Harm appeared from the shadows on a rooftop and looked around carefully. He'd been pulled from what he was doing at the Tower because he felt someone in distress. Normally he'd have ignored it, after all people get annoyed over very trivial things, but whoever this was, was very young, and there'd been a rash trail of kidnappings lately in the area. He didn't want to take that chance. "Heelp! Someone please!" Harm's attention immediately turned to the voice of what sounded like a little girl before he saw her dashing away full speed. Shadowporting far enough in front of her that she'd have enough room to stop Harm kept his eye on her and whatever was chasing her. Though Harm did slightly misjudge where he'd appear and the girl ended up practically spearing him.

"...ow..." "Sorry about that." Harm said warmly. "Are you okay." Harm did his best to sound friendly since he knew that appearance wise he might actually be scarier than her attacker. She didn't really seem to scared to see him though, maybe it was the cape. "Are you a superhero?" Harm nodded as he continued to look behind her. "Whose chasing you?" The little girl's face changed as she remembered she indeed being chased. "The man!" Then Harm saw him, or sensed the demonic aura before he actually saw him with his eyes. The "man" was running on all fours full speed. That explained why he was being drawn to the girl. She was being chased by a demon "Sweety could you do me a favor and close your eyes?" Once again, Harm's voice sounded friendly as she nodded and did as he asked. "Purgatory to-." Harm started before the demon stopped dead in it's tracks and muttered somthing before falling into portal Harm could only assume lead to Hell. "Hm...seems like word's getting around. Good."

"Can I open my eyes now?" The girl asked which made Harm smirk. "Why not? you never fully closed them in the first place." The girl let out a slight tee hee laugh before Harm's expression turned serious. "You should make your way home. It's not safe out. Is it close?" The girl once again nodded with a smile as she pointed to a small house less than a block away. "Let's go then." Harm said as he walked with her to the house. "You're a superhero right? Do you know Mr. Sonic?" Harm cocked his head to the side slightly. "Mr.-? Hm, is he a little shorter than me? Glowing red eyes?" "He moves really fast. He saved me from a fire once." A smile crossed Will's face. "Ah, so I'm your second superhero. But yes, I do know him." "He was very sad...and said he did something very bad..." Remembering what Marx had said during their game of Truth or Dare, Harm had a pretty good idea.

"He's doing a lot better now. I'll let Super know you asked about him. I've got to go now though, cutie. Be careful though okay?" Will had started to call the shadows to him when the girl threw her arms around him. "Thank you so much for saving me. You're cute too. You have a girlfriend?" Harm tried his best not to laugh before feigning being disappointed. "I'm sorry, I'm dating someone at the moment." The little girl did an exagerrated pout. "Aww, really? Oh darn. What's her name?" "Wonder Girl." "The Wonder Girl? She's hot." Harm looked slightly confused at the girl's correct use of 'hot' before he saw a light in the house go on. With a quick wave, Harm disappeared into the shadows.

Harm appeared back in the Tower to see Wonder Girl in focussing on the monitors. "Any luck?" He asked leaning forward, which got a slight smile from Cassie as she looked back. "Not really. They all seem to have been snatched from their beds. I looked at the police files which had pictures of the rooms, but there's no common thread. That I could see anyway." Cassie said before letting out a loud yawn. "Don't you have a test to study for? I can take it from here." Cassie let out a groan as she leaned back. "I don't wanna!" She said in a whiny voice as Will pulled her out the chair. "Demonic stamina and all, I'll be fine. Go on." Will said in a friendly tone as Cassie gave him a concerned look. "Will, 'demonic stamina' or not you've been at this almost nonstop for the past week."

"I know. But I just...have a bad feeling about this. I doubt I'd be able to sleep anyway. Try not to fall asleep while you're studying." Harm held Cassie's hand shortly before she began to walk away. "And you know this cute little 8 year old was hitting on me today. I hope you realize how much of a catch I am." Cassie let out a loud laugh as she walked out the room. "Oh I know, baby. I could lose you at any minute." A smirk crossed Will's face that quickly left as he turned back to the monitor. There was some link between these kidnappings. All of them were in their preteens and were kidnapped at night. Other than that there didn't seem to be any common threads or anything left behind. Though ironically enough, as soon as he thought that he noticed a bit of fabric on one of the beds. Zooming in on it, it looked like it'd been ripped off. One of the kids must have fought back. "Good for you..." Will muttered, a small semblance of a smile crossing his face.

"I recognize that eye, William." A voice said from behind Harm. He didn't even have to look to know who it was. Despite recognizing the voice there was only one person who still called him that. "For the last time, Rach. Call me Will." He said without making eye contact as he focused on the eye on the cloth that Raven had referenced. "Sorry...Will." "Meh, it's not biggie. Just never really liked that name. I wasn't keeping you up was I?" Will asked, actually looking at Raven. He'd been getting steadily more stressed lately which just struck him, was probably making it difficult for Raven to sleep as well. "Only a little. Given the situation I totally understand. But that eye...it's one of four." Will raised an eyebrow. "One of four...right...I really wish I believed in coincidences...but I don't." Raven let out a sigh. "Neither do I, Will."

"So you think this has something to do with Trigon? The fact that they're all around the same young age group totally has a sacrifice kind of feel. Innocence and all." Harm muttered as he looked at the screen. "I agree. Most likely it has to do with the Church of Blood. I'd hate to know exactly what they're making sacrifices for but..." "Either way, we should hurry." Will finished Raven's thought. "Should we get the others?" Raven asked. Harm thought about it before shaking his head. "No...there's no definite proof that it's the Church of Blood that has it. There could conceivably be other groups that worship Trigon, or it could just be a group using the symbol to throw us off. We just need to find out where they are first. It'd be more of a stealth mission."

Raven looked down at Will with an almost invisible glare, which was most likely a look of concern. "You're not planning on going by yourself are you?" Will gave a slight smirk as he turned back to the monitor. "Well I would need your help in finding them." "You're not going alone, Will." Raven stated with a serious expression. "I can't ask you to come with me. I know your relationship with that group. Trust me, I can stay in the shadows, and if I need your help I'll-" "You're not going alone." Raven said, more sternly this time. "You're not the only one who can keep in the shadows. I've been fighting my father my whole life in one way or another, I'm not going to let his followers frighten me."

Harm let out a bit of a smile. "As you wish Rae." He did have an intense respect for Raven's courage to do something that he knew frightened her, especially being given a way out. He wouldn't be so sure he'd be rushing to go to Hell again, through like Raven, he knew he would go if he needed to. "So what's our first step? They've usually come looking for you. I doubt you've really tried to find them." Raven seemed to pause for a little while before she closed her eyes. "This is true. But I've always had a connection to that foul place. I guarentee finding it will be as simple as letting myself go there." Will leaned back in his chair as he once again looked at the symbol in the monitor. "But because of your connection would they know you were there as soon as you teleported?"

"Most likely...what are you thinking?" Raven asked as she noticed Will seemed to be thinking intently. "Raven, do you remember how we first met?" A small smirk crossed Raven's face. "We bumped into each other because you tried to shadowport in the...same...place I was teleporting in..." (lol This actually did happen by the way on the original site aaaages ago.) Raven began to get thoughtful as well as she saw where Will was probably going with this. "Which is highly unlikely when you think about it. What are the chances we'd both land in the exact same spot? I think my shadowporting and your teleportation kind of echo off each other when we try to do them at the same time." Will said as he continued to focus on the screen. "Do you think that would work again?" "Only one way to know for sure, but if it did work. My powers would probably shield yours, making it a lot harder to trace." Will finally snapped out of it as he looked at Raven. "Agreed."

"Well. We have a way to get there. All we have to do now if see if the kids are there as well and get them out. If not they're not, we leave and find another lead." Harm said the plan outloud for no other reason than to make sure the both of them knew what they'd be doing on this mission. As they both nodded, Harm got up and took Raven's hand. "You sure you know where we're going?" Harm asked skeptically. "You sure the joint teleportation thing is going to work?" Raven asked back as Will could only give a 'touche' smirk as Raven unleashed her soul-self and Will called the shadows to him and the two of them disappeared into the darkness.

Harm had shadowported many times over his life and once or twice been teleported with the other Titans by Raven, but this time when they bonded the two together there was definitely a difference. He couldn't really place it but the calmness of her soul-self with the darkness of the shadows just made everything...serene. Even when they formed the feeling was still lagging slightly. "Oookay...that was...um..." "...different?" Raven finished seeming to have felt the same thing as Harm gave his trademark smirk. "Yeah. Different." The smirk was returned as Harm quickly pulled Raven into the shadows as two hooded figures walked by quietly. Upon a sneak look closely, the 4 eye emblem was on the upper right chest of the robes.

After they went past, Harm motioned to Raven that he was looking around the corner and it seemed to be empty. "Very good work. Unfortunately I think we're in the right place." Harm summoned a black cloud around the two of them and when it faded they were in the same blood red robes they had seen. "I...don't sense any fear from the children. Or anything at all. If they are here they're either content....or..." Raven let her sentence trail off slightly before Harm interrupted. "I'm sure they're fine. If they could sense you being here they might have figured a way around your empathy as well." Raven paused slightly as both her and Harm were thinking the same thing. "If they're that prepared for me...then we're walking into a trap." Harm's face remained stern as he double checked to make sure the coast was clear. "All the more reason we shouldn't get caught. You know your way around?"

Raven shook her head as she followed Harm through the shadows once more into the next room. "I've never needed to." "Didn't think so. Figured there was no harm in asking." Luckily the next room was an empty conference room. "Where do you sense the most emotion?" "Down the corridor where the two were headed. It's almost a feeling of...apprehension. And there are a lot of them." Harm gave a look as he concentrated on seeing if there was any death around them, so far so good. "How many." "At least 200." "Hm...think we should avoid that corridor then." Harm said with a slight smile which quickly faded. "Are any by themselves?" "...Yes. There's one above us." With a nod, Harm summoned the shadows that once again merged with Raven's soul self as they appeared in a room surrounded by stained glass windows and one hooded figure standing in front of a book on a podium. "What's the plan?" Raven whispered, ignoring the euphoria once more. "I use my best weapon." "And what's tha-" Harm was gone before Raven could finish and grabbed the hooded figure and at an almost blinding speed shoved him into the wall, forearm driving into his neck. "...oh..." "I'm going to make this very short...and to the point. Where are the children?" Harm's eyes flashed red as his force on the figure kept him from yelling out.

The figure tried to yell out but with the pressure Harm had on his throat, all that came out was a whispered squeek. "Let's try this again. Where?" Harm growled in an almost animalistic fashion as he could see Raven moving closer to them out of the corner of his eye. "*ack!* They now...belong to *cough*...us....And soon...you shall be...*ack!* dead..." Harm's eyes narrowed as he applied even more force. "There are things much worse than death." Harm threatened as he used his dark magic once again, transferring bits and pieces of his time in Hell into his unwilling prospect.

Once again, he couldn't let out a yell in protest because of the pressure, but his eyes told everything of the horror he was seeing. He could see that the man's fear was disturbing Raven as well but he was sure she knew that this was the easiest way to get the information they needed. "Believe me when I say that's just the tip of the iceberg of what I can show you. Tell us what we need to know and I won't start adding physical pain." One of the benefits to not being a member of the batclan is that everyone doesn't know that you're not willing to kill. Sure as mislead as these sheep are, they are still human and for that reason Harm wouldn't kill them...but they don't know that.

"...I...can't!...I....please...make it stop....I...make it...stop..." The figure began to chant desperately much to Harm's annoyance. Of course he'd have to find the stupidly loyal one, then again it made more sense considering he was alone. But no matter the mind, every one will crack if put under enough pressure. "I'm losing my patience. I'm about to stop being so gentle with you. Where. Are. They!" Harm summoned one of his sai and began to press the point of it against the figure's ribs as he continued to share his deepest fears of those dreaded two years in Hell. "Harm..." Raven started which got a slight look from Harm. This was also one of the reasons he wanted to go it alone. He didn't want feelings of black and white, good and evil being involved. He didn't like it either but those kids needed to be found. "It's not that, Harm... I don't think we're alone anymore...."

Sure enough, Raven was right as Harm listened closely and heard footsteps quickly approaching. Unfortunately the distraction freed enough air from the hooded figure's windpipe that he was actually able to yell for help this time, even if the yell was cut short by Harm knocking him unconscious. Now all he had to do was- "What's going on here!?" ...not have enough time to shadowport away. "Why weren't you two at the pre-ceremony? What happened to the Keeper of the Book?" "Well...you see...you really should have brought more backup than just the four of you." Harm said flashing a slight smirk to Raven as he quickly took out one of them with a nerve strike and found himself some new pidgeons. Surely one of them would give in. But in his swift attack, Harm's hood came off and upon seeing Harm's face and a glance to Raven, he and the other two suddenly fell to their knees. "My lord! I'm sorry! We didn't know it was you!" Raven looked quite surprised at this turn of events, while Harm rolled his eyes. "Aw geeze, not again."

"Not again?" Raven asked clearly wondering how people that should have tried to kill him, bowing before him instead had 'happened' before. "I'll explain later." "No...you won't." Will smirked slightly. "Most likely not but I'll consider it." Turning to the figures who were bowing before him, he chose just to roll with it. "This is ridiculous. My own people don't even recognize me when I'm right here." Harm said with a threatening growl which made the two figures tremble as they continued to bow. "We're...we're sorry my lord. We..knew you'd return with your betrothed but we didn't know you'd be here so soon. I..we are humbled by your presence and are unworthy." The last sentence didn't actually register in either hero's mind as it turned out to be a good thing neither hooded figure had looked up since they bowed. As soon as they said the word 'betrothed' both Harm and Raven's eyes shot open.

Then it was almost as if a light had gone off in Raven's head as she mouthed the words Brother Blood. "That you're unworthy is a matter of fact. It gives me no pleasure to hear the obvious stated. Leave our presence at once." Harm's voice thundered as the two immediately rose and began to leave before Harm remembered why they were there. "Wait! Where are the ch-...the sacrifices?" Immediately one of the figured turned around. "My grace, they are safe and sound in the Room of Resurrection as per the ritual of course." Harm nodded in approval. Part of him wanted to ask where that room was but he got a distinctive feeling he shouldn't. Instead he said, "Good. So everything's on schedule?" "Yes my Lord . Your feast shall be great in two days." A dark smirk crossed Harm's face that was probably seen by Blood's followers as anticipation for the 'feast', but it was really because he knew now that he had some time to figure out how to get the kids out. "You may leave." Harm said, coldly as they began to leave again but this time Harm cleared his throat loudly. "All hail Brother Blood!" The two said, immediately realizing what they almost forgot to do as they almost stumbled over each other getting out of the room.

"Well...that solidifies it. They think I'm Brother Blood which would make you my 'betrothed'. I suppose it could be worse though." Raven had seemed to suddenly get more reserved, well...for her anyway. "Indeed. At least we know the children are safe for now. We should...talk somewhere more private." Harm nodded in agreement. Sure they didn't have to hide now but they church had been expecting a Brother Blood, which means whoever they were really expecting might show up even though they were supposedly early. "Any ideas?" "Yes." Kneeling down, Raven lightly touched one of the unconscious figures who woke up with a startle as he got a good look at Raven and the unhooded Harm. Predictably he fell to his knees. "All Hail Brother Blood!" "My betrothed wants to know where our quarters are. Someplace we can be alone." The figure looked at the two of them and gave a knowing smile that quickly subsided as he nodded. "Yes yes. This way." The figure led the way as Harm and Raven gave each other a look and followed.

As they got to the quarters, Harm noticed the figure stayed outside the door. "I believe she said 'private'. I don't need anyone outside our bedroom, is that clear?" The growl in Harm's voice made the figure almost shiver in fear as he simply gave a quick nod and almost ran away. After he knew the coast was clear, Harm closed the door and sat on the small chair in the room, slightly dropping his guard. It didn't take him long to realize that Raven was giving him a look. "I have no intention of staying here the night if you're worried about the whole one bed situation." Raven's eyes shot open and Harm could have sworn she blushed slightly. "No no, that wasn't-... What I was thinking about was that...you seem...very...at home here." Raven said, obviously choosing her words carefully though it still got a look from Harm.

"I used to be a villain. I know how to work mindless sheep. They respond to fear and knowing that someone's more powerful than them. That's all it is. Trust me, I'll be as happy to leave this place as y-...Rach, what are you doing?" Harm was distracted as he realized Raven was staring into his face. "You told me before you didn't believe in coincidences. Did you ever find it...peculiar that your face paint as Harm is quite similar to Brother Blood's?" Harm let out a shrug. "My design was instinctive. The first time I put it on, I just felt it out and it's been the same ever since. If it looks like Brother Blood's then it's just a-" "Coincidence?" At this point Harm began to glare slightly. "Raven, what are you trying to say?" He asked, half knowing the answer. "I'm saying that The Church of Blood was expecting a new Brother Blood to return with his betrothed. And out of 'coincidence' you came here with me and instinctively look and know how to act like Brother Blood."

Raven backed up slightly as she felt Harm's anger well before he acted on it by standing up. "Raven, I'm here to rescue the children. I have enough people who don't trust me as it is." Raven calmly shook her head. "No Will. I'm not saying that I think you brought me here on purpose to be your betrothed. I'm just saying...I don't...think that you have to worry about another Brother Blood coming and your cover being blown..." Harm cocked his head to the side. "So..you're saying that you think I'm supposed to be the new Brother Blood and we're supposed to get married? And sacrifice those children we came to save so I can drink they're blood." Once again Raven shook her head and guided Harm to sit back down again. "That's not what I'm saying at all. I'm saying that you were led here by the children and I was led here to help you. Our modes of instant transport work unusually well together. I'm just saying..." Harm finished her thought. "That we were most likely supposed to be here..." Harm let out a sigh, he never liked the idea of destiny. That he wasn't in control of his own life.

"I think we should take another look at that book." Harm said, as he took Raven's hand once again as she nodded in agreement. Another sense of euphoria later the two were standing in front of the book. Harm simply gave a look to the new guard who immediately left the room with a "All Hail Brother Blood.". Once again Raven gave a curious look at how easily he controlled the cult, but didn't say anything as Harm seemed to smirk as he looked at the book. "What's funny?" "Nothing. Just find it curious that it's called the Book of Blood. I call my superhero/supervillain database the Book of Blood." Harm said as he began flipping through the book. "Because you used it like your bible." Harm immediately froze and gave Raven a look. It wasn't so much of a threatening look as much as him realizing she might be right. With another sigh he flipped through the book some more. "What are you looking for?"

"I get a feeling I'm looking for Revelations. Here it is." Harm continued to skim through as Raven looked from a slight distance over his shoulder. "When the Eight generation of High Priest arrives, he will wed the daughter of the Eight Devil. And on that day, Trigon's army will travel to this world through his daughter and cleanse the Earth of those without faith..." Raven made a bit of a nod. "Yes, but that was tried already." Harm nodded in agreement. "This is true. But if what you were implying was correct. I should have been Brother Blood and not the kid..." "And you might have succeeded where he did not." There was an awkward silence between the two of them as Harm closed the book. "There's one way I can be sure." Before Raven could ask, Harm had already shadowported them to another room in the church, near the entrance with another large book. "Will...how did you-?" "I just...figured the register book would have to be here." Harm said quickly, knowing Raven was probably thinking once again how comfortable he seemed in that place. "I need to find a name." Harm said as he quickly flipped through the book.

"Will...how are you going to find one name of the thousands in there." "Because I'll just know." Harm paused as he stopped flipping through the register book which gave Raven a curious expression. "You...son...of a b@#$%...." Harm's swear seemed to catch Raven offguard as she looked at the name that seemed to anger Will so much and saw his finger resting on the name, Buzz. "I was told that a woman named Tala and a man named Buzz were the first to invite my mother into the church. Do you know him?" Harm slammed the book shut. "Buzz wasn't a man. He was a demon and...he was one of the main reasons I became Harm."

There was a slight silence between the two as they pondered the person that linked them together. They went back to the bedroom in silence before they were seen acting suspicious. Once they were back in the room Will began to pace around. "We know what links us to this place but that doesn't explain something." Raven cocked her head to the side as she asked, "What's that?" "Trigon and Satan are both devils. And in that sense I don't see them working together. So the only possible explanation for me obviously being groomed to be a servant of both would be..."

"If Buzz was working both sides. But which one was he really a member of?" Will sat down as he thought about it. "No way to know for sure. I killed him before either plan could come to fruition. But I don't see a point in subconsciously training me to be Brother Blood unless that's who I was really supposed to be. Would probably get quite the bonus for having the son of Satan as Brother Blood, especially considering the whole immortality thing. Maybe I was supposed to unite the two or something. Don't think it really matters in the long run. I have no intention of doing ether one. No offence."

A slight smile crossed Raven's face. "None taken. Any ideas for finding the children?" "We could always just ask." Harm said with a smile as he changed his robe into his costume with the addition of a fake skull on his head and a few other subtle adjustments. "Might as well look the part." Raven nodded though it was obvious she was a little uneasy about it. After changing Raven's outfit back into it's previous form the two left the room and were soon encountered by a hooded figure who upon seeing Harm and Raven dropped to his knees. "My lord! All Hail Brother Blood!" Harm merely gave a slightly approving nod. "We-we weren't expecting you so soon." A smirk crossed Harm's face. "This I know. I heard the sacrifices are ready. I'd like to see them." The hooded figure nodded nervously and lead the way. "Yes yes of course your lordship."

"By the way, that 'son of Satan' thing... Is that something you're going to 'tell me later' as well?" Raven whispered which caused Harm to smile slightly. "You know me so well." He whispered back. "And here we are. We knew that whenever we have a big ceremony like this, the Titans or someone always tries to interfere so we went ahead with the preliminaries. The bleeding's almost done. We're well ahead of schedule." The cloaked figure said confidently as he pointed towards the room which immediately took the slight smile off of Will's face.

"Oh..my...god..." Raven said as soon as she saw the room. "Were they...alive...when you did this?" The hooded figure looked away slightly. "No. Those given the job of bleeding, felt it better to do it 'humanely'. Personally if they hadn't we'd have been finished by now." Harm finally nodded. To be honest he'd been filled with so many emotions at this point, mainly anger than he'd been speechless. He'd seen so many things during his life, so many horrors that he thought nothing could really faze him anymore. But he'd learned today that he was wrong.

"This...this is an...excellent job. I am pleased." Harm forced out with a nod which seemed to have made the hooded figure's day. Forcing himself to turn away from the door, Harm looked back at the hooded figure. "I'd like to have a meeting with the rest of the church. Most I've met didn't even realize I had returned. I want to make that clear as well as the...good work you've done in my absense." "Yes. Right away Lord Blood." The figure practically ran away enthusiastically as it took every bit of Harm's willpower not to blast him into dust. They were too late, if only Harm had figured out that eye sooner, then...

"It wasn't your fault, Will. We got here as soon as we could." Raven said, trying to comfort Will as she put her hand on his shoulder. "Yes..we can say that, but the fact is..." Harm said coldly as he went once again to look at the room but this time Raven began to lead him away. They were all dead, there was nothing more they could do except take the small bit of solace they could with the knowledge that they didn't suffer. "It's going to be okay, Will." Harm's face begin to slowly change into his normal expressions. "Yes, it will." Raven almost winced slightly as Harm removed her hand from his shoulder. Not from any physical pain, but his emotional pain was almost like a sledgehammer, the more he tried to hide it on the outside.

"To be honest it worries me slightly that you want a meeting with all of the Church of Blood. I've...never sensed you this...angry before. " Harm stopped and then gave Raven a look. "Maybe that's because I've never been this angry before." Raven took that reply as the 'Shut up now.' that it was most likely intended to be as they walked in silence into a big room where it looked like hundreds of hooded figures all stood waiting for them.

"All hail, Brother Blood!" The Church said in a chorus to which Harm nodded politely. It was strange to look at them. No matter how hard he tried he could barely see them as human after what they'd done. But yet his mind couldn't process enough to see them as demons either. "Thank you my followers. Some of you knew of my return and I'm sure some of you have doubts. I'm here to put those to rest." Immediately the Church began looking at each of it's members as if to see if which one of them was so foolish to doubt the High Priest.

"I've just recently come from the Bleeding Room and I must say, I'm...awed...by your progress." The Church erupted into a loud cheer which turned into another 'All Hail Brother Blood' which Harm put up his hand to stop. "I must ask one question though. It was to bring me back as I wed my betrothed..." Harm gave a look to Raven as she continued to keep her distance. Being this close to so many of the Church of Blood only gave her flashes of being brought back to life and wed to the youthful incarnation of Brother Blood. "...but surely. They were innocent children. Killing and bleeding them, even on my behalf...must have struck some of you as...unjust...or just...wrong."

Once again the Church seemed to look at each other. "Come now. I will not suffer my followers lying to me. Are you telling me that all of you were fine with that. No doubts?" A loud cry rang out from the low murmurs as a girl who looked to be in her older teens fell to her knees. "I-I'm sorry, my lord. Please forgive me, but...I can't...I...they were just children." "INFIDEL!" The hooded figure nearest to her, held up his hand to slap her before Harm's voice boomed. "DON'T! Touch her." Fading into the shadows and then appearing in front of her Harm appeared to be furious. "Don't dirty your hands on her. You doubted my will? The Eighth Devil's will? Look at me." All this time the girl had been silently sobbing with her head to the ground but with that order she looked up at Harm. "Stand." Slowly but surely the girl stood, along with her sobbing, she was trembling in fear. "If that's how you truly feel you do not belong here." The girl looked up with a surprised face. "L-Lord Blood, please, I-" "YOU DO NOT BELONG HERE!" Harm's voice thundered with so much force most of the hooded figures in the area moved back and the girl took off for the exit. "Leave her." Harm said as he saw some of them were most likely taking his 'you don't belong here' to mean killing her.

"I'll deal with her later. Are there any who feel as she does? That sacrificing the innocent in the name of the Eight Devil is going too far?" It started in the front as the first few began to bow, but soon the rest of them followed suit and before long all of the members were bowing before Harm. "Good. You are my loyal. You are my faithful. And you shall get what you deserve." A growl in Harm's voice began more evident near the end as he summoned the shadows around him and his 'loyal followers'. While originally he was going to leave Raven behind, he could only assume she sensed that and latched on to his arm. "You do not want to go where we're going Raven." "I know..." Was all she said as they were consumed by darkness.

As everyone materialized from the shadows, the Church of Blood looked at they're surroundings quite confused while Harm was blatantly glaring at Raven. "I'm warning you, Rav-" "Where are we?" Raven interrupted, acting as if she hadn't heard Harm's warning. "We're in a secluded area I found in Death Valley, thought it would be...appropriate. Racheal, I'm not going to stop on your behalf if you don't leave." Harm's voice softened slightly as he seemed behind his eyes that he was almost pleading with Raven to leave this place. "I...know you won't stop because I'm here, Will. But I still won't leave, no matter what happens to me. Even if the most my presence will only make you hold back." Harm let out a sigh as he conceded and turned back to his followers who were murmuring among each other quite loudly.

"SILENCE!" Harm yelled, knowing he no longer needed to hide his anger. "Some of you might have noticed that at no point did I actually lay claim to the name Brother Blood. There is a reason for that. While there may be a part of me that's your leader I can guarantee you that part of me is long dead with the one who taught it to me. I am Harm. And to be blatantly honest I wouldn't want my followers to follow me so blindly that they wouldn't question killing innocents." "You deny- AAAAAAAAAAGH!" No one really knew what the hooded figure who spoke up was actually going to say because as soon as he began to speak, Harm fired an energy blast into his mouth, thoroughly exploding the figure's tongue as well as scorching some of his throat as he fell to the floor grabbing his mouth. Harm ignored Raven's slight wince as he turned back to the Church. "Does anyone else want to interrupt me? Good."

"As I was saying, I've met all manner of creatures who could have done what you did. Demons, aliens, psychopaths, but you know what? They have an excuse. Demons were here first, they know within they're hearts that when it comes down to it, they'll burn for an eternity while humans have a choice. They're hate of humans is understandable. Being raised where all you know is violence wouldn't make you value life, and if you're insane, well that's self explanatory. But I can see you. You all just want so badly to belong to something that you're willing to ignore any semblance of morals you have to do so. In that and almost every other sense you're worse than demons. And I want nothing more to do with you." Once again the shadows were manipulated, but this time it formed a portal in front of Harm and a large group of pale skinned beings in medieval looking armor stepped from it. "Since you follow the Book of Blood so blindly you should remember it said that Trigon's army would travel the Earth and cleanse it."

"My Eldrich." The Eldrich all turned to Harm and simultaneously bowed. "Do you remember my first rule upon being your king?" Tvarus was the first to step forward. "You asked us not to kill humans." Harm nodded. "Very good." He then pointed at all of the hooded figures behind him. "Exceptions. All of them are exceptions. You see, it's not Trigon's army that's going to cleanse the Earth. It's my army. And it's going to cleanse me of you. Have fun." The Eldrich looked at each other as a smile formed on their lips. With another bow to Harm they launched themselves at the retreating form of the Church of Blood. Harm watched as they were slain. He watched as 315 years of hate, of injustice of what happened to their people during the Salem witch trials were taken out on the Church of Blood. Harm searched his heart for any remorse of the horror he saw but all he could see were those children he was supposed to save. Try as he might he couldn't feel anything for them. He knew they're screams wouldn't make him lose any sleep, but one thing would.

He felt Raven clutching on to his arm. He refused to look at her. Not out of any animosity but he could imagine how this much fear, this much pain was affecting her. He'd tried to warn her but she chose to stay. And he wasn't sure if actually seeing her pain would make him want to stop the Eldrich. "W-W...Will...." "Shhhhhh." Harm said, stopping Raven from finishing whatever she was going to say. Though with all the screams he wasn't sure if that's what stopped her or if she just couldn't finish her thought. "You can still leave, Raven." "N..no..." Harm nodded as he finally looked down at Raven, who surely enough was in quite anguish, even her soul self seemed to be slightly releasing. Harm turned back to the carnage as he pulled Raven closer to him if nothing more than to let her have a better grip. He was tempted to use his control over the shadows to merge with Raven's soul self again to help but knew she'd reject it. He began to wonder if she was letting herself suffer as a way of punishing him as well, he wouldn't ask either way.

It seemed like hours but it couldn't have been more than a half hour. But Tvarus raised the head of the last figure in victory as the rest of the Eldrich cheered. "You may return. Just remember, I said they were exceptions and I meant it." Harm said sternly to a slight look of disappointment, but for the most part the Eldrich looked quite pleased with themselves as they went back through the shadow portal. Soon all that was left was Harm, Raven, and hundreds of bodies. "Raven...given what I just put you through I understand if you want to-" "I won't tell anyone, Will." Raven whispered, still obviously shaken. "Thank you." Harm replied quietly as he once again looked at the bodies almost screaming at himself to feel some sorrow for them, to even feel that he did something wrong. The closest he could feel to that was knowing that if Cassie ever found out what he did, she'd leave him. And that didn't count, it was her morals, not his. "Let's go home." Harm said as he shadowported the bodies into the ground, making it seem as if nothing had happened there as they returned back to Titans Tower.

1 week later

Harm smiled slightly as he looked on and saw a familiar little girl playing with some other kids. She seemed to catch him out of the corner of her eye as she ran towards him. "Hey cutie. Been taking care of yourself?" The little girl beamed once again. "Yes! I'm doing great! No fires or creepy guys chasing me or anything! Oh! What's your name?" Will laughed slightly as he realized he never gave it. "It's Harm." The little girl turned to her friends. "Guys! Look! It's Mr. Ha...mm?" When the little girl turned back Harm was gone which left her slightly confused.

But Harm had finally seen something that demanded his attention a block away. It was a small house in which a guy in his mid 20s had just entered but Harm's appearance let him block the door with his foot. He cleared his throat just so the guy would get the hint. "...you! Please! Please! I'm begging you! I didn't-" A flare in Harm's eyes hushed the guy. "You must know by now. You're the last one who got away from me before I could shadowport you. They all begged for their lives as well. They all said they were sorry. And you know what? It did nothing. I still hunted each and every one of them down. The only one who deserved to live was that one girl who genuinely regretted her part in it. The Church of Blood dies with you." Harm said as he closed the door behind them. "Purgatory to me!"

The End
(Follow what happens after this in "Prelude to 'Farewell' " which will start pretty soon)