There was a gentle almost sigh as the bow string slipped past the shadowy figure’s fingers, a moment of tranquility before the storm of vengeance and hazard that was about to occur.  Almost instantly the pressure began to mount. The arrow had to fly true, the life of her city and her father depended on it.

Her ears strained to hear the small thunk, signaling that the arrow had latched onto the far wall of the building. The figure moved quickly but meticulously. The longer she took the more likely it was that her enemy would discover her actions and attempt to stop her. She gave a sharp tug to the rope that was tied to the arrow. It was secure.

Tying her end of the rope off on the rusty fire escape ladder that she was standing on, the figure moved into the moonlight. She was visible for just a second before she disappeared into the shadows again.

Anyone who saw her, dressed in a pitch black costume, would have called her Nightshade. Her name was Donna but, tonight their guess would have been correct. After her father’s capture, she had fully assumed the mantle of Nightshade, a legendary figure whose title had been passed down from generation to generation in her family.

She pulled herself along the rope slipping into the building through a high up vented window. She was careful not to touch anything. This was her arch nemesis’ compound it was sure to be rigged with sensors and booby traps. She lowered herself to the ground and unclipped herself from the rope. She did a flip and landed softly on the concrete floor.

So far so good, she’d made it into Red Lightning’s lair with no signs that he knew of her presence. Now she just had to destroy the magic red ruby teacup that endowed him with his powers. There was a soft red glow emanating from the other side of the room. That had to be it.

Once she destroyed it, the generations-long feud with Red Lightning would be over.

She moved swiftly across the room. She knew the risks she was taking. There was a reason no one in her family had ever been brazen enough to attempt to infiltrate Red Lightning’s compound. She didn’t have a choice. If she didn’t do this, her father and the city would be at Red Lightning’s mercy and she couldn’t let that happen.

She was almost inside the teacup’s warm glow. Just a few more feet and she’d have everything she needed to save her father and destroy Red Lightning.

"Belladonna, it’s a trap." Donna froze at the sound of her father’s voice. Belladonna was a codename that only he used, his special play on words. It also happened to be the scientific name for deadly nightshade, the plant that had given her family it’s super powers.

Nightshade spun toward her father’s voice. She’d never thought that Red Lightning would imprison her father so close to the ruby.

"Run, Belladonna, run." His voice hissed out of the darkness. She started moving toward him. If this were a trap then she might not be able to get the ruby, but maybe she could free her father.

The light snapped on, blinding her. Her father was right, it had been a trap. She’d never have time to save him before Red Lightning got to her. Despite her change of course, she was still closer to the ruby. She had to get to it. It was her only chance.

"Freeze, Nightshade!" Red Lightning’s smooth deep voice called. He stood rooted to his spot near the ruby, ready to electrify her with his lightning powers.

She felt his eyes race up and down her shadowed form.

The new Nightshade was a girl? The question was written all over his face.

While he stood paralyzed by the shock of this revelation, she took advantage of the moment. She was so close. If she could just get the teacup she could end this. She lunged forward, desperate to get her hands on the source of his power.

As her fingertips brushed the case that surrounded it, a long muscled arm grabbed her and pulled her roughly backward.

She slammed into Red Lightning’s rock solid chest, knocking the wind out of her with a huff. She held in a growl. If she were just a little bit bigger then it would have been a lot harder for him to wrap one arm around her waist and simultaneously pin both of her arms.

She tried to wiggle as she felt his fingers grip the bottom of her mask. She couldn’t let him find out her secret identity.

"Looks like I’ve officially caught the last of the Nightshades. Let’s see who you are." His hot breath penetrated her mask and blew straight into her ear.

Nightshade took a deep breath. She knew she couldn’t say a word. She couldn’t risk him identifying her by her voice. He could be more callous with his secret identity than she could. His muscle-bound body, sandy blond hair, and boyish good looks didn’t stand out in their sun-beaten city, but her violet hair prevented her from blending in. If he ever saw her face or heard her voice, it would all be over.

She wiggled her arms. If she struggled she might be able to —

She took a deep breath and pulled three little pellets out of her utility belt. In the exact same instant, she threw the pellets at the ground and slammed her heel into the instep of his foot. Almost instantly the pellets struck the concrete floor and exploded, expelling a billowing cloud of black smoke. Red Lightning loosened his grasp from the mixture of pain and shock.

Nightshade sprinted forward, pulling out of his arms as the mask ripped off her face and her long violet hair fell, cascading down her back in soft curls.

The smoke covered her escape as she scrambled up a shelf that lined one wall. When she reached the top she could feel Red Lightning’s eyes lock on her petite frame.

"This isn’t over Nightshade! I will catch you! You’re going to spend the rest of your life in jail for what you did to that councilman." Red Lighting called, stifling a cough.

The window that she’d used to get in was just a jump away.

She’d be back.