I woke up early probably around seven in the morning since that was my daily routine back in Nanda. I've gotten so used to it that it seemed uncomfortable not to follow it. As I sat up in the bed and stretched my arms, my eyes were directed toward a brown duffel bag placed on the sofa next to the door. It wasn't there before. Alfred must have put it in here while I slept. As I get up and walk to the bag, I unzip it unopen to reveal that it was my gear. Combat boots, black bulletproof long-sleeve shirt and pants, a couple of regular clothes, and classic black Vans. In one of the shoes, there was a sticky note that said

"Here are some things you two might need for the time staying. I packed some clothes and shoes for both of you. and your specialties."

-Talia

Beneath all my shirts and jeans, on the bottom were my ' specialties' as she called them. Both my wooden and metal Escrima sticks, and my whip.

Before my father died, he taught me how to use them. When I first started out, My escrima's were wooden for safety purposes. I was a little bit younger than Damian when I began training. But after years and years of training, he gave me his metallic sticks as an inheritance. As I slip them out of their worn-out case, the metallic glow on the bars against the sun makes them shine. A glimpse of my face is shown upon them.

"I wish you could see me now", I said thinking out loud, taking a moment as I pulled myself together.

I missed him. No single day passed I forgot about him. When the time came to train me, I only lasted about two days with Talia because I couldn't keep up with her method. But he offered himself to train his own daughter.

As the leader of the league, he knew how to assassinate victims precisely and carry out strategic attacks. So he obviously knew how to use many types of weapons from katana all the way to a sai. He was also a gymnast as well, so he would fly in the air in different ways. It was mesmerizing to see all the jumps and stunts he could do flawlessly. So as every child who watches their parents, I decided I wanted to do that.

But when Damian was born, a lot of things changed. She needed me most of the time and wanted to train me in a more stealthy manner. Since my father had no voice in Ra's decision, he couldn't do much about it. I was forced to become an assassin.

I had to learn how to use swords and techniques for assassinating. Know how to manipulate people. I paid close attention to every single detail they taught me, or otherwise, I probably wouldn't have made it.

It was awful having to learn a the age of thirteen how to slice a victim's head. Hearing muffled screams of agony as I choked someone with my whip at fifteen. To make matters worse, Ra's and Talia would tell me to use the techniques my father taught me as use them against innocent lives, to kill those who intervened in rebuilding a new world where we would be the rulers.

I don't desire that. I want to be like my dad, who wasn't the perfect hero...but he was my hero

Every time I would fall from the gymnasium bar, he was there to catch me. Whenever I had a dislocated arm, he would fix it. Everything that I am, I owe to him. As well as Ra's and Talia's methods.

Neither of them were unhappy or cried a little bit after what happened that day. After that day I stopped calling Ra's grandfather, Busan uncle, and Talia mother. 

I will never forget what they did. Especially Talia.

Since then, I keep my father's memory in trying to master my escrima sticks as he did. But Talia disagreed. That a girl with the last name Al Ghul, should be like her. Know special and articulate techniques. And know what weapon I should use for each of my victims.

She also said that someone like me with 'such beauty and grace 'should take that as an advantage. To be like a swan. Beautiful, graceful, and appealing to the eye. But strike your enemy whenever you have the chance.

I've never been as vain as Talia is, And I never liked that idea. It made me sick to my stomach.

Although Damian and I were both taught the same, he was the one who really wanted to be worthy of the name Al Ghul. Apart from the fact that I could tell he was the favorite one. But as I got older,  their approval didn't matter anymore.

I only wanted my brother safe and sound as I've always had. What worries me about him though, is his will to kill. He could easily get a sword and stab someone within seconds. I could simply do it too. But I know I can't bear the fact of having someone's blood on my hands. As the older sister,  I've wanted to set a good example. That's what older siblings do, right?  I guess what I have shown him is both sides of this world. Black and white. But I don't think he's mature enough to understand the grey. 

**

As I got my hair tied up,  slipped on my tennis shoes, and changed into my workout outfit, I grabbed my wooden escrima's and went to the Batcave, and try to locate if there was a punching bag. 

 I passed near the kitchen, where I could quickly see Bruce in a suit ready to go to work. Alfred was in there as well, cooking what seemed to see some breakfast. The eggs and bacon smelled really good. It reminded me of I used to cook for Damian in the mornings.

"I gotta get to the meeting, how's Damian and Isabelle?" Bruce said asking Alfred.

" Morning Miss Isabelle", Alfred greeted me, so I retreated two steps back to return the gesture.

"G-good morning, Alfred. Bruce". I said, entering and turning my head to face them. It made me feel so awkward, especially since Bruce was there as well. 

"Your brother will help us save some money I might say"

"Why? What did he do?" I asked, feeling a little bit of panic.

" He helped us cut some shrubbery off, that's all". Alfred cleared.

He pointed toward a big glass window and saw my brother basically destroying his father's garden, with the sword Bruce clearly told him not to get.

"I'll fix it, don't worry about it. I see that you got your mother's delivery" Bruce said sternly as he glanced at my escrima's.  

"Uh, yeah. T-thanks " I replied, not letting Bruce intimidate me.

" You are looking for the Batcave I presume," Alfred asked.

"Yes, actually. I hope you don't mind...Bruce".

Bruce then looked at me with a serious stare, that gave a chill on the back of my spine. I don't know how he's intimidating me. He has no authority over me and still manages to make me feel insecure. 

"I don't think Master Bruce would mind. You remember how to enter, right?" Alfred asked tentatively.

"Yeah, you just move both hands at twelve and it opens"

"Good memory I see. "

I nodded and head out of the kitchen, hoping to avoid any more awkwardness.

"Keep a close eye on her, Alfred. I don't know if she is involved with Talia." Bruce directed, and I could hear his footsteps getting closer so I sped and walked a little bit until I got to the library.

He doesn't trust me. Should've seen this coming. I don't blame him. The daughter of his assassin lover is under his roof.

After finally walking down the stairs to the Batcave, I manage to find a punching bag. Finally, something familiar. Before I start, I place my escrimas on the floor and do some quick warm-up stretches.  Up, down, behind my back,  and small circles on both arms. Now I'm ready. 

I grab my escrima's, and start striking the punching bag at a broken strike angle.

"One, two, three, four, five" I count out loud, retracting my right arm after each strike. I usually do three exercises on each arm individually up to twenty.  When it's both, I go for thirty. 

This is good. I like training. It keeps me busy. Away from all those negative thoughts and emotions.  Especially now that I'm here. 

******

As I headed back to my room, I decided to take a quick shower since I always drench in sweat every time I finish.

Would you like something for breakfast?" Alfred called as I passed by the kitchen.

"  Uh, don't worry. I can make something for both of us, I can handle it" I replied politely as I entered. Damian was already seated, eating some plain bagels with a glass of orange juice. 

As I left my escrima's on a chair, I head to the stove when I see Alfred with a plate, with a big egg, hash browns, and two strips of sausages. 

"But  I already handled it," Alfred said kindly with a small smile, as he handed the plate to me. 

"Alfred, you shouldn't have" I respond, taking the plate. "Thank you".

"My pleasure",

I sat down at the table across from Damian, where I could see his hands were extremely worn out.  

"Hey Damian" 

"mmhm" He replied, waving while eating his bagels. 

After I ate, I went and took a quick shower and changed into some black jeans, a  black tank top my Vans, and applied my typical red lipstick. I don't usually wear much makeup, but I just felt like it today. 

As I drop my arm, something felt hard in one of my front pockets. It felt like a bead. I reach into it, pick it up, and It was a solid gold metallic ring ...  my Dad's ring.

 He gave me the ring the night before he died and I always wear it ever since. It has become my most precious inheritance. I had forgotten in Nanda. I don't think Taliah realized it was in there while she packed. I took the thin silver chain I wore yesterday and slipped the ring into it. That way, I can always have it safe. 

 Since my hair was too wet still, I was too lazy to grab my hair so I let it loose.  All done, I went to talk with  Damian since it was just going to be him and me from now on for who knows when.

"Damian?" I called out. I went to the library, but he wasn't there. Outside neither. Non even in the living room. I was starting to panic.  Everywhere I looked, I couldn't find him.

"Alfred, have you seen Damian?" I asked him, cleaning what seemed to be Damian's room.  

"I don't recall, Miss Isabelle". He replied as he answered the phone in his room.

"Master Bruce..... Oh,  I see." He sighed. " We'll go get him". Alfred said as he hung up.

" Your Brother is at Wayne Enterprises" 

"What?"