1 Chapter One

"Think you can handle it?"

Asked a gruff voice as I put on my blazer, straightening it out absently as I nodded.

"I got it. Also, would you please stop that?"

I sighed, straightening out my tie and tucking it under the vest.

"In and out, get the girl and prevent the cult from doing what they want to do."

I nodded even as he dismissed my request like he never heard it. Grabbing the cane, I slid one end into the top hat brought it to my hand, and started spinning it on my finger.

"Don't worry Bruce, I'll handle it without any complication."

Bruce, or Batman, dressed in a black suit with a cape and a cowl nodded as I put on the top hat, feeling the Illusion take effect, hiding my face behind an artificial image.

Twirling the cane in my hand I smirked as the admittedly dark cave was eliminated by purple light, a circle spreading from my feet, symbols spinning, new ones forming and shifting.

"See ya in a bit."

With that last comment, the light flooded me and I felt the sensation of stretching.

The next time I opened my eyes, I was standing in the middle of men in red cloaks, a girl about the age of fourteen held in the air by chains, and a man who was walking up the stairs to reach her.

And all of them were looking at me...

"... Well this is awkward..."

I mutter, looking around.

"What? Never seen a talking skeleton before?"

I tilted my head to the side curiously. This place looked like they were performing a ritual, just like Batman said.

"Remove him!"

I looked at the man who was walking up the stairs, who was the one who shouted. Gotta say the red uniform was nice but the stupid helmet made it look like he was trying too hard.

A golden circle formed above my palm as a transparent barrier formed around me.

Humming and observing everything else, I ignored the gunfire that reached my ears through the barrier, none of the bullets reaching me.

Looking up at the suspended girl, I observed her for a moment. Black hair, a crystal in her forehead, pale skin... Yup, that was her alright.

Purple eliminated the floor as gravity doubled and then tripled, the cultists, who were for some reason carrying guns during a ritual, fell to the ground, unable to move.

Walking forward, my cane clicked against the stone floor as I neared the man and the girl. Taking off my tophat, maintaining the illusion around my head, I bowed slightly.

"Sentinel, at your service."

I straightened up, putting the tophat back on and leaning on my cane.

"I assume you're Brother Blood, yes?

The man still had an impassive face as he stared at me before he raised his hands out of the cloak, taking it off.

I tilted my head to the side in interest, wondering what he was trying to do. When he rushed at me I was utterly disappointed.

With a sigh, a golden magic circle formed above my palm, and the space in front of me expanded.

The stoic man known as Brother Blood was repelled back, slamming into the concrete wall and falling to the ground on all fours.

Ignoring him, I walked up the stairs, twirling my cane around aimlessly as I neared the girl who was looking at me with narrowed eyes.

"Who are you?"

I hummed, did she not hear me when I said my name? I guess she might have been too far away.

"A friend."

I shrugged and snapped my fingers as the chains were cut down, catching her as she fell.

"Now then, close your eyes, and let's get out of here."

She didn't and I sighed, creating a magic circle that blocked the punch that came from brother blood.

"You are not leaving."

At his monotone statement, I turned my head, staring him in the eyes.

"I don't remember asking for an opinion."

The magic circle expanded and the man was blasted back, as an explosion erupted from the magic circle.

The same purple magic circle spread from my feet again.

"You really should close your eyes, I'm not kidding."

I warn the girl again as the light consumed both of us and the familiar sensation of stretching overcame my body for the second time today.

As my body materialized again, I looked down at the girl in my hands who was blinking away the spots in her eyes, raising an eyebrow.

"How did you get captured anyway? Can't you use magic?"

She rubbed her eyes and looked up at me.

"Put me down."

I was really tempted to just drop her right now...

Sighing, I put her down on her feet and grabbed my cane that was hanging from my forearm, leaning on it absently.

"Welcome back."

I would deny it, but I flinched. Looking back, I glared at Batman.

"No, like, seriously, stop that."