The Beast Within

Chapter Forty-Six: The Finale

12 years later.

Jason threw himself up from his bed when he noticed a small note sitting on his windowsill, he opened it up and read 'it's time, meet me at the Gotham Harbor in 30 minutes' he looked out the window but saw there was no one there, he threw on his jacket and jeans and went downstairs, Nyssa stood in the kitchen making breakfast and Jerome was sat at the table helping the twins with their school work "morning Jason, hungry?" she asked serving her kids then husband "uh no not really" he made his way to the front door in a hurry "where are you off to?" Jerome asked then gulped down his coffee "just to meet up with some friends, gotta run" "bye sweetie" Nyssa called then turned to Jerome when he left "he's up to something" "Poppy, Scar, go finish this in your room, mom and I need to talk" the girls nodded and left them both, Nyssa sat next to Jerome and sighed "honey, he's just turned 20, he's probably going to see a girl or something" "no, this is something else I can feel it" she stood up and went to his bedroom "Nyss, do we really wanna be the kind of parents that go through their kids things?" "fine you keep watch, I'll search the room" "this isn't mission impossible, the only people here are us and the twins" "then help me look" she said throwing the bedroom door open and picked up the note on his bed "Jerome, I found this" Jerome took the letter and rolled his eyes "so our son's going out for a booty call?" "no, I- I know this hand writing, I know who sent this, we need to go now!" Nyssa grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the house.

20 minutes earlier.

Jason stood on the pier by the water when he felt a breeze hit his back "I was wondering when you'd show" he turned around to be face to face with the slender old man he couldn't forget about since that day he met him years ago "you've definitely grown up Jason" "I have, but you already knew that right? you've been watching me?" "I have, ever since you were a youngster" "who are you?" "that's not what's of importance right now, come with me and claim your destiny" "what is my destiny?" "follow me and find out" Jason sucked in a deep breath and followed the old man they walked down into an old underground lair "where are we?" he questioned as he watched the old man walk into a room that had many stairs leading up to a throne.

"We are at the beginning of your destiny" "what am I supposed to do?" "now you make a choice, stand with me and become the man your mother intended, or refuse and live a life for the ordinary always wondering what if" "I want to accept my destiny" "perfect, I knew you were the one the prophecy spoke of, I young Jason, am Ra's Al Ghul" "you're my mother's-" "father!" a voice broke through the cave and Jason's eyes went wide "ah my darling little Nyssa, what has the world done to you?" Ra's said stepping down a few steps "you get the hell away from my son" she snapped in anger "your son? he doesn't know?" Jason turned to Ra's in surprise "what don't I know?" "father don't!" she pleaded "Jason, the woman you call your mother is your real mother's sister, your mother was Talia Al Ghul, the true heir to me and the real blood running through your veins".

"Mom, i-is this true?" "she's not your mother! she's the reason your mother is dead! her and that filthy Valeska bastard!" Ra's' voice roared through the cave "Jason, I love you, you're my son" "is this true? are you not my real mother?" "I-" "yes" a defeated voice broke "you and Jax are Talia's son's" Jerome said seeing the hurt and pain in his son's eyes, Jason turned to Ra's with an evil hatred in his eyes "I accept your offer, I am the next heir" "Jason no!" Nyssa screamed but it was too late, Ra's raised his sword and placed it in Jason's hands, Jerome watched in horror as the veins in Jason's body glowed and his forest green eyes morphed black "Jason Al Ghul, my new heir and grandson, finish them!" Ra's ordered, Jason turned to his parents and he was unrecognizable to them.

Nyssa swallowed her tears and went to step forward but a hand on her wrist stopped her "Jerome-" "Nyssa, wait, I have to be the one to stop him" "no, he's accepted his Al Ghul side, I can stop him" "no Nyssa, not this time, I won't let you walk through the fire this time, before I met you I was empty, I wanted nothing more than to end it all, then you came along and lit up my darkness and showed me what love truly felt like, you saved me, now it's my turn to save you" he kissed her head gently and made his way up the stairs "Jason, I know you're hurt and angry right now, but this isn't you" "pitiful words from a dead man" Jason bellowed "I'm sorry son, I know it was a mistake to keep it from you, the truth is, Talia was the woman who gave birth to you, but she wasn't your mother.. your mother is right down there waiting for her son to come back to her".

"Don't listen Jason, fight it" Ra's said standing next to Jason and placing a hand on his shoulder "I-" Jason tried to get out but his throat felt like it was closing "we may not have given you the life you deserve, but this isn't your life son, you may be an Al Ghul by blood, but Talia wanted me to raise you as a Valeska and that's what I've done, you're Jason Todd Valeska" Jason felt his head and heart battle each other until he finally lowered the sword in his hand "I- I'm so sorry da-" "NO!" Ra's called.

In a flash took the sword from Jason's grip and plunged in through Jerome's gut "DAD!" Jason called trying to help him but Jerome's body fell backwards down the stairs, Nyssa ran to his side and placed her head in his lap "Jerome, no, no! this can't be happening!" "N-Nyss-" "shh don't try to talk, I'm right here" "Nyssa, it's my time" "don't talk like that, you're gonna be okay!" "not this time baby, I've lived a good life, but all good things come to an end" no, no, no! this isn't the end our story isn't over yet Jerome" she hugged his body and let her tears slide down her face and stain her cheeks "take care of our kids, I love you" in one quick movement Jerome ripped the sword from his stomach and threw it in the air, a strong hand gripped the sword and it's sharp blade plunged through a fleshy chest, Nyssa looked up as a scream filled the air, Jason was pushing the blade all the way through Ra's' heart until he was nothing but a pile of dust, Jason's black eyes morphed back into his forest green ones and he ran down the stairs to his father's side "dad! dad I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry!" Nyssa held Jason close and stroked his hair "it's not your fault" they both sat there for a while as they both cried.

Jerome's body was taken to the hospital and Nyssa sat by his side, the hospital door suddenly flew open and GCPD officers swamped the room, Jim Gordon handcuffed Jerome's arms to his bed "Jim! what are you doing!?" she said grabbing hold of Jerome's hand "Jerome Valeska's body belongs in GCPD custody as of this point" "you can't take him Jim!" she snapped standing her ground "don't worry he'll be well looked after, in the Arkham Asylum hospital" "you're not taking him!" she growled out, Jim looked around the room to his men and sighed "everyone stand down, wait for me outside" "but sir, Valeska is-" "in a coma he's unlikely to wake up from, everyone out, now" he commanded and within seconds the officers were gone.

"I don't care what you say, he's not going anywhere" "you could have really become someone Nyssa, you used to help this city, now you're one of the people this city needs to be safe from you and this clown you call the prince of crime, he's going to Arkham, but don't worry he won't be alone, because you'll be there too" "Jim-" "Nyssa Al Ghul you are under arrest" he went to grab her wrist but she jumped back "a few things first Jimmy" "fine, there's no where for you to run anyway, let's hear it" "firstly, it's Valeska, I'm Nyssa Valeska the queen of Gotham city" "secondly?" "well, my husband isn't the only one they call the prince of crime in this city" Jim's eyes widened but before he could react he was on the floor with a bleeding head and Jeremiah stood over him with the butt of his gun sticking out "I figured you'd need some help" "thanks Jeremiah" "no thanks necessary, you and my brother are family, now let's get you both home" "our house will be swamped with cops" "not to worry, I already have a place for you all" Nyssa stepped out into the hall and saw all the officers laying on the ground with their throats slit, she smirked and stepped over their bodies.

14 months later.

Nyssa sat by Jerome's side as he laid unconsciously in a bed connected to monitors and IV drips "darling, it's been months, maybe it's time to accept-" "don't Miah, he's not dead, I can feel it" Jeremiah nodded and took her hand leading her away from the body "I know it's hard, but sometimes we need to let go" "I- I can't" Jeremiah threw his arms around her slim body and she cried heavily into his chest, over on the bed Jerome's blood rushed through this body desperately fighting for circulation, his insides convulsed and his heart rate picked up, his body desperately forced itself to push through the barrier that was stopping him, as soon as he broke the force keeping him stuck in his comatose state his greenish blue eyes shot open.