Chapter 4
A man accessed a file. The computer screen displayed:
CIA Archives (Cadmus, Department of Metahuman Research)
He clicked on "Records". And began typing, issuing a command.
Search: r-a-v-e-n
Searching… Searching… Searching…
Search Results Complete.
He clicked on "Profile".
Cadmus File 6657830234299420002
Name: Raven
Date of Birth: 02-05-1989
Birthplace: Azarath
Gender: Female
Current status: Alive
Last known location: Classified
Powers: Able to project 'negative energy' which can be used to levitate or manipulate matter. Known powers include telekinesis, telepathy, energy projection, phase through walls, and ability to stop time in situations of extreme stress. Subject is considered extremely dangerous.
Uses: Cadmus finds little use with the subject. She is vastly unable to fully control her powers, she must maintain control via daily mediation. Her emotional spasms disallow any person to get close to her.
Bio: The demon, Trigon, implanted his seed into the Azarathian woman, Arella, producing Raven. She grew up thinking that her emotions were dangerous because they fueled her powers: this led her to assume that her powers came from Trigon himself. Raven has not been back to Azarath in years, although records suggest that she visited the place SPIRITUALLY, in order to converse with her deceased mother. The subject is most known for her involvement in the superhero team, the Teen Titans. However, a recent event which resulted in her pregnancy indicates that her relationship with said team might have changed. Details on this subject are strictly CLASSIFIED.
Relations:
Trigon (Father)
Arella (Mother; deceased)
Hector "Jeff" Dracula (Husband; deceased)
Constantine (Son)
He clicked on "Constantine".
Cadmus File 6657830234299420003
Name: Constantine
Real Name: Constantine Dracula? (As speculated by Cadmus)
Birthplace: Earth
Gender: Male
Current Status: Alive
Powers: Since he is a "hybrid" between a Human and an Azarathian, the subject presents the same basic powers as his biological mother, Raven, but Cadmus notes that his potential is vast and virtually limitless. Cadmus is currently unable to determine or explain why such potential is even possible. We speculate that the subject can tab into abilities that only the most powerful Azarathians can perform (i.e. foresight, strength/speed enhancement, pure-energy projection, etc.) and thus has exceeded Raven on a number of levels.
Uses: The subject has been labeled as unstable and is regarded as highly dangerous. The possibility of Cadmus attaining his person for our own agenda is speculated as highly unlikely.
Bio: The subject was born of an Azarathian woman, Raven. His biological father is the deceased son of Dracula, the vampire. Because of the subject's instability, Cadmus has refrained from attempting to acquire the subject, thus allowing Raven to raise him in the "faith." For the most part, the subject has caused little commotion, but his presence has caused much CONTROVERSY. Cadmus is unable to determine or explain why.
Relations:
Hector "Jeff" Dracula (Father; deceased)
Raven (Mother)
Trigon (Grandfather)
Arella (Grandmother; deceased)
Dracula: Count Vladislaus Dracula (Grandfather; deceased)
Melody (Grandmother)
After searching through this profile in great detail, the man just stared at the words, Current Status: Alive.
---
Dusk.
A small stream of smoke approached an important building in Washington D.C., the White House. The stream of smoke entered a small vent of the building, undetected.
There was a hallway, with walls painted white, that led to the President's personal chambers. Portraits of past presidents lined the hallway.
There was a fresh smell of lime that filled the air, it was enjoyable to the Secret Service that protected the President during the late hours. But, unfortunately, this temporary smell of lime was soon replaced by the smell of smoke. One guard twitched his nose at the scent of it. He glanced to a spot where there was a large amount of smoke, the origin, he guessed.
He saw a figure that somehow released the smoke from his feet. The figure had a torn and shredded gray cape that went down to the ankles and went up into a hood that shrouded the metallic face. On his right hand was a short, curved blade, like a scythe. The other was simply in a gray glove.
The guard drew his gun, "Freeze! You are not allowed on these premises."
The figure simply stood there.
The guard fired several times, even though he was only a few feet away.
The figure didn't fall or move at all.
The guard stared in astonishment, "What the?"
The figure raised his right arm quickly, and struck.
Two guards at the end of the hallway smelled the smoke, then were disgusted to see a human roll to their feet. They moved around the corner, to see the figure shrouded in smoke approach them.
"Perimeter breach in Sector 6!" One said into a microphone as they both fired.
The figure continued to walk.
"Mr. President, we have a situation."
The President was stricken with fear, "What? What is it?"
"Security breach!"
Five guards entered the hallway, they were horrified to see it entirely obscured by the thick, dark cloud.
"I can't see anything!"
The two guards at the end of the hallway were thrown forward, through the smoke.
The figure ran through it as well, he backhanded two of the guards into the right wall, and slashed at another two. One guard stood, pulling the trigger until his gun clicked with signs of dry fire. Suddenly the figure itself turned to fumes, and then reappeared in mid-air, kicking the remaining guard with both feet through the glass.
"There's something in the corridor," one man said as he held the President by the arm.
"To the shelter! Quick!" Another said
"Negative! Not clear!" A group of SWAT officers announced as they came from a door encompassed in dark. One of the SWAT was yanked back into it.
"Aah!"
"Lock this place down!" The man holding the President commanded.
"This way!" A man said as he came through a door where the room was clear.
"Move move move!"
They led the President through a small hallway that made a sharp turn to the right.
Two stayed behind. Mistake, for them.
The door opened.
The two fired all of their ammunition, bullet shells falling to the ground.
Clik Clik! Clik Clik!
Fwaaassh!
The figure sprinted forward, and the two winced. Suddenly, he was behind them in the air. On his way to the ground, he made a hard kick to the face of one. And when he landed, he stuck his scythe in the back of the other.
He turned to the locked door.
About 20 men surrounded the President, all either holding pistols or automated rifles.
They saw the smoke eek through the bottom of the door.
The one holding the President put his wrist to his mouth, and muttered something.
Just as the figure was about to open the door, three guards came around to surprise.
Bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam!
The figure disappeared.
They uttered a sigh of relief.
He reappeared on the wall, his back to it. He leapt at the guards.
The President was on his knees, and he could hardly see past the all the other legs. He tried to see what was happening. He heard countless gunshots.
The door shot open.
The guards cocked their guns.
The President noticed a small wisp of smoke trail over his left shoulder. He slowly turned around to see the figure standing in the corner.
"My God!" The President screamed
All the guards whipped around and fired. The figure turned to smoke and disappeared.
The whole room was filled with fumes, and one could hardly see the tip of their own nose. Sweat ran down the President's cheek.
He heard screams.
He saw a foot fly through the air and knock a guard away, that was followed by gunshots so close it hurt his ears. The hand that was holding him was pulled away.
"Aaaaaah!"
Blood splashed on the spot next to him.
He heard more gunshots, cuts, slashes, the sound of punches and kicks. Violence all around him. And death.
He witnessed a man fly above him through the glass with a cry.
"Waah!"
And then there was silence, all except for the sound that someone makes when they step on glass.
The President hid behind his desk. The figure walked through the smoke and appeared.
"Mr. President," the figure said ominously, "your Angel of Death awaits."
A/N: The line at the bottom is a direct refernce to Batman: Mask of the Phantasm