The Devil's Daughter (Damirae)

Chapter 10

Damian's Journal:

My father has always been a tough yet reasonable man. This is shown by many of the things he has told me.

And yet, when he heard about Troy, he went ballistic. I can't possibly imagine why. I didn't kill her, I was just attempting to strengthen her.

Anyway, after that argument was finished he told me that there was a new League of Assassins under a new leader. He couldn't get any information on who it was, but he believed it was too close to the Joker's coming back to not be related: that and the fact that every soldier in the new League was deathly afraid of their new leader. So afraid that even Batman could not squeeze information out of them.

The Joker is adept at mind games, yes, but I can't imagine the Joker at the head of a group like that. It's just not who he is. The Joker is an arbiter of chaos. He romances chaos in his extremely twisted way. The League doesn't. Order is a very important trait to them.

No, whoever this was, it was a new person.

I am concerned about what will happen with the new League and I am considering going to one of their old warehouses and checking to see if they are still operational. Of course, this would have to be done undercover.

There's an art gallery here in the city with an underground base beneath it. I could go in, under the guise of a rich collector's son, and then sneak under and steal files from their computers. Being Bruce Wayne's actual son, this would not be difficult to pull off. In the moment I actually told my father all of this and he agreed to do it.

I had to dress for the occasion, of course, which would involve the most irritating task humans have ever come up with: shopping.

I was going to wait until nighttime to shop, but unfortunately I was heard by someone who just so happened to be walking past my door while I had this conversation.

It was Raven.

Raven said, "You are not doing this without me."

"Raven, it's just one undercover mission. I'll be fine."

"Damian, I have the ability to actually teleport you out of that situation at any time. Plus I can make us both literally invisible. You have to bring me along, even if it's just so I can get you out if you need it."

I realized that she was never going to relent. "Fine. But we have to go shopping for nicer clothing. We need to look the part of rich people."

"I have a shortcut to the mall."

She created a portal to just outside; that is just far enough away to where no one noticed it: and we went to go shopping.

Raven's Journal:

Immediately upon entry there was a massive food court. We had to walk through just to reach the first clothing store.

Damian is a little too honest for his own good. He honestly told me, without a moment's hesitation, which dresses did not look good on me and why. This would not go well if he were ever shopping with his real girlfriend.

But then, I'm not sensitive enough to care.

When I pointed out a white dress, Damian shook his head without even letting me try it on.

"You just wouldn't look good in a white dress."

"So what, you think I'm never going to get married?" I retorted.

"That's a given." Damian said.

That set me off.

"And what is that supposed to..."

"Hey, look here. This dress would be perfect on you."

He pointed to a black strapless dress, covered in sparkles. It would be a perfect for me by the looks of it.

This one was attached to a mannequin: however the price tag told us that it was for sale. Odd.

We went to one of the staff members.

Damian spoke first. "Hey, can my friend try that dress on?"

This woman looked up at the dress and then looked back down. In a not-at-all-condescending tone she talked to Damian.

"Sweetie, that's a silk dress with actual black gems being used as the 'sparkles.' It costs eighty thousand dollars."

That explained why it was on a mannequin. I immediately was ready to try something else on.

But Damian was not ready to give up so easily.

"I know. I read the price tag." He said, equally condescendingly, although much more of a "Don't screw with me" kind of condescending and less of a "These are clearly just children" kind of condescending. "May my friend please try on that dress?" He said this in an aggressive tone.

I was shocked. Is this psychopath seriously considering buying me an eighty thousand dollar dress?

She looked genuinely confused. "Young man, if you damage that dress, it would cost me my job."

"Ma'am, do you know who Bruce Wayne is?"

She nodded.

"Well I am his son. My friend,my father and I are going out to an art gallery and I would like my 'friend' here to look radiant. So believe me when I tell you, I can cover the charges if the dress is damaged." Now he spoke as though talking to a 3 year old. "So, may my friend please try on that dress?"

Damian is insane. He really was actually thinking about buying me that dress. And yet, that wasn't even the weirdest thing in the moment. No, it was something else.

When the woman was away I asked, "Why did you emphasize 'friend?'"

"Pardon?"

"When you talked to her. You emphasized 'friend.' It was almost like you were saying it in quotes. Like you were implying something else."

There was a long pause. Too long.

"Nothing. It... it was nothing."

I nodded, yet rolled my eyes as soon as he looked away. For such a good assassin, he was a hopeless liar.