Disclaimer: I dont own Teen Titans and make no monetary gains writhing this text.
AN: Here is the story I have been working on for Eris, thank you for the inspiration. I hope people like it. Pleas R and R.
The title means something, not hard, the internet can probably figure it out.
Spøkelsesdal
"So….let me get this straight," said Robin "you saw a ghost?"
Beast boy nodded vigorously. "And you expect us to believe this because?"
"There is nothing to believe," Cyborg shot in "either this is another stupid prank, or Beast boy here saw a scary movie and is now seeing ghosts."
"Hey, I know what I saw" declared Beast boy, stepping up to Cyborg.
"Friends, what are these ghosts you speak off?" asked Starfire.
"Nothing Star," said Raven, looking up from her book. "ghosts do not exist."
"I swear. This is no prank, and I did not see a scary movie!" Beast boy insisted.
"Give it a rest," said Robin "we don't have time for this nonsense"
Beast boy looked around. Robin was headed to the gym, Raven was nose deep in her book and Starfire was busy feeding Silkie. Cyborg looked at him, motioning to the couch "Want to try out Ninja Monkey 7: More Bananas? Bet you can`t beat my record."
"No!" declared Beast boy "I know what I saw and I am going to prove it to you."
….
Beast boy was a man on a mission. He soared far above the city, towards the mountains. Away from his friends. "Stupid Cyborg, stupid Raven. I will show them. Ghosts exists!" he grumbled.
Earlier that morning, after their battle with Cinderblock, he had gone for a flight. Beast boy loved flying, to him there were no greater freedom. His wings had brought him far inland, to the mountains east of jump. There he discovered a hidden valley, untouched by humans, except for an old abandoned of trees and bushes surrounded it, and some branches had even buried themselves thru the walls, but the monastery still stood. Tall and proud. A monument from a distant past. Beast boy had landed on its bell tower. Looking around he saw a grey mist floating about the treetops. First, he did not think much about it, but laid down to regain his strength after the flight. But when he looked again, he noticed how the cloud went in on itself, looking more and more human. After a while it looked more like a woman, then a nun. Suddenly out of the cloud an apparition had come, headed straight towards him. He screamed, and bolted. As brave as Beast boy was, there were no way he was going to mess with a ghost. Afterwards he realized somethings; What ill will could a nun possibly have towards him, even her ghost? Could she even hurt or touch him? And after experiencing his team`s reaction to his story, he wanted to prove them wrong.
This time he landed in front of the monastery. He had to find the ghost he told himself. Then he could maybe communicate with it, and find out why it was haunting the monastery. Maybe he could help it. And maybe he could bring it back and show the others how wrong they were. Beast boy laughed as he began his search.
He had heard some animals were better adapt than humans at sensing ghosts. Luckily for him, Beast boy told himself, he was every animal. First he changed into a dog, but as he looked around sniffing, he sensed nothing unusual. Beast boy then changed into a cat, but got the same result. Nothing. He then flew over as a crow. No result. Snake, crocodile, spider. Still nothing. He looked up at the sky. It was midday already. Raven was right, he thought, ghost`s don't exist.
A cough caught his attention. He spun around. Behind him stood a young nun.
"It is long since anyone came to visit, and to think from a green magic boy," she said "but I do wonder, why are you here?"
"I am sorry your holiness," he apologized "I didn't mean any disrespect. I thought the monastery was abandoned."
She laughed. "Holiness is what Catholics call the pope. You can call me Melissa. I know you did not mean any disrespect, but I am still curious. Why are you here?"
"Well you see, earlier today I came by the monastery and saw…at least I thought I saw…well…a ghost, "he explained, scratching the back of his head. "Before you say anything, I know it`s stupid. Ghosts don't exist."
She giggled "It is not stupid. I saw you and even tried to speak with you. Unfortunately you flew away before I could gather myself. I am sorry I scared you"
He stared. "You…you are a,… I mean the ghost?"
She nodded.
"How?" he asked "I mean, why are you here?"
Melissa`s face shifted "Do you mean why I am haunting this church?" she asked.
"I mean…yeah" Beast boy admitted.
"Alas, it is a sad tale, but I will tell it to you, so at least someone knows what happened here, all those years ago."
Melissa`s tale:
Me and my sisters came to these lands centuries ago. Our journey had been long and arduous, but we had made it. Here we built our church. A place for peace and worship. Seven of us it was; Mother supreme, sister Anna, sister Mary, sister Rebecca, sister Verona, sister Elisabeth and myself. We were the first to settle these lands, or so we thought.
One morning, a naked man came to our church. His skin was riddled with scars, his hair wild. A second pair of eyes were tattooed on his forehead. The man demanded a sacrifice. An untouched maiden girl. Mother Supreme refused. Poor woman, she died that very night. Strangled in her sleep.
The next night I kept watch with Mary and Rebecca, but saw nothing of the man. At dawn, thinking ourselves safe, we went inside. Anna slept in the attic. It was her job ringing in the morning. There were no bells that day. Anna had hung herself. Verona and Elisabeth had spent the previous evening with her. They told us she went to bed early, and that is the last they saw of her.
The third night we spent at the altar, praying. For our life's, for our church, for justice. At the devils hour Mary rose. Her eyes glazed. She walked the stairs of the church, we followed, but before we understood what was happening, Mary jumped. Killing herself
When we reached her body, the man was already there. He laughed at us, mocking our faith and asked if we wanted to continue on this path or not. Rebecca volunteered, brave girl. We cried for her, but told ourselves there were no other way. The fourth night the hills echoed with her screams and there was a fire in the east.
When the sun rose, he came back, carrying Rebecca`s limp body. It was naked, covered in blood. Her skin burned and mangled. Five deep slashes were drawn across her chest. Like the paw of a grizzly. The man told us she was impure and demanded that another take her place. We all refused.
After burying Rebecca with the others, we ran off. The valley that had once been our paradise had in the matter of days become a living nightmare, but every twist and turn led awry. At the end of the day we were still deep inside the valley, and when dusk fell, we found ourselves back at the church.
We were desperate and saw no hope. Not in prayers, not in fleeing and none of us dared sacrifice ourselves. Elisabeth had in her former life been a botanic and kept an array of herbs in her room. She brewed the poison while Verona and I dug the graves. We drank deep before laying down.
I woke, believing myself dead. I rose towards heaven, at least I thought I did. It was not until I looked down upon my empty grave that I realized. I was still alive. Like a puppet I was led out of the church, east thru the forest and up the valley side, into the mountains. There my body brought me to a cave.
Inside I was met by the man, who revealed himself to be a necromancer. He led me deep underground, until we reached a chamber, which floor was littered with bones and flesh. Along the wall hundreds of creatures buzzed. Some roamed free, while others were kept in cages or leashed to the wall. In the middle of the room a fire sprouted, giving light to everything, and farthest from me stood a throne of bones.
The man led me straight ahead, to the fire, and made me lay down among the carcasses. Then he stripped me naked and left me there. When he returned he had a dead dove in one hand and its heart in the other. He fed the heart to the fire, while he used the body like a cloth, smearing me in from top till bottom, before throwing it away. Then he began singing to the fire, which burned hotter and hotter. The animals screamed while I prayed, but when the fire answered I too screamed.
I don't know what happened next. Maybe some celestial being had heard my prayers, or maybe the necromancer lost control. It does not matter, the result was the same. His hold over me was broken.
As soon as I felt my body return to my control, I ran. Behind me I heard the necromancer curse, then he screamed, but it was quickly cut off. I heard what I thought were an explosion, but which I soon realized were footsteps and with each one the ground shuck. The previously dark tunnel glowed and wherever I touched it my skin burned.
Suddenly I was out in the open. I looked behind me, and saw the being chasing me. It came out of the burning mountain, reaching for me. The ground disappeared beneath my feet and a hellish fire burned all around me. It had me, I thought, but when the ground got closer and I could feel the wind on my body, I knew it was over.
"What happened then?" asked Beast boy, realizing what had happened the moment he asked.
Melissa sighed. "After I died I became this, a ghost. I looked for the spirits of my sisters, but they were nowhere to be found. Wherever they have gone it seems I cannot follow."
Beast boy felt his heart break for her. All thoughts of proving the others wrong were long forgotten. Now he wished nothing more than to help the poor woman.
"Have you met any other ghosts?" he asked her.
"No, I have not even left the valley." she replied.
"Why not?," he asked, surprised. "Have you any idea what have happened in the world, since your death?"
"I came to the valley to get away from everything," she answered, before adding more softly "and I cannot leave, I just can't. Not before my body is buried"
"I can help you with… that," offered Beast boy "then you can leave, find other friends, maybe other ghosts even."
"You can!?" she exclaimed, suddenly feeling pressure to leave upon her.
"Sure thing lady," promised Beast boy "I can help you".
Melissa looked to the church. "Maybe… Yes, it is time to move on" she decided.
….
Melissa lead the way, flying east thru the valley, towards the mountains. As they got closer, Beast boy noticed a dark patch. It looked like a dragon had roasted the mountain side, but before he could get a proper look, Melissa changed course towards the root of the same mountain.
She led him to an old oak, and beneath it facing up lay a young woman. She was naked, her arms and legs twisted in strange positions, her skin milky white, except for where it was scarred and burned.
"The rain washed away the blood, but the burns and slashes remain. Animals won`t touch my flesh, I don't know why." Melissa explained.
"I see," answered Beast boy, standing there in shock. He had seen many bizarre things in his life, but this was something else.
"Where do you want me to...eh." Beast boy tried.
"Bury me?" Melissa suggested.
"Yes." answered Beast boy.
Melissa giggled, before turning serious again. "I want to be buried with my sisters, inside the church."
Beast boy nodded, he was about to pick up her body, when it was enveloped in a familiar dark substance. Raven`s soul self.
Melissa and Beast boy turned around. The titans sorceress was hovering in the air behind them.
"I thought you might need some help" she said.
They flew back in silence. Melissa enveloped in thought`s, Raven in her normal silence, but with a tint of regret and Beast boy. When Raven showed up he didn't feel victorious, nor did he feel like she intruded. He was just happy she had come.
When they returned, Melissa lead them to an overgrown garden within the church. A Camellia tree stood in the middle surrounded by seven graves. Two of which were open and one was empty. Raven laid Melissa`s body down into the empty one.
"Thank you," said Melissa. "Now, it seems the plants have overgrown the dirt Verona and I dug, but it does not matter. There is dirt outside. Could you please bring some." Beast boy obliged, changing into an eagle before flying out, Raven followed swiftly.
"Beast boy" she called after him.
"What?" he asked, a bit harshly, not wanting to waste any time.
"I'm sorry I didn`t believe you." she apologized.
"Thank you, but there are more important things happening now, " he reminded her. "We must help Melissa!"
"Right," said Raven. "have she said anything about how she died?"
"She was used in a demonic ritual." he answered.
"Did she mention doves blood?" asked Raven.
"We can talk about her death later Raven," Beast boy chided. "now is not the time."
"This is the time," growled Raven." Now, answer me!".
Beast boy flung his hands in the air. "Yes, she said something about being smeared in doves blood."
"Then you need to baptize her," pleaded Raven. "If you want to save her."
When they returned, Melissa was praying. Raven carried the dirt with her soul self. She used two thirds to fill Verona and Elisabeth`s graves. The rest she put down next to Melissa`s. Meanwhile, Beast boy walked up to Melissa.
"Melissa, Raven has an idea on why you are still here".
"The witch?" asked Melissa. Raven came forward.
"We weren't properly introduced earlier. My name is Raven," she explained. "I am a sorceress, not a witch. I have never heard about anyone in your exact situation, but I know enough theory to form a hypothesis, and I might be able to get you to the afterlife."
"Please continue" whispered Melissa.
"You were baptized in blood and promised to a demon, but you died before it could claim you. Heaven is closed to you because of that ritual, but you don't deserve hell. Therefore your spirit is locked on earth, unable to move on. Luckily all you need, if I am right, is to be baptized." explained Raven.
"I am afraid it won't work. There was another girl, Rebecca. I have already told your friend about her. The necromancer brought her body back to us, telling us she wasn't pure. We never baptized her, and her spirit has moved on."
"Actually, that just supports my hypothesis," explained Raven. "When a demon doesn't accept it`s sacrifice, it makes the ritual obsolete. Therefore, Rebecca did not have anything connecting her to hell when she died. She was free to go to heaven."
Melissa stared at Raven, unable to speak.
Beast boy was the one to break the moment "Is there any holy water around somewhere?"
"Yes…the sanctum…I will show you" whispered Melissa.
Beast boy followed her into the monastery. When they returned he carried a wooden bowl filled with holy water. Melissa came up to Raven, having found her words.
"Thank you Raven," she said. "I hope this works."
"Don't thank me, thank Beast boy. Without him I would not be here. This is all because of him"
Melissa turned to Beast boy. "Thank you. You believed in me and made a servant of God follow you here," Melissa said, making Raven visibly tense. "I bless you both, may you live long and happy lives."
Raven floated to the back as Beast boy brought the bowl to Melissa`s grave. He bent over her body, bowl in hand. Raven had told him that all he needed was to pour water over her, but he wanted to do something extra. A little bit Christian, hopefully. Therefore he sprinkled water on top of her forehead three times as he said "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Then he did as Raven had said and poured water all over her. The water ran over the body, washing away her burns and wounds. Beast boy sighed, before turning to Melissa, ready to say goodbye, but she was gone.
"She disappeared at your first sprinkle," said Raven "I will wait outside".
Beast boy looked at the grave for a long moment, thinking. Then he pushed the remaining dirt over Melissa`s grave, burying her as she had wanted. "Rest in peace Melissa, you've earned it".
Raven met him outside "You ready to leave?" she asked.
He nodded before flying away. Raven followed.
When they got to the end of the valley, a sudden crash caught them by surprise.
Behind them, the necromancers mountain was falling apart. Boulders tumbled down to the valley floor, and when they looked to the monastery, it was gone. In its place there were nothing but tall trees.
"It seems she wasn`t the only one waiting" Raven mused.
"Let`s go home," argued Beast boy "our work here is over."
THE END
Afterword: There are some scenes I planned, but decided not to write. Both because the amount of time I would have had to use, and also because a friend argued that the text should stop here. In other words; laziness(I also really need to continue on The Dark One).
Anyway, what I planned to write are as follows:
-A scene where the rest of the titans dress up as ghosts, try to scare Beast boy and fails miserably thanks to Beast boy not being afraid. Beast boy and Raven would then scare them and make them run for their lives.
-A scene touching on religion in this fanfic. In short: Many gods, demons and afterlives, and touch on why Raven is doomed.
-A scene explaining why Raven came after Beast boy.
A note on the dark one; It is on its way. Now as I have finished writhing this text, I will go back to chapter 4. I plan on writhing 6 chapters in total. I encourage you to check it out.