Ch 31
"Raven!" said Maiden as she hugged her niece.
"It's good to see you to," said Raven.
Maiden took a good look at her niece and smiled. "You look quite refreshed. Has something happened since the last time we met?"
Raven was thankful for the hood around her head because she knew she was blushing. She looked to Gar and smiled. "Just enjoying my time with Gar."
"So, what brings you two to Jump City?" asked Gar.
"I wanted to make amends," said Bedford. "I behaved horribly to you two, and I know sorry isn't going to fix it right away. I still want to try."
"Anyway we're staying in a hotel in the city," said Maiden as they walked out of the airport. A car pulled up, and the couple got in. "We'll see you kids tonight for dinner, does that sound all right?"
"Sure," said Raven.
"See you later," said Gar as the car took off. His eyes went from the car to Raven's concerned eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Bedford was lying," said Raven. "I can't figure out why."
"Maybe we can further investigate at dinner," suggested Gar.
"Sounds good to me," smiled Raven.
"So, what do you want to do until then?" Gar smirked as he wiggled his eyebrows at her.
"Well," she smirked as she leaned into him, "if you ever do that again nothing."
"Oh come on how else will you understand what I mean?"
"I can just ready your dirty little thoughts Garfield," she said as she leaned in and kissed his cheek.
"Oh," he blushed, "right. Wait I thought you could only read my emotions?"
"That was true until after we were intimate," she blushed. "For some reason I can read your mind but not others."
Gar smiled. "Well I guess I'm just special."
"You are Gar," she said as she looked at him with nothing but love in her eyes, "to me," she said as she surprised Gar by holding him close in her arms. "I love you."
"I love you to Raven," he said as he held her tightly. He had a feeling that whatever was bothering Raven was serious. He knew she was scared, but he knew she was also strong as he kissed the top of her forehead. "Come on Rae, let's go home."
Dinner had been pleasant to say the least, but Raven couldn't figure out the bad feeling in her heart as the couples took a walk around the city. At some point Raven noticed they stopped at an unmarked building and Raven could feel her nerves kick in. "No! There's nothing good in there," said Raven. "Why have you taken us here?"
"Raven, what's—?" asked Gar as he held onto her tight.
A door opened and a group of hooded figures came out with their leader standing ahead of them. "She was right, but it's too late," said the man's voice as he revealed himself.
"Brother Blood!" exclaimed Raven and Gar.
"I believe this is the part where you ask what I want," said Brother Blood as he looked at Raven. "I want your power, and you will give it up freely or the shapeshifter dies."
Gar looked towards Maiden and Bedford. "You two knew about this."
"Her power is evil and corrupt and must be cleansed from her body," said Bedford. "Only then will she be clean."
"You bastard!" growled Gar.
"Temper, temper shapeshifter, it will get you nowhere. Now—
Gar could tell Raven was thinking. "You can't Rae. You know how he'll use his power. He'll take over the world. We can fight him together."
"How observant of you shapeshifter," said Brother Blood, "but fighting me will do you both no good. "I brought an army of my own. I'm afraid it will be too late to call in for backup. Now be smart about this. I take Raven's powers, and I let you and her live in happy bliss."
"Why would you let me live?" asked Raven.
"So you could see the destruction of your powers upon the earth," said Brother Blood. "No one will be able to defeat me!"
"I think you're too confident about that Brother Blood," said Gar. "There will be other heroes who will come and defeat you, and they will bring you down."
"Are you so sure shapeshifter?" he asked as the hooded figures brought down their hoods to reveal all of the villains they have come across as Titans.
Gar felt a fear come over him he hadn't felt since he had been a child, trying to survive the world after the death of his parents and what came after. Looking at Raven with her hand holding tightly in his, he saw no fear in her face but the rage in her eyes. He couldn't let her down, now was not the time.
"Surrender to me Raven and I won't let these villains tear your shapeshifter lover apart," said Brother Blood. Looking towards Raven's relatives, "you two may go. I have no more use for you." The couple left without a word. Brother Blood smirked. "How does it feel to be betrayed by your own blood?"
"It doesn't matter. I'm not giving you my powers. I'd rather die," she said as Brother Blood smirked.
Destruction was all that surrounded her. The dead bodies of every villain she had ever fought lied at her feet. They had killed Garfield, and that was not going to go unpunished. She had lost everything, her humanity gone as she became the demon her father wanted her to be with her skin red, her hair as white as fallen snow, and her six yellow eyes that looked upon Brother Blood as she snapped his neck, set him on fire, and laughed at agonizing screams until there was no more.
Searching for Garfield's body among the destruction, she found him bruised and battered. It would normally tear at her heart, but she felt nothing now. He was gone and nothing could be done. She levitated his body and flew off towards Titans Tower. Digging into the soil with her powers, she buried the only person in the world who had truly loved her. Once the earth covered his body, Raven knew she couldn't stay here for long. The cops would be looking for her. Floating over the tower, she looked away from it as she opened a portal and disappeared from Jump city.
Rain had fallen upon the city of Jump that night, washing away some of the destruction as Jump City police retrieved the bodies of the fallen villains. They would soon be looking for the culprit they would never find. Soon the sun came over the horizon, a green hand rose from the earth on the ground of Titan Tower, digging their way to freedom. Lying onto of the earth, the changeling catches his breath.
"Raven?"
"I will help you find her shapeshifter."
"Linda?"
"She has become corrupt and destroyed New Azarath, and she very well may destroy more life if she is not stopped. You must stop her."
"Where is she?"
"Let me concentrate," said Linda as she closed her eyes and searched Raven out. "She has taken over Trigon's realm by dethroning her six brothers Jared (Wrath), Jesse (Envy), Jacob (Lust), Jack (Sloth), James (Greed), and Gluttony."
"I didn't know Raven had brothers."
"They are just as evil as their father was," said Linda as she opened a portal. "I have found her shapeshifter but fair warning she will not look as she has to you, but you will see for yourself."
"Thank you," said Gar.
"I will not be able to bring you back shapeshifter," said Linda. "You will have to find your own way."
"Why?"
"I feel myself fading. I have lost my home and my love, but you have not lost yours yet. Do what you must to bring her back from the brink of rage and darkness."
"I will, and I'm sorry about your home and husband. I hope you can rest in peace."
"Goodbye Garfield."
Garfield felt like he stepped into a hell that looked like an underground cave. He thought it was definitely hot enough, so he changed into an animal he knew could withstand the heat, a rattle snake. Coming upon what looked like a throne, he changed back, staying out of site. Peeking out of his hiding place, he saw a woman with red skin, white hair, and six yellow eyes sitting on the throne, looking upon her subjects. She was wearing a skin tight black dress with slits on each side, showing off her legs.
"Wait a minute—is that—it couldn't be. Raven," he said in a whisper as he observed her body as close as he could. When he saw the penny worn around her neck, he knew it was her. 'How can this be?' he thought. 'I need answers,' he said as he changed into a raven and flew down towards the throne. Transforming into his human self, he received some gasps from Raven's subjects. Walking the long pathway to her throne, he stood before her. "Raven, it's me Garfield," he said.
"Who are you to stand before the queen?" asked the guard by Raven's side.
"Queen?" said Gar.
Raven stepped down from her throne and walked towards the changeling. "It can't be."
"I was dead, but Linda brought me back. She knew I could save you. Even though you destroyed New Azarath, she still has hope. Leave this place with me Rae, we can figure this out together I promise. I won't leave you here."
"I can't be saved. I murdered all those villains in Jump city and killed the beings of New Azarath. I cannot be redeemed. I will not leave this place," she said as she turned away from him.
"Raven, I still love you. That hasn't changed."
"Why?" she asked as she sat back on her throne. "I have nothing to offer you. I am the ruler of Trigon's realm. I am full demon now. There is no going back Garfield."
"What do you want us to do with him Queen Raven?" asked one of her guards.
"He can never leave this place," said Raven. "Bring him to my quarters, I'll be there soon to decide his fate."
"Yes my queen," said the guards as they grabbed him by each arm, leading him away.
"Are you sure this is a good idea your highness?" asked Jared (Wrath). "He could be a threat."
"What's so special about him anyway?" asked Jesse (Envy).
Jacob (Lust) smirked. "She lost her virginity to that thing."
"Who cares," said Jack (Sloth).
"We could use him to our advantage, turn him into a weapon to do our biding," said James (Greed).
"Let's eat him!" exclaimed Gluttony.
"ENOUGH!" yelled Raven as she disappeared from sight.
Waiting in Raven's quarters, he looked around the room. The decoration reminded him of her room at the tower, but it felt different. It felt cold and uninviting. There was nothing in her bedroom to tie her to the real world. It was like it had all been erased and never existed.
"You can never leave."
"I know," said Gar as he turned around to face the woman he never knew. "So, this is your demon form?"
"Yes. When you died, it triggered something in me. I lost all control and became this. They took your life, so I took theirs, no regret or remorse. I have been reborn. I will remain like this forever."
"So, what are you going to do with me?"
"You will remain here with me. You will not be harmed Garfield."
"So, do you still love me?"
Looking into his eyes, she could clearly see the complete love and devotion he had for her. It was overwhelming, but she let herself drown in it as she moved towards him, grabbed him, and kissed him passionately on the lips as she felt his arms wrap tightly around her while responding to her kiss with equal passion. When she felt him let go, she was surprised.
"What is it Gar, don't you want me?" Raven purred as she looked into his eyes once again. She could see him fighting the lust inside him to just take her. "Why do you struggle Garfield?"
"I love you Raven, but this isn't who you are. I know you would never touch anything that Trigon ruled over. You hate him."
"I can never be the same person I was because I am no longer human," said Raven as she left him for her bed. Lying down in her black dress, she spread her legs to reveal no underwear under her dress. "Now Garfield," she smirked, "what are you going to do with me?"
Her smell was intoxicating and drawing him to her, but he stopped, trying to resist how good her scent was. Making his way onto the bed, he sighed, knowing what he had to do. Closing her legs, he rested beside her on the bed, bringing her body to his to only hold close to his body.
"What is the meaning of this Garfield?"
"I just want to hold you," he said looking into her quizzical face.
"You don't want me?"
When she said that, he swore she sounded like herself, a scared and insecure woman. It tore at his heart. He stroked her white, silky hair and sighed. "Of course I do Rae, I always do."
"Then what are we doing?"
"We're being together, and I know I will convince you to leave this place."
"You can try all you want, but it will never be," she said as she looked at his sleeping face. She felt his arm tightly around and had a feeling he would never give up on her.