Word Count: 2110

Chapter Six

It took about 20 minutes to recover from what Klarion did to us. By then Zatara was at the scene, standing over me. It took Klarion 20 minutes to get bored of the super and escape.

"What are you doing here?" Zatara scowled.

I couldn't look him in the eyes, not with Doll rolling around so active in my head. I kept my head bowed.

"I- um…" I took a deep breath, pretending to gather myself. Doll's voice wasn't mixed with mine. "I…" But still what do I tell Zatara's dad?

"Is that…" Zatara's voice drifted, loosing it's angry edge. He knelt down carefully reaching for me. I didn't move or flinch so he continued and slowly tilted my head up. I gasped and shrunk back, pain exploding when he poked my neck. That must have been one hell of a bruise.

He didn't interrogate me after. Instead he pressed the small radio in his ear and called for someone else. I felt Doll's magic creep into the radio.

"Deliah-"

"Harley's Deliah?" That was Black Canary, Dinah. Harleen brought her over a few times. "I knew we shouldn't have thrown Ivy in Belle Reve. She's a good influence on Harley and Leah."

"I found her nearly unconscious in an alley. She has bruises on her neck." Zatara spoke quietly. I was sure Doll enhanced my ears so I could hear him. Oh wait… That sounded a lot worse that what actually happen.

"No! I… I wasn't- y'know." I winced standing up. Teenage girl, short shorts, tight vest, alone. Alley. "I had a run in with Klarion, nothing bad- It was bad but- I wasn't sexually assaulted." I blurted out the end, feeling my face heat up as I stuttered my words like Doll.

Zatara gave me a studying glance. How did I know Klarion? What did he want from me? Why was I here? I saw it all over his face and Black Canary asked some of it and a few more but I only met his Zatara's eyes. When I didn't yield he gave a sigh.

"Alright," The older practitioner put a hand on my shoulder gently urging me out of the alley.

In the minutes that followed I was taken in by the League for questioning. In an interrogation room. I looked at the one way glass, which held my reflection. No signs of Doll being active, right down to my eyes and voice. I sighed. She was… quiet.

And the silence was getting to me.

"Why was Klarion after you?" Martian Manhunter asked. I didn't answer right away. Should I tell them that Klarion can just teleport to me wherever I am?

"I…"

"No," Doll interrupted. I felt the room spin, Doll nudging me out of the pilot seat. I glanced back at my reflection. She took my left eye, and her horns appeared on my head and… something felt like it was pressing against my skull. "No mind reading." The pressure stopped.

Manhunter looked at the glass for a second. He looked back at us, a measuring up and down, "You are… Death's servant."

"Dahlei, former servant of the Endless," Doll crossed her arms. Her mind wavered, our body would have swayed but I did the physical part. Doll relaxed a little, mind easing and I could feel her smile within me. "Klarion is after me, not my anchor." I gasped mentally. That was a lie.

Doll gave a quick rundown of her book and the gem. Her mind weakening way to quickly to go in depth. I gasped, horns suddenly vanishing and her mind just slipping away. The questioning was over.

"Hey Leah," Black Canary said walking into the room with a scarf in hand and a super behind her. A villain-

"Ivy!" I smiled and ran to the redhead, throwing my arms around her completely ignoring the metal collar and how my magic can so easily disable it. Ivy laughed, and returned my hug. "What's going on? Are they releasing you?"

"No," Ivy sighed. She took the scarf from Black Canary and gingerly wrapped it around my neck, hiding the bruise. She cupped my cheek. I carefully watched her, emotions rolling across her face. "I want you to move in with Zatara."

"I'm almost 18. Will be next month- I'll just move out."

"I know," Ivy smiled at me. Beside her Black Canary gave a disapproving sigh. "But we, Harly, Catwoman, Doll. We can't protect you from Klarion or whoever else Doll Face isn't telling us."

"I…" I glared hard at the floor. Ivy dropped her hand to my scarf, fidgeting with it. Dahlei can't protect me. "I've beaten Klarion…" Whoever else Doll isn't telling us… My mind repeated those a few more times, wishing the Lord within me would wake up.

"Really?" Ivy gave me a smile. It eased a lot of tension but that worry came back. "Please think about it? And don't let… Harley see this." The super pointed to my neck.

I couldn't heal the bruise, Doll refused to absorb any more of his magic. So the next day I wore a scarf to school and avoided Zatanna. I was successful until the end of the day.

I fidget with my scarf, the thing coming loose after rustling about the crowd. When I reached the parking lot, Zatanna had beat me to my car, leaning up against it. My keys was swinging around her finger.

"Zatanna," I sighed. Mentally I poked and prodded and Doll but she only groaned and went back to sleep. Welp, I wasn't gonna get any help from her so she can't complain about anything when she wakes up.

"Are you okay?" Zatanna asked. She eyed my scarf with a from, holding my keys firmly. "My dad… I overheard him saying something about Klarion?"

"Yeah…" I looked around to make sure no one was watching. Of course they were. I was the black sheep, short skirt, short hair, motorcycle. I drew attention just by being. I glared at the obvious ones and they quickly looked away and walked to their cars or whatever.

I walked closer to Zatanna, waiting till I was leaning against my car to pull down my scarf a little. She gasped at the bruise and I had to hold her hand to stop her from completely pulling down my scarf.

With a flick of my hand I unlocked the doors and took my keys. Zatanna wandered to the passanger side and we both slide in. The drive was a little too short, I only just started to tell her about the memories Klarion pulled out when we arrived at Zatanna's house.

"Hi, dad!" Zatanna smiled at the super, getting out of my car. Zatara gave a sigh, shaking his head a little. "What are you doing here?"

"We're visiting… the others," Zatara said after a moment. I rolled my eyes, ready to drive off but Zatara cleared his throat bringing my eyes back to him. "And I was hoping you'd join us."

"You're trying to convince me," I frowned crossing my arms. Zatara gave a stiff nod. His eyes flickered to my neck. I sighed, and got out of the car making sure to leave my school bag in the back seat.

We followed Zatara away from the house. I frowned looking at Zatanna who pressed up against me as we walked behind her father.

"Convince?" She whispered.

"Oh, I didn't get to finish," I realized in a soft voice. "You're dad picked me up after Klarion attacked me. My guardian wants… me to live with you guys."

"You should!" Zatanna gasped grasping my hands. She stopped and I realized we were in an ally, in front of a phone booth? Zatara took a step inside. When the door closed there was a bright flash and he was gone.

I quickly opened the door, looking around. I sent my magic out, feeling a complex circuitry in it, "Seriously? That's tech?" Zatara only smiled at me and waved to the booth. I entered letting the light eat me up. It was a moment of... it felt like i was floating, the opposite of Doll's portals. I took a few steps, expecting to kick the booth door but there was nothing there.

I took a few more steps, blinking the spots away. Zatanna, Miss Martian, and Superboy slowly focusing from blobs. The ladies gave me a warn smile. And I returned it, until Batman walks up to me and I heard a machine announced Zatara's arrival.

"Ms. Moody, you're wrist." The super said. I looked at Zatanna and held out my wrist. Batman attached a firm but sturdy bracelet. I light up red and I felt it with my magic. "A smaller device similar to the collars at Belle Reve. We'll remove it when you leave."

"Um… Why does she have that?" Miss Martian asked. "I thought she's here because Klarion attacked her. Twice."

"My guardians are Poison Ivy and Harley." I answered carefully, looking at Batman. He didn't move, not really but he gave me a small nod and then left. "Sometimes Catwoman." I looked back at shocked faces.

"I knew it!" Zatanna said with a large grin.

"Did you know about those plants?" Superboy took a step in front of Miss Martian. How cute, I thought with a smile.

"Dahlei… You remember the spirit possessing me? She can see the future sometimes," I answered trying to simplify the omniscience she gets from her lingering connection with the Endless. Specifically Destruction and Death. Superboy crossed his arms, face set in a deep frown.

"And what's this with Klarion again?" Superboy pressed further.

"This," I pulled at my scarf. Miss Martian gasped, flying forward almost touching the bruise at my neck. Super boy immediately uncrossed his arms, a surprised look on his face.

"Wow, that's…"

"I can see why they want you to stay." Miss Martian finished quietly. We kinda just stood there for a few minutes. They were probably having another physic conversation but I fidgeted under Superboy's gaze.

Finally wrapping the scarf around my neck again. The super muttered sorry and finally looked up at me. He wasn't suspicious anymore which was a good thing.

"Why don't you show Ms. Moody around?" Zatara offered.

"Really?" I crossed my arms and raised a brow. "I know you're trying to convince me to live with you but… Ivy and Harley…"

"They want what's best for you," Zatara answered easily. "Like any parent." That stopped me from arguing. Instead I took a deep breath and just looked around.

It was… nice. Shiny, high tech. I let my magic wander. I could sense security systems, cameras. No doubt if Klarion came after me they'd at least know. It didn't feel like home though. But I've been living in that apartment since I was a kid too, long before Doll possessed me.

I wanted the super life… I could have saved Greta. But did I want to be a hero?

"I'll think about it."

Nov. 5th. It took two days but Doll was actually awake, a little groggy but good enough to possess my stuff animal while I ate more of the Team's food in the Team's nice kitchen in the Team's secret lair. Doll was sitting on the counter, swinging her stubby legs.

"It's your body, your life."

"It's not just my decision," I sighed and poked at my food. "You in the backseat of everything I do, you deserve a say."

"I don't want the super life. Period."

"We're trying to compromise."

"I… Me and Klar…No. Not the hero life," Doll finally said. "It'll be complicated."

"Alright," I sighed. I got off the Team's counter, putting back the Team's dishes in the sink. I kinda liked the idea of hanging out here. Not hiding, being able to have an open conversation like this and not worry. But Doll had a point.

"Maybe I can figure out how to undo this."

"What?" I looked at Doll who was climbing to her feet. She gestured between us. "You… want to separate?" I… Why would we?

"… No." Despite saying that I suddenly felt her leave. The complete silence lasted a few seconds. I couldn't even hear my own heartbeat.

"Fuck!" She entered my body with such force I had to brace myself. I had a few seconds to breath before I felt it. A mystic force brush against me, analyzing me. Then it suddenly tried to tear me apart- No. It was trying to tear Dahlei out. I think. All I knew was that I failed to hold my grip against the counter and I blacked out.

A/N: I have chapter seven and eight finished, working on nine. the intro took quiet a while but I didnt want to rush it. Klarion becomes a regular after this chapter.