ENIGMA ━━ bruce wayne

7 - Faustian Enemies

The second they stepped out of the House, Clara bristled. The House had dropped them off in the middle of a swamp, where there was barely any light. In the darkness, the trees resembled deformed creatures with vines hanging off them, ready to trap whoever disturbed them. 

Blood, it appeared, shared the same sentiments. "All right, I'll ask. Why are we in the middle of a godforsaken swamp?" 

 "It's a favourite hidey hole of one Alec Holland," John explained, using magic to swat aside some flies. "Whose corpse was taken to be the most recent Avatar of the Green."

"Bet you won't find that on your bloody cell phone," He added as an afterthought, looking right at Bruce.

"Our data's more factual," Bruce simply replied. "Alec Holland was murdered by terrorists. His body was never recovered. End of story."

"Not quite," John answered carefully. He looked around the swamp, which seemed to get darker the further they walked in. They arrived at the edge of a lake, mist floating all above it. The lake seemed like the perfect hiding place. 

Suddenly, a dark growling voice echoed from all around the lake. "Go away."

John summoned a magic circle and stepped on it. He floated to the center of the lake and began, in his usual manner, provoking whatever mysterious Avatar of the Green thing they were after. Hands in her pocket, Clara was ready to cast a spell to protect herself (and everyone else) against a tentative attack. 

The lake water stirred as tentacles slowly rose out of it. They started merging together, gaining a very humanoid, yet monstrous shape that towered over them all. 

"What is that?!" Clara mumbled as she took a step back, nearly bumping into Bruce. 

The humanoid swamp monster spoke John's name with the utmost disdain, which is when Clara knew. This was another person (swamp thing?) he had pissed off. She probably would not be able to count on two hands how many people John had pissed off. 

Zatanna rushed forward and muttered a quick incantation, cancelling John's flaming magic circle. Clara followed, wincing at the splashing sound. Stepping straight into the waters of a random, unknown and possibly magical lake should have been a no, but the situation demanded the opposite.

Boston, meanwhile, hovered near John. "Dude, your social skills are horrendous."

"Ain't that the truth," Clara nodded in agreement. 

It was Zatanna who finally spoke to the green humanoid. "Please, we aren't here to harm any plants, but our need is urgent. Don't let your feelings for John stop you from doing what's right." 

The Swamp Thing leaned closer. "You have a garden."

"Yes, I find it relaxing," Zatanna said calmly. "And I water it every week. We need to find a man, a wizard named Felix Faust."