Zatanna: Mistress of Magic Issue 3
Written by Bodhi Ouellette
Zatanna, John Constantine, and Jason Blood are surrounded by dark black shadows coming from all points of the room, slowly engulfing the entire view into darkness. The shadows take up of a feminine figure.
John Constantine: So, Z... you got something that can take these shadows out?
Zatanna: You sound so confident, John.
John Constantine: Why not? They are just moving shadows, after all.
Zatanna: (Smirks) Evig em thgil!
A small bright orb of light materialised in her left hand. She lifted her arm up, opposing the other shadows. The shadows coware away in fear of the light.
Jason Blood: I've encountered these beings before. They're "Shadow-Crawlers." How did you know that light was their weakness?
Zatanna: I've read about these things once. Shadow-Crawlers function as being minions to their spellcasters shadow, making duplicates and sometimes functioning as individuals. Now, who are you all working for?
The Shadow-Crawlers do not respond.
Zatanna: So you don't wanna talk? Fine then. Nethgirb!
The ball of light became brighter, which makes the shadow-crawlers to cower away in fear more.
Shadow-Crawler #1: Ack! The light! I'll talk! I'll talk!
Zatanna: There we go. Who is your spellcaster?
Shadow-Crawler #1: We are the shadows of Allura, the dark sorceress.
Jason Blood: Allura? I know that name from somewhere.
Zatanna: Who is Allura?
Shadow-Crawler #1: She is one that is far beyond the boundaries of magic itself. The source of all magic, if you will. The child of one of the most powerful sorcerer, her power was so great, that her father had to split them up in different pieces.
John: You're gloating. And just to let you know, that sounds a lot like the backstory to this character in a video game-
Shadow-Crawler #1: -Enough of your chatter. It does not matter, anyways. Our mission was to kill all three of you.
Zatanna: Why?
Shadow-Crawler #1: To end the journey you would embark before you can even start, Zatanna Zatara. We know so much about you, especially.
Zatanna: (long beat) If that's true, then how much do you know about my parents?
Shadow-Crawler #1: (beat) I don't know what you're talking about-
Zatanna: Don't lie to me! Allura knows something about them, doesn't she?!
Shadow-Crawler #1: Yes…she does...
Zatanna: Tell me.
John: Calm down, Z. This may sound strange coming from me, at least, but being overly aggressive to them won't help your interrogation.
Zatanna: Watch me. Nethgirb!
The ball of light became even brighter. John, Jason, and Zatanna could barely see anything, and the Shadow-Crawlers are now in total agony.
Shadow-Crawler #1: AHHH! Please, stop!
Zatanna: Not until you tell me what you know about my parents!
John: Christ sake, Zatanna. Turn the light down!
Zatanna contemplates John's demand, then decides to give in. The light dims down, and the Shadow-Crawlers ease.
Zatanna: Now, tell me what she know about my parents.
Shadow-Crawler #1: We do not have the full information about them.
Zatanna: Why don't you?
Shadow-Crawler #1: We are just a shadow. We don't know everything of our master. You want to know more about your parents? Ask Allura yourself.
Zatanna: Ok, then. Where would I find Allura?
Shadow-Crawler #1: (Smiles) There is no point. You won't be alive to find that out.
Jason: Aaahh!
John and Zatanna turn over to see Jason Blood kneeling down on the ground, and in excruciating pain.
Zatanna: Jason! What's happening?
Shadow-Crawler #1: The demon has been hidden well within this man. It's been dying to come out. Let us help him with that.
Zatanna & John: Oh, no.
Shadow-Crawler #1: "Gone, gone the form of man, Rise the demon Etrigan!"
Jason: Zatanna... John... run... RUN!
Smoked bursted out of Jason's mouth, as his entire body started transforming into the demon hidden inside of him. No longer was he Jason Blood, the man he originally was. Now, he was Etrigan, the Demon Hunter, wearing his signature red drapes and chainmail armor under it, with a blue cape wrapped around his neck. The shadow-crawlers all whirled their way out of the house.
Shadow-Crawler #1: (Voice) We are done with you. Let the demon tear you two to shreds.
Zatanna: (focusing her attention to Etrigan) John, we have to tame the beast within Jason.
John: Great. You got any ideas as to how?
Zatanna: Not at the moment.
Etrigan lunges towards John, but John manages to cast a spell against Etrigan, which sends him back into a corner, and laughed into the wall.
John: Here's an idea; we run, and we think up of a plan!
Zatanna: I like that idea a lot.
Both John and Zatanna bolted out of the room, making their way towards the front entrance. Not far behind from them however, was a fiercely Etrigan, with two swords in his hands. The two ran up to the front door, however, it was locked, and behind them Etrigan swung one of his swords towards the two. Luckily they both ducked in time, with the sword getting lodged into the door. The two magicians quickly moved out of the way before Etrigan could take another swing with his other arm. Zatanna lost her balance when dodging Etrigan's attack, and knocked back into an empty knights armor, standing by as display. This gave Zatanna an idea.
Zatanna: Romra, kcatta ruo ymene!
The set of armor came to life. It made it's way over to Etrigan with a large sword in his hands and swung right at Etrigan, but he used his other sword to block the attack. All Etrigan had to do was take one swing with the sword and the set of armor fell apart. Etrigan finally pulled the sword out of the door, but he was immediately attacked behind him, as John Constantine wrapped a loose chain around Etrigan's neck, choking him, and holding him down.
John: I've got him… what do we do now?!
Zatanna: How long has it been since we've performed any sort of "reverse exorcist" like procedure like this?
John: Um…. It's been awhile, hasn't it?
Zatanna: If only I knew what sort of spell my parents used to hide Etrigan in him before.
Etrigan, from the lack of oxygen he was getting, let out a cough that perfumed of this black smoke. This was when Zatanna noticed the obvious; Etrigan was being controlled by the Shadow-Crawlers.
Zatanna: I've got it!
John: You do?!
Zatanna: Yes, now I need you to keep him steady for me.
John tightened his grip on Etrigan, pulling on the chain more, and causing Etrigan to struggle even more for air. John backed up into a wall to let Zatanna do her thing. She walked up towards Etrigan, placing her hand on his chest.
Zatanna: On erom llahs uoy tnemrot siht snam ydob. Evael, won!
All Throughout Etrigan's body, black particles surfaced their way up into the chest, where Zatanna's hand was. Eventually, the black particles stopped traveling, and Zatanna removed her hand from his chest, revealing those black particles rolled up in a ball.
Zatanna: (whispers) Raeppasid.
The small black ball then dematerializes, leaving nothing but dust particles in her hand. John let go of his grip on the chain which released Etrigan, letting him breath. John walks over to Zatanna.
Zatanna: One of the Shadow-Crawlers entered into Jason's body, releasing Etrigan out.
John: They can do that?
Zatanna: Guess so. I've never actually encountered one before, I just read about them.
John: I guess this was a learning experience for both of us. (looks down at Etrigan, helping him back up) You ok?
Etrigan: Now that the Shadow-Crawler has been freed from my body, I am free from their reign. But alas… (he looks down and examines his hands) the demon within has been released yet again.
John: Hey, once we're done with this whole thing, we'll do whatever it takes to get you back to your normal self. Sound like a plan?
Etrigan: It'll have to be one I must take. Now, what else shall we all stake?
Zatanna: We find someone who could know about this Allura person, and try to find out what they know about her.
John: You got anyone in mind?
Zatanna: Oh, I do, John.
New Orleans, Louisiana:
Purple smoke materializes and thickens, until it eventually dies down, revealing Zatanna, John Constantine and Etrigan appearing out of the smoke.
Zatanna: This is the place.
John: New Orleans?
Etrigan: This is a fortune tellers shop. Who lives here that we are here to drop?
Zatanna walks up to the small shop in front of them. The outside decor was mostly black, with a splash of red all around, and Open sign that flickered. Zatanna opened the door and was about to proceed in.
John: What is this place?
Zatanna: You'll see.
She enters into the shop, and John and Etrigan followed behind her. It was dark mostly, with the only source of light was coming from a few red and purple decoration lights hanging on top of the ceiling. Zatanna pulled back a purple curtain, and John and Etrigan looked into the room. They see a thin woman, with black hair, wearing a thin metal band around her forehead, and wore a pink dress, with a circular cut around her upper chest, revealing her cleavage.
Zatanna: Gentlemen, I give you… Madame Xanadu.
To be continued in Zatanna: Mistress of Magic Issue 4!