Chapter Five. Enter: Zatanna & Boston
Gotham, present day
Amy looked over at Mandrake as he was getting ready.
"Where are off to?" Amy asked.
"I'm off to visit an old friend," Mandrake answered, "We'll be meeting Zatanna Zatarra at her magic show she's having tonight."
"We?" Amy looked confused.
"Lothar and Bruce are going to join us on this trip," Mandrake answered, "do you want to come with us?"
Amy shot up with surprise, "Really, me? Yeah, but what about the rest of the Bat Family?"
"They'll be staying with the Defenders," Mandrake answered, "and helping out figure out the mystery of Cult X."
"And Zatanna knows about John Constantine," Bruce said as he stepped into the room in his Batman costume.
"Just who are those people?" Amy asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Constantine is someone within the magics," Bruce explained as he put his mask on and was now Batman.
"And Zatanna is an expert in the magics," Mandrake added, "and her father is a good friend of mine."
"So, we'll be able to see her in the magic show?" Amy asked.
"Of course," Mandrake nodded as he got out four tickets, "We have four tickets to Zatanna's show and I'm glad you are willing to come along with me."
"I'm glad you're willing to let me come with you guys," Amy smiled.
The two looked to see that Batman appeared to be puzzled by something.
"What's the matter?" Mandrake asked.
"I'm not sure why these seizures are happening," Batman answered, "the seizures are now happening to others along with people suffering from hallucinations. A few days ago, Nightwing suffered from a seizure, and two nights ago, Spoiler suffered from a seizure, and last night..."
"Kshin had a seizure too," Mandrake added in, "That is odd. I believe that the mysterious skull candies are involved with the seizures that Rick, Jedda, LJ, April, Dick, Barbara, Stephanie and Tim brought in during their day out on the town a few days ago."
"I was wondering the same thing," Batman looked on, "which is why I had Kate and Luke to help out Oracle with Signal, Orphan, Robin, and Red Hood on figuring out the people responsible for the mysterious drugs. The Defenders will help them whenever they need it when Flash isn't focusing on Rick's situation."
"I thought Rick got rid of the Brainiac virus?" Amy asked.
"Initially," Batman answered, "but it's being suspected Rick has a bit of the residual effects of the virus, and there needs to be a resolution to his situation once and for all, Flash's words, not mine."
"It's good suspicion," Mandrake nodded as Lothar walked into the room.
"In the meantime," Lothar stated, "we have a magic show to attend to. Zatanna will be surprised to see you again, Mandrake."
"That she will," Mandrake smirked.
-The-Magic-Within-
Zatanna took the stage as she started her magic show. She did a series of amazing magic tricks before proceeding with her grand finale.
After a brief black out, she made three elephants appear.
"And for my finale," Zatanna announced, "I will make this terrible trio of terrifying Tantors vanish before your eyes!"
She spoke her sentence backwards before the three elephants levitated in the air. Moments later, the elephants disappeared in white dust. The audience applauded her. Zatanna gave a bow before making her way to her dressing room as the show ended.
She saw a thing of roses and picked up a note showing a bat symbol.
"I hope those elephants survived," Batman stated as he, Mandrake, Lothar and a young lady entered the room, "You don't want PETA on your back."
"You're assuming they were real in the first place," Zatanna stated with a grin.
"I figured it is a part of your show, my dear," Mandrake took her hand and gently kissed it, "and it is marvelous to see you again."
"It's good to see you again, Mandrake," Zatanna replied with a blush before she looked at the others, "I recognize Batman and Lothar as well, but who's the young lady?"
She looked at the young lady who had a resemblance of Snow White, and she was slightly blushing.
"Zatanna," Mandrake introduced the young lady to her, "this happens to be my daughter, Amy."
"It's nice to meet you," Amy replied, "your show is very cool."
"Thank you, Amy," Zatanna replied. Then he looked at Batman, "How are you, Bruce?"
"I'm fine, Zatanna," Batman answered, "Busy. Two of my own have been struck with seizures over the past five days."
"That's not good," Zatanna glanced in shock.
"You know where I can find John Constantine?" Batman asked.
Zatanna looked away, "No."
"You must have some idea," Mandrake insisted, "these seizures his two wards had as well as my son might I add, appear to be related to some supernatural connection."
"You think?" Zatanna looked surprised, "Even then, we don't keep in touch."
"I know you two have history, so I..." Batman was cut off when he felt a strange surge go through him.
"Batman?" Lothar glanced in confusion.
"What happened?" Amy asked.
"Z, Batman needs to talk with John," Batman spoke up in another voice, "You've got to come along too. It's important."
"What do you mean?" Amy asked, confused, "you are Batman."
Zatanna stood up, recognizing what was going on, "Is that you, Boston?"
"Yeah," Boston answered as he was in Batman's body, "Everything is..."
He realized he couldn't stay in Batman's body for too long, "Boy, this guy's mind is tough. Can't hold..."
Batman managed to get Boston out of his body. Amy eyed the ghostly bald man in a red jumpsuit.
"You're Boston?" Amy asked.
"Yeah, sweetheart," Boston answered, "that would be me."
"What is going on?" Batman asked.
"Looks like Boston here decided to possess your body," Mandrake stated, pointing at Boston.
"I'll tell you on the way to John's," Zatanna placed a hand on his arm, "but that's the gist of it, as Mandrkae said."
"Okay," Boston replied, "but I call shotgun."
-The-Magic-Within-
Amy smirked as Boston looked annoyed as he was seated in the back with Mandrake, Zatanna and Amy while Lothar was at the front with Batman driving.
"I don't even think his kid could fit back here," Boston said, gesturing at the three with him, "let alone those three."
"Sorry, Boston," Lothar replied, "but life is for the living."
"I didn't even think you'd have room for us," Mandrake couldn't help but to blurt out.
"At least he did," Amy chimed in.
"Boston Brand," Batman glanced at Boston, "He was a circus performer."
"Batman's heard of me," Boston replied, "Sweet. Tell him I'm a fan of his too, but you know, be cool about it."
"I'm sure he'll know," Mandrake adjusted his hat and smirked.
"Yeah, that's him," Zatanna told Batman, "He was trapeze artist who loved being famous, especially with the ladies. Husbands, not so much."
"You're killing me," Boston groaned.
"He had a knack for irritating the wrong people," Zatanna continued, "Then, about five years ago, karma caught up with him. It was a weekend show, full house."
"Boston was in the middle of a death defying act when he died?" Batman guessed.
"How did you know?" Zatanna asked.
"I was there that night," Batman answered, "and so was Dick and Barbara."
"Anyway," Zatanna replied, "that should have been that, but with Boston, things tend to get complicated. His spirit was called by the goddess Rama Kushna. She took pity on him and gave him the power to possess the living, so he could bring his killer to justice."
"Hey," Boston replied, "I don't wanna brag, but I'm good."
"Why did he feel the need to write on my walls like a child?" Batman asked.
"Uh, yeah," Zatanna answered, "he's sorry about that."
Batman grunted in response before asking, "Where is this address? GPS doesn't seem especially useful tonight."
"That's quite odd," Mandrake noted.
"I agree," Lothar nodded in agreement.
"It's not an address," Zatanna replied, "The House of Mystery tends to move around. I didn't put the symbols in there for the GPS to find it. I wanted the house to come to us."
Suddenly, the group noticed a tornado coming their way.
"Was there supposed to be a tornado for tonight's weather?" Amy asked.
"I don't think so," Batman answered. He managed to dodge the trees and rocks that were coming towards the Batmobile. That was until the tornado swallowed the Batmobile whole with everyone inside.
"You think we'll go in the land of Oz after this ride?!" Amy exclaimed.
"Now is not the time for jokes," Mandrake replied. Zatanna created a barrier to protect the Batmobile as well as everyone inside.
"She can't hold it!" Boston exclaimed, "Do something!"
Mandrake used energy from his cane to help Zatanna, and Batman used fire power to escape the tornado. It turned out the tornado was now chasing the Batmobile.
"I hate this," Lothar groaned, "I hate this a lot."
Zatanna noticed the house appearing towards the end of the road.
"There!" she exclaimed as she pointed at the house. They were parked and Zatanna, Boston, Batman, Mandrake, Amy and Lothar hurried inside the house.
Constantine opened the door and gestured everyone inside, "Into the house!"
"Gladly!" Amy replied as she entered the house with her father. Zatanna, Lothar, Batman and Boston all followed suit and Constantine closed the door immediately after everyone got inside.
Everyone got up as Constantine was ontop of Zatanna, "Z, you all right?"
"Yeah," Zatanna answered, "as soon as you get off me."
He complied as they both got back up.
"I should have known you were the reason I'm not in London enjoying a pint," Constantine stated as he helped her up, "The House always did like you better."
He looked at everyone in the room, "Odd five for a road trip. To what do I owe this visit?"
"The League thinks that a recent spike in seizures and homicides may have a magical cause," Batman answered, "My wards Nightwing and Spoiler were affected by the seizures."
"As well as my son Kshin," Mandrake added.
"That was too close for comfort," Amy stated.
"Told you something stinks," Boston spoke up, "Now we know someone doesn't want us asking questions."
"Looks like you've cracked it wide open, mate," Constantine replied.
"What did he say?" Batman asked.
"I'm not playing telephone between you two," Constantine stated. He chanted an emit some magical energy, making Boston visible to Batman and Lothar.
"We online?" Boston asked. Constantine nodded in response.
"Great," Boston floated around Batman, "Sorry about the Batmobile. I hope your insurance was paid up."
He laughed.
"That's something you shouldn't joke about," Mandrake chastised.
"Wait, is there even a policy for something like that?" Boston asked.
"What do you think?" Lothar retorted.
Constantine was startled upon seeing the sight of both Raven and a purple suited individual, "Hey, I told you two not to do that. Orchid, you know better. Use a bloody door."
"Is he always this brash?" Raven asked.
"You'll get used to it," Orchid answered before she faced Constantine, "I am glad to see you are well."
"Raven?" Amy recognized Raven, "is that you? What brings you here?"
"I joined Constantine after the events with Deathstroke," Raven replied, "I feel I might be able to put my powers in check with mystical beings like Constantine and Black Orchid."
Orchid smiled and nodded.
"It's good you found another group," Mandrake told Raven.
"I miss my fellow Titans," Raven nodded, "but I feel this might be a good move for me."
Zatanna sat down and asked, "How new is this one?"
"Not what you think," Constantine insisted, "It's the magic of the House. Decided it wanted to experience humanity and gave itself a body."
Orchid walked over to Boston as they both said in unison, "It sure did."
"Am I missing something here?" Lothar asked.
"Even I am stumped," Mandrake stated.
"A spirit whose existence is not its own," Orchid held Boston's hand, "like myself. Interesting."
"I'll bet," Raven crossed her arms.
"Um, yeah," Boston replied, "we are that."
"Dead smooth you are, mate," Constantine replied.
"Are you sure they can help us?" Mandrake asked Zatanna.
"Yeah," Zatanna answered, "trust me."
Mandrake smiled and nodded.
"Hey," Boston replied with a shrug, "it's been awhile, you know?"
Orchid walked over to Zatanna, "Powerful in true magic. Angry at John. This, I understand."
She glanced over at Constantine, "Yet you still have feelings for him."
"I could kill him," Zatanna rebutted. Orchid then looked over at Lothar, "You're a strong man with good intentions. Your angry at your ex wife because she didn't respect your wishes that you didn't want to continue your family's legacy and go out on your own. She seems to be a gold digger from what I can sense."
Lothar chuckled, "She was into the inheritance."
Orchid then faced Mandrake, "Another who is powerful with magic. You are determined to help your daughter go down the right path in the magics."
She then faced Amy, "You are conflicted, seeing visions of a mother who abandoned you and your magics is unstable, but you are working and making good progress."
Finally, Orchid faced Batman, who turned his back on the group, "You exude pain. Your life is a patchwork of blackness with no time for joy."
"Wow," Raven spoke up, "Dick was right about you. How do you cope with it?"
Batman turned around and answered, "I have a butler."
"That was enlightening," Constantine replied before using energy to summon a bottle of alcohol and some glasses, "Well, I guess we should have that chinwag about now.
-The-Magic-Within-
Tori moaned as she felt Richie kiss and nip at her chin and neck. When he caressed her left breast, she moaned louder. Her legs spread on their own when he went to touch her most intimate region.
Richie drug his teeth along her earlobe, then licked it lightly, "Enjoying this?"
Tori arched up and almost screamed when his mouth latched onto her nipple. She dug her nails into his back, "Oh, Richie! Richie, please! Richie!"
"Enjoying yourself?"
"Yes. Yes, please!"
"Please what?"
"Take me!"
Richie and Tori were caught up in a passionate kiss. It was a cry of passion as Richie released himself inside her. They both sense the Buzz and looked around.
-The-Magic-Within-
"Get dressed," Richie told his fiance. Tori nodded as they both hurriedly got into clothes.
Suddenly, a black man wearing nice attire appear with sword in hand, "Wow. Did I break in at the wrong time? Aw, too bad."
He swung his sword at Richie, who blocked the attack with his own sword.
"Richie!" Tori exclaimed.
"I believe we haven't been properly introduced, beautiful," the man glanced over at Tori, "but you'll get to know me soon enough after I take his head."
"Who are you anyway?" Richie demanded.
"And why do you want my fiance's head?" Tori added.
"My name is Haresh Clay," the man answered, "and your fiance took my student's head, and for that, he's dead as well!"
"What student?!" Richie retorted, "What are you talking about?!"
"Carter Wellan," Clay answered.
"Oh you mean," Richie scoffed, "that guy who thought I was a demon. He was a real nut job!"
He continued to block blow after blow.
Suddenly, Richie saw a demon in Clay's place, "Oh no. Not again!"
"Richie?!" Tori exclaimed in concern.
"Tori, I...I'm...we have to get out of here," Richie replied.
"He's out for revenge," Tori replied, "I get that."
"You don't understand," Richie insisted as he grabbed her hand, "We gotta go!"
Tori didn't argue further and took his hand as they managed to escape the house they were staying in.
"You will not get far!" Clay shouted from inside the house, "I will find you!"
"I thought Rick got rid of the Brainiac virus?" Amy asked.
"Initially," Batman answered, "but it's being suspected Rick has a bit of the residual effects of the virus, and there needs to be a resolution to his situation once and for all, Flash's words, not mine."
"It's good suspicion," Mandrake nodded as Lothar walked into the room.
Easter Egg alert: This is something that's to come in the Season 5 arc as well as in When Worlds and Dangers Collide. I can't tell you the full details yet, but I will say it's set directly after this story.
Tori moaned as she felt Richie kiss and nip at her chin and neck. When he caressed her left breast, she moaned louder. Her legs spread on their own when he went to touch her most intimate region.
Richie drug his teeth along her earlobe, then licked it lightly, "Enjoying this?"
Tori arched up and almost screamed when his mouth latched onto her nipple. She dug her nails into his back, "Oh, Richie! Richie, please! Richie!"
"Enjoying yourself?"
"Yes. Yes, please!"
"Please what?"
"Take me!"
Richie and Tori were caught up in a passionate kiss. It was a cry of passion as Richie released himself inside her. They both sense the Buzz and looked around.
Well, it's safe to say this is the first consensual sex scene that I have officially written. A brave move on my part I must say, and it's a first time for everything, yeah?
Suddenly, a black man wearing nice attire appear with sword in hand, "Wow. Did I break in at the wrong time? Aw, too bad."
He swung his sword at Richie, who blocked the attack with his own sword.
"Richie!" Tori exclaimed.
"I believe we haven't been properly introduced, beautiful," the man glanced over at Tori, "but you'll get to know me soon enough after I take his head."
"Who are you anyway?" Richie demanded.
"And why do you want my fiance's head?" Tori added.
"My name is Haresh Clay," the man answered, "and your fiance took my student's head, and for that, he's dead as well!"
"What student?!" Richie retorted, "What are you talking about?!"
"Carter Wellan," Clay answered.
"Oh you mean," Richie scoffed, "that guy who thought I was a demon. He was a real nut job!"
So, the first interaction between Richie and Clay is different here than it was in the actual series. Spoilers: Richie already lost his original sword during the Year Long Tour before he was kidnapped by Zorelda, so he's not losing a sword again, and he hadn't. This is where I'm getting off for now.