Chapter Ten: A Deal with the Devil
Raven PoV
Gotham's criminal club is pumping. Music blasts From the large speakers by the DJ as I push past the crowd of unsuspecting drunk patrons. Richard follows me, of course I had commanded him too telepathically.
Ever since I controlled his mind back when we were on the JLA WatchTower, I've been able to make him my minion from time to time. I always wipe him memory after the fact, to make sure if he were ever questioned with a lie detector test he would pass. I bring him out as Renegade, usually. But tonight He is simply himself; Richard Grayson. He still has a brain and he can think for himself, he just doesn't have capacity to think of anything but me while I'm around.
And tonight we're on a mission. Falcone told me to observe and report, so here I am.
I lace my fingers with Richards, mostly to look like a normal couple, and push through the double doors, labeled VIP, which leads to a long narrow hallway. The sound only carries on in a dull thump here. There is another set of double doors on the other end of the hallway, but this one is guarded by two tuxedoed guards.
I wink at the taller one, whom knows who I work for.
"Good evening, Miss Raven," He says, and holds open the door.
The atmosphere of the room is much calmer, here. Bar tables fill with only close allies and whispers travel far. I spot Slade at a table in the back with four others accompanying him. One was Lex Luthor, and beside him was Mercy Graves, his personal assistant. Next to Slade is a woman with black who I'm not familiar with and next to her sits a Demon. Shade, as he's known to the villainous world, wears his signature top hat and he rests his hands on golden handled cane lightly.
There is something wrong and distinctly familiar about him; I can sense it. Last time I came in contact with Shade I thought he was just Metahuman. I'm going to have to keep an eye on him.
As soon as I had laid eyes on him, Shade meets my gaze. As if he new I was here. But of course he did, he's a Demon. I walked slowly to a table that was three tables away from him; Close enough to hear what they were saying but far enough away to mostly stay out of view.
Richard sits next to me, but I don't ever break my stare with Shade; He smirks mischievously at me while I hold my face hard and pronounced. Shade is pulled back into the conversation, which releases my gape from him.
"Want something to drink?" Richard asks me.
"Jin and Tonics," I turn away from Shade, and look at Richard.
He's wearing dark blue jeans and a black T-shirt that's fitted to show off his well developed muscular system. He walks over to the bar and orders our drinks.
I tune into my targets conversation; its low spoken, but nothing a demon couldn't hear.
"…And you need my help to, what? Exactly?" Luthor spoke.
"I need Intel; anything you can scrape up against Hathcock Docking Company. They're being contracted by Falcone. I need to know what they are shipping in that is so important that they deem it fit to have me killed," Slade speaks low and even.
"Who'd they hire?" A female voice asks, it sounds like Mercy Graves.
"Raven," Slades tone turns dark. It makes me smirk just a bit.
"Here you go," Richard sets my drink down in front of me.
"Thanks," I say, half-mindedly, as I keep listening.
Shade audibly laughs, a few heads turn their way.
"And, prey tell, how are you still alive?" Shade asks.
"You insult me, Shade," Slade says, "My talent of course."
"Talent! Well I hope you brought your talent with you, because our dark bird is here for us tonight." Shade nods his head at me.
I look at Slade, he looks back at me. He acts like he expected this. That's what I had expected from him.
"I'm not here to fight you, Slade," I send to him telepathically.
His right eyebrow quirks upwards in question from acrossed the room, I offer a cold stare in return.
"I'm here to make a deal."
o\0\8/0/o
Azula PoV
"Can I ask you something?" I asked as we walk through the lit up park, towards the woods were I first saw him. We walk through the trees, and as we continue the light starts to slowly dissipate. It is already dark and no one is out where we walk.
"You want to know about my eyes," It wasn't a question.
"Yes," I blush, embarrassed at my curiosity. He stops walking and I turn to face him.
"I knew you would ask eventually," He reaches up and takes his sunglasses off. My blue eyes met his red ones. His eyes are such a vivid color it almost makes me shudder, but I resist.
"I knew you were a Metahuman from the start, but I am curious, why hide the eyes?"
"Most people don't really like Metahumans, unless you are a hero. But you, no one can feel your power. You look so normal but just beyond all that is a vicious demon waiting to tear into some poor whelps flesh. Am I right?" He smirks and tilts his head to the side, waiting for my reaction. I keep my face from showing of my sudden anger and fear. Even Metahumans shouldn't be able to feel my demon half. I hid that the best I could.
How the hell did he know that?
"I think you have some bad senses there buddy. Me, a demon? I mean come on, that sounds really bad ass but be serious," I let out a chuckle and smile, trying to convince him. He still kept smirking at me, which made me uneasy.
"Why are you looking at me like that…?" I ask, the smile leaving my face.
"I bet I can coax it out," His eyes ran the length of me and back up to my face, a wicked smile flashes on his face. God, he looks sexy.
He takes a step toward me, I take an equal step back. Three steps back and I back into a tree. I curse myself for being so reckless; out here in the thicker portion of the forest like park late at night where no is around to hear a cry for help.
I'm not helpless, I chide myself.
He is suddenly leaning over me, one of his hands is propped on the tree beside my head and the other hand grazing my hip. I let out a surprised squeak and I can feel my cheeks heating up.
"Drake… what are you doing?" I ask, my voice a little shaky.
He didn't answer, or acknowledge me. All at once, his lips press against mine and his hand squeezing my hip. I just stare at him, stunned. Slowly, I process that he is kissing me. As much as I want to continue, I firmly plant my hands on his chest and shove hard. He stumbles back two steps. I step to the side of the tree in that instant, so I did not make the same mistake.
"What the hell was that?" I say, my anger building quickly.
"What ever do you mean?" He taunts me innocently, then lunges forward.
My heightened speed kicks in and I flip out of the way and send a punch at his gut. But it never hit; he grips my wrist and yanks me foreword, causing me to lose my balance. Still gripping my wrist, he sends me to the ground on my back. I grunt at the force. Next thing I know he's on top of me, straddling my waist. He locks my hands in one of his and forces them above my head.
And then all I feel is a hell of a lot of fear and anger. He leans down beside my ear and nibbles on my earlobe. I cringe away from his touch. Oh, but it was exciting at the same time. He stops to whisper in my ear.
"Well, at my mercy so easily?" he chuckles huskily, "I might just take you here and now, then."
Panic. I rip my right hand from his grip and blast him off me with a shot of my magic. My inner demon rose to the surface, turning my eyes a deep red and four eyes appear instead of two. I tremble in rage, jumping up, crouching with a warning growl to him. He sat on his back with a pleased look on his face.
Oh Dammit! This is what he wanted!
I pull my demon back, pushing him back into his dormant state. My eyes return to normal and I straighten up, no longer threatening like an animal. I give Drake a cold glare.
"Next time I wont stop your death," I warn and turn away, leaving the bastard on his butt grinning like the Joker behind me.