On The Darkest Night [2]

The A-Team

22
The A-Team
Season Two: Episode 13

Alister, breathless, pushed himself off of the hardwood floor. He nearly fell over. The weight of his wings tipped his balance.

Dick slung a loose arm around his waist to catch him. "I got you," Said Dick.

Alister clung to Dick for a short moment. Once he found his footing, he stood on his own. He turned around and saw everyone gawking at him.

Alister winced and ignored the fading pain in his back. "We don't have time for questions. We have to save Gar and Conner, remember?" He said.

"Right, right. Let's suit up." Donna said.

Everyone dispersed. Alister and Dick were left standing in the hall.

"I'm guessing you'll need a weapon? Y'know, since you burned your suit." Said Alister. He turned and saw Dick gawking at his wings.

Dick blinked and shook his head. "I... No. I went to Stu's a few days ago, he whipped something up for me. Something different."

"Really? Well go get dressed then, Grayson," Said Alister. He shooed Dick away. Part of him wanted to see this new suit, the other part just wanted to be alone for a moment. Alone with his new wings and his new mace.

He felt the mace in his hands pulsate. With each pulsation, there was a spark of light. Light that traveled from the tip of its spokes to the shaft, and down to the handle. The light didn't stop there, though. It sunk into Alister's palm and danced up his wrist. It was calling to him; the Morning Star.

He shut his eyes and allowed the vision to take over, and it did. It transported him to the place in his mind he'd been forced to watch from just a month and a half ago.

Only, he was in control now. The darkness that once surrounded his mind had began to lift. Wisps of dim light broke through the dark sky and lit up places he couldn't see the first time.

Places like his childhood home, the tall sculptures of his home world, images of his mother and the Hawks... They were moments of his life. Moments that shaped him into who he was, as paintings. Even Deathstroke and Vandal Savage had their commissions, so fresh that he could smell the paint.

Alister reached out to the painting on the wall. His eyes slowly trailed up the canvas. Crumpled feathers littered the ground like fallen leaves. 

The closer he got to the top, the worse it got. He could hear pounding. His heart thumped against his chest. Chasing the air from his lungs.

His mangled wings rested on the floor. Matted with blood. He reached out for the painting but stopped himself as he heard footsteps.

"Welcome back," She said.

Alister could recognize that voice anywhere. He turned and saw Sheyara. Her reddish brown hair kissed her shoulders. Her wings rose high in the sky, beautifully. His wings could never compare to hers.

"Why am I back? Is it trying to control me again?" He asked.

"He's back in the Dark where he belongs," She said. "I called you back because you're finally ready for what's to come." Said Sheyara.

"Are you talking about stopping Vandal?" Alister asked.

Sheyara shook her head. "Vandal Savage isn't even part of the larger battle. There's a war coming, an Entropy. He who teaches from the Dark, he needs you to free her. You can't let that happen."