I apologize in advance for this.

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On with the show.

Chapter 12: One bad day

Three years ago.

"Father's are kind!" A blast of pure white energy blasted into the chest of Trigon the Terrible. "Father's protect you!" Another. The blood red demon crumbled beneath her power. "Father's RAISE YOU!" Another. "I was protected by the monks of Azarath, I was raised by my friends," She felt them, she felt their love and power flow into her as one my one they put their hands on her shoulders. "THEY are my family, THIS is my home, and YOU are not welcome here!" The young women, dressed in a cloak of pure blinding white, floated into the air. She may have been smaller in size then her father, but she had never stood taller.

"Azarath Metrion ZINTHOS!" A light brighter then the noon day sun engulfed the demon king, swollowing him in an angelic energy before banishing him from this dimension by the very child he had created.

With the dimensional demon lord gone, the blood red skies became blue, mortal men and women released for their stone prisons, and the earth made whole once again, but it wasn't just prison's brought about by his rising that were broken. A young women, frozen in stone, walked the streets of Jump city once agian, and off the coast of what is now Norway, deep beneath the waves, a young warrior had finally awoken from a thousand year long frozen sleep.

Three days later.

Drake Daniels, Dragon Warrior of Kuarlong, lay supine floating in a sphere of mystic pink colored energy, tendrils of magic flowing through his heart and his mind. As the young man bounched in the orb of magic a gentlemen, dressed in a dark red suit was setting a few slabs of raw meet into the apartment refridgerator for when the young knight would awaken. Once the fridge had been filled, Landon, demon fugitive of hell, went to the other end of the run down, one bedroom apartment. A small mouse scurried across the wooden floor underneath his feet to the opposite wall.

"Ugh, how the mighty have fallen." His english accent dripping with disgust for his circumstances. He waved his finger in the direction of the mouse until the tiny rodent floated into his waiting hand. "Believe me, I don't like this any more then you do." And with one bite, chumped the rodents head clean off of it's body.

Landon took a seat in the, what he generously called the living room, and put his feet up. "Just one more day my friend," he spoke to the mouse, before taking another bite.

He slowed his chrunching when he noticed the walls beginning to rattle, lightbulbs bursting, and a high pitched ringing ripping through the air. Landon let out a long sigh of annoyance, placing the rest of the mouse into his mouth, not bothering to whipe the blood off of his face.

"I didn't think demon's needed food." The shaking and the ringing stopped, but didn't do much for the glass that littered the floor from the broken lights.

"I don't, it helps me feel human, and yes I'm aware of the irony." Landon glanced at the man who had entered the apartment. He was a younger looking man with a granite jaw, silver colored, pupil-less eyes and hair the color of gold that fell to his shoulders, all while dressed in a snow white button down shirt and pants.

The visitor glanced around, taking special interest in the individual floating in the other room. "So, that's the Dragon Knight? The last of his species?"

"That's the one," Landon responded casually.

"May I ask what is happening?"

"It's a spell that is currently 'downloading' the last thousand years into his mind. Tricky process, but not impossible, it just takes forever to accomplish. One more day and he should be fine."

"Are you done with small talk brother?"

Landon glanced at the now second visitor who could have been a copy of the Jacob had it not been for the hair the color of starlight, a sword strapped to his back, and the bright golden colored armor.

Landon couldn't help, but chuckle. "Well, well, isn't this a delightful turn of events. Too what do I owe the pleasure of meeting with the one and only Michael?"

The one called Michael scrunched his nose in disgust, a slight rage flashing across his eyes. "I wouldn't be here unless I had to be."

Michael skulked to the corner, giving the floor to Jacob. "I will cut to the chase. We . . heaven needs your help."

Landon glanced between Jacob to Michael to Jacob again, "Hi my name is Landon and I'm a demon, I don't think we've met."

"We know that," Michael snapped.

Jacob with a blank stare responded, "I am being serious, heaven is in need of your assistance. You are aware of Trigon's rise not but a week ago?" Landon remained silent, waiting for the punch line, "In the midst of the insuing chaos of his rising, it rocked every hell dimension to it's very foundation, including yours."

Landon let out a chuckle, "Well I'm not exactly on hell's most popular right now, so I don't get the news letters."

"Then let us inform you," Michael remained in place as he spoke, "In the ensuing chaos, your king, Azkane, has vanished, whether or not he is dead is still a mystery, but either way, the throne of hell is vacant."

"Why don't you get to the point as to why your here, I'm getting sort of bored and my T.V. show is own soon." Looking at the other side of the room however showed no television set.

Jacob stood in front of Landon, "We are here because we want YOU to claim the throne of hell."

Landon stared blankly, wondering if he had heard what he thought her heard, then let out a loud roar of laughter that seemed to last for ages, "I'm sorry Jacob, for a second there I thought you said you wanted ME to take the crown?" The angels stood stoiclly, not an ounce of joking in their countanence. Landon stopped his laughing instantly, "Oh dear god your serious."

"This doesn't come from us demon, and don't use my father's name in such a manner," said Michael. "Heaven wishes to restore Hell to it's original purpose. Hell was created as a means of punishment for those that sin against god, but when Lucifer took hell and it became a breeding ground for, well, your kind."

"Keep talking like that, it makes me all gooey." Landon batted his eye lashes.

"The point is," Jacob stepped in, "heaven wishes to rebuild hell, but there are certain obsticles-"

"-That you want an insider to clear out? Like yesterdays trash?"

"Precisely."

Once again Landon laughed as the pieces came together, "So you want me to take the corner office in hell, just to clean it up and sell it back to you? Okay now the obvious question, why in the Hell, Heaven, Earth and everywhere in between, would I want to do that? Do you even know what the problem with demon's is?"

The angels were quiet as they thought of the answer, "Their demons?" Michael responded.

Landon raised a finger, "Exactly. And every demon on hell and earth has it out for me, ever since I joined 'the good guys'." he airquoted.

"We can fix that, by empowering you with the mantel of king of hell." Jacob continued.

Landon finally stood up, "Why? Why . . . me?"

"Because Jacob here seems to think you can get the job done, but I on the other hand came willing to negotiate if needs be, and we've already come with a barganing chip," Michael responded, "If you do this, if you fix hell . . . we will grant you access through the gates of heaven."

Except for the pulsing of the magical energy sounding from the other room, silence befell them, Landon still attempting to see if the heavenly beings were lying to him, until he finally scoffed, "It's not possible."

"But it is, IF an angel of the lord relinquishes their grace to one who has been hurled to damnation." Jacob clarified.

Landon eyed them curiously, "Don't look at me, demon, it is he who wishes to surrender his grace."

Landon raised a brow at Jacob. "It is true Landon, I wish to remain a human for the rest of my days, and I will gladly give you my grace so that you run in the fields of our father with your daughter."

Finally, someone said the magic words.

Never mind how they knew about his daughter, and never mind why Michael was okay with an angel giving his grace away. Landon heard what he needed to hear.

"When do I start?"

Present day

Drake paced along the rooftop of Titans Tower, his brows furrowed in a furious scowl, and black smoke being released from his nostrils. He had been atop the Tower for the last Twenty minutes, but there was no anxiety in his waiting, just questions. Each question making him more and more agitated and furious. In the midst of his pacing a portal of swirling pink energy suddenly emerged from behind him. Heels clicking against the ground signaled the arrival of the red headed witch or Azarath.

Her eyes met his and instantly she could see the torment weighing down on him with a mixture of anger and pain, causing her to cringe and take a step back.

He knew.

"Hello . . . mother." he finally spat.

Malundra, though feeling her heart was being squeezed in her chest, tried to maintain some composure. "H-how-"

"-Doesn't matter," His stare, his angry scrutinizing stare. She couldn't meet it forcing her too look away in shame. "All this time. I thought I killed my mother. Humans can't give birth to Dragon knight children, and all this time I thought it was my fault! You or my father couldn't once ease that burden of guilt?!"

She bit her lip, "We thought it-"

"-WE!?"

She exhaled, "I . . thought it would be best."

Drake rubbed his hands through his hair, pacing around again in agitation, "What happened?"

Malundra felt the warm moisture prick the corners of her eyes. The memory fresh, and haunting. "When your father and I met, he was mourning the loss of his wife . . . "

Drake scoffed almost disgustedly, "So what I was just a one night stand? Was that why it was so easy for you to give me up?"

She snapped her head to face him, tears and hair whipping about her pale face. "No!" she stated firmly, "when I discovered I was carrying you, I went to an oracle to show me your future. You were Destined for greatness, but not with me. Your future was with the Dragon Knights, with your father."

"And what? Just didn't feel like saying 'hi'?"

She looked away again. "I didn't want to distract you from your training."

"Or the fact that YOUR Amberlynns twin sister?!" His raised voice caused the tower to shake a bit, "And by default making her MY aunt. The women responsible for the extermination of my friends and family from the face off the face of the earth, who forced me to a thousand year sleep, is related to me?!" He paused for a moment as he tried to calm his ever growing temper, "I don't care about whose family is who, or that you never came to any birthday parties. But where were you when I first woke up three years ago, the sleep that the women I loved had to put me in? Where were you when I spent my nights crying myself to sleep for the loss of my family? Everyone I ever loved was gone, and you couldn't pick up a phone?!" Malundra made no movement to answer, instead keeping her eyes downcast in shame. "TELL ME!"

Even with his outburst, it still took her a moment to respond. "I know, I know how lonely you were, how hurt, but I couldn't . . . I couldn't face you."

Drake scoffed again, "That didn't stop you from playing house with others? Yeah I know about you taking in Terra, and Raven and her mother-"

"-It wasn't like that-"

"-then tell me-"

"-the oracle saw two paths for you." she couldn't hold it in any longer, finally the truth had to be told, "He told showed the path that you would take if you stayed with me, and ALL I saw was blood, evil, and pain. I wasn't going to risk that future for you-"

"But it's MY choice, MY future." he shouted as he got closer to her, "If being friends with Trigons kid has taught me anything it's that nothing is set in stone. Ironic how these kids have been more of a family to me then my own living relatives. Draco is off on some fool's errand, and your too much of a coward to face me."

"Drake," her eyes blurry with tears, she reached out to him, but he pulled away and turned his back to her.

"I've lived for years without a mother, and I'm better off that way. Go ahead and give help to more wayward orphans, but don't expect me to come to you for help. As far as I'm concerened we're not family." He didn't bother turning to face her, but he could hear her trying to contain her sobs, feel her magic create a portal, and hear her heeled shoes click away and suddenly he was alone once again.

PING!

Cyborgs computer finished the scan of Rose Wilson's blood to which he responded with a breathless "Whoa."

"Is that a good 'Whoa' or a bad 'Whoa'?" Landon, at the other end of the med-bay, asked impatiently.

"A 'Whoa' as in I've never seen anything like this before. The substance in her blood is some of the rarest combinations and chemicals on Earth."

Landon pinched the bridge of his nose, "Let me guess, Super soldier serum."

Cyborg glanced back at him oddly, "I, uh, think so. How'd you know?"

Landon glanced at the unconscious girl lying on one of the beds. Her weapons and belt removed, and thick leather straps around her ankles and wrists, a sedative keeping her in a unconscious state. "It's the same serum Slade used on himself years ago. It made him stronger, faster, smarter, with the added bonus of insanity. He was the perfect killing machine, and enemy of the Titans."

Cyborg glanced at former mercenary's daughter, " . . . Whoa."

"Enough with the 'Whoa's'," he snapped at the metal teen, "can it be reversed?"

"Well, I don't know. Like I said, I've never seen this combination of chemicals before. And even if I did 'fix her' there's no guarantee that her mind would be."

Landon nodded, getting to his feet, "And what about Roy?"

Cyborg checked to his left where Cheshire and Artemus were sitting beside the still unconscious Roy Harper. "Besides the fact that his arm is gone, he'll be okay. I can easily make him a new one, but It'll take time. Also the hospital that took See-More called . . . he didn't make it."

Landon nodded, the frustration and anger that was weighing on him. Various items began shaking under his spectoral power, and flung themselves against the walls. "You wouldn't happen to have any animals or bad guys around do you? I REALLY need to kill something." Cyborg's mouth dropped, not able to formulate words at his odd request, but once they heard footsteps coming from the roof, Landon had forgotten what he had asked for. "Do what you can." Landon disappeared before Cyborg had a chance to tell yell after him.

Drake Daniels stomped down the halls knowing full well the demon king was behind him. "Daniels," No response. "Drake listen to me." Landon put a hand on his shoulder to stop him, but Drake spun around throwing a right hook into the demons face. Landon stumbled backwards into the wall. "Alright, I deserve that-" Drake threw one more punch, "Okay I get it! Your pissed!"

"No Landon, I'm beyond pissed. I trusted you and you kept something this huge from me."

Landon removed a handkerchief dabbing at the blood on his mouth, "Malundra told me to keep it from you-"

"-SINCE WHEN DO YOU DO WHAT PEOPLE TELL YOU TO DO?!" Drake's roaring outburst shook the hall and splintered the windows.

Landon however was quite calm. "What can I say? Malundra and I have history."

"Hist-History what the hell kinda history wou-" Drake suddenly had a horrifying . . . horrifying thought, and Landon's expression was the only validation he needed. "Oh . . . . gross . . . "

"It was long before you were even a thought in-"

"-Oh god!" Drake turned away from him leaning against the and dry heaving.

"It was only one night-"

"-Oh dear god! Stop!"

" . . . . or was it three?-"

"Damn it Landon stop!" Drake stormed off, "I need to go throw up, and stab the images out of my head."

"Your all pissed at her, so what's the big deal if we shagged once or thrice upon a time?"

A queasy Drake found his way to his bedroom on the lower levels of the Titans tower. All he wanted to do now was curl up in his bed with his arm's wrapped around his girlfriend and forget this evening had ever happened, especially the images of Landon an his-

He gagged again quickening his pace, but once he was a few feet from his door he hear Kole's voice from his room talking with someone.

"Gnark?"

Oh she must be talking to Gnark on her communicator?

" . . . yes he did, he said he loved me."

His eyes widened. She's talking about me?! She's gushing about me?! It's not polite to eavesdrop though . . . . and?

"Gnark!"

"Of course I said it back . . . . but-"

. . . but . . . ?

Kole suddenly got quiet. He could practically hear her struggling to find the right words.

"Gnark?"

"No, no, I care about him . . I care about him so much. He's wonderful to me, and just wonderful in general . . . it's just . . don't know . . . "

"Gnark?"

"I don't know why I said it, I was just caught up in the moment . . . I don't know. All I know is that I'm not sure-"

"-Gnark!" Gnark, from the screen of her communicator, was frantically pointing at something . . . someone standing behind her. Without looking she slammed the communicator shut and threw it away from her with a clatter at the other side of his room. Getting off the bed she faced the Dragon Knight.

"H-How long were you standing there?" Her eyes met his briefly, but quickly found their way to the floor.

He didn't respond at first, since that question wasn't really the important issue at the moment. "Kole, I-If you didn't . . don't feel the same way you didn't have to say anything."

She began nervously fidgeting with the hem of her skirt. "I know . . . I just . . ."

"What? Just said it cause of the adrenaline we were feeling? Don't worry I was pretty jazzed too."

His attempt at humor fell on deaf ears, making him nervous. "Look, Drake . . . . I . . " She still couldn't meet his stare, but instead turned her whole body away from him, "I don't know why I said it, but I don't know . . . if I meant it . . "

Drake, with his heart slowly being ripped in half, wasn't sure what to say, "But . . I do . . . mean it. "

She faced him now with tears in her eyes, "How can you know that? How can you know you love me, we've only known each other for a few months?"

"Because I've been in love before and I know it when I feel it. Don't you?"

She shook her head in an attempt to remove the memories, "Joey and I knew each other for about a year before I knew I loved him."

"Well if you aren't sure if you love me or not then why did you say it?"

She wrapped her arms around herself and started pacing the room, "I don't know why . . . "

Drake was starting to get a bit agitated, "Come on Kole that's not really an answer. I mean here I am on cloud nine because I'm in love again and your not even sure."

She faced him with angry tears in her eyes, "Don't make me responsible for YOUR happiness."

"That's not my point at all. I'm just trying to figure out why you said you loved me when you don't mean it. Do you at least feel it?"

She looked away again, "I . . don't know . . "

His annoyance was rising, "Kole-"

"I DON'T KNOW OKAY!" She faced him once again, the tears flowing freely now. "When I said that I loved you . . . I was . . . you found out you still have family, you know who your real mother is . . . I just wanted to give you . . . "

"Give me what?" he snapped, "Make me happy, miss 'don't make me responsible for your happiness'?"

"I can't do this right now-"

"-No your not doing that!"

"I CAN'T LOVE YOU!"

Her hands slapped over her mouth, the knight feeling as if someone had punched him in the stomach taking any and all of the oxygen out of his body. The young girl trembling from the sobs she was attempting to hold back, but it was out now.

"I can't . . . I can't. Your life . . the things you hunt . . the battle's you fight. I can't lose someone I love again. I've lost Joey, my mom . . . my dad . . . I can't . . . love you . . . "

Drake felt a mixture of emotions flowing through him. Anger, hurt, dispear, heartache . . . pure gut wrenching . . . pain. He stood there, frozen in that spot, Kole shuddering with each sob that wracked her small frame. Her desire to reach out pushed her towards him, but he took a small step away from her, and then another, and then another.

"Drake . . . "

"No . . . your right . . " he turned away from her, "I . . I need to go ."

She reached out again, "Drake please-" But he was gone. In an instant the dragon took off through the window into the moonlit sky. A blood-curdling roar of agony ripping through the night.

"It's not here!"

"It has to be, she just had it in her hand. Look again!"

As the ringing in her ears began to fade, she could hear two men arguing around her. She blinked her violet eyes in an attempt to clear the stars from her vision, and still the arguing continued.

"Marik I'm not finding it!"

Marik? Whare have I heard that name before? And why does the other guy sound so familiar?

She heard a long sigh, "I guess it doesn't matter, though an angel feather would be nice to have. Ah I see our guest is waking up."

Raven let out a groan of agony with her head pounding, she attempted to raise her hands to her head, but couldn't move them, or her ankles. With her vision finally clearing she looked down at them to find black zip ties restraining her to the armchair.

"Good morning, dear, or evening, well it's morning somewhere I guess." With her still blurry eyes she could just make out the shape of a man in a biker jacket, dirty blonde goutee and hair tied back in a ponytail, and eyes, dark, cold, dead, demonic eyes. "Sorry about the bonk on the head, but ya know, and in case you or your green friend are thinking of using your powers, think again. We gave you a lovely cocktail that will supress them for some time."

"Ugh . . what . . where . . " That's when it hit her. Demon in front of her, tied to a chair. Her eyes shot open, filling her brain with with a painful amount of light, "Where's Beast Boy?!" she almost screamed.

"Raven!"

The biker stepped out of the way allowing her to see the changeling tied to a chair in the same fashion.

"And just in case your thinking of calling for help, I have everyone in this building possessed and under my command. I tried possessing your green friend here, but none of my possessers want to get in that zoo-brain of his."

"What can I say, there's only room for one crazy person in here." Beast Boy smirked.

The demon Marik glanced over his shoulder at him, "Keep that sense of humor, your gonna need it."

"Let him go!" Raven snarled, "How did you two sneak up on us anyways?"

"We're wise to your acts now." A voice, deep an menacing came from the other end of the hotel room, "We've learned to hide ourselves from your powers and his animal stank." The hulking, bald, African-American man stepped into her field of vision. "You were the easy to hide from him, the animal was a bit more difficult."

"Hey, your the bus driver." Beast Boy pointed out.

He chuckled, "Was the bus driver. Now I'm Raven's little brother." She could see it, it's real face of the creature that was controling him. "Although I am lovin' this vessel."

"Settle down," Marik warned he flexed the muscles of the vessel, "Let's get this show on the road." Marik turned to Beast Boy. "You have something I want."

Beast Boy shrugged, "Well the ladies love me."

"Cute, I'm talking about that beautiful creature slumbering deeply inside of you, that I helped create. Is there any chance you'll just . . fight on my side?" Beast Boy snarled giving Marik his answer. "Oh thank goodness, that means I'll get to rip it out of you." Marik revealed the penny that was tied on the string that Raven kept with her. "It was a REAL pleasure to find this on her person," Beast Boy snarled again, fighting against the zipties that held him. Marik turned back to him, and placed his hand against his chest. "By the way . . this is going to hurt . . . a lot"

Raven couldn't see what was happening since Marik had blocked her view, but suddenly their room was filled with the god aweful sounds of Beast Boy screaming in absolute pain. She could see his limbs twist and pull against the bonds that held him, his fists clenched so hard they were drawing blood, the chair creaking as he fought.

"STOP!" she screamed, "STOP IT!" But she was ignored. For five whole minutes her begging was ignored until Marik finished what he set out to do. Stepping away she now saw not one, but two seperate Beast Boy's. One her green boyfriend, and the other, the Black Beast. Her Beast Boy was panting and sweating, his head slumped onto his chest and tears streaming down his face.

"Well that was more painful then when my father did that."

"Indeed." Marik handed the penny to Black Beast who swollowed the coin whole, then turned his blood red gaze to Raven.

"We gonna bring her along to?" he asked. Raven felt a sickening chill run down her spine at the way the creature eyed her lustfully.

"No," Marik held him back, "Not yet. But in time she will help us."

"Go to hell," she snarled.

"Been there, done that, got the T-shirt." Marik chuckled.

"I will NEVER help HIM again."

Marik leaned forward on the chair, placing his hands on her bound arms and getting into her face. She pulled away, but his revulting breath filled her nostrils. "See, that's were your wrong. Your going to release your father again, and just like last time, it will be of your own free will and choice."

She scowled, "Not. Going. To happen."

He chuckled again, "What do you think we've been doing these past few months. Carnus attacking you? Pushing you to kill that girl? Setting you up to be taken advantage of? Everything we've done has been to force you, your anger, the demon inside of you, out to play, but it appears we have been chopping at the wrong tree."

She turned to face him, her eyes burning with hellfire, "Do whatever you want to me, I will NEVER help him. And he is not my father!"

Marik stood up straight, his amused smile still on his face. "See all this time we thought we had to hurt you, to harm you, when in actuality the answer was right in front of us the whole time. We've wanted to break your body, then your mind, then force you to act on your demonic half, but we still have one more place to hit," With his finger he pointed to her chest, "Your heart."

She looked at him oddly, but then he turned to face the exhausted pain ridden changeling and it suddenly became clear. Pure horror filled her chest, her eyes becoming wide as dinner plates. " . . no . . " she barely had enough oxygen to utter that one word.

"Get . . away . . from her . . " Beast Boy was lifting his head back up again in a vain attempt to seem threatening to the demons.

"Well he's got guts Raven, I'll give him that, but now that I have what I needed he's only good for one thing," Marik reached into his coat and pulled out a large hunting knife, Raven staring with terror at the shimmering blade, "he can die."

Was this happening? Was this it?

She couldn't move, her brain fried, her mouth frozen, her lungs forgetting they needed air.

Marik handed the knife to the demon beside him, "End him. And make it quick. We may have spoiled Landon's plans for a time, but it wont be long before he realizes that a sin has been released." He took the knife, as Marik looked back to Raven, "See you soon." In black mist Marik and Black Beast were gone, leaving Raven, Beast Boy and one of the seven sins alone.

The enourmous wide shouldered man approached Raven, the tip of the knife inches from her face. Once again she could only find the breath for one word, " . . . please . . "

"Sorry sister, but did you honestly think that you'd get to keep all of this? That you could have friends, a home, a boyfriend?" He pulled his face closer to hers, "No dear sister. It doesn't work that way. You, me, our brothers and sisters, we're demons, and demon's don't get happy endings." He stood up and walked to the back of the room. "I will give you a chance to say good-bye though, and as an added bonus I'll make it quick."

Once he was out of sight she turned her attention to her boyfriend. He was still weak from whatever Marik did to him, but it didn't stop her frantic cries.

"Garfield, You gotta go, you gotta run-"

"-Raven-"

"-That serum must have worn off by now, change into a bird, a plane, a T-rex, anything-"

"-Raven-"

"-Don't worry about me! Go get help! Got get the police, the national guard, the military, a priest-"

"RAVEN!"

She stopped speaking, but couldn't stop crying. She summoned every speck of power, but the drug she was given was keeping her powerless and unable to save either of them. Beast Boy used every ounce of energy to lift up his head to face her, and give her one of HIS smiles.

"It's okay," he said dryly to which she shook her head, "No, it is. I'll get to see my goldfish speedy, and I'll get to see my mom and dad again. I'll get to tell them about this stuck up hard ass named Robin, My best buddy whose a cyborg, and an alien princess whose like a sister, and this amazing girl named Raven." He began to sniffle as the tears flowed down his cheeks.

She shook her head, tears flying from her face. "No, I can't-I can't lose you . ."

"Hey, your not losing me alright. I'll be around, just not . . ya know . . around,"

"No . . I need you, I'm not strong enough-"

"-Raven listen to me. Your a fighter, your the strongest person I know, you can do this, but you have to promise me something. Can you do that?" The thud of her brothers boots told them he was moving towards Beast Boy, "Raven can you do that?!" She nodded her head, "Please . . . keep smiling, don't ever stop. And don't let these son's of bitches win. You fight them tooth and nail, don't give in an inch do you hear me?"

The sin was behind him now, his beefy hand on his shoulder. She nodded again, "I . . . promise Gar. I promise . . . "

Even though he was crying and shaking from fear, he never looked happier, "Raven . . . I . . love you . . . "

She sniffled, "I . . . love you too . . . " Once again he smiled his large toothy grin . . .

. . . . one last time.

It happened so quickly, one moment he was speaking to her, smiling, crying and the next . . . .

She stared at his now lifeless body, blood oozing from a stab wound on his neck. The sin kept his word by making his demise quick. She couldn't take her eyes off of him, not even when her brother walked towards her, leaning his lips close to her ear and placing the knife with Beast Boy's blood on her lap. His ice cold breath tickled her skin.

"I look forward to seeing your wrath, sister dear."

He stood up, reached for her communicator and pressed the call button for Robin. He placed it on the bed and without another word, and an ounce of compassion, left the hotel room.

The communicator buzzed a few times before Robins face appeared on the screen, but was staring up at the ceiling due to his poisition on the bed.

"Hey Raven," he greeted almost happily.

"Greetings friend Raven!" Starfire had hopped onto her new boyfriends shoulders with a wide grin on her face. Raven could hear them giggling, hear their happiness, hear Robin struggle to wrangle in the alien princess. "We have most glorious news to tell you!"

Robin pushed his face into the communicator while laughing, "Maybe later Star," but she could still hear Starfire giggling and flying about the room. "So what's up Raven, how are you and Beast Boy?"

". . . . Raven . . . "

"Friend Raven where are you?"

". . . . Raven is everything alright? . . . . Raven?"

" . . . Raven! . . . "

. . . .

. . . .

Like I said, sorry about this.

When I came up with this plot line I was in a pretty dark place. My mother had passed away and then my grandfather ten months later, but I didn't want to change anything and so . . . here we are.
So I planned to have a Young Justice cross over right after this one, but I decided to scrap the idea and just keep this going, The last story in this series. Also I have a poll up on my profile page, go ahead and cast your vote.

Next time.

With Beast Boy gone, how long can Raven put off the darkness growing inside her. The final battle will begin in "You can't run forever."

See ya next time.