Dracula punishes the Riddler. There are things worse than death

It took hours for Dracula and his new companion to get back to the city and the more or less secret storage room for the food. More or less secret because it was blazing in the dark and people stood in front of it and tried to extinguish it. Carrying the unconscious Talia on his shoulder, he sighed loudly and went with her to the old factory. Neither his wife was there nor did he find one of his slave's servants. Enigma herself sat cowered together on the floor and whimpered in panic. When he saw Dracula enter the room, he ran into a corner and babbled about something that wasn't his fault and that Batman had cheated.

Sighed loudly again, he ignored him and brought Talia into the bedroom, slightly surprised that his first wife did not expect him here. Only then did he go back to Enigma and sit on a sofa with a relatively relaxed effect and simply look at the pile of misery. It took Enigma until he came out of shock and noticed Dracula's calm and relaxation.

"I can explain all this, master! It wasn't my fault!" He started immediately and Dracula smiled.

"This man you call the Batman, I take it?" He smiled calmly and his expression was that of a kind, a little indifferent ruler.

"Him and his crazy colleague called the Huntress! She's even worse than he is because she knows no moral boundaries! The woman's crazy!"

"You let a woman defeat you... Oh, wait... The women of this time are quite more powerful and capable than many a man! Forgive me!" Dracula smiled and Enigma naturally noticed the insult, but he better ignored it while Dracula was still in a good mood.

"That's what he tells me! What exactly happened and more importantly!" His moves became cold and hard. "WHERE... IS... MY... Wife?" He said slowly and threateningly.

"The mistress hastened after the bat. I assume she wanted to catch him for you, master. But it will certainly be all right! I've been watching the whole city and nobody from the league is here! So she won't run the risk of walking into the hands of a Kryptonian."

"It's reassuring, especially since she's just arrived!" He smiled and as if on command the door opened and a leather-skinned Zatanna limped into the room. Even though her wounds had already regenerated, Bruce's radiation had been extremely painful.

"I see you've stumbled upon my enemy?" Dracula smiled and Zatanna nodded as she entered.

"I wanted to do you a favor and catch him! I thought that you..."

"YOU'RE NOT HERE TO HUNT MY PREY, WOMAN!" Dracula literally exploded as he jumped off the couch. His voice boomed and echoed in the room and while Zatanna took a few steps back, Enigma literally jumped under his desk in fear.

"You are here to be by my side!" Said Dracula as sweet as sugar when he appeared out of nowhere just behind Zatanna. Even the vampire hadn't even seen that move. "You are here to advise me, to reveal new paths to me. You're here to please my dead heart and share my bed! But most of all, you're here to ease my endless agony!" He said gently before surprisingly grabbing her by the throat and lifting her up.

Even though Zatanna no longer needed oxygen, her breathing was still part of her actions and the pain and knowledge that her trachea was being squeezed made her wriggle violently.

"And I would very much appreciate it if you would stop trying to prove yourself, yes? You are my first bride! YOU are MINE! And that will never change! Until your death you will be my wife! No one will be able to save you! Not even that Batman!" He said sternly and dropped her to the ground.

He guessed right. Zatanna looked at him begging.

"Promise me, my love!" Breathed it as she clung to his leg. "Promise me I'll be your wife till the end! I can't stand the thought of ever being apart from you again!"

He gently stroked her cheek and gallantly helped her up. Enigma was no longer surprised by Dracula's erratic behavior. Sometimes he was a despicable monster and sometimes a perfect gentleman. His nature was completely unpredictable.

"Nothing will ever free you from my curse, Zatanna! For you will serve me for all eternity!" He smiled and sat down on his sofa again.

She immediately jumped into his arms and snuggled up to him. "Have you at least found a new bride for us dearest?" She immediately asked in a good mood again and noticed his, rather unusual, good mood.

"Yes, I have my love and you will like it, but first I have to take care of this one there! Cause my wife needs food and I think we don't have anything right now?" He asked Enigma who made himself even smaller than possible.

"Forgive me, master! But I was powerless over her and your wife was gone! I had no choice!"

"Do you know what happens to a frog thrown into a blender, you worm?" Ruling him over Zatanna, angry that he dared to blame her, but Dracula waved off.

"Calm down, my dear. I have no intention of killing this worm! Should he manage to solve some riddles for me! After all, this is the least I can do for him to lead me to you!"

"Yes Master! I will solve your riddles!" Enigma beamed with a newly found confidence and Zatanna looked closely and suspiciously at her lover. She sensed a trap and was curious what it would look like.

"That's how we get to the first riddle! Solve this and two more will follow. If you can solve all three, your life will go on. If you fail, I will offer you eternal salvation!"

Zatanna raised an eyebrow in astonishment. Her husband's choice of words was strange and strange.

"I challenge the master of riddles. In areas of knowledge, organization and underground, we are the only threat the Lord of Mysteries knows. But am I alone or am I several? Who are the challengers in Gotham?" Dracula asked and got a glass of red wine.

"That's an easy question, but it's true of two people to master! I won't be fooled that easily! There are only two who could take me... This is the penguin and this is Two Face. But neither of them can compete with my mind." Enigma said visibly proud as Dracula nodded contentedly and Zatanna slowly had an idea what he was up to.

"So we come to the second riddle. I'm curious if you master this kind of puzzle, too. Im strong as a rock, but a worden can destroy me. What am I?

Enigma's superior smile only increased and without much thought, he said.

"Silence!"

"I'm impressed Enigma... Your mind is extremely sharp. I hope there's nothing to damage him! That seems terrible to me or isn't that what you fear?" Dracula asked casually.

"There is nothing worse than the Master! I'd rather die! How was your third riddle master?"

Zatanna could no longer hold on to herself and laughed up loudly, drawing a confused glance from Enigma.

"Fool! For a man who pretends to be so intelligent, you're a real fool."

"I see you get it, my love?" Asked Dracula and kissed her hand.

"I admit it took a little time, but now I see your plan. You've overcome the master of riddles and he doesn't even know it!"

"What does that mean, Zatanna?" Enigma asked pissed off.

"May I dissolve it?" She asked and as Dracula nodded at him. "The first mystery was his question as to who could replace you if you were of value to him or no longer. And you idiot presented it to him on a silver platter! The second puzzle, however, was just there to keep you safe. Didn't you notice that you could NEVER impress our master with your ability to solve stupid pseudo puzzles? It was just the transition to the third puzzle!"

Enigma started to tremble. Did he miss something? Had Dracula set him up? What did she mean by the third riddle?

"It was about what you fear most... and if you had failed... he would have given you salvation." She smiled as she got up from her seat.

"But you said that if I failed, I would die." The Riddler whimpered when he saw the sexy witch coming towards him.

"Yes... And I said that death would be your salvation." Nodded Dracula when Zatanna cast a spell.

Enigma felt kind of weird all of a sudden. Not bad or something... It's just funny.

"what have you done to me?"

"I only took something you loved and dear to you!"

"And what?"

"Your mind"

"That's impossible! I'm still the smartest person on this planet... thing-- Dirty.. Ball?" He looked around in confusion. He knew exactly that he should know all these things. He should know everything and yet... He could no longer access the knowledge. It was like hidden in a cell out of his reach.

"You tookme my Intelgani..... interleo..... you made me become stupid!" He stammered and cried out in panic. "I'm the smartest person in the world! I'm trapped making spades!" He stammered. In his mind, the words sounded completely different as they left his mouth. Within his mind he was still the ingenious Riddler, but he was unable to express or implement these thoughts meaningfully. He felt a load above him collapse and pulled a gun to sit on his neck. He wouldn't want to live like that.

With a loud bang he blew his skull off just to experience how his head didn't turn into mud and Zatanna smiled at him diabolically.

"I beg you, Enigma... You will suffer forever! You can't end your life! I made sure of that! For all eternity you will remember what a genius you were and want to find ways to heal yourself! But that's not gonna happen!"

Dracula grinned at him.

"That's the punishment for daring to disappoint me." Then he got up and went to him. With a violent jerk he tore both arms and legs out of his body. But the wounds closed immediately and he carelessly threw the body in front of one of Enigma's bats.

"Take it out of my sight and take it somewhere I'll never have to see it again!"

"No Master! I can make good again with chocolate?! No, I meant I'm good milk! PLEASE MASTER! HAVE MERCY!" Screamed the Riddler in panic as he was carried away. He would vegetate for the rest of his life as a helpless shell and be trapped in his body! The realization of this slowly drove him mad and his panic cries turned into a giggle and laugh that would give even the Joker goose bumps, while the laughter slowly resisted in the wide aisles of the factory.

"And now my love! Let's go find my sister! Has she changed yet?" Asked a purring Zatanna who still had no idea who her new bride would be.

"Not no yet! But her mind is unique. I was going to do it with you, but you have to go now! I need blood for my bride." He smiled and let his fingers wander over her neckline. "Be a good bride and go where many people are! Let them follow you like rats they are!"

"The Pied Piper of Hamelin!" Zatanna smiled as her eyes glowed and a flute appeared from her top hat. "Your wish be my command, master!" Breathed her before she left