You didn't really think I'd forgotten about you guys, did you?

I want to apologize to all of my reviewers. My Dad has recently discovered the joys of Ebay, and I can barely find time to read Penny Arcade, much less type a new chapter. Still, you have to admire a man who can take 300 worth of toy trains, fix them up, and resell them for over 1,300.

With the help of God, Father Almighty, the next update will be sooner. In the meantime, keep a close eye on Jurodan's "Raven's Destiny". It continues to rock me like a hurricane.

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed. (I do not own Teen Titans or CCR)

That's the problem with prophecies. They're never crystal clear.

The wind whipped through her long dark hair, brushing against her shoulders and obscuring her view. With more than a little annoyance, Raven blew a strand out of her face. She almost couldn't stand having this much hair.

Of course, that was why she hadn't cut it right away after Jinx had saved her on the rooftop of Titan's Tower. It was a reminder of why she was doing this. Unlike the glowing symbols, which thankfully had faded to transparency, the hair was something Raven had control over. When she had cut her hair the night of her encounter with Slade, she had been trying to hide from the truth. But she couldn't hide any longer. If and when she finally did cut it, all this would be over.

Raven and Jinx were standing on the roof of the building where the Titans had witnessed Slade's return thirteen days before. If Slade would appear tonight, this would probably be the place, and Raven had no doubts over the question of "IF". As the two sorceresses stood in the moonlight, Raven's thoughts drifted back to the events of the past fifteen minutes.

"How long have you two known this?" Robin asked incredulously.

Raven met his gaze with one of equal ferocity. "We don't know this. We suspect it. And we've been suspecting it since I began teaching her."

"We're coming with you." Robin shot back at her.

"No." Raven replied flatly.

"There's no way you two can beat Slade on your own!" was her team leader's worried response. Jinx stood a little ways behind Raven, trying hard not to meet anyone's gaze. She felt like she was stealing one of their best friends away from them. It wasn't like her experience with Cyborg, though. This time, she was going to succeed.

"That may be true, but I'm the only one who can actually hurt him."

"But friend Raven, how can you believe such a thing?" this from Starfire. Beastboy and Cyborg had yet to speak up, still dumbstruck by the flood of information they were being subjected to.

Raven's response was brisk and delivered in her usual monotone. "Simple. He's a demon, and so am I."

Raven walked to Jinx's side before she continued to speak. "I know I'm not the nicest person in the world, and I also know how heartless I seem right now. But you guys are the only friends I've ever really had. I want you to remember that, no matter what happens. Goodbye."

Without further discussion, Raven grasped Jinx's hand, the pair was enveloped by black shadow, and they were gone. The Titans were left standing stock still, their faces stricken with shock.

And so, here they were, two teenage girls standing in the brisk night air, ready to lay down their lives to stop the Apocalypse.

Raven's concentration was suddenly lost, however, due to the actions of her companion. For the last couple of minutes, Jinx had been walking along the edge of the roof, balancing precariously and humming softly. It was only recently that she had forgotten the dire seriousness of the situation, and burst out into song:

"I seeee a bad moon a-rising,

I see trouble on the way.

I see earthquakes and lightnin'

I see bad times today."

Raven was lost as to how this was the person unto which she had entrusted her fate. Her lips slowly took the form of a smirk, and she turned her attention the full moon that was above them now. It was blood red. For a brief moment, she could have sworn she saw one of Trigon's runes across its surface. Somehow, her grin remained. Probably because Jinx was trying to deepen her voice, making a futile and hilarious attempt at sounding like Creedance Clearwater Revival.

"Don't go round tonight, or it's bound to take your life,

Theeere's a bad moon on the rise.

Hope you've got your things together,"

This was as far as Jinx got into her John Fogerty impression before a new voice chimed in:

"Hope you both are quite prepared to die."

Jinx froze and spun around to face Raven, who had her attention directed to the dark figure that had materialized at the center of the roof, less than thirty feet away.

"Hello, ladies." Slade took a step forward. "Hope you don't mind if I'm a little early." At that moment, a clock tower in the distance began to chime midnight.

The chimes continued to strike, but Slade kept speaking anyway. It's not like his voice was going to get drowned out. It seemed to pierce their very souls.

"I must say, I'm quite surprised to see you alive, Raven. I was sure you'd take your own life in an attempt to prevent the inevitable." He turned to look at Jinx. "What I didn't count on was your little girlfriend having nightmares. Too bad you left your teammates at home. They could have died along side you. It would have been quick. Now…" Slade shook his head mockingly. "Now they'll suffer the same fate as every other person in this world. They will suffer the fate YOU brought upon them."

Raven bit down on her lower lip, trying to keep her anger in check. Still, Slade's prodding was having an effect. As Jinx looked on in stunned silence, the markings began to reappear all over her friend's body.

"Why?" Raven spat. "Why didn't you kill me when you had the chance? Were you just trying to torment me?"

Although they couldn't see, they were sure Slade was smiling beneath the mask. "Of course not, sweetheart. That was only a fringe benefit. The answer is quite simple, really." Slade walked forward as he spoke, stopping about ten feet away from the pair. "You see, my Boss wanted to see the look on your face as the world you gave your life to protect was destroyed. Your Father wanted a little family reunion."

Raven was confounded. What was he talking about? "You make it sound as if I had a chance of avoiding him." Slade said nothing, and a thought began to dawn on Raven. "That's where I'm going when I die, isn't it?" Still nothing. "Isn't it?"

Slade heaved an overly dramatic sigh. "Fraid not, birthday girl. It was quite puzzling to me, as well." He began to circle them. "Here we have a girl with the blood of demons flowing through her veins, a girl who has the power to end this world. A girl who would be known by many as the Antichrist. And yet, for some reason, you have a clean slate."

Raven's head was spinning. She wanted so desperately to believe what he was saying, but it was impossible. Never the less, he continued.

"Maybe it was when you were baptized by Azar; maybe it's this chosen lifestyle of using your powers to protect the weak and helpless. Whatever the reason, you've been recommended to the Spirit in the Sky. And needless to say, Trigon isn't very happy."

That was it. Despite the source of the information, Raven somehow knew it was true. She wasn't doomed. She still had a chance. Not even spending time with Malchior had made her feel so free inside. The voice of Slade, however, pulled her back to reality.

"I was given the job of finding a way to bring you home. And if my former employee had been just a few seconds late, I would have succeeded. You would be dead, standing before your Father, your soul tarnished by the mortal sin of suicide. I would be unopposed, free to unleash the armies of darkness across this mortal plain. I have failed, and Trigon is very, very, unhappy."

Slade came to a stop before Raven and Jinx, his voice dripping with rage.

"Know this, Angel. You may have escaped him, but you will not escape me. Heaven or Hell, you are going to die, and this world will end. I will see to it. Right here. Right now."

Raven turned to Jinx, searching her eyes. "This is your last chance, Jinx. Leave now and I won't think any less of you. You've done so much for me already."

To her surprise, Jinx smiled. "The Hounds of Hell couldn't drag me away right now." She crossed her arms across her chest, her hands radiating with pink energy. "Well, Angel, ARE you quite prepared to die?"

Returning the smirk, Raven turned to face Slade while matching her friend's battle stance, black energy flowing around her. "I've been ready since the day I was born."

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Keep the reviews coming.

In the meantime, imagine a movie based on one of the novels of my all time favorite author and international bestseller Clive Cussler. Then imagine that he was given complete control over how the movie was made…

Check out Sahara, opening April 8. It'll rock your socks off.