Nightwing & Starling 4
The Missing Part 2
Still in his grip, Starling growled in the face of the immortal teenager, Chris. "You!" She ground out. "You! You could have helped me save them!" She swung out her free hand in order to slap him in the face, but Chris threw her down to the ground harshly.
"Get a grip, Stella" He ordered. "This is the natural order of things. If I had told you what was going to happen, the others would be already dead, and so would you. I did what I had to do to keep the balance."
"That's all you neutrals ever care about!" Starling screamed. "You're precious balance. Yeah, your balance has been kept, but what about Nightwing! What about my dad, and Stephanie! Stephanie used to come down here! You don't care about them at all."
"Why don't you watch your mouth, you little freak," Chloe said getting in between Starling and Chris, "You ungrateful, insolent little-"
"Chloe, go back to The City. Now." Chris ordered.
"But Chris, you can't let this girl-"
"That wasn't a suggestion, Chloe." Chris said calmly, almost too calmly. It was in these moments that one could fully see the immortal's age. A normal teenager would have yelled back at Starling, but the calm Chris had years of experience that made him react in a more proper way. Chris turned to Starling, "Stella, you're upset and understandably so, but I need you to calm down. You and your friends here are injured, tired. Stay here the rest of the night, and I'll take care of your injuries." He offered.
"I think right now I would rather be taken by the Seekers, at least then I'd have a chance to get Nightwing and everyone else back." Starling shot back at him as she got up from her place on the ground. "No, I will not stay here. I'm far too upset to stay in your presence right now, Chris. I need a place to think of a plan, and that place isn't here." Starling took a deep breathe, and in a much calmer tone addressed Johnny, "Johnny, If you want to me get your mom back come with me, if not. Stay here until it's safe, and I get Zatanna back."
Johnny shook his head, "I'm with you all the way pretty girl," He said from Ella's side.
Starling smiled at the boy, "Good. Ella," She started. "I came here, not to pick a fight with Chris, but to drop you off. The City of Runaways is the place where all Gotham kids go when home is not an option. You should be safe here from The Seeker, and the Collector. Just because I just screamed my head off at Chris doesn't mean that you are not welcome here, or that I don't trust this place. This is the best place I could ever bring you other than the Batcave. You said you didn't want to fight The Collector, and you won't have to. Chris will accept you with open arms, right Chris?" Starling said, and behind her Chris nodded.
"But you won't stay here?" Ella asked.
"No, Johnny and I need to make a plan to stop The Collector. We can't do that here." Starling answered.
"Then you'll need to book, if you plan on stopping The Collector, and I'm not planning on giving it up. So, you'll have to take me with you." Ella announced.
"Ella." Johnny said shocked.
"I thought about what you said. You said that if we don't stop The Collector then no one is, and you're right." Ella said.
" I meant people like us," Starling said. gesturing to Johnny and herself. "I didn't mean a civilian such as yourself."
"But I'm not a normal civilian. I can do things that normal civilians can never imagine. I have a responsibility to use these powers in anyway that I can, and right now the best way to use them is to help you stop The Collector." Ella turned to Chris, "Thanks for your invitation, but I can't stay here. I have to help."
"I understand." Chris said. "Come here if you ever need help, Stella. I know you're upset, and when you calm down I'll be here. To do whatever I can."
Starling didn't even give Chris an answer as she turned to Ella and Johnny, "I have a place for us to till tomorrow night. Nobody should be there."
"Sounds like a plan." Johnny said. "Let's go."
"This is what we're going to do." Nightwing said. "We're going to get ourselves captured." Zatanna, Johnny and Ella all stared at Nightwing as if he had just gone insane.
"Please tell me I'm not the only one who sees the problem with this plan." Ella said.
"No, no, no." Starling intervened. "I see what he's trying to do. Getting ourselves captured is the best way to get to The Collector, and most importantly to the missing people."
"Exactly," Nightwing nodded. "Right now we have no way of getting into The Collector's realm."
"So, we fake like we lost, and get captured. Then what?" Johnny asked.
"We get everyone out, and then home." Starling answered like it was that simple.
"Yeah, but how exactly are we going to leave The Collector's realm?" Johnny pointed out.
"Their is a inter-dimensional teleportation spell." Ella answered. She then paused as she thought for a moment, "Actually, I think it requires two magic users of the same blood in order to use it."
Johnny and Zatanna looked at each other, "Shouldn't be a problem." Zatanna said with a smirk.
"But it can only be used once. It's a hard spell, and if we mess it up our chance of escaping are completely gone."
"We'll get it the first time then," Johnny answered.
"In order to get everyone out, we'll need a diversion, though." Zatanna said.
"Diversion!" Starling echoed with a dangerous gleam in her eye, "I've got your diversion. I am the queen of diversions. Just imagine it a beautiful explosion created with tons and tons of C4." She started to ramble, going on and on about explosions,fire, and C4. The others were starting to get a little scared.
"Uh, I don't think so." Nightwing said popping the bubble of Starling's pyromaniac dream.
"What?"
"You're only going to be using what you have in your belt." Nightwing informed with a stern voice.
"What!" Starling repeated. "All I have is exploding gel!"
"Exactly, That's all you're going to need. You're creative, think of another way." Nightwing ordered leaving no room for argument, while Starling pouted. "Now that who's taking care of the distraction has been decided. Zatanna and Johnny, you'll be with me getting the civilians out, and the rest who have been captured."
"Okay, but how do we stop The Collector from just taking all the people, all over again?" Zatanna asked.
"I'm guessing that's my job, too." Starling answered.
"Starling, while we get everyone out, is going to damage what ever system The Collector uses to gather energy. I remember absorbing that much energy without help is dangerous, right?" Nightwing asked Zatanna.
"Yes, for a normal human, but I have no idea for a demon." She answered honestly.
"I'll work around it. He must have some weakness. While I'm there, I'll just have to find it."
"We should be safe here for the moment." Starling said as she used the password to open the door to Oracle's clock tower. The place was currently unused with the Birds of Prey being elsewhere, and Starling knew Oracle wouldn't mind...that much.
"How long are we going to stay here?" Ella asked looking around the dark room.
"Not long," Starling answered. "just till tonight. We only need to stay here as long as it take to make a plan to take down The Collector and get everyone back."
"So what do we do in the mean time?" Johnny asked.
"Rest." Starling answered. "We'll need all of our energy in order fight."
Ella yawned, "That sounds awesome. Rest, can't remember the last time I did that." Starling smiled.
"Make yourself at home." Starling told the girl. "Kitchen's fully stocked. Shower's down the hall to the left, if you want to take one. I have clothes-"
"A shower!" The glee on Ella's face was undeniable as she ran down the hall to the bathroom. Johnny gave Starling a confused look before motioning for them to follow her. when they got there they found Ella staring at the shower like it was the eighth wonder of the world.
"Ella?" Johnny called her name carefully.
"You know being a runaway you don't see a bathroom let alone a shower as often as you would think. I can't even sleep without having to always be aware of my surroundings. You never think you would really miss little things like being able to go into deep sleep or taking a long hot shower. I can honestly count on one hand, how many showers I've had since I ran away."
"Take a shower then." Starling said shifting Johnny on her shoulder. "Take a long hot one."
Ella's eyes lit up, "Really?"
"Really." Starling said definitely. "Towels are in the closet, and I'll even wash your clothes."
"I think I may just take you up on that." Ella said with a smile as she went into the bathroom shutting the door behind her.
"Weird girl, " Johnny commented
"Not weird, we just don't know what she's been through." Starling corrected, "Come on, I bandage your ankle for you." Just as the sound of the shower started Starling lead Johnny away to take care of his injuries."
"Everyone's in place." Starling told Nightwing through her comm link.
"Alright let the show begin." Nightwing said. Starling watched from the trees with Johnny as what looked to be Nightwing, Zatanna, Ella walking out of the mansion leaving the magically barrier, with a hand on her shoulder and a few whispers it really looked like Nightwing and Zatanna were taking the hooded girl somewhere else for her safekeeping. Looking around suspiciously Nightwing grabbed Ella's hand and began to move quickly Zatanna trailing behind.
"Johnny, we need to-"
"Shush!" He hushed her harshly. "Something's off."
"What are you talking about?" She asked worried.
"I believe he's talking about me." Johnny and Starling turned to see a woman with a long gold tattoo running down her face and a short black hair standing right behind Johnny.
"Crap!" Johnny tried to jump out of the way in time, but the woman grabbed him by the leg and threw him the ground below. Johnny was able to twist and lad on his feet, but there was an audible crack indicating it was likely broken or sprained. It took all of Johnny's strength not to scream out in pain, but he needed need to as Starling screamed for him, loud enough for almost everyone to hear.
"JOHNNY!"
In the clearing, Zatanna turned towards Starling's scream.
"Johnny?" Zatanna looked around worried.
"Don't," Ella grabbed a hold of her tailed coat, "You have to stick to the plan."
"My son is in danger." She told her, and with that Zatanna took off into the direction of Starling and Johnny.
"Zatanna, don't!" Nightwing called, but it was too late. Before Zatanna could even make to the woods, in a great show of fire seven of Seekers appeared.
"Look what we've got here." said one of the Seekers who looked to be the leader of the group. The man was skinny, and tall with long blond hair pulled into a low ponytail, and a gold tattoo on his face. "More people to feed our lord and master." The Seeker took a deep breathe taking in the air around him, "Where's the girl we were chasing earlier?" He asked his tone changing to a cold hard one, different from his earlier amusement.
"What are you talking about she's right here." Nightwing covered as he pushed Ella behind him, "And you're not getting her."
The seeker smiled, "We'll see about that." He turned to his fellow Seekers, "Take them all, with them The collector might finally be resurrected."
"Wait, Ikhail." The woman who found Starling and Johnny walked up throwing both to the ground in front of her. "Found these two in the trees, I think they were trying to plan something."
The Seeker, Ikhail sniffed the air, "I think you're right." He pointed over to Ella, "That's not the-" but before he could finish his sentence as Ella threw down a smoke bomb covering the area in deep smoke. "That's not the girl!" Ikhail said in a coughing fit, "It's a decoy!" As he said the words the enchantment faded revealing Ella to actually be Starling, and vise versa.
"Nightwing!" The actual Starling called.
"Get them!" Ikhail ordered.
"Get them out of here!" Nightwing screamed through the fog as he pulled out his escrima sticks.
Starling made her way through the fog to the sacred Ella, and the injured Johnny. "Are you two okay?" She asked quickly, They both nodded so Starling continued, "The plan is failing. They have more people than originally thought. Johnny, Ella you two might actually be joining us in getting captured."
"But Johnny," Ella said staring down at the boy who was holding his ankle. "He fell, his ankle."
Starling turned to Johnny, "How bad is it."
"On a scale from one to ten? It doesn't matter. The plan has to keep going." Johnny said.
"Don't say that. Looks like moving's not an option-" Starling grabbed both Ella and rolling them out of the way of a coming axe. "Time for talking's done. Johnny, I'm pretty sure you can fight, but Ella?" She asked. Honestly, Starling didn't have a choice. She couldn't watch both Ella, Johnny, Zatanna, and Nightwing.
Ella thought for a second, "I might have something up my sleeve."
"Now would be a good time!" Johnny screamed at her.
"Okay, just don't freak out." She said sadly as her violet eyes glowed violet, and she started speaking in a language that neither Johnny or Starling knew.
"What is she doing?" Starling asked.
"I don't know. I've never seen this kind of magic." Johnny answered from his place on the ground. The night sky filled with grey clouds as out from it came a giant black bird with four glowing violet eyes.
"Markov!" Ella shouted. "Attack!" With the command the bird swept down in the battle and knocked. They giant bird seemed to be the the edge that they needed as Seekers went down left and right.
"Call off your demon bird, girl!" Stopping the fight the kids turned to find the lead Seeker, Ikhail holding Zatanna hostage.
"MOM!" Johnny shouted, "Esaeler Annataz-"
"Don't!" Ikail pushed the dagger closer to her neck. "I'll kill her if you as so much as finish that spell, Magic boy. Now call off your demon bird." Ella narrowed her eyes at the man. "I said now"
Still glaring at the man Ella called to her bird, "Markov!" Hearing it's name the bird flew in a circle above Ella's head.
"Now, all of you are going to come quietly, or the magician gets it." Ikhail smelled the air, sensing the magic coming from all of them. "With all you you are more than enough to resurrect our Master. Actually," He grabbed Zatanna and turned her to face him, "This one he might want to keep. Doesn't matter we have enough to feed him now. Take them all." He ordered. "Try anything funny, and she might not make it to The Collector."
The Seekers moved towards Nightwing in order to grab him, but in a swift motion he tazered all three unconscious and made a run for Zatanna, "You three, Get out of here now!" He shouted at the three pre-teens.
"But, Nightwing!" Starling pleaded.
"I SAID NOW, STARLING!"
Starling nodded and turned to Johnny and Ella. With a nodded Ella called forth her giant bird once more, "Markov!" a second later all three children were gone leaving Nightwing and Zatanna alone with The Seekers. With the kids gone Nightwing stopped fighting letting The Seekers tackle him to the ground not trusting him enough to capture him standing.
"You think you're so smart." Ikhail mocked as he grabbed Nightwing by the hair harshly holding him close to his face, "Will find those kids again, and when we do they will be the first to be drained by The Collector."
Nightwing promptly spat in Ikhail's face, "Over my dead body."
"That was the plan." Ikhail said with a sinister smirk, "Let's go, the night's almost up." opening a portal to The Collector's realm, The Seekers left taking Nightwing and Zatanna with them.
"Here take this." Starling handed Johnny two pills, "It will help with the pain."
"It won't make me sleepy, will it?" Johnny asked.
"Does it matter? You need to sleep anyway." She answered as she began to wrap his sprained ankle.
"I guess not." Johnny said. There was a long pause. "We really screwed up didn't we?" He asked ashamed.
"It wasn't your fault. The plan just failed. It was bad planning on Nightwing and I's part, it had nothing to do with you." She answered honestly.
"But we didn't follow the plan it would have probably worked if we-"
"We didn't account for the fact that they could sense the difference between Ella and I. That alone meant that they would have found a way to break through the barrier placed around Shadowcrest just to get to Ella, and would have found you there, too. Just because you two didn't stay in the mansion like we asked doesn't mean all of this is your fault." Starling sighed "Listen, no matter what we change, or do differently it might have ended up with all of us captured and no chance of any of us freeing the others or worse. I realize that now, and so should you."
"But-"
"No buts, I need you to focus so we can free not only Zatanna, but everyone else too."
"So what do we do now?" Johnny asked.
"Like I said earlier, rest. Then think of a plan." Starling said as she finished wrapping his ankle, "There, you should be able to walk better now."
"Thanks..." Johnny paused awkwardly, "So is your real name Stella, or something?" He asked. Starling sighed.
"If you must know it's my middle name." She said standing up heading to Oracle's computer.
"Middle name?" Johnny echoed, "So what's your first name?"
Starling turned and raised an eyebrow at him, "Does secret identity mean anything to you?"
Johnny raised his hands in a defeated position, "Sorry, sorry. Soooo," Johnny paused again, "Can I call you Stella?"
Starling sighed again.
"I mean- Only if that's cool with you." He corrected. "I could just keep calling you Star-"
"It's fine."
"-ling. I shouldn't have asked you, and- Wait, what?" He asked confused.
"I said it's fine, I don't really. My uncle calls me that sometimes, and so do a lot of people." Starling answered.
"Uncle?"
"Yeah, uncle. Don't you have one?" Starling asked.
Johnny shook his head, "My mother was an only child. My father's siblings all died a long time ago."
Starling frowned, "I'm sorry." She said sincerely, but Johnny waved it off.
"I never knew them, so it's fine." Starling nodded understanding.
"If you don't mind me asking, who was your father?" Starling asked.
Johnny froze. Starling immediately noticed. "I'm sorry. If you're uncomfortable answering, you don't have to. I don't have to know, really."
Johnny shook his head, "It's cool. It's just that my dad is John Constantine."
Starling stared at Johnny, "You're father is John Constantine." She repetitive. "He was the first one to get taken by The Collector."
"I know." He said sadly.
"Both of your parents are gone. Johnny, why didn't you say anything?" Starling asked.
"It needed to be said?" He asked, "that's why my mom and I were so Into this case. He's not set much of a dad, but he's there when I need him."
"We're going to get them back, Johnny, we're going to get everyone back." Starling held both of Johnny's hand as she looked him In the eyes, "I promise." They stayed like that for a while, speaking but not with words. They came to an understanding. They were going to save everyone.
"Starling!" A voice coming from the computer that Johnny didn't recognize called, scaring him Into dropping the vigilante's hand.
"Oracle!" Starling r to the computer taking a seat, "I thought you went to look for Black Bat, and seated what you can find about the missing people?"
"I am, or was until I got notice that you had come to the he clock tower. What are you doing, Starling?"
"Nothing, Oracle, nothing at all. Everything Is fine."
"Uh huh, " Oracle said not believing the girl at all. "Where's your father?"
"Nightwing?" Starling clarified. "He's around. He told me to go back home, but I wanted to check on everything first. The clocktower was the closest place."
"Okay, and who's with you?"
"Whaaaaat?" Starling drawled out, "What are you talking about? It's just me here." Starling lied.
"I can see him, Starling. " Oracle folded her arms across her chest. "Now let's try again. I know you have two people with you, no start from the beginning. I want the truth or else."
Johnny thought they were done for an adult would never let three kids take on a demon.
Starling sighed, "Babs, listen. Batman gave me and Nightwing the task of finding Zatanna Zatara, and we'll we found her. Nightwing decided the rest of the mission was too dangerous and told me to take the Zatanna's son and a girl we found to safety till they come back. This was the safest place besides the Batcave I could think of. "
"Okay, and where did Zatanna and Nightwing go?" Oracle asked.
Starling winced, "He didn't say. I think he was scared that I would follow him."
"As he should be." Oracle agreed. "Your very brave, but you hardly ever think before jumping Into the fray."
"I guess I'm better at winging it."
"I think It's the fact that Hood trained you." Oracle said. "The three of you stay there till It's get back tomorow night." Oracle eyed Starling carefully. "Can I trust you not to leave?"
Out of Oracle's sight Starling crossed her fingers, "of course, Babs. I may not listen to dad all the time, but I will always listen to you."
" I'll hold you to that than. I've got to go Helena found something."
"Alright, " and sight tailing logged off.
Johnny stared at the girl, "why did you promise get we'll stay? I thought you said that we were getting my mom and the others back."
Starling smirked and waved her crossed fingers in front of his face.
"Oh you are good." He commented with a pleased smile. "You really had me going there with your mom. I thought we were done for." Starling turned to Johnny so quickly that she almost scared him.
"Mom?"
Johnny raised an eyebrow at her, "Yeah, mom." Johnny studied Starling's face intently, "Wait, that's not your mom? She acts like it. I'm sorry I just assumed."
"No," Starling cut him off, "It's fine. I can kinda see where you would get that insinuation. Oracle is kinda like my mom, I guess." Starling said slightly grimly.
"Is she married to Nightwing or something? Is she like your step mom?" Starling almost laughed at the idea.
"Oh X'hal, no. Oracle is the woman my dad cheated on my mom with." Johnny widen his eyes at her, "Oh no, she's cool. Actually she didn't know my mom and my dad were going to get married. Obviously it didn't work out. She was his first crush back when he was a boy, and only Robin. I guess having an older girl dressed in a skin tight black costume can do a lot for the teenage hormones. It wasn't long after my father and my mother broke up that he got together with Barbara. They were together long before I came around. The third Robin was still in middle school when they were going out, and now he's in college to tell you how long ago it was."
"So they didn't get married." Johnny asked.
Starling snorted, "I highly doubt my dad would ever get married. I'm sure Oracle will find herself a husband who loves her greatly, but in the end they decided it was better just to be friends." Starling paused, "I don't blame Oracle, Nightwing is kinda horrible with relationships. He sweet and kind, but I would never set my own father up in a relationship that's saying something."
"Is Nightwing, some kind of a douchebag then?"
"No, like I said he's very sweet, respectable, and nice. It's just that my dad has a tendency to make poor life decisions." Starling laughed. She would sooner get married then her father, but really she could say the same thing about all of her family, from her father down to Damian. The only ones who looked as if they would ever get married was Tim and Stephanie, obviously.
"Okay, I kinda get that. I don't think my mom will ever get married, either." Johnny said honestly.
"Not even to your dad? Last I heard they were pretty close." Starling said shocked.
"Yeah they are, but they would never marry each other in a million years. Something about it not being safe, I really don't understand it. " Starling nodded understanding. "So, You're one of the few kid heroes that has the displeasure of having two hero parents. Annoying isn't it?"
Starling sighed, "Don't even get me started." She said with an eye roll. "I think the only other kid heroes who have it worse then having both parents be heroes is having a one parent be a hero and one a villain. It's absolutely terrible. I didn't think that anyone got that. It's like we-"
"Are held on higher pedestal than the others." Starling and Johnny turned to see Ella standing in the doorway, hair damp and a towel wrapped around her neck. "They don't say it, but it's like more is expected out of us. That we have to be above the normal, we don't get to be regular children. We don't get to be children at all. We don't have time to be selfish, because we have to train day in and day out to take our parents place. We are not children we a champions, champions in training to take the place of the titans that sit on mount olympus high above the rest of the world. I hate it. I almost hate them. They have stripped everything form me, and for what? World safety? What about my safety? I'm only 12. I shouldn't have to have the weight of the world on my shoulders."
Johnny and Starling stared at Ella stunned. Such venom they had never heard out of the girls mouth. It was in that moment that both realized they didn't really know anything about Ella. That Ella really hadn't said exactly who she was, she was a magic user and that was good enough for them at the time, but now?
"Ella, who are you?" Johnny asked.
Ella sighed and walked over to Starling and started typing on the computer. "If you look in any local paper, you can find my picture under the missing section, but if you search my name in league database..." On the computer a picture and a file showed up, it was a picture a picture of Ella. She looked a lot younger in the picture, her hair was way longer, as well, and the name under the picture is what got Starling Staring at Ella in shock.
"You're Aurella Logan?" Ella looked grim, "I thought I knew your name. Aurella Logan, you're the daughter of Beastboy and Raven. Your the one who ran away 2 months ago." Starling glared at Ella. "You do know that your mother went missing because she was out looking for you. When Magic users started going missing she went looking for you! and she never came back! You're father was devastated. He thought that maybe you got taken, too. Before this whole mess with The Collector. They were looking for you. Why did you run away?" Starling asked.
"That explains the demon bird." Johnny said but his comment was left ignored.
"I know," Ella said. "I was there when my mom went missing. I couldn't hide for long, and when she was really looking she found me, but The Seekers found us. She sacrificed herself so that I could get away. That was when I learned exactly who The Seekers and The collector were."
"And why didn't you go home with that information?" Johnny asked. "Your father would have given the info to the league and we could have better protected everyone. If you had only said something-"
"I KNOW! I KNOW I SCREWED UP OKAY, BUT I WAS RUNNING SCARED AND I COULDN'T- I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!" Ella screamed at the boy. "I realized all of this is mostly my fault. If I had opened my mouth earlier, then a lot of people would still be here, but I ran away for a reason. And now I have even more of a reason to stay away."
"and you were selfish enough to just stay silent and let all those people go missing?" Starling asked almost seething in rage.
"I am not perfect." Ella sneered. "You're just like everyone else. You put me so far up, and you're just wanting me to fall. Am I the only kid that doesn't want to be some heroes sidekick? I don't want to take over for them when they get old and retire. I want to be my own person. I want to be a normal person. Is that to much to ask?"
Starling opened her mouth, ready to tell the girl off, but Johnny held up a hand silencing her, "No, it's not." He said, "But Ella do you understand that you are not normal, you will never be normal. Just like we will never be normal. No matter what you do, the people who raised you are always going to Raven and Beastboy."
"If my Parents were super villains then you all would be rooting for me to get away from them."
"BUT YOUR PARENTS AREN'T EVIL!" He screamed at her. "You're right, it is wrong what they do to us, but most of us choose to be in this life. I think at one point you wanted to be like your parent, but something happened and now you don't want to be like them. Well, now everyone is gone, you can keep being a "regular" citizen or you could save the world, save your mom with us. We're not going to force you. It's obvious that when people force you to do something you run, and I don't want you to run. I want you to choose for yourself. Now." Starling stayed silent while Johnny stared Ella down. "You choose. This is your first choice without adult intervention. Make it matter."
Ella stayed silently, she looked towards Starling, who only glared at the girl, and then again at Johnny. Unlike Starling, there was no harsh anger in his eyes. Ella then looked towards the door. It would be so easy for her to run. For her to get away. It wouldn't be the first time, and most likely it wouldn't be the last if she choose to leave, and run. Ella thought back to what Starling told her back in the City of Runaways. She had a chance to leave, yet she didn't take it. She made her choice to stay back then.
"I made my choice early when I said I would see this to the end. I meant it." Ella said. "I really messed up, so let me make it right."
"Good." Starling said "You better." Jaw still tight not even looking at Ella Starling turned back around to the computer. "You two get some sleep. I need to think of a plan. "
"You're not going to sleep, Stella?" Johnny asked. Tension in the room visibly went down, and Ella sighed in relief.
"I have things to do." Starling answered. Johnny stared at her worried. "I'll be fine. Trust me, if Batman can go over 10 days without sleep I can for one day." Johnny nodded.
"Fine, fine, fine. I'm going for a shower. Do you've got something for me to wear?" Johnny asked.
"Red Robin has some civvies in the back they'll be a little two big, but I'm sure they're fine for the night." Starling said. With a slight turn of her head Starling regarded Ella. "Bab- Oracle's room is down the hall across from the bathroom, you'll find a bed there. I'm guessing you haven't had a decent one in about two months. Go get some rest, we've got work to do tonight."
Ella woke first at the crack of 4:30 in the afternoon. Next to the bed on the floor was Johnny who was still out cold cuddling with the blanket. The boy with the hard face she spoke to last night was gone and now laid a young boy who looked his age. A soft face suited him much better. Ella stood up from the bed with a yawn. She could hardly believe that she slept that long, then again she did go to sleep around 9 this morning. Quietly she tiptoed around Johnny's sleeping from and made it out of the room.
"Oh good you're awake." A voice called. Ella almost jumped in fright. Sitting where she left her last night was Starling. Ella would have thought she stayed their the whole night, but her clothes were slightly different. When Ella had first met the girl she wore a similar outfit to Nightwing. Now it was almost completely different. A lot of the purple accents were gone, and in their place was more black and cape. The only thing that had stayed the same was the bird shape across her chest, except instead of being colored in it was only a purple outline.
"I changed because this outfit offers more protection, better stealth, and more room for weapons." Starling must have caught Ella looking her over, as she answered her unanswered question with a clip tone.
Ella narrowed her eyes, "You're mad at me."
Starling snorted, "You expected me not to be?" Ella opened her mouth to come up with a retort, but find her voice was lost to her. Indirectly Ella was the cause of people going missing, people who were close to Starling. "Cat got your tongue?" Starling asked slightly amused. "Don't get me wrong, I understand why you didn't come to the league with your information. It's understandable, but it doesn't make it right. I guess not everyone is born with that natural sense of justice I see within my family. If I were my uncle, the Red Hood, I wouldn't have forgiven you. You should be lucky I'm not because you might have found yourself waking up with a bullet in your head." Ella gasped, while Starling laughed. "I'm kidding." she said. Ella eyed her warily, "He doesn't kill to much these days, especially not kids. So you're safe."
"So you're not mad?" Ella asked confused. This morning Starling didn't seem as if she wanted anything to do with Ella.
"I am." Starling admitted. "But I'm sure you had your reasons. You said that you would help make things right so I'm going to hold you to that. Being brave isn't easy. For some, it comes easier than other, but what makes being brave really matter is when someone who originally isn't gifted with bravery does something brave, and I'm sure you will. So we're going to do something brave, we're going to save the day. "
"You sound confident." Ella noticed.
"I am. I spent all the time you guys were sleeping thinking of the perfect plan. What do we need to summon a demon?" Starling asked.
"Summon a demon?" Ella asked shocked. "That would be-"
"Crazy?" Starling finished for her, "Yes, it is, but really how else are we going to get to The Collectors realm?"
"I Don't think."
"She can't do it." Both girls turned to find a very disheveled looking Johnny walking towards them.
"What do you mean she can't do it?" Starling asked.
"You're Raven's daughter, right?" Johnny asked. Ella nodded. "That means she won't be able to summon a demon. First of all, that takes a lot of magic, and a lot of prep time. Second, all Trigon needs to come back into this realm is a blood relative. We can't have her accidentally summoning him, trust me he's much worse than The Collector, and we don't have the manpower or experience to take him down."
Starling nodded, "Okay, then you do it." She said simply.
"Did you not hear the 'lot of magic' or the 'lot of prep time' part?" Johnny asked.
"Okay, what do you need?" Starling asked
"First off a spell. I won't be able to use my normal backward speaking spells." Johnny said.
"I have the book all about The Collector here." Ella pointed out. "There might be a spell in order to summon one of Seekers."
Starling smirked, "Brilliant. Okay what else."
"I have my wand and my grandfather's silk hat with me, so other than that, whatever the spell asks for." Johnny informed.
"Okay, that's it?" Starling asked. A loud growling sound came from Ella's stomach.
"Food would be nice."
"On it. Ella, keep looking through the book with Johnny. I think we might just win this yet."
"Are we ready?" Starling asked. Three hours later they a had gathered everything that they needed. The plan had been discussed. They were ready. Both magic users nodded. "Then let's do this."
On a small table in front of them laid five candles in were placed in a circle in the middle laid a small porcelain bowl.
"First thing first," Johnny started. He powered a light powder in the bowl. "Burnt ashes."
Ella put a plant into the bowl, "Acacia to open the gates."
"Rare oils from the east." Johnny added to the bowl, "We need one more thing." Both Johnny and Ella turned to Starling.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked.
"The rest of the spell calls for virgin blood." Ella answered honestly. Starling visibly paled.
"What are you guys saying-"
"Sorry, sorry! Gross no!" Ella screamed.
"Virgin blood means blood never used before in a ritual." Johnny clarified. "Really I mean come one. I'm 11 and she's 12 do you really think that we've done those kinds of things?"
"I literally just meet you yesterday." Starling reminded.
"Yes, and aren't we such good friends." Johnny drawled out in a sweet voice. "Now, your blood.
"It has to be me?" Starling questioned.
"Duh, Ella and and I have done rituals requiring blood before. It won't work with us" Johnny answered.
Starling sighed, "Fine." From her utility belt she pulled out a very expensive looking throwing knife which in the light had colors reflecting a rainbow.
Johnny blinked, "I could have sworn I've seen you with butterfly throwing knives."
Starling blushed under her domino mask, "So I collect throwing knives, what of it? Do you want the blood or not?"
"My bad, keep going." Johnny said holding his hands up in surrender, "What is it with Bats and lethal weapons?"
Starling ignored him while she mad a light cut in her hand, standing over the bowl, and letting it drop in.
"Alright, that's it." Ella said, "Johnny, the incantation." With a nod the young magician clapped his hands together, and with closed eyes began the latin incantation.
"Attenrobendum eos, ad consiendrum, ad ligandum eos, potiter et solvendum, et ad, congregontum eos, coram me." Wind swept through the room, and Johnny opened his eyes to reveal that his normally blue eyes glowed white. HIs hair swept haphazardly.
Starling watched in shock as Ella smiled in anticipation, "You might want to stand back." Ella grabbed the shocked Starling and moved her back away from Johnny as as the wind grew heavier and heavier. Starling and Ella shielded their eyes, and when they opened them on the floor sat one of The Seeker.
The wind stopped and slowly the white glow faded from Johnny's eyes.
"Holy crap, I can't believe that actually worked!" Was the first thing out of the boy's mouth. The Seeker laid on the ground unmoving.
"Is it dead?" Ella asked as she leaned foreword to check on The seeker. As if knowing what she was doing, The Seeker lunged forward at her intending to grab her only to be stopped by an invisible wall. Confused The seeker patted the wall, while Johnny looked on with an amused expression.
"Like it?" He asked mockingly, "My father taught it to me. It's called a Devil's Trap. It was made to hold demon, which I'm guessing you Seekers classify as low level demons. I wasn't sure it would work, but now I do. Thanks for the confirmation." The Seeker only growled at Johnny.
"Now that's not very nice." Ella said walking up to the demon, The demon flinched. "Oh we're not going to hurt you…yet. Right now we need you, and you're going to help us."
"I will never betray my lord." He hissed at Ella. "You think you children scare me? The Collector will do unto me ten fold then what ever you can even imagine."
"You really think?" Starling asked with raised eyebrows, Starling snorted. "Now I know what Batman feels like." She stalked closer to the seeker. Starling him down through her domino mask, "This is how you get a bad guy to do want you want."
"There are a total of 500 Seekers, all currently in The Collector's Realm, they shouldn't be an issue if you're discreet enough! Take the underground tunnels up and you'll be fine! Also the prisoners who weren't a problem were kept in the dungeon underneath the-"
"Stop." Starling ordered calmly "You're going slow down, and tell me everything I want to know. Do everything I need you to do, or else. Are we clear?" The Seeker nodded fervently, "Good. Now what do we call you."
"M-m-Markl!" He stuttered.
"Okay Markl, so there are 500 Seeker in total, and they won't be a problem with good stealth, right?"
"Right!" He chirped in a scared tone.
"And the best way is to go through the underground tunnels?"
"Yes!"
"Okay, Where are the prisoners?" Johnny asked, stepping forward. Markl, the seeker turned to Johnny grateful to be talking to someone other then the scary, masked girl who makes good on her threats.
"In the dungeon. The only way to get there undetected is to be brought there as a prisoner. My Lor- I mean The Collector is very serious about his collectables."
"Okay, good. Can you draw us map?" Ella asked.
"No, Milady." He answered. "The realm of The collector is very complicated to maneuver through."
Johnny snorted, "Oh yeah so you can-"
"That would be perfect, Markl." Starling cut him off.
"Um, Starling?" Johnny called out.
"You'll bring us to the collector's realm, and then you're going to take us to the prisoners." She ignored the boy.
"Starling?"
"And if you betray us. I will teach you the fear of God."
"Starling!" Johnny cried loudly.
"What!" Starling turned to Johnny quickly.
"Meeting. Other room. Now please." He ordered pointing down the hallway.
"Geez, your wasting time, Johnny." Starling groaned as she walked passed him down the hallway.
"Uhh, What about The Seeker?" Ella asked. Johnny shrugged.
"He's fine. Devil's trap," Johnny reminded, "He is not going anywhere."
With a sigh Ella followed Johnny and Starling into the hallway out of earshot from The Seeker.
"Well?" Starling asked with eyebrows raised.
"He's obviously going to betray us." Johnny said. "If we let him lead us it'll obviously be a trap."
"So let him." Starling shrugged. "He'll take you to where the other are anyway."
"They'll be prepared for us." Ella argued.
"Do you two trust me?" Starling asked. Johnny and Ella looked towards each other.
"Do we have a choice?" Johnny asked.
"No," Starling smirked. "You don't. Just know whatever happens it's best that you don't know the whole plan for now."
"Fine." Johnny groaned. He turned his back and walked back toward The Seeker, Markl. "I'll trust you on this one. Just don't screw up."
"Alright, Markl." Johnny started. "You'll take us to The Collector's Realm, and to the prisoners he's taken, got it?"
Markl nodded enthusiastically.
"Great, then let's go." Ella said. erasing a piece of the devil's trap setting The Seeker free. "Now, take us to The Collector's Realm."
"As you wish." Markl said. With a clap of his hands a blinding light was emitted and the three pre-teens were no longer in Oracle's Clocktower, but The Collector's realm. "Welcome to Noxignis Castle, The home of demon lord Bailitheo, The Collector."
It was not what one would quite expect from a demon's domain. Instead of the fire and brimstone the trio had been expecting there was a large castle and a relative state of calmness they had not been expecting. Behind the large castle made of stones as black as night were grey skies as if the color blue had been stripped away from it. The clouds hung there in a darker shade of gray unmoving. Then that's when Starling noticed there was no wind in this place. The air was stagnant as if it hadn't moved. The air smelled sour, though not too unpleasant as if to make a person gag, but as if the whole place had was close to being spoiled. It wasn't as scary of a place that the trio had imagined, though it still wasn't pleasant like the Earth.
Johnny whistled, "Good work, Markl. Now the prisoners." Markl nodded.
"We must take the underground tunnels, so not to be seen. Follow me quickly." With haste the four young heroes followed The seeker deep into the underground. The deeper they went the more the darkness grew around them.
"We'll need torches in a moment." Ella announced as the last bit of light began to fade.
"We will not find our way if we do not find the darkness in the light." Answered Markl, and as he said the words the last bit of light left them. Then not even a second later the tunnels was brighten with the soft light of violet crystal that hung from the ceiling of the tunnels, lighting there way.
"Oh my." Commented Ella
"Cool." Johnny said. He turned to Ella, "They match your eyes." He said and like a the little girl she was she took the comment with a blush turning her face away from Johnny.
"Stop that." Starling chided gently, "He is right, you know." Ella stuttered a thank you before they continued to move on through the tunnels.
"Is the dungeon the only place The Collector keeps prisoners?" Starling asked.
"Yes, It is." Markl answered quickly.
Johnny looked towards Starling who only nodded, and gave him a reassuring smile.
"Good. Let's hurry up and take back the people so we can get back home." Ella said as she began to walk up the stairs behind Markl. Johnny and Starling followed suit. The stair case was long and winding and the palely light by the violet crystals. They walked up in silence nothing needed to be said, and when they finally reached the top, as promised their were the dungeons.
"We've made it. We actually made it." Ella said slightly shocked.
"I can hardly believe it either, that was almost too easy." Johnny said with a relieved sigh.
"Don't count your blessings yet." Starling said. "We need to get these people out."
Ella nodded as she went up to the bars in the dungeon. "Stand back. I got this." Ella's eyes and hands glowed purple but before she could destroy the lock the glow slowly faded. Flickering until it went away completely. "My-my Magic!" She almost shouted. "It's gone!"
"It can't be." Johnny said pushing her aside. "Here let me. Kcolnu!" Nothing happened. "Kcolnu!" again nothing of significance happened. "My magic." Johnny said staring at hands. Johnny glared at Markl. "What did you do?"
The Seeker laughed, "Did you really think you would hold magically prisoners here without taking away their magic?" He told them. "You were fools to come here, and now you will die here." As if on cue the pre-teens were surrounded. The Seekers had known they were there.
Ella growled as her eyes again glowed that violet, "Don't!" Johnny screamed. "We're out numbered with out our powers. Face it, Ella, We lost this one." Johnny lifted his hands behind his head in surrender. With tears Ella raised her hands above her head. "We get it. It was a mistake coming here. We are outmatched, outnumbered, and outsmarted."
"You are right about that." A seeker came out from the massive crowd. It was the leader, Ikhail. "You are not only just children, but stupid children, and all you've done is bring yourselves to us. Now with you're magical energy The Collector will be free from this prison, and can take the world as his own." Ikhail boasted, "Tie them up, and put them with the other sacrifices. Without there magic they are useless no sense in putting them with extremely dangerous sacrifices. They are only children." As ordered The Seeker tied Johnny and Ella up.
"Wait!" Markl cried. "There were three of them. The other girl is gone." All Thee Seeker looked around for Starling, but it seemed she was long gone.
Ikhail grabbed Johnny's chin, "Where is the other girl?"
"I don't know!" He cried tears streaming down his face, "Starling, she disappears like this all the time!" Ikhail threw Johnny down.
"You lie!"
"He doesn't, Ikhail." Markl called out. "I have meet the girl. She is smarter then the these two. She may have sensed my betrayal and took off. She won't get too far in The Collector's Realm."
Ikhail thought for a minute, "You are right. Still send out a search party to find the girl, and put these two in a cell."
Markl grabbed Johnny and gripped him tight, "Coming here was a mistake. Your friend has abandoned you, and left you to die. Don't worry this is normal being in The Collector's Realm makes the closest of people betray their own family. I guess they can sense death approaching them." Markl smirked slyly at Johnny, "Now boy, I think it's time for your nap." He then punched Johnny in the gut hard enough for the boy's conscienceless to leave him.
When Johnny came to, he found a very worried Ella sitting over him.
"Hey." He greeted groggily.
"Hey yourself." She returned with a slight chuckle.
Johnny sat up, "Where are we?" He asked rubbing his head.
"Where we wanted to be. The dungeon." She answered with a grin. That woke Johnny up.
"We're in the dungeons?!" He asked again excitedly.
With a smile Ella nodded, "Yup, and we are not alone." Johnny then took a good look at his surroundings and around him were the faces of all the people who went missing. The everyone on the files that Starling had shown them were with them in this huge dark cell
From the dark corner a girl came out. She had blonde hair, and on her chest was the yellow symbol of the bat.
"You're Batgirl." Johnny said. She nodded.
"I am. I'm guessing you're Zatanna's son? " She asked.
"I am." He assured. "We've come to get you out."
Someone from the crowd spoke up. "No offense, but you're just two kids."
Batgirl turned to the crowd, "You would be surprised what kids can do." She turned back to Johnny and Ella. "Please tell me that there are more of you." She said in a whisper
"Don't worry we have a plan. This was part of the plan." Ella assured. "We just got to hope Starling comes through."
"Starling?" Batgirl asked. "She's here?"
"Yes, we planned to get captured to get all of you out." Johnny answered in a whisper. "She's making sure The Collector doesn't come back to Earth ever again."
"That's better then just escaping." Batgirl agreed.
"Is this everyone?" Ella asked.
Batgirl stared at them confused, "I thought you knew." She said somberly.
"Knew what?" Ella asked. Johnny got a horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach. "Knew what!"
Batgirl gave the two a sad look. "The people who caused the most trouble were taken. We don't know what happened to them."
"Who was taken!?" Johnny asked frantically, "Who was taken?!"
Starling stayed in the shadows. She did her best work there. She passed by column and column, and on these pillars she placed a little surprise that would cripple The Collector for a very long time. Markl had made one mistake, by showing her the tunnels he took away his only escape route and by blowing up not only the pillars holding up Noxignis Castle to make sure nothing was left standing. While walking in the caves Starling used her extra explosives to take out the underground cave. With that the whole Castle will be left of nothing but rubble. Destroying what ever The Collector planned use to suck the magical energy from all these people, and hopefully injury him and his Seekers in the process. The plan was perfect. And once everyone was freed Johnny and Zatanna would say the spell to trap The Collector in his realm for the next 400 years. She had left no holes. Starling was trained well.
Starling finished placing the last explosive on the final Base column. Now all she needed to do was to go to the dungeons and send all the missing people back to Earth. It seemed for once in her life a plan was actually going to work without any problems. Pleased with her work Starling moved on going back to the dungeons until a room caught the corner of her eye. It was a normal room, nothing about it really stood out, but it seems to make Starling's stomach drop. Following her gut, Starling walked into the room.
The room was scarcely light. Only candles providing a small amount of light, and in the room were statues. Of different people in different positions. Curiosity got the better of Starling. She trapped a candle stick from the holder and walked closer to the statue closest to her. The Statue in the light was now clear to Starling's eyes, and before her was not a statue, but a person. A person Starling knew.
"Wonder Woman?" Starling said almost horrified. It really was her She was covered in what looked to be clay, and was in a defensive position. She had gone out protecting herself. Starling almost panicked. If this is what was actually happening to the prisoners, then…. The Collector still needed their magical energy which meant he couldn't kill them yet. Starling held the statued Wonder Woman and put her head to her chest. It was faint. Starling was sure if she didn't have superior hearing she wouldn't be able to hear it, but there it was a, heart beat. Which meant that she was alive. Which meant everyone here was still alive, but who exactly was here?
Starling pulled out her flashlight and ran down the lines of statues, hoping-praying that Nightwing, Zatanna and Stephanie weren't here. Down the line she found heroes.
Captain Marvel
Dr. Fate
Tempest
Animal Man
Traci 13
Vixen
Raven
Talia al Ghul
All very powerful people, stuck in clay, unmoving. These people would have caused problems, made plans to escape, tricked guards, caused riots. knowing their personalities Starling knew they were put like this so they wouldn't cause trouble. It was smart take away those who would take charge, and the others would be sheep without a shepherd. The sad part was Stephanie would cause trouble, and when Nightwing got here, so would he. Stephanie, too. Starling sighed in relief as she noticed that one more statue remained. Slowly Starling walked up to it dropping her flashlight as she saw who the statue was.
"Nightwing?" She asked to no one at all, but there was no denying it. The statue that stood before her was her father, and she had no way to free him. Starling could have cried if she had the time, but there was still work to be done. The trapped heroes were still alive, and that was what mattered at the moment. She would worry about freeing them later.
As Starling left the room to go back to the dungeons a thought struck her. Nightwing was here, and Zatanna was with him when they got here. So where was Zatanna? Starling cursed softy to herself. She had a feeling Zatanna wasn't in the dungeons either. It seemed that fate had another thing in mind when Starling had hoped this mission run smoothly this time.
"Captain Marvel, Dr. Fate, Talia al Ghul, Tempest, Animal Man, Traci 13, Vixen, Wonder Woman, Raven, and Constantine are all missing still?" Ella asked. Johnny at the moment was slightly incapacitated.
"Now we can add Zatanna and Nightwing to that list." Batgirl said with a sigh.
"Where do they take them?"
"We don't know." Batgirl said with a shake of her head. "I wasn't one of the first ones taken, so I don't know the full story. According to Constantine, the first one taken was Dr. Fate."
It seemed the mention of his father brought Johnny out of his stupor. "Constantine? I thought you said he went missing with the others?"
"He was one of the final ones to disappear." Batgirl clarified, "First was Dr. Fate. He decided to fight back, but without his magic he was taken down easily and sent away. After that it was Tempest, Raven and Traci, They decided to try to pick the lock and escape. Constantine said he never say any of them after that. That's when Wonder Woman got here. I came a little after her, and she and Captain Marvel decided to stage a prison riot, take out the guards and make a run for it. Constantine tried to stop them, but they went with it anyway. We almost succeeded then Wonder Woman was taken down, and without proper leadership, we failed. They took away everyone they thought would cause trouble after that Captain Marvel ,Animal Man, Vixen, Talia. They would have taken me too, but Constantine knocked me out and hid me amongst the crowd. I think he liked my company. When I woke up, Constantine said he was going to find a way to get all of us out. The next day he was gone. Since then it's just been us. Morale is down, and nobody wanted to try escaping again or else we might end up like the others."
"But you still think we should fight." Ella said stating the obvious.
"Of course." Batgirl answered. "I'm a fighter. Sitting here, waiting to be saved. Isn't what I was trained to do."
"Then help us." Johnny said.
"You don't even have to ask, but the guards. We've tried everything."
"Not everything." Ella insisted. She turned to Johnny. "Johnny?"
He rolled his eyes, and muttered something under his breathe. He then, randomly, started coughing. A horrible coughing that made some think that he were dying. He then fell to the ground with a loud, dramatic bang.
"Help! Help!" Ella called out off the cells, "Help! I think he's allergic to something in here! If you don't help him, he'll die!" Batgirl had to admit, the girl was a stunning actress. She truly looked and sounded frantic.
"Why should we help some pitiful human." Shouted one of The Seekers from down the dark hall. It seemed that's where Ella's acting talent ended because she wasn't sure of what to say next. She stuttered quietly to herself before Batgirl came to her aid.
"Last I checked, you needed all of us!" Batgirl shouted. "You'll be short one sacrifice if you don't help him." There was some soft grumbling before two guards appeared.
"What does the boy need?" One of them asked.
"Medical attention." Ella shouted sounding frustrated, "He's going to go into anaphylactic shock!"
"Watch your tone, girl." The Seeker Growled at Ella. "We'll get the boy." He unlocked the door, and both Seekers walked inside towards the coughing Johnny on the ground. The Seeker who unlocked the door got down to pick the boy up, when Johnny suddenly stopped coughing.
"I mean, come on. This is the oldest trick in the book." Johnny said with a cocky grin.
Before the seekers could react, Batgirl had one in a choke hold, while Ella hit the other over the head with a big rock. Both were out cold. for most likely a while.
"I can't believe that actually worked." Batgirl announced.
"I can't believe you guys didn't try that one before." Johnny said looking over the two fallen Seekers. "Now all we got to do is find a place where our magic works."
"And find the others." Ella agreed.
"Great. Let's go."
One would think that Starling would have had a plan by now, but she didn't. She wasn't sure what to do. Go back to the dungeons, and tell everyone what had happened to their fellow heroes and that Johnny's mother was missing, or think of a plan. Starling choose think of a plan. Constantine was most likely done there meaning that Johnny and Constantine would open a portal back to earth, the spell required those of same blood to say the spell. She could free the civilians before putting them in danger to save the others. Her father would want that. They all would want that. They would rather stay statues then let those people die. So Starling had to think of a plan, because no matter the odds she was going to save everyone.
It seemed her only way out would be to make a deal with the devil.
"The coast is clear." Batgirl whispered as she gently jumped down from the ledge above. "I don't know for how long, so we need to move quickly." The heroes that were left, Johnny, and Ella guided the civilians down the large corridors. They had managed to make it up from the dungeons without getting noticed which was an amazing feat as over a thousand people with them. It seemed they understood the gravity of the situation and were as quiet as church mice as they made through Noxignis Castle.
Quickly they made their way to the next hallway when they were stopped by Batgirl.
"I think I hear something." She whispered to Johnny. He nodded, and watched as she disappeared in the darkness. Johnny peered around the corner and confirmed Batgirl's suspicions. Two Seekers. Were walking towards them. With too many people to hide, it became apparent that they were going to get caught. They had failed.
"OVER HERE LAMEOS !" Batgirl shouted at she jumped out from her hiding spot and ran in the other direction of the crowd.
"GO! Down the other hallway!" Johnny ordered. "Batgirl's giving us a chance to salvage this situation. Let's not waste it." They took off down the hallway when they heard Batgirl scream. Johnny stopped looking back towards where the girl and the Seekers had disappeared to.
"You can't." Ella called out to him
"But I can try." Johnny snatched his arm from the girl and took off in the direction Batgirl went only to find Batgirl fine and a seeker standing next to her dusting off his clothes. "Batgirl?" He asked legitimately confused.
"Oh!" She said as if she just remembered something, "Did I scare you with that scream? Sorry, he caught me off of guard." She explained.
"Okay, so why is a Seeker helping us?" Johnny asked.
"Cause I'm not actually a Seeker. To think my own son doesn't even recognize me." The magic faded with a small light as the Seeker before him turned into the supposedly missing, John Constantine. "Hello, Giovanni."
"Dad?"
The Collector was a very powerful, very old magical demon. He had powers like no other, but he was different from the other demons. Bailitheo, The Collector was a demon of class, of refinement. He hadn't spent over a century collecting the rarest and most expensive things in the universe for nothing. The Collector unlike other demons found beauty in what those small humans could create. He found a beauty in those people who were rare and beautiful, and When he returned to the plain of the living he would collect all those worthy, and be king over the humans. He wasn't unreasonable as other demons. The Humans had something to offer, and after century of taking their most valuable items and people, The Collector knew when he stumbled upon something he had never seen before.
And the masked girl clad in black and purple was a first, her words were also ones he hadn't heard in a long time.
"As a demon, you do make deals, right, Collector?" She said as with a confident smile. With an amused grin the Collector nodded. "Then do I have a deal for you."
"Where the hell have you been, Constantine?" Batgirl chided. "We all thought you got taken like the others!"
Constantine shrugged, "I told you I was going to get us out." He settled his gaze on his son, "But it seems someone beat me to it."
"I'm in trouble, aren't I?" Johnny said meekly.
"Oh loads, when we get your mother back." Constantine answered.
"Wait, you know where the others are?" Batgirl asked.
"Yes, and No."
"What do you mean?" Asked Johnny.
"I know where they are, but I doubt we can help them, or Zatanna right now."
"What happened to mom?"
Constantine sighed and took a hold of his son's shoulders, "It seems that Zatanna has been considered too rare for a sacrifice. The Collector took her as his own."
Batgirl gasped, "And the others?"
"We won't be much help unless we can figure out how to de-statue them." Constantine said plainly.
"Statues!" "How can you be so calm about this!" Batgirl and Johnny shouted at the same time.
"Sounds like you guys are having a party." Ella came from around the corner. "What? I had to make sure the civilians were alright." Ella said. "What's going on?"
"Nothing good, Ella. Nothing good at all."
"A deal, girl?" The Collector said in a booming voice. "You want to strike a deal with me, human?" When Starling had been expecting a demon. A demon was not what she got. Instead she got a very thin older man with gray hair, and a matching gray beard. The only way to tell the man was a demon was the black on yellow eyes that burned into Starling's own.
"Yes, a deal. Demons make deals. So I want to make a deal with you, Collector." Starling announced. "Or are you scared of a little girl's deal?"
"You mock me, girl?" He said with raised eyebrows, "Have you no fear?"
"I was taught young that fear is necessary, as well as overcoming it. I do not fear you because my life is not in danger." Starling answered.
"Who ever taught you was wise, indeed. It is clear that you have learned from the best." The Collector gave her a sly grin, "but you are wrong to not fear me."
"You really think?" She said, "My deal now, Collector."
"What kind of a deal does an insolent little girl have for me?"
"I will leave in peace should you release the all the people you have made statues for sacrifice." Starling said.
"Leave in peace" The Collector quoted, "and what could you possible do to me, girl?"
"I figured out a long time ago that you have to have something to syphon out the natural magical energy from the sacrifices. Magic alone won't work. So instead of finding out what device you are using. I'm just going to blow up your whole castle!" Starling said excitedly.
The Collector seemed slightly taken back by this proclamation.
"You think I'm joking." Starling announced as she pulled out the trigger, "But I'm as serious as can be." And Starling prayed that Ella and Johnny had said the spell to send them home.
"We have both of you here now. We should do the spell and send the civilians home." Ella said.
"And just leave, Nightwing and the others here?" Batgirl argued. "We can't!"
"Nightwing and the others are heroes. They would understand our decision, besides we aren't going. We're going to send the rest back to Earth, then we're going to save the others." Constantine announced.
"That works." Batgirl agreed. "Charlie- I mean Misfit is here she can get in contact with the league once we send them back, and make sure everyones okay."
"Good. Then let's get to work" Constantine said, "Now Johnny, I think you have a spell to teach me."
"And what of the rest sacrifices?" The Collector asked. "And your own life.
"Collateral damage." Starling answered with a shrug. "I'm not asking you to send them back to Earth, just free them from the spell. This includes Zatanna Zatara. I don't know where you have her, but free her, and the others. I promise if you do that I won't demolish this amazing castle you have here."
"You dare threaten me?"
"It's not a threat. It's a deal. A common standing ground between two people with equal gain." Starling clarified. "You get something and I get something. Seems fair to me."
"It is far from fair. I still get everything, while you, girl, get nothing. I wonder what trick you have up your sleeve?"
"Nothing I swear. But do we have a deal, Collector?" Starling asked.
The Collector got up from his throne and walked down to Starling. Taking her hand and knelling before her, he spoke. "We have a deal, and it shall be sealed with a kiss." He kissed the back of her hand. It had been done.
In the room of petrified heroes(and Talia), they were all suddenly released from their spell.
"By the gods" Wonder Woman muttered.
"Holy Crap, we're free." Captain Marvel laughed out loud. "We just might make it out of here alive!"
"Yes, but who is responsible for our freedom?" Raven asked, helping Nightwing up.
"I think I have a feeling." Nightwing answered.
"It's done." Constantine said, before them was a large spinning portal, and slowly the civilians started making there way through.
"Misfit. When you get back be sure to tell the league and Oracle what has happened." Batgirl told the younger girl.
"I will. I'll take care of the civilians, too."
"Atta girl, We'll see you all on the other side." Batgirl gave Misfit a hug before sending her through the portal after the rest.
"Ella," Johnny said turning to the girl. "I think you should go, too." Johnny told her seriously.
"What! I thought you and Starling wanted me to see this out till the end!" She yelled outraged.
"You did, your job is done now. You've officially atoned for your past mistakes." Johnny said trying to stay calm, "You can go now."
"But-but-but!"
"Your still running aren't you?" Ella froze at his words, "Your mom is here, and if she finds you here you can't run any more."
"Maybe it's time for me to stop running?" She asked him.
"No, you made your choice to run, now stick with it." Johnny told her. "I think you need to stay out of your mom's shadow, and make your place in this world. So go, and don't look back."
"How will I know if all of you made it out safely?" she asked.
"When we get out I'll find you. Promise." Johnny told her. Ella nodded and headed to the portal, but before going in she turned back and gave Johnny a hug.
"Thank you, Johnny." She whispered in his ear before going through the portal.
"Batgirl, I think you should go, too." Constantine told the blonde girl.
She snorted, "Hell no. Starling and Nightwing are still here, and I'm not leaving without them. Come on, we've got people to save."
The Collector stood from his position on his knees, "Your deal is now complete, but I ponder how you will get out of this girl because I think I may keep you. you are very interesting. Yes, I think I like you very much. Send her to the oven to be molded and baked. I'll take care of her later." Starling was then grabbed by two seekers who began to drag her off when another Seeker came running in.
"My Lord, It seems that the sacrifices have escaped from the dungeons. We have searched and we believe they have made it out of Noxignis."
"HALT!" The Collector order the Seekers dragging Starling off. "What have you done, girl."
Starling chuckled, "I have done nothing. It seems to me they have escaped on their own. Terribly sorry." Starling said sarcastically.
"I thought You would make a nice figurine for my self, but now I think I would prefer your head on my wall!" The Collector screamed in anger. With a mighty yell he raised his hands and summoned what looked to be a large sword. "Hold her down, lest I ruin her pretty hair." The Collector sung his sword up and Starling closed her eyes, slightly pleased the other made it out. She didn't need to fear the death coming towards because she knew she was not dying today. If the others escaped that meant she could too. So when the feeling of flying came to her instead of the feeling of getting her head chopped off Starling wasn't all that surprised. She was surprised by who saved her though.
"Damian!" She cried so happy to see him for once. "Holy crap, you're here!" they were currently swing through the air. Damian had picked her up before she got decapitated.
"No real names in the field, Starling." He mocked, but the smirk on his face let Starling knew he was relived to see her. She did almost in fact have her head cut off and mounted on a wall.
"Wait if you're here that means-" Starling was cut off by the sounds of terrified screams, and groans of pain. "Batman!" She sighed in relief. Her work wasn't for nothing then. Robin and Starling landed next to Batman taking out about four Seekers with a very well done toe touch on Starling's part and a back flip from Robin.
"You're a little late to the party, Bats." Starling joked, "I was just about to clean house."
"Looked more like they were cleaning you up." Robin snorted. Starling rolled her eyes before punching a seeker in the face.
"Care to explain what's going on, Starling." Batman's gruff voice asked as he took out another three seekers.
"Oh I'm in trouble, aren't I?"
"Big time." Robin answered.
Starling sighed, "Well, we found Zatanna." Starling started, "and lets just say I kinda got Nightwing and her captured."
Robin stopped fighting and looked at her in shock, "What!" he ducked before a Seeker could take advantage of his momentary distraction, and kicked him in the gut.
"And?" Batman growled.
"A magical girl we found on the streets, Zatanna's son, and I-"
"Wait Zatanna's son? You mean Giovanni?" Batman asked.
"Is that his real name? We mostly just called him Johnny." Starling answered, "Anyway, we made a plan got here, and we freed all of the sacrifices that weren't statues."
"People were statues!" Robin shouted at her. "You really fucked up, Starling."
" Shut up! You weren't even around! You know what! I'll tell you later!" Starling shouted as she threw a seeker into Batman grip where he knocked him out.
"A time where we are not outnumbered would be good." Batman agreed.
"Looks like you guys could use some help!" A voice called. Coming down through the door was none other then Batgirl, with Johnny and Constantine( Who looked incredibly displeased, and smoking a cigarette.) "Good thing we came to save your asses."
"Batgirl, language." Batman reprimanded.
Batgirl looked outraged as "Robin just cursed!- Whatever! I don't know why I bother!" She hissed as she threw some batarangs.
Johnny jumped into the fray after Batgirl muttering backwards spells sending Seekers flying through the air. John Constantine however stood by the door still smoking his cigarette.
"What's wrong with Lung Cancer over there." Robin jerked his thumb in Constantine's direction.
The dark knight threw his opponent to the ground before answering, "He's more of a brain over brawn guy. He usually only fights when he has to."
"You need an invite or something, Constantine!" Batgirl shouted as she flipped over Seeker hitting him with her bo staff.
Constantine sighed before dropping his cigarette, and putting it out with his foot. It took him two steps before a Seeker came up to him ready to attack, next thing everyone knew the Seeker was on the ground, holding his side, because a knife had been elegantly shoved into it.
"Did he just?" Robin asked.
"If by just you mean stole another seeker's knife before stabbing the one attacking him, then yes he did just." Starling answered.
Batman raised an eyebrow at the children, "I said he didn't like to fight not that he couldn't."
"Father," Damian said in awe, "This man fights dirty... Can we keep him?"
"NO!" Batgirl, Batman and Starling all shouted at once.
"The one time I wasn't serious." Robin grumbled.
With all of them working together it seemed that the Seeker stood no chance, and their number started to diminish.
"ENOUGH!" Suddenly The Collector that Starling had just been dealing with changed into a monstrous form. The old man in the gray suit no longer existed in his stead was a giant monster of gray with wings that spanned the whole room. His fist alone was the size of a SUV, and he then proceeded to bring that fist down onto the floor below them causing it to open up, most likely with magic because it had flames at the bottom. Flames.
With no hesitation The Bats pulled out their grapples and quickly made it to higher ground. Batgirl had grabbed Constantine, while Starling Reached for Johnny. Unluckily, the floor underneath him gave away, and the boy started to fall into the cavern of flame.
"Johnny!" Starling cried. Without even a second thought she released her line and dived after her friend.
"Damn it! Starling! That was you only retractable grapple!" Robin shouted after her. He cursed to himself. There was nothing he could for them.
Luckily, Starling had used some of her brain that wasn't panicking and fired another line towards the ceiling, and caught Johnny with ease.
"Crap!" Starling shouted in pain from the jolt when caught Johnny.
"Star!?" Johnny looked up at her with worry.
"I'm fine." She gritted through her teeth. "Johnny, I need you to climb up the line." She told him careful.
"Climb up?"
"Yes!" She snapped, "Sorry, I can't hold the both of us for too long, just long enough for you to climb up. I'll be right behind you."
"Are you sure?"
"Hurry and go!" She shouted at him. Johnny nodded and swing up when he stopped. "Why are you stopping? I thought I told you that I couldn't hold both of us for two long!"
"Starling?" He called.
"What?" She gritted through her teeth.
"You might what to look up." He told her with wide eyes. Starling did as she was told and looked up towards the opening of the hole. There to her horror holding their line was The Demonfied Collector as he grinned sadistically at them.
"I wanted your head on my wall, girl, but I will settle for this. It is just as satisfying."
"NO! WAIT NO!" Starling shouted as The Collector released their line, and the two children began to plummet towards the fiery hell waiting for them below.
Suddenly in two flashes of red rushed by Johnny and Starling, and they stopped falling.
"Holy Crap! Wonder Woman, I have never been so glad to see you!" Starling sighed relief. The amazon had caught her while CaptainMarvel had caught Johnny.
"And I you, Little Sister. Wasn't it you who freed us from being statues?" She asked with a smile.
"No big deal," Starling said with a shrug. "You would have done the same with me." Starling returned the smile.
"Now then, isn't time we take down a certain kidnapping demon."
"I think so." And the two flew back to the surface where the other were currently taking on the giant Collector, including her father. All of the people in the room who were clay statues were now free and fighting The Collector. All except Zatanna. Starling wondered if the deal worked for her.
"Starling!" Nightwing swung down from one of the rafters below.
"Nightwing!" Starling said excitedly.
"Thank you, Diana." He said nodding to the Amazon. She nodded in return then flew off to fight with the others. He turned to his daughter. "If I didn't know any better I would say that three pre-teens just saved the world."
"Please, we're not even done yet!" Starling laughed flipping away towards the fight.
"Bout time you joined us, mini Grayson." Robin said coming behind her
"I had a flight to catch." Starling joked.
"Well, how about a maneuver seven then?" Robin suggested. Starling nodded and jumped into his awaiting hands was boosted into the air. As trained she threw two Wing-dings that hit The Collector in the face,and exploded on impact.
"Eat that!" She shouted with a fist in the air.
"Don't celebrate yet, Starling!" Robin shouted at her. In the air, Starling turned to see that her exploding wing-dings on temporarily blinded the giant demon. With a growl, The collector swung his giant hand hitting her and sending her flying straight into Robin and they both tumbled till they hit the castle wall.
"Ouchie." Starling said rubbing her head, still on top of Robin.
"Get off!" He roughly shoved the girl off of him, and she landed next to him with a soft thump.
"What are we going to do, Robin?" Starling asked
"We banish it back to hell!" A voice answered. Starling and Robin turned to see none other than Zatanna standing on top of The Collector's throne.
"Wait, we can banish it?" Constantine asked.
Zatanna only nodded, "You climbed out of hell, and created a side dimension here, Collector, but I will be sending you back!" Zatanna proclaimed. "Dimisissem daemon, relinque hic locus. Eo retrosum ad apage!" Zatanna shouted, then repeated.
"A latin spell?" Traci 13 shouted "I do love the classics." And she joined in with Zatanna's chanting.
"Exorcise him? Why didn't I think of that?" Constantine said with an eye roll before joining in. Soon all of the magic users were chanting the spell,and with each one that joined in the Collector screamed in pain.
"You really thought you could get away with this, demon!" Zatanna shouted. "Begone! And never return!" A giant portal opened underneath the collector.
"FOOLS" THE COLLECTOR SHOUTED AS LONG AS THIS CASTLE EXSIST SO DO I!" He shouted, "I will return!" he shouted griping the ground to keep from falling into the portal to hell.
"Well, it's a good thing I planted all those explosives isn't it?" Starling said with a cheeky grin.
The Collector looked horrified, "Girl! I swear one day I will have your head!" He screamed, still gripping the ground.
"The name is Starling!" Starling shouted as she kicked the Collector into the portal to hell. "Remember it!" She shouted after him.
"Quickly, we have to destroy the castle, or he'll just come right back!" Zatanna said, jumping down from her postion and joining the others.
"Starling?" Johnny said.
"I-I-I Can't" Starling stuttered.
"What do you mean you can't?" Nightwing asked. "You have the trigger, and oyu weren't lying about the explosives, were you?"
Starling shook her head, "I wasn't! It's just that. If I push the button all of you will turn back into stone."
"What!" "I don't understand" "Back into statues!"
"Starling, explain. Now." Nightwing ordered.
Starling sighed, "I made a deal with The Collector. I wouldn't destroy the castle if he set you all free. It was the only leverage I had, and the only way I knew to set you all free. So I took the chance. Sorry, but I can't destroy this castle." Starling said sadly.
"Oh give me the trigger." Robin groaned as he snatched it away from Starling. "I'll do it." and he pushed the button.
"Robin!" Batgirl shouted, "You could have waited. You know, till we had a way out!"
Robin rolled his eyes, "Father."
There was a large boom, and opening behind them was a boom tube.
"A boom tube? Really, Batman?" Wonder Woman asked with a raised eyebrow.
"You'd be surprised what Ra's al Ghul keeps in his hide outs." Was Batman's only answer.
"Then, Beloved, I will be taking it back." Talia al Ghul said. Starling had almost forgotten she was there. Everyone grew silent. It seem Starling wasn't the only one.
Nightwing coughed awkwardly which made Batman send a glare his way. Nightwing whistled as he walked into the boom tube, taking Starling with him. It seemed to be the end of Starling's little heroes adventure,and honestly the only thing she wished for was home
They had all made it home safely. The Collector was no more, and the only story not finished was that of the three children who had saved the day, thought to the knowledge of the league it was only two.
"This is the place you told her to meet us, right?" Starling said. They were both in public wearing civvies. To hide her identity Starling wore a pair of dark shade, while Johnny only wore a hoodie to cover up his tux.
"Yeah, this it, and we're on time." Johnny said proudly.
Starling rolled her eyes in a very Damian like manner, "How surprising." She muttered sarcastically.
"Come on." Johnny grabbed her hand, "She's probably inside." They both went inside to find Ella sitting at a booth waiting for them. Her face lit up as she saw them.
"You guys are back!" Ella said excitedly.
"Of course, we are. You had any doubt." Jonny said chin in the air as he sat down next to her.
"No, but I'm still grateful all of you made it out safely." She said.
"Listen, Ella," Johnny started hesitantly. "We talked to your mom." Ella froze.
"What?" She sounded so upset at the thought of them talking to her mother.
"We didn't tell her anything." Starling amended. "But she did ask about you." Starling added.
Ella didn't look at them, "What did you tell her?" Ella asked softly.
"She asked if you had gotten captured, or if we saw you." Johnny said
"and we told her we hadn't." Starling finished, "Which wasn't a complete lie. You weren't captured so..."
"And how did you keep Batgirl, Nightwing, Constantine, and Zatanna quiet." Ella asked.
"They never knew who you really were so it didn't take much to convince them that you had split after the battle. You did hold needed info from the league for weeks on end." Johnny said.
Ella groaned don't remind me, "Don't remind me."
"It's fine. You've completely made up for that." Starling said.
"so what are we going to do now?" Ella asked, and that certainly was the question. What were are young heroes going to do now.
"I have to meet my mom at the airport." Johnny finally said after a long pause. "We're heading back to Las Vegas."
Ella looked toward Starling, "I have my work here with Batman, and Nightwing." Starling said with a sigh. Ella frowned. It seemed the only two friends she had ever made were going to be leaving her. "but I did think of you." Starling reached in her pocket and pulled out train tickets and some cash.
"Here are train tickets down to Latla City in Georgia." Starling said, "Down there you'll find a circus that will hire you no questions asked." Ella's pout grew into a smile. "You like animals, right?" Ella nodded, "Good. The animal tamer needs a new assistant."
"You can go down there!" Johnny said excitedly, "Isn't that great?!"
"Then, next time we see you, you'll be a better person. So you can face not only us"
"But your mother, too. She won't hear about you from us." Johnny said seriously.
"We don't really approve, but as your friends, we're going to help you anyway." Starling said. "But you have to promise us that when you get to Latla you'll contact your family. They're worried about you, and want to know that your safe."
Ella nodded, "Thank you." She said.
"So you promise?" Johnny asked.
"I promise. I promise. I can't guarantee that I'll go back home, but I'll contact them."
"Good thing we weren't asking for that then." Johnny joked. "If your mom knew what you did to save the others, she'd be proud of you, Aurella."
"I can only hope."
"I've got to get to school, and Johnny you have a plane to catch. So, Ella will be leaving now, but we'll see you again. We promise." Starling said, "Your train leaves at noon by the way, you also have enough money to get you anything you should need."
"Thank you, for everything." She said standing up hugging them both.
"Come on, Johnny. We'll see you later, Ella." Starling said with a smile leading Johnny out of the restaurant.
Ella smiled to herself, maybe there was hope for Aurella Logan yet. Maybe one day she could be just as good as Johnny and Starling. Ella drank a sip of her juice. She could only hope that next time they meet she would be.
Final word count: 15,628(MY LORD)
Like I mentioned last chapter, this two parter was not supposed to be a two parter. It was supposed to be a cute little one shot story, but that failed. So here we have I first multi-part chapter, The Missing. I kinda liked this chapter. Though it took a while to write I did love every minute writing it. I had a lot of good character moments that I loved and I hope you will, too. Two part chapter won't be happening often I only have another one planned and that isn't till the next arc so no worries yet.
Anyway, Ella is a character I created. I'm slightly partial to the BBXRae ship but I don't ship it that much. I just thought Ella would be an interesting character to have later on, if you guys enjoyed her. The one thing I love about is that I can get honest feedback from you guys and that does help in my writing. Also I apologize for anything wrong with this chapter I am editing it at 3 in the morning, and should go to bed cause i got to be up before 8. Oh well...
Sorry, again for taking so long with this chapter, but Senior year is kicking my ass. Marching Band season is almost over and then I'll have more writing time. Other than that I'm really excited about next chapter. We'll get an in depth look into Mary's brain, and we get another visit from everyone's favorite psychopath, Alicia Royal, The Red Queen.
Special thanks to Victory Goddess who always reviews! You are amazing, and I'm will be loyal to you forever!
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. See you in the next one.
Next Chapter: The Insanity of Mary Grayson.
Until next time,
~Miyu k.