Cassie, who was rocking back in her chair, snapped to attention when Lar Gand began to stir. She blinked in surprise, standing just in time to see his eyes flutter open. His inhumanly bright, glowing blue eyes darted around the room, wild and disoriented, before landing on Cassie. There was something so vulnerable and alien in his gaze that for a second, she felt frozen. Still, she mustered a friendly, comforting smile, hoping it would settle him.
Lar Gand let out a strained breath as he lifted himself on shaky arms, eyes wide and panicked. His voice came out hoarse. "Ckarav'en das kgorian?" His chest heaved as he struggled to sit up, his movements jerky, as though his body hadn't fully woken up with him.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Cassie held her hands up in alarm, stepping forward quickly but keeping her voice gentle. "Don't get up! You've been through... a lot."
"Ckarav'en das kgorian?" he repeated, his voice rising in confusion. The raw fear in his tone startled her—he was waking up into panic.
Cassie scanned the room for a nurse or for Diana. "I don't understand," she said, trying to remain calm. "I need to get someone who—"
"Karav'a das—ckanthor? Ven ta kar'iey—ah!" His words broke off as he flinched, clutching his midsection as pain rippled through him. His face twisted, and he gasped in agony.
Cassie's heart squeezed at the sight. "You need to take it easy," she said softly, placing her hands gently on his shoulders, trying to coax him back down. "It's okay. You're safe."
But Lar Gand wasn't hearing her—or understanding her. His breathing was too rapid, eyes too wide. He spoke again, his words frantic, as he weakly attempted to push her hands away. "Hey!" Cassie said more firmly now, trying to keep her voice steady but commanding. "I'm trying to help you, I promise." She reached toward the call button by his bed and hit it repeatedly. "I need help in here!" she shouted, her pulse quickening.
Lar Gand's voice lowered, desperate, as he grabbed at her wrists. His hands trembled, not from weakness but from fear. "Tar'ak... kor veln'tar..."
Cassie swallowed, looking directly into his eyes, trying to convey that he was safe as he held onto her for dear life.
"Ven'tar... Darkseid… Kal-El," Lar Gand whispered, his voice shaky as his grip loosened on her wrists. In an instant, his hands shot to the IV in his arm, clawing at it urgently. His wild, frantic eyes darted around the room, like a trapped animal searching for an escape.
Cassie froze at the mention of Darkseid and Kal-el. "Kal-El!" she repeated, her eyes widening. "I know Kal-El!" She stumbled over the words, hoping he'd latch onto that.
Lar Gand stopped struggling for a moment, blinking at her, his expression still confused. "Va, Kal-El ez zd-ect?" he asked, glancing around the room as if searching for him.
"Uh…" Cassie bit her lip, unable to answer his question.
"Lar Gand!" Diana's voice cut through the room as she and a couple of nurses rushed inside.
Relief crashed over Cassie like a wave. "Oh, thank goodness," she sighed, stepping back slightly as Diana approached. "I thought I was going to have to do charades."
Diana gave her a quick smile, but then her attention shifted to Lar Gand, speaking in low, soothing tones, "Krai'eck daron, vey veln'tar karak. Terray i' vesh…"
Cassie's brows lifted as the two began talking enthusiastically in a language Cassie didn't understand. Lar Gand's body visibly relaxed as Diana's words seemed to calm him. Meanwhile, the two meta-human nurses began checking the electrodes and IV needles Lar Gand had nearly yanked out.
Cassie crossed her arms, watching the scene unfold but feeling a little out of place. She blinked, then cleared her throat awkwardly. "Um… Diana?" Diana paused, looking over at her. "What language are you speaking?"
"Oh, it's Daxamite. Sort of like Kryptonian," Diana said offhandedly, turning back to Lar Gand to murmur another reassurance.
Cassie's eyes widened in surprise. "When did you learn to speak Kryptonian?" she asked suggestively, a grin tugging at her lips.
Diana looked away quickly, but not before Cassie noticed a slight blush on her cheeks. "Never mind," Diana muttered, clearly flustered. Cassie snickered quietly, but let it drop as Diana focused on Lar Gand again. "He knows a little English," Diana explained over her shoulder, "but right now he's probably just confused."
Diana patted Lar Gand's hand comfortingly, whispering soothing words as his eyes shifted between her and Cassie, a spark of recognition dawning.
Lar Gand finally nodded weakly, leaning back against the pillow, allowing the nurses to resume their work without further resistance. His breathing had steadied, but his expression remained troubled, as he still eyed Cassie with wariness.
"Stay with him," Diana said to Cassie, her voice firm but kind. "I need to let Clark know that our new friend has awoken."
Cassie nodded, watching Diana leave the room. She glanced down at Lar Gand, who was now staring at the ceiling, his glowing eyes dimmer but still full of unease.
Tim's heart raced as Raven crumpled to the ground, unconscious. "Rachel!" he shouted, but she didn't respond. The female server smirked, watching his panic with an almost amused expression.
"I wouldn't worry about her too much. She'll be fine… eventually," she said, her tone dripping with condescension. "Now, let's get to the real issue at hand."
Tim stood between Raven's limp form and the server. "Who are you?" he asked, his eyes scanning the garden for anything he could use as a weapon. His bo staff was nowhere to be found, and he was painfully aware of how vulnerable he was without it. But he couldn't let this chick get to Raven again. We have a kiss to discuss.
"I go by Black Mary," the server curtsied.
"Why are you doing this?" Tim demanded, his voice steady despite the fear building inside him."You're after money? That's it?"
She took a slow step forward, her yellow-glowing eyes locking onto him. "It's more than just money. You and your kind—the wealthy, the powerful—you think you can run the world, control everything. But I've got a surprise for you. Tonight, it's my turn to be in control. Also, it's fun."
Tim's mind raced, trying to buy time. "Who put you up to this? Jean Loring?"
A dark laugh escaped Black Mary's lips. "Jean has her reasons. As do I."
Tim clenched his fists, backing up slightly as she advanced. "You're going to regret this."
She raised her hand, yellow energy crackling around her fingertips. "I doubt that. But you, Tim Drake? You might."
As Black Mary lunged, Tim threw himself to the side, heart pounding in his chest. He hit the ground hard, dirt and leaves clinging to his suit as he rolled across the garden floor. Scrambling, his hand closed around a broken branch, rough and splintered, the only weapon in sight. It was only a jagged piece of wood, but it was currently his only defense against her. "Cute," Black Mary said, amused at his makeshift weapon. "Let me guess—mommy and daddy put you in self-defense classes." She raised her hand again, and this time, a wave of energy shot toward him.
"Something like that," Tim grunted, barely managing to escape as he dived behind a stone bench, the blast of energy missing him by inches.
"Give it up, Tim," Black Mary taunted. "You can't fight me. You're out of your league."
"I don't have to fight you," Tim muttered under his breath, glancing at Raven. He just needed to hold her off a little longer, give Raven time to recover.
But Black Mary wasn't going to wait. She strode forward, her hand crackling with energy again. "You can't protect her. Or yourself."
Tim braced himself, clutching the branch tighter as Black Mary closed in. "Watch me."
Raven groaned as consciousness slowly returned. Blinking against the dim light, she took a moment to gather her thoughts. "What…?" She pressed a hand to her head, feeling the throb of a headache. A quick scan of her body revealed nothing alarming, but her memory is still there: the female server from earlier—the way her grip felt, the sensation of life being drained from her.
"Tim!" Raven gasped, suddenly alert. She swung her head around, catching sight of a yellow glow nearby. "Tim!" she shouted, rolling to her feet. He was just a few feet away, crouched low behind a stone bench as the glowing server—a witch, perhaps?—shot a blast of energy at him. Tim dove out of the way, narrowly avoiding the attack, but he wouldn't be able to defend himself and maintain his cover for long.
Drawing upon her powers, Raven felt energy crackling at her fingertips, ready to unleash as she prepared to join the fight.
Tim dodged another blast. "You're surprisingly nimble, Mr. Drake," Black Mary taunted, raising her hand once more, a surge of yellow energy gathering at her fingertips. "But I'm faster."
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," a voice called from behind her. The voice, faint but growing stronger, made Black Mary pause. Tim glanced over her shoulder, relief flooding through him as he saw Raven, her eyes glowing with a soft white light—a sign she was regaining her strength. "I see you're awake," Black Mary sneered, turning to face Raven. "Good. I prefer my opponents conscious when I beat them." She frowned when magic began gathering at Raven's fingertips. "What kind of succubus are you?"
"Who said I was a succubus?" Raven shot back, a mocking smile curling her lips. "You should find Bruce." She turned her gaze to Tim, keeping her focus on the magician.
"Yes, ma'am," Tim replied flirtatiously. "Her name is Black Mary, by the way," he added before sprinting off.
Black Mary glared at Raven as the two circled each other. "Your date was my mark."
"You should have picked another target," Raven said, anger simmering beneath her calm demeanor.
Black Mary shot another blast at Raven, who effortlessly blocked the attack. "Is that all you've got?" Raven taunted, a confident smirk gracing her lips.
Black Mary scowled, frustration boiling beneath her bravado. "You think you're clever? I'll show you what happens when you mess with me!"
Before she could launch another attack, Raven flicked her wrist, sending a dark tendril spiraling toward Black Mary. The shadowy appendage wrapped around her wrist, immobilizing her.
"What the—?" Black Mary gasped, trying to break free. "Let go of me!"
"Where's your partner?" Raven demanded.
"I'm not that easy," Black Mary retorted, reaching out to place her hand on the shadow. Her body glowed, and Raven felt her world tilt. She stumbled, her dress pooling around her as she fell to the ground, releasing Mary from her hold.
"What the…?" Raven looked around in shock. The grass, trees, and bushes nearby were decaying. She glanced down at her body, outlined in yellow. Mary was absorbing her power and life force.
"You've got some neat tricks," Mary taunted, a psychotic smile on her face. "But that's all they are—tricks. They won't save you."
Raven's body fought against the spell, attempting to replenish the energy she was losing. On the bright side, she wouldn't die; the downside—Mary would have an endless supply of energy.
"What are you?" Mary grinned maniacally. "I've never felt this much power. You're filled to the brim with it."
Desperation clawed at Raven as she wracked her brain for any spell, but her thoughts felt muddled. Then, a particularly dark incantation surfaced—one she had hoped to avoid, but desperate times called for desperate measures. With a deep breath, she began to mutter the words, her voice sounding like a low growl to human ears. She lifted her arm, focusing her energy as she prepared to unleash the magic within her.
The smile waned from Mary's face. "What are you doing?" she demanded, panic creeping into her voice. "What are you doing!" she screamed as she collapsed.
Raven felt her energy surge, slowly rising as she stood to her feet, reclaiming her powers. Clenching her jaw, she reminded herself to stay in control. "Stop," Mary said weakly, her body slumping as she lost consciousness.
Once Mary was down for the count, Raven ended the spell. She was out of breath, her dress torn in places, but there was no time to dwell on that. She needed to find Tim.
Tim's heart raced as he reached the top of the stairs. His phone beeped, confirming Bruce was just behind the door. Taking a deep breath, he pushed it open and stepped into the dimly lit study.
Bruce stood in the center, his back to Tim, unnaturally rigid. Cassandra and Dick were there to the side, standing unnervingly still. The air in the room felt heavy. A noise from the corner caught Tim's attention. Jean Loring lounged casually in a chair, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
"Bruce!" Tim called, trying to keep his voice steady. "Are you okay?"
Bruce didn't move—not even a flinch. Nothing. Tim's heart sank.
Jean smiled. "Ahh…poor little orphan—fake daddy won't look at you. Where's your succubus friend?" Tim stayed silent, his fists clenching. Jean stood and strolled to Bruce's side, running a finger down his arm. "Such a powerful man... It wasn't hard to make him see things my way."
Tim's anger flared. "What have you done to him?"
Jean stepped back. "Bruce Wayne is a man with considerable… assets." Her gaze roamed over Bruce's still form, voice dripping with lust and greed. "And now those assets are mine." Bruce slowly turned around, leveling a stony gaze at Tim. "He was not easy to get under my control," Jean continued. "It's almost like he's had mental training. Which, for someone with his money, makes sense. Those two," she gestured to Dick and Cassandra, "were a lot easier. Well…" she paused, eyeing the two young teens. "The boy was easy. The girl is… weird. Anyway…"
"What did you do to the people downstairs?" Tim asked, suppressing the growing fear. And where is Stephanie? Where's Alfred?
"A few suggestions here and there. Would you believe me if I said less than half of the people downstairs are under my control?"
"I would."
"Smart," Jean smirked.
"I'm not under your control. Why?"
"I'm at my limit," Jean admitted cockily. "I no longer have any use for you. Bruce, take care of your fake son."
With mechanical precision and sluggish speed, Bruce lunged at Tim, fist raised for a strike. "Bruce, no!" Tim shouted as he ducked the punch, feeling the wind from the force of the blow. Bruce's strength was no joke, even under someone else's control. He barely managed to evade another swing. Though still strong, Bruce was noticeably slower—as if he were fighting the manipulation. "Come on, Bruce," Tim rolled out of the way of a kick. "Fight her! You can do this!" But there was no response. Bruce's next attack came faster, more deliberate. Tim skidded backward toward the wall, heart pounding.
Watching the two rich men with barely contained disgust, Jean turned to Dick and Cassandra. "You two orphans!" she snapped, getting their attention. "Help your father out!" The two robotically turned toward Tim, faces blank.
"Oh, come on," Tim said, now backed into a corner. He cursed under his breath. Three of the most skilled fighters he knew, and they were all under Jean's control. He was outnumbered and outmatched.
Jean chuckled, enjoying the spectacle, and settled back into her chair. "This is going to be fun."
The click-clack of Raven's heels echoed through the empty halls of the manor as she ran toward the source of the dark energy. She still felt weak from the fight with Black Mary, and protecting herself from the chaos in the ballroom didn't help. Her energy levels were far from restored, but there was no time to rest. Tim was in trouble, and she could feel it.
Suddenly, a pulse of dark magic radiated from deeper inside the manor—an all-too-familiar signature. Raven stopped in her tracks, eyes narrowing. Jean Loring. She quickened her pace, her mind racing. The closer she got, the more she felt the oppressive tug of Jean's influence, thick like a fog, trying to settle into her mind. But Raven had fought far worse than this.
As she rounded the last corner, she flew to the room at the end of hall and burst through the door. It took a second for her brain to process what she was seeing. She saw Tim pressed against a wall, dodging blows from Bruce and the others. In the corner sat Jean Loring, watching the scene with amusement. As if sensing Raven's presence, Jean snapped her head in her direction and frowned. "Well, well, well," she said slowly, standing up. "If it isn't the little succubus. Mary was supposed to take care of you."
"She's sleeping right now," Raven shot back. "And I'm putting an end to this." Without hesitation, she raised her hand, muttering an incantation under her breath. A dark energy tendril shot out from her fingers, wrapping around Jean's wrist and slamming her into the wall.
"You bitch!" Jean spat, glaring at Raven. "What are you?" she demanded.
"You're done here," Raven said coldly, stalking toward Jean. The lingering effects of her earlier fight weighed on her, but she couldn't stop now. Not when Tim needed her.
Jean sneered, regaining her balance. "I don't know what you are, but you're too late." She gestured to Bruce, Dick, and Cassandra—who were still under her control and fighting Tim. "They belong to me now."
Raven narrowed her eyes, focusing on the dark energy tethering Bruce and the others to Jean. "Not for long."