~Demary Wayne~

October 26, 4:00 PM Eastern:

I groaned as my eyes fluttered open. I was still in a cave. I had been- for a long time. I remembered the cold, greenish waters as they enveloped me and tore away my aches and pains. The large bloody gash on my wrist was gone, not even a scar remained to remind me of my failure to the Team- my short term friends. I wish it could heal my heart. I wondered if they would ever accept me again. The last few days (I suppose) were a haze. I could remember the warmth of being carried by strong arms. But now was the first time I actually studied my surroundings. Two more people were beside me, and with a jolt I recognized them.

"No way. Why are they here?" I whispered.

"Hello, Demary." Someone stepped from behind a stone column. He had tousled hair and he held a red mask. He was really tall, and handsome if I may say myself. His posture was similar to Nightwing's but his eyes held a lot more emotion.

"Who are you?" I asked, my breath hitching. I chocked and coughed. My throat was raw.

"I'll tell you later. But really, you've been talking a lot to me."

"I have?!" I said horrified. What did I say?

"You really were out." He shook his head. "Jeez."

"What- what did I tell you?!" My eyes widened.

"Mostly about what happened. But you were really hard on yourself." He said and walked over.

"Why wouldn't I be? If you knew what I had done..." I swallowed.

"I know."

"H-how?"

"I was there." My eyes narrowed.

"Just who are you?!"

"Telling you know would spoil the fun." He smirked, then regained his emotionless face.

"Fine." I huffed. "What do you want?"

"You realize that the closer you are to a Lazarus Pit- the stronger you are? I mean, you're already damn strong away from one..." He said.

"Yeah yeah."

"So what I need you to do is complete their healing process." He pointed a thumb back at the two unconscious figures.

"But-"

"They're to far dead for the Lazarus Pit to heal completely, but their souls are still here."

"Here? As in, here in this cave?"

"'Course not. Doctors Fate has them." He said casually. I nearly choked.

"He has their souls?!"

"Well yes. The helmet tends to do things like that."

"Where is he now?"

"His trapping of Klarion in the cat familiar took around two days... And he needed to rest for three days... He to come yesterday...He should be here around... Now." As if on cue, (which was really creepy, by the way) Doctor Fate's symbol appeared and the helmeted hero stepped through.

"Good afternoon-" the Doctor started in his mixed voice.

"Don't say it." The guy winked.

"Beg you pardon?" Fate looked confused.

"Don't say my name just yet." The guy crossed his arms casually.

"Er... very well." Doctor Fate glanced around and nodded in approval. "Let's begin."

"Begin what?" I asked, a sickening feeling weighing in my stomach. I couldn't do what they were gonna ask me to.

"Returning the souls Tim Drake and Cassandra Sandsmark to their bodies of course."

"What? I can't do that!" I said. I could take away souls and heal internal injuries, but I had no idea about raising people from the dead. By being able to do that, it would completely change the league I was in. I wasn't sure if I wanted my league changed. My worries were shattered by the guy's laughing.

"You mean-" his laughter died down a little. "This girl is useless?"

"Excuse me?!" I demanded, stepping towards him angrily.

'Show him what we're made of!' Spirit prodded.

"What are you gonna do now-" the guy was cut off as I socked him in the jaw. His head flew back, and he recovered, rubbing his chin. "You've got a punch- at the very least." He smirked, laughing, then he knocked me over with a kick.

"Oh no you don't!" I hissed and aimed my leg for his shoulder. He caught it and was about to flip me over except I vaulted over his head, my hands pushing his shoulders as leverage. But quickly, he grabbed my hands and made me push him over backwards- resulting in me sitting on his chest. My face turned red and I was about to apologize, but Doctor Fate interrupted.

"Shall we begin?"

"Hey, c'mon, Doctor! Give her a break. After all, she said she couldn't do it." I gritted my teeth at the smug look on his face. Forget the apology.

"Would you mind shutting up?"

"Can't, sorry. There's a beautiful girl right in front of me." He said. My face heated up more.

"Just tell me your name already, so I don't have to knock a stranger out." I grumbled, although I was secretly flattered.

"Hmmm, only if you do one thing."

"What?!" I snapped.

"Revive Tim and Cassandra- I mean Cassie."

"I was planning on doing that anyway." I whispered and got up, making sure to step on him.

"On second thought-" he said musingly behind me.

"Huh?" I turned.

"If I told you my name know, would you revive them faster?"

"I really don't think I have control over that." I said.

"Fine. I'll tell you after."

"That isn't fair!" I sighed.

"Who said I was fair? I am an anti-hero after all."

"An anti-hero?" I racked my brain for any information. He was an anti-hero who had affiliations with both the League and knew the location of a Lazarus Pit. Only someone like Batman or a member of the League of Shadows would know that. I decided to let it rest for now, as obviously he wouldn't tell me.

"Might as well get this over with." I mumbled.