Chapter Forty-Seven: Blood Quest.


The yell turned the eyes of the League members, Ra's, and Alia towards the archway. A scant number of torches illuminated the archway. They could only barely see the black-clad figure who approached them. The swords of the nearest League guards drew and one of them leaned into the doorway.

The figure made a swift movement. She withdrew a blade of her own. One swipe sent the blade cracking into the sword of the nearest man. A second swipe resulted into a diagonal switpe of the blade. The assassin staggered for a moment, before collapsing to his knees in pain. The assassin finished up her work by burying her foot in the wounded chested of her enemy. With one push, the assassin kicked her enemy over. The enemy landed onto the ground.

Nyssa stepped over the wounded body of the assassin. More of them withdrew their swords and directed them at the Daughter of the Demon. She stood, without fear, and motioned for them to come to her, to fight her. Dark hair draped over her face. The woman took another step to them like a woman possessed.

"Stand down."

Ra's Al Ghul descended from his throne. The robes billowed behind the Demon. He stepped down, bringing his foot down upon a stick on the ground with a crack. The gesture directed the attention of more of the League members of the Demon.

Alia wondered what Nyssa was doing. The daughter of the demon knew the instant she stepped into this temple, she'd be subject to execution. Alia vowed to bare the burdens of all of the women, and take down the League of Assassins from within.

Only, Nyssa disagreed with these plans. Ra's bent down and cupped his daughter's chin roughly. More swords drew at the back of her head.

Alia stepped to the side, and started to withdraw her blade in an attempt to jump in for the save. Nyssa's mouthed the word "no", and Alia fell back.

"My daughter, I never questioned your nerve, although perhaps your nerve is coupled with foolishness."

Nyssa's eyes burned with hatred as they fixated upon her father's face. The Demon did not blink in the face of his daughter.

"It's not foolishness. It's doing the right thing. And doing the right thing is coming to face my destiny, and pay for what I've done."

Ra's released his daughter's chin. He did not once stop paying attention to the position of the Warrior Princess. The Dragon's abilities utilized to a certain extent could be fairly formidable.

"Oh, and the right thing?" Ra's asked. "I've allowed you much, Nyssa, but you continue to betray everything I stand for. And you've brought your sister into harm's way."

"No, I saved, Talia," Nyssa said. "You don't see us as your children, you see us as your pawns."

For a brief moment, Nyssa braced herself for her father raising his hand to strike her. The attack never came. Ra's fist clenched.

Alia watched for the attack too. If the Demon put his hands on one of her women, the Warrior Princess intended to remove his head from his shoulders. Even if she had to kill every single League member loyal to him to do so.

"I see you're too far gone," Ra's said. "So, you've come here to protect the Dragon."

"She doesn't need any protecting from you," Nyssa said. "You've turned soft….case in point."

She turned to a bound Damien Darhk, who still slumped in the chambers. With lightning quick precision, Nyssa withdrew her blade, and hacked into Darhk's chest. A splatter of blood emitted from his chest.

Ra's Al Ghul watched his daughter remove his chance at redemption by killing his enemy, something which should only be done with his own blade. He reached for his daughter, but thought better of it.

"You shouldn't have killed him, Nyssa. You should know the laws of the League."

"Oh, I believe I know the laws of the League," Nyssa said. "You intend to expel me from the League, and hunt me down to the ends of the Earth, along with Sara, and anyone else I align myself with, don't you?"

The torches flickered into the temple. The terrifying glimpse of the twisted form of Ra's face showed to be enough to send shivers down a person's spine.

Nyssa refused to blink. She refused to bend, or refused to back off.

Alia shivered for a few seconds. She found herself in the midst of a battle of wills. The other League members around her, despite being hardened assassins with all emotions removed, stepped back as well.

"You know the rules, and you know the law of the League."

Ra's voice cut through the silence. Nyssa clenched her hand around the sword. She thought about attacking her father for a brief second.

"Attack me, because I will feel better in killing you by my own hand."

Nyssa dropped to her knees and dropped the sword to the ground.

"I want them to see you kill your daughter on her knees like the coward you are. You'll be forever be the vilest being in the history of the world."

Ra's clenched his sword for a moment. He studied the look on his daughter's face.

"I never thought you'd want to die on your knees before another man, even your father."

"You don't have to do this, Nyssa," Alia said.

"Alia, I know what I'm doing," Nyssa said. She rose from her knees, to her feet. "But, you know of another option, based on the laws of the League. I'm owed a trial by combat, against you."

Ra's paused for the most scant of seconds. His gaze penetrated his daughter's eyes. Seconds shifted into minutes the longer he stared her down.

The scene around the temple grew silent. No one dared even breath until the Demon made his answer clear. Even Alia stood rigid, wondering if Nyssa bit off more than she could chew.

Finally, the Warrior Princess broke the silence, speaking up. There's no way she could allow this trial by combat to occur.

"Nyssa, I cannot…"

"Alia, it's not what you cannot allow, it's what must happen, "Nyssa said. "My father disrespected me by his continued search for an heir, despite the fact I'm willing and able to take over his operations should he pass. And it's getting closer to the instant, isn't it, Father?"

Ra's never once blinked. The other League members closed ranks around him. One steely gaze from the demon brought them back into line. They all bowed down before battle.

"You think you have a chance in beating me in battle?" Ra's asked.

The words rolled from his tongue as if they were some foreign oddity. He ran his tongue in his mouth as if testing the words.

"I have to defeat you in battle. I have to earn my right as the Head of the League of Assassins."

Ra's dropped his gaze to his daughter. Everyone else in the room didn't matter at this point. He crossed the room and touched his hand to her shoulder.

"And what makes you think I won't slay you where you stand?"

His question cut through the air like a knife. His blade clenched in his hand looked as if he would stab Nyssa where she stood.

"I know you won't," Nyssa said. "Your leadership has been challenged. You have no choice but to fight me, if you don't want to look weak in the eyes of your League. And in the eyes of your younger daughter, and everyone else."

"You leave your sister out of this," Ra's said.

His voice cut through the air like an ice-cold knife. Nyssa grew closer, and touched her blade to her father's.

"What will it be, Father?"

The League, Nyssa, and Alia all awaited Ra's response for his daughter's challenge. The winds kicked up outside of the temple.

"There are many things you must learn, child, before you outstrip the master. The trial will occur at midnight underneath the moonlight. And we will fight until one surrenders, or dies. Choose your second."

"Alia," Nyssa said.

Alia looked firm and didn't argue with Nyssa's words. The Warrior Princess folded her arms and nodded. Her jaw set.

"Do know your life is forfeit when my daughter loses," Ra's said.

"I understand the rules of combat."

Ra's waved his hand and the League parted. He looked his daughter dead on in the eye.

"I'd suggest you say your goodbyes while you can"

"I don't think you understand," Nyssa said. "I will end you, and take my birthright."


Sara paced around the room like a caged animal. Cass followed her progress, along with Kara. Talia folded her arms and leaned back against the chair.

"Do stop, please, before you wear out the ground."

Sara turned around, eyes fixed on Talia. She didn't stop for a moment.

"I can't believe Nyssa went for….I just can't believe she went to go after Alia."

"She doesn't really intend to fight her father, does she?" Kara asked. "Because, Alia has a plan. It might not be the best plan in the world, but a plan's a plan, isn't it?"

"Yes, better than going in there without a plan," Cass said.

Sara folded her arms. She noticed two figures approaching. Her heart started to skip a beat and spirits perked up. Sara rushed to the doorway, and the second Nyssa cleared the doorway, Sara wrapped her arms Nyssa with a hug.

The Daughter of the Demon wasn't entirely displeased to feel the arms of her beloved tightened around her. Alia stepped into the picture. Kara greeted her, nearly tackling her against the wall.

"Kara, we don't want to bring the entire building down!"

Kara stopped her momentum, and flew back for a second. Nyssa and Alia returned into the room, joining Cass, Talia, Sara, and Kara.

"So, you brought the Demon his prize?" Kara asked. "And he let you go."

"Not necessarily," Alia said.

Kara sat rigid for a second. She thought Alia might regret this scenario, and she turned around to be right. Kara's hand shot out to grab Alia's hand.

"What happened?"

Nyssa dropped the blood splattered sword down on the table. The girls all looked at the sword. Talia's mouth hung open for a second.

"You….you….you killed our father?"

Talia struggled between being impressed or mortified. Each emotion battled for equal time in the back of her mind.

"I didn't kill him," Nyssa said.

"Oh, you didn't," Talia said.

"No, I didn't," Nyssa said.

Sara stood up for a second and realized something. If the blood on the sword didn't belong to Nyssa's father, than who did it belong to?

"Darhk, you killed Darhk, didn't you?"

"I allowed Alia to hand Darhk over to my father, and then I snatched his triumph of slowly murdering Darhk by killing him in an instant," Nyssa said.

Talia wondered what the hell happened to lead to this. Surely, Nyssa's relationship didn't spur this ill-will. She had been focused on her mission so much.

"I was about to fight him," Alia said.

"I couldn't under good conscience allow you to fight my father," Nyssa said. "Our duel needs to be done. I've been denied my birthright, and now, I'm going to make him pay. If he won't make me his successor, I'll force his hand."

"Are you sure you can even stand up to him?" Sara asked.

Sara eyed the blood stained sword. She wondered if she might be hours away from seeing a similar sword with Nyssa's blood spilled upon it.

"I have to stand up to him," Nyssa said.

"If anyone has a chance, she does."

Lady Shiva crossed the doorway, and entered the room. She stood in the darkest part of the room to give herself more of an exotic air.

"But, a chance does not mean a certain victory. Many died at the sword of Ra's Al Ghul, some within seconds."

Nyssa swallowed the lump in her throat. Her gaze met the face of Lady Shiva for a brief second. Staring down the most dangerous women on Earth drove home to Nyssa what kind of situation she found herself in. Shiva's eyes held something.

Pity maybe, no, likely it's not pity she noticed. Shiva wouldn't give anyone pity.

"I understand my father's triumphs better than any other person on Earth."

Shiva nodded.

"Then you understand he'll lack mercy. And he will destroy you the same as he may every other enemy."

Nyssa stood up and turned outside of the window. Time drew short for her final reckoning. Alia placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Do you think I can have a word with you?" Alia asked.

"If it's about me backing out, you can save your breath. I couldn't, even if I wanted to. Your life is on the line as well."

"I know," Alia said. "And I understand, believe me. The problem is this sword."

Alia motioned for the blood splattered blade. The blood of Damien Darhk glistened into their eyesight.

"It's tainted….you would bring yourself misfortune if you bring a sword into battle which has already spilled blood."

Nyssa's gaze met Alia's for the briefest of seconds. The two of them locked eye to eye with each other for the next couple of moments.

"It's an old Amazon superstition. A fresh sword brings you fortune, a tainted sword seals your fate."

"My father carries a sword which has spilled the blood of many," Nyssa said. "I doubt a superstition will win me the battle."

Alia reached into a bag and pulled out a blade. She placed it into Nyssa's hands.

"It is well made," Nyssa said.

"A sword is only as worthy as the person who wields it, and you're worthy. When you go in and fight your father, remember….remember who you're fighting for."

Nyssa's eyes cast upon both her lover and her younger sister. Finally, the Daughter of the Demon rested her gaze upon Alia.

"Yes. It's time for me to claim my birthright. My father made a mistake for overlooking me, and he still overlooks me."

Mistakes often proved to be fatal. Nyssa clenched Alia's gift in her hand. Receiving such a blessing gave Nyssa an added incentive on top of the many incentives she received on top of everything else.

"Make no mistake about it, I have to beat my father."

"Make no mistake about it, you will."


Echoes of the past rattled through the air in Nanda Parbat. Nyssa walked into the midst of the echoes. Midnight approached, and she ascended a mountain where many had in the name of fighting for the right to lead the League of Assassins.

Many fell from this mountain before reaching Ra's. Those individuals may be considered to be among the most fortunate.

Alia climbed up next to her, following her.

"As my second, you don't have to make this journey," Nyssa said.

"As your second, I feel like I should make this journey, to ensure we remain on the same page," Alia said. "We're almost there."

"Yes, almost," Nyssa said.

Nyssa entered the dimly lit area underneath the moonlight. Alia followed her behind.

"I see you brought your dog to be your second, Father."

Ubu growled, but Ra's turned to him. The large man fell back into line.

"Ubu is merely here to satisfy traditions. He's not needed. And once you surrender, I'll make your death short and painless, before turning to your second. I do not intend to kill her, but make her into my concubine, and she will bare me a heir worthy of the demon. A truly strong heir who will…."

"Nyssa, fuck him up, please," Alia said.

She felt sick to her stomach at the thought of being used as breeding stock. Most men, she coexisted with, but if they respected her boundaries. Some men, she wanted to take a rusty sword to them to perform surgery on them.

"And I'm certain her sisters will be an adequate prize for my League and will lead the way to a new and efficient race of warriors."

Alia gripped Nyssa's shoulder.

"Nyssa, I don't want you to defeat your father, I want you to mutilate him, do you understand me?"

"Yes, Alia, I understand," Nyssa said.

The Daughter of the Demon approached her father, blade draw. Ra's drew his blade and the two of them circled around each other.

The priestess rose on the pedestal and murmured a prayer. The stones around them glowed and bathed them in a red light.

"Nyssa, one chance to surrender for it even begins," Ra's said.

"Your plans for the Princess and her sisters gave me even more incentive," Nyssa said. "You're a relic, who needs to be put down. A new age will dawn for the League."

"Your new age is nothing but a façade," Ra's said. He stood face to face with his daughter. "Draw your blade and let us see who the better of us is."

"Gladly."

The two circled each other. Nyssa charged Ra's for the first attack. Ra's turned and blocked Nyssa's attack. The Demon held her back and forced her to stagger a couple of steps.

A kick doubled Nyssa over. Ra's grabbed her around the head and slammed her face first onto the ground.

Nyssa rolled onto her back and blocked the descending blade down against her throat. She rolled up to her feet.

The two of them charged each other. Ra's blocked every single one of Nyssa's attacks. The harder she fought, the more he blocked.

"You see, my daughter, I've taught you everything….."

Nyssa tried to kick Ra's in the face mid monologue. The Demon avoided the attack. Swords clanged together in a battle.

The daughter of the demon propelled herself over the top of Ra's head. She tried to stab him in the back, but Ra's turned around and blocked her.

"Do not assume I've taught you everything, I know."

His blade cut into her shoulder. Nyssa winced, but powered through.

"And don't assume I haven't learned a few lessons outside your watchful eye."

Nyssa threw a concealed dagger from her sleeve. Ra's sliced the dagger in half very easily. He rushed to Nyssa and knocked her back to the ground.

He aimed a kick to Nyssa's ribs. The crack of two ribs breaking made it a bit harder for Nyssa to breath.

"Really? Indulge me then, because I've seen nothing."

Sara watched from the crowd. Her fingers dug into her cheeks as the battle continued. Nyssa's side dripped with blood, but she refused to give up.

'Come on, Nyssa, fight!'

Sara understood if Nyssa lost, she would have to fight for her life out of her. She would have to kill the entire League, Ra's Al Ghul included, or she would not be leaving her alive.

If Nyssa lost, Sara felt confident her lover would rise out on top.

Nyssa launched a chain with a jagged end out of the sleeve her outfit. Ra's side stepped it, and the chain wrapped around a torch. Nyssa yanked the chain and knocked the torch over, causing fire to erupt around them in the circle.

"I don't know what you hoped to accomplish, Nyssa."

Nyssa saw the hot ash on the ground and reared back her foot. She kicked the hot ash in the face of Ra's Al Ghul.

The most dangerous man on Earth took a step back. Nyssa charged him, and knocked his blade out of his hand. Ra's sword went flying over the edge of the battle arena.

Ra's withdrew a backup blade and continued to battle with Nyssa. The two of them clashed their swords. Sparks flew through the air.

The sword plunged into Nyssa's abdomen, doubling her over. The daughter of the demon crumpled onto her knees before Ra's Al Ghul. Ra's lifted the sword over his head, and started to say a prayer for his daughter's soul.

"May peace find you in the afterlife!"

Nyssa looked up at the sword, and stared at it with defiance.

"And may you rot in yours."

Nyssa powered through with a burst of adrenaline, to block her father's blade with her hands. She thought about Sara, Alia, Talia, and more importantly everything she stood for. The fact her father spurned her in battle.

The Daughter of the Demon reclaimed her blade, and she continued to power through despite the blood loss. Two deep wounds leaked blood from her body.

"You grow weak, Nyssa, you can't win."

Nyssa's blurred vision made her father look like a demon. She swung the sword back and clung against him.

She slid back for a moment, and jumped into the air. Ra's propelled himself into the air at the same at the same time. The two slashed their blades against each other.

Nyssa's blade sliced through Ra's like a hot knife through butter. Her sword brought itself down into Ra's throat, stabbing him.

The two dropped to the ground. The Demon stared at his daughter for a second.

"Why have you forsaken….."

Nyssa dropped the Amazon blade to the ground and picked up Ra's own sword. She ran him straight through with the same sword he used to kill many who opposed him.

"Because, you denied me my birthright."

The Demon dropped to the ground. The League members stirred, and Ubu rushed over to claim his master.

"Don't worry, Master, I'll….."

Alia smashed her fist into the side of Ubu's face, taking the big man down to the ground. Ubu dropped to his knees, and Alia kicked him in the face as hard as possible.

"Sit, Ubu, sit."

She waved her hand and incinerated Ra's Al Ghul's body before the eyes of the League. The Ra's loyalists hissed angrily.

Alia turned to them, her eyes narrowing before she spoke.

"You have a new League leader. I suggest you learn to deal with it, or perish because of it."

Nyssa collapsed to the ground, as Talia, Alia, and Sara joined her. She couldn't even celebrate her moment of triumph due to the amount of blood she lost.

"NYSSA!"

She blacked out after defeating Ra's Al Ghul, but at what price.


To Be Continued.