, stopping in the infirmary on the way to get a bottle of aspirin for her headache.

She walked through the doors of the Control Room/kitchen. It was a usual morning in the tower, Starfire was watching some gross documentary about algae and fungi on the television, Robin was sitting at the table reading the newspaper and waiting for breakfast, which Cyborg was preparing, and Beast Boy was questioning the ingredients being used. Raven sat down at the table opposite Robin and opened the aspirin bottle. He put down the paper.

"You okay?" he asked concernedly.

"Yeah, it's just a headache." she said popping three aspirins in her mouth.

Robin wasn't too convinced. "You want me or Cy to check you out just in case?"

"No, it's fine, seriously." she said reassuringly.

"If you're sure." Robin replied taking one more glance at Raven, giving her a I-know-it's-not-okay-but-I'll-leave-it-for-now look and then returning his attention to the newspaper.

Raven used her powers to conjure the 'Book of Azar' from the sofa. She winced as she felt a pain down her back. Little did she know that the spider tattoo that Tattoo Tarot had planted on her was quickly spinning a web across her back. She felt a burning sensation and let out a moan. Robin put down the paper again and looked at Raven.

"What is it?" he asked leaning forward.

"I dunno." Raven moaned. "Must've slept in a funny position." she said rubbing her lower back.

"Did Tarot hurt your back when he pinned you?" he asked.

(A.N. The Titans know the villain as 'Tarot' but we know him as 'Tattoo Tarot' so it's the same person! Just wanted to straighten that out!)

"I dunno. I don't think so anyway. Besides, the pain's gone now. It was probably a spasm." she said, looking away from Robin and starting to read her book. She didn't get very far. Cyborg came over with plates of waffles for everyone and Tofu waffles for Beast Boy.

Beast Boy and Starfire went and sat down and they all tucked into their breakfast.

"Ummm friend Cyborg. These holey pancakes are deliciously pleasant for the taste buds!" Starfire smiled as she happily chewed away.

"Yeah dude! You cooked the tofu just right!" Beast Boy said as maple syrup dripped down his green mouth.

"After breakfast, we'll have an hour training session. Tarot beat us too easily yesterday, and he doesn't even have any powers." Robin said to his team mates.

"That we know of anyway." Cyborg said seriously. "I'm up for that."

Everyone nodded at Robin's suggestion. They all had to admit, yesterday's fight went badly and Tattoo Tarot had got away. All of them needed a lesson or two.

"Alright then, it's 9:00, we'll meet on the roof in twenty minutes." Robin said getting up and putting his plate in the sink for Beast Boy to wash up later. Everyone copied and left the table. Robin and Starfire went to their rooms, Cyborg and Beast Boy ran for the Gamestation controllers and Raven sat outside and continued reading her book.


It was 9:20 a.m. and everyone was on the Titans Tower roof awaiting Robin's orders. He was the leader after all.

"Alright Titans. We'll start with hand to hand combat, then we'll use weapons and powers. Rae, Cy and BB, you'll work in a three and I'll work with Star. Titans go!"

The two teams went off to separate ends of the roof. Raven and Beast Boy started by trying to take down Cyborg.

"Dude! You're going down!" Beast Boy bragged to Cyborg.

"Per-leaze! I can beat your skinny green butt anytime man!" Cyborg smiled.

"How about today?" Raven said sarcastically as Beast Boy transformed into a kangaroo and fly kicked Cyborg into the basketball hoop.

"Nice distraction dudette!" Beast Boy said to Raven, waiting for a high five.

"I don't do high fives. And it's hand to hand training. No transforming!" Raven said.

Beast Boy saw Cyborg running towards him. He quickly dodged out of the way, leaving Raven an open target for Cyborg's incoming punch. Raven, having good reflexes, dodged Cyborg's fist and kicked him to the ground.

"Nice try." she said nonchalantly helping Cyborg back to his feet.

"Try this one then Rae!" Cyborg said kicking Raven in the side and sending her flying.

"Dude! Nice one!" Beast Boy cheered.

"You okay Raven?" Cyborg shouted to the empath.

"Just fine!" Raven said sounding a little angry. That kick got her completely off guard.

"Come on Raven. Let's see what you've really got!" said Beast Boy, who transformed into an elephant and was ready to squash Raven. (Lightly of course! Even though it's a training session they're all still friends!)

Raven's eyes glowed white and her hands were surrounded in black energy. She levitated off the roof and floated in mid air a little away from Beast Boy. She felt the same twinge in her back as before, but this time it was much more painful.

"Azarath…"

Cyborg looked at Raven. He could see something was wrong.

"Metrion…"

Raven tried to fight back the pain but it was too strong. As she spoke, the spider tattoo had once again come to life, thanks to her wondrous powers, and had continued spinning it's web. It was now covering half of her back. She slowly felt herself falling.

"Zinthos!"

Raven felt dizzy and the sky was spinning. Everything was going black. Beast Boy turned back into human form and stood with Cyborg, and watched their friend fall from the sky and over the side of the tower, quickly dropping towards the sea and rocks at the bottom. Cyborg ran up to the edge.

"RAVEN!" he shouted over. "BB, GRAB HER!"

Following orders, Beast Boy speedily turned into an eagle and flew over the edge, picking up speed to rescue Raven, who was getting closer and closer to the water below. Beast Boy used all his strength to get to her in time… and he just did. With his massive claws, he grabbed Raven's shoulders and pulled her back up to the top of the roof. Beast Boy dropped the unconscious empath. Cyborg did a quick scan while Beast Boy contacted Starfire.

"Star, it's B." he said.

"Why hello friend Beast Boy. I assume your training session is going well yes?" Starfire smiled.

"No! Raven fell off the roof. Cyborg and I are taking her to the infirmary. She's okay I think but meet us there okay." Beast Boy said quickly, looking from the communicator to Cyborg and Raven.

"Oh no! I will inform Robin and we will meet you inside!" Starfire said looking slightly worried and she signed off.

Beast Boy went up to Cyborg.

"Is she gonna be okay?" he asked.

"I dunno man. But I need to get her inside." Cyborg replied picking up Raven.

Raven groaned and slowly opened her eyes.

"Cyborg?" she whispered.

"Hey. I'm taking you inside okay. You fell off the roof." he said wiping a hair from her pale face.

"I… what?" she whispered back, obviously not remembering any of the past five minutes.

"Shhh. I'll explain later." Cyborg smiled as he carried Raven into the infirmary with Beast Boy right behind them. As soon as her body touched the bed, she screamed and then quickly fell asleep.

Cyborg started hooking a few wires to Raven. Even though she just collapsed, it was in midair, which never happened to her before, and Cyborg treated Raven like his little sister and just wanted to make sure there was nothing seriously wrong. Beast Boy sat next to Raven. Just then, Robin came running in with Starfire.

"Cyborg, what happened?" Robin said with a worried tone.

"Her and BB were preparing to fight. She rose into the air and her eyes glowed, you know as usual, but she looked in pain. Then after she said 'Zinthos' she just fell unconscious and fell from the sky to the ground." Cyborg informed the Boy Wonder and the worried Tamaranian.

"Did friend Raven hit the ground?" Starfire asked.

"No, I caught her just in time." Beast Boy said.

"But is it serious? Or did she just collapse?" Robin asked Cyborg who was doing a few simple tests.

"Well I dunno man. I just did a quick brain scan to see if it's from yesterday's bang on the head, but that seems okay. She looked fine before. I kicked her in the side in the practise but that wouldn't have done anything. I was gentle. She just went pale and fell. I think she's just tired or something."

"When she wakes up I'll talk to her." Robin said looking at Raven.

"She woke up while I was bringing her here and she couldn't remember a thing." Cyborg said.

"Maybe she'll remember later." Starfire added.

"Come on y'all. Let's leave her to rest." Cyborg said. He followed Beast Boy and Starfire out of the infirmary.

"Aren't you coming man?" Cyborg asked.

"I'll stay with her." Robin answered sitting in Beast Boy's chair. Cyborg smiled.

"I'll make us some lunch." he said and left down the corridor.


It had been an hour and everyone had eaten their lunch. Robin had stayed with Raven and the others had eaten in the control room and were talking about the earlier events. Robin could hear them from the infirmary…

"She just fell. It was quite frightening." Beast Boy said.

"But that is very unlike her." Starfire observed.

"I know. Do you think that Tarot had something to do with this?" Beast Boy asked.

"I dunno. But she'll be fine. She'll need to take it easy today and possibly tomorrow. What could Tarot have done?" Cyborg said lastly.

Robin was interrupted by a moan beside him. Raven had woken up.

"Where am I?" she groaned.

"The infirmary." Robin smiled.

"But…" Raven started.

"You fell from the sky off the roof while preparing to fight BB. BB caught you and he and Cyborg rushed you here." Robin said, quoting what the green changeling and the half man/half robot had said an hour beforehand.

"It all happened so fast." Raven said.

"What happened so fast?" Robin questioned moving closer to her.

"As soon as my hands turned black with energy, I felt a rush of pain. Sort of like this morning when I summoned my book. When I said 'Azarath Metrion Zinthos' I just lost it and everything went black."

Robin looked at her. She looked a little sad.

"Do you think it could be Trigon again?" Robin asked quietly, not wanting to upset her even more. Raven hated her father more than anything and hated the subject being brought up.

"I destroyed that bastard. I don't think so?" Raven said nonchalantly.

"Were you tired?" Robin questioned.

"No." Raven answered monotonously.

"Was it Tarot?" Robin said picking up on what the others were saying in the control room.

"Why would he? He's a new villain. He has no reason to." Raven said.

"Since when did a villain need an excuse to hurt a Teen Titan?" Robin asked.

"I don't know what it was, but I'm gonna take it easy with my powers for today and see what happens." Raven said as she got out of the bed and unhooked all the wires.

"Need a hand to your room?" Robin asked.

"Okay." Raven said as she walked with Robin towards her gothic sanctum.

"I'll be asleep. But I'll see you all later." Raven smiled at Robin.

"Sure." he replied as Raven opened her door and walked into her room.

"Rae?" Robin said just before the door closed. "You will tell me what's going on if you figure it out. Or if you're hurt again right?"

Raven looked at him. Because Robin was the leader, it was his duty to check the welfare of the team and protect them. Raven could see he looked guilty, even though he had no reason to be.

"Of course Robin."

Raven walked back into her room and lay on her bed.

"Ah, what's wrong with me?" Raven sighed.

Robin heard her say that through the door. "You tell me Rae." he thought as he made his way to the Control Room, and his fellow Titans.


Well, that was chapter 2! Hope you enjoyed in and you'll carry on reading. Love Hollie xoxox