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Batman 1939: Three's Company
Chapter 19: Estranged Affections
Catwoman and Zatanna looked between Batman and each other. They were not at a loss for words so much as a traffic jam competing to be spoken first. Eventually, words gushed out.
"You know him?" shouted Catwoman at Zatanna.
"Were you planning on telling me?" shouted Zatanna at Batman.
"Uhhg," moaned Batman.
"Is it true?" shouted Catwoman at Batman.
"What is going on?" shouted Sindella at everyone.
"Wait, did you forget about us?" asked Zatanna.
"Us?" asked Catwoman.
"Am I that forgettable?" Zatanna asked herself.
"I can't-" Batman tried to answer but started coughing.
"Pardon me-" said Faust.
Catwoman swung her sword into Faust's ribs so she could yell with her hand. "John? Really?"
"Ow," groaned Faust.
"I," Batman muttered and stumbled to a knee. He grabbed Catwoman's wrist and looked her in the eyes with the last of his strength. Sindella, she is-
"Get off me." Catwoman brushed him away.
"Cease!" shouted Sindella. A sound of thunder deafened the room. Batman fell to his side. Sindella folded her arms. "I insist on knowing why you children are bickering!"
"Yes, Zatanna," said Catwoman, barely maintaining a conversational tone, "What exactly did you mean?"
Zatanna was so worked up she broke into nervous laughter and shook her finger. "Oh! I'll tell you. This man," She pointed at Batman then stopped, finally noticing how sick he was. "Needs help."
Catwoman looked Batman over. He had collapsed on the floor, and his breathing was hoarse. Whatever her other feelings, she couldn't deny he was the last person to fake being ill. He was more likely to run a marathon with broken ankles. Or the plague.
Sindella sighed. "Very well. What's wrong with him?"
Batman made an attempt to speak but only coughed again.
"Not sure," said Zatanna, "But this burn is turning some funny colors."
"His face is turning some funny colors," said Catwoman.
"Forget it," said Sindella, "I'll perform a full reset."
Batman tried earnestly to speak but only earned another coughing fit.
"Sorry, what is a reset?" asked Zatanna.
"Stand aside." Sindella laid a hand on Batman's chest and circled the other hand in the air. Tiny fireworks flew from her fingers, forming geometric patterns as they burst. She recited, "ODNU LLA MRAH MORF NAMTAB!"
A low-pitched hum sounded. Batman wheezed once and convulsed. He began to blend and fade like an overexposed photograph.
Zatanna gagged and looked away.
"Are you sure that's helping?" asked Catwoman with alarm.
"More than I expected." Sindella tried to sound nonchalant but was clearly under pressure. "Mm. Better leave the head alone. Resetting the brain can be trouble." Batman's face resolved into focus, but now his expression was slack. He could have been asleep or dead. Sindella wiped her forehead then returned to circling. "Where did you dig up this mule? I've met old coal miners with better knees."
"Is he going to be okay?" asked Zatanna.
"He'll be marvelous. I'll need a drink."
"So, why'd you call him John?" asked Catwoman.
Zatanna blushed. "Is now really the best time?"
"Seems like the perfect time," said Sindella. "I'm curious what company you've been keeping."
"It's not much of a story," said Zatanna as she looked at Batman. "We were kids. My dad took him on as a student for a summer."
"Giovanni was teaching students his magic show?" said Sindella brightly. "He never seemed the type."
"No, it was just John. The summer we moved to Gotham-"
Sindella couldn't believe her ears. "You live in Gotham?"
"I used to."
"We're from Gotham," added Catwoman.
Sindella shook her head. "That explains so much."
Zatanna hesitated. "Well, one day dad introduces John and says he would study with us."
"And?" asked Catwoman.
"That's it. He stayed that summer then we never heard from him again. Actually, I only learned this morning how he convinced dad for the lessons in the first place."
"How?"
"The Cehennems tried to adopt me. I met the lawyer who helped dad keep custody. He said John paid his bill."
"Hmm."
"Yeah, his parents were divorced, so he knew a real sharp lawyer."
"Okay, but how do you know that he," Catwoman gestured to Batman. "Is that John?"
"Like I said, the voice finally gave it away. I think his lockpicking was the first big clue. I helped teach him; he was always a little slow. And even back then he was getting in fights, all bruised-up, and he almost never smiled, and he was awfully smart too. He helped me with my math homework."
"Batman did your homework."
"Not all of it."
"And how young were you?"
"Twelve."
"I don't know, Zatanna. That's a long time to remember a voice."
"I remembered. I didn't have anyone else to talk to."
"Just a minute," said Sindella, "Are you saying he had a man's voice as a child?"
"Well, no. But it's not the pitch that's stuck in my mind, it's his - what's the word? His cadence. He was so careful about everything."
Catwoman sighed. "Dammit."
"What?"
"I was wondering why he started talking funny tonight. It was right before he had to talk to you."
"What a strange man," said Sindella. "But no use speculating. He'll solve the mystery when he's awake."
The hum stopped. Sindella moved her hands away. She stood up and stretched her back. "Whoever's responsible for the poor man, kindly dissuade him from jumping in front of any more trains or however he occupies himself." She held out a cupped palm. "YRD INITRAM THGIARTS ON SEVILO!" There was a pop, and a cocktail appeared in her hand. She downed the drink and tossed the glass into the sea. "Now! Where were we?"
The distortions over Batman's body had ended. The fabric across his lower abdomen was still torn, but where before they saw a hideous burn, now there was unblemished skin and smooth muscle.
Catwoman shook his shoulder. "Hey."
"He can't hear you," said Sindella. "The spell is not gentle. He will need some time."
"How long?"
"He'll wake in twenty, thirty minutes. No more than an hour."
"Thirty minutes?"
"Perhaps it's just as well, dear. If he's been deceiving you, both of you, then you could use some time without his lies. Who knows what he was planning once you let your guard down."
"Hold on," said Catwoman, "Batman has a lot to answer for, but he's not a threat."
Faust laughed. "Not a threat?" Black bile trickled out of his mouth.
"Shut up."
Sindella looked at Catwoman with motherly pity. "And what of those bloody handprints on your clothes? You told me Batman lost his temper with you. I've known so-called gentlemen who hide a temper. I didn't want to say anything, but …"
"That's not how it happened," said Zatanna. "He was protecting Zachary.".
"Yes, my murderous nephew. Valiant Batman threatens his beautiful partner when she stops the monster from striking again. How noble."
Zatanna crossed her arms and shook her head. "It wasn't like that."
"It was kind of like that," said Catwoman.
Sindella clucked her tongue. "Dear, even if Batman doesn't intend you harm, that's not to say he keeps your best interests at heart. Or do you enjoy it when he makes your decisions for you?"
"Good point," said Catwoman.
Zatanna stuck her hands between them. "Mom, Selina-"
Catwoman made a sour face. "Stick with Catwoman."
"Oh." said Zatanna. "But when he said-"
"He did."
"I just thought we were having a nice moment."
"We were. But we're not quite there yet."
Zatanna rolled her eyes. "Look, I know we have a lot to talk about, but aren't we forgetting something? Can we free dad now?"
"Of course!" said Sindella. "Bless me, you must be worried sick."
Catwoman looked carefully at Sindella. "And you're ready to see your husband?"
Sindella seemed puzzled. "Why wouldn't I be?"
Zatanna looked between them. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," said Catwoman after a moment. "No reason."
"Let's go then!" said Zatanna.
"I think it will be safe," said Sindella. "Of course, the decision is yours, Catwoman."
"Why is it hers?" asked Zatanna.
Sindella ignored Zatanna and looked at Catwoman. "If you want to wait until your boy wakes up to discuss Lord Faust's fate, that is no trouble. I don't think Faust can threaten anyone now. We have beaten him soundly. Don't you agree?"
"Seems like it," said Catwoman.
"So yes?"
"Sure," said Catwoman indifferently. "Can't wait to hear Giovanni's side of this whole story."
"I'm so glad you think so," said Sindella who suddenly changed. Her smile stretched into a smirk, and her gentle eyes turned as sharp and cold as a hawk.
"Idiots," muttered Faust.
"Mom?" said Zatanna, stepping back.
"Quiet, girl," spat Sindella, who then turned with surprising sweetness and clutched Zatanna's cheeks, "'I'm sorry, Zee-zee. We have so much catching up to do. Just give Mommy a minute."
Catwoman knew something had just changed, but she was too tired to understand why. In the meantime, to be safe, she used her heel to pry the now-silent dagger from the floor and secretly kicked it up to her hand. She hid the dagger in her arm sling as she asked, "Mrs. Zatara, are you feeling okay?"
"Never better, dear. But I just had this pesky little thought. We really aren't ready to bring Giovanni back yet, are we?"
"He's just in your pocket, though," said Zatanna.
"Zatanna, these execrable vermin devastated my beautiful house. Our beautiful house. We ought to do a little sprucing up for our big reunion."
"But-"
"Tut, tut!" Sindella lifted her palm and gave a whistle. With a steady roar, the enormous walls and ceiling of the study lifted out of the Emergent Sea. These floating structures slowly rotated, letting streams of seawater run off before they settled in their original place. The breeze went slack, and its chill was replaced by the cozy warmth of the fireplace. Lamps grew out of the ceiling and lit themselves. Except for a few puddles, it was as if the study had been a regular room all along.
Sindella smiled. "Delightful. Never liked that dreadful chess set. Now where was I? Ah, yes. NAELC EM MORF THGIF! DDA A ELTTIL ELZZAD!" The wrinkles in her dress disappeared like they had been lovingly ironed. Every loose strand of hair tucked back into her coiffure, which expanded into a more opulent design, and her smile flashed with a coat of dark red lipstick.
"Now," she looked at Zatanna, "OD ANNATAZ!"
"What?" Zatanna who felt a strange rush of fabric across her skin. Her arms and collarbone felt bare and her shoes fit differently. She looked down and found she was wearing a black dress. It was much like her mother's though less daring and more frilly, like a dress for a child. She felt a tug on her scalp, so she reached up and found her hair had been cleaned, curled, and tied with a bow.
"Hey!" yelled Zatanna. "What gives?"
"Hush, darling. I just want you to look presentable."
"Presentable?" Zatanna tore the bow out and tossed it on the ground. Another bow appeared in hair. "Where'd my outfit go?"
"Don't be fussy, Zatanna."
"That tuxedo was expensive."
"Yes, but it looked cheap. I don't know what passes for fashion today, but you looked like a magician."
"I am a magician!"
"Aw! Just like your daddy."
"Can I at least have my old shoes?"
"They wouldn't match. Now! Let's whet our appetites with an appetizer." Sindella waved her hands at Lord Faust. "STNA SSELDNE!" Pockmarks appeared in the floor around him, Little cones of dirt emerged. Faust watched them appear with dejected acceptance. Soon ants emerged by the hundreds. They were small and fast and white, and when they climbed onto Faust, scurrying under the straps and chains that bound him, each searched for an empty spot to dig and bite. Lord Faust had wooden legs, and the rest of him had been regrown more times than he could count, but whatever abomination he had for a nervous system did not enjoy hundreds of ant bites. He grit his teeth and muttered bitterly, flinching whenever he felt a bite in a sensitive spot.
Sindella rubbed her hands and cackled. "Yes! Take that, you fossil. What do you think girls?"
Zatanna watched the ants swarm in open-mouthed horror.
"Love it," said Catwoman.
"Bah!" said Faust between flinches. "Reveling in trite slings and arrows. Juvenilia! Abstemious conduct in victory is the only true victory."
"Bitter words from a loser," said Sindella. "As if you wouldn't crow when you win."
"Priorities mature, infant. Can you fathom what those of venerable age seek?
"Softer apple sauce?" said Catwoman.
Faust flinched again and growled, "Youth is wasted on the young."
"Oxygen is wasted on the old."
"Bah."
"Go on, Zatanna," said Catwoman. "Give him your best shot."
"Oh. Uh." Zatanna looked around. "You're a frayed shoelace with no shoe. You're mustard water."
"No," said Faust, "You're mustard water."
"How dare you." said Sindella, raising her hand.
"Hey, it's okay," said Zatanna hurriedly, not eager to see what the torment came after ant swarms.
Faust sneered. "Do you know why I had those imbeciles bring you along, little fawn? Your father would have opened the door just as well."
"No," said Zatanna.
"It would have let me clear out all claimants in one fell swoop. All you mewling Cehennems and Zataras, ground to paste under the latest monument of my glory."
Sindella yanked the sword out of his ribs. "Well, you missed one." Faust wheezed as thirty ants quickly covered the wound.
Sindella dropped the sword, turned, and walked toward the fireplace. She idly flicked piles of debris out of her path. "Come along."
Catwoman and Zatanna gave each other a look.
"What's happening?" whispered Zatanna. "I'm scared."
Cawoman whispered back, "The dress was uncalled for, but let's see what she has in mind."
Sindella stopped at Abdiel frozen in ice. She looked him over. "Utter fool. TSORFED!" she declared, and the ice began to melt.
"He's alive?" asked Catwoman.
Sindella studied the dark rip in the center of Abdiel's large gut. "For now."
"Will you heal him?" asked Zatanna.
"I won't let him slip away so gently."
"Is that a yes?"
"Oh, he'll have time to learn the error of betraying my daughter."
Zatanna sensed that Sindella was more talking to herself now and stopped asking questions. As Sindella's magic continued, steam soon wafted off the ice block as Abdiel's head and shoulders were uncovered. His body was limp, his skin gray and blue. When the ice around his torso dripped and puddled off she cast a spell which covered his wound with a white plaster. She did nothing to prevent him from gradually falling over as the ice melted below his center of gravity.
"Will he wake up?" asked Catwoman.
"When it serves us. Better we find the brother first and treat them at once. Where is the scoundrel?"
They searched the room, trying to find some clue to where Zachary had ended up during his wild battles. But after two magic battles tossed the room, the task was hopeless. It was probable that he had fallen into the sea. Sindella was about to interrogate Faust when Catwoman had the idea to check Sarkoth's nurse. She had only noticed it by accident, as it was covered with scrap. Miraculously, the plant was still intact. A few burns marred its giant white leaves, and it was shut like a venus fly trap with a juicy catch. Catwoman pulled open a leaf and saw Zachary once more floating in its thick sap.
"Found him," she called.
Sindella walked over. "My Sarkoth's nurse. Shadowcrest brought it here?"
"Long story."
"Yes, well," Sindella waved her hands, and Zachary floated out of the plant. Sap dripped as he bobbed through the air. He floated along until she guided him to the floor beside Abidel. They saw blistering burns across his legs, but only Zatanna winced.
Sindella clapped, "EKAWA!"
Abdiel and Zachary stirred. They did not seem as uncomfortable as might be expected from two men who, by plain evidence ought to be maimed or dead. But they grimaced and looked around like they wanted to complain to someone.
Then they laid eyes on Sindella. She crossed her arms and looked back with a judgemental stare. Then they noticed Zatanna. They looked back to Sindella, then back to Zatanna, and back and forth, faster and faster. Then they noticed Catwoman and cringed. But soon they returned to looking between Sindella and Zatanna.
Abdiel tried to speak, but his teeth chattered and his gray lips quivered, still too frozen for anything useful.
It was Zachary who finally squeaked, "Auntie Sindella?"
"Very good, Zachary." She softly clapped. "I understand you've been quite cruel to your dear cousin Zatanna."
Zachary tried to sit up. "We were-"
"Silence!" Sindella screamed. She pointed a rigid finger at Zachary and his teeth fused together. As he panicked and pressed around his mouth, she continued, "I don't care for your excuses. You hurt Zatanna, and you brought a vile stranger to destroy our ancestral home. Despicable."
"They also wanted to kill your husband," said Catwoman. Zachary and Abdiel glared at Catwoman. She smiled back.
"Yes, I suppose that too," said Sindella. "You've proven yourselves unworthy kin. You are snakes! Swine!" She rubbed her chin. "Yes, snakes and swine. That will do nicely." She raised her hands, fingers dancing like they were guiding puppet-strings. Zatanna tried to grab her but Catwoman held her back.
In a dark voice, Sindella chanted, "NRUT LEIDBA OTNI EKANS! NRUT YRAHCAZ OTNI GIP!"
There was a swirl of fog around them, then echoes of faint brays and squeals like a barn on fire, then a tremor like an earthquake. The fog grew as thick as soup over Zachary and Abdiel. When it dispersed, Abidel was a snake and Zachary was a pig.
Abdiel the snake looked at his fat pig-brother then at his slender self. He pointed his tail at Zachary and laughed. "Ha!"
Zachary the pig rolled his eyes.
Sindella snapped her fingers, and a man-sized bell jar appeared over both of them. "There. I'll deal with you later. If you're hungry, feel free to eat each other in the meantime."
"What did you do?" cried Zatanna, planting her hands on the jar when Catwoman finally let her go.
"Now Zee-zee, it's obvious. Don't be silly."
Zatanna looked to Catwoman for help, but Catwoman only shrugged, not bothered in the least.
Sindella was breathing a little harder now. She laid a hand on her forehead and summoned another two cocktails. After gulping down the drinks, she threw the glasses into a pile of debris.
Zatanna frowned. "Hold on, if you could wake up Zachary and Abdiel, can't you wake up Batman too?"
Sindella scowled, but put on a smile to face Zatanna. "He's recovering. The poor man needs his sleep."
"Fine," said Zatanna. "Can we see dad now?"
"Certainly," said Sindella with an airy confidence. Zatanna smiled, and Sindella added, "It's about time you learned our story."
"You mean-"
"Zatanna, I'm afraid you've not been told a great many things."
"Yes! No one tells me anything!"
"Before we let your father free, it may save him some grief to prepare you for the tale." She held Zatanna's hands. "What have you learned already?"
Zatanna paused, trying to make sense of the monsoon of revelations that had washed over her in the past day. "Your family are magi."
"That's true."
"Something happened when I was young, and you disappeared. Dad said you had died. But I guess you were here. Catwoman said you were sleeping."
"For much of it, yes."
"Then dad, well, I guess he got into a fight with your family. And it sounds like he won." She looked at Abdiel and Zachary. "Almost. He got rid of most of them."
Sindella nodded sadly. "I'm afraid I know little of that chapter myself."
"Right. I guess you wouldn't. But that's all I know."
"I see. I'm truly sorry you've been put through all this Zatanna. You deserve so much better. We'll set it right."
"So now we see dad?"
Sindella grinned. "Let's bring out your father."
They moved to the center of the study. Sindella pulled the locket out of her pocket and whispered to it. In a moment, the locket began to expand. She placed it on the ground and stepped back. It doubled by the second until it was the size of a large wardrobe. Sindella tapped the side, and the door sprung open.
Inside was Giovanni Zatara, an older man in a fine old suit with a white bowtie. His neatly-combed hair was streaked with silver, and his small mustache was impeccable. His eyes flickered open. With heavy steps he pulled himself out of the locket.
"Daddy!" Zatanna shrieked and jumped into her father's arms, and this time he was real.
"Zatanna?" he asked, his voice weak. "What happened?"
"I should ask you the same," said Sindella.
Giovanni turned to look, but Sindella had already pushed Zatanna aside and grabbed him by the collar. Before he could speak, She forced her lips into his for a kiss that lasted quite a while, then for an indecent while longer than that. And it was loud. Zatanna was repulsed. Catwoman was amused. Abdiel the snake stuck out his tongue. Zachary the pig tried to cover his eyes with his hoof.
Finally, Sindella pulled away for air and slapped him. "You dastardly silver fox." He tried to answer, but she slapped him again. Then she turned, entwining her arm through his. Giovanni rubbed his jaw. "Grazie a Dio," he muttered with relief, though it wasn't clear whether this was over his escape from the locket, the kiss, or the slapping.
Sindella clutched Zatanna's arm with her other hand. "Look, where we are, Giovanni. Our little Zatanna has finally made it home. Doesn't she look nice?"
Giovanni finally got his first clear look around the room. He recognized they were standing in Shadowcrest's study, though everything had been crushed to splinters.
He recognized Zatanna, though her dress and hair were of a style he had never seen her wear. They rarely saw each other, so perhaps this was new, but Zatanna had never played much with fashion off-stage. If anything, the style matched Sindella's tastes.
He also saw a strange woman in a violet bodysuit and an arm sling standing nearby. She returned his look without a word. Further away, he saw a pig and a snake under a large bell jar. They were watching him too keenly for his liking. The snake had its fangs bared, and the pig was kicking the glass.
In the other direction, he saw a haggard old man bound like a prisonner and tortured by ants. Another man lay motionless on the floor. Giovanni's mind raced to make sense of it all. He was terrified: the soft arm wrapped around his couldn't have been more threatening if it had been a tiger's mouth.
Before he could form another thought, Sindella let go of Zatanna and grabbed his chin. "I said, doesn't Zatanna look nice?" Sindella pulled at his chin, forcing him to make a little nod.
Giovanni managed to smile. "Yes. Molto bella, Zatanna. Bellissima."
"Dad, are you okay?"
Sindella smiled indulgently. "He's never been better. Let's all take a seat and catch up." She ushered Giovanni and Zatanna to a couch-sized pile of wood and sat them down. Then Sindella gave Catwoman a little wave. "I think we're all fine now, Catwoman. Let me whip up a door for you and your friend to take you home."
"Mom," objected Zatanna, "Batman isn't even awake yet. We should wait until we know he's better."
"Hold on. Batman?" said Giovanni. "The Batman?"
"And Catwoman," said Catwoman.
Giovanni stood up. "Batman's here?"
"He rescued us," said Zatanna.
"It was Catwoman's idea," said Catwoman.
Zatanna stood. "And, dad, I think he's John."
"What?"
"Calm down, calm down," said Sindella. "I can give your friend a little pep, then he'll be on his way. I'm sure he's very busy."
"But you said Batman needs to sleep."
"I'll find him a wheelchair. Catwoman can push him while he rests."
"Ahem," said Catwoman, gesturing to her arm in a sling.
"I'll heal your arm, then you can go."
"No thanks," said Catwoman quickly. "I've seen enough magic tonight. It'll get better the old-fashioned way. And it wouldn't be smart for me to be pushing Batman in a wheelchair through the middle of the city."
"Mom, what's the hurry?" asked Zatanna. "I want Batman to wake up here so I can ask him who he is."
Sindella sighed. "Then I suppose they can stay a little longer."
"Excuse me," said Giovanni. "I know we have much to discuss, but how did I get here?"
Before Sindella could wrest control of the conversation, Zatanna sat them back down and gave an exhaustive report of how she found him missing from his dressing room at the casino, how she found Franklin Wash's business card in his old chest, how Franklin explained that she had family who tried to adopt her, how Abdiel and Zachary tricked her into coming to his apartment in Gotham, how Lord Felix of Faust was with them, how Batman and Catwoman showed up to save her, how Shadowcrest protected them, how Faust betrayed Abdiel and Zachary to steal the house, how Catwoman found Sindella, Shadowcrest died, and finally they all fought Faust and won.
Sindella tried at several points to interrupt Zatanna, but her sheer enthusiasm couldn't be stopped until, at long last, she ran out of news to share and took a deep breath. "So what do you think?"
Giovanni was not an easy man to shock, but held his chest and tried to slow his pounding heart. "I can't believe it. I'm so glad you're safe, Zatanna."
"Do you remember anything?"
Giovanni reflected. "I was in my dressing room practicing lines. There was a noise, yes, then nothing. Then I was here."
Sindella squeezed his arm. "I shouldn't be surprised knowing my family, but I can hardly believe those nasty boys would hire Lord Faust like some lowly brute."
"What did the Cehennems do?" asked Zatanna. "Why were you hidden all these years? Why all the fighting?"
Giovanni swallowed, glancing at Sindella, but she patted his arm as she clutched it. "Of course," she purred. "Let me do the honors. When your father and I got married, it made my family very upset. They didn't like that he was a mundane. Mage families can be strict. After you were born, they decided to punish us."
Sindella casually moved her hand to Giovanni's lower back. Zatannta couldn't see her pressing her fingernails into his back, or that her nails glowed red with heat. He didn't say a word, and her voice didn't waver.
"See, there is a spell that can suck the mystic power out of a mage. It puts the subject in a deep sleep. My family cast this spell on me, each of them growing a little stronger at my expense. They intended to kill your father, naturally, but they made the mistake of confronting us in this house. I was asleep, but Shadowcrest drove them off. Once we were safe, your father hid me in a deep room of the house, and-"
"Hold on," said Catwoman, "You weren't just in a room: you were in a prison. You said it yourself. That door was locked from the outside."
Sindella gave a scornful look at Catwoman and sounded nonchalant. "I was getting to that. See, this spell wasn't gentle. Depending on what my family was doing, the mystic connection could induce a sort of sleep-walking. I might thrash about, cast spontaneous magic. Very dangerous. For his and my safety, he kept me locked away."
Giovanni flinched and stiffly nodded.
Sindella turned back to Zatanna. "Your father knew that my family would never end the spell voluntarily. They wanted to take you away, Zatanna. So, he fought them all. It is a bitter thing, but with each relative slain, I recovered a little more. Enough that we talked from time to time, when I could muster a little strength, and we agreed it was simplest if I kept out of your life until the feud was over."
"Wait," said Catwoman. She jerked a thumb at Abdiel and Zachary. "Those idiots are still around. If the feud is still on, how do you have magic?"
"Hey, quit interrupting," said Zatanna.
"It's fine, Zatanna," said Sindella. "The family's eldest, those who cast the spell, are gone. The only survivors were children then, or are distant relations who weren't part of the retribution. They are still blood, but their draw upon me is very feeble, so I am nearly at full strength." Sindella took a deep breath and looked away, seemingly overtaken by a feeling. "I don't relish any more violence. If only they could forgive Giovanni, if only they voluntarily gave up on this parasitic curse, then we could be a family again."
Zatanna didn't know what to say. She wasn't sure she trusted Sindella, but her dad was sitting right there and nodding along. Could she trust her dad? It was all too much to take in.
Catwoman suspected that there was something fishy in the story, but she trusted Sindella. Also, Catwoman could count her hours of sleep in the past two days on one hand, so the attention she was willing to give these mage dramas was microscopic.
Sindella stood and gave a prim clap. "Now. To less grim things. We should move Lord Faust, Zachary, and Abdiel immediately to more secure accommodations until we decide what to do with them. Then we can prepare a door home for our guests. As soon as they have their little chat, they can be on their-."
Before she finished, Batman let out a loud groan. It lasted seconds, echoing around the study. Zatanna gasped and ran to his side. Catwoman followed. And Giovanni, after a scathing glare from his wife, waited at a respectable distance.
"I thought he was supposed to sleep for half an hour," said Catwoman.
"He was." said Sindella, sounding mightily annoyed.
Batman was trying to move, but was still flat on the floor. He seemed only in control of his head. Catwoman and Zatanna knelt beside him.
Zatanna touched his glove. "Batman?"
Batman frowned. "What happened to me?"
"Again with the voice," said Catwoman,
"You were sick," said Zatanna. "Sindella healed you."
"You were about to explain why Zatanna thinks she knows you."
"Catwoman, let him rest," said Zatanna, "How do you feel?"
Batman tried to shift his arms. "I felt better as a tree."
"Wow, jokes," said Catwoman. "She broke him."
"He will need time," said Sindella. "The mind spends years teaching the language of movement to the body. His new sinew must learn it from scratch."
"So he's a baby?" asked Catwoman.
Sindella nodded. "Briefly. Also, I cannot replace lost blood, and he seems to have bled all over the place."
"Let's help him sit," said Zatanna.
They dragged Batman a short distance to a broken desk and lifted his upper body against it.
"So," said Zatanna. "Is that you, John?"
Batman looked at her, then looked at Catwoman. Listen.
Catwoman raised an eyebrow. Okay.
Sindella is evil. She can't be trusted.
How do you know?
I read Giovanni's journals.
He does seem uncomfortable.
Zatanna isn't safe here. Get her out. Please.
How?
I don't know.
"Why is his face twitching?" asked Zatanna.
"That shouldn't be happening," said Sindella.
Catwoman stood up. She was always skeptical of Batman's moral judgments. But he wouldn't beg her to protect someone without a good reason. He wouldn't beg at all without a good reason. And as much as Catwoman loved Sindella's attitude of turning people she hated into animals, the woman had a few screws loose. She was a mage, after all. And if Batman said she was evil? Catwoman had to admit it fit a lot of the evidence.
What to do about it? Catwoman was not in a state of mind to scheme and charm her way to the truth. She still had that parley deal, so it couldn't get too dangerous. A direct approach then.
Batman had gone silent. Zatanna was panicking and trying to rouse him. Catwoman knew Batman was fine, relatively-speaking. The eye lens did a great trick of making him seem dead to the world, but he was just being stubborn.
While Zatanna and Sindella debated over Batman, Catwoman walked back to Giovanni and threw an arm around him. "Hey, there."
Giovanni struggled to step away. "I'm sorry, miss, what was your name again?"
"Catwoman."
"Er, right. If you don't mind-"
"Gosh," said Catwoman, pulling him closer. "This magic stuff is fascinating, huh? I have so many questions."
Sindella noticed her and spun around with an expression like a frigid mask. "What do you think you're doing?"
Catwoman kept facing Giovanni. "How often did you lovebirds chat in her cell anyway? Once a week? Once a month?"
"Uh," Giovanni hesitated, watching his wife with dread.
Sindella shot to her feet, abandoning whatever was wrong with Batman, and flew over to Catwoman. "Are you trying to insult me, girl?"
Catwoman finally looked at Sindella. "Don't worry." She winked. "I'll bring him back in one piece."
Sindella snarled and thrust out her hand. A dark blue light flashed and Cawoman was launched backward like she had been hit by a car.
"Mom!" screamed Zatanna.
"Your guests have rotten manners, Zee-zee. They're leaving."
Catwoman slowly got to her feet, stretching her limbs and neck. "Sindella, stop right now. That's an order."
"An order?" Sindella cackled in disbelief. "An order?"
"By parley! Or whatever it's called. We made a deal."
"I completed that deal, you dolt."
"When?"
"When you agreed that Lord Faust had been defeated."
"Oh. Right."
Sindella pointed at a wall. "ROOD OT MAHTOG REWES!" A sturdy door appeared. "Take Batman and get out of my house."
"But I have so many questions," said Catwoman innocently, circling to keep her distance. "Your story has a few holes, and I don't want to leave until-"
Sindella cast an orange beam at Catwoman's feet, kicking up sparks. "You dare!"
"Mom, stop!" Zatanna tried to run in front of Sindella, but Giovanni held her back.
Sindella was too angry to articulate what Catwoman dared. She could only repeat himself. "You dare! You dare! Petulant mundane! Get out!" She cast another beam, grazing Catwoman's thigh.
Catwoman hid behind some wrecked shelves, slipping in and out of sight as she moved. Sindella's fury grew incandescent, and her attacks grew more violent. Finally, Catwoman appeared just behind where Faust was being chewed on by ants.
"Hold on." Catwoman stopped and raised her non-slung arm. "Let's make another deal."
Sindella floated to her, nearly shaking. "The audacity. What deal could you possibly offer, you Gotham trash?"
"This." In the blink of an eye, Catwoman pulled the magic dagger out of her arm sling and held it to Faust's throat. A few ants crawled onto her glove, but her hand was steady. "Remember this?"
Sindella seemed cautious of the blade. She landed and didn't come any closer. "What of it?"
"The Sharib Aldam?" said Giovanni, "But I ordered it destroyed."
"Shut up," said Sindella and Catwoman.
"Catwoman, what are you doing?" asked Zatanna.
"Mommy knows what I'm doing," said Catwoman. "The house said this dagger could take down Faust at his best. I'm pretty sure it can handle you. All it needs is one dead mage."
Faust looked supremely annoyed at the situation but said nothing.
Sindella slowly shook her head as flames rose from her forearms. Her voice turned icy and gentle. "You dare threaten me? I will rend your skin from your still-living flesh."
"Whew." Catwoman let out a whistle of relief. "Thanks. Honestly, I wasn't one hundred percent sure you were evil, but that clinches it. This would be embarrassing if you weren't."
Sindella began to raise her hand, but Zatanna finally jumped in front of her. "Stop!"
Sindella slapped Zatanna. The blow didn't carry much force, but it easily knocked Zatanna to the floor and burned a handprint on her cheek. Before anyone could react, Sindella flicked the same hand, and the hundreds of ants swarming Faust jumped onto Catwoman.
If Catwoman had any resolve to perform a killing cut, it was lost when eight ants tried to fly into her eyes. She screamed and stumbled away, slicing a corner of Faust's chin as she dropped the dagger. Taking her arm out of its sling, she wiped at her face with both hands, keeping the worst of the swarm off her skin. But hundreds still crawled over her clothes, trying to bite through the fabric.
Sindella followed Catwoman as she ran around the study, bumping into debris and tossing away fistfuls of ants. Sindella waited until she had a clear light of sight and fired another orange beam, hitting Catwoman square in the side. Catwoman let out a hollow sound and tripped behind the pedestal of a broken statue. Curled on the floor, Catwoman expected the worst. But she didn't feel any new pain. And when she touched her side, she felt no fresh blood or new hole in her suit. Confused, Catwoman looked down and saw a smoking rip on her satchel instead. She opened the flap and found her bar of gold had a new pockmark.
Sindella waited for some response. Finally, she hovered around the statue and was whipped in the face. Sindella held the new cut under her eye as Catwoman ran away.
Before Sindella could pursue, she heard Zatanna yell across the room. "Stop it now!"
This time it sounded less like a plea and more like a command. Impressed, Sindella turned to look.
Zatanna stood behind Lord Faust and held the magic dagger. But instead of holding it to his throat, she held it under the final strap binding his arms. The many other straps and chains were scattered at their feet.
Sindella flew over and landed near her. "Zatanna, what-"
"Stay back!" Zatanna's voice was firm, despite the bright handprint on her face and the tears rimming her eyes. "Don't get closer. I know you're out of ants."
Sindella looked at the fallen bindings in astonishment. "How did you do that?"
"I'm a really good magician! How many times do I have to tell people?"
"Okay, okay. Calm down."
"Calm down? That's rich."
Giovanni watched from another direction with his arms crossed. He looked worried but resolute.
Sindella turned to him for support. "Aren't you going to say anything?"
Giovanni's answer was uncannily cool. "It seems our daughter is in control. I suggest doing what she says."
"Listen," said Zatanna, "Maybe you are my mom, but you can't hurt my friends."
"Zatanna, I was-"
"And for the record, I don't like how you've treated me or dad. I don't know why you act like this, and right now I don't care. We're going to make a new deal."
"Zee-zee, you're speaking nonsense."
"Stop calling me that! If I cut this strap, Faust goes free. He and you had a pretty close fight earlier. Do you want to take bets on who wins round two?"
"You're mad."
"And I bet he'll get free on his own if we waste time talking. But you don't have to fight again. Just make a deal."
"What deal?"
Zatanna glanced at Giovanni who smiled ever so gently. She swallowed and said, "Make a parley. I won't cut him free. But you have to take Faust and leave. Never bother me again. Never bother dad or Batman or Catwoman or try to come to Shadowcrest. Just go." There was a hitch in her voice and she looked down. "If I want to talk, I'll come to you."
Sindella pleaded, "But Zatanna."
Zatanna looked back up. "That's about it. I honestly don't care what you do with Faust. Just make sure he doesn't bother us either. Can you do that?"
Sindella clenched her jaw. Any softness or sentiment vanished from her face. She looked in her daughter's eyes with shrewd appraisal and simply said, "I don't think you have it in you."
"You think I'm bluffing? Get the radio."
Sindella didn't move.
Zatanna lifted her eyebrows and began to pull on the dagger, slowly splitting the strap. The rasp of leather was deafening. Zatanna paused, tilted her head innocently, then pulled further.
Sindella shut her eyes. "Fine."
"Say it."
"I will take Faust and leave. I won't visit you or Batman or Catwoman or your father again."
"I didn't say 'visit', I said 'bother'. I don't want any tricks coming after us, whether we can see you or not. No getting your evil friends to hurt us. Don't do anything that might make our lives worse. And also don't visit."
"That's terribly broad."
"You're a terrible broad," said Catwoman, lounging nearby.
"I mean it," said Zatanna. "Swear."
"Very well," said Sindella. Something in her expression seemed to crack, but her voice was unmoved. "I won't bother you or Batman or Catwoman or your father again without your permission. I'll take Lord Felix of Faust away and ensure he also doesn't bother you. I swear this in parley."
Zatanna nodded. "So mote it be."
Despite herself, Sindella's lips bent up in a tiny smile. "So mote it be."
Cautiously, Zatanna lowered the dagger and stepped away from Faust.
Sindella gestured at the fallen bindings. "May I refasten him before he kills us all?"
"Please."
Sindella quickly repaired the bindings holding Lord Faust. Meanwhile, Zatanna bent over and dry heaved, clutching her knees.
Giovanni hurried to Zatanna and patted her back. "Breathe. Gentle now. That's right."
Zatanna took a deep breath. "Oh, that was scary. I can't believe that worked."
Sindella watched Zatanna with thin-lipped disbelief. She looked at Giovanni. "That wasn't your plan was it? It couldn't have been."
Giovanni shook his head. "All hers."
Sindella considered this then made her first candid remark of the night. "You've raised quite a woman, Giovanni."
No fitting response came to mind, so Giovanni simply nodded.
