Gotham - 2000

Bruce Wayne had always secretly hated these parties. They were a strain on his persona. To the world, Bruce Wayne was a notorious play boy, rumoured to flirt with anything with a pulse. But deep down he had no patience for the type of women that threw themselves at him; as most of the women in this ball room would. But that, he supposed, was the price of keeping his identity as Batman a secret.

'Mr Wayne?' Bruce turned, his eyes widened at the beauty before him. The woman looked in her early twenties; her jet black hair pulled into a flower of pinned curls on her head, revealing the pure white flesh of her neck. Her blue eyes looked as though they could penetrate into his very soul.

'Hello' said Bruce, bowing his head to the woman before him, 'How may I help you Miss...?

'Christine' she smiled sweetly.

'First name basis already, my we are moving quickly.' Bruce teased but the woman didn't look phased.

'Oh believe me Mr Wayne, my last name gets me in more trouble than my first. I'm sure you of all people can understand that.' This girl was different from the others; Bruce couldn't shake the feeling the woman before him was after something other than his money.

'Alright then, Christine. Was there something I could help you with?'

'Yes, I was hoping you could introduce me to someone.'

'Oh?' Bruce frowned, it was usually others who introduced people to him, not the other way round.

'Yes, I heard that you were close to Commissioner Gordon. I was hoping you could introduce me to him on a more personal level?' Bruce could feel himself giving in to the fair beauty before him. It wasn't very often that a woman at these parties wanted more than to dance; which Bruce found very tiresome. And yet here was a beautiful woman, who seemed to have very little interest in the billionaire and all he could think about was holding her and guiding her across the floor. Clearly he had had too much champagne this evening.

'Of course, I would be delighted. But first.' he bowed to her and extended his hand ' May I have this dance?' She took his hand and let him guide her to the floor. He placed a hand on her waist, touching the glittering sliver material of her dress. 'So tell me about yourself? Have you been in Gotham long?'

'I like to travel. I've been in the city for a few weeks, but I'm hoping to be leaving soon.' He spun her around expertly before travelling once again around the floor.

'Business or pleasure?'

'Business, I'm afraid. There is a matter I must attend to here in Gotham. Which is why I need the Commissioner.' Others were joining them on the dance floor now, but none moved quite as elegantly. The way this woman moved; Bruce couldn't help but compare her to water. He went on to ask her about her family at which her smile faltered slightly, anyone but Batman would have missed it.

'My family is difficult. I haven't seen them in four years. My father and I...don't see eye to eye.' They danced in silence for a while. Bruce tried to get his head around how she could have answered all of his questions and yet given nothing about herself away. He still knew nothing about her; so much for world's greatest detective. He'd defiantly had too much Champaign. Finally they came to a graceful stop as the music ended.

'Now, let's go and find the Commissioner.'

OOoOoOoOoOo

Batman sighed as he looked down at Gotham from his perch on one of the cities many gargoyles. The city seemed quiet tonight; which was just as well, he still hadn't completely recovered from the previous night. That Christine woman had kept him drinking and talking most of the evening. Then at the end of the night she had disappeared, leaving Bruce to return home alone.

Bruce had to admit, it wasn't every day he came away from a party feeling used.

Well she seemed to have spoken in great deal to the Commissioner; so he guessed she had got what she'd wanted and therefore he doubted he would see her again. He rose from his crouch in frustration, ready to move to his next observation point and clear Christine from his mind.

The police radio in his cowl crackled and his attention was drawn away from the siren.

'Officer come in, we have reports of a disturbance down on 8th, possible homicide. Approach with caution, I repeat approach with caution.' So much for a quiet night he thought, shooting his grapple into the building across the street. 8th wasn't a large distance away, he could investigate and still be home before three. Tonight was one of the nights he envied those tucked up in their beds. Even the freedom of swinging through the large stone jungle could not lighten his mood tonight.

He arrived at the scene before any of the Police, but he was not the first there either. A shadow was crouched over the body in the alley way. Batman dropped down in front of it, poised ready to chase when it ran. But it paid him no mind, instead reaching out to examine the body.

'He's been drained of blood.' The shadow was female and had a voice Batman had been imagining all evening. Christine looked up at the Dark Knight with her piercing blue eyes. 'And before you ask, no I didn't kill him.'

'The evidence would suggest otherwise.' deadpanned the Bat, eyeing the body. The man looked around late forties, short hair, slim build and a look of utter terror on his face. There was blood coating the side of his neck but nowhere else; by the looks of it she was right, there was no blood left in the body.

'Had I killed him I think I would be wearing a little more crimson, don't you?' Again she was right, there wasn't a drop of blood on her.

'So what are you doing here?'

'The same thing as you, looking for answers...Mr Wayne.' Batman took a step back in surprise, he couldn't help it, no one aside from Ra's had ever worked out his identity before. As if hearing the questions running through his head, she continued, 'You can disguise your face, your voice, but you cannot disguise your scent.' Batman could feel all his muscles tensing; this conversation was taking an unexpected turn.

'How can you...?'

'How can Superman see through walls.' She smirked and his hand slyly moved towards his belt, hidden by his cape.

'You're an alien?' Her eyes narrowed as her smirked deepened.

'No, I'm a vampire.' She was toying with him now. He could see it in her eyes.

'Vampire's are myth.' Sure his best friend was an alien and his last girlfriend was a warrior princess, but believing in vampires was a step too far.

'Tell that to our friend here.' She indicated to the corpse.

'I thought you said you didn't kill him.' The humour faded from her lips and her face became more serious.

'I am not the only creature of death in this city.'

'Friends of yours?' A soft growl escaped from Christine's mouth at his words, her lips curled up over her teeth, revealing the tip of a small fang.

'We are not one in the same. They are blood thirsty cockroaches that crawl through the night.' The look of disgust was evident in her features. Batman could sense and underlying story behind them.

' So what are you, if not the same as them?'

'I'm far superior to them and must exterminate them when they nest in cities.' Batman's glare deepened as he listened. If what she was saying was true, then the pit of dread collecting in his gut was warranted. He watch catching on fast to what she was implying.

'These 'cockroaches', they're nesting in Gotham?'

Sirens sounded behind him, red and blue lights filled the alley way, bouncing off the stained brick walls. Batman turned to see four officers entering the alleyway, guns raised. When he turned back Christine was gone.

'Batman, did you see the guy?' the officer that spoke, Batman recognised as one of Gordon's; hence his lack of fear of the Bat.

'No.' At that he grappled away into the remainder of the night.

OOoOoOoOoOo

The following day the rumours were spreading throughout the city, as news of the 'corpse sucked dry' leaked. With the news of the previous nights murder also came the revelation that there had been other death, in the same manner, that had gone unreported. This fact was not unusual in Gotham, but the means of the death was causing panic in her citizens.

Bruce had been listening to the whispers around the office all day. As he feared, most of the whispers revolved around vampires. He rested his dead against the glass window of his office. The headache he had had since the party still hadn't gone; he was beginning to think it was more due to stress than the alcohol.

'This is what I feared would happen.' He tried not to show how shocked he was to hear her voice.

'How did you get in here?' he asked without turning around.

'You're securities not all it's cracked up to be.' Now he turned. There she was, stood in his office; hair in a neat ponytail, a well fitting dress suit hugging her figure. She looked the part that was for sure.

'I thought you couldn't come out in the day.' he teased, but she brushed him off.

'My family solved that problem centuries ago.' This troubled him greatly. Gotham people were not safe from these creatures even during the day? He voiced his concern as she crossed the room, sitting herself down on the edge of his desk. They were as close as they had been the night they had met.

'You misunderstand me. I said my family had evolved past that weakness. And my family alone. My father would not see those without our family name walk in the light.' Bruce stepped forward, trying to read her face, he could see nothing to indicate she was lying.

'And who is your father exactly?' She raised an eyebrow at him; as though it should have been obvious. This caused him to frown at her and she sighed.

'I'll tell you what, if I can count on the Bat and the rest of the League to aid my endeavours should I need them; I will make sure my kind do not infest this world. And as a bonus, I will tell you my heritage.' Bruce paused, if what she was saying was true, then she could be an invaluable asset to the League. But he was still having a hard time getting over the whole vampire thing.

'How do I know you're telling the truth about who you are?'

'Because no matter how hard I try, my face is still human. Which means the worlds greatest detective will always know if I am lying. Plus...' her blue eyes faded to a soft purple as she smiled widely, revealing two fangs. This time Bruce managed to keep himself composed.

'I was half expecting them to be red.' She pressed her lips together before showing an ordinary smile and her eyes returned to blue.

'They are for most vampires, but as I said, I'm special.' Bruce was beginning to see that.

'Fine, you have yourself a deal.'

She slid off the desk, flicking her hair as she strode past him. 'See you at sundown Mr Wayne.'

He watched her head towards the door, his curiosity about the woman building.

'You never told me your father's name.' he said as she reached the door. She paused and turned back.

'He's had many names. Originally he went by Alexander. But then humanity gave him a new name.' Bruce once again raised an eyebrow in question. Her hand rested on the door handle, her smile almost faded as though she was thinking of painful memories. Then before she opened the door and left, she whispered the name that would change everything.

'Dracula.'

A/N I felt mean about leaving you with the pervious short chapter. I am hoping to update every Tuesday if I can. For those of you who are here for Dick Grayson, never fear, he will be making a reappearance in the next chapter! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review and let me know if this story still has you intrigued. Karin xx