DISCLAIMER- I DO NOT OWN YOUNG JUSTICE! IF I DID THE SHOW WOULD BE COMING OUT WITH A THIRD SEASON!
I ONLY OWN THIS STORY.
~My Light of Life
Chapter 29 The Path Left By A Soul
TONGASS FOREST, ALASKA
Shadow closed her eyes as she heard metal on skin then a small thud. She looked up as she felt the tears finally escape her eyes. Solomon walked back over towards Shadow and knelt down next to her. "I came back because well because, I'm not sure why I came back. I guess I do have some kind of conscience. And those two should not be left alone in this world." Solomon walked towards the door. He looked back at Shadow and gave her a weak smile. "I think it's time for both of us to go home."
Shadow watched as Solomon turned and left. Leaving her sitting in the middle of the room with her dead mother and former lover. She couldn't bear to turn around and see the younger version of herself also dead. She looked down at her bloody hands in her lap and let out a strangled scream. Then sighed in relief, it was over, finally.
She picked herself up, cradling her side as she remember the deep gash she had, her healing was final starting since the curse that Charisma had on the house was broken when she was killed. Shadow looked one last time at the murder scene splayed in front of her, before teleporting herself to the Watchtower where she knew that her friends would be there waiting.
THE WATCHTOWER
"Wally?" Artemis spoke as he carried her into the small medical center at the Watchtower. He gently placed her down. Alfred was there ready to treat the minor wounds while the others were transported down to Bludhaven on Earth.
"I'm right here babe. I'm going anywhere." Wally kissed her forehead lightly as exhaustion finally took its toll and Artemis went under.
"She will be just fine, just sore for a few days. She did not sustained and major injuries. Let her sleep now and when she wakes up you guys can go home."
"Thank you Alfred."
Alfred smiled and nodded in response. He turned to leave pausing at the door, "It's good to have you back."
Wally nodded, not taking his eyes of the sleeping blonde.
A few hours went by and Shadow walked into the room. She walked up to Artemis and hovered her hands over Artemis's sleeping form, a blue aura appeared. Wally knew that she was healing Artemis.
"What happened to the little one?" Wally asked Shadow quietly once she had sat down.
Shadow stared of into nothing and just shook her head. "She wanted it."
Wally didn't want to hear anymore, he looked at his sleeping love. How could she want something like that? She was only a child!"
"She was much older than you. She would have never lasted in this world. She was bound to Purgatory. With her here she would have wasted away." Shadow said hearing his thoughts.
"Dick is going to be okay, he is at Bludheaven if you want to go see him." Wally said changing the subject.
"I don't know if I can see him right now." Shadow looked up. Wally watched as she slowly got up and left. He noticed that she had not changed out of her white uniform that she had been wearing earlier. It was covered in dried blood and Wally could see cuts in the fabric where she had been hurt. Shadow walked out without another word.
KENT'S HOUSE
She teleported herself back to her makeshift room at the Kent's place. She locked the door and slid down the white wooden door landing on her knees. She finally let everything out. All the emotions, the pain, the sadness, the weakness she was feeling came flooding out of her gasps and screams, tears ran down both side of her face.
She ripped off the suit she was wearing and instantly incinerated it, not wanting any memory of today's events. Shadow walked into the small bathroom attached to her room. She stepped into the shower turning on the cold water. She watched as the water turned a crimson color at her feet. She stayed under the cold spray until her body went numb and she started trembling. Shadow grabbed a towel on her way out and put on a sweatshirt with NightWings symbol on it. She got into to her bed and curled up, she was exhausted she had not properly slept in months. Her body was physical and mentally drained, she closed her eyes and drifted into a dreamless sleep.
BLUDHAVEN
3 DAYS LATER
Richard winced when he tried to sit up. He looked around the room he was in. It seemed to be a hospital room probably the medical bay in Bludhaven. He looked down at his wounds. He had bandages on his right arm and left leg along with many wrapped around his chest and torso. There were flowers for him on the table.
He heard the door open slide opened and looked over to see Zatanna. She smiled at him. "Good morning."
"How long was I asleep?"
"Three days. You had some brain damage so we had to induce a coma."
Richard looked dumbfounded. "What happened?"
"What do you remember?"
"Pain. Charisma and Sylas they were torturing us."
"That's about right, we will explain more later. You should get some sleep. I know the rest of the team would like to come visit so you need you rest." Zatanna winked.
"Wait, what about Shadow?"
"She's alright." Zatanna said quickly before walking out. "Get some rest."
KENT"S HOUSE
"Has she said anything yet?" Bruce asked Megan. They were sitting at the table in the Kent's Barn going over the files from Shadow's case.
"No she hasn't. Vicken and Heath have tried everything. She won't tell anyone what happened. She won't come out of her room either."
"Let's give her some time."
"What about Machus?"
"He has not been located yet." Bruce admitted. "Heath and Vicken have been helpful with the investigation."
"Aqualad said there would be a briefing in a few hours. Will Dick be attending?" Asked Megan.
"Yes, he will. He is awake and wants answers." Zatanna said walking into the barn. "I was just with him. We should send Wally to get him soon."
Heath and Vicken walked in moments later. "Maybe I should try and talk to her again." Heath stated.
"I don't know if that is such a good idea. She will come out and talk when she is ready. I think we should just leave her..." Vicken stopped talking when everyone turned to look at the barn entrance.
Emrick stood there looking like death itself. She had dark circles under her eyes that ran deep. She had on a pair of old sweat pants and was still wearing the sweatshirt with NightWing's symbol on it. "The briefing will begin in an hour." She walked slowly over to the table where the team sat. She picked up some files and sat down and began to read. No one dared to say anything.
Everyone went on as they had, soon the hour was up and one by one the rest of the team showed up. Emrick sat in the back of the barn as it filled up with superheroes.
Richard was the last one to join the crowd with Wally helping him. Wally had told him everything that had happened on the way to the Kent's and all he wanted to do was talk with her. "Do you see her?"
"She's in the back. You sure you want to go over there?"
"Yes."
Wally helped him limp over to the back of the barn. They sat next to Emrick. She did not look up from the paper sitting in her lap. All Richard wanted to do was sweep her off her feet and take her to his room. He was about to ask her something when Aqualad began to speak to the group.
"With this mission finally coming to a close we will start on new cases. The younger generation will stay here while the senior heroes will meet at the watch tower to receive their next mission. The Justice League has requested that no one but them be on duty for the next week. We could all use a break. The Kent's have offered their rooms for anyone who wishes to stay here, but if you have family I suggest going home for a while. I will see all of you soon." Aqualad thanked everyone then headed towards the back where his friends, his original team were. Everyone else said their goodbyes and went about their way. Heath began to walk over to Emrick but Vicken shook his head, and motioned towards Nightwing. Heath sighed and left the barn. Wally squeezed Dick's shoulder and walked out leaving him with Shadow.
Richard slowly stood as he watched Emrick walk towards the table with the Coven's case files. "They're dead because of me."
"Emrick, it wasn't your fault. Sylas is to blame for all of this."
"And who created Sylas?"
Richard didn't say anything. He wasn't sure what to say. Nothing sounded right.
"Well?" Emrick sneered.
"You did." Richard stated quietly.
"Exactly, it is my fault." Emrick slammed her hand down on the table, causing it to break. "Machus is with Hazel." She pulled out a piece of paper from within her stack and handed it to Richard without looking up.
Richard grabbed the paper and threw it to the side. He grasped Emrick wrist. She froze, her body becoming stiff. Richard pulled her into him. Emrick fell into his embrace and let out a cry she had been holding back. "Shh, everything's okay now." Richard soothed.
Emrick took a deep ragged breath. "Emrick's dead. She wanted to die. Solomon killed her. My mother is dead. My first love is dead. I just want it all to go away." She fell to her knees, her emotions overpowering her.
Richard tightened his hold. "All of that is in the past; you can live out the rest of your life. They didn't die for nothing, they wanted you to survive to be free and happy. You have that now. And I will make sure of that."
Emrick looked up at the man she loved more than life itself. She wiped away the tears that were slowly falling down her check. She leaned in slowly, closing her eyes she kissed him. Kissed him good and hard. By the time Richard knew what she was doing he opened his eyes and she was gone.
HAZEL'S HOUSE
He had not seen his mother in over a decade. After all that had happened he was glad to be home. He just hoped that his mother wasn't too upset with him. He placed his hand over the tree knot and the door opened, he cautiously stepped in waiting as the stairs began to move upwards.
Hazel heard the door open. She turned to find her blue haired son. She beamed with joy. "My baby is home." She crossed the room faster than a woman her age could and hugged him close.
"Hazel where do you want these." Machus said stepping in to the house behind Solomon. "I am glad you are here Solomon. We have much to discuss. Come sit, Hazel was just about to put dinner on."
Hazel busied herself with dinner as the men were told to set the table and get cleaned up. They all sat down together. Hazel had made a lamb stew and Solomon had never smelled anything better. He ate his portion in record time. He was almost done with his second bowl before he finally asked a question. "How do you two know each other?"
Hazel looked at Machus to explain. "We just met actually. She sent me a message shortly after the team and I got back. I followed her directions and have been here for a few days."
"Why aren't you with your daughter?"
"I know she needs time and nothing we can do or say can change what happened. She needs to accept it. I know she will have a hard time, but being surrounded by her friends and that boy she is so fond of will be beneficial. When the time comes I will be there for her to answer any questions she may have but I don't plan of it being any time soon.
"I don't understand. She's your daughter shouldn't you be with her?" Solomon questioned.
"I can see where you are coming from but that is the reason, she is my daughter and I know her. A few good fights and cries and she will start to feel better then she will be rational enough to talk civil and that is when I will be there for her."
Solomon nodded.
"Well if everyone is finished we should clean up." She clapped her hands and took her plate to kitchen. The men followed. After everything had been washed and put away the three gathered around Hazel's living room.
"What happened to you?" Solomon asked.
"That my friend is the million dollar question. I was in fact dead and Charisma brought me back. Part of myself and my powers where in my daughter. So when you stabbed her you took me with you. That spell I'm sure was never performed before and Charisma herself probably had no idea if it would work. She wanted the truth of true immortality. That is why I am here today. My daughter knows and I know that is one too many. And we will be the last two to know. We will die with that secret."
"So immortally is possible?" Solomon shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"Yes and no. Yes because with purgatory the Coven could be brought back. And no because Charisma killed the Coven and they stayed in Purgatory. Plus with Purgatory gone there is nothing to return from. Therefore immortal beings are no longer real. Purgatory is gone there is nothing more we can do."
"How did Charisma kill them then?" Hazel asked quietly from here chair.
"Nanorobotics," Solomon stated. "They are like tiny teleporters. That is what sent the Coven to Purgatory."
"How was that even possible?" Machus asked.
"With Charisma and Sylas working together they used a combination of their powers as well as the powers of Shadow. That concoction of powers was like a link to the other smaller Shadow that had been in Purgatory sense the first time she was killed. With that power and the high tech of today they created the nanorobotics that acted as a mini zeta tubes. Transporting anything that was alive through the dimensions and into Purgatory. Sylas knew more about the science behind it than I did. But neither of them knew where the Coven would end up."
"Interesting. Sylas never struck me as someone who would be able to create something like that." Machus said. "But then again he was alive in a more modern society than I was and I'm sure learned somethings."
Solomon nodded. He was just glad that it was all over. He did not have to run anymore or follow anyone's orders. He was finally free, he could do whatever he wanted to. Solomon smiled at his mother, for once in his life he didn't want to leave home. He was happy.
THANKS FOR READING!
R&R!
~My Light of Life
