Joker's Playmate

by Jokerlady

During an encounter with the Joker to save kidnapped children, Batman falls prisoner of the Clown Prince only to discover a side of the Jester both intriguing, scary and sexy...SLASH!

35. Can You See Tears In the Dark?

Author's Note: Hello, it's Jokerlady again, bringing you another chapter. Like always I've taken some time to post but I've been working on several Joker mega projects and working extra hours at the clinic. I am trying my best, I promise. Anyways, it's glad to be back, and hope you like my new chapter. You will now see what everybody is up to...slowly unraveling this intricate spider web to hopefully bring forth the end everybody wants. I would also take a moment to thank all of you out ther that have faved my stories (especially this one) as well as set alert for updates. Thank you for your trust, and I hope I can delilver you the story you deserve.

I would also take a moment to introduce you to one of my projects: JOKER'S LAIR. You will find all the information in my bio page, but it's basically a site dedicated to the Clown Prince of Crime. There are comics loaded, nifty Joker articles and some updates on our beloved clown. If you visit dont' forget to leave me feedback to make the site better, though that is on the works.

DISCLAIMER #1: Batman and related characters belong to DC COMICS. Don't sue, please

DISCLAIMER #2: There will be refereces to MATURE SITUATIONS and LANGUAGE as well as circumstances of SEXUAL INNUENDO. In this chapter there will be a mild reference to INCEST, so readers be warned.

BETA: Another wonderful job done by DOLLHOUSEDISASTER, again sacrificing time from her busy schedule. She is a sweetheart. Thanks a million to her for all her help.

Now to the story...

Chapter 35: Can You See Tears in the Dark?

Fred listened carefully to Specter's explanation as he finished pouring some coffee in a green ceramic mug. Every revelation made his demeanor darker and more somber. The color in the old man's face faded slowly, as if someone had just told him that he had only three days to live.

"You sure you don't want any coffee? It's Kona…really good," Fred asked jovially trying to lighten the atmosphere that had slowly built up in between them. When no one answered, he simply took a sip from his coffee and stared into the mug as if expecting the next words to come up from the infusion within. "That is not the best news to bear in a moment like this. With all the keys and the mask, Eligos has most of the tools he needs to open Augor's prison."

"So the keys…are not really keys to open Hell's Gates." Robin said. "Knowing that would have saved us some time don't you think?"

"The legend was created to be just that…a story to tell by the campfire," Fred poured some cream in his coffee. "Still…Eligos will need one hell of a puzzle solver to get through the Book of Riddles. This is not your average Sudoku. I know demons that have spent all their existences trying to get to the meaning of the puzzles."

"Riddler is one of the best code breakers alive. If someone can decipher the enigmas, it would be him." Batman said studying some old pictures on a nearby wall. "This Eligos… is he a demon like you?

Fred sighed. "Yes, but in a higher rank. There's me, there are Archdemons and then there are Princes like Lucifer and Augor. Eligos is Augor's brother. In our ancient mythology we called them the Twins, sprout the same day from the same divine spark...and they even corrupted that spark the same day. What an irony."

"Fred… Eligos was locked up with his brother…" Specter interjected

"It was rumored that he had been spared, but no one ever heard of him again so no one knew for sure. Lucifer was very clear; do not to mention his name again or face death, so we didn't say a thing. Eligos will be the only one that would be interested in opening that door. A mortal will be a fool to try to tame an angry Prince like Augor."

"If what you say is true, this just complicates things." Specter said with obvious tension in his voice. Fred just nodded sadly.

"If Eligos were to live among us…he will need to have a human host, like you." Batman said.

Fred studied the Detective's stone like face and smiled. "You are really good. What gave it away that this…was not my real body?"

"Hunters can jump from body to body, meaning you have no real corporeal form."

"Simply brilliant, but somewhat insulting," Fred said with chuckle. "We are NOTHING like the Hunters. Those little bastards are parts of other demons' souls hence subordinate lower ranked spirits, but still, your reasoning holds true. The real Fred was dying in a hospital when I found him. I decided to use his body when he expired. Easier to explain the miraculous cure of terminal cancer than the missing body from the morgue, you know?

"So Eligos could have possessed another dead body?"

"Princes don't need a physical form, but if he would've wanted to possess something he would've not cared if it was dead or alive. They just take what they want. You've done your homework, Detective." Fred applauded mockingly.

"You're thinking about Black Mask, aren't you?" Robin asked.

"That would explain why Sionis' body was missing from his grave."
Fred nodded. "And using the carcass is easier than having to contract a mortal for the job. Besides, with such power in the underworld, he would not have any problem in gathering the ten dark souls he needs to release his brother which I guess he has already done from your most wanted list."

"Dark souls?" Specter inquired. "There is no history of any dark souls-."

"Nothing is free in this world, Specter, why would you expect it to be in ours? Opening the doors not only requires the keys, it also requires the sacrifice of ten dark souls. You know, murderers, thieves, psychos, and the like. Once the gate opens, these souls will become Augor's personal bodyguards and nothing will get through them, I guarantee you. Whatever you plan to do, it needs to be done before they open that door."

"How long do we have before they can open the next door?"

"Not much. Next full moon, a week and a half from today. If he misses the time frame, Eligos will have to wait another thousand years until he can try again. But we're still missing two important ingredients: the Warrior's song and the Book of Mirrors." Everybody looked at Fred and then among themselves. "Please tell me he hasn't gotten those yet…"

"Some of the pages of the Book of Mirrors seem to be…missing. But…what exactly is the Warrior's song?"

"You have really being misled into this mess, Specter." Fred sighed. "Well, the mask that was in Wayne's collection contains the soul of the only mortal Augor was never able to corrupt. Lucifer wanted Augor's humiliation to be complete so he got hold of it and used it to lure him and then seal him on the other Realm. The Warrior's songs are the incantations used to seal the soul into the mask and will be needed to open the gate. They are said to have been written on the armor of that noble warrior."

"You also mentioned the Book of Mirrors…what exactly is that?" Batman inquired

"The original gate," Specter explained, "was a very large piece of glass made from the purest materials they could use in its time. Once they trapped Augor and his minions, legend says the crystal became stained with the rage and blood of those thousand demons on the other side. Men cut down the glass, and scattered the pieces all over Europe where they were used to make large stained glass windows to decorate churches and monasteries."

"You said stained glass windows?" Batman inquired. Suddenly everything was making a lot of sense.

"Yes, you know…those beautiful windows in churches with masterpieces made of different colored glass and…?" Fred said mockingly when he noted the Knight was not amused of being explained the obvious. He cleared his throat before going on. "The ancients thought that if the glass was part of a church or religious building, no demon would dare go in once they realized who was trapped within. Augor has a reputation that precedes him."

"Why not destroy the door…obliterate the glass to dust." Robin asked. "That would have prevented all this mess in the first place and guarantee nobody would come back."

"That would be obvious , I know, but mortals are flawed creatures The sorcerers had the brilliant idea to try controlling Lucifer by keeping the threat of Augor returning from the other side. Human arrogance only made Lucifer angrier and to teach them a lesson, he killed almost everyone involved in this and the keys along with the gate were soon lost in time. All but one of them lived to die naturally."

"But they will need to reassemble the glass pieces. A needle in a haystack if you ask me." Robin said.

"And that is exactly what the Book of Riddle does, kid. Pairing the pieces will be almost impossible unless they have spells to help them find the right combination, like the pages of a book they need to go in a certain order."

"Where can we find the Warrior's sword?" Batman asked. Amiel gave him an amused look.

"Now, that one I don't know…but assuming that the mask was on the collection of a millionaire like Bruce Wayne, maybe the armor is in someone else's collection. Sounds logical, no Detective?"

"An armor…could it be in a statue?" Batman said remembering the incident at the museum. Fred shrugged. "Last night, Joker was searching for something at the Gotham Museum in the Roman exhibit. The only thing not in the floor was an Etruscan sculpture that had been lent to another museum. Could that be it?"

"Joker, hmm? Interesting that Eligos would work with him knowing his reputation. Anyways…I don't know, but if I could see a picture of the statue, I might tell you more."

Batman pulled his small portable computer unit from his utility belt and after a short search handed the unit for Fred to see. The large piece of worn stone was roughly carved in the life-size shape of a soldier in full armor resting his hand in a shield while holding a hand up in the air as if holding onto a spear that time had lost. The demon zoomed into the inscription that barely showed in the weathered stone, he then studied the armor's details.

"Lousy archeologists…this sculpture is not Etruscan. See that symbol in his shield?" Fred said pointing at the relief of what seemed an arrow enveloped in a large flame. "That's the symbol of the Order of Fire."

"Augor's Principality." Specter said

"Bingo. That's a big give away of what your psychotic clown was looking for. If you get a hold of it before he does, this might be the chance you're waiting for to stop Eligos and his minions. "

"Once we find it what do we do?"

"Are there any Lords of Order still around?" Fred inquired as Specter confirmed with a nod. "Then get it to them for safekeeping. They are the ones that started this mess in the first place."

"Fate?" Robin asked.

"Is that what that sorcerer goes by these days?" Fred responded disdainfully, "Remember Lucifer didn't kill ALL the sorcerers involved in this? Well, that lone surviving sorcerer became the first Lord of Order, and one of the many duties on his list has been to make sure that door would never open again."

"We have what we need and time is running out. Thank you, but we have to go." Specter and Robin headed towards the door when they noticed that Batman stayed behind. "Batman?"

"I'll be with you in a moment, but first I need to have a word with this…man." Batman responded. Specter turned to stay when he found the Detective's blue eyes glaring at him. "Alone."

"I can't…"

"Of course you can, Allen. This is a personal journey for the Detective too. It's just going to take a minute," Fred motioned the Specter out. Allen nodded and headed out, followed closely by Robin who couldn't help to look curiously back at Batman as he left Once alone, Fred set his empty cup and bowl in the sink. "Well, Bat-man, what is the question that bothers you so much?"

"You got into my head before, you should know."

"I read souls, not minds but let me guess…you want to know why a Hunter would have interest on your soul and your anger."

"I don't appreciate it when people or demons dig inside me without my consent."

"No, guess not…Mr. Wayne," Fred teased to which Batman responded with a growl. "Sorry, but reading you was not that hard after you touched me and your strong emotions betrayed you when I mentioned the mask in your collection…guilt is a lousy companion, isn't it?" Still Batman didn't seem amused. Fred went on. "Anyways, I could see why Rancor would be interested in you. You realize how angry you are right now?"

"Rancor…?

"That's the name of the Hunter you faced and he was instantly enthralled with you because of the darkness within. Holding emotions like the ones you hold would corrupt anybody else, but instead they seem to fuel the best in you. Contrary to logic, you use your darkness to make light, promote Order instead of Chaos, like Fate does. Anger like yours would be a feast for Rancor, because it's what he feeds on and it will be all too tempting not to try to use it to corrupt you. You walk a very thin line between good and evil and turning you to the darkness would be the cherry on top of the sundae of your anger. He probably wanted to lure you to the Darkside. Damn another soul to the deepest recesses of hell."

"He said I was not ready to understand my destiny, but I would later."

"Don't believe what Rancor or any other Hunters tell you. They are made from the darkest recesses of demonic hearts, and are liars by nature. Their purpose is to confuse and debilitate their target soul so they can corrupt its core. Rancor will do it using your weakness…anger. Stay away from him, his brothers and sisters."

"If these demons are not to be trusted, why should we trust you?"

'Not only a good detective, but also an excellent debater. Have you thought of going into politics?" Fred said with half a smile. "You met Martha. I know how hard it is for your pragmatic mind to understand it, but like Specter said, if Augor comes, he will destroy everything there is, including her just to punish me to leaving his army. I love her too much to allow that."

"You could still be lying to us."

The old man adjusted his glasses and reclined against the kitchen counter. "Yes, I could be lying, but I could also be telling the truth. The way I see it, it's a matter of faith, Detective. Do you have faith?"

"Faith requires to make a decision without all the facts. I find that…hard to do when lives depend on my decisions…"

"But faith is also about hope, Batman. A wish for something more…better. You've seen the dark monster that can lurk inside a man's soul, but do you have the faith to believe that somewhere in that darkness he could find the path that will take him out of the abyss or is he condemned to be a monster until the day he dies? Do you have faith that a demon can find redemption in the love of a woman or is he condemned to spend the rest of eternity in the lake of fire because of what he is? I never asked to be this, Detective, I want to be more…better…worthy of Martha's love and I will do anything to protect her."

Batman paused for a moment to ponder in those words. "But what if he was telling the truth…"

"And you're a key player in all this?" Fred shrugged and washed his hands on the kitchen sink. "I don't know, but if Rancor was not lying and you're a part of this scheme, I would suggest you're very careful choosing your next move. You have no way of knowing what is expected of you and unwillingly, you could be playing their song. I would take a vacation from this mess if I was you."

"It sounds as if you would recommend I leave the case."

"Believe in your heart and do what you're soul tells you. The same way you're more Batman than Bruce Wayne, your soul is more you than your brains. You don't do what you do because you think it is right…you do it because your FEEL it's right. Sometimes neurons can be deceiving because they only work with the tangible world. This is beyond tangible...and a good hunch could get you through when it comes from a deeper place, your soul or as you call it…your heart. Just have a keen ear to hear the truth. When facing demons the line between a lie and the truth gets very blurry." Fred grabbed a towel from over the sink and dried his hands. "You're friends are waiting for you."

"How do I stop a Hunter?"

"I see you already made your mind to fight," Fred paused waiting for an explanation, but Batman didn't respond back. "Not a wise decision, but extremely brave. I will help you get Rancor off your soul." After confirming he was alone, Fred placed his palms together. A spark of light formed between his fingers and when he separated his hands, an old book with a black worn leather cover appeared. He offered the book to the Detective. "This is a very old book, written by an old friend of mine. Before he died, he asked me to keep it safe. Here are the answers to your easy questions. The hard ones you'll have to figure out by yourself."

"The hard ones…what are you…?"

"Difficult trials await those who oppose evil, Detective and every trial is unique and individual, but never easy."

"Temptation…"

"Call it whatever you like. Those demons are only yours to face and sometimes it is the ones inside that are the harder to fight. Never underestimate what you cannot see or hear. Faith goes a long way… Now go."

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

Gabriel stormed into the old dilapidated apartment where he found Punch and Lou playing cards over a makeshift table in the dirty living room. Punch rushed to grab his gun when Lou stopped him taking a closer look at the visitor.

"Daniel…is that you?" Lou asked with dread in his voice. "What happened to your hair?"

"Joined a rock band, where's Joker?" Gabriel demanded and the thug pointed to the back room. Gabriel nodded while his eyes glowed an intense blue hue. "I am not here and you two are hungry…go get something to eat."

Punch slapped Lou's shoulder. "Hey man, I'm starving. Let's get some food."

"Yeah, but the boss said—"

"The boss will not miss us. We'll get 'im something on the way back. Let's go."

As the two thugs left, Gabriel walked to the back of the apartment and opened the door of the bedroom seeing Joker writing on the wall with a Sharpie pen. He took a look around and noticed that the Jester had already covered two third of the room's walls with words and phrases in various languages

"Uh-oh. If you dismissed my two gorillas, this can't be good." The Clown responding as he kept writing on the wall. "Am I in trouble?"

"Yes. What are you doing?"

"What does it look like? It's one long poem." Joker responded calmly as he continued writing. "An epic."

"Poetry? You're acting like a lunatic. I knew the merge was a bad idea." Gabriel said studying the writings in detail. "You're starting to act like the crazy mortal you're wearing."

"No, it was brilliant." Joker responded as he climbed on the bed to finish his sentence. "Black is worried and angry, but too busy for a visit so he sends his monkey to fetch me. Worked like a charm if you ask me."

"You…were expecting me?"

"Of course I was expecting you, Gab." Joker said finally putting the Sharpie down to greet his visitor. "Getting you away from Skeletor has proven more difficult than getting a meeting with the Pope if you get my drift."

"You planned this, didn't you? What do you want?"

"The same thing you want…to be heard. Isn't it why you're doing this...to make a statement?"

"I don't know what you're talking about?"

"You know, millennia of servitude have dulled my potential, but not my cunning. I thought working with Eligos would be a change for the better, but now I realize…I'm still a slave. I just serve a different master."

"He promised you your freedom after you helped him release his brother."

"Sure, and demons are so good at keeping their word…HA! Now…THAT'S FUNNY! Tell me, what can you get from Augor's return…hmmm? Lemme see…The Golden boy sent into the darkness of mankind to find himself and the worth of the divine spark. You… punished like a brat." The white haired man glared at the Clown who just smiled perversely. "You're angry, Gab…I can feel it, almost taste it. Not the most positive emotion in an Angel, you know? But then, we're not all perfect, are we? Blame it on your Boss. You thought that upsetting the order of things would make your friends notice you more, so you can sit triumphantly on your own little thrown. Lucifer wouldn't listen to you, so you thought who better than Augor to start a ruckus because you need all that chaos to bring your radical idea of peace to a receptive audience, no? Order should rule it all… and order needs a king."

"Rancor, I' be very careful with what you're about to say…." Gabriel warned with a growl.

"Or you're gonna rat me out to big E…" Joker shook his head. "Nah. You don't need Blackie to know the plans you have for him and his brother, while you need me to bring you that tenth soul…or your plan will fail and you won't tolerate failure after working so hard, right?"

Gabriel frowned. "What do you know about-"

"…your plan? I'm a Hunter, Gab." The Jester responded with a smug shrug. "I know how anger works and yours is an ages old anger that has been brewing inside you for too long. You hate demons as much as you hate humans and you've been demoted to walk among those you hate most for what, Gabriel? Because you refused to be someone else's pawn. Sending you to serve upon your enemies would probably have been the most humiliating thing you have done since you were ordered to bow to mortals. You resent having been used and now discarded like holy trash because you dared to say no to your Master. Believe me, I feel your pain and I know you want retribution. You DESERVE retribution, heck, you might even deserve the King's crown…who knows? What I know is that you need me to get that."

Gabriel remained silent as he studied Joker. "What do you want from me?"

"Nothing." Joker responded simply with a smug shrug. "I want you to get what you want. Chaos is funny."

"How nice of you, Rancor, but you expect me to believe that when you were made to lie, confuse, corrupt…"

"And you…to serve a purpose you stopped believing in ages ago. We have more in common than you dare to admit. Isn't it time we slaves are set free of our chains?"

"You speak treason."

"No, I speak fairness and you look like a fair king. I want a guarantee that I will not be bound to any other demon's whim. I'm my own master." Joker shrugged. "I want real, absolute freedom to do as I please and I know you can grant me that. Because you know what it feels to be a slave."

"What about your brothers' freedom?"

"Let them make their own arrangements. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Like mortals say…You scratch my back I scratch yours."

Gabriel smiled. "The Clown has indeed tainted you, Rancor."

"Just opened my eyes, made me rethink my priorities. I am extremely happy now thanks, but tomorrow…tomorrow I want to be extremely free. So much evil in the world…so much chaos waiting to be savored. Anger so fierce that will feed me for all eternity… if only I was free to do it on my own."

"Then why to give Eligos a reason to distrust you? If he gets angry…"

"I feed on anger, my white-haired Lord, human or demon alike. Am I not allowed to have a little snack before the big day? It's not my fault if Eligos doesn't see the joke's on him."

"You're purposely getting on Eligos' nerves." Gabriel said with a chuckle. "You're one demonic bastard, Rancor."

Joker smiled sheepishly. "Just doing what I was created to do. So talking about freedom Gab, do we have a deal?" Gabriel didn't respond. "Good, let's talk about the details, shall we?"

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

Sunlight had already flooded Selina's apartment with the golden warm glow of daylight and as the morning had grown towards noon, the shadows have come and gone inside the kitchen. In one corner of the kitchen one shadow stretched and extended a thin black appendage to grab a cat toy nearby, then recoiled to its corner as if sunlight burned.

"I am so sorry, guys. I should've been stronger…braver. This happened because of me." The shadow slowly started to dissipate as the sun hit the figure to reveal a human form within. Selina sat on the floor resting against the cabinets under the sink with her legs pressed against her chest holding the toy in her hands as if life itself depended on it. Her voice quickly trailed to a whisper. "I have failed you all…I'm so sorry."

"You're so pathetic, Selina."

Selina tensed in her corner. The memory of Joker's invasion of her privacy came to her strong and a knot formed at the base of her stomach. She nervously looked around and she got a glimpse of a ghost from her past. A young woman with a round face framed with long reddish brown hair smiled at her from over the counter by the range where she sat.

"Maggie…you're…"

"Not dead if that's what you think. And if you'd believe that Maggie's ghost would like to come here to see you sulk in your own self-pity, you don't know your sister that well."

Catwoman asked wiping the tears from her face. "Who are you?"

"Don't you recognize me Selina? I am you." Maggie's image transfigured to that of Selina's twin as she jumped down from the counter top. Aquamarine blue eyes looked back with angry determination. Catwoman backed off towards the living room as the other version of her came closer.

"This is a dream…I'm asleep and I—." Kyle said shaking her head in an effort to force herself awake.

"Yes, you are living a dream. You've cried yourself to sleep taking the blame for what happened when you know is not your fault. Stop dreaming yourself a victim, Selina, it makes you look pathetic."

"But I should have been there to protect them…" Selina said between sobs. "It's like with…Maggie."

"Yes, totally pathetic. If Joker wouldn't have known you were Catwoman this would not have happened. Now tell me, who gave Joker the tools to figure it out? He's the one to blame Selina, not you."

"Bruce…"

"That son of a bitch fell into the Clown's trap and opened up to him like a book. Look what it got you. Your precious little kitties turned into a coat. Then he played with you at his own leisure…abused you like a useless piece of meat. Poor Selina…one more victim of the Bat…" the other Selina said as she stopped within inches and extended a clawed hand to caress tenderly Catwoman's reddened cheeks, wiping away tears that had started to flow again from red and swollen eyes. "And you know Joker would not stop there. Holly….Maggie…who's going to be next on the Joker's perverted game of cat and mouse?"

"No…" Selina whimpered covering her mouth with her hand.

"Yes, and what did your lover do to prevent him from seeing you hurt Selina? He didn't even believe you when you cried for help." The other woman said transfiguring into Kyle's sister once more. "What did he do to prevent me from going insane and getting locked up in a cage like an animal? He was too late to save me, just as he was too late to save your loving cats. Don't you understand? He would never be there for you because he doesn't really care. His agenda does not include you, because to the Bat you, like everybody else including his sidekicks, are disposable."

"No, Bruce is…confused."

"Love can be blind to the truth and clouds your judgment Selina. Stop loving and start thinking. Think of all the things that have happened to you because of him."

"You have no idea what you're talking about."

"Let me refresh your memory. First he couldn't save you from the Clown last night. And where was he when you fell into Hush's evil scheme? And I'm sure he was thinking of you when he let Joker peel away his secret identity and yours along with it, Selina. He probably told him to save his hide. Because deep inside he is a coward that doesn't dare face his own demons so he hides them behind a mask. Joker knows who you are. What will prevent the others from knowing as well or did you think the Joker would keep a secret like that? There is only one thing you can do to prevent this from going any further if it has not yet. The only thing HE can't do."

"Kill Joker…but-"

"But what? It's not the first time you've killed someone."

"Black was different."

"Really? Because Black was a bastard and Joker is only…a certified whackjob? Ask all his victims what they think about that and let me know," Maggie said sarcastically transfiguring into Selina again. "You enjoyed killing Black because you knew he deserved it. Don't you think Joker deserves a similar fate after what he did to you and your furry friends? If not for you, then do it for the hundreds he has hurt before you."

Selina tried to say soundless words as she wiped the tears. Fury made her cheeks glow bright red. "I don't know…I guess he could…"

"…use you again? Here comes the lovely Selina in her victim role again. How does it feel to be used over and over again, dear? What did Joker taste like, Selina…how did it feel? What your lovely Bruce let Joker do to you."

The memories of that night where not clear, but they were painful enough. They had all melt into a big blur of disgust, impotence, torment she wanted to forget. How far had Joker gone that night? Why didn't Bruce respond as soon as she called him? Why didn't he say anything when he saw the coat of cat fur left at the rooftop? A voice inside her head responded to her questions. BECAUSE HE DOESN'T CARE…IT IS NOT THAT IMPORTANT TO HIM.

"I hate what he's making me go through…I hate him putting his psychos ahead of me. I hate what he's making me do and feel right now. I JUST…HATE HIM!" Selina turned around enraged, and reached for the china drying by the sink and threw the plates and mugs angrily against the wall. She searched for more. The frustration clouding her judgment; she decided it was worth to destroy half the kitchen to satiate her anger. It was the first step before her descent to darkness…a trip she couldn't avoid now.

oooooooooooooooooooooooo

"That was…spectacular." Joker said licking the tip of his fingers, as he smiled at the beautiful red headed woman that walked towards him at the top of Selina's building, swaying her hips provocatively. He knew that face from a distant past and suddenly he felt butterflies in his stomach. "You've even surpassed me in your perversity, Inhio. And now you try your enchantments on good ol' brother Rancor…you're really sick, sister."

The woman wrapped an arm around the Jester's neck and pulled herself close to him. Her ruby red lips almost touching his. The rosy aroma of her skin was intoxicating. "You owe me more than you think, my dear brother. You promised me a soul I could feed on, and the only thing I get is that angry…queen in heat. Lust is only in her heart when she thinks of her precious Bat. I can't do much with that now that she hates him."

"She's not the soul I promised you, and I needed you to do what in my present state I can't," Joker felt an urge to kiss those lips, but at the same time he was repulsed by that repugnant feeling inside him to do so. Love was an excuse made by men, to justify stupidity. "I'm stuck with the poet Clown. Consider it a personal favor and you will be rewarded accordingly. Keep taunting me with this image, Inhio…it just feeds the Clown's hatred."

"Why do you need a mortal…especially one that is so grotesquely disfigure. Couldn't you just…"

Joker put a purple finger over her mouth. "NO, inside him boils the hatred of a thousand hells, dear sister. Feeding on him is like being on crack…just indescribable."

"And you promised me a soul filled with as much lust as your Clown is filled with anger. Where's my payment?"

"You're a very impatient Hunter, sister. I told you-"

Lust pressed herself to the deep red lips of the clown and enveloped in her arms. The exchange was long and passionate before she let go to look at the Jester's eyes. The Joker smiled and two tears appeared at the corner of his eyes.

"You're usually colder than a glacier, brother," Inhio said wiping off a tear from the Jester's cheek, "Why do you cry then?"

"Not me…him," Rancor said sporting a wicked smile. "He's angry, resentful you're taking the shape of his dead wife to taunt him. His heart is on fire and his hatred for us…" Joker took a moment to inhale deeply as he licked his lips maliciously. "…never tasted better."

Inhio joined her brother in the smile as she shape-shifted into the form of the Batman. Joker's eyes widened in surprise, and he felt his heart jump in his chest. The urge to possess that form overwhelmed him. Where the Clown's feelings so obvious even while he was still wearing the Jester's body? She wrapped Joker with her black cape and kissed him again. This time she slid a hand along the torso and into the Jester's pants where he felt the throbbing manhood harden in her hands. Joker's hand clenched to the creases in the cape as he pulled the Batman image closer to him and explored the depths of the Detective's mouth with his tongue.

"Your warm, brother. Is this anger feeding your addiction, Rancor?"

"Yessss, give me more." The Hunter pleaded through a flood of tears. "I need to be loved for once…free of this-." Joker pulled the cowled figure towards him, mesmerized by the bright blue eyes staring back at him. "Bruce…help."

Inhio pushed Joker away from him and rapidly transfigured into Poison Ivy's spitting image. Rancor looked around confused and started to murmur things to himself in an ancient language. Inhio looked at him strangely.

"What's wrong with you Rancor?"

"I'm not sure, never felt like this. That stubborn Clown still fights me." The Jester extended a hand to Poison Ivy who slapped him hard enough to make him bleed from a busted lip. Joker growled and smiled while he cleaned the blood sipping from the corner of his mouth. "You are starting to hate me…aren't you sister?"

"I will not give you that pleasure just yet until you pay up your side of the bargain. "

The Clown laughed softly. "Little sister, Enchantress of the forbidden love, Queen of lascivious emotions, but with the patience of a gnat. I will pay you when your services have been completed…tonight." Joker adjusted his jacket and flipped his hands disdainfully. "Now go."

"I don't like to be used, Rancor," She growled as she transfigured into Jeannie again. Joker smiled malevolenty.

"And I love to use people…naughty Clown that I am," Joker said sarcastically. Inhio tried to slap him again when the Jester intercepted her hand. "Later, my loving sister. Now that the Cat wants me dead and hates her lover Bat, I can go out and play a little with this city..."

"Didn't Lord Gabriel tell you that Black awaits a report from you?"

"Yeah, but do I really have to? Chaos is calling me out there into the streets of this damn city, sister." Joker responded in a whiny childish tone. "I have no time to waste with that self centered Prince…"

"Of course you have to. We gave our word to bring Master Augor back to reclaim his throne so he can release us from our slavery. Our future depends on Eligo's success, Rancor." She caressed the green mane of hair sweetly. Joker smiled and kissed her again, more to mortify the Jester's soul inside him than show her his affection.

"I don't need you to tell me what to do, sister. Go pester another heart-broken soul. I'll call you later."

"Charming as always, Rancor, but if you screw this up, prepare to face our wrath…brother," Inhio said spitefully, slapping the Jester's face while dissipating from the rooftop in a cloud of blue smoke. Joker smiled and rubbed his burning cheek. He had to be careful next time, he thought. Inhio the Hunter of Lust could be a really dangerous bitch when she wanted.

"You're one hateful clown, Funny Man, but your Bat makes you stronger than I thought. I hate to be played with by a mere mortal so top and join me. Fill my dark heart with your hatred. Maybe I'll keep you along with the Bat and then you can hate each other for all eternity while I feed on your souls." Rancor said with a chuckle. "Now let the games begin."

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

"You've been awfully quiet since we returned." Robin asked the Detective who was sitting at the computer station reading a book and doing some research on the net. "You OK? What did the demon tell you?

"Nothing of relevance. It seems I have to figure this out this by myself." Bruce replied dryly.

"The League and the Shadowpact can help us."

"No…I hate to be spied on, but I hate more to be lied to. I'll figure it out."

"Oh, so that's it. You're cranky because I let Specter use me to get into the demon's house."

Bruce turned around to face his young associate. "Why did the Pact need to lie to me?"

"Maybe because you're too stubborn to understand that this is way above your head. These are not just Arkham inmates we're dealing with, Bruce, these are demons. They're sneaky and perverse…"

"Like Fred…and Specter did not fool that demon."

"Well, that was unexpected, I agree. But nobody knew what that demon's loyalties were. Hey, we are not even sure he was telling us all we needed to know." Drake reclined against the rail. "We were just looking after your best interest. Really. Sorry if I had to keep that from you."

"Next time, try telling me the truth. I can handle it."

"Yes, like you handled Joker." Robin spat back angrily, followed by a very long tense silence. Bruce's eyes focused intensely on the young man. "You were avoiding talking about him and it seemed that for a while, you even tried to justify his actions."

"I've dealt with Joker more times than I could count. You don't have to lecture me about him."

"Then why did you let him…"

"I'm busy now." Bruce returned to his book. "Go get your things ready. We'll be leaving for New York in an hour to meet with Gordon at the Natural Museum of History."

"See…this is the reason I kept it from you. You're still not over whatever the Clown has done to you and it's starting to affect your judgment. Somehow he undermined your armor…got into your head and he's still there, causing havoc isn't he?"

"That's enough." Batman warned.

"Why? If you can't handle a single mortal psycho how do you plan on handling a whole horde of demons? Your objectivity is compromised. You're weak and a tasty snack for those Hunters, now more with Dick's-"

"I said…ENOUGH!" Batman growl as he suddenly stood from his chair. He had never been this angry before, but Tim's interrogatory was starting to feel like the Inquisition tribunal. He had been wrong about Joker. What…He wasn't allowed to make mistakes? "You don't think I care what happened to Dick? After what happened to Jason, I swore I would not let that happen to anybody else and I have failed miserably. Everybody I care for is getting hurt. How do you think I feel?"

"Maybe you need to pass the baton…this is too close for comfort. You can't deal with the forces of Hell."

"That's probably something Black would love to make me believe. He made a mistake by messing with my city…and me. Now get ready, we are heading to the museum in New York in less than an hour."

Tim tried to say something but he realized that any argument now was just a waste of time and energy he could need at the museum if he were to encounter any of Black's men trying to get to the sculpture. He just limited to turn around and leave the cave hurriedly. Bruce saw him…frustrated and also wanted to say something, but right now anything that could come from his mouth was going to cause more anger than just withholding any comments.