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Chapter Four
A Change of Heart
It was a hunch, but she knew he would be there. And, as fast as her body could, feeling totally at full strength, she flew to Gotham.
Diana…
There was a female voice in her head. She stopped in mid air to listen.
Diana…
She knew the voice and followed it. Her well-honed senses led her and stronger and louder it grew until she reached the source.
She was right it was Circe. She saw the sorceress beckoning her from one of the many building rooftops that lined the busy streets. Not bothering to call for back up, she proceeded and her feet landed soundlessly but a good distance from the witch.
"Why are you here?"
Circe was not in the mood for business yet. "Hello dear Princess. I see you've outgrown the…pigtails. Want me to replace them?"
"Just try, you witch."
Circe regarded her from head to foot. "Always the warrior…relax." The witch moved toward the ledge and sat crossed legged. "I have something better in mind."
"What?" Her voice was brave but she remained at a distance from the other female.
"I'm here to…gloat." Circe laughed at her own words, the irritating laugh she remembered only too well. "Yes, Princess…you heard me right. I'm here to gloat."
She tried not to appear confused. "Magic finally too tiring for you?"
"You know where I have been for the past two days? I've been busy spreading the news that Queen Hippolyta's beautiful little daughter has a boyfriend." Circe raised her brows. "Where's is he, by the way?"
"He's not my boyfriend."
"And I thought Hippolyta's daughter isn't capable of a lie."
"I'm not lying."
"Then what are you doing alone with him that evening?" Circe asked warily.
The sorceress was beginning to sound like a reporter from a tabloid. And Diana had to admit, the witch was getting less and less intimidating each passing second.
"It was an assignment."
"Whatever…" Circe dismissed and examined her manicured nails. "As I was saying…I'm sure by now that the word has reached the Powers That Be. And, my dear, do you know what they do to an Amazon royalty who betrays her heritage of hating men as long as they live, which is forever?" Circe gave her another suspicious look. "Do you suddenly feel weak? Vulnerable? As if you are turning into a mere mortal?"
She sighed. She wanted to leave and resume her earlier plans but she knew that there was no way she could do it. Unless Circe had her way already. "I've had this touching lecture before from my mother."
Circe clicked her tongue. "Such sarcasm. I wonder if you'll be as sarcastic when you receive your punishment."
In all conviction, she answered, "I am not afraid."
"Ah…the brave little one. Bravery is a good thing…because that's probably one of the few things they will leave you with, once they are done with you."
"If I have to pay the price of my life just to have the chance to love and be loved, so be it." It was time to stress a point. "What is the use of a very long life? When I have to face it alone…and be bitter about it."
"Ouch." Circe complained.
"The truth stings, doesn't it?" It was about time she had the upper hand. "I personally believe that, whatever it takes, it's better to love and be loved …rather than live alone for the rest of your long and…sorry life."
Circe appeared to be considering her words, looking at her face but staring through as if she was not there at all. Then, for the first time, the witch looked away. And this time, Diana felt no intimidation from the witch at all. It was as if something changed.
Then Circe finally looked at her again, regarding her differently. "Are you sure?" There was utter seriousness in the voice.
"I would have stayed in the island if I wasn't."
The other female stared at her as if daring her to take back the brave words. When she did not flinch, she noticed that Circe's green eyes softened the slightest bit before sighing. "Why did you have to ruin this for me?"
It was her turn to stare at the other in disbelief as Circe stood up from her position in the ledge.
"I was pretty darn sure that I'd be celebrating the day I finally get my revenge on Hippolyta, through the suffering of her only daughter, her precious Princess. Why in the pits of Tartarus am I not that pleased…I'm not that pleased at all?" Circe was complaining like a child, pacing back and forth.
"Sorry to ruin your moment of triumph." She was still confused at the way the other woman was strangely acting.
When Circe was through cursing in an ancient Greek language, the witch faced her again. "It's amazing…how in one way you remind me of your mother. But you are certainly not like her." Then her face wore the hint of a smile before asking. "If he isn't your boyfriend…then, why would he..?"
She raised a brow. "Why would he what?"
The question on the older woman's face was suddenly replaced with amazement. "My! He hasn't told you yet, hasn't he?"
Diana thought she heard a giggle. Yes, that was definitely a giggle coming from Circe. Is the world going to end…Circe giggling like a teenager?
As she thought, the other woman blabbered on. "How gallant of him! And I thought those kind of guys were extinct. Reminds me of---"
"Told me what?" She finally had to ask.
"My dearest…" Circe walked near and she replaced her guard. "I humiliated him, in front of an audience in Mykonos…to sing for you so I would lift the spell."
"He did what?"
Circe did not hear her as the witch took a trip down memory lane. "Ah…and he did it quite well too. I was impressed. And it is not very easy to impress me, my dear, and right now I'm in the market for someone I can make…good music with." The green eyes looked back at her. "If I were you I'd keep a tight rein on that man of yours…"
"For the second time…"
"Denial is a river in Egypt."
She cast her somehow amused eyes heavenward.
"So…you and he are not together? Come on, sister…share the juicy tidbits." Circe raised a hand to make a gesture. "I swear…Zeus can strike me down if I am lying. No harm will come to you. I just want to talk."
Circe wanted to talk. A great witch wanted to gossip. She looked again at the stars and waited for the night sky to open up and start spewing out huge, fiery balls to burn the earth.
"I know…it's strange," Circe admitted before walking to the ledge to observe the people below, placing her elbows to lean on the cold stone. "Don't you sometimes feel…a little out of place in this world?"
She opened her mouth to reply but checked herself. She had to remember, this was the enemy she was talking to.
When she remained in silence, Circe did the same, still with the back to her, eyes fixed on the passers by. "The twenty first century…it's not what I expected. Sorcery is all but lost and I am reduced to being…a bitter old witch, a very old and lonely witch. I miss the good old days…"
She moved near the ledge. "The days when you transform people into animals?"
"Circus tricks," Circe sighed. "Magic has been reduced to circus tricks. You, of all people, should know how worse criminals are today."
In a strange way, she felt sorry for her mother's enemy. It was true that people need not look old to feel old. And Circe was finally feeling old, with the acceptance of the fact that times had changed, even if she had not aged a day. Loneliness could definitely make you feel ancient and abandoned by the world you knew once.
"Still…it does not justify what you did."
"I know." Circe sounded sincere.
Her eyes looked at the bright Christmas lights while debating with herself. There was no harm in talking, and she knew even if Circe was the enemy, she was true to her word.
"We are not together," she gave in.
"Oh…" Circe cast her a sidelong glance. "It's a lame excuse if you're going to tell me it's because of the…job." Circe was now facing her, the face full of interest. "Or is it because of the curse that if an Amazon royalty ever fell in love with a man and gives up her throne because of him, there will be grave consequences…if the man falls in love with her too. I believe they placed that…rule, so that no queen, or future queen, will ever make the mistake someone we both know did once."
She knew Circe was referring to her mother. "Well then I'm far from being cursed. It takes two for the spell to work."
"Don't be too sure, Princess," Circe warned. "I don't think he did what he did the other night just to boast of the fact that he has good singing voice."
"He would do the same for anyone."
Circe smiled knowingly, looking at her profile. "I don't think so."
"Suddenly an expert on the male frame of mind?"
"Let's just say, I'm speaking from experience," Circe admitted and smiled ruefully. "Even a witch like me can love too."
Love. It was the magic word. A four lettered word that had such power to change the proud to be humble, the callous to be gentle, the cruel to be kind. It could bridge any gap and break even the strongest of barriers.
And at the thought, she remembered what she had to do. She needed to talk to Bruce even if he pushed her away. It was worth a try. And if still he did not listen, it was up to him. But she really had to try.
For a silent while, the two females, two very different women, gazed at the streets and thought of their own lives. And their loves. It was a while before she turned.
"I…have to go." She sounded like she was asking permission.
Circe looked at her thoughtfully. "Don't worry. I promised no harm would come to you. You are free to go." The sorceress acknowledged her request. But as she turned, Circe called out. "Diana…"
She turned back and hovered in the air with question in her eyes.
"I don't usually do this…you might not even trust me."
"I still have my reservations," she stated.
"Good. It's always wise not to be so trusting," Circe said. "I just want to say that…my advice for you is, if you love him, better stay away."
She sighed and admitted, "I can't."
And with that realization, she finally flew away.
She knew it would not take long to reach him. But somewhere, deep in her mind was a nagging thought that prevented her from doing what she initially had planned.The tiredness, the weakness, the fever…
Maybe Circe was right. That the curse was finally taking effect.
As her lone figure hovered over the late night sky, observing the few people that were left on the finally quiet and almost deserted streets, as one by one the Christmas lights that adorned the city made their silent goodnight, her mind absently wandered to what had transpired minutes ago.
No…
But she could not dismiss the tell tale signs.
There was still this nagging probability that it was true. And if it was indeed true, she might endanger her friends, the league, and the people they were sworn to protect in a sudden moment of weakness.
I need to talk to Kal…But her thoughts were suddenly invaded, disturbed by a distinct sound, the incessant sound of ringing alarms that her sensitive hearing was able to pick up. Immediately dismissing her woes for the time being, she stopped in mid air, craned her neck and carefully listened in as she searched for the source of the sound. Once sure, she flew north.
When she arrived near the scene in a few seconds, she noticed a figure in black precariously climbing off a fire escape. A few feet more, the lithe figure jumped and landed almost soundlessly on the wet stone floor of the dark back alley.
"Stop." Her voice was even but it held authority.
But the burglar did not even stop on its tracks. Shaking her head, she took hold of her golden lasso and spun it over her head before tossing it accurately to ensnare the thief in its strong embrace. When the thief tried to scramble free, she gave the lasso a soft tug.
"Bitch!" Catwoman snarled at her as the woman was more or less violently spun around.
"Getting sloppy with age," she commented. "Give it back." She noticed the small black bag.
"Come and get it ice princess." Selina was still struggling with the rope.
She moved closer and took the bag that contained the loot for the evening. "You're going to have to come with me."
"Hmm…and where are you taking me?" Catwoman was taking a different approach. "Somewhere…private?"
"I doubt if they have private rooms in priso---" Her words were cut off by a stinging feeling on her right cheek as the feline thief violently swung her hands to scratch her with very sharp claws.
"Now who's getting sloppy, dear?" Selina just could not resist from saying after freeing body from the lasso and that was the mistake. She should have escaped when she had the chance.
On instinct, her right hand raised and swung her open palm to slap the other woman on the face. There was not much force in the movement but, with her strength, it was enough to send the villain hurling to the other side and smash into a hard, brick wall. The petite body slammed and bounced, falling limp, knees first on the floor.
"Ouch…that hurt, you bitch!" Catwoman coughed, turning her sore body on her left side, as she lay hurt.
She moved a step but a distinct sound made her turn then a black swirl entered her view.
Batman dismissed her presence, walking past her to attend to the injured villain. The simple gesture made her flinch inside, knowing it was a sign of jealousy. And it hurt.
"I think she…broke my bone," Catwoman complained in a sincerely hurt voice. But the annoying purr was still unmistakably present in the tone.
Batman straightened and offered Catwoman assistance as she gingerly hung onto the broad shoulders and with his back still to her, he whispered threateningly, "What in hell are you doing here, Diana?"
Something in her throat made it hard to answer. "Am I supposed to ignore an emergency alarm because it happens to be a friend of yours who's robbing the museum?" Her voice was hoarse.
"Stay away from---" He spun around but was cut off when he saw her.
Though half his face may be covered in the dark mask, his expression of alarm was still obvious to her. If it were under different circumstances it would have been totally amusing how he almost dropped the petite woman by his side when he abruptly approached her and the way Selina uttered a complaint when she wobbled by herself. But suddenly, his expression made her conscious of another sore and stinging feeling somewhere in her neck as she felt a warm gush of liquid down her chest. She raised a hand to feel her skin and it came away wet.
Red. Blood. Her blood.
"Watchtower! Emergency…"
Batman's voice was left unheard. Her eyes stared in shock at the thick, crimson liquid that stained her fingers. And slowly, her eyes looked down and saw more blood on her chest. So much blood.
She could not speak as her teary eyes looked at his face as he held onto her arms before she passed out.
