(a/n: well i hope you enjoy this. i own non of this. review!)

Ch.1- Death is the Beginning

It was a beautiful day in Gotham City.

The sun shone brightly in the clear blue sky. Its rays warmed the city up considerably. At the Museum of Natural History people entered the building in droves, all wanting to see the fascinating new exhibit.

The main lobby was packed with patrons, all lined in a orderly line waiting to see the new exhibit.

A teenage girl stood on tiptoe to see ahead of the people in front of her "Ugh, this is taking forever!" she groaned.

She was tall, slim, had long dark hair and a fair complexion. Standing beside her was a boy her age, he was a few inches shorter and had orange-red hair "I told you, we should've gone to movies" he said, pulling out the lollipop from his mouth.

His friend gave him an apologetic look "I know Jim, but this is the last day they're showing this exhibit before its moved to Washington DC"

the boy named Jim frowned and studied the long line ahead of them "Tell me something Jean, I don't get it, what is this exhibit anyway and what's so special about it anyway?"

the girl named Jean glanced at Jim in surprise "What, you don't know about it?"

"Know what?" asked Jim, looking confused.

Jean sighed "Its been in the news for the past week"

"Sorry, but I'm a little behind on current events" said Jim, crossing his arms "Please enlighten me".

Jean sighed and said enthusiastically "It's the one and only, one of a kind, world famous black diamond known as the Heart of Darkness!"

Jim cocked an eyebrow "You mean to say we've been waiting to see a rock for the past two hours?"

Jean sighed, "Not just a rock, a black diamond. Its the only one of its kind ever found" she handed Jim a pamphlet that had a picture of the black diamond on it.

Jim studied the pamphlet for a few minutes then whistled, "That's a lot of zeroes" he glanced at Jean "This thing is expensive"

"Indeed it is" said Jean.

As the line slowly shifted towards the exhibition hall, Jean explained to Jim the origins of the black diamond. Jean explained that the diamond was found in Africa in the eighteen hundreds, by a group of hunters. They had found it in a small shrine filled with bones and jewels, along with an inscription on the walls of the shrine written in an ancient text. The inscription called the diamond 'the Heart of Darkness' and said that the jewel was cursed.

The hunters thought nothing of the inscription and took the diamond and the rest of the treasure back to England with them "That sounds like the beginning of a bad horror film" said Jim

"I know but here's the interesting part" said Jean "a year after returning to England, each of the hunters who found the diamond died of mysterious causes"

Jim's eyes widened "Whoa, seriously?" Jean nodded solemnly.

They had finally reached the exhibition hall. It was a spacious room filled with various glass display cases that contained old coins and artifacts that were found in the diamond's shrine. In the center of the room was a pedestal with a small stand holding up a black-violet jewel. The jewel was the size of ping-pong ball and it gleamed brightly.

Jim and Jean approached the diamond. Jim scratched his chin "Who knew such a small diamond could be worth so much"

"I know" said Jean, leaning closer to the case. Jean noticed that there was something about the diamond, something that Jean liked.

The diamond gleamed brightly and something in Jean's mind told her to touch the diamond. Jean was jerked out of her thoughts by Jim who placed a hand on her shoulder "You ok?" he had a look of concern on his face.

Jean blinked and nodded "Yeah, I…I'm fine" Jim just shrugged and shoved his hands into his pocket.

The two spent the next two minutes studying the Heart of Darkness when suddenly there was a loud gunshot and some screams.

The two spun around and saw a group of men in ski masks waving guns around screaming, "get down on the ground!".

Soon every one of the museum's guests were on lying on their stomachs and faces to the floor.

Jim and Jean quickly got to the ground as well. Jean heard the footsteps of all the men, they rushed around the exhibit hall, scooping up as much of the artifacts as they could "Don't worry ladies and gents" said a man, as he walked towards the Heart of Darkness "As long as you do as we say, nobody will get hurt".

Jean heard glass shattering and saw in the corner of her eye the man taking the Heart of Darkness and tossed it to one of his colleagues.

Suddenly everyone heard the distant sounds of sirens "Cops!" cried one of the men "Great" muttered the leader.

The leader glanced around and he glanced down at Jim and Jean "Quick, I got an idea how to get out of here" he nodded to two of his men and the two roughly pulled them up off the ground and held them close to them with one arm.

Jean noticed that the man holding Jim was the one holding the Heart of Darkness. Something in the back of Jean's mind screamed at her to attack the man and take the diamond but Jean was pulled out of her thoughts when the robbers, she and Jim started making their way out of the exhibit hall.

Two of the men closed the doors to the hall and chained it up.

As the group made their way to the entrance, Jean saw museum security guards laying unconscious on the floor and two more men were waiting by the front entrance "How many do we have?" asked the leader

"a lot" said one of the men "I don't think we'll make it"

"Don't worry, we've got insurance" said the leader, nodding over to Jean and Jim.

Jim grunted, "Knew we should've gone to the movies"

"I know", grumbled Jean "I know"

"Shut up" grunted the leader of the robbers.

Two of the men slowly opened the front doors and the leader called out "Ok, we're coming out but don't shoot! We got hostages!" He nodded to the men and the men shoved Jean and Jim forward. Slowly the group began marching out the front doors, Jean and Jim first with the robbers holding on to their throats tightly, followed by the leader and the rest of the men. Waiting at the foot of the stairs was a wall of police vehicles and police officers.

Jean desperately tried to think of away to get free. She glanced over to Jim but he just returned her look of desperation. It all seemed hopeless. But suddenly there was a whizzing sound, a loud thud and a moan of pain.

She quickly glanced to her side and saw that the one of the men was knocked out. There were more whizzing sounds and thuds. Jean saw two more of the men fall over unconscious.

Suddenly two figures appeared on the roof of a building across from the museum.

Jean recognized them as Batman and Robin.

The leader of the group grunted "Shit" he turned to his men "Back inside, quickly!" the others obeyed.

The group quickly shuffled back into the safety of the museum with Jean and Jim in tow. Two of the men closed the front doors and chained them shut. The leader barked orders at his men and the men quickly took position around the lobby.

The leader growled to the men who were holding Jean and Jim "Watch them, they might be our ticket out of here"

"Got it" said the two men.

Jean and Jim shared a look that said the same thing. There was no way out and they were probably going to die. But an opportunity presented itself when there was a loud crash and a hail of glass. Batman and Robin burst through the glass ceiling.

The two heroes took out some of the men that guarded the entrance and they engaged the other guards.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Jim slammed his elbow in to his captor's gut. Once the man's grip was loosened, Jim slipped out and punched the man as hard as he could.

Jean did the same and she managed knock him to the ground.

Jean saw the Heart of Darkness lying on the ground a short distance away from one of the guards.

Jean frowned. How did the diamond end up over there? She shook her head and she took off running towards the black diamond. Jean didn't know why, but she just had to get to the diamond first. Jim was calling after her but she couldn't what he was saying. Jean could only hear her heartbeat. It grew louder and louder as she approached the diamond.

The diamond was within her grasp. Before she could grab it, she was knocked to the ground. Jean blinked and saw that Jim had tackled her "What was that for?" she yelled "You almost got hit" said Jim, he nodded to a large bullet hole in the wall.

Jean knew that it wasn't there a moment ago "Thanks" mumbled Jean

"No problem" said Jim "Lets just get the hell out of here" Jean nodded.

She reached over and scooped up the Heart of Darkness. Jean shoved it into her back pocket and got to her feet.

The two teens watched the fight between Batman, Robin and the robbers' rage on. Jim glanced over to the other side of the lobby and saw a fire exit "This way" the two quickly made a run for it.

Jean and Jim went through the door and they found themselves in a back alley. They were free. Or so they thought. Before the two could leave they heard a voice growl "Not so fast bitch" Jean and Jim turned and saw that the voice belonged to the robber who was guarding her earlier.

He stood in the doorway, his mask was missing and they saw his real face.

His real face was round; he had blond hair and blue eyes. The robber's face had some bruises and cuts on his face from the fight with Batman.

The robber had his gun aimed at Jean "Give me the diamond"

"What diamond?" said Jean, nervously

"Don't play games with me kid" growled the robber "I saw you put it in your pocket" the man stretched out his hand "Give it to me"

"Don't do it" said Jim

"Shut it!" snarled the man.

Jean's heart thumped away in her chest. The man aimed his gun at Jean's heart "Give me the diamond, or I will kill you and your friend and take it myself. You have until the count of ten. Ten…" Jean began to tremble.

What should she do? Should she give the man the diamond? Would he kill her if she gives him the diamond? Jean glanced helplessly to Jim who was trying to think of something.

She heard the man slowly count down "Four….Three….two…One" he tilted his head a little "So what will it be?" Jean glanced to Jim. Jim shook his head a little.

Jean swallowed hard and said softly "N-no" the man just shook his head "Wrong answer" he took aim at Jean.

Jean's closed her eyes and she heard the gunshot, she flinched and waited for pain.

But she didn't. Jean's eyes opened and she gasped in horror. Standing in front of her was Jim. He had taken the bullet for her. "Jim!" screamed Jean.

Jim fell backwards and she caught him. The two sank to the cold ground, Jean checking for a pulse. He was still alive but his pulse was getting weaker.

Tears trickled down Jean's face "Jim?" but Jim's eyes remained closed.

"Huh, I missed" said the man in annoyance.

Jean looked up at the man and snarled "You bastard!"

"Give me the diamond" said the man

"Go to hell!" growled Jean.

The man shook his head "Wrong again, girlie" he aimed his weapon at Jean's head.

But suddenly two of his comrades burst through the door "Come on man!" said one of the men "Cops are swarming the place, we got to go!"

the two sprinted out of the alley as quick as they can.

The man holstered his gun "You got lucky kid" muttered the man "Next time, you won't be so lucky" he hurried after his friends, leaving Jean alone with Jim dying in her arms.

Jim's eyes fluttered open "Ugh…J-Jean? What's going on?"

"You were shot" said Jean

"Oh yeah" mumbled Jim. He looked down and saw the large blood spot on his shirt "Oh man, that's just gross"

"Why Jim?" asked Jean, tears streaming down her face "Why did you get in the way?"

"Couldn't let him shoot my best friend, could I?" said Jim, weakly.

Jim coughed a little, spitting up some blood on Jean's cheeks "Did he get the diamond?" "No, he didn't" said Jean.

Jim smiled a little "Well…at least it wasn't for nothing"

"Don't talk like that" said Jean "You're going to be ok"

Jim chuckled a little but it turned into a pained cough. Jim looked up at Jean "I don't think I have much time left"

Jean moaned, "This is all my fault, I should've given him the diamond"

Jim shook his head "Jean…don't blame yourself for what happened. It wasn't your fault…he would've taken the diamond and killed us both"

Jim coughed a little then wheezed "Jean…I…you" Jim's body went limp, his chest fell and his eyes remained opened.

Jean cradled Jim's head as her tears stung her eyes. Jim was gone.

The rest of the day became blurred for Jean.

She was sitting in the back of an ambulance, wrapped in a blanket with a medic checking her vitals and cleaning Jim's blood off of her face and a police officer questioning her.

Two hours later she was in the back of a police car on her way home.

Jean found herself back home, her parents trying to talk to her but she couldn't hear them. She just wanted to be alone.

For the next few days she was alone her room trying to come to terms with what happened.

A week after the incident at the museum, Jean and her parents attended Jim's funeral.

Jean, still feeling guilty for Jim's death, tried her best to avoid being seen by his parents.

The church was full of Jim's relatives and friends, so every seat was filled to capacity making it hard to stay away from Jim's parents in the front row.

But luckily for Jean she found a seat in the back row. Jean caught a glimpse of Jim's father sitting in the front. He looked very much like his son. The only difference was their eyes. His father's eyes were green. Jim's father was a lively man but Jean saw that he was different. At the funeral he seemed grim and lifeless.

Conducting the service was a friend of Jim's father, Father Norman McCay.

For the whole service, Jean beat herself up over what happened. She could've saved Jim by giving that man the diamond; she could've done something. Once everyone finished speaking, Jean went up to take one last look at her good friend.

Jim looked so different. He used to look so alive but now he looked grey and cold. His skin was like ash and his hair seemed darker. Jean's eyes were red and puffy. She placed a flower on his casket whispering "Sorry for everything Jim".

At the cemetery, Jim's coffin was lowered into its grave and was buried.

The head stone read "Jim Corrigan, son, friend" everybody paid their final respects and left.

After the funeral Jean went up to her room and sat down on her bed, thinking about Jim's parents. An image of Jim's kid sister popped up in her head. She was crying through the whole service. Jean sighed and laid back on the bed, trying to get the images out of her mind but it was impossible.

Jean frowned. She felt something hard poking into her back. She sat up and saw a small lump poking out from under the blankets. Jean reached under the covers and pulled out the object.

Her eyes widened in surprise, it was the Heart of Darkness.

Jean was sure that she gave the diamond back to the museum after the incident, how did it get into her room?

Suddenly the surface of the diamond glowed purple and a pale featureless face appeared "Hello Jean" said the face.

Jean dropped the diamond and scrambled away from it "What the hell?" exclaimed Jean

"Don't be afraid" said the face calmly

"What are you?" asked Jean "A friend" said the face

"What do you want?"

"To help you" answered the face.

Jean frowned "How?"

"I can help cleanse your soul and give you what you desire the most" said the face

"What's that?" asked Jean

"Revenge" answered the stranger.

Jean raised an eyebrow "Revenge, really? Is that what I really want?"

"It is, I can feel it" said the face "Your soul is wracked with guilt, your friend was slain by a petty little thief for a jewel. You could've saved him but you didn't. Now his parents have lost a son and his sister has lost a brother. Your dreams are plagued by the moment of his death and the faces of his loved ones who are cursing you and blaming you. You search for absolution, for a way to make amends but you know not how or what"

Jean bowed her head low in shame.

For the past few weeks, she had been trying to be free of her guilt but to no such luck. Jean looked up at the small jewel that sat on her bed "How do you know all that?"

"It is my job" replied the face "I am the Spirit of Vengeance after all. Or I was until I was trapped in this accursed diamond by those blasphemous fools"

Jean's eyebrows rose a little "Spirit of Vengeance?"

"Indeed I am" said the spirit proudly "Appointed by The Presence himself to cleanse the earth of the truly wicked, avenge those who cry out for justice and to help those in need of divine guidance"

Jean stared at the diamond in shock "C-can you really help me?" she asked.

The face smiled warmly "Of course I can my friend. I can give you the power to avenge your friend and to cleanse your soul of guilt"

"But?" said Jean, feeling a sense of dread. It all sounded to good to be true, there had to be something attached to this.

The face's smile faltered a little "But my earthly form was destroyed eons ago, I require a physical form to enforce justice."

Jean sighed, "Knew it"

"But there is something I can do" said the spirit.

Jean perked up "Oh, what is it?" "You allow me to share your form" said the spirit.

Jean frowned "You mean, you posses me?"

"Yes" said the spirit. Jean hesitated "I don't know"

"Its alright, you don't have to do it" said the spirit.

Jean thought for a moment. She thought of Jim coughing up blood and dying in that alley. She thought of that man. Jean felt nothing but hate for that man. She wanted him to suffer.

Jean clenched her fist and asked, "What will I have to do?"

"Pick up the diamond and place it over your heart" instructed the spirit.

Jean picked up the small diamond and she brought it close to her chest. Jean paused for a moment then she put the diamond on her heart.

Once the diamond made contact with her body, Jean felt a strange sensation surge through her.

It felt like acid was running through her veins. Jean moaned in pain but she didn't let go of the diamond. Images and emotions flooded her mind. She felt and saw what the spirit did.

Images of ancient civilizations flashed through her mind, faces and names appeared before her.

Suddenly violet flames enveloped Jean's body.

Jean let out an agonized scream. Jean's clothes and appearance changed. Her skin turned pale like the moon, her nails became black. Her hair became short and spiky. Her ears became pointed and her clothes changed into a mix of a elegant dress and armor.

Jean's eyes closed and when they opened, they glowed brightly.

The door to Jean's room opened and her parents appeared in the doorway "Jean?" exclaimed her mother.

The figure turned to the astonished parents.

She grinned "Jean's gone. Theres a new sheriff in town. You can call me Eclipso" she raised her hand to the two astonished adults and the entire house became engulfed by violet energy and orange flames.

End of chapter.

(a/n: well what do you think? Review!)