This story was originally posted in 2001 as three parts. This was
before it was possible to post in chapters on FanFiction.Net. I have
made the original first three part the first three chapters as they
were intended. I hope to add more as time goes on, but I can't make
promises.
Lyda Mae (RavenDove) Huff
Batman and all related characters are properties of DC Comics
Of Light & Shadow : A tale of the Dark Knight by Lyda Mae Huff
Chapter One- Espirituse La Angeles
--------------------------
She lived in the shadows; not because she wanted to, but because she had left all ties behind long ago. Perhaps it was better that way, but there was something to be said about simple human companionship. Though in all honesty she had never really known such a thing, not since she had been very small.
Out there in the night someone was going to need her help; even though he didn't know it yet himself. The Dark Knight of Gotham waged his one man war on all the evils of the world. Tonight he would not fare well. Their paths would cross soon, and she Espirituse La Angeles would be the Knight's protector. She knew this the same way she knew everything else; she just knew.
--------------------------
Batman had known this was not going to be his night from the moment he had fallen through the roof of the building he had been watching. Only one weak spot on the whole roof, right next to the skylight. It had been a trap, and he hadn't seen it coming until he'd fallen right into the center of it. He'd gotten out of the building and now he was just trying to get away with his cowl intact.
He went up to roof tops again only to find more goons waiting for him. He shot out a line to swing to the steeple of a church next door. Just as he was about to reach his mark the steeple exploded. He went tumbling head over heel; landing hard in the alley below. He was bleeding heavily from where shrapnel had caught him from the grenade that had sheared off the steeple. In that moment he thought, How ironic that it should be crime alley.
A delicately small figure stepped out of shadows dressed all in white. Raising its arms aloft, and calling out the figure began to glow; images of demons began to dance in the air, and the rain of bullets stopped. The figures arms dropped, and the glow and demons faded.
Batman looked up half conscious to see the figure approach; kneeling down to cradle his head. He could see now it is a girl with copper skin and dark eyes. Her manor was gentile, and she exuded an aura of trust. She put her lips to his ear and whispered softly "Don't worry Bruce; I will take care of you." He felt an overwhelming peace as his eyes closed.
---------------------------
Alfred had been anxious for Master Bruce's return since police reports had began to come in. He was there to greet the Batmobile when it arrived. He was not however expecting what he saw when the car's canopy opened. A mere child driving the car and Batman slumped over in the passenger seat. "Good heavens!" he exclaimed rushing to the passenger side of the car.
The girl jumped out of the car and began chanting. She began to glow as Batman rose from the car and levitated over to where the examination table stood; the glow faded as he was gently laid upon the table. Without missing a beat Alfred hurried to see to his injuries.
The girl joined him as he began to cut away the damaged costume. "I can be of more help Mr. Pennysworth." Her robe was open and the hood pulled back revealing dark brown hair tied neatly into an ornate style. She wore a long belted white shirt with fringe, and a long white skirt. She wore white soft leather boots, and carried a white leather bag. Even her belt, hair ornaments and beaded earrings were white.
Alfred nearly dropped the scissors at the mention of his name. "How did you..."
"Know your name." she finished. "I know a lot of things, and I am easily more than four times your age."
"Four times?" he questioned skeptically. "What should I call you?"
"Kemnika" she shrugged. Taking the scissors form Alfred's hand she finished cutting away the cloth and make shift bandage. "Clean the wounds good and I may be able to mend them."
Alfred didn't question he just cleaned; pulling slivers of wood and metal from the wounds.
When Kemnika was sure they were cleaned she held her hands over them and began chanting. The wounds closed into puffy pink scars. She sighed, "I'm afraid that's the best I can do."
Alfred looked the scars over, "That's a fair sight better than what I could have done."
Kemnika nodded, "He will probably sleep for some time. In the mean time I believe that Tim needs reassurances that I'm not the enemy." She turned to face the young man now standing on the stairway.
"Master Timothy," Alfred said with a start, "I didn't hear your come down."
"Who's she?" Timothy Drake asked pointing a finger at Kemnika.
"I am a friend who knew where to be when I was needed." Kemnika said humblely. "Bruce will tell you what happened when he wakes up. Until then; I will stay here so that I can not tell anyone secrets. And I will tell you my deep dark secret to make things even."
Tim looked at her skeptically, "Won't your parents worry?"
"My parents have been dead for over a quarter of a millennia." Kemnika replied with a straight face. "I think they are a little beyond worrying."
Tim regarded her even more skeptically. "I don't believe you."
"Once you hear my deep dark secret you will." she put bluntly. "My grandfather is known by the name of Ra's Al Ghoul."
Alfred gasped, "Ra's Al Ghoul..."
"I haven't spoken to him since I found out he was behind my mother's murder." Kemnika admitted sadly. "After that I spent a lot of time alone."
"My mother was killed by being thrown into a Lazarus pit. She was pregnant with me at the time. I was born into the Lazarus. I should have died with her, but I didn't." Kemnika tried to hold back the tears. "I aged normally until I was eight, then it slowed down."
"How old are you?" Alfred asked gently.
"Two-hundred and seventy-four." she sighed. "I'm very tired." she found a spot that was out of the way, pulled a blanket out of thin air; then curled up on the floor and went to sleep.
Tim looked to Alfred, "Do you want to call Dick and Barbra, or shall I?"
-----------------------
Nightwing was perched on a gargoyle with binoculars trained on an apartment across the way when his com unit beeped. "This had better be good." he said looking at Alfred's face.
"We have a lady claiming to be the granddaughter of Ra's Al Ghoul here." Alfred replied
calmly.
"Where is Batman?"
"Unconscious I'm afraid. The lady apparently saved him from some heavily armed thugs earlier this evening." Alfred's eyebrow raised at that last remark.
"You think she arranged it?"
"I don't believe so, but I wouldn't be willing to take that chance."
"I'll be there as soon as I can. Nightwing out." he shut down the unit shaking his head.
Alfred was talking quietly with Batgirl, Nightwing and Robin. They are gathered around the entrance of the Batcave to be out of ear shot of the mysterious girl-woman. "She is still sleeping and I don't think it wise to disturb her." he warned.
"Wise or not we need to know what she wants." Nightwing's anger was barely under control. He pushed the false wall aside, and began to descend.
They found Kemnika in the same spot behind the exam table that she had curled up in nearly two hours before. Only, she was awake sitting wrapped in her blanket with her back to the wall. "I can not fight my grandfather alone Richard. The Batman is my ally in that war already."
She raised her hand and with a gesture shoved it in to the wall behind her. Then pulling it out she stood, "You have my word that I am going nowhere." She chanted fading from view, then reappearing behind them. "And you could not stop me if I wanted to leave. If you wish a character witness; I suggest you seek out Jason Blood." At this she returned to her spot curled back up.
Barbra looked at the wounds on Bruce's side. He still lay on the exam table; naked save
for the sheet that covered him. "These wounds are recent, but they are almost healed."
Alfred nodded, "That would be the lady's doing. He received those from the thugs I mentioned, or at least I believe that's how it happened."
---------------------
"She calls herself Kemnika." Robin told the ancient knight.
Jason Blood laughed, "Espirituse La Angeles, I haven't seen her in at least fifty years. It sounds just like her too. Her sole purpose in life is to counter her grandfather's evil by doing good."
Nightwing sighed, "Spirit of the Angels? You know her then."
"Who do you think taught her sorcery?" Jason shrugged in his chair. "She has a natural gift for it. Her mother was the daughter of a tribal shaman. She also has the gift of Truesight; that is how she knows what she knows. The title is a long story."
"Will you verify it is her in person?" Nightwing asked.
"Gladly."
-------------------
Barbra found herself looking at the wounds again seeing them now as fading scars. She looked over to Kemnika to find her standing; her clothing still immaculately white and unwrinkled. "So how long have you been awake?" a little bit of sarcasm tinged her voice.
"Not long." she replied folding her blanket out of existence.
"Long enough." Jason boomed from the stairwell. "So what else have you been up to Little Angel?"
"Only the usual Jason." she said embracing her old friend. "It has been far to long."
Bruce began to stir. Alfred was immediately at his side. "It's alright Sir."
As every one began to gather around the table where he lay he began to question hoarsely.
"Alfred; where is she?"
"She who Sir.?" Alfred questioned.
"The girl who saved my life." They all looked around, but Kemnika was gone. "I swear
she looked like an angel."
Jason Blood answered, "She was here, but she just left. She is no longer needed here; it's
her way."
END FIRST CHAPTER
Lyda Mae (RavenDove) Huff
Batman and all related characters are properties of DC Comics
Of Light & Shadow : A tale of the Dark Knight by Lyda Mae Huff
Chapter One- Espirituse La Angeles
--------------------------
She lived in the shadows; not because she wanted to, but because she had left all ties behind long ago. Perhaps it was better that way, but there was something to be said about simple human companionship. Though in all honesty she had never really known such a thing, not since she had been very small.
Out there in the night someone was going to need her help; even though he didn't know it yet himself. The Dark Knight of Gotham waged his one man war on all the evils of the world. Tonight he would not fare well. Their paths would cross soon, and she Espirituse La Angeles would be the Knight's protector. She knew this the same way she knew everything else; she just knew.
--------------------------
Batman had known this was not going to be his night from the moment he had fallen through the roof of the building he had been watching. Only one weak spot on the whole roof, right next to the skylight. It had been a trap, and he hadn't seen it coming until he'd fallen right into the center of it. He'd gotten out of the building and now he was just trying to get away with his cowl intact.
He went up to roof tops again only to find more goons waiting for him. He shot out a line to swing to the steeple of a church next door. Just as he was about to reach his mark the steeple exploded. He went tumbling head over heel; landing hard in the alley below. He was bleeding heavily from where shrapnel had caught him from the grenade that had sheared off the steeple. In that moment he thought, How ironic that it should be crime alley.
A delicately small figure stepped out of shadows dressed all in white. Raising its arms aloft, and calling out the figure began to glow; images of demons began to dance in the air, and the rain of bullets stopped. The figures arms dropped, and the glow and demons faded.
Batman looked up half conscious to see the figure approach; kneeling down to cradle his head. He could see now it is a girl with copper skin and dark eyes. Her manor was gentile, and she exuded an aura of trust. She put her lips to his ear and whispered softly "Don't worry Bruce; I will take care of you." He felt an overwhelming peace as his eyes closed.
---------------------------
Alfred had been anxious for Master Bruce's return since police reports had began to come in. He was there to greet the Batmobile when it arrived. He was not however expecting what he saw when the car's canopy opened. A mere child driving the car and Batman slumped over in the passenger seat. "Good heavens!" he exclaimed rushing to the passenger side of the car.
The girl jumped out of the car and began chanting. She began to glow as Batman rose from the car and levitated over to where the examination table stood; the glow faded as he was gently laid upon the table. Without missing a beat Alfred hurried to see to his injuries.
The girl joined him as he began to cut away the damaged costume. "I can be of more help Mr. Pennysworth." Her robe was open and the hood pulled back revealing dark brown hair tied neatly into an ornate style. She wore a long belted white shirt with fringe, and a long white skirt. She wore white soft leather boots, and carried a white leather bag. Even her belt, hair ornaments and beaded earrings were white.
Alfred nearly dropped the scissors at the mention of his name. "How did you..."
"Know your name." she finished. "I know a lot of things, and I am easily more than four times your age."
"Four times?" he questioned skeptically. "What should I call you?"
"Kemnika" she shrugged. Taking the scissors form Alfred's hand she finished cutting away the cloth and make shift bandage. "Clean the wounds good and I may be able to mend them."
Alfred didn't question he just cleaned; pulling slivers of wood and metal from the wounds.
When Kemnika was sure they were cleaned she held her hands over them and began chanting. The wounds closed into puffy pink scars. She sighed, "I'm afraid that's the best I can do."
Alfred looked the scars over, "That's a fair sight better than what I could have done."
Kemnika nodded, "He will probably sleep for some time. In the mean time I believe that Tim needs reassurances that I'm not the enemy." She turned to face the young man now standing on the stairway.
"Master Timothy," Alfred said with a start, "I didn't hear your come down."
"Who's she?" Timothy Drake asked pointing a finger at Kemnika.
"I am a friend who knew where to be when I was needed." Kemnika said humblely. "Bruce will tell you what happened when he wakes up. Until then; I will stay here so that I can not tell anyone secrets. And I will tell you my deep dark secret to make things even."
Tim looked at her skeptically, "Won't your parents worry?"
"My parents have been dead for over a quarter of a millennia." Kemnika replied with a straight face. "I think they are a little beyond worrying."
Tim regarded her even more skeptically. "I don't believe you."
"Once you hear my deep dark secret you will." she put bluntly. "My grandfather is known by the name of Ra's Al Ghoul."
Alfred gasped, "Ra's Al Ghoul..."
"I haven't spoken to him since I found out he was behind my mother's murder." Kemnika admitted sadly. "After that I spent a lot of time alone."
"My mother was killed by being thrown into a Lazarus pit. She was pregnant with me at the time. I was born into the Lazarus. I should have died with her, but I didn't." Kemnika tried to hold back the tears. "I aged normally until I was eight, then it slowed down."
"How old are you?" Alfred asked gently.
"Two-hundred and seventy-four." she sighed. "I'm very tired." she found a spot that was out of the way, pulled a blanket out of thin air; then curled up on the floor and went to sleep.
Tim looked to Alfred, "Do you want to call Dick and Barbra, or shall I?"
-----------------------
Nightwing was perched on a gargoyle with binoculars trained on an apartment across the way when his com unit beeped. "This had better be good." he said looking at Alfred's face.
"We have a lady claiming to be the granddaughter of Ra's Al Ghoul here." Alfred replied
calmly.
"Where is Batman?"
"Unconscious I'm afraid. The lady apparently saved him from some heavily armed thugs earlier this evening." Alfred's eyebrow raised at that last remark.
"You think she arranged it?"
"I don't believe so, but I wouldn't be willing to take that chance."
"I'll be there as soon as I can. Nightwing out." he shut down the unit shaking his head.
Alfred was talking quietly with Batgirl, Nightwing and Robin. They are gathered around the entrance of the Batcave to be out of ear shot of the mysterious girl-woman. "She is still sleeping and I don't think it wise to disturb her." he warned.
"Wise or not we need to know what she wants." Nightwing's anger was barely under control. He pushed the false wall aside, and began to descend.
They found Kemnika in the same spot behind the exam table that she had curled up in nearly two hours before. Only, she was awake sitting wrapped in her blanket with her back to the wall. "I can not fight my grandfather alone Richard. The Batman is my ally in that war already."
She raised her hand and with a gesture shoved it in to the wall behind her. Then pulling it out she stood, "You have my word that I am going nowhere." She chanted fading from view, then reappearing behind them. "And you could not stop me if I wanted to leave. If you wish a character witness; I suggest you seek out Jason Blood." At this she returned to her spot curled back up.
Barbra looked at the wounds on Bruce's side. He still lay on the exam table; naked save
for the sheet that covered him. "These wounds are recent, but they are almost healed."
Alfred nodded, "That would be the lady's doing. He received those from the thugs I mentioned, or at least I believe that's how it happened."
---------------------
"She calls herself Kemnika." Robin told the ancient knight.
Jason Blood laughed, "Espirituse La Angeles, I haven't seen her in at least fifty years. It sounds just like her too. Her sole purpose in life is to counter her grandfather's evil by doing good."
Nightwing sighed, "Spirit of the Angels? You know her then."
"Who do you think taught her sorcery?" Jason shrugged in his chair. "She has a natural gift for it. Her mother was the daughter of a tribal shaman. She also has the gift of Truesight; that is how she knows what she knows. The title is a long story."
"Will you verify it is her in person?" Nightwing asked.
"Gladly."
-------------------
Barbra found herself looking at the wounds again seeing them now as fading scars. She looked over to Kemnika to find her standing; her clothing still immaculately white and unwrinkled. "So how long have you been awake?" a little bit of sarcasm tinged her voice.
"Not long." she replied folding her blanket out of existence.
"Long enough." Jason boomed from the stairwell. "So what else have you been up to Little Angel?"
"Only the usual Jason." she said embracing her old friend. "It has been far to long."
Bruce began to stir. Alfred was immediately at his side. "It's alright Sir."
As every one began to gather around the table where he lay he began to question hoarsely.
"Alfred; where is she?"
"She who Sir.?" Alfred questioned.
"The girl who saved my life." They all looked around, but Kemnika was gone. "I swear
she looked like an angel."
Jason Blood answered, "She was here, but she just left. She is no longer needed here; it's
her way."
END FIRST CHAPTER