In the middle of the cavernous room, stood Raven. She was chained to a large, stone column, the chains restricting her arms crossed above her head and her clothing torn. She weakly raised her head as we entered, cheek stained with drying blood. Frowning slightly, eyes lidded, her head lolled forward. Her body went limp and I went to step forward, Robin stopping me. Growling lightly, I stepped back into place, Bee and Beast Boy doing they're job and checking for traps before approaching her. With Bee's nod back, I teleported the others to the center. We surrounded the column, the stronger ones ringing us as we inspected her chains. The lack of light made the hollows in her cheeks darker and I resisted the urge to reach out to her. Giving her one last look, I turned to scan the room and a dark chuckle echoed through the dark. Heavy, metallic footsteps echoed through the cavern, slowly approaching.
Robin's grip on his staff visibly tightened when the black and orange mask appeared. The ever present solitary eye surrounded my the orange metal. My eyes narrowed at his almost smug look, his arms even dared to be behind his back as he approached. He slowly looked us over, his gaze calculatingly drifting over us. He stopped on Robin and I's position near Raven and he spoke.
" so, you've come to rescue the 'fair maiden' the damsel in distress as it were." he voice rang with amusement, lowly mocking us. " so... kind of you, to take my invitation." he gestured around him with his hand and I could see the flash of metal in the shadows. I lightly nudged Robin and spoke into his mind.
' He has back-up, there's guards staying in the shadows near the entrance.' I watched him give me a slight nod from the corner of my eye. I quickly delivered the message to the rest, Slade watching us silently.
" Unfortunately, I can't have you taking my newest toy. Even though she is.. slightly broken, I don't like to share." his eyes narrowed, the guards shifted and moved forward. The first waved attacked and as more swarmed in, he disappeared. At Robin's signal, I grabbed his wrist and teleported after Slade. We followed him into another room, lit by a large pit filled with a glowing liquid. His back was to us, arms behind it as if he was waiting.
" such a shame you're no longer my apprentice, Robin." turning to look at us, he continued. " I rather liked you, you were skilled, had so much potential. But her, she can do so much better than you ever did. She's much harder to.. tame, though. At first it was easy, trust is the liar's most useful tool after all, but she got difficult." Slade's fist clenched slightly and he turned towards us. " so innocent, so easy to manipulate. But she started to get rebellious, with you, I just had to threaten your precious little friends." Robin, glared and stepped forward, dividing his staff and taking a stance. Slade sighed and waved a finger at him. " Ah-ah, its rude to interrupt Robin. Where was I.. oh yes. The poor little thing had no friends for me to corrupt her mind with, completely alone on this earth. So I used pain when she wouldn't listen." He looked at me and my fist clenched, red clouding my vision again. " She's rather resistant to pain, it usually takes a few broken bones and the power cuffs to get her to follow orders.." When he turned to look back at the pit, Robin attacked. He swung down with his staff, aiming to break an arm, but Slade caught it. Then began the dance between the two, one attacking just for the other to smoothly block and respond. They moved quickly, in sync almost, attuned to the other. Suddenly, Robin got in a lucky strike and struck Slade's mask. I watched as the side struck, cracked and fell off,leaving half a mask. He just smirked at Robin, taking that moment to strike him over the head. Surprise briefly flashed across his face as he took the hit. I watched as he dropped like a stone, his body thudding as it hit the floor.