Disclaimer: I own nothing but the original characters and the storyline. Everything else belongs to DC Comics.
Chapter Twenty-One:
Asteriel unceremoniously drops Raven onto the floor. The sorceress' crumpled form rests at Slade's feet. The villain in question smirks dangerously, though his mask covers the expression.
"I brought her, Master, as you asked." Slade nods once when his apprentice submissively bows her head. "Wake her," he orders.
The blonde moves forward and deliver a vicious kick to her captive's abdomen. Raven allows herself a pain-filled groan before her body is awake and alert. She whisper's Asteriel's name, her eyes wide with horror. Asteriel feels a disappointing sting when she realizes Raven isn't shocked by the betrayal, just angry.
'I'm a better actress than that. Of course she didn't suspect me. I know Robin had her scan me for any malicious intent. Unless she chose to ignore it?'
Raven moves to her feet in a swift, well-practice movement. She looks like a dark angel, ready to defend her own honor. She can feel Rorek trying to push into her mid through their bond, trying to talk to her or locate her. She blocks him out. 'This is my fight now.'
"Where is Jinx?" She demands. 'Azar, let Lorna be alright. I can't… I can't lose her. Not now. Not when I don't know if I still have my home. Don't let them have taken her to get to me. I already can't live with myself. Don't make this worse.'
"In a different place." Slade's maliciousness rivals Raven's own demonic tone. His voice turns her blood to ice. 'How can one man- a mere mortal- scare me so much?'
"What do you want with me?"
"Hm." Slade circles her predatorily. 'I didn't even feel this degraded when Malchior captured me!'
She scans his aura, wanting to know just how deranged the criminal in front of her is. The aura confirms Raven's fears. It was too dark, too twisted. His soul was beyond repair.
"What do I want with you?" He echoes. "I want your powers, your magic. I want to be stronger, better, but I can't do that. Do you know why, Raven?" The sorceress remains quiet and still, fighting her instincts so as not to flinch when Slade hit her. "It's because you have a destiny to fulfill, and my boss will be very displeased if I do anything to inhibit that."
"Your boss? I didn't imagine you as a demon's lackey, Slade."
His hand wraps around her throat, immediately beginning to crush her windpipe. Raven claws at the hands, trying to loosen his grip. 'So this is where mocking unstable villains gets you in life.' He loosens his grip allowing her to breathe, only to throw her into a wall.
She groans on impact. The knowledge that she hit the wall head first tells her that a concussion is a realistic possibility. Normally in battle, concussions aren't a big issue. Here? Now? When she has no medic, no chance of healing sleep? A concussion can get her killed.
"I am not a lackey," the demon's lackey growls. Raven chuckles darkly in response. 'If he's going to kill me, I might as well go out with a bang. Witty comments will work too.'
"The only being that would want a prophecy to come to pass is a demon. Therefore, you are working for something demonic. News flash, Slade- demons don't care about mortals. Whoever you signed a contract with isn't going to hold up their end of the bargain. Especially if that demon is Trigon. He's going to use you and throw you away. It's kind of like what you're doing to Asteriel."
Asteriel rushes forward, ready to attack, ready to defend her master. Slade grabs her elbow. "Did I give you orders to attack? No, I did not." He pushes her away from him then and advances on Raven. "Your sister will suffer for every moment of your cheek, Raven. Now, tell me how to drain magic."
Again, Raven disrespects Slade. Asteriel scowls in disgust at Raven's laughter. "You little witch! You'll show my master the respect he deserves." Raven spares Asteriel an annoyed glance. She looks at the apprentice like a cat would look a mouse, as though she's something to mess around with. Raven knows she can best Asteriel in a fight. Her question is how much pushing she can do before she causes Asteriel to lose control.
"Respect? Why would I respect this bastard?"
Raven's continuous taunts are met with another harsh kick. The sorceress scoffs, pushing her pain and exhaustion to the back of her mind. "Coward," she says with bitterness beginning to cloud her eyes. Her hand moves quickly, sending Asteriel flying through the air.
All the while, Slade just watches.
An explosion sounds in the distance, causing both hero and villain to turn and look at the heavy vault doors keeping them in the room. Slade snarls some uncomplimentary terms about Raven's friends in response to the explosion. He then looks at his whimpering, bloody and pained apprentice. "Detain her," he hisses.
The apprentice quickly, albeit clumsily, moves back to her feet.
"We accepted you."
Raven's words are met with silence.
"Robin loves you."
More silence.
"Why?"
Asteriel's eyes flash black. 'Guess I found her breaking point. Azar, I hope she isn't as powerful as she could be. She's in better shape than I am. I've got to find Lorna and get out of here.'
Raven backs away from the out of control mage. The sprinklers turn on, soaking her cloak and leotard almost immediately. Asteriel forms a wave out of the pouring water. Raven gasps as the wave crashes down over her. The purple-haired girl gulps for air as her opponent attempts to drown her.
Her arms flail as gallon after gallon of water pounds down upon her. She opens her mouth to speak a counter-spell, but ends up with a mouth filled with water, Asteriel watches as her opponent runs out of air, and slowly, very slowly, begins to fall asleep.
The blonde girl shows no remorse.
AN: Okay, guys, try not to kill me. I seriously debated the cliffhanger, until I decided any other ending for the chapter was just bad. Chapter Twenty-Two will be up tonight (I think), and then don't expect updates till Friday. Review if you'd like, I appreciate everyone that supports my story (I appreciate everyone that is a ghost reader too, but constructive criticism is nice).