41 Attack of the Flying Birb People part - 4/7

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He strapped the mace back to his belt numbly. The world was a haze, a rush of color where all fine detail had fled. A fierce pounding struck him from all sides and Cadmus clutched at the sides of his head to no avail. Like a festering root, it grew until it encompassed all of his senses.

And then with a shattering clarity, it all disappeared, leaving him intensely aware of the feel of fingertips against his chin, their path across his jaw like soft blades of grass and the petals of flowers before vines pinched the flesh tight like a python's grip and the thorns struck deep.

"No, not yet, almost, yes, just almost," the voice said, dreamy and drowning. "perhaps one day you will be worthy."

There was no arguing to be had, no discussion. The presence swiftly fled and Cadmus fell to his knees.

He gasped loudly drawing lungfuls of air, fighting to stop his trembling hands.

I am here, he said to himself. I am alive. There is the sun and the sky above. I am here. I will not be moved.

He forced himself back to his feet and forced all his attention upon his task. He closed his eyes.

Frost. he thought. The shattered latticework of glass appeared from the darkness, each reflection carrying it with a piece of what was, is, and will be.

Take me to Frost. He demanded of the world, and at his command, a path was forged from the broken shards leading him into the far horizon.

He stepped forward and his body turned to the golden sands of an hourglass, carried off by the easterly winds.

He reformed right outside his apartment, leaving the ground around his feet littered with sand.

The door was ajar, the top half was torn to shreds, and a biting cold emanated from inside.

Cadmus stepped inside and let out a low whistle.

Five Thanagarian warriors had been frozen in man-size blocks of ice and turned into giant ice sculptures with a perfect level of detail.

"I see you've been doing some redecorating,"

"Fuckers didn't even knock," Frost, no, Caitlin grumbled. She had put on another one of her leotards, Cadmus had no idea where from, maybe she carried extras.

That only made him wonder where she kept them. The supervillainess paced beside the far wall, chewing on her bottom lip and clearly agitated.

Jealousy welled up, even though the objects of his ire had been punished right in front of his eyes.

Cadmus pushed one of the ice blocks with his arm sending it teetering off balance before falling to the ground. It shattered violently scattering frozen bits of Thanagarian across the wooden floor.

"They're lucky you got to them first. I wouldn't have been so quick."

"Ha! You really know how to make a girl feel special. After you just left me here, when these bird people show up," she points angrily at the ice blocks. "Bird people! Why the fuck are there people with wings barging into your apartment?"

"That...was my mistake," he admitted begrudgingly. "I didn't expect an attack."

"Sure," she said disbelievingly. "but you expected mine."

Cadmus could feel Frost's hate, not in her words, but in her very being.

It was like he sensed everything he felt, like an observer of the intangible thoughts and tumultuous emotions that roiled under the surface.

A connection he didn't realize had been formed between them, a bond that he could finally grasp.

There was resentment and hate directed at him, but there was so much more beneath the thin layer. Fear and confusion of just who and what he was, and even farther down the base desire of lust was plain to see. He looked deeper and then he saw it, awe. Frost understood power, her entire world revolved around it, and she saw that clearly in Cadmus.

It was from that hidden emotion that he inspired within her that Frost's hidden thoughts played so clearly through his own mind.

"Come with me then," he said. "Unless you'd like to spend more time in my bed?"

Frost shuddered. "N-no. I'll go with you. I'd rather be anywhere than here right now."

"Don't be like that." He scolded her like a misbehaving child. " I promise there'll be something in store for you if you behave."

Frost took his words with equal trepidation and excitement but rose to follow after him nonetheless.

Cadmus shook his head. She was so simple to twist around like all humans.

"Where are we going?" she asked once they had left the apartment.

"To meet up with some of your old friends." He said.

Her eyes widened. "Oh, you have to be kidding me. Old man Stein and that idiot Jax? They'll get us killed!"

"Individually perhaps," he shrugged. "but as Firestorm they're very useful. And it'll do wonders for you to talk about your feelings."

"And what if I decide to blast them into icicles?" she put her hands on her hips challenging.

Cadmus turned slowly, allowing Frost to realize on her own just how far out of her depth she truly was.

"Then let me make it clear. I command you to not act like a psychotic bitch until I say otherwise."

A thin silver circle glowed around her neck. Frost gasped, fingers flying for purchase but it had already faded away. She gaped, eyes wide and uncomprehending.

"When I said you were mine, I wasn't joking." His laugh was cruel. He pulled her close to him, an arm encircling her waist, bringing their faces a hairsdwith apart. Frost's quick breathing fell like a pleasant wind upon him. By instinct, her arms came about his shoulders for purchase.

"Hold on tight."

Frost had no time to protest before a shimmering veil of golden sand consumed them and scattered itself into the wind.

They reappeared within the Metaphysics building in a whirlwind, scattering sand all around them. Frost still clung to him tightly, eyes closed shut and trembling like a leaf in the wind.

When she finally realized they were no longer moving along a metaphysical highway and were back on solid ground, she slowly opened her eyes and immediately stepped away out of his reach.

"What the fuck was that?" she demanded.

"How I get around," Cadmus replied. "A lot more convenient than a car. I mean have you seen the traffic around here?"

Frost looked at him incredulously.

"You're back- and what the hell is she doing here?" Someone spoke angrily from behind them.

Firestorm's arms were crossed around his chest, and his fiery features were pulled into an intense frown.

Frost gave him the bird. "Feeling's mutual, Jax."

"Professor's not happy about it either. What's the big idea, Cadmus? What's she doing with you?"

Betty appeared from behind him, also turning tense at the sight of the supervillainess. "I didn't know you were bringing guests."

"I don't think we have any right to be picky about who's on our side right now, don't you?" Cadmus asked. "Besides, Caitlin and I came to an arrangement a bit ago after she snuck into my apartment to kill me to get back at you. Thanks for the warning by the way."

Firestorm opened his mouth to protest but Cadmus continued on. "Anyway it wound up being that we agreed she works for me now and leaves our lab alone and in return, she gets to spend time with someone that won't freeze to death when they touch her. It's a great arrangement for everyone. Don't you think?"

Frost reluctantly nodded her head in agreement. "Yeah...just swell."

"See?" Cadmus gestured with his hand. "We're all friends here."

"Spend time?" Firestorm's brow furrowed before shooting up. "No way, you and her?" he pointed at Cadmus and then to Frost who looked like she'd rather be anywhere but there. "Don't you know what they say about sticking your-"

"I appreciate your concern, Jax but I can take care of myself. Besides, Caitlin's great company once you've thawed her out."

Cadmus took great pleasure in their muted groans of annoyance.

"Well, alright. The doc trusts you so I do too. But, I'm watching you Frost, one step out of line and-"

"No need for threats, Jax. She'll play nice, I promise." Cadmus' words carried an edge of warning intended for only one person. "Now, I think we have a prisoner to interrogate, yes?"

The Thanagarian was tied up in the middle of a small classroom, arms bound securely by a glimmering rope that reeked of magic. His armor and weapons had been put to the side leaving his face clear to see.

"We tried getting something out of him, he's shut down like a vault," Jax said.

Unsurprising. Talking wouldn't do any good. The Thanagarians undoubtedly viewed Earth and all of its inhabitants as lesser than them. To break under their questioning was a point of pride for this one.

Cadmus knew just how much pride could drive someone to do something stupid. He told Firestorm and Betty as much.

"We'll need to be more forceful if we want to get anything out of this one. If there's anything to get that is."

"You're talking about torture?"

"If you'd like to call it that, then sure. I was thinking enhanced interrogation."

"I will never talk, earthling." The alien spat on the floor and did his best to glower. "I will die first before giving you anything."

"There's a long way between feeling like dying and actually dying," Cadmus responded forebodingly.

"You may think us a primitive species, but I promise you we're very good at inflicting pain."

"Do your worst," the Thanagarian sneered, as Cadmus knew he would.

"Don't say I didn't warn you. Hey Betty, do we have any salt?"

The mage professor looked taken aback by the question. "Umm in the kitchen maybe?"

"Could you grab it along with a sharp knife?"

"Y-yeah, sure," she hesitantly before taking the opportunity to flee the room.

"Bro, I'm all for getting answers but isn't this a little much?" Jax asked.

Frost smirked. "Door's right there, if you can't handle it, Jax."

You haven't even begun to see extreme yet, Cadmus thought. He was being completely reasonable right now.

He pulled up a chair across from the bound alien.

"Wartime calls for certain measures, doesn't it, Thanagarian? So, while my friend is out, I'll give you a chance to answer my question. Where are you building the device?"

The Thanagarian, features weathered with false age, laughed. "What device?"

"The one you're using to get to Gordania. Surprised? You're not the first of your kind to break."

"Dishonorable cowards! I shall not break. Do your worst." A tooth fell out of his mouth, decayed and rotting.

Cadmus sighed loudly. "Let everyone here know I did give you a chance first. Oh, look, Betty's back."

She handed over the can of salt and a sharp kitchen knife wordlessly, apprehensively turning eyes from Cadmus to the bound Thanagarian.

"If you don't have the stomach for it, I recommend you step outside. All of you, it won't be long."

"Oh, you couldn't get me to leave if you tried," Frost said with a cruel smile. "I'm watching this."

Cadmus knew he picked her for a good reason.

Firestorm frowned in disgust and stepped outside, followed by Betty.

"Let's get started then, shall we?" He plunged the knife hilt-deep into the Thanagarian's thigh.

The alien let out a strangled grunt, one that quickly formed into a shout as white flecks of salt flooded the wound. "Rudimentary, I know, but even you had to admit it is creative. Still not in the talking mood? Let's turn it up a notch shall we?"

Cadmus closed his eyes, clutched the strings of reality around the alien, and forced them to near-stillness. The temperature of the room plummeted so much so that even Frost gasped in surprise. The Thanagarian threw his head back, eyes blown wide and mouth open in a silent scream. His body twitched and shuddered minutely, the reactions like they were trapped in molasses.

"Holy fuck," Frost gasped. "what the hell are you?"

"Someone you should be glad to have found you amusing," Cadmus said. "Let's see if he's ready to talk."

He released his grip minutely.

The Thanagarian thrashed ineffectually in his bonds and hours of pain were experienced in a handful of moments.

"Abomination!"

"Clearly not. Again."

Frost came just a bit closer this time, leaning over his shoulder like a kid fascinated by a dissection happening in front of their eyes.

"How is this possible?" she asked breathily. "The energy around just disappeared, but only him. It's like a new localized system. It shouldn't be possible" She turned to him, eyes wide.

Fear, awe, and even excitement came off over her in waves. What a strange creature he had caught.

His pride swelled at her words. He turned to her, aware of how close they were to one another. His eyes flicked downwards to those inviting swells of flesh.

"Later," he replied. Frost pouted and then grew angry at her own reaction.

He once more allowed the Thanagarian to experience the world. "Please! No more!" he cried desperately.

Cadmus slapped his hand on the exposed wound. "Finally! We're getting somewhere. Now where are you building the device?"

"I do not know, I swear it!"

"Well, that's not what I was looking for. Let's try again." He plunged the knife into the other thigh.

The Thanagarian howled tears running down his face now. "I do not know the coordinates, the High Command said it would be somewhere in the place called Nevada, that is all I know."

"Nevada's a big place. Are you sure that's all you know?"

"Yes, by all the gods, yes!"

"There's only one god you have to worry about. I think we're done here. Frost, if you would so kindly do the honors."

The villainess smirked. "With pleasure."

"Wait, wait, I did as you asked, I beg-"

A cold freezing ray consumed the Thanagarian, encasing him in ice, and trapping him forever in that moment of desperation.

Frost admired her work. "That might be one of my best, shame I can't frame it somewhere."

"You'll make better, I'm sure. Call back in Firestorm and Betty. We're going to Nevada."

"Do you think he was telling the truth?"

"Oh, yes, I already knew it was Nevada from the moment we started. It was the principal of the thing."

She shook her head. "I'm starting to think you're more fucked up than I am."

Firestorm and Betty resolutely did not look at the frozen Thanagarian. "So, Nevada, huh? A lot of desert to cover. Luckily I may have a source we could use." He withdrew a suspiciously familiar communicator.

"The league's gone silent," Firestorm continued as they stepped out of the room. "but I, well, Jax, knows the sidekicks. Maybe they'll be able to help. We sent a com earlier but no response."

Cadmus restrained the torrent of rage that the unwanted memories brought. "By all means, but I doubt they fared better than their mentors."

As though in direct insult and defiance of his desires, the doors to the building opened, and walked in a group of faces he wished had been consigned to history.

The years had changed them all but not so much that he did not immediately recognize them. Six in total. The Atlantean, the Martian, the Kryptonian clone, Kid Flash, and the other two that he knew better, Artemis and the Boy Wonder.

All of Young Justice assembled again.

"We got your com, but got caught up dealing with a patrol and-" Dick's eyes widened considerably behind his mask. "Oh, you've got to be fucking shitting me."

"Upgraded to big boy words, I see. Surprised to see all of you alive still."

"We could say the same," Superboy growled.

"You know each other?" Firestorm asked in confusion.

"Unfortunately. Let's just say we don't work well together. You guys still owe me a new fridge by the way."

"Firestorm, you do know you're standing next to a couple of supervillains, right?" Kid Flash asked.

He looked around in confusion "What are you talking about, there's Frost, but who's the other, you don't mean Betty do you?"

"Hey!" she protested. "Hurtful!"

"No, him!" Miss Martian said and pointed a wavering finger. Huh, so she finally told them, interesting.

"Cadmus? Why would you ever say that?"

"Frost, if they try anything, freeze them. Start with the boy wonder's balls."

"With pleasure."

"Okay, so he sometimes has his moments, but that's not a supervillain." Stein reasoned.

"Still running around with the dregs of society, I see." Dick scoffed.

Cadmus rolled his eyes. Why must he continue to tolerate this? Oh wait, he didn't.

"I'm heading to Nevada." He said to Firestorm and Betty. "Join me there if you wish, but I will not be working with them."

"Hey wait a minute, Cadmus, we're on the same team here, like team Earth-"

"Not right now. We're not. Come, Frost, we're leaving."

The sidekicks dared to not move out of his way.

"I am going to say this but once out of whatever mercy I have left to muster. Move."

Artemis gulped in fear.

"Or what?"

"You don't even realize the leagues that separate us now, do you? I'll move you and it won't be pretty."

"Barbs and backup are still fifteen out," Kid Flash muttered.

"Discretion is the better part of valor. I wouldn't want to inconvenience the janitors by cleaning the lot of you off the walls."

Why did he not crush them like the gnats they were, he wondered. Something was stopping him, a nagging pull at the back of his mind, that they were so unworthy of his attention that they must first challenge him for him to even respond.

Cadmus rubbed his temples to soothe the rising headache. Did gods even have blood pressure?

Perhaps it was rash what he did next, but it was either that or tearing their heads off.

He snapped his fingers and the temperature plummeted, and before they could react, the sidekicks were frozen in place. A waste of his energy, but he didn't want to give Stein the wrong idea. Cadmus was perfectly capable of eschewing violence when needed.

The sidekick's bodies skidded aside, gliding on the floor like ice as he pushed them out of his way.

Frost followed behind and gave a low whistle. She flicked Artemis on the forehead and knocked with her fist for good measure. "Like stone, what I could do with something like that…"

"Uhh, are they going to be okay?" Firestorm called out behind him.

"They'll be fine in maybe a few minutes…or an hour, long enough for me to be gone and not have to deal with them."

"I didn't realize that you didn't get along with them," Firestorm said. "I'm sorry."

"No worries, it's all in the past now." He said sardonically. "See you in Nevada."