The Cruelest Letter: X
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Chapter Six: Love
Starfire and Beast Boy walked throughout the small lanes of Burwell, trying to discover where monk Zinamu lived. The slip of paper from Raven's book had not had a specific address, and England's streets were starting to become confusing. They passed several churches, complete with beautiful architecture one didn't usually see in America. However, it seemed as if they were traveling in a circle.
Feeling disheartened, the pair walked into a coffee shop, hoping for some answers. An attractive young couple and a lady who appeared to about 60 were the only inhabitants. The couple tittered on, laughing and joking about something a professor had done. The old lady sat peacefully, sipping on a cup of tea and enjoying what seemed to be a good book.
"Uhhh...you go ask the old lady, i'll talk to those two." Beast Boy said, knowing the old lady might find his green appearance startling.
Starfire nodded, and smiled widely. She ran up to the woman, surprising her with her loud, charming voice.
"Hello." Beast Boy said, giving the couple a toothy grin.
"Hello, you're not from around here are you?" Asked the girl, who appeared to be about 19 or 20. She was model like, with long thin limbs and brown hair that reached her waist. Her green eyes were large and friendly.
"No, how did you know?" He asked, not realizing how different their accents were.
She giggled, "I can just tell silly. Are you two lost?" She nodded in the direction of Starfire, who seemed to be getting nowhere with the old women.
Beast Boy nodded wildly, "Yes. Well actually, we're looking for someone. Do you know a man by the name of Zinamu? He's a monk, if that helps"
The girl gave him an odd look, "No, I don't believe so. I don't think monks live around here, actually. You're pretty close to the college population, just a little more north."
Beast Boy's smile went to a frown. They couldn't help lead them to the monk. He motioned for Starfire to come join him.
"Thank you for your information, but we have to go." He offered his hand to shake.
"Of course. Goodbye. My name is Ruby by the way, and this is Oliver." The boy next to her smiled and shook Beast Boy's hand.
"Glorious to meet you!" Exclaimed Starfire, hugging the thin, gorgeous girl. Ruby felt a little awkward but hugged her back hesitantly.
As they were about to walk away, Oliver suddenly realized something.
"You wouldn't happen to mean Professor Zinma, would you?" His eyes squinted, "I actually believe he has background studying monks in various cultures. Maybe that's what you mean. Hes an anthropology and archaeology teacher."
"Uhhhhh..." Beast Boy trailed off, frowning. It was worth a try. "Do you know where he lives?"
Oliver nodded, "I'm an archaeology major and he lives on a dig site. The student's go there for practice. It's only about ten minutes away."
Starfire grinned, "Let us go now! Maybe we will be lucky."
Red X's fingers trailed over the small girl's back. He bit his lip, slightly regretting the carving in her back. He had meant to make it more artistic, more delicate. Instead, this X was jagged, and had ripped open her homemade stitches. He had done it out of anger at Slade, but he wished now that he would've waited. She was sleeping, having passed out from exhaustion. She never slept unless she absolutely had to.
Her spine protruded, along with her sharp hipbones. She was so tiny looking. He felt as if he were to touch her she would break. He shivered, thinking of the pain he could cause her. Her pain would bring him undeniable pleasure.
Was the money worth it? Was being forced to leave earth worth it?
He pondered these thoughts, his fingers still tracing over the bloody scabs. He wanted her for himself. He wanted to torture her, make love to her and make her bleed. He wanted to watch her uneven breathes and hear her soft moans of pain. This what love must be. He had loved once, and he felt similar to this way. Except she had been nowhere as beautiful as Raven.
He frowned deeply. The only way to have Raven and the earth survive was to let Raven have her powers back. Not that he exactly had control over that. He really didn't even know the full reason why they were gone. Just that it was something to do with her father, Trigon.
Red X felt a headache coming on, the stress piling on his shoulders. He tied Raven back into her chains, waking her up in the process. She was feeling an immense amount of pain from the X in her back. It was much bigger than the S on her stomach. She marked by two villains. Two villains who constantly hurt and rape her. Well, Slade had never touched her, but she did suffer the wrath of his beatings.
Red X took out a camera, ready to take a picture. Raven moaned and squeezed her eyes shut. She didn't want the titans to see her like this. She didn't want to be remembered as weak and broken.
To her surprise, he walked behind her, snapping a picture of the X. He then walked to the front of her, taking a close up shot of the scarred S.
He walked away, not saying a word to her. He wasn't sure yet what he wanted to do. If he betrayed Slade and lost, there would be absolute, literal hell to pay. If he betrayed Slade and won, there was a chance he wouldn't get to keep Raven, and then his work would be pointless.
He prepared the next clue.
Beast Boy and Starfire followed Ruby and Oliver down a steep, rocky path. They had led them to an area where almost no houses existed. In fact, the only people who seemed to be here were them.
"You're sure we're going the right way?" Asked Beast Boy, squealing a little bit as the rocks beneath him slid. Starfire giggled at him.
"Yes." Reassured Oliver, with a gentle smile, "He lives out on a dig site, that's why there is nobody around."
"I forgot to ask, why exactly are you guys looking for him?" Ruby questioned, staring directly into Beast Boy's eyes. Beast Boy blushed from the way her green eyes played against his.
"He can help our friend, and our friend is in trouble." Answer Starfire quickly, not realizing how odd it sounded.
"Oh...okay." Ruby replied, not wanting to push it any forward. Her and Oliver exchanged odd glances.
"There it is!" Oliver pointed ahead to a small, Japanese style house with a koi pond in the front yard.
Beast Boy rushed to the door, knocking wildly. Starfire raced up to, calling the monks name. Within moments, a young woman came to the front door. She stared up at the two, shocked to see such an odd pair. She then saw Oliver in the back, and waved to him.
"You two are Oliver's friends? What is it that you want?"
"We're looking for a monk. His name is Zinamu. I guess this isn't it though." He frowned.
She leaned forward, motioning for them to do the same. "How do you know about this? About his identity?"
Beast Boy's eyes widened, "Our friend Raven is from Azarath and is in trouble. He knows her and can help us."
The woman nodded and closed the door slightly, reassuring them that she would be right back.
Oliver and Ruby walked up, curious. "What's going on?"
"It's sort of private. Thank you two so much for your help, but it is better if you leave. For safety issues. I can't say anymore, but I am so happy you two were able to help us. We don't want anything happening to you."
Oliver nodded, taking it in. As an anthropology major, he was trained to accept all cultures and beliefs, and he figured this was one he didn't quite understand. Ruby nervously clutched to his arm, being afraid by Beast Boy's words.
"Then I bid you goodbye. Goodluck." The couple nodded at them then left, Ruby tugging him along.
A few minutes later, the woman reappeared with a sort, thin man. His gray skin matched that of Ravens, and he had a slight wise looking age to him. He smiled at the two, opening the door to let them in.
"I've been expecting you, actually." The monk sat across from them, having sent the woman away.
"What?" They asked, looking at each other.
"I have known Raven for quite some time. She even told me of Earth, and how I could escape the horrors of Azarath. Most of it was destroyed, yet Trigon rules what remains. I came here for a better life, and found it by teaching at the university. I fell in love with archaeology, and met my wife, Shira. Normally I never would've married, nor mated, yet I have given up most of my ways now. I live a different life."
They nodded, taking it in.
"Anyways, I taught Raven everything about her powers, about moral good, and of evil. I carried her when she was a baby. I hugged her as she left Azarath. I have known her all her life. Since Raven was given to me so young, I was able to reach a bond with her. I know when she is in trouble. I have felt it. I also felt that she had friends who absolutely adore her. I also was able to pick up that she has two males who have a strong love for her."
"Love?" Asked Starfire, confused. She was unsure of what he meant by that.
"Maybe I am wrong," He said, although knowing he wasn't,"However, I have felt that two men love her. One in a caring, devoting way. The other, however, is a much more dark, lustful wanting. And that is he who is close to her. He's the one that has her."
Beast Boy felt anger rise up as he thought of some villain wanting to touch Raven. It was a sickening thought. He cared about Raven in a best friend way, even though she denied their connection.
"She has no powers now. That has weakened our bond. However, I do know who possesses her power."
"Who?" Asked Starfire, almost jumping out of her seat.
"Trigon." He said, almost with deep regret, "He has them, and he will have them for good, unless she fights him. Only at his weakest point can she use the mirror to defeat him."
"The mirror? The mirror next to the book...the one with the strange language..." Beast Boy felt everything clicking together.
"If it is the mirror I am talking of, then yes, it will have script on the back of it. It is a portal to Trigon. As soon as she enters it, she will face him. This is a misson where either she wins...or her life is taken. His ultimate point of weakness will be when his rage hits the highest peak. When this happens, she will gain her powers back. Yet, all the power from Trigon will also transport into her. She will be the most powerful demon known to exist."
"How will she know when his rage is at that point?" Beast Boy asked, unsure. He knew this is what had to happen, but he didn't want to see Raven die.
"She is his daughter. She has some of him in her. Her emotions, in her mind will tell her. Rage will consume her as well, and she will know when she is at her peak. At that time, this is when she must strike."
"This is the only way to get her powers back?"
"Yes. Unfortunately, yes. And if she is unsuccessful, earth may pay the price."
Titan alarm.
Robin and Cyborg raced to location, a coffee shop that has been abandoned for a long time. The doors and windows were boarded up, forbidding entrance. A KEEP OUT sign was placed on a pole, adding to the abandoned element. The place was empty, no one would want to steal from here.
"Why are we here?" Growled Robin.
"Wait..." Cyborg looked around, "I have a feeling this was no accident. Someone wanted us to come here to find something."
He walked around the building, not seeing anything. The grass was overgrown and not taken care of. It was your normal, run of the mill shit hole. He frowned, wondering too why they were there. Until he heard Robin kick something with such fury that the entire shop threatened to fall.
"What? What is it?"
Robin pointed ahead, to the side of the shop. A small address sign was place, marked 121314 south main street. Next to it, LMN was scribbled into the paint. They looked closer, seeing a small case. Cyborg opened it gently, weary that it might be a trap.
However, inside were just more letters. They were cutouts of letters actually. O, P, Q, R. They were simply written on some sort of note card. Until he got to S. His mouth opened widely, and he shoved the picture into Robin's face.
It was of Raven's tiny stomach, as he recognized her gray skin. A signature S was carved into it.
Robin looked at Cyborg. "Slade."
Starfire called Robin immediately to tell him the news.
"Friend Robin! We found out much news, and of great importance. We are coming back now."
"We found out something too. It's Slade that has her. We have to move quickly."
"Yes, but friend, our news is of greater importance. Trigon, Raven's father, has her powers. He is in on this scheme too."
Robin gasped, remembering Raven's history with her father. Trigon was a very very powerful demon. He held much more power than they could even think to face. Yet they had to.
"Okay. Well you should be here soon. We will figure out the plan of attack then."
"Okay!" Then in a more odd tone, "Robin, do you love Raven?"
"Huh?" Asked Robin, bewildered.
"There are two men that love Raven. You are one of them, yes?"
"Starfire...I have no idea what you are talking about. Let's focus on the mission right now."
He hung up after, not giving Starfire a chance to respond.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Next chapter will be a big one...eeeppp. What will happen? We shall see. :)
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