32 Productions Presents…

“Reaching for the Light”

Chapter Five

Hellish Landscape

The trio found themselves in a field filled with rotten flesh, broken bones, and twisted muscles. Lilith floated before them, her eyes glowing red. Around her, demonic versions of villains the New Titans had defeated appeared, including Frost and Infernus, the Leech, and all of Tartarus. Ebony grumbled.

Ebony: The blue guy still looks like a dork…

Lilith: I know, I couldn’t do anything for him.

The twisted Melvin sighed. No respect, I tell ya.

Lilith: But enough. Kill them. Kill them all!

The villainous creatures charged them. To their dismay, whenever they defeated one, it disappeared and a new version of it was spawned to replace it.

Ebony: This is nuts! We can’t win this!

Raven: We have to! For Debra’s sake we have to stop this!

Hood: No…no, for OUR sake, Debra has to stop this!

He stopped fighting. The villains swarmed him like locus attacking crops.

Ebony: HOOD! What are you doing!? Hang on, I…GAH!

Now the villains were coming in threes, a private group for each hero to fight. Lilith cackled.

Lilith: That’s it! Hurry up and die!

Suddenly all the villains screamed and vanished. Lilith paled.

Lilith: N…no…

Debra: Yes.

Debra appeared next to Hood who was laying battered and bleeding on the ground. As her feet touched the field’s surface, the twisted landscape changed to a normal field with green grass and cloudless blue skies. Lilith whimpered and took a step back. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Debra healed his wounds. Crying out, Lilith was horrified to see Hood’s wounds appearing on her own body.

Lilith: No, no, no…this can’t happen…this can’t…please…please don’t let this be happening…

Hood: Debra…?

Smiling in a way Hood, nor even herself had seen before, Debra nodded her head.

Debra: You crazy fool…you could have been killed…

Hood: It got you to come out, didn’t it?

Giving him a hug, Debra turned to her sister and mother.

Debra: Take him and leave.

Raven: Are you sure you’re…

Debra: Mother…I’ve never felt better in my life. Please go.

Nodding, Raven and Ebony left, taking Hood with them. Lilith swallowed.

Lilith: I…Debra, please…I did…I didn’t mean to hurt you in anyway. I only wanted…

Debra: GET OUT.

Shrieking, Lilith was blown away.

Warehouse

The trio regained awareness back in the warehouse to see a shocking sight. Debra was back, dressed in her Conjure costume somehow, sans cloak. Her hair had gone back to normal, but she retained the triangle tattoos on her around her eyes. Lying on the floor was a shriveled green creature, looking like a twisted troll or something. It looked at its hands and spoke…in Lilith’s voice.

Lilith: Oh no…no, no…what’s happening to me…?

Conjure: …I’d like to be alone with her, if you all don’t mind.

Raven: …certainly. Everyone, help someone unconscious to get out of here.

Changeling: But…

Raven: Trust her.

Once the warehouse was empty, Conjure turned back to Lilith.

Conjure: You made me attack my friends…my family…

Lilith: They…they hurt you…everyone hurt you. I never meant you harm.

Conjure clenched her fists.

Conjure: You whispered terrible things in my ear, made me lose my appetite and hampered my sleep.

Lilith: You wouldn’t let me have control. I had to. …besides, you made me this way.

This comment struck Conjure. Lilith groaned and huddled tighter.

Lilith: I don’t…I don’t feel so good…I guess…I guess this wasn’t what you wanted.

Conjure: No. Not at all.

Lilith: …I…I just…wanted the hate to…go away. You…you just kept…putting it…in me. Ma…making me sick…like packing away the plague.

Conjure knelt down.

Conjure: …I can’t leave you like this.

Lilith: …I’m so sorry for everything…I really am.

The little troll that was Lilith closed its eyes.

Lilith: I’m ready…kill me.

Conjure: …no, I have a better idea.

Everyone was waiting outside when Conjure stepped out. Standing in front of everyone, she lowered her head.

Conjure: …I’m terribly sorry for everything that’s happened.

Terra: Yeah…well, despite you busting up my face like that, I guess I can forgive you since it wasn’t actually you. ‘sides, your mom fixed us up.

Conjure: …oh, I almost forgot.

Placing her hands on Helios, Conjure pumped the emotions Lilith stole from him back in. He sprang to his feet.

Helios: Okay, what the hell was that?

Conjure: Sorry…

Hood: Okay, enough apologizing. There isn’t a single person here who blames you other then yourself.

Conjure: …thank you, Hood.

Conjure kissed his mask where his mouth was. This left him…reasonably stunned.

Conjure: …thank you for everything.

Hood: …um…you’re welcome…

Shade: …great…I get my ass kicked AND both my daughters are dating. This can’t get much worse.

Conjure: Father, it was just a kiss…on his MASK no less. I haven’t decided anything just yet.

Ebony: …anyone seen Damien?

Silence.

Raven: …Shade.

Shade: Yes, dear?

Raven: …why do you talk when you know things like this happen?

Shade: Sorry, dear…

Changeling: You wuss…

Terra yanked his ear.

Terra: Hey, at least he listens to his wife! Last time you didn’t listen to my advice, you smashed your thumb with a hammer.

Changeling: I built the bird house you wanted, didn’t I? Besides, you’re not my wife!

Terra: Birdhouse?! It was a death trap! And I’m close enough!

Skeemat: Nnngh…wha’s going on? Did we win?

Conjure: In a manner of speaking. Lilith has gone back where she belongs.

Ebony freaked.

Ebony: WHAT?! You let her back into your head!?

Conjure: I created her, Ebony. Despite her radical behavior, she was right about one thing. In a way, I am her mother.

Conjure looked at Raven.

Conjure: And a mother never give up on her child.

Raven: I’m proud of you, Debra.

Conjure: …hmm? Oh, fine. Lilith says you should visit your mother. She didn’t even know you had kids.

Raven: Did she hurt my mother?!

Conjure paused.

Conjure: …they shared tea. Apparently she saw no reason to harm her since I never met her.

Ebony: …I didn’t know we had a grandma…I mean, one that was still alive anyway.

Conjure stepped over to Changeling. With a sigh, she embraced him, much to his surprise.

Changeling: Uh…

Conjure: I accept you…Papa. While I will always call Shade “Father” I’ll now refer to you as “Papa”…if you don’t mind.

Changeling: …sure.

Conjure: …so I expect money from you on my birthday.

There was dead silence. Conjure let go and backed up.

Conjure: No good? I’m not used to telling jokes…

Skeemat: No….a…actually that was kind of funny…just…we’re shocked.

Terra: Ha! Your daughter one upped you, Raven. You never tried to tell a joke when you gained the ability to feel your emotions without blowing crap up.

Raven: And you never told a funny joke ever, so I guess it’s even.

M sprang up.

M: ZING!

Ebony hugged him.

Ebony: You dork, you had me worried.

M: All part of my plan to have absolutely no plan.

Raven: Thanks for helping, Nightstar.

Nightstar beamed and bowed slightly.

Nightstar: It was my pleasure, Mrs. Knight. Papa’s been training me a lot. I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner.

Raven: You arrived in time to save us. That’s all that matters.

Nightstar: Um…I’ve been delivering pizzas since about…a week after I went to live with Papa…anyone want to go out for something to eat? My treat?

Conjure: I would like the chance to celebrate…but after all I’ve done today, the very least I can do is split the bill with you.

Helios: I want Italian!

Skeemat: Tsk, screw you! We’re going for Chinese.

The parents sighed and shook their heads. That took them back…

Titans Tower: Conjure’s Room, Three Days Later

Azar, it was good to be in her room again. She had spent two days at home while her mother made certain Lilith wasn’t going to cause trouble again. Conjure had started to allow her positive feelings into Lilith and Lilith, in turn, released some of the negative ones she had built up, building a more happy medium between the two of them. After spending some time with one of Arella’s old punching bag, Conjure worked out the anger Lilith released. She cried on her parent’s shoulders when the sadness was released and hid under the covers of her bed when the fear was released. It would probably be a few more days before they were truly stable, but Conjure felt so much better. There was a knock on her door.

Conjure: Come in.

The door opened and Hood stood at the entrance. He crossed his arms.

Hood: I thought you didn’t need to do that anymore.

Conjure shrugged from her spot on the floor where she was meditating.

Conjure: It’s very relaxing. You should try it. You’ve spent so long working on your body and mind, but never your spirit. You’d be surprised what good this would do you.

Hood paused for a minute before replying in an amused voice.

Hood: So you’ve been looking at my body, huh?

Conjure: Well…

Her cheeks turned pink.

Conjure: …perhaps I’ve looked a little…

Conjure stood up and approached the mask wearing teen.

Conjure: …I told Father I hadn’t decided anything…and in truth, then I hadn’t. …but I’ve had time to think about it. All my life, people have judged me for my strange skin coloring…for my slightly pointed ears and other bizarre features. They made fun of my emotionless tone of voice and tried their damnedest to make me cry. But you never did. Your compassion toward me helped you out of the shell you put yourself in. Whatever the reasoning behind it, you cared enough about me to abandon it. …I don’t know what love really feels like. I’ve made guesses, but I can’t say for certain of any emotion in particular. But…

Reaching up, she carefully lifted his mask just a little. He was shocked by her action, judging by his open mouth…which she quickly pressed her own to. Conjure didn’t know how long it was supposed to last for…but she did know that once she started, she no longer felt any urge to stop. He kissed back after but a moment’s hesitation. Her eyes, which had closed shortly after the kiss began, opened when she sensed something. She could see some of her friends watching and snickering. Oh Azar, they were watching her! She…they…Conjure pulled back from Hood, her clothes and hair changing as she pointed her finger at them.

Lilith: I see you over there! I see you! You think this is a show?! I don’t remember charging admission! Get lost, this is private!

Shocked, they all fled. Lilith turned back to Hood.

Lilith: Sorry, Romeo. She saw them and got so embarrassed she sort of ducked out on you.

Hood: Lilith?!

Lilith: Hey, don’t be like that! I’m better now, really. …Debra could have killed me back then, but she didn’t. She gave me a second chance. From now on, I’m going to help her with whatever I can, including her job. She’s a pacifist, you know. Can’t fight…but I can. I’m not bound by those rules.

He pulled his mask back down. Lilith smirked and grabbed his arm as he turned to leave.

Lilith: Where are you going, handsome? You had no problem kissing these lips when Debra was behind the wheel. Don’t I get some loving too?

Hood: …maybe if you prove your trustworthy and if Debra doesn’t mind.

Grinning, Lilith slapped his butt as he tried to leave again.

Lilith: Whoo, yeah! I’ll hold you to that…and some other things too, Hoodie.

Snickering, Lilith went back inside her room. Inside her head, Conjure groaned.

Conjure: Why do you have to embarrass me further?

Lilith: Aw, don’t be like that. I’m only teasing him.

Conjure: Please, have a care. …he likes me and I don’t want to ruin that.

Lilith: Right, right, I’m sorry. I like him too. We’re pretty much the same person now. …save for the whole MPD we’ve got going on…

Conjure: Don’t forget your promise, Lilith. And don’t forget mine. If you try to ruin my life again, I WILL throw you out.

Lilith: Tsk…

Annoyed, Lilith laid on the bed, putting her arms behind her head. She didn’t want to go away just yet…

Lilith: …up for some shopping? I know this great place we can get some clothes from.

Conjure: …did you return Mother’s credit card?

Lilith: Oh come on…one or two more purchases won’t hurt…and we can pay her back later.

…well…

Conjure: Promise to pay her back?

Lilith: Do YOU?

Conjure: …point taken. Alright, let’s go, but THEN we go return the card.

Lilith: You’re the boss.

THE END