Chapter VI – Stalking Prey

April 19th

Bruce and I are sitting comfortably in the Batcave while Bruce tinkers with a few weapons and tools.

It's Thursday; a week since the Dorian incident. Thanks to Bruce and his Batcomputer we were able to find an abandoned building closer to the Manor to establish a new lair for the clan. Though Bruce wasn't able to a lot of the heavy work, he helped me set up an amazing lair for my family; he designed walkways for the cats in the rafters and along the walls, a new bed set up that trumped anything I could ever think up, and a play room filled with things to keep a cat entertained for years. The most he could do was instruct me on how to install everything, but it all worked out perfectly. As much as I hated leaving all the work of assisting Bruce to Alfred the last two days, I have had to go back and help the cats get fully settled in. Not all of my clan have been too happy about the newcomers, but they're adjusting. I've also been filling up their stocks for those who can't or don't wish to hunt for their food. In addition to helping with the lair, Bruce engineered a bunch of tiny tracking devices that clip to the clan's ears so I can find them if something happens to them.

Even though Bruce hasn't been able to physically train with me, he still has been helping me; he's been talking me through new moves and attacks, improved defense maneuvers, and perfected forms that go beyond all of the things Grant and The Armless Master taught me. He's an amazing teacher, and has even promised to teach me that disappearing trick he always pulls on people.

"How are you feeling?" I ask. Picking up an odd metal staff. My finger brushes against a tiny trigger and the ends off the staff extend lightsaber style.

"Be careful with that." He says, gesturing at the staff.

"Okaayy." I pout playfully.

"As for me, I'm doing better than yesterday, but not amazing."

I stand up, "D'you need me to get anything for you?"

"A glass of water would be great." He smirks.

"You got it Batty-Boy."

The elevator comes to a halt and I step out into the library. I stand in the warm sunlit room for a while, looking up at the shelves of books that reach the ceiling, letting my eyes adjust to the natural light. It's incredible how nice the weather has been in Gotham in the past few days. I close my eyes for a moment, letting the sun shine red through my eyelids. When I open them, I see something dark standing outside of the window in the distance. I blink and it's gone, but I know what I saw; a dark figure watching me. When I saw it last week, I thought I was just seeing things, but it's been popping up here and there all week, and now I'm getting nervous. I don't like the thought of someone watching me, especially by someone who seems to be purposefully letting me get a glimpse of them. I haven't even told Bruce about it, even though I should, but I don't want to worry him with something else. I mean, he's already got enough on his mind already with his injuries, he doesn't need to be worrying about something he can't help with.

I take a few deep breaths, then walk into the hall towards the kitchen to get Bruce's water.

Alfred is sitting at the breakfast table, polishing some of the silver. He notices me and stands up, "Lady Selina," he says, "Is there something I can get for you?"

"Just getting some water for Bruce," I smile. Alfred starts to walk around the table to help, but I put up my hand, "I've got it, Alfred."

He hesitates, but he nods and goes back to his work.

I reach up into one of the cabinets and reach for a glass. As I grab the cup, something brushes against my leg and I nearly drop it. I look down; it's Bartus.

"What's the matter?" he asks.

I set the glass down on the marble island, "You just scared me, Barty."

Bartus cocks his head, "Since when have any of us ever managed to scare you? Are you sure you're alright, Selina?"

I bend down and pet his head, "I'm fine… I've just been a little jumpy lately."

"Okay… You know, you can always tell me if something is wrong."

I scratch under his chin, "Thanks."

I stand and go to the freezer to fill the glass with ice. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice the odd expression Alfred has.

"What's up, Alfred?"

He looks up, "Nothing, Lady Selina… I am merely unused to hearing the conversations between a human and a feline."

I bite my lip to stifle my laugh. "I see." I turn, fill the glass at the tap, and make my way back down to the Batcave.

"Well you took your time." Bruce smirks when I step out of the elevator.

"So what if I did?" I tease, handing him the glass of water.

He takes a sip. "Thanks." He sets down the glass, "Can you help me up?" he extends his arm, "I want to take a walk on the grounds."

"Of course!" I say, helping him to his feet.

He starts heading in the opposite direction of the elevator.

"Wait, I thought we were going outside to see the grounds?"

"We are. I just don't want to go through the rest of the house to do so. Too much walking." He continues forward towards one of the walls of the cave, which I now recognize to be yet another hidden panel, though this one is smaller than the others. "Not even Alfred knows about this exit by the way." He adds, pushing back a piece of rock to reveal a keypad.

I raise my eyebrow questioningly, "Why doesn't he know?"

"Just because." He replies plainly, "Anyways, I wanted to show you the waterfall out back."

"Sounds like fun."

Bruce types in a code, "Well, come on then." He grins.

The rock panel slides up and reveals a ladder at the end of a tunnel. We head down the tunnel and I start making my way up the ladder.

"Uh, Selina?" Bruce says embarrassedly,

I stop and turn around. I smirk, "Coming."

It's a struggle, but we make our way up the ladder. When we reach the top, Bruce pushes up on a trap door and we're doused in sunlight. I help him out of the pipe and he stands, staring up at the sky.

"What a beautiful day." He exclaims.

"No kidding." I pull myself up and stand beside him. Before last week, I can't remember the last time the weather in Gotham has been this nice. In fact, I don't even remember the last time I saw a blue sky. I breathe in all the sweet flower smells from the manor's gardens—a scent I never got a chance to inhale while living on the streets. I stare around the estate, taking it all in—the small forest that lays on the left side of the manor, continuing all the way down that side of the cliff; the enormous decorative garden that obviously once belonged to Mrs. Wayne; and not to mention, the guardrail stretching around the entire backside of the property, marking where the land drops off into the ocean hundreds of feet below… I've seen some of the backyard of the manor from the inside, but I've never actually been out here before.

"So where's this waterfall of yours?"

"Follow me." he replies, making his way through the garden towards the guardrail. I step quickly to walk beside him so he can lean on me for support, and he gladly takes my arm.

"This was your mom's garden, right?" I ask, as we pass under one of the vine covered archways.

He smiles reminiscently, "Yeah. A lot of people would think that a high-class woman like my mother would be above such things, but she loved taking care of this garden—getting her hands in the mud and all that." He glances at a large group of purple flowers, "She did all of this herself you know, minus the arches; my father took care of those for her."

I glance around at the flowers in awe, "She had quite the green thumb for a one-percenter."

"Yeah." he simpers,

We approach the rail and Bruce leans sideways against it. I lean against it next to him, looking towards the horizon. I let out a long, low whistle, "That is breathtaking."

"Look down."

I gasp in awe, "Whoa…"

Coming out of the side of the cliff face, about a hundred feet beneath us, is a roaring waterfall that drops straight down into the ocean below.

"Now that, is a waterfall." I grin.

"One of my favorite parts of the estate. Truthfully though, it didn't use to pour out of the rock wall like that."

"How so?"

"One of the rooms in the Batcave is an enormous cavern that drops down into a huge underground lake at the bottom. I currently use to test out my gliders, but that pit used to be nearly completely filled with water that built up over the years thanks to a river of rainwater that constantly flows into it. The water fall you see now used to be a trickle that seeped out of a tiny hole. When I found that cavern, I knew that if I didn't drain the water, it'd flood the entire cave and cause a whole lot of problems. So, to speed up the draining process, I had a friend come in and help me break away some of the rock. The majority of the water has drained now, but the waterfall never stops because of all the rain we get around here."

"Interesting. So you created something beautiful out of something that could have been a potential danger to the support of the cliff and the manor resting on it."

"Pretty much."

We both stand there, bending over the railing, enchanted by the water. Then something crosses my mind, something I wanted to ask days ago, but forgot. "Bruce,"

"Yes Selina?"

"You never really explained what that Kryptodite stuff was."

"Kryptonite?" he corrects.

"Yeah, that. You said that was the substance Dorian was using, but what is it?"

"It's kind of a long story."

I laugh, "It's not like I'm going anywhere any time soon."

He grins, "Alright, but even I'm not supposed to be discussing this, so you have to promise you won't tell another soul."

I start laughing, "Who am I going to tell? The clan? As if they could do anything with the information."

He gives me a stern look.

"Okay, okay. I promise I won't say anything to anyone about what you're going to tell me."

He sighs and closes his eyes, obviously trying to think of what he wants to say.

"Just start from the beginning." I suggest.

He smirks and opens his eyes to look at me, "You're not helping."

I just smile encouragingly at him.

"Alright, well, I guess I'll start 19 years ago."

"Good, that sounds like a nice place to start."

He rolls his eyes, "Would you just shush so I can tell you this?"

I stick my tongue out at him.

"Okay, 19 years ago, in a small town in Kansas, there was a huge meteor shower that brought down a lot of new and foreign substances, more importantly, a type of green crystal that was definitely not from any planet in our solar system. The meteor shower—and the crystals it brought with it—caused weird things to happen to some of the people in the city, but even after the meteors hit, several people in the city were affected by the crystals in other ways, by coming in contact with it later on. To this day, people can still get infected by the crystals when combined with other substances or events."

"So then why is it called Kryptonite?" I interrupt.

He puts up a hand to silence me, "I'm getting to that. Be patient."

I turn so my back is touching the rail, but continue to watch Bruce intently.

"So, from what I've learned from Green Arrow and the Flash—"

"Um, who or what are Green Arrow and Flash?" I interrupt him again, my eyebrows so scrunched together that they're nearly touching.

"They're superheroes like us." He explains patiently, "The Green Arrow is a vigilante from Star City who takes on criminals with an assortment of crazy trick arrows, and the Flash is just a guy from Central City who obtained the power of superspeed. The three of us occasionally meet up and help each other or provide each other with information."

He doesn't say it, but I know that he's not going to reveal these "superheroes'" identities. Also, I noticed, that the way he described these "superheroes'" identities might have seemed very nonchalant, but I can tell he's just dumbing them down to make them sound less interesting to me so he can move on with the story. Of course, it's just because of that that I'm going to bug him for more information by asking, "How the heck did the Flash get superspeed?"

"Long story. Now as I was saying, from what Flash and—"

"Come on, Bruce." I beg, "How is it physically possible for someone to have superpowers? How did he get powers?"

His eyes are narrowing; I'm definitely wearing him out. Good.

"Jeez Selina, that's like asking why we're sentient. I don't know, it was something to do with a lab accident and lightning!"

Booyah! My method worked! I smirk, "Lab accident involving lighting—I'll keep that in mind."

He looks like he wants to be mad, but can't, "You going to let me tell the rest of this story or what?"

"Fine, fine. Go on."

"Alright, like I was saying, from what Flash and Green Arrow have told me, meteor rocks weren't the only things that fell to Earth on the day of the shower. Supposedly, a ship came down with them."

"A ship?!" I exclaim, no longer leaning against the rail.

"Yes, and if you'll just let me finish, you'll know why… Okay, so a ship came down with the meteors. This ship wasn't very large mind you—smaller than the largest meteor in fact—but it's what was inside the ship that's important; apparently, the ship carried a young alien boy, an alien that looked exactly like a human child. According to what Flash and G.A. were able to find out, the alien's birth name is Kal-El. The boy's true identity was kept a secret from everyone for a very long time, and even still, only a few spare people know his true identity.

"I am not one of those people, but from what I do know is that he was from a planet called Krypton—which was unfortunately destroyed—thus the name Kryptonite for the name of the crystals."

I just stand there with my mouth wide open, unsure of what to say. "There're aliens living among us?" is all I blurt out.

Bruce smirks at my reaction—I must look so stupid right now. "Apparently yes, there is one alien that we know is living among us."

"Wow. When I asked what Kryptonite is, that was not the answer I expected to get…"

"A lot to take in isn't it? I myself was only informed of all of this a few weeks ago. I'm not sure why Green Arrow and Flash didn't tell me who he is though. It was strange…"

I stay silent for a while and watch the water fall below, trying to take in and comprehend all of what Bruce just told me. Aliens among us? It sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel or movie!

"So." hw says breaking the silence, "Are we going to train today or what?"

"Ummmm. Actually, can we just enjoy the weather today? We've been training nearly every day and I kinda want a break."

"Okay. If that's what you want, then that's what we'll do." He grins.

I smile back at him, "I'll just go get a blanket then. You wait here."

"Alright. Just don't take too long." he winks.

"Ha, ha, ha." I squint.

Bruce laughs, and I head back into the manor, but through the normal back door this time.

Alfred is standing in the dining room rearranging the crystal in the hutch, and turns around quickly when he hears my footsteps, "Lady Selina! Where did you come from?"

"Bruce and I are in the backyard, we need some blankets to lay on."

"But how did you get in the back— oh never mind. Why do I even ask? Master Bruce always figures out how to get past me."

I try not to laugh, "Well, yes, um. Where are some blankets we can use Alfred?"

"Go upstairs to the second floor, there is a linen closet in the hall. First door on the right."

"Thank you Alfred." I say, still trying not to laugh.

Alfred sighs and shakes his head and gets back to rearranging the crystal.

I walk up the long, and extravagant arched staircase and find myself in the wide hallway lined with what feels like a million doors. "Third door on the right." I mutter to myself, "Ahh. That one." I say, noticing the door with the least amount of decorative carvings on it.

"Oh my…" I mutter when I open the door. There are so many different blankets, most too delicate to take outdoors. But at the very bottom of the closet are 3 thick, stadium-like blankets. I grab the red and the blue one and carry them back downstairs and outside.

Bruce smiles when he sees me and helps me stretch them out on the ground. "No trouble finding the linen closet I see."

I help Bruce sit down and smirk, "Even with all the other doors, it wasn't hard to figure out. I mean it was the least decorative door I've seen in the entire house so far."

"That it is." The corner of Bruce's mouth rises up a little, "Was Alfred pissed that we snuck past him?"

"Bruce, you should have seen his face!" I snicker, making an exaggerated version of Alfred's reaction.

Bruce laughs and turns over onto his back, staring up at the sky.

I do the same and reach over to grab Bruce's hand, "You know, I don't think I've ever seen the sky so clear here in Gotham before. It's incredible."

"Mmmhmm." Bruce agrees, holding my hand and settling in. He closes his eyes and soaks up the warmth. I turn onto my side and watch him lying there peacefully. "Bruce…you're amazing." I whisper quietly so that he can't hear it.

I awake suddenly, not more than 5 minutes later, feeling like I'm being strangled. Someone has their arms locked around my neck and a hand over my mouth. I try to scream for Bruce, but the arms squeeze tighter around my neck. I gag, and cough, but the arms keep squeezing until I can't breathe anymore.

I arouse for a moment, my neck in deep pain, and see a blurry dark figure over me. Then I'm out again.

When I awake again, I'm back on the blanket beside Bruce, no bruises on my neck, nothing. Was it just a dream? I see a dark figure watching me from afar, but when I blink, it's gone. Am I just paranoid? Who knows, maybe all of this has just been my imagination.

I shake Bruce to wake him up and try to act like I'm not freaked out, "Hey sleepy-head." I say gently. "The sun's going down, we should go inside before Alfred gets mad."

Bruce opens his eyes just a peek and smiles a tiny bit. "Did we really sleep that long?" he asks with a yawn, pushing himself up.

"I guess so." I smirk, but I guess I'm not being convincing enough.

"Is something wrong Selina? You look like you've seen a ghost."

I try and brush off the subject, "I'm fine. Just a strange dream that's all."

"Mm, okay, if you say so." Bruce replies, not quite convinced.

I help Bruce stand up and we gather the blankets. When we reach the back door, Alfred is waiting inside impatiently.

"Your dinner is getting cold." He frowns.

"Sorry Alfred." Bruce apologizes.

"We didn't realize we had been out there that long." I add.

"I can tell… Give me the blankets, I'll take care of them." Alfred says, his lips tight.

When Alfred leaves the room, Bruce and I share a look and both try not to laugh. We are in biiig trouble.

"That was rather irresponsible of us." Bruce tells me in undertone.

"I know, but that's what made it fun!" I whisper back.

After dinner, Bruce and I go back down into the Batcave so he can continue toying around with some of his inventions, and Bruce suggests we tell a bit more about our pasts—especially him since he knows more about me than I do him.

"Hand me that screwdriver over there." Bruce asks, pointing to a tiny, black handled Phillips head. I pick it up and give it to him.

"What are you working on now?" I ask Bruce, trying to see what's in his hand.

"One moment, I just gotta do this last thing…" Bruce makes one more turn with the screwdriver, looks down upon his work, and then opens his hands a bit. A small robotic, bat-like device is fluttering around in his hands.

"What is that?"

"It's a camera. It can fly up and hang off of ceilings and spy on people without their knowledge. This is actually my third attempt at making it. So far, all the others have failed miserably. I'm hoping that this one will work this time."

"Hmm. Interesting. Well, go on. Test it out."

Bruce opens his hands all the way and the batcam starts flying around the room. Bruce picks up a tablet and taps it a couple times. The batcam responds by diving up and down, then attaching itself to the one of the rocks above us.

"Seems to be working so far." Bruce says happily. He taps on the screen again and shows me what's on it. The batcam is picking up a perfect video of us from up there. Bruce taps the screen a couple more times to make the batcam move, but it short circuits and falls down into my lap.

"Dang. So close!" Bruce sighs.

"It just needs a little more work I guess." I pat his arm, "So, you going to start telling your story, or should I?"

"Oh yeah. I can start if you want." Bruce says, "What do you want to know?"

"How about before your parents' deaths. In other words, a happier time."

Bruce smiles distantly, clearly reminiscing over his very early childhood. "I'll start with the very first vivid memory I have of my parents. I think I was like 4 years old. They were taking me to my very first play. I'm pretty sure I stayed quiet though the whole thing—enamored by it I guess. It was a lovely performance of Romeo and Juliet. My mother held me in her arms the whole time and covered my eyes at the death scene. Ah, good times… Not too long after that, I had my fifth birthday. It was a small party with just a few of my friends from school. My father gave me my first allowance, and my mother got me my first real bike. After that, I can remember going to a real party with my parents when I was six, it was a party the company had thrown to celebrate the release of the new transport trains for Gotham. That was the first really fancy suit I'd ever worn. When I was seven, my father started teaching me how to build small electronics, like putting together watches, or remote control toys… Those are some of my fondest memories of my parents." Bruce's eyes are a little teary. "Sorry." He says, wiping them quickly.

"Don't apologize Bruce; I'm the one who brought up a sore subject."

"That's okay… How about we'll make it even? You tell me something you don't normally like to talk about."

"Um, okay. I'll tell you about my first run in with Emile Dorian… 4 years ago, I was coming home from a session with The Armless Master, when I noticed a tall figure watching me. I ran, and when I turned my head around again, the figure was nowhere to be seen. Later that evening, I was eating with the rest of the clan—my original clan that is—and we heard a strange noise coming from outside. Next thing I know, a man is breaking into the lair. He went after the cats and came for me next. He almost got me, but—" I stop, feeling dizzy as flashes of the event sear my eyes.

"Selina?" Bruce asks, concerned.

The room starts to turn sideways, and the next thing I know, I'm in another flashback.