Chalant Candlelight

Chapter 17

(Zatanna's POV)

"I'm really glad you decided to forget about that Grayson boy, he's nothing but trouble, I can just sense it." My father whispers to me while I watch from afar, Dick Grayson chatting with someone, laughing and not even noticing I exist. So far the Poppy Gala made for quite a boring Friday night,

"He's not trouble," I mumble, walking off to another area but when I looked back towards Dick he was gone, vanished. Whatever, it didn't matter to me what he did. Even though he was the coolest, deepest, most handsome man I had ever met and I thought about him all the time. Maybe it did matter to me. Maybe I wanted him to see me again, not just a glance, I wanted him to stare into my eyes with his deep blue ones. The adventure and excitment I found within his gaze, I wanted to feel that. And the way he used to look at me like I was the only girl in the world, even when surrounded by tons of women fawning over him. I wanted the cloak of mystery he was shrouded by.

Most importantly I wanted to know why every time I'd catch him staring these past months, through reflections in the windows and floors, he looked as though I was something forbidden, yet so desired by him. There was a desperate look in the depth of his eyes yet he never reached out.

The gala drug on for it seemed like forever with no end in sight, I tired in my gold dress and my heels were perhaps the most uncomfortable I had ever worn.

Inching carefully to the wall, away from the prying eyes of everyone I found myself near the beautiful stairs that exited to the garden, which was trimmed into a giant maze, I was in awe over it. What a night, I thought looking at the cloud-covered moon that reflected a little off the shrubs. Only then did I see a little white rabbit scurry under my dress, running between my feet down the grand staircase and into the maze,

"Where did that rabbit come from?" I said in shock as I descended the stairs, no one noticing me slip away into the night, "Where did it go?" I entered the maze hearing a faint giggle, but for some reason I ignored it. Maybe I was just so engrossed in finding the rabbit that I wasn't thinking straight, or maybe I was just obsessed with the fairytale I was living that I ignored the warning signs and plunged in anyway.

For some reason my heart wanted this rabbit to lead me to a mad hatter who would resemble someone I knew, he would be dangerous to others but to me, he would be my savior no matter how far into wonderland I got. He would be Robin.

Why Robin? I couldn't get him out of my head, when I was scared, all I could think about was him. I need him. I need him?

My wandering mind had led me to the middle of the maze, a fountain at the center because all these rich people have the same landscaper. This fountain and garden were much grander than the one at the Willow's mansion, but the Poppy gala was held at a venue. The fountain erupted with teal glittering water that mesmerized me. I sat on the edge of the fountain to catch my breath. I saw the rabbit in the corner of the open area while I was taking off my heels,

"What is wrong with me, Mr. rabbit?" I sighed, it was rhetorical so I didn't expect the rabbit to answer. Why was I still into Dick Grayson? Why did he feel so familiar to me? Why did I keep wanting Robin to come and show me the way out of this maze? That laugh returned echoing around me.

I gasped looking towards the many entrances into the fountain area, "What way did I come in from?" I questioned, standing from the fountain. I noticed the rabbit again, as the laughing had spooked it too making it run towards an exit. Before I could follow it I heard the sound of feet landing behind me.

I took a breath turning to a man behind me in a full ski mask and goggles, wearing all black stealth ware. He cocked his head at me stepping closer as I stepped back. I started to say a spell when he threw this binding over my mouth, before bringing his finger to his lips. He must have known I was a Zara. I grabbed at the gel that had encased my mouth, keeping me from saying anything, I couldn't pull it off no matter how hard I tried, I thought it would rip off my skin. When in doubt, throw the heels at him and run. I took off the same way the rabbit had gone, hoping the little critter wouldn't lead me somewhere worse.

The deeper into the maze I got the muddier it was, especially when all the sprinklers started, soaking my hair and my dress, "This can't be happening, this can't be happening, this can't be happening." I kept repeating in my head as I ran with my giant dress bunched up in my arms, my phone stored in the safety of my father's pocket. I rounded a corner not noticing the back of my dress catch in one of the hedges. I was jerked back and fell into the mud. Could this day get worse? Also rhetorical. I grabbed at my dress trying to get it to come loose. It had gotten caught on a rusted old metal fence piece, in the corner, It was at the center of the shrubs and used to mark the corner, "No, no, no." I said in my head, hearing approaching footsteps. I reached my arm behind me, pulling my muddy zipper.

(Robin's POV)

I round the corner, to see an abandoned dress in the mud. I rub my goggles to make sure I wasn't seeing what I was seeing, Please tell me, Zatanna was not running around in her undergarments. I get that I'm chasing her and probably scaring the crap out of her, but what if someone sees her. I fasten my pace to catch up to her when I reach another little clearing, smaller than the one where the fountain was but big enough to be filled with giant extravagant statues,

"Freaky," I say to myself as I walk through, more worried about Zatanna than the artistic choices of the rich. I stop to listen when I hear wrestling behind a statue. I slowly approach, removing my duster. She seemed to be unaware that I was around the corner of the statute when she peeped her head around and I was right there. She gasped turning back around to run the other way but I went the other way around the statue and blocked her exit, she ran smack into me, knocking herself to the ground because she ran away while looking behind herself,

"Mental note: teach Zatanna how to run away from psychos." I thought to myself. I kneeled down as she stared into my black goggles. I gently threw my duster around her, helping her stand up. She looked confused at me, then she punched me in the mouth, unexpectedly. I recoiled before wrapping my arms around her while she was trying to escape.

I really didn't want to do this but I was unaware she'd start running around in only her undergarments covered in mud and soaking hair.

(Zatanna's POV)

I was in his firm embrace but nothing about it was crushing, it was gentle and his arms were in modest places, and his hands were balled up so they wouldn't be touching me. He may be a psycho kidnapper but at least he was a gentleman,

"Stop fighting and let me talk." He finally spoke, He had a voice disguiser in his mask because his voice had a slightly robotic tone to it. I did as he said and he calmly sat me down, "I need you to steal something with me, help me out and I'll let you go, I promise." He awaited a response which came in the form of a small nod, I figure I didn't have much choice. If we go to steal something maybe I'd have a chance to get free.