Chapter 14

24 Hours

"Athena, my wise old sister, what do I owe thee for coming in my presence?" Aphrodite said stroking her snow white hair.

"What kind of game are you trying to pull?" Athena said pointing her sword of Truth at her sister. "Playing with mortal lives is forbidden. That was the decree we took."

"You always have been the wise one of us all, Athena, you can never let me have my fun for this one day?"

"You're fun is treacherous to the welfare of mortals. What you have done to the humans in the past in unforgivable, thy sister."

"They deserved it my sister. They rather are in bondage with hate than love."

"Not all mortals have hate imbedded in their hearts." Athena's eyes began the color of piercing blue. "You have gone too far , thy sister , you have been trying to get Diana to live a cursed life but you failed didn't you?"

"I did not fail!" Aphrodite snapped. "I had all planned."

"Yes , of course you did you paid for the parole release of Circe who turned Diana into a pig."

"It's was a wrong choice that I made with that witch. The target was supposed to be the mortal Bruce Wayne, but she chose Diana instead."

"Indeed, and the mortal saved the princess of being sliced into bacon."

Aphrodite became cross. "Don't remind me."

"So what are you planning to do with the moral now? Turn him into another one of you slaves or maybe a pet."

"So you'll have to wait and see thy sister, for his form will be something that you would never expect ."

"This is not the reason why I came to you my sister; I want you to give Diana more time."

"Time is wasted in this world thy sister."

"Just give her one more day."

Aphrodite tapped her finger nails on the stone chair of her domain. "Alright, since this is a request Diana will have until midnight tomorrow to prove to me that she doesn't love the mortal. If she fails she will be thrown in the pits of Tartus and Bruce will be mine to control."

"What if the two heroes win?"

"If they win this trial of love than both will be unharmed and everything will go back to the way it was."

"Do I have your word sister?" Athena asked.

Aphrodite rolled her eyes and crossed her heart. "When I goddess gives her word she is bound for entirety."

"I will hold you to that."

There was a sound of sordid laugher. "Sure you will,"

Athena turned and saw a dark haired shadow appeared near the throne.

"Eris, of course."

"Hello, thy sister of wisdom, it's been a long time."

"Not a millennia goes by without me thinking of what you of done ."

"You still hold a grudge over that? I thought that was ancient history."

"You destroyed thousands of lives when you made that volcano blow."

"It had to be done." Eris sneered. "They had to shaken up for their sins."

"Why because they chose to defile you as their god?" Athena asked.

Eris's eyes became red as fire.

"They betrayed me and defiled my teachings. I turned them into ash as a warning to anyone else that would defile me."

Athena shook her head. "You always playing messing with the balance of human tragedy and victory , that's why you're not allowed to come to the meetings."

"It was my choice thy sister. A choice that I would gladly do over and over again just to piss you off.'

"So I've seen, you have been to Gotham City and released the Joker."

Eris smiled. "Of course, he's my agent of chaos."

"He is not one to underestimate Eris."

"Yes, I know. That's why I love so much."

Athena gave her chaotic sister a displeasing look. "You're not allowed in Gotham City anymore."

Eris chuckled. "We'll see."

Diana's day was a frustrating one. During of the hours of the day she spent worrying not only about herself but also Bruce. Deep down her felt uneasy about the all punishment of loving a mortal man. There were tons of Amazon warriors from the past that she read up on in the temple and most of them wrote about their affections of men.

"You see not like yourself Diana princess of the Amazons," A powerful voice said from behind. "Clear to enlighten me on what is going through your mind."

Diana turned around and saw Athena standing on the dock boards wearing normal clothing. Her ice blue eyes were gazing out at Gotham Bay.

"Athena," Diana bowed her head. "How can I humble serve you?"

"I am not here for you service Diana, I here for your troubles." She moved closer to the edge of the dock and looked at the steady water flowing underneath. "Now will you share your feelings with me?"

"If you insist, I am sentence to be punished for loving a mortal man by your sister Aphrodite but that is only the half of it, the man I love is also sentence to be cursed as well. I feel so lost."

Athena placed her hand on Diana's strong shoulder. "Lost, you the princess of the Amazons, strong warrior that never backs out of fight. How can you say that you're lost when you have the strength and the wisdom that I humbly gave to you when you first opened those blue eyes?"

"The other battles were different."

"Every battle is different Diana as well as every strategy."

"Yes, I know that Athena, but you see I'm not strong enough to face Aphrodite."

"It's not just Aphrodite." Athena said. "It's Eris as well."

Diana's eyes went wide. "Eris?"

"You need know something, when you were created by your mother the other gods refused to help. I was the one that gave you a chance to live. Aphrodite was jealous and struck deal with the underworld that if she could get you to fall, Hades would have you has is prisoner. That is why your mother tried to keep you away from humanity and away men. We never thought that you would choose to leave the island at your own will because of the need of saving lives. That was out of our hands. Hera and I watched over you, gave you wisdom and strength." Athena pointed at the armor Diana was wearing underneath her overcoat. "This armor that you wear is your strength Diana, but don't think it will help you solve all the problems for you have to through trails to be the greatest warrior in this world.

"I understand," Diana said with agreement. "What about Bruce?"

"Bruce Wayne, is a man that has suffered a great deal of pain, he has a true warriors spirit living inside of him. His punishment will be fierce but he will overcome it using his knowledge, strength and heart."

"So how much time do I have?"

"I asked my sister to give you one more day and they accepted the offer. You have until midnight tomorrow to prove to her that you don't love this mortal."

"But I do."

"I know, Diana , but in order to save both your souls please make the right choice."

A few hours later, Bruce became Batman , and Batman delivered a few of the cities' common robbers to Gotham Police leaving a small message tied to one of the jackets and then arrived back at Wayne Manor early- just a bit after seven.

Alfred, wearing his dark blue pajamas and a robe, greeted him, and said, "I hope you know that you are late, Master Wayne."

"No, I'm early. I just have to take a quick shower get dressed and then I will head out. Alfred did you find the research from the Gotham Library that I asked?"

"What exactly were you looking for?" I bought home three books containing the Greek gods."

"You didn't find any containing anything about the goddess of Love?"

"The goddess of Love or Aphrodite is known in the text for punishment and curses. Funny thing is though Master Wayne, why is she called the goddess of Love?"

"That's what I'm going to find out."

"I can't say that I actually believe in this mythology, Master Wayne. I am more of a history buff about real life factors such as the World wars and famous English authors."

"I know it's hard to believe, Alfred, but it is real." Bruce confirmed. "I have seen things that most people would never believe."

He walked out of the library and was heading for the stair well when the door bell chimed. He quickly moved to the direction of the front door and without any hesitation he unlocked the chain link lock and turned the brass knob. Diana was standing before him with a look of concern on her high cheek bone face.

"Princess," Bruce said with a tender attractive look on his sharp featured face with a sparkle in his hazel green eyes.

"I sorry, I should of call to tell that I was coming."

"No, that's alright." Bruce assured. "I like surprises."

Diana gave him a slight smile. "I had to see you again; there's something that I have to tell you."

"Alright, we'll talk in the garden."

A few minutes later …..

Bruce Wayne and Diana were walking in the garden grounds behind the Manor near the stone water fountain.

"Remember the night when I first discovered that you and Batman were one an the same?" Diana asked.

Bruce nodded. "Yes, we were in France at the time. You were being confronted by a row of reports and I asked you to dance."

"Well, you did take me out dancing."

"I meant too, princess, but you see in my life I don't have time for fun. It was the choice I made when my parents were taken."

"So between you and Batman I guess there is no room for me."

"Diana , this is the life I chose … I can't give it up. There are good people counting on me."

"I understand Bruce, that is why I have come to a decision that will save both of us."

Bruce folded his arms. "What decision?"

Diana reached for his face and placed her hand on his cheek. "Do you love me Bruce?"

Bruce looked at her with an innocent on his face, his emotions were rising. He took Diana in his arms and they kissed with passion. They broke off, as she looked deeply into his eyes with hope.

"Do you love me Bruce?" She asked again.

"I ..."

He noticed the bat signal was lit in the sky over Gotham. He pulled away and looked at her with an honest look on his face. "Stay here, I won't be long."

"Bruce, what you have to know is I have until midnight tomorrow to prove to Aphrodite that I don't love you."

"How are you going to do that?" He asked.

"I don't know."

He nodded. "We'll figure it out when I get back."

Diana smiled. "OK, need any help?"

"Do I ever?"

"No."

Commissioner Jim Gordon was sipping a cup of coffee that was made an hour ago as his blue eyes gazed at the floodlight. He looked at his watch which read 10: 23 PM.

The sound of fluttering came from behind as he quickly turned his head to the shadows and saw nothing.

"Good evening, Commissioner sorry I'm late." A raspy voice said.

Gordon peered at the shadows by the stair way and Batman appeared. He walked over and switched off the spotlight.

"I was wondering when you would so up,"

Batman glared at the night sky. "Is something on your mind?"

Gordon nodded. "About three hours my department received a call claiming that they were holding Mark Winx hostage at Star Labs, but the only thing is that the person wants you to save Winx."

He handed Batman a plastic bag containing a leaf. "Do you know that this means?"

Batman peered at the small green leaf. "It's poison ivy."

"Poison ivy, you mean to say that this could be the kidnapper's calling card?"

The Dark Knight stepped onto the balustrade.

"Are you going to Star Labs now?" Gordon asked.

"It's what the kidnapper wants."

"But what if it's trap,"

"I'll be careful."

Batman at the city lights of down town Gotham, his cape was blowing in the wind as he placed his booted feet together and then jumped into the air, removed his grappling hook from the belt and swung to the building rooftop adjacent. Gordon watched amazed as his trusted ally disappeared into the shadows of the night. He smiled and then looked at the spotlight.

"It's going to one of those nights."