The Bioship was quickly approaching Egypt. It had been a long and quiet ride thought Zatanna. At least when Kid Flash or Robin was along for the ride, there was no lack of conversation whether peaceful or an argument.
"The middle pyramid," Doctor Fate shouted standing suddenly. "That is where the Gem of Diablo's foul magic is pouring from."
"All right we'll take it on foot," said M'Gann lowering the Bioship. When they got out Jason Blood lifted his nose in the air and began to sniff.
"I can't smell any regular humans here," said Jason. "It must just be those three and Klarion's familiar Teakle."
"How long will Klarion be gone if we take out the familiar Doctor," asked Artemis.
"Could be a day or a month, maybe even a year; I am a Lord of Order I don't know how the Lords of Chaos operate," responded Nabu.
"You're just a ray of sunshine aren't you Doctor," Zatanna hissed. The three girls and the two sorcerers's walked into the pyramid with Jason leading the way holding a torch. It was quiet for all of two minutes in the pyramid before Artemis asked a question.
"So Jason," she asked. "Back inside the Cave you said your other half might rip us apart if we got in his way during the battle? Can you explain what you meant by that exactly?"
"This may not come as a surprise to you but I am not entirely human," explained Jason grimly. "Centuries ago in order to defeat an ancient evil, that was plaguing the land, a warrior was needed. This warrior needed to be half human and half demon. The wizard Merlin fused together his demon Etrigan, with a knight from Camelot. That knight was me, and Etrigan is the reason that I am immortal."
"It was a mistake centuries ago, and centuries later you are still a mistake Halfling," Doctor Fate's voice rang echoed through the pyramid. "Merlin was an absolute fool to bind Etrigan to you." Jason gave Nabu a dark glance before rolling his eyes.
"Can't you separate from Etrigan," M'Gann asked.
"If I were to do that I would age very rapidly, and within 24 hours I would be dead. Immortality like all magic comes with a price."
"What kind of powers does Etrigan have," Artemis asked.
"Power over hellfire, super strength and endurance. He can leap pretty high, he likes pain, but iron will weaken him and me as well if it's placed on our bodies."
"A pity we do not have any iron then," growled Doctor Fate. Jason stopped walking and turned around with a look of hate on his face.
"You know," he started. "I'm beginning to grow irritated with your sides comments Doctor. You act as though you are the only one who's powers are truly benevolent, but we both know that is not true. You may be a Lord of Order yet the last time I checked you're still a body snatcher. Everyone knows that Giovanni Zatara is under that helmet now. It made the inter-magical-net the night you came back into power. Now I am putting up with you simply because Diana asked me to, however continue to insult me and you will find that I can be very nasty indeed."
The girls backed up as Jason's eye sockets were replaced with fire. His canine teeth, and fingernails were growing longer and sharper and smoke was coming from his body. Doctor Fate stepped towards him. His hands began glowing with golden energy and shortly after that, the entire cavern began to shake. Zatanna stepped between them with her hands raised.
"Hey incase you two have forgotten Klarion, Morgan, and Mordred are the enemy here," she barked. "If you two can't work together for one night then get out of here and Miss Martian, Artemis, and I will handle this." Jason and Nabu both looked at her. Nabu's hands stopped glowing and Jason returned to normal. "Now time to separate the brats. Jason you go to the front since you have the torch, and Doctor you get to the back and try not to talk because your voice echoes too much." Both men did as Zatanna ordered and remained silent.
"Damn girl," said Artemis. "Way to take charge."
"I can sense three minds up ahead," said Miss Martian. The fivesome walked up and began taking their places for the battle that was sure to come. The Martian closed her eyes then quickly opened them and they glowed green. "We're linked up guys psychically guys."
"Jason, Doctor don't talk if you can avoid it," Artemis thought. "Simply use the mental link."
"How much longer will this take to extract the power of the gem Klarion," Morgan's voice came.
"Patience old woman," Klarion sneered back. "It takes two days of standing completely still to extract its power. Only ten more minutes and we will have succeeded."
"They are too close to their goal," Doctor Fate's voice rang out in their minds. "Now we do things my way."
"No you imbecile," shouted Jason.
Nabu flew into battle firing a golden beam of energy from his hands. Klarion got hit with the blast in the back and flew into a rocky wall.
"NO NO NO NO NO! DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU'VE DONE," he screamed flying to meet Fate. They collided in beams of black and gold. No one would interfere in their battle. Jason tackled the unaware Morgan and pinned her to the ground.
"Ah Jason my love did you miss me," Morgan asked.
"Hardly bitch," replied Jason. "But I am here to make sure you don't get the Gem of Diablo."
Morgan cackled and disappeared in a cloud of green smoke. She reappeared next to Mordred. "You were a fool in Camelot 900 years ago Blood, and you're still a fool. I shall handle you once and for all this night."
Morgan and Mordred both fired bolts of red lightning at Jason.
"Tcetorp nosaj morf gninthgil," Zatanna chanted. The lightning bounced off Jason harmlessly.
Mordred turned their way. "Mother can I do to these girls what I did the last ones," he begged.
Of course sweetie," answered Morgan setting up her own barrier. "Just don't make a mess. Blood takes forever to wash out of clothes even with magic."
"You're not my type kid," said Artemis firing an arrow. Mordred caught it and it exploded blasting him into a rock. Zatanna looked over at Jason. He was pinned behind a coffin as Morgan fired spell after spell at him. Whoever this Etrigan was that supposedly apart of him, wasn't coming to help him.
"Miss Martian, help Jason. Artemis and I can take the brat."
Miss Martian flew to Jason's side and began telekinetically throwing rocks at Morgan. There was a flash of golden light above and everyone looked up. Klarion was falling out of the sky. Doctor Fate turned into a whirling tornado of pure golden magic and tried to pin Klarion into the ground. Klarion threw Teakle the Cat whom he was holding into the air and she transformed into the giant tiger beast. Then he countered Fate's tornado with a black tornado of his own. Artemis was firing arrows at Teakle but she just kept coming at them ready to pounce.
Zatanna getting an idea and cried," nommus syobrepus flow." She clasped her hands together and there was a burst of blue energy and Superboy's white cobra venom enhanced animal Wolf, appeared. He was confused at first but upon seeing Teakle his K9 instincts took over and all he wanted to do was kill the cat. Wolf tackled her and they began fighting, biting and scratching one another.
"Nice spell," Artemis said wiping sweat from her brow. Suddenly a rock flew out of nowhere and hit Artemis and she was knocked out blood dripping from a head wound. Mordred was back and he was flinging rocks with magic.
"Care to switch Zee," asked Miss Martian.
"Yes," came the quick reply.
They swapped roles and suddenly it was a rock throwing contest between Miss Martian and Mordred. Doctor Fate and Klarion were circling one another in the air shooting blue (Fate) and red (Klarion) waves of energy at one another but neither seemed to be tiring, and Wolf would soon gain the upper hand against Teakle. Suddenly Jason jumped on top of a coffin and began chanting.
"Gone gone the form of man, rise the demon Etrigan."
It took Zatanna a second to process what was happening because couldn't believe what she was seeing. Gone was Jason Blood indeed. He was replaced by a hideous demon with yellow skin wearing a red outfit with a blue cape. His fangs and claws were sharpened to perfection. The demon Etrigan opened his mouth let out a roar that echoed through the cavern before speaking.
"Etrigan has been released this day, come you bitch its time to play," spoke Etrigan in a raspy voice.
The demon spoke in rhymes as well. Unbelievable. He fired a purple flame from maw which melted any rocks in its place. Morgan put up a shield. He charged at Morgan and those two continued fighting. Zatanna looked over just in time to see Miss Martian going down losing the telekinetic rock throwing contest.
"Emoc ot em ssim naitram," Zatanna yelled. Miss Martian flew to her and landed at her feet but Zatanna wasn't done. "Erif nrub nordluac elbbub!" A giant flame surrounded Mordred, but he waved it away.
"Your magic is garbage," he taunted. "You like your pathetic teammates have no chance against me."
As Mordred went to begin another spell, Wolf pounced on top of the boy pinning him to the ground. Before he could maul the boy Teakle tackled him into a wall and began clawing at his eyes. Wolf kicked Teakle off, rolled up snarling and exposed his giant fangs. Teakle hissed and attempted to flee but Wolf was hot on her heels.
Zatanna had an idea and cried, "emoc ot em krad meg."
The Gem of Diablo levitated, and flew at her faster than she expected. She had used too much energy summoning it to her. The gem hit her chest and shattered into millions of pieces. Zatanna was bathed in a swirling vortex of darkness. Everyone stopped fighting for a quick moment. She felt the power of the gem go inside her.
"Well that's a new way to absorb power," remarked Doctor Fate in shock. Klarion could be heard screaming "Son of a bitch" and other profanities up above. The same moment Zatanna absorbed the gem's power, Wolf caught Teakle and in one bite ripped open her throat. With his familiar destroyed the Witch Boy's anchor to reality was gone. Klarion screamed and vanished off the Earth plane. Etrigan however was losing his battle with Morgan and was blasted back by a green energy blast. Morgan and Mordred together fired a beam of energy at Zatanna; she could see Doctor Fate trying to fly down to try to get to her in time to protect her. Zatanna reached deep down within and released her new power. The blackest souls from the underworld. They engulfed the mother and son duo and when the souls faded they had been knocked out. Zatanna fell to her knees and blacked out.
Zatanna awoke to the sound of shouting in a familiar setting. They were back inside the Cave and she was on the training room floor. She awoke just in time to see Wonder Woman punch Etrigan in the face and the demon rubbing his jaw.
"We don't execute our prisoners," she snarled.
"Three times now that's been said, but it wont bring them back from the dead," yawned the demon. Zatanna looked down to see. Morgan and Mordred both had broken necks.
"Where are Artemis and M'Gann," she asked.
"Asleep Zatanna," replied Wonder Woman.
"Enough with this foolish prattle, Doctor Fate let us have our battle," Etrigan growled.
"Patience Halfling," ordered Nabu. The Lord of Order walked over to Zatanna he waved his hand in a motion while walking and a clear crystal appeared. "Drain the souls into the Crystal of Pluto. They are not made for a mere child to control."
Now Zatanna was pissed now. Nabu didn't even care if she had been injured in the last battle. "You have my father's body Nabu, but you are not my father. I think I'll keep the souls. Just get away from me."
Doctor Fate stared at her then headed to the zeta tube with the demon.
"Recognized Demon Etrigan A09, Doctor Fate 17"
They vanished leaving Wonder Woman to debrief Zatanna.