Me: Hey everybody! Inspiration has not been found yet, but I WILL continue! Anyway, to make myself feel better, I have brought back my favorite self-made characters. -waves them over-
Tai. What?
Me: Where's everybody else?
Tai: -shrugs- Vacation.
Me: Why didn't you go?
Tai: -glares- You locked me in a dungeon for insolence, remember?
Me: Oh yeah... On to the story!
Chapter 6: New Senses
As I entered Jump City, it was almost as if I had hit a wall of sounds and smells. As I passed overhead the first person I saw, I could hear their blood pulsing in my ears. It took all my self-control not to fly down and rip his neck open. I let loose a shaky breath afterwards. I was glad Vae had convinced me to feed on deer before I went into town.
Oddly, when I passed certain areas or people, I felt almost a little 'red flag' come up. There was nothing (from far away) wrong with those people or places, so why was I feeling that those people and places were wrong?
Those little 'red flags' are the signal of other vampires. Demons that lived through Trigon's attack have come here before, and left a legacy. Now that you have accepted me, you are on their radar, just as they are on yours. There is even a council. Isn't that silly?
Not really. As I thought about the revelation that there were vampires such as I, and that they could feel me now, I had a panicking thought. "Vae! Do vampires ever have fights over territory?"
Frequently. But don't worry, you are already too close to their kind for their tastes, and you are powerful enough for them to realize that 'T-tower' and anyone living there are part of your territory. They will not challenge you. Only the stupid and young ones would. The Titans can take those easily.
"But I have to tell them about it. They aren't prepared for that kind of attack."
No! You can't tell them anything Raven! It is against Vampire Code! Raven, you don't even realize. Should you tell your secret to someone, the packs of Exterminators –vampires chosen to kill any who disobey the Vampire Code- will come to kill you.
"I could handle them, you know that."
But could the Titans? Anyone in your territory when the secret is told will be killed as well. You can't protect everyone. One day, you would slip up. And the results would be your fault. That is how serial murders occur in large cities. Often it is us and the mad are blamed.
I landed on the lush, green grass of Titan's island. I stayed silent, ignoring Vae's plea to talk. I knocked on the Tower door softly. "Coming!" Robin called. I waited patiently. Vae begged me not to tell him. Her fears were misplaced. I wasn't going to. Regardless of whether I was allowed to or not, I felt the knowledge would put the Titans in a very…uncomfortable… situation.
Even Robin, who despite his occasional obsessions was an intelligent person, couldn't know. But, letting them forget was something I wasn't quite sure I could do. I backed up when Robin opened the door, my posture clearly saying I didn't want to go inside. "Robin," I murmured, "I need to talk to you."
As Robin stepped out with a nod, I noticed how much better he looked. Had the team already forgotten? "Raven." I was surprised at the warmth in his voice, the relief, as well as the seriousness.
"How is Starfire?"
"She's fine. She wasn't hurt, but she was dazed and fell unconscious as soon as she landed. Luckily we were watching the grounds for you both. She's still asleep, but we think she will wake up soon."
"Ah. I see."
"Raven." Again I was astounded by the emotion in his voice. He sounded worried, and almost… angry. "Why did she have a note saying you would be gone for a few days? It was in your writing style, but I thought it was unlikely. What were you doing?"
I laughed at that. The irony, that I thought I could pull off not telling him and my inner debate whether I should let them forget, was laughable. He glanced at me worriedly. I had never laughed in front of any of them.
"I was kidnapped, Robin. Starfire was bait. She has a spell on her to make anyone within the Titan's Tower forget her disappearance including herself. My captors were going to return tomorrow and destroy you in front of my eyes via mirror. I almost killed two, while the third I choked to get information. I escaped obviously, and I doubt they will come after me again, though I'm sure others will."
Robin's face stayed serious. I continued, almost but not quite revealing my new 'secret'. "They are descendants of my Father, but since I am more powerful they will attack me and those around me to get that power." Still, I got closer to the truth.
"They would drink the blood from your body and leave you an empty husk, Robin. Do you still wish for me to be on the team?" He moved to answer, but I stopped him.
"And don't forget, Robin. I have the power to make you forget like those in the tower surely will. Should I be controlled or defeated you would be wiped out in an instant." As I paused a bright flash came from the tower, along with a great wind that almost made me fly away.
As my sight returned, I saw that Robin had held on to the ground tightly to keep himself anchored. He looked alright, except he was missing one, important, thing that lay on the ground in front of my feet. Somehow almost mocking fate, I stared straight into Robin's eyes. His eyes were the deepest onyx, almost endless in their darkness. It was almost as if he had no pupils. It was quite disconcerting.
He gazed back at me, even as I bent down to retrieve the mask that had betrayed its master. "You could make me forget…" He spoke softly when I was upright again. His eyes betrayed his emotions to me, his face stone cold. His onyx orbs gazed at me with a mixture of anger, admiration, and fear that made me sick. Me, seeing him this way, was wrong.
I stepped toward him, placing the mask softly back on his face. "I could." I whispered and stepped past him, walking towards the entrance of the tower. I stepped through the doorway, thinking of stabbing somebody as I did.
Almost magically, someone arrived to welcome my wish. "Hey Rae!" Beasboy grinned. I glared at him, thinking of ripping him to shreds with my power. I decided against it. Such a bad example for Starfire…
He continued to stare at me, growing more worried and I,angrier. "What?" I snapped. Beastboy flinched. I felt bad for my actions, but I was too angry to apologize. I started to walk away, when he grabbed my wrist long enough for me to stop. He ripped his hand away and murmured, "Are you alright, Raven? I'm worried about you."'
I turned away and answered with an impatient, "I'm fine."I stomped up to my room, only taking a second to burn the note Starfire had with my mind. In the darkness of my room, I was able to think much more clearly.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid!"
Foolish is the better word, Raven.
"Why? Why did I have to tell him most of the truth? Why did I see his eyes? Why did I not let him forget? Was I drunk on the scent of his skin, of his blood? Was it the emotion I saw in his eyes? Was it the sight of his eyes burning into mine with the fear of my disgust that made me do something so stupid? What?"
Raven, calm down. You have to. Things about the room are floating dangerously, I hear explosions, and Beastboy is screaming about something.
"…His idiotic Gamestation. I just blew it up."
I see. Regardless, you need to remember that you've just been changed. Things… Things will be different for a while. For example, your emotions are frantically trying to accept and integrate your new instincts into their 'lives' so to speak.
"Tell me something. Useless, important, I don't care, just something for me to concentrate on."
How about I tell you the rules? Kills two birds with one stone.
"…Fine."
I concentrated on the sound of Vae's voice, so like my own but so different. The lives of all those before and after that are, have been, and will be, seem to echo in her voice. So I concentrated on that, and not what had happened in the days before. Slowly, but surely, I fell asleep.
Me: Raven's kinda frustrated, huh? I doubt she even heard those rules anyway...Next up, Raven has a heart to heart with Robin...in her room!
Tai: Like that's such a big deal...
Me: Shut up, Tai. You don't know anything. Go away, back to the dungeon from whince you came!
Tai: That would be your mind.
Me: Right. Stay here then.