Elizabeth came to and winced. Her arm still hurt, but it was at least bandaged. She looked around, and realized that she was at Peter's apartment. How had she gotten here?
"Feeling better?" Peter asked from across the room, seeing her up. Her head pounded, but she managed a croaked yes. Her hands went to rub her face, and felt no mask. Elizabeth looked angrily at Peter and he shrugged. " I needed to know who you were, and how you knew me. And seriously? Keeping secrets now? What other huge things are you hiding? " He sounded bitter.
Elizabeth sat up despite the pain and quietly caved. "I'm sorry. I know you are my best friend and I should've told you, but I didn't, and well, now you know."
" what powers do you have? " Peter asked. Elizabeth pulled shadows out from under the bed she was on. She formed a ball, then surrounded herself and blended into the wall until she disappeared. She revealed herself once the door opened.
Aunt May walked in. " I called your father and told him you were staying over. Your arm is bad, but it will heal. " She hugged Elizabeth and left the room. Peter eventually broke the silence.
"Well, we have school tomorrow so we should get some sleep. Mr. Stark sent clothes over, along with your backpack. Night." He left the room and flicked the light off. The darkness was welcomed by Elizabeth. She knew she'd have to tell her father when she got home the next day. For the time being, She slept.
The next day, once both kids were dresses and ready for school, They began to walk. It was silent until they reached Ned's house. He greeted the pair and began spouting nonsense that Elizabeth couldn't process. He noticed.
"Hey, what's wrong with you? Did you not finish your homework? Why's your arm bandaged?" Elizabeth signed and told Ned about her nightly excursions. He was amazed. "My two best friends are superheroes... Woah..."
as they got closer to school, Flash began to tease them. Elizabeth grew angry. "Go away Flash. Leave us alone!" Her eyes grew dark and Her black hair framing her face made her look terrifying. Flash chuckled and continued, thinking her arm was useless. It was not. She punched him square in the jaw.
"Lizzie..." Peter touched her shoulder and steered her away from the crowd.
at lunch Ned asked questions about her powers and marveled over the fact that she punched Flash. No one had ever done that! Soon the inevitable would come. She had to tell her dad who she was.
Peter walked with Elizabeth and went inside the Stark Tower with her. Tony was waiting. He smiled, but his eyes drifted to her arm. Happiness turned to worry which turned to anger as Elizabeth tearfully explained the situation.
"What were you THINKING? You could've gotten killed. Or kidnapped. Or... You know what? Give me the suit. You are GROUNDED and may NEVER be the Shadow Spider again. I might be less mad if you had told me before. Now go to your room."
Elizabeth shouted hateful words at him as she stormed to her room. "If you even cared, you would've found out about my powers sooner. But you are always to busy with yourself. I don't know why you even adopted me!"
Peter looked around the corner as Tony began to weep. "Mr. Stark?"
Tony looked at him, enraged. " And YOU. Don't ever go near my daughter again. Hear me? "
Peter shrunk away and fled up the stairs. He walked past Elizabeth's door as she said, "I hate being here. I wish I was dead!" He was about to go comfort her as a chilling female voice spoke.
" Well, daughter dearest. I can make that happen. Don't struggle, " She purred, " and I will make them suffer like you've never seen. I will be waiting for you! "
