"Well, unless you're willing to be flexible and reach a compromise by setting me free, I don't see this conversation going anywhere," the young man said casually, as though discussing a simple business arrangement rather than negotiating his release from captivity.
A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
"In return, I leave without causing any trouble, and we all go our separate ways pretending none of this ever happened. Otherwise, I won't be providing any of the answers you're looking for."
Both sisters briefly exchanged a glance before returning their attention to him.
"Surely you'll need some time to consider the offer," he continued. "Until then, you won't get anything of value from me. Even if you decide to keep me here indefinitely."
The confidence in his voice was infuriating.
Not once had he sounded worried about his situation. Not once had he shown concern over the possibility of spending months—or even years—inside that cell.
Without speaking, Talia and Nadia exchanged another look.
The conversation had clearly reached a standstill.
Turning on their heels, they began making their way toward the exit.
"While you think it over..."
His voice caused both women to stop.
Their movements were smooth and nearly synchronized as they turned their heads toward him. Curiosity lingered despite their frustration. After all, he had spent the better part of their conversation refusing to cooperate, making it difficult to ignore the possibility that he was about to say something that could benefit them in some way.
The young man watched them from where he remained restrained.
"Should you somehow find a way to resolve this matter," he began, his tone noticeably more serious than before, "trust me when I say that you do not want to disturb his slumber."
The words immediately captured their attention.
"It's in your best interest to let the sleeping dog lie."
His gaze drifted between both women.
"I find myself at a loss regarding what exactly he would do if awakened. Or even what course of action he'd choose to take."
For the first time during their entire exchange, there was an absence of mockery in his voice.
That alone made the warning more unsettling.
Like a harbinger delivering an ominous prophecy, he simply watched as the two sisters resumed their walk toward the door.
Neither responded.
Neither dismissed his warning.
Moments later, the heavy door closed behind them with a dull metallic thud.
Silence immediately reclaimed the dungeon chamber.
The echoes gradually faded until nothing remained but the quiet stillness of the room, leaving Todd alone once more while the sisters departed to consider everything they had learned—and everything they still didn't understand.
As they made their way through the dimly lit corridor leading toward the surface, neither woman spoke for several moments.
Both were occupied with their own thoughts.
Talia eventually glanced sideways at Nadia.
Her sister's expression remained calm and composed, but she could tell there was far more happening beneath the surface. Nadia's gaze remained fixed ahead, focused on the hallway before them while her mind visibly worked through the implications of the encounter.
"You felt it too, didn't you?" Talia finally asked.
She wasn't referring to the threats. Nor was she referring to the bizarre revelations regarding Jason's fractured psyche.
She meant something else entirely.
That unsettling presence.
The inexplicable feeling that seemed to accompany every smile, every glance, and every word that left his mouth.
Nadia kept her eyes forward as they continued down the corridor.
For several moments, she said nothing, her silence lingering just long enough to make the answer obvious.
Whatever had been speaking through Jason back there, it had left both sisters with the same uneasy feeling.
And neither of them liked what that implied.
"He didn't do much to hide his malicious nature, until further information or discoveries regarding this matter, for now we can assume he was telling the truth about his identity as the embodiment of the darkest parts of Jason's soul." Nadia ruminated on the encounter as she shared her thoughts with Talia.
"What he said about there being a third but latent or passive dissociated identity, there's no way of confirmation. For all we know, it could either be true or just him lying through his teeth so we abandon our efforts and set him free." Talia highlighted as they made their way out of the dungeon and now walked across the yard as if taking a casual stroll while they conversed.
"Well, you've seen for yourself. Any idea as to a solution or treatment to possibly resolve this whole thing and reunite his fractured soul? Possibly reverting the dissociated identities back into a single one."
"The soul or mind isn't something one can just put together or mend when fractured, what he needs is the healing of his soul. And clearly there's nothing we can do about any of this, this is no way in our area of expertise." Nadia elaborated.
Even while knowing the possibility of getting a solution or treatment for Jason's condition, Talia couldn't help the disappointed feeling that welled up within her.
"From what I could dig up while looking into this mental condition, there are several causes of the dissociation of identities, but only one seems to fit Jason's and could possibly be a factor which resulted in his psychotic break over time. Severe trauma." Nadia cocked up a brow at Talia, wondering where she was going with that, and how could a warrior's trauma lead to a dissociated identity. Then again his warrior spirit and resolve could most likely be drawn from his place of pain.
Knowing her sister had been unaware of Jason's circumstances before his death—or the horrors he had endured at the Joker's hands during what should have been his final moments—Talia took it upon herself to fill in the missing pieces. Her voice remained steady and composed as she recounted the events in a summarized manner, though a faint hardness settled in her eyes whenever the Clown Prince of Crime was mentioned.
Nadia listened without interruption, her arms loosely folded across her chest. By the time Talia finished, a thoughtful look had replaced her initial curiosity. She lowered her gaze for a brief moment, quietly piecing everything together before looking back at her sister.
"I see..." she murmured, enlightenment flickering across her features. "As disturbing as that sounds, it certainly explains a lot."
There was no need to elaborate further. The savagery Jason displayed as a warrior suddenly made far more sense when viewed through the lens of unimaginable trauma mixed with the effects of the Lazarus pit.
Talia responded with nothing more than a small nod. She allowed a brief silence to settle between them, giving Nadia a moment to process everything before steering the conversation back toward the matter at hand.
"For now," she said calmly, clasping her hands behind her back, "we might as well keep him confined below until further notice. At the moment, there's nothing we can do to help him."
"Seems you didn't quite understand what I meant."
Nadia's reply was calm, yet it immediately drew Talia's attention. The daughter of the Demon turned fully toward her sister, studying her face in silence for several seconds. Then, almost imperceptibly, her pupils narrowed before widening ever so slightly as realization dawned on her.
"You've figured something out?"
There was a rare hint of hope beneath Talia's otherwise controlled tone as she took two measured steps closer.
Nadia answered with a slow nod.
"I said there was nothing we could do," she clarified, placing subtle emphasis on the word. "I never said I didn't know of a place that might be able to help someone with... such a peculiar condition."
That immediately captured Talia's full attention.
"And where is this place?"
The question came without hesitation, her curiosity growing with each passing moment.
A faint, knowing smile tugged at the corner of Nadia's lips.
"I'm actually surprised you're asking me that," she said. "Of all people, I would've thought you'd know exactly where I'm referring to."
She paused just long enough to let the anticipation build before meeting Talia's gaze once more.
"What do you know about the All-Caste?"
"The All-Caste?"
A subtle note of surprise slipped into Talia's voice as one of her brows arched slightly. Of all the possibilities she had expected Nadia to suggest, the ancient order had not been among them. Folding one arm beneath the other, she took a brief moment to gather her thoughts before answering.
"Unlike the League," Talia began, her measured gaze remaining fixed on her sister, "the All-Caste are an ancient spiritual brotherhood of warrior monks and assassins."
She paused briefly, carefully recalling everything she knew of the elusive order.
"They dedicated themselves to combating evils beyond the physical world—forces born of corruption, death, and supernatural darkness. Their knowledge extends far beyond conventional warfare."
Nadia listened quietly, a faint smile beginning to form as Talia unknowingly strengthened her argument.
"Which makes them exactly who we need," Nadia replied, spreading her hands slightly as if the conclusion were obvious. "Their expertise is practically tailored to our current predicament. Whether Jason's condition stems from possession, spiritual corruption, or something even stranger, they're far better equipped to deal with it than anyone within the League."
She stepped a little closer, her tone remaining calm but increasingly persuasive.
"At the moment, they're the only people I can think of who stand a genuine chance of helping our mentally unstable warrior chained up beneath the fortress."
Talia's expression remained thoughtful.
"Perhaps," she admitted, "but knowing who can help and knowing where to find them are two entirely different matters."
She slowly paced past Nadia before turning back toward her.
"The All-Caste are so ancient that most people believe they've become little more than myth. Even their leader is said to have lived for over three thousand years."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Some even speculate she is immortal."
The statement lingered between them before Talia tilted her head ever so slightly.
"Unless," she added, "you know where they're based... or possess some clue as to how they might be found."
The corners of Nadia's lips curled upward into a knowing smile.
Without a hint of hesitation, she stepped forward and rested a reassuring hand on Talia's shoulder.
"Don't worry, dear sister."
There was a quiet confidence in her voice that immediately caught Talia's attention.
"My travels have taken me to many forgotten places over the years."
Her smile widened ever so slightly.
"The All-Caste happens to be one of them."
For the first time since the conversation had begun, genuine relief softened Talia's otherwise composed features.
"Then we should begin making preparations immediately," she said, already shifting into planning mode. "Transporting Jason won't be easy. We'll have to move him while he's restrained... and preferably unconscious."
Nadia nodded without hesitation.
"That would certainly make the journey less eventful," she replied with a small chuckle. "I'd rather not spend the entire trip listening to his pain-in-the-ass alter ego threatening to kill everyone within earshot."
A faint smile tugged at Talia's lips despite herself.
She gave a series of slow, approving nods.
"For once," she said dryly, "I find myself in complete agreement."
Having finally settled on what they believed to be their best course of action, the sisters made their way back toward the underground dungeon. Their footsteps echoed softly through the stone corridors as they descended, returning to pay a visit to the mentally fractured acquaintance who seemed perpetually on the verge of indulging his bloodthirsty impulses and ending the nearest life within reach.
The heavy iron door groaned as it slowly swung inward.
Jason's eyes, which had been resting shut, lazily lifted toward the sound. They settled upon the two daughters of the Demon as they entered the cell with noticeably more confidence than when they had left. It wasn't difficult to spot the difference.
"That didn't take long," he remarked, the corner of his lips curling into a subtle yet unmistakably mischievous smirk. His gaze drifted between the sisters before settling on Talia. "Looks like the two of you finally came to a decision."
"We surely have," Nadia replied calmly, folding her hands behind her back.
"So..." Jason drawled, shifting ever so slightly against the chains that bound him to the stone pillar. "Let's hear it."
His smirk never faltered.
"What decision did the Demon Head's daughters arrive at after considering my rather sensible offer?"
He spoke as though the negotiations were taking place entirely on his terms. Despite his current predicament—restrained, imprisoned, and completely at their mercy—there wasn't the slightest trace of fear in his eyes. If anything, he looked entertained.
"Nice poker face," Talia replied evenly. "But it's a no."
Beside her, Nadia gave a small nod in agreement.
Jason said nothing.
Instead, his gaze calmly swept from one sister to the other, studying them with placid curiosity. Something had changed. Before they'd left, uncertainty had been written plainly across their faces. They'd had no idea what to do with him.
Now...
That uncertainty was gone.
Whatever conclusion they'd reached, they believed in it.
Slowly, one of Jason's brows arched.
Without uttering another word, he silently invited them to continue, his expression making it perfectly clear that he was interested in hearing whatever counteroffer they believed could possibly top his own.
"How about," Nadia began with a faint smile, "we do you one better?"
As she spoke, she casually flicked a small metallic pellet onto the stone floor.
It bounced once.
Twice.
A third time.
Then it rolled lazily toward Jason's feet.
He barely acknowledged it as his attention never left the sisters.
A heartbeat later, the pellet burst apart with a muted pop, releasing a dense cloud of pale smoke that rapidly engulfed the area surrounding the chained young man.
"But first," Talia said as the smoke thickened, "we need you to take a little nap."
Neither sister moved.
They simply watched as the haze slowly dissipated.
When it finally cleared, Jason remained standing exactly where he'd been.
Only now, his head hung limply forward.
His body had gone completely slack, supported solely by the chains fastening him to the pillar.
"Instead of telling you," Talia continued, a faint hint of satisfaction touching her voice, "we think it's better to show you."
She turned toward the doorway.
"And by the time you wake up... you'll have our answer."
With a subtle gesture of her fingers, she signaled those waiting outside.
Almost immediately, three League assassins entered the cell in disciplined silence before dropping to one knee.
"My lady."
"Unbind him," Talia ordered. "Prepare him for transport."
The assassins acknowledged her command without hesitation and moved toward the unconscious Jason.
"How long will he remain asleep?" Talia quietly asked as they supervised the process.
"Around forty-five minutes," Nadia answered before reconsidering. "Though I'd rather assume thirty. With someone like him... it's safer to expect the unexpected."
Reaching into one of her inner pockets, she produced a syringe filled with a clear liquid.
"Here." She handed it to Talia.
"A sedative."
Talia accepted it with an approving nod.
"I had the same thought."
Without another word, she passed the syringe to one of the assassins, who immediately prepared the injection while the remaining two removed the last of Jason's restraints.
As the final chain clattered onto the stone floor, one assassin stepped forward with his arms spread, ready to catch Jason's unconscious body before it collapsed.
Confident everything was proceeding smoothly, Talia and Nadia turned toward the exit.
They had barely taken two steps...
...when an unnatural, wet sound echoed through the dungeon.
Both sisters stopped instantly.
Their bodies stiffened.
Slowly, they turned back toward the source.
The sight that greeted them froze everyone in place.
Jason hadn't fallen.
Instead, one of his arms had punched clean through the chest of the assassin who'd attempted to catch him.
Blood streamed down the length of Jason's forearm as it protruded grotesquely from the man's back.
The dying assassin never even managed to scream.
His eyes remained wide with shock as life rapidly drained from them.
The second assassin instinctively staggered backward, his hand flying toward the hilt of his blade.
Too slow.
Jason's head slowly lifted.
The sleepy, unconscious expression was gone.
In its place stretched a smile that was equal parts delighted and horrifying.
His eyes gleamed with savage hunger.
It was the expression of a predator that had just tasted fresh blood after being starved for far too long.
The first kill had merely whetted his appetite.
Now...
It was time to feast.