First, I'd like to once again thank my one reviewer for giving her input; it's good to know that at least one person seems to be enjoying this. Second, for those of you who are new readers (like I had any old readers): Welcome! And now, on with the show.

Disclaimer: The mummy layers have returned, so I will say that they are not mine. Although, I am still a dork.

Chapter 3: Aunt Black

The woman standing before Ella had slanted black eyes and long black hair. She was tall, or at least she appeared that way to the girl before her. There was an arrogant air about her, only amplified by the smug expression on her face and the slurred drawl of in her voice.

She spoke again, "What is it dear? That wasn't just a momentary leap in intelligence I just witnessed, was it?"

Ella couldn't find it in her to retort. Her mind had crashed again.

"Because if it was, then I'm afraid I might just be wasting my time here, and my time is very limited, so you understand that I would want to be sure."

She finally finished rebutting. She wasn't completely sure what, but there was something about this woman she didn't like, something dangerous. In an instant, the candle she'd been using found its way between her and the threat.

"What do you want?"

"Oh, so you can speak," the woman looked at the candle and grinned, "Now, put that thing away before you hurt yourself."

Ella shoved the flame closer to the woman, "What do you want?"

A light, but confident laughter filled the room.

"Please, you wouldn't hurt you're dear old aunt, would you?"

Ella blinked, "My… my what?"

-----

There it was, his old home. It stood tall, just as he remembered. It had always been a place of freedom, where he had had friends. It had always been a warm bed to come home to at night. But not anymore, and especially not tonight. She was in trouble, and he had to help.

He hadn't called Vic yet; there was no need to involve him in this. He would be informed after the danger had passed. After all, he was only her guardian until the time came.

And the time had come.

Nightwing stared out across the lake at his once-haven. She would be in there now, searching for the answers to her questions. She didn't know that all she would find were more questions.

He sighed. It was time. He prepared to cross the lake to the Tower, to her.

-----

"My… my what?"

The woman laughed again, "Your aunt of course! Why, didn't your father ever teach you anything?"

"My father?"

"Oh, yes, I forget. He left you with that grease-monkey friend of his, didn't he? Vincent, was it?"

"Victor. And I think you have the wrong girl," Ella sounded almost regretful as she said this, "Both my parents are dead."

"That's what your uncle told you."

Ella frowned. It wasn't. Whenever she had asked her uncle about her parents, he had quickly brushed off the question with a new job or an excuse about having to be someplace. He had never actually told her about her family, who they were or what they were like. She had assumed it to be a sensitive subject; he had been their friend, after all.

She shook her head. She needed to focus on the problem at hand. She could worry about Vic later.

"Who are you?"

The woman smiled, "Name's Black. You can call me that, or just call me Aunt if you like, it really doesn't matter."

"Why are you here?"

"This was the home of my late sister. I came to procure a certain item of her's that I need for a little project I'm working on."

And so it was that Ella was once again led to her original question, "What do you want?"

Black grinned, "I think that question would better be directed at you. I wonder, my dear niece, what are you doing here?"

"I…" Ella trailed off. She actually didn't know why she was here.

"Now I don't mean to seem harsh, but if your father knew you were here…"

So they were back to that.

"I told you, my dad's dead."

"And now I'm telling you otherwise. This was once his room, was it not? Were he dead, the candle would not be burning."

"You must have the wrong girl. My parents couldn't have lived here. This place was for the Titans."

"And?"

Ella stopped. Her mind began to process where this was going. Her eyes drifted back to the picture on the nightstand. Could it be? Nothing was impossible. Except…

"There's nothing special about me."

Black looked shocked at this statement, "What do you mean girl? You've been marked!" Her eyes were one the fiery birthmark wrapped around Ella's wrist. It almost seemed to glow in the candlelight.

'Huh?' But as Ella opened her mouth to respond to this, there was a cry from the great window, and the glass shattered.

-----

Wing had been scaling the outside of the Tower for a while now, and found nothing. Maybe she had turned back while he was on his way here? He certainly hoped so. It was a false hope, he knew. She would never turn back, and after tonight, she'd never be able to.

It was time.

Finally, he reached the place he was most loathed to look. If she was in there, then he'd have and awful lot of explaining to do. But then again, he owed her an explanation whether or not she had reached that room.

He looked in the oversized window, and there she was. But she wasn't alone.

As his eyes fell on the woman standing before Ella, he felt his heart stop. It was her. Fear and rage took his mind in a death grip, causing it to race. What was she going to do? What was she going to tell her? What if…

He forced himself to stop. No, he had to do something. It was his place to intervene.

There was no time to search for the pressure point he knew must be there; he had to act now.

"Argh!!"

Yeah, I finished it. Anywho, could you all try and review? This is just depressing.

AJ