Chapter Twenty-Four: Larger Than Life.
Everything which happened in the past day or so, kind of ended up pin a blur in Nym's mind. She rolled over in bed, with a slightly goofy grin on her face. She turned a second later and it all came back to her, everything which happened. She thought her encounter with Harry was a dream. Perhaps brought on by some pain killers after nearly having the roof of that temple fall onto the top of head, actually, a dream, a delusion would be about Nym's luck.
A quick check between her ties verified how sore Nym was after her encounter, and she could still feel some stickiness between her thighs. If she had not looked so undignified in doing it, Nym would have gotten up to her feet and did a dance. It did happen, something she had been dreaming about since as long as she knew what sex was, happened.
Until she met Harry though, Nym really didn't know what sex is. She really hoped there would be many more opportunities to worship her savor. Right now, Nym really needed a shower. It took her a few seconds to summon up the strength to roll out of bed.
'Just like Mum said, the Dragon always leaves his mark,' Nym thought.
Nym had not been the shy type, and she had been blown away from the prowess of the dragon. She entertained the thought there was no way he could have been as good as the legends stated. There could have been no conceivable way he was this amazing, this wonderful.
She realized something when getting up to head towards the shower. He was better than expected, and Nym could not wait to have her expectations destroyed again. For now, she moved closer towards the shower and smiled.
'I really think Holly wanted a piece of him….about time I showed her up at something,' Nym thought. 'Not that I'd rub her face in my success or anything.'
It was not out of malice Nym was excited by the fact she showed up Holly in something. Both women showed a competitive spirit which drove them to be the very best of their fields. Nym chuckled at the thought it got them in trouble a lot of the time, especially with Waller. Both women were very headstrong.
'Ah, there it is….oh, I'm going to be feeling this for a long time.'
Nym didn't really register it as a complaint, more like a commentary, of the increased feeling of pleasure which came throughout her legs. She felt better actually, other than the usual post-sex soreness. Then again, given the size of him, Nym found herself fortunate she could walk.
She chalked it up to her own magical prowess, but the thought he held back, not to completely break her, made her excited. Nym envisioned being broken by her god.
The soak rubbed over her body. Nym still had very hardened nipples from her thoughts and feelings over Harry. She drew in her breath to calm down. She had best calm herself down before she got into more trouble, well more trouble than usual.
As always, Nym somehow forgot the clothes she needed when going into the shower. Nym shook her head at the absent minded nature of herself, and the carelessness. Her mother would have let her have an earful.
The woman took a ginger step, feeling a bit refreshing from her shower. She still moved about as awkwardly as possible. Thankfully, she could reach out around the corner where there was a towel set up on the bedside dresser. She took the towel and wrapped it around her body.
The second Nym put the towel on, the door opened. She jumped the person who entered the room, with cat-like precision. Nym saw little problem, well at least until the figure turned the attack on her, and shoved Nym back onto the bed.
Seconds later, Nym squirmed. It had been through the grace of all things holy the towel remained wrapped around her body. Nym struggled, wondering who she came eye to eye with. It took only a second where she noticed Sara Lance staring down at her, with a wide grin on her face.
"You've had a fun now, haven't you?" Sara asked.
"Yes," Nym said. "Do you think you can let me up?"
"Oh, I think this is a very good spot for me to be right now," Sara said, teasing the girl's wet hair with her finger. "Just think, Harry came in here last night and fucked your brains out. I bet you got off on that, didn't you, Nymphadora?"
"Hey, you shouldn't….."
Sara leaned down and kissed Nym on the lips. Nym would have protested the kiss, but Sara had a certain manner of bringing someone over to her side. She could do nothing other than enjoy the kiss.
"You can change into anything, anyone," Sara said. "Can you just change your actual facial features, or is the change full? Can you become another person's twin?"
"I can," Nym said. "It took me a while, but now, it's just about as easy as blinking. There are times where I get upset, and my hair changes different colors."
"It takes a lot of control," Sara said.
For a second, Nym noticed Sara fiddling absent-mindedly with the towel hanging from her. The Shape-Shifter's breathing increased, and she became very excited, but Sara pulled away from her.
"I wonder if you could do me."
Nym's mind went straight into the gutter, where it had prime real estate these days. She could see Sara's crafty little smile on her face. The naughty girl knew exactly what she wanted, from the older woman.
"Could you shapeshift into me?" Sara asked.
"If you let me breathe than maybe."
Sara let Nym rise from the bed. Nym closed her eyes and her hair turned blonde. She pictured Sara in her mind. And to get the full picture, she had to picture her completely naked. Thankfully, Nym didn't have any trouble with that whatsoever, getting a full eye full.
Her towel dropped to the ground. Nym's eyes opened, and Sara looked the other woman up and down, a smile crossing her face. It always made Nym feel so naughty for someone to eye her up when taking on the form of someone else. Especially, when that person was the person she took on the form.
'She's trying to kill me,' Nym thought.
"Never truly appreciated how hot I was," Sara responded. "But, let's see if we can get a little closer, to make sure you got everything right."
Sara undid the towel from Nym's body and dropped it to the ground. She slowly leaned in and kissed Nym on the lips which were very intense. One of the most intense kisses ever she ever got from another woman, at least in Nym's experience.
"After all, we should be one hundred percent authentic, shouldn't we?"
Today, Sara could not help, but tease the shape shifter even more. She took off her clothes and made sure Nym watched every single move before her garments hit the ground without another word. The sigh and the light moan coming out of her double showed Sara exactly what she wanted to.
'And now, time for some very elaborate masturbation.'
Rose had been in two minds regarding not being able to partake in the mission, which Harry and company went after Darhk. The first was disappointment she didn't have a chance to get out and stretch her legs. The second, she was she was kind of relieved. The incident where she flipped out at Granger Manor was very fresh in her mind. Rose could not, under any circumstances, lose control like that ever again.
'You have to focus.'
Nyssa stepped into the center of the room. Harry observed from the side. He was the only person who could calm Rose down if she went off of the rails.
"It doesn't matter whether you're in the battlefield or in the bedroom," Nyssa said. "There is one skill you need to master about as seamlessly as breathing and that's….FOCUS!"
Nyssa reached out and nailed Rose firmly across the jaw which dropped her down to the ground. Rose slowly pulled herself up to a standing position to look Nyssa square in the eye. Burning passion danced from the other side of Rose's bright blue eyes. Her teeth gritted together.
"I am."
"If you are, then prove it."
The hit was not as hard as it could have been. Rose wondered if they treated her like she was glass sometimes because she was younger. She had been through just about as much, as any of them, and from a younger age. The world didn't hold back because of age, after all. Rose bounced into the center of the ring and moved to grab Nyssa.
Nyssa caught her arm, turned her around. Rose thought she was well trained, but she had no idea. Nyssa forced her down onto the ground, face first. Every last ounce of wind left Rose's lungs the second Nyssa pressed her boot into the back of Rose's head down on the ground.
"Again," Nyssa told her. "Fight me again."
She struggled out of the grip. Harry watched, and Rose intended to do much better underneath Harry's watchful eye. She broke out of Nyssa's grasp and tried to stab her with a dagger. The quick-fire release was not quick enough to put the Daughter of the Demon down. Nyssa grabbed Rose's wrist as hard as possible and put the squeeze on it, forcing her down onto the ground.
"Damn," Rose said.
"Don't let frustration get the better of you either."
Rose rolled out of Nyssa's grip, easier said than done. She came back onto the other end and charged towards Nyssa. Nyssa blocked her kick when it came off. Rose swung for the fences, going for another vicious kick. Another kick had been avoided, and Nyssa pushed Rose back down onto the ground. She flipped down onto the ground, the loud crack of a knee impacting the ground had gone off.
"Son of a bitch," Rose yelled.
"You're letting it get to you again," Nyssa said. "A real enemy will tear you apart. They'll impale you on your own anger."
Nyssa had to work with many young recruits who had come to the League with their own anger issues. She had no question whatsoever, what Rose was working through. Nyssa watched Rose charge her, and try to stab at her. Nyssa blocked Rose's arm one more time.
'She still has a lot to work with,' Harry thought.
'Yes,' Nyssa thought. 'To be fair, this gives me plenty of chance to kick back and remain calm. Until I can verify Dark's death…and even then, I'm skeptical, because I haven't seen the body.'
'Something is shielding me from figuring out whether Darhk is out there or not,' Harry thought.
'I don't like this,' Nyssa thought.
'No, I don't either,' Harry thought.
Rose almost made her way through Nyssa's defenses. Rose's own surprise forced Nyssa to double down and really put a hurting on Rose. Rose dropped down to one knee, her breath having been driven completely out of her due to Nyssa's violent series of attacks.
A couple of bruises rose on either side of Rose's face.
'I have a feeling our friend from the AMAZO may have found his way to meet with Darhk,' Harry thought. 'Don't quite know what the Deacon is, best I can figure out, he's some sort of demon who worships a higher power. We're going to have to keep our eyes opened around him.'
'Obvious, yes,' Nyssa thought.
What else was obvious Sara joined them. She dressed in a black tank top and a pair of tight black pants. She moved over towards Harry and gave him a kiss, before settling down next to him to half watch the sparring session, and half look at the stone Harry studied.
'So, that's a clue to where the second medallion is?' Harry asked.
'I'm going to ask Shado and Mei after these two are done here,' Harry thought.
Rose came very close to taking Nyssa down. Closer than many had before. Nyssa turned the attack around and brought Rose face first onto the concrete beneath her. Nyssa did not back up from her move. She pulled all the way back and just let Rose up, ever so slightly.
Shado thought it was unfortunate one of the monuments had been destroyed, but given the circumstances, it could not have been helped. She stood with her sister, Mei. Mei looked very calm, despite the destruction.
"HIVE will pay," Mei said in a matter of a fact manner.
Darhk may have already paid, but they had not been able to verify it. Damien Darhk was only one strange in an overall machine, something larger than any of them had ever known, or could ever realize. The twin sisters understood this.
"They will."
Both of the sisters turned around and Shado smiled. She walked towards Harry and gave him a very short, but very intense kiss. She pulled away and locked eyes with Mei. Not being on such terms with the Dragon, at least not yet, Mei offered a respectful bow and held her hand.
"Great one, I'm glad you are here," Mei said. "And once again, I cannot apologize enough for disbelieving my sister for your return….."
"Perfectly fine," Harry said. "There would be imposters who attempted to take hold of the Dragon's legacy."
Mei responded with a nod in response. There were many people who foolishly made their play for the legacy of the Dragon. They would have been crushed if they had tried to make those false claims. There were many loyal followers to him.
"You are too kind, wise, and forgiving," Mei said.
Harry smiled and kissed her on the hand. His mark had been left on yet another beautiful women, and someone who was a twin to one of his companions to boot.
"Shado mentioned you had something to show me," Harry said.
It took a second for Mei to return back to life after the kiss. She would have been lying if she didn't say her mind had not been driven elsewhere, and it was not to business.
"Yes, great one, I do have something to show you," Mei said. "It's something which our family has been putting together for generations. Our grandmother did a lot of the work on it before she passed on. It's one of the most sacred shrines to the Dragon in the world."
At first, Harry thought it had been more than a fair bit odd there had been shrines to him, never mind more than one. Still, Harry just decided to roll with it. The fringe benefits of being worshiped outweighed the headaches. Harry offered his arm towards Mei.
"Lead the way."
Mei smiled and took one of his arms. Shado took the other arm.
"I'm glad Darhk didn't target this temple," Mei said.
"Is there anything he would find of value in there?" Harry asked her.
Shado decided to be the one to jump in and speak for her sister. "There's nothing Darhk would consider of great value inside of that temple, no. But there is a lot of sentimental value in the items."
"And given he seeks to try and destroy you, like so many foolishly have tried, he would not find information describing your successes to be very appealing, Great One," Mei said.
Harry stopped and paused before looking towards Mei.
"Mei, there is no need to call me Great One," Harry said. "While I agree, I am great, and I understand how much you support me, just call me Harry when I'm here among the mortal world."
Mei could not help, but smile. The Dragon's greatness was only exceeded by his generosity for those who supported him.
"My apologizes G…Harry," Mei said, correcting herself in mid-sentence. "I don't wish to waste another moment of your time. Shall we?"
"Time in the company of beautiful women is never a waste," Harry said. "Brilliant, intelligent, dedicated, I can see those are qualities both of you share."
Shado smiled, it wouldn't be long before Mei would join her in a bit more personal worship. The moment would not be very long, however. The two stepped inside. They had been surrounded by books on all shelves. Harry looked around and had been blown away. He would not be surprised if everything he needed here was right in front of his face.
"It's a culmination of a long life's work," Shado explained. "Our grandmother, she told us the stories and exhaustively collected every single book she could get her hands off regarding your legend. Some of them had been printed in languages which had been lost."
Harry thought they had done a pretty good job. He noticed a book face down on the ground and he picked it up to put it on a spot on the shelf. It detailed the White Canary and her followers.
'I can see the resemblance,' Sara thought.
Another thing popped up at Harry on the page. He read about the White Canary's followers being a tribe of women who were stunningly beautiful and had the allure to blind any man. Harry didn't have to read further on to know who the only man who could tame them was.
'Well, that's interesting,' Harry thought.
Harry put the book back on the shelf where it belonged.
'So, what's interesting?' Nyssa asked. 'You know something…..'
'One medallion at a time,' Harry thought.
"Your entire family has done a great job with keeping the library," Harry said. "And I'm sure your grandmother would be happy to see her work being put to a great use."
"She would have been honored you found a use for it," Mei said. "And anything you want to use….don't hesitate…and if you need us, for anything, please, we'll be there."
"Mei deserves most of the credit, she's been keeping up on the upkeep when I was away," Shado said.
"I wondered if you could point me in the direction of anything regarding the Serpent Medallion," Harry said.
"Of course, I can," Mei said. "Right this way, Harry."
It took her a long time to get the Harry part out, but Mei would get there, slowly, but surely. She was just happy to help him in any way.
A beautiful blonde woman with a stunning figure sat in the middle of a mansion. She could be anywhere she wanted to be in this Mansion, but yet, she had grown completely and utterly bored. The woman had a stunning figure underneath a silky black bathrobe, a figure which many women envied, and many men desired.
Only one man would have ever caught her interest, and she could sense he approached closer. Sooner, she would be his, in any way she wanted to. Her heart skipped a half of a beat thinking about it.
A piece of paper dropped onto the table. The blonde woman had been brought out of her stupor just long enough to look at the item which had been dropped on the table. She wondered who could have thought it be urgent to enter right now and to send the message.
The folded up piece of paper crumpled in the hands of the woman. Her mouth hung open looking at the piece of paper. Almost, very nearly, it dropped out of her hands and landed on the ground. It was only through a moment of quick reflexes had the woman snagged up the piece of paper before it dropped down onto the ground and put it back inside of her head. Her numb thoughts increased.
'This is impossible, isn't it?'
She had been brought out of her stupor by this information. It had been a long time since they had any movement on this front. There had been sightings, whispers, of the man in question, but so far, there had been nothing.
The blonde could not get back out of her casual clothes fast enough, into something a bit more comfortable. She dressed in ceremonial green robes, with the image of a serpent stitched into the back, by magic. She had a dagger in one hand and a wooden staff which allowed her chain the mystical gifts she had received.
'The Dragon, I can't believe it, and neither will they.'
The woman closed her eyes and flashed in front of the doors. Two carvings flashed on the wall. One of them represented a snake. The other depicted an "S" which had been in a green shield. It had been the symbol of the long departed Queen.
The flames flashed green and the doors opened. She took another step forward and dropped down on the same green "S" symbol on the ground. Her eyes peered up towards three figures who flickered into the light before her.
"State your business and name."
"My name is Daphne Greengrass, I am one of your loyal followers, and I have sufficient proof the Dragon has risen again."
This news flashed all three of them fully into light. A beautiful blonde woman dressed in black appeared in the central ring. A dark-haired woman with an olive skinned complexion appeared on the pedestal to the right, and a redhead woman with pale skin and a shapely figure appeared. All of them wore not a stitch of clothing, to allow to shine with power. Daphne stepped back, completely transfixed by them for many reasons.
"Yes, Daphne, we know if you, you are one of our most devoted servants."
Isabelle, the blonde, smiled at Daphne. Unfortunately, the departure of the Queen and the curse inflicted upon them had caused the three heralds to be confined to the temple. Thankfully, they would not be completely alone, as long as there were devoted followers.
"Are you saying he returns?" the dark-haired woman asked. Her name was Vanessa.
"We know you have come here with noble intentions, our servant," Anya, the redhead, responded. "But, we also know people with the best intentions have been fooled. Especially given we live in a very desperate time, and unfortunately, these desperate times call for desperate measures."
"I have the proof if you want to see it."
Isabelle nodded in response and motioned for the proof. The piece of paper lifted up into the air and landed in the grasp of the herald. She took the paper in hand and looked at it for a minute. Her sisters moved in closer, to take a closer look towards the paper as well.
"Yes," Isabelle said. "This is a very nice start. He returns. Each day, this location and all of its treasures are more in danger of being compromised, especially when he shows up."
"The traitor Copperhead and her disciples, they have left," Anya said, angrily. "She's aligned herself with the man who intends to take everything we work for….she is with Bane."
"Yes," Daphne said sadly.
There had been more followers, but unfortunately, their forces had been depleted. Without their Queen, there had been splinters. Anya, Isabelle, and Vanessa, the three most loyal followers to the Queen, they had been sealed away in this temple, the only ones who could reach them for their guidance was a small, but very faithful, group of women in the tribe.
"The Dragon begins the rebirth," Isabelle said. "Our Queen's soul mate has been reanimated, but until her vessel is found, and until she's presented our prized medallion….we are still in danger."
"Copperhead doesn't know where the medallion is, does she?" Daphne asked.
"No," Vanessa confirmed. "But, Bane gains more power and more of the land on the outskirts of our village. Soon, he will surround us, and soon we will have no chance. You must locate the Dragon before Bane gains too much power."
"All won't be lost," Daphne said. "I'll summon them all, the rest of the Faithful Five. We will seek out the Dragon, and he will allow us to reclaim what we have lost."
"Yes," the sisters agreed in unison. "You have our blessing to seek them out, our devoted follower."
Daphne dropped down onto the seal, the symbol of the Queen. The "S" glowed underneath her.
'My fellow Five, here my words,' Daphne thought. 'It's time for us to seek him out.'
Daphne exited the doors of the temple. Four other figures, wearing hoods, stepped in front of Daphne. The shortest one moved towards Daphne.
"So, you finally found him?" she asked.
"Yes, I did, Astoria," Daphne said. "And he is the key to bringing our Queen back."
"What of the traitor?" Astoria asked. "What of Copperhead?"
Daphne spent a moment in deep contemplation and looked her sister in the eye. She put a hand on Astoria's shoulder and caused the two of them to lock eyes to each other with a smile.
"She will learn to bow down before her proper authority soon enough," Daphne responded. "Right now, we need to focus on seeking out the Dragon."
Nyssa and Sara sat around and waited for Harry to return. They did not have too long to wait when Harry walked around the corner to meet both of them. Sara rose up to a standing position and moved over slightly to one side to allow Harry to sit down.
"I think we have the serpent amulet within our grasp," Harry said. "We're going to have to make a trip to South America to get ahold of it though."
For a brief instant, something flashed over Nyssa's eyes. Sara raised an eyebrow in response when looking towards her companion. Nyssa took the map Harry had acquired and looked over it for another moment. To say, the woman had been frustrated was a very obvious understatement.
"Is there something wrong?" Sara asked.
Nyssa pulled herself out of those thoughts and responded with a very obvious nod. She put a hand on the map.
"The area, it's…"
"South America, there are a couple of complications you should know before you head there," Nyssa responded. She could tell Harry and Sara both were interested in learning what these complications were. "There's an upheaval in the area, and it's just getting worse by the moment. The man who runs it is called Bane, and he rules with an iron fist. He escaped one of the harshest prisons in the world in Santa Prisca."
Nyssa spent a long second to take in a breath. Harry grabbed her hand out of encouragement.
"He killed all of the guards," Nyssa said. "And he mobilized as many prisoners who wanted to go with him out of the prison. He's not someone who you want to cross. He's also picked up a few rogue members of the League of Assassins."
"Well, at least he's not working with HIVE," Sara responded.
Nyssa's expression darkened several shades and Sara almost regretted how flippantly she spoke. She could see the danger dancing in Nyssa's eyes.
"He is, isn't he?" Sara asked.
"Nothing we can confirm outright, but he's been known to make more than his fair share of deals," Nyssa responded. "He's a man who has made several bargains. I won't go as far as saying he's made a deal with the devil, but considering the circumstances it's likely."
Darhk had either been mummified in the chambers downstairs or he was licking his wounds. Nyssa knew Damien Darhk was not the be all, end all of HIVE. There were other people who lead the organization and caused some problems.
"Very likely," Harry agreed.
"Very likely," Nyssa repeated. "But, not one hundred percent confirmed. We should assume Bane has a tight hold over the area, although maybe has not as tight as he wanted to. There is a roaring drug trade close to that temple, and whoever gets their hands on it, there is very big money in it."
Harry figured about as much.
"Is there anyone who has an idea where Bane's movements are going?" Harry asked. "So we know precisely what we are up against?"
Harry did not want to go after the Basilisk Medallion blinded. The heralds of the holder of the medallion had been very possessive of their treasure, according to rumors. His role as the leader of all of the holders offered Harry a certain amount of leverage.
"Yes, there is one person," Nyssa said. "My sister, Talia, she has been keeping a close watch on Bane's operation. She's gained his confidence."
"Will she be willing to give up any information that could help us?" Sara asked.
"Not to me," Nyssa said. "But, I think we can entice her."
Nyssa and Sara took one look at Harry. Harry was very fascinated to see where this was going, as he was all of the time.
"We're going to have to return to Nanda Parbat," Nyssa said. "My…home."
There was a small amount of hesitation in Nyssa's words when she declared Nanda Parbat to be her home. Harry did not call her out on it, just yet. There was something personal there and Harry did not want to pry into it.
"We might not be on the best terms," Nyssa said. "It's a long story. Despite that, Talia will respect and understand your status."
'And also be even angrier at me that I made contact with the Dragon before she did,' Nyssa thought to herself. 'It's the burden I'm going to have to hold though.'
"The journey is very long," Nyssa said. "If you don't want to go, I understand."
She locked her eyes onto Sara. Sara looked back at the Daughter of the Demon without even blinking. She reached in and grabbed Nyssa by the hand to force her to look at her.
"I said I was willing to do anything to be strong," Sara said. "And we're all in this together. We all are still working together. I'm ready to take the trip."
"Nothing is going to happen," Harry said.
"No," Nyssa said. "Not if I can help it."
It was time for them to take a trip and hopefully, Talia would be helpful enough to tell them what they needed to know.
Chapter Twenty-Five: Homecoming.
The temple at the top of the mountain at Nanda Parbat was a treacherous climb. It was a deterrent for those who wished to challenge the great Ra's al Ghul for his spot as the head of the League of Assassins. Only those with the strongest will had climbed up those mountains, which grew colder and more rugged the further they rose up over the ground. There was no question about it, it was not a climb the weak of heart should attempt to take.
Sara whistled when looking at the mountains. She saw herself as a person who had a very active lifestyle, who worked out the best she could. She looked at those mountains and realized how high they were. They were most certainly a challenge, which was another thing Sara strived for. She strived to accept any and all challenges.
"Are you certain you can make this trip?" Nyssa asked. "There is no shame in you going back. Many who were far stronger, far more durable, and far more experienced have not made the climb."
Sara closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath. She could have backed out and no one would have thought any differently of her if she had backed out. The problem was, Sara would not have been able to look herself in the mirror if she backed out from climbing up this mountain right now. The rocks jutted out and would have given her an ample amount of leverage to grab onto.
'You can do this.'
Harry thought it would have been simple enough to teleport to the top, especially when he used the medallion. Simple and Harry Potter, they were two very distinct things which refused to go hand in hand with each other. Harry kept his gaze situated firmly at the topmost point of the mountain. Two women stood on either side of who obviously made this trek many times before.
"If you're certain," Nyssa said.
"We're certain," Sara said.
"Yes, we are," Harry responded.
Nyssa knew Harry could have just flashed them to the top of the mountain faster than someone could blink their eye. He could do that easily, but what would he hope to accomplish with that? Nyssa didn't have the slightest idea. All she could do was steady her footing at the top most "rung" of the mountain.
'Father most certainly brings out the challenges in people.'
The Daughter of the Demon took a pace. She could climb this mountain backward. She knew all the strong parts, all the weak spots, all of the ledges which could maintain the weight a decent sized person. She moved up and to both of their credits, Harry and Sara kept pace with them.
Harry proved himself to be more than worthy of the moniker of the Dragon, and if Sara had been the chosen one to hold the White Canary amulet, she was showing herself as well. Once or twice, her grip slipped, but Sara's quick reflexes readjusted herself.
They made it, after about an hour of intense climbing. Sara didn't collapse when she reached the top. Harry reached over to assist her the final step.
"No, I'm fine, thank you," Sara answered.
Sara turned her neck back a fraction of an inch and walked forward across to look at the temple. Awe went straight into Sara's eyes. She could see the elegant creation.
"It was built to stand for ten thousand years," Nyssa responded. "And so far, it has lived up to those expectations."
Sara let out a whistle, she would have to agree. That particular temple had been built to last. She saw the torches and also markings on the wall. She was pretty positive every single one of those markings told some kind of story, although what they could be.
A large man dressed in the garb of the League of Assassins stepped in. He had been surrounded by several skilled warriors, who surrounded him.
"You bring outsiders to Nanda Parbat," the man said.
"Ubu, stand down," Nyssa said. "I have returned, to bring urgent news to my father. And also, I have brought the Dragon here."
The large man stared in disbelief. Harry motioned for the medallion. The assassins all stood back, some in fear, some in surprise, and many in respect. Even Ubu, who looked to be built for brutality, understood that the Dragon should not have been disrespected.
"And what of the other one?" Ubu asked.
"She's with me," Harry said. "I trust you don't have a problem with that."
Ubu was not the brightest bulb in the box, although very loyal to the cause of his master, the man who rescued him and his tribe some years back, the man known as Ra's al Ghul. The Ubu clan faithfully served the League and Ra's without question several times over the years.
That being said, even one as dim as Ubu understood a threat when he heard one. He inclined his head with a not so subtle bow, keeping his eyes locked onto those of the Dragon across from him.
"No, there is no problem," Ubu said.
"I'm glad there isn't," Harry said. "We wouldn't want to keep your master waiting, would we?"
Ubu walked back and allowed the three to step inside. Nyssa personally thought that could have gone a whole lot worse, and they had passed the hard part, at least for now. Now, they had to go inside and meet with the man who ran the League of Assassins himself, they had to meet with the great and powerful, Ra's al Ghul.
Harry and Sara stood back. Several members of the League lined up. A couple of them caught sight of the medallion hanging from Harry's neck. Nyssa took a couple of steps forward and waited for a gentleman to approach her. Dark hair, green eyes, dressed in green robes. He carried a staff in his hand with a snake carved into the hilt. He looked to be the right combination between aged sophistication and youth.
"My daughter, you have finally returned home," Ra's said very formally.
Harry could tell Ra's had a very formal relationship with his daughter, at least the two of them did in the public eye. Nyssa stepped closer towards her father and inclined forward on one knee. She rose up instantly when he motioned for her to do so.
"Yes, and I have brought you news," Nyssa said.
"Did you stop Darhk from deploying his chemical?" Ra's asked. "I assume you have not succeeded in bringing about the end of Damien Darhk, given I do not see him down on the ground, on my knees, broken and battered."
'Something personal though,' Sara thought.
'Nyssa mentioned Darhk betrayed the League, and I can see Ra's at the type who is not going to take betrayal well,' Harry thought.
"I've destroyed his chemical factories, and prevented further production, with help," Nyssa said. "He was also stopped from getting his hands on a deadly artifact."
"Yes," Ra's said. "Minor victories, and it's a foundation we can all build on. Perhaps not an ideal way to start this meeting, but it can do."
"I've brought before you someone even more important than news of Darhk's demise," Nyssa said.
Nyssa stood outside. Ra's caught sight of a young man with green eyes, dark hair, and green robes which shined in the light, with the symbol of the dragon. On his neck, hung one medallion, that of the Dragon, and Ra's had been driven momentarily speechless at the young man who approached him.
"I could not believe it, unless I've seen it with my two eyes," Ra's responded. "None could wear that medallion other than you."
Ra's stood up to face the Dragon and extended his head in a bow. The members of the League had been taken aback in shock, and even Nyssa looked mildly stunned. She had never seen her father extend his head in reverence to anyone. It would have left him open for an attack.
"Nyssa is a credit to your training, I'm sure," Harry said. "But, I wish to meet with your other daughter."
"Talia?" Ra's asked. "You require them both?"
He wasn't surprised. Ra's knew his time was running short and he required an heir if the League could be sustained past his life. Each stay in the Lazarus Pit made his lifespan grow shorter and his life depended on the life-sustaining fluids of the pit.
"Yes, I do," Harry said.
Ra's turned to one of his men and motioned for him to come forward.
"Tell my daughter to return to the temple," Ra's said. "Tell her the Dragon is here, and he wishes for her to come and meet him."
Liv stepped into the training room. She didn't know how much longer she would be here. To be honest, she missed her sister, and she also missed everything about Starling City. She did not have a perfect life, even though sometimes, Liv dreamed about a better life. A life where she was loved, respected, and had a better, stable relationship. Not being some party girl who couldn't keep her panties on, around other women, and had been gotten in trouble with the law more times than not.
'I just want to change everything,' Liv thought. 'I want to help people. Is that too much for me to ask for?'
Liv turned her attention to the target hanging on the wall. It swung in front of her. Liv moved across the room to steady the target. Several marks rested on it, in increased difficulty. Liv stepped back and picked up the quiver full of arrows. She withdrew one of the arrows and set them down on the bench. She slowly pulled back the bow and fired into one of the targets.
Right on the mark, and Liv could not have been more pleased in hitting the mark. She could have hit it a bit more central. The budding archer picked up the arrow and closed her eyes. She visualized the end goal in mind. Once she was ready, there was no hesitation in putting the arrow into the center point.
A sound of applause made Liv turn around, and come face to face with Rose Wilson, who stood a couple of steps behind her with a soft smile on her face.
"So, are you feeling better?" Liv asked.
"About as good as I ever can be," Rose said. "I don't think I could have made that shot in a million years."
"Have you tried?" Liv asked.
Liv smiled at Rose. She reminded her of Thea, in some ways, even if she was a couple of years older than her sister. And other ways, Rose was her own person.
"Well, not recently," Rose said. "I could try and take a shot…but you might want to stand as far as way back as possible. I'm a lot better with blades than I am with arrows."
"And I don't have the coordination to deal with blades," Liv said. "It just proves we all have our own strengths. There's nothing to be ashamed by, is there?"
"No, I guess there isn't," Rose agreed a half of a second later.
Rose stepped back and took the quiver of arrows. The bow slipped into her hand. Rose aimed the arrow towards the central target and motioned in the center. She always hated the feel of the bow in her hand.
"You should try and become one with the bow," Liv said.
"I should just turn around and aim the arrow into your eye for using such a cliché piece of advice," Rose said. She dropped her shoulders and sighed. "But, I have a better chance of hitting you if you stand over here, and I stand over here."
Liv just responded with a smile and encouraged Rose to put herself in front of the target. She moved the bow back and fired. She slammed into the concrete wall as far away from the target.
"Um, at least you hit that side of the room," Liv said. "Just take a deep breath, and try again."
The door opened and Holly stepped inside of the room. She stopped and stared a moment later when she saw Rose was at the other end of the room. Holly had been hit with enough errant arrows in her time in this particular training room in ARGUS. Her eyes locked onto the situation.
"So, you've given her arrows," Holly said.
"Hey, she needs a bit of practice."
One of the arrows veered off course and nailed the wall on the opposite end of the wall to where the target was. Holly dropped her head down a moment later and whistled. She didn't know why she felt so bemused, other than she was. She turned back to Liv and shook her head.
"So, have you found out anything about when I'm going to get released?" Liv asked. "I'm all about helping out, but after I stuck my neck out in that temple and stopped HIVE from unleashing tentacle hell on the world, you think I would get some credit."
Holly sighed and placed her hand on the younger girl's hand. She wished she could offer some kind of reassurance.
"Amanda Waller is holding her cards very close to her chest," Holly remarked a half of a second later. She reached back and rubbed the top of her head. "She hasn't told me, or anyone for that matters when you're coming hope. I hope you're coming home soon."
Holly didn't particularly like some of the steps Waller took, but she understood the necessity of them. Saving the world wasn't completely black and white. There were all sorts of distinct shades of gray involved.
"I hope I am too," Liv said. "My sister, she's out there…..and there's also….Laurel…and a lot of my other friends…even if some of my friends were the wrong type of friends."
A smile crossed over Holly's face. Boy, had she ever been down the wrong kind of friends road. The one private school she had been sent to caused Holly to fall into a rough crowd. And she got into it with one of the girls. Unfortunately, that girl was the niece of the Headmaster, so already it was guilty until proven innocent.
"She wants to keep both Mia and Rose under observation," Holly whispered. "If it wasn't for Harry's threat, she would induct them into her little Suicide Squad."
"Dare I ask?" Liv asked.
"It's better off you don't know," Holly said. "I've got to check on something….try not to get hit."
Rose hit the target a bit more closely, as in she hit the edge of the target.
"Just keep it up," Liv said. "Practice makes perfect."
"Thanks, Coach," Rose said in a cheeky tone of voice.
Talia al Ghul had been surprised when she heard her father had sent for her and she was even more surprised when she heard the Dragon visited Nanda Parbat and had asked for her. Now, Talia knew her father could not be easily fooled, but she saw some unfortunate signs how constant Lazarus Pit exposure messed with her father's mind and his cognitive abilities. They had been formerly sharp as a tack, now not so much.
She stepped inside of the temple and came face to face with her sister. Nyssa and Talia had been seen each other.
"So, you've survived your mission," Talia said.
"Yes," Nyssa said.
"Good," Talia answered. "They didn't mention you returned."
"Well, I'm not the one who you want to talk to," Nyssa said.
"We don't have much to say to each other, but I never wanted your demise, especially at the hands of a cockroach like Darhk," Talia said.
Talia looked towards the blonde woman who stood next to her sister. The Daughter of the Demon curled her lips into half of a smile. No question about it, Nyssa had her type.
Then, Talia's eyes fell on the young man before her. One glance at the medallion told Talia everything she needed to know. The Daughter of the Demon stepped forward and without any pause, she descended to her knees before the man in front of her.
"Great Dragon, I am honored, truly blessed for you to have agreed to this meeting," Talia said.
"Talia, please rise to your feet and face me."
Talia did as she was asked.
"Nyssa informed me you may have information which is of use to me upon a question," Harry said. "If you don't mind, the two of us should take a walk and we can discuss terms."
Talia answered with a nod. Her father looked at Harry as if he was either willing to marry off both of his daughters to the Dragon, or was willing to take the Dragon for himself.
'I hope your father realizes he's not my type,' Harry thought.
'I see your point,' Nyssa said. 'And I can see why you wish to meet Talia along. I'll give you the proper respect and the proper room to do so.'
Talia and Harry turned around the corner and exited the temple. Sara looked towards Nyssa.
'It matters we're going to have to work through,' Nyssa said.
'I understand,' Sara said.
'Hopefully, for your sake, your relationship with your sister has not turned as cold as mine had,' Nyssa said. 'It would be my advice to face her, not to let the coldness fester.'
Sara agreed Nyssa was right in certain ways. She hoped to mend the fences with Laurel. Sara took half of a step forward, looking around the temple. Nyssa grabbed Sara's shoulder.
'We'll return to my quarters,' Nyssa said. 'Until Harry is back with my sister. They know better than to disturb me.'
Outside, Talia did not know what to say. She knew of the greatness of the Dragon.
"I intend to reclaim the Medallions," Harry said. "All of them."
"They have been lost, scattered, or how the legends have gone," Talia said. "They will not be easy, as the guardians will not give them up without a fight, even to the Dragon."
Talia respected him but was more willing to give Harry a more balanced perspective. And Harry appreciated it from her.
"They do respect and will hear you out, especially when you bring back the tribe leaders which have been lost," Talia said. "Much like you have been reincarnated in this modern age, they will have, somewhere. But there are others who seek the medallions."
Harry knew about as much. He waited for the two of them to be alone, where there was no chance of anyone to speak to them. With them alone, Harry leaned a fair bit closer towards Talia.
"Is there any chance you know where Bane is?" Harry asked her.
"There is," Talia said. "He has his designs where the temple with the Serpent Tribe was located….I'm not certain if it's his target."
Harry figured there was something more to this. He looked into the woman's eye and Talia paused for a fraction of a second before she continued.
"However, if someone from the tribe has left, and joined up with him, she may have promised Bane power, in exchange for his help," Talia said. "Ever since the fall of the Queen, the Tribe has been fractured. There are splinters in the group, and they are in desperate need of repair."
"They have to listen to me," Harry said.
"They will be on their guard, but your status gives you certain leverage," Talia said. "Bane has made it very difficult to get into that particular area of Brazil."
Harry thought he was getting to the point. He looked at Talia with an encouraging look on his face. He hoped she could help him because if she could not help him, it would be back to square one.
"You know of a way?" Harry asked.
"Yes, but it's not going to be easy," Talia said. She smiled. "If half of the legends are true, easy is not something you do, is it?"
"No, it isn't," Harry said. "Sara, Nyssa, and I will join you, as we escort you there."
"I have an elite guard of female warriors which can be at your disposal, should you wish," Talia told him. "There is n need to pull my sister and your other companion into this, and…"
"It's my preference," Harry said. "The three of us work together fine, and we can handle anything. Your guard, while I don't question their abilities, I do question how well they work together. Trust me when I say, it should be the three of us."
Talia most certainly did like it, but she had to accept Harry's words. She just responded with a very light nod and bowed down before him.
"We will leave by dark," Talia said. "My father will….."
"I think there should be no problems to get your father to authorize you joining me," Harry said.
Harry could tell Ra's al Ghul wished to do everything to acquire his favor, and everything meant relinquishing Talia to him, for this mission.
'So, you're going to trust the two of us can work together?' Nyssa asked.
'I trust both of you will set your differences aside, what they might be for a greater cause,' Harry thought. 'I'm going to make it work, trust me.'
Slowly, a figure shifted through the shadows. Dirty blonde hair came down passed her shoulders, spiked up wildly. She wore a black face mask over the top or head and a pair of beady little eyes stuck out from the other end of the mask. She dressed in a vest which stretched over her chest, and a pair of tight orange pants which kept hold of her tight ass. Many would say she had a body to die for, and there were many people who would die for it.
Snake light movements brought the woman to a camp. She stepped across a larger mercenary, broad shouldered, dressed in military fatigues. She curled her tongue and hissed when looking the man in the eye.
"I wish to see your boss," she hissed, dragging out the last two letters of the final word on the tip of her tongue.
"Copperhead," the man said. "Go on in, Bane has been expecting you.'
Copperhead responded with a nod. She had been born into the tribe and taken in by the heralds of the Queen. She was their servant, and now she broke free from them. The woman took pleasure in the first chance she had to escape and how she would make them suffer, just like she suffered under enslavement.
She moved, movements still very snake like. A moment paused before the large man, wearing a bulky overcoat and a black leather masked stepped in. He surveyed Copperhead.
"I've heard whispers the Faithful Five are on the move," Copperhead said. "I thought you would have brought about their destruction by now."
Bane leaned forward and grabbed Copperhead firmly by the shoulder. She pulled away, but slightly. Bane dropped his hand and looked towards her.
"They will suffer, once I've found a way to break through the barrier," Bane said. "I'm working with my benefactor, in exchange for certain considerations."
Copperhead understood what considerations he was going at. There were thriving drug crops close enough to the area which raked in countless amounts of money. Copperhead could tell how Bane's partners would be after it.
"He approaches," Copperhead said. "There are whispers of him approaching. The Dragon."
"Interesting."
Only one word passed through Bane's lips. Copperhead raised her eyebrow, very surprised at the lack of reaction. At least the lack of visible reaction, through Bane's mask, it was very hard to tell any reaction. Bane leaned forward and locked eyes directly on Copperhead's.
"Return to the camp, I will call you when I need you," Bane said.
She would have thought Bane would have given her a bit more respect. Copperhead's tongue twisted out and she made her way out, slinking away in the distance.
Bane leaned back and heard the sound of a helicopter which landed down in the camp. He stepped out of the side exit and walked forward. A dark haired woman dressed in black appeared, with a small army of men on all sides of her. She peered at Bane through her eyes.
"Ruve Darhk, welcome," Bane said.
"Hello, Bane," the wife of Damien Darhk said.
"And how is your husband?" Bane asked, making casual talk.
"Not relevant to our meeting today," Ruve said. "I've spoken to my superiors regarding your request, and we have what you want. And we also have an agreement drawn up where you pay the price."
"Of course, come inside, and have something to eat, and we'll look it over," Bane told her. "And I have some information to discuss with you when we get inside."
"I'm be happy to hear it when we're inside," Ruve said. "I take it there's news which of great interest to HIVE."
"Yes, even more so than the temple in the area."
Bane knew of HIVE's quests for the medallions. The fact he had access to one of them gave him leverage to use HIVE for his own means. A smile passed over Bane's face. He would soon have everything he wanted and then a little bit more.
'The game is afoot.'
Talia's blind spot could not be under any definition of the world be described as intentional. Harry prepared himself for a fight, against someone. He didn't know whether or not it would be against Bane's mercenaries, or the people protecting the temple, or some particular third party.
"Bane was having problems with this particular gate," Talia responded.
Harry stepped in front of Nyssa and Talia. Sara put herself in between Nyssa and Talia and watched when Harry bent over next to the gate. The emerald-eyed sorcerer put his hands on the edge of the gate. He noticed a seal which would not break open.
"Open."
The seal glowed for a second and reacted to Harry's Parseltongue. The gate did not budge, and Harry figured, unlike Salazar Slytherin, the password would not be mundane. Harry closed his eyes for a second and made an attempt to figure out how the gate lock worked.
"I'm going to try and figure out how to get this gate open," Harry said. "There has to be a way to work around the seal."
If it was easy, Bane would have found a way to break through the gate by now. Harry took a moment to look at the gate. His medallion reacted when it made its way near the seal.
"Does it normally hum?" Talia asked.
"No, it doesn't."
Harry, Talia, and Nyssa all withdrew blades at the same time. Sara stood with tonfa in each hand as well. It was not as deadly as the blades the three carried, but anything could be dangerous in the right hands.
"Show yourself," Harry said. "My name is Harry Potter, I am the personification of the Dragon! I hold the medallion, and I suggest you show yourself."
His declaration sounded a lot less pompous in his head. The first of five figures stepped out into the path. She dressed in green robes, along with a green cloak. Her eyes poked out of the top half of the cloak, locked onto Harry. Bright blue eyes shined from the other side of the cloak. Said eyes locked onto them.
Four more figures stepped around them. Talia's eyes widened and she leaned closer towards Harry. "The Faithful Five, the elite guard of the heralds of the Queen."
Nyssa was well aware of the legends surrounding the Faithful Five through the years. The faces might have changed over the years, but one thing was for certain, they were among the most dedicated.
"She resembles the White Canary," one of the Five said in a soft tone. "But, she doesn't wear the medallion, yet."
"She has not been unlocked yet," another member of the Five responded.
The shortest member of the five looked over towards the rest of them. Her eyes fell on Talia and Nyssa, and there was a certain amount of distrust dancing in their eyes. The represented the League of Assassins, who had worked together alongside with Bane to bring darkness into their sacred lands.
"It's him," the leader of the Five responded. "Great one, we intended to seek you, and bring you back to face the Three, but you have beaten them first."
The mask poured off, to reveal a woman with blonde hair which had been tied back. Harry stopped and looked at her.
"Daphne Greengrass," Harry said.
"Yes, great one, and I'm honored to be acknowledged in your presence," Daphne said. "My family has waited for your return, and followed the path of the Serpent tribe for countless generations."
"Not as countless as mine," one of the other members of the Five commented.
"It's not a matter of who has believed the longest," Harry said. "It's a matter of keeping the resources of this temple from falling into the wrong hands. And there are no hands which are more wrong than those of Bane's."
Daphne responded with a nod and finally decided to ascend to properly face the Dragon. Up close and personal with him showed the legends barely had an opportunity to do him justice.
"You are with the League, though," Daphne said.
"They are with me, and they are under my protection," Harry said. "Talia has been working to bring Bane's operation down for quite some time and Nyssa assisted me from preventing an artifact which could lead to the destruction of us all from falling into enemy hands."
"They are friends," another member of the five said. "We much respect the wishes of the Dragon…."
"And I wish for you to take me to see your heralds," Harry said.
"Oh, we are in agreement now," Daphne said with a smile. "They wish to see you, and you do not want to keep them waiting, do you?"
Harry shook his head. He wanted to get to the bottom of this. He took a closer look at the symbol, the green shield which resembled an "S". Harry had a feeling that symbol had great importance to him somewhere, but he couldn't quite place it.
"Lead the way then," Harry said.
Daphne and the rest of the members of the Five turned around and lead Harry to the Temple. He passed with them, along with Sara, Nyssa, and Talia.