8. Home
Batman entered the watchtower infirmary. The alarm had been a medical one that meant someone was hurt. 'Probably Flash' thought Batman. The scarlet speedster had a knack for getting himself into trouble.
What he saw in front of himself was the last thing he had expected to see. In front of him were J'onn and Shayera and next to them in a bloodied white robe lay….Diana. Batman immediately rushed to her side. She was unconscious and looked heavenly in her traditional white robe, jewels and golden wreath around her head, all except the huge red patch over her chest.
"What happened?" he growled at the other two league members.
While J'onn continued treating Diana's wounds, Hawkgirl spoke with tears in her eyes.
"I don't know. I entered her room and found her bent over in worship. At first I was going to leave but then I noticed the blood on the floor. Picking her up, I flew her immediately to the infirmary and contacted J'onn at the same time."
Suddenly J'onn looked up at Batman. "What's wrong J'onn?" asked Batman, noticing his expressions.
"I can't seem to stop the blood flow" he stated uneasily.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN'T STOP THE BLOOD FLOW?" yelled Batman.
By this time Superman and Green Lantern had also arrived. Flash had left earlier for Central City.
"What happened?" asked Superman.
"What do you mean you can't stop the blood flow?" repeated Batman, slowly in a cold voice.
"I don't understand. It is not a very deep wound. She should have started recovering by now" answered J'onn.
Batman turned around and started walking towards the door. He was going to Diana's room to check out the scene of the crime. Perhaps there he would get some clue about her injury.
"Batman" called out Hawkgirl.
"WHAT?" he barked at her, causing her to flinch.
"She had this in her hand" with that she handed him a bloody envelope. 'Diana's blood.' The envelope has a single alphabet on it.
B
"I thought it might be for you"
Batman merely nodded his head and walked away, clutching the envelope tightly in his hand.
Reaching Diana's room he saw different boxes lying around. 'Someone had been to Gotham.'
Leaving that for later, he focused his attention on the bloody area. It was in front of Diana's altar. The altar has shrines of Athena, Aphrodite and Hera. The incense sticks had burned to ashes and lying directly under the altar was a bloody dagger.
'She stabbed herself.' The realization hit Batman like a blow through the heart causing him to fall over backwards, the envelope slipping out of his hand.
He sat there staring at the dagger and then at the envelope, until he reached forward and grabbed the envelope. Tearing it from the side, he slid the single page out, unfolded it and started reading it.
----
Batman,
After what I am going to do, I neither deserve to call you by any endearment nor by your name. I am sure that you would have found by now the cause of my injuries and that they aren't healing like they usually do. Don't worry yourself and tell J'onn not to worry himself. Soon everything will be over.
I was created by my mother from clay and given life by the goddesses. Along with that life I was also given several gifts which I have now lost. Please understand that these gifts weren't just a part of me, they were who I am….was. Without them I am nothing. Without them, I am just another lump of clay.
I came to man's world to preach the Amazonian message of peace and harmony. I had thought this world to be savage and violent. What I didn't know then and what I came to realize over time was that along with the savagery and violence there were things worth respecting and gaining from this world. Things like trust, friendship, honor and….love. I was able to get all of those during my short stay here. I gained dear trusted and honorable friends such as Kal, J'onn and John. In Shayera and Flash I gained a family – a sister and a brother. But it was from you I gained the most important thing……I gained the love of a man. That was the one thing I couldn't have got anywhere else. I gained the love of a man who was a brave, honorable, trustworthy warrior and at the same time was a loving and caring friend, a son, a father and a lover. A mortal man who would gladly give his life, not only for his family and friends, but for any innocent person, anywhere.
I know your love would have been powerful enough to hold onto me, even in my current condition. You have more than proven it in the last few weeks. The happiest day of my life was when you told me you loved me. I already knew it, but hearing it spoken from your mouth and knowing the effort and courage behind it made it all the more special. Even the events of the past few days didn't weaken that love, only made it stronger. But the same events have made me realize that in my current state holding onto you will only drag you down with me, and that is something I cannot bear.
I know you have been hurt time and again, both by the loss of your loved ones and by them. I am sorry that now I have done both.
If possible, forgive me. If I am lucky enough in my next life I'll get to love you again.
Always,
Diana
-----
Batman clutched the paper to his chest. He now realized the reason behind her actions. She had not only lost her powers, she had also lost her willpower...her sense of being.
He could feel the tears threatening in his eyes. 'No, I will not cry. Not now.' he thought. He lovingly straightened the letter, folded it neatly and inserted it into one of his utility belt compartments.
He carefully picked up the dagger and started walking towards the infirmary. Entering, he approached J'onn.
"How is her condition?"
"Same as before. I have been able to reduce the blood flow and started transfusions with her stored blood in the league blood banks. But it will not last long."
"How long?" asked Batman.
"It's difficult to say….with the right conditions…."
"How long J'onn."
"Twenty four to thirty six hours maximum."
"Keep me informed" with that he started to walk towards the door.
Just as he reached the door he turned around to face everybody present.
"Who went to Gotham?" he questioned in a cold dead voice.
Both Hawkgirl and Green Lantern stood up.
"Why?"
Hawkgirl spoke up. "Diana said she had things left over in the safe-house and need them. So we took the Javelin and got them."
Batman glared at both of them and then started to turn around. As he turned he spoke, "You can thank yourselves now, for getting her the things she needed to do this."
With that he walked out leaving two very bewildered leaguers.
He wasn't concerned about them. He had work to do.
------
He accessed the league database on Greek and mythical daggers and spent the next two hours searching and sifting through hundreds of records until he got what he was looking for.
The dagger was similar in design to a traditional Greek dagger, used in ceremonial sacrifices. Its blade was supposed to be forged by the gods and tempered with the blood of various mythical creatures including unicorns and centaurs. Its affect on immortals was a wound which took ten times as long to heal as other wounds, while for mortals it was supposed to be lethal with a long drawn out death. Initially there would just be blood flow, followed by unconsciousness. Slowly a sort of poison would start spreading in the body. Later stages would include severe fear and paranoia, causing the person to scratch and peel off their own skin. Death would come in the form of blood flow through all the body's orifices including the eyes.
Batman sat there thinking about what he had just read. He then re-read it again analyzing each word. When he still couldn't find anything useful he got up and walked towards the infirmary.
-----
All the league members were sitting by Diana's side. Even Flash had returned and looked as if he would start crying any moment. J'onn was working tirelessly, analyzing a blood sample under the microscope.
Batman walked over to J'onn. The other leaguers noticed them staring at each other and realized that they were having a telepathic conversation. Once they were finished, both of them walked over to where Diana lay. They transferred her and her blood drip onto a stretcher, and Batman started to push her towards the door. Superman stopped him.
"What are you doing?" he demanded
"Something I should have done in the first place." He answered, pushing the stretcher again.
"I am taking her home." He said as he exited the infirmary.