Two Birds With One Stone

Disclaimer: No, I do not own the Teen Titans. No matter how well I write them. Or whatever. The term "Sister-in-God" does not belong to me. Tad Williams used it first.

I was dreaming when I wrote this/ So sue me if I go too fast

Dedicated to:

sekai no yakusoku ,Arein ,Chica de Los Ojos Café ,The Komodo Dragon Phoenix , and castle in the air, all great writers and faithful reviewers.

And

Emily Karnes - Who will probably never read this.

Epilogue (Part Two): "Church of Blood" or "Raven's Story"

"When I woke up, I felt as though my head had been split in two. I didn't dare open my eyes, afraid of what I would see. I was in pain... surely I'd been sent to hell after all. But then I heard chanting. Many voices chanting. I slowly opened my eyes. The first thing I saw was stained glass, light pouring through the red and orange blocks of color.

"Welcome to the world, Raven."

I'll never forget that voice. So gentle, so kind. But my empathy was kicking in fast, and I knew this man was up to no good.

"Isn't she beautiful, Mother Mayhem?"

"An angel, Brother Blood."

The man who had spoken first wore a long, dark red robe. Thrown over his shoulders was a shawl that had once been white, but was now faded to the yellow of old parchment. He had a kind face, but I couldn't look into his eyes for feeling sick.

The woman who stood beside him, with her dark hair and eyes, held the haughty beauty of an evil queen. She also wore a dark red robe. With a sickening pang in the deepest pit of my stomach, I realized I was wearing one, too.

I was in a church.

But I was being held captive, bound to the alter, surrounded by a horde of faceless monks and nuns in dark red robes. They were chanting my name. To my horror, I realized they were chanting the incantation to wake Scath. To open his portal.

But they were chanting it backward.

I think I fainted.

When I next awoke, I was looking into the dark, empty eyes of the woman called Mother Mayhem.

"Run," I commanded her. My voice was very weak. "You must protect that child you carry in your womb."

She did run. But not away from that terrible place. She returned with the man called Brother Blood. I knew, somehow, that the child belonged to him. What a sickening thought. I felt weak, I hadn't eaten in days, and my stomach was spinning. I threw up on the floor at the feet of Brother Blood. Black bile mixed with blood stained the hem of my robe.

Mother Mayhem was ordered to bring me food. When we were alone, I repeated my command to her. She pretended she couldn't hear me. Obviously she was afraid of Brother Blood's wrath. She left a bucket of water with a ladle at my feet and cut the binds from one of my wrists so that I could reach it to drink.

Through the night I drank and meditated, regaining my strength. I had to find a way to escape. To be with you again, Robin.

By morning, I felt better.

Mother Mayhem came and fed me again. Once again, I warned her that her child was in danger, that she should escape. She paid me no heed.

Brother Blood came later, followed by his servants, his "children", as he called them.

"We are the Church of Blood, Raven," he said.

For a long hour they chanted again. I pretended to be weak when Brother Blood untied me and led me to a basin of Holy Water. But as the sun shone in through the stained glass, I realized that I was about to be baptized in blood. I resisted, calling for you. Brother Blood hit me across the face and ordered me to be bond again.

"You will cooperate, Raven," he insisted.

Looking into his eyes was painful, but I forced myself to do it. What I saw there sickened me beyond anything I'd seen or felt thus far in that wretched place. I saw an old man staring out at me through those eyes. Brother Blood looked not a day over twenty-five, but those eyes had seen a hundred years.

I searched deeper and found what I needed.

Mother Mayhem came again that night to feed me and leave water. I'd already warned her three times, so I couldn't warn her again. But to my relief, it was she who spoke.

"I fear for my child," she said quietly.

"I can help you," I said. "I can defeat him."

"How?" she was frightened, but hopeful.

"You know my father's mark. Write it on Brother Blood's shawl in Holy Water while he sleeps."

She stared at me for a long moment, then walked away, into the shadows of the church. I knew she was afraid. But I had hope, Robin. You taught me to hope, so that night I hoped with every fiber of my being that Mother Mayhem would do as I asked. I wanted to be with you again so much it hurt.

The next day I awoke to the chanting voices. Again, I was untied from the alter and led to the basin of blood. From under her hood, Mother Mayhem smiled at me and put a hand over her stomach.

My heart leapt.

"She will be a girl," I said. "A beautiful girl."

Gathering all of my strength, I used my mind to choke Brother Blood with the shawl, dunking him into the pool of blood. Mother Mayhem pulled the shawl away and threw it into the candles near the alter. I threw off the dark red robe and summoned my white clothes. The Children of Blood advanced on us, chanting. But I was in control now, and I set their minds free. Brother Blood, robbed of his shawl, drowned in his basin.

Mother Mayhem and I escaped."

"Where is she?" Robin asked after a long moment.

"I took her to my mother," Raven explained. "Jessica was born this morning."

She ran a hand through his hair and kissed him deeply once more.

"Promise you'll never leave again..."

"I'll always be here, flying at your side," she answered.

FIN

Writer's note: I never know what to say when I finish a story. I believe there are thanks in order.

To sekai no yakusoku ,Arein ,Chica de Los Ojos Café ,The Komodo Dragon Phoenix , and castle in the air – my most faithful reviewers: Thank you for motivating me and encouraging to take my time. I love you all. This story is for you.

To everyone you decided this story was worthy of putting in a C2.

To everyone who made this story a part of their "Favorite Stories" list.

To everyone who made me a part of their "Favorite Author" list.

And now:

Go review already.

Signed,

The writer, you fools!