Nightwing & Starling 3

The Missing part 1

"Do you two really have to go?" Starling asked. She watched as Batman and Robin packed the Batmobile. It was unspoken, but the dynamic duo would be gone for a while. "Gotham's always terrible when you're gone, Bruce, and you're taking Daman with you this time. Both Batman and Robin gone from Gotham, already sounds like a nightmare."

"You'll be fine." Bruce answered not stopping from packing the Batmobile full of all of the potential supplies that he might need. "Your father is here, as well as Hood, Red Robin, and Huntress. Anything computer wise you should be able to do for yourself if not Oracle is always willing to help."

"But she's on the case two with the Birds of Prey. It's the first time that so many of us are gone. Sorry, if I'm a little wary of the idea." Starling paused as she looked at the two intently. "You two are going to careful, right?" The two stopped at the same time, looked at each other then at Mary.

"Define careful." They both said at the same time. Mary sighed.

"I should have known."

Damian smirked at the girl as he loaded what looked to be a nonlethal weapon into the back of the Batmobile. "Chill, Mini Grayson, we'll be back ." Mary narrowed her eyes at the older boy.

"Really? Because last I checked this was personal, and personal cases make us sloppy." Batman didn't even blink at her accusation while Robin glared at the girl.

"What are you trying to say?" Robin said angrily. He almost walked up on the young girl when his father's voice stopped him in his tracks.

"She's right. Being personal with a case can make you sloppy. You're worried about us?" The dark Knight observed.

"Can you blame me? People are missing, Grandpa, and you want to go into the heart of all of this. What if you go missing like Stephanie?"

"We'll find Stephanie. I promise." He didn't answer her question, but still his words comforted her, "In order to find her and all of the missing people we need you and the rest, here in Gotham. I know you want to help find her, but I need you here, understand?" It seemed Bruce knew what exactly to say to get the young Starling to follow orders. To make her understand why exactly she was doing something, and that was the reason she always listened to The Bat. Her father was another story. Yes, she listened to him, but she was more likely to bend his orders to her will than she were with Bruce.

"What about Talia?" It happened for a fraction of the second but Mary could see it, a crack in the Dark Knight's armor. For a split second Bruce froze, and Mary could see something in him. She could see hurt in his eyes that were, for a split second with the cowl free of his face. Mary could the hurt in his eyes. Talia had really hurt him. He hid it well. The way even a mention of Talia's name burned him so. Mary had mentioned it her father once, to see if he noticed the slight imperfection in the so well built wall, Dick had only told her not to say anything, and that though he doesn't act it sometimes. Bruce was human, too.

"As long as she's one of the missing then she is an innocent that we have to save." Bruce finally answered. Even Damian snorted at the comment.

"Father, my mother is anything but innocent, though you are correct, she is a victim in all of this. So, we'll have to save her." As hard as Damian tried to put up a front in front of them, both Mary and Bruce could see through it. He was worried about Talia, understandably so. She was his mother even with all of the things she has done to him.

"Before we leave, Mary is there anything you might have missed telling us." Bruce asked. Mary shook her head.

"Not at all. I told you the full story. Stephanie and I were on patrol together when we both heard a woman scream. We went to check it out but when I got there there was no woman, and Steph was no longer with me. I looked for her all night, and I eventually found her belt in a trash can behind the Iceberg. That's all I know. I didn't notice anything else wrong with the night. Nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, the night was almost too quiet, so Steph and I were a little antsy because that's never a good thing."

"You didn't check to make sure she was following to the place you two heard the scream?" Bruce asked though not in a condemning way.

"Do you check to see if Robin is behind you on the way to the top of the police station when the signal's in the sky?" Mary asked. Bruce nodded getting her point.

"Where do you plan to start?" Mary asked.

Damian snorted again for the second time in one conversation. "The League of Shadows, of course. My grandfather knows what's going on. I'm sure of it." Mary didn't say anything, but what Damian said seemed plausible Talia was one of the people missing, Ra's must know at least a fraction of what was really going on, if this wasn't already his plan. Mary shook the thought out of her head. This really wasn't his M.O.

"If anything changes you'll contact us, right?" Starling asked. The Dynamic Duo didn't say anything, "Or at least you'll try." At this both nodded in agreement.

"I want you to keep a careful eye on this case, Starling." Batman ordered. "If anyone new goes missing make sure to contact us. I want to be informed of every movement. Also, if you can track down Zatanna Zatara." Mary raised an eyebrow at this. "Last I checked she was still Las Vegas, but the more people that go missing I'm worried she'll take off before I need her. I need you to keep her under our watchful eye. " Mary nodded understandingly. "Good. Be prepared for anything." and with that the father and son got into the Batmobile, and left the cave driving at high speed through the waterfall exit.

Mary took a deep breath and headed to the computer to review the case one more time. There had to be something that she missed. The file popped up on the screen and Mary looked at all the pictures that showed up. The first person to go missing was the magician/con artist, John Constantine. This was actually very normal, the man had a tendency to disappear without so much as a word to friends or family, but this time it was different. When looking for him, even Zatanna Zatara couldn't even find him with Magic. That's when everyone grew worried, and the Justice league got involved. The Justice League takes missing members very serious, and the founding members took it upon themselves to look into the case personally. Two weeks later they had gotten no where. It was as if John Constantine had vanished from the face of the Earth. There was no evidence of what could, or could not have happened to the con-man. This was when Batman got involved. He immediately noticed that there was no evidence at all. There was always evidence, and when there wasn't, that in itself was evidence. The detectives mind immediately went to other worlds, but that theory was easily crossed out because Watchtower sensors would have picked something up. Batman then thought the missing case of John Constantine had something to do with magic. The next missing persons case confirmed this. The next person that went missing was former Teen Titan, Raven.

Mary remembered the way her father's face paled at the news. An old friend of his, Garfield Logan, called him and told him the news. Dick was devastated to say the least, but Bruce assured him that Dick that he would find his fellow former Titan. Dick had high hopes till more and more people started going missing. After Raven it was Tempest, then Gypsy, Traci 13, Madame Xanadu, Doctor Fate, and many many more. Someone was taking any and all magic users. Magic users good and bad were going missing. The magic users that were left went into hiding. Zatanna who was heading the case, promised Batman that she wouldn't take off, as well. Batman was right in his slight mistrust of her. Zatanna had not shown up for motor duty on the watch tower as of 3 hours ago. She must have known Batman would be leaving, and planned accordingly.

Mary stared at the picture of Batgirl. Stephanie was the first of many people who were not magic users to be taken from their families and homes. Normal people, those whose lives had nothing with heroes or villains went missing all around the world. Among the Justice league, Captain Marvel, Fire, Animal Man, and Wonder Woman were among the many non magic using Justice league member to go missing. Batman knew then that this was the start of an epidemic, the news of Talia al ghul becoming one of the missing gave Batman a place to start. After days of getting no where and over a thousand people still missing Batman now had a starting place. Taking Robin with him, he's knowledge of the league's too valuable to not bring him, Batman went to find news about the whereabouts of Talia, and hopefully about everyone else. Leaving a majority of the Batfamily in Gotham. Cassandra Cain-Wayne, the only other missing as she herself was using her connections to find information on her best friend, Stephanie Brown.

Mary wouldn't lie, she did in act blame herself. If only she had seen or heard something then at least Bruce would be able to find her, but again Mary fell short and others paid or her mistakes. She had begged Bruce to take her with him, but of course he had rejected that idea. It had almost hurt her feelings until Robin had pointed out that she was needed here, to watch over Gotham. Gotham always held priority to her feelings, it always held priority over any of their feelings. Unless someone was dying, to Batman Gotham came first.

Mary took a deep breathe as she tried to talk herself out of going to find Stephanie alone like Cassandra did. Bruce had given her a job, and Mary had to complete it. With just the few pushing of buttons Zatanna Zatara's profile. She was definitely long gone from her Las Vegas home. She might be the key to finding out whatever is going on if Ra's doesn't pull through. Reading through the profile Mary found that the magician was originally from Gotham, too easy. Most likely she would have a very cleverly hidden place to hide in Gotham. She would probably only be there for a few hours until she left again, meaning the clock was ticking to find Zatanna Zatara. So where would a magic using super hero run off to in Gotham City. The answer, anywhere, but Mary knew how she could narrow down her search.

Mary pulled out her phone, and quickly dialed her dad's number, "Hey dad. Yeah, Bruce and Damian just left. Yup, he asked if I could look into some things" Dick asked if she needed his help "...No, you need to stay at work. If you don't Gordon is sure to fire you this time. I can handle it on my own, besides you won't be welcome where i'm going." Her father was now complaining about where she was going he wouldn't be welcomed. Mary rolled her eyes. "No...that shouldn't have you worried at all. I can take care of myself. Don't worry, just meet me in the park at midnight. I'll be there with whatever info I get. Okay? Yup, see you tonight." It was only about nine o'clock. Looks like Starling was getting an earlier start tonight.

In the east end of Gotham there were multiple factories that had been shut down. Sometimes these places were used as hideouts for villains, but most of the time they were used as a cover for something precious. Starling swung into the factor, and quickly made her way to the managers office on the first floor. Underneath the old dust covered desk and under the moth eaten rug one would find a door, and behind that door a set of staircases that went deep down into the underground, and there a glorious city laid. A city of only children. The City of Runaways.

The City of Runaways was almost as old as the city of Gotham itself, or at least that was what Starling had been told. It was run by, made by, and for kids, kids who had run away from home because either they were orphans or they were in abusive homes. It didn't matter the reason, if you were a kid and you were in trouble you went to the City of Runaways. Getting here was no issue, getting in was an another thing.

A large teenage boy about 17, maybe 18 stood at the entrance to the City. He guarded the City from unwanted adults. If an adult found there way down there, they would be dealt with and be sent back to the surface with ease. The teenager had a large gun strapped to his back, from where Mary stood it wasn't loaded. They usually only used them as intimidation tactics. The large boy looked at Mary, a glint of recognition was in his eyes as he asked her a question.

"Why is a Raven like a writing test?" He spoke quietly to her.

"You know, I haven't gotten a clue." Starling answered, "Do you think I've gone mad?" She asked in a worried tone. The Boy's stoic face turned into a grin, as he slapped her on the back like an older brother would.

"It's good to have you back in The City, Star. Where've you been?" He asked.

"Here, and there. You know the drill." She said returning the smile, "How's school going, Jackson?"

"Fine, just got a scholarship to the University of Georgia. Finally getting out of Gotham." He answered with a even wider proud grin.

"That's amazing, don't forget to come and visit us back here." She replied.

"Think I'll visit more than you do." Starling winced at his light joke.

"I know I have been visiting a lot, but I'm here now, and that's what counts." As she said the words the gates to the City opened revealing the City of Runaways.

"I have to stay by the door, so I can't walk you into to see the Boss man. You'll be okay?" He asked her.

Mary nodded, "I'll be fine, I remember the way." With a wave she kept walking to where she could get her info on Zatanna city was filled with building that the kids themselves built over the years, and have filled with supplies, and other things of that nature. The City looked more like a very large village than a city. As she walked by kids ranging from 5 to 18 stared her with wide eyes, some who knew her smiled and waved, others looked at her in awe. They didn't know one of Batman's kids knew about this places, and others looked at her with suspicious eyes, watching her every movement as if Starling was going to run and tell Batman about this place. One of them was a pretty little redhead, who had to be about 14 who Starling knew.

"Are you going to say hi to me, Chloe? " Starling asked. The red head stuck her nose far up into the air, and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Why would I greet an outsider like you. I'm only here to take you to Chris. He knows you're here, and has been complaining that you haven't been visiting." Chloe said not looking at Starling once. Keeping her proud nose in the air.

Mary sighed, "Of course he knows I'm here. Is there anything Chris can't see?" Chloe stared at Starling as if she were some kind of an idiot. "I'll take that as a no, geesh. Cold much. How have things been here, Chloe?"

"The same." she answered in a short tone, "Not that you would know what that was." She sneered.

"Whatever, " Starling replied. Chloe never did like her much, "I know my way to Chris's you don't have to show me. Go back and do whatever it is Chloes do." Starling shooed Chloe like she would a pet and Chloe gave her the most offended look Starling had ever seen on a person.

"Fine, but when you get lost. Don't come crying to me, just take your little mask wearing ass out of the City." She said then turned to leave, "I don't see why Chris trust this little Bat-freak." she mumbled then left Starling's sight. Chloe according to everyone didn't like any of the Bats. While others thought they were cool, Chloe consider Starling and the others to be a menace, Chris would never tell her why though. Starling stopped the thoughts about the angry Chloe and walked up to Chris's room. He was there like he always was, unless something big was going on.

"Stella!" He greeted with a hug, "it's been forever! How are you?" He asked pushing Starling onto the couch and taking a seat next to her.

Starling, When she first meet Chris, was first taken off of guard by the very hyper teenager, but mostly she was taken aback by the fact that not only did he know her first name he also knew her middle, and mention how she should go by Stella, commenting that Mary was too boring for a pretty girl like her. A month into her Starling career that was a lot to swallow. Starling almost peed herself in fear when she thought her secret identity had been compromised, but then Chris explained things. Chris was an immortal who had the power to see the past, present, and future of anyone he met, and that was how he knew her name. Starling calmed down a little then, but started to hyperventilate when she thought he was going to sell, her and her family's secret to the nearest tabloid. He had calmed her down by promising that he wouldn't dare. That's when Starling looked at his wall, on it were hundreds of pictures of kids who had stayed in the City, and she had recognized two very familiar faces, Jason and Stephanie. Mary never asked what the story behind that was, she wondered if she ever would, but honestly it was none of her business.

"Don't tell me. I know why you're here today, Mary-Stella." He said. "You want to ask me about Zatanna Zatara, correct?" He said. "I can help you, I meet her once as a kid."

"What's the catch?" Starling asked, narrowing her eyes at the immortal teenager. Chris gave her a knowing smirk.

"Can I not do anything just to be nice?" He asked all too innocently.

"When I first met you, you introduced yourself as Conman-Chris. Sorry if I'm a little wary. " she apologized sarcastically. "Now what's the price?" She asked again.

"You just keep your friend with the bat ears out of The City, and you can get info from me anytime." He promised with an outstretched hand. Mary didn't hesitate as she grabbed shaking it hardly.

"I'll do what I can, but you can only hide from the Bat from so long." She answered.

"We've been hiding since before his parents were born. I just don't want him sending all these kids back to the orphanage. Trust me they weren't good places in the 1700's, and they still aren't."

"Now Zatanna Zatara? "

Chris sat down in his swivel chair spinning for a moment before resting his hands on top his head. Thinking, he let out a sigh.

"She happened upon me once when she was 8. I think she got separated from her father and I found her in downtown Gotham late night during one of his shows." He reminisced

"And by meeting her you now knew we very thing about her. " Starling finished for him. "I know how your powers work Chris. Skip the drama. Where is Zatanna's hideout?" Chris huffed slightly offended that Starling had ended his trip down memory lane.

"Zatanna has a magically hidden hideout just outside Gotham on the way to Blüdhaven. I believe it's in between two willow trees." He said finally.

"Thanks, that's all I needed. " Starling was about to leave when chris' s voice stopped her.

"I'm going to warn you though, finding her might not have the outcome you expect." He foretold.

"You know what's going to happen." It wasn't a question. Of course, Chris knew what was going to happen. "Anything I want to know?" Starling paused. "Anything you can tell me?" she rephrased

Chris shook his head, "Nothing that won't change things in a bad way." Chris looked at his watch, "You should go now. You are meeting Nightwing in the park in half an hour."

"Thanks again, Chris." Starling said as she began to walk out.

"Stella," He called her out stopping Starling from leaving. Starling turned around to see Chris giving her a very meaningful look. "I'll see you soon." Starling nodded at his farewell, and headed out of the City. Saying goodbye to the children she knew, Starling headed back up to the uplands of Gotham and headed to the park to find her father waiting on her.

"Nightwing!" She called out as she swung down next to him in a discreet corner of the park.

"Starling, Did you find where Zatanna is?" He asked.

Starling nodded, "Yeah, I have a really good source. Her secret hideout is supposed to be just outside of Gotham in a the long stretch of land before we hit Blüdhaven, in between two willow trees. Vague, but vague enough that we can work with it."

"And Bruce thinks Zatanna knows what's going on?" Nightwing asked with a raised eyebrow as he led Starling to his car.

"If only he used those words exactly," Starling said with a sigh. "You know he never explains why he makes us do certain things. He just told me to keep an eye on her in case she takes off before he needs her. He should really stop doing that, it's getting kind of annoying." Nightwing chuckled slightly. "Lo and behold not an hour after Bruce left Zatanna was reported missing. Meaning she probably found something." Mary said getting into her father's car.

"But what could she have found out that could make her take off like that?"

"Wish I knew." Mary answered.

"Guess it's another night of us Nightwinging it..." Nightwing gave his daughter a goofy grin. "Eh eh? Get cause I'm-"

"Yes, I know cause you're Nightwing." Starling facepalmed and sighed. "And when exactly did you think of this one?"

"This morning." He said "I have like forty more. You wanna hear?" Starling just stared at her father.

"No! Never again."

"Since I am the parent here, you have to do what I say." Nightwing announced.

"Okay," Starling said grimly, "Let me just jump out of this moving car."

Nightwing frowned, "You're so sarcastic. I regret letting Jason train train you. You've picked up a lot of his characteristics."

"You never let me-"

"Shush!" He put a hand to her mouth "Let me be indenial." he said jokingly. Starling rolled her eyes. "You said two willow trees, right?"

"Yeah, are we here?" She asked leaning forward in the car looking through the windshield.

"I believe so." Nightwing pulled the car to a stop, and the two vigilantes got out looking around. Mary walked in between the two willow trees. Nothing of significance happened.

"So how exactly do we enter the secret hideout of a magician?" Starling asked.

"You don't." A voice called out from the darkness. Before Nightwing and Starling could turn to see who got the drop on them the mysterious voice called something else out. "Roodpart nepo!" The ground beneath Starling's feet opened up, and deep into the ground she fell.

"Starling!" Nightwing shouted and dove into the hole after her. Together they fell into a room with red colored walls, but before they could get their bearings after the fall the voice again let out more words.

"Sepor iet meht pu!" Again with the words, out of nowhere ropes flew at Nightwing and Starling and wrapped around the two. "Now, " The owner of the voice stepped into the light revealing themselves to be a boy a little older than Starling. "Who are you and how did you find us?"

The boy looked familiar to Starling, but it was Nightwing who seemed to almost recognize the boy instantly.

"Zachary?" He choked out. Nightwing studied the boy for a moment. "No, you're too young, and...?" Nightwing's eyes widen. "That means you're-"

"Johnny!" A female voice this time rang into the room and stepping inside was none other than Zatanna Zatara. Zatanna stopped as soon as she enter the roomed looked around in surprise, clearly she didn't know about the two vigilantes being held captive. "What the hell is going on and Nightwing?" She asked with a tilted head.

"Hi Zatanna!" Nightwing said cheerfully. If he had use of his hands he would have waved.

Zatanna turned to the boy, "Johnny, what did you do?" She said pointing at the two gotham heroes.

"I saw them on the cameras looking around for this place so I decided to take care of them so you won't have to worry about it."

Zatanna sighed, "As good as your intentions were, next time you tell me when you see something on the monitors instead of taking care of it yourself. For all you know these two could have been our enemies, luckily their friends."

Johnny shrugged his shoulders, "These two didn't seem to be a problem how bad can someone else be?"

"Is it a bad time to mention that I got out of these ropes when Zatanna walked." Starling said standing up sliding the ropes off her body. Johnny held a shocked expression while Nightwing gave his protégé a disapproving look.

"It took you that long? We will be working on that when we get back home." He said to her also standing and taking the ropes off of himself. Nightwing turned away from his partner and addressed Zatanna, "Now that formalities are out of the way. As you probably already guessed Zatanna, we're not here on a social call."

"When are you bats ever?" She asked rhetorically. "I know what you want, and I can't help you. Just leave this case to me." Nightwing just raised an eyebrow at the Justice leaguer. Zatanna sighed, "You're not going to take no for an answer are you?"

"Listen," Starling cut in, "This case got personal when Batgirl ended up missing. We have multiple family and friend's lives on this, sorry but there is now why we are just going to leave this to you."

"Pretty girl, you're not the only one who's family was taken." Johnny said. "Besides you two will eventually end up captured too anyway." Zatanna quickly turned her head towards Johnny.

"Johnny!"

"Crap."

Nightwing narrowed his eyes, "I was going to ask nicely, but that doesn't seem to be working. You know what's going on, and you're going to tell us, now."

Zatanna looked around, looking for a way out of this situation, but of course none could be found. "At first, I wasn't exactly sure what was going on." She finally answered Nightwing taking a seat on the chair closest to her. "I was frantic, John had gone missing, and magic users everywhere were starting to disappear. I had no idea what was going on until recently."

"That's why you didn't show up for monitor duty today." Starling said filling in the holes. "You've been gone for days. We would have never even noticed if you weren't scheduled in for monitor duty on the Watch Tower. "

Zatanna nodded, "I realized that I had been looking at the picture all wrong instead of focusing on why everyone was taken, I began focusing on who."

"Magic users." Nightwing finished for her, "But we already knew that, but that doesn't explain why exactly people like Batgirl, Wonder Woman, and Captain Marvel were taken."

"Magical potential." Johnny answered. "All humans have a capacity for magic, this capacity varies between humans. Some will have a higher or better time learning magic than others, example you. You have a higher capacity for magic than most humans, in another life you could have easily donned the helmet of Fate and been Doctor fate." Johnny explained to Nightwing.

"So what you're saying is that those humans with a higher capacity of Magic and those who practice magic are being taken by an unknown entity?" Starling asked.

"Exactly," Zatanna nodded. "If we don't work fast more and more people will go missing, and I'm afraid I don't know what will happen to all of them when this all done and over with."

"You still don't know what's been taking everyone?" Nightwing asked

Johnny shook his head, "That's why we've been looking back into people they've taken, and realized something."

"There is no way John Constantine got captured without leaving something to tell us who has taken him." Zatanna finished for Johnny. "So, I left to go retrace his steps."

"And what did you find?" Nightwing asked

"The last place he was, was here in Shadowcrest. I've brought him here before and his favorite place here was the library, so I thought he must have left something there. He did."

Johnny snorted, "Some help that was. It was just a note that 3 books, and only two of them we have here."

"What books?" Nightwing asked.

"Nothing you would know." Zatanna said with a wave of her hand. "They only talked about types of demons, but none seemed to be the one were dealing with right now."

"If we're even dealing with a demon at all." Johnny added.

"And what of the last book?" Nightwing asked.

"I can't find it anywhere. Magic text is funny like that, it will hide itself sometimes." She answered with a shake of her head. Nightwing groaned and put a hand on his head.

"So we don't know anything more than we did before."

"Keep faith, Nightwing. I'm sure Batman and Robin will get something from the League of Assassins." Starling said. Both Nightwing and Staring turned to Zatanna and the young Johnny. "Thanks for help, Zatanna."

"Call us if you find anything else out." Nightwing looked evenly at the two. "Also try not to take off again. We found you before, and it'll be easier next time." Leaving it there, Nightwing and his young protégé began to take their leave as a scream came from outside. Johnny ran to the the window.

"It's a girl, some guys are chasing her." Johnny looked back to see both masked heroes gone from their positions in front of the door.

"Their already outside." Zatanna answered his unspoken question. "Let's go." Without another word to the young boy Zatanna ran out to meet Nightwing and Starling with Johnny trailing behind her. By the time they got their Nightwing and Starling were nowhere to be found.

Johnny looked around, and with sad eyes turned to Zatanna, "Do you think-"

"Boo." Johnny jumped and almost screamed only to have his mouth covered by a gloved hand belonging to Starling. "Don't scream." She told him before releasing his face. "Sorry, didn't think you would actually scream."

Johnny glared at the girl, "We thought you were taken like the rest of them." Starling raised an masked eyebrow.

"We just met. Didn't think you cared that much." She turned to Zatanna, "Is this place still cloaked? Nightwing's already back inside."

Zatanna nodded, "Yes, it is. Why?"

Starling didn't say anything only stare out into the darkness of the thin woods, "Someone's here. I can hear their heartbeat." Johnny stared at Starling with a confused look. She tapped her ear. "I have a hearing enhancer." She said almost a little too quickly. "People are here. Most likely the same ones who have been taking all of the people."

"So, that means we need to get out of here." Johnny said.

"No," Starling corrected, "that means we finally have a good lead."

"Nightwing." Starling called as she entered the room Zatanna and Johnny trailing behind her. "Did you get anything out of the girl yet."

Nightwing came out of the room closing the door behind him. "She refuses to talk to me. I don't know why I can't even get her to tell me who was chasing her."

"She's probably just scared of you." Zatanna answered "Bad people were chasing her and you did just kinda scoop her up and dump her in this house." Zatanna thought for a moment. "Why don't we send the kids to talk to her. Someone close to her age might give her some comfort."

Nightwing stared at the magician like she had two heads, "That is actually a great idea. Starling, you take Johnny in there, and find out anything this girl might know."

Starling was practically jumping with excitement, "It's been a while since we've had to do an interrogation! Please tell me we get to play 'Bad cop, Worse Cop'?"

"No, we don't want to scare her, or mentally scar her." He amended softly like there was nothing wrong with what she had just said. Meanwhile, Johnny now gawked at Starling like she had lost her mind. What middle school age girl ask if she can mentally scar a person through an interrogation? Zatanna didn't seemed at all fazed. "Just talk to her get all the information you can out of her. then come back here in about 5 minutes." Nightwing ordered.

Starling frowned obviously displeased with the lack of interrogating in this case, but nodded at what Nightwing said. "Fine, but that times going to be about three minutes if the people who are kidnapping people really the one's out there." She said in a singsong tone, not at all worried, as she grabbed Johnny by the arm and pulled him into the the room after her. Inside, sat the girl, dressed in a black hood, looking so familiar that Starling almost thought she knew the girl, but she couldn't quite place where. Her short, straight red hair that barely hung to her shoulders, and her eyes were of all colors violet. In all her years Starling never thought she would see a human with violet eyes. Then again, with the people she hung around it was a matter of time.

"I'm Starling, this is Johnny, how about we make this easier on all of us and get acquainted." She said with a smile. The girl didn't return the smile only now turn her would be heat vision glare onto Starling.

"Doesn't matter we're all dead anyway." She replied.

"What do you mean." Johnny said stepping forward.

"Like you all don't know." She mocked. Starling and Johnny turned towards each other giving one another a confused look.

"We really don't." Johnny said with a bit of impatience , "It would help us save your life quicker if you told us." The girl was now really looking at them, no longer glaring but giving them a concerned look.

"I thought the Heroes knew, I mean with so many of you missing you must have had to know that-"

"How about before you get into the long explanation of what the heck is going on you give us a name. I can't keep calling you girl in my head now can I?"

"My name isn't important."

"And I wasn't asking that. A name, now would be nice." Starling ordered.

I'm-" The girl hesitated "Ella, Ella Logan." She answered finally. Starling raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment on her name. Ella Logan. Ella, Ella, Starling had heard that name before somewhere she was sure of it. She thought hard for a second, but didn't come up with any Ella's in the Bat-computer's files, or on the Justice League Database. Still, the girl's name struck a chord within her.

"Okay, Ella, Why don't you tell me what's going on while Johnny gets the adults. I'm sure it's a story they would love to hear." I said. Johnny nodded and headed out the door to retrieve Zatanna and Nightwing.

"Okay, I first found out about in all from this book." From her bag she pulled out the book in question, and behind Starling coming from the door there was a loud gasp.

"The book!" Zatanna almost said with glee. "Johnny, it's the book!" Zatanna snatched the book away from the girl's hands. This is from my library here!" Zatanna turned to the girl. "How did you get it!?"

"I found it in a trunk fill with a bunch of my mom's old stuff. It was the only thing that wasn't covered in dust. I took it with me when I came across my mothers old storage unit two week's back."

"Who was your mother?" Zatanna asked.

"Probably someone Constantine knew from his many, many journeys. " Nightwing said deflecting the question. "Now can you give us the cliff notes version of what the hell is going on." Nightwing ordered the young girl. It seemed the older masked vigilante's presences made the girl uneasy, as she answered him no problem.

"It's a demon called The Collector. He sends out powerful underlings called the Seekers in order to collect, well people, He collects rare and beautiful people."

"You're saying he took all those people to put on his shelf?" Johnny asked mortified.

"No," Ella shook her head. "He took all those people for a far worse reason. The natural magic located in a lot of humans is food for him, he's feeding himself with them in order to create his return. He was banished from the earthly plain eons ago, but with this much natural magic in the air, he's going to use it to bring about his return."

"So that's why he was stealing magic users at first." Zatanna said.

"And then switched to those with only a great magical potential."

" And what happens to the ones he deems fit for his collection." Asked Starling.

"It says, well I don't know how much of it is true, that he turns them into clay figurines, and sticks them on his shelf." Ella said with a shudder.

"Weird." Starling commented. "Does The Collector absorb everyone at once or each at a time little by little."

Ella thought for a moment, "According to the book, all at once. He needs a certain amount of Magical energy to raise again from the prison he was placed in."

"Good, that means the people he has taken are still alive." Zatanna released a sigh of relief.

"That means we need a plan to stop The Collector, and free all those people." Starling said. Nightwing nodded in agreement, while Ella looked completely horrified by the idea.

"Stop The Collector?" She repeated. "You can't stop The Collector. He is one of the most powerful demons in the underworld." Ella cried. "If you were smart, you would run, and keep running till someone deals with him."

"But that's just it." Starling said looking Ella in the eye. "Who's going to deal with The Collector if we don't." She said seriously. "We have a chance to stop him before he gets into power, then we won't waste it. You don't have to help. This place is safe until The Collector is gone, and then we'll take you wherever you won't to go. You're a civilian, we really weren't expecting you to help us anyway." Starling said coldly. Ella bit her lip, face turning red in embarrassment, and shame.

"Starling," Nightwing reprimanded.

Starling only shrugged her shoulders unapologetically, and said, "We have work to do. You have a plan by now, right, Nightwing?" The older vigilante gave his partner a disapproving look, but still answered.

"Yes, I do."

"Alright then let's hear it." Zatanna said.

Three hours later as the dawn lights hit Gotham City, three pre-teen kids walk down the tunnels leading to the mysterious City of Runaways. The boy is limping, and must lean on The girl with the dark mask covering her eyes. The other girl with red hair, and violet eyes that seem to almost glow in the dark, clutches what looks to be a book to her chest. The kids look like they've gone through one hell of a fight.

At the end of the tunnel is a group of about four people only slightly older than the kids themselves.

"Welcome back, Stella. I told you I'd be seeing you soon." Chris said leaning against the wall near the entrance.

"You knew." She said as she glared at the teenager. "You knew, and you said nothing."

"I'm a neutral, Stella, I can't tell you everything." The girl didn't respond only continue to glare at him

"Ella, Hold Johnny." She ordered the other girl as she charged at Chris with all her might, which wasn't much considering the state she was in. Chris easily blocked her punch.

"What are you doing?"

"This is all your fault!" Starling screamed in his grip. "Because you refused to tell us information we needed twelve hours ago, Nightwing and Zatanna are gone! And The Collector is going to take over the world! All because of you and your selfish rules!" Tears began to fall. "I hope you're happy, because not only am I going to lose Stephanie, but Zatanna and Nightwing are gone, too! My dad is gone, and now the rest of the world is doomed."

Final Word Count: 7267 (sorry about that)

I know, I know. It's been awhile. Like over month while. So sorry, but I did mention that with school getting back in session I would be a lot slower than my weekly/biweekly updates. I will try to make the wait between chapters shorter, but with my schedule the way it is I can't say it isn't a possibility that the wait won't be this long or longer again. So thank you all for those who stick with me! It makes me smile to know that you all read.

Other news, this is only half of the chapter. Like I said last chapter another ~15000 word chapter is never going to happen again, unless necessary. This chapter needed to be cut in Half and this was the half point for me to get this chapter to you all sooner than if I had waited to finish it. There is still about 10,000 words left for this two parter which is why I cut it here. I don't want to torture you all with a 17000 word chapter(I would die if I gave you guys that like legit die from embarrassment). Also I changed the chapter title, This chapter was originally supposed to be sweet and cute, yeah it turned dark real fast, needed a name change.

To my favorite Reviewer, Victory Goddess, Thank you for all your support.

Also extra points for anyone who knows who figures out who Ella actually is. ( I practically gave it to you). Until next time,

~Miyu Kuran

Next chapter: The Missing Part 2