Fan Fiction ❯ The Shadow Tournament ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2: The Announcement

 

The next morning the Titans sat around the table eating breakfast. Robin noticed that Crow kept running his finger over a ring on his figner.

 

“What's with the ring?” Robin asked.

 

“It's an ingagement ring, from my Raven,” Crow responded.

 

“We were engaged?” Raven asked shocked.

 

Crow simply nodded.

 

“You want to go home, huh?” a voice from the door said.

 

Everyone turned and saw an old friend standing there.

 

“Shadow!” everyone shouted.

 

“Who?” Crow asked looking at the figure in the door.

 

“My name is Shadow. I already know you're name, Crow. You wanna' get home don't you,” Shadow said walking toward Crow.

 

“Yeah,” Crow said.

 

The Shadow didn't smell like a demon. Yet Crow felt that Shadow's aura was decidedly demonic.

 

Shadow smiled, “I've got good news and bad news.”

 

“What's the good news?” Beast boy asked.

 

“I know of a way to get you home.”

 

“What's the bad news?” Crow narrowed eyes at Shadow.

 

“It's a prize in a demonic tournament.”

 

“Don't tell me. The Tournament of Shadows,” Crow sighed.

 

“Yeah. I take it they have it in your world.”

 

Crow nodded and motioned for Shadow to keep talking as he stood and walked toward the wall.

 

“Teams of three with one alternate are allowed to enter the tournament. There's no restrictions beyond that. It's being held on and island in the Pacific Ocean called “Hangman's Island”. The island is just a few hours north of Hawaii. The tournament starts in just a few days.”

 

“I hope you got all that Slade,” Crow said holding a small object that looked like a fly, “You'd better show up Slade. Otherwise I'll drag your sorry carcass there. Got it.”

 

Crow crushed the object ten turned to the Titans.

 

“Why do you want Slade to come?” robin asked.

 

Crow smiled, “It gives me an excuse to kill him.”

 

Everyone just stared at him.

 

Shadow began laughing, “I knew it. You're a demon.”

 

“I could say the same about you. Except you're simply possessed,” Crow said looking over his shoulder.

 

“In a manner of speaking yes.”

 

“You'd better be at the tournament too. Otherwise I'll be very disappointed.”

 

“I'll be there. Don't you worry.”

 

Shadow left Titans tower and the Titans went about their day. That night Crow was lieing on the couch. He couldn't get to sleep and kept thinking of his home and his Raven. He sat up and growled before walking to the window and looking out.

 

“Look at them. The fools have no idea what lives in the shadows, just waiting to devour them,” Crow hissed.

 

A voice behind him asked, “Then why do you protect them?”

 

Crow turned and saw Beast Boy standing there.

 

“It's just you.”

 

“You were expecting Raven, weren't you.”

 

“Yeah. I miss her. She was the light in me that kept the my demon blood from rising up.”

 

“Yeah. Raven's a light. You just have to look deep down.”

 

“so how did you two hook up?”

 

“I'd had my butt kicked. Cinderblock was trying to bring down Titans Tower. I crawled out of bed and helped the Titans fight even though I was in bad shape. How did you and Raven hook up?”

 

“Slade hired me to kill you guys. I failed and Slade tried to eliminate me. I wound up in Titans Tower were I spent sometime getting to know you guys. Slowly Raven and I developed a connection and here we are.”

 

“I see. It's shocking yet not shocking that Raven would date an assasian. Know what I mean?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Why do you want to fight Slade and Shadow?”

 

“Slade tried to kill me, I want pay back. Shadow's a demon with a massive aura. Enough said.”

 

“You're just as weird as Shadow.”

 

“You should get some sleep. Tomorrow we leave for the tournament. And it's going to be a tough fight.

 

In his War Room Slade was frustrated. He had no intention of traveling to some remote island to fight in some tournament. Somehow he knew that this mysterious new friend of the Titans could easily take him to the tournament if he wanted to. As eh thought he decided that Ternion and Terra would be his fighting companions.

 

In his hideout Shadow sat in an arm chair a can in his hand. Around him sat his two reincarnations and their lovers. Genisis, who was his good side, and Cupid and Enoch, his bad side, and Peace. As he tought about it he felt a longing for the one woman that he wanted to be with, Darkfire. The Titans had told him that she was bad and couldn't be trusted, but he knew that deep down she was good.

 

All over the world demons and humans alike were preparing for the tournament. All hoping to win the prize, whatever it was. All were honing their skills and forming their teams. Pushing their bodies to their limits and beyond. Mastering new techniques or new powers. All hoping that if they do fail they at least keep their life.

 

To be continued…