Chapter 8

Sofia laughed as she and Valeria stepped out of a swirling of purple magic carrying numerous bags and boxes covered in brand names and labels.

The pair were dressed similarly, just in differing colours. Sofia was garbed in a long black trench coat, a dark green turtleneck and slim black jeans with a pair of slightly punk-like black boots. Valeria had gone for a very dark blue trench coat, matching jeans, a white T-shirt depicting some band Sofia had never heard of, and a pair of blue converses. They both wore a pair of reflective aviators; Sofia's purple and Valeria's blue.

Valeria dumped her haul down on her bed, while Sofia put her own in a pile near the door for when she left.

"Now look me in the eye and tell me that wasn't fun?" Valeria teased.

"Yes, O' my wise and mighty guide to the century number twenty-one," Sofia intoned before the pair broke own in giggles before sharing a quick kiss. "Hey, there's something I need to do while I'm here, do you mind if I go and do it?"

"Sure, I'll be sticking all those lovely gifts from you into my wardrobe, or I should say from your dad's credit card. Oh, and be warned, you might get mixed reactions from my family."

"What's the forecast?"

"Dad appreciates you saving my life, but dislikes I was there in the first place, Mom's kinda ape shit about me being in a firefight again, and doesn't like that I refused to leave your bedside when you were unconscious."

"Oh yes, father said they tried to get you to leave and you pushed them out of the room with force-fields." Valeria blushed at the comment before continuing:

"Ben doesn't like your father, but thinks you're alright if you took a sword for me, and Johnny's undecided. And Franklin of course thinks you're awesome since that birthday present. What is it you want to do anyway?"

"Have a chat with your father," Sofia answered, her face setting in a rather more solemn position. She didn't give the blonde time to answer, instead opening the bedroom door and stepping out into the corridors of the Baxter Building before realising she had no idea where she could find Reed Richards. Following instinct, she moved down the corridor into the open plan living space next to the balcony area, where Johnny Storm was reclined in casual clothes with a Porsche magazine.

"Uh, hey, do you know where Mr. Richards is?" she inquired.

"Downstairs one floor, it's all one laboratory, Reed will be in there," he replied without looking up.

"Thanks," she said in return, and walked over to an out of the way staircase behind the sofa. Stepping down and around a curve in the stairs she raised an eyebrow upon entering the lab. Johnny had not been exaggerating and the large room spanned the entire floor of the building with white surfaces and miscellaneous scientific apparatus haphazardly everywhere. She noticed a stretched blue uniform with a top body covered in a lab coat sticking out what looked decidedly like the remains of a spaceship.

"Mr. Richards?" she called over, stepping off the staircase. A head popped up on an extended neck from the other side of the machine while the body remained stationary, which was slightly disconcerting.

"Oh, hello there," he said, his body parts contracting until he was more of a normal size and walked over towards her, lab coat flapping behind him. "It's nice to see you, and please, call me Reed." As he strolled up to her, his hand stretched out and she shook it firmly. He looked interestingly at her black metal hand, noting the purple glow that flashed to her knuckles. "I heard about your…injury, I appreciate what you did for Valeria."

"I'd do it a thousand times again in a heartbeat," Sofia replied.

"I also thought it wouldn't take you long to sort out some prosthetic alternative with a mind likes yours; is that vibranium?"

"Among other things, it's an alloy of multiple metals since I have to avoid iron."

"You made a successful vibranium alloy?" he asked, surprised, "I thought that hadn't been achieved since Howard Stark made Captain America's shield."

"Well, few people have had magic on their side as well as a few materials that enchant easily to merge it with."

"May I ask which you used?"

"Apart from vibranium, it contains adamantium, Uru and mithril." If Reed had been surprised before, his eyebrows now appeared to be trying to disappear into his hair.

"That's…quite a mixture, and I've never even heard of mithril outside of mythology; what mechanisms even allow it to move?"

"No mechanics, this one's pure magic, and it would take more than a decade of training before I could get you to understand how it functions. However scientific and magical developments, while interesting, are not why I wanted to talk to you," Sofia stated, leaning back against a table.

"Of course, what was it you wanted to say?"

"First I would want you to know I was born in the sixth century AD, where this was more tradition in case you find my doing this old-fashioned, and I believe that to be true and a mere formality, but encourages understanding of certain things and a better relationship with family."

"Right," Reed replied, a serious look adorning his features. Sofia decided to be blunt rather than anything else, feeling the man would prefer a direct approach.

"I would like your blessing to pursue your daughter," Sofia let the sentence hang in the air, giving the man time to process the words. Richards for his part did not seem too shocked, merely retaining his serious face.

"I've actually been giving this some thought following the time you've spent with Valeria," he started, "in fact you've just won me a bet I made with my wife when we tried to get her to come home four weeks ago."

Sofia snorted in amusement, allowing a small smile to grace her lips.

"May I ask how long you've been together?"

"We kissed for the first time about five minutes before teleporting into a Castle Doom that was under attack. We've been exploring feelings since then; near death puts a few things in perspective."

"And have you, ah…" Reed let the question hang in the air, and made Sofia blush once she realised the gist of it.

"No, no. Although we have slept in the same bed; she's been helping me with some…insomnia issues following the attack."

"Hence the sleepovers recently, and forgive me, as a father I had to ask."

"Reed," a voice shouted from behind Sofia, distracting the pair. "Have you seen Valeria today?" Susan Richards continued as she walked down the steps, pausing when she saw the redhead.

"She's upstairs unpacking the clothes she bought," Sofia answered instead.

"So she finally got you to go shopping?" Reed stated, chuckling a bit.

"Hence the new wardrobe," she replied, running a finger down her new trench coat. Perhaps there was something to be said for new age fashion. "I should probably go up and say goodbye to Val before going home. Err, Mr. Richards, do you mind?" she gestured in his wife's direction, and he nodded understandingly.

"I'll explain to her, and please, like I said; call me Reed."

Sofia smiled and strode past a confused Susan to walk back upstairs.

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"You did what?"

"I asked for his blessing to pursue a relationship with you," Sofia stated calmly as she watched the blonde pacing and making gestures with her hands.

"I know you were born a long time ago, but the father is not the one who decides who his daughter will be with."

"I didn't ask him to give you to me as used to be custom Val, I asked for his approval and declared my intent. I'd be continuing to be with you regardless of what he said anyway."

"Okay," the teen said, and stopped pacing, "but I still feel it's so early, this all happened so fast, and then your arm… I mean what even are we? Girlfriends? Lovers? I've never been attracted to a woman before, or been in a relationship and all this is just so-."

Sofia interrupted the panicking by stepping over and pressing their lips together softly, which Valeria immediately leaned into, pushing into contact as their bodies moved closer together.

"That," stated Valeria, pulling away, "is what matters. That feeling; the rest of the world can all go hang itself as far as I'm concerned. Don't worry yourself over these things; we have all the time in the world to sort it out."

"Thanks, I guess I needed to hear that," Valeria stated, hugging her redhead close to her.

"Although," Sofia added, nuzzling into golden hair, "I do like the idea of getting to call you my girlfriend."

"Mm, I do like the idea of that I think," Valeria replied.

"Well," Sofia said, softly breaking the embrace and moving over to her pile of purchases, "you'll be happy to use that term when Reed finishes telling your mother what I told him."

"Shit," she said simply, dawning on her that said woman would likely be bursting into the room any moment. "Can't you stay and help me with this?"

"I would, but father sent me a message about something urgent earlier and I've already delayed enough by shopping. Besides, you're more than capable of handling your own mother, and I think it would be best if I were not around so she will speak freely."

"Coward."

Sofia laughed before murmuring the words to disappear into purple light.

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"You wanted to talk father?" Sofia said as she walked into what she dubbed the 'war room.' Her father was viewing multiple screens displaying several different things from governments to Osborn's Avengers team.

"Events have escalated of late," he replied without turning around.

"Is our prediction of Osborn's regime falling apart coming true?"

"Among over things; public view is deteriorating with the recent Blackguard scandal, as well as released footage of Osborn torturing a man."

"Did the modified Doombot work as intended?"

"Perfectly; they evacuated the building and the Sentry was required to stop them."

"I worry about that man; he's a dangerous loose cannon with serious mental issues, and seemingly can't be killed."

"Agreed. However Osborn's pitiful attempt at being a king is not why I called you here."

"Why then?"

"Yesterday I was approached by Dracula about a non-aggression pact while he sought to invade Britain." Sofia stayed very quiet at the announcement, considering the pale skinned neighbours of Latveria.

"I would personally trust the cold hearted bastard even less than Osborn; his people have always looked too interested at the borders of Latveria."

"Indeed; however the question is what to do." It was at this point Sofia realised he was genuinely trying to include her in his decision making, which considering Doom was notorious for not playing well with others marked some kind of occasion at least.

"I think," she said slowly, "that the world is on the brink of changing and that we have a chance to be a part of it and influence the making of a new status quo."

"How do you suggest we go about it?"

"I think it's time for Latveria to not be some small country in Eastern Europe and to join the world stage; and that starts with making allies. A debt is worth a lot to certain people, and perhaps along the way we may gain other things as well."

"What do you think we should do in this situation with Dracula then?"

"Make a phone call."

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"Look, I don't care about bloody appointments and you trying to fob me off," Sofia stated clearly, trying not to get angry at the obstinate woman she was arguing with. "Just tell the man that a foreign dignitary would like to talk to him about a matter of national security."

"Putting you on hold," she replied, and Sofia had to restrain herself from tearing off the device curled around her ear as annoying soft jazz filled her ear. After a long minute which she spent thinking up a few choice words to describe the secretary, the music clicked off and the call resumed.

"This is Pete Wisdom, now who the hell are you?" a male voice said in a tired tone.

"My name is Sofia von Doom and I am the heir the Latverian throne among other such titles," replied, somewhat relieved to have finally got through.

"What the hell does Doom want with Britain and why is it a matter of national security?"

"Actually it's not us that are a threat to you currently. My father was approached by the lord of our pale faced neighbours yesterday, who wanted a pact of non-aggression between us while he sought to invade Britain and take it as his kingdom." The man remained silent for a long moment.

"You called to tell me Dracula wants to invade us?"

"Essentially, yes."

"And why should I be trusting you?"

"Because for one I do not wish to see the place of my birth become a desolate land; secondly because Latveria holds no love for the bastards who leer at our border far too much; and thirdly because you know that if there is even a chance I'm telling the truth and you don't act upon it you will hate yourself for it later."

"That sounds like a line from a film."

"My girlfriend has been introducing me to modern culture."

"Hah, but why still; what's in this for you?"

"Well, apart from hopefully fostering some more friendly relations with Europe than Latveria has previously had, we may be inclined to removing the man from his throne to secure our own lands safety. That and…"

"What?"

"Dracula may be in possession of a certain artefact which belongs to me. Well, technically it belonged to my mother, who made it, but it is mine by blood right and I would frankly prefer it out of the hands of such a person who may very well result in tearing this world asunder."

"What is it exactly?"

"The Darkhold. It is-."

"A grimoire of dark magic written by Chthon and bound together by Morgana le Fay; I know my Arthurian legend considering my job. She was your mother?"

"Yes, and it was dangerous enough in her hands as she merely studied it. Dracula is a man who is willing to use it."

"And why should you be the one to have it? I hardly trust an object of huge power to someone like Doctor Doom."

"This isn't for him, it's for me. And I'm not even sure he has the damn thing."

"Alright, I'll make some calls and preparations."

"Do it subtly, it is best he remain in the dark to any machinations."

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"Let's go fight some vampires she said. It'll be fun she said. Help our relationship she said," Sofia stated scathingly while using a silver blade that emerged from the underside of her wrist to carve deep runes into the stone floor.

"Hey, it's not every day you fight off an undead legion," Valeria replied while holding up a dome-like shield around the redhead's work. "Besides, it was your idea to help them in the first place."

"I didn't mean putting you back in a battle again so soon after last time."

"God you sound like my mom."

"Oh will you two shut up," yelled Pete from where he was taking down vampires left and right. "This day just keeps getting better; first we're invaded by vampires, then the UN refuses any help and Osborn has the gall to call me similar to his green goblin-y ass, and then, I find out the only back-up we're getting is a pair of teenage girls."

"I resent that," Valeria replied, bulging her force field a bit to knock away another pale faced undead towards Captain Britain.

"Never underestimate a woman, Pete," quipped Spitfire, punching away another of the seemingly endless army.

"Oh I'm not being sexist, I'm just sceptical that a teenager can use something that Dr Strange couldn't get to work right," Pete replied, ducking a thrown battle-axe and sending his light daggers back at the owner.

"The so called 'Montesi Formula' was bastardized from a spell on a loose page of the Darkhold," Sofia stated while bringing her silvery blade round to give a flick to the edge of a rune before moving over to the next in the complex circle. "I happen to have studied the original version back when my mother held the book, and I know how to refine and concentrate the spell using the underlying power resident within the British Isles, and aspects of my own power and connection to both the earth and death."

"Err, how are you connected with those again?" Valeria asked, confused.

"Fae blood on the former, and aspects of my priesthood towards the Morrigan for the latter. I'm sending them directly into the night-mother's embrace."

"Am I the only one who thinks that sounds ominous?" Spitfire questioned.

"Nope, because it is. The various gods of death do not like being separated from their quota of souls, and as such this many undead leaving this plane of existence is going to be….well, something spectacular I assume," Sofia replied, finishing the last of the carvings into stone. "Done."

"If this damages the bloody palace…" Pete said angrily, looking up at said Palace of Buckingham; national monument and very important to the national pride of the island.

"No promises," Sofia said vaguely, while placing herself in the middle of the circle and began to chant, purple light spreading across her arms and lighting up her eyes beneath the green cowl she had once more donned for combat. The hidden blade that had emerged from her black wrist once more flashed out and opened the silvery slit on her flesh hand, the blood moving with the spell to coat the carved runes with a thin layer of crimson.

Sofia felt Valeria come up behind her while the violet magic filled the air rather than just remaining on her form, suffusing the space in the circle.

As the final syllable dropped from her lips, Sofia sagged in the wave of lethargy that came from expending so much magical energy. Immediately soft hands encircled her waist and pulled her up on a transparent circle into the sky.

"Move it or lose it people!" Valeria cried, pulling the pair of them over to a rooftop of the palace.

As Sofia slowly regained control of her faculties, the duo were joined by the rest of the group in looking over into the courtyard to see the fireworks.

It started like a reverse bolt of lightning, purple energy arcing up into the air in a shape reminiscent of an electrical surge. It grew wide as white light glowed at the base of the circle, sigils holding in the newly created portal as purple energy created a huge pillar that disappeared into the sky above.

"Holy shit," Pete said quietly at the view.

All around, vampires that had previously been scaling the walls and causing havoc paused, seeing their forms being suffused with violet energy.

"Three," said Sofia tiredly, grabbing onto Valeria from where she was sitting next to her. "Two," the undead were clutching their heads now and screaming in pain. "One," the pale bodies collapsed as one, an amethyst burst of energy from each and every one flying over towards the indigo pillar that absorbed them all like a fly-zapper. "Get down," Sofia stated, pulling Valeria with her as she laid down on her front.

"What are you-," Valeria's protest was cut off by the huge rush of wind that buffeted the group from behind, energy flying at huge speed overhead to impact on the beam. The sheer force of it whipped clothes and hair around, and she heard a few cracks and smashes of glass as a few windows in the historic building gave way.

After a few seconds, the wave ended, and Sofia and Valeria peered up over the top of the building to see just a crater where the pillar had been, remains of sigils barely recognisable on the edge, and piles of ash scattered around from vampire remains.

"Now that was badass," commented Valeria. Sofia chuckled slightly, standing up on aching bones.

"So that killed all of them?" Spitfire inquired curiously. "Glad you gave me this thing to protect me," she held up a small band which Sofia had hastily knocked up with correct glyphs to defend in case the spell recognised her vampire blood against the human.

"Killed all the ones on the island; anyone outside of Britain will be unharmed," Sofia replied.

"Then the job isn't finished yet," Captain Britain declared, "can you use that necklace you gave Faiza?"

"As long as she has it on her, I can get us to her and Black Knight."

"I want that back by the way," Valeria stated grumpily, still somewhat miffed the other woman had her possession regardless of it being temporary.

"Then let's go get it back from her," Sofia replied, gathering her strength back after the exhausting magic she had previously performed she recited the spell that caught them all in its violet hold.

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"So that's it then?" Valeria asked from the other side of the throne room as Sofia walked over with a large, old tome wrapped in dark leather overlaid in gold.

"This is it: the most dangerous book in existence," she replied, stepping around where Excalibur was still standing by Dracula's remains in the form of ash. "Kept it under his throne."

"What's so dangerous about it exactly?" the blonde replied, staring at the gilded book.

"Originally written by the elder god Chthon, bound together by Morgana le Fay, this is most likely the largest collection of such powerful spells on Earth besides the Book of Vishanti. And half the things in here are designed for an unsuspecting mortal to summon Chthon back to this plane, tear apart the planet or bring a new age of darkness to this world," Sofia stated. "Normally I argue that 'dark magic' as it is often called is merely a term used by people against those they disapprove of, and that magic has the intent of the caster not of its own. The things in here however…"

"I'm glad you see it for what it is," the red and blue clad captain said, striding over to the pair. "What do you plan to do with it?"

"For now, lock it away in the deepest darkest place I can find," she replied, "at bare minimum until I have reached a level when I believe I can study it, which most likely won't be for at least a decade, probably two. I don't intend to mess with forces I can't control as the cliché goes." The man nodded in approval of her answer, seemingly satisfied that she wouldn't attempt something stupid.

"Hey, von Doom," the woman who went by Excalibur called, holding something in her hand, "catch." Sofia deftly caught the object thrown, and smiled lightly at the shard of mithril on its leather string. She took it in hand, and placed it back over Valeria's head where it belonged.

"I told you you'd get your jewellery back," Sofia said teasingly to the blonde.

"And I told you we'd have fun," she replied. The redhead laughed, and leant down to capture her girlfriend's lips in a soft kiss.

A few days later

"You know I thought my Mom was gonna blow when I asked to start staying the night occasionally again," Valeria said as the pair stepped out of a vortex of amethyst energy.

"I think your father worrying about me having PTSD helped us out there," Sofia replied, placing her friend's bag on the floor of the room. Her eyes were caught by a cardboard box and a letter by the end of her bed. "Oh, that must be the pressurized canister I ordered," she said, regarding the large box.

Sitting on the edge of her large bed, she picked up the letter that was on top and frowned at the British stamp and her name and address inked in flowing script.

"Who's that from?" Valeria asked, sitting down next to her.

"Someone British; might be an official thank you from MI: 13 I suppose," she replied as curiosity took her and she deftly opened the envelope, noting the fine quality of both the packaging and the paper within. Pulling out the letter, her eyes swept from side to side in the text. "Dear Lady von Doom, the British Commonwealth would like to officially extend thanks to you and your counterpart for actions in protecting the sovereignty of our nation and her people during such a difficult time and situation," she muttered, "and as such would like to extend…."

Sofia's voice trailed off as she read the next line, her eyes bulging slightly and mouth dropping open.

"What is it?" Valeria asked curiously, and Sofia merely gaped at a loss for words for once. To her utmost embarrassment, it was at this point in her life that Sofia experienced the sensation known as fainting from shock.

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"I can't believe this is happening," Valeria said as the pair pulled on matching crimson red mantles lined in white, over the top of their blue and green dresses respectively.

"It's not that uncommon in Britain as a monarchy," Sofia replied, smiling as she looked around the extravagant room, "Captain America was honoured posthumously for his wartime actions, and most of the members of MI: 13 have titles and awards for services to Queen and country."

"Still, we're standing in Buckingham Palace about to be knighted!"

"Dame Grand Cross of the most honourable military Order of the Bath," Sofia let the words roll off her tongue, "it does sound quite something doesn't it?"

"You're the only one who gets to actually call herself Dame So-and-so, mine is only honorary."

"Only on a technicality as I was born in Scotland, and you still have GCB at the end of your name, and the medal and mantle and such."

"I haven't told my parents about this so when I go home in them I get to see the look of surprise on their faces." The pair shared a laugh at the thought.

"I need to be there when that happens; I can't wait to see your mother's face."

The pair were still in fits of giggles when the door at the other end of the room opened and a male voice announced:

"Her Ladyship, Sofia von Doom, heir to the Latverian throne, and Doctor Valeria Richards, PhD, MEng, MSc."

The pair smoothed their features, and their mantles, and tried not to let nervousness show in their gait as they walked gracefully towards the room wherein stood a certain woman with a sword.