Walking into the warded chamber after Raven had moved in and set up for the ritual was like wandering into a long forgotten library. The witch had an impressive array of books scattered about, their only organization being that there was a walkway from the door to the table on which Aqualad lay.

Speedy had been expecting some sort of elaborate scene, like hundreds of candles dotting the room and chalked pentagrams on the floor or something. There was none of this, making the archer feel like maybe he was out of his element here. Maybe his definition of "ritual" had been too strongly influenced by made-for-TV-Halloween-movies.

It was deathly quiet in the chamber despite eight people dwelling within. Raven, tome in hand, was pointing out something to Jericho in the text. Whether or not the guitarist actually got the point of their conversation or was just pretending to was unknown, but since Speedy didn't know him to be a caster of spells he doubted Jericho's knowledge spanned that far. The mute was nodding comprehensively to this regardless, and no one seemed anxious to disturb them.

...Except for Speedy, who became immensely angry upon seeing the restraints holding Aqualad's lifeless limbs in place.

"Those fuckin' necessary?" he demanded of the group. Solemn looks were the initial response.

"You said it yourself, Speedy," Raven reminded him, "The entity has taken control of Aqualad's body before. It attacked you, even. So, yes, these bonds are necessary to protect both us and Aqualad."

"He's not a god damn animal!" he insisted.

"None of us wish to see friend Aqualad in this state," the Tameranian princess tried to offer her sympathy, "but it would not be wise to take no precautions. Please try to be at ease."

Perhaps the most antsy of the group was Cyborg. Magic was not his bag of tricks, and naturally such intricate power made him feel nervous. "Yo, how long's this gonna take?"

"A few incantations will bring myself and Jericho into Aqualad's unconscious world. From there it all depends on what we find within."

"Let's hope it's not much. If things start getting to tight you two will have to play it smart. Use your judgement, and if things become too dangerous pull out. We'll have to find another way," said Robin.

There's no time to find another way! Speedy wanted to argue, but because Starfire's warm palm was still firmly squeezing his shoulder he bit his tongue.

"We'll be careful." It seemed to be the final queue, for with that Raven sat in her levitation and rested the thick book upon her lap. Jericho slowly rested his hand atop Aqualad's chest. "Put the necklace next to Aqualad in case the essence is forced out. Unlikely, but just in case."

All directions were completed. Following that came a deep breath, a hard swallow. Then Raven started loudly and clearly, "Here we go. Nerich, avouledran terendrumas…"

And by the telling of Jericho's sudden absence and Raven's slumping forward it was obvious her spell had succeeded.

---

Raven and Jericho found themselves in a totally alternate world. Having come from the exotic planar city of Azarath Raven wasn't too stunned by what she saw. Jericho was another story.

"This place is beautiful," he murmured in awe, no longer impeded by the limitations of his physical body.

Indeed, this city that Aqualad had subconsciously formed was quite an impressive sight. There was no existing architecture on the surface world with which to compare to the buildings and streets of the area, but probably what was most astonishing was the fact that the entire complex seemed to be in an undersea dome. The artificial sky was dark with the world beyond beyong an eternally empty ocean that was dark and unending.

"I wonder if this is what Atlantis is like?" Jericho continued to muse, but Raven was a bit more focused than he. She pointed to the west to bring her companion back to the task at hand.

"Look. It seems like that may be the trouble neighborhood we're looking for," she remarked, though it hardly needed to be said. Despite all the beautifully crafted buildings, statues and cobblestone streets a darkness hung over the distance with an obvious malevolence.

"So, do we jump right on into the fray or do we stop and look for Aqualad first?"

"We could spend days looking for Aqualad in this city and get nowhere as the monster grows in strength. We have to go for the source of this evil; there will be time to look for him later."

Jericho heard her reasoning and took a deep breath. "Well, once more into the breach, as they say."

Raven grabbed Jericho's wrist and hovered above the ground, moving far more quickly than they would have on foot. Indeed, she had suspected correctly that the object of their search was in the western potion of the city: the buildings made a quick change from elaborate and well crafted to gothic and distorted. Towers leaned heavily to their sides in ways that would have defied earth gravity, and the streets became pitched with holes and crevices that dropped into a black oblivion.

"The damage done to this place is incredible! How long has he been possessed?"

"Bumblebee said the fight happened this morning. About ten or eleven hours, I guess. That such harm happened over the course of a few hours should give us an idea of what we're facing, so keep a sharp eye out. Odds are the beast will try to take us out from behind."

"That's a reassuring thought."

Raven snorted and raised an eyebrow. "What part of this whole ordeal did you think was going to be safe?"

"You can't blame me, Raven. I was born blonde."

---

Robin looked at the clock for the umpteenth time. He was getting testy upon seeing that an eternity had passed in only two hours.

Aqualad had shown no signs of whatever was happening within. Beast Boy wondered if he was maybe involved in the fight like Raven had been in Nevermore, or maybe they had sent him to hide? Probably. If Aqualad went down, so did Raven and Jericho.

Starfire clutched Silkie, the obliviously happy larvae, in her arms protectively. Next to them was Cyborg, looking very much as though he wanted to punch a hole through the wall.

And last there was Speedy, hand resting on the cold metal table just far enough from Aqualad's that their skin did not touch. There were a few moments when he was subtly flick his fingers out to make contact, though. The wait was becoming too much. It was probably killing both of them but in very different ways.

Bumblebee had called back, reminding him that he'd forgotten torelay that Raven had started the exorcism. She just wanted to say they had about three hours left on their flight. Speedy told them not to rush. Not much had been happening since the spell had begun.

The Titans became aware of the ritual's end by the occurrence of three things: first, Raven's peaceful body jolted violently, wavered in midair for a moment, then tumbled to the floor with a light thud. Second, Jericho's corporeal form reappeared over the worn out body of Aqualad, panting and woozy from the unanticipated departure from his host. Finally, and probably the most clear giveaway for the Titans, was the fact that the Atlantean in question snapped back to consciousness, writhed in his bonds and gasped desperately to fill his lungs with air. Speedy instinctively jumped back in alarm.

Jericho weakly rolled off Aqualad. Starfire leaped into action just in time to not allow the guitarist to follow Raven to the floor. Speedy was just barely quick enough to catch himself before he yelled out Aqualad's real name in front of everyone present.

The archer was at Aqualad's side, running his fingers through his ex's black hair soothingly. He didn't care if the others all magically figured out the relationship that the two had been in: that was always Garth's insecurity. What made Roy inwardly laugh at himself was how he had been trying so fiercely to convince himself he didn't need Garth. What a dumb ass notion that was.

Aqualad moaned tiredly, and the question of its authenticity hung heavily above the group.

Starting to collect herself after the fall, Raven confirmed his identity. "It is Aqualad. We were able to subdue the creature: it should be out of control for a while."

Speedy looked at Cyborg expectantly, and reassured that they were in no danger the brief leader of Titans East began entering the numerical sequence that would undo the bonds. If Speedy's focus hadn't been on Aqualad he would have heard the exchange between Raven and Robin.

"You couldn't expel this thing?"

"The presence has been concealing its true level of strength all along. It nearly had Jericho and myself pinned down. We were able to weaken it enough that it fled, but who knows for how long?"

"Do you think you'll be able to destroy it?"

"I… need to rest, but I know I can do it with Jericho at my back. I just need to review some spells."

Skeptical, he attacked the weakness in her voice. "You don't sound entirely sure of that."

Jericho was becomming coherent enough to stand on his own, but he was still willed himself to keep out of the discussion. Whatever Raven was doing he didn't want to get in her way by visably flinching at whatever tales she was spinning for the sake of her friends.

"We took some hits," said the Azar witch with finality, "but now we know its weakest point, and once we've rested we can attack again."

Starfire appeared next to Speedy, Silkie perched atop her shoulder. The Tameranian nudged the archer gently with her elbow. "Is our friend beginning to wake?"

"I think so," was the absent reply, "Just give him a few minutes."

Aqualad was just beginning to crack his heavy eyes open, not yet comfortable with the light of the room. His jaw was clenched and lip quivered from the coldness he felt, but he was rapidly comming to. The feeling of some one's hand wrapped around his icy fingertips was comforting enough to further draw him from his hibernation.

"That's probably a good idea," Robin agreed, beginning to usher members of his team out of the warded chamber with some suspicion. He had seen Speedy's tenderness around his team mate, and not even the culturally impaired Starfire would have been able to overlook the behavior with no question. So, somebody had understood the reason for Speedy's close proximity to Aqualad. "Let's give them some space."

Speedy thought Robin sounded a little resentful, but he didn't care.