Chapter 4

It was as if time had frozen, or rather it was moving slowly, moving slower and slower until it stopped. It was moving slowly as John removed the yellow belt from behind his back. And slower yet as it was hanging from his hands until it just seemed everything stopped and all that remained was a belt without its owner. It was a message all knew but none liked: Another has fallen.

"Bats never takes this off. Where did you find it?" Wally questioned cautiously reaching out as if the belt was some sort of fragile relic no human being should have touched.

"I was monitoring the surveillance for any sign of the others when Batman's signal went off."

"His signal?"

"Yes, it activates whenever someone takes the utility belt from him. As I said it was activated and it moved quickly stopping on Gleneden Ave. I found it inside of a dumpster, beside it was this." He produced a black feather.

Shayera took the feather into her hand running her fingers over the sleek grooves watching attentively as the black shifted to a beautiful color of indigo and blue, "Medea."

"So she got him too." Wally stated solemnly his usually cheerful face downcast with his sincerity. "Was there anything else she or B-Man left?"

As he questioned he began to take the belt from John's hand, whom wasn't quiet prepared to give the item over. When the two ends were pulled apart a compartment close to the buckle slid open letting a small black box drop from its hiding place and onto the ground with a small clank.

All eyes looked down on the device with genuine curiosity; a soft buzzing noise drew three pairs of eyes to the direction of the red dressed superhero.

"I didn't break it!" Flash said quickly moving away from the fallen device.

'Klarion the witch boy.' A smooth voice drifted from the object, a miniature audio recorder.

Batman's deepened voice arose next to accuse the female speaker of knowing the whereabouts of the child.

They listened as the woman weaseled her way quiet skillfully into the journey to the witch boy's home. '- I'm coming too.'

'No, it's too dangerous and you will only get in the way.'

'Oh? So what are you going to do if or when you get to your friends and the Morrum? If you don't recall it isn't an ordinary book. Its power lures men only to deny them, use them for its own needs; but when it finds the one it wants as its mistress, in our case Medea…well let me put it this way it can be worse than a jealous lover.'

The voices exchanged back and forth one moment the deep voice of Batman the next the light tone of a woman. The conversations paused for a period of time before at long last it happened. The confrontation, the confession, and the trap.

A name had been given, a true name had been given to the darkness that they knew nothing of. "Klarion and Medea S. Azure." J'onn said the words everyone was thinking yet none were saying.

"So we know who we're up against, now what?" Wally questioned.

In a matter of moments they had all gathered about the computer searching the databanks for anything involving either their winged woman or the witching boy.

"Klarion, a witch boy. It seems he and Batman had a run-in with each other a while ago, something about a branding iron and the demon Etrigan." Shayera read as John typed across the keyboard.

"Wouldn't that make him a warlock since he's male?" John Steward questioned.

"A common misconception, but the name 'witch' pertains to both male and female." All eyes suddenly snapped backwards to Flash, "What? I heard about it on a documentary on the witch trials on the Discovery Channel."

"Well since we already have a file on him what about Medea?"

Just as John had typed her first name an emergency call brought their work to a halt. "What is it?" Shayera asked once J'onn returned with the most peculiar look on his face.

"They're at the Metropolis Museum of Natural History."

A little before the emergency call…
"What do you mean 'he won't'?!" Klarion demanded casting disbelieving black eyes towards his minion hidden behind a long brown trench coat.

Medea sighed regretfully as her eyes focused on the ancient pottery behind the sheet of glass. "Just what I said, Master, he won't. Morrum's pissed that you used one of his spells and now he's hording it. You know how he is about the human male gender."

Although the young witch was greatly known and feared for his power even he was prone to the child-like belief that all those older than he were in fact capable of doing anything within their power but chose not to in their own laziness. "Are you sure?" He asked his voice heavy with skepticism.

Medea took a deep breath to calm the growing annoyance before carefully explaining to the child accustomed to having his way, "Yes, each time I go to take a look at it the page is blank. I've bribed, begged, demanded and whatever else I could and he growled at me, translated simply as 'no'. We'll just have to make due with some other way to keep the Justice League in check."

"That book of yours is a pain. We should have chosen something more compliant."

Medea chuckled allowing her eyes to droop affectionately on the reflection of Klarion, "You know as well as I that I was destined to own it, besides all the other books are obsolete compared to my beloved Morrum."

After a silence settled between them the black haired boy turned his back, silently announcing his boredom of the entire building. "Get to work."

Pulling a cigarette from the pack in her coat pocket she lit up. "As you wish, Master Klarion."

As suspected a stout security guard with the physique of a linebacker trotted quickly towards the trio, as if happy to have something to do for the day. "Ma'am, I'm sorry but this is a smoke free museum. If you would like-" His small speech was cut short as her long narrow fingers curled over his shoulder in a tight grip.

"I'd like to do as my Master asked." She spoke softly before pitching his large body through the glass display.

At the sight and sound of the poor man's body flying through glass and pottery everyone had quickly turned to see what had happened. Once the glass had shattered a loud alarm wailed throughout the building.

All eyes befell the backside of the woman who had began the ruckus, they watched as the coat slid down her arms revealing a near bear back with two diagonal scars running from her spine to the curve just above her rear.

The scars split open releasing a large pair of wings a shade of black darker than the shadows that had a glow of blue.

None of the three near the crime scene moved at the thunderous sounds of running feet and guns being rid of their safety mechanisms behind him, it was as if they were merely seen as problematic insects at a cook-out, there only to be ignored.

"You there! Stop what you are doing, slowly turn around, toss your weapons to us, and then put your hands over your heads."

Klarion laughed as he and Theodore backed away. "Medea, do as they say."

She nodded as she slowly turned pulling the long length of chain from around her torso and upper thighs.

"Good, now toss it over here."

Medea's dark eyes lifted in a slow trance like manner onto the group. "As you wish." She said in her soft spoken voice before twirling the end once above her head and swinging it out towards the line of guards. With hard a tug of her hand she retracted the chain catching an arching sickle safely in her hand.

Unsure as to what happened the guards took aim, "I will not repeat myself!" The commanding officer shouted.

At their movements the tips of the barrels fell to the ground rendering their weapons useless.

The metal toes of her boots clicked against the false marble titles as she stalked forwards in a slow motion that one would think her moving through water. "This will be your only chance to run." Her tone low and dark in warning to all of those who chose to remain in their presents. With the message sent people wisely departed in a quick and un-orderly fashion.

Time passed none so slowly as the trio within kept entertained, or rather kept Klarion entertained, by toying mercilessly with what few people did not manage to evacuate the exhibit soon enough. While outside the four remaining members of the Justice League stopped before the towering building graced with four large stone lions.

Grumbling lightly Flash crossed his hands over his shoulders, "I remember when I use to like visiting the museum."

A loud caw drew the scolding eyes away from the speedy hero towards a large black crow fluttering down to perch on the mane of the front left lion. It tucked a lame leg close to its body before silver beady eyes focused on the group. Bristling up its body so that its feathers stood out in a fearful pose it released another loud caw, a threat to the saviors.

"Well now we know for sure that she's here." Green Lantern stated looking about to see many more crows lining the window ledges.

"Then let's go in and say 'hello'." Hawkgirl stated before they charged the entrance unaware that the largest crow had flew off and had made her way inside via the opened moon roof.

Sitting on a small bench Medea and the one eyed man by the name of Theodore watched their master destroy a clay pot, that had been mistakenly classified as Native American pottery, against an unconscious teenage boy's back.

Her attention was drawn away when the large bird landed on her crossed knee. "Cagney." She cooed to her dark familiar stroking it across its soft crown soothing back the bristled feathers, "Master Klarion, bum bum bum the witch boy," She added beneath her breath. "The rest of murder outside is unsettled; the Justice League must have arrived."

"Good, then we shall leave the rest for you to deal with. Meanwhile we're off for the movies." The curt voice stated moving towards her.

"Very well, Master. But please be careful if you eat popcorn, seeing you try to pick the shells off the back of your tongue is nerve wracking."

"I hope that you'll have a present for me when I return." His voice spoke of no chances for mistake on her part. Though their relationship was pleasant and some affection could be felt between them he still proved to be a harsh master should she displease him.

When Klarion was nearly out of the exhibit a red blur stopped before him, "Sorry kid, but ever hear of the phrase, 'You break it, you buy it?' I hope you brought your checkbook." He stated as the others slowly began to file in.

Without warning a pair of talon-like boots slammed into his chest knocking him back into the primitive times exhibit.

"Some man you are, you have to pick on poor little children." She stated pulling her chain into her hands as she strutted into the room stopping short when she noted the remaining members of the Justice League pour into the large exhibit.

"Poor little children?! That brat?" Flash questioned.

Medea's dark eyes peeking from beneath the shadow of her cap slowly moved to scan about her opponents. From the lithe feline-like form of the Flash, to the hard face of the green eyed African-American man know to the world as Green Lantern. She sight moved with the slow speed of a sloth going undetected beneath the shadow. The Martian Manhunter, struck her as interesting with his face void of all emotions even whilst facing a woman who had taken his own teammates captive, bound by a harsh spell.

But even then none held her eyes for as long as the woman known as Hawkgirl did. She felt her heart flutter briefly, her breathing hitch making her raven black wings bob in rhythm with the deep lift and fall of her chest. The woman she had been happily been mistaken for as of her race stood before her giving her the most heated glaze. She felt like an excited child going to visit a shopping mall santa.

Recalling her orders she allowed the weighted end of her chain fall to the ground with a loud clamor aided by the rattle of the chains. "I can not allow you to ruin my master's plans." She stated gripping the small handle of the sickle. Letting the weight of the blade to draw four inches of chain into her hand, giving her the room to swing the sharp steel at her side.

Taking her mace in her hands in the offensive Hawkgirl sneered at the woman, "Let us try."

With a scoff Medea let the sickle fly, cutting sharply through the empty air between them to a large figure of model a Mammoth, slicing through the faux rust colored fur and supporting structure of the two right legs.

The room filled with a long whine of the metal skeleton giving way to the great weight pressed against it. The mammoth's body slowly swayed over to the right falling towards the line of heroes.

Reacting quickly Green Lantern aimed his ring towards the falling model. The ring enveloped the large hairy elephant in a green glow stopping it some feet above their heads.

Medea circled about the air above them watching the scene play out below. They were quick to react, something she was in the least bit surprised in. After all she had seen them in action many of times thanks to amateur videos that were aired in the news.

When the situation with the model had been pushed aside all eyes scanned upwards focusing on her. "Come now, we mustn't dawdle." She taunted seconds before those who were capable took flight and the Flash sprinted towards the stairs.

Taking careful aim she swung the sphere end of her chain twice above her head before hurling it furiously at Green Lantern.

Acting just as quickly a transparent shield appeared before the man dressed in green and black reflecting the attack. Undaunted her grip about her chain tightened as she spun about herself making the deflected ball swing in a wide circle returning onto the in-flight trio once more.

Dodging the ball both Hawkgirl and Green Lantern avoided injury but with the Martian Manhunter some distance ahead he was not aware of the length of chain cutting towards him until it and the ball wrapped about his waist.

"Do not try to escape; I enchant all of my possessions." She mocked seconds before grunting as she swung the alien into a pillar of stone that stood outside the third level balcony entrance of the Earth's Gems and Minerals Exhibit on the third level.

"J'onn!" Hawkgirl shouted with concern as the chain released its hold and the stunned green man began to fall forwards over the railing.

A blur of red quickly caught hold of the falling Martian saving him from the nasty fall. "Don't worry I've got him. Whoa!" He moved an inch to his right taking the Manhunter with him just seconds before the sphere crashed into the stone beside his head.

With wide eyes he observed the crushed surface embedded with the weighted sphere trailing a long chain that lead to the crow woman wielding it, "Ha! You missed!" He teased.

Her eyes narrowed almost playfully at him as if to state 'If that's what you wish to think.' Jerking hard and quickly against the chain she dislodged the sphere knocking Flash strongly against his back and onto the floor in minor pain.

"Hey, over here!" Medea flew backwards in time to miss having her head knocked from her shoulders by the mace brandishing Hawkgirl, but also in time to have a large green fist collide with her body pitching her form through the third level's exhibit, her body crashing harshly into a display case of diamonds.

Landing on the balcony Green Lantern and Hawkgirl joined the Flash and the Martian Manhunter. "That trick gets them every time." He stated coyly while he kept focused on the fallen woman.

Flash scoffed lightly at the crude humor holding strongly onto the sorceress's weapon. All eyes focused on the semi-pitiful sight of the dark winged woman groaning to voice her pain as she slowly sat herself up from the glass and jewels littering floor.

She moaned lightly as the glass fell always to tinkle against the ground as they met their ill fate on the floor beneath. The beak like hood that once sat upon her head had fallen backwards to rest against her bared back.

Pulling away the more visible and problematic shards her dark eyes fluttered up to the group of four staring menacingly down onto her.

"Medea S. Azure." Green Lantern stated her name drawing her full attention towards him.

She chuckled darkly in her throat pushing her dark twists of hair back only to have the locks return, "So Batman did manage to get my little secret out even after I got rid of his belt? I should have known, he was clever, that's why Klarion wanted to get rid of him first, but instead I got the other two. But all in all I must admit it worked out very well."

"Who are you and what have you done to the others?"

"Who am I? Any computer could tell you." Medea's eyes trailed lazily towards the Flash and a small portion of her weapon in his hands. "Whatever are you going to do with that serpent?" She questioned her words echoing with a hiss as a ring of silver encircled her irises. "Defixus a um prestigious arum."

"What?" Looking down onto his hands he found not a chain but the long heavy body of an anaconda slithering about them. Its sleek body wound around as it pivoted its large head to focus dark diamond shaped eyes on the group. A pink forked tongue flickered against its closed mouth.

It looked as though it were just looking at them, as if they were merely some boring animals resting in a zoo and it the lethargic child bored out of its wits.

But the pause in its movements and the slight jump of powerful muscles as it braced itself for action gave way that its intentions were not just to watch.

The air about them shifted as it opened its mouth with a long hiss. It struck with its long body moving to coil about the four prepared to squeeze the life out of them in slow suffocation.

Flash moved quickly to the side allowing the heavy body fall to his right.

"Shay, look out." Green Lantern warned desperately pulling her out of harms way.

"What?" She questioned unable to stop him from pulling her forcefully towards his body. Looking about the scene she was utterly confused. Flash was running back and forth with the long link of chains still clasped in his hands making the rest of the body quiver side to side in a long line of waves. And even J'onn was floating gracefully backwards constantly moving from a solid body to transparency.

Moving out of Green Lantern's arms she noticed Medea walking calmly always from them. Taking flight she gave chase, her face felt aflame as anger race through her veins, a trick. Whatever spell she had cast had the others seeing something out of her now harmless weapon.

Hawkgirl landed before her, "That trick isn't going to work on me." She almost smirked at the surprised look on the cheeky sorceress's face, but alas both expressions were shorted lived.

"You are immune to magick." Smiling slightly she lowered her head mumbling something under her breath. "I am so sorry, but I do not wish to fight with you." She said looking up again.

Baring her mace Hawkgirl growled, if anything she was going to fight with this woman, whatever she claimed to be. "I don't think you have a choice."

"Oh? But if you fight me what's going to save your friends from themselves?" She asked softly almost in a giggled whisper. "Besides what honor is there in fighting an unarmed woman?"

Hawkgirl looked over her adversary's shoulder to see the men were somewhat comically wrapped within the chain, Flash holding the curving blade of the sickle at bay as though he were truly struggling with it yet losing.

"Better hurry."

With the woman's words ushering her decision she flew towards the men grabbing hold of the sickle's handle and pulling it away from Flash's face

By her touch alone the spell died away reducing the once fearful serpent into a limp and useless mess of metal. "Hey, how did you-" Flash questioned as she helped him to untangle himself.

"No time," Glancing upwards she spotted Medea's dark wings carrying her up towards the open moon roof. "Listen; get the others free so we can deal with her."

Home free, a curious little phrase but at the time that was what she thought herself to be as she pushed the pane of glass farther open to complement the size of her wings. Her eyes smiled when she spotted the large crow with her lame leg awaiting her departure.

Caaaw! Cagney bristled her feathers to fluff out making her appear frightfully larger than she was as she screeched loudly. Taking the warning Medea turned back in time to have a lasso formed of her own weapon catch her ankle.

"Going somewhere?" Hawkgirl questioned flying quickly towards her with mace charged and raised.

Moving quickly the black winged sorceress pulled the chains still attached to her leg bringing it before her in time to stop the mace's descent on her lower belly.

They pushed against the other trying to force the other down while still airborne. With predatory eyes locked they sneered at each other with their strength pushing and pushing. "I told you, I do not want to fight you!" Medea hissed, in a matter of seconds her hands moved lowering the chain to wrap about Hawkgirl's wrist. Bringing up one foot she rolled backwards in midair pitching her opponent away from her.

Removing her enchantment on her weapon it returned to its normal length she wound the chain about her waist before flying out of the moon roof into open air.

"Outside everyone!" Green Lantern commanded watching as the white winged woman followed the other.

Flash was the first to make it out of the front entrance to see the silhouettes of the two aviators battling against one another with their rather primitive weapons.

Medea winced as the falls of the mace were coming closer and closer to her body. A small graze to her side threw her focus off enough to leave her body open for the last attack.

Hawkgirl roared once with a side swing aimed for her upper body.

"Aah!" The sound ripped from her lips as the electrocuting mace crashed down on her shoulder the soft buzz quickly changing into a sharp crackle as the electricity jolted through her flash numbing her senses.

Green Lantern, Flash, and the Martian Manhunter watched as their enemy flew from out of the sky, her large powerful wings no use to her at the moment.

"I got her!" Flash shouted speeding out towards the direction of the falling body. Jumping slightly he seemed to sprint on the very air below as he caught her with ease in bridal fashion.

Slowly Medea opened her eyes looking about for the ground on which she was to have fallen but instead found herself looking onto a yellow lightening bolt and a thin red chest. Her eyes drifted upwards to her rescuer who, still running, was looking down onto her with a cocky smile.

"You must be an angel fallen from heaven." He gave his usual cheesy comment. He noted as her cheeks darkened and her eyes still encircled with a ring of silver cast downwards in what seemed to be a shy blush.

Shifting her weight she brought her numbed wings open catching the wind roughly. With the sudden halt of her wings that acted as a parachute, the Flash went toppling across the pavement whilst she rode against the rough air.

Landing none too gracefully she looked to the sky focusing her eyes on the black bird circling above, "Cagney, my love, come aid your mistress." She called quickly before the others could move to stop her.

The large crow that had before once stood with ease on the crook of her elbow landed no more than four feet away with a loud thud now ten fold it's original size.

She casually approached the large crow, her hands settling against its beautiful back, ever thankful for the spells she had learned and cast upon her beloved friend and pet. She cast her eyes backwards at the sprawled figure of the Flash that looked worriedly onto her. "I won't be taking any of you…this time."

She soothed the large feathers before mounting the bird's back the pair flying away vanishing from sight.

Defeated the remaining force of the Justice League stared at the empty space in which their hope of saving their friends had flown away with promises to return perhaps for more.

An Hour Later…
Sitting amongst the pillows of her bed, Medea stripped of costume and makeup chewed on an apple while staring down at a blank page of her spell book. "Why must you be so stubborn? Do you have any idea what Klarion will do to the both of us if we can't carry out his wishes?"

Yes. The words bled into the page before vanishing again. But I will not allow anyone to harm you.

"Morrum, he's a child! What interest do I have in him but to serve him as my master?" She asked throwing her hands up in exasperation.

"I hope that we are not interrupting anything." A dark voice stated.

Closing her book she gave him her undivided attention, "How was the movie?" She asked peering over her shoulder towards Klarion.

"It was boring and pointless. I already hate sequels and I think I am developing a hatred for prequels as well." He stated in his sheer boredom.

"Oh? Was it that horrible?" She questioned comfortingly moving to offer a seat on her bed.

"The one liners were crude, the sight gags all Hollywood clichés, there was no chemistry between the leading actors, tacky and pointless CGI, and over all a waste of an hour and twenty eight minutes of our lives. I could use some good news right now." He narrowed his black eye upon her as if to dare her to state the latter otherwise.

Taking the hint that he desired to see what she been sent for she reached her hand into her nightstand removing a small blue tinted diamond and another jewel the color of topaz.

"I had to have my back broken against a glass case to retrieve these for you." She added before giving them to him.

"Why ever did you do something so foolish?"

She laughed before taking another bite of her apple, "Simple, we don't want them to know what we are up to so soon. Let us not forget we have three more of those pretties and the scepter to find."

TBC

DSP here to tell you most definitely I'm going to explain who and what Medea is, was, or whatever in the next chapter.

Also thank you one and all for your reviews. It helps me with my fics and also give me a little ego boost. Aw c'mon you know when you get them you have that little swell in pride, why be modest about it? Admit it you like it. You love it!