Chapter 9 - Vampires in Gotham?

Now. Gotham City.

Gordon was on the phone while Charlie was driving the Humvee quickly while looking into the rearview mirror every once in a while.

"What the hell are you doing!" Montoya screamed in anger. "Why did you leave her behind!?!" Renee Montoya firmly believed in never leaving another behind, especially after her time in the military.

Charlie chuckled, "ma'am, I don't know what you are cleared to know. But what I do know is that the boss lady ain't human. Not to mention she loves an unbeatable battle. So if she says go, then I go."

Before Montoya could rebuttal there was the sound of a loud sports car. The only thing that Charlie saw was a streak of black trailing a blue flame as it sped past. It hit the creatures behind them and kept driving in the direction they just left.

"Seems like Batman is on the case now." Gordon stated as he stopped talking on the phone for a moment.

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Five Years Ago. Island in the Pacific Ocean. Secret League Base. Underground Freezer.

Scarlett remembered dying earlier. She clearly felt it. First she was tortured by the Joker by being burnt alive but she survived that. Then she remembered the pain from afterwards as she moved around. She heard the conversations around her. Even the conversation that Ra's had with his daughter, she heard.

But now she stood in what looked like a fridge? But the walls were melting and there were slags of melted metal strewn about. The strange thing was that she didn't feel hot. Looking down she saw she was naked, but that wasn't the first thing she noticed or even the second.

Her body was covered in a red fiery silhouette. She could feel her senses were enhanced so was her strength. The strangest thing was that she could feel something on her back and control it, it was like another set of limbs.

After she noticed her nudity she ignored it. Looking to the doorway she saw both Ra's and Talia's shocked looks. Then looking at what was attached to her back she saw two majestic orange wings. Then she noticed someone standing off to the side with his typical raised eyebrows in confusion but somehow… understanding, in a similarly nude state.

Before she even got a chance to say anything he said, "damn Phoenix, I think you just became a Meta-Phoenix."

—-----------------------------------------

Now. Gotham City. St. Sellas Graveyard.

"Ha!" Scarlett yelled as another punch from her sent a vampire flying back. As for Batman's sidekicks, their equipment was breaking on the vampire's skin. Only their explosives were even offsetting them for a few moments.

Scarlett sent another vampire flying, but she was starting to get exhausted. They had been going at this for some time. Both of the sidekicks were starting to look exhausted.

"Hey umm… Robin?" Batgirl asked as she dodged a strike from a vampire. "When does he get here?"

"Good question, I am starting to wonder-" Robin stopped mid sentence as the armored Batmobile roared into view and suddenly stopped in front of them. Throwing the three vampires that were pulling it apart off of it. "Batman!" Robin suddenly ran forward as Batman jumped out of his vehicle.

Batgirl tried to pull him back as he dodged the vampires and in the process neglected her own blind spots. "Robin, don't jump out of formation!" As a vampire who was lurking behind her suddenly jumped forward with the intent on latching onto her neck.

But as it was about to grab her neck with its fangs when a gloved hand grabbed it onto its head and threw the vampire away. While Scarlett's other hand grabbed Batgirl by the arm, then quickly lifting her she threw Batgirl towards Batman.

Not because of Batgirl and Robin's failure to keep up with fighting form. But because she noticed another presence had spent some time making their way behind them and chose that moment to attack.

Batman was caught off guard as Batgirl's body came flying towards him. He caught her just as Robin stopped next to him but he noticed all of the creatures start moving towards the red head. Batman quickly set her down and moved towards the woman when she suddenly screamed as something moved out of the shadows and bit her neck. The creature looked similar, but more human. Its skin was pale and it wore a long red cloak.

But the table suddenly turned as the woman's body glowed red, "Ha!" Then she flipped the creature, covered in a red cloak, away from her slamming him onto the ground causing a large impact crater to form just as the other creatures closed in. But as she went to punch downwards Scarlett felt her leg getting grabbed, "ah Shit!"

Then Scarlett felt herself flying through the air. She flew straight up. Batman and the rest watched in surprise at the strength that the red cloaked creature presented.

"Foolish mortals! You resist the gifts I offer, I am Dracula and I will not be denied! I will have this city! Then I will have the world!" Dracula, the red cloaked vampire stated before he suddenly started to fade into the shadows, "my minions, ignore these humans and the Phoenix." Then he completely disappeared while the rest of the vampires split up and ran into the city.

Scarlett started to fall, she got thrown really high up. But as she was coming down Batman started to pull out a capsule when a pair of majestic orange wings grew out of her back made him stop. Scarlett slowed down her descent and landed before retracting her wings.

"Damn," Scarlett rubbed her neck where there were two bite marks from 'Dracula's' fangs. "He was really quick. Guess I won't be able to take him in a one-on-one fight unless I go all out."

Batman growled as he tried to look as menacing as possible. But Scarlett ignored him, "are you two alright? Sorry I had to throw you Batgirl." Batgirl was confused about what happened but she knew one thing.

She had questions, "who are you? How do your wings work? What were those things? Are you gonna turn into a vampire now? What was that red energy?"

Scarlett chuckled and nodded, "sounds like you are fine. If you excuse me I have to make a call." Scarlett walked away while pulling out her phone.

Batman turned to Batgirl, "vampires?"

Batgirl nodded, "yup that is what the winged lady called them."

Scarlett walked back several minutes later while Robin and Batgirl described what happened to Batman.

"Sorry about that, now where were we?" Scarlett asked as Batman looked at her with his usual menacing atmosphere.

"You were telling me why you are here?" Batman responded.

Scareltt chuckled, "no, I wasn't. I believe I was getting a ride to the local Project Cadmus facility." Scarlett casually jumped into the passenger seat of the Batmobile as it opened up for her. Catching the three vigilantes off guard, "come on now, we are on a bit of a rushed timetable now."

Batman grunted with narrowed eyes as he hopped into the front seat. While the sidekicks hopped in the back seat. "So can you answer my questions now, Miss?" Batgirl asked as she leaned forward in her seat.

As Batman started his vehicle and started driving.

"Sure, let us see. You can call me Scarlett. My wings are part of my Meta-ability. Those were vampires and I believe their lord, Dracula. I have no clue if I will turn into a vampire, but I used my innate magic-meta ability to combat it so I believe I am resistant. The red glow was my magic-meta ability, that is just about all I have been able to do with it." Scarlett responded casually.

Batgirl nodded, "so why are you okay with us knowing this, it seems like you should keep it a secret."

Scarlett shrugged, "well, I suppose it is only fair. Miss Gordon. Young Ward Tim Drake. Billionaire Bruce Wayne." The sidekicks seemed surprised while Batman just grunted in annoyance.

"I suppose that means Waller told you?" Batman asked with an annoyed tone.

"Nope, I have a higher clearance than Waller, so we actually told her originally. Besides, I found that stuff out by hacking into your big ol' computer you have under your house." Scarlett responded while casually and playfully poking the pointed ear on his costume.

"You hacked the Batcomputer?" Robin and Batgirl asked simultaneously while Batman growled. Again.

"Hahaha!"

—-----------------------------------

London. Some Street.

It was just about morning. The sun had not even risen yet. Mylo had just finished picking up the knockout gas, next he needed to install it. But that was for tomorrow. Today he was just gonna enjoy the sights.

At the moment he was looking for a place to eat a meal. Eventually he found a breakfast place. It was a diner, it looked American. He walked in and ordered some food and drink. As he waited, two suspicious people to walk in, he recognized them on site. He frowned but ignored them.

But he couldn't continue doing that because they walked up to his table and looked at him. The blond one with a trench coat sat down then the one in a suit with red hair that had a white streak through it, sat down as well.

"Sir, I apologize if it seems rude and presumptuous for us to join you at your table-" Jason Blood started off by being polite but was interrupted by his counterpart.

"Mate you need to bloody leave the country-" His counterpart, Constantine stated bluntly. Looking smug and righteous while he did.

Mylo looked at them then chuckled, "sure, I will get right on that." He then ignored them as his food arrived. He started eating.

"Mate, I don't think you quite understand. When I say gone-" Constantine started to discreetly move his hand under the table, probably to cast a spell. "I mean gone." Jason went to stop him but before he got a chance there was a quiet noise like a stapler clicking and Constantine stopped casting his spell.

Instead he looked down and felt his midsection, when he looked at his hand he saw it was bloody. Mylo just shook his head, "mate, I don't care. I am busy but if you want I can play with you heroes of the old country. But I play rough. Now scram. I am enjoying my breakfast." Mylo's words were mocking but Constantine wasn't focused on that but Jason Blood understood.

Mylo was not your everyday tourist with an abundance of magic, it was clear to them now. Jason supported and helped Constantine out of the diner while Mylo looked on.

"Haa… I hate magic."

—------------------------------------

Gotham City. Project Cadmus Satellite Facility.

Scarlett was moving around the facility giving orders. While she was doing that Batman discreetly slipped a hard drive into one of the system terminals. Batgirl was looking at Scarlett's remote digital setup that Scarlett's people had set up. Robin was looking over Batgirl's shoulder.

Scarlett walked over, "like my setup?"

"Yes this is incredible. Are you going to tell us what is going on?" Batgirl asked as she spun around in the chair.

"Sure, as long as your boss is done stealing data from our servers." Scarlett glanced at Batman who was walking over and saw him flinch. "Looks like he is. Basically my bosses sent a research group here to research an old legend, what they failed to mention is that it was Dracula. Anyways I have GCPD and my people quarantining the city. When the sun rises I will go back to the graveyard to find the hideout. I suggest you three find one of those vampires and create a cure or they will all go the way of the dodo bird when I find their hideout."

"Even if they are vampire's we should catch them not-" Robin started speaking but Scarlett just shook her head.

"My job isn't saving lives, kid, I don't have that luxury. At the moment I need to secure the safety of the most people possible and that means containment. I start my hunt at dawn. I suggest you get moving." Scarlett walked over to someone who started to call her while the Bat family quickly moved out.

They moved quickly and with a purpose, "I thought she seemed really nice but what she said-'' Robin was thrown off by her demeanor.

"Robin, she is purposely giving us a head start. Now that she knows her magic is volatile to them she could easily hunt down and kill them now. What she was doing was giving us an opportunity to save lives, she more than likely has already figured out the infection rate of the vampires and is weighing the fact that the longer she waits the higher the body count." Batman explained as he pulled up a police frequency to listen for vampire alerts.

"You sound like you actually like her?" Batgirl observed with a smirk, her insinuation was obvious.

Batman shook his head, "she has hacked the batcomputer supposedly and hasn't done anything to it nor compromised anything. But your statement is moot. If you were paying attention to her and less to her setup, you would have noticed-"

"That she is into women." Robin interrupted Batman as he nodded, "that part was obvious. She kept glancing at Montoya's behind." Batgirl blushed as she looked away shyly, she missed that detail.

—--------------------------------

London. House of Mystery.

"Superman, yes this is Jason Blood. I have a person I need to match a name to. He shot Constantine who was about to magically throw him across the world." Jason Blood was looking at Constantine who was bandaged up on the couch while talking on his phone.

"Okay Etri- I mean Mr. Blood, I have received the photo. I am putting it in the system now." The call then went staticky for a moment. "Umm… I will call Batman in, mainly because the photo and message you sent with it disappeared. See if you can send it again."

Jason frowned as he looked over his phone and found the photo had disappeared. "It is gone. Haa… nevermind, just tell Batman. I will only watch the person from a distance for now."

"Understood, I will let Batman know." The call then cut off.