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Clash of Realms	By : RaphaelTMNT Category: -Misc Anime > Crossovers Views: 3294 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Justice League, Rosario Vampire or Dark Stalkers nor the characters from either of the three series. I do not make money from writing this story.

Chapter List
- 39
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- 41
Clash of Realms
CHP40: To France

In front of the window is where he stood and looking outward as he watched the downpour of the storm, wondering what became of the others and if they were on the way back. By this time they'd been absent for a whole lot longer than planned or he was led to believe. And what if they weren't to return, what would he do? No, no, it was much too soon to allow such thoughts into his head. Another day or two, well then there might be cause for concern. But regardless, it was a lot of time in seclusion which it really was; just he and his thoughts. It wasn't that he was lonesome, but a man alone with only his thoughts could drive him mad. But there was also her, who he'd only spoke to when serving a meal or something else of need.
Turning away from the window and breathing out, Luke's shoulders dropped as he looked to the door on the other side of the room and headed that way. In a short walk he emerged into the prison block and there she was propped up over the bed with her back against the wall but with her eyes in a book. Not only did she hear his initial entrance but felt his presence, lowering the reading material as she looked up.
"I didn't buzz."
"You didn't," Luke shook his head in confirmation. "Came on my own accord. The others have not yet come back."
"And you're worried?" she posed.
With a quick shake of his head he moved up closer in front of the cell.
"Not really, just wanted someone to talk to I suppose. For the last couple hours has been looking over in studying the maps you managed to claim and all the locations marked. The likelihood is off the table, but had you had the prospect to go through with tackling this threat, how would you have done it?"
The elf lieutenant sat and leaned forward with one leg sagging over the other.
"What difference does it make... no point in chatting about it."
"Yeah, sure but you weren't really planning on trying to infiltrate and knock off each branch individually one after another were you? Not only but it have been time consuming, but you would have failed. And given what I picked up on the numbers of each stationed within those areas it would have been nearly impossible for you to succeed. That and the majority, probably eighty percent of them are undercover and living among civilians as if they were one of them. It would be nearly unreasonable for any single person to deduce which of them were of the Xsouviz."
Staying as is she stared up at him but with her arms outstretched behind her
"Why the sudden curiosity?"
"I wouldn't say sudden, I've had this on my mind from when you detailed your plan. Someone doesn't reach the status that you have, just because of who your mother or father is. The King wouldn't elect you to the position that you hold. You made your way up and earned it. Point I'm trying to make is that you're knowledgeable, and clearly with familiarity of this realm and what you're doing. With such qualities you should be able to see that what you planned to do was doomed."
His words had little meaning to her.
"You think I didn't know that, they would have been more to it than that but there's no point in rationalizing," Isla shot back.
Taking a deep breath and his eyes sinking over the ground, Luke reached into his pocket and pulling out a small key card. From inside the cell she watched him closely as he swiped and used it to gain entry into the cell.
"We have time, entertain me."
He stood feet from her and with his back against the wall and arms crossed.
"Having a change in heart?" she smiled, coming off cynical.
"Not a chance, Miukei is right and I'm not jeopardizing my one chance at getting home. This room is your local until we continue back to your homeland. Besides if I were to do that and Miukei found out I'd be good as dead. Just interested in your outlook and why you believed you might succeed."
Momentarily she kept quiet but did eventually talk as she transposed over the bed and facing him.
"You think I've been confined to Vindellorien? I've done a lot of traveling, just as much as my father if not more so. My position and duties constantly call me away out of the boarders of our kingdom. My training and travels began at a very young age, I was merely a child."
Luke's eyes flashed for a moment just as he stepped away from the wall.
"Child, how long ago?"
"I don't know, maybe ten or eleven. Arlo and I both at young ages expressed interest in military positions and so father took us abroad and we got the opportunity to explore. It was of course hazardous, and we were always under close observation and guarded."
"The purpose of this was to get out and familiarize yourselves with the wide realm or was there another purpose?"
He wasn't just asking to ask, she could hear it; he was openly interested. As to why she did not know, but nevertheless she continued.
"Yur right, everything was done so that we could get a broader look and understanding of the world we live in but at that time I could barely comprehend this realm's magnitude and all its beauty. Till now I've voyaged through all the major kingdoms at least once, mostly on delivery duties or accompanying my father to isolated meetings between some of the other global leaders. Again, this started early for me so I don't remember much about context through most these gatherings, until I grew a little older."
"It must have been nice, sounds like any kids dream to travel and explore," Luke said.
Isla was only with a nod of her head as she continued.
"Very much so, I was set on being a great knight and warrior and while my father wholeheartedly was in on this, my mother was opposite. We elves have a lifespan of one thousand to sometimes even two thousand years, and stories documented of some living further but we barely make it over a couple centuries… primarily those that take on military or combat ranks. Battles, confrontations and wars are a constant and we often lose our lives in battle. That is the fate accepted by any who so chooses the path of a soldier, a fate myself have accepted. But as I was saying the queen was having none of her youngest child and daughter becoming a soldier, but took no issue with Arlo doing so."
Watching her closely and quietly listening Luke perceived the intensity mount over her features.
"I didn't understand why, nor could I accept it! Sienna was the first born and so first in line for the throne if something were to happen to the king or queen, so naturally her role was already set the moment she was born… but that wasn't me, I had a choice."
Another instant of silence fell over them and her eyes over the surface beneath her feet. Eventually she continued after taking a deep breath. Pushing away from the wall, Luke settled in beside her and taking a seat over the bed.
"But you did get what you wanted, you became lieutenant general."
"Yes," she nodded. "But for the longest it didn't appear that was the way things were headed. The queen begged and convinced my father not to allow me into the military ranks and he sided with her. The decision was devastating for me, but I wouldn't accept nor give up on my dream. A royal guard was assigned to and looked after me, who just so happened to be one of Vindellorien's best warriors, all around balanced in hand to hand combat and weaponry. We bonded and I viewed him as an older brother of sorts, I was eleven at the time when I first asked him to train me and at first he was against the idea for obvious reasons. It would go against my mother and father's wishes and he could have gotten himself in lots of trouble if he had."
"But eventually he did?" Luke assumed.
The female elf again nodded.
"Yes but only after months of me nagging, and we did so in seclusion. His name was Ian Martuz and I couldn't have asked for someone better to guide me. I asked that he not go easy on me and he did exactly as I wanted, some of those days and nights grueling but it was all worthwhile. My skills sharpened and I developed battle instincts and a warrior mentality without reluctance. I was truly headed in the right direction but then on that day, weeks after my sixteenth birthday someone became aware of the secret sessions and informed my father."
Luke listened on and grasping the blankets beneath his grasp, but with his eyes over her the entire time.
"Ian was disbanded from looking after me and punished, but lucky for him he was one of our kingdom's best warriors and trusted personnel of my father's or his fate could have been a whole lot worse. I was scolded and restrictions to my activities and where I could go and out of anger I told both mother and father that I hated them and wished they'd both disappear."
Swallowing back, Luke bit over his tongue and could feel past emotions pouring out from her and could almost even feel Isla's pain.
"That entire day and night I thought about and contemplated what I would do, filled with nothing but rage and irritation. I wasn't thinking straight at the time, but decided I would sooner rather run away than live the life they decided for me. And so that following night that's exactly what I did. No easy task, especially with my quadrants so heavily guarded, so I just used a window next to my bedside, out onto the roof, and using rope to slowly climb down a few stories. The palace grounds were heavily guarded but thanks to Ian I knew the routes and recesses of each unit and just waited it out until I was able to bypass them into town. And from there I made my way a couple miles, donning a dark cloak to conceal myself. Townspeople would have went crazy had they caught sight of a royal wondering, especially a child to their king and queen. I hid myself behind a bush near the gates to the entrance of Vindellorien and waited. I must have fallen asleep and it was just before sunrise that the gates gradually opened, awaking me and it was a messenger to the castle that passed through. I used this opportunity to make my escape."
"And what happened then?" Luke asked, as his eyes met with hers.
"I ran and ran, never looking back trying to get far away as I could. I traveled for so many miles that I found myself in such a place far from any civilization."
Eight years previous
It was so peaceful, so quiet, especially the locale. The morning mist glimmered with a bright glow, shining gently down in such a way that she could almost touch it. The surface around her was covered in thick grass. The forest area was peaceful and quiet for the most part, except for all the natural sounds of nature. Flowers were everywhere, multicolored yet somehow all corresponding together. The trees were tall, thin and bare, yet still somehow a feeling of enclosure and comfort. Isla had been here before, a place she loved coming to when she'd snuck out of the palace a couple times before, but this time it was much different. It was the perfect spot to sit and think, and that's exactly what she did.
All she wanted to do was get away from all the hassle, drama, and confusion. She was still angry but even more confused as to where she would go to from there. Initially all she planned for was her escape from the palace but she didn't plan out what she'd do once she managed to do so and it was almost scary to think about. Her thoughts were very much clouded as she sat there and she could barely think straight. Her conscience just seemed to drift through the complexities of the complex night sky that was just swept away by the setting sun. There was something beautiful about the simplicity of nightfall, too, just a simple bright light shining its warmth throughout the lands. I slowly walked through the forest, admiring all the fine things surrounding her, yet at the same time not noticing them. The forest was felt relaxing and the longer she sat there the more it felt like she was blending and becoming one with the environment.
The sounds of galloping and that of a horse approaching caught her attention as she sat up somewhat. Her eyes looked out in that direction to catch a glimpse of the approaching person and or persons. It was someone or something that obviously knew the forest and blended, yet was obviously different to her, yet so similar. She felt that no harmful thing would ever be good enough to blend like that, and started forward again. The young elf was curious now, who was it. Standing upright she shook herself off and breathed quietly. Isla went slowly, quietly, footsteps mere breaths of wind, rustling through the branches above. Triangulating the source as she was taught, Isla realized it was in the clearing. Hiding herself, she went to see it for herself instead of through the forest, although keeping her distance and peering through the gaps of the trees.
She tip toed about and that's when he saw her. Another pony in the forest. Her mind went into overdrive, flashing though emotions quick as a rabbit. At first she was slightly surprised and even a little angry, this was her place, and someone from the palace had found her. Then came confusion, for she was far from any monster population and it would have taken quite a while for anything to get out here if they hurried, and yet this soldier was here. In fact, he just sat there atop his horse and looking down over her. Her heart raced all over and she could barely contain her emotions.
"I've found you, lady Hayhurst," he spoke softly.
"Mister Ian," she responded, but in a murmur.
She looked... sad, and alone. That much he knew by looking into her eyes, but he was relieved that he'd found her when he did before another night. He was different than all the others in the palace, the one who'd been training her and the only person she felt that truly understood her. Each and every day he complimented her appearance, making her feel special like she was the center of the world. Before she could even twitch another muscle, he lowered himself off the horse. And as he did Ian could see a flash of fear go through her eyes, and she nearly took off and ran. She was afraid to be disciplined for running away. Curiously, something resembling hard determination took over her face. She then apparently saw that he wasn't angry with her but more of an expression of concern. After that the cold and determined stare softened. He looked around and away from her, spotting a flower which he picked up and slowly trotted over into the clearing. Ian smiled as best he could at her, and this seemed to quell the final fears she had. He did a quick nod of his head in a second greeting, and she did the same, although it may have been out of expectance rather than a greeting. Soon he was right in front of her and took this opportunity to quickly place the flower behind her exposed right ear. She looked up in surprise, and then smiled softly. Young Isla just about died right then and there, falling back and sitting beneath a tree. Ian let out a sigh just before lowering himself and sitting right beside her.
"Lady Hayhurst, I'm here to return you to the castle. Your brother and sister very much miss you, as does the queen and king. Your life is within the castle my lady, you cannot run from your destiny. Your home and obligation is to Vindellorien. You must return, there isn't a choice in the matter."
"I… I can't, they won't let me be a soldier! And you won't be able to train me anymore, it isn't fair!"
She pouted with her head lowered just over her knees. With the shake of his head Ian reached out and running a hand over her shoulder.
"Perhaps not now, but maybe eventually things change but you cannot run away from home. As we speak there are various other search parties out and looking for you. The longer you stay away the worse it becomes for everyone else."
Isla looked up at him from in between her legs.
"How did you know to find me here, Mister Ian?"
He let out a laugh just as he patted her over the head.
"No one knows you like I do, my lady. This has always been your favorite place away from the castle. You're talented with much potential and the most beautiful gal in all the lands," he looked down over her as the young elf blushed. "And I love you."
Immediately she bit at the tip of her tongue and a hand to her heart.
"Love me?" she asked nervously, wondering what exactly he meant by this.
"Yes, love you," he confirmed in the nod of his head.
Cheeks a bright pink she looked in the opposite direction to him. A butterfly appeared from the upper tress and decided to land on her opposite ear. Her ears were rather sensitive, causing Isla to drop her head and let out a little groan. When she rose her head, her face was about two inches from Ian's. Right then, there, with the smell of the forest, bright blue eyes staring into her purple ones, and soft sounds of butterflies and wind flowing around, she felt something that she hadn't before. Running away and out into the world couldn't give her everything, because it didn't have him. Secretly she'd grown fond of him and even developed a deep crush on him within the past year of her training. She knew what she wanted to do, and so she did it. Ever so slowly, Isla closed the distance between the two of them and kissed at his lips. Ian's eyes were wide as he didn't expect her advances, but he didn't pull back and instead joined her in the kiss. He wrapped his hands around the sides of her face and deepened the kiss as they did so passionately and his tongue finding hers. Isla felt she might faint, having never experienced anything like this before as his tongue rubbed against hers.
She didn't know how long they went at it like that. It seemed an eternity and an instant at the same time, before they stopped and both breathing heavily as they tried catching their breathes, and her mind racing, yet relaxed. It was her very first kiss, but she wasn't expecting anything quite like that. It was almost embarrassing and for a little while she couldn't even bring herself to look at him.
"Lady Hayhurst," his voice came out soft.
Her head turned as she again looked back and up at him.
"I love you too, Ian," she said bashfully as her cheeks reddened further.
A chaotic blend of voices mixed through the air. Ian started to speak at the same time as Isla. Both stopped mid-sentence, her mouth hanging mid-word. He saw this, and giggled while blushing himself. She couldn't help it, and started laughing too. Pretty soon they were in fits, though for us that was pretty quiet. After a bit, both recovered, and she decided to go ahead and finish her sentence.
"Okay, I'll go back… but because it's with you."
He smiled just before kissing at her forehead. From then Ian gathered stacks of logs to create a camp fire, knowing it was best that they didn't journey out until sunrise. As they talked around the fire, she realized something. Isla was referring to ourselves as 'us', and 'we'. He had been telling her something but she barely listened, just nodding her head here and there and before she knew it her lips were over his again. He kissed Isla back on the mouth, just a soft brush of lips against lips. Isla smiled, kissing her guardian and doing so with passion. Only a few moments of kissing like that, chest to chest, and Ian pulled away long enough to move away and prop himself up with an arm planted on the ground where Isla laid out over her back and to either side of her head, his hands rested supporting him as they began kissing more roughly.
They went at it like this for a while during which Ian wanted a whole lot more than just this, and as their kissing deepened, tongues exploring and scattered gulps of air were sucked into oxygen-deprived lungs. Eventually Ian broke the kiss and just staring down at her. He wanted to make Isla his and there was only one way to truly do that in his mind. He saw that she, too, was breathing hard, her chest heaving as he held himself up off her with powerfully muscled arms.
"Lady Hayhurst, how would you like for me to be your first?"
"First?" her eyes flickered as she looked up at him.
Her body trembled as she felt her entire being froze, did he mean what she thought he was saying.
"Yes, my lady," he nodded.
With her back firmly pressed against the grass and her head tilted to the side as she looked into the flames of the camp fire her heart raced.
"But… but I have no idea how to do it. What if I mess up?" she slowly looked up at him, nervous and even frightened.
"I'll teach and guide you just as I always have. Do you trust me, lady Isla?"
"Yes," she nodded bashfully. "But please be gentle."
XXX
"And it was that night that I experienced the pleasures of intercourse, he made love to me for hours and by morning we began our journey and return to Vindellorien. But things would never be the same between us after that magical night. I was again scolded upon my return and locked away in a quarters where I could not escape the palace. But after weeks of deliberating and discussions, my father got through to my mother and convinced her to change her view on the matter."
Isla smiled to herself and this didn't go unnoticed by Luke.
"I was permitted to begin my training once more to become a soldier, just as Arlo and I couldn't be more pleased. I have my father to thank. But to make a long story short as I climbed through the ranks and began journeying away from our kingdom, I confronted many threats and enemies but also made just as many allies in faraway places. A couple dozen of which owe Vindellorien favors and would never back down from assisting our land. But it all started with that night, me running away. It opened father's eyes to how much I wanted it and if not for that things might be different."
There was a long pause as Luke ran a hand over the surface of the blankets.
"I see..." Luke spoke up after sitting in silence. "You've gone through quite the journey before getting to where you are now. These persons you spoke of that owe you favors, you said they are all over... how would you even go about finding them? Not that it matters, per say."
The elf smiled and as she moved in closer beside him.
"You seem really interested in all of this, surprising as none of it retains to you. I never really did lose contact... at least with most of them, though it's some years since contact. There's no telling when a dark day might come that you need outside assist, one must always be prepared for the sudden change in circumstance."
Luke nodded his head as he breathed out.
"And what became of Ian Martuz, I mean after the king approved your training to become a soldier?"
Isla quietly giggled, turning her head and looking right at him.
"I had a feeling you might ask," she said in such a way that made him jump back. "But I'll still ask, why?"
"No real reason, just interested since we're on the subject but your business is your business and if you don't want to talk about it that's all good, we can just..."
"No, it's fine," the elf shook her head as she rested a hand over his shoulder. "Ian and I remained close after that day, in fact really close. That moment of passion we shared in the wilderness continued. I believed I was in love, at just sixteen I was naive and I trusted him. He was nearly nine years older than I but that didn't matter I didn't care, the union and attraction I had for him was immense."
Luke stayed quiet while she continued.
"My father allowed Ian to be my personal trainer from that day at my request. And he showed me lots and I improved my skills as an archer, battle tactician and my overall studies. But that wasn't all, we engaged in a secret relationship that no one knew about. At first it was only on occasion but before I knew it we were having sex almost daily, mostly in the forest before and after training sessions to avoid being seen. And sometimes within the palace walls, but very limited. We didn't want to risk being caught, my father... King Delbert would have had him executed if he discovered what he'd been doing with me. But eventually it did come to an end."
Very interested to hear this Luke especially paid close attention.
"Ian told me that he loved me, more times than I can count and that one day we would be together. And I believed him, he hadn't given me any reason not to. But then two years later that changed. By then I had come into my own and did most of my preparation alone, studies and training. Our secret relationship however was still in full swing until I stumbled in on something that completely blew my mind. Ian had been assigned to another newly enlisted soldier. She was more or less the same age that I was when we started."
Luke's teeth gritted, having an idea where this might be headed.
"I watched him having sexual intercourse with that girl by a lakeside and felt like my entire world was crumbling around me. There was so much I could have done and my first thought was to go out and confront him and stop him, but instead I froze. I completely lost it and took off running as far as I could like I did that night away from the palace and I don't even remember where I ended up by the time I stopped, depleted and defeated as I cried beneath an old oak tree. I must have been there for hours it seemed. By the time I regained the strength to stand the sun had already began to set. To think this whole time I believed this man loved me when in reality I was just another one of his women to satisfy his sexual desires. It was a long walk back to the castle but I had plenty of time to think and I made a decision. I wouldn't confront him, I would wait and observe to find out much as I could. And that's when I discovered the true animal that he was!"
His eyes widened as he bit back, shocked by her raising in tone and how much these events still affected her.
"It wasn't just that girl there were others. Women in different military branches, some of the servants to the royal palace and others under his commanding unit. He was a master manipulator and so charismatic. It was because of these aspects that I was drawn to him, and probably others of those women. Had I mentally not been so strong I might have had a nervous breakdown, but eventually enough strength to confront him and when I did I told him everything... that I knew all about what he'd done. Things got heated and he tried to defend himself, the snake! I almost killed him that day, my blade to his throat but I stopped myself. I told him to stay away from me and never speak to me again and to withdrawal himself from the services of training that girl before he damaged her or any other in the future. He had no power or authority over myself and he did exactly as I commanded. It was that or his head and he knew it. Since then he hasn't dared speak to me unless required and we've kept it professional. But every time I see him it takes everything in my being not to stab him or punch his face in!"
She took a few moments taking a deep breath while her eyes closed for a moment before looking out ahead at the wall off to the side of them.
"But all that is in the past and I intend to leave it there. Since then I've just went about my business, climbing the latter and doing what I needed to get to where I am. Since then there have really been no others, except a one night stand or two in the course of my travels from Vindellorien. Love, romance, obligation and enticement aren't really a thought. I've been trained to overcome and block out such diversions, just as others in high rank. I live in the moment day to day with only my duties and priorities on mind. It's a rarity, but even foundations like this reduce and mitigate."
"Huh?" Luke repositioned over the bed.
"Myself, my barricade. I've been entranced in someone for a while," she reached out resting and massaging a hand up and down his leg. "You. And I might have had a lot to drink the night of that party but I don't regret what happened. The only reason I stopped was for the sake of that woman, Dinah. You were a couple, or so I thought."
Biting back, Luke took a deep breath as he cleared his throat.
"On what merit?" he asked.
"Allure and enticement come in many shapes and forms, but if you're expecting an explanation than you might wait forever. Men can never truly understand what goes on inside a woman's head. A saying that goes around among you humans, but it is no different in the world of monsters. And besides I know I'm not the only one, it's why you asked isn't it, about Ian and wanting to know so much about me."
His attempt at a response was stumped by laughter from the lieutenant general.
"Don't deny it, we both know. A storm is upon us, I can hear it roaring. They won't travel, not in this, not with Suzcoo among them. It might be a really long time before they return, a day at soonest."
Isla moved in and breathing hot over his neck and his body immediately reacting with the hairs over his back standing.
"Just you, me and a storm," her chest rubbed up against his side while she hummed into his ear. "What ever should we do?"
Taking hold of his chin with her fingers, Isla pulled his face towards hers and staring into his eyes but just as he quickly looked away and stood.
"Gotta go. I'll check back on you in the hour."
He only managed a step as she grabbed and pulled at his wrist.
"You would really walk away from the opportunity of a lifetime, it might be your only chance," Isla stood in front of him and her eyes again fastened with his. "I don't kiss and tell. Walk out that door and you will lose out, but stay and this could be worth our while. How about a small sample?"
She stood over her heels and lifting herself with her eyes halfway closed and brushing her lips against his and giving him a kiss. It started as a light press of the lips and he didn't reject, but nor was he active.
"You're the daughter to the queen and king of an entire kingdom, and I want to keep my head over my shoulders. I put my hands on you, and I'm asking for a death wish."
Leaning back and with one leg lifted off the ground she chuckled, getting a kick out of this.
"This won't get out and this is different. I'm no longer a juvenile, who I spend my time with and what I do with whoever is my business. And if it's easing, I'm asking you to kiss me or would you rather I commanded it?"
Luke guzzled and swallowed back and was oddly turned on by this but didn't expect nor see it coming as the elf lieutenant threw out her arms and pushed him down over the bed. His lips were roughly met by hers. Momentarily he froze but then kissed her back as she held him down by his wrists. The kiss deepened and they made out, during which Isla's reached down and caressing the area of his crotch she pulled and tugged at his zipper. His eyes widened as she sharply bit and sucked at his lower lip and forced down his zipper.
"Hold up, we aren't really going to do… that, it? Thought we, this was just…"
"A make out session?" Isla chortled. "We aren't school children. No, forget everything and concentrate on this moment. Let's just enjoy each other."
She reached down and unbuckling his belt as her lips again locked with his and her purple eyes staring into his brown ones.
XXX
She found it hard to sleep and whenever she managed to it always resulted in nightmares, having just awoke from another. It always started virtuous, scenery of her as a child and alongside her parents but then that imagery replaced by devastation, darkness and torment. Sitting up over the couch with a blanket around her body, Kara held a cup of hot tea in one hand and taking a couple sips. The recovery process was proving more difficult than she would have believed, and she speculated when it would get better. Whenever she closed her eyes, she saw the demon's face. And it made her entire body vibrate, wanting to strike through a boulder and shatter an entire mountain.
The hold and affect he had one her was deep, but she would get through this there was no doubt about it. What she wanted most was to sleep peacefully and regain her confidence, but right now that was something she frankly couldn't do. She would kill him, that's what she kept telling herself. If she ever set eyes on Jedah Dohma again, she would kill him. Maybe that was just her anger and frustration talking, but in that moment that's the way she felt. There were very few times in life that she felt so small, empty, useless and powerless. The only thing she could be thankful for was that it was now over. She was strong in both body and mind. This would soon pass with a little bit of time.
"Kal..." she uttered his name as she took a look over her left shoulder.
It was there that he stood, having emerged through the open window. In his left hand he held a paper bag.
"Brought you some takeout," he smiled at her, dressed in his work clothing.
"Not hungry," Kara lowered the cup of tea and looking out in front of her.
Sighing deeply, Clark walked around the sofa and taking a seat beside her with the bag resting atop the table. Kara-zor-el was with her knees pressed against her chest, and her arms wrapped around them. Kal's gaze was locked over her for a little while, before he leaned back and wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"It's okay, I'm here. If you want to talk I'll listen and if you don't that's fine too. I tracked down Batman to try and set up a meeting with Morrigan."
"And?" Kara turned her head and looking right at him.
"We're going to work something out, but that was hours ago," Clark looked out a window across the room. "But he's got other personal problems to deal with. By now she probably knows."
Kara turned and faced her cousin.
"You think she'll reach out to you?" Kara asked.
"Maybe," Clark answered, but with his eyes still over the moon. "I don't know her like he does. Bruce left me with a number, no answer but I left her a message. Nothing yet."
With half a smile Kal's eyes returned to Kara who smiled back at him.
XXX
Curled up next to him, Selene rubbed the side of her head against his right shoulder. Both breathed heavily and a relaxed satisfied grin over Issa's lips. He lowered his head and kissed at her forehead as she too smiled.
"That was amazing, I hadn't any idea how much I needed that... thanks. And this certainly won't be the last time either."
She looked up at him as he did the same back.
"No," Issa dropped his head and kissed at her lips. "It will not."
For the next couple dozen seconds they just laid there cuddling up against each other as their naked bodies rubbed together. It was Selene that ultimately pushed up and looking to her clothing as she slowly began to collect each small piece and began redressing. Issa followed her lead and did the same. The entire time she smiled bashfully, and once fully dressed she was the first out of the room and said nothing. And so not to cause any suspicion Issa waited a little over a minute later before taking off himself and from there they went their separate ways. But it was on her way to her quarters that Selene came to an abrupt stop and trailing a finger through her hair.
"Yes," she nodded silently. "I should check up on him, it's been some time."
And with that thought brushed aside she continued along. The vampire known as Akifumi, and vice admiral headed to the office of the Dark Lord but with his gaze down and over the ground. When coming up to the door of her office he forced it open with one hand as he stepped through.
"You wanted to see me, Akasha-sama?"
The Dark Lord looked up from the pile of papers she was reading through. One of her best deputy's had suddenly killed in a confrontation miles from the kingdom and she was in the process of determining a replacement. But it needed to be someone with the proper mannerisms and experience. Akasha gave the vampire a polite yet forced smile.
"Ah yes Akifumi, please come in, take a seat…"
Akifumi took a seat opposite the Dark Lord and pulled off his jacket.
"I think I might have an idea what this is about but if you'd allow me there are two sides to the story…"
Akasha leaned forward and studied the latest member of the military branch to join her elite squad.
"Akifumi, what exactly went on last night at the opening of the bloodboom fiesta? I mean, what were you even doing there? The event has always been run by council members, for our citizens. We, nor does this firm ever get involved in public celebrations unless for security purposes."
A smirk passed across Akifumi's face before he replied, leaning back in a dismissive manner.
"Well, don't you think, as the newly signed vice-admiral since your return, that I really should be making my presence felt, both on the battle grounds, planning room and events such as this? After all, neither you nor the supreme commander has made much an effort of…"
"You're speaking out of place, watch your tongue! Yes, you were brought on into this role because I saw potential in you in addition to your resume. But you have one job and one job only, other security personnel are already in place to handle lesser manners. Do not act out of your set role."
"I disagree. This land, this kingdom should know that we're here, not just watching and making rules behind the scenes but that we really care and are one of them. And most importantly it needs to be known that if someone steps out of line there will be consequences," he added pointedly.
Akasha sighed as she sat back. Young, well-groomed, full of himself, boastful. That just about summed up Akifumi. The Dark Lord had always wondered why people who didn't genuinely love working in this line of work would take up the job in the first place. He hadn't come out and say it but she could hear in in his tone and the way he expressed himself. But as she looked at the self-satisfied smile on this man's face she finally understood. For men like him, it wasn't about the satisfaction of watching an entire group of monsters grow and flourish as a community. It wasn't about the joy of seeing a child's face light up when they suddenly grasped a previously incomprehensible algorithm. For men like Akifumi it was about power, the power he could get only from working with a section of society that he could bully; civilians, who couldn't or wouldn't fight back due to his status.
"Akifumi," she began, her voice betraying how close she was to losing her temper, "Perhaps you could tell me exactly what happened before Uler struck you…"
"It all happened so fast in the heat of the moment, emotions were high on all ends. I asked Miss Wanda to leave and then he attacked."
Akifumi sat up straight and looked into the green orbs of the queen, daring her to challenge his version of events. Akasha was puzzled for a moment by this, just who did he think he was?
"He went off on you because you strictly asked someone to leave? Did he say anything to you before the initial strike?"
Akifumi bristled with indignation.
"Yeah something real idiotic like he's off the clock and some other nonesence, that she was there as his guest. He was insolent. That's when the small brawl broke out, only after he attacked first."
"Your guys against his? And surely you know how bad this looks, we're all supposed to be on the same team."
"Pretty much, but going back before the brawl I asked Miss Wanda to leave several times because of the disturbance she was causing, drunker than a skunk and dancing on and over anything that moved. I took her elbow to escort her off the…."
"You touched her?" Akasha interrupted with narrowed eyes.
He shifted uncomfortably. What was the woman indicating?
"She had no intention of leaving, so, if I hadn't…."
Akasha sighed heavily and shut a large buff colored folder in front of her. "Akifumi, what do you know about Eizo Fotoshi? Have you even read his file?"
"Yeah raised outside the boarders of our land, done a lot of traveling throughout the realm and has done a lot of work in various locations, mostly as a soldier for hire in infiltration. Suspended once from Havenfront, several times from Cletso Towers, on probation for several months for theft and arrested on suspicion of attempted murder on four council members in Thishieita. Sure the charges were dropped, but the fact that he finds himself in such a position in itself is telling. Who's to say that he hasn't committed crimes that have gone unreported?"
Akasha's lips formed into a tight line.
"Akifumi, one thing you will need to learn about The Hiklorhan region is that we pride ourselves on taking legionnaires from challenging backgrounds. Eizo came to us, yes, with a poor record, but he's been a flawless follower for the last couple months and I am very proud of his progress."
"Proud that he almost flattened on of your best correctional officers and at the center of instigating a brawl?"
"As you would have realized had you read his entire file, Eizo comes from a very challenging background and we can't expect his behavioral patterns to change overnight. We're vampires, and many of us can be short tempered who have not otherwise learned to control themselves. He didn't have the sort of guidance that so many others within our firm had, you'll have to be patient with him. Our military advisors have worked hard to help him learn to control his anger, Eizo has worked hard, but you must realize that events that happened throughout his recent past would be difficult for many to get over."
Akifumi snorted.
"So it's perfectly acceptable that a man attempts to kill someone just because he's pissed off with him, in such an environment of all places?"
"Don't twist things around to suit yourself, Akifumi. You know as well as I do that if you read his report that a group of his colleague tried hustling and forcing his woman into bed so that she'd sleep with them. Yes, it would have been far more sensible for Eizo to have gone to the police or to his guardian rather than take matters into his own hands, but I doubt he was thinking straight at the time. You have to admit, the circumstances are extenuating."
"He's a punk. Sorts out his problems with his fists and always will…"
"And you wouldn't, that is in the nature of us vampires. And if that's your opinion Akifumi, then I wonder why you accepted this position, or maybe the board made a mistake. Have you always given up on your charges so quickly? Don't you ever feel that you can help someone to change, to become a better person?"
"Some people just aint got it in them, when their mind is made up, that's pretty much that."
"Well, I am disappointed that the board has seen fit to employ a person who clearly has no real interest other than throwing his weight around and climbing the power ladder as quickly as possible." Akasha's tone rose with annoyance.
Akifumi quietly laughed as he leaned back in his chair and the Dark Lord not in the slightest amused by this.
"That all, or am I free to go? You heard my side of the story and I got nothing else to say. You won't fire me, you can't… you need me."
His grin caused her stomach to twist and her finger nails scratching at the surface of the table. Already she had her hands full and now this, fighting and brawls amongst her own hired officials and doing so on a public display. There was nothing more frustrating.
"You may see yourself out," she let out a quiet sigh. "I shall summon you again as things progress in the matter."
He didn't have to be asked twice, jumping up from his chair and out the double doors across from them.
XXX
As the elevator came to a stop he rubbed his hands together and stepped into the underground lair of the man he viewed in high regard and saw as a father/big brother figure. Walking toward the main computer the young hero found his gaze being drawn to the lab table where a body was laying with what looked like liquid nitrogen tubes running into its chest. His snooping getting the better of him, Richard Grayson walked over to examine the body. What he found outright surprised him. The body had more scars running along its body than Bruce, himself and Jason combined. It seemed unmanageable for someone to have lived through the trauma that this person's body went through. There were several things that indicated to the trained eye that the individual's hands had been repeatedly broken. And on closer inspection that's when he spotted the long and sharp fangs stemming from the mouth. It was a vampire that much he was sure about. But who were they and what was Batman doing with the body down inside the cave.
"Ah, Master Grayson, so good to see you again. I see you have found Master Bruce's new lab experiment," the sudden sound of Alfred made Dick jump somewhat.
Somehow the man could sneak up on anyone, even Batman in certain instances.
"Alfred! Good to see you too. Where's Sasha and Damian, didn't see either up top on my way in?" Dick gave the old butler a loving hug before getting more serious by making a gesture to the man on the table. "Bruce made contact and said he wanted to talk, I assume it has to do with this," his eyes stared down over the body atop the table. "Would you happen to know anything about this?"
"He hadn't spoken much on the matter, but I would assume so. Though I believe the initial call was concerning his recent activities."
Before Grayson had a chance to further examine the corpse on the table Batman emerged from the armory. He was out of uniform for the most part, but still with the utility belt around his waist and everything below it. Slowly walking about, he circled the table and looking down over the body as he did.
"You called, so whatsup? But even more interestingly, who is this?"
"I don't have a name, yet. But that's hardly what is important. Within the past couple hours I've tracked down previously known cages by the court and found nothing, but they found me."
"They found you… who is they, tell me what happened?" Dick took a step forward.
Bruce walked around the table once more and stared at the body for several seconds before responding.
"The Court of Owls knows I'm alive, and with that so too does he. From the shadows they watched and followed me, noting my movement and activities. If it hasn't gotten back to him yet, it soon will."
The sentence hung in the air for several seconds before Dick fully comprehended the meaning behind it.
"What, I don't think I understand? You're talking about that vampire who attacked you on the night that you almost lost your life. If he does in fact know you're alive than why hasn't he come after you?"
"That's because he's out expanding his empire and planning something big. The encounter tonight all but confirms it, I was ambushed by four of them including this one over the table. Unfortunately he took a dive into the Gotham river during my interrogation and I don't know if purposely or accidental. And it was the same for the others, I believe this was something they were ordered to do if things went south. His body is the only one I managed to recover."
"The man on the table is an assassin known as Tydus and was publically a stockman but turned vampire, likely by Demitri himself. Maximoff is going after more than just court members within Gotham."
"Pardon me sir, what leads you to this conclusion?" Alfred was deeply concerned with hearing this.
"Yes Alfred, I'm positive of this. And I believe I know where he is currently, France. Bruce Wayne will be attending an open ball there in forty two hours and I will use that opportunity to investigate this further. I've read up on a few reports of recent crime scenes in the past few days, murders unexplained but with small details that point in the direction of a vampire's involvement." Striding over to the lab table and standing directly over the body.
For a couple moments he just stood there silently.
"During my encounter with the Court tonight I stumbled upon previous holding cells for each of the Talons. There were ten unopened caskets housing the assassins, those of which that don't appear to yet have been turned. Six were opened. One was this man's, who according to the specs I picked up was one of their deadliest warriors. Couple that with the enhancements of the court and his vampirism, you can only imagine how dangerous he was. The others unoccupied, are meant for recruits they have not yet claimed but I won't let that happen."
Dick's fists were clinched as he bit over his own tongue.
"Correction, we aren't going to allow this to happen. I'm going with you. We're still family and a team and just because you're a vampire with super human abilities doesn't mean…"
"No," Bruce glared, cutting him off. "I don't want you, Damian or anyone else anywhere near this. This is my battle, and I don't want a single of you in the crossfire."
"Oh really, and look where they got you last time…"
Dick almost immediately regretted the words as they came out of his mouth.
"I didn't mean it like that…"
"And that's exactly why I must do this alone, this man is dangerous and I can't go into this worrying about a single of you. This time it'll be different, I've got a plan. And he won't be facing the same man that he did last time."
"You really think you can out strength him? Yeah, yeah I get you're a vampire now, but you're still suppressed after what Fate did and even if you weren't who's to say this guy isn't league's and bounds above your abilities."
"A direct fight isn't the idea, I haven't any idea of his full potential and the plan isn't to find out. Even if he isn't present in France, his most recent activity is there, where I must go."
Leaning back against the table and with his arms crossed, Grayson looked over Bruce with his interest climbing.
"I'll bite, what is your plan?"
There wasn't a response as a loud buzzing sound stemmed from the bat computer and on screen in bright green letters was the message, "Incoming call." The caller ID read Aono Moka, and Bruce couldn't help but quietly chuckle.
"You gonna answer that call?" Grayson asked.
"I'll get back to her," Bruce answered promptly. "But as for this, you're to stay away. That applies to all of you, I will make the trip to France alone and end this."
"And what if he isn't there, what then?" Dick questioned.
"If what I gathered from the talons is accurate that's exactly where I need to be. It's possible I run into him, but maybe I don't. But regardless I'll be equipped and ready if it comes to that. I'm on a flight out of here within the next hour and a half, so I better get packing."
Grayson raised an eye brow as Bruce stepped away from both he and Alfred.
"Just like that, this is all so sudden."
"I won't stop him by sitting around. He's already started making big moves and it's time that I put a close to it. The court is dangerous as is, but with his influence there's no telling what the world might be in for if I allow this to go further."
To be continued
- 39
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- 41
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Clash of Realms