"Are you sure that's what it means?" You raise a brow, not hiding the skepticism in your voice to Xanadu, looking at one of her tarot cards before you.

She took no offense and nodded calmly from across her table, where she sat with a quiet, enduring smile. Since your arrival, she's been wearing it. You hadn't noticed. It quickly vanished from Xanadu but remained in her eyes, still fringed with shock.

Here you came carried in a few days ago, Xanadu's mouth nearly dropped the second her eyes rested on you. The color drained from her face and her words fell out silently. Zatanna and the others didn't hear.

"Arlette!"

You were the spitting image of her, just a complexion darker. But everything else nearly mirrored Arlette. The name trembled on Xanadu's lips, wanting to launch off and shout it. But she restrained herself, unsure if you even knew. Or if you even could be...Arlette's own, there was a possibility of you being a clone and the name would fall on deaf years...but if you were...why? No, there was no way you'd be a clone. Xanadu recalled overhearing how Arlette-

"Alright, who's hungry?" Will announced, pulling Xanadu from memory lane, coming in with two tied white plastic bags in each hand and one folded brown bag hosted against his chest, while delicately carrying a holder for three drinks. His arms stuffed, threw a smile your way.

You turned your eyes away for a moment, Will's smile dropped for a moment and his eyes soften, you did this often to him. It lasted normally for a minute, and when you lifted your eyes to him, he always saw a pending question in them and he'd wait for it. But, you never said it. He never forced it from you.

"Are those beignets I smell?" Xanadu procured, getting up and going over to help him. She took the brown bag and gave a quick whiff. "Ah, they are. You're too kind."

Will chuckled, coming over to the table where you sat and setting the bags down. You noticed his phone sticking slightly out the pocket of his jacket was still on, showing his last call. It read: Paula. You heard that name before.

"Learning the trick of the trade I see," Will said with a nip of humor, getting your attention while placing a white styrofoam food container before you. A strong smokey smell emitted from the container, triggering your stomach to growl. "So what does that mean there?" Will asked, pointing to the card.

You heard him, opening the container. A whiff of seasoned steam puffed in your face, you waved some of it away, coughing. Xanadu laughed, "Too much it seems, eh? Cutlery please?" She placed a hand on your shoulder and gestured towards the back of her shop in the direction of the kitchen.

Nodding, you get up and quietly walk to the room. Xanadu and Will watched and waited until you were out of sight and hopefully out of earshot. "So?" Will inquired, taking out more containers.

A lamented sigh expelled from Xanadu, "It is the same. Nothing has changed. The cards speak the truth." Her eyes cast downward to the three displayed. She felt her heart sink, as she touched them gently. "There is a dark horizon. But I cannot see passed it."

"Iris and Lois are doing their best to control the fire," he informed, but the worry lingered in his words. "It might just work. What I meant, has she...you know."

Xanadu understood, and her response was with hesitation, shaking her head with a shrug of the shoulders. Will sighed, scratching the back of his head. "She continues looking for a way out. I hear her fiddling with the locks and she's looking for answers," Xanadu said, her eyes steady on the hall you went down. "Has Tigress said anything?"

"They're nearly done. Just another week or a few days. Zatanna will come and get us when it's ready. In the meantime, the others are waiting too. Superboy returned to the Watchtower. Keeping ears high and eyes on the ground."

"What of the sister?" Xanadu selectively inquired, in a whisper.

Will's brows knotted heatedly, but kept his voice level, "She's milking it right now. Besides her crusade and turning the League into enforcers. Nothing really. It's nearly turning into a witch hunt. We have to be careful right now, Superboy said Kalduar is increasing reports and might have had a meeting with Warden over Belle Reeve."

Xanadu nearly gasped, "No."

"Yep. You know something, despite all this, I'm kinda happy."

"Excuse me?"

"What? It's not every day your family gets a new addition."

You finally returned with the cutlery, plates, and extra napkins. Stepping into the room you paused and stare at Xanadu, then Will, raising your brow. Both of them smile, Will with the broadest and arms open. His chest slightly puffed out, why you didn't know, but it lifted your brow higher.

"Alright, ready to eat?" he smiled with delight from ear to ear.

The food was good, though you tried not to show it as you ate quietly and quickly. Your eyes remained on your plate, barely looking up or engaging in conversation with Xanadu or Will. You just listen to them and New Orleans' life outside these walls in the distance and tune into that. The shuffling of feet walking along the sidewalk or in the streets. Joyous laughter and mirth celebrations. The sensational smell of New Orleans cuisine filled the streets, luring stomachs to a wholesome meal.

A clear sky, free, unhinged.

You scoop up some cajun rice, softly humming to the tempo of a distant trumpet being played down the street, with your spoon, and nearly jam it into your mouth. Luckily, you caught the action and restrained yourself. This place, you needed to...you just...you scoop up more rice and swallow it whole, not realizing you hadn't chewed it. You do another and another until it was all gone. You stand, grab your plate, utensils, and cup, give a nod, and excuse yourself.

Reaching the kitchen, you find the trash and drop your items in. For a moment, your eyes flick up to the back door, temptation swept over you only to vanish. There was no point, it's locked. Still, you reached out towards it, stopping when a golden glyph appeared encircling it. Retracting your hand, you turn and walk to your room. To reach it, you had to go through the parlor, Xanadu, and Will started cleaning. You paid them little mind and made your way down the other hall towards the corner of the room. There were stairs that led to a second level you had to climb. Your room was the third down on the left side. Reaching the door it opens on its own for you.

Down below, Will and Xanadu heard your door slam shut. "She's become restless." Xanadu worried her eyes to the ceiling.

"She's quiet now," Will noticed, looking up too.

"Yes," Xanadu sighed, shaking her head and bringing her eyes back down, and continued cleaning the table, "She does it often. I suppose it passes the time. She will remain that way until dinner. Come down and go right back up. Coming out again to use the bath and goes right back in."

"Jim warned me about that," Will confessed, bringing his eyes back to the table and spotting the brown bag.

Once the table was cleared and cleaned, Will left for a moment, came back, and went to your room. You were on your bed, eyes closed, sleeping when you heard a knock awaking you. You try to ignore it. It came once more.

Hearing steps descending, you rise and walk over. Opening the door, you find no one. Until you look down and find a small decorative box sitting a few feet from your room in view of the stairs. You glance around and see no one.

Downstairs, Will watches and smiles as you pick up the box and take it back into your room.