Chapter #15: The Plan And A Man of Action.

Outside of the tower..

They had made it to the shore thanks to Alice and Raven's powers.;There wasn't a real entryway. Star had decided to tell the others before entering the disheveled tower. "Uh... wasn't there supposed to be a door FRAME? And a DOOR!"

Beastboy was elbowed by Raven, Terra looked on in disbelief. A place of security, was this home? "So. This is all that's left?..."

Cyborg shook his head. "No, we've tapped into another dimension somehow." Raven . "Someone's playing a dangerous game to want us all gone like that." Verra nodded to Wiz, Kayumon, and Malchior. This had to be the worst of times to explain all the battle plains of spirit and gods, there never came a much more needed time.

"About time you kids found out before its too much to handle." Wiz said silently, though he was almost brushed aside by the teens. "No time, we can't hold up on them now. We are Teen Titans, whether we want to be or not." Terra soon felt the stinging sensation of real tears. They never came.

"It's been our job before to dismiss evil." a fist to a palm just as Robin would before the end. Raven's emotions for her friends were fierce. Beast boy murmured something Robin and Star related under his breath.

"So why stop now? We have a demon to hunt!" Verra started to dance for joy, that was until a serpentine creature reached out to bite him.

What a way to go,

/B...

"Mm... a little more to the left...perfect." Inside a heavily guarded security vault Slade had decided to end the bargain with the red dragon lord.

Slade was seething between, clenched fists? The dragon had double crossed him. Even knowing that his sidekick was under a curse including how he'd lost the energy and stamina to continue, Slade now realized what had driven him to continue. The god king was trying to claim a new body. So in order to claim that form he would have to corrupt, so much that he over did everything. On Earth, in the manor it was silent for now. If the god could speak more in the form of a red dragon coil wall ornament, he'd only laugh.

Oh, how foolish this drama had been; first corruption in the east now towering over the west. Slade knew of magic, some anyway. But the know how, hearing the screams of all of the vanquished souls, it didn't cause a single reaction. Criminals whose minds were evil knew how to keep a cool head under signs of distress. Ones for example like a vampire from pure fiction or the joker were utterly dumb in comparison.

All this criminal knew was that he could only live through the process of possession and disembodiment by a strong force by finding the last book of THE FORGOTTEN MYTH. But that seemed all the more impossible! Roku, even as a statue could read the souls and minds of those he closed in on. An example of this would be the weakening of Robin's own mind and mere body..he was being engulfed as well as his old friend and nemesis. The curse was real, even a mark or bite made by

a daemon created or tormented from Roku's own living past could curse you with a mark. THAT. That was what happened...

The feeling of fever on robin's mind! He WAS weaker, but why do something to torment a person ne-

Slade's eyes narrowed. Needed as a right hand...was that a little lie to gain trust? He was devious that dragon. But what was he really after...Robin had seen a part of little Roku's past. OK, so the dragon was waiting. But for what?

Obviously there were clues glued to that deceiver and his son...The insanity was a crucial bit of information to discovering the big boss's ideals. Was he just playing them all along? Like...PUPPETS?

When Slade's body had gone through the power gaining process he knew the price. Ooh, yes. Trigon had been there too, something about the monsters working together didn't exactly ring too many bells. Slade wasn't up for dancing with real wolves this time and neither were the current guardians.

Malchior was a wizard that turned in to a dragon. Big surprise. The books told of a man that had come to fight the boy wiz. Surely a match between enemies doesn't need to be written unless...

/

In the study of Wilson's own home lay a ton of books bound in that mysterious dark print, bound in the way ancestors and page masters aligned the titles of heroes. That wasn't important right now. A book, some type of message from the past could have been shoved in any one of these -Roku's story books!

The studies were unclear from being covered over by misguided scholars in ancient times. Older than everything that existed...that...that WAS impossible! When visiting cults from all over the globe, Slade's only clue was the reads between those in hiding and those that worshiped a dead man. "Legend says..." He skimmed over the pages, one was covered in precious metals. A treasure Robin in Roku's body had recognized as a student out for a midnight stroll. The thing that bothered him though was that that boy inside one child's own, spiritually functioned all of the above. What could be said to him was that ,(Oh, when I let you go as my apprentice and hid from you and your friends, being bargained with by a god was not a part of the big picture.)

The battle they were readying for in the worlds all over, would soon end as soon as the dragon let everyone go. The titans were not home. But the demons were everywhere. When they all got to their feet to find out; if they ever did...Slade would let the feud subside. But there was another thing to worry ab-

Vibrations were coming from the stairwell. Somewhere a certain someone was lurking in his home. Slade's retreat! The foot work shuffled a bit, the exterior of the soles quiet, a thief maybe? He had this place on lock down. No way!

Time to play the 'one going to catch the thief.'

/C/

The vampire demon gave it his all, it was his sole duty as the servant's will state.

"You and I will have much to discuss." Robin's walls broke as the gooey monsters were summoned, he was not going through another scream fest with those guys!

" I have to wonder what else lost its...touch, when the king is done with you...

I dare not speak its name, all I know -

Robin grasped his arm, clenching the wound now healing thanks to this, son...

"All you know is that you want Roku's son, not me! Why not just get him ou-

A daring leap into the air as he levitated from the ground sent Robin to stare upwards as those piercing red eyes followed. Believe you, me." he ground great red gems shut, massaging his temples with a distorted feel in his way, a badness or sadness?

"Can you or not?"

The demon sent shadows off to quiet his hostage, Slick as ever- the goo was a creature. Something evil.

"What are you?" Robin's broken will driven by his inability to keep his mask from blowing off of his face made the boy croak out. Despite the demon being evil, he had remembered the restless words from all of the dragon son and father followers. He was relentless when it came too capturing the son...! No, duh?

"Hey, tough, gray and scary!"

Bb talk...

The demon sighed as he turned away, he so did not need to play babysitter. Yet, the aura-terrific display was too much to throw away. Power source's auras in truth were like a madhouse turned inside out, Equaling a power that blew even the dragon away. He, and the dragon king had many reasons to hate this- son. And many reasons to adore that energy every-time a battle came their way. So much that he agreed to Robin's game of tag.

"You will use the spirit power you were given. We will make very sure."

"Ookay?" The game, was he kidding himself or what? Fighting was one thing maybe even tag...BUT. No. Way was he; Robin, to lose!

"Many thanks, I am standing here in hopes of being free to 'move the about." The creatures were smiling devilishly at their master demon and the charge- Roku's son.

"No thanks, I intend to leave this place soon enough..." Snickering the demon's of goop and shadow only laughed hardest when the games were ready to begin. They sat in the sidelines, Starfire was almost to the top floor of the tower. Bringing back memories of rooftops.

/X

The thief was X, yes. Veronica was not only a nut when it came to spelling it out for the young x criminal. She was bananas! Ten large spell books that old bird boy was supposed to write stuff for were immediately sent to X's bedroom door. Um, and don't forget combat practice! He even almost had to give up his precious suit to the lady! Now that was where she'd crossed the line. But when he'd tried to break the deal, X had been reminded of the drink (or whatever witches use on their victims in fairy tales changed to suit), that he had...taken...stole? Why? His memory was slowly returning thanks to Miss- Raven of the...the...

"Tiiiitaaaans!" he shouted to the sky unlimited.

/

It...was Red X. Kneeling on the floor with that woman's vile almost destroyed by the collapse. Slade had to rush to the rescue here. Or that witch would be at their throats; her demands for the release of the king unending...

"She did you in, I see..." Slade got closer; he still did not trust an ex villain. "Or were your gasps for her to stop reading out loud your problem?" Grunting to stand X up with a lift of the back arm and torso, entangled in a heap of blankets. Slade took X to the sofa in the room over, quite close to his personal study. He knew little by what exchange meant to this demon girl. Only that she was strong in influence by the dragon himself. She was a hunter of her own kind . Be they good or evil.

Bethel Ferguson was her real name, Veronica was just a display that showed her as a chosen demon and a half girl. Half demons, as Slade had brushed up on before talking to the demon, god, and king; had not as much to grow on since they were outcasts of society and spirit. Human demi-demon or gods, like poor prince Rokuro (Robin's reincarnate 'spirit half'), had power after one or more members of a family , an original by his or her, birth or spirit. So the dad of the son, Rokuro helped in providing a few quick trips now and then.

None of this could have been Robin's fault when Slade made the deal, three somewhat years ago. He withdrew any right handed injustice after he had stuck up for them both! The kid would turn eighteen too soon, then Rokuro would be hushed, into thin air.

A trip back into hellish fate made the room spin.

~Surely we can bargain one last time.~Croaked an older version of the god . His counterpart's mind being shifting like a machine's gears. A jolt of electricity sparked the madness of that night, lightning struck the ceiling. His and X...X's wake up call had come. Veronica was waiting in the clouds.

"She...shi..."stammering ex villain only choked out the words, Robin had done the same to speak to Slade. The one he no longer feared.

"Once, and once only I am going to ask...how did you escape, Jay?" Stepping off of her platform in the sky she only stared. Not only at X. At Slade. She could smell deceit of a mile of a thousand echos away.

"Did you know..." she acted innocent as she started to giggle. Slade cleared his thoughts, she could read them so much better.

"Yes?"

"I was so sure he'd broken curfew thanks to your little apprentice. Have you been a good lackey?"

She pouted at the two. Not caring if X was half conscious and slipping back under. "Now." her sternest face returned. Her hand reached for something...

"Return him at once. Nothing has been done to save the 'apprehended' pri-

No."

She gawked down at him. What do you mean; the lack-sack or the prince brat and his little girly sister? She smeared a smile back on. "Ohhh. THAT...I see your game." She always kept on her toes. Stepping down in the boots she donned worthy of her red headed beauty she clapped against the world ,into thunder.

"I could have taught you both manners." She said with a hand to her hip, no one else was present. Wintergreen had been left out of the battles for now...said he'd rather work for a mob boss. Not some crime lord that did obsess so terribly beyond saving. This wasn't Slade he was talking to then, not after the greatest friend to friend 'scene' in decades.

The last, perhaps...

"Take the curse off of him. If he's that useless,.that afraid of it, then let him suffer with the others."

The smile had not left that perky little face of the demon lady. She was, still never satisfied. "You sound like the birdy now? You must not think of him as an equal just hem...yet. Not until the fun begins." Winds spun in tight circles, carrying her highest and off up in to the air again.

"You'll regret everything, remember, we all bear the mark." Slade knew that when the deal had been struck, it was like sacrifice to the oldest world leaders imaginable.~When the blood is spilled by one or another that is very close, then you will see the unbreakable.~

X sobered up off of the couch and stung her with those words soon after. "He's...here..." With that a mask fell from his face, untouched by cold, for it was late summer at night in the air. "He...knows..." X whispered as he sloped off onto the floor, his other half hitting the sofa.

/

"DUUUUUUUDE!"

"Beastboy, no!"

~Ye shall no longer reside within my domain, leave or be devoured by the waves...!~ the serpent wavered from side to side, after the child had woken him with its screams.

Terra wasn't home or going home with these heroes any time at all. She just wanted the night to end!

"Do something! It's attack-

I'm on it, Rae! Rae?" They were far ahead of the mess happening in the sewer under the city. The four magic users guessed that only a summoner could do this, make the sky change colors so fast. Raven had forced out a boundless amount of energy as she now set off orbs in the palms of her hands. Filled with darkened light they went kaboom and hit the target. Slade's words came back to her the day of capture as an...ugh...apprentice? No, Roku was the one planning against them all-

"Aak!" The killer serpentine animal or demon was entwining itself around Raven as it struck the team with a leer. Backing away slowly the group stood shaking and paralyzed.

"Let her go! Drop the maiden, now..." etched in the wizard boy's voice was pure malice, what could he do? Was Malchior still nothing but a traitor for attacking them and Robin? And for sending letters in and out of dimensions to the enemies? Rorek was dead as of today, he the first red dragon lord could bring back the memory of a solemn vow. With all possessive mannerisms included...

"He'll not harm a single one of you!" With a bow and arrow to get the creature's attention the monster swayed in and out of consciousness, the shot was a direct hit, his heart and gut exploded dead in front of everyone. Malchior looked as his precious formerly taught sorceress fell from mid shock as she was set free. Softly he helped her up from her swamp filled cloak and boot mess.

"I have you..." he handled her as if she were made of shards of ice, delicately he helped her to see his eyes, sad...lonesome.

She growled at him, this time her words turned him away.

With a swat of her hand and wrist he was brought only to gaze into her eyes. "Don't you trust me?"

The energy from every dream she could have held him faded. Love...was it a curse? Did she really want him locked away when all he did was pine for her? "I trusted you when you tried to manipulate my heart and emotions." Her voice stammered with far too much hoarseness to it.

There was nothing worth saying to say. Malchior turned his back to Raven- her friends watched with a ll eyes set on waiting for one of the two to end the battle of ridiculing one another with comments. "I had only helped you so I could delay, him..." Mal said in a murderous silence, his chin lifted by a stray band of fingers on a hand. Maybe the magic was dying after all...in the world.

/

Ex-villain X was lucky to have come to an employed employee/employer such as Sladey. A lack sack she called him? That would mean he was carrying weight, baggage. But what- oh...

Right. His best buddy, chuckles. No, not the clown. The bird. No longer always with a choice, well neither was the kid...~he's gonna be almost a year older soon...~ X had overheard a conversation going on about his lady's master's son. SON? SON? That would make him over thousands of years old!

The dragon was ancient, no one person or creature ever disobeyed his laws Correction by the wall that day or night...was it?...No. It was a month after it happened. Terror, but no screaming, he'd thought the joker would love that place. Insanity isle. Just right in another world entirely. Right up his alley alright, not Jay's though.

X was waking from burrowing himself into the covers of the a blanket. Wrapped up to find that he was a ...burrito...?

"Huh?..."He answered groggily as the limbs he'd been half sitting on that were his own started to fall asleep again.

"Hmph. Couldn't have brought you to the torture room, there would be no point in that." Slade's demeanor was of a gentleman's standard though, he was definitely hiding something. Burrito.

"Why am I wrapped *ngh, up like a hot towel you-

Sorry, but as you might recall...if you can...i just saved your hide from, sigh* her..."

"Who ho! Am I off the hook or what? Thanks a ton now, if you seriously don't mind..."

X looked up. Slade wasn't on his case soo...

"I wish I could let you leave honest to-

Turning to the thief when all he had so much as done was ignore yet wait in silence Slade grunted a sorry.

"Can't have it your way, can you X? I'm not a father figure to you so what's stopping you?"

Something had chanced his doom, Slade spoke a lot less nicely as he had done before. Something smelled like a fish sandwich. It wasn't X.

"Is your voice different or somethin` cause you sound a lot like the kid when he was-

Was Slade's eye always a solid colour? "Uh oh..."

You do not have a mask on, a mask on! "Why are you looking at me like that-

Hey!" Jason's rolled up body- pig in a blanket style was tossed to the floor. "Don't touch me, tough guy!"

It was useless to struggle. As well as he was now, he wouldn't be for long soon anyway.