Chapter 24 : The Cat's Hunt
The soft orange glow of street lights reflected off the glazed pavement, the smell of burning exhaust from traffic felt strangely heavy. Selina, wearing a little black dress, lead a drunken stranger into a small dive bar. She whispered something in his ear and sat him down on a stool, patting his back. "Wait here, handsome." She instructed walking to a center table where Desmond, dressed in a leather jacket, was waiting, holding a cell phone.
He scowled at Selina with a cold glare." I thought the Bat was your lover, kitten?"
Selina pulled out her chair and sat down. "He's my drunken uncle. I found him lying outside in the rain. Don't worry, after I'm done here, I'll be him bringing him home." She glanced around and noted the number of Jackals sitting at the tables waiting for her to make a move on their commander. "Lets get to the point, handsome." She spoke in a low tone. "Your boss has something of mine."
There was silence between them.
"Okay..." She pulled out an envelope from her handbag and handed to Desmond. "$450 in cash. As we agreed."
Desmond opened the envelope, his lips formed into a wide grin. "Very nice, kitten."
Selina's jaw tightened as she leaned forward. "Now cough up the other end of our bargain."
"Oh, yes." Desmond sneered as he snapped his fingers. "The location of Vedette Countless." A Jackal stood at their table with a handgun pointed at Selina's temple.
Her eyes darkened as she felt the handgun pressed against her. Her face was calm, eyes steady as her crimson lips parted. "Do you know what happens when you corner a cat?" She looked into his eyes and smirked. Desmond stuffed the envelope in his coat.
"Is that a threat, Miss Kyle ?" He laughed. "Do you want to know what happens to cats that enter a jackals yard? First they surround the little beast, wait for her to slip-up and then go in for the kill." He admired her dress. "Nothing would be left. And no one is going to miss you, not even your pointy eared boyfriend that is choking on catnip."
"No... but you see my uncle over there." She shifted her eyes to the middle-aged man sipping a shot glass of whiskey. "Every cop is this city is looking for him." Desmond looked at the stranger sitting at the bar.
"Who the hell is he?" He turned back to Selina, his eyes ablazed. "You set me up, didn't you? Little bitch." He growled signaling his thugs to fire at Selina. "Blow her brains out!"
The stranger arose and fired his handgun to the ceiling. "Everyone drop your weapons!" His voice sounded like the Commissioner's. He pulled off his trench coat, revealing a bulletproof a GCPD vest underneath.
There was a sound of tires screeching outside as two of the lookout thugs standing by the door gazed at the blue and red lights flashing through the windows. Squad cars and SWAT vans were parked as a team of officers were advancing on the doors.
"How did you manage to convince the Commissioner to be apart of your little plan?"
"I have my ways." She answered.
Desmond gritted his teeth and pointed his gun at Selina's forehead. "One bullet is all it takes to put you down." His eyes beamed at the soon-to-be sight of blood spilling out of her skull. "Say good night."
Selina was quick in reacting, she reached over and cracked his head against the table and swiped the cellphone out of his hand that gave her a fixed location on Vedette's whereabouts . She pushed Desmond and watched him crash to the floor as his body absorbed the shock of impact. He was unconscious.
"Good night." She shot back. Gordon walked over to Selina, the SWAT teamed battered down the doors and pointed their weapons directly on the remaining thugs while the other group of Jackals were being chased down the back alley.
"Are you alright, Miss Kyle?" He asked . She brushed her long hair back and smiled.
"I've got what I need." She answered looking down at the unconscious form of Desmond. "I assume that there is a nice cage waiting for this bastard at MCU?"
"Don't worry. He won't be comfortable ." Gordon replied. "I guess you're going..." He turned and saw that she had vanished in the shadows. "Why am I not surprised?" He shook his head and watched a dark haired rookie, with boyish looks, handcuff Desmond.
Outside Selina slipped behind two SWAT vans and headed down a narrow alley to the parked Rolls Royce. Alfred was waiting for her with an umbrella in his hand as he opened the backdoor.
"Miss Kyle," he addressed. "I trust that you got everything we need to get Master Wayne back?" She nodded and flashed Alfred the cellphone.
"That witch can run but she can't hide, Alfred." She slid her drenched body onto the leather and he closed the door.
A few seconds later, Alfred was in the driver's seat. "Do you wish for me to return you back to Wayne Manor?" She smirked. "It doesn't take me that long to slip into my suit."
Jim Gordon crouched down by his daughter's bedside. He reached out a hand and gently touched her cheek. Emily opened her eyes; she stared into her father's weary eyes as if she was still dreaming.
"Daddy," Her stained voice whispered. "Did Catwoman save me, daddy?"
Gordon looked down at his youngest child and nodded. A little joy glimmered in his blue-gray eyes, he kissed her on the forehead, hand brushing away the soft curls. "Yes. She did." He lifted her from the bed and cradled her in his arms, he allowed a smile to birth.
He rubbed her back and in a soothing tone he faintly repeated. "Yes. She did." He was grateful to hold his daughter.
The air in downtown Gotham was cold and thick, almost like sticking your head in a deep freezer and it made Selina nearly gag on the heaviness of pollution entering her throat passageway.
She had no time to complain as the far-fetched idea of living someplace quieter and clean - Italy or Athens and spending the rest of her life in Bruce's arms - rattled in her mind. She crouched down on the ledge of Vedette's penthouse that overlooked some of Gotham's finest jewelry stores. She looked over her shoulder and allowed her eyes to stare down at the window-gleaming treasure of diamonds and gold resting on red cloth. Alfred was across, hidden in the shadows of an alley dressed in a black jacket and wearing a baseball cap. Both of them were in position for their rescue operation.
"I'm going in," Selina whispered in the comm, preparing to cut the glass with her new toy - glass-cutting claws sewn into her gloves - until she decided being discreet was not her desired tactic here. She shrugged capriciously as she smashed the through glass with her boot, showing she was bitch.
"Due be careful, Miss Kyle," Alfred replied.
Selina rolled her eyes. It was inconvenient for her to wear an ear piece radio that allowed the two of them to communicate, but the buzzing of the device was irradiating, making her even more **. Her gun was drawn and ready, both heels crinkled on the shattered shards of glass.
She stayed in the shadows, observing as Vedette entered the room dressed in light-fitting clothing and unprepared for a fray that was brewing in the silence between them. The priority was getting Bruce back from her clutches. Even though death seemed to be imminent, she knew what she had to do.
Vedette moved out of the living area and back down the hall, giving Selina a chance to step closer to the doorway, she had a sense that a trap was waiting. Before she took another step, the lights flew on and she heard the spine tingling voice, "Selllina!
Alfred heard the unmistakable voice through the comm. "Miss Kyle," his voice was shaky. "Is everything alright? Did you locate Master Wayne?"
Selina spoke through her gritted teeth. "No," she froze, clenching her hands into fists as her eyes beheld the bizarre shadow of the one that wounded her physically and emotionally. She cringed, slowly turning around, her face was tight as her brown eyes matched the black eyes of the Joker who was holding the black Bombay - Bruce - bound to a chain around his neck, a gloved finger pressing his throat.
"Welcome to home, sweet home!" He flashed his yellow teeth as Selina's eyes connected with the cats cold golden eyes. "We're always in the mood to have beautiful girls to join the party." He lifted the screeching cat by the neck fur and held him close to his scarred mouth. "Especially the billionaire playboy. Isn't that right Brucie?"
"Let him go, you bastard!" Selina hissed, aiming her gun at the clown's head. "Let him go - or I'll give you something to laugh about."
"Oh, so the beautiful Catwoman has grown claws." The Joker chimed, tongue grazing over his bloody lips. "I need a little entertainment tonight." He tilted his head like a snake staring at her body. The cat was trying to break free from his captor's grasp, swiping his claws and screeching fiercely.
"Let him go," Selina repeated, finger pressing on the trigger.
The Joker rolled his eyes. "You know I go through all this trouble of keeping Brucie happy and I don't even get one simple gesture of gratitude." He laughed. "What do you expect. He has no manners. His mommy and daddy croaked before they could teach him any."
The cat bit his teeth hard into the Joker's hand, drawing out blood.
"See?" The Joker didn't cry out, he only giggled as he pointed at his bite mark. "No manners..." He paused eyes moved to the doorway. "Hello, sweetness. Come join our party."
"Come to take your little cat home, Selina Kyle?"
Selina felt her blood boiling in her veins. She turned around and stared into the remorseful eyes of the woman - the merciless witch that placed Bruce into a prison of fur and claws. She lunged at the witch, grabbing her by the hair and punching her in the face, slashing her aggressors chin with her claws on her gloves. Vedette fell to the floor, and a second later Vedette spat blood into her face.
"Devotion will be your downfall, Selina Kyle."Vedette snarled, swiping her polished finger nails into Selina's cheek.
"Selina!" Bruce yelled as he felt the Joker's grip loosen on his body. He quickly fell to the floor, paws absorbing the impact. "Watch out!" he warned as he started walking to the leather suited brunette - only to be grabbed from behind and shoved face-first into the floor. Before he could squirm out of the gloved hands, the chain wrapped around his neck choking him.
It was a shock to the body as it grew tighter around his neck, making if difficult to breath as he crawled on his belly, claws digging into the wood.
"And where do you think you're going?" The Joker dragged the chain making the cat jerk suddenly. "Don't you wanna to see your sweet Selina give her final performance?"
Bruce's fur was rising, as he watched Selina wiped the blood off her face and started throwing viscous punches to Vedette and when she moved up to charge at the Joker, Vedette withdrew her dagger and scrambled up from the floor and tried to plunge the blade into Selina's lower back.
"Selina!" Bruce screamed breathlessly. "Behind you!"
Selina turned around and grabbed Vedette by the wrist then kicked her rib. The priestess gasped as she felt a jolt in her stomach. She cradled her stomach and gave Selina a death glare.
"That's for bitch me off!" The masked brunette screamed.
Vedette snickered. "Killing me won't free him." She spat looking at the barrel of the gun aiming for her chest. "Take the shot Miss Kyle. Make me bleed." She urged. "And then watch your precious Bruce will fall to the point of no return."
"Change him back!" Selina snarled as her eyes grew three tinges darker and one gloved finger was holding the trigger in place. "How fast can you count, Vedette?" she asked digging the handgun further into the priestess' chest.
"You dare threaten me!" Vedette growled removing a dagger from her side and swiping Selina's calf. "I will make you bleed crimson all over."
Selina leaned closer gritting her teeth. "One shot and you're dead."
The Joker laughed as he tugged her hair and slammed her face into the floor. "I think you'll be the one that will be put down tonight." He gripped her hair and slapped her face. The cat screeched and jumped on his neck, digging his fangs into the clown's neck. He grabbed the cat and relished the moment. "Look who wants to join in the fun. I love how you throw yourself after her."
Selina coughed up blood. "Let him go," she demanded as flashes of red entered her vision.
The Joker glared at her darkly and sneered. "Very poor choice of words." He threw the cat into the wall.
"No!" Selina screamed as she watched the black cat crash into the floor, releasing a shattered cry revealing his pain. "Bruce."
"Aw... looks like this kitty has no nine lives to spare."
Selina squeezed her hands into fists and lunged at Vedette ready to strangle her. Her hands closed around her throat. "CHANGE HIM BACK!"
"Though I do enjoy a good cat-fight, killing Vedette, won't save him." The Joker spat as he fed on Selina's anger."...you have a choice to save one life or take a life. Pick up your dying cat or pull the trigger." He kicked the handgun to her heel. "Either way someone dies tonight." He grinned maniacally as he cocked his head in the direction of the unconscious cat.
"I always wondered what it would be like to skin a cat." He popped out a switchblade and drew closer to Bruce.
Selina lunged at the clown sinking her claws into his face and then punched him in the jaw. The Joker laughed as he kicked her in the stomach-sending her flying into the wall. Vedette towered above her with tip of the dagger pointing at her throat.
"You have nothing left to fight for." She confirmed coldly. "Tell me, are you afraid, Selina Kyle." She laughed as the blade started to dig into Selina's flesh. Selina reacted in a quick movement and kicked the knife out of the priestess' hand. With a show of agility, she leaped and back-kicked Joker across the head, sending him crashing head first against the wall - unconscious.
After kicking Vedette the first time, Selina felt curious as she grabbed Vedette and held her close with her hand pressed her against her stomach. She narrowed her infused coffee-brown eyes to Vedette's stomach and smirked knowingly.
"I know what you're afraid of, witch." She whispered to Vedette. She leaned close to her ear and continued. "If he finds out the truth... you will be the sucker."
Vedette clenched her jaw, her body becoming stiff. "You wouldn't dare?"
Selina grinned. "Care to take that chance?" She played. "Here's the deal - you change Bruce back into his normal good-looking self, and your secret will be safe with me."
To Selina's surprise and relief, her foe didn't appear to give it a second thought.
"Well played, kitten." Vedette scowled removing a vial from her pocket. "Three drops will change the furry fleabag back into his miserable-self." She dropped the vial and Selina caught it with quick reflex. "Take your cat and get out of my sight. This battle has only begun."
Selina nodded and looked at Vedette's stomach. "How the tables have turned." She muttered and walked over to the other side and scooped up the dazed cat in her arms, then bolted out to the terrace.
"Enjoy your nines lives while you still can Selina Kyle!" Vedette blared.
Ten minutes later... Inside the back seat of the Rolls Royce, an unmasked Selina Kyle cradled the black Bombay in her arms as she opened the vial.
"Stop being a stubborn traveling flea circus," she coaxed as the cat refused the liquid, his stomach was churning and bones ached from the Joker's attack. He flinched as she grabbed his neck and opened his mouth, dropping three drops of Vedette's potion down his throat.
The cat hissed, gagging on the sour serum seeping down his throat. He felt his bone's twisting. The warmth of her body comforted him as he slowly drifted into an unconscious state.