Chapter 19: A Secret Unveiled
"So…not to sound like I wasn't listening the first time—" Rook started.
"It wouldn't surprise me if you hadn't been." the Riddler remarked coldly.
"—but tell me again why I'm doing this." Rook finished.
"Mr. Pendragon feels that after being attacked by Gotham's newest leather-wearing vigilante, he's not safe, even in his own home." Riddler explained, "And I have another matter to check up on tonight, so I'm going to need you to be a good boy and look after our wealthy beneficiary."
"You mean, Wraith?" Rook chuckled, and Riddler scowled. The boy had met Wraith after her job at the museum, and when he'd learned that she was friends with the Riddler prior to meeting her, he'd not stopped teasing his boss about her since. Riddler wasn't sure his gunman knew the extent of his feelings for the winged girl, but he didn't like the needling all the same. Rook went on, "What's the story there, anyway? What's so special about her? I mean, aside from the wings and rockin' bod."
"Forwards it is heavy, backwards it is not!" the Riddler shot at him.
"Come on, Ed, just tell me." the boy whined.
"Forwards it is heavy, backwards it is not." he repeated firmly.
"A ton," Rook answered with an exasperated sigh, "The answer is a ton."
"To both questions." Riddler declared, sealing the conversation. He pulled into a parking space and they left the van, Riddler escorting his young protégé through the Dragon's Blood Inc. building to the same floor where Guenhivyre had met her brother, but this time he took a different door. He gave the same rhythmic three taps, and Logann Pendragon called from inside, "Enter."
Riddler pushed the door open, and stared in shock as Logann turned in his chair, displaying his bandaged chest like a cardinal. He'd been suspicious of Logann since finding the bruises on Magpie's neck, but clearly the man had been through something much worse. He himself was a target, and whoever had harmed Vanessa and May had obviously been trying to get to him. And it seems they'd almost succeeded.
"Ahh, Mr. Nygma. It is an honor to see you again." Logann said as he rose from his chair and came to greet them, inclining his head. "And who might this be?"
Riddler was ready to introduce Rook, but the gunman suddenly drew one of his firearms and pointed it at Logann Pendragon, who in response took a step backward and drew a magnificent sword from a sheath he hadn't previously noticed. His heart hammered in horror.
"Pendragon! Greene!" he yelled hoarsely. Logann tilted his chin into the air in a haughty manner, regarding Rook disdainfully.
"Only a heathen brings a gun to a swordfight." he remarked, cocking an eyebrow.
"HA! And only an idiot brings a sword to a gunfight!" Rook spat back.
"You tread thin ice, Mr. Greene." Logann said in a growl of a voice.
"Ask me if I care!" Rook snapped.
"ROBERT!" Riddler squawked, grabbing his arm in an attempt to lower the gun. "Leave Mr. Pendragon be!" Rook sighed, returning his weapon to its holster, and Riddler looked back that young rich man. "I apologize, sir. We've both been a bit on edge lately."
"Understandable." Pendragon said, sheathing his sword, "I am quite used to putting people on edge when I first meet them."
"How in the world do you manage to make it as a business tycoon then?" Rook scoffed. Edward Nygma buried his face in his hands. He'd been trying to help Pendragon, not offend him! And here Rook was taking four steps backward for every one forward!
"I like him." said Logann Pendragon, shocking them both as he gave Rook a nod. "He'll do."
He'd only heard rumors about how the Batman was called when he operated by day, and even then, most people weren't sure that the guy did go out by day. Still, he'd gotten a tip-off from his radio scanner when he tuned it to the police broadcast frequency, and it sounded like the Batman was going to show up in the Commissioner's office that afternoon.
Which meant he ought to go see if his help would be needed.
Clio didn't want him to go out so soon after the incident with Langstrom, but he was twenty-three, damn it. His mother couldn't control him anymore, no matter how much she worried about him.
"Mom, it's gotta be done." he argued.
"I don't care what you think, Logann!" she answered. "Batman can handle this city's problems on his own!"
"Mom, I know you feel that way, but this is just something I've gotta do!" he sighed, and after a few more moments of conversation that generally followed that same vein of tone, Clio gave in and let him out of the apartment, though very reluctantly. He left quickly, his duffle bag full of his outfit and effects slung over his shoulder, and dashed out of sight behind the apartment complex. There was a covered parking garage, and he was able to usually change behind his car, but today he was more on edge than usual and didn't want to take the chance that Lance Pendragon was going to be waiting for him out there.
Assuming Lancey-pants knows where I live, he told himself wryly.
Still, better not to take chances, so he left the apartment as he was, Logann Zeus, and went walking around Gotham. It wasn't until around four in the afternoon that he slipped, unnoticed, into a busy shop to borrow the men's changing room, and left as Incubus, a notable swagger in his step. He was easily able to walk the streets of Gotham even in this identity, since he was mostly still unknown to the criminal underworld; most people looking at him would just see a rather smug looking young man dressed in a lot of black leather, and wonder why in the world he wasn't dying due to the heat.
"Right then, time to pay the boys in blue a visit." he murmured to himself, heading downtown for the police station. It wasn't difficult to find, what with the large lamps out front proclaiming the name of the station. Still, he'd look a tad suspicious if he just walked in there, so he had to find another way to get inside. There was an alley behind the station, perfect for use. When the officers leaving the building turned to look in the opposite direction, he slipped between the buildings and out of sight, hanging close to the wall. The station was a good number of stories high, but he doubted that would be a problem; facing the wall and reaching up with his hands, which had abruptly sprouted long, claw-like nails, he began to climb.
The walls were brick, and smooth for the most part, but his nails allowed him to climb without handholds, though his combat boots had a time of getting up. In the end it was his tail that really saved him. He uncoiled it from around his waist and pumped it back and forth in quick, rhythmic motions, only glancing down to check that it didn't come within the sight of any windows. Three feet long and pure lizard muscle, the tail helped keep him balanced and helped by adding propulsion to his movements.
For all the things about being a mutant he hated, at least he had one upside to it. And better to be a mutant who lived to protect the city, rather than harm it.
"—for your own good, Babs. You know better."
That was Commissioner Gordon's voice!
Incubus scrambled a little further up the wall, moving slightly to the side so he could still listen in and keep out of sight at the same time. The window was slightly ajar, and he could hear a young woman's voice responding to the commissioner.
"I'm eighteen, Daddy! Shouldn't I be allowed to choose for myself by now without any, you know…?" she protested weakly.
"I know, Babs, I know. But I'm not fond of this suggestion, and I question your judgment. The answer, as it stands, is no." the commissioner replied.
Wait, Gordon had a daughter? Why hadn't he heard about that before?!
There was a soft whisper of displaced air and he jerked his head to the side just as the Batarang embedded itself into the masonwork where his head had been. He gasped and looked over his shoulder, seeing the dark shadow with pointed ears across the alley, crouched on a fire escape.
"Didn't take you to be the type who snuck around listening at closed doors, Incubus." Batman said in his low, menacing voice.
"Um, hello? Earth to Bats!" Incubus scoffed, "It's a window and it's open. Besides, it's not like I have some psychic whatever like you and I just know when something's going down."
"What's with the tail?" Batman asked, his cowl twitching as he raised an eyebrow. "I somehow doubt you were born with it."
"Bingo, Bats." he snorted, "This is the result of gene-splicing with Komodo dragon DNA and an eight-year-old kid. I've got a muthafuggin tail." He swung it back and forth a few times for emphasis. A change came over Batman and he stood to his full height, watching Incubus closely.
"Gene-splicing." he said simply.
"What, you deaf?" Incubus asked, "DUH! They infused me with Komodo dragon DNA as a kid. You need me to demonstrate with flash cards?"
And suddenly, his world went black.
The door to the lab swung open before he could knock, and the scowling face of Jonathan Crane loomed in his way.
"Nygma." he said simply.
"Crane." Edward returned simply, staring down his nose at him.
"You've got some nerve, coming back here." Jonathan snapped, not moving.
"Is your head still sore, Scary?" Edward asked in mocking tones, smiling poisonously.
"Eddy? Eddy, is that you?" he heard a voice call, and suddenly Jonathan Crane was flung off to the side, a look of shock on his face as Ink caught him and Guenhivyre tackled the Riddler with a hug.
"Eddy!" she cried, "You've got no idea how happy I am to see you!"
"And I you." he said, briefly giving her a squeeze before holding her out at arm's length. "I heard about the attack the other night. How are you holding up?"
"I'm doing better. Ink and Erin have been helping me a lot." she answered. At this, Eddy glanced up, caught Ink's eye and the two of them smiled at each other as the blonde girl nuzzled Jonathan Crane's cheek.
"If I may?" Eddy asked Guen, and before she could protest, he lowered the high collar of her shirt. Her eyes widened and she shivered a bit, reaching up as though she wanted to touch her neck, but couldn't. The Riddler scowled in anger as he found what he'd been expecting: fading, purple and yellow bruises in the shapes of fingerprints.
"H-how did you…?" Guen whispered.
"He tried to strangle you, but he let up after a few moments," Edward stated. "Do you know why, by chance?"
Slowly, Guen opened her wings behind her, fluttering them a bit, and looked away.
"Birdy wings!" Ink squealed, her eyes lighting up as she glanced over.
"I-it….he was my…my boogeyman." she said.
"Boogeyman?" the Riddler repeated.
"The figure from her past, old boy," came the voice of Jervis Tetch as he entered the room, Erin at his side, "Who still haunts her nightmares. And I daresay the same person who put those wings where they are. Isn't that right, Miss Pendragon?" His voice became cold with this last sentence, but Erin didn't seem to notice as she hugged his arm.
"Guen, is this true?" Edward asked, eyes widening beneath his domino mask, and he took a step back when she nodded.
"E-essentially." she answered, "H-he told me that…that I needed to be punished…that I'd been bad…" She trailed off and stared at the floor again, and she soon began to shake. He reached out, squeezed her shoulder, and she snapped back to reality, blinking hard at him.
"Guen?" he asked softly.
"S-sorry…Just—" she started.
"Lost in thought?" he finished. What was happening to her, the poor girl? Abruptly she screamed, making everyone present jump back as she doubled over.
"Guen?!" Erin cried, rushing to her side.
"Don't!" Ink said, intercepting her and holding her hands back. Eddy's feeling of déjà vu hit hard as he watched her shake, heard the unmistakable cracking sounds, and watched her wings begin to expand, the feathers pushing further out, new ones sliding into place where needed.
"Incredible!" Jervis and Jonathan hissed at the same time. Finally, the trembling began to slow, and she started to uncoil.
"Guenhivyre?" Edward whispered, gently touching her shoulders. She gave a brief shudder, then raised her head and looked him in the eyes. Something was different about her, and it wasn't just the new inches on the wings.
"Sorry, Ed." she said in a scratchy voice, kind of like an angry singer from a screamo band. "Guen's still a little shook up, but I'm here if you've got questions."
"What in the world—" he gasped, taking a step back.
"Call me Wraith." she said with a mischievous grin. "And can I just say, you are one sexy beast, Nygma my friend!" He felt his cheeks go pink and his jaw dropped as he looked to the others, stunned and trying to form words to ask for an explanation.
"What you're witnessing, Nygma," Crane drawled in bored tones, "Is her apparent split personality. Not too unlike a couple of our friends back in Arkham. Seems she likes you."
"H-how long…?" he tried to ask.
"I've only known about it since the first job." Crane went on, "The second she looked at that jade vase there was something about her demeanor that changed entirely. However, I couldn't be sure it wasn't just a one-thing where she was getting into character, so I said nothing.
"You are an idiot, Dr. Crane!" Edward seethed.
"Care to run that by me again, Nygma?" Jonathan snapped back.
"Both of you, knock it off!" Ink growled, and they both subsided at once, though they still cast venom-filled looks at each other.
"Geez!" Wraith chuckled. "Sounds like what we all need is a bit of down-time."
"Down-time? What'd you have in mind?" Erin asked, eyes lighting up. "Because I wouldn't mind stopping at the park!"
"Sounds good. Any other suggestions?" Wraith asked.
"Oooh! We should go shopping!" Ink said excitedly.
"Shopping?" Jonathan asked in a voice dreading the worst.
"Awesomesauce," Wraith chuckled, "And personally, I wouldn't mind stopping at an arcade."
"Sounds like we're set then!" Jervis said.
"But we can't go dressed like this!" Edward objected, "Some fool could recognize us and alert the Batman!"
"What's wrong with how we're dressed?" Erin pouted, looking down at her Alice apron.
"What we need is something that'll help us blend in a little better." Wraith said with a wicked grin. "I say that means we go shopping first."
He awoke with a dull throbbing pain in his temples, and he saw only a black ceiling high above him when he opened his eyes, making him think for half a moment he'd not opened them at all.
"Rise and shine, sleeping lizzy." taunted a voice.
"Robin." Incubus muttered, trying to move an arm to rub his forehead, only to discover he had both hands tied behind his back. "Oh, great. Thanks a ton for not trusting me."
"The restraints were necessary." came a familiar voice, and suddenly the masked face was looming above him.
"Kinky." Incubus grumbled angrily, feeling his tail numb.
"Why didn't you tell me you're the son of Maximillian Zeus?" Batman demanded, and Incubus's blood turned to ice in his veins.
"You're imagining things. All that time under your cowl has made you, for lack of a better word, batty, Batman." His voice came out in a squeak.
"Don't play games, Logann. Why didn't you tell me that you're Maxie's son?" he demanded again, the eye slits of his cowl narrowing.
"Would you have trusted me if I told you?" Incubus snapped, "After all, you put Dad in Arkham, Batman. Not that I'm not grateful; he sucked as a father. But would you have trusted me if you knew?"
Batman said nothing, but simply watched him.
"So where are we?" Incubus sighed, looking around. "It's a cave, I can tell that much. Really getting into the theme of things, huh?"
"You first came to me asking about Guenhivyre Pendragon. The two of you don't exactly share the same last name or family." Batman remarked in a dangerous voice.
"Figured that one out on your own, did you?" Incubus muttered. "She's my half-sister, Bats. Mom had a little affair with Arty Pendragon some time after Dad got admitted to Arkham. I was four years old when Guen was born. Mom was scared that if Dad ever got rehabilitated, he'd kill us all if he knew about what she'd done, so she named Guen for Artemis's great-aunt and mostly kept her at the Pendragon estate. If you don't believe me, you only need to put my mom and Guen in the same room and look at them. Guen's got the Pendragon coloration, but she's Mom all over again."
Batman was silent for a long moment, then said, "I've met your mother. Clio, isn't it? I believe you."
"What? Are you serious?" Robin asked somewhere out of sight.
"I thought something about Guenhivyre Pendragon was familiar when we met up with her and the Scarecrow at the museum. She is Clio all over again." Batman remarked.
"Told ya." Incubus said.
"You also showed up last night when Kirk Langstrom was attacked by a werewolf." Batman remarked. "I've dealt with a werewolf before, but this was not Anthony Romulus. I'm betting, owing to that tail of yours and the wings on Guenhivyre's back, that there's a connection. An attack on Langstrom of all people is not what I'd just dismiss as coincidence. Time to start talking, Logann Zeus."
Incubus sighed.
Erin and Jervis had disappeared into the Wonderland section of the park, and Ink had convinced Jonathan to go see the fountains with her, a blushing, goofy expression on the good doctor of fear's face. Edward swallowed over the lump in his throat, suddenly feeling rather nervous. Wraith—or Guen, rather, as she'd switched back after a while—was dragging him toward a section of the park themed for Harry Potter, a rather recent addition.
"Isn't it neat, Eddy?" she asked, laughing.
"They're wizards." He remarked in disdain.
"But it's awesome!" she said forcefully, examining a sculpture of a hippogriff. Edward smiled at her for a moment, then found a bench at the Ravenclaw table replica and sat down, watching.
"You like it, huh?" he asked.
"DUH!" she answered, pretending to tweak the hippogriff's ears. Finally she skipped back over and sat across from him, beaming. "Isn't this great?"
"What?" he asked, arching a black eyebrow at her, and her cheeks went slightly pink.
"This. All of us going out, having fun…and getting to spend a bit of time with you, just the two of us." She said very softly, looking away. "We've not gotten a chance to do this since my last visit to the asylum."
Eddy was suddenly aware of just how lovely she looked beneath the starlight, and he felt his own cheeks go pink.
"This is true. We've rarely been able to take a few moments and just talk like this." He said, steepling his fingers.
"Got any new ones for me?" she asked, smiling slyly.
"How about this one? I am the beginning of the end, and the end of time and space. I am essential to creation, and I surround every place. What am I?" he chuckled.
"Give me a moment." Guen muttered, putting a finger to her lips in thought, and he felt overcome by a strange urge. She was looking the other way, so there was no point in not trying. He leaned forward—
"The letter E!" she exclaimed, and frowning, he sat back.
"You keep getting faster." He remarked, and she beamed again.
"Why, thank you Mr. Nygma!" she laughed.
It was now or never.
"Guenhivyre," he said, reaching out and grasping one of her hands, "There's something I must tell you."
"A-actually Eddy," she said, going rather red in the face, "I-I've got something to tell you too…"
And it was at that precise moment that his cell phone started to ring. He let out a growl and retrieved it from his pocket, glancing only briefly at the caller ID before answering.
"Robert, what is it?" he hissed, "Now's not a good time!"
"Boss," Rook said in an usually high-pitched voice, and Riddler held the phone away from his ear, so they could both hear, "You're not going to believe this, but Lancey here—"
"Who?" Riddler asked, and Guen gave him a puzzled look.
"Mr. Pendragon!" Rook shouted into the phone. "His name's Lancelot."
They exchanged a significant look before Riddler addressed the phone again.
"Lancelot?" he asked tentatively. "Are you sure it's not Logann?"
"Positive, boss! And I'm not so sure Lancey needs around the clock protection!"
He should have trusted his instincts! He knew something was up with Mr. Pendragon! And Guen was looking mortified, like she was about to run away.
"What makes you say that, Robert?" he asked slowly.
"Lance is a werewolf, boss. I shit you not, a genuine, certified werewolf! Ears, tail, the whole nine yards!" Rook squeaked over the phone. Eddy looked up, meeting Guen's eyes and seeing his own horror mirrored there before he let loose a wild string of angry curses and snapped the cell phone shut.