Is it better left unsaid?

Chapter 1 'Tremble'

'Tremble for yourself, my man

You know that you have seen this all before

Tremble little lion man

You'll never settle any of your score

Your grace is wasted in your face

Your boldness stands alone among the wreck

Learn from your mother

Or else spend your days biting your own neck

But it was not your fault but mine

And it was your heart on the line

I really fucked it up this time

Didn't I, my dear?' Little Lion Man by Mumford & Sons

Bruce looked at the group as they explained, again, the urgency of finding the cause of this spectral explosion, and putting a stop to it. Finally Constantine took out a normal looking Zippo lighter and flicked it open. At no time did he hit the flint and still it came to life seemingly on its own. The wizard looked at him and drew out a Silk Cut cigarette and lit it with the fire. He then pressed the cigarette to the brick next to him and Bruce watched as the impossible happened. The cigarette began to burn into the brick and then through it.

"This is hell fire mate, and it's dangerous enough. Small amounts like this can be controlled, used, and even useful. Still, you get a large amount of it and it's uncontrollable. It'll sweep through a city and burn the souls out of everyone. Instant death to thousands. That spectral explosion is a lot like that. We don't know what it will do, but it will be bad, and there are going to be thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of people suffer because of it. We can tap it off, keep it from happening here, and maybe even get it to happen where there is no potential loss of human life. But we can't do it if you decide to be a tosser," Constantine said.

"What my husband means is that you need us as much as we need you," Epiphany stated.

"How long is it going to take to find the cause?" Bruce asked.

"If I can get to an area filled with a strong spiritual presence it shouldn't take long at all. Somewhere filled with misery, anger, hate, and basically every negative emotion in existence is going to be best," Xanadu said.

"We need access to Arkham Asylum," Zatanna stated.

"Not happening," Bruce said firmly.

"It's the only place full of past and present misery, and I know there are dozens upon dozens of spirits walking the halls in there. We could use that potential energy to find the spectral explosion in a matter of minutes," she replied.

"What about a cemetery? Isn't that more the traditional style?" he asked.

Epiphany rolled her eyes. She looked at her bag and began rifling through it.

"What are you doing?" Bruce asked.

"We don't have time for this. We need in there, you're going to be an ass, so I'm going to do something about it," she said.

No sooner had she let that slip than Bruce was in front of her, forcing her hands out of the bag, and behind her back. She cried out in surprise as her face was shoved against the rough brick of the brownstone apartment building they were next to.

"You do not come into my city, threaten me with magic, and expect to get away with it!" Bruce seethed through clenched teeth.

"Let go of her!" Constantine shouted as he rushed toward Bruce only to get a quick jab to his throat causing him to fall to the ground and gasp violently for air.

Zatanna began to say something, but a glare from Bruce caused her to shut up and step back.

"You're new, so I'm going to say this once, and once only. Never, ever threaten me or any of my associates with magic. It will be stopped by any means necessary," he said as he let go of her arm.

"You're a bloody loon! I told them a man dressing up like a damned bat and beating criminals senseless was a loon, but they insisted on your help!" Epiphany shouted.

"Pip, stop," John said with a raspy voice as he finally got up.

"John is right Epiphany. There's a reason Batman reacted that way, and there's been a promise to never attempt to cast magic, or us magical means on him again,"Zatanna said.

The blue haired Alchemist narrowed her eyes at Zatanna and then at Batman. She breathed out an even breath trying to keep from saying something she was certain would get her into trouble, or at the very least would cause them even more trouble. Despite doing this the desire to tell the Batman off and let him know exactly what she thought of him, and his reaction was almost too powerful to overcome. Instead she looked at John and decided that it was worth playing nice for the moment. If nothing else it would give John the time he needed to work the suggestion magic enough to where Batman would allow them to visit this Asylum.

Bruce watched the hard eyes of the young blue haired woman. He knew determination when he saw it, and it was evident there on her face. He had seen the same expression on Zatanna's face before when she had helped him track down the killer of an assistant friend of hers. He turned back to Zatanna who was studying him and studied her for a moment.

"Batman, I know how you feel about magic..." she began.

"Yes, you do. You personally know how I feel about magic don't you?" he said with a voice so hard and cold it sent shivers down her.

"What happened was to protect you," she said.

"It was never to protect me. It was to hide the fact of what you had done. It was to hide the fact of what the entire League decided to do, and that decision came back to haunt us all," he replied.

She stopped knowing what he said was true. When she tried to wipe the memory from his mind it had been a mistake. She knew it and she regretted it to this day. It didn't make it any easier that he was standing there and basically at the same time standing in the way of saving an untold amount of people because of the actions she had taken a few years ago.

"I'm sorry for what happened," she said.

"I'll contact Dr. Fate and have him search for this spectral explosion. All of you get out of Gotham," he said as he turned around.

"Yeah right. I'll bloody well go where I want tosser," Epiphany said.

"Do not test me! Get. Out. Of. Gotham. Now!" he exclaimed.

Epiphany shrunk back from his outburst.

The moment he left Zatanna looked at the others and sighed.

"Is it possible for Shade to get us into the Asylum?" she asked.

"Not without causing the madness inside of it from taking him over. It would be worse than when he went into Denbigh Asylum. That place was bad enough, and they didn't have the kind of craziness that is in Arkham. If we're getting in we have to do it through Batman," Xanadu said.

"I might be able to weave a bit of suggestion magic, but depending on how strong his will power is it might not work," Constantine said.

"Do it, and while you're at it I'll see if there is anyone I can contact that might be able to talk some sense into him," Xanadu replied.

(The Narrows - Saint Micheal's Cathedral)

A beautiful young woman looks at the ornate designs on the ancient looking crucifix hanging on the wall. She lightly brushes the hair away from her left eye and smiles softly as she hears someone walking up behind her.

"Something bothering you my child?" an elderly voice asked.

"No, I am simply admiring the crucifix hanging on the wall. It's quite beautiful," she replied.

"Most symbols of faith are," the voice replied, "Have you ever visited us before?"

"Once, a long time ago I visited, but it has been years since I've been back," she said as she turned and faced him.

Even as a man of the cloth he couldn't help but take in the exquisite beauty she was. There was a hint of middle eastern ancestry in her features, he was certain, and of course there was also what appeared to be a bit of Romanian there as well. He smiled gently at her and watched as her eyes seemed to look into his very soul before she smiled gently and spoke again.

"I am an ambassadress for my father. He, like myself, hasn't been in Gotham for a long time. He wanted to visit a few places that are, special. This church will undoubtedly be something he would like to visit. Knowing him as I do he would want to do so privately. Would that be possible?" she asked.

"Of course my child. I will need the date he would like this to happen, and I am certain I can clear it for him to have a few hours' time in the chapel alone," the elderly man said.

"Thank you," she said before she stepped outside and took out her phone.

"Father, I have checked the cathedral, and it is as you said. There is much sadness inside. Will it be suitable for your mystic?" she asked.

"I believe so. You've done well Talia. I shall consult Tala and find the date of the spectral explosion. Every other plan the detective has stopped, but this is beyond his abilities. If we can tap into this energy we can save this world and reduce the population at the same time," Ra's said over the phone.

"Yes father. Father, what about my beloved?" Talia asked.

"His actions will determine wither or not he shall live through this. If he is to become my heir than he will, and he will take your hand," he said.

"Thank you father," she replied.