TWILIGHT IN PARIS:
By: ShadowWing

Disclaimers: Belle Anderson/ShadowWing and all related characters belong to me. Richard (Deathwing) Grayson/Blade, and all related charters belongs to DC Comics.

Chapter 1:

Richard Grayson, (A.K.A. the villain formally known as Deathwing) was up late (as usual examining the files of the Church of Blood, it was taking him longer than he thought. He had spent the last two weeks going through them, Mother Mayhem had at least kept them in organized so all he had to do was skim them.

"Do you require anything?" Rich looked up to see Mayhem, dressed from head to toe in her blood red habit.

She had not been happy when he decided to take a large role in running the church, but she did have to admit that he was better qualified to run an organization that was more of a spy cartel than a church. So they came to a compromise, she would keep control of the church aspect and he could run the rest. Now he was wondering if he got the short end of the deal. He finally replied. "Do you know why there are so many of these 'Black Bag Agencies'?"

"No, but I do know that they are very difficult to track."

"Great."

"But we have records of the most prominent of these organizations and their most recent activities. Those files are over there." she replied pointing to a large stack at the edge of the desk.

As he grabbed the stack he asked "Are they up to date?"

"There are some details that have not been added yet. But I know what those details are."

"Okay, then lets start form the top," grabbing the first file, he chuckled, "Checkmate?"

Mayhem sneered "Nothing of importance other than the botched operation with Cherire, they claim to be a black ops organization, but at times they don't act like it."

"No wonder Roy quit, okay next. Ra's A Gul?! You keep a file on him?" Richard stared at the file in disbelief.

"Only from a distance, he doesn't know we have it. Last known operation was the failed release of the new 'clench' virus. He kept low lately."

"Let's keep that distance okay Mayhem?"

"Agreed."

"Next we have the Order of St. Dumas. I thought it was disbanded?"

"It was, but it has recently re-emerged with a new leader. This one seems more cunning than the former leader of the Order, Rollo, was."

"Any ideas in who's running the Order at this time."

"Not yet,"

Richard thought, I head that Azreal is operating around Gotham. Maybe I'll ask him for some info. "All right next..." The file he pulled out was at least three times as thick as the others. Mayhem scowled and grumbled "Opal Agencies"

"And what are they doing currently?"

"We have no idea."

"What."

"We have suspicions of their involvement in various activities, but nothing definite. Every lead we have had goes dead."

"What do we know about them."

"That this organization is at least a century old and has always been run by a woman."

"A woman?" That got Richard's attention.

"Yes, her real identity is not known outside the organization." Mayhem pointed to the file, "That is a list of suspected agents and locations."

"We had better get some hard information on these guys. I don't like not knowing."

"Of course." replied Mayhem, as she left him to his work.

Two weeks later...

Within a very simple looking office building a very complex organization conducted it's business. The current owner and leader of the Opal Agencies, Belle Anderson, was entering the building after receiving an urgent message from one of her agents. As her name implied she was a very attractive woman. In her mid-twenties, with brown hair and eyes and a slim attractive figure that could turn heads no matter what she wore. She had inherited the Agency from her mother, who had died when she was a child. Her experience as the crime-fighter ShadowWing, and founding the crime prevention organization known as the Street Patrol, has prepared her well for running the Agency.

"All right F-X, I'm here. What's the problem."

The woman turned from her computer screen to face her employer, if there was a definition of 'geek' she was it. But what F-X lacked in looks she made up for in mechanical and computer skills, she was one of the best and that's why Belle hired her.

"I'll sum it up in three words Boss," replied F-X, "Church of Blood"

Belle blinked not sure if she heard right. "Those guys? We've been dodging them and leading them around for years. Last I heard they were not threat to anybody since the Titans trashed Brother Blood."

"Times change Boss, " replied F-X, " They've got a new agent, who's really good and getting real close. Almost nailed one of our agents and nearly got into our computer systems."

"Who." Belle was starting to growl.

"Don't know. But we did get a shot of him while trying to break into one of our bases overseas. Just finished cleaning it up a bit." she produced a print out, "Looks a little like your ex Nightwing."

Belle sighed "One we were never involved, and two he knows better." She looked over the printout, "Oh Shit."

"You know him?"

"Not really, but I've heard of him. Deathwing."

"That nut! Whoa. What's he doing with the Church?"

"That F-X is what I'm going to find out."

Late night in Bludhaven, Nightwing was enjoying his new toy. Patrols were allot easier with the car. After a quick run around the roof tops and seeing that all was quiet he returned to where he left the car. As he was about to get in a voice called out.

"Hey Winger! Care to give a girl a lift?" Though she couldn't see his face, she bet he flinched. As she leaned against the wall ShadowWing didn't have to use her telepathy to know what his answer would be.

"Oh no." As he turned he growled "This town has enough problems, I do not need you to make more michief."

"Relax, I just need some info from you and I'm gone."

"You could have used the phone."

"Sure, but why?"

He had to laugh, "Will you ever change?"

"Nope."

He sighed, "Okay, get in we'll talk as I finish patrol."

After climbing into the car she stated her request.

"Deathwing?" he shook his head, "Why him?"

"Let's just say that he's sticking his nose where it doesn't belong." she continued "I talked to Miri she told me that you knew where he went."

"Get comfy," Nightwing replied "this could take a bit."

An hour later....

"Let me get this straight," ShadowWing took a deep breath, "Deathwing is actually an enhanced clone of you created by the Church of Blood to replace Brother Blood. But he was grabbed by the Time Trapper for that whole 'Team Titans' craziness. After figuring out where he came from he went back to the Church and you haven't seen him since?"

"Yep."

"Great." she chuckled "Well that explains alot."

"What do you mean?'

"Dick, he's investigating Opal Agencies."

"What!?!" Nightwing was shocked, this guy must have a death wish. "He's nuts!"

"Now there's the pot calling the kettle black."

Nightwing pulled over. "I'm serious Belle, something is wrong with that man. I would have never have left him with the Church if there was any way I could have talked him out of it."

"Hey, no need to explain, but that guy is going to be serious trouble if I don't do something."

"Be careful, he's almost as good as I am and twice as dangerous."

"Thanks for the warning, and you can drop me off here my car is just around the corner."

"Sure, wait a minute! This isn't where I should be!" But when he turned to confront ShadowWing she was already driving off in her own car. Nightwing just shook his head grumbling about telepathy and mental tampering.

Chapter 2:

The next day, Belle was once again consulting F-X about Deathwing's movements.

"Okay F-X, your the number crunchier. Where do the odds say our nut-case is going to strike next?' While talking to F-X, Belle was looking over a map marked with Deathwing's hits.

"I've entered in all the locations where he's been seen and compared it to the locations of known or suspected operations of the Church of Blood."

"Let me guess..." chuckled Belle "There's a Blood base within a short distance of each of his hits."

"You got it Boss." F-X grinned "And here's a printout of where he'll could hit next. So who are you going to send after him."

After taking the printout Belle frowned. "This is too easy."

"What do you mean Boss?"

"We are talking about a guy who is as good as Batman or Nightwing and twice as crazy. He's leaving a trail so obvious that a blood hound with a cold could follow it."

"In other words Boss he's expecting us to go after him."

"Exactly," replied Belle "which is why I am going on a shopping trip to Paris."

"Does this little trip have anything to do with Paris being at the top of the list for Deathwing's next hit?"

Belle looked innocent. "Of course not!"

Later that day...

Mary Jean Green, or MJ to her friends, was walking into the headquarters of the Street Patrol. The Patrol's job was simple, sniff out information on crimes and other wrong doings and report them to the Police. MJ had started out as a hooker and drug addict when Belle found her. After literally being dragged off of the streets by Belle and cleaned up. She later became Belle's second in command in the Patrol. She spotted Belle in her office area talking on the phone. From the sound of the conversation it looked like she was going on a trip. And if MJ knew Belle in was more business than pleasure. As Belle hung up the phone she inquired. "Going somewhere?"

"Yep, I'm not sure when I'll be back but your in charge until then."

"If I need to, can I reach you in the normal way?" Since Belle had an elderly grandfather, she always made sure she could be reached in an emergency.

"Of course, I'll keep the phone with me." Belle patted the cell phone in her pocket. Only MJ and a few others knew it's number. "Just keep an eye on Black Magic for me okay?"

As if on cue Belle's cat walked into the room and MJ scooped it up before she could attach herself to her mistress. As Belle walked out the door MJ called "Have fun!"

Belle snorted "I always have fun!" With that she strolled out the door.

Paris~

Strolling down the streets looking for all the world like a typical tourist, Richard was casing a suspected Opal Agencies base. He frowned. Like the other bases he had raided it had more security than the surrounding buildings, but unlike the other bases the security was tighter.

"Looks like I got somebody's attention, those additional cameras look recent and I'm willing to bet that there are more guards inside too."

As he walked off he began to think, his plan was simple, get Opal Agencies attention and then get an agent to deliver a message to whoever was running the Agency. The first part of his plan seemed to work, the second part was going to be trickier.

No sooner did Belle arrive in her Hotel room then she received a message from Opal's Paris Headquarters. Someone matching Deathwing's description was caseing the place. She just grabbed her purse and headed out the door. When she reached the building she started to scan, mentally and physically, for Deathwing. She was so busy looking she failed to watch her back. The next thing she knew she had a punch in the back and no purse. She swore, loudly and in French, and was about to tear after the guy when an arm shot out catching the thief under the chin and knocking him out cold. The owner of the arm calmly reached down and picked up her purse saying "I don't think this matches your shoes."

As she walked up she cauht a glimpse of his face. *Yipe! It's him! I'm dead, my covers blown!*

Richard walked up to her and handed back her purse and asked "Does this match your shoes?"

"I believe so, thanks." As she replied she took a risk and scanned his mind. *He doesn't know who I am! Yes! I'm safe and this couldn't be better if I had planned it!* "And you are?"

"Richard Grayson." he replied *I know that I shouldn't be mixing business with pleasure but hey, she's a babe, grateful to me and speaks English. Mayhem can sit and wait forever for all I care. I'm gonna have some fun.* "And your name is?" he said smiling.

*Damn, he's a charmer.* she replied "Belle Anderson"

"Well Belle, what should we do now?"

"After we take him," she motioned to the motionless thief "to the police, I have no idea."

"Thwarting muggings does work up an appetite. How about dinner?"

Belle laughed "You stop a two-bit mugger from getting away with my purse and you expect me to go out with you?"

"Yes."

*Confident S.O.B.* "Well Richard if you can understand my next sentence you've got a deal." she then started speaking in flawless French "#You can pick me up at 8pm in the Hotel Ritz and as the desk to ring my room.#"

He glared at her "You never asked if I spoke French."

Belle grinned. "I know, bye!" and with that walked off disappearing into the crowd.

He was about to follow her when the police showed up and started asking questions. After they questioned him for about an hour they let him go. As he walked off he pondered the 'riddle ' Belle Anderson had given him, the only things he had understood was '8pm' and 'Hotel Ritz' *I have got to bone up on my French!* He did have a dictionary in his room and his laptop, so he decided to not only translate the 'riddle' but to do a little research on Miss Anderson as well.

At 7pm he had his answers and was on his way to the Hotel Ritz. Enroute he mentally went over what he had learned about Belle. Her real name was Isobelle, so Belle was a nickname, and she was a heiress to a large industrial fortune. She also was involved in a type of crime prevention program called the Street Patrol. In other words there was more to her then met the eye and she neither a fool or an airhead. *Just my type.* he thought as he walked into the Hotel Ritz's lobby.

Belle was on her laptop talking to F-X. "This couldn't have worked out better if I had planned it." She was having a hard time not laughing.

"So you're going out with him?" F-X sounded confused.

"Yes I am. and while he's trying to charm me, I'll be scanning his mind for information."

"What if he's too strong for you to scan?"

"Then F-X, I'll have to get the information that I need the old-fashioned way."

"Just don't sleep with him...."

Belle snorted "I do know better than that. It would be like sleeping with Nightwing, though from what I've heard that may not be a bad thing..."

"BOSS!!"

"Joke!" Belle shook her head. "Sometimes F-X you take things too seriously."

"Sometimes Boss I don't think that you take things seriously enough." muttered F-X.

Belle was about to reply when the phone rang, after answering it she turned back to her computer. "He's here, gotta go."

"I'll continue sniffing around the Church, I'll call later if anything new turns up Boss." replied F-X before signing off.

When Belle entered the lobby the first thing Richard did was glare at her, she laughed and said "You don't speak French do you?"

"No I don't, " he grumbled then he grinned "but I do have an excellent memory and a French to English Dictionary."

"Even you have to admit, that trick is a good way to ditch unwanted men."

"And the one's you don't ditch?" he questioned

She looked straight into his eyes, "Isn't that what we're about to find out?"

Once the two of them were settled for dinner, Belle tried to poke around his mind and came up with zip, *Damn, I can read the surface of his mind but nothing else. Looks like I'm doing this the hard way.* She finally asked "So what are you doing in Paris?"

"Funny," chuckled Richard "I was about to ask you the same thing."

"Ha! I asked you first."

"Business."

Belle was barely keeping a straight face. "What kind?" *Though I know damn well what kind.*

"I guess you could say that I investigative work."

Belle was taking a drink and nearly choked. "Dare I ask who you are investigating?"

Can't say, for all I know you could be working for the people I'm investigating." he raised his eyebrow, "Which reminds me what are you doing in Paris?"

"Nothing actually." *He's on guard, gotta be careful,* she thought "Things got too stressed at home so I decided to take a short vacation. But why do I have the feeling that you already know that?"

He choked on his drink *Ho Boy, she's perceptive* When he got his breath back he asked, "What makes you say that?" His voice squeaked.Belle smiled, she got him off guard and his mind's defenses slipped just enough to giver her a mental eyeful to his plans. If she was reading him right, he was planning to visit the Paris Headquarters later tonight. She finally answered him. "This afternoon when we met you were more relaxed then you are now. You're an investigator, if you did a background check on me you would have found out that I'm involved with a crime prevention program. Therefore making you a bit wary of me. Am I right?"

Richard shook his head, "I hate to say it but yes." he laughed "So what gave me away?"

She decided to give him part of the truth, "Your body language," she shrugged "I have an eye for that."

"I bet, " he chuckled "So did you run a check on me?"

"Of course not," Richard looked surprised, she continued "I'm on vacation."

Dinner went by quickly. *Sheash,* thought Belle *this guy isn't bad. Too bad I have to cut the relationship short.* Afterwards he took her back to the Hotel. Belle asked him, "Any chance you'll be around tomorrow?"

"Ha! Now you're asking me out?"

"Yep."

"Well of all goes right at my meeting tonight probley not. But if something goes wrong, I'll have to stay a few more days."

"Call me cruel Richard, but I'm tempted to ask for a disaster."

"Please no." he muttered.

She grinned, "I'll guess we'll find out tomorrow, won't we?" On impulse she gave him a quick kiss on the lips before vanishing into the Hotel.

It took Richard a few minutes to recover before heading back to his own abode. As he entered he muttered "I almost want a disaster." By then he was pulling out his new uniform. "Almost, but not quite."

Meanwhile Belle was about to jump out of the window as ShadowWing when her cell phone rang. She grabbed it as went out, "Hello?"

"How dare you go to Paris without me!"

The accent alone was enough to place it. It was Belle's friend, and ShadowWing's occasional partner Shadow Travis, A.K.A the Texas based crime-fighter Spirit Wolf. "Hi Shadow, can you hold on a sec?" she transferred the call to the radio gear in her costume, "So what's up?"

"Wondering what you are doing there."

"Currently? About to attack a tall, dark, handsome stranger in spandex who's trying to break into Opal Agencies."

"Nightwing? I thought he knew better."

"He does, think older and I don't mean Breakfast."

"Not that wacko...."

"Fraid so."

"At that point Shadow started yelling at one of her pet wolves. ShadowWing couldn't tell if it was either Smoke or Mist do to a temporary deafness in her ear. "Call me back hon, I gotta kill a wolf now."

"Why?"

"Smoke believes that a set of wooden totems are toys and has been busy burying them in the back yard."

"Ouch. Later."

"Remember, I want details!"

"Okay, Bye!"

No sooner than she had disconnected the call then she spotted a form climbing onto the roof. ShadowWing had been nearby waiting while she had been talking to Shadow.

*Yep, it's him all right, and he looks even better in spandex.* She had to stop herself from drooling.

As he slowly crept toward a vent shaft a voice asked him, "Are you the man who calls himself Deathwing or a god in human form?"

When he turned to locate the source of the voice his gaze settled on a very attractive woman in a tight fitting silver and black outfit. A mask covered most of her face and a smile played around her lips. He finally found his voice. "The name is now Blade, and who are you?"

"ShadowWing, and I have been asked to stop you from breaking in here."

"Sorry but I gotta get in."

ShadowWing sighed "Me too." and launched a kick that sent him staggering back about five feet.

"All right," he growled "if that's how you want to play..." he threw a combination of punches at her. One to the stomach that caused her to double over, and another under her chin that threw her onto her back. To his surprise she got up abet slowly and growled,

"Did I mention that I'm a meta?" her cocked back fist was glowing.

"Oh no."

The next thing he knew he was on his back and his face was throbbing. *Better scram until I can figure out how to counter whatever she's dishing out* He then jumped off the building and vanished. ShadowWing would have followed if her ribs weren't killing her. *Damn, must have cracked one.* she began to head back to her Hotel.

An hour later Belle was lying on her bed with her ribs taped up, the idea of sleep was good until she remembered that she promised to call Shadow. After a few rings Dr. Shadow Travis answered the phone with a growl "Hello!"

"Ouch. What's got you all pissed off?"

One, no sooner did I retrieve the totems from Smoke's hole then Bats showed up saying I needed training for the JLA (See "Sudden Drop" by Da Wolfie Gal on Wolfie's Den)

"That's not bad."

"Which leads to Two, training involved me jumping from a plane." knowing her friend's hatred for heights Belle flinched. "And three, thanks to Green Lantern's little stunt I was nearly killed. So now I'm here, after Mama Helen patched up in great pain and you ask me why I'm pissed!?"

"Sorry, did anything good happen?"

Shadow brightened "Actually yes. I was able to herd the entire JLA into the Batplane out of fear of me and the wolves."

"Oh man! I wished I could have seen that!"

"You can." Shadow replied, "I love miniature video recorders. By the way how was your date with the wacko?"

"The respectable one or the after dark one?"

"What!?"

"Before you go off the deep end...."

"Too late!"

"...let me explain..."

An hour later,

"Okay," Shadow started "Deathwing, who now calls himself Blade, stopped a mugger from stealing your purse."

"Yep."

"So then you go out with him."

"Uh huh."

"And afterwards you kick his but?"

"That's about it."

"Girl you have no mercy."

"I know, " Belle replied with relish, "and I can't wait until tomorrow."

"What happens tomorrow?"

"He has to explain to me how he got the shiner I gave him."

Chapter 3:

The next morning-

Richard woke up with a groan, he was not a morning person, as he stumbled into the bathroom and looked into the mirror. "Oh no."

His left eye was completely black and the bruise extended up his forehead and half-way down his cheek. As he was using his disguise kit to hide most of the bruise he made a call to Bludhaven.

Dick picked up, "Hello?"

"Hi it's Richard."

"What's up?"

"Umm I need some information."

"What about?"

The make up wasn't helping, he growled "What do you know about a little witch who calls herself ShadowWing and can punch like freight train?"

*Well,* thought Dick, *she's been busy.* "She was a member of the Titans for a short time and she's a meta. Does that help?"

"I found out the hard way that she's a meta. Do you know what her powers are?"

"Yeah, telepathy and telekinesis, and how much damage did she cause?"

"Let's say my face is a study of blue and purple."

"Oh good, you haven't completely pissed her off yet."

"What."

"In a memory I would sooner forget she mopped the floor with Starfire." (See Oh No. posted on this page)

Richard swallowed, Starfire couldn't be considered a lightweight in any battle. "Ho boy, in other words I should avoid hacking her off right?"

"Or just plain avoid her."

"I'll keep it in mind." he swore, the makeup was only half working.

"Problem?" Dick asked.

"Yeah I'm trying to hide this shiner ShadowWing gave me because I've got a date."

"My, you work fast."

"I'm you remember?"

"Good point." Dick laughed "So who's the lucky girl?"

"A lady named Belle Anderson."

Dick froze, *She wouldn't* then he thought about it *yes, she would.* "So," he fought to keep his voice level, "what's she like?"

"Smart, good looking, and there's more to her than meets the eye."

*You don't know the half of it.* thought Dick. "Is it serious?"

"Give a guy time, I just met her yesterday."

"All right, well I gotta go, work calls."

"Later Dick."

When Richard hung up the phone something about the conversation was bugging him. *Does he know more than he's telling me?* He pushed the thought aside for the time being and finished getting dressed. If he wore sunglasses the black eye was almost hidden. *Thank God it's a sunny day.* he thought as he dialed the Hotel Ritz's number.

Belle had only been up about an hour when her room's phone rang, catching her in the shower. Wearing only a towel, she answered it "Hello?"

"Hi."

Belle grinned "I guess that disaster hit after all."

"Please don't remind me, it wasn't a disaster it was a complete wash out." Richard sighed "You got your wish I'm going to be here a few more days. How about a late lunch?"

"Sounds fine, can you pick me up in an hour?"

"Better make it two, I've got a few calls to make and judging from the dripping water I hear you made need some more time to get ready."

Belle blinked "What makes you say that?"

"Let's just say that my vivid imagination is producing images of you and a towel and leave it at that." he replied hanging up the phone.

Belle stared at the phone and grumbled "Yep, they definitely used Winger's DNA when they made you."

While he was still snickering over his joke Richard placed a call to Mayhem at the Church's headquarters. She was her normal self.

"Well?"

"What no 'Hi' no 'How's Paris'?"

Mayhem sighed reconsidering the wisdom of using Nightwing's DNA to clone the next Brother Blood. "Were you able to get into the base?"

"No, they've got a meta named ShadowWing watching the joint. Do we have anything on her?"

"Not much." Mayhem replied, "only that she mostly operates in New York City. She's not even listed as a suspected meta. How did you discover that?"

"Let's just say I've got some hard evidence and leave it at that. Anything else?"

"No, any other questions?"

"Yeah, I remember that the Church had allot of equipment that could amplify psi powers, do we still have it?"

"Of course."

"Could we alter it to protect somebody from those powers?"

"Yes, I believe so. Why?"

"The next time I go toe to toe with ShadowWing things are going to be abit more even." He proceeded to describe to Mayhem exactly what heneeded.

Meanwhile in Bludhaven Dick decided to place a call to Texas.

Dr. Shadow Travis answered, "Hello?"

"Hi Shadow."

"Why hello Lunch."

"Why do you call Tim, Bruce, and myself meals and Belle just SW?"

"Because I ran out of meals and to mess with people's minds." Shadow grinned "Any other questions?"

"Yeah the reason I called." Dick replied, "Have you heard about her latest stunt?"

"Oh you mean how Belle has been romancing your evil twin as herself and kicking his face in as ShadowWing?"

"You have heard then."

"Yep, and she's having fun doing it too. Which leads me to ask. What's gonna happen when he discovers Belle and ShadowWing are one and the same?"

"Let me put it this way Shadow. I'm glad that there's an ocean between us and them."

When Belle came to the lobby to meet Richard she had to chuckle. He glared.

"What's so funny?"

"I know why you're wearing sunglasses."

He muttered "Is it that obvious?"

"No, I just have seen people hide black eyes before, including yours truly."

"The glasses are mostly to hide the swelling, mind if we stick to outdoor attractions today?"

"No problem. By way how did you get that shiner?"

"It happened at my...meeting last night."

"What was it? A hostile takeover?"

"It was definitely hostile." he grumbled. Then he brightened, "Enough business, let's have some fun!" He gave her a squeeze causing her to flinch. "You okay?" he asked.

"Uh yeah, I just slipped in the shower this morning." Belle silently hoped he wouldn't discover the tape she was using to brace her cracked rib.

A week later....

Belle and Richard had spent the days doing the normal tourist things Paris was famous for. As much as he was starting to care for Belle, he was equally starting to hate ShadowWing.

Every time I turn around she's there." he grumbled to himself. He was working off some of her anger on a punching bag. "It's not the fact she's stopping me..." giving the bag a few more punches, "it's the fact that she's waiting for me. Last night was the last straw!"

Richard got even madder just remembering, after trying to get into the base by the roof, the alley, the windows, the front door, the back door, he then decided to try the sewers. He actually thought he was home free when an Escrmia Stick hit him across the back of the head. He woke up about a half a mile away tied up and in a foot of sewer muck. It took him only a few minutes to free himself, but another hour to find his way out of the sewers and back to base. Though Mayhem had provided a device that protected him from ShadowWing's telekinesis, she was still working on something to protect him from her telepathy.

Richard stopped punching and began to think. *All right, I can see if she's able to predict my moves when we are face to face. But how is she figuring out my plans ahead of time?* He began to pace, all of his plans were in his head, he told nobody about them. *Okay, she's able to read my mind ahead of time and then make her plans afterward. But for the most part telepathy is a short range power, so how is she able to get that close and I'm not seeing it?* He sat down and began to make a list of all the people he came in contact with since he came to Paris on a day to day basis. After three days a pattern formed. Only one person had been close enough to him to read his mind without him knowing about it. Only one person had been able to get him to let down his guard on a regular basis. His face darkened as he looked at he name on the paper.

Belle Anderson.

But first he needed some proof, and he knew just how to get it.

Chapter 4:

Belle's day had went by slowly, Richard called early to say he needed to get some work done and they would get together for dinner. *Translaation, he needs to clean the sewer stink off of himself after what I did to him last night.* For some reason she was feeling guilty about that. *Why? Normally I relish a stunt like that.* The reason came back almost immediately. *You're falling for him.* She quickly shook it off. A girl in her line of work couldn't afford a relationship. She was saved from further dicection of her feelings for Richard Grayson by a call from F-X

"Bad news Boss."

"Sigh, let me have it."

"The Church has a working device that can block against telepathy. There's a 90% chance that you-know-who already has it."

"Damn! If he wears it only as Blade I'll be fine. But if he stars using it 24 hours a day. I've got problems."

"When are you meeting him again?"

"Tonight. I'll be sure to check for it."

"Watch yourself Boss. If I'm reading this diagrams correctly this device will cause a severe headache in any telepath scanning the wearer."

"I'll keep that in mind." The room's phone rang, Belle picked it up, "Hello?"

"Hi. It's me."

"Richard! What's up?" Belle glanced at her laptop's screen, F-X was sending over pictures of Cupids and hearts. Belle glared.

Meanwhile Richard, as Blade, was watching her room while talking on a cell phone. He had to force his voice to remain calm and casual. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to cancel dinner."

Belle was surprised, "What's up?"

"My meeting for tonight was moved up, so dinner is out for tonight."

Belle was on guard, something was up all right "Is it big?"

"You could say that....look I'll call you tomorrow for lunch okay?"

"Okay I'll see you then."

"Later." with that he hung up.

Belle turned to the laptop as soon as she heard the click, "F-X?"

"Still here Boss."

"Call the Paris Headquarters, something's up."

"I'm already here, what's up?"

"You know who has canceled dinner because of a meeting."

"He's trying again?"

"Looks like it."

"Are you on your way here?"

"I'll be out the door as soon as I sign off." Ten minutes later she was out the door with her gear.

Five minutes after that Blade entered the room via the window. *I'll give her about an hour to figure it out.* After a quick search of the room he couldn't find anything that proved that Belle Anderson was also ShadowWing. *The only thing left to check is her laptop.* He sat down and began to hack into the computer.

An hour later...

"That little........!!!!!!" If Richard wasn't mad at Belle before, he was furious with her now. Not only did he find proof that she was ShadowWing but she was also the owner and the current leader of the Opal Agencies. "The little witch has been leading me on all along." Still fuming he began to try and down load some of the files onto a disk."

Meanwhile~

ShadowWing was pacing at the Paris Headquarters, F-X was sitting at a desk checking the defenses via computer. "All clear Boss, and could you please stop pacing. Your making me nervous."

"Something's up F-X. He should have been here by now."

Just then F-X's terminal beeped, after hitting a few keys she stated, "We've got an unknown user logged on...whoever this is, they are using one of our computers."

ShadowWing looked over her shoulder, "How much do you want to bet it's Blade?"

"And nobody would accuse us of gambling." she replied "Now the question is, which computer is he using?" After a few more keystrokes F-X had the answer, and did a double-take. "Uh oh....uh Boss?"

ShadowWing was gathering some people together so they could find Blade faster. "Yes F-X?"

"Uh, found him."

"Great! Where is he?"

"Your not gonna like this...."

"Where..."

"He's using your laptop."

"WHAT?!?!"

Every agent in the room dove for cover. A pissed ShadowWing was not a pretty sight. To her credit she was able to regain control over her temper before any damage was caused. After a few minutes she was able to talk. "Okay, F-X were you able to locate the Church of Blood's base here?"

"Yes."

"Good, when everyone comes out of hiding, cover it. I don't want Blade running for cover." She then turned and stalked toward the door.

It was a stupid question, but F-X had to ask it, "Where are you going?"

ShadowWing turned toward her, the look on her face almost made F-X want to hide under a desk. Through gritted teeth she answered, "Guess."

Reading the files off the laptop was easy, coping them onto a disk on the other hand was resulting in the computer eating his disk, literally. While trying to get the disk back in one piece the whole thing froze and a voice came over the speaker.

"Sorry Blade. But I gotta cut your computer tour short. But before I do, I'll just tell you this. You have better hope that the Church of Blood has a good health plan." With that the screen went blank. He was only given a minute to think about that statement when the reason behind it hit him. Literally.

WHAM!

He was thrown from the desk into an armchair, he considered himself lucky. If the person who just decked up was who he thought it was he could have wound up through a wall. He sat up. *Yep, it's ShadowWing, and boy does she look pissed. I wonder why?* He grinned, "Looks like we made it for our date after all."

ShadowWing fumed. "How did you figure it out?" she hissed.

His face darkened, "Telepathy for the most part is short range, you or should I say your alterego, was the only person close enough to me to pull it off." He began to growl, "You knew who I was from the day we met and played me for a fool ever since." he accused.

ShadowWing spat back, "And you would have done the same thing if you were in my shoes."

"Moot point my dear. Your friends may have stopped me from coping the files, but I've got enough information in my head to make your life very difficult." he paused to allow himself to smile, "Gotcha."

"The only thing that changes is that I have to scramble your brain and kick you into next week." Her hands began to glow, "The only question is which do I want to do first?!"

"Sorry but your little TK trick doesn't work on me." he tapped the armband he wore and continued smiling."

ShadowWing smiled back. "On you? Yes. However the chair your sitting on is another story." Before he could react she telekinitically picked up the chair, Blade and all, and threw it through the wall. The shrieks and gasps told her the room was occupied. She giggled. "Oops."

Blade disentangled himself from chair bits and sheets to find himself staring at a very naked couple, a glance around the room told him what happened. "Honeymooners." He muttered "She threw me on top of honeymooners."

"Oh Blade." ShadowWing called through the hole, "If I were you I'd quit gawking and start running."

He swallowed hard. "Hell hath no fury..." Before jumping out the window.

As she climbed through ShadowWing recognized the Bride as an annoying debutante from New York. She decided to have a little fun, after looking over the groom she asked "Haven't we met?" She then jumped out onto the window ledge. She spotted Blade on a nearby roof running. As she launched her line to go after him he yelled "Stand fast and let loose the Dogs of War!"

Meanwhile~

Nightwing was doing his nightly patrol and had paused on the edge of a building to better observe a group of teens. He was so intent on his observation that he failed to notice the two figures sneaking up behind him until they made their move. Nightwing was taken completely off guard when the two canines tackled him and proceeded to try and lick him to death. He hissed "Smoke! Mist! Down!" The wolves complied and as he picked himself up a voice called.

"Good thing they were only playing or you'd be dinner, Dinner."

He sighed, "I just got rid of one SW, I don't need the other." He turned to face Spirit Wolf and grumbled, "What do you want?"

"Nothing, just wanted to drop this off." she replied handing him a video cassette.

He accepted it with a grin, "You could have put this in the mail."

"No way, the JLA is watching all mail boxes. So I gotta do the deliveries in person."

Before he could reply his radio beeped. He answered it "Hello?"

The voice on the other end yelled, "YOU KNEW WHO SHADOWWING REALLY WAS AND DIDN'T WARN ME!" The tone caused Nightwing to pull the radio from his ear, Spirit to jump back and the wolves to lay back their ears.

When Nightwing felt it was safe to do so he replied, "Oh. Hi Richard, uh how's it going?"

"Blade if you please. And I'm just fine for somebody with a hacked off telepath on his tail!" His voice dripped with sarcasm.

Nightwing sighed, "I told you not to piss her off, how was I suppost to know that you'd date her?"

"She pissed me off first!"

"Okay, you really want to know why I didn't tell you?"

"Yes!"

Nightwing grinned, "It's because I didn't want to be where you are now."

"Oh thanks." A voice in the background butted in.

"Ah ha!"

"Oh no." swallowed Blade.

"Incoming!" yelled ShadowWing as she telekiniticly pushed a gargoyle from the roof she was on toward Blade in the alley below. All Spirit and Nightwing could here was Blade's yell of "Merde!" before the line went dead. After a moment of silence Spirit spoke up.

"Well at least he's learning some French." She continued, "What are you going to do about him?"

Nightwing laughed, "He got himself into this mess, he can get himself out.." He motioned to the cassette he was holding. "By the way how did you get this tape of your training session on America's Funniest Home Videos?"

"Don't ask." grinned Spirit Wolf.

"Don't tell." he replied.

Blade barely got out of the way before the gargoyle crashed down. "Darn," muttered ShadowWing, "missed." She looked down into the alley, no Blade. "Where?"

By that time Blade had gotten to the ledge surrounding the roof, he waited just outside of Shadowwing's line of sight until she moved into the right position. He then jumped onto the roof, lowered his sholder to catch ShadowWing in the ribs. He kept pushing her back until she rammed into a chimney that was on the roof. He quickly stepped back to access the damage.

ShadowWing was on her knees, eairler that week Blade had only cracked her ribs, now they were broken. She slowly got to her feet using the chimney wall for support. For the past three hours the two of them had been chasing each other and beating the crap out of each other all over Paris. Blade wasn't doing much better, his face wasn't the only thing that was going to be black and blue the next morning.

"You want to know what really hacks me off about this whole mess?" hissed Blade.

"No," growled ShadowWing "but I have a feeling that you're going to tell me anyway."

His face softened, "I was really starting to like you." he scowled again "At least until I found out that you were playing me for a fool."

"Hey," grumbled ShadowWing, "how was I suppost to know that your not the creep that everyone makes you out to be." She sighed "Maybe if things were different....but they're not."

With that she launched a kick that sprawled him on his back. When his head cleared she had him by his neck hitting pressure points that encouraged him not to move. He growled, "If this is how you treat your boyfriends, no wonder your still single."

She flinched at that, "Look I don't want to do this but there's too much at stake to leave you running around with information on Opal Agencies in your head."

"I'm prepared for all your mind tricks." he grinned.

"Not everything." she muttered, "Your new toy may not protect you from my last trick." Her fist began to glow, "This is a psi-blade, a mix of my telepathic and telekinitic abilites. It should be able to cut through your defences. But it will hurt like hell."

"I can't feel worse than I already do now." he spat back.

"I'm sorry." she murmered just before her fist came down.

Chapter 5:

The pain was incredible. In self defense ShadowWing's telekinetics kicked in and threw her at least 20 feet from Blade who was blissfully unconsience. ShadowWing on the other hand was awake, barely. She got off the roof and dropped into the alley below before she called F-X at the Paris base.

"I was starting to worry Boss." answered F-X to her call.

"Just pick me up F-X." growled ShadowWing, "I've had a bad night."

Ten minutes later F-X picked up her employer and gave her a run-down of the nights activities. "Okay, we cleared out your hotel room, paid for the hole in the wall and are still keeping an eye on the Church of Blood's base. Anything else you want to know?"

"No." came ShadowWing's terse reply.

"Did you stop Blade?" asked F-X, "Hopefully you were able to get the information on Opal Agencies he read off of your laptop out of his head."

"I was able to psi-blade him. Hurt like hell, and I don't even know if it worked or not."

F-X sighed, "I haven't been able to check to see how your psi-blade reacts to the Church's device."

"Do it." muttered ShadowWing, "I'm gonna be busy making sure that the information that he was able to get is null and void by the time he tries to use it." Once back at the Headquarters ShadowWing got her injuries treated and crashed for the next 24 hours nursing one hell of a headache.

Blade was slowly waking up with the mother of the mother of all headaches. An acolyte from the Church was looking over him. "Are you all right sir?" he asked.

With a perfectly straight face Blade answered "No." he continued, "I've got a killer headache and I feel like I've been run over by a truck. Where's ShadowWing?"

"We don't know sir, we checked the hotel room you told us about, but by the time we got there it had been cleaned out. We would have been there sooner but the Opal agents were watching us."

"Why am I not surprised." he muttered, "Let's get back to base, this operation is now a complete wash-out."

Three days later-

Dr. Shadow Travis was stepping out of one of the buildings on the University of Texas's campus into the hot Austin sun. As she headed toward the food services area for a bite to eat she was wondering how she was going to survive her sister-in-law's, Sara Travis, party tonight. She did invite Bruce and Dick to make the evening a bit more bearable but overall it looked like a night of high society social chatter that the native-american woman could care less about. As she passed the parking area reserved for the University's dean, a nearby commotion broke her train of thought. The dean was screaming to a security guard that a car was illegally parked in his place. While the guard was trying to explain that it couldn't be illegal because in had a valid permit. Shadow's gaze drifted toward the car in question, and she smiled. She just happened to know that black Dodge Viper convertible sporting New York plates, it was Belle's car. *Looks like this evening isn't going to be as boring as I thought.* Later as she walked into the food court area she received, as expected, a telepathic message from Belle.

#Hi Shadow, I'm at the usual table.#

Shadow walked over to great her friend, and was a bit surprised at what she saw. The table Belle sat at gave a direct view of the dean's parking area. But instead of the normal grin that was usually on Belle's face after a joke like that she looked, well, depressed from Shadow's perspective. There was also a half eaten chocolate sundae in front of her.

"Uh oh," stated Shadow, "a killer prank, chocolate and you look that depressed? What happened?"

"Paris." Came the terse reply.

"Oh, so I take it that you and the evil twin are not getting along anymore?"

Understatement." Growled Belle.

Shadow took a good look at her friend. After a few minutes she grinned and then began to laugh. Belle glared. ""What's so funny Shadow?"

"You. You're in love with him."

"I...am...not!"

"You are too! Hon, it couldn't be plainer if you wrote in on your face." Shadow was having a hard time keeping her chuckles under control. Belle was still glaring at her. After she regained some control she continued. "Don't feel bad Belle. Do you know how long it took me to admit that I loved Holt?" Shadow was referring to her late husband Holt Travis.

"Shadow, Richard and I hate each others guts."

"Holt and I had fights."

"We were trying to kill each other."

"And your point would be?"

Belle sighed and threw up her hands, "I give up!"

"Good," Shadow grinned, "because you have plans tonight."

"I do?"

"Yep, Sara's little get-together of about 100 to 150 of Austin's high society."

Belle groaned, "I forgot, and me without a dress to make Sara turn about four shades of green."

"Even better!" replied Shadow, "What better way to cure the blues then by spending a large amount of money on a dress that you'll only wear once?"

After about four hours of shopping Belle bought a 1940's style dress from a vintage clothing shop that Shadow dragged her to. Like Shadow, Belle didn't care for some current fashions and preferred the sleeker lines of past fashions. When the two women arrived at the Travis' ranch Sara was there and was her normal snotty self.

"Well," she stated in that I'm-better-than-you voice that grated on Belle and Shadow's nerves, "what are you wearing tonight." Ever since Belle showed up in a knock-out designer original at the first Travis party she attended, Sara has been on a crusade to show up the New York Yankee ever since. And on every occasion, Belle put her in the shade without even trying.

Under normal conditions Belle would have happily spent 15 minutes cutting Sara down to size, but not today. With a perfectly straight face she replied "Edible." Then swept into one of the guest rooms leaving the other woman shocked and speechless.

Andrew, Sara's husband, bit his lip to keep from laughing. However, Andrew's brothers, Paul and Kyle had now such qualms and were laughing with Shadow at the other woman's expense. Sara tried to salvage some of her dignity and stalked off.

After he was able to stop laughing he asked Shadow, "What's up with the Yankee?" Soon after he met Belle and found out she was born north of the Mason-Dixie line he called her that to annoy her. It backfired, she occasionally called him a 'Damn Reb'.

"Man trouble." answered Shadow, "Do yourself a favor and don't piss her off."

"Should I bring a video camera to the party?" he asked

"Oh yes." replied Shadow, "In the mood Belle's in Austin's high society doesn't stand a chance."

A short time later, somewhere else...

Bruce Wayne was putting the finishing touches on his tuxedo's tie while attempting to tune out his former ward's grumbling. He succeeded in tying the tie, Alfred would be proud, but he couldn't ignore Dick. He sighed and stated, "You have no proof."

"But who else could have stolen my invitation?" grumbled Dick.

"What would have been your clone's motive for breaking in your apartment in the first place?"

"Belle."

"Oh."

Dick raised an eyebrow, "I take it that you've heard."

"Two costumed individuals trying to kill each other across the rooftops of Paris tends to raise a few eyebrows. Yes, I heard. But what does that have to do with him breaking into your apartment?"

"It might have something to do with the face I didn't inform him that the lady he was dating and the lady who kicked his face in were one in the same."

Bruce flinched. "Ouch. So not only does want to settle the score with Belle, but you as well."

"Yep."

"But you hate these parties, why attend anyway?"

"Because I'm afraid of what he'll do in my name."

"And here I thought that this was going to be another one of Sara's boring parties." As Bruce walked toward the door, Dick followed him out.

Meanwhile Richard was walking into the party and was about to start wrecking Dick Grayson's good name when Sara Travis, he recognized her from the society pages, walked up to him.

"Dick!" she called "How nice to see you! Where's Bruce Wayne?"

Richard mentally flinched at her voice, but he was able to exchange pleasantries with her until she darted off to another group. He sighed with relief, Sara Travis was about as perceptive as a brick and would be easy to fool. The Travis boys on the other hand were not going to be fooled. With Andrew being a sharp and savvy business man, and Kyle and Paul being Texas Rangers fooling them that he was Dick went from slim to none. Therefore avoiding them was high on the list. He began to mingle and bided his time looking for Belle.

On the other side of the room Shadow and Paul were keeping score, it was Belle-15 Austin Socity-0, and Belle had only been here about an hour. She had out talked, out witted, and out thought the competition. Most had conceded defeat, but a few brave souls grouped together for round two. Shadow grabbed a drink and handed it to Belle. Belle asked "Having fun?"

"Yep." she drawled, "Nothing I like more than seeing these so called friends of Sara's taken down a notch or two."

Belle was about to reply when a sharp pain formed in her temples. She swallowed and rubbed her temple. Shadow asked "You okay?"

"Yeah," muttered Belle, "I psi-bladed Richard while he was wearing a psi blocker. I've been getting headaches ever since."

"What does that mean?"

"That it's either a side-effect or a bigger problem." she then went still and her face darkened. "You sent Dick an invitation didn't you?"

"Yes, " Shadow replied, "and your point would be?"

"Somebody else is using it!" Belle hissed.

"Oh great." groaned Shadow. She then turned to the entrance and spotted Bruce entering followed by a pissed off Dick Grayson. "Well this party is going to real interesting real quick eh, Belle?"

No answer. Shadow turned around, no Belle. She spotted Paul and rushed over asking, "Did you remember the camera?"

"Yes." he replied, "Who's on the ropes?"

"A poor soul who is pissed at Belle, who Belle wants dead and Dick is willing to help her."

"Wo, where is this guy? I want to see him before Yankee gets her hands on him."

Shadow scanned the crowd and pointed at Richard, "There."

Paul did a double take, "That's Dick."

"No," Shadow replied, "that's Richard." she motioned to Dick making a bee-line for his double, "That's Dick."

"I won't ask, but cover for me while I get the cameras set up." Paul then dashed off

Richard had spotted Dick a looked for the nearest escape route. The only one was the dance floor, so he grabbed the nearest available girl and swept onto the floor. Dick cursed at the edge of the dance floor. Shadow appeared next to him and said.

"Don't worry, I happen to know who he just swept onto the floor with."

Dick glanced at Shadow to see her grinning from ear to ear. "He didn't!"

"He did." Shadow replied, "I hope Paul got the cameras set up, this is going to be good!"

Richard sighed with relief as Dick stopped at the edge of the dance floor. A woman came up next to him, Dr. Shadow Travis, if memory served and they talked for a bit. Then Dick grinned evilly in his direction. *What's that for?* he wondered.

"Me."

He looked down at his dance partner and almost went white. He was dancing with Belle! Once he got his voice back he snarled, "Of all the people..."

"You have allot of nerve coming within a mile of me after that last stunt!"

"Oh did that little Colombian operation of Opal Agencies go bad?" his voice dripped with mock concern.

"You should know, you tipped the cartel off!"

"Now why would I do that? Could it be because a little mind witch has been making my life a living hell?"

Belle's eyebrows shot up, "What hell is that suppose to mean?"

"Do not play innocent with me!" he snarled "I've been getting killer headaches and strange dreams ever since Paris. You're the only one I know of that could have caused this!"

Belle's mind was in overdrive. What he was describing was exactly what she had been going through. *But the only way that could have happened is if we had a mental bond. Oh no! Oh shit! That's what happened when I psi-bladed him, between his blocker and my powers a bond has formed between us. Since neither of us expected it we've been fighting in causing the headaches.* She smiled at Richard, "What would you say if I told you that your toy as well as my powers was responsible for your problems?"

"I'd say that you are lying." he snapped back.

"Too bad." With that she shoved him off the floor and into a waiting Dick Grayson. She then walked off saying "Play nice boys."

After making her way to the room's french doors for some air, Shadow joined her. The men's discussion went from semi-civil to bar-room brawl in about 30 seconds. Sara passed out and was carried out by Andrew. The rest of the women made for the door. The rest of the men started placing bets led by Kyle. Bruce put his head in his hands and groaned. Mama Helen, the boys mother, took it all in stride. While Paul was grinning like a madman at all the ways he could use this tape.

While the fists were flying Shadow addressed Belle. "Well, you went easy on him."

"Another hitch has developed Shadow."

"Such as?"

"Between my psi-blade and his blocker a bond has formed between us."

"You mean he's in your head, and your in his head?"

"Afraid so,"

"Is there anyway to undo it?"

"Not that I know of."

"Now what are you going to do?"

"Tell you that you were right."

"What."

"The only way that this type of bond can form is if both parties have emotional feelings for each other." grumbled Belle.

Shadow smiled, "I was right."

"You don't need to sound so pleased." muttered Belle.

"Cheer up. There are worst in the world." The sound of breaking furniture interrupted her. "Let's go and let the guys settle their differences."

"Did you bring your costume?"

"Of course." answered Shadow, "It's in the car trunk right next to yours."

The two women made good their escape to kick some slime-ball's but.

Chapter 6-

Three hours later...

The two Graysons sat on either end of the Travis's Ranch front porch, looking like pissed bookends. Both were in ruined tuxedos and holding ice packs to their heads. By some miracle Bruce and Andrew had convinced the owner of the building not to call the police. Things got kind of hairy once the food fight started. It was only when the roast chicken flew by and crowned Kyle that Mama Helen had decided that enough was enough and brought order from the chaos around her. Richard was still trying to figure out how that woman was able to make a room full of grown men feel like three year olds. After that the party had broke up and the Travis Clan plus Bruce, Dick and Richard made their way to the ranch. The only person in a good mood was Paul, and no one could figure that out.

Paul had changed out of his tux into his preferred attire of jeans and a shirt plus the standard boots he always wore. He strolled onto the porch to see how the two Graysons were doing. Mama had sent them out there and stated that they could only come in when they could act civil to each other. Muttering of hell freezing and flying swine followed them out the door. "Well," Paul stated looked at the two men on opposite ends of the porch "this is cheery."

"Is there some perverse reason to why your in such a good moos Paul?" grumbled Dick, "Aside from annoying those around you?"

"Yep." answered Paul "And annoying people isn't even my job, it's the Yankee's"

"Who's Yankee?" muttered Richard.

"His nickname for Belle." answered Dick.

"Oh." came the reply, silence again reigned.

Paul strolled over to Richard and looked him over, Richard already on a short fuse snapped "What are you looking at!?!"

"You"

"I figured that out." he replied "Why?!"

Paul sighed "I just wanted to get a good look at the man who finally got under Yankee's skin."

Richard was confused, "What?"

"She's been pissed at people before but it's never really phased her. She put them in their place and went on her way." Paul paused before continuing, "But you on the other hand have annoyed her in such a way that she doesn't know what to do with herself."

Dick looked up, "You're kidding?"

"Nope." Paul grinned "That woman is so frazzled that she's lashing out ant anything and everything that annoys her." he pointed at Richard "And he's the cause of it."

Dick then took a good look at Richard and busted out laughing. When he got his voice back he yelled "Bruce! Get out here! We've got a bet to settle!"

"What's he talking about?" asked Richard.

"I have no idea." answered Paul, "But we're about to find out." As Bruce Wayne walked onto the porch.

"To which bet do you refer?" asked Bruce.

"The one involving Belle."

Bruce grinned, "Who's the lucky guy?"

Dick was getting fits of laughter again and could only point at Richard. Paul quickly caught onto what Dick was saying, grabbed Richard's hand shaking it firmly stating "I never thought I would meet the man crazy enough to fall for Anderson and visa-versa."

The look on Richard's face was priceless as it finally hit him. He loudly stated, "NO WAY!"

The other three men hit the floor laughing.

Richard continued, "There is no way I'm falling for....her."

Dick nudged Bruce, "Pay up."

The three men were still chuckling as Richard stalked off away from the ranch and into the night.

In Downtown Austin...

The two SW's were having fun terrorizing various crooks and other assorted slimeballs. The two women were taking a breather on a rooftop when Spirit spoke up, "Now what?"

"I'll head back to New York I guess." answered ShadowWing.

"I meant about him."

ShadowWing sighed, "Now that I know a few more things maybe I can deal with him better."

"Care to fill me in?"

The two women nearly fell off the roof with surprise. #How in the hell did he get up here without you picking him up?# Spirit was practically yelling in mental terms.

#He's wearing a psi-blocker,# answered ShadowWing, #the only way I'd pick him up is if I was looking for him.# She finally spoke, "Care to tell me what your doing here Blade? Aside from sneaking up on innocent crime fighters?"

"I don't know what surprises me more," Blade answered, "that you actually said that, or that you said it with a straight face."

"And why do you say that?" quipped Spirit.

"If you two are innocent, then I'm the bloody pope." Blade shot back, he then walked over to ShadowWing, "Can we talk? Without trying to kill each other?"

"Nobody's stopping you."

"Alone?" he asked with a meaningful glance toward Spirit Wolf.

"You get rid of her." replied ShadowWing.

"Okay." Blade walked over to Spirit Wolf and shoved her off the building. The wolves, of course, jumped after her to help.

"Spirit!" yelled ShadowWing, she reached the edge of the building just in time to see Spirit land in the back of a very full garbage truck with a large splat. Followed by the wolves making two smaller splats. As the truck drove away Spirit wolf was yelling in Lakota at both the wolves and Blade.

"What did she say?" asked Blade.

ShadowWing who knew enough of Spirit Wolf's native tongue to get the gist of what she said replied, "You don't wanna know."

"Not even a hint?"

"Your a dead man."

Blade stepped back and replied, "Why? Spandex washes well."

"Her costume is Spandex, Kevlar, leather and fur. Not to mention that she does have to live with the wolves. Do know of a cleaner in Austin that can handle that outfit and not ask questions?"

Blade groaned, "I'll deal with that later." He sighed, "Can we talk?"

"About what?"

"Us."

"Oh." ShadowWing swallowed, "What about us?"

"I think you already know," Blade answered, "judging from your attitude now and the reactions Wayne, the other Grayson, and Paul Travis."

"Are we that obvious?" squeaked ShadowWing.

"I'm afraid so," he answered, "so the question is now what do we do about it?"

"I do know that separation is not an option." grumbled ShadowWing.

"Why not?"

She tapped the side of her head. "Remember the headaches and dreams you've been having?"

"Yeah."

"Well it seems like between your psi-blocker and my psi-blade, a psychic bond has formed between us." answered ShadowWing.

"Translation please?" Blade looked confused.

"I'm stuck in your head, your stuck in mine and there's no way to undo it." elaborated ShadowWing.

"Okay." started Blade, "Well that scraps the let's-go-our-separate-ways plan. Time for plan 'B'."

"Which is?"

"We give it a shot."

"I've done crazier." replied ShadowWing

Over the next few hours the couple cleared the air. The first thing they agreed on was a truce between Opal Agencies and the Church of Blood, ShadowWing did warn Blade that if they screwed up she'd come down on them. Blade understood and promised to keep the Church in line. The rest of the time was spent teaching Blade the basics of psychic bonds. What to expect, what you could and could not do through the bond. After a while the two were taking a break when ShadowWing got a funny look on her face.

"What's up?" he asked.

"I better get going." she chuckled.

"Why?"

"You've got company coming."

"I do?" he asked, "Who?"

"You'll see." she grinned, "Later!" With that ShadowWing jumped off the building and vanished. No sooner did she vanish then Blade sensed that there was somebody behind him. He wasn't sure what tipped him off first, the low growling or the smell."Spirit Wolf?" he squeaked.

"Grrrrr......"

"Would it help if I said I was sorry?"

"GRRRRRRR!....."

He swallowed, "Guess not." Blade slowly turned around. Spirit Wolf's costume was completely wrecked, coated with things he couldn't even begin to identify. The two wolves coats were matted with even more disgusting things. Spirit had a bowie knife in each hand and murder in her eye.

It took Blade less than a second to pick the wisest course of action, he ran for it. At ten feet one of her knives flew through the air and slashed through the sleeve of his jacket. At twenty feet Smoke jumped on Blade's back locking his jaws onto the heavy leather jacket. Only his momentum saved him from being pinned under the large canine. Blade dumped the jacket, wolf and all, and kept running with Spirit in close pursuit.

Meanwhile ShadowWing was calmly waiting for her friends return in Spirit Wolf's Bronco. Occasionally she mentally checked on both Spirit and Blade.

Spirit's language consisted mostly of "Die!", "Get back here!", and "Do you know how much this get-up cost?!" While Blade's was mostly, "Help.", "Oh no.", and "Quit chewing on that!"

About an hour later Spirit Wolf climbed into the Bronco. ShadowWing resisted the urge to put on her re-breather. "Feel better?"

"A little." she grumbled, "Let's head back, I want a few hours sleep before breakfast."

Chapter 7

Paul was the first one up, after Mama Helen that is, and was making his way to the kitchen when a whine stopped him. He sighed and opened Shadow's door then jumped out of the way as the two wolves raced out of the room and made for the front door. Paul continued strolling toward the kitchen when something landed on his head and a black tail swished in front of his head. "Damn cat." he grumbled.

Where ever Belle went, her cat Black Magic was sure to follow. Since the cat was not fond of the wolves she tended to perch on the highest spot available. Nine times out of ten it was Paul's head. He had learned through painful experience that trying to forcefully remove the cat was ineffective and resulted in serious injury to his head. As he walked into the kitchen Mama Helen addressed him.

"Morning Paul, nice hat."

He was about to reply when the cat caught the smell of bacon and jumped from his head to the counter to better observe it cooking. Paul shook his head, "Damn cat. Morning Mama."

He had only enough time to pour his coffee before everybody else, attracted by Mama Helen's cooking, drifted in. Belle was first greeting both Paul and Mama before grabbing her cat from the counter. The cat was poised to steel some bacon right from the pan. Magic objected vocally.

Belle sighed, "I'll give you a piece later." Black Magic settled down on her shoulder and began to purr.

"You're in a better mood." chuckled Paul.

"I just needed to blow off some steam." she replied.

"By starting a fist fight?!"

Both Paul and Belle looked up to the source of the statement. "Morning Andrew." they said in synch.

"Well?" asked Andrew.

"I didn't start it." stated Belle, "Can I help it if Dick and Richard can't control their tempers?"

She was saved from further interrogation by Dick walking in. "Morning Dick." she said, "Nice shiner."

He grumbled something unintelligible while making for the coffee. Shadow and Bruce came in next, Bruce was smiling, Shadow was not. Shadow grabbed the cup from Dick before he could take a sip. He was about to protest, but the look on Shadow's face stopped him.

"Well," stated Paul, "I guess we know where the Yankee's bad mood went." Shadow glared.

Before murder was committed, the wolves came into the kitchen. At the sight of the two canines, Black Magic jumped from Belle's shoulder, streaked across the table, and leapt to Paul's shoulder and climbed on top of his head. The wolves upon seeing the cat, proceeded to circle Paul like a pair of sharks. Magic's fur stood on end until she looked like a feather duster as she meowed pitifully.

"You said it cat." replied Paul as he wondered how he was going to get to his chair without causing the fur to fly, literally. Shadow whistled and the wolves trotted over to her side and sat down. Paul sighed with relief and sat at his chair, Black Magic climbed off of his head and onto Belle's shoulder as he passed by.

"By the way Shadow," asked Paul, "when was the last time you washed those two mutts. They stink!"

"They were in the garbage the other night." answered Shadow, 'I'll wash them later today" Belle choked back her laughter.

Breakfast was continued with a minimum of fuss until Kyle made an observation. "Where's Richard?"

"Traction." muttered Shadow under her breath, only Belle, Bruce and Dick could hear her.

#No, Not quite.# Belle was taking a drink and nearly choked when Richard's telepathic message came in. She sent back, #Don't do that.#

#Sorry couldn't resist#

For the rest of the meal Belle's self control was sorely tested as Richard's 'contributions' to the conversation went through her head. After helping with the clean-up all the non-Texas residents packed up and headed home. Once Belle was on the road she sent to Richard. #You're going to pay for that#

#Doubt it,# he replied, #you enjoyed it too much. By the way please inform Dr. Travis that if I have to get her a new uniform she has to get me a new jacket.#

#Why?#

#It's now the wolves chew toy.#

#I wondered what Smoke was chewing on last night.#

#Now you know.# he answered, #See you in New York?#

#See you in New York.# The rest of the trip was completed in silence.

Two days later Dr. Travis walked into her office to see a large box on her desk. Taped to the top was a note:

Shadow nearly passed out when she opened the box. Inside was a new Spirit Wolf costume, complete with all the accessories and some improvement. She then grabbed the phone and started dialing.

Belle was at home catching up on just about everything, when her phone rang. Needing a distraction she answered. "Hello?"

"You told him didn't you?"

"Told who what Shadow?"

"You gave Richard the design for my costume!"

"So." replied Belle, "It needed to be replaced."

Belle dear, he left it sitting on my desk! Anybody could have found it!" Shadow was exasperated, "And to top it all off he's insisting I get him a new jacket!"

Belle was about to reply when the phone was pulled out of her hand. She spun around to see Richard talking to Shadow as if nothing was wrong.

"Did you get my package?" he asked. He then pulled the phone away from his ear at her load and irate response. He then continued, "I'll expect my jacket within a week or so, the plans are in the box with your costume. Good bye!" With that he hung up. Meanwhile Belle was on the floor laughing. She finally found her voice.

"If you weren't on her death list before, you are now."

He shrugged, "Care to show me around this town?"

Belle looked at her paperwork, "Give me about five minutes to get semi-caught up here and I'll be happy to."

He agreed and decided to look around her apartment. As he strolled into the next room he nearly tripped over something. He looked down.

"Meow."

There sitting at his feet was Black Magic. "Gee." he muttered, "For the terror Paul and Dick described you don't look so bad." Richard bent over and scooped up the cat. Once in the crook of his arm he began to pet and scratch her under her chin. Soon the cat was purring away.

"She likes you." Belle had just walked into the room and sounded surprised.

"Does that surprise you?" he asked, "I like cats."

"Dick doesn't," she replied with a grin, "Magic can't stand him."

"Cats just know." he shrugged and put the cat down, "Shall we go?" holding out his elbow.

"Lets" she replied as they headed for the door.

Chapter 8:

-A few weeks later:

Mayhem looked at Blade, Blade looked at Mayhem, both had been discussing how best to run the Church. Needless to say both had very different opinions on which direction the Church of Blood should now take. Mayhem wanted to keep things the way they were, while Blade wanted to steer the organization to a more neutral position.

"Change will only disrupt the Church more, we can't risk it." Mayhem's patience was wearing thin.

"We have raised too many eyebrows Mayhem." he sighed, keeping the Church in line was going to be as easy as he thought. "We've had what, two different groups of Titans come down on us? The next time it could be the JLA or worse, one thing I did find out while looking into Opal Agencies, they've been keeping a closer eye on us than you thought. One wrong move Mayhem and we'd never know what hit us." After a pause he continued, "If we don't keep a lower profile and a more neutral position the Church will be either destroyed or disbanded."

"You have no right!" she hissed coldly.

"Oh the contrary." replied Blade, 'It was your idea to draw a sample of DNA from Nightwing. It was also your idea to create me from that DNA sample, then set me up as head of the Church afterward."

"After you disappeared that plan was abandoned." grumbled Mayhem.

'That's right," he hissed, "I was only to be a figure head with you pulling my strings." Mayhem's eyes widened, he had her against a wall and he was not going to let up now. "But you didn't count on me developing a mind of my own and coming back." He tossed a thick file on the table, "Remember that?"

Mayhem swallowed, she purposely had that file destroyed when he reappeared so he wouldn't find out about her plans for both the Church and him. "Where did you get that?" She whispered.

"You had me made from one of the world's greatest detectives and you have to ask me that?" Blade was no fool, Belle had access to tons of information through Opal Agencies. He never really trusted Mayhem, so he asked Belle if she had anything of interest. After giving him the file she wisely left the area before he read it. Hell, Black Magic avoided him at that point. He smiled at Mayhem, but there was no warmth to it. "I wouldn't go near half of the stuff in that file. You wanted a new leader for the Church? Be careful what you wish for."

Mayhem gathered herself and tried to re-coop gracefully. "Perhaps your right, a new direction would help the Church in the long run." She chose her next words carefully, "Maybe we could discuss this further?"

Blade's eyes narrowed, "If you think that I'm going to let you have a say in anything after reading that file your crazier than I thought. The only reason your still sitting there is that part of this organization is an actual church, And you are the head of that church." He stood up and picked up the file from the table as he walked out of the door. Before he left the room he stated, "If your smart Mayhem, keep out of my affairs and stick to running the church."

After he left Mayhem fumed. She was confident that over time she could win his confidence and gain a greater say in all of the Church of Blood's business. Now, with his discovery of her files, she didn't have a prayer. Her eyes narrowed, she had to find another way to keep him in line, or remove him from the picture entirely.

Later that day...

Belle was working with MJ at the Street Patrol Headquarters, which happened to be in a tree in the middle of Central Park. As Belle was handling some paperwork, MJ was people watching.

"You know Belle," stated MJ, "The average person would have a fit if they only knew what really went on in this park."

"And the average New Yorker?" asked Belle.

"Wouldn't even bat a eye." MJ's attention was riveted on something, "Oh Boy! Talent!"

Belle turned to see who MJ was drooling over now. She grinned as she spotted Richard walking through the Park. "Not your type." she stated.

"How would you know?" quipped MJ.

"He's taken." replied Belle.

"I repeat my previous question." stated MJ.

Belle just smiled and headed for the door. It finally hit MJ, "You lucky little...!" Belle ducked the chair cushion MJ tossed at her before leaving the tree house.

Richard had reached the wooded area of the park and muttered, "Now which tree was it?" As he looked around something landed on his head. He sighed and reached up to grab the cat off his head. "Hello Magic. Where's your Mistress?"

#Guess.#

Richard nearly dropped the cat. He still wasn't quite used to the telepathic bond with Belle yet. He sent back, #How about a hint?#

#Nope. See if you can find me on your own.#

He sighed, #You don't play fair. Do you?#

#Nope.#

After about five minutes of silence, both mental and physical, Belle peeked around the tree she was hiding behind to see if she could spot him. She couldn't. That worried her. Next thing Belle knew she was being spun around and kissed thoroughly. After about of 30 seconds of being outraged, Belle gave up and started to enjoy the kiss.

The next thing the couple knew they were being drenched with ice water from above. The pair came apart with a yell, Richard gasped, "I think I now remember the right tree." He finished his sentence with a pointed glare above.

Belle also glared upwards and yelled, "MJ! If your smart you will not be up there by the time I get up there!"

Laughter drifted toward them as they made their way up the ladder. Richard had been to the tree house before, but he hadn't met MJ before. MJ was grinning from ear to ear while swinging a now empty bucket. Belle glared and muttered, "Workout. Tomorrow morning. You and me. Alone."

MJ rolled her eyes and nodded then gave them both towels. After the introductions Belle led Richard into her office. "I thought you weren't going to be around this week so you could straighten out Mayhem." she asked him as she draped her now soaked jacket over the back of a chair.

"After three days of arguing with Mayhem, I decided to take a break before I killed her. Or she killed me. By the way, thanks for the file."

"No problem." After a few minutes she began to grin.

"I am really started to hate it when you grin like that." he muttered.

"No need to panic." she explained, "There's a charity function tonight. Grandpa was invited, but he can't go due to overseas business. Therefore..."

"You have to go instead." Richard finished her sentence for her. "And since I'm now here..."

"You can come with me." finished Belle, she grinned. He sighed and threw up his hands.

"Facing New York's elite has got to be more fun than facing Mayhem." He strolled toward the door, he stated before leaving. "I'll see you at your place later, I gotta find a tux."

After he left MJ stuck her head in. "That's Richard?" she asked.

Belle just nodded with a smirk. MJ shook her head as she left Belle to her work.

Early that evening...

Richard was finishing tying his tie when Belle stepped out of her room. His jaw dropped. "I'm going to have to fend the other men with a large stick."

"I'll take that comment as 'I like it'." Belle was wearing a gold dress that was skin tight down to her thighs, then it flared out into a short train. As she picked up her purse and a matching wrap, she asked. "Shall we go?"

Richard picked up his jaw and took up her arm. "We shall." he answered.

The party was okay as these social parties go. Not as exciting, as Sara's though. Belle wasn't the only one fending off members of the opposite sex. Richard was also receiving his share of attention from various New York socialites. Halfway through the evening Richard sent to Belle, #Man, these girls are persistent! What part of "No I'm not interested." Do they not understand?#

#All of it.# replied Belle, #Tell me whose not giving up and I'll tell you some dirt that's guaranteed to send them packing.#

Thirty minutes later Richard sent back, #Thanks! They are now avoiding me like a plague. How about we actually get closer to each other so people will think we are a couple?#

#Aw..# Belle sent back, #Are New York's socialites harder to face than Mayhem?#

#Actually I thought you might want a break from the men that have been swarming about you like bees to honey all night.#

He allowed himself a smile at the stunned silence over the telepathic bond. #Okay.# Belle finally replied, #You win that round...# Belle's telepathic sentence trailed off as she noticed a large amount of dark gray smoke pouring out of a nearby vent. She quickly sent to Richard, #Prepare for panic. I think the building's on fire.#

#Fire?# he thought back, Then he also saw the smoke pouring out of the vents. "Fire!" he yelled.

Panicked people in outfits not made for high speed escapes attempted to stampede to the doors. Belle was knocked into a wall by the stampede. With a growl she covered her mouth and nose with a napkin and sent to Richard.

#I said 'Prepare for panic' not start it!#

#Complaints, complaints,# He sent back. He quickly found and pulled a fire alarm to get the authorities to the scene. #All I get is complaints. I did start them out the door.#Belle sighed, #Let's just get everybody out of here in one piece.#

#No problem# he answered, #I'll meet up with you outside.#

#See you out there.# replied Belle. She made her way to the back of the room to be sure that nobody else was in there. She spotted a form slumped against a wall. As Belle reached the person she saw it was a woman as she checked for a pulse. It was steady, whoever it was must have passed out from the thick smoke. As she flipped the woman over to try and wake her up, Belle recieved a shock, the woman was wearing a gas mask.

"Wha..." muttered Belle, before she could react something heavy struck her across the back of the head and the world went black.

Richard was outside with about a hundred other socialites looking for Belle. He wasn't worried about her yet. Knowing Belle she would stay in the building until she was sure everybody else was out first. The Fire Department arrived and checked the building. As they came out about fifteen minutes later he asked what had happened.

"Some practical joker dropped two large smoke bombs into the building's ventilation system."

"What?"

"Yep," replied the fireman, "we found two of these just inside the vent grates." He held out a cylinder shaped object about seven inches long and two inches in diameter. Richard thought he had seen it before, he pushed it aside for now and asked.

"Was there anybody else inside?"

"Nope." came the reply, 'We swept the whole place just to be sure. Everybody got out."

As the fireman walked off Richard wondered where Belle was. Maybe she changed into her ShadowWing costume to go after whoever planted those bombs. Without telling him? He tried to contact her through the bond. Nothing. Starting to worry he made his way to the car to see if she had been there.

Belle's Viper was still where they had parked it. He reached behind the seat and pulled out the bundle that contained his costume, tossing it into the seat next to him. He decided to call MJ, hoping that Belle had checked in with her.

"Treehouse!" snarled MJ. Richard pulled the cell phone away from his ear then took a breath before answering.

"MJ? It's Richard," before he could continue she butted in.

"Put Belle on, the one night she decides to take off all hell breaks loose..."

"Belle hasn't called you?"

"No." snapped MJ. It was then MJ's turn to pull the phone away as Richard launched into his own tirade. After he stopped swearing he explained what happened earlier that night.

"Is her costume still there?" MJ asked.

"Damn it! It is." he grumbled after checking the car.

"Look, I'm going to try her cell phone." MJ was trying to hide her own concern, "I'll call you back. What's the number?"

Richard gave MJ his cell number and hung up. He then grabbed his costume and ducked into the nearest alley to change. A few minutes later Blade received a buzz on his gear. He, of course, answered, "Hello?"

It was MJ, "Bad news. No answer, something is defiantly wrong."

"And not a clue in sight." growled Blade.

"Maybe not." replied MJ, "There's a GPS tracer inside the phone. Want the location?"

"Is ShadowWing telepathic?" replied Blade.

Five minutes later Blade was in an alley, after a quick search he found both Belle's phone and her purse dumped into a trash can. He picked both up and tucked them into his jacket. As he did so he spotted some of the smoke bombs he occasionally used. They were made for him by the Church.

Those bombs looked exactly like the ones that the fire department had shown him earlier. As far as he knew there was only one place they could have come from, the same place he got his, the Church of Blood. Or to be more specific, Mother Mayhem herself. The reason why the Church would kidnap Belle soon popped into his head.

Mayhem wanted more control over the Church, the only way to do so was to threaten him in some way. It seemed that Mayhem had been keeping closer tabs on him than he thought and had discovered his relationship with Belle. If he cooperated, then Belle would be unharmed, or so Mayhem thought. Blade smiled darkly, Mayhem had no idea what Belle was really capable of. It wouldn't surprise him in the least if she bit off allot more than she could chew.

At the Church's Headquarters, Belle was slowly coming around. her head hurt, her mouth felt like cotton. It went without saying that she was in a bad mood. She carefully glanced around to find herself lying on a very unconfortable cot in a twelve by twelve foot cell. There was a small nitch in the corner that passed as a bathroom of some type with a sink and a toilet. On the other side of the room from the cot there was a single steel door with two small openings, one near the top for looking into the cell, and another lower down for passing food and other things through.

"Nice." growled Belle, "Right out of the dark ages. I wonder what psycho group or solo acting maniac grabbed me this time."

As if on cue the door opened and two Acolytes from the Church of Blood entered.

"You will come with us Miss Anderson." stated one of the acolytes in stotic tones. A quick mind scan revealed that Mayhem wasn't the only one who didn't like Blade's leadership of the Church.

"Whatever you say Boys." she calmly replied, much to their surprise. They were expecting a terrified little rich girl. Not a calm, controlled individual who talked to them as if they were showing her to her table at a restaurant not being escorted as a prisoner. She calmly strolled out of the cell with the two acolytes right behind her.

After a short walk through about a dozen of practically identical corridors, Belle was brought into what appeared to be a small conference room. There were no windows, the only furniture was a small table and a few chairs. There was only one other person in the room, Belle wasn't the least surprised when she saw who it was.

"Mother Mayhem." she drawled to the surprised woman, "What a pleasant surprise! But really, if you needed to discuss something with me you could have just made an appointment."

Mayhem was taken off guard, but quickly regained her composure. She was surprised to find that Richard was dating a New York Socialite, didn't seem his type. Now she was seeing that there a bit more to her than met the eye. "I presume that your boyfriend told you about me?" she sneered.

"Not really," drawled Belle, "I have connections with the original Titans team, you remember? The one's who kicked you and Brother Blood into next week?"

Mayhem fumed. "If I was in your place I would watch your mouth!"

"No Mayhem." Belle dropped the light tone from her voice, "This time you have bit off way more that you can chew, and have sealed the fate of the Church."

Mayhem snorted with disgust, "If you are referring to Blade, he hold no threat over me as long as I have you."

"Wrong again Mayhem." sneered Belle, she carefully placed her hands on the back of one of the room's chairs, getting a good grip, "I was referring to me!" With that Belle hoisted the chair up and swung it in a wide arc nailing both the acolytes and Mayhem. The force of the blow was enough to sent them into a heap on the far side of the room away from the door. While they were still stunned Belle ran out of the room and jammed it shut once on the outside.

"Mayhem is going to beg on her hands and knees for Richard to take me back by the time I'm through with this place." she muttered before disappearing into the corridors.

The klacsons were happily blaring at full volume by the time Blade was able to arrive at the Church's Headquarters.

"Well, what do you know," he muttered while hiding in the shadows, "it seems that Belle has decided to start the party without me. As if I am surprised."

Inside the Headquarters was absolute chaos. Smoke, alarms, and personal were everywhere. Mayhem was almost screaming over the intercom system trying to bring some order the entire mess. Blade shook his head and calmly made his way to the main computer room.

Belle had switched her formal dress for one of the acolytes uniforms. Now, properly disguised she was able to blend in and reek havoc among the other acolytes and the headquarters. A trash fire here, a few smoke bombs there, an acolyte turning on his fellows thanks to a bit of mental tampering on Belle's part. Overall she was having a blast. Until she rounded a corner and spotted Mayhem with a Blackjack.

"Wrong turn!" swallowed Belle as she quickly ducted from Mayhem's attack.. It seemed Mayhem had gotten tired of the Acolytes failure to stop her and decided to take care of Belle herself.

It went with out saying that the two women were happily trying to kill each other as Blade watched from a video monitor inside the main computer room. He shook his head, "If I interfere I'll get killed by one or the other, so I think I'll sit that dance out and work on my resignation." By now he had hooked up a laptop computer to the main computer and was calling F-X via video link.

"F-X here....What!" the woman gasped as she saw not the face of her Boss but Blade instead.

"Hi!" Blade stated, "One question before you cut me off?"

"It better be good." she replied.

"How fast can you clean out the Church of Blood's Computer files?"

Blade could have sworn that F-X got a kind of glassy look in her eyes, "How fast can you hook me into it?"

"Now." replied Blade as he hit a few keys on the laptop. The files were quickly copied and sent then deleted from the Church's main computer databases. As the files vanished Blade's grin grew even wider.

"Done!" stated F-X after about twenty minutes had passed, "I presume you have formally resigned from the Church of Blood?"

"Not quite yet," began Blade, "I haven't had the chance to give Mayhem my notice yet..." A crash from behind interupted him. It was Belle and Mayhem, still in the middle of their cat-fight. "Gotta go! Later!" As he sighed off and left a final present for Mayhem in the now empty database.

Belle stood up and snapped at Mayhem, "Will you please fall down and stay that way!"

"Never!!" roared Mayhem. Neither of the women had noticed Blade was in the same room.

'Fine!" snapped Belle, who had enough of this whole mess, Mayhem was a bit tougher that she originally thought. She connected her next punch with a bit of her telekinetics added on. Mayhem was down for the count after that. Blade began to applaud after she hit the ground.

"What took you so long?" groaned Belle.

"Traffic?" he replied with a smile, "Since I just left Mayhem my resignation letter while you two were occupied, any chance you might have a job opening?"

"I'll have to see your resume first." Belle shot back.

"Lucky for you I just sent F-X a copy, you are going like what you see!"

Several hours later....

After Belle and Richard made their escape Mayhem regained consciousness. Her first order was that all the reports and notes made on Belle Anderson be brought to her. She wanted to know how a New York socialite could fight like that. The acolyte she sent to get the information returned empty handed.

"Mother Mayhem," he squeaked, "There is nothing at all in the computer..."

"What!" she snapped, and then stalked to the computer to see what was going on. Sure enough somebody had completely cleaned out the database. Every important file was gone all that remained was a small file called, README.TXT. Quaking with anger Mayhem opened the file it said:

The scream could be heard for miles.

The End!!

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