Chương 44: CHAPTER 40

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[Rachel Roth POV]

I opened my eyes, calmly leaving my deep state of profound meditation, mind, and body ready for another day, to find David exercising at the entrance of the cave, sweat dripping on his feet, like rain on a summer night.

He was unlike any person I had met before.

He was a fit, black-haired, mute teenager who had the looks of a trained soldier, at least physically. His clothes were torn, and dirty, probably because of his training regime, one I was certain he was overdoing to silence his own thoughts.

I could relate to that.

It was unequivocally indisputable that the greatest enemy anyone has to face is themselves.

After all; the real monsters don't sleep under our beds, they sleep inside our heads.

In my case, that was a literal statement of my existence, more than a metaphor itself. Be that as it may, that didn't change the reality of everyone's existence.

His demons just like mine were eating him away.

I could feel it.

I could feel everything he was feeling at all times, and more. Part of being an empath.

Perhaps that was the reason I felt a kindred connection with him.

"Morning," I said calmly, making David stop his training as he turned around to wave at me with a smile on his face.

~Did I wake you up?~ David asked.

I shook my head. "No, you were very quiet. I thank you for respecting my meditation."

He nodded, feeling relieved he hadn't bothered me. He was truly a strange person, he knew more about me than he cared to admit, yet, he wasn't afraid.

On the contrary, he seemed more relaxed around me than others. And, if I was allowed to say, I felt the same way.

It's not often you find someone who can understand your burdens. And burdens like ours often bring a life of total isolation.

—----------------------

[Batman POV]

Zatara had brought us to the tower of fate to discuss about his findings. Terrible findings according to him, a fact that made Constatine gloat.

"Batman," Zatara greeted dryly.

I could see in his face as clear as the day that the information he had was not what he had been expecting when he came here.

"Can you tell this bloody idiot I was right so that I can go on with my day?" Constantine said.

"You are not dealing with a simple demon here, Constantine," Zatara sighed, pausing for a brief second. "We are dealing with a demon so old, and powerful, that his name is a taboo even in the darkest arts…"

"Trigon," Kent Nelson who had just entered the room said, slowly walking towards us.

"Shit…" Constantine muttered, evidently recognizing the name Kent had spoken.

"Explain," I said, giving Zatara a look.

"Trigon is an incredibly powerful demon and celestial conqueror. One that has brought down entire dimensions in his wake…" Zatara replied, his body tensing as each word came out.

"Tale says Trigon was originally the ruler of an unknown alien planet in a distant reality, one full of evil. Eventually, his reign of terror became so unforgivable, that three powerful entities came to his domain in an effort to cleanse his rotten soul of evil. A grave mistake that would soon haunt the multiverse…" Kent sighed, pausing to summon a few chairs for everyone.

"They evidently failed," I said, after all, that was usually how these tales of demons came to an end.

Kent nodded. "The entities failed to see the bigger picture, and in their lack of awareness, they summoned an ancient artifact, one that would unavoidably help bring their end. The Heart of Darkness, an artifact able to feast on the evil of others, leaving only the other side of the coin. However, their plan as you guessed it failed, as Trigon was not only able to resist their efforts but absorb the power the Heart contained, which contained the collected evils of a hundred galaxies. With his newfound power, he killed the entities that had come to cleanse his soul with ease, shredding them of their flesh and wearing their skin as a trophy…"

A demonic conqueror with untold power, that had yet to make his move. But why?

If his power was anything like Kent was describing, and Zatara's and Constatine's expressions were anything to go by, then it was well within this demon's power to conquer this reality with ease.

Unless he had gotten the genie treatment.

Power without the freedom to use it.

Demons in general were just like that, they had little control outside their realms, and therefore needed anchors to interact with the physical realm.

If that was the case, then it was safe to assume the girl was his anchor, his door to this realm.

But if that was the case, then what was stopping him from invading our reality?

He didn't sound like the type of entity that liked waiting.

Meaning that his gate here wasn't working as intended.

"The girl…" Zatara sighed, but I stopped him.

"It's connected to him, I figured that much," I said, trying to make the picture of the problem we were dealing with clearer.

"She's a gate," Kent nodded.

"One that has yet to open, why?" I replied.

"That… we don't know," Zatara replied.

"Perhaps the girl needs a sacrifice to bring that bastard here," Constantine offered. "Most demons require blood of some kind…"

"Trigon does not," Kent stated.

If Constantine was right, then David was probably the sacrifice they needed to open the gates. However, if Kent was right, then something else was at hand, something I wanted to know.

"We need to kill that demon before she bloody kills us all," Constantine said.

"No," I said, in a tone that left no room for arguments or appeals. "We know nothing of the girl or her direct relation to Trigon, or how our actions might affect our problem, therefore, we must act as if she was a bomb."

"Batman is right…" Kent nodded, taking a deep breath. "We can only act if we know with confidence our actions won't help Trigon cross the veil to our world…"

"Constantine, Kent, you two keep investigating about Trigon, Zatara with me," I said, turning around, and walking towards the door. I had much to do, and one of those things was having a talk with Black Bolt, that I hoped would give me perspective.

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next chapter

Chương 45: CHAPTER 41

If you want to read up to 20 chapters ahead go to https://www.patreón.com/cornbringer

Discord invite: https://discord.gg/XHduApz

Enjoy!

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[David Lance POV]

Two weeks and I still had nothing to clear Rachel's name, other than my word. The situation was getting a little frustrating, as there was no possible approach to resolving it.

"You shouldn't feel obligated to help me," Rachel said softly.

I smile at her. ~It's part of the job, helping those in need.~

Rachel smiled for the briefest of moments. "Heroes..."

I nodded, that was part of the job, just as the terrible hours, and the non-existent pay were. The healthcare though was superb, so not everything was bad.

Enough jokes though.

I was running out of ideas.

"Someone is trying to find us, my magic is stopping their attempts…" Rachel said, a frown dawning on her face.

I turned to her. ~Any idea who?~

Rachel nodded. "It was one of the heroes that came to rescue you in the forest, the one that looked like a stage magician…"

Giovanni Zatara.

What to do… this might be an opportunity to appeal to Rachel's case with him, but like every opportunity in this world, it was a double edge blade.

Damn it all.

I guess it's like they say, without risk, there's no reward.

~Let him find us,~ I signed, hoping I wasn't making a mistake.

Rachel nodded, closing her eyes before saying calmly. "Done…"

I nodded, walking towards her. Now it was time to see Giovanni's move and hope for the best.

"Latrop ot eht isles!" A voice echoed in the cave, as a portal opened in front of us, with Giovanni Zatara and Batman stepping through before the portal closed.

At this, I felt my body relax.

"Black Bolt," Batman was the first one to speak.

~Batman,~ I greeted in kind.

"We need to talk," replied Batman with a commanding tone.

~I'm all ears,~ I replied, gesturing for him to proceed.

"Alone," said Batman coldly.

I shook my head, giving Giovanni a look. What guarantee did I have that Zatara would not engage Rachel the moment I went with Batman? I had to keep my options open, and Rachel close in case a fight erupted.

Batman himself had taught me that, to never leave the one you seek to protect out of sight or reach.

"They know," said Rachel calmly. "Not everything, but they know…"

I see now.

That was probably what Batman wanted to talk about with me, in private.

Batman narrowed his eyes at her, before directing his trademark scowl at me. "Explain."

"I am the daughter of Trigon the Demon, and Angela Roth, the Azarathian," Rachel replied before I could even think of an answer. "I will answer all of your questions. I am not afraid to be judged."

"The daughter…" Zatara muttered in a barely audible tone.

"I am," Rachel nodded. "But that's merely a title without value."

~You don't have to do this, you haven't done anything wrong, they have no right to question you, or me for that matter,~ I signed, ready to help her out of this situation if she wanted to.

"I know, but if some of these heroes are truly your mentors, then I am certain they will understand the situation, just as you did," Rachel replied with just the hint of a smile dawning on her face.

I sighed, taking a seat on the ground.

—-------------------------------

[Harley Quinn POV]

I swung my bat from left to right, smashing the head of the security guard at the asylum against the wall with a loud and funny metallic bang.

"I told you, didn't I, Harley?" Mister J grinned, punching one of the guards coming his way. "That we would be out of this place, in no time!"

I smiled, knocking another guard up. "Yep siree!"

I was finally on my way to freedom to look for my man, or was it, teenager? Meh, another crime for the list, another stripe for the tiger… No, no, another stripe for the tigress! That's a better one!

"We have much to do!" Mister J chuckled, stabbing a guard on the ground to death. "After all, I must make sure Batman doesn't get too rusty, I mean if I don't do it? Who will? On that note, we could add Black Bolt to the party as well! The more, the merrier!"

I smiled, remembering Black Bolt's dreamy eyes, just for me, as Ivy trapped Mister J with her greeny friends binding him in place, doing me a solid.

"Ivy, my dear, you flatter me but I am a man of a single gal!" Mister J laughed, giving me a look that soon turned into realization. "HaHaHaHaHa, well ain't this funny?!"

"I have no idea how you tolerate him," Ivy sighed, rubbing her temples as her plants dealt with the guards around with ease.

"Thanks, Ivy!" I smiled, skipping towards her, giving her a hug, before turning to the Joker, bat ready. "I'm sorry Mister J, but your position has been filled by another, so… bye~bye goodnight~" with that said and done, I swung my bat at him, smashing his head on the ground with enough force for the floor to crack.

"I still think you should kill him," Ivy sighed, slamming Mister J with one of her plants against the wall of his cell, before closing the door.

I giggled, rolling my eyes at her. "I wouldn't do that to Batsy, I mean, now that my eyes are finally open, it's clear those two love each other like medical corporations love rich cancer patients, besides... I am no one to break that up."

"Well, if you ever feel like killing him, you know who to call," Ivy replied with a smile, before asking. "So, who's your new lover?"

I smiled, elated at the opportunity to have some girl talk with Ivy. "He's a hero, a bit younger than me. Strong, silent, has a bad boy vibe going, he's the best…" I replied dreamily.

"A bit younger? By how much… exactly?" Ivy asked, walking with me towards the exit of Arkham asylum.

"Hm, I don't know, he's a teenager, fourteen, fifteen maybe?" I shrugged, not that it mattered, Harley was a good girl, she was willing to wait.

"I…" Ivy paused, her mouth forming a thin dot. "You know what? It's an improvement, and that's all that matters… I think…"

I giggled. "Ivy, he's a teenager… you really think he will be able to resist, all this?" I wiggled my blood-stained eyebrows at her, suggestively shaking my hips a bit.

"That's a good point," Ivy chuckled, busting the exit doors open with a move of her hands. "I still don't know what to think of it to be fair, I mean, sure, we are criminals, but we have standards…"

"Do we? Do we really?" I replied in a deadpan.

"Hmm," Ivy hummed, index finger pressed upon her lips. "As I said before, it's an improvement, so fuck it, congratulations."

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