The Amazon Royal Cabinet followed their former Queen as she descended into the depths of Paradise Island. They had walked down stairs for what seemed forever. Leigha was sure that they had gone deeper than the former gate to Tartarus. Finally, Hippolyta turned and went down a tunnel. A minute later, they all stopped before a large bronze door inscribed with Greek letters.

“Open,” said Hippolyta. “Open and allow this warrior access.”

“VERY WELL,” said a booming voice that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. “ENTER WITH DUE HUMILITY.”

The door opened, the walls shuddering as it did so. It had been many years since anyone had come this far beneath Paradise Island. This chamber was one that only Hippolyta has set eyes on since the Amazons took up residence on the Island.

Lanna, Minister of State, Sacha, Minister of Agriculture and Kallian, Senior Medical Officer stared in awe at what they saw before them. Only Clea, the Amazon High Priestess seemed to be nonplussed.

“What…is this?” asked Kallian.

Before them was a bubbling pool. It was clear as crystal, yet light seemed to pulse from it. Being in the presence of its light was soothing and invigorating.

“This,” said Hippolyta, “Is the source of our immortality. The Gods are responsible for our long lives, but this is the mechanism they left us here on Earth. It is called the Primal Pool…but Ra’s al Ghul would call it something else.”

“A Lazarus Pit,” said Clea.

Faux DC Presents

# 345

"Demon's Ruin - Part Three"

By Mike Hintze

Cairo, Egypt

Daniel Singh was no longer a man, at least not in form. He was massively muscled, his body distended beyond recognition. His pupils were dilated to pinpoints. What little that was left of his mind was focused on one thing:

Killing the two Amazons who had tried to torture him for information on his master.

Diana, Queen of the Amazons and also known as Wonder Woman, lay unconscious on the floor of the bar. Artemis, Diana’s Viceroy and a former Wonder Woman herself, stood in a ready battle stance.

“My Queen has been struck,” said Artemis as she produced two short blades from her jacket. “For that, you will not die a quick death.”

“RAAAAAGH!” yelled Singh as he leapt forward to Artemis. She barely ducked his reach, managing to sink her blades into Singh’s midsection. She rolled between the man-beast’s legs, pulling her blades with her as she went.

Blood poured down Singh’s belly, but he seemed not to notice. His mind was submerged beneath the rage of the drug he had ingested. Whatever it was, besides giving superhuman strength, it also dulled the man’s wits.

Artemis flipped her blades around in her hands, the blades facing down. Singh lunged at her again. She leaped up and stabbed the blades down as she went over Singh’s head.

Singh screamed as Artemis landed behind the man. “Let’s see you fight without eyes,” she said.

Metropolis Airport, Private Hangar #14

Talia al Ghul waited as the hatch to her private plane opened. With a hiss of air, the door slid open. Her bodyguard, a man named Gunther, stepped out first. He took two steps and was yanked away out of Talia’s sight. An instant later, a dark cloaked man stood before her.

“Hello, beloved,” said Talia. “I was not expecting you.”

“Talia,” said Batman. “We have to talk about your father.”

“Just once I wish we could talk about us,” said Talia.

“Not today,” said Batman, “And not after what he did to the United Nations and the Amazons.”

“I wondered if that was his work,” said Talia. “We haven’t spoken in quite some time.”

“I want to know what he wants and where he is,” said Batman. “I know you have no love lost for your father. He needs to be stopped.”

“You are right,” said Talia, “But first and foremost, he is my father. Blood is a bond that stands above all else, even if my father wants nothing to do with me.”

“If you stand with him,” said Batman, “You will go down in flames when he does. If you help me, I can protect you.”

“If my father does go down,” said Talia, “Then I stand to inherit his empire. I will not need your protection.”

“Talia,” said Batman, “Talk to me.”

Talia seemed to ponder this. “I do not know where my father is,” she said, “And even if I did I would not tell you. However, I can offer insight into why he has targeted the Amazons.”

“Is this revenge for something Diana or Hippolyta has done?” asked Batman.

“No,” said Talia. “It’s for something they have…that all Amazons have.”

“Immortality,” said Batman.

“Yes,” said Talia, “More to the point, the source of that immortality.”

“According to Diana, their long lives are gifts from the Gods themselves,” said Batman.

“That may be,” said Talia, “But legend has it that there is an earthbound source of that power that the Gods put down…on Paradise Island.”

“The Amazons were petitioning to join the United Nations,” said Batman. “That could have potentially opened their borders to delegations from around the world.”

“Something my father could not tolerate,” said Talia. “He could not take the chance that anyone would find the secret of Amazonian immortality but he.”

“It is impossible to go to Themyscira unaided,” said Batman. “Steve Trevor did once, but he was a pawn of Ares according to Diana.”

“Then it would seem he would need a guide,” said Talia. “If Amazon squads are searching for him now, why not let them come to him? Any one of them would know how to travel to Paradise.”

“Damn,” said Batman. He turned to leave. “If you see your father, tell him he’s done. I’m coming for him.”

“I’m sure,” said Talia, “That you will tell him yourself soon enough, beloved.”

Singh screamed and thrashed about as two blades protruded from his eye sockets. Blinded, he was nevertheless coming very close to getting his hands on Artemis. If anything, his rage was making him more of a threat blind that when he was sighted.

Artemis leaped and rolled, dodging as much as she could. Eventually, it was no use. She was cornered and Singh knew it. He reached out and grabbed Artemis’ leg, thrashing her through a wall. She was dazed and had only seconds to live.

A brilliant golden lasso gripped Singh and pulled tight. He screamed as the light of the lasso seemed to surround him, but then as each second passed, he began to calm himself.

Diana held the other end of her magic lasso, willing its enchantments to calm the man. Surprisingly, he began to change shape again, shrinking down. Artemis reached out and removed her blades. Singh made no sound as she did so.

“That was close,” said Artemis.

“Too close,” said Diana. Singh was lying down on the rubble-strewn floor, sleeping. “I suspect Mr. Singh dosed himself with a variant of Venom. Ra’s knew we were coming.”

Singh began to cough and convulse. Diana kneeled down to the man, but it was too late. His chest stopped moving. The effects of the Venom were too much. He was dead.

“Damn,” said Diana.

“Now what?” asked Artemis. “The trail stops here.”

Diana’s Justice League Communicator buzzed. She pulled it out and a holographic image of Batman appeared. “Cairo is a dead end,” said Diana. “Literally.”

“I may have found what Ra’s is after,” said Batman. “I have reason to believe he will be making his way to Themyscira himself.”

“Impossible,” said Artemis. “No man may do so unaided.”

“Have all your agents report in,” said Batman. “I fear he may have found a tour guide.”

The craft broke the waters and came ashore undetected. Cloaked from sight by light refracting technology, it was soundless as its hatch opened. A man clad in a skin tight suit exited the craft. He was armed and moved with a lithe grace.

In the distance from the beach, buildings rose into the horizon made from marble and Greek architecture. Pillars and statues were everywhere. The moonlight was bright enough to give this place the air of grandeur it deserved.

The craft’s hatch closed and it retreated from the shore, submerging as it moved away. It could be recalled at anytime but would remain undetected for now. The man looked towards the largest, highest building. It made sense that this would be the main throne hall…and in its depths would be what he sought.

Ra’s al Ghul had arrived on Paradise Island.

Next Issue: The conclusion to DEMON'S RUIN!