TDDUP: Chapter 10: Tomb Wreckers

The interior of the big crypt was a morbidly beautiful sight. Rows of tombstones lined the path into the main crypt, and the ceiling of the structure was still covered in a gossamer coating of spiderwebs (though the giant occupant of the web had long since been vanquished by a certain Pumpkin King.)

The orange haired Joker illuminated his wand as he slipped past the tombstones to the main crypt, the area was barely illuminated by the moonlight filtering through the grimy and cobwebbed windows. Ducking into the main tomb he attempted to use the darkness to escape, only to find himself unable to warp away.

His attempts at escape were halted by the sound of the crypt doors being thrown open, a sphere of blinding light shot to the top of the ceiling, floating like an enchanted chandelier and dispelling nearly all traces of shadow.

“Going somewhere?” Jonathan mockingly asked, the Joker fired a curse at him, only to miss and impact the wall behind him. “Just surrender and come along quietly with me and I can assure you no harm will come to you” the eldest Halliwell son offered.

“NEVER!” the Joker shouted, holding his wand parallel to the ground he focused his own shadow into a howling gale and sent it forward. Jonathan blocked the attack and tried to stay his ground as the force of the attack pushed against his shield.

Sharon heard the explosions of powerful curses echoing within the crypt, the rest of her supporters hot on her heels she bolted in the door. Skidding to a halt she arrived just in time to see Jonathan redirect the force of the Jokers shadow-gale into a massive shock-wave that shattered the windows of the room. Unfazed the Joker fired a jet of crimson light at Jonathan who retaliated in turn with a bolt of blue light. Residual energy sparked all around the chamber, cracking floor tiles and shattering urns, upon noticing Sharon and company in the door the Joker began trying to direct the beam to strike her, only to have his efforts rebuffed by Jonathan redirecting them. Jonathan created a barrier with a wave of his left hand, preventing the others from entering, or the Joker from harming them.

Drawing the force of both spells into his palm, Jonathan converted them into a ball of white flame and launched them back like a dragon breathing fire. The joker was forced to redirect the flames into the wall, but he felt searing pain as his leg was singed by the blast. Retaliating immediately with a jet of scarlet fire, the Joker watched in awe as Jonathan conjured a wall of water, dousing the flames as they approached.

Both duelists suddenly launched forward, propelled by magic and landed in the center of the room, the air rippled around them as each tried to disarm the other. Finally their spells failed spectacularly, blasting them backwards and up, crashing into the ceiling before hitting the ground.

Sharon furiously tried to break through her son's barrier, but all attempts thus far had been ineffective. She watched helplessly as Jonathan impacted the roof, and thudded to the floor.

Both combatants dazedly raised up onto their knees, and looked around, momentarily disoriented until they caught sight of the other. Jonathan snatched his wand up just in time to parry another searing jet of crimson light.

Victor and Sharon both concentrated and fired a jet of blinding light into the barrier, cracks ran all along its surface before it finally failed with a deafening boom.

Distracted by the failure of the barrier the two fighters ceased their spells and looked to the doorway where Sharon and her assembled forces now stood. “Jonathan, behind you!” Ranga yelled out.

Jonathan turned just in time to redirect yet another curse, this one impacted the roof and caused a small crack to form, moonlight spilling through like a curtain to the floor below.

“How nice, an audience to watch your final moments” the Joker sneered,

“Not on your life” Jonathan fired back, he began casting a volley of curses forcing the Joker to dodge and fire back, with Jonathan batting them away from himself and his family.

Yet again the Joker tried to blast Jonathan with a jet of green lightening, but this time he was ready, his own jet of blue light met the Joker's at the exact midpoint of the room. Both battled for control over the spell as the connection point shifted back and forth, raining white hot plasma onto the stone floor. Jonathan backed up, struggling to control the spell, as the Joker cackled and advanced on his prey, until he saw something that made him freeze in shock.

Jonathan wasn't grimacing with the strain of the spell like the shadows had made it appear, he was grinning as the Joker fell into his trap. With a mighty upheaval  Jonathan sent the stream of energy upwards, and the junction point struck his illumination spell dead on.

There was a blinding explosion of energy as all three spells detonated at once, the combined effect blasted a gaping hole in the rooftop; stones and debris rained down on all those in the crypt. The Joker coughed and stood up, blinking dust out of his eyes, the moonlight now streaming down on him from above...

“LUNA BIND!” Jonathan called, chains of silvery-white light burst into existence and restrained the Joker to the floor. With one final swipe of his wand Jonathan disarmed his foe and strode forward victoriously.

Thorn noticed a strange shift in the captive Joker's aura, he realized too late what was about to happen, “Jonathan... DON'T!”

Jonathan heard Thorn's warning as he looked his foe in the eye, and suddenly the entire world went black.

Sharon sprinted forward to where Jonathan lay unmoving on the ground, the joker had vanished in a whirl of darkness shortly before Jonathan collapsed. “Are you...” Sharon began to ask but Jonathan sat bolt upright and she felt her heart sink as she looked at his face, an involuntary shriek escaped her lips...

His eyes were now glowing bright green, and an orange joker marking had appeared beneath one of his eyes. Glowing swirls also burned into existence on the back of his hands.

“GET OUT OF MY HEAD!” Jonathan screeched, his voice a strangled combination of his own and the Joker assailant's.