The Guild of the Forsaken

CHAPTER 9 - History Has Its Eyes on You

Wicked Game - Chris Isaak

September 5th 2024

RAVENHOLD

"Where is the snake Miraculi now?"

The soft strumming never falters, the tattooed man's gaze remains steadily on the floor, despite the intrusive question.

A glare from Wonder Woman does little to intimidate the man perched on the white floor as he creates his music.

A glance from Red Robin to the Amazonian at his side shows that she is much more in control of her emotions than she was previously. Where there was tense shoulders and quickened breaths now stands strong posture and a levelled gaze.

A look to the glass from the blue-eyed man showed steady resolution in his gaze. Gentle ocean waves of colour caress his irises as they stare into Red Robin's own. The steady rise and fall of Luka's chest informing the interrogators that their normally overwhelming presence hardly affects him.

A soft smile graces Luka's face, a rise of a brow indicating he heard their question, a furrow of his brow indicating he contemplates his answer. 

"You know, I don't really now. Some pocket dimension or something. Melody never really took the chance to explain?" Luka replies with a shrug of his shoulder. Blue eyes never leaving their target.

Red Robin blinks, then blinks again. The tilting of Luka's head suggesting he knows the inner turmoil of Red Robins mind.

"What does that mean," Batman growls out, disturbing the suffocating eye contact. Red Robin remains stuck in an attempt to process Luka's previous statement.

An unrecognisable tune fills the air, Luka's rough hands never pausing in their graceful movements and plucking of the strings. The blue gaze returns and firmly settles on Red Robin.

A gasp escapes him as he recalls Luka's abilities. Soul songs. Red Robin subconsciously leans his head forward to hear the music better. The song feels like a gentle caress to his soul. It should. The song calls to him like syrens luring in easy sailors. 

Luka is first to remove himself from the trance they have created as his fingers slow, he moves his gaze to Batman. Much to the relief and disappointment of Red Robin.

Unlike the gentle curiosity Luka held for Red Robin a burning fire awakes when he gazes at Batman, a grin overtakes Luka's face, though it brings Red Robin no comfort.

"Well, if it isn't the big bad Bat, Mr 'I am the Night'," Luka snorts, the noise ricochets off the silent walls, "once I was very excited to meet you, now...Not so much."

The thought-out scrunch of Luka's nose highlights his distaste for the man in black.

Batman scowls at Luka whose easy grin never wavers. He plays a different tune the melodies bleeding together to create a symphony of sound. Despite there only being one instrument.

"Answer the question," Batman responds growing impatient with the seated mans nonchalance. 

Luka rolls his eyes.

But when they return to face the group, they are no longer the cyan blue Red Robin had eerily grown accustom to.

A sharp yellow has taken its place, snake like eyes now stare back at him. Red Robin gasps and takes a step back. The temperature drops, as does Red Robins stomach. If he felt like prey before, now he knows he is. While the pit in his stomach grows, he additionally feels as though imaginary hands are clawing at him. Trying to drag him down to their icy depths.

A voice in the back of his head tells him to run. Run and never come back. He doesn't listen.

Because of defiance or frozen shock, he isn't quite sure.