New Threats are forming

"'They're starting to forget Him, Dinah.'" Olli said with a sigh as he dropped into his chair, looking tired. He was aware that he was no longer one of the youngest and even in his younger days it had been hard to keep up with some of the league members, but now... everything was just different.

"Are you surprised? They grew up with his stories in which he was more than a god. All the acts of heroism he committed, his sacrifices... we lived to see it, but they... they just can't believe it." Said Dinah, putting a hand on his shoulder. He was right. The current generation had grown up without people like Superman or Diana. The new generation had grown up with the new Batman, Nightwing and ... worst of all, Lex Luthor. "At least the President is making sure he's never forgotten."

"Bad enough, isn't it?" laughed Olli, smirking. "That we'd ever be glad of President Luthor... we live in a crazy world, don't we?"

"True, but you have to admit... he's a different Lex than when he was younger!"

"True. I sometimes wonder what he went through in the tree. He never talked about it, only that it changed his view of the world. But we have to do something, Dinah. We can't let him be forgotten. Not after all he's sacrificed."

"Honey. We've been over this before. He can't live on Earth anymore. We've all seen it. His kind... he's not a Kryptonian anymore. He's a Krypto Wolf now. He left Earth himself to protect us all."

"But they've evolved. They're not like Carn'el anymore. They have created a real civilization and their numbers are growing ceaselessly." He indicated.

"According to Karen, their birth rate has slowed. They are finally overcoming certain urges and if I remember correctly there are almost a million of them. But Clark, Lois and Karen make sure they never forget their heritage. But that doesn't change the fact that his kind is no longer welcome here on Earth. Dracula made that very clear." She replied and sat down on the back of the chair. "Darling. It's been 20 years. We have to make sure Earth's future is safe. We have to show these puppets how real heroes behave."

" Puppets. Were we any different before? Remember my costume?" he laughed with amusement.

"Well. Mine still suits me! But mhm... only a few of them have the necessary talent and skills."

"True!" he said, leaning back. I think I'll be leaving tomorrow."

"To see him?"

"Yes."

At the same time in Transylvania.

The land had changed under Dracula's control. After the island of the Amazons had been rendered uninhabitable by the corrupted magic of Dinah, Dracula had used the power of his castle for another transportation. He had offered asylum to all the Amazons and so they had moved with all their possessions to the new lands. Dracula had given an ultimatum to the mortals of the land and demonstrated his power. Most had voluntarily left their ancestral homeland when the legendary Vlad Tepes returned and the few fools who wanted to fight faced an army of Amazons. Knowing that they had no chance, they finally retreated. There had been no human life in the land for years, and the Amazons and the monsters that Dracula had created made sure it stayed that way. The prince’s castle loomed like a dark claw from the mountains of the land and served as a reminder to all others that the prince would tolerate no challenge. At the foot of the mountain, the Amazons had begun to rebuild their houses and their temples.

They were supported by some creatures of the night loyal to Dracula. At first some Amazons had resisted, but now they saw what their queen had recognized in Dracula. He was part of their past. He had fought alongside the Amazons long before the island had been created by the gods. The Amazons were welcome in his castle and many of them used the vampire's vast libraries to learn more about their history. But above all, hundreds of them were recreating the sacred scriptures they had lost in their homeland. Dracula even tolerated the construction of a new temple dedicated to the goddess Hera and the father of the gods Zeus. Even though many Amazons believed that they had incurred the wrath of the gods through their deeds, the eternal flame burned brightly the moment the priestesses blessed the place.

The Gods were still with them and that gave all of them Hope. Some Day they would regain their Honor. Until this day they would Protect Dracula as a sign of Respect. But not one Amazon didn´t dream of returning to the Homeland.

Dracula tolerated this belief and the influence of the Greek gods only because his wife asked him to. An ancient quarrel lay between him and Zeus, but for the good of the Amazons he allowed it. But most of the Amazons had not seen the vampire for many years. He rarely left the castle anymore and according to rumors he spent a lot of time in the heart of the castle concentrating. Even the magically unaware Amazons sensed the growing power of the castle. For years the power of the castle continued to grow.

While Dracula spent a lot of time in the castle, it was different with Selina. She rarely took human form and, in keeping with her new nature, hunted through the woods and hunted prey. The rest of the time she spent with the Amazons, helping them to cope with their new situation. They were lost and looking for a new purpose. Selina was also sad since her children had moved out into the world. There they wanted to gain experience with humanity and learn their own lessons.

But because she was worried about her children despite all her power, Selina had asked her old friends at the League to look after them. She sensed that something was bothering her beloved and that he was preparing for something big. She had never asked him, she trusted him completely, but she was aware that it would happen very soon. She did not possess the same abilities as Bastet and yet she felt the power of fate waiting for them all.

Dracula was preparing for a fight. A battle he knew he could lose. A battle the likes of which the world had never seen. A battle... where the fate of mankind would be decided once and for all.

Far to the north.

The man's footsteps echoed like thunderclaps through the cave passages, punctuated only by the dull thud of a walking stick. These caves had not been entered by anyone for over a thousand years. Not a mortal being since Beowulf. Slowly, the man stepped out of one of the cave passages and looked up at mountains of gold and jewels looming before him. Treasures that could drive any man mad left the visitor completely cold. He was here for something more valuable than gold.

Slowly he stepped to the edge of the lake and smiled.

"Deofla!" the man standing there on the shore called out in a loud, clear and beautiful voice. The man himself was of indescribable beauty and grace. He wore a pitch-black suit and carried a silver walking stick in his hand. Like a king, he stood imperiously on the shore and waited for a reaction, which was not long in coming.

Suddenly, liquid gold appeared in the middle of the lake, spreading out like a carpet on the water. Motionless, the man watched as the lake slowly transformed before his eyes and then a face slowly emerged from the gold.

The woman who slowly emerged was as beautiful as he was, her long black hair hanging smoothly over her shoulders and golden pearls of water dripping from her flawless face. Curiously, 2 snake-like eyes gazed at the man who had dared to enter her sacred chambers.

"How are you? It has been a long time since we last saw each other." Smiled the man.

"What are you doing here?" hissed the woman angrily as he spoke to her so arrogantly.

"Are you still grieving for your son?" the man smiled impassively.

"don't you ever dare mention GRENDEL!" hissed the woman angrily, and through her anger the water began to boil. The earth shook at the sound of her voice and an unnatural heat spread through the cave. The woman's formerly stunning face showed for a brief moment a demonic version of herself, no less beautiful, but terrifying in an eerie way.

"I'll take that as a yes." He grinned broadly, completely unimpressed by the effect her voice had caused, or the change in her face. "But I'm not here to challenge or insult you. On the contrary. I have an offer for you!"

"What could you possibly offer me?"

"A man worthy of being the father of your child! Cain Adamson!" the man smiled as he played his final joker. Immediately the water stopped boiling and the woman's expression changed.

"I'm all ears.... Lucifer. Oh, and call me by my real name."

"You're welcome.... Lilith!" grinned Lucifer Morningstar.