Previously, the capable killer had served as an "escort" to Gotham City's stable of arch-criminals and her beauty, as well as her taste for kinky, psychotic employers, had quickly made her popular, despite her high rates. Trained in martial arts; lock-picking; and computer hacking, she was much more capable than many of her paying "friends" realized. Conversely, she knew more about the strengths and weaknesses of her many colorful clients than their mothers, former cell-mates, or psychoanalysts would ever dare guess. She had recently practiced her assorted, sordid crafts as a brunette, but possessed a chameleon-like quality, having worked as a blonde for the better part of a decade.

As she worked in and outside of Gotham City over the years, Vixen had faced Batgirl and the city’s other caped defenders repeatedly and developed at least a professional relationship with Lex Luthor. Simultaneously, she had been groomed by Catwoman as a possible replacement for the Princess of Plunder, following Selina Kyle’s eventual retirement. The Feline Fiend had gone so far as to pay for plastic surgery to alter her favored henchwoman’s appearance, so the girl would more closely resemble her mistress.

When the world thought Catwoman was dead, other possible successors to the Queen of Crime had, along with Vixen, formed a clandestine club of Catwoman fanciers. The Martianess of Misdemeanors had revealed she was still alive just in time to prevent the eight from literally tearing the limbs from Batgirl’s body with their bare hands. The Princess of Plunder had decided to reserve the important decision concerning Batgirl’s ‘purr-manent retirement,’ later explaining these ‘arrangements’ would best be left in her very capable paws.

Catwoman’s intervention on that occasion had not been the Curved Crusader’s only strange experience with these women. Batgirl had briefly teamed up with Vixen and learned another Catwoman admirer, Patience Phillips, who had fought crime in the Catwoman’s guise, had disappeared after discovering an ancient spider cult. The terrific-looking team had subsequently learned the kittenish crimefighter had paid for her discovery with her life. Also, not only had this cult, the Bluestone Spider Society, been revived, it was being transformed into a modern criminal enterprise.

To avenge her friend, Vixen had taken steps to join the Bluestone Spider Society and subsequently learned their leader, Spider-Priestess, had both ordered and personally presided over Patience Phillips’ murder. The call girl had shoved Spider-Priestess into a cage full of spiders the Society had bred and grown to monstrous size before slamming the door.

Before Spider-Priestess’ body had disappeared, Batgirl’s intervention had prevented the Society’s immediate, lethal reprisal against the call girl. The unlikely alliance between the Curved Crusader and the endowed escort had been the beginning of a strange story Vixen knew might end at any time.

Archie Arcane, a Society member who was also one of Vixen’s old clients, quickly became the call girl’s pawn in her bloody, one-woman war against the Bluestone Spider Society. Vixen had selected him as the ‘acolyte’ to ceremonially induct her into the ancient organization. Following Spider-Priestess’ disappearance, Vixen had kept in touch with Archie Arcane and took full advantage of the open line of communication. He had unwittingly helped her find Webmaster, the man in Gotham City Spider-Priestess had made responsible for her organization’s technical needs and valuable data.

During Webmaster and Vixen’s brief relationship, she had coaxed him to reveal many of her enemies’ secrets, but Webmaster had become expendable when he grew suspicious. Vixen had carefully arranged his death so it would appear accidental. Their interaction that evening, in addition to the chemical with which she had laced his drinks, left him far too weak to even stand when she kissed him goodbye and left him simmering in a steamy, bubbling Jacuzzi.

More similar ‘accidents’ and apparent suicides had followed as she circled the globe, taking full advantage of the data she had obtained and continuing to use her unwitting pawn, Archie Arcane. The Bluestone Spider Society was not deceived. Yet, Vixen was far from naive.

Her habitual precautions had thwarted their first attempts at retaliation and she had been unafraid to blatantly demonstrate their failure. For example, the bodies of an assassin and the bellman he had bribed to gain admittance to her Gotham City hotel suite had been sent in the crate employed for the caper to the parties who had ordered the call girl’s death. The delivery did nothing to improve their moods since the exercise had obviously been unsuccessful.

The Society eventually exploited Vixen and Archie Arcane’s relationship, realizing the means by which she kept tabs on them was also her potentially fatal weakness. The couple met at a proposed ‘peace conference,’ where they enjoyed a meal before retiring to ‘talk’ privately. Together, they drifted off to sleep and were powerless to prevent the Bluestone Spider Society’s remaining members from taking their exhausted enemy captive.

The Society’s long-awaited revenge would soon transpire. Their hard-won victory was finally at hand.

When Vixen awoke, she became slowly aware of acutely different sensations than the pleasant stimuli which had guided her into the velvety murk of drowsy unconsciousness. A chill prompted her to shift closer to Archie Arcane so she could snuggle against him again, but her limbs remained outstretched for some reason.

‘I’m restrained – unable to move – and Archie’s gone!’

Vixen held her eyes tightly shut as she inhaled, letting the air out of her lungs slowly while assessing her situation with her other senses. Her limbs had all been splayed and stretched to their maximum before her wrists and ankles had been immobilized. She could turn her head, but her chest was enveloped by numerous, strong threads. Her waist and hips were also tied down and, as she considered the feel of the strands composing her restraints, she realized they felt like silk. The chill air caressing her flesh told her the bindings at her waist and chest in addition to her wrist and ankle bonds were the only things covering her body.

‘It seems the party is over,’ Vixen thought. ‘It’s too bad. Seeing Archie again really was fun. Someone else must have tied me up, too. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t really mind. After all, I often find surprises enjoyable . . . however, this time, since he doesn’t seem to be involved . . . .’

“Ready?” a vaguely familiar, female voice asked.

“Let’s do it,” another woman answered. “I’ve been looking forward to dealing with her for a long time.” Vixen thought she had met the second speaker as well.

An open palm slapped the brunette’s face and the arm swung back to enable Vixen’s attacker to backhand the bound call girl as well. “Wake up, you — ”

“I am awake!” Vixen said, opening her eyes. “So, stop it!” Recognition dawned upon her instantly as she focused on the two women looking down at her. The one who had slapped her face had honey brown hair and shared Vixen’s interest in technology. Her name was Charlotte. The other had pale, blonde hair and her name was Silk. “Where am I?”

“Welcome to our parlor,” Silk said, smiling wickedly. “To be more specific, you’re in our sewing room.”

“As you’ve probably guessed,” Charlotte added, softly laughing “we’re about to sew up your fate, but I’m willing to bet you didn’t realize we’d use a loom.”

“Of course,” Vixen said, nodding with understanding. “I’ve literally been woven into a silken tapestry. What did you do with Archie?”

“He was merely a lure for you. No pun intended,” Silk replied, favoring the captive with a knowing smile. “He was bait, if you’ll follow the analogy. He’s sleeping soundly now, where you left him after completely gobbling him up.” The pale-haired woman giggled.

“If it’s any consolation, he was smiling when we left him,” Charlotte said.

“I’ve never had any complaints,” Vixen retorted, “ever! Did he know how you two were using him?”

“No,” Silk replied. “I doubt he’d approve of our plans for you, but after we remind him of Spider-Priestess dying wish, he’ll see things our way.” The blonde woman shrugged.

“So, what will you two do to me now that you’ve caught me?” Vixen asked. She grinned and added, “after so long.”

“We’ve planned an excruciating death for you,” Charlotte explained, grinning.

“This wouldn’t be the first time,” Vixen replied.

“True,” Silk said. The pale-haired blonde lifted a box into Vixen’s line of sight and set it carefully between the bound woman’s heels. “It will, however, be the last.”

“What is that?” Vixen asked.

“Payback,” Charlotte said, smiling wickedly. “You fed Spider-Priestess to half a dozen of her monstrous creations. We’ve decided to repay you in kind, but much more slowly.”

“Our spider growth experiments are less advanced,” Silk said, pushing a button on the box which opened the side facing the captive. “Our specimen, however, will find you delicious.”

Vixen stared at the open box as a spider the size of a human hand emerged and began to explore its surroundings. “You don’t have to feed me to your specimen,” she said. “What will Archie think?”

“As you well know,’ Charlotte said, “Archie was not part of Spider-Priestess’ inner circle.”

“Avenging our late mistress is our responsibility,” Silk concurred. “We take our responsibilities very seriously.”

“I see,” Vixen said as she watched the enormous spider discover her right foot and climb over it to crawl slowly over her ankle.

“Since Archie is not really part of our group,” Charlotte explained, “his opinion is totally irrelevant.”

“Besides,” Silk teased, “you wore him out. He’ll sleep for hours.”

“Not even your screams will wake him,” Charlotte predicted.

“I will not scream!” Vixen retorted. “I play far sicker games than this for fun!”

“This is hardly a game,” Charlotte continued, shaking her head and smiling delightedly, “although, in the end, you will lose.”

“The spider will search until it finds a nice, warm and appetizing spot to sink its fangs into you,” Silk explained. “Then, dinner is served to a single, hungry diner with a particularly voracious appetite.”

“You’ll find our pet’s venom both potent and debilitating as well,” Charlotte gleefully added. “At the conclusion of the meal, Spider-Priestess will be avenged, as you said – finally.”

“As you said to her after arranging her fate,” the blonde gloated, “‘bon appetite.’”

The spider crossed Vixen’s ankle and was beginning to slowly crawl up her lower leg.

Morbid fascination made the call girl focus on the creature for a beat before turning to the pair who had released it to ask, “What if I were to tell you Spider-Priestess isn’t dead?”

“Nice try,” Silk confidently said. “We’d know you were lying.”

“We don’t take kindly to liars, but what’s about to happen to you will be more than adequately painful to repay your most recent offense, as well as several others.”

“I’m serious,” Vixen insisted as the spider approached her right knee. “I know it seems impossible, but it’s in the Society’s prophecies. Spider-Priestess is not dead!”

“Thanks for telling us,” Charlotte said, obviously unimpressed.

“Unless you can prove it, no wild story will save your skin,” Silk said, folding her arms. “Where can we reach Spider-Priestess?”

“It’s not that simple,” Vixen said. “You can’t just call her.”

“Vixen’s story is crap,” Silk said, turning away. “We fed the spider. Let’s go.”

“Shouldn’t we hear her out?” Charlotte asked. “It probably won’t make any difference.”

Vixen’s eyes focused once again on the eight arachnid legs tentatively moving the relatively enormous creature over her knee.

“Do you know the Society’s prophecies?” Silk asked glancing at her partner.

“Not intimately,” Charlotte replied, frowning.

“Archie does,” Vixen said, as the spider began traversing her thigh. “He has been studying them since Spider-Priestess sent him on his quest for knowledge.”

Silk and Charlotte glanced at one another. Both nodded after a moment.

“We should probably ask,” Charlotte said.

“I’ll wake him up. Would you like to keep an eye on her?”

“What for?” Charlotte asked. “She isn’t going anywhere.” The brown-haired beauty laughed. “Our guest knows any sudden movement could startle our pet and induce a fatal attack. Besides, neither of us will want to start over if we learn she is lying.”

“I’d hate to miss the finale,” Silk said, shrugging. “I’m sure you’re right, though. It will take our pet quite awhile to get comfortable before sating its hunger. We’ll probably be back before the meal begins. Ta, ta for now, Vixen.”

Silk and Charlotte both waved as they left her, but Vixen had much more important concerns than her would be killers’ banter and actions. Her gambit had proven only partially successful.

The spider had traversed her right thigh before encountering the first of the silken strands enveloping her hips and holding her waist immobile. She could feel herself exhale as she tried to remain perfectly still. The spider’s legs were probing the first few silken strands it encountered.

‘A spider’s brain would normally be about the size of a pin head, and might be even smaller,’ Vixen thought. ‘This spider has become curious about my bindings. Their texture is different from my skin and they’re warm because they’re stretched across my body’s core. It will, I hope, make a choice about where to go soon. Ideally, it will simply traverse the top of the silken bindings, but it might decide to try digging beneath them, or crawling between my thighs and then resuming its exploration. Should the creature make that choice . . . .’

She risked a shallow breath and heard a soft, involuntary sound as air passed between her lips. The spider would make its decision in a moment, but until it did, the possibilities and their potentially unpleasant implications whirled through Vixen’s mind. ‘Whatever happens, I need to remain utterly still,’ the captive call girl told herself.

Ten seconds passed. Vixen softly swore. ‘That stupid spider is taking forever to make up its minuscule mind!’

She had seen her many employers’ various caped victims left in deadly situations similar to her current predicament. Privately, she had suspected the villains’ habit of leaving such poor souls alone to face their fate was the reason these countless, varied traps had ultimately been thwarted.

Now, playing the role of victim in such a deadly situation herself, she realized her assumption had been colored by her selfish desire to see the trap ultimately succeed. Her fear as she faced death was absolutely exhilarating, but if she let it dominate her, she would never determine a means of escape. For a moment, she chided herself. Silk and Charlotte would soon return with Archie Arcane and they would all sort through the complexities of the situation. She had been prepared for a trap and had held back a few surprises for her captors.

Still, the opportunity to examine a deathtrap as a damsel in distress was a unique and delicious experience to be savored. When Vixen got back to the problem of escaping, she wondered how she could reasonably expect to escape if she dared not allow herself to even squirm.

Doing so now, of course, might invite the creature on her thigh to crawl down to explore one of the warmest, most sensitive regions of her body. As she considered the possible implication of that enterprise, she could feel her muscles tighten involuntarily.

Both Vixen and the spider were focused on the creatures’s immediate decision and its implications. These ruminations soon became as depressing as the call girl’s nonexistent escape plan. Softly, Vixen cursed again.

Suddenly, she became aware of how tired her ordeal and the vigorous activity which had preceded it had made her. She gave up her vain attempt to will the spider to make the more desirable choice. It would make a decision it its own good time, and if the spider chose to explore the sensitive region between her legs, she decided not knowing would be vastly preferable. ‘Maybe it’s a good thing Silk and Charlotte stepped away,” Vixen thought as she closed her eyes and felt her entire body relax.

“Just what do you two think you’re doing?!” an angry, male voice demanded.

Vixen opened her eyes and looked for the spider, which had mercifully crawled across the silk bindings at her waist and had stopped on the flat plane of her abdomen. She had no idea how long ago she had been prepared and served as a meal for the relatively enormous creature, which despite its size, moved at a pace that made glaciers seem recklessly rapid. ‘It must be lingering in the warmth my body’s core generates,’ Vixen thought. ‘I’ve got to breath, but do I dare?’ The call girl’s eyes remained locked on the arachnid as her lungs slowly filled.

Once she had satisfied herself the spider would not react to her shallow breathing, she began to reassess her surroundings. Moving only her eyes, Vixen’s gaze swept the room.

Archie Arcane was studying her predicament and the surprised, moody look on his face betrayed both concern and fascination. Silk and Charlotte flanked him, and while their eyes sparkled, their expressions indicated their companion’s anger had impacted their mood.

“I asked you ladies a question!” Archie Arcane reminded his companions.

“Spider-Priestess told us to kill her!” Charlotte explained.

“This execution will fulfill Spider-Priestess' dying wish!” Silk added. “You know perfectly well Vixen killed Webmaster and numerous other Society members around the world!”

“I see,” Archie Arcane said. “So, you two took it upon yourselves to kill her behind my back – while using me as bait?”

“That’s about it,” Silk said softly. Archie glared at her.

“We’ll make it up to you,” Charlotte interjected.

“Promise,” Silk added.

“Both of you can leave me alone!” Archie Arcane told Vixen's captors. “You both know perfectly well Vixen was destined to transform the Society. What you don’t know is Spider-Priestess isn’t dead.”

“That’s what she said!” Charlotte exclaimed. “What’d ya know? We thought she was full of—”

“How exactly do you know Spider-Priestess is alive?” Silk asked skeptically.

“Spider-Priestess’ apparent death and return are both detailed in the prophecies,” the man explained, “like Vixen’s actions.”

“How would Vixen know about the Society’s prophecies?” Charlotte demanded.

“We’re talking about destiny,” Archie Arcane declared, “Vixen’s as well as ours. A prophecy need not be familiar to the one who fulfills it. Think the problem through. The Old Testament is full of stories about prophets at a time when most people did not know how to read.”

“Maybe,” Silk conceded. “Whatever knowledge Vixen may have could also have something to do with her having systematically exterminated the rest of the Society! Those deaths represent several more reason to leave the spider to its meal!”

“In the prophecy there is nothing about the death of the woman who transforms the Society,” Archie Arcane declared.

“We’re talking about ancient writings that discuss extraterrestrial spiders with impressive, mental powers at one point and different extraterrestrial spiders buried in the center of the Earth elsewhere,” Silk objected.

Charlotte darted a warning glance at her companion, afraid her angry tone might be inappropriate.

“Let me explain what happened to Spider-Priestess,” Archie Arcane suggested. “You both saw her shoved into a cage with half a dozen giant spiders. Right?”

Silk and Charlotte nodded.

“Well, the spiders did not kill her. Instead, they took her to commune with the creatures that brought spiders into being in ancient times.”

“You mean the ancient, extraterrestrial spiders’ descendants?” Charlotte asked.

“If you like,” Archie Arcane replied.

“The ones with the mental powers or the ones buried at the center of the Earth?” Silk curiously asked.

“You’ll have to ask Spider-Priestess.”

“Well, then, where is she?”

“Encased in a sapphire of incomparable value,” Archie Arcane said.

“What!” Silk exclaimed. “That’s ridiculous!”

“You expect us to believe that?” Charlotte demanded.

“He’s right,” Vixen said calmly.

Six eyes turned to regard the woman bound on the loom as the spider crawling up her body began to move up the slope of her silk-enveloped breasts.

“And how would you know?” Charlotte asked.

“Because I have that jewel,” Vixen said. “It was the real goal of a heist I commissioned months ago. Unfortunately for my agents, Doctor Cassandra; her husband; and their followers, Batgirl and Robin arrested them all just before I personally finished the job. Anyway, unless you let me go, the jewel and Spider-Priestess will both be smashed to bits in the hydraulic press I activated before leaving to meet Archie. I thought such an arrangement would guard nicely against a double cross in our ‘negotiations.'”

“So,” Silk said menacingly, “where is the sapphire?”

“Free me and I’ll take you to it,” Vixen said.

“Tell us first,” Charlotte replied. “Then, we’ll free you.”

“Ha! You’ve got to be kidding.” Vixen leaned her head back and stared at the ceiling. “Forget it,” Vixen said. “Go ahead and kill me. As I said, you’ll never see Spider-Priestess again.”

“This sapphire must be pretty big,” Charlotte said. “A human female would be much larger than even many of the world’s most famous, large jewels.”

“That’s right,” Vixen said. “Spider-Priestess is now the size of a large doll or perhaps a statuette. She’s also aware of her situation. She smiled at me shortly after I acquired her.”

“So,” Silk said, “Spider-Priestess is aware you’ve threatened her continued existence?”

“I like to think she’s relying on you to resist the temptation to do anything . . . foolish,” Vixen replied, letting her lips curl into a thin smile.

“If we believe this stuff, she’s got us,” Charlotte said.

“Well, it wouldn’t make much sense for us to have pledged our lives to the Society and not believe it,” Silk pointed out.

“I thought you’d see things my way,” Vixen triumphantly said.

Silk frowned and let her hands settle on her hips. “But, what if she’s lying?”

Charlotte frowned. “I suppose we could employ her hydraulic press to express our displeasure . . . . assuming there really is a hydraulic press.”

“Didn’t you ladies give Vixen the truth-telling injections before releasing the spider?” Archie Arcane asked.

Silk and Charlotte glanced at one another.

“Uh, well . . . we didn’t set out to interrogate her,” Silk said.

“The answer is ‘no,’” Charlotte said. “I’d imagine it isn’t too late, though.”

“You’ll have to hurry,” Archie Arcane said, looking at the spider. It had traversed Vixen’s breasts and was crawling toward her left shoulder.

“Let’s do it,” Silk said.

“Where are the needles?” Charlotte asked.

“If they’re prepared, they’re in a compartment beneath the spider’s cage,” Archie Arcane said.

Vixen had thought she had gotten off the hook. Now, as the spider climbed higher on her body, events had taken an unexpected twist. “What . . . are they going . . . to . . . do to me?”

“You’ll be given two injections. Assuming you’ve been telling us the truth, you’ll survive the spider bite – when it happens. Otherwise, it will have been nice knowing you,” Archie Arcane explained, “a genuine, repeated pleasure, in fact.”

“They’d better hurry,” Vixen said, inhaling. “I’m about to literally get it in the neck.”

“All set?” Silk asked.

“Do it,” Charlotte urged. “This will sting, Vixen.”

Vixen gasped as she felt her neck impaled by a pair of needles.

“Now we wait,” Archie Arcane said, as the women stepped back.

“It won’t be long,” Silk said.

Charlotte looked around. “I guess she’ll need something to wear, assuming she survives.”

“I grabbed her things when you came and got me,” Archie Arcane said.

A low moan sounded as the spider’s fangs sank into Vixen’s neck. The brunette captive closed her eyes and exhaled. Silk, Charlotte, and Archie Arcane stared as her chest collapsed and Vixen remained perfectly still.

“I wonder if we gave the drugs enough time,” Archie Arcane said, after a full minute.

“Well,” Silk said, “it seems she was lying through her teeth. I’m glad she got hers.”

“We’d better get rid of the body before we try to figure out where this jewel in the prophecy is,” Charlotte said.

“I tend to believe it’s poised to be crushed by a hydraulic press, like Vixen said,” Archie Arcane answered.

“You believe her, despite the obvious results of the test?” Charlotte asked.

“I’m afraid so,” Archie Arcane replied. “I think you gave her the shots too late.”

“That’s too bad,” Silk said, “especially for her. Shall we clean up Vixen’s remains?”

“Why not?” Charlotte said. “Archie, why don’t you examine her things? They might give us a clue about Spider-Priestess whereabouts. If you’re right, we’re going to need one – fast.”

Archie Arcane nodded as Silk closed the small cage on the spider Vixen had fed. Charlotte pulled out a sharp knife and began to cut at Vixen’s bonds. The brunette’s body suddenly convulsed and inhaled.

“What the—?”

Silk glanced sharply toward her female companion in response to the exclamation.

Vixen’s eyes opened and focused on Archie Arcane, who was staring at her with wide eyes.

“Vixen, you’re alive!” he said.

“No thanks to any of you!” the girl replied, sitting up and peeling the silk strands from her body before slipping on the shirt Silk handed her. “For the record, dying, even temporarily, hurts like a—”

“I think we all owe you an apology, Vixen,” Archie Arcane said.

“You understand we were simply carrying out what we thought was our Spider-Priestess’ dying wish,” Charlotte apologetically said. Her eyes revealed, however, that her words weren’t totally sincere.

“You don’t seriously expect me to forgive all of you just like that?” Vixen demanded, snapping her fingers. “I appreciate the apology, but . . . .”

“It occurs to me,” Silk diplomatically said after a moment, “the purge of the Society Vixen so expertly orchestrated gives Spider-Priestess only the four of us with whom to share the benefit of her experience, whatever it might be.” The others all exchanged glances and nodded.

“We’re going to have a huge problem,” Archie Arcane announced. “If my reading of the prophecy is correct, we’ll need a sacrifice to release Spider-Priestess from the jewel.”

“I have a great idea,” Vixen announced, imbuing her voice with sarcasm. “One of you true-believers could volunteer!”

“Well, Vixen,” Silk thoughtfully said. “you no longer qualify for the honor.”

“Obviously,” Charlotte agreed.

“Thank you,” Vixen said, massaging her wrists once she had finished dressing. “We should be going to collect Spider-Priestess. She can decide how any remaining differences among us are to be resolved. Right now, we have plenty of time, but I see no advantage in cutting our appointment with destiny too close.”

“I agree,” Charlotte said. “Let’s go.”

“Silk raises an excellent point about the sacrifice,” Archie Arcane said, leading the women from the room.

“Oh,” Vixen said, “I’ve given the sacrifice some thought. You are all no doubt aware of someone else who knows your – I mean our – group exists – an outsider! Since the ancient ties binding us together are supposed to remain secret, casting this outsider in the role of sacrifice would nicely solve two of the Society’s problems at once.”

Archie Arcane; Silk; and Charlotte all regarded the call girl with thin, knowing smiles. “We should probably hear more of your thoughts on this matter, my dear,” Archie Arcane said.

Silk and Charlotte eagerly nodded.

Ignoble Sacrifice

Barbara Gordon, the Police Commissioner’s daughter, typically presented herself as a conservatively dressed, consummate professional. People she dealt with in her role as head of the Gotham City Library branch in Midtown would never have imagined her in the position in which she found herself a week after Vixen rejoined the remaining members of the Bluestone Spider Society.

Barbara, of course, looked very different, as she engaged the forces of evil once again in what seemed like, and could often be accurately described as, a life and death struggle.

A skintight, purple bodysuit covered every comely curve of Barbara’s body while concealing none of them. A golden bat was depicted with its wings spread wide across her chest and over her proudly upward thrusting breasts. She lay on her back, arms and legs outstretched with her hands and feet sheathed in purple gloves and boots respectively. Metal shackles extending from solid chains restrained her limbs. The lush, red hair spilling from behind her purple cowl with its faux pointed ears was tousled and damp due to her so-far, vain struggles. Ordinarily, a golden belt with a bat pictured on the buckle encircled her waist, but it had been removed before her body had been splayed over a glass dome covering a very large sapphire. Also missing was the gold and purple cape typically draping her shoulders and hanging against her back.

Barbara Gordon was in this uncomfortable position because she was also Batgirl, the supremely feminine scourge of crime in her home town of Gotham City, and elsewhere.

Unless she did something quickly, she knew a fine mesh of wire being slowly drawn against her body from above would cut into her flesh, carving her to pieces as easily as a hot knife would slice through a high-priced spread. The mesh would not kill her, but would put stress on the glass dome beneath her, causing it to break and collapse. When Batgirl’s body fell, the sapphire would impale her back, thus severing her spine and penetrating her vital organs before emerging from her chest.

As she used her beautiful body and agile mind to fight for survival, Batgirl considered the events drawing her back to the brink of death.

She had initially set out to save another life.

Much earlier the same night, well before Batgirl’s involvement was even contemplated, two men wearing jeans and red t-shirts bearing black, block letters spelling the names WIPE OUT and RIPTIDE regarded a statuesque, blonde woman named Undine. While her cell phone conversation might have explained their attentiveness, her unseasonal, eye-catching mode of dress, which was practically her trademark, offered another likely explanation. Her ensemble consisted of only sandals and a fantastically well-fitting, white bikini, the top of which resembled an inverted heart with the tip bitten off so her head could emerge.

“Okay, boys,” the girl said, putting her phone in a white purse resembling a closed clam shell. “Our primary target just left her home. It’s time to move.”

Wipe Out took a deep breath and slowly let it out, “Finally! I don’t like all this waiting. We’ve been watching this store for a couple of hours.”

“Listen,” Riptide said, “we had no idea this place, the Neko New Age Importers, was worth hitting.” He glanced at Undine again and smiled. “You want us to bust in and clobber the guard. Right?”

“You’ll need to trip the alarm, too,” Undine said. “Otherwise, neither of our targets will ever show up.”

“What targets?” Wipe Out demanded. “Aren’t we after the loot in that store?”

“This job is aimed at luring Batgirl or Lieutenant Diana Mooney, the lady cop who runs the rest of the cops at night, here,” Undine explained, grinning knowingly. “We’ll split up the loot as a bonus – once our real goal, the one for which we’re all being paid, is accomplished.”

“We're after Batgirl?” Wipe Out asked. “Gee. I don’t know. I’ve heard she and that lady Lieutenant are friends. They’re big time trouble. Anyway, what makes you think either will try to stop us?”

“Experience,” Undine answered. “Our employer hit this place a few years back, and both Batgirl and the Lieutenant responded. Now, let’s move. We’ve wasted enough time!”

The men followed their companion across the street. Undine slipped a skeleton key into the establishment’s lock and worked for a few seconds before the mechanism yielded to her persuasive touch. The single guard who challenged the men stepping past the girl was no match for them. Undine watched the guard’s demolition with impassive interest. A hand remained clapped over the guard’s mouth as the thugs’ fists pummeled him severely and silently.

“Tie him up and get him out of sight,” Undine commanded once all resistance had subsided. “We have an ambush to prepare.”

“What about all this loot?” Riptide asked.

“We get our loot after we have our target!” Undine reiterated. “I trust you won’t leave the crime scene without it! Now, shut up, both of you! I have another call.” Undine pulled out her phone and held up a hand. “Hello.” She listened for a moment, then put her phone away, grinning. “Get ready, guys. Busting in here tripped a silent alarm. The Lieutenant will be here in about a minute.”

The Neko New Age Importers storefront was dark when Lieutenant Mooney arrived. She noted the front door stood ajar and pulled out a gun before stepping through. She knew there was supposed to be a guard on duty. “Hello?” she called. There was no response.

Holding her weapon level, the Lieutenant explored the darkness. A sudden movement made her pivot and aim. “Freeze! Police!” the lady law enforcer said. A sickening smack impacted the back of the policewoman’s neck and she pitched forward to the floor where she remained still, unconscious.

“What did you hit her with, Undine?” Wipe Out demanded.

“The side of my hand,” Undine replied. “Package her and hit the lights. It’s time to wrap up this little caper.” As she spoke, the blonde disengaged the Lieutenant’s fingers from her gun.

“What . . . what’s going on?” the bound guard demanded as he struggled uselessly in his bonds. Undine materialized from a shapely shadow, approaching him in the diminishing gloom.

The scantily-clad gunwoman grinned. “You’re about to call the police and tell them to disregard the previous and any subsequent alarms. Tell them you’re testing the system and apologize for the late notice.” As Undine spoke, she searched the man. His valuables disappeared into her appropriately decorative purse before presenting his cellphone.

“I can’t do that!” the guard declared.

“Wrong answer,” Undine said. She aimed Lieutenant Mooney’s gun at the guard. “You can make that call or have your brains splashed against the wall behind you.”

The guard swallowed hard as the blonde waved the barrel of the gun at the wall.

Undine continued, “We’re not terrorists . . . and I’d prefer not to have a murder rap hanging over my head . . .” The guard continued to hesitate until Undine thumbed back the hammer and smiled. “. . . but it’s your choice.”

“They don’t pay me that much, lady,” he said. “I’ll make the call.”

“Good boy,” Undine said, smiling and lowering the weapon before holding the guard’s phone to his ear and dialing. She was able to clearly hear both sides of the conversation.

When the call was complete, she straightened and moved to the security system with a few sexy strides. Undine pulled a device she clamped to the security panel from her unique purse and pressed a button. The device and the security system panel were instantly surrounded by a violet sphere of crackling energy. Amber sparks danced inside the sphere until a thin wisp of smoke began curling toward the ceiling. “There,” she said, “much better.” The girl grinned and pulled the fried control panel away from the wall before carelessly tossing it aside. Seconds later, she took another device from her purse and wired it into the fried component’s place. “This gizmo will convince anyone monitoring the security system it’s functioning perfectly.” She engaged the new device and smiled as red lights began blinking. “Of course, now all the cameras and security sensors in this building are useless. Clean the place out, boys!”

Glass display cases shattered instantly.

As Wipe Out and Riptide looted the store, Undine dragged the unconscious Lieutenant to the back door. Moments later, a car pulled up beside Undine and the brunette driver lowered the window as the trunk popped. “Good work. I knew I could count on you, Undine,” the newcomer said, as the blonde unceremoniously deposited the Lieutenant in the trunk.

“Thank you, Vixen. Do you want the guard, too?”

“Oh, leave him,” Vixen said dismissively. “Someone will have to tell the cops what happened to their poster girl.”

Vixen and Undine laughed.

“I hope your bonus was sufficient.”

“The boys are collecting it now. It’s just money,” Undine said. She paused and smiled. “Well, I guess it’s kind of a considerable amount of money, but it could also lead me to the chance to see Batgirl finally expire. That opportunity is priceless. Is there any sign of her, by the way?”

“No,” Vixen said, opening the passenger door. “Hop in. We should really talk about your continued involvement before Batgirl is drawn into our . . . web of intrigue.”

“Thanks,” Undine said, reaching to turn up the car’s heater as the door slammed.

The brunette’s amused smile transformed as she regarded her blonde companion with steady eyes. “Listen. You may not want to see the big picture of which this caper is but a small piece. We’re friends, and I know you well enough to suspect you might not like what’s going to happen once everything is revealed. By then, of course, it will be far too late to back out.”

Undine shifted her glance from where Vixen’s hand rested on top of hers to the men emerging from the store with laden loot sacks. “Here come the boys. We’ll be out of here within minutes.” Undine’s voice became quite earnest. “Later, you and I can talk over what this caper is all about. I doubt you’ll talk me into abandoning you, but thanks for the warning.”

The men quickly loaded the Neko New Age Importers’ wares into the trunk of Vixen’s car with the captive before piling in behind Undine and the driver. Moments later, the street was deserted, except for the guard struggling vainly in his bonds.

“What is this place?” the scantily-clad scofflaw asked shortly thereafter as Vixen pulled into a loading dock at the Ghoti Oeufs Caviar Company.

“It’s an old front company Mister Egghead set up. It’s private and has the facilities I need. Besides, he won’t mind at all if we use this place to make our guest extremely uncomfortable for the rest of her miserable life,” Vixen said, grinning knowingly. “Bring her inside.”

“What . . . what do you want with me?” Lieutenant Diana Mooney asked groggily as Undine dragged her across the faded, yellow warning lines painted long ago on a cold, metal floor to where four shackles formed a rectangle at the base of a tall shaft.

Wipe Out and Riptide slammed shackles around the policewoman’s splayed wrists and spread her legs, pulling until her body was stretched out completely on the floor. Then, another pair of shackles was locked around her ankles.

As the men straightened and approached Vixen, Undine smiled at their employer, who leaned decoratively beside a bank of switches and faintly glowing displays. The call girl was dressed for action with black slacks molded closely against every comely curve of her lower body. A pair of elbow length gloves matched her slacks, but the strapless half top against which her breasts strained whenever she inhaled was red and left both her shoulders and flat abdomen bare. A matching choker from which a black pearl hung both completed her look and covered the puncture wounds healing on her neck.

“Finished?” the watcher absently asked.

“Yes, Vixen,” Wipe Out said.

“Soon so is the Lieutenant,” Riptide agreed, glancing over his shoulder at the shackled sentinel of justice.

“Not as soon as you might think,” Vixen disagreed. “The Lieutenant’s fate will necessarily proceed very slowly. After all, she’s merely bait. Get her things, Undine.”

The blonde nodded and followed the men to her employer’s side, carrying their victim’s belongings. Vixen selected the Lieutenant’s cell phone and searched the list of phone numbers the captive had saved.

“I don’t see Batgirl’s number listed,” Vixen said.

“I have it memorized,” Lieutenant Mooney said, “so I know it won’t fall into the wrong hands – like yours, for instance!”

“Shall we ask her, Vixen?” Undine inquired, strutting back to the captive’s position and standing over her as her hands settled onto her shapely, cloth-enveloped hips. “I’m quite certain she’ll give us the phone number . . . eventually. After all, we can be very persuasive, if necessary.” The blonde henchwoman looked down and her lips twitched into a thin smile.

“I’m sure you know where you can go!” Lieutenant Mooney declared.

“Never mind, Undine,” Vixen said. “Catwoman is way ahead of you. After she literally scratched the information out of the Lieutenant a few years ago, she shared. I’ve known Batgirl’s number for months.

“Batgirl might have changed it,” Undine suggested.

“No, I don’t think so. She wouldn’t want to put her friend at risk again. What Batgirl didn’t anticipate, though, is that I’m curious about the poor Lieutenant’s phone.”

Undine frowned disappointedly. “If you know the number, why do we need the phone?”

“In addition to my curiosity,” the brunette answered. “Batgirl will more readily believe the call is from her friend if we use her phone. We can also make use of the camera feature.”

“I hope you want an action shot,” Undine eagerly declared, grinning as she strutted back toward her employer.

“Indeed,” Vixen agreed, turning over the cellphone.

“Your plan is doomed to fail, Vixen,” Lieutenant Mooney said. “Batgirl understands the risks of police work as well as anyone on the force and we don’t make deals for hostages.”

“Oh, I doubt your caped allies follow that rule as rigidly as the department, Diana. May I call you Diana?”

The Lieutenant’s response made it clear she didn’t care what Vixen called her.

Vixen smiled. “In any event, you’d better pray you’re wrong, Lieutenant. You find yourself restrained between the three-ton plates of a hydraulic press I’ve had modified to operate exquisitely slowly. When the plates eventually meet, you won’t just be a flatfoot. You’ll be the bloodiest pancake in history.”

“Batgirl won’t come, Vixen,” Lieutenant Mooney said. “Without her impending arrival, killing me is pointless. The stuff you stole from that store would never justify the risk. I’m a cop! Remember? So, unless you have another reason . . . Wait a minute! Did Catwoman hire you?”

“I wish she had,” Vixen lamented with a sigh. “The fact is, I want Batgirl, and despite your protests to the contrary, you will make the most delicious bait, or so Gotham City criminal lore suggests. Once I have Batgirl, of course, I won’t really need you anymore. It’s really too bad — for you.” Vixen and her followers laughed.

“Once I’m free of this hydraulic press, I’m coming after you and nothing will stop me from making you pay dearly for attempted murder! Oh, and after kidnapping me fails to lure Batgirl into your trap, you’ll have more trouble facing you than one person could ever reasonably be expected to handle!”

“In that case, it’s a good thing I hired some competent help,” Vixen said. “You know these gorgeous guys I brought in as henchmen, don’t you?”

“I thought you would be more interested in your girlfriend!”

“We’re both versatile and broad-minded, in every sense of both those words,” Vixen replied, grinning. “We were, however, talking about men. The guys who have arranged your fate are Wipe Out and Riptide. Their professional relationship with Undine goes back over a decade.”

“I know all three of them worked for the Joker when he tried that ridiculous plot to become a surfing champion - by cheating.”

“This discussion has just become so boring,” Vixen said, rolling her eyes. “Throw the switch, Undine!”

“With pleasure,” the scantily-clad scofflaw said, approaching the switch; curling her fingers around it lovingly; and pulling it decisively into the ‘on’ position.

“None of you will ever get away with this!” Lieutenant Mooney cried.

“She’s confident,” Wipe Out remarked.

“She’s either lying about Batgirl ignoring her impending fate or about our prospects for getting away with murder,” Riptide thoughtfully said. “Is there anything else?”

“The press didn’t start yet,” Wipe Out pointed out. “Is it working? We need pictures.”

“It will take a little while for the machine to warm up,” Vixen said. “Imagine, Lieutenant, how Batgirl will feel when she realizes you’re in deadly danger and she has no idea where. I’m sure being utterly powerless to save you will be thoroughly depressing for her. I’d love to stay for you crushing conclusion, but we have other pressing business to which to attend.” Vixen touched her fingertips to her lips and blew the spread-eagled Lieutenant a parting kiss before waving and turning. “Goodbye.” The brunette was unable to resist casting a glance over her shoulder and smiling as she stepped away.

Undine glanced upward curiously as the enormous, metal plates began to slowly close, accompanied by an ominous hum and lights dancing crazily over the display. “You know, Lieutenant, after awhile, when this machine does its thing, we’ll truly have a crush on you. Fare well, forever.” The statuesque henchwoman took several pictures with the Lieutenant’s camera phone before turning to follow her friend and laughing delightedly.

“Good one,” Vixen complimented, feeling her good friend’s eyes upon her as she moved off, letting her hips sway both naturally and provocatively. She turned hungry eyes on the blonde as Undine caught up and returned Lieutenant Mooney’s phone to her employer.

“I hope you like the pictures,” Undine said.

Vixen looked through them rapidly. “They look great!" she enthused. “Hey! I’m hungry. Would you three like to get some pancakes?”

“You’re so cute when you’re funny,” Undine quietly replied. “I’m famished. Let’s go.” More loudly she called, “Come on, boys. The boss is buying us breakfast.”

Riptide and Wipe Out lingered briefly to take a last, longing look at the doomed damsel before following the remainder of their female companions’ departure with understandable fascination.

Then, Lieutenant Diana Mooney was alone. All she could do was consider the heavy, metal plate descending toward her at a glacial place and the mechanism controlling it, while trying desperately not to panic.

Batgirl’s involvement in Vixen’s avaricious agenda began as Barbara Gordon sipped a cup of cocoa she had made after the late night news. The thirty-two year old superheroine crossed her apartment in response to the distinctive beeping of Batgirl’s cellphone. She pressed a button beneath her dressing table and stepped back to let the wall spin and admit her to her alter ego’s small, but functional, headquarters.

The over-one hundred year-old building had seen many uses in its time. The freight elevator which housed the Batgirlcycle had been essential to the structure’s use as a warehouse in its early years. During Prohibition, a bootlegger had built the revolving wall to conceal both a hiding place and an emergency exit. It amused the Commissioner’s daughter to know the secret room had switched sides.

Barbara had fortuitously discovered long-forgotten blueprints documenting the building’s features and renovations in the library during the time she was searching for an apartment. The building had been converted into apartments just before Barbara graduated from college. Her professionalism sometimes caused her to feel guilty about the fact all blueprints of the building from before 1966 had disappeared from the library’s collection.

“Hello, Diana,” Barbara happily said, using the confident voice she typically employed as Batgirl.

“This is Vixen, Batgirl.”

“Really?” the Curved Crusader replied, glancing at the incoming phone number, which belonged to her friend.

Vixen had worked her way up from a moll to one of Batgirl’s deadliest adversaries. Although the Shapely Sleuth couldn’t be sure, she strongly suspected Vixen had helped her escape Spider-Priestess’ deathtrap after the redhead had found herself at the Bluestone Spider Society’s mercy. Batgirl had later reciprocated by saving Vixen’s life, but the call girl then gassed the heroine with her own Bat-Sleep – yet left her otherwise unharmed.

To say their relationship was complicated was an understatement. They respected each other, but neither had won the other’s admiration.

“Okay, Vixen. What do you want?” An ominous dread was beginning to grow within the heroine’s gut as she tried to conceal her trepidation.

“To save a life,” Vixen purred. The call girl forwarded the pictures Undine had taken of the captive policewoman.

“Vixen,” Batgirl said, her voice becoming low and deadly, “I swear, if you harm her—”

“Me?” Vixen asked innocently. “You know, Batgirl, we don’t have time for threats. Your poor friend will be under a lot of pressure by the end of her shift. Unfortunately, for her, she just happens to be restrained within an industrial-strength, hydraulic press someone turned on some time ago.”

Barbara could feel the warmth as her face reddened. “You have my full attention,” Batgirl coldly said.

“I should be able to provide you with the Lieutenant’s location in one hour at the late Lydia Weaver’s mansion.”

“You mean Lydia Weaver, the well-known, wealthy animal rights activist who committed suicide last year by hanging herself in a spider’s web?”

“Between you and me,” Vixen said, “her death was not a suicide, but proving it would be practically impossible — even for you.”

“People often called Ms. Weaver, ‘the Spider Lady,’” Batgirl recalled aloud. Silently she went on thinking about the dead woman. ‘There are many unflattering stories about her. According to a popular rumor, she had a red spider tattooed on the small of her back. Vixen has a tattoo just like it!’

“I trust you know the location of the mansion?” the call girl asked.

“So, then, you killed her?” Batgirl asked, ignoring Vixen’s question. Then, she added, “Just between you and me.”

“Of course,” Vixen replied. “I staged it to prevent too many pesky questions, but before she perished, the Spider Lady told me many dark secrets. Hope can be so . . . motivational.”

“When you and I discovered the Bluestone Spider Society, I told you I wouldn’t let you take the law into your own hands!”

“I’ve been so successful though,” Vixen replied, chuckling.

“Nevertheless—”

“Won’t you come to the Spider Lady’s mansion to save your girlfriend’s life?”

“I will,” Batgirl said. “I’ll be sending you to jail, where you belong, too.”

“To be fair, I need to know, can you find the place?”

“I know where it is!”

“Good,” Vixen replied. “I knew you would want to keep the poor Lieutenant from becoming squished. Unless you save her, none of her champagne wishes will ever come true. See you soon, Batgirl. Goodbye.” The phone call ended with an ominous click.

After putting her phone away, Vixen swirled the last of her pancake breakfast in the remainder of her syrup before raising it to her mouth, chewing, swallowing, and reaching for her refilled coffee cup.

At the time of night the criminals came to enjoy their meal, the restaurant was practically empty. “Well, Batgirl should be right on time for the reception I’ve arranged,” the cruel call girl said quietly. “Would you all like to come and watch, or get paid and part company?”

“I want to see what you do to Batgirl,” Undine said, her eyes sparkling with eager anticipation.

Vixen nodded and glanced at the men. “Well, boys?” the call girl asked.

“I don’t know,” Wipe Out said. “I like what you did with the lady Lieutenant and I’m curious, but cashing out would be pretty sweet.”

“I think getting paid is the way to go,” Riptide said. “People have been trying to kill Batgirl for years and she’s still around.”

“You may have a point. This is all getting too complicated for me,” Wipe Out thoughtfully said.

“Someone is going to get Batgirl eventually,” Undine predicted, a bright smile illuminating her pretty face. “Assuming Vixen’s arrangements do take care of her, I’d hate to miss the chance to say goodbye.”

Vixen favored her audience with a thin smile. “Remember, in the past, I’ve been simply working for, or perhaps with, Batgirl’s potential killers.”

“So, are you saying you’ll be in charge of getting rid of Batgirl once she walks into the trap?” Wipe Out asked.

Vixen’s eyes sparkled and narrowed as she began speaking. “Essentially,” she replied, “although strictly speaking, my partners, who also happen to be your employers, may not be fully aware of that fact.”

Riptide frowned. “You never told us anything about our other employers. Who exactly are they?”

“You don’t want to know,” Vixen said, “especially if you simply want to get paid, and it doesn’t matter, now that the job aimed at capturing a hostage is done.”

“We need to sell off the stuff from the importers,” Riptide said.

“French Freddy the Fence can handle that for us,” Wipe Out agreed. “We should see him. Of course, it might be better to let Undine talk to him.”

“I trust you guys,” Undine said, smiling sweetly. “Of course, you know how displeased I’ll be if you even think about cutting me out of the deal—and what I’ll do about it when I catch up with you two in that unfortunate, hypothetical circumstance.”

“Relax, Undine,” Riptide said. “Wipe Out is right. French Freddy would much rather talk to you than us and would probably give all of us a significantly better return on the merchandise if we left the negotiations in your capable hands.”

Undine grinned. “I might be willing, and I’m sure he could persuade me, if he really wanted to ‘talk.’ Set up a meeting and leave a message on my phone with the details.”

“I haven’t heard about him doing much business since he handled Lady Easterly’s world-famous, jeweled Easter eggs for Egghead a few years back,” Riptide said.

“I understand Lady Easterly sold off most of her extensive estate to buy them back and insisted no authorities in the world pursue French Freddy, who had heroically returned the treasure to their rightful owner in exchange for a generous ‘finders fee,’” Wipe Out explained. “He does not have to work now and his fencing academy is practically a legitimate business.”

“Take a sample when you go to see him,” Undine said. “Also, point out our acquisition of this merchandise has not yet been reported to the authorities.” The men nodded and pushed back their chairs. She laughed. “Come to think of it, the authority figure who fully understands the transaction will be a sticky mess by the time our deal is concluded.”

“I have one last thing before you go, boys,” Vixen said, pulling fat envelopes from her purse. “You all earned this.”

“Thanks,” Wipe Out said, as the men accepted their payments. “We appreciate the work.”

“Breakfast was good, too,” Riptide enthusiastically added.

“It was my pleasure,” Vixen said, smiling, standing, and shaking each of their hands before they took their leave. “Then, there were two,” the call girl said, sitting down again and extending a third, even fatter envelope toward her companion.

“I guess we have things to talk about,” Undine seriously said, slipping the payment into her appropriately decorative purse. “You’re going to try to persuade me to walk away from the chance to see Batgirl die?”

“We do have lots of things about which to talk,” Vixen agreed. “The business for which I hired you is far from finished. Nevertheless–”

“Before we really start to argue about my participation in Batgirl’s fate, tell me about your new tattoo.”

“I’m glad you noticed my blood spider,” Vixen said.

“It’s hard to miss,” Undine replied. “It’s red and perfectly symmetrical, bisected by your spine on the small of your back. Like everything else, you wear it well. I’ve always thought red was your color.” Undine paused and frowned. “Why did you call it a blood spider?”

“The ink with which it was drawn is allegedly blended with enchanted spider blood.” Vixen explained.

“Enchanted?” Undine asked. “Have you been talking to the Queen of Diamonds’ Aunt Hilda? I didn’t know you believed in hocus pocus or similar New Age stuff.”

Vixen shook her head. “You’d be surprised what I’ve come to believe . . . and, no, Marsha'a Aunt Hilda is not involved.”

“Well, all I know is, I’ve been enchanted several times watching you over the years, old friend,” Undine said, grinning.

“You don’t look so bad yourself, dear.” Suddenly, the impish, hungry look in Vixen’s eyes transformed. “You know, I’ve never worked for the Penguin. I’m told he literally carried you off to become his . . . um . . . ‘employee.’”

“That story is true. Joker, after years of professional fidelity, rewarded my loyalty by using me to distract the police while he escaped.” She paused as her face transformed. “Of course, although the strategy didn’t keep him out of prison very long, his plan worked.”

“That is no surprise to me, good-looking,” Vixen said.

“It gets worse!” Undine insisted. “Joker started seeing his doctor while I began working my way through the legal system, after Batgirl caught me!”

“That sounds so boring,” Vixen sympathetically said. “Joker’s ‘doctor’ is a female psychiatrist, right?”

Undine nodded. “Of course, to make his doctor like him, Joker had to drug her. Anyway, Pengy saved me from sitting through a long, boring trial and proved to be a lot more than meets the eye afterward.”

“Tell me all about . . . Pengy,” Vixen urged, leaning forward.

Undine cleared her throat. “The Penguin might be more brilliant than he claims to be and I’ve heard him puff himself up many times,” Undine said. Then she grinned at her friend. “He also has skills I’ll happily discuss with you when we’re alone, just in case the discussion proves . . . inspirational.”

The two women laughed conspiratorially. “Alright,” Vixen said. “I understand you’ve just got done with a job for the Siren.”

Undine’s expression turned serious. “You’ve never worked for her, have you?”

Vixen shook her head.

“You never quite know where you stand with that one. On the one hand, there’s always the risk she’s going to zap you with that gaze of hers and make you do her bidding for nothing. On the other, she can implant some quite helpful post-hypnotic suggestions. Then there’s the issue of her favorite, Sirena.”

Vixen took in all this information. “Well, at least you managed to get away.”

Undine snorted. “Yeah, I escaped by the skin of my teeth.” The wicked water nymph decided describing how she, her twin sister, and their colleagues had been summarily dismissed would - like her strong suspicions the Siren had left her susceptible to additional post-hypnotic suggestions - not benefit Vixen and could therefore best be left unspoken. Her expression changed again before she continued, “Now, we’ve talked enough about me. I want to hear more about your tattoo.”

“Okay, Undine,” Vixen said, leaning back and sipping her coffee. “This topic is very serious, and it will bring us to what I’m going to do to Batgirl.”

“Don’t hold back.” Undine nodded as Vixen held up a hand to restrain her friend’s obvious interest.

“The people who gave me the tattoo are as serious as you and I about disposing of Batgirl.”

“Then, we should all get along famously.”

“You also know I’ll work for just about anyone.”

“And do practically anything,” Undine agreed, nodding.

“You’ve been much more selective about your employers,” Vixen pointed out.

“So?” Undine asked, her voice betraying a slight edge.

“I’m not being critical,” Vixen consoled. “It’s just an observation. Let’s look at an example. Would you work for Black Widow?”

“She’s retired,” Undine objected, “again.”

“Answer the question.”

“Okay. Okay. Probably not,” Undine admitted.

“Why?”

“I don’t like the outfits she made her people wear,” the scantily-clad blonde complained. “They were long-sleeved, black, and each had a red hourglass on the shirt. In comparison the pink leotard I wore working for Siren was much better. At least it left my arms bare and let me show off my legs.”

“Would the potential wardrobe be your only problem?”

“Well,” Undine shrugged, “I have always felt spiders are creepy. I didn’t want to say so because of your tattoo.”

Vixen smiled kindly. “I appreciate that, Undine. Thank you. My partners, your employers tonight, have strong feelings . . . and strange beliefs . . . about spiders.”

“Hey, you know I’m a professional.”

“I know,” Vixen said, extending a consoling hand to her friend. “The people I’m working with believe there are extraterrestrial spiders with impressive, mental powers and that different extraterrestrial spiders are responsible for the formation of the Earth.”

Undine looked at Vixen as though the dark-haired woman had sprouted a second head. “Both of those ideas sound loony!”

“I think so, too,” Vixen admitted. “My partners, though, are deadly serious about them.”

“Will you please tell me how you managed to hook up with these spider freaks?”

“Sure,” Vixen said. Her face became completely impassive. “I went after them because they killed a friend of mine.”

“You avenged your friend?”

“Of course,” Vixen softly said. “Several times over.”

“Then, they came after you?”

“Yes.”

“You’re still around, so what about the people they sent?”

“They should have sent better people.” Vixen flashed a thin smile and continued, “or maybe more better people.”

“Did you deal with people who sent them?”

“I haven’t finished, but I’m tired of losing friends. I don’t really have that many to begin with, you know.” Vixen squeezed the blonde woman’s hand.

Undine inhaled and let the air out slowly. “We both know we’re both good.”

Vixen nodded and held Undine’s steady gaze.

Undine sometimes acted like a bimbo. There was no trace of that persona now as she spoke. “I’d feel better about you doing what you need to do if someone were looking out for you.”

“Thanks,” Vixen said, letting a smile reach her eyes for the first time in several minutes. “You understand how dangerous this scheme could be. I’ve killed a lot of these people, and they’re not happy about it.”

“We’ll finish off the rest of them – together.” Undine stopped and stared at her friend. “Wait a minute! You’re planning to take over the remnants of this organization, aren’t you? Exterminating Batgirl will just be another object lesson, like surviving the previous attempts on your life.”

“I’ll bring you into the organization, if you want to join,” Vixen said. “Once you’re in, though, there may not be a way for you to back out without us having to kill everyone.”

“Don’t you want to kill them?”

“I’m tired of death, except when we visit it upon Batgirl and the Lieutenant,” Vixen said, smiling without humor. “Besides, those who remain are young and talented. The waste should be unnecessary.”

“They may not see things your way.”

“By morning, I’ll be responsible for the ultimate, permanent defeat of both Batgirl and her best friend, Lieutenant Diana Mooney. If I have to eliminate Commissioner Gordon and Chief O’Hara as well . . . .” Vixen shrugged instead of finishing her thought.

“I think sticking close to the most powerful woman in Gotham City, who happens to be my best friend, would be a good career move,” Undine decided.

Vixen smirked. “I can think of a few women who would dispute your assessment, but I’m flattered." Her mood once again turned serious. “Undine, you’re sure? Once you’ve made your decision, you won’t be able to say I didn’t try to warn you,” Vixen said.

“Bring me in, then bring ‘em on,” Undine said. “There is probably more you should tell me.”

“There is, but we don’t want to be late for Batgirl’s demise,” Vixen said, finally draining her coffee cup.

“Certainly not,” Undine agreed.

“Get the car while I get the check.”

“You got it.”

Meanwhile, Barbara Gordon rode along the mean streets of Gotham City at the top, legal speed. Ever since she had undergone her tantalizing transformation into Batgirl, Vixen’s words repeated over and over again in Batgirl’s mind. ‘Unless you save her, none of her champagne wishes will ever come true.’

The decorated policewoman’s current predicament was hardly the first she had faced. Sometimes, Batgirl wondered whether her friendship with the Lieutenant was worthwhile, from the policewoman’s perspective. Although Diana had occasionally been used as a means to get at Batgirl, the Caped Crimefightress took solace in the fact Mooney had been a target of Catwoman’s long before anyone had heard of Batgirl.

Now, Vixen had taken Lieutenant Mooney and threatened to cancel the policewoman’s “champagne wishes” unless Batgirl stopped the call girl. As the Shapely Sentinel waited at a traffic light, her mind worked with the speed of a supercomputer. ‘Why did Vixen use that particular phrase?’ she wondered.

“Champagne wishes,” Batgirl muttered as traffic resumed moving. Suddenly, she swerved from her planned route and sped through one alley and then another, making her way rapidly to Police Headquarters. 'It’s Robin Leach’s catch phrase!' she thought. 'He would end his television show, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, saying, "Champagne wishes and caviar dreams!"'

Short cuts and driving at the top, legal speed enabled Batgirl to reach her destination within fifteen minutes. As she drove, her mind went on racing ahead of her conscious thoughts. ‘I have personally faced Vixen when she worked as a henchwoman for Joker, Legs Parker, and Catwoman. I also know she has worked for Egghead in a similar capacity, as well as many others,’ Batgirl thought. ‘Her use of the phrase “champagne wishes” brings to mind the second half of the Robin Leach catch phrase, “caviar dreams.” Caviar is, of course, fish eggs. I should know. Egghead and Olga, Queen of the Bessarovian Cossacks, once tried to drown me in it. I’m willing to bet Vixen took Lieutenant Mooney to one of Egghead’s old hideouts, where a diabolical deathtrap probably threatens Diana’s life!’

After dismounting the Batgirlcycle, its ravishing, red-headed rider raced up the steps of Police Headquarters and soon burst into her father’s deserted office. She traversed the room in a few sexy strides and yanked the cover from the Batphone before literally punching the send button as she raised the instrument to her ear.

“Yes, Commissioner,” Robin said, snatching the receiver in the Batcave. He had come in to back Batman up as the Caped Crusader went undercover to track down a clue.

“This is Batgirl, Robin. I need to know about Egghead’s old hideouts. I have reason to believe Lieutenant Mooney is being threatened at one which is somehow related to caviar. It’s a little bit of a long story.”

“It’s been more than two years since Egghead hatched one of his sinister schemes in Gotham City,” Robin said. “Give me a minute to consult the Bat Computer.” He tucked the phone under his chin as he quickly programmed the parameters of Batgirl’s request. “You want some help when you check the place out?”

“I’d rather do it myself,” Batgirl said. “I might be wrong and, as you well know, villains usually leave their victims to die alone.”

“I understand. Here it comes.” He reached for a card after a bell sounded. “Holy Royal Beluga!” the young Titan exclaimed. “The Bat Computer suggests the Ghoti Oeufs Caviar Company.” Robin reached for a second card. “Here’s the address.”

“The ‘Fish Eggs’ Caviar Company,” Batgirl translated.

“Exactly,” Robin confirmed.

“Isn’t that name a little redundant?”

“I’m afraid so, but you’d have to ask Egghead about it.”

“Perhaps another time,” Batgirl said. “Thanks for all your help, Robin. Good luck with what you’re doing. I need to get going.”

“No problem,” he replied, “and ditto.” The Dynamite Duo hung up.

Lieutenant Diana Mooney was aware her perception of passing time was distorted as the hydraulic press slowly closed upon her. Admittedly, she had much more important things about which to be worried.

The ominous shadow of a heavy, metal plate was enveloping her at a slightly faster pace than the plate descending inexorably toward her. She had given up trying to interpret the lights blinking on and moving over the display beside the deadly machine. The controls were too far away to offer any real hope of escape, anyway.

She had gotten over the initial panic-attack being the lone victim of a deathtrap had prompted almost immediately. Now, as she calmly waited to die, she had ample time to think. Her most productive thought processes would, she hoped, somehow prevent her from being crushed to death.

It would be awhile, perhaps several hours, before Mooney felt the initial pressure of the metal plates poised to terminate her life. Until then, there was little to do but wait for the beginning of the end and endure the brief pain that would quickly follow.

The decorated policewoman knew the only people who had any idea where she was were her killers and, perhaps, their target, Mooney’s best friend, Batgirl, who was surely being lured to her own grisly fate. Ironically, the entire police department would know by now she had gone missing, but none of them would have a real clue as to who had taken her or where to look. Indeed, the feline nature of the robbery she had tried to thwart might direct their efforts in the wrong direction. If the Lieutenant were to somehow escape, devising and executing a plan would be totally up to her. If she failed . . . .

It was not as though she had never faced danger, but Batgirl or one of her friend’s caped colleagues had always at least been close at hand when she was put into a real deathtrap. Now, Vixen had done to the Lieutenant what many of Gotham City’s colorful criminals had repeatedly done to Batgirl—left her alone to die with only her wits, physical prowess, and courage upon which to rely.

“Think!” the policewoman urged herself. She tried to take her own advice as she listened to the echoes of her voice die. ‘What would Batgirl do?’ she silently asked herself.

‘Obviously, Batgirl would find and exploit the weakest element of the trap to escape and bring her would-be killers to justice,’ Mooney thought.

“Simple. Right?” Then she disagreed with herself and dejectedly repeated, “Right.”

The sound of her echoing voice brought little comfort, but trying to figure out the trap’s weakness would at least occupy her mind.

'The controls are too far away to be helpful and the plates poised to smash me are still far apart—fortunately,' the Lieutenant reasoned. ‘They are also practically indestructible.

'Unlike Batgirl, I don't carry any specialized equipment for this type of situation. No powerful magnet will keep the metal plates from crushing me nor will tiny explosives blast these shackles to bits. Anyway, Undine took all my belongings.

'The restraints are probably the weak point Batgirl would exploit, no doubt with a lock pick concealed in her glove. I'm not even wearing gloves. The pin holding my badge in place might fill in for the lock pick, but reaching it will be practically impossible. A hair pin might be closer, but reaching one will be equally out of the question.'

She began to wrench her limbs toward her body, but found her restraints were much too tight to allow her hands or feet to slip through. ‘I can’t give up!’ she silently chided herself. After several more vain efforts, her body was slick with sweat. Additionally, both her wrists and ankles had begun to bleed after being rubbed raw.

The captive decided to rest, remaining as still as she could while her chest heaved. As she awaited a new inspiration, she thought she heard a soft sound intermingled with the rasp of her labored breathing and the ominous hum of the machine that would slowly press her into a bloody paste. She dismissed the idea and closed her eyes, trying to center herself so she could concentrate.

‘How close will the crushing finish be when I open my eyes?’ she wondered.

The machinery became suddenly silent and Diana Mooney wondered if she had been driven mad. ‘Am I deaf? Did I drift off and get killed without feeling a thing? Is one of those possibilities preferable to the other?’ she wondered. Slowly, she became aware of a voice speaking softly to her. Then a click sounded and the Lieutenant no longer felt one of the wrist restraints holding her helpless. She opened her eyes and tried to make sense of the scene and the sensations she was feeling.

“Take it easy, Diana,” the voice gently said. “I’ve got you. Everything is going to be fine. Don’t worry.”

The speaker was a caped woman clad in purple and gold. As the Lieutenant focused on the woman's masked face, a second click sounded, releasing her other wrist.

“Batgirl?!” the policewoman asked. “What happened? How did you find me?” The policewoman favored her friend with a wry smile. “I am so glad to see you.”

“I’ll tell you everything as soon as I get you loose,” Batgirl said.

“Thanks,” the Lieutenant said. Suddenly, though, she became almost frantic as she sat up and grabbed her friend by the shoulder. “Wait, Batgirl! I’m the bait in a Bat-Trap!! You’ve got to get out of here!”

“Take it easy, Diana,” Batgirl said kindly. “I’m a step ahead of the bad guys . . . or is it bad gals?”

Mooney let out a deep breath as Batgirl released her ankles. “You’ve got that right. Vixen seemed to be in charge. Undine and a couple of beach bums are helping her.”

‘So, Vixen herself was responsible,’ Batgirl thought. She said, “Here. Let’s get you out from under this machine.”

As the women walked gingerly to safety, the Lieutenant said, “Now, let’s hear it.”

“Vixen called me after she left you to die and provided me several pictures of this deadly setup,” Batgirl explained.

The Lieutenant observed, “Now that her trap has failed, we can use the pictures as evidence.”

Batgirl grinned. “Good thinking.”

“So, did those pictures help you find me?”

“It wasn’t the pictures. Vixen slipped up when she contacted me. She inadvertently gave me a vital clue to your location. It’s a classic case of a criminal’s overconfidence being her undoing.”

“It’s lucky for me you figured it all out in time,” the Lieutenant said. “What will you do now?”

“My next port of call is the late Lydia Weaver’s mansion, where Vixen claims she will give me the information that will save your life.”

“You’d better hurry. I’ll arrange for a squad to land on that place like a ton of bricks.”

“I’ll drop you at Headquarters on my way,” Batgirl decided. “You’ll never get the cavalry organized in time otherwise.”

“If you do, can you still be on time for your meeting with Vixen?”

“I think so,” Batgirl replied, grinning. “The meeting is less important, now that I’m sure you’re safe.”

“Sounds good,” the lovely Lieutenant agreed. “Thank you again. Now, let’s get busy and get those crooks!”

Shortly thereafter, at the late Lydia Weaver’s mansion, Vixen nodded and watched on an overhead monitor as a shapely shadow traversed the mansion’s grounds rapidly, but silently. “It's time,” the call girl said, unable to keep her eager anticipation from her voice. She went on more philosophically. “I expected Batgirl to show up a little sooner, but better late than never.” She leaned over and touched the controls for the mansion’s intercom system. “The target has finally arrived. She’ll enter the first floor using the French windows on the east side of the house. Take her!”

“How critical is the timetable, Vixen?” Archie Arcane asked, leaning back in the swivel, leather chair behind the desk upon which his companions decoratively perched.

“It doesn’t matter. Lieutenant Mooney’s fate is well underway. Once we have Batgirl, the lady cop’s only chance at survival will disappear forever.”

“It won’t be long now,” Undine enthused, eagerly watching the monitor. Batgirl’s image went to work on the locked French windows with a tiny tool from her utility belt.

Lights blazed around Batgirl as the Curved Crusader entered the mansion, making her shield her eyes and whirl, sinking into a fighting crouch. Silk and Charlotte set upon the momentarily blinded heroine with the ferocity of wildcats.

The pale-haired blonde cut Batgirl’s legs from beneath her. As the Curved Crusader began to rise, Silk seized one of the heroine’s arms, twisting her hand while pulling up the voluptuous vigilante and bending her forward from the waist. Batgirl’s brown-haired attacker smiled at the look of pain etched on their victim’s face, while she slammed a booted foot into the curvaceous crime fighter’s abdomen.

“My turn,” Silk said, pushing the battered heroine forward. Charlotte caught the sexy sleuth, spinning her around to enable Silk’s fists to pound the purple-clad paragon’s gut rapidly and with tremendous force.

Batgirl had not regained her breath when she felt herself flung back toward Silk. The Curved Crusader lowered her shoulder as she stumbled and thrust herself forward, colliding with her pale-haired attacker, driving the woman to the floor. The heel of a purple hand slammed into Silk’s chin instinctively, slamming the henchwoman’s head into the floor with a resounding crack.

Charlotte lunged as Batgirl did a somersault and stood, balancing on the balls of her feet as she finally caught her breath. The brown-haired bad girl felt a firm grip on the shoulders before she was flung to one side and rolled over. Batgirl capitalized on her advantage immediately, leaping at Charlotte.

“I thought we had her,” Archie Arcane lamented as Batgirl’s toe straightened Charlotte before a spinning, purple heel cut the rising, honey brown-haired henchwoman down.

The first round of the fight was over.

“I hoped Silk and Charlotte would be more effective,” Vixen said, shrugging, “but they haven’t fought Batgirl before.”

“Leave her to me,” Undine urged.

“She’s all yours, dear,” Vixen said, resting a hand on her friend’s shoulder. “I have a little surprise for Batgirl first, though. Be patient.” The two women eagerly grinned at one another and returned their attention to the monitors to observe their pretty prey, anticipating their opportunity.

Batgirl let her hands settle onto her bent knees, resting as her chest heaved. She surveyed the wreckage she had made of her attackers and snapped Batcuffs on their wrists before moving deeper into the mansion. The first floor seemed unoccupied, apart from the human debris, and Batgirl began climbing the main staircase.

“Now,” Vixen purred, licking her lips and reaching for a set of switches.

Batgirl’s ascent was nearly two thirds complete when a click heralded the almost instantaneous transformation of the staircase into a slick ramp. Batgirl’s feet slid from beneath her and she slammed into the waxed slope. Her descent was rapid, propelled by both gravity and her gathering momentum. Batgirl reached for the railings on either side of the staircase in a vain attempt to brace herself. She hit the floor with stunning force and gazed groggily up the staircase where Archie Arcane soon appeared, flanked by Undine and Vixen. Recognition dawned on the Curved Crusader as she shook her head to clear it.

“Are we ready?” the blonde bombshell eagerly asked.

Vixen regarded Batgirl with a look in which loathing and hunger were closely intertwined. “It’s time for us to be rid of a persistent pest,” the call girl said. “Go swat her, Undine!”

“With pleasure,” the scantily-clad henchwoman replied, racing down the ramp as Batgirl climbed slowly to her feet. The Curved Crusader had just regained her balance when Undine leaped at her, extending a bare leg. The blonde’s foot slammed into Batgirl’s chest, knocking the heroine back down.

The Curved Crusader was given no opportunity to recover before Undine settled on top of her, dropping a knee into the center of the Curved Crusader’s chest, knocking the wind out of the Shapely Sentinel and pinning her helplessly.

“This is going to be fun,” Undine declared, shifting and spreading her thighs across Batgirl’s waist. Moments later, the blonde’s fists had gone to work on Batgirl’s upper body and the Curved Crusader’s counterattacks were almost effortlessly slapped aside.

Archie Arcane transformed the ramp back into a staircase and descended with Vixen on his arm. “Go release Silk and Charlotte, darling,” Vixen said. “We’ll attend to Batgirl as soon as Undine has finished playing.”

Reluctantly, Vixen’s companion nodded and released her.

The brunette laughed. “Don’t worry, my friend. We’re in no hurry, whatsoever.”

“May I have Batgirl’s belt?” Archie Arcane asked reluctantly, disengaging himself from his companion.

“Sure,” Undine said, hitting her victim in the mouth with stunning force. Seconds later, the blonde was pulling Batgirl’s gadget-laden girdle away from the heroine’s waist and tossing it carelessly to the man, who caught it. Then, the merciless, punishing beating Undine was systematically administering resumed.

Vixen leaned decoratively against one of the staircase railings and watched her friend work Batgirl over. Soon, Archie Arcane led Silk and Charlotte into the room where the newcomers gazed impassively at Undine as she straightened, looking disappointedly down at her victim.

“She lost consciousness,” Undine complained, kicking Batgirl’s side viciously. Batgirl did not react.

“Too bad,” Vixen lamented. “I was really enjoying watching you work.”

“You could always wake Batgirl up,” Charlotte suggested. “After all, we missed the beginning of the show.”

“Unfortunately, the sacrifice is too important,” Silk pointed out. “It’s time to prepare.”

“Indeed,” Archie Arcane agreed. “We’ve waited too long for the ceremony to allow further delays – even pleasures like torturing Batgirl must be forsaken. We do, however, have one issue to resolve before we begin.”

Silk and Charlotte turned as one to the perspiration-coated, bikini-clad babe. “Undine,” they said simultaneously.

“Vixen brought her in, and she just gave us Batgirl, our sacrifice, on a proverbial silver platter,” Archie Arcane summarized.

“So far, she’s been a team player,” Silk said.

“Spider-Priestess had big plans for Gotham City. I think some of those plans involved bringing in local talent to cash in quickly when the time came,” Charlotte said. “For our purposes, Undine’s background and reputation are impeccable.”

Archie Arcane, Charlotte, and Silk glanced at Vixen. “I have no objection to Undine joining and seeing what we do to Batgirl,” the call girl said. “Afterward, she might be a useful evangelist, revealing our power and spreading terror.”

“I know you’re going to kill Batgirl,” Undine said, grinning wickedly. “I’m interested in the details for professional, as well as personal, reasons. Batgirl has sent me to jail more than once. As for any role I may play in your plans after my enemy’s destruction, we can certainly talk.” Undine shrugged.

Archie Arcane, Charlotte, Silk, and Vixen nodded at one another. The women then focused on Archie Arcane, who cleared his throat. “Undine, I’d like to welcome you into our little, private club, if you’re interested.”

“Count me in!” Undine enthused without hesitation. “This purple pain in the butt is all yours, with my compliments. Now, shall we get rid of her?” She turned her head to regard the unconscious superheroine at their feet and grinned with undisguised pleasure.

“By all means,” Archie Arcane said. “Following the sacrifice, I’d be delighted to personally perform your initiation ritual.”

“Oh?” Undine said, regarding Archie Arcane appraisingly and nodding with approval. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“Splendid,” Vixen said, touching a button concealed beneath one of the staircase railings. The steps silently lifted to reveal a secret passage.

“I would never have thought to look under there,” Undine remarked.

“This mansion has many secrets and I didn’t have time to give you the full tour,” Vixen said. “Bring Batgirl.”

Silk and Charlotte gripped the unconscious captive’s wrists and dragged Batgirl unceremoniously along the secret passage, following Archie Arcane, who closely watched the natural sway of both Vixen and Undine’s backsides.

Undine stopped and stared as she entered the chamber at the end of the secret passage. “That is the biggest, most impressive sapphire I’ve ever seen in my life!” the blonde bombshell exclaimed.

“Beautiful, isn’t she?” Archie Arcane asked as Vixen drew her friend to one side.

“The jewel has a name?” Undine asked, barely breathing.

“Oh, no,” her male companion replied, chuckling. Then, he filled his voice with reverence. “Our leader is inside the gem, awaiting the ceremony we’re about to perform.”

Two hands would have been required to handle the jewel displayed beneath a glass dome. Archie Arcane threw a switch which caused the gem to shimmer in a soft, azure light, reflected by the polished floor beneath it. This indirect light revealed the most striking thing about the gem, the motionless figure of a pretty, young woman posed in its heart.

A bone tiara perched atop the figure’s red hair, which spilled half way down her back, and, except for the few locks curling over her shoulders from behind her ears, hung perfectly straight. The figure in the gem used a pair of petrified spiders as earrings and a third hung from a bone choker encircling her throat. Thicker bones were suspended from the front of the choker, partially covering her breasts, and thin bands of material were wound around each of her wrists, as well as both her upper arms. These bands matched the lower portion of a tightly stretched bikini covering her waist and hips. These ‘shorts’ were, in fact, the only cloth garment touching the woman’s flesh, which was otherwise bare.

Since arriving at the mansion, Undine had judiciously kept her skepticism under wraps. Now, she was becoming more willing to consider the impossible. “Who does that figurine represent?” Undine asked.

“She actually is our Spider-Priestess,” Vixen explained. “She commands an ancient organization, the Bluestone Spider Society.”

Undine started to make a questioning face, but caught herself. “Is she . . . alive?”

“She will be,” Archie replied, “once the ceremony which is to release her from the gem is performed.”

Undine could not hide her amazement as she regarded her male companion. “How did she get inside that jewel?”

“None of us really know,” Archie Arcane said. “What is important now is all of the preparations for her release are complete, except for the sacrificial shedding of blood.”

“So, Batgirl’s death will serve a greater purpose?”

“Precisely, Undine,” Vixen agreed, grinning. “Batgirl won’t need her cape. Once you’ve removed it, girls, put her on the dome so Archie can position the mesh.”

Moments later, Batgirl lay on her back, draped over the dome with her limbs spread wide and restrained with chains and shackles. As Silk and Charlotte stepped back, Archie Arcane lowered a fine mesh and spread it carefully over the captive-covered dome.

“Excellent," Vixen said. "It’s time to secure the mesh to the winches at the base of the dome. We’ve nearly finished.”

“So is Batgirl!” Undine enthused, stepping forward to help with the remaining, deadly work.

“I think our sacrifice is recovering,” Archie Arcane observed, as the comely quartet of killers retreated to admire their handiwork.

Batgirl moaned. “I really walked into that one,” she groggily muttered, shifting slightly. The Curved Crusader groaned with pain, gasping. “I can barely move.”

“I’d imagine that fact is a blessing in disguise, Batgirl,” the call girl declared.

“Vixen!”

“I’d have finished you off,” Undine declared, “but my new associates had other, more interesting plans for you.” The blonde laughed.

Batgirl ignored Undine, turning her head and staring at the jewel displayed beneath the dome. “It can’t be!” the Curved Crusader exclaimed. “The woman in that jewel looks like Spider-Priestess!”

“You’re as perceptive as always, Batgirl,” Vixen purred. “You’re correct. Spider-Priestess is inside the jewel beneath you. Your forthcoming demise will release her from her current . . . circumstance.”

“I know the Queen sometimes believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast, but I’m not that open-minded,” Batgirl said, stretching and twisting vainly in her shackles.

“Hey!” Silk responded. “We may have given you a glimpse through our unique looking glass, but your destination will be a little different than Wonderland!”

The librarian’s Lewis Carroll quote left the other members of the Bluestone Spider Society unimpressed. Batgirl took another tack. “So, Vixen, you apparently didn’t kill Spider-Priestess?”

“I’ve killed several others in her stead,” Vixen replied, smiling. “I’ll soon check you off my list, along with your friend Lieutenant Mooney.”

“They could both die at precisely the same moment,” Undine excitedly said.

“They could, but I can’t wait,” Vixen said.

Batgirl saw no reason to disclose her rescue of Diana - yet. Instead, she said, “So, if you’ve done a job on the Bluestone Spider Society over the last several months, I find it hard to believe you’ve emerged as their leader!”

“As you know, Batgirl,” Vixen said, smirking, “I like it on top, and transforming the Society was apparently always my destiny. Now, you’re about to play an important role in Spider-Priestess’ return, and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.” Vixen permitted herself a cold laugh.

“We need your blood,” Archie Arcane explained.

“You won’t get it,” Batgirl predicted, savagely shaking her chains.

“We don’t need your consent,” Silk said, smiling knowingly.

“Haven’t we wasted enough time chatting?” Charlotte asked.

“Perhaps,” Vixen agreed. “The web-like mesh holding our guest in place against the dome has been wound into several winches, which will draw each strand of wire slowly down. Long before the wires have finished cutting you to pieces, Batgirl, the dome beneath you will shatter. Oh, considering how carefully your weight has been distributed over the dome, I’d try to avoid moving around too much.” Vixen grinned. “Once the wire has become embedded in your flesh, you’ll have an even better reason to remain still.”

“I get the idea, Vixen,” Batgirl said, relaxing. Her voice was soft, but deadly.

Vixen and her companions laughed. “It’s delicious. As the dome shatters, glass will cut your back to shreds in the instant before gravity acts upon you, lowering you directly onto the gem. It will pierce you first, severing your spine, and then impale your chest and vital organs from below. Bones will shatter in the process, wracking your entire body with excruciating, lingering pain as your life blood slowly drains away. I imagine you’ll be quite dead before the tip of the gem emerges from your chest and Spider-Priestess returns.”

“Spider-Priestess is long gone and I’ll be out of here before you know it,” Batgirl softly said. “Then I’ll be coming after all of you.”

As though in response to Batgirl’s words, a light began to flash as a shrill, repetitive beeping sounded.

“It’s the intruder alarm!” Vixen said. “Someone just penetrated the grounds.”

“It’s Lieutenant Mooney and the squad she promised to back me up!” Batgirl said triumphantly. “The meeting to which you invited me was an obvious trap, Vixen.”

“It can’t be Mooney!” Undine exclaimed, panic in her voice. “She’s being squashed in a hydraulic press as we speak!”

“I visited the Ghoti Oeufs Caviar Company and rescued her from your trap before coming here!” Batgirl strained to look at Archie, Charlotte and Silk. “I’m afraid your new leader’s gloating gave the Lieutenant’s location away.”

Silk and Charlotte glanced at one another, shrugging.

“Well, I must congratulate you on saving your friend, Batgirl,” Vixen said. She pulled a remote control from her pocket and pushed a button. The tightly stretched mesh covering Batgirl’s body became taut as a hum began to sound. “Though the Lieutenant came here to return the favor, she won’t save you. She will, however, find you. We’ll just step out and collect her so she doesn’t miss your grand finale. It would be best for an impartial witness to see Spider-Priestess return.”

“Collect her? Ha!” Batgirl said. “Do you think just the five of you can capture a trained squad of police?!”

“Oh, we have allies here, Batgirl, relatives of something I know you’ve faced before,” Vixen said. “You see, after their leader witnesses what I want her to see, Mooney and her squad will provide a tasty meal for the guardians of this mansion. As they feast, your friend will wish you never found her. You see, the other fate I arranged for her would have been vastly preferable.”

“A splendid idea,” Silk enthused.

“The guardians of this mansion have been sustaining themselves on little more than common vermin lately,” Charlotte thoughtfully said.

Batgirl recalled the giant spider she and Vixen had faced under Black Widow’s old hideout. The look of horror on her face told Vixen the heroine had put the pieces together.

“Shortly, after Spider-Priestess’ return, Batgirl,” Vixen gloated, “I’ll feed your friends to some of her pets.” The call girl laughed. “The cops’ execution will be delicious, for many reasons! You, however, will serve as an appropriate appetizer. Fare well.”

“Participating in your destruction was a pleasure, Batgirl,” Undine said. “I thought you should know that, just in case I don’t make it back for the conclusion of the sacrifice. Bye bye!” Undine turned away after touching her fingertips to her lips and blowing their voluptuous victim a parting kiss.

“Come along, ladies,” Archie Arcane invited. “Watching you all work has been such a delight.” He linked arms with Vixen and led her past Undine and along the passage that had brought them to the hidden chamber.

Silk and Charlotte followed after favoring Batgirl with courtly curtseys and wicked grins. “If we handle the cops quickly, we’ll be back in time for the end of the sacrifice!” Charlotte enthused. “Come on!”

“Bon voyage, Batgirl,” Silk called.

Moments later, Batgirl’s executioners, like the echoes of their voices, were gone.

Batgirl filled her lungs and felt the warmth leak away from her body, which tensed involuntarily. She had heard a tiny sound as her chest expanded and she knew the wires holding her in place had cut her costume. Within seconds, they would slice into her flesh!

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