Robin pressed further, his curiosity growing. "And why Jinx? Why now?" he inquired, seeking answers.
"Jinx is a witch, after all. So, she has a sensitivity towards magic. Trigon must have figured out that she now has access to me," Raven explained, trying to make sense of the situation.
Jinx, still grappling with her own confusion, chimed in. "But how did I even know his name? I don't remember. I didn't even know I didn't know it. It's... really creepy."
The room fell silent once again, as the weight of their shared uncertainty hung in the air, leaving them to contemplate the unknown and the unsettling mysteries that lay before them.
"We will figure it out," Robin confirmed with determination. "I'll make sure to contact every magic member of the Titans, and I'll inform the Justice League. Trigon is not a matter to be taken lightly."
"I know, I'll go read my books," Raven said, starting to head towards her room. However, her leader stopped her in her tracks.
"I don't want you to isolate yourself like the last time," he said, his voice filled with concern. "I'm serious, Raven. Last time... you didn't tell us, and, well, it was..."
"What?" Raven interrupted, feeling a nerve struck. "I caused the end of the world?"
"No, that's not what I meant," Robin quickly clarified. "It's just..."
"I am not going to cause another apocalypse!" Raven snapped, her words taken out of context.
"Hey Rae," Cyborg interjected, trying to calm her down. "It's nothing like that. We don't want you to feel alone."
"I am alone, he is my father, not yours," Raven retorted, the frustration evident in her voice.
"Raven, please. We are concerned that you might try to do something... to harm yourself," Starfire added, her voice filled with genuine worry.
Jinx observed how Raven was being cornered and decided to intervene. "Helloooo," she claimed attention, stepping forward. "Am I painted or something?" Everyone's gaze turned towards her. "It was MY nightmare that is causing this mess. She's not going solo. I'm going to stay close. It's my head, after all."
"Jinx, I don't like to be disturbed..." Raven began, but Jinx interrupted her.
"It's your crazy father, I understand, but it's my crazy head that's at risk here. So I think it's only fair. You owe me that," Jinx stated firmly.
Raven struggled to come up with a response to persuade Jinx to back down, but deep down, she knew Jinx was right. The mere thought of facing her father after all these years filled her with unease and nervousness.
"Fine, but no playing around, Jinx," Raven finally relented, acknowledging the validity of Jinx's concern
Back in Raven's room, with dozens of books strewn across every available surface, hours had passed. Jinx, growing increasingly restless, flipped through page after page, her eyes scanning the text rapidly. Frustration built within her as she wondered why they hadn't considered using the internet for their research.
"We're in the 21st century, isn't there something on the internet about this?" Jinx finally blurted out, her impatience evident in her voice. She glanced over at Raven, who seemed completely consumed by her books, the deepening obsession etched on her face. Jinx couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for causing Raven distress with her nightmares.
"Hey," Jinx called out, trying to grab Raven's attention. However, Raven remained absorbed in her reading, oblivious to the interruption."Hey!"
This time, Raven reluctantly turned her gaze towards Jinx, her expression filled with annoyance.
"What?" Raven snapped, clearly irritated by the interruption. Her gaze was intense, almost terrifying.
Jinx felt a surge of frustration, her own emotions bubbling to the surface. "What's wrong with you? I'm not the villain here!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with exasperation. Raven rubbed her temples, trying to calm herself. "I'm the one who has your evil dad inside, and you don't see me acting like a zombie."
Raven's gaze softened as she took in Jinx's words. She realized that her singular focus on their research had blinded her to the burden Jinx carried. The weight of guilt settled upon her shoulders as she acknowledged her lack of empathy.
"I'm sorry, you're right," she admitted, her voice laced with sincerity.
Against her own nature of indifference, Jinx reached out and placed a hand on Raven's shoulder. There was a brief pause before she spoke again. "Thanks, for saving my ass back there, in my crazy dream."
Raven's small smile conveyed her appreciation. "You've saved mine too"
Jinx shifted uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact. "But you were actually willing to stay and face that monster, so I could have the chance to leave. So, thanks for that."
Raven's expression turned somber as she acknowledged the truth. "He is my father, after all. Whatever he's trying to do with you, I will put a stop to it. I won't let him harm anyone else."
"Maybe it could help... you telling me more about him?" Jinx suggested, her voice filled with genuine curiosity. Raven looked at her, doubt and hesitation evident in her eyes. "You don't trust me, right? It's not just about the nightmares. You've never really trusted me, despite everything."
Raven sighed, her gaze shifting away momentarily. "I'm not going to lie, Jinx. I find it hard to trust you."
Jinx's anger and sadness mingled in her voice as she responded, "I've been a Titan for over a year now!"
"I know," Raven acknowledged quietly.
"Everyone else trusts me," Jinx insisted, her frustration mounting.
"Don't you remember the pizzeria? Just this morning, you were making fun of me." Raven expressed her frustration
Jinx rolled her eyes, a mix of annoyance and exasperation. "Come on, Raven! That was just a joke. Besides, if it wasn't for me, Brother Blood or Slade could have discovered your evil side much earlier."
Raven's words faltered, and she stopped mid-sentence. "Wait, 'they'? Brother Blood also knew I was a half-demon?"
Jinx, a little frustrated by the sudden change in topic, nodded reluctantly. "But I did not tell him," Jinx clarified. "I told you, I keep my mouth shut when it comes to these topics."
"I know... I believe you," Raven responded, her tone softening. "But do you have anything left from Brother Blood? A book? A weapon?"
Jinx paused, thinking for a moment, before a realization struck her. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "Yes!"
"show me"
The Titans followed Jinx to her apartment, curiosity piqued. Jinx retrieved a bracelet with a pink gem and handed it to Raven. "I kept it from way back and thought it was so cool."
As soon as Raven touched the bracelet, a searing pain coursed through her hands, forcing her to drop it. The other Titans rushed to her side, concerned. Cyborg examined her hands, which showed signs of heavy damage.
"When did you get it?" Robin asked Jinx, his voice filled with urgency.
"Well, I actually unpacked it a few days ago... just before the nightmares," Jinx replied, realization dawning on her face. "Do you think it has something to do with it?"
"Definitely," Raven confirmed, disregarding the burning pain. "This is amazing dark magic, and Trigon is not dead. He was just waiting for an opening."
"Oh Rae... I am so sorry," Jinx said, filled with guilt as she looked at Raven's heavily burned hands. "I didn't know, I swear! I just thought it was cool. Are you okay? Your hands? I didn't mean to! I didn't know!"
"It's not your fault," Raven reassured her, masking her pain. "I'm okay," she lied. "The moment you touched this gem, Trigon must have felt a portal. Brother Blood knew this the moment he gave it to you."
"But it was so many years ago!" Jinx protested.
"He focused on Cyborg at that time," Robin recalled. "But he must have had some sort of backup plan."
Jinx, for the first time in her life, felt a deep sense of sadness washing over her. "He used me, even after all this time. He keeps managing to use me. Everyone sees me as some sort of bridge?! I'm sick of this!" Jinx yelled, frustration and anger pouring out. "Him, Slade, the Hive, and now your stupid father!" She pointed at Raven, her voice filled with anguish.
Raven's expression remained calm as Jinx expressed her concerns. "I just want to take out these nightmares, and then I'm out," Jinx warned. "You said it before, it's your father, not mine."
Raven wanted to say something to reassure Jinx, but she understood the underlying fear. She nodded in acknowledgment. "Of course, I know how to do it. Let's go back to the tower, prepare some things, and get to it."
Starfire looked at Raven's injured hands with concern. "What about your hands?"
"I'm fine," Raven lied again, even though she could barely move them.
Back in Raven's room, she prepared another symbol, and Jinx watched her with a mix of hate and apprehension.
"Sit inside the circle. I'm just going to need to remove my father's presence," the half-demon instructed.
Jinx hesitated but eventually complied. "Are we going back to that ocean? 'Cause I don't want to die."
"It's just a quick trip to your inner consciousness," Raven assured her. "Then I'll lock him inside my own consciousness."
Jinx's eyes widened in alarm. "Wait, what? What spell are you going to use?"
"A transference spell," Raven replied calmly.
"No," Jinx protested, getting up again. "You want him in your head?"
"It's the best way to take him out of yours," Raven explained.
"No, no, you want Trigon's presence in your mind? That's going to drive you... to madness." Jinx's voice quivered with genuine concern.
"Don't be silly. I've been dealing with these things way before you knew how to steal," Raven replied, attempting to make a joke. "Now sit."
"I don't know," Jinx hesitated.
"If I don't take him out, you will become a bridge. It's a path I don't desire for anyone," Raven explained, her voice filled with determination.
"So you want to sacrifice yourself for my stupid nightmare?" Jinx asked, realizing the gravity of the situation.
"It's not a stupid nightmare. It's a manifestation of pure evil," Raven stated firmly.
The implications weighed heavily on Jinx, and she reluctantly took a seat. Raven placed her burned hands on the temples of the pink-haired witch, her eyes catching a glimpse of her injuries.
"Okay, calm down," Raven instructed. "Breathe. Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos."
Once again, darkness enveloped them.
Jinx opened her eyes to find everything black as far as she could see. Then, her entire life played out before her. Her old teammates, her new ones, her childhood, her family, her life as a thief, and as a hero. And then, the nightmare—dark waves swirling beneath her feet. She was on the verge of desperation when a hand reached out to her.
"Calm down," Raven told Jinx, and in an instant, they found themselves in a simple, dark room, with only the two of them. In the center of the room, the bracelet awaited them. Raven reached out and took hold of it, but an intense heat seared her hands, burning them again.
"What are you doing?" Jinx exclaimed, attempting to snatch the bracelet from Raven. However, Raven skillfully evaded her grasp. "You're hurting yourself! Starfire explicitly warned you not to harm yourself. Give it to me!"
"This bracelet represents my father in your mind," Raven explained calmly. "By taking it, I'm essentially removing him from your thoughts. It's as simple as that."
"And then what?" Jinx demanded, their struggle intensifying as they both fought for possession of the pink gem.
"Nothing, you will be free" Raven replied, a pained expression crossing her face involuntarily. "Let's just leave."
"No!" Jinx reacted swiftly, launching an attack with a surge of pink, electrified energy, successfully taking hold of the bracelet.
As sinister laughter reverberated throughout the room, the walls trembled and started to crumble.
As dust and debris swirled around them, Raven's voice pierced through the chaos, filled with urgency. "Give it to me!"
Jinx stubbornly resisted, her defiance unwavering. "No!"
With a final crash, the walls collapsed entirely, revealing an ominous cliff's edge overlooking a fiery abyss. The air grew thin, making it increasingly difficult to breathe. Four fiery eyes emerged from the towering rock wall, fixating on Raven and Jinx. Determined, Raven made a desperate attempt to retrieve the bracelet, her hand outstretched towards it.
"Jinx, I'm not playing around," Raven asserted, her voice tinged with a mix of determination and concern.
"Neither am I," Jinx retorted, her resolve unyielding.
The four eyes began to grow in size, engulfed in flickering flames. A sense of dread filled the air, and a bone-chilling voice echoed through the room. "Am I glad to see you, my daughter," Trigon spoke with a cruel and menacing tone. "Is it usual for a father to encounter such difficulties when contacting his own daughter?"
Jinx's eyes widened in terror as she witnessed Raven's frozen state of fear. The vibrant and confident hero she knew seemed to crumble under the weight of her father's presence.
"You... are... dead," Raven managed to speak, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and anger.
"I'll never be dead. I am immortal, my sweet Raven. I will always be with you," Trigon's voice echoed, filled with a sinister sense of possession.
"I don't want you! Why don't you leave me alone?" Raven pleaded, her voice filled with anguish. "I hate you!"
"Hate? Love? You think those emotions are matters you can handle?" Trigon sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance. "You are nothing but a shadow of my glory. Your existence is meaningless. I have watched from afar how you crumble, how your depression consumes and makes you miserable."
"You don't know me!" Raven stepped backward, her voice quivering with defiance and desperation.
"I have known you from the day you were conceived. Whether you choose to join me or attempt to defeat me, your existence is nothing without me," Trigon declared with an air of dominance, his words laced with cruel certainty.
Jinx's heart ached as she witnessed the tears welling up in Raven's eyes. In that moment, she saw beyond the formidable hero and glimpsed a vulnerable little girl, scared and tormented. She couldn't help but feel a surge of pity for her, caught in the web of her sinister heritage.
"Thank you, Jinx," Trigon's voice dripped with sarcasm. "You've done well in reuniting us once again."
