'Ello again, this is the second chapter in the fanfiction. Thank you anon for being by first reviewer. Let me just set the record that this one was hard to write. I despise mawkish emotions, but it's got to be here somewhere. Thank god I had the waiter for comic relief. Anyhow, the first half is mostly fluff between Jinx and Kid Flash, but the second has a small amount of action.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans, however, I do own the plot.
Enjoy.
A Haunting Memory Returns
Chapter Two: Love Hurts
The night was brilliant, one of the best Jinx had experienced in years. It was cool and there was a gentle wind blowing over Keystone City and the flowers were in bloom. Not to mention the hint of romance. It was perfect, and it seemed that nothing could ruin it. It had been about a year since the H.I.V.E. Five have broken out of their frozen prison, but even that couldn't ruin her mood. As of now all of the H.I.V.E. activities were in the past and she wanted to keep it that way.
Kid Flash and Jinx were out for a late night dinner. They sat down at a table over a pizza. She had a dreamy expression on her face and Kid Flash gave her his trademark grin. She had to admit her admiration to Kid Flash; it was the only way to keep him from pulling off any embarrassing stunts. But she'd admit, she did have feelings for him. He was about the only person who had accepted her, and somehow made the others do the same. However she had a slight suspicion that Robin wasn't quite ready to accept her into the family. She couldn't blame him. However, all she wanted to do was enjoy the night.
"I can't believe all that's happened during these past few months." Jinx said trying to start a conversation.
"Like when that guy was robbing a convenience store and you used your powers to make hot fudge fall on his pants?" Kid Flash asked with an even wider grin.
Jinx smiled and replied, "It was more of an accident."
"Doesn't mean that I'll let you forget it." he said back.
The two burst into laughter and continued talking about the villains they busted, and some of the more clueless people who weren't really masterminds… It was quite a heartfelt moment and the couple began to hold hands. They were about to share a kiss when their obnoxious waiter showed up.
"Hey! You guys over there! I've got your bill here!" the waiter hollered while holding up the bill, "It says you owe $11.57 cents! It also comes with a coupon that gets you a free toupee from Eddie's Wig Emporium!"
Kid Flash was the first to recover from the interruption and accepted the bill from the waiter. Jinx sat there shocked, trying to figure out what just happened. When she finally fell down to Earth she helped Kid Flash pay off the bill.
"Let's get out of here before he comes back." Kid Flash said.
Jinx and him went to the plaza and sat next to the fountain. Fortunately it wasn't crowded. She looked up at the sky. It was a full moon. She felt Kid Flash's warm hand slowly close over hers and she didn't pull away.
"So this is what it's like to be in love." Jinx thought, "Truly in love…"
She edged closer to Kid Flash. They turned to each other and her face came within kissing distance with Kid Flash's. This was going to be a special moment for her, but just as they were about to embrace lips Kid Flash's communicator started to beep. Jinx edged back again, thoroughly annoyed. Kid Flash opened his communicator and a frizzing image of Robin appeared. He had a black eye and a busted lip.
"Kid Flash, we need you to get here immediately. The H.I.V.E. Five are rampaging through Jump City." Robin said.
"Be there in a jiff." Kid Flash replied closing the communicator and then turning back to Jinx, "I- I'm sorry. I have to go. You need to stay here and defend Keystone City."
"It's okay." Jinx said trying to hide her disappointment, "They need you."
Kid Flash stood up and gave a quick goodbye before speeding towards Jump City. Jinx then got up and began to walk home. It was a long route so she decided to take a shortcut through an alley. It was dark, and peaceful, but for some reason Jinx felt a hint of danger. She strolled through and kicked a soup can lying on the ground.
"Those jerks! They ruined everything." she said, "Why can't the Five just stay home and do nothing for once? That's all they ever did when I was in charge."
That's when she detected a swift movement behind her, but before she could turn around an arm reached around and head locked her. Jinx screamed, but it was a big mistake. As she screamed for help the other arm of the figure reached around and put a chloroform cloth to her mouth, and she immediately fell unconscious.
…
Dracul put the cloth away; it filled its duty marvelously. He scooped up Jinx's unconscious body and moved it into the warehouse. Dracul then set her in the chair he'd been sitting in earlier and tied her up. He had no intentions of killing her, at least not yet. Then he stepped back to admire his handiwork. There was no possible way that Jinx could hex him from there. With that he stood there, with another painful period of waiting ahead of him.
…
Jinx woke up a few hours later and found herself tied up to a chair. She was in a dark room; the only light on was the one over her head. She was reminded of the movies where the hero ties up one of the villain's underlings and interrogates him, with an occasional beating here and there. She was terrified; whoever tied her up wasn't planning on getting hexed. A figure approached her, but not close enough for her to see who it was.
"Have a good sleep?" the figure asked.
He had a smooth voice, very silky. It was rather attractive, but that didn't change that he'd attacked her and tied her up.
"Would have been better if I wasn't tied up by a psychopath. Who are you?" Jinx retorted.
The figure started to laugh; it was a laugh that you'd hear from a true madman. She thought she could hear the figure muttering something under his breath afterward. The thought that she was just kidnapped by a maniacal guy who talked to himself wasn't attractive.
"Oh I'm ever so sorry." the madman replied.
"Answer my question, who are you? And why are you doing this?" Jinx snapped.
"Oh Jinx, you aren't in the position to interrogate me. And I truly doubt that you'll ever have that privilege." the figure said, without any intimidation from Jinx's anger.
"Please, just let me go." Jinx pleaded.
Why didn't he respond to her anger? Either way, without any weapon, she had to resort to begging.
"Unfortunately, I can't do that." the figure said as he slowly came closer to Jinx.
The figure was now fully visible, and Jinx examined every inch of him. He was fit, not really on the buff side mind you but he could easily overpower most of the Titans. He had black boots leading up to black trousers up to some black fabric covering the stomach and the chest, jeez, was this guy Goth or something? He also had a dark overcoat and a top hat, but what really got Jinx's attention, the thing that made her let out a scream was an Italian Plague Doctor mask.
"That's impossible! You're dead!" Jinx shrieked.
"Yes, I suppose I was rather close wasn't I? In fact, so close that I even tasted death itself. It's quite an interesting sensation- oh, but you aren't aware with it are you? Perhaps I should enlighten you." Dracul suggested, edging closer to Jinx and reaching his hand out.
Jinx was afraid that he would kill her right there, and she turned away, not wanting to witness it herself. Instead Dracul's hand came to her face and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look into the blood red eyes of his mask.
"I have no intentions of killing you, not yet. But I cannot ignore your treason to the H.I.V.E." he said.
Jinx could smell herbs from his mask, and it would have been comforting if she wasn't being held captive by her ex-teacher with the slight chance of death involved.
"Though this rivalry is around a year old, it's still premature. I'm just here to tell you that I know what's been going on, and if you don't play your cards right, there'll be nothing left of you to bury." Dracul continued.
"No. I'll stop you! I won't let you get away with this!" Jinx started yelling, but it was mostly to make herself feel better.
"Get away with what? My actions are no different than yours! How many people have you hurt in the past few months?" Dracul snarled.
"Um- well… I'm nothing like you!" Jinx contradicted.
Dracul started to laugh with the same maniacal laughter as before, only this time, more violently.
"Oh Jinx, you are wrong. You and I, are practically the same people. You had inherited my psychological genes, look throughout your life. Look at how much it's been influenced by me." Dracul demanded.
"No! That's not true. I'll stop you!" Jinx yelled at the top of her lungs.
"Is that so?" Dracul asked curiously, and then he took out his knife and cut the ropes holding Jinx with one slice before continuing with, "Then go ahead, hex me, kill me, right here, right now."
He stepped back and held his arms out giving Jinx a straight target right at the chest. She stood up and assumed fighting position.
"That's right. No emotion. No holding back. You've found your prey and you're ready to strike." Dracul encouraged.
She could have killed him right there like he said, but she didn't. She looked at Dracul with a sad expression on her face. Dracul laughed and said, "That's what I thought, you wouldn't hurt me, would you?"
He was right, she would never raise a hand against him, Dracul was like the father Jinx never had. He had always been there for her and had never given up, no matter how much she failed. Who knew that they'd get into this situation? Dracul however, wasn't tied by emotions and shook his head disappointedly as he put his knife away.
"Too bad… You could have ended it right there, and you won't be given that chance again." he said, while slowly advancing forward.
He opened his overcoat and pulled out his cane. Jinx watched him limp towards her, he always had that limp, even when teaching, whether he faked it or not was anyone's guess. Dracul backed her up against the wall and pointed the cane straight at her neck. Jinx was all of the sudden paralyzed, literally paralyzed. He pulled it back slowly.
"Buona notte (Good Night) Jinx." Dracul said in a perfect Italian accent, before swinging his cane straight to Jinx's temple and knocking her out for a second time.
End of Chapter Two
Another chapter done. I did in fact drop a hint on Dracul's identity for those of you who are wondering who he is. All reviews are welcome. I'm currently working on Chapter Three. This one will have a fair share of action.