Disclaimers :: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any previously copyrighted material. No copyright infringement is intended.
A/N :: I'm late again, haha. Well. I am now back in Thailand. I miss the States a lot. But Hey, home is home, right? It's great to have a birthday at home after 8 years! Not only I was adapting my body back to the Time zone, I also had driving lesson. But I got that out of the way and passed Driver license test!
Originally this chapter was one long chapter, I was going to chop it in 2 parts like I did chapter 12 but considering the contents were able to make a new chapter so here you go.
Warning :: Un-beta. Sorry for miss spelling, I will fix it later.There're lots of graphic violence in this chapter. As well as strong language. Please don't try it at home, kiddies!
Chapter 14 :: A Deal with the Devil.
I'm waking up to ash and dust
I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust
I'm breathing in the chemicals
I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison bus
This is it, the apocalypse
I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones
Enough to make my systems blow
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
Welcome to the new age, to the new age
I'm radioactive, radioactive
- Imagine Dragons, Radioactive.
"Hello, dearie." The God of War had a smile painted on his handsome face, though his eyes scrutinized down at her.
Lysandra forced herself not to flinch. But it was hard. His power emanated from him. The thirst for violence and aggression rose from within her. She knew it was the effect of his presence. Nothing her mother or Artemis had ever taught her about War was able to measure up. Maybe it was her childish arrogance to ever think she could face this god unwavering or even took him on without giving in to the bloodlust, like her mother had once done.
"Ah, but that the different, isn't it. You are not Diana…." He said as if he'd just read her mind.
Grinding her teeth, Lysandra lifted her chin up and level her gaze. Even if she couldn't let herself answered in words, didn't mean she wouldn't answer at all.
Ares lifted a brow to show his amusement. And stepped closer, Lysandra didn't realize she was stepping backward, away from him until her backside hit the concrete ledge of the rooftop. Her breath hitched when a hard, bigger body slammed into her, the god's hands pressed on the ledge behind, caging her as his crimson eyes bore down.
Panic rushed through her body, threatening Lysandra fall on her knees, to cower and cry. She never felt such terror like this in her life. Not even when she faced Eris the first time. But this, this was something else altogether.
The only thing keeping her wits about her was her pride. Her stupid Amazon Pride wasn't about to let any man see how truly scare she was. So, through her rushing pulse, trembling body and tears that threatening to fall, Lysandra held her gaze. Staring back at The God of War.
A brow raised higher as Ares reached out his hand to grip her chin.
"I used to think she was the perfect choice… But I was wrong." He said, hand gripped tighter on her chin. His tone made her spine chilled. But she held her gaze. The corner of his mount lifted into a cold smile. "….No, You are much better than your mother…."
Lysandra swallowed the lump in her throat. She croaked out. "…What do you want?"
The crimson flame in his eyes flickered for a second as if he was amused with her reaction. His smile wider. He finally let go of her face. Lysandra took that second to move out of the small space he'd caged her in. The War god continued to watch her. "To help, of course."
She wasn't sure it was of her own panic or his answer that me her almost stumble backward. Lysandra just blinked up at him. Confusion clouding her for a second before she managed get the word out. "…..Help with what?"
They circled as if they were about to spar. Eyes watchful of each other, assessing for the next move. Lysandra gripped Tim's utility belt that strapped across her shoulder. She knew she had no weapon. Even she did, there was no way she could ever win against the War God.
"Fear not, little girl. I am not here to fight. As I said, I am here to offer help." Ares said. "I know of your Quest…."
"Then you know you are the last person I want any assisting from. Father of Eris." Lysandra lifted her chin and glared at him.
The War god lifted both his hands up. "Ah….But It doesn't mean I support what my offspring had done."
"Do you really think I would believe you want nothing in return?"
"Of course I do want something in return."
With that Lysandra snorted loudly. Ares cocked his head and his smile disappeared. Suddenly a chill went down her spine. The unseen force that emanated from him became even stronger. He held out his hand. "…Come."
Lysandra dropped her gaze from his face to his hand then back up to his face. But she didn't move.
"Come." His voice became harder and the unseen force shoved her forward, Lysandra stumbled into his open arm. The War God tugged her to his side, strong hand, snaked around and squeezed her shoulder a little too hard than necessary.
"You're foolishly brave, aren't you? ….Not many people would dare to look at me in the eyes and live. You mother is one of those people.…even though she's a slight disappointment to my taste." Amusement laced his voice and he tugged her along as he started walking. The hand on her shoulder tightening. Lysandra shut her eyes and gritted her teeth. She forced herself not to wince from the pain that started to creep up her body. But the War God didn't seem to pay attention, he continued his talking. "….But you, with your weak human half. You took on the quest from my dear sister, though you knew what you'd be facing….Not just those deadly creatures, but A goddess. Not just any goddess, she is of my blood…"
But we both know you're not here to compliment me. Lysandra thought and let out an unfeminine snort.
Ares halted both of them for a second. Wind whipping away pass her face, Lysandra realized her eyes were still closed. Slowly she opened them. And gasped.
Lysandra was no longer standing on top of the rooftop terrace across from her burnt apartment in Gotham city. Actually she was standing on the golden chariot. Drawn by four large horses. Their manes lit with fire but their bodies blended into the color of night sky.
They levitated above the city. Flame licked up the buildings surround it, screams could be heard over and over through the wind of the night as well as the Battle cries. Blades slashing, arrows flew and hoplites speared. Weapons smashing into shields. In the middle of the city sat the biggest wooden horse, she'd ever seen. Also on fire.
Lysandra blinked and blinked. When she realized what she was seeing.
The Fall of Troy.
"I hope you don't mind the height. Although I am surprise that you do not possess ability to fly…." The War God finally said again, his tone almost mocking.
Lysandra lifted her gaze to meet his. Deep frown on her face. "…Why?"
"Because, sometimes, I do not agree with what my offspring had brought to the world." He replied before use his free hand to pull the gold reins. The horses snorted out fire and circled around the burning city. He gestured her to look down at the chaos below. "True, that I thrive from war, bloodlust and chaos. But this war, The Trojans lost. The side that I chose was pummeled to the ground, burn to ashes. It happened because my daughter had decided we, the Olympians were not powerful enough anymore. The humans, needed a new leader. The stronger, more cruel to guild them…..you might knew who I'm referring to."
"So, you knew all along why Eris'd started the conflict. It wasn't because she was furious from not being invited to Peleus's wedding. But something else altogether…." Lysandra paused. "She wanted Helen's blood, isn't she?...She wanted the blood of female demigod….to broke the Seven seals to Tartarus."
"Smart girl for a Halfling." Ares said. "….That and more. My Daughter wanted us split. To fight among ourselves. To look the other way."
"But she didn't succeed…" Lysandra looked down grimly at the ongoing battle below. Screams piercing through the night. "Helen lived through the battles. She went back to Sparta."
"It was close enough. But no one can punish Eris, for she had insisted that she started the wars because of who she is. She's discord, she's strife. She cannot help being who she is…." The War God paused as if he was recalling something from his memories.
"But you said you knew…."
"Not until much later, and we never had those heart-to-heart Father/Daughter conversion, you know"
I bet you didn't. Lysandra thought. " she didn't try again until recently…"
With me. Lysandra wanted to add. "So is this about choosing side again?...You want to the Winner this time?..." Against who? The Titan king and…her? Not likely.
Ares didn't answer right away. Instead he let out a shout. The horses whined then kicked up nonexistent ground before trotted up higher, away from the floating smoke that burning away everything inside the city wall. "Do you know what would happened if The Titan King were released?"
Lysandra could imagine the result. But she only gave him a short nod. Letting Ares continued. "He will unleash the rest of the imprisoned Titans. They will show no mercy as they eviscerate us. And my daughter, my flesh and blood would sell me out to the old king…"
For a moment, Lysandra could only stare up at the God of War. Even with his crimson eyes flickering reflected the burning flame below, he almost looked….human.
But then he just gave her a humorless laugh. "….Ah. You forgot something, little girl. We, Olympians are self-serving lot. Everything we do, everyone we offered the help. We always wanted something in return…."
"I have nothing to give you, War God. Assuming, if I needed your help. Which I don't." She stated.
"That where you are wrong, little girl. You have plenty to give me. And believe me you'll need my help…."
"I don't―" Her words were swallowed by a loud scream as the scene below blurred and replace by another battlefield.
This time, The Battle just wasn't men versus men. But men against Giants, Cyclopes, Giant scorpions and any monsters Lysandra had ever studied. The brutality was much worse. Even most men fought bravely till death but screams of fear and pain were heard. She wanted to shut her eyes, preventing herself from witnessing those brutal deaths but she knew her ears would still hear those haunted cries.
"Do you see what I see, Halfling?" Ares asked as he circle the chariot closer. Lysandra almost flinched away as a sword came flying in their direction from one of the soldier who had it ripped away along with his arm by a yellow eyes giant. Before his head was torn from his body.
Lysandra gritted her teeth at the scene. "Are you trying to scare me?"
"Did it work? Because these are reality that awaits you if you chose to fight. You might bear Amazon blood, trained their ways but remember, you are also carrying that weakling human half. You have no true aid from the gods. You do not even possess those abilities your mother were given…." He said calmly and finally let go of her shoulder. Before whipped the chariot forward. Lysandra gripped the golden edge of the front guard. Anger stirring inside again.
Why did everyone keep reminding her she was a weak Halfling? It wasn't like she would ever forget!
The War Chariot rode forward through the ongoing battle, arrows, blades, axes and hoplites flew pass them left and right. Until a single battle cry caught her attention.
In the middle of heat battle one man stood his ground. One hand held the bronze shield and the other slashing a large battle axe into enemies' flesh, cutting them in halves. He donned only simple armors, his long hair mushed from blood and gore that he continued to slaughter the bigger enemies. His roar shook something inside Lysandra, it was raw, savage and powerful. His eyes glowed red with the color of blood. And his bare forearm was branded with shield and spear symbol. She realized whoever this person was, Ares had wanted her to see.
She should be horrified from what she'd seen. But there was something that captivated her attention, preventing her from turning away. Maybe it was raw power she felt surging as he decimated his foes. Or it was the way he fought with everything he had, like there was no tomorrow or the fact that he fought them as if he was their equal, that he wasn't just a weak human but he was more…. "….Who?"
"Matter not who he was….The important part was who made him."
Lysandra knew what the War god wanted her to see. This savage man was Ares's champion. The brand on his arm was obvious. He'd wanted her to know, all these powers could be hers as well. But at what price?
"Ah, but it was nothing you couldn't effort I can assure you" He said and slapped playfully on her back. Lysandra opened her mouth to answer but he cut her off. "Before you answer…..let me show you something…"
Something inside her screaming that she couldn't trust Ares. If she remembered anything at all from Artemis's teaching, She shouldn't, for any reason, make a deal with The War God.
And there was the other side of her, wanting those powers. So she could finish this quest with better odds. All her life, she was called a half-blood, a bastard, weakling half-human because she wasn't blessed as her mother. She had nothing but accelerated healing. True, it came handy from time to time but if only she could punch a hole in a wall with her bare fist―
Ares whipped the horses. They kicked and pulled the chariot forward Lysandra had to grab the front guard so she wouldn't fly off the vehicle. They rode hard and fast. All she could see were colorful blurry scenery and incoherent background noise. Until the War chariot came abruptly stop. Her body slammed forward hitting the golden guard she'd been holding on. She winced and rubbed her midriff before looking around.
The War Chariot and the horses dissipated into golden and black mist and Lysandra found herself standing in the luxurious lobby. She turned around to see people (some of them she'd seen on the television or billboards) walking passed the glass door the doorman had opened for them into the building, leading to the large wooden front desk, occupied by more employees. Or some were walking out from elevator area passing through her out the same glass door.
But then she noticed their faces, starting with the doorman whose face started to shimmer when she look carefully when it cleared his human face morphed became one eye, sharp teeth bearing when he smile at the oblivious humans that came through the door. Even though his body was still human size, Lysandra was sure when the glamour fell fully he would grow at least a few more inches.
Her eyes darted to the rest of the employees, securities, concierges, elevator operator or even the janitor who was cleaning the windows….each of them only had one eye and sharp teeth.
All of them were Cyclops.
Lysandra opened her mouth to say something but all of the sudden, the scene began to blurred away and change once again.
Before she had a chance to assessing the place where she stood, A piercing scream tore into her ears taking her attention to the source. When her eyes adjusted, she froze at the scene before her.
Timothy Drake was tied up to a wooden altar, spread eagle, cladded only in his pants. A brunette hair woman hovered over his bare chest.
Another scream tore out and Lysandra's heart sang. Then she realized it wasn't coming from Tim but from the other wooden altar. Another young man was tied up in the same position, only he wore nothing but his boxer shorts. A blond woman laughed as she cut into his chest with a nasty looking knife. Blood poured out, dripping down and slowly flowed down to the drain below the altar, leading to a large bucket on the floor.
The blond woman bent her head down and licked the cut on the guy's chest. Before she turned to the brunette, "Hmm….he tastes a little dull for a pretty face…." The woman paused and glanced over at Tim's prune body on the nearby altar. But he apparently passed out at the moment, unaware of the hungry look shooting at him. The blond licked her lips and smiled. "I bet he tastes better…."
"Not yet, sister. We'll wait until everything is ready….now go play with your toy" The brunette shooed her away as she began to tug Tim's pants down.
When she finally able to drag her gaze away from Tim to really look at the women, Lysandra realized they were the Empousai sisters from the museum. How in Hades Tim was in their hands?
Slowly, tearing her gaze away from unconscious Tim. To the War God beside her. He dragged his gloved hand through his cropped short blond hair, looking unconcerned. But her glare didn't waver. "…..just so you know. I have nothing to do with them"
Another scream ripped through the air. But she didn't even flinch until she heard the next word.
"Oh, look who just wake up…." The brunette said cheerfully.
Lysandra realized, Tim had just opened his eyes.
Tim woke up disoriented from a tug on his legs. His head hurt, so did the rest of his body. A scream tore into his ears as he fought the grogginess. Was it his?
And most importantly where the hell was he?
"Oh, look who just wake up…." A woman's voice caught his attention as he tried to force his eyes open. Someone was leaning over him. The light hurt his eyes even more, Tim had to blinked repeatedly for couple minutes until his blurry vision came into focus.
"Where are my manners, I'm Cordelia….welcome to our lair." A beautiful brunette smiling down at him. She was stunning, perfect features with red lips, for a few minutes there Tim could only stared.
But then…..something happened.
Her scent became even stronger, a scent of heavy flowery perfume that made him sick. Her pretty face became distorted, shimmered and started to morphed longer resembled him of a bad combination of human and horse. She was no longer beautiful.
Tim stared, his mouth gaped open. The brunette's bugly dark eyes flickered with realization, her smile disappeared and pulled herself backward as if to right herself.
"…..You can see through our glamour." It wasn't a question. She said through gritting large teeth. "I should have known that virgin bitch would leave some kind of trick!"
Another shadow casted over him and Tim bent his head to see that blond woman who knocked him out in the alley across the street from Dick's place. She was holding a blood soaked knife in her hand. Her perfect face did the same thing as her sister when Tim stared hard enough. She didn't look happy.
"Tsk! And here I hope I could play with him before we drain him…I bet he's still a virgin…." She leered down at him and he realized he wore nothing but his boxer briefs. Worse. He was chained up on some kind of table. Spread-eagle. Somehow it reminded him of how he handcuffed Lysandra a few hours before…..Or was it a few days? Talking about Karma…
God….He had no idea how long he had been captured. Where was Lysandra? Did Bruce or Dick ever able to track her down?
"Wh….." His throat burned as he tried to speak. Tim swallowed his own saliva to help his aching throat. Taking a few minute for him to finally rasp out. "Why…?"
The dark hair Empousa smiled down at him darkly. "Because that little bitch killed our sister, she took one of us. So we shall take one of hers"
Tim'd wanted to argue that they were wrong. Lysandra'd wanted nothing to do with him. She hadn't even wanted his help. She was now out there alone…just like him.
Well, maybe not exactly like him. Tied up and everything….
Tim bent his neck to examine to chamber he was held in. The far side of the room were full of floor to ceiling shelves, half filled with old looking books but the other made his breath hitched. They were full of glass jars, inside displaying human hearts. More than a dozen…
"Ah, I see you noticed our collections…." The dark hair one said with a wider smile. "…Those are our favorites….you know, delicious, exquisite blood. Most belonged to the offsprings of those wretched Olympians….." she made face as she walked around to the other side of the table. "Too bad that bitch goddess didn't have her own Halflings or we would be delight to fill them with those….But…..Did you see that middle one that empty?" she gestured over to the shelves again and Tim caught the sight of the empty glass jar sat among the occupied ones. When he turned back to her, she could see excitement brimming her dark as night eyes. And unsettled feelings filled him.
"We save it for the special one….the one whose blood with help us win this War…." She smiled down at him as her fingers tracing his cheekbone. "And you, young man…..will be our bait…"
Caroline, the blond one pushed a metal cart closer to his table. He couldn't see what was on the cart but the cranking sound was much of a giveaway. Bile rose in his mouth but Tim swallowed it back. When she finally settled next to his table, picked up a small vial out and popped it open.
"What are you doing, Caroline?" The dark hair one asked from the other side of him.
"I have a solution….Since you wanted this delicious piece of a male intact so we can lure that stupid half-blood to us. He just has to be presentable…." Caroline Smiled, held the vial out and leaned down. Her other hand squeezed his face. But Tim resisted with whatever strength he had left.
"Eris wanted to him as a pet. I don't think we-"
"Please. As if we ever do exactly what she said..." Caroline rolled her eyes. "Beside Gorgon Blood will heal his body when I'm done playing. The hag won't ever know"
Cordelia considered her sister's words for a second. Tim swallowed the hard lump in his throat. When she gave a feminine shrug of her shoulder. "Fine, but make sure he'll be presentable. And don't drain him yet"
Caroline squealed in delight. She inched closer and smiled gleefully down at him. The small vial hovered over his chapped mouth. "Don't worry...I won't touch your handsome face"
Somehow, that was the least of his problem. He wasn't sure which sound worse, being kept as some psychotic goddess's pet or being tortured and drained by equally psychotic witches.
"I have to go get the rest of the ceremony ready." Cordelia announced she gave him another look before pulled away from the field of his vision. "Don't forget. We need him as a bait for that halfling. He holds no value to us lifeless"
Tim wanted to close his eyes but he wouldn't show the witch his vulnerable metal state, so he just kept his eyes straight up, fixing on the skeleton chandelier but his body stiffed when Caroline's face came into view.
"Say 'Ahhhh'" she held the vial against his lips but Tim pressed his mouth shut and looked coldly at her horse shape face. Suddenly her smile died as he squeezed his mouth open. Tim struggled but in the end his restrained body was no match for the mad witch. As soon as she was able to hold the space Caroline shoved the vial in his mouth, lifted the bottom up and drained its content inside. She held his jaw forcing his mouth shut so he was unable to spit it out.
The liquid burned his tongue, down his throat, all the way down to his stomach. Made his body burned from its effect. Less than a minute later, A glint from the blade flashed into his vision.
He heard a crazy feminine laugh and then the first blade slashed down on his skin.
"Noooooo!" Lysandra screamed when the blond Empousa slashed her blade into Tim's chest, blood splashed across the woman's designer sundress as she laughed hysterically.
Lysandra jumped in but Ares grabbed a hold of her arm and every vanished.
They were back on the rooftop terrace across the street from her burned apartment.
"Get me back! I need to help him!" She screamed at the War god again. Twisting her arm away from him. Only to be look down with amusement.
"I thought you don't care about him..." He asked and let go of her arm.
"I...I don't..." She struggled with the answered. A recent memory flashed in her mind.
They will die because of you. Whoever they are.
Artemis. Epione. Steve.
And now...Tim. He was going to get himself killed because of her, too. No way she was going to let it happened again!
She pivoted, heading to the stairway but before she could reach it. Ares grabbed her arm and pulled her back so fast she stumbled, hard enough to send a sharp pain into her. Lysandra hissed and trying to twist away again. But the War god wouldn't let go of her arm.
"As much as I like your enthusiasm, little girl. You heard the wenches. They won't kill your friend, at least not yet." He said, his tone unconcerning. Lysandra glared up at him. His crimson swirling eyes twinkled like a child who found a favorite new toy. He gave her a toothy grin before he added further. "….You won't do him any good like this. And since I'm very generous, So I'm going to let you rest a bit, conserve your energy, decide about my offer and then tomorrow I shall bring you to them."
Lysandra looked at him as if he grew two more head, which was probably possible. Ares took that opportunity to reach his other hand inside her pants pocket and pulled out the crumpled cigarette pack―Lucky Strike. The one Steve had given her before got blown into pieces. The War God opened the pack, popped a cigarette between his lips and tossed the pack back to her. She caught it with her hands, watching him lit it with a fire produced by the tip of his index finger.
He suck it in before blew out a puff of smoke, in her face. Lysandra scrunched her nose and wanted nothing more than pop him in the nose. But she knew she couldn't, so she gritted her teeth instead.
"Opened it…." Ares said after he exhaled another puff of smoke, this time upward. Lysandra took his casual stance to finally twist out of his grab. She gave him another glare before she did what she was told.
She knew what she would find, a lighter, a piece of paper and a small key. All tugged inside together with several crushed cigarettes. Lysandra pulled out the folded piece of paper out, opened it and read.
Hey, kiddo.
If you are reading this, then my time is up. Go to the address behind. Your mother stashed them up for emergency.
Good Luck.
Steve.
Ps. There's a box under the recliner, I've moved the rest of your money's there.
Hands shaking, Lysandra flipped the paper to the other side and saw Steve's hand writing said. 'Unit 41A. 7236 Commerce Dr, Boston'
Lysandra frowned, she looked up to see Ares tossing the cigarette butt to the ground and killed it with the bottom of his biker boot. The War God exhaled remaining smoke through his nose before he moved swiftly closer to her, his arm extended over and wrapped over her shoulder, caging her to his side once again.
Much to her dismay and trying to struggle away from his touch, Ares pulled her along as he stepped closer to the edge until both of them standing over the ledge of the rooftop.
Night breeze blew softly, despite the rising temperature of summer time she could still feel its caressing on her skin. Lysandra looked straight down below, passed her feet to the street down below. Lights from street lamps, pedestrians on the sidewalks, cars that parked along the road. The height, the isolation above all else when she stood tall on the edge of the building brought an unusual comfort to her. She never experienced vertigo, even when she stood at the highest cliff of Paradise Island. The feeling was the opposite. It calmed her, that why a high place had always been her favorite.
"You feel it, didn't you? Standing at the highest. Feeling that you are above all else. The place you felt you belonged…..We are, after all family…." Ares said. Lysandra didn't reply. But inside her was agreeing to the statement. Although she puzzled the last part about being family. But dismissed it because it reminded her of her useless connection with Goddess Aphrodite.
"Too bad, you can't fly….." Lysandra opened her mouth to retort but Ares jumped over the ledge, pulled her together with him as they took off into the thin air. Lysandra gave a scream before she shut her eyes and brace herself for the fall.
Okay, maybe she didn't have acrophobia. But didn't mean she liked jumping to her early death!
Only they didn't. A few second later her feet touched the hard ground again as if she only dropped from a step not eight stories building. Lysandra opened her eyes when Ares released her shoulder. Her legs gave out and she flopped down on to the concrete floor.
Blinking away the confusion, Lysandra finally looked around. They were at a narrow street, both side surround by long rows of one story facilities with heavy metal doors. Above the door, were numbers. Somehow she wasn't surprised that when she spotted 41A above the rusty green door in front of her.
"And that's my cue to go. I expected you to have an answer for my offer when I return…." Ares pivoted away from her. He slid the dark shade back on his face, and gave her one last smile over his broad shoulder. "…..and you better do something with that belt you're holding, if you don't want your daddy to catch up with you…."
Lysandra looked down at her clenched hands that holding Tim's belt.
"See you later, little girl." He gave her two fingers salute and started to walk away.
"Hey! Wait!―" But in the blink of an eyes, the War God'd disappeared. And for a few minutes, Lysandra just sat there staring at the thin air. Not knowing of what to do. Until she glanced back to the metal door in front and letter 41A above it before looking down at the crumbled note in her hand.
Your mother stashed them up for emergency.
That meant whatever inside belong to her mother. From what she gathered, this place was probably self-storage facilities.
Drawing out the key that had been tugged inside the cigarette pack, she willed herself to get up. Chewing on her bottom lips, Lysandra stepped closer to the door. Her hand shook while pushing the key into its hole. She turned until the lock made a click sound. Letting her know that it was accessible.
Perspiration dotted across the bow of her lips and between her brows as she pushed the metal door up. But Lysandra didn't roll it all the way up, only created enough space for her to duck inside.
With her back pressed to the metal door, she slid her body sideway, searching for the light switch. With only the light from outside she could see what was inside. Until her hand touched the small panel and switched it on. The light flickered before staying on for her to see.
Lysandra's mouth dropped open.
Three walls of the storage filled with weapons racks. Short swords, double edge leaf-shaped swords called Xiphos, Spartan Swords including swords from other cultures like Claymore and Katana occupied the far side wall. To her left, variants Bow and arrows, different kind of crossbows, many kind of knives and other kinds of projectile weapons. To her right were different size of lances and hoplites, shields of variant designs, a sharpening stone and a stool. Nearby, there was a gray recliner chair. She spotted a small wooden box there just like Steve had told her, though decided to leave it there for now. But what caught her attention was something that covered with the white cloth. She moved slowly pass racks of battle axes, Morning stars and variant kind of weapon. Before reached her hand to grab to cloth and slowly pulled, revealing Golden Amazonian armor on the wood stand.
Her finger traced the eagle design on the breastplate. Looking down at the Pteruges that consisted red dyed leather and gold pins. Wondering how her mother was able to bring something like this off Themyscira when she knew she was unable to go back since her exile up until it was pardoned.
A sudden beeping sound from Tim's belt startled her, followed by the vibration from one of the pouch. Lysandra scrambled getting the flap opened and pulled out a small square device. The beeping sound continued to blast until she pressed the small button.
She was about to let out a relieve sigh when a voice came from the side speaker of it, Lysandra almost choked the air. She remembered that baritone voice from the internet clips or News about The Justice League.
"Tim, what are you doing in Boston?"
The voice of the Batman.
After a few hours, he was able to locate one of Tim's device, the secondary tracker that embedded inside the utility belt and the emergency communicator that had be reactivated. Took Bruce a few minute to hack the override log to realize Dick was the one who did it and after the second grilling, Dick finally spilled something to him.
"Sorry, Bruce. I just learned about this after I got to my apartment, too." Dick told him. They were back at Batcave after hours of unsuccessful of locating both Tim and Lysandra.
Lysandra. His and Diana's daughter. The name had meant The Liberator. Somehow Bruce wondered why Diana had chosen this name for their daughter. Was it impulsivity or it was a meaning to something more.
From Dick, who was told by Tim that the girl had been in Gotham for a while. Living in China Town with someone name Steve Trevor who just passed away from gas explosion only a day ago. And had forbidden Tim to tell Bruce about her.
The question was Why? Why would she not want him to know? Why didn't she come to him, telling him who she was?
But would he believe her? If he didn't see that disk from Clark, would he believe that Diana and himself had a child together?
"And you let her slipped right out of your grasp…" His voice crisp as he responded to Dick.
His adopted son rubbed the back of his neck and said. "…Well, Tim seemed to know where she'd go. And she did go there before the signal went haywire…."
The last location they were able to pick up was China Town then signal was jammed and disconnected until it came back up on the radar. This time in midtown for a little while but before they could get to it, the tracker was moved again to the first location before disappeared and reappeared again in Boston.
Bruce started to think it was a trick somehow. So he reactivated an emergency communicator that all of the utility belts that was used by Batman, Nightwing and Robin had inside. It beeped for a few minutes before responded.
"Tim, what are you doing in Boston?" He asked through the communicator. But only the long silence greeted him back. Bruce and his former protégé looked at each other before Bruce tried again. This time he leaned closer to the mic. "Tim. I know you are there. Why is your signal in Boston?"
Another long silence. He was about to ask again when a disembodied voice of a girl answered back.
"Tim is not here."
His heart almost stopped when he heard her voice the first time. A rich tone similar to the voice from his past but younger. He almost knew right away who he was talking to. He looked at Dick for confirmation and when he nodded. Bruce willed his vocal cord to work again.
"Where is Tim? Why are you in Boston?" He asked. His heart beat louder in his chest, his suspected that Dick might have heard it. But he kept his posture calming still.
"…..I'm Boston?" Her voice raised and followed by profanities.
He gave a warning cough. "Do you know who we are?"
"Oh, believe me. Unfortunately, I do."
"Where is Tim now if he's not with you?"
"…..Tim was captured by those murderous witches…." Her voice dropped and he felt like something just slammed into his gut. Dick had told him of the witches who were perpetrators of recent serial murders in Gotham. And Now, They had Tim? "As for the Location I don't know for sure."
"You need to come to us…" To me. He wanted to say but wasn't sure why he didn't. "We can help―"
"No."
She cut him short before he could say anything else. Her crisped voice gave him a familiar prickling, remembering how Stubborn Diana used to be when she wanted to. Only now wasn't the time he could effort to overlook. "Listen. This is my city. You cannot run around do whatever you please and Tim's life is on the line. You should let the grown ups do―"
A laugh cut him off this time. Her tone laced with sarcasms and humorless, somewhat he felt resentment attached to her voice. His brows furrowed and was about to ask what she think so funny about when the laughter stopped.
"I haven't been a child for a very long time. But you wouldn't know about that, would you?..." A vivid déjà vu flashing in his mind, only he was the one who said those words. And Bruce knew she wasn't asking him the question. She was telling him off. "….Of course not. Mr. Batman is too busy protecting his beloved city to notice something amiss, or rather….someone. But no need to worry there. I understand a long time ago."
"You do?" His brow rose at the clearly unfriendly tone of her voice, ignoring Dick who leaned even closer for a better hearing from his seat, he had the secondary computer running for the exact location the signal was coming from.
"Sure…Just keep doing what you've been doing all this time…."
"And that is…?"
"…..Pretending that I don't exist!"
A crashing sound erupted through the communicator, both the line and the signal went dead.
"No!" He bolted out of his seat as if to grab that disembodied voice. But it was impossible as well as too late.
"Hell, Bruce….the girl just gave you a slip." Dick said from the secondary computer next to him, he sounded amused but abruptly stopped grinning when Bruce shot him the Batglare. His first adopted son swallowed and turned back to the screen. "….her last location was half an hour outside Boston. Apparently the address belonged to a self-storage company and the place itself has over 1,000 of units….and meaning if she didn't already change the location by now."
Bruce gritted his teeth and looked at the digit numbers on the corner of his Bat Computer large screen telling him it was almost three in the morning.
In dilemma, Bruce wanted to track Lysandra down, dragged her back to Wayne Manor, gave her piece of his mind and locked her inside until she turned thirty. And then, there was Tim's situation. He knew what those murderous females had done to their victims. He couldn't let his protégé stay in their hands or long. But the problem was he had no idea how in the hell he could track the boy down when the clue he had was non-existent.
And what was those resentful words supposed to mean? How could he pretend she didn't exist?!
The clicking of the keyboards brought him back, Bruce turned to Dick who still sat in his seat, typing fast, keying something into the system.
"Why are you still here?"
Dick glanced over his shoulder, a brow rose at him, giving him Do you really have to ask me that look. "What?...Tim's also my brother, ya know. Of course I'm still here until we can track his location. I'm trying to triangulate his cellphone. It's still off though. But whenever it turned on, we will know….meanwhile. I'm going to try reactivate anything Tim could possibly had in his possession, knowing Tim, he wouldn't go anywhere completely without caution….you taught him that way."
With that Dick turned back to his task at hand. Bruce didn't have to say Thank you, because they understood unspoken words between them. Family never deserted each other in the time of need, whether they'd related by blood or not.
Bruce turned back to his own supercomputer, started typing the code so he could hack into Tim's utility belt system in order to reactivate tertiary tracker. If the girl thought destroying the secondary one would obscured him in locating her, he would show her how wrong she was. They always had contingency plan, or plans.
Determined to locate his own living flesh and blood come hell or high water. His only hoped that Dick wouldn't too late to located Tim or his daughter decided to do anything stupid in the meantime.
Bruce grinded his molars. For the first time in a long time, He prayed to the mother of his child that he wasn't at all too late.
After storming out and threw away the blasted tracker and crushed communicator, Lysandra pulled down the rolling metal door down, shutting it with a loud bang before letting out an exasperated huff.
The nerve of that man! Trying to order her around as if she was his…..his property!
She slammed herself down on the old recliner by the sharpening stone. It gave out a squeaky noise when she tilted it back though still looked study enough. Lysandra unzipped her boots, gave out irritating sigh when she discovered Tim also confiscated her hidden knives there, left it with Tim's belt she discard before pulled her legs up on the chairs and settled against the cushion.
She wanted nothing more to storm the castle or witches' lair and get Tim out before it was too late. Though Ares insisted, those horse-face bitches wouldn't kill Tim yet, because they'd wanted her to come to them. Which was exactly what would happen if she went now. And assuming, she knew where the place was.
Lysandra looked at all the weapons her mother had stored, wondering if she knew there would be the day to come when Lysandra would need them.
What about War God's motive? It was definitely questionable where Ares was concerned. There was no way she would buy family bullshit he spouting about, she'd known better. Sighing, Lysandra pondered if it would worth the consequence, if she accepted the God's offer.
What had she got to lose? Her humanity? Not that she ever wanted it in the first place. If she had her way, she would rather be full blood Amazon, even she'd hated The Queen―her grandmother and those bunch of hypocrites. But without them she wouldn't be as trained as she was. It was their ways, their teachings that mold her to be as strong as she was. So it wasn't the heritage that left the bad taste in her mouth but the people she associated with.
Clicking her tongue, she thought back to about Ares's deal. Remembering the savage cry and the force that man wielded. Those ferocious powers would be her. She would be more than a Halfling. She would have more chance in succeeding her quest to free her mother.
Then, there was Bruce Wayne―The Batman. Somehow she knew he wouldn't stop finding her, now that he knew she was alive. He wouldn't let her running around freely anymore in his so called city. She hoped that after she got Tim out, she wouldn't have to stay. She needed to travel to the places of those seals. She hoped whatever money she had left in that box was enough. Or maybe, after the deal with Ares, he would gift her with an ability of flight.
Lysandra curled into herself on the recliner and wrapped arms around her legs. Her tired eyes blinked several times, indicating that exhaustion was catching up with her. Her wounds still needed times to heal completely. Hoping by the time she woke, they'd be all gone.
She really hoped Tim would hold out long enough until the rescue. There was nothing she could do now only praying for the strength so he wouldn't break easily.
She yawned. Settling in more comfortable position. She didn't even remembered when the sleep took her.
"….up ,little gal."
"Hmmmm" She groaned when her peaceful sleep was disturbed by unfamiliar disembodied voice.
"Wakey Wakey, you little chit. Time for leisure is up." The voice kept nagging. Lysandra frowned deeper but still not opening her eyes. First she thought it was Steve's, then she remembered that Steve was gone. Her eyes suddenly popped open, she was staring into those dark lenses of the sunglasses. Lysandra yelped and bolted right out of the recliner. Darted away from the War God leaning body and relocated herself on the other end of the storage wall.
Ares's brow rose in amusement as he watched she panted. He joked. "I appreciated your enthusiasm to see me."
"What do you want?" Lysandra even her breathing back to normal but still kept her distant from the War God.
"No, no. The correct question is what do you want, little girl?" He pretended to lift his wrist up to check the watch. "….look at the time. Another day almost gone, I wonder how your little friend will be doing now?...Will he be able to withstand another slashing session? Or will he already brea―"
"Alright! Alright! I get it!" Lysandra spat, Eyes narrowed she could see the sunlight from under the closed metal door. Not sure what time it was now. She twisting her body around, testing the wound and didn't feel anything. Apparently they'd been healed. How long had she slept?
"Ah, it's not even a full day yet just so you know…." He said when he saw her deep frown.
She forced herself not to obviously let out a relief sigh. There was still Hope Tim's mind had not yet break under those bitches' torture.
So there was only one answer for this decision.
Lysandra took a deep breath, keeping her chin up, shoulder squared and looked straight into those dark shades. "It's a yes."
"Excellent!" Ares almost looked too delight it made her felt even more uncomfortable with the decision. But it was all too late to take it back now.
The War God snapped his finger, in the blink of an eye her leather jacket and pants were gone. Instead, she donned the golden armors, completed with the swords strapped across her shoulder. Though her boots were back on. Lysandra pulled both the swords out, they had leaf shaped, good weight for her as she tried swung them around before sheathed them back.
"Pack whatever you want with you. I suggest those knives, you can hid them inside of your boot sheaths." He swiped the hands toward the knife rack. Lysandra didn't wait, she grabbed several good weight knives, excellent for throwing and tugged them inside her boots. Ares continued with the assessment. "….you don't need no shield, those pair of bracelets are enough. Two swords are plenty…..Oh, take this with you though…."
He tossed Tim's utility belt to her. She gave him a frown. "But it could be tracked…."
"Don't worry about that. The Situation will handle itself….Also, take this with you….." He handed her a small vial. "….Gorgon Blood. It's enough to heal whatever injuries he had so he won't be much of a baggage to you."
Lysandra slid it into one of the belt pouch before strapped it across her shoulder, when she was done Ares held his hand out. "Now….To seals the Bargain. Give me your hand, little girl."
Hopefully he didn't mean to literary take her hand, Lysandra took another deep breath and held out her left, he chuckled as if he'd read her mind. "Ah, not necessary….But I hope you're not afraid to spill some blood."
Before she could answer, the War God conjured a bronze sword, slashing it down into her open palm. Lysandra gritted her teeth as blood gushing out while he did the same to his hand. Without wasting time, Ares used his bloody hand, grabbed hers and let their blood mingled.
Burning sensation ran straight up from her opened wound, so hot she wanted to yelp but instead gritted her teeth and bore as it rushed through her veins, spread throughout her body. She gripped Ares hand tighter when she felt like a burst was about to implode. "Ah…Don't fight it, little gal. Let it through…."
Lysandra let out a scream when the pain was at its peak, let go of the God's hand and dropped on the ground. She panted as her whole body sizzled as hot coal. Her heart thudded so fast she's afraid it might popped out. A puff of smoke came out from burning flesh of her left forearm. She glanced down and saw two spears across the shield branded on her skin.
Ares gave a satisfied smile at his now healing hand, he said. "Now….Whenever you ready. I'll take you to your friend"
Lysandra blinked the tears away―she didn't even notice them until now, and struggled back up on her feet. She took a deep breath, feeling her new raw power rushing through her veins. She answered. "I am ready"
The War God gave a knowing smile. He grabbed her shoulder. "…..if you say so."
With another snap of his fingered, they reappeared in front of the building. People around them gasped when all of the sudden two people appeared out of thin air, some did because all of the weapons on her body. Lysandra remembered the glass doors and windows. One of the doorman's eyes widened when he caught a sight of them.
Before she could march off, Ares grabbed her shoulder and turned her to face him. "Now, listen good. The power in you came from the inside, when the drive kick up you'd be unstoppable. And it won't fade until you surrender. But be careful, the powers I bestowed upon you are not of immortality."
"Good enough for me."
He chuckled at her reply. He patted her shoulder "I like the fact that you always manage to amuse me, little girl."
They turned to face the door now, the doorman had called up the securities―meaning the other Cyclopes were rushing out into the lobby. Ares held out his hand. "…..Now a little parting gift for my new favorite relative…."
An unseen force hit the glass doors and windows, they shattered. Screams erupted from the footpath and from inside the lobby. People darted away from the broken windows. Chaos exploded. Ares nodded with satisfaction and he patted her shoulder one last time.
"Give them Hades, little honey badger. Give them blood and horror!" when he finished cheering, The War God pivoted around on his biker boots and walked away unconcerningly through the screaming crowds.
"Someone call the ambulance!"
"Oh god! I'm hurt!"
"Help! The freak has swords!"
"Someone call The Batman!"
Lysandra let the screaming rang through as she marched forward. Hands fisted, head held high and chin up. The other Cyclopes seemed to form a line in the middle of the lobby. She stopped by the remaining steel threshold of the building.
"I demand that you send out the hostage."
The Cyclopes looked at each other and laughed. The one in doorman uniform stepped forward, closer to her, teeth and claws showing. He smirked as he towering over her. "Or what, little girl? What can a human like you do?"
Without answering, Lysandra pulled out her sword and swung. Slashing his neck, blood spraying, cutting it completely his head slid off the shoulder, his eyes still widened with surprise expression as the head fell on the carpet floor with a thud. Blood gushing from opened neck. She pushed at the shoulder with the hilt of her sword, the headless body fell backward next to its head. The rest of the Cyclopes shut their pipes immediately, eyes fixed on their fallen comrade.
"Or This." She calmly replied. Wiping the blood that splattered off her face. Nervousness completely gone, replacing with exhilarating sensation after she drew the first blood. Lysandra pulled another sword out, swung both showing the sharp edges before raised one in the front, one pointed down. Turned her body sideway with one foot behind, she readied her battle stance.
Then, she turned her face to the rest of them. Her eyes challenging. "Next?"
Raging roar erupted, sharp teeth bared, long claws out and the rest of the monster charged.
As she'd thought, It wouldn't be easy just walking in there and demanding them to send Tim out. More fun this way anyway. She'd been craving a good battle with No holds barred, or better yet more than one.
Her new power pulsed inside pushing her to be even more dauntless. She let out her own battle cry and charged straight into the first Cyclope, slashing him in the bowel, didn't wait for his organs to slide out, Lysandra ended him with her other sword chopped down on his neck. Before twisted around engaged the next one.
Somewhere along the battle, she laughed as she slaughtered.
Bruce rubbed the back of his neck, before leaned back into his chair cushion. His whole body straining in protest. But he still insisted on sitting in front of this large screen, tracking down his long lost daughter whom he happened to lost again.
He glace to the digits at the corner of the screen, Already Half past four in the afternoon. The sun would still be shinning outside in this summer heat but Bruce still down here in his Bat Cave, not caring about anything besides finding what he wanted.
Smell of espresso came with footfalls, even tired, his rigid sense still alerting him Alfred'd descended down the stairs with yet another large portion of much needed caffeine. He ignored the soft snore, coming from Dick who decided to crash on the cushion bench he dragged out from the training area while waiting for the signal to triangulate.
"You'd need a little break yourself, Master Bruce. Perhaps, some shuteye?" Alfred said as he set the tray down on the cart and moved them closer. Before presented him with triple espresso. He wasted no time, sipping the caffeine into his systems, waiting for it to take effect.
"No time. I can't waste any more time, Alfred. Tim needs me, that girl―" My daughter, he wanted to say. "…She needs me…."
Or at least that what he thought that she should. He was her father, her flesh and blood. She should need him. Right?
"She's got her mother's look, didn't she?" Alfred said, Bruce knew without looking back that the older man glanced over to the smaller screen, one that filled with the girl's photos while spreading blanket over sleeping Dick. "But she has your eyes, Master Bruce. Your mother's eyes."
And he couldn't agree more.
All of the sudden a loud pop came from behind before unfamiliar female voices came yelling.
"You useless human! I left her in your city for a month! A whole month! And you still couldn't find her? You fool!"
Bruce swung around to the source, facing a tall brunette who had her hair cropped short, wearing a gray pants suit. Her little heels clicking on the cave stone floor as she marched up to him. Trailing by a blond woman in fuchsia strapless dress, she wore those expensive stilettos in the same shade as her dress like the models he often took to charity balls as arm-candies.
The two women could be anymore opposite.
Alfred startled at their intrusion. Dick bolted off the bench he'd been sleeping on and grabbed a chair nearby, lifted it up ready to slam it down, until he saw the intruders. His cheeks turned in ten different shade of pink.
When the brunette reached him, finger pointing in his face. Bruce still sat in his chair. He didn't look intimidated only staring up at her, until he caught the color of her eyes, cold grey burning furiously at him. He knew right away how this woman had intruded his secret hide out. Without any of them notice, as if they just popped out of thin air―which they probably did.
"You imbecile!" Her finger pointing. "You call yourself the greatest detective but you can't even find your daughter? I almost served her to you in a silver platter!"
"Athena…Maybe if you let the man talk―"
"Shut it, Aphrodite! I want to hear nothing from you! Because of your arrogant little man, the situation had got so out of hand like this!" The brunette snapped.
Now that confirmed his suspicious, Brunette before him was the Goddess of Wisdom, Athena and the Blond was the Goddess of beauty, Aphrodite. And they'd known about his daughter!
"Well, that arrogant little man is also your brother!" The goddess pouted and crossed her arms. She was about to continue when Athena held up a finger in her face.
"Not. Another. Word." Then she turned back to Bruce. "And you! I even had your protégé working with her, in hope you would suspect. But No. You never have a single clue! And now―"
"You put my protégé into working with my daughter without my knowledge in my city?" Even though he never raised his voice. The intensity in the words never decreased in any level. He finally stood up, the Goddess reluctantly stepped backward to keep her distant. "How am I supposed to know about her when I never know she even exists?...oh wait, I possibly couldn't. Because I never knew Diana was pregnant. I don't even have a slight idea why she left…..And why I couldn't contact her? Maybe because Themyscira mysteriously disappeared from the face of earth? What abou―"
"Enough, mortal!"
Giggling came from the blond goddess, and she stepped up beside Athena. "Look, we just wanted to help but you know, can't do it directly if we're not invite―"
"Oh, believe me we won't be pulling our hair because of that little chit now if you didn't give My champion that blasted blessing!"
"Excuse me? Your Champion?" Aphrodite gave a feminine snort. "….She was ours. You just happened to be one whom she called upon most―"
Bruce tilted his head to the Goddesses and realized their exchanging words. Aphrodite was the one blessed Diana to be able to fertilize. While Athena had dropped her daughter in his city, using his protégé to work with her without him knowing. What else in the world he was missing? Oh, that's right. Seventeen years with his child and Diana.
"Enough!" He shouted―which he rarely did. Startled everyone , even the goddesses. "I don't care about anything besides locating both my daughter and my protégé. So If your holy presence in my home were only for faulting me, I suggested you to go back to your Olympus. Because I don't have time for this…."
"Oh, but you will want to see this." Athena swiped her hand and one of the largest screen changed from GPS maps to some kind of video feeds…
A black hair girl in golden armor, two swords in her hands cutting through the bigger body of men in black suits who had long claws. Blood spraying, gore spilling all around. But she never stopped moving her smaller body, slashing at any treats coming her way. Her face and body covered unidentified gore, but she was smiling as if she was enjoying the time of her life. She laughed as she hacked her enemy in two. And then he saw her eyes, they were no longer same color as his, instead crimson red, like the blood she spilling.
Alfred gasped and Dick only had his mouth hung open at the scene before them. Aphrodite only glance everywhere else looking guilty.
Stunned, Bruce turned to the Goddess. "What have you done to my daughter?"
"Me? I did none. It was her own doing. See her left forearm?" She pointed on the screen as she spun around to bring the blade down onto another one's neck. The scene paused at her touch. And Bruce spotted some kind of tattoo there, after a good minute of staring he realized it was a tattoo of two crossed spears and a shield.
A chill ran down his spine, he remembered those insignia. Diana had showed it to him a long time ago. He knew that Spears and Shield were symbol of God of War―Ares. But since Diana and the War God had never been on the good terms, she always mentioned that whenever this insignia was branded upon someone, meaning the blood exchange ceremony. And old bonding ritual, giving the branded significant powers of the brander, in return The brander was somehow able to control the branded, bending them to his will. Meaning sometimes fighting the branded was almost equally fighting the god himself. Those branded became Champion of War.
In other words, his daughter had just made the deal with the Devil.
"That foolish girl!" Athena let out exasperated sighed. Before pivoting away from Bruce. "She thinks becoming Ares's Champion would help your protégé, because she lacks the abilities her mother was bestowed upon―"
"What do you mean she lacks the abilities―"
She glanced back over her shoulder and gave him a cold look. "…..Because half of her was your blood! She's half mortal. You imbecile!"
He clenched his fists, not because he was called 'imbecile' twice in less than half an hour, let alone ever in his life he had been called such. But because Bruce realized his daughter could die from this situation. And he still standing here in his cave, unable to help her.
He grabbed and turned the Goddess around to fully face him.
"Unhand me at once, mortal!"
"You tell me everything. Right. Now."
To her credit, Athena twisted away from his iron grip and spun away from them. Her chin held high and her shoulder squared. "The story is not mine to tell. You wanted the whole truth? Then get her out, Alive. Before it's too late."
"No! You are the Goddess. So you fix it."
"That's exactly why I cannot." Her posture stiffened. "We are not allowed to interfere with freewill."
"Tell that to War God―"
"My dear brother did not force her to do a thing. She went willingly down the path. He only lent an unnecessary helping hand." To his surprise, a sad look flash across her face. She gave him a pity look and continued. "I'd tried to put her in the right path but that stubborn girl always attracts troubles. We cannot interfere now that the wheel had started turning. But you can. Get that girl out before she get herself and your protégé killed. Giving you this news is all I can do."
"I don't even know where to look. I've been looking everywhe―"
"That's because Ares clouded your tracker. But now, you would be able to since he'd brought her back to Gotham." She waved her hand and the freezing video feeds changed back to the GPS maps, two red dot blinking right in the middle of Gotham City.
"I hope you don't disappoint us this time, mortal. We cannot effort anymore failure." She said before walking away into the darkness of his cave where she came from.
On cue, Dick scrambled to the keyboard and typed something in. the next minute he looked back up at Bruce, "….Both of them are at the same place. Some Penthouse building in Midtown by Robinson Park….And…"
"What?" Bruce pressed when Dick didn't continue right away.
"There were Nine-One-One calls coming in about explosions from that area…"
Clenching his fists tighter. He was ready to don his suit and get out to the scene as Alfred quickly moved the cart out of the way. When the Goddess called out to him. "There was one small problem…."
Realizing one of them was still in his Cave, Bruce turned around and gave her an annoying look, But the blond goddess only gave him sympathetic smile.
"Yes?"
"Don't you get snippy with me, mortal!" She swatted her hand and flipped her golden curls aside. "….as for the problem, Athena forgot to mention something….."
"What is it?" Trying hard to hide irritation, he asked her when she trailed off.
"….That building is under a mystical force field as soon as your girl stormed inside."
He stared blankly at her for a few minutes. "I beg your pardon?"
"The force field! You can get out but not get in…."
"Then undo it."
"I can't." She shrugged.
"What do you mean you can't? You are the goddess―"
"Yeah well, I can't do that without interfering with the fates― those old hags annoyed me by the way. Besides, you are the genius here. So find a way in wouldn't be too hard. Maybe ask those special friends of yours. But Hurry, you would want to get their help before the big wave hitting the shore."
She patted away inexistent dusk on her clothes as she starting to walk away the same direction Athena had gone. She turned around to him. "Show them." She said with a smile. "Show them your love for her is and will always be greater than fates. Show them why Diana had chosen you. And save your child, Mortal. Before it's too late."
With that, her body dispersed into mist and disappeared from his cave.
Bruce didn't waste any more time. He rushed to the suits area, getting ready to go out and get his child back.
He lost her once, for whatever reason might be. But he was damn sure not going to lose her again when he'd finally found her.
Ps; I doubt any of you would forgive me when I end the chapter like this, again. Cliff hanging(kind of). Then I realized almost every chapters have been cliffhangers AHHH!
You can see, there're less humorous moments in this chapter than the last one. It's hard to write anything funny when the feel of the plot was quite serious.(or least to me.) Next chapter will be more blood and tears and maybe some laughter too. (Tears meaning mine, cause I will be killing myself writing the next chapter.)
Also, the next chapter might take a while because I have some problem with my hand and might have to get operation(small one though) but it might preventing me from typing away the words. And depriving me from playing DC Universe Online. Haha, the real reason I've been getting each chapter slower and slower I blamed it on the game!
So, will Lysandra get to Tim in time? What about Bruce? Will he get to his daughter and his protégé in time? What was about to happen? Huh? Huh? Well, until the next chapter!
Don't forget to leave comment for me, I love to read what you guys think!