Well, that didn't take long. Yeah, right. I swear it was like my JLU Muse was sitting in a corner and pouting because I was playing with everyone else. Yeesh. Well, after a while away and some life changing events, nothing serious mind you, just rock my world, I'm putting up a new chapter. I hope you like this, Marie. And I also hope more people review it, even it's bad reviews. Enjoy! BTW, the title for this chapter came from the R.A. Salvatore book 'The Silent Blade'. I love that book.
Disclaimer: I own nothing except Melanara and wish I owned her sunglasses and leather jacket.
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Melanara sighed. After three months away from the League, she was out of practice with fighting. Helena had handed her behind to her today in practice and she was not happy about it. Helena offered her a hand up, but Melanara rolled backwards onto her feet.
"I'm fine, thanks." Melanara snapped to Huntress' unasked question. Helena gave her a hurt look, but Melanara ignored it.
"What is wrong with you?" Helena demanded, grabbing Melanara's arm only to be sent flying.
"Don't touch me." Melanara growled and continued walking, the doors opening without her touching the keypad.
"Sorr-y." Helena muttered, rubbing the back of her head, feeling the bump her impromptu flight gave her.
-----------------An Hour Later----------------
Orion trotted up to Melanara who had just finished talking to Shayera about something and caught her attention.
"Hey, Huntress said you launched her in the training room. What happened?" he asked, Melanara shrugged.
"Just a little touchy, that's all." Melanara replied and continued walking. Orion grabbed her arm and she stopped and glowered at him. "Let. Me. Go." she snarled. Orion kept a hand on her arm. Melanara grabbed his wrist with her other hand and when she couldn't pull it off, she sank her fingernails in. Orion yelped and released her arm. Melanara kept her hold on his wrist and yanked him closer so they were face to face.
"Don't do that." Melanara warned and released his wrist, turning and walking away. Orion rubbed his wrist, watching her walk away. Not wanting to give up, Orion walked behind her. Melanara stopped and sighed.
"Don't you ever give up?" Melanara snarled and whirled on him. Orion was gone. Knocking her to her knees, Orion pinned her arms behind her back. Melanara looked up at him and met green eyes. He had taken his helmet off for this.
"Someone needs a time out." Orion growled, Melanara smiled and Orion was knocked backwards. Melanara rolled forwards, then back flipped. She launched once again into mid-air and twisted so she landed with both feet on either side of Orion.
"Keep away from me, brat." Melanara grinned, patted his cheek and walked away. Orion glowered after her as she disappeared around the corner.
"You got owned, bro." Flash said, helping the younger man up. Orion pursed his lips thoughtfully.
"Do you know where Fate is?" Orion asked, Flash shrugged.
"At his tower with Inza, why?" Flash asked. Orion frowned and walked away.
"Thank you!" Orion called absently. Flash shrugged and zoomed away.
----------------------Fate's Tower, Salem, Massachuests-------------------
"So, she's not acting the same?" Fate asked. Orion shook his head. Kent frowned as he snipped a dead flower from the rose plant in front of him. Usually Inza tended the garden, but she was laid up by morning sickness and couldn't exactly be far away from the bathroom. They had found out after Melanara left and with no way to get ahold of her, there was no way to tell her.
"Do you know if something happened while she was away?" Kent asked, Orion's brow furrowed as he tried to remember
"No, not that I know of. There was that one visit to Luthor, but I don't think that's it." Orion said, Kent rocked back on his heels and looked up at the young man, dressed in jeans, a T-Shirt and tennis shoes. Outside you couldn't see your glove in front of your face from the snow blowing, but here in the tower it was pleasently warm. Orion had changed since joining the League. No less gloomy, he was a bit more trusting than before, had an easier time dealing with people instead of just blasting them or running the other direction.
"Why don't you pay a visit to Luthor and ask him yourself. Melanara has a strange friendship with that man. He may have some insight that we as heroes, don't." Kent counseled. Orion blinked and looked surprised.
"Now, why didn't I think of that?" he asked himself out loud.
"Because you want Melanara to be a sweet, innocent young woman when she has killed. You are never innocent after that." Kent replied. Orion gave him a disturbed look, but left silently.
------------------Metropolis Maximum Security Prison----------------
"I'm here on personal buisness." Orion said after flashing his Justice League ID. The guard nodded and opened the cell cautiously. Lex was reclining in a chair, watching Television when Orion walked in. He watched the young hero enter, but didn't rise.
"I assume that you're here about our mutual friend." Lex said casually.
"What makes you think she's your friend?" Orion asked, Lex smiled.
"She said so herself. I also assume that you think I did something to her, because of the way she's acting, correct?" Lex asked, Orion narrowed his eyes, but refused to answer. "I thought so. So, why would I brainwash someone who could get me out for good behavior and keep me on the straight and narrow? Because I wouldn't." Lex said so firmly that it blew Orion's suspicion and single viable lead out of the water, off the planet and into the deepest regions of space. Following the Dolphins of course.
"So why is she acting like this?" Orion asked, Lex shrugged.
"How should I know? All we talk about when she visits is when I'm getting out and what I'm going to do when I get released. She's talking to the parole board about putting a magical shock collar on me." Lex chuckled at Orion's blank look. "Basically when I start considering an scheme to take over the world or eliminate the Justice League I'll get a jolt that will remind me to be a good boy. Like for dogs that bark too much." Lex explained. Orion was about to answer when the cell door opened to reveal Melanara.
"Orion. Hey, Lex. Whatcha watchin'?" Melanara asked. Orion had the vague urge to shiver at her tone for him. She was friendlier with Lex than the man she was supposedly interested in.
"Just a documentary on me. They have some rather inaccurate facts about my early life." Lex shrugged, moving so she could have the chair. Melanara waved her hand.
"Nah, keep it. I can do this." she said, snapped her fingers and a chair appeared. It was simple affair where you added the back or left it with out. Think Director's Chair. Orion frowned.
"I don't think you should do that." Orion said. Lex sighed and turned to look at Melanara.
"Don't kill him. He doesn't know any better." Lex said. Melanara shook her head.
"Yes, Lex, I know. I don't have to answer to you, Orion. I'm here on personal buisness, this has nothing to do with you." Melanara explained. Orion raised his eyebrow.
"Since when?" Orion asked incredously. Melanara rose to her feet and placed a hand against his chest.
"Since now." Melanara said, flexed her wrist and Orion found himself on the Watchtower. J'onn raised an eyebrow at his unexpected return.
"I thought you had the day off." J'onn asked. Orion muttered something that I can't repeat because the rating would jack up like gas prices.
"I do." Orion snapped and stalked off to his room.
-----------------Metropolis Maximum Security Prison-----------------
"You really shouldn't have done that." Lex said as Melanara returned to her chair. She shrugged and pointed at the television.
"Show's back." she said. They watched the program until the comercials came back on.
"Look, what's wrong? You wouldn't have done that before." Lex said. Melanara rolled her eyes at him.
"Lex, stay out of it." Melanara said. Lex shook his head.
"You forget, I know where you are now. I was there, remember?" Lex said, pushing at her arm. Melanara glared at him.
"I said, stay out of it." Melanara said. Lex raised an eyebrow.
"Do you really want me to stay out of it?" Lex asked. Melanara rose from her chair and snapped her fingers. The chair disappeared and she walked towards the door.
"I'll see you tomorrow, behave yourself." Melanara said and left.
----------------Egyptian desert, 3 miles south of Cairo----------------
Melanara hung in the air, staring at the clear blue skies through mirrored sunglasses that reflected the sun, but allowed her to look at the sky.
"My, my. What ever do you think would happen if you were found?" A cultured british voice asked. Melanara didn't have to look to recongize Morganna La Fey.
"What, you needed to make a diaper run for junior?" Melanara snarled. Morganna winced, but continued.
"Mordred is in good hands while I'm away. But why are you here, little girl?" Morganna asked, moving to hover in front of her. "Did you tire of the nanny squad?" Morganna continued. Melanara returned to staring at the skies ignoring her. Morganna chuckled. "Dear girl, you are wasting your talents in that...Organazation." Morganna
said disdainfully.
"And where would you suggest that I display my...Talents?" Melanara asked, taking her sunglasses off to look at the sorcereress.
"Why...With me of course." Morganna said with a smile. Melanara quirked an eyebrow.
"If I did leave the League, what makes you think I would join you?" Melanara asked. Morganna blinked.
"Well, I..." Morganna started, but Melanara interrupted.
"If I wanted to leave the League, I sure as hell wouldn't join you. As a matter of fact, I was thinking of leaving the League anyway." Melanara informed her, before shimmering out
-----------------------The Watchtower-------------------
Melanara shimmered into the main hall of the 'Tower to be confronted by the Seven, Helena and Orion.
"Well, if it ain't the welcoming comittee." Melanara said sarcastically.
"Sarcasm is not nessecary, Melanara. You seem to be...Going down a dark path." Clark said. Out of the corner of her eyes, Melanara noticed the distinct lack of other Leaguers. She smiled at them and cocked her hip.
"You seem to think that I'm dangerous, otherwise there would be other people here." Melanara said, gauging their reactions. Diana flinched and cast a quick, but telling glance at Superman. Melanara grinned. "Ah, I see. Well, in that case. I quit." Melanara said, pulling off her badge and Comm. and threw them at Superman's feet.
"You're making a rash desicion. Think about this." Helena said, stepping forward. Melanara backed away.
"I have thought about this, I'm afraid I'm just satisfied here anymore." Melanara replied and shimmered out as Helena lunged for her.
"What are we gonna do now?" Helena asked.
"That's what I'd like to know." Diana said, looking at Superman expectantly.
--------------------Melanara---------------------
Melanara walked up to the gates of Lex's Prison and twitched her hand. The gates went flying back. The guards rushed forward, but Melanara squeezed her hand and their arms and legs snapped together instantly. They were uninjured, but couldn't move.
"No need for the innocent to get injured." Melanara said as she walked by. The rest of the guards got similar treatment.
"Oh, Lexie!" Melanara called, breaking down the door. Lex shot up and stared at her. She was wearing skin tight blue jeans, a brown tank top and a black leather jacket.
"What are you doing here?" Lex demanded. Melanara grinned and took him by the arm, leading him out into the hallway to face a small army of Superman foes.
"I'd think it would be obvious, Lex Old Chum." Melanara taunted, stepping back as Talia emerged from the crowd. Melanara stepped forward and faced the crowd, smirking lightly. They milled uncertaintly as she continued smirking at them.
"I would imagine you're surprised to find me standing in front of you, just after breaking you all out, but not beatin' y'all senseless, right?" Melanara asked, to the general agreement of all of them. "Would you consider joining me to bring down the Justice League?" Melanara asked. Another general feeling came from the crowd. This time of puzzlement.
"Why are you offering us this chance? Is this a trick?" Keymaster asked. Melanara snapped her fingers and Keymaster's restraints were released.
"What about me?" Sinestro challenged. Melanara lifted her closed hand and when she extended it, his yellow power ring was in it.
"I'm trusting all of you to keep the peace between yourselves. I want a working evil organization unlike the Legion of Doom. No flashy names. No name at all actually. We're a cohesive group and if anyone doesn't want to be a part of it is free to walk back into a cell or walk out with us and then go your seperate. I will not rule with an iron fist, but if you do cross me, you will become part of the molten lava in the earth's core." Melanara said, her quiet voice more of a threat than Lex's screaming ever was.
"Even us?" Lex asked for himself and Talia. At this Melanara smiled and nodded.
"Even you two." She said and turned back to the others. "This is not a forced recruitment. It's your choice." Melanara said and walked out of the hallway. It was a general flood of members as they flowed after her.
"Well, my love? What do you think?" Talia asked. Lex shook his head.
"I don't know. It doesn't feel right, but it's better than this place." Lex said and they slowly followed the teenager that had once let them go.
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TBC
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Fin