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

45. Accelerate into a Crash

Chapter 45

Notes, explanations, excuses and disclaimers (not quite in that order) I do not own TT (see, what did I tell you?)

To: DamianH. Yes, that chap was 'for' you. I got your reviews n finally finished it. You wrote alot of stuff... Hard to respond to it all without a reply as long as the chapter. Dont worry about the issues you see. They will all be tended to as the story progresses.

To: SpacyTyrant. I wrote that it wasnt an important one, meaning not important to anyones survival or anything like that. Doesnt mean that it wasnt something dear to her, like her and Robins first night together, the first time she took blood, her first night alone as a vampire or any number of things.

To: Ellisar. Glad you like the whole hunter things. I've decided to make the hunter org. a millitaristic thing. They wont go around saying 'hooah!' and doing pushups or anything (not like i can do them anyway) but theire structure and ranks and such, are barrowed from my army. Anyway thanks for reviewing. I appreciate every one and respond to those I can.

Robin woke with a start, finding himself in a tangle of sheets and weighed down by something. He kicked the sheets away, wanting to get up, and found Jinx in bed next to him. She looked good like that, dangerously good. With her pale skin, lips just slightly parted showing a glimpse of her pearly teeth beneath. Her pink hair scattered about her chaoticly, framing the triangular structure of her face. Robin snapped himself out of it. He was finding her attractive, dangreously so. That couldnt be a good thing at all.

She must have crawled in next to him some time in the night. He quickly got up and hit the floor. His legs hurt. Damn. Stupid bullets. Oh well, these injuries were nothing compared to the great misery he had inflicted upon Rancids gang. He smiled wickedly. They had deffinetly gotten the worst of that deal. He checked his injuries to see how they were healing. He was shocked to find they had closed, leaving only deep bruises. He stretched out on the floor to gather his strength for his next attempt at walking. Jinx sensed he had moved and woke up. She come crawling over the bed looking for him to find him on the floor. She stared down at him as he stared up at her.

"Do you remember?" She asked. Robin looked up at her, confused. She looked slightly hurt.

"Remember what?"

"When we went back to bed, what we dreamed of? Was that us again, or was it just me?"

Robin strained his mind. He could vaguely remember a dream. He saw flashes of it. Damp skin, soft voices, moans and strangled cries. Similar to alot of the dreams he had, but it had been with her. "Why is it important?" He asked.

"I need to know if its something I did on my own, or if it just happened." Jinx rolled over to look away from him. Oh how she wanted to be with him, like in the dream. Just once, just to sate her curiosity, just to quell the thing inside her that screamed for her to do it. She knew he felt the same way, he couldnt hide it. She knew neither of them could help it, that off in another world somewhere Kali and Shiva exerted theire influence on them. She could figure it out. They wanted them to love each other, be close to each other. They wanted them to be inseperable. The reason for this she could guess is that way when one dies and the god is released, the other avatar will not be far off.

"I know, I had it too." Robin felt driven to be closer to Jinx. He could feel it through a connection to her that she wanted to be closer to him. He wanted to climb back up on the bed and touch her, make her his own. He wanted to make her writhe and scream like in the dream, and spill himself into her. He envisioned it for several moments, those last thrusts where he could feel it build, release a long moan, desperate to prolong the sensation, and finally the earth-shattering climax that would force him to cry out her name as he shot himself into her depths repeatedly. It made him hard to think about it. Above him on the bed Jinx moaned.

"I can see that." She said slowly. "I can see what you think, damnit Robin I can actually feel it almost." It flew through Robins mind that whatever connection they shared was growng stronger, and she knew it too.

His name was Saumuel Singrifith, and he was a witch. He was a class four hunter for the Knights of the Obsidian Order. He was rated as being able to take down any vampire 400 years old or younger. What was special about his classification was his skills in the martial arts. If not for the martial arts his powers would have been much weaker, but he had absorbed them all to such an extent that his body evolved through the next half million years inside of two decades. His body had become a clean burning machine because of the martial arts, and his way of living. He was amazing. He could move in ways that would make vampires envious. He could break bricks with his head, which was always cool at parties, but there were other things, better things he could do.

With senses like his he could sense the life and death of the world around him. He used this ability to do great things. He could tap his knuckles repeatedly on a bank vault, identify just the right resonance and frequency and shatter it in moments with vibrations, all without knocking any harder that one would on a regular door. He could bend steel bars by feeling for the right weak points and focusing large ammounts of pressure on a fissure thinner than a human hair. He could stay warm in sub-zero temperatures wearing nothing but a t-shirt by altering his metabolism to burn a few thousand calories an hour. His body was the very pinacle, the very limit of the human organisms capabilities thanks to just the right mixture of martial arts and his inherrited powers as a witch.

Today he had what he called 'bitch-work'. He was out planting security devices in view of the tower, to monitor the coming and goings of the vampires inside before the sting. He was angry to be doing this work because he had way too much rank for something so menial. He had litteraly died for this rank. Another benefit of his advanced state was his extroardinary healing rate. Humans now, after death continued to grow hair and nails for some time. His body did that too, but healed after death until it was suitable to support life again. Working in a system where promotions were often given posthumously this was a tremendous benefit. In two years he had accumulated as much rank as some did after thirty. Every time he died higher would promote him and think he was going to stay dead, then, boom. He'd wake up on the slab with new rank on his collar. It was very convineint. He would get a new job, new responsibilities and privelages. The pay also went up, much to the dismay of higher. He wondered idly if they would make the same mistake again and promote him to Lieutenant Colonel next time. He didnt think so.

Samuel planted a camera in a tree. It looked to obvious so he planted it on top of an already existing security camera that was pointed out over the bay. Surveilance was the first part of planning to sting a coven of this size. No one would be suspicious of a security camera in an area where they were kept in plain sight. His healing abilities did however have limits that he knew of. He could not survive just anything. A gunshot to the head might do it, being cut in two, or run over by a steamroller. Still, it was better than nothing. His earpiece buzzed to life with a crackling female voice on the other side.

"Captain Singrifith?" A young female voice asked.

"Its Major now, who is this?" He asked.

"Specialist Stone sir, dead again? When did this happen?"

"Few weeks ago. I was chasing some fledgling through a subway system. Learned the hard way that the light at the end of the tunnel is normally a thirty ton railway car." The girl on the other end made a hissing noise as she inhaled sharply. He imagined her silently going 'ouch'. "Got pretty banged up. General thought I was going to stay dead this time and thought Major would look good on my tombstone."

"Very good sir. The lieutenant colonel wants a full report."

"I just set up the cameras. Can't he get his report by turning them on and watching instead of wasting my time?"

"I guess not sir."

Samuel sighed. This guy was a pain. "Alright. I'm out here on a mission I have way too much rank for. Bored to death doing grunt work while I could be putting my new team together. All cameras are in place and operational- OH! And it just started to rain. My lucky day. Tell the LTC I said thankyou, I didnt get wet enough last night durring my little swim, which I may add almost got me killed. I only wish it had, if they keep promoting me every time I die I'll be in charge of him soon enough."

"Is that what you really want me to tell him sir?" She asked. She really hoped it wasnt. Being the messenger sucked.

"Sugar coat it for me. Why did he need me to report when he could see for himself?"

"Too much rank causes brain damage, sir."

"Only if you actually earn it. I didnt, I'm still sane. Just do as I say not as I do, got it? I'm the only one around here who gets to enjoy posthumous promotions." The specialist laughed.

"Thank god for desk jobs" She said sarcastically, with obvious dislike for her job. "I'll print it up on a roll of toilet paper so that he is guaranteed to find it sooner or later sir."

"Dont waste your time. I'm not entirely convinced the man can read. And have him make me a copy of his office key would you? I dont want to have to track him down and get it from him when I move up."

"Yes sir. Very good. If you want his job that quick I believe the tower has a doorbell."

"Alright. Write me up some boring, wordy report about how well the mission went and give it to him and I'll make sure you get some field time. That and a majors recomendation could make getting promoted easier." He hinted. He so hated writting reports himself. He'd do anything to get out of writting one.

"Got it sir. Over and out." She clicked off the mic piece. Samuel decided he liked her. She had alot of guts, making fun of an ltc with a major, for someone with less rank than dirt. He decided to check out what powers she might have. If she was good she could find herself on his new team. He looked at the tower. This extermination was going to be quite a job. He only hoped he could get his wallet back. He watched an old police interceptor pull up and a bridge emerge from the water. The scanner in his shades told him two houkounin were in the car, one male, one female. He whistled again. He had never seen a male. No one in the organisation had.

Robin put the car in park and pressed the button to close the garage. The lights stayed on nearly a full minute after he cut the engine. He sat in the car next to Jinx, waiting for something to happen but he couldnt be sure what. He looked at her. The link between them had gone down in intensity, but that desire for her was still there. They had to tell the others what had happened, for the good of the world. Robin knew this might be the last time he was alone with Jinx. He was relieved that they would most likely never be in a situation where something might happen between them, but at the same time the thought of it made him ache. She locked eyes with him. They leaned towards the center at the same time, eyes shutting slowly. Robins hand found her cheek and hers found his. They guided each other into a soft kiss. It was electric when theire lips met. Robin parted his lips just slightly, and tongues brushed for a moment before he withdrew from her mouth. They parted, and sat back. Robin supposed they did it because they needed to draw some strength from each other before they went and faced with. Who knew? Depending on how everyone reacted they might never be able to see each other again. He hated to think of losing someone so important to him without even a kiss goodbye.

"Yeah. I know." Jinx said. She could feel what he felt. She didnt hear the words he thought, but rather felt that need for something to remember her by. She felt the same way. The only thing that stopped her from laying with him back at the hotel was how much it would hurt Starfire if she did so. She knew the same reason held back Robin as well.

"Blackfire, come!" Kali's voice boomed down the halls of a thirteenth century spanish mansion. Blackfire liked it here. Kali told her that it had been her first estate. All around were riches beyond her imagination. Decorations that put her home palace to shame. Kali had brought her here to give her something. They had been walking along and Blackfire had begun to stop to admire things. Kali had allowed it. She walked ahead in the large manor. All about there were paintings. She wanted a few more minutes to admire them.

"One minute." She called down the hallway. Kali had turned off somewhere. She couldnt see her. Blackfire found herself in front of a large painting of great beauty. It was dark. It was a painting of a barren, dusty earth, and a black sky. The landscape was littered with dead trees. It looked like the end of the world. There was a clearing, a battlefield. All about were broken swords and flags, dead men and armor. The ground was soaked in blood. Wherever the blood flowed though green grass and flowers sprouted up. The blood flowed away from the scene in tiny rivulets, and all around it things were coming back to life. She touched the painting. She understood what it meant.

"No matter how bad it gets something new is born out of tragedy." Kali said behind her. Blackfire spun on her, startled.

"I like it." She said. "Who made this?"

"My father did, after the crusades." Blackfire didnt know what the crusades were, or when they happened. It made sense to her though. She appreciated this painting.

"Are there others like this?" She asked. Kali nodded her head. "May I see some?" Kali lead her to another painting further down the hall.

"This one," Said Kali ", I painted." Blackfire stood in awe of the painting. It was so real, much more than the last one. It was a picture of herself holding a dead woman in her arms, a burning train wreck in the background. Red tears streaked down Kali's face in the painting.

"Is that what happened to her?" Asked Blackfire. "Your houkounin?" Kali nodded her head.

"We were traveling to San Fransisco, exploring the new world together. We were quite happy. The train de-railed and the car behind us was actually pushed up through our car, killing everyone and tearing it apart. The next car was pushed through that one, so on and so forth. They called it 'tellescoping'. I was the only survivor in any of the front ten cars." Kali touched the face of the dead woman. "I remember the day quite well. I was still nervous about trains, them being a new and foriegn thing to me, much like I was of automobiles when they later came out." Kali took a deep breath. She kissed the mouth of the woman in the painting and ran her hand over the painted hair. "She assured me it would be alright. We got our own private box car, first class in the front of the train. She kept telling me it would be alright. I finally believed her. We drew the curtain and locked our door. I drank from her and we fell asleep together." Kali stopped.

"What happened?"

"I woke up to this terrible noise of twisting metal and splintering wood. Screams. I thought the train was shaking apart, I kept hearing this banging noise. The wall of our little room collapsed. Much to my horror it was the front end of the next car behind us coming in to crush us. I used every bit of my speed to wip us up and get out, but I only ever got us on our feet before we were crushed. The car behind us hit me in the back and she went under it, down into the tracks. I was nearly killed. I woke up two hours later to the call of mortals looking for survivors. I could sense she was dead. They found me, impaled by wooden timbers and broken glass, broken bones and bruised. They found me crying, begging them to let me die. I couldnt move at the time. I was too injured. It was another two hours before they pulled me from the wreck and as they carried me away I saw her body. I lost control. I drank from my rescuers and left them unconcious. I grabbed my loves body and ran into the woods to mourn."

"I'm sorry." Blackfire said. "I didnt know the whole story behind it."

"Its alright. I wouldnt deny it to you."

"She was very beautifull. I can see why you loved her." Kali smiled.

"Thankyou. She made a big difference in my life. The world was changing, evolving. She had a differant mind-set than I. In the years we shared I changed very much with her, I was able to change to conform to the new world. She brought me out of the dark ages." Kali was silent for a few moments, in respect to the dead. "That is enough." She said, changing her demeanor and subject. "Its time to show you why I brought you here. Come with me." She spun in place and took off back down the hall. She entered an arms room with Blackfire close behind her.

"What did you do afterwards?" Blackfire asked. Kali was silent for a moment.

"I shrank back into myself. I slept a decade. I cut myself off from the living world. I mourned for forty years for her. It was only taking in another fledgling that ever brought me out of it." Kali quickly got to the room she wished to show Blackfire. It was her weaponry.

"Whats all this?" Blackfire asked. She turned around several times looking at all the weaponry. In the center of the room was a fine suit of armor.

"My armory. Remember Blackfire, this is a large estate. It at one point had to be equiped to defend itself." Kali went to the suit of armor and put a hand on its chest. "I wore this very suit many times. Its more that six hundred years old. There were many wars of the time, and I used to fight them, wanting to make the world a better place." Kali laughed a little. "But there will always be another war, and the world will always be a bad place no matter how many wars you have to try and make it better. You realize this after two hundred years."

"Why are we here?" Blackfire asked. Kali turned around and looked at her.

"The suit and whatever weaponry you wish from this room are yours. You will have to get the suit re-modled for you of course, but you could wear it with your new occupation. I think it would be fitting."

Blackfire liked the idea, but it was mens armor. She was going to have to alter it to the point that it wouldnt even look the way it used to for it to fit her. It would be easier to just make new armor from scratch, but she knew why she wanted to use this suit. That metal, no matter what shape it took, had served her mother well and protected her. One could melt it into a block of steel and she would still think it significant simply because it had been her mothers. She wanted though to model it like the armor of greek women. She wanted something fitting, close to the skin. She wanted to trim the helmet down into a battle crown with wings. She could see the suit morphing into what she wanted to turn it into. "I love it." She said. She touched the cold metal. It warmed quickly under her hand, as if welcoming her. It was finely crafted for its time. The steel polished so much it nearly looked to be chrome.

"Its from back when I was young and naive." Blackfire noticed the many places on the armor where it had been repiared. "And I was cut down many times. Sometimes so weakened that I lay helpless, and surely would have died if the ground had not run red with blood. Many nights I lap at it with my tongue until dawn." Kali stepped foward to the armor and put her hand on a part of the neck that had obviously been quite damaged and repaired. "We all have times like this, when we want to help mankind with the amazing gifts we have."

"Is that what we're doing now? Raven, my sister, and I? In the titans?"

"Raven perhaps, but you and your sister were doing it before you changed. You will all grow tired of it eventually."

Blackfire wasnt listening. She wanted to cut into it now. She wanted to get right to work on fashioning it into what she wanted it to be. She wished to carve the helmet into a tamaranian battle crown, a fiersome looking thing. This was a mens suit, obviously. It was the onyl kind available when Kali fought, and she most likely hid her gender but Blackfire would have no need for that. It would fit her, when she was done. A weapon on the far wall caught her attention. It was a battle hammer. It consisted of a twenty pound iron knob, perfectly round, on the end of a twelve foot pole. She approached it. It was obviously in no condition to be used. The wood was far too deteriorated, but she liked it. She had no need for a weapon, but thought to herself that if she had to use one that would be it.

"Come." Kali said. "Its time to rest, and feed." Blackfire turned from the armor hesitantly and followed her out.

"I dont want to sleep yet." Blackfire said. She crossed her arms acrossed herself as if cold. "I'm not ready yet." She wouldnt say it aloud, but she was having nightmares. She wished to put off sleep as long as she could. Kali understood.

"Would you like to see Beethoven?" Kali asked. "He plays tomorrow night." Kali left the room and Blackfire followed as she headed towards her chambers. Blackfire didnt seem interested in the music. "You were so lovely last time, in that dress. A glowing purple spectacle, the sound of your mortal heart thumping only enhancing the music." Kali sighed heavilly. She wondered, if in her state Blackfire could once again be so touched by the beautifull music. She wished to see her skin take on that illuminescant purple glow again. "Tomorrow night he plays in a new spot. He is most likely getting ready even now. After you fell asleep he offered a private dance, we could take him up on that."

"No, thankyou."

"We could do some traveling. You've yet to see much of this planet. There are alot of things to do." Kali searched her mind desperately for anything Blackfire wanted, to keep her busy, to try and get her mind off of what had happened.

"No."

"We could hunt. I should be teaching you that around this time." This produced no reaction from Blackfire. She didnt even respond. "Blackfire whatever you want, its yours. Just name what it is that will make you feel better, even for a short while and it will be yours." Kali stopped and turned around to face Blackfire. "Anything Blackfire, whatever you want. I'll give it to you. I just dont know how to make you feel better, and it breaks my heart to see you like this."

"Theres one thing I want." Blackfire said. She looked up at Kali with haunted eyes. "Take me to the biggest crime center you know of." Kali nodded her head and they were there, back in the states. Blackfire turned around in place, taking in all the lights.

"Chicago. Theres always something going on around here." Kali said. "It was pretty high in crime last time I bothered to check."

"When was this?" Blackfire asked absently.

"A few years ago, some time between 1920 and 1940, I think. Now what is it your looking for?"

"Crime." Blackfire spread out her senses. She sensed the emotions of all the mortals around her. Kali was astonished at the excellent application of her power. Blackfire ignored all the lesser emotions. She needed to find something powerfull. She was looking for someone in fear and agony. She was also looking for someone full of hatred and malice. She found them quickly. She found what she was looking for, a rapist. Blackfire screamed, her eyes glowing purple and took to the air in the direction of her target. Kali followed close behind her. Blackfire soared over the city, two powerfull bolts in her hands.

"What are you doing?" Kali asked?

"You said I could have whatever I wanted." Blackfire paused and tried to refine her directions. She altered her course a little. "This is what I want!" Blackfire came down in a city park. She could sense fear and hate in the area, strongly. She landed on her feet with such force she made a five foot round crater, but didnt stop. She took off running. Kali was still close behind her. Blackfire hit the woodline and had not gone five steps before nearly falling over two people. It was just what Blackfire had wanted to find. A rapist in the act. She fell on him, grappling him off of his victim. He had not yet de-clothed her even. Blackfire felt satisfied that she had stopped something horrible from happening. She dragged him away from his victim, who quickly got up and ran, not questioning her good fortune.

Kali watched from the woodline as several purple lights flashed in the small forest. There was a quick scream, which was cut off halfway through. She heard a terrible tearing sound and a gurgling noise, and her daughter howling like a mad beast. She took off into the woods, not to stop Blackfire but to see what she had done. She was shocked to find she had torn the mans head from his shoulders. Blackfire dropped it to the ground and kicked the torso.

"Does this make you feel better?" Kali asked, walking in a circle around the grizly scene. Blackfire fell to her knees, out of breath.

"Yes." She said.

"You feel good? You've stopped a terrible thing from happening and metered out justice?"

"Yes."

"You killed a man in a most vicious way, yet I know you have never once taken life before. Does it really come so easy for you Blackfire? Can you say you did this for the right reason?" She said nothing at this. "Is this what you need? A rampage?"

"I wanted to do something good." Blackfire lied. It was a half truth. She was glad to have spared someone what she went through, but her ultimate motive was wanting revenge against Slade, who was already dead. It worked though. For the first time in so long she felt at peace. She had envisioned it being Slade as she tore his head from his shoulders, and it felt good. Oh, it had felt so good.

"Then come. You need to wash."

It was sick, what she had done. It was not justice. She didnt care. It made her feel better for the first time in so long and that was all that mattered to her. She had needed it. "I want to go back to your house in spain." She said. "I want to stay there tonight."

"Very well." Kali got closer. "I will not allow you to do this again. If this is what makes you feel better you can do it, but I will not allow you to kill them out of mallice. It will only hurt you in the long run."

"As long as I can stop them." Blackfire said. She would get hem, alright. She wouldnt kill them, but she decided that if this is what she wanted to do she would inflict such injuries that these evil men would never again be able to comit such an attrocious crime.

"Okay." Kali said. They were back in spain. "I will allow this. Killing is not to be done lightly, especially by one as young as you who has not killed before." Blackfire nodded her head. Kali brought them to a large bathing room. It was nearly as large as a house. Grand marble fountains constantly fed even grander marble tubs. Kali had spared to expense in the addition of this room to the old manor, and at the time she had been doing it for her now long dead lover. Kali allowed Blackfire her privacy. The girl chose her own personal favorite tub, deep enough for herself to stand in. This tub was not marble, but made of amethyst; purple like Blackfire. Kali was sure Blackfire had to tread water to keep her head from going under. She went to a wall panel and pressed a few buttons. In the late fifties she had begrudgingly allowed her wash room to be updated. This for her had meant water jets and hot watter heaters that you didnt have to fill with wood hours before your bath. She knew that the water jets in this tub fired from the bottom and sides, at just the right angle to create a whirlpool around whoever stood in the tub. It was really quite pleasant. She smiled to herself. There had been many times she and her houkounin stood in that tub, enjoying each others company. Kali laid out an assortment of towels and clothing for Blackfire. She walked away. She went to a statue on the far end on the room. It was a solid marble statue of a woman. It had been the woman she loved. It was detailed right down to the pours in her skin. She had spent more on having this statue made than she had on the rest of this room. She put a hand to the cheek. Even her heightened sense of touch could find no differance in texture from her memories of the houkounin. Every curve, every stand of hair, it was carved with such perfection that if the statue were to come to life there would be no differance. She blew some dust from it. It was the only thing in her house that collected dust. She would not allow any of her mortal servants to touch it, lest harm come to it. She smiled in fond remembrance and walked away. She inhaled through her nose. This place smelled nothing like it used to. It used to smell of incense, back when she lived here full time. Human servants used to have to scrub the baths once a day to keep algae at bay. Now it was all automated, and all she could smell was chlorine.

Blackfire crawled out of the tub feeling tired, but good. She felt clean for the first time since the attack. She found the clothes her mother had left her and slipped them on. They were much to her liking. Regular pajamas, pants and a shit, button up. They were made of satin, and black. Blackfire had become quite fond of satin, even moreso after her transformation. It felt good on her skin, and no matter how long it touched against her the fabric was always soothingly cool. It was one good thing earth had going for it. She giggled to herself, for the first time in a while, wondering when the last time she wore pajamas was. She normally just slept in her day clothes. It felt like quite the indulgance now, and she decided she would do it more often. Blackfire danced out of the bathroom after her mother. She felt light as a feather.

"You seem quite happy." Kali said, pleased as Blackfire danced circles around her. It was good to see her in light spirits.

"I am." Blackfire said. She felt fantastic, dancing about like her naive little sister. She had stopped someone else from suffering through what she had. Knowing she had spared someone so awefull an experience seemed to make up for what she felt. "Oh." She said. She wanted to cry. It had been so long since she had even thought a happy thought. She had been so burdened she had forgotten what it was like to feel light as a feather. "I feel wonderfull!" She exclaimed. She threw herself at Kali, who caught her and dipped her as she had seen in an earth dance move.

"Indeed."

"Beethoven!" Blackfire exclaimed. "We should go see him, see if he will play for us!" Blackfire laughed as she danced through the hallways with her mother.

"Dressed like that? Do you really expect him to play for a girl in her pajamas?" Kali was overwhelmed with how happy Blackfire seemed.

"He played for a mortal!" Blackfire gestured at herself, her old self. The mortal Blackfire was long dead, she had died and come back as something new. The thought excited her. The mortal Blackfire was gone, dead, and here she was! She was the new Blackfire, immortal demon of the night. "So why not?"

The dance ended and Kali shook her head, placing a hand over her face. "I shouldnt even let you leave the house dressed like this." Blackfire continued to twirl on her own. One look of her smiling, showing off her pearly sharp teeth, and Kali could not say no. She shook her head. She was getting soft in her old age, she told herself not for the first time. "Very well. But if he chases you out of there you will have none to blame but yourself. His new theatre is quite a suprise, I believe you will enjoy it." Kali took her hand and concentrated. Instantly they were there.

"Oh my." Blackfire said. All around them were the trees, as before, but these trees were dead. Death was all around. Blackfire peered out into the darkness. She didnt see it so much as she sensed it, but this land had been tainted by some kind of chemical disaster. Not a living thing grew for miles around. "Whats so great about this?" She asked.

"This land was victim of some great man made disaster. Its quite well known what happened to it throughout the mortal world. Seven and a half square miles of nothing but death and decay."

"So?"

"Tomorrow, Beethoven has vowed to bring it back to life." Blackfire didnt doubt it. She gasped though at just how total the destruction was around them. There was a pond nearby, with a small island. The water, she knew, was full of the worst contaminants imaginable. On the small island, barely big enough for a piano, was Ludwig. He bowed deeply to Kali. He smiled at Blackfire and shook his head.

"Last I told you I do not play for mortals. So you become immortal. Now you come dressed for bed?" He sighed. "Surely, you enjoy trying ones patience!" He tilted his head back and laughed a deep hearty laugh. He turned around from them and held his arms out at the devastation beyond. "Tomorrow, you will all witness the miracle of rebirth!" He shouted. He turned around and eyed Blackfire. "The miracle of which I am sure you now understand. Come, let me see you."

Blackfire smiled, and with a nod of approval flew to Beethovens side. "You can really do it? You can really revive all of this?" He paid her no mind and looked her over. His eyes glittered and he bowed low, taking one of her hands in his and kissing it.

"I see your mother chose well, you will be a credit to us all." He studied her over a moment longer before standing back up straight. "Yes. I can. No tree will be without leaves, no blade of grass will be left brown. Even the fallen logs will be overgrowing with moss, there will be life as this land has never known!" Blackfire stared in awe at the man. Her gaze shifted to the piano. It was unbelievable that he could do it with that.

"How?" She asked.

"It is simple. I can make the living trees dance, I can make them join and seperate, a cathedral of the living wood." He floated to a nearby dead tree and swiped at it. He made a deep gouge. The wood was black almost to the core, but deep down there was just one vein of healthy yellow wood. "almost nothing is entirely dead. It is just dormant. Life remains here, no matter how insignificant! All I must do is nourish it, coax it out of its hibernation. Even the things which are completely dead, they will be fuel for the new life that will rage over this land just as its death did." He swung his arms dramatically about. "It will be born anew, just as we are! I shall till this land into such a garden as to put eden to shame!"

Blackfire noticed the puddle of decay around them. Her senses told her the water was liquid death. All the contaminants from the nearby hills ran off here and became concentrated. Where she stood the contaminants were stronger than any other place. It was still hard to grasp that he would be able to cleanse even this one spot. "Its unbelievable." Blackfire said to herself, but since coming back to earth she had encountered many things she would have once found 'unbelievable'.

"In two days, this little puddle here will be bright blue. The water will be crystal clear. The birds will drink from it and sing, and lush, thick grasses will grow tall all around it. You will see for yourself." He chuckled. "For miles around the grasses will grow high as a mans waist, and such lush vegitation will there be that all the forest around it will look sickly and dead in comparison."

"I cant wait." Blackfire whispered. The musician behind her took his seat at his piano and played a soft, happy tune. Blackfire found herself moved to tears as the brackish water around her grew less cloudy, and gradually became clear. Big green lilly pads grew up to the surface and greeted her. They budded and blosseomed before her. Wonderfull pink flowers grew to the surface and Blackfire found herself without breath as they too blossomed. It was just like her, she supposed. Hurt by something so vile, and slowly coming back to life. "Its beautifull." She said as life spread around them, and as promised the green grasses returned and quickly grew. He stopped playing.

"It will take me all of the night, and much of the day."

"Beethoven." Kali said, wading through the grass. "Just how much of your power will this use?"

"I will need to sleep, afterwards." He said absently. "For many days. I will make a bed for myself here in the tall grasses, and sleep as happy as any man ever did. I will wake up, after two or three weeks, and I only hope I get to see it rain here."

This sounded so good to Blackfire. Her heart went out to him for what he was doing. She understood so well why he loved this dead forest, or maybe it was that she loved the forest itself for being so like her: dead, but getting better. She wanted to sleep in the tall grasses, she wanted to feel the stems tickle her face. "Oh please Kali, can we stay here tonight?" She asked. Blackfire felt there was light at the end of the tunnel. She needed to be here, to see this place come back to life just as she would. If so wretched a place could be made beautifull once again she knew she could recover from this. She needed to be here. She had hope.

"Of course." Kali said. She could see how much being so happy and energetic was tiring Blackfire out. Soon she would lose this energy and return to depression, she was on a temporary high. Maybe this place, this miracle that would happen tomorrow night would help her more than just killing some random rapist would. Beethoven departed, having plans, and left them alone. Kali allowed Blackfire to drink, and for the first time since her incident Blackfire drank with vigor. She thirsted for both blood and life again.

Kali laid them down on the grass, and Blackfire scrambled from her embrace, kicking her mothers cape from her. She wished to sleep bare on the fertile ground. The grass was so healthy and thick, brimming with life. She could feel the very energy of it. Kali allowed her to move from her, but kept an arm around her. Blackfire closed her eyes and gently ran her hands through the grass around her. It was so healthy and vibrant, just like how she wanted to be. She rolled over, now starting to feel tired. She curled up close to Kali, who welcomed her with open arms. She got as close as she could; the welcoming scent of lavender flooding her senses. She liked sleeping outside, she decided, they would have to do this more often.

Kali lay awake some time after Blackfire fell asleep. She was overjoyed to see Blackfire acting so alive again. She understood well that what Blackfire saw here she felt was spiritual. A rebirth after destruction. She only hoped it would have a lasting effect on her daughter. She was greatfull for Beethoven, the musician, and his powers. He was a green blood, with the power to influence living things. He had his greatest effect on plant life. He was able to channel his powers through his music, to multiply its strength to that of a being many times his age. She wondered idly what gift the dark trick would bestow on her daughter. She could see the future, about two minutes into it in fact but it took too much concentration to be worthwhile. She had will also, not quite like telekenesis, but not entirely differant. She could exert her will on something to do something, but it would not happen directly. If she wanted to close a window, she would exert her will on it and a gust of wind would blow it closed. A true telekenetic would close it, wind or no. It was similar, but differant in its limited applications. She hoped that Blackfire would get something grand, something that would make her happy and powerfull. She brushed at Blackfires hair with her free hand. She cried for her. Her daughter was so lovely, but had been hurt, touched by the unclean hand and forever changed because of it. Her daughter was raped, and she had not been able to do a single thing to stop it. Her other children, most had all died as well, including Raven and she was completely helpless. She vowed she would nevet let it happen again. Now that the hunters probably knew she was in Jump city they would be hunting her. If they harmed a hair on her daughters head Kali vowed she would become the hunter. She would lose herself the the beast inside her and go on a rampage. She would kill all the hunters she could find, and wipe out entire hunter families. Her vengeance would know no bounds! A deep rumbling growl emenated from her chest. She calmed herself. She had gotten carried away. It was easy for a nervous mother to do.

"If you could have any gift Blackfire, what would it be?" She asked the sleeping form in her arms. She remembered Starfire, who had the ability (even if she didnt know it) to disable others power. Kali had wanted to let her grow into it, learn it on her own, but she had not yet. She would need to in order to face the coming hunter threat. She hoped Blackfire would develop something similar. Could there be any fiersome opponent to a hunter more-so than a vampire that could disable the very magic that would save them? Yes, there was one she could think of, and that was a mother protecting what was left of her familly.

:Earlier in the day:

Robin and Jinx made it slowly up the stairs together. Jinx had tried to help him, but he had refused. He limped along on his own power. She realised why he had refused her help, her touch was as painfull to him as his was to hers. It made him want. She thought back to the kiss they had shared just a few minutes ago. It was horribly cruel that they would need to be sepperated. She wanted nothing more than to be with him. They were met halfway up the stairs by the other occupants of the tower, staring down at them with wide eyes. They all knew. They could feel the turmoil in theire minds and hearts, and felt the presence of the elder hindu gods swimming just below the surface.

Raven lifted a hand and pointed at them. "What happened?" She asked. She already knew. Kali, the goddess, had chosen Jinx as an avatar to get closer to Robin and Shiva. Robin shook his head at her.

"Its Kali. We found out who she is. She made an appearance last night."

In the living room they came clean about what had really happened yesterday, the fake gang war, everything. Raven and Starfire understood. They were acting under the influence of the gods. Robin ended it with the dream of the blood. Jinx told the rest while Raven healed his legs. They left out nothing, the need they felt for each other, not even the kiss they shared was left out.

"We couldnt help it." Jinx finished. "They make us want things until we cant help it any more."

"Is it all the time?" Asked Starfire. She seemed less hurt by the kiss than Jinx did. Guilt.

"No." Robin said. "Its when the link between us gets stronger. When the gods push."

"Is there anything that can be done?" Asked Cyborg. If this bit about the gods was true, then the whole world was endangered just by these two being in the same room together.

"No." Said Raven. "Expect only one thing." She looked up at Robin as she finished healing his legs. The look on his face told her she was forgiven. "One of us must leave. Robin and Jinx cannot be allowed to fall into danger together." She sat at his side. He held her hand. One of them leaving also meant that either she or Starfire must leave. She made it up in her mind at the same time Robin did that they must be the ones to leave. Starfire and Jinx needed the team more than they did.

"No." Said Beast Boy. "It cant be like this. It just cant." His turned his head about the room, even though he was blind. "We're a team. Everyone, even Jinx! We cant just toss them out like this!"

"Man it could be the end of the world." Cyborg tried to remind him.

"I dont care!" Beast Boy got up. Cyborg tried to pull him back down onto the couch but he slapped the metal mans hand away. "We're the teen titans, damnit! How many times have we saved the world from total destruction? Fact is its always in danger and we've saved it from worse looking stuff than this!"

"This isnt mad scientists man, this is the GODS." Cyborg tried again to sit him down but was once more rejected.

"I dont care!" He screamed.

"I do." Said Robin. "Beast Boy, its making us unstable. We could end the whole world. We could hurt the ones we love. Jinx and I have to be seperated." Robin and Jinx traded glances. The devastation in the looks they sent each other was so strong that even Beast Boy, who was blind felt something shift in the room. "Raven and I will go."

The room lit up in commotion as several members started to argue, or plead. Hp heard it first. It was a growling noise. He turned around in a full circle before he found where the noise was coming from. "Guys." He said. The world around him kept turning. He was the only one noticing what he saw while the others bickered. In front of him Jinx sat with her hands folded in her lap, her teeth clenching so hard that blood dripped from the corners of her mouth. Her eyes were glowing, she was shaking, and growling on such a low frequency that he could barely hear it. Beast Boy heard it next. From here it was a domino effect as everyone else turned to look at what the others were watching. "This is bad."

"What is it?" Asked Cyborg.

"Jinx!" Yelled Starfire and went to her side. Raven grabbed her and kept her away. Everyone but Robin backed up. Jinx eyed him dangerously.

"Everyone stand back." Said Raven. Jinx leapt at Robin with unnatural speed. She grabbed him and put him behind her, backing them both into a corner. She reguarded the others. She stood there, with Robin behind her and everyone else in front of her.

"Who is this?" Asked Raven. "Who are we talking to?"

"You will not seperate us!" Shrieked a demonic voice. Raven took a step back.

"Jinx?" Starfire asked. "Jinx its me." Jinx didnt reckognize her. All the while Robin stood behind her, perfectly calm.

"We will not allow ourselves to be seperated!" Boomed Jinx.

"Its not Jinx." Raven whispered. "Kali knows we're trying to seperate them. We cannot allow you to dance the shakti." Raven said to the god.

"You will not stop us!" Said Jinx defiantly. She backed further into the corner, further into a crouching position. It was a defensive move. To a vampire, a predatory creature, a defensive move was easilly spoted. One must wonder, what use did a god have for a defensive stance?

"Its not Kali." Raven said. "She cant take control. She's speaking through Jinx, but she's not in control." Before them the god straightened her back and stood up straight.

"So you know." Said Kali. She smiled. "We control them like this, if we wish. We can control them in other ways as well. Behold!" Later Jinx would call this getting 'zapped'. She felt herself move back into her body quickly, only to feel every nerve in her body light up in intense pain. She lunged foward, reaching for Starfire.

"Help!" She croaked before falling to the floor. The pain was intense. She felt like she was on fire. She clawed at her skin, trying to put out flames that were not there. She could see the flames, blistering and charring her skin. Oh god, she wanted to die. Starfire rushed to her side.

"Stop it!" Starfire screamed. She tried to hold Jinx but the girl screamed and forced herself away from her, still clawing at herself trying to put out fire that was not there.

"We can make it stop." Everyone looked to Robin, except Starfire, who was still trying to help Jinx. His eyes glowed red behind his mask now. "But if you intend to seperate us, they will both burn like this."

"We will not allow you to dance the shakti!" Raven yelled. Shiva laughed at her.

"And who are you to stop us?"

"I will take him away." Raven said. "If you try. I will take him away to Azerath. In the protected temples even you cannot reach him!" Shiva recoiled from her.

"You will not!" Shiva hissed. Raven stood her ground.

"Let Jinx go." No sooner did the words leave her mouth did Jinx fall unconcious. The pain had stopped.

"They will not be seperated!" Growled Shiva.

"You will not dance the shakti." Said Raven, her voice more calm than Shiva. She was obviously more collected. Shiva growled again.

"Very well. We shall not dance the shakti, little vampire. We will not. But you will not seperate us!" He boomed. A smile played on the features of his face. "We will have our rampages. Just as I said before, the next time I am released, it will have been you who released me!" Shiva stalked foward at Raven. She held her ground. He got in her face and growled. "It is unfortunate that we need you." He said. "I should kill you where you stand. You think you are in some position to 'bargain' with us. Your usefullness is all that saves your lives." Raven didnt flinch the entire time he spoke.

"Put Robin back." Raven demanded. Shiva narrowed his eyes at her.

"Leave us alone!" Jinx screamed and lunged at Robin. She had recovered quickly, being unconcious only a few seconds. She grabbed Robins body by the neck and forced him back into the wall. He didnt seem alarmed. He seemed bored. "We are not your play-things we are not your servants, WE ARE NOT YOURS!" She screamed at the top of her lungs.

"You say these things but you know what the truth is."

"Get out!" Jinx yelled. "Get out of here, you are not welcome!" She wanted Robin back. She didnt like Shiva, she didnt want to see him. She wanted to see her friend. "Robin!" She called. "Fight it!"

It happened so quickly that none of them were sure if Robin fought his way back into control or not. He showed no signs of stress, but the next minute he was Robin again. Robin gripped at his heart and panted heavilly. He looked around, confused. "What happened?" He asked.

"We cant seperate you." Raven said. She wanted to, she wanted to take him and run so badly, but she had the gods word that they would not dance the shakti. Shiva and Kali found it more important that Robin and Jinx remain close. They also wanted to go on 'rampages' when they were released, but had sworn not to dance the shakti. She delved into Robin, searching to see if there were some latent sign of the god that had just been there. There was none. She was horrified though at the strength of the bond between Jinx and Robin. She withdrew. He loved her. He was being toyed with, manipulated into loving Jinx.

Starfire came up behind Jinx, slowly and cautiously. "What happened?" She asked her lover. She put a hand on Jinx shoulder.

"We had a nightmare together." Jinx said. "Its happened before. Our dreams are linked, we, we cant help it." She was reffering to the kiss they had shared in the car. She looked at Robin. The urge to do that and more was back again and she knew she had to get away from him. She grabbed Starfire by the hand and lead her from the room, back to sanctuary, away from Robin.

Robin and Raven were left with the other titans in the room. They quickly excused themselves. Not a word was said between them as they walked to the room they shared. "I'm sorry." Robin said as the door closed behind them. Raven only nodded her head. "I cant help it." He continued. "Kali and 'him' are screwing with our emotions, I know it, and loving every moment of it."

"I know." Said Raven.

"Why are they doing this Raven?" Robin couldnt think of a good way to choose his next words. It was going to hurt her no matter how he said it. "Why do they make me want her?" Raven flinched. It did hurt her, maybe more than he knew and he hated himself for it.

"He and Kali are husband and wife. What they feel for each other is passed on to the both of you." Raven went to the window. The sun was still a few inches from the horizon, casting a long shadow behind her that fell on Robin. "And as time goes on it will only get stronger and stronger."

"But what happens if you do go ahead and seperate us?"

"Any number of things. If I took you to the temples of Azerath he would be unable to assume your form if you died, but you would still crave Jinx. Jinx, who would stay here, would probably be punished. Kali would cause her great pain every waking hour. The two of you could very well waste away without each other and die."

"They wouldnt let us die." Robin said.

"No, I suppose not. But your existances would be come so putrid that you would wish you could."

"So what?" Robin asked. "Do we just stay here, letting it get worse and worse?" Raven didnt say anything. Robin growled. "Raven I dont know how much longer I can hold out like this. What will happen when it gets too strong for either of us and we..." Robin trailed off as something unthinkable passed through his mind. "What if I become weak, and together we do something that will hurt you and Starfire?"

"I cant control that." Raven said from the window. Her form was unmoving, her voice was nearly lifeless. "We cant seperate you, they agreed not to dance the shakti, and even if I did seperate you two Robin, Jinx and yourself would suffer for it." She had to accept that something might happen. The only way to stop it would have worse reprocussions than letting it happen.

"But I love you. I dont want that to happen." Robin ran at her and grabbed her. He turned her around to make her face him. He was not suprised to see tears flowing down her face. "There has to be something! Make sure someones always with us, dont leave us alone, I dont know."

"That won't do anything Robin. What they want is for you two not to be seperated. We agreed on that. That means we cannot in any way stand in the way of what they want to do." She could feel it, even now, how much he wanted her. He kissed the tears away from her face. "Robin I'm willing to suffer through this just so you dont feel the wrath of them. I would rather see you with another than see his anger taken out on you. I'm doing this for you." Robin held her closer.

"I dont want to hurt you. I'd rather waste away and die."

"You wouldnt!" Raven cried against him. "It would be worse! You would sit all day in an old temple longing for her until you lost your mind and she would be here doing the same!" Raven pushed him away, as much as it hurt to.

"What then? What are you going to do? Just let it happen? Raven I dont want that, I dont want to do this to you!"

"I'll be fine." Raven said. It was far from the truth. The thought of him with Jinx killed her.

"What about Starfire? Will she be 'fine'?"

"She'll have to be. There is nothing else that can be done." There was a rustling of fabric outside the door. Raven opened it to reveal Starfire and Jinx. Raven grabbed the other vampire and walked down the hallway with her a short distance. Just out of hearing range of Robin and Jinx.

"We were listening for some time." Jinx said. She didnt cross the barrier into the room.

"I know. I felt you there." Robin shook his head. "This cant go on, I mean it. I dont want to-"

"Fuck?"

"Its so sick just talking about it!" Robin exploded. "Its derranged!"

"I know."

Robin continued on his outburst. "The gods actually want us to do this? And Raven wants to just sit back and let us."

"Its not that." Jinx said. "Kali loves him. We feel what they do Robin, we're connected, both to the gods, and each other."

"I dont accept that!"

"Its true!" Jinx stepped into the room. "Its not like they just want us to mash hips!"

Robin was fairly certain this was his first argument with Jinx since her coming to the tower. He didnt like it, arguing with her. "Theres got to be something we can do."

"There is." Said Raven from the door. Starfire was with her.

"You can try all you want to resist it." Raven said. "Right now Kali and Shiva are sepperated, in two differant realms. The only way they are ever together is through you. When theire longing for each other becomes too great, you will feel it. Its even more important to them than dancing the shakti." Raven looked from Robin, to Jinx, to Starfire. Starfire looked on the outside how she felt inside.

"Starfire are you just going to let this happen?" She looked away from him. "Damnit, when it gets to be too great can't you just put us in differant rooms or something?"

"If it gets to be too great we won't have a chance. They will just take partial control like they did earlier. When it gets like that they will do whatever they can to get one into the others arms." Raven was unmoving.

"Don't you see how sick this is?" He stalked up to the vampires. "Your actually talking about letting us have sex because some gods are fucking with our heads!" He was getting nowhere with Raven. He tried Starfire. "Your not giving up that easilly are you?" He pointed at Jinx. "She's yours and noone elses, defend that!" He looked at Raven. "You won't." She looked like he had just stabbed her in the heart.

"Robin, I." Starfire swallowed and tried again. "It is not your doing nor hers. There is nothing that can be done."

Why was the world doing this to him? It was making him sick to his stomach. The thought of being forced into this, it was too much. He growled and punched the doorframe, leaving a large dent. He turned away from everyone and stalked to his closet. He tore the mask from his eyes and threw it over his shoulder. He dove into the small room. "What about you, Jinx?" He called over his shoulder. "Your just going to let the gods make us have sex or whatever?" How could they all be so accepting of this?

"No." Jinx said. "They influence us with stronger will than a human can resist!" Jinx watched as a duffel bag came flying out of the closet and landed on the bed. "We're not perfect. We're fucking humans. They are gods, I know that when they exert theire will on us there will be nothing in this world that can stop it because we are imperfect and flawed." Robin began to make short trips from the closet to the bed, stuffing the bag with civilian clothes. He looked at Jinx.

"Fine then. So that makes it alright?"

"No, it doesnt. What is it you want to hear from me?"

"Do you actually think it would be alright after it happens? Yeah, Raven and Starfire would forgive us but it would still hurt them! I'm not going to do that. Try saying you dont actually want this to happen!"

"So what are you doing then?" Jinx couldnt say what he wanted to hear. She wanted it to happen. No one was perfect, everyone had weaknesses, and she knew she had more of them than Robin. Maybe he would be able to resist longer. She wanted it now. She wanted him. Her heart ached for it. She wanted to give in. Robin looked at her, his shoulders slumping. Jinx was suddenly very concious of the link they shared and how emotions and feelings seemed to slip through randomly. She felt something leave her and go to him through it.

"I'm leaving." He wasnt sure if Jinx had just revealed that to him through the link on purpose or not. "I cant let this happen. I have to fight it. Are you coming?" He asked Raven. She shook her head 'no'. He growled. "Fine. Its cool. I'm out of here though because I'm nobodies puppet."

The red mustang lept out of the garage and hit the bridge before it had fully rose. The car dropped three feet to meet the rising bridge and sent a spray of water and mist up behind it. In the drivers seat was Robin, dressed in civilian clothes. He wore cargo pants with a white t-shirt. On the shirt was a red crosshair, from a rifle scope and underneath it was written: Reach out and touch someone. It was his favorite shirt outside of his robin suit. He had not even brought one of those with him. He could fight this, he assured himself. He could run. He adjusted his rearview mirror. Behind him was the tower. On the roof he could see Jinx, watching him leave. He almost lost all his willpower right then and there. He almost locked up his brakes and threw the car in reverse. Through the link they shared all he could feel was that she already missed him. Why hadn't Raven come? When he needed her most?

Robin reached the city limits and gunned it. The mustang leapt up to two hundred so fast he had a hard time keeping his hands on the wheel. He compensated his gas to air pressure ratio and slipped a cd into the radio. He had to decide where he was going. Images of the tower kept flashing in his mind. He wanted to go back already. He wondered just how far he would get before he gave in. How long could he really last? He wondered. He tried his best to think about how he missed Raven, but he could not. He missed her. The pink haired witch. The further away he got the worse the feeling became. "Damnit." He cursed to himself. The empty road continued to fly by. Robin passed another mustang. He made a face at them as he went by, not that they saw anything but a big red blur.

"Please come back." Robin nearly lost control as his dashboard began talking to him. It was Jinx.

"I won't." Robin said back. The only reply was static for some time. He wanted to go back so badly. The further he got from her the worse it got. It was getting nearly unbearable.

"Where are you going?"

"Are you going to try to find me?"

"Yes." In the background Robin heard his other car starting up. The cruiser. So she wanted to chase him? "I cant help it anymore." She said. "Your so far away that it hurts.

"I'm sorry." Was it that bad for her? Was it actually starting to manifest itself as physical pain? He knew she wouldnt lie, and it hurt him to do this to her. That link between them felt stretched, and it began to hurt him as well. "I'm coming back." He spoke into the com system. He couldnt believe how easilly he had given in, and at the same time he knew he couldnt stop this. He cut the connection and blocked incoming calls. It took him forever to brake. It actually only took forty five seconds to slow down enough to turn around but to him it seemed like forever. In no time he was on his way back. When he passed the other mustang again he was doing four hundred.

Jinx sat in the drivers seat of the cruiser clutching at her heart. She had not even had a chance to leave the garage before the pain became too intense for her to function. She cried. He was coming back, and she knew that when he got there she would betray Starfire in the worst possible way and not even be able to help herself. She wanted to die. Now she knew how Robin felt, his deep hatred towards the gods for controlling them. Her eyes went wide. Was this it, was this what they had traded for? Kali and Shiva had agreed not to dance the shakti just so they could do this! This wasnt a side-effect, it was the purpose! She wished she could leave herself. She wished that when Robin got here that Kali and Shiva would just 'take over'. "Starfire." She said her name. She wished she was here. She wished Starfire would get angry even, anything! Anything but that acceptance.

The pain was lessening now. Jinx felt she could drive. She turned the car back on and took off. If this was going to happen she wouldnt let it happen here. That would be too great of an insult. She hit the bridge fast and was across it in no time. She wasnt sure which way Robin had gone. She felt the need increasing. Damn her for being so weak. She wished she could fight it more. She let the link they shared guide her. She went to where it pulled her. The highway. The hell with it all. She thought as she pulled onto the road. She would find him, and whatever happened, happened. She needed it now. It was all she could care about, finding Robin, and going into his arms. The sensible side of her still hoped they would not do anything more than that. The sensible side tried to think of Starfire, of the person she really loved. "I love Starfire." She said to herself. "What I feel for him is just what a deity wants me to feel." She stopped the line of thought. She now understood what Robin had been saying, about just how sick this was. She was about to find him and fuck him just because Kali wanted her to, excersized her will on her, and everyone was willing to let it happen. She knew full well now that she and Robins bodies had been sacrificed to the gods just to prevent doomsday. But what must that be like, for the gods? To love one another, and the only time they could be together was when theire avatars found each other? They had sacrificed theire greater purpose, dancing the shakti and cleansing the world just to get the chance to be with each other. She did not wish to be theire puppet! Jinx began to cry. She had never felt so used. She looked at her hands and feet, which drove the machine that brought her to him. They acted not of her own volition. Her body was betraying her.

"Damnit." She cursed to herself. She saw a set of headlights in the distance and began to slow down. It was him. She knew. She wanted to hate him for what he was about to do to her but all she felt was love. False love. She stopped her car. She wished she had more time to think about it, not that she could choose anything else. She was driven by a will too powerfull for any mortal to resist. She felt an increase in desperation as he grew nearer. She almost felt like she should hate him for wanting her. He wanted to touch her, penetrate her. How dare he, she thought. She still wanted it all the same but a part of her felt she should be angry with him. She wasnt though. His car didnt stop. He passed her. She felt like a prisoner that had just had a reprieve. She turned though and followed him.

The two cars came to a stop at nightfall under a bridge along the highway. Jinx sat in her car, several feet away from the mustang. It was getting just dark enough so it was hard to see him. After some time night fell completely and she no longer could through the tinted windows. What was he thinking? She wondered. Was he still trying to resist? Would he drive away and leave her here? The answer to her question came when the door of his car opened and he got out. It was 'no'. She got out and went to him. "Is this what its going to be like?" She asked, a look of devastation on her features. "From now on will this be what we are?" She itched with anticipation. Damn herself. Damnit. Damn Kali, damn Shiva. She loved Starfire! She was not to be a plaything like this! It was too powerfull now to turn back, she knew.

"Can we still be friends after this?" Robin asked her. She could tell without the link between them by the look of hurt in his eyes that he felt the same way she did. Jinx didnt answer for a long time. She hoped so. She hoped she could still be around him, be his friend, without feeling like this. Jinx took a step foward, ready to surrender. Would he just tear the clothes from her and do what he felt compeled to? Or would it be more like making love? She had never been with a man before. She found herself curious as to what it was like. She pressed herself against him and felt relief like she had never known. In giving in such weight had been lifted from her that she almost felt normal. She put her hands on his shoulders and tilted her head, listening to her heartbeat. She felt his arms go around her and he held her close. She relaxed.

"I want this." She confessed. "We're being tortured, and it feels like this will make it end."

Robin rested his head on hers. It would happen in time. The beasts within them were quiet now. Robin held her tightly for the longest time. Slowly at first they began to rock side to side with each other. It was a simply thing, but they found they enjoyed it. Jinx looked up at him and kicked herself off the rhythem. Now each were swaying, in opposite directions. Hips met at the middle. A fire of passion ignited. They continued this, crossing each other. Robin lowered his head a little and breathed on her neck. She pressed harder against him. It sent warmth traveling up his spine, branching out to every part of him. He switched his movement to back and forth. He ground himself against her and this time it was her turn to shudder.

Robix opened her eyes and bolted upright out of her bed. She scared Ivan in her swiftness and he scurried away from her. She clutched at her heart. Something was going on with her parents, she knew. Wasnt the one supposed to be dead? She didnt care anymore really. She went to the window of her apartment and put her forehead against the cold glass. A few stories below her people milled about, just now starting to head home from work. She had night shift tonight, and had wanted to get some sleep before heading in. Why was she feeling this? She just knew that it had to do with Robin and Jinx. "What are they doing?" She asked the dark sky above her. Ivan had regained some of his bravery and jumped onto the dresser next to her, demanding she pet him for her previous rudeness. Robix obeyed her lord and master feline, not wanting him to end up feeling dejected. She actually smiled.

"Coming back to bed?" Robix turned around back towards her bed. On it lay a girl of simalar age and height, who was a spitting image of Raven. It had been quite hard to find one like her. Like father like daughter, she joked to herself. It had been quite a task indeed, wooing this one. Robix laid back down and let her play with her 'dog ears'. They had been together three weeks now and her lover still wasnt convinced they were natural.

Her real name Robix wasnt sure of. She had introduced herself as pyro at a nightclub a few weeks before, and thats just what she always called her. Robix smiled as her scalp was massaged. Courting another woman had seemed so much easier than finding a suitable man. Something she got from her father wouldnt allow it, no way in hell. Her mother however, she never got any objections from her mothers side on the choice. Damn, what was that feeling of such intense peace she was having?

"What woke you up?" Pyro stopped playing with the hair. The hair and eyes, they had to be false, she just knew it. The only people who looked like this for real were super heroes and super villains.

"Just a feeling." Robix said in a pleasant voice. She rolled, getting Pyro off her back. What an odd girl. No wonder they got along so well.

"Was it guilt?" Pyro asked. She took a cigarete from her coat pocket and lit it. Robix made a disgusted face.

"No."

"Anger?"

"No."

"Was it about me?"

"No." Robix actually giggled.

Pyro thought about it for a moment. "Then it couldnt have been interesting." She whined when Robix took away her cigarete and gave it to the cat. Ivan stood on the bedside table with the filter in his mouth. The look on his face screamed: "And just what the hell do you want me to do with this?" "Your going to give your cat cancer." Pyro moaned. She could just light another, but the cat would have quite a problem on his hands then.

"No I'm not. See?" The cat went into the bathroom next to the bedroom and dropped the cigarete in the toilet. "He's learning. Soon he'll learn to put other stuff in it, and I won't need a litter box anymore."

"Or you could teach him to go out the window, and let the people walking below deal with it."

"Oh no!" Robix laughed. "What if it landed on a baby or something?" Ivan the terrible stalked back into the room. He did a complete 360 degree turn every five feet. It took him a minute but he found his way to Pyro's side of the bed and began sniffing at her coat.

"Birds do it all the time. It might not. It might land on some bald rich guy who deserves it. Hit him right square on the top of his- HEY THE CAT TOOK MY SMOKES!" Pyro yelled when she saw Ivan make way for the toilet with the entire pack in his mouth. She wasnt even off the bed when they heard the pack splash down in the toilet. "Oh no!" She cried. Ivan came back into the room, looking happy with himself. Robix laughed hysterically.

"I ought to get you neutered!" Pyro whined at the cat. He paid her no mind, instead allowing Robix to lavish affection on him, but only because she seemed to like doing it so much. "You taught him that."

"I did no such thing. He's just smart like that, the anti-freeze super charged his brain."

"Cats are evil. They bring the plauge!"

"They do not. The rats do. Cats eat the rats."

"Yeah, sure. He's covered in plauge. He'll kill me before cancer does."

"Its almost time for work." Robix groaned. She wished she could take the night off. She thought about that for a moment. She had not missed a day since she started, not even when the lunatic with the hammers broke her arm. She quickly picked up her phone and traded a night with one of the other girls. She grabbed pyro's hand. "Come on, we're going out!" She said excitedly.

"We go out every night." Pyro complained. "Its all we do. You do realise how screwed up we are right?" Robix let her go and dove head first into the closet, finding something to wear.

"Yes."

Pyro sat back down on the bed and huffed. "Its twisted. I love it. You dont even know me."

"What are you talking about?"

"You dont know my real name, where I come from or anything." Pyro said absently. "You dont know if I even had a familly, or if maybe I just congealed in a graveyard somewhere out of dead people parts. I mean really, aren't you even curious as to where I came from? I've stayed with you every night since we met."

"Alright, I'm curious. Where did you come from?"

"Metropolis. Don't you want to know how old I am? Maybe my familly is looking for me. You could be accessory to a runaway. My face could be on a milk carton somewhere."

This made Robix slightly nervous. "Alright, okay. Got my attention. How old are you?"

"Eh, old enough. You dont need to worry about that."

"Then what are you getting at?"

"That I need to go for a few days." Pyro leaned back down onto the bed. "I've been wearing you clothes ever since I got here, I have stuff of my own you know...somewhere."

"Your leaving?" Robix came out of the closet dressed in what she deemed were fun clothes. She didnt want Pyro to leave. She brought a bit of stability and normalacy into her life, in a weird, screwed up counter-culture sort of way.

"I'll come back!" Pyro defended. "If your serious about this. Come on, drive me to the rail station." Robix groaned.

"I dont want you to leave."

"Come on I have to. I have a car and everything back in Metropolis. I even have an apartment with a tv and everything. I kinda have to take care of that."

"You'll come back?"

"Next time I get time off." Pyro promised. "Place I worked at got knocked over by a super villain, happens. Starbucks too, shame they're rebuilding it." Pyro went about the room picking up her own personal effects she had brought.

"So what was all this then?" Robix dared to ask. "How old are you?" She turned around in place. "Just what has all this been to you?"

"I'm twenty-three. I have a job, I have things I have to do, too." She sighed. She really hoped Robix wasnt going to go all abandonment issue on her. She grabbed her up in a hug. "I'll be back next weekend, dont worry about it." She said cheerfully. "Your too fun and derranged to let go; I'll come back! Come on, drive me to the train station."

Robix laughed lightly. She was more at ease now. Pyro so reminded her of the woman she saw in her dreams, Raven. She couldnt stand to be apart from her. "I dont have a car." She said.

"Alright, I'll walk. I wanted to kiss you goodbye anyway and it would only draw attention there. Probably end up on the internet or something scandalous like that." Robix laughed at this. As promised Pyro kissed her goodbye before she left. "Be back in five days!" She promised as she walked down the hall. "Dont go getting 'normal' on me!"

Robix went back into her room and cried out of happiness. She was feeling such a great tidal wave of human emotions, and they belonged to her! Not her parents memories, these were hers! She was living a normal life, with a job, a pet, an apartment that was constantly blowing fuses, and now angst! A love interest! Oh how wonderfull this was! She, Robix, was having the trials and tribulations of the every day person and she loved it. She missed Pyro already, and loved every moment of it. She felt like she was finally free of her horrible beginnings, and starting anew. She collapsed on her bed. It still had pyros cigarete and cheap perfume smell to it. She identified the emotion she felt as heartbreak at the departure of her lover. Outstanding! She should write this down or something! She went to her computer and quickly found the saddest song she could think of. She moved the mouse to the play button and clicked it. Oh, this was going to shred her soul, she just knew it. It was Johnny Cash.

Hear that lonesom whoopirwill

He sounds too blue to fly

The midnight train is whiiining low,

And I'm so lonesome I could cry

Oh she was such an emotional wreck already! Robix cried her heart out sitting at her desk, loving every moment of the sweet torture.

I've never seen a night so long

When time goes crawling by

The moon just went behind a cloud

To hide its face and cry

Did you ever see a robin weep

When leaves begin to die?

That means he's lost

The will to live

I'm so lonesome I could cry

The silence of a falling star

Lights up a purple sky

And as I wonder

Where you are

I'm so lonesome I could cry

I'm so lonesome III could cry

Robix found she was enjoying this. She loved it, feeling heartbroken. Not just heartbroken, but any of the intense emotions that she was really experiencing for herself, and not through the memories of either parent. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose on a kleenex. She looked to her right. Ivan the terrible was sitting on her dresser again, laying down with all paws neatly folded beneath him. The look on his face was "And just what the hell is wrong with you?" His face shifted. Now it was more of a: "Why the hell aren't you petting me?" Cats were such demanding little dictators.

Robix hopped away from the desk back down onto the bed again. Now she had the night off and nothing to do with it. She toyed with the idea of raising some trouble as Red-X, but she didnt need that kind of attention. So what to do with a night off if Pyro wasnt around? She grabbed her tv remote and hit power. The tv blinked to life only for a moment before she blew another fuse in her crummy apartment. "Greeeat." She drawled. "Pleasentries of every day life strike again."

Starfire flew out high over the desert, letting instinct take her to Jinx. She was compelled to go to her love. It was tearing her apart that she was with another. She needed to see it for itself, witness what Jinx did, as if her acting a certain way might make things better or worse. She poured a fair amount of her life-force into flying, leaving a green streak across the sky. Oh, she thought, Jinx, dont break my heart. She almost wished to find them and see that Jinx was not enjoying it, or that Jinx was gone and that it was Kali doing that. She did not wish to see Jinx enjoying herself in the arms of a man. Starfire honed in on the location and saw Robin and Jinx from a distance. Her supernatural senses warned her not to come too close to the area, it was flooded with the aura of Shiva and Kali. "Jinx." She whispered. Her heart was wrenching in two. She detested the destructive ones, using Robin and Jinx to theire own ends. As she watched Robins hands on her body she wanted nothing more than to take Jinx away and own her, and make it clear to all who she belonged to.

"This is horrible." She whispered to herself. She could sense it in Robin and Jinx that this was not what they truly wanted; but they were compelled by a force greater than any other. There could be no resisting this force, she knew.

They collapsed together, tired and panting. Jinx's delicate eyebrows knit together, seemingly in worry as she rode out the last of her climax. She pulled him down onto her, flat against her body. He assaulted her lips with his own, leaving them puffy and bruised. She didnt complain. One last shiver of delight went up her spine as he withdrew from her; his organ heavy with the shared fluids of them both. She thought about what he had left in her. She could feelt it coating her insides even now. It felt akward and unnatural to her, but there was still something satisfying about it.

"We cant stay like this all night." Robin whispered to her some time later. He was right. How long had they been laying like this? How long ago had she left the tower? She parted from him, and they collected theyre things. Jinx had felt Kali's influence for only a short time now. Ever since the night before she had felt Kali with her, in her, at all times but now that presence was gone. Were Kali and Shiva weak? She wondered. No, that was unlikely. They had given them what they wanted; so what more reason did they have to keep pressuring them and influencing them to do anything?

"Is this some kind of reward?" Jinx asked Robin when they had finished dressing. They sat together on a fallen log. The blanket on which they had made love was a few feet away, wrinkled and haphazardly lain out. Robin didnt answer her for some time. "You know what I mean, right?"

"Yeah. I know. Yes. It makes my skin crawl, it makes me want to be sick but it almost feels like they are rewarding us for being 'good'." He said, his voice dripping with disgust. "We were good little puppets; no use to fuck with us any more right now. Not until they want something else." Robin looked at Jinx. The features of his face softened. "And now they just leave us to deal with what we've done to those we love."

"You acted like you hated Raven." Robin said nothing to this. "I know you dont, you cant. You think she doesnt care, but she does." Robin sighed.

"She makes me feel even more like a pawn in this twisted game than I already do. You saw it, neither of them were willing to try and fight it, neither of them acted like this would hurt them even. Like everythings happy and okay, even when its not."

"They do it for us though."

"I know!" Robin exploded. "They do, but its too much! Acting like this isnt going to bother them, how big of a lie are they trying to sell us? I mean, what the hell? Cant she even try to act angry about it? Or at least act like it bothers her?" Shiva was gone. Robin couldnt feel him crawling about under his skin anymore, or feel him in his mind. "How can we trust them even? They said they wouldnt dance the shakti, but how can we really trust them?"

"The word of a gods got to be worth something." Jinx looked away. She wanted to sleep. She was tired, and sore from what she had done. She wondered, would Starfire still hold her? Or would she hold her at arms length like something unclean that she did not wish to touch? She crossed her arms in front of her chest. The thought of it alone made her feel cold. "Its time to get back." She said. She didnt want to talk anymore, not about anything. She went to the cruiser. Robin stayed where he was. "You coming?" She asked.

"In a while." Jinx shrugged and started her car. It crawled up the hill back onto the highway, the back end fishtailing into the left lane as she turned sharply. Robin heard the engine roar and she was gone, leaving him with his thoughts. He left the blanket where it lay. It had been in his car for emergencies and he didnt want it anymore.

"What I wouldnt give for things to be normal again." He said to himself sadly. He looked up at the stars and thought about what fate held for him. The Raven from the future had said that in two months she would drink the blood of Shiva. He was going to die again. It scared him. He wondered what horrific kind of death he would suffer. He punched the log under him. It was unfair! He shouldnt know these things. If he had to die why should he have the burden of knowing when it was going to happen? He wondered if this was how some of the death row inmates he had put away felt. He punched the log again, much harder, and splinters of rotted out wood flew everywhere. For a brief moment he wished he could run away from it. He had tried earlier today and had not even made it out of the state. He didnt care if he was going to come back or not, he just didnt want to die. He held his head in his hands. Damn it all, just, just damn it all. He collected himself after a few minutes and cast off his fears.

"SSSHIIIIVAA!" He screamed out into the night. He was not attacked by the normal siezures he suffered when the name was spoken. "Damnit you coward! You want to toy with me and fuck my life up? SHOW YOURSELF!" He got up and stalked about in a circle. "You fucked my life up! You use me like a toy, BUT YOU ANSWER TO ME!" He screamed into the sky. He knew the god answered to no one. He knew he could not just call Shiva out, he knew this was pointless but he was past caring. Nothing happened. He suffered no siezure, no pain. He didnt even feel the presence of Shiva. "Thats what I thought." He said sadly. "Your a fucking coward."

"Do I have to die to get your attention?" Robin laughed a little. "Yeah come on out cuz I call the shots!" Thunder boomed above him, with such volume he had to cover his ears. The noise settled, and Robin looked back into the sky. "Thats it? Just a little thunder. Thats all you have for me." Robin shook his head. He wished Shiva was something he could fight, something he could swing his staff at. He wasnt. Shiva held all the cards, he knew. Shiva was in complete control, and this little outburst? It had barely been worth a thunder clash to him. Quite suddenly Robin was painfully aware of just how insignificant he must have been to Shiva.

Robin cast one last glance at the sky. He wished he could fight this, that Shiva was something tangible he could battle. It wasnt. Feeling defeated he climbed back into his car and started it for the ride home. He felt so guilty for what he had done with Jinx. How could he ever look Raven in the eye again? He wanted to shower. When he got back, before he did anything else, he would make a mad dash for a shower and try to scrub all traces of her from him. He knew she was likely to do the same. The lights of the city came into sight in the distance. He felt like such a coward, returning home so soon after he had said he was leaving.

The tower came into view. Its large yellow windows casting light on the dark water. He looked upwards. Somewhere on the roof he knew Raven was watching him. "Im sorry." He said to the empty car. His eyes turned back to the ground. The garage opened automatically for him and he parked next to the cruiser. He got out and walked towards the stairway. He turned around for a moment, just to watch the big door to the garage close and he felt something shift in the air behind him. It was her. "Raven." He said softly.

"Your staying?" There would be no 'i told you so's' or anger from her. Raven wouldnt let herself blame him or resent him for this thing which was out of his control. Raven only wished him to forgive her, to let her love him. Tears threatened to escape her eyes, tears caused by emotions powerfull enough to rip the garage to shreds if she lost control of them. Robin nodded his head. She doubted he would try to run away again. Raven put her hood up. "Theres food in the fridge." She said in her normal mono-tone. "Its late, so eat, shower, and come to bed?" There was no hidden agenda or meaning to her words, no amorous intent. The only thing she ached for was to have him near her, to have him hold her like he did back before he learned she had hidden the truth of Shiva from him.

"Alright." Robin said. "I'll be up in a while." Raven nodded and turned to go. She had made it up a few steps when Robin cleared his throat. "Raven?"

"Hn?"

"I love you."

Raven shot him a sad smile. What he said had so many meanings to it. He could tell he was sorry for the things he had said and the things he had doen, what had happened with Jinx. He couldnt have helped it. Raven nodded. "I know, and its okay. Dont make me wait too long, alright?" She turned and went the rest of the way up the stairs. She quickly got to bed, and waited for him to join her.

Chaps take forever. Not sure anymore whats going on entirely. Story has become quite complex. Tired now, need sleep. Sorry this chapt took so long, hope the next one makes up for it.