Sorry this chapter is so late...

Chapter 10

Disclaimer: Look in Chapter 1

Prophesy.

How many prophesies can one encounter in a lifetime? What are the odds for a prophesy to rest on the shoulders of one human…out of the billions populating this earth? Why him?

Robin heaved a sigh and slumped in his office chair, letting his chin rest on the cold hard desk surface. What kind of prophesy would it be? The kind that entails utter destruction of humanity? Would he discover some ancient and dangerous weapon…maybe some magical entity that would possess him to wreak havoc across the lands?

The young man shook his head. Perhaps all those fantasy books were finally getting to him. Or maybe his life was one big fantasy movie… either way; the irony was not lost on him.

To think that now it would be Slade that saves the world…Deathstroke the Terminator, a mercenary and terrorist without boundaries or morals. The villain who raped his best friend…this corrupt man would save the world?

The demented laugh that filled the air shocked the Boy Wonder…was he really the one laughing? The teenager stood abruptly and clenched his teeth, masked eyes darting about frantically. A strange thrill raced down his back…and once again the boy dissolved into another fit of irrational glee.

Why was he laughing? What was with this happiness...this elation?

There was nothing funny about the situation…nothing at all. So why couldn't he stop laughing? Why was he feeling so…happy? "No. No!" The teenager brushed past the heavy oak desk, savagely biting his fingers as he dashed to the mirror and ripped off his mask. A frightened gasp escaped his bloody lips.

His eyes!

"Oh god…" Sticky, blood-red fingers reached out to touch the cold mirror. "Oh god..."

The teen inhaled shakily, his bloody fingers trembling as they caressed the cold glass. What if...what if he didn't have to discover any ancient power at all? A wheeze of excitement left his lips, mind beginning to consider the innumerable possibilities. Hadn't he always wished for powers? For something to make him...better?

What if…it had been here, inside him all this while? The power he'd been craving...had it been inside him this entire time?

A twisted smile spread on crimson lips. Raising his hand ever so slowly, Robin's tongue darted out to taste the scarlet liquid that ran down his palm. Another laugh left his crimson tinged lips, the scratchy sound echoing out across the dark room.

Let this prophesy come…

oOoOo

The hardback novel slid through Raven's hands, hitting the floor with a dull thud. The young teenager stared at the book, her eyes wide. What was this? Standing, swiftly the teenager clutched her stomach and staggered towards the door…a strangled scream leaving her shaking lips.

The distance was too far and Raven crumpled to the floor writhing in agony. Why was she feeling this way? What was going on? Swallowing, the teenager forced down another scream and inhaled deeply. Hauling herself from the carpeted floor, the girl raced from the room and scrambled down the hallway, violet eyes frantic and agitated.

Exhaling swiftly, the teenager pushed open the door to Starfire's room and fell inside ignoring the yelp of surprise from the alien.

"Oh no! Your stomach again?" The red-haired teen knelt and hefted her petite friend to her knees. Through the alien's awkward embrace the sorceress blinked rapidly trying to hide the sudden bout of dizziness and nausea. Groaning, she pushed at the teen's shoulders weakly…the alien was simply too strong.

Starfire placed the back of her palm on Raven's forehead. "No fever…shouldn't we tell Robin? Or Cyborg? What if it's really serious?"

"No…don't tell them. Just give me the medicine." Raven mumbled pulling away and crawling up against the bed post, breathing rapidly. The music softly playing in the background sounded unnaturally hollow as it entered her ears. Perhaps this was what it felt like to die? Probably a terrible case of vertigo?

Starfire rummaged through her cluttered dresser drawers, extracting bottle after bottle of Bath and Body Works products before finally obtaining the vacuum sealed package of blue pills. "You do realize that this isn't a pain reliever, right? I shouldn't have allowed you to have one the other day."

Raven said nothing as she climbed into her friend's rumbled bed slowly. The half-eaten package of Cheetos stared up enticingly…when was the last time she ate a bag of those? The sorceress wrinkled her nose and pushed it aside. "I thought you said it was a digestion pill?"

The Tameranian pursed her lips. "Yea it's a digestion pill but Raven, I've got nine stomachs. You only have one….and I only gave it to you because you ate too many slices of pizza that night. Have you even eaten today?" Flopping onto the bed, the teen grabbed the bag of Cheetos and waved it enticingly. "Food. I also have Coke, Sprite and even Lipton tea. Take your pick!"

The sorceress laughed. "Since when do Cheetos qualify as food?" Gingerly, Raven pulled out a few of the cheese covered snack and increased the volume on the television. "I don't think the pills will do anything to me but if it happens again…I'll maybe tell Cyborg."

"Yea…but what if there is something really wrong? Like your spleen or liver..." Starfire coughed suddenly, Cheetos bits spraying from her mouth, "Your appendix! It could have ruptured and you'd need surgery, or-"

Raven's hand darted out, covering the alien's lips. Shifting slightly, the teenager settled down on the bed and placed the 'food' in her lap. Was it the vegetables from last night? Cauliflower wasn't something she ate often...it would have been better to eat only the meat and pasta. An exasperated sigh left Raven's lips as she opened the Lipton tea and took a sip. "Chew your food. And it's okay…I can heal myself, right? I'll be fine. Something just isn't agreeing with me."

Starfire's jade green eyes clouded suddenly as her eyebrows crinkled in anxiety. "Will you really be fine?" The television remote dropped onto the bed with a thud as a slight tremor built up in the teenager's fingers. Ducking her head timidly, the alien's voice dropped to a shaky whisper. "Did it hurt?"

Raven's hands stilled, the bag of cheese snacks crinkling under her touch. Swallowing against the tightness building up in her throat, the teen uttered softly. "Honestly, no. He was…s-surprisingly gentle." A visage of confusion blossomed on the pale girl's face. "Why? Was it because I look like his wife?" A tormented laugh left Raven's lips. "Sometimes I wonder…maybe things would be less weird if it did."

"Weird?" Starfire stared, eyes wide and filled with a perplexed light. "What do you mean?"

Raven turned, her lips trembling slightly. Would Starfire understand? Would anyone understand? Exhaling shakily, the sorceress pursed her lips as she attempted to find words to explain her maze of thoughts. "The Slade you know is not the one that…um, he's got two different personalities. I'm sure of it. There was this strange aura in his eyes that-"Raven's voice broke off as she shuddered at the memory.

"Slade has a mental disorder? Perhaps disociative identity disorder? Possibly even schizophrenia? How intriguing," Starfire exclaimed, an odd excitement to her voice. The teen had been studying about the intricacies of psychiatry; on her home planet the concept of mental instabilities simply didn't exist. She couldn't fathom how many terms psychiatrists and psychologists used to describe peculiar behaviors. "Raven, could it be that these 'personalities' are alter egos?"

Raven twisted the bottle of Lipton tea and took a small sip. "Maybe…but alter egos usually have the same aura; people can change their behaviors, but an aura is set in stone from birth….it simply cannot be adjusted." Pausing suddenly, the girl's violet eyes widened and she turned to her red-haired friend in shock.

"Starfire, what if Slade wasn't totally human? What if some part of him had been…possessed, inhabited by supernatural forces?" The teenager set down the bottle of tea, fearful that her shaking hands would drop the cold beverage. At the time he seemed like a vampire…why else was he living in such a dark windowless place? At least, that was the theory…at the time.

Then she saw his room.

That bright and ornately decorated room with Venician blinds, real mahogany furniture and the softest bed one could only dream about. A vampire wouldn't live in such a bright and sunny room…obviously. Raven pursed her lips, growing more agitated by the villain's impossible identity. Who was he? What was he? Why did he take on the responsibility of averting a prophesy that would bring about the demise of his enemy?

How did she fit into his plans? Why was she kidnapped…and for what purpose? A groan of anguish left the teen's lips and she clutched her head in despair. Is this how life would be from now on? Would she live her life forever wondering what-if's? Always afraid of the shadows...never wanting to venture into the unknown again?

Because of Slade...would she forever be ashamed of her life?

"Raven, do not trouble yourself about these things…it is better to dwell in the present, right?" Starfire's jade green eyes took on a concerned hue, her hands slowly caressing the stiff back of the sorceress.

As if on a whim the alien moved forward, planting her lips softly against the hard set line of Raven's mouth, coaxing a response from the agitated young woman. Pulling back leisurely, Starfire smiled, "And now we are, as you earthlings say, even!"

oOoOo

Raven's eyes darted frantically as she stepped through the doorway into her room. Something was wrong...why else would she feel such a strong sense of foreboding? The teen's stared into the darkness of her room, trying to ignore the tremor that raced up her spine.

Turning sharply, her pale fingers reached out and flipped the light switch; an audible sigh of relief escaping her clenched teeth. The young woman moved towards her closet, throwing open the door and rummaging through the boxes of clothes, shoes and was it? Agitated, the teenager pulled out a pair of squashed ballet flats and tossed them across the floor, sending some boots and sneakers to join it.

Raven froze as her fingers clasped around the cold wooden object. Slowly she pulled free from the box and stood, turning slightly and pursing her lips. "I know you're here…come out, Slade." Raven slid the sword from the scabbard and slid into a defensive stance, ignoring the throbbing pain in her stomach.

Violet eyes flickered in trepidation as she watched the man slip soundlessly from the shadows. "How did you get in here? What more do you want from me?" Raven gripped the sword, advancing slowly and watching in irritation as a strange smirk spread on his aggravatingly handsome face. No mask again…wasn't he afraid of being caught?

"Why haven't you told him?" Slade leaned casually against the bookshelf, flipping nonchalantly through an old book of spells from Azarath. "Time is of the essence, sweetheart."

"Don't call me that!" Raven hissed sharply, raising the glittering silver sword into the air. "Why did you come!" The temperature in the room seemed to plummet several degrees and a rush of air disturbed the blinds. The sorceress clenched the sword, willing her hands to cease from their unconscious trembling.

The mercenary set the book down with a thud and stepped over a pile of dirty laundry, advancing quickly towards the unnerved teenager; she inhaled sharply and propelled the sword towards the man's broad chest.

The sound of metal upon flesh echoed vividly in the quiet room and Raven's eyes widened in horror as Slade seized the blade with his bare hands. An amused chuckle left his lips; the smooth sound echoing quietly in the room and filling the young woman's mind with conflicting thoughts. The coppery tang of blood entered her nostrils and she couldn't help but stare as the trail of blood trailed down the sword to drip quietly onto her carpet.

A tremor ran up her spine as an odd sense of déjà vu flitted through her mind. The teenager swallowed, meeting the mercenary's blank gaze…what would he do? Her knees begged to run, to fall and beg forgiveness. It was only her battered pride that allowed her to remain standing.

"When was the last time Robin left his room?" Slade asked, a strange smirk pulling at the corners of his perfectly shaped lips.

Raven's jaw dropped slightly.

Robin…

"The darkness… I-I didn't think- Is that why you came here?" Raven's eyes darted around the room as yet another gust of wind fluttered the papers resting on the table by her bookshelf. The room was even colder than before. "There are spirits attached to you, Slade. Perhaps you already knew?"

The surprise that flitted across the villain's face made the sorceress even more wary. "These spirits, please tell me they don't talk…please tell me you didn't listen to them!" Raven released the sword and stumbled back, shaking fingers outstretched as if to ward off evil.

No!

"You would have me ignore the voices of the ancestors? The spirits that guide my walk upon this earth?" Slade ran a finger across the sharp blade in appraisal, then let it drop unceremoniously to the ground. The dull thud as it hit the carpeted floor sent a shiver of panic through the teenager.

No!

Raven clenched a fist in anger. "That prophesy…they told you, didn't they? Everything you've done…it's because of those voices." Was it anger...she felt? Perhaps the sick sensation of disgust? Was this truly the answer to all her questions? Everything she went through...all the torture, simply because of those dammed voices? Had she really endured this much because of the ravings of a mad man?

A strange laugh left Slade's lips. "Can you hear them? The language is ancient…far older than earth itself."

"How can you understand them? The words they speak...it is forbidden! You should not have listened!" Raven screamed, gritting her teeth against the tears of frustration. Azar, who was this Slade, that he understood the language of time? Those voices belonged to the forerunners...the beings who walked upon this earth, charted out the destiny of the universe, leaving behind prophesies and myths for the humans to fear.

Unfortunately, their language died with them...and the many tablets and the trove of parchments remained sealed on Azarath. The forerunners were a cursed people, and their spirits still roamed the earth, driving those who listened to madness.

Humans were not meant to hear the words of the prophets...they were not meant to understand the secrets of time. But this one listened...this vile person standing before her understood their strange babbling,heeded their damnable he mad then? Had he been mad from the beginning? When had the ancestors visited him...when did he begin to accept their sayings and heed their advice?

When did he decide to become the savior of the world?

Swallowing against the tightness in her throat, the teenager whispered, "They told you about Robin, all this time…you knew." Raven shouted, "Why did you kidnap me!" The young woman's hands darted forward, gripping the window sill in desperation. Swallowing against the building lump in her throat, Raven blinked away the bitter tears. She couldn't look at him, she wouldn't.

Slade's dusky blue eye flickered with a strange emotion. "Averting such a prophesy requires…many sacrifices." A thick silence filled the room, the weight of the villain's admission seeming more...ridiculous when voiced out loud. Ridiculous, insane...and yet still truth.

Sacrifice indeed!

Was this it then? Was this the answer she'd been seeking? The closure the therapists always talked about? Was she to feel relief knowing she'd been raped...all to save the world? "Sacrifices?" Raven's violet eyes darkened in anger. "You raped me…'cause the voices told you to? I was content to think you'd gone mad, but this…"

A shaky laugh left the teenager's lips. "What did they ask for, the blood of a virgin?" A moan of anguish left the young woman's lips without permission, and she fought to remain on her feet. Raven turned and stared out the window at the darkening sky. A whisper of resignation left the sorceress lips. "You didn't have to force me…I-I would have-"

"I know." Slade whispered softly.

"What if it doesn't work? I know you have a conscience…"Raven trailed off as she turned suddenly, her violet eyes meeting Slade's dusky blue eye. He didn't need reminding of that fact. The guilt was written plainly across his face...and Raven refused to hold back the tears that slipped down her cheeks.

"I know."

So here it is...hope you like it!

I was never intending Robin to come out so creepy...but I felt it was best at the time. What should happen next?

~heartless16