Post by Gavin McMahon on Jul 17, 2018 4:37:36 GMT -5
So, this is it. After a very long time in gestation, Justice League Dark has finally been written and submitted. It was regrettably held up by my dissertation not being completed but as university is, hopefully, completely behind me. I don't foresee any other major dry spells. I've always loved the mystical side of DC and this was one of the titles that really resonated with me (before they discarded half of the original cast in favour of characters like the Nightmare Nurse and the art became atrocious), so I wanted to do it justice whilst bringing my own twist on it. Unfortunately, Zatanna wasn't available but I think I've gathered a unique, if slightly more antiheroic, cast of characters that I'm definitely excited to write. Also, when I started this Strega (known on this site as the Red Witch) wasn't available but I think replacing her made this story a lot more in-depth!
So, one issue down and an entire saga to go!
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.
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!”
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.
“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.
I hope you'll enjoy the mystical path unfolding as much as I'm enjoying writing it.