A Dark Place

Bayview was covered in a sickly miasma of dark magic, a putrid scent lingering in the air as John, Zatara, and Zatanna did their best to purify the area. John was muttering curses under his breath, eyes darting over the ground as he set up one of his artifacts—the Shard of the Covenant. It pulsed faintly in his hand, a piece of the Ark itself, carrying a fraction of its power. "Wish bloody Kent was still here," John grumbled as he set the shard down, its radiant energy helping to burn away some of the foul taint that had taken root in the ground. But that wasn't going to be enough. It didn't get rid of the cause and root of the problem. They couldn't remove the gateway—this festering portal—anchored deep within reality like a malignant tumor. Thousands of souls had been sacrificed to create it, powering the ritual with such strength that it defied even the most powerful spells. Whoever cast it knew their craft. A normal portal spell was child's play and would've been easy to dispel, which was why they empowered it so much.

Zatara was on edge, trying every spell he could think of to collapse the gateway or close the rift. "Kcalb ruoy evig lliw!" he chanted, but each incantation fizzled as the portal remained stubbornly open. He dug deep into his knowledge, trying obscure counterspells, ancient rites, anything. It all bounced off the gateway like water hitting stone. Finally, a particularly forceful backlash of dark energy struck out at him, knocking him off his feet and sending him sprawling to the ground. He gasped for breath, pain spreading through his chest.

"Dad!" Zatanna's voice was shrill as she rushed to his side, hands frantically checking him for injuries. She whispered a quick spell, her eyes glowing faintly as she assessed his condition.

John looked over, scowling as he saw Zatara struggling. He walked over, kneeling beside them. "You alright, mate?" he asked, voice gruff.

Zatara spat on the ground, disgusted. "The one who made this is a monster,"he said, wiping blood from his lip. "He's harvested souls—thousands—to protect the gateway. They lash out at anyone trying to undo the spell."

"Blimey," John muttered, eyes narrowed as he glanced at the portal's flickering surface. "Didn't know magic could do that. Let me have a look."

John approached the gateway, his hand outstretched as he let his own magical awareness spread out, feeling the contours of the spell. Everything had a loophole, a weakness that could be exploited. He just needed to find it. The gateway felt like any normal portal—a structure of magic designed to connect two points. Normally, they were easy to rip apart. But his gut told him something was off, something hidden. He probed cautiously, sniffing out the trap that he knew had to be there. But nothing jumped out at him. Just layers and layers of magic woven together tightly. "Maybe it only triggers when the spell starts to unravel," he muttered to himself. Taking a deep breath, he muttered an incantation, feeling his own magic seep into the gateway like water into a sponge. The moment he tried to undo even a single thread of the spell, he felt it. A terrifying force clamped down on his magic, and he was yanked away from the physical world.

Darkness. John was surrounded by a black void, cold and suffocating. He was panting, panic flooding his veins as he spun around, seeing nothing but endless shadow. And then he heard it—a deep, guttural rumble that shook the emptiness around him. He looked ahead and saw them: six glowing red eyes, staring at him with a malevolent hunger. Fire blazed to life, revealing a monstrous figure, towering and immense, staring down at John like he was nothing.

"Trigon..." John's voice was a whisper, his throat dry, but the demon was already laughing—a booming, earth-shaking sound as flames spewed from his mouth like a volcanic eruption. The fire engulfed John, scorching him from head to toe, and then everything went white. John snapped back to reality with a choked scream, his body being thrown across the ground like a ragdoll. He hit the dirt hard, his limbs flailing as he tumbled to a stop. His breathing was ragged, sweat pouring down his face as he tried to gather his bearings. Zatara and Zatanna were shouting at him, their voices blurred by the ringing in his ears. He couldn't hear them—he couldn't think past the image of Trigon's eyes, burning in his mind.

They were fucked. Completely and utterly fucked.

John forced himself to sit up, ignoring the pain shooting through his body. He grabbed Zatara's wrist, his voice rough and unsteady. "The only way to remove this gateway is through power. Equal to what was used to make it." This was the obvious answer, power was everything and if they could muster the same amount they could brute force the spell to unravel, but neither of them had even considered it before.

Zatara's eyes widened, his face turning pale. 'You can't mean—'

"Yes," John replied, his voice severe, leaving no room for doubt.

Zatanna's eyes darted between them, confusion etched on her face. She'd never seen John so rattled, so genuinely afraid. He looked like a man ready to abandon the planet. "What... what are you talking about?" she asked, her voice trembling as she tried to understand.

'We can't do that,' Zatara said, shaking his head in disbelief. 'Have you gone mad? What you're proposing—it's unthinkable!'

John stared at him, his eyes hard as steel. "I'm afraid it's become very thinkable." He stood, dusting off his coat, his body trembling with the aftershock of his encounter.

Zatara stepped in front of him, blocking his path. 'What did you see, John? What could have scared you this much?'

John's mouth opened, but no words came out at first. He struggled to find his voice, to bring himself to say the name. "Trigon."

That one word sent a shiver down Zatara's spine. He instinctively pulled Zatanna into an embrace, holding her close as if to shield her from the very mention of the demon's name. The idea that such a being could have a permanent gateway into their universe—that was a reality they couldn't afford. The notion that they'd have to sacrifice thousands to close it—it had once seemed unthinkable. Now, it seemed like their only option.

Before they could continue, a loud sonic boom filled the air, a thunderous crack that echoed through the town. Dust and debris kicked up around them, swirling through the streets. They were joined by a stranger, John's eyes narrowed as he tried to make out who it was, but Zatara knew immediately. He'd seen this person before. Mark hit the ground hard, a loud thud reverberating across Bayview. He dropped Jason Blood's body in front of him like a sack of bricks, looking up to see three people staring back at him—one of them familiar from TV, the other two strangers.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded, his voice low and rough, eyes cold as they scanned the three of them.

Zatara and Zatanna's expressions tightened with recognition, both on guard. The blonde-haired man, Constantine, tensed, taking on a more aggressive stance but remaining silent, his eyes darting between Mark and Jason's unconscious body.

"What the hell did you do to him?!" Zatara shouted, stepping forward as anger flashed in his eyes.

Mark waved a hand dismissively. "He's alive. I need him to open a portal for me. Once he does, he can leave."

Zatara and John shared a worried glance, their concern evident in the lines on their faces. This wasn't good. "You can't do that," Zatara said. "You can't open that portal."

"I can," Mark said blankly, "and I will." His voice was resolute, unflinching.

As the conversation heated up, Zatanna discreetly pulled out her phone, sending an emergency signal to the Watchtower. She could feel it in her bones—this wasn't going to end well.

"Mate, I don't think you understand," John cut in, his tone sharp. "We need to destroy that portal, not open it."

Mark's head turned to face him, his eyes narrowing with fury. "And I don't think you understand. My wife was taken through that portal. And I will go through anyone who tries to stop me from getting her back." The rage in Mark's voice was undeniable, deep and almost palpable. Zatara's stance shifted, becoming more cautious. This was a man who had gone toe-to-toe with Superman and lived. Someone like that wasn't a threat to be taken lightly, especially not with his daughter standing right there.

"Mark," Zatara said, trying to reason with him, "I'm sorry your wife was taken, but this is more complicated than just opening a portal—"

John's voice was blunt, cutting through Zatara's words. "Your wife is gone, mate. The demon responsible for that portal will have killed her."

"John!" Zatara hissed, his voice full of reproach.

But Mark didn't react with anger. He stayed calm, deadly calm. "She's not dead," he said simply. "Trigon needs her."

Zatara's face paled. The name hung in the air like a curse.

"Now," Mark said, stepping forward, his voice turning ice-cold, "get out of my way. I won't ask again."

"We can't do that," Zatara replied, his voice tight with tension. "Trigon must not be allowed to enter our universe. That portal has to be destroyed." He moved into a fighting stance, Zatanna and John following suit. Mark didn't hesitate. He blitzed toward John first, Eve having informed him that the blonde was the most dangerous of the three. John's fingers sparked with magic, energy starting to weave around him as he laid down a trap, but Mark was faster. He knocked John out cold with a single, bone-rattling punch to the jaw, then smashed his hand against the earth, burying John's unconscious body several feet underground, sealing him away beneath the soil.

Zatara and Zatanna unleashed their spells, light and energy pouring from their hands, magic runes igniting in the air as they chanted incantations. Mark wasn't playing games—he needed to get through them. He formed a large red sphere, as big as a bus, and hurled it at the two magicians. The energy surged like a tidal wave, swallowing up their spells before they could finish casting them. Zatara and Zatanna barely managed to shield themselves before the blast hit, launching them off their feet and sending them crashing into the forest, trees snapping under their bodies.

Mark didn't waste any time. He reached out with his attraction ability, dragging Jason's limp body back toward him with an unseen force. Mark slapped him across the face, waking him with a start. Jason groaned as he regained consciousness, his eyes focusing on Mark. He sighed. "Well... I suppose it was too much to hope you'd leave me alone."

Mark ignored the comment, picking him up by the collar and dragging him toward where the gateway was anchored. "I need you to open this portal," Mark said, his voice brokering no argument. "Once you do, you're free to leave. And don't even think about teleporting away, or I'll snap your neck."

Jason's mouth twisted into a grim smile. "You're certainly in a foul mood today."

"Move." Mark's grip tightened on the back of Jason's neck as they reached the gateway.

Jason's eyes scanned the portal, his brow furrowing as he examined its structure, the dark runes, and the essence of the souls sacrificed to make it. "This portal was made with dark intentions," Jason said, his voice flat. "It'll lead you nowhere good."

"I'll go anywhere for her," Mark said. "Now open it."

"If you insist..." Jason muttered, raising his hands to inspect the portal more closely. As he did, he saw something troubling—a complexity in the gateway's makeup. "This portal... It's designed to only be opened by one person. And that person is not me."

Mark's eyes narrowed, his grip on Jason's neck tightening to the point of cutting off his air. "I don't care how you open it. You will open it." Before Jason could respond, a blast of magic slammed into Mark's back. Zatara and Zatanna had returned, their eyes burning with determination. The force of the blast made Mark stumble, loosening his grip just long enough for Jason to teleport away, reappearing next to the magicians. Zatara caught him, checking if he was okay.

Mark stood up slowly from the attack, dust falling off him as he rose. The look in his eyes was one of pure, unfiltered rage. He no longer saw people in front of him—just obstacles. A cold sweat dripped down Zatara, Zatanna, and Jason's foreheads. They all felt it—the malice in Mark's stare. The killing intent.

"I am done playing games," Mark said, his voice low and deadly. "Someone is going to open this portal, or I am going to kill all of you."

Zatara's breath caught in his throat. He wasn't afraid for himself—he was terrified for his daughter. He kept his voice low, almost pleading. "Zatanna... leave. Now."

"What?!" Zatanna's voice shook with disbelief. "I can take care of myself, Dad!"

"Leave. Now!" Zatara's tone was sharper, his gaze stern as he glanced at her. But the moment he looked away from Mark, he realized his mistake. Mark was already next to Zatanna, his hand around her throat like a steel vise. "Move, and she dies," he said coldly, not a hint of sympathy in his voice. Zatanna felt a wave of panic rush through her, her breathing shallow as Mark's hand gripped tighter. She knew—one wrong move, and she'd be dead. "D-Dad..." she choked out, eyes wide with fear.

Zatara's hands trembled as he tried to stay calm. "Please... let her go."

"Open the portal," Mark demanded, his eyes boring into Zatara's, unflinching.

Jason looked over at Zatara, knowing there was only one way to open the gateway. Zatara possessed Houdini's Key—an artifact of immense power that could unlock any door, any gateway, any boundary. But he kept that information to himself, his eyes meeting Zatara's as they shared the silent understanding of what it would mean to use it. "I don't think you'd harm an innocent girl," Zatara tried to reason with Mark. "You nearly died fighting Doomsday to save others."

Mark's eyes softened for a moment, and he flashed back to his wedding day with Raven. Her smile, her vows—the way she looked at him when she said, "Mark, you've been my light in the darkness, my anchor when I felt lost. I never thought I could find someone who could see me for who I really am and love me anyway. I vow to love you, to support you, and to be your partner in everything, for the rest of our lives."

The moment of vulnerability faded, his grip on Zatanna's neck tightening. "I don't want to hurt her," he admitted. "But I don't have a choice."

Zatara's heart sank as he heard the conviction in Mark's voice. "I suspect you don't have a choice either," Mark added, a humorless smile on his lips. "Love never gives us one."

Zatara tried to plead again. "Mark, please, can't we just—"

"You have ten seconds," Mark said, his voice going flat and dead. "Or I rip her head off." He started counting down, the seconds ticking by like a funeral bell.

"Ten... nine... eight..."

Zatara's mind raced, panic rising as he looked at Zatanna's terrified face.

"Seven... six... five—"

"Stop! Stop!" Zatara cried, desperation in his voice. "I'll do it!"

Mark's hand loosened slightly as Zatara moved toward the gateway, pulling Houdini's Key from his coat. He pressed it against the invisible barrier where the portal was, turning it clockwise. The air around them shimmered and twisted, and with a blaring roar, the gateway ignited—a massive fiery portal ripping through space, its entrance swirling like a whirlpool of flames and shadows.

Zatara looked at Mark with defeat in his eyes. "Now... let her go."

Mark let Zatanna go, but not before ripping the key from Zatara's hand and pocketing it. He pushed Zatanna forward roughly, and she stumbled into her father's arms. Zatara hugged her tightly, and she whispered frantic apologies, but he just held her, telling her it was okay. Mark turned toward the portal, ready to step through, but the ground shook beneath him as Superman landed in front of him, his cape billowing in the wind. The Justice League members quickly followed—Wonder Woman, The Flash, Hal Jordan, and finally, Supergirl.

Mark's jaw clenched as he faced the gathered heroes. They were too late. He was going through that portal, and no one was going to stop him. Mark's eyes were locked on Superman, his fists tightening as his muscles tensed, ready to spring into action. "Get out of my way," Mark growled, voice cold and flat. He was ready to break through whatever stood between him and the portal. Superman held his hands up, his expression calm but pleading. "Mark, we don't want to fight you. We just want to talk."

Wonder Woman took a step forward, her movements slow and deliberate. She placed a hand on Mark's shoulder, her voice soft but strong. "Mark, please. Just calm down. Talk to us. We can help you." Mark's gaze flicked down to her hand, and with a sharp shrug, he shook it off his shoulder. He was scanning the area, assessing his options. He was surrounded by the Justice League, but he didn't have to fight them all—he just had to get to the portal. Superman was strong, maybe stronger than him, but if he could move him out of the way quickly enough, he could dive through. But The Flash was here too—faster than him. And Wonder Woman, if she got her hands on him, the others would swarm and pin him down. He would need to use lethal force to get out. He hated the idea of it, but if they didn't back off, they'd leave him no choice.

"Please, come to the Watchtower," Superman said, trying to break through to him. "We can help you figure this out."

"We don't need to do this, Mark," Wonder Woman added, her voice carrying a desperate edge. "You don't have to fight us."

As they spoke, black nanite armor began to form around Mark's arms, creeping up across his body like a second skin. Superman's eyes widened as the dark metal covered him, and Wonder Woman took a step back.

"Stop!" Superman said, urgency in his voice. "Mark, don't do this—we don't need to fight!"

Mark's muscles coiled like springs as he prepared to launch himself at Superman, the man of steel squaring up, ready to stop him. But then a voice, soft and familiar, cut through the tension.

"Mark..."

His heart skipped a beat. He knew that voice. Pain exploded in his head, a splitting migraine that brought flashes of images—memories—into his mind. Kara. He saw her clearly, smiling at him in the coffee shop where they first met. Kara lying with him in bed, laughing as they teased each other, the broken house a sign of their reckless intimacy. Her laughing as he fumbled with tools, trying to build a house from scratch. Her, pregnant, belly swollen, as he held her close, his hand gently resting on her stomach. A maelstrom of emotions flooded through him, nearly overwhelming him as he slowly turned, his armor retracting from his body.

There she stood, in her superhero costume, but her large, exposed belly showed just how far along she was. Worry flared in Mark's chest, her presence here, in this dangerous place, sent alarms through him. "Kara..." The name fell from his lips like a whisper, but it was enough to make her smile as tears welled in her eyes. "You remember?" she asked, taking a tentative step toward him.

Mark's face twisted in confusion and pain as he tried to piece together the broken shards of his mind. "I... I don't know," he admitted, his hand coming up to hold his head, trying to stop the throbbing pain. He moved closer to her, and she seemed to flinch, but not in fear. She shrank into herself. He raised a hand to her face, his touch gentle. She pressed into his hand, closing her eyes, breathing in his presence like a balm to her soul. "I don't know who you are... but I know… I feel love."

Kara's tears broke free as she leaped into his arms, wrapping around him tightly. She'd come here with the intention of knocking some sense into him, maybe even fighting him to bring him back. But once she'd calmed down, she knew she couldn't be angry at him—he'd lost his memory, lost everything. She just wanted him back. "I've missed you so much," she whispered into his ear, holding him so tightly she thought she might never let go. Mark's arms circled around her, careful not to put any pressure on her belly, and he hugged her back. When she finally pulled away, Mark's eyes moved down to her exposed stomach. "Is that...?"

Kara nodded, a wide smile lighting up her face. "Our baby. It's nearly time, too. J'onn says it'll be less than a month."

Mark smiled, the feeling awkward and out of place on his face. Loving someone he didn't fully remember—being in love while knowing he was married to someone else—it was like being torn in two. But one thing he knew for certain: he loved this woman.

"What's going on, Mark?" Kara asked, her eyes searching his. "Tell us, please. We can help."

Mark glanced at her, then at the others—the Justice League, watching, waiting. He sighed, his shoulders slumping, the tension in his body unwinding. Finally, he nodded, and the atmosphere eased as everyone stepped back, ready to listen. "I've lived in Bayview for almost two years," Mark began. "I got married..."

Kara's expression twisted in confusion. "But... you've only been gone for barely six months."

"Bayview is in a time bubble," Zatara cut in, stepping forward. "Time there moves faster than in the rest of the world."

Mark nodded. "My wife... she knows all of you. And I'm sure you know her."

Kara's heart pounded in her chest, a tightness swelling inside her as she asked, "Who is she?"

"Raven," Mark said, and the name hung in the air like a bomb going off. Shock flashed across their faces. Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern—they all had the same stunned look.

"Raven's dead," Hal Jordan said, disbelief coloring his voice.

Superman shook his head. "We never confirmed that. We never found her body."

"She cast a spell that erased her presence from the world," Mark explained. "No one could see her, hear her, smell her."

"If that's true, then how did you see her?" Hal asked, suspicion in his tone.

Mark ran a hand through his hair, sighing. "It's complicated... I wore a necklace, but I didn't know what it was at the time. It was a part of Trigon, it allowed me the see her, but it also let him possess me whenever he wanted." At that, the tension snapped through the air like a whip. Zatara, Zatanna, and Jason's eyes were wide with fear and alarm.

"Trigon wanted me to marry Raven," Mark continued, his voice grim. "He needed me to get her pregnant."

"Why?" Wonder Woman asked, her shock mirroring the rest of them.

"His body is trapped," Mark said simply. "He wants to transfer his soul into a new body, but it has to be of his blood. When Raven gives birth, he'll use that body to escape his prison and come here."

"We have to destroy the gateway!" Zatara's voice was urgent, almost panicked. "We can't let Trigon access our universe!"

"I already told you," Mark growled, stepping toward them, "I'll go through all of you if I have to."

"Everyone, calm down!" Superman yelled, flying between Mark and Zatara, his voice commanding but firm. "We need to think this through."

Mark's fists clenched, his eyes narrowing, but Kara's hand on his arm stopped him from moving. Superman glanced around at everyone, his voice measured. "We can't let the gateway stay open. But we also can't let Trigon get a new body. If he does, who knows if he'll find other ways he'll find to escape." The Justice League members all nodded, except for Zatara and Jason.

"So what are you proposing?" Hal asked, eyes locked on Superman.

Superman hesitated, looking down for a moment, before meeting Mark's eyes. "Zatara and those of you knowledgeable in magic will work to collapse the gateway," he said, pausing as the others processed his words. "Meanwhile, I'll go in with Mark to help him rescue his wife." The statement shocked everyone—most of all, Mark himself. "You'd do that?" Mark asked, struggling to understand. "Why risk your lives like this?"

"You need help, that's good enough," Superman said simply.

"And if Raven's alive, we owe it to her to help her," Hal added, crossing his arms.

Mark couldn't find the words, but his expression softened, gratitude showing through. "Thank you..." he said quietly.

"I want to come, too," Kara said abruptly, stepping forward.

"No way," Superman cut in.

"Absolutely not," Wonder Woman said.

"But—"

"No, Kara." Superman's voice was firm, unyielding. "You're heavily pregnant. You're going back to the Watchtower."

Kara looked to Mark, desperation in her eyes. But he just shook his head. "He's right. You need to rest. I'll be back soon. I promise."

"Promise?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"Promise," Mark replied, pulling her into a hug.

Superman turned to Zatara, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "Be careful. And if you have to collapse that portal, don't hesitate." Zatara nodded grimly, understanding the gravity of the situation. The group lined up in front of the portal, the fiery gateway roaring with energy. Flash looked at the swirling flames, his expression one of nervous excitement. "So... who's going first?" Mark didn't say a word. He just stepped forward, walking into the portal, and the swirling flames swallowed him whole. The others followed behind him, Superman, Wonder Woman, Hal Jordan, and The Flash all disappearing into the burning light.

(AN: Booom so we are done after this is the second last chapter of the Arc. It's been a long time coming, I'm glad tbh I've gotten pretty bored with this arc. Slice of life just isn't me boys. I need me some action and sex, in no particular order. Anyway I hope you enjoyed the chapter.)

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