"Wake up, little girl."

Slowly, her eyes fluttered open and her hazy vision came into focus. She blinked once more and looked up, feeling her arms and legs confined to the chair she was sitting in.

"What the hell did you do?" she demanded, but there was no use in trying to hide the fear in her voice. He was sitting directly across from her, looking her dead in the eyes. His mask was off, held loosely in his hands. He sighed and got up, walking over to look out the open window. In anger, he chucked it out the window and slammed it shut, cracking the glass.

"Paula's dead." He said plainly, walking over to the coffee table, which had an array of torture weapons laid out on it.

"I know. I was there." She responded. He chuckled.

"I can't believe even after your mother's death you still mock us."

"What are you talking about?"

He got up and slapped her in the face. "You know damn well what I'm talking about! You know who I'm talking about!"

Artemis spat out some blood and looked back at him in disgust. "This is because of Zatanna?!"

"Partly." He picked up a pair of scissors and examined them. "I know it didn't seem like it, but I did love your mother. I loved Jade, and I loved you."

"You're using past tense."

"I know. Your mother's dead, there's no point in loving her anymore. And you… well you've been a thorn in my and the Light's side for far too long little girl. I need to cleanse myself of any distractions I have left, like I did with Paula."

"Like you did with… oh my god… you killed mom." She said, pure shock and disgust in her voice.

"Yes and no. I came here with the intent to kill her, but the shock of me almost attacking her is what gave her the heart attack. So technically I didn't kill her and you can't blame me." He explained, taking his seat across from her.

"Like hell I can't! You killed my mother you asshole!" she screamed, tears streaming down her eyes.

"Thank you, for making this easier on me." He said as he stood up and walked towards her. With no warning, he jammed the scissors into her leg, and she let out a blood curdling scream, making Sportsmaster flinch.

"I thought you said you were going to kill me."

"Doesn't mean I can't have a little fun with you first."

"You're sadistic. And insane." He stuck his fingers into the scissors and slowly began to open them, tearing the flesh in her leg even more.

"AH!" she screamed, clenching every muscle in her body, crying even more. He snipped the scissors shut and ripped them out of her leg. He tossed them backwards, not paying attention to where they went.

"Now, what next?" he said as he pulled out a small knife that he fit between his fingers.

"Dad… please…" she begged, but he shut her voice out and stabbed her in the shoulder, ignoring her scream as he sliced upwards. He then ripped it out and kneeled closer to her. "I'm getting really tired of your screaming." He then placed the knife up to her throat and slowly began slicing, as blood dripped from her neck.

"kaerB ehT rooD nwoD!" and the door to the apartment came crashing it, flying into Sportsmaster, knocking him over into the kitchen.

"Zatanna!" screamed Artemis, her voice trembling. Zatanna ran over to Artemis and kissed her forehead, grabbing her and examining her wounds. "Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine, just please get me out of here…" she pleaded, and Zatanna cast a spell to release her bindings. As Zatanna helped her up, Artemis noticed Nightwing in a fighting stance, holding back Sportsmaster.

"Nightwing?" asked Artemis.

"In the flesh. Get out of here!"

She did as she was told as Zatanna carried her outside and Nightwing launched himself at Sportsmaster.

"Thank you for coming for me." Said Artemis as soon as they got out of the building. Zatanna turned to face her and said "I will always come for you. Okay? Artemis, I… I love you."

"I love you too." Said Artemis, pulling Zatanna into an incredibly passionate kiss. It would have lasted longer, but as soon as Zatanna placed her hands on Artemis's face, she fell over because of her leg. "Oh, shit! Sorry!"

Artemis couldn't help but laugh as she regained her balance. "Just get me back to the Cave."

"What about Nightwing?"

"He can handle himself."

Just as she said this, Sportsmaster came crashing out of a window far above them, and a hand reached out and grabbed his ankle, causing him to slam into the wall.

"Can you sit down for a second? I've gotta handle this." she said, gently setting Artemis down. Zatanna walked over as Nightwing dropped Sportsmaster. "wolS s'retsamstropS llaF!" she said, causing a gust of wind to blast from her hands, slowing Sportsmaster's fall until she ceased the spell, causing him to hit the ground with a thud. He rolled over onto his back and tried to crawl towards Artemis, but Zatanna kicked him in the head, knocking him out.

"That was amazing." Said Artemis, resulting in a shrug from Zatanna.

"I'll be right down!" shouted Nightwing before hopping out of the window and sliding down the wall. "We should get back to Happy Harbor, I doubt the others have stopped the invasion yet."

"Invasion?" asked Artemis.

"Long story. Let's get moving." Said Nightwing as he ran over and helped Zatanna carry her to the nearest Zeta-tube. Once they got to the Cave they found their teammates bandaging themselves up in the main room.

"Artemis! Are you okay?" asked M'Gann as soon as she saw her.

"I'll be fine. You guys look pretty beat up, what happened?" she responded as Zatanna sat Artemis on the couch and ran to grab some more bandages.

"We were fighting off an army of rogue Atlanteans, led by King Orin's brother, Ocean Master, and we held them off for as long as we could, but soon we learned that he was leading a charge against the Light. It seemed he had been planning to betray them, and wreak as much havoc in the process as possible. But soon reinforcements showed up, and Ocean Master was taken into custody." Explained Aqualad.

"Sounds intense."

"What about you? Are you okay?" asked Wally.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Nightwing took out my dad, the police picked him up after we left."

Tuesday.

After the funeral was over, everyone shuffled out except for Artemis and Zatanna. Zatanna walked up to Artemis and grabbed her hand as they both looked at her grave.

"I'm gonna miss you, mom." She said, as Zatanna stroked her hand with her thumb. "I'm gonna miss you."

She took one last look at her mother's grave before turning and walking away with the love of her life.