Chapter 14
"No!" Donna cried out as she suddenly lunged upright out of her restless sleep.
Her heart was racing, her face wet with tears shed in the terrifying midst of slumber haunted with feelings and sensations that she couldn't bear to feel anymore. She drew her knees up, wrapping her arms around her legs. She couldn't stop the tremors that continually rolled through her as she struggled to catch her breath. She rested her forehead on her drawn-up knees as she tried to regain control, but it was nearly impossible. Her sister was in trouble and now her mother was in the Underworld as well.
Dick unexpectedly burst into her dimly lit bedroom a couple of moments later, his panicked gaze finding her in her bed. "Donna, what's wrong?" he breathlessly asked as he made his way to her.
She couldn't stop sobbing long enough to raise her head or respond to him as she continued to cry. She felt the bed dip beside her before strong arms swiftly snaked their way around her. She went willingly as she felt herself being pulled against Dick's chest, his chin coming to rest on top of her head as he gently rocked her back and forth in his arms.
He held her for several long minutes as she wept, his fear soaring by the second. "Donna, you're scaring me. Please talk to me. What's wrong?"
"It…its Diana," she managed to choke out. "She's dying."
"What?" Dick could hardly believe what he was hearing. Diana was nearly indestructible. Wasn't she? "What did you feel?"
"I can feel her life…draining from her," she revealed between shuddering gasps. "We share a piece of the same soul…and I can feel hers fading."
"I thought Diana was immortal," Dick replied, confused. "Wouldn't her Meta healing save her from any injuries she receives?"
"Not necessarily," Donna explained, suddenly becoming acutely aware that Dick was wearing boxers and nothing else. She pulled back in embarrassment, averting her eyes as she wiped the tears from her cheeks with the backs of her hands. "The Underworld possesses a darker, deadlier magic, one that not even an immortal can escape if injuries are too severe. That is why it is so very dangerous to be there. There is no guarantee of getting back out once you're in the Underworld."
Dick felt a trickle of ice cold fear shiver up his spine. "Can you tell what happened to her?"
"No, but my best guess would be some sort of poison because it feels like it's slowly stealing her life away," Donna admitted as the tears returned, coming faster this time. "I'm losing her, Dick. My…my sister…"
"Shhh…" he gently attempted to soothe her as he rubbed her back, dipping his head to look into her watery eyes.
It was breaking his heart to see what this was doing to her. He didn't know which was worse – having no idea what Bruce was going through or to be like Donna and feel Diana's life slipping away. Either way, he felt as helpless as Donna did at that moment, held prisoner in the palace and unable to help the ones they loved.
Unable to bear it a moment longer, Dick began to wipe away her tears with his thumbs as he gently cradled her face in his hands. "It'll be alright," he murmured, suddenly replacing his thumbs with his lips. "Bruce will find her…he'll save her."
He swiftly buried his fingers in her hair as he continued to place butterfly kisses over her cheeks and jaw, soaking up her tears in a desperate attempt to ease her pain. His lips softly brushed against hers, sending a jolt of electricity through him like nothing he'd ever experienced before.
Donna was stunned at first, but reacted quickly, her arms snaking around his neck as she fully returned his kiss. Slow and comforting soon became hot and frantic as they continued to kiss, each exploring and wanting…needing more.
Warning bells rang in Dick's brain telling him that he needed to slow this down before they went too far. He didn't want to take advantage of Donna when she was upset and vulnerable like this. He loved her too much to do that to her.
He reluctantly pulled back, his hands still cradling her face. "Why don't you lie down and try to sleep again?"
He watched as blue eyes dark with longing grew sad with disappointment as well as a flash of panic. "But, I…" she began.
"I'll stay right here with you," he promised her as he gently pushed her to lie down, settling in behind her.
Donna relented, savoring the feel of his firm body pressed against her along with the unexpected feel of his hard arousal. It caused a fierce flutter to erupt in the pit of her stomach. She wanted more than this with him, but knew now was not the time. Emotions were running too high right now with what was happening to Bruce and Diana.
She fought the overwhelming urge to roll over and kiss him as his arms slid around her, holding her close against his chest. She swallowed hard to suppress the tremble of desire that rippled through her as he buried his face in her hair and breathed deeply. Hera, she was not going to make it through this night without having her way with him.
Somehow, she managed to calm her excitement as sleep began to claim her once more. Despite her fears that still had a stranglehold on her, she couldn't help the small smile that touched her lips. Dick obviously shared her feelings, giving her a spark of hope. She just prayed that Diana, her mother, and Bruce would be a part of that future she wanted to share with Dick.
Dick did his best to calm the flurry of desire that was pumping through his veins as he held Donna close, his hands splayed over her abdomen. She had kissed him back, returning his desire in full. He had felt the mutual need behind that heated kiss, had seen it shining brightly in her eyes. It caused his heart to swell to nearly bursting. His need for her, however, could do little to quell the panic that vied for domination over him.
If Diana was in that much trouble, he hated to even consider what danger Bruce was in at that moment. He tightened his hold on Donna, needing her now just as much as she had needed him. Both of their families were on the verge of being dealt a very painful blow of unspeakable loss. He didn't think it was something that they would ever be able to recover from, the shockwaves of losing either Bruce or Diana far-reaching in so very many ways.
He just hoped and prayed that whatever Diana and Bruce were facing would end with them safely coming back home to them. Losing them wasn't something he could begin to accept. He couldn't imagine a life…a future without them being a part of it.
XXX
Batman winced as he pulled himself up over a large rock formation, hoping to get some sort of idea of where he was. More than that, he was hoping against hope to finally catch a glimpse of Diana. Unfortunately, she was nowhere to be seen. On top of that, the arduous climb had reopened the crusted over puncture wounds that Cerberus had given him, adding to his trophy of scars that already riddled his body. He would wear them with pride, knowing that he had fought the demons of the Underworld just for her.
He could feel warm blood oozing from the wounds and trickling down his chest as he drew a ragged breath. Fortunately, the puncture wounds weren't deep enough to cause any internal damage. It was more of a nuisance than anything else at that moment. His ribs, however, were a completely different story.
He was fairly certain that he had at least three ribs that were cracked and one that was definitely broken. It forced him to take short, shallow breaths. Luckily, his uniform provided the necessary bracing that he needed on his torso to be able to keep moving.
He needed to find Diana as soon as possible. Her absence had created a hollow ache deep inside of him, one that only grew and expanded the longer he was separated from her. He felt so utterly empty inside without her, a large piece of himself missing. The thought of her dying nearly buckled his knees, forcing him to pause for a moment to regain his footing. He refused to even acknowledge that it was a possibility.
Diana was a true warrior, her fierce spirit far too strong and passionate to be snuffed out so easily. It was one of the countless things that had initially drawn him to her. He had found an unexpected kindred spirit despite their glaring differences that he had used as reasons to not pursue a relationship with her in the beginning.
Now, those original doubts began to storm through his mind once again, telling him that if he hadn't fallen in love with her…if he hadn't allowed her into his life, she wouldn't be here fighting to survive right now. She'd be safe in the world of the living where she belonged, not trapped in the Underworld that threatened to extinguish the light that she radiated brighter and hotter than the sun itself.
He, on the other hand, had always known that he deserved to be here. It just happened a little earlier than he had hoped.
From the very beginning, he had believed that he didn't deserve her, was not nearly good enough for the awe-inspiring Princess of the Amazons. Being here just proved that to him, reinforced what his mind had tried to tell him all along. It was because of him that Hades had decided to get involved, forcing him to face a reality that neither of them had wanted to face – he wasn't and never would be worthy of her.
The thought caused his heart to clench painfully, momentarily stealing the breath from his lungs. He had deluded himself into believing in the fantasy that he wanted more than life itself and now Diana was paying the price for that beautiful illusion.
He knew Hades was trying to make him doubt himself, but he couldn't help thinking that maybe Hades was right and yet the thought of Diana being with another man made him see red with blinding jealousy. He felt as if he was caught in a vicious cycle – he wasn't worthy of her and yet he couldn't survive without her.
Every moment that went by without any sign of Diana only brought him more worry, fueled more doubts. He had no idea where she was or what she was going through at that moment. She was a Meta, invincible and immortal, but he feared even that might not be enough in the Underworld. Not with Hades involved. There was occult magic at play down here that they weren't going to be able to defend against, not with Hades pulling the strings and everyone doing his bidding.
Damn, he hated magic.
He knew that Hades was going to make damn sure that they failed, but Bruce was more than determined to not let that happen. He would find Diana and get her out of here no matter how long it took him or the cost to himself.
Despite his warring uncertainties, he couldn't deny that he missed her desperately, loved her more than life itself. She had been the only one who had been able to reach deep inside of him, healing some of the broken pieces that no one else had been able to reach before and never would again.
She was the first woman to have ever shown him true, unconditional love that was absolute. It didn't require him changing nor did it force him to give up his mission or break a promise made by an eight year old at his parent's graves. It wasn't dependent on him resolving all of his demons before being accepted or shown the extent of her love for him.
Diana loved him for him, the real Bruce Wayne that he rarely allowed to rise to the surface. She had seen something good in him that he couldn't begin to comprehend, something that he didn't see, but he had finally stopped fighting it, surrendering himself wholly to her when he had almost lost her in that Akusu attack.
He had been forced to face his feelings for her that horrifying day, releasing his vice-like grip on his fears in order to seize hold of the love that had taken root in his heart and had only grown stronger and deeper since the moment that he had first met her.
Not one moment, one day went by that he regretted falling in love with her. Of course, there had always been those pesky moments of uncertainty when he questioned whether letting her in had been what was best for her…for them, but she always helped him get past those doubts.
Unfortunately, those fears were quickly rising to the surface once again now that he found himself in the depths of the Underworld.
Had he made the right decision by asking her to marry him, knowing that he would grow old and die some day, leaving her behind? Knowing the deadly risks and dangers that awaited her if she was ever linked to Batman? Would he even be able to survive it if Joker ever got his hands on her?
He didn't know how to turn back now, though. She had become so fully and completely a part of him, consuming every part of him. He didn't know where he ended and she began sometimes. And soon, she would have his name as well if they ever made it out of here.
"Damn it," he swore under his breath as thoughts of the wedding unexpectedly rose in his mind.
He suddenly remembered that he was supposed to pick up Diana's wedding band from the jeweler Tuesday. He had taken it in last week to have it engraved especially for her. He had completely forgotten to remind Clark to pick it up for him if he didn't make it out of here in time. Hopefully, Kent would at least remember to pick up the tuxes.
Things just kept going from bad to worse to literal hell itself. There were things that still needed to be taken care of for the wedding this Saturday, Arkham inmates still on the loose including Lex Luthor who was obsessed with Diana and now he had his future father-in-law to contend with.
He didn't have the luxury of time to plot and plan a way of escape out of here. He didn't have time to do battle with his inner demons that were trying to creep into his thoughts, planting seeds of doubt about Diana in order to break him. Time was rapidly running out for them in more ways than just one.
"Bruce Wayne."
Batman suddenly froze at the sound of his name, the fine hairs on the back of his neck prickling as he turned to find a beautiful woman standing before him. His gaze immediately narrowed to thin white slits of pure suspicion until he realized who it was…or at least who he assumed it was.
"I am Persephone, wife of Lord Hades," she formally announced, hands clasped before her. "Do not fear. I'm only here to encourage you to not give up on your quest to find your love. Your Diana fights valiantly in an effort to get to you. Her love for you burns brightly within her, greater than even I had first believed it to be."
Bruce instantly relaxed a little despite the fear that still clawed at his heart, closing the distance between them with the mention of Diana's name. "You've seen her? Is she alright?"
"Yes, I have seen her, but I'm afraid that she is injured and in grave danger," she regretfully informed him, her tone somber. "The Hydra's deadly poison flows through her blood now and threatens to steal her life."
"No…" he murmured, his heart beginning to hammer with the sudden panic that gripped him. "Where is she? Take me to her."
"I can interfere no further than I already have. If I do, we will risk Hades' wrath even more," she warned him. "He will only make things that much worse for both of you. I can tell you that you are heading in the right direction."
Bruce struggled with the questions and fears that suddenly choked him at that moment, wanting answers but knowing that he would not be getting many. "How long does she have?"
"It is difficult to say, but I fear even her enhanced healing cannot save her this time. The Hydra's poison is very deadly. I'm amazed that she is still able to keep moving. It is her enhanced healing that is keeping her alive now."
"What do I have to do to save her?" he asked, his voice hard with the fury surging hotly through his veins. "I don't care what it takes or what the price is, I'll pay it. Just take me to her now."
Persephone smiled sadly with his response, her eyes veiled with sorrow. His desperation and fear was palpable. "You will know what to do once you find her," she reassured him, placing a gentle hand on his forearm. "I'm afraid you will be forced to face more trials, though, before you reach her, but you must not lose heart, Batman.
"Your love for one another is far greater than anything I have ever witnessed before, binding you together as one soul. Treasure her, Bruce Wayne. Fight for her knowing that you truly deserve her though I know you are plagued with doubts, fearing that you are unworthy of her. Together you are far stronger than you ever will be alone."
Before Batman could respond, Persephone suddenly vanished from sight leaving him more than a little rattled. Diana was dying and he had no idea where she was or how to save her. As he quickly took off over the ridge, he suddenly realized that the uncertainties that had been tormenting him were gone and in its place was a remarkable sense of peace.
Persephone's words had burned away the fog of doubt that had blanketed his mind; the doubts that had suddenly made him question everything about his life with Diana. Knowing that she loved him so completely always managed to soothe his soul like only she ever could, giving him the strength that he needed to keep fighting.
He steeled himself for what he knew awaited him, digging deep within himself to grasp hold of the fortitude that he needed to get through this hell and save Diana. He wanted a life with her and he was not about to let anything stand in the way of that.
Not even death itself.
XXX
Hippolyta worked her way deeper into the Underworld with sword clutched tightly in hand. Her shoulders were set with determination, her blue eyes flashing with the intense emotions storming within as guilt warred with fury over Hades' sudden interference in her daughter's life.
Diana had endured so much tragedy over the last year only to finally find the happiness and love that she truly deserved in Bruce Wayne. While it had been difficult to accept at first, she had come to realize that this was her daughter's decision, her daughter's life. She had to admit that she had never seen Diana happier than she was now with Bruce.
Hippolyta suddenly scowled to herself as she adjusted her grip on her sword. She could practically feel Phillipus breathing down her neck from behind. She had basically been her shadow since entering the Underworld, staying close on her heels at every moment. It was growing rather irritating.
"You know you don't have to follow so closely, Phillipus," Hippolyta said with a huff of annoyance. "I didn't become the Queen of the Amazons by being completely helpless."
Phillipus momentarily faltered in her step to keep from crashing into the queen when Hippolyta suddenly stopped. "Yes, my queen," she mumbled. "I'm just not happy about you being down here."
"I know," Hippolyta replied with a stern frown. "You have expressed your concerns the whole way down here…in fact, quite vehemently I might add."
"I am only looking out for your safety, Queen Hippolyta," Phillipus reminded her. "It is my job to make sure you stay alive."
"And I am only looking out for my daughter's safety," she shot back. "I can't just sit back and allow Hades to play his ridiculous games with Diana and Bruce's lives. I'm putting a stop to this and getting them out of here."
"And just how exactly do you plan on doing that?"
Hippolyta suddenly froze at the all too familiar voice that she had hoped to never hear again. She placed a calming hand on Phillipus's forearm, silently ordering her to back down. She turned to find Eris standing behind her.
"I should have known you would be here," Hippolyta coldly stated as she glared at the Goddess of Chaos. "Is Hades holding your leash, Eris?"
Eris returned the queen's glower with one of her own. "No one holds my leash," she snarled. "I just stopped by to help Hades create a little chaos for your daughter."
"Where is she, Eris?" Phillipus snapped from beside Hippolyta. "Where is Princess Diana?"
Eris shrugged an indifferent shoulder at the two women. "I don't know and I don't care," she replied. "She's around here somewhere enduring whatever punishment her father prepared for her and her lover."
"Take me to them now," Hippolyta demanded, taking a threatening step forward as she raised her sword to the goddess.
Eris chuckled in amusement. "Do you really think that you scare me, Hippolyta? You can't hurt me."
"I don't want to fight you, Eris," Hippolyta bit out, her patience waning. "Just tell me where Diana and Bruce are and we'll be gone."
"What makes you think that Hades won't just take them again even if you do manage to escape the Underworld with them?"
"Because I plan on making sure he never interferes again," she told her. "Now, tell me. Where are they?"
"I wouldn't help you if Hades himself tried to force me to," Eris hissed. "I only came to tell you that your daughter will be dead before you can reach her."
Hippolyta growled in rage as she lunged at the goddess with her sword, Eris swiftly backing up with a chuckle. "Tell me where my daughter is…now!"
Phillipus has closed in on the other side of Eris, prepared to cut her down if necessary to get the information they needed to save Diana. Eris looked from one Amazon to the other before finally responding to Hippolyta.
"You will have to find her yourself…that is if Hades allows it," Eris said with a cackle as she suddenly disappeared from sight.
Hippolyta cursed in Greek, Eris' mocking laughter still ringing in the air despite her vanishing from sight. "Come back here, you wench!" Hippolyta cried out with fury. "Where is my daughter?"
Phillipus placed a calming hand on her queen's shoulder. "She's gone."
Hippolyta growled in rage, clutching her sword tightly in her hand. "I will not stop until I find my daughter and get her and Bruce out of here!"
XXX
Diana drew an uneven breath as she ran her fingers back through her long raven hair, cringing with the pain that lanced through her with simply lifting her arm. She wanted nothing more than to find Bruce and to go home, to take a long hot bath and forget all about the nightmare that had somehow taken over her life and now threatened her very future.
She tried to ignore the relentless pounding in her head, the nauseating pain that roiled through her at regular intervals, but it was next to impossible when all she wanted to do was vomit. The open gashes across her back pulled with every move she made, every breath she drew. It burned as if being scorched by fire, making her eyes water as she pushed on through the vast expanse of the Underworld.
She was growing more exhausted the further she went, but surrendering was not even an option. It was her fault that Bruce was down here fighting for his life and nothing that Hades could throw at her would keep her from getting him out of here.
She should have known that the gods wouldn't just sit idly by and let her have the life that she wanted. She just never would have guessed that the one that would interfere would be her so-called father.
Everything inside of her wanted to tear Hades limb from limb with her bare hands for what he had done to them...to Bruce. He had no right to have them abducted and transported to his domain just so he could play these ludicrous games with their lives.
She could feel her rage searing straight through her with the thought. She knew that she needed to regain control of it, reining it in as she focused on finding Bruce. She had learned so much from him since she'd first met him, learned how to think and watch and learn instead of just going in fists first.
Just thinking of him now was like a balm to her tormented soul, supplying her with the strength to keep going despite the fact that her body was threatening to give out on her. She refused to give in to the tempting pull, to the dizziness and nausea, the agonizing pain that consumed every part of her. She could practically feel the Hydra's poison as it coursed through her veins, infecting her blood and threatening to steal her life.
Deep down, she knew that her Meta healing wasn't going to be enough to save her this time. She had survived the Akusu attack, being brainwashed by Luthor and losing her memories only to be taken down by this. It was something that she could not accept…would never accept.
She and Bruce had a life to build together, a future to look forward to. She wanted to have a baby with him, to create the family that she knew he secretly wanted. She loved him with every fiber of her being, missing him so much it actually hurt. Giving him up now was gut-wrenching to even think about, mingling with the physical pain she was already being forced to do battle with.
She ached to make love with him, to feel his body moving in that timeless rhythm with hers or the heat of his breath against her skin. It felt like weeks since she had last seen him, tasted his kisses or felt him in her arms. She had never known that a man could incite such indescribable pleasure within a woman, but Bruce had shown her love in its most intimate expression, the heated passion they shared knitting them even closer together.
Diana's attention was suddenly arrested by the sight of someone moving in the distance. Her heart leapt into her throat with the hope that it was Bruce. She flew faster, pushing herself even harder to reach him before she lost him for good.
She came to an abrupt halt in mid-air as she discovered that it wasn't Bruce that she had found, but Sisyphus trying to push a giant boulder up a steep cliff. Her shoulders slumped as her boots touched down on the ground, her chest tightening with the frustration that thrummed through her.
Every time she thought she was getting that much closer to finding Bruce, she only discovered another obstacle blocking her path and slowing her progress. Her fingers curled into the palms of her hands as she clenched her jaw, fighting against the righteous fury seething within.
"Well, if it isn't the great Wonder Woman…the Princess of the Amazons."
Diana instantly stiffened with the sound of the voice coming from behind her. A furious scowl veiled her face as she turned to face her newest challenge. It was one that she was truly going to relish no matter how horrible she felt at that moment.
"Aresia," Diana spat out with great disdain. "I sh…should have known that Hades would sssend you to keep me fr…from getting to Bruce."
"Let's just say that it was one request that was too tempting to turn down," Aresia replied with a smile as she began to circle her prey. "It was an opportunity that I leapt at with great anticipation. I will relish teaching you a lesson."
"I believe it is you who nnneeds to be taught a lesson especially after that st…stunt you pulled trying to eliminate all the mmmen in the world," Diana shot back with a sneer.
"You're just miffed because Batman almost died," Aresia claimed with a smirk. "By the way, I know where he is at this very moment."
Diana took a threatening step forward; her cobalt blue eyes glowing with fury. "Where is he?" she demanded to know. "I sw…swear by Hera if you have dddone anything to hurt him, I'll…"
Aresia threw back her head, her mocking laughter resonating in the air around them only to be quickly swallowed up by the dark desolation of their environment. "Are you sure you're blessed by Athena?" she interrupted her. "I wouldn't tell you for the whole world. Just knowing that I have something that you want means far more to me, to watch you suffer as you try to search for your beloved mortal and knowing all the while that neither of you will survive this."
With a battle cry of pure fury, Diana lunged at the deceitful Amazon, the intense rush of adrenaline helping her forget about her injuries or the fact that she was not a hundred percent. She still had enough strength to take this vile traitor.
Aresia easily side-stepped Diana's attack, her laughter returning with a vengeance. "You are truly pathetic, Diana," she mocked. "Being in Man's World has made you weak…dependent upon an even more pathetic mortal man. How could you have fallen so low as to disgrace yourself like this? What little respect that I may have had for you is gone."
"I nnnever cared about your opinion, Aresia," Diana shot back with equal venom as they continued to circle one another, both more than ready to react if challenged. "You are nnnot a tr…true Amazon. You have no honor in you."
Aresia charged the Amazon with her sword tightly gripped in her hand, swinging it in a sweeping arc, Diana ducking just under the blade that narrowly missed removing her head from her shoulders. She swiftly kicked her leg out, her red boot connecting with Aresia's abdomen.
Aresia cried out in shock, the strength behind Diana's kick sending her flying backwards. She grunted as she landed hard on her back, the air momentarily knocked out of her. She swiftly rolled over onto her hands and knees, suddenly realizing that the sword had dislodged from her hand.
"Looking for th…this?"
She looked up to find Diana standing in front of her, the sword clutched firmly in her hand. Aresia didn't allow it to keep her from getting what she wanted. Diana's blood. "So how does it feel to dishonor not only yourself but the entire Amazon nation? I can only imagine how humiliated poor Queen Hippolyta must be to know that her own daughter has given herself to a man, risking everything she has to save this weak mortal male.
"You have given the Amazons a black-eye, tarnishing and throwing away thousands of years of tradition and all for what? A little sensual pleasure? For the love of a mortal man who will eventually die, leaving you all alone for the rest of eternity?"
"It is nnnot weak to fall in lo…love with someone," Diana angrily ground out. "Bruce and I are st…stronger together than we are alone. We mmmake each other bbbetter, push each other to be the be…best that wwwe can be."
"How heartwarming for you both," Aresia snapped. "You do realize that it's your fault that your Batman is even down here. If you hadn't disgraced your father by choosing to love a mortal man, none of this would have happened. Bruce would be alive right now."
A dark smile spread across Diana's face despite the wild panic that filled her heart with Aresia's words. "You don't know Bruce at all if you actually think that he is dead. He will fight with everything he has in order to get to me. Besides, I would know it in my heart if something happened to him."
"Very romantic, Amazon," Aresia taunted her, "but the truth is, Bruce Wayne is dead and you are fighting a useless battle that will bring you nothing but more pain in the end. You will have to live with his death on your conscious for the rest of eternity, knowing that it was because of you and your selfishness that Hades brought him here to die."
Diana was heaving now with rage, Aresia's words cutting deeper than her sword could ever hope to. It was true…all of it. It was her fault that Bruce was down here fighting for his life, her selfishness, her overwhelming love that had brought him here. He had tried to push her away time and time again and yet she refused to give up on what she wanted, what she felt in her heart.
She had condemned the man she loved to die. She'd never be able to live with that.
Without another word, Diana dropped the sword before attacking Aresia with a fiery vengeance. She screamed as she delivered one devastating blow after another to the one who had betrayed her and her sisters, the one who had almost taken Bruce away from her before when she had tried to exterminate the entire male population.
Diana knew in her heart that Bruce was still alive. If he wasn't, she would know it. The bond that they shared ran so very deep, intertwining their souls in such a profound way that not even death itself could hope to sever it.
Aresia tried to counter every one of Diana's moves, but she was no match for the Champion of the Gods who had also trained with the Dark Knight. She knew that she could not win against Diana, but she had hoped in her weakened state that she could have been victorious over her. Unfortunately, she had underestimated the powerful Amazon.
Leaning over her, Diana drew back her fist for another hit, but realization swept over her, cutting through the fury that had gripped her. Aresia was down and wasn't going to be getting up any time soon. She had beaten her in more ways than one.
Diana stared down at the unconscious woman at her feet, her heart racing and her breathing ragged. The fight with Aresia had drained her considerably, but it had been necessary in order to keep moving. Without wasting another moment, she quickly took to the air, becoming even more frantic to find Bruce than ever before.
Guilt began to gnaw at her as she flew through the Underworld in search of the man that she loved. Tears blurred her vision as waves of dizziness suddenly washed over her, nausea rising again. Aresia had been right. It was her fault that Bruce was trapped down here, enduring only Hera knew what at that moment. Bruce had been so worried about his enemies connecting her to him when in reality it should have been her enemies that she should have been worried about.
Sharp pain lanced through her head like bolts of lightning, causing her to pause in midair in order to catch her breath. She rubbed her forehead only to abruptly lose consciousness as she plummeted lifelessly to the ground.
A/N: Thanks for reading and for hanging with me through these dark angsty parts. I promise it will be worth it in the end. We still have a wedding to get to, right?! Please review! It keeps me writing! :)