Chapter 14

Raven looked out her window. The city was alive with lights even at 2am. 2am she thought to herself. It is late she should get to bed. Her eyes drooped, but she refused to give into fatigue. There was something wrong, a feeling that something was not right, and that she had to be awake when it happened.

She left her room. The hall was dark. Letting her feelings guide her she passed by Terra's room. She was asleep. Images of Slade ran through her mind, of Beast Boy saving her. Pass on that, Raven thought to herself as she continued down the hall.

Cyborg was dreaming of food. A ten course, all you can eat meat buffet. Yum. Beast Boy was focused on fame and impressing the blonde girl down the hall. Then it was Red X's room.

She looked at the blank wall and door. Nothing. That is all she got. Maybe that is what intrigue her the most about him. He can shut her out. No powers, or special abilities, just a focused mind. The only way to find out what goes on in his head is to ask.

Her feelings lead her to this door. She knocked. No answer.

"Red X" she called out quietly. He seemed to have excellent hearing. She expected the door to open. It didn't.

Then she felt it. Another presence in the room.

Disappearing what looked like a dark shadow on the floor Raven teleported into Red X's room.

"Stop!" a voice commanded her as Raven readied for battle.

Red X was in a choke hold, his neck about to be snapped. Her glowing purple eyes were all the warning Raven needed.

"What do you want?" Raven demanded.

"Just some information. Red X here was about to give it to me, weren't you."

"Why do you need information?"

"It is simple." Blackfire said, "I have been banished by my sister for failing to conquer Earth and to find the Gem. Though my sister did not banish me in despair, she said he might know where to look."

"Let him go." Raven said quietly.

"Or what?"

Blackfire applied a little more pressure. Raven could feel Red X's emotions. He wanted to cry out in pain, but would not give her the satisfaction.

"I will take you to the Gem."

"Raven n-" Red X tried to say, but was choked into silence.

"Let him go. And I also promise you will leave here unharmed."

"Deal."

Blackfire released Red X. Who then unleashed a hard punch to her jaw knocking her to the ground.

He was about to attack again when a black wall of Raven's power halted his attack.

Getting to her feet she spat on the ground and glared at Red X.

"Lead the way." Blackfire said not taking her eyes off Red X.

Raven floated out the open window that it seems Blackfire came through.

Smirking Blackfire looked back at Red X after flying out the window and blew a kiss at him.

Red X watched them fly off to the city.

Raven led Blackfire to run down library.

"You better not betray me or –"

Raven just stared at her unemotionally.

"Never mind."

The building was crumbling. In the back a wall open up when Raven got near.

She walked inside.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, the room lit up in red evil, ancient writing.

Decomposing skeletal spirits emerged from statues that lined the walls and began chanting:

The Gem was born of evils fire,
The Gem shall be his portal,
He comes to claim,
He comes to sire,
The end of all things Mortal.

"Yes, I know that already." Blackfire said as she watched the spirits drop back onto the statues.

Raven walked farther up opening a door with stair leading further down.

Blackfire followed.

"The mark of Scathe." Blackfire whispered as she saw the symbol on the wall that opened for them.

Raven led Blackfire to a chamber with a huge clawed hand reaching to the heavens came from the floor.

The statues around the room looked very familiar. Just like

Realization dawned on Blackfire's face.

"Finally put it together."

"YOU!"

Raven turned around. Her eyes glowed, but not only glowed red, she had two sets just like-

Blackfire tried to power up and launch an attack, but Raven grabbed her with her powers.

"Ahhh!" Raven shouted hurling Blackfire into a stone wall.

After a while Blackfire felt she had hit every part of that room with her body.

"If you ever touch Red X or any of my friends again."

She picked up a boulder and crashed it into the face of one of the statues that looked like her cloaked.

"Friends" Blackfire said weakly.

"How could you have friends? You are going destroy the world, everything."

"No I won't." Her eyes returned to normal.

"Yes, you will." Said another voice out of the shadows.

Raven stepped back in shock. "What are you-"

"Doing here?" he finished for her.

"I am here to deliver a message, and give you a present birthday girl."

Slade grabbed her arm. The symbol of Scathe appeared on his forehead.

Raven cried out as her flesh seemed to catch fire.

"It is not my birthday." Raven panted after he let go.

"Yes, it is. You have just forgotten, since you were a little distracted this morning. He nodded over to Blackfire.

A terrible dawning came over Raven's face and she realized he was right.

"No!" She said backing away on the ground as Slade reached for her again.

A black blur smashed into Slade.

"Raven run!" Red X said standing between Slade and her.

"Too late," Slade said his body glowing orange with power.

He began to float into the air.

"It has begun."

The room began to explode.

Blackfire had already left and Red X dodged falling rocks from the ceiling. But he tripped and fell just as a boulder the size of car was hurtling toward his head.

He raised his hand knowing he would be crushed at any moment when Raven witnessing the scene shouted from her heart.

"Stop!"