I know, I'm sorry this took so long. I wanted to make sure I knew where this was going, and I've got it now. Thanks for the support, everyone!

Klarion snapped his fingers; Artemis turned and saw that they were in a warehouse. They were in moderately small quarters, surrounded by empty wooden crates on all sides. A single yellow light hung from the ceiling, flickering weakly. Her eyes squinted in the dim light, spying a small lock on the door and the number of the pier above it. She paused, turning to Klarion. "Right now? We're starting right now?"

"Of course, silly." He considered her for a moment, his black eyes seeming to stare past her skin. "Well... It's not a lot to work with as far as mystic ability, but it'll do."

Artemis frowned. "Zatanna said I don't have any 'mystic ability'."

"Pfft; who are you going to trust, a baby witch? Besides, you cast that summoning spell."

Something small and furry wrapped around Artemis's leg and she tensed. Glancing down, she made out two red eyes on an orange face.

Klarion clapped his hands. "Teekl, leave her alone."

The cat glanced at him and meowed loudly.

"I know that!"

Artemis frowned at Klarion. "What did he... Or she... say?"

Klarion gave her a passing glance. "Teekl just reminded me that I have a deadline to meet. You know..." His face twisted into a demon's. "Chaos to cause." Teekl leapt into his arms and a red, fiery portal began to open, spiraling in mid-air.

Artemis moved towards him. "Wait, you're leaving? But you promised you'd help me!"

"I didn't promise anything!" He suddenly seemed much taller, though she knew it must be an illusion. "You're lucky I'm helping you in the first place, you-" He paused; the portal spiraled into nothingness as he muttered, "I'll teach you one spell. You'll have to figure out the rest on your own."

"What! That's not our deal!"

"Will you please shut up?" The witch-boy considered the air in front of him. Teekl meowed in annoyance, jumping out of Klarion's arms and trotting off behind the crates, seeking mice.

Klarion waved his hand and a few red words hovered in the air. Behind him, a small throne appeared and he plopped himself down into it, resting his head on his hand. "Read the words out loud, tap into your magic, cast the spell."

Artemis stared at the words, confused. "I don't... I don't know any magic!" She turned to him, angry. "I can't even do magic! This isn't going to work!"

He yawned. "Not with that attitude."

"Not with any attitude! I can't do magic!"

Klarion sighed. "Then you'll never get your boyfriend back; oh well. Teekl?"

She paused, and then gritted her teeth. "Esor worg."

Nothing happened. Artemis glanced at Klarion and he looked back, unsurprised and bored. "Again."

"Esor worg."

Nothing.

Artemis tried raising her hands this time. "Esor worg." Nothing. Exasperated, she dropped her arms. "What is this spell supposed to do anyway?"

"You'll find out when you cast it. Again."

It was nearly thirty minutes of nothing. Artemis tried everything she could think of. This time I'll focus on my core. Nothing. This time it'll happen. It's easy.. Like lifting a finger or- Nothing. Okay... Maybe if I concentrate really, really- Nothing.

Finally she whirled on Klarion. "Would you say something?! You're not even teaching me! You're just saying 'again'!"

"I know." He stretched. "Again."

Artemis glared at him, her frustration boiling into rage. "You're just messing with me, aren't you? You're not going to help me; you're just playing some kind of game for your own entertainment!"

Klarion sighed. "Look, are you going to keep stalling or actually cast this spell?"

"I can't cast this spell! You're not telling me what to do!"

"I did tell you what to do."

"You're not telling me how, though!" She turned and punched a stack of wooden crates. "Ugh, this was a waste of time! I'll figure out some other way to get him back." Artemis made for the door. "Thanks for nothing, witch-boy."

Klarion chuckled. "How are you possibly going to get him back if you can't even perform a measly little spell?" He watched her back. "You know, I personally think the new one's a better speedster. Yours always was a little slow." Klarion grinned slyly. "I guess that's what got him in the end, hmm?"

Artemis froze in her tracks. Without turning, she muttered, "Shut up."

The witch-boy examined his nails. "You know, I've always wondered, if Flash is the fastest man alive, what does that make him? The 'not quite as fast as the fastest' man alive?"

Artemis clenched her fist. Her body began shaking. "Shut up, witch-boy."

"Or maybe the 'not fast enough' man alive? Then again, I suppose the term 'alive' is debatable at this point."

Artemis whirled around, charging him with a yell.

Klarion leaned forward and growled, "The spell, cast it!"

Artemis planted her feet and aimed her fury at Klarion. "Esor worg!"

Dark green lightning sparked at her fingertips. She felt a shiver of fire through her arms; the energy lashed out at the ground before him.

Artemis lowered her arms, the lack of fire in her soul suddenly exhausting her. She looked up to see the product of her magic.

A single, ruby red rose poked up through the concrete. Klarion smiled and leaned down, plucking the rose. "Aw, for me?" He smelled it once, then watched as it wilted in his fingers. "Your little magician friend couldn't sense any good mystic energy in you. She refrained from telling you how much darkness was boiling up inside you."

He plucked the black, crumpled petals off, one by one. "As much as I'd like to witness your many upcoming failures, I'm a very busy person. I'll be back when you finish all the spells in the book."

Artemis frowned, trying to think clearly. "What book?"

Without meeting her gaze, he pointed behind her. She turned, staring at the small, withered book on the ground. "Wait... What?"

Artemis turned back, but he was gone. In his place was one, single black rose sprouting from the floor.

She paused. Artemis turned and knelt, grabbing the book and holding it close to her chest. She began to walk away, but glanced back at the rose.

Artemis looked around, and then approached the flower. She hesitated, and then plucked it, surprised to find it had no thorns. Instinctively, she lifted it to her nose. Artemis inhaled some strange scent... Yet it was familiar in a way. Almost... Comforting.

She beheld the rose for one more moment, and then dropped it on the concrete. She turned and walked to the door.