Chương 50: chapter 50: The Raven Awakens
The news of what happened during March 20th of the year 2000 shook the entire world. Earlier that day, a series of catastrophic explosions occured across the Northern Hemisphere, killing thousands and causing uncountable amounts of property damage. To make matter worse, several of those blasts took place near high security prisons housing dangerous inmates, many of them metahumans themselves, some of them too powerful for police or even military forcess to subdue.
But then Doom Slayer, with the aid of many other vigilantes, intervened to put a stop to the chaos across the planet.
The Atlantean military performing humanitarian actions on Europe and Northern Africa after the explosions, their arrival hastened thanks to Doom Slayer's portals shortening the travel.
Lex Luthor saving Supergirl from Metallo, yet refusing to escape.
Uehara Daizo, finally killed for his crimes by Spartan and Wolf Princess, with the aid of a timely arrived Solomon Grundy.
And finally, Doom Slayer not only killing the infamous mercenary Bane, saving Batman's life and stopping the breakout, but also capturing several dangerous inmates after they escaped the asylum and taking them to his Fortress in Mars.
King Orrin, known by most as Aquaman, was praised for his quick actions, even though he said he wouldn't have been able to act in time if not for Slayer's help. Nonetheless, United Nations commended him and his forces for their quick actions and delivery of aid, taking another step in the surface-underwater relations both sides had started months prior.
Interestingly, Doctor Foster didn't praise Doom Slayer as many thought (or hoped) he would after being asked his opinion, but rather simply noted that he had done what many would have done if they had had the resources and will to do so, something that Slayer definitely had, and them some thanks to his portal technology and allies.
Doctor Wolper, on the other hand, practically screamed that the latter was a violation of human rights, that Slayer had no right of keeping them imprisoned and away from human contact, and that their captivity would only worsen their problems.
"Who the hell cares about a bunch of self-admitted villains? Granted, this... Mister Freeze guy has a tragic story, he even has my sympathies, and that's no mean feat from me. But the others are respectively an insane, murderous attorney obsessed with tossing coin, a misanthropic ecoterrorist with the power of raising an entire army of murderous trees, and a flesh-eating, reptilian mutant. What better place to keep them away from society than a castle in the middle of a dead planet under the constant watch of a super soldier from the far future? A soldier that is also more than willing of doing what the justice system should had done to them the moment they started killing. Now, if only he had straight up whacked that clown and his army of psychos and nutjobs..."
Indeed nobody knew why the Joker, having such an opportunity to escape alongside his 'troops', instead decided to stay in his cell during the riot, not even bothering to give an answer when certain individuals asked. Some theorized that he had planned to escape through other means, but the mass breakout ruined his plans. Others simply chalked his attitude to insanity.
Then, there was the fact Slayer hadn't said anything after going back to the Fortress after saving Batman. Not even the other superheroes knew what was making him stay up there.
Rachel was still suffering the neverending nightmare that bastard had casted on her. Even though she wasn't a mere sorceress, the spell still affected her, forcing her to sleep. She didn't know for how long had she been asleep, only that the torture continued even as the dreams of inky monsters forced her to close her eyes. Oh, she still felt the blades and rods piercing and hitting her body, but the nightmare overrode the pain.
Everything began one day during her stay in Cyprus, right after leaving her class (she had taken to teaching english), she met a man, a charming one, who entered her academy. All in all, he seemed nice, not enough to settle down with (even without her little problem and the fact she'd remain young for a long time), but a good man otherwise.
And then one day, after the man invited her to dinner, he punched her in the face into unconciousness. At least he didn't drug her, nor take the necklace from her mother.
At first she thought he had to be one of her father's agents, despite his looks and background. As much as she loved her mother, she doubted her magic prowess. Only, it turned out to be just some guy serving a goatee'd man, one that didn't waste time in proding her. For what, she didn't really know: her magic, her blood, just some sacrifice that needed some 'tenderization'... Neither he nor his cronies bothered to actually interrogate her. All she knew was that they tortured her to the point her body began creating nightmares just to avoid feeling actual pain.
And then, one day, the pain finally stopped, and right after that so did the nightmares.
All she managed to hear was 'beaten, but fine' and 'let her sleep for real' before consciousness left her once, but this time taking her to the land of true, pleasant dreams.
And she found herself facing a green-furred, spotted cat sitting on top of her, which in turn was looking at her right in the eye. If not for the fact her body was sore, and it being just a baby by the looks of it she would have rolled out of the bed.
"Hi?" She asked.
The cat didn't reply, instead continuing to look at her with its bright, green eyes. Something told her this was no ordinary little big cat (leopard, if her memory served her right, and a cub given the proportions), but her body was still too tired to detect anything.
Rachel, after a minute or so of the leopard doing nothing, decided to take a look around, to try to discern where she was. Despite the advanced-looking medical devices on the room, the were made of stone, and in fact it reminder her of a cathedral she had gone to when younger. Not finding much, she looked back at the leopard.
"Have you been looking at me all day?" She asked with a smile. The cub, rather than meowing, purring or doing something like that as she thought it would, nodded as if to confim her question, surprising her.
And then it glowed green with such intensity she had to close her eyes. When she opened them again, she found herself facing a green skinned human boy. He had pointed ears, and of course there was the skin and hair color, but aside from that he seemed normal. Seemed, because the sheer surprised had kickstarted her body and made her realize he had magic on himself, although not enough to know what kind.
"Indeed he has, even though I didn't ask him to." She heard a deep, baritone speak.
The one at the right, the smaller of the two, she recognized instantly: John Constantine, occult detective and middling spellcaster, mostly known for being an authority-hating drunkard with morally ambiguous dealings. Not that she was free of sin, but she didn't deal with souls or demons, and everything she had done she did to survive, not to get rich or spite.
"And here I thought you'd have to kiss her or something to wake her up." He muttered, prompting Slayer to look at him. "I mean, think about it: valiant knight and snarky wizard go into the evil overlord's lair and exterminte his army, kills him then saves the princess... Shit, I'm starting to think like that monkey of Bruce."
But Rachel was not paying attention to Constantine, because the other man, much taller and broader than his companion, was Doom Slayer himself, without his signature helmet.
Rachel's eyes widened in a mix of amazement and dread as she looked upon Doom Slayer, head bare and allowing her to see his beard and buzzcut. She knew he was large, taller and broader of shoulders than any man she knew of, but a combination of grogginess, fear and her laying position made him seem like a literal giant. And he was looking right at her. And then out of the blue she began to feel some power radiating from him, not like the boy or Constantine, not exactly magical but still supernatural, and yet more powerful than either combined, maybe even hers, but it didn't feel demonic in nature. The fact he was with Constantine of all people didn't help matters?
And yet, he was supposed to be a man from the future, wasn't he? Just who, or what, was he?
"Good morning, Rachel." Slayer spoke once more. "I hope you had a good dream?"
"Yes, yes I did, thanks to you. You have to be the ones who have rescued me."
"My name, as you know, is Doom Slayer." Seeing Rachel's raised eyebrow, he clarified." It's my real name, not an epiphet. This here is my associate and friend, John..."
"Constantine." Rachel finished, her annoyed tone causing the raggedy man to look at her.
"How the fuck do you know about me?"
"It'll be harder to not know of you, even for those who haven't seen your face." Rachel said with a scoff. Again, he wasn't a bad person per se, but he did make deals with demons. That thought reminded her of a little tidbit: even with her necklace still working, her father could still reach her. That was the sole reason she had been wandering across the world after her mother died.
"Well, the Sleeping Beauty is finally awake. I could say some stupid crap about 'my job here is done' or something in the same line, but..." Constantine began to say, confusing Rachel.
"Are you? After all these months together, I thought you'd stay." Doom Slayer replied with something akin to a smile, a smile that Constantine, to Rachel's consternation, eagerly returned.
"No, but I had to say it anyway, didn't I?" He rolled his shoulders. "Still, methinks this is something you are better prepared to tell her yourself." With that the magician left the room, leaving Rachel, Doom Slayer and the boy, who had jumped out of the bed to sit on the floor.
"He's staying?"
"He's one of the reason's we found you. And no, not by smelling your scent. I believe you can feel the energy from him."
Rachel nodded. "Thanks for rescuing me from that bastard, but I must go." Rachel then tried to stand up, but then the boy got on top of her once more, a worried expression on his face. "It's okay, I'm better."
"It's not about your state, at least not completely. There's nothing to fear. You are safe in my fortress."
Despite everything, Rachel couldn't help but chuckle at that. "No place is safe for me."
"The Fortress is protected against any and all demonic entities that haven't been brought here directly by either the Slayer or spells by friendlies, even your father." A voice that seemed to come from the walls said. Rachel looked around, surprised and even scared, but not by the voice.
"My father? How do you know of him?" There was the possibility of Constantine telling him, but she didn't register that thought at the moment, frantic as she was.
Doom Slayer sighed "It's a long story, one that involves your mother, or rather, her efforts to protect you, which I believe you have to know. It also involves Garfield, and a certain someone you have met before; of how we found you. But before all that, I think you should know another story."
Rachel didn't like the direction this was going, but at the same time he hadn't done anything to make her try to escape (his home being on Mars nonwithstanding). Him talking about her mother and her efforts to protect her just helped to muddle it. "Whose story are you talking about?"
"Mine."
Rachel is finally awake, but things aren't over for her yet, nd the SI is going to tell her Doom Slayer's story because of a plethora of reasons, chiefest of all Rachel being savvy and smart enough, plus magical, to eventually discover what he really is, and so is better to tell her first before she makes assumptions. Also ,could the guys who like one or two chapters or just the latest one try to give a like to all?
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