Anyone else STILL angry at ... 'Ian'... the bleached Damian

Rings of gold burrowed in to Adyn's soul as the magician grinned, "So, what's the plan now your Demonicness? Drain the information out of me? Threaten all I hold dear? Strangle me?", light brown eyelashes framed the metallic irises of the prisoner as he taunted, forearms resting on his knees as he sat forwards on his bed.

The bars keeping him immobile flickered every once in a while, shimmering and revealing a magical sheen. Adyn forced composure over his features and leant on the wall opposite the Light creature's cell. The Justice League had a great many cells tucked away in the Hall of Justice perfectly suited to any form of power be that telekinesis or shape shifting, and this one was perfectly suited to contain a magic wielder. Most likely intended for Constantine if he ever found being somewhat-good too boring (not that they'd ever capture a master conman/magician such as him).

"Nothing so diabolical, I want to talk.", Adyn hid the expression that said he'd love to do so much than just talk, allowing only a slight lifting of his pale pink eyebrows. "You are more likely to tell your secrets that way, I wouldn't want to force them out of you."

Aleil (for that was the captive Light magican's name) leaned further forwards, his legs hanging off the bed side, his smile growing, "Yeah, I'd imagine so. That would involve wounding my pretty little face,", for one so 'pure' his grin was wicked, "you certainly wouldn't want that."

"What are you implying?"

The man with hair like stands of light gave a twinkling laugh and a sigh, "Oh, nothing whatsoever..."

Adyn stood, his feet carrying him a step forward, "Is that so?", his crimson eyes dared to taint themselves deeper red. "You are flirting with the enemy here, Aleil."

The Light one too stood, nearing the magically humming bars, his voice many degrees quieter, "What if I don't want you to be the enemy?", he was a few inches away from the bars, mouth twisted in a wry smile as his eyes took in the demon's form. "Or maybe it's more fun this way."

That was no longer magical humming in the air, it was the buzzing of energy between the two, building as they dug the hole deeper. Both had their own agendas, but were united in playing this game.

"Is it now?", Adyn said.

"What a sight."

Their game was slammed to a halt by the chuckling of the half-man, Cyborg, leaning against the doorframe. Instantly, Adyn took a step back, shocked innocence playing on his face whilst his partner in crime rolled his lips to hide the frowning smirk on his face.

"So you know, your sister's upstairs.", Vic informed Adyn, eyes flicking between the two and censors acknowledging their elevated pulses. Ignoring Adyn's exclamation, he continued, "She's with Robin and Superboy and they're speaking to the League now. There was an attack,", Vic looked at the angelic one, "it was your lot, they went after the kids."

Adyn abandoned his place in front of the cell, rushing forwards to the doorway, stopped only by Cyborg's hand on his shoulder, "Listen, Batman's real pissed and Shazam's just shown up. They're making plans about what to do next and anticipating an attack.", Cyborg looked again at the Councilman. "Someone has to keep an eye on him, and the one over in the Batcave."

Understanding that Adyn would be of more use that Cyborg in a conversation about combatting magic, Vic told Adyn that he'd cover for him, sitting opposite the Councilman's cell. In a few moments, he had linked to a camera in the Justice League's main meeting room, opening the comms link also to understand the goings on: Vic would most likely end up fighting soon, might as well know the full plan.
It was a mercy in the least- Batman was about to fall of the edge and loose the plot, that was something no one wanted. Not now.

"... base holds all the Ringmasters so we can..." , Wonderwoman's voice matched the image in Cyborg's non-human eye, cut off by a terrible sound. With that terrible booming came a single, terrible shudder that ran through the building. Alarms flared in the Hall of Justice and Cyborg stood to attention.

They were under attack.

***

Two strikes.

That's all it took for the barrier to collapse.

The dome had fallen and the Hall of Justice was open for attack.

Clouded was the air- thick with the suffocating dust of failed magic and the throat-scratching fog of man made weaponry. An unholy hybrid was the cloud's creator, a weapon so twisted in purpose that the filthiest of Dark creatures would have spat upon it. Who else's seal would be borne upon it (that damned weapon) than the Council Ringmasters. Not merely the Council, but the private assent of the Ringmasters- the leaders- of the Light organisation.

Raven hadn't seen the weapon and its seal, but the knowledge remained fuelling the flame of her tamed anger. With their magical barrier destroyed, it would only be so long before another hybrid bomb was produced, reducing this side of the Hall of Justice to rubble.

That scratchy air drifted through the open window, as dust particles were set aglow by the sun like slivers of celestial light. Robin's throat ached the same way it had done all those moths ago, when he stood in front of the ruins of the Tower and crushed himself with shame. The Leaguers were in frantic discussion, having sent the Flash (as fast as he could manage without travelling through time) to survey the scene and him returning.

Damian payed it no mind, even as Jon shook his arm and demanded, "What's wrong D? I don't get what's happening?"

Vaguely, Damian heard to door slamming open as Cyborg and Adyn rushed in, the blaring alarms rendering most sounds intangible. His focus remained elsewhere, upon the clearing cloud and the figures darkening within its murky depths. The helicopters and tanks would turn up soon enough; the army would walk in and muck things up as usual. When would those trigger-happy leaders understand that non-human beings cannot be dealt with by human methods?

Batman paused mid sentence- in the process of issuing cautions and orders- and his eyes fell upon the increasingly visible scene outside the HOJ's courtyard. How...? How had they done it? A mass...an army...How? But of course, these were magic wielders capable of disguising and cloaking all they wanted. How Bruce kicked himself that his understanding of the "preternaturals" was not as good as he wished, even after all this time.

Now was not the time to dwell upon 'should-be's, there was an imminent threat approaching the tower at miraculous speed with a force of hundreds north-eastwards. Five figures stood out in the mass of white cloaks, their images bloody red. Looking closer, the crimson hoods shielding their visages were part of a red cloak that looked like the upset Red Sea as Moses bade it bleed before the Pharaoh's eyes. These so-called 'ringmasters'.

In the past, the Justice League had faced all manner of threat, this one was no different. They would meet them on the streets.

Scarcely five minutes ahead, the handful of Leaguers stood besides Robin, Raven and the demon, facing the five red-cloaks. Some others had been paged, of course, the other Titans, Hawkman, Martian Manhunter and the likes; they would be on seen any moment now. Hundreds of white cloaks billowed in the wind- the blessed random spell of warmth in winter seemingly coming to an end. From those hundreds issues wave after wave of subconsciously released energy (adrenaline no doubt the cause), its Lightness almost bringing sickness upon the demonic siblings.

The worst came from the four.

What masters of magic were these? That pure power wasn't simply within their souls or running through their veins; it was them. Each being held their years well, all over the age of two hundred (per the standard life expectancy of each creature: two Light elves, both warlocks; one Light Mage; and a Light shifter). For ones with such supposed wisdom, this seemed far too impulsive. Then again, the material wants of Lights on Earth had always been a known fact- so strong a divide and malice was not so present on the home realms, the opposite of what most would expect.

It had been agreed upon, Wonderwoman would speak first.

"We are the Justice League,", her voice reached those at the back of the force of three hundred, "the defenders of Earth. We do not seek war, but if conflict comes to us we will fight with the might of the gods. What is it that you want?"

The last Ringmaster on the right lifted her bowed head, casting her hood backwards. Curls like copper coils sprung around her angular face, her lips like blossoms the colour of honey and her eyes unforgiving sandstone. The only indications of her age were the crows' feet creasing the corner of her eyes.

Kahlia. Kahlia Ramire. A shifter, over three hundred years old.

Her eyes dug in to the Amazon's, "Our quarrel is not with Earth. You need not defend it.", her voice was like honey. "No more can be expected of an Amazon, naturally. Forever cleaning after the wreckage of humanity. Nothing is asked of you.", she stepped forwards, "Out quarrel is with those who have wronged us, those who have taken from us.", her sandstone eyes glinted gold in the red sunset. "You have a squadron leader of ours: he will be returned to us. You have an ally of ours,", referring to the face-shifter, "apprehended in no legal manner: he will also be returned to us."

"And you'll leave, just like that?", Superman was beyond wary and sceptical.

Robin (sure to avoid drawing his katana and starting the war) tutted, "Tt. You would not have amassed forced for such menial causation.", his green eyes gave way to amber for a moment. "And you are incorrect in one other matter. The Council does threaten Earth, an imminent threat without doubt."

A second hood fell, and out emerged a face bedecked in lines- not wrinkles of age, but wounds of battle that rendered his left eye a runny blank sphere and the right a gaping hole beneath a golden disk (an eyepatch of sorts). Aaroniv Aleifath: 'The Blind Lord', an Elf no less.

"What do you mean by it boy? Such allegations will have you your head!", he rasped.

Raven stepped in, red consuming her irises, "Lord Aleifath,", her tongue laced with venom, "you know exactly of what he speaks.", she now addressed an audience, retaining her iciness. "This Council of Light is guilty. Guilty of destruction of non-magically owned property. Guilty of the sales of magical weaponry to non-magical beings with knowledge of harmful intent. Guilty of aiding and abetting an insurgence out of Council jurisdiction and undermining the integrity of a foreign kingdom."

The sun had bade the Earth farewell and set.

Unrest grew in the hundreds of white cloaks -a fraction of the Council's number. Evidently they had not all been privy to this information. Neither had the Justice League (or the few members of it that were actually present) known the true extent of the Council's wrongdoings, or the meanings of most of the allegations.

With a chill blowing over his cheeks, Adyn took his turn, stepping forwards and hiding a smile as the front row of white cloaks -mostly with dark blue triangles on their chests- shuffled backwards. For the first time in months, the demon shed his 'pleasant form', rosy curls paling to a shocking white, pink skin violently colouring red, the stubs on his skull elongating with a harsh crackling to horns that ended of spear-points; those bloody eyes remained their formidable hue.

"It was you who did it.", his explanation was for the sake of the Leaguers. "The attack on the Titans Tower.", shock painted itself upon their faces. "That was Light magical technology fused with missiles employed by mankind alone. The same weapons that shattered the forcefield not ten minutes prior.". The question hung in the air, willing itself to be answered: 'why?'.

Robin answered the unspoken word, spilling a dirty secret that had eaten at his insides for months, "The Council is working with the usurpers of Hell's throne.", each syllable disgusted him. "The remnants of Talia al-Ghul's League of Assassins and those working for the other living Sins."

Here, there ought to be a catch up of information. Much of this story has been a puzzle, now, the pieces of the puzzle will begin to make sense. You see, Raven had six brothers. One of whom was Adyn- Wrath-; another, a scarcely mentioned Tavor; the old regent, Kadaar. All three had been...better. Compassionate, kind to her when it seemed that not a shred of kindness existed in the cold and ruthless universe.

Then there were the others. Replicas of Trigon in belief and manner, finding joy in tearing beings apart alive and solace in the tortured screams of mankind. When Trigon was defeated they'd been captured, sealed off like the Titans in Tartarus. Those who took the throne released those Sins (from Emry's inside information).

The Elvish lord's eyes were wide with truth ringing though his words, "I have no knowledge of the Council's work in any such crimes- certainly not the attack on this 'Tower' you speak of."

Batman's brow creased, this man- elf- was telling the truth. If there was anything he could do it was assess body language.

The other two remaining hooded ones came forwards, proclaiming their innocence in these affairs. The silvery sheets of the Elf's hair retained their lustrousness, the same metallic shade as her worn eyes as she denied all knowledge. The mage was the only one of the four with darkened hair: wavy navy locks fell to his shoulders, complimenting his dark olive skin and pale blue eyes. The two of them had as much truth to their words as the Elvish Lord Aleifath.

The shifter. She had kept quiet.

"It appears I am found out.", her eyes flashed, blinding all facing her for a second. Kahlia Ramire was gone. Not a trace of her on the position she'd stood in. Vanished entirely.

The true orchestrater of the fall of the Titans Tower.- to the aid of the demon/assassin allied coup, no doubt. The one behind orders to sell magical devices to human criminals.- a financial element to it.

The sending of the squadron after Raven (at the vodka witch Marlena's store) came only after provocation by the demoness and her Dark associates, as would be expected by any respectable organisation. The group sent after Raven and Damian that day (with Superboy accidentally throwing himself in to the mix -he'd returned to the Manor before the two strokes destroyed the dome-) were in retaliation to the capture of the previous squad leader, Aleil, and his team. How could they fault the Council on those grounds? These hundreds had been brought to settle a score between the demon, demoness and Al-Ghul, on a matter of threatened dignity. The defenders of Earth had brought upon them far graver matters that harmed the stability of preternatural ease on Earth.

On queue, the helicopter whirring sounded and the approach of tanks was audible even to non-enhanced human ears. That despicable voice sounded, one oozing human greed and pomp.

"Surrender or we will fire."

Amanda Waller.

A.N:

Sorry if I lost some of you in the middle there, or if there are typos. There usually are a few mistakes in my writing due to autocorrect being a fucking pisstake, but I haven't got the patience.

So, we've had internal exams this week and we'll have some more next week- I've done my non-calc maths test, French writing and listening, History and Science test...there's only a shitton left! Yay. 😑

Well, I hope you're all doing splendidly and may I just add... 60+K VIEWS!!!! I'm working my way over the shock. Love you all so bloody much!

Aaaaand Ramadan starts in a few days so to any Muslim readers, good luck! Fasting can be tough, especially in the last hour, but if have to say that Ramadan is my favourite time of year- the atmosphere is so wonderful and peaceful!

Thank you!

-Bats :3