In some twisted reality the sky is purple and politicians are honest. Being left handed isnt weird but a privilege. You are judged for who you are not what you look like. PBS has enough money so they no longer have fundraisers. War is settled with the best 2 outta three in rock paper scissors. And we know the address of every telemarketer so we can repay them for wasting our time on the phone while we could be doing something else important like watching TV, and I own Batman Beyond. BUT we live in this reality and I DON'T own Batman Beyond. Man this reality sux!

Deaths and Rebirths

Jonas L. Vanderburg no longer existed in the real world. Jonas Vanderburg had been resting peacefully in the cold embrace of the earth for a year now. How he had died, natural causes, murder, or just being in the right place at the wrong time. It mattered very little; he was dead thats all Jonas was concerned with. They say men die so that another could wear his face. Jonas Luminous, with his name tarnished by careless work of David Wheeler, had thought it pure luck that he should find another whom had fallen so that he may take up his life. He could go on with his work with a new beginning. He had been careful to cleanup after himself, erasing all traces of Jonas Luminous in the Gotham City. Only a genius could find out who he truly was, and the chances of a genius lingering in the dismal streets of Gotham City made him laugh.

Emily Carolyn, his rich employer quickly stepped towards him. Jonas where is my daughter? She asked with anger flooding her eyes.

Jonas smiled from time to time signs of a lively soul could be seen in the lonely woman's eyes. Why do you care? He asked callously.

Emily's mouth turned down in a hard frown making it easy to see she was truly the mother of Harley. I care because she's my daughter!

Jonas laughed crudely at the statement. She isn't a daughter to you. To you she is just a doll; a statue you owe so that you may show it off in front of your so-called friends.

The hurt look in Emily's eyes made Jonas feel evermore victorious. If only Harley had been so easy to take down. Jonas left the woman to go to his room with a bottle of whiskey and a glass.

Harley, he had never had a subject like her. The first few subjects he had experimented on gave in too quickly, mostly after the first hit in the face. Then when their genes were spliced they were too weak to withstand the changes; later they were sent to hospitals with some drug related excuse for their bleeding noses and cold shaking bodies.

Harley was different; she was paradox wrapped in an enigma for him. He knew he would have to splice her first then break her. He knew she was strong when the splicing did not take her down like all the others, only headaches where the side effects but that only helped in his cause. With the splicing done all was needed was to break her. The physical beatings she took like a man, always willing to fight back or take it hit for hit. And when it was over she would always smile at him with her bloody lips and make some crude remark in her demeanor of the crime jester. In times he felt she enjoyed it, almost to a point the thought that she did disturbed him.

Finding physically hurting her was getting him nowhere he pierced into her past finding each stressful and tragic events. Her father's death, she laughed at him when he mentioned it. The mental hospital, that did strike a nerve somewhere but not in the proper place, it only made her angry. Then he hit his target, a forget love, a repressed feeling of lose, something she didn't really get over. An ex-love that killed himself for some odd reason police could not figure out. But Harley knew but she kept the secret save even from him. Afterward it was easy to brake her down to put her under his thumb.

She was a lovely young woman, he covet her many of nights. She could be one hell of a temptress if she wanted. Had she any idea that she unwittingly seduced while she did the simplest of things? Perhaps she did, she would let him see and sometimes touch but then even with her under his control she denied him pleasures in her body.

Jonas poured himself a glass and held it up in a one-man toast. A drink to you, Harley my lovely Shadow and slave. It's a shame you took your life like you did.

She did it to escape you! A voice said.

Jonas turned towards the darkness to see a figure slowly merge from the dark corner of his room to the light. He said notifying the figure. Whatever brings you here? He asked wondering how he could escape this encounter alive.

Shadow's dead, she's dead! He stated slowly making his way towards the man.

Jonas slowly made his way towards his bookshelf were he hid one of his guns. His fingers glazed over the sleek surface of imitation wood. Nothing, it had been moved! She chose to jump off the roof.

Nightshade took out a machete from the back of his dark jade jacket. You could have saved her. She had lost all use to you didn't she? Like you said she was disobeying you, your influence on her was wearing off. But tell me how and why? Nightshade said lowering his weapon to his side.

Jonas did not miss such a chance to boast. How is simple, with the small help of Dr. Cuvier I got what I needed to splice Harley with a single nocturnal animal.

Nightshade asked.

To give her sight in the dark when most will need a light and the capability to hear things everyone else would miss.

Which animal did you use? Nightshade asked.

Jonas was getting cocky a bit too cocky to realize that too many questions were being asked. It didn't matter, a cat, an owl, a bat, or a mole, it didn't matter.

Nightshade crossed his arms before him with the long blade pointing upwards. So mostly you used the side effects of splicing, the reason why it was banned. Okay now explain why her of all people.

As you said the side effects of splicing, some of them were so strong and unstable it left my patients incapacitated for some time. But Harley was much stronger, her body had such a strong immunity and her physical condition was prefect. As you know my work came out a complete success, Harley had been spliced and in time became a good slave. And if you had a slave as skilled as her in the thieving business it would be a crime to let it all go to waste. So to keep everything pointing away from my new slave I invented The Shadow.

Shadow, your assassin and thief. Nightshade stated.

Jonas nodded smirking at his cleverness. Anything her master wanted her to be.

But how? Harley was in juvey when Shadow first appeared. Nightshade asked pointing his machete at the man ten feet before him.

Simple, pay the guards and I had her for the night, no questions asked. Ha! It threw everyone off our trail even before they could think of accusing Harley. No one knew what I was doing not even that ditz of a mother of hers.

Just as I thought, you get that babe? Nightshade asked looking up towards the ceiling.

A female voice giggled. Jonas gasped in fear as a square of the ceiling snapped from extreme weight being forced on it and with the square dropped a woman attractively dressed in red and black. Her lush lips painted black curved up into a deadly smile as she stood. Hello master, miss me? Harley asked waving a digital recorder.

~That morning~

Harley couldn't remember much of what happened after she and Nightshade fell through the church roof. If she tried everything came back a painful blur that reminded her of a drill being pressed to her spine. Her mind drifted back to a time she had visited a catholic church when she had to spend the weekend with her aunt, (her father's sister) she recalled the many well done statues and the paintings of heaven on the domed ceiling. The church bells and the rich soprano voice of some boy not much older than herself singing a hunting song she couldnt quiet catch.

Am I dead? I could have sworn that I was. I mean after such a fall like Red and I went through, I should be dead. I wonder what happened to my green lover. Ha! Lover never thought I would use that term again, not since Code killed himself.

But now, now I'm free, I'm free again. Man nothing went as I had hoped.

Something cold and moist touches my fingertips. I know what it is but I can't bring my mind to identify it. Something familiar, something from a not so distant memory. There's a strange weight on my chest, and another on my feet keeping me warm. Wait warm? Death wasn't warm. It was far from warm.

Harley cracked open her eyes slowly to see a whirling fan above her head; a single creeper decorated the ceiling. She was laying down in her bed, her bed in Shady Glades. She looked down on the still and bruised form of Chris half undressed and asleep on her chest and a happy Erik on the bed resting at her hand.

With a content sigh she whispered, I'm home. As she slowly scratched behind the ears of the overjoyed hyena.

***

After gracefully removing herself from Chris who was using her breast as pillows Harley went about the apartment closing the blinds and turning off the light, the dusty glow of morning light brought pain to her sensitive eyes. It was easy to see by the slight movements of the plants that she had been greatly missed over the pass few months. The house still reeked of sweet flowers, delilahs in the bedroom, summer jasmine in the living room, amaretto in the kitchen, and sweet honeysuckle in the bathroom, just the way she yearned for it all seen her capture so many months ago.

***

Closing all of the blinds and turning off all the lights Harley made her way around the house ridding herself of any light. As she made her way towards the bathroom she noticed a odd amount of beer can and other alcoholic drink bottles littered about the apartment. Chris had been drinking since she had been gone. "Oh Red." She mumbled heading in for a much needed shower.

Harley stood listless in her shower letting the hot water full over her soar body. Don't turn on the light. It still hurts my eyes. She said.

Chris drew his hand away from the light panel. How did she hear his silent steps? He wondered as he stepped into the bathroom. What did that bastard do to you? He asked taking a seat on the commode.

Induced my body with some nocturnal animal cells or something like that. I never paid much attention when that prick was gloating. Only thing I know is that it makes sunlight a pain. Hey but the up side is I can see in the dark and my hearing's improved.

Chris nodded slowly as the possible causes of this change quickly listed off until one reasonable answer reminded. He must have spliced you. Most likely it was bat with cells.

Harley lend forward in the shower placing her hands flat against the wall allowing the hot water to rain over her beaten back. Well whatever it was it's screwing up my body. So far I know it's unstable and causes serious headaches, pills are suppose to stop them but they only ease the pain some. The light makes the headaches worse, reason for my dislike of light.

How are they now? Chris asked concern knitting his brow.

Harley pulled back her head letting the water run through her bi-colored hair. In over drive. I feel like I wanna die.

Chris frowned as a violent urge to kill shrouded his senses. You should have taken that pill. He mumbled slamming his fist into the wall. A knock from the other side of the wall let him know that his neighbors did not appreciate him banging on the walls so early in the morning.

Harley closed her eyes sighing deeply; she shook her wet head slightly from side to side. Didn't matter. She said in a near whisper. Opening her brown eyes she pushed back the shower curtain enough so that she looked onto her green skinned lover. Wanna join me? She asked smiling impishly.

***

Chris laid in his bed with his arms wrapped tightly around his girlfriend fearing that she would vanish if he should loosen his grip. She looked so beautiful naked and breathless in his arms from their earlier . For him she had been too long out of his arms, was it some weeks or some months it mattered not it felt like an eternity.

Harley slowly turned so that she laid comfortably on his toned chest. We'll have to do a little shopping before we go and say hello to master. She said with detest dripping as she said the last word.

And why do we need to go shopping you have enough clothes. He smiled staring into her brown eyes.

Are you kiddin' me? I haven't a thing to wear for this season. She smiled kissing him once in the center of his ribs.

God I've missed you. Chris rubbed her back reassuringly, Okay. But what about this Master guy? We don't even know whom he is much less finding him.

Harley giggled; You've got to be kiddin', if you had control over someone would you truly entrust someone else in handling your slave? She asked.

Chris' green eyes widened as the answer dawned onto him. You mean that Dr. Jonas whatever is your master? I don't get it why the handle?

Harley shrugged. To confuse anyone pursuing me or something or another, to tell the truth I could care less.

Speaking of which, how did he manage to break you Harl? Chris asked.

The content look in Harley's eyes quickly melted into one of hurt. She cast her eyes away from his as she began. I once had a boyfriend before you. His name was Cody Shawl, but he preferred Code. He was apart of the Jokerz, can you believe it? Me dating a Joker. Harley chuckled bitterly. One night something I can't tell you happened to him, something he couldn't forgive himself for or live with. He shot himself in the chest then died in my arms. She said looking down into her hands as if she could still see the blood. I can't lie and say I didn't love him and his death didn't phase me, it did. Truth be told I never truly got over the whole thing. I snapped that day falling over the fringe edges of insanity and sanity finding twisted pleasure in the oddest of things. But I didn't confide in anyone about this, well except Miss Q.

Chris asked.

If I did it meant going back to...to that place. Harley said referring to the mental hospital she had come to fear. I would have gone insane if I had to go back there. But that's not where I'm heading with this.

Then where are you going with this story? Chris asked.

Don't know. She chuckled looking onto him again. I never do. I just go with what comes. But my best guess is what I'm trying to say is Code is gone, I healed the wound and lived on but there was always something lingering within me, something I cant explain.

Chris wrapped her in his arms. You really don't know yourself that well do you? You loved him and you didn't get over what happened right. I mean first you saw your father killed before your eyes and then your boyfriend. You didn't really crack all the way then but it did put you closer until it came time when you went to avenge your father. Think you loved them both and you miss them both but you can't do anything about it. Didn't it sort of feel the same way while you and I were separated? He asked kissing her temple.

Harley thought for a moment before answering. In a sense. She answered. Oh just forget about it. I don't want to talk about it, that's what got me into this slave act in the first place. She said. First it was the injection of cells masterfully hidden as a sedative. Then it was the beatings, which wasn't doing anything but feed her rage. Then came the talking of unhealed wounds, the things she couldn't set right, the one thing in life she could do nothing about. That's how he got her. The bastard.

Chris noticed the distant look in her pretty eyes, he knew as he looked onto her that the person Harley had once been was the one being used, a mere phantom, a shadow of the person he knew now. This was the person no one took the time to meet, but now she was dead crushed by a mad wave of chaos and madness. The one born in her place, the one he loved would return to him soon enough.

He began. When are we going shopping?

***

The clothing store manager laid on the counter bound by a single plant of some sort he could not identify with a rubber duck shoved into his mouth to gag him. He was just moments away from closing shop when the two young adults burst through. They held no intentions of taking the units from the cash register, what they seemed most interested in were the ladies department.

Nightshade sat in an armchair awaiting Harley to find the 'right' outfit for the night. From the small portable CD player Harley brought with her the ancient voices of Rolling Stones sang Paint it Black filling the room with the dismal lyrics and Harleys voice as she sang along.

I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes

Harley stood within the dressing room tossing another discarded item over the door. Nothing really pleased her. She smiled as she noticed a pair of black pants she knew would look deadly on her curvy hips. The smile on her face grew as she heard a faint sound over her music. s come to play. She whispered.

I see a line of cars and they're all painted black
With flowers and my love, both never to come back
I see people turn their heads and quickly look away
Like a newborn baby it just happens ev'ryday.

Batman was on his patrol when he noticed Charlie's, a decent clothing store for teens or peoples who wanted to look like one, was still open way pass its usual closing hours. The fire red convertible carelessly parked in the front told him someone was shopping after hours.

Quickly he rushed in expecting an armed robbery in place, what he did see made him stop in his tracks. The store manager was tied up on the counter near the cash register with the tail end of a yellow rubber duck shoved deep into his mouth. An ancient song blurred from a CD player hidden somewhere in the store. Not too far from him a young hyena gnawed happily on a display mannequin. And near the dressing rooms sat a bored looking Nightshade.

Batman nice to see you again. Nightshade said not standing up.

Batman waved his arm around at the scene of the store. What are you doing here? He asked.

Nightshade sighed. Waiting for Miss Undeceive to chose something to wear. One would think an hour would be long enough to find a stupid outfit! Nightshade shouted loud enough for the occupant within to hear.

It's not my fault everything makes me look smutty. Toss me some more over. Said a female voice.

Nightshade reached over onto the chair beside him and tossed four items over. Sorry love but they don't have anything in red and black that fits your um He teased.

Was that a shot at comedy? Don't make me come out there! Came a shout from behind the red door.

Nightshade looked at Batman jerking his thumb towards the door. He stood ready to get more cloths. Like you'd really come out. He mumbled.

The door flew open as Harley stomped out clad in her black underwear. Hey Bats. She waved as she walked towards her boyfriend then pounced onto him bring him to the floor.

Okay my green South American lovely I may not be completely lady-like but I do understand the art of choosing the perfect outfit, so dont rush me. She said as she sat on his chest. Batman only watched with surprise it was easy to see all four sets of her three diamond tattoos on her four limbs. He looked away careful not to look at her practically bare body any longer than needed.

Harley said, as her eyes caught a red top not too far from them. Quickly forgetting her conversation with Nightshade she grabbed the top then ran back into the dressing room.

I look inside myself and see my heart is black
I see my red door and it has been painted black
Maybe then I'll fade away and not have to face the facts
It's not easy facing up when your whole world is black

No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue
I could not forsee this thing happening to you
If I look hard enough into the setting sun
My love will laugh with me before the morning comes

Harley inspected herself in the dressing room mirror. She had taken a liking to bustier (that was the only thing about Jonas's taste in style that she did enjoy) the red bustier she had just found fitted perfectly, even the breast cups fitted fine. At her hips she wore a red belt over a pair of form fitting tights they might be called with lace up sides going from the waist to her knees. The lace up work stopped as two red bands wrapped around the legs once just above the knees. Harley spun on the toes of the red shoe she wore. Ah I feel human again. She sighed running her hands over the figure-hugging outfit.

I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes

Hmm, hmm, hmm...

I wanna see it painted black, painted black
Black as night, black as coal
I wanna see the sun, blotted out from the sky
I wanna see it painted, painted, painted, painted black
Yeah.

Batties and flora! I give you Harley Jest! Harley shouted as she opened the door of the dressing room. She flipped twice until she came five feet before the two. Man it's good to be back!

End o' this part.

Hello is anyone reading this anymore? I guess not, well for those who are reading, important announcement here. Due to school and sudden lack of interest in this on my part and the part of readers I'm going on hiatus. What's hiatus? It mean's I'm taking a break from this. Might not even finish. Oh well. C ya loves!

~The Demoness