Chapter 33 : Enter the Spider's Web
A deafening silence permeated the dark tunnel ever since the last painful cry had diminished within its depths hours before. Time was of no consequence or importance anymore to those who we're imprisoned in its cold embrace. Every day was a curse filled with thoughts of regrets and despair.
Its prisoners each day only waited for the day death would come and free them from this damnation. Among the most recent to be captured and condemned by the evil forces at work in the world, Bruce Wayne aka the Batman, rested silently at the dead end of the tunnel.
Since his awakening he sat in morbid contemplation of the fate he'd now been subjected to by the evil threatening to destroy his city - his home along with those he loved and cared for. Truth be told he'd encountered many forms of corruption and evil during his nightly crusades, but he loathed to admit that sometimes his greatest of battles occurred from within.
"In time you will get used to living like this." Arachne disappeared into her webs leaving the pale billionaire in the darkness as sweat begun to pour from him profusely. He screamed as his body twisted and his jaw broke as he felt pressure. Blood was leaking out of his mouth.
"No!" his voiced echoed down the tunnel.
Clutching his chest he moaned loudly as the venom began to worm its way from his torso to each limb of his body with each beat of his racing heart. The taste of copper lulled his senses momentarily as the warm fluid began to drip down the corner of his mouth. It came in low amounts, not enough to make him pass out from blood loss but at the moment he wished for that small mercy.
The pain was nerve wracking and unbearable as he felt a fiery wave of it stretch to his brain. He released a cry of agony while his eyes remained tightly closed, withholding any tears from the Arachne who watched his torment with fascination from her web up above him.
"It hurts only if you try to fight it. Do yourself a favor and stop fighting mortal!" Arachne hissed.
Bruce tossed and rolled along his back as he felt a sickening chill come over his bones. It emanated from his ribcage as if something was stirring from within, gathering its strength before springing forth. He opened his blood shot eyes, sparked with trepidation and rasped loudly at the Arachne spider.
"NEVER!" he spat, veins started to become visible along his brow and neck.
The spider viewed him with impression though the look would be indiscernible to human eyes. His will was strong; stronger than any who'd suffered this fate.
Bruce broke his glare from the spider as he felt his body involuntarily spasm and he jerked onto his back and gasped loudly as he felt his arms and legs twitching rapidly against the ground as if they were possessed.
"Aaahhhh!" he screamed, as his bones began to expand to unnatural proportions along with his flesh. He was aware of the torn remains of his batsuit becoming insufferably tight; tight enough to cut off his air. He hears popping noises as his shoulder pads shoot from his armor covering his expanding mass.
"Your resistance is admirable but useless," Arachne taunted from the upper corner above him. "You only prolong your own suffering," she retorted scornfully.
Bruce could only ignore her this time as whatever remained of the Batman inside of him urged him not to give up - not to give in. Doing so would only prove how weak he was in the face of these so called "gods" and their minions.
If his defiance resulted in death from exertion, he'd gladly embrace it just to prove his fighting spirit - the fighting spirit of humanity to those who believed they could easily be subjugated.
The air around him felt thick and unreachable now as the collar of his armor began to feel compressed against his neck. Had he control over his limbs he'd have scrambled to free himself of its burden but at the moment he hoped he'd just pass out from the lack of oxygen.
He mentally chided himself on being weak, being desperate for an end to his misery as he summoned his past training to the forefront of his mind to ease him through this ordeal. It did little however as he felt as if his own body had turned completely against him. He releases a sickening groan as he felt the bones in his rib cage begin to twist and constrict beneath his gorging mass.
He watched as the clamps and seals to his armor began to break under the pressure until he was left bare-chested on he cold ground beneath Arachne's watchful eyes.
His lower body armor followed the same course as the stretch and shifting of his limbs begin to tear free from its protection. Bruce's horrified eyes caught a glimpse of the shape his body was beginning to take and he immediately closed them with indignity.
The pale light in the tunnel shone on writhing form that began to twist and shift his body in unimaginable ways. His back felt like it was pushing him off the ground until it forced him to roll over onto his stomach. He kept his eyes shut as as his muscles and his mass began to expand to a terrifying feat.
His hands by now had lost their five digits and took the shape of claws upon the ground; scratching vainly against the surface in a way to channel his pain if not through his voice which struggled to conceal. His heart was racing so fast he could almost feel the ground beneath him vibrating with it.
As it seemed the pain could not be more excruciating, he felt his limbs begin to twist until they had broken from their human stature. He screamed loudly as he felt his multiple limbs spring from his waist and thrash on the ground, kicking up dirt and the clattered remains of his armor.
His eyes opened of their own momentum and he could only stare at the morbid shadow on the wall across from him. It wasn't familiar; it was horrific and nightmarish - something that only existed in movies.
He tried to form words, anything to make himself feel familiar but he felt as if his mouth was gagged and his jaw felt paralyzed. It was sudden but he could feel his canine's begun to grow in his mouth and his neck begin to shrink back against his shoulders which by now were unrecognizable.
Bruce felt his voice begin to fail him as it now felt impossible to scream from the pain that had increased substantially. He was amazed yet wondered why his heart hadn't killed him yet.
That voice that was once one of his greatest strengths as the caped crusader had been taken and its place was left guttering screech at the back of his throat. His hair that had once covered his head and limbs had sunk into his hardened skin while his muscle mass grew around his new limbs.
Years of training and self-control did little to help the pain, but if anything it kept him lucid enough to maintain some form control in his mind. If he were a desperate or rather a selfish man, he'd be hoping - praying that Diana would emerge any second now and save him from this cruel fate.
But right now he felt glad she didn't. He didn't want her to see this. A wave of regret washed over Bruce as his mind drifted to those he cared for. He wasn't sure if he would ever be as he was or if Gotham would survive the coming war, but there were many decisions he regretted having made and some having not made.
Gotham City... his home and his mission. As much as his pride wouldn't allow it, he wished he had taken a protege to take up his mantle in the event he would no longer be there to protect it. His city deserved the best and he failed to provide it with that.
Jim Gordon... He wished he'd taken the time to tell him how much he appreciated his help over the years. How much Batman wouldn't have been able to achieve without him.
Lucius Fox... He knew Bruce Wayne would've lost his company and his means of becoming Batman without Fox there to help him; like Gordon he wished he told him how much he appreciated his help and trust.
Selina Kyle... one he held dearly close to heart and one he chided himself for never revealing how much he believed in her as a person and a hero in Gotham. Wherever she was he hoped she was safe.
Alfred Pennyworth... His friend, his guide and his surrogate father. What was left of the real Bruce Wayne would have died a long time ago with his parents if not for his loyal butler there to help him. He above everyone deserved to know how much he was valued and appreciated.
Diana... His friend, his partner... his love. The light of his darkness, one loved and cherished so dearly he'd been to afraid to allow closer to his heart in fear of reasons that now felt so trivial. His heart ached heavily as he imagined her out there: alone surrounded by enemies in an effort to save his own city. He wished now more than ever he had said those three important words to her.
A single tear escaped his changing eyes. "I'm so sorry..." he thought as the summation of his regrets weighed on him. Darkness had now abounded in the recesses of his mind as he felt himself falling away into slumber. He hoped that whatever would awaken from it, he would manage to control.
The weaver watched as the final stages of the transformation began to take place. Numerous sets of eyes emerged on his face, his skin tone darkened, his waist extended off the ground with a stinger beneath him.
His size expanded beyond his mortal form and what was left of Bruce Wayne: the Batman, disappeared above the clatter of armor and a torn cape. A screeching noise enveloped the entire tunnel and traveled into the darkness outside it.
"Sweet dreams little spider," Arachne hissed before he faded to darkness.
Whatever was left of himself inside this monstrous form, battled and fought against the now primal instincts that fought to take control of his mind and body. It was another battle from within, one that Bruce wasn't sure he would survive or escape from.
Gotham City: Bruce Wayne's Century Towers Penthouse
"Mother," Diana said looking at Hippolyta. "I would like you to meet my good friend Selina Kyle."
The queen moved her cold blue eyes to the young brunette leaning her body on the ledge of the balcony with her goggles flipped up. She seemed mischievous in nature but her body gave the impression of a capable fighter.
Hippolyta gives her a respectful nod. "I heard a lot about you Miss Kyle. A world class society grifter and thief."
"You forgot mistress of disguise," Selina commented, looking directly at the queen with a charming smirk formed on her crimson lips. Selina wasn't one for chivalry so she decided the best approach was to be herself.
Hippolyta quirked an eyebrow at her. "Indeed. My daughter also tells me that you are quite the fighter when you want to be."
Selina gestured her hands to her chest. "I am my own woman your highness. I don't do well with others. I am a cat that walks by herself. A stray," she spoke nonchalantly despite the bitterness of her own description.
The queen could see right through her. "A wandering stray looking for a home," she said knowingly. Diana looked at her mother with surprise. Selina's expression flinched a moment as she felt unnerved by how easy the queen could read her.
She shifted her eyes to the down sky-rises as the moonlight reflected off rows of windows. "We all know that strays are never welcomed." She placed her gloved hands on the ledge. "Well at least not me."
Hippolyta smiled. "And yet you're helping my daughter while knowing the risks of life and death. You have a strong warrior spirit in you Selina. We need a woman like you in our army."
Selina looked at Diana curiously yet uncertain. "You mean become an Amazon like your daughter?"
Hippolyta nodded. "I will leave the choice up to you." She looked at Diana who stood in silent contemplation. "I sense that you are having troubled thoughts my daughter?"
Diana looked at her mother. "I am mother." She replied. "I am worried about Bruce. The demon said that Eros has him as his prisoner in the pit of damnation. I don't know if he's dead or alive."
Hippolyta placed her firm hand on her daughter's shoulder with a tender look in her eyes. "What does your heart tell you my little sun and stars?"
Diana placed her hand over her chest and managed a weak smile. "That Bruce is alive... But I sense that I won't recognize him after what Eros has done to him mother."
"Just remember the real man can always be found underneath. You just have to look harder. Once you do that my daughter you will see his heart and know nothing is truly lost."
Diana nodded to her mother's words of comfort. She turned her focus to Selina whom seemed to be sitting on the ledge with her legs close to her chest. Diana looked at the young woman's face and saw so much hidden pain within the moon-creamed features.
The look of a woman struggling to find a better purpose, a better life for herself. Hippolyta could sense that Diana wanted to a private conversation with Selina.
"I will be inside if you need me." She replied and began to walk towards the glass French doors.
Diana took a deep breath and moved closer to where Selina was sitting.
"My mother is right you know?"
The Amazon lifted herself up and rested on her on the ledge next to Selina.
"You would make a true warrior for the Amazon army Selina. You have the heart and the fire in your soul. Most women that I fought beside during the past battles, even my own Amazon sisters don't have the fight in them like you carry deep within," she praised.
Selina was silent and listened. Diana could sense her doubt and turmoil.
"You need to stop thinking that you can never be a hero Selina. I saw the grace in your eyes when you helped Bruce save the lives of Gotham from the League of Shadows," she encouraged.
Selina shook her head.
"I'm no hero Diana... I-" She bit her tongue, feeling lost in her own words.
There were very few people she trusted with her own personal thoughts and experiences but looking at the princess' warm expression filled with faith and earnest friendship she couldn't help but confide in her.
"I don't know who I am anymore..." Her voice was softened by the thoughts that were flowing in her mind.
Inside her own body Selina Kyle was tired of living the life that chose her; tired of being the outcast of society and most of all tired of the disheartened feeling when she saw Bruce's eyes narrow with disappointment as he watched the Gotham Police officers place the handcuffs around her wrists.
When she looked into Diana's deep ocean blue eyes that sparkled like untouched jewels she could see hope and embers that burned with a confusing fire of determination, strength and compassion.
"Oh I think you do, but it's up to you to pull off the mask," Diana said with a caring tone in her voice.
Selina rolled her eyes with a flutter of annoyance. "I know that you're trying to be all wise and caring and all that but please just stop it," she expressed.
Diana gave her a small smile.
Alfred Pennyworth entered the terrace with a tray of brewed tea and a few freshly baked oatmeal pecan cookies. His pale blue eyes gazed at Selina.
"Miss Kyle?" He gasped with a cheery expression. "What are you doing here?"
Selina jumped down off the ledge and walked closer to the old butler. "Diana needed some backup and I favored in unfortunately."
Alfred placed the tray on the table and gave Selina a warm hug.
Diana watched the old friends connect. She felt a little out of place knowing that Alfred respected her as a partner and friend for Bruce. Selina was different.
"Where have you been Miss Kyle?"
"Around. Mostly in Rome," Selina replied with her joking charm. "I decided to come back and see how things were in Gotham. I was hoping to see Bruce but instead I crossed paths with the Amazon princess over there."
Alfred lowered his head. "Master Wayne, has been going through changes Miss Kyle."
"So I've heard."
"Right now none of us know where he is."
Diana looked at Alfred. "I do. Eros has him as his prisoner in the pit of damnation. It's a place where men suffer a slow death for their defiance or sins against the god," she explained.
"Some mortals become hideous creatures down there to serve for their master..." She thought about what Battas told her in the cement factory parking lot. "I know that Eros has metamorphose Bruce into something. For that is what the demons told me," she said grimly.
Selina shot Diana a cold stare with her determined eyes. "Where is this pit located?"
Diana shrugged. "I don't know."
The sound of the glass doors sliding opened made Diana look up to see her mother standing behind them. "But I do," Hippoltya said as the cool air blew through her hair.
"Mother?"
"I will find the pit of damnation with these." She handed her daughter two red stones. "I only use these when I have a rescue mission from the gods."
Diana closed her fists with fierce determination. "This is a rescue mission mother. One that I have to do alone."
Selina stepped forward. "No. I'm coming with you Diana. Whether you like or not. I'm going to help you save Bruce." She said with power in her voice. Though Diana had second thoughts of bringing the young 28 year old with her, she couldn't help but smile with immense appreciation of her heroic spirit, the one Selina just a moment ago was denied having.
Selina had no super powers, but she carried skills similar to Batman's along with her gadgets to defend herself with. "We leave now," Diana agreed.
Selina nodded. "I just need a few minutes to prepare myself." She walked to the doors and entered the main living room of the penthouse. Alfred followed her, leaving Diana and Hippolyta alone on the balcony.
"Is there something else that I must know before I bring my friend into a place where the dead only speak to the dying mother?" she asked timidly. Some part of her was worried of whatever they might find might be more than they could handle even together.
"There is one thing you must know. Eros keeps a creature in the tunnels of his domain. She is in the form of spider. You must be quick and strike at her first. Use your blade and pierce it into her back. Do not show any pity for that will only make you weak against her," the queen admonished.
"It sounds like this creature is a cursed soul mother?"
Hippolyta nodded. "She is my daughter. Her name is Arcahne," she revealed.
"Arcahne. I've heard of that name before..."
"She was once a great weaver of Athens and challenged the mighty Athena to a loom contest. Because she boasted to the gods that she defeated the goddess of wisdom; Athena out of anger cursed this young woman into being a giant spider. A spider that could still speak as a human. Eros feeds his prisoners to her in the tunnels. Show no fear and stay sharp my daughter," she implored.
Diana nodded and looked at the stones in her hand. "How will these lead us to Bruce?"
"Speak the words of your destination and close your eyes," Hippolyta beseeched. "I will be here with Athena and Aleria defending Gotham. You must defeat Eros on your own. That is the only way you can stop him."
Diana shook her head sharply. "You said that I had to defeat the vile gods with Bruce. He's my partner."
"I was wrong to say those words Diana. You have to do this alone. Selina will be your backup because Bruce can not fight. Not now he cannot," she said affirmed.
Diana nodded her understanding. "Then I won't be needing my golden armor mother. I will fight the god just like I fight his monsters," she said determinedly.
"That is your choice?"
"Yes."
"Then go and save Bruce Wayne." Hippolyta gave her daughter a proud smile then nodded and walked back inside just as Selina came out to join her. Selina wore her goggles flipped on the top of her head and her sliver compartment belt around her waist.
"Ready goddess?" She asked standing next to Diana.
"Ready when you are Selina." Diana replied looking at the stones before looking up at Selina. "It's not too late to back out."
Selina shook her head. "I never run from danger," she insisted. She moved in closer to Diana and studied the stones.
"Close your eyes and whatever you do, don't let go of my hand Selina," Diana warned.
Selina placed her gloved hand into Diana's palm and shuts her eyes. Diana closed her eyes and spoke aloud: "Bring me and Selina Kyle to Bruce Wayne."
They watched as a red glow covered their bodies and within two seconds they were gone.
Pit of Damnation
Diana and Selina opened their eyes and found themselves hearing the sounds of torture, heartfelt wails of suffering and the scent of death. Selina shuttered at the sight of rusted cages filled with corpses of men. Some appeared to have died recently.
"Are you sure this is the place?" The brunette asked in a faint whisper.
Diana nodded. "Yes. We're in the pit."
Selina observed her surroundings as Diana could sense fear coming off the young woman's body. "Stay close to me." She said, placing her hand on Selina's shoulder.
The sound of an eerie screech made Selina jump. "What was that?"
"One of Eros cursed prisoners reaching the end of his rope." Diana replied with her ocean blues gazing at the tunnel ahead. She looks at Selina with a assuring look. "Ready to enter?"
Selina pulled down her goggles over her brown eyes and that had tiny LD lights on the tips. She was nervous. Instead of deciding to leave Diana she stood firmly on her sharp edge stilettos and said. "For Bruce."
Both woman entered the tunnel, Diana held her blade high and walked through the darkness. The hues of dark blues reflected off the walls giving off a hint of light. Selina flipped on her goggles which gave her night vision and peered at the sticky goo on the rocky walls.
"Is that that what I think it is? The young brunette pointed to the walls. Diana showed no fear in her eyes and touched the webs with her hands and nodded.
"Webs. She's must be close."
"She?" Selina questioned. "I'm getting the feeling you're not telling me something Diana," she implied.
Meanwhile hidden in the shadows of a narrow tunnel, Bruce sat on a web with his legs curled around his body and eyes closed. He was deep in thought, trying to figure all the events that had happened to him in such a sort period of time.
First he was cursed to be the winged horse of the gods by the moonlight and now he was a giant black spider that dwelled in the tunnels feeding on prisoners.
His eyes opened as they gazed at the Kevlar armor pieces on the ground and the black memory cloth that was used as his cape. He was falling into deep despair.
The sound of two female voices coming from outside one of the tunnels caught his attention. His main reaction was whoever they were he was going to suck their blood with his fangs. He was hungry.
He slowly lifted his body up from the middle of the web and began to crawl onto the web covered ground. His long legs stretched as he moved in silence. In stealth.
"Dinner," he hissed, lowering his body into the shadows and waiting to strike at his prey.
He looked around. "Arachne," he growled.
Meanwhile Diana silently moved through the webs with Selina reluctantly trailing behind.
"Before we left Gotham, my mother told me that Eros keeps a cursed soul here as his pet which he feeds his dying and weak prisoners to." She used her sword and sliced through a shroud of webbing.
"The creature that dwells in this dark place is in the form of a giant spider that talks like a woman. Athena was the goddess that cursed the boastful weaver of Athens into a spider. Her name is Arachne or 'the great weaver.' She likes to trick her prey. Stay sharp," she said cautiously.
Selina kept her arms folded over her chest as they walked further into the tunnel. The smell of decay and dried blood entered their nostrils. "What is that smell?" Selina asked with a grimace.
"Don't ask."
Selina smacked her lips together trying to figure what she had gotten herself into. "Let me guess this tunnel is the giant spiders home and we are entering deeper into it freely uninvited?" She asked flipping her goggles up, keeping her deep brown eyes focused on the shadows.
"Thinking of it as breaking and entering," Diana teased, trying to make the moment lighter as she could sense dread in Selina.
"Breaking into penthouse apartments and spider infested tunnels are two different things goddess." She looked into the abyss of the narrow tunnel ahead. "Somewhere." She gulped down.
"Just how big is this spider?" She asked looking at bone dried skeletons trapped in the webs.
"My mother said that Arachne is as big as a grizzly bear; ten times more lethal thanks to her venomous fangs."
Selina heard movement coming from the shadows. She removed her pistol from her compartment belts hostler. "I think she heard us."
Diana got into a battle stance. "Arachne?" Diana yelled as her ocean blue eyes peered at the massive shadow of the spider. She held the handle of her sword firmly and removed her lasso that was attached to her side.
"Selina get behind him," she commanded.
Selina refused. "I'm not afraid of an oversize bug. She pointed her pistol at the sound of a eerie hiss. "What is the spider's weakness?"
"The belly." Diana replied. "Wait until we get a clear view of her. Remember she moves fast. This is her territory and we are strangers in here. I'm going to try and talk to her," she reasoned.
Selina turned her head and looked at the drained bodies. "I don't think she'll be into a talkative move..."
Her eyes caught a glimpse of the massive spider crawling towards them.
"Um... Diana," Selina said pointing one of her gloved fingers at the Amazon princess with a look of terror in her brown eyes. "Don't move," she said with a shake in her voice.
The massive female spider was closing in, her legs ready and large jaws tight as she looked at her prey. "Humans are always best when served fresh."
"Diana!" Selina yelled watching the large female spider move closer to the Amazon.
"I smell the stench of Athena on you human," The spider hissed as it looked at Diana and gazed at her armor. "Why to you reek like that goddess?" she hissed with disdain in her tone.
Diana looked straight into her eyes with unrelenting determination. "I am Diana Princess of the Amazons. I was given the wisdom of Athena and the skills of Artemis goddess of the hunt."
The spider hissed moving to the walls. Diana and Selina stood their ground fearlessly.
"Why have you come here humans?" Arachne looked at Selina with hungry eyes. "Answer my question."
Diana pointed her blade at the spider. "We have come for our friend Bruce Wayne," she said firmly.
The spider chuckled shaking her body. "He's gone. No longer part of your world."
Selina clenched her jaws and pointed her pistol at the creature. "You're lying," she growled.
"What are you going to do about it human? Your weapons are pitiful to my body. I have survived many stabs from spears and swords."
"I don't use a blade." Her hand was on the trigger. "Its not my style." She smirked pridefully with a dangerous look in her eyes.
"So you two have come to kill me?" The weaver laughed. "This is my domain. I too have a partner." Arachne made a weird scream and a larger spider emerged from the shadows. He was silent and methodical in his movements.
"So you have a mate? Cute," Selina snarled. "Two for the price of one." She was about to pull the trigger when the male spider attacked her. His leg slapped the gun out of her hand with swift speed.
"No guns. No killing," he rasped with the sound of gravel mixed with a hiss as his strong leg hurled Selina into the wall away from her weapon. Her body crashed to the ground and she lifted her head looking at the imposing creature.
Diana was fighting Arachne whose legs were high in the air.
"I'm going to suck you dry," she roared.
Diana held her lasso ready and swung in over the spiders two front legs and pulled tightly. She turned her head and looked at her partner that was holding her slender waist with her hands.
She knew that Selina was wounded by the impact of her sleek body hitting the wall. "Selina!" She screamed.
The male spider stood above Selina, his large body shielded her. Selina was still dazed by the impact and the words the creature spoke, they sounded so familiar to her. Same soft raspy tone of voice that she never got annoyed of hearing...
"That voice..." she slurred feeling the pressure of a bruised rib. She placed her gloved hand on the right side of her chest. As her eyes met the spider's big black eyes. "The voice of..."
It was years go when she first entered the streets of Gotham City; years of planning heists and breaking into the elite penthouse apartments of Paris, Rome and New York.
She was on a mission to clear her name and the massive file that Gotham Police kept locked into a filing cabinet. The file that showed her failures and past mistakes.
She was in deep with the wrong people: even Bruce Wayne tried to warn her on the night of that dance. The dance when she saw the real man behind the mask with the playboy charm.
She kissed him and walked away leaving him stung and bedazzled by her motives towards his type of people: the stuck up upper class that didn't care about the lower class, the ones that ravaged the streets at night in the bitter cold looking for warmth and a decent meal that didn't cost them the full amount in their bank accounts.
Selina knew that she was on thin ice and soon she would slip. She had to get Bruce's private and powerful friend's help. Maybe he could save her.
The next night she was in Roland Dagget's penthouse office looking through his uncrackable safe for the clean slate device. Instead she found out that there was no reward for her talents. Being infused with anger she attacked Dagget and brought him outside onto the rooftop with a gun pointing to his head.
Her fingers were on the trigger, daring the bodyguards that were forming around her with large automatic weapons that would just take a clean shot into her chest.
"What have I gotten myself into," she thought moving towards the wall.
"You boys better have clear shots!" She blared with a growl, feeling Dagget wiggle like a worm. That's all he was to her: a bottom feeder that would like to stick his head out when there was an offer he couldn't refuse.
"You're going to die tonight kitty cat," Dagget sneered. "No one is going to care."
"Shut it," Selina growled in a forceful tone. She looked at the bodyguards. "I'm not bluffing..."
They didn't care. Of course not. She was the main one that was causing their high paying boss all the trouble.
"I mean it..." she threatened.
A shadow engulfed her own as a growling voice boomed from the upper roof top. A voice that she fell in love with. "They don't value your life. They just don't care."
Selina turned her head and saw Batman jump from the edge of the roof, his massive cape formed into a wing and eyes burned with the desire to attack. He did a gliding kick. One bodyguard was knocked out from the impact.
Selina threw Dagget to the ground. She wanted to dance with the mysterious man that made her body tense. The Batman.
She did a high kick to one of the guards and then took out her pistol ready to fire.
Batman slapped the gun out of her hand.
She snarled with frustration knowing that was her one chance to win this brawl and come out alive.
"Hey," she sneered at him angrily.
Batman stood in front of her with a look of authority. "No guns. No killing..."
Selina fluttered her eyes with realization from the memory. She stared up at the spider with horror. "No you can't be him..."
The spider pointed is head down and moved one of his legs closer to her body.
Diana struck the female in the front legs with her blade. "Back into the hole of which you came from insect."
Arachne hissed as she winced. "How dare you?!"
Diana sliced the spiders leg. Archne squealed as she felt the pain and slowly crawled into the deep tunnel, mending her wounds. Diana looked at the male spider who was over Selina.
"Get away from her!" She growled jumping into the air with her blade pointing down. "Be gone..."
"Diana, no wait!" Selina yelled. "He's not going to hurt us."
Diana listen to Selina in time to miss the spider's backside by one inch as she was about to jam the blade into his back. The spider turned and threw Diana into the wall. Her head crashed onto a rock and she fell next to Selina.
Selina, still dazed and feeling the effects of a bruised rib, crawled over to Diana and checked to make sure she had no injuries. The male spider backed away from them.
"Princess, I didn't mean to..." His voice was soft and soothing; the tone of Bruce Wayne. His appearance was full of despair and angst over his actions. Bruce had never hit Diana. Despite all her strength he felt guilty with himself.
"I'm sorry..." he said as quietly as his voice would allow.
Diana looked at the massive black spider who had his head lowered. Her eyes filled with tears once she recognized his voice.
"It can't be..." she whimpered.
The man she loved; the brave, noble, sharp-featured, dark haired man, who carried almond shaped eyes infused with light hazel and emerald-green full of strength, stubbornness and devotion.
His m shaped lips that he would purse when he wore the tight fitted cowl that often spoke words of wisdom, logic and compassion.
His stunning complexion and well defined body that he used as a weapon for justice each night. She looked at the round plump spider that was Bruce Wayne. No words came from her lips only tears of sorrow mixed with bitter rage.
Selina touched the spider's leg with one of her gloved hands, trying to placate him. She lifted her head and looked at the cursed creature. "Bruce..." She spoke in a disheartened tone.
"No!" Diana wailed, pounding her fists into the ground. "Why!"
Bruce watched her with a dampening resolve. He wished for nothing more than to take her into his arms, assure her that it would be all right, and soothe her worries but it was impossible right now. Seeing her like this, full of grief and self-blame and not being able to help her was a worse torture than the one he was subjected to.
Glancing at Selina he could see the sympathy in her eyes which only added to his misery. Diana's grief, Selina's pity. He couldn't handle this. Bruce turned away and melted into the shadows out of sight.
Selina arose.
"Bruce come back..." she called after him.
The massive spider screeched as he crawled into the shadows, jumped onto one of his freshly made webs that his spinnerets created and sat his plumped body in the center. He wanted to shed tears but instead he squealed in a high pitched tone.
Selina felt dismay when Bruce hadn't returned to her call. His cry of what she assumed to be distress made her feel anxious along with Diana's weeping. They couldn't give up now.
Turning from the darkness, Selina knelt down next to Diana who had tears rolling down her face. "It's my fault Selina. My fault..." She dug her face into the ground. "I love him and this is the consequence of it... I failed him."
Selina looked down the tunnel with poise then back to the princess. She'd dealt with Bruce in similar fashion in the past and knew exactly what the Amazon must be feeling and putting on herself.
"Diana, you have to pick yourself up and face this. You need to snap out of it and be the strong warrior. Show no weakness," she encouraged. Diana looked at her with a firm gaze. Selina stood up and held out her hand. "Come on Diana. Do it for the man you love. Do it for Bruce."
The wisdom in Selina's words filled Diana with a renewed sense of determination. She couldn't afford to despair now. Not when so much was still at stake. Diana looked at her sword. "You're right. I have to end this. It's the only way I can free him."
She arose with Selina's help and held her forearm in a warrior like fashion. "I'm going to fight Eros. Alone," she declared, her eyes leaving no room for objection.
Selina nodded. Diana looked towards the tunnel.
"I want you to find Bruce. Make him come to his senses."
"I don't think that will be a problem." Selina looked at her gun and kicked it out against the wall.
"Selina," Diana gasped, wiping the tears from her ocean blue eyes that looked puff. "You'll need that weapon."
"No. I'm done with guns Diana." She pulled on her goggles and gave Diana a nod. "Good luck goddess."
Diana grabbed her sword and responded the same. "You too crimson." She finally had a nickname for Selina. Smiling at each other for what could be the last time, they both parted ways.
Diana went for the exit and Selina deeper into the darkness.
Diana walked down the isle of cells with a watchful eye. The dimly lit corridor was illuminated by only a few torches yet it was enough for her to see the path ahead. The warm light reflected off her weapon and golden lasso, alerting the prisoners of her presence.
Hands were stretching out and pleading cries emanated from within the old and forgotten cages that housed many unfortunate souls captured over the years.
She ignored them for now, deciding there would be a time to rescue them later. Many more lives were in danger outside this pit and she couldn't let herself be anymore distracted then she already was as her mind drifted back towards Selina and Bruce. She hoped that Selina knew what she was doing going in pursuit unarmed.
"Focus Diana," she mentally berated herself. Selina was a capable warrior and Diana felt if she herself truly wished to help her friend she needed to free Bruce from his curse and that was by defeating the one that subjected him to it.
Her determined ocean blue eyes narrow at the large double doors at the end of the passage and the threat she perceived waited beyond them. The nearer she came to the doors, the light increased with the number of torches - two of which stood at either side of the doors which were closed.
She carefully stepped over a number of bones and old pieces of armor from warriors long passed heading down this exact passage many years ago. Many appeared to have fallen against her enemy over the millennia.
Not discouraged, Diana approached the doors and paused for a short in take of breath before she placed both hands on the doors and shoved them open with authority. The chamber was large and grandiose with columns stretching far across opposite sides of the room.
Standing near his throne was Eros the god of desire though in truth he was the god of suffering. That much was apparent since all he'd done since coming to Gotham was inflict injury on the man she loved and the city he devoted his life to protecting.
Seeing the princess' presence, Eros smiled expectantly with a sardonic look as he watched her approach, weapon ready.
"Princess Diana, come to bow down to me?" He laughed as he sat back on his throne, silver eyes sharpened as he gazed at her. He was surprised she hadn't rushed blindly into battle against him as he expected her to.
"No. I've come to put an end to your chaos," Diana growled with a stoic look.
Eros gave a sarcastic smile at her proclamation. His eyes noted that she had come to face him alone. He glared at her sharply. "Where's your little weak friend?"
"She's where she has to be." Diana held up her sword with a challenging look. "And I am here ready to fight."
Eros laughed aloud.
"What makes you think you can defeat me princess? I am a god. I can destroy you or turn you into anything I desire. But then again I already wounded your worthless spirit when I turned the man you desire into that creature. Soon he won't even remember his name or you," he taunted.
Diana's eyes became crossed, her grip on her sword tightened.
"That was your plan all this time? Weaken me by turning Bruce into different creatures just to break my spirit? I got news for you Eros, I am strong than I appear. And you will not taste the souls of Gotham and neither will your dear old dad."
Eros snarled and struck his hand on the arm rest of his chair. "Enough!" He snapped his fingers and Diana fell to her knees. "Your threats mean nothing to me. Because you're nothing," he retorted angrily.
He arose from his throne and kicked her in the side viciously, sending her flying across the marbled floor. "Nothing but a worthless woman that must be taught to know where her place is."
He cracked his knuckles as he approached the recovering Amazon, deadly intent on putting an end to this conflict and opening the portal for his father to join him in destroying the accursed city of Gotham.
Selina entered the spider's lair with silent caution. She wasn't ignorant, she knew the chances of encountering more danger while looking for Bruce where high down in this monstrous pit.
"Handsome," she called out keeping her eyes sharp. She knew wherever Bruce had fled he was putting distance as he often did whenever he was upset.
In any other instance she would've given him his space but as Diana had warned her, they needed to bring him to sort of reality otherwise they might just lose him forever to this curse inflicted on him.
"Bruce it's me," she reassured, half-expecting hostile action at any moment. There was movement in the webs and she tried a more condescending but playful approach. "Don't make me come up there."
"Go away," a raspy voice hissed, the sound full of distraught.
Selina pointed her chin and looked at the large spider doing her best not to look surprised. "There you are. You always have to hide in the shadows," she lightly teased.
"Selina get away from me. I'm-"
"You're what not the man that you were... I heard that before" She joked trying to make the conversation light. "Remember what you always say Bruce... that it's not who you are underneath but what you do that defines you," she reminded, hoping that form of nostalgia would bring him to his senses.
The spider was silent for a moment. "Selina, look at me. I'm something that most people dread to see in their nightmares. How could I ever be the same underneath?"
Selina climbed up onto the web and looked at the spider. "Bruce you're my friend.. no matter what you are that will never change." She looked down at the armor on the ground. "Pick yourself up. You're stronger than this," she encouraged.
The spider shifted its many eyes with uncertainty. "I can't..."
Selina's gaze became firm as did her voice.
"Listen, outside of this gloomy tunnel is a woman that loves you. She's fighting for your life Bruce. You have to fight too," she insisted. It didn't take much for Selina to see how much Diana loved and cherished Bruce, and Selina knew Bruce well enough to know he felt the same. She hoped that would inspire him.
Bruce hung his head briefly as the reality of her words sunk in. He couldn't wallow in self-pity, not when Diana needed him. Not when everyone needed him.
The spider looked at Selina with a new found appreciation. He could see how much she had matured. He could also see that she wasn't carrying a gun. "You've changed Selina," he said in a softer tone.
"Perhaps I have," she admitted. She placed her gloved hand on his side.
"Come on Dark Knight, we've got a battle to win." Something caught her gaze. Something shiny. She reached into the web that held a drained body and pulled out a sword. It was covered with webbing but the blade was still sharp.
For some reason she felt powerful as her hand grasped the hilt of the blade and she gave it a careful swing in grip. The weight of it felt accommodating to her size and strength.
Bruce looked at the young woman. She looked like a warrior. "Just keep that way from me," he joked.
Selina smirked with a familiar look. "That's the Bruce Wayne I know." She heard movement in the shadows and became alert. "Bruce I think your protective mate wants to have a word with you."
She jumped from the web and smacked her feet on the ground as the female spider came crawling towards her with malice apparent. It moved on steady legs, apparently recovered from Diana's recent attack.
"Back for a rematch human..." Arachne hissed then stopped as it observed the black suited female. The scent wasn't the familiar stench of magic that she'd sniffed off the armor of Athena.
"Wait you're not the Amazon. Your the weak one," she grumbled with disappointment.
Selina held the sword high, showing no fear. "I may look weak in your eyes bug, you'll find cats know how to fight." She looked at Bruce. "Go to Diana. She needs you handsome."
"I can't leave you alone with her," he said despite his admiration.
"Go! I can handle this bug," she commanded.
Bruce struggled for a moment as he looked at her then Arachne. There was much he wanted to say to her as he thought back to his regrets during his transformation, but he knew she was right, there was still a bigger threat at work here other than Arachne.
He jumped down and crawled away leaving Selina to defend herself.
"So you were the one that turned him into a spider?" Selina hissed sounding like an enraged cat.
"I must say he looks better as a spider than a man," Arachne retorted, already sensing that the man held great meaning to the woman in front of her.
Selina clenched her jaws. "I don't think so. Diana told me that you were turned into a spider? Was it because you were too ugly as a woman?" She taunted
Arcahne hissed loudly. "I was beautiful!" She snarled with recollection. The memories only intensified her blood lust towards Athena, her champion and this woman who had the nerve to mock her.
"But your big mouth got you into trouble," Selina said knowingly.
Selina looked at the weak spot the belly with a calculating mind. Arachne flinched at Selina's words and screeched loudly.
"I'll break you in half!" The spider said, moving her jaws as she charged at the heroine.
Selina smirked and slid her body underneath the spider as it ran towards her then stuck the blade into her belly with unrelenting force. "I wonder what happens when you die? Will you become human? Let's find out."
She drew in deeper until the spider fell onto her back side and screamed in pain, thrashing its limbs wildly in the air. Selina pulled out the sword and looked at the blood.
"Sorry but you had to be exterminated," she quipped.
Arachne used one of her legs and pushed Selina off of her to the ground. She was sinking as she jumped onto Selina with a bout of desperation.
"If I'm going to go. I'm not going alone!" She jabbed her stinger into Selina's back. Selina cried aloud in pain as Arachne's then rolled over and died behind her.
"Bruce!" Selina screamed as she felt the venom course through her veins. Her blood was beginning to boil and her body jerked.
Arachne's body changed back into a woman and lied lifeless on the ground beside her.
Selina tried to lift herself up, but the poison was making her limbs numb and feel like ice. All she could think of was her past mistakes and failures. Everything from witnessing her mother's death, watching her sister being taken away into a metal institute. Being arrested at age 16 for theft. Her last thoughts were of Bruce and what little she remembered of her family when times were happier.
"Good girls go to heaven..." she winced. "The bad girls go everywhere else..." Her eyes closed.
Meanwhile Diana was getting the same treatment from Eros. Her skull was slammed into the ground and blood dripped from her lips and the cuts on her brow. She gasped as Eros held her up by the back of her head, holding her up to eye-level with himself.
He glared at her, eyes filled with merciless aggression.
"You will never be the greatest warrior that you were created to be princess. You will die just like all the others that failed," he snarled disdainfully as he threw her across the room where she smashed into a tall column.
Its surface cracked under her form as she collapsed in a heap with debris coming over her from the collision.
Diana swiped the blood off her forehead and threw her tiara at his head which he caught and threw to the ground with arrogance. He snickered as he approached her slowly, his confident stride boasting his sense of triumph.
"You can't beat me," Eros said with a serious tone. His patience and amusement with the Amazon was waning quickly as he watched her continued defiance against his attacks. He sighed with frustration.
"I've already won this war. All I have to do is get a few drops of pure human blood and my father will rise," he affirmed.
Diana narrowed her eyes as she picked up her blade and lunged at the god. Eros stood ready as he caught her mid-air by her wrists and held her weapon a breath away from his head. He scoffed at her attack.
"A sword? Pitiful weapon..." He pushed her back, sending her flying to the wall. "For a pitiful woman." He held his hand to the side and made his nails become sharp claws.
"Now I'm going to end this once and for all," he announced. He walked over and grabbed Diana by the hair. She winced at his grip as he sneered at her then drove his head against her skull. Blood sprang from Diana's nose and one of her eyes was nearly swollen shut.
Eros smiled sinisterly.
"I know how to kill you Diana. All I have to do is turn you into clay and splash water on your flesh. Then the greatest masterpiece of Athena will fade away," he whispered with a predominant grin. He grabbed her face in his clawed hands and with the other prepared to put his fist through her stomach.
Diana with her free hand fingered the sword beside her. Before Eros could strike, a bout of venom spat from the corner of the room onto his fist, eliciting a roar of pain from the villain.
"Get away from her!" A raspy growling voice said from the shadows. Eros released Diana who collapsed on her knees in front of him, panting for air. Eros retreated a step backwards and muttered a spell, his burning hand instantly healed.
He casts a vengeful look about the room with a nag of suspicion coming over him. He released a sarcastic chuckle into the room as he noticed the monstrous shape come from the darkness.
"Like princes, your spider has come to aide you." Eros laughed looking at the spider. Even in his new shape, the spider still retained some sort of familiarity to its true persona. Its black and silver skin tones lent to the armor of the Batman.
"Bruce!" Diana screamed, as Eros lifted her off the ground by her throat and began to choke her.
Bruce felt his venomous blood boiling with rage as he ached to inflict more damage on the "god" that not only had caused him and his city great suffering but was threatening to kill his princess.
As if sensing the spider's despairing thoughts, Eros chuckled evilly. "Poor Bruce Wayne. Now he'll watch another loved one die."
Bruce hissed as he moved forward. Eros shook his head condescendingly.
"Hissing?" Eros snapped his fingers. "I think you need to be taught a lesson Bruce." His gaze turned distant as if his thoughts were distracted with something elsewhere, then he smiled with sick pleasure. "Or maybe you already have. From where I'm standing I can hear your little cat friend's heartbeat becoming slower."
Bruce froze in his approach and his many eyes turned wide with horror. Diana's did the same.
"No!" Bruce screeched.
With the defeated Amazon in his grasp and the other mortal close to perishing, Eros felt Bruce Wayne had served his purpose. He points two fingers at the spider. "Back into the form of which you were created in your mother's womb," he declared.
The spider rolled on his back. Bruce groaned as his body began to shrink and transform back into his human-self: Bruce Wayne. His chest was bare, chocolate hair looked uncombed and greasy, his arms were full of scrapes and bruises.
The only clothing he had on were the leggings from beneath his Kevlar armor over the bottom half of his body. Bruce knelt on his knees gasping. Eros watched him with satisfaction. After he was done here he would kill Wayne personally after he watched his loved ones die.
"Better hurry, the venom is closing in on her," he taunted. Diana in his grasp bared her teeth with rage as she used the distraction to bring her determined fist across Eros' face, sending him twirling across the floor.
"You will pay for this Eros," she growled, clutching her aching throat. Bruce turned his intense but now softened gaze to Diana. She could see the turmoil in his eyes and she immediately shook her head.
"Go to her Bruce!" The Amazon screamed. "Save her."
Bruce felt assured as he nodded, picked himself off the ground and bolted into the tunnel. Eros on the ground, spat with frustration as he climbed back to his feet. Diana met his stare with a dangerous fire in her eyes as she recovered her weapon.
Eros grinned as he turned his attention to Diana. "Now for your fate, princess." He held his hand to the side and a sword of his own materialized in his grip. Diana smiled as they both charged each other, emitting war cries, until they collided with a clash of metal.
The room briefly shook as the noise reverberated loudly. Eros swung and dashed in his attacks, relying on his speed rather than brute strength. Diana parried and evaded each blow with careful instincts.
Lashing out in anger wouldn't win her this battle she knew, it would only make her vulnerable. Eros hadn't underestimated her skill with the blade it seemed as he didn't press his attack that would enable her to find an opening in his offense.
They moved and struck with graceful movements, Eros managed to fall backward on the back of his feet in time to avoid a swing meant to sever his head, and spun in time to catch Diana's blade with a side parry.
He swung his blade free and twirled into a sideways sweep meant to slice the princess across the stomach but she evaded by twirling over his back and landed on her feet behind him. Once she landed she aimed a slash at his exposed back but Eros acting sharp held his blade back over his shoulder in time to parry her attack.
Diana huffed in frustration. Eros was exceptional in his sword skills which meant she would have to use more tactics if she hoped to defeat him. Once their blades came free , she twirled her blade in her grip then faked a slash across the side which Eros dodged, using the momentum of her spin, she crouched low and swept his legs out from beneath him.
Eros fell to the ground with a grunt of surprise then acting quickly he rolled to the side in time to evade a downward strike of Diana's weapon. He bounced back to his feet and decided to match her tactic by throwing a hard forearm to her shoulder, sending her falling backward against the ground.
She used her momentum to roll backward onto her feet just as he sailed into the air, ready to bring his sword down across her head. She held her blade up and blocked his attack. Eros by now felt his patience completely drained in this situation. He throws a side kick across Diana's shoulder, forcing her to fall onto her side.
"YOU ARE BENEATH ME!" He roared as he picked her up by the neck. "You and all your pitiful allies will fall to my wrath and watch as I and my father devour all that you hold dear!" he roared.
He threw her down to the floor with a slam hard enough to crack the marble beneath them. Diana coughed and panted while struggling to remain lucid in this fight. Eros looked down at her with a deadly smile.
"Because you are nothing!" He brings his blade down with a swing only to be met with Diana's bracers forming a cross in front of her. He blinked with surprise as he struggled to push through the counter.
"No. I am Diana, the Champion of the Amazons..." she threw a kick up high and caught Eros at the top of the head, sending him stumbling back a few steps. Diana pulled herself to her feet and glared at him, "and I will not be found wanting."
Eros snarled as he charged at Diana again who held her fists ready. She caught his arms and threw a vicious elbow across his face, sending him falling back against a pillar. She spun and delivered a roundhouse kick, catching him in the face and he fell to the ground with a clatter. He regained his feet with a livid look and charged.
"Damn you," he raged as he tries another desperate swing which Diana ducks and catches him around the waist then throws him backward into a German-suplex across the marble floor.
The floor cracked under Eros' head as he groaned loudly in pain. Diana rises to her feet with a firm look, watching her foe struggle to regain his feet. She waited with one hand close to her waist.
Eros turns and faces her with a tired look then raises his sword arm for another attack. Diana, having enough of this fight, grabs her lasso from her waist then throws it at his arm and catches his wrist. She pulls and his sword flies out of his grasp and lands at her feet.
Disarmed, Eros falls forward a few steps close enough for Diana to deliver a vicious punch to his stomach then an uppercut beneath his jaw, sending Eros flying into the air then crashing to the ground in front of her.
Diana recovered her blade then lifted and struck it into his chest. He yelled as she jumped onto top of him and punched him in the jawbone with anger. "That's for what you did to Bruce," she growled.
"This is for Selina Kyle," she snarled as she punched him harder.
"You've lost Eros," She held her blade and dug it within his body. He screamed in horror as his form began to crumble into dust. The men that were creatures were changing back into humans outside the throne room.
"No!" Eros hissed sounding like a snake. "How can you win?"
"I know your weakness demon." Diana spoke with power. "Now you have failed. Be gone and never return to the mortal realm for if you do Eros, I promise you that you will never see the light of day again," she proclaimed.
Eros disappeared into the ground with a cry of defeat. The cell doors opened and the prisoners were free as they raced towards the exit. Diana stood on shaky legs as the exhaustion of the battle began to set in along with the pain of her wounds.
Despite her discomfort, her only concern was for her friends and loved ones. Diana recovered her tiara off the floor then ran into the tunnel. "Bruce," she called out.
"Here," A tone of sorrow blared as she drew closer to where the billionaire was kneeling. Diana froze with horror as she noticed the pale and cold body of Selina Kyle in his arms. Tears were in his almond shaped eyes. He held Selina close to his chest and kissed her forehead.
Diana fell to her knees in front of them, tears threatening to fall from her swollen eyes. She felt like she failed a friend. Her hand grabbed Selina's cold hand.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, revealing her inner sorrow.
"No, there is still a chance." Bruce demanded. "We can still save her, princess..."
His gaze fell as he looked at Diana with remorse upon seeing the battle wounds on her face. She looked like she went through hell. His hand reached out and gently caressed her cheek with a soft look. Diana closed her eyes as a single tear escaped her.
Bruce looked back down at Selina in his arms, feeling dread over how much they'd lost and suffered through this ordeal. He shook his head with refusal as he scooped her in his arms and stood onto his feet.
"I'm not going to lose her Diana," he said hoarsely. Tears landed on Selina's pale face. His tears. "I can't lose her," he said firmly. Diana nodded with equal determination as she lowered her head and looked at the red stones in her hand.
She placed her hand onto Bruce's then said, "Gotham." She closed her eyes and Bruce closed his. They disappeared leaving only silence in the now empty pit.
A/N: My wonderful friend wrote the transformation scene. He did an amazing job with it. Only one more chapter to go and I am done this story. Don't worry there are plenty more Batman and Wonder Woman stories to tell. I really like Diana and Selina working together.