Chapter 2
They've got you running though the night,
It's terror time again,
And you just might die of fright,
It's a terrifying time!
If you've noticed the lyrics at the top you also notice that it's the same song. If you've seen Scooby doo; Zombie island, you know what this song is. Terror Time Again. I'm going to be posting the lyrics for this song until the song ends. I think it's a good theme for Lita's nightmare spell. Also I came up with the fiction while listening to the song. ONWARD TO THE BATTLE FIELD!
The next morning Lita came to school, her two familiars not far behind her as she walked to the main gates. Lita turned to the cats.
"You two cannot come in with me, you know that." She said, Hatter and Cherie mewed.
"But the school knows of your secret. They should know that you will need your familiars." Cherie mewed. Lita sighed and face-palmed.
"Pets are not permitted at school. That means you two as well." She said, the two cats hissed.
"We aren't pets! We're magical familiars! Let's see a human talk to a normal cat." Hatter growled. Lita groaned.
"You cannot come with me." She said.
"Hey Lita." A voice said behind the young witch-girl. Lita turned to see Jackson Bullock, Detective Bullock's son, senior at Gotham High, and co-captain of Gotham High's football team. For a while he had a thing for Lita, but that all ended when she explained things to him about Scarlet, Lita's former girlfriend. (see Dark Beloved 39-40) now they were just friends.
"Good morning Jackson." She said sweetly, Jackson looked to Lita and the cats behind her.
"Were you just talking to those cats?" He asked, "That another Witch-girl thing?"
"They are my familiars, Cherie Curie, and Hatter." She explained, "and yes, many Croatoan witch-people have the ability to speak to their familiars."
"You know pets aren't allowed on school property right?" he asked. Lita nodded.
"Yes, of this I am aware. However telling them that seems impossible." She said, the two cats looked to Jackson Bullock and hissed collectively. Jackson scowled, unaware of what the two felines had said, he looked to Lita, "I am not translating that."
"Ok, so hey you know the school's having a haunted dance thing coming up." Jackson said placing his hand behind his head. Lita smiled.
"Yes, I am aware of this also. I am very excited." She said sweetly, "I am hoping that Bart and I will be able to dress up as a couple. I've read that a lot of couples do this."
"Right…you…and Bart. That's right you're a couple." Jackson grumbled, Lita cocked her head to the side in confusion. There was no possible way he could have forgotten this, the two had been together for a little over a year now and it was very obvious the two were together.
"Are you going with someone Jackson?" she asked, waving her familiars off as she walked to the main steps with the jock. Jackson shrugged.
"Not yet, but I'm a popular guy. I'll find someone." He said, "And with Jordana busy with her own relationship I can finally be at peace."
Lita nodded but somehow doubted that. Jordana Kesha, used to be obsessed over Jackson, to the point where, when he started having feelings for Lita she began to bully her. However after some things happened involving the Light, causing Jordana to learn hers, Garfield, and Bart's secret of being on the team, she ended up with Garfield AKA Beastboy. It was a sweet coupling, however, part of Lita believed that Jackson missed that about Jordana.
"Well, I certainly wish you luck on that endeavor Jackson." Lita said sweetly, "Oh have you seen Garfield or Bart this morning?"
"No, can't say I have." Jackson said, "But Jordana's in the chem lab right now."
"Hm, well I believe I will be going there now. It was nice speaking with you Jackson," She said, waving off the senior boy and walking down the chemistry lab. "See you in third period."
As Lita made her way down the hall, she began to think about the creature from last night. A Cobradrake, something like that just wasn't normal, even in With-world, they were very rare. So what was one doing in Gotham? Lita was so lost in thought she didn't notice the boy in front of her until she bumped into him and fell to the ground.
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry." The boy said. Lita shook her head then looked up at the boy, and blushed. He was a tall boy—at least from her current point of view—with silver colored hair that fell over his shoulders like a silver curtain, he had a slightly paled complexion and coal colored eyes that looked to her with concern as he held out his hand for her, "Are you alright?"
"Uhm, yes. So very sorry…."She said staring at the boy as she stood, her pale tanned face still blushing a slight pinkish tone. His voice made her heart want to melt, it had a Transatlantic English accent –much like her own*—but with a slight musical softness to it. "I was not looking where I was going."
"It's alright, so long as you aren't injured. You aren't are you?" The boy asked, Lita nodded and smiled.
"Oh yes, right as rain aheheh!" She said nervously, then realized her hand was still in his. This of course caused her to blush even deeper as she snatched her hand away. She then cleared her throat and looked to the boy, "Mew. I apologize, but, I do not believe I have ever seen you at Gotham High before."
"Oh yes, that is because I just transferred here." The boy said then dipped into a slight bow, "Aubrey Rune, new Student to Gotham high as of this morning."
"I see. Well Aubrey, welcome to Gotham. I am Lolita Bleak." She said, curtsying a bit to be polite. She then gave Aubrey one of her usual sweet smiles. Aubrey smiled back.
"Well Lolita, maybe you can help me. I'm looking for room 302." He said, "I am a bit lost."
"That is the Miss Bitters' class, she teaches English. It is not far from the chem. Lab." Lita said sweetly, "I was heading that way actually. So I can take you to it. Oh and you may call me Lita if you like."
"I see. Thank you Lita." Aubrey said as he followed Lita down the hallway. When they made it to their destination Lita pointed out the English class—which was just across the hall from the chem. Lab. Aubrey gave her a smile and a thank you as he took up Lita's hand and dipped politely.
"It has been so wonderful meeting you Lita. I hope to see you more often throughout the school day." He said. Lita's face blushed a bit. This boy, Aubrey, was much different than any of the boys she had met in the year and a half she had been able to leave her house freely. Lita was silent as Aubrey stood up straight and walked toward the English class.
Meanwhile inside the chem. Lab, Jordana had been watching the whole scene play out stared wide eyed at the door as Lita walked in. the look on her face was enough to warrant a confused look from Lita.
"What was that?" She asked with a big grin on her face.
"What was what?" Lita asked.
"Don't be so coy. Who's the new cutie with a Romeo attitude?" Jordana said pointing toward the door. Lita looked back and blushed.
"Oh. He is Aubrey. He is new so I was showing him the English class." She said walking to her seat next to the blonde haired teen. Jordana's brows rose in interest.
"He's cute." She said, Lita went wide eyed and then began to hover a bit over her friend.
"J-jordana what about Garfield?" She asked covering her mouth with her hands, surprised Jordana would even think about another person. Jordana snorted a laugh and stood, placing a hand on Lita's shoulder and bringing her back to the ground.
"Relax Li, there's no way in hell I'd leave Garfield for some guy who reads way too many vampire romance novels." She said, "That Audrey kid is just a cute guy. He's probably the type of guy who just goes around flirting with every girl he meets."
"Hm, well I suppose it does not really matter. I have Bart after all" Lita asked, looking back at the door as the bell rang for first period and students came flooding in. Jordana sat back down and looked through her purse.
"That's the way to go." She said pulling out her compact mirror and began fixing her hair as Lita sat down in the seat next to her.
~0~
At lunch Lita and Bart finally found each other. This year they didn't have any classes together which meant they didn't get to see each other as often. So far lunch was the only time they had been able to see one another.
"This year totally sucks." Jordana said placing her head on Garfield's shoulder as they sat across from Bart and Lita, "We don't have any classes together!"
"It's ok Jordana, we still get to see each other in the halls and outside of class." Garfield said. Jordana let out a dramatic cry and placed her arms around meta-human boy.
"So hey Lita, we heard from Robin that you had trouble with some kind monster?" Bart asked, Lita nodded and summoned a book to appear on the table.
"Yes, a Cobra-drake, I believe. Hatter and I were fighting it last night, neither of us know where it came from." She said, magically flipping through the book until she found the image she was looking for of a massive looking monster with the head of a cobra and the body of a dragon, the group stared at the image.
"Ew, talk about creepy." Jordana said with a sneer, Lita nodded.
"These creatures are extremely rare. Even in my father's world. If this thing is around, someone would have to have summoned it," She said, "Or quite possible created it."
"You can make these creepy things?" Jordana asked.
"Hey these things would be pretty cool to have at that haunted Formal, don't you think?" Garfield joked. Lita shook her head.
"Ah, no. Cobra-drakes are dangerous, but yes one can be created. With the right ingredients and familiar." She explained, "However, the one Hatter and I fought was much different from the ones I've read about."
"Well not everything can be explained through books right?" Bart asked, Lita nodded.
"I suppose, but it still warrants search." She mumbled looking at the image, "After all these things are dangerous according to the books. Even one of them could spell disaster for Gotham."
"Any way to get rid of it?" Garfield asked.
"This book does not say. However my father has many tomes. I am sure with a little more reading I will find it." Lita said sweetly, snapping her fingers as the book disappeared.
"You've been using your magic a lot more often at school." Bart said, Lita nodded.
"Of course, since everyone knows my secret, I do not much point in hiding it anymore." She said, "However that being said I do not intend to use it every moment of the day. No need to showboat."
"That's Lita alright, modest to the end. Girl if I had your talents I'd be showing them off like crazy." Jordana said, "But then again I love the limelight."
"So Lita about the dance, you gonna help with the haunted part?" Jordana asked this year she was on the dance committee for the Gotham High's Haunted Formal. Lita shrugged.
"I have debated helping set up. The dance committee could use as much help as they can get after all." She said, "It would be rather easy to put up cobwebs if I used my levitation spell."
"Plus with your ability to see into people's nightmares would defiantly put the 'haunt' into the Haunted Formal." Bart said, Lita frowned.
"That is not a spell I would use on our fellow students." She said her words sounding absolute.
"Oh come on Li, it's all in good fun. People love to be scared." Jordana said. "And besides, no one would get hurt."
"You all seem to think that my powers create an illusion of a person's fears." Lita said, "The manifest of fears is not a simple illusion. I give a person's fear life. It is not a spell to use on a whim. It is a very dangerous spell, it would be like using the spell Voldimort use to try and kill Harry Potter."
"Lita, that's just a movie." Garfield said. Lita scowled and stood, holding her food tray.
"Regardless, I will not use my Manifest fears for a haunted Formal. It is not a common ability, and I do not wish for it to spiral out of control." She said sternly, "Please do not ask me again."
With that Lita took her tray and walked off, disposing of her trash as she left the cafeteria. Back at the table the three other teens looked at each other.
"Well that blew up in my face pretty badly." Jordana said. "Oh well, worth a shot."
"Ah, give her some time. When she cools off you can ask her again to help." Bart said, "Who knows with a little encouragement we might get her to use that spell."
"I think she might be pretty solid on that subject Bart." Jordana said, "But I'll at least ask if she'll help. It would be much easier to get the balloons and stuff up there without having to worry about anyone falling."
"Well I should probably go after her." Bart said with a nod. He then stood and went looking for the young Witch-girl.
After school Lita and Bart walked out of the school building together. Bart had brought up the dance again, asking if she wanted to dress up like the year before. A question in which Lita answered with an excited yes.
"We could go as Alice and the white Rabbit. That would be fun." She said with a giddy smile.
"Don't people typically pair Alice with the Mad Hatter?" Bart asked, Lita nodded with a slight pout. Bart smirked, Lita was cute when she pouted.
"Yes that is true, but I thought it would better fit our relationship if you were the white rabbit. He was pretty fast in the story." She explained. "I thought it would be a fun little inside joke."
"I get it." Bart said giving Lita's hand a loving squeeze, "Sounds crash to me."
Lita smiled excitedly and gave Bart a big hug. Dressing up for Halloween was something Lita had always wanted to do. However the last time that happened it had ended with Lita nearly drowning in Happy Harbor. Luckily this year that wouldn't happen. This year Halloween was going to be fun, and nothing was going to ruin it.
"Lita!" A familiar English accented voice called out behind the duo. Lita looked over her shoulder to see Aubrey bounding toward them. Bart scowled as the silver haired boy made his way toward his girlfriend, "I am so glad to have caught up with you!"
"Oh, hello Aubrey. Did you find the rest of your classes alright?" Lita asked. Aubrey nodded, then noticed Bart off to Lita's side. He was giving the new boy a strange look.
"Bart, this is Aubrey Rune," Lita said, "He just transferred here to Gotham high. I helped him find a few of his classes today."
Aubrey smiled and held out his hand for shaking. When Bart gave no move to take him up on the polite gesture, Aubrey cleared his throat to try and cut through the awkward tension. Lita then gave the young speedster look.
"Aubrey, this is Bart Allen. My boyfriend." She said ignoring the awkward tension. Aubrey's brows rose in slight surprise.
"Wonderful to meet you." He then said narrowing his coal black colored eyes at Bart, "As I was saying it is most fortunate that I managed to catch up with you."
"Oh?" Lita asked, holding onto Bart's hand.
"Indeed, I was rather hoping you could help me once again. I don't have the book we're supposed to be reading in English class." Aubrey said, "I was rather hoping you would know where I could get a copy."
"Mmhm, here you can borrow mine." Lita said, this time digging through her bag as she brought out a copy of the book titled 'Edger Allan Poe, a completed series.' She then handed it to Aubrey and smiled, "I've already read all of his stories and poems. You may keep this for as long as you need."
"Oh…why thank you Lita." He mumbled. Lita gave one of her sweet smiles that she gives everyone she meets.
"Of course, return it whenever you're able to. Edger Allan Poe is truly a great poet and story teller." She said, "See you tomorrow Aubrey."
Without hearing anything from Aubrey, Lita and Bart made their way toward the road that lead to the nearest zeta pod. After a moment of awkward silence Bart looked to Lita.
"So, new student huh?" he asked, Lita nodded.
"Yes. It was by chance that I ran into him in the hallways while looking for you." She said, "He is much different from any other normal human I have ever met."
"I bet, he looks a little weird." Bart mumbled. "Don't hear very many people talking like they read Shakespeare and books from old English."
Lita paused and gave Bart a scowl as she crossed her arms. Clearly a bit offended by the comment. It took Bart a moment before he had realized what he said and began to back pedal.
"I mean, not that it's weird or anything," he said, "I mean the whole speech pattern works for you, it's cute…I'm moded aren't I?"
"Not necessarily." Lita said as she began walking again, "Personally find it quite refreshing to hear someone speak like that. It is very rare indeed."
"Yeah…and like I said, it's cute when you do it!" He said, catching up with the young witch-girl, who then smiled to him.
"Either way, Aubrey and I are merely friends. No matter how charming his dialogue may seem to others." She said, hugging Bart's arm as they finally made it to a zeta pod.
"Right, let's hurry up I'm sure the rest of the team is wondering what's taking us so long." Bart said, Lita nodded and kissed Bart on the cheek as they turned down an alley where the zeta pod was hidden and headed for the cave.
(*)Another think I never quite touched on, Lita's; I always pictured Lita to have a TransAtlantic accent, because early interpretations of Klarion he had an English accent I think that Croatoan accents would be commonly mistaken for that accent, so if you pictured Lita's voice differently I apologize, I never thought to mention it. I hope you enjoyed this chapter all the same though. See you later armadillos—unless I see you first! Haha! REVIEW!