The Sorceress looked sinister; her eyes glowing golden and her arms thrown out into tight fists. Peter compared her eyes to fire, and if he focused hard, he could almost see golden flecks floating out like embers.
She began floating a few inches from the pavement dragging a few pebbles up from the ground with her.
"Oh, she's powerful POWERFUL!" Spider-Man spoke into the comms, sticking himself to a skyscraper distancing himself safely away from whatever the woman was holding back.
"Nothing we can't handle." Captain America responded.
"You do realize you're on the jet, right?" Iron-man commented.
"Like we said Tony, call us when you need it and we can win the fight if it's too hard for you to handle." Bucky snapped.
"Doubt it one-armed wonder," Tony replied. Peter couldn't help but snicker to himself, still watching the woman that only just stopped screaming.
"Finally, thought my hearing aids were about to explode," Hawk-eye commented into the comm. Peter watched very closely as the woman's face slowly faced Black Widow's direction, her golden eyes beaming. Before anyone could strike, the Sorceress summoned black sparks all around her. She threw her head back as porcupine-like darts flew from her chest flying in every direction, striking whatever was in the way.
"TAKE COVER" War Machine yelled.
Peter scrambled behind an alleyway just in time as a thick spike pierced the building that he was crouched next to. He took a second to observe the foreign object. It was almost a foot long and was dripping in black liquid.
"Rhodey be careful it went halfway through my shield like it was a tissue," Tony said.
"Got it."
"I think I might need to-ugh go back to the ship. I couldn't really hide behind a cloud. I'm lucky those things only went into my wings." Sam choked out, obviously struggling.
"Tell me where you are. I can pick you up." Peter hurriedly said.
"You see the hot dog stand? I'm east of that behind an apartment complex." Without another second to delay he swung hurriedly towards Falcon, catching glances of the woman that was now floating towards Wanda, her robes revealed her pale face and a pale-yellow dress that was slightly torn at the bottom. He drew his attention back to Falcon and left the fight temporarily.
The young hero spotted Sam exactly where he said he would be and ran up to him. There were 3 oozing spikes piercing Falcon's wings, the carbon fiber sparking in a few spots.
"Are they completely immobile now? Can your wings only take a few hits? I thought they were made up of-" Peter began clearly shocked that he was down so quickly.
"Look, kid, usually I can take a lot more, but something has infected my system. I mean look at the 'nasties' on there, what do you expect?" Sam was quick to defend himself. 'It is a bit embarrassing only taking one hit and going down…' Sam thought, growing silent.
"Alright, alright" Peter was holding back a laugh, noting mentally he could hold up longer than one of the Avengers. "Can we please get the jet over here?" He asked politely. On cue, the jet slowly moved towards the two of them and the hatch at the bottom opened. Spider-Man aimed his wrist at the edge of the hatch and thwipped a web towards it. Peter positioned his forearm under Sam's chest and swung the both of them to the hatch.
The teenager thought it was quite odd that Sam was against him last time they met at the airport, but now here he was, carrying the man to safety. White light streamed out of the ship as Captain America stood at the hatch, waiting for Sam.
Spider-Man dropped him off and took the chance to look over the city. There were countless firetrucks and police car's lights visible on the other street. The night had fully come now, the clouds reflecting the city lights.
He glanced over towards the Avengers, watching a blur of Iron-man and War-Machine in the air, hitting the Sorceress from all directions. She was shielded by a black transparent dome. Peter assumed it was produced by her herself, it was obvious, her hands were spread, attempting to stabilize the barrier. The young vigilante was soon mesmerized by the Avengers battling with the woman.
"Peter?" Karen suddenly filled his mask.
He shook his head, not realizing he zoned out until he heard a shout and felt a rumbling under his feet.
"Sorry Karen it's just the view is nice." He joked.
"I advise for you to go back and help your companions." She said in a tone that sounded as if she were smirking. Is that possible? Tony probably made it happen. As the hatch began to close, Spider-Man nosedived back into the street and shot a web the last second. The young hero swung towards the woman, his mentor and Rhodey still streaming lasers at her. Spider-Man dove towards the Sorceress. Looking all over for an opening, his brown eyes caught the attention of a body on the ground; crumpled up like a paper thrown.
'Natasha!'
Spider-Man squinted at her body, still diving, and saw the slightest rise from her body. Relief flooded him as he tore his attention from Black Widow and back to the enemy that had to be taken down.
Peter finally found an angle where the barrier looked weak and kicked with all his might through it and into her side.
The woman stumbled over onto the ground in a heap. She coughed harshly as she shakily got back up and aimed at the Spider, black spikes grew from her hand; covered in black liquid.
She snatched one from her palm and threw it with precision at Spider-Man swinging away. The Sorceress was so focused on him that she did not expect the laser that hit her in the back with such force it knocked her back onto the ground. Peter's head screamed at him "MOVE!" The teen smoothly dodged the spike and turned back around. He dove back towards the Sorceress on the ground and landed a solid kick in her back. Landing on the cobble ground, he webbed her hands to the ground as secure as his webs managed.
"I would have kicked a little less hard if you didn't try to make me into a Spider Kabob!" Peter quipped. As if his webs were silly string, she pried them off with a grunt. Ripping her hood from the top of her head, she smirked and glared at Peter with pure venom. The Sorceress could immediately tell the age due to her magical instincts. There is always a child, the Sorceress noted in her mind of the child's presence. There was always a heart string to tear at during a battle, and this was her perfect opportunity.
Her glowing eyes made Peter shiver as he shot a web straight into her face out of instinct. "Yeah I'd rather not look into those eyes." He took the advantage of her being temporarily blinded and shot two webs onto the building behind her. Launching himself towards her, he prepared to kick her square in the chest. His lens widened in surprise as she ripped the webs from her face and grabbed his ankle just as he was about to contact her. In a split second she gripped his ankle tightly with her black covered hand and threw him across the street with all her might. Peter slammed into a coffee shop, shattering the glass and skidding under a table. "Ughh...ow, that hurt. Maybe a little help here?" He picked himself up and prepared himself for another blow as she swayed towards him.
Vision flew in on cue and picked her up with one swift move, dragging the both up above the city. Vision gripped her throat tighter as the Sorceress clawed at his hands. "Stand down, it is most likely that you will not win this fight." He stopped high in the air, the distant sound of Iron-man approaching. "Tell me your reasoning, sorcerer."
"I do not have a reason, merely an urge." She smirked at him as blood dripped from her mouth. He cocked his head, his artificial intelligence pondering the statement.
"I have nothing else to lose. If I go...I will drag whoever I want with me." She threw her head back with laughter, her tears mixing with the blood. The face stilled as if her body was lifeless, suddenly tensing up. Vision quickly let go as dripping spikes emerged from everywhere on her body. As soon as his grip loosened, the spikes dug their way back in her frail body, as if saving themselves for something else. \
Iron-Man spoke into the comms as he caught her in his metal arms. "Nat has been down for a while! Someone get her up to the jet ASAP!"
"On it!" Wanda replied
"Keep your guard up, she has advanced to multiple spikes protruding through her body at once." Vision said looking down towards Tony Stark.
'Great.' Tony groaned, looking at the woman in his arms, her relaxed features indicated that she was unconscious. The hero grimaced as she opened her eyes, the embers still glowing. Her face gleamed as the tears and blood refused to stop streaming down her freckled face.
"Nope." He simply said as he slid his arms from under her.
Her robes and yellow dress were covered in inch wide holes, revealing her pale body underneath, unkempt hair whipped around her face as she fell lower and lower.
"Um who's going to catch her?" Peter asked in the comms.
"Let her fall." Tony replied.
"What no...no!" Peter started to run where the woman would soon splat on the ground.
"I said, let her fall!"
Peter still ran, rebelling against his mentor's orders. Tony sighed and boosted himself towards Peter, planting himself in front of the stubborn kid.
The teenager skidded to a sudden halt. "So, you're just going to let her die?" Peter asked with frustration.
"Just listen to me for once kid! Watch her." He made sure to not let that go into the comms with the others to hear. Peter looked down at the cobble roads, refusing to watch just in case the man was wrong.
SWOOM! Black sparks flew as the woman floated a few inches from the ground upright. If not for her blonde hair and robes Peter would have thought it was Wanda but a twisted version.
"See? Trust the adults more maybe." War-Machine said into the comms.
"Just because-" Peter began.
"Wanda, we need you back down here, Steve nor Bucky will be any help against her" Tony interrupted.
Peter's lenses squinted in anger from being ignored.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Bucky's static com intervened.
"She is using magic, your hand to hand combat and strength will be no help, you'll get destroyed." Tony put in a matter in fact tone.
"Stark is correct, in fact I advise for Clint to head to the ship," Vision added.
A few seconds past before an audible scoff was heard by everyone. "Now wait a minute-" Clint argued.
"No, the microwave is right." Tony said.
"Watch out Mr. Stark!" Peter shrieked. Iron-man could only turn around before Wanda crashed into him, attempting to block him by using her magic. Iron-man budged a few feet from the impact, but took the hit and used it to boost towards the Sorceress, not knowing of what condition he just left Wanda in.
Wanda yelped in pain as she was too slow for the Sorceress' attack. She clawed at the oozing spike. It was a few inches deep in her left shoulder.
She cried out as she roughly landed onto the ground, looking over her left shoulder where blood began to pour out.
The only sounds she emitted now were heaving breaths and whimpers, her mind ran multiple scenarios of how this could turn out within seconds. All the witch could do was watch.
Without warning, the spike began to grow from all sides, she felt as if her heart was bobbing in her throat. Horror grew on the young hero's face, realizing what would soon happen if she had to be the one to yank it out of herself.
Wanda knew exactly what this was, the spike expanded once the tip hit blood. She remembered her brother showing her this from an ancient book he had found during a mission and comparing it to a starved animal, trying to consume all that it could in little time once it had a hold. The spike was now expanding like branches from a dead tree, thriving at the abundance of flesh.
"I need help! Someone get here NOW!"
Vision quickly flew towards his love and kneeled beside her. He tried to remain calm for her sake as he observed the growing thing protruding Wanda's left shoulder.
The young hero screamed in pain as she felt the spike grow in her shoulder. "RIP IT OUT!" Wanda screamed at Vision.
Vision knew this was the best option, or her shoulder along with her arm would soon have to be hacked off. He hated to see Wanda in pain, his everything in pain, but he had no choice. Vision placed one hand on the center of her back and the other on the base of the spike and pulled.
