Diary of Bruce Wayne

16th October 1997

So I found out that some stories are real, but there needs to be more to find out. What happened to Widow's family? Why is she here in my city? I know she is hiding something else... But what? There are more questions than answers here. She has said she's old, but how old? She looks in her mid to late 20s. I'm wondering if she has a vast extensive knowledge with that age, or is she faking? Again mysteries and questions, Just what am I dealing with? Is she going to turn out like Ra's, now that I cannot except. One way or another I will find out.

Current events

Sitting at the computer for most of the night and early dawn, Bruce and Dick were continuously comparing notes and asking questions. Red Widow answers them honestly and as clearly as she could, without giving too much away.

"So what are you doing in my city?" Bruce asks with a stern gaze towards Widow.

"Your city? Gotham city belongs to the people who live in it, but to answer your question it is only by coincidence I came here. I've been tracking a coven since Vegas. I only received word of it a month ago from the local padre. Listen I know that you don't trust me, who can blame you? I did call you a monster and try to kill you, but you're going to have to believe me, it's just got a whole lot worse."

"How?"

"That thing you stopped me killing last night, he was a Master Vampire, the leader of the coven...if my..."

"Vampires? Really? You expect me to believe that?"

"I don't expect anything from you accept a little bit of trust, and maybe a little bit of understanding about the situation YOU have now put us in."

"Prove it."

"Fine, I'll show you... Where is the body? And my bag."

"Follow me"

Walking toward the forensics bench, Dick asks,

"Is any of this real or is it just some practical joke? Even I am struggling to think that vampires of all things are real."

"I would not be here if it was. I take my job as seriously as he does, probably more so given the seriousness of the situation." Red Widow replies nodding towards Bruce.

"How serious is it?... dare I ask." Dick asks with a worried look.

"Deathly... maybe for the whole of this city, I'm only telling you about this because I am in need of some strong allies." She replies with a frown.

Arriving at the body which is on a slab, putting on some gloves Widow shows Bruce and Dick all the tell tale signs of a vampire.

"See here, puncture wounds on the neck... Pale clammy skin and no sign of rigor mortis at all even after what is now three days, these are the basic face aspects of vampirism. Other lesser known signs are as such..." Pulling her silver cross from around her neck places it on the dead flesh, lifting it slightly to reveal a cross shaped burn. "You see... even in death a vampire's skin still burns at the touch of a cross... I know that look, you're thinking there is an acid on the cross so here, scan it, swab it or whatever you do with such things, Just be careful, that was my grandmother's. Silver itself is a catalyst for purification of any form of evil, illness or anything impure. It's much the same with garlic, anything that can purify the body is dangerous to Vampires."

Giving back her cross Bruce looks at her and says,

"I just had to be sure you were who you said you were. Vampires are something I never thought I would face, but I don't discredit the fact they exist. With everything I've seen over the years, I've learned to expect the unexpected."

Putting the cross back around her neck, smiling she says,

"So, you knew... But you wanted to test me anyway. Not unexpected considering your reputation as the fact you are the world's greatest detective. I too did a little homework before coming here. The myths and stories that surround yourself are to say the least, wrong on so many things."

"*Humm* Such as?" Bruce asks with slight curiosity.

"You're not human, though not surprising your skills surpass that of any normal human. You're a shadow demon that sucks the life force out of your victims... With that punch you gave me last night it's not hard to think why people would say that. You know everything at all times, that's not true or you would have known who I was when we first met, let alone knowing I was chasing a vampire." She replies.

"Anything else?" Bruce said.

"Loads but that's beyond the point, we both have a history we would prefer to stay hidden and we both don't care about what people think about us... So long as we do the right things, and in a way as to not make ourselves targets for lowlife scum who think they are welcome to do whatever they want." Red Widow continues.

"She has a point Bruce, we both know we all have our skeletons in the closet. Yours are probably hiding somewhere in the back, like Widow said things we want to be kept a secret." Dick said as he pokes around the corpse, lifting the upper lip frowning. "Erm... Khris could you explain to me why this vampire has no fangs."

Flinching a little at her true though abbreviated name,

"Yes I can, not all vampires have fangs but it goes with what your blood type is. This Neonate is a Damaskus vampire no fangs but has the ability to track his pray with scent alone. There's the Nocturns who are only active when there's a new moon and can change forms to look like other people and then there's the famous Count Dracula, who is a Nosferatu, telepathic and can change into a bat, and also there's...Never mind that, there are many clans of Vampires each having their own unique traits and characteristics."

"There's what?" Bruce said with a gruff yet demanding voice.

"No, you have been told too much already, to give away all my family's secrets would just be plain wrong. You haven't earned the right to have them all." Red Widow snaps back with a tear in her eye.

Trying not to push it as he could see she was upset about something, Bruce simply says,

"I think that's enough for one night, we'll continue with this later..."

After what seemed to be like an age, Alfred walks in with a tray of tea and what looked like a meal under a silver dome.

"I see you're all getting better aquatinted, that is good. Here is some tea and sir there is dinner waiting for you upstairs, or should I say breakfast. Master Dick would you like to join him?"

"We all will... I need to introduce Red Widow to the rest of the family. Oh and Alfred get a spare room ready for Widow, she's doing to be staying a while." Bruce replies looking for a reaction from Widow.

"Thanks, but won't your girlfriend be even angrier with that? If that is the case I'll stay here thanks."

"No, you're coming up with us... It's time the others knew what's going on." Giving a look that made sure no one argued with the decision, Bruce walks off up the stairs into Wayne manor.

"*Sigh* He's a tough one, that I can tell. Oh well no use in delaying the inevitable. Let's go meet the rest of the group shall we?" Widow says to Dick as they both walk up the same stairs followed closely by Alfred.

Marveling at the sheer size of the manor Widow just followed Bruce and Dick to the dining room. Upon the opening of the doors she saw a huge dining table and saw five others sitting around it chatting away between themselves. Stopping the chatter they all look at Bruce, then at Widow. Damian the youngest of the gang readied a knife, the others just look on with little suprise.

"Damian! Put down that knife and relax." Bruce says with a stern look that could freeze anyone still. "This is Khristiana Van Helsing, she will be staying with us for a while. She prefers to be called Red Widow, or just Widow. I won't have any actions taken against her. Is everyone ok with that? Good let's eat."

The meal continued with no sound or mumbles of disagreement, all there was a thick heavy atmosphere that Damian could cut the tension with the still secreted knife. The others were flashing looks between Bruce and Widow. Meal finished true introductions began,

"You already know Dick." Bruce says to Widow as he points out each member sitting around the table respectively, "next to him is Barbara, Followed by Jason, on your left is Tim, Kate and my son Damian, as I said before we ate this is Khristiana Van Helsing, she is here to help with a problem that has come to Gotham." He noted that each time he said her given name she flinches.

"With a name like Van Helsing i'm thinking it's not just your normal everyday problem is it?" Barbara said "But surely what you're thinking it's just, oh I don't know. Childish horror stories."

"Try saying that to the corpse we have in the cave Babs, down there is something that you will never believe." Dick chimes in.

"You're all speaking as if Vampires exist, let alone that this woman shares a name with one of literature's biggest and best Monster hunters, well I don't believe you. She's a fake father and I will prove it." With that Damian throws the knife at Red Widow, with one quick deft movement she catches it and plants the blade into the meat on her plate.

"Damian! What did I say?" A furious Bruce shouts,

"Is ok Bruce, I'm not hurt. I can't expect everyone to understand, Damian was only protecting you and your family. It's an honourable action, even if it was a little underhanded. Though if you do that again Little Bird I will make you bury all the undead corpses I will make, followed by you."

The others in the room sit in stunned silence, no one new has ever threatened a family member before, let alone in such a manner where even Bruce is stunned. Glaring at Damian, Red Widow just continues,

"As a mark of respect for your father, I'll not kill you but should you ever turn, I'll not save you. I'm sorry Bruce for this vulgar display but your son needs to be taught true respect, not just of his peers but also guests in your house. Not once in all my long years have I had to treat a child so... But your son thinks himself an adult though he did not earn the right to be treated as one."

Damian lets his anger out slamming his fists on the table,

"Hold your tongue woman! Do you know who you're speaking to?"

Smirking Widow replies calmly,

"Yes, a petulant child who thinks himself above all others. Your mother and grandfather showed me more respect."

Almost choking on his glass of wine, Jason splutters as yet again the room falls into silence. Folding his arms across his chest, scowling and pouting Damian falls into a seething silence. Bruce finally looks at Widow and asks,

"Can you explain just how you know who his mother and grandfather are?"

"Long story short, you don't live as long as I have without knowing a few immortals, even pretenders to such a lofty title. Though we know each other we are not friends, or allies. I went to them to find a way to break my family's curse... I didn't succeed, things ended not without its challenges or cost."

"Would you mind elaborating on that?"

"No, but I can tell you the secret they stole from me... Helped bring back Jason. I don't like underhanded tactics it's dishonourable, but mark my words it will not be as easy next time."

Again the room is thrown into silence, air thick with nerves and even more questions than answers. No one dared speak, like a room waiting with baited breath before the storm.

"I have said too much, I'm off to my room. Bruce I thank you for your hospitality... I haven't slept well in five days, but If you need me for anything just come into my room, we can talk, goodnight."

Upon leaving the room Alfred shows Widow where her room is. Yet in the dining room the vacuum of silence explodes into a mass of furious shouting and full blown arguments.