Immortal Undeath

Disclaimer: All familiar characters belong to DC or Marvel. I own Farrah/Persiana, Leon/Crisis, and Bast.

Chapter 10: Daken's Bluff

Flashback…

Daken and Ra's al Ghul were talking with the shadow Crucifer, an ancient evil vampire that existed well before the time of the Egyptians. Crucifer said,

"In order to attain true immortality, Demon's Head, you must first retrieve my heart, which has been separated from my body."

Ra's looked at the shadow,

"And, where is it?"

Crucifer answered,

"It beats, and can easily be found with those you call the Justice League. My crypt was attacked and the heart was taken away from there. You must get it back for me."

Daken shook his head,

"If it's with the League, they're going to eventually figure out it's a heart."

The disembodied shadow laughed,

"Do not fret, assassin. Though I am incorporeal and cannot access my full power, I can lend you some of mine. I sense a powerful artifact resides within you."

A lower claw popped out of Daken's wrist. He nodded,
"The Muramasa blade, capable of killing a god."

Crucifer said,

"Of course. Now, put it into my shadow and watch."

As Daken did what he was instructed, a shadowy tendril shot forth and wrapped around Daken's blades. In a moment, the blades turned black, coursing with dark magic. Then, Daken felt his eyes roll into the back of his head, as darkness covered his whole body. Ra's watched in awe as Daken began pulsing with energy, until the darkness slipped away and he stood still. Daken opened his eyes, a pair of dark fangs revealed themselves. Crucifer said,

"You have been lent my power, but only for a night. You must stay out of the way of light, but, as you walk in darkness, you are darkness. You will see in total darkness, but not in light. Now, go."

Daken nodded and melded into the shadow. Ra's looked on and, though he dreamed of having that type of power, he also began to get worried about just how dangerous this Crucifer was.

End of Flashback…

Daken smirked evilly as he revealed his new, darker claws. Bast hissed,

"He reeks of Crucifer."

The clawed assassin chuckled,

"Too bad. He told me you'd be a real cutie, Bast."

The goddess of vengeance growled and clutched her scimitar tightly. The blade turned into flames, but, as soon as light began to show; Daken seemed to disappear. Crisis looked around,

"Where'd he go?"

Bast looked around,

"I do not know, but he is somehow still here."

Then, suddenly, a sharp pain could be felt in her side as Daken appeared behind her. To add insult to injury, he bit into the goddess' shoulder, then slapped her way. Bast fell to the floor, roaring in pain.

That roar alerted the Justice League and the other Howling Commandos. Superman came at Daken, but Daken seemed to blend in with the floor, disappearing again. Crisis said,

"Watch it; he got to Bast that way!"

Bast hissed in pain as she tried to get up, but she was bleeding. There was more to Daken then she realized. It was those blades of his. The taint of Crucifer was all over them, yet, there was something else about those blades. Another ancient artifact; this one of slaughter. The goddess of felines sat up, and Diana came near her,

"Are you all right, sister?"

Bast shook her head,

"My wounds; they are not healing properly. His blades; there is an ancient spell cast on them."

Daken appeared behind Wonder Woman,

"Now, tell me where that heart is, and I promise to leave you alone."

Guy unleashed his emerald ring on the assassin,

"Try this on for size, Edward Scissorhands!"
A flash of green light was launched from the Green Lantern. Daken dodged it, but barely; the light narrowly avoided his face. He could feel the cut go deep into him, though. It was part of Crucifer's power, but it was also a weakness. Daken then disappeared into the shadows and tried to go for the heart. Batman said,

"He's after that stone. Secure it now!"
Daken had managed to find the stone and was about to go for it when a voice said,

"Don't even think about it."

The son of Wolverine turned and, seemingly from the shadows, came Troia. Her hair was like a starry night sky and her costume sparkled as such. Her eyes were narrowed and she said again,

"Back off, now, Daken."

Daken smirked,
"Well, fancy meeting you here, cutie. Maybe I'll take you with me."

Donna sped right up to Daken and delivered a back hand. Daken went flying into a wall, but, as he turned, his eyes widened. A dazzling beam of light shot forth from Donna's hand and, when the smoke cleared, Troia looked around. She did not see Daken anywhere. She thought she got him.

Suddenly, a sharp pain coursed through her body as she felt a blade pierce her body. She tried to turn, but slumped over and onto Daken's shoulder. The former Dark Avenger then grabbed the stone and began to disappear into the shadows, just as Wonder Woman and the others got back. Diana made a grab for her sister in desperation, but, she could barely touch her fingers as she seemingly disappeared. The older princess screamed in agony.

This was not going to go unpunished…

Next Chapter:
All is not lost as Wonder Woman and the League track down Daken and the object he took. Stay tuned, fellow readers!