Chapter 4: Suspicions

David Cain lunged for Robert. The group drove out of the way and were now in a separate corner of the cave. Superman quickly turned on his heel and punched David Cain into the ceiling of the cave. Wonder Woman flew over to Superman to assist him, Robert pulled out his gun full of silver bullets, and Batman pulled out his batarangs as David fell. David Cain quickly recovered and as Superman tried to punch him again slashed him with his claws. Superman was a bit dazed by this and startled that the claws actually made a mark on him. David Cain was about the slash again when Wonder Woman pondered him into the ground. Then David Cain tried to slash her but she blocked it and Superman tried to punch him while Cain was distracted but David Cain caught his fist and threw him into Wonder Woman causing both of them to crash into the wall. Batman threw a batarang at him as he ran towards him and David Cain caught it. Then it released smoke full of garlic causing David to cough and sputter. Robert Hood then shot a silver bullet at him and it made its mark in David Cain's right shoulder. By now Superman and Wonder Woman had recomposed and flew in front of him to prevent David Cain from escaping. Now Robert Hood and Batman were right behind Superman and Wonder Woman, who had Cain backed against the wall. David Cain then slammed his fist hard into the cave wall causing several large stalactites and rocks to fall. Robert and Batman managed to avoid them, David Cain fled and Superman flew off after him until one landed on him, and Wonder Woman managed to avoid most of them but she let her guard down briefly to try to find the others so several landed on top of her.

Meanwhile Firestorm and Cyborg were still outside the cave keeping watch. Firestorm groaned.

"Dude, could please stop?" Cyborg asked. "I know it's boring but complaining isn't going to help." They then saw a wounded bat fly out of the cave and head into the night sky.

Wonder Woman coughed as the dust lifted. She was on her belly and a large boulder was on her legs. She tried to pull free but to avail. Batman saw her and ran up to her and lifted the edge of the rock about four inches off of the ground which allowed for her to get her legs out from underneath it.

"Thanks," Wonder Woman said.

"You're welcome," Batman responded. He then helped her up. Robert looked at Batman surprised. Wasn't he the one that had no powers? How was he able to lift something like that off the ground? The rock had to be at least 600 pounds. Even if he barely took it off the ground, it still wasn't something the average man could do. Odd. Superman flew over to the two of them.

"You two alright?" Superman asked. They nodded.

"We're fine," Batman responded. "But does anyone know where David Cain ended up?" Everyone shook their head.

"I lost him during the rock slide," Superman said. "Think he escaped?"

"Without a doubt," Robert responded.

"Maybe Cyborg and Firestorm..." Wonder Woman started.

"I wouldn't count on it," Robert said. They all then walked out to see Firestorm and Cyborg standing at the mouth of the cave.

"So did you get him?" Firestorm asked. They shook their heads. "Wait then where is he?"

"He...he was the bat that flew out of here, wasn't he?" Cyborg realized.

"Totally," Firestorm said. "Dang it!"

"Wait, I thought he couldn't turn into a bat?" Superman questioned. They all turned to Robert.

"We thought he couldn't," Robert responded. "We don't know much about him. Every vampire is different and while his breed his common we don't know everything about it."

"That's reassuring," Batman muttered half grumpily and half grateful. The less he knew the better.

"How are you feeling?" Batman asked Sandra. She was still lying in the medical bay's bed but she had more color in her cheeks. She turned to look at him.

"A bit better, thank you," Sandra responded. He sat down next to her. "Have you found my hus—David yet?"

"We did but he escaped," Batman told her.

"Well he's quiet good at that," Sandra responded. "Always manages to escape everyone." Silence proceeded.

"Why did he leave you?" Batman asked. "If you don't mind."

"No it's fine," Sandra responded. "I don't mind. Well...let me tell you something. He doesn't need hypnosis powers to manipulate people. He can do that all on his own which is why everyone assumes he has it."

"He doesn't?" Batman questioned. Sandra shook her head.

"No he doesn't," Sandra responded. "Everyone thinks so though and I almost wish he did. Then at least it would lessen the pain. I fell in love with him a long time ago when were just kids. We lived in a hidden magical city where all of us with supernatural abilities live in harmony. We grew up together and were good friends. Then years later we were married. But then one day we receive horrible news. His sister had been taken by humans. He was outraged and swore he would find her at all costs. He searched and searched but found nothing. Then we found that his sister had been...murdered in the Monster Prison Camp." She paused. "It drove him bitter. Worse then I've ever seen him before. And it only grew once he found out how brutal the camp was to her and to our old friends. He grew only to recent humans as time went on. But I didn't see for a long time the monster he had become so he convince me into doing some...horrible things for him. I never hurt a human but I did hide him and protected him. When I found out what he was doing, I confronted him on it saying it was wrong and that he couldn't do this. But..." She sighed. "Long story short he threw me out of the house. And at home if you get kicked out by your spouse, you are shunned and then banished to the outside world. It was then that I found out I was pregnant and things only got worse from there. Eventually I was able to get a job from an innkeeper in Bludhaven but it was barely enough to support me. After I had my daughter, I realized I needed more money in order to support the two of us. So after she was weened, I left her in the care of the innkeeper's wife and went to find better work and that led me to Gotham."

"What's your daughter's name?" Batman asked.

"Cassandra," Sandra responded. "And she's living with an innkeeper named Thenardier." Batman raised his eyebrow at the mention of the name. "It's a French name. Their inn is called Second Home."

"I'll go there as soon as can and get her," Batman told her.

"Thank you," Sandra said thankfully. "It'll be so nice to see her again. I haven't seen her in so long." Unknown to either of them, Robert was watching and listening in to the whole conversation with bitter intentions and evil thoughts.