Author's Note: And you'd thought I'd forgotten about you! Never! In all seriousness though, I am REALLY sorry that this took so long, especially considering it's not terribly long. I've had several large projects/exams these past few weeks, so I didn't have a lot of time. The further into classes I get, the less often I will post chapters. But I will never just up and stop. There will be plenty of warning before this story ends. Without further ado:

Chapter Twenty Three

Blackmail

Batman and the Flash had went to Belle Reve a few days ago, and returned with a negative. Batman had figured (with good reason) that several ice villains must have been behind the Fortresses, notably Icicles Senior and Junior, Mr. Freeze, Captain Cold and Killer Frost. The new warden, Hugo Strange, told them that, throughout the whole Fortress fiasco, those inmates were in their cells. So now Batman was looking for new leads. In the meantime, the team went back to their routine schedules, training with each other and Black Canary. But when they had initially gotten back from their icy mission, and found Wally, they'd learned he had saved an entire country with that heart he had to deliver. The entire team gave him props, and even stopped cracking jokes at his expense for the rest of the week. That was amazing, what he'd done.

On this day, a Saturday, the team was at Mount Justice. Desmond and Conner were sprawled across the couch, starring at a rerun of "Cops." M'gann was cooking something or other. Zatana and Robin were sitting on the other couch, chuckling about something. Artemis sat in her own chair, nibbling on a sandwich. In the other room, Wally and Kaldur were sparring. M'gann walked over, a plate of cookies floating behind her. Desmond greedily got up off the couch and reached for one, but she smacked his hand away.

"Those are for Wally," she said. "He deserves it, after what he did on his birthday for that little girl, and that whole country." Desmond angrily crossed his arms, and plopped back down next to Conner, who was grinning.

"What're you smiling about?" Desmond asked. "Your girlfriend is making Wally cookies. Just for him." Superboy glared at him.

"Shut it," he said, but with the small hint of a smile.

The rest of the day was spent like that; just hanging around, like a group of normal teens would (aside from the sparring, of course.) There had not been an awful lot of activity from villains recently, just a few things here and there, and even that was often taken care of by the Leaguers. Soon it got late, and Artemis, Robin, Wally and Kaldur all left to go to their respective homes, leaving Conner, Desmond, Zatana and M'gann left at the cave, with Red Tornado up in his 'apartment.' It was not long after the rest of their friends had left that Zatana stood up.

"I'm going to hit the hay, guys," she informed the others. "I'll see you tomorrow." There were calls of goodnight to their magician friend as she left the room. Desmond glanced at the watch on his wrist. It was nearing ten thirty, and he yawned. But he wasn't ready to call it a day yet, as he and his friends were currently enthralled by an episode of 'Lost,' which Wally had graciously left them. He'd already watched every season, but the three heroes (not counting Zatana) who lived at Mount Justice never had. Wally lent them his DVDs, and they were hooked. But the show soon ended, and Desmond stood to go.

"I'm think I'm going to call it a night, too," he said. "Goodnight you guys." He walked off, waving as his friends returned his calls of goodnight. He walked down the hall, and slid his door open. What he found shocked him. His bed was torn to shreds. The clothes in his closet were strewn across the room. And on the wall, hung a letter, pinned up by a dagger. "Ra's," he whispered under his breath, quickly running to the letter. He opened it, and began reading.

"My dear son," It began, assuring that it was, in fact, a letter from the Demon's Head. "I've missed you dearly, you know. And I heard about your recent heroics. Stopping Calendar man? Excellent. Teaming up with the rest of your 'heroes' to demolish those ice fortresses? Superb. But aren't you getting tired of playing the hero game? Well, if not now, you soon will be. The blood of the Demon calls to you. Just as it called to Talia. You WILL be mine some day. But I grow tired of waiting. They say time, to an eternal man, seems to flow by much quicker. But they also say a watched pot never boils, and I have been watching you for some time now. How else do you think I got my assassin into your room? He's long gone by now, so don't bother looking for him. It was a mere demonstration; a message to you to say I know how to infiltrate your little clubhouse. And that means I can easily get to you and your friends, not to mention the friends that don't live in an "impenetrable cave of justice." So I have a proposition for you. Tonight, at midnight, meet me at Cape Canaveral in Florida. Or I'll set my sights on what you hold most dear."

That was where the letter ended, but there was an arrow signaling to look back in the envelope. Desmond did so, and out came a picture of Artemis, in her civilian clothing. There was a red target painted over her head. So they were watching her. And she had no idea. Desmond had to tell her, had to tell the team. But… no. If Ra's really could get this far into their base without anyone knowing, he could easily do it a second time, but with more murderous intentions. He had no choice; Desmond was going to Florida.

XxXxX

It hadn't been easy, but Des had managed to get out of the cave without alerting Conner, M'gann, or Zatana. The Zeta-tube took him near Cape Canaveral, and he ran at a full out sprint the rest of the way. The beach/rocket launching facility was impressive, yet desolate. There was no one around for miles. Not knowing what to do, Desmond checked his watch. It was midnight exactly, per Ra's' request.

"Ra's!" he called out. "I'm here, demon! What do you want?" Suddenly a cold hand rested on Desmond's shoulder, and he resisted the urge to turn around and punch its owner in the stomach. "Hi, dad." Was all he said, through gritted teeth.

"My son, arrived at last," he said, sounding like the proud father he wished he could be. "How have you been? How's your female companion? Artemis, is it?"

"You leave her out of this, monster," snarled Desmond, grabbing the lapels on Ra's' green suit. He shook his head.

"Tsk tsk, boy," said the villain. "Now, my boy, let's not get ahead of ourselves. And you are incorrect, of course. This is very much about her, as well as the rest of your friends. All their lives depend on a decision you make, tonight, here with me." Desmond growled, but released his grip.

"I'm listening," he spat. Ra's smiled, almost warmly.

"As we speak, I have at least one associate of mine stationed, prepared to strike, at each of your friends. If you don't comply with my demands, they will die." Desmond thought for a moment.

"Your bluffing," he said at last. "There's no way you could have gotten to them all." Ra's chuckled heartily, and pulled out a small device.

"Arrogant boy, must you always question your father?" he asked, then typed something into the device. An image popped up, of Artemis' sleeping form, looking helpless under her covers. "Are you prepared to strike, Sportsmaster?" asked Ra's. The image turned, to reveal the hockey mask clad face of Sportsmaster, Artemis' father.

"Absolutely," he whispered. It appeared he was waiting, just outside Artemis' window, waiting for a signal to attack. "And I suggest you do the same. Let me tell you, kids are nothing but trouble." Desmond was outraged.

"You would kill your own daughter, because this madman tells you to?" Sportsmaster chuckled.

"You'd be the one killing her," he told Desmond. "I'd just be the tool you used. It's all on you, Demon's Son." Desmond's snarled.

"Don't you dare call me that!" he shouted at the screen. "He is not my father. And you're not Artemis'. Not anymore." Sportsmaster chuckled again.

"Preaching to the choir, little hero," he said, then turned his attention back to Ra's. "I'll wait for your signal. Sportsmaster out." The screen went black, and Ra's turned to his son.

"All of your friends are being watched," he assured Desmond. "Now, can we do business like civilized human beings, or not?" Desmond wanted to shout that Ra's wasn't a human. No human could steep so low. He was a monster. But instead, he looked away and nodded.

"What do you want from me?" Ra's smiled once again. But not warmly this time. This smile was like watching a cat realize he had his mouse cornered.

"One day," said Ra's, beginning to walk away and signaling Desmond to follow (which he begrudgingly did). "I don't know when. Maybe a week from now, maybe a month. But some day, I will call upon you. And you will come."

"If I don't come when you call?" asked Desmond, afraid he already knew the answer.

"Your friends will be killed," said Ra's, like it was a trivial matter. "Now, when you receive this call, you will come immediately. You will not tell your teammates. If they ask where you are going, lie. Do whatever you need to, but you will come to me, Desmond."

"Where will I be meeting you?" asked Desmond. Ra's laughed heartily.

"You think I would tell you that now?" he asked incredulously. "So you can set an ambush? Maybe sabotage our plans before they are set in motion? No boy, I will tell you our meeting place when I call upon you." Desmond thought for a moment.

"You said 'our' plans," said Desmond. "Is someone else involved in this? And if so, who?" Ra's shook his head.

"All in due time, boy," he said. "One day soon, all your questions will be answered." Desmond shook his head now.

"I'm not agreeing to anything until you give me the details," he said. Ra's made a rumbling in his throat, clearly growing annoyed of his insolent child.

"You are in no position to argue!" he snapped suddenly. "I will call upon you, and you will come. No negotiations!" Desmond sneered at the evil man, but didn't talk back. Ra's held out a hand, and showed Desmond a small earpiece.

"What's this?"

"This is how I will contact you," he said, handing Desmond the earpiece. "Let me reiterate; when I call you, you will come. No questions asked. Now, do we have a deal?" He stuck out a hand for Desmond to shake, but the boy hesitated. "It's you or your friends." Ra's reminded him. Desmond weighed it out in his head. He could refuse; continue being a hero, and no one's puppet. But Ra's could command the deaths of all his teammates. Could Desmond ever live with himself if he knew his friends were dead because of a decision he had made? No, he couldn't.

"I hate you," he said, in a gravelly voice. But never the less, he grasped his father's gloved hand, and shook. Ra's smiled as he shook back.

"I knew you'd come around one of these days, my son," he said. "It may have taken some time, but I knew you'd see the Light."

Good enough return to the story? I hope you liked it, because it really has been a while since I even touched this story. I'll be trying to update a lot more frequently in the future. I hope you're all enjoying the holiday season so far, and thank those who continue to read!