The Syndicate: Formerly Lassos and Capes

1

"Stand here," the woman called Circe ordered.

How in Gaia's name did I get into this mess? Being led by an ancient witch, I found myself in front of a door with crimson light radiating from its seams. My heart leaped into the back of my throat.

"Gaia, give me strength,"

I called upon the gods, but only Circe answered.

"Pray to whatever gods you wish, they will not answer you," she continued. "They have already sealed your fate."

My soul began to weep. Had the gods left me to the wolves of this world as my mother had done? I felt Circe's devilish grin spread wide behind me.

"Hold your tears for someone who cares," Circe added. "You'll only make him angrier…"

The old witch shoved me forward. I hit the wooden doors in front of me face-first. Anger shot through me. As I turned to hit her, she grabbed me by the nape of my neck. A throaty chuckle left her lips.

"Check that anger, bitch," she hissed as she pressed my face into one side of the cool wooden doors.

Her toxic breath hissed into my exposed ear.

"I wouldn't want to tarnish you before he does…"

Struggling against her hand, she whispered an incantation making my body go limp. Unable to move, she used my limp body to open the doors. Once opened, she tossed my body onto the ground.

"Well, well…"

A hauntingly deep echoed in the room around me.

"... What have we here?" the voice continued.

"Only the best for you," Circe replied.

"Selina has the best girls in town…"

"…And she it has ten times the value of any of them…"

Still unable to move, I kept my head down as they continued to speak over the top of me.

"Was that him?" I thought to myself. "My target?"

I felt Circe's light footsteps step over my body. A shiver ran down my spine, I could move… finally.

"I'm sure Selina has never had a girl like this in her establishment," she replied.

As Circe spoke, I felt a strong hand pull my head up. My gaze traveled from the floor to a man whose massive body blocked the light behind him. I couldn't make out his face but all I could see was red staring down at me. A rough yet light touch caressed my bottom lip. The man barely grazed my flesh but his touch felt like pure fire. Tilting my head from side to side, he intently observed every feature of my face. I strained to make out a distinct feature of the man but his massive body made the light vanish. I felt him pulling me up, but suddenly, Circe yanked me away from his touch.

Pulling me to my knees herself, Circe called me a whore under her breath.

"Meet the clay woman, Bruce" she continued.

My heart sank. Clay, my proper designation, I hated being reminded I wasn't real. But she told him no lie. I was mere clay-given life by the grace of the gods who pitied my mother.

"She doesn't look like a statue…"

Another male voice entered the fray, not as deep as the first but equally sinister. This new man wore all black. He knelt inches from my face and took a piece of my raven hair into his fingers. I cringe away from his touch, but Circe forces me to remain still.

"Mmmm, untouched, my favorite…"

"As I told you, this is something your woman Selina doesn't have…" she laughed.

This new man's soulless blackened eyes burrowed into my very soul. This had to be him. The first man, though possessing unnatural red eyes, didn't have the aura of this vile creature. Black as night and evil.

I struggled against Circe's grasp; my target was so close. I just needed an opening. Circe's grip loosened for a brief second, she turned to speak to the first man. Taking this opportunity, I wrenched away from her grasp and rushed at the man with the soulless eyes.

"Feisty," he growled. "I like her…"

Before I could react, the man with the soulless eyes grabbed me by the throat.

"An exosuit, little girl," he continued. "You know I like to keep it on while I…"

I gasped for air as I felt his grasp tighten around my throat.

"Put her down, Owl…"

The first voice spoke, it was deeper and colder than before. As I swatted the man choking me the crimson hue that I saw staring down at me came into view.

"Come on Ultraman…." the man said as he loosened his grip upon my throat. "Can't I have this one?"

The first voice chuckled as I crumpled to the floor. Struggling to catch my breath, I am once more bathed in a flickering crimson light.

"I'm sure my wife would just love to share you with her," the first voice replied. "… and we both know Lois is so fond of 'sharing' what she thinks is hers…"

The man in black stepped over me and walked to a dark corner of the room.

"You're no fun," the man in black snorted. "I'm sure Lois would love a new plaything…"

Swoosh….

A gust of wind rushed through the room. The soulless man's body slammed into the wall behind him. His body crumpled to the ground as the man with crimson eyes stared down at him.

"She's a gift for me, not you old friend…" the man with the crimson eyes growled.

Circe stepped forward, placing herself between me and the man with the crimson eyes.

"That would be correct, Ultraman," Circe chuckled nervously. "An unbreakable woman made of clay. Just what the doctor ordered."

Adjusting to the light, I saw the man with crimson eyes. He was a towering man and well-built. His muscles strained against a well-tailored all-white three-piece suit. He lifted the man in black up by the neck several feet off the ground.

"Your business is done here, Owl," the man in white added. "Get out!"

The red-eyed man released the man in black from his grasp. With a nod, two men came out of the shadows and grabbed the soulless man in black

"Make sure he makes it to my wife's penthouse," he added as the three figures vanished back into the shadows. "She needs a good fucking…"

The air in the office was thick. Circe's laughter broke the silence.

"Superwoman bothering you again?"

The man with the red eyes adjusted his jacket as he turned his attention back to me and Circe. His crimson eyes turn into a pale icy blue.

"When isn't she?" he added.

"Last time I checked, she tried to drug you," Circe said as she walked up beside me. "Claimed she wanted a baby…"

"Don't remind me," he replied.

There was an air of disgust on his face as he spoke. I thought people married those they loved; this man seems to hate the one he did.

"At least this one is an upgrade from your wife,"

Circe grabbed me by my shoulder and shoved me forward.

"Where did you get her from?" he asked as he walked toward me.

"An island off the coast of Crete," she replied. "They call it Themyscira."

As Circe spoke, I looked at the man. He was pale with a hint of a tan. On closer inspection, he was muscled beyond most men I've heard of. Sadly, my references were very limited with men only allowed on the island for the day of the Kalligeneia. Even then, my mother shielded me from all the men when they came onto the island. She said it was for my protection.

His head was covered by dark curls. Nothing about him seemed out of place save a single long black curl that hung low on his brow. As he stopped in front of me, he ran his hand through his thick curls, pulling the lone curl back into formation.

"Isn't that the island of warrior women?".

Circe nodded.

"And they just let you take her?"

His face didn't trust her. Wise man…

"The Queen owed me a great debt," Circe continued. "This clay thing here is payment."

I don't reply.

She nudged me in my side before grabbing me by my right arm.

"…Isn't that right… Clay…"

I stared up into the man as he folded his massive arms against his broad chest. He didn't believe her words.

"Answer your new master Clay," she hissed.

Her voice was wary. She was afraid of him and my actions put her at risk of his wrath. She tightened her grip on my arm and dark purple runes snaked down my arm. I let out a faint hiss.

"... Aren't you from the dickless island called Themyscira," she repeated forcefully.

The burning sensation of the runes grew to be too much. I broke my silence.

"I am Diana of Themyscira," I replied as my voice cracked.

Circe loosened her grip once more.

"Now that wasn't that bad now, was it?" she asked.

I hung my head and her bravado returned.

"See Ultraman," she continued. "She is savage and untamed. Just what you need in your life...:"

I felt something start to lift my head.

"You belong to me now," he said as our eyes met. "... Diana…"