Disclaimer: I own Gale-gard, Maeson, Fernaco, Kenneth and the other elves in this chapter, but I don't own the Teen Titans
A/N: So … did I let you guys wait long enough? Tortured enough are ya? Well, I'll be merciful and give you the next chapter, Kenneth/Red X's explanation, a bit of the evil's perspective and something more to wet your whistle …
Enjoy!
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What?
Malchior raised a brow, "Your brother?"
Red X/Kenneth shrugged.
Rorek narrowed his eyes in suspicion, "You two both got the same last name and Fernaco is old enough to be your father now. Plus you never told me you had a brother."
Kenneth shrugged again, "You never asked, besides, I never thought it was important. My father and Fernaco both died, never knew'em in my life."
"Liar," Kenneth stiffened and looked to Raven shuttering at the extent of her evil dark glare boring into his soul, the dagger in her hand never helping to ease the nervousness as the dark sorceress pressed on. Obviously only conversing with him, "So it was you … you were that child that was with Fernaco, the one that I helped escape. You're an Azarian … aren't you? And this dagger … it's yours isn't it? Don't lie! I'm sick of lies! Tell the truth!"
"Look that was a long time ago!" Kenneth argued, "Fernaco thought it be fun of me to come and join in on his little heist into the palace of whatever. I hardly knew what the hell was going on back then, and as a further note I really don't remember you. It all happened so fast, and for the record I'm no Azarian as you think. 100 human here top-cop."
"Then why were you trying to lie just then," Raven pushed his buttons, "Why didn't you just come out and say that you did know Fernaco and probably even knew your father. Why bother to –"
"Because how would you like it if you were the bastard son of rich-billionaire that shunned you and your mother just because she was a peasant!" Kenneth shouted, his amber eyes heated, just like before with Malchior.
The dagger in Raven's hand suddenly burned her and she gasped, dropping it in pain and shock it clanged to the floor, but slid under the table to Kenneth. As if knowing exactly what was happening he maneuvered his feet around the blade and flipped it up into his hand, "My mother hated me because her rich lover left her, she couldn't afford an abortion and my "brother" didn't want her to kill me. Why? Who the fuck knows and who the fuck cares! All I know is I owed my life to that slimmy little bastard that was my half-brother, who later ditched and abandoned me because I was dead weight. Left me with a mother who didn't give a fuck if I stuck my damn head in a freakin' meat grinder. Heh … and I did it to! Too bad I was caught before I had my brains sold halfway across the damn world. What a headline that'll make."
Dark humor, Malchior couldn't help to shake his head and cough out a silent laugh, where as Kenneth snorted and chuckled anyway, never caring if he seemed rather insane at the moment. Raven blinked and looked to the sheath that protected and housed the dagger that was being flipped, twirled, and played with. The same way as she remembered the way the stories went. How all the grand tales that still were being told on how the legendary thief always walked the razor edge, never fearing of getting cut as he showed off his nimble fingers.
The blade reflected the light, as it danced across the thief's fingers. The look of humor at the same time regret flashed in his hazel eyes. He was human … Raven shook her head, shameful of herself for thinking that he was anything but. Of course he was human … what else did she think he'd be. An Azarian? That was a wish she'd never see granted.
Book still in hand she reached for the sheath of the dagger and walked around the table to his side, letting him watch as she reached and gestured for him to give her the dagger. Kenneth gave her a scrutinizing gaze but flipped the blade into his hand so the handle was pointed to her.
Raven took it and showed her apology by sliding the blade back into its rightful place and gave it back to its rightful owner. Feeling the content roll off the blade in waves. Raven looked up at X violet eyes burning into his own she let her thoughts be known, "I can't say I sympathize with you, because I really don't. Your life may have been bad, but try being conceived never out of love and having a prophecy placed on your head to bring the destruction of the world. For people like us that were never meant to live, but still do, there is always reason why we're still alive."
X snorted, "Really? Then what's your reason?"
Raven blinked and looked away, then turned around and looked up between the two ancient sorcerers to the computer and glared, The hell … running around the table and rushing to the computer that showed the group of Elves gathered inside the observation room. Thanking Robin for getting himself a web-cam Raven could see and pressing a button, now heard all 8 of their conversations.
"There, can you feel them? They are in this room, I just know it." it was the elf they encountered at the hall. The one that stuck out more than the other 7, dark black eyes the same as Bryson, but with neon green irises, shoulder length black hair tied into a small ponytail.
"Maybe so Gale-gard, but the sapphire isn't," growled another to the one called Gale-gard. Raven watched pensively with Malchior, Rorek, and Kenneth all hovering over her to get a good glimpse of the irritated elf.
Neon green-black eyes glared and seemed to glow in the darkened room, "The Dragon was here and so was the Prince. Ilasmursa may be right." suddenly he started to grin, his expression turning to that of amusement and the four found themselves wishing that he'd give them the evil glare much more then the grin. The grin was bad … always so bad, "… Ah … reputations are so hard to build, but so easy to break, just like trust. You think maybe we asked for too little a price to retrieve and deliver the sapphire to the prince? Eh, Maeson?"
"Gale …" Maeson with the same black eyes, but ice-blue pupils chuckled and shook his head, "… you're something else … but there's nothing here. It's best if we head off, the hero's are coming back. Best if we keep to ourselves for now."
"Hmm … hiding, never my thing, but I'll go with you and the others anyway. There's always another day … where do you suppose the Sapphire is?"
"I haven't a clue, but we'll find it soon enough. Along with the Dragon and –" Maeson stopped suddenly and tilted his head up listening in for a particular sound that caught his attention. Gale-gard followed also picking up the same sound and turned to the rest of the elves in the room. Gesturing for them to all get out Maeson put a finger to his ear and blurted out his last command as he calmly walked out the door, "Carvahawen, scramble security no trace of us were ever here, understood? Copy, out."
"Come on let's follow'em," X pushed the three getting their attention, "This could be our chance to solve this mystery once and for all! Let's go!"
"And what?" Malchior growled, "we can't follow a bunch of Moriqueni's without getting caught. It's impossible, you know what? It's best if you just shut up, lay off, and let the expert handle this."
"No he's right," Rorek sided with a smug grinning X, "I think we should try to follow them, I don't like what's going on. They made it sound like this has something to do with the natural balance of things. If it's one thing we're responsible about, it's doing what we have to in order to preserve our way of life."
Malchior gave the wizard a pensive look, "Well then you can go on a head and follow because I see no sense in dieing before I ever get the chance to see the end of this crazy adventure!"
Rorek sneered, "Coward."
"What?"
"I do not have a speech impediment."
"You are just ASKING for death!"
"That would be such a release!"
"SETTTLE DOWN!" Raven all but screamed in their heads, the dragon and the wizard cringed and held on to the sides of their heads to stop the ringing. X couldn't help to smirk and chuckle in amusement, it was always fun to see others suffer, but Raven did not think the same, "No one's going anywhere! Robin and the others are back and we have to find the Red Sea Sapphire before they do."
X tilted his head, "So what's the plan?"
"I'll leave a note for Robin to find, explaining everything and come with you guys to connect the dots." Raven said as she began to rip out a piece of parchment and immediately scribbled down her knowledge. Phasing it through the ceiling and using her soul-self to place it on the counter top that she noticed had been spared the destruction. Coming back to herself she turned to the three males sitting all around the room and nodded, her violet eyes falling on Rorek's, "I think the best thing for us to do is to return to your house Rorek and gather ourselves from there. I hope you don't find it a problem."
Rorek shook his head, "Not at all, please let us get there as fast as we can we mustn't waste any more time in locating the Sapphire."
"Fuckin' mystics," X cursed to himself and followed the three to the roof through Raven's small passageway amazed that this whole thing could go unnoticed or hidden when in the building process. Entering into her room that was obviously left untouched, Raven was going to direct them to the door when Malchior stopped.
"Wait," he called out.
Rorek glared, "We haven't the time for reminiscing dragon."
Malchior ignored the wizard and walked to the window in Raven's bedchamber, growling when he noticed Rorek's scent still present in the immediate area, he sniffed it away from his mind and looked out the window. Down and measuring the height he nodded and turned to the three gesturing them to come, "This is the best launch place."
"What in the blazes are you talking about?" Rorek shook his head following behind Raven as X jogged to the dragon's side.
"Our little bird cannot teleport us all close to your quarters prince charming" Malchior answered with a whiny mocking tone, one that Rorek responded with a sneer as he allowed for the dragon to continue, "no matter how much strain she puts two of us are going to have to be left behind. The X over there has only enough power to teleport two people including himself, so one of you are going to be having to come with me. So make your decision."
Rorek glared, "Nothing can possess me to ride on the back of you wretched creatures. I'd rather go with Kenneth."
Malchior grinned and held out his hand to the hesitant Raven, "I guess that just leaves you and me my sweet."
"Wait a sec," Raven shuttered, "can we talk this over? Rorek –"
"No time," X rushed in between the to yanking Rorek to the window and punching the button that he guessed the one that opened the sliding glass and swish. Standing on the edge X turned and saluted a winking duel finger salute to the unsure Raven, "Have fun, don't throw-up."
With that he leaned back and plunged to the rocky ledge below, Rorek following head first diving and grabbing a hold of Kenneth's wrist, the expert thief punched the teleport button and before they hit the rocks they were gone. Leaving Malchior with Raven, his eyes having never left her, Raven – still clutching the book – dared not look up at the dragon. Not that she was scared – okay, maybe she was a little, who wouldn't be at the sight of their once major crush that turned out to be nothing but a big lie.
It just wasn't fair that she was left with him. With out even voicing out her thoughts on the matter, Raven glared at the ground when she felt him touch her shoulder. His voice … his real voice whispering in her ear, it was all lies … everything that came out of his mouth … it was all lies. She wasn't sweet, she wasn't lovely, she was never anything he ever said she was!
He lied to her!
Now he has the audacity to think that he can get close to her?
Nuh-uh, that was not sitting to well with her.
Not Raven.
She lived and breathed the old saying:
'Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, shame on you …'It was true! It was so true and she agreed with it … but … it was hard to stay to it when he was right next to her. Telling her it was all right … telling her it was all right to trust him now … Raven chuckled inwardly, No Malchior … it'll never be all right to trust you … even now … tomorrow … never again …
"Raven?" dropping the "endearing" term that she expected him to call to her attention and back to the world again, Malchior stood in front of her. Back facing the window where a cool spring breeze blew in.
The faint sound of a threatening storm heard in the distance. In fact … behind him Raven saw the skies slightly flash with lightning and knew the rain was coming. His clawed hands traced up her left cheek to the clutch of hair that was in front of her ear. At the same time pushing back said hair he grazed the skin of her ear, Raven allowed it but only because she had to search his black metallic eyes. Search to be sure she wasn't dreaming when she saw her own reflection in them … as if she was the only thing he was seeing.
It was supposed to be romantic.
It was supposed to be exotic to have violet and metallic black staring back at each other.
It was all suppose to promise another chance.
But the only thing it did was tell her that it was all for not … it was all a trick.
So with that thought in mind she looked away and moved from their close proximity, never noticing how he was leaning down to capture the moment. Raven huffed and backed away, "So? Are we going or not? Rorek's right, we don't have much time."
Malchior growled low and distastefully, Rorek … that little … she was thinking of him the whole time, shaking his head the dragon turned to the window and crouched down staring at the crashing waters below onto the rocks, he looked back to Raven and sighed, "Well if you're so much so in a hurry get on my back."
Raven blinked, "What?"
"Please Raven I thought you were smarter than most girls," Malchior grinned, "get on my back so I don't have to toss you on it when the transformation is complete. Hurry up now."
"On your back? Now? Can't you just –""You do know that we really don't have to take you because you really don't have that much of an important part in this whole mess," Malchior interrupted, "so unless you don't want me to leave you I suggest you get on or stay here."
Raven gritted her teeth, walking up to Malchior not entirely sure how to do this she bit down on her lower lip and tried not to stumble as she put her hands on his shoulders and thought for a moment. Knowing that she'd have to wrap her legs around his waist, Malchior's grin widened, not that she noticed of course not. Gods above forbid if she did Malchior be nothing more than a roasted lizard with wings floating on his back in the water below.
So to speed things along, Malchior shot up a bit and hooked his hands under her knees, causing her to blush just ever so slightly at the feel of his hands where it really shouldn't belong. He's swift movement caused her to grip his shoulders tighter and press her body closer to keep from falling off as he leaned down again and shot up high into the air outside of the tower, "Hold on tight and go with the flow it'll be fast, I promise."
Yeah right, Raven thought to herself as he let go of her knees and tilted their ascension to a steep decent and was forced to witness his transformation. Seeing no choice, but to do as he said, Raven felt his whole body under her shift, and widen. Her cape and hood having flown back due to their rapid decent, the white book in her hands making it hard for her to grip onto his scales as his wings grew.
Then, with a snap they spread wide open and Malchior uncurled his massive head and neck roaring into the air as he beat his wings hard to obtain control over the wind. Finding something to hold onto, Raven leaned down against his neck and closed her eyes as she felt him tilt to a straight glide right over the water. Experiencing the beautiful sight that Malchior had shared – unwillingly and ungratefully – with X.
Slowly, curiosity got the better of her and the feeling of his tense muscles under her working to keep his wings beating had been forgotten. Sitting up she held her breath as he beat even harder and started to rapidly ascend into the clouds. It was unbelievable … it was … it was … there were no words to describe the feeling of being on the back of a dragon.
She had read stories …
But nothing –
Nothing compares to the real deal! Malchior may have been an evil deceiving, maniacal, and downright scum bag of a dragon, but the chance he got at flying was unreal. Sure Raven knew how to fly herself … but to fly on the back of a creature that was world known, feared, respected, and praised. It wasn't something that could happen every day, no sir it wasn't.
"You seem content back there," Malchior glanced back to noticed that Raven had in deed sat up and was riding with a little more ease than Red X, "you've rode on the backs of many a creature such as myself?"
Raven gave Malchior a dry look, "Don't get too cocky, I can fly so it's not so much different then me flying side by side with you. I'm just … relishing the moment … so don't ruin it by opening your mouth."
"As my lady wishes."
"Why do I even bother?"--
"Dude …" Beast Boy gaped at the tower entrance that was once their home, Cyborg, Starfire, and a scowling suspicious Robin all walked into the place left for not only a few so hours of the day only to return and see it … trashed.
"Stay close Titans," Robin warned, "don't touch anything either."
Behind him there was a sudden clang of metal hitting the ground, startled he spun around only to see a nervously chuckling Beast Boy who had apparently dropped something he wasn't supposed to pick up, "Heh … sorry dude."
Robin shook his head and trudged on ward taking everything in stride, while Starfire was more or less disturbed. Shaken that their front entrance had been blown into a perfect dome with metal spewed all over the place. It was quite a sight, a destructive sight that shot through every Titan in the room as realization dawned.
"Raven!" they all shot up the twisted and mangled stairs to the infirmary, Robin stopping to allow the others to continue on to the room for a feeling. A strange calling to the kitchen counter just bugged the crap out of him. Slowly walking through the destruction that was their living room and everything. Robin paused to notice a trail – a large trail – of power leading straight to where the main computer sat. Well … used to be anyway … instead there was a major hole in the wall with the rest of the glass shattered everywhere.
Raven I hope you're okay, Robin thought with worry as he looked at the counter that called to him. There … very out of place in the disarray sat a piece of parchment that he knew would answer a few of his questions. Raven's hand writing … Robin took a moment to study the note; it was fairly long and written without an force or shaky hesitation. So it wasn't a trick, leaning against the counter Robin thought he'd find answers to everything. Instead what he found was more wonder:
Robin,
As you may find out I'm not in the Infirmary –
"Robin!" Starfire screamed with much panic laced in her voice, Robin looked up and listed to the news he already knew, "Robin! The infirmary! No one is there! Raven and the Aiedail is missing!"
Robin nodded, "I know."
Starfire didn't catch still panicking with Cyborg and Beast Boy, "Oh this is bad! This is dreadfully bad! Friend Raven! Oh dear friend Raven where could you have gone! I hope you are undam –"
"STARFIRE!" Beast Boy grabbed the hysterical Starfire by her lower shoulders, shook and SLAPPed her back to reality, "Star you gotta' calm down! Robin said he knew, so Raven must have left a note. Now keep yourself from trippin' and come on!"
"Tripping?" Starfire blinked holding the cheek that Beast Boy had stung the numbness out of her and floated to where Cyborg was hovering over Robin and reading the paper in his hand. Doing the same she began to read what appeared to be her friend's handwriting.
- instead I am with Rorek Aiedail and staying in a safe place so you don't have to worry too much for my safety. But what I am about to tell you may change the storyline a bit. Rorek Aiedail, is the wizard that sealed Malchior into the book, apparently the only reason why he's still alive is because Malchior had given half of his heart and through the book is the only way to kill them both at the same time. Harm Rorek and nothing will happen, but he'll heal as fast as Malchior would if the damage was inflicted on him. However kill Malchior and Rorek will die on the spot … or so I've come to suspect.
However besides all that, the destruction of the Tower was made by Dark Elves – and no laughing because this is serious – they are the ones that are after the Red Sea Sapphire, they're trying to retrieve it for the Light Elves Queen, why? I'm going to try and find an answer to that, but in the meantime I want you to try and stay away from connecting with me. Instead I have my communicator so I'll be the one to contact you and brief you on what I've found.
Robin, I also want you to do something for me, look up the name Fernaco Aftaka, okay? Find everything and anything you can about him, don't ask questions, just do it because I guarantee you. If you dig deep enough and put the pieces together the rest will fall into place.
Again, I ask you not to find me, I'm safe, and I want you all to stay safe.
Look up Fernaco Aftaka, thank you, and trust me on this.
Raven your friend, Titan, and family …
"We're not going to listen to her …" Beast Boy hesitantly looked up to Robin, "right? We're going after her … right?"
Starfire shook her head, "Friend Raven can not be the serious! She cannot solves this alone, she needs our help!"
"No, Star," Robin thought aloud, "I don't think she is alone … not so much so at least …"
Cyborg reached for the parchment and re-reads it his face scrunching up in wonder and confusion, "Fernaco? Who the hell is Fernaco?"
Robin shrugged, "I saw it as a title in a book she was reading … it was something about a legend, never bothered to ask, you know how Raven is."
"Yes, but what makes this Fernaco so important that he ties with our friend?" Starfire pleaded trying to understand the best she could about the information given cause lord knows her head was spinning in confusion.
Beast Boy reared back, "Whoa … Robin, you're not seriously going to let Raven alone with this … this … guy are you? Even when he entered he smelt kind of funny! We can't leave her alone!"
"Beast Boy," Robin sighed, "It kills me to even think it … but … this field is something that I trust Raven can handle herself with, let's face it. We know just as much about magic and mystical creatures as the next joe. I think Raven may be on to something here that we can't keep up with. We'll stick with her advice … for now. I don't think Rorek Aiedail is someone to trust right on the spot."
Cyborg shook his head, the ever worried, ever concerned, and ever protective older Titan playing his role shot Robin a scrutinizing look, "Yeah, you think that … but does she know it?"
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Oooooo … Raven ran away with the guys to Rorek's mansion, hmm, wonder how that's goin' to work, oh well we'll see soon enough … gee, wonder what it is that makes Cyborg distrust Rorek so much …
See ya in the next chapter folks, don't forget to review me and tell me what'cha think, don't worry my feelings aren't that easily hurt. So yeah, thanks for your earlier reviews, love ya'll!
L8er daez
