The Night the Lights went out in Gotham

Chapter 7 "Wounded"

Abashed the Devil stood and felt how awful goodness is. T-Bird from The Crow

(Under Aries Temple)

Diana...

The first thought out of the now hazy mind of Bruce Wayne was his for his wife. He tried to move but his hands and feet where tied down. He felt the cold metal holding him and a warm body next to him. He turned and looked at her. Her black hair softly touched her back. His hand closest to her softly touched the bare skin. She moaned softly and turned over. He felt her lips press against his own. A soft moan escaped him and then her hand reached lower. He felt her as she slowly stroked his manhood to life. She broke the kiss and he looked at her.

"Diana..." He said.

Her hand quickly retracked and she looked hard at him. Softly a smile crossed her lips and kissed his neck.

"Yes my love, my knight." Talia said as she again placed her hand on him.

She watched his hazy eyes close and a soft moan escape from him. Slowly she moved until she felt the tip of his manhood pressing against her. She tried to adjust herself, but his hands found her hips. With a quick jerk he pulled her down on him. Her eyes opened wide and she drawed in a sharp gasp of air. It had been so long, and she had forgotten how well endowed he was. Her mind raced with excitement. He knew on some level he knew that she was not his wife. He knew that it was her and not Diana. He had to know. At least that was what she thought until he moaned again.

"Diana... Princess I love you." He moaned.

Talia tried to ignore the words he said. She tried to go back when he would moan her name in love making, but then he wasn't this forceful with her. He was reserved even in bed with her, but Diana had gotten to him. She had gotten to a point with Bruce that no one else had.

Fine if he wants Diana then he shall have her until I have his child.

She thought to herself as she began to match his own thrusts. She felt him pull her close to him as he gave her the means to create their child. She felt herself release at the same time. Her eyes closed and she fell down on his chest. Her breathing was hard and erratic.

(two hours later...)

Bruce awoke with a start. A fractured memory seemed present in his mind. He had just made love with Diana, but that was impossible. He was still within the tiny dungon that Talia had placed him in. He felt a warm body next to him and looked to see Talia. Her leg was laid across his legs in a possessive way. He began trying to remember exactly what happened. Diana was here... No it couldn't be Diana so it had to be Talia. Talia had aroused him, she had taken advantage of him...

Oh God... God no please no.

He thought as he laid there. Talia had gotten exactly what she wanted, and the cost of it could be more than he would be able to bare. His head laid back on the hard stone floor and then before any real thought could be placed he raised his head again and slammed it down harder on the floor. The sound of his hitting the cold floor awoke Talia. She turned and looked at the man she wanted to believe loved her and saw the anger, hurt, and anguish in his eyes. She wanted to tell him it was for the best. She wanted to say that he would understand one day, but what she found was each reason she had planned to explain to him seemed selfish and controlling. She turned shamefully away from him.

"I... I'm truly sorry beloved. I believed that we where meant to be together. I wanted us together." She said softly.

"You've stolen my family from Talia. You are no better than Chill." he said spitefully as he felt her hand on his thigh.

"I know... I'm sorry for what I've done, and I am sorry for this." She said as she held his nose and his mouth opened.

He watched as she poured another cup of the tea into his mouth and he swallowed. The confusion set into his eyes. He could feel his mind fogging again and he looked at her with venom in his eyes.

"I promised that I would take the pain away beloved, and I will. You will not forgive me, nor will you forgive yourself until all memories of your wife, your former life, and everything that you've lived through are gone. I will not let the others do this to you. This is my punishment for hurting you." She said softly as she stroked his cheek.

"Damn you Talia..." He said before his eyes became to heavy and he slipped off to sleep once again.

(Wayne Manor)

Diana walked into the entertainment room where Alfred stood. She looked on the screen to see Joker holding a pistol to the head of Dick. His beaten and bruised body had small wounds where he had been whipped with an improvised bullwhip made from barbed wire and streamers. She watched the corner of the screen and saw Donna there with another woman. The other woman seemed to be directing her toward something offscreen. A moment later the entire screen went black except for the lights.

(The station)

Cassandra your time has come once again.

A dark voice said to her and her only. She knew Hades voice from the hundreds of times she had died in the past. Her eyes closed slightly.

Please let my next life be better... Let me escape this fate... she prayed silently as she ran forward.

The sound of a gun exploded and then someone fell to the floor. The lights shot on and Joker looked at the dead woman. Nightwing was no longer in the chair, but this unknown woman had taken her place. He turned around when he heard soft foot steps.

"Whose there damn it!" he snarled as he held the gun out in front of him.

A led pipe came flying toward him knocking the gun away from him. He turned to run and looked at Harley Quinn being held by Wonder Brat. He could see that his 'Pooh' was out cold as she fell to the floor. He looked at the Amazon with contempt and pulled a long knife from his pocket.

"Come here and let me give you a smile." he said insanely as he circled the Amazon.

"No..." A voice whispered from an empty spot in the room. He turned and the distraction was all that was needed for an improvised bolo to hit him and force him to fall to the floor.

"Damn it my joke is ruined! You ruined it before I could finish the punchline!" He screamed as Donna stepped forward and softly tapped him on the forehead knocking him out. She looked to see Dick stumbled out toward her. He fell and she could see the deep gashes in his back. Lifting him she turned to woman who had lead her here.

"By the gods I am sorry." she said softly to the fallen sister.

(Wayne Manor)

Diana looked at Alfred and both of them headed down into the cave and transported up to the Watchtower. She ensured that the coast was clear and flew Alfred down to the medical bay. Once there she saw Dick being treated as Donna stood over him protectively.

"Donna..." Diana began.

"She gave her life for him. She didn't even know him, and she gave her life to save him." Donna said as she turned to Diana.

"Do you know who she was?" Diana asked.

"She said to ask Apollo about her if I wanted to know." Donna said as she looked back at Dick.

Diana's eyes widened. Heading back to find Dick had given her a hint of where to look. She could ask Apollo. The god of the sun did see the future, and that meant that he had seen where they took Bruce. She felt a calming feeling fall over her as she turned to Donna and hugged her.

"Thank you." She said as she started to leave.

"For what?" Donna said looking confused.