Talyesin's Tales

Chronicled in Darklight, the Weirdsville Witch -

Anna met with several other costumed crimefighters at the Kane Sanitarium, summoned there unknowingly by a chronomantic spell designed to kill them. Instead, the Crimefighters' League was formed.

Meeting with Squirrelman, the pair investigated the homicide of Annie O'Day, Girl Pilot, only to discover that the person responsible for the former hero's death by necromantic ritual was, in fact, the same sorceress behind the events at the Kane.

Later, the Crimefighters' League found themselves walking into an ambush laid by Baron Blackheart, who claimed to have received the whereabouts of their secret headquarters from a woman in a dream.




Darklight, the Weirdsville Witch #73 - A Squirrelman - Sins of the Past Tie-In!

Starring

Anna Kimble as Darklight

Guest starring

Katie McCormick as Superia

and

Hannah Cohen as Psifire

with

James Grayson as Blue Ghost

* * * * *



The apartment was quiet, the only sounds those of nature outside her window, when Anna woke up. It had been a small matter to shift her room to the country, for the peace and quiet she loved so much. The sounds of the city had their own attractions, but she'd never enjoyed them when trying to sleep.

The manner of her awaking caused her some curiosity. Not the gradual coming to awareness that normally marked her mornings, nor a sudden jerking from slumber to confused wakefulness that would have accompanied a disturbance. She simply slid from peacefully asleep to fully, calmly awake. Anna extended her awareness to encompass the room, then out into the apartment. Hecate was curled up in the kitchen, dreaming the dreams of cats, and Rick was calmly asleep in the guest room, dreaming about her. She smiled.

She had finally found him. Her entire life, she'd know who was the love of her life, the man she would marry, the father of her children. The first time she had seen him was on the vid - the Ace of Spades stopping a bank robbery - and it had taken an effort of supreme patience on her part to wait until he came to love her on his own. And no matter how much they may want to otherwise, she knew exactly when and how they would consummate their passion, and how wonderful it would be. She'd been dreaming that dream since she entered puberty. And while it was frustrating to have to wait until the next full moon, she knew that trying to circumvent her visions would only cause more problems than they solved.

She lay in bed for a few minutes, quietly, happily contemplating Rick. Hecate padded into the room, jumped onto the edge of the mattress and sat there. She gave Anna a long, dry stare.

"As thrilled as I am that you're happy, dear, you're a little insufferable at the moment," she said finally.

"Shoo," Anna said, waving her fingers at her familiar. Hecate calmly ignored her, licking her paw. Anna knew she wouldn't win, so she got out of bed and dressed, picking one of her short-sleeved black dresses, the one she thought of as her summer dress. Then she stepped out of her bedroom, shifting to the city as she did so, and went to the kitchen to feed Hecate.

Anna decided she wanted fresh bread and a change of scenery, so she shifted the view out the kitchen window and slowed time down around her to mix the dough. She enjoyed the simple, domestic nature of baking, bread in particular. Once the dough was ready to be set aside to rise, she slipped back to normal time and quickly cast a cantrip to speed up time in the bowl. A few minutes later, the dough was ready. As she formed the loaf, she divided her awareness and got the oven ready for baking. By the time the loaf was ready, so was the oven.

"Shall I wake his loveableness?" Hecate asked her.

"Please don't call him that," Anna admonished her familiar. "You'd simply better get used to having him around."

Hecate sniffed and sauntered off to wake Rick. Anna sped up time on the oven and the bread was ready in moments. She slowed time to normal, pulled it out of the oven and set it on the window sill as dawn light began to stream into the kitchen. A few minutes later, Rick walked into the kitchen, already in his costume.

"How long have you been up, hon?" he asked with a grin. His smile lit up her day.

She went to him, unable to bear being apart for another moment, and kissed him passionately.

"Coffee?" she asked, a little breathlessly, when they finally parted.

"Sure," he answered.

They passed their breakfast in amiable company, discussing their plans for the day, putting to rest his apprehensiveness with her prescience, talking of matters of importance to them. When Rick finally left, Anna extended her awareness to feel him fly off into the sky, then turned to the cleaning of the kitchen, enjoying the lingering sense of him in the room.

Anna.

The mental call of a familiar voice brought her fully to herself once more.

"James," she replied warmly.

May I join you?

"Of course."

The image of a gaunt man, dressed as a costumed crimefighter, in a style fashionable a half-century before, glowing a soft blue, faded into view.

"Be welcome, old friend," she said, smiling at the Blue Ghost.

"My thanks, my dear," he replied, his voice clear without ever opening or moving his mouth. He looked down at her from where he hovered, twin stars in empty sockets peering from behind his mask. "I must say, being in love certainly suits you. Your aura is absolutely brilliant."

Anna grinned shyly, then asked, "Is there anything I can get you?"

"Tea would be lovely," he replied. They both knew, of course, that he would be unable to ingest the beverage, but the ritual was more important than the ingestion. Anna set the pot to boiling.

"Have you set a date yet?" James gently teased her. Hecate leapt onto the kitchen table and James reached down to pet her. He sat on one of the chairs, hovering a few inches above it.

"Not yet," she laughed. "You know, were either of us Catholic, I'd ask you to marry us, James."

James smiled slightly. "It's been over fifty years since I married anyone, dear. I only know how to do it in Latin. And, Bishop Powers would have to give his permission for me to conduct the ceremony. He and I... aren't on the best of terms."

"I know, my friend," Anna said, nodding. "I was... Hmm."

"Hmm?"

"Assuming you could get permission from the Bishop, would you be willing to conduct the ceremony?"

"I would love to," James answered, a wistful look on his translucent blue face. "Marriages and christenings were always my favourite parts of my duties as a priest. Why? Neither you nor Richard are Catholic."

"No, but Kimmy is," Anna said, considering the thought. The pot boiled and she poured the tea for James, hovering the cup over to him. She felt his awareness envelope the cup, and released it from her control. He dipped the tea bag in the water two or three times, then lifted it out and set it aside, patiently waiting for her to resume the conversation.

"I'll talk it over with Kimmy," she decided finally, smiling at him.

"As you wish," James replied, just as pleasantly.

"Oh my, she's early," Anna said suddenly, as she became aware of someone descending the stairs to her apartment.

James turned to face the door.

"The god-child?" he asked calmly.

"Yes," Anna answered.

"I'll go."

"No, it's all right," she replied, sensing Katie lifting her fist to knock on the door. The child's power was nearly overwhelming, blocking out all other awareness. "Stay, James, please."

"As you wish," he replied.

The knock at the door came as foreseen, and Anna went to the door. She smiled at Katie. The poor dear seemed tired, dark circles under her eyes, behind the glasses she wore.

"Hi Anna," the college student smiled.

"Hello Katie, please, come in."

Katie stepped into the apartment, shrugging off her jean jacket and putting down her backpack in the entrance. She wore an emerald fitted t-shirt and jeans that flared slightly, with floral embroidery at the cuffs. Hecate walked up to inspect her, rubbing against Katie's leg. Katie reached down and scratched Hecate behind her ears, saying, "Who's a beautiful girl, then? Yes you are!"

Hecate looked up at Katie and drily said, "Thank you. So are you."

Katie jumped, embarrassed. "Oh, jeez, oh, I mean-"

"It's all right, dear," Hecate said. "I understand most humans think they're being charming when they talk that way to cats. It's quite amusing."

"Oh wow," Katie said, pushing her glasses up on her nose, grinning from Hecate to Anna and back. "Anna, this is so cool."

"I thought you'd like Hecate," Anna smiled. "Come into the kitchen, I have a guest."

"Oh, hey, Blue Ghost, right," Katie said as she stepped into the kitchen. "Hi."

"Hello, Superia," James replied. "How are you?"

"Oh, I'm not Superia, I mean, not right now."

"Of course, dear," Anna said, with a significant look at James. "Superia is your alter-ego shared... what was it again?"

"Alter-ego shared consciousness iconic godform," Katie answered.

"Exactly. You see, James?" Anna asked him pointedly.

"Of course," James replied. "As I was saying, Anna, I should go. There's some Things I need to convince to keep their claws to themselves."

"If you insist, James, but you're always welcome."

"Thank you, my dear," James said, nodding them both. Anna smiled warmly and Katie nervously, and then he faded from view.

"Wow, cool," Katie grinned. "I know Superia's met him a few times, but Katie doesn't get much chance to meet crimefighters, you know?"

"Of course," Anna said with a slight smile. "Would you like some tea?"

"Love some, thanks," Katie replied. She took a seat at the kitchen table.

As Anna poured the water for the tea, a knock came at the door. Anna set the kettle to pour itself and went to the door, where Hannah was waiting.

"Sorry I'm late, darling, but traffic was a nightmare," Hannah said as she stepped into Anna's apartment. Hannah wore a lavender blouse and black slacks, very office casual."Who knew rush hour started so early?"

"You're not late at all, Katie just got here," Anna answered, leading her into the kitchen.

"Hi Hannah," Katie said, spooning honey into her tea.

"Hi hon," Hannah replied.

"Tea?" Anna asked.

"If you have any coffee, darling, I'd kill for some."

"Still some left from breakfast," Anna replied, sending the mug flying over to the coffee pot, pouring the coffee into it and then over to where Hannah was just sitting down.

"Thanks, you're a doll," Hannah said, enjoying the rich aroma. She took a sip and her green eyes widened appreciatively. "So, what's the plan?"

"Should I - I mean, would you rather Superia were here?" Katie asked.

"Will she remember our discussion?" Anna inquired, taking a seat at the table.

"Well, um, yes," Katie answered.

"Then don't trouble yourself," Anna said.

"So you remember Superia's experiences, and vice versa?" Hannah asked Katie, who nodded. "Are you sure you two aren't one and the same? I mean, you even look like her. Except for the glasses, of course."

"Oh no, I mean, she's much more than I could ever - that is, she's the living representation of the Feminine Divine. I'm just... me." Katie pushed her glasses up, obviously a nervous habit. Then, haltingly, she asked, "You really think I look like her?"

"Well, darling, she's a little..." Hannah sought the mot juste "...curvier than you are? And her hair is stunning, of course. Bitch," she joked. "But your faces are very similar."

Katie blushed a little, then said, "Well, thanks, I guess. But um, this isn't why we came here, right?"

"You can change the subject darling, but not the facts."

"Nevertheless, she's quite right," Anna said. "If you both will follow me, I've prepared a work space for us. And for what I have in mind, Katie, we will need to call upon your powers as Superia."

Katie nodded, brightening, and recited, her voice being joined by another's, "Injustice calls, the time has come - Our two parts make a greater sum - Now shed this form inferior - And transform into Superia!"

With a swell of golden light, Katie faded away to be replaced by Superia. Anna noted with some interest that Superia's costume had reverted to its previous, non-League version.

"You'll have to forgive Katie," Superia smiled at her teammates. "She's got a bit of an inferiority thing. I've tried to help her, but, well, it's not easy when you can't actually talk to each other."

"So let me ask you, is it strictly speaking accurate to call you Katie when you're in this form?" Hannah asked as they walked down the corridor to the work space.

"Yes and no," Superia smiled. "It's a little complex."

"Here we are," Anna said, opening a door that seemed to appear out of nowhere.

Inside the small room, Anna had set candles in sconces along the walls. The hardwood floor was inlaid with a parquet circle three metres wide, seemingly seamless, as though it was carved from one piece of wood and set there, whole. Three black satin pillows rested on the floor in the circle, spaced evenly apart.

"Oh my," Hannah commented. "Very witchy."

"Thank you," Anna smiled politely. She waved her hand and the candles suddenly lit. "Please, take a seat."

The three women sat on the pillows, cross-legged. Anna held out her hands to the two others, and all three joined hands. Small green flames began to play around Hannah's eyes.

Now what?, Hannah's voice came to them telepathically.

Now we try to find all we can find about the sorceress behind these attacks., Anna replied in kind. What I'd like to do is relive those events that she's responsible for, and see if we can't shed a new light on the subject.

She sensed agreement from the other two, then closed her eyes and cast her mind back to the night at the Kane Sanitarium, when she and Superia had been trapped with the others. They went over the attacks, the chronomantic resets, Hannah observing the mental landscape of the event, occasionally with distaste bordering on revulsion, as the inmates of the Kane did not have appealing minds. They relived, as observers, the ending of the spell, by the suspension of their lives, the risk they took, the linking of their souls to fuel the spell.

There!, Katie/Superia cried telepathically.

In the mindscape, a figure, female, watching, anger bordering on fury as the newly-formed Crimefighters' League thwarted her plan. Hannah attempted to lock on to the fleeing woman, too late.

Did you get an imprint?, Anna asked.

Almost., Hannah replied.

Come., Anna stated.

She led them to Annie O'Day's apartment. The psychic residue threatened to overwhelm them, dark, hate-filled, warping the mindscape's fabric into something hideous, perverse. They watched Anna/Darklight explain the necromantic ritual to Matt/Squirrelman, letting herself slip into the murderess' mental state, slide along the edge of madness, and return.

They sensed her presence, turning as one to face her, the sorceress. This time, they had more of an impression of her - a woman, short blonde hair, eyes like the Mediterranean on a sunny day, tall, imperious, authoritative, cruel, despotic, quite insane, nursing a wound so old it filled her with hate, consumed her.

Hell hath no fury., Anna thought.

As a woman scorned., the sorceress replied, then faded into the mindscape.

Quick!, Superia/Katie ordered, leaping to follow.

Too late!, Hannah called after her. The mindscape warped and faded and they were in their former headquarters, the battle with the Implacable Foes.

"I notice there are several people missing, Baron," Steelclaw said angrily, his hated enemy Midnight Avenger nowhere in sight.

"They'll be here, Steelclaw,"answered Baron Blackheart, just as angrily. "The woman in my dream assured me!"

There!, Hannah exclaimed, diving into Blackheart's mind. The woman of his dream, the same sorceress responsible for the events at the Kane and O'Day's apartment, visiting Blackheart as he slept, telling him who to collect, where to find them, where to bring them, how to defeat their hated foes.

Swimming through the mindscape, through a memory into another memory, the three followed the sorceress, trying to catch her, trying to learn anything about her, upstream into the mindscape. And, just as it seemed she was about to escape them once again, she turned and faced them.

You and the rest of Steele's prodigies will pay!, they sensed from her, shrieking at them, hatred emanating from her in waves, overwhelming them, thrusting them out of the mindscape and back to their physical forms so violently that they lost consciousness.

Anna's eyes snapped open. She had no idea how long they had been unconscious. Superia was gone, Katie replacing her, glasses askew. Hannah was on her side, hands to her head, a thin trickle of blood dripping out one nostril. She moaned once and sat up, her pain-filled eyes meeting Anna's.

"Are you all right?" Anna asked her quietly.

"Killer of a migraine," Hannah replied.

"What was that about?" Katie asked, sitting up, setting her glasses properly on her face.

Anna waved her hands, summoning up the power to heal her friends. Nothing came. The effort of searching for the sorceress had tired her too much, taxing her powers to their limits.

"Sorry," she apologized. "I have some herbal teas that will help."

"What did she mean, Steele's prodigies?" Katie asked, standing slowly.

"I'm more curious about the woman scorned thing," Hannah added, as her friends helped her to her feet.

"We'll need to bring this to the team," Anna replied, leading them back to the kitchen.