Talon (Dick Grayson)

Chapter 1

Today is the day. Today is the day I become my true self, and the day I become who I have strived to be since my recruitment one year ago.

Today is the day.

I examine the bland hallway as I wait.

Today is the day.

The day is white, colorless, yet full of life.

Today is the day.

The day will soon be red, stained with color, yet lifeless and dead.

Today is the day.

"Come, Richard. It is time." William Cobb, my great granduncle stands rigid and waits for me.

Today is the day.

William leads me to a dark, secluded room.

Today is the day.

"Sit, Richard. It is time. If you have any hesitation or doubt, don't." William regards me with golden eyes.

I nod and sit in the chair.

Today is the day, I tell myself.

Chains are wrapped around my wrists, ankles, and torso.

Deep breathes, I chant mentally, don't resist.

Without a warning, I feel a freezing cold needle break through the skin on the nape of my neck.

I grit my teeth and and my fists close tightly around the arm rests.

It seem as if an acid is coursing through my veins and is burning me from the inside out. I can track the path of it as the freezing sting creeps from my neck to my fingertips and legs.

Once the sting has covered my whole body, I relax a little, thinking my pain is over.

Moments later, pangs of burning sensations attacked my eyes. Caught off guard, I accidentally gasp and my muscles flex from the pain. I open my eyes and see William's disapproving frown before snapping them shut.

Suddenly, my chest convulses and a freezing burn spreads through my entire body in the blink of an eye. My wrists strain against the chains, the armrest forgotten. I struggle against the clanking chains, but allow no sounds to escape my lips.

My thoughts blur together, and my senses shut down.

When my eyes flutter open, I see my great granduncle's proud smirk.

"Congratulations, the Court is satisfied with your performance. You made no significant sounds under the pain." I feel a comfortable burn in my chest--unlike the one from before, this one was warm.

"Come, they wish to meet you officially."

Eagerly, I stand from the chair and walk out.

Soon, we approach large double doors and stop.

"Enter," the Grandmaster's voice reaches us and echoes with a rich tone.

William pushes the doors open and moves aside so that I can enter.

I enter confidently, but a little cautiously. Masked face surround me and I stride to the center of the room and kneel.

"The transition was successful, correct?"

"Yes, Grandmaster."

"It was not too painful to be killed and revived by the electrum?"

"Nothing I can not handle, Grandmaster."

"Excellent. Now, who are you, boy?"

I smile; it was finally time.

I raise my head and look up at the Grandmaster with cold, calculating golden eyes.

"My loyalty is to the Court of Owls. I am to serve the Court and only the Court. I am Talon, Grandmaster."

><

For five months, William and I train together. We become partners, friends, and family. I have yet to receive a mission, but I hope to do it with William.

"Talon, the Court requires your presence." William stands in the doorway to the training room. I sheathe my katana and walk to his side.

Much like five months ago, William pushes the doors away and steps out of the way. I walk in, my back straightened and helmet in my hands. I kneel and hand my head to look at the ground.

"Rise, Talon. The Court has decided to give you your first assignment. William Cobb has reported that you are ready to become a true Talon and make your first kill." Five months ago, I might have felt nervous, but with the electrum, I feel anticipation and eagerness.

"As tradition, whenever a new Talon is ready, he or she is placed within the labyrinth with their possible predecessor. Within the labyrinth, it is life or death. To become a true Talon, you must find and kill William Cobb." With that, both William and I are grabbed by reanimated Talons from the past and knocked out.

><

When I come to, all I see is white. I'm lying face down on a cool surface. I push myself away from the ground and stand up. White walls surround me from every direction except for six openings--passages or hallways. I remember my encounter with the Court and my mission. I'm in the labyrinth and William is too.

I take out two of my daggers. With a start, I realize my daggers and knives have been switched with Talon blade--designed to destroy Talons.

I'm brought out of my thoughts by a sharp whistle through the air. At the last moment, I roll and turn to face my great granduncle. Both of us are without our helmets to make killing each other easier. Knives fly at me, aiming for vital organs. Instinctively, I reach over my shoulder for my katana and block the knives. When the last knife clatters to the ground, I'm already blocking a slash of a blade from William. Our blades clash with a clang. Locked together, the blades screech as they glide across each other.

Thinking quickly, I twist my blade and push against William's blade, making the dagger fly from his grip. I send a kick at his chest and he crashes into the wall of the labyrinth. I pin him to the wall and hold the dagger at his adam's apple. I stare into his eyes, and I find myself paralyzed with fear.

In my moment of hesitation, William uses his gauntlet to knock the dagger away from his throat and stabs me in the stomach. Immediately, I roll backwards to dodge a swipe of a dagger aimed at my neck.

I'm shocked that my mentor and great granduncle would attempt to kill me. I can feel the electrum healing my wound the second a pull out the knife in my stomach. The cold, harsh burn sends another rush of adrenaline through my body.

Suddenly, I feel angry. I have done everything for William, and the second he was assigned to kill me, he forgets everything we've done together. When William charges me again, a dagger in each hand, I sidestep and attempt to trip him. He launches into a front handspring to dodge.

Once he lands, I kick him hard enough to crack a rib or two. Without pausing, I pin him against the wall and push a dagger into his shoulder blade. I can feel his body tense, pained, and tortured. "You know, WIlliam, in the times we trained together and you trained me, I thought we had bonded." He manages a sarcastic chuckle before a shove another blade into his other shoulder. He takes in a shuddering breath. "I guess I was wrong, granduncle."

I'm merciful enough to make his end fast--Talon blade straight through the heart.

The second he is dead, I feel liberated--free of him.

At the same time, I feel enclosed--chained by death.

I don't care.

I am Talon.