A/N: Sorry this was late. I've been a bit busy. Assisting in putting on an online auction for my church on Auctria takes a lot of time. If you're curious, check out West Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, affectionally called WHUUF. And I'm working on the next story as well. Don't worry, more is coming.

A Circus Boy Returns Home

Part 15: Possession

Samantha was true to her word. Before going to speak with Barbara Gordon-Grayson. Samantha made sure her twins were being looked after. It wasn't exactly like they wouldn't be. Alfred was there, and so was Jason and Sasha. Damian could also babysit the twins, if he was interested, not to mention Bruce. He would often take a few hours each day to spend with his grandchildren. Samantha needed to inform someone what she was doing, and Alfred became her choice of contact. He could be discreet. And if there really was a problem, Alfred knew he could go to Bruce and let him know. Dick and Tim were too far to be effective, and Samantha needed to become more proactive with this family.

Samantha was heading to the kitchen when her adopted brother, Virgil approached her.

"Samantha, that look on your face is concerning," Virgil said. "Is everything all right?"

"I need to talk to Alfred," Samantha stated. "I promised I would look in on Barbara, Dick's wife."

"Can I come with you?"

"Sure, I could use the company. I need to tell Alfred."

Samantha went to the kitchen and found Alfred was working on lunch for everyone. "Alfred," Samantha began. "Could you watch the children?"

"Of course, Ms. Samantha," Alfred stated. "Will you be leaving before lunch?"

"Yes. Virgil will be coming with me. We'll get lunch in Gotham."

"Very good, my dear. Have the twins already been fed?"

"No, but they will accept bottles," Samantha replied.

"I shall fix two bottles once lunch is prepared for everyone."

"Thank you. Virgil and I might take some time."

"Don't worry, Ms. Samantha. If I need assistance, I can call on everyone else who is present."

"That is a big relief."

Samantha headed to the garage with Virgil following behind. Once they picked out a car and were heading on the road, Virgil could finally ask some questions.

"So, how did you end up here?"

"It's not a pleasant story," Samantha stated. "My parents sold me to Nathan Devlin to pay off their debts, then Devlin not only killed them, he pretty much destroyed the whole village on the island."

"You're kidding me," Virgil stated, his eyes going wide.

"I was with him for three years when Timmy was kidnapped by Devlin. It was Timmy who freed both of us."

"I was with his sister," Virgil replied. "It was Tim who freed both me and his brother, Dick."

"At least we don't have to worry about those two anymore. They are both behind bars."

Virgil grew silent after that. He was free of Victoria Devlin, and he played a major part in sending her to jail. Then he felt an odd sensation, which he could only describe as being pure evil as they drew close to what was a clock tower.

"Is this the place?"

"Yes," Samantha answered.

"We need to be careful. There is something very wrong here. Can you sense it?"

"I am aware of something being off."

"There is something evil here," Virgil replied.

"What is it?"

"I'm not sure. We need to be careful."

Samantha parked the car and they found their way to the entrance. The Clock Tower was Barbara Gordon's chosen home when her legs became useless from a bullet shot by the Joker, a bullet actually meant for her father, Commissioner Gordon. With Samantha's help, Barbara was able to walk again, but at the same time, Samantha became aware of a restlessness within Barbara, something her and Dick had yet to address. Samantha was deeply concerned for her brother and sister-in-law's relationship. Hopefully, there would be a time where the couple could work out their differences, for the sake of their daughter. Samantha and Virgil climbed the steps of the tower drawing closer to the top. Samantha had only been here once before. It was an odd time, when she thought about it. It also brought on a blush to her face. It was as if they all had been possessed by something they could not explain. Now, being here a second time, she wondered if what happened that night wasn't because of Tim's aura surrounding them in a passion of love, but something else, something now turned evil. As they drew closer to the top of the tower, they heard a baby crying.

"Haley!" Samantha rushed forward.

"Wait!" Virgil could feel the being's presence. "This is bad."

Samantha didn't listen. She continued to rush forward, but was suddenly brought up short when she ran into what felt like a barrier. Virgil arrived next to her and felt the same thing.

"It's magical in nature," Virgil stated. "I don't know how I know, but this is demon magic."

"Demon magic, what kind of demon?"

"I don't know."

"Virgil, I know you've had magic in you ever since we were children. Can you remove the spell?"

"I don't even know what kind of demon has done this."

"You must," Samantha demanded. "That demon could be hurting Haley and Barbara."

Virgil placed his hands on the barrier and concentrated. He has only done this with walls. He didn't know if he could do it with this kind of barrier, but if Dick's daughter and wife were in trouble, he had to help. Virgil felt the barrier give way and a hole opened just wide enough for two people to step through. Once they got inside, they couldn't believe what they saw.

"Look!"

"Haley!"

Hovering over the crying baby was a demon, a demon of great size.

"You will not deprive me of my feast," the demon growled.

On the floor nearby, lay Barbara Gordon-Grayson. Virgil's hands began to glow, and he spoke an incantation, that he had no idea that he knew. He didn't know where he had learned it. Chains wrapped around the demon's arms, pinning them to his sides. Virgil spoke another incantation, and once again, a portal opened, and the demon was drawn into it. The demon growled as it was pulled through the portal.

"I will return! You cannot prevent it! I sense sweeter meat!"

"You will never return, demon!" Virgil swore.

"We shall see, descendant of Merlin!"

The portal closed, and Virgil collapsed from the strain. Samantha rushed toward Virgil and without thinking formed a bubble around him to give him time to heal. Still, her mind kept going to what that demon had said, and not only that, the demon was looking straight at her. What could the demon have meant? Not only that, what he said about Virgil, that he was a descendant of Merlin? How was that possible? Merlin was a fictional character in a story. Samantha turned when she heard Barbara stir. Haley was still crying, so Samantha took the time to pick her up, then went over to Barbara.

"Barbara," Samantha called to her. "Barbara."

"Uh," Barbara opened her eyes. "What happened?"

"I don't know how, but you were possessed by a demon."

"A demon?" Barbara's eyes went wide. "Haley, is Haley all right?"

"She's fine, but you need to tell us what happened," Samantha said.

"I . . . I don't exactly remember the full details," Barbara started out. "I remember taking a walk in the sunken garden that you like to sit in. That was before Haley was born, but after that. It's hazy."

"How long ago was that?" Samantha asked.

"I don't know, maybe three weeks ago."

Samantha looked over at Virgil. They both had the same question, but it was Virgil who spoke up.

"Did you sense anything?"

"A kind of tingling sensation," Barbara answered.

"After that, what did you feel?"

"Angry, a lot, and I couldn't understand why. I thought it was due to the pregnancy. And almost an overpowering need for something red and sweet."

"Like an apple?" Virgil questioned.

"No, something less tangible," Barbara said. "Come to think of it, I would get hungry every time I would run into Tim, weird. The hunger didn't feel like it was mine."

Samantha's eyes went wide. Why would a demon want Tim?

Continues with Part 16