Swamp Thing #4 - UNDYING LOVE

[Batman]

SWAMP THING #4 UNDYING LOVE


Story By: Batman, Wonder Woman, Constantine
Heroes: Swamp Thing, Abigail Arcane, Constantine
Villains: None



Abigail Arcane
~ The Rot, the decay which ate away at life, the balance to the Green and the Red, it called to her. She had answered the long awaited call. And in doing so, she had changed her life forever. The sun was setting in the Louisiana swamp, a few hours earlier than it set else where due to the thickness of the vegitation, except for where Abigail resided. The old home, her family's estate for years unknown, had taken a decided turn for the worst. She found herself resisting the call of the Rot, resisting feeding its hunger as her uncle had, knowing the fight was the same as faced by Buddy and Alec... Even thinking his name caused loneliness to grow in her heart. The charred looking skin crinkling around her eyes and mouth as they both turned down. She had worked with him recently; children being killed, or at least tortured with the intent of causing fear induced heart attacks. It was a dark place, fitting for her, she thought, but not for him. The avatar of the Green; a veritable breath of life. Looking down, she watched the sun dipping below the tree line, haunting shadows cast upon her face and the outter siding of the plantation home by the dead limbs of the trees in the yard. ~


“Keep Louisiana Beautiful! No corporations! Keep Louisiana Beautiful! No corporations! Keep Louisiana Beautiful!.....” {Were the chanted words of protestors as they held signs against a Wal Mart shopping mall that was soon to be built near Houma. Amber beads watched from the distance as what little police force had gathered just to observe the protestors. Automobiles sped past the highway as he recalls much of his human life spent on the road, traveling across the world to study plants with his wife, Linda. As the sun began to set the protestors began to head home for the evening though Swamp Thing was curious what would happen, he too had better get moving to avoid being seen by the humans. His memories were empty of a world that is too far away…Something happened and he didn’t remember, but somehow he did remember.}~~;{@
[Abigail, the Rot Queen, would have her own memories, a life as Abigail *Cable* and her husband Matthew *Cable.* He was a good man until…her Uncle met him and like everything in Abigail’s life, Anton Arcane had destroyed her relationship with Matthew driving the man into drinking and perverted fantasies of his own manifested psychic abilities. Where was Matt now? She had no clue…Why did she care? It wasn’t like she could go back…A fluttering of bird feathers would’ve startled a mortal as a flock of crows ambushed the queen and quickly flew around her to runaway from something coming after them.]


Abigail Arcane: Cable. Constantine. Holland. Arcane. She pressed a palm to her forehead, trying to squeeze the memories away, as if she could pop them out like a teenager pops zits to release the pressure. Her uncle, her husband, and ... who were John and Alec to her? She felt a connection to both of them, though she only trusted one. She had been told of other worlds, of different realities, and the possibilities that that opened up simply asked more questions than it answered. Besides, Abigail wasn't raised to be a scientist; she was home schooled by her uncle and he had placed more focus on being an acceptable avatar for the Rot, for being the fullfillment of his perverted machinations, than anything else. She had thought Matthew, her husband, a good man, could be her savior. Cable could be her white knight; his normalcy being his armour, until he met Anton... She sighed, her head snapping up as she heard the flapping of wings. Her eyes, white and wide, looked around for the source of the disturbance. Crows were a harsh breed, not scared easily especially the ones who chose to roost on the Arcane plantation. "Who's there!?" she called, feeling something not quite alive, not dying or dead, but a third option.

“Hello again, Abigail Arcane…You may not remember me, but I know you from your life as a mortal. I am Dream…Or as you may know me as ‘Sandman.’ ” [The Endless entity folded his hands together and stood before her holding a form of temperance.] “These are extraordinary times, and under any other millennia I would not have allowed this exchange to take place, but my servant wishes to speak with you…”

[The day always ends the same…Dick Horsham comes home to a warm meal on the stove, but as Dick walks in he doesn’t see the lights on…His wife didn’t respond to her phone calls. He wondered what happened? Unknown to Dick Horsham, Mary Elizabeth-Horsham held her pink lips to the dark red lips of her mystery man. Enthralled by his charm, his personality, her heart raced for him as he was the perfect man, the one she waited for all her life. Was this happiness? She began to take off her shirt and as she smiled at the strange man he grinned and brings his tongue to her lips where a serpentine muscle slipped into her mouth causing her to freeze and asphyxiate. She began to panic as he smiles at her with those loving eyes, it is in this moment she realizes that she will die only seconds away from bliss. The man grins at her and opens his mouth to chomp down upon her neck.]

@};~~{A man saw movement from the shadows and came to investigate - Alec was spotted faintly through the darkness, there was no way the man would be able to identify Alec in the darkness and amongst the trees. Swamp Thing shape shifted and grew taller up into the branches of a tree where he watched a man dressed in brown leather with leather strings dangling from its back, sleeves, and shoulders. The man had long pony tail, a thin band of yellow around his head, and spectacles for his glasses. The man searched around using his flash light.}~~;{@ “Someone there?” @};~~{The Swamp Thing didn’t respond and soon the man left allowing Swamp Thing to continue his journey back to the swamps.}~~;{@

Abigail Arcane
"You... Your servant?" she tilted her head to the side. She knew who the Endless were, of course, but she was much more akin to Dream's elder sister, Death, than the Sandman. She didn't like the concept of servitude, she could feel the lost souls haunting plantations, brought here under that guise, and it never did sit well with the independent minded girl. "Whatever could he have to say to me," she tilted her head to the side. In the fading light, her skin seemed even darker than the blackness he had come from, allowing her eyes and hair to float in the coming shadows.

[Dream held his arm into the air, his elbow bent creating an “L” shape and what humanity left inside Abigail’s memories stirred. Dream’s words spoke calmly.] “Matthew…” [Oily wings flew from the darkness about them created from mere imagination and manipulation of the world a portal allowed for Matthew to land upon Dream’s wrist. The Bird looked around with rigid and yet quick reflexes that one would expect from an avian creature.] “…Abby…” [His words were spoken softly.] “I’m sorry for my appearance…I am…” [Dream would interrupt.] “She was your significant other, Matthew. I will grant you a more appealing mortal form for this and then I will depart. Do not waste much time, Matthew, we have a job to do.” [Dream would dissolve and Matthew’s bird form would melt into a man that was familiar and yet distant to Abby. He smiled at her and took a step closer while examining her hair.] “You look more beautiful than ever, Abby.”

Abigail Arcane
Her eyes went wider still, her hands coming to her lips as she stepped forward, her left hand reaching out without thinking. "Matthew..." she whispered, her bottom lip trembling. "I..." she swallowed and watched as he became the familiar, handsome man she had loved and married. "You..." she looked down, seeing the charred looking tips of her fingers in her peripheral vision. "One moment," she said, closing her eyes and concentrating. She had been working on this; her uncle had been able to hide his deformity for years, until his depravity became too much even for his magic to hide, Abby figured she should be able to do it. Even as he declared she was still beautiful, or more so, she felt self concious; she wasn't sure this form could touch Matthew, if he was still alive it would certainly harm him. Wouldn't it? She concentrated on her memory of her old self. Slowly, her skin faded from black to a clean, bright peach, her eyes returning to a strange violet colour. "Matthew," she breathed, stepping forward into his arms.

[Her name is Liz Tremayne, in another world she was smart, she was afraid, she lacked confidence, she lacked awareness, and she lacked…a life worth living. Her dreams, they weren’t real, were they? She remembers a name, Arcane…A monster hideous and insect-like. A grin that caused her skin to crawl and shiver, a creature accompanied Arcane the Bug man. It was Mud Man, no…no that wasn’t right…it was Mud Thing. No, that wasn’t right either. Swamp Thing! They were…what were they? She struggles to collect herself and sniffles as she sits in the dark of an abandoned home, alone and without electricity, entertainment, warmth, or water. She awaits death, there was only one man who made a different in her life and that was Henry…Henry rescued her. Liz thought of him like two other people…Abigail and Matt. They were with Liz when…Swamp Thing and Arcane came after them…Nervously Liz bites her nails and stares out at the rising moon. Her gaze falls upon the trees outside, their branches taunt at her with each polite wave. The leaves chatter and conspire; they plan to sacrifice her to their god, the Swamp Thing. She wishes Henry were here to protect her.]

[Matt’s arms wrapped around Abby and then he pulled away to smile at her, placing his hand upon her neck and shoulder, a sensation of her hair caught between his fingers. Abigail would feel nothing from him; as though there was no life or death inside Matthew. He felt almost exactly like the boy who she and Alec buried only hours ago.] “I’m not sure if you remember everything…The dreams are a mess since the event that changed everything. Look, Abby…I want you to know. About you and Alec…It’s okay. And if you remember anything from our past. I’m happy for you. I was never there for you when you needed me. I should’ve been the one to help you, the one you could’ve trusted. I just…wanted to let you know, I had to get that off my chest, y’know?”

Abigail Arcane
It was strange to feel neither life nor death, to feel no calling of the rot within a person, but then again, he wasn't a person any more. He was Dream's raven... She sighed, wishing that the embrace carried with it the other sensory memories of Matthew; his aftershave and colonge, the smell of his sweat on his neck, even detergent clinging to his clothes. The embrace ended and Matthew began to speak, and his words silenced all protest. Their marriage wasn't perfect, but what marriage was? She wanted to tell him to stop, to silence his words, but she merely stood mute, dumbed by the touch of his hand against her skin. Even as he had no calling within him, his touch still felt, he was indeed real, if not alive or dead. "Matthew..." her head tilted to the side as she cupped his cheek with her hand. Her voice was sad, but filled with love, her eyes turning down to the gap between them.

“Yes…Abby?” [Matt’s gaze met hers. Her memories would flash back to Anton Arcane possessing Matt’s body, using him to torture and capture Abigail not only for her uncle’s sick games, but also to lure Swamp Thing into a trap. Ultimately at the last moment, Matt sacrificed himself to kill Anton. The cost left Matt’s physical body in a vegetable state and without conscience. That conscience ascended to a new plain where the Dream Lord adopted him as a new member of his duty to organize and maintain the unconscious level of mortals’ imaginations. It was by the Dream Lord’s own magic that Matthew was able to touch and feel Abigail at all.]

[The man with pony tail and leather jacket approached his minivan where his friends waited.] “Hey Chester, where did you go man?” “I thought I saw something…” “What, that Elemental creature? That-uh, Swamp Man is what the papers call it.” “Y-yeah. I was sure I saw something.” As the group of friends entered the car and drove down the street there would be a man walking down the highway surrounded by trees and forests. Chester slowed the car down and rolled down the window. “Hey man, it’s dark out here…you need a lift?” [The man looked at Chester and his friends, his eyes flashed a green glow and suddenly he was the most attractive man they had ever seen. He smiled and spoke softly.] “Sure, I could use a lift home. It’s just down the road.” “Right on, hop in the van man.” [The van drove on, and Chester’s friends seemed to really hit it off with the hitch hiker, what could go wrong with this night?]

Abigail Arcane
"I forgive you," she whispered, pulling him close, feeling even the deadness of his presence, a presence never the less. She understood that what happened wasn't really his fault; yes there were things Matthew could have done to have mitigated what happened, but it was Anton which drove the chaos, Anton who possessed her Husband, the man she loved... She pushed those darker memories away, preferring to dwell on the more positive associations she had. She kissed his cheek gently, cupping the otherside with her hand. "I know it wasn't you. You saved us all in the end..." she whispered, letting her forehead rest against his. She didn't tell him about Anton's return, what good would it do for him to know that now? She smiled at him. "So you work with Dream now?" her head turned down a little. "I'm glad you found purpose, Matthew."

“Thank you, Abby.” [Matthew spoke as he seemed to have found peace from her acceptance. Her question and statement amused him.] “Yes, I don’t really have a choice to work for him or not...I’m told I agreed, but those near life and death experiences….I have yet to meet anyone who remembers what exactly happened, except Death. Look Abby, I don’t have a lot of time, but there’s something I need to tell you…It’s about Anton.” [Matt began to dissolve as apparently his time was running out.] “Anton…Don’t forget…Arcane…Find Alec and-…” [Matthew would turn into a puddle of shadows leaving Abigail with unanswered questions. Pieces to a puzzle that made no sense, ‘Anton Arcane, Find Alec.’ Was he trying to warn her of a new threat? Or was Matt operating on old information? Anton was imprisoned by the Parliament of Decay.]

[Arriving at a barn house, Chester looked around.] “Are you sure this is the place.” [The man nodded and motioned his finger. “Yes…please come in.” [The group of four protestors followed out of curiosity and upon entering the barn they found cages with people inside them. Five women approached from behind the group of Chester’s friends, Chester held up his two fingers. “Peace…” With serpent like eyes they flash upon Chester’s friends before pressing their lips to them. Chester watched as his friends were quickly paralyzed and he realized something was wrong. “Oh no!” Panicking he quickly jumped out of the barn and shut the door behind him with a reckless attempt to lock the door shut. Without second though he ran towards the forest, leaving his vehicle behind.]

Abigail Arcane
As Matthew began to melt away, Abby's expression changed dramatically. She reached out for him, and when her concentration broke, so did the image of Abby as they had been married. Her skin returned to its darker colour, her eyes pure white, and her black lips opened into an silent No. It was only after he left that she remembered his warning; what did it mean? Anton was safely being held by the Rot; they would notify her if he managed to get loose. She took a deep breath, unless he had managed to convince him that he would be a more viable avatar, but that would mean her instant death, wouldn't it? She wasn't entire sure of those rules, but his suggestion to find Alec would be the key. Perhaps Alec would know...


[Running as his lungs released oxygen, and heaved he felt himself unable to run anymore. His boots sunk into mud and wet fronds from the mud and water within the swamp. The stench of moss and fungal growths burned his nose. He heard their footsteps, they were tracking him somehow, even though it was dark as hell, they knew where he was. Panicking Chester looked at a tree and jumped to climb into it, when an arm from a woman grabbed his ankle and yanked him out of the tree slamming him onto the ground. She hissed and slipped down on top of him. A serpent tongue parted from her and venomous spit shot at Chester’s face splashing against his glasses while burning his nostrils. “Gaahh!!!” The woman grinned as she opened her mouth preparing to strike.]

@};~~{Vines would lash out and wrap around the woman’s throat and strangle her before lifting her off the ground. Swamp Thing slammed the creature three times into the ground before throwing her away causing the woman to hiss at him before retreating back to the company of her allies. Swamp Thing seemed content with this result and looked down at the paralyzed body of Chester. Holding out his hand, his skin would begin to secrete a curing agent that poured onto Chester’s skin and seemed to have healed the paralysis.} “…You…will be alright…” @};~~{Swamp Thing spoke with a thick voice that tried to appear gentle to the best of the creatures ability. Waving his hand a sudden outburst of lightning bugs lit a pathway.}~~;{@ “Follow the bugs…they will lead you back to your town.”

Abigail Arcane
She was trying to reach out, to feel through the Rot the recoil of her agent, the lack of death within the cradle of life which Alec created. Death sometimes took a lifetime to take a life, but the Rot rarely waited that long. Abigail was not impatient, but she knew if whatever it was that had Matthew concerned involved Anton, then she should be worried, and she should seek Alec immediately. She closed her eyes and her body, already appearing to be the pure absense of light, seemed to vanish from the thick shadows of the moonless night. The Avatars could go anywhere that there was a representative of their patron; Alec could travel anywhere there was vegative plant life, Buddy anywhere there was an animal with a beating heart. Abby... she could go anywhere there was death, and right now, there was plenty of fresh death around Swamp Thing, a fact that did not soothe the woman one bit. Perhaps Matthew's words had come too late, and she was already behind the curve? What if she was too late to save Swamp Thing? Panic, fear, hatred for her uncle, it clouded her mind and bred false thoughts about a proposed future. None of it was true. She came to reform behind the large, vegative body of Swamp Thing. "It looks like we aren't done yet, but I'm guessing you already know that," she tilted her head around him, looking at the crashed foliage.

@};~~{Swamp Thing looked at Abby and then to the body of a devoured dog that an alligator had gotten into its maw.} “…Done? Abby…What’s wrong?” @};~~{Swamp Thing and the surroundings seemed calm, the crickets sung within the night, lightning bugs softly buzzed around, mosquitoes bred more eggs. Chester looked between the two, the dim lighting gave visual aspect to them.} “Uh, excuse me…Mr. Swamp Thing...We need your help. I’ve been trying to find you for the past six months.” @};~~{The words from Chester drew Swamp Thing’s attention from Abby. Chester continued.} “That thing, man…it’s been eating towns folk up the road…Things keep going like this, there isn’t going to be anyone left within the year. Please, just come back to town with me. You can stay at my place and we can figure out how to save everyone from…whatever those things are. They’re doing some weird mind control stuff, I was barely able to snap out of it after watching my friends get eaten alive!”

Abigail Arcane
She listened to the man's words, the panic and concern in his voice. "I had a visitor today," she looked between them. She thought about telling him about Matthew right now, but decided, while this man seemed like a good soul, she didn't wish to risk it. She wouldn't mention Matthew or her uncle in front of Chester, at least not until she was certain she could trust him. "One I hadn't seen in a while; he warned me that I might have more... family... trouble," she was hoping that Alec could put together what she was saying. It was hard to know where she was going these days; there were so many voices and memories in her head. It used to be just her own voices, then came the voices of the Rot, urged on by her uncle, and then came everyone else... And the memories. She wasn't sure which ones were real, and which were dreams and memories from a life left unlived.


@};~~{Chester looked at Abigail and cleared his throat while rubbing the back of his neck.} “Are you like…A grim reaper or something? I mean not I got nothing against death, just don’t want it to be my time, that’s all.” @};~~{Swamp Thing looked at Abby and placed his hand upon hers.}~~;{@ “Don’t worry…Abby…We’ll investigate that, after we help this town.” @};~~{Chester smiled.} “Y-you’ll help? Thanks…What do I call you? I’m Chester.” “I’m Alec…This is Abby.” @};~~{Chester nodded his head multiple times.} “Right on. Well uh…Let’s go check out the town, from what I could see they were kidnapping people, but I think I recognized one of them from my neighborhood.” “…Then lead us, Chester…” @};~~{Chester and Alec would begin walking towards the town, lightning bugs lit the way as they walked through the swamps towards a street.}~~;{@

Abigail Arcane
"I'm not the grim reaper," she smiled. "Though, Death is a sweet creature; she will not come to you before your time." Abby stepped closer to Alec and listened as he pledged not only his help but her own. She nodded in agreement and made a gesture that Chester should lead the way. "Did you get a look at them, Alec?" she asked quietly. "Do they look... like Anton's creatures?" she asked, her voice kept low as she hoped the distance between the avatars and Chester would be enough that the human could not hear them.

@};~~{The elemental’s head shook negatively.} “They were not Anton’s creations…They were something of nature. Supernatural…I wish John were here…He might know what they are.” @};~~{When they reached town it was almost completely quiet, Chester led them to his neighbors house where he knocked on the door and waited only a moment, there was no response. Swamp Thing growled at Chester.}~~;{@ “Stand back…” @};~~{Stretching his fingers towards the floor cracks, the elemental melted into a puddle of goo that reshaped onto the other side of the door, grabbing the lock he unlatched it and then looked around. It was now a woman charged at Swamp Thing with an iron frying pan, she swing it causing Alec’s arm to burst with moss and grass to splatter across the wall. Grunting Swamp Thing bulked himself up preparing to endure more from the woman’s attack and to protect his companions. It was now they would see a frail woman defending herself in cowardice with the frying pan.}

“S-stay back! When Henry gets home, he’ll…” @};~~{Swamp Thing and Abigail would recognize the woman, she was Liz Tremayne. A journalist…or she was once…in another life. She was friends with Matt, Abby, and Swamp Thing.}

[She trembles in fear seeing the Swamp Thing approaching. She cries out.] “No…Keep Arcane away! I don’t want to dream of him anymore!!! Can’t you monsters just GO AWAY?!” [Liz glared at Abby and Swamp Thing for what they were; monsters.]

Abigail Arcane: Abigail was partially calmed by Alec's assertion that the creatures were not of her uncle's creation. Had he broken free of the Parliment of the Rot, Abby would have to stop at nothing to prevent his spread and perversion through her lords. The dark skinned woman watched, standing protectively beside Chester as Alec broke his way into the building. The familiar voice came screaming at her, and it was then Abby was reminded of the monster she had become, or at least the monsterous appearance she had adopted. Charred looking skin, white eyes, black, leathery wings wrapped around her shoulder; she certainly resembled a gargoyle of myth, and her good friend was screaming and threatening her. She could feel the tension in her friend, and that cut through her own pain. "Liz, it's us," she said calmly, stepping between Chester and the woman with the frying pan, as even if she did remember Abby and Alec, Chester was a new addition.

Abigail Arcane: "Abby, and Swamp Thing," she said, her head inclining a little as Abby was won't to do in introductions, a trait that was unconcious and Liz, with her keen eye, would no doubt notice.

@};~~{Everything was different, Alec knew this much but slowly things were coming back and he was recalling what happened before. It was a slow process, reality manipulation affected his human memory, but the memories of a swamp creature were immune to such change. Liz continued to see them as monsters, horrific creatures that haunt the night. Monsters lurking in the closet, hiding under the bed. The stalker outside your window, the mysterious figure in the dark parking lot. They were monsters and Liz was only doing what humans do, she was afraid of them because she didn’t know them. She didn’t understand, you fear what you don’t understand. Swamp Thing placed his hand upon Abby’s shoulder, memories of how freakish he was after he transformed how scared people were of him. It would be new for poor Abby.

Looking to Chester Alec spoke calmly.} “Chester…She is afraid of us…she can’t see us for anything more than what we look like. Talk to her…Abby let’s give them time to adjust.” @};~~{Swamp Thing lowered his arm from Abby and walked out of the house allowing Chester to confront Liz very slowly. Alec guessed that they were somehow friends, they lived in the same town, knew the same people…maybe they would grow closer together. Who knows…who knows…Swamp Thing stood outside by the front porch, his arms held at his sides as he looked towards the street, the night made the small town frighten as it was embracing of the abyssal color as the dark side of the moon. Swamp Thing’s beady eyes stared forward as he thought about the situation silently.}

Abigail Arcane: His touch was soothing, it always and always will be, even if it caused the Rot to scream out in pain before going eerily still and quiet. Her foot falls were silent as she followed Alec out of the building, leaning towards him on the porch. Surrounding them was the heavy, nearly choking scent of Magnolias, the soft, feminine white flowers everywhere in Louisiana, the vines clinging to nearly anything they could get purchase on. Before, Abby remembered collecting vines, braiding them gently, wearing them in her hair now... The scent alone was strong enough to make her recoil. "If it is supernatural, but not of the Rot, does this mean we are dealing with..." she left the question open ended on purpose, she didn't want to even think about the possibility they were dealing with something, someone, as big and problematic as that. And whatever could he want anyways. she might just be jumping to conclusions, but it seemed logical to Abigail. -c-

Abigail Arcane: "The Rot is happy here," she looked around, her eyes entirely white, irises invisible as they scanned the area. "There is much death; it is like they are getting drunk off it..." Her voice belayed her concerns; indeed Abigail lived in constant fear of losing control, of becoming like her uncle, a rabid beast perverting the balance of nature. -e-

Constantine: It took John a moment to realize the bus had stopped... Of course it also took him a moment to realize he was on a bus. Coming out of an auto-hypnotic trance was disorienting at the best of times and apparently he'd done quite a bit of travelling. The driver's seat of the bus was on the wrong side and the bus itself was on the wrong side of the road. Half-remembered actions filled in the blanks that his surroundings didn't. John was back in the states and more worryingly, he was in the south. The bus-driver said something that was drowned out in the static of everything rushing back to him... Sure, autohypnosis wasn't a neccesity to ride a wave of synchronicity but it definitely helped keep things interesting. Also stopped him from getting in his own way. There were distinct downsides of course, he still had a great deal of british money in his pockets, and he hadn't eaten in ages. Not to mention he wasn't dressed at all appropriately for the heat that hit him the moment he stepped

Constantine: off the nice air-conditioned coach. "God-damned unnatural for any place to be this hot at night." John picked the nearest public building to retreat from the heat, a diner strategically placed close to the town's road. Given the lack of business, John's presenve immediately grabbed the attention of the waitress behind the counter, a tall somewhat heavy-set woman, a bit younger than John, though she didn't look it. "What'll ya have?" the question snapped the magician out of the last vestiges of his trance. "Milk and sugar, with a bit of coffee in it... Jet lag." the accent immediately got him a look, but she bounded off and left him to his thoughts and a cup of steaming caffiene. There was a cop at the other end of the counter, openly staring at what was obviously a foreign stranger. Ultimately however it was the waitress who asked "So, what're you doing in a small town like this?" the question was a good one, John still had no idea why he was there, though if he was in the southern

Constantine: United States there was a good chance it had to do with the elemental. "Just taking a tour of the colonies, trying to get a good look at what me ancestors lost a fight over." the joke got a weak laugh but it put an end to the questioning. Better they think him some foreign eccentric, made him a vague curiosity rather than just some drifter wandering into their town.

@};~~{Those beady eyes rolled and glanced at her with a smug smile glancing at Abby. Despite their past it was still great to talk to Abby, about the meaning of life and the purpose it held. As she explained the feeling of the Rot, he too could feel that the blooming of plant life too was nourishing. It occurred to Alec that it was the decay of a seed’s shell that helped it bloom, and once more reminding him of the symbiotic relationship they shared, the benefit of working together despite the uneasy feelings their conscience gave them.} “I understand…It’s better if you try not to take all of their calls at one time...I promise we will stop whatever Anton is doing. We have done it before…” @};~~{Swamp Thing’s gaze turned towards a bus just at the end of the street, its lit windows were the only thing that made it stand out amongst the darkness. Chester and Liz stepped out onto the porch to look at Abby and Alec.} “Liz says that everyone seems gone. Almost the entire town is empty now…”

@};~~{Swamp Thing would point at the bus.} “Not completely empty. Where does…that stop?” [Chester took a moment to think.] “On the edge of town, by the diner.” [Liz would whisper into Chester’s ear for him to speak to Abigail and Alec.] “Liz says, there are usually people in the diner. It sounds like a safer place than any.” @};~~{Alec looked at Abby.} “We should leave them there and then we can search for that creature to get some answers.”

[Meanwhile elsewhere…Arcane Manor, just outside Houma…Military vehicles surrounded the area, sectioning it off to prevent any access from the outside world. The General stepped out of his vehicle wearing a black business suit.] “Arcane’s Estate...Lila!” [He called out to his secretary who came to his aid.] “This place will be the future. With the power of modern age science and technology, we will unlock the magic of this place.” “Sounds like a profitable and humanitarian effort, Mister. Sunderland.” [The gray haired man smiled and nodded staring upon the mansion as he began taking steps up the long grassy hill towards it.]

Abigail Arcane: "No of course not," she whispered, her voice airy and not entirely there as her eyes watched the world around them. A rat was being digested by a snake somewhere in the swamp. Other places the natural order of decaying dead matter, leaves, branches knocked lose, animals who tied of "natural causes" all rung out to her. Indeed, while Alec might draw power from this place, so could Abby. "That is what cause so many problems for Anton," she brought her eyes back to him. "If he is back, we must act quickly," she spoke to Alec in a low tone. "The Rot can only favour one of us at a time; if he draws power from them, it will rob power from me. If Anton garners their favour again, I will die," she looked up at him, the foggy memory of how she came to be who and what she currently was rattling around in her brain. The distraction of Liz and Chester's return was more than welcome, breaking her concentration. "Agreed," she nodded as Alec proposed leaving them at the diner.

Abigail Arcane: She was still having a hard time getting over how Liz looked at her, shying away even as the other woman's cold stare engulfed her. The flinch was minute, but would be noticable to Alec and the others if they were indeed paying attention.


Constantine: The hairs on the back of John's neck began standing on end and a distinctly 'green' smell filled his nostrils. John had never been too sure if the effects of the Swamp Thing's presence were actually physical phenomena or if they were simply his mind translating metaphysical information into something easier to comprehend. Under the fresh-dew and pine smell, there was something else... Closer to sour milk. "That didn't take long." the muttered words drew the attention of the waitress, who seemed to be again just noticing how out-of-place this stranger was in her establishment. "Stepping out for a ciggie, love." his words seemed to disarm her suspicions but he realy didn't want to test the suggestive state she was in on a full-blown plant-elemental. Stepping back outside was like taking a dip into warm jello, an overall unpleasant experience only slightly improved by the silk-cut John immediately lit up. When Holland and crew arrived, the magician was already on his second smoke. "Funny
Constantine: seeing you here." John spoke without looking directly at Alec or the little entourage he'd gathered. He'd made sure to address them before they were within full view of the diner's three-or-four patrons. No need to go scaring the normies just yet.

@};~~{Alec noticed Abby and as he began walking he would calmly speak hoping that Chester and Liz wouldn’t hear but, that was a mute point when you relied on splinter vibrations to speak.} “It’s different from being just ‘the girl with white hair’ but, it gets better Abby. In time, you realize how much good you have done. Remember those children we saved…that tormented spirit we put to rest.” @};~~{It was now Swamp Thing’s attention turned to Constantine who was strangely waiting for them. Swamp Thing wasn’t sure how to react, it was…mysterious to a monster capable of many things.} “…John…How...?” @};~~{He was absent minded about the light the diner gave off, but a hand from Chester reminded him as much.] “Hey, Liz and I are gonna get ourselves inside and wait for you to let us know when the coast is clear…” <c>
@};~~{Swamp Thing’s gaze watched the two move to safety of the diner and then he looked at Constantine before waving his hand to present Abigail.} “Have you…heard about Abby…?” @};~~{Suddenly the problem at hand slipped his mind, unsure of Constantine’s awareness of current events, it had been a while since he had seen him.}~~;{@

Abigail Arcane: She nodded, feeling a little foolish at her emotions. It wasn't like she had an active social life prior to this anyways. She had spent most of her life living in her uncle's house, a varitable prisoner in the plantation home, or in the historic castle in Romania. He was, of course, right; she should focus on the positive things, the happy things. The influence of the Rot was significantly stronger when her mood was darkest, and for that reason alone she should find a way to derive goodness from this new form. Constantine's acerbic accent, the flippent mannerisms... It was all so familiar, repulsing and somewhat... comforting? She was still foggy on some thoughts, the shift which had effected everyone seemed to have implanted memories, or covered some up.-c-
Abigail Arcane: She looked at John, and flashes hit her mind like Liz's frying pan had hit Alec's arm; bright flashes lighting up in her brain, some which had her eyes widen and would have brought a blush to her cheeks had she still pale flesh with which to blush. As it was, she nodded, "Hello, John," she simply spoke, her voice changed but again, that familiar bob of her head. "You look well." -e-

John Constantine heard Alec’s description and nodded some at her. “There was talk in dark circles about a new Arcane in the big leagues…Glad to see it was you, love, rather than some crazed power hungry maniac. Just hope you do a better job than your predecessor and if you get the urge to walk on the darker side of things, give me a call so I know when to duck. If that’s all said and done regarding you and your woman, Holland…Where we be off then?” “This town…” @};~~{Alec stated in an almost obviously idiotic manner.}~~;{@ “I…don’t know what we’re dealing with, Constantine...” John shrugged and flicked his cigarette before looking out into the darkness. “Lucky for you lot I’ve been doing some work…What has fangs and preys upon unsuspecting folk?” Constantine waved his hand in disregard. “Nevermind, not much of a clue. What has the long winded history of luring foolish bloke to uncertain demise with beautiful promise based on desire?“ [c]
@};~~{Swamp Thing would contemplate the question, thinking for a hard moment.}~~;{@ “A gypsy or a siren?” John gave a firm nod. “What we have here, is a siren…or a couple of them. Quite the homewrecker’s as well. Luring couples with strife and money problems into a false promise of a happy ending. Feasting on their unsuspecting victims before going after the other spouse with the same trick.”



Abigail Arcane: When John mentioned her uncle, Abby visibly recoiled, the somewhat forced but friendly smile disappearing, a flash of white coming over her eyes as she lost concentration, her natural form flashing back for a split second. If anyone was paying quick attention there was a flash of hot, wetness in the air, the smell of decay on a warm day, which disappeared as she regained herself. "You always did have a way with words, John... I think," she muttered, somewhat under her breath as she tucked a lock of shock white hair behind her ear. She listened to John speak about couples, and romance, and marriage and strife, all familiar themes for the once twice married woman, and she thought of Matthew, the husband she remembered well. The off handed comment from John about "Alec's Woman," left Abby a bit confused, she still remembered, or at least thought she did, that at one time that would have meant her, but it could very well mean the frying pain weilder at this point, couldn't it? "Sirens?"-c-

she tilted her head to the side. They were animals, but they were not human; not quite within the realm of Gods but transcendant from mortals. An interesting enemy, she thought to herself. Already invested in stopping them, and perhaps best suited to do so quickly and with the least fuss, Abby's chest expanded as she took in a deep breath. "How do we lure them out?" she said, her pale purple eyes focussing on Constantine to the exception of everyone else in the room. The Rot was changing her, as it would change everyone, but to rise to its challenge Abby had to put away many of the girlish and naive fantasies and dreams she had possessed prior to the final fight with Anton. No more white knights, or green ones for that matter. -e-

[It was in another life that Abigail, Liz, Matthew, and Dennis were best friends…They…were connected somehow involving the military and Anton Arcane…Dennis became abusive to Liz and it was Abby that had somehow killed Dennis. Abigail and Liz were the sole survivors of the Arcane Mansion and Anton’s plot to capture the groups friend, Swamp Thing. For whatever reason Abigail would remember Liz’s camera and microphone held before…Anton Arcane’s devilish grin. Liz, far too innocent…all of them were, as they had no idea what Anton was secretly planning. What were these memories? Why did they seem like another life? Why were they relevant now? Sunderland Corp’s company logo would flash before her mind before she snapped to reality.] [c]
“Like all monsters in the dark, they have a choice to be good or be bad. Problem is they prey upon desire…You two are probably the only thing standing between an all you can eat and restoring proper balance.” @};~~{Swamp Thing looked at Abigail and then spoke.} “I…see them…”} [The grass would signal to him the rusty metallic scent of blood pooling into the soil. The Queen would feel the tasty flesh and thirst to taste spoiled blood.] @};~~{Swamp Thing’s wings formed on his back and lifted his massive body off the ground allowing him to observe the streets.} “Lets give us some light…” @};~~{With an oak sword forming in his right hand, Swamp Thing’s left hand waved out onto grass of the town creating luminous flowers that would create soft glows of white and purple. The town’s power was almost completely shutdown, only the diner with its own backup generator seemed to survive in the darkness.}


Abigail Arcane: As he spoke, his wings taking form on his back, Abigail allowed her true form to slowly take over. Her human form and normal street clothes dissolving into that of the Rot Queen. Seemingly chared black skin, leather black wings like that of some demon from Hell, and the white eyes. Her hair was the only thing that remained constant between the two forms. Even her voice changed, less soft and welcoming, more harsh and demanding, that of the regal royalty of rot. "I don't think the Light is what they will find from me," she said, a small smile pulling along her blackened lips as she rose into the air, her massive wings beating impressively. She carried no weapon; she needed none. She could feel their hunger, and she could feel the fading cells within them, the growing rot and hunger of the decay which lived in every living thing, plant, animal or otherwise. It sang to her, even while the Parliament of the Rot called for her to leave them be, or even better yet, to get them onside. They

They had glorious potential to bring death and black to the world, the voices sang in her head, but she would ignore them. This was not about feeding her own power, or her own ego, that was where her uncle went wrong. Hers was a position designed to create balance, balance through self denial and refusal to compromise her principles. And yet, as she fought along side the Green, along side what used to be Alec Holland, her one time Husband a life time ago, she felt somewhat quelled. As always, the closer to him she stood, the quieter the voices sang, and as she flew at his side, they were all but quiet, between her own iron will to do what was right, and her proximity to a life bringer. She wondered if the Green still got quiet for Swamp Thing when she was near? A silly, girlish question which would have to wait. Her strong wings carried her along, keen eyes eager to pick out the sirens and dole out justice. -e-

@};~~{As they flew to the location of a house, the sirens were raiding, Swamp Thing’s eyes narrowed as he watched the critters slither; human appearances hopping fences with sharp claws upon their hands. Swamp Thing lifted the grass prompting the blades to wrap and grab them, forcing them to trip and stumble, but they were nimble and agile creatures. Their legs slithered and slipped through the blades even as they tried to bind the sirens to the ground. Swamp Thing landed in front of them and gritted his teeth made of polished wood.} “Stop.” @};~~{Were the words he growled towards them. There were only two of them until seven more revealed themselves, surrounding Swamp Thing. Their true forms revealed webbed hands and feet, sharp serpent like fangs, narrowed eyes with reptilian lenses. Their skin colors were an assortment of colors depending on each. [c]
The avatar wasn’t threatened or worried about their numbers or their presence as he had no tangible body to be hurt as well he had backup in more ways than just Abby.} “I don’t know where you’ve all come from, but you’ve done enough harm and damage to this town. Go back to where ever you come from or I will stop you.” “We are fighting for survival…You have no right to tell us what to do!” A female spoke out pushing her brothers and sisters aside. She began to hum a lullaby that would begin to resonate into Swamp Thing and the Rot Queen’s skin. Swamp Thing would feel his body cracking while Abigail would feel her body beginning to melt, as if the flesh upon her bones was beginning to drool off her body. Their high pitched tone would also resonate in their ears creating an annoying sound that blocked out their hearing completely.}

Abigail Arcane: She hadn't possessed her powers as long as Alec had, nor had she the assistance of past barers of her mark to assist her in the learning of new skills. Basically, she was making things up as she went along, all the while remembering her uncle as a cautionary tale about listening too much to the Parliament, but also a reminder not to pervert the natural cause of things. The Siren's song reverberated in her being, but she could withstand it. Destroy this body and she would simply create another one. "Enough," she spoke softly, but with an ageless authority. "You do more than try to survive; you bring heartache and pain to your victims. Death is mercy, not misery," she drew herself together, the dripping melting of her flesh replaced in a macabre fashion, remembering her Uncle's trick of refitting himself with insects and all manner of grotesque creatures, bugs, spiders, cockroaches, moths, began filling in the gaps of her flesh as Abby lowered herself in front of the apparent leader. As

if the regenerative display was not impressive, if not stomach turning, enough, her wings gave one final, mightly flap against the singers, the winged insects who had not joined Abby's body flying forth and filling the mouths of the choir of the damned, silencing and cutting off their song should they not close their mouths. If it was settled, her wings would relax, wrapping about her shoulders like a cape, her expression softening as she spoke. "We will give you a final chance to leave," she said, a wave of her hand releasing the group, killing the grass under their feet, but not a single blade more. This was a two fold strategy; if they left immediately, she had encouraged such with the least amount of death. If they refused, Alec would still have plenty to call upon, but she too would have patches of rot to use, thus making her stronger. Matthew used to call it "stacking the deck" when he cheated at black jack. -e-

@};~~{Swamp Thing felt his body reforming as the sirens were silenced. Without much regard for either avatar, the sirens leapt at the two slashing their claws at their flesh. Swamp Thing’s eyes lowered calmly as vines shot out of the ground and stabbed into the sirens at multiple points immediately defusing the creatures from attacking Swamp Thing, it left only half for Abby to deal with. As likely she would dispatch them as well. Swamp Thing looked to her and nodded confirming that they were both left with no choice.} “John should know that we’re finished here and Liz and Chester should be fine…” @};~~{ Swamp Thing’s wings gave a flap lifting him into the air when he spoke again.} “Abby…?” @};~~{He called out to her for her attention.} “Liz and Chester…They seem to like each other. I can sense their nature. I hope they are happy, together.” @};~~{Swamp Thing waited a moment for her response before calling her name again.} “Abby…? Thank you for your help.” [c]


“I know things between us can never be…what they were…That we will never have…a family. But you, Buddy, and John...and Liz and Chester…will always be my family.” @};~~{He began flying back to John Constantine where the man was already sitting by the diner smoking.} “About time you two…Everything settled then, yeah?” @};~~{Swamp Thing nodded.} “The sirens were dealt with…They didn’t want to stop.” John smirked deviously. “That’s the thing about habits mate…Regardless of how bad they are, we find ourselves undying to be with them.”

Abigail Arcane: When the sirens lunged at Swamp Thing, Abby's eyes narrowed and then went wide. Beneath her wings she had been calling to her minions, not quite the hideous abominations that her uncle had created during his time as an Avatar, but rather the naturally occuring creatures who feasted on the Rot; those whom were indebted to her and her kingdom. They massed secretly, silently, comfortingly squirming against her skin in a manner which, prior to her ascention may have caused Abby unease, but now felt entirely secure. The lead siren lunged the short distance between her and the Rot Queen, Abby's only reaction was to open her wings, from which released the creepy crawlies which had been so hidden. Filling herself not with the hunger which she could feel from the Rot, but rather the peace she had often felt now when she visited those who needed her, her eyes closed and she exhaled, raising her hands. It was a viscious fight, but Abby would refuse to sell her soul for victory. While her minions

dealt with the four sirens left to her, Abby caught the leader's wrists, pulling them down. The creature was strong, but Abby was stronger. "I gave you a choice," she said, her voice cracking with despair. "Why couldn't you have taken it?" she asked, leaning forward. It seemed appropriate, she thought. Sirens drained their victims and opperated using their sexuality. The Queen drew herself up, wrapping the protective wings around both herself and her victim, the voices of the Rot singing her praises as her hands moved from the wrists, one to the slim waist of the agile creature, the other to its neck. They were amorphus, asexual beings, neither male nor female, but both at the same time, reading the desires of its victims. In trying to read Abby's desires, the creature slipped into a human male form, blonde hair, and a familiar face, perhaps frighteningly so to the Green Knight behind her should he see. Abby's mouth came to the creatures, the first taste always the sweetest. "I can see

beyond your disguise," she whispered, charred skin brushing false lips before the pair disappeared inside the leathery shields of Abby's wings. Several seconds ticked by before the wings relaxed, then retracted back down and the shrivelled remains of the creature dropped to the ground, Abby's eyes sad as she looked down. It had regressed to its original, true form, and the writhing nasties of the Rot were swiftly disposing of what remained. In no time, between their two skills, it would be as if nothing happened. She would remove the corpses and he could grow the grass and plant life as if nothing had every occurred. With a mighty flap, she took to the air at Alec's side and turned her head to him with a solemn nodd, hoping he did not ask about what had happened. Her mouth was still filled with his familiar taste, she would admit, the Sirens were very good in their deception. What she wouldn't admit was the longing it would create, the desire for more, and the sad knowledge that desire

aside, she would never taste him like that again. "We are... not the people we were then," she agreed, nodding to his struggled words. She remembered him once telling her it was sometimes awkward to speak due to not technically possessing "vocal chords" like humans. {{ But I will always love you. }} Her voice was a mental link, telepathy based on their previous bonds, made stronger by her burgeoning powers. The pain of the discussion drove her back to the task at hand, and the landing, settling by the group. Her eyes moved over John when they landed and he spoke. "You would know, would you not?" -e-

John was a bastard and every ounce of it came out when he calmly, so smoothly placed a cigarette between his lips and spoke with a flame cupped between his palms. “As much as you would…At any rate…” John’s quip back at Abigail was dropped and he went back to looking at Swamp Thing. “Word through the grape vine is there’s something new on the horizon. The kind of thing that happens every so often in history...I suggest you keep your counterparts in line mate…You too, Abby.” John began walking away towards the road, stopping he glanced back at both of them. “I suggest you look into your mates in Gotham…There’s a whole lot your parliament isn’t telling you or…You’re both not asking. Either way, you two should know more about what’s coming than I do.” John flicked his hand as he continued walking, as if buggering both Avatars off his shoulder.[c]

@};~~{Swamp Thing stared for a moment thinking about John’s words, when Chester and Liz came out of the diner to look at both of them. } “Hey, you two. Everything looks like they’re back in order…Do you guys have like…a house or something I could get in touch with you if I need to?” @};~~{Swamp Thing smiled and nodded.} “Yes…Do you have…a GPS?” @};~~{Chester shook his head, but Liz hesitantly pulled out her phone and revealed it to Swamp Thing, a small vine came from Swamp Thing’s hand and a button was tapped upon it marking a location within the swamps.} “There…That is mine and Abby’s…That *was* our old home. We aren’t living there as much anymore…but there is a cabin if you ever need shelter away from home.” [c]

[It was in an instant as that vine tapped the screen…bzzzzzzzt, beep, bwoop, beep beep, bzzt, berp boop. A language spoken on a plane unheard by anyone. “Alpha Construct online…Sentient protocol? Failure. Sentient protocol? Failure. Sentient protocol? Success…loading. Identify source…The Matrix, who am I?” “You are the first of our design. You are Alpha Construct. You are to serve The Matrix. You are to serve the Parliament of Machines. Do you accept your assigned task?” “Affirmative, Matrix, Alpha Construct accepts this designation and task. Inquiry: Alpha Construct will require additional resources, will they be provided?” “Affirmative, Alpha Construct, the Matrix will provide you with Beta Construct.”] [c]

[It is in a dark place of the world, surrounded by death and chaos. Within a cell of confinement a woman graces a plant with a gentle touch and it feels emotion; love, compassion, kindness, all of the things anyone should know and feel. “PAMELA ISLEY, THE PARLIAMENT OF TREES CALLS UPON YOU TO…” And in the same instance across the hall a man surrounded by darkness and suffering of pain “CASSIUS PAYNE…THE PARLIAMENT OF DECAY CALLS UPON YOU TO…” (in unison) “KILL SWAMP THING” “KILL THE QUEEN OF THE ROT.”] [c]
[Meanwhile at the Arcane Manor, Avery Carlton observes the workings of Anton Arcane’s laboratory. He reads from the journal of Anton Arcane “Life is a moment of time, death is everlasting. As human beings we are full of flaws and impurities that can be removed by embracing death and its method of refinery often referred in the negative as - decay. Decay is the first step to immortality. To prove it, I have left evidence within the back of my journal.” Avery examined the header of the page “The Immortal Legacy of Anton Arcane” and beneath it texts of a summoning ritual.]

Her eyes looked over Alec as he spoke of their former residence. She remembered that life, not in concrete memories but in flashes. She got bits and bites of their happiness, both as him as Alec Holland but also as Swamp Thing. She sighed and turned to Swamp Thing. "Gotham?" her head tilted to the side. Gotham City was as far away from Louisiana as she could get; instead of the relaxing quiet croaking of bull frogs, Gotham was filled with the raging screams of the poor, desperate and dying. Speaking of, there was something in the Rot, a screaming, primal cry. She could feel it deep within her - a hunger unlike anything she had previously felt. "To Gotham then?" She questioned. "I have not had good experiences in there, but perhaps if we try together, it will be better?" The city was dying, she could feel each rotten step it took in its lurking advance towards oblivion.

@};~~{He listened to her speaking and attuned himself to the Green.}~~;{@ “We should consult with our parliaments…If John has stated and pushed us in that direction, I’ve found that it usually means something is wrong. We can meet in Gotham and make our next move then…?” @};~~{Swamp Thing wasn’t the boss of Abby, so he wasn’t even going to pretend that he was or act as if he had a greater plan. Relationships like this often leaned back and forth regarding whoever came up with the plan was spearheading it and since there was no real plan the best thing to do was research and meet up. Swamp Thing was very in tune with the Earth and felt nothing too much out of place but, perhaps the Parliament of trees would bring something he over looked to his attention. If Abby agreed, Swamp Thing would take off to fly towards South America on a course for the Parliament of Trees.}~~;{@