"OK, try it again." Sighed Miss McCracken. "Only this time move and speak."

It was another week or so later and Dana sat on the sidelines watching her understudy, Kim, practise her part. Understudies were just a precaution. They learned a person's part just in case the person got ill at the last minute and the understudy could step in and do the part. It wasn't the best part to have; you would turn up to every rehearsal but usually not get to perform.

Kim began walking across the stage again, talking to Dracula. Lark stood in the background waiting for her next dance number. Unfortunately she was waiting in vain, Kim just couldn't get this one part of the play, this was already the eighth attempt.

"Stop!" Miss McCracken called wearily. "Everybody take five. Have a drink everyone."

The cast jumped off of the stage and rushed over to the refreshment stand, eager to get a drink. Everyone's own drink bottles stood on the side, no one shared a bottle in case of spreading any infections that could render the whole cast with sore throats and raging temperatures.

"So how was your date with Rick last night?" Lark asked.

"Wonderful, he took me to a romantic restaurant and paid for a meal. He really is a wonderful boyfriend." Dana took a swig of her drink and offered Lark some, but Lark had already had a lot to drink today and wasn't thirsty. She had her own bottle of water anyway.

"Oh no!" Lark and Dana turned around to see that Kim had dropped her drink. It spilled out onto the floor.

"Don't worry." Dana grabbed some tissues and mopped up the spill. Kim sat down heavily on a chair. "I don't know what's up with me today, I just can't concentrate."

"Hey don't worry. Everyone has bad days." Lark said. Noticing Kim's red face and sweaty forehead she offered her a drink from her own bottle. "Here, have mine. I'm not thirsty and I've got a spare in my bag."

"Thanks." Kim swallowed about half the bottle in a few gulps.

"Back to work guys!" Shouted Miss McCracken.

"Slave driver." Kim whispered, about to finish the bottle.

"I'd save some for later if I were you." Dana said before Kim could take a sip. "I don't think Lark has another spare."

"Besides, it's really bad for you to drink loads in one go." Lark said. "Little sips only."

They got up and returned to their positions. From the back of the stage Lark watched Kim try again to get it right. She could have clapped when Kim finished the section without one falter.

"Well done Kim!" Miss McCracken clapped. "Are you OK?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Kim replied. A second later she swayed on the spot and collapsed on the floor.

"Oh my God!" Shrieked Miss McCracken. "Someone call an ambulance."

Lark and Dana rushed over to where Kim was lying. "She's still alive." Lark observed, checking for a pulse. "But her heart is racing and she's really hot."

"Open some windows and get a blanket!" Dana called to some other cast members. "What's wrong with her?" She asked Lark. Lark only frowned and put Kim into the recovery position. Twenty minutes later the ambulance carted Kim off and the cast members stood around stunned.

"What brought that on?" Stuart, who was playing Dracula asked.

"Isn't it obvious?" Lou, his understudy, replied. "Dracula's Nemesis has struck again."

"Don't be silly." Miss McCracken replied. "I'm sure that Kim will be fine. She's probably suffering from exhaustion or something. I think we should finish rehearsal here for today."

Lark gathered her things together. She crossed to the drinks table and picked up the half full bottle of water that she had given Kim. Frowning she placed the bottle in her bag and left.

Late that evening Lark opened her bedroom window to let Batman in. "I thought you would show tonight." She said, closing the window behind him.

"I heard about what happened at your rehearsal." He said.

"Yeah, it was scary." Lark sat down at her desk. "Have the hospital found out anything?"

"Kim will be fine, when she gets out of intensive care. The hospital found high levels of toxin in her body."

"Natural toxins?" Lark asked.

"No, an artificial one called Dextorine." Batman replied.

"Tasteless and colourless?" Lark asked.

"Yes, why?" Batman asked.

"Here." Lark threw the half full water bottle to Batman. "You may want to test this for Dextorine. Kim had some just before she collapsed."

"And you think that someone planted it there for her?" Batman asked.

"Not for her. For me. That was my bottle. That poison was meant for me and I gave it to Kim and now she's in intensive care." Lark said angrily.

"Don't beat yourself up about it. It wasn't your fault. Count yourself lucky. At least you know that you were the target, and now you can be extra careful." Batman said.

"You're making me feel a whole lot better." Lark said sarcastically.

"Well, you should know the truth. Keep on the lookout. Tell everyone only to drink from unopened bottles."

"There's hardly much point. Lightning rarely strikes twice in the same place. I don't think that our friend will try the same trick twice." Lark said.

"Good point." Batman crossed to the window. "You are good at this sort of thing."

"Maybe it's just in my blood." Lark joked.

"Just keep your blood in your body, not spread all over the stage." Batman said. "I'll get back to you about the Dextorine. Be careful."

He left and Lark sat on her bed. So she was the target. Or she had been. Dracula's Nemesis could have just been making a random attack. Either way she would have to be extra careful.

Later that evening Terry was getting changed back into normal clothes in the Batcave.

"Did you run the test on Lark's water?" He asked Bruce.

"Yes, it was positive. She was the target." Bruce replied.

"I thought so, so did she." Terry said. "Lucky escape."

"Speaking of escapes, do you want to tell me about your latest lucky escape?"

"It was strange. I was in the warehouse fighting the Jokerz after their bank robbery. I saw one of them come up behind me reflected in some broken glass, but another one was keeping my busy from in front. When I dealt with him and looked around the guy behind me was lying on the ground with a huge lump on his head." Terry said. "And I couldn't see anyone around."

"Another visit from your phantom guardian angel." Bruce said. "That's the fifth time this week. We need to know who they are, and more importantly what interest they have in saving you all the time."

"For the moment can't we just accept that I have someone watching my back?" Terry asked as he left. "I quite like having a sidekick of sorts."

"Yeah, well don't rely on them to be there all the time." Bruce replied as Terry left.