Chapter Nine

The Bargain

Richard led Spawn through a grand and extravagant hall, made purely from white marble and decorated with beautiful flowers. Needless to say, Spawn looked out of place in an area such as that. Soon they came to an enormous double-door made from perfectly hand-carved mahogany. And angelic insignia was placed in the middle of the dual doors, and they had handles made of solid gold. Strangely, no guards of any kind could be seen. Richard stood aside, and held his hand out towards the door as he looked at Spawn.

"Go, Hellspawn," he said. "She's waiting for you."

Just then the doors slowly began to open, almost as if it wanted to give Spawn a dramatic entrance. Spawn then proceeded to enter, taking big, slow steps. When he went through the doors, he came into what looked like a scene from a King Arthur story. Difference was that it was much more elaborate than any dark age time. The walls were made of marble, and a round table made of the finest oak dominated most of the room. Chairs were placed all around the table, and the same insignia on the door could be seen on the table. A big and much more elaborate chair was directly across from Spawn, no doubt where the head honcho sat.

Just then the doors behind him closed, causing Spawn to look behind him in surprise.

"So," a female voice called out to him. "The infamous General of Hell's Army. The bane of a thousand angles, the demise of light, the very scourge of the universe, and the pawn of Malebolgia himself. One of Heaven's worst and most feared foes, and now he stands before me..."

Spawn didn't like the sound of that. Maybe this was a trick after all? He turned to the direction that voice he heard came from and took a defensive stance. His cloak began to flail about wildly, and his chains came out like cobras just before they would strike.

"Show yourself, coward!" Spawn barked. "I'm not in the mood for hide-and-seek!"

Spawn's call didn't go unanswered. A beam of light descended from the stained-glass window above him, pouring down directly in front of him. Just then a figure formed inside the light, and for a moment it grew so bright that Spawn could feel it pour through his body. Being a creature of darkness, this didn't bode with him well. When the light faded, Spawn met eyes with the one who was watching him.

She truly was what an angle should look like. She had long, beautiful brown hair and light-blue eyes. Her skin was a perfect cream color, with not even a single wrinkle or blemish. She wore a white robe with a golden lace around her waist, and she was a little bit taller than Richard. On her back were two white feathered wings, and her smile was bright enough to light even the darkest places. As Spawn continued to observe her, the only thing missing was a halo above her head. But above all, there were no words that could describe how beautiful she was. The only angels that Spawn ever met were soldiers and bounty hunters, so this woman was a welcome change.

"Who are you?" said Spawn in a low voice.

"My name is Cynthia," she said in a soothing voice. "I am the one who sent Richard to retrieve you."

Cynthia motioned her hand towards a chair that pulled out seemingly by itself. "Would like to sit down?" she asked.

"I'd rather stand," Spawn said coldly.

"Suit yourself," said Cynthia as she sat down. "Now then, I suppose it's safe to assume that you know why you're here?"

"Yes," said Spawn. "The one who calls himself Richard said that something called the Grand Council had a proposal for me. But from where I'm standing, it seems that this council doesn't exist. If this is so, and that this entire plot was just a trap for me, then say so now."

"You have nothing to fear," Cynthia said in an assuring tone. "The proposal that you speak of is as real as the air you breath back on Earth. However, the Grand Council that you speak of does not exist, and never has. I'm afraid that it was only a ruse created by Richard. Do know that it was only for your enticement to come."

At first, Spawn said nothing. He felt angry over the fact that he was lied to, but he didn't make a very big deal about it. After being lied to for virtually all his life as both a human and a Hellspawn, he was almost used to it by now.

"Fine," he scoffed. "But do know that I have a very bad temper. You'd best tell me what this proposal is, before I lose what little patients I have..."

"Very well," said Cynthia. "Then listen very closely, for I will only say this once...do you know of the demon known as Trigon?"

"No..." said Spawn.

"He's a powerful demon," Cynthia continued. "He's the Gatekeeper of Hell, and the one who's destined to destroy the universe through his jewel...his daughter, Raven. Darkness will befall the land, the sky will burn red, flesh will become stone, and the sun will set, never to rise again."

"Sad story," said Spawn with sarcasm. "How does this involve me?"

"Simple," said Cynthia. "We have called you here because you have succeeded where countless of our finest warriors have failed..."

Cynthia then stood up, her graceful wings spreading out.

"You, a renegade Hellspawn, have defeated the Violator, the eldest of the Brothers of Chaos, and Malebolgia's second in command. We need you, your strength, your power, and your hatred for those that dwell in the underworld."

"Let me guess," said Spawn. "You want to prevent the end of time, but in order to do that you need me to kill Raven and Trigon."

"Yes," said Cynthia. "But I'm afraid that you're only half-correct. We do wish for you to destroy Trigon, but it won't be that simple. And you must not kill Raven. Although she is the daughter of Trigon, she is also a hero among Earth. She is part of a super hero team known as the Teen Titans, and she fights in the name of good. No, you must not kill her."

"Instead," she continued. "You must free her of her father's influence..."

"Free her?" Spawn spat angrily as his cloak spread out on each side. "I can't free her! You're the angel! Why don't you free her?"

"We can't," she said. "Though Raven fights in the name of peace, she's still a creature of darkness. Bathing her in our holy light will only result in her demise. Therefore, you must channel your dark powers through her mind, and free her of Trigon's mental bondage."

"How the hell am I supposed to do that?" yelled the now furious Spawn. "I'm a Hellspawn! I can only end life, not create it!"

Cynthia smiled as she stepped closer to Spawn.

"That," she said. "Is where you are mistaken. You don't know this, but you are more powerful than you believe. When you were given the rank of Hell's General, you were given a fraction of Malebolgia's power. That means that your power is truly limited to one thing..."

Spawn calmed down, and his cape ceased it's spontaneous swaying.

"And what might that be?" said Spawn, still doubtful.

"Your imagination," said Cynthia. "You can utilize your powers to do virtually anything that you desire, with the exception of becoming human again...oh, and I failed to mention earlier. Trigon is the son of Malebolgia..."

This finally caught Spawn's interest. "You're certain of this?" he said.

"Of course," said Cynthia. "If you destroy Trigon, not only will you save mankind, but you will also take Malbolgia's heart the same way he took yours."

"It's up to you, Hellspawn," Cynthia continued. "You can free Raven, destroy Trigon and save the universe...or you can continue to live as a creature of the undead. What will it be?"

There was a long silence between the two.

"Other than ridding my master of his offspring," said Spawn. "What's in it for me?"

Cynthia smiled at his question. She thought that at this point, he'd never ask.

"Your redemption." she said, causing Spawn to grow weak in the knees. "You will lose your powers as a Hellspawn, and you'll earn your place here in Heaven. Your red cloak will be exchanged for golden armor and white feathered wings. Your charred flesh will finally heal, and you eternal pain will come to it's end."

"Now," she said as she held her hand out. "Do we have a bargain?"

How could Spawn possibly refuse? He was being offered the one thing he truly desired over everything else. At last, after nearly two decades of suffering, his curse would finally be lifted. He took Cynthia's hand into his own."

"We have a bargain." he said. "Where's the girl?"

"She's located in a place called Jump City," said Cynthia. "When her sole is free, Richard will show you the door to Trigon's lair. From that point, there's no turning back."

"What's the catch?" said Spawn, letting Cynthia's hand go.

"There is only one consequence to this deed," Cynthia said, her voice going low. "When Trigon is destroyed, his greatest servant will return to flesh and bone. Though he will lose Trigon's powers gifted to him, he is still a great threat to the world...especially to the Teen Titans. His name is Slade..."

"Sounds like a small price to pay for saving the world and earning my freedom," said Spawn. "I'll do it. When Trigon is gone, I'll watch over the Titans...and keep an eye on this Slade character."

Just then Spawn was engulfed in the brightest of light, causing him to lose his sight for a moment. He could feel himself sinking into the ground, and he quickly felt like he was falling.

"Go now, Hellspawn," said Cynthia's voice. "Make for Jump City. Free Raven's soul, destroy the Gatekeeper, save mankind from it's demise, and earn your redemption and your place in Heaven."

The light faded, and darkness was all Spawn could see...

When Spawn came to, he found himself back at the church where he met Richard. It was daytime now, and the sun bathed all of New York in it's light. Spawn scoffed at the light, and leaped from the roof of the church and landed gracefully in the alleys below.

"It's a long way from New York to Jump City," he said to himself. "I'd best travel by nightfall. I'll draw less unwanted attention that way..."

Just then, Spawn sensed something that he was all-to familiar with. Death. Pain. Agony. Suffering. Something happened at the other end of Rat City, and it was fairly recent as well. Without hesitation, Spawn turned towards it's direction and leaped back into the air. And he ran, moving with demonic speed, leaping from roof-top to roof-top as he sped towards the sense. When he finally reached the location, he witnessed a ghastly scene.

Five men, all brutally murdered. Their limbs were bent at unnatural angles, their bodies were covered in claw and bite marks, some wounds festering with poison, and all were soaked in their own blood. From the looks of their fancy (but ruined) clothes, they were most likely mafia hitmen, or wise guys working for the Kingpin, Fisk. As Spawn looked in closer, he noticed something else. A few of the corpses had an odd substance spackled onto their clothes, something that vaguely resembled wet, shredded newspaper. Spawn picked up some of the substance, feeling that it was both very sticky and difficult to tear. It was then he realized what it was...

"Webbing," said Spawn in a low voice as he shook it off his hand. "Looks like Venom's back in town. After Spider-Man again, no doubt..."

With that, Spawn headed back to the church. Since the killing happened in his alleys, he'd most likely get blamed for it. But at this point, he didn't care anymore. All that mattered to him was his chance to redeem himself, and end his existence as a Hellspawn. When night would fall, he would begin his journey for salvation. As for Venom? Let him find Spider-Man. It wasn't Spawn's problem. And if those men were indeed working for the Kingpin, then Venom was definitely looking in the right place. If anyone knew where Spider-Man disappeared to, it would be Fisk...

Meanwhile, that said Fisk had been sitting in his office enjoying a dry martini and a Cuban cigar. He was celebrating a deal recently settled with some gun runners, and he had become twelve million dollars richer. Fisk himself was a living behemoth. He was six feet and ten inches tall, and weighed over 400 pounds. Even though he looked like a tub of lard, less than two percent of his body was fat. And with the exception of his caterpillar-like eyebrows, not a single hair was atop his shiny bald head. Although his name was Wilson Fisk, the fair and cooperative business man and proud supporter of the community, in actuality he was none other than the notorious Kingpin of Crime.

"Mr. Fisk?" his secretary's voice said over the speaker phone. "A Mister Brock is here to see you. He's insisting that it's important."

"Is that so," said the Kingpin as he sipped his martini. "How important does he claim it to be?"

"He says that it's a matter of life and dea–"

Just then, her voice was cut off, and only static could be heard. This caught the Kingpin's attention.

"Barbara?" he said as he pressed the call button.

His response was his secretary's desk being hurled through his office doors, knocking them off their hinges and catching him by great surprise. He ducked out of the way just in time, and the desk crashed through his window behind him. He was 120 stories up, a very long drop. When he stood back up, he met eyes with his assailant. It was someone who the Kingpin had never expected, for it was a creature of monstrous proportions. His jet black body, his horrific white eyes, his glistening fangs, his sharp claws, and his white-spider design were all a dead giveaway; Venom.

"Fisk!" Venom yelled furiously. "You fat piece of scum!"

Before Fisk could react, Venom leaped towards the Kingpin with his arms forward, letting out a loathsome growl as he did so. Venom then performed a flip, which developed into a graceful spinning kick that collided with the Kingpin's chest. The impact sent the frightened Fisk flying out the window, feeling death breathing down his neck when Venom grabbed his ankle and dangled him out the broken window.

"Where's Spider-Man?" Venom yelled. "We've searched the city and he's no place to be found! Where is he?"

"I don't know!" Fisk yelled in sheer terror, his gut going into his mouth as he saw how far the pavement was from his position. "I don't know where he is!"

"You're a liar Fisk!" exclaimed a furious Venom. "You're the Kingpin! Nobody on the eastern seaboard so much as lights a cigarette without you knowing about it! Now tell us where he is right now, or you'll spend the rest of your days as street jelly!"

Venom then loosened his grip on Fisk's ankle, causing the Kingpin to scream in fear.

"We won't ask you again!" yelled Venom.

"Alright!" screamed Fisk. "Alright, I'll tell you what I know! One of my men spotted Spider-Man with the Fantastic Four the night that he disappeared! I don't know where he went after that! That's all I know, I swear on my dear mother's grave!"

"Thanks." said Venom right before throwing the human whale right back into his office. He did it with such force that Fisk crashed right through the wall he collided with. When that was done, Venom leaped out of the office building and headed straight for the Fantastic Four's headquarters by web-swinging, using such skill and grace that it put the world's greatest acrobat to shame.

"Soon, little Spider," he said to himself. "Very soon..."

End of Chapter Nine