Chapter 7 - Denial
My conversation with Artemis did not go over well with me. We had left at an uneasy place that neither was conformable with, but for the sake of the team, had promised one another to be supportive.
While I appreciated Artemis's trust, the image of the team finding out that my father was a notorious villain was unsettling, if not horrifying.
On top of that, my relationship with Kaldur had made no progress. Sure, I'll admit, I was hoping that he would admit his feelings sooner rather than later, seeing how I was present in his life when whoever he was thinking about was far away, but if anything, he was drawing further and further away from the team with his growing disparity. While it hurt to see him question his place on the team, it hurt worse knowing that I had to be one-sided with my feelings that he might never reciprocate.
It had been nearly a week since our last mission, and while there were plenty of things to do at the cave, everyone waited impatiently for the next assignment.
Following Black Canary's lessons, sparring became a daily practice for the team. Currently, Kaldur and Superboy were circling each other in the middle of the ring as the rest of us watched. Artemis had been with us for a week, and the subtle hints she had been dropping about Superboy's appearance were not unnoticed, especially by Megan. I, frankly, didn't see it. Was on the Atlantian, but I knew from previous conversations how sincere Megan's feelings were for Superboy and I wished Artemis would get the hint and drop it.
With a loud bang, Superboy suddenly threw Kaldur over his shoulder to the ground. The move was impressive, and I could see the pride in Superboy's eyes when he explained that Black Canary had taught him the move.
The arrival of Red Tornado broke up the sparring match. Wally, eager as ever, rushed forward and immediately got to the point.
"Hey, Red. Any missions for us?"
The android was emotionless. "You are aware the Batman is in charge of team assignments, as I have already stated."
Wally pouted. "Yes, but Batman is off with Robin doing the dynamic duo and won't be back for several more days. Surely there's something you've been working on?"
Red Tornado regarded the young superheroes cautiously before he said, "Very well, though it is still unofficial, I had recently been made aware of Kent Nelson's disappearance."
Kaldur's head turned at the words. "Isn't that–?"
Red Tornado nodded. "Yes, Kent Nelson was formerly known as Doctor Fate from the Justice Society of America, the prelude to the Justice League. Kent is currently the guardian of the Helmet of Fate, a powerful and magical artifact."
As Wally enamored about his belief of magic, my ears picked up the name, Doctor Fate. The name was extremely familiar, of course, being that the first Doctor Fate had been my brother, Nabu, born several millennia earlier. My father often boasted of his eldest son with utmost fondness. Though I had never met my brother, something about the imminent danger to his successors of the guardian of order did not sit well with me. If Kent Nelson was in trouble, I wanted to do everything in my power to find him.
"I want to help," my words came out loudly. I paused when I saw the curious looks of my teammates before clarifying, "I mean, if there is anything I can do, Red Tornado, please allow me to assist."
"Allow the team to assist," Kaldur said encouragingly, meeting my eyes. "Of course we will help, Red Tornado."
"Very well." He handed a large golden key to Kaldur. "Kent Nelson lives at the Tower of Fate in Salem, Massachusetts. This key should grant you access when you arrive."
As we flew in the bio-ship, Wally did everything in her power to convince Megan that he believed in magic and sorcery. I didn't see why it was so important, but Wally spurted all sorts of nonsense to build his obvious lie.
"I can't believe him," Artemis mumbled next to me. I couldn't tell if her words were directed to me, but I quietly replied, "That's Wally for you. You'll learn to get used to it. He'll do anything to get Megan's attention."
The corner of her lips curled in a small smile and we exchanged the moment like old friends instead of two girls with hidden identities.
The bio-ship landed at Red Tornado's coordinates, but the area surrounding us was empty. I didn't mean empty of people, which it was, but it was empty of anything: a wasteland with no buildings or plants of any kind. Just dry, withering grass.
Twenty yards away from the field, a row of abandoned buildings marked the outskirts of the city.
It was nighttime, and dark shadows floated between cracks and behind crates. While I couldn't see anyone around, the hairs on my eyes rose from the suspense that someone was watching us.
"Where is the tower?" I said. The longer we stood out in the open, the stronger the feeling of dread was hitting my stomach in waves of uneasiness. There was a presence, it wasn't strong enough to tell who, but the energy pulsing through the ground was sinister, chaotic.
Producing the golden key, Kaldur examined it and read the inscription on the side. "A test of faith," he said. He walked forward towards the grassy wasteland and held the key up, inserting it into an imaginary slot. With a twist of his wrist, the key disappeared and a large structure shimmered into view in front of us. I had to crane my next to the top, the tower was so tall. It's dark brick exterior showcased no windows or balconies, just flat walls and an open top, like a giant chess piece daring us to accept the match.
Walking through the doors, the inside revealed a large hall with several different corridors and staircases on the other side. The door slammed shut behind us and the glowing figure of Kent Nelson appeared in front of us.
"Good evening," Kent's voice was vexed from the shimmer of his hologram, or whatever spirit was projecting his image before us. "You hold the key but Fate does not recognize you. Why have you come?"
Before any of us could explain the reason, Wally stalked forward, raising his hands in the air like a priest or prophet would performing a ritual. "We are true believers, come to seek the power of the Helmet of Faith."
Before I could zap him with a bolt of lighting, the hologram disappeared. To my horror, the floor opened up and I saw lava, a pit full of lava that my friends were descending towards.
In happened so quickly, it was hard to register. Megan and I were the only ones who could fly, and while she dove down to rescue them before I could follow, a grip of red hot fire burned around my ankle followed by a shot of electricity. My body was pulled to the side and a sphere of red energy encased me in what felt like a prison.
"Well, well, missy." My eyes snapped open at the voice. Despite my body having been electrocuted, I pounded against the sphere, needing to get out.
"Ah, ah, ah," the voice chided, and the small devil himself with Abra Kadabra and a bound Kent Nelson appeared before me.
"You bastard!" I screamed, unable to hide my horror when I saw that the pit where my friends had fallen was now closed. "My friends, they fell and I need to save them!"
Klarion stalked forward until he was right up against the dome around me. His red pupils and chalky white skin were a sight for sore eyes.
"Do you realize the amount of trouble you are in when your father gets his hands on you?" Klarion's voice came out in a whiny pitch resembling a child's. "The Light will not forgive your disobedience. Be prepared for a long time of pain and punishment."
I screamed, slamming my hands against the dome and for a slight moment, I felt a break in Klarion's energy. "How dare you! You don't control me. Let me out so I can save my friends."
Klarion's playful attitude disappeared. "Listen, child. I don't have time for your sob story. I need you to help me find the Helmet of Fate. If Kent Nelson refuses to cooperate, I'm sure Nabu would emerge if it meant saving his sister's life."
I gritted my teeth. "Nabu may be my brother, but I have never met him and I doubt he knows who I am." I wanted to sound confident, but the fear for my friends was still apparent on my face.
"We shall see." Klarion turned towards the main doorway across the hall and the doors opened to reveal a maze of stairways, some going up, some going sideways.
After several minutes of walking through the maze, Klarion was visibly annoyed. He wasn't the only one, as I felt ridiculous floating in a bubble next to him like a fish in a fishbowl. All I could do was look out and hope that my friends had survived and would find us soon.
No sooner had the thought left my mind when Wally and Artemis appeared on a stairway above us, clutching a golden cane.
Kent, who had been quiet and in pain, suddenly lifted off the ground, encased in a golden glow. He flew towards the cane, taking it from Wally and Artemis, before disappearing into a golden portal.
"No!" Klarion's rage burst out and he flew towards the portal. Unfortunately, my dome followed him and the golden energy brushed around me.
When I could see again, we were on the large roof of the tower. Kent and Wally, who had apparently leaped through the portal, were across from Klarion and me.
"Essence!" Wally shouted. He tried running to me, but Klarion threw a fireball of chaotic energy which nearly hit him.
Kent uttered some words that I could not recognize and a dome similar to mine appeared around them. Klarion turned his entire focus on breaking through that dome, and the energy that was imprisoning me weakened. Taking a deep breath, my powers expanded, trying to burst through the bubble. A bead of sweat dripped off my brow but the dome still wouldn't bug. Angrily, I slammed my fist against the dome. I hated this, hated being weak. Hated being mistreated by my father and his minions of the Light.
Klarion ripped through the dome just as Wally placed the glowing helmet next to him on his head. Blinding light filled the rooftop, and when it vanished, Wally rose, dressed in golden armor. But he was no longer Wally, he was Nabu, lord of order.
Klarion's rage rivaled a hundred small toddlers who didn't get the cookie they wanted and chaos and order strained towards each other, both wanting victory.
A burst of golden energy came near my dome, and I was jostled painfully in my prison. Klarion was throwing everything he had at Nabu, who was unable to go on the offensive.
Staring at the golden figure, tears filled my eyes when I thought of him as my brother. My father spoke so fondly of Nabu, having originally died several millennia ago.
"Brother," I whispered, my words unable to be heard.
"Sister." A voice filled my head. It was strong, full of authority and power. "Join me. Fight alongside me like our family before."
I shook my head, hot tears escaping my eyes. "I can't. I am too weak."
"No." The voice assured. "You are strong. I can see it in you, you possess a power that is stronger than anyones. You simply lack the courage to use it."
His words buzzed along my skin. And I shook my head again, everything in my body telling me I didn't.
"Open your eyes, sister. See what you truly are."
"I'm not a lord of order, am I?" The thought entering my mind.
"You can if you choose to be." Nabu insisted. "If you commit yourself to order, you can take my place, be an immortal guardian of order and bring balance to the world."
I thought about what that would mean. To be immortal and always be pursuing order and justice. I would be lying if I said the thought did at first excite me. But then reality hit. I thought of the team, of my friends. I wouldn't be able to continue. I would have a new mission that I would follow. I heard the angry cries of Klarion, the lord of chaos. He would be my eternal enemy. I would fight him until one of us is no more. An eternal struggle that would always need balance.
I knew my answer.
"I'm sorry, brother," My heart truly breaking at the words. Though I didn't know Nabu, I wanted to make him proud, wanting his approval that father never gave me.
"Don't be discouraged," Nabu said. "Even if you do not accept the full responsibility, order exists within you. It is in your very soul. You need only access it to reach your full strength, without the burden that was placed on me."
"Nabu," I whispered.
"Rise, sister. Do not let this devil control you any longer."
Nabu's words filled me with strength. I closed my eyes, opening myself to the new possibility. I saw everything that held me back in life: my father, my fear of being rejected from my friends, and the inner fear that I would one day become like my father: blind to the real balance of the world and only focused on my own goals.
Taking a breath, I channeled the resentment, the bitterness, the regret. I allowed myself to forgive, to move on, to believe in the hope of a brighter feature.
I was ready.
Klarion and Nabu paused in their battle, looking at the new source of energy pulsing on the battlefield. My cage exploded in a shower of golden light. Rising up, my hair floated around me and I saw new specks of gold weave through my dark strands. Golden circles weaved through my tan skin and I felt the new power pulsing through me. My old power was still there, I still felt the connection of the earth, only it was stronger. More prominent. And new energy swirled around me, ready to be used.
"Klarion." My voice echoed. "Your time on this plane has come to end. You shall now be forced to leave."
The small man cowered below me before launching the red energy in my direction. I was ready, catching the attack in my hand before throwing new energy back. I had access to order, to balance.
While I matched Klarion in battle, Nabu found Klarion's host: the small cat that watched from the side of the roof. With a quick strike, Nabu hit the cat with his energy. Klarion screamed his frustration before dashing to the cat.
"Teekl, we are out of here." A dark portal opened about Klarion, and he and the cat disappeared back to their own plane of darkness.
As I lowered to the ground, my brother flew towards me.
"You did well," his voice still radiated power, speaking out loud "I offer again: join me as a lord of order and together, we can fight chaos in the world."
I look at my brother, through his helmet to see Wally's eyes. Nabu was channeling Wally's body as his own. Like Klarion, he can't exist in this world without a host.
"I'm sorry, brother." My voice conveyed how truly sorry I was. "I wish I could be like you, but I can't."
"You have a different destiny," Nabu clarified.
"Are…are you going to keep Wally's body?" Sadness hit at the thought of my friend.
"The world needs Dr. Fate. For too long, I've been kept hidden, dormant. I refuse to be dormant any longer."
"But Wally…" I trailed off. "He's my friend. He doesn't even believe in magic. Are you sure you want him as your host?"
Nabu regarded me with emotionless eyes. "Would you promise to find me a suitable host if I released the boy?"
A lump hit my throat. "Yes, I would. When the right candidate appears, I will return Doctor Fate to this earth."
Several seconds passed before he nodded. "Very well. It was nice to meet you, sister. I can see your past, see the torment you carry. Do not let it define you."
My shoulders dropped. "I won't," I promised. And for once, the words I spoke weren't hidden by lies. The path to accepting my fate was finally clear.
A bright glow burned my eyes and I looked away. When a hand touched my shoulder, I turned to see Wally, helmet in hand, standing next to me.
I couldn't stop the tears as I threw my arms around him. "Oh, Wally. I was so worried."
He stroked my hair in comfort. "Me too. It was the strangest thing. When I was in Nabu's mind, he kept saying, She's the one, over and over again. He was talking about you."
We separated and I met his eye, not sure what to say.
Reaching up he grabbed a piece of my hair. "You look different. Your eyes…they're golden now. What happened to you?"
I felt for the right word, the right explanation before uttering, "Magic, Wally. Magic happened."
When we finally reunited with the team, no one was able to speak from my new appearance. Their shocked faces made me feel foreign, like a stranger in my own body.
"Nabu shared his energy with me," I explained. "It connected with my core and now it lives in me."
"Then, are you like Doctor Fate?" Kaldur's voice was strangely pinched.
I shook my head, knowing the answer. "No, I am still me, still Essence. Just…different."
Wally slapped my arm. "Just better! You should have seen her, beating the crap out of Klarion like it was nothing. I thought the dude was going to wet his pants from fear."
Everyone came up to hug me, and I knew I had made the right decision with Nabu. If I had accepted his offer, I wouldn't be Essence anymore. I wouldn't be on the team. But I was, and it was right. My place belonged here.
Back at the cave, Wally and I looked at the Helmet of Fate where it rested on Wally's souvenir wall. I didn't like treating it as a souvenir, but I knew it would be safe there until I found the proper candidate.
Wally didn't say anything, but his lack of words indicated that he was also deep in thought. I don't know what went between him, Kent Nelson, and Nabu, but I knew I wasn't the only one who had changed.
A new chapter will be posted tomorrow! Leave a review if you liked this new chapter:)