Billy Batson better known as Shazam has dead…
In large letters it said the unthinkable. I scanned the message in my hand repeatedly. I began to pace back and forth as my nerves got the best of me.
"Oh no, not Billy," I mouthed to myself.
"Is everything alright my Lady?" I voice called out from behind me. "Should I call my Lord to come to you."
I looked up from the tablet in my hand to see a young woman still standing in my chambers.
"That isn't necessary little one," I replied. "Just some news from home."
With a sharp exhale I waved for the woman to leave my presence. I couldn't let away one see me. Not like this. Once I knew I was alone I sat down at the desk within my room. With a heavy heart I watched the news clip J'nozz had sent me one more time.
This is Los Lane reporting live from the scene. I can confirm that Shazam better know to his friends as Billy Batson. A 13-year-old superhero has just died in the line of duty protecting his great city from destruction…
I paused the clip. I couldn't take anymore. A part of me doesn't believe the clip that J'onzz sent me. His lifeless body was just laying there splattered on the street. I lead back in my seat as I felt hot tears swelling up in my eyes.
"This is all my fault," I mouthed.
I took a few breaths as I tried to gather myself. I pressed play to continue the footage of Shazam.
… Here we have images, only being revealed here live on the Daily Planet, of Superman carrying the body of Shazam.
"By the gods," I whimpered as I saw Kal's broken face.
I rewind the footage repeatedly. I couldn't stop myself. Kal's face looked like the face of the man I put away those five months ago.
"I should have been there to protect them," I sighed. "He was just a little boy…"
My voice creaked as I found myself unable to hold back my tears. I head fell into my hands as I wept for the loss of my friend.
Knock, knock
I heard a heavy bang from outside my door.
"I don't wish to be disturbed," I weakly called out.
"One of the Furies told me you were upset," a deep voice replied. "I came to check on you…"
"I said I was fine my Lord," I replied.
As I spoke I heard my door fling.
"Lord Darkseid," I muttered as I lifted my head from my hands.
He stood there staring down at me with his burning eyes and let out a soft chuckle that echoed through my chambers.
"Amazon," he said as he stepped into my room. "Aren't we beyond these fake formalities by now."
The floor beneath my feet shake as he walked closer to me. I felt his presence grow stronger the closer he came. His thick musk engulfed my senses as I felt him standing beside me. He lingered staying nothing for a moment before his powerful coarse grey hand reached for my face. He cupped my face with the lightest of touches. His cold hand made a shiver run up my spine.
"That stop calling me Amazon," I replied to him. "You know my name and you should use it."
I brushed his hand away from my cheek and stared up at him as he pulled my gaze towards his..
Darkseid sighed as his thumb wiped a tear from my cheek, "Were you and this Shazam close?"
"Yes," I answered. "But returning to Earth wouldn't be wise."
There was no way for me to return to Earth like this. I left too many unanswerable questions behind when I felt. Only J'onzz knew where I was, but he didn't know the 'why'. No one could, especially not Kal-El.
"It wouldn't be wise because the eater of worlds might notice your condition or that Kal-El might?" he asked coldly.
"Both," I replied. "I am protecting him."
I watched Darkseid's crimson eyes bore through me as he studied my face. Could he tell I was lying or was he just amused that I attempted to even try to deceive him? I couldn't tell. Either way his gaze shifted down my body. With his free hand he slid it down my cheek. He caressed my flesh as his touched danced down the nape of my neck. He pressed my blue dress against my body revealing my shape until his hand reached my stomach.
"But you fear Kal more than you fear a man who wishes to kill us all because of this little gift," he replied.
His massive hand cupped my stomach. The tiny bump under my dress was dwarfed by his hands. My hands instinctually placed themselves over his as they tried to protect what was underneath them.
"I don't…" I lied.
"Then why would you have come here to me for protection?" he continued. "You could have called for him to come and aid you, but you didn't."
"You gave that boomtube to my auntie a millennium before I was every born," I replied as I pulled his hands from my belly. "You showed up at my doorstep offering to aid me, or did I knock out the memory of that the last time you touched me against my wishes."
Darkseid's massive frame began to kneel beside me as he brushed off my words.
"Oh, I remember that night perfectly Diana," he laughed as placed his head up against my stomach. "You were bleeding out on the floor of your palace with our hands trying to protect 'my son' went I stepped through that boomtube and saved you."
I felt bile rise in my throat as he called my child 'his' and said the words 'saved you'. There was a hint of joy in his face even with his eyes closed as he knew his words disgusted me.
"I'll be the only father he'll ever know," he added. "He will be strong like me in every way…"
As he spoke, I felt Darkseid nuzzle up against me and place a kiss upon my belly.
"He'll never be yours Darkseid," I hissed. "The light of the red sun burns within his veins."
Darkseid scoffed as I spat at him. His burning eyes met mine with a hint of rage and desire.
"Why else would I allow you to live?" he asked. "You know Kal-El won't be able to do what needs to be done."
I knew he was right, but his ego would never allow him to admit he feared death more. This was another's mans. No, the better man's child. He had seen him, the devourer of worlds, and what he was capable of long before I my sisters called upon him to aid me. Self-preservation was his motivation for aiding me that night. His aided to me and my child and he got him another chance to live another day.
"I will let you go to Earth Amazon," he said as I pulled away from me.
"I don't need your permission to leave," I replied.
"Well think of this as a peace offering to show you," he replied. "I'm not that bad guy and I can see that Billy's death has affected you in a negative fashion. It isn't good for my son either."
I looked down at him puzzled. He wanted something, he had to. The lord of Apokolips doesn't offer something without expecting something in return for his 'kindness'.
"What do you want in return?" I asked.
A smirk spread across his pale grey face as he stood to his feet. Towering over me he placed a kiss upon the top of my head.
"Oh, nothing my dear Diana," he replied. "The satisfaction of knowing that Kal-El will see you like this and think that I am the one who did it to you. I'll have Orion accompany you while you are on Earth."
I turned around in my seat and watched Darkseid walking towards the doorway.
"I don't need a babysitter," I said.
"But I need someone to record Kal-El's face when he sees my son growing within you," he laughed as he left me alone in my chambers.
PS: With school out for the summer I am able to write more often. A few of my stories I do need time to get back into gear with because I see which way I want to take them. But remember I do have a job and a life outside of this. A sister needs me time. I'll post part 2 and 3 in the next following days. See ya