Teen Titans: The Beauty of the Dark - Book Two

Chapter 7

Hey guys, this chapter is awfully short, so my apologies! I hope this chapter gives you all some clarity as to the sudden changes in Sparrow's character and the story line. 

(Sparrow's POV)

Hate. Pain. Rage.

I could feel everything inside me bubbling and boiling under my skin. I could feel it turning into a deadly concoction, soon to be ready to throw at someone in seething, fuming rage. All control at this point is lost. All I could feel were my internal organs squirming uncomfortably and unnaturally in ways that consumed me too darkly.

Serena...It was Serena the whole time. This vampire who I turned out to be a descendant from is responsible for everything that's happened. My life was a show the whole time, a fabrication, a set up for her entertainment. I was never in control.

Spotting a pond, I let my feet take me to it and I stopped, taking a deep breath before I looked down at my new reflection.

Tell me this isn't happening, please. Please tell me this isn't real. This can't be me.

The traces of my old self were long gone. Serena's trickery, her illusion was gone, replaced by the person who was smothered underneath. 

I could immediately spot all the differences between what I looked like a few minutes ago, and what I looked like right now. My hair was no longer black - it was a pale, iridescent lavender, with traces of silver and white, holding a thickness and length that cascaded down to my waist in sleek waves. My lips were fuller now than before, and my eyebrows were fuller and darker, contrasting strikingly against my paper skin.

Sharp cheekbones and a strong jaw held my entire face together. The reflection showed me to be wearing the same custom uniform I designed for myself. My body felt more built, holding more muscle and curve than I did a little while ago. I was more or less the same height, but built bigger. 

I acknowledged the beauty in the reflection, but grief struck me as I realized that I am a stranger to myself.

If I'm not who I looked like, and I'm not biologically related to anyone from Krypton, then who am I?

Tears poured down my new pale hazel eyes, causing my new eyebrows to furrow, and me to cry out in anger and exhaustion.

"Why the hell am I still crying? I'm so sick of crying!!!" My fists slammed into the pond, disturbing any sort of peace the night provided for everything around me. 

The pain in my chest expanded to my body as I tried to hold myself together with my arms. My breath was literally taken out of me as the pain intensified. 

How am I supposed to love Robin, or anyone for that matter, when I look down and I can't even recognize myself? 

I looked down again, and held back a scream as I saw my old face, my old self. Squeezing my eyes shut for a few seconds, then opening them, I looked again. There I was, in full blown truth with my new appearance. Wait...

Glamour. It's an old magical tool perceived to be so real it's practically a shape shifting ability.

I shuddered as I heard my inner voice, my conscience, or... Amara, speak up and explain what it is that I'm doing.

So I can use this glamour to mask myself.

For a split second, I forgot about the reason why I was even here in Tokyo. For a split second, I forgot that Robin and Starfire kissed earlier today. For a split second, I forgot about the pain in my chest, day after day, night after night that I woke up from nightmares resulting from what I thought to be my own hell, my own post traumatic stress.

For a split second, I forgot about my pain, my sadness, and felt a twinge of hope seep into my pores and light up some of the darkness in me. The pain was gone, the hole in my chest stopped throbbing, and I realized everything that was wrong and what I needed to do to fix it.

And after that split second passed, that's when reality came back to me. After that split second, I suddenly remembered everything once again. I remembered that I'm still me...and I need fixing.

My ears picked up on sirens and helicopters. My soul seemed to pull me upright, drawing me towards the noise. Someone's in trouble.

Robin needs your help. Find him.

I forced myself to stand strongly as I took one last look at myself. I watched as my glamour ability shape shifted my true form back into my old one, the one that everyone recognized.

And then I teleported towards the noise to find him.