X-Calibur
Issue #13 – Demon Storm – Part Eight
Braddock Manor Outer Grounds
"L'st'r and his Hellfire Club are behind this, I know it," Cerise said staring at the fiery display before her.
"Oh my gosh! Did Brian and the others get out?" Kitty began to panic as she ran forward.
"Don't do it. Without knowing what that is or what caused it your phasing powers may not protect you," Molly said grabbing Kitty's arm as she sobered up real fast.
After everything that had happened with the Hellfire Club, Kitty and Cerise had taken Molly out on the town to unwind and get away from it all. While Molly pretended to get drunk Kitty and Cerise warded off a bunch of drunken mountain men. In the end they had come home feeling good and that the worse was now behind them. That was until a beam of giant fire erupted right in front of them, incinerating their entire home and everything in it on its journey to the sky above.
Kitty didn't know what worried her most, the fate of her friends and teammates or that the beam of fire had turned the sky red and that it now appeared to be raining fire. Her first instinct was to go charging into the fire but both her friends were probably right. The Hellfire Club had caused this and charging into it could mean the death of her. She had to do something, so as she contemplated on what to do next she began calling out to Rachel with her mind, hoping the silence would end.
"Kitty, over here," Molly said as motioned to the beam of fire.
Kitty looked over and caught a familiar scent in the air, the nauseating aroma of brimstone and sulfur. The smell was only linked to one thing. "Kurt!" Kitty shouted running at full speed. As she neared the beam of fire she saw Kurt standing with his back grazing the edge of the fire. Two figures were being held by each of his arms. She saw right away that it was Sunfire and Micro Max.
"Talk about a close one," Kurt smiled as Molly helped them away from the beam of fire.
"Thank God you made it out," Kitty sighed with relief.
"Yeah, it was a close one. Just as the fire erupted I barely had enough time to grab Shiro and Scott. I didn't know where to go so I teleported and prayed. Luckily I made it just far enough," Kurt winked at Molly.
"Did the others make it out?" Scott asked.
"I haven't seen Brian or Rachel yet, but Cerise is right over there," Kitty said as Kurt immediately vanished in a puff of smoke and was embracing Cerise in his arms.
"What caused this?" Shiro asked.
"I don't know. It could be the Hellfire Club, they've infiltrated our home before," Kitty said.
"My gut tells me this is bigger than the Club," Scott said as he looked closely at the beam.
"It has to be magical in nature or the sky wouldn't be red and raining fire," Molly said.
"Ouch!" Kitty screamed as she and the others grabbed their heads.
I loud piecing screech was booming in their minds. Kitty could now hear the screech outside her mind and coming directly from the beam of fire. Kitty glanced over to see the beam of fire part as a giant fiery bird shot out and high up into the sky. The fiery bird hovered in the air as the beam of fire closed back up where it had come out. The wings opened up to reveal Rachel at the center of the fiery beast's body has its claws held a very limber Captain Britain. The bird let out one last scream and then vanished from sight as Rachel and Brain dropped to the Earth.
"They're falling!" Kitty screamed as she moved towards her falling comrades.
"Don't worry, Kitty. I've got them," Lockheed's voice sounded in her mind.
Kitty looked up to see a giant, beautiful purple dragon soaring towards the two members of X-Calibur. In one magnificent dive, Lockheed grabbed both Rachel and Brian with his hind legs and brought them gently to the ground. Kitty and the others ran up to them as Lockheed bowed and sat gently smiling. Kitty sent him a mental thank you and hug and then tended to her friends.
"Where am I?" Rachel asked as she opened her eyes and focused on Kitty.
"You're among friends," Kurt said as he and Scott helped Brian to his feet.
"What happened, I thought we were dead for sure," Brian said.
"Rachel saved your lives," Molly said as she helped Kitty with Rachel.
"What do you mean? Last thing I remember is the fire consuming us then nothing," Rachel said looking at her friends in confusion.
"You don't remember? You came bursting out of the fire protected by the Phoenix," Kitty said as she explained to them what they had all saw with their own eyes.
"Wow, I don't recall doing that at all," Rachel said.
"Looks like there's more to you than you realize," Cerise said.
"I know my powers have increased after my mother died, but I've never felt the Phoenix Force directly within me," Rachel said.
"Hard to say, maybe something got stirred up after your run in with that totem," Kurt said.
"What ever the reason, your both alive. It seams like we were all lucky enough to make it out alive," Molly said.
"No, not all of us," Brian said as his voice had a hint of sadness in it.
"What do you mean?" Kitty asked.
"We made it out, but not the estate's staff. A lot of fine people lost their lives along with my family's home," Brian said.
"Oh, I never thought about that," Molly said quietly.
"It seems that we too often forget about the innocents that lose their lives or get inured in our battles crossfire," Scott said.
"What now?" Scott asked after their moment of silence.
"We need to find out what's going on," Brian said.
"I'm afraid you're not the only ones affected by this," A voice said from behind them.
"What do you want?" Brian said through gritted teeth.
"Pete, what're you doing here?" Rachel asked as Kitty glared at her and then back to Pete Wisdom.
"I came to see if you were all okay," Pete said.
"I doubt that, now explained why you're on my property," Brain snapped.
"Well, don't really see much of your property these days," Pete smirked as he lit a cigarette.
"That's enough you two. Something's going on and I think Pete might have some answers for us," Rachel said.
"Rachel, I don't," Brian began to say, anger rising in his voice.
"Brian, stop. Rachel is right. If Pete has some answers we need to hear him out," Kitty interrupted.
"Thanks, babe. Now as I was saying, we at MI-13 have been tracking this since these have popped up all over the world," Pete said as Kitty shot daggers with her eyes.
"All over the world?" Kurt asked with great concern.
"Yes, these beams of fire have shot up all over the world causing the sky to turn red. Reports have them sited and destroying places and cities all over the world including Egypt, Australia, Africa and many other countries. It also appears that the States have several in Pennsylvania, New York, California to name a few, but it seams that the location of some of these beams are strategically targeted," Pete said as he blew smoke rings.
"What do you mean/" Brain asked.
"Like your home, it seams there are beams where the headquarters of heroes like Salem-X, Team Alpha, and even the X-Men used to be," Pete said.
"What? You don't mean?" Kitty asked in disbelief.
"Yes, the Xavier Institute is no more. It seems the beams have turned the sky red and have caused a problem with satellite and communication feeds. As of right now we don't know the extent of the casualties there or anywhere across the world. We're assuming they are large and climbing," Pete said.
"This is not good," Kurt said squeezing Kitty's shoulder. They were now thinking of all their old friends and wondering how they are.
"Anything else you can tell us?" Rachel asked.
"We may have lost satellite feed but we were able to map out the beams. It seams lines of fire are connecting them all which is what's causing the raining fire effect. It appears some sort of diagram has been formed over the Earth," Pete said.
"Any idea what it means?" Kitty asked.
"No, but our mystics claim it is demonic in nature and the fact that the demonitacle eclipse has begun can not be a good sign," Pete said.
"Demonitacle what?" Brian asked.
"From what I'm told, it is a time when the barriers between demon realms are weakened. That's not the worst of it. Hey believe that the diagram is a formation of a gateway and the center of it focuses right above the Statue of Liberty. They think something's coming through and it's not going to be pleasant," Pete said.
"You don't know the half of it," a voice cackled above them.
"Margali!" Kurt shouted at the figure floating above them.
X-Calibur stood ready to attack as the woman known as the Red Queen floated above them. She waved her hands and fiery portals opened behind her as the Red King, Red Knight and Red Rook stepped out and floated next to her. They were not wearing their face armor so they could see clearly the faces of L'st'r, Scribe and the Mountjoy possessed body of Meggan. It was all Kitty and Kurt could do to keep Brian from charging off blind.
"Brian, wait," Kitty whispered knowing they had to get the whole story before launching an attack.
"Should have guessed that this had the Hellfire mark on it," Rachel snapped as she tried to reach their minds and couldn't.
"This has nothing to do with the Hellfire Club. We are but servants to the great Semaj and his Demon Storm," Margali laughed.
"Mountjoy, let my wife go," Brian shouted as he flew at his wife.
"Brian!" Kitty shouted as Margali waved her hand and sent Brian flying back towards them with a fiery blast.
"Trust me, Mountjoy is trapped in there. Be nothing short of a very powerful psychic or death to free your wife now," Margali taunted some more as her body began to convulse.
"We will stop you at all costs and send you straight back to Limbo," Brian shouted as Micro Max and Sunfire helped him to his feet.
"You can not stop us. As for Limbo, we'll be bringing Limbo to you," Margali laughed as her body began to shift and change.
"Amanda won't allow it. She'll," Kurt began to shout as Margali exploded with fire.
"My daughter is of no concern to me. My daughter has been dealt with and Limbo has a new ruler now," Margali said as she took on a new form.
"What have you done to her?" Kurt shouted upon deaf ears. See Mutant Generation Force for the fate of Amanda Sefton and the demons of Limbo
X-Calibur stood their ground as they watched the strange transformation of Margali Szardos. When her screams stopped Margali was no more. In her place floated a huge demonic looking red dragon with wings of fire and thirteen heads. The middle head was that of Margali with large horns and fire for eyes. On each side of her were six dragon heads each a different color. All heads had very sharp teeth.
"Behold, I am now Margalatrex, one of the Horsemen of Hell and these are my warriors," the dragon that once was Margali shouted as she blasted fire from her talons at her three companions.
Like her, the fire caused Scribe, L'st'r and Meggan to transform. Scribe and Meggan became large, red demon like creatures as L'st'r turned red and became more dragon-like. Not as large as Margalatrex but just as horrifying. With one final wave, the remaining pieces of falling fire from the sky became small demon-like dragons and took position behind the Horseman of Hell.
"Meggan," Brian whispered as he saw what had become of his wife.
"Brian, we have to focus. We need to take her down and get to New York," Pete said.
"Don't you tell me what this team should do. You're no longer a part of it," Brian spat.
"Now is not the time, boys," Molly said staring up at the force hovering above them.
"Die!" Margalatrex shouted as fiery power shot from each of her thirteen heads and headed right at the members of X-Calibur.
Rachel and the others screamed as once again they were consumed by fire. Margalatrex and her minions laughed with great power at how easy it was to dispose of the worthless humans. After a few seconds the fire died away and the new Horseman of Hell stopped laughing when the fire cleared and X-Calibur was still there, unharmed. Anger now filled the air she glared down upon her prey.
"Rachel, did you do this?" Kitty asked as they looked at each other.
"No, I did," a soft female voice answered.
"Roma!" Brian shouted in amazement as a woman of great beauty, long dark hair and flowing white robes stood between them and the Horsemen of Hell.
"I was wrong to close off my realm, but I have come now. Like I said, it will take ten of you to work together to stop this great evil," Roma said.
"Then you will die with the rest of the world," Margalatrex shouted as she signaled her forces to attack.
"Bring it on!" Roma shouted as she tossed her robe aside to reveal a glorious white and silver battle armor underneath. She then drew forth two silver swords and took an attack stance as X-Calibur powered up and took formation behind her.
"X-Calibur!" They all shouted as they rose up to meet the Horseman's forces.
Next: Issue #14 – Demon Storm – Part Sixteen – Final battle with Margalatrex
Check out the following issues as the other Horsemen of Hell make their move:
Salem-X #17 & 18 – Demon Storm Part Ten
New Exiles #16 & 17 – Demon Storm Part Three & Eleven
Power Pack #13 & 14 – Demon Storm Part Four & Twelve
Wild Pack #13 & 14 – Demon Storm Part Five & Thirteen (Final Issue)
Alpha Squads #13 & 14 – Demon Storm Part Six & Fourteen (Final Issue)
Mutant Generation Force #14 & 15 – Demon Storm Part Seven & Fifteen
X-Calibur # 13 & 14 – Demon Storm Part Eight & Sixteen
Sensational X-Men # 13 & 14 – Demon Storm Part Nine & Seventeen
Then Read: Demon Storm #2 – Demon Storm – Part Eighteen – The Conclusion