Me: Sorry I have updated in a while.-grins sheepishly- Guess I left you with kinda a cliffhanger here, huh? Anyway, I have an important message.

Me: READ RONWYN THE QUEEN OF DARKNESS'S FIC! It's good and not too Mary Sue-ish.

Me: Continuing on, This chapter has kissing, vampiric tendencies, and Raven being awesome. By the way, Vae means "woe" in latin.

Chapter 5: Escape

The shock was evident on Raji's face. "Azerli…" He breathed, almost too low for me to hear. I couldn't believe it. The sword had just appeared in my hand, and Raji recognized it! Suddenly, I remembered where I was, and swung the sword hard, aiming for Raji's head.

Raji, recovering but not entirely ready, jumped back just in time to keep his head from landing at his feet. The sword did get him though, leaving a short but deep gash on his cheek. He held one hand to his cheek, the other on his sword, his face still showing its shocked expression. I watched him, forgetting to get ready for his next attack.

Through Raji's hand, blood dripped on the floor. I dropped Azerli's sword, heading towards Raji at a fast pace. Somehow he knew that I wasn't attacking, and allowed me to push his sword out of his hand and onto the ground. I lifted my hand and placed it around his head, the other hand on the opposite cheek of the cut one.

I kissed him softly, then gained passion. I opened my lips slightly, and Raji's tongue darted in. He removed his hand from his cheek and placed both around my back, pulled me towards him, deepening the kiss. I moved my mouth to his jaw as he kissed my neck.

I moved my mouth up, getting closer and closer to his bleeding cheek. I put my mouth on his wound, tasting the blood, moaning into him. Raji pulled down part of my leotard, kissing my shoulders, getting lower…

As I placed my lips on his neck, ready, I realized what I was doing, what I was about to do. I placed my hands on his chest, pushing him away hard with black, swirling energy. He flew a few yards into the wall at the end of the hall. Even from where I stood, I could see the betrayal and confusion in his eyes as he fell unconscious.

I ran from him, going the other direction towards the exit at the other end. I skidded to a stop in front of the room where I had fought Alethea. Marianna was on her knees, leaning next to Alethea, seeming to plead with her. "Where is Starfire?" I demanded, my voice hoarse.

She snapped her head in my direction, hate shining in her eyes. She spat at my feet as I had done only a few hours ago. "I will never help you! I hope you rot like your friend!"

I felt my rage soar like it hadn't in years. Almost without thought, a black ring of energy formed on her throat, cutting her air off immediately. I moved my hand, lifting her and bringing her right in front of me. Her eyes were inches from mine, filled with fear and panic.

My voice was calm, not the deep timbre that spoke when I was extremely angry. Instead, it was the voice of the creature Alethea's mirror had unwillingly unlocked. I smiled at Marianna, not completely myself, only feeling pleasure at the fear that shone in her eyes.

What were you saying? That you hope I would rot like my friends?

"Please…" She whispered.

Give me one good reason. Why shouldn't I take your lifeblood, leaving your body drained and rotting?

"I can… I can tell you…where the red-haired girl is…" She spoke, her voice raspy, barely able to speak. Marianna's face had a thin layer of perspiration, and her eyes begged me for mercy.

Then, quickly as it had come, the spell the creature had laid on me was broken. I released Marianna. She held her hand to her throat, gasping. "Where is she?" I demanded again, trying to sound cold and threatening, despite my own fear of what I had done. She looked up at me, her eyes still showing the fear I had taken pleasure in.

"We sent her back, with a message that you left for a few days and would return shortly. She would forget that she was ever gone those three days, along with anyone else within the radius of Titan's Tower. We were planning to attack the next day."

"Good." I growled, distracted now. I waved my hand and black energy floated towards Alethea. "No!" Shouted Marianna, diving to her already encased sister. She quieted when she realized my power was healing Alethea, not killing her.

"Why? Why are you doing this?"

"Alethea will be fine. While she is healing, see to Raji." I murmured, walking out of the room, and out of the cell that had held me.

As I grew used to the bright light that burned my eyes, I walked down the dirt path that led through the forest where I had been hidden. In the clearing the sun shone straight down on me, and I realized it was noon. I stood at the edge of the forest and the sunny clearing. Almost without thought, I stepped into the darkness.

Instead of following the dirt path, I chose to walk in a straight line using my own internal compass. As I walked I saw bears, deer, moose, and small animals. Yet, they all seemed to instinctively avoid me.

Do you truly not know why? Do you not think they can't tell what you are?

"It was a temporary weakness. I will chain you again when I receive my mirror."

No, Raven. That mirror nearly broke chaining me up in the first place. Consider that small taste today your baptism.

"I won't be a monster. I won't kill those I've sworn to protect!"

Raven, that isn't possible. You cannot be what I am and protect those you love.

"Then I won't be what you are."

You have no choice anymore. I admire your effort, but if you try to resist me any longer, you will go insane.

"Then I will simply have to go insane."

If you go insane, what will your father do with your body? What would you unwillingly do to your friends when I took over?

I stayed silent, trying to ignore her logic. I refused to become what she was, and I refused to hurt those I loved and cared for.

Look, Raven. I'm not a monster, but I'm not a saint either. Just as can your emotions, I can be used for good and evil.

"And yet you prefer evil?"

Stop right now!

Against my will, my body stopped. As I looked around me, my emotions materialized one by one. Finally as I looked ahead, I saw the creature materialize in front of me.

"What is this?" I demanded. Knowledge placed her hand on my shoulder. I jerked away. "Traitor!" She shook her head. As I looked into the eyes of all my emotions, I noticed that they didn't reflect their emotion, but were all serious and grim.

Raven. Your own image of your father is keeping you from seeing sense. This is not what you wish to hear, but all your emotions believe I am right.

"What? That I should become a traitor to my new family?" I hissed. "No! Of course not!" Interrupted Knowledge. " No matter what, she will become a part of you whether you accept her or not. But that does not make her evil. Her power comes in persuasiveness, intimidation, what people wish to hear. She doesn't mean evil, but that is the only way she can work when you resist her. She tried, for your sake."

"And when she forced me to kill a human? And pretended to be my mother?" I glared at the creature that looked exactly like me. She looked ashamed.

Ever since your father brought me into your mind, I have thirsted for blood. But you were able to resist my subtle hints, even able to ignore them. You were weak when you arrived to Earth, and all the blood I had seen on the Azarathian battlefield had driven me nearly mad for the taste of the blood of something. As for pretending to be your mother, cheap trick I agree, I was simply afraid. Your will power was stronger than anything I had ever seen. I knew you would be able to hold me for a long time, if not forever.

I was shocked. I had never thought of my vampirism as an emotion. "Really?" My voice was softer. She nodded. Knowledge returned her hand to my shoulder. "Maybe we should give her a chance to show she isn't all bad."

I sighed. How could I change my beliefs in one day after almost an entire human lifetime? How could I look back ad see not a monster, but a frightened being working in extremes? I glanced up at the creature, a being truly like myself and not just in image, as if to question her.

Please.

I heard her voice echo around me. Finally I stared straight ahead, and stepped forward. "What will I call you?" I asked as I stepped around her and kept walking. As I walked down the path I could hear her voice in my head.

You can call me…Vae.

Me: Didja like it? Review please!