It had been a few days since Tom’s conversation with Bruce in the Batcave, and in that time, his routine at Wayne Manor had shifted. The lingering weight of his biggest secret—the existence of Kaelith—was gone, leaving him with an unexpected sense of relief. Knowing that Bruce now knew everything important about him removed the constant fear in the back of his head, the fear that one wrong move might get him kicked out. With that burden lifted, Kaelith no longer needed to hide herself, though she still preferred residing in his shadow for reasons she refused to explain.
Not that her newfound freedom didn’t come with its own complications—like the time Alfred walked in on their training a day back and nearly dropped the tray of tea he was carrying. Kaelith, naturally, had found the incident amusing, flashing her sharp grin at the startled but composed butler. “Darling, you should’ve seen his face,” she’d teased Tom afterward, her laughter echoing in his mind.
Now, the training room in Wayne Manor had become Tom’s sanctuary. A stark contrast to the sprawling Batcave, the room was sleek and modern, its walls lined with equipment and racks of traditional weapons. The polished hardwood floor bore the faint scars of years of rigorous use, a silent testament to the discipline and history that permeated the manor. Large windows along one wall let in the soft afternoon light, casting the space in a warm, golden glow that felt almost calming—if not for the sharp presence of the demon perched on a bench nearby, her crimson eyes glinting with amused disdain as she watched him wrestle with his exercises.
Tom stood in the center of the room, his focus locked on the faintly glowing orb of pale light hovering above his hands. The edges of the orb crackled faintly, unstable and flickering with energy. Sweat dripped down his brow as he steadied his breathing, trying to maintain control.
“Not bad, darling,” Kaelith drawled, lounging on a nearby bench with the air of someone thoroughly entertained. Her crimson eyes gleamed with a mix of amusement and critique. “But you’re still letting it dictate the terms. Magic isn’t a dance where you follow—it’s one where you lead. Take control, don’t just react.”
Tom shot her a sharp glance, beads of sweat clinging to his brow as he held his focus. His voice was strained but edged with sarcasm. “Right. Because when we first started, it was all ‘relax, let it flow,’ and now it’s ‘seize control or die.’ Make up your mind!” He gestured vaguely, his frustration bubbling over. “And let’s not forget you’re not the one trying to keep this thing from blowing up in your face.”
Kaelith’s smirk widened, her sharp teeth gleaming in the warm light as she leaned back, the picture of effortless superiority. “Oh, I could do it for you,” she said with a mocking lilt, “but where’s the fun in that? Besides, if you can’t handle this little parlor trick, how do you expect to survive when something real decides to take a bite out of you?”
Her tone was light, but the weight of her words lingered in the air, driving the point home with merciless precision.
Tom gritted his teeth, the orb flickering dangerously as his concentration wavered. “Really motivational, Kaelith. Thanks for the pep talk.”
Before Kaelith could retort, a faint ripple of energy swept through the room. Tom paused, his focus faltering as he glanced toward the door. The orb flickered out, dissipating into a faint wisp of smoke.
Kaelith’s demeanor shifted instantly, her posture straightening as her gaze locked onto the doorway. “We have company,” she murmured, her tone sharp.
A moment later, the door opened, and Zatanna stepped inside. She moved with practiced grace, her black magician’s tuxedo and top hat lending her an air of effortless confidence. The subtle hum of magic accompanied her entrance, faint but undeniable, as though the very air shifted to acknowledge her presence.
Kaelith, who had been lounging against the wall with a look of faint amusement, straightened slightly, her crimson eyes gleaming with interest. “Well,” she drawled, her smirk widening. “If it isn’t the League’s favorite magician. To what do we owe the honor?”
Zatanna’s gaze flicked between them, her expression calm but piercing. Her eyes lingered on Kaelith for a moment before shifting to Tom. Her posture relaxed slightly as she extended a hand in greeting. “Tom Martin, I presume. It’s good to finally meet you in person.”
Tom quickly wiped his hand on his sleeve before stepping forward to shake hers, his grip firm but slightly hesitant. “Yeah, that’s me,” he said, offering a nervous smile. “And you’re Zatanna. It’s a little surreal meeting you in real life, to be honest.”
Zatanna’s lips quirked into a small smile, her demeanor warm but professional. “I’ve been briefed about you, and I’d say the feeling is mutual. It’s not every day we encounter someone from another universe.”
Kaelith’s soft chuckle cut through the moment. “Introductions, how quaint. Shall we exchange life stories next, or is there a reason you’re here, magician?”
Zatanna’s attention snapped back to Kaelith, her eyes narrowing slightly. “I’m here to ensure everything is as it should be,” she said simply, her tone even. “Batman asked me to assess the bond between you and Tom. Considering what we know—or don’t know—about your connection, we can’t afford to leave it unchecked.”
Kaelith tilted her head slightly, her crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. “You think I’m slowly corrupting him? Gradually molding him to suit my needs?” Her tone was sharp but laced with a mock sweetness that only served to emphasize the edge beneath her words.
Zatanna’s expression remained cautious, her stance firm. “It’s a possibility we can’t ignore. Your power and proximity to Tom raise too many questions for us to take his safety—or yours—for granted.”
Kaelith tilted her head, her crimson eyes narrowing briefly before she let out a sigh that carried an edge of irritation. “As much as it pains me to say this,” she admitted, “you’re not wrong. If your League hadn’t insisted on a second opinion, my already low opinion of your collective intelligence would’ve plummeted.” She crossed her arms and leaned against the wall, her smirk returning with a faint edge of wry amusement. “Due diligence is necessary, I suppose.”
Zatanna blinked, visibly taken aback by Kaelith’s pragmatic response. “You’re… surprisingly reasonable about this.”
Kaelith chuckled softly, the sound low and edged with bitterness. “Don’t mistake pragmatism for agreement, magician. I don’t enjoy being scrutinized, but I’m not naive enough to think I’ve accounted for everything. That entity—the one that dragged us both into this mess—could have easily blinded me to certain aspects of the bond. If there’s something hidden, something I’ve missed, better we uncover it now rather than when it’s too late.”
Tom glanced back at Kaelith, his brows furrowed. “You’ve never said that before. I thought you had this whole thing under control.”
Kaelith rolled her eyes, her smirk thinning. “Darling, I can handle what I know. It’s the unknowns that concern me. And whether I like it or not, having a second set of eyes—however mortal—could prove useful.”
Zatanna, her surprise evident but contained, nodded slowly. “I wasn’t expecting you to say that, but I’m glad you understand the importance of this. If there’s anything hidden within the bond, I’ll do my best to uncover it.”
Kaelith gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, her tone dropping to something softer, though no less pointed. “Good. Because if this connection is flawed or compromised in a way that endangers him—or me—it’s better for all of us to know now.”
Zatanna’s posture relaxed slightly, though her hands still glowed faintly with the remnants of her spell preparation. “I appreciate your cooperation,” she said, her voice genuine. “Let’s begin, then.”
Kaelith stepped back, her crimson gaze flicking briefly to Tom before settling on Zatanna. “Do what you must, magician. But if you find something unpleasant, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Zatanna gave a small nod, her expression firm yet focused. She stepped forward, her hands moving in precise, practiced gestures as she began to weave her spell. This time, her magic reached out to encompass both Tom and Kaelith, the intricate threads of energy connecting them shimmering faintly in the air.
The room grew heavy with the charge of magic, the faint hum intensifying into a low, resonant thrum. Kaelith’s form darkened, her edges rippling as though the spell sought to peel back the layers of her existence. At the same time, Tom felt a tingling sensation ripple across his skin, a warmth that shifted into something cooler as the spell delved deeper into the connection between them.
Zatanna’s brow furrowed in concentration as she murmured incantations under her breath. The energy around them swirled, probing the bond that tied Tom and Kaelith together. Tom shifted uneasily, glancing at Kaelith, whose expression remained neutral, her focus fixed as though she too was searching for something within the connection.
For a moment, the tension in the room became almost suffocating, the air thick with power. Kaelith’s posture stiffened slightly, and her voice broke the silence, low but calm. “Clever. Targeting both ends of the bond. At least you understand that this isn’t just about him or me—it’s us.”
Zatanna’s lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes flicking between the two of them as her magic probed deeper. “The bond isn’t one-sided,” she acknowledged, her voice measured. “It’s a feedback loop, affecting you both. But...” Her tone shifted, tinged with surprise.
Tom swallowed hard, his voice uneasy. “What does that mean? Is it dangerous?”
Zatanna didn’t answer immediately, her spellwork intensifying as she focused on the interference. The threads of magic shimmered brighter, their energy shifting between Tom and Kaelith as though tracing the path of the bond itself. Finally, Zatanna spoke, her tone cautious. “Not dangerous to you directly—but it’s not natural. The entity’s influence is woven into the bond’s foundation. It’s subtle, but there’s intent behind it.”
Kaelith’s lips curled into a faint sneer, though it was more thoughtful than angry. “Of course there is.”
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Zatanna stepped back slightly, her spell dissipating as she exhaled slowly. “The good news is that neither of you seems to be actively controlled or manipulated. But the bond itself is... interesting. It’s influencing both of you, though not in the way you’d expect.”
Tom’s brow furrowed, his concern evident. “What kind of influence are we talking about?”
Zatanna regarded him carefully before explaining, “Kaelith, the bond is deepening Tom’s aptitude and awareness of magic. It’s subtle but undeniable—almost like it’s augmenting his natural potential. Whether this is the entity’s intent or a side effect of your connection, I can’t say. But what’s surprising is that the influence isn’t one-directional.”
Tom blinked, unease flickering across his face. “What do you mean? One-directional?”
Before Zatanna could respond, the air in the room grew cold and dense, a low hum of energy vibrating through the walls. Kaelith stiffened, her crimson eyes narrowing as the edges of the room darkened unnaturally. The hum grew sharper, and with a violent crack, a swirling portal tore open near the center of the room.
“Found YOU!” Klarion’s shrill voice rang out as he stepped through the rift, Teekl padding beside him with glowing red eyes. His grin stretched wide, manic and gleeful, as his chaotic energy warped the very space around him.
Zatanna sprang into action, her stance shifting as her hands began to glow. “RUN!” she shouted to Tom, her voice commanding and urgent.
Tom froze, his feet rooted to the spot as panic gripped him. Kaelith’s voice snapped him out of it. “MOVE, idiot!” she barked, her form flickering with agitation.
Klarion’s predatory grin fixed on Tom, his tone dripping with mock innocence. “Oh, don’t be shy, little morsel. You’ve been such a fun disruption! I just want to talk.”
“Not happening,” Zatanna growled, weaving a spell. “Ekbob, gnidnib!” Chains of light erupted from her hands, rushing toward Klarion and coiling around him. They tightened with a snap, glowing fiercely.
Klarion tilted his head, looking almost bored. “Oh, Zatanna, chains again? Really?” With a lazy flick of his wrist, the magical bindings shattered like brittle glass, disintegrating into the ether. “You’re predictable.”
Zatanna didn’t falter, her hands moving in a blur as she chanted another spell. “Tom, Run!!” she shouted, urgency in her voice as she gestured toward Tom.
Kaelith hesitated for the briefest moment, her gaze darting between Tom and Klarion. Then she snarled, “You heard her!” Without waiting for a response, she dissolved into shadow, her form flowing like liquid darkness toward Tom. In an instant, she merged seamlessly into his shadow, her voice echoing faintly in his mind. "I’ll be here. Now RUN."
Tom bolted, his heart pounding as he sprinted down the hall. Behind him, the clash of magic rang out—a mix of Zatanna’s fierce incantations and Klarion’s mocking laughter. The walls seemed to warp and twist around him, the chaotic energy spilling into every corner of the manor.
Klarion raised a hand, and the hallway in front of Tom writhed, twisting into an impossible labyrinth. “Oh, running is so boring!” he called out, his voice lilting. “Let’s make it interesting!”
Tom skidded to a halt, his breath ragged. “Kaelith, what do I do?” he hissed under his breath, panic gripping him.
“Keep moving,” her voice echoed in his mind, cold but steady. “I’ll find a way to get us out of this.”
Behind them, Zatanna’s voice cut through the air. “You’re not taking him, Klarion!” Her magic flared brilliantly, a surge of golden light crashing toward him.
Klarion spun, catching the blast with a smirk. “Oh, Zatanna, you’re always such a buzzkill.” He hurled the energy back, forcing her to dive out of its path.
Tom stumbled forward, the warping hallways twisting into impossible angles. Kaelith’s voice cut through his panic. “Focus! Look for an exit. Anywhere.”
Klarion, growing impatient, snapped his fingers. The ground beneath Tom quaked, and a vortex of swirling darkness formed, tendrils of chaotic energy lashing out. “Enough games,” Klarion said, his tone suddenly icy. “You’re coming with me.”
“Tom!” Zatanna’s voice carried a desperate edge as she tried to fight her way through the chaos. “Hold on!”
Tom clawed at the ground, the pull of the vortex growing stronger. “Kaelith!” he shouted, fear breaking through his voice.
“I’m here,” her voice echoed, calm despite the chaos. “You’ll be fine.”
Kaelith surged within his shadow, her energy flaring as she tried to push back against the pull of Klarion’s magic. But the chaotic force was overwhelming. With a final, violent lurch, Tom was yanked into the portal, Kaelith’s presence clinging to him as the world around them dissolved into swirling darkness.
Zatanna collapsed to her knees, the sudden stillness of the room almost deafening. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she slammed a fist against the floor. “No…” she whispered, her voice breaking.
The sound of Zatanna’s ragged breathing filled the room, a sharp contrast to the eerie stillness that had settled over the space. The acrid tang of magic and ozone lingered in the air, the faint scorch marks on the floor and walls bearing silent witness to the chaos that had unfolded moments earlier. Zatanna knelt on the floor, her hands trembling as they pressed against the polished wood, her wide eyes staring at nothing.
The distant hum of the Zeta-Tube broke the silence, a lifeline cutting through the suffocating atmosphere. Moments later, Batman stepped into the room, his dark silhouette sharp against the sterile light of the portal. His gaze swept across the scene, taking in the destruction and Zatanna’s disheveled state in a single moment.
“What happened?” His voice was cold, clipped, but beneath it was an undercurrent of urgency.
Zatanna lifted her head, her face pale and drawn. “Klarion,” she whispered, her voice hoarse. “He took Tom.”
Behind him, Superman and Wonder Woman emerged, their expressions grim. Green Lantern followed close behind, his ring casting a faint green glow over the room. Each of them froze, absorbing the weight of Zatanna’s words.
“Klarion?” Superman repeated, his brows furrowing deeply. “Why Tom?”
Zatanna pushed herself unsteadily to her feet, her legs shaking. “I don’t know. He said Tom was a ‘fun disruption,’ and he seemed angry—focused. Klarion doesn’t get angry like that unless something’s gone horribly wrong for him. He wanted Tom, and he didn’t care what he had to do to get him.”
Batman’s eyes narrowed as he crouched to examine the scorch marks on the floor, his cape pooling around him. “What else did he say?”
“Nothing useful,” Zatanna replied, her voice laced with frustration and guilt. “I tried to stop him, but he… he’s stronger than I expected. I couldn’t keep up.”
Wonder Woman stepped forward, her presence commanding yet steadying. She placed a hand on Zatanna’s shoulder. “This isn’t your fault,” she said firmly. “Klarion is unpredictable and dangerous. He’s a challenge even for all of us. But we’ll get Tom back.”
Superman’s voice was low, but there was an edge to it. “Do we know where he took him?”
Green Lantern held up his ring, scanning the area with a grim expression. “I’m not picking up anything concrete. Klarion’s magic isn’t like anything we can track with this—it’s too erratic, too layered.”
Zatanna frowned, her brow furrowing as she concentrated. “I might be able to track him,” she said, her voice steadying. “But it’ll take time. Days, maybe longer. Klarion could have taken him anywhere—His portals are unstable, constantly shifting. Pinpointing his location will take precision.”
Batman stood, his expression dark. “We don’t have days.”
“We might not have a choice,” Zatanna said, her voice breaking slightly. “Klarion’s magic is chaos incarnate. If we rush, we could lose the trace entirely. I need time to do this right.”
Superman’s fists clenched at his sides. “So what do we do in the meantime? Sit here while he tortures Tom?”
“No,” Batman said sharply, his voice cutting through the room like a blade. “We follow every other lead. Tom’s presence here disrupted Klarion’s plans—he made that much clear. And if I had to guess, it started when Tom gave us the information about the Light.”
“The intel he shared,” Wonder Woman said thoughtfully, her arms crossed as her sharp gaze fixed on Batman. “It exposed their plans, their manipulations. Klarion thrives on chaos, but this… this is different.”
“Exactly,” Batman replied, his tone cold and precise. “When I disseminated Tom’s knowledge to the League, it shifted the balance. The Light’s secrets—things they’ve worked years to conceal—are starting to unravel. Klarion sees that, and he knows Tom is the source.”
Superman’s eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening as he stepped closer. “He wants to silence Tom—or worse, use him. If Tom’s knowledge can disrupt the Light, Klarion might see it as a weapon to further his own agenda.”
Batman’s expression was darker than usual, a heavy weight pressing down on the room. He stood still for a moment, his gaze flickering over the faint remnants of magical scorch marks left by Klarion’s chaotic intrusion. Finally, he spoke, his tone laced with a rare edge of guilt.
“This is on us,” he said coldly. “We let this happen. Tom came to us with information that could have turned the tide in our favor—We were greedy, I was greedy. Instead, we left him vulnerable, thinking we could focus on the Light.”
The admission hung in the air like a lead weight. Wonder Woman’s arms were crossed tightly, her jaw clenched as she processed his words. “He was just a young man trying to survive in a world he didn’t understand,” she said, her voice low but steady. “And instead of helping him, we made him a target. Klarion’s actions tonight make it clear: they see Tom as a threat. To the Light. To their plans. And we… we didn’t do enough to shield him.”
“We treated him like a tool,” Superman said quietly, the words heavy with self-reproach. His normally unshakable demeanor cracked just slightly, the faintest flicker of remorse crossing his face. “And now Klarion has him. He’s out there, alone, in the hands of someone who thrives on destruction and chaos. If we don’t find him—”
“We will find him,” Batman interrupted, his voice hard, though the guilt simmering beneath his words was unmistakable. “Because the alternative isn’t an option. The Light won’t hesitate to exploit Tom’s knowledge. Worse, if they realize his potential, they might destroy him entirely—mentally or physically.”
Zatanna, still gathering her strength after the brutal fight, looked up from where she was stabilizing the faint magical traces Klarion had left behind. Her voice was quiet but firm. “I can track him. It will take time, but I can do it. Klarion’s magic leaves a distinct signature, and it’s linked to Tom through the bond with Kaelith. I’ll amplify the traces and follow them back to wherever he’s been taken.”
“Time is a luxury we don’t have,” Green Lantern said, his frustration evident. “What else can we do? There has to be a faster way.”
“While Zatanna works on the magical trace, we work on everything else,” Batman said, his tone snapping the team to focus. “Superman, Wonder Woman—investigate any recent chaotic disruptions or unusual movements from the Light. Anything that ties back to Klarion or what they might want with Tom. Lantern, assist Zatanna with gathering resources and speeding up her magic.”
Wonder Woman’s gaze softened, though her resolve was unwavering. “And Kaelith?” she asked. “If she’s still with him, she might be our only hope of keeping him alive.”
“She’s his best chance,” Batman admitted, his voice lowering. “But Klarion’s power is unpredictable. We can’t rely on her to hold out indefinitely. If we don’t move quickly, Tom won’t just be a casualty—he’ll be an example. The Light won’t hesitate to make him suffer if it serves his purpose.”
The room fell silent, the gravity of the situation pressing heavily on every member of the League. For all their power, they had failed to protect one of the most vulnerable people in their orbit. And now, the consequences of that failure were staring them in the face.
Superman’s fists clenched at his sides. “We owe him this. He came to us for help, and we let him down. We have to make this right.”
“We will,” Batman said, his voice like steel, cutting through the room. “Because we have no other choice. The Light has made their move. Now it’s our turn. Whatever it takes, we bring Tom back. And we don’t let this happen again.”
Zatanna stood, her hands glowing faintly as she channeled her magic. “I’ll find him,” she said, her voice steady despite the exhaustion etched into her features. “Whatever it takes, I’ll track Klarion. Just… don’t let it be too late.”
The League exchanged grim, determined glances before moving with purpose.