SENTINELS OF MAGIC#5: "Tension" by JM de Joya
Fortress Hill. "Friends...we have gathered here, to discuss some things," Strange said, as he lit the torch around the round table, gathered around him were the Sentinels of Magic. However, some were missing, due to his disappointment, for he had told all that this meeting was urgent. Still, he urged on, for the others were here. Madam Xanadu. Dr. Occult. Jonah Hex. "We have things to discuss, and answers to be answered..."
Zatanna climbed the rocks of the edge of Fortress Hill, and stared below. As the sea crashed before, like it would before the storm came, Black Orchid sat on it, like a mermaid waiting for a sailor to come back. "Hey," Zatanna muttered, from above, jumping down from stone to stone, reaching beside Orchid. "What's your matter now, huh?" "...Zee, don't bother on me..." Orchid was melancholic, her voice was swooning poignantly by the waves. The stage magician just laughed, and hugged her. "Come on, Orchid, you know me, I know you..." Black Orchid pushed her aside, and stared back at the sea. "So where's the Talisman of Gilgamesh? The one you keep for luck?" The other mystic stared into Zatanna's eyes, with a long tale written within them. Zatanna didn't need to know what she was trying to tell her. "...oh. It's okay now, come on, get a hold of yourself." "I tried...I tried, Zee! I--I just can't." "But, you still believe in yourself right?" Black Orchid began to cry by Zatanna's shoulders, as the sea thrashed mightily against the rocks. Zatanna herself began to shed a tear, and held onto her. "You know...truth is, I didn't really believe in myself when I fought Diablo...I just didn't have it in me either." "Really?" Zatanna laughed, as she dried her tears. "Sure! I mean, I have a legacy to live up to, after all." "Just like me...?" Orchid said, as she tried to break a smile. "I'm not really the first Orchid Noir après tous someone had to die first ahead of me..." The thunder began to crackle powerfully with immense wrath, and the waves began to grow stronger. "...there are women ahead of my time will never know when they'll become L'Orchid Noir...whether two years, or three years or one point and a half...the next one probably won't see it coming..." "...did you know that pouty, non-sultry attitude of yours doesn't suit you?" Zatanna smiled, and began to climb back up. She reached out her hand for Black Orchid, steadily waiting for her to respond in kind. "Come on, let's go," she said. Black Orchid gave her hand, and let Zatanna lift her up.
In an ancient church, on the realm of Earth... The Dzarmor sat in a style that of ancient Buddha, as smiled. "...Is this true, Dead One? You would like this woman's soul to inhabit the one who finds my hiding place?" Deadman just sighed, and turned to Agatha. "Agatha, your soul will be safe with the Dzarmor. I have to go now." Deadman disappeared, and Agatha just sighed. "...does Destiny really have some plans for me?"
Dr. Strange let the torch down in the middle of the table, as it burned like firewood thrown into a fireplace. "Now," Strange said quite disappointed. "Dr. Occult, I heard a complaint from Zatanna that you nearly killed a harmless faery child*. What caused that action at the spur of the moment?" (*In SOM#4, where they were trapped in the Orb of Thessaly--JM!) "But, Strange, that is quite a misconception," Occult said calmly. "I did it because we were in danger--" "That's bulls--" Jonah interrupted, getting the attention of the former Sorcerer Supreme. "Jonah Hex? Something you would like to say?" "...he nearly did it because the child nearly killed him." "I did it because she attacked us, and could've killed us, if given the chance!" "You're just afraid, because you're immortal," Hex said. "What did you say!?!?!" Occult yelled angrily. "How dare you...how dare..!?!?!" "You're immortal, Occult. But immortals can die. I'm sure you know that well, Dr. Occult." "Nonsense, Jonah." Madam Xanadu said, placing her hand on the table, tapping slowly. "You know Occult wouldn't do such a thing if unneccesary." "...maybe, Xanadu, the reason you're allying with him," Jonah responded, slowly but steady. "...is because you're immortal yourself." Xanadu said nothing, as Jonah angrily slammed his fist on the table. Sparks were beginning to fly across the fire, Strange noticed. "Maybe, just maybe...all of you have lost your humanity as well, when you became immortal." "Jonah," Strange said. "I am just a mortal. A man like you. Still, I have to side with Occult on this matter..." Jonah turned to Strange, and whispered loudly so everyone of them could here. "Then you're no different than one."
"So...is that better?" Tim said, conjuring a powerful blade in his hands, and a helldemon on the other side of the tower. John Constantine shrugged, as the demon rushed forth, claws and fangs bared. It slashed Timothy, sending him toppling over the floor. "Gonna be better than that, 'm'fraid," Constantine mumbled, while trying to find his lighter. "Damn, need a light..." He knew he was training the one who would be the next Sorcerer Supreme...that some things were beginning to brew, that he needed to train the young lad. Tim swung the sword on the demon's belly, causing it to moan. He was afraid, very afraid. His mentor, the former Sorcerer Supreme, had never taught him anything on fighting. In fact, never did regard him as an apprentice. "GAH!" He cried, as the demon slashed his arm. He fell on the floor again, as the sword spinned away from him. He tried to use his magick, but got a warning from Constanine not to. The helldemon raised its claws, in triumph, and brought it down on young Tim Hunter. Tim closed his eyes, and said his prayers. His leg was bleeding, as he rolled across the floor and grabbed the sword. As the demon rushed forth, he dashed towards it, then jabbing the sword down its throat. It staggered, and exploded into a million ashes. Tim gave a sigh of relief, as Constantine patted him on the back. "Bloody good job, there...need a light?" Tim just sat down, ripping his shirt off and tying both wounds. "...am I tough enough now?" "Bloody tough, boy. You're tough enough to scare a mouse," Constantine said, as the Timothy stood up and grabbed his collar. "Don't call me boy," he said. "...only my master calls me that." "And where's the Magus then?" Constantine said, and Tim sighed. He began to walk around, ranting to himself, like there was no one to talk to. "He never really cared...did he? I don't know, all he ever taught me was already useless against that demon." "Then he wasn't teaching you at all," the mystic said. "Was he?" "...no." Constantine took the boy's hand, and summoned a gateway out of the Fortress Hill. "Where're we going...?" Tim asked. Constantine gave him a nod, as the gate closed.
June Moone was sat behind the old tomb. Ghosts and demons were flying loose, as all hell seemed to be breaking free from the talisman by the altar. The ancient church was beginning to crumble, and she didn't know what to do. She held onto her hat, and got out, trying to escape. June Moone fumbled, as she tripped. The bats were everywhere, and soon the demons had noticed her too. She got up, and ran quickly. "God...don't let them...don't..please..." June began running down the corridors, turning wherever place she can. Soon, she forgot where she came from, and was running down a narrow corridor. The voices of her pursuers were fading, and she sighed. As she began walking slowly towards the light at the end of the tunnel, she noticed that it had an unnatural glow. After all, she was a teacher of the Occult back in college, she recognized this as one coming from a creature with extraordinary powers. The light blinded her eyes, and she could only see an altar and the Dzarmor sitting quietly. "Greetings June Moone," it said. June could've sworn she saw a woman's figure from behind. The Dzarmor grunted, as she found herself beginning to glow. "Destiny has special plans for you, June Moone," the Dzarmor said, and in a flash of light, June found herself alone in the room. Enveloped with the spiritual essence of Agatha Harkness. "..who are you?" June asked the woman. She smiled. "Just call for me, and I shall come. You are the Witch, June, use your powers well." June sighed, as she got back out into the storm. She reached the altar, where a giant demon began to gobble reality. She made herself intangible, and passed through the lesser demons clawing at her. Then she waved her hands, as blue transluscent light burst forth, enveloping the room. The creature and all began screaming, begging "The Witch" not to push further. But she did, and the whole place was empty in fifty seconds. She picked up the amulet, and placed in her pocket. Meanwhile, inside the realm which "the Witch" has stored her powers, Agatha Harkness began contemplating on the strange voices she was beginning to hear...
Jonah Hex slumped on his chair silently awaiting for anyone to go against him. "...well..?" The flame was burning stronger, as the trees began to sway constantly from outside. "Seems like I'm already fighting a losing case..." Black Orchid and Zatanna sat down on their seats, on Jonah's side of the circle, while Dr. Occult, Madam Xanadu, and Strange sat on the other. Blue Devil was still missing, but it didn't seem to appear in their minds on why. Right now, there were more pressing matters. "Jonah, it is not right you tell us off for being immortal, we have our own reasons why we side with Dr. Occult," Madam Xanadu said. "...I..I have lost my soul for that price, and I..." "Jonah, if Occult did it, it would have not mattered, for the child died a far and more painful death," Strange said, as he leaned on his chair. "...Grande Mere, and are you saying what Zatanna did was...wrong?" Orchid asked, as she was feeling the pressure of almost all of the other Sentinels of Magic...she didn't feel she fitted in... "No, what Zatanna did...was a gracious thing. However, the child still died," Occult said, trying to keep his anger dormant. "The poor thing died...at the hands of the Lord of Entropy." Occult stood up, and opened the book in his hands. "The only statement referring to him goes; When the sun's fire has been attained on earth, and the secret city has been unearthed, search the holy ruins for the Crux of Angels, and bring the Eye of Entropy plague on man.." "...So, the Lord of Entropy would be linked to the ancient relic? It would not be wise doing so," "But, it is required, yes?" A voice in the shadows said, as he traversed, to the table. Few of the Sentinels could recognize the figure, so Strange proclaimed him. "Dr. Fate...you've decided to join us," he said, as the sorcerer conjured a chair for the mystic. "The prophecy is beginning to be fulfilled. Already, Felix Faust has taken the Flame of Life from the temple of Ammon-Ra. He may also know the whereabouts of the secret city." "Wait a minute, why is he here?" Zatanna asked Strange. "You called for all of Earth's mystics during the Rekindling...why didn't he show up?" "He is here to help, Zatanna. That is enough," Strange said. "Your suspicions are insulting my trust in our newest member. He has come to aid us, all the more the better." "But..." "Zatanna. Enough." Zatanna sat down, as Strange shaked the hands of Dr.Fate. "Welcome, Dr.Fate, to the Sentinels of Magic."
The Lord of Entropy sighed. From his throne, chaos reigned, as the Eye of Entropy began decimating the fields of the Unseelie realm, the darkness beginning to engulf it whole. "The Flame of Life will be mine...to destroy the realm which I have come from." From below, the feary creatures were dying slowly, as the Lord of Entropy brought his orders, to destroy every living thing in sight. He held the crystalline structure in his hands and sighed. "After, I still need to gather the Crux of Angels...and the Gem of Saints is already in my hands." Everything will be going as planned. The Eye of Entropy destroyed the realm, as the dying screams of faeryfolk began to fade into nothingness.
The demons of the Blackmist cackled, as Blue Devil was placed on a pedestal, bleeding slowly. Anita Blackmist, creature of darkness smiled. "I have plans for you, traitor, and for your friends, the mystics," she said, roaming her hand across the Devil's chest. "You have insulted my clan...ruined their reputation. Now, you will soon see, that I have plans for all of you..." She slapped Blue Devil in the face, and nodded to the demons. They raised the Sentinel up, and placed him on torture machine. Anita smiled, as the Blue Devil's began yelling in pain. "I hate you, remember that. I hate you for all you represent. And I will also kill the little witch who was your accomplice. What is her name, treacherous one? Speak!" "Anita...go easy on the young devil," one from the shadows told her, as she loosened her grip on him. "We have plans for him..." "What are you saying, Mordo?!?!" Anita said. "Have you gone insane?! We are to kill them!" "The Lord of Entropy told us to kill them after we have recieved what we needed," Baron Mordo laughed, as Anita bickered angrily. "We shall gather all of us...and the Emplates of Magic shall crush the mystics, once and once only." "Besides, there are things I have left to talk to, with the Sorcerer Strange..."
NEXT ISSUE: June Moone, The Witch, takes the spotlight next issue, as she goes on a quest to find the answers to Agatha's prophecy! Would that lead her to the path of good, or a darkness that would threaten consume her soul? All this while the Sentinels of Magic continue their race against the Lord of Entropy! Be here in 30 days, as all unfolds, in SENTINELS OF MAGIC#6..."Sheep in Wolf's Clothing"