Early Release (Tag Zataana&

[Cecily Graves]

The rising of the moon stirs her awake. Finding herself in the middle of a park she wonders how her freedom came about. Standing up she stretches rubbing her arms and enjoying the fact she was not in a straight jacket.

Taking a deep breath Cecily’s lungs fill with the salt air of the harbor. Finding that her legs were weak she stumbles from the lack of use she falls down face first. The night air fills her lungs, She could taste the salt in the air she rubs her leg and stretches them trying to get good enough to walk on.

Standing up she finds she is still wobble but could stay on her feet. Stepping into the light of an lamp post she gets a good look at what she is wearing a long black dress and she had no idea how she got she only wore jumpsuits while she was locked up.

Stepping out on to the sidewalk she notices a couple coming. The man a silver brief case the girl holding a case of beer. Creeping back into the shadows she watches them as they find the nearest park bench.

Once at the bench the man opens his brief case and pull out a video camera and some tripod legs. The female put on a strip tease for the camera as he makes sure it is working right. Slightly amused Cecily watch thinking some people should really check there surroundings before doing things like this.

After downing a few of their drinks they begin kissing and feeling each other. The girl removes her under clothes the man takes his pants down and she climbs atop of him. The act lasts all of ten minutes as he promises her a better round two.

She get up laughing she get another beer and drink it pulling up his pants he shuts of the camera. He tells her not to drink it all while he is off using the restroom. Cecily smiles as she knew her opportunity had just arrived.

Following him at a distance it takes him no time to find a tree in the dark that he liked. Getting her nails as sharp as she can creeps on him letting out a small moan as he begins let leans his head back. Her feet fall silently as she closes in on him she is right behind as he finishes placing her right hand on his throat and the other on his man hood she press tight against him.

“hey stud make sure you stay still or your going to be missing something!”

She smiles as he nods slowly taking he hand from his throat and stepping slightly to the left she rips a whole in the back of his shirt, Cecily then step back where she was and gets closer. Placing her head right behind his she drags her finger across her jaw drawing blood she does the same to him with the same results.
“Please ddddont hurt me please I’ve never harmed anyone in my life!!”

Ignoring him she continues mixing his blood with hers she slides her hand to the middle of his back. Returning the nails she spreads the mixed to the tips of all of her fingers, Next she draws a circle on the middle of his back.

Once done she release him all together she had no reason to hold on once the circle was completed. The spell she started has left the man unable to move continuing it show make the sign for the heart at the top and a soul at the bottom. Pulling her hand back the mans soul comes out in the grip of her hand.

Turning the soul into a small white jewel she knew she had him. After letting her new minion put his pants back on and tells him beat his girlfriend unconscious and to drag her back over to her. It takes him no time to bring her back dragging her bloody body by her feet.

He go back and get the camera and the tri pod and breaks one of the legs. Commanding him to draw the same mark that was on his back in the dirt he places her body in the middle of it. Breaking another one of the legs he is plunges it into to her chest Cecily waits for the moment just before death, Plunging the jewel in at that moment the jewel of the sacrificed lover was made.

She is now drained of her magic so the jewel would not help her this night but soon it will. She once had a book of magic that was destroyed by the ones that killed her mother, She had once heard of a book called the Reaper’s Tomes it was strong in Necro Magic she had to have she would have and the jewel would make sure of that by leading her to it. Having her new minion take her to his home she slept in his bed as he kept watch her last thought being on the books in her hands.

[Zatanna]

Shadowcrest has always had a mind of it's own, it's comings and goings as random and not as random as always.
And lately, it's stuck me in Gotham.
Which has it's ups, and it's downs.
This is the Bat's city. He doesn't really care for other heroes meddling in his area.
But, he and I are close friends, and he knows I've needed a time out from all super hero business anyhow.
Though, try as I might, it never seems to stop finding me.
Trouble. Of the magickal kind.
A knock on the door reveals a local PD, wanting to ask my 'expert opinion' on some magickal things found at the scene of a crime.
As much as I want a break from it, and I'm sure Batman doesn't want me active in his city, I can't hold back on strictly magickal matters of any kind.
I'm a Sentinel of Magick.
It's my job, something that runs deeper than just being a Hero.
I nod, explaining that expert opinion and explanations are all I'm offering in aid, knowing that if things really are seriously above the mundane law, I'll betray these statements.
I stay in my civilian clothing, jeans and a t-shirt, my hair pulled back in a pony tail, as we head down to the scene.
It keeps a distinction between 'expert' and 'on the job cape', I hope.
First thing I notice is a body, in the middle of a drawn circle.
And the second thing I notice is some stray black cat feeding on the corpse's wounds.
A detective chases the stray away, showing me the scene, pointing out the obvious, and my mind is already running what I see, his voice turning into so much background noise as I nod my head to make him think I'm really listening.
I know the markings. I have recently come into protective possession of a text that has diagrams of this very ritual inside.

[glow=yellow,2,300]"It's Necromancy."[/glow]

I have been shielding against the magickal energy I can sense all around, but I'm not going to have much of an expert opinion if I don't really feel it, so I deepen and steady my breath, pushing my mind into an alpha state, to see with my 3rd eye.
After seeing what I can at an 'expert' level, I speak to the original officer that brought me here.

[glow=yellow,2,300]"This is all death magick.
I sense a Necromancer, and 2 dead.
Since Necromancers control the dead, I'd say your second cadaver is walking around Gotham with whoever raised it." [/glow]

The guy goes pale at the news, nodding his head, mumbling about god-damned super villains being out of his league and his pay rate. Poor guy.
But still, it's his investigation.
I am just going to be 'advising'.
At least, for the local pd to see.
This is a murder, for magick.
If there is a Necromancer setting up base in Gotham, that could be a big problem.
I want to see where this leads, before I leave it in mundane hands.

[Cecily Graves]

The night hour were once again upon her as she gazes from the window of her puppet’s house. After reading the news paper she finds that she is in Gotham City. How she got there on was floating through her mind along with why.

Her puppet lived in a condo on the top floor of a apartment complex not that far away from the park. She had her puppet watching out for trouble while she slept enjoying every moment of unbound freedom.

Looking through her puppets wallet she finds his name is Steven Harrison. The park was roped off as the police were looking through the entire park for every bit of evidence they can find. The city was seemed to be ripe for chaos but stayed mostly under control she had heard about Batman, Robin and the few others that are in Gotham.

They must be very effective in doing their jobs. Steven’s girlfriend had left some clothes they were a bit tight but they fit. Blue jeans a white blouse a pair of black sneakers and a blue jean jacket.

Changing as quickly as she could she licks the jewel to get a taste of the soul inside. A thud rings out in the small place her puppet’s body died from being separated from its soul for to long. Shrugging she walks out the front door using the jewel as a divining rod to show her where the book was at.
To her surprise it was within the same city she was at. There was doubt in her mind that this was not by chance. The jewel ability to tune in with the book made it the perfect item to use to find it, the closer it got the redder the jewel would turn until it turned black which meant it was right in front of her.

The Jewel was turning a pinkish color that meant she was headed in the right direction. The feeling of eyes on her snaps her out of her trance. She had forgotten that she was walking through the alleys of one of the worst cities in America three men all carrying weapons.

They walked at her and they believed they had her because they had cornered her in. Putting the Jewel in her pocket she cracks her knuckles she prepares herself know this would be more fun for her than them.

“Hey there sexy you look a bit lonely would you like big strong men to make you feel better?”

The one who said that must be the leader he was the one standing in front of her. He had a flame tattoo on the right side of his neck that reached that reached up to his ear.

His Jacket also had flames on it looking at the other to they also had the same thing going. The foot steps of the one she feels is the leader begin to walk toward her.

“So you never answered me sweet cheeks don’t worry You be alright!”

Turning back him she raises her hand to her mouth ct as if she just got the gist of what was happening. Letting fear creep into her eyes and a whimper escape for lips she could see that he was becoming more bolder by the second.

Walking up to her he takes her in his arms and licks her face. The shudder she gave was real but it was her holding back not from fear. He grabs her ass and begins to kiss on her neck. If this fool only knew Pushing him back as he begins to take he jacket off he was to focused to noticed her eyes had changed colors.

He charges her the other two rooting him until they witness her rip his heart out. This being the first time she was using her vampire abilities the sudden rushes of the smell of blood was almost overwhelming.

The other two ran off after wetting their pants. The warm blood on her hand was to intoxicating had eaten the heart and licked the blood off before she was aware that she had begun. Retrieving the jewel from her pocket sees it is was getting darker but not by much.

Stepping outside the ally she continues this time making sure she stayed aware of those around her. Cecily was upset at herself for letting them even for a second catch her unaware if they had known her weakness she might have been taken by those want to be thugs. She made up her mind then once the book was hers she would make a sure it never happened again.

Making some help would be an easy task very easy. The setting of the city changes as she enters rural area of the city. The stone was blood red she was extremely close she steps closer the stone showing her the way. Walking into the new area she was in she could feel the books power herself as if it were speaking to her soul.

There was a house that seemed to be there but not there. She felt as if she were being played with then every house on the block looked the same. Looking at the jewel it had gone back to being white which was of no help to her.

The books was close but where ever it was the magic was to strong for her to break the spell on the house. This was frustrating sitting under a tree she calms herself and brings herself into balance. Maybe she could call to and call it to herself it was a book that wanted a master and she would that.

She lets her mind go blank feeling only the energy of the book letting it know she was there. Entering the white room of her mind she calls out to it commanding it to come to her. She could feel it struggling with something but she knew if she lent it some of her energy through the link they seemed to share it could break free.

So she know there is nothing she could do the magic protecting the house was very powerful. This would have to be something got herself she would have to wait for the protector.

The book itself had been written by Hamnet Noutern in the year 1485. Hamnet was considered the Merlin of Necromancers it with made of sheep’s skin and written in human blood the books cover had a golden dragon reaching for the sun. Hamnet believed that a Necromancer could control the magically world by making a focus that could shift the flow of power in favor.

His books was his way of changing the way Necromancers used their powers and even had prophecies. He himself had traveled the world and gathered Necro spells he planned to do as he believed and he was slain in the Year 1523. At the time of his death he had three of the four items he believed would accomplish his goal.

The book was taken along with the pieces. The Book was kept but the pieces were spread out once again. Over the years the book was passed from protector to protector she would be the first to posses it since him.

The protector arrives as Cecily ducks into the bushes. Watching her prey like a hawk she creeps slowly in the protector’s direction. The door opens and Cecily pounce hard.

They slam into the wall hard Cecily landing on her side and rolling over. Rolling over she looks into the protectors face and find it is a woman. Not wanting lose the advantage she sees she has she resumes the attack.
Punching her in the face and stomach. Her eye changes color as she becomes more wolf like. Wrapping her legs around her targets mid-section she wraps her arms around her throat and leans back. Cecily loves the chocking sound so she listen to it.

Slowly dragging one of her finger across The girls face she draws blood and taste it.

“I don’t know what you can do you may be able to heal but I have just tasted your soul!”

The book would soon be her and this girl may become a good pet.

[Zatanna]

Leaving the scene of the crime, I think of all the possible things a Necromancer could want in Gotham, my list still not very long.
Ah well. I have to let the authorities gather more clues before I can go much further.
The energy pattern at the site had died cold, there was nothing to actually follow.
Death magick, it's energy doesn't have a long shelf life.
Imagine that.
Maybe we'll get lucky. Maybe the Necromancer was on their way through, gathered the energy they needed, and are moving on from here.
It never turns out that way, but one could hope.
Stopping to unlock my door, I am attacked from behind, thrown into the house, and into the wall.

[glow=yellow,2,300]"Oomph!"[/glow]

My attacker doesn't leave me any time to recover, punching me in the face and the stomach, the physical attacks keeping me off guard as she seems to get even more feral, scratching my face, talking about tasting my soul.
It's the Necromancer. Her energy up close, her legs around me, all I feel is death.
I don't say anything to her taunts, grabbing her by the ears, head butting her to get her to drop her hold on me.

[glow=yellow,2,300]"Bitch!"[/glow]

As she's moving off of me, I kick at her, hoping to plant my boot hard in her shin, putting a palm out to generate a burst of bright light in her face to disorient her, to keep her from hitting me again.
There are situations where I've had to fight hand to hand, but I don't prefer it.
I'm not an Olympic level athlete like most of the JLA.
To be attacked, in my own home, by a stranger, is rather personal, raising all sorts of feelings, and I let that guide my magick as I finally get a moment to react with more than just defense.

[glow=yellow,2,300]"Lrig nwod!"[/glow]

I bark it like a command, furious with her, knowing it will hold her off of me.
What possible purpose could she have to...
Before I can finish the thought, the text that has been on my mind since I saw the circles drawn at the crime scene appears, throbbing with an energy that matches the very wavelength of the Necromancer herself.
It must have called her right to my door.
I know the history, I know every spell in the book now myself. I know what it's wrote to do.
I know this Necromancer is walking a dark path.
She's going to kill people.
She's already killed people. I saw one body just this morning, and felt another.
But unless I kill her, I can't keep the book from her.
I eye her, held down by my spell, and the book, hovering in between us, the bond between them sparking to visibility, the closer they get.
3 letters backward is all it would take, to end her life right here.
To stop her from getting her hands on the book.
But I can't say the words.
I have made some mistakes, big mistakes, when it comes to being a super hero.
I can't murder her. Even knowing she's going to cause allot of death in her wake.
I drop my hold on her, taking a stance of defense, ready for her attack to double once she has her prize, as source of power in and of itself.
Magick battles happen when the outside meets the inside.
And this is going to hurt.

[Cecily Graves]

The defender of the house grabs her by the ears and head butts her and just as Cecily was about to regain her sense an invisible force slams her to the ground. She could see the one that had her pined down was thinking heavy thoughts.

She could smell the inner conflict coming out of the pores of the woman before her. Her blood was now flowing from her nose over her lips and down her chin. Her fate was being decided would she die did the woman in front of intend on ending things permanently.

She could feel the being redirected into her throat and was now building up. Unable to stop it Cecily blood erupts from her mouth like lava shooting out of volcano. Breathing was becoming almost a burden but she would manage for now.

The sight of the book makes her forget about the burning sensation in her chest. She could feel a bond with it and the power it held sparks of energy reach out from the book to her as if the boo itself was reaching out to her.

The force that held her seemed to melt away she was going to allow her to live she had to know this was a bad idea. The flow of blood down her face stopped and the one down her throat slowed. She slowly walks toward the book feeling the connection strengthen with each step.

Taking the book into her hands sends a pulse throughout her body it was like being reborn she no longer tasted the copper the book had healed her but the blood that was on her face was still there. Looking at her opponent Cecily is consumed with the need to know her name and what type of magic she used.

“ I have my prize but I must admit I have three curiosities one is that of your name and the other is what magic you used on me I have never felt before the third is why did you not kill me? I would not have thought twice of killing you girl!”

Looking into the woman’s eyes before her Cecily could tell she had a power to reckoned with. Cecily made up her mind that she would see this woman’s smug face twist in pain as she felt the cold grip of death take her last breath.

[Zatanna]

The woman's magick and my own well up, the book throbbing between us as well as the woman starts to spout even more blood.
She goes to the book, as I knew she would, as I allowed to happen. The room pulses with energy as the two meet, the ethereal vision showing me the connection complete between the book and the Necromancer.
I know if any of my 'teammates' were here to see this, none of them would understand why I'm not doing anything.
Beating this girl into a pulp, isn't going to stop what's coming.
Tossing spells to get between her and the book, won't stop it either.
The only way to really stop her, is to kill her, and I'm not a murderer.
Once she has the book, she turns and questions me, as if coming into the power gave her any right to do so.

[shadow=yellow,left,300]"The name is Zatanna, and this is my magick.
Unlike you, I was born to it. I don't get my power from books!"[/shadow]

I reach out, not saying a word, grabbing ahold of her with my magick, wrapping her completely in it.
I use backward speech to honer my father and allow a focus.
I'm not bound to it.
And we are in my house.
My place of power.
I lift her up in the air, applying pressure as I make my next point,

[shadow=yellow,left,300]"The only reason you are alive is because unlike you, I'm NOT a murderer!
Now get the fuck out of my house!"[/shadow]

I do speak the next spell directly, focusing all my energy to repel her from my house. From Gotham,

[shadow=yellow,left,300]"TEG TUO FO MAHTOG!"[/shadow]

My power works on instant, and the Necromancer, and the book both disappear, expelled from my house, and from the City.
This is not over. Not by a longshot.
I look at the blood splattered all over my hallway, some her's, some mine.

[shadow=yellow,left,300]"Nealc."[/shadow]

I am not a murderer. Even if I want to kill her, it's just how riled up I am being attacked on my own turf.
But I will find a way to take her down.