Chapter 13

Raven's head was throbbing. It was the first thing she noticed when her mind started slowly drifting back into consciousness. She let out a moan as she opened her eyes. Though the room was dark, a circle of light around her made her head scream in pain.

What happened? She thought groggily, mind swimming to piece together where she was and why she was there. When her memory finally returned, Raven stiffened and took in her surroundings.

She was propped up in an armchair, centered in a room with only one, buzzing florescent light overhead. She looked down and realized that she wasn't restrained in any way, though she doubted she would just be able to walk out. She must have been captured. All she remembered was Beast Boy's voice and then a jolt of pain before everything went black. She wondered if Slade had her teammates as well.

"Good, I see you're finally awake." The voice startled her. From a shadowy corner of the room, Slade emerged into the dingy yellow light. "I was starting to worry."

"Where are my friends?" She spoke calmly. Slade wasn't ready to fight her. Not yet. And she needed as much time as possible to recover before she engaged him.

"They're... otherwise occupied. It's just you and me."

"What do you want from me?" Raven slowly slid a hand up her leg, moving towards a particular compartment on her belt. Her cape hid her movements.

"Information," he stated simply. He leaned against a wall as he spoke. "After the defeat of your father, I moved on from my original goals. I'm no longer a threat to you, and the Titans are no longer a threat to me." He'd been staring at the opposite wall, but now turned his face towards her. "That is, all except for you."

"And what makes you think I'm the threat? You're the one who hunted us down, attacked my friends, and kidnapped me."

"That's true. But I'm not the daughter of a demon." His eyes continued to bore into her, making Raven tense. "My sources tell me that Trigon will rise again. And he'll do it soon."

Raven felt the color drain from her face but met his statement with silence. She narrowed her eyes. She didn't know what to think. Why would Slade's 'sources' know anything about this? Then again, it would explain some things...

"Now, I don't have to explain to you why Trigon and I don't get along so well." His eyes gleamed in the dim lighting, never leaving her as she shifted in her seat. "So tell me, Raven, is Trigon coming back?"

Raven pursed her lips, sizing Slade up while trying to keep a level head. Meanwhile, her fingers found a small red button on the back of her communicator. She pressed the button subtly, sending out an SOS with her location to the rest of the team. "I thought your sources already gave you an answer."

She watched as his fist tightened. "I'll tell you what," he began, "You tell me the truth, I'll let you and your friends go. Lie to me... there will be consequences." They stared intensely at each other, locked in a battle of will.

"That's not much of a choice. But I'll make a better deal. I'll tell you what I know if you tell me where you got your information. I'll even let you go without a fight," she said cockily.

"Hmm, and why would you want to know that?"

Raven took a deep breath as she took a risk. "Because someone needs to let them know they're misinformed." She felt the change in Slade's demeanor. "It is impossible for Trigon to rise again. Not now, not ever." Though she said it with the utmost of confidence, underneath her impassive front she wondered if it was true. "So tell me, who are your special 'sources?' Or should we call them what they are, liars?"

"Fair enough. Let's just say I have ties to the Church of Blood." He studied her, waiting for her reaction.

Ah yes, that psycho group of Trigon-worshippers. She smirked.

"Well how appropriate, considering they're a cult of psychopaths. You must fit right in."

Slade chuckled. "Raven, I do believe your usefulness has expired. Though we did have a deal."

"About that," she interrupted, sensing four familiar presences approaching. "I hate to do this to you Slade," she said with false remorse, "but the deal's off."

A stream of blue light shot into the room, separating Raven from Slade. In the gaping hole in the wall that Cyborg just created, her four friends stood, poised for battle.

Slade looked between her and her team. "I must admit I am impressed. You finished off my army in record time, Robin." He crouched down, ready for a fight.

"Titans, GO!" Robin yelled, launching into action. He whipped out his staff, slamming it into Slade's identical weapon. The two spared as the other Titans surrounded them. He knocked Robin off of his feet, but Starfire came at him, hurling starbolts as Cyborg shot his cannon from the other side. Slade ducked and rolled out of the way, ensuring each was hit by the others attack.

Beast Boy came at him next, charging him as a bull. As they met, Slade grabbed ahold of his horns, using them to flip over Beast Boy and land a kick on his back. The bull let out a cry, and Raven flinched.

Robin was on his feet again, this time coming at Slade with his bare hands. They jostled for dominance, each landing punches and kicks on the other. Finally, Slade got the upper hand once again and flung Robin against a wall.

Slade stood straight, assessing the situation. "As much as I would like to continue catching up, I have other business to attend to," he said, eyeing each of the Titans. His breath was slightly labored, as much as he tried to hide it. More like you know you can't take all five of us on at once. "Farewell, Titans." Suddenly the ceiling above them exploded, leaving a cloud of dust, a hole in the ceiling, and a missing Slade.

"Am I the only one tired of him doing that?" Beast Boy asked, crossing his arms over his chest as he found his way back to his feet.

Robin ignored him, racing over to the spot where Slade once stood and shooting a birdarang cable into the space above to pull himself up. He was going after Slade.

Raven stood abruptly from the chair, intending to follow, when she felt her legs shake and her head spin. I'm just going to have to trust Robin with this, she thought as she steadied herself. Whatever Slade shot her with, it was taking its toll.

"Raven, you okay?" Cyborg asked.

"I'm fine," she replied, pointing towards the hole in the ceiling. "Get Slade!"

Cyborg and Starfire didn't have to be asked twice. They took off after Robin. Beast Boy hesitated.

"Raven, I'm not sure—"

"Go, Beast Boy," she said firmly. "I'll stay here and look for anything Slade left behind."

He looked unhappy, but didn't argue. He transformed into a bird, soaring up through the crumbling ceiling.

Raven stared at the spot for a few seconds, then went to work. She may not have been able to chase Slade, but she could at least find Plasmus. He was probably asleep; Slade would keep him dormant when he wasn't of use. She stepped through the hole from Cyborg's cannon, looking both ways down the hallway she was now in. One end looked like it led to the main floor of the library. The other looked like more offices.

She followed her instincts and started opening the office doors one by one. She came to the last one, a double door with no windows. There was a blue glow coming from the crack underneath. Bingo...

Sure enough, Plasmus was inside, the sleeping man bobbing in glowing blue water. Raven took a deep breath, testing her powers and her strength. She felt good enough for simple telekinesis, so she lifted the tank with her powers, bringing it through the doors and letting it trail behind her as she tried to find the exit. She removed her communicator and dialed a familiar number.

"I need a police helicopter at these coordinates as soon as possible. We have Plasmus." She answered a few more of the Police Department's questions, then snapped the device shut as she came to the front entrance.

Opening the doors to the outside, she was blinded by the influx of sunlight. As her eyes adjusted, she saw the dozens of robotic bodies and parts scattered around the square. That needed her attention as well.

"Great," she muttered to herself. "I'm stuck on cleanup while they're chasing Slade." She moved Plasmus' cylindrical tank so it was leaning against a corner in the entranceway. It wasn't the best scenario, but it was her only option.

After finding a dumpster, smashing all the robotic parts, and cramming them all in with her powers, Raven was ready to collapse. When she caught sight of her teammates returning, shoulders slumped and faces scrunched in frustration, she knew Slade had gotten away. Big surprise.

"Raven," Robin started when he saw her. "I need a full report on what Slade said to you. Why was he after you?"

Raven sighed. "Can't this wait?"

"No, it can't. I need to know if Slade is still a threat."

To lie, or not to lie. Raven weighed her options. Though the truth was harmless, something inside her told her to hide the concern around Trigon. Call it an old habit.

"He wanted to know where Terra was. He's convinced she's alive out there somewhere." It was a good cover, considering she had come up with it so quickly. She felt a little guilty though; Beast Boy was just getting over the Terra incident, and she was stirring it up again.

"So why would he want you?"

"He wanted me to find her using my powers. I explained that they don't work that way. That was about when you showed up," she focused on keeping her tone passively frustrated. "He didn't seem happy, but I don't think he'll bother us again."

"Still, he has to be planning something. Slade's back from his hiatus, and we need to keep our guard up." Robin's voice was grave and determined. Raven looked at her teammates faces. They all looked just as thrilled as she was that they were starting this again. What is it about Slade that drives him so crazy?

Raven didn't get it, and quite frankly she didn't care. The team moved robotically through the rest of their duties, too frustrated, tired, and disappointed to put much effort into what they were doing. After handing Plasmus over to the authorities, they boarded the T-ship and headed for home. The entire ride was completely silent.

Bed. Raven's bed; her soft, satiny sheets, her fluffy pillows, and her comfortable mattress. There were few nights when Raven had craved the feeling of sleeping in her own bed more. She had to dig down deep inside herself to find the energy to relocate from the seat of the T-ship to her room. It was a good thing she had her powers, allowing her to float instead of walk down the hallway.

Raven threw her backpack at the door upon entering her dark haven. She was normally very particular about keeping her room in order. Right now she didn't give a damn.

She collapsed on the bed, not even bothering to get under the comforter. Two minutes later, she was sound asleep.

The heat seared through her skin, eliciting both pain and a strange form of pleasure. Flames licked at her bloodied feet as she dragged them over ashes. Her vision was tinged with red: red sky, red flames, red seas of molten lava.

Laughter reverberated through the air. When he spoke, the sound came from all directions, in a million voices and tones, echoing throughout the wasteland he had created.

"Who's next, daughter?"

Raven didn't open her eyes. She walked forward, somehow knowing where to go and how to get there. She didn't rush: every step she took brought her closer to him.

The screams were the worst. Most of the people were crumbling stone, monuments to the lives that could no longer be saved. But the select few were still here. Living. Breathing. Waiting to die. Wishing to die.

"Your choice, as always," she said in reply to her father's question.

The scream came from a girl this time. "Starfire," Raven whispered. They were all there. Her friends, her teammates. Raven had tried before. Trying to save her friends wasn't going to get her anywhere now. She couldn't even save herself.

"And the last one," he chuckled. Raven was still walking. She was in the heart of her city, minutes away from Titan's Tower. She could be on the other side of the world and still hear it. She kept her eyes closed, but could still see it. He had complete control of her mind. Fighting him was futile.

This time, the scream was a word. It was her name.

She knew it was Beast Boy.

She opened her eyes. She was there, standing before her father on Titan's island, the bodies of four slaughtered Titans at her feet.

"You were wrong, father." He looked at her appraisingly, waiting for her to continue. "The last one is me."

He laughed again. The burning at her feet grew, spreading up her legs, over her chest and her arms and her face to the very ends of her hair. Her father's laughter rang in her ears as fire contorted the flesh it danced across into ash.

Raven awoke shaking, sweat beading on her forehead. She didn't feel like screaming. There was no panic this time, only horror. The image of her friends bodies, bloodied and burned and maimed almost beyond recognition wouldn't leave her mind. A hot tear slid down her cheek, creating a path for others to follow. She cried for her friends, for herself, and for the world. The world she was destined to destroy. Raven clutched at her pillow, desperate to keep herself under control.

She didn't know how long she stayed like that. The tears finally stopped and she was left curled pitifully around the pillow, staring vacantly at the wall. She only came back to awareness when she noticed the faint glow of morning light.

She pushed her hair back, finding some of the purple strands plastered to her face. Her skin was still sticky and slick with moisture. She switched positions, sitting up on her bed and drawing her knees to her chest.

Now what? she wondered as she grew more lucid. She had no answers, only questions that grew by the day. Though she feared what those answers might be, she needed to know the truth. Denying that something was going on hadn't helped her so far.

Raven only had one option. There was only one place she could think of where she could find the answers she needed.

Today she would go home to Azarath.