(Here's Chapter 21. Read, review, and enjoy! ~RavensMind~)
Chapter 21: Grip of Trigon
"No serious crime. Something's wrong with your city," Batman said, turning to Cyborg.
"Yeah, we should really get people to rob more banks and rent more supercharged psychos to deal with," Cyborg said sarcastically, typing.
"There is something suspending their action, like they're waiting for something, or dealing with something else," Batman said.
"And how do you know that?" Cyborg asked.
"I don't – it makes sense," Batman said.
"So, what do you think we should do?" Cyborg asked.
"You're going to get your team in order. I'm going to the location that Raven gave us," Batman said.
"Wait, you're going to need help," Cyborg said.
"I'm not helpless and your team needs to recover," Batman said.
"Fine, maybe we do. Can't find Starfire's signal in the city, she probably- No, there she is, flying back from…I don't know. Hmm, I'll talk to her. Thanks for the help," Cyborg said, turning back from the screen. But when he looked, there was no one there. did he go? Oh well. The team was his concern; he decided to focus on them. Moving away from the screen, he walked out of the living room and headed to the interrogation room.
This is…too predictable, Batman thought, looking at the newly-rebuilt library where Trigon had emerged from beneath years ago. If the cult had rebuilt the place, there had to be a reason. It wasn't a good idea to commit a crime in the same location as a previous, similar crime unless it was somehow necessary. Why rebuild it, though? They could have just as easily built some sort of door on the surface, and just reconstruct the areas beneath the rubble. No signs of activity, either. Of course there wouldn't be, if they were being successful.
"They are waiting for you…" Wraih said, a shrouded figure appearing next to Batman.
"Why rebuild it?" Batman asked.
"The cult requires complete secrecy in order to operate successfully; rebuilding the stricture raises fewer questions than putting something else in its place. Credit is due, though, because they successfully seized control of this city's underworld without the most watchful eyes ever becoming aware of it. They issued their orders and the city bent…the wills of all the major powers acknowledged that they needed to survive. Such a fear they must have felt, to have ignored their own strength without question…they utterly surrenderedto the colossal grip around their lives," Wraih said.
"Your point?" he asked.
"You are about to challenge something that cannot be defeated… And you prepared for this challenge by forbidding your only chances of victory from accompanying you. Trigon has only surrendered to one form of strength – mine. I shall assist you and in exchange, I ask thatyou never pursue me, or attempt to obstruct my plans in the future," she said.
"Fine. But, I need to know – what exactly are they planning?" he asked.
"Dominion of all. They took control of the city's crime to get the Titans to search for conflict elsewhere – within their own ranks. Trigon caused the insanity in order to divide and cripple them, also desiring that Raven would separate from them because of this, and seek isolation. This isolation would have demoralized and weakened her to the point that Trigon could have gained control of her once more without any effort. However, he did not foresee Robin's interference, or mine. His failing is already evident and he does not expect to succeed now, but that does not mean he won't do as much damage as he can…before he is once again barred from this world," she said.
"What stops him from coming back?" he asked.
"Robin, Raven,…and our individual, occasional assistance," she said.
"Ok. I assume you have a plan?" he asked.
"Yes," she said.
"Drop it, you're following mine…" he said.
"Your plan will kill you, mine lets you live," she said.
"That doesn't matter and I don't believe you," he said.
"How moronic. Unfortunately for you, I can leave, but your survival is now crucial for the others," she said.
"Ok…what's your plan?" Batman asked.
"Follow me, stay close, and do what I tell you," Wraih said.
Sitting on her bed, Raven removed a nail she had driven into her foot, and began wrapping her foot with medical tape from a first aid kit. It hadn't been the best idea, but she had to do something to distract her from the severe pain in her head she had felt when Robin left the boundary of their connection. Blood had slowly started dripping from her ear when he stepped outside the connection, and the agony had been impossible to dampen. What had been odd was that she didn't sense Robin for a while during and shortly after that, like he had been temporarily removed from the world. It wasn't long before she had sensed him again. She also sensed Starfire for a while, then she didn't, and then she did. Nothing Raven thought of could explain why that might happen. Starfire had left a while ago, and Raven knew that Robin had just gone into his room after coming up from the bat cave. Why had Starfire been here? There was a chance that Robin could have asked Starfire to come, but she didn't know where he could have found the time to do that. She didn't need this now. For a moment, she considered putting the nail back in, but she wouldn't – she was not that stupid. Robin wanted to talk and she wasn't sure she could handle the conversation. Losing anything else, especially a friend so close, she feared, would send her over some edge. Slipping her boot back on, she stood up, slowly shifting her weight – testing the pain. Walking forward, she took off her cloak and threw it onto a chair and headed for her door. Raven felt that she had done as much mental preparation as she could, but still didn't have a handle on her sadness. She was ready to talk to Robin with the full force of her emotions unrestrained – she was unhinged, and he needed to know that. He also needed to know what she did – the future without this connection to him.
Slamming the doors to the library open, Batman swooped in and tackled a cultist. Other cultists turned and looked for the intruder in the dark. A wisp of violet cloud hung over one of them, and they cried out as they uncontrollably shot one of their comrades. The injured cultist fired back in anger, killing the one who shot him. Other cultists headed toward the sound of the shot, trying to maneuver around bookshelves. As they moved, Batman grabbed one and knocked them out, causing the others to halt and listen for another sound.
"We know you're here," one cultist said aloud.
"Give up, and we'll kill you now – instead of our lord's punishment," another said.
The violet cloud swept over the cultist who issued the threat, and he turned his gun on himself – pulling the trigger.
"Lay down your weapons and you will avoid MY punishment," Wraih said, "your lord uses you to bring about your end – I would use you to end him, and then release you."
"And just who are you?" a cultist asked.
"...Isn't your survival more vital to you than your knowledge?" Wraih asked.
"Yeah, but we need to know what we're putting our faith in," the cultist said.
"Shut up. You aren't turning against our lord, and if you do, I'll kill you," another cultist said.
Batman swept down and grabbed the cultist who had spoken and slammed him into a bookcase, knocking him out, before disappearing into the darkness again.
"I say again, lay down your arms, and aid us – or…else," Wraih said.
The remaining six cultists dropped their guns and put their hands up.
"Excellent, now open the door to Trigon's cathedral, or crypt, or sanctuary, or whatever nonsense word he has convinced you to name his place of return," Wraih said.
"Only if the portal-," a cultist started.
"Spare me Trigon's drivel and your lies – you can't stop me, just open the damn door," Wraih said.
The cultist moved over to the wall by a statue and pushed a stone panel concealed by a tapestry. A section of wall in between the statues raised up, revealing a spiral staircase leading downward, dimly lit by torches of blood-red fire.
"Lead the way, cult-fools," Wraih said.
One by one, the cultists descended the stairs, Batman and Wraih followed. The further down they went, the warmer it felt. After what seemed like an hour, it was clear that the torches were not the only source of light. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, the cultists led Batman and Wraih through a long hallway into a vast chamber. In the center was a large, stone hand reaching up from the floor and a winding staircase around it to the palm. There were several pits of fire and pews in front of them. Other cultists sat in the pews, reading, talking, and worshipping. A ring of lava surrounded the base of the hand. Standing in the palm of the hand was another cultist, but this one was wearing red robes, instead of the orange ones the others had on, and a crown of steel. This cultist turned to look at the cultists who had walked in.
"What are you doing down here? Get back up there and wait for the Portal, or her allies," this cultist said, his voice was deep, loud, and seemed to force itself into any open ear.
When Batman entered the room behind the cultists, he looked closer at the cultist who had turned and spoken. This cultist's eyes were absent, the sockets filled instead with the color red. Trigon must be possessing the cultist. "The crown is what we want; it is allowing him to possess the cultist, it is also his current connection to our world. Remove it, give it to me, and I shall take care of the rest," Wraih told manifested once more as a shrouded figure, surrounded by the black mist. The cultist looked directly at Wraih, ignoring Batman.
"It seems your Portal is not coming…" Wraih said.
"I thought I had destroyed you. My failing is due to your success, once more. You are infuriatingly efficient," Trigon said.
"Un-naturally so. I suppose you deserve credit for that…I am curious as to what enrages you more, your failings, or the fact that your failings were brought upon by your few successes,"Wraih said.
"Raven is not a success…not anymore, due to that annoying mortal and your influence. That annoying mortal, brought up by the one standing next to you, is now no longer a mortal – you brought him into our fold and in doing so, cost me my Portal," Trigon said.
"That "Portal" is stronger than you and she has proven it multiple times, perhaps your cult should follow her instead, as you are now even weaker than I. I doubt you can even destroy an anthill without assistance," Wraih said.
"Only for the moment, soon I shall return-," Trigon began.
"Return? Yes, you shall return, to your cage. We are here to shove you in and lock the door behind you," Wraih said.
"'We'? Are you referring to yourself and the cultists you've turned against me? Or are the mentors of my Portal and the irritating former mortal going to protect their pupils? You cannot save them, yourselves, or your world from my power – because as long as your pupils exist, my power exists – the same goes for you, Azar,"Trigon said, "even while corrupted by my power, you still resist and attempt to destroy me, you should have given up."
"I will never let you have your "Portal," Raven is no longer yours, and I will continue to support her just as I did when Angela entrusted me with her,"Wraih said.
"And what of you, mortal, why are you here?" Trigon said, addressing Batman.
"To stop you," Batman said.
"Of have a choice. Leave, or die," Trigon threatened.
"Or…" Batman said, suddenly rushing over and knocking out a cultist who had taken out a gun.
Trigon directed the other cultists to attack Batman as Wraih unleashed a ball of fire at Trigon, who tried to dodge it, but failed as he had neared the edge of the palm. Several cultists pulled out guns and aimed them at Batman. Throwing bat-a-rangs at their wrists, Batman successfully knocked the guns out of their hands and then threw a cultist against the wall and kicked another over a pew. Wraih dissolved into a pitch black cloud and flew up at Trigon, hitting the possessed cultist and knocking him off the palm. Several more cultists rushed at Batman, trying to overwhelm him as one of their comrades was thrown to the floor. Trigon threw fire back at Wraih, who flew to the side, dodging the flames. Batman grappled onto the side of the stone and was pulled away from the cultists before they reached him. Flying down in front of Trigon, Wraih was once again a shrouded figure, and Trigon summoned a wall of fire between them, retreating while Wraih dispelled the fire. The cultists picked up their guns and fired at Batman, as he flew off of the wall and landed on the palm of the hand in the center of the room.
"You cannot fight me as you are," Trigon said to Wraih, as he ran up the steps, almost to the palm.
"No, I cannot, but he can," Wraih said.
As soon as he reached the palm, Trigon was punched in the gut by Batman, who threw him onto the stone and stood on his back. Wraih turned to the cultists and held up a hand, a wave of energy blasted forward, stunning them. Pinning Trigon to the stone and removing the steel crown, which proceeded to glow red as it was removed from the cultist's head, Batman threw it down to Wraih. Catching it, Wraih carried it over to the stunned cultists.
"Which of you made this?" Wraih asked, holding the crown in front of them. When no one answered, Wraih sent another wave of energy from her free hand, which made them all double over in agony for a few moments.
"Answer me, or that pain will be worse," Wraih said.
"I made it…I was assured that I would be rewarded," a cultist said, stepping forward.
"Fool. Everything ends when our world ends, including you. Trigon would not have honored the bargain…but I will. Come forth, and accept your reward…" Wraih said.
Cautiously, the cultist approached Wraih, who held the crown out before her with both hands. When the cultist was a few feet from Wraih, she motioned for him to kneel. Batman walked down from the palm and came over with the formerly possessed, now unconscious cultist thrown over his shoulder.
"For allowing Trigon to once again be present in this world, for bringing about the torment of several, for causing many untold fear, for assisting in the attempted destruction of all – I gift you with this crown of despair. May this crown rest upon your head for the remainder of your life – which shall not be longer than several moments, if you are fortunate… If there is anyone present who would like to appeal for his survival, speak now," Wraih said.
"He doesn't need to die," Batman said.
"If you do not allow me to kill him, then this threat will remain," Wraih said.
"How does killing him stop Trigon?" Batman asked.
"I was about to show you," Wraih said.
"…Do what you need to," Batman said.
"Really? From what I understand, you never let anyone die," Wraih said.
"If letting him live means that the world will end, I can make an exception," Batman said.
"Very well," Wraih said.
Placing the crown on the cultist's head, Wraih then dragged him over to the base of the stone fist and shoved him into the lava head-first. The lava melted the crown to the cultist's head, and then proceeded to melt the cultist's bodyas Wraih continued to lower him in.
"How did that help?" Batman asked.
"It takes a few minutes for Trigon to gain full control of whoever wears the crown, but as soon as it is worn, Trigon is attached to the soul of whoever put it on," Wraih explained, turning to Batman as the last inch of the cultist melted.
"So, Trigon is gone?" Batman asked.
"Not permanently…however, he has been weakened significantly. All I did was eliminate the power that he put into that crown, and close him off from this world once again," Wraih said.
"Now what?" he asked.
"Do what you will with these fools, and then…return to your life. Watch over Robin and Raven as well," she said.
"And you?" he asked.
"I will return to my isolation," she said.
(There are at most 3 chapters left, I've finished drafting the next one, and I'm starting on the chapter after that one. Now, that could actually be the last chapter – it depends on if I feel there is enough to leave the possibility of a sequel or continuation open. If I think the story could go on, I will leave some clues or something in that last chapter – if I don't, then I may write some sort of epilogue. At the moment, I don't feel the will to immediately start writing/working on another story after this one finishes. If any of you feel strongly one way or another, you can either say so in a review of this chapter, or pm me. Next chapter should be up in two weeks (the 21st of Dec). ~RavensMind~)