Alright so I've been trying to write this chapter forever... but i wanted to resolve the whole Sarah kidnapping thing in one chapter... which needless to say didn't happen cuz when i finished it it was 23 pages long... sooooo i broke it up into 3ish chapters (ch. 10 has two parts) to make it more manageable. Anyway.. without further adieu a give you chapter 10 part 1
Chapter 10: Confrontation Part I
Mount Justice
August 12, 00:57 EDT
Artemis and M'gann were recovering on the couch when Kaldur came in carrying Kid Flash. He groaned and clenched in pain as Aqualad placed him on the kitchen counter where Arie had healed Artemis and M'gann.
Artemis ran over to his side, "Don't touch him," said Arie quickly, before Artemis reached him. Artemis gasped as she got a closer look at him. The entire right side of his body was burnt and blood spilled out from his abdomen on the same side.
Arie placed her hand gently on his cheek. Wally relaxed instantly; he took a deep cleansing breath and opened his eyes. "It doesn't hurt anymore," he mumbled.
"That's because I'm absorbing the pain, so you don't have to feel it." He looked up at her questioningly. "I'll explain later," she smiled.
"Well, whatever you do don't stop."
Her smiled disappeared. "I'm going to have to stop to heal you."
"Ugh, you just love making my life difficult, don't you?"
"Of course, its part of my irresistible charm," she said with a cocky smirk and a wink.
He chuckled. "Look who's using humor as a shield now."
"Hey, I never said it was a bad thing."
Kid Flash noticed her smile disappear and he immediately knew what came next. "I'm ready."
"Ok," she replied. She looked up to the rest of the team. "Hold him down for me and keep him as still as you can."
M'gann, Kaldur, Robin, and Superboy each grabbed a limb while Artemis looked on worried. Arie removed her hand from his face and as quickly as it disappeared the pain returned. She moved quickly and took a dagger that was concealed around her waist. She used it to cut open the top of his uniform, but the fabric had melted onto his skin. Kid Flash screamed out in pain as Arie pulled the uniform off his burnt chest.
Pulling back his shirt revealed three ribs sticking out of his side. Arie put her hand on the ribs and pushed them back into his body. He screamed again. "Artemis put pressure here while I heal him," said Arie through his scream, but Artemis didn't reply. "Artemis, get over here now!" without letting go, she turned around and saw her. She had turned away from the gory sight and was covering her ears, trying to block out the sound. Arie could sense her fear and agony. She couldn't see Wally like that; it was tearing her apart. Arie realized then that she couldn't rely on Artemis for this.
She turned back to Wally. He needed her more than Artemis. She tried to use her hurt arm, but the sling kept it from moving. Arie was so focused on Wally, that she didn't notice Batman and Red Tornado enter the kitchen. Batman moved quickly to her side and pressed his hand over hers, letting her hand slip out while he kept the ribs in place.
Then she removed her sling. Her arm was sore, but usable. She lifted her hands and blew into them, once again the golden mist spread into her hands. She moved them over his side and he began to heal. First, his ribs grew back into place and the skin closed over. Then, it quickly spread throughout his body, healing all of his burns.
When she was done she stepped back, dizzy, and almost lost her balance, but Batman caught her. She took a couple of deep breaths and smiled as Wally slowly sat up. "How do you feel?"
"Great," he said with a big smile. "But you look like crap," he said noticing how pale she looked.
"Thanks, hun, that's what every girl wants to hear."
"Seriously, Arie, are you okay?" asked Robin.
"I'm fine. It's just healing is… hard. It takes a lot of energy and I've been doing a lot of healing."
"You shouldn't have had to," said Batman, angrily. "What happened?" he said turning to Kaldur.
"We were not prepared for an attack on the cave," said Aqualad.
"Why not?"
"It was my fault. I was sloppy," said Arie. She couldn't let Kaldur take the fall for her stupid mistake.
"Care to elaborate?"
"Not really," she said shrugging it off. She turned around and walked away from Batman.
"Arianna!" he was furious, but remained composed.
She turned around with a fake smile, like she didn't know what it was about. "Yes?" she answered.
"Explain."
Her smile disappeared and she zoned out, looking around the room.
"Arianna, I am not joking. What happened?" He looked at her, studying her. He recognized that look on her face. He had seen it all too often; it was reserved, calculating, like she could see through everyone and everything to its very core. "What is it?"
"Magic. I can sense it and it's not mine," she said in a low whisper. She walked to the pantry. Its door had been jarred during the fight and hung on only one hinge. Arie reached through the crack and pulled out a large purple crystal that was about the size of her hand. "They've been watching us."
"Then destroy it," said Superboy, stepping forward to do just that.
Arie moved the crystal out of his reach, "not yet," she said. She raised it to eyelevel and studied it for a moment. Then she spoke in a language no one in the room could understand.
"I know who you are," she took cleansing breath to mask her anger. "You came into my territory, you hurt my charges, and you kidnapped a girl under my protection. You think you've won? You think you're safe? Well, I can promise you, you will never be safe again."
Her eyes flashed bright blue and she spoke with authority, passion, and fury. Everyone in the room could sense it even though no one could understand a word she said. She threw the crystal into the air with one hand and raised her other hand and closed it into a strong fist in one swift movement. It compressed the air around the crystal so quickly and so forcefully that the crystal imploded. Purple dust rained onto the floor.
"They planted it sometime during the fight. They only wanted to know if and when we'd go after them and there aren't anymore in the cave."
"Are you certain," said Red Tornado's mechanical voice.
"Yes, you can sweep the cave if you want to be safe, but I would be able to sense the magic from the crystal," then she turned to Batman. "To answer your question: I only had a chance to cloak her after she had already entered the cave. All Zavos had to do was look in the last place he sensed her and she was right here."
"Unfortunately, the cave's location has been compromised we will have to move the team," said Red Tornado to Batman.
The team looked at each other disappointed. Arie spoke up, "that won't be necessary. The magical community doesn't really care about this place, mostly because they don't know what it is and that includes Zavos. Even if he did, he'll be dead before he has a chance to tell anyone."
"Can you safely vanquish Zavos?" asked Batman.
His question burned her with anger. Where she came from a question like that could only be an insult or a challenge. But she controlled her emotions and kept them hidden, "My job is to risk my life, just like yours and just like theirs," she said motioning to the team. "If I wasn't in danger, then I'm doing something wrong. However, my bad guys are nothing like those you are accustomed to dealing with. If you don't want the team in the middle of this, then pull them out. Either way, I'm finishing this mission."
Batman turned to Aqualad, "it's your team; it's your choice."
"We want to see this through."
"Very well. We'll monitor you from here," with that, Red Tornado and Batman left the room.
"We need to hurry," Arie said. "Can I use a phone to call my house for supplies?"
Kaldur nodded, "in the meantime we need to find the girl. Any suggestions?" he asked Arie.
"Zavos is setting up shop in Happy Harbor and he isn't going to leave 'til we force him out. Look for some empty secluded place, most likely on the outskirts near the mountains."
"Great, cuz you know there's only like a million acres of mountains surrounding this place," said Robin.
"You have all of the Justice League's resources at your disposal. This guy is probably held up in some bunker with his minions, some bodyguards and his entire family, so…"
"So all we have to do is use the League's infrared satellites to find an abnormally high body count!" said Robin excitedly interrupting her. "I'm on it!" he said as he left the room.
"While Robin's doing that I'll make the call," Arie left.
M'gann waited until she was out of earshot, "Kaldur, what are we doing here?"
"What do you mean?"
"Does she expect us to kill these things? Or stand by while she kills them? That's not what we do."
"C'mon babe," Wally said putting his arm around her. "You've seen these things. They aren't like you and me. They're monsters."
M'gann became uncharacteristically angry. She moved away from him. "So you think because they look different, they deserve to die?!" she yelled.
"No, that's not what I meant at all…"
"But it's what you said!" she interrupted.
"But it's not what he meant," said Arie walking into the room. "These things are soulless monsters that live only to maim, kill, and destroy. Literally translated the word Tenebrian means 'fallen from grace,' when placed in context it means 'demon' and that's exactly what they are."
"You said your people and the Tenebrians are basically the same. What makes you any different?"
That question hurt. She thought to herself, how could M'gann not tell the difference? She cleared her mind, "Tenebrians and Tutellians were once the same. But a very long time ago, a group of Tutellians thought themselves superior to mortals. They thought the universe would be better without them. They plotted against mortals and every Tutellian who refused to side with them. The Araiya at that time put a stop to the threat, but a large group of Tutellians had already been corrupted and they escaped and have been causing havoc ever since."
"A lot of people lose their way and make bad decisions, but that doesn't give us the right to kill them."
"You just said it people lose their way. Tutellians exist only to serve and protect, to value mortal life above all else. When we lose sight of that, we're worse than useless, we're vile and dangerous, we become evil. The evil inside slowly spreads and corrupts every part of us. At that point, we are no longer what we once were, we're one of them. They no longer feel compassion. They are mere shells of what they once were. All that's left is anger and hate. And it is my job to put a stop to it."
Arie studied her. She could still see doubt in her eyes. Arie looked to Kaldur. "M'gann if you still have doubts you are not obligated to come along," he said.
She took a moment to think. She still had doubts but she trusted Arie and Batman and Kaldur. If they were sure than she should be too. "No, it's okay, I can do this."
"Good. Arie, when will you're supplies be here?"
"Soon, I need five candles and salt."
Wally zoomed over to the pantry and back in the blink of an eye. "I got your salt," he said shaking the can.
"Umm… do birthday candles work?" M'gann said pulling some out of the drawer and holding them up to her. "It's all we have."
Arie giggled, "They're not ideal, but I can make them work."
She set the candles in a circle on the kitchen counter and poured the salt along the circle, connecting the candles. Superboy handed her a box of matches and she lit the candles. "Now what?" he said.
"We wait. It won't take them long to send me everything." Everyone stood around the counter looking on with curiosity. Sure enough, within moments a small wooden chest appeared in the center of the circle. Arie picked it up and handed it to Artemis. Then another chest appeared, this one was larger and heavier. She picked it up with some difficulty and handed it to Superboy. Then finally a old book appeared.
It was a large leather-bound book. It was definitely old, but in good condition. Golden thread stitched into the cover held it together and it embroidered the lettering. The markings on the book were similar to those that appeared on Arie's skin whenever she used her powers. In the center was a golden circle that swirled out and stretched over the edge onto the back cover, securely locking the book.
"Woah," said Wally as he reached out to touch it, but Arie slapped his hand back quickly. "Oww!" he exclaimed as he pulled his hand back.
"You'll thank me later," she said.
"Yeah you will," said Robin as he entered with his customary cackle. "I found the hideout. It looks like they're using an old shut down mine at the base of the mountain. No need to thank me or anything."
"Good work," said Kaldur. "Now all we need is a plan."
"I can help with that." Arie said as she put out the candles then took the chest from Superboy. She opened it and looked inside. "Most of your weapons are worse than useless against Tenebrians. They're immune to the weapons of man, so here ya go." She said, pulling out a crossbow and a quiver of arrows. "These are for Artemis. Be careful with the arrows, they were dipped in poison to make them especially lethal."
"Wow!" said Artemis. "These are awesome!" She pulled out a shiny black arrow with gold etched into the shaft and the head, and examined it. "Can I keep these?"
Arie smiled, "of course."
"Thanks!"
"No problem," She continued to pull out weapons and placed them on the counter. Although the chest was large it wasn't big enough to hold it all. It seemed as if she was pulling the weapons out of thin air, like a magician's trick. "I have two sai swords, a mace, a double-edged spear, a sickle sword, and a katana blade. I chose these because they were modeled after Earth weapons. I figured that would be easiest for you." The weapons were made in the same style as the arrows and crossbow. "The golden etchings are an incantation I wrote to give the weapons more power. I also blessed them."
"You blessed them?" said Wally, picking up the katana blade.
"Yes, with my blood…"
"Eww!" Wally said dropping the sword. "You couldn't warn a guy before he picked it up!"
She laughed a little "It's only on the blade. Besides the weapons absorbed it."
"So what was the point?"
"A weapon is only as strong as the magic behind it. My blood makes the weapon as strong as I am."
"Cool."
"So will my water bearers do any damage?" asked Kaldur.
"They should but I honestly don't know where your magical limit lies. And like I said yours is the magic behind your water bearers. If your magic isn't stronger than your opponent's, you're water bearers won't stand a chance. Take one of my weapons just in case."
Arie watched as they examined the weapons. She saw innocence in them that she had long forgotten and lost. And she was about to take that away. Killing these things changes a person. She can't do that to her charges, make them witness unspeakable things and ask them to join in, not to mention put them in harms way.
"You guys should probably take them to the training room and practice. They're basically the same as their non-magical counterparts, but they have a little more kick to them. While you're gone I'll prepare the potions. It won't take me longer than 30 minutes. I'll come get you when I'm ready."
"Good idea," said Kaldur, motioning for the team to head out. He turned and looked at Arie. She seemed troubled. He waited for the team to leave then asked, "Arianna, is something troubling you?"
"I'm fine," she said avoiding eye contact and faking a smile, but Kaldur could see right through it.
"You are lying."
He caught her by surprise. She turned and looked straight at him. She didn't understand. What was it about him that threw her off balance? He didn't buy her act like all the other mortals and most of the Tutellians. She never had a problem convincing anyone else. This was for their own good. Why did she feel guilty about it? This was what she was trained to do. This was what she was born for.
"I'm worried," she said plainly, hoping he would buy a half truth.
"About what?"
"I've never brought mortals to a demon fight before."
"You need not worry. We are well trained and we know the risks."
For the first time in a long time, she let down her guard. "Promise me something," she said in a whisper. He stepped closer to her and nodded for her to continue. "Promise if something goes wrong, you'll get the team out of there."
"Arie…" he started to say, but she anticipated his answer.
"Don't, please don't," she said trying to keep her voice level and her emotions in check. "If something goes wrong, worry about the team, Sarah, and yourself. Get out safely. No matter what."
He looked into her eyes. He could see her vulnerability and he couldn't refuse her. "Okay, I promise."
Hearing his response, her eyes brightened up and she smiled. "Thank you."
He smiled in response. In that moment, he realized he would do anything to keep that smile on her face. "We'll be in the training room when your ready." She nodded and he turned to leave.
She watched him walk out of the kitchen. She knew she didn't have long. Sarah was running out of time, if she was still alive, and she knew the weapons wouldn't distract team for long. But she was having doubts; it hurt to lie to them. She couldn't believe it: she felt guilty about lying to them. But this is what she was trained for, to protect at all costs. She pushed those thoughts out of her head, it was time to focus.
Arie turned to the book. She placed her hand in the center of the book and her markings, once again began to glow. Like a missing puzzle piece, it lined up perfectly with those already etched into the book in gold. The metal circle turned and the golden lock that had reached over the sides was drawn back into the circle.
Arie opened the book and started flipping through the old, yellowed paper. It didn't take long for her to find a page on Zavos. On it was a detailed drawing of him and she recognized him immediately. He had the same soulless black eyes and sinister smile she had seen in her vision.
Beside his picture was a detailed description of Zavos, his allies, his powers, and his weaknesses. She read over the page looking for how to vanquish him. It was in the last paragraph. Her stomach turned as she read the gruesome details of what it would take to end Zavos, but she hardened herself to it. If anything deserved to die like that it would be that demon. She knows what has to be done and she would do it, knowing she could never let her charges see what she was going to do.
Everyone was training with their new weapons. Kaldur and Robin were sparring, "Robin, how long does it normally take for Arie to prepare potions?" He asked in between blocks and strikes.
"I don't know. Why?"
He didn't answer. He stopped fighting and walked over to the intercom. "Arie, how much longer do you need?" He waited for a reply but there was none. "She's gone," he said as he left the training room.
The team grabbed their weapons and followed. They made it to the kitchen, but she was gone. Robin stepped over to a half-full pot on the counter. He placed his hand near the pot and could feel heat still radiating off of it. "She hasn't been gone long. The pot is still really hot."
"Why would she leave without us?" asked M'gann.
"She's trying to protect us," said Robin. "We're going after her right?" he asked Kaldur.
"Yes," he answered pensively. "Can we use the rest of that potion she was brewing?"
"Umm… yeah I think so we'll just need something to weaponize it. Arie uses glass vials, but it looks like she took all of them."
"It is fine. I do not believe we will need them." Kaldur took off his water pack and emptied it in the sink. Then he took the pot and poured the remaining potion into his pack. "We don't have much time. Robin, do you still have the coordinates?"
"Yeah," he pulled up a map on his wrist computer. "It's on the other side of the town, but if we go in the bioship we'd be there in five minutes."
"Good, everyone grab a weapon, switch to stealth and let's move. We'll discuss strategy on the way there."