Chapter 11 - The Demon In The Basement
When Billy was finally awake again, most of the adults were at least a little curious what he could possibly have up his sleeves now. The godlike powers and physical changes were only one thing, after all.
He had left the twins with Teddy — who already knew the whole story — and because there was always the chance his idea could go sideways, he was fully decked out in his Wiccan uniform when the group met him outside, smiling broadly.
"So, I think I have the solution to your demon in the basement problem," he declared without preamble.
"I thought the demon in the basement was handled," K said, settling in between Logan and Kurt.
"Yeah, I get to punch him, and then he goes back where he belongs," Kate agreed.
"I was thinking something a little more long-term," Billy explained. "You know, so you don't have to deal with him for the rest of forever and all generations of Wagners until the end of time every time someone has a baby?"
"I'm listening," Kurt said in a metered tone.
Billy nodded. "Well, when I was playing with reality, I saw a few realities where he took over…" He glanced toward Kate and Kurt. "Which were horrible. So I thought it would be alright to interfere with reality just a little bit in this case and I might have maybe started a spell to turn him human."
"You did what?" Kurt leaned forward, his eyes wide and his tail completely still.
"I mean, he'd still be around for another few decades or however long he lives unless someone kills him or something, but… I severed his ties to Hell to start with."
"So … if he dies, he won't be able to regain all of his power and raise his armies?" Kurt asked, looking like he didn't believe that one bit.
"As long as he's mortal, he'll just be another soul in Hell living in torment for being awful," Billy said. "At least, that's how the spell should work."
"But you aren't sure," Kurt said. "He could still die and regain everything he wants."
Billy let out his breath as he concentrated. "As long as … I can't see that happening as long as I get help finishing the spell," he said after a long moment.
"What kind of help would you need?" Kurt asked, his tone more open.
"Honestly? I just need more juice," he explained. "I don't know how to stop the spells I cast from taking my everything with this new power, so I need someone else to help me feed it so I don't burn out halfway through."
All of the gathered adults shared a look. "How do we do that?" Scott asked.
"Anyone who knows how to use magic can help, really," Billy said. "They wouldn't have to cast the spell, just lend me their support once I start. That's a pretty basic support spell; I learned it from Doctor Strange years ago."
"Have you run this idea past him?" Kurt asked. "Because I'm sure he'd be the one to gather up more magic users for you."
"Well, I wanted to run it by you first. It's your demon issue and your basement," Billy pointed out.
"Technically, it's a hole a few miles under the school," Logan said.
"Still the basement," Billy said with a little smile. He looked around at the gathered group, all of whom still looked skeptical, and sighed. "Well?"
"I say if you think it'll work, go for it, but … it's not my demon problem either," K said, honestly trying to break the mood into a more positive tone.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing, Billy?" Kate asked gently.
He nodded. "I'm still trying to figure out how this works," he said, gesturing to his face, "but I do still know how to shape reality. Always have."
"Worst case scenario, we'll just have to fight back Hell to kill him," Logan said with a shrug.
Kurt watched Billy for a long moment. "Speak to Doctor Strange first," he said at last. "If he thinks the spell is viable, and he can help you complete it…" He sighed. "It would be very nice to be rid of him."
"He'd still be horrible to deal with," Billy said, just to make sure all of the truth was out there. "Even mortal, he'd be a pain."
"But not a full-on take-over-the-world pain," Kurt clarified.
"Not without help," Billy said. "Not on his own." He narrowed his eyes as he tried to see it. "And don't let someone called Margali anywhere near him."
"Doctor Strange put her somewhere," Kurt said.
"Then you're fine," Billy said with a nod. "We do this right, and worst case scenario, he's just another supervillain. The totally beatable kind."
"What do you think, Kate?" Logan asked. "He's been more of a pain for you two than anyone."
Kate bit her lip and glanced up at Kurt. "I think… it would be nice to know Krissy and Kari aren't going to have to deal with him twenty years down the road when they're trying to make their own way too," she said at last. "I don't mind punching him into submission every time he shows up, but it would be nice if he wasn't terrorizing my girls… and their kids…. And their kids…"
"That's why they keep us around," K teased Logan quietly, who nodded seriously in response.
"So… I'll talk to Strange then," Billy offered. "I need to talk to him anyway about figuring out how to not totally drain myself doing simple spells."
"And we'll have Tony and Noh on hand to make sure the stasis field can go back up at a moment's notice if something doesn't go according to plan," Scott added.
"Not to mention I'll punch his lights out," Kate grumbled.
"What are we going to do with the little ones while the creeper-in-law is up here?" K asked.
"It's up to the parents, but I know Krissy and Kari were hoping to go somewhere fun for a summer vacation trip," Kate suggested. "Maybe somewhere different this time. I know some great private beaches in California."
"I'll call Heather for the little ones," Logan said. "No reason to have 'em all in one place."
"Annie can take ours to see her parents," Scott agreed. "Let them all get out for a while."
"Alright, great," Billy said, nodding. "So… I'll just… I'll talk to Doctor Strange and come back in a week or two?" he offered. "Is that enough time — or do you want to move earlier on this and get it over with?" He closed his eyes. "It doesn't seem to make that big of a difference either way."
"Two weeks," Kurt said. "Give yourself time to get used to your powers. And if you need more time than that, ask for it." His tail was swishing behind him. "This is one thing we need to execute flawlessly."
The mansion seemed a lot quieter with so many kids and even several adults gone when Billy, Doctor Strange, and Ilyanna showed up in the living room. But unlike in the past, Billy didn't seem nearly as nervous as was usually the case for this kind of thing, though he kept closing his eyes to check and recheck that they weren't about to set off some cataclysmic event.
He was getting better at isolating what was their reality and what was others, so he was almost entirely certain that this was going to work.
As promised, Tony and Noh were on hand in case they had to fall back on the old plan to keep Azazel contained — and both ferals as well as Kate and Kurt were there for a fight. Just in case. Scott and Storm rounded out the group — and Kitty was down below retrieving the guest of dishonor.
"Last chance," Billy offered Kurt. "If you ask me to, I'll back off."
Kurt shook his head gently. "At this point, it's better to try it."
Billy nodded his understanding as Kitty arrived with the still-stasised demon king a moment later… and tried very hard not to grin when he saw that the beginnings of his spell were already working. Azazel was still red and had a tail… but the fur was receding, and his color wasn't so vibrant, almost a pinkish, newborn-like hue.
"Billy…. What did you do to him?" K asked with a smirk.
"I told you: I got the spell started," he said. "I just need to finish it is all, cut his ties to Hell before I complete the mortality shift."
"You want his tail cut off too?" Logan asked, clearly ready to get into it.
Billy almost laughed. "It should fall off, actually."
Kurt winced slightly at that with a muttered 'oh.'
"Too bad," Logan said. "That was fun."
"Well then." Billy took in a deep breath and looked to his two companions. "We have to set up a basic containment spell. It should stop him even if he's at full strength for at least a couple hours. It won't take that long, but we're overdoing it."
"And once that is complete, we will need to release him from the stasis in order to remove his ties with Hell from his conscious mind as well as his body and soul," Strange explained. "If we sense even the slightest possibility that he may escape, then we will stop and put him back underneath the school."
"Seems fair," Kate grumbled, looking ready to hit a demon if need be.
The three magic users shared a look before all three raised their hands, and sigils appeared in the air in front of them, carved into reality around Azazel at his feet, in the air, and above his head until even those who couldn't use magic could see the lines of energy completely encapsulating him.
"If you would, Mr. Stark," Strange said with a nod Tony's way.
"On your signal, doc," Tony said with a nod, looking more businesslike and serious than any of them had seen him in a long time. When they were all set, and everyone was ready, Strange gave him the quick countdown and Tony hit the switch.
It was clear the moment the stasis had dropped, as the half sneer Azazel had been wearing when Kate last hit him turned into a full one. The tufts of red smoke that rose up around him for just a moment were the evidence that he'd tried — unsuccessfully — to teleport, and the sneer only deepened as he took in his surroundings.
"Playing more games with paltry tricks?" he said at last, sounding almost bored. "You must know this won't hold me for long."
"Wrong," Kurt said, though his tail was switching behind him. "And we really don't need it to hold you for long."
"You look like hell," K said behind Kurt, smirking to herself. "And not at all the way you want to, either."
Azazel frowned and looked down at his hands — which were steadily losing not only their color but their fur as the red fuzz seemed to shrink into his skin. He let out a sound that was almost like disbelief and pounded one fist against the barrier. "What — What is the meaning of this?"
"Oh, have I introduced you to my friend Billy?" Kate asked airily but with a wicked gleam to her eyes. "He's a god in some universes."
"Which is more than what can be said for you," K said under her breath.
Azazel howled his displeasure along with several words that shook the mansion but didn't shatter the magic around him, though the three magic users looked a little annoyed, if anything.
"If it'll make it easier, I can cut his tongue out first," Logan growled out.
"The words will have less power when he is no longer a demon," Strange said out of the corner of his mouth as he focused on the spell.
"You think it will make any difference what I am in this pitiful world?" Azazel spat out, his angry tone offset somewhat by the fact that they were literally watching him turn mortal before their very eyes.
"If it won't make a difference, then what concern is it to you?" Kurt nearly hissed back at him.
"I am a king," Azazel all but growled his way.
"Not anywhere that matters," Kurt replied.
"Insolent boy," he snapped back. "You think this will make you safe from my wrath when my protection is gone and I am temporarily in this position?" He gestured to Kate and K. "You think you can go on the way you have before when my blood is no longer tied to yours?"
"I see no reason why not," Kurt replied.
Azazel was nearly shaking with rage as the last of the red color left him. "I still have power and influence in this world. You cannot hide — you and your unremarkable wife and your animalistic friends bent on repopulating the world with eternally-lived beasts," he snarled.
Kurt growled, ready to tear into his father with his own two hands. "You'll have nothing, and you'd be wise to watch what you say around my remarkable wife and friends."
Azazel just laughed, though it wasn't quite controlled as his fur disappeared. "I can be patient. One way or another, it will be you left with nothing when I am through with you."
"Can we cut his tongue out now?" Logan asked.
"It would be permanent," Billy said as he waved his hand. There was the strangest sort of thump as the last of the changes took effect. The waving red tail simply dropped off — and Kurt couldn't help that his own tail stiffened and stilled as well. All three of the magic-users looked worn out, but Billy's huge grin spoke volumes. "How well does he treat his armies in Hell, do you think?" he asked. "Because when he dies, they're gonna get a shot at his mortal soul."
"I'd be happy to send him there to find out," Logan growled, stalking closer to him.
"Could you wait just a little bit?" Billy asked.
Logan stopped and turned toward him. "Why?"
"Because he needs to be in Rikers Island," Billy explained. "There's…" He sighed. "Just for a week. The increased security will help a different breakout from happening, and then we can send him, I don't know, to the Raft or something; it doesn't matter after that."
Logan looked obviously disappointed but nodded. "Fine. One week on the stay of execution."
Billy nodded his thanks and then turned Noh's way. "So, the stasis is great, thanks. Don't get rid of it."
"I wasn't planning to," Noh told him.
Strange put a hand on Billy's shoulder and nodded at the younger man before he turned to the gathered X-Men. "If you like, we can escort him to his new lodgings. The last time he was captured, the prison had adequate protections against magic users, but I would like to inspect them myself all the same." He smiled tightly. "As one final precaution."
"Fine by me," Kate said. "If I never see him again, it'll be too soon."
"Please," Kurt agreed. "He's darkened our doorstep for far too long."
Strange nodded at that, and in a flash of light, all three magic users were gone — along with one former demon king.
The group as a whole let out an audible breath, and Kate leaned over on Kurt. "Remind me to kiss Billy when I see him next."
"I'm sure you'll remember," Kurt replied with an almost tired smile. "But I'll remind you if it's that pressing."
She laughed lightly and then wrapped her arms around him. "Let's go find our girls," she murmured into him. "I could use a vacation."
"That's the best idea I've heard in weeks," Kurt agreed, pulling her closer and wrapping his tail around her leg. "I'm sure it's time we helped them to build sand castles."