Talias Plan and the Return of Deathstroke

Talia touched her neck again. Although the wound had closed and nothing indicated her sister's attack, she could still feel a tingling sensation. However, she was only briefly distracted. A new plan had formed in her head and she was convinced that it would impress Dracula. It took almost the entire night until she finally reached her destination. She looked directly into the barrel of a Desert Egale.

"Sweetheart," the man behind the gun grinned calmly.

"Hey Deathstroke. It' s been a long time since I saw you." Talia smiled calmly and showed him the palms of her hands to calm him down.

"Should I be soothed that I can see your hands? I know what you were capable of before this shit started. I don't know what you're up to now, but I'm afraid you're much more dangerous now. So let's just pretend I'm not impressed by this gesture."

"Careful as always, my good one. I have a job for you." Talia said calmly and went to a chair to sit down there.

Deathstroke stayed in the room and kept pointing his gun at the woman in front of him. The two swords on his back would hardly help him in this fight. He knew Talia and her abilities. Even before this mess she had been at least equal to him in swordfighting, probably even superior. He had seen in the lounge what these beings could be capable of when it mattered.

"Since when do YOU need my help mh? What about your father and his league" asked the professional killer and didn't let them out of his sight for a second. At this distance it was almost impossible that he would miss his target.

"My father is dead." Talia said calmly and poured herself a glass of whisky.

"Not exactly a new piece of information. It's not the first time, is it?"

"True, though. But this time it's a little different. I killed him myself. The Lazarus pit is no longer an option for him. The Brotherhood of Shadows is now under the control of my son. However, this is an order of haste and at the moment there are no powers available in the city. I'm also very sure that this job will be a lot of fun for you."

"I enjoy every job. You should know that. As long as the pay is right."

"I want you to kill Batman." She said round out.

"That's what many people want.

"Yes that's true. Batman is Bruce Wayne" she said and could imagine the confusion under his mask.

"What? the man finally asked. That the gun sank a little was the best sign for his surprise. However, the gun immediately moved back to the woman's head. "What does that mean Bruce Wayne is Batman?"

"Bruce Wayne is Batman!" Repeated Talia calmly. "I want you to kill him. I'll raise your pay to 50 million dollars! But on one condition. I want you to do it in the High School of Thomas Wayne. I want the students to see not only Bruce Wayne, their great patron, but also their hero die!"

Deathstroke lowered his pistol and stuck it in his holster. Now that it was an official job, he switched to a more relaxed mode. Talia may have been a different kind of hit man than he was, but she knew his qualities and conditions. From here the chance of a fight between the two had suddenly diminished.

"50 million? When is the deal supposed to happen?

"Tomorrow at noon. Punctually at 12 noon. I'm assuming you're well prepared," she asked and looked over dozens of boxes of weapons and ammunition all over his apartment. Deathstroke was armed to the teeth and the weapons were the best in the world.

"That doesn't give me much time to prepare! That costs you 5 million more," said Deathstroke, and Talia was standing right in front of him with the last word barely leaving his lips. In less than one breath she had crossed the whole room.

"2 million and this ends friendly between us two! I have neither the desire nor the time to engage in negotiations. So accept it or leave it. Should you leave it however consider one. Then, as soon as I have left this room, you will be my enemy!"

"Is that a threat from Talia?"

"We're both too good to threaten." She answered coldly and put on her best poker face. Deathstroke's mask did that for him.

"Agreed. But I will kill him my way. No special requests regarding that."

"Agreed," she told him, holding out his hand that Deathstroke knowingly ignored.

Talia threw in her cell phone and then left the room. 20 million had moved from one account to another at the touch of a button.

When Talia arrived back at the castle, she could see Dracula sitting in the reading room, reading Dante's Inferno. Without looking up from the book, his voice sounded calm and melodious.

"What brings you here, my beautiful Talia?"

"I have set a trap for Batman. A human contract killer will make sure Batman shows up. Of course he won't be able to oppose him, but it will attract Batman. During the day. Then we can pounce on him."

With a loud blow, which could be heard far away in the library, he closed the book and looked at her for a long time. "I will wait for your further words before I speak."

"I have not forgotten my mission, master. I thank you for giving me the opportunity to explain my plan. You must know that the woman who reminds you of your deceased wife is Selina Kyle. She is a world-famous master thief who calls herself Cat-Woman. This woman has a ... let's call it ... interesting story with Batman. It's very possible that she'll show up to save him."

Even if one couldn't see it on her face she waited impatiently if and how Dracula would react. It only took a few moments before Dracula called her to her. As she stood in front of him he pulled her to his lap and gave her a long kiss. This kiss was more than joyfully reciprocated by her, as it was considered her approval of her plan.

"Your foresight is impressive, my beautiful Talia. Who is this human assassin you want to sacrifice?

"He is considered one of the best murderers in the world. The only person he could never kill was Batman. So it was easy to get him to cooperate. He's a pawn sacrifice and I'm sure he knows he is."

"So he will protect himself against betrayal?"

"He always secures himself against everything! But that is unimportant. Batman will overpower him and make sure that all traps are deactivated. And if he is weakened by the fight we will attack him. Even with our reduced powers in the sunlight, he won't be able to fight all your brides."

Gently Dracula took the face of his beautiful wife in his hand and kissed her forehead tenderly. "I warn you Talia. Beware of the one you call Batman. He is more dangerous than you think. Don't underestimate him for a second. I'm afraid he is more than a werewolf now"!

Talia looked at him confused and couldn't explain what he meant by these words. Noticing the questioning expression on his face, he smiled at her. "Please promise me that you will take care of yourself. Likewise to Zatanna!

"What about Vicky?" she asked uncertainly but Dracula didn't answer her question and picked up his book again.

"You should go now! I'm sure you have a lot to prepare."