Passing Judgment: Playing by the Rules Chapter 13: What You Don't Know, a teen titans fanfic

-Passing Judgment: Playing by the Rules-

-What You Don't Know-

"Okay, are you guys ready?" Robin asked while boarding the T-ship at the head of the team. Glancing back at Raven's side of the ship, knowing that it was empty, he frowned and sighed then looked all around at his other teammates.

Beast Boy hooked on a pair of sunglasses to his eyes and sat back in the T-ship with a huge smile on his face, "Let's get the show on the road I don't mind another vacation."

Robin inwardly rolled his eyes, "It's not a vacation Beast Boy. Cyborg, all systems online?"

"On and purring like a kitten," Cyborg grinned and flashed a thumbs up.

"Good, alright Titans let's –"

"Robin …" Starfire interrupted, the leader of the team paused and looked down at his girlfriend, the sweet alien princess gazed up at him with concerned emerald green eyes. Without being asked if something was wrong, she went a head and voiced her concern, "Robin, I do believe you have set us on the wrong course. The butler at Castillo Manor said she went to London … why are we headed for Egypt?"

Beast Boy shot up from his seat and checked his map, even Cyborg did the same, apparently neither Titans hadn't a clue Robin did some last minute changes to their destination. The masked-wonder sat back and stared straight a head when Beast Boy looked up at him and shrugged in confusion, "Dude … like, yeah, what's up why we headed for the desert?"

Robin didn't respond as quickly as his team would like for him to … Cyborg leaned over to Robin's side of the ship and eyed him cautiously, "Man, Egypt? Alexandria? What are we gonna find there? Raven's at –"

"She's not in London," Robin snapped with a deadpanned expression, "trust me … I don't know how I know … I just … know."

Beast Boy rolled his eyes, "Feh, here comes that psychokenetic bond thing kickin' in."

"No Beast Boy," Robin sighed, "Raven and I's link was severed when she established the connection with Red X … I'm just going on intuition, Raven never took any of her spells and when she left us she wasn't looking for a way to cut her ties with X yet … she didn't even come back to get her things."

Starfire blinked, "So … are you suggesting that her tie with the Red X is strong enough to draw her towards the thief?"

"That … and the fact that she told me earlier X was headed for Egypt to get something … if I'm right she'd be going after him the same as we are."

Something didn't make sense to Cyborg, and he made his confusion known, "But how can she go after X if she's stuck watching the kid?"

It was then that Beast Boy had an epiphany and he shot off his section of the ship to stand in the center, all excited he explained, "Dudes! Remember! When we looked up Trenton Bou being Criss Daniels that world known Treasure Hunter? Well, get this, what if Trenton was playing Criss playing Red X! That's the only way Raven's able to follow X, was if the kid was related to X and Raven's watching the kid so she'd have to follow X and WHAM! We know who X is! Criss Daniels!"

Cyborg raised a brow and shook his head, "Man, shut up and sit down that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard! Why the hell would X even risk his identity with a empathy like Raven? She'd pick up the truth in a day."

Beast Boy flopped down, seeing the flaw in his explanation, but Starfire, surprisingly came to his defense with a radical suggestion, "Though that maybe true, Raven has not been answering her communicator and I am afraid to say that either the Red X has done something to her … or … she's in league with him …"

"I can't believe you just said that …" Cyborg gaped at Starfire like she was fish-head telling him the sky was about to fall, "… out of all the – Star, listen to yourself, Raven? With X? She'd never! Tell her Rob, the girl needs to know that Raven's on our side 100 percent, what would she gain siding with X? Tell her Rob."

"…" Robin remained silent, afraid to take either side because he felt guilty even thinking any which way. Taking a deep breath he informed his team, "Cyborg, Beast Boy, Starfire … just sit down, it's too early to tell anything yet, let's just get to Egypt and we'll see what goes down from there. Got it? … Good … Cyborg, fire up the engines, let's try to get here before night falls."

For the rest of the trip it was done in silence, each Titan afraid to say anything least they start an argument, causing slight tension and major discomfort in even looking in one another's direction. Just the possibilities and assumptions were making them all stand uncomfortably on edge.

"Wow …" Lance gazed up at Malchior's deep dark cat-slit crimson eyes in astonishment, as if seeing the man for the first time in his entire life – well … it actually was, considering Malchior wasn't a real man. The child continued on in wonder, "I never met a dragon before … how does it feel to be a dragon?"

Malchior snickered light-heartedly and raised a clawed hand to pat the top of the cute child's head, "Such an odd question to ask, but I've forgotten that hatchlings tend to ask odd questions on occasion. Since I was born the way I am, I must say it feels as normal as you are human."

"Really?" Lance tilted his head and looked up to Raven, "So … does it feel normal to be a half-demon Miss Raven?"

Raven faltered at the question, but inwardly, never showing anyone that the question had actually bothered her. She took a breath and answered coolly, "As normal as life can get Lance, done with your cereal yet?"

Lance looked down at the empty bowl of Lucky Charms and milk then looked back up at Raven with a big smile, "All finished!"

"Good, now go get ready for the day and we'll see what we have planned."

"Sure." Jumping off his chair and running pass Malchior.

The dragon watched the child in amusement and chuckled, his red eyes looked across the table to the sorceress who grabbed Lance's neglected bowl and spoon and took it to the sink to wash, "For a protector you sure act more like his mother … where is the mother by the way?"

"… Off …" Raven answered hesitantly, but convincingly nonetheless, "… she's on a business trip, that's why I was assigned."

"Oh …" Malchior glanced off to the room Trenton had retreated into not too long ago, quite sure that he was still in it, he turned his attention back on Raven who crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back against the sink.

Her violet eyes burning with one question, "What do you want? I mean, really want … we both know beings like you don't do things on a whim unless there's something to be had … what's your motivation?"

Malchior chuckled, never noticing the thief – out of habit (it was second nature) – had snuck out of his room in total silence. About to enter the living room when he heard the dragon say the most "interesting" thing, "Truthfully my fair maiden, I've always wanted you … in more ways than one."

… the fuck … Trenton jerked his head back and made a face that could have rivaled the Batman's cold-hearted stare downs. His gray eyes turning quicksilver with the way the heat burned at his entire being for just mere simple words that came out of the dragon's mouth. For some particular reason, hate was becoming a very common word where this other guy was concerned with Raven and that was saying something.

Considering the fact that Trenton doesn't know how to hate.

Raven slowly blinked and raised a brow with a deadpanned expression covering over her face, "I mean for real Malchior."

Again he chuckled and shrugged, "Ah, it was worth a shot, but if you don't believe me that's fine … I guess I can live with that. However … if you want cold hard facts … my master … gave me an ultimatum. He said I can either go after the Red X … or come here and finish the task that was bestowed upon me the moment the book fell into your hands. And before you start thinking, no, Taciko wouldn't have wanted you dead … but his brother, Zakardo … he's the one that knew you were too good to give me to him, because you knew his full intentions with me … didn't you?"

Raven narrowed her eyes suspiciously on the dragon, "Malchior … I didn't even know you were trapped in the book until I read you …"

Malchior blinked once, his amused face dropping to shock and disbelief, "Really? All this time I thought you knew why Zakardo wanted the book to begin with … that's the reason why you protected me from him … right?"

"No …" Raven shook her head, "… it was an accident that you fell into my hands … I was taken to the Palace with my mother because she wished to speak with my trainer who resided in the Palace …"

"Halt! Who goes there?"

A while clocked woman with vibrant violet eyes and shoulder lengthen violet hair to match slid her hood down to reveal her true identity to the Azarian Royal Guards under the bright moonlight. Beside her, dressed in much darker attire was apparently her 13 year old daughter with short cropped hair and equally stoned violet eyes. Pulling down her daughter's hood to reveal her identity, the guard's hard expression lightened when he realized who the guests were.

However, the mother introduced herself and her daughter formally with a respectful bow, "Arella and Raven Roth … we've come to have an audience with Father Damien, just to see my daughter's progress."

The guard nodded his head in approval and behind the iron gates he waved to the two guards above the tower to open up. As the gates opened he bowed his head in greeting to the ladies who gracefully passed through, "Have a good evening ladies."

Arella bowed again, "Same to you kind sir."

Raven watched the interaction and rolled her eyes, once they were both out of ear shot the half-demoness growled, "Why do you bother? No one on this godforsaken island trusts us … they only fear us."

"There's only half truth to that my dear," Arella corrected in a firm, yet soft and motherly voice, "though rumors fly they soon fall, truth hops, but keeps on going. One day or the other these people – our people will understand that you were never one to bring death and destruction to our world … but hope and faith. For you have the courage enough to bear the weight of worlds upon your shoulders … do you understand?"

Raven ignored her mother … it was always the same speech and she was tired of it. She knew the truth, knew what she was actually brought in this world to do … hearing a soft spoken lie meant to sooth her pain being told time and again was getting old for the half-demoness to hear. For such things as "hope" and "faith" existed not in her dictionary. Cold-violet eyes glared at the slightly glowing palace … glowing because of the many lights that were on and surrounded the large towering structure that was in the middle of Azarath.

Majestic and powerful, Raven stared at the engraved symbol of the dove upon the wall … well … it wasn't exactly a dove, but an outline of a bird that resembled peace and harmony. Raven scoffed and founded it awfully ironic that such a symbol could be found in such a hostile land. She could have laughed … but seeing as jokes wasn't her thing, she kept her mouth shut as she entered the Palace and was met with Father Damien.

The priest that Raven had to question just which side exactly he was on when it came to "training" her. Did he fear her like everyone else? Or was he truly sincere when it came to catering to her control. He smiled big and walked up to Arella, greeting her with a kiss on the back of her palm and bowing the same as she did. Raven got ready to copy the move, though she held no smile and never answered the formal question: "How do you do?"

The way she saw it … it was just a waste of time.

The Priest understood her silence and never pressured her on manners; instead he patted her on the head and sent her on her way, "Raven, will you please head for the Gardens while I discuss with your mother your wonderful progress –"

Raven didn't wait for him to continue, she just walked away into the gardens, without care when she felt her mother's aura jab at her in warning. Again, Raven ignored her, feeling like everything she was doing was becoming utterly pointless …

" … as always I was ushered into the Gardens to wait while my mother saw my trainer. Taciko came out to greet me … holding the Rexxez Chronicles …"

Something's not right in the air … I can feel it … Raven thought to herself as she sat on a bench within the small garden looking up to the large harvest moon. A moon that was just big enough for her to reach out and touch and she felt like doing it to … no one was around to see such a childish act … she could do it, but she withheld herself from it. Childish dawdling wasn't something a girl like her should be doing … hell, for all she knew a servant would spot her and think she was bring out the end of their world at that very moment.

So she sat there, just staring and hating her existence –

"Raven?"

His voice … Raven stood up immediately from her spot on the bench to turn and see the President's younger son, Taciko Kazar standing at the glass entrance into the Gardens. His usually well kept appearance looking disheveled and exhausted, the strange feeling in the pit of her stomach churned when she saw a cut on the side of his face starting to bruise. He had been in a fight. Yet, his bright golden eyes were still warm and welcoming, just the same as his smile as he walked into the Garden to stand before Raven.

The sorceress quickly dropped her head and bowed before the prince, "Your highness."

He chuckled tiredly, "Do stop Raven; you know you don't have to do that when in my presence."

"Though if someone should see my disobedience," Raven stood back to her full height. Which wasn't impressive at all, she was still shorter than the young prince, her emotionless expression never changing, "I doubt the gossip wouldn't be turned into headline news … but are you alright?"

Taciko realized she must have been referring to the cut on his face and he frowned, cursing himself for not covering it up before he came to the gardens. Granted he didn't know he'd be seeing Raven here, but still … he was a prince, walking around in such a dishonorable appearance was ghastly. Without thinking he reached up the back of his long sleeve to whip off the blood, but winced when he pressed down on the forming bruise.

"Damn … I must look terrible."

Raven shook her head and reached up a glowing blue hand to the side of his face where the wound was, "You look fine … but what happened … did you fight with Zak again?"

"…" Taciko sighed in relaxation when he felt her power run through his veins, healing him for a short period, he looked down at her in regret, "Would you forgive me if I said yes?"

Looking up at him with a disapproving stare and frowning deeply, Raven pulled her hand away from him when the task was complete and crossed her arms over her chest, "What was it about this time? Something silly I bet."

Taciko chuckled nervously and looked off to the side, not able to hold Raven's cold-stare, he shrugged, "I wouldn't exactly say it was something silly … it's actually kind of hard to explain … but …"

Raven raised a brow when she finally realized the prince was holding something in his hand … a white book … well preserved with crescent moons on the corner. He held it up and showed it to her, handing it to her to hold and observe physically. She looked back up at the prince and asked, "Is it a spell book?"

"Not exactly … it's a long story," Taciko nervously stuffed his hands into his pocket, took them back out and frowned in hesitation, his golden eyes telling Raven everything she needed to know. Taciko wasn't sure if he should trust her with it … and she had to admit, something inside her fell apart when one of the only "friends" she had couldn't trust her, "Raven … well … the book is ac –"

"Prince Taciko!"

Both the sorceress and the prince gasped in fright – neither of their guards were up – when a servant girl had called to Taciko urgently, Raven composed herself and sensed the fear within the servant's aura, but it wasn't directed towards her. It was the fear of something – no – someone else. That someone she bet was Taciko's father … President Kain Kazar.

"Damn …" Raven looked up at the prince when she heard him whisper to himself, he looked down at her and smiled reassuringly, but failing to reassure her of anything as he placed a hand on her cheek and said, "I'll be back, don't go anywhere."

He turned to leave, but Raven snatched his wrist and pulled him back, handing him back his book, "You're forgetting something."

He gave it a look, then smiled again and wiggled his hand free, "Hold it for me, I said I'll be back."

Raven didn't like where this was going, but let him go and nodded when he again turned to run away, but stopped himself and ran back around to her. Swiftly planting a kiss on her cheek causing various things within the garden to explode and go off in flames, the prince chuckled and whispered in her ear, "Don't go anywhere."

With that he left … leaving Raven to stand in the middle of the destroyed Garden, wide-eyed and in complete and utter shock. Not entirely believing that the prince had actually done such a risky move in front of a servant girl no less! That could have torn his chances at becoming the next President apart! Feeling guilty, she looked down at the book and bit down on her lower lip, shaking her head, This isn't right … I have to give it back to him … and tell him not to do that again … I'll only destroy him …

Malchior laughed and sat back in the chair, Raven glared at him and with her powers picked up a pillow from the living room to throw at the dragon. Knocking him off the chair to the floor, she growled when he didn't stop laughing, "Malchior, I'm giving you till the count of three before I start throwing sharp objects … 1!"

The dragon immediately slowed down his laughter, but the grin on his face was ever present as he sat up and stared at the sorceress in utter hilarity, "That's how you came to witness the death of Taciko and Kain by Zakardo's hands? Is that you wanted to protect Taciko's reputation from kissing you? Oh my gods in heaven that's got to be the most ironic thing I've heard up-to-date!"

"I see nothing funny about it!" Raven shouted right back, cracking a few more silverware, but ignoring it as her irritation grew at being mocked, "If I was there a few seconds earlier I could have done something to stop the fight! I could have … I could have saved them!"

Malchior's grin dropped slowly to the point where his crimson eyes were only glowing in amusement, getting up from the ground he walked around the counter to Raven. Standing behind her he placed his hands on her shoulders and leaned down to her left ear to speak softly, "My dear, you could have done a great deal of many things … but I highly doubt you could have stopped Zak from pursuing the Rexxez Chronicles then. I mean … even now he still pursues it, an obsession that became of power and will end in tragedy if he keeps it up."

Raven closed her eyes and bowed her head, "I don't know … I still felt like I could have done something to help …"

"Just let it go love," Malchior whispered, "what's done is done … the past will never change, but the present is always a second chance for the future."

Distant and still getting over the fact that she had actually told someone of her past – Malchior of all people – when she's never this open to anyone, but she will admit. Getting it off her mind helped … a lot … especially seeing that Malchior was actually listening to her this time, Raven, deep down from the bottom of her heart hoped that this wasn't a trick. Malchior can and is a jerk on many occasions, but he was a good shoulder to lean on she realized.

It was like … he knew all the right things to say at the right given time.

Whether it was just to piss someone off or to make them feel better …

His way with words were phenomenal …

And Raven was not ashamed to admit it, but he was charming.

There's nothing more dangerous than a boy with charm … she thought with a sigh, she looked up when she saw movement to her left. Lance had finally gotten dressed and she nearly smiled when he had his sunglasses propped on top of his head, his silver eyes bright and ready to go, he noticed Malchior standing close to Raven and tilted his head in wonder, "Okay I'm … uh … ready …"

It was then that Raven remembered Lance may have been smart, but he was still a kid, slipping out of reach from Malchior she walked into the living room holding out her hand for the child to take. Lance rushed up to her, and looked back at Malchior in curiosity, the dragon flashed a fanged grin and winked at the child who turned up at Raven when she spoke, "Alright then, let's sit back and watch some TV and wait for your uncle to come out."

"You don't have to." Raven snapped her head to her right to see Trenton coming from the hallway brushing off his shoulders his silver eyes locked with Raven's and she felt a sudden stab of wild emotions pierce her heart. Trenton had always had piercing eyes, but now it felt more literal than anything else, she felt … exposed, which was why she was glad he looked away from her and stared at Malchior.

Looking like he was about to say something, he wasn't able to when he felt his right hand yanked of the Eon Ring he was holding. Lance smiled and stared at the golden ring in astonishment, "Awesome … where'd it come from?"

Trenton reached out to grab it from his nephew, but Lance backed away, "Lance, give it back, it's not a toy!"

"I know, I know, chill, chill," Lance smirked playfully mimicking his uncle like many times before; it was rather unnerving to Raven how similar both uncle and nephew appeared, "I just want to see it."

"Listen to your uncle child," Malchior growled in warning, knowing exactly what the ring was meant for, "it's not a toy."

"It's a neck thing ... right?" Lance ignored their warnings and dodged his uncle when he made a grab for it again, ducking behind the couch he giggled like it was a game and Raven prepared to use her powers when he stood back up and brought the ring up over his head, "I wonder how I'll look with it on …"

"Lance!" Trent jumped for the child, "No!"

Malchior did the same, but both were too late, the ring was around his neck and in a brilliant flash of light and a powerful shockwave that shattered the window's open and threw all three adults off their feet to slam into whatever was behind them. The blast shook the building and rattled the nerves of all the guests within the hotel, especially the three within the room, Trenton groaned in pain and pushed off the debrie of the shredded woodened coffee table. Coughing after feeling the smoke fill his lungs he sat up carefully and called out to his nephew, "Lance … Lance you alright?"

No response.

Raven on the other side of the room blinked and shook off the ringing pounding combination within her head and ears. Running her tongue along her lips, she hissed when she felt a split on the side and tasted her blood, getting to her feet she spotted Trent bracing himself against the wall and calling out to Lance, "X …"

"I'm fine … where's …" Trenton coughed and stumbled, still trying to shake off the shock from the blast, he cleared his throat the best he could and pushed himself forward to where Lance should be, "… Lance … can you hear me? Where are you kid?"

"UNCLE TRENT!"

Lance screamed from the hallway, Trent felt his heart stop for a split second as he snapped his attention to the door and spotted a fleeting glimpse of a frightened child being hauled off by another man. Malchior, being closets to the door, jumped over the counter of the kitchen he had found himself in and took off in a rush to catch the kidnapper. Only to be shot at the shoulder with a pistol, snarling in pain, Malchior held his bleeding shoulder and glared daggers at the human who rounded the corner for the roof. Trent came out with Raven near by and Malchior pointed down the hall.

"They're going for the roof!" Trent had no problems leaving the wounded dragon behind, Raven stood still, hesitant to go, until Malchior growled at her warningly, "Go! I'll catch up later!"

Nodding and floating into air she took off for the roof coming up behind Trent at the stairs, the desperate thief threw open the doors, but was forced back in when shots were fired and bullets came close to ripping him a new hole to breath through. Grabbing Raven and shielding her from the shots, the sorceress's eyes glowed a vibrant white and a black shield was erected all around them, "Move!"

Trent followed her command and without fear leapt into the line of fire, racing straight for the chopper that was powering up. He looked back at Raven and commanded her to, "Drop the barrier!"

She stared at him in skepticism, but trusted his judgment and dropped the shield, Trent took that opportunity to jump into the chopper and smash his fist into the kidnapper that held his nephew. Freed, Lance jumped out of the helicopter and made a run for Raven. Raven held him close and with her powers clung to Trent and yanked him out of the helicopter, the thief went into shock not knowing what was happening until he was set down beside the sorceress and Lance. Coming to a realization that they were with him, he shoved them all back to the hotel, "Let's go!"

SL-SL-SLING!

Three daggers from the sky dropped to the ground and blocked off the three escapees from getting off the roof. Trent had a sinking feeling in his gut, Azul … he thought grievingly. Yet, when he looked up he was shocked to find a much transformed Quean Mouth in her true form. Hovering in air with her insect like wings, Trent cursed the day she was born when she laughed and flashed her rows of sharp shredding teeth, "You can run Daniels, but you can't hide!"

Raven growled, her white eyes glowing ever brighter under the hot Egyptian sun, "Move, or be moved Moth."

"Still with the ho huh?" Quean sneered, and sharpened her nails, "Let me fix that!"

She charged, Trent grabbed Lance and ran them out of the way of Quean's confrontation with Raven. Raven remembered the poison in her claws and hooked her fingers with the insect hybrid, digging her own claws into the back of her hands; Raven rolled to her back and flipped Quean back into the air without.

Back on her feet, Raven took to the air, "Azarath! Metrion! Zinthous!"

Ripping apart a cut up piece of the roof she flung it at the moth who took notice of the danger she was in and flew to the side in order to avoid being crushed. Quickly, so to keep the insect at bay, Raven picked up easier, lighter things to throw and aimed at the moth who dodged and waited for the sorceress to run out of things to throw. When she did, Quean dove in for another attack, but this time, deadly toxins dropped from her rapidly flapping wings.

Coming in to shred Raven apart, she screamed in terror when from the side a flash of black tackled her to the ground and held her down with a vise grip. Dumbfounded, Quean struggled to get the upper hand, but it was no use, and her hope diminished when the one on top leaned down and snarled in her face.

Hot crimson eyes bled black as he raised another clawed hand, prepared to cut her to ribbon. Yet by the sound of his voice, it made Quean feel as if he more than likely wanted to eat her heart out, "My, my, my … aren't you an interesting piece of work … I wonder how'd you look preserved and stabled to an observation board for children's science projects."

Panicked, Quean struggled even more, "Get off of me!"

"Gladly," Malchior hissed into her ear and once he got up his claws gripped the back of her wings, and literally ripped them from her shoulders relishing in her cries of pain as she roared to the heavens to proclaim her suffering. Smirking, the dragon dragged the helpless-wingless moth to the edge of the city and without much effort, with his hand around her neck dangled her down to the blaring traffic below. Quean screamed – or at least tried to … all she could do as cry since the dragon was cutting off her wind-pipe, "Let's see you fly now."

Without mercy he released her, but when she screamed and dropped a few stories down, Quean was knocked unconscious when she hit a balcony and conked out. Malchior chuckled and turned to see the chopper full of people stare at him in fear. With a raised brow he blinked slowly and in an even softer voice whispered sinisterly, "Boo."

The humans all lost their nerve and ran for their lives.

Malchior laughed it off, but looked around to notice that Raven, Trent, and Lance had taken off. Tilting his head up he sniffed around. Ending up relying on his sixth sense to feel Raven's fully charged aura already down in the lobby with the two other humans, but he felt something else … another threat. Taking the short cut way down he leapt high in the air and flipped back over the edge of building. Twisting his body to drop head first for the pavement, he forced his wings free from their confinement and before he hit the ground, flipped to his feet and flapped his wings once.

The powerful gust hovered him above a black van that Lance was being taken into, screaming and fighting off the men that were holding him tight. The burst of wind stopped them dead in their tracks as they looked up and gaped at the demon looking humanoid above their vehicle. Malchior lengthened his claws and snarled his wings beating rhythmically to keep him hovering, "Relinquish the child, or relinquish your lives."

Lance stared up in awe at Malchior's frightening form; his captors glanced at one another and made the wrong choice. Pulling out their weapons, they took aim, but before they could fire something long and serpent like lashed out at their weapons and flung them to the side. Only moments later did they realize too late that it had been the tail of the dragon when it stabbed through the heart of one of the humans.

Lance was dropped and shocked stalk still when drops of blood fell on his face, staring up at Malchior not believing the look of pure satisfaction on the dragon's face when he flicked the human off his tail. Sending the limp body smashing through the lobby's glass window, the other kidnapper stumbled back in fear; he turned tail and ran for his life.

Dropping from his hover, Malchior stood to his full height on the vehicle and felt the other human in the driver's seat reach move for an escape, he flicked his tail and without much effort at all nailed it through the roof and stabbed the human in the back. All the while counting the escapee's steps and right when he hit the twentieth step, Malchior leapt off the van and like a predator pounced his prey and dug his claws into the flesh piercing vital organs and thus killing the last human threat.

Getting to his feet Malchior looked at his bloody hand and flicked the excess blood off, looking back to where he last saw Lance, Malchior raised a brow when the child shuttered in fear and got to his feet and ran away. The dragon snorted, Okay … so I over did it … but where's Raven and … what's his name? Retracting his wings and his tail he followed Lance's scent trail and ignored all the other humans that ran around like chickens with their heads cut off.

Complete panic and chaos.

Making it hard for Malchior to follow Lance's scent, there were too many humans running amuck and it didn't help that Lance was small and could squeeze through the crowds of people. Malchior took to the high ground and perched up on a lower building's roof to look down and try to spy for the child, but the feeling became hopeless for the dragon, Damn … where'd he go?

"Malchior!"

Paying more attention on tracking the child, Malchior bared his fangs at the one that snuck up from behind him, only to find that it was Raven, phasing through the ground with not so happy Trent. He looked like he's been through hell with the cut above his left brow and a deep gash on his right arm; he noticed Malchior's bloody hand and had to know, "You've seen Lance? They took him –"

"Already done," Malchior informed, "but I lost him."

"You lost him!" Raven raised her voice in disbelief; Trent looked about ready to fall over in exhaustion, "How'd you do that?"

"Apparently blood isn't something he's accustom to." Malchior frowned, and continued to look around … but froze along with Trent and Raven when a rather large shadow swooped over them. All three looked up and what they saw was just simply unbelievable.

Trenton shook his tired head, "Fuck …"

Malchior raised a brow and glanced down at Raven, "Never knew there was going to be a party."

Raven gulped and bit down on her lower lip, "Damn it …"

"Told ya," Trent grunted and held his bleeding arm, then looked back up at the orange and black T-Ship that was headed for the outskirts of the city to land. Raven looked back at him with concern violet eyes; all Trent could do was carefully maneuver himself to the edge of the roof where Malchior was. Both guys heard the siren of the cops coming and knew it was a bad sign, especially since Malchior left a messy trail. Trenton sighed, "Let's move … we gotta find Lance …"

"So I take it the Titans arriving weren't planned?" Malchior asked with a hintof mockery in his voice.

Raven and Trenton both ignored him and vanished out of sight from the cops below, making themselves scarce, Malchior followed, but not without noticing a rather odd figure within the crowd calmly making his way down the street. With a raised brow the dragon watched this young man in a black jacket – it must have been 90 sum degrees outside – hood up and everything. The human looked up in Malchior's general direction and Malchior discovered he wasn't human at all.

With a face of realization dawning on his face, crimson eyes flashed an odd emotion before tilting his head and once again turned to follow after Raven and Trent.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans, just everything you don't know I do own.

A/N: Sorry for the mess, I forgot to proof read before I gave it up for you people to tear apart, but thanks for reading and reviews are always appreciated.

HAPPY NEW YEARS!

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