Dark Surge

The Wayne Manor training room was vast, its polished floors reflecting the bright overhead lights. It was a stark contrast to the dark battles Maggie had fought recently, yet the stakes here felt just as high. Maggie stood at the center, her stance tense but steady. Across from her, Dick and Jason were circling like predators, their movements sharp and calculated. Bruce leaned against the far wall, arms crossed, his piercing gaze fixed on her. Beside him, Constantine slouched in a chair, a cigarette dangling from his lips as he observed with an almost bored expression, though his sharp eyes missed nothing.

"Remember, Maggie," Bruce called out, his tone commanding. "This isn't just about winning. It's about control. Show me you can handle the shadows without letting them handle you."

Maggie nodded, her jaw tightening. The faint flicker of shadows danced around her feet, rising and falling like a restless tide. She glanced at Jason, who smirked at her with his usual cocky confidence, and Dick, who gave her a quick wink, as if to say, *Don't hold back. *

In the back of her mind, Lillyanna's voice whispered softly, smooth and cautionary. *Don't reveal too much, Maggie. They don't need to see the full extent of your power. *

Maggie swallowed hard, pushing the voice aside for now. *I know, * she thought silently. *But I need to show them I can handle this.*

Dick made the first move, lunging forward with a quick jab. Maggie sidestepped smoothly, her shadows surging to block his path. Jason came at her from the side, his escrima stick swinging low. She twisted, her shadows forming a barrier that absorbed the impact before she sent a tendril snaking toward him in retaliation.

Jason barely avoided it, grinning. "Nice try, Mags. But you'll have to be faster than that."

Maggie smirked, her confidence growing. "Don't tempt me."

Dick moved again, faster this time, and Maggie's shadows reacted instinctively, forming a shield around her that deflected his strike. She turned, sending a wave of shadows toward Jason, forcing him to backflip out of the way. The movements were fluid, her shadows responding almost as though they were an extension of her body.

"Good," Bruce said from the sidelines, his voice cutting through the action. "But keep your focus. The shadows are unpredictable if you let them take over."

Constantine took a long drag from his cigarette, exhaling slowly. "She's doing better than I expected," he muttered, though his tone carried a hint of skepticism. "But let's see how she handles a real push."

Maggie didn't have time to wonder what he meant. Jason and Dick coordinated their attack, coming at her from opposite sides. Her shadows flared, splitting into two tendrils to block them both. The strain of controlling the split showed in her furrowed brow, but she held steady, forcing them to retreat.

Lillyanna's voice returned, sharper this time. *Careful, Maggie. Don't give away your strength. Let them think you're still learning.*

Maggie bit her lip, her movements becoming more deliberate as she focused on keeping her power measured. She sent a small burst of shadows toward Jason, just enough to knock him off balance, while simultaneously deflecting Dick's attack with a curved shield of darkness.

Jason stumbled, catching himself before he hit the ground. "Okay, that's new," he said, brushing himself off. 

Dick grinned, his eyes narrowing. "She's got more up her sleeve than she's letting on. Isn't that right, Mags?"

Maggie didn't answer, her focus entirely on maintaining control. The shadows pulsed around her, eager, alive, but she kept them in check, refusing to let them surge beyond her intent. A bead of sweat trickled down her temple, but she didn't falter.

Bruce's voice cut through the room again. "Enough."

Jason and Dick stepped back immediately; their weapons lowered but their expressions still sharp with adrenaline. Maggie took a deep breath, the shadows around her receding into faint wisps before disappearing entirely. She stood straighter, her chest rising and falling as she worked to steady her breathing.

Bruce walked toward her; his expression unreadable. "You're improving," he said, his tone neutral. "But you're still holding back."

Maggie's heart skipped a beat. She glanced at Constantine, who arched an eyebrow but said nothing. Then her gaze shifted to Jason and Dick, who were watching her closely. Jason looked concerned, while Dick's curiosity was evident.

"I'm just… trying to keep control," Maggie said carefully, choosing her words with precision.

Bruce's eyes narrowed slightly. "Control is important. But understanding your limits is just as critical. You won't always have the luxury of holding back."

Lillyanna's voice hissed in the back of her mind. *Don't listen to him. He doesn't understand what this power can do.*

Maggie nodded, forcing a calm expression. "I know. I'm working on it."

Constantine finally spoke; his tone dry. "Well, she didn't burn the place down, so that's a start. But she's got a long way to go before I'd call her ready for the big leagues."

Jason stepped forward, his eyes on Maggie. "She just fought off Umbra and saved our asses. I think she's doing fine."

Bruce shot him a look, silencing him instantly. "This isn't about one fight, Jason. It's about the long-term. Maggie's power is unpredictable, and if she doesn't master it completely, it could endanger everyone—including herself."

Maggie clenched her fists, the faintest flicker of shadows rippling at her feet. "I'll get there," she said firmly, her voice steady despite the weight of their scrutiny.

Bruce studied her for a moment longer before nodding. "We will take a break and continue later."

With that, he turned and walked toward the exit, Constantine trailing after him with a smirk and a shrug. "Don't overdo it, love," Constantine called back to Maggie. "We don't need you burning out before the real fun starts."

Dick gave her a thumbs-up as he followed, his grin lightening the tension. "You're doing great, Mags. Keep it up."

Jason stayed behind, stepping closer to Maggie as the others left. He rested a hand on her shoulder, his touch grounding her. "You okay?" he asked softly.

Maggie nodded, though her shoulders sagged slightly. "Yeah. Just… tired."

Jason gave her a small smile. "You were amazing out there. Don't let Bruce's doom-and-gloom routine get to you."

Maggie managed a faint smile in return. "Thanks, Jay."

As they stood there, the quiet of the training room settling around them, Maggie felt the weight of Lillyanna's words lingering in the back of her mind. *Not too much, Maggie. Keep the rest hidden—for now. *

Maggie sat cross-legged on the cool floor of the training room, a water bottle in her hand. Sweat slicked her skin, and her heart still raced from the intense sparring session earlier. She let out a slow breath, letting her head fall back against the wall. Jason and Dick had left her to cool down, and Bruce had disappeared to review training footage. It was a rare moment of solitude.

In the stillness, a familiar voice slipped into her mind like a whisper carried on the wind.

*You did well, Maggie. Better than I expected, considering the restraints you've put on yourself. *

Maggie closed her eyes, her grip tightening around the water bottle. "I'm doing what I have to do, Lillyanna," she muttered under her breath. "You keep telling me not to reveal too much, and now you're criticizing me for holding back?"

The voice chuckled softly, the sound cool and almost melodic. *I'm simply pointing out the contradictions, darling. You're balancing on a blade's edge, trying to keep them close while keeping them in the dark. It's a dangerous game. *

"I didn't ask for this," Maggie hissed, her voice low but sharp. "I didn't ask to be your… whatever I am. I'm just trying to figure this out without scaring them—or giving Bruce a reason to lock me in a Bat-proof cage."

*And you're right to tread carefully, * Lillyanna said, her tone softening. *Your father wouldn't understand. He sees the world in binaries: good and bad, light and dark. But your power isn't so easily categorized. It's complex. Like you. *

Maggie exhaled slowly, rubbing her temples. "Why can't I just tell them about you? About… us? If you're supposed to be my guide or whatever, shouldn't they know?"

Lillyanna's tone turned sharp, a warning edge in her words. *No. You mustn't tell them. Not yet. They wouldn't understand. They'd see me as a threat, and in doing so, they'd turn on you. You've already seen the suspicion in your father's eyes. Imagine what would happen if he knew you carried a piece of me within you. *

Maggie frowned, the weight of the secrecy pressing down on her. "So, I'm just supposed to lie to everyone? Even Jason?"

*It's not lying, * Lillyanna countered. *It's protecting yourself. And him. The less they know, the safer you'll all be.*

Before Maggie could respond, a new voice broke through the silence—not in her head, but in the room.

"Talking to yourself now, love?" Constantine's voice drawled, carrying a note of curiosity and a hint of mischief.

Maggie's eyes snapped open, her heart skipping a beat. Constantine stood a few feet away, leaning casually against the doorway, his hands shoved into the pockets of his trench coat. His sharp gaze was fixed on her, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

"I'm not… talking to myself," Maggie said quickly, sitting up straighter. "Just… thinking out loud."

Constantine raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching. "Right. And I'm the Queen of England." He stepped closer, his keen eyes narrowing slightly. "You've got that look, Maggie. Like there's a party in your head, and someone forgot to invite the rest of us."

Maggie's stomach twisted. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Constantine crouched in front of her, his tone softening. "Listen, kid. You're not the first person I've met who's had a voice whispering sweet nothings in their ear. And you won't be the last. But here's the thing—you keep that voice to yourself too long, and it starts to take root. Becomes harder to tell where you end, and they begin."

Maggie's fingers tightened around the water bottle, her eyes darting away. "It's not like that."

"Isn't it?" Constantine asked, tilting his head. "You're holding back, not just in training but with them—with Bruce, with Jason. You think you're protecting them, but what you're really doing is isolating yourself. And trust me, love, that's a slippery slope."

Maggie looked back at him, her voice barely above a whisper. "What am I supposed to do? Tell them I have a shadow spirit living rent-free in my head? That I'm still figuring out how much of this power is mine and how much is hers?"

Constantine's eyes flickered with something close to sympathy. "You don't have to tell them everything. But you can't keep pretending you've got it all under control when you're clearly hanging on by a thread."

Lillyanna's voice cut through Maggie's thoughts, sharp and cold. *Don't let him manipulate you, Maggie. He doesn't understand. He never will. *

Maggie gritted her teeth, her frustration bubbling over. "You're one to talk," she snapped aloud before realizing what she'd done. Her eyes widened, and she quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing.

Constantine straightened; his expression unreadable. "So, it's true, then," he said softly. "You've got company in there."

Maggie didn't respond, her hands trembling slightly. Constantine sighed, taking a seat on the floor across from her.

"Look," he said, his tone surprisingly gentle. "I'm not here to judge. I've dealt with my fair share of spirits, demons, and other… things that like to cozy up in people's heads. Some of them mean well. Most don't. What I'm saying is, you need to figure out who's really in control here—you or your shadowy friend."

"I'm in control," Maggie said firmly, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her doubt.

Constantine gave her a long, searching look. "If that's true, then you need to keep it that way. But if it's not… you've got to be honest with yourself about what that means. For you. And for them."

Maggie nodded slowly, her thoughts a whirlwind of doubt and determination. Lillyanna's presence lingered in the back of her mind, quiet but watchful, as if weighing Constantine's words.

"Thanks," Maggie said finally, her voice quiet but sincere.

 "Don't thank me yet, just remember—shadows are tricky. They can protect you, sure, but they can also swallow you whole if you're not careful."

 She could feel Lillyanna's presence, her silence more unnerving than her words. For the first time, Maggie wondered if Constantine might be right—if keeping her secrets might cost her more than she was willing to pay.

Maggie sat cross-legged on the cool floor of the training room, gripping her water bottle as she tried to calm her racing heart. The tension from the earlier sparring session still lingered in the air, heavy and oppressive. Constantine had stayed, leaning casually against a pillar, his sharp eyes watching her with a mix of curiosity and wariness. He'd said nothing since their earlier conversation, but his presence was a reminder that she was under more scrutiny than ever.

The sound of approaching footsteps pulled her from her thoughts. She looked up to see Bruce and Jason entering the room. Bruce's expression was as unreadable as ever, though his sharp gaze carried a weight that made Maggie's stomach tighten. Jason, her boyfriend, looked tense, his jaw tight as his eyes flickered between Maggie and Bruce.

Constantine straightened slightly, taking a long drag from his cigarette. "Well, this should be entertaining," he muttered, his tone carrying a hint of dark amusement.

Bruce's gaze shifted to Maggie, his voice calm but firm. "Let's see how you do against me."

Maggie stood, brushing herself off. The faint flicker of shadows danced around her feet, restless and alive. "You want me to spar with you?"

Bruce nodded once. "I need to see how much you were holding back before."

Jason's brows furrowed as he stepped forward. "Bruce, go easy on her."

Bruce shot him a glance but said nothing. He moved to the center of the sparring mat, gesturing for Maggie to join him. She took her place opposite him, her shadows swirling faintly as if responding to her rising nerves.

"Whenever you're ready," Bruce said, his stance calm and calculated.

Maggie took a deep breath, centering herself as the shadows around her grew more defined. She moved first, sending a tendril of darkness toward Bruce. He dodged it effortlessly, closing the distance between them in an instant. A sharp sweep of his leg sent her sprawling to the mat.

"Sloppy," Bruce said, his voice low but cutting. "You're thinking too much."

Maggie rolled to her feet, her frustration bubbling beneath the surface. 

Constantine's voice cut through the tension, dry and sardonic. "Control's good, love. But if you're too busy second-guessing yourself, you'll end up on your arse every time."

Maggie shot him a glare before turning her attention back to Bruce. Her shadows rose again, more aggressive this time, lashing out with precision. Bruce deflected them with ease, his movements smooth and deliberate. He countered with a flurry of strikes, forcing her to summon more shadows to block his attacks.

"Better," Bruce said, his tone measured. "But not enough."

Lillyanna's voice whispered in the back of Maggie's mind, smooth and insistent. *Hold back, Maggie. Don't show them too much. They're not ready to see what you can do. *

Maggie's jaw tightened as she pushed Lillyanna's warning aside, her frustration boiling over into raw determination. Her shadows surged forward, no longer restrained by her hesitation, swelling into a wave of dark, living energy that filled the training room. The air grew heavier, oppressive, as the shadows lashed out toward Bruce with a force she hadn't dared to unleash before.

Bruce reacted instantly, his movements swift and precise. He executed a backflip, narrowly avoiding the tendrils that snapped at his legs. His boots hit the ground soundlessly, and he shifted into a defensive stance, his sharp eyes narrowing as he analyzed her with the practiced calm of the Dark Knight. Yet, for the first time in their sparring, there was a flicker of concern in his gaze.

"Maggie," he called, his voice steady but edged with warning. "Pull it back. Now."

She didn't respond. The shadows around her grew more aggressive, writhing and twisting like snakes, their edges sharp and deadly. Her breathing was heavy, but her movements were fluid, precise. Her eyes began to glow faintly with an eerie violet light, reminiscent of the fight against Umbra. She felt the rush of power coursing through her, intoxicating and terrifying all at once.

Bruce advanced, attempting to close the gap, but Maggie's shadows shot out in all directions, forming a barrier between them. He shifted his approach, diving to the side and rolling to evade a massive tendril that slammed into the ground where he'd been standing. The impact left a visible dent in the reinforced mat, the sound echoing through the room.

"Don't lose control!" Bruce barked, his voice sharp as he darted forward, aiming to disarm her with a calculated strike.

But Maggie was faster this time, her shadows reacting instinctively, wrapping around Bruce's arm and yanking him backward. He staggered, his footing momentarily lost as another tendril shot toward him, aiming for his chest. He twisted at the last second, narrowly avoiding the strike.

"Maggie!" Jason shouted from the sidelines, panic lacing his voice. "Stop!"

Her focus didn't waver. The violet glow in her eyes intensified, her expression a mix of determination and something darker. The shadows pressed Bruce further into defense, forcing him to retreat step by step. A tendril lashed toward his head, and he ducked, countering with a batarang that sliced through the shadow, but it reformed almost instantly.

Constantine, who had been watching silently until now, straightened, his casual demeanor replaced by something sharper, more urgent. He took a step forward, his voice cutting through the chaos. "That's enough, love. Reel it in before you do something you can't take back."

But Maggie didn't hear him. Her shadows surged again, forming jagged spikes that shot toward Bruce with deadly precision. He dodged, twisting and rolling, but even the Dark Knight couldn't avoid them all. One shadow grazed his shoulder, the force of it sending him skidding backward.

"Maggie, stand down!" Bruce's voice was no longer calm; it was commanding, almost desperate.

The glow in her eyes burned brighter, her power fully unleashed now. The room was consumed by darkness, the shadows stretching and shifting unnaturally, as though alive. Maggie took a step forward, her hand outstretched as if directing the shadows herself. A massive tendril coiled around Bruce's legs, pulling him down to one knee.

Jason moved to intervene, but Constantine held out a hand, stopping him. "Stay back," Constantine said sharply. "She's too far gone to listen to you."

Constantine stepped onto the mat, his voice low and resonant, layered with an edge of authority. "Maggie, if you don't stop this now, you'll regret it."

Her head snapped toward him, her glowing eyes locking onto his. For a moment, the shadows faltered, but then they surged again, as if testing him. Constantine sighed, muttering something under his breath before pulling a small charm from his pocket—a glowing amulet etched with intricate runes.

"Sorry, kid," he muttered. "But you're not taking him out on my watch."

Constantine thrust the amulet forward, and a burst of golden light exploded from it, searing through the oppressive darkness like a blazing sun piercing a storm. The shadows shrieked in unearthly pain, their wails echoing throughout the room. Maggie screamed, clutching her head as the light seemed to burn through her very being. Her glowing violet eyes flickered violently, dimming as the shadows around her recoiled like wounded beasts, writhing and twisting before retreating into the furthest corners of the room.

Bruce collapsed to one knee, released from the tendrils that had ensnared him. The room brightened, bathed in the warm glow of the amulet, its golden light cutting through the suffocating darkness. Maggie fell to her knees, her hands trembling as they pressed against the floor, her breath ragged and uneven. The glow in her eyes vanished entirely, replaced by an exhausted dullness, but the echoes of the power she had unleashed lingered in the air.

Constantine approached her slowly, his face grim as he tucked the amulet back into his coat pocket. "Bloody hell," he muttered under his breath before kneeling just out of reach of her trembling form.

Maggie flinched as he spoke, his voice cutting through the silence. "That light wasn't meant to hurt you, love, but it had to be done. 

Her trembling hands pressed against the floor, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. She didn't meet his gaze, didn't look at Bruce or Jason. The weight of what had just happened was too much.

"That light wasn't meant to hurt you, love, but it had to be done," Constantine repeated, softer this time. "You let the power take over, and it damn near cost you—and him."

Something inside her cracked at those words. She didn't respond. Instead, she pushed herself up on shaky legs, her body protesting with every movement. She could feel their eyes on her—Bruce's steady, piercing gaze, Jason's concerned expression, and Constantine's calculated watchfulness—but she couldn't face any of them. Not now.

Without a word, Maggie turned and bolted from the room, her steps uneven but urgent. Jason called after her, his voice filled with worry, but she didn't stop. She shoved open the heavy training room doors and disappeared into the dim corridors of the manor. Jason started to move toward the door, his jaw tight with worry, but Bruce's voice stopped him.

"Let her go for now," Bruce said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Jason turned back; his hands clenched into fists. "You can't just let her run off like that, Bruce! She's a wreck!"

"And chasing her down in this state will only make things worse," Bruce countered, his voice calm but with an edge of frustration. He glanced at Constantine. "We need to talk about what just happened."

Constantine lit a cigarette, taking a long drag before speaking. "What happened," he said, his tone dry, "is that she lost control. That light wasn't meant to hurt her, but it had to break the grip her shadows had on her. If I hadn't stepped in, she might've done something she'd never forgive herself for."

Bruce nodded slowly, his sharp eyes narrowing in thought. "She let the power take over. That's the real problem. She's not just struggling to control it—she's fighting against it."

"Fighting a losing battle, if you ask me," Constantine added, exhaling a plume of smoke. "The shadows are part of her now. The more she resists, the more they'll push back. If she doesn't stop treating them like the enemy, they'll consume her."

Jason crossed his arms, his jaw tightening. "So, what's the alternative? Just let her embrace it and hope for the best. That's not exactly comforting, Constantine."

Constantine shrugged, flicking ash onto the floor. "It's not about letting go completely, mate. It's about balance. She needs to stop treating the shadows like they're some curse or alien force. They're her. If she learns to work with them instead of against them, she'll have a shot at keeping them in check."

Bruce's gaze hardened. "And if she doesn't?"

Constantine glanced at him, his expression darkening. "Then she's a ticking time bomb, and you'd better be ready to deal with the fallout."

Jason's eyes flared with anger. "That's not going to happen. We'll help her."

"And how do you plan to do that?" Constantine asked, raising an eyebrow. "She's already hiding things from you. You saw it just now—she's holding back, keeping secrets. If she doesn't start trusting your lot, you won't stand a chance at pulling her back when it counts."

Bruce crossed his arms, his voice measured. "She's afraid. Not just of the shadows, but of what we might think if we see the full extent of her power. We need to earn her trust—show her that we're not afraid of what she's capable of."

Jason shook his head. "Yeah, well, good luck with that. She's already convinced we're scared of her. She told me as much."

Bruce turned his gaze to Constantine. "What can we do in the meantime? How do we help her regain control without pushing her too far?"

Constantine sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "First off, no more sparring matches where she's up against people she's emotionally tied to. Putting her against you was a mistake—it made her desperate to prove herself. Desperation and shadow magic don't mix well."

Bruce nodded, absorbing the critique without defensiveness. "Agreed. What else?"

"She needs training," Constantine said, his voice firm. "Real training—not just punching mats and sparring. She needs to learn how to communicate with the shadows, how to channel them without letting them take over. That's where I come in."

Jason's eyes narrowed. "And how do we know you won't just mess with her head more?"

Constantine smirked faintly. "Because, mate, I'm the best chance you've got at keeping her from spiraling. You don't have to like me, but you do have to trust that I know what I'm doing."

Bruce placed a hand on Jason's shoulder, a rare gesture of reassurance. "We'll keep an eye on her. But Constantine's right—this is beyond what we can handle on our own. We need his expertise."

Jason reluctantly nodded, though his worry didn't ease. "Fine. But if you push her too hard, Constantine, you'll answer to me."

Constantine chuckled lightly. "Noted, Robin. Noted."

Bruce turned back to the door; his expression grim. "We need to talk to her. Not now, but soon. She needs to know that no matter what, we're on her side."

Jason exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah. I just hope she's ready to believe that."

Constantine's gaze lingered on the door Maggie had disappeared through. "She's got a storm brewing inside her," he said quietly. "If you lot can't anchor her, she'll get swept away. And if that happens…" He trailed off, his silence speaking volumes.

Bruce's jaw tightened, his determination palpable. "We won't let it happen."