Mythical
Chapter 14
Defiance
Author's note:Like the title says, this chapter is all about defiance of various kinds: of overcoming the pests that plague the heroes of this story as well as me personally and people in general.
XxXxXxX
Malcolm threw himself into the files regarding Thea's recovery with the energy of a wild tiger, Constantine helping when required. Sabrina and Emily were indispensable with their witchcraft knowledge, so was Athena with her skill at reading ancient scripts. Damien came up with the correct spellwork when needed.
Finally, everything seemed ready. Malcolm rose and made his way to Thea and Nyssa's room. Tim said everything was in order, then stepped aside and Malcolm went in.
Nyssa rose at his entrance, fear evident in her gaze. She was wearing her League suit. She regarded him in his regalia, then surprised him by kneeling. "Al Saher, I know I failed your daughter… I truly thought the Lotus would heal her. I know my treachery of you and my failure equal the utmost punishment." Her voice hitched. "Now, before I die, please grant me the dignity of swearing my allegiance to you. I… I don't want to die a nobody, Resh," she whispered, then composed herself, her eyes darting to the scimitar at Malcolm's belt.
"Your dignity is noted," Malcolm said, and then surprised her by laying a hand on her arm. He noticed with shock that she was shaking. "Rise, Nyssa...Nyssie," he used a nickname he'd made up for her when she was still a young teen, when he first came to the League, back when they weren't enemies. He helped her up. They stood face to face, like equals, but her gaze still flicked towards his scimitar.
"I'm not going to kill you, Nyssa. I know you meant well with the Lotus and... we all make mistakes." Malcolm's mind traveled to when he'd tried to quell Thea's Bloodlust by tricking her into killing his own warriors. "The important thing is to learn from them," he said levelly. "This is not the League of Assassins as you've known it. It is a New League, and...what Emily and I are creating goes far beyond even that. You are fully welcome to be part of it, should you choose so."
"I do, Resh." She bowed as he continued.
"It is I who should apologize, Nyssa. The rift between you and Sara-"
Nyssa stopped him with a movement of her hand. "Al Saher, the rift between her and I has nothing to do with you. It's…caused by many issues that you had no part in."
Malcolm nodded, let a few moments go by before changing the subject. "Nyssa, I also want to thank you."
Her eyes widened in surprise. "For what?"
"For being there for Thea, for taking care of her when she needed it the most. How is she now?"
"Stable."
"She hasn't tried to attack you or Tim?"
Nyssa swallowed, touched by Malcolm's concern.
"No, she's been sleeping, mostly. The calming herbs and spells provided by Mr Constantine are really helping."
Malcolm took a deep breath. "Well, today is the day, Nyssa. The potion and incantation I prepared with my friends to heal her permanently is ready. I would be honored if you took part in the ceremony."
"Thank you," Nyssa said as Malcolm moved to sit at Thea's bedside and gently nudged her awake.
"Hello, darling," he said and Nyssa handed him a cup with the calming tea to keep any symptoms of the Bloodlust at bay.
"Dad," Thea said groggily. "I'm at Nanda, right?" She asked. She seemed a little disoriented, but mellow, which was good.
"Yes," Malcolm confirmed. She sat up and he gave her the tea, then waited a moment before it took effect. "Thea, dear, today we will finally heal you of the Bloodlust."
Thea balked at that. "You're going to send men in for me to kill like you did before?"
"No. It is a potion and a spell we have been working on for months," he paused and looked at her earnestly. "Please, trust me on this. I love you and all I ever wanted was for you to be safe and well. To thrive."
She looked away. "Dad it hurts, it really hurts, the lust… And even when satiated, it returns, e-eating away at me.." Thea whimpered. "I know pain is always part of life, but this... T-this kind is... inhuman."
Malcolm hugged her then. "And today, we will free you of this. Forever."
She nodded. Nyssa brought Tim in and they helped Thea get up. She looked so innocent in her white gown as she leaned on all of them. They made their way to the Pit chamber. Thea looked at the waters.
"They are different now, enhanced." Emily said in a calming voice as Malcolm helped Thea down the steps to sit inside as if she were in a bath. It was not a resurrection, so there was no need to immerse her fully.
Constantine approached Malcolm as Damien handed him a dagger. "You know what the final ingredient is and what it entails," Constantine said.
"Yes," Malcolm said. It meant him cutting his wrist and letting some of the droplets of his blood fall into the vial. What it also entailed was reliving all the nightmares of the Desolation.
"Don't let Thea watch," Malcolm said. "Nyssa, distract her," he whispered to the woman.
She nodded. Malcolm made the cut and closed his eyes, stifling a gasp of pain. Then the images started, like a kaleidoscope. To everyone in the room, it was minutes, but for him, it was ages, every second of torture relived with each morbid detail enhanced. When he finally opened his eyes, Constantine and Damien were there, holding him up, letting the droplets of his blood fall into the vial.
"Now the potion is complete," Constantine proclaimed as Damien bandaged Malcolm's wrist.
Malcolm nodded, took the vial from Constantine and approached Thea.
Sabrina, Emily, Athena and Damien took places in a circle around the pool, while Constantine and the High Priestess stood a little distance away to supervise and interfere if needed.
Malcolm walked down the stone steps and sat next to Thea in the Pit. He put his arm around her in a soothing manner.
"Darling, I need you to drink this, and then we will perform the healing incantation."
She looked at him with fear and doubt. "Please, really help me this time," she pleaded as she leaned into his hug.
"There is no other option, love. I will NOT fail you,"
Malcolm said and his voice was not steel, it was titanium.
She hesitated a moment, then leaned back as he cupped her head in his hand and tipped the vial. She started to drink.
"Don't rush it, take your time," Malcolm instructed in a soothing tone. When she swallowed the last drop, they began the chant. She convulsed a little, but Malcolm held her firmly in his arms and glanced at Constantine. The man nodded for them to continue. Then, after a particularly violent convulsion, a red ghostly shape emerged from Thea's chest, screaming and writhing, trying to make its way back into Thea, who looked at it in horror, but Emily reached out her hand, directing it at the monster.
"Begone!" she shouted in Latin and it vaporized.
Thea gasped in relief and collapsed against Malcolm with exhaustion.
"That was the manifestation of her Bloodlust," Constantine said and nodded at Emily. "Well done, Worldmaker, you vanquished it."
Damien helped Malcolm and Thea out of the pool. Sabrina and Emily approached with towels to dry them off. Then the Dark Archer took Thea in his arms and carried her back to her chamber. Nyssa and Sabrina dressed her in a dry nightgown, then Malcolm lay her down on the bed. He went out for a while to change into dry clothes himself.
"I will stay here tonight," he said to Nyssa when he returned.
"D-do you want me to leave?" she asked hesitantly. "I mean... I can find another chamber to sleep in and-"
"No," Malcolm said. "Go ahead and make yourself comfortable in your bed here. You've been her friend for so long, I'm sure she will want to see you when she wakes. I'll just sit here, make sure everything is all right."
Nyssa nodded and lay down, then looked at Malcolm as he sat on the bed next to the sleeping Thea.
Nyssa watched his falcon-like profile for a while after she settled into her cushions.
'Like a silent sentinel,' she thought before she fell asleep, feeling safe.
XxXxXxX
Malcolm did not sleep a wink that night. He watched Thea till the break of dawn, searching for any signs of distress, but there were none. She just stirred briefly, but he saw a soft smile on her face. He remembered it from when she was a baby. He kissed her on the forehead and turned to Nyssa, who was having a worse night.
She whimpered a little in her sleep. He went to sit by her bedside and watched her. His mind traveled to before they were enemies, and he imagined what she must have gone through. The previous Ra's Al Ghul had been a mere excuse of a father to her. During his time at the League, Malcolm witnessed her being mistreated ever since she was barely a teen. He saw the constant criticism, her childhood innocence slowly being killed by cruel demands and relentless combat training. He understood, because his own innocence had similarly been killed, even though he was an adult man back then.
Nyssa tossed and turned in her sleep, clearly in the throes of some nightmare. Malcolm grabbed her arms and shook her slightly to make her snap out of it. She opened her eyes and withdrew, her back against the wall. "Al Saher," she exclaimed. "I-Is it Thea? Is something wrong?!" She was shaking.
"No," Malcolm said in a calming manner. "She is all right." He paused. "Nyssa, I didn't just come here to make sure Thea was alright, but you as well."
She looked at him in shock. "Why?"
"Because I want to make good on my promise. And I promised you a New League. Which involves ensuring the welfare of each of its members. And you are one, aside from being my daughter's friend."
"B-But I-I'm a traitor," Nyssa stammered.
"That's in the past, Nyssa. Let's set ourselves free of it, live in the now, and build a future, like we discussed. Now, I noticed you had a nightmare."
"I did, b-but it was so jumbled, I don't know what it was about," she sighed.
"I have nightmares too. Each night," Malcolm admitted in a low voice, and Nyssa lifted herself up a little, her shock rising at this honest, kind side of him returning after all these years.
"Some of them are very vivid and haunting even upon waking, some jumbled like yours." He paused. "But I've learned that in order to get rid of them, sometimes it's not enough just to wave them away, but talk to someone. And I want you to know I can be that someone for you. A friend, to help you banish them."
Suddenly, Nyssa was brought back to a time when she was a teen, Malcolm a trainee in the League. Her father had given her a harsh criticism and she escaped to one of Nanda Parbat's gardens to hide her urge to cry. Malcolm was there. He'd soothed her and consoled her. This was the Malcolm she saw now. Not the traitor who had Sara killed, not the tyrant who'd ordered her to kneel in a steely tone when he first became Resh.
"Well, at some point you did tell me I suck at my footwork, and that it was no wonder I wasn't chosen to be Resh because I came with the Lotus potion unprepared for the possibility you might betray me."
"Nyssa, most of it was spoken in anger, meant to hurt and humiliate, not necessarily true, so don't let it haunt you," he said as she settled near him more comfortably. "You do make a mistake with your footwork when you step back, giving your opponents the advantage." He paused. "I'm sorry... I was petty before and just mocked you for it, but… I could... teach you how to fix it. I meant it when I said I enjoyed my sparring sessions with you back when I was Resh before the disbandment. You are a skilled warrior, and we could... resume the sparring sessions, without the enmity this time?"
Nyssa gazed at him for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Yes, I would like that, Al Saher." She lay back down and eventually fell asleep.
Malcolm moved back to Thea's bed and watched her. She woke up eventually and sat up with a start.
"Thea, how do you feel?" he asked anxiously.
She swallowed thickly and he handed her a glass of water.
She took a few sips and got her bearings. "I-I feel different, as if… as if some huge weight has been lifted off my chest, one I didn't even know I was carrying."
They talked a little about the procedure and Thea remembered most of it. "Dad, I feel like the Bloodlust is really gone!" She said with joy and actually hugged him spontaneously. "I also feel really tired," she sighed.
"That's normal; you've been through quite an ordeal," Malcolm said.
Constantine and Emily looked in on them a little later, and he confirmed the Bloodlust really was gone.
Thea nodded with relief and fell back to sleep as Malcolm tucked her in.
XxXxXxX
Sara stood at the controls of the Waverider, and banged her hand against the glass table in frustration. Limited fuel. Not even enough to fly out of here, with Emily's mighty aircraft Hussaria ready to fire at her if she made one wrong move. "Damn it!" she exclaimed, but was broken out of her reverie by Gideon's voice.
"Captain Lance, there is a female approaching our aircraft. I seems to be Ms Emily Carson."
Great, now, to boot, she had the Worldmaker on her back.
As Emily approached the vehicle, her heart accelerated, but she said to herself 'I'm the freaking Worldmaker and I know the purpose I come here with.'
Surprisingly, the ship's entrance opened and she was welcomed by a towering, muscled man, holding a bottle of beer, who regarded her for a moment, then said in a gruff voice, "So this is the famous Worldmaker."
"And you would be?" she asked in a polite tone.
"Everyone calls me Rory." He reached out his free hand and she shook it. "Pardon my habit, but if you're here to blow us all to smithereens, I'd rather die drunk."
"Nice to meet you, Rory. And I'm not blowing anything to smithereens. I merely came here to converse with your Captain and settle some issues," Emily said, shaking his hand.
"Sure," he said in his grovelly voice and led her inside. "Would you like something to drink while you talk?" he offered.
"Actually, yes," Emily said. "What you're having will be fine. I like a good beer and this is a prime brand," she added with a smile. Making a member of the opposing crew like her never hurt, according to rules of good strategy.
"Well, coming right up. And I appreciate a girl who knows her liquor. Sara is right behind that door."
Emily entered and saw the Captain of the Waverider already waiting. "Hello, Sara," she said.
"Hello,Emily," Sara answered. "So, when is my ship to turn to dust and me with it, Worldmaker?" Her voice was firm but she couldn't keep a hint of fear out of it.
Emily sighed in frustration. "Why does everyone recently assume I'm going to just go and destroy everything? I'm not the fucking Plague, Sara. I came here to talk. My aircraft is just a precaution, in case you get trigger-happy."
That was when Rory entered with two bottles of beer and handed them to the women.
"You might need this, for your talk," he said and made himself scarce.
"So, you already turned one of my team members into your lackey," Sara mocked.
"No, I merely asked him politely for a beer," Emily said in a level voice.
"Well then, I wouldn't want to be a worse hostess than Rory. You came here to talk, so let's talk. Sit down with me." She indicated a table and Emily sat opposite her. She took a swig of her beer. It was a strong one, but tasted good. Sara took a sip as well.
"I guess you came here with some demands," Sara started.
"Conditions," Emily corrected.
"Oh?" Sara raised an eyebrow.
"You seem to be in a bit of a bind here, Sara. Almost out of fuel and I guess there are a lot of matters that need your attention in space." She paused and took a sip of her beer. "I could help you with that."
"So you came here not so much to talk as to bargain, Emily."
'Damn right I came here to bargain and my father is a master bargainer, as is Malcolm, and they taught me how to do this, so has life itself.' Emily thought, but aloud she only said politely, "I prefer to call it negotiation, talk, reaching an agreement that benefits both of us."
"Well then, name your conditions," Sara said.
Emily nodded. "Malcolm and Damien are to be set free. No more calling them 'aberrations' or hunting them." Her voice was steel. She paused to let the words sink in.
"This land has underground sources of fuel going as deep as the lowest levels of the Atlantic. We've tapped into them. You saw my airplane, the Hussaria. It is the most advanced aircraft on Earth. We can use it to pump the fuel you need into the Waverider within several minutes."
Sara surprised her by laughing. "And that's all you have to offer me? A gas stop for my ship in exchange for the lives of two mass-murderers? Is that the best bargain you can make?"
Emily's eyes turned into a storm again. "I'm not finished," she growled. "And I'm no fool. Even if we give you the fuel, you will be back. What I can do for you is restore Laurel's life," she said.
Sara sat in silent shock for a while.
"No," she shook her head. "That is not possible. I've discussed scenarios with Gideon, the Time Guardians and it never worked."
Emily rose and put her bottle of beer down with a bang."Oh stop it with your talk about Time-whatsit shits and their 'rules'." Her voice rang with an otherworldly power. "I am the WORLDMAKER." Do you think it's a what, a gamer nickname? I can actually CREATE realms. And do you think Malcolm's name, Al Saher, the Magician is also a gamer nickname? You haven't experienced the fullness of his powers yet and they have grown. We healed Thea of her Bloodlust, permanently, unlike your Beloved Nyssa. We restored the Lazarus Pit that now can resurrect people with no side effects, like you suffered. We are working on creating a realm where people that have died can live on and where you can see them whenever you want, as if they were never gone! We are defying death. And forget the 'aberration' bull. Laurel could be here back in this world if we don't waste time. No more crap like the Flashpoint Barry Allen created. But, unfortunately, if one waits too long, the only option is the realm Malcolm and I are building. We still could have them back, Sara. No more crying over a grave or watching old photos as the only remnants of their lives. They could live on here or there and you could actually touch them, interact, know that they are with you, FEEL them!" Emily shouted as her emotions overcame her.
Sara watched her for a few moments, then asked, "With all your powers, why would you choose this, instead of... I don't know, creating some carefree wonderland for yourself?"
"Because, Sara, doing this, IS my wonderland. And who knows, maybe after this I will make a fun wonderland. But for now, as hard as it is, this is what my soul wants. Life. Restored. I have been a member of an anti-death society for years. My faith is LIFE."
Sara looked at her and her breath hitched as she thought of Laurel.
She drank the rest of her beer in a few gulps. "Emily, do it," she said. "Bring her back. Bring Laurel back to me. I-I'll comply with all your demands. I-I need her back," she whispered.
"I will. Transport her body here and I will make the necessary preparations. The Hussaria will refuel the Waverider shortly. We'll meet as soon as you arrive back."
Sara nodded and they shook hands.
XxXxXxX
Nanda Parbat, a few hours later.
Emily was walking down a corridor when she was startled by a cold hand on her shoulder.
She turned around swiftly, shaking the hand away, took a few steps back and whipped out her scimitar.
The figure standing before her wore tattered robes. Its face was a skull and it wielded a scythe, which told her immediately what it was.
The one thing she hated the most. Death itself.
"Emily Carson," the figure said in a croaky, but threatening voice. "Your defiance of me has not gone unnoticed."
Emily straightened, taking a battle stance. "I never meant for it to go unnoticed, neither did I make a mystery of the fact that I am your enemy," she said in a dark voice.
"Well, now you can consider it noticed and face the consequences. You took many souls away from me and it is my task to bring them back to where they belong."
"Well, gee, sorry for making your job harder," she mocked.
The figure laughed. "You are a stubborn one. But everyone eventually succumbs to me. Even the remainder of your family."
"Never!"Emily shouted.
The figure attacked her with an unearthly growl, but she used all of her skill to dodge the strikes and go on the offensive.
"You say I took souls from you?" she panted as she delivered strike after strike. "What about what you took from me?! All of my grandparents, my mother, my friends? And you threaten me with more?! When the fuck do you stop?! Well I tell you when you stop!" Now!" Her scimitar glowed silver. She struck the scythe and it disintegrated.
The figure withdrew, shocked.
Emily felt a hand on her shoulder. It was John Constantine. She felt warm, supportive magic radiating from him.
"You clearly do not know whom you are dealing with," he addressed the creature. "She is not only a Worldmaker, but one of the Lifebringers."
Emily had only an idea what that last moniker meant from a book of myths she'd once read, but she knew enough. She approached the creature, her hand shining silver and gold and touched its skull face. "I do not fear you. You have no power over me."
The figure whimpered in pain as she continued, in a supernatural voice. "You will never again touch me or mine."
Constantine started a chant in Latin.
The figure shrieked, then shrunk and withdrew.
"No, I won't," it said in a respectful tone.
"Now begone and stay in your realm unless I call for you,"
Emily commanded in her titanium tone.
The figure writhed and twisted, then disappeared as Constantine finished his chant.
Then he approached her. "Emily, do you realize what you've just done? You've become somewhat of a master of death."
"I know," she said calmly.
"What is your goal in all of this?" Constantine asked as they walked back to the main room.
She stayed silent till they reached the chamber, then turned towards him as she poured him a goblet of wine.
"My goal? It's simple, and it is what it's always been," she said, without a hint of hesitation. "Immortality."
XxXxXxX
Nyssa woke up slowly to a hearty breakfast served to her by none other than then High Priestess herself.
"Eggs with bacon, your favourite," the woman said as Nyssa stood up, went to the table and sat down. "Today is the day you resume your sparring sessions with Resh. You need proper nourishment," she announced and poured her a glass of orange juice.
"Miss Thea was moved to her own chamber, and she is doing well, getting stronger," she added.
Nyssa nodded and ate one of the most delicious breakfasts in her life. She dressed in her suit and went to the training room. As she entered it, she was assaulted by an avalanche of memories.
Of her father humiliating and punishing her whenever she failed, of being forced to watch other warriors get slaughtered, of her then fighting with Malcolm when he first became Resh, of her hatred.
Then her reverie was broken by the man himself emerging from behind a column, a mild, welcoming smile on his face.
"Good morning, Nyssa," he said politely. "I hope you had a restful night?"
She was not quite sure what to do, so she dropped to one knee and bowed her head. "Yes, thank you, Resh," she said.
Malcolm approached her and lifted her by the arms. "We've known each other too long for such formalities, Nyssa. Let's reserve them for special League occasions, when they are necessary," he said.
She nodded.
Malcolm continued."On another matter, I moved Thea to her own chamber and decided to make an addition to yours." Nyssa recalled the elegantly decorated breakfast table and the Purporia flower adorning it.
'He remembered', her mind whispered as it traveled back to their meeting in the League garden when she was just a teenager and pointed it out to him as her favourite.
It was all so new and unfamiliar to her. This kindness, this... consideration. There was a saying that suffering ennobled a person and as she looked at the man standing before her, she noticed the ever-so slight undercurrent of pain running through his blue eyes, even as he smiled.
"Thank you, Al Saher," she said gently, smiling a little herself.
"You're welcome." He nodded. "So, let's address that unnecessary pesky issue of your footwork," he said. "Approach and attack me as you usually would in a duel."
Nyssa drew her scimitar and did as instructed. They exchanged a few blows, then he made a maneuver that always defeated her, but this time he caught her and helped her up before she fell.
"Now, let me show you what you do wrong," he said patiently and showed her the correct movements, making her try and try again with imaginary opponents for a start, without a single mean word. He was firm with his instructions, but also kind.
"Remember your core Nyssa! Remain aware of your surroundings. Now, try this against me," he commanded and she attacked. She followed his instructions and manged to jump away just in time not to fall, then looked around to scan her surroundings, like he said.
"Well done, " Malcolm praised. "Now, let's go again,"
They practiced and practiced. Each time Nyssa stumbled, Malcolm helped her up and let her go again, even did the movement with her to show her the correct muscle work.
"Now again, and again…" It was like a dance of battle between them, except now, there was no enmity. Nyssa truly enjoyed herself as she felt her skills growing and being nourished, her mistakes not mocked, but corrected.
Eventually, she leaned against Malcolm, panting. He helped her to stand upright, then went over to one of the tables. She expected to be scolded for her weakness, but he just brought them both glasses of water. "It's important to stay hydrated," he explained and they downed their glasses in several gulps. Nyssa was shocked. Her father never bothered to keep his warriors hydrated during training or battle. If they dropped, they were just dead meat to him.
Malcolm was very different. After they drank, she felt new strength pump through her and they tried different tactics, different positions, and instead of stopping her, Malcolm kept shouting out instructions as they went on; a new, and immensely helpful teaching technique for Nyssa. He helped her avoid mistakes before she even made them.
He called a break for lunch around noon and clasped her hand in a respectful manner, that of a fellow warrior. "I'll go check on Thea while they prepare our meal and be right back. Remember to hydrate while you wait," he said.
Nyssa did as he as he advised and actually waited with impatience for his return. He came back shortly, told her Thea was mending well with Tim standing by her door, guarding her. They were served a delicious lunch, then relaxed at the table for a while.
"One shouldn't exercise right after eating," Malcolm said and he actually talked to her about a diet that might increase her performance.
"A new League indeed," she whispered softly as she smiled at him, taking a sip of her water. They talked for a while, comfortably, avoiding difficult topics, their past slowly melting away. They both knew healing old wounds would take time, but at least they've made the first steps.
Nyssa stood up eventually. "All right, Al Saher, I'm ready for more training!" she exclaimed and he was surprised at how enthusiastic she sounded.
"Let's go, then."
Malcolm made it more challenging this time and some of the League warriors joined them for a while. They would attack Nyssa after the maneuver with Malcolm so she could face real multiple opponents and hone her skill in regaining the awareness of her surroundings faster after being focused on performing the most difficult movement.
Eventually, Malcolm dismissed the warriors and suggested he and Nyssa go get cleaned up and then meet up in the garden to relax an recuperate after their exercise. She agreed.
XxXxXxX
Nyssa changed into a fresh set of clothes and went to the garden to wait for Malcolm. As she entered, pleasant memories flooded in. Of how he had helped her in her moments of need, how thanks to him, the garden had become a place of solace for her.
He joined her soon after, dressed in his informal robes. They strolled together, admiring the flowers and the bushes, enjoying the fresh air, the scents of the plants around them, the sound of birdsong.
Suddenly, something changed for Malcolm. In a single moment, the idyllic landscape of the garden morphed into that of the hellish images of the Desolation. He was standing in the middle of it again, watching the writhing, disfigured creatures as pain exploded in his chest.
"No," he gasped as they reached for him. "No, please, no!"
Suddenly a voice broke through their daemonic wails.
"Al Saher, Al Saher, AL SAHER!" Slowly, the hellish landscape dissipated and Malcolm found himself back in the garden, on all fours, heaving. Nyssa was kneeling next to him, a panicked expression on her face. He grasped her arm, shaking.
"Al Saher, wh-what is happening? Should I call for Emily?"
"N-no," he gasped and shook his head vehemently. "I d-don't want to worry her. J-Just help me to the pagoda, I..I t-told the P-Priestess to leave us some herbal tea there."
Nyssa helped him up and he leaned on her, barely putting one foot in front of the other. He collapsed onto one of the chairs around a small table, where mugs with fragrant herbal tea were already waiting.
Nyssa moved her chair closer to him. "Al Saher, tell me what is happening to you!"
"Th-The Desolation," he breathed out and looked at her. She never expected to see such fear in the Dark Archer's eyes. He lowered his gaze quickly.
"That place you got sent to after you died on Lian Yu? B-But isn't the new Pit supposed to heal all that?" she asked.
"It's a little bit different with me. I've been to a hellish realm and they don't release souls such as mine so easily. The Pit healed the madness and tendency to violence, but not the… the remnants of the torture they put me through there." He shivered a little more violently. "I told you before, I get nightmares. That is one of the side effects, as is apparently what happened just now."
"Can't Emily do something? She has all these powers..." Nyssa suggested.
"They are still new to her and healing me fully is very... complicated. Besides, now she needs to focus on a more pressing task. But, John Constantine has been helping me by performing some spells and the tea we are about to drink is filled with herbs and extracts meant to heal and strengthen."
Malcolm took a shaky breath.
"You're still in pain," Nyssa said and handed him the mug.
"It goes away eventually," he said quietly.
They both sipped their tea for a while in silence.
Nyssa saw how Malcolm struggled through his pain and felt haunted as she imagined what he must have gone through in the Desolation, impressed by his bravery.
She gathered up her courage, then asked, "Can I help? I mean, I have no special powers or anything, but…"
Malcolm touched her on the shoulder briefly. "You already have."
"How?"
Malcolm sighed. "Aside from the tortures of penance, being in hell means your soul is exposed to constant hatred, among other things, all the worst kinds of emotions. Talking with you today, sparring amicably, seeing your joy and success, it… it has a healing power of its own. Besides, who knows how much my hallucination would have lasted if you hadn't pulled me out."
Nyssa looked away for a second, then said, "I'd like to do more. Maybe I should take you to your chambers to rest for a while after this ordeal?" she offered.
"No, I… I'd rather stay place is so peaceful,and has so much beauty. It also heals the soul. Could you just… sit here with me for a while?" he asked.
Nyssa nodded in agreement. "Of course."
A maid came back to refill their mugs with the tea and Nyssa saw that Malcolm was looking stronger.
"So what is this important task Emily is taking care of?" She queried.
Malcolm took a sip of his tea. "We are resurrecting Laurel. Emily and Constantine are in the library right now tweaking the incantation and the ritual."
Nyssa gasped and put her hand to her mouth. "That is… wonderful. Sara will be so happy to have her sister back!"
Malcolm smiled "This is what the New League is all about," he said, finished off his tea and they made their way back.
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Hope you liked it! It was a very important chap. Reviews always appreciated!