AN: Special Thanks goes once again to The Story's Shadow.
-Kamala's cell, a few hours later-
Kamala had tried to rest, but she couldn't. She'd been given food an hour ago, but she thought it was poisoned...until she realized there was no use for poison, she was a prisoner...and if they wanted her dead...she would be dead.
"I hope you're awake," a familiar voice said.
Kamala's eyes widened in fear. Wraith walked in with one of the skeletal specters behind him.
"Did you enjoy your food?" Wraith asked.
Kamala didn't speak, she didn't even look at him. Wraith sighed, a small smile on his face.
"I hope you're ready to help us capture your boyfriend," Wraith said.
Kamala looked up at him, her eyes filled with anger and fear.
"N-Never," she stammered a hiss.
"Well, you don't have much choice," Wraith replied.
Kamala still felt her powers were not with her, but she suddenly found herself lunging at Wraith in a desperate attack. Wraith pinched something on Kamala's neck and she found herself unable to move as she hit the floor.
"W-What did you do?" She cried out.
"Just something to keep you still. It will wear off, but it'll keep you still long enough for us to do what we need to do," Wraith replied.
He took a vial and a small blade out in either hand. He nicked her with the blade on her arm and let the blood poor into the vial. After it filled up he stood up with a satisfied smile.
"W-What are you doing?" Kamala asked.
"Like I said: getting your help," Wraith answered.
He chuckled as he exited the cell.
-Avengers' Tower, a few days later-
Dante is in the Avengers' training room. Several training dummies are set around the room. Inferno screams as he throws several fireballs around him. The dummies incinerate one after the other. Then openings in the walls appear and several floating orbs flying out. Inferno hisses as he fires a shot above him then suddenly a hail of smaller yet faster fireballs rain down and pepper each of the targets. Dante breathes heavily and steam fumes from his mouth.
"Well...that was quite a show," someone said behind him.
Dante turned around to see Doreen.
"And?" Dante grunted.
"You're getting better," Doreen added.
"Well, losing someone...really makes one put things in high gear," Dante replied.
"I know," Doreen sighed.
Inferno turned around and blasted another orb.
"Can I-" Doreen started to say.
"I...I just want to be left alone right now," Dante interjected.
Doreen didn't say anything but nodded then left.
-On the streets, about an hour later-
Dante had told Daisy he needed to take a walk and she had let him under the condition he'd take his weapon with him concealed. She'd try to talk him out of it near for half an hour, but he wasn't dissuaded. He walked for what seemed like hours, his mind on Kamala. He eventually stepped into an alley.
"Damn you, Wraith," Dante hissed under his breath.
"Really? And here I thought I'd offer you a gift," a familiar voice chuckled.
Dante nearly leapt out of his skin as he turned and faced Wraith himself.
"You really need to be more aware of what's around you," Wraith scoffed.
"Y-You bastard. Where's Kamala?!" Inferno gasped then growled.
"Not far. Was thinking of trading her for someone," Wraith said.
Dante was taken aback at this, but he tried not to show it.
"Surprised?" Wraith said.
"Where is she?" Dante repeated.
Wraith chuckled as he suddenly leapt backwards onto a wall and ran up it. Dante raced after him. He dialled onto his communicator.
"I'm chasing Wraith! He's got Kamala nearby!" Dante bellowed.
"What?! Don't go after him alone!" Daisy shouted.
"Track me! If I don't go after him now, it'll be too hard to find Kamala! I've gotta take this! Hurry!" Dante replied then ended the transmission.
Inferno blasted himself on top of the building. Wraith was on the other. Inferno hissed as he surged forward, the fire propelling him faster and faster. Yet Wraith glided across the tops of the buildings with the grace of a deer and leapt like one. Easily clearing the distances and keeping ahead of Inferno.
"I'll get her back you, bastard's!" Inferno screamed.
"I doubt that!" Wraith called back.
Dante grumbled as he saw Wraith run into an abandoned building several minutes later. He surged into it and saw Inferno standing over someone: Kamala.
"Kamala!" Dante gasped.
Inferno charged forward and pulled out his axe. He screamed as he lunged forward and slashed furiously at Wraith. Wraith dodged the attacks and grabbed the axe by the handle.
"You haven't put in much practice," Wraith scoffed.
Inferno threw one fist forward, the hand ablaze, and slammed into Wraith's chest. Wraith grunted as he skidded back. Inferno quickly then shot a blast in the air and several small fireballs peppered the area around him as he stood next to Kamala. Wraith stood out of the way of the hail of fire. As soon as it ended Inferno hissed as he blasted fire forward and made a circle around him and Kamala, the flames blazing ten feet high.
"Kamala!" Dante gasped as he knelt down to look at her. She didn't look as bruised as he thought she would've been.
He sighed in relief.
"I've got you," he said.
Her eyes opened and she looked back at him.
"Oh Dante...that's where you're wrong," she said.
"Huh?" Dante grunted.
Her eyes suddenly changed into a ghastly white.
"I've got you," she laughed as her body took the form of one of the skeletal specters.
"No!" Dante gasped.
Just a few feet away he saw a figure walk through the flames. Wraith chuckled at the scene.
"Oh yes," Wraith said.
Several minutes later the others hurried into the building. All they saw was some scorch marks and Inferno's wrist communicator on the ground...and what they thought were stains from some kind of water droplets...maybe...from tears.
To Be Continued...
