Children of shadows.

Whisper was 16 almost 17 as he stood staring down at the bloody battle in the French streets. What was this world coming to?

The people were tired of being ruled by the kings and queens of their country, anyone found of royal blood was put to death by the guillotine. A horrible way to go in Whisper's opinion, never knowing when the block was going to come down, slicing through your neck like it was nothing but a blade of grass.

"Whisper."

He turned and watched as his fellow assassin came to stand next to him watching the revolution as it thundered down the streets as men and women fought for Equality.

"Where is the one we must end?" he questioned turning back to the fight.

The girl looked down at the floor watching for a moment, one of her eyes was a deep red, like a dragons would be if they were real, she also had a dragon tattoo along her back like he had one on his arms.

"He's at the palace, where else would he be?" she questioned with a frown before she looked behind her. "AKA!"

Whisper turned and watched as a girl with a plain white mask, no facial structure to it or anything stood behind them, preparing her crossbow before she looked back them and tilted her head to the side, her blond hair tumbling to the side slightly.

"Do you believe you can make the hit?" the red eyed girl questioned.

AKA nodded slightly, not speaking a word as she ran across the roofs since she'd prepared her crossbow.

Whisper followed and then the red eyed girl followed afterwards.

"Why are we helping them?" questioned the red eyed girl.

Whisper turned to her and glare. "I thought that would be obvious Dragon Eye. La justice est une rivière rouge."

Dragon Eye paused. "I still do not understand why we are helping these… revolutionists…. what is the point?"

"Who needs point when you realise the same thing my father has realised. The French have gone too far with their royalty, it needs to be dealt with."

They both stopped as AKA held her hand up to signal for a stop before she stared down behind the back of the castle to see the man they were after being escorted out.

"Well… time to complete my father's work. AKA."

AKA nodded before she aimed her crossbow and fired.

Whisper sighed and looked back at his new found friends as they stared at him in shock and wonder. Of course they would not know what it was like then, he could hardly believe it himself on occasions.

"Whoa… hold on," Enigma said waving her arms. "Are you telling me… you were at the French Revolution and you helped them?"

Whisper nodded. "Yes and when Napoleon came we helped him too until we realised it was hopeless and so we moved to help his enemies. Before finally getting him sent away from France."

"You did all that?"

"Yes. My self and my father's assassins did, that is why there is a league of assassins, it's to restore order and balance. Every time a country or empire reaches it's hight we end it, to keep the balance. I myself fought along side Alexander the Great like my father did."

Enigma shook her head before smiling. "You're like a real life history book!"

"Umm… thank you?"

Jester rolled her eyes. "Okay not that I found that little exchange cute or anything.. well I did actually but that's besides the point. Who are the children of shadows?"

Whisper sighed. "Children usually with no hope and a mind for revenge."

"That sums Vendetta up nicely."

Whisper sighed. "I did not believe that they would come back, not after what happened before when we where here. There is not only the League of Assassins you have to worry about… the Court of Owls are situated here."

"I'm sorry… the what now?" questioned J'J with a frown.

Jester giggled. "Beware the court of owls who listens all time, watching Gotham from a shadowy perch behind granet and lime. They see you in your house, they see you in your bed. Say not a word or whisper of them or they'll send a Talon to your head," she recited the old poem with a smile as she giggled slightly.

"And you know this how?"

"Everyone knows this song, everyone who lives in Gotham anyway," she shrugged. "You're brought up like that."

"To what fear ghost stories?" laughed Gecko. "Everyone knows that the Court of Owls is a myth a legend, it ain't real."

"Yeah, but you've heard the stories," Jester shuddered. "Sometimes after my mum told me them I couldn't sleep, kept me awake for months, sometimes if I was bad she used to make dust fall from the chimney saying that was the Talons coming to get me," she shuddered from the memory before smirking. "Used to frighten me to death."

Whisper nodded before sighing. "I'm afraid to say you've had every right to be afraid. The Court is real, but not a threat at the moment. My father on the other hand well…" he trailed off before sighing. "He's up to something, what I'm not sure, but he's stayed too long in Gotham."

"And the children of shadows?"

Whisper sighed and looked away. "I know them all very well, apart from Vendetta. I was one of them as I have told you…" he trailed off before sighing. "It's a part of my life I never wanted to come back," he turned to look at Conner. "I believe they blame you for my leaving."

"Me?" Conner looked confused. "Why me?"

"You're my best friend… I believe that they are angry that I would rather be with you then my… 'friends' I have made and had for years."

Jester sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "What do you suggest we do… considering this concerns all of us."

Whisper got to his feet and looked at all of them with a concerned expression. "I suggest… we all go back to our teachers. I shall try and keep a look out on Wonder City since I believe that is where they will be coming out of."

"Why don't you…" Enigma trailed off blushing slightly. "Why don't you come and stay at my place I mean… my dad has cameras everywhere, he'll have one on Wonder City… you could watch from there."

Jester's eyes widened. "Oh… I'm not sure if that's a good idea…"

"Why?"

The black and white clown faltered waving her arms around to try and find a way to describe what was happening without alarming her friend… but she doubted there was anything she could say… unless…?

"He's just really buisy…" Jester explained with a smile. "I wouldn't get in the way of his work."

Enigma frowned further. "Jester… what's going on?"

Jester blinked before she ran a hand down her face, pacing slightly. "Look… I don't know if it will be safe for you to be there."

"He's my father."

"Yeah well… you gotta ask yourself one question, is he anything like his own father?"

"He's not!"

"You don't know him like I do."

Enigma blinked. "And you don't know him like my mother does."

The room was silent until Enigma tugged Whispers arm.

Whisper turned to leave before turning back to Jester and nodding, basically saying he was going to look out for Enigma.

Jester nodded back to show she understood before she sighed and turned back to Whisper and glared slightly. "What do we do if the children of shadows find us?"

"We will fight," Whisper stated before turning and giving her a meaningful look. "Or we will fall."

He stood in the room pacing slightly, his gaze occasionally resting on the group of men and women who were forced to walk around the maze of tracks that stood around his main hub of workings.

Edward sighed and ran a hand down his face. He was bored and the place was oddly quiet without Jester's presence and it made him uneasy.

He turned at the sound of a gasp and then a huge bang.

Horrified screams followed afterwards causing a headache to form at the front of Edward's head.

He rubbed his head and tried to block the noise out, but he couldn't it got louder and louder and his head pounded.

"Shut up," he hissed as he rubbed his temples. "Shut up, shut up, shut up!"

The room fell silent only the silent whisperings could be heard from his captives as they continued the walk around his maze of tracks.

Maybe he could do something to ease the tension.

"It's not that I don't trust you Hugo… it's just the headaches… the pain… they come all the time now."

Edward's head tilted towards the computer and quirked a brow at the conversation. He knew it was the Mayor and Strange but… there was something off with the tone.

"Continue to take the medication I prescribed to you."

"But-."

"It is late Mister Mayor, you are tired…. you need your sleep."

Edward was now leaning on his desk staring down at the image of Strange's office as he sat with his hands folded in a steeple listening to the phone as it lay on speaker.

"Of course…. I need my sleep."

"You will hang up now."

"I will hang up now-."

"Imbecile."

Edward let his mouth turn upward in a smile. "I couldn't of put it better myself," he said in an amused tone.

Strange looked up suddenly. "What?! How dare you entre my office!"

Edward let his smirk turn cocky out of habit as he picked up the microphone and leaned on his desk. "Oh I'm not in your office and please don't insult me by attempting to trace this broadcast… you will fail."

He watched as Strange seemed to sigh before he leaned back and straightened himself out. "I take it I am talking to Mister Edward Nigma."

"Do you know of any other inmate in your twisted penitentiary who is ingenious enough to arrange this little chat?"

"Narcissium, a compulsive desire to prove his intellect and a predilection for riddles."

Edward gave a fake smile as he glared down at that the screen. "You've read my file," he stated in mock fondness.

"Of course."

"Good, then lets get started!" Edward placed the microphone back on his table as he studied Strange in the image as he sat quite calmly in his chair. "How do you attempt to understand what is going on in Arkham City, when all of the answers are STRANGE?"

Edward grinned the flipped the microphone off taking a few steps back he began to chuckle before he was laughing. He extend his arms out and gazed up at the ceiling laughing as he span around slowly.

He was now in his element and no one… no one was going to stop him, not Batman, not Strange, no one. He was himself, he was the twister of truths, the king of conundrums, he was the Riddler!

"Enjoying yourself?"

Edward span around and came face to face with Mist or at least he hoped it was Mist.

"What are you doing here?" he question in confusion.

Mist smiled. "Crane informed me that you know of… this little plan of ours."

"I'm actually shocked you two are working together," Edward stated narrowing his eyes. "I didn't think Jon would like someone like you."

"Oh?" Sphinx walked forward running her hands up his chest to rest on his shoulders. "And what is someone like me?"

Edward gulped and took a slow step backwards. "Mist, what are you doing here?"

"What ever are you talking about?"

"My only reasoning for you coming here is either if you are bored, wanting a little bit of fun or you're trying to distract me from something or… you need me to do something for you."

Mist pouted slightly. "Aww… you think so highly of me," she chuckled slightly before she walked over to the computers and studied them. "You're watching Strange… interesting."

"Why is that so interesting?" Edward snarled making Mist turn and raise an eyebrow at him.

"Not your usual register with me Ed. What's wrong?"

"I keep getting headaches…" Edward muttered as he rubbed his temples.

Mist sat up on the desk, crossing her legs and tapping a finger to her chin. "Mood swings?"

"A few…" Edward muttered. "I snapped at Jester like I've snapped at her before, so I told her to leave."

Mist nodded before she patted her jacket and frowned. "If only I had a pen."

"Mist you are not a psychologist," Edward snarled. "You were never one to begin with. Speaking of.. being an investigative reporter do you think you could use something to get at Strange?"

"Depends what you've got."

"A recording. Strange using Sharp. Do you think that's good enough?"

Mist smirked and folded her hands. "Oh… I know exactly what to do with that. Now… back to matter at hand with Scarecrow."

"Jon? What about him?"

"Oh nothing," Mist shrugged getting of the table and strutting over to him. "I just thought… it's bad for business to have suspicions between friends."

"What on earth are you talking about?"

Mist smiled and ran her finger along the back of his shoulders. "Now, now, Eddums… you know exactly what I'm talking about."

"I think you'll find you're mistaken," Edward bit out as he moved away from her and sat down away from her, looking over his work.

Mist narrowed her eyes slightly before she sighed and walked back to him placing her finger underneath his chin and slowly pushed his face up towards her. "Now Eddie, you trust me don't you?"

"Of course I trust you," Edward cried, before he smiled. "I trust you more then anyone."

Mist smiled. "I'm glad… now, do you think you could trust me to know that you won't be trouble if you trust me," she mumbled as she dragged her finger along the bottom of his chin to his face.

Edward smiled. "Of course I trust you." he got to his feet and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"That's good," she smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck leaning up and kissing him.

Things became a little more heated and Mist slammed Edward against the desk and slowly began to un-button his shirt.

"Oh god, ew!"

Both Edward and Mist span around to see Enigma and another boy standing behind her.

"Enigma," Mist breathed as she caught her breath. "And who is this charming young man behind you?"

"Oh…." Enigma trailed off before she looked behind her at Whisper. "That's… umm Whisper."

Edward's eyes widened before they narrowed at the boy standing behind Enigma, Whisper at least had the decency to look slightly worried.

"You brought Hush's protégé to my hideout?!"

Enigma took a step back. "What's so bad about that?"

"What's bad about it? His master or mentor tried to kill me!"

"No offence, but a lot of people have tried to kill you."

"He almost did, Hush pushed me off a building and hoped it would kill me, but the skylight broke my fall… as well as the table."

Enigma went wide eyed before she turned to Whisper and raised an eyebrow. "Is this true."

"I had nothing to do with it."

"What about the attempts made on my mother's life by your father?"

Whisper looked over at Sphinx and raised a curious eyebrow. "Well.. as far as I can tell she does not appear to be over a thousand years old."

"You can't say anything about looks!"

Whisper gave a sigh before he walked past Enigma and stood in front of her parents. "Mist, I know you and my father do not agree, but I do not agree with him either. I am asking you, do you know of the children of shadows?"

Mist stiffened before she relaxed again. "Yes, of course."

"They're in Gotham, as well as my father, Ras Al Ghul," Whisper paused before he turned away. "Enigma and everyone else is in danger, the children of shadows are going to be sent to kill them all."

Edward's eyes winded. "But.. but why? Why would this.. Ras Al Ghul be bothered by a couple of street kids?"

"Because he wishes to cleanse the city of evil and eventually the world, forgetting that he himself is also evil."

Edward blinked before he turned to Enigma. "You are not leaving this hideout."

"Actually that's what we came here to talk to you about, can we borrow one of your computers, the one monitoring Wonder City, that's where they'll be."

He sighed before rubbing his eyes. "Very well, I suppose we must all be on the look out for these… children of shadows… tell me, what do they look like?"

"You don't need to know," Whisper stated. "I will be watching the image also, to make sure it is them."

"You know them?"

"I was one of them once but… that was a very long time ago."

"Uh huh, how long?"

Whisper paused before glancing at him. "I split from them after the French Revolution."

Edward blinked. "Pardon?"

"The french revolution. I left them just after that."

Enigma smirked at her father's shocked expression before she turned to Mist and smiled. "I like him."

"I can tell," Mist muttered back. "Let us hope your father doesn't mind you dating older men."

Jester sighed and looked over her comic book at the furnaces. The best thing about Joker's hideout was the fact that it was warm and stayed room, unlike most places Jester had been.

She couldn't help but frown at the sight though. It was no lie that she didn't like being at Joker's place, she never did. Simply because she knew he would kill her simply because it was friday.

"Hey, keep over on your side!"

"I am on my side, ya bouncing nit nack!"

"Well maybe I would keep on my side if stayed on yours!"

She looked over at them both, Jack in the box and J'J were sitting on the floor in front of the telly playing a video game, making Jester smirk.

Then April skated into the room, carrying a lot of metal in her arms, before she placed them all down on the table next to Jester.

Jester raised an eyebrow at the metal as she began to fix them together.

"Um… what you doing?"

"Making things," April replied.

"Making things? Care to elaborate?"

April smirked. "Not really… it's a surprise."

"Get on your own side!"

"I've already told you, I am on my own side!"

Jester huffed and turned to watch them as they argued.

J'J hit him in the head with the controller before Jack in the Box kicked him in the side, trying to push him away.

"Ow!"

"Stop moving on my side!"

"I'm not moving on your side!" yelled J'J as he smacked him on the head once more with the controller.

Jester huffed and turned away. "I'm getting headache."

"From what?"

"Them," she growled pointing at the two who sat down.

April giggled as she pulled her goggles down over her eyes before she turned to the furnaces, placing some of the metal into the furnaces to melt the metal.

Jester sighed and jumped to her feet closing the comic. "Well… not that this isn't fun but… I have better things to be doing."

"Whisper told us to go to our mentors," April stated as she glared slightly.

Jester chuckled and picked her bag up. "I'm just going to give Eddie a visit… sheesh, nothings gonna happen that's bad, I can assure you."

April shook her head as Jester left the furnaces, pulling her coat around her better as she walked through the colder parts of the steel mill.

"Hello kiddo!"

Jester froze and span around to see Joker leaning against the door frame smirking.

"Hey… Boss J man."

"Harley tells me you were telling her I was gonna die…" Joker trailed off before glaring. "I hate rumours."

Jester took a few steps back. "Rumours are nasty little things."

"And I've already told you how I like to… stomp them out," Joker chuckled as he pulled out his gun aiming it at Jester.

The girl backed up as she turned away from him. "You shoot me and my dad will be at your throat before you even laugh."

Joker chuckled. "Oh… kiddo, you and your humour…"

"You think I'm kidding? I'm dead serious."

She then continued her walk out of the furnaces and the steel mill, dodging the groups of thugs as she went.

She was not in the mood to be speaking with them… they weren't in her league either as she walked on.

Jester chuckled lightly as she watched the groups before she slipped past them climbing up on top of the buildings, she began to run as fast as she could to Edward's.

It was the only place she felt safe.

She hoped he'd calmed down now, she was hoping.

T.B.C:

Note: so yeah... I have finally up loaded this chapter. I know it's been a while but this story is obviously not finished and there is still a long way for us to go with it :) So yeah I hope you enjoy!