HOUKOUNIN SAGAS

by Shinigami-Virus

Ravens a vamp, Robs her servant. Not your typical vamp fic, something for everyone. Lemons and violence abound. R&R

43. Chapter 43

Chapter 43 The unbridled malice of hell unleashed (Also, end of the Shiva Saga)

Damn, good to be back. Story isnt just flowing from my fingers like it used to, gotta get back into the swing of things. (cracks knuckles). REVIEW FOR CHIST SAKES! Story had 800 hits and only three people reviewed, thats just sad. Ananomous reviewing has been enabled, so please, leave one and let me know what you think.

To: Plays w/fire HI! Guess what- I'm back! Thankyou for reviewing, you were always a 'regular' and its good to hear from you.

P.S. I'm back!

To: The Dark Wolf:

To: Everyone. This, this is going to be the longest chapter yet (20000 word goal). It is going to be the most full, the most dramatic, violent, sad, pretty much everything. Things are about to go downright hellish for the titans. This chapter is the end of this saga, and I would really like to get alot of reviews, not many since I got back and if I dont think anyones interested anymore I might not be making the third saga, which I've got planned out. I'm planning on calling it the Kali saga- , but I dont have to make it. I had a good audience base six months ago, and I'm hoping the lack of reviews is due only to everyone not knowing the story is back. Anyway- read, enjoy, review (Yes, in that order).

This chapter is by far the darkest yet. You want to know how dark and depressing? We pretty much lose cabin pressure. The victims of Slade club takes on alot of new members. I wrote this chapter, sat back, read it, and wondered, oh what have I done?

There was pain, and blood. That was all that existed to Starfire as she came to, but there was alot more pain than blood. Searing hot liquid poured down her throat, she sucked it in as if she were taking a breath of air. Existance was a blur, and barely concious she couldn't descern who was feeding her. It didnt matter anyway. She wrapped her arms and legs around the slender figure, which she felt relax. She had tasted this blood before, hadnt she? Yes. She had. It wasnt Jinx's, nor her mothers. She remembered this blood from before her adoption. Who's was it? In her mind it clicked, it was Ravens blood. Starfire let go of her food source and leaned her head back down on the pillow. She opened her eyes- a painfull endeavor in itself- and sure enough there was Raven. She forced her mind to become fully concious and was hit full force with a migraine. "Raven." She said. "What happened?" She put her hand where the pain was, in her back. It hurt to touch all the bandages, and her fingertips came back bloody. She licked them clean. Raven brushed her bangs out of her eyes and laid down at her side. She 'shh'd her friend, and brushed her cheek to calm her. Starfire took in her surroundings. She was in the two bed medical room in the tower. She looked and Robin and Jinx were in the next bed together. They were both pale.

"You were shot Starfire. Do you remember?" Raven asked quietly.

Starfire squeezed her eyes shut and concentrated. It was all faint memories, and blood. There had been blood. Dirty, tainted blood. Blood with drugs in it, which she wondered now if it had harmed her. "That mans blood." She said weakly.

"Was loaded with narcotics." Raven finished. "Your body wanted it so bad you didnt care at the time, but its done you more bad than good." The narc, from which her friend had fed had been so loaded up. Raven had learned he died of an overdose at the hospital after Starfire attacked him- the attack not having helped. It was alright as long as no one caught on to Starfires nature and figured out what happened in that vault. Raven didnt want to imagine what the drugs might be doing to her friend. Starfire would have to ride the ordeal out, her healing powers were tapped for now. Raven looked to the next bed. Robin and Jinx were depleated, maxed out. When she had gotten back to the tower Jinx had come running, and in her catatonic state Starfire had sensed her. She had reached out and grabbed her wrist, and in the blink of an eye drained her lover of all she could without causing permanent harm. Raven had had to move them both to a bed. Starfires condition had not improved, so she did to Robin what Starfire did to Jinx. She had taken all he could give, and then some. She had passed it to Starfire. She wished she could ease the houkounins suffering. Theire sleep was obviously pained. "Starfire I have to change your bandages." She told her. Starfire was shaking. "Shh, Starfire its alright. That junk will be out of your system soon. Right now I just need you to roll over." Starfire nodded and did as she was told. Raven got up to retrieve the bandages. She went to the bed with Robin and Jinx.

Normally she would not have put them in such a close situation, but close proximity to another houkounin helped with their resiliancy. They had been drained so far that they were in actual pain. There was something else about them too, something she couldnt understand. Raven was sure they shared some kind of a mental link. Weeks before, in the car crash, tehy had been hallucinating. What was odd was that they hallucinated the same thing, which suggested to her some sort of collaberation of the minds. She brushed Robins hair out of his eyes and removed his cape. She laid it out over the two, and the shudders that had been passing through them became less frequent. She got what she needed and went back to the bed. "This might hurt." She warned Starfire. Raven pealed back the old bandages, and they were snatched from her immediately. Starfire greedilly sucked the blood out of the gauze. Raven inspected the wounds. There were seven holes in her back, ranging from golf ball to baseball in size. Earlier all seven had been six inches across. They had stopped bleeding, which was good. As Raven applied the new dressing Starfire finished with the old one, tossing it away. It looked much whitter than it had a few minutes before. She wished that Kali and Blackfire were here. She could use the help in transfusions. HP was absent as well, and none of the three were answering communications.

"Raven." Starfire whispered. Raven walked around the bed to look in her friends eyes. They eyes were glazed and dead. She was riding out the worst of the ordeal now.

"I'm here." Raven told her. She removed her own cape and laid it over Starfire. She tried to comfort her friend.

"Its scary." Starfire said. The human narcotics were having an adversely differant effect on her. It made her mind go haywire, not on a 'trip', as it were, but it caused a violent chemical reaction. It filled her with terror and confusion, it made her quiver with fear of the shadows.

"You will get through it." Raven promised her. She could feel the turmoil in her friends mind, which would not be so bad save for the pain she also felt. Pain always reinforced fear. It made it easy to be afraid of things. Starfire reached up and wrapped her slender arms around Ravens neck, pulling her down and lifting herself up in the process. Raven reached around her and pat an uninjured section of her back, not quite sure how to comfort her. "Its alright." She whispered. "You'll be okay Starfire, I'm here." Starfire said nothing, but pulled Raven down onto the bed with her. Raven complied, and laid herself out for Starfire to cling to. She wrapped around her, desperate for someone to cling to.

"When will it end?" Starfire asked. Her voice was shaking, and a few red tears slipped down her face. Raven 'shh'd her again. Vampires were supposed to cry normal tears just like everyone else, the only time they didnt was if they were truly, truly distressed.

"Its going to be okay Starfire, just relax. I'm going to help you." Starfire whimpered and Raven closed her eyes. Stability. Stability. She focused on it. She relaxed, and to Starfire appeared to have fallen asleep. Starfire was about to nudge her, but felt something. Raven left her body and wrapped her conciousness around Starfire. She let it expand. Starfire relaxed, realizing she was feeling Raven. Ravens body went completely lax in her arms. It stopped breathig, its heart stopped beating. It dead, or, deader.

Raven wasnt worried. Her body would be waiting for her when she was ready to come back to it. It was just shutting down now, entering an advanced state of sleep as some immortals do. Kali had talked once of how immortals, if so inclined, could sleep the decades away and never grow hungry. That was how they did it. Raven was just using astral projection, instead of sleeping.

Starfire felt as though she were wrapped in a blanket, and it was getting tighter. She felt it come to a point, and her conciousness felt like it was being squeezed out of the top of her skull. Dont resist. Starfire relaxed, and the feeling went away. The blanket continued to get tighter, but went through her skin, it swirled around inside her and suddenly her head felt very, very crowded. She felt Raven move up into it with her, and the world grew dark.

"Dont resist." She heard Raven say. She spun around in the dark. It scared her more. Slowly Raven came into view, sitting in a lotus position. All she could see was Ravens lower face. Her cape was wrapped around her. She was all Starfire could see in the dark. "I'm here Starfire. I'm adding my disciplin to yours." With this a white light began to bleed out from Raven. Starfire could feet it chasing away the darkness, and once it was gone she began to see things. Things Raven had seen. Black feathers floated about, each one containing a memory. Starfire turned full circle, taking it all in. There were millions, and whenever one touched her skin she saw what her friend had seen. Starfire stepped back from them all, not wanting to intrude on her friends privacy. She wouldnt want to touch one of an intimate moment she had shared with Robin.

She felt the fear wash away. Even though there was no ground for reference, she tried to take flight. It didnt work. She couldnt propel herself. She wanted to get to Raven. "Raven what is this?" She asked.

"You cant fly here, not like that. This is your mindscape- our mindscape."

"We are sharing a mind?" Starfire asked. She focused, and willed herself to be near Raven. She took care not to touch any feathers.

"Not quite. I've just taken up residence in yours. Its more like I possessed it, without taking full control." Raven opened her eyes as Starfire got to her. Starfire, with some concentration was able to sit in a similar lotus position. She took the hint from Raven, and began to meditate while outside, her body healed.

Where was this place? Robin asked himself. He was walking through an abandoned city. He was no slouch, and knew it to be architechture from india, but it was older than the current status quo. Great temples rose all about him, trimmed with gold and plated with rubies. "Is anyone there?" He yelled. He was answered by silence. "Raven?" No answer. Robin sat down in front of a temple, temple of the rat, he supposed. There was a large golden rat right behind him. The eyes were bright red rubies. Robin leaned back against it. "Starfire? Jinx?"

"Yo." Robin jumped, thinking the rat had been talking to him. As he stood back he could see Jinx was laying on her back on the back of the rat, hands behind her head, knees crossed, one foot bobbing. "Where is this place?" She asked.

"When did you get here?" Jinx shrugged and glared at him. "Looks like india." He stated flatly.

"And we got here from the med bay how?" It was Robins turn to shrug. "Last thing I remember is Starfire being hurt, grabbing me, and Raven laying me in a bed."

Robin nodded his head. He remembered Raven grabbing him, nearly draining him and being slid into bed next to Jinx. "So this is all just a weird dream I'm having."

"Your having? Your not really going to tell me I'm part of someone elses dream are you?"

Robin turned his back. "More like a nightmare." He mumbled. Behind him Jinx switched her attention to the big gold rat. She knocked on it with her knuckles.

"Cool. Its solid. Too bad this is a dream or I'd drag it home." At this moment the great rat reared up on its hind legs. Jinx was thrown backwards, screaming. Its eyes became organic and it pointed a golden claw at Robin, who moved to the ready in a fighting stance.

"You are not welcome here Shiva! This is my temple of worship and you may not set foot on these grounds!" The rat turned around and saw Jinx. It ignored her and turned back to Robin. It pointed its nose down the street and huffed, before turning back into a statue.

"Oh shit!" Jinx yelled. "What did it call you?"

Robin scratched his head. "I think it called me shiva. I'm not sure." Jinx came out from behind the rat and saw what Robin was wearing now. It had changed when the rat came alive. She pointed at his new clothes. "What the?" Robin looked down. He was wearing old fashioned indian clothing. He was barefoot. His pants were tremendously baggy, and stitched with gold. The purple fabric billowed in the wind, exposing the golden cuffs at the bottom. His belt was wide, covering his lower abbs and buckled with ivory. His vest was a deep royal blue, edged in gold. It exposed his chest, there was no fastener or buttons but it clung to his body. On his wrists were heavy golden bracers, and around his neck were many golden necklaces. His mask was gone, he realized. "What the hell is this?" He asked. Jinx only shook her head. On his forehead was a round red tattoo, with a crescent moon in it. He saw all this through the reflection of the golden rat, several feet away. Jinx quickly got out from behind it and stood behind Robin.

"Robin." She intoned as he reached out to touch the rat. She jerked him back before he could. "Robin!" She said.

"What?" Robin was feeling like he was in a daze. He felt confused, and there was something he felt he needed to say. Words he had not spoken before were gathering in his throat, demanding to be spoken.

"Who is shiva?" Robin had a small siezure, and the words almost escaped his lips but he held them back. Jinx saw the whites of his eyes were bleeding, turning red. She laid him down on the ground and held down his shoulders as the siezure continued. "Whats wrong?" She yelled. Robin stopped shaking and lay on the ground, breathing heavilly and still quivering.

"Dont say that name." He warned. Someone else had almost spoke through his mouth, some alien force was trying to bend him to its will and it got worse when the name was spoken. Jinx helped him to his feet, and he had to lean on her as his legs continued to spasm. They looked down the street, and saw what the rat had been pointing to.

"Its him." Robin said. Down the street there was a statue with four arms, dressed in the same atire as him. This statue looked to be alive, like it could move. Its head was obscured in shadow, so Robin and Jinx began walking down the long street towards it. They got closer, and the statues eyes blinked open at them for a moment. Twin beams of light shot out and hit Robin square in the chest. He lost all control, and slipped into the void for a moment.

Jinx covered her ears as they were assaulted with noise. A great voice seemed to come from everywhere, loud as a giant gong. "I am created Shiva, the destroyer; death, the shatterer of worlds. Who is this dog meat that dares challenge me?" Jinx screamed, but could not hear herself over the voice of Shiva. She watched in horror as Robin rose from the ground, but he was differant.

"Oh god." She yelled. His hair reached down to his shoulders, and he had sprouted a second set of arms. He looked at her, with glowing red eyes and she backed away. "Robin!" She yelled.

"I am Shiva, the destroyer. Do not call me by the name of my avatar, my vessel." Robin turned back down towards the statue that had 'beamed' him. It also had four arms, and came down off its pedistal like a snake. It was female, and wherever she walked flames sprung up in her footsteps. Jinx slowly realized that she wasnt walking towards Robin, but her! As if he were reading her mind Robin jumped behind her. One pair of arms restrained hers, the other wrapped around her midsection. Jinx fought against him futiley, the whole wile the woman was getting closer. She came fully out of the shadows, and Jinx was so shocked she stopped fighting. The woman looked just like her! She went limp in Robin, or Shivas arms as the other one closed in and stood nose to nose with her. A delicate hand reached out and carressed Jinx's face.

"This will do Shiva. We have found my new avatar. The dead sorceress made whole by the child of caine."

"Take your avatar Kali." Kali moved her hand over Starfires bite mark and it began to glow red. Jinx felt herself being invaded, and the woman before her began to fade away, and she began to feel great pain.

"Whats going on?" She demanded.

"Say your name." Jinxs eyes became more red than pink. The pain came to a point. She looked skyward and screamed her name as her clothes faded away into those similar of Robins.

"My name is Jinx!" She cried through a voice that was not hers.

"Your real name!" Shiva demanded.

"No! I won't. Let me go."

"Speak your true name! Speak the name Kali!" Jinx let out a long scream of agony. The pain intensified, and she thought Shiva was going to break her arms.

"Kali!" She screamed, and all around them the temples began to turn to dust, and fire. Shiva released her and turned her to face him. Jinx went limp, and slipped into the void.

"The dead ones lie together even now." Said shiva, referring to them as the dead ones because both had died, and both had come back. "They will die again, and soon we will dance the Shakti- and all will be reborn anew." Kali smiled, and kissed Shiva, her husband.

"Soon." She promised.

Jinx and Robin woke up at the same time, panting and scared. They had seen horrid things after the gods took control. "Oh god what was that?" Robin asked. It was unspoken between them that they knew they had shared the dream. They clung to each other for a few minutes, trying to make sense of things. Jinx looked up at him, the fear evident in her eyes.

"Robin whats going on?" She asked. She was still in pain from earlier. They both looked to the next bed, where Starfire was healing and saw Raven there. Neither wanted to go to theire vampires. This was something between them. Starfire and Raven could not help with this, whatever it was. "What is this?"

"I dont know Jinx." Robin realised the position they were in. Jinx seemed to notice as well. They blushed and were still for a moment, and Jinx broke the silence.

"We're going to die, arent we?" Robin only nodded. Something big was going to happen, that much was for certain. Robin and Jinx became sleepy once more, and when they awoke later they would no longer remember the nightmare they shared. Only the dark foreboding feeling would remain.

Cyborg poked his head in the med lab. He observed the positions his friends were sleeping in. It made him a little uneasy; the way vampires and houkounin could be so comfortable with each other. It was hard to think it innocent the way Robin and Jinx were embraced in slumber, and the way Starfire and Raven were entwined. Such an odd group. The only thing that reassured him was that Robin and Jinx were bound to Raven and Starfire. Cyborg saw Raven and Starfire beginning to stir and exited the room. He didnt want them to think he was a weirdo or anything that watched them sleep.

Starfire woke up, her head feeling full, but clear. She sat up and suddenly felt like a bath tub that had just had its plug pulled. Raven left her, quickly. It made her feel disoriented for a moment. Starfire felt the drugs had left her system. Raven went rigid next to her as she reclaimed her body. Starfire tried to sit up, but was loathe to discover her back was still sore. Nothing she couldnt live with. She felt euphoric compared to how she felt earlier.

"Most wonderfull." She said as she stretched her limbs, and her back. It only hurt slightly. It wasnt anything a nice soak wouldnt make feel better. She rolled to face Raven, who was still waking. She draped herself over her groggy friend, thankfull beyond words that the fear was gone. What Raven had done was not lost on her. She had subjugated her mind to her. Starfire had been the one in control, Raven just working to calm her, and she had seen so many of Ravens memories by accident. It helped her to understand Raven a little.

"Starfire?" Raven yawned. She sat up as Starfire continued to stretch like a feline next to her. Raven moved a bit, but her mind was having trouble comprehending such concepts as left and right. She tried to wiggle her toes, and her fingers flexed. This was just a side effect of going out of body. She noted Starfire went quiet, and followed her gaze towards the next bed. "Starfire?" She asked again.

"Raven. I am much better, thankyou." Starfires voice was distant. Raven (with some difficulty) managed to prop herself up on her elbows to see what was so interesting. It was Robin and Jinx. They looked to be sleeping quite peacefully, which was a change from the last two weeks. Jinx having night terrors, waking up scratching blindly and fighting. Robin was differant. He would wake from a nightmare and kick away all the sheets and blankets. He tore the clothes from his body and couldnt be kept inside, as if having a claustrophobia attack. Raven didnt wish to know what in his dreams drove him to this. But now, now they both slept peacefully. "Raven, what is it that they get from each other?" Starfire asked. She was beginning to see what Raven had the whole while.

Raven wasnt sure how to answer this, but gave it her best. "Starfire. When two people go through something traumatic together, it can bind them together." Starfire seemed to understand. "When Robin and Jinx were attacked by Slade, they were, well." Raven trailed off. How best to put this? "Its a very personal attack they suffered, and right now they best find comfort with each other."

"There is something between them." Starfire said. She could almost see it. She could almost see energy between the two, like a light in the mist. "What is it they share?"

She knew. "Robin and Jinx do share some link, how deep it goes, I dont know." This felt hard to explain to Starfire, who seemed uncomfortable watching Jinx in Robins arms. Raven frowned slightly. The way they held each other, it was- no. It was perfectly innocent. She couldnt let herself think such silly things. "Something happened to them in that cave, they are bound by the trauma they shared. If they can give each other solace right now then we should let them."

Starfire pondered this. She watched Jinx's face carefully. Her delicate features were more relaxed now than she had seen her in many nights. Suddenly Jinx began to twitch, soon followed by Robin. They began to shake violently on the bed. Starfire and Raven were on their feet and halfway to the bed when they both bolted upright, awake.

"Slades awake!" Robin and Jinx said in unison. Robin jumped out of the bed and slipped. He hit the floor hard, still so weak from his blood donation. He struggled to get to his feet and reached for his belt. "We have to stop him." He said.

"You cant." Raven got up and went to the houkounin. She looked to Starfire, who nodded her head. They had discussed this before hand. If Slade ever woke, Raven was to take them both to a safe place. Starfire got up and went to Jinx, who was struggling to stand.

"What are you talking about?" Robin asked. "We cant just let him run loose."

Raven shut her eyes tight. She put her arms out and touched Robins face. She opened her eyes and peered into his. "We won't." She promised. "But your what he wants, we cant let you help this time." Robin began to protest, but Raven put him to sleep and laid him back on the bed. Jinx saw what had happened to him and became nervous and jittery, knowing she was next.

"Dont send me away." She begged Starfire. She just knew that was what they intended to do. "We can help." Starfire held her close and Jinx began to cry. She knew what was coming. "Dont." she begged. "I dont want to leave you."

Starfire took a deep breath. She feared this might be the last time she saw her. She inhaled her scent deeply, imbedding it in her memory. She kissed her gently on the lips. "It is for the best." She said. "You have to let me go now." Jinx only held on tighter. Starfires shoulders sagged. She had hoped it wouldnt come to this. She put Jinx to sleep as well. "Take them." She told Raven. Raven and the bed dissapeared, and Raven reapeared a moment later alone.

"They will be safe." Raven said.

Kali and Blackfire were downtown when Kali felt that ever present hum grow louder. She looked to the sky. The sun had just set. The moon was out. She could feel Slade far below grow more powerfull, and looked to Blackfire. Blackfires senses were overwhelmed. She was turning in every dirrection nervously, unable to find the source of the power. It was all around.

"Thats him." Blackfire said. "Where is he?"

"Below us still." Kali looked to her daughter. It was time to send her away. She could feel such anger and hatred coming from Slade, and he was right below them, five miles down on this very spot almost. "You have to go Blackfire." She told her. "Run away from here." Blackfire looked at her as if she were insane. Down below she felt Slade begin to climb.

"No way. We have to get back to the tower, this is everyones fight."

Kali clenched her eyes shut. "You will do as I tell you to." Blackfire became angry and turned her back on her.

"No. I'm going to the tower to get the others." Blackfire took to the air but Kali appeared right above her and delivered a vicious chop to the back of the neck. Blackfire went hurtling into the ground, unconcious.

"Its for your own good." Kali said, and collected her daughter. She looked around. This vacant lot was no good. She needed a good place to hide her. Kali closed her eyes and concentrated. When she re-opened them Blackfire was gone, she sent her away to a little known island in the tropics. She wouldnt be out for long, she knew, but it would take Blackfire time to fly back once she awoke. Hopefully by then the danger would have passed. Kali took to the air and pointed herself towards the tower. As she did Slade reached the surface, and broke through the concrete nearby in a maelstorm of debris and fire.

"Hello Kali." Slade purred. "Its so nice to see you." Kali turned away from the tower, to face him. She put herself on high ready and set back down on the ground. Her black kape billowed around her, seeming to grow much larger. It enveloped her, and grew up above her head. All Slade could see was her face in the blackness.

"I know what your weakness is Slade." She said. "You think we couldnt figure it out? That daylight would kill you, that you need the moon?" Slade laughed.

"Very good, but I could take care of you all in a night. There is no beating me."

"You have strength." Kalis cape grew to gigantic dimensions, and tendrils struck out at Slade. A portal opened up underneath her head, revealing a bright, sunny beach on the other side of the world. "But I have skill." As she said this tallons from her cape clamped onto Slade and began to pull him in. Kali obviously struggled, as did Slade to break the grip. Slade was pulled in very close to her, only inches from her face. His struggling lessened and Kali thought she might win. "You will not harm my children!" She spat at him, the anger in her voice nearly enough to crack the black and orange mask. Slade came to a complete halt, no longer struggling, no longer moving. Just standing still, as if she werent pulling him at all.

"Oh, this is a very pretty trick." Slade said. He heated up red hot, and the cape tendrons caught aflame. Hundreds of tenticles in the air went up in flames all around Kali, caught in her own magics as it burned. "A very pretty trick indeed." He laughed as her cape burned up completely, enveloping her in the flames in the process. "She screamed as the heat scorched her, and Slade watched with much interest. Kali collapsed on the ground, still smoldering. "But I have seen enough for now. You bore me." A smoking hand reached out and grabbed his ankle.

"You havent beaten me!" Kali growled. "Not yet you monster!" Slade knealed down and looked into her charred face.

"Havent I?" I'm not the one who looks like charcoal."

"But I still have some tricks left!" Kali screamed. Her hand lashed out, a purple energy whip sprung from her fingers. It cracked Slade in the mask, breaking it into many pieces and scarring one of his eyes, but only momentarily. Slade recoiled, covering his face, but let his hands down as it was re-healing.

"Don't you though?" Slade studdied her for a moment, and then had a sinister idea. "I had pressing business tonight, but I've decided to make it wait. I have a much better plan in mind." He put a hand to Kalis forehead and invaded her mind. It only took seconds to find what he was looking for. He let go of her and she slumped to the ground just as the T-car came screeching into the parking lot. He saw Cyborg at the wheel, turning hard. The car was skidding, its side coming right at Slade. Slade waved a friendly hello, and focused on the two left tires. They exploded, and the T-car went tumbling side over side. Slade vanished, and the last thing Kali saw as she looked up was the silver car bearing down on her.

Slade re-appeared higher in the air just as the car tumbled over Kali and repeated what he had done to the tires on the gas tank. The t-car exploded, parts firing hundreds of feet into the air. Fire burned all around it. Slade knew who was in the car. It was Cyborg, Starfire, and Raven. No one he would regret letting die. He could hear them screaming below him; music to his ears. One voice he didnt hear however was that of the older vampire, who was now trapped beneath the burning vehicle- if there was anything left even.

Slade turned towards the bay, where the giant yellow T was. Even from here he could tell it was empty save for one person. The green one, Beast Boy. Where were Robin and Jinx? It was Robins blood that killed him, and both of their blood that revived him. It was a building block to this new body, and he could have used some more. "Where have you gone to my pets?" He asked himself, and took off into the night to search for them.

Slade was halfway across Jump city when he encountered another immortal. It was the bothersome winged one. He was heading towards where the titans were. Slade stopped him. "Theres no use going there." He told him. Heavens Plight spun in mid air and swung his sword at Slade. It connected with his neck, and shattered into dust. "Theres nothing you can do for them anymore." He said calmly.

"What are you talking about?" With a great heave of his wings HP flew backwards and then propelled himself at Slade with great speed. Slade dodged and struck him in the back of his head.

"See that little flame? Its all thats left of your friends." Slade laughed. "Youre going to need dental records." HP stared at the small fire in the distance, his mouth open in shock. "What did you do you monster?" He screamed and slashed at Slade with a knife.

"The old one, she's gone too." Slade let him slash away, only dulling the knife. "All you'll find of her is a grease stain under the car." Slade laughed a little as HP became more furious. "Ta-ta." Slade said, and dissapeared.

In the T-car Cyborg, Starfire, and Raven were all safe. The car had been designed to withstand explosions and fires, and now they just had to wait until the fire to settle to get out. Starfire however grew impatient, and tore her way through the floor up into the night sky. She looked around for Slade and could not see him. She settled back down onto the ground just as Raven and Cyborg were getting out. "He is gone!" She fumed. Starfire watched as Raven and Cyborg went to their knees near the burning wreck. What was wrong with her friends? She didnt look hurt. Starfire was just about to put a hand on Ravens shoulder and ask what was wrong when HP set down.

"Your all alive!" He yelled.

"What do you mean?" Starfire asked.

"Slade said you all bit the dust. But your okay." HP looked around, his relief evident. "So, then, wheres Kali? He said something about her too." HP and Starfire looked to the burning car, and Raven and Cyborg. Starfire got a sinking feeling.

"What did Slade say about Kali?" She asked, her voice full of fear.

HP watched his friends near the burning wreck. She mustnt have seen what happened durring the accident, he thought. Slade had been wrong about the titans, but HP feared he was dead on about Kali. "Oh god Starfire, dont ask me that, please." Hp turned away. He couldnt tell her. He refused.

"Friends?" Starfire asked. "Where is Kali?" There was no answer. Starfire turned and faced the burning wreck. "Where is she?" She asked again. It was Cyborg who answered her.

"I saw her when we crashed Starfire." Oh god what had he done? It was his fault. It was all his fault. "She was right by Slade." Cyborgs human eye clenched shut.

Starfire was near panicking. Red tears began to streak down her cheeks. She went to Raven, praying what she feared wasnt true. "Raven." She said as she flew to the knealing goth. "Where is Kali?" Raven looked up at her with haunting empty eyes. Eyes spilling the same blood tears as her. "No." Starfire said, backing away. Raven didnt say anything, but watched her still, eyes so empty. Starfire sank to her knees, eyes on the burning wreck. She broke the concrete beneath her with her fingers and punched the ground furiously. She then attacked the T-Car, picking it up. Her fingers dug into the steel like it was paper and she tossed it away. She looked down on what was left of her mother. "Raven!" She yelled. She turned away from the ghastly sight and threw herself into her other sisters arms. Oh god, she had seen it, and it was awefull.

Tap...Tap...Tap...

Beast Boy sat alone in the tower, in an armchair in the living room. His cain was folded across his lap, and he stared at the entrance to the room through his silk blindfold. He could hear him. Someone was here. His animal instincts told him danger was approaching. He knew who it was, and knew he couldnt run. He worked hard to steady his breathing. Fear was making his heart run wild.

Tap... Tap... Tap...

"I know your there." He said quietly. He palmed his communicator. The others had left him here to go fight. Something must have gone wrong, if Slade was here. "I can hear your footsteps." He put the communicator down. There might not be anyone left alive to answer it, or they might be needed elsewhere. His only companion was Lance, who growled at his side. Thunder, Lightening, Robin, and Jinx were all gone. Gone to some safe place he didnt even know about.

"Ah hello Beast Boy." Slade said, stepping into the room.

"I dont know anything." Beast Boy said. "And even if I did, I wouldnt tell you."

"Oh, I believe you Beast Boy." Slade walked up to the teenager and leaned down. "I'm actually not here to do anything to you. I'm here to give you something spectacular." Said Slade, noticing the boys blind state.

"I dont want anything you have to give me!" Beast Boy spat. He swung his cane and broke it on Slade.

"Oh come now." Slade walked around the other side of the chair and the bear ran away in fear. Beast Boy whimpered, knowing he was truly alone, but stayed in the seat, determined to remain brave. "I have something your missng. I want to give you your sight back."

"Like hell you do."

"You think I'm a liar? Here, have a look for yourself." Slade said. He grabbed Beast Boys head and tore the cloth from his eyes. Slade placed his thumbs over them and began to push. Beast Boy screamed in pain. "Look and see this gift I will give you!" He laughed, and then as quickly as he had come, he was gone.

Beast Boy got up, and for the first time in so long he could actually see. He looked around for Slade, but could not find him. "What the hell?" He asked. Then he was blind again, but only for a moment. He found he was looking through Slades eyes. He watched as one by one Slade tracked down several of Kali's children and beheaded them. The horrible images left him parylized. There was no way to block it out. But then, when he thought it could be no worse, Slade came to a small island somewhere. He walked along the beach, looking for something in the brush. Beast Boy saw a foot, and then a leg, then, Slade cleared away the weeds and palm leaves to reveal Blackfire. She was unconcious, she would never have a chance!

"No!" He screamed. "You leave her alone!" He knew Slade could hear him. His dark laughter permeated his mind. Beast Boy watched, helpless as Slade dragged her by the hair out of the weeds. Then, Blackfire awoke. She tried to get away, but Slade beat her down into the sand.

Blackfire called out for her mother. What had happened? Where was she? Slade climbed on top of her and began to throttle her. She powered up a starbolt and fired it into his face. He was propelled backwards a few feet and Blackfire took to the air, only for Slade to catch her by the ankle and pull her back down. "Your not going anywhere." He told her. Slade threw her face down in the sand, pinned her arms behind her back and forced her legs apart with his own. Her struggling only served to arrouse him further, and she learned what he planned to do with her when he pushed against her.

"Get off of me!" She screamed. She tried to kick him but couldnt. Both of her arms were pinned by just his one. "Get off!" Blackfire growled and tried to take flight, but no matter how she moved she couldnt get away from him or off the ground. Slades free hand found its way underneath her and grabbed at her chest. Blackfire tried to calm down, to think, but her mind was racing. She yelped when her top was torn away. "Stop it!"

Slade purred and pushed his hips against hers again. "Make this easy on yourself." He told her. "I can make your friends see this in their heads. Do you think they want to watch?"

"Your sick!" Blackfire spat. "You son of a bitch let me go!" She growled and tried to look back over her shoulder to hit him with eye beams. It only got her slapped.

"Beast Boys watching even now. Lucky him. Would you like to say hello to him?" Slade flipped her over so she was facing the sky. Blackfire fired off her eyebeams into Slades face. He only laughed at her. Whatever injury it caused was healed by the time the smoke cleared. Slade held her two hands with one of his own again and removed the rest of her clothing, leaving her naked. He pushed against her again through his own clothes. She began to cry, and struggle again. It only made him moan. "Hold still." He growled at her. "Hold still or I'll kill every one of your friends like that whore mother of yours!"

"Liar!" Blackfire screamed. Slade leaned foward and grabbed her face, forcing the back of her skull deeper in the sand. Blackfires bloody tears ran down behind her into the sand. Slade shook her, growling.

"Yes. That whore of a mother of yours is dead." Slade laughed. "I killed her, she died most painfully. She thought she could send you here to protect you from me but I swear to you that before you die you will suffer a most gruesome violation!" Slade clamped her mouth shut, and for a moment the only noise was her breathing through her nose. Slade leaned in real close. "And if you dont lie just perfectly still for me, do every last little thing I tell you to, I'll do the same to your sisters Starfire and Raven before they die as well. Do you understand?" Blackfire nodded her head.

"I understand." She said when the hand was removed.

Raven was frozen solid. She couldnt move. She couldnt breath. The blood in her veins refused to flow. That monster. She'd kill him! She vowed this to herself. He had taken the closest thing she had ever had to a parent away from her. She would rend him limb from limb for this. There, in front of her, was Kali. Burned and crushed. It was too terrible to look at, and Raven turned away. She wished Starfire had not gone and moved the car. She broke from Starfires grasp, and levitated a few feet away. She settled on her knees. Lightening struck nearby, and in the white light her eyes turned red. She knew what she had to do. "You all have to leave." She said. Everyone ignored her. Raven let her control over her emotions go, and all around the concrete began to break up. Steet lamps toppled over, and sparks flew from electric wires for blocks around. Now she had their attention. "Get out of here." She told them. "If your too close I could hurt you trying to do this."

Raven began to glow white, and ascended into the air. She let out a terrible scream, and channeled her powers. Lightening hit her, and her scream grew louder. She called forth the sum of her demonic powers, and when she looked back at her friends her eyes glowed red, and she had four. They ran. Raven turned back to the task at hand. Now she had to reign control back in. IT was hard, but not impossible. With some concentration her eyes returned to normal. When she opened them she saw her clothes had changed; from blue to white. Her friends were gone, off, she imagined to track Slade on their own. Raven settled back down next to the remains of her mother. Despite all her power now she couldnt bring her back. Bloody tears hit the ground between her feet. "I'm sorry." She said. "I'm going to get him for you. But first, first I'll take care of you."

Kali was a woman of intense beauty, and Raven could not stand to see her like this. It was too ugly to be her mother. Raven knelt down next to what was left. Black energy bolted from her hands, into Kali. Slowly the remains took some shape, and became recognisable. The power stopped. Kali at least looked like herself now. Raven knelt down and kissed her mothers forehead. "Goodbye. I'll take care of Blackfire, if we survive this." She whispered, and took off into the night to find Slade and take revenge. She could feelt him, to the east, and south. That was the dirrection she headed in.

Blackfire whimpered as Slade got up. As soon as she was free of him she crawled back up the beach, trying to get away from him, and curled into a ball. Slade watched, amused. He re-dressed himself, and approached the broken immortal. "Why dont you go crying to mommy?" He asked in a sarcastically kind voice. Blackfire cried harder. "Oh yes thats right. I do believe I killed her." Slade remembered he was still feeding Beast Boy the images. Oh yes, what a good idea that had been. IT had made it all the more worthwhile. He cut that link, leaving the changeling blind again. Slade picked up his bag of heads, ready to add another to it but had a better idea. He didnt really need them for anything, did he? And it would be worse to let the pathetic whore live, after all the things he had done to her? Yes.

Blackfire nearly died as nine heads dumped out of a bag onto her. She screamed. She thought she was about to become one of them, but Slade grabbed her by the neck and made him look her in the eye. She went limp. She was too scared he would do this to her sisters to fight back. Thats what he had said, and she knew he meant it. Tears leaked from her. Oh god, he had made her do every horrible little thing he could think of. Now she was afraid he would do it again. Slade laughed at her.

"I read her mind you know?" Slade said in a cool voice. "I managed to find out where nine of her children lived before she blocked me out." Slade made Blackfire look at all the heads around her. "I want you to meet your brothers and sisters Blackfire!" He laughed. "They are the lucky ones." Slade brought her close. "I just killed them. Seven of them never even knew I was there. I just came up behind them and took their heads off with my bare hands." I could do the same to you, you know. Even easier."

"Then go ahead and do it." Blackfire said in a dead voice. All she got for this was a slap. Slade got up. He laughed down at her, and she curled into a tighter ball. He kicked some sand on her, and Blackfire heard him walk away. When she looked up he was gone. Blackfire got up slowly and crawled to her clothes. She couldnt see straight through the tears, but could see well enough that the clothes were ruined. She cried hard, and cried for her mother. Gods, she hoped what he said wasnt true, but somewhere deep inside she knew that it was.

Down the beach Slade could hear her sob. Oh how great a night this had been so far. It wasnt even midnight, and he had already decimated an entire 'familly'. Slade drew up his power and took flight again. He headed back towards Jump. He remembered he only had a few hours to work with, so he teleported. He didnt think Robin and Jinx would be too far from Jump city. They had just found a way to hide themselves from his senses, somehow.

Cyborg and Raven hit the tower fast. They had to re-group, and deal with loss later. They had to find Blackfire, figure out what was going on with Raven, and pray for a miracle. This night, Cyborg decided, was full of anything but miracles when he saw Beast Boy. When they found Beast Boy he was in the kitchen, seething. His back was to them. His breath was labored, and he was shaking.

"You gotta find Blackfire." He told them without turning around. "You gotta find her now." He said and choked back a sob.

"BB whats wrong man?" Cyborg asked. Beast Boy took a hand out of the sink and set it on the counter. Water ran off of it, with little streams of blood in it. Diluted pink blood ran off the counter down onto the floor. "Beast Boy talk to me." Cyborg said nervously. Cyborg took a step foward, Starfire took a step back.

"Oh, Beast Boy what have you done?" She asked. Cyborg took another step and put a hand on Beast Boys shoulders. The smaller boy wracked with a painfull sob.

"He made me watch it all. I couldnt shut it out." He cried. "And I couldnt do anything to stop it."

"Made you watch what man?"

"He made me watch what he did to her!" He screamed. He spun on Cyborg, and Cyborg screamed in terror at his friends face. It looked like he had tried to scratch his eyes out! Claw marks were everywhere around his eyes, but the eyes, due to Slades magic, remained unharmed. He was blind again now. "I tried to stop it! I tried not to see!" He cried. "But it wouldnt stop! He wouldnt stop it!"

Starfire had him in a split second. She held him close, trying to calm him. She took a deep breath. She prayed that she had not lost her mother and sister in the same night. "Beast Boy." She said pleadingly. "Tell me what he did to my sister." Beast Boy collapsed in her arms and cried hard.

"He raped her. He made me watch it, and there was nothing I could do."

"Blackfire!" Starfire screamed, and made for the window. Cyborg grabbed her by the ankle, stopping her. "Let me go!" She wailed. Cyborg shook his head.

"We dont even know where she is." He said. "Star she could be dead. And if she is you might not want to find her."

"Do not speak such things!" Starfire yelled. She broke free of Cyborgs grasp and was gone out the window, leaving nothing behind but her friends and broken glass.

Cyborg looked at Beast Boy. Damnit, he needed a hospital. Wherever Robin and Jinx were, Cyborg could only hope they were still safe.

Starfire flew faster than she ever had. She had to find her sister. She needed to find Blackfire, her beloved sister and help her. Starfire saw something white in the distance. She thought it was HP at first, but it wasnt him. Starfire didnt know who it was untill she pulled right up alongside it. "Raven!" She gasped. Raven stared at her, her eyes glowing white, as did the rest of her. "We must find Blackfire!" Starfire didnt let Ravens transformation deter her from her objective. Raven stopped in mid air. Starfire stopped, and stood in front of her. "Raven? Help me, please." Ravens mouth opened, and moved like a fish out of water.

"I cant. I cant help you." There was strain in Ravens voice. "Starfire this new level, I-I cant hold it forever. I have to find Slade and kill him while I have a chance." Starfire fumed.

"Yes. Find him Raven. Tear him to pieces for what he has done to my sister, and our mother." Starfire growled. Raven shuddered. "What is it Raven?"

"He's close." Raven said.

"Robin and Jinx, they are still safe?"

"For now. He won't find them." Ravens voice sounded so dead and empty, even to herself. "Starfire you need to go now. Go find your sister." Raven stared off into the distance. "That way, one hundred miles, and you will be able to sense her. Hurry." Starfire zoomed in close to Raven. She was going to say something, but was interupted.

"Yes, hurry." Starfire spun to find Slade had joined them. She powered up two bolts, but Raven held her back.

"You can make no differance here Starfire. Run. NOW! Go find Blackfire while I hold him off!" She was feeling much more alive now. The demonic side in her was salivating at the thought of a fight. Starfire didnt need to be told twice. She took off in the dirrection Raven indicated.

"Where are you going?" Slade asked, and caught up with her. He was just about to catch her when a circle of white energy closed around him, binding him. Starfire zoomed away. The circle brought Slade back to Raven, and she reguarded him coldly. He tested his strength on the circle. It was nothing he couldnt break out of, but it was much stronger than anything he would have assumed Raven capable of.

"How did you get so strong so fast?" Slade asked. Raven only continued to stare at him.

"Before this night is done, you will bow at my feet, and you will die." Raven promised him. She put a hand out and clenched it into a fist. The circle began to close on Slade. It closed around him, but she couldnt crush him with it. Instead he threw his arms out, and shattered her magic. Raven growled and backed away, summoning more of her sorceress powers. She fired a great energy wave at Slade, and when it hit him she cuaght him with it. She got above him, still firing. She used it to pin him to the ground far bellow. Where he hit the street it cracked, and he fell through. Raven continued to press the attack, and got in close to Slade. She cut the power and slashed at his throat with her bare nails. Slade jumped up and backwards. Her nails came back covered in blood.

"So you got strong. I'll just get stronger." Slade said, and began to glow red.

"No you dont!" Raven yelled. She made a red energy fork and stuck it into Slades gut. The fork dissapeared from her hands. Slades power began to rise. "I'm not going to let you beat me!" She cursed. She reached out with her hands and clenched her fists. Two blocks of black energy appeared on Slades hands, and Raven began to seperate them, intent on tearing him in half. This hurt him. He screamed, and Raven put more power into it. She could hear his bones snapping as his arms were pulled farther appart. Raven smiled, and licked her fangs.

"Let GO!" Slade yelled. He brought his hands together and shattered the energy. He dove at Raven, and punched her. She went flying through several walls of the sewer. She slipped under the water and dissapeared. Slade walked to where she had just been. "Oh I know this little game." He said. A portal opened up near his left ear, and he swung around and punched into it. He connected with her face in the void, and she was pushed back out to where she had gone in, under his feet. He booted her in the head, and for good measure stomped once.

Raven moaned and her head pounded. That had hurt. She wasnt ready to give up though. She pushed up off the ground, only to have Slades foot force her face back under the water. She struggled to get out, but his foot was planted firmly on her neck, and began to apply more pressure. Raven let her rage take over. She rolled over in place and slashed at Slades legs with a hand of sharp nails. She dug into his flesh, and he jumped back with his calf shredded, looking like a machine had done it. Raven was on her feet almost instantly, and attacked again with her nails. She dug them into this chest, and scratched downwards. Slade became a great foundtain of blood. Raven stood back, to watch him die from what she thought was a fatal wound, but it just healed right before her eyes. Slade just grinned as his flesh closed up.

"Very good Raven. I didnt think you had this in you."

Raven looked for Starfire. She could barely see her in the distance now. She would be safe. Raven took again to the air and Slade gave chase. Slade closed in on her fast, and reached for her ankles. Raven hit the brakes and let Slade fly above her. She caught him off guard, grabbed him by his ankles, and threw him back to the ground at great speed. "I will not lose this fight!" She barked at him as she chased him down. Slade hit the concrete below. Civilians scattered from the area, save for the very brave and very foolish.

"You think I'm giving you my best?" Slade asked, amused. "Do you fully know the extent of the horrors I have wreacked on you and your team tonight Raven? And its not even midnight." Slade got up and dusted himself off. His cruel face was smiling ear to ear. "I've killed your mother, raped your sister, killed nine of her other children. I've inflicted Beast Boy with enough torment to last him a lifetime." Slade laughed some more while Raven continued to grow in anger.

The monster, she thought. That was why Starfire had been so desperate to find her. Raven felt guilt. She should have gone, or taken Starfire herself. "You animal." She growledl; her eyes turning more red than white. "How could you?"

"The same way I will do it to her sister and Jinx when I am done with you!" Slade yelled, and charged her. Sewer water splashed up behind him as he ran. He grabbed a thin pipe, similar to his bo staff from the wall and swung it at Raven. She made a sword of her energy and blocked it just in time. They had a power struggle for some seconds before Slade jumped back.

"Give up?" Raven asked. Slade began to laugh, but at that moment, her energy sword flew across the room and stuck into his chest, severing his heart in two before dissapating.

"Never." Slade growled. The injury began to heal, but he was unable to move. "I've had enough of this!" Slade put his arms out and began to hum. The hum grew deafeningly loud, and Raven realised what he was doing. He was making just the right frequency to collapse the sewers on their heads!

"Damnit!" Raven cursed and flew away. she got out of it just as the whole street collapsed. She felt Slade, up and moving again. She gave chase. He could heal from anything, but she had a feeling that a heart wound would require him to feed. Ravens suspicion was correct, and terrifyingly so. She followed Slades energy up a few streets and around a corner, leading into a large white building.

"Oh no." Raven said, looking up at the sign of 'St. Josephs childrens hospital'. "Slade!" She screamed, and raced into the building. Already she feared she would be too late. She burst into the hospital, suprised to find the place in order. She had been expecting it to be a blood bath already, and hear screaming. There was none. Raven set down on the ground and followed Slades energy through the halls. She passed several signs.

Childhood lukemia. It was a unit she would not find him in. Lukemia, an ailment of the blood. Raven continued on. Childrens burn unit. She shuddered. His energy was coming from in here, but there were no eratic, dying heartbeats, no screams. Instead, she heard Slade, talking to a child. Raven stepped foward and opened the door.

"Yes, Billy." Slade said. "I am an angel." Slade pet the child on the head. Raven had to quelch her humanity when she saw the child. Covered 90 in third degree burns. His face was all that wasnt burnt. Raven walked around the other side of the bed, to face Slade down. She couldnt attack him in here without risking the children, so she had to get him out another way.Oh god, not the children, she thought. Not these children. Billies heart monitor let out a quick 'blip'. It was a weak pulse. "What are you doing in here you monster?" Raven said scornfully. How dare he, trying to convince a dying child he was an angel.

The childs oxygen feed hissed as he breathed in. "He's not a monster." Billy said defensively. "He's an angel, and he said he's here to make me all better." Slade smiled, cruelly, across at Raven.

Tears stung Ravens eyes. She had never seen a monster such the likes of this, the kind of monster to play with a dying childs hope. "Get out of here Slade." She warned. Slade ignored her.

"But-" Slade said deffensively. "I'm here to help this child. To ease his suffering." Slade looked down at the boy. "Dont you want that billy? To be all better?" The boy feebly shook his head. Slade crouched low. "But she wants to stop me, you see. She doesnt want you to get better." Billy looked at Raven, hurt, and tears stung his eyes at the thought that she wouldnt want him to get better.

Raven couldnt stand him looking at her like that, like she wanted him to die. "Thats not true." She said.

"But it is Billy." Slade said. "But I'm here. Its okay. I wont let her stop you from getting better." Slade held out his wrist, and sliced it. He was about to put it over the childs mouth, but Raven stopped him.

"Don't you dare!" She hissed. "Dont you dare make him one like you!" Raven knew it in her heart that that was what Slade was intending to do. It was differant than the way normal vampires reproduced, but she could feel it would have the same end result. Raven felt something poking her stomach. She looked down, to see her midsection covered in blood. He was pushing against her with all his might, and the blisters on his palms were breaking open. He must be in such pain, she thought, and here he was fighting her with everything he had, thinking Slade was his salvation.

"Please." He breathed. "Let him make me better." His heart monitor was rising. His breathing was becoming eratic. Raven couldnt help but cry. Slade broke free from her grip, and pushed her away.

"Its alright Billy." He said. Raven slumped against the wall nearby, unable to fight him, and unable to deal with the situation. What could she do? Oh god help her, what could she do? "I wont let her stop you from getting better. I'm an angel, remember? We angels always beat the 'bad guys'."

Raven felt like she might be ill. "Billy don't believe him." She said. She got back up and went to the bed. "Billy do you know who I am?" He shook his head yes. "Thats right billy." She said in a voice all women had, specifically for talking to small children. "I'm a teen titan. I fight the bad guys. Would I lie? Slades a bad man Billy, the bad kind that starts fires." Raven saw his eyes shift from person to person, confused. Slade growled. He was losing his footing with the child. "Here Billy." Raven said. I'll make you better." Raven stretched her hands out across the child. His bloody little hands reached up for hers. She took them in her own, and blue light lit up the room.

Slade stood back. So he had lost. Let her have this one. He would win anyway.

Raven let go of the childs hands. It looked at them, healed, as apposed to the rest of his flesh. He blinked up at her through teary eyes. "You are an angel." He said.

Raven hesitated. She needed all her power to fight Slade, but this child, he needed her help. She couldnt leave him now. "Close your eyes Billy." She said. The child did as told. Raven poured her powers into him, and watched as his charred black skin came alive again. This was going to cost her when she fought Slade again, but she hoped it was worth it. She hoped that somewhere above, the creator if indeed there was one was paying attention to this. She hoped this was the kind of thing that would make him smile and nod his head approvingly. Sweat poured down her face as she worked more on the child, but before five minutes had passed he was nearly healed, and Raven stopped, panting.

"I'm better!" He said. "Mommy! Mommy! I'm better!" He looked around. His mother had never been far from him since the fire, where was she? She had been there when he went to sleep, but Slade was there when he woke up.

"Oh, Billy Billy Billy." Slade said. "I really am an angel." Slade walked to a nearby linen closet and opened it. A dead woman fell out, her throat torn assunder by Slades teeth. "I took your mommy to heaven, see?" Slade laughed, and the only other thing that could be heard in the room was the cry of a frantic child.

"You monster!" Raven screeched. She caught Slades attention. She powered up her magic and blasted Slade through the roof. He had been even worse than she thought. Hospital attendants came crashing into the room. They removed the boy from his mother, but as they carried him away he was screaming to Raven. Screaming as he cried that the angel had to beat the devil, who had taken away his mommy. Raven took off. There was no more she could do for the child. She looked back towards the hospital, as she pursued Slade.

"I'm trying Billy." She said, and took after Slade.

Starfire touched down on the beach, and no sooner than that did she start calling her sisters name. "Blackfire?" She said. "Blackfire where are you?" Starfire focused her senses. She could feel her sister was near, but her life force was too weak to pinpoint. Starfire flew up over a beach house, stealing a blanket. She flew some distance down the beach. It wasnt her sister that she found first, but the heads. Starfire could smell death, and followed it fearing the worst. She was frightened by the ghastly scene she found in the bush. "Blackfire?" She called. Oh god, her sister, she couldnt be like one of them. Starfire wouldnt even consider it a possibility. "Blackfire?" She called again. No answer. A few nervous tears came to her eyes. She kneeled in the sand, trying to collect herself. "Oh Kali, I need your strength." She said. "Mother, help me."

Then, Starfire smelled blood. It wasnt much, but it led her to her sister. In the low light Starfire could see well enough to notice the giant bruises she was covered in. Blackfire was barely concious when she found her, cold, wet, naked and shivering. Starfire knelt next to her sister, and covered her with the blanket. "Oh what has he done to you?" She asked in a barely controlled whisper. She shook with sorrow. Blackfire just stared up at her, dead to the world. "Oh Blackfire, I feared the worst!" She exclaimed. Blackfire sat upright, and hugging her knees to her chest began to rock backward and foward.

"Starfire is it true?" She asked.

Starfire grabbed her sister and held her close. She was alive, she would not be losing any more familly tonight. "Is what true?" She asked.

"Mother, is she dead?" Blackfire looked up to her younger sister, despite what she had been through her eyes held a glimmer of hope. Starfires shoulders slumped. She cast her head down. She answered the question without words. "Oh no." She said to herself. "No... Mother." Blackfire broke down, and began to weep uncontrollably.

"Kali died trying to protect us." Starfire offered. "She died wanting you to be safe and live on. We must do what we must to honnor her. The wind blew, the clouds shifted. Not a word was exchanged. Starfire leaned foward and embraced her sister. "It is going to be alright. I am here, we are leaving this awefull place." She said. Blackfire shook her head.

"The heads." She said. "Mothers other children. We cant leave them like this." Blackfire pointed at them. Starfire looked back towards them and a devastated sound escaped her lips. Wherever her mother was, she was sure she was in pain. Starfire got up. Nine bolts fired from her hands, each digging out a hole in the sand. She took up the gruesome task of burrying her elder siblings. Each head looked as though its eyes might open at any moment, no bruising, no gashes, just one clean cut. Starfire held them all at arms length as she burried them. When she was finished she turned back to her sister.

"Now, we must leave!" She insisted. "Raven is fighting against Slade even as we speak. She may need our help."

She did. Miles away Slade was beginning to take the upper hand. A punch sent Raven careening through a wall into the home of a familly. Ravens visions swam as the dust settled around her. She was beginning to weaken, but she knew Slade wasnt having as easy of a time as he made it appear. She heard screams, childrens screams and she jumped to her feet. Slade was laughing at a five year old child, its parents already dead, drained. He held it at arms length. "Put her down you monster!" Raven screamed and launched herself at Slade. He phased out, and reapeared a few feet away with the child.

"If I hurt this one will you heal her too?" Slade asked. He eyed the child suspiciously, as if it were hiding something. "Yes, I rather think you would Raven." He said. He threw the child into a wall. Raven heard bones break. The scream stopped abruptly. The little blonde came to rest on the floor, not moving. "Go ahead. I wont bother you while you do it." Slade laughed.

Raven ran to the girl. She put her hands on her and the broken ribs began to heal. That was all Raven could tell was broken. She knew what Slade was doing. He was using her own good nature against her, to the point of it weakening her. "Your a monster, nothing more." She bit out as she healed the child. She couldnt fully heal it. Slade expected her to, she knew, so when the child was nearly healed Raven jumped up and attacked. She caught Slade off guard. She kicked him across the face and sent him back out of the building. She followed him as he tumbled. She gave him no chance to get his bearing. As he was getting back to his feet Raven put her fists together and hit him in the back of the neck with a powerfull blow. Slade was sent flying into a dumptster. He dented it, rebounded, but Raven was already on him again. She dove at him feet first and planted them in the small of his back. Together they were propelled through the dumpster, through the wall behind it, and into a mechanics shop. Slade grabbed Ravens feet, and threw her off into a corner of the shop as he tried to regain himself. Raven dissapeared behind a large tool chest, and Slade looked around. He found himself surrounded by wall to wall drill bits, screw drivers, saws, torches, knives, chissels. All around him were objects that could do the most horrible things to flesh. He looked back to where he had thrown Raven. She was hovering over the toolchest. Her eyes were glowing bright, and her hands encased in dark energy. All through the shop tools large and small, sharp and blunt began to vibrate as she grabbed hold of them.

"Oh no." Slade said.

"Oh YES!" Raven siezed the tools and surrounded Slade in a whirlwind of them. His cries of pain were music to her ears. He was so surrounded by the tools that she couldnt see him through them all, but very quickly the polished silver tools became red, and a pool of blood soaked the ground around where he stood. "You have no place in this world!" She screamed, and the tools came in closer to Slade. She could see him trying to fight them off. His hands would burst out of the whirlwind, picked clean to the bone. She heard him scream, and then a crash as he broke free finally. He was nearly naked, his clothes in shreds and all over him was exposed bone. He knocked into Raven. The tools dropped.

"You little bitch." He yelled as he stumbled around the shop in blinding pain. He slowly began to heal. Slade escaped through the door, knocking it off its frame with Raven close behind him. Slade knew he had to get away and find blood. He jumped up into the air and knew he had to find a way to distract Raven. He found a way. Up above was a news helicopter. Slade flew at it hard and fast and took its tail end off. He looked back as it went crashing towards the ground but was stopped. Raven had grabbed it with her energy. Slade saw she would be busy for a few seconds and flew straight towards the first thing that appealed to him. A church.

Raven set the disabled chopped down, losing valuable seconds. She wasnt likely to corner Slade in another tool shop or butchers shop any time soon, and didnt want to loose her chance to finish him while he was weak. She saw him break through the doors of the church and knew he would be mostly healed by the time she caught up with him. "Damnit!" She growled and teleported directly inside. She didnt know how fast Slade could drink, but now she knew it was really fast. The church had been almost empty when Slade got in, but now there wasnt a living soul left inside. Raven looked around, counting the bodies.

"Thursday night mass." Slade chuckled from the choir. Raven grabbed the entire choir section with her powers and reduced it to rubble. Slade was already gone. "Not many people." Slade said from another spot, the confession. Raven grabbed it and tore it to shreads. "But enough." This time it came from the alter, but he was gone by the time Raven turned around. "To heal me." Raven spun. Slade was right behind her. He backhanded her and sent her flying up into the giant cross at the front of the church. She slid to the floor, where she spit blood.

"Cheap shot." She said, trying to get up. Slade was on her again, punching hard and fast, so hard that she dented the bricks behind her as she knocked into them. Slade cut off the attack and Raven slid back to the floor.

"You would have had the power to beat me, maybe." He said. "If you hadnt taken the time to heal those children." Slade turned his back on her, facing the empty church. "I cant be beaten Raven. You lost the one chance you had." Slade turned back towards her as she staggered to her feet. He extended a hand towards her and used his power to stretch her arms out, making her look like a giant T. "So brave and noble, sacrificing of yourself to help others." Slade laughed. He levitated her up onto the giant cross. Raven struggled to break free of his grip, but couldnt. "This is only fitting." He said, continuing to lecture her.

"Let me go!" She growled. Slade turned away for a moment. He focused on a hanging chandelier. The lighting fixture broke apart, and three mean looking pieces of metal floated into his waiting hand. Raven eyed them nervously. She continued to struggle, but there was nothing she could do. Slade had her.

"All in good time." Slade said. He put his hands down at his sides. Raven was still pinned. Slade took one 'steak' in his free hand and pointed it at Raven. "All in good time. You need to be taught a lesson." He touched the sharp tip of the stake to her throat and traced a line with it out to her wrist. He pressed it in hard enough for one small drop of blood to drip onto it. Raven watched, her breath eratic. "I want to do this nice and slow, and make sure I get it right." He said, backing away. "How was it the romans did it? Through the wrist, or through the palm?"

"Damnit put me down!" Raven screamed. She tried to teleport but couldnt. Slade had her locked in place too well.

"Ah, I believe it was through the wrist." Slade said. He leapt foward and planted one of his steaks through Ravens wrist. Bone crunched and flesh tore, and her arm was effectively pinned to the cross behind her. She screamed in pain. Her blood ran freely through the injury, spattering the ground before. She couldnt breath even it hurt so bad.

"Stop it!" She screamed. "Dont! agh!" Raven choked on her words. The pain was so intense the breath caught in her throat.

"Now. Why would I go and do a thing like that when I'm having such fun?" He asked. Slade took the seconds steak. "Now then, do I do the feet next, or the other wrist?" Raven squirmed, trying to get away. Her head thrashed about on the cross in agony. She became very still when Slade poised the steak right under her chin. Her breath was shaky as Slade traced little circles with it. He traced it down between her breasts and angled it towards her heart. He pressed a little, and Raven held her breath. "No, no. It doesnt go there." HE said. He eyed her uninjured arm, and rubbed his chin. "Lightbulb." He said, enthused as he drove it through her other wrist. Raven screamed again, her roar like a dying tiger. Slade let her go, and she settled down, her weight put on her arms. She screamed as the wounds stretched. Slade held up the last stake. "Now the last one, that ones easy." He lined up her shins, being carefull to make sure it went through both. "Have to get it just right." He trailed off.

Ravens scream shook the foundation as the last stake was driven through her legs. Slade let go of her with his power and she sagged, her weight going to them. She screamed more, and watched in horror as her lifeblood streamed to the floor below. Her vision got blurry and her body got numb. Her garb turned back to dark blue as she lost the power of the white sorceress. Her head rolled foward, defeated. Slade lifted her chin up. She watched as he reached behind him and took a mean looking dagger.

"I know this isnt quite how they did it, dear Raven, but I'm in a hurry so I'll make this quick." A small animal whimper escaped Ravens lips as Slade positioned it over her heart. Slade leaned in close to her and whispered in her ear. "You look just the way your mother did before she died." Slade snickered and stabbed the dagger deep into her chest. He twisted it, shredding her heart. Slade watched with interest as the blood welled up in her throat and she made a death rattle.

Uhd... Uhd... Uhd... He watched Ravens eyes, darting about the room desperate to find her salvation, looking for a way to survive even when there was none, then, the beautifull part. Her eyes stopped moving, a look of horror and dread at knowing this was the end came over her. Uhd... Uhd... Uhd... The blood welled up through her mouth, adding to the large pool below. Her eyes glazed over, and she was gone.

Miles away Starfire felt it. She stopped in mid-air. She just felt Raven die. She nearly dropped her unconcious sister, wrapped in a blanket. She didnt know what to do. Everyone with even the slightest bit of power to stand against Slade was dead. First her mother, then her sisters rape, and now the death of another sister. Starfire bowed her head. "No no no no no." She said mournfully. She was the last one left in fighting condition, not that she had any power compared to Slade. Starfire felt Blackfire stir in her arms. She took flight of her own, and kept the blanket wrapped tightly around her.

"Raven is dead." She said. Her sister said nothing, but looked around at the city below. Blackfire looked to her. Starfire couldnt take the look on her sisters face. The 'what do we do now' look. She was the younger sister. Her sister needed her now, more than ever, and Starfire couldnt think of a thing to do, or say.

"We should go home." Blackfire said. She wrapped the blanket tighter around her. "We cant stay here. Get Jinx, get whoever wants to come and lets just leave." Blackfire cried.

"I cannot." Starfire said.

"Then what do we do, just wait to die? Wait for our turn?" Blackfire shook at the thought of encountering Slade again. The memories of what he had done flashed through her mind and she laughed hysterically. "I wont. I'll kill myself before I let him get me again. He's going to track us all down and kill us, or worse he'll-" Blackfire choked on her own words.

"I will not let that happen." Starfire promised. She had to think of something. She knew where Robin and Jinx were kept. She could get them and her other friends, who were alive, and leave the planet. Starfires communicator buzzed. It was no doubt Cyborg, reporting in on Beast Boys condition. "We have to go get Raven first." She said, putting the communicator away. "And mother. We cannot leave them how they are." Her sister nodded her head.

"I need clothes." Blackfire said. She looked to the city below. She could find some there. Still shaking, and trying not to think about what had happened to her Blackfire took off towards the buildings, trying to hold onto whatever shred of sanity she had left. She wanted to scream, she wanted to bathe and try and rid herself of the filth Slade had left inside of her but she could not. Not now.

Raven awoke to the sound of a familliar voice. She sat up, not bothering to look for the source of it. She found herself in a vast field, surrounded by dead trees and grasses. She turned on the source of the voice and gasped. It was Marcus Agustus. He was bound in chains, great lengths of them wrapped around him. She knew then that she really had died. "What are you doing here?" She asked. "Where is this place?"

"So he killed you too did he?" Marcus laughed at her, but then screamed as he was consumed in flames. Raven jumped back, startled. She watched him thrash about, and collapse from the fire and the weight. The fire went out, and he managed to get to his hands and knees. He had not been burned, not physically. It was just pain. He growled at Raven. "This." He said. "Is where all supernatural creatures go."

"What was that?" Raven asked, in shock.

"My punishment." He growled. He shook his chains. "I bear the weight of my sins on my back. For my punishment I am also burned, every five minutes. You wanted to know where this place is?" Raven nodded her head.

"This is the place we all go. Its an entire world of immortals and demons. Here you are treated according to your actions in life." The weight of the chains laid Marcus down flat on the ground. He struggled to get up but lacked the strength. "And your un life."

Raven took this all in. Her eyes had adjusted, and she looked around. In the nearby hills she could see live vegitation, and campfires of vampire clans. "Is it always night?" She asked. Marcus snorted.

"I should only wish." HE said bitterly. "In the day my fire is continuous." He stared up at Raven with hatred in his eyes. He wanted to call her a whore, but if he misbehaved he would burn again before it was time.

"I cant say I pitty you." Raven said. "I need to find Kali." Kali, her mother. If there were a way to fight Slade from this world, she would know how to do it. Maybe she could even find a way back, while her body was fresh.

Marcus ignored her request. "I saw how he killed you. Nice touch." He laughed under his chains. The chains seemed to grow larger, Raven could no longer see him under the pile. She could only hear him echo through the links.

"If he found a way back, so can I." She said. The chain pile laughed at her.

"His ashes were not scattered!" Yelled Marcus from the chains. "When those fools added their blood to them, it gave his spirit here a chance to re-animate them! Even so, Slade had the ability to return to earth in spirit! He knew how to somehow. When his ashes could burn no more from the blood, whatever cinders were left absorbed it. They became part of what he is now!"

"What do you mean?" Raven demanded.

"I mean they are a part of him." Marcus growled. "They make up more of his new body than the ashes did."

Raven didnt say anything. She turned away from Marcus. His and Slades bodies had been incinerated. She hoped hers had not. She had to find a way back, like Slade did. "What about my body?" She asked. "Did it burn when I die?" The chains chuckled.

"No." He said. "That only happens if we were really bad." Marcus chuckled some more. Raven turned away and took to the air. As she left she heard Marcus burn again, and hear him scream.

"You'll have company again soon enough, I swear it!" She growled over her shoulder, and left to go search the nearby clans for Kali. Here she found old things at work. In some camps demons and vampires sat together around the fires, in others vampires fought to keep the demons at bay. She watched them battle. One would be struck down, mauled, destroyed, only to arise again moments later. This, she supposed, was heaven and hell, whatever you made of it.

For everyones sake Raven knew she had to act quickly. There had to be a way at least to communicate with the living world, something! Raven flew on in the night, sensing powers so old and vast they could easilly cover up anything around them. She hoped Kali was somewhere she could find her. Raven set down in the middle of one camp, sensing someone familiar here. She looked around, trying to find what had caught her attention. No one paid her any mind. Hundreds of people milled about her, she would be lucky to find what she was looking for. Raven took a deep breath and concentrated. She listened, trying to catch a bit of conversation that might help her. Then, she heard it. 'Mother Kali'. They were talking about her down here!

"Who said that?" Raven shouted. "Who knows Kali?" Several heads turned in her direction, none of them looked particularly friendly.

"I did." Said a tall irish vampire. "Whats it to you?" Raven thought he looked like something out of 'Braveheart' but didnt say anything about it.

"I need to find her, my mother." The irishman looked to his buddies. They knodded their heads.

"She's here al'ight? But word is she's been makin a whole lotta ruccus. Digging up dirt about that Slade fellah. Tryin to find a way back."

"Where can I find her?"

"Over yonder." He pointed at a large tent. "Shes been giving the elders hell, pickin thar brains for everything they know bout Slade."

"What do you know about him?" Raven asked. The larger vampire narrowed his eyes and looked upwards thoughtfully, combing his fingers through his beard.

"I'll tell you. I think he was never quite dead. Sleepin maybe, or somethin, but I dont know. Its impossible to go back though."

"Thanks." Raven said, sounding none too encouraged. She took off for the elders tent, and from outside she could hear Kali. She approached the tent cautiously, and inside Kali stopped yelling. Raven jumped back as the tent exploded outwards, and Kali exited like a whirling dirvish. She saw Raven and took her in her arms.

"Oh not you too." She said. "Not you too." Raven hugged her. Kali pushed her away. "I dont have long, they are working on you. Its not your time." Raven was confused. Kali shook her, making her pay attention. "Was my body burned?" She asked. Raven fumbled for an answer. "Did it burn?"

"No it-"

"Good. Your going to be revived, very soon." Kalis voice was urgent. "In my steamer trunk in Blackfires closet theres something that will heal you. You have to find it, drink it. You have to beat Slade, do you understand? You almost had him."

"How do I bring you back?" Raven asked. Her voice was small, scared. Kali bit her lower lip.

"You might not be able to. Your only being revived because you have demon blood, your fathers vitae isnt easilly extinguished." Kali let Raven go and embraced her closer again. "No one ever goes back. The elders dont know how Slade did it, and your only going back because the humans are getting to you so soon. Raven he's killed nearly all of my children, nine are here now, ten including you." KAli took a deep breath. "That day in the hospital, when you resurected Jinx, you had control over life and death. If you could harness that again, then maybe I could be brought back. But Raven, if you cant do it, then I need you to take care of Blackfire. I saw what he did to her." Raven felt Kali's tears hit the top of her head. "And there was nothing I could do. Kill him, worry about Blackfire, not me."

"Alright Kali."

"You will be stronger when you get back, maybe you can turn the tide of death. If not, then know that as long as Slade is dead I will make him suffer here in ways he has yet to imagine."

"I'll try Kali." Raven found herself crying freely. The weight of so much was on her shoulders. Her mother was here now, and deep down Raven suspected she would not be able to come back. No one ever did.

"I hope Raven, that it is a long time before I see you here again." Kali leaned down and kissed her gently. "Its almost time."

"I dont want you to stay here!" Raven cried. "I cant do all this alone!"

"You have to try. If need be, you must unleash Shiva. If you are going to lose agaisnt Slade, be kind to Robin and grant him a more mercifull death than Slade would. Shiva could be the only thing capable of defeating Slade."

"I cant kill Robin." Raven said. Not even to save him. Ravens body convulsed, and she pitched foward. Kali caught her, and laid her on the ground gently. "Dont forget this." She whispered. With the blood of Shiva, you could do whatever you wanted. You could travel through time even." Ravens body convulsed again and a strangled cry escaped her lips.

"It hurts." She groaned. Kali pet her face, and tried to soothe her.

"Such is life." She whispered. Ravens body arced upwards and she screamed. "You wont remember most of this. Just remember that I love you, and all your sisters. You must take care of Blackfire for me." Raven nodded her head and bit her lower lip. Raven slowly faded away, and Kali cried seeing her go. She stood up after she was gone, and looked out into the distance where her keen eyes could see a burning pile of chains. "In the meantime." She drew a long serrated sword from her cape. "I've got Marcus to keep me company." She said darkly, and stalked off in that direction.

Raven screamed as electricity was passed through her body. She distantly heard someone say 'we got her'. She tried to suck in air, but found that they were doing that for her. Her entire body hurt, and there was nothing she could do to stop it but thrash about on the ground. She opened her eyes and someone shined a flashlight in them, checking her.

"My god, she's awake." Said one of the medical technicians. He turned to look at his co-workers just feet away, two of which were brining a stretcher in. "She's bleeding clear fluid, the fluid we're pumping in in IV's, and she's awake."

"Lets not question a good thing." Said another. He ran outside to get some more supplies.

Ravens veins were on fire. They needed blood. Raven counted them, five of them. Good. "Help." She said, and all five rushed to her. One kneeled down close to her. Raven tried to muster up a sleeping spell but lacked the power. She settled for letting them take her to the hospital. Every speed bump, every rock in the road caused her to jostle with tremendous pain on the ride there. The ambulance hit a large bump, and she cried out.

"We're getting you to the hospital. We've got you." Assured one of the techs. Raven looked up at him. He wasnt one of the techs from earlier! Raven, though delirious and nearly craven for blood could sense it, he was an immortal. He winked at her. "We'll get you fixed up with just what you need, dont worry." He assured her.

"I have to fight." Raven croaked. All of the meds looked at her with a grim expression. She had just given her life fighting some powerfull monster, tearing up the downtown district and all she could do was think about going back. The vampire 'sh'd' her. "Where did he go? Whats happening?" She asked.

"He was spotted heading-" Said the vampire but was cut off.

"Your agrivating the patient, dont." Raven sent a mean glare to the one that had interupted. He was the only one in the back of the bus with she and the vampire. Raven traded glances with her vampyric allie.

The ambulance pulled up the the emergency room and the doors exploded outwards as Ravens guardian pushed her stretcher. "We got a man down!" He said to the others. "Feinted, or something. You get to him, I'll get her inside!" He yelled before anyone could stop him and he moved Raven through the doors and dissapeared into the crowd in the ER.

Two minutes later Raven found herself downstairs in the bloodbank. She had lost conciousness somewhere in the short trip and only woke up when cold blood was poured down her throat. She coughed on it, spitting some back out but then siezing the bag and drinking it greedily. It froze in her throat, and tasted vile, like preservatives but she was in no condition to complain. As soon as it was nearly empty she threw it away and another was put in her hand. She drank, whilst her caretaker poured a third one on her injuries. "I'm not old enough for that to work." She croaked and took it from him. It was also empty within seconds. A fourth and final bag was shoved at her and she ripped into it. When it was gone she sat back, cradling her wrists. "Is that all?" She asked. The vampire shook his head yes.

"There are alot of people injured tonight. They will need it too."

"What?"

"Slade has been running about, attacking and mauling people at Random." He looked upstairs. "Particularly harsh on the children."

Raven clenched her eyes shut. Damn him, she would make him pay, but she wasnt even well enough to hunt. Her time in the afterlife was a blur to her, but she distinctively remembered Kali telling her something about a trunk in the closet. "I have to get to the tower." She said. He nodded his head. They were there, on the roof in an instant. He could teleport, he was older than she thought. "Who are you?" Raven asked. The man, whos face had seemed sad from the start gave her a small bow.

"My name is Ledoria." His sad eyes caught her own. "I will help you inside, but then I must go. My abilities, they are needed at the hospital."

"Your a healer?" Raven was picked up. "Downstairs, third room on the right in the north hallway." She said. He carried her there.

"Yes, but not like yourself. I am a pediatrician. I work at the childrens hospital." He opened a door and let Raven think on it. "I was called in, when Slade came. I saw what you did for the burned child, I followed. I brought you down off the cross as soon as Slade left. I know just how much energy healing Billy took. It got you killed." He came to the room Raven had requested. He set her on the bed and turned to leave.

"Wait, why such passion for the children?" He stopped, his back went rigid. He turned, and haunted eyes locked onto hers.

"It is a long story. I would ask you to come find me when this battle is over. I could use your help." And then he was gone. Raven took several minutes in crawling to the closet. She cried out in pain several times getting there. Finally she used what little power she had left to heal her right hand a little and open the closet. She opened the chest, and there on the top was a crystal decanter, full of purple fluid.

Raven picked it up and nearly dropped it due to her injured wrists. It was warm. The way it sloshed about in the container told her it was blood. The only odd thing about it was its color. The crystal was obviously enchanted, to keep it alive and fresh. Raven pulled the plug from it and drank. She drank it down greedily, and all her pain went away. She stopped halfway through to find her injuries had healed, in a matter of seconds. She replaced the cork and set it back in the trunk. She felt like she had never been hurt at all. She felt powerfull. She looked back to the vase. She might need that half later. She stood, only for a second in the empty room, which still smelled of lavender.

"Thankyou Kali." She whispered and gathered her power to her like she had before. The transformation was easier now, and when she looked into the mirror she found that even her hair had turned white. Electricity arced about her, as her body was unacustomed to holding so much power. She snarled and beared her fangs. She would kill Slade! Raven teleported downtown, right where she could sense Slade, walking the abandoned streets in search of his next victim. Raven had suprise on her side, and crouched low in fron of him and before he could respond lept up, slashing him wide open with her enlongeted nails. Slade cried out and flew back. Raven levitated a few feet off the ground and began to collect power for an attack. She watched Slade get up, his injuries healed by the time he stood upright.

"So I see you learned to copy my trick." Slade chuckled. "This time I'll be sure you stay dead." Slade phased out. Raven turned around as quickly as she could but only in time to catch a fist in her gut. It propelled her backwards. Slade moved fast, and caught her in the back of the head, sending her flying the way she had just come. Raven saw he was going to try this trick again and opened up a teleportation portal. She flew through it, avoiding Slades attack and opened the portal above him. She came crashing down on him feet first.

Raven placed her foot on his neck and twisted quickly. She heard a satisfying crunch sound and jumped backwards. She smiled as Slade stood up, his head rolling about with a broken neck.

"You have alot of fight left in you for someone who just came back from the dead." Slade laughed.

Raven looked down at herself. Her clothes were in such tatters, but white. She could see that the only stain though was Billy's bloody hand prints, from when he had pushed against her. She thought of what the boy must have been going through now, and vowed again to end Slades reign of terror. She watched his head righting itself. She seethed in anger, growling. She felt her demonic blood taking hold, but wasnt sure how this was possible. The power of a white sorceress should have purified it, but Kali was right, her fathers vitae wasnt easilly pushed around.

Lightening flashed in the night sky above and thunder rolled through the empty streets. Raven gathered more and more power. As the lightening flashed, her eyes turned red, back to white, and red again. Slades neck had fixed itself, but now for the first time in the night he looked fearfull. Ravens lips tugged up in a smirk.

Raven felt herself changing. Her voice changed. "Monster." She growled. Slade began to back away from her. "I'll shred you to pieces with my bare hands!" Raven stretched out her arms and channeled a great amount of energy. She unleashed it at Slade and watched him burn in it. She laughed with glee and dove into the energy fire, which didnt harm her. She pummeled him as the white energy consumed him. She screamed an earsplitting scream, her fury and rage boundless.

Slade felt he could not take much of this. He had to get away, and fast! He grabbed Ravens wrist when she struck at him and used her own momentum to fling her high into the air. Slade thought he was in the clear to escape, and opened up a teleportation portal. He needed blood. Raven followed him through it.

"You wont get away from me!" Raven screamed. Raven didnt know where this portal led to, but she decided to change its destination. With the blood of Trigon and the power of a white sorceress Raven bent reality. It hurt like hell and took everything she had; and shouldnt have been possible but she re-routed Slades portal to the other side of the world, right into the light of day. They both tumbled out of the portal into the light. Raven still screaming. She continued to, as reality restored itself using more of her power. The process left her exhausted, drained, but Slade was in the light of day, and began to burn. Raven only smiled.

"No!" Slade cried. He tried to open up a portal, but to no avail. He screamed as the sun seared his flesh. "I cant go back!" He cried. "I cant go back to the flames! The chains!" He charged at Raven as he burned and beat her savagely, Raven was powerless to defend herself but as he beat her he became weaker and weaker. After half a minute the smell of his burning flesh was worse than the blows that landed on her. Raven laughed as he backed away, covering his face.

"Go into the light." She said sourly. Slades screaming was deafening. Raven realised where she had teleported them to. It was only fitting. It made her smiled. Rome itally was a great place for this evil to be extinguished. Slade continued to scream and smoke. He went to his knees. Raven found the strength to get up and approach him. She stood above him as he burned to nothing. "As you burn in the flames, tell them who it was that sent you." She said bitterly. Slade looked up at her one last time before his body turned to cinder and was still. Raven kicked the ashes about, making sure they scattered. "Its over." She said collapsing to her knees. "Its finally over." Raven looked around, slightly worried. This was the vatican, and she had just exposed herself to it. In all the darkened windows in all the centuries old buildings around her she could feel eyes on her. Did they know what she was? This was a hunter hot spot, but she felt safe for now. She was exhausted, hungry, and more than shellshocked. She looked down at herself. The bloody handprints of the child were still on her. Raven looked around the vatican again, and for some reason or another, she felt like someone was watching her, nodding his head and smiling. Ravens power finally ran out. Her hair and clothes went back to the normal dark blue.

Warping reality took alot out of her. She watched as her previous wounds re-opened slightly. Whatever had been in Kali's bottle, it had obviously been a 'short term' solution. Raven desired to stay here no longer. Even though she had just wiped out a monstrous evil, a plauge upon the world, she doubted a hunter would hesitate to take advantage of her weakened condition if they knew what she was- which they might very well have. She opened up a portal beneath her and fell through, coming out on the other side to her bed. She wanted so badly to sleep and let her injuries heal, but she couldnt. Too much to be done. Kali had to be... tended to. Fresh tears sprung from her eyes, leaking into her pillow. She was dead. Kali, her first love, the woman who had guided her into this vampyric realm had fallen trying to protect her. Raven got up, her walking was unsteady due to her injuries opening back up, but she managed to limp to Blackfires room. By the time she made it to the closet she was crawling again. She held the bottle in her hand, and finished the last of it.

Cyborg sat idly by as a doctor stitched up Beast Boys face. It had taken so long to get him seen. Many people had poured into the emergency room. Cyborg had no idea how the fight was going, or that it was even over. All he knew was that he had to stay with Beast Boy, who had had to been sedated.

The last thing Slade saw as he died had been Raven standing above him. He spiraled through the darkness and landed hard. The familiar chains were back, and much much heavier this time. He steeled himself for the flames he knew would come, and they did. They came, and he burned again even more horribly and screamed in pain. The flames left him, for a while. He looked up, only to find he was looking up the blade of a long serreated sword. He followed the blade up to the hilt, where it connected to a hand that connected to an arm that he had personally torn off earlier in the night. Slade shook with fear as the tip of the blade circled his eyes, dangerously close to them. It was pushed in just enough to scratch his skin and leave him with a racoon mask looking cut.

Kali smiled down at him. "And we have all eternity to have fun." She said darkly. "I saw what you did to my children. I'll be sure to make it up to you, even if it takes millenia." Kali lowered her sword an inch, and drove it in. Slades screams could be heard miles away, and many an immortal and demon alike wondered: what manner of creature could inflict such pain as to elicit such a noise?

Cyborg sat idly by as a doctor stitched up Beast Boys face. It had taken so long to get him seen. Many people had poured into the emergency room. Cyborg had no idea how the fight was going, or that it was even over. All he knew was that he had to stay with Beast Boy, who had had to been sedated. Cyborg put a hand to his face, to cover it up as a few tears leaked out his human eye. Every five minutes, that horrible image of Kali, helpless and burned under his car re-entered his mind.

"What did this?" Asked the doctor. He was going to be busy for a long time stitching this, it might even need major reconstructive surjery.

"A tiger." Beast Boy said, half asleep. The doctor believed it.

"He's seen alot." Cyborg said. "Just let him be." Cyborg heard Ravens voice out in the waiting room. He pulled back the curtain just in time to see a nurse point Raven in his dirrection. She was white, which shocked him, but Cyborg was overjoyed to see her alive, it meant that she had won. Cyborgs joy only lasted a moment. So they had won, but, they had lost so much. To all of them, Kali had been almost like a den mother. Blackfire, his heart wept for her. She would never, ever be the same again because of this monster, and as he looked at his friend lying on the bed, he knew Beast Boy never would be too. "You won." Cyborg said when Raven got near him. Raven only nodded her head.

"Starfire told me Beast Boy needs my help." Raven passed Cyborg, and he wondered if she was angry at him for what had happened. He couldnt blame her if she was. She stood over Beast Boy only a few seconds, just long enough to undo the damage he had done to himself. She turned again, and left the room.

"Where is everybody?" Cyborg asked. He dreaded to think that Kali may not have been the only casualty. He still didnt know if Blackfire had lived or died at Slades hands.

"The tower. Go home Cyborg. I have to meet Robin." Raven turned, her sad eyes curved oddly. "Beast Boy needs to know she's alive. I'm meeting Robin in the parking lot, where Kali is."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to try and bring back the dead." Raven said, and walked out.

Robins boots made no noise as he approached Kali. She was right where Raven had said she would be. Robin took a deep breath. He knelt down besides her, to say his peace. "You all gave so much tonight." He said in barely controlled sadness and anger. "You tucked us away, like little children and went off to fight for us." Robin looked away from the corpse. "It wasnt worth it." Robin took a shaky breath and sat down, facing away from the corpse. "You were trying to protect us, but after everything thats happened I can say this. I didnt want anyones protection. I cost you all too much. I would gladly have gone dancing into the flames in your stead, but you all never gave me an option."

"We know you would have." Robin looked up to see Raven had joined him. He looked away from her.

"Then you should have let me. The choice should have been mine to make." A hurt expression crossed Ravens face. Robin got up, and faced her. "I didnt want this." He said. "Not in my name! Kali's dead, Blackfires worse. Every one of you has felt the pain he could inflict tonight except me- the person he was after, and I dont think it was worth it."

Raven was astonished. He was actually arguing with her. He never did that. She looked into his soul and could feel her was feeling genuine anger, directed at her. "Robin." She said.

"She is dead, and they are all hurt, all because of me." He said with barely controlled anger. He looked up at her, his eyes sad. "It wasnt fair. I spent the time bound and gagged in a cave somewhere, while she died and the others fought. I didnt even get a choice."

"There was no other way." She tried to tell him.

"Yes there was. There was and you know it!" Robin cried as he yelled. "You should have just let him take me! He would have left you alone then!"

Raven clenched her eyes shut. "And should we have handed Jinx over as well? Can you speak for her with such confidance?" Her eyes opened, her own anger evident. "And who are you to know? You dont even know it, but it would only have made him more powerfull if he got either of you, and after that, do you really think he could have been beaten at all?" Robin ignored her, and turned around. She saw his fists clench, and his forearms shake.

"I still just dont like it Raven. I'm tired. I'm tired of having to be protected because of what I am. Its fucked up. And speaking of fucked up, what the hell is Shiva?"

Ravens blood turned to ice. "What do you know?"

"All I know is I wake up, and I hear that name echoing through my mind." Robin turned around and faced her. Raven opened her mouth to say something, but was cut off as a small explosion went off next to them. They were both thrown back several yards, but Kali was not. The small explosion was a ball of light, the size of a basketball. They both had to shield their eyes to protect them as it expanded, and a featureless white figure stepped out and stood over Kali.

"What the?" Raven asked. She saw Robin go for his belt but stopped him. She felt something under all that power, she felt herself. The white glow faded, and Raven found herself staring eye to eye with herself.

"Whats going on?" Robin demanded. Both Ravens ignored him. The one kneeled down by Kali. Robin went to move foward, but Raven stopped him. "Raven what is this?" He asked.

"Time travel." Said both Ravens. Robin looked back and forth at them, confused. He watched as the new Raven put her hands on Kali, and Kali began to glow. Next to him his Raven went to her knees and channeled her own power into what her counterpart was doing. Robin stepped back and watched them both struggle to do something. It dawned on him that they were trying to revive Kali.

"Please." He whispered. "Please work." Kali's body levitated, five feet off the ground. Robin watched as what was yet unhealed healed itself up. Lightening struck, blinding he and both Ravens. By the time he and Raven recovered the newcomer already had, and Kali was gone.

"It worked." Said the new Raven. Raven was at her side in an instant.

"Where did she go?" She asked. She scanned the power her other self had and gasped. Her power, it was, no- it couldnt be.

"A gift from Shiva." Whispered her older self.

"What happens?" Raven asked, afraid. She backed up next to Robin. Her older self looked at her.

"I cant tell you." She said. "But in two months, you will drink the blood of Shiva." And she was gone. Raven stood in shock, dreading the upcoming events.

"Raven.." Robin groaned and gripped his heart. Raven could hear it beating erratically, as if he were going into arrest. Robins knees buckled and he went down. Raven caught him and set him back. "Whats going on? Whos is Shiva?" Robins body convulsed, as if being electrocuted.

"Its alright." Raven assured him. "Dont say that name." Robins eyes went wide, manic looking. He grit his teeth.

"He's here." He said. "Someones here. He-hes trying to use me." Robin tilted his head back and screamed. Raven did her best to calm him. Robin went lax, and Raven thought he had fallen unconcious, but he looked up at her with scared eyes and said. "I am created Shiva the destroyer, death; the shatterer of worlds."

"Its alright." Raven said when the ordeal passed. She could hide it from him no longer. He had to know the truth as to what he was. "We'll talk about it in the morning." The elder hindu god was influencing his power on Robin, threatening to make his presence known. Raven knew that there could only be one reason for this, for Shiva rearing his head when Robin was not killed- the goddess Kali had taken an avatar somewhere, and was likely on a collision course with him.

"Promise me, no more hiding stuff. No more keeping me out of the loop. Please Raven." Raven teleported them back to their room. Raven sensed Kali nearby. She wanted so badly to run to her, to thank her and cry for joy that she was alive, but she couldnt. And she knew Starfire was using the same restraint. Blackfire needed her mother right now, they had suffered the most at Slades hands, and right now anyone else would just be getting in the way. Raven looked outside. The sun was shining, just starting to come up. It was a new day, and she hoped that the titans could put this one night of fire behind them. She hoped that a few rooms down, that Kali would be able to comfort her daughter, who had suffered the most.

"I promise Robin." She said. He threw his arms around her, and shuddered.

"And dont ever die again." He growled. He had felt it from his cage when she had died on the cross. "Dont do that, ever."

Blackfire scrubbed. The water she was using was hot enough to kill a normal human being, but she was far from that. She scrubbed at herself with a wire brush, trying to cleanse herself of the filth. She scrubbed until she bled, and was raw all over, but didnt feel clean. Evidence of the attack remained. Deep purple bruises decorated her thighs and hips, and various other parts of her body. Red marks, the shape of a hand stuck out on her face. She spit, and spit again. She felt as if she were rotting away from the inside out. She cried and collapsed onto the shower floor, her red tears swirling in the watter and making it pink. So distracted was she that she didnt sense her mother in the other room. She wanted to die, again. She wanted to watch the world burn, she wanted to kill and kill to sate her anger and despair, but for some reason all she could do was cry. She seemed to snap out of it, and looked at her hands in shock. Oh, what had he made her do, to protect her sister from the same? She scrubbed her hands with the brush, as if losing a few layers of skin would erase the horrible memory from her mind.

"What do I do?" She asked herself. Lost. She felt so lost. She didnt know what to do to heal. She wanted the horrible feeling of violation to go away, but knew it would be a long, long time, and that made her cry harder. She didnt want to tfeel like this. She wanted to be all better, she wanted her mother! She wanted to kill the bastard herself, but knew that if she were to face him again she would only become a scared little child. "Take it away." She said to no one. Eventually she realised the hot water would not wash this away, and turned it off. She stood dripping wet for a minute, afraid to move for some reason, as if any movement might cause her to suffer more. She caught herself wishing Slade had killed her, but knew her mother wouldnt have liked that. Blackfire took a deep breath, trying to calm down, trying to gain control of the jumble of thoughts in her head. One thing at a time. She told herself. One day at a time. She thought of Kali, wherever she was. She knew Raven had gone to 'take care' of her. She didnt want to go. She couldnt bare to see her. She wanted to be able to lie to herself, and tell herself none of it had ever happened, and maybe if she didnt see the body she would be able to.

Kali sat outside, waiting. She had to let Blackfire be. She herself didnt know what to do, but she couldnt go in there while she was sorting her thoughts. She had to wait. She wasnt sure how she had come back, but knew it had to do with Raven. Her daughters needed her, every last one of them, but right now Blackfire needed her most. She waited patiently, and eventually the bathroom door slid open. Blackfire stood, staring at her, her jaw hanging low. She shook, like she couldnt believe what she was seeing. Kali opened her arms.

"Oh." Blackfire said, new tears welling up. Was this real, or a cruel trick of the mind? Could Kali really be alive? Or if she dove at her, would she just fade away, an apparition, a ghost? "Oh, Kali." She said, and dove at her. Very real arms closed around her, and hugged her tight. The horrible images of what Slade had done to her still haunted her mind, but Kali was back, oh thank god, Kali was back somehow! It made things better, she felt less afraid.

Kali didnt know what to say. She cried. She had lost so many children tonight, but her heart wept most of all for this one. But for all her years, for all her experience, she couldnt think of anything to say to make her feel better. She couldnt tell her how sorry she was for having tried to hide her from Slade, which only brought more of the monsters wrath on her head. Kali cried, and choked. She had to say something, so she said what came to heart. "Its going to be alright." She said. "I promise." Blackfire only cried harder, and Kali knew she believed her.

Sitting back now I wonder, what the hell did I just do? Sorry if the bit with the cross offended anyone (I'm not comparing Raven to Jesus, but demonstrating what a monster Slade is), but I was trying to make it clear just what scale of a fight this was between good and evil. I hope you review, cuz I dont have much motivation to keep writting if no ones reading. I'd like to think that as many people enjoy this now as they did back then. I dont want the story to end like this.

This chapter happens very fast, I know. Alot jammed into a small ammount of space. I really didnt want to break it down into four million chapters and make five minutes take ten chapters like DBZ or something. Oh well, just review.