BLOOD DRINKER:
By:ShadowWing

Standard Disclaimer!!! Roy Harper/Arsenal, and Lian Harper belongs to DC, ShadowWing/Belle Anderson, Miranda Jones, and MJ belongs to me!!! Enjoy!!

Author's Note: There is a Navajo Legend that refers to Vampires as Blood Drinkers, and since Roy has been raised by the Navajo, I thought it approprate for this story..;-)

He once again tried to fire an arrow through the heart of the man above him and his aim was true. It would have been a lethal shot, but just a few feet shy of it's goal the arrow u-turned and was aimed staight at him. Surrounded by ShadowWing's telekinetics, and her aim was about as good as his.

"Holy!" he yelled and dove behind another crate as his arrow thunked into it. He tried to think this whole situation through, he needed help. He mentally began to check off who he could call. Blade? ShadowWing's current boyfriend and former Titan's enemy Deathwing? Nope, tried to contact him, but he was out of the country and the only person who could contact him was trying to kill him. Spirit Wolf? Friend and ally to himself and ShadowWing? Nothing there either, it was mid-quarter at the University of Texas and to disturb her now was fatal. The JLA or his fellow Titans? He was heavily considering it when the crates around him were reduced to splinters.

With a wave of her hand ShadowWing tossed the archer into another crate and he was down for the count, as he drifted into blackness his mind recalled how this whole sitiation started.....

A few days ago, Times Square, New York City:

Roy Harper was strolling through the crowded area with his young daughter Lian. He had bumped into and old friend from his days in Checkmate. Scarlett Wilkes was a spy and recon expert who went by the codename Rebel, and instantly reconsized the red-haired archer. The two decided to have a bite to eat at one of the Squares many resturants, along with Lian of course. After promicing to keep in touch the two parted, as Roy tried to hail a cab a yell got his attention.

"Stop! Theif!" yelled an almost hysterical woman as two men, one holding a ladies purse, darted through the crowd.

"Daddy!" cried Lian in Roy's arms, "Stop bad mans!"

"Okay Princess." crooned Roy as he grabbed a nearby trashcan lid and hurled it like a fresbee at one man. As soon as it connected with one's chest a escirma stick nailed the other right between the shoulder blades. The purse flew out of the theif's hands and right into an estatic Lian's hands.

"Oh thank you!" stated the happy owner, "How can I thank you?" she asked taking the purse from Lian.

"It was nothing.." drawled Roy, he then looked up at the two theives and saw a very familiar form picking up the escirma stick. "Belle!" he exclaimed.

"Well, well, well.." the correctly identified woman stated in her Manhattan accent, "Fancy meeting you here Roy. What's up?"

After the woman was done thanking them and the police had picked up the two theives, Belle asked, "Need a lift somewhere Roy?"

"Definatly." he stated, "How in the world do you hail a cab in this town?"

"Practice." she answered as she led them to a parking garage just off Times Square. "So do you need a lift to the dock area to catch a ride to the island?"

Roy shook his head, somehow he knew she knew everything about the Titans reformation. "Nope, I'm staying at a hotel until the base is finished, should only be a few days, I mean we've got two speedsters on the case."

"Good." stated Belle, "Maybe ShadowWing will stop by for a visit."

"I should warn you.." laughed Roy, "Kory's back on the team too. I don't think anybody could stand a repeat of what happened last time."

"Please don't remind me." muttered Belle. After reaching the hotel. Belle looked at Roy with a spectuive look.

"Why does that worry me?" muttered Roy.

"I need to ask you a favor..." Belle began. Roy whimpered. "It's not that bad." She began, "I'm required to attend a charity function tonight and since my current signifigant other is not around, I need somebody to use that $200.00 a plate, non-refundable invitation. Are you interested?"

"I may not be able to find a sitter." Roy began lamely as he put Lian on the floor to play with some of her toys.

"I can get one to met your exacting standards tonight." replied Belle with a smirk.

"I don't have anything to wear?" he squeaked.

"I know of a tux rental place nearby that specializes in last minute orders." replied Belle. "Besides I know almost every young, available, good-looking, wealthy, New York Socialite will be there too."

Roy's head perked up, "What time will the sitter be here?" he asked with a devilish smile.

Later That Evening:

Roy was dressed and ready to go when Belle came by with the sitter. The sitter was a member of Belle's own organization the Street Patrol. Miranda Jones was a pretty red-head with a thick Valley accent and came complete with, background information references, police check, DNA and blood analysis. Roy had to fight laughing when Miranda came in handed him a thick file and began to get aquainted with Lian.

The two left. The party was dull.

"No wonder you wanted company." muttered Roy after they had been there for about two hours. Belle rolled her eyes.

Another hour passed and Roy found himself surrounded by several eligable and attractive women. The night was looking up. As he used his killer charm on them, Belle observed Roy from across the room with amusement. "It seems your escort has abandoned you my dear." the dark rich voice driftted down to Belle causing her to jump. Being a telepathic, not too many people could get the drop on her. She turned around to see on of the most good-looking men she had ever seen.

He was a touch over six feet, with glossy jet-black hair, his eyes were also black with a flash of silver, his skin was a bit on the pale side, and he was wearing a perfectly fitted tux and carried it like some of her old friends wore spandex. He had a charisma that was almost spellbinding, heck this guy could give Dick, Rich, and Bruce with the charm on full combined a run for their money. *Whoa....* Belle thought before speaking, "He's just a friend, came with me as a favor." she was almost tripping over her words. What in the world was the matter with her?

"I see." he began, with a glint of amusement in his eyes "Pardon my rudeness Miss Anderson. I'm Jean DeVille, Vice-president of KnightQuest Industries." He held out his hand.Belle took it and he mind was in overdrive, KnightQuest was one of the hottest new computer software companies in New York. Anderson Industries was just starting a new project with them, *I wonder if he planned this?*, "Was this a planned meeting Mr. DeVille?" she questioned lightly.

Roy extracted himself from the admiring females and spotted Belle talking to somebody. Something about the guy made Roy's trigger finger itchy. If he had a weapon in his had he might have used it on whoever it was. He quickly crushed the instict, Belle was a big girl, she had hated it when Dick tried to play protective big brother on her. So he tried to let it go, couldn't and less than a hour later decided to find her and see if he could get back to the hotel. A glance around the room, spooked him. Both Belle and the stranger she had been talking to were gone.

The hotel where the party had been held had access to an outdoor courtyard where various partygoers had come to get a bit of fresh air. Belle and Jean DeVille were among them. Almost immediatly Belle noticed that her sences, all six of them, were kind of fuzzy, that's why she accepted Jean's suggestion to get some fresh air. As they walked they continued the conversation about the upcomming project between their two companies. Belle's head cleared a bit more and she noticed that they were a good distance from both the hotel and the other guests.

"We should head back.": Belle remarked, "My friend has a young daughter and most likely wants to get back to her."

"Just one more thing my dear." murmered Jean, his teeth gave off a odd glint.

"Yes?' she asked, before she knew what was happening, Jean lunged at her and had his teeth sunk into her neck and Belle's world went black.

As Jean fed off of her he knew a perverse thrill. Not only was the lovely Miss Anderson a challange, but he now knew the reason why. Judging by the odd tang to her blood she was a meta-genetic, some sort of mind power judging by the way she carried herself. He toyed with the idea of either killing her or changing her, but decided against either for the moment. She would be much more valuable right now as a thrall, a pretty puppet to do his bidding. As the sole heiress to Anderson Industries, and her grandfather due to step down as CEO in a few years to allow his granddaughter to takeover she could literally hand her family's company to him on a plate. After he was finished dining, he carried Belle's limp form to her car and drove them both away.

Roy was fighting panic. No sign of Belle, or her car, he sighed and ran his had through his hair. He finally decided that Belle must have left or was called away for some importiant reason and forgot to tell him. It didn't seem like her, but he didn't know Belle well enough to know for sure. He left the party, took a cab and headed back to the hotel.

The Next Morning:

Roy was woken up by the phone ringing. "Hello?" he mumbled into the reciever.

"Mr Harper? Roy?" the thick valley accent placed it, it was Mirinda the sitter Belle had found for him.

"Yeah." he answered, "What's up?"

"This is gonna seem, like, a stupid question....but have you seen Belle?"

That woke Roy up completely. "Not since last night, she left the party before I did. Why?"

"She called a meeting for early this morning, and she over a hour late. We called her apartment and the manor and there's no sign of her. We were hoping you might have a clue."

That wierd guy that set Roy off last night came immediatly to mind. "I might. Belle was talking to somebody allot, any chance you guys can get me a guest list to that party and pictures of the guests? I want a name for that guy."

"No prob." answered Miranda, "I get the girls together and I'll bring it to your room in a few hours."

"See you then." after he hung up the phone Roy sat there for a bit and began to really wonder what had happened last night.

As promiced, a few hours later brought Miranda and a large stack of papers. Roy went through the photos first looking for that man he saw while Miranda took Lian out to play in a nearby park. he finally found what he was looking for, Miranda had informed him that they had written the name of the guest on the back of each picture. He flipped it over and read the name 'Jean DeVille'. "Gotcha." murrmered Roy.

In the ruins of Gotham, Barbara Gordon, A.K.A. Oracle, recieved a phone call. It was Dick's friend and current teammate Arsenal. "What can I do for you today Red?" she asked.

"Need some info on a guy, he might be involved with a dissappearance. His name is Jean DeVille." he asked. He heard the clicking of a keyboard and the beeps of a computer in the background. After several minutes Oracle came back on with an answer.

"This guy reeks of trouble. Up to five years ago he didn't even exist, now he's the vice-president of one of the hottest software and computer companies out there KnightQuest. What other info do you need?"

"A place or residence would be nice. I'd like to talk to him in person." Roy replied.

And he did just that and, as per normal for his run of luck he screwed it up, royally. He didn't find Mr. DeVille at home but he did find an address for a warehouse. When he got there he found the place belonged to Anderson Industries and been stripped clean, witnesses claimed the theif made them fly through the air and anticapated their moves.

That pointed to a telepathic and a telekinetic, ShadowWing. Something was really fishy now, and Tempest wan't even in the area. Another call to Oracle revieled that KnightQuest also had warehouse in the area and he barged in there arrows blazing. He then came face to face with Mr. DeVille sporting some elongated canines.

Being raised among the Navajo he had heard many a stories about Blood Drinkers, or Vampires to the European world. So now being faced by one spooked him considerablely, but he recovered quickly and defended himself well. Arsenal may not have had, holy water, crosses. or relics, but he did have wooden stakes aplenty. As soon as he notched and let his arrows fly then the boomerrang effect kicked in. He then noticed ShadowWing in the room useing her telekinitics to keep Jean DeVille in one piece.

As Arsenal slowly woke up he was, as predicted, bound hand and foot tightly. He would have beat his head against the wall for his foolishness if his head didn't already hurt and he was close enough to the wall.

"Nice going Harper." he muttered, "going up against a guy who has under his control the woman who mopped Titans Tower with Starfire. I gotta work on the planning part of my cases." As he slowly worked his hands free he planned out loud.

"DeVille appears to be a blood drinker. Problem. You can kill him with wooden stakes. Good. He has ShadowWing under his thumb. Huge problem. Need to take out ShadowWing before taking out Fang-face. No idea how to do that." he finally got his hands free and decided to call in some help. He pulled his cell phone out and made a call.

Back on Titans Island, Nightwing made some final adjustments to the new computer equipment that had just arrived when his radio gear buzzed. "Nightwing." he answered curtly.

"Hey Wing-man!" crowed Arsenal, "I have a problem and I need some answers."

"Shoot." he answered.

"How do you take out ShadowWing?"

"What!" Nightwing was shocked, "Why do you want to take out ShadowWing?"

"Well, for starters, she tried to kill me..."

"WHAT!!"

"but she wasn't in her right mind at the time. Ya see she's under control of a Vampire..."

"VAMPIRE!!!"

"So if I get her out of the picture I can kill the vampire and she should be back to normal. Whatever normal is for her...."

"ROY!!!!!" snapped Nightwing, "Do you have any idea what this conversation sounds like?"

"No." stated Roy bluntly, "Can you tell me later, after I save the world from that Vampire?"

Nightwing groaned, "To get past ShadowWing you need to block her psi-powers, to do that you have to contact her people. Blade might have something, but I don't know how to contact him..."

"I think I can handle that." replied Roy, "Later Winger!!!"

"Wait!! Roy!! Don't..." but his call came too late, Arsenal had already hung up the phone.

Arsenal's next move was to contact Miranda again, "Hello?" she asked.

"Hi Miranda, it's Roy. How's Lian?"

"She's fine." replied Miranda, "Any luck finding Belle?"

"Sorta." muttered Roy, "Anybody over there know about ShadowWing?"

Miranda chuckled, "Yes. We know everything....."

"Good." sighed Roy with relief, "I need some gear from you guys..."

The next night.....

Mary Jean Green, or MJ was with Arsenal outside another KnightQuest warehouse. "You shouldn't be here." muttered Arsenal.

MJ snorted, "Arsenal if you only knew the kind of crap I've been through, you'd see I'm more that qualified for this." she shrugged, "Besides they are expecting you, not me. I'm wearing a psi-blocker so ShadowWing can't pick me up."

Arsenal sighed, "Remember the plan?"

"Of course." she replied cheerfully, "You're bait, and while ShadowWing's distracted, I pop this blocker on her head and K.O. her while you turn Mr. DeVille into a pin cushion. Easy."

"From your perspective." grumbled Arsenal. "Ready?"

Both entered the warehouse and got into possition. ShadowWing tried to nail Arsenal in less than 10 seconds. Mr DeVille was cackling with manical glee from his position on a cat-walk above. 'Any time today MJ!!!!!!' thought Arsenal found his arrows zinging toward back him at high speeds.

"Gotcha!!!" yelled MJ as she popped out from behind a crate and slammed a headband of some sort over ShadowWing's head. She howled in pain as her powers lashed back into her skull.

"Delivery for Mr. DeVille." smirked Arsenal as he fired several arrows toward the catwalk. Another high pitched yowl erupted from the vampire as he found arrows in his heart and his head. ShadowWing collapsed.

Arsenal carefully crept onto the catwalk to insure that the Blood Drinker was gone. All that remained of the dashing man was a small pile of ash with his two arrows nearby.

Several hours later...Private Clinic

"Thanks." muttered ShadowWing, "I think...." Other than a slightly lower than average blood count and the mother of the mother of all headaches. She had been given a clean bill of health by her doctor.

"Hey," snickered Roy, "what are former teammates for?"

"If Nightwing finds out about this I'll never live it down. You won't tell him will you Roy?" ShadowWing asked hopefully.

"Uhhh." studdered Roy, "He already knows..."

"WHAT!!!" yelled ShadowWing, and promptly winced due to her headache.

"I had to figure out how to take you out somehow, I didn't know that your friends knew about your nocturnal activities." Roy was slowly backing toward the door.

"Arsenal..." hissed ShadowWing.

"Yes?" he wimpered in a small voice.

"Start running." she snapped, being in a exam room several small and sharp instruments started to move. Roy took her advice and ran.

As he ran by with ShadowWing in hot pursuit, Lian, who was safely in Miranda's arms, stated to her sitter, "Daddy in trouble." in a very serious tone.

Miranda chuckled, "Lian you don't know the half of it. Let's wait for your Daddy back at the hotel, Okay?"

"Okay!" she stated happily as her father gave off yips and yells in the New York night.

The End.

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