Stagg Industries.

“Here.” Ivy said, tapping a finger down on the map. She had selected a site off to the side.

"Stagg isn't the flashiest place, but it's probably the most reliable compared to the other sites. The others are too risky for a number of reasons. Staff will be low risk, but low if stable reward. Enough to get started." Ivy

"Besides" her gaze fixated on the imps, "I want to see more of what you can do before trusting you against someone like Batman."

"Understandable." Reya said.

Ivy had hoped to get a rise out of the head imp. No such luck though if she did, the imp was good at hiding it. She was about to say something else before a hug from behind scattered her thoughts.

"Awwww see, this is why I like you Red, that big brain of yours is your best feature." Harley said as she snuggled her partner.

"Really, I think it's her legs."

Sami had arrived too, stretching out her arms. Katlyn too. The party girl imp had said nothing but Ivy disliked how her eyes were roaming.

"Down girls. This is a business agreement, not a pleasure cruise." Ivy said to which got awes from the two.

"For now at least." Reya said, licking her lips.

The act sent a bit of a shiver down Ivy's back. Out of fear or anticipation, she wasn't sure. It HAD been awhile since she got some sort of relief. Arkham wasn't the best for stuff like that. At the hands of an Imp though….

"Let's just get back to a new hideout Harley. Maybe one of those seedy inns. Good night rest, stretch my legs a bit, and we'll case the factory."

"Roger Roger Red. Alright, everyone, back in the book." Harley commanded, cracking the text open and putting it on the table.

Ivy watched as the Imps retreated without a fuss into the book. Though the looks Reya and the one called Allison gave her were unnerving. The former looking at her like prey and the latter…, she wasn’t sure. That would could be a bit of a wild card in this mess.

That was a problem for future Ivy to deal with.

"Are you SURE you want to do this Harley, I mean... this seems a little overboard…, even for you.” She turned to her friend.

“Maybe just a bit… but the thrill is just so… MMM, juicy.” She said, walking over with a swing in her step and put an arm over her Ivy’s shoulder, “Besides any time we try to do our own thing we tend to get beaten before we really get rolling. Think about it.”

“The mobsters pick fights over recruiting grounds, Penguin just has money coming in all the time, SOMEHOW, so he gets a good number of guys. Two Face and Black Mask take the more professional ones, and Joker… well he takes the **** and unhinged…, case in point!” she took a pose with her hands pointing at her self, displaying her example.

“One of the reasons we never do much more than simple heists is because we just don’t have the man power. I mean no offense Red, your selling point of Eco Terror and sabotage doesn’t really bring people off the street to us. Meanwhile me… well…., why work for me when Joker’s right there?”

“So really think about it; a gang of our own, gals that are magically bound to obey us, with their own power sets.. And all we have to do is toss them a guard or two…, or maybe someone in spandex…. Or even other villains before they backstab us?”

“We are not tossing Joker in there. That’s one thing I want to get across right now.” Ivy said, her arms folding.

“Ew. Yeah… no. He’d probably warp the book, figure out a loophole, or make Reya work for him or something. Remember Emperor Joker?” the clown said with her face scrunched up and tongue stuck out.

“Point is Harley, this is playing with heat and I’m not a fan of fire.” Ivy sighed, realizing she wasn’t going to talk her out of it..

“Come on! For me? Just give it a try. The girls have already been Fed so we’ll be fine for a bit.” Harley pleaded, her eyes going wide and hands clasped together, “Just a few heists okay, just to get you back in the game and on your feet. If you don’t like it… we’ll just throw the book in the river.”

“Or give it to someone to deal with…., or be dealt by it.” Ivy said with a smirk.

She wasn’t sure if Batman would be broken as easily, but simply having him out of the way for a few days while he chased Imps; that would be one hell of a distraction to play.

At the very least she wanted the book close enough to keep an eye on it, at least before disposal.

“Just a few heists then.”

Harley cheered as she hugged her partner, who had to quickly asked to be put down. First thing first was to get some distance away from the hideout, find a different place to lay low for a while. She rolled her eyes when her partner suggested an abandoned fast foot place a couple blocks away but…, well, you’d have to be **** to hid there.

“Fine. For now, at least. I need a nap anyway. After that…., we’ll check the cabaret club Reya mentioned.” Ivy as she started to strip.

Harley always had a few spare clothes for the two of them. A simple pair of jeans, T shirt and jacket was enough for now. Throw on some of Harley’s make up and she could pass as a normal human. So long as no one looked closely.

“Oh, you like that idea?” Harley asked, finished with her own quick change of clothes.

She had on almost matching outfit to Ivy, save for brighter colors and a hoodie. One hat had rabbit ears for some reason. She always found the strangest stuff.

“I’m considering the idea…, and it’s not like we have many options. Actually….”

“Look up anything about the Black Rose? Of course, Mistress.”

Allison flexed her hands before tapping away at the keyboard before her, pulling up records and references to the site. Sami and Katlyn were off elsewhere, seeing the proper storage of most the supplies from the hideout, leaving her alone with just Reya again.

"Eager to look into the Black Rose huh?" Reya asked, as she leaned over, wine glass in her hand.

"Well, that's what the second boss wants to know. And I gotta say, I'm interested in it too." Allison said as she typed away at the keyboard before adding, “Don't think she trusts you."

"What gave it away?" She asked with a roll of her eyes before taking a long sip of her drink.

"Can you blame her? You basically said 'Hey I have a gun to your head that turns you into my impy bitch if you mess up' so..., kinda understandable." Allison said as she finally found some info about the place.

It was too small to have a wiki article but it did have a page dedicated to it under some sort of historical preservation site. How OLD was the Black Rose? Worryingly, it also had a few pages from cold case sites and conspiracy theory boards. Just what did Reya point them towards?

"So, let's see what this place was..."

The Black Rose, established prior to Prohibition, was nothing more than a simple bar and show room. The selling of illegal booze however rocketed the owners to fame and fortune. Located near the river, the criminal element hollowed out tunnels to move shipments of **** from boats to the awaiting storage rooms.

With the money coming in, along with the right bribes, the Black Rose expanded operations. Bigger rooms, more private rooms, larger stages and several new yards or miles of connection tunnels.

While there were grander locations and far more brutal gangs, The Black Rose sat as a brilliant gem in the crown that was Crime at the time.

The end of it came as suddenly as its rise. The first was expected from history books alone: the end of prohibition which put an end to the main source of income. Other criminal elements would go on to peddle new **** or offer other services. Or simply devolve into bank robbery and ****.

The owners of the Black Rose however, among rumors of what they would do next or even go clean, were brutally cut down.

The pair were found the next day by a cook who arrived early. William Drake, the owner and former stage magician, was killed with his own letter opener. Found slumped over the desk, it was ruled someone had attacked him in a struggle. His partner, one Davino Galati, had a far more disturbing fate. Half his body had been dissolved away leaving the man as a bloody mess against the far side wall.

Their deaths sent the club into a spiral of new owners as any other possible inheritors couldn’t be found. Each one getting into legal battles to claim ownership, or driving off the once loyal employees and gang members. All the while trying to siphon off any remaining income into their own pockets before passing it on, or losing it, to a new owner. And the cycle repeating.

Eventually the club closed and the city took possession of the land. By that point, the area was far too dirty and infested with social issues that the city just left it to rot. Only allowing a small team to document the site as some sort of preservation. But even that was over looked for more well-known locations.

The **** case to this day remains cold. With no new hints or clues to the suspect behind the murders. The leading theory is that the pair were killed by another rival criminal group. Others think it was done over a disagreement, leading to others involved to flee the city afterward.

“Of course, the other popular theory is that William’s wife had a hand in his ****…. One… uh…”

Allison froze as she looked at the picture before her. It was a black and white shot but considering the colors, it was kinda a dead ringer for her. She slowly craned her neck to look at the imp sitting on the armrest next to her. The smile on her face reminded Allison of a cat who just shallowed an entire house of rodents.

“For the record, that theory is half right. I did kill Davino.” Reya said before finishing her drink and casting the glass to the floor.

Allison backed away so hard that her chair flew back a few feet from Reya, who landed on her feet. She smiled and simply summoned up a tendril of smoke to pull the chair back to her side, Allison along with it.

Only to slap a hand over the techy’s mouth, forcing it close before she got another word out.

“Yes, I am Rachel Drake, wife to William and no, I won’t kill you… not without reason.” She sighed, ignoring the small squeal coming from her captive.

“I will explain, if you don’t scream.” A nod came and the smoke was removed, “Good.”

Reya sighed as she took a step away. She hadn’t wanted to remember that age or name but she was going to have to address it. Well, better to do it with Allison than her ‘bosses’. For now, at least.

“What you read was correct. William and I did shows together, he doing stage magic while I his pretty assistant. I got into singing and dancing as well, hoping to entertain the audience while William set up for his next trick. It was a fun life but Will wanted to settled down rather than travel from city to city, show to show.”

“So we came back home and with help from family and friends, got a bar and stage to host ourselves. It was a nice existence for a time, and we thought those days would go on. Well…, then the law came down against booze…,”

“It was Davino that suggested we keep selling it. He had friends from out of town or family out in the woods that could keep making it. Just needed a place to sell. And this close to the river well, we were in a good spot to ship it to. More so when he found someone in city hall to folk over the underground maps.”

She paused to summon up a new bottle of wine, and two glasses. Filling both, she set the bottle down and offered one glass to Allison. She sniffed it a bit before being told it was safe. Little strong but she also wasn’t one to drink more than a can of beer anyway.

Lips wet, Reya continued on with the story.

“It was a decent living, if stressful. Will just wanted to make a place to hang out and enjoy life. Davino was… far more concerned with getting money and keeping power. Both of these desires couldn’t last against each other for long and well…, that night came.”

She folded her arms, staring directly into Allison’s eyes.

"Yes, your mind is correct. I killed them. All. Of. Them."

".... wait all of them?" she asked, pushing up her glasses.

"Not William as I said but yes. You see, Davino wasn't alone the night he made his move. Let me set the scene and the details of the actors."

"As I mentioned, Will just took that path to keep the Rose open. He had wanted to go clean afterward. Why keep the risk around if we could just go legit? I was more than willing to follow him with it.”

"Davino however, wasn’t willing to let his little empire be wiped off, nor could he really afford for Will to go legit. After all, he needed a presentable face of the club to mask his own dealing.”

"Your husband the clean suit, for his dirty hands to wipe off the blood huh?" Allison cut in.

"You have a way with words Alli." she paused to drain her glass and refill it.

"That was the basic set up yes. He wasn't a horrible man at the start; in fact, he was a friend we knew for years. But he had a darkness to him that made him..., closer to a shark I suppose. He just needed an environment to let it out.”

"Each day he grew a little more violent, a tad crueler and far, FAR greedier. Desiring not just all the money and the club..., but myself. And well..., my William was far too sweet and loving for me to even think about doing anything like that. More so with a man that I had trusted like a brother. He was going to be our god father when we had our first child..."

She took a long and held breathe before letting it out and draining her glass. Only to refill it moments later.

“Anyway, My William practiced magic. Stage magic but with real powers. He could turn invisible, so small fire incantations, and lights and sounds manipulation; Will was a whole stage crew into himself”.

“With the new found riches, he attempted to pick up some new ways to improve his trade. I warned him to be careful and he was, only picking up small trinkets and scrolls. Only to eventually find…”

“He found the Tome!!” Her listener clasped her hands over her mouth and shrank back down into her chair.

“Quite close but not all the way.” Came the answer.

“Will’s research found the tome and he passed over looking into it more. Davino however saw the potential though in such an item. He was the one to acquire it and he was the one who brought it that night.”

“You see his plan was to, at least as I understood it, kill my husband and trap me in the book, enslaving me to his own will. The bar, the gang, and the dame; everything he ever wanted. Only something went wrong. Maybe it was the tome, maybe it was William’s last hurried bit of magic, maybe…”

The wine glass started to crack in her trembling hand.

“Maybe I was just so pissed off to the nines nothing could stop me from wringing the life out of his eyes.”

"As I was changed and empowered by the book, but before it had the full shackles in me; I used my new abilities to kill all his men. Those rats that looked to get a piece or those traitors that were looking to get in with the new order."

"Davino, the rat, threw his guys ahead of himself as shields. By the time I got to him, the tome had finally gotten its hooks into me. I had just enough time, rage, and control to get through about half of that fat tub of lard before I was dragged into the book.”

Reya let out another sigh as she stated to pace around the room, her arms raised up and outward as she spoke.

"And so, I sat in this prison of a book, trapped and heart broken. All the while everything the three of us built burned to the ground in petty squabbles and back-stabs. I barely spent any time 'aware' of my surroundings, but I didn't need to be to picture what was happening. I played the ‘ditz’ but I knew of the web of alliances and rivalries below my feet."

She eventually made it back to the chair Allison was in, taking a seat on the other armrest.

"As for my new prison..., I believe it was tossed into evidence, before being sold off as auction when it was clear the book didn't' have anything to do with the murders. Or tossed to a library, I can't remember."

"Years later, I finally got my head on straight, pulled up my pants, and started to see what I had to work with. So, by the time Kat found me, I had fully integrated with my new..., state. And changed my name. Rachael died that day, so I started to go by Reya."

"The rest as they say, is history." Reya finished with a sigh and a sip from her cup.

"That... explains a lot of the stuff I found about the Black Rose...," Allison muttered, not looking at Reya in the eye.

It had been a lot to take in. Her ‘mistress’ being alive at that time period, the betrayal and loss of her husband. All those years trapped in the book by herself, wracked by everything that had happened. She wasn’t sure if she could do that without going a little nutty herself…, but had Reya?

"So..., if I may my.... Mistress." She fought to not say that word, "If that’s your past…, then what’s your future? I mean…, what’s your end goal here?”

"Well... given you know my backstory now; I suppose I could tell you."

Reya took a long drag of her cigarette and gave a weak wave of her fingers. The smoke she let out started to form into a building. In fact, it was a replica of the front of the Black Rose Allison had seen from the pictures. Well, a renowned one rather than the run-down site.

"My 'goal' if you want to call it that, is to rebuild the Black Rose. Failing that, recreate it in a new place."

"On the one hand, it's my wish and dream to bring it back to a place of fun and entertainment, just how William and I wanted it to be. On the other other hand... well..." She blew the techy a kiss, "The tome has a way of kinda warping ideas."

"I suppose it does..., wait then if that's the case why does you seem to want to be all 'crime boss madame' then? Your experience with crime ended with you in the tome and your husband dead." Allison pointed out as she processed the info.

"You are a smart one. The other two didn't ask that when I told them the story." She answered, tapping Allison's nose with a finger, "Truthfully, maybe there was some darkness in my own heart and soul. One that just needed its own environment to thrive."

"I liked the attention, I loved the thrill of it, and the rush of power and allure of money. To be loved and worshiped for my looks and skill on stage, while being a little feared of what I could do. MMMM...., a lovely thought. Honestly, you probably could have seen me in criminal history if things went differently."

"But it was your husband, wasn’t it?” Allison asked, taking a second to push up her glasses.

"Bingo darling."

Reya shifted a bit on the armrest, finishing her wine glass once more. Allison just gulped down hers awkwardly to try and hide her blush as Reya made a show of arcing her back and head to really get a good angle to drink…, and to show off her figure more. She dismissed her glass with a wave and turned attention back to Allison.

"The loss of William and the years of being in the Tome was… a rebirth for me. Now, you could just sit there and pick over my history and thought processes, trying to figure out how best to deal with me. But that’s wasting time and it's just so much easier to be upfront. What you need to know this the following things.”

“First, I'm in charge and that's the end of that. Harley might think she's the head boss but that line stops at me. I'm never settling for second best. So, obey her, do what she asks, but understand I’m the real power here."

"Second, I'm a crime boss, I'm not OUTRIGHT evil now. I'm not going to **** or maim people..., at worst well just pick up more Imp employees. Heck, you don't even need to help with the crime stuff on the ground. Just keep being our little bookworm dear or find something else to do. I won't stop you; find something you like to do. Just understand, you work for Me."

"And third..." she started.

"Third boss?"

Allison gulped as Reya gabbed the former's tie and pulled, drawing her forward and into a kiss. A simple peak turned into a fervent make out as the Mistress pushed her recruit back into the chair, pinning her there as she sat on the tech’s legs. Feeling her tongue against her lips, Allison opened her mouth as they wrestled for control, making it clear the kiss was far from finished.

Allison moaned into the kiss as the two started to rub their bodies Against each other. She could feel stiff nipples poking against Reya's, and rubbed against one another, adding to the heights of pleasure they felt. Reya's tongue began to explore techy's mouth, delighting in her taste. Rather sweet, with a hint of spice to it.

For her part, Allison was starting to get a little ‘drunk’ off the kiss. The mix of wine and smoke made Reya’s mouth taste wonderful to her. She wanted more, fighting to explore every inch of her mistress’s mouth, only to be **** back into her own.

Eventually, the mistress ended the kiss to which Allison let out a small whimper.

"And third..., I always treat my employees well."

"I...., uh..., cough, you know that could be considered harassment."

"It could, though I'm also HR." Reya said, giving her a little pat on the head.

“…. Okay so why?”

“Hmmm?” Reya mused, looking down at the Imp.

“Why tell me all of this? Why toy with me like this? Heck why not just TELL me to go into your bedroom and spread myself wide for you? You have full control of me, you can just TELL me to follow you.” Allison growled as she fidgeted in her seat.

“Well, two reasons my dear.” Reya said as she took a puff of her cigarette, “The first is well, there’s no fun in just ordering you. I’m not that much of a dom to get off on giving commands. I mean there is a thrill but I prefer the hunt myself.” She licked her lips at that, blowing out a little heart of smoke.

“In your case though…., I’m not looking for a minion but rather a… partner.”

“Excuse me?” Allison shot back, cocking her head to the side.

“Look Sami and Kat are dear minions but aren’t geniuses for their own reasons. Not stupid just… not well versed in what I’m looking for. I need someone with a mind that sees beyond just the fun and sex. And you seem to fit that bill.”

“I’ll not mince words here darling; I could give you commands, **** you to do every little thing I wish. But, like myself with Harley, I’m certain you’d fight me every chance you’d get. Every little loop hole, every little non order, every moment you could muck up something; you’d take it. You won't outright stand against me, after all you couldn't if I **** you to obey. But you'd do so in the most uninteresting and unfavorable ways possible.”

“I believe they call it Malicious compliance these days.” Reya stated, hand cupped to her cheek in thought.

Woman from an era what hundred years ago and yet she was smart enough to get the new words and phrases. She continued to impress Allison. She didn’t want to admit that to her face though. She had ego enough as it is. She watched as Reya took another puff from her cigarette and continued.

“So rather than get into a petty backstabbing shadow war with you, I’d rather you work with me. I’ll be honest, with Red in her corner now, I probably couldn’t deal with Harley, not right now at least. It would be best to sit back and play the long game. And I can’t do that safely with you digging in your heels over every little thing.”

“I admit I have leverage on you, and I can always pull the Mistress card, but I’d rather you choose to work with me. After all, what were you going to do in that hole anyway?” she asked.

What WAS she going to do? Just go from hideout to hideout, working for others while taking just a small cut? Yet at the same time, what was she going to do now? Allison’s life wasn’t great but it was hers damnit it, now she just danced to someone else’s beat. Sure she was being given enough string to do what she wanted, but those strings were still there.

Personal Freedom vs Powers, Fun and Chains.