Yes, I know. You can all say it. I am a horrible person for not updating in ages. But it's all good now. I did it! Honestly, I have no idea where I'm going with this and while it can be fun to make everything up as I go, it's a little bit stressful at times.

Just in case you were wondering: No, Raven is not a lesbian. Her reading Carmilla (Slade's just as guilty), just means that she had an interest in the slightly provocative Victorian era's view on vampires. As I can't imagine her reading Twilight or any of that other sappy, disco-ball vampire stuff, and I would assume she's already read the original Dracula and Anne Rice books. And besides, Carmilla's not well known and I thought it'd lead to a humorous interaction between Slade and Raven.

Anyways, enjoy reading! No, I don't own Teen Titans or any other media mentioned in here. R&R!

Chapter Four-

Slade sat at the computer, staring up at the massive screen. He had patiently watched the live-feed cameras he'd installed in the tower as each Titans member went to sleep. First Starfire, who had tired after an hour of talking to her plants. Next Cyborg and Beast Boy, who had finally gotten bored of playing Zombie Attack. And last was Robin, who'd spent the whole evening going over files of the teens' enemies. Raven had yet to fall asleep and was currently sitting up in her bed, intent on her book. Slade had the camera zoom in and watched her eyes flit back and forth down the page. She looked determined, as if this book meant life or death. Slade glanced at the title of it on the binding of the book, Carmilla.

Huh, that was a surprise. But then again, most of her reading surprised him. Not into the traditional gothic tales of Edgar Allen Poe as one might assume, Raven read many classics, including Walden, White Fang, This Side of Paradise, Jane Eyre and others. But lesbian vampires? That was new.

He frowned as the girl paused in her reading for the first time that evening and looked around her. Her eyes went over every object in the room and landed at last, at the vent in the wall. The same vent that Slade's camera was in. She didn't break eye contact and Slade felt for sure that she knew where the camera was located. But, after a long minute, she opened up her book and continued reading. This time, with her back facing the air vent.

He felt the beginnings of a smile reach his lips, and promptly rearranged his face in a more suitable expression for a man like himself. Hmm… it was time to pay the girl a visit. Face to face.

Raven glared down at the book in her lap. Her brows were furrowed and the frown on her face only emphasized what she was feeling- Helpless. She was pretty damn sure she'd found one of the cameras. The air vent would be a good spot for it since Raven didn't exactly have the necessary height to go reaching up to grab it. Nor, did she have a need to go messing around in the air ventilation system of the tower. But it still seemed a bit obvious. Which only meant there was more than one. She considered destroying it, but concluded that the effort would be pointless since she wasn't likely to find any of the others.

So, she let it be.

Her mind kept wondering from the book in front of her, and absent-mindedly she let her fingers play with the page. The same page she had been on for at least half an hour. She kept replaying that afternoon's events in her head. The training session with Robin, making Beast Boy practically drool, but above most, Slade's words to her. Yeah, he'd definitely given her Hell. Because after he was finally silenced and Robin came busting through her door with his bo staff out and ready to start a war in her bedroom, she'd had to lie herself out of the mess. And she was pretty certain that Robin had not believed one word. When lying didn't work, Raven had tried the angry card and started yelling at Robin for destroying her door, and screaming for it to be fixed 'immediately'.

"Hey, it's not my fault you're obsessed with being a freaking hero all the time that you knocked down my door for the third time this month! Leave me alone! I don't want to be disturbed." She'd said. Robin had started to feel guilty about the door and stopped asking her questions. Four hours later, and her door was replaced. Beast Boy thought it'd be a nice finishing touch to stick a sign on it that said, "Even if I'm screaming at the top of my lungs for help, or there are creepy, evil psychos in my room, DO NOT DISTURB ME!" Robin didn't think it was funny and took it down immediately. Honestly though, Raven didn't care. If it stopped them from coming in her room, she could deal with it.

She slammed her book closed and threw herself back onto her bed. Closing her eyes, she allowed herself to drift off to sleep.

Raven woke only moments later when she felt something, or rather, someone near her. She opened an eye and found Slade standing at the edge of her bed, holding something. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was a book. Her book. Carmilla.

"I know you're awake, little bird. It's no use pretending to sleep." He didn't even look up as he spoke to her, but kept his eyes focused on the pages.

So she sat up and watched him. Slade looked up a second later, and placed the book back on her bed. "Carmilla? I can honestly say I'm surprised. I didn't think you'd be into lesbian vampires."

"Yeah, well I didn't think you would be either." She said it sarcastically, but at the same time, she wondered.

Slade looked startled at her words, "I'm not. It was summer reading in junior year."

"Junior year? That book was written in the stone ages?" It was very hard to imagine Slade being a good student and doing his assignments. Much less, actually being young enough to go to school. It must've been several decades ago.

Slade bit back a sharp response at her age comment. He was above having petty fights with the girl. Even if she was starting them just to annoy him. "Yes, junior year. I'm afraid I still bear the scars of those brutal fights over the school lunches. There was only so much saber-toothed tiger to go around."

Raven almost laughed. Yes, she, Raven, almost laughed at some sarcastic reference Slade had made about his own age. She quickly composed herself, "So, what're you doing here? In my room."

Slade cocked his head to the side and studied her closely. "I'm offering you a chance."

"For what? To become your apprentice? If you think I'll just waltz off with you and forget my friends-"

"No. I don't think you will. But I think you should have the initial choice."

Raven paused, "Initial?"

"Yes. I thought it'd be better if you joined me of your own free will instead of me having to resort to less pleasant means of getting you to do what I want. However, if you don't make the right choice, I shall have to make it for you." Slade was pretty doubtful that she'd actually come to him of her own accord, but he had hoped. It was so much more work and effort if she wasn't willing.

"So you're giving me one choice with different 'means' to get there? How thoughtful. And here, I thought you were just a psycho maniac. Turns out you're a gentlemanly psycho maniac. Get out of my room."

"Fine, but know that after one week, you must make your choice. One week is quite generous, so don't push it." Slade gave one long look at the girl, then opened her window, and leapt out.

So that's how he got in- the window. Though, last time Raven had checked, all the windows in the tower were locked from the inside. Cyborg would just have to get better locks. She glanced over to where Carmilla lay on her bed and instinctively reached out for it. Raven then placed it next to her, and lay down. Only minutes later, and she was asleep. That day had been too much for her, and she was determined to think about it all tomorrow. What she needed, was sleep.

Slade was back in his home, and checking up on the cameras placed around the tower before going to bed himself. When he got to Raven's room he saw her laying in bed, asleep, holding something close to her chest. He zoomed in with the camera to get a better look at what it was, and raised his eyebrows at the discovery. Carmilla.

Coincidence that he was the last person to touch it? He thought not…