Cold-hearted

Mount Justice: 4:05pm, November 11th, 2010:

"Shh, quiet, he's coming." Robin says as Red Tornado dims the lights. It's Wally's birthday today and Robin decided to throw him a surprise party. Flags was also in attendance. Like hell, he would miss his own nephew's surprise party. "He's here." I say to group as I sense Wally arrive. "Come to me." I hear a woman's voice...the same one from a last week, sound in my ear. I turn around and see nothing. I feel a tap on my shoulder and see Blake looking at me, concern in his eyes. "You ok?" He signs to me which I nod. "Yeah, I'm alright." I say to him as we ready ourselves.

"It'll be a tragedy if I missed my own-." We hear him say as Red Tornado brightens the lights. "Surprise!" We all, par Tornado and Blake, shout as watches in fake suprise. "Whaaaaat? Oh you guys, you shouldn't have." He says. "We really shouldn't have." I whisper to Artemis who playfully elbows me. "Yeah, it's not like you have been hinting for days or anything." Robin says sarcastically as Wally laughs and removes his winter coat. The cold had really set in, zeta tubes were functioning but I don't know for how long until they go off. Wally sits at the table as Kaldur fits a birthday hat on his head. "We made you two cakes." M'gann says as she levitates the two cakes to Wally. "Awesome. What will you guys eat?" He asks. "We'll split the cupcakes...that's if you don't eat them too." I say, Wally playfully pouts at me. M'gann lowers herself to his level. "Make a wish." She says happily. "Way ahead of you." He says as he blows out all the candles...on both cakes. If he didn't have super speed...he could make balloons animals. We all cheer as the candles blow out. "You know

If I tell you my wish, it won't come true. But if you guess..." He says flirtatiously to M'gann who gives him a slice of cake. "Nope, guess again." He says as I roll my eyes in amusement. Poor bastard...fast...but stupid. Artemis is mad about something as I walk by here. "One month and a bit till new years." I say as she punches me in the arm. "Shut up about that." She says angrily but I just laugh. She drops her anger gaze and laughs along. Soo enough, everyone is mingling about. Not worrying about the world. Rachel is hanging at the back of the room. I pick up a slice of cake and walk over to her. "It's a party...join in." I say as I pass her the cake. She doesn't show any emotion but takes the cake and nibbles a little piece. I feel her surprise and delight at the food, but she is able to reel those emotions back in. "It's good." She says as she takes another bite. I chuckle and ruffle her hair a little bit. She glare at me but I can feel her happiness. "Ahh, that's nice...she's cute." I hear the dark voice again as I turn in surprise. "Matt?" Rachel says as I turn to her. "Sorry...just out of it lately." I say to her which she nods in acceptance but I notice her concerned gaze.

I see Robin talking to Zatanna about something. I can feel his worry and her trepidation. But they eventually get into the mood about the party. Artemis approaches them as I enhance my hearing. "Think we should tell him?" She says as all three of them look at Wally. He is flirting with M'gann... again. I walk over to the group. "He is the only one that doesn't know...or just doesn't realise." I say to them. "Then please...allow me." Artemis says as she walks from us and over to Wally. I sense her satisfaction oozing out of her. This will be good. We notice his look of shock as he stares at M'gann and Connor. M'gann feeds the Boy of Steel some cake as Wally states in horror. The three of us laugh at the look on his face. "Such a nice little family...watch as they all die!" The vice says again as I blink and see all of them lying on the floor. Blood is splatter everywhere. I back up in horror, I feel something grab my hand, I look down and see Rachel and Artemis trying to crawl up my leg. "You could have saved us." Rachel says as she drops to the ground, dead. "Why, Matt? Why did you?" Artemis says as she drops dead as well. I back up before I hit something.

I shake my head and see that everyone is alright. I look around and see no change to what was happening before the vision. "Matt...what's wrong?" Zatanna asks me which I wave her off. "Nothing, I'm fine...I got to go. Tell Wally that I'm sorry." I say as I leave the room and head to the hanger. I get in the Charger and make my way out of the cave. I imbue Hellfire into the wheels so I can at least drive along the road. I see Zarathos in my rear view. Just silent...he's been silent for the last few days. "Who was that? Who is that voice?" I ask him but he pays me no attention. "Ghost Rider. Return to cave immediately." I hear Batman's voice in my ear. I pull out the comm and throw it out the window. "Well...?" I say to him as I hear him sigh. "It's... complicated." He says as I look at him. "Than uncomplicate it." I snarkily say. "The voice you are hearing is Lilith...the Mother of All Demons." He says as I slam the brakes and come to a stop. "I'm sorry, who...the mother of what?" I ask him.

"Lilith. She is an ancient and powerful demon sorceress. Eons ago, before your universe even existed. Lilith ruled from the Dark Realms. Her power was so great that she spawned an army to fight, to conquer...to enslave. To prevent the spread of her corruption, myself and my kin had gathered a diplomatic force to convince her to heed her conquest...Lilith wouldn't take no for an answer." He tells me as he shows me images. Fiery depictions of Lilith and Zarathos meeting. His kin standing before him, as Lilith's 'children' stand behind her. "She tricked us into thinking that she agreed. She was a master of deception and manipulation. After we left, many of kin's own children were captured and turned into slaves. My kin had to kill their own children, this brought about the Great War. Lilith had gathered an army of her children, as well as allies in the forms of other demons, even Trigon the Terrible had made allies with her. I had brought my kin together in a desperate bid to end the war. It failed. Lucifer,Azrael, Phoenix, they were young Angels when the war started. They grew in a time of destruction, depravity, and death. They were innocent, and to see such violence, such horror, you can't imagine what it did to them. It took all of my patience and eons of comfort to bring them back to their usual selves, even then, they were forever changed. Eons of war, trillions of worlds and unknown amount of souls were either captured, destroyed or enslaved. In one final attack on Lilith's fortress. I was able to capture her and imprison her in a Nexus within a Nexus." He says to me as I watch the scenes unfold before my eyes. I stare wide eyed as I realise. "Earth. You imprisons her on Earth." I say as he nods. "Your universe was young. It's energy was powerful enough to keep her locked away. Where Earth would exist, the energy flowed in a continuous loop through your universe and the multiverse, only an exceptionally powerful being could break her from her imprisonment. Earth formed around her and her sarcophagus. The Earth is her prison till the end of time. But, what the Witch Boy did, he had a fragment of her power. The Lazarus Pit's are a gateway, they are Lilith's power made physical, they are extremely rare. What I say a few days ago and what you are hearing is only a figment of Lilith's manipulations, she is trying to fracture your mind, she is locked away, it's impossible for her to walk the physical plane." He tells me but I get the feeling that the last part of his monologue was more to convince himself rather than me. "So she's the real deal, huh?" I say jokingly, trying to play off my shock at what he told me. "It's an understatement. Her power rivalled my own when I was an Angel. She commanded legions of the bloodiest, least trustworthy and most vile beings that have ever graced the multiverse. Her power is matched to her charisma. Trigon made me what I am and he is the personification of Evil, and even he followed her in the Great War. It speaks volumes to her power." He says as I breathe a breath of...wow. I lean back against the car until I see something in the distance. I narrow my eyes and see a man, with no shirt and some beige pants on, just smiling at me. His eyes glow green as he walks down the alley. "Ok, man that can handle the cold smiling at me before walking away. Not creepy at all." I say as I drive the car to the alley and hop out. "There is strange energy here. Give me control." Zarathos says as I give him what he wants.

P.O.V Change: Ghost Rider

Burning through Matthew's skin, I look around and try and spot the man. I sense his presence but it's...hidden? Someone is trying to hide from me. I walk into an abandoned warehouse. The winter chill had gotten so bad that the machinery in here was frozen solid. "Well, my brothers, the formidable Zarathos had graced our presence once again." A man says and it was the one from before, he steps into the light as many others, some men, others women but most were children, showed themselves. In total, about 30 of them surrounded me. "Who the hell are these assholes." Matthew says as they all start chuckling. "I sense your evil. Begone from here or face my wrath." I say in warning as I light a chain. "Ahh, he's adorable. You don't look so good Zarathos. Your vacation in Hell didn't do you any favors." The lead one said as his eyes glow with that familiar green. His body bulges as his skin gives way to black armour and scales. His head expands as he takes on a pointed horned helmet. His teeth are sharp as he gazes at me with malicious intent. (1) "Miss me?" He says sarcastically as I growl in rage. "Kurse...how many times do I have to kill you?" I snarkily reply as he laughs. Everyone else starts laughing as their bodies begin changing...this energy. This evil. Children of Lilith. (2) "One was bad, all of you, worse. But you still are as insignificant as you were eons ago!" I shout as they all charge me. I swing my chains as they are disintegrated into ash, green fire cascades down back into Hell. They stab me but they don't do anything, I try and grab one by the head before splitting its skull open. I breathe fire on any that get too close. Their superior numbers start overpowering me. I bash, kick, chain and whatever else but they keep on coming. Kurse pushes his way through as he punches me away. I hit the wall with a thud as I was sent flying outside. I feel the pain from that punch. I look up and see green energy coursing through his body. He laughs as he holds up his hand. "The blessing of the Mother...isn't it beautiful?" He asks. I roar in rage and tackle him but his strength is far superior to mine.

He slams me into the ground which leaves cracks all along. For the first time in so long. I feel pain. In places I didn't know I had. I look up and see Kurse kick me in the head which sends me flying. I groan as I get to my feet and throw a punch. Kurse catches it as he headbutts me. He lands blow after blow onto me before picking me up and slamming me into the ground. "Come on, get up." I feel Matthew plead to me. Kurse sends a punch down to me but I dodge and roll out the way. I send a chain at him which wraps around him. I pull him to me as I light my fist with Hellfire. I punch him. He dodges and deflects my blows but I increase the barrage, using my speed to target his weak areas. I punch out his knee which brings him down. I land a knee to his head which make him reel.

The other Children leap onto me but I push them away, incinerate them, or tear them apart. Out of the 30, only 13 remain. I turn back to Kurse who punches me into the ground. "That's enough." A voice sounds as they all back off and kneel. Green energy surrounds me and pulls my chains back into the air. My arms are hung up like I'm a prisoner. I look to the shadows and see...her. She steps into he light as she levitates me up to her level. "Beloved...it's good to see you again." She says as goes to caress my cheek bit I look away with a growl. "Oh, don't be like that. It's been too long to hold such...anger for me. Surely we can act civil." She says as she walks around me like a I'm a prize. "How did you get free? The enchantments should have kept you imprisoned." I say to her but she laughed. "Beloved... Trigon as did favor me...did you forget?" She says as I growl. Always cokes back to that four eyed bastard. "Trigon doesn't do anything unless he gets something out of it. What does he want?" I ask a so struggle with the binds. "Darling...what does any father want? Their child to come home." She says as I pull the bindings and get in her face. "YOU WONT TOUCH HER!" She blasts me away as I feel all my energy leave. "You dare speak that way to me? Your affection for the little abomination almost sickens me...but you have been living amongst mortals for the better part of a 100,000 years. Sad to see you pick up their qualities." She says as she wraps her hand around my throat, lifting me up to her eye level.

"Trigon will have his daughter. He will have this World and no one. Not even you Zarathos, can stop him. But Trigon owes me a few more favors. This world has the potential to be something of my own. Trigon has waited for a long time...he can wait a little longer...plus, my vendetta has only begun." She says as she drops me. I stare up at her. "If you want to finish me, why stop? Get it over with." I growl at her but she chuckles. "You haven't learnt anything. You will be punished for your betrayal, Beloved. Don't mistake that. But death is so final, especially for beings like us. You will feel what I felt, you will suffer. You have grown close to your host. He feels your rage and anger...just as you feel his love and care. He cares for a lot... especially...oh, the assassin. That's a surprise." She says as I crawl over to her with anger etched into my face. "Touch her and I'll kill you." She laughs and walks away from me. "You thought that there wouldn't be any consequences. You lied to me, you betrayed me and you imprisoned me...and even after all that...I still love you, Zarathos. You were my everything. Until you betrayed me. Now, I'll destroy everything you ever cared about. First the assassin, then your hosts friends and then this world." She says as I feel rage at her as she begins to open a portal. I reach down deep and feel the rage but also...the protectiveness. Jade, Rachel, M'gann, Artemis, Rabin, Kaldur, Blake. I grew to care for them, just like Matthew has. I won't let you take them from me. I feel an energy that I never through I would feel again. My fire returns to me, as my energy reaches new heights. I let out a loud roar as raging orange fire and gentle blue flame sprout from me and from wings behind me.

I fall to the ground as I look at my hand. It's most orange with Hellfire but has Heavenly Fire licking within it. I look behind me and see my wings. It's been so long. I gaze at Lilith who is staring wide eyes at me. "That's not possible. Your soul was corrupted how can you access the Heavenly Fire?" She says in shock as her Children back down in fear of me. I stare at her with a look of anger and amusement. "One warning, Lilith. Leave this world and it's inhabitants. Refuse...and I'll do what I should have done long ago." I say with a voice that is less of a growl and more of a calm soft-spoken person.

"I'll will make you pay, Zarathos. Whether today, tomorrow or eons from now. You will rue the day you betrayed me." She says with venom as the portal opens as she and her children escape. As soon as the portal closes, I drop to the ground in exhaustion as the Heavenly Fire leaves, only leaving the Hellfire to remain. My energy has crashed back down as I give Matthew back control.

P.O.V Change: Matthew Spectre

I gasp for air as I crawl myself over to the wall, the last few hours have gotten to be the worst of my entire life. That was insane. But something is not making sense. "She said she loved you. What does that mean? What did you leave out?" I say to Zarathos as K get my breathing back under control. "I'm sorry Matthew... Lilith...was my wife." He says as I stare open eyed in shock. "Wife? You were married to that crazy bitch?" I say a so feel his anger. "She wasn't always like that! She was once an Angel, like me." He says as I back up. "Wait, an Angel? You said that all the Angels were you brothers and sisters. Soooo...?" I start as I hear him sigh. "Yes Matthew. She was my sister as well, get your head back on track. Lilith was once the Angel of Motherhood and Protection. She taught mother's to raise their young. She was the one that taught mortals how to reproduce and taught them how to love and care for their young. Lilith's mission led to her downfall. A child had wondered into the Garden. A haven were the evils of the multiverse were kept locked away behind the illusion of beauty. The child, Eve had bitten a fruit of the sacred tree. Lilith in her undying love for children, had taken the child's place for the evils to possess. Lilith had succumbed to the evils of the Garden and become the Mother of All Demons. Unfortunately, my duty to the mortals had outweighed my love for her. I had denounced her, fought her...but in the end, I couldn't destroy her. So I kept her locked away, where she won't be able to harm anyone else. Eons later, myself and Lucifer were tricked by Trigon, he wanted us as his personal slaves but he especially wanted to know the location of Lilith's tomb. I never gave him the answer and I eventually escaped. The rest, you know is history." He finishes saying as I lean back on the wall. I feel his guilt and his self loathing at his past choices and how the consequences of those choices have manifested themselves.

"I'm sorry that happened to you. I can't imagine the feelings you had when you denounced her." I say to him. I feel his thanks but his guilt and hurt is still resting heavily on him. "What do we do now?" I ask him. "My access to Heavenly Fire came back. I don't know how I was able to access it, let alone, survive it but Lilith will fear it. She'll go underground, re gather her strength and her forces. She won't do anything in the mean time, which gives us time to focus on the Light. When they are done for, we will have to leave the team and face Lilith." He says as I nod in agreement. Lilith and her children would be too much for the team. Hell, they beat Zarathos. While I hate it, he's right. I would have to leave eventually. "Let's not worry about it for now, like you said, she'll hide first. So let's get home and get some rest. I check my watch, or what left of it and saw that we have been out her for hours. Let's get back before Batman tips us a new one." I say as Zarathos hmms in agreement.

A.N:

(1). Kurse is the same from Thor The Dark World.

(2). The children of Lilith look the horned, green and black demon from Marvel's Midnight Suns announcement trailer.