Chapter Seven: Grim Tidings From Alex Lucard.

Leaning back in her chair in the living room of the Tower, Raven toyed with a scroll in her hands. It was about the width of a sheet of printing paper, but was a heavy vellum or parchment, thick and heavy, tied with a black ribbon.

What she had read there had caused a stab of panic to course through her. She would show it to Robin only. Only he would fully understand the implications and its significance.

When said bird returned from his patrols later that evening, she beckoned him to follow her. Ignoring the stares and ribald remarks of his teammates, he followed her up to her room.

The letter was beautiful, an elegant cursive calligraphy on the heavy parchment, something that belonged to another time.

My dear Raven,

I do not intend to take any liberty with your privacy, especially at this present time, but unfortunately there is a matter of greatest urgency that has come to light. I can only hope that you may hear me out.

Raven, your cursed father is moving. His ambition grows with each passing moment. He has accelerated his plans, and now plans to strike as this season of rebirth ends, as this season of purity ends. He is eager to taste the air of the earth once again, and rule it with absolution. He has been steadily gaining power this past year, the source of which I do not know.

But this matter only came to light recently: he has subverted, a human witch, one with great power and ambition, whom even now plots to ensnare you. He seeks to entangle you in a honey baited trap and strip you of your power. Then will your father strike, possessing him to deliver you to his feet. I beg of you, be on your guard. For this human knows not of you father's influence upon him.

I may only be a messenger in this, although I long to be more. I am not one to bring up the past and I am aware that you may not see me in the kindest light, but. I beg you not to hate me for the horrendous deed I have committed so long ago and let it impair your view of me at the present.

I realize you must be immensely confused by my actions. I also realize what horrible pain I have caused you, how utterly betrayed you felt, and the anger you feel because of me. Do not pretend you do not feel these feelings I speak of either, as I knew you as deeply as I know myself.

Please, take the word of one who has been a most sincere friend once, upon a far distant past, and trust me. I only seek most sincerely your safety and the safety of your beloved. To incur your wrath but once was all that my heart could bear. I seek even now, though you may not grant it, your forgiveness

I will be there, at the close of the season of rebirth, when you may face him, but only as a bystander. Then, I hope to seek repentance for what I have done so many years ago.

I hope in time you can forgive me. I never wished for this to happen. You must believe me.

Until then I remain,

Your loyal friend and servant,

Alexanandru Lucard.

Robin put down the letter with a feeling of foreboding. 'What does it all mean?' he asked 'It means that we have to be on our guard. Everybody knows who we are and what city we protect. He will come for me here. But forewarned, we can set up our defenses. This witch will have his powers greatly increased by my fathers influence, but with luck, we can overcome it.'

It was at that instant when the alarm started blaring its warning to the city's vigilante defenders. Hurrying to the control room they were informed by Cyborg of the mysterious circumstance with which a major robbery was committed. A peculiar energy which did not seem to show up on any sensor.

'Do you think it is him?' Robin enquired in an undertone. 'It would be very likely.' Raven answered grimly, 'It would certainly be the best way to get out attention and get us to meet him on his terms.'

'At least we were warned. We have that much at least.' Raising his voice, he bade the others to move out to meet this new threat.

There was nothing left of what used to be the stately building that held a large bank.

As the team halted in front of the entrance, all they could see was the shell of the building and beyond that a raging inferno.

A shape started to materialize in the doorway of the building, vaguely human shaped, bearing swiftly down upon the team. As the figure came into view, they could make out it was a man.

He was slender in build, with a strong jaw, with neatly cut salt and pepper hair, and a neat beard. He was dressed in a white dress shirt, with well cut slacks and a brown tweed jacket. He looked like a university professor, knowledgeable and friendly at the same time.

But his eyes, they were filled with a deep abiding hunger, a hunger foe something beyond his reach, and an obsessive quest to gain it. As Raven reached out to him with her mind, his mental blocks came suddenly down and she was blasted with the full force of his mind, and his personality.

His mind was filled with a hatred and contempt, bordering on insanity for the people not like him, not witches. And not of his clan, who did not share the same ideals. His intent was to destroy them all. And take all the power he could in the process. A hunger for power, to gain power at any cost.

'Hello Raven.' His voice was smooth, well modulated, with a light Scottish twang, fitting his appearance perfectly. 'I have been waiting for you.'

A/N: dun dun dunnnnnnn. Haha. Sorry for the cliffie, but I am a bit blocked at the moment. I know I am such a hypocrite as I hate cliffies myself, but I truly am stuck. I thought to update with half the chapter rather than have you all wait even longer for the longer version of this chapter. To all WICCA fans out there, I hope I captured Ciaran well enough. I had to reread half the series to get a basic idea of his personality.

As always, review and I will love you forever.

Thanks.

Sophia.