Love Under the Hood - A Jason Todd X OC Story

Chapter 11: Journey To Hell

Talia stood proudly on the stone dais above the Lazarus pit. She looked out across the chamber, where dozens of her closest followers were assembled below, awaiting their orders. Her gaze traveled down to the center of the pool and she smirked. 

Scarlett was still laying helplessly on the stone tablet. Her lips were dried and cracked from the steam of the chemicals. The hunger in her stomach was tearing at her insides and her mouth was as dry as sandpaper. Talia had given her sparse sips of water, and any bits of food she received she could barely keep down without throwing up. Sleeping was her only salvation. Her own body was starting to feel like dead weight, and for the first time since she had been taken, Scarlett began to lose hope. With eyes battling exhaustion she stared helplessly at the crowd of assassins gathered around her, who were gazing at her captor as if she were a goddess among mortals. 

"Listen well my sisters," Talia said sternly. "Years ago, I took an apprentice under my wing. A lost, broken boy who was destined to lead the League to a brighter future."

"The Fallen Son!" the warriors chanted.

"He showed remarkable diligence and determination unlike any other in a hundred years. Even Batman does not harbor such brutality. When the time came for him to exact revenge upon those who had wronged him, he failed to complete his mission. He has returned to the hopeless ways of his past, bound once again to an endless quest for peace. He neglected his duty to the League and shamed both myself and the great Rā's al Ghūl. For that...he must die."

"What are our orders, Mistress?" an assassin questioned from the front row.

"I have received word that the Fallen Son is on his way...and he is not alone. He is bringing reinforcements."

"A true warrior does not ask others to fight the battle for him!" another interjected from the back of the room. 

"I agree," Talia replied. "That is why I have called upon you.  I do not care about his family. The Fallen Son is mine...the rest I leave to you."

"Yes, Mistress!" they yelled before departing the chamber. Talia smiled briefly to herself before looking back down at Scarlett. She used the tip of her sword to turn Scarlett's head to face her.

"Don't worry," she said mockingly. "This will all be over soon."

"You won't win..." Scarlett whispered.

Talia leaned in closer. "And why is that?"

"Because you're just another psychopath who wants power. As long as Batman is around, you'll never get what you want. He won't fall for your games..."

"You silly little girl. I'm not after Batman."

"Then what do you want?" she pleaded.

Talia grinned maliciously. "A long time ago, while walking along Arkham Island, I found the body of a boy lying in the rubble. He was burned and marked beyond recognition. I almost left him there, but a small insignia on his chest caught my eye. It was a gold letter R."

"Robin..." Scarlett muttered.

"Yes...one of them at least. Tortured and killed by the Joker. I honestly felt bad for the boy. His short-lived existence was stripped away because of his relationship with Batman. Out of pity and curiosity, I carried him back and bathed him in the Lazarus pool. It gave him another chance at life...but it changed him. It made him cruel and bloodthirsty. He promised to one day kill Batman for abandoning him to the clown and replacing him so quickly with another sidekick. I used his hatred and determination to make him the perfect assassin. My father saw power and potential within him. He selected the boy as his heir...and he accepted.  When the time came for him to complete his mission, he failed and disappeared without a trace. I was just about to give up hope, but then a new vigilante appeared in Gotham only a short while ago. But he was unlike the rest of them. Cold, violent..."