"So…this is creepy," Beast Boy said as he and the rest of the Team entered the fancy church. They walked the empty halls of the sanctuary. "I mean, don't get me wrong," Beast Boy continued speaking, "this place is gorgeous." Raven had to agree. Gleaming marble floors stretched out beneath a vast, vaulted ceiling adorned with intricate frescoes depicting celestial scenes. Gilded chandeliers hung from the ceiling like stars. Massive stained-glass windows lined the walls, the thick scent of incense wafted through the air. The altar was carved from the finest alabaster and encrusted with jewels. Gold-plated candlesticks had been placed in precise symmetry. Behind the altar stood a grand organ rising like the cathedral itself, its pipes stretching up towards the heavens. Despite the warmth appearance, the atmosphere was frigid. There was a sinister feeling in the air. For example, the marble columns that stood tall and impressive loomed too heavily, and the shadows stretched farther than they should. The silence felt less comforting and more like someone was listening, and it felt like the walls had eyes. "Look at the windows," Red Robin said. The team turned and stared at the stained-glass. "It's pretty," Wonder Girl, the newest addition to their ever-growing numbers, replied.
"Look closer," Red Robin said with a shake of his head. Raven's eyes widened as she realized what Red Robin meant. "The images are moving," Robin said in awe.
"Well, yes," Red Robin said, "but there's more."
"They're demons," Raven said.
"Yes," Red Robin nodded in her direction.
"What?" Kid Flash asked. He ran to a window, and then ran back to his teammates. "You're right." The glass, though decorated with bright pretty colors, showed horrific images of demons tearing humans apart. Raven looked away from the disturbing images as memories tried to creep their way into their mind. "Let's just find the hostage and get out of here," Raven said. Robin held up his wrist, staring at the holo-computer. "There's a hidden passage behind the third confession box," Robin said.
"And what have we here?" a sly, feminine voice came from the pulpit. Red Robin and Raven instantly recognized the voice. "Enchantress," Red Robin growled as he stepped forward. "Of course it's you."
"Red Robin, you remember me," Enchantress purred, giving Red Robin a sultry look as she stretched out in the bishop's chair. "I'm flattered." Her smile turned into an angry frown. "You owe me a brain." She turned her vivid green gaze to Raven and sneered, "And you…there's someone who wants to meet you." A portal appeared before them and a skinny, pouty, pale-blue male appeared with a small cheetah cub sitting on his shoulder. "These are the fools who destroyed Child?" the man said in a high-pitched, sniveling voice. "I didn't realize how pathetic she was. Never send a child to do a man's job."
"Enough of this!" Wonder Girl grabbed her lasso. "Where are the kids?" she demanded.
"You mean the magical brats I kidnapped?" Enchantress asked, looking at her fingernails. "I could tell you, but this will be more entertaining," she added, just as her eyes glowed.
"Raven, contain them," Red Robin said as he and the team braced for a fight.
"Oh," Enchantress stood to her feet and chuckled, "this will be fun." Klarion snapped his fingers with a laugh, and the once still sanctuary became alive. The chandeliers swung violently like pendulums and plunged to the earth, aiming to crush the heroes beneath while the floor tilted. "Move!" Red Robin shouted, diving out of the way of a falling chandelier. Kid Flash was a blur as he zigzagged through the falling chandeliers and sliding pews with ease. "That the best you can do, Klarion?" he taunted with a grin.
"Shut up!" Klarion shouted as he turned his attention to the speedster. "Teekl, fetch," he said. The cat chased the speedster. While Klarion was briefly distracted, Wonder Girl took her chance, leaped high, and aimed her lasso of truth at Klarion. Enchantress quickly countered Wonder Girl's attack. Knocking Wonder Girl from out of the sky with dark energy, she sent the demigoddess flying into the marble pillars. Wonder Girl landed on her feet, but before she could move, the column's shadows came alive, wrapped around Wonder Girl's legs, and began dragging her beneath the floor. "You've got to be kidding me!" Wonder Girl exclaimed as she began fighting the attacking mists.
"That should keep you busy," Enchantress said. Beast Boy, who had already morphed into a rhino, charged at the Enchantress. Smashing through the debris, he lowered his horn at the Enchantress. With a wave of her hand, the Enchantress redirected his charge, slamming him into a wall instead. She turned her attention back to the struggling demigod.
"This isn't working," Robin said as he dodged a swinging chandelier.
"We need to force them into the open," Red Robin said as he threw a barrage of explosive batarangs at Klarion, who was now engaged in a magical duel with Raven. The explosions rocked the sanctuary and sent a hail of glass raining down. "Dang it!" Klarion yelled as glass cut his face. His shield was barely holding against Raven's magical attacks. "Teekl!" he cried out. "Get the bird!" Teekl stopped his futile chase of Kid Flash, turned into a monstrous beast, and charged at Robin. "Not that one, you idiot cat! The other one!" Klarion screeched, but Teekl attacked the younger boy, anyway. Robin froze for a split second when he saw the gigantic beast charging at him. Red Robin quickly intercepted Teekl's attack. He countered and struck with great and powerful and precision, driving the creature back. Klarion used Robin's momentary stop to weave a spell and sent bolts of dark energy at Robin. "Robin!" Raven exclaimed. She teleported in front of the young hero, created a shield, and absorbed the brunt of the attack. She screamed as she felt the spell rush up her arms, tearing through her sleeves as it did. "Robin, focus," Red Robin chastised the young vigilante.
"Sorry," Robin apologized before leaping into action.
"Help Kid Flash and Wonder Girl with Enchantress," Red Robin ordered.
"Got it!" he replied before leaping away.
"They're…stalling," Raven said to Red Robin, her voice tight with concentration.
"I know," Red Robin said before sending flying projectiles at Klarion. "But, why?"
Meanwhile, Wonder Girl was able to free herself from the grabby shadows. Seeing Enchantress' approach, she flew at the sorceress, full speed ahead, with her fists glowing with divine power. Wonder Girl landed a punch to the sorceress' abdomen that sent the sorceress flying across the bending sanctuary. Beast Boy, who had regained consciousness thanks to the help of Kid Flash, morphed into a bear and attacked the sorceress with his claws extended. The Enchantress rolled out of the way, only to be met with a punch to the face, delivered by Kid Flash. She recovered, taking a kick to the stomach, followed by another punch to the face courtesy of Robin. Wonder Girl then grabbed the discombobulated sorceress with her lasso and sent her flying into a wall on the far side of the sanctuary.
Using her powers to steady herself, the Enchantress was able to land on her feet before she screamed, "Enough!" She raised both of her hands and released streams of dark power. The sanctuary trembled, and the walls began to crumble. "She's going to crush us!" Robin exclaimed.
"No!" Raven said, sending a final blast of energy at Klarion. "She's distracting us!" In an instant, Klarion and the Enchantress locked eyes. Sinister smirks formed on their faces in perfect synchronicity. Before the team could react, both sorcerers chanted in unison, their voices merging into a single, arcane incantation. "Stop them!" Red Robin yelled, recognizing the danger.
"No, wait!" Raven exclaimed as Wonder Girl, Beast Boy, and Kid Flash lunged forward. It was too late. With a blinding flash of light and deafening roar, the sanctuary was engulfed in a maelstrom of black and green, chaotic energy. There was a split second of silence before a shattering eruption tore through the air, sending shockwaves throughout the church. Raven quickly chanted and threw up a protective barrier before the world came tumbling down around them.