Long Road to Ruin

Zaa Jovhne Ma

The next morning …

Ugh … the next morning I came to and immediately wished someone had taken a glock to my head and pulled the trigger to end my miserable existence. Last night was unbelievably scrumptious and shall go down as one of my most enjoyable nights for the rest of my life, that, the world can count on. However, lord knows how long I've been out and judging by how bright the sun was shining through the sunroof, I knew I must have woken up around … brunch maybe? I don't know and frankly I don't care, I pushed off the messy bed and wrapped the sheets around my bare naked body as I jumped off and immediately began to scramble around the room for something decent to wear.

It wasn't until I caught a glimpse of a dark blue piece of shredded cloth did I remember with a hot blush on my face that somewhere along the line I had ripped my clothes off in an effort to again undress myself when I again tried to leave last night, but X wouldn't let me. Soooo, I was now clothe-less … I swore under my breath and searched for my only hope of survival, his drawer, I made a quick dash to it, tripping over the sheets as I crossed the room and yanked open the second drawer from the top. T-shirts, good start, I grabbed the closest shirt that represented the color of my leotard and dropped the sheet from my body to slip it on, however it wasn't until I had it in my hands did I realize it was a button up.

I swore again as I took the time to button all the buttons in the large shirt that completely dwarfed me and made it look like I was either wearing a badly made dress, or my boyfriend's shirt. I groan when I finished, picked the sheet back up and threw it crumbled back on the bed as I sifted through his drawers to slip on one of his boxer-shorts, it was too big for me and I ended up having to work a little magic to bend the fabric to my figure. Sorry X, looks like I'm keeping these, I thought fleetingly as I shuffled around the room towards the spiral staircase up to the platform where my cape was still draped over the chair.

Yet, as I reached for it I paused to observe the desk under the bright sunlight and another hot blush appeared on my face when I saw the claw marks on the desk and I actually took in the full extent of the damage. Everything, everything that was on that desk was strewn all over the floor … even the desk lamp had fallen and shattered and the papers were barely recognizable with all the wrinkles and rips. Of course those were the papers that weren't spared … everything else was in shambles and on the floor. I gulped when I felt my throat become dry and tucked a clutch of loose hair behind my right ear as a tiny sigh escaped my lips.

It happened … it all really did happen last night …

So … now what?

How was I suppose to feel?

I didn't feel any different … I didn't even feel rejected when I woke up to a queen sized bed, a quiet open space, and a cool chill in my body when I realized I was alone. What was that last night? A one time fling? Or an actual benefit to such a shady relationship? My shoulders sagged when I paused to think about it, but when my eyes happened to flutter over a clock and I saw its hands read 10:50 pm I jumped back into action. Where X had gone, what we had done, what it all meant would have to wait; I had to get out of here now!!

I, again, made a grab for my cape, but as soon as I turned around and clipped it on I yelped in shock when I saw Lucas standing near the rail, leaning on it actually, and looking at me casually. Like the fact I was wearing X's clothes and nothing else (besides my cape that is) was nothing new to him. With his ever expressionless face an actual yawn ripped his head in twine and he brought a hand up to cover his wide open mouth and then shook his head to dispel the rather very human act of his. Only then did he seem once again inhuman as he smacked his lips together with his tongue rolling in and out every few seconds. I quickly clasped my cape around my body, I may have been wearing X's clothes, but I was pretty damn sure my scent was no secret to the soul-eater.

The motion caught his attention and he arched a curious brow as he cocked his head to the side, "Embarrassed? Never took you for the shy type …"

I sneered, "How the hell did you get in here?"

He scoffed and from his pocket he pulled out a key, "This is an operational base for X and I when neither of us have anywhere else to go …"

My face suddenly went red without warning as I said, "So this is your place."

"Technically … no, X is paying for it … but yes, I sleep here more often than he does … and when he does he usually always has a different …" he eyed me for a second, from head to toe which made me uncomfortable when he said the next word slowly, as if tasting it on his tongue, "… friend …"

I didn't have to be a rocket scientist to put two and two together to make four, I gulped again when my throat went dry and I began to chew on the inside of my right cheek as I shrugged, "And you're okay with that?"

He blinked slowly, "… Let's just say when he's not looking and she becomes a burden to him I finish her off …"

The way he said it sent a chill down my spine, cold and heartless, like a true demon … it disturbed me like no other, but I refused to show it. Still with my cape draped over my shoulder, shielding his predatory eyes from the rest of my body I moved back and prepared to leave, (and fight, I just hated those dark black eyes of his), "I'm gonna go …"

"Oh I wouldn't do that just yet," he pushed off the rail, I tensed for action in case he wanted to use force, but instead he swung himself around so that he could skip and hop down the spiral staircase like the Bunny King of Rainbowland. The only thing that made the picture unimaginable was the fact that his expression never changed, neither did his tone. He really did get the monotones thing down better than me … it was either that or he had a slight case of schizophrenia I had yet to be aware of. Cautiously, I approached the staircase and looked down at Lucas as the soul-eater casually crossed the studio to head for the kitchen while he said, "X will be back, he just ran to grab a quick breakfast for the both of you, he'll be very unhappy to find you just ran off without saying goodbye."

I arched a brow, "And he won't be unhappy to find you here alone with me?"

Once he was in the kitchen he leaned on the counter, facing me, and shrugged dryly, "He knows I've come around … and I know that you're off limits … so you're safe."

So as long as X says so I'm safe? Something about that scared me, it was almost as if Lucas was the pent up pit-bull on a leash just waiting for his owner to unhook him so he could wreak havoc on the neighborhood. The scary dog no mailman wants to go near, thus never delivers the mail to the certain house that owned the dog. To know that X had that much sway over Lucas's actions was not settling.

Once again, my eyes fluttered over to the clock and I cringed when I finally read 11:01 pm … I was so done for if I should ever return to the Tower alive and unscathed. Why I say that is because I still don't trust Lucas, everything about him screamed predator; he was a natural born killer, and beings like him usually have no other purpose in life than to do just that. Which is probably why he's more so unemotional than I was, it was the only way for him to complete the façade of being human. I carefully, starting with my right foot, slowly started down the spiral staircase to confront the soul-eater as he rummaged through the fridge looking for … food? Does a being like him need sustenance like the others around him?

I warily approached the kitchen with each step softer than the next wondering what the hell was so fascinating in that fridge that kept him hunched over longer than I thought was necessary. I had finally gotten to the counter when he suddenly stood straight up, I froze stalk still like a deer caught in headlights when he glared into the fridge and only spared me a sideways glance of acknowledgment before ducking down to rummage once more. I released the tension in my shoulders for a moment and tentatively placed my hands on the counter when I heard Lucas grumble something inaudible; I dared to ask, "What are you looking for?"

"A box …"

"… Box?"

"Stash box … it's suppose to be in here …"

My eyes happened to trail to the counter where the sink was and I zeroed in on an odd box shaped item that looked a bit out of place. It was an oriental box with an Asian design of flowers and the like on it … looked like a box particularly designed to hold chopsticks, but in this house I suppose everything could be turned into something else. I took a swing at it, "Is that it over there?"

He stood back up, shot me a look, followed my finger and huffed, "X must have moved it …"

I dared (X's bravery was starting to rub off on me) to ask, "What's in it?"

He took the box into his hand, slid the cover open and I tensed when he pulled out a throwing dagger, perfect blade, perfect sharp tip, with a curved handle, and a beautiful elegant tattoo of a black tribal dragon similar to his tattoo imprinted along the hilt of the blade. Deadly, small, subtle, and when he took off the hoodie he had worn the night I first met him my stomach dropped, my skin went paler than usual, and my heart stopped for a brief moment. Under the hoodie, was an assassin's harness, a black vest with numerous pockets and knifes of variant sizes and shapes in their respectable pockets.

He slipped the one particular knife that had been in the fridge into one of the empty slots and without acknowledging my jaw-dropped expression he walked by me with his hoodie in hand to drop it off on the chair. I stayed rooted in one spot and gulped when I saw in his back two gun holsters each with black Desert Eagle .50 18 round clips … very illegal in many states. He must have finally noticed my staring because as soon as he tossed his hoodie he turned to me and I looked into his cold eyes and realized just why him and X got a long … business. X has the bigger name, people go to him with certain jobs he can't, or won't do and he hands them off to Lucas the assassin, but what I didn't get was why all the weaponry?

He had the abilities of a full fledged demon, even had the time to perfect and hone in his skills, weren't the guns and the knives over kill? He seemed to translate my staring into that exact question and with a cold shrug he said, "They're for recreational purposes … born with the skills to hunt makes life too easy …"

"So you teach yourself how to use … those … for …"

With a straight face, he completed my sentence, "The thrill … the soul is much more potent when it knows it's going to die …"

Monster … that was the only word that came to mind when explaining Lucas, Monster … but … did I have that right to call him that? Did I have the right to judge him? My Titan experience says yes, I had the right, and I also had the right to put him away for good, but then the question becomes will I? He's not a good person, there's not one single redeeming quality about him … he's slaughter his entire village, he's killed and will continue to kill many people, and he's unremorseful about it. He doesn't care about life (rather other people's lives), all he cares about is himself … so I shouldn't let a monster like him run around in the streets.

But could it have been different? I asked myself, could Lucas's life have turned out different if his mother hadn't been such an idiot to go fooling around with arcane magic to turn her son into what he was now? Did he have a choice in the matter? It's not like he could be like every other human with his abilities and mental state. I couldn't see a guy like Lucas, cold and fierce, working 8-to-5 in a dead end job, or living his life day-by-day in the rat-race. I couldn't see him settling down with a family, hell, I couldn't see him love anyone if he didn't love himself. Whether or not he hated what he was went beyond me, but I knew damn well that he most certainly didn't take pride in what he was.

He just … went with what he was good at.

Like X.

"Like you …"

I blinked and looked up when I heard Lucas mumble the two words and my brows furrowed in confusion when he trailed his eyes from me and then slowly turned his back on me to proceed deeper into the studio. He ignored the rumbled bed, the strewn about shredded clothing, and so did I when I called out to him, "What does that mean?"

"The piece of your soul you stupidly gave to X," he replied over his shoulder as he went to one of the many drawers in the back of the studio behind the bed and started to rummage through them. I quietly approached him as he casually explained, "whatever happened to you that night nearly brought you to the brink of death. I felt your life-force pulsate through the mirror fragment you had given X …" he paused in his searching to look at me and I shivered when he said, "You taste like nothing I've ever had before …"

I gulped and glared, "Well, have you ever taken a demon soul?"

"… No …"

"Maybe that's it …"

He licked his lips in thought (or hunger wasn't quite sure which one), but he looked away from me and considered it with a muttered, "Maybe that is it …" he then continued to rummage through the drawers and I huffed in exasperation.

"What are you looking for now?"

"You're mirror fragment … even for a soul-eater that thinks of it as easy pickings, I still think it's foolish of you to give a piece of you away. No matter how much you love X."

I sneered, "I don't love him."

"…" he didn't bother to say anything, instead he continued to search and only a minute into it did he suck in a deep breath and sigh in boredom as he shoved the drawer closed and declared, "He's wearing it again …" he then darted his eyes back to me and arched a brow when he suddenly asked, "Why are you still here?"

Good question … I smoothed my hair back and decided to get this over with, I unclipped my cape and with my hands propped on my hips I opened my mouth to begin a new line of discussion, but then quickly shut it when both of our demon senses picked up on jingling keys. Lucas gracefully maneuvered out of the corner I put him in and I turned around with a heavy sigh when I knew it was X before he came in with a bag of food. Yet, when he looked up and spotted Lucas first instead of me he seemed just as bewilder as I was and asked, "What are you still doing here? I thought you just came for your –"

"I did, but the next time you rearrange the fridge, please put the knife back where it belongs so you don't have to endure me much longer than you already have."

X shook his head, "That wasn't me, Blackfire was the last one in that fridge, maybe it was her."

"Maybe …" Lucas repeated and then reached out to grab his hoodie, once he slipped it back on and I sensed X's eyes trail over to me in concern, Lucas sighed and headed for the door, dryly saying, "Have a good breakfast."

I couldn't let him leave, from the spot I was I called out to him and jogged around the bed to stand before either of the two very different men, but made sure to focus my attention on Lucas when the soul-eater in turn gave me his full attention. I put my foot down and finally said, "I think I remember you telling me that we need to talk …"

Lucas blinked and shot X an unexpressive look, but it relayed a message I wasn't aware of and the soul-eater shook his head, "It could wait."

He turned his back on me again and I reached out to grab his arm to stop him, but I remembered the incident at the park and refrained, instead I quickly shuffled in front of him to block his way to the door. He stared down at me with an arched brow, and X just watched us intently, I ignored him as I focused on Lucas, "You said you needed to talk to me, why can't you talk to me now?"

I caught a flash of uneasiness in his black eyes, before they hardened again and he glared at me, "Because I don't think now would be the appropriate moment … I'm encroaching on borrowed time, I already stayed too long."

Then, X reeled in the reigns, "Luc, it's alright man, you might as well get what you need to say over with while she's still here."

Lucas looked to X, "What I need to say requires time that Raven doesn't have, she still needs to get back to her Tower if we ever hope to keep anyone off her tail."

X shrugged and made his way to the kitchen where he plopped the bag of food on the counter and said, "Take your time, Robin's gonna be too obsessed with cracking Moonburst that I'm sure he's canceled all other activities for the day …" he paused and looked to me with a nod, "Right?"

"…" he had a point … I chewed on my lower lip and nodded my head in response, "Right …"

He smirked, "Good, now come over here."

Without protest I obeyed and Lucas followed behind me, his footsteps so light I couldn't hear it, not even his clothing shuffled and it actually sent a chill down my spine, so I walked a little faster to escape his predatory-like aura. I had just reached the counter when I felt X snake his left hand around my waist to hold me tightly in his arms a feeling of slight discomfort and embarrassment came over me. I was still very much aware of Lucas's presences as I was being engulfed in X's essences and I was never a PDA kind of girl to begin with. I considered wiggling out of his possessive grip on me to preserve what dignity I still had yet to spare, but when I felt a light kiss on my right cheek I decided to give myself a moment to relax.

It was just X … and it was just Lucas … sure he was as much of an Azarian as I was, but that doesn't mean I have to impress him with anything. He doesn't care about my relationship with X. Hell, he might even be the only one I know who really doesn't give a shit … but still … for my own sake when I began to feel X nuzzle his nose into the back of my head to take in the scent of my hair I decided to cut my moment short least we get a little too comfortable. I leaned forward and slowly pried myself from him with my bare feet I carefully tiptoed around his hard shoes till I was finally at an arms distance from him. He gave me an irritated look, one that insisted I remain melted in his arms, but knew that I wasn't that kind of girl and decided to play along, for now anyway.

I was sure if Lucas wasn't here I would have stayed melted in his arms for the rest of the afternoon, but seeing as I had other things to worry about I tired to forget X was even in the room and lifted my head up to confront Lucas. The soul-eater in question had once again taken off his hoodie so he could pull the specific knife he had tucked into place back out and into its box. He slid the cover closed and put it back into the fridge, an action that baffled me … why would he hide the knife when it seemed as if everyone who's associated with him knows what he does for a living. His dark black eyes shifted to me and probably read the question in my gaze, because he explained, "There's a particular poison coated on the blade that has a latency period of a few hours … it kills my victim slowly …"

"… Didn't need to know," I sneered to hid my disgust and discomfort, he shrugged.

X shifted so he was standing beside me and as he pulled out two dishes of warm food that smelled so good I was beginning to salivate (didn't know I was this hungry) he crumbled up the plastic bag it was in and tossed it in Lucas's general direction. The soul-eater, either didn't notice it (yeah right), didn't expect it (whatever), or didn't care as it hit him square on the side of his head and still his expression never changed. He just blinked when X said, "Quit incriminating yourself, Raven may be nice to you now, but as soon as you turn your back wham there goes the cuffs and the only disposal I have when I get the jobs I don't want goes bye-bye and I'm screwed."

Lucas sneered, "Yes, that would be most tragic for you wouldn't it, thank you for caring."

X disregarded him and handed me a fork, but I shook my head and dispelled my hunger to focus on the matter at hand. I leaned on the counter facing Lucas trying to decide how best to approach this topic of discussion, but without having to initiate it he sighed heavily and cut straight to the point, "I have just received word recently that I have a younger sibling in dire need of assistance."

X paused his fork in mid-air when he was about to take a stab at the helpless Spanish omelet that smelled oh-too deliciously good to pass up, and he looked up at Lucas with his mouth agape in disbelief. He and I both shared a similar look and at once we chimed, "There's another one of you?"

Lucas arched a dry brow and slowly said, "No, not exactly, he's not a soul-stealer … he's a half-demon."

I blinked, "But … isn't your only living family member your father?"

"Yes."

I tilted my head and frowned, "So your sibling's mother is a demon?"

"Yes."

"…"

X noticed the baffled look on my face and asked, "Is there some kind of problem with that?"

I spared him a glance of acknowledgement, but didn't bother to answer the question; I had to get the specifics before I bothered to explain why this fact caught me off guard. Lucas seemed to share a similar mentality and went on to address me and only me completely cutting X out of the conversation. I could understand why though, having to explain one thing was hard enough, but having to give an explanation for an explanation was another. It could get confusing down the line, and so I followed his example as I leaned on the counter and listened to his mini story.

X, catching on to the blockade and feeling dejected went on to stab his omelet mercilessly, he cut it open and sent out a smoking incent of the mouthwatering meal. Wow, I was really hungry, but once again I willed my hunger away to focus as Lucas shifted his stance and tried to look nonchalantly indifferent, but he was failing miserably. He still looked like a wolf in a badly made sheep-costume, his dark black eyes centered their focus on me and I held his gaze as he said, "The job I am hiring you for is completely legit, the money is clean, and if you're interested provides an airtight alibi for you and X if you're looking for more alone time with each other."

My face went pink as I caught the rising blush before it turned my face beet red. I tried to ignore the snickers coming from the thief beside me, but instead childishly backhanded his side which caused him to nearly choke on his food as he doubled over in laughter. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest while Lucas continued to stare at me with little interest in what had occurred. I expected the soul-eater to continue on with his explanation, but he seemed to be waiting for something, and that something was X when he finally stopped laughing and swallowed his food. He once again snaked his arm around my waist to pull me to him, but I leaned away from him, my face growing a darker shade of red knowing that Lucas was watching as X kissed me playfully on the side of my head.

I blinked, trying to dispel the embarrassment from my face as he finally let me go and I struggled to look Lucas back in the eye after such a display of open affection. True, X has done this before, even in front of Malchior and I didn't mind it much, but that was only because I knew the attention wasn't on me. The group was still focused on something else and didn't have time to knit-pick about our relationship. Lucas, however stoic he may appear, seemed to understand that out relationship was doomed for failure … probably why he was adamant about returning my mirror-shard to me.

With a huff, I shot X a look of warning, but he didn't seem to notice since he went back to eating his omelet with a smug grin on his face that made me scowl. I think it's now safe to say that I hate a giddy X … I shook my head slowly and glared at Lucas when the soul-eater blinked and remained completely passive throughout the scene, I sneered, "Lucas, offering me a job when we have yet to wrap up the Strongheart case is not exactly the smartest move on the board right now."

He nodded, "I'm very much aware of that, but before you turn me down could you at least hear me out?"

"…" I nodded once and he sucked in a deep breath as he gathered up his thoughts.

He began, "My brother, he is only eight years of age and has already exhibited signs of great power that if left uncheck can prove fatal."

I nodded slowly, "My powers grew in when I was about five –"

X interjected, "Wait, so you mean every half-bred demon child comes with a power?"

I shook my head, "No, it's a rare occurrence, but when it does happen it usually means the child is destined for something … diabolical …" I frowned and looked up at X with narrowed eyes when I noticed something odd, "You knew I was a half-demon?"

He shrugged, "I happened to read up on Robin's personal report when I happened upon his case files and happened to accidently delete any information he may have on my whereabouts prior to our happenstance meeting …"

I scowled, "Shit happens, huh?"

"Shit does happen sometimes, yeah."

I shook my head, the idiot … he knew I was a demon and knew I could tear him to shreds, but he still insisted on pursuing me. Either he really was a thrill-junkie, or he really, really liked me in which case I may have just slammed the final nail in his coffin last night when I allowed what had occurred to occur. I tried not to think about the consequences right now, and returned my attention to Lucas who was patiently waiting for my full awareness.

I nodded for him to continue and he took his cue, "My … contact in Azarath who has alerted me to this phenomenon insists that my brother live among the monks of Azarath …" he paused to swallow down the bile that rose in his throat and I shivered when I felt his aura flare in disgust despite his stoic expression. His cold black eyes narrowed a fraction of an inch as he said, "… As much as I despise them … I feel that I have a duty to ensure the safe upbringing of my younger sibling … he doesn't need to grow up an outcast as I was …"

While I tried to not focus on the emotional side of his story, X went on to ask what I had been pondering during the mention of Lucas's younger brother, "How long have you known you've had a brother?"

"Not long, the day I found out was the day my contact had told me of my brother's delicate situation, which will now be a week to this date."

X tilted his head, "Why do you have a contact in a place you obviously want nothing more to do with?"

"… She was the only woman who ever cared about my existence … I may be a monster, but I am still human …"

Azar did I hate the emotion of guilt.

It was eating at my chest as I remembered not too long ago I had accused the soul-eater of being such a thing, a monster. To hear him now admit to being one with no remorse, or self-pity, I felt like I owed him an apology, but instead my stupid mouth shot off without thinking, "You're not a monster Lucas," his black eyes zeroed in on me and I neither flinched or shied away from his cold glare, I rolled with it, "you didn't have a choice, I didn't either, we were born with our fates sealed, there was nothing we could do about it."

Lucas's eyes narrowed, "And you take comfort in knowing that you have no control over your life? You'd rather blame the divine for being who you are now? Does that belief help you sleep at night? Knowing that nothing is your fault, and it's how the fates deemed your creation?"

I frowned, "That's not what I meant –"

"I know what you mean … I've pondered it myself, and though it's comforting to think that who we are is not our fault, we still have to take some kind of blame for the horrors we've endured and induced." Lucas huffed and shook his head, "But I digress … Raven, my point is I'm asking you, as an older brother, to help escort my sibling to the Azar Temple and advocate for his right to live as healthy as a life one half-breed may live under the monks' supervision. Can you do this if not for me, than for him?"

"Escort him from where? If you're asking me to kidnap him from his mother, you might as well shove my head in the guillotine and drop the blade yourself, demonic fathers are bad enough; demonic mothers are a different story."

"My father has done the hard part for you, but he can't go to the monks himself … if they find out he bore a second child of ill-fortune they will most likely question his judgment and banish him to Earth. My father doesn't belong here … where I can reach him …"

I sucked in a deep breath and smoothed back my violet hair as I sighed softly, "So … you're asking me to go back to Azarath and play politics for your brother … have you asked Malchior to do this? He's well versed in politics."

Lucas shook his head, "Malchior knows how to spin elaborate sentences of flights of fancy, but he doesn't know the monks like you do. You've lived with them, endured them, you know their fears, and their weaknesses … you're an empath, Raven, so can you be a little empathetic to my cause?"

There was a hint of mockery in his tone, and for that I glared at him, "I'd love to, but I can't exactly drop what I'm doing to go off on a wild adventure alone."

X cut in, "He didn't say you'll be alone, you'll be with me."

I scowled and shook my head, "He was implying that this task will take less than a day or two leaving me enough time to be with you once I return, but he underestimated his calculations."

X frowned, "Whoa, this sounds dangerous, I don't care if you are going back to your home dimension Rae, I don't think you can do this alone."

Lucas assured him, "She won't be alone, my contact will be there to assist her."

"And who is this contact," I insisted, "I don't like the idea of working with a woman I barely know, much less one you trust, no offence."

Lucas blinked … and then did the one thing I didn't want him to do.

He smirked and chuckled darkly; even X leaned back and put his fork down to stare at the soul-eater warily. I gulped and held perfectly still when he began to slowly walk around the counter … the counter that was the only thing keeping X and I safe from the wolf as he turned the corner and there was suddenly nothing to shield us from him. His smirk darkened to a creepy grin and I braced for anything as he reached into his assassin's vest, his hand disappearing within one of his many pockets full of weapons that could kill a human without leaving a mark. I expected him to pull out some kind of knife, something designed to take down a half-breed like me, but instead he pulled out a white envelop and handed it to me.

The creepy grin still on his face as he waited for me to take the envelop with my name on it … I frowned when it hit me, The envelope has my name on it? I gulped and tentatively took it from his grasp, before I opened it though I looked up at the soul-eater who stood waiting for me to tear open the seal. What could it be? Poison? Some kind of toxin that'll slowly turn my innards to mush while Lucas fed upon my dying soul? A threat maybe? By Azar, it could be many things, but just standing here staring at it like a frightened fool was not going to solve my problem … so I ripped the unopened envelop open.

Dull yellow, the color of a folded rough parchment letter was inside and I carefully pulled it out into the open air where I thusly unfolded it and the first thing I noticed was the beautiful calligraphic handwriting that didn't belong to this world. The second thing I noticed was my name at the beginning of the letter, furthermore confirming that this note was meant for me. The third thing I noticed, but took time for it to sink in, was the fact that the letter was from my mother.

Her handwriting, her scent … my mother … the woman I haven't heard from in months since the fall of my father.

I turned away from Lucas and ignored X when he asked what was the matter as I walked from the two and threw myself into beautiful scripture in my hands … damn … I couldn't believe it … what the hell was my mother doing shielding a fugitive from the monks? The letter read:

My Raven,

Forever without speaking would have been a much simpler and easier sentence to endure without being reminded of the time we lost as mother and daughter, and of how I failed to give you the affection you undoubtedly deserved. Sadly, though, this letter, should it ever reach you, does not come with simple greetings and pleasantries. For if you should receive it the young man that has presented it to you has exhausted all other ideas that does not involve you in anyway and has but to turn to you in his hour of need.

An unfortunate soul, with an unfortunate past, I do not condone what he has done, nor do I pity him, but neither do I believe he is a total wretch. If I were to turn him away what hypocrite would I have become when my only child would bring about the destruction of humanity? There would be no justice in turning him away, but there would also be no point in sheltering him when what good will he bring other than to sooth what pitiful guilt I hold in my heart for not loving you as much as I should have.

Even more so disheartening is the cruel reality that I can do no more for him than I have done for you, my power in the Azar Temple has lost its sway and I can no longer speak on behalf of anyone much less fight for a child's wellbeing. Thus, I write to you in favor of Lucas Zarni in an effort to persuade you in returning to Azarath to convince those on the council to give his younger brother, Marcus Zarni the chance to grow to understand his power. A chance that Lucas had been so denied, and a chance you have been given to succeed in your abundant and full life as a protector and defender of the peace.

Please, Raven, I implore you to look beyond what he is and to see what he is trying to do. Death follows him wherever he may go, and though he holds no remorse for his actions he is still as human as you or me. There is only so much time Marcus has left before all is lost, make your decision post haste for I fear his father has exhausted all ways to keep his child safe.

Zaa jovhne ma,

Arella

'Zaa jovhne ma' I thought in my head as I folded the letter back up and jammed it back into the envelop with a shaky breath as my shoulders sagged and my teeth hurt from all the clenching I have done throughout the entire letter. It didn't take me long to process what it all meant, and it all didn't take me long to change my mind and to help Lucas for the sake of his younger brother … but that last part. How she signed off the letter, it just … irked me, Zaa jovhne ma … yeah … say it in a letter, but never to my face. I wanted to crumble it up and throw it in the trash, no, burn it to ashes, stomp on it like a child, then throw it away in the dump where I can never read it again.

Don't get me wrong, I loved my mother with all my heart, I'd die to keep her safe … but … there are just some things, as a child, and even as an adult you'd want your parents to say. My mother … my mother was very much like me (or rather I was very much like her) afraid to admit one's feelings, keep a straight face in public, don't make a fuss, don't draw attention, always be proper. I grew up never knowing what it was like to play childhood games and never knowing what it felt like to play in dirt, and constantly knit-picked about my appearance, my emotions, my studies, my everything.

I never caught a damn break!

I never even asked if I could take a break, I was always taught to do as I was told, to do what I had to do, to do this, to do that, to be this, to be that.

My back was always ridged, my face was always unreadable, I wasn't … a kid, I was a child that was seen and never heard.

I closed my eyes and sighed heavily, Get over it … I scolded myself and straightened up my face so neither X nor Lucas could see how much my mother's letter hurt me. I ignored the concerned look on X's face and nodded at Lucas, "Fine, I'll go … but I'm only doing it for your brother."

Lucas shook his head, "Never expected anything more."

"Good," I nodded as I folded the envelop with the letter inside it and held it in my fist as a way of preventing myself from expressing any kind of distress that might set X off into a protective tirade. I really didn't need him to complicate the matter any more than it had already been complicated, I huffed and smoothed my fingers through my hair as I said, "I better head back to my team now and let them know of my departure."

"Actually," Lucas approached me, out of instinct I almost took a step back – almost – but I held my ground as the soul-stealer suggested, "that might not be such a good idea."

I glared at him, "Why not?"

"It is an urgent matter and seeing as you're already here why go through a third channel?"

Oh hell no, I scowled, "So you expect me to just leave my team in the middle of an important investigation unannounced and uninformed? Did I get that right?"

Lucas sucked in a deep breath and appeared to me to be ill-prepared for my line of questioning; he didn't know what to say or rather he wasn't quite sure how to argue with me without having to threaten me with bodily harm. So X cut in for him and though he obviously didn't like what was being planned he seemed to know what he was doing, "It'll make things a whole lot easier Rae, you don't really have to explain where you have been last night or this morning, just write your team up a letter or call them when you get to Azarath and let them know your situation, they can figure everything out from there."

He's right … it would be easier to write a letter than to speak to them face to face … it's either that or worry about if whether or not my story checks out with Robin … It's the smarter move that's for sure, chewing on my lower lip I grudgingly nodded since I didn't see any other way out of it, "Okay … fine … but I have to go back to Jump if I'm going to be shipping off to Azarath," I shot a dry at Lucas, "Unless you've covered my way back home too."

"Not me in particular, but Jeremiah on occasion follows X here to Steel City, he usually get's his material at a shop on the corner of Ridgeway and Freed, the mage there could probably help you."

That irritated me some how, like he had already planned on my saying yes and now had an answer for everything, I crossed my arms over my chest and sneered, but didn't bother to call him on it. Instead I shrugged as I walked away from him and X back to the counter where the smell of food had been tickling my nose since X had opened the plastic bag. I was hungry, and I also saw it as a way to keep me from arguing with Lucas as I stole X's fork and begin to finish what he left alone. Sharply, I dug into the omelet and darted the small piece into my mouth, by the time I started to chew X had appeared beside me and casually leaned on the counter while he watched me eat. I looked at him through the corner of my eye, but continued to chew and stab the omelet despite him while I listened to Lucas shuffle about the studio for his hoodie and finally for the exit.

However, I think he was being loud on purpose.

A guy like him who trained himself how to sneak about the room undetected by beings like me making silence apart of his being, he'll have to consciously decide to scuff his boots before he unknowingly went shuffling around like a clumsy human-being. I inwardly sighed heavily when the door closed shut and bowed my head while I swallowed down my chewed up omelet. I had to figure out how the hell I'm going to talk a mage out of giving up his or hers magical instruments that's going to help me get to Azarath to save some kid I don't know.

Mages, I've come to know, are rather clingy to their belongings.

Almost as bad as scholars who jump and panic when anyone so much as touches their precious collections.

I was so deep in thought I almost forgot I was still in X's clothes, in X's place, eating X's food, and ignoring X while I pondered my escape plan. It wasn't until he shifted in his stance did I finally bother to again take notice of his existence when he huffed and tilted his head, I put another slice of his omelet in my mouth when he asked, "Why won't you let me visit your home with you?"

I arched a brow and scoffed, I quickly swallowed down my omelet and answered, "It's not that I don't want you to, but Azarath has strict rules against outsiders. They're in place to keep people like you safe from people like me …"

He smirked mockingly, "People like you?"

"X …" I put the fork down and turned to face him so he could better understand what I meant, "Lucas and I were never meant to leave Azarath on our own accord. Lucas escaped, and my mother thought it was best if I leave and make my own way. Of course she was reprimanded for her actions, but once I proved I was stable enough to live outside that prison they left me alone."

"They?" X scooted closer to me and placed a hand on my waist, I let him trace his fingers up and down my side, it tickled a bit, but I didn't let it show.

I was too fixated on his golden eyes to look away as I softly replied, "The Monks of Azarath, or the council that oversee incoming and outgoing residences of Azarath … they are also thirteen of the most powerful sorceresses, mages, demons, and the like … their word is pretty much law."

"They sound like any other politician to me, so why are you scared –"

"I'm not scared of them," I interjected with a slight scowl that graced my lips, X paused his motions to then snake his hand around to my lower back so he could pull me closer to him. I placed my hands on his chest so I wouldn't have to lean up against him while my voice dropped another octave as corrected him, "they're the one's scared of me … I don't know what you read in Robin's file, X, but …"

I paused to think how to best word my prophecy without freaking X out too bad, or have him think that I was joking somehow and laugh in my face; I should have known I didn't have to worry about either. Actually, as it turns out, I shouldn't have doubted how far he dug into Robin's personal record of me, because as he wrapped his arms around me he grinned, "The world's still here Rae … they were all wrong …"

I rolled my eyes and glared off to the side, "Dumb luck," I muttered then sighed heavily as I sagged my shoulders and shook my head, "why would you insist on coming with me when there's really nothing to fear if Lucas has everything under control?"

He shrugged, "Honestly? It's not because I'm worried about you, I know you can take care of yourself, but my gut tells me to go, and it's never failed me before … besides …" I frowned, I'm beginning to hate that word 'besides' especially when X says it with that sexy smirk of his, "I wanna see your mother."

I cringed, "No offense, X, but you don't look like the kinda guy to take home to mama."

He chuckled, "You're probably right …"

"Probably?"

"Okay, you are, but whether you want me there or not I'm still going … I never ignore my gut."

I pulled my head away from him and glared skeptically at him, "So you'll ignore me, but not a feeling that could just be paranoia talking?"

"I know, it's messed up right?" His grin was growing, I knew at any moment he would burst out laughing and I pouted as I pushed away from him and grabbed his food to take it from him.

"For that, I shall devour the rest of this omelet."

He chuckled, "Aw, come on Rae, Spanish omelet's my favorite! I got you some waffles, you can have that!"

Ooo, waffles, tempting, but payback is sweeter, I took another bite of his omelet and cooed in delight, "No, I think I'll stick with this."

I was probably asking for trouble for stealing a thief's food, but what the hell, I was going to Hell anyway, might as well make the trip worth while.

--

Disclaimer: Teen Titans belong to DC, Lucas belongs to me, as well as Marcus and that's it …

A/N: Lol, I guess Raven's found another type of food to call her favorite other than waffles XD. Btw, just to get this out of the way so no one gets confused, Lucas is NOT interested in Raven and vise-versa my friends … it may seem like he's interested, but that's more on a … food basis … he's never had demon before -.-U. Also, I'm sorry if the note Arella wrote seemed a little half-assed, because it is ... reason? I find that when I try to write like a person of high esteem I make it sound like the person is trying too hard if ya know what I mean and I didn't want it too seem too crappy.

Although ... in this case, I don't think it matters, I suck at writting letters, which is why I always try to keep it as close as I can to a note instead of a letter -.- ...

Now me going to go work on the next chapter and leave you ppl to take in the tale so far, any questions, comments, etc, etc, you know the drill …

Luv ya!!

L8er daez!!