Chapter 97

November 5th 7:55 am.

 Zatanna Zatara PoV

“Guh…m-maa…”

I frowned as the villain known as Cheshire writhed on the floor in front of me. Lately she’s been a bit more active with her movements. A slightly unfortunate side effect of lessening the pressure of the gas flowing into the room.

Er, not that it was unfortunate because I didn’t want her to move or anything! By all means I think she should be as comfortable as possible. Even if she is a criminal, she had a right to that much.

That being said, she was still a jerk who hurt one of my friends. Ravager may be a bit…rough around the edges, but she was still a good person. It also wasn’t uncommon for people to get injured in this line of work.

But still!

If they hurt someone close to me…I…I just…

Hah. I was feeling like a little kid again. It was at times like this I wish I could be a bit more like Raven. A bit awkward, but completely calm. Focused. Committed. Powerful.

I took a breath before looking at Cheshire. With her mask off, she didn’t look all that intimidating. Even so, I knew better than to let my guard down. She was an assassin. Not only that, but she’s already taken lives.

How many?

She couldn’t even give answer to that question.

That was just one of the questions I had been able to pull out. From her own mouth, she practically admitted she was a monster! An utterly terrible person who didn’t feel particularly bad about it.

She did it for money. For power. To find her own place in the world.

What kind of reason was that? Normal people got jobs; they didn’t go out of their way to make other peoples lives miserable. Or worse, kill them!

These might not be exactly the questions Law wanted me to ask, but I think they were just as important. At least, they were to me.

To be completely honest, her answers…scared me.

We were superheroes. The ones who stop these villains in their tracks. The idols little kids look up to when they dream about the future. The names that people cry out when they’re in trouble.

It was kind of our job to put a stop to these guys, wasn’t it? But jails aren’t there to just lock them away and throw away the key. They’re supposed to redeem these guys. So that whenever they get back onto the street after serving their sentence, they’re able to atone instead of returning back to their old ways.

Atonement and redemption. Daddy always made sure to imprint the value of these two things onto me. That we’re born into sin, so we must all repent in some way or another.

I might not be nearly as religious as he is, but I definitely took that to heart.

…That being said. How do you redeem someone who doesn’t feel guilty? Not even the faintest amount of remorse?

She was completely helpless in front of me. Laying down on the floor so she didn’t hurt herself sliding off the chair. Sometimes she’d move an arm or a leg. Causing it to spasm lightly before going lax one more.

Cheshire couldn’t do anything to me. I held all the power here. Which is why I want to be the bigger woman, and forgive her.

But she was making it really difficult.

There…was another option. One that could solve everything in only a few minutes. The only problem was that it was…kind of wrong, and I wasn’t exactly an expert on how to do it anyway.

And that was to use magic in order to make her feel guilt again. Or at the very least, guilt towards her own actions.

Messing with people’s emotions was something daddy always said was a big no-no. He always said it was one of the most invasive things someone could do to another being. Reading minds and memories were one thing. Basically, parlor tricks. But actively changing how someone thinks and feels?

That was just wrong.

Like, I could just imagine some creep manipulating women into finding him attractive. Or actively trying to hurt someone by messing with how they’re able to even think. Keeping them alive, but lobotomizing them.

That was just pure evil.

…But making sure Cheshire could feel guilt?

That really didn’t sound as bad to me.

It wouldn’t be too hard. At least, I don’t think. But that sense of unease about not knowing exactly what I was doing was one of the things holding me back. My hand caressed Cheshire’s dopey face. Tapping it a bit as I weighed my options. Anxiety and dread pooling in the back of my mind until it was spilling out.

I shook my head and stopped touching Cheshire.

Daddy was right. Something like this…it was just wrong.

“Alright Cheshire. Let’s talk a bit more about your family.”

I stated, clapping my hands together. Even if she wasn’t really all here it felt a bit awkward to just start asking her things right out of the gate.

“…”

As expected, Cheshire didn’t react. Hmm, maybe I should call her by her real name?

“This time, lets talk about your dad. What was he-”

The door to the chamber started to creak open. A fact that caused my nerves to go into overdrive as I quickly turned back to face the opening door. No wait, that was a mistake. My eyes quickly double backed to Cheshire.

“Eit reh pu!”

I commanded, causing ropes to appear and quickly wrapping around her body. She didn’t seem to move much, so it was doubtful she’d get the drop on me. Thankfully the heavy door bought me some time, or I’d be in some hot water.

My legs led me to take a few steps forward as a figure was outlined in the doorway. One that was definitely not Law’s or any of the Titans.

It was a broadly built hispanic man in his early thirties. His thick black hair was tied in a ponytail behind him. His clothes were very plain, noticeably so, as they weren’t like any sold in the US.

And in his hand, was a small magicians wand.

It took only a few seconds to recognize him.

“Abra Kadabra.”

I announced, crossing my arms as I stared at the man in general annoyance. Something that seemed to be mirrored as he looked back, though he hid behind a condescending smirk.

“Zatara’s little brat. How is he doing these days with that sad little magic show?”

My eye twitched in annoyance as he took a step forward, and another. The reason being was probably because despite his name, he was a complete poser. He didn’t know any real magic. All he could do was pretend with high tech gadgets and gizmos.

Which is why several years ago he came to my daddy and got on his knees to beg to learn magic. It was the ‘only thing he ever wanted’. Which was obviously a lie, as he soon became a villain after he was turned away.

It sucks, but not everyone had the ability to do magic. In fact, it was pretty rare. Which is why on the team, Raven and I were the only real magic users.

“He’s doing great. Why, were you hoping to learn something?”

Nice. Quips were still a bit new to me, but those lessons from Beast Boy and Ravager were paying off.

Abra Kadabra’s face immediately twisted up in rage as he pointed the wand in my direction. Not a second later electricity arced out of it and went straight to me. I didn’t have any time to defend myself.

But I didn’t need to.

Just as it passed the halfway mark, it slammed into a mirror. One that was seethrough, so no one could even know it was there. Instead of shattering into a million pieces due to the blow, the mirror instead started to flip and spin on a swivel.

Causing whatever that attack was to return to sender.

His eyes widened before his own shot slammed into his leg. Causing him to fall to a knee and shout expletives. He was at least somewhat fast with his hands, as he started to grab for something else.

Not that I was planning on letting him!

“Dnib sih sgel!”

The metal pipes around the room tore off their hinges in order to snake their way over to Abra. Just as he tossed some sort of playing card in my direction, he pointed his wand at the metal like tendrils that attempted to wrapped around him.

An explosion rang out, causing me to flinch back a bit. The magic mirror had been shattered, but thankfully didn’t explode in a shower of glass. Instead, simply disappearing in a bright flash of light.

Abra then proceeded to fire on the metal tendrils. Prioritizing his safety over beating me.

“Ekoms dna srorrim!”

If he was struggling with just one mirror, how was he going to handle all of these? Several more suddenly appeared out of thin air, creating a small house of mirrors. Meant to disorientate and confuse him as several images of me were reflected in the glass.

It helped there was already smoke in the room, so I didn’t have to draw on much to have it start billowing out. It became so thick that it even hid below the knee in a dense fog.

After finally destroying the last remnants of the metal tendrils, Abra quickly pointed his wand back where I had once been, but by then I had already moved. Leaving only a mirrored reflection as I jogged away.

“Tsk. Is this really what you waste your gifts on? Little parlor tricks?”

“What’s wrong? Are you jealous because you can’t?”

He let out a loud tsk in frustration before looking around. After a few seconds, he fired off his wand in the direction he thought I was in. Only to find out that it was just another mirror.

He grunted loudly before coughing into his sleeve. Shaking his head as he attempted to look up and find me once more.

He pointed his wand in every which direction. He was starting to feel the pressure as he noticed that I could attack from any direction at any time. He grunted in annoyance before holding his head. Sweat dripping off his forehead as he shook his head a second time in order to gather his thoughts.

“It’ll take more than smoke and mirrors to defeat me!”

“…I wouldn’t be so sure.”

I commented, causing him to turn towards my voice. Ah, he was trying to track me down by keeping me talking. Smart!

Unfortunately for him, it wasn’t nearly smart enough. His footsteps clambered towards me in an unsteady rhythm. Slowing and speeding up in equal measure.

“Worht ym eciov.”

I whispered. Unfortunately, even that slight whisper seemed to have gotten his attention as he pointed his wand in my direction. Attempting to stare through the smoke and mirrors to see if I was real or another illusion.

Which was pretty difficult for him at the moment, considering all the gas that was now lifted in the air.

“You’re not looking too hot there, Alakazam.”

He shifted around so quickly that he almost fell over. His entire arm pointing straight at where my voice had sprung up from. His eyes once again searching for as long as they could before beads of sweat started to slip into his eyes. Forcing him to blink and rub them.

His frustration was mounting further and further.

“You act like you’ve never been in a hall of mirrors before.”

The closeness in which my voice echoed must’ve spooked him, as he immediately pivoted and fired off a shot. Shattering a mirror in the process in fear before looking around unsteadily on his feet.

“This…such stupid…childish little…”

“Wow. What a sentence. Can we get an applause from the audience for such an incredible performance? Esualppa!”

At my call, a loud cacophony of clapping and whistles greeted the both of us. The sudden noise seemed to make Kadabra paranoid. Perhaps thinking I was going to use the noise to get closer and take him by surprise.

But I wasn’t planning that at all.

Because all I had to do was sit and wait.

His wand fired off several shots. Hitting not only the mirrors but the walls and even the floor. He was floundering around; it seemed like his heart was beating a mile a minute as he just kept turning in circles. Pointing his wand in different directions before second guessing himself. Just by looking at it I was feeling dizzy.

Until finally his wand slipped from his hand.

He went to pick it up straight away, but could barely see anything in the rolling clouds of smoke. His arms penetrated the clouds but due to not being able to see through it, he could do little else but palm around and pray he made contact. He was also looking up. Waiting to see if I’d seize that moment of weakness and attack.

But once again, I didn’t.

Sure, he seemed pretty fearful, but what if it was a trick? Besides, I preferred to play things safe. Getting personal and one on one with villains wasn’t something I liked doing at all.

Eventually his coughing started to subside, and his body fell forward. Slumping onto the ground and into the cloud of smoke. He wasn’t completely unconscious, as his arms were still raised. Kadabra was still trying to push himself up, but didn’t have the strength to do so.

I then left my hiding spot before casually walking over to the downed villain. Just as I was only a few feet away, I heard a distinct snap under my feet.

Huh. Guess I was the one to find his wand first.

“Eit mih pu.”

Ropes appear and wrapped around his body tightly. Leaving him groaning without being able to do anything. Only once he was safely restrained did I take a moment to calm myself. Putting a hand over my heart to quell my nervousness.

This was the first time I had been ambushed by a real villain before. Going out to fight and being snuck up on was one thing, but it was another thing entirely to have them actively seeking ME out.

Even so, I still was able to handle the situation.

Oh, right! I needed to call this in. I plucked the Titan communicator off my hip and brought it to my face. Dialing the call button on it before frowning.

Oooh, I probably shouldn’t have pressed the group call button. This place wasn’t known to the other Titans for a reason. Well, even so, this was extraordinary circumstances. So, it was probably fi-

A weight pressed against my throat. One that felt cold to the touch.

“Let’s keep this a secret between us girls, hmm?”

A voice purred in my ears. A voice that had recently become very familiar.

Cheshire.