Chapter Four
Johnny ran into the computer room as fast as he could and he noticed Ben just standing there and looking at the screen. It wasn't a regular screen. It went from one side of the room to the other and it was partially holographic. Which was the reason why Johnny suddenly had to squint as his eyes were attacked with dozens of blinking dots.
"What the hell is going on?" he ran to the main computer and looked at Ben's lost face.
"I don't know. It started blinking in warning. And beeping. But I silenced the damn beeping sound. Last time the program went this crazy were when it detected Silver Surfer." Ben looked at him and Johnny's blood suddenly ran cold.
Ben was right. The last time it ruined Reed and Sue's wedding, but that is beside the point. Johnny looked at the screen again and noticed that the energy levels were high. Higher than anything written on the scale and he frowned. How is that even possible? They defeated both Galactus and von Doom.
It was like the whole planet pulsated in one synchronized pulse emanating from some spots in the planet's core. Those spots… There was something about them, but Johnny couldn't figure out what exactly.
"Why are those spots on the map familiar to me?" Ben suddenly asked.
Johnny stared at the screen and Ben's question filled the holes in Johnny's questions.
"This is where we fought the Silver Surfer in London. Look… Like the hole is coming to life."
Ben's blue eyes widened as he remembered the events which took place five months ago. He knew how bad that went and how they failed to stop the creation of the hole, but saved the people from the London eye. Really, really bad turn of events.
"Not good. Get Reed on the phone." Ben ordered and Johnny pulled out his cellphone.
"Reed? Yeah, it's Johnny. Sorry for ruining your honeymoon, but you have to come home. Fast. We have a problem."
"I know. The energy levels from the holes. We are already on our way home." Reed piped out.
Johnny had to laugh on that. he must have had the portable program with him all the time. Smart man. Johnny had to give him that. Relief washed over him as he hanged up the phone.
"Situation is under control." Johnny breathed a sigh of relief, but frowned as he saw Ben still starring at the big screen in strange mix of stern concentration and panic.
"I don't think so…" Ben replied in even voice even as the hole located right her in New York suddenly exploded and energy burst out.
"Come on! Not fair!!!" Johnny whined and then heard a bipping sound from behind him.
Reed's scanner was blown up by Silver Surfer, but he fixed it so it was functional again. Not just functioning, it was bipping like crazy, warning them about danger. Just what kind of danger?? Johnny sighed and looked at Ben. What the hell are they suppose to do now?
Sariel wasn't sure what hit her, or did anything hit her at all, but she was on the floor, gaping at the ceiling above her. Everything was fine just three minutes ago then her headache started and she found herself on the floor. Last time something like this happened, it involved complete loss of memory and couple of holes in her upper body which healed thanks to her deadly vampire side. But it was still afternoon and night was far.
She raised herself and anchored on her elbows starring out the window. The sun was setting and she could feel Rider coming to life. Her whole body tingled with sensations way too familiar to her. Apparently, night wasn't so far away.
But what exactly knocked her on the floor?
Her cellphone ranged and she grabbed it, opening it and hissing at the other line.
"Did you feel that??" strangely familiar voice greeted her with harshness.
"I am on the floor with no recollection of actually ending up here so you tell me."
"Don't get snarky with me. The hole world is vibrating like a… Well, like a vibrator… What the hell am I going on about?? I am so loosing it…"
Sariel sighed and touched the root of her nose in vague attempt to prevent the oncoming headache. Why is he talking about vibrators? Oh, yeah… The holes are active for some reason.
"You know it would be a matter of time before they realize that they have safe passage to Earth? You want me to go and talk to the Fantastic Four?"
"Is that a trick question?"
"Alright, but I am not responsible if things go too far and I turn." Sariel raised of the floor and took her leather jacket.
"No, no, no. No blazing, no setting things on fire. No freakish behaviour…" order was so firm and stern that Sariel just had to laugh.
Freakish behaviour? She doesn't have to burst into hellflames to behave freakishly. She is a vampire for the love of God.
"Are you barking mad? You think I have a remote control for this?? A guide book?" she sneered and was able to hear a puff of air from the other line.
"Then control it."
"Oh, yes. Control the demon of fire from Hell whose only purpose in life is to catch the trespassers without thinking about rules. Yeah, no problem." She grabbed the car keys and went out from the building already sensing the disappearing sun.
This was just not her day. And it will only get worse.
"Are you being sarcastic again?" the harsh voice was starring to annoy her. "Well, don't do that. Just hold it in for a little while. I don't think dr. Richards will even listen to you if they found out what you are. Remember they don't know what truly lies in the shadow."
"How can you be so sure he wont except my help with more enthusiasm if he knew what I am? Come on, he is made of rubber. Or like rubber. His wife can turn invisible and his brother-in-law can fly like a space shuttle around the city enveloped in flame. Not to mention his best friend is made of orange stone." She ran into the elevator and pushed the garage button.
"Yes, but you are different. For start you are not a human being. All of them are humans with few enhancements, while you are a different being. And second, your hellish abilities bring out the story about the sides of the world which are known to humans through holy books and legends. Heaven and Hell to them are places they created to explain the unexplainable. And now you will tell them it is all real."
The weight of his words struck Sariel like a cement wall. Bloody hell, he is right. Then she did more thinking and looked at her hand. It was already starting to get rosy and warmer. First sign of the power. She concentrated to calming the oncoming storm from within her. But it is so hard. It is not like the Spirit had any sense of logic in the whole situation. But she had a chance as she knew she wont change until she comes closer to the evil.
"You realize we will have to tell them eventually. They have to know what they are up against. And besides, they will find out what all of this is, but they wont know what it really is. They might all get killed. " her footsteps echoed in the garage as she marched toward her car.
"Don't worry. When the right time comes…"
"Right…" she reached her car and looked upon the dark silver Aston Martin DBS.
She always found such irony in her being British and driving the car from the latest James Bond movie. It made her snicker every time. The occupation of said agent and lover boy wasn't far from her occupation. Well, except the whole lover boy part. She waved her head and grabbed the door handle.
"You know, fine. Have it your way. I don't vouch to not do anything fiery, but I will try." She replied and hang up the phone.
Putting the pedal to the metal, she sent the car screeching out of the garage and into the busy street of New York. The wave of energy hit her as soon as she drove through the street and there was one source. Aware of problems soon to take place and the darkness which indicated that the sun has gone from the horizon, she sped toward the Baxter Building. There was the source of attraction. She could feel it in the suddenly thick air. The way the air vibrated in welcoming rhythm and drawing attention to creatures feeding of that energy.
His sister starred at him with mild irritation. Her cheeks were rosy and darker from the sun, but the woman wasn't happy. Johnny tried to duck out of the way of her whining about another spoiled attempt of a honeymoon. But what did she expect? They weren't regular people anymore and she would find it easier if she just excepted it and went with the flow. At least, he was doing that. But then again, he is the happy-go-lucky sociopath, so what does he know?
The whining continued and Johnny just blanked out. Reed was fixing the problem and doing extensive research while Johnny listened to his sister and Ben sat at the table. Alicia was in the living room, taking a nap or something to relax herself.
"I don't understand this. I don't know where this energy comes from. It is everywhere at the same time, yet it has no direct source. It is like the source could be in the planet's core, in one of the layers, but at the same time, it isn't. I have never seen anything like this." Reed came out of his laboratory, wearing a heavy frown on his face.
Johnny eyed him and wasn't sure if this is good news or bad news. If Reed Richards, Mr. Fantastic, doesn't know what the hell is going on, then they are royally fucked.
"Then what are we suppose to do? Will this have bigger consequences?" Ben strolled toward them and looked at the scientist.
"I don't know that either. But if this energy keeps on bubbling, then it will have to eventually blown up somewhere. At this very moment the highest concentration is here. In our city." Reed looked defeated.
"Where exactly? Maybe if we go to the epicentre…" Sue asked and strolled toward Reed.
"Well… Let me check." Reed pressed some buttons on his palmer and it suddenly started beeping.
"Oh, my God… This is impossible." Reed stared at the palmer in wide shock.
"I strongly advise you to shut down that device. It draws the energy." A voice came from the darker side of the room.
All four heads snapped toward the source, barely picking out a dark form in the shade, only one head slightly recognizing the voice. Johnny stood from his chair and narrowed his eyes. Yes, the form was obviously a female.
"Excuse me?" Reed piped out and looked at the palmer.
"It is the epicentre of the highest level of energy in the town, isn't it? It says right there on your palmer."
Dark figure stepped into the small light and ran a hand thru her coal black hair. Her pale face was complete opposite to the ebony darkness of her hair and clothes. But nothing was as dark as her eyes were. Johnny knew who she was and suddenly he moved toward her, drawn like a moth to fire. Which was very ironic since he is the fire.
"Sariel? What are you doing here? How did you get in?"
"It is not like you have good security. You might want to check up on that particular thing." She said in even voice as her head suddenly snapped up and Johnny could swear he saw her sniffing the air.
"What are you talking about? How did you know that the source is here?" Reed stepped into the conversation and the woman just turned her head wearing a bored expression on her face.
"Because at the moment, this building is glowing like a Christmas tree on fire."
"But how can a machine be the source of that amount of energy?" Reed was now curious more than ever.
He looked at the readings and realised she was telling the truth. Now how was that possible? Who is this woman? Reed looked up and saw the woman starring at them like she waited for something. Hold on… Johnny called her Sariel. How does he now her? And why does that name rings a bell? He scrambled through his itinerary and looked at the fresh obligatory for Thursday. Meeting with Sariel Williams.
"Shut down the machine before something bad happens… Oh, bugger. Too late." She mumbled under her breath as her dark head bowed and she shook it.
Few seconds after. A tall figure walked into the room and eyed the residents with a sparkling sapphire eyes. Next to him was another tall figure holding something which was frantically moving, his eyes shinning with a red glow. As both of the strolled into light, the Fantastic Four was met with something they had never seen before. Actually, they saw it. But it was in a horror movie like Exorcist.
Big claws held Alicia Masters in a deadly grip while she tried to set herself free. Her eyes looked frighten as the tall figure hissed with fang like teeth and his red eyes blazed with unholy mirth. All for of the fantastic individuals froze as they gaped in horror. The tall one with sapphire eyes eyed them and laughed sardonically.
"Let her go…" Ben growled and moved forward only to be stopped by seemingly gentle alabaster hand.
His blue eyes found black eyes and he looked at the strange woman. She didn't look alright. Her skin suddenly became rosy and her eyes glowed with such familiar glow, it made Ben freeze.
"Baphometh, let her go." suddenly the woman ordered in very predatory voice and the newcomers looked at her.
"You are quick." Sapphire eyes narrowed as they looked at her back. "No, sorry. I can't do that."
Ben noticed how she breathed out a heavy sigh and lowered her hand. He noticed how her hand shook and how she fought for some kind of control. He also noticed how the room became more heated and looked at Johnny, ready to blaze in fire.
"Fire? I was born of it, little boy. Besides, if any of you so much as moves an item without previously touching…" sapphire eyes looked at Sue's concentrated look. "Well, lets just say… You wouldn't want to find out who is quicker."
Sue tried to threw something at them, but when she saw the look in his sapphire eyes, she knew how serious he is. Not to mention that she was too scared knowing they had no advantage in this situation. She looked at Johnny whose fire visibly died and he took a step toward her.
"What is going on?" Reed stepped toward in front of them, like any good leader shielding his soldiers, and eying the newcomers with icy stare.
"All Hell is breaking loose…" the woman said from behind him and one shot rang through the room, making all the present jump.
Reed turned around and saw the ebony eyed woman holding a gun with smoking barrel, pointed at the two men. Then he turned back to them and saw the one who held Alicia, falling to the floor with a bullet hole in his forehead.
"YOU…." Sapphire eyes flashed with anger.
He moved with supernatural speed and the gun went off again, only this time missing the target. The woman ducked out of the way of a round kick as he slammed into her. they both slammed into the ground and smashed the table.
Reed, Sue and Ben ran toward Alicia, pulling her away from the dead body, just in time to see it turning into ash and disappearing from their floor. All three of them blinked at the mirage and looked at the fight taking place next to the window.
Johnny stared at the two people fighting. It was a blur. They threw series of well trained martial kicks both defence and offence, but the man only managed to hit her in her arm. Even then she didn't stammered from the blow and the man looked like he can really throw a punch. Johnny never saw a fight like this and he watched every single martial art movie there is.
"What? No fire from you this time???" the man shouted and Johnny frowned.
The woman, Sariel, just sneered and threw a punch which knocked him several fight in the air. Johnny couldn't move. He wanted to, but he was frozen mostly due to the knowledge, or lack of the said, about what is going on.
Then something metal flew through the air and he saw Sariel backing away few steps and suddenly stammering.
Ben came to his side and saw that the woman now had a knife sticking out of her ribcage. But nothing happened. She raised her head and eerie blue glow shone from usually pitch black eyes.
"Now, that was just rude." She replied, pulling out the knife and in one swift move, sending it back in the direction of his head.
The knife flew right in his forehead, stabbing the skull and ending his existence with a soundless flop to the floor.
"Shut down the machine!!!" Sariel turned toward them, her eyes still blazing with blue fire and looking directly at Reed.
The predatory growl which emanated from her throat, reverberated through the suddenly too silent room. Her fangs prolonged and Ben gulped.
Reed at first didn't move. Then Ben smacked him and Reed grabbed the palmer. The machine made a beeping sound and it went silent. Then, all the spots on the screen died also. Reed knew this wasn't an accident.
"What are you?" Johnny broke the silence.
Sariel just smirked, her eyes flashing a mischievous glow, but nonetheless dangerous. She looked at Johnny.
"What do you think? Obviously a vampire." She piped out like she just said she liked the sea. "Never saw a vampire movie? And this was a demon. From Hell."
All four of them blinked in confusion.
"Excuse me?" Reed was the first to break the silence.
"Told you. All Hell is breaking loose. Am I speaking Chinese? I sure hope not."
"You can't be serious!" Ben hollered and then looked at her stern face expression.
Alright, she really didn't look like she isn't serious.
"So, you are Sariel the vampire, and you are here to warn us about the next end of the world. Nice. Catchy." Johnny laughed and sat in the chair.
"Johnny…" Sue hollered at him for the lack of seriousness considering the situation. "This can't be happening."
"Yeah, well, it is happening, so get over it. Just keep the machine turned off and nothing will happen. At least, for now. If you excuse me…" she replied, bitterness marking her tone of voice.
"You can't just burst in and expect us to what… Just let you go? You are not leaving until you explain what is going on." Reed went to stop her, but Johnny was faster.
His form stopped her from leaving and she sighed looking up at him. her eyes weren't eerie blue anymore and it looked like the wound didn't bother her at all.
"And what? You are going to stop me?" she sneered at Johnny, staring at him with arrogance.
Instead of a reply, his fist went up in flame. He actually counted on vampires being afraid of fire and all that lore. But she just lowered her gaze and huffed. Then the most crazy thing happened. The flames of his fist flew toward her, just lightly hovering above the sleeve of her jacket. Johnny blinked, trying to comprehend how is she attracting his fire when she moved away and continued walking toward the door.
"I will return. I just have to take care of something." She replied over her shoulder.
Johnny stared after her while Sue came to him and asked him if he is alright. He just kept starring at his fist. She attracted his fire. It was impossible and only one explanation for that.
His eyes grow wider as stared at the night sky. The realization was frightful. The possibility of her being that creature was close to none. Yet, it was a possibility.
Sariel tried to keep away from blazing. She really did. The Spirit was hungry for vengeance, buts he kept him satisfied with killing those two morons. And the way she handled the situation with them… Really, really bad. Give me demons, ghouls, werewolves, Hell… That I could handle, but humans…
Everything was actually working. Until, Sparky decided to flame up. The look on his face when he noticed her body attracted his flame. Uh, priceless. No mistake, he already started filling up the blanks and he will figure out that the appearance of the new Rider is connected to the arrival of Sariel the vampire, as he nicely put.
Humans… I mean really. How am I suppose to handle this? I am not a people person. Actually, not a human person.
She strolled into the back alley and let go of the control she had over the Spirit. It enveloped her faster and in matter of seconds, she was in full blaze. Her confident stroll toward the street flamed the concrete beneath her feet. But before she could have even call her hellride, something slammed into her, throwing her to the ground.
Her obsidian eyes looked at the flaming inferno in front of her.
"So, you are back… I lost you the last time…"
Rider got up and glared at the Human Torch.
"You are not my target…" sepulchre voice spoke to him and underneath that layers of fire on his face, she saw a smirk.
This time she doubted he will give up, but she also doubted he will ever get up after a fight with the Rider. Yes, he was the Human Torch, but his fire was nowhere strong enough for Hellfire.
"I know who you are… I just don't know what you are…" he said the first part in a sing-sang voice.
Sariel lost control over the Rider as the Spirit's anger rose. It never liked interferences. Those who stand in his was will pay with their lives. But Sariel didn't want to be responsible for the death of Johnny Storm.
The Rider failed to answer his question. Verbally, anyway. A fiery fist slammed into Johnny's face and his head snapped back with the force of the blow.
"You are getting me angry…" Rider spoke in warning and called for its ride.
The Rider strolled away from the Human Torch and marched down the street when he felt movement behind him. Rider moved with supernatural speed and grabbed the Human Torch by his neck. The pure strength of the Rider was too much for the mighty Human Torch. The fiery fist seemed to draw the fire out of him along with drawing his breath.
Soon, the flames died out and Rider was met with a struggling human. He fought to get free, but the Rider put more pressure and its fire got hotter. It raised Johnny a feet above the ground.
"No… Don't do this…" Johnny begged thru bared teeth.
"You wanted to confront me…" Rider spoke with no hesitation.
Johnny Storm had nowhere to go now and he will be punish for meddling into Rider's business. Only one word escaped his lips as the oxygen escaped him.
A/N: Little cliff-hanger. Just for my fun and your torture. My Muse is a very bad person, I know...
Review, pretty please...