Veil of Shadows ๋࣭⭑⚝ Dick Grayson

4 ๋࣭⭑⚝ Nightmare Lane

"Hey, Rach. Have you seen Dick around?"

Jules poked her head into the room, spotting the teen perched cross-legged on the bed. Rachel was surrounded by a mess of candy wrappers, happily munching on a chocolate bar while her eyes stayed glued to the TV.

"He went out for pizza," Rachel replied, her voice muffled by her snack.

"I just went to shower for like fifteen minutes..." Jules muttered under her breath. "Did you tell him to—"

"Not get pineapple on it, yep," Rachel interjected without breaking focus on the screen.

Jules let out a soft chuckle and stepped over to the dresser to brush her damp hair. Just as she picked up the brush, her phone buzzed. Glancing at the screen, a familiar name popped up. Her expression shifted slightly, and she lifted the phone, hesitating for a moment before speaking.

"Hey, Rach. I need to take a really important call. You stay here. If anything happens, just scream my name, okay?"

"Hm? Oh—yeah, yeah," Rachel responded curtly, waving her off.

Jules slipped outside the motel room, bringing the phone to her ear. "Hey, Aunt Laura."

"What’s this I hear about you taking a break from real estate?" her aunt’s sharp voice cut through the line.

"I... got dragged into something."

"Is that 'something' a demon child and the Bat’s bird?"

Jules let out a tired laugh. "Interesting description."

"Do you need backup?"

"Don’t think the little bird would agree," Jules replied, chewing her cheek as she wandered around the building.

"Figured as much. Good luck on your rendezvous. I’ll take care of the house; don’t worry about it."

"Thanks." She paused, her brows furrowing. "Wait, how did you even know about all this?"

"The walls have ears, Julie," Laura said cryptically with a chuckle.

"Quit the act. It was either Bruce or Alfred, and my money’s on the butler over the Bat."

Laura laughed. "You caught me. Alfred filled me in. Apparently, Dick called him. Sounded lighter than usual, so Alfred figured you were with him."

"How does that man know everything?" Jules muttered, half-amused.

"I ask him the same about Bruce," Laura quipped.

Jules was about to respond when the air suddenly shifted, heavy and oppressive. Her skin prickled with unease, and goosebumps rose on her arms.

"Hey, I think I’ve got to go. I’ll call you back if anything happens."

"Alright. Do me and Bruce a favor—keep yourself and that bird alive, would you?"

"Will do," Jules mumbled, hanging up and rushing back into the room.

---

When Jules reentered, she found Rachel curled up on the bed, arms wrapped tightly around her knees as she rocked back and forth, mumbling under her breath.

"Rachel?" Jules whispered, approaching cautiously. She reached out to place a comforting hand on her shoulder, but the teen reacted violently, gripping her arm and twisting it with surprising strength.

Jules cried out as she was thrown to the ground, her arm catching on the edge of the glass coffee table. The sharp pain and sight of blood caught Rachel’s attention, and her face crumpled in horror.