Hi, howzit goin'? Yes, I finally got around to another chapter. Sorry it's so short, I've been busy lately. Anyhow, this chapter shows Dracul's reflections on life. And this is a chapter where I take Dracul, and finally give him his soon to be famous anger. Slight twist at the end with Jinx. Hopefully you'll be able to accept what I'm weaving together, it may seem broken now, but it'll all fit together in due time. Without further ado,

Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans, sue me.

A Haunting Memory Returns

Chapter Nine: Making a Choice

And there she was, hands glowing with pink energy. She made up her choice. She never took anyone's life before, so she felt somewhat nervous. She raised her shaky hands and pointed to the back of his head. Dracul leaned over the edge of the building, as if observing how far he'd fall after being hexed. What was this? He was willingly giving himself up, what if he secretly was winning? What would Jinx become after one murder?

"I've always hated heights…"

His words broke the silence; they were absentminded, as if he were thinking of another incident involving heights. Jinx wondered if he had someone aiming at the back of his head that time too. Either way, Jinx didn't feel it was right to die through your worst fears. She set her hands to her side, and looked down at her feet. She could feel some sort of lecture coming on. Dracul turned to face her, his glass eyes glowing at her.

"You stop? Whatever for now?"

"I'm not going to become a murderer, especially for you." Was her reply.

"Hmph, you can't even put an old man out of his misery. He really softened you up didn't he? The fast one? Strange…"

Jinx then looked up at him, her eyes flaring with rage. How dare he speak of Kid Flash, he had no right after the Pharmacy Incident.

"You don't deserve to talk about him."

"I suppose I don't. Foolish girl."

His words were like a tsunami, each word a wave, and each one larger than the other. All filled with disappointment and disapproval.

"How would you know anything old man?! You've been living under a rock for all these years. You don't understand love."

"And you do? This isn't love Jinx, this is lust. Your hormones are kicking in, and you feel the need to get a mate. The fast one was right there, in the same stage, so you were ideal for each other. But in the end, it won't work."

"I think I know the difference between love and lust. You wouldn't, you've never felt anything for anyone!"

"Because I use my head."

"Because you're an asshole."

Dracul chuckled, as if he were arguing with a three year old, maybe she should have just sent him off the edge.

"You're far too young; your naïve perception of reality would never be able to comprehend my views. So you simply assume they're 'bad'." Dracul scolded.

"You're a hateful man, that's all there is to it."

"God damn it child! This is not a bloody movie. And you're not the compassionate girl who kisses the boy at the end with your leg propped up, oh no, if this is going to end it's going to end with both of your heads on a bloody pike. Love is an illusion and illusions have no impact on life." Dracul lectured.

Jinx felt herself blushing, which was embarrassing in front of her ex-professor. She composed herself and asked, "Well then, what do you think is important in life? Wealth? Power?"

"Wealth is overrated, and power? I'm not the Brotherhood of Evil; I'm not after the world. The only power that I'd ever openly take is knowledge, which is by far the purest of them all. The one thing that will have held its worth, even after I'm dead. And that's why that in mere weeks, I shall release my inventions to the world." Dracul gave another chuckle, as if he had some nasty surprise in store.

"Inventions?"

"And once the effects have begun I will be observing very closely. Through these experiments, we may find a pathway to the betterment of mankind. However,"

"However…?"

"For every step that we take to a better society, we must make sacrifice…"

It all made sense then, Dracul was playing with disease, and he intended to share it with the people of Jump City. All those innocent people…

"You're going to hurt people?! For what?! Some stupid prophecy?"

Jinx could feel rage coming back, acid in every word, yet no effect on Dracul.

"For reality sweetheart, the very thing that is intangible, and the very thing that determines our life. Besides…"

Dracul turned around, and said in his falsely sweet voice, "It's only a few people Jinx. Their lives will go unnoticed."

"No! I won't let you! Awful man!"

"And here I thought you'd understand…"

Jinx could feel something, angry, in those words. She was crossing the line with her "naïve" actions. She'd cross whatever line it took to throw this nut job in prison.

"You're enjoying it aren't you? Hurting people? Being a monster?"

"Admittedly, yes. I find it rather amusing. Sitting down with a nice cup of tea, tapping behind the glass as the specimen looks around in fear, searching for the source of the noise. Some people may see my feelings as sadistic and cruel, but in the end that's all we are, yes? Narcissistic beings made for destruction."

Jinx took notice of Dracul's shadow; it seemed a lot more, feral… It had abnormally long fingers, almost like talons… And his legs were bent in the way that you would see with a canine… It was almost as if the shadow was reflecting what was hiding under those clothes…

"There's a difference between us Dracul, I'm good now, and you're still the rotten man you were. Why can't you change?"

"Insolent child! How dare you use such words in my vicinity?!" Dracul snarled.

His words stung, and Jinx shrank back. Dracul had just reminded her how well he could put someone in their place when they angered him.

"There are no such things as bad and good. Morality doesn't exist. They're both manifestations of opinion, which is worth very little compared to fact. If such a thing did exist, then we'd all be villains. For all men are guilty of the good they did not do. Bloody hypocritical. And as we both know, I despise hypocrites." Dracul said through what was sure to be gritted teeth.

Jinx wondered if she should just run back into the building now. Instead she took one last step over the line, a highly unnecessary one at that.

"I won't let you hurt anyone again." Jinx stated, adding as much willpower as she could into the words.

Dracul stood there, he twitched once. Twice. Three times. And there he was, in the matter of seconds. Fingers digging into her forehead, face so close that she could smell the herbs in his mask.

"Do you think, that I'm looking for your approval?" he growled.

Dracul slammed her onto the ground, and Jinx wished that the embracing hadn't been so painful. Thank god she didn't hear any cracks… She tried to get up, but she was dizzy, oh so dizzy. She saw four furious Draculs coming towards her. He picked her up by the right arm, and dangled her right over the edge of the building.

"Who cares if some people are dying?"

With that Jinx felt tears running down her cheek. She didn't want to give Dracul the satisfaction of seeing them, but she couldn't help it. This wasn't one of Gizmo's rants, or Jinx yelling at the Hive Five to pick their lazy asses up, no, this was pure, crazed, and uncontained rage. She never felt so fearful in her life. This had to be the worst meeting she ever had with Dracul.

"I don't want to hear your crying!" Dracul snarled.

"Stop it! Please! Stop it!" Jinx cried out.

Dracul took in a deep breath, and exhaled, which seemed to make him regain some of his composure. And in the coldest, most calm voice possible said, "After you."

With that he let go of her, before turning around and letting himself fall back as well.

…

Birds make it look so easy, just flapping their wings and keeping themselves from falling into the ground to create a metahuman pancake. No wait, that was her, falling to the ground. She saw the ground, and did not feel comfortable with how close it was getting. She looked around; she was still dizzy, very dizzy. She could just barely make out a sign hanging off of the back of a building. She reached out for it, but it was out of range. Jinx moaned as she fell right past it. She looked around, for something, anything else she could grab so she wouldn't have to embrace the ground again. She sighed in relief as she found a balcony; she reached out for the exterior.

"Closer, closer. Aha-ow!"

She just managed to make it, and she groaned as she pulled herself up to safety. She collapsed on the ground. She stretched out the muscles in her right arm, but she was alive. She tried to get up again, absentmindedly. Dracul was nowhere in sight. Figures...What was she supposed to do now? It was pretty clear; she wanted nothing to do with Dracul anymore.

What about Kid Flash?

Jinx didn't want to leave him, but she didn't want to deal with Dracul anymore, and surely he would get word of the meeting. Kid Flash and Dracul, they came in a bundle. She chose one and she was stuck with the other. She had never been so scared in her life than when Dracul held her in his hand, and she had never felt happier than when she was in Kid Flash's arms.

"No." she thought, "Forget about him. He's not going to be where you're going…"

But I love him…

"Not worth it… not worth it…"

Her path was clear, but hard to accept, she was leaving, abandoning this life and all her loved ones. Jinx was dead, and another girl was ready to take her place. She was leaving, to live in the country, or maybe a forest, as long as there wasn't a soul who'd recognize her.

I refuse…

She exited the building, many people looked at her. Some asked questions, but she just walked right past them.Her thoughts on leaving, the only comforting option left on the table. She needed something else though, guilt was holding her down. She felt so selfish; did Dracul ever feel this way? Of course he didn't… She tried to think of something that would justify her actions.

"Dracul's after me, so if I disappear the world's safe. And so is Kid Flash…"

She felt the weight of a hundred pounds lift from her shoulders at the thought. That was it; she knew what she had to do. She was going into hiding; little did she know that she was only making things worse…

End of Chapter…

Don't kill me! I told you it would end up in a twist! So, now that you know the crazy plans I have in store, let me tell you that it's only going to get crazier. Tell me, do you find Jinx's thoughts justified. I mean, that's a pretty bold move, wiping yourself off the Earth. Would you do the same if you were in her position? Anyhow, the next chapters will focus on Kid Flash freaking out over Jinx's disappearance. The next chapters are also when stuff starts happening. Dracul's plans start to accelerate, and you'll learn just what the old man was keeping in store. Nasty stuff, I can assure you of that. As always, if you can please leave me a review. I might add a poll later. If you can, please give me a small list of major Pros and Cons, so I know what I'm doing well and what I could work on. Well, I guess that's it. Thank you for your time.