Batman Return of the Dark Nights
Written by: Panthera
Disclaimer: The characters within this story belong to DC Comics and Warner Brothers I have just borrowed them for a while. No harm is meant I will return them unharmed when I'm finished the only character contained within that is not DC is that of Zanah she is an original character created by me and my friend. Now, on with the story.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Selina stepped onto the elevator on the 5th floor of Wayne Enterprises. She stood relieved to be alone as she moved to push the button for the first floor. Her relief changed to panic as the doors slid open and an older man wit ha top hat stepped on and pushed the button for the 10th floor before she hit the One. She moved to get off knowing she was running against the clock but the doors slammed shut and she realized it was too late she was headed the wrong way.
"Good afternoon Mamm," he said as he tipped his hat.
"Good afternoon," She whispered uneasily.
"How are you today?"
"Pretty good," she replied before turning her focus to the number; it read six and climbing. She tucked a few unruly strands of her blonde wig behind her ear and then looked at her watch for the time. She stared at it for a moment before raising it to her ear to make sure it was still working. She heard the soft ticking sound and ground her teeth together in frustration.
In truth she was anything but fine. She had set the camera in the elevator on a still for five minutes when that time ran out her game was up. She would be caught, that was the idea to get caught, but not yet. It was too soon. Daggett would know she was up to something if he caught her too quickly.
Her glance shifted back to the number indicating the floor and saw that they had reached the 10th floor with three minutes still on the clock. The man got off and Selina closed the doors behind him; precious moments passing by, as the elevator worked its way down. When she came to a stop on the first floor only seconds remained to her freeze frame. She stepped out of the elevator avoiding the camera in the hall way as she moved towards the security guards desk.
When she got there it was empty, as her timetable had said he was making his rounds of the lobby. She stepped into the office behind the desk and made quick work of fixing the cameras and systems in the areas she needed access to. Once on the elevator and moving she hit the emergency stop switch between floors and make quick work of switching from Selina to Catwoman. She then pulled out her lock picks and turned the tumbler to access the 23rd floor before lifting the button again and sending the elevator back into motion.
It stopped on 22 and she pushed the button to close the doors almost immediately. A few moments later she stood in the main hall of the 23rd floor. That was much too easy. Catwoman purred pleased with her successful run to this point.
Mean While at Wayne Manor…
"Alfred have you seen Selina?" Bruce questioned.
"No sir, I haven't. Is something wrong?"
"I haven't seen her today," Bruce replied.
"I'm sure she's fine sir. Probably just resting."
"I'm going to look for her."
A careful search of the cave and the first floor turned up no sign of her. After checking her room Bruce found her window open and a letter by her bed. He opened the small envelope ill at ease having a pretty good idea what it might say and where she was.
To whom it may concern,
If you have found this it is no doubt because I have not been seen or heard from all day. I am sorry to disappoint all of you, but I felt I had to do this…If luck is with me I will return safely with proof to put Daggett away. If I do not then I have become his last victim. I say last because this letter is to be delivered to the police. Either way my success or death Gotham will be safe. No matter what happens Bruce I want you to know now that I loved you dearly.
Yours Always,
Selina Kyle
"Why Selina?" Bruce whispered before walking out of her room. What do I do now? If I go to save her without the signal I could be exposed, but if I don't go he could destroy her, Bruce thought.
Back at Wayne Enterprises…
Selina had just entered Daggett's office. She was busy pulling up information she needed when Daggett entered the room.
"Well, well, well…kitten we just keep bumping into each other. Every time I find you you're someplace that belongs to me and on your own. Why is that?" He asked before walking towards her.
"I told you, I'm not kept on a leash. I come and go as I please. Since my vanishing doesn't effect anyone and I have nothing to lose I came."
"I'm surprised the Batman lets you do stuff like this," Daggett said as he rested his hands on her shoulders from behind.
"He normally doesn't know what I'm doing." Selina said ignoring the unwanted touch.
Daggett turned her towards him and stared into her green eyes. "So, are you saying he has no idea you're here?"
"I left a note, but there's no telling when it will be found."
"So, at least for awhile, we're alone?"
"Yes, I suppose we are."
"What brings you to my door now?" He asked grabbing her by the wrist and pulling her towards him closing the distance between them.
"You've tried to kill me, you let your goons beat me within an inch of my life and have tried to harm everyone and everything important to me. What makes you think to can touch me?" she asked breaking loose of his grasp her green eyes full of rage.
"Simple, you invited me to," he said. Daggett walked around her and over to his desk.
"What makes you say that?" She asked turning her attention towards him.
"Because on two separate occasions you've come right to me, first at the party and now tonight. You've walked right into my hands without a second thought or hesitation. Now what I want to know is why?"
"You want me to be direct?" Catwoman asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yes. Please sit."
"I prefer top stand. I've never been good with direct."
"I know that," Daggett replied.
"How?"
"I'm good at reading people," he said standing up.
"So am I," she purred.
"How good are you at it kitten?" He asked studying her closely.
"Good enough to know you won't kill me," she whispered.
"Why is that?" he asked and then he moved towards her again closing the distance between them.
"Because, first and foremost you want Batman dead."
"But once he's dead what's to stop me from killing you?" He asked once again resting his hands on her shoulders from behind her.
"Because, you want me. In your own twisted way you're in love with me."
"You are very perceptive and knowing that makes you uneasy, but it intrigues you, because you're drawn to power. Tell me, why am I drawn to you?"
Selina stood silent trying to stay focused. He's trying to get into my head and he wants me to get into his. I don't want to. "I'm done playing this game Daggett," she said moving out of his grasp.
"I thought you liked playing with fire kitten."
"You're not fire, you're the devil," she whispered uneasy and unsure if his choice of words was merely a coincidence or if he was in her head.
"Relax kitten, I'm just trying to figure out why you're here."
"If you don't know that then you're not as good at reading people as you think."
"You came her for the proof you need. You came because you knew I couldn't kill you…but what if you're wrong."
"You must know I wouldn't have come here without covering that possibility."
"Of course, so we find ourselves at a stand off. I can't harm you, but I can't let you leave here, because you'll just come back when no one is here… So since we're stuck together I'll give you a choice you can answer my questions or we can pick up our conversation from the party where we left off before it was so rudely interrupted," he said grabbing her by the arm and pulling her to him.
"Let me go…I shouldn't have come here." Bruce was right.
"Bruce? You told Bruce of your plans. I thought you were in love with Batman… Oh, I understand you're still split Selina is in love with Bruce and Catwoman loves Batman, but you can't decide who you love more."
"Daggett please…" she began.
"I can't let you go and you know it."
Selina turned away from his stare in disgust as she cleared her head, not about to let him read it any further.
"You're drawn to me because no one else has ever caused you so much trouble. You've never met anyone who can deceive you, or was willing to fight you head on. You want me because I refuse to be bought and I'm the only thing you've ever not been able to obtain and control. No, I'm wrong one other person has been capable of such. Some one who worked for you."
"That wasn't so difficult was it? The idea of being in my head scares you doesn't it?" Daggett asked intrigued.
"Yes, you are an evil man."
"Tell me what it is I want."
"You want Gotham laid down at your feet," she whispered.
"What do I want right now?"
Selina broke loose of his grasp and turned away with disgust. "I'm through playing this game. I'm leaving."
"No you're not!" He snapped as he pointed a gun at her. "I told you I can't let you leave."
"Put that away, we both know you won't shoot me. You've got me under your skin. I'm an itch you have to scratch. You're no more capable of killing me than I am of killing Bruce or batman…so don't waste your efforts on a bad bluff.
"You're not walking out of here. Not unhindered. I can't have you coming and going as you please." Daggett pressed the button for the intercom and shouted, "Security call the police I've caught an intruder." He released the button and Selina responded.
"I'll be out as fast as I'm put in."
"That maybe true, but it will make security even tighter from now on. In case you haven't heard someone is trying to kill me. The only way you'll get back in here is if I let you in."
"The police are on their way. They'll be here as soon as they can," said security in response a moment later.
"Good. Inform them the intruder is no threat and has been detained until their arrival." Daggett responded before again releasing the button.
"I'm not detained."
"Yes, you are. I'm sure you know full well there is no way out of this office with security alerted. Now, lets finish our discussion," he said putting the gun away.
At Wayne Manor…
Batman sat in the cave trying to decide what to do when a police report came over the radio. "Attention all units break in reported at Daggett industries new headquarters all available units please respond."
Batman didn't waste another moment. He was on his way quickly hoping that Catwoman was safe.
In Daggett's office…
"I told you, I'm done playing this game."
"Oh no, Miss Kyle, this game isn't over until the police arrive," he said turning her towards him.
She lashed out at him with her fist but he caught her arm.
"My, my, such an angry kitty."
"I told you, cats don't like to be held," she hissed struggling to free herself of his grasp.
"And I told you, you're not a cat… Answer my question! What is it I want now?" He said dragging her back towards his desk.
"You want what you'll never be able to get," she roared in rage.
"Sit down and behave, or I'll give you reason to be angry."
Selina did as she was told knowing he meant he would harm someone she cared about.
"That's better," he said before he tied her down to the chair.
"You want me," she hissed.
"Yes kitten, that is what I want."
"You won't get it because the police are coming," she said cutting at the ropes.
"True, but I won't go away completely empty handed," he said cruelly before he kissed her.
Selina clawed more insistently at her ropes having no way of protecting herself from his unwanted advance. She was relieved when someone pounded on the door knowing freedom was close at hand. Daggett ignored it for a moment longer. The knock was repeated and followed by a voice.
"Mr. Daggett are you all right in there?"
Daggett's lips parted Catwoman's and he said, "You have the right to remain silent and if I were you kitten… I'd use it." He then walked around his desk and pressed the intercom button and replied, "I'm fine. Get me out of here."
The doors flew open a moment later and Catwoman was arrested.
