En el mundo de Stone

In the world of Stone

Stone had placed Dick in the care of one of his more medically qualified servants. Dick's wounds seemed rather grave and Stone wasn't going to try and treat him himself. Instead Stone would tend to the girl freeing up all the medical staff to concentrate on Dick.

Not wishing to be a burden Stone quickly gathered some bandages and a few ointments and made his way to his own quarters. Stone may have been a high-ranking member of House Tir'eir but doctors still had total authority in an infirmary just like he did on a battlefield.

His quarters were far larger then he needed them but Stone was glad they were so vast in this case. He had his own private bathing area, a small kitchen with adjoining pantry, a master bedroom, a spare bedroom, a library, a small forge, and even his own courtyard garden.

With so such space and so many facilities so close by Stone often spent his one free month of the year here, in the comfort of his home in the Hells. Given the extent of his library Cinder Block was normally around as well trying to cram more knowledge into his blockhead.

Stone laid the girl face down on his bed. Her back seemed badly burned by those energy discs that had turned her clothes to tatters. They seemed to have a very large blast radius because even the shots that had evidently landed in the middle of her back seemed to reach the tips of her shoulders. And the burns weren't contained to just her back. One shot had landed on her left calf stripping her leg of the bottom section of her jeans. That would mean the jeans would have to go as well.

Stone sighed. Most women screamed and cried and made a lot of noise when they woke up naked in a strange place with a stranger but this was really quite necessary. The back of her shirt and bra were simply gone and her jeans would make her hot in this rather warm climate and interfere with his treatment of her leg.

Stone cut away what was left of her shirtsleeves and cut her jeans away as well before lifting her naked form over a little on his bed. Stone threw the ruined clothes in a pile on the floor and turned to face his patient. After applying several burn ointments Stone tediously wrapped the girl's entire torso and calf, grabbed a chair, and sat in vigil over his patient.

Standing vigil over a person is rather boring and slow work. It gave Stone plenty of time to think about what had occurred on the surface.

The attack seemed random enough and only further investigation would decide whether or not Stone should be concerned about it. However the characters in that little play proved to be far more interesting.

There was Dick who seemed to be at the center of it all. Since his first return to the Tower Stone had wondered what had driven him there and who his hostess was. The redhead answered that. She matched the physical description of Starfire, seemed to know Dick rather intimately and wielded the same powers as Starfire. Granted the other lackey that attacked the girl also had the same powers but it was rather logical to assume that Starfire had been the kissing redhead.

When Stone had gotten to the scene it had seemed as if Star and the girl had been talking to each other, just before the fight broke out. Who would be someone that would know Starfire, know Dick and live in the old Tower?

There could only be one person left, since BB was dead. That meant that…

Stone cast his red and brown eyes on the motionless body of his patient. That had to be Raven. Who else would live her? Who else would wield Dark Energy? Who else would have hair, eyes and skin of such unusual tints? Stone shook his head. Given that he hadn't physically seen her, or any of them save Beast Boy and Terra in the Hells, in over a decade how was he to know who these people were?

Stone's mind filled with the dangers of having Raven in his quarters. Tear, the control freak that he was at times, always wanted to know of everything going in and out of his castle. Maria and Raven didn't get along well, at least that was what Cyborg seemed to remember, and if Maria didn't like Raven then Jacob wouldn't be overly kind to her either. Sure the chief of housing staff would be as polite as his station demanded of him but servants often had the best means and the easiest times to inflict a barrage of small annoyances on a person. Stone wouldn't put it past Maria to get Jacob to do things to Raven if they knew she was here. Telling just Jacob was not an option because it was no secret that Jacob's loyalty had shifted to Maria and that Jacob kept alive because Tear didn't wish to upset his daughter. That, however, meant that calling on Maria's healing powers was no longer an option either. Raven would have to heal naturally, which would take time.

That settled things for Stone. He could have Maria and Jacob tend to Dick in his spare bedroom. That was fine as long as he kept the main part of his quarters isolated from the rest of the castle. Stone would have to take his leave weeks on the grounds of needing to think things over. After all he always had to change his strategy on how to conquer the Hells. They weren't exactly a very stable geopolitical climate after all. And Stone needed time to think about what had happened on the surface as well. Finally there was the subject of what to do with Raven. That along would open an entire case of worms that he would toy with later. Right now Stone decided that a few hours of sleep was in order.

A few hours later Stone had awaken and made an edict that he was going to reside in his quarts for the next month. No one was to enter his main quarters for any reason. Things were to be delivered and left in the main entrance. Stone had Dick taken back to the main medical ward and sent a note to Tear informing him of his vacation, his victory over House Shal'gar, and of his injured guest.

Having taken care of all those things Stone went to his library to think about what to do about open guest, Dick. Dick was in critical condition and would need several weeks just to be back on his feet. Stone was sure that he would be marching south by then so Dick would have no choice but to heal in the castle. Perhaps once he was healed properly Stone would have him sent to him.

Stone's thoughts shifted to his secret guest. There were pros and cons to having her around and alive. There were the usual pros of having the long lost princess and heir to the Throne. Stone was sure that having her under his protection would greatly increase his popularity and support among the general populous though it is unlikely that any of the other factions would care overly much. The Blood Throne was up for grabs and everyone wanted it.

Having the princess heir as a hostage would make subduing new conquered areas much easier. However such a hike in his own personal power could make Tear nervous and make Tear see him as a threat. That would force a civil war and greatly set back Stone's plans. The war would weaken them both and the victor would have to spend years rebuilding to get back to this stage.

However if Stone didn't reveal Raven's existence he would have a hidden trump card to use later. The trouble with that is that after his month of solitude Stone would have to cart her around with him on his campaigns in secret. Raven, if his memory served, was not likely to come along quietly. Life on the march was tough and hardly the place for Di'Candra. Plus she would need more time then a month to heal properly adding to the complication.

Finally there was the matter of Cyborg's old feelings for Raven. Stone had a plan, a set course and Raven wasn't in it but he knew that the side of him that was still Cyborg had never entirely gotten over Raven. The knowledge that it was her lying naked on his bed made things a tad bit more difficult but Stone would be able to handle the situation. After all, as Lord General he had had his pick of fine women to take into his tent every night.

'But none finer then her.'

"Yes, none finer than her. Wait, am I talking to myself?" Stone asked himself.

'Looks that way.' A voice replied.

"We have plans, very important plans. We are not going to be side tracked by some… some…" Stone could find any words at that point so his former self did he honors.

'Some beautiful woman that we have never stopped loving over the last 10 years.'

"A woman we can't afford to love. Our political destiny is set and she isn't in it." Stone barked at himself firmly ending his talk with himself.

It was true his political destiny was set. Stone knew that Cyborg, the romantic, would just love to marry Raven but that wasn't an option. Just having Raven in his custody would provide him with some serious political firepower so there was no need to marry her. Leaving himself open to marriage would allow Stone to marry a daughter of one of the leading factions and cement an alliance that would further empower himself to the point he could take Tear hostage and strip him of power. Maria and Jacob would have to be taken care of as well but if Stone made Raven known to the world and had a strong alliance he would be strong enough to solidify his power base and crown himself king of the north.

However now that Raven was here Stone knew Cyborg would want to try and rekindle that old flame. Stone resigned himself to the fate and decided that if he could make it through the next 30 days and get nowhere with Raven then things would be all right and his plans safe.

Raven slowly became aware that she was feeling very tired as she awoke. She was lying on a soft and very comfortable bed, the rays of the sun gently warming her cheek. Raven turned her face away from the sun that was coming through a large red open air window and closed her eyes.

Raven bolted up, or tried to, only managing to curve her back and flop back down into bed with a loud whimper of pain.

"I would stay still if I were you." A deep voice called from beside her.

Raven turned her head to face the voice but the sun blocked her vision. She was aware of a large dark shape that walked over to the window and pulled the curtains closed. Without the sunlight in her eyes Raven had to adjust to the slightly less bright room.

"Having trouble seeing me?" The voice asked.

Raven didn't reply. Before she knew it the voice had a face and it was looking straight into her purple eyes with its brown and red ones.

"You bastard!" Raven yelled and tried to slap him. Given that she was laying facedown she didn't have much success and was rewarded only with a sting of pain from her back.

"I told you to stay still. You're back is badly burned." Stone told her.

"What have you done to me?" Raven snapped once she became aware that she was naked save for the wrappings on her leg and torso. Nervously she clucked the blanket that was covering her in her hands.

"Nothing other then what you can see." Stone replied in a dead voice.

"Where am I and how long have I been asleep?" Raven asked as she tried to flip herself over and sit up to face Stone.

Stone glared at her for a moment before he reached over and threw the blanket off of her. That earned him a loud scream as Raven clamped her legs together. It made it easier for him to pick her up, flip her over and sit her up before he placed the blanket over her again. Only then did the yelling stop and the questions begin again.

"What did you do to my powers?" Raven screeched at him.

"You have been asleep for the last two days. Your powers aren't working here just like any other demon's powers aren't working properly. For some reason, ever since the death of Telir and the vacancy of the Blood Throne, certain aspects of the Hells have change. Primarily powers don't work which is why you will have to stay in bed for a while. Welcome to your home; the Nine Hells, Di'Candra." Stone finished off with a shallow bow but a bow nonetheless.

"Who are you?" Raven asked, her voice quivering slightly. She was nervous; she was in a strange place without her powers and badly injured. She was entirely at this person's mercy and this person seemed to know about her.

"Who am I? I am just one of the many trying to unify the Hells under one banner again. Currently I work for Lord Tir'eir, whom I'm sure you know as Tear." Stone replied.

Raven shrunk back but winched at the pain.

"I told you to stay still."

"You never answered my question."

"I'll be your caretaker during you stay here Di'Candra."

"I have a name you know, not just a title." Raven shot back rather irritated. She had never liked being called Di'Candra and she wasn't going to let this chump get away with it even if she had to use her title against him.

"Oh really?" Stone replied in an amused tone.

"Yes and I order you"

"You order me?" Stone barked a short harsh laugh. "You don't understand your position, Raven, you are a princess without any popular support and thus no powerbase. All of the Hells think you're dead and even when I make your presence known you are just a pawn, a tool to get to the Throne. No one cares overly much if you are the rightful heir, you ran away, and too much blood has been spilt for it to end this way. Now, it's time to change your bandages. Either submit and let me change them or else I'll rip them off of you." Stone said stiffly.

Raven stiffened and pulled the blanket closer to herself. Stone rolled his eye and sighed. "You're making this difficult, far more difficult then it has to be, Miss Roth, but let me ask you this; who did you think tended to your wounds in the first place?" Stone asked with a raised eyebrow.

Raven glared in way of response. He had said that he would be her caretaker for the next month, which meant he was the one that has bandaged her up in the first place. That meant he had seen her as naked as the day she was born before. Given that fact and his threat to rip the bandages off of her Raven reluctantly loosened her grip on the blanket, glared hatefully at Stone's stoic face before turning her head aside and closed her eyes.

"That's better." Stone allowed himself a small grin before getting to work. He mechanically dressed Raven's wounds and when he had finished he gave her back her blanket. Raven quickly snatched it from him and held it against her body.

Stone smirked at the gesture. "Modesty now, princess? Rest easy Raven, you are safe as long as I am near."

A/N: At long last I have returned but I can't say for sure just how often I will have time to update. That the trouble of getting older, you lose your writing time. A huge thanks to all of you that reviewed last time though.

Alisa: Thanks for the review but you'll just have to wait to see what happens between everyone.

Grim Zee: Thanks for the complements. Just about everyone has mentioned my spelling/grammar mistakes but I'm only human.

The Raven's Wings: Genetics are so much fun. Did you do well on your science fair project? Thanks for the review.

Athen884: You're right on the money. I did kill Beast Boy but he's in the Hells just like Rae and Cyborg/Stone are. STone's strangeness will become clearer with time.

Terra Basher: Much more suffering to come. Hope you enjoy.

j: Thanks for the review.

Shirio-hana: The more I write the more I hear from people that share my views. It's heartening to see. America has always taken credit for so much and traumatized so much else to make people have sympathy for them. If they can't get sympathy they oppress and scare people into submission. Things like America's illegal Japanese Concentration camps are never talked about and they get nothing for their suffering. However the US glorifies the "plight" of Israel and oppresses the Palestinians. Or Take D-Day for example. How bloody and costly do they make that sound? Well only 4,000 people were officially counted as casualties; half of that number were wounded. And all the action was at Ohama, all the other beaches were cake walks.

Dark-Depth: Right on the money. Dick and Star will suffer some more mental anguish. After all, there is a war about to start on the surface.

angelicdhampir2oo4: Yes Dick is eligible like Cyborg but Dick doesn't know that. Plus there are other things about Cyborg's condition that I have yet to reveal.

Jifu: It's a shame the Democrats haven't the balls to do anything against Republicans. The amounts of bullshit that the Bushes and their friends would be so damaging even Americans would have to admit that they are total assholes. Take for example the failed intelligence about September 11. America had known that was coming years in advance. Or has anyone noticed the massive amount of corruption in the White House? Has no one noticed that many Bush friends are even richer? Or that BILLIONS of dollars has simply disappeared from the US treasury and no one can account for it? No one?

thegraverobber: Thanks for the review. Be seeing you around.

LockDown over and out…