Heya folks! Kind of a short chapter today, but there's a lot of exposition stuffed in it. It should provide a little more light on what's really going on. Of course, where there's light there is also shadow.

Oh, by the way Letselina... who says she can't control her powers? Or even if she has any? Muahahaha!

Enough of my cryptic comments! Thanks again for the reviews. Here's the new chapter.

Chapter 7: The Harbinger

"So, does Polly wanna cracker?"

In an instant, Robin had a birdarang in his hand and had taken up a defensive position; the closet was too small for him to use his bo staff.

The dark figure laughed softly and held up her hands in a placating gesture, "Easy there, cowboy. I don't want to fight you. In fact, just the opposite. I want to help you." Again, she flashed that predatory sharp-toothed grin.

Robin narrowed his eyes, but didn't change his stance or lower his birdarang, "Vivian?"

"Not quite," the figure said in a sing-song voice, "I'm just... using her body."

"You possessed her?" Robin asked suspiciously.

"'Possessed' is such a loaded term," the figure responded, "It implies force or cohesion. I can't do that. I can only inhabit a body in which I've been specifically invited." Idly she examined her red claws, moving over to the bed and sitting down on it, "It was a standard agreement. She gave me a body I could use during the night, and I gave her what she wanted during the day."

"Who are you?" Robin asked, stepping cautiously from the closet, always keeping the shadowy figure in front of him.

She smiled another of those wicked smiles, "You may call me... Harbinger."

"Harbinger, huh?" Robin asked curiously, "Interesting name."

"It's actually more of a title," Harbinger replied with a wave of her hand, "My name is unpronounceable by humans. Unless, of course, you bisect your tongue down the middle." As if to demonstrate, Harbinger's long forked tongue slipped from her lips and she drew a single red claw down the center before giggling impishly.

"What is it you want?"

Harbinger grinned broadly, "That's usually my line." She leaned back against the bed, crossing her legs in a movement of practiced seduction, "I like to make people happy. I like to give people what they want. It's sort of my mission in life."

Robin narrowed his eyes again, "Get to the point, Harbinger."

"Very well," Harbinger murmured reclining on the bed, "As you're no doubt aware, several ancient artifacts have been stolen."

"You stole them?" Robin queried.

She shook her head, "Nope, sorry to disappoint. I admit I was at the scenes. But I was there for the same reason you were. I was investigating."

"So why did you attack Raven?"

Harbinger shrugged her shoulders absently, "She was wearing that cloak. I thought she was one of them."

Robin frowned slightly, finally putting his birdarang away, "One of who?"

"They call themselves the Church of Starry Wisdom," Harbinger replied matter-of-factly, "Corrupted humans who are mere puppets for the schemes and machinations of a being of cosmic power. They are dedicated to bringing the Dread God of Ba'Cthuga to earth. They seek to destroy your world. If they succeed, mankind will have to invent new words for the kinds of terror and pain you will experience."

Robin's frown deepened, "So why do you want to help us?"

"Do I really need a reason?" Harbinger asked, black eyebrows arching curiously, "Isn't it enough that I don't want to see this planet reduced to a broken, maimed cinder twirling in space?"

Robin narrowed his eyes again, "I don't trust you."

Harbinger sighed, rolling her red eyes, "Oh, please. Just suffice to say that I have an interest in not seeing this world fall to Ba'Cthuga." Her lips twitched up into a wicked smile as she slid off the bed and walked towards the Boy Wonder, letting a single finger trace gently around the outline of his mask, "Besides... we all have our secrets. I'd show you mine, if you'd show me yours."

Robin grimaced and stepped back, out of the shadow woman's grasp, "No thanks. What do these artifacts have to do with the Church of Starry Wisdom?"

"By themselves, the artifacts are nothing more than stone and paper," Harbinger clarified, "Together, however, they can be used in a ritual to open a portal to another dimension. And allowing Ba'Cthuga to come to earth. They almost have all they need. Only one more artifact and then to wait until the stars are right and they can bring their lord to earth."

"The Wayne Enterprises find," Robin murmured quietly.

"Bingo!" Harbinger exclaimed with a bright grin, "You are a smart one, aren't you, you little cutie? So do we have a deal?"

"Deal?"

Harbinger nodded, "Yeah. I help you with the little cult problem and we both keep the earth safe."

Robin frowned deeply, glaring at the woman in front of him suspiciously, "I think we can handle it on our own."

"Don't be overconfident," Harbinger replied, "I know how to stop them, you don't. Besides... don't you want to verify that I didn't take over Vivian's body uninvited? She'll be back in the morning. The shipment containing the artifacts doesn't arrive until tomorrow."

Mild surprise crossed Robin's features, "How do you know that? The article didn't mention anything about where it was being shipped or when."

Harbinger smiled one of those wicked smiles again, "I have my sources."

Robin hesitated for a moment, lips pressing into a thin line. "All right, fine. But you stay with us at the Tower until morning."

"Of course, of course," Harbinger replied pleasantly, "You can even tie me up if that would give you peace of mind."

"That won't be necessary," Robin replied, moving towards the window, "Come on."

Grinning broadly, Harbinger laughed softly, "I wouldn't miss it for the world."