Yeah...I like, totally own Teen Titans. And I beat Cyborg in an arm-wrestling contest too, since we're on the subject of 'impossible crap'.
Slade's dark eye opened to the room's shifting darkness. Shadows and light danced around each other as small candles burned weakly around him. He was kneeling within circle of carefully scripted runes, a maze of interconnecting sigils and other such magical nonsense. Piles of notes were chaotically scattered about; translations, corrections, and annotations scrawled endless across the pages.
Vericks Wyrum sat nearby, a small, humble manuscript bound in durable black leather, the case Red-X had delivered it in laid empty and discarded.
The candles' tails of flame quivered to something unseen.
A visitor.
Standing in full armor inside the circle, Slade peeked over his shoulder. "It is done. Everything is proceeding exactly as I planned."
It could barely be discerned from the shadows of the room; a thing hooded and caped in deep night.
"Uer…." It hissed. Its tongue was harsh and alien, but the thing's chilling voice slithered into his head, whispering into his mind. When?
"The translations are going well; all that remains is to compile it all into a workable spell. Everything will be in readiness within three days."
"Dha……Uz fir abh kuerr MUDRIO!" No...it must be done NOW!
The room's darkness seemed to come alive, the very walls quaking at the thing's irritated impatience. Their flames still burning strong, the candles dimmed as the shadows spread and thickened, as if the very light was being smothered out. Safe within his Circle of Protection, Slade clasped his hands behind his back without a hint of unease.
"Come now," Slade reassured it calmly. "You've waited this long, surely three more days is reasonable enough?"
It relented, the room slowly stilled. But Slade could sense its restless hunger.
It was appeased, for now.
A light knock rapped at the chamber door. The thing's shape dispersed like black smoke, vanishing like a wraith.
"Enter," Slade allowed.
The heavy door creaked on its hinges as an elderly man in a black servants' tailcoat bowed respectfully. "Forgive my intrusion sir; you summoned me?"
"Yes, Wintergreen. We shall soon be hosting a guest here, a young lady, as it were. See to it an appropriate room is arranged for her stay."
Slightly puzzled by his master's instructions, Wintergreen nevertheless bowed. "Very good, sir. If do I may ask, when are we to be expecting the young Miss to arrive?"
Turning an amused eye to his longtime comrade, Slade smirked underneath the vents of his mask. "Don't worry, Wintergreen. Three days is more than enough time to prepare."
Yes, I realize this shouldn't even be considered a chapter. I'm busy getting things ready for the Slade's Homecomming. It's gonna be one hell of a party. This is just something to tide you over.
Expect an update very soon,
-Cy
(On another note, my Best Friend GuardianSaiyoko has gotten into the Titans fandom. Her story, 'One Which Makes The Heart Run Over', is simply excellent. And yes, it has Raven.)