THE BLACK ROOM, ARGUS
LOCATION UNDISCLOSED
“I’ve told you everything I know.”
The man, if he could be called that anymore, slammed his three-fingered hands against the interrogation table to the sound of rattling manacles.
The former stuntman was growing steadily more irritated with every moment that passed, each question acting to lead him closer to the brink of indulging in his notably foul temperament. Even before contact with the item, the one that the spooks around him constantly referred to as ‘the artefact’, Daniel Patrick Cassidy had been renowned for his anger issues and they had led him to more than one drunken bar brawl in his life. Despite having been raised in the relative comfort and tranquillity of a farming community in the heartland, his brain was more often led by impulsivity than what he understood to be the rational action. He sighed heavily, looking toward the bespectacled agent of ARGUS, and tried not to show his despair as he caught sight of the horns that now protruded from his head. Initially, Daniel had been afraid of the fate that had befallen him but he’d made peace with his reality, even as he strove to reverse it by any means necessary.
His agent hadn’t been lying when she’d told him that taking a role in the new Blue Devil production would be the role of a lifetime. It was certainly turning his life around.
He grunted. “I’m not sure what else it is that you want me to say. I don’t know what’s in the box or how it did this to me. I only know that I touched it, then I fought off that magical broad before she made off with it.”
John Peril nodded. “Let’s talk a little about this woman. Having considered the footage collected from Stage 51’s security cameras, there’s no woman that we can identify in the footage other than Sharon Stevens.”
The mention of Sharon’s name rested heavy on his shoulders. In all his years as a stuntman, Daniel had seen a lot of mishaps and more than enough fatalities but the way he’d watched Sharon Stevens torn in two . . . that could never be removed from his mind. It was a horror that had forever been etched into it.
“She wasn’t much for giving introductions. Haughty and powerful. I tried to save Sharon, I tried to stop the mad bitch from getting that stupid thing but I was no match for her. I’ve got to grips with a lot of things in this body now but then . . . I just wasn’t good enough.”
Daniel was becoming visibly distraught as the interrogation entered its second hour.
“That’s enough for now.”
Daniel turned towards the doorway as a woman, dressed head-to-toe in what appeared to be purple leaves, stepped into the light.
She continued. “I think you’ve got all you’re gonna get for now, Peril. I’m more than happy to take it from here.”
John snarled. “We’ll see about that. This investigation doesn’t involve you or the freaks from haunted manor. How about you return to your curating of dusty tomes and I’ll do what ARGUS was designed for.”
“Not today you won’t, Mister Cassidy is coming with me.”
“Over my dead body,” spat Peril.
Alba looked across her shoulder, sheepishly staring at the agent as she exited. “You’re more than welcome to come, Peril. I’m sure the witch would love to see you.” He seemed to bristle at her words but she paid little attention to the aftermath of what she said, instead she turned her focus to Blue Devil. “You. Walk with me.”
They stepped from the door as Peril scowled after them.
“I’m Black Orchid, field commander of the primary offensive unit, and this is the Black Room,” the woman spoke to him without making eye-contact as they marched through the simplistic, metallic hallways. “If you aren’t already aware, and I’ll assume Peril wasn’t exactly forthcoming with specifics, the Black Room is a branch of ARGUS dealing exclusively in the apprehension and detainment of mystical individuals and artefacts. We deal in those that threaten the United States and beyond. As of now, consider yourself an asset, Mister Cassidy.”
She noticed he was nervous.
“Put it this way, it’s better to be an asset than a detainee.”
She stopped as they came to a door, spinning to face him. Under the unnatural light, Orchid’s swarthy complexion was almost washed out to a bizarre, unbecoming shade of yellow. Her dark eyes were narrowed, focused and devoid of genuine emotion. It matched the monotony in her voice.
“Dan,” he said gruffly.
“I don’t care,” she said. “From an organisational standpoint, I’m the only voice you listen to both here and in the field. There are to be no exceptions. The artefact may seem strange and alien to you but we have resources far beyond your own. You’re about to meet the, what I can loosely consider, team. You’ll also be getting the quickest run-down on the very reason you’ve become what you have from an expert in the occult.” Her lack of sentiment or sympathy irked him. She was a soldier through and through. “I suggest you digest this all quickly because we don’t have time to waste.”
She swung open the door as he followed her into a room, much more comfortable than the hallways and slightly reminiscent of a billiard room. The room already held three occupants by the time they entered. A tall man, he looked to be the oldest physically, in a white suit and glasses. A second man, also older but much more sophisticated, with a white stripe in his fringe looked longingly into the fireplace. The last was almost beyond explanation: she was a hunched woman, her long dark hair falling from the rusted crescent moon upon her hair and trailing the ground. Daniel wasn’t sure if he could believe his eyes but the animalistic woman seemed to have black particles dancing in the air around her. Black Orchid marched to the centre of the room.
“Welcome to Justice League Dark, Dan.”
The white-suited man stepped forward, he seemed to be swirling a glass of brandy in his hand. He paid no attention to the “Garcia, you’ve been gone for much longer than we expected.” His tone was reproachful but she remained nonchalant.
“Mister E, cut the shit and just tell me what you’ve got,” she demanded. “I assume from your smug expression we have something to follow.”
“We haven’t located the artefact, if that’s what you’re asking,” he replied. “However, we have managed to identify five points of mystical energy as I expected. Each point forms the Pentacle, one of the most powerful icons in mysticism. Even with the assistance of our new friend here.”
Mister E threw his hands apart as a white, swirling vortex appeared before them all.
Black Orchid glared. “What’re you doing?”
“Recruiting,” smiled Mister E smarmily. “We’ll need some reinforcements when we finally isolate the locations of these threats. This artefact is more dangerous than you can possibly understand.”
Without further hesitation, Black Orchid led Blue Devil, Jason Blood, Mister E and the Enchantress into the storm of energy.
LOCATION UNDISCLOSED
“I’ve told you everything I know.”
The man, if he could be called that anymore, slammed his three-fingered hands against the interrogation table to the sound of rattling manacles.
The former stuntman was growing steadily more irritated with every moment that passed, each question acting to lead him closer to the brink of indulging in his notably foul temperament. Even before contact with the item, the one that the spooks around him constantly referred to as ‘the artefact’, Daniel Patrick Cassidy had been renowned for his anger issues and they had led him to more than one drunken bar brawl in his life. Despite having been raised in the relative comfort and tranquillity of a farming community in the heartland, his brain was more often led by impulsivity than what he understood to be the rational action. He sighed heavily, looking toward the bespectacled agent of ARGUS, and tried not to show his despair as he caught sight of the horns that now protruded from his head. Initially, Daniel had been afraid of the fate that had befallen him but he’d made peace with his reality, even as he strove to reverse it by any means necessary.
His agent hadn’t been lying when she’d told him that taking a role in the new Blue Devil production would be the role of a lifetime. It was certainly turning his life around.
He grunted. “I’m not sure what else it is that you want me to say. I don’t know what’s in the box or how it did this to me. I only know that I touched it, then I fought off that magical broad before she made off with it.”
John Peril nodded. “Let’s talk a little about this woman. Having considered the footage collected from Stage 51’s security cameras, there’s no woman that we can identify in the footage other than Sharon Stevens.”
The mention of Sharon’s name rested heavy on his shoulders. In all his years as a stuntman, Daniel had seen a lot of mishaps and more than enough fatalities but the way he’d watched Sharon Stevens torn in two . . . that could never be removed from his mind. It was a horror that had forever been etched into it.
“She wasn’t much for giving introductions. Haughty and powerful. I tried to save Sharon, I tried to stop the mad bitch from getting that stupid thing but I was no match for her. I’ve got to grips with a lot of things in this body now but then . . . I just wasn’t good enough.”
Daniel was becoming visibly distraught as the interrogation entered its second hour.
“That’s enough for now.”
Daniel turned towards the doorway as a woman, dressed head-to-toe in what appeared to be purple leaves, stepped into the light.
She continued. “I think you’ve got all you’re gonna get for now, Peril. I’m more than happy to take it from here.”
John snarled. “We’ll see about that. This investigation doesn’t involve you or the freaks from haunted manor. How about you return to your curating of dusty tomes and I’ll do what ARGUS was designed for.”
“Not today you won’t, Mister Cassidy is coming with me.”
“Over my dead body,” spat Peril.
Alba looked across her shoulder, sheepishly staring at the agent as she exited. “You’re more than welcome to come, Peril. I’m sure the witch would love to see you.” He seemed to bristle at her words but she paid little attention to the aftermath of what she said, instead she turned her focus to Blue Devil. “You. Walk with me.”
They stepped from the door as Peril scowled after them.
“I’m Black Orchid, field commander of the primary offensive unit, and this is the Black Room,” the woman spoke to him without making eye-contact as they marched through the simplistic, metallic hallways. “If you aren’t already aware, and I’ll assume Peril wasn’t exactly forthcoming with specifics, the Black Room is a branch of ARGUS dealing exclusively in the apprehension and detainment of mystical individuals and artefacts. We deal in those that threaten the United States and beyond. As of now, consider yourself an asset, Mister Cassidy.”
She noticed he was nervous.
“Put it this way, it’s better to be an asset than a detainee.”
She stopped as they came to a door, spinning to face him. Under the unnatural light, Orchid’s swarthy complexion was almost washed out to a bizarre, unbecoming shade of yellow. Her dark eyes were narrowed, focused and devoid of genuine emotion. It matched the monotony in her voice.
“Dan,” he said gruffly.
“I don’t care,” she said. “From an organisational standpoint, I’m the only voice you listen to both here and in the field. There are to be no exceptions. The artefact may seem strange and alien to you but we have resources far beyond your own. You’re about to meet the, what I can loosely consider, team. You’ll also be getting the quickest run-down on the very reason you’ve become what you have from an expert in the occult.” Her lack of sentiment or sympathy irked him. She was a soldier through and through. “I suggest you digest this all quickly because we don’t have time to waste.”
She swung open the door as he followed her into a room, much more comfortable than the hallways and slightly reminiscent of a billiard room. The room already held three occupants by the time they entered. A tall man, he looked to be the oldest physically, in a white suit and glasses. A second man, also older but much more sophisticated, with a white stripe in his fringe looked longingly into the fireplace. The last was almost beyond explanation: she was a hunched woman, her long dark hair falling from the rusted crescent moon upon her hair and trailing the ground. Daniel wasn’t sure if he could believe his eyes but the animalistic woman seemed to have black particles dancing in the air around her. Black Orchid marched to the centre of the room.
“Welcome to Justice League Dark, Dan.”
The white-suited man stepped forward, he seemed to be swirling a glass of brandy in his hand. He paid no attention to the “Garcia, you’ve been gone for much longer than we expected.” His tone was reproachful but she remained nonchalant.
“Mister E, cut the shit and just tell me what you’ve got,” she demanded. “I assume from your smug expression we have something to follow.”
“We haven’t located the artefact, if that’s what you’re asking,” he replied. “However, we have managed to identify five points of mystical energy as I expected. Each point forms the Pentacle, one of the most powerful icons in mysticism. Even with the assistance of our new friend here.”
Mister E threw his hands apart as a white, swirling vortex appeared before them all.
Black Orchid glared. “What’re you doing?”
“Recruiting,” smiled Mister E smarmily. “We’ll need some reinforcements when we finally isolate the locations of these threats. This artefact is more dangerous than you can possibly understand.”
Without further hesitation, Black Orchid led Blue Devil, Jason Blood, Mister E and the Enchantress into the storm of energy.
ISSUE #1 (August 2018)
Written by Gavin McMahon Featuring: Black Orchid
Blue Devil
Doctor Fate
Enchantress
Etrigan
Mister E
Silver Banshee
Nightshade
John Peril
Strega
Bagman
Jack of Fire
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"Peril of the Pentacle - Part One"THE NATIONAL BANK
METROPOLIS They appeared in the glistening bank. “I have devoured entities much older and revered than you could ever hope to be,” echoed Enchantress in a husky tone as she lurched forward, the archaic woman standing in stark juxtaposition against the splendour of the National Bank. “Wailing wonder, I ask that you desist.” She cocked her head menacingly. “Yet, I hope you persist so that I may see you destroyed.” Launching into the air, where Silver Banshee was hovering arrogantly, the goddess caught the Irishwoman by her wrist and flipped, slamming her into the marble-flooring. She trailed through the tiled flooring, shattering it in her path. However, the wailing woman quickly rebounded and it became apparent that Enchantress had done little more than earn her ire. She hunched forward, slackening her jaw, and unleashed a devastating supersonic scream that tore through the building and tossed them all through the glass and into the street. As they scurried to stand, Enchantress hissed at Silver Banshee who now moved to stand before them. “You have absolutely no idea who you’re dealing with,” she snarled in her thick brogue. “I’m not some petty magician trading in parlour tricks. I’m the force of the Infernal Netherworld, the mistress of death and agent of the Crone. I will claim what is mine and I will destroy anyone who stands in my way.” Standing in the light, she was revealed to them in all her glory. As with many of them, Silver Banshee was a mixture of uniqueness and unadulterated horror. Long swathes of glowing platinum hair enveloped on the wind, both showcasing and concealing the almost skeletal patterns of black and white that had formed on her face. Glowing eyes, vibrant blue, searched them as if toying with their souls. Her black leather jacket covered a white body suit. She began to descend the steps. “For someone with such a lofty opinion of themselves, Banshee, you sure have steeped low if you’re using your considerable magic to rob a bank,” said Mister E without much care for his tone. “I’d call that rather petty, if I do say so myself. Thankfully, we have much punch for our buck up our sleeves.” Jason Blood scowled. “Now may not be the best time to provoke the anger of a demon.” “I’d say now is exactly the time,” replied Mister E callously. “Perhaps you could be a good chap and let our other little, and considerably more useful, friend out to play.” Enchantress smirked as she recovered behind Mister E but Jason wasn’t so easily goaded into action. “I was recruited because of my arcane knowledge,” he said coolly. “Moone may be quite content to play the role of pawn in this fray but I’m not so easily persuaded.” Black Orchid glared. “In times of war, Blood, we do what we must.” She changed her tactic, attempting to play on the little she knew of his personal history. “Didn’t you once serve and protect. Times may have changed around you, the threats are beyond what they were then, but there was a time when you both worked in harmony. That can happen again.” He sighed. “I’m very confused right now,” said Blue Devil. “What exactly are we talking about?” Jason sighed as he moved towards the banshee as his eyes shone a violent orange, and he began his invocation. “Change! Change! O’ form of man! Free the prince forever damned! Free the might from fleshy mire! Boil the blood in the heart for fire! Gone! Gone! O’ form of man! And rise the demon, Etrigan!” An explosion thrust dust into the air and, as it finally cleared, Jason Blood was no longer stood before them. Instead, the snarling, hunched form of Etrigan the Demon had taken his place. His taut flesh was the same shade of orange that had temporarily glistened in Jason’s eyes and his archaic red armour was pointed and intimidating. Even as he simply breathed, smoke billowed from the demon’s mouth. He turned, facing Silver Banshee, and launched toward her as she took the air. “That’s what we’re talking about,” replied Black Orchid smugly. Etrigan stormed forward, hellfire spewing from his throat, as he launched forward with a clawed fist. The banshee bounded backwards, a sonic screech emitting from the pit of her stomach. It would have been enough to level a building but the Demon stood against it, his extrasensory reflexes allowing him to weave through her consecutive blasts as the Enchantress teleported behind her. Vibrant green energy slammed into Silver Banshee as it burst from Enchantress’ seemingly frail form. Banshee hit the ground, spinning angrily towards the sorceress as Etrigan caught her by the throat. Silencing her. Scratching Etrigan’s nigh-impervious skin, Silver Banshee scuttled from his grasp. A scream knocked Enchantress back into the bank, glass shattering around her. Blue Devil rushed forward, a glistening trident forming in his hands, as he struck Silver Banshee’s face. Blood trickled from her nose as she smirked. The smirk was soon followed by a laugh that changed into a howl. As she screamed, Blue Devil was thrown from his feet but he’d given Black Orchid the opportunity she’d needed. She slid across the ground as lavender vines rushed from the earth, capturing and grounding the mystical threat. “Are you going to do anything?” Black Orchid yelled across her shoulder at Mister E. Mister E wove his hands as white energy shot through Silver Banshee’s head, it lulled her until the wailing wonder passed out. Black Orchid released her grasp and the banshee fell to the side. Her eyes narrowed on Mister E. “Was this really worth it? She’s beyond unruly and uncontrollable. We should lock her up and throw away the key.” “A banshee is the Irish symbol of death, the transporter between a realm much darker than most of us have ever known,” Mister E replied pragmatically. “In that regard, a creature such as this could prove unique in the war that lies ahead.” Etrigan scooped Silver Banshee into his arms as they gathered around the man in white. As the mystical Justice League disappeared through the swirling white vortex, none noted the presence of the leather-clad Nightshade on the rooftop of the bank. Her eyes narrowed behind the domino mask as her hair continued to billow in the wind. She had been the protectress and princess of the Realm of Nightshade for as long as she could remember but recent events had drawn her from her self-exile and back the world in which she had been born as Eve Eden. Still, it seemed that her own investigations into the matter had brought her to another gathering of . . . heroes, for lack of a better phrase. The world was changing, magic as old as time itself was returning to the world of humans and, on any other basis, Nightshade wouldn’t have left her realm. Yet, this magic was encroaching towards everything she held dear and that couldn’t be allowed. Nightshade stepped from the ledge, falling through the air before creating a shadow-portal and exiting the scene. CENTRAL CITY There was a lavender flash. “Always rummaging through the trash like the rodent of your ancestors. It’s amazing really. Millennia have passed and yet it’s almost as though nothing has changed.” The green mass turned his face towards the light. “Strega, my mistress most high.” “Hello, my pet,” purred Strega as she caught his chin in the palm of her hand, looking down upon him with compassion. “You have always served me so valiantly, as have those who came before you. You are one of the truest treasures within my arsenal. However, the time has come to stop lurking in the shadows. We must act if we are to restore the true God to his dark throne. As I speak, we are hunted for the item in our possession.” He whimpered. “My Queen, what can I do?” “Now, do not fret over matters such as this,” she continued, an attempt at appeasement. “There are those of us who are much better suited towards orchestrating what is to come. From you, my pet, I need only one thing. You are to be the lure. Draw them to you and destroy them.” Strega smiled sultrily as he nestled into her bosom. “For me.” She could feel him nodding. She would be victorious, even if it meant she had to destroy every mystical individual that the pathetic realm could throw at her. The Pentacle would raise the Dark Lord and Ataxia would once again return to the powerful entity that it had been, it was her final will as queen. As Selena disappeared, Bagman moved from the trashcans and into the broad city lights. His malleable body twisted and turned as he propelled himself through the bricks and glass that lined the streets. The streetlights shattered under the path of his carnage and, as Selena had commanded, he was drawing attention. “Not so fast, Michelin Man,” snarked the floating sorcerer, descending into the alleyway. “I think we have some business to attend to, don’t you?” Without waiting for a response, the new Doctor Fate shot his hands forward and unleashed a blast of magical energy that whirled and snaked around the gelatinous form of Bagman. The sorcerer seemed proud of himself until he noticed Bagman’s arms extending from the restraints and grasping at the strand Doctor Fate was holding. With a quick tug, Doctor Fate was pulled earthward and slammed into the cold, damp tarmac which shattered and splintered around him on impact. He groaned slightly as the binding disappeared and Bagman stood to his full height of almost eight foot, casting a long shadow over him. “Maybe that was a little cocky,” laughed Doctor Fate, brushing the dirt from his baggy blue overalls. “Try this.” Bagman’s fist collided with an auric shield and sent a shockwave around them, tossing several of the surrounding bins on their sides. Bagman continued to bang against the shield as Fate rotated his hands, the shield expanding until it exploded outwards and thrust the green creature through the air. His malleable body quickly recovered as he snaked towards the sorcerer. Doctor Fate gulped, wondering if he was out of his depth. THE BLACK ROOM, ARGUS UNDISCLOSED LOCATION Etrigan dropped Silver Banshee’s unconscious figure onto an ornate armchair. The malevolent glint, the excitement of violence, still shimmering in his burning eyes. However, he found himself hunched over in momentary pain. A consequence of his duality, the fight for control that raged within the singular form between Etrigan the Demon and Jason Blood. Etrigan stumbled backwards, drawing the attention of his Justice League Dark teammates, as he groaned angrily. He suddenly became reposed as he turned, his eyes searching the embers of the fireplace and a look of tranquillity overcoming him. “Gone now, O’ Etrigan! And rise once more the form of man!” His invocation finished and the spell was spent as the demonic warrior shifted back into the lanky, aged form of Jason Blood. Jason’s eyes narrowed as he turned to face Black Orchid. “I’m not your pawn, Orchid. The Demon is not a toy to be played with. He isn’t easily controlled and he becomes more powerful the longer he stands free from my constraints.” His glance was warning. “This isn’t the capacity in which I was recruited. Am I clear?” Black Orchid glared, arms folded. “I hear your request, soldier.” Her tone was far from friendly. “Just remember, you’re detained here as much as the rest of these miscreants and criminals, and if I need the Demon, I’m sure as hell gonna have access to the Demon. Am I clear?” They stepped toward one another. Daniel, leaning against a billiard table, snarled. “Is this my life now? I go from drinking what I like and pretty women, to watching you lot measure dicks in a million different ways.” He sighed. “And to think, I thought be trapped in this suit was the worst this curse could get.” Orchid looked over her shoulder. “Likewise, I’ll have June back now. Our use for you is over, witch.” Enchantress hissed. “Need I remind you just what we can do if you step out of line,” snarled the field commander. Enchantress looked considerate for a moment. Her face seemed tormented between submitting to an inferior being such as Black Orchid or tearing the woman’s throat out with her teeth. She stood, slowly. “Enchantress.” The spell ushered from her lips sultrily. It happened in the blink of an eye as June Moone could feel her hands intertwining with those of ancient goddess and in a single flip of their palms, the dark witch was gone and a beautiful yet understated redhead stood in her place. There was a moment of confusion in her sorrowful green eyes but she seemed to have become accustomed to the transformation as she quickly rebounded. She shot a pleading glance towards Orchid but the woman was unapologetic and unfeeling towards her plight so she simply bit her lower lip and moved towards the fire, downtrodden and passive as she always did. She whispered softly. “I didn’t kill anyone, did I?” Yet, her question remained unanswered. Mister E folded his arms and spoke. “You’re making more enemies than friends in this room, luv. Not wise, especially when you never know just when you’ll need them to bail you out of a tight spot. These ‘miscreants’, as you called them, rank as some of the most powerful, magical entities on the planet. A little respect can go a long way.” “If their body count of innocent people wasn’t in the thousands then they’d be worthier of my respect,” snapped Black Orchid. “Don’t forget I’m powered by a pretty strong source of magic myself. Until a time comes when you’ve earned it, you’re all here to serve out sentences like good little soldiers. I expect you all to keep your heads down and do the job.” Jason sighed. “If we’re doing the job then it might interest you to know that we’ve got a strong magical occurrence happening in Central City.” His eyes never left the screen ahead of him. “Which marks one of the points in Mister E’s pentacle. That seems like as good a lead as any.” She sighed. “No rest for the wicked.” Marching towards the centre of the room, she gave her orders. “Blue Devil, you’ll be coming with me. Someone wake up Silver Banshee, I’ll take her too. Best rip that band-aid off. As for the rest of you, make yourselves useful. I want more information on this artefact and on these supposed regions. Why do they matter? Find me answers.” “Aye, aye, captain,” mocked Jason. Black Orchid ignored him as Blue Devil, carrying the unconscious Silver Banshee, fell in line behind her. “Portal now, Mister E.” Mister E cocked his brow. “The magic word?” “Do it,” she grimaced. With a wave of his hands, Black Orchid, Blue Devil and the currently rousing form of Silver Banshee disappeared into a blinding white vortex. Mister E, Jason and June were simply stood staring at one another as it dispersed. June moaned. “I really hate that woman.” “The feeling is well known in this room, Doctor Moone,” agreed Jason as the trio began to undertake their work. METROPOLIS “You’ve placed that oaf in charge,” growled the demonic Jack of Fire, his red scaly flesh interrupted by cracks of flames. “Have you lost your mind? His lineage wasn’t fit to clean the gutters of Ataxia and somehow you’ve given him the responsibility of dismantling our foes. There are worthier soldiers in the field.” His words were stern and accusatory. Selena spun from the church’s altar, which had her plans led across it on a geographic map. Her raven hair cascaded as the lilac-clad woman descended the steps towards the pews. Her face was contorted, unfriendly, and she was a shadow of the woman she’d been when interacting with Bagman. As a former princess turned queen of a damaged nation, Selena had learned how to rule through adversity and manipulation. Her plan had been millennia in the making and every component had been specially selected to fulfil her needs. She’d located each of them, the descendants of the damned nation of Ataxia’s ruling class, and she’d bestowed upon them the gifts that had been taken from them. Jack of Fire, her advisor if not loyal colleague, had been one of the first she’d discovered but despite the storms they had weathered, his tone was unforgivable. She snarled. “Don’t forget your place, Son of the Forge. It is all to easy for those tainted with the genetics of humanity to rise above their station without warrant.” She reached out, her fingers tracing elegantly across his burning skin as if she were a tender lover, until they snapped shut around his neck. “You don’t speak to the rabble now. Even though we may appear to be broken and without option, you speak to your queen. You should remember that.” With a flick of her wrist, Jack of Fire was thrown through the pews as they shattered to little more than splinters. Selena’s regal composure didn’t falter as he attempted to stand after her assault. “Bagman may be slow-witted but you are not here to cast aspersions on my choices. You serve me,” proclaimed the queen. “We have witnessed the attack in Central City, the advent of these self-described heroes, and their mystical origin is of intrigue to me. Yet, we can’t fight against something we don’t understand and the plans we have made could crumble if we can’t anticipate that which could surely be an opponent. Your arrogance will always be your folly.” She turned away and walked back towards the maps spread on the altar. “You lack foresight,” Selena mused. “In order to win a war, sacrifices must be made. A pawn must be thrown to the slaughter.” Jack of Fire grimaced, uncomfortable with being chastised, but finally understanding her intentions. He followed her to the bottom of the steps, looking up at her, and bowed in a courtly fashion. “The time has come to summon the others.” Through gritted teeth, the demon responded. “Yes, my queen.” Next in Justice League Dark: As Mister E, June and Jason attempt to decipher the mysteries of the artefact . . . Black Orchid, Blue Devil and Silver Banshee must face off against the magical scourge of Central City: Bagman! But is this new Doctor Fate a friend, or a hindrance? |