Chapter 2: A Family Matter

Eight Years Ago

The middle-aged women, dressed in a simple blue sun-dress, leaned her petite frame against the kitchen counter of her home. She winced slightly at the pain of her stomach pressing onto the counter's edge, but she leaned further in, and used her hands to lift herself up to have a better view past the window. On the other side of the grass, far out on top of a nearby hill, she could just make out the small silhouette of her daughter hovering above the ground.

"Raven?"

The familiar sound of her name stole her attention away from her daughter, and over to the jade-skinned man that had called for her. Before she could turn around to address him, she felt his strong, lean arms wrap themselves around her thin waist. His broad chest pressed against her slender back, and he rested his chin on her exposed, pale-grey shoulder. Instinctively, she leaned back off the counter, and into his embrace, allowing her slim fingers to fall over his calloused hands. The man behind traced back her stare toward the little girl meditating outside.

"Are you spying on her again?" He asked in an accusing voice.

"I'm not spying." She insisted. "I'm observing."

He let out a chuckle at her expense. "That's what you keep saying, Rae, and yet I still don't see the difference between the two."

Raven huffed in annoyance. "Alright, fine, I'm spying. Happy now?"

"Ha! I knew it!" he straightens his back, a large grin spreading across his face. Raven slapped his hand playfully.

"Shut up, you big green lug! I'm her mother, and I have every right to spy on my daughter, so don't judge me."

"Oh, don't worry Rae! I judged you a long time ago."

The women in his arms rolled her eyes ay her husband's childish antics.

"In all seriousness, though, you really shouldn't be spying on our daughter."

Raven turned herself around without breaking his embrace. Her face falling into its signature monotone, but her violet eyes shined with worry.

"I need to keep an eye on her, Gar. What if something happens to her? One of us should be ready to protect her." She voiced her concern.

"Rae, even mama bears let their cubs out of their sight every now and then. This place has some of the best magic, warding, and protection around and no dumb-ass villain, demon and anything in between is getting in here anytime soon."

Raven wanted to believe him, but his words did nothing to ease her fears. "I understand that she is safe from the outside world, at least for now, but what worries me is keeping her safe . . . from herself." She admitted while looking down in shame.

"Is this about what Landon said to you?" Garfield growled as he thought of the well-dressed demon that had showed up unannounced early that week, the only reason he was allowed to come around was because he had been invited. Raven had told him of the conversation she had with his majesty. Garfield and Landon had always had a bit of a strained relationship. The King of Hell had his own agenda, and Garfield was not a fan of being kept in the dark when it came to the welfare of his family. Sure, he owed the businessman for saving the life of his mate and cub . . . . a couple of times . . . okay a lot, but Landon had been a-wall before that. The Logan's had begged Landon to help them defeat Carnus, but it seemed killing Carnus did not fit well with the demon king's agenda. That was, until something changed that night in Mexico, and what really bothered him was that Landon had left just as he came, quickly and without explanation. Now he shows up again, in typical Landon fashion, and pleads for Garfield's child. Yeah, Landon was not on Garfield's top list of favorite people right now.

Raven closed her eyes, trying and failing to hold back the tears that formed in her amethyst irises. She gave the man before her a weak nod.

"Oh, Raven my love, don't do this to yourself." Garfield begged as he pulled her body closer to his. He had one arm wrapped securely around her thin waist, and the other around her shoulders, his hand gently petting her lilac locks. He could feel a warm wet spot form on his shoulder as her tears soaked his red and white jump suit. He placed a tender kiss on top of her head, and whispered sweet nothings into her silky hair.

"It's not your fault, Rae."

"But what if he's right?" She sobbed. "What if everything I'm teaching her is only pushing her further away into the darkness? What if my mother was right to lock me up and thrown away the key? Maybe Arella should go with Landon. Maybe the real threat to her safety...is me." Raven's outburst caused multiple objects around the house to fly around or combust, as her magic swirled around the small safe-house. Neither paid much mind to the destruction her powers were causing.

"Raven, look at me." The changeling growled as he gently pinched her chin and tilted her head up to face him. Tears ran freely down her pale cheeks, and Garfield had to hold back his own whine at the sight of his upset mate. "After all these years of being with you, I have to come to learn many surprising facts about you. You talk in your sleep. You don't let your food touch. You take really long showers."

"Get to the point, Garfield." The sorceress sniffled.

"Heh, right. My point is, perhaps the worst thing about yourself, is that you can't help, but be your own worst critic. You are always so quick to fall into this spiral of self-doubt, and it pains me every time I must watch you do that to yourself. You aren't perfect Rae, not even close, but to me, you're better than perfect. You are the most beautiful, humble, and caring person I know. It's those things that Arella needs right now, and no one, especially that emotionless shark in a suit, can teach her those things better than you."

A small smile formed on her full lips." That was a wonderful sentiment, Gar," She spoke softly. "But there is one problem. You can't teach beauty."

Garfield chuckled at her. "I meant, beauty on the inside. My girls don't need help in being beautiful on the outside." He winked at her, causing a blush to rise up her tear-stained cheeks.

"Watch it, before you go and ruin this moment." She mumbled as she buried her head in his shoulder once again.

"Hey, I made the moment, I can ruin it." The shapeshifter teased.

"And there it is. Moment ruined."

Garfield laughed once again, and Raven couldn't stop the amused smile that showed up on her face.

"I love you, Raven." He cooed as his laughter died down, and he became serious once more.

"I love you too, Gar." She returned, then moved herself so that she was hugging him from the side and looking back out the window, towards their mediating daughter. Her face resuming its worried gaze. "What happens if we can't be there to protect her?"

Garfield gave her arm a comforting squeeze as he followed her gaze. "Then someone else will."

Present Day

Arella heaved an enormous sigh of relief. "Not right now, Landon, I'm busy." The young women turned her back to the King of Hell as she used her powers to finish burying the body of Mr. Cassidy.

"I can see that," he began walking around her staring down into the hole, "Late night gardening?" She ignored his comment, so he began sauntering around clearing, "So how many victims does this make-"

"He's not a victim!" Arella snapped, "He's a criminal, there's a difference." She grumbled under her breath as she finished with the hole.

"And yet, who here is committing a crime?" Landon laughed devilishly.

She huffed turning away from him and crossed her arms, "I lost my temper, okay."

Suddenly he was in her face, looming over her by at least a full head. Her breath hitched in her throat at his close proximity, his dark eyes staring into her amethyst pools, his voice low and sultry as he spoke to her. "Now, darling, we both know that isn't true. I can see it in your eyes. I've seen that look for centuries. You. Enjoy. It."

It took her a few moments to get her breath back, "Look, this creep has ruined countless lives and has threaten me and my family. I did what ultimately had to be done." She looked away from him, attempting to conceal her blush. Wait, blush? Why was she blushing?

"Oh really? And why not just hand him over to the police, hm? Why kill him instead of sending him to adult daycare, or prison as you mortals call it."

Her eyes glowed a dark green, "Because men like him, don't deserve to live." She stared back at him, meeting his dark gaze. Her voice laced with a demonic presence.

A smirk twitched at the side of his lip, but even he had to acknowledge the shiver that ran down his spine. "I like your answer. Only one teeny, tiny problem with that. You can't just go around killing mortals, simply because you think they deserve it." He said with a tap of her small, pale nose, causing another blush to appear on her cheeks, but a scowl to form from her mouth.

"I don't kill just any mortals. Only the really bad ones."

"I see, then any reason why there aren't any 'super villains' among your collection?"

"Well I can't just go around killing those that the league knows about." Her hand slapped over her mouth as soon as she realized what she just admitted to.

"Is that so?" The king smirked knowingly. "Well if you're doing the right thing then why not let the League know?"

Arella growled, her razor-sharp teeth glistening in the moonlight, and eyes a blood red. "Why are you here?"

There it was again, the shiver. "Right." He said as he straightened his tie. "Well as the king of Hell, it is my job to make sure the balance between good and evil stay, well balanced. And unfortunately, you little birdy, are tipping the scale ever so slightly, which is bad for business. How do you think I found out about you and," he gestured to the make-shift graveyard around him, "this? Your new friends have graced my kingdom with their presence ahead of schedule. A few here and there is fine, but to many and I have to intervene."

Arella settled slightly, but still maintained her hard glare. "And that's my problem, because?"

Landon got closer to her, "Because, I am a business man, and you, my little bird," he pinched her chin and lifted her head slightly, "are becoming a liability. And I don't take kindly to liabilities."

Instead of allowing herself to get flustered, she decided to play along. "And what are you going to do," she said in her best teasing tone, her pale finger tracing the lines of his suit coat, "all powerful king of demons, ruler of all things evil, fancy suit enthusiast? Send me to Hell?"

"Why yes, that's exactly what I'm going to do." Landon deadpanned as he released her chin and took a couple steps back.

Her playful tone vanished. "Wait what?"

"Relax, darling, you aren't going to Hell as a prisoner. You'd go as my honored guest." Her confusion told him to elaborate. "You see, I have job opening that needs filling, and who better to fill it than a lovely lost soul like yourself."

She rose a brow in disbelief, "Isn't that what Drake used to do?"

He shrugged, "Once upon a time, but he's retired now, and made that clear . . . painfully clear. Bottom line is that you'll work for me, and I'll have a new assistant and I'll be able to keep a better eye on my adorable little liability." He winked flirtatiously, once again provoking an involuntary blush from the sorceress. "It's a win, win for me."

The game was back on, "And why should I accept?"

"Well you'll get benefits. Full dental, medical, a 401K, and every Friday is 'wacky tie day'."

"Sounds like a dream job." She muttered, meeting his sarcasm.

"Well you would be able to learn how to properly use that better half of yours." He through in causally.

Now he had her attention. "Are you saying you can help me suppress it?" Just asked hopefully.

He closed his eyes and shook his head in frustration. "Look darling, the whole 'conceal, don't feel thing' trope doesn't agree with me.

She snorted a laugh, "Wow, Landon. Never pegged you for a 'Frozen' fan."

He narrowed his eyes, "You'd be surprised. Anyways, I am saying I can help you control it. Suppression doesn't work, when really you should be learning how to use that power to your advantage. Each time you push your demon away, it comes back twice as hard. You keep this up, and you'll be the next 'Titan's Most Wanted'." He approached again, "Listen, I know this is a big decision for you, so I'll let you sleep on it. But do take my advice, love. Don't deny who you are. You're a demon, and who better to teach how to be one than the king of demons himself?"

With one last wicked smile, Landon snapped his fingers and everything went black.

XXXXXXXX

Beep! Beep! Beep!

A small cloud of black magic consumed the small, old fashion alarm and within seconds the little device combusted into hundreds of tiny pieces. The source of that magic, a petite, pale-grey women, shifted in her queen-sized bed with a loud groan. As the tired women tried to fall back into unconsciousness, a loud knocking could be heard from her bedroom door. The young women let out another groan, and buried her face into her pillow in an attempt to drown out the sound.

"Arella, it's Chloe, time to wake up sleepy head!"

Arella heard the cheery voice of her best friend from the other side of her door. She turned onto her side, lazily mumbling "Five more minutes." Luckily, Cloe's dragon hearing could pick up on her muffled words.

"It's ten in the morning, Ari. The others thought you were dead."

At the sound of the word dead, Arella's eyes snapped open in fear. She quickly sat up and through off her thick covers to reveal her blood-stained clothes, the mask still on her face. Trying to hold back her panic, she jumped out of bed and ran over to her closet.

"Alright, Chlo, just give me a minute!" She called over to the door as she began to strip herself of the soiled garments.

"No way! I know you too well to fall for that one! You're just going to fall back asleep as soon as I leave."

"No, I won't!" Arella denied. "Use your ears, I'm getting dressed as we speak."

There was a short pause as Chloe pressed her ear onto the cold metal door. Knowing she was listening, Arella made sure to be unnecessarily loud while dressing herself.

"Alright, fine, but I'm still waiting here until you finish."

With a huff, Arella wrapped a clean, green cloak over her body and clasped the locket on the front, holding the fabric together. She then floated over to the door, and used her powers to slide it open. The familiar image of the slightly taller, pink-haired girl stood outside waiting for her. Chloe's crystal-blue gaze took her in.

"You look awful." She blurted out.

Arella's face fell at her friend's bluntness. "Gee, thanks."

"Well sorry, but it's true. I mean just look at your hair, it looks like a rat's nest up there." She said as she motioned to Arella's tangled purple locks. "Not to mention you smell like legit death." She said with revulsion as she wrinkled her nose.

Arella tensed, but when she met the dragon knight's gaze, she knew she did not mean anything by her choice of words. Swallowing down her anxiety, Arella decided to play along.

"Yeah, well at least I don't smell like a swamp."

Chloe narrowed her eyes. "It's the lake, a forest, and a roaring flame . . . . my mom would say."

Arella snorted at her. "It's a swamp Chlo."

The two girls continue their conversation as they walk down the hall.

"Hey, just a heads up, everyone is pretty on edge today."

Arella shrugged. "What else is new."

Chloe shook her head, "No, you don't understand. That mystery guy struck again last night. Took down all of Cassidy's men and Cassidy himself is at large. Although, police report says they found a lot of his blood at the scene. I'm convinced he's dead. All the guys Mr. Mystery captured have never been discovered. Logic says it's because they are all dead. Although, Impulse thinks they are…"

Arella stopped listening. Her mind was too busy replaying the events of last night. The sound of their screams, the look of absolute fear in their eyes, the metallic taste of their sweet, hot, sticky blood.

"Arella!"

The sound of her name snapped her out of her thoughts. Arella violently shook her head clear of the memories, and blinked over at Chloe, who was staring at her oddly.

"Sorry, what'd you say?" Arella asked.

"I asked you what you thought, about the mystery guy thing. Did you just ignore everything I told you? And what was up with that smirk?" Chloe questioned accusingly, her hands falling to her hips.

"Kind of." Arella admitted. "Sorry, Chlo, but my head isn't quite ready for social interaction."

Chloe's sharp glare softened into a sympathetic gaze. "Was it another nightmare?" She asked softly.

Arella was surprised for a split second, but then she remembered her go to excuse for her exhausted state. She gave her friend a brief nod. When she asked to talk about it, Arella declined as per usual. Chloe knew her friend would open it up when she was ready, so she quickly changed the subject.

"Anyway, Cass and your sister are pretty pissed because of this guy, so just gird your loins."

Arella gave her friend a grateful nod. "Thanks, Chlo."

With that the two girls entered the common room, where everyone was chowing down on their breakfast. Just as Chloe said, Cass and Maria were seated next to each other, going over the police report concerning the murders at the Cassidy residence. Arella could practically choke on the frustration that rolled off her two leaders. Over at the other end of the table, the boys were sharing different theories as to who the mystery person could be.

"What if it's Slade, back from the dead?" Impulse offered.

"No way, dude! Slade hasn't been in the picture for decades. Besides, attacking sex-traffickers isn't really his style." Reed objected.

"Oh, like you know his style? You said it yourself, the guy's been gone for over twenty years."

"Yeah, but unlike you, I actually spend time in the library."

". . . . We have a library?"

Arella rolled her eyes at the boy's pathetic banter. Chloe left her side, and went to sit back in her spot next to Maria and Reed, an empty chair in between her and freckled boy. Arella continued over to the kitchen counter, where she proceeded to make herself a cup of green tea. The other's seemed to be lost in their own conversations to pay her any mind, which she was quite grateful for. It wasn't until she was taking her seat in between Reed and Chloe, full cup of tea in hand, that someone decided to acknowledge her.

"Oh, hey Ari, who do you think the guy is?" Bart asked from across the table. All eyes turned to her, and she had to fight back the urge to scream. Instead, the sorceress sent the speedster a cold glare.

"Don't call me Ari, and I don't care." She said pointedly, before taking a small sip of her tea.

"Well I'm still convinced it's someone we know." Bart announced proudly, ignoring Arella's attitude.

Reed shook his head, his shaggy auburn hair falling in his face. "I say it's a new guy. Maybe a metahuman we haven't seen before."

"Excuse me!" Chloe interjected. "Who said it had to be a guy?"

Bart rolled his eyes at her. "Don't go turning this into a feminist thing."

"I'm not. I'm just saying, it could be a female." Chloe clarified.

"What do you think, Arella?" Reed's question took the reclusive girl by surprise. She looked up from her tea mug, with a confused expression.

"Huh?" She asked.

"The mystery person. Do you think they are male or female?" Reed asked again.

"Oh, uh…" Arella cast a nervous glance over to Maria, who was now eyeing her and awaiting her answer. She then glanced over to Chloe, who was watching her expectantly.

"Definitely a male. A woman could never overpower that many guys."

Her answer had a mixed reaction. Bart looked smug, while Chloe looked disappointed. Reed just looked at thoughtful, and Maria just continued to eye her younger sibling.

"I agree with Arella." Reed stated out of nowhere.

Everyone rolled their eyes at the foolish boy. "Of course, you do. You agree with everything she says." Bart teased the poor boy. The fire-wielder huffed in annoyance.

"I do not!"

Over on the boy's shoulder, the little fireball flashed brightly. "Even your little fire thingy agrees me." Reed blushed and looked the other way, mumbling something incoherent under his breath.

"I wouldn't be so quick to rule out possibilities, Arella." The teens all looked over to Maria, who was still staring at the young empath. "This person, whoever he or she is, appears to be metahuman, meaning this person could easily be a female."

Arella forced herself to meet her sister's emerald gaze, her fear threatening to bubble over. Arella repeated her mantra in her head, desperately trying to calm her emotions. She watched as her sister's mouth fell slightly, a sign she was scenting the air. Maria's dark green eyes narrowed, and Arella knew she had caught her fear-scent. She prayed to whoever was listening that Maria wouldn't say anything.

The other's around them seemed to be blissfully ignorant to what was happening right in front of them. Arella felt a pounding in her chest and head, and her mouth became dry and sticky. After what felt like a century, an unexpected savior came to Arella's aid.

"Okay Titans, breakfast is over! Everyone meet in the gym in five!" Wonder Girl announced, before flying off toward the elevator. Bart, Reed and Chloe all stood up and began clearing the table. Arella and Maria continued to stare at one another, before Maria finally broke her gaze with a shake of her head. "Go on, Ari, don't want to leave your teammates waiting."

Arella blinked at the older women, but then hesitantly stood up and carried her mug over to the sink, where she poured out the remaining liquid, then followed her friend to the elevator. All while Maria's stern glare never left the back of her head.

Cassidy Cabin

In the form of a pale green chipmunk, Maria scampered into the Cassidy Cabin, shifting back to her normal form as soon as she was inside. She opened a small pocket dimension with her powers and grabbed the police report. How the police could clean up the crime scene, take photos and gather evidence this quickly was a mystery to her, but she wasn't arguing. This person who was killing off these criminals was nothing more than your average, run of the mill serial killer and had to be treated as such.

She prayed she was wrong though.

She opened the file going to a particular photo of the blood bath and something that stuck out to her when she and Wonder Girl were going over the photos earlier. Sometimes demons leave behind a trail of sulfur, why, no one really knew, but Azarathian demons left behind a trail much stronger. A black and blue glittering powder that no one would look twice at, but she would.

Over at the door that led to the kitchen there was still a small pinch of the odd powder against the doorframe that hadn't been clean. With gloves on her hands she rubbed her fingers against the power and took a sniff.

" . . . No . . " it was a familiar scent. It had to be a coincidence. Maybe some of the powder got onto him from the attack earlier, yeah, that's what happened. Before she decided to leave she caught something out of the corner of her eyes. Something underneath the couch that she the police hadn't found. She took it in her hands, a small smashed up, security camera.

Titan Headquarters, Washington D.C., USA

A medium-sized, obsidian portal opened in front of the towering T-Shaped building. Stepping out of the portal, Maria looked around to take in her surroundings. The Titan Headquarters was founded by her mother, father, and several of the original Titans back in 2011 – 31 years ago. The place made you feel like you were Marty McFly stumbling into the future for the first time. The most modern and superior technology was made inside this very tower. As Maria walked up the stairs that led to the entryway of the building, she passed by many familiar faces of her fellow Titans. Being that she had green skin and pointy ears, it was hard for her not to stand out, even in a place full of metahumans. By now though, she was comfortable in her own skin, and was used to lingering eyes. She was, after all, the daughter of two founding Titan's.

As she walked in, she was instantly greeted by five humongous statues. Each a monument to the Titan they replicated. It was strange and intimidated to see her parents amongst the five, staring down at her as if they knew who she was and why she was here. She quickly brushed it off and stomped past the grand decor. She made her way over to the elevators, and thanked God for it being empty. Although, her prayers were too soon, because right as the doors began to close, a speedster swooshed past them and made it in.

"Floor 6 please." Came the peppy voice of the young, pink-haired, female speedster. She glanced over in Maria's direction, but had to do a double take once she noticed who it was she had intruded on. "Oh, my gash! Maria, what are you doing here?" She asked as she zoomed up to the slightly older women and trapped her in a tight embrace.

"Hey, Janet." Maria greeted politely, but was inwardly cringing. This was the very type of encounter she was hoping to avoid. Last thing she wanted was for leadership to know she was here, and by leadership she mainly means Mom and Dad. Janet released her from her hug and began bouncing up and down, rocking the elevator. The animals in Maria's mind did not appreciate this.

"Janet, stop bouncing!" Maria scolded while having her back pressed up against the wall, claws scratching the blue-painted walls.

Janet stopped what she was doing, and instead decided to tap her foot like the rabbit from Bambi. "Sorry, M! Superfast heartrate, remember? Gotta stay moving!" She spoke swiftly and sporadically, which quickly gave Maria a splitting headache.

"So, what brings you to HQ? I thought you were mentoring a group of TT's back at Titans West?"

Before Maria could respond, the spunky pinkette spoke again.

"Oh, are you in trouble?" She taunted with a mischievous smirk. "What did you do this time? Threaten to eat one of the kids again? Get in another fight with your sister?"

Maria's eyes fell to the floor at the mention of her sister.

"Oh, you did! Give me all the dirty deets!" The young women said excitedly.

"I did not get into another fight, Janet, and I'm not in trouble. In fact, I would appreciate it if you not mention I was even here." Maria growled softly.

"Why not?" The speedster/sorceress tilted her head in confusion.

Maria had been around for a good chunk of time now, and she had been in the superhero work all her life, so coming up with lies on the fly was anything, but a hardship for her. "Because I'm just here to visit Susan and I rather the leadership not know I abandoned my post in doing so."

This seemed to please the short gossiper. "I gotcha! Don't worry, M, your secret is safe with me." Her bright pink eyes dropped down for a moment and landed of Maria's purse that hung over her shoulder. "Hey, since when did you carry around a purse?" The cheerful speedster asked as she pointed to the offending object by Maria's side. Maria subconsciously pulled the bag closer to her, a quick comeback playing on her lips, but before she could respond, the elevator dinged and the doors opened on the 6th floor. "Guess this is my stop. Nice seeing ya, M! You'll have to stop by more often!" She said as she sped away out of sight, but as quickly as she left she zoomed back over just outside the elevator and called out, "Oh, and say hi to Marky for me!" With that the doors closed again and as Maria waited to arrive on her floor and for the headache she had acquired to go away, she couldn't keep from wondering why a certain daughter of Jinx and Flash wanted her to say hi to her twin brother – Marky?

The elevator dinged once again, and the doors opened to reveal the open-concept floor of the Titan Research Laboratory. Created by none other than Maria's adoptive uncle, Victor Stone otherwise known as Cyborg. The lab was state of the art and was the birthplace of some of the most advance weaponry in the world. Maria vaguely remembered the controversy that had come up not long after this place was built. Every military in the world wanted a slice of the pie, as it were, and the Titans became deeply divided by the issue. Cyborg thought it was his patriotic duty to hand over weapon designs to the U.S. government. Nightwing wanted to sell the designs in order to help fund Victor's "science experiments" as he often referred to them. Maria's parents, the legendary Changeling and Raven were adamantly opposed to the whole idea, and at one point wanted the whole thing to shut down. Maria was only a toddler during those days, but she remembered not seeing very much of her favorite uncle and cousin that year. It was settled upon that any Titan Technology would remain in the hands of Titans only.

Today, the lab was more focused on enhancing metahuman powers, than building an arsenal. Metahumans from under the globe would come here to learn more about their powers and how to properly wield them. Basically, adding science to the traditional training methods, making them all far more powerful than they could have imagined. It was an ingenious idea, and Maria was proud to say it was all led by her best friend and adoptive cousin, Susan Stone.

Maria had walked through the lab, eyeing all the different kinds of experiments taking place around her. It took her a while before she finally came to a door marked "Susan Stone: Head of Research and Development." Maria smirked at the big shot title and decided to bring back an old joke between them.

The tall, slender frame of a brown-skinned, dark-haired beauty sat behind her wide, metal desk as she typed away on her holographic computer. She was humming to herself, the large white wings on her back twitching the beat. Suddenly, she felt the air pressure drop and saw a familiar black hole form over her door. Stepping through it was a woman wearing a dark violet and lime-green suit, with short green hair and emerald eyes.

"Holly Heisenberg! What the hell, Maria? You know how much I hate it when you do that!" Susan exclaimed as she threw her hand over heart to calm herself down, and starred pointedly at her visitor.

Maria simply grinned and walked up closer to her friend's desk and took a seat in front of it. "Which is exactly why I have to do it." She teased.

"Ha. Ha. Laugh it up. As soon as you leave, I'm requesting a ward for my door!" The woman behind the desk said with a playful smirk.

"Yeah we'll see about that." Maria's grin faded to a frown as she cast her eyes down at the bag in her lap.

"I'm guessing you didn't come all this way just to scare to crap out of me, right?"

Maria nodded her head. "Yes, unfortunately this isn't one of those visits. You know about that human trafficker my team had been tracking, down right?

"Yeah, Marcus Cassidy, right? Have you guys kicked his butt yet?"

Maria's gaze fell once again to the bag. "Well, not exactly."

Susan titled her head in confusion. "What do you mean?"

With a heavy sigh, Maria explained everything that had happened in the past 24 hours. The only detail she was not yet ready to share was the fact that she caught her sister's scent at the crime scene.

"And I found this on the floor nearby." She finished her story and pulled out the mangled remains of what used to be a security camera.

"I know the camera took quite a beating, but I was hoping that if anyone can recover the video, it'd be you."

Maria gently placed to remains onto Susan's desk, while Susan pulled out of her drawer a tiny magnify-glass. The half insect began to inspect the pieces of the destroyed camera like an archaeologist inspecting human remains. Maria waited with baited breath as Susan finished her inspection.

"I'm not gonna lie, this thing is pretty messed up." She said bluntly as she sat the small magnify glass down on the table. "But for you, Mar, I'll give it a looksie. I just can't promise I'll be successful."

Maria gave her friend a sincere smile. "That's alright, Sue. I just ask that you try. And um…there is one other thing." She said as her face grew uncharacteristically serious.

"What is it?" Susan asked curiously.

"If you do recover the video, do not let anyone else see it, okay? It is imperative that this stays between you and I."

The two friends shared a tense look, as Susan tried to study her friend's odd behavior.

"Well sure, Mar, but can I at least ask why all the secrecy?"

Maria set her emerald gaze back on the camera. The memory of all the blood and destruction at the Cassidy Mansion replayed in her mind, and she could not help, but imagine her baby sister being the cause of it all.

"For now, Susan, let's just call it a family matter."

Author's Notes: So we threw in some bbrae love in this one. Hope y'all enjoyed that! We also gave you a look into the future of the Teen Titans. Let me know what you think about it! As always, please favorite and review! Your feedback is always greatly appreciated! (Seriously, REVIEW)!

Until next time,

L.B.

Disclaimer: Maria Logan, Arella Logan, Janet West, and Susan Stone created by loubuggins. Landon, Carnus, Cassidy, and Chloe Daniels created by bearhow2. Reed created by both of us. All other Titans owned by DC Comics.