Chapter Forty-Three

Daggett stood behind a podium carefully presenting his speech without error, but his temper was flaring dangerously just below the surface. Where is Selina Kyle? I expected her to come uninvited or turn up at the pent house as Catwoman for the tape in retaliation for the frame job thinking it was I. Why isn't she playing into my hand? I had the perfect reaction to her tantrum too. Damn it where is she! Daggett thoughts raged as he went on to explain further his new miracle cream.

Wraith stood on the roof across the street watching Daggett's grand show. Biding her time. Waiting for the opening to strike. She'd finish the game tonight. He'd become far too much of a threat to both her and those she counted friends. It couldn't be allowed to continue.

Looking about Wraith took note of Batman and Robin standing watch a few roves over and bellow her. Waiting for Clay Face to show. I hope he doesn't show, she thought, not fond of the idea of facing him again.

Bellow…

Daggett finished his speech and asked if anyone had any questions concerning the cream. Several hands shot up and he answered two or three questions about price, application, and a few other mundane details he had anticipated. The last question came from a tall woman in the back.

"Mr. Daggett is their any kind of dangerous side effects?"

"What do you mean miss?"

"Addiction. Potential heath risk created by ingestion. After all it is a beauty product and small children like to play…" the woman said.

"To my knowledge no," Daggett lied. Recalling Matt Hagen's addiction all too well.

"Really?"

"Yes mamm."

"Then how do you explain me?" The figure asked in an angry voice and growing harsher by the moment as Clay Face revealed himself. Moving towards the podium through the crowd all the while raging about what had been done to him.

Daggett made his mad dash across the stage and in the opposite direction.

Batman and Batgirl moved to aid Daggett's escape as Robin moved into the path of the raging figure. Yellow eyes flashed with rage, sharp claws of clay lashing out in vane to stop his fleeing query. Hitting various bodyguards, who now stood between him and the bat pursuing as well.

Wraith watched the scene from above seeing Robin had been left alone to deal with the clay mass and silently cursed Selina figuring this was her doing somehow. Daggett would have to wait. Her friend needed help. She felt her body begin to react to the breach of training even as she dropped to the ground near Robin.

"Wraith," he said amazed. Selina had been right she was an ally.

"Thought you could use a hand," she said even as she struggled through a wave of dizziness.

 Clay Face roared in rage as Daggett got away. Turning he lashed out at the intruders. Spotting the Wraith he turned his attention her direction, while Daggett's thugs held up Batman and Batgirl.

Wraith felt panic fill her system as Clay Face came towards her.

"Listen to me Wraith I'm here. You're going to be okay," Robin said.

"Go, he's after me. I can draw him away," Wraith said with more confidence than she felt.

"You're terrified of him I can see it. I'm not leaving you to face him alone."

Thunder crashed as lightning filled the sky and it began to rain.

Wraith looked back and noted Clay Face was right behind her. She came to a halt several feet from a cliff. It was time to stop running. If she didn't then she'd be running for the rest of her life. Never coming in contact with another person for fear it might be him. She wouldn't live like that.  Drawing her sword the Wraith turned to face her adversary.

   He stood his full height, yellow eyes glowing with malice. His massive form shook as he laughed at her. "Give it up girl you can't hurt me."

"I know you worked for him. I understand your anger. He has to pay."

"Save your breath. I know you're important to him. He has to pay, and you're a nice start," Clay face raged, he lashed out at her with clawed fists, which she dodged easily as Robin closed in from behind. Clay Face was right her sword was pretty much worthless against him, but her early struggle with him had revealed a possible weakness. Pulling out several small explosives she threw them at the massive figure and watched with satisfaction as Clay Face cried out in pain.

The light drizzle became a heavy downpour changing the dirt to mud, making the ground slick and treacherous. Robin followed her lead using his own charges against their common foe.

Clay Face lashed out in rage first at Robin swatting him away like an annoying fly and then turning his focus to the Wraith. His yellow eyes burned with an intense rage that frightened her.

Lightning streaked the sky turning night to day and fully illuminating the mad figure before her. Before throwing her back into a thick darkness. Wraith's head pounded, stomach knotted and she cursed Daggett a million times as she blinked trying to focus.

      Clay Face charged at her in rage his intent to snare her and suffocate her before she could do any more damage. Wraith moved with a precision born of years of training. Dodging him. She watched as he slid in the mud unable to find traction and fell on the soft earth near the cliff edge. As he struggled with trying to find his footing the soft earth crumbled giving way beneath him.

Wraith watched with satisfaction as Clay Face clawed at the soft ground trying to prevent himself from falling into the churning ocean below.

Suddenly a pair of tendril shot free from clay Face's massive form and seized hold of the Wraith legs in a vice like grip. She felt her legs pulled fro under her and she tore at the ground trying to avoid being pulled over herself by his weight. Robin dove across the ground, seized her outstretched hand and he held on for dear life. She slid further over the edge. Wraith cried out in pain feeling as if she were being pulled apart. The weight of Clay Face dragging her further over the cliff side, while Robin's grip on her wrist threatened to pull her arm out of the socket. She felt the ground crumbling and herself fall another inch.

 The cliff was going to go soon and there was nothing that could be done to save them.  Robin couldn't hold on he'd be dragged over as well under the weight of her and Clay Face. Robin grabbed her other wrist to drag her up but Wraith was well aware that he couldn't hold on for much longer and survive it spoke. "Let me go."

"No, I won't let you fall. They'll find us in a minute."

"Dick you have to let go. You can't hold on that long," She said as she felt her self fall another inch. His arm now hung over the cliff face.

"Zanah?" He asked stunned.

"Good-bye," she whispered and to save him from plunging into the choppy waters below she dug her clawed glove into his wrist forcing him to let go.

"Zanah!" Dick screamed as he watched her and Clay Face plummet into the angry waves below.

Dick watched the water with a near fevered horror waiting and hoping to see the dark clad figure emerge from beneath the angry tide, but there was no trace of her. For a moment he consider letting go and following after her. He wanted to on the chance she might still be alive, but that choice was taken from him as Batman's gloved hand pulled him to safety.

"Where's the wraith?" Batman questioned.

"She's gone. Zanah's gone," he said distraught.

Batman blinked with surprise, but he should have known the girl was a lot like Selina. "How?"

"Clay Face dragged here over and I couldn't hold on."

"Clay Face?" Batgirl asked.

"No sign of him either," Batman whispered.

Robin stared at the choppy water a few minutes longer before walking away.

Batgirl shook her head and went on her way.

Batman glanced down at the water below sighed how was he going to tell Selina.