XXII
"Till we meet again…"
His menacing words lingered in Metropolis long after he was gone. There was a slight smirk on his face as he breathed the last bit of air that held her scent. In between Metropolis and St. Petersburg Darkseid closed his eyes as he imprinted the image of 'his' prey in his mind.
"Such power," he thought.
Apokolips Inkorporeyted (incorporated in Russian) Headquarters
The sonic boom from the boomtube opening shook the foundations of the Apokolips building. Desead stood at the entryway of a towering building as the ground trembled.
"Welcome back boss…" Desaad muttered as he watched Darkseid frame starting to come through.
Desead's white hair blew in the vacuum that the boomtube created. Darkseid's massive frame stepped through the portal with his eyes still closed. He heard Desaad's feet scurried towards his side. Darkseid grunted as he heard Desaad clearing his throat.
"...where is Orion?" Desaad asked.
A soft chuckle left Darkseid's lips as he walked past his old 'friend' without saying a word. With his eyes still closed he walked towards his building. Desead's eyes lingered on the portal for a few minutes. After a few minutes the portal started to close. The lack of Orion's presence finally hit him. Desaad gulped hard as the last embers of the boomtube closed before him.
"My 'son'," he grumbled without looking back to Desaad. "Has met his unworthy fate…"
Desead's jaw dropped.
"You didn't…"
Darkseid head peered over his shoulder with his crimson eyes wide open. Darkseid had a devilish grin on his stone cold face.
"Like I'd soil my hands with that fools blood," Darkseid replied.
There was a soullessness in Darkseid's eyes as he spoke. All the color drained from Desead's face as he watched his master slowly saunter into his headquarters. There was something in Darkseid's walk that made Desead wonder what went wrong in Metropolis.
"Shall I inform his mother, sir?" Desaad asked.
As Darkseid turned back towards the building Desaad noticed a trickle of blood dripping down the side of Darkseid's head. There was a look of fear on Desaad's face. He wondered if the Kryptonian drew his boss's blood. Desaad rushed to his master's side.
"Boss there's…" Desaad shouted as he reached the glass doors.
They shut in front of him as he approached. DEsaad's muffled pleas fell on deaf ears. Darkseid ignored his words as he continued further into the building. Gradually a dribble of blood slipped into his right eye. His massive stone-like hands wiped the red ooze from his eyes.
"It's been a long time since anyone has made me bleed," Darkseid laughed. "You shall give me a power son Diana."
He brought his bloodied hand to his lips as Desaad finally caught up.
"A son?" Desaad asked breathlessly.
Darkseid noticed Desaad standing beside him.
"She made me bleed Desaad," Darkseid said.
"She… The Amazon?!"
Darkseid let out a sigh.
"Yes," Darkseid replied. "I've never seen such pure raw power in one person. She will give me a son worthy to bear my name."
Desaad shook his head in disbelief.
"There are plenty of women here," Desaad said. "I'm sure someone like Barda could…"
Darkseid's head snapped towards Desaad as two beams of red darted into the wall right beside Desaad's head.
"I want the blood of Zeus to give me a son," Darkseid roared.
Desaad trembled as Darkseid walked towards him.
"I… I…" Desaad stumbled over his words.
Grabbing Desaad by his throat Darkseid clamped down on the olderly man. Desaad struggled to breath as Darkseid leaned in close to him.
"She will give me a son powerful enough to conquer the universe," he added. "And you will make sure that everything she needs will be in order here. Have I made myself clear?"
As his eyes rolled up in the back of his head he nodded.
"Yes sir,"
Darkseid loosened his grip on Desaad's throat.
"Good," Darkseid replied. "Be sure to toss Orion's mother out on the street as well. She no longer is needed. Diana shall be my queen."
As Darkseid lowered Desaad back down to the ground Desaad held on to his throat.
"What are we going to do about the Kryptonian?" Desaad gasped. "You know he won't let her go without a fight…"
"Oh I've everything under control," Darkseid answered.
"Why drag this battle out," Desaad asked. "You could have brought the Amazon here just now. Why wait…"
Darkseid shrugged.
"I want that Kryptonian fool to come to me," he replied. "He'll bring her to my door and I will bring him to heel on my own turf."
"But sir…"
Darkseid growled at Desaad's constant questioning.
"Never question my motives again Desaad," Darkseid ordered.
"I'm sorry sir,"
"That you are," Darkseid replied.
Ring, ring….
Darkseid glanced down at his phone.
Incoming call Lois Lane.
