Warning: Chapter may be slightly more mature than others for mild language and implied dark themes.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the original characters and the storyline. Everything else belongs to DC Comics.
Chapter Twenty-Five:
Raven looks at Rorek pleadingly. He shakes his head in response, long white hair swinging in the breeze. "I'm on Malchior's side. What are you hiding?"
Raven looks to her team members and they all agree with Malchior. Jinx is the only one to stand at Raven's side, as she's the one who knows the exact date of Raven's birth.
"Tomorrow is my birthday," she whispers. She opens her cloak, allowing the others to see the glowing marks of Scath. Her friends gasps of horror told her all she needed to know. In a single fluid motion, black magic encircled the entire group and teleported them all back to Titan's Tower.
"We won't let you go," Robin says. Jinx smiles weakly, her pink hair turning dark purple to match her sister's. "We have no choice, Robin. Raven has to go tonight. She has to recite the prophecy. She has to become the portal. She has to die."
The Azarathians all stand stoic as Starfire shouts in disbelief. The Tamaranean's body is racked with loud, angry sobs. Terra hugs her from the side, whispering to her in what Raven hopes is soothing tones. Beast Boy looks at the sorceress, desperation clear in his eyes. "We can't lose you, Rae. Don't you get that?"
"You're going to lose me no matter what. Tonight, before I go, I am going to give all of you some of my magic. That should be enough to protect you from Trigon. It's going to be your job to take him out. You'll need Malchior, Lorna and Rorek. They're the only ones that know how to fight a demon. There are a few other superheroes that won't be affected by Trigon coming to this planet. Argent, Kole and Herald need to be contacted. They can help you as well. Of them, only Kole will need some of my protection."
Robin frowns. "Why can't we just lock you up? Wouldn't that keep Trigon from coming?"
Malchior growls. "Stupid boy, you cannot simply stop a prophecy. This is her destiny, her birthright. It doesn't matter if we like it. She will become the portal one way or another."
Seconds later, Starfire isn't the only one to succumb the tears.
It is an hour to midnight. Herald, Kole and Argent have joined the others. Raven stands between Malchior and Rorek, hugging Jinx tightly. "Everything I do, I do for you, Lorna," Raven tells her softly. The slighter girl cries silently into Raven's leotard.
"Is there any hope?" She asks in response, stifling her tears long enough to speak to her sister. "Not enough. I will not uplift your heart with false hope, only to have them be crushed. You still have your spirit, your dignity, you can still win."
"How can I go on without you by my side?"
"I will never leave your side. I will always be with you." She pulls away. "Cyborg?" Raven calls out. The half-robot, half-man immediately moves to her side. "I give you my blessing. Make her happy."
Cyborg frowns. 'How am I supposed to make her happy when she's about to lose the only person that means more to her than I do?' Raven gives him a knowing look. Cyborg averts his gaze. She looks around at everyone in the room.
"Be safe," she orders. Then she is gone.
Unbeknownst to Raven, the others decided earlier that day to follow her. Even if they could do nothing to help, they need to be there. They have to see it happen, have to know it is true. In their hearts, their deepest hope is that this is some sick joke. They all pray that this is one bad nightmare. Each and every one of them wants to wake up in the morning and have their fears involve reprimanding Cyborg and Beast Boy for another tofu v. real meat fight. But they all know that these are foolish hopes.
The others are shocked to see where Raven's destination is. The old town library, but not just the library. No, Raven must take every step in that bibliophilic heaven down to the basement. That basement is the closest spot to Hell on Earth. For Raven it truly is Hell on Earth.
She is unsurprised to see Slade and Asteriel standing at the base of the hand. The Titans however had no idea about Slade and Asteriel working for Raven's father.
The sorceress tilts her head. She waves her hand, silently casting a barrier between the two villains and her friends. She is on the side of the barrier with the villains. "What did he promise you? To ensure that I open the portal?"
"It's none of your business you rotten bitch!" Asteriel snarls at her. The hydrokinetic mortal lunges forward, attempting to harm Raven before she becomes the portal. Raven simply side steps her, allowing Asteriel to dive face first into the floor. Slade seems almost amused by this.
"He promised me magic, magic the likes of which you have never seen."
Raven laughs. The laugh is one that causes her friends and family to cringe. It is something they have never heard before. The laughter has a tone to it. That tone screams demonic tendencies. They do not realize just how demonic their friend can be.
"He won't keep his end, Slade. He's going to kill you. All of your work will be for naught." Raven looks at Asteriel in disgust. "Actually, he won't kill your daughter. He's going to do to her what he did to Arella."
Slade simply stares. "Do you really think I care? Trigon will hold up his end of our bargain, as I have held up mine. I will ensure that you become the portal."
"No, you won't. I do so of my own free will. That makes your contract null and void." She smirks. "In short, Slade? You're screwed."
She casts a spell to throw the two criminals into the corner, conjuring a jail cell to keep them out of her way. Her walk up to the stone hand commences. She's tuned out the sound of her family losing control.
Her movements seem rehearsed as she moves into a lotus position. Her cape is swept behind her. Her appearance is aristocratic. Her voice is not her own.
"The gem was born of evil's fire; the gem shall be his portal.
He comes to claim; he comes to sire the end of all things mortal."
Runes swirl around her. A flash of light occurs. A red aura swiftly coats the planet. It turns all land to rock, all people to stone and all water to lava. The planet will no longer support all human life. But that is not what the sorceress' family cares about.
No, they care about the fact that Raven is gone. There is a resurrected demon in her place.
"The Earth is MINE!"
AN: This is it. How do people feel about me having Kole, Herald and Argent in the finale as well as Malchior, Rorek and Jinx. I can tell you that Kole, Herald and Argent are going to have major parts in the sequel- yes, I will be doing a sequel. It will follow Raven, Malchior, Rorek and Jinx. It will be entitled "Hero of War". Review if you have the time. Hitting favorite and/or follow works too!