Interlude: A Belated Birthday Present
Note: OK, I'm doing this because I just had some thoughts regarding "Birthmark." I mean, Slade's back; I can't ignore this. I'm going to go into some of the details that I have been taught since I was little about my faith. You can take it or leave it. If it bothers you too much, don't read it. I hope it won't.
"Beep beep beep, bi-deep beep beep bi-dee!"
That cheery chime woke Precious up in the dead of night. She slipped off her sleep mask at looked at her alarm. 3:30 A.M.. So maybe it was early morning, but it still felt like dead of night.
"The Titans must really be in trouble if they're asking for me this early," she thought aloud. She groggily reached for the communicator on the bedside table as it beeped its theme song for the seventh time. She flipped open the screen as she yawned. "Raven?" she said in surprise.
"Muse," she answered. "I'm sorry that I'm waking you up so early. Meet me on the Daily Planet's roof in an hour. It's very important."
"Just you?"
Raven nodded. "Just me." Her voice cracked as though she was about to cry.
"Raven, are you ok?"
"No."
"Do you want me to get you some coffee?"
Raven paused. "Alright."
"How would you like me to fix it?"
"Black." She pushed something Precious couldn't see, and the screen went blank.
"Well, I'm not the only grouchy one this morning," Precious thought aloud again. She got into her costume, went downstairs and fixed a pot of coffee.
"Precious?" Claire said. "What are you doing up so early? The sun's not even up yet."
"Raven called me. She looked upset. I don't understand why. She can't feel any emotion."
"Upset in what way?"
"She was . . . sad."
"Is Raven the alien?"
"No, that's Starfire. She's a Tamaranian. Raven is . . . I'm not sure what Raven is."
"You know, maybe Raven just needs to hear the Good News. Take your Bible with you."
"Are you sure it'll help?"
"God's Word always cheers me up when I feel down. It reminds me that I'm loved. Just show Raven you care, and tell her that God loves her no matter what, ok?"
"Alright."
The Muse flew to the Daily Planet's roof carrying two insulated mugs of coffee in her hands and the Bible she was given when she was baptized in a side pocket. Raven was waiting for her. She was sitting on the roof, next to the globe. It surprised the Muse. She wasn't meditating, just looking down at the city below here.
"Morning, Raven," the Muse greeted.
"Thank you, but there's not much good about it."
"I didn't say 'good morning,' just 'morning.'"
"Yes, but the 'good' was implied."
"No, it wasn't. I know you're not having a good day. That's why I'm here. Oh, here's your coffee."
Raven took her bright pink mug and looked at it with a frown. "Thank you." She took a big gulp and then grimaced.
"What's wrong? I made it black like you like."
"I don't like it that way. This is the first time I tried it."
"Oh. Well, here. Try mine. I put lots of sugar and creamer in it, 'cause that's how I like it."
"No thanks." Raven sighed. "I asked for coffee because I heard that it's bitter. I need to drink the bitter cup."
"Alright, what's wrong?"
Raven took another sip, and after forcing down the gulp, she answered, "Yesterday was my birthday."
"Oh, happy belated birthday! I wish I knew. I would have sent you an e-card, or a present. But what would you like? You already gave me your favorite work–"
"Muse, I would return to sender everything you would have given me. I don't like birthdays."
"I know. That's why you were so down when I turned 13. But still, I need to show you a friendly gesture. I mean, you came to my party even though you didn't like parties."
"No, it's worse when it's my birthday. See . . . well, let me backtrack. I'll pull in a name that you will recognize–Slade."
"He's back?"
"Yes. He saw me yesterday. I mean, he saw all of us, but he wanted most of all to see me."
"But how can he be back? He's–"
"I know, but he's changed. The things he did . . . the things he said . . . the things he knew . . . if he was ever a man, he is no longer. He has sold his soul, I know it. He came to remind me exactly what I was trying to forget, the reason why I hate birthdays."
"OK, you're getting me confused. I don't follow logic the same way others do. Why don't you explain it to me straight forward?"
"Where should I start?"
"What did Slade know? What did he do? What did he say? What is the reason why you hate birthdays?"
"It's so complicated, and it involves secrets that I've kept from everybody. First of all, I'm not completely human. I'm . . . the daughter of Trigon."
"Trigon? Isn't he a–?"
"Demon, yes."
"Oh, my goodness."
"Yes indeed."
"So, that's the side that gets all the powers?"
"That's part of it."
"How did you become a good guy?"
"I'm good at heart, believe me. I've rebelled against my father since the day I was born, but on the day I was born, a prophecy was made."
"Do I want to know?"
"Well, you have to know. That's what I brought you here."
So Raven told her everything that Slade told her, everything that happened that horrible day. She only smiled when she explained how she stopped time. "I guess you could say I pulled a Muse."
The Muse laughed. "Well, I feel honored that you're using my tactics."
Yet as Raven explained the prophecy, the Muse listened with a troubled heart. "What does it mean?"
"The prophecy was made on the day of my birth. I am the portal who will bring Trigon back to Earth, so that he may rule."
"So, you're going to bring about the apocalypse?"
"Essentially, yes."
"That's impossible."
"You don't believe me?"
"Well, I do believe the world is going to be destroyed, but God's going to destroy it, not a half-demon."
"Maybe He's going to do it through me."
"But the prophecy says it's on your birthday. That way you know what day it is. But 'nobody knows the day or the hour, not man, nor the Son, nor the angels in Heaven, but only the Father knows.'"
"To be fair, I don't know what birthday it will be, but now that Slade's behind it, it's probably going to happen very soon, sooner than it's supposed to. Listen Muse, whenever it happens, I need your help. I want your help more than anyone else's."
"Why?"
"It's hard to explain. You know I can sense things. There is this sensation I can sense very strongly from people. I've only felt it in a very few. In fact, I think you're the only one I know personally that I felt it from. I felt it just recently too, just the last time we met. I don't even know that you know. A lot of people I know brag about it, and I know they're lying. I can't feel it from them."
"I don't understand. What is it?"
"You are . . . blessed . . . abundantly . . . by the HOLY ONE." She didn't scream the name exactly; she whispered it. Yet, it still felt like she screamed it.
Raven put her hand around the Muse. "It's hard to describe. It's alive, it's warm, it's healing, it's refreshing, it's powerful. And His hand rests on your left shoulder."
"Yeah. I feel it sometimes. I wasn't sure what it was, but I always liked to think . . . "
"My mother taught me that prophecies in my world is skewed. They always talk about mankind's doom, and they fail to mention mankind's redemption. They always portray their victory, and they don't mention God's salvation. You are one of His Elect. Maybe you can stop this. Maybe you can save me. Maybe you can save the world."
"Well, I feel honored that you came to me, but you're wrong. You don't need my help. You need the help of the One who gave me the blessing."
"It's too late. I can't–"
"Yes, you can! It's never too late. I know you believe the story. Just confess what you know, pray for forgiveness, and I'll take you to be baptized. You'll get the blessing yourself! You won't be a demon anymore–you'll be a new creature! You may not feel it, but you'll be changed. You'll have the Holy Spirit in you and everything."
"I could. I could, but it won't stop anything. Look at this." Raven rolled up her sleeve and pointed to a fading red mark. "I know Slade is right. It won't stop, no matter how much I run, no matter how much I sacrifice. That's why I must have your help. I think that you can face Trigon and stop him."
"I'm more concerned about you, Raven, your soul. You've been my friend. In fact, you've been like a big sister to me."
"I didn't know you felt that way."
"Well, you don't understand the impact of what you've shown me in the past. I want you to be ok."
"I want to be ok too, but I don't think I have a say. Whatever happens to me, you'll understand will you?"
"Of course. We'd all give ourselves up for each other, wouldn't we?"
"Yes."
"I'll do my best to help you when the time comes. Until then, I'll pray for you every night."
"That will greatly relieve my mind. Thank you." She gulped down the last swig and gave the Muse the cup back. "Well, I guess you can go back to bed."
"Raven, before you take off," the Muse reached into her pocket and pulled out her Bible. She held it out to Raven. "Happy birthday."
"Muse, I couldn't. This has sentimental value."
"I don't mind. I got several more at home. I know you told me that you don't like to think about places that don't exist, but this does exist. It's very real. Even if you don't want to read it, pass it onto Starfire. I don't think she even knows. Maybe Beast Boy will like it too, and everybody else. Please, take it. It's your sword."
Raven took it. "If you insist. Thank you."
Then Raven flew off. The Muse set off for her home. "Maybe it'll work." She flew off feeling carefree in heart. She had no idea what was going on beyond the surface.
In some place beyond human comprehension, an old foe came forth and knelt before a blazing S. (Actually, it looked like an S, but it was called the Mark of Scath.) "You sent for me?" he asked.
"Raven has a plan," a voice said from the fiery mark. "She is trying to escape her fate."
"She knows that she cannot. We told her already."
"Yes, but this might actually work. She has called on the help of the one person who has defeated you."
"But Terra has turned to stone."
"FOOL!" The mark blazed more fiercely. "I speak of the Muse!"
"The Muse? Forgive me, but I do not know this name."
"I know it does not sound familiar to you. You were ashamed that she defeated you not once but twice, and you drove her name from your memory. I will return her memory to you, but in the meantime, we will begin to end Raven's plan."
"What do you want me to do? Will we go after her?"
"Not yet, my servant. We will stop her by torturing one she loves. Look for one king acting as two."
Next Episode: The Prophet–Trigon and Slade choose one of the Muse's closest friends and give him a terrible and yet revealing gift. Can Raven stop their terror before it is too late, or will fate stop her?
