This chapter is dedicated to my grandmother, who lost her battle to cancer a few days ago. Last week was one of the worst weeks I had ever gone through.

I love you, Grandma.

Oh, and :

F*ck Cancer.

(21 july 2021 update; I was diagnosed with cancer too around 6 months ago. Almost the same type that took my grandmother's life. I am doing well for now, and f*ck cancer. )

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[ d a m i a n ]

"I would highly appreciate if Master hadn't spilled blood on the carpet." Alfred sighs, a placid look on his face.

"Hate to break it to you, Pennyworth, but you live in a house full of vigilantes." Damian retorts, walking into the living room, holding a glass of water.

He was shirtless, only wearing black pants. His toned chest was full of scars, due to his hard training these past few days.

"You're training harder than usual. Everything okay?" Jason asks, opening a can of soda, chugging it down. Damian blatantly ignored him, walking upstairs.

"He'll be fine. He's Damian Wayne, after all." Alfred sighs, proceeding to clean the blood stained carpet.

~

[ a l i n a ]

The first blow lands in her stomach, sending her flying across the room, smashing against the window.

The window shattered as her body collided into it; as she fell down to the garden.

I ran to the window, looking down. She's laying on the ground; but gets up again.

I jump from the window, landing almost roughly to the ground. This part of the garden is private, unfortunately; there are no guards posted here.

"You're the most ungrateful brat I've raised. I gave you these powers so you could show your allegiance to me!"

"I don't want to kill you, Talia. Don't make me do it." I spoke loudly, threatening her as I aimed at her. She just stands, a rabid expression on her face.

I didn't want my child growing up knowing that I murdered his or her grandmother.

"You're just like my son. I trained you both for excellence, so that we can finally cleanse this world; and yet you both betrayed me!"

I say nothing, still aiming at her. My level of hatred I once felt for her had diminished. She had destroyed my life, killing almost everyone I loved; yet I'm not going to do the same for her.

She needs help, she cannot think clearly.

"You're mad." I laugh out loud, shaking my head at her.

All of this suffering, and for what?

So that I could be her weapon? To rule the world?

"As you know, you're not the only one infused with that antidote, Alina. There are others. Like you. But I can't let you run away just like that. You either join me, or die." She proposes, tilting her head.

"I'd rather die."

"Well then, let me grant this wish for you."  She smiles, lunging at me with her sword. I quickly dodge her, sending a powerful punch to her rib. Almost too powerful. She shouts, her screams reverberating in the air.

"Alina! Is everything okay?! Where are you?" A voice shouts from the other side, and lose my breath.

Nathan.

Before I could reply, he barged in along with his security guards. His face looked restless.

"Nathan, get out!" Instead, he ignores me, his attention is towards Talia.

She smiles, looking down. "So, the King has arrived, huh?" She mocks, pointing at him with her sword. "Thank you, for bringing her here." She smiles, pointing at me.

"If you want to 'kill' me, why not do it in Gotham?" I asked.

"I knew that my own son would kill me if I even stared at you. I needed to wait until you two were apart."

"Talia. Leave, now." Nathan grits, walking towards me. His hatred towards her is as big as mine, if not bigger.

"I don't think so, Your Highness. Not until I get what I want." She smiles, pointing at me. Nathan steps forward, but I quickly notices Talia's stance.

She wants to hurt him.

I jump forward, grabbing her by the neck, holding her tightly on the spot like a dog on a leash.

"Don't even think about it." I whisper to her ear, and she laughs, despite being helpless.

"Guards, arrest her." Nathan commands them, and they step forward towards me and Talia.

This time, she laughs as loudly as ever. Her laugh is mocking, taunting, maddening. "You must think I'm an idiot. I don't lose that easily." She smiles.

"You see, I replaced those guards with my own." Her voice becomes dangerous, and I suddenly find myself screaming at Nathan.

Watch out!

But it comes out silent.

But then, just like those years ago, I feel helpless once more.

I didn't have time to react. I stood hopelessly as I watched in shock as I stared at the sword cutting through my brother's body, searing through his heart; the blood flowing intently by the cut.

"NATHAN!"

"I'm sorry." He whispers at me, weakly, as the sword leaves his body, who drops faintly on the ground. I gasp loudly in disbelief. No, no, no!

I let go of Talia, and with a flick of my hand, my brother's killer had his neck broken.

"Hey, hey.. You're okay, you're okay, you know that?" I grasped both of his cheeks, I couldn't hear anything else besides my uncontrollable sobbing.

"Nathan, you're okay! You're okay!" I screamed, shaking his lifeless body angrily. "Please, please.."

"Say something!"

I looked into his face once more, hoping to see those bright eyes of his staring back at me one more time. But no, they were lifeless. Like my parents.

"Oh God, what have I done.." I sobbed, rocking him back and forth, burying my face into his neck. He smelled of pine leaves, somehow. He's always smelled like that.

"Nathan, don't leave me!" I pulled away, looking into his fresh wound. Blood oozed from it unstoppably. "Oh my god, no, oh god!" My hand tried to cover his wound, shaking at the contact of his fresh blood.

"I'm sorry, but it was necessary." Talia breathes out, looking down. Her guards surrounded her from behind.

"You killed him!" I scream at her, tears wetting my face as I held Nathan's body.

"I had to, just like your parents."

I slowly put Nathan's body on the ground, my hand sliding across his eyes, closing them forever. This would be the last time I'd see those eyes of his. Intelligent, sharp. Loving.

My leg wobbles as I stood up, clenching my hands tightly. I could hear my heart beating frantically. Red. All I see is red.

Looking at her, I see the face of a murderer. My parents, and now my brother. I've lost my brother, my big brother.

"The next person on my list is Michael. Would you like to watch as I kill him?" She taunts, playing with her sword. Oh, how much I loathe her.

I scream, so loudly, that I felt a new surge of power emerging from inside me. A force of wind ripples through me, sending Talia and her guards collapsing against the wall.

"You're wrong. The next blood to be spilled is yours." I whisper, and with a movement of my hand, all of her guards dropped to the ground, lifeless.

Flickering my hand, Talia shouts in pain, dropping to the ground screaming. I can't control myself, the anger bottled up inside me is surfacing, the trigger being my brother. Every cell in my body is responding to my wishes, and it's to kill the woman who destroyed my life.

Another scream tore out of me, the grounds were shaking. She looks at me, surprised, telling her guards to stand back. She thinks she can protect them from me, she's dead wrong.

Globs of dirt, water and dust starts forming, raising high above ground, as the skies turns into a darker shade of blue, the winds howling violently. The air turns dangerous. Thunders are heard nearby.

What kind of power did she give me?

Panic flashes across Talia's face for a brief second.

"Goodbye, Talia." I whisper, sending a powerful array of energy towards her.

_______________________

I never got to say goodbye to my grandma.

p.s :

Please excuse the grammatical mistakes in this chapter, I had a hard time concentrating on things lately.

~

Rest in Peace to both Nathan and my grammy.