Marvel 11 - Hela's daughter (11-20)

by HellaandMortiz

To get - so big. If you are reborn in another world, then you will be the daughter of the goddess of the world of the dead. And there are only a few centuries of training - and you can also visit the world of the living. Moreover, Mom insists that it's time to find a wife. Or several. So - it won't seem enough to anyone.

Part One Chapter Eleven

My cry didn't go unnoticed – several people looked into the alley, wanting to find out what had happened. Soon the woman I'd rescued returned, along with two policemen. Neither of them saw me there, though-I realized I'd attracted too much attention, so I quickly retreated to the roof, remembering to take the damn newspaper with me. Gloomily admiring the police activity from above, I stepped away from the edge and sat down on some contraption to think.

Eh… I don't even know what to say. Of course, there's always the possibility of coincidence, maybe someone pulled on a costume and went by the name – Man – But – Spider. But two at once? Plus this newspaper. No, that's too much. There's literally everything screaming in my face – I'm no longer in the world I used to live in, but in a goddamn parallel universe. In the fucking Marvel universe. Now that's a shitty thing to say! No, don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Marvel itself specifically. And yet – It's Marvel! They don't know how to live a normal life, there's always some bullshit going on. There's always someone wanting to kill someone, someone wanting revenge for something, some super-brained individual wanting to destroy or enslave the world. And so it will be, unless the whole zoo of super-monkeys realizes that they need to band together and jointly stab this super-unoriginal dick.

-Oh… why was I born… why. – I'm exaggerating, of course. But HELL, I'm entitled to my ten minutes of reflection, aren't I? I'm not ironclad, either, and I need some time to accept the reality that is happening. It's a great feeling to be in a world where you have to deal with one problem and then another, and so on. A fucking kaleidoscope of failures, troubles and armageddons every day. And in general, it turns out – I'm up to my ears in all this, because the daughter is not just a Scandinavian goddess, as I thought, but a villain of the highest level! Understanding that just makes me want to crawl into a dark corner and cry until no one sees.

I can hardly resist the urge to contact my mother as soon as possible in order to at least somehow release the emotions that are tormenting me. No, I don't want to run crying on my mother's shoulder on the second day of the trip, that's just beneath the curb. And by the way, nothing has changed in my attitude to her from this epiphany. Hela is my mother and I adore her. But everything else! The only thing left to do was to pound the nearest wall with rage, which I did. I hit it once, another time, punched a hole, pulled a brick out of the masonry and grinded it to powder. I broke another one, but this one I began to crumble into small pieces, like bread to feed pigeons.

I have no idea how long I sat like that… probably a lot. The street had become quite lively, and there were people in the alley below, too. What depressed me the most was the idea that the events around me might not happen naturally, but rather in order to entice the viewers or readers. If it's the universe incarnation of some animated series or movie, then maybe it's not so bad. But if it's a comic book…then asshole, it's the ultimate asshole maybe. I wonder – is there any way to tell which version it is? No way, unless you have the ability to break the fourth wall, because the inhabitants of this world just don't notice the conventions around them – and I don't necessarily notice them either. What about Deadpool? She – she can always tell exactly whether she's in a comic book, cartoon, game or movie. Still – a character feature.

So, I rise resolutely to my feet and take deep breaths and exhales. It's time to stop reflecting and move on to the Acceptance stage. And as for the universe… I conclude that I don't want to know. Nor do I want to get involved with a weirdo like Deadpool. Somehow I'll figure it out on my own, I just have to start assessing the situation and my knowledge soberly.

And so I'm in the Marvel Universe. What do I know about it? Not that much, I had no special interest in this subject, although if something came to my attention it was worthy of attention. And first of all it was the nineties animated series «Spider-Man» and «X-Men» when I was a kid. What's next? «X-Men – Evolution» and «Invincible Spider-Man.» Okay, the latter obviously doesn't fit, since the setting there is Anti-Earth. Avengers. I remember the «Avengers are always together» cartoon pretty well. It was funny, considering the team was led by Ant-Man, while Hawkeye was a rebel outsider, so to speak. Also «Peter Parker – Spider-Man» done in 3D. It didn't look like much, but it even had me hooked as the superheroics were diluted with student relationships. «The New Adventures of Spider-Man,» with its design, almost put me off. «The Amazing Spider-Man»…that's where it was just crossover heaven. And there was some other cartoon… but it slipped my mind, I can't even remember why. Speaking of X-Men… vaguely recall what was in Wolverine and the X-Men. I don't recall anything else. «Avengers General Gathering» and «Earth's Greatest Heroes.» Well… something not bad with an obvious cartoon focus, I can't really say anything specific about them. There's also a teenage Iron Man animated series going around in my head. The anime… I kind of checked out a couple of episodes, but I thought I'd skip it. And pretend it never happened, like Marvel's «What If…» series. Somewhere else at the back of my mind is a solo Hulk series and a standalone Agents of Smash. But again, no details.

What about the movies? Well… the first wave is the first wave with its pros and cons. Famous X-Men and Spider-Man movies again. Blade, Daredevil, Ghost Rider… mm-hmm. Janine, a heartfelt thank you for not cringing and hooting over what's going on around you like one famous actor. Geez, it's so late in the game… a hardcore fan would have figured it out by now if they'd seen the female version of Ghost Rider. And probably even earlier, because I've lived with one clue my whole life and I call it Mama. But let's be honest – we usually do NOT look for references to some invented universe in our daily lives. That's why you can miss anything – until it hits you in the face. And it came. For the umpteenth time, I look at the newspaper page with annoyance. Yeah, Spider-Man screams «I'm from Marvel,» and there's no mistaking it. A living symbol, for crying out loud. But back to the movies…

Fantastic Four, as watched and forgotten. End of story. Separately go Deadpool and Venom… And the great line of movies from Iron Man to Avengers finale… hmmmmm the case sucks.

The games…just passed me by altogether.

Comic books… the case is just… crap! That's where my knowledge is nil. When I was a kid, I used to get these thin magazines a couple times a month, but not very often and not very regularly. So I know what was going on there mostly from friends' stories. Yes, that's who would have been happy to be in my place. Some had shelves full of those comics, including the English ones. I didn't. I'd flip through a few volumes in the heat of the discussion, that's all.

So what do we have in the end? What to expect? What do we need to prepare for? What's to be done? Ehmmm… A shrug of the shoulders and a wave of the hands, because – THE FUCK YET KNOWS! Except he doesn't know either. What's in store for us? Thanos and his ubiquitous flick? Will a clone of Spider-Man multiplied by Karnage decide to blow up all reality? Will the Apocalypse try to erase all time? A civil war? The arrival of Galactus? Stark will turn himself into an AI and start remaking everything and everyone into automatons? What? That's what I should expect? Marvel zombies…no, bitch, not Marvel zombies. I mean, they were made to be… just to be… wild bullshit for the purpose of just grabbing a piece of the pie on the trendy zombie apocalypse theme.

The mess going on in my head just makes me want to howl. For the umpteenth time I catch sight of the photo on the page. The foreshortening is kind of weird, but both ladies got into the frame as they should, the picture is like from a comic book. I recognize Gwen-Spider, I know the least about her, but I've seen more than once. She's easy to recognize from her costume. But the second one. She looks faintly like the Spider-Man I know. Hmmm… and speaking of spiders.

Staring at my own hands I wrap them in the cover of Necro-mecha. Oh, you've become suspiciously reminiscent of a symbiote now, useful my….. however Venom is mostly black and Karnage is red. Also, you basically don't talk to me, although I've tried to make contact several times before, even still there in the primordial darkness. Some other symbiote, then? What others were there? My friends told me about Toxin, a descendant of Carnage. Even Anti-Venom. And I even heard something about a whole group of symbiotes. And, in fact, that it's a full-fledged race called the Clintar. Um… did they feed off the host by fomenting his aggression, like they did in the cartoon? Or was Venom the exception? But the Necrosword continues to remain silent, obeying my will as if nothing had happened. Although… it does feed off of me. I remember something like that from talking to my mom and Aunt Death. But it's like I'm out of danger, and so – let it feed, everyone needs something to eat, and the benefits of it are enormous, so – more than pays off. Although, according to another version…

That's right! In a fit of insight, I slap my forehead with my palm. Parallel universes. How I'd forgotten about this roof-busting feature of Marvel's world order. A bunch of worlds each with their own peculiarities, often quite wild. How does this improve my situation? Technically, nothing at all. But still, I begin to feel more at ease at the thought of being in one of these worlds. After all, most of them have only been mentioned or have a brief description, for a few few there have been separate series. Which means there's just no point in worrying that I don't know something. In the mainstream universe, missed knowledge would be a load of missed opportunities for me. This is a world I'm rediscovering, with a clean slate. And all I know is the information of established universes that have already evolved. I don't know anything about Iron Fist or Moon Dragon except their names, but it doesn't matter, because they might not even exist in this world.

Of course, all parallel worlds have something in common. But in order to recognize them, my scattered information is as good as my thorough knowledge of the canon. Okay, maybe it's worse, but let's not panic, let's use what we have. It's like creating two separate libraries in my head. The first to store my knowledge of the Marvel universe in general, the second to store what I learn specifically about this world. And I got the first clue from Janine yesterday. The second, in fact, was the Ghost Rider herself. The whole weird sex ratio thing.

Anyway, what I need now is information about this world specifically. The more extensive the better.

Finally, tearing myself away from the ill-fated first page, I begin to flip through the last. Here it is, just what I need. An advertisement for a job at an Internet café. I think this is the best place for me to find out more about everything.

I jumped off the roof and went to the address listed on the ad. No, of course, I wasn't suddenly navigating New York like I was in my own castle. But, seriously, you have to be able not only to run away from the police, but also to use their various functions. In particular – to ask for directions. Seriously, that's the best way to go. I had to walk quite a lot, about forty minutes on foot, and I used the local buses three times. I went, however, as a hare, but I did not take anybody's place, because on the roof. In… supposedly heroic disguise. A full cover of Necro-mechanter fell under this definition quite well. They barely even paid any attention to me.

Entering the Internet cafe I immediately felt the familiar atmosphere of computer clubs. It was a typical space, with several rows of computers and quietly conversing packs of teenagers behind them. Those who got too carried away and raised their voices were immediately punished by the administrator, who was keeping a sharp eye on what was going on from behind his desk.

Taking off the hood of my sweatshirt – to look more friendly and less suspicious – that's where I went. The receptionist was a slim dark-skinned girl with a mop of curly hair.

-Hi. What are your rates?

-Hello. The game area is five dollars an hour, non-game area is three. Coffee, drinks and snacks are charged separately. Pay up front. – Almost never taking her eyes off her own monitor on the machine, she answers me in her memorized phrases and robot intonation. – The rules about maintaining a certain volume in the halls and physical contact are standard.

-This last one – can you be more specific?

-No shouting, insults or fights with other patrons. Otherwise, you'll leave the establishment and your money won't come back.

-Oh, that makes more sense.

-If there's any property damage, you pay for it out of your own pocket. So do you want me to get you a reservation?

-Yeah, let's make it a non-game place. For about three hours, I'll give you an extension.

-Hmm… -The girl looked at me for the first time. -Okay. Do you want coffee? If you take two hours or more, one cup of coffee is free.

-What a good offer, is sugar included?

-Two sugars in hand, you can sweeten it to taste. – Wow, she smiled at me too. I reciprocated by accepting a paper cup and a piece of paper. For a second I thought she'd given me her number, but no. Wrong. It turned out to be a bunch of random letters and numbers.

-You're in the next room. Computer number seven, it's on the left wall. Type in that password and enjoy yourself. – The girl returned to her duties, and I went to the indicated place, estimating the taste of local coffee as I went.

Sitting in my seat, I get ready to surf the Internet. Oh, the ubiquitous Google is still with us. So where do I start? Well, I guess I'm familiar with Spider-Man. Except it's not as easy as you might think. Seriously, clicking on links is certainly not difficult. But you have to be able to create a competent request, so as not to get a bunch of extraneous garbage. And I've never been an IT specialist, nor have I ever been a software and Internet search specialist.

And yet, I ended up with a result. First of all, yes, I could not find Spider-Man. Secondly, I found not one, but two or three female versions of Spider-Man.

The first is the already known to me Gwen-Spider, or as it is called Spider-Ghost. A tight suit of white and black color with a hood. Judging by the newspaper archives, she appeared before anyone else, which is probably why she took a vacant niche here. That's how she got the name Spider-Girl, thus becoming the main version of Peter Parker's replacement.

The second person was much brighter. I even thought that the photo in the newspaper was spoiled, because subconsciously I was expecting to see the familiar combination of red and blue. But no. It was black instead of blue, and as if in that costume, she was also the owner of long fiery red hair. No, it was more likely bright red, possibly dyed or even a wig. And this person goes by the nickname Scarlet Spider-Girl. And that's where I'm really stuck, trying to match her up with what I know. No, I got nothing. I have no idea who she could be. Purely at random, I'm guessing it's a female version of Parker? Well, then he's definitely lucky with the figure, very dainty and generally sexy. Assuming that Gwen as the one who appeared earlier took the place of the regular Spidey – then apparently Parker had to get out of it and come up with a Scarlet image. And, even though it's my personal opinion, it turned out just gorgeous.

And here's the last result… although it's hard to call it a normal result. Because if the first two are actively heroic throughout the city, the third light up just once in the photo. I found it by accident, digging through the archives of old Bugle issues. So Jonah stayed true to herself, even as a woman continued to poison Spiders in her newspaper, both at once. Except that one of the articles under the headline «Spiderwoman rampages through the streets of the city» featured a very different person in the photo. In fact, the only thing that came into the frame was a luscious ass wrapped in red latex and her legs stretched out in a jump, the rest was hidden in the dark, as if the woman herself was running away from the camera. Holy shit, how did that even get in the paper? It's a real onliphane picture. But the trick is, I suddenly recognize those feet in the yellow boots. Not from comic books or cartoons, though. I happened to watch a friend when he was playing a game in which you could choose from a couple dozen Marvel characters four and run them as a team. Here in his squad was just this Spiderwoman, and… I still remember a phrase from her dialogue that, «He's not my brother, or husband, or cousin, or anyone else. We got our powers differently in the first place.» What a shame to remember just that. Although, maybe I'm wrong altogether and this is an early version of the Scarlet Spider-Girl costume. Or maybe Bugle already screwed up and this character has nothing to do with spiders at all.

Out of interest, I googled a couple of famous spider-related personalities in general as well. Oh, Dr. Kurt Connors is here, an up-and-coming scientist they write. But more surprising was the fact that he kept his gender, remaining male. And he even had his arm intact… and what is that supposed to mean? The apparition of the Lizard is canceled? Okay, I'm not really burned by the fact that the man doesn't have to, in a rush of emotion and desire to regain what he lost, inject himself with an untested serum and turn into the hell out of it. Octavius… well, well… this one had a sex change. Also, judging by the pictures, she's a little shorter than a standard human being here. But that doesn't matter, as long as she doesn't have metal tentacles yet. Osborne… Osborne. Yeah, these are in place. Oscorp, the big high-tech weapons corporation. And Norma Osborne owns it. Yeah. Let's hope for the best.

So, what's our next move? Mmm… this reminds me of my encounter with the cops in the woods. What was it they said… «teleporter,» but now I remember someone calling me a mutant, too. And, as it turned out, not unreasonably. The Xavier Institute… wait, what? I studied with interest the photos from the ceremony of the next – hehehe opening of this institution. Wow, and the genders are mixed up here quite interestingly – and not so overdone Because in the company of people in formal formal formal suits, the one bald man in the gurney chair immediately catches my eye. I wonder if I could cure his legs with my power. Or is it a side effect of his telepathy? Oh, I don't remember. But that's not all. The other people in the group are also quite recognizable. Believe it or not, Wolverine retained both his gender and his testosterone man image. For the photo they made him wear a jacket too, but not a shave, and anyway his thick sideburns here have successfully grown into a beard. We also have three ladies here. Oh yes, the redheaded Gina Gray and the ebonite Ororo Monroe were recognizable without a problem. The last one had a bit of a hang-up until I noticed that her glasses weren't black, but rather red. Ha, Summers! That's who the shift has caught on, it turns out.

Interested in the question again, I took a slight digression to wonder – how serious is it in terms of gender reassignment? Janine said they have a ratio of one man to ten women. So, out of interest, I started looking up famous personalities that I was more or less familiar with. In general, yes, in the U.S. it's really one in ten, in other countries it varies. From one to four, to one to twenty – that's where it's tough. Also, as I see it, the issue of emigration of men from one country to another is very acute here.

But back to the changing genders. This is a premature judgment, but as far as I can see, those who were women in the original are still women. Many of the men, on the other hand, have changed genders. So you have to look for men among those who were men in my world. That's an interesting approach. I suppose Logan will have a blast at the Institute, among the man-hungry broads. Although there'll probably be some other guys there, too. Two men for the whole school… um. No, it's not gonna be easy.

Okay, stop. If you think back to the X-Men and compare my recent adventures… No, no… noooo. It's not even a hand, it's a face. It's more of a table face. Eh Bambino… I mean Gambito, since when do you steal wheels from motorcycles? Although… she did have nice tits, I gotta say. Janine, you just earned another plus for talking me out of a chase and revenge. I'm afraid to imagine what would have happened if I'd fought Gambit hard and true.

And then I suddenly realized who I'd met that night in the dark woods.

-Fucking hell… -I moaned softly, clutching my head with the realization -What I'd said and to Whom. – Fucking…

Rogue, Shelma, Anna… I'm sorry.

Now I was so ashamed! I wouldn't say the guilt was heavier than a granite slab, but it gnawed at me like a dragon. I must somehow apologize, but how? She's gone to some unknown destination, and until she's on the team… Wait a second! She flew away?

I pounded my fingers on the keys like mad, typing the right request, while feeling how I was literally overwhelmed with fierce anger. I had to literally force myself to press Enter. Okay, calm down. Calm Mortis. You're not a nervous intellectual anymore, you're actually a warrior. And you realize it's not the character that pisses you off, it's the actress who played her. And you're also clearly told that if you break the monitor with the keyboard, then you'll have to pay for everything yourself. Out of money, which isn't much. Deep breaths and exhales, one more time. Pressing.

-Cool! – I even jumped out of my chair when I saw on the monitor screen a classic blonde in black tights, with her gloves, stockings, and zipper symbol on her chest. My screaming and cheering, of course, did not go unnoticed, but apparently they decided to forgive me for the first time. Especially since I immediately scurried back to my seat as a quiet mouse.

Oh, Miss Marvel, Carol Danvers. It's so good to see you. But I hope I never see the Mexican Kamala, or I'm going to whack her or kick her ass right back to Xavier. That's where she belongs. By the way. I couldn't find anything online about Carol Danvers herself. Well, that's not surprising, it's not so easy to find information about a particular person through Google if she's not famous, at least in some circles. And here we are talking about the military, there is clearly not without some kind of access. But Miss Marvel is an officially recognized heroine, she was even photographed in front of the U.S. flag. There are notes about her exploits, albeit not very many. But from the looks of it, she hasn't been seen anywhere lately. There is speculation on the subject, but there is no specifics.

But now it's clear who Rogue was running away from. I'm not sure I can think of anything worse than a ghost in your head, if it's not near you, but in your head. No one else can see it. I wonder if there's anything I can do to intervene in this situation and fix it. Curses, this is a side effect of being in a world where there are sympathetic characters – immediately you want to intervene and help. I'm not going to do anything until she shows up again, anyway. I'd rather it be the X-Men. By herself, or with Logan's help, or even the Professor's. Okay, what are the other more famous personalities?

Hmmm, Magneto. And here he has become a woman. Wow and known as «the mutant who killed JFK»! Wow, that's quite a spread! Recently caught, but then managed to escape again. And, by the way, that was the dawn of Project Sentinel. I can't believe my eyes, but – there really is an organization here with huge robots at arms! Officially it's called the «Mutant Registration Center» and it's not that long ago, it's just now gaining momentum – but they already have the power to suppress conflicts with mutants using… huge robots. Fuck, now I know why the police are so nervous. However, the attitude of the population to this program is rather negative. It seems that people are less afraid of mutants than of the fact that the clumsy machines in the process of catching them will turn the nearest houses into ruins.

By the way, what about the Avengers? I fiddled and cross-checked my information for a long time before I came up with the shocking fact that there are no Avengers in this universe! And no, the team wasn't destroyed-it wasn't assembled at all. There is no mention of Ant-Man or Wasp, and if they are heroes, they don't advertise themselves. Thor, my Native Aunt. Has only appeared a few times on Earth so far and is perceived precisely as a Scandinavian goddess who turned out to be a reality, not a superhero.

Tony Stark… oh sorry, Tina Stark. Gorgeous Pretty Woman, model, multimillionaire with dainty glasses and everything else on the list. Hmmm, looks like I'm just in time for her to start becoming a superhero. She had already been kidnapped during a demonstration of her new weapon and then successfully rescued, after which she stopped making weapons. And in the newly invented armor has already been in the news several times – and it all began with the fact that it was almost shot down by the U.S. air defense. After that it was officially announced that it was its own development. The public is still wondering if it's a robot or Stark's new state-of-the-art bodyguard. Hmm. On the one hand, I just feel like a cheater, knowing her secret. And on the other hand, she's already going to tell the whole world who's under the mask. So we'll just make a mental note.

Captain… Captain America is Stella Rogers. She's even easier to deal with here. Just type World War II into the search engine, and Cap will pop up on your screen like a banner ad that says «You won a million!». Yeah, yeah, I get it. Icon, symbol and all that. But when I dug deeper into World War II out of interest, I kept getting thrown out to various materials about Stella and her exploits. The other information was monstrously superficial and horrible. It was as if they were trying to convince you that Cap Merica fought alone in World War II. Either the information is so mercilessly filtered and I need to turn on some kind of WPN analog, or I'm doing something wrong. But I really had a hard time finding anything on those events where Cap didn't check in.

-Damn, poor Stella. I feel sorry for her already. – Sadly, I toss my empty coffee cup into the trash. – All that fighting and never making Major.

And, by the way, guess who won World War II according to the local version, when I decided to ask this question? That's right – Stella Rogers, too. However, I was persistent, and on the forty-sixth attempt Google gave up, giving me, among other links, the one that led to a historical site, claiming that the war was over – yes, the Soviet Union. In this world, by the way, so not disintegrated. Thanks man, it's not easy going into history with you unequivocally. I was tempted to say a lot of profanity, but then I noticed an interesting pattern. The local Internet tried not to touch the topic of foreign countries at all, mentioning it to a minimum, replacing it with advertising.

Want to know something about China? At your service are two dozen links to restaurants with authentic Chinese cuisine. France? The same number of references to an exhibition-gallery of exact copies of works by French masters. From there you can find something of interest – but very dry and laconic. How does this even work?

And yes, about Cap. She's listed as missing in action. Well, yeah, there you go – the country's greatest heroine just went missing and that's it. But by the way, she's not officially dead until a hundred years after she goes missing. That is, not for a long time. It's all a bit… murky.

So, what about the Hulk? Awww. Yes, there is one and he's even kept his sexual originality. He's also earned the title, «Honorary Superman.» Ha, funny. And people also often add «Destroyer.» Honorary Superman Destroyer! Sounds like a hell of a thing! How did that happen? I did a little more digging on the net, and I found out that the title of Honorary Super – a semi-official analogy to the Nobel Prize for men – is given to those who stand out in comparison to others. And if the recipient is also in good shape, such as tall, bulging muscles, etc. – then it also adds «Man». This title does not have any official weight, but it is still very popular among the people and the media, and it's not completely trivial to call it either. In fact, from a newspaper that posted a few years ago, the rating «Honorary Super» and «Honorary Man», and then it all started, turning into a promoted trend. I only wonder – how did someone who basically crashes everything around him get this title? Although, yes, that's probably why it's Destroyer.

At this point, I thought about it again. But now not about Marvel, but about the world in general. More specifically, the situation with its male non-half. Given this skew and what Janine has told me – men here must be the weaker sex and fragile individuals who are not just kept in safes. You stay at home, lead a good life, and your wives will get you out. Polygamy is quite officially allowed here. But here I see the scientist Kurt Connors. And Charles Xavier, who is working on education and solving the problem of coexistence of humans and mutants. And now here's the title of «Honorary Superman.» This called for a more thorough examination, which I did. And as it turned out – though the picture is not very pleasant, but not so scary as at first glance.

Yes, men are scarce, so they grab everyone who is badly laid. There is even a legal obligation for them to have a wife at the age of eighteen. At least one. By the way, the fine for non-compliance is not small, and you have to pay it every month as a tax. There is even a state body, which is just engaged in finding a suitable couple for a single cowboy. Although its services are rarely used, because girls try to secure a boyfriend when they are still in school. And given that polygamy is allowed, they often band together to do it. And intrigue, both between and within groups. So there's a lot of excitement.

And yet, how are things with male self-actualization? Further study of the issue allowed us to identify several types of behavior.

Alphonse or mama's boy – these guys are the most common and widespread type of guy. They can also be called «unreliable», but guys see this as a kind of insult. The epitome of the phrase «Man is basically a lazy beast.» It's not surprising, if everything you don't want is given to you from the mothers around you, it's unlikely that something else will grow out of the child. And then they want the same thing from life – simplicity and security, which makes them target rich women. But what's interesting – even with the current severe shortage of men, most rich women treat alphonsees without much sympathy and look at these flamboyant fashionable boys in bright clothes with short sleeves and tight pants with a kind of contempt, as on prostitutes or excortresses would look rich people from my past life. They can entertain themselves or keep them to themselves for a while, but they're still looking for more reliable partners. Those who won't run off to an even richer and wealthier one if she suddenly beckons. Hence the so unloved nickname «Unreliable», which, incidentally, means those who roll like a piglet from one to the other and who do not know where they will stop. And they will have to stop – even here, guys can only jump freely from one bed to another until they get married, which is compulsory, mind you. But divorce here is complicated, with a lot of nuances and nuances.

The next type, these are creative individuals. Those who somehow try to realize their talents in such things as music, drawing, fashion, acting. In general – turn their hobbies into their dream job. In this category, by the way, a huge number of extremely eccentric personalities. Especially, for some reason, among musicians – they, by the way, have a fairly popular situation where the band is a family consisting of a husband and his wife. By the way, several music bands that I remember from my world have been found here as well. And in exactly that capacity.

-Yeah-my. It's a good thing I'm already sitting down. – Looking at the photo of the band Ramstein, I fell out of my mind. A wedding photo of the band Ramstein. Man, Till… Till Lindermann. You're the only one of them who stayed a man – and ended up dragging your entire band down the aisle pregnant! At this point, I really wanted to drink something stronger to make me forget what I saw. And even their wedding wasn't normal – well, it was Ramstein. They would have a concert wedding, with brides in black dresses and a crowd in leather suits.

Artists and sculptors against the background of musicians are almost all modest and don't stand out in any way. But the models and actors are more interesting.

Especially those who don't just advertise clothes, perfumes, etc., but who star in movies. The most passionate characters are those who play leading roles and supporting roles. Here on a regular basis trying to break into the Alphonse, trying to hit the screen and advertise themselves. Most of them blow the whistle, some end up in crowd scenes, and a few ended up being so carried away that they became quite decent actors. Although the media still likes to remind them of the past at every opportunity. I couldn't resist searching for familiar names – and to my amazement I found out that the actor I knew, Bolo Yeung, holds the record for the biggest harem at the moment. Sixteen women, and each has already delivered a child, and some more than once. And yes – he's also a «Man of Honor» winner… no argument there, it's well-deserved! An exemplary male, a perfectly physically strong and sturdy male for breeding. Thinking about his harem, I wondered if it really was the biggest in the world. And I kept googling. It turned out – no, there were bigger ones. The biggest one had forty women, but it wasn't that simple – most of these marriages were built for financial and political gain. It was essentially not a family, but a corporation. They hardly even had children. The state was quick to recognize this and intervened, not wanting such monstrous organizations to be created under the guise of a family, capable of surpassing and crushing the government agencies themselves. In general, the standard family now is three wives, and the expansion is followed by fierce inspections, paperwork, and additional requirements, such as the fact that before taking a fourth wife, you must make at least one baby for each of the three current wives. Under these conditions, Bolo is really cool for holding such a record, having gathered a full, huge family around him in spite of all the difficulties.

And the last type, the Careerists. Oh yes, those who want to realize themselves in the complex sciences and physically demanding disciplines. That's the rarest kind of man. Rare but still not extinct. Scientists, researchers, doctors, athletes, astronauts and all that. And by the way! The first man in space is still Yuri Gagarin, though – with his wife. What?

In general, there are men who have really been able to achieve heights in similar fields here, too. And they, as a rule, like to marry their colleagues. And they rarely have more than one or two wives. Well, this is understandable – those who have the fire of passion inside them for the thing they love, it's good if they can find at least some of that same passion for something or someone else. And yes, the Olympics are separate for men and women here – different standards, different records. But in science, everyone is equal.

By the way, there is also a fourth category, almost imperceptible at first glance, but quite numerous. The adapted. The fact is that men here are required to pay a regular «tax» to the Sperm Bank. And even stars with the title of «Honorary Man» and beyond are no exception. Some of the sperm is frozen, some is used for research, but the main purpose is to help with artificial insemination for same-sex female couples, of which there are plenty in this world of gender bias. So – for each «contribution to the bank» there is an allowance – not a huge one, but quite enough to lead a modest life without much demand. Many people have enough of that, and some of it comes from their wives as well. Mandatory marriages, remember? I don't know why, but somehow they remind me unpleasantly of the crooks in my

I don't know why, but somehow they remind me of those crooks in my world who take orphans from orphanages and live off their allowances, but spend very little on the children themselves. Here, though, no one suffers from this passive lifestyle of theirs. But the comparison still springs to mind.

Leaning back in my chair, I come to the conclusion that all is not so bad in this world with men. Yes, there are few of them, but they have not completely turned into the «weaker sex». There are quite a few decent individuals, though, for the most part, as they say, they are only for the select few. But it's not bad.

-Would you take a break? – Suddenly the receptionist came up to me. – At least have a proper meal. Or will you extend it again?

-Why have I been sitting here so long? – I mean, I've already extended my time, but I don't remember it at all. Wow! The clock on the computer is already at seven o'clock.

-It's not that long, just six hours. You can be here longer than that, but not in this department. – She seemed to appreciate that kind of diligence in gathering information, not in some online game. Maybe she thinks I'm a student collecting materials for my diploma. – So are you renewing?

- Nah, I think that's really enough for today. – Rising from the table, I can not help myself and stretching my whole body after so much time sitting at the computer. Enough for the first time, I've learned quite a bit – and I haven't spent that much. Although now even those twenty bucks are a sum. What's worse-I couldn't find a shelter for the night, but-but-if I think about it. Do I really need one? I had a good night's sleep in the motel, and with the usual regimen I was not in danger of getting drowsy anytime soon. There was no special work, except for the escape from the police, but it was no more complicated than my usual training. I had no curfew. I was not afraid of bad company, but rather bad company should be afraid of me. Except, at this very moment, information about where I am comes to mind. Goddamn Marvel.

I have certainly heard before that New York is the city that never sleeps. And now I seem to be starting to see it firsthand. There are a huge number of cabs on the roads. There are plenty of regular cars, too, but cabs still predominate. And only the cab drivers allow themselves to shout at the top of their voice, sticking their head out of the car. Maybe it's just the neighborhood I'm in. I had to look for a less densely populated area, where I could find a place to stay. I linger at the bus stop and study the map there. So, what are my options for sleeping at the moment? I could climb a skyscraper and sleep on the roof. I can do that, there's usually enough piles of obscure stuff to put a hammock between. But it's definitely cold there and it blows a lot, I don't like it that much. More options…

My musings were interrupted by the sound of a police siren. A car rushed past at high speed, followed by a police car with flashing lights and siren. Here it comes… and how fortunate that just now in the thick of traffic there was a free passage for them. Hmm. Familiar clichés. Well, yes, there she was – at a height of twenty or thirty meters chasing the cars flew swaying on a web already recognizable person.

A smile appeared on my face of its own accord as I hurried into the nearest alley between the buildings. What a rare chance, and it wasn't Gwen after all. The same Scarlet who is supposedly Parker. I'm curious, I'm really curious.

-Superman style. – I was just hiding from prying eyes and his hands ripped the sweatshirt right on his chest. A scarlet skull was already peeking through the tear. – Get me a Hero suit, quick!

Part One Chapter Twelve

What were my motives for such an adventure? First: I was curious to see the local Spider-Girl in action with my own eyes. Second: I'm very interested in this particular Scarlet – because I don't know anything about her at all, just assuming that she might be a local Parker in a different costume. And third: My presumptive «Venom.» Remembering how the symbiote acquired all of Spidey's abilities after being his costume for a while, I wondered if I could do the same. No, I'm not going to give the Necro Sword to anyone, of course. But if the symbiote is capable of doing that, then maybe I could copy those same abilities just by watching its owner.

The torn sweatshirt was quickly replaced by a battle blanket, completely hiding my identity, and I literally climbed the wall. So, about the spider's tenacity-it's gone. I still have to grasp all sorts of protrusions and crevices, just like before. I'm not sure what I'm doing, but I've got to get my clawed fingers into the wall, and then I can pull myself up. «I'm not so sure about this, but I'm sure I'll be able to sit freely on the walls and the ceiling.

Once on the roof, I hurriedly follow the superheroine until she was completely out of sight. Okay, cobwebs… No. There are tentacles, but that's not even close. I can't shoot them and they don't stick… although I did glue one of Remy's accomplices to the pavement during a motel overnight. But that's a little different; I transformed some of the symbiote into a solid, viscous, sticky mass.

-Hey. – But swinging between buildings on my tentacles can be just as good. I'm not afraid of heights – I've flown in all sorts of things in my time. I had no experience flying lianas, though. So, sometimes I had to help myself to correct the direction with the more usual «Jerk». And the distinct advantage was that the tentacles were not confined to my arms, now they were reaching out from behind my back, grasping a pole or digging into walls, crumbling concrete. No, I definitely need a web like the girls – moving as I do now is destructive to my surroundings. In fact, it's more like Dr. Octopus!

And while I was figuring it all out Spider-Girl was already in motion.

She jumped on top of the car, and shots rang out. Dodging bullets through the roof, Alaya climbed over to the hood and did something there. I couldn't see what it was, but the car lost control almost immediately. It wobbled frantically from side to side, finally failed to fit into a particularly steep curve, and began to roll over. However, Spider-Girl was not confused, and on the way the car immediately appeared a huge web, in which the car and got stuck, hanging a meter above the ground.

Settling on the wall of the building, I continued to observe, not yet intending to intervene. The police finally reached the scene, just in time for Alaya to catch the criminals who had escaped, cocooning them one by one. There were a few left for the police, too, though. One of the fugitives had somehow managed to slip away from the others, and now she was making a beeline for the battle until she drew too much attention. Too late, she did – mine. It was the perfect moment to try something, since she was running in my direction.

I move closer to where the criminal should soon be, concentrate and wait for the right moment to release a stream of slime in her direction, trying to give it the desired shape. It was visually quite acceptable. A black and scarlet web clung to the back of the unsuccessful fugitive. I yank myself with both hands and the criminal takes off with a scream, makes a beautiful arc, and falls right into the web I carefully stretched between the two lanterns. Gotcha!

Snap!

By some miracle I catch a suspicious sound in the street noise around me, and I turn around. And I stumble across a girl with a cell phone in a very distinctive pose. Oh, my gosh, there I am in the picture. No, more like a video. What do I do now? The correct answer is feet. I release my tentacles again and use them to hide in the nearest alley. An unfortunate accident. But on the whole, I'm happy with the outcome. I managed to copy the capabilities of the web using my symbiote, albeit roughly. And if you think about it, it turned out even better. The elasticity of my organic web can be adjusted at will. Without losing its strength. And it does not disintegrate over time, unlike the original… Freeze!

I froze in place, frantically thinking about what I had done. Spider-Man's web itself fades away after a while. Mine remains permanent. Which means anyone can get their hands on a sample if they want one. And… where would that lead to? Symbiote DNA in the public domain. Holy shit! Fucking Marvel!

I'm head over heels for the ride back. That's all I need. Friends once told me about the shit that happens when Spider-Man's DNA gets into the wrong hands. A bunch of clones with tons of problems of all sorts. And six-armedness was pretty much the most harmless thing there. Venom's DNA seemed to have been played with, and it didn't do any good either. And this isn't just a symbiote, it's my Necrosword. Consider that I just scattered the DNA of an organism capable of wounding Death himself in the open!

This evening turned out to be just crazy. After a grueling day at work, I struggled to get home, not realizing that the fun was just beginning. At first I heard gunshots somewhere in the distance, then a car appeared on the road, and, judging by its twisting trajectory, it had clearly lost control. And right on the hood of the car was a person who had already been well covered in the media. One of those new altruistic women who call themselves «Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Girls. And she clearly wasn't just driving around. The car swerved too sharply and began to tumble sideways at full throttle. The wheels went up into the air and the whole car was thrown up into the air.

-Holy… - Before I could even finish my sentence, there was a web blocking the street and the car was in the way. -God.

My hand pulled out the phone, about to call nine-one-one. But the police siren sounded a few seconds later. Before I knew what was happening, my phone was already in camera mode, filming the criminals running off in different directions. However, they didn't get far, the spider was successfully catching them with her web, and the police had also joined in. And yet-one seemed about to disappear-and I kept filming her. What else was there to do? I wasn't a hero; it wasn't up to me to stop her. But I could give the tape to the police later, so it would be easier to identify the runaway and find her. But that's when she stepped in.

A black web of unknown origin immobilized the fleeing criminal, and then swept her into the air, hanging her from a pole. I didn't even really understand how it happened-she had just been running, and now she was flying. Even the camera did not have time to capture anything, capturing only the result.

The new spider, in a black and scarlet costume stood on the lamppost, from which now dangled the caught victim. Just like a fly in a web.

Wow, that's pretty cool. All I could think was, barely beginning to realize what was going on when the new spider jumped to the ground. The phone rang treacherously, announcing the end of the recording. And it didn't go unnoticed.

-Amm. Hi. Why is your web… - I didn't have time to speak, and the new girl had already disappeared before I could hear myself mutter. - …Black? Oh. (chuckles) Okay, fine.

-Hey, what's that? – I heard an amazed voice next to me. While I stared at the disappeared, the first spider, the one who had caught the car in her net, was already there, and now with obvious interest was looking at the criminal hanging from the pole.

-Whose web is this? – Scarlet Spider-Girl poked the black threads with her finger at first, and then began to feel them, studying them as if they were something new and unknown.

-One of yours. – I made up my mind to speak up, and immediately got her attention-Alaya even jumped to the sidewalk beside me.

-Excuse me?

-Well, there was this… …like… - The words stubbornly refused to form coherent sentences, but I pulled myself together. – While you were chasing the others over there, this one came running over here. Suddenly, one of your… ...one of your mercenaries.

-The mercenaries? – Alaya said coldly, with her arms crossed across her chest.

-Well… The ones who wear the mask and the costume. – I hastened to correct myself. – She suddenly appeared and… well, you see. – I nodded quickly at the connected one. – I even thought you had an addition.

-Hmm. How interesting…

-Excuse me for interrupting the fan experience. – A policewoman interrupted us as she approached, turning to Scarlet. – But we need help. Friendly neighbor, can you help us get the car down and remove your net? She's blocking the whole road.

-Oh, yeah. Sure thing, Officer. – Scarlet Spider-Girl nodded in agreement and briefly tossed me, «Don't go anywhere. I'll be right back.» - She went off to where the car was still hovering over the road. I decided not to waste my time and started uploading the footage to the network. It should be great – the end of the chase and the new girl. Maybe I can make a video with Scarlet. It's a small price to pay for information, isn't it? Isn't it?

-Geez. You're still here. – There was a disgruntled voice from above. I lift my head – and I see that the new spider is already seen again on the pole next to his web.

-Ahir! – I jerk my phone up, but to no avail. The download is not yet complete, which means I can't record anything right now.

Meanwhile, the new girl was gathering her own web. In the truest sense of the word – unlike Alya, who now in the distance trivially tore threads holding the machine with her hands, the same pulled her web in her hands as a vacuum cleaner.

-What's your name, anyway? Are you a new member of the team or a wannabe? – Having made my decision, I hastily press cancel the upload. It's more important to make a new video now.

-Nobody calls me. I come if I want. – Shortly she mutters, having finished with the cobwebs. The criminal, who was lowered to the sidewalk in the process, tried to jump up and run away, but the Newcomer who jumped down next to her simply slammed an open palm on the woman's head, and she went limp.

The phone finally started working in camera mode again. Immediately I point it at the spider and… It disappears in a light flash before it hits the lens. Then a second later, it reappears in the same flash on the wall of the building.

-What? -What the… - I keep trying to get her in the frame and I'm half a second too late. She's like a jumper, moving from place to place without letting me get a shot of her. -What was that?

On the fifth try, I finally lost sight of her. Now I couldn't find her with my camera or my eyes. She just disappeared, vanished. It was spectacular, I couldn't tell. I never got her in the frame – I only interrupted the download for nothing. All right, let's start again.

-Hey, where's… - A sudden tap on my shoulder made me jerk, almost dropping my phone.

-Oh… I'm sorry. – It was Alaya, and she even raised her hands in an apologetic gesture when she saw my reaction. -I didn't mean to scare you. So… where did the cobwebs go?

-Umm. -Mournfully looking at my phone, which has just started uploading videos again.

***Mortis***

After regaining what I'd lost, I still climbed onto the roof of one of the skyscrapers and settled there between the concrete and iron boxes, studying my trophy. Yes, in addition to parts of my Necrosword, I had also brought along a scrap of Spider-Girl's web. Perhaps, with a sample, I could copy it after all? Yes, this logic may look strange from the outside, but I well remember that in the '90s animated series Venom still produced a perfectly plausible web. Is my symbiote any worse? What have I got to lose? However, feeding my prey to the Necrosword had no useful effect. No change, no new sensations, no sudden insight-nothing. How was that supposed to work? Nevertheless, I spent some more time experimenting, hoping to achieve the desired practice. I stretched a strip of cloth between two walls – the kind I usually use for a hammock – and began to try to turn it into a spider's web. The first attempts looked more like black snot of the most disgusting kind. But I did not give up, and soon the result of my efforts looked quite like the original – but only. It was a more plausible but still black web. Because, in fact, it was still pieces of Necro sword, preserving the symbiote's DNA. There was nothing I could do about it. This shitty travesty was the limit of what I could do. It's a shame – as a kid I was a huge fan of Spider-Man, I always wanted to have his powers – so I got hung up on it when I realized where I was going. But apparently – it's time to calm my inner child and stop stealing other people's style. I will not become another variation of Spider, I will not have his web, flair and dexterity. Unless my jokes are the same… witty. I snorted angrily, forcing the Necrosword to absorb all the results of my experiments again.

There is, of course, another option. After all, Venom got his powers after being a Parker suit. But no, I don't want to put my Sword on the local web-slinging heroines. Spiders have a complicated relationship with symbiotes. What if I can't get my symbiote back or… In short, I was too focused on this and forgot about my current tasks. I'm temporarily giving up on stenolazers and getting back to business.

And so, the city that never sleeps. And now I can see better and better why. As darkness falls, the activity increases in a startling way. The streets have become beeping rivers of cabs with a mixture of other cars. Lorries crawling down alleyways picking up trash bags. And everywhere, people, people, people. Even the walls of skyscrapers are occupied by window washers who scrub the windows to perfection. There's endless activity. Crowds didn't scare me – there were always a lot of people in the world of the dead, too, but the pace there was much more moderate, because most of the inhabitants had nowhere to hurry. I was in no hurry, either, when I finally found several apparently empty houses, and chose one as a temporary shelter.

The building that caught my eye the most was the one enclosed on all sides by a high fence. Apparently a fire had recently raged here, and no one else had lived there since. It wasn't a hotel, of course, but it would do for one night. Even with my habit of a different regime, I just want to lie down somewhere, relax, and take a nap for a couple of hours.

At a nearby store bought a couple of packs of «Top Ramen» the local equivalent of instant noodles and a few bottles of mineral water. Hmmmmm… how do you make that without boiling water? I had to buy a mug as well. Mmmm… and lose that mug when trying to heat water in it with a spell. Why? I can't make a fire here, it's already burnt out, there's only concrete and bricks around. You can't run into the woods for firewood. And a weapon with a flaming blade can't regulate the temperature of a fire. I hadn't thought of that feature in my time, so I incinerated a pathetic pile of flammable debris I'd managed to gather nearby in a second.

-Great. A hobo eats hobo packages the way a hobo eats dry food. – I summed up by pulling bricks of noodles out of the package. Then I covered my head with the Necrosword and opened my mouth and threw the food down with water. Crum-crum-crum… so-so. Okay, at least I've had some food, now I can take a nap.

«Herr Mannelig, would you like to marry me, my friend?»

Asked the trolless, lowering her green eyelashes.

I began to hum softly, preparing myself a new hammock. This time it wasn't made of fabric, but of copied webbing. Then I climbed into it and, putting my hands under my head, began to sway quietly, closing my eyes and continuing to purr under my nose.

You are a gentile, and your soul will burn for centuries in hell,

Go away and don't fuck with me, or I'll walk right through you.

Soon, however, it became clear that I would not sleep. The noise of the metropolis behind the windows with broken glass, the draught coming in through the windows, and the howling of the wind that suddenly rose from outside irritated me immensely, driving sleep away. It seemed that it was time to try something else. I reassembled all the cobwebs, looked for a more private corner under the ceiling, and climbed into it. Hmmm, there is something in this climbing on the walls, although I rather reminded myself of a cockroach.

In a sobbing fit, the trollsha escaped, crying and wailing,

«I must marry you, and I will be different!

I crawled to the corner with my back to the front, and let the tentacles and cobwebs out of the Necro Sword, beginning to build myself a kind of spider's nest. The tentacles hardened around me, creating a rigid frame with space inside, which was soon filled with a soft cocoon of spider web that enveloped me on all sides.

After all, married to a knight, I would be human,

A beauty I will turn, I will show you a miracle!»

The cocoon formed completely, allowing me to finally fend off unnecessary noise, cold, and wind. It felt nice and warm and cozy. I covered my eyes and didn't notice how soon I finally fell asleep.

-Marie! Marie, where are you? – Jen hurried her friend on the run, glancing back over her shoulder nervously.

-Stop yelling, stupid! – A few steps behind her, the woman found the strength to dash forward, allowing her to catch up with her accomplice. – We've only just dropped our tail.

- Do you realize what you've gotten us into? – Jen grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and would have done so had she not feared she would have to slow down.

-What did you want? Go down to the basement and buy one of those things quietly, like a dildo in a sex shop? – Marie jerked sharply to the side, breaking free from her friend's grasp. – She had to hide somewhere and wait it out.

They had to put off the fight they'd been having for a while, but in the meantime they stared suspiciously at the nearby house, which was covered in traces of a recent fire, with only strips of yellow tape blocking the walkway. Without a single play in the windows,

Whose shattered glass reflected only the light of the city lights, it looked very much like a ghost-house. But there was no choice.

Without a word they slipped under the yellow ribbons and hurried to the house. Jen pushed the front door forcefully, but it did not give way. She tried to pull it, but it didn't work either, and she put her shoulder to the door and tried to pull it with all her weight in a single, brutal force.

- Don't make any noise, you fool! – Marie, who had already looked around the back of the house, whispered to her. – Come here.

There was indeed a window with its frame completely blown out, though it was almost two meters off the ground. Marie gave Jen a lift, helping her up, and then her friend dragged her up.

Once inside they both froze, listening to see if they were being followed. But they didn't seem to be followed, and neither did the way they'd come up here. The silence of the late night was broken only by the strong wind and the occasional car at this time of night.

-It seems calm. We'll wait here at least until dawn. – Marie was finally able to breathe out peacefully, but glancing at her companion, noticed how she angrily glared at her. – What else?

-Now they'll be looking for us. – Jen was finally able to express her frustration.

-I don't think so. We didn't take much. – Marie brushed it aside and went to the back of the building, wanting to get away from the windows. -Did you see that warehouse? I'm more likely to believe the stolen goods will be written off as lost.

Once up to the second floor, the accomplices looked around several rooms, but even where they couldn't be seen from the outside it was still monstrously cold, Jen even had to wrap her arms around herself and start rubbing herself, trying not to get cold.

-How did you even get in touch with them? – She asked, not so much wanting an answer as trying to distract herself with conversation while her gaze searched frantically for anything to shelter her from the wind.

-Mostly through word of mouth, but sometimes it doesn't hurt to pay for information. – Marie was much calmer, though she didn't like the cold at all herself. Walking a little deeper into one of the rooms, she suddenly felt her right foot bump into something and before she could stop she kicked it. The object rustled across the floor, hit the wall, clattered off to the side, and rolled away. – Oh, shit.

-What was that? – Immediately Jane, who had responded to the noise, reappeared at the source of the noise.

-Homeless. – Marie snorted, nodding at the packages of noodles and empty plastic bottles lying on the floor, one of which she had stumbled upon.

-What do we do now?

-Nothing. Let's see if anyone else is here besides us. I'll go this way and you go that way. – Marie nodded her head in the direction down the hall.

-You've got to be kidding me. – Jen's eyes widened at what she heard.

-Fuck. It's not a fucking horror movie. Just if you see any homeless people, yell at them to get the fuck out. If anything, give them a kick to speed them up. At the very least, pull out your gun.

-You what? You want to shoot bums with stolen guns? – Jen hesitantly pulled her Beretta from her waistband.

-No, of course not. – Marie gave her partner a wry look. – Just scare them. Shoot only as a last resort, if any of them are too much of a jerk. – Without saying anything else, she turned and went off in her chosen direction.

The first two rooms were small and completely empty. The third, on the other hand, was much larger, and the meager light from the single window was not enough to dispel the darkness at the far end.

-Is anyone here? – She blurted out into the void. Silence. The unpleasant feeling that arose only intensified and the woman pulled out her pistol, immediately disengaging the safety just in case. Something in the darkness made her feel uneasy, as if it stood out so indistinctly that she thought she might lose her view if she looked away. She took a couple of steps forward, and the silhouette finally became clear, turning into a huge spider's web with slime flecks.

-Mother of God. – Marie's eyes were slowly getting used to the darkness, allowing her to see more and more.

The wall here was completely covered in a thick layer of bile slime, with thick ropes of spider web growing out of it. The vile pattern of threads converged toward the corner, reminiscent of some alien creature's nest – and with a cocoon under the ceiling. The whole scene literally shocked the woman into shock at what she saw.

-Fuck, where did that come from? -Fearful of even approaching the thing, Marie backed away again.

-Marie, I'm nobody… - Jen appeared behind her friend's back so suddenly that the woman involuntarily shrieked, her whole body twitching, and her finger nervously pressed the trigger.

-Aah! -Jen shrieked as her accomplice's gun suddenly went off into the darkness. -Are you out of your mind?

-Jen… oh shit… -Finally aware of what had happened, Marie tried to calm her trembling hands and her heart nearly jumping out of her chest. – Are you fucking crazy, sneaking up on a man with a gun like that?

-Why isn't the safety on? -Shut up!

-Shut up! – Right now Marie, irritated, wanted more than anything not to answer the questions, but to get the fuck out of here. For a moment, she thought she saw something move in the corner, and she had a new panic attack inside.

-What is it? – Jen, on the contrary, was peering into the corner, having already glimpsed her partner's find, but not yet having had time to take a good look at the darkness that reigned here.

-Let's get out of here now. – Not wanting to stay in this room for a second, but in the whole house, or better yet, in this block in general, Marie hurriedly pulled her companion to the exit. At that very moment, the cocoon under the ceiling fell apart with a sticky, squelching sound.

-WHO ARE YOU? – A gruff, horrifying voice boomed from the ceiling. Two white blurs, like huge distorted eyes, pierced the darkness in the corner.

-God! – Marie screamed and, thinking of nothing else, began shooting at the creature under the ceiling, hurrying backwards with each shot. She was echoed by Jen's incoherent screaming and the flashes of the shots, lighting up the room for a moment, allowed only a glimpse of the nightmare creature's appearance.

-KHAA! -Simply, like the squeak of iron on glass, the creature roared forward, spreading its arms and legs-no, elongated, thin limbs in the air. Long, curved claws clamped deadly on Marie's body and toppled the screaming woman to the floor, landing on top of her with the ease of a crumpling adult doll. The gun spewed one bullet after another straight into the monster's chest, but he didn't even seem to notice – and the gunshots were replaced by useless cheeks as the entire clip ran out. A second hand pinned Marie's head to the floor, and then the ugly mouth with its many sharp teeth and its slimy, long tongue, too long to fit inside, appeared before her.

-WHAT IS YOUR GENETIC CODE!? – The creature wheezed as if sniffing at Marie's horror-stricken face. Another shot rang out-this one went straight into the monster's mouth, and it seemed to be paying attention to the shooting for the first time. The ugly eyes went up to the panicked Jan. She managed to fire one more shot before her gun emptied, too.

-BLAE. – The creature vomited black sludge, showering Marie with it, and she screamed and twitched her body trying to get out. But instead it only got more entangled in the enveloping and rapidly thickening slime.

Jen couldn't take it anymore. Abruptly cutting off her screaming, she sprinted out of the room into the hallway, out of it into the corridor. She kicked a mug on the landing, and it flew down the stairs, rattling up the stairs; she ducked into the room across the hall and huddled against the wall. What was happening was simply unreal in my head, wildly unrealistic. It happened to others, but not to her. The approaching sound of claws in a frantic rhythm made her not just hold her breath, but also cover her mouth with her hand in an instinctive effort to become completely invisible. The creature doesn't exist, it simply can't be-and yet now, hissing viciously, it climbs the wall like a huge insect-and when it hears the last thuds of the mug on the steps of the stairs, it dives down without hesitation.

Using the moment's respite, Jan panicked and reloaded her gun. The old clip fell out of her shaking hands, and the new one wouldn't go in. Once, twice. Finally, it worked. The woman frantically jerked the bolt.

-WHERE IS SHE? – A muffled voice from the stairway sent her into another wave of panic. – SHE WON'T GET AWAY FROM ME!

At a hysterical step, Jan dashed toward the nearest window. I don't care, I don't care about anything. The main thing now was to get out of this damned place. Don't care about Marie, she was dead if she wasn't dead already. I don't care if it's the second floor, I don't care if it's five meters high. A broken arm or leg is nothing compared to this thing. Hurry, hurry, hurry!

-RAAAH!

-Aah! – Jen was only a few steps away from the window when the vile creature appeared right through it. She recoiled, unable to stay on her feet, and fell, letting the gun out of her hands from the impact.

-HERE IT IS! – The monster's hiss sounded like a verdict to Jen. There was nothing scarier than It in the world. Except for the thought of what it could do to her. Her panic-stricken mind was feverishly searching for a way out.

A gun flew aside in front of her and she reached for it. And at that moment the monster fired its monstrous tongue, wrapping it around the woman's leg like a tight rope.

-No!-Jen screamed in a throaty scream as she felt it pull her upward with unprecedented force, pulling her leg away from the floor. In a last desperate tug, her fingers tightened on the grip of the gun.

-GO THIS WAY. – The creature, clawing at the ceiling, muttered, lifting the convulsively writhing woman higher and higher. At some point their gazes met.

-AAHA! – A final shot rang out.

***Gwen Stacy Spider-Girl***

Luckily, if it had happened two minutes earlier the shoplifter would have gotten to know my ringtone before she got to know the cobwebs. And so – I left it in a cozy cocoon right on the counter, pinned a note – and jumped out, only to find myself in a few seconds in a secluded spot on the roof. Here I could check my phone. So, what's on it?

«Mae P. – Gwen, urgent question. Have you given my web to anyone?»

Attached to the message was a photo of the cocooned victim. But what's the deal? What's wrong with this web? Why is it… black? Along came a link to a video. While watching it, I missed a couple of other messages, but thanks to the video everything became clear. What's clear is that nothing's clear. Who is she, where did she come from?

«Mei P. – Have you ever lost a web cartridge?»

«No of course not! I even return used ones to you for charging.»

«Mei P. - … -«

«Mei P. – Damn. Okay, let's hurry home, let's think.»

«And get a sample of the web? Or don't you need it?»

«Mei P. – The author of the video, in the comments, said that this… «

«Who? The girl in black?»

«Mei P. – The 'newbie' spiderwoman came back and took the whole web, managing not to get on camera a second time.»

«Really? And what was this 'New Girl's' plan?»

«Mei P. – I don't know! The fact is, the cobwebs are no longer there. Not a drop of it. Checked!»

«Okay, okay. What are you getting so boisterous about?»

«Mei P. – 'Fly HOME now! Your ass should be in bed by now!»

«Mei P. – «It's an hour and a half till dawn! I won't be able to cover you at breakfast anymore!»

«It's on its way.»

Part One Chapter Thirteenth

Well, something obviously didn't go according to plan. What am I talking about? There was no plan in the first place. I just acted on my instinctive desire to kill instantly whoever I saw as a threat while I was asleep. And I guess I did admit that I overreacted. But I don't regret it at all, not at all. No one asked them to shoot the cocoon and wake me up that way. And who could have known that this fool would put a bullet in his head. Yeah, yeah, I knew I was scary. Scary as shit. Still… I don't know what to think about what she did. But now, dragging my helpless body in a cocoon back to my room, I know another thing for sure. I've got two guns now… unless it's going to get me in trouble. I'm being too cautious again.

I'm glad I have this couple to question, or even interrogate, about everything. Why a couple? Because I didn't let that fool shoot himself, though, and at the last moment I hit the barrel and the shot came sideways. And I'd better hurry up and deal with all this business before somebody shows up at the shooting they did. Yeah, they let me sleep.

-SO. -Securing the cocoons of both women to the wall, I sat down in front of him, demonstratively licking my own face with my long tongue before I restored the mask to its normal appearance. And then my voice. It's time for a confession. Now you're going to tell me everything: Who are you, and what are you doing here?

I extended my hand forward, and two tentacles stretched out from my palm, each of them connected to one of the cocoons. At my command, the mouths of both women broke free, and I continued, regaining my human physique at the same time.

- Why the silence? Or did your worthy mothers drop you on the floor at birth? – I smiled widely with a Very Toothy Mouth to be more convincing. – I'm waiting for you to be EXTREMELY honest!

In the end, there was no need for torture. Both women were so terrified that they actually gave up both their names and their mothers' names. I listened to them, mentally chuckling that the names Mary and Jane add up remarkably well to MJ, a gimmick! It happens. Okay, no more distractions.

Anyway, these people are in their twenties and they're officially unemployed. They do odd jobs and whatever else they can get their hands on. Including activities that aren't exactly legal and legitimate. Well, I can't reproach them for that – everyone wants to eat. So, what are they doing here? It turned out – nothing, just like me decided to sit until morning in a deserted house. Who would have known that some «alien» … person decided to make a nest here. That's all… and they shot because they were scared. What a great excuse, maybe every time I kill someone I should justify it by saying they scared me. But who were they running away from? They say they were running away from the competition, they were supposedly on a mission to find a new hangout of a warring faction, but they were spotted in the process and had to hurry to get away. So they decided to wait here until morning.

Okay, so. It looks like gangs or even gangs of gangs. To which I was told, «This is Manhattan». More specifically, the outskirts of Hell's Kitchen. In other words – the area with an enormous amount of crime and various criminal organizations. In general – the right place in New York to get a fake ID! Works for me. If these two idiots lead me into a trap with some super criminal boss… No way! I'm sick of expecting to find a Silver Surfer under every rock that will hang a timer until Galactus arrives. That's it! Bandits are people with guns, not super cyborgs of the future. If they run the risk of getting caught, it's their loss.

It was already dawn, and I wandered down the street, stomping on the back of the gopper couple. I switched to camouflage mode, but the two women continued to act like they were on pins and needles, staggering back and forth, whispering and throwing uncertain glances at me. I can imagine what it looks like from the outside: a teenager kicking a grown-up woman's ass to get her moving. And they swallow it like mischievous kids, just so they don't complain about the abuse.

-It doesn't work that way. – Marie objected, rubbing the bruised area.

-And that's not your concern anymore. – I talk to her, but I keep an eye on Jan to make sure she doesn't fool around. – Your job is to take me to the right person and then I'll let you go. His job is to make me the papers, right now and right in front of me. Everything else is my problem.

-Yeah, I get it. It's just, they don't get done that fast.

-That's okay, I'll wait. There's no rush. – I'll give them a little nudge. Of course, I took away their phones and guns… For safety's sake. Their safety. They don't need to guess – they don't believe I'll let them go in the end. I don't really care, the only question is whether or not they're going to let me set them up. More likely yes in this case as well – let them have fewer opportunities without their toys. Of course, I could torture them to get them to obey me more, but I didn't want to stick around after all that shooting. I don't know who. Oh, here I go again!

-Here. – Marie exhaled as we approached another building that looked a lot like a warehouse. Completely blank walls of brick, except for a few small windows upstairs. And as far as I can make out – and we're going in from the back entrance, through a reinforced steel door.

-Well, what are you waiting for? – I asked a reasonable question. There was no answer, Marie began to open the door, Jen crumpled beside her. Hmmmm. Something's not right here. I don't know who or what's inside, but there's a reason this person is trying to hide the fact that she's picking the lock with a picklock instead of a key. Maybe I should rush forward and go in first. No, I shouldn't. I was beginning to wonder what they were up to.

Jen was clearly getting more and more nervous, glancing back and forth between her friend and me. I even smiled at my thoughts – well, come on, come on, show me what you have. Or make a mistake and fall into your own trap, any option would be fine with me.

The lock gave out its last click and the door gave way. When she opened it, Marie immediately rushed inside, and Jan didn't lag behind. But they both froze in place when my hands were around their necks.

- Where are you off to in such a hurry? – I asked when the door closer slammed the door behind us. I didn't get an answer, except for the clanking of many gun bolts.

It really was a warehouse. And it was packed with armed men. And all their weapons were pointed in our direction. And then. Well, let's just say – no one had even time to sneeze, and they started shooting at us.

First I felt a blunt blow to my shoulder. Then in the side and collarbone, two in the neck, three in the chest, then in the stomach, and again in the chest. Marie collapsed at once, followed by Jan. Two lifeless bodies collapsed to the floor while mine kept catching the bullets. There were so many more that I ended up being jerked back until my back met the wall.

I don't understand myself-at least not at this particular moment. The plan to get the documents easily has failed, my only informants I have just lost. And I myself am being shot as if they are going to replace me with policeman Alex Murphy, before he is turned into a robot. And it's all because I'm sick of being afraid of all the Marvel supers and I rush forward, head-on. Even so, I'm not angry now at the situation in general, or at myself for the mistakes I made. I'm not angry at all. I just don't understand, because right now, with a cloud of bullets flying into me, and my legs losing their footing and me settling to the floor, there's this stupid song from the past going around in my head all the time: «Beautiful Far Away, don't be cruel to me, don't be cruel to me, don't be cruel to me.» Why the hell is that popping into my head right now? Was it the fault of those first three bullets that I had just managed to catch in that very head first? And that was my last clear thought.

The gunshots stopped, but there was a lot of talking and boisterous activity among the shooters. The words were intertwined in a torrent of fragmented phrases that made it hard to get anything coherent out of them. Jan's body was dragged to the side, while Marie was searched on the spot. But when other people's hands reached for me…

- I was just kidding. – I easily intercepted the arm of one of the bandits before I lunged forward and snapped my teeth into her throat. Thanks to the Necrosword's martial attire enveloping me, I easily pierce the skin and meat with my sharp teeth before ripping a chunk out. A sword forms in my hand and the blade slices through the second criminal with a short swing, engulfing the bloody fountain before the woman's body collapses almost split in two.

A cold calculation settled in my mind, pushing my emotions to the back burner. There are enemies everywhere, and they want to kill me. I shot my «web» and sealed the door and, to the accompaniment of renewed gunfire and shouting, I used my «jerk» to move under the ceiling. Increasing my perception, I look around the battlefield, analyzing the situation as a whole. The storage room, very large and all filled with stacks of crates and pallets, there are several exits. With shots from both hands I block every single one of them. The windows are only on the second floor, in rooms that are mostly used as offices. The enemies are in the neighborhood of thirty pieces and they are armed with a variety of firearms. Well, I've fought in worse conditions.

-SOUNDS LIKE A SILLY JOKE. – I called up a half sword from my arsenal, and after covering it with a layer of Necrosword, I jumped off the ceiling in a hail of bullets, chopping the nearest bandit to pieces.

I jerked straight into the crowd, swinging the blade in an arc, leaving a scarlet plume behind me. Four more fell. There was chaos, hysterical shouting mixed with gunfire. People scattered, trying to stay as far away from me as possible. But I could see my surroundings in slow motion, keeping track of everything around me. In the maddening mishmash of sounds, I picked up the creaking of metal and moved to the next room, the entrance to which I had not noticed before, behind a stack of crates. Yes, there's a garage, and its gates are already opening little by little. Someone's getting into the cars, intending to escape. I don't think much, but I move right in and use my tentacles to lower the gate back down, breaking the mechanism. I methodically seal them, too, and just flip the cars over with my bare hands.

No, my darlings. No. No one gets away from me. For now I feel neither pity nor anger for them. I feel like a goddamn guillotine, and my hand will not tremble as I put the blade on their necks. And that's because they climbed the scaffold themselves, firing at me without question or thought.

I collapsed the stairs up to the office space, and put a few more on the tentacles like stakes. Out of the corner of my eye I note the attempt to tear the cobwebs, as well as a couple of open drawers. And if the first doesn't bother me, then the grenade launchers I got into the white light is another matter altogether. It's time to end it all – and my tongue, shoots like a harpoon, piercing a woman with a heavy weapon through… Avoiding the grenades hits I moved to the wall, standing on the protection of the door.

I leisurely shook the scraps off my shoulder as it seemed to be over. It seemed. I didn't notice until the last moment when a balloon flew at me without my accelerated perception or my combat fatigue. It looked like a paintball, except that when it hit my shoulder, it didn't release paint, but rather a small cloud. It looked like it had been sprayed out of a gas can. Hmmmmm… Smibiot immediately analyzed the gas, telling me what kind of potion it was. It turned out to be a chemical that dulls the basic senses, but greatly exacerbates the instinct of self-preservation on the basis of animal pheromones. You mean, a scent that induces fear? What the hell? Nothing an Asgardian's immune system couldn't handle, though it would give me about half an hour of unpleasant tension. Thank you, I'm fine, thankfully the Necrosword easily neutralized the effects of the toxin.

-HE-HE-HA-HA. – I take my time climbing up the crates, planning to take another look around. – NOW THAT'S REALLY FUNNY. THE ATTEMPT TO SCARE ME IS GENUINELY FUNNY.

Looks like I didn't get someone after all. Hmm, yeah, I hear footsteps along with heavy breathing. Too heavy, like someone breathing through a gas mask. Carefully and quietly I begin to move toward the woman creeping in the shadows. With a small case and a gun in her hands, she almost blended into the dark surroundings thanks to her gray hooded cloak. In principle-I should be able to smash her in place right now without the slightest pity. But I'm slowed down by the feeling that I've found something out of place.

The fear toxin, the gas mask, the old tattered cloak. Um, isn't that the Scarecrow from the DC universe? Then what's it doing here? Instead of attacking, I just stared at this person, trying to figure out how this could have happened. Am I having a universe crossover here? Or did something that never happened in my past world happen? DC absorbed Marvel or Marvel absorbed DC. I forget who and who almost got absorbed, but it's kind of like they had a real opportunity to merge. So they gave the Marvel worlds bigger numbers and the DC worlds shorter numbers. So to speak, they made it possible to maneuver in case the two mega-franchises merged.

While I was pondering all this, the runaway realized that it was getting too quiet around me. She looked around, spotted me, and raised her hand with her gun and immediately fired a bullet. Which I successfully dodged with a «jerk» and out of sight.

-GOOD SHOT. WHY DON'T YOU TRY IT AGAIN? – Now she knows my voice is coming from above, but where exactly…

- Damn it- The masked woman pressed her back against the stack of crates. – So you say? Do you know who you crossed? The beast.

-WHAT ARE YOU SURPRISED ABOUT? – I started going downhill a little bit. – THAT I POUNDED EVERYONE INTO PÂTÉ AFTER YOU YOURSELF OPENED FIRE ON ME WITHOUT A WORD? OR WAS IT BECAUSE I, THE BITCH, REFUSED TO DIE UNDER YOUR GUNFIRE? EVEN THOUGH I'M HERE ON BUSINESS.

-I'm not going to argue. – Judging by the short pause between breaths and exhalations, the lady really wanted to spit. Except you can't do that with a gas mask on. Why does she keep wearing a gas mask? In general it is clear – so as not to inhale her own potion. But since it doesn't work on me, why keep walking around in that thing? – Then why are you here? Who hired you?

-HIRED? YOU'RE WRONG. – I settled on the crates and a gun was immediately pointed at me, but shots were fired this time. – THIS IS A PRIVATE VISIT ON MY OWN INITIATIVE.

-And you have no patron. – I heard the woman gritting her teeth under her mask. But she suddenly put down her hand with the gun and held out the briefcase to me. – It's a dangerous venture you've decided to embark upon. Well? Is this what you want? Take it.

-Oh, I fear you've misunderstood me again- I licked my dagger teeth with my long tongue. – AFTER YOUR MEETING I DON'T WANT ANYTHING FROM YOU ON PRINCIPLE. I WANT TO KILL YOU. – And I raised my hands, my fingers spread wide. The woman freezes without moving a muscle, watching my long claws stretch, my tentacles twisting in the air, and me grow broader and taller into a monster. – JUST KILL. EVERYTHING. EVERY LAST ONE. FOR EVERY SHOT YOU TAKE. I'M GOING TO FINISH OFF EVERYONE IN THIS BUILDING.

I can hear, I can hear this woman trembling. Everything inside her is twisted with fear, and the gas mask won't hide the fact that she's having trouble breathing. Still, I have revealed myself as a very dangerous threat. And I'm back to square one in two seconds.

-Definitely. – I add in an almost normal human voice, and it forces the stranger out of her stupor. – Suppose. Just assume that I've already quenched my bloodlust.

-What the…? – Feeling the little briefcase tearing out of her hands, the possible Scarecrow mechanically

Tried to hold on to it. But my telekinesis was faster.

- And let's say – I'll accept your payoff and even give you a chance. Just a chance. – Pulling the trophy to me already with one of my tentacles, I lifted myself up and placed the suitcase on the crates, arranging my ass on top of it. – Hmm. What to do?

The woman was silent without moving. Her breathing gradually smoothed out, but apparently – she was well aware of her situation and that nothing depended on herself now.

-Do you have a telephone?

-What? -I had clearly managed to surprise her.

- Do you have a phone? – I phrased it more clearly, hoping that no further clarification would be necessary. Well, what I needed was shown to me on my outstretched hand without further ado.

-Okay, set the timer for ten minutes. – I read out a brief instruction and was pleased that it was carried out without a hitch. – Don't forget to turn the volume all the way up, so you can hear the signal.

Receiving the phone in my hands I smirked and showed the woman the screen of her own phone, with a frozen 10:00.

-Look, I'll tell you about your chances. – I fidgeted a little, getting comfortable on the case. – You have ten minutes to get out of this warehouse. I won't even bother you. You can do that, you can walk away.

-It's that easy? – She didn't believe it. – And there's no guarantee of your promise, of course.

-Of course not. You'll have to work with what you've got. – She couldn't see my smile through the mask, but she could tell by the tone of my voice. – Because you don't have an alternative, either. Are you ready? Go!

The timer began to count down, but the woman was in no hurry to get down to business, carefully backing up so as not to let me out of her sight. I wanted to say, «Come on, don't be shy. Time's running out,» but she figured it out for herself, and immediately took off. The first thing she did was dash into the garage, checking the gate, but she quickly realized that was not an option. Why? I didn't say I'd remove the cobwebs – I just promised not to get in the way. Back from the garage, the woman glanced up at the upper floors. Yes there are windows, but without the ladder I ripped out with the roots five meters up you can't jump up.

-Eight minutes. – I said it louder, so that I could be heard. The lady worked quickly, and in the next minute she was already trying to cut the cobwebs on the door with an axe taken from the fire shield.

It's a good attempt, but it's not the right tool. So it's going to be a long time. It's a matter of getting rid of the cobwebs or trying to stack heavy crates on top of each other to get to the second floor. I even moved «Jerk» to the wall next to the panting fugitive – and she immediately recoiled from me with a squeal.

-Five minutes. – I showed her the phone screen, where the timer had already reached 05:42. After that the woman immediately abandoned her task and ran like a madwoman with an axe in her hands into the depths of the warehouse. She ended up crashing into one of the stacks and knocking over some of the crates. Wow, the lower ones had weapons in them. At this the fugitive did not calm down and began, at the limit of her strength, to pull one box after another, shoving them aside. There was a creaking sound of iron against stone. It was already interesting, so I hurried to get closer.

Kneeling on her knees, the lady picked up the steel lid of a sewer manhole with a fire axe,

That had been discovered underneath the crates. No way, that's not even a Marvel cliché anymore. This is a Hollywood cliché in all its glory. I wonder why the hell it was even cluttered in the first place. Okay, whatever. In one leap I cover the entire distance between us and as soon as the fugitive flips the hatch aside I immediately land right in front of her, causing her to recoil so sharply that she even falls on her side.

-Congratulations. You've successfully found your way out with three minutes to spare. – I showed her the phone with the timer frozen at 03:02.

-So we have a deal? – Immediately rushed to clarify the most important for her moment of the moment under-scare.

-Well, how can I say… -I deftly pulled off her gas mask. – What's your name?

-Lauren Cranston… -The woman recoiled back, realizing her face was still exposed. And she turned out to be a pretty, dark-haired lady. You see more of her on the screen than in person. Cranston, though? If memory serves me correctly, Scarecrow was a psychiatrist in DC with the last name Crane. Could it be a coincidence after all? Or some kind of crossover?

- Okay, Lauren, watch this. – I sat down next to her, putting my arm around her shoulders like an old friend. She tried very hard to cover her face, or at least the lower part of it. – Actually, in a classic situation, the rules forbid me to leave my enemies alive behind me. But since I'm true to my word…

-Are you?

-Oh, I am. Believe it or not, I still prefer the honor code to the thugs. – I should've chuckled, considering the number of dismembered bodies in the warehouse, but I decided to hold back. -So, good luck to you, Lauren Cranston.

The toothy mouth on my mask opened again, releasing its long tongue. Lauren grimaced as if she'd eaten something sour when it licked her cheek. I kind of, like, suddenly got a kick out of it. I think I'm beginning to understand why Mom likes to watch gladiators fight in the arena, entertaining the public, and then unexpectedly rewarding them for their victory.

-So I hope you'll soon cross yourself off my enemies list. Just in case we meet again unexpectedly. – I let her out of the friendly embrace, though, and held out my gas mask. -Hold it and let's say goodbye.

Lauren nodded again nervously, exhaled deeply, and grabbed her thing and began to climb hurriedly into the hatch. I was about to push the lid back on when I remembered something else.

-Don't forget that, either. I handed Lauren her own phone, and she snatched it up, muttering something like «Thank you» under her breath. I didn't want to wait any longer and busily sealed the hatch. Well, that was it. Funny, I thought she was going to use the grenade launcher to blow up the door. As it turns out, no.

I look around once more, studying the results of my labors. Well, two interesting thoughts have settled in my head in connection with all this. The first is that it looks like I can take over Karnage's niche in this way. After what I'd done today, it wouldn't be too hard for me to start nibbling heads off everyone and everything.

-So, you've learned the Bloody Fury. – Businesslike, I announced to nothing, crunching my knuckles before I lit my ghostly fire in the palms of my hands. – Now, let's get to the cleansing atrocities.

As a matter of fact, I have. To collecting souls. Well, why not? I killed them, and as the victor, I'm entitled to my spoils of war. What else can you take from them?

And yes, my second thought. It also happened. Maybe I don't know something, or maybe I'm doing something wrong. But it wasn't even a firefight, it was a real war. Then there was ten minutes of fun with Lauren. Where, I wonder, are the police? No sirens, no horns, no negotiators, nothing like that. So how does this place work? Or are you saying the warehouse is so well soundproofed? Sounds crazy. Is it possible that there is simply no one in the neighborhood, or are there only other groups who enjoy this kind of trouble from their competitors? As I pondered this question, in addition to the showers, I also gathered all my cobwebs. Maybe here in New York, Manhattan is like a separate world? Or does it refer specifically to Hell's Kitchen? A telling name, so to speak.

-Yeah, don't worry about it. The man is reliable. - Marie assured him, keeping her expression and intonation as calm as possible. - There won't be any problems.

I nodded my head in confirmation of her words. I kept quiet myself, and just held the phone in my outstretched hand, so that Marie would be more comfortable - and I could hear everything on the speakerphone.

-And how much does this reliable man of yours pay? - The voice on the speaker sounded doubtful. Marie looked up at me, and I responded by making an "okay" gesture with my free hand.

-There won't be a problem with money either. - She understood me correctly.

-All right, let him come by seven or eight in the evening. - Finally came the final answer. - Let's see what we can do.

-Agreed. - I gave her the thumbs up and pressed the reset button, interrupting the conversation.

-To think about it. - With a smile, I put Marie's phone in my pocket. - If you'd done that in the first place, you'd still be alive now. So would more than two dozen other people.

Marie looked away. Her body was gradually becoming more transparent, just as a ghost should when you're not supporting it with the power of your magic.

-Look up. - I commanded harshly, additionally stimulating her attention back to me with a few discharges, causing a serious - and painful - disturbance in the dead woman's etheric body. - There is nothing to sulk at fate or at me. Everything that happened to you is the result of your own stupidity.

Marie was silent and didn't look away for fear of getting another painful outburst. So I continued.

-There is action or inaction. And their consequences. - I said that, and I could almost physically feel the ghost's anger at what had happened. - And it was your sly, fucked-up decision to bump us together that caused those very consequences. And now you're in the same boat with a few dozen souls, who are the victims of your shitty plan. Get the fuck out of here.

After dispelling her pseudo-material guise, I send Marie back to the soul crystal. I went to check on the work around the corner. The thing is, there was something interesting in that warehouse. Apparently - there was planned a rather monumental block of concrete, apparently - to support the second floor. There was a cavity in that block - a kind of a niche of about five by five meters. And I decided to put a brick through the entrance to it. That is, I decided, and everything will be done in the best traditions of my mother.

- I was told not to mess around! - When I saw the result of my efforts, I could not refrain from crying out in anger. - This wall should be as native, and you can not lay a brick exactly on the line. What kind of gangsters, you're a Gastarbeiters and that ahokhovye.

I've got twenty souls that I've got here, and I've ploughed them into the construction site, but I've only given them enough strength to hold the tools and bricks. But it's not for nothing that ghosts are considered the lowest form of evil. Not to be able to build a simple five-by-two-meter wall in two dozen digs is… that.

Unable to find the right words, I kicked the crooked structure as hard as I could, and it immediately collapsed to the disappointed howls of the souls who had to get back to work.

And so, once again. How did I end up in this situation in the first place? It's worth starting when I grabbed Jen and Marie. Yes, the two of them weren't lying, they were really running away from a hostile group, one of whose logs they had discovered. The only thing they didn't tell me was that first: that warehouse was the lair, and second: they didn't just find it. But before they ran away, they took the two pistols they later discharged at me. So what happened next? And then Marie, instead of helping me get in touch with the person who could provide fake documents and safely get away with her friend, decided that she was a super-duper brain with a brilliant plan. Except the plan was to bring me to the warehouse, and then either the criminals would shoot the creepy alien, or she would kill them, and in the meantime Marie herself would run away on the sly. And Jen… Jen is just the wingman in this couple, she's used to listening and doing what Marie says, and she did it this time, too. That's the result. What was that fool thinking when she made her plan? Well, in the end her ghost confessed to me and confessed – she didn't believe I'd let them go when it was over. Thought I'd get rid of them all when I got my papers. And so it seemed like there was at least some chance.

As for this warehouse-it's loaded with guns, and the ghosts were buying and selling them, ferrying them and storing them for someone in high places. The boss knew all about it, and it turned out to be the same lady I let go. Yeah, well, I don't regret it. I said, «I'll let her go,» and I did. But I still needed to get more information out of her. Too bad it was a slip-up.

By the way, the local bandits turned out to be followers of tradition and most of the boxes with weapons were disguised on top of others – with bricks, cement and other building materials and tools. All this camouflage was put to good use. The police, as it turned out, weren't going to show up here any time soon. And if they did, it would most likely be one of «their» people.

The same Boss knows all the details. And by the way, my noble gesture has another possible consequence – at Lauren's behest, new people, armed with something more serious, might come here on all wheels. So I'm not going to be here very long, after all. What's the trick with the false wall, then? Just for luck. I'd be surprised if it worked, but what if it did? Then I'll have a little stash in town, or even my own lair, if only temporarily.

- In the meantime. – I sat down on one of the crates, twirling my well-earned trophy in my hands. – Let's see what they paid me off with.

The lock on the suitcase was surprisingly uncomplicated. The Necrosword allowed me to open it without breaking it easily. The case opened and I saw… um. A metal box? Turning it around in my hands and finding the connectors, I guessed it was a hard drive. Although I couldn't even tell if it was external or internal.

-I see. – I protracted and twisted it in my hands and returned it to the suitcase. That would be a computer. But wait, maybe…

Something rumbled on the side of the garage, followed immediately by the roar of the engine. I slammed the case shut, tossing it up and sticking the cobwebs to the ceiling literally at the last moment. Because a second later, a dark figure appeared in the doorway and threw me to the floor with two precise shots to the chest.

-Auch! – I let out a short exhale. It felt really good. No, it still didn't hurt me, but the force of the bullet. I wondered what caliber it was.

My ghosts immediately reacted to the intrusion by attacking. It was no use – the shots rang out one after the other without a thought of stopping. The bullets pierced through the pseudo-matter with ease. And because I didn't pour more energy into them than I needed to work, the ghosts simply dispersed, returning to my Soul Crystal.

I myself, while my newfound minions were being shot, lay there brooding. The first time I'd been shot, I'd saved my life by being interrogated and demanding help as compensation. When I caught the bullets again, I slaughtered the insolent men with all my ferocity. The third time. Well, at least I was amused, my mood improved, so I decided to graciously let the offender go. And there it was – the fourth. The fourth time in one night I have been shot – and this is the most painful of all. What am I supposed to do to her for that? What's next on the list? Without stopping to think about it, I quietly rolled over on my stomach and began to crawl like a cockroach, peeking cautiously out from behind the crates. I wondered who was so clever that he didn't just barge in here, he exploded.

-Dave… looks like I'm too late…- A low female voice broke the silence. I peeked out carefully and studied the figure in the long black cloak and the impressive size of the gun on his shoulder, which I could not identify. Without stopping to communicate with someone, the intruder turned around, letting me assess her appearance. Ooh la la! In addition to the impressive cannon this person had not only a lush hairdo – but also an equally impressive form. And at the same time I finally realized who she was – a recognizable symbol of the skull on her chest. And while I was deciding on the next item of consequence on my list of shooters, my guest continued to study the remnants of number two.

-No, Dave… usually I'd say… a lot of bodies is normal practice in our business… -The Punisher poked one of the bodies with her foot, making sure it had been hacked in two with a single blow. -… but it's usually done without dismemberment…

-So, wait. – She finally decided to check my body, too. But when she didn't find it in its proper place, she became alert and began to reload her cannon. Oh yes, now we're going to play maniac and victim. With a couple of jerks I moved under the cover of the crates to her behind the sleeper.

-HAHAHAHAHA! – I laughed wickedly as the same rain of bullets rained down on me. Of course, I wasn't there anymore. Using the dart I was on the other side, forcing myself to fire another round there as well. And then I surreptitiously jumped to the second floor.

-I'LL RIP YOUR HEART OUT! – I shrieked in a shrill tone from there, and then I moved to the other side again.

-Dave… what the hell? – The Punisher shut up, trying to aim me as I started to move behind the crates, flashing in and out of the passageways with my jerk, making it seem as if a whole group of exactly the same…creatures were waltzing around.

-I'LL EAT YOUR LIVER! – The next scream came from the ceiling, where a grenade immediately flew in. Where I was no longer.

- I'LL SELL YOUR KIDNEY! - I yelled a few seconds later from a new place. The woman did not seem to like the situation and began to retreat toward her car.

- I AM A HORRIBLE ALIEN! – Not about to let my victim slip away so quickly, I shot my tentacles down her legs, hooking her. And she's sturdy, she almost held on. But even the Punisher fell skillfully, professionally regrouping and aiming where I had been a second before, firing a full clip.

-Fucking aliens… -She snatched up a whole bunch of grenades and scattered them around. Then jumped to her feet and tried again to make her way to her car under cover of the resulting smoke screen. With such stubbornness she could have got her way, so it was worthwhile to focus.

- I'M AN ALIEN ALIEN! – The point was not important, for at that moment one of the tentacles encircled the Punisher's weapon, and the other wrapped around her waist. I pulled it out of the woman's hands and tossed it aside, pulling it toward me and pulling it off the floor.

-That thing! – She howled as she felt herself being dragged upward and struggled to break free. I should have, for there was me under the ceiling, and I could see myself. And there was plenty to see, for I was in great, creepy shape. The muscles of my entire body were swollen, the sharp claws on my fingers helping to keep me suspended. A long tongue whipped the air as if licking it out of a mouthful of needle-sharp teeth. More tentacles grew from his back, reaching for his prey.

-Aagh. – For a moment the woman stopped resisting, and with one hand she snatched the gun from under her cloak. But before she could point it at me, another tentacle clutched at her wrist, pulling the gun aside. I didn't want this one trying to shoot herself, too. I was in the mood to shoot me, but I could live with that. And I didn't want to risk it.

Except the gun turned out to be a trick, and when it fired uselessly into the void, the Punisher threw a grenade at me with her other hand. The unexpected present was thrown to the other side by telekinesis, and I meanwhile launched more tentacles under her cloak.

-CHEEP! Get me out of here! – She screamed, realizing she was trapped, as I carefully emptied her pockets and her gear and arsenal, letting them fall freely to the floor. Then a shot of cobwebs directly into the lower part of her face sealed the woman's mouth.

-Mmmmm! – She mumbled furiously, her whole body twitching. At that moment I began to transform back into a more human form. The first thing I did was to change my face from a monstrous face to a regular, unbroken mask, and then the excess muscle mass was shed, returning me to my normal human physique.

-Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee. That was fun. It really wasn't. – I could hardly keep from laughing, still snorting into my fist. I clearly overreacted, but I can't help it, it's hilarious. It was like a prank. You should have seen her face at that moment, even now she's looking at me with eyes as perfectly round as coins. – Oh, come on. Let's get acquainted.

After that, I ripped my web off her face, along with it, and took the earpiece with the microphone as well. The Punisher suddenly stopped lashing out, and instead glared at me with a very frown. I could feel the rage starting to boil inside her. Surprisingly, she was able to hold it back, and when she got her chance to speak, she didn't start screaming or cursing right away.

-Is this a joke to you? – She gritted her teeth. Huh, and the only reason she was trying to get angry was to overcome the fear that made her body shudder.

- Oh, you've got to be kidding me. You see… Here, look at them. – Businesslike, I turn her around to face the carnage I'd created all over the warehouse. – I just came here on business, and they tried to shoot me without talking or warning.

- What's the point of all this? Or do you want me to feel sorry for you?

- Come on, I'm a big girl now. Why would I be offended? – Little by little I pull my prisoner closer and closer, until we are very close to each other. – I'm talking about the fact that they paid with their lives for trying to kill me.

The Punisher was silent, but I can feel her anger beginning to recede. But the involuntary shudder grows stronger, it is especially noticeable when you are separated by a distance of less than an outstretched arm. -But just as soon as I'm done with it, you burst in and do the same thing. – I slowly put my hand to her face, my hand with its claws growing longer and longer. – Can you see where I'm going with this?

- Don't start these games of riddles. If you wanted to disembowel me, this conversation would not have taken place at all. – She kept her head away from the approaching claws. And yet she successfully concealed the fear in her voice.

-True. – I agreed easily, and immediately took my claws away from her face, confirming her hunch. – Gutting is always an option, but I'm afraid it's too monotonous. So I'll go further down the list, and this time I'll take payment in kind.

-What? -The woman stared at me, clearly not believing what she had just heard. She flinched when she felt my claws touch her cleavage.

-I told you, I'll take it in kind this time. Don't you people do that? – My claw had already pulled back on her cleavage, threatening to pull her lush breasts out.

-You've got to be kidding me. – The Punisher clenched her teeth tightly, but her gaze watched warily as my fingers violated her enclosed area. – You what?! A teenage sperm-addict?!

-It's funny you should notice. – I put my arm around her waist, pulling her close to me. – Judging by my race, yeah, I'm what you'd call a cast dozens of black threads and cast a dense net over the nearest corner. There she threw her victim, who was immediately entangled in the web like a helpless fly. - Aaah! Alien creature! - The Punisher screamed and immediately twitched, trying to free herself from her clammy captivity. In vain, all she had to do now was to watch warily for the princess of the dead, who was crawling impudently toward her on the ceiling, wiggling her hips. - If it makes you feel any better, treat it as an anal probe from an alien. - Giggled Mortz as she moved over to the spider web. But as soon as she got close to her victim, she was immediately attacked. - Yeah. I felt better right away. Mentally, emotionally, and mentally. - Gritting her teeth, the Punisher still managed to free her leg and tried to punch Mortis in the face, but she easily intercepted the blow. At the same moment, a second leg surged into the air and the young goddess's head was captured. The woman's athletic legs gripped her neck and strained, trying to squeeze and break it, but she didn't have the strength to do it. - So there was no problem. - Mortis didn't even try to break free or resist, instead she opened her toothy mouth and her tongue slid like a snake down the Punisher's leg. Before she could reach the belt on her pants and undo it. - Go to hell, you filthy alien freak! - The woman howled, trying at least to push her rapist away with her legs, but she failed even that. Without difficulty she pulled her victim's thighs apart and launched her supple tongue into her fly, wrapping it around her groin through her underwear. -Eeeeeeee! - The Punisher herself had not expected such a high-pitched scream to come from her lips. - This is the most disgusting thing imaginable. - I stand by my opinion. - The monster's head slid along the woman's body, licking with obvious pleasure. This time a long tongue slid across the Punisher's voluminous breasts-the woman flinched at its touch and cringed in disgust as she tried to turn away. And the snake-like organ, having played with her soft spheres, slid between them and began to descend down her belly until it reached her crotch. He twisted harder and began to slowly penetrate not just her pants, but right into her panties. - Ooh, bullshit. - The woman howled, straining like a string as her tongue touched her bosom. - You should have picked me to breed your hybrids. -What hybrids? - The princess licked the Punisher's labia passionately, not forgetting to stimulate her clitoris with a little vibration. And that didn't stop her from continuing the conversation at all. - This isn't an Alien story. No hybrids, eggs, embryos, cocoons, or anything like that. -Aah! - The woman moaned involuntarily, feeling her lips moisten from the skilled caresses and swell themselves open, letting in the intruder she was powerless to stop. - What's the point then. oooh... or are you just a keen cunt-licker?

Mortis' tongue froze as she stared at her victim for a few seconds. She knew perfectly well that she was being insulted, but at the same time the mockery seemed somehow pathetic. The princess was well aware of what she was doing and did not see it as an insult or a reason to be offended or angry. And yet – the mood was really taking a turn for the worse.

- With those forms? You know better than that. – Mortis clutched her hands to the Punisher's breasts, and after a little rubbing, she nimbly stripped them of all the excess. – So stop interrupting the savoring of this moment before I shut you up myself. – Again wrapping her palms around the lush spheres, the princess began to crumple them with an effort, and at the same time as her tongue began to jerk its way inside the wet womb. The victim could not hold back the voluptuous moan that escaped treacherously. The new sensations made her body tremble as her penetration grew deeper and deeper. Licking the walls of her vagina and stimulating the muscles, her tongue moving like a snake brought the adult woman to the peak of sensations. The additional caressing of her breasts and nipples only intensified the effect.

-Bitch! – The Punisher howled, feeling her own body finally betraying its mistress. And then she cum violently and profusely, finally soaking her panties.

-What an asshole… what an asshole you are. – She moaned, trying to regain her breath.

- Okay, that's it! – Mortis's tongue slipped from the woman's womb in one fluid motion, and she immediately sealed her mouth with the viscous slime of the symbiote. -I'm in no mood to be distracted by insults to someone who is carrying a sued punishment.

Deciding that this was the end of the foreplay, Mortis began to pull the web into her symbiote little by little. The remaining threads began to sag and stretch, dragging both of them down a little at a time. Apparently their tenacity was also somewhat diminished – and the Punisher didn't miss a chance to take advantage of that, launching a sudden knee strike under her rapist's ribs and simultaneously aiming a fist at her throat, hoping to knock her breath away.

The Asgardian only twitched slightly at the double blow, staring with a mixture of surprise and disapproval at the woman who already had her arm around her neck in an attempt to break her spine.

- That's quite an attempt. – Mortis commented, dragging the rest of the web in one fell swoop before their entwined bodies hit the floor. She was able to jerk off most of the speed she'd used two seconds beforehand, so crashing into a pile of crates was almost painless. – But kudos to you for persevering. Doesn't change anything, though.

With no effort at all, the Princess of the World of the Dead tossed the unstoppable woman carelessly onto the nearest crate. She immediately rolled to the side, trying to escape, and even managed to slip out of the cloak she was still wearing when a strand of cobwebs dug into it. But a second later Mortis just jumped on top of her, pressing her down with her weight.

- Mmm! – The brunette mumbled angrily as the rapist threw her naked breasts against the crates again, but this time with two volleys she stuck her arms firmly to him.

- No. I'm sorry, but you're disenfranchised. And through no fault of your own. – Mortis responded immediately, fastening the improvised shackles even more securely to her half-naked victim.

- And it's time for me to get down to the main course. – Deftly picking up the edge of her victim's pants with her claws, the princess pulled them down. Even in this uncomfortable position, the Punisher tried to reach her with her foot, but ended up with only two more bursts of webbing-right on her boots-so that she was now fully locked in the crawl position. She twitched a few more times and tried to break free – but the result was only a slap of Mortis's palm on her bulging ass.

- Well, well, you know what they say. – The younger goddess squeezed her captive's buttocks through the fabric with obvious pleasure. – If violence can no longer be avoided, then relax and try to enjoy yourself.

-KHM! – The punisher mooed angrily, but still stopped her futile attempts to barge in.

- And you do realize that the longer you resist, the more it will drag on. – Kneeling down, Mortis pulled her victim's pants down to her ankles-along with her panties. And she admired the sight of her perfectly round ass, tight and tense, as well as her languid, wet pussy.

- Don't worry, as long as you don't annoy me, I'll be very careful. – Mortis's tongue traveled up the Punisher's leg, up the inside of her thigh to her crotch. It smacked her moistened bosom and slid even higher, teasing her anal hole with light touches.

-Kmmm! – The brunette was indignant, but she calmed down again and got another slap on the ass. This time with her tongue.

-What did you want? This was punishment. – Mortis released her cock, not denying herself the urge to add markedly to its size and weight. Its weight rested squarely on the woman's ass and back. – I call it Anal Cara.

The captive, disbelieving her sensations, managed to turn her head to see for herself what an imposing device was threatening her, and immediately she twitched her body, howling indignantly. The only thing she could get out of these attempts in her position was to rub her ass against the organ that was getting harder by the second.

-Wow, you're getting impatient. – She couldn't resist a tease from Mortis, squeezing her sweet ass with her palms and deliberately rubbing her cock between the victim's buns. Spreading her buttocks apart and exposing the adult woman's taut hole, now clenched with tension, the rapist took her time to press the head of her mighty cock into the entrance.

-Anal Cara! – Mortis cried out epically, with a single thrust penetrating the hard asshole to its maximum length. The arching Punisher howled loudly and longingly. Her anus clenched as hard as it could, squeezing the intruder as if trying to squeeze it out. But suddenly the woman simply collapsed onto the crate she was glued to, and would have crawled over it like a powerless doll if the princess hadn't held her by her hips.

Mortis remained frozen, digging deeply into her captive, perplexed as to why her resistance had been completely extinguished. It wasn't too difficult to find the answer, though.

- Really? You just came from one penetration? – The Asgardian asked in amazement, but the woman lay motionless, showing no signs of activity. Except that her anus muscles still held the hard cock in a tight vice, and a stream of familiar scent poured from her pussy.

-Hmmm. All right. – Without waiting for an answer, the princess of the dead excreted some fluid from her symbiote to serve as lubricant. Payback for the pain caused by the gunshots was more than enough, and now it was time to just enjoy the bitch's gorgeous body. Slapping her luscious ass with a swing, Mortis smiled as she heard a resounding mooing sound and her hips came into motion.

The Asgardian took her time to pull her cock out until only the head remained inside – and then she drove it in again to the limit in a single thrust. Again and again and again Mortis stretched the Punisher's anal hole. The woman would have been screaming her voice out long ago, but with her mouth closed she could only howl during each new orgasm. And they came one after another – Futa felt new convulsions as her victim's muscles tried again and again to squeeze her cock tighter each time.

-You're really getting more high than me already. – The princess couldn't resist a stiletto.

-Mmm! – The movements of her victim didn't sound much like resistance anymore, she was actually beginning to thrust toward each thrust.

-What? -Yeah, right. – Stopping and hovering over the woman, Mortis reached across her face to remove the gag from her mouth. – What are you saying there?

-Uah. – Finally getting rid of the lump of mucus in her mouth, the brunette was able to breathe freely for the first time in a long time. – All right! All right, damn it! Just do what you have to do, quick. But I'll shoot you later.

-Whoa. I can see that you really enjoyed it, since you're already planning on doing it again right now. -Mortis chuckled, resuming her movement. Once again picking up the pace she enjoyed continuing to work the Punisher's ass, this time to her voluptuous moans.

-Fuck you. – The brunette screamed, feeling the approach of a new orgasm and shaking her whole body as her labia treacherously exploded with another geyser of love juices. -Aah!

- You're the one on the dick so far! – Seeing that the woman's resistance had finally ceased, the princess freed her legs and held her victim firmly by the hips and lifted her off the box and continued to fuck her tight ass on her weight.

-Stop … aah … stop … too fast. – She could hardly tell where one of her orgasms ended and the next began, but she willingly wiggled her ass toward his cock, in spite of everything she said.

- You wanted to be quicker. And yes – I'm very close. – The Asgardian was thoroughly enjoying the situation. The woman's anal cavern was stretched to the limit, literally bursting at the seams, ready to burst – and so the powerful cock got the tightest possible girth. And the Punisher's muscles strained again and again, as if trying to push the foreign organ outward, but only to give him even more pleasure.

-Fucking hell… cum already.-The woman squealed, feeling like she was already at the limit of her strength. But Mortis just kept penetrating her ass faster and faster, making her cock shudder to the rhythm of his throbbing.

-It's still early. What, are you afraid your ass is going to be more sensitive than your pussy? – Mortis piled on the Punisher, pressing her into the box with her whole body, her cock moving like a jackhammer.

-Aah… I didn't even know. Oh… that you can cum that much…iii… from anal. – Not even trying to hold back any longer, the brunette threw her head back, alternating her moans with screams and squeals, no longer conscious of what she was carrying in the storm of another wave of pleasure.

-Stop… aah. No, hurry up! Ackahaaa! Stop! I'm going to die… ahhh just die now. – Convulsively twitching, the Punisher made one last feeble attempt to crawl away, but her arms were still firmly glued to the crate. Mortis could no longer stop, even if she wanted to. Sensing that she was on the brink, the princess of the dead made the knobby growths on her cock appear and extend, further increasing its sensitivity-and that was enough. Going at breakneck speed, to the insane squeals of the Punisher, Mortis exploded in a roar of orgasm.

-Raah.

-Aah.

The moment they cummed in sync, the two screams merged into one and rolled through the entire warehouse. The Punisher froze like a statue, feeling her heart pounding like crazy. Her head throbbed, drowning out all the sounds of the outside world. Her first convulsive breath was a huge struggle-and with the exhalation she just sprawled out of the box, feeling like there wasn't a drop of strength left in her whole body. Her eyes blurred, turning everything around her into indistinct silhouettes. And the only thing she felt distinctly was the hot seed of her rapist overflowing inside her.

I leaned back, speeding up my perception a little, so that I could see what was so interesting flying at me from the shadows. And it's pretty fast, too. I let go of the delicious ass of the Punisher, and successfully intercept the… baton thrown at my head?

-What is it? – With amazement studying the caught object, I did not immediately realize that in doing so I stopped holding the one that now cannot hold on on its own.

-A pig. – My exhausted victim nearly collapsed on the floor. But I held her down with my tentacles, and, well, we were both shaken down, because I didn't even have the strength to stand on my own feet.

- Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it's okay. – I lifted the woman in my arms and she collapsed helplessly, closing her eyes. The feeling of euphoria is still there.

-Donkey… stupid… -But it doesn't stop her from staying as sharp on the tongue as ever.

-Why am I a donkey? -Why am I a donkey? – Honestly, you could be insulted by now. But it's understandable that she's saying this now out of inertia. So I have no problem laying her comfortably on the crates and turned to the guest emerging from the shadows.

-Because you have a dick like a donkey. – Stubbornly the Punisher mutters back. She's still a little weak, but she's already opened her eyes, and the drowsiness is slowly draining away. – And stupid, because you do not do as you are told.

-Well, well, well. – A graceful figure emerged from the darkness, a dark scarlet deviless costume pleasing to the eye, covering all her graceful curves and her face covered by a mask with neat horns. In her hands she held a pole very similar to the baton I was now holding, and her size four breasts were adorned with two «DD» letters. – I had been summoned here, assured that an old acquaintance of mine was in trouble. And it turns out she had taken a mistress.

-What can I say… -With a smile I look around her from feet to horns, lingering my gaze on her nice bulges and dainty cheekbones. Then I toss her her own baton, which Daredevil successfully catches. -It goes like this…

- Shut your mouth. – The Punisher moved again, trying to get up. – I warn you… not a word.

-All right, all right. – I helped her up. She was clearly not happy about it, but she was still rather difficult to move on her own, so she did not push me away.

- I can't say this kind of result is surprising when Miss Francis takes over. – Daredevil eloquently circled her hand around the traces of the carnage I'd caused inside the warehouse.

- But the fact that she doesn't mind combining carnage with an equally violent act of passion is certainly news, though not the most unexpected.

-Deviless, that goes for you, too. – The Punisher almost hissed with anger at both of us, and it looked comical from the outside, considering that at the same time she had no way to pull her pants up. – I don't want to hear any comments about getting my ass fucked by an alien woman with a dick.

- Alien? With a dick? – The newcomer wanted to clarify right away.

- Honestly, yes. But you can call it anal probing if you want. – I chuckled and looked at the waddling Frances. Ha, I really did stretch her anus. But that's okay, no tearing or serious damage. I had already taken care of that, after all my goal was to have fun with her, not to maim her.

-Are you okay? – The devil woman supported the woman when she was finally close by.

- I've just been raped in the ass by an alien. I guess you can guess I feel like an anal-alien whore. – The Punisher muttered angrily, trying to pick up her cloak from the floor, but finding it difficult to do so now.

- How rude. – I faked indignation, crossing my arms over my chest. – Two orgasms on my part, for two bullets in the chest from you. That's fair enough, plus you had twelve orgasms yourself.

Frances just roared with rage, clearly wishing with all her being that she now had a gun. The deadliest weapon she could imagine.

- So, please, details are superfluous here. – The Deviless immediately intervened, and immediately tried to turn the tables.-But the blade work here is all over the place-yours, I suppose. Isn't that too cruel?

- My handiwork, I admit. – I don't see the point in leaning on it, especially in front of someone who has a built-in lie detector. By the way, it would be interesting to experiment with that, but I'll leave that for another time. – Although I can justify myself by saying that I was shot without asking any questions or intending to be left alive. But at least our Francine got away with anal punishment of her gorgeous ass for the same thing.

I turned to the Punisher. She pressed her lips tightly together, clearly struggling to keep from spewing a deafening torrent of profanity, and responded only with a coarse gesture that made me grin evasively. How I wonder if she is even aware that one of the interlocutors is blind and definitely does not see that finger? She was clearly understood, however, and the woman in red hummed and put her club in the pouch on her belt. Her hips swayed seductively as she did so. Was she sure she couldn't see? I feel like she just perfectly noticed me shooting my eyes at her ass and hurriedly turned around.

- Should I start worrying too?

-No, it's okay. You weren't shooting at me. So this time I'll try to get what I want with the consent of the mistress. – With a smile I assured her.

-Thank you for that at least. – However, the Deviless was in no hurry to relax. – However, you'll have to try a little harder here. You know, I don't share that kind of crime-fighting.

-Then I'll start wooing you right now. Hold on a second. – I jump to the ceiling with the help of my spider web and take the case, and when I come back down I open it and take out the hard drive and hand it to the ladies. I do not know what to do with it anyway, and a couple of pluses to my reputation from Daredevil would not hurt me.

-What's in here? – She took my gift and twirled it in her hands, studying it.

-I have no idea. But that's what their boss took with her when she tried to escape. She got away with it through the sewers, but I got the trophy.

-Okay, fine. – She took her friend under her arm and headed for the exit. – And you'd better hurry, too, for it's going to be a problem to get out of here soon.

In the end, the two of them took off in the Punisher's van. And I, having already spat on the unfinished wall, decided to really get the hell out of here. I don't know what Daredevil was hinting at – that the police would finally come to the warehouse, or friends, or maybe enemies of the dead would get there, but I don't want to find out at all. I'd had enough adventures for one night. The whole night is a mess. Instead of a few hours of restful sleep, I caught bullets, intimidated, interrogated, caught bullets again, killed, entertained, guided, caught bullets again and intimidated, fucked and negotiated. Yeah, Hell's Kitchen is a fucking neighborhood.

But – at least things had moved on the document extraction issue. Now I just have a lot of time to kill, and the meeting is only in the evening. Hmmm… maybe she should have asked her lawyer for fake documents in exchange for the hard drive. I mean, where would she get that kind of connection? And she's kind of a hero, so forgeries aren't her thing. What am I supposed to do now? Oh, wait, I know!

Ah, school. It's been a long time since I've been in one. In fact, not once in this life, I don't know if the gods even have schools, but my dear mother homeschooled me. Thereby instilling a love of individualized learning, instead of a one-teacher-per-crowd approach. Still, the one-on-one process is much more effective. But as we know, school is not just for gaining knowledge. Here you also gain skills of living in a team, making friends, enemies, and so on in the same spirit.

Thinking back on my experience from my past life, I can say that it was not too successful. I went through three schools, from a pretty good one to one where there were rare bastards who thought it was okay to beat their mothers instead of supporting them after their divorce, and no one really cared. The third one seemed to be quite neutral at first glance. But it was there that my mother was suddenly told that I was already balancing on the very edge and that my life was about to cross the line of no return. After that, a lot of bad stuff started to happen. A «F» for not learning a poem – that's understandable. But they gave me the same «F» for learning it. Homework was not written down in principle; you had to memorize it however you wanted. But at the same time sometimes they demanded to do homework, even if we had not done it the day before, and it was impossible to prove it. And Saturday was even a high-flying trick, because we had to come to class not at eight in the morning as usual – and at six! I even fell down with this shit now, as I remember – at six in the morning my father was just getting up to go to work in the next town. And I had to be in class by then.

Okay, enough about the past. Today I will try to control myself with respect to both teachers and students. Because after such an eventful night I'm not sure how I can react. The first thing I do is give myself the most normal look – a T-shirt, an open-front jacket, jeans and sneakers. Just enough to pass for a local. No one stopped me at the gate; there was no guard here at all. I remember, I remember those times when it was still safe to enter the school grounds. Inside, though, things might not be so easy. Apparently I got in during recess, most of the students were outside. So I stayed out of the building and decided to walk around and explore the grounds first. And it didn't seem small at all, bigger than any other school I'd seen before. And I'd seen other schools besides my own three, most often on field trips to those that had museums dedicated to certain illustrious alumni.

It's not just a huge building with five floors, but it's also quite a big area. There is even a field for some kind of sports game, most likely American soccer, I do not know about it. Problems with entry should not arise, except for the front door there are

Side doors, and there's more than enough windows. Though I'm likely to get into the classrooms through them, and I'd better not go in there yet, unless it's empty. It's going pretty well so far, as long as I don't run into… oh, there they are.

- It's time for the fist treatment, nerd.

- Let go, you know what you're in for?

Yeah, it's just like it always is here. There's the bullies and there's the ones they bully. As I turned the corner and walked past the trash cans I saw a group of girls, led by a tall blonde girl, press another one against the wall. You gotta be kidding me. Am I the only one seeing pattern upon pattern here? None of my business, I'm walking by, I don't need to shine a light right now… who am I trying to kid? Sighing, I head straight for this company. How I don't want to waste time on them, I'd rather start looking for the right people already, maybe even get lucky enough to manage the start of class.

- Stay still Mei. The longer you resist, the longer this case will last.- The blonde managed to give out before I grabbed her from behind by the belt and scruff. – Aah! What?

In one swift motion, I lift the girl up so her legs are off the pavement. I have to admit, this bully has quite an athletic figure, apparently an athlete. She fidgeted for a second, trying to break free of my grip, then experienced a brief sense of free flight with a landing point in a dumpster.

-Don't shush. – I sternly wagged my finger at her and walked on with a relaxed gait, as if I'd forgotten all about what had happened. The other girls, including the victim, looked at me with round eyes, trying to comprehend what had just happened. However, they recovered quickly, as soon as the shrieks of anger began to come out of the container the rest of the girls rushed to the aid of their leader.

- Hold her! – came from behind a few seconds later, and then there was the sound of stomping feet.

-Wow, wow, wow. – I giggled, taking a brisk step and then running. From the corner of my eye I noticed that the victim of the hooligans had also made a footstep. That's good.

It was easy to break away from the pursuers. Well, I'm not going to fight with them, it's certainly not a fight of equals. And in general, they lost me after a hundred meters, hopelessly retired. So what the hell with them.

Well, Midtown High. If my memory serves me correctly, this is where Gwen Stacy and Parker should look. Assuming they haven't already graduated, of course. I wonder, if my theory is correct and Parker is a girl in this world, what is her name here? Petra, Patricia, Peggy?

Part One Chapter Fourteen

*** King of the New York underworld***

- One more time. – Dressed in an expensive white business suit, the hairless man of dense build took his eyes off the computer monitor on the table in front of him. – Say that again.

-Sir? – The woman was embarrassed, not expecting her boss to be so coldly calm. The slight confusion on her face was the only thing that stood out from the image of an elegant and austere businesswoman in a perfectly fitted formal suit with a short skirt, with her hair tightly pulled into a ponytail, neat makeup and graceful glasses.

-I want to make sure I heard correctly. – Still calmly, the man repeated, pushing aside the keyboard.

-This morning one of our warehouses was raided by the police. All the contents were confiscated. The address… - The woman took a sheet of paper out of a folder and, obeying a short gesture, put it in her outstretched hand.

-Too many dead. – The man noted, glancing over the rows of letters and numbers. – How many were arrested?

-Sir. – The aide took half a step back. – None of our men survived.

-No one at all? – Her boss took his time putting the document aside. -The police don't usually work this hard.

-I'm afraid they had nothing to do with it, sir. – The woman adjusted her glasses. – Our agents were the first ones on the scene. That's why we had the information before the report was on the chief's desk. And by that point, everyone in the warehouse was already dead.

-Ahem. -The man thoughtfully crossed his fingers over each other and rested his chin on them. – So it was either a rival or a particularly radical vigilante. Leslie! Miss Cranston's body was discovered with the rest?

-Miss Fear, sir? Not yet known. Many of the bodies were badly damaged, making identification difficult.

-So hurry them up. I want to know two things—who did this and if Lauren Cranston is alive. I also want access to the police seizure. – For the first time, the man's face showed signs of impatience.

-I'll get right on it. But, sir… - The assistant hesitated for a moment before she decided to continue. – If such a large quantity of confiscated goods were to go missing at once, it would seriously compromise our agents and complicate further…

-Leslie. – The man interrupted her with one short gesture and closed his eyes wearily for a brief moment. – I don't really care about that warehouse or those people or anything in it. It's a pathetic drop in the ocean of all my assets.

The woman's eyebrows rose in amazement for a moment.

- Does this have anything to do with Miss Fear in particular, sir?

- It just so happens that it was today that an item in which I have a keen interest was about to pass through her hands. – With a noisy exhale, the man drew a box of expensive cigars from the side table. – And I want to know as soon as possible – where is it now? Among the confiscated goods in the police warehouse – or has she gone somewhere else. By herself or with Miss Cranston's help.

-So what exactly are we looking for, sir? – Now that she understood, Leslie was ready to act.

-Hard drive. And also Miss Lauren Cranston herself. – After smoking, the man took a deep puff before letting out a cloud of tobacco smoke. – Or better yet, both. Because I have a few questions either way.

-I understand you, sir. – The aide bowed her head slightly. – We'll find them.

***Mortis***

She managed to get into the school through the window of one of the classrooms, though she had to pick the lock on the door before she could do her business. Of course, it would have been easier if I knew what class the people I was interested in were in. But what I don't have, I don't have. I just have to work by asking.

- You don't know them?

- No, it's the first time I've heard of them.

- Have you heard of these guys, Gwen Stacey and Parker?

- No, are they new? What grade are they in?

- What I don't know, I don't know.

- I'm looking for Parker and Gwen Stacy. Can you help me find them?

- Of course I can help you find them. I know them.

- Yeah? Where am I supposed to find them?

- That'll be ten bucks.

- What's that?

- Information costs money. So you want information, you pay for it.

- But I don't have any bucks. But I do have pussy. You want to trade me for 10 bucks? One, two…

- Ouch. Shh, shh, shh. Come on. Why are you so aggressive?

- I'll pay what I have, so what? Will there be information or pay more.

- I don't know anything. Go to hell.

- Really? Maybe if I pay the shortfall, something will come up.

- You walk away. I don't have info, I have 100 info.

- Gwen Stacy or Parker.

- Parker? Is Parker a guy?

- Um… I don't know.

- You don't know who you're looking for?

- Let's focus on Gwen Stacy.

- I'm sorry, I don't know about that one.

- Oh, God, get lost.

- That's pretty strong. Why don't you just answer it?

- Oh, ew. Don't contact me. – The kid recoiled from me with his hand over his mouth and nose. It kind of threw me into a little bit of a stupor. The other girls, on the other hand, reacted as if they'd picked up the signal.

- Trouble? – One of them asked me with a bull's-eye, coming up from behind me. I glanced back at her, and the boy was already surrounded by a group of other girls who were chirping soothingly at him, pulling him aside.

- Me? I don't have a problem, I don't care who you ask. – I immediately switched to this person, putting the gentle boy out of my mind and turning his nose up at me. – Can you help me? Looking for Gwen Stacy, she's supposed to be somewhere at school, and I don't know where.

- Hmmmm. – The girl's face creased slightly. – No, I don't know.

-I see. – With a slight nod of her thoughts she was going to go on. -Okay, I'll keep looking.

-Come on. – After making sure that there was no reason for conflict, the girl relaxed. – And this. Try not to have much contact with the boys. You stink, and we have a mostly… delicate.

- Mm-hmm. – Nodded back and moved on. Sniffing my hand, I concluded. Damn! She's right. I should have at least rinsed in the river on the way. That's what not bathing after a real massacre and sex on top of it. I've got to fix this. Maybe that's why they won't talk to me.

But all of a sudden I found her. A blonde with long hair and blue eyes, and the edge of a tattoo peeked out from under her left sleeve. She was walking with someone I recognized immediately. She was the one I'd helped recently. Hmm, that was the first person I should have asked. As I approached the couple, I noticed that they also noticed me and realized that I was going to them.

- Hi. Gwen Stacy?

- Yeah, what about you?

- My name is Mortis. And I'd like to have a word with you, if you don't mind.

- Okay, I'm gonna go to class. – Her girlfriend immediately responded and disappeared just before the school bell rang.

-Yeah, go ahead. – Gwen tossed her and turned back to me. – What do you say?

-You know, I'm afraid it's not a three-minute thing. – I shrug my shoulders, realizing that the conversation will have to be postponed after all. – But don't worry, there's no rush. I'll wait till after class.

-Okay then. – Gwen headed toward the classroom, too, but slowed down at the last moment. – What were we talking about?

- Oh, nothing serious. – I waved goodbye to her as I ran down the hall. – Don't be late for class.

- You, too.

Thanks, but I don't really have a class right now. In fact, I have nowhere to go, and since I have some free time, it would be nice to take advantage of it. Although… there is still something I need to do.

The good thing is that during my wanderings around the grounds, I had already figured out where the gym was. And fortunately, the movies didn't lie. In contrast to Russia, schools here have showers. The most suitable place to wash off that smell while classes are going on. And lucky for me, there was no one inside.

I don't have a locker. So I had to stick my armor, my armor suit, and all the contents of my pockets to the wall with my symbiote. This, in addition to my clothes, is also two phones taken from the bandits, a tight purse replenished with their own cash, a gasoline lighter and a pistol with two spare clips. I didn't really need the latter, but I took it just in case. A few minutes of pleasure under the warm water, and I was fresh again. And I was even relatively clean-without soap, you couldn't really wash yourself. I didn't think to look through other people's lockers right away. A puncture. All right, that'll do for now. It took me a few minutes to dry off, so I was soon ready to go out again. What should I do now?

After putting on my «hero costume,» I literally climb the wall. If I remember correctly, Gwen Stacy's class should be right across the street. I'll be able to watch it, and maybe I'll see Parker, too. Or at least try to identify her or him.

Through the window I see a class of a few dozen people. Mostly girls, of course, but only two guys. One is blond, the other is brunette – both without glasses and both look like flimsy dystrophics. The brunette also has long hair. They don't really fit Parker, not when he was a regular nerd or when he got his powers. It's a lot harder to guess about the girls; there are a lot of them, and most of them would fit in one way or another.

I wish I could eavesdrop on their conversations. How could I? I don't know of any spells that would work. Oh, wait, there is an alternative, though. I send one of my slave souls into my classroom. I can't even see it when it's ghostly, and it can penetrate the walls. And through our connection I can hear everything that the spirit can hear.

- … the solution to the problem on the board. – Okay, this is the teacher. – As you can see, it's solved by substituting all the necessary values into the formula. Allen, stop passing notes! All hands on the board!

One of the students twitched and grabbed her textbook, pretending to read it diligently-and then there was a knock on the door, and then it opened without waiting for an answer. And then I felt myself falling off the wall – my fingers relaxed and could no longer hold my body in place. Oooo La-La-La! Look at this latecomer! After a while I pulled myself together and held on tightly, not taking my eyes off the owner of my attention with her tall, slender hips, a gorgeous bust, great build, expressive glance and sensual lips.

-You're late, Watson. Class is long overdue. – The teacher remarked. And in that moment, I fell out of reality. Watson? You mean Mary-Jane Watson? I'm not embarrassed to admit that I'm already drooling over her. Damn! I can see how she was able to take Spider away from Black Cat. This isn't Kirsten Dunst. This is a real model, a top-tier star from magazine covers and TV commercials. And she's still in high school? Holy shit! I was so stunned that I listened to everything MJ said to the teacher there, just watching her take her seat.

-The resulting fraction has two numbers in the numerator, three in the denominator, and several exponents. – The class went on, and I wondered what was going on. Okay, this is definitely a class with Parker. And I can definitely see her in class right now – but I don't recognize her. Who is she? Gwen's friend? Option, but I think her name is Mae. Maybe – manage to look at the student lists somehow? Oh, crap…

I've been spotted. And not just anyone, but Gwen. Not that we met eyes, but she was definitely looking in my direction. I think it's time to call it a day on my espionage efforts. I scrambled up the wall, recalling the spirit in the process. Whoops, at the last moment I catch a glimpse of Gwen excusing herself from class. How interesting. I wonder – if she's after me, maybe I should try to lure her away. And if she can't, that's okay. I'll come by after class, like we agreed.

***Gwen Stacy***

Barely made it home tonight before my absence would be noticed. Another reminder to myself to be mindful of time. Still need to show my family around. Thanks to Mei, once again she covered. She talked, of course, for the sake of decorum, but not seriously. By the way, where is she? We were supposed to meet before class… Oh, there she is. Speak of the devil. With her usual panting after running and disheveled hair.

-Whoa! What are you doing? – What am I talking about? We're in high school. Who else could she be running from? – Flash again?

-No. -I mean, yes, but. – May finally got her breath back. – You're not gonna believe what just happened. The Flash got tossed in the dumpster!

- Wow. That news alone has already made my day. – I may be exaggerating, but not too much. – So who's the heroine of the week?

-I don't know, some new girl? – Mei sighed, heading toward the classroom with me. -Mm… new girl? We have a new girl?

-Noooo… - Parker thought about it, obviously trying to remember something. – At least, I'm pretty sure that's the first time I've seen her.

-Somehow it's a little late for newbies. But if she decided to start her career by sending the school's star athlete into the trash, I have a feeling someone like that is going to shine. And you can thank her. – With a smile I winked at Mei, hinting that this was a good chance to expand her circle of friends a little. If you're lucky. My friend smiled back embarrassedly, clearly encouraging that thought. Eh, our little shy one. She still has trouble communicating when it comes to things other than her studies.

-Hey, Gwen. – Almost at the very classroom called me one of my friends. – There's someone interested in you. I think he's looking all over the school for you.

-Really? Who? Are they looking for me? Why would they be looking for me?

-I don't know, some dude. Didn't introduce herself. – She looked behind us in the hallway and nodded in that direction. – Yeah, look for yourself.

-That's her. – Mei,- she said, immediately tensing up as we turned around.

-Who?

-She's the one who put Flash in the trash. – Sounds back. So there she was, Parker's savior. She's tall and kind of built, but you can't really tell with all these clothes on. The tight jeans did a good job of accentuating her shapely legs, though. And the breasts under the jacket stood out quite impressively. Her face was pretty, but nothing special. Where was her backpack?

- Hi. Gwen Stacey?

- Yeah, and you are?

- My name is Morty. And I'd like to have a word with you, if you don't mind.

- Okay, I'm gonna go to class. – Mae hurried to leave and almost immediately the bell rang.

-Yeah, go ahead. – I saw her off with an eloquent look, promising to be back by this point and turned to the new girl. – So, what do you say?

- You know, I'm afraid it's not a three-minute thing. – The conversation seems to be postponed. Weird, what does she want? Do I know her? – But don't worry, there's no rush. I'll wait until after class.

- Okay then. – Before she headed to class, though, she paused for a second. -What were we talking about?

- Oh, nothing serious. – She waved with a smile. Hmm. Are we sure we don't know each other? – Don't be late for class.

- You, too.

The lesson went on as usual. Another thing was that there were a lot of extraneous thoughts running through my head, distracting me from the teacher's explanations. Who was the new spider? What was wrong with her web, and why was Parker so worried about it? Well, yes she is, black, but can't Mae herself add some kind of dye to the web to make it change color? And when is Mama coming home from her long work trip? Here was probably the only thing I hadn't been racking my brain about, Morty. It's funny, I don't know who she is or what she wants, but I'm not worried. And all it took was a simple phrase: It's not a rush job. The other question is, where's my favorite redhead? Yeah, there she is.

-Excuse me, Miss Harris. – A redhead of the class, a redheaded chick appeared.

-You're late, Watson. The lesson had begun long ago. – And the main thing was that the sly one had not the slightest trace of remorse on her face – and yet the teacher still smiled back at her. Mary had this… aura or something. She could put anyone in a good mood.

-I'm sorry about Miss Harris. Something unexpected has come up.

-It doesn't matter, Watson. – She interrupted before the redhead could finish. – You know my minimum requirements to get a good grade. So sit down and don't hold up the class.

MJ immediately stopped talking and went back to her seat, giving me a cheerful glance, and the lesson continued as usual. Not for long, though.

For starters, an eraser flew at me. Already guessing – who is so clever here – I looked in the direction from where it came from, and, of course, immediately met the ginger's gaze. I was sure that I had caught my attention, and my friend immediately raised her eyebrows expressively, and began to shoot her gaze toward the window. What was that pantomime? But I still looked in that direction… and almost jumped out from behind the desk. It was her! Right outside the window, sticking to the wall, the new Spider-Girl with the black web was peeking into our classroom. Is this a joke? What is she doing here? Could it be – has she tracked one of us down? But how? And even if not, it is still very strange for a mere coincidence. My mind reeled with options for how to proceed. We should get out and get her away from the classroom. MJ shakes her head in frustration. Yeah, we can't count on her right now, she's already late, she can't leave class now. It's a good thing May's phone is always on, even in class, even if it's silent-just vibrating. I'll go alone and text Parker if I have to.

- Miss Harris. May I be excused? – I shouldn't make a habit of dropping out of class. But there's no alternative. If that new girl storms into school like Puma did the other day, there's gonna be no problem. As I rushed down the corridor, I typed and saved two drafts of a text message for May, just in case. The first thing I did when I flew into the bathroom was to make sure I was alone, which was lucky. Wait, the window. It's already open. Weird, but I'll think about it later.

I crawl up the wall to the roof, where there is a spare bag with a suit hidden in a secret place. It takes a few seconds to put it on. I'm ready now. I jump, clinging to the edge with my cobwebs, and fly to where the Enigma in Black was.

She's not there anymore, but when I look more closely, she's half a block away from the school. What's going on? Did she just leave on her own? Okay, let's follow her.

In a couple of minutes the stranger began to descend lower and lower, and finally over the asphalt flew into the alley between the houses. I hurriedly get there, and trying to remain unnoticed, cautiously watching from the roof. Yeah, she's still here. She walks slowly, I would say at ease. Why? Did she see me? She didn't run away?

Wow! I thought I was the one changing quickly. Turns out you're not.

In an instant, the suit on this person seemed to come to life. It vibrated, moved, and changed in an instant. What was that? How was that even possible? Now there was an ordinary girl walking down the alley. Wait a second, that's her! What was her name? Morty. You can't see her face from here, but her hair and clothes are the same. Well, things seem to be worse than they first appeared. I keep an eye on this person, and immediately type a new message-the ones I sketched out earlier won't work here.

«The new Spider-Girl with the black web. She was at our school.»

«Mei P. – Our school is a spider's nest?»

«She's already gone, I'm following her…»

I press «send» before I can finish. Not before. While I'm fumbling with my phone across this

A very suspicious-looking lady comes out and I don't have time to intervene.

-Get your money, Snotlout. Till she stabbed me with a knife. -Oh, there, that fast-talker's got a gun. I don't even know which one of them needs saving now. What am I talking about? The robber, of course.

- Is that a knife? – Mortis's voice is distinctly contemptuous.

Is this her idea of a joke? What the devil is a knife? It's a sword! A real one and a half meter long sword she'd taken out of her jacket. How? Where did she hide it?

- Will you give me your toothpick? – Almost friendly, this maniac asks, pointing her weapon in the direction of the robber, so that the very tip rests on her chest. The pale woman stands there in a complete stupor, trying to comprehend how the situation has changed so drastically.

And no, she froze, dropped the knife from her hands, and with a short screech ran away. And Morty only grinned, hiding her antique again… Where-I couldn't figure it out again. Not in her jacket pocket.

- Well, at least the trophy is stylish this time. – The unsuccessful victim deftly picked up the weapon she had been threatened with just a moment ago. – The handle is shaped like a fish. It had a medium blade, but it was well cared for.

And then she broke it. With her bare hands. She just pressed her thumb on the side of the blade and the knife didn't last long.

My phone was vibrating in my hands, taking messages.

«Mei P. – Gwen, why aren't you talking?»

«Mei P. – Gwen?»

«Mei P – Gwen!»

Gotta answer after all.

«This is Morty. The one who saved you. «

«It's okay. She hasn't seen me yet. «

Once again, I'm missing her. Okay, well, what the hell with the correspondence, if anything, May already knows the main thing. Morty, meanwhile, has turned into a very narrow passageway between the houses and is out of sight. I hurriedly climbed over the wall, crawled around the corner, and… I see her again – Morty. Or rather, her feet literally a meter in front of my face.

She was standing upright on the wall, like on the floor, as if ignoring the laws of gravity, with only one hand holding onto the fire escape. Standing there, waiting for me.

-You do that. If there's anything you want to ask me, don't be shy. – With a friendly smile Morty suggested.

***Mortis***

So, we could say that the luring operation was a success. Gwen followed me, and soon we were a little away from the big, crowded streets, where we could talk without too many eyes and ears. The unscheduled run-in with the mugger was not worth the attention at all.

I decided it was time to start talking, so I darted up the wall to about the same level as Spider-Girl, grabbed the fire escape with my hand, and made a pair of spikes on my feet, driving them into the walls. It should look quite spectacular even without the super costume.

-You do that. If you have any questions, don't be shy. – I smiled in a friendly way as Gwen came around the corner and stared at me stunned. It worked – the superheroine immediately bounced back, and was forced to use a spider web to keep from falling down, and find herself back on the wall a little higher than before. It looked very funny, so I couldn't help laughing.

- Do you take me for a fool? – Gwen asked angrily.

- No, not at all. – I was a little too busy getting a serious expression on my face, and I was also putting on my superhero costume. – Come on, let's talk normally.

I jump up with a jerk, then do it again, and sit down on the edge of the roof. The spider-girl was just a few seconds behind me.

-That's something new. – She positioned herself a little away from me, and the first thing she did was quickly look around to make sure there were no intruders. – How did you…

- Listen. – I put the brakes on the girl's apparent stream of questions, and pulled the mask off my face. – Let's take it one step at a time. And let's start with the main thing. – I gently rise to my feet and move closer, holding out my hand. – Hi, I'm Mortis.

Gwen stared at me warily, either looking for a catch, or just hanging back from surprise, which was hard to tell beneath the mask.

-It's just Mortis, I don't have a last name. – I smiled again, and took another half step closer.

- Ahh… um… I see. – Thank my mother, she shook my hand. But from the sound of her voice – completely confused by what's going on.

- And by the way, I know who you are under the mask. – But since I respect other people's secrets, I'll just call her Spider-Girl.

-Stoop! I just can't wrap my head around this. So you're not Morty, you're Mortis? The new spider girl? Do you have the same superpowers? And you can teleport? And you carry a giant sword and a shape shifting costume? And yet you know all about my personality and where I go to school? Is that so!? – Gwen was literally bursting with indignation, as if she'd found out I'd been snooping in her girl's diary the whole time.

-Yes. No. No. You could say that. Yes. Yes. Not really. – I answered briefly all at once and the girl was silent again. It took me a couple of minutes to realize that she was now trying to mentally match the answers to her own questions, and yet not actually remembering the order in which she had poured them out. – Okay, relax and take a deep breath. I'll be right back.

I jump off the roof, putting the mask back on my face on the fly. I can feel the wary eyes of the Spider-Girl behind me, ready to rip her off. And what about me? I just saw an ice cream truck stop on the sidewalk. An ice cream truck! They really do exist! And I was sure that for a long time it was just a part of American folklore, left only in the movies or in some remote places. How could I miss such a chance? In addition, I was lucky and when I got to him there were no other customers – so they served me quickly and without problems. And where would they come from? Who cares what I look like, as long as I'm honestly paying for my purchase with money and not trying to rip the saleswoman's head off?

Back on the roof with the loot, I hand Gwen a creamy ice cream cone, keep the other portion for myself, get rid of the mask, and then taste it. Mmmm… delicious. I've had time to miss it. In the world of the dead with ice cream was not enough, thanks to my favorite aunt – she sometimes brought, knowing what to please me.

-So, let's take your questions one at a time. – Ice cream's great, but let's not forget business. – Yeah, I'm Mortis, not Morty. I just shortened the name to make it sound more familiar to you.

I look at Gwen, gauging her reaction. She listens, silent, occasionally turning her gaze from the ice cream in her hand to back to me.

- I answer the next two at once. No, I'm not a new spider and I don't have your powers. In that respect, you could call me a wannabe. Or a charlatan. – I shrug my shoulders and smile and go back to my ice cream.

- What do you mean? – Great, she seems to be coming out of listener mode again. Even her voice sounds pretty even, though there's still some tension in it. – Can you be a little more specific?

- Well, to begin with, I'm not good at sticking to surfaces. Where possible, I have to use claws or spikes, but that's not it at all. – I willingly show you how to do this trick, noting happily how Gwen even moved a little closer to take a closer look.

- I have no spidey sense. Nor do I have your dexterity. Believe me, I've never done a single somersault in my life…

-Wait a minute. – That's when I got interrupted. – Did I understand correctly that all your strength comes from the costume?

-Not exactly. – I take the veil off my right arm, and then I take off the gauntlet as well. – The suit adds to my abilities, but I can do some things on my own, too.

As a demonstration, I first summon a sword, then change it to a spear, an axe, and, as a finishing touch, I light a green magical flame on my palm.

-Wow… -Gwen stared at the fire in fascination. – And how?

-Magic. – I made it short, and then I broke the spell with a cloud of sparkling sparks and put it back in place.

- Now magic… Well, why not… - Spider-Girl seemed tired of being surprised. – Look… is it okay for you to tell me everything like this?

- Why wouldn't it be? Remember, I know who you are and where you go to school. – I smile, shrugging my shoulders. – There's also some speculation about your girlfriend, but that's just speculation.

Now she was really tense, even getting into a fighting stance-as far as I could tell. The tension was physically palpable, and I could cut it with a knife. I'll bet it was Spiders and their secret identity.

- But I want to be completely honest with you. – I'm pointing my finger at my face. – So in exchange for this knowledge I opened you my identity and communicate without a mask.

There was a silence. You could tell that time had stopped, leaving only the noise of the wind-as much as it is possible in such a large city. Spider-Girl was straining to think about my words, I was licking my ice cream nonchalantly.

-Aah! What a bastard! – Gwen angrily pulled off her mask, exposing her face. Frowning and angry blonde – but how cute! Her back was against the wall, and she slid down it, sitting down with her hands on her knees. – I've only been talking, and you've already thrown me off balance.

- I admit I've given you a lot of information at one time, but I was just answering your own questions. – I sit down across from her, watching her approvingly as she finally gets down to her ice cream. – In fact, I want to remind you what I told you back in high school, «This is not a three-minute conversation. «Don't worry, it's not a rush job. I'll wait till after school.» I didn't drag you out of class by force, did I?

- Here we go again. I feel like you're making fun of me on purpose. – The girl puffed out her cheeks, becoming something like an angry puppy dog. That's sweet.

- Not at all. You just need to calm down and everything will sort itself out. Don't worry, I'll wait. – Really, I'm in no hurry.

- Okay, let's forget about my questions for now. – Gwen rubbed her temples, apparently trying to relieve the tension. – But you were looking for me for something, which means you need something. Isn't there?

- Yeah, there are a couple of reasons. – Nodding my head in agreement, I got to my feet again. – And I'll start with the main one. You see, my costume, it's alive. – As a slight demonstration, I make the red spots on my chest and sides move briefly.

- Okay. I'm not surprised by anything else today. – Gwen concluded firmly, and after looking at my costume for a few seconds, she finished off the rest of the ice cream in one bite. – Alive is alive. So what's the problem?

- Your web. It's a very handy thing, amazingly versatile in its uses. That's why I tried to copy it. – I shoot at the nearest wall and there's a blot of black threads with a reddish cast on it. I was a little too excited, so I tried to copy it from the nearest wall.

-But that doesn't work for me. – I tug on one of the threads, making the whole net stretch and vibrate.

- Why? Is there something wrong with it? – The girl poked her finger thoughtfully at the thread, studying it.

-It's permanent. It does not disintegrate like yours. – With a slight sigh, I make the suit pull the web back into place.

-What's the downside here? – Despite my decision not to be surprised anymore, Gwen was clearly impressed with the way I did it.

- Okay, let me get this straight. – Stretching the web between my fingers like macramé. – This costume is alive. The web is part of it. Which means each strand is a piece of the suit's DNA, and it doesn't disintegrate or coagulate.

-Oh, that's really a setup. – The girl gets the point right away. – A spider web that can't be used.

-That's right. Even common burglars try not to leave fingerprints. And this could well be called a biological weapon with a lot of possibilities. – Just to be clear, I release and retract the claws again.

-Yes, you've got a problem. – She nodded. – Though I'm still not sure why you came to me for the solution to this problem.

- Because I know you spider girls have something that can help me. – I wink at her cheerfully.

- Great! – It only took Gwen a few seconds to find the right answer and roll her eyes indignantly. – You know about the artificial spider web, too. You need one, don't you?

- Hey, I know it's a lot of nerve to ask you to supply me with one all the time. Plus, it's not like it's cheap either. – I'm in a hurry to explain. – I just want to try and get the suit to reproduce her formula. But in order to do that, I need one spider-web cartridge.

- Can your suit do that?

- I'm still just exploring all the facets of its capabilities. – Honestly, I don't see the point in lying. – So, how about it? What do you want in return?

- So all this, all your antics, all the flow of information and the meeting in general-just to buy a spider-bat? – With suspicion clarified Gwen.

- Well, we're in America, here and homework is not easy to write off, but they can sell it easily. – Quietly shrugged. – And I wanted to meet the Spider-Girls, so I don't know if we can't have a good relationship. And a mutually beneficial deal is not a bad start.

- Wow. – This time Gwen looked at me with a lot of skepticism. – And you're so rich that you think you can afford any price?

- Well, not at all. I have my limits here, like everyone else. For instance, if you ask for a suitcase of money, it's kind of hard to get it. – At the same time, one of the diamond necklaces I brought with me, «Frosty Patterns,» appears in my hands, and I stretch it out on my fingers to show it from all sides. – It's easier with gold or gemstones, though.

I guess I'd almost given Gwen a heart attack after all. At least her eyes widened, her breathing hitched, and she had trouble finding her words.

-That's… where did… where did you get it?

-My! – I clutched the necklace to my chest pretentiously before I made it disappear.

-Mortis! You're going to give me a heart attack. – The girl literally groaned, struggling to come to her senses. – Why? Why do you need us at all, with all these possibilities?

- And that was the next reason. – With a slight smile I stealthily moved a little closer to her. – I like you.

-Yeah? Is it that serious? – All the emotion in Gwen's voice was suddenly gone completely. – I wonder what?

-Well, you're quite pretty, quite my type. And you make quite an interesting impression. – I easily enumerated, almost without lying. I liked her as a character. – And I plan to get to know you better on the date.

- Do you realize you're talking nonsense right now? – The girl asked, in the same completely colorless voice.

- Okay, let's look at the situation from the outside. – I tried to move in next to her, but, unlike the speech, Gwen's eyes were frantic, so I had to go back to where I'd come from. –

I mean, can't it be possible that a guy or a girl likes someone?

-It's quite possible. – An indifferent, indifferent nod.

- There you go. And the one you like might as well ask him out, right?

Another quiet nod.

- So it's all perfectly normal. – I went on to elaborate on my point. – So what's so weird about that someone being you?

Gwen looked unconcerned for a few seconds, then her cheeks flushed like a tomato, her eyes widened. For a few seconds, the girl just stopped breathing… and then she slapped me across the face! Wow, that was a good one, and it turned me around. And then a hurricane named Gwen came at me.

- STOP IT! STOP FUCKING WITH MY HEAD! – She yelled, grabbing my shoulders and shaking me. – This is too much! Ever since we started this conversation, you've been spewing and spewing information all over me. I can't tell what came before and what came after. Just stop it! Stop making me hysterical! I can't take it anymore!

-All right, all right. You're so cute when you freak out. – I was admiring her at that moment. It made me want to hug her. – In fact, we're done now.

-Everything? – The girl was staring into my eyes. – Are you sure that's it?

-Yes. Everything is secondary. – I gently released myself from Gwen's grasp as she took another deep breath, trying to calm herself down. – Remember, one thing's important: «Mortis wants to acquire a spider-ball.» Don't worry, I'm not trying to rush you or blackmail you. Take a break, think about it… You can go to your friend and tell her what's going on. You know, talk to her together, think about it, maybe you need something more important than money.

-Just like that and tell her about you?

-If she knows your secret, she'll probably keep mine, too. – At least, that's what I hoped she would. God forbid someone decides to get a file on me in the archives. I'm not gonna stop until I destroy it.

-What if we don't want to make a deal with you anyway?

- I guess that would be a shame. I'll probably make the same offer to Scarlet Spider-Girl. – But I suspect they're friends, and the answer will be exactly the same. – And if that doesn't work out, I'll have to think of something else.

-Oh, I can already feel how difficult it's going to be with you. – Wow, she even smiled a little bit at that moment. It was as if she hadn't had that outburst of rage just a few minutes ago and was finally able to put everything else out of her mind. Then she pulled her mask back on. – By the way, do you have a superhero nickname?

-No, I haven't thought of one yet. – I went through my «pockets» and pulled out my wallet. – Can you think of something for me, if you want. Do you have a pen?

Surprisingly, she did find a pen. And it came in handy. Taking a fifty-dollar bill out of my wallet, I quickly wrote down one of my phone numbers, adding in playful handwriting the cherished «Call me,» and then held the bill to my lips, leaving my lipstick glistening with green lipstick.

Here's my number for contact. – I handed her the bill.

-Really? – Under the mask, I couldn't see her emotions again. -A love note, too?

-Yes, and it has a secret. – So I follow her lead and put on my mask too. – If you need me urgently and

Without delay, just tear up the part where my kiss is.

-Tear up the money? That's original. -Gwen grinned, hiding both the pen and my gift somewhere. -What happens then?

-I'll get an SOS signal and I'll be there in no time. – I launch a couple of green flares into the air, like flares. – That's the magic. But only for emergencies.

-So…

-Yeah. Goodbye. – I went to the edge of the roof. -I'll wait for the call. And you should get back so you don't miss your next class.

-So I don't have to wait to see you after class?

-If you want, I'll gladly walk you home. I'll even carry your bag.

-Not anymore, thanks. – She moved to the opposite side of the roof, in the direction of her school. -So you can find out where I live, too. Or do you already know that?

-I'm afraid I don't, or I'd have sent you flowers by now. – I kiss the girl goodbye with an air kiss, and jump down. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be doing, but I can't help it if I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be doing.

That's it, there are no more important things to do today. Except for what awaits me in the evening, but there's plenty of time before that. That meant that I could just relax and lounge around. Why not? I'd been busy most of the time since I'd come into the world, so it would be nice to rest. I was in the middle of the afternoon, and a single scoop of ice cream only served to whet my appetite.

While I was looking for a suitable place, I caught myself constantly listening to the phone, waiting for the call. Maybe I was wrong to do that to her? I could have acted a little less reckless. But, I could not help myself. I really wanted to interest and impress her, and in the future maybe even become a couple. But it didn't seem to work out so well. The way Gwen got angry was fascinating, though. I really admired it. But to be honest, I can't get Mary-Jane out of my head, because I'm so impressed with that person. Hmmm. Oh, damn, I was going to look in the student register and see if I could find Parker's information. Okay, well, that's the way it is. The main thing is that the contact took place, and she'll definitely remember me.

A cute diner finally caught my eye, so I went in, sat down, and ordered soup and lasagna. And while I was waiting I rummaged through Marie and Jen's trophy phones. Most of Marie's contacts had to be blocked, so that all sorts of people looking for her couldn't get through. There were a few useful ones, though – a couple of fence-sitters, a couple of informants, and a few more people of all sorts of criminal activity. I would not have recognized their names myself, of course, but the invisible ghost of the former owner hovered in the air nearby and showed who was who. The mastermind of the forged documents was also found. I hope I have enough cash to pay for her services, because I have no idea what price she will charge. But there are only six unsigned numbers on Jen's phone. I'll block all of them for now, and then I'll see who's there.

- Here you go. – A waitress appeared at my table with a tray.

- Oh, thank you. – This looks pretty good.

- Enjoy your meal. – After placing the order on the table, the girl hurried back.

- Thanks again. – Okay, it's time for some real food. I'm tasting it, mmmmm… delicious. And it's kind of free of dyes and sweeteners and stuff like that. Normal good soup. I got a little extra money in my wallet after the warehouse incident. I gave one bill to Gwen, but it did not make much difference, and there was no other paper at hand. But how chic!

Okay, phones to recharge, thankfully the outlets nearby and pay tribute to the soup. And at the same time, we can poke at the TV. There was something interesting on TV. At first sight – an unidentified rocket, launched towards Afghanistan from where and by whom it is not clear. But it turned out to be much more interesting.

-We just got urgent confirmation. – Just as the anchorwoman was broadcasting from the screen. – That the mysterious object is in fact the Iron Lady, one of the latest developments of Star Industries. At the moment, the head of the company, Stark, is refraining from any comment on the matter.

Hmm. So she's off to Afghanistan. Probably cleaning up Jericho's tail with his missiles, if I remember correctly. Well, that's a good thing, too, but I'll get to the lasagna. I've never tasted this thing that looks like a multi-layered omelet before, and I wonder what it tastes like.

Except – and now I couldn't find out. Because just as I armed myself with a fork, a couple… no, an entire company of three girls and a guy approached my table. What do you mean, a guy, more like a boy. Sixteen or seventeen years old, dark-skinned, and awfully skinny. Seriously, I'm not sure if he's got at least fifty pounds on him. The sleeves of his pink T-shirt and denim vest had thin arms, decorated with green bracelets, the kind that glow in the dark if you break them. And his legs didn't look any better in short shorts. And he had pink glasses… which weren't glasses at all, but something with pink mesh instead of lenses? And to top it all off, two earrings in one ear and a haircut of a toxic purple half-box. What a scarecrow. The girls were dressed more normally, but were not overly modest in their attire. One was a brown-haired girl in a short skirt and top, which emphasized the transition from her narrow waist to her rather appetizing thighs. The second was a short-cut brunette, with a very good figure, seductively trimmed with tight leggings and a T-shirt that left open a slender belly with piercings. However, the third, dark-skinned like a guy, but with curly hair, outdid them both. Fishnet stockings on three fingers missing to the edge of the mini skirt, black mesh blouse, perfectly demonstrating and lace bra and lush breasts in it despite the carelessly thrown over the shoulders of the jacket. And, of course, all three are in full battle paint. Mascara, eyeshadow, lipstick, everything in its place.

- Move over. – The brown-haired girl who came to the table first, tossed me carelessly.

- What? At first I thought I'd misheard her.

- Sit down, I said. – She repeated with a squeeze. No, that's right.

- Why would I do that? – I forked a piece of lasagna and put it in my mouth. Damn, it's good! I can't even taste it properly because of these.

- Because we need space, you stupid sheep! – The brown-haired girl is totally pissed.

-It's not my problem at all. – In spite of her, I behave calmly and even relaxed. – I was the first one to sit here, and I even got my order.

- Then finish your meal quickly, we're waiting. – She lowered the volume a little, but the tone is still brazenly demanding. I take a quick glance around the diner. It's crowded, and all the tables with seating for four people are occupied. But I am the only one who took and personally appropriated a table for individual use. Obviously, it's easier to get one person over than several. And even if that's pretty cheeky of me – why the hell should I cede to them? Let them roll and make it up as they go along.

-No, I'm fine here. – With a lazy gesture, I reach for my phones and check them. Yep, 76% on the first and 91% on the second. – And the phones aren't fully charged yet.

-Don't you get it?! – She freaked out again and slammed her hand on the table so the plates bounced.

-Yes, I got you, I got you. – I've got you,» I said, «I got you.» I carelessly drop my fork and cross my arms over my chest and put my leg over my leg. – You're asking me for a favor, but you're asking without respect.

At this point the other two girls got involved. And while the brunette tried to reassure her friend by telling her to wait until I was gone, the dark-skinned one was also pushing hard, hoping to drive me out of my seat right now, either by numbers or by screaming loudly and showing her authority and toughness. The boy stood aside with an indifferent look, then made a mournful face and said without addressing anyone in particular that he was tired of standing and wanted to sit down, which only spurred the eagerness of his girlfriends.

At one point I was even offered to «go out» with one of them, so to speak «for a more specific conversation. And why should I go out? I'm fine, I sat there and finished my lasagna under the noise of screaming. But two waitresses materialized next to the table, with the intention of resolving the situation. But then the skinny guy started screaming that he was tired and he wanted to sit down, and he didn't like the other places and in general, what kind of service is there and where is the administration?

Your Masha, is it because of his whims that I am driven from my seat? My hands immediately itched to smack him and his chickens in the face at the same time. Seriously, if they had asked me nicely, I might have agreed. And for a hit-and-run with such a pompous attitude in an empty place, we can very much screwed.

So when the offer to go out came again, I agreed and followed the Negro woman. But we didn't go outside, we went to the bathroom. It was clear that the others would take my place now, but I was going to get beaten up by a rather badass hottie. That's where I'm going to have my fun.

But as soon as we got there, all the aggression was blown away from the dark-skinned girl. Now she stipulated and looked almost pleading.

- We're wrong, of course, but you have to understand – he's a fucking guy – there's nothing you wouldn't do for him. – I could tell by her tone that the girl had already had enough of this dead guy's desires. – Please go to the meeting.

- He's a piece of shit, not a boyfriend. – I'm not going to hit her. - I muttered angrily, realizing I wasn't going to hit her. – What the hell do I care about your bullshit?

- We'll make it up to you, really. – She fumbled in her purse. – How much do you want for your trouble?

- Seriously? – It just made me feel weird. If they had to put up a fight like that all the time, that asshole would have his chicks in a heartbeat. – How often does he do that? Is it really worth it?

-Geez. We've been grooming his goddamn majesty for two months now. – The girl even…

Gritted her teeth as she took her wallet out of her purse. – Not a day goes by without a scene like this. So is a hundred and fifty enough for you?

- Keep the money, you'll obviously need it. – I brushed it off. – How's it going? How much progress have you made in the last two months?

-Not much so far. – She clearly perked up, apparently deciding that I was sympathetic and ready to meet them. – So far, it's not always about kissing, either.

Well, that's just fucked up, there's no other way to put it. I had sperm toxicosis when I was that dickhead's age. In both of my lives. And if I managed it quite well in the second life, in the first… I mean, if I had a pretty girl like that hanging around me…

It was like I looked at the dark-skinned girl standing in front of me with a new look. And then I grabbed her by the hair and dragged her into the stall. Since she was so fed up with the cranky kid, she was about to get a real dominant man. A futa, actually. I don't even know this person's name, but that won't stop me. Neither will her attempts to get out or hit me, and I've already put my other hand over her mouth to keep her from screaming.

Once in the stall, I press the black woman's head against the toilet lid. And I must say – a very clean toilet in this institution, no dirt, no unpleasant odors. I hold my prey with one hand and with the other I undo the fly, releasing my cock – and the girl's eyes widen in amazement, and all resistance quickly comes to naught. I let go of her hair, and as soon as she lifts her head, I put my cock to her lips. I didn't need to do anything else – my plump lips immediately closed on the head, kissing it and pulling it in deeper, embracing the shaft. I felt my tongue engage in the action. And yet I soon realized that there was far more enthusiasm than skill. I'm not very experienced, but that's okay, we can fix that, because it's not good for such a pretty girl not to be able to suck properly. I begin to move my hips a little, penetrating her mouth deeper, but the girl suppressedly mooing when it enters only halfway. It's not enough. I squeeze her head tightly with my hands, she grasps my hips and we move toward each other in sync. The head of my cock reaches my throat, the chocolate is choking, tears are splashing from my eyes, smearing my makeup, but she doesn't think about pulling away. A thrust, another, a third, a short pause, another thrust. Again and again. We both didn't give up, and at some point her throat did open, taking me inside, and her soft lips pressed together at the base of her shaft, smearing it with smudging lipstick. I shuddered from the depth and tightness of the penetration, and the girl herself collapsed, rolling her eyes as if she had turned into a doll. I was in the middle of the night, and I was in the middle of the night, and I was in the middle of the night. She immediately put her hand around my cock, kneading it with her manicured fingers, as if she feared that I would take it from her…

-Khaaaa… haaaa. – It was like a raging flame in her eyes, and her lips touched the head of my penis gently. -You haven't…

- No. And I know what will help me. – Leaning in I immediately pulled her mesh blouse up and released her lush tits with hard nipples from her bra. – Mmm just right.

I squeezed her tender breasts with great pleasure for a couple of minutes, and when I decided that the break was enough, I stretched her throat again to the full. Now it was getting serious. I moved my hips sharply, thrusting my cock all the way in, and the black woman wheezed and gasped and rolled her eyes, digging her nails into my buttocks with one hand – while the fingers of the other were frantically working their way up my skirt.

She cummed at the same time as me, moaning and shaking her whole body. But her stomach wasn't ready

For this new challenge. My semen overflowed and spurted out, smearing her face over her neck and her heavily heaving breasts.

- You look cool! – I grinned, admiring the white smudges on her dark skin, wiped my dick on her hair, and tidied my fly and left the bathroom, leaving the girl sitting there with a glassy-eyed, stupid smile.

As it turned out – the show in the hall was not over yet. The brunette and the brown-haired girl were tightly controlled by four waitresses, with stony smiles repeating «You yourself asked to call the manager» and not allowing them to interfere in the main action. And it was taking place a few steps away, where a man whom I had not seen yet – it seemed that the manager was pressing the guy with the rose-colored glasses firmly and firmly. He looked pretty good himself – a brown-haired man in his thirties, handsome but unremarkable, with a short haircut, wearing simple pants and a dark blue shirt with short sleeves. They spoke softly, stood very close to each other, and at first it seemed to me that the dead man did not really mind this state of affairs, but he suddenly twitched to the side, as if trying to move away, and it became clear that the man was holding him by the vest. Of course, I was immediately curious, so I got closer and strained my hearing.

-So listen up, parrot. -The man hovered over the guy, and his speech was not loud, but every word was as weighty as a stack of bricks. – I've owned this place for years. And you're trying to ruin my reputation by scaring customers away.

The boy mumbled some more, twitched again. But he had no chance of breaking free. He wasn't much of a jock, but he had some muscles in his arms. There was some fat starting to show on his belly, too, but it wasn't a big deal.

-Well, if you don't stop, I'm going to beat you up on principle before I throw you and your girls out. – He put a heavy-looking fist to the dead man's nose. – You got that?

He nodded in the affirmative at the guy, who had nothing but sweat on his hands, and then let him go, gently fixing his vest.

-That's good, that's good. Just don't make trouble, we both don't need it. – The man turned away from the boy to whom his maidens immediately jumped, comforting him from the trauma of a bad uncle – and his gaze fell on me.

The man's gaze flickered to the bathroom and back to me.

- Is that her? – He asked the waitress who had just jumped up to him.

- No, that's the customer this company…

- I see. -The owner interrupted her before she could finish. His expression hadn't changed, but his gaze and voice were softer.

-I'm sorry about what happened. – He began, albeit with a friendly, but as it seemed to me still a rather duty smile. – May I offer to pay for your order on the house as compensation?

-No, it's really not necessary. – I easily dismissed it, taking out my wallet and counting out a couple of bills. – Anything happens, as long as you were prepared to respond properly.

-It's the only way this job works. – The man did not stubbornly accept the money from me, and immediately handed it to the waitress. – Now you'll get your change.

-Keep it for yourself as a tip for what happened here. – I shrug it off, nodding my head in the direction of the girls still chirping at the guy.

-It's not a performance. – It's not a show.- The man sternly corrected me. – It's a misunderstanding.

-I guess it depends on the point of view. – I slowly gathered my things and was on my way out, when the owner handed me a small paper bag that the waitress had just brought me, the one I usually take my takeout in.

- Our specialty, a gift from the institution. – He declared it bluntly, and I decided not to refuse. And after all, it's interesting. – By the way, the third one is still there, I suppose? – He turned his gaze toward the bathroom.

-That's right. But give her a little more time. Our conversation turned out to be pleasant, but somewhat stormy. – I couldn't help but chuckle as I headed for the exit. The man gave me another hard look, and then he smirked back. This time, it was sincere.

I spent the rest of the day walking through Central Park. In the bag, by the way, there was a flat cookie the size of my hand, densely studded with four varieties of nuts. Almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, and something else I didn't know the name of, but it was delicious. I guess it was a pretty good day after all, despite the lousy start.

***Gwen Stacy***

What was it I said, Morty's the only one I don't get in my head? Now it turns out she's all I think about. I can't get all the information she's dumped on me out of my head, almost making me hysterical. And it wasn't so easy to figure out what was true and what she was probably just bullshitting me. The magic, the live costume, and most importantly, the awareness of our secrets. Especially about my other personality. And on a separate point, admitting that she likes me and asking me out on a date. Thinking about it is somehow easier than the rest. Although it only adds to the overall picture of confusion.

No wonder all this thinking made me feel like I was stoned when I got back to school. At the first break my friends tried to ask me about what had happened, but I just brushed them off, promising that we would discuss everything after class. At least I wanted to believe that by then the chaos in my thoughts would calm down at least a little bit.

Desperate to achieve this on my own, I tried to concentrate on my lessons, hoping that if I distracted myself, my thoughts would gradually come to order. I did not succeed at once, though I listened to the first lecture attentively – I remembered nothing of it. But then I managed to catch on and tune in to the study, banishing everything extraneous.

After school, the three of us gathered at the edge of the court where the track and field athletes were training. The place wasn't exactly deserted, but it was open on all sides, and it was not easy to listen to a conversation without being noticed.

-How did it go? – M.J. impatiently blurted out the question that had plagued her all day.

- It did. – I sighed. – You know, I went after the new girl with the black web. The one who'd been peeking into our class. Thought I'd follow her and find out more about her.

- And?

- I did. A lot more than I wanted to. She noticed me and started talking to me herself.

- You know what? You had a look on your face after that conversation. – May hesitated, obviously trying to find the right words.

- You know,- Mae paused, evidently trying to find the subtlest way to say it. – Redhead suggested without further ado.

- I was going to say rather stunned. – Parker got out of it. So what exactly were you talking about?

- We talked about a lot of things. – I rubbed my temples lightly, feeling my mind begin to muddle again. – But there was definitely something important. Oh, this is a nightmare. I feel like May.

- What do you mean? – Her friend frowned suspiciously.

- There's too much going on in my head. I was there out of confusion threw a bunch of questions at her and she answered them all at once. I don't know where to start.

- Ugh, that's all. – Mary exhaled in relief. – And can you tell me the main thing-what did she want?

-Yes!» It was like a switch went off in her head and she picked up on the main thing, Mortis wants to buy a spider-ball from us. – I blurted out, as clearly as in class.

My friends looked at each other in bewilderment.

- Mortis-is that spider? – M.J. just in case, and when she nodded back, she smiled happily. – Oh, that's all.

- What do you mean, «That's all»? – Parker slapped her on the shoulder in indignation. – The web and the web shooters are my invention. And it's not even that they're not patented, but I don't want them falling into the hands of anyone else… - She suddenly paused, thinking about something, and then looked at me with that characteristic squint, which always happens when she has a particularly cunning. – Listen… Would she be willing to swap cobwebs?

- I have no idea. – I shrugged. – That's why she wants ours, because she can't make do with hers. Ask her yourself. It's really your baby, isn't it?

-Me? -Mae was immediately embarrassed, as if she'd been summoned to the scaffold. – I'm not going anywhere…

- Gwen, you're not… - Mary started it.

- I'm not. But think about it – she came to the school and specifically came looking for me. Then she bluntly admitted that she knew who I was under the mask and that she also had her suspicions about my friend…

- WHAT? – Parker howled even louder than before. – You set yourself up!

-Well, well, take it easy. – Carrot-top put her arm around May's shoulders, trying to reassure her. – It's not so bad if she doesn't have proof. She doesn't, does she?

- Not as far as I know. – I have to shrug my shoulders again. – And she's not going to look for it. Besides… - After hesitating for a few seconds, I pulled out the bill.

The reaction of my friends to a piece of paper with a phone number, a lipstick print, and a playful inscription «Call me» was radically different. May literally exploded with anger, and M.J. burst out laughing.

- So, are we so screwed because you have a crush on a groupie? – Parker wrenched herself out of Carrot Top's grasp and snatched the bill from me.

- May Parker, stop being jealous! – She took the bill from her and twirled it in her hands, examining it from all angles, then slapped me on the back cheerfully. – Good for you, girl!

Yeah… …my friends are great. One immediately accused me of all my sins, and the other is laughing like a horse. But the funny thing is, they are. My girlfriends are great and I love them very much… even though it's not easy at times like this.

- Are you sure she wasn't blackmailing you? – She was bending the line of our eternal overreactor.

- A date is too small for blackmail. – The same eternal optimist brushed her off carelessly. – It should have been aimed at the appetizing ass of our Gwen.

- There was no such thing at all! – That's it, I won't tell them about the ice cream and air kiss. Although, judging by M.J.'s sarcastic smile, the blush on my cheeks is already giving me away.

- It's not funny! – May glared angrily at her friend. – Can't you see this one has already turned our girl's head?

- Yes? Thank you. And I still can't figure out why I'm really dizzy from the moment of this meeting. – For some reason I suddenly feel very light. M.J.'s infectious aura, May's nagging concern-they seemed to chase away the tension that had been weighing on me for the past few hours. I still hadn't quite figured out the information I'd gotten from Mortis-but I was finally ready to do it now, instead of getting worked up.

I looked at my friends with a smile. Carrot-top smiled back, and there was something in May's eyes that looked like jealousy.

- But jokes aside. – Now M.J. was serious, too. – Do you trust this Mortis person yourself?

- I don't know. – I had to be honest. – Because she knew who I was, she spoke to me all the time without a mask. She didn't ask me to hide anything, but offered to tell you everything.

- Go ahead. – Surprisingly determined and unlike her usual self, Parker said. – I already want to know more about her myself than that she's interested in our web and does very original dating invitations.

M.J. immediately nodded, expressing her complete agreement with her friend's words.

- Then get ready, and keep in mind-you asked for it yourself. – I grinned, feeling ready to tell the story from beginning to end.

Part One Chapter Fifteen

Maybe it's silly, but I can't help thinking that someone or something is bothering me. How else can I explain another paperwork failure? And it seemed so easy to show up, get a price and a deadline. Take a picture and pay. And then what happened? Maybe I'm being chased by an evil fate. Or maybe that's how the rules of the Marvel universe work. I hate to even think that soon I won't even be able to go out for bread without getting caught in a firefight or worse…

I got to the right place on time. It was an ordinary building in a pretty dirty neighborhood with a lot of graffiti on the walls. Right in front of me, a teenager snatched a bag from a passing woman and tried to run away. No, I didn't really interfere, I didn't even change into my costume. I just threw the first empty bottle I could find. Cool, it didn't even break when it flew into the thief's back and knocked her down. The victim, however, didn't yell or call the police either, just jumped up to the victim and kicked her in the ribs, taking the bag from her. She kicked her again, spat viciously, and walked away without saying anything. Nice neighborhood. I shrugged and went about my business, too.

The document forger seemed to be an unremarkable middle-aged woman of most unassuming appearance, wearing old and worn-out clothes. After making sure I was alone, she let me enter the apartment. Inside was the standard «wait until there is more stuff piled up and then take out the full bags of garbage. At least there were no rats, cockroaches, or midges in sight. But there was a lot of hardware. Half a dozen system units, each connected not only to several monitors, but also various scanners, printers, fax machines, and other equipment, the names of which I did not even know. There was also a pile of hardware on the floor, and I guessed everything from old monitors to a coffee machine. There was a piece of light cloth hanging on the wall in the only clear corner. I could tell by the spotlights, directed in that direction, that it was the place for photographing.

The price wasn't cheap, but I could still afford it. After getting a third of the money in advance, she gave me a comb, hairdryer and makeup bag, and then sent me to make up my hair. I only wondered why the bathroom had no door.

I started by washing my face and fixing my hair. Well… of course, I had recently washed it in the school shower, but there was shampoo here, and it was easier to style my hair when it was wet. My makeup, on the other hand, was a bit tricky; it was mostly taken care of at home by the maids. Of course, I could do my own makeup, too. But I had to find out what I had been given, and find the right combination. And just as I was about to start my eyes, the phone rang. And I didn't hesitate to answer it.

-Hello? – And it was a failure. At this very moment I screwed up. Because the person from the next room was calling. I do not know why she decided to call Marie now, but immediately realized that I had the phone of the unlucky criminal. And then it began.

This lunatic burst into the bathroom with a gun. Well, that explains why there's no door. Well, at least she didn't shoot right away, she just yelled.

- Why the fuck do you have Marie's phone?

- Look, just take it easy, all right? I'll explain everything.

- Shut up! Don't tell me to calm down! Answer me, how did you get her phone?

- Should I shut up or should I answer? – She hesitated for a second, and I took advantage of it by grabbing the gun with my telekinesis and yanking it sharply to the side, snatching it out of my hands. Here we go again, like we haven't had enough of this today. I didn't like the hassle.

-Damn. Why does everything always have to go through… - I grudgingly muttered into the void and followed this person, who didn't hesitate to make a run for it as soon as she was unarmed.

The room greeted me with a whole salute of sparks, crackles, pops, and even small explosions. All the machinery with which this small room was cluttered was now going out of order. There seemed to be a few explosive charges placed in them, not too strong, just enough to destroy the equipment itself. And while this riot of fireworks was distracting me – the lady jumped out the window.

- What for? – I calmly inquired after a couple of minutes at the woman writhing on the pavement and smearing blood on it.

- Aaaaah… - She only managed to moan in response.

- I just want the documents. I could even pay double the price. – I scratched annoyingly behind my ear.

- Ahh… All the… all the equipment… all the dirt… - Yeah, she was having a hard time making herself any clearer.

- I can see that you destroyed everything. And then you jumped right through the glass. – I agreed. The woman only whimpered longingly in response. She didn't land well, and the shrapnel took its toll.

-Yeah, you really screwed up. And that would be just me, because I hurt myself a lot more. – I sighed as I took that damn Marie's phone out of my pocket. – Hello, nine one one? Send an ambulance, there was an idiot in such a hurry to go out the second-floor window, she even forgot to open it. So far, she's alive. Yeah, she'll be fine. I'll give you the address…

Of course, I could have healed the idiot myself, if there was any chance she could accomplish her task. But since she destroyed all the equipment herself, let her reap the fruits of her labors. And to me, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the time wasted, sorry for the makeup, which, by the way, needs to be washed off or finished. And worst of all, I'm back to where I started, your copper. No, I'm sure someone is in my way.

So, in the middle of the night, I'm walking again, and I don't know where I'm going. I'll be damned! Can't we do without the fucking tricks at all? Okay, now I need to distract myself, calm down, and then think about what to do next. Where am I now? I don't know. Just keep walking and walking forward. I'm tempted to sit down on a bench and think it over, but I've seen cops chase away a bunch of booze and a vagrant who's taken to sleeping three times already. I can feel it in my bones that they won't let me sit in peace either. What can I do? Maybe fly over the city on a spider's web? Yeah… and who's the one who recently claimed to not actually be the new spider girl?

I climbed onto the roof, and even put on my costume, but I didn't feel like flying anywhere. I thought about shooting a bow, but the only suitable target was a couple of empty cans that wouldn't last long under my attacks. Well, at least the police weren't here, so no one stopped me from sitting in a lotus position on the roof and going through the farthest and most buried memories of Necrosword from nothing to do. So, which ones are mine?

Ugh… However. That's a hell of a twist, isn't it? Trying to figure out Necro sword's memory convinced me that he had a lot of memories of his own. And even… I don't know how to say this. Anyway, this thing is even older than I thought it was, and at least some of its memories are of primordial darkness. That is, even though the blade doesn't possess its own self, it still remembers that it was created almost at the moment of the act of Creation – what we're used to calling the «Big Bang». Powerful, powerful, super powerful. Now at least it makes sense why this thing is dangerous, even for my favorite aunt. The only thing that immediately begs one little question is, if this sword was created shortly after the act of Creation – where's the dude it was meant for? Seriously, it's no coincidence that such a mighty thing came into being, is it? But I couldn't see anything about that – that part is very hard to read. The Necrosword was a newborn then, and its memories are filled with riotousness. A riot of impenetrable darkness and blinding light. But there must have been someone-because among the memories is the feel of cold, clawed fingers on the hilt and the taste of cosmic-energy-saturated blood on the blade.

I was not allowed to finish. I heard footsteps approach, and a door creaked open, and I ducked around the corner, not wanting to face those who had been brought here in the middle of the night. It was just two old ladies, though, up on the roof for a smoke and a chat. I was in the middle of the night, and I was in the middle of the night. So I returned to the ground, hid my suit, and shoved my hands into the pockets of my jeans and wandered down the street. Hmm… again – what am I supposed to do now? Find a place to sleep again, so I wouldn't have to wander the streets at night? But here's the other problem – I'm not tired at all and I don't want to sleep. Seriously, not even a little bit. What could possibly distract me? No, not even that. What would get my attention as I wandered down an empty street with practically no people or cars?

Okay, a huge white limousine would do. The car directly shone in the light of the night lights, mysteriously blackened the tinted windows, emitted glares with a small figure of a deer on the hood. Although I would have just followed him with a glance and that's all, but as I drove past it, it stopped almost immediately.

No, not in front of me, of course, but in an area next to the building, or rather a group, which looked very much like the same warehouse where I played a lot at the beginning of this endless day. Hmm… of course I could pull the owl on the globe, but… what if it wasn't a coincidence? And now the owner of that very warehouse is driving around checking on the others? It's a long shot, of course, and it's been a while. Besides, the boss might not show up himself, but send a personal assistant. And a tighter guard, given the state of that warehouse. Damn it, but I'm not just going to rest now, even if it's a stupid idea – I'm interested. Well, I'm in no hurry anyway, and a little observation wouldn't hurt, would it?

I walk a little closer with a nonchalant look, pretending to be actively engaged in correspondence on my phone. But out of the corner of my eye I see a middle-aged blonde in a business suit with her hair in a tight ponytail getting out of the car and walking to the warehouse. However, she only had time to take a couple of steps before a figure in overalls-like overalls jumped out to meet her. Apparently, the other one was in charge here. Because she immediately began to explain something hastily to her boss. Or did she?

So I quickly summoned one of the invisible spirits and sent him close to the blonde, who meanwhile has already pulled out the phone and began talking, gesticulating irritably.

- … what was that supposed to mean? – Yeah, she obviously wasn't too happy about being here right now. – You reported a mob of police and reporters descending on the warehouse, and the situation was getting out of hand. But there's nobody here!

I wonder if she really was in a hurry-why did she choose a limo instead of something faster and more maneuverable?

Was it just for show-offs, or were there other reasons?

- So what the hell am I doing here? – The woman was about to scream. And I had to admit – it was a very good question. I also realized that for the last couple of minutes I hadn't been able to shake off the intrusive feeling that I was being watched. Surely it could be the driver or someone in security, being vigilant about a strange figure sticking around in the middle of the night. Well, this game can be played by two. I summoned three more ghosts and sent them scouting in different directions. And I got very interesting results. First, the limousine driver's attention was focused on the hostess, and not on me at all. Second – in spite of the late hour, loading was going on in full swing in the warehouse, and the truck was ready to go. And the third was a group of women with guns at the ready in the building next door. They were not just any guns, but real assault rifles of the best quality. I could have mistaken them for guards, except that their clothes were far too shabby and uneven. A guard with such a serious weapon would certainly have taken care of his uniform. Besides, instead of patrolling or guarding the area, they were too crowded in one place. All in all, this company made me uneasy. There was no explanation for my strange sensations, but that wasn't what was important right now. I slipped my phone into my pocket and wandered carelessly toward the limo, not really knowing what I wanted to do.

The gate opened, and the truck started pulling out of the warehouse. The businesswoman finished talking and put her phone away, too, watching him. A few seconds later, the individuals with assault rifles also jumped out into the street.

- What's the matter… - The woman was perturbed when she saw the appearance of new faces running straight to her. But she didn't have time to finish her sentence, because I too sped up and grabbed her from behind and lifted her up, pulling her off the ground. – Huh? What? Hey! Let me…

This time her speech was interrupted by the shooting that began. Round after round crashed into the metal, with a distinctive sound. Mostly on the truck, but a few bullets flew right by us, so in three leaps I dragged the blond under the cover of the limo, where I lowered her to the ground and ducked myself down beside it. Damn it, now it was clear that some of the attackers were shooting in our direction-so many of the bullets were coming from the snow-white car.

- What was all that gunfire? – The woman flinched. And she turned out to be very pretty – as far as I could sense, the business suit concealed a figure of pleasing volume and relief.

-How should I know? – I mumbled on the spot, trying to assess the situation. So, the limo driver didn't sit back inside, jumping out the front door to shoot back, hiding behind the hood of the car. She didn't have a rifle, but she had a pretty solid Dessert Eagle – it should do for a fight at not too great a distance. The only odd thing is that it has a silencer-what's the point of a silencer now? The lady I had groped, on the contrary, was quick to get into the cabin. Either they are doing something crazy, or the car is armored. I hope for the second option, especially since the limousine is still quite stable under a hail of bullets. All right, now I'm going to get under it – and from there to assess the balance of forces.

So, the first group of attackers is on us, the second is trying to get into the warehouse, and the third is aiming at the truck. These are the most successful – I see bodies lying in puddles of blood in overalls near the cab. Ah, bad luck for the workers. And something does not work out to start and steal a trophy. And it is good, it means they have something to do. It is not clear what is there with the warehouse, but we have fun here ourselves. Two of them are on the opposite side and keep the chauffeur out with alternating bursts. Two more are trying to open the door, obviously trying to get to the blonde. And one carefully goes around the back of the car, hoping to flank it. Heh, it's a good thing a limo isn't a short car. That's the last one we'll start with. Let's go!

At just the right moment, I forcefully kick the invader, who was not expecting an attack from below, in the knee. There was a loud crack and a cry of pain. But not for long – I rolled out from under the car right off the ground and kicked her in the jaw. Yeah, I can do that, too. Ready, out. The two that were fiddling with the door open fire in a second, but it's enough for me to jump over the car from above and get behind it again. While they, before I knew it, were firing at the place where I was out of sight, again I snaked under the bottom of the limo and appeared right between them, charging each of them in the bottom of the stomach. It's not as effective with women, but it's just as effective.

I jumped to my feet and grabbed one of them, and with all my might I put my head against the side. The second one still tried to hit me in the face with the buttstock, and I reflexively ducked to avoid the blow. In response, I grabbed my own rifle and drove my knee into my side. Again the bones crunch, but the girl was strong and does not want to fall, pressing down on me with all her weight, trying to crush me. Out of the corner of my eye I see one of those who were fighting in front of the cabin fall to the ground – the driver did not miss his chance, while the invaders were distracted by me. I was able to get a shot at her, but I couldn't get a good look at her, and I was able to get a couple of shots from her, and I was able to get a couple of shots from her. I managed to get a couple of times in the face, and in the end I just hit my own head in the face. Another one is ready, what next?

I don't get it. When did it end? The attackers were lying on the pavement, either with their hands behind their heads or as emotionless corpses. Some men in uniform and with guns came out of nowhere. Security guards for the warehouse? But I hadn't seen them before. Or is there some kind of security around here and they had time to call for help?

- Freeze! Hands in the air and on the ground! – Oops. There's the limo driver. She's already got her trophy rifle, and she's aiming it at me, but she's wisely not getting any closer- she's seen my tricks. – If you move, I'll shoot you. I have a license to kill.

I didn't lay down on the pavement, but I put my hands up. She jerked her rifle in response, and a shot rang out. It wasn't me. It was the one I'd knocked out first, and she'd come to her senses at such a bad time.

Well, that's a hell of a thing to say. Yeah, the lady ain't kidding. I wonder why she had a silencer on her gun.

Wait, how did this even happen? I'd just been in the middle of a gunfight, so why was I riding in the limo of a blond milf, watching the owner of the car sipping her bourbon? At least I could get a better look at her. The woman only looks a little over forty, her lips are plump, her brown eyes flashing with angry sparks. The lush breasts are heaving so that they are about to burst out of the shackles of the blouse and jacket, and the narrow skirt tightens very nice thighs.

When the mess in front of the warehouse was over, the first thing they did was search me, take away both phones and my gun, and warn me again to stand still. But I wasn't going to. I had better things to do-activate my ghosts again. It would take too much concentration to do that in combat, but now would be fine. I understand that the blonde, holed up in the limo, had contacted the local CHOP, and they had arrived and dealt with the situation. That's good, I'd probably have to put on a suit and massacre again like last time – and doing it in front of witnesses would not be such a good idea.

The main thing I'd learned was that it had been the blonde's idea to take me with her. That made it hard, especially when I drew parallels with the World of the Dead. There, a stranger who interfered in my mother's affairs-even if on her side-would, at best, be given a small thank you and left in place. They would have taken him with them only wanting to find out something – and if the answers didn't seem convincing enough, with torture. It was still not too late to make a run for it, but I was suddenly seized by curiosity and a desire to compare. So when the chauffeur started shoving me into the cabin, I didn't resist. I had never ridden in a limousine before.

And now I'm sitting here thinking hard – maybe I was stupid after all.

No, of course, I'm not going to hurt myself in any way. But, bummer… I got mixed up in this story without a costume, so now they know my face. And if anything, there's no problem chopping these two into pâté. And then? Look at this posh armored limousine, his chic hostess with expensive fucking necklaces and earrings, the driver and bodyguard in one person with a license to kill. Yeah… The death of such a lady will definitely make a lot of noise and she won't be left alone. Even if it's mistaken for a second attempt after the attack at the warehouse, they'll still be looking for me in a targeted way. And probably not just the police. That sucks…

- Name? – The blonde's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

- Excuse me? – Of course I listened to the question.

- What's your name? – The woman repeated, studying me closely with her gaze.

- Mortis. – There's no reason to be secretive about it yet.

- Hmm… Mortis. – She said it as if she were tasting my name. – Well, what were you doing out so late, Mortis?

- There's no secret at all. – I shrugged my shoulders. – I was walking down the street with my phone in my hand…

- And where were you going with a gun? – She pressed me, interrupting my rapping.

- Wherever my eyes lead. That's what roads are for, to walk freely. – I shrugged again.

- Are you going to keep fooling around like this? – The woman's cheek twitched irritably.

- I feel like a robot programmed to shrug my shoulders.

- Teenagers. – She snorted angrily, pursing her lips. – Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for saving your life, but that doesn't give you the right to mock your elders. You're wandering the streets at night with a gun, you know that's illegal, don't you?

- Then don't fuck with both our brains. – I looked at him with a surprised look on my face. – Just turn me and my gun in to the police, and it wouldn't be your problem anymore.

Makes sense, doesn't it? Makes sense. Except that the woman heard that, and she wrinkled her nose like a lemon sting. Apparently – something does not suit her such an outcome. All right, let's play by those rules. It's like this is the first time I've ever been interrogated by a dominant – I spent my entire childhood this way. And that's why the times when it was easy to push me around are in the past.

- You're going to run away, aren't you? – It wasn't even a question. She rested her hand on her chin and studied me thoughtfully with her gaze. – Do you really think you're all grown up now?

- That I would run away, of course. – I wasn't being disingenuous. – And as for age, I'm well aware of my age. – It was hard for me to keep from smiling at least at this point. – What I don't understand is why would I confess to you?

That seemed to get through to her. At least the woman's face became very surprised, as if she'd caught herself making some kind of childish mistake and couldn't believe it herself.

- You see, I am a tramp. – I wasted no time in reinforcing the position I'd gained-an actual vagrant from the street. What your guards took out of my pockets is all my possessions. Now I'm trapped in an armored car driven by a woman with a silencer on her gun and a license to kill, and we're driving in the middle of nowhere. So why would I want to be honest with you – or even go out of my way to meet you?

- That's what you usually do when you're trying to save your life. – Stranger finally put her thoughts in order and again put on a quiet mask, though the strained look I see – she thought my revelations full time.

- Life? – I raise an eyebrow mockingly. -Remind me again, I'm a vagabond. If I now disappear, then about me not to grieve – tomorrow just no one will remember. So no one will care if I die, and I won't care if I die. So go ahead. Either finish me off, or throw me out of the car and into the street,

Or turn me in to the police.

That's me playing dumb, of course. I don't plan on dying at all, because my mother would kill me in a stupid way that would make the nine worlds look like a suitcase. So I talk and talk, but I keep my eye on the driver. But she's just driving her limo like nothing happened.

- Okay, calm down. – Hmm… the lady's even smiling, interrupting my bravado. – I see what this is about. Since my time is usually valuable, I have to deal with issues quickly and efficiently. But this is clearly a non-standard situation, and the usual approach only spoils everything. Because as I understand it, you don't know who I am?

I just shake my hands in silence. I have no idea. No, of course, it's clear that the lady is the kind of person who does a lot of business. But what do I know about them, especially since it's Marvel? I remember there's a lot of those around here, but the only one that comes to mind is Stark – and that blonde is definitely not her. Also one of the mutants had a rich family, the rest were all different thugs… Bandits and the attack in the warehouse… I'm obviously mixed up in something again.

- My name is Lydia. – The woman crossed her arms over her chest and turned her head slightly to the side, as if posing for a photo. – Lydia Hardy.

- Uh… - It was all I could squeeze out.

- So you've heard of me? – Now she raised an eyebrow questioningly.

- Well… sort of… - I managed to overcome my surprise a little bit. And what exactly do you do?

- I make money. In general terms. – Lydia smiled rather smugly. I think we've just switched roles.

- I can, after all, and return the old arrogance. – With pressure I warned, glaring at the woman.

- Yes, you can. – She easily agrees in response. What's going on today, magnetic storms in the atmosphere, or what? Why is it that the pathos seriousness is always replaced by extreme comedy-and vice versa? I stared at Lydia tensely, but she suddenly caught my gaze with hers and smiled. Without mockery or irony or arrogance, a simple and warm smile that made her face very pretty. So I couldn't help but smile back, too. And then we both breathed a sigh of relief as we felt the atmosphere in the limo change for the better.

-Okay, so what exactly do you want to know? – I leaned back relaxed.

- You said you were a tramp? – Lydia asked the most expected question in this situation. – Could you be more specific? You don't look like someone who sleeps in cardboard boxes and covers herself with a newspaper.

- Well, it's simple. I don't have a permanent place to live, I don't have a job. Not even an ID. You've seen all my possessions. So what else would I be but a tramp? I just try to bathe as often as possible, even if it's in Hudson's Bay, to look decent.

- What about social services? – Also quite expectedly continued the woman. And I suddenly realized that I no longer really want to lie to her. But to tell the truth now would not be an option, so I guess I have to continue.

- Oh… Well, it's… it's complicated.

- Mortis. – Lydia wasn't smiling anymore, and she was looking at me very seriously and carefully again. – Tell me the truth—how did you end up on the street? I promise I won't judge you.

- Mmm… I nibbled my lips thoughtfully for a few seconds, searching my mind for options, and finally chose the one that seemed most appropriate. – Guards.

- Guards? What Guards? – I could tell by the look on Lydia's face that she already knew what I was talking about, she just wanted to clarify.

-Fucking huge robots of the Mutant Registration Center, what else. – I grumbled, but I was angry at myself, not at Lydia. I was angry with myself, but not with Lydia.

- So you're a mutant? – The woman continued to elaborate. – And the Sentinels came for you.

- That's right, thank you for reminding me. – I leaned my head back, staring up at the ceiling. I wasn't ready to lie to my face right now. – The iron idiots had torn the house down.

- And your parents… - Lydia started, but stopped as soon as I shook my head.

- The CRM is under the government's umbrella now. They can take me away and lock me up anywhere they want,- I looked at the woman again. – Look, just drop me off and let's go our separate ways, okay?

Well, it's time to stop this protracted acquaintance, or who knows what might come of it in the end. I mean, I KNOW that Black Cat's mother is sitting in front of me right now. Perhaps – she even looks like her version of the '94 animated series. Black Cat is certainly a colorful character, and frankly, I wouldn't mind getting to know her. Or even hit on Felicia, even if she hadn't yet acquired her secret identity. I guess she and I could be put in the same category as the Supes-those who are neither villains nor heroes. But Lydia is different. She's an ordinary person, without superpowers. And the events that are happening to me are clearly gaining momentum – I wouldn't be surprised if at any moment I ran into some

With one of the supervillains at any moment. And it is better that at that moment I am away from such interesting bait as a rich, very rich businesswoman. She's had enough events for one night. It's decided, we must go.

- Mortis! – Lydia had to raise her voice to get my attention again.

- Yes? Sorry, I was thinking…

-I'm saying, one way or another, you saved my life. – The woman reminded me – so I owe you one.

- Oh, you mean that. – I waved my hand carelessly. – Say thank you to me, smile once more – and that's enough.

- You reckon? I could do a lot more than that for you, you know. – Lydia said softly.

- Well. It would be nice if you could help me get new documents. – I thought business-like,» I said, «A passport, or at least a birth certificate. I don't have the old ones, and they're already in the CRM database, so it's not safe to use them anyway.

-Get it? You mean fake?

- Anything will do. Anything fake, even someone else's. – I carelessly enumerated. – I just need something to provide, getting a job. And then I'll get on my feet and figure out what to do next.

- Wouldn't it be easier to ask for money at once? – Lydia asked, and continued to study me thoughtfully.

- It's a good option, but money comes and goes. You of all people should know that. – We exchanged sly smiles. – That's why we need a stable source of income. Or I could ask for a few million at once-but I haven't grown that kind of chutzpah yet.

-I see. – The woman nodded and gently patted the seat beside her. – Here, sit down.

- Sit down here. Why? – This unexpected request threw me a little off balance.

- It's okay, just sit down. – Lydia put her palm down on the seat again.

Okay, I don't mind. I moved swiftly to where she asked, and now we were sitting right next to each other.

- Mortis, I'm a mother, too. – Now the woman's tone was very serious. – And my heart bleeds to think of my daughter in your shoes.

What's that? I mean, she's projecting Felicia onto me now? Isn't that too much of a difference? Although, I haven't even seen Felicia here yet, so it's too early to judge.

- But I must say you're doing very well. And my girl… - Lydia sighed. – She's not as strong.

- Well, what can I say? – I spread my hands, even feeling a little embarrassed. – I was brought up this way. If something happens, grasp it in your teeth, adapt, and survive. And you can cry about injustice and the denial of human rights later.

- Yes, that's what I'm talking about. – The woman nodded understandingly. – That's why I want to ask you, will you accept my help? It's true, not the documents, I'm sorry, but I do not do forgeries.

- Well, then… - I scratched the back of my head thoughtfully. – I don't know what else to think of.

-How about renting you an apartment? To have a place to live, at least for the first time.

- And really, that would be a good option! – I definitely liked the idea.

- Okay, then. – The woman nodded. – Though it's strange that you couldn't find a place to live even without documents, because you have a lot of money in your purse. And a gun, too. Where did you get all this from?

What a lousy girl! She baits me and asks tricky questions at the same time, and keeps pulling information out of me. I almost admire her.

-She took it. In a botched robbery attempt. – I confess to telling almost the whole truth. With a few edits. – Too inept a mugger.

- A robber with that kind of money? – Lydia obviously had a hard time believing it.

- Hah, with a gun like that. And the money… some I managed to get when I was running away from home, some I got from good people and small jobs. Also, I sold a gold bracelet. – I rubbed my left wrist with my palm, as if mechanically. Basically, I almost didn't lie. I could not, of course, take the paper bills home with me-we just don't use them. And the people whose ghosts were now my servants were not very kind. But legally obtained trophies are trophies.

-Okay, that's taken care of. But there's still one more thing… - Lydia stroked her cheekbone thoughtfully with her fingers. What can I say – for all her impertinence – and partly because of it, the girl had a way with her. There was something of the snarling tigress, the confident street cat, and the cute kitten. But there was one question that really needed to be clarified. And it was a delicate question. – Mortis, what is your… specialty? As a mutant?

- Particularity? – The girl smiled inexplicably, but answered without delay. – I guess you could say I got a little bit of everything. I'm stronger, faster and tougher than the average person, but not by much, just a little beyond the capabilities of an Olympic champion. I can manipulate energy a little, so from the outside it looks like magic. – A greenish glow enveloped her fingers for a few seconds. – I know a few more tricks, but they're not very good for use in a car. And I have one more trick. – Before Lydia could understand what was happening, Mortice unzipped the fly of her jeans in one motion, releasing her semi-clothed cock.

The mention of magic surprised Lydia, but what followed immediately made her forget everything else. The woman stared at the cock for a while, until one of her eyes twitched slightly. Nervously coughing and still not distracted, the blonde found the right button on the door handle with her fingers, and the tinted glass partition that came out divided the driver's seat and the interior.

- You saved the main thing for last. – Without even realizing it, Lydia slowly licked her lips. – Is it really real? – As if wanting to check it, a gentle palm rested on his cock, gently embracing it, and feeling the warmth and throbbing squeezed a little tighter. – Is this part of your mutation? – The woman bit her lower lip in a playful half-smile.

Actually, the display of her cock as a «mutant power» was just a joke on Mortis' part. A hooligan prank inspired by a sudden insight – and nothing more. Yes, Lydia was beautiful, but Hela's daughter had no plans for her. Not until the moment she'd seen the tongue on her lips and the flash of her eyes. A lanky hand wrapped around the shaft before the futa could react – and Mortis quickly became convinced that Lydia was no stranger to experience. Her fingers danced over her shaft very lightly, but their touch made it instantly tense, adding in size and hardness.

- Well, since I'm a girl, what else could it be? – She answered question after question, watching with hidden delight as the reserved and serious businesswoman transformed into a passionate woman.

-I don't know, I don't know. – Lydia smiled wider, undoing the buttons on her shirt with her free hand. As she leaned forward slightly, the only obstacle, the generous neckline of her jacket, could not hold back her breasts, which were not insignificant in size. And since, as it turned out, the woman did not wear a bra – large tensely protruding nipples gave away the desires and intentions of his mistress. – These days you can expect the most skillful and devious fakes. – Lydia's tone was perfectly calm, but at that moment her enormous breasts, only slightly smaller than her own head, had already taken the rising cock captive, squeezing it like an elastic pillow. – I must be sure of its authenticity. – Tilting her head, the blonde ran her tongue long over the head and shaft, and then began to salivate with her own breasts.

Mortis even whistled in admiration as the woman's lush breasts burst free from her jacket-the combination of those huge, seductive balls with hard nipples and the business suit was a killer, playing on a bunch of fantasies and fetishes at once. Lydia, however, proved to be quite the hottie herself.

- Testing? Yeah, all right. – Futa leaned back on the seat, admiring the milf kneeling in front of her, and moaned contentedly as she felt her cock squeezed on all sides by tender spheres. – All her own, native and natural. And most importantly – She paused playfully and finished, lowering the timbre of her voice slightly – Completely working. – It was very interesting to find out, how far was this woman, who had obviously given herself up to lust, ready to go?

However – Mortice couldn't endure a very passive role for long. And Lydia's massive tits beckoned too much to her, beckoning her to squeeze them with her hands, crush them, squeeze them between her fingers, twist them, and press them into the supple softness of her breasts. To deny herself these desires, Futa would not deny herself.

Feeling the cock between her breasts increase in size, Lydia took to it with fervor. With her hands spreading Mortis's legs wide apart and gently stroking her thighs through the fabric, the woman began to swallow her cock little by little, time after time. Alas, the size was too large and the head jammed down her throat when only half of the shaft was in her mouth. And yet, the white-haired milf took her time, savoring the unexpected treat, wetting it abundantly with her saliva. The plump lips, delicately outlined with scarlet lipstick, greedily embraced the hard shaft, polishing and caressing it with her tongue. – I had to see for myself. – Lydia smiled predatory, briefly letting his cock out of her mouth and moving her hand over it, expertly thrusting. – And I'm going to taste this stuff! – Then she swallowed the tantalizing organ of her futa again.

Retracted by the relentless vacuum of her mouth, the head of his cock pressed against the woman's throat, and then slid in almost without resistance. The blonde's throat clenched tightly around Mortis's shaft-but even this time Lydia couldn't take it fully, despite her best efforts. The posh milf, flushed and with eyes burning with lust, squeezed the powerful shaft so greedily, as if she feared that at any moment it might simply melt into thin air. So far, only Hela had pounced on her cock with such passion – but she did so with a divine certainty that she would surely get what she wanted, and therefore without fuss. But there was a restless haste in the blonde's actions.

Still – Lydia's mouth and throat were excellent. Mortis even moved her hips a few times, making the impatiently aching shaft move harder, fanning the milf's neck, and was ready to cum.

The blonde's lips massaged his cock, leaving traces of lipstick on the skin, her wet tongue licked it relentlessly from all sides, and her throat clenched convulsively, trying to either push the intruder out or absorb him even more. Tears streamed from the woman's eyes, smearing her mascara, -but she tried her best, her head moving back and forth with a distinctive Glock-Glock-Glock-Glock sound, until the blonde felt the need to take at least one deep breath and pulled the cock from her mouth, sliding her teeth affectionately along the entire length of the shaft.

- Wooh – Breathing heavily, Lydia stared mesmerized at this powerful cock and the thin, glistening threads of saliva that stretched from it to her lips. – Still not cumming. I'm still not sure it's real. – Then she squeezed the shaft between her gorgeous breasts again, rubbing her face against his head, squeezing like a contented kitty.

- Or maybe you're not trying hard enough. – With a grin, she teased the blonde futa, and at the very moment when the woman looked at her with indignation – she stopped holding back and moaned loudly, admiring the way the breasts and face of the lustful milf. Which was about to be covered in a solid layer of her cum.

Against all odds, Lydia wasn't just enjoying what was happening. She was experiencing incomparable pleasure when the cock, now sandwiched between her lush breasts, trembled and began to flood her with jets of sharp-smelling sperm – she rather covered her eyes and just licked her lips in sheer delight. – Oh yeah… Yes… - The woman moaned jubilantly, eagerly exposing her face to the shower of semen that covered her like a male covers his female.

- Well, now I believe in its authenticity. – Releasing his cock from her spheres, the blonde began to deftly swipe the cum from her face into her mouth. – A chic cock and a chic seed with a chic taste. – When there was almost nothing left on her face, Lydia began, without the slightest embarrassment, to lick the treat right off her breasts, raising them higher – and in between she also went over her nipples with her lips and tongue. – And this amount is just astounding. This is the first time I've ever seen anyone give out so much at one time. – And at that moment her gaze returned to Mortis' still hard, stubbornly staked cock. – Mmmmm… Is it still at full strength – and even without stimulants? – Clearly intrigued by this turn of events, she began hurriedly pulling off her jacket.

-The best stimulant for a hard cock is a sexy hottie! – Mortis grinned contentedly as the kneeling adult woman licked her cum off her face and breasts. – And for my taste, you're doing just fine. I'd say it's top-notch, but that remains to be seen. – Leaning toward Lydia, Futa dug into her lips in a greedy kiss, brazenly invading the blonde's mouth with her tongue, while her hands encircled the lush breasts again, squeezing the delicate spheres themselves, then the tense nipples.

- Mmmm! – The woman moaned contentedly into the kiss, eagerly responding to it with a passionate dance and intertwining of her tongues. Mortis was not satisfied with the juicy milf's tits alone that time, though. Her hands slid down the woman's body lower and finding the buttons, penetrated under the fabric of her skirt, this time squeezing on her buttocks. – You're doing great here, too. – These touches sent short shocks through her skin, and her legs began to tremble, preventing her from rising from her knees. But when the stubborn hands reached her ass, she had the strength to tense her buttocks. – Such a firm and resilient ass. Just begs to be spanked. – One of her palms slammed against Lydia's ass with a sweet squeal, while the other slid down her thigh and into the woman's crotch. – What have we here? Wow, you're not just wet, you've got a real waterfall between your legs. Who would have thought – Lydia Hardy, rich and famous businesswoman is crazy with the desire to get in his wet vagina hard cock randomly hijacked on the street tramp who is good enough her daughter. How slutty you must be under that business suit of yours.

When Mortis climbed into her panties, causing a sweet cramp in her belly Lydia could not stand it and grabbed the girl by the hips and forced her legs together – that in a second already settled on her lap, squeezing them with his almost melting with wild desire crotch.

- Cheeky little girl! – The woman whispered passionately, looking into Futa's eyes and gently running her fingers over her cheek. – You sound as if you're judging her, when all you want to do is fuck your mommy. – Pressed against Mortis, the hot milf rubbed her with her whole body while shamelessly lifting her skirt above her waist at the same time. – I know my worth, don't I? And the price of such rare… …of truly hardy men. But it's the first time I've ever met one like you. – With a long lick on the girl's cheek, Lydia deftly put one leg up and turned, now sitting on Mortis' lap with her back to her.

-Condemnation? – Mortis laughed, not even thinking of removing her hand, which was impudently between the woman's legs. – Yes, the way my hard-on tensed is the clearest sign of condemnation, no question about it!

- You hold the bar very well, even the elite boys from the best agencies can't cum that much. – Resting her legs on the seat, the woman lifted up and sagged, revealing a great view of her ass.

The recent fears and desire to stay away from Lydia were long forgotten. On the contrary – now Futa wanted the blond mature woman to be as close to her as possible and best of all – right on her cock, which was really bursting from the sight of such juicy charms of a mature woman. And then there was the smell. Through the expensive perfume was clearly penetrated the scent of a female languishing with the desire for hot sex. Wiggling her hips like an experienced stripper, Lydia began to lower her panties bending lower and lower. – And I'm not going to miss this opportunity. – Continuing to wriggle her body lightly, the blonde rubbed her buttocks against his tense cock.

The princess even whistled, admiring the impromptu striptease. Lydia might not have been experienced at it, but the effort and the awesome shape of her ass and thighs made up for it. Leaving only her shirt unbuttoned, her skirt high up, and thin stockings, she was beating the temptation to death.

No other invitation was needed. She gripped her cock at the base and rocked it up and down a couple of times, which made the head stroke wet with lady's juices, making Lydia moan impatiently with anticipation. And then she grabbed the blonde firmly by the sides and pulled without any warning, thrusting her wet pussy halfway up the powerful shaft in one motion.

- Fuck! – Lydia moaned longingly, as Mortis's assertive motion of her hands pushed her body down and back, and her wet pussy responded to her mistress' desire as if it had opened itself towards the hard shaft, greedily embracing its wet walls in a loving embrace. – Bitch… what's wrong with your cock? Why is it so… - another tug pushed the woman's stone organ to the limit, and when the head hit the entrance to her uterus at the very depths – her whole body shook with savage pleasure. – Oh, God… I have these… artificial… ever. – The words that barely made it through her labored breathing turned into another unrestrained moan as the woman shook in a fit of long-awaited orgasm, pouring new torrents of love juices over the girl.

-Sounds like you really haven't had that before. Or were you too hungry to cum from just one penetration? – Mortis grinned as she felt the blonde's body shudder convulsively from the orgasm that engulfed him. She even waited a moment, letting Lydia cum, and only then decided to resume the motion again.

-Wait! – The woman shrieked, feeling the cock deep inside her body begin to move again. – I just can't take it… standing up. – She leaned back hard, sagging and resting her hands on the back of the seat on the side of Mortis. – Let's go like this… - and she herself impatiently jerked her hips up and down, starting a gallop, and just a couple of seconds later the strong hands of the futa were already starting to lift her up and then sharply thrust her back onto his cock again.

Lydia's upper lips were moaning and squealing, and her lower lips were making wet slaps, all in a symphony of hot sex. – Shit… he was so… tense… - The blonde bit her lip, trying to hold back a little, but she soon gave up those pathetic attempts and gave herself completely to the overflowing pleasure. – More! More! Just don't stop! – Her insides were getting hotter and hotter, the familiar trembling was coming back into her body – but in spite of all this, even though she was in the girl's hands, the milf herself continued to move, riding his cock and squeezing it tighter and tighter with her pussy. – Do it! I want… to feel all of you… inside… all of you… Fill me full!

Each new cry from the blonde milf seemed to turn Mortis on more and more. The woman's tender pussy gave her cock great pleasure, and wanting to increase it even more, Futa moved her hands faster and faster, then lifting Lydia up so much that the shaft almost came out, then sharply thrusting to the limit, howling with the sharpness of pleasure as, deep inside the tender body, the head of the cock rammed with all its might into the narrow passage to her uterus. -Stop? Well… not until… you beg for mercy. – Once again pulling her lover over her aching organ, Mortis thrust forward and ran her tongue over the woman's tense back, causing her to shudder even more in surprise and shriek at the top of her voice.

-Aah… Yes, baby, come on. – Shivering and wriggling her whole body, Lydia didn't stop moving for a moment, even though her spread legs had long been trembling and buckling with exertion. – Harder… more! – Crazed with lust the homely young lady could clearly feel the approach of a new orgasm, and wanting to reach the peak as soon as possible now galloped on her mighty stallion like a madwoman, one resonant slap of the collision of her asshole with her thighs followed by another, and drops of sweat trickled down her body. Her drenched pussy greedily absorbed Futa's cock each time, not wanting to let it out. – Ahhhh… goddamn it… cum in me at last! – Lydia jerked down with her whole body weight and howled gleefully, finally taking the powerful cock fully inside her, and she was immediately shaken in a fit of powerful orgasm that finally overtook the milf.

It didn't take long for Lydia to beg the futa. The hot greedy pussy and the unrestrained moans of her adult mistress had long ago aroused Mortis to the limit. Pressing Lydia firmly against her and not letting her move any further, holding her to maximum penetration into the very depths of her lust-starved body, Mortis began to cum with a gleeful roar, profusely pouring into the woman's pussy. – Yeah…take it… Take it like you asked… all my cum… all my cum for such a crazy and horny bitch…

- Ohhhhh! – Completely given over to the orgasm shaking her body, the blonde howled at the top of her throat. Her supple body jerked violently several times under the pressure of the hot sperm filling her pussy – and then she too gave birth to an enormous flood of love fluid. The elastic walls clenched for the last time, unwilling to let the precious cock out of her wet embrace, and the exhausted milf collapsed on Mortis, pressing her into the seat with her heavy breathing.

- God… I can barely feel anything below my waist now. – Half-closing her eyes, Lydia slowly stroked her tummy with the palm of her hand- Except for how delightfully you fed my pussy. – The woman twitched faintly, trying to get to her feet and stand up, but she had no strength left, all her muscles felt like they had turned into absorbent cotton. The next moment her hands were clenched around her waist.

- Going somewhere? – Mortis murmured in a mocking, satisfied tone right into the blonde's ear. -I promised that I would fuck you until you beg for mercy… or pass out in the process. I don't know about your elite service boys, but I always keep my word. – Lydia could only moan with a mixture of bordering on amazement and admiration as the young mistress once again lifted her exhausted body – and in one sharp movement thrust it all the way down on her hard cock that had never lost its hard.

Lydia was adjusting her jacket, and I was just finishing putting my clothes back in order. Well… We'd made quite a mess in the salon, and it wasn't going to be easy without cleaning. That's not my problem, though.

Ha, I just wanted to poke fun at Lydia in response to her endless questions when I pulled out my dick. It was like a scene out of a porn movie. Who would have known that the well-groomed millionaire was such a sex-hungry female? I don't think a woman like her should have any problems at all. At the snap of her fingers, she can get the best boys from the elite services, or the crowds of those who want to get under the generous wing of Daddy…. Well, I mean – Mammy, given the local specifics. Basically, any favors for her money.

- Mortis. – The blonde got my attention by pulling up her skirt.

-Yeah?

- Please hand me some more wet wipes. – She nodded toward the already half-empty package lying not far from me. Nodding, I kept a few for myself, and handed the rest to Lydia.

-And yet, I'd like to know where we're going? – I asked. – Now that we'd stopped circling the city, I wondered.

- Oh, so you noticed? What a clever girl! – Lydia laughed, wiping her shapely legs one more time in case she missed the rest of my cum and her love juices last time.

- We drove past the same buildings five times, making the same turns. It wasn't hard to figure out. And you didn't even give any orders to the chauffeur. – I winked back merrily, wiping my hands,- She obviously knew what to do. Not the first time you've turned this limo into a car of passion?

- We're going home, we're going home. After all, it's the middle of the night outside. – Lydia pretended not to hear my question, though her cheeks were mischievously rosy.

- What? Already? You got me an apartment so fast? – Now the blonde surprised me. When did she do it? She'd been swallowing and taking my cock in and out for the last hour, and the phone hadn't appeared in her hands once in that time. – I thought I had your… Attention.

- No, you haven't. – The woman began to remove the traces of the makeup that had dripped on her face during our fun. – We're going to my h-Uh... what's this about? - Again I was confused. It wasn't like we'd agreed on that, we were only talking about the apartment. - Maybe we shouldn't. I'd settle for a room in a small hotel, really. - I've changed my mind. - Lydia announced decisively, opening her makeup bag. - I'll help you with the papers and you can stay at my place. - Um... - I could only squeeze out, unable to comprehend what had gotten into her. - I'm going to be your guardian. So you'll live with us. - Sweetly smiled Lydia, not taking away from the application of light makeup. - I think we can arrange that without resorting to fakes. - What the fuck. -All I could give out, seemingly forgetting how to breathe. - Ideally, of course, I'd adopt you. - The blonde assessed the result, waved the puffball in front of my face one more time, and put the makeup bag away. - But it wouldn't be that easy to arrange, there would have to be a lot of subtleties to consider. But custody would be a good start. In six months, if everything went right, we could have a formal adoption. I didn't try to say anything anymore, staring at her in mute shock. There was only one thought running through my head. Lydia is dead. I'm dead. We're both suicide bombers as soon as Hela hears about it. And if the blond would have her throat torn out or her heart ripped out for infringing on her mother's sacred rights, what would happen to me, who had allowed myself to be adopted... I can't predict it, but I'll be begging for death for a long time. - Here we are. - Lydia's voice snapped me out of my nightmare future as the limo drove through the gate into the grounds of the luxurious mansion. I stared at it, still unable to get a word out. Holy shit, I could be Hardy! I'm Hardy?!

Part One Chapter Sixteen

***Felicia Hardy***

Usually at this time I'm already in bed. But tomorrow is my day off, and I'm done with my classes, which means I can laze around in front of the TV watching some exciting, but not mind-blowing, soap opera. I agree that it's not the coolest way to spend a Friday night, but who cares if I finally get a disc of the next season of «Smallville Mysteries» and can now relax while admiring the hotties on the big screen of our new TV in the living room. Especially since there's no one to stop me—mom is working late again tonight. It's always like this with her – she can stay home for weeks, directing everyone from her office, then suddenly she takes off and disappears somewhere, sometimes even for a few days. If she stays overnight in a hotel, though, she usually calls and lets me know.

The habit, however, took its toll, and at some point I woke up, slowly realizing that I had spent almost two episodes cuddled up with a half-empty bowl of popcorn and a cardboard bucket of ice cream. All the better, fewer calories to burn at practice tomorrow. But I couldn't give up the pleasure altogether. I stretched, finally coming to my senses, and after turning off the TV and the DVD player, I lazily wandered to my room. It looked like I wasn't going to see my mother today, most likely because I'd missed the call while I was napping.

The more I was surprised when I saw the familiar limo outside the window, armor and all the amenities attached, on the second floor. I decided to have a quick word with my mother, so I turned around and went to the front door just as leisurely. I wondered what had kept her so late this time. I got there just in time to meet my mother at the door. But then she slowed down when she saw that she was not alone, but with a girl about my age, with whom they were having a heated discussion.

- I'm telling you, you'd better think of something else…

- And I'm telling you that this is the best and most effective way. – I recognize that stern tone. I wish I knew what they were talking about.

- Mama? – I tried to get her attention, and got a very kind look and a sweet smile in return. Why such a reaction in the middle of the night? Usually after a long day at work she was just tired, less often she was still businesslike and collected, and only in very rare cases – happy. But this much…

-Felicia, dear. – my mother was beaming with joy, stepping aside to give me a glimpse of her guest. – I'm so glad you're still awake. There's someone I want you to meet.

Well, let's see, who do we have here? A tall girl about my age, short dark hair, kind of pretty face, but I couldn't tell much from the angry expression on her face. She's dressed very simply in tight jeans, a leather jacket, and a dark T-shirt with a red skull on it. She's tense, and she looks like she wants to get out of here right now, but something is holding her back, and that only makes her more irritable.

- Mortis, this is Felicia, my daughter. – Meanwhile my mother introduced me. I just wanted to say «Hello» or something else appropriate to the occasion, but the continuation literally made me choke on my words. – Felicia, this is Mortis, your sister. Or rather, soon to be.

- Uh… What? – I couldn't get anything more out of me at this point. I don't understand… what did I just hear? Is this one of our games? But it's just not the right environment right now… Wait, did I just go into a stupor? No, I didn't, because they had already taken me by the shoulders and shook me gently. The same girl. If she really called me sister now…

- Felicia! I can see the shock in your eyes, but focus. – In a stern tone Mortis commanded- Your mother has banged her head. You must influence her.

- What? – I mumbled a not-so-original sound as I looked from the girl to my mom, who was already trying to pull her back and forth. Did you bump your head? Well, that might shed some light on her behavior. But that's a hell of a lot to take in.

- All right, that's enough. – Mom was able to pull me back a little bit. – Mortis, stop with the jokes, they're not helping right now.

- Hey, weren't you the one who started blowing her mind with that news?

- I'm trying to…

- Okay, stop. – Here I myself have resolutely burst into their skirmish, which was about to go completely unknown and difficult to understand the jungle. – And you can calmly, in order explain everything to me from the beginning?

- Of course, dear. Don't worry, I'll tell you everything. But let's really take things in order and put Mortis in the guest room to begin with. – My mother already had the intercom phone in her hands.

Strangely enough, my «sister» - I couldn't figure out who I thought she was – stopped her objections, too, and even followed the maid who had appeared in the hall and was ready to show her the way.

- And, yes, in case you have any brilliant ideas about running away quietly. – her mother added after her, causing Mortis to slow down a little. – You should know there are guards patrolling the grounds at night. With dogs.

Her newfound «little sister» only shrugged her shoulders. I could be wrong, but I thought I heard

She muttered something to herself like, «Like that's a problem for me,» before she left me with another mute question. Is she going to be cooped up with us? Her mom kidnapped her?

- What's that supposed to mean? – For the umpteenth time, I voiced my question.

- A pretty perky bully… that's what it is! – The look in my mother's eyes seemed tired, but after a second her eyes lit up, and a smile appeared on her lips. – Come on, honey, what's the use of discussing it in the hall. I'll tell you all about it on the way to the bedroom.

Of course, I tried to ask more questions, but she just ignored them until she changed her shoes for comfy house shoes, and then she wrapped her arms around my waist and took me with her to the second floor.

- It all started with Mortis saving my life a few hours ago…

***Mortis***

I did not undress, just left alone, dispersed the outfit created by Necrosword and crouched on the bed without spreading it. I didn't plan on sleeping here-just thinking about the situation. So I'd saved Millionaire's life, told her a mediocre sob story, and then fucked her. Now she wants to be my guardian as a thank you, and ideally adopt me.

The best part about this situation, of course, is that after meeting the Spider Girls, I managed to stumble right into the Hardy family. I like Black Cat and the local Felicia looks pretty good, even staying shocked by the news her mother dumped on her.

Just like Gwen, but this time I didn't even have to do anything; Lydia did a great job on her own. Yeah, the older Hardy was a real piece of work. I wouldn't mind joining that family. In fact, I'd like that family to be a part of mine.

By the way, now is the time to think about it seriously. So far, even though I'd flirted with Gwen, I hadn't really taken on my mother's task. Survival and the need to somehow get settled in the new world came first. But now the question of finding a bride could be taken care of. And not just one – since I'm not just in Marvel's world, but in this particular variation of it, it's stupid not to take advantage of this opportunity and try to have a real harem. Still, the number of sexy beauties here is off the charts. Even the Punisher – I don't want her as my wife, but if we cross paths again, I hope I'll have a reason and an opportunity to invade her gorgeous ass again.

Okay, no distractions. What exactly do I want from Felicia, anyway? For the black cat to be my sister? A partner? A girlfriend? Could we really have a relationship? Or are we just going to fight one another? I can't even guess. Still, this universe is too different from even the little I know. Hardy's mom alone pulled a stunt like that.

And yet, what is Lydia thinking? Yes, I saved her and then satisfied her to the max. As a thank-you, a rented apartment like we agreed on at first would have been enough. A little money or help with getting a job would have been enough. But she decided to go a lot further and aimed for guardianship or even adoption.

I have one option, of course… Let's imagine for a moment that Lydia's main goal is to keep me around as… a whore. Even though she has an almost grown-up daughter, the elder Hardy herself is still more than fit and her sexual appetites are quite irrepressible. And as she herself admits, I was better than the boys of the most elite agencies…

Fuck, am I really here to please Lydia? And I'm destined to play the role of Alphonse to rich Mommy, ready to fulfill all the desires of his patroness, so long as she continues to spoil him. Considering that it was after sex that Lydia changed her plans, that sounds like a real possibility. Oh, what the hell to be modest-it's the most likely of all the options. But then why all the fuss about custody and adoption? There are easier ways to keep me around, like my job.

But wait! It's probably because I'm a probationary minor. I mean, the Hardys are pretty public figures. So it's either keep me under lock and key, or I'll be getting questions like, «Who's that? Where'd she come from? And why is she living with you?» Soon someone will get on to the kidnapping thing, too – do we really need it? Heh, congratulations to myself on my new role – Concubine.

Hmmm… well – why? Personally, in our family, Concubine is honorable.

It's as if you are the best of the best and have been chosen to personally serve the Queen and the Goddess. But on 21st century Earth, as I remember, the attitude to all Escorts is based on the scheme «He who pays is right». And they themselves often agree to anything – as long as the sum is bigger. So, Lydia, tomorrow we'll have a serious conversation, you can not get away with it! Still, I don't know why she wants my adoption. I don't think Felicia would be happy with a rival for her inheritance. Maybe she'd better get out of here before it gets too hot. But it's the Papers! After all my recent misfortunes, I was sick of those papers, but what could I do without them? Of course, I could keep wandering, as I had done for the last two days, but it would not be very convenient to combine it with the search for a bride. So, «Without paper, you're a poop.»

Actually, I suspect I know what's going on here. Fucking Marvel! When I joked to Janine a couple of days ago that if the fake ID didn't work out, I'd find a rich nymphomaniac to support me for sex, I shouldn't have taken it so literally! And to put it into practice so immediately. That's why I'm so stressed about living in a universe that exists according to the laws of adventure comics.

I snorted angrily and rolled onto my side, and suddenly noticed something. My bracelet had changed color. It meant my mother had decided to contact me. Why now, when I had something to hide? Did something happen, or did Hela just want to communicate? I don't believe in such coincidences! Grö… Okay, I'm repeating myself.

I wonder what would happen if my mom told me we were having a new addition to the family because she didn't have anyone to have sex with? Hmmm… yeah, I'd definitely just string someone up on a torture machine. And I'll put my beloved parent upside down and fuck, fuck, fuck until she doesn't even have a shadow of a thought. Mortis is a femme fatale and doesn't want to go even a day without sex – but she's just having orgies and not pulling everyone involved into the family.

I was in the middle of the night, and I was in the middle of the night, and I was in the middle of the night, and I was in the middle of the night, and I was in the middle of the night. I settled back in, tucked my pillow in, and covered my eyes. I was in the middle of the night, and I was in the middle of the night. I went into the darkness with that thought in mind.

A little girl named Shannon thought of Sleep as Death's little sister. I'm not sure that's true, though they do have a certain resemblance. The world of the dead, Helheim is shaped and looks the way its overlord wants it to look. The World of Dreams is more ephemeral, it has no lord, though Nightmare regularly tries to declare itself as such. So here everything changes and adjusts to each of its inhabitants. It can be said that every intelligent person who enters here gets their own part of the world and forms their own dream. The only problem is that an ordinary intelligent person at such a moment is simply not aware that he is asleep, the dream at this moment is like a veil and the entire work is covered by a veil.

That's why what happens seems random.

But the techniques of sleep control are available to even the most ordinary people-except that they have to practice a little more. So I just follow the path of light that leads through the mists, coming from the bracelet I created. I'm not too surprised to find myself in the familiar throne room. My mom knows how to make a dream the way she wants it to be, down to the smallest detail. And here she is, sitting with her usual leg over her head.

Mom looks as amazing as in reality. The familiar crown with branching horns, earrings, and makeup in green tones. The only clothing is a bra that covers half of the milf's ample bust, and thin ribbon panties that don't hide much either. Stockings, gloves-all dainty, seductive, and to the point. Even the cloak falling off her shoulders was in its place. But what immediately caught my attention the most was her belly – round and the size of my mother's own head. Is she pregnant? No, of course I could assume that she was sentimental about storing up what I had filled her and her aunt with before I left. But it wouldn't show up in the Dreamworld on its own anyway, which means that she arranged it on purpose… Kinder Surprise.

- Mom!- I exclaimed happily, stepping closer.

-Good to see you, dear. – Helle arose from the throne and we hugged each other. Her full belly pressed against my abs, and her heavy breasts pressed against mine before our lips joined in a sweet kiss. Oh those nice soft lips that sparkle with neon light when I touch them.

-So, Mortis. I came to see how you're doing. – Mom finally broke off the kiss and sat back on the throne.

Meanwhile, I suddenly found that my outfit looked a lot like the one I usually wore to welcome diplomatically important guests. The dress as such actually covered the breasts.

Only on the sides. My shoulders remained open, the generous cutouts in the front and back left a great view of my back and stomach almost to my waist. The slits at the bottom made my legs bare almost to the top of my thighs. And, of course, stockings, gloves, bracelets, and even a full-chest necklace and tiara in my hair.

I look around and find a chair behind me, clearly prepared just for me, and I immediately settle down on it – and I ask myself the same question.

- Mom, is this what it is? – I nod toward her new cargo.

- My stomach, what else? – She stroked it with her hand as she answered.

- Mom!- I added a bit of pressure to my intonation. No, if she really did make it as a reminder of our last stormy night before we parted, that's pretty sweet. I wanted to take a shit myself, to be honest-but then Hela would be off the subject, and she wouldn't be able to get back on it. Well, I just want to clear the air.

- And inside is your sister. – And then my mother added with a smile. And that's when I was literally stunned. But my thoughts were racing, trying to form into hundreds of questions and assumptions.

And they all ended up at a thousand throats screaming a single word in sync in my head.

-WHAT!? – It's like, while I was gone, my mom got her fertilizer out of the closet… Wait, I've only been gone three days. There's no way he could have made her such a bellyful.

- Why are you so loud! – She defiantly covered her ears with her palms as I yelled. You've cum in me over and over again, more than you could fit in a bucket. Did you really think there'd be no consequences?

- Mom, how? When? What the fuck… - I still managed, albeit with difficulty, to control my slurred tongue and silence myself, and then. Without taking my eyes off her round belly, I was able to formulate the most important question, Ma, is this mine?

-Our. – Corrected my mother, lovingly stroking her tummy. – This is our little girl growing up. So, soon you will be a little sister.

My eyes almost popped out of my head at that moment. This was the second time I'd suddenly been given a baby sister. And this time it was my own mother, not maybe my adoptive mother. But Hel took that pause in her own way.

- All right, all right. – She ran her palms over her belly a couple more times, and it visibly shrank in size. Whereas before it looked like it was already the actual ninth month, now it looked like about a third or fourth month. – The real size now is like this. So?

- Um… - I think I managed to deal with my emotions a little bit after all. I went over to my mom and put my palm on her tummy and stroked it, too. I didn't feel anything yet, except a slight twitching. Mom just smiled benignly, biting her lip. – Mom, but still. You wouldn't have gotten pregnant if you didn't want to.

- I did. – With the same smile Hela nodded.

- That's not really the point. – I shook my head in anger. -If it happened so long ago, why didn't you tell me?

- Tell me what? – She answered the question with a question again, but as it turned out, that was just the beginning. – So that there would be a reason to keep you even more at home? That all you'd do is hang around your future sister-daughter? That you would stop and go nowhere, already having a woman of your own and a future child with her?

- Okay, Mom. I see where you're going with this. – I straighten up and take my hand off her belly. – Still, why?

- Honey, I already told you. I'm your mother and your mistress, but I will not be the woman of your harem. – It's amazing how calm and even satisfied her intonation is. It's as if she's enjoying this semblance of a family quarrel. – You may be the wild beast of my bed, but you are leaving your own nest and must have your own beloved woman. Or several. And you must make that happen by yourself. And I… I would enjoy being part of your new family. As an angry mother-in-law who also takes the hardest fucks if your wives are too fragile for that. Yes, judging by the obvious pleasure and even laughter with which my mother uttered it – she is simply itching to try on the role of the Evil Mother-in-Law. I think I'm going to need a bride of steel. That doesn't explain her wanting to have a baby, though.

- And besides. – Interrupting the Dark Lord's characteristic Laughter, Hela spoke again calmly and easily. – You are out in the world. Am I to wait here alone and be sad? Let your little sister keep me company.

- А … this…

- Why you? – My mother didn't let me finish, rising from the throne with a jerk. And in the next instant, she grabbed my necklace, pulling it so tight that it was hard to breathe, and pulled me closer to her until our eyes were so close together. – Because I love you, and I WANT your children, you damn fool.

I had no choice but to be stunned into silence. No, I had no particular objections to this state of affairs. But somehow my mother is too much of a pain in the ass with all this. She wants to be part of the family, but not part of the harem. She wants sex and kids from me, but she doesn't want to be a wife? Oh, man. I think I figured it out. Hela just doesn't want to be one of many – she's going to continue to be special. Including as far as the sacred right of the Mother is concerned.

- And when you come home with brides WHICH I approve of. – Unhurriedly, Mother continued. – I will personally introduce your little sister to you. And at night you will have another baby girl in my womb. And to keep your wives in line, got it?!

-Clearly understood, Mom. And how many grandchildren are you planning on having? – I put my palm down on her hand and Hela, thankfully, obeyed my wordless request, letting go of the necklace and giving me freedom, and then back to the throne.

- One child from each wife would be perfectly acceptable. For a start. – My mother nodded graciously. Hmm… and why do I have such an obsessive feeling that she already has plans for these children?

- But let's move on to our main topic. – Mom slapped me back to my chair with a tinkling slap on the buttock. – Come on, tell me about it. How's it going? How many monsters did you defeat? How many females have you marked? Did you like any in particular? How are you settling in?

- Okay, we'll get back to the baby talk. – I muttered, getting comfortable and figuring out what I could answer to this hail of questions.

- What, there's nothing to tell? – Mom looked at me with an ironic chuckle.

- Actually, of course there is. – I shrugged my shoulders quietly. – I don't know about you, but it's only been three days for me. It hasn't been that long. – Now, the important thing is not to say too much.

- Did you even get out of hell? – Hela obviously decided to get her story straight and started at the beginning.

- Huh? Yeah, of course I did. I was only there for a little while. – Great, it's a pretty safe subject. – It's a nice place. Luckily, I met the Hellmouth pretty quickly and made it to Midgard.

- Did you beat her? – There was a hint of excitement in my mother's voice.

- Defeated who? – I didn't immediately understand.

- The Spawn. Did you beat it?

- Um… No, we didn't fight. Somehow we hit it off right away.

- Then I'm not interested. – Mom waved her off in disappointment. She can't be serious. Fighting Spawn in Hell? It's entirely possible, but they're so out of their element, it'd take a lot of time and energy to mess with them. – But did you tag her as a female?

- No, of course not. – Now she's definitely mocking! Who do you have to be to come at me like that? – It's not like I mindlessly fuck everything that moves.

- That's right. – Hela nodded indulgently. – Not much point in messing with that lump of Necrosword. You don't mess with that lump of Necroplasm, you get a very tricky curse from it.

- The important thing was that she helped me find my way to the portal. And cut through the crowd of monsters near it. – I was indignant at that. Not that I wanted to defend Spawn so much, but that dismissive tone definitely scratched me. It may not be the same thing, but there are some similarities between Spawn's cape and my Necrosword.

- That's good. – Hela gave me a brief, approving smile. – And then?

- Then I fought with the Vengeance Spirit. She was just waiting for the Hellmouths outside the portal to grind them up with her car, and I was counted among them. – I chuckled, remembering the moment I'd met Janine.

- Spirit of Vengeance? Is that the one in the Devil's service? – Mom immediately jumped up again, as if I'd brought home a golden booty. – Now that's what I mean. That's my girl! How did you manage to get hold of that fiery skeleton? Or did Spirit have to find a new vessel?

- Well, she did turn out to be very hot, especially in bed. And she had a great ass, and she could move it just right. – I don't know why I said all that so easily.

- You mean you beat Vengeance's spirit and then you fucked her? – She squinted at him.

- She was a warrior, and we appreciated each other's abilities. – I said proudly. – We ended up sharing a meal together, and then a bed.

Helle laughed softly, and I got the impression that she was remembering something from her youth.

-Good, good. – She finally calmed down, ready to listen. – Tell me, do I have to buy her back from the Devil or not?

- Can you? – I was surprised. Ransom the Ghost Rider from Hell. That's… - Would the Devil even agree to such a deal? Wouldn't she then lose her access to Hellfire?

- I could, though it wouldn't be cheap. And the Devil would also break down, filling up the price. – She put a dainty finger to her lips thoughtfully. – In general, it is difficult, but solvable. Then she'll come into my service, and her Hellfire will be replaced by mine. So should I do it?

- You know, I probably shouldn't. – I answered after thinking about it for a while. I don't think Janine would appreciate a simple change of master. – We weren't really that close, you know.

- There you go. – Mom gave me a sad look. – So you missed out.

- Here we go. – My mother gave me a sad look. – So you missed out on a pretty good prospect.

- Oh, come on, Mom. – I brushed it off. – She clearly wasn't in the mood to commit to me herself.

Not that I hadn't considered sticking with Janine myself. But a Phantom Racer is a Racer. She needs the road first, her revenge second. Maybe it's the other way around, I'm not sure. I think that's why she didn't rush to get closer to me, and I didn't insist.

- Okay, what's next? – Hela graciously agreed to change the subject.

- And then she chopped a medium-sized crowd into a salad. – I skipped a part of my adventures, and overpowered one who called herself the Punisher.

- The Punisher? – My mother raised an eyebrow. – Who was she… punishes? – The name didn't seem to tell her anything at all.

- Uh… crime… - That explanation seemed a little… silly, even to me. What to do?

- Correct me if I misunderstood, dear. – My eyebrow rose even higher. – But now you're bragging to me about defeating a bunch of ordinary people?

- Damn you, Mom! – I even jumped up in my chair with indignation. – This is Midgard. Most of the people there are ordinary people. What kind of adventure did you expect me to have in three days? It took me longer to find a dragon even here!

I was ready to freak out now, but my mother took that outburst calmly, she didn't even change her face.

- Okay, okay, don't get mad, honey. – She held up her hand in a conciliatory gesture. – It's not a test, or an exam. I'm just curious to know what happened there.

With a quiet snort I tried to calm down. She might really be interested, but I felt like I was in the middle of a test with unknown conditions. And my mother's smile of a satisfied cat makes me feel uneasy.

- So, what about brides? Have you even looked at anyone yet? Are there any candidates to join our family? – My mother's tone was innocent, but at that moment I realized that my business was a dead end. She had already tweaked something in her dream, and now I just couldn't lie or keep quiet about anything. I'm just gonna spill everything.

- There are so many candidates out there, you don't know which one to grab first. I've decided to find a roof over my head and settle down, because homeless people aren't the most attractive option for an affair, even if they are demigods.

- Well, that makes sense. – Mom nodded in agreement. – So how's that going for you? Find anything yet?

- Oh, I don't know. – Oh no, no, no. Not that one. Here I am at my most dangerous moment. And I can't even clench my jaw and keep my mouth shut. And the more I tried to avoid it, the more suspicious Hela's squint became. – I was literally just before I went to bed, when I met a rather distinguished and distinguished lady. She took me in.

- Really? – Judging by the excitement with which my mother leaned forward to stare at me, she was very intrigued by my attempts to resist the enchantments I had cast. – And what was it about you that intrigued her?

- We haven't quite cleared that up yet. We left it… for the morning… - Each new word was more difficult for me, and I felt as if the ropes were wrapped tightly around my chest – and they kept tightening them, squeezing my ribs and insides. Now I couldn't even take a normal breath. – She… she's going to take custody of me… hell… and later… Adopt me…

The last confession escaped me with the rest of the air, and the general feeling was that I was about to be squeezed out of myself like toothpaste out of a tube. But the grip on me was suddenly loosened, allowing me to breathe. Just one, because a much deader grip gripped my throat.

The walls trembled all around me. No, not even the walls-Mama's Dream itself was shuddering from the mighty tremors. The space around me went in waves, shifting chaotically. And in all this madness, only the angry eyes were motionless, blazing with green flame like fires in the pitch black. The unconquerable Stinging Gaze.

- I'm surprised at mortals like that. – Calmly and mundane, Hela said, as if it were not her hands that were now clutching mercilessly at my neck, cutting off not only my breathing and blood flow. And I was no longer sitting, but dangling in the air, torn from the floor by a monstrous grip, unable to free myself no matter how hard I tried. – There are simpler and less sophisticated ways to end my life. But no, there are always those who want to get into trouble…

- Mom… I can't breathe… - I mumbled. I wonder if it's possible to die from suffocation in the world of Sleep. Somehow I don't want to find out from my own experience. – Let me… Explain…

- Oh, honey, I'm sorry… - My grip loosened immediately, letting the long-awaited oxygen into my lungs. I almost collapsed myself, but my mother's hands immediately picked me up, keeping me from falling. – I'm sorry, it just sort of happened.

- I'm sure it did. – Coughing, I rubbed my throat, trying to suppress the hoarseness of my choking. – I didn't know how I'd gotten myself into this mess, either.

- Oh, don't worry, baby. – Mama gently set me down on the floor. – I'm gonna take care of this creep myself.

- What? No, Mom, wait! – Man, I had a hard time in the world of dreams, and what would happen to Lily in real life if the righteous wrath of the goddess of the dead wasn't stopped? She wouldn't be blond, she'd be gray to the last hair, and that's if she lived.

- Yeah, you're right. – My mother agreed with me with unexpected ease. – I don't want to pry into your business. Go and finish her off yourself.

- Wait a minute. Mom! I feel like an idiot, mumbling every sentence like a madwoman. But the important thing is that it helps me get through to Hela. – You don't have to be so harsh. That woman wasn't trying to infringe on your rights. She doesn't know who I am or who my mother is.

- She didn't, did she? – Hela thought for a moment, and then snapped her fingers. – That's right, you're mixed up with the locals.

So how about just giving her a U-turn by slamming the door?

- That's an option. – I nodded. – But there's a little nuance I'd like to use to my advantage.

- Baby, don't talk in generalities, talk to the point. – Hela sighed, giving me a tired look. – So why do you want to stay under the roof of this woman?

- Well, for one thing, it's a good way to blend into local life without making too much noise. If you only knew how hard it is to get papers, it's easier to fight with Beowulf. It's easier to fight with Beowulf, and I can't do much about bride hunting without papers. – I explained and went on. – This woman is rich and powerful enough to help me in this. Even if she pretends not to have anything to do with this kind of business. The important thing is to find a way to avoid an adoption situation, which is still in doubt.

- Move on. – Mom demanded, making it clear in her tone that she didn't want to go back to that subject now. I noticed that my surroundings had changed. There was a greenish rock beneath my feet and an endless whirlpool of souls around me now, and the sight of skulls blazing green and moaning in agony was not very encouraging. It didn't look like my mother had completely calmed down-just expressed her irritation through her sleep. – What's your second reason?

- Well, why don't I start from the beginning, and then it'll all make more sense? – I suggested, figuring out how to handle the conversation so that the whole Dream wouldn't come back to haunt me. – Her name is Lydia, Lydia Hardy. We met by chance today – and I happened to be saving her life.

-And?! – It was a very demanding «And,» clearly hinting that Mom was still waiting for me to give her my second reason.

- And then I fucked her, damn it! Fucked her right there in the limo, so much so that she had the idea of taking me on as her concubine. Or a gigolo. For all intents and purposes. – It wasn't really clear, of course, but I was sure of that.

-And?! – In contrast to the first time, there was far less demanding, only the urge to continue the story.

- But the problem was that, by the standards of that world, I was a teenager. – My voice grew more confident, and I seemed to be on the right wavelength. – And according to their laws, it would be suspicious if I were to live with strangers-not just my parents. Not even relatives or guardians. They might suspect kidnapping or something worse. And that would draw too much attention.

- And that's when you made up your mind. What… - Mom's voice was almost serene.

- Or rather, she decided. To eliminate the problem by becoming my guardian. Besides, there is simply no such official position as Concubine in their world. And here again, my minority would be in the way.

- And how does adoption fit into all this? -Hela raised an eyebrow questioningly.

- I don't know why the fuck she said that. – I shrugged my shoulders in bewilderment. – I didn't like the idea at all. It's a good thing it should take at least six months. Imagine what it was like for her own daughter to hear about it.

- Well, at least now I understand why I suddenly felt so uneasy. – Hela clenched her hand in her fist thoughtfully, as if trying to squeeze something invisible. – And you know, even though I can't argue with your superior skills in bed, I have to admit that I did raise you to be a Warrior.

- Come on, there's plenty of time to change her mind about me. – Great, I think I've managed to ride out the storm. And I think that now is not the time to remind my mother of her own words about the fact that she worked so hard to raise me as her male. It's better to rejoice in the happy outcome.

- I have to say that I'm still against it. – Hela had her arms crossed over her chest. – You're happy with that, are you?

- Actually, I don't really know what it is yet. – I ran my fingers through my hair thoughtfully. – We were just going to discuss it this morning. And anyway, I'm interested in her daughter.

- Okay, let me get this straight. – Mom raised her eyebrows in interest.

- Her daughter is my age. Or a little bit older. – I smiled, remembering our brief acquaintance. Yeah, a little more and Lydia would have driven Felicia crazy the way I drove Gwen crazy. – She interests me, and I want to take a closer look at her. Maybe even as a bride candidate. That's what you wanted, wasn't it? Well, if it doesn't work out, I'll just get out of there quietly.

- However, if it works out, this girl will be your bride. – Hela nodded. Returning to her throne of skulls. – And that woman, Lydia, from the category of Mother will go to the category of Mother-in-law. Well, that's fine with me.

She even clapped her hands, as if applauding this resolution of the situation. Now, how do you understand that? The answer is no, not unless she decides to explain it herself. It's Hela in her repertoire. I had a reason to be angry with her today, too, about the whole pregnancy mystery thing. But my mom just brushed it off. It hurt on the one hand, but on the other, what else did I expect? That the goddess of the dead would let some snot-nose tell her off? Yeah, sure you do. And yet, when you think about it, I got Hela pregnant. It's…

- Mortis. – I hope you know that you have to be more careful now, considering what has happened. Otherwise, the consequences will be unfortunate.

- Like what? – I asked, unobtrusively.

- The most striking example is that the life of your future mother-in-law depends on how you will solve this situation. – Very calmly, and thus even more threateningly, my mother got to the point of clarification.

- I see. – I hastily assured her, swallowing nervously. Stupid, stupid Lydia. And she was still pretending to be the Dominant Woman. HA! Oh, how far she was from my real mom in this case.

- And yet… - Hela tilted her head slightly to her shoulder, as if listening. – It's not over yet. My anxiety hasn't fully subsided. Honey, is there something else bothering you so much that even I can feel it?

- Well, actually… yeah… - I'm stumped again. – There's another… sensitive case.

- Sensitive? – Hela looked at me very carefully. Yes, I don't use that word very often, and when I do, it's a sure sign that it's a very serious matter for me. I'd know better than my mother to know that.

- Well… You know, mom… - How? How do I tell my mom that she's a fictional villain, and not even from Scandinavian myths – but from the comic universe? That our world and all of us are just characters made up… by who? I don't even know who invented Marvel. I've heard of Stan Lee, of course, who started it all, but when was that? I wasn't interested in the details of that life. How do I confess that all of our good fortunes and bad fortunes, horrors and dreams, are just parts of a plot to entertain readers? And anyway – would I be able to? I'm not one of the characters destined to break the fourth wall. – Have you… have you ever wondered… what if we…

- So? – Hela's eyebrows raised mockingly. – We what?

- What if we're all… not real… if we're made up… - Man, that sounds idiotic when you say it out loud.

- Oh, is that what you mean? – Mom's lips touched a smile. – It's an old and widely known theory. It's like. «We're all just a dream. A dream of some Super Being that exists on another level of reality.» Right?

This was the moment when I was speechless, stunned by how easily my mother had grasped my thought. Maybe not exactly accurate, her version was more along the lines of «We are all just Cthulhu's Dream. So don't wake Cthulhu, for when he awakens, we cease to exist.» But the general idea was the same. So I could only nod silently.

- You know, I have only one answer to a question like that. – Hela shrugged her shoulders serenely. – And so what?

My mother was clearly amused by my gawking eyes and the way I squeezed out a «Uh…».

- Suppose we really are a dream or a fantasy of some Entity. What difference would that make? – She rested her chin thoughtfully on her half-curled fingers. – Considering the difference in our levels of reality, there's not much we can do about it. And why should there be? The universe was the same in the time of our ancestors. Of course, it's always nice to step outside of someone else's rules. But even your Aunt Death has limits she has to abide by. Besides, does this Entity limit us that much? I don't think so. We still make our own way on our own volition. So what's changed?

- What do you mean, «of our own free will»? – I stared at my mother in genuine bewilderment. How can the author not limit his characters? – Our future and past are predetermined, and every action is written down ahead of time.

- It's like the Book of Destinies with the Norn? – Hela clarified, slyly. And I just opened my mouth. I wanted to say yes, but I didn't.

For some reason, the universe seemed like a huge book with all the Marvel comics stitched together. And it made me think about this. Comics are scripted, right? And any script ends sooner or later. Not to mention the fact that they also often contradict one another.

Take even Hela herself. In one of the movies, she massacred the gods in Asgard, but also got herself killed in a battle with Surt. However, in the Avengers cartoon series, Mom was not threatened and she continued to rule the World of the Dead at her own pleasure. This begs the question – what happens at the end, when the script ends? Will the universe be destroyed like a Thanos flick? Will it restart in an endless cycle of repetition? Or will it continue to exist and evolve outside of the script? Besides, the Marvel Universe itself

Marvel universe itself talks about a lot of alternate worlds – more than six walls, if I'm not mistaken. But in the comics, at best about a hundred are involved – and that's only in certain global events. Another hundred or two had brief descriptions or one-frame mentions. And how did the rest exist if the authors have never touched them personally? That is – to do without a reference to the script is still possible? Or is it not? Aah! Too complicated! I think trying to break through the fourth wall only broke my head on it.

- It's not easy. Yes? – My mother smiled sympathetically at me, who had been watching my mental struggles the whole time.

- I guess I shouldn't have brought it up in the first place. – I admitted with a sigh.

- Yeah, it's a lot easier to live without thinking about it. – My mom nodded in agreement. I didn't understand- was she seriously suggesting that I just forget about everything and not worry about it-or was she just being subtle? Although. I guess it did make sense. Living. Not worrying about what you can't change and doing what you can. Perhaps that sounds like a plan, at least for a while. Although, of course, Marvel remains Marvel. There's always some dipshit to snap his fingers.

- All right, let's just leave it at that. – I smiled calmly enough. – So now we're done talking? Can I go now?

- Can I go? – Hela pretended to be surprised. The swirl of souls around her was slowly turning into stone walls. – Just like that, just to leave? What about sex for your favorite mommy, you bad girl?

- Ummm… - Holy crap! Why does this Dream go from an infernal place to a perfectly realistic but no more soothing interrogation room?

What was that? How, that's how the Scandinavian goddess of the dead knows what the inside of a police station looks like? Specifically, the interrogation room. Maman went all out, projecting herself as a detective in a formal uniform, albeit with a generous cleavage. And she sat me down at the table in an orange jumpsuit, and she even remembered to handcuff me. The bad cop was there, and the good cop hadn't arrived. Besides, in this dream my mom was already a foot and I was a hundred percent woman myself – and she reminded me of all my worries by screwing me right on the table. It's like a scene out of a porn movie. Did she pull that out of my mind? But when Auntie took the image of Lady Death from my memory, I felt it. And this time there was nothing like it.

Anyway, I woke up when the sun was shining through the window-and with a tight tension between my legs.

It was about seven in the morning, and I'd been lying in bed for a while, idly wondering if it was too early for the locals. I looked into a nearby closet to do nothing, but there was nothing of interest there. Just a couple of bathrobes, slippers, and a few neutral-size T-shirts, skirts, and tracksuits. Some sneakers, too. I didn't change into all this, though I considered the option of copying my appearance with the help of my Necrosword. But still remained in «his» - as a hint that I do not owe anyone anything and can get out of here at any time.

As I continued to look around, I found the door to the small bathroom and washed my face, not without pleasure. And just as I was done with that, there was a knock on the door and a vaguely familiar maid's voice informed me that my mistress was already waiting for me in her office.

And so, there it was. The conversation that would finally clarify what and how we would be set up. This is a moment very interesting. However, when Lydia sitting at the table instead of greeting just nodded towards the chair – the same one on which Felicia was already sitting not too happy glances at her mother – it was more like a briefing from the boss.

- Now, we must discuss the position Mortis would occupy in the house. – Lydia's mood was clearly upbeat.

- I don't want her in the family. – Felicia was categorical.

- Likewise. – I supported the girl. – Adoption, in this case, is clearly not a well thought-out decision.

- The kids, the kids! – Lydia held up her hands reassuringly, trying to smooth over the awkward situation. Felicia only snorted in response, and I made a mocking face, too. Kids? Is that, is that what she's doing to both of us at once? – There was no point in arguing about it now. We just can't do it legally at this point.

- That's good. – I grinned. – So, what rights do you propose I have to stay here?

- Not the standard one. – Hardy Jr. Observed in a bored tone. – Normally, when a personal escort is taken in, her job is simple – to look as seductive as possible and to be ready to be fucked where, when, and how they want.

- Felicia, what's with the tone! – Lydia sternly shouted at her while I rounded my eyes in surprise. Wow, she made it sound so easy, like all her mom does is bring these escorts or agency boys into the house. Although… Lydia did mention something like that.

- No one can see us now anyway, so why all these ceremonies. – The girl brushed her mother's words aside, continuing to develop her thought. – In this case, though, it's the first time I've ever had custody of an Escort.

I turned to Lydia with a mute question, but she just nodded, confirming her daughter's words. I see, so the hot milf really does bring these occasional callers to the house.

- And the uniqueness of this particular situation is that Mortis saved my life. – With pressure, Lydia reminded me. – And now I'm going to help in return, considering the difficult situation you find yourself in. And not just with money, but with a solution to all the problems you've encountered. But I want you to take it seriously. After all, I'm letting you into my home, and it's not just anything.

I thought about it. Deep thought. At least, I was very diligent in my thought, while I glanced at Felicia. The girl was staring at me, too, and she had a strange look in her eyes. It seemed that the irritation of the whole adoption thing was mixed in the younger Hardy with a sincere gratitude for her mother's rescue. She couldn't seem to decide what to expect from me. Lydia, meanwhile, was staring at me just as intently, waiting for an answer, and I felt uncomfortable under the crosshairs.

- But the point about me having to fuck you was still there, right? – Trying to lighten the mood, I turned to the lady of the house.

- NATURALLY. – The answer came immediately, and if only from Lydia. But no – mother and daughter said it together, with frightening synchronicity and assertiveness.

- H… well… let's say. – I was a little taken aback by that. I didn't think being a concubine could be that easy. – And what exactly would my duties be in this regard?

- Oh, we'll come back to that and discuss it at length! – The elder Hardy smiled rather predatorily, while the younger one hid her smile behind her palm. – But first we must assess the extent of possible trouble and its consequences.

- What do you mean? – I asked, trying to figure out what that meant. The supposedly «chased» by the Sentinels? The need to get my papers? Or a found pistol?

- Mutants haven't been in our house yet. – Felicia hinted with a chuckle.

-Did you tell me about that, too? – I asked the head of the house, wondering how far she had gone in her candor. I wonder if Felicia knows I'm a futa.

- Only that you're a mutant and you've been chased. That's why I want to know more about your peculiarities, so that I can be prepared for their manifestation. – And you say it with such a calm and businesslike look, as if he does not remember – what led to this topic of conversation in the limousine.

The temptation to repeat the same tirade-and with the same ending-was enormous. But I proved myself a true warrior and restrained myself. As the saying goes: «A second joke is no longer a joke». So I decided to do without the juice.

- Well, to summarize, it's more accurate to say that I manipulate energy.

- Like an electrical generator? – Felicia immediately clarified.

- Not exactly. A generator just produces energy. I can do that too, but it's all about controlling it. – I raise my hand and light a green flame on it as a demonstration. – I can just release it like a projectile. – After extinguishing the fire, I take a pen from Lydia's desk and after a few manipulations make it glow like a flashlight. – I can also affect objects, but here the effect varies and often depends on the object itself. – I was in the phase, and then I was in the phase.

- So you have no problem controlling your power. Right? – Lydia scrutinized the writing instrument to see if it was working.

- No, no problem at all with the energy coming out. – I confirm, and I throw in some bait to keep going.

- Is there more coming in? – Felicia bites on it.

- There is an Inner. – I calmly correct her. – So that flows inside me like blood, spreading evenly through my body and affecting it already without my control. It makes me gain mass quickly-and I'll spread out like jelly if I don't exercise regularly.

A contemptuous chuckle spread across Felicia's face. Yeah, yeah. Any woman who wants to look good has to watch herself and her diet and work out. And not just any woman, really. Well, these two beauties don't miss those things. Lydia for her age is very good, and many younger people can easily outrun her. And Felicia is even better. It would be interesting to arrange to compare her with Mary Jane sometime.

But for now I just tensed my arm, showing her my muscles. To which I got a «Woo, that's impressive,» which sounded sarcastic to the extreme. Okay, attempt number two. Now I grabbed the hem of my T-shirt and pulled it up.

There was silence in the office. Both Hardy's were staring at the abs that had come into view. Liliya, who had tried to say something before, was silenced, and the sneer disappeared from Felicia's face.

- Physically, I'm stronger, faster, and more resilient than the average man. – I commented, pulling my shirt down again.

The ladies swallowed in sync.

- Now everything is clear. – Finally said Lily, looking away.

- What are you talking about? – Felicia hurriedly turned toward her mother as well.

- You can see how she dealt with her attackers so easily. – Hardy senior explained, except it seems to me that she drew a slightly different conclusion for herself about my stamina.

- Speaking of which… - The younger blonde suddenly jumped up, but Lydia interrupted her by answering beforehand the

A question she hadn't yet asked.

- Waiting for a call from Captain Stacy. The police have taken the case seriously and are now interrogating those who have been captured. – The woman rubbed her temple a little nervously and continued. – And I've already ordered the hiring of another group of professional guards.

- Will I have guards accompany me everywhere from now on? – Felicia was clearly interested in the question. Well, I really hope to do without such an appendix. What the hell do I need it for? And what's more-how am I going to explain to Gwen the presence on the date of a third extra?

- I don't know yet. We'll just have to rely on what they tell me. – Lydia didn't hesitate long. – But in the meantime, you will be taken to and from school by car. And be sure to let me know if you're going anywhere.

-Wait a minute! -We? – Felicia jumped up and down. – You mean her too?

- And me? – I couldn't hide my surprise.

- Of course, why are you so surprised? – Lydia looked at both of us questioningly in turn. – Mortice didn't have any papers, so it certainly wouldn't hurt to get at least a diploma.

If so far the girl had expressed her dissatisfaction with her mother's scheme in a sarcastic but still restrained manner, now she had clearly put it away, even her face began to blush rapidly with anger.

-You don't need a piece of paper to work as a cunt! – In the same breath she finally blurted out.

-Hey! -I jumped up immediately. That was a little offensive, you know. Even our concubines are made to be not only beautiful flowers in the harem, but also know how to do something. Most often it is, of course, massage, dance, music, or something else creative, but sometimes there are quite exotic specialists. Except that Mom has three martial artists, an archaeologist, a burglar, and a bomber. And that's not all. And keeping just a useless broad just for intercourse… I'm sorry, but what's the point? Even if she's got a great body, it makes more sense to use her as a whore, and it's stupid to drag her into the house.

And Felicia, once she got off, she couldn't stop.

- This wasn't the first time we'd had someone like you in the house. – The tone of her voice kept getting higher and higher,» And it's all right, as long as she sticks to her limits and stays out of everyday life. And school is that life.

- Felicia! – Now Lydia was raising her voice. – Stop it at once! Mortis will become part of our lives, and that's how we'll treat her.

- But… - Young Hardy bit her lip nervously and glared furiously for several seconds at me and at her mother. – But why? Why such an honor? I understand… she saved you… but…

- That's not the point. – The older Hardy shook her head negatively, - Not just because she saved me. And it's not just because she's fucking me up so much that my legs can't hold me. I just WANT to help her. And I'm begging you, at least, not to antagonize her.

I was tactfully silent, and Felicia looked away embarrassed, too, wrapping a curl around her finger. Feud? Lady! You're the one who lit the fuse when you blurted out, «That's your sister now. And now you're hoping it'll be that simple?

- Mmmm… - Felicia took a few deep breaths and exhales, making her final decision. – Well, I promise there will be no hostility. At least for now, I'll be watching her probation, just like you.

My gaze flitted from one blonde to the next. I'm on probation, then. Well, that sounds pretty logical. But, man, the girl's a badass, taking control of herself when you're this pissed off and fuming with righteous anger. Lydia seems to have underestimated her daughter's character.

- That was enough for a start. – Lydia nodded with relief. – And now, now that we've made that point clear, I won't keep you any longer.

For the umpteenth time Felicia and I met each other's eyes. Actually, we had not discussed everything that needed attention. There were still a number of questions about sex, but I felt that we would have to find out as we went along. For now, we just got up and headed for the exit.

- But no, Mortis, stay a little longer. – Suddenly Lydia spoke up again. – I'm going to get in touch with my personal lawyer to discuss your problems, and I need some personal information.

- Okay. – I compliantly agreed, glancing at Felicia. And then before she disappeared out the door, she turned around and… What? Did I read that right – what she mouthed silently with just her lips? «Go ahead. Fuck her again»?

I don't mind. I don't mind. I'll gladly unzip Lydia on her desk, spread her legs and fuck her to death. But she wants to talk about something now. And if it's about personal information, I have to lie about it again. And the more you lie, the easier it is to get caught. Well, as usual, we'll look at the situation. With that in mind, I went back to where I'd been-and saw a small box on the table.

- Here are all your things, except for the gun. – Lydia explained, pushing it toward me. – I'm sorry, but I'm not returning it.

- No problem. – I shrugged as I opened the box, which did contain phones, money, and other stuff from my pockets. – It's definitely…

-Absolutely what? – The older Hardy frowned in an incomprehensible way.

- I mean, it hasn't been fired yet, but it's got my fingerprints all over it. – She gave her a hint.

- Tell me you don't think I want to use this against you. Although I did not give any reason for such suspicion. – The woman sighed curiously, her lush breasts gently swaying up and down in a sorrowful sigh. However, in a second Lydia stopped clowning around and spoke seriously again. – Since you might have trouble controlling your physical powers, it would be good to know how they differ from those of ordinary people.

- I can show you, no problem. – I muttered as I looked through the phones to make sure there were no missed calls or messages.

- That's fine, then I'll get a doctor who will be able to assess exactly how severe your abnormalities are. – Lydia nodded, making some kind of notation in her papers.

As far as I was concerned, it was a waste of time. I didn't need a doctor to tell me how fast I could run a hundred yards. But if it makes her feel better, let her…

- Next. Although my lawyer will be prepared for any possible trouble, if there are any problems with your abilities, I will try to contact an institution that is said to train gifted teenagers. – One more note in the paperwork. – Don't worry, it's not a state institution.

- Hmmm… I see. – I nodded again. Hey, that's not bad! Well, what other private place could be in charge of educating Gifted Teens? Xavier's school, of course – and I wouldn't mind getting to know the X-Men any better than I have so far. – So that's why you detained me? You don't really want any information from me?

- Wait a little while, I'll get to that part later. – Lydia promised, coughing delicately into her fist. – Now about your life in this house. From the guest room tonight you'll move into the spare bedroom next to ours, it was just about to be prepared. We'll get out soon and get you all the things you need. Including a proper phone. Make sure you put Felicia and me on your contact list.

- What, mine doesn't pass the fashion control test? – No, seriously, what doesn't she like? I mean, my screens are small and I don't have Internet. But you can make phone calls.

- You can't video chat on them. And I want to see you on the phone. – This Mistress of Control explained it unequivocally. – And I want you to call me if anything happens. Even if you're just running late.

- Maybe I also have a curfew? – I said with a sneer.

- From seven in the morning until nine at night I'm free as the wind. – Lydia did not blink an eye. – If you are not home after that time, we will call first, and then look for you if you do not answer.

- Why should I be so honored? – It makes me wonder.

- What did you want? If you're so easy to say you'll run away if you're uncomfortable? – The blonde milf grinned. Oh, man… she's the one who's recalling my own words, that I'd have no trouble getting away from the police if I was there.

- Besides, you'll get an allowance on Sundays. – She's the one who decided to sweeten the stick with the carrot, isn't she?

- Then let's talk about how I'm going to work it off. – Now I smirked. Why drag it out? If Felicia's talking openly about her mom's sexual protégés, too.

- Work it off? Oh, you mean… - The blonde put her pen aside and leaned back in her chair. – Tell me, Mortis….. what do you think of Felicia?

- Uh… Why all of a sudden questions like that? – Well, this isn't exactly the change of subject I was expecting.

- Oh, come on, don't play dumb with me. – Lydia was smiling from the bottom of her heart. – You got it. Felicia told me openly that there were others before you with whom I satisfied my desires. What's more, she and I had shared the next daddy, brother, or sister more than once.

- What?! – Okay, stop, time out! Daddy, brother, sister… another one? So it's normal for them to do that? Then why did Felicia end up doing all this… oh, man, that's right.

- And this time it's the custody situation that's complicating things? – I made the most obvious assumption. – And besides, I'm still a minor.

Continuing to smile, Lydia nodded, clearly pleased that I was getting the gist of what was going on.

- But then why the fuck did you say anything about adoption in the first place? That's what triggered her reaction. – I was indignant – only to get another very snide grin in return. Was she, unknowingly, competing with my own mother to see who could fuck me up more? Does Lydia really want to adopt me? I remember my mother's promises, it really smells like kerosene. No, it's worse than that.

- That's the one. – Lydia agreed. – As I think it's better to clarify the situation and the attitude of those involved, and then work together to negotiate and find a compromise, than to collect skeletons in the closet, only to have them eventually remind you of themselves at the most inopportune moment.

I just chuckled. You don't have to be a cool businesswoman to understand that this strategy is not flawless. But it kind of worked this time. Felicia got angry, but then she made peace, at least partially.

- So, what are you up to? – Oh, I smell a cunning plan here, where Lydia's going to make a profit. After all, she said it herself, she's a businesswoman.

- Well, you do realize that because of your peculiarity, you're now an unregistered semen carrier, right? – The blond woman leaned forward with a sly smile, almost falling out of her generous cleavage. – You're exempt from both the tax requiring you to donate sperm every week, and from mandatory marriage by adulthood.

Oh, fuck…. I don't like this. I've heard that kind of talk before. Not from my mother, but from our – and not only – aristocracy. Marriage should be solely for the benefit of the family, as should the birth of a firstborn. What, do you love someone? So be it, keep it to yourself as a lover and don't stop your spouse from doing the same. And it's worth having a harem to make useful connections.

It always annoyed the hell out of me. Especially when the conversation came to instructions like «N must not have a baby, and M even though your friend can only have a girl, if a boy is born, he must be eliminated…». At some point this whole fucked up thing got so bad that I stopped holding back. And I reacted by letting my emotions get the better of me. I never heard any more advice like that, and my mom just grinned when she heard about it. Now I understand why.

- I have not decided what option is better, but I will be very pleased if you enter our family as my adopted daughter or as Felicia's wife. – Lydia had a sly, sly look on her face. That's it, she just needs to put her fingers together for the full image of the villain, who pulls the strings, insidiously manipulating those around her.

And you know what? I'm completely fine with it. Because Lydia's plan fits perfectly into our plans with Hela as well. Is fate still tossing me a carrot after the recent string of mishaps? Maybe so, but something about this situation wasn't quite clear yet. So I moved closer to the older Hardy, looking her in the eye.

- You don't know me at all, though. – I reminded the obvious fact to this far-reaching planner. – How can you build the future of your family and your daughter with the man whom you first saw less than ten hours ago?

- That's exactly what probation is for. – The blonde once again leaned back in her chair, very pleased with herself.

- And you, gave me everything so easily? – So I'm already a little afraid of her. She reminds me more and more of my mother, the only difference is the degree of lethality.

- That's it? Who told you that's everything? – Another eerily satisfied smile. – That's just what you're supposed to know at the moment.

- Mmmmm… - I reacted vaguely to this admission. Crap! Maybe I should reconsider whether to get involved with Felicia and her family. I could feel in my bones that if Hela and the older Hardy got to know each other and get to know each other, they'd get along just fine. And that's when it's going to get really tough for me. – Well, if that's all, I'll go.

- You're going? What about sex? – The white-haired missus unbuttoned her blouse, revealing the blatant absence of a bra and letting her wealth jump out freely. Huge breasts with nipples protruding with excitement rocked in front of me. – I'm here, crucifying myself in all my glory, waiting for her to finally grab her female and spread her out on the table and fuck her like the last whore. And here I go.

- What the hell. – If I froze in surprise, it was only for a few seconds. And then, wasting no more time, I slipped to Lydia at the table and grabbed her heavy spheres with my hands and sucked them in, squeezing and squeezing them tightly.

In five minutes, the naked head of the Hardy family was really lying back on her desk, shrieking with each sharp thrust of my hard cock up her tight ass. After all the nerve-wracking Lydia had put me through this time, I wasn't going to be particularly gentle-and that suited us both just fine.

Part One Chapter Seventeenth

***Lauren Cranston – Miss Fear***

The flickering dim light nevertheless allowed a fairly clear view of the three figures in the office. An older, gray-haired woman in a white business suit sat masterfully at her desk. The second, younger and broad-shouldered, in a similar suit of navy blue was standing nearby. The latter, in a shabby and frayed raincoat, sat on a chair opposite, trying hard to look calm, but her posture and movements showed considerable nervousness. On the table in front of her was a gas mask.

-So, it's about protection. – The old woman studied her guest carefully with her gaze.

- Yes, Mrs. Silver. – The companion took the hood off her head, giving her a full view of her face. – The Ambal is not one to let his employees go easily. Especially those who happen to be involved in something.

- An incident in the warehouse. – The gray-haired woman didn't ask, she stated. And now in her eyes clearly read interest and even a slight admiration. – Dirty work. I've heard a lot about you, Miss Cranston. But I didn't know you also worked as a butcher. Or is that your way of getting away with slamming the door?

- Not at all. You're right-I don't do that sort of thing. – Despite the even tone of Lauren's voice, her hands clenched into fists. – I was just lucky to be alive in that meat grinder. However, my boss doesn't care, since the goods were taken by a creature that doesn't fear bullets or chemicals.

- So what happened to this thing? – Mrs. Silver leaned forward a little. – Where did it go?

- That I can't know, I managed to escape through the sewers earlier. – Lauren bit her lower lip nervously. – Where she is now and what she did with the goods is unknown. However, I wouldn't want to meet her again without heavy fire support, or better yet, something even more serious. And I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

- Wow… - The old woman shook her head thoughtfully. – The old woman shook her head thoughtfully. «Is there a new person in town? Is that a lie, or is she so clever she can hide in the shadows?

- Do you think I'd make such a joke of the Ambal? – Lady Fear moved her whole body forward, raising her voice.

- Look, tone it down. – For the first time the blue-suited woman standing quietly by Mrs. Silver's chair intervened. – Or I'll calm you down.

- That's enough. – The woman in charge calmed her down with one short gesture. – Well, I agree. Ambal has a bad sense of humor. And while this failure isn't the best recommendation, I'll still give you a chance to prove yourself.

- A lousy test. – Lady Fear nodded understandingly, picking up her gas mask. – And what's to be done?

- Ha. You're quick. – There was a sneer in the gray-haired woman's eyes. – No hurry, there's no hurry. In a few days the transport ship «Milius» should enter the docks with a valuable cargo.

- Delivery? – Judging by the tone of Lady Fear's voice, this is the sort of work she'd prefer to avoid after recent events. Except she had no choice in the matter.

- Delivery. – Mrs. Silver didn't even think of hiding the mockery. – And Sledgehammer will keep you company.

- Heh. – The broad-shouldered brunette grinned even wider, and took a cigarette out of her pocket. – I hope we can work together, girl.

- Whatever you say, your job is your rules. – Lauren still managed to cope with her emotions and adhere to a businesslike style of behavior. Besides, she had no other options anyway. She tried to put on a gas mask, but was again stopped by the words of her new boss.

-Don't hurry, we're not done yet. – The old woman folded her arms in front of her, making it clear that the conversation was far from over. – Now tell me about the person who massacred the warehouse. The police's working theory is that it was the Punisher's handiwork. But if it's possible, I'd like to get reliable information firsthand.

***Mortis***

Down from the table Lydia carefully licked my cock, which had given her several orgasms and filled her abundantly with cum on all sides. I, admiring the juicy milf on my knees, combined business with pleasure, once again thinking over the situation. That the elder Hardy was going to use me not only to satisfy her irrepressible lust was becoming more and more obvious. Was I happy about it? Not really. Upset or angry? Not really. First of all, she's a businesswoman. She sees an opportunity and tries to make the most of it. It would be strange to expect otherwise. Second, if she's going to use me, I can do the same thing in good conscience. And here it's a question of who gets the most benefit. I may be a long way from my mother, but I'll manage not to lose mine. So far, the basis of our deal is a place to stay in exchange for sex. The way I see it.

I'm a winner. I just have to play the situation right from here on out.

Meanwhile, Lydia had finished her painstaking work and had just pulled me into the dining room by my dick. And rightly so, because I had pumped her full of sperm, and I hadn't had a crumb in my mouth since last night.

And it took a lot of energy to please that pretty girl. So, when I got to the food, I was just lost to society for a while.

In full accordance with the previously announced plan, the first thing I was placed in a new room. It did look cozier than the guest room, and it was door to door with Lydia's bedroom. Felicia's room was a little farther away-and we looked in there, too. The girl snorted indignantly when I told her to find me some appropriate clothes to wear in public, but she didn't argue, and quickly wrung out some of her own clothes.

I thanked him and took the humanitarian aid back to my room to put it all in the closet and change my clothes, leaving my mother in the company of her daughter. There was no reason for them to see that underneath my current outfit was the armor I'd had to hide away for the time being. And Nekrosword had shrunk to a minimum when I put on some of the gifts. Yeah… I'm not much of a skirt guy, but I can handle that, too.

And then they gave me a tour of the mansion. Not my mother's castle, of course, but also – quite decent, I must say. I did not even remember all the rooms, only the main ones – the dining room, the kitchen, the living room, Lydia's office and the way to the front door. I would learn the rest as I went along. In the same way I got acquainted with the servants – the butler, a few maids, a gardener, and a couple of technicians who were responsible for the equipment in the house. There was also a guard, but we didn't have time to get to her because we were in the garage earlier.

- Can you drive? – Lydia asked me questioningly, watching me get comfortable behind the wheel.

- Now I will remember how to do it. – My optimistic promise was accompanied by turning the ignition key. Yes, having seen all the cars in the garage, I couldn't help myself and begged to be allowed to try driving in the yard. However, of all the car wealth I was allocated only a rather modest Toyota – but there was no time to be finicky.

- So, do you have a driver's license? – Another question followed immediately.

- Mmmm… - I pulled on the intrigue with a puzzled look for a couple of seconds. – No, I didn't have time to take the test. – I'm sorry, Lydia, but you won't find me on the driver's license database either, and don't get your hopes up.

Okay, back to business. Basically, I know how to drive. I mean, I did in a previous life, I even worked in a furniture delivery service. So, how to do it in general I remember. Although, of course, this Toyota looks like my old truck only by the number of wheels.

Bottom line, I got the car started. What next? I pressed the brake pedal… whoa – what kind of brake? The clutch! Now put the transmission in reverse. And slowly release the clutch and step on the gas.

The car obediently moved, rolling out of the garage. I put the handbrake on and pushed the gas more confidently. After doing a couple of laps around the yard at different speeds, I tried to do the standard set of exercises: snaking, stopping on the rise on the handbrake, both parking lots. Basically – everything worked, I even backed into the garage properly. Except that the parallel parking was a little awkward. Lydia appreciated my skills, but she wouldn't let me drive until I got my license. Anyway, now I know that if anything happens, I'll be able to drive. It might come in handy.

After the meeting with the guards – quite strong ladies and some of them were very good in uniform, well highlighting where necessary – I finally got a break and was left to my own devices. Phew.

Well, there's time to think about what I'm going to do next. And how cleverly my mom got knocked up on the sly. Wait a minute, I was just thinking… When did she do that? During the orgy with her aunt, she didn't have a trace of it, but if it had happened then, her belly wouldn't have grown so big after all this time. More tricks. And another thing… I conceived my baby sister with the help of Necrosword, and he's a symbiote. Shouldn't the baby get his powers? Shit, but I conceived my future self the same way. But I don't have any signs of a symbiote. How does that even work? I feel like the answer is either Hela or Necrosword. But my mom is far away, and my symbiote is close by. That's where we start.

I settled into a meditation pose on the floor of my room without wasting any time, and began to sink into myself. I am one of the results of the question that interests me. And after a while, I was stunned by a real discovery. It turns out that I have something like a natural filter. And apparently, I had set it up for myself when I had checked myself in with Héla. It was simple, in fact – when conceived by me, the child receives the race and abilities from the mother. So I'm not a half-breed, as I thought I was, but a full Asgardian. And if Lydia decides to procreate from me, her children will be purely human until I remove the filter. And it's a very useful thing, so I won't get rid of it just yet. But it is worth studying this feature more closely, if I understood everything correctly, there are settings that can be adjusted and get interesting results in the output. The only question is, is it worth it?

Symbiote reproduction is not the safest thing to do. It's just that my Necrosword is silent and doesn't show any signs of intelligence at all. It's only my Necrosword that is silent and shows no signs of reason. I wonder, by the way – how did that happen?

***Gwen Stacy***

Since May is a fanatical lover of science, her bedroom alone is woefully inadequate for all her ideas. So she ended up having a mix of workshop and lab in the basement.

This is where she helped me and M.J. with schoolwork, projects, and gadgets. Most importantly, it was here that she created and made her superglue, which later served as the basis for the Spider Girls' web. The basement itself ended up being our headquarters, a place where we could discuss our plans and just hang out.

- Hey, girlfriends. – I habitually tossed my backpack on the coat rack by the door.

- Gwen! – Right on the doorstep met me and immediately hugged my favorite redhead, but May did not even think to tear herself away from the monitor and the keyboard. – So, any results?

- Only disappointing. – With a sigh I admitted. – I managed to get on my mom's computer to the police database.

Into the police database, but there's nothing on Mortis or the new spider.

- So we don't know anything about her. – Parker summed it up – Except what she said.

- So the Internet searches didn't turn up anything, either? – I suggested logically, and got an affirmative nod.

- Other than that first video, there's basically nothing about her. – Not even a video or a photo, not even a rumor.

- Or she's hiding very well. – Mei finally got up from her computer. – Or she's new in town.

- Then how did she know about me? – I protested, settling into my usual spot. – The Spider Girls' notoriety hadn't extended beyond the suburbs yet.

- That's what I'd like to find out, too. – Our clever girl has clearly added another line to her list of riddles.

- So? – MJ voiced our collective doubts. – Do we take her up on her offer or not? And what would we ask for in return?

I shrugged to indicate that since May created the web, it would be up to her.

- I told you I want a sample of her webs for study. – Parker reminded her, -Maybe I'll find something in it that will work for us. And it would also be great to see her version of web shooters.

- First of all, that's two for one. – I sighed. – And second of all, she said that the web is part of her living costume, and somehow connected to her DNA.

- Oh, that's even more interesting! – Mei's enthusiasm flared up.

-Look, it's great that you're so eager to explore the unknown, but you should know the limits. – I gave my friend an angry look. – Just asking to be allowed to get into someone's DNA. Who would even agree to that?

- Well, that depends on how you look at it. – Carrot-top, who was behind me, was persistently stroking and massaging my ass. – It's all about having a good argument.

- Hey!- I shot MJ an angry look, and she stopped her provocation immediately, looking completely innocent. – And anyway, she was saying something about it being magic, not technology.

-Magic doesn't exist! – May didn't miss the chance to voice her position on the matter once again. – It's all tricks and tricks. It's all about having the right equipment and steady hands, and learning how to divert attention.

- Yeah, right. – I was compliant, not wanting to get into a long discussion about where I could hide a six-foot sword in my jacket and jeans. – You know, why don't you talk to her yourself? So I don't have to work between you two with a broken phone.

Mei opened her mouth dumbfoundedly – and closed it just as silently. I was in no hurry to say anything either, and the pause dragged on, becoming more and more awkward.

- Maybe we could think of something else? – MJ hurried to save the situation. – We don't know what she's capable of, and we don't have time to react if something happens, and May isn't a fighter.

- If we had a camera and a microphone, we could send Gwen out on a date. – Parker immediately jumped up, clinging to a new idea. – And I'd be prompting all the right words and questions.

- Also, a scent analyzer, DNA, or better yet, an entire research station not to grab? – I sighed tiredly. – And a whole backpack of batteries for all that.

-Well, you know… - Parker wanted to be indignant, but then she bit her tongue and just mumbled furiously, clutching her hands in her hair. – Mmmmm… How difficult it is with you.

- By the way, where can we take her anyway? – M.J. interrupted the groaning with determination, returning to the main topic.

- Like Spiders, anywhere, no strings attached. – I figured. – But it's harder to find a place to meet without costumes. And the first thing we have to decide is whether we want a secluded place or a

A crowded one.

- The first thing to decide. – Gently, but very convincingly argued Carrot-top. – Is it whether or not we believe Mortis? Of course it's a guess, but if she's really been honest with us, shouldn't we return the favor?

There was an awkward silence in the basement. MJ was right about some things, of course, but…

- No, I know it's not that simple. – Our friend hastily added. – It's far from certain that she was actually telling Gwen the truth. And we can't be sure what she knows and what she doesn't know. But we have to make contact somehow. – She thought for a few seconds and then added. – In fact, we can take a risk: tell her all our basic secrets, but not let her out of the basement until we get some of her secrets in return.

- Whatever you say sometimes, of course! – I rolled my eyes for show. – I knew, my friend, that you like to play for luck, but not so much…

- What's the big deal? Let's start small and slowly pull information out of each other. That's how we trade. – Actually, MJ, that's pretty much what he's saying. But it sounds easier said than done.

- Doesn't sound like much of an exchange. – May settled back in her chair with her feet up, scratching her ankle thoughtfully. – Especially if that turned out to be her real name. It's not like she's marked anywhere, nobody knows her. Maybe she's new in town-unlike the rest of us, who were born and raised here, we have families here. We've got something to risk if we get busted. She doesn't. What does she have?

- Don't push it too far. – I asked, noticing that May's speech was getting faster and faster. – Tell me she was here to set us up. Who are we? Special Forces, no. Vigilantes, no. Lawbreakers, no. Just rookies. We don't get involved in crime, we catch little things like pickpockets and muggers. We don't even use guns. Or what, you think this is about your tech? They're cool, sure, but will they make millions like Stark's?

May inhaled indignantly, preparing for the answer… and remained silent. She kept making faces, as if hoping it would help her find the words, but it wasn't working. But her face was beginning to blush, because she hadn't been able to breathe out just yet, saving her air for the answer-until she put her arm around her shoulders.

-That's enough, tiger cub. Gwen's right-you're overcomplicating things, and the more you think, the more weird options you have. – Ginger patted her friend's hair affectionately, and she pouted habitually.

- Okay, let's start all over again and this time really try not to complicate things for nothing. – May resolutely pretended not to notice our slight smiles. – Do you still have the number?

- Yeah, I don't know where it's going to go. It's money. – I reached into my pocket.

***Mortis***

After I rested, I wandered around the mansion some more, studying it. Nothing of particular interest caught my eye, but I found Felicia in the exercise room. The room was a good place to get to know the future Kitty, and I was partly here because of her.

The room, by the way, was a real gymnasium, both in size and content. There were equipment for light workouts and machines for heavier weights, and treadmills, and even a punching bag and a real fighting ring, to say nothing of devices for gymnastics and acrobatics. That's exactly what Felicia occupied. And I had a great opportunity to appreciate the figure of the younger Hardy in a leotard. It was tight around her breasts, while leaving her legs and thighs open. The firm ass looked great in this outfit, too, and made my hands itch to play with it.

Fortunately, after my recent fun with Lydia in the study, it was not difficult to contain my excitement. So I changed my clothes, too, again without resorting to the help of Necrosword, and on the contrary, reducing his area to a minimum, down to his underwear. And I dressed in sweatpants and a top that left my abs exposed-although there were several sets in the small locker room nearby.

However, Felicia not only said nothing, but ignored my presence during the whole warm-up. Fine. I went to the punching bag after stretching my muscles a little, pulled on the gloves I had found nearby, and, taking a stand, put all my weight right into the first punch. The punching bag was deflected so hard that I had to catch it on the way back – to the pitiful scraping of metal. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed something small falling off the ceiling. It turned out to be a bolt. Yeah, I forgot myself a little. I hope no one saw that… Oh, shit – I suddenly realized that the hall was so quiet for a reason. I let go of the slightly tilted pear, and turn around, already guessing what I was about to see.

- Okay, I admit it. You really do have enough strength to save my mother. – Felicia said calmly, looking down at me from the height of the gymnastic beam she was standing on.

-You didn't see anything. – I mumbled through my lips as I tried to kick the torn bolt away with my foot. – Nothing at all.

- Yeah, yeah, I was suddenly blind in both eyes for a few seconds. – Felicia said indifferently, doing a cartwheel backwards. – Are you sure you still need to exercise with that much strength?

- It wasn't so much a strength exercise as it was a control one. – I took another doubtful look at the sagging machine and decided not to risk it, so I threw off my gloves and went to the bar. – And that's what we're going to have to work on.

- Work, but don't forget to balance your training and nutrition. – Without stopping her own exercises, the younger Hardy cast a quick glance at me, assessing how effortlessly I was doing the pull-ups. – Keep in mind, Mom likes girls with model or athletic looks, not pumped-up mountains of muscle. And if you turn into one, the most drastic measures will be taken.

- Like what? – I froze in the middle of the exercise, trying to figure out what Lydia could think of.

- Even surgery. – Still serenely enlightened me girl. – And be sure – she will arrange everything so that you only a couple of weeks later will wonder why did you agree to it in the first place? So take care of yourself and your pretty face, and develop more plasticity in your muscles, not strength. – Felicia did three reverse cartwheels on the beam and landed on the mat in a perfect somersault. – You're already pretty good with strength, but more flexibility and elasticity in bed can't hurt. That's what you should focus on.

-Are you kidding? I wish I knew where to start, because I'd never done a somersault in my life. – As I jumped off the bar, I wondered. Surgery? Ha, I guess that's to be expected of the older Hardy. I wonder if ordinary Earth scalpels take Asgardian skin at all. I'll have to find out sometime, but that's not what's important right now. I don't care that much for Lydia's male seat, though she's certainly a gorgeous milf. But Felicia's words make sense; it wouldn't hurt to improve my agility and mobility. – I can't even remember the last time I did a bridge.

- Oh, here's the first bell of trouble. – A very, very snide smile bloomed on the girl's face.

- I'll admit it. – I nodded, folding my arms across my chest. – If I didn't have someone experienced to help me with that.

- Really? Have we become girlfriends yet? – The blonde raised one eyebrow in a feigned amazement.

- Are we really enemies? – I leisurely scratched the back of my head and continued. – Listen, let's clear this question up again. All this fuss about adoption is as unpleasant an outcome for me as it is for you. Right?

I didn't get an answer, but the look in the girl's eyes was more than eloquent. It was strange, though, that she was silent now, when we could talk honestly without third parties. She didn't trust me, most likely.

- So. – I agreed with myself. – And in fact, I'm here first of all for one reason – because of my documents, without which I will soon leave the country as an illegal emigrant. So let's make a deal – if it seriously comes to adoption – I'm out of here. And you help me with the gymnastics.

- Just like that, «I'll do the legs and you'll help me»? – As if to mock me, Felicia repeated. – Wouldn't it be easier to get you those fake papers so you could just run away?

- I don't understand. – I swear it all I want-but at that moment there was only one question on my face, «Is that allowed?» - Can you get me an ID?

- Well. – Oh, bummer, now she looks away with this very intriguing smile. – This case is in question.

- Then forget it, it's too late. Lydia's already on it anyway. – I brushed it off. And that seemed to surprise Felicia, at least-she was silent again. – Look, I really don't see any reason for us to fight. Why don't we start by getting along peacefully? There's always time to declare war.

I hold out my palm for a handshake as proof of my intentions. But Hardy Jr. Is in no hurry to answer, just looks at me with the same look of surprise on her face. And she doesn't say a word. And after a few minutes standing there like a fool with her hand outstretched is starting to stress me out a lot.

- Look, well, say something at least! – I was indignant, feeling the irritation building up inside me little by little. – I'm not going to say anything, but if you slap me, that's at least some kind of an answer.

- Don't rush me, I think. – The blonde coldly cuts me off, studying my palm as if it were a trap from which she must take the bait and not get caught.

- Oh, you think. Oh, I see. I thought you were dangling. But thinking is another thing, it takes a lot of work. – I teased her, trying my best to put out my frustration. What's there to think about? Or is she just like Lydia, already making cunning plans with my participation? In this family, I wouldn't be surprised.

- Okay, fine. – And then she finally shook my hand. – I hope there's no catch.

Oh, I can smell it on your skin. I should have asked.

- Relax, you'll be fine. – I can afford to smirk when I've gotten something out of it. – So, will you help me?

- Well… - Felicia ran her gaze over me from head to toe in a new way. – Let's start by testing your flexibility.

- Okay. (chuckles) How is it evaluated? – I can hardly keep from smiling all over my mouth. Classes are a great way to get to know the future Cat.

- Twine. – With the most innocent expression this villain enlightens me. – Let's see how far you can sit in it.

Oh, man…

***transport ship «Milius» - Open Sea***

It all happened quickly, turning the deck and hold of the Milus into an absolute inferno, full of blood and scraps left over from most of the crew. The few survivors who heard the midnight alarm tried to avoid the terrible fate of their comrades by locking themselves in the captain's bridge.

- Come on, come on! – The captain nervously chased the first mate and engineer until all three were finally able to move the cabinet blocking the only door to the room. The barricade, however, was no barrier to the angry growl that rippled through the terrified group of women to their very souls.

- Shit!- The captain jerked away from the door and drew her weapon, pointing it toward the barricade. The others immediately rushed to arm themselves with everything they could find-a fire axe, a crowbar, even a piece of pipe.

-Sharon, I really hope you had time to contact the Coast Guard. – Under the gaze of the survivors, the dead-pale radio operator twisted the radio transmitter knobs like a madwoman, but then dropped her hands helplessly.

- The air was empty. No answer.

- God. – The captain's further words were drowned in a general shriek – but it was instantly hushed when the heavy blows fell upon the door, from which dents began to appear on the steel surface.

- Wouldn't it be better if we spent the last of the bullets on us at once? – The engineer pleaded, unable to tear her gaze away from the creaking but still yielding door under the pressure of the inhuman force. And what was most terrible was that no one found the strength to contradict her. Even to the Captain, the idea seemed far more appealing than what was about to burst in…

A figure rose from the shadows in the stern, raising his hands deliberately slowly in the air. The pair of blades glinted in the moonlight, a mocking smile baring sharp fangs.

- And now, girls, it's time for the Rain of Blood. – And she broke from her seat in a swift dash.

Part One Chapter Eighteenth

***Mortis***

Yeah… I have to admit that I've been working on my stretching and overall muscle flexibility a lot less lately than I should have. And now it was taking its toll. I had a hard time training with Felicia. I was able to sit on the splits, but not without help. I could do some of the other exercises, too. I had no problem with the balance beam – I could walk on it and jump without fear of falling down. On the crossbar and the rope I was also quite confident and even earned a couple of respectful looks from the younger Hardy. And I don't have any problems with stamina, so I can work out for a long time. In the end, I didn't leave the gym until late afternoon.

My muscles ached pleasantly after the exertion, and there was no desire to have an adventure right now. So I decided to spend the rest of the day resting and loafing. And since I found myself in the modern technological world, it gave me the perfect opportunity to indulge in my favorite past life activity: video games. How I missed them! Gaming consoles in the house at Hardy I did not notice, but I had a personal laptop in my room. Pretty powerful and practically clean – just a browser and the most basic programs for watching videos and pictures. So the first thing I did was to surf the Internet in search of where I could download my favorite games, preferably – without paying for them, hehe!

Geez, I didn't even think I could explode when I found out what happened to my favorite video game series. My beloved BloodRayne simply didn't exist in this world, nor did the development team that created it. What bad luck. And it doesn't get any better, exactly the same situation with my second favorite series, Legacy of Kain. Eh, Raziel and Cain, this world never got to know your cool story. Mass Effect is announced only as an announcement, but the fact that the team that created it is already in place and moving in the right direction is encouraging. The Persian Prince trilogy I also could not find, there were only mentions of old, still 2D platformers. Why have they not had a sequel? It was the answer to that question that made me explode. Greedy Greedy Mouse! After the Disney company got all the rights to the Prince, all those movies and games that came out about him in this world were adapted from Aladdin! Yes, in this world he was more brutal than what I had seen in my first life – but it still wasn't the same. Well, on occasion I'll watch, if not the games, then at least the TV series and movies. Where, by the way, now and then glimpses of a magic carpet. But Gene remained only in cartoons. But this is, in fact, a new franchise, and I'm interested in the fate of other old and beloved.

What else have we got? Ah, yes, the favorite horror franchise, Resident Evil. In place, oh yes! In my time, I got acquainted with the series and was hooked on it since the third part and grinded the game to tatters. So now I did not even hesitate, quickly downloaded the image, emulator, set it up – and action! But it seems – I knew too well what to do here and how to do it. And so the whole escape of Jill Valentine from Nemesis was packed into forty minutes. But it was a lot of fun and nostalgia. That was the kind of thrill I felt every time I beat the goddamn bastard who, as a kid in my former life, scared the shit out of me when I heard that «STARS» of his.

After that, I couldn't resist taking a look at the other parts. And here I was in for a bit of a surprise. The classic characters of the series are still pretty much the same-Jill, Ada Wong, even Chris and Claire are still brother and sister. Except that Leon Kennedy turned into Leon. And the character looked like Samus Aran, only in a police uniform. That's how it was in the second part, and judging from the announcements, so will the fourth part. It's a pity it's not out yet, I would have played it. In the meantime, you can admire just a couple of gameplay trailers.

By the way – it affected the other game from Capcom – Devil May Cry. There everything was in fact – during the development of the fourth part, the developers departed from the original idea too much. And the result was interesting enough to spawn a new game in which the Bio-Weapons were replaced by demons and Leon turned into Dante. And in this case – Leon turned into Trish! That is – the characters were taken and switched roles – now Trish is the half-blood devil, and Dante is the devil who cried.

And that's another thing, it would seem – how much can a simple rearrangement change? It turned out – how much, because after the main character changed the style of combat, and then the gameplay. If Dante was catching a lot of damage, swinging a huge sword and firing two pistols, then Trish was much more reminiscent of… Bayonetta? Without her magic, just emphasizing dodges and spectacular leg kicks, very reminiscent of breakdancing. Plus, it's all the same pistols. In the end, it's the same DMC, but it's a completely different game. For which. And sat almost all night, - and no one even interrupted me, that's what's amazing – catching the pleasure of passing a well-known game in a completely new way.

I settled into bed near dawn, though I could stay awake in my usual mode for a long time. But it was just another pleasant memory – stretching out sweetly on the bed after having been ruminating with interest on games all night. In the end, it wasn't sleep, but a couple of hours of pleasant and lazy half-sleep.

But in the morning I was already thinking seriously – what should I do? And not just right now, but in general. And best of all, it should be for the benefit of the Hardy family. Yes, I'm primarily here to please Lydia, but I'd like to move up from concubine status, especially if I have plans for Felicia. And there are some. In short, I need to make myself useful, and the question is, what

Can I put to good use in the twenty-first century? The skills from my previous life were definitely out of the question here, simply because there I was a Turner, and I delivered and assembled furniture for an extra fee. And that was perfectly normal, because that was how everyone lived with us – my girlfriend, who had a law degree and worked as a salesperson in the same firm, and my sister – an architect by training, a realtor by fact – and many people in general. Except that my father turned out to be the odd exception, having spent his whole life at his milling machine. Well, in any case, the Hardy family could hardly use the skills of a lathe operator or an average lousy driver.

Let's see what my skills from this life have to offer then. I've already proven myself as a fighter, but I doubt very much that Lydia would use me in that role. At least, not right away. Magic? Not yet. So far I've only used it occasionally, and it's kind of gone unnoticed. I'll try to keep it that way. I know how to carve stone and sew tapestries. Well, I can present my work at some avant-garde exhibition. Am I any worse than all those artists who paint whatever the hell they see, and then others manage to see something in it! No, not an option either. Even if I'm lucky with that, I won't be seen by the High Sorcerer of the Earth, but by the local bohemia. And who's worse? Hmm.

We need something useful, but not too conspicuous. Wait, though. What about the ability to create artifacts and potions? When I told Hardy about my «mutant powers,» I sort of mentioned that I could control a little bit of energy. If I can convince them that through trial and error I've found a way to put that energy into artifacts or potions…. Huh, then I'll definitely have something to offer them.

-This is your pass. You put it on at the entrance and they let you into the manor. If you lose it, it's okay, but report it immediately so that we can lock it in the system. – The head of security handed me a plastic card and a small set of keys along with it. – And this is from the main rooms.

-Wouldn't you rather instruct me on where I could and couldn't go? – I suggested as I studied the card, which looked like an ordinary piece of white plastic with no inscriptions or identifying marks.

- There are no restrictions for you yet. – The woman's gaze studied me very carefully. – We hope that you will live up to the trust placed in you.

- Don't worry, I don't see the point in sawing off the branch I'm sitting on. – I grinned, hiding the pass card in my wallet.

- Reasonable approach. – The guard snickered. – Except not everyone is that smart.

There's nothing to argue with – who hasn't met these individuals, who are

I can't call them anything else but «monkeys» and I'm a little embarrassed for such a comparison before the animals. Fortunately, I was saved from having to answer anything by a rather surprising ringing of my cell phone. Head of security just nodded and walked away, not wanting to disturb the conversation.

- Hello? – I groaned, still not recognizing the number.

- Um… Mortis? – It's Gwen. Would you like to meet?

***Lydia Hardy***

-Come in. – When Lydia Hardy heard a knock at the door, she immediately took her eyes off the papers, and when she saw the head of security enter, she put them aside. – Is there any news?

- Unfortunately, I don't think so. – The woman came closer, stopping at the desk. – We searched the available databases several times, but no Mortis Heldotter was found.

- So she might as well have lied with the name. – Lydia nodded leisurely. – And the photo identification?

- It's no use. She has no distinctive features, so there are more than seven thousand matches.

- Well, that's it-it's better not to mess with the police. – The blonde concluded.

- Yes, if they get their hands on her, she will suffer the fate of an illegal immigrant. – A short pause. – And since we don't know where she's from, they'll send her to the nearest border – Mexico.

- We'll have to expedite the custody case. – Lydia rubbed her temple with her fingers thoughtfully. – What do you think of her?

- We had a talk with her. – The security chief nodded. – It would be a good idea to run a couple of tests, without that you can't make a reliable psychological profile. But there's something we know already. The gun. Not only is it nowhere to be seen, but it's never actually been fired. But Mortis herself is clearly a strong-willed and rather cautious person.

- Oh yes, I've noticed that myself. – The elder Hardy leaned back in her chair with a lazy chuckle.

- I mean. – The chief of security continued. – That although Mortice had a weapon, she didn't use it. It's hard to say how well she knew how to use firearms, but a general knowledge of «point and click» is harder to come by these days. Still, I'm sure she'll have a steady hand if she has to.

- Do you think she's killed before? – Lydia's eyes instantly turned much more serious.

-It's hard to say. – The woman shrugged her shoulders calmly. – I'm talking about what I see. And what I saw was that Mortis did not hesitate to break her opponent's shin and knee in one blow. She was engaging a heavily armed and outnumbered foe, and there was no panic or fuss. Calculated blows, incapacitating opponents one by one. And taking them out hard.

One would assume that it was the adrenaline, but when I pointed my gun at her, the reaction was completely calm.

- And the conclusion? – Lydia pulled herself together, stepping forward.

- She has experience in combat situations. Extensive and practical-no training alone would accomplish that. Which means she's almost certainly seen enough.

- Mortis said she lost everything to the Sentinels. – Hardy the Elder remarked, wondering what exactly the girl might have seen in that situation. -By the way, is there any way we can use that?

- No, we can't. – After some thought, the Chief of Security sighed disappointedly. – The guards are a government project of the highest level of security clearance. It's no easier to undermine them than Miss Stark's next-generation weaponry and her designs.

- Maybe even harder. – Lydia rested her palm on her chin thoughtfully. – Tina Stark's development is more compact and mobile. I guess the government isn't too happy that their prototypes are inferior to the work of a private corporation. So it's only a matter of time before a new, better model is created. It's not at all a time when it's wise to try to interfere.

- Ma'am- The woman was silent for a few seconds before she got her mistress' attention. – Is it worth it? It's still «Cat in the bag,» and there's no guarantee this isn't all a setup to get close to you.

- I wouldn't rule that out either. – Lydia hummed. – But then, it all depended too much on chance and how I behaved. And Mortis's own behavior in the limo didn't work in any way in favor of an introduction. Unless it was a very subtle calculation by someone who knew me better than I did. And by the way, what about the report from Captain Stacy?

- She promised to send over a copy of the interrogation results within the hour. But reminds me that as a return favor, she insists on meeting you in person at the station or at your home, wherever is more convenient.

-Okay, in the meantime, you update our list of private detectives. – The head of the Hardy family squinted her eyes in excitement. – Let's try this side.

- Ma'am? – There was no clarification, but Lydia knew she was still expected to answer a missed question.

- Was it worth it? – The blonde smiled slowly. – I don't know yet, but just think about it. If Mortis were a guy – would she be facing forced deportation like this?

- Of course not. They'd find a suitable family and put her in a home with all that entails.

- Exactly. Mortis is a mutant and her mutation effectively equated her with guys. You might say I'm following state policy, just a little before the state realized it. – Lydia's smile turned predatory. – And I don't intend to miss out on the benefits of that. And besides – she really did save me. – And the woman laughed softly, seeing the understanding on her subordinate's face.

***Mortis***

Wow! Wow! WOW! She did call! Gwen called me back and even asked me out! So where should I take her? I don't know the city at all yet, aside from a couple of questionable places in Hell's Kitchen, but that's definitely not an option. Okay, Central Park is kind of a normal place to meet friends and couples, so that's a good place to start. My outfit would be denim shorts and a sleeveless shirt from Felicia's loaner, so it's simple but stylish. Of course, with Nekrosword any outfit is not a problem, but on a date it's still more suitable what takes off, not slides off itself. Well, you also need a gift. Flowers, of course, are always an option, perhaps even from a girl to a girl, but I've got everything in this time by the pattern, at least with a gift to come up with something more original. And, perhaps, I have an idea – not for nothing in the stockpile besides weapons and all kinds of magical things lying and a box of various potions – my mother and my aunt equipped on the road. The stockpile may not be the biggest, but now that I have a place to turn around, I'll deal with artifacts and alchemy, so it's not a pity.

But which of my potions would be good as a gift for a spider girl? Hmm… and if I'm not confused – in other versions she is also known as Spider-Ghost? I think this nickname gives me an idea – there is a potion of invisibility in the stash. It doesn't last very long, though, and it also doesn't affect clothes, so Gwen would have to take her clothes off to use it, hee-hee. It turns out, the gift, and yet – the most appropriate of what I have now. I'll have more opportunities once the workshop is deployed, but I can't put the date off until then, can I? I did not want to wait and did not see the point, and therefore offered to meet today. Gwen was a little surprised by this, but she didn't mind, and we agreed to meet at the park entrance at noon, in just a couple of hours.

The time flew by. And the good thing was that by now I didn't have to worry much about money, so I could afford to catch a cab and get to the place quite quickly and without incident. Even a little earlier than scheduled, but it was one of my habits to leave a little time to spare, just in case. The park, by the way, turned out to be quite a lively place, with so many people here that I began to seriously fear how tiny the chance of finding a secluded place for a quiet conversation would be.

Gwen, by the way, showed up about ten minutes before noon, too. And compared to her school clothes, she looked a lot nicer-a black T-shirt, a short skirt, boots, and a jacket. I noticed her first, so I could sneak up behind her and cover my eyes with my hands.

- Guess who? – I hissed in the girl's ear, barely able to hold back a giggle.

- Mortis, I'm dating you. – Gwen easily guessed, taking my hands off her and turning around. – I'm sorry,- she said.

- Hi there!- I smiled broadly. – Wanna go for a walk?

- Where do you want to go? – She asked, smoothing her backpack on her shoulder.

- I don't know. – I brushed it off carelessly. – I'm curious to see everything.

And so we just wandered around the park for a while, exchanging the most general phrases about everything and nothing in particular. On the way, I bought us some ice cream, for which I got a very wary look. And then a warning that if after that, like the last time, I will start to blow her brains out, they will shut me up with this very ice cream. And although it was promised with a smile, my gaze remained squintingly serious.

- So if you're ready for the consequences, go ahead and take your chances. – Gwen finally accepted her portion from me. – Try to overload my brain again.

- No.- I shook my head cheerfully, smiling. – Let's just do what we used to do-ask and I'll answer. That way you can control the flow of information.

- So you've been in town a while, then? – Gwen asked, drawing conclusions from what she'd heard before.

- Couple of days, maybe. – I finally tasted my fill, and at the same time caught something interesting out of the corner of my eye. – It hadn't been a week for sure.

- Why are you even here? – The blonde followed my example, fixing the disheveled hair with her free hand.

- How can I say… - I took a bite of my ice cream, trying to hide my grin. – I guess you could say I just pointed at it randomly, and ended up here.

Oh, Gwen, you sly dog! Although, really, there are two options here. Either my date for the day has made sure to bring support, or this is the initiative of her friends themselves, wary of leaving a girl alone with me. Heh, considering how our acquaintance began – one can understand these precautions in both cases. Well, I have nothing against it. However, the fact that we're enjoying the goodies while our little stalker isn't is kind of unfair, isn't it? Well, I'm not greedy, I can buy another one.

- Don't tell me it's because of me. – Gwen seems to be joking, but her look is still serious.

- No, she's not. That would be weird. – I get it, but you, Miss Stacey, are not the world's biggest killer. I've already successfully moved into another hottie's house. Now I just tossed a new batch of ice cream in my hand, trying it on, and then I threw it on in earnest. I don't know if my spidey sense of taste works, but I took aim at my head just in case, just to be sure.

- What the… - Gwen was surprised to see my shot and the result of it, Scarlet Spider-Girl ducking into the foliage of a tree crown with an ice cream cone in her hand. Well, who'd have doubted she'd catch it – the distance was a good thirty or so yards. – What the hell?

- What's the big deal? I gave my friend a treat, too, I didn't feel sorry for her. – I shrugged.

- You… do you think I set this up? – That's a good question. I can not decide – whether she was such a good actress, or really was not aware of what was happening. That's why I gave her an honest answer.

- I have no idea, but if it makes you feel better – I do not mind. And if it's their personal initiative, don't be angry.

They're worried, and it's understandable. And I also realized something else.

-Not about… what? – Gwen immediately corrected herself.

- Ice cream is cool, but now I could use something more substantial. – I admitted. – Maybe we could find a coffee shop nearby and grab a bite to eat.

- Like, there should be something right there. – The girl seemed confused by the sudden change of subject, but still managed to get her bearings.

- Then let's go. – I immediately adjusted our route in the indicated direction. I hope that at least in this cafe there will be no spoiled boys.

- Hey, Mortis, how did you even find me? – Gwen asked after a few steps. – How did you know to look for me at Midtown High?

- Well, I didn't. – I wondered if she'd ask. The question now was whether to tell the truth or lie. – Maybe we should tell her it's search magic.

- Magic… - The girl thoughtfully stretched out, as if she were tasting the word. – And what can you do with it? How does it work? Just snap your fingers and it works?

- The snap of my fingers? – I grinned. – That's an interesting way of looking at magic. But look at logic-if it were that simple, and yet powerful, magic would rule the world.

- So science is still stronger?

- You know, it's a question of who's stronger – water or fire, elephant or whale. There's no definite answer, simply because the possibilities may vary from situation to situation. – At this point, we had just reached a small but quite cozy looking cafe, and half-empty at that. We took our seats, ordered, and then Gwen decided to continue the questioning.

- You're the first person I've ever known who could do magic. Is it even possible to learn it? What exactly can you do? – She seemed genuinely curious.

- One learns it like any other science, and magic is no exception. Though there are people with an innate gift and they can do some things intuitively, but even they have to learn something in the end. – Her second question was more difficult. Should I tell her everything about me? Probably not. – I'm pretty good at domestic magic, but my strengths are artifice and potions. Oh, by the way! Here, it's your first date present.

Gwen stared in amazement at the two vials of blue-colored potion I'd laid out on the table in front of her. Though I bet it was the appearance of the vials that attracted her in the first place. Thin snakes wrapped around finger-sized vials, and their heads served as corks.

- I'll make it clear right away that this is not perfume. – I explained, watching the suspicious look on Gwen's face as she twisted one of the flasks around in her fingers, studying the blue liquid. – It's a Potion of Invisibility.

- Invisibility? You mean it does exactly what I think it does? – The girl looked at me with surprise.

- Yes. Just drink it and you'll be invisible for one hour. Simple and compact. I figured it might come in handy in case I needed to hide in case of trouble.

- Oh, thank you. – Gwen gave the gift another concerned look and tucked it into her jacket pocket. – Are there any side effects or complications I should know about?

- There shouldn't be any. But there's a catch. -My words made her tense. – You see, it's you who takes the potion, not your clothes. She's not going to be affected by it. Anyway, you'd have to take off your clothes to be completely invisible.

The look that I got after this confession was inexpressible – so interesting it was a mix of confusion, suspicion, and anger. I wonder if she thinks that this is my way of mocking and trying to undress her and make her run around with her bare ass in the streets.

-No, it's not taunting. – I assured her, trying not to smile. – But that's really how it works.

- Oh, man. Did you use it yourself? – The suspicion in his eyes didn't diminish.

- I did. You know, in some cases, it's better to be naked than to have your legs kicked in. – I shrugged it off. – And then I did a little more work on my clothes, and they adjusted to the effect. – I couldn't contain my smile anymore-it was so fast that the angry look was replaced by puppy-dog eyes. – Yes, that could work with your costume, too. And if you try hard enough, you can teach just the suit itself to become invisible. – I paused for a moment to think about it, and then added. – With you together, of course, not as a superhero striptease.

Gwen blatantly hesitated. It was obvious that she was just torn by conflicting feelings. Well, I understand. Still, we don't know each other well enough to trust me with something as valuable as a Spider-Girl costume.

- Anyway, tell me when you decide. There's no time limit on this offer. – Then we finally got our order and Gwen got her coffee and pancakes, and I got my omelet, waffles, and tea.

-Why me, Mortis, by the way? – Gwen was diligently slicing the pancake with her fork and not looking at me at all. – What attracted you besides the fact that I wear a mask?

- I'm sorry, but that's not going to change the answer here. – I greedily swallowed another bite. – I like you, that's all. – Ha, what an interesting sigh I hear in response to my confession. And someone's cheeks are getting pinker.

- By the way, where did you get your costume? – I don't get it. Is this an attempt to change the subject so abruptly? Well, I can do that, too.

- Look, what's the big deal, though, I'm the only one answering. But I'm curious to know more about you, too.

- Indeed. – Gwen thought for a few seconds and then nodded. – And what do you want to know?

- What's your favorite color? – I giggled when I saw the surprise on her face. – Why, do we only talk about business? What kind of music do you like? And what are your favorite movies or TV series?

- Um. – Gwen scratched her nose very sweetly. – White. I like the color white. I like music in a lot of different ways, it's hard to answer that. And as for cinematography, I prefer science fiction.

- Mmm… and I prefer dark colors. It's less noticeable if you get dirty. – I shared, and that reason immediately provoked a chuckle. – And with music and movies it's the same story – I like a lot of things, but it's pretty random.

- My turn. So where did you get that outfit, anyway? – Still, Blondie showed enviable persistence.

- My mom gave it to me. – I chuckled, as if turning everything into a joke.

- Who's your mom, then? – There was a look of disbelief in Gwen's voice.

- Goddess. – I admitted as succinctly and honestly as possible.

- A goddess? Seriously? – Ghost Spider didn't seem to believe what she was hearing.

- Yeah. – I nodded calmly in response. – I know how it sounds, but it's still true.

- Hmm. Even so. – The girl exhaled noisily and was silent for a while, obviously thinking about the information she had received. – But if your mother is a goddess, then you're a…

- A minor goddess. – And now it was my turn to experience a slight feeling of deja vu.

- There it was again, the feeling that you were just blowing my mind. – The blonde closed her eyes and took a couple of deep breaths before continuing. – Now you're also a minor goddess. What other surprising discoveries do you have in store?

-The most unexpected and varied. – I chuckled with a restrained chuckle. – But if you're tired of getting answers, we can go back to when I ask. And my main question is still the same – what about my offer? Decided what to ask me for the web?

- Look, I understand even less now – why you can't make your own? – Gwen threw me another doubtful look. – With all that alchemy, not to mention the goddess mother. It's strange that you'd have such a problem with it.

- Gwen, you're not a little girl. – I rested my fist on my chin with a sigh. – For every «Why,» there's always a «Because. Even with all the possibilities, I'm as far from omnipotence as I am from Uruguay. So problems with the web are not a pretext for a meeting, nor is the main reason for them. It just so happens that I'm interested in both at once.

- Okay, that I believe. – The girl combed her fingers through her hair so furiously, as if she were trying to tidy up her thoughts. – But here's the thing. You see, it's not my invention, and therefore I can't put a price on it.

-That's why I suggested you discuss it amongst yourselves. – No, what the hell? I thought Gwen set up a meeting with me because they'd already discussed it. They're still shuffling around.

- And she just wants to talk in person to find out your options and choose something more interesting. – Blondie glanced involuntarily out the window, toward one of the neighboring rooftops, where I had already noticed the Scarlet Spider myself a little earlier.

- So what's the problem? – I finished my portion in two bites and folded the cutlery. – Let's go see her.

- Right now?

- Again, what's the problem? I remind you that I know you act as a team, not individually. Although now I do not understand – you spontaneously decided to ask me, or you still have worked out the questions, or at least the general themes?

-Well… - Gwen hesitated, nervously drumming her fingers on the countertop, and I realized I'd guessed right. – The thing is, she's wary. We're risking quite a lot if we give you a face-to-face meeting.

- I can understand that, but it's up to you. – I shrugged and leaned back relaxed. – I can make you a promise, I can even swear a blood oath. Though for a man of the twenty-first century both are just words. Or do you really need some dirt on me? I thought that when we took off our masks, that was already the first step toward the beginning of trust.

-Even if I trust you, it's not my safety that's at stake here, it's my friend's. – The girl pressed her lips together stubbornly.

- Well, it's understandable that you're willing to take a chance on yourself, but not on your friends. – I sighed.

- I just had to figure out what to do with all of this. – We just sat in silence for a few minutes, physically feeling the awkwardness build up. Not wanting to let it go too far, I finally shook it off decisively. – Okay, Gwen, this is for you and only you. Not for your friends.

In the center of our table, in addition to the napkin and spice rack, was a small vase with several artificial flowers. I took one of them, squeezing it between my fingers. Slight greenish sparks enveloped the flower and my palm. It was the same trick that Aunt Death had done, except she'd grown a specific flower out of nothing. I would have needed at least some seeds and some soil, so I shouldn't have attempted such a spectacular trick. It was a different matter, though, with a billet like this as a base. The matter was complicated by the fact that, unlike Gwen, enthusiastically watching the magic, I had to look carefully around to make sure there were no unwanted witnesses. Luckily, no one was around, and those in the distance couldn't see me cut my finger with the tip of a sharp knife from my supplies, smearing drops of my blood on the artificial stem.

- Take this. – I handed the faintly glowing neon-looking flower to the girl. – It'll beep whenever I'm around. That way you'll always know when I'm around. I'm sorry, but I refuse to carry around spider beacons so you can track me more accurately.

- That's great. – Blondie took the flower with some apprehension. – How does that help?

- Gwen. – I glared at her with a frown. – I have a limit to my patience, too. I'm just going to burn this flower into ashes, and then I'll turn the table upside down. Because it's easier for me to think of it as rejection.

- Why the table? – The girl was surprised, hiding the flower in the inside pocket of her jacket.

- Just to take out all my anger and resentment for the false hopes. – My intonation at this moment was not particularly friendly, but all this indecision was beginning to irritate me. – So decide – Yes or No?

- Okay, okay, I tried. – Then you don't mind finishing the date and going to my friends' house?

- It doesn't seem like a problem to me, I'll just move on to the next stage. – My anger was instantly gone and I smiled broadly again. – Getting to know a girl's friends was a logical step on the road to meeting her parents in the future.

Catching the napkin, thrown at me with an embarrassed «fool,» while still giggling provocatively, was a matter of technique. So was paying the bill for our simple snack-the amount I wouldn't have thought serious even before the Hardy family finances were firmly backing my ability to pay. Gwen gave me a not-so-satisfied look, but I pretended not to notice.

In any case, we left the cafe and headed for the nearest deserted passageway between the buildings. But it seemed deserted only at first, and then – almost immediately met us with a foul language of some of the local natives. I grinned, quite prepared to take it further, but when Gwen saw it, she grabbed my arm and dragged me along. I had to make do with a middle finger and an even nastier grin.

Scarlet Spider Girl spectacularly descended toward us on a spider's web upside down about a couple of blocks away.

- I see you're having a good time. – She remarked, peering at us. Hmm… I still don't know who's under that mask. I don't know who's under the mask yet, and I don't have a clue except for Parker here.

- More like moving on to the next stage. – Gwen explained, only now letting go of my hand. – The client is ripe.

- You're fast. – She did a neat somersault, followed by a mane of red hair, and jumped down to the ground beside me, smiling as if she were wearing a mask. And even if she wasn't, I had no trouble smiling back. – It may be premature, but I'll tell you anyway, welcome to the team!

- Thank you… Uh…. On the team? – Her words and the outstretched hand surprised me a little, but I still shook hands with her. – We'll see how it goes.

- Hey, don't make your personal idea sound like we've already made up our minds. – The blonde took the backpack from her friend.

- Come on, it's an interesting idea. – I shrugged, glancing over at Gwen as she drifted away- Look, why don't I just turn around and change? I don't know what I could get into behind the Dumpster.

- It's like the first time. – There's a hasty response from behind the drawer.

- Oh, look. – Scarlet deftly cut into the line of sight, and the tone of voice conspiratorially lowered, diverting attention to themselves. – Tell me, are you seriously interested in my little girl?

- Well… - I paused for a moment, and then I shot my eyes in the direction of the girl. – Quite seriously. But not only her – you too.

-Whoa! – Scarlet almost whistled at this admission and glanced over her shoulder as if to make sure Gwen couldn't hear us. – Not a bad spread, but it's usually a guy's privilege to have more than one pair. Are you sure you can handle it? As a girl, it's gonna be a lot harder for you.

- That's scary. – I grinned, showing her my tongue. – I'm sure that not only will I be able to pull it off, but I'll be able to surprise each and every one of you. – Heh, and I'm starting to like it. – Because I surpass most of the usual guys in some respects.

- Even so? – Scarlet tilted her head to her shoulder, contemplating my vague boast, and a few seconds later a changed Gwen returned to us.

- Okay, I'm ready, so we're good to go. – She immediately looked at me, though. – Um…Mortis? Are you going to change?

- Yeah, yeah, I was wondering that, too. – Scarlet jumped on the bandwagon. – You've got a living costume, and magic, and some other things that intrigue the girls. Can you show me?

- The costume or the magic? – I asked with the slyest smile of an evil manipulator. – Well, what's there to choose. Look.

I jumped up high and disappeared into space through a dart. When I emerged six meters higher-and already in my «pseudo-hero suit»-I shot two tentacles from my palms into the walls of the buildings on my sides and pulled myself even higher, as if shooting myself out of a slingshot. I hovered above the buildings for a second before gravity pulled me down again, and instead of falling, I just moved with another «jerk» to the roof of one of them. A few seconds later, the rest of them pulled up there as well.

- I had to admit, it was spectacular. – Scarlet spoke up, landing beside me. – And it solves the changing issue.

- You haven't seen any of her other tricks yet. – Gwen reassured her. – She's just full of surprises, and she doesn't hesitate to throw them out one by one nonstop.

- Oh, really? – Scarlet, with an obvious sneer in her voice, defiantly looked me over from head to toe.

- She's not mine… - The blonde jumped up and down, but she bit her tongue before she could finish.

- What?- Alice and I said it so in one voice that we looked at each other in surprise at the coincidence. Gwen hastily covered her mouth with her hand.

- Uh-oh. – Scarlet shook her head, stepping aside.

- Gwen. – I was very calm, on the contrary, approaching the girl who was embarrassedly trying to hide her face in the hood of her costume. My mask, on the other hand, receded to the sides, revealing my face. – I understand that the idea of dating is mine and mine alone.

- It's just… it's just… you just came out of nowhere. – Gwen tried to explain something, but I interrupted her.

- Miss Stacey. – I tried to speak very calmly and very seriously. – Look, let's not be so hard on each other. If you've arranged this meeting just for our deal and you're not interested in me, then say so. I understand, really.

- Then I'm next! – Immediately spoke her voice Scarlet Spider-Girl. – Agreed to take a girl like this for myself, at least a couple of dates she definitely already deserved. I'm sure no one has ever treated me to ice cream on a date with someone else.

I was stunned for a few seconds when I heard that statement. It sounded not just insolent – but outright mocking. But her friend clearly knew Gwen well, and her words served as a trigger, after which the blonde jerked off her mask and flaming cheeks from embarrassment resolutely stepped toward me, grabbed my head with her hands – and the next moment our lips met. I froze, not wanting to frighten the moment, but Gwen was kissing me more insistently and even half-closed her eyes.

But when I got over my initial surprise, I eagerly returned the kiss, putting my arm around her waist.

The moment was not spoiled even by the fact that Scarlet at this time was not just filming us on her phone camera, but even managed to show me a thumb protruding

- That's… That's enough. – Gwen broke off the kiss and tried to catch her breath. – I was going to burn with embarrassment. – She pulled away from my arms and hastily hid her face under the mask again.

- Wow! Kissing on our first date? – I touched my fingers to my lips with a smile, as if I couldn't believe what I was feeling.

- Shut up! My hands were still shaking, just like the first time I'd jumped off a building… - Gwen's fingers were trembling visibly. – All your stupid jokes. They made me go crazy. And now I need time to calm down and work it out.

-Or rather, to accept the decision already made. – Scarlet laughed softly, finally putting the phone away. Gwen only snorted at her, unconsciously taking a step closer to me.

- Okay, okay, you're welcome to think. – I hugged my girlfriend with the most serious face I could muster. – You're really cute. – She froze for a second, but then she broke free again and turned away and started rummaging through her backpack.

- Don't let her get too carried away with her self-discovery. – There was a whisper from Scarlet Spider-Girl behind me. – It's not good for her. Just like it's not good for a third of us to think too much.

- Not that it's bad for you. – The blonde snorted, demonstrating her excellent hearing. – Thinking too much is not you.

- Of course not. – Scarlet laughed merrily. – The harmony of our company keeps us all balanced by one or the other.

- Yeah, that's about right. – Gwen agreed in passing, taking a piece of cloth out of her backpack and handing it to me. – Blindfold yourself with this, please, Mortis.

- What?- I stared at her, then studied the fabric closely, but there was nothing special about it. It was just thick material. – Will you tie my hands behind my back? Or should I wrap them in a rug?

- Mortis, I vouched for you, remember? – Gwen reminded her with a hint. – Would it be so hard for you to meet us halfway? You happen to be a goddess.

- A goddess? – Scarlet circled me, studying me from head to toe on all sides-I was even more intrigued now. Well done, my girl, you've got yourself such a girl. But you know, my friend – such wealth must be shared. – But this time the provocation failed, and neither Gwen nor I responded to the stimulating taunt.

- So be it. – I didn't argue any further, and quickly constructed a blindfold out of cloth that blocked my vision securely. – I trust you, and I hope I won't regret it. Otherwise, my revenge will be terrible, I warn you.

- Don't worry, I'll drive you. – Now Gwen had her arms around my waist. – I'll carry you if I have to.

- By the way, Mortis, do you already have a superhero name? – This question from Aloy was unexpected enough to take me by surprise for a moment.

- No, you can choose your own. – I shook my head. – I don't really do well with that, to be honest.

- How about Spider-Girl of the Night?

- Black Tarantula? – It didn't take long for the options to come up.

- Thanks for not being a Taratect. – I muttered, feeling Gwen's arm around my waist tighter.

Then a jerk, and there I was, flying through the air, carried away by my girlfriend. They're attached, aren't they? No, to understand their desire to add such a wonderful me to the team, of course, is possible. But the fact that the spider that I am purely conditional and get the real spider power I can only if used Nekrosword on one of these two girls. I won't be in a hurry to do that.

It's hard to say exactly how long the blind trip lasted, according to my internal clock, between thirty and forty minutes. Considering that the web is not considered a super-fast but still a fast way to get around, we should have been out of Manhattan in that time, but I'm sure the pair of rascals were looping and looping mercilessly along the way. It was hard to explain the many sideways jerks and wide arcs in the air. I had never flown a real web, though, and perhaps with the need to maneuver around buildings, that was okay.

- We're in position. We're landing. – Gwen finally said, and I shook my legs understandingly.

- Can I take it off now? – I asked, as I got some support under me, and reached for the blindfold.

- No, not yet, let's go inside first. – Gwen stopped my hand and pulled me along. Scarlet joined me, and the two of them successfully helped me down the stairs and through the door, which immediately closed behind me. It looked like it would be some kind of basement.

- That's it, you can take the picture. – No second permission was necessary, and I got rid of the bandage I'd grown weary of.

- Welcome. – Gwen said, and I studied my surroundings with curiosity. The basement is what it is, not too big, but not too cramped, even though a lot of it is stuffed with equipment. However, the place with the old furniture in the center was clearly intended for relaxation. There was room for a sofa with a couple of chairs and an old TV on a nightstand, a microscope table, and even a small chemistry lab. A whole wall was taken up by bookcases. A sort of mixture of a workshop, a laboratory, and a cozy place for a small company at once. The only thing that stood out was a colorful screen blocking one of the corners.

-Sit down. – There was a stifled and obviously nervous voice from over there.

- Seriously? – It wasn't that I was angry, but I was so outraged by this kind of childishness that my eye twitched. I was not a telekinesis man, but I had no problem knocking the stupid screen down in one fell swoop. – What's this nonsense?

- Ouch. – The girl who found herself behind the screen immediately tried to hide under a nearby desk with a computer, and even covered herself with a chair.

- What's the matter with you? – Gwen didn't sound like she was expecting that.

- I told you not to let her see any more faces! – It came from under the table. And I was a little freaked out at that moment, because I was enough voice to recognize the person who this morning almost fell into the dumpster behind the school.

-Well, you know… - I turned around and headed toward the couch, the ways I was removing my Necrosword cover. – I felt like we'd decided to trust each other. Otherwise, why drag me here in the first place, instead of arranging a meeting on neutral ground in some abandonment?

There was a tense silence in the basement for a few seconds.

- Okay, let's calm down. – Gwen resolutely pulled off her mask. – May, I vouch for her. Otherwise, it's really already clinical.

- Yeah? – Not quite sure what May was saying, but she pulled her chair aside.

- Stop sulking, little hamster girl. – Scarlet was there immediately, helping the girl out from under the table. – Since we decided we had to share our girlish secrets with each other, that goes for you, May Parker, too.

-Stop, what? – I even jumped up from the couch I'd settled on just a minute before. – Parker? May Parker? You mean you?

- Well, yes, I am.- Her new acquaintance stared at me in surprise, as did the Scarlet Spider-Girl hugging her. What's wrong?

All I could do now was stare at the couple in silence. I mean, Parker in this world is not Petra or Paula or Patricia or anyone else with a P name. It's Mae. Mae Parker – and she is not one of the spider girls. So – could it be? How did it even work out? Did Aunt May and her nephew get switched? Ha, I think I finally figured out how Gwen feels when I blow her mind over and over again. And the main thing is, it's my fault. I even noticed when I was surfing the Internet that this world is different from the Marvel Universe, not only the issues of gender, but other things, too, but still thought by the template, though slightly correcting it. No, it's still a new world and has to be studied all over again. That's it, now I won't even be surprised if it turns out that Wilson Fisk is Uncle Ben for Parker. Although if it turns out to be true, I'm going to beat my head in with a facepalm. And so I couldn't resist a rather nervous, unrestrained giggle.

- What happened? – Gwen came into my field of vision. She'd taken a moment to change back into her normal clothes, and was now looking at us with surprise as she cleaned herself up.

-It's… okay. – I somehow managed to stop myself from giggling. – Remember when I said I had a theory about your friend's personality? I just found out I was dead wrong.

- You thought I was Parker, didn't you?- Scarlet giggled, letting go of her friend. – I mean, we're not even that different in height.

- Like I had a chance to compare. – I snorted back. – It was just a theory, anyway.

-I wonder what makes you even compare me to Scarlet Spider-Girl? – Parker sat back in her chair and rubbed her forehead thoughtfully. – You knew Gwen's personality, though, and you could have looked into her surroundings. But how did you get the information about her?

- She claims it's magic. – Gwen stood to the left of the chair, Scarlet Spider-Girl to the right, and the trio stared at me demandingly. I've been getting interrogated a lot lately. What can you do?

- There's no such thing as magic. – Par…May blurted it out immediately. Man, it's gonna take a while to get used to that name.

- Of course it doesn't exist. – I nodded, and I got another round of stares that I'd just had a miracle of not burning through. – It's all an illusionist's trick, a game of light and mirrors and fog. A hoax, in a word.

- I knew it! – The cleverest of the bunch, the one who was happy to say so, not noticing how mercilessly I was trolling her. Well, theoretically, the smartest.

- May, that's sarcasm. – May grinned at Scarlet , who had figured the situation out much quicker. – Mortis, why don't you just show me?

- It's no problem to show, sweetheart. – I sank lazily back onto the couch, stretching lazily, and even leaned back. – But if a man doesn't want to see, he'll come up with a hundred convincing reasons to deny the very existence of magic.

- Because magic is bullshit. Just a simple explanation for someone who doesn't understand it. – And she's funny when she gets hot. – It's something that defies logic and science.

- Yeah, yeah. Clark's Third Law – «Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic» and all that… I said again.

-Exactly! – May smiled gleefully, but then slowed down. – No, that's not what this is about.

- The general idea is the same. – I brushed it off carelessly. – You can't do successful research without sufficient tools and techniques, can you?

- Of course. – Parker's expression grew more and more wary. So far she had nothing to contradict what I was saying, and that made her suspicious of a trap being set. Well, I won't disappoint her.

- But how do we know we have the right tool to study magic? – I inquired, ingratiatingly.

- Science is the universal way to learn about the world around us. – May leaned forward in excitement.

- And what about art? – I immediately retorted. – Yes, a lot of things can be analyzed and theoretically ideal paintings and music can be created. But it doesn't mean that they are perfect, except in a formal way. How do we know that magic is not a phenomenon of the same or even a third kind, different from science and art?

-But the perception of art is mostly subjective and the personal details of the author play a role here… - Parker misfocused and gripped her fingers in her hair… - The bastard…

I just smiled silently, giving her time to elaborate.

- So theoretically we can suppose that the study of magic requires a radically different approach than that of science? – At last the girl admitted – There is something in it.

- At last you two have something in common. – Gwen sat down, too, though not next to me, but in the chair next to her friend's chair. I'll keep that in mind, my girlfriend. And Scarlet , who hadn't changed her costume yet, was sitting next to them on the ceiling, too. She's a sly one. So why are they all staring at me now, like they're waiting for something? Oh, that's right.

-Well, as long as you're willing to at least theoretically believe in magic… - I smiled and at the same moment moved «Dart» to the table with a microscope and a chemistry lab, picked up one of the empty tubes and not really trying to throw it at Mei. She didn't even have time to react-unlike her friends. Gwen jumped up from her chair with her arm outstretched, and Scarlet released a thread of spider web from her seat – and both should have successfully intercepted the flask, but – I performed another «Dart» and did it myself half a second earlier, so that eventually the hand and the web crossed in the empty place.

-That's it. – I twirled the glass cheerfully in my fingers. – Don't worry, it's empty.

- You know, that wasn't funny at all. – Gwen glared at me, pulling the cobwebs from her palm with an effort.

- Yeah, that's really not how it works anymore. – Her friend agreed, jumping off the ceiling. Her voice sounded serious for the first time today, and she crossed her arms across her chest in anger.

-Suddenly. – It took a few extra seconds for May to realize what had happened.

- That's the thing, I wanted to start with something original. – I explained, dropping the vial on the coffee table and returning to the couch. – But okay, I'm not going to do any more surprises like that. I have plenty of other tricks, but this one is one of my favorites, and it is practiced to the point of automatism. But you could do something more traditional. – I pointed my finger in the direction of the same table.

I used my telekinesis to make it rise one meter in the air. – You can come over and check it out.

- Is this the domestic magic you were talking about? – Gwen was no longer angry when all three friends had examined the furniture hanging in the air from all sides, and seen that I hadn't cheated.

- What do you mean, household? – May just didn't sniff that unfortunate table, and I'm not entirely sure about that. – What does it mean? Can you use this magic to wash clothes?

- Thank you, I've been relegated to the level of a washing machine so far. – I chuckled and carefully returned the table to the floor. – No, household magic is what I call magic that doesn't cause destruction or damage-at least not directly. – When I summoned the spear from my arsenal, I gave it to the trio, shaft first, without any tricks.

- Wow, what a tsatzatzka! – Here redhead was quicker than others, immediately grabbed it and twisted in his hands studying all sides. – It's heavy as hell.

- Naturally. This is a full fighting spear, designed to fight with particularly large opponents or cavalry. – I grinned, resting my hands smugly on my hips. – It's not good for foot training or parading.

- How interesting. – May tried to take the spear from her friend's hands and almost dropped it-it was too much weight for her. – You made an object out of nothing.

- No, it's nearly impossible to create something from nothing, even with magic. – I shot back. – All my weapons were forged in the forge, as they should be. – This time I had twin blades in my hands.

- Then how? – I left the spear to my friends to examine, and Parker clutched at the swords, examining them from all sides.

- About the same way I'd just moved around the basement. But if I could jump only a short distance on my own, I could take a thing that had the right spell on it from any distance. – I reached back a few paces, and one blade appeared in my hand, disappearing from Parker's hand.

-It gets more and more interesting. – She admitted with gusto. – Now let's get this… Hmm… no weird feeling at all, he just disappears and that's it.

- That's how it happens. Let's move on. – I handed both blades to a curious Gwen, remembering to smile at her and wink playfully, and then a magical green flame engulfed my left hand. I called the dagger into my right hand, and in a few seconds its blade was enveloped in the same fire. – Now that's one kind of combat magic, designed specifically for destruction. I prefer to combine it with weapons, since I'm a warrior first and a mage second.

- Wow, really cool! – The scarlet spider-girl approached me and cautiously held out her hand to the fire. She pulled it back thoughtfully and held it out again. – My senses were howling that it was extremely dangerous to touch this fire.

- Of course it is, because it's hotter than red-hot metal. – I affirmed, and after letting the girls admire it for a minute, I put the flame and the dagger away.

- Look, before we get too carried away by all this magic, can we get back to our main question? – Gwen suddenly suggested. – If even May is convinced that the magic is real and Mortis isn't lying to us, let's not get distracted. So what do you want to ask for a spider cartridge?

Parker's face immediately got the annoyed grimace of a child being called by nerdy adults to clean the room in the middle of a fun game. She really is a real scientist, though – give her something unexplored and incomprehensible to explore and nothing else at all. Still, the girl pulled herself together and shifted her train of thought in the right direction.

- What… ah… right! I want samples of your web and your costume! – Finally blurted out at.

- Tiger! – Scarlet shook her head in annoyance, the sound of obvious disapproval in her voice – We've discussed this before. It's not very fair to ask two things for one.

-No, it's fair enough in that respect. – I sighed, secretly glad that I'd managed to keep a calm expression on my face in response to the young genius's, to put it mildly, insolent overgrowth. – Because the problem is that, unlike yours, my web is still part of the costume.

- How's that? – Parker immediately demanded clarification, returning to her chair and burning me with a burning look of curiosity.

- It's easier to show. – Wrapping my right arm in the cloak of Necrosword. I released a small blob of cobwebs right onto the floor beside me.

- And what's wrong with that? – Scarlet immediately squatted down next to me, looking at the black blob and even tried to poke it with her finger, but May immediately slapped her on the palm and instead poked the «web» lightly with a thin glass tube. – Aside from the color, it seemed to be the same as ours, only the threads were thicker.

-It's not like that. Because it looks like a spider's web, but it's still part of the costume. – I wiggled my fingers and the blob «jumped» back, dissolving without a trace into the cover. – And worst of all, it retains its DNA.

- Ambush. – Surprisingly easily, May agreed, making sure there wasn't a drop left on the tube. – But then there's no problem, the exchange is fair. Sample for sample.

There was silence in the basement.

- What's wrong now? – Parker looked at me with increasing surprise.

- Well, in case you'd forgotten. – I shrugged angrily-I didn't want my suit's DNA to fall into the wrong hands.

- I'm a stranger? – May sulked.

- You're not. But look at the situation this way – would you want someone else to have your friends' genetic code? Especially a geneticist or a bioengineer,- I elaborated, not giving her time to get seriously offended.

- Well…- Parker hesitated, already knowing where this was going, and glanced at the spider girls, as if looking for their support. But they both kept their mouths shut, and Gwen stepped aside and fiddled with something. I didn't know what it was until I heard the familiar sound of an electric kettle. She turned around when I asked, and looked as worried as Scarlet. But the chances of that happening are minimal.

-Look, I don't know how cool your equipment is down here in the basement. – I made my voice as convincing as possible. – But as a scientist, you're bound to want to know more someday, and you'll have to use some kind of lab to do it. And here, no matter how careful you are, there are all sorts of accidents possible. From a particularly curious employee wondering what a schoolgirl can study that carefully erases all traces of her work, to an attack by a villain that's exactly why you can't cover your tracks.

- You know, that's a little too much. – Scarlet couldn't help herself, though. – Of course, anything can happen – we are a living example, but if you are so afraid of everything in general – it is better to sit quietly and certainly do not go out in the streets in a mask.

- What can you do? – I threw up my hands.

- Drink tea. – Gwen intervened, just approaching us with two mugs. – May, here's your green one. And for you, Mortis, black with one scoop of sugar, right?

- That's right. – Wow, and she remembered after our first visit to the cafe together! Nice, what can I say. So taking the cup with my right hand, with my left hand I immediately put my arm around my girlfriend's waist. – Thank you!

- You're welcome. – And she did not even immediately pulled away, but only three seconds later went back to the kettle, where she was already fiddling with something Scarlet .

- Back to the subject of my concerns. – I took a sip of tea and continued, -I can tell you that the stakes are pretty high for me, too. The suit is partially adjusted to the wearer's DNA to be more effective. And I'm still a goddess, albeit a young one. It's a very combustible mix, so it's better to be as reassured as possible.

- Oh, stop it! – May snorted mockingly. – I might have believed in the possibility of magic, but gods were too much.

She replied with a contented smile and a confused look on Gwen's face. And Scarlet preferred not to look away from her mug, so there was silence all around her again.

-Am… May. – Gwen, putting her mug down on the table, said softly. -Actually, we've never noticed Morty's lying before. That she likes to keep things vague, yes. But not lying.

-That doesn't sound like a very good joke to me. – Parker answered, though her own eyebrow twitched nervously. But then she looked back at me. – You're kidding, right? Really?

-Ha-ha-ha. – I emptied my mug in two gulps and then burst out laughing diligently. – I'm sorry.

May was silent, looking at me as if I were a foreign wonder, or as if I were insane Her breathing even increased, and her face began to blush.

-Whoa, I thought when you called Mortis a goddess back in the alley that was such a nice compliment! – Alaia giggled, but Gwen only shook her head in disapproval. Parker, however, wasn't listening. As if on cue, she turned to her computer and relentlessly drummed on the keys of the keyboard.

-What is she doing? – After waiting a few minutes, I asked.

-She's looking for all the information she can get about you as a goddess. – Scarlet readily explained, glancing at the monitor, and Gwen nodded in agreement.

-Ah, you're welcome. -Easily I agreed. It's funny, I hadn't even thought to look up any references to myself online. – Although I do not think that will work. You see, all your major religions were formed centuries ago. Gods didn't manifest themselves in the world of mortals, but they didn't fall into anabiosis. They lived their own lives. I was born not so long ago by the standards of our world. So I might not have made it into your knowledge of the pantheon, I'm sorry. – And before I could finish, I used the Dart to get right behind Mei, causing her to shriek in fright.

-But I can help you find my mom. She's certainly got a nice place for herself there. – My hands dipped to the keyboard and my fingers raced, typing in the query.

Part One Chapter Nineteen

***Shannon Carter***

It had been several days since the nurse had found Shannon peacefully asleep in the morning in the gazebo behind the house. At first the girl wasn't even sure whether she'd really met this strange stranger at dawn – or whether it was just an amusing dream. But the note she found dispelled those doubts. With a painful mixture of hope and a readiness to be disappointed, she listened to her senses. She hadn't noticed any change, but Shannon did indeed have a voracious appetite, not just for whatever she was given, but for more. And she also cleaned the various candies and cookies that had come to her from time to time in the form of gifts, and so far had remained virtually unattended. But now clearly their time had come.

On the third day, Shannon suddenly realized that the usual set of exercises did not cause her usual discomfort. What's more, if before she'd done them through sheer force and often quit when she couldn't pull it off, this time her muscles moved easily and freely, and there was no pain in them after the workout, but only pleasant fatigue. Not only that, during the evening training she wanted to increase the load – which she did.

Of course, this did not go unnoticed, but the first thing the nurse did not go to the doctor, but to a different specialist.

- Miss Louth. – On the threshold stood a slightly overweight man in his fifties, with a neat short haircut and in a business suit.

- Phil, I told you there was no need to be formal. – The woman smiled as she greeted her old acquaintance and let him in.

- Sorry, you know you can't get out of some habits just by getting out of work. – The man smiled back, but then became serious again. – So, what happened? Did Shannon have a sudden deterioration?

- No, more like the opposite. – The nurse shook her head negatively. – You know I'm not a doctor. But you don't have to be to know that something unusual is going on. A change has begun. So I called her doctor, too.

- Hmm. Then I'd like to hear it from him. – Phil nodded, and followed his old friend to her ward.

The sight that opened to the man in the comfortable room of the fifteen-year-old girl was strikingly different from

From what he had seen on his last visit. Shannon had looked pale and emaciated then, but most frightening of all was her tired look. Despite her young age, the bitter truth about her current condition and the disappointing further diagnosis had not been hidden from the girl. And still she was still trying to fight, burning her last strength and inevitably fading away – for no one knew the way to remedy the situation.

Theme was surprised to see her now – cheerful and smiling, literally beaming with the overflowing energy of her body – and with evident difficulty in forcing herself to sit still to let the woman in the white coat in the room continue her examination.

Phil and his friend froze silently in the doorway. Watching as the doctor tapped Shannon's knee with a hammer, testing the reflexes, and after a perfectly healthy reaction began to feel the muscles of the leg with her fingers, studying the limb that had recently lost its ability to work, asking questions at the same time.

- It was encouraging to see such improvement. – The man deftly cut into the pause that arose when the doctor was distracted, studying something in his notes and took a step into the room.

- Hello, Mr. Coulson. – Shannon looked up at her guest with a smile. – Yes, I can feel my legs again now. I can even move my feet a little.

- Good day indeed, young Carter. – Phil smiled back, adjusting his tie with a familiar motion. – Just great news, worth celebrating.

-And what is the prognosis? – He turned now to the doctor, while the distracted girl began to discuss with her nurse the coming treat.

- We can only guess at the cause of the improvement so far. – The woman skillfully examined the other leg as well, without distracting the girl from her conversation. – For a fuller picture, at least some tests need to be done and hopefully that will tell us something.

- Be sure to keep me informed. – Reminded the man before returning to talking to the girl again.

***Mortis***

- Hel. The Germanic-Scandinavian goddess of death. – May read thoughtfully from the monitor. – The mistress of the world of the dead. Also the phrase «Going to Hel» meant «To die.»

- Yeah, kind of. – I nodded accordingly, returning to the couch I'd been so fond of. – What could I do, the phrase «To die with my flippers» had somehow stuck in those years. Hey, what's the big deal now? – The stares from the girls seemed to be about to drill right through me.

- Mortis, are you the daughter of the Goddess of Death? – Gwen and Scarlet said it in such synchrony that they looked at each other in surprise.

- Yeah, what's the big deal? – I snorted. – Or do I look so much like the daughter of the goddess of love? Well, I'm sorry, but my mother lords over the dead, and it's no big deal. In fact, almost every religion has someone like her, it's commonplace.

- So we don't mind. It's just that it was a little unexpected. – Scarlet Spider-Girl stepped forward. – Say, you can talk to the dead, can't you?

- I grew up with them. – I shrugged nonchalantly. – And anyway, all I do is talk to you guys. Maybe it's time to return the favor.

- What a sudden change of subject. – She laughed merrily. – And what exactly are you implying by that?

- That while I'm here, you might say, baring my soul, you're still sitting in a mask. Maybe it's time. – I made a gesture with my hand, as if removing something from my face.

- You're right. – Scarlet agreed lightly, and, under Gwen's surprised gaze, reached for her mask, but suddenly stopped. – Wait, though. – There was a playful, sly tone to her voice. – I'm the one you were wrong about. Perhaps we should extend the intrigue a little longer. Try to guess!

-Guess? – She's such a pest. Although she does seem to be wondering how I'm going to do it. – I don't know. Well, at least give me a hint… Oh, yeah! Is your hair real? Not a wig or some kind of trick with the color change?

-It's all mine, my own. - With an obvious smile, she immediately shook her head, letting her hair fly up and down her shoulders again. Well, that's something to think about-not many redheaded Marvel characters I know. Just that kind of fiery redhead. But she's hardly a Widow or a Geena Grey or a Medusa. And even about Patsy Walker, I doubt it - what would Hellcat be doing among spider girls. Especially when they have their own redhead in their midst.

- Mary Jane? - I voice my hunch, and I feel like I might get a nervous tic if by some miracle she turns out to be Ginger Sonja.

- You knew. - In all seriousness, without any of her usual cheerfulness, Alaya announced, taking off her mask. And yes, the face of the hottie I'd been staring at through the classroom window came into view. Up close, MJ looked even more attractive, as if she hadn't just stepped off the cover of a magazine, along with some Photoshop correction. She even had her makeup intact-after all that time in a mask!

- Actually, she didn't. She just poked at random. - I had to swallow the saliva that filled my mouth to answer.

- You didn't? - Gwen's voice sounded creepy, like she was trying to catch me on something. - And this random thing of yours isn't exactly magic, is it?

- You'll have to do better than that. - I shrugged my shoulders with a smile. I thought of Cindy Moon at first, but the hair clue pointed my thoughts in the right direction, but that was all.

- Cindy? - This time, the three of us were all in sync in surprise.

- What did she have to do with it? - From the look on Gwen's face, she couldn't seem to grasp the logic of my search for the Spider Girls. I wasn't surprised-because there was no logic to it. Just a sketchy knowledge of the canon.

- No. - I grumbled briefly, frustrated by how much I was getting tired of this constant interrogation. On the other hand, I was finally making some progress. The scarlet spider-girl was MJ, what a surprise. I did not expect this and I do not know any version of Marvel, where it would be so. Although I'm a long way from being an expert on the subject.

-We should check her out just in case. – The redhead decided, and May immediately made a note in her notebook. And then the conversation turned to how the girls got their spider powers-I wondered how much of a departure from the canon there was. As it turned out – not that much. During the memorial tour, the friends stepped aside to whisper so as not to disturb May, who was listening intently, where they got a bite each. Gwen got Parker's bite, and MJ got Cindy Moon's. However, May invented the web and shooters for them anyway, and she's been testing and studying their capabilities, which she's now doing for me as well. So wait… What?

- Let me see. – I made a «Dash» right off the couch back to May, startling her again, and stared at my notebook. Yep, here it is. «Ability to go without sleep for a long time,» «ability to instantly move short (specify) distances within sight,» what else… «Summoning (materializing ?) objects»… and on and on in the same vein.

- Hey! – The girl was indignant when I sat down on the table in front of her.

- May, I get it-you're a scientist, and you have a thirst for exploring the unknown and the mysterious. – I began patiently, realizing that my relationship with Parker had started out badly, and it was still in the danger zone, in spite of the occasional brightening. – But I'm really asking you to destroy it. I'm asking you as a human being.

- What's wrong with that? – She asked angrily. – It's not the analysis of unknown DNA. Just my notes for myself. I'm certainly not going to show them to anyone.

- Isn't that really too much to ask? – MJ, who'd just come back from changing out of her spider costume and into her regular clothes, was checking in. And Gwen seemed pretty sure she was siding with her friends, too.

- Sorry, but-no. I can't allow a file on me to exist. – I shook my head negatively in response. – I will tell you about myself willingly, and I will show you all the things I can and will list them. But no notes.

- How am I supposed to study your abilities without taking any notes at all? – Parker crossed her arms across her chest angrily.

- What do you need it for, anyway? – Answering a question with a question. – You can't publish this kind of research anywhere-it's like exposing our weaknesses and limits. And even storing such materials for yourself is dangerous – they can easily be stolen by hacking computers or opening locks. All it takes is someone willing to pay more.

- You know, Mortis. – Gwen was already standing next to her friend. – Your obsession with expecting the worst is even more paranoid than May's. Well, who's gonna…

- There's someone. – I didn't let her finish, knowing all the arguments beforehand. – And we're talking about me now, not you, and there's a tangible difference. Just the fact that Asgardians have been around for hundreds and thousands of years.

Gwen staggered back, blinked perplexedly a few times, and then there was something new in her gaze on me. Okay, I think mentioning those differences got me in trouble. I hope it's just my imagination and it doesn't come down to a «So I'm just a momentary crush to you?» conversation.

- Okay, so be it. – Parker tossed her pen aside and rubbed her forehead tiredly with her hand. – She moved away from the table, slumping helplessly in her chair and looking at me with boredom and disinterest. No costume sample, no magic, no other materials to study. That's your «Ask for what you want»?

- Well… how difficult it is with you. – I grimaced, inwardly acknowledging that she had a point. I was hoping for a more traditional request, like money, a vanderfleet, or even help for a sick relative. But her requests were more specific than that. And that's when my eyes came across the framed photo on the monitor. Hmmmm. It looks like Parker has the same parental situation here as in the original story.

- Maybe we could just be friends. – With a smile I suggested. – And as friends, I'm willing to do something for you.

Five minutes later I was chalking up a circle on the floor. The spider-girls were staring at me, asking me a lot of questions, and they were very interested. May kept her mouth shut, but she was recording the whole process on camera-I didn't mind, just changed my outfit and pulled my hood up tight.

- So you want to bring someone back from the dead? – Gwen clarified, keeping her gaze steady. – It's even hard to believe that.

- It's hard to believe she drew a perfect circle of that size on her first try. – The redhead immediately interjected. She'd watched the action intently in the beginning, as if trying to remember every detail, but her temper got the better of her. – And the resurrection of the dead is something akin to Dr. Frankenstein's experiments.

- You can forget about that right away. – I answered briefly, taking up the second circle inside the first one. – It's only possible to revive for the first few minutes, while the body is still warm. And then you're not reviving someone, you're raising a dead person. And for that few people will thank you.

- So what exactly do you do now? – May cut in nervously. – And anyway, have you ever done this before?

-I call on their souls. And don't worry, I've practiced it a bunch of times. We've never been without it. – No, I could do it without rituals, purely on my own power. But it would make me glow so much in the magical background, it would be just awful. I was also quite interested in magical circles, both for young mages and for those who weren't at all into them.

-Don't you need a crystal ball for that? Or a Ouija board? – Parker went around the circle, filming it from all sides. And kept pounding me with questions. Nervous and trying to distract me from what's important, I understand.

- I know she's nervous, trying to distract from what's important, but the orb is for focus, and is mostly used by Fortune Tellers and Gypsies. – And I'm the daughter of the goddess of the dead, and if I use the board, I'm not doing so well.

- That's why I said yes. – May admitted, stepping back. -Some medium, some kind of spirit talker, I wouldn't listen to.

- That's good. Not all of them are crooks, though. – I noted in passing, drawing a small knife from my supply.

- What was that for? – Parker immediately took a few more steps away from me.

- I need a few drops of your blood, why else? – I explained calmly.

- Do you have to do that? – Gwen clarified, seeing her friend's reaction.

- It's her parents. Flesh from flesh, blood from blood. – Very patiently I explained. – DNA, you might say. I need it to call both of them at once.

-Can't I just spit where it's needed, or give you a piece of hair? – May was clearly not enthusiastic, and now her camera was filming not my work on the floor, but specifically my hand with a knife.

-Don't you blaspheme, though. She decided to spit on God's work. – I grinned, but continued with pressure in my voice. – Look, stop acting like a little girl. Haven't you ever given blood before?

- Don't worry, little tiger, I'll take care of you. – MJ, who came up behind her, was very supportive. Or rather, she just hugged Parker, not letting her back down anymore. May sighed, but didn't fight back-she knew it was stupid to chicken out, but she couldn't do it alone. But with friendly support, it was different, especially if they held you with the power of a Spider. So the cut on the ring finger to the jaunty «Ay-yi-yi, gently!» could not be avoided. At least she didn't scream at the top of her voice.

The final step was to place the knife with the blood drops in the center of the circle. Parker continued filming, her friends standing nearby, waiting for the climax. A ritual dagger appeared in my hands, its blade engulfed in green flames. I touched the edge of the circle with the tip, and soon the whole figure was ablaze with a steady column of flame. Despite this, the basement felt cooler, and there was a monotonous howl that only I could recognize, the moans of the undead.

The girls recoiled as soon as the pillar of fire appeared. After only a few seconds, the howls faded into voices, and the flames began to shrink, forming two translucent human figures. A few moments later, their features appeared and took shape. Perhaps it was a bit like the holograms from Star Wars, only the color was different.

Whether May was ready for the meeting with her parents, or whether she hadn't believed until the last moment that it would really happen, she was clearly in shock, not even noticing that she was already holding the camera pointed down and filming only the planks under her feet. The same thing was happening to the others, though. And even the ghosts of the dead Parkers took a while to realize where they were. But as soon as their eyes fell on the trio of girls, they recognized their own child.

- Okay, let's go, let's go. – I nimbly grabbed first Gwen and then MJ by the waist and pulled them to the side when a parental «May» sounded.

- Wait, where are you taking us? – Gwen was the first one to come to her senses when I shouldered them both, like a weight.

- Oh, I'm being kidnapped! – With a mischievous grin the redheaded one bellowed, not even thinking of resisting, unlike her friend.

-Let them be alone. They have much to discuss,- I concluded, walking out of the cellar with the loot on my shoulders, just at the moment when the answering «Mom! Dad!» sounded.

-Somehow. – As I closed the door to the basement, I turned my attention back to the two spiders.

-I'm honestly surprised. Can you do anything else? – The red-haired girl immediately expressed her interest.

-I thought I explicitly said, «You can make any wish you want for a spider cartridge.» - I snapped my fingers, causing a scattering of spectacular green sparks. – And you're still mewing and mewing. Though I won't hide it-I have limitations, so every wish will have to be measured against my powers.

- You don't? – MJ looked at Gwen with interest.

- What?- She muttered angrily. – MJ grumbled angrily. – I may not have caught all the implication, but I conveyed it.

The redhead patted her friend on the shoulder with a cryptic smile, as if an experienced woman helping her friend make the first steps in learning the world around her. Maybe I was wrong, though, and the meaning of her smile was different. We had no time to think about it, though; we had just moved into the living room and settled there. And yes, of course it was Parker's house, where else would her basement be.

For a while we just sat there and talked about everything, learning more about each other at the same time. But the reaction to what we were finding out was very different.

I took the news that Gwen turned out to be interested in science quite calmly. Not with as much fervor and fire in her eyes as May, but still. Mary, on the other hand, is far from these fields, her interests are directed toward acting, and she plans to go into the theater with an eye toward the movies. I almost suggested that she start by opening her own page on onlifans, but I slowed down in time. Although with all the data from the spectacular appearance to the character with a minimum of complexes the girl is all right, but we must take into account the specifics of this world. In the first place – this is not the audience, you should not expect a particularly strong response from women. And secondly – not the fact that such a social network here at all exists.

Though actually – at Gwen also would have quite good chances, a figure and she is athletic, trim and in general sexy, as at the present model.

But my stories about myself caused quite a bit of surprise. And if the ability to lift things much heavier than myself did not cause much excitement, then my age … Hearing about three hundred years the girls immediately demanded to reveal to them the secret of eternal youth and beauty.

I laughed heartily at the mention of beauty-I'm pretty enough, I'm sure, but I'm not much more than that, far from both girls. I had to remind myself of the difference between the lifespans of mortals and gods. The girls grimaced, and after a second or two, MJ elaborated, asking how I was going to stay with Gwen if I outlived her before I even got old. Fortunately, I had the answer, and so the girls learned about a world like Vanheim and its inhabitants, the Vans. And that these Vans may well compare to the gods, if not in strength, so in longevity, Siegfried as an example. And also, that in my opinion – the Spider Girls have all the chances to become these Vans. Which immediately caused a flash of envy in our redhead. Not really, but she started to tease Gwen with suggestions like, «Share,» and a couple of times, -Give it to me.

- Except I don't live there myself. – I shoot my eyes slyly. – Because my home is Helheim, the world of the dead.

- Okay. – MJ just put the brakes on her jokes. – You've just made a real mess of things, you know.

- How's it going in there? – Gwen asked more calmly. – In the world of the dead.

- Well, how could it be. Dark and gloomy, full of dead people. – I shrugged, grinning at the memory of the phrase, and continued with a smile. – Don't worry, it's not hell with boilers and stuff. There are very good places, almost a resort. Except there's no Wi-Fi.

It turned out, the girls relaxed, smiled again and even began to ask for an excursion – to evaluate these very resort conditions. I had to cool the enthusiasm a little, explaining that once there, we immediately attracted the attention of my mother, who will certainly want to communicate with my girlfriend or – two, up close and personal. That prospect really did silence both of them for a while and made them think. M.J. then said to her friend, «Wow, I was worried about you introducing your date to your cop mom,» to which Gwen grinned, agreeing, -Yeah, it's the biggest thing I've ever dreamed of.

After we'd talked enough and figured it was time, we peeked neatly into the basement. Where we found May, curled up in a ball on the couch, quietly shedding tears.

- Where are your parents? – Gwen hugged her friend immediately, and MJ snuggled in on the other side.

-Gone. – I explained in Parker's place, checking the circle just in case. – I pulled them here from over the edge, but I didn't tie them to this place. So they could have gone back to their afterlife at any time.

- Yes, they were gone. – May sniffed her nose and began to wipe away her tears. – Thank you, Mortis. Thank you.

- You're welcome. – I said very seriously, settling into the chair across from her.

- I think. – The girl rubbed her eyes one last time and took a capsule of cobwebs out of her pocket and handed it to me. – I owe you this.

-Come on, I said it was a friendly gesture. – I smiled, but I didn't refuse. Finally I got my hands on the spider-webs. – If there's anything else, ask me again.

- What would it take to call someone else's dead relatives? – After making sure her friend was almost completely calmed down, Gwen began to expand on her thought. – Yes, this was clearly not the level of the mediums with their Ouija boards. That summoning of the dead could be used in so many different ways. Like asking the dead man who had killed him.

- Yes, that could be done, of course. – I agreed, but without much enthusiasm in my voice. – But it should not be turned into a telephone, and we should not yell at the deceased for every reason. The spirits cannot rest in peace in this case. And for many of them, their posthumous existence is already more important than their past lives. May's parents really wanted to see her, that's why everything went so well.

- Can you find a missing person? – The redhead suddenly cut in on the conversation.

- Yes, the search spell isn't very difficult. – I put the trophy spider's webbed cartridge deep into my pocket. – And who are we looking for?

- My dad. He disappeared when I was very young. – MJ looked depressed, clearly losing her usual cheerful vibe.

- Um… well, that's not a problem. – I scratched the back of my head thoughtfully, remembering that things weren't going so well with the girl's father in canon, either. – The only question is, are you sure he's the one who disappeared and didn't… not leave on his own? I mean, there's all kinds of reasons.

- I wouldn't have understood that. – The redhead smiled wryly. They've been in this world all their lives, who can remember the peculiarities of it? Mei was also very lucky that her father lived in a family. Gwen had two mothers in this world, as I found out a little earlier in general, who took advantage of a sperm donor bank. But MJ's situation… - I would have been fine with him breaking up with my mom after a few meetings, if not the only one. It was a normal situation, the fact that my mother had managed to get pregnant at all was lucky. But he came over to our house every now and then. He'd talk to me, play with me, the three of us would often go for walks. Why, when one day it all stopped, he just stopped showing up.

- What does your mom say about that? – And she's right, it's kind of weird. Why would you create the illusion of a family for a few years just to suddenly drop everything like that?

-Same as before. – MJ sighed, shrugging angrily. – That she didn't know where he was or what was wrong with him. And that he only came when he wanted to.

- I see. – I couldn't help but let out a sigh in response, knowing that I couldn't know the mind of someone from another world right away. – Okay, we'll get to that soon.

This promise was enough for MJ, and the four of us chatted about everything again. May also turned on the TV, though we didn't pay much attention to it as we had a little arm-wrestling contest with the girls. Even Parker was interested – no, not as a contestant she was too out of it. But it was the ratio of our strengths that got her curious. And what did it turn out to be? It took a little effort, but I got both Gwen and MJ down pretty quick. A little too much.

- Yeah, a spider bite might have given you strength, but you shouldn't quit rocking. – I just voiced my conclusions.

- That's what I do. – MJ sounded a little unfriendly, regaining her breath. – Otherwise my tummy wouldn't be so flat and my ass wouldn't be so appetizing.

- Likewise. – Gwen backed her up, kneading her palm. – Maybe a little less often than Ginger, but we work out together a lot and even compete with each other.

- And I go. – May cut in unobtrusively. – Of course I don't have the same strength and stamina, but I fight tooth and nail for every pound.

- Mmm. – I mumbled, glancing from one to the other and feeling guilty for my lack of restraint. But how had that happened? Maybe Felicia was right and I was too pumped up. So is that a bad thing? And it doesn't seem to ruin my appearance. Oh, wait-I'm wearing Nekrosword right now. Of course I'm stronger than my usual self. I'm so used to it, I don't even know the difference.

- Oh, come on. It's good that you're so strong. – Gwen interpreted my silence a little differently. – And you're not a walking piece of muscle like the Hulk, and you don't break everything around you with a single touch.

- That's lucky for sure. – I smiled tautly – and that was the moment my attention was suddenly drawn to the screen of the television still running in the background.

Okay, wait. I know this newscast, it's right next to… Wait a minute, I just saw the news in the cafe that the Iron Lady had gone to deal with terrorists in Afghanistan.

- Then why is the future Warrioress explaining about the accident at the drill only now? – I couldn't help asking that question out loud. The girls were surprised, but explained that this news appeared in the morning, and now there was a rerun. But that means…

- What time is it? – I began to feel my pockets in search of a cell phone.

- Five o'clock. – Gwen suggested, keeping the same puzzled stare from me as her friends.

- One more question, then. How long does it take to get from here to Malibu, California? – My phone confirmed the blonde's words and I was already on a low start, ready to jump out of my seat at any moment.

This was the question that stumped everyone. But May quickly reached for the computer and got the answer in a minute. – By car, six hours, but there could be traffic. A spiderwalk could do it in three hours, but there aren't many options for it outside the city, so a car is still better.

-What happened anyway? – MJ finally cracked and her question had a sobering effect on me.

So, what am I fussing about, anyway? Why did I have to get involved in this? If this is going to be like the movies, Stark will be fine without any extra help. So why should I interfere and get the Shield's attention? On the other hand – there are three proofs sitting right in front of me that in this world not everything goes according to the already known scenarios. Now, is it really worth trusting them at all?

- Mortis! – Gwen had to nudge me in the side to get my attention. – What happened?

- I don't know… maybe nothing. – I felt uncomfortable again. Now I was embarrassed because I had stirred things up. – Becoming another heroine… I guess.

- Probably? – The look on the trio's faces didn't make things any clearer for them, on the contrary.

- Did your magic work again? – Parker leaned forward. – Who's the new girl?

-Yeah, kind of. – I couldn't decide whether I should relax and wait for things to happen on their own and for Stark to announce to the world that she was the Iron Lady, or rush to the rescue. What if I'm just winding myself up? Or is it my own desire to make sure everything goes as it should? Maybe it's intuition, though-it happens to me sometimes, too. And I have to explain something to the girls, too. – I guess you'll find out soon enough. And I…

- You what? – Almost in sync, all three of them howled.

-What about me. - After taking a couple of deep breaths, I finally come to the conclusion that I'd rather regret wasting my time and effort than letting it go to waste. I need more information - how much this world resonates with the cinematic universe - before it comes to something like the Thanos flick. Forewarned is forearmed.

- Guys, I'm afraid I have to go. - I sighed. - I want to make sure everything goes right in there. I had a great time, I'll definitely have to come back for more. - I headed for the door, getting dressed in my Necrosword costume and making a note to call Lydia on my way back, because I wouldn't be able to make it by curfew.

- Stop! - Gwen intercepted me at the door, even though she was hopping on one leg at the moment, pulling down her jeans. Where had all the embarrassment gone. - I'm with you.

- If you need help, I'm coming too. - She was clearly inspired, and MJ jumped up on the ceiling as she got rid of her T-shirt and was pulling on the top half of her costume.

- Don't worry, I'm not planning on getting into anything. - I had to slow down and try to explain myself. - Maybe it was just a false alarm, and if May was right it would take us three or four hours to get to Malibu. And then it's a long way back. Won't they come looking for you?

The girls paused for a few seconds, exchanged a glance-and then, like swords, crossed them at Parker.

- Okay. - Parker sighed. - I'll get you out of this. Again.

Yeah, it's not easy being Alfred under Batman.

- Just tell her I'm sleeping at your place tonight. - The scarlet spider girl was already putting on her mask.

- I'll call my moms myself. - Gwen was already finishing changing, too. - You just confirm if they decide to double-check and call here.

- Found themselves a unique trouble opener, too. - May was indignant - and at the same time managed to toss Gwen a few spare cobweb capsules before the three of us jumped out the door to the street.

-How often does she cover you like that? – As if casually, I inquired while the Necrosword was carefully absorbing my trophy spider-web round, trying to get at the contents and copy them.

- She is us. We are hers. – Scarlet giggled, pulling on the last thing she had left – her gloves. – That's what friends are for.

- We do sleep over at each other's houses a lot. – Gwen explained. – So it shouldn't be suspicious. So where exactly are we going?

- Malibu, the Rock… or Cape Dumas. – Man, I'm shocked I remember such details. Do I even know the way? Uh, no, it's dead.

Luckily, I didn't have to find my own way. It turned out that May not only provided my friends with cover, but also helped with navigation – at least when there was an opportunity to use a cell phone because a reliable portable transmitter has not yet had time to invent. So she showed us the way, however, whining about the fact that it was just used instead of a Google-navigator did not prevent her.

The road really didn't turn out to be fast. The web, so convenient for flying in the city, with no high-rise buildings around it, did not help much. I had to hitch a ride like a spider, which meant simply jumping onto a truck that was going in the right direction. Not too convenient, but at least it was free. In addition, I had to make a couple of transfers to stick to the right direction. But during the trip Nekrosword finally figured out the composition of the web Parker, I even returned an empty capsule to the girls. And, miraculously, I was finally able to use the real web – and I didn't even need any webshooters for that – my suit grew the necessary glands itself, just like Venom's. So I didn't even have to make any extra movements or press any buttons. And there was no need to recharge on purpose, the symbiote recycled as a component for the web suitable substances from my body. Anyway, as soon as I reached the city, I immediately tried it out. I was immediately convinced that a real web was nothing like the tentacles I had used before. In general, if it wasn't for the last minute use of «jerk» I would have hit the billboard very well. But it was enough to amuse the girls.

- Congratulations, you're officially on the spider team! – Scarlet gave a mock triumphant applause. – Sim, as the oldest, I name you Shadow Spider!

- Why a shadowy? – I was surprised. Like the color of my costume is black with scarlet, combines poorly.

- Because you hide in the shadows from everyone, including even friends and associates! – There was the argument of the pest. Well… I couldn't argue with that. And Gwen was even more apologetic. At least they showed me a few tricks that made it a lot easier for me to learn my new way around. So we got there pretty quickly.

- So, what now? – Gwen asked, eyeing the building with some surprise. To be fair, there was plenty to be surprised about. It was the first time I'd ever seen such a hybrid of mansion and flying saucer passionate love in person. In general – this building reeked of futuristic, chic – and completely insane layout. – We're not going to break in, are we?

- No, of course not. We don't have to. – I assured him. – We're just here to make sure everything's okay. How we do that is a good question.

Outwardly all is quiet, no signs of alarm. Maybe we should send some ghosts in there for reconnaissance. After all, the Stark building, with the guards there should be on par. I wouldn't want to dodge a machine gun round at the last moment, or even a laser. These reflections were interrupted by a black car that suddenly drove out of one of the «drives» on the roof and started descending the semicircular ramp – this was exactly where we were not expecting it at all, we barely had time to hide ourselves. And to drag the redhead, who was talking on the phone, with her. The license plate number did not tell me anything, but here she was. This car was obviously about fifty years old or more, too retro for such a lover of everything new like Stark? And even if she decided to show off an antique to someone … In general – my suspicions that had settled a little during the trip again blossomed wildly.

- Wait for me here. – I used the dart as soon as I could, hoping to avoid explaining myself too much. It worked, and I made it to the local penthouse in two or three «jumps». Yeah. It's a great place to be. And the fact that Stark likes huge windows is quite consistent with the movie. This was only to my advantage – for «Jumpshot» the main thing to see the point where you want to be, a transparent barrier on the way here is not an obstacle – unless it is not the energy, then it can be a problem. Although technically it is possible to «jump back» - but it is for the most extreme case. In general, the huge windows overlooking the sea were like an open door for me.

And when I was inside… nothing happened. That is, nothing at all, no alarm going off, steel sashes dropping on the windows, or at least the appearance of concealed machine guns. Not that I was hoping for anything like that, but – subconsciously, I was clearly expecting it. All right, enough wasting time, we were looking for the way to the underground floor. How lucky, too, that half of the doors were partially transparent, albeit armored, allowing me to move quickly and without any problems. It was also very lucky for Tina herself, whom I suddenly saw lying motionless on the couch in one of the rooms.

-Miss Stark? – I touched her shoulder first, and then shook her when I didn't get an answer. – Miss Stark, are you all right?

Zero reaction, blank stare, can't even find a pulse. But the empty hole in her chest made me wonder. What, you mean to tell me like the Obadai here decided to make sure the deed was done and Stark really kicked back rather than walk away, giving her a chance to get to the old battery model? Well, cool, sure, rational, as readers and viewers like to imagine, unhappy with the illogicality of the various villains' actions. The only question is, what am I supposed to do now? Why am I upset, though, am I the daughter of the Goddess of the Dead, or what? She died a short time ago, her body hasn't even begun to cool.

- All righty. – I snapped my knuckles together, snapping the green lights on my palms. – I'll start with CPR, and if that doesn't work, I'll put my suit on you, see if it can do anything. And as a last resort, I'll lift you up as a Revenant.

I put my hands on Tina Stark's chest and began to pour my healing energy into her. I was also able to do the right thing and the wrong thing, so I shook those gorgeous spheres. I was not as shapely as my mother or Lydia, but even medium-sized breasts can be very good, and this was just such a case.

A life-giving force filled the woman's body little by little. My fingers gripped the collar of her turtleneck and I ripped it open in one motion, preparing the field of activity for me. Oops, someone wasn't wearing a bra. Okay, not a big deal right now, but it was better that way. Whispering a spell that drew Tina's spirit until it was too far from her body, I ran my hand through the hole in the woman's chest. Yeah. I don't mind penetrating another billionaire, but I wish I could do it a little differently. In the meantime, I literally took hold of her heart while I massaged and filled it with healing power-soon it began to regenerate, expelling the deadly splinters from its depths. The reaction was self-reinforcing – circulation was restored, and then breathing, her chest slowly began to rise and fall. I was able to feel my nipples hardening almost immediately, the excitement from the infusion of large portions of my energy was still there.

I hesitated for a few seconds, but I didn't completely get rid of the shrapnel. If the third film was to be believed, Tina would eventually cope with it herself, but in the meantime, she would have the most powerful motivation for further work on herself.

I took my hand from the woman's chest and once more ran a healing wave through her body, expelling the remnants of the death cramp, and finished the spell. A moment later, Stark took a particularly deep breath, and her gaze became meaningful.

- Kha! – Choking on a cough, Tina shuddered, almost falling off the couch.

- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! – I had to hold her by the shoulders and pull her back to her side.

- You're still alive. – She could hardly speak. – Arcovoy. The reactor. Without it, I'll die…

- All right, let's look for it. – I did my best to show a sort of confusion on my face, as someone who doesn't know much about what's going on here. – What does he look like?

-Dish… glass… there… - She jerked toward the next room. – It was blue… with writing on it.

I didn't need the details, of course, but it wasn't the sort of thing that was worth showing off, so I just went where I was told to, and I found the thing on the table almost immediately. To be sure, I also stood for half a minute, admiring the glowing thing, like a prize with the caption «Proof of Tina Stark's heart». And pondering – could it be seen as proof that Thanos and his annihilation flick were really waiting for us in the future? And how would this universe work out, given that their Stark died a few minutes ago? In the end, without deciding anything, I picked up the reactor and hurried back. That in the doorway I would almost trip over Tina crawling with the last of her strength.

- Crap! – I immediately sat down next to her, turning the woman onto her back. – Relax, it's all here, it's all here.

At least there was not much fuss with the connection – Stark had foreseen that at the critical moment the battery could be inserted easily and without fuss, the main thing was to hit the groove. She sighed and relaxed, not even noticing that I took her in my arms and put her back on the sofa. That was it, now I could get out of here, and Stark could take it from there.

But as I took a few steps, a voice came from behind me.

- Who are you? – She had already begun to rise, albeit with difficulty.

-Wait. Let yourself rest for a few minutes, or you won't be able to stand on your feet. – I had to go back and put her back in a horizontal position.

- Okay, but half a minute, tops. – Suddenly Tina agreed, and stretched out relaxed on the couch. –

So, who are you, young stranger in tights?

- Sounds like a friendly new neighbor. – Bitch. How come you didn't think of an answer beforehand? I just blurted out the first thing that came into my head, even though I hadn't really decided if I really wanted to join this spider team.

- Are you kidding? I bought up all the land around here so I wouldn't have any neighbors around. – Stark snorted, crossing her arms over her chest. And only now discovering the deplorable state of her turtleneck, like the fact that she'd been practically topless for the past few minutes. Her gaze went back up to me.

- It was a direct heart massage. – I immediately blurted it out, hoping it would distract her from the subject at least.

- Nonsense. That would have killed me. – Yeah. It didn't work. I shrugged my shoulders in response with a completely independent look, letting her know that it was just as it was. Yes, improvisation is not my strong suit today. Well, what else can I say to her, man? You know, girlfriend, I've seen a couple of movies about you and your heart problems, right? It's hilarious.

- All right. We'll get to the bottom of this. – Tina's obviously sick of my stubborn silence. – Chris!

- Ma'am. – A pleasant female voice came out of nowhere, as if the house itself had spoken. Ah. I see. There's the AI's handiworker now. That's interesting. Where was she when I broke into the house? Taking a nap?

- According to the sensors, you were dead for three minutes and forty-seven seconds. Shall I put it on my list of possible activities to plan my daily routine more accurately?

- No, I'll try to avoid it in the future. – Stark grinned wryly. – How did I come back to life?

- This unidentified individual had an unclassifiable effect on your body, restoring the functional activity of your heart.

-Even so? – I got another hard look. – And what do we know about this… neighbor?

- A scan of an object is accompanied by a number of persistent interferences, making it impossible to gather data in a trustworthy volume. However, friendly neighborhood spiders are the self-identification of a group of teenage metalmen making civilian arrests in New…

- Okay. – Stark cut the AI's speech short and, with an apparent effort, with a disgruntled grimace on her face, rose from the couch again. – I wish I could figure out who you are and how you got in here in the first place, but my moment of respite is over. It's time to get back to business.

-Good, then I'm off. Good luck to you. – I wasn't going to show my capabilities again. So I headed for the door like a normal person.

- Are you leaving? – Tina just called out to me. – Aren't you here to help, friendly neighbor?

- Actually, I already did. – I stop just in time to get to the door and sigh. – And then you're on your own. Intentional or not, you created a monster, so you deal with him.

- What are you talking about now? – There was a distinct bewilderment in Stark's head. – It wasn't even theft for the purpose of pushing my advanced technology to the other side, it was robbery, but creating a monster is a bit of a mouthful.

- Okay, let me give you a hint. – I turned to face her. – You really think your first suit, the one you made from the junk in the cave, was recycled? Did you see it yourself? Or was the only missing part you needed to activate the prototype stolen from you not for resale?

- Holy shit. – Tina froze, her eyes widening and her hand involuntarily touching the arc reactor in her chest. In a matter of seconds, however, she was in the workshop, and judging by the noise mixed with confused curses, she started to get ready in a hurry. She seemed to have realized, though, how much trouble she could get away with not caring about what had seemed like a lot of nonsense up to that point. That's why I don't want to help her now – because without defeating this enemy on her own, Iron Lady won't make it as a heroine. It's very much in the spirit of Marvel to pit the hero against his evil, distorted copy, as a symbol of victory and growth over himself.

Ant-Man, Black Panther, Morbius, even Venom – who hasn't gone through this? If I were an author, though, I wouldn't have such an encounter with newcomers, but with more or less experienced heroes who have had time to gain experience and master their abilities. However, that's how it is in comics, but movies have to squeeze the plot into a set timeline.

- Krista, call Pepper. – Stark reappeared in the room, already fully equipped, only her helmet in her hands. – And you. – She nodded at me. – You're coming with me. – And after putting on the last part of her costume, she flew straight out the open window.

- Uh, okay. – What did I say about «not getting involved»? Well, looks like the plans just changed.

-Can you move any faster? – Stark spoke up, slowing down and hovering in midair.

- No.- I answered immediately. I didn't have to shout, though, because both the spider girls and I already had micro-transmitters that allowed us to communicate not only with Tina, but also with her AI. – You fly like a jet, but we have our own speed limit.

- Yes, I'm sorry. – Gwen spoke up, too. The girls really weren't ready for this race, what could you do? I could have sped up, but I didn't do it on purpose, adjusting to their pace. Because I still wasn't about to get into a fight with the two iron knuckleheads themselves.

- Why don't you go ahead and deal with the fake. – I suggested. – We'll take care of the trucks and the deputies, and then we'll catch up with you.

- Rational. – Tina agreed and put on the afterburner, disappearing from view. We adjusted our course a little, intending to take care of his… or, given the world, her… damn, I should have googled it. Anyway, with the handmaidens. If my memory serves me right, they're the ones who took down the Ten Rings faction, who picked up parts of Stark's first suit in the desert, and then decided to sell it for more money. Except that Obidiah's solution was that the best price was to get everything for nothing.

- Ma'am, the targeting is complete. – Chris's voice came through the transmitter. – Warning, several units separated from the main group and changed course. According to analysis, they're carrying scientists. Cargo remains in the main group.

- Ghost, Scarlet, take over the vehicles with the scientists. – My instructions were immediate. – I'll take care of the cargo.

- Hey, you're kind of new here, and you're already calling the shots? – Gwen was the chipper one.

- Well, well, I guess we're about to find out who's boss of the house. – Scarlet muttered mockingly in her wake.

- Hey! Please tell me you've done this before! – Stark interjected. – I didn't bring the children with me to the showdown, did I?

-Yes! -Synchronously the two spider girls responded.

- So, that's the answer to which question? – Tina's voice was clearly troubled.

- The first one. – I chuckled. – Girls, you're used to working in pairs, I am alone. So we'll split up, no time now is no time to retrain on the fly. And with the web you treat better than me, so that the delicate purposes like scientists – just for you. Now do you agree?

- Okay, consider yourself convinced. I agree, Gwen. – Chris, which way exactly are we going?

- I think you really know what you're doing. – Stark sighed with relief. – But don't take any unnecessary risks.

- Yes, that's right. – I was right there with you. – And be sure to trust your gut, whether it's a bullet, a knife, or an explosion. – Oh, man. I was too busy explaining to the girls how to use their spider powers.

- Hey, Mommy! Don't tell me how to be a spider! I even know how to get around billboards. – Scarlet responded snidely and I just saw her mocking smile.

- Yeah right. Sorry, I'm a little worried. – I sighed guiltily, giving myself a mental slap in the face.

- Don't take any unnecessary risks yourself, Gwen. – Gwen spoke up. – You have no instincts and no one to watch your back.

- But I have experience. And some of the scars from the wounds I picked up. So I'll be careful, you can count on that. – I wanted to tell a little more about my past exploits, but I realized that Stark and her AI were on the phone and didn't want to know too much about us. – In general – Trust your gut!

- That would make a nice motto. – MJ chuckled.

The conversation segued into something of a hiatus. I had no time for chitchat-I was practically there-and now I had to identify the vehicles in question, because «black van» was not a very reliable description, and they weren't driving in a single column behind each other, but scattered. I was lucky Chris had the license plate numbers, or I would have had to check all the cars I could think of.

I hit the first of the vans at full speed, kicking them both in the side with both feet, leaving a huge dent with lots of cracks.

The car not only rolled off the road, it tipped over at full throttle and crawled toward the sidewalk with an eerie screech, spewing fountains of sparks. I used the jerk and got right in front of it, shooting cobwebs at the van until it froze, glued to the pavement. I could imagine what it must have been like for the people inside. Even if they weren't hurt, their vestibular apparatus would still have its say, so they'd be pretty nauseous. I managed to cover the doors with cobwebs and turned my attention to the other car. The van was coming right at me, and I had no time to speed up and go around it from the flag, nor did I have the element of surprise. But now there was a web. And if girl spiders like to catch and cocoon criminals-who says you can't do the same with a car?

«Dash.» - And there I was, on the roof of the van, performing an ingenious trick, releasing six strands of webbing in my hands at once. This is my advantage over spider-girls, limited to just a couple of web-shooters – the ability to weave as many webs as I want. So right on the precepts of Toby Maguire from the second movie, I shoot threads into the surrounding houses at second-third floor level – only I don't hold them in my hands, but glue them to the sides of the car. And when the cobwebs have accumulated enough, the van has nothing left but to break away from the asphalt and hang in the air. And I just like the first one, I seal the doors and can move on to the next one.

It was even easier and faster with the third van, although its passengers, having already realized that they were under attack, met me with fire from all the barrels. It was a barrage, but it wasn't too aimed. I didn't even try to dodge it, but I cast a magical shield over myself. I'd promised Gwen I'd be more careful, and I'd wanted to see how well it could hold bullets. It turned out to be quite good, and by the time I had turned the van into another cocoon, there were several lumps of lead stuck in the glowing shell around me like jelly.

The last car, on the other hand, was a bit of a mess. No, I was lucky – and the clod of web, let out to seal the open hatch from which I was shot again, successfully caught the grenade which had flown towards it. And not only caught it, but returned it back to its owners.

- Holy shit! – I only had time to rush to the car, not having much idea what I was going to do – but the explosion had happened before. I had to dodge the shrapnel, bending in the most twisted way possible. The pain in my lower back was so sharp that I couldn't stop myself from crying out.

- Aah!

- Shadowy! – Immediately Gwen's disquieted voice came through the earpiece. – Shadow, what's wrong?

- Owww. I'm fine. – Luckily the symbiote reacted immediately, taking the pain away. – It just wasn't a very good dodge. Once again I'm convinced that I may be stronger, but being flexible and agile like you clearly has its advantages. So I still have a lot to work on in me.

- Oof. Then don't scare me like that again, please. – Spider-Girl sighed in relief. – Are you done yet?

- Yeah, you could say I am. – I glanced angrily at the remains of the fourth van, knowing it was better not to mention it now. And no, I didn't feel sorry for the idiots who'd thought of using a grenade launcher in such conditions. It was just a shame that my first fight as a member of the Spider Team had ended so… sloppily. – That's it, I'm on my way to help Stark.

- You're advised to hurry. – Kris jumped right into the conversation. – The latest readings show that Ma'am's armor systems are close to critical.

-I'm on my way, give me directions. – I really did soar into the air. – «I'm going to have to get out of here,» I said, and then I was gone.

-Yeah. -Synchronously echoed in my earpiece.

-I've never done anything like that in my life, but I can tell you I'm crazy about this toy. – Stijn grinned contentedly, crumpled up the Iron Lady's helmet like a plastic cup and tossed it contemptuously toward Tina sprawled on the roof. Stark jerked convulsively, trying to get up after the iron thing smacked her on the concrete.

- You've outdone yourself, Tina. – Rattling her clumsy exoskeleton and shuffling from foot to foot, Stein took her time walking toward her vanquished opponent. – Your mother would be proud of you.

The woman, recently brought back to life, sighed deeply and still managed to get to her feet again. Steyen laughed, firing the machine gun built into her right arm. All Stark had the strength to do was cover her exposed head with her hand. The hail of bullets did no damage and bounced off the Iron Lady's armor, but shattered the glass roof she was standing on. Another section shattered right under her feet, and Tina plummeted to her feet.

I was right in time for the climax of the whole thing – and, despite my original intention not to interfere, I couldn't help myself when I saw the whole thing in person.

I had to speed up my perception in order to perform a dozen «jerks» with incredible speed, going into a new one at the same moment as the previous one ended, leaving myself just a fraction of a second to assess the situation. I was on the roof, though, and I made the barrier that took Obidaiya's machine-gun fire even before Stark miraculously managed to get a hold of the overlap. Wow, the pressure wasn't bad! Though the dragon was pushing harder with his breath – but then I was NOT balancing on the fucking bar.

- Shit. – Gritting my teeth, I used the symbiote to cling harder to the beam.

- Who the hell are you? – Obidiah roared, emerging right out of the air of me. The power of her attack was unaffected, though.

- I yelled back, sending a missile flying toward us with my telekinesis. – Stark! Get the hell out of here!

- I'm actually wearing a suit that adds twenty-five pounds of extra weight. – Tina snapped, trying unsuccessfully to pull herself up.

-Fucking gramophone! – I burst into a scream, feeling like it was getting harder and harder to hold on under the onslaught of the machine gun. – It's not like I can cover us from bullets, fend off missiles, and pull you out as a bonus at the same time!

- So get out of here! – Tina went ballistic, too. – This place is all…

- I know! – Her desperate attempt to get another of Obidaya's missiles back to her landlady, much like the recent grenade, failed miserably. I wasn't quite good enough with my Telekinesis for such a trick. – Let her push! I'll get us out of here!

- You sure? – Tina's left arm slipped off at that moment, and she leaned forward with one right hand and didn't even wait for a response before she screamed at the top of her lungs. – PEPPER! PEPPER!

The bright glow below was my cue. The thought occurred to me that Nightwing does things like that all the time. It would be interesting to take a lesson or two from him or her, or even to compete. And now I «Darted» out of the line of fire down toward Stark, wrapped my arms tightly around her, and jumped to the side, then over and over again, trying to get out of range. I was a little too busy trying to get out of the impact zone, and then I jumped to the side again.

-Eh. – I took another sad look at my phones.

- Mortis! – Gwen, walking beside me, winked.

- I'm sorry if that's hard for you to hear. – I twirled the two melted things in my hands that had once been phones. – But there's no other way to put it.

- You know, it's a miracle you survived. Cell phones are the least of my losses. – A girl took one of the things from me, twisted it in her hands, and gave it back. – They melted and you didn't get a scratch.

- Luckily, we weren't hit by the beam. We were only touched by the heat wave from it, tangentially. Stark's armor covered me. – I improvised as I went. Gwen snorted, but didn't argue. – And the keycard was probably demagnetized. That meant I couldn't get into the house without explaining myself to the guards.

-Can't you just jump in there with those moves of yours? – This is where the girl was clearly surprised. – I don't understand, you're like a goddess. Why do you have to justify yourself to someone?

- Well, you don't tell your family you wear a mask. – I reminded them sadly. – My home is the World of the Dead, but you can't just jump back and forth like that. I had to become a houseguest, and there were certain conditions imposed on me. Among other things, to call and let me know if I was going to be late. It would have been convenient to do that on the way back, but. – I shook my former phones in my hands sadly again.

After we left Stark in the care of her assistant, Pepper, we headed straight home. Though we made it back even faster than we had on the way to Malibu, we didn't make it before curfew, of course. That's when I discovered the sorry state of my phones and pass card. The latter was not melted, but it was badly damaged. The girls, by the way, were a little sorry at first that I insisted on giving Tina back her handy transmitters, but they finally agreed that it was better to encourage May to make her own for the Spider Girls. And it's a good thing they didn't figure out that I didn't want to keep Stark's equipment for fear it might have something like Geolocation or something similar in it. Anyway, I managed to avoid another reproach of paranoia, and that was a good thing.

I realized that an extra half hour wouldn't make a difference, so I offered to walk Gwen home. The only thing was that the girl was adamant that she was going to walk me home, because it didn't seem fair that she should get all the attention. Maybe – she just didn't want to reveal her home on the same day – but I didn't mind anyway.

The fact that I appeared to be living in someone else's house interested Gwen, so I had to tell her a shorter version of the whole story-about how I had recently saved the life of someone who decided to thank me by taking me into her house instead of something simple. My girlfriend laughed at first, pretending to be jealous, «I've never been repaid in this way,» but then she got serious again and remarked that it was unusual to pick up a person in the street like a stray kitten. Well, I agreed with her here, for I was surprised myself when Lydia did that. The other thing was that Gwen wasn't aware of the other things I'd done to impress the passionate milf, hehe.

I also shared my story about mutant powers and fleeing from the Guardians. I was also the only one who could tell the story of my mutant powers and my escape from the Guardians. I was quick to assure her that I'd been completely honest with her and her friends, and I was going to tell my benefactress, too… a little later. When the issue of documents is resolved.

So, with lively conversation, we reached my new home.

- So this is your… her house? – Gwen was appreciating the Hardy family nest while I was talking to security on the intercom.

- Yes, it is. – The gate had finally been opened, and now we were walking up the patterned stone path to the entrance. – Hardy Manor.

- Hardy's? The blonde's eyes widened at the news. – You live at the Hardy's?

-Yeah. – I shrugged my shoulders a little embarrassed. – What's the big deal? I used to live in a different environment, but I'm not a fussy eater. I can sleep on the ground as long as I have something to shelter me from the wind.

- Yeah, your ability to adapt to any kind of hardship is amazing. – Gwen sneered.

I couldn't think of a decent response before the front door opened toward us as we approached it. It let out two women, one of whom was Lydia herself, but the other…

- Mother?

- Gwen?

Ooh, surprise. What a coincidence. But actually, meeting my girlfriend's parents wasn't planned at this point in the relationship. We made a huge leap on our first date.

- Mortis? – The older Hardy leisurely glanced around at Gwen, at her mother, and finally settled on me.

- Lydia? – I hope she wasn't expecting me to call her «Mom» too? I wonder which one is Gwen's mom – the one who works for the police or the other one? I can't tell at a glance, but there's a better chance it's her. All right, let's try it at random. – Did you really go to the police when I was a little late after curfew?

- Don't be silly, Captain Stacy's here about something else. – The older blonde grinned, and then she squinted slyly. – And since you brought it up so casually, why did you stay late and not even call?

-And that goes for you, Gwen, too. – The other mother intervened. – You should have been home or at May's a long time ago, now that you've taken the night off. Instead, I meet you… here, so late at night.

Damn! What a day today – another crisis and I have nothing on hand to excuse myself and my friend. Okay, I'll get something…

- So… so it happens, Mom. – To my surprise Gwen spoke first, though her speech sounded rather nervous and her voice tense. – A couple of days ago, Mortis… she was walking by our school and saw… saw a bully picking on May… and I or MJ weren't around. Mortis stepped in… that's how we met. And tonight… we all got together… to get to know each other… and have a good time. We were going to stay at May's all night… but she was showing us one of her experiments… and it didn't work out…

- Jesus. – Captain Stacy had a change of heart. – Did you get hurt?

- We weren't… but Mortis's telephones… well, they were. – Gwen shook her head in my direction.

- Yeah, there was no way I could make a phone call with this. – I sighed as I showed both women the rest of the electronic favorites of the youth.

- And since Mortis couldn't stay the night without permission… we had to reschedule… And I… I decided to walk her… because she was new to the city and didn't know it very well yet… And so… we came… Gwen finished her story. She looked confused, her voice confused, and she didn't know how to lie to her mother. Which is odd for a masked superheroine. Okay, she's done what she can, now I'm gonna try to turn the fire on myself.

-How things are shaping up so well. – Her mom was looking at me and her daughter with a mocking squint. – Couldn't one of the girls have called from the phone?

- Captain, your faith in my abilities is truly touching. – I even managed to do something like a half-joking bow. – But I still have to disappoint you – I can't remember a phone number in one go.

- I see. – Stacy Senior gave me another long look and then turned back to her daughter. – I understand your motives, but it was stupid and dangerous nonetheless. How were you going to get home from here?

- I would have asked Lydia to drive her. – I was the one who stepped in. – Or call a cab for Gwen.

- Hadn't that idea occurred to either of you before? – My date's mother inquired, ingratiatingly.

- Captain, that's enough. – Lydia steadfastly intervened. She was just listening to us, staring at me and Gwen as intently as if she were looking right through us. – She's my ward, after all, and I'll… discuss her behavior in situations like this myself.

-Do me a favor. – The woman grinned. – Okay, Gwen, let's go. We'll talk at home.

- Just a minute, Mom. – The girl turned to Lydia. – Ma'am I want to apologize to you. After all, it was because of us that Mortis lost her phones and you had to worry about her.

- Oh, that's all right, dear. – Hardy Sr. Smiled sweetly. – I'll just deduct the cost of the new ones from her pocket money. – She shifted her gaze to me. – But don't think, young lady, that you'll get off that easy.

- I don't mind. – I just smiled broadly. – We had an agreement, and I broke it. So I deserved my punishment, and I faced it with my head held high, not begging for forgiveness.

- Pretty big words for someone who couldn't keep her word. As if punishment meant nothing to you at all. – Lydia snorted, nodding toward the door under the astonished glances of both Stacies. – Come on in.

- Bye, Gwen. – I waved wryly at the girl, and then made a slight half bow toward her mother again. – Mrs. Stacy.

- Get in the house already!

- And what was the point of this adventure? – Lydia asked once we were in the hallway. Her tone was not angry, only interested. In fact, I thought Gwen made a pretty good impression on Senior Hardy.

- There was no point, no adventure. – I smiled. – It was what it was.

- You were the one who said you wanted to stay away from law enforcement. – Lydia reminded me. – You mean you were good friends with the daughter of a police captain?

- No, of course not. – I shrugged it off. – Seriously, it's not like she's got a cop in the family. And anyway, I thought you liked Gwen.

- Also true. – The older Hardy bit her lip thoughtfully, as if she hadn't heard my last words. – We'll have to speed things up and get custody of you tomorrow.

- I guess so. – I nodded understandingly. Yeah, that was a good idea, because something told me Gwen's mother would want to know more about her daughter's strange new friend, too. And she has a lot of possibilities.

- You really met in high school?

-Yeah! – I giggled stupidly and hurried to explain myself, catching the look of surprise in my future guardian's eyes. – I climbed into the breakdown of the gym because I wanted to take a proper shower. So we met. Not in the shower, of course.

- Does she know about your… peculiarity? – Lydia got all tense.

- About my mutation? No, of course not. – I smiled, realizing what was most disturbing to the enterprising milf.

- Okay, go to your room. – Senior Hardy sighed. – And don't think I'll forget about the punishment.

- What are you talking about? – I immediately acted the most ardent eagerness. – Like I said, I'll take any punishment I can get.

Part One Chapter Twentieth

***Lauren Cranston – Miss Fear***

- So what do you suggest we do now? – Lauren thoughtfully cross-checked the lists of ships and vessels in port one more time. Just like that, not getting her hopes up.

- Shit. – her partner clearly wanted to express herself in a much harsher form, or even to vent her frustration in the form of physical violence, but she held back, taking a lighter and a cigarette case out of her jacket. – That's something to think about.

The sledgehammer clicked and clicked the button with irritation, but something in the lighter wouldn't work and the fire wouldn't come on. With each failure the irritation piled up and she was frighteningly close to snapping and doing something stupid, but the long-awaited light came on and the woman was able to take a welcome soothing puff.

-I'll say it again-if you're trying to mess with our heads. – Sledgehammer with one glance literally pinned to the floor the woman who had just recently pulled her by the scruff of the neck like a puppy, trying to beat the information out of her.

- And I'll say it again – everything is clear to me. – The port commandant glowered back, not even trying to get to her feet. – But that doesn't change anything. The ship hasn't come into port-and there's nothing I can do about it.

- Mmmmmm. – The gromila only gritted her teeth, trying to calm her irritation. She realized that if this situation was anyone's fault, it wasn't really hers. That didn't make it any easier, and the sixth wheel only made her more irritated by interrupting her in the middle of a sentence. Worst of all, it was useless to beat her to solve the problem. And not even as an example. – The boss wouldn't like it. – She grimly grumbled, and suddenly seemed to shake up. – By the way, what is the protocol to do in such cases?

- Notify the higher authorities. – The warder, who had calmed down by the time they stopped threatening her, made a rote announcement. – They will try to contact the ship, and if that fails, they will send a search party and alert the Coast Guard.

- Isn't there a means of communication right here? – Lauren asked, tossing aside the port lists that had bored her with their uselessness.

- Only low-powered, mostly for communicating within the port and the vicinity. And that's all,- the woman shrugged under the mobster's gaze. – Anything more serious is only with the bosses.

- Fine. – Putting out and crumpling her cigarette, Sledgehammer straightened her jacket. – That's when we'll pay them a visit. Maybe they'll be able to do something, but if not, we'll rely on the sailors.

***Mortis***

After all the events of the day, I was happy to crash on the bed in my room and have a nice nap. For a couple of hours. After that, I was back at my laptop playing games until morning. I was in a world other than my own, and some of my old habits were coming back. Lydia didn't even have to wake me up. She had tried so hard to come for me in person, and at six in the morning. Instead of a good night's sleep, I was up to my ears in another game. However, Senior Hardy deftly managed her surprise and sent me off to wash my face and have breakfast. Breakfast, by the way, was suspiciously light and healthy-juice, salad, fruit. Nothing that would interfere with the exercise. Or what looked like exercise when I was given a T-shirt and athletic leggings. They were very tight-fitting-at least as prominent as I had seen my ass in the mirror that morning in a long time. Except that instead of the usual exercise I went to a real group workout. That is, all as a «family» and even with an instructor. The two Hardys looked so sexy in their sports outfits and with their hair in a ponytail, and Lydia had a bandage on her forehead, too.

I was in the middle of a class, and I had to do some kind of hybrid aerobics and fitness class. We had to do some kind of hybrid of aerobics and fitness, I never knew anything about it, and I don't aspire to. The fact is, Lydia and Felicia were standing in front of the trainer doing a set of exercises to light music. And I had to do the same, but only being a little behind the couple so that – their luscious asses in tight athletic pants loomed in front of my eyes all the time. So I was not thinking about the trainer's instructions, but was fighting the urge to squeeze these firm buns, and even to slap them hard. But in the end, I took a couple of deep breaths and pulled myself together, forcing myself not to be distracted. And I ruthlessly suppressed the hard-on that had formed with the powers of the Necrosword.

And only when I started exercising in earnest did I realize what I had gotten myself into. Because the whole complex was devoted to flexibility training. That fucking creep Felicia-which I did with great pleasure, I had to admit-she had clearly shared with Lydia her observations about the strengths and weaknesses of my training. No, of course, I was going to tighten that weakness myself, but not at this pace and in a different environment. And now, though I was behind me, I had no doubt that these tormentors could see all my clumsy movements and lapses, even more unfortunate because of how easily the Hardy family women themselves handled the training. And okay, Felicia, I had seen her training before. But Lydia, a little over forty, was not the least bit inferior to her daughter. Though I had noticed something of this during our first limousine fuck, I had clearly underestimated this woman's capabilities. I was surprised by this discovery, but I still hadn't done any of the exercises properly. But the symbiote kept trying to help me and adjust my abilities as I practiced. But it was unlikely that I could do it without changing or deforming my body. I didn't need that at all, so I had to put the same strict ban on it as I did on arousal. In general – my muscles had to give a fair shake – and they weren't happy about it, since their usual strength and endurance weren't going to do much here.

Eventually, when it came to doing natarajasana pose I collapsed on my mat with a cramp. No, seriously, why the fuck had I fucked up so badly when Lydia was still full of strength? Of course, the practice was interrupted, everyone piled in beside me, and the coach wanted to help me, but I assured her that everything was already okay.

After which Hardy Sr. Graciously allowed me to rest. Ten minutes. Yes, she knew how quickly I recovered my strength. After that, the session was extended for the longest hour and a half of my life, until I repeated the whole complex again, this time under the watchful eye of the trio. The trainer was surprised at my endurance, but did not argue, Felicia obviously made some conclusions for herself, and Lydia watched my suffering with a very satisfied expression until the end.

Of course, I could have flinched and refused to go on. But I had already accepted the rules of the game when I became Hardy's freeloader, a concubine with concubine duties. And the basic rule is that whatever Rich Daddy says, the woman he favors does. And the fact that Big Momma is here instead doesn't change anything – because my own mother taught me to play by the rules… to a certain limit. Which hasn't been reached yet. So I listen and obey. I can get cocky… I can get cocky when I've built up my position and made a name for myself. Which I'll have to do soon. In the meantime…

- Fuck. – I collapsed on my mat out of my bridge pose. – That… was… brutal.

- I have to say, you did a great job, Mortis. – There was a look of respect in the eyes of the trainer, whose name I somehow didn't remember. – I feared that with this level of training you might injure yourself or pull a muscle.

-I'm adjusting. – I've been able to get my breath back, little by little. Felicia seemed to have some respect for me, too-so much so that she even gave me a short round of applause.

-You know, after our last class, I didn't believe you could take it. – Her voice was thoughtful, but quite friendly. She seemed to acknowledge that I wasn't her enemy, which was good. Unlike her mother's very attentive gaze.

- Still hanging in there? That's really impressive. – the woman admitted with a chuckle.

- What do you mean? – I forced myself to my feet to stretch the muscles that had been idle during the workout. – Look, in case you haven't noticed, I'm not competing with you in stubbornness, and I'm not proving anything. I just admitted from the start that I screwed up, and now I carry my punishment without complaint. Or is it that important to you to hear me say I'm sorry?

- But. – The older Hardy wanted to say something, but she hesitated and thought for a moment. Her eyes

Widened in surprise at her daughter's restrained laughter in the palm of her hand. And then the blond milf suddenly exhaled relaxed and looked at me with a very different. Warm look. – You continue to amaze me, my dear. Those principles of yours… what if I told you to take a run around the mansion naked?

Well. – I thought about it for a second. – What would that change? The house is yours and you make the rules. So you'd go for a run.

- Really? – Felicia grinned. I don't know if her surprise is just funny, or if it's funny and pleasant all at once-are you really ready to run naked in front of all the staff and all the cameras?

- First of all, I'm not ashamed of anything in my body, so I have nothing to be ashamed of. Secondly, I could run so fast that I would still be able to see a little. – I grinned. And thirdly, the golden rule of eliminating all witnesses and compromising evidence.

- Even so? Well, let's hope it doesn't come to that. – Lydia grinned back, showing that she appreciated the joke. Actually, I was deadly serious. – All right, everybody in the shower, we've got company. And not just for fun, but for business.

I wish I could say that the group shower was not marked by anything interesting, or turned into a pleasant adventure. However, it turned out to be neither. For starters, Lydia and I finally got a chance to examine each other naked-it had never worked before.

Well, like I said, I'm not ashamed of my body. Even a few scars on my arms and legs. However, the older Hardy paid minimal attention to them, but she went over my abs with her fingertips before she went to her cubicle. I, too, was not disappointed with what I saw. I do not know whether everything in this juicy milf is real or has something artificial, but the heavy breasts with large nipples and a delicious round ass, attracted my attention and aroused my interest. I even tried to sneak into her stall and get in behind her, but was resolutely put out with the words that there was no time for such entertainment now and a promise that we would definitely be able to unload in full force later. After receiving an admonishing slap on the buttock, I jumped out of the stall – to get right under Felicia's scrutinizing, if not appraising, gaze. That gaze ran me from head to toe and back again, and then it lingered on Lydia's hard, erect penis, which I fantasized about. For a few seconds we just stood there in silence, one in front of the other.

- Very nice…- the girl purred, her cheeks reddening. – Sis.

Then she turned around and wiggled her ass under the towel that enveloped her from her breasts to her thighs and walked imposingly toward the dressing room, leaving me stunned to look after her.

Yeah. Judging by the fact that what she saw didn't cause her to react as surprised as Lydia's, my mother had already shared revelations about my peculiarity with her daughter. So it's quite possible that Felicia already knows the same things about me that the older Hardy did. Does that complicate my situation? The hell it does. Come to think of it, Felicia might think of me not only as a girl, but as a guy, too-although there's a severe shortage of guys here. Doesn't that explain her warming to me? Well, we'll see what happens, maybe I'm just wishful thinking, but it's not like she's just going to let it all go. And man, it's a shame I didn't get to see her naked today. But I did notice the edge of a tattoo covered by a towel. Interesting, this was the third girl I knew with a tattoo in this world. Maybe it's…

Fashionable around here? Maybe I should get a couple, too. In fact, I'd brought it up once before in my early youth. But Hela had cleverly convinced me that instead of just stuffing a pretty picture, it was more interesting to do something that would accentuate my personality and even serve as magical support. The only thing was that I had to work out my own fighting style, which I did with enthusiasm, and I ended up giving up on tattoos as well as many of my other fantasies.

And after the shower, I suddenly had some personal time. Actually, originally I wanted to strengthen my relationship with the ladies of my… conditional family, but – Lydia was in her office and categorically ordered not to disturb her. Felicia, too, was in her room, doing her homework, and at the same time, she was happy to hear that she had already ordered all kinds of books, notebooks, and a lot of other small and not so small things that I needed to study. That is, this couple is already firmly convinced that I will learn in school, I will not go anywhere. So I'm just gonna get in? Yeah, but it's Hardy.

Well, since I had some free time, this time I decided to make the most of it. That is, to think and sketch a list – what in the first place I need to get for the manufacture of potions and artifacts, if I want exactly through them to strengthen my position in the house, and not remain only a concubine or gigolo. The only thing is that all this is not done on the spot – you need a workplace, tools, and materials. In general, the workshop is at least on the level of Parker's basement. In terms of equipment, not relative to the earth's surface. Although the minimal list was not as extensive as I feared. Some of the tools I could summon as well as weapons, the rest was quite realistic just to buy, either directly or through the Internet. Most likely…

True, I was not able to check this assumption immediately – the guest Lydia was waiting for arrived and I was invited to the office. On the way I sincerely hoped that I was not waiting for a new meeting with the police in the person of Mrs. Stacy. Though, it would seem, why should I be afraid of her? I hadn't had a chance to fuck Gwen yet, and we'd only kissed once in a burst of emotion. And to be clear, it was Gwen who kissed me, gentlemen of the jury, there was undeniable proof on MJ's phone that I was just the victim here. With a chuckle at such an entertaining thought, I knocked on the office door, and when I got permission, I sighed briefly and went inside.

- There she was. – Lydia nodded briefly at me from behind her desk. – Mortis, come in and sit down.

- Um. Okay. – I headed toward the vacant chair, noticing another woman in the office on the way. A stranger brunette in a formal business suit, nothing out of the ordinary. Wait, really a stranger? I stared at the guest so hard that I bumped into a chair – I knocked it over and kicked it. It didn't hurt, but I had to pick it up and put it back before I could sit down.

-Mortis, this is Jennifer Walters, our family lawyer. – Lydia introduced the woman, and that put me in a state of confusion. Because I know this person! Under a different name and a different line of work.

- Good afternoon. – I smiled briefly, adjusting my glasses. At first I felt goosebumps running all over my body, and then they turned into a powerful rush of excitement. And it was all because of the memories that came flooding back.

- Y-yeah. Kind. – I somehow squeezed it out, and it couldn't help the surprise on that… Jennifer's face. Even Lydia raised her eyebrows in surprise, seeing such atypical behavior on my face for the first time. And how was I supposed to explain to them that I knew this tall, statuesque woman with plump lips, slender legs, and dark hair that fell below her waist, whose business suit barely contained the nicely bulging balls of full breasts. I know her from my past life. No, we didn't know each other personally, of course, but how many photos and videos I collected at the time with the awesome Aletta Ocean, a real star of the porn industry. Not every rich daddy could pull this star of OnliFuns, porn movies and Escorts. I had only one hard question: what the fuck am I doing in the Hardy family's concubines if they could get themselves such a lady? And how fucking great they would look together!

- Mortis! Mortis! – Lydia had to almost scream to pull a lost-to-the-world me out of my thoughts for a few minutes.

- Yeah, yeah, I had to slap my cheeks with my hand a couple of times to wake up. – I'm sorry.

- What were we just talking about? – The posh milf immediately demanded an answer. God, they're both milfs here, the only difference is that she's getting more and more annoyed at my lack of focus at such an important moment.

- Hmm. I don't quite understand – why do we need a lawyer? – I tried to avoid it, but I had heard nothing but the name and the profession.

- Let me – delicately intervened in the conversation Aletta … that is, Jennifer. – It so happened that at the beginning of my career I was very lucky. I was able to prove myself and succeed in one case where Miss Hardy's regular legal staff passed up. I didn't get the offer to join the staff, though – one glaring success couldn't replace practice and experience. However…

- It's silly to lose a potentially lucrative acquisition just because of an unclear degree of risk. – Lydia chuckled.

- Yes, instead of a position at Hardy's company and foundation, I got an interesting offer. If I conduct at least a dozen successful cases in the next three months – I will get a position as a lawyer of the actual Hardy family. – The brunette smiled and threw up her hands – It was very tempting, so I worked my ass off – and, as you can see, I succeeded. So now I'm Miss Hardy and her daughter's personal lawyer. Sort of like a family doctor, but for legal malpractice.

-What happened to that staff of lawyers? – I asked the first thing that came to my mind as I tried to fit everything I had heard into it.

- That's how they work in the company. – Calmly replied Lydia. – They are in their place there.

- Oh. – I couldn't think of anything else and I found myself staring blankly at Jennifer's generous cleavage for a while. What the hell?! Lydia's is bigger! Sort of. – So how does all this apply to me?

- Legal matters of the family, Mortis! – Very patiently, like a little girl, the older Hardy repeated. – You're supposed to be quick and clever, get it together! We'll have to register me as your guardian with a view to adopting you.

-Ah, that's it. – I know, I was dumb. For some reason, I didn't expect this issue to be handled at home and not in an office somewhere. Although, yes, it is a family matter.

- Now that that's taken care of, the brunette lady nodded graciously. – I'm gonna need your insurance number first.

- Jennifer, no. – Lydia slowed her down as I tried to figure out what I'd been asked to do in the first place. – This is a special case. You're looking at a whole new person.

- What do you mean? – The lawyer was surprised, and looked from one of us to the other and back again.

- In the sense that there are no records of Mortis Heldottir. All cleared by the government,- explained the elder Hardy calmly. – See her off as an orphan. After all, she is one now.

- Hmm.- The lawyer's eyes sparkled slyly. But aren't we skirting the law here?

- Jennifer, I'm going to adopt her, all right. – Lydia shrugged her shoulders calmly. – But in the meantime, we need formal custody right away. I don't have to tell you that you can get around a few formal rules and still obey the BUTTON of the law.

- However. – All-Not-Aletta glanced at me over her glasses, and I fidgeted in my chair, feeling a tremendous tension between my legs-if the government got rid of the information about her…

- Mortis was unlucky enough to fall into the hands of the Sentinel Project,- the white-haired missus pressed her lips together angrily, -After that, she became an orphan. Of course, everything was cleaned up afterward, and officially she doesn't even exist anymore.

- You mean you're a mutant? – Another intense and wildly seductive stare.

- Well…- I grimaced, as if I didn't want to admit it out loud.

- Well, I'll help. – Jennifer nodded and, embarrassed that it sounded too dry, hastily added. – Especially since I have already been involved in mutant protection cases, so I know some of the specifics. – Her speech was interrupted by the ringing of her mobile, a rather pleasant ringtone, by the way – And now, excuse me – but I have to answer urgently, it's just a couple of minutes – she stood up and stepped aside.

***Sexual Scene***

- Do you really like brunettes that much? – Lydia's voice made Mortis turn in her direction. The white-haired milf stood with her arms crossed over her chest, looking at the futa with mocking curiosity.

- What makes you think that? – She mumbled stubbornly, realizing that her blushing cheeks gave her away.

- You look so hungry and ready to dive headfirst into Jennifer's cleavage. – The woman explained condescendingly, with a short snort.

- It's different here. – The girl shook her head. – She reminds me of someone.

- First love? – Lydia's eyebrow arched mockingly.

- It wasn't exactly what you'd call love. – Mortis grinned, too. -Only a little, maybe. But I was crazy about that woman and the impossibility of even touching her.

- So? Is Jennifer really that much like her? – The elder Hardy approached her future ward almost up close.

- Like a reflection in a mirror. – The girl threw her family lawyer another eager look as she left the office.

-You woe is mine. – Mortis flinched in surprise as Lydia's palm touched her crotch and expertly groped her tense shaft through the fabric. And then the woman dropped to her knees, undoing her zipper and unleashing her organ feet into the air. – Let me help you, but hurry up. We have big plans for tonight.

- What's the point? She'll come back and start all over again. – Mortis, however, objected only for the sake of appearance. The head of the Hardy family was too skillful and experienced a partner. In her strong palm, his cock poured extra strength with every second – but it was still a long way from erupting. But the fact that Lydia was taking over right then and there, not even closing the door of the office, was also quite arousing-just imagining that Felicia might drop in at any moment-or that Jennifer might actually come back.

-Can't you control it at all? – Without waiting for an answer, the woman wrapped her lips around his cock – and then swallowed it, greedily sucking it into her mouth and throat. Leaving bright traces of her lipstick on her skin, the white-haired milf determinedly went at it – except that while at first it looked like she was helping her future adopted daughter with her tension, with each movement Lydia's own desire became stronger and more obvious. Soon she was almost purring with pleasure, working the powerful shaft with her tongue, and groping the relief cubes of her abs with her fingers.

- Again, I'm sorry, that was a really important call. So where were we. – Jennifer, who appeared on the threshold of the office, froze in amazement, having found inside a scene, as if descended from the screen of a porn movie and could only watch her boss bravely moved her head between the legs of the one she was going to adopt.

- What else did it look like to you? – Lydia broke away from her exercise, continuing to knead her powerfully erect cock with her hand. The improbability of this picture made the lawyer open his astonished eyes even wider. – No, it really wasn't going to be quick here. Jen, stop standing there like an idiot with your mouth open. Either get out, or get in here and help me.

- What?- was all she could make out, now dumbfounded by Miss Hardy's order.

- Ah, well, what's the point of leaving. – Lydia immediately changed her mind – It's her reaction to you and your forms, you come back and it will start all over again. So get over here now! Otherwise you can say goodbye to half of your fee, not to mention bonuses. – and she turned her attention back to the young futa. – Well, baby, if you want our pretty Jenny that badly, Mommy will help you fuck her.

Mortis was not particularly surprised that Lydia, who had originally intended only to help her cum quickly, in a few seconds seemed to forget her plans, selflessly giving herself first to the blowjob and then to the full blowjob. Beneath the outer shell of the calculating businesswoman Miss Hardy was a temperamental and ardent nymphomaniac, ready to give herself to passion at every opportunity. Just like now, when her skillful hot mouth multiplied the excitement of the foot with every movement.

Jennifer's return could no longer embarrass Mortis, rather the opposite. Even though she knew that she was dealing with another woman, but the appearance of the beloved and long-desired porn star evoked quite an unambiguous reaction – an even greater increase in lust. After the first words of Lydia Futa jumped up and was ready to rush after the brunette, to bring her back to the office by force, but after hearing the continuation she relaxed, with satisfied groans taking off the family lawyer with greedy glances.

-I should sue you. – Jennifer said thoughtfully, but her gaze was completely fixed on the way Lydia's tongue leisurely stroked over his cock from the base to the head and licked it playfully. The lawyer could have threatened anything, but it didn't matter anymore. – Mortis had already seen the exact same look the other night in the limousine. Now the mistress of that car was working diligently on Foot's cock, and it was that sight that held all the sexy brunette's attention ruthlessly breaking the remnants of resistance. An organ of this size she had so far only seen as a sex toy or in a porn movie.

- I think my baby is going to be very upset then. – The blonde milf kissed the shaft, leaving another lipstick imprint on it. – Why don't you just come over here and appreciate what you're staring at? You can count that as another bonus to your fee…

- Oh, my God. – Jennifer took a tentative step forward, then another. – It's almost the size of my hand…

- Come over here and compare. – Lydia stepped aside, making room next to her. – And just so you know, it easily stretches every hole and goes all the way to the gut. – She couldn't resist a sly chuckle when she saw the glint in the lawyer's eyes.

The moment the incomparable Aletta's doppelganger knelt before her, Mortis thought she had experienced the greatest pleasure of her life. But after a few seconds, the woman's hand touched and enveloped her powerfully erect cock, and Futa realized-no, here it was-the strongest. And when the brunette, encouraged by her boss, began not only to jerk the hard shaft in prints of bright lipstick, but also for the first time touched the head with her plump lips, the young goddess just howled at the brightness and power of sensations, clearly aware that she was separated from her first orgasm by only a few seconds.

- Mmm. – Jennifer muffled, making sure that reality surpassed all her fantasies. She managed to take Mortice's cock in her mouth only halfway – and the head was already resting in her throat. It was a size the woman had never experienced before, but that didn't mean she was going to give up. Carefully licking and sucking the mighty shaft, and gently moving her fingers over the rest of it on the outside, the brunette was still able to relax her throat and take the tip of the head into it – although this also made tears spurt from her eyes, smearing her makeup.

-That's it, that's it, good girl! – Lydia put her hand in a ponytail and held her dark hair back, not letting it fall over her face. – See how much my baby likes you?

Obediently raising her gaze to Mortis's face, Jennifer could no longer look away – literally mesmerized by the desire and lust burning in the young futa's eyes, she managed to take another inch of the divine cock into her aching throat with a desperate growl. And then another. And before she knew it, her boss's hands, releasing her hair, grasped the sides of her business jacket, squeezed firmly – and sharply yanked to the sides, ruthlessly tearing off the top buttons, and a second later they did the same with the blouse, releasing the milf's mighty breasts.

That was the one thing Mortis couldn't stand. The lust-filled gaze of the woman – or a copy of her, but it didn't really matter now – whom she had lusted after for years and who now, though not very skillfully, was diligently taking her aching hard cock down her throat. That alone would have been enough, and at the same moment Lydia also unbuttoned her shirt – and it appeared that Jennifer wore no bra, the freed full breasts swaying invitingly forward…

-Yaaaah! – The first orgasm shook Futa's body like a discharge, and with an unrestrained howl she began to pour a copious stream of cum right down the throat of the brunette kneeling in front of her.

The brunette's eyes widened as the cock in her throat twitched and a flood of semen gushed out. All she had to do now was swallow the thick cum, but on the third gulp Jennifer realized that she couldn't cope, she was still full, her cheeks were swollen – and she finally had to let the cock out of her mouth after all and try to cough it up.

- Mmmmmm. My baby was giving out copious portions as usual. – Lydia was already kneeling beside me again, unzipping her shirt and getting rid of her bra. With her palm around Futa's cock and working diligently on it, the white-haired milf directed a stream of semen back and forth into her mouth and onto her naked breasts – Mmmm… come on, honey, empty everything you have on me, flood me with your sperm.

Mortis didn't mind the way Lydia deftly intercepted her cum-sucking cock – Jennifer's face was already smeared with semen, continuing to excite her wildly just looking at it. And the way the elder Hardy was catching cum in her mouth and pouring it over her gorgeous tits was impressive. So Futa moaned contentedly, cumming on her would-be guardian until the first wave of orgasm subsided.

-Mmmm. I love it. – Lydia licked her lips, savoring Mortis's cum before swallowing it, squirming like a satisfied pussycat. Jennifer coughed and came to her senses again, shocked to see that Mortis still had a rock hard boner.

-What the hell? How is that possible? – Jenifer, who had barely coughed out a breath, stared at Futa's cock in disbelief. – She had just come! – Almost pitifully groaned the lawyer, unable to believe the reality of the dream from the pages of porn comics.

- I told you it wouldn't work. – snorted Mortis, who had not yet completely regained her breath. – How much I've poured on you, and what's the use? – She nodded with a chuckle at his still erect penis. – In the same room with two super-sexy things like that, he couldn't be relaxed, not even while you were both dressed. And now he wouldn't rest until he'd fuck you to death, that's for sure. – She looked at the lawyer with a sly smile. – What do you say, Ale. Jennifer? I don't want to force you, you can refuse and leave, but your boss will confirm – in this case you will lose a lot!

- I'll admit, baby, I'd rather you save more energy for tonight. – Lydia smiled predatory. – But it's clear that you won't stop at one mouthful of sweet Jenny. So let's keep going. – Reaching out, she took the still stunned brunette by the chin and forcefully turned her face toward her. – Hey, can you hear me? Are you still with us?

- Ooh. – The lawyer shook her head, freeing herself from both her clinging fingers and her fantasies. – So, does she often, like this?

- Like what? – Her boss was openly amused. – Does she get horny quickly? Does she cum profusely? Or does she keep her stamina up? The answer to both is yes. That's the nature of her mutation. But you have to admit, it's much better than trying to squeeze one modest orgasm out of your partner for hours.

-That's right. – False Aletta slowly rose to her feet. – But, you know, I don't actually sleep with my clients. It's both unprofessional and unethical.

- And what about the opposite – give professional help to your new girlfriend? – The blonde milf slyly inquired and put her arm around Jennifer's waist and pulled her toward her desk. – Think of it as first date sex tonight. And I'm sure Mortis would love to go out with you for a couple or three more, if not more.

- You know how to talk your way out of things and turn them upside down. – The lawyer even laughed briefly, and after the mistress of the office leaned forward, leaning her elbows on the table and erotically sticking out her skirt-tight ass.

- It was hard to persuade someone who already had a real waterfall between her legs. – Lydia, with a short laugh, slapped the buttock of her companion and shook her ass playfully. – Baby, you choose which one you like better. But don't forget the other one.

- Choose? – Mortis was almost immediately behind the women, right on the move finally getting rid of the jeans – Well, it would be a good start to know – and what can you offer me at all? – his hands went to the waist of the white-haired milf, slid forward, flicked the belt buckle, undid the zipper – and then deftly pulled the strict pants of her business suit off her supple hips, leaving the mistress of the house only in fishnet black stockings and a narrow strip of thong. – Oh, Lydia, as sexy and stylish as ever. – The elder Hardy cheerfully shrieked and rocked her ass in response to the spanking she received, very pleased with the compliment laid out by all the means available to her. – What about our guest? – Instead of pulling Jennifer's skirt down to her knees, Mortis pulled it up to her waist, exposing her red panties of fine silk. – Mmmm. So that's what's in vogue with domestic lawyers these days. I like them.

- They're very casual. I'm not planning to… ow! – The brunette shrieked and mechanically squeezed her buttocks, getting a judging spanking as well,- Damn, it's embarrassing. And this is the first time I've had a passive role…

- Was it? – Lydia responded immediately. – Baby, be sure to play well with Jenny's ass and give her a good squeeze!

But Futa didn't need any instruction; her hands were already sliding shamelessly over both women's buttocks, stroking and squeezing them, and even slapping them again a couple of times.

- Nice asses. – Mortis summed it up. – Tender and tight and firm. If I'd been right to choose which one I liked better, we'd have been here till morning. – Her palms slid down between the Milfs' legs and stroked the swollen, soft lips through the thin fabric of her lingerie. Okay, let's be honest about this.

-Are you sure you're not related? You're right on the edge of your depravity. I'm not even sure I should go that far anymore. – In spite of her words, the shapely lawyer only shuddered sweetly at the touch of someone else's fingers on her heated crotch, not even trying to dodge.

-Are you going to tell me this now? – Half-turning around, the blonde milf smiled contentedly as she watched her daughter-to-be nestled behind Jennifer, masterfully taking the woman's hips and teasing her with light touches of the head of her straining cock. The choice was the right one. Yes, Lydia herself was eager to feel that mighty shaft in her again soon, but still – she had already experienced this pleasure more than once, but Mortis and Jenny were really having a first date.

And then the young Futa squeezed the brunette's thighs even tighter and in one determined forward thrust to the limit, she invaded the wet heat of her pussy.

- My fucking Goddess! – Jennifer exploded with a scream, arching and gripping the edge of the table tightly. Her hips trembled and the walls of her pussy clenched convulsively, clenching her cock foot even tighter. Pseudo Aletta was cumming, shaking in fits of orgasm from the first penetration of this monster into herself to Lydia's very satisfied smile. – Fuck… it pierced me all the way to my uterus… and I think it went in. H-h-how is that even w-how is that possible…

- It's just, if I'm going to fuck a hot girl, I'm going to do it right. – Jennifer's first orgasm had not yet subsided, but Mortis had already grabbed the milf by her gorgeous hips and began to move, at first measuredly, but increasingly accelerating in the process despite the elastic resistance of her hot tight pussy. – So much so that she couldn't even stand on her feet after that.

- Ahhhaaa! – Under the pressure of the futa, the lawyer's body shook so much that the table shuddered beneath her. The screaming subsided, but there was simply no end to the moaning. Instinctively wanting at least a little relief from the pressure of such a lovable person, the woman tried to pull away a little, fidgeting on the table top, but the palms of the young mistress firmly clutched the tight buttocks of the milf, then pulling them apart, then pressed one to the other in the beat of his movement.

The first astonishment had long since passed, and now the fact that the Hardy family lawyer had the appearance of a passionately adored porn star no longer confused Mortis, but on the contrary, was seen as an even more arousing combination of two in one, making her want to fuck only harder and harder. Which she was now doing with total dedication, not about to stop until the dark-haired milf had cum on her cock at least a couple more times. And the lawyer's body responded passionately to the wild sex. The wet pussy, even though it was narrow and also squeezed his cock not wanting to let him out of his embrace, flowed nonstop waterfall. Her asshole crumpled pliantly and made a resounding noise with each thrust against his thighs.

-I hope you appreciate my baby now. – Lydia's wide smile grew more and more like a predatory grin with each passing second. – You won't be needing that now.

-Aah! Kahaaaah! – Moaning at the huge cock piercing her over and over again, the brunette found herself without the strength to thwart the new assault of the head of the Hardy house. And the latter, taking advantage of the moment, unceremoniously pulled off the woman's jacket and was now tearing Jennifer's blouse to shreds with obvious pleasure, exposing her completely.

-Lusty animals! Both of you! Keep it up! – The helpless victim of this relentless attack had only to pliantly thrust herself onto the ramming shaft – and each thrust was followed by a vivid flash of micro-orgasm deep inside her.

Mortis no longer accelerated her movements – finding the right tempo, she fucked and fucked Jennifer's wet pussy with measured, sharp thrusts, each time penetrating deep to the limit – and bringing her to a new orgasm immediately after the previous one. However, she did not leave the other milf without her attention and took the right moment to pull Lydia to her, passionately kissing her on the lips. Her hand went down the woman's back, and on the tight ass, she gave a resounding slap to each of her buttocks. Lydia cried out shortly into the lips of her future daughter and began to wriggle her whole body, rubbing passionately against Mortis with both her belly and her lush breasts. And after a couple of minutes, Futa herself was already sucking on the blonde's voluminous breasts, then caressing them with her tongue, then capturing her nipples and nibbling them lightly, making the lovable milf moan and shriek without ceasing.

-Mmmmmm! – In spite of the erotic moans, Lydia did not break the kiss. Shuddering with her whole body from the caresses getting to her breasts, the lustful milf had already penetrated her fingers between her legs and was herself rubbing her moisture-bleeding pussy in anticipation.

Aaah! God! Haa. – A new lingering orgasm shook Pseudo-Aletta's body even harder than before, her pussy throbbing convulsively over and over again, squeezing his cock. – Me… too much pressure… what a thrill! Aah! It hurts…. But Kaif! Give… me… break. – Jennifer collapsed onto the lid of the table without the strength to string her words together.

Except-Mortis had other plans. After all, if Lydia did not hide her intentions to enjoy the hard cock of her future foster daughter more than a dozen times, the opportunity to enjoy the body of a lawyer with the appearance of a porn star again, even with the prospect of promised future dates could fall out very soon. And because of that – Futa was going to enjoy her sudden mistress to the fullest and fuck her to the limit right now.

- A break? I was just getting warmed up. But it was time to get down to some real fun – Mortis put her hands firmly around Jennifer's wrists and pulled her up off the table – only to have her pussy forcefully thrust onto her still hard and hard cock again. Futa's thighs came into motion at a rapid pace – and began powerfully and ruthlessly driving his tense shaft into the tender and hot pussy of the victim of his lust, literally ramming her in the deepest depths.

- What?! – Even more aggressive and harsh attack of her pussy was a real test for Jennifer's exhausted body and mind by a cascade of sensations. And if the elastic walls of her vagina continued to resist for a while, though they were losing to the pressure of the hard cock, her mind…

-AAH! Geez! Oh my God! My brains are in mush! – after the first dozen or so thrusts Jennifer finally gave up and hung in Mortis's hands like a weakling doll, letting her young mistress do whatever she wanted with her, trembling her whole body.

- Do you get it now? – Lydia, still fondling herself furiously between her legs, was staring greedily at her lawyer's exhausted body. -My baby is a real stud and it's not easy for me to handle her passion alone. How fortunate that you turned out to be so much her type – I foresee this moment being the beginning of our much closer relationship than before.

- Stronger! Harder! – The screaming brunette couldn't hear anything anymore, in anticipation of another – and most frantic – orgasm. – Fuck me harder… I'm going to cum… like the horniest female! – Rolling her eyes, she held the edge of consciousness with the only frantic desire not to miss the climax. – Cum! Cum inside me… Mortis! I want to feel you inside me completely!

-You are a horny female with a gorgeous body! – Feeling the tension in her lower abdomen reach its limit, Mortis pulled Jennifer closer to her, pushing him on his cock to the limit – and never let go again. The stream of semen squirted directly into the heated uterus of the woman, quickly filling it and finding no other way began to stretch the elastic walls. The pressure on the cock also increased, but Futa allowed herself to retreat just a little, just enough so that now her abundant semen, unable to escape, began to stretch the entire pussy of the brunette, until it made the belly of Pseudo-Aletta swell up like a pregnant woman.

-OO. – Jennifer moaned on a single note, experiencing the most intense orgasm of her life. Her eyes were empty, and the brunette seemed to have forgotten how to breathe-and could only shake her whole body convulsively now.

- Please. – Mortis grinned as her orgasm wore off and the stream of cum dried up, but his cock still continued to block the semen from coming out of Jennifer's womb.

The brunette hardly heard anything at all at that moment, with a deafening moan she was cumming already from the fact that cum was coming inside her, she did not understand why she felt so good now. – To the limit. My womb. Stretched to the limit… kha. Kha. – She could hardly gulp air in her mouth like a fish on dry land, gasping in her orgasms.

When the waves of another orgasm still left Jennifer unconscious, Mortis, who had finally cum too, gently laid the woman down on the table top and freed her pussy from her cock, watching with obvious pleasure the mixture of her fluid and her cum spurting out and the brunette. And despite the messed up environment of the office, it wasn't just the futa herself who enjoyed the spectacle.

- That's fucked up. – Through her teeth, Lydia moaned as she frantically massaged her pussy with her fingers. – It never ceases to amaze me how much sperm you let out every time. Unbelievable! Aaah!- she shrieked briefly, cumming from her own hands – and the performance that her «future adopted daughter» had set up right in front of her – and yet she looked regretfully at her palms wet with her fluids. – No. That's not it. That's not what I want at all.

-Even though you promised us a couple more dates, I wanted to have fun with her as if it were my only chance. – Mortis once more slid a satisfied look over the lawyer's orgasm-weary body. – You're another thing,- Futa turned her whole body toward the white-haired milf, as if pointing at her with her still hard-standing cock. – You didn't think I'd leave you with nothing, did you, «Mommy»?

- It's nice to hear that even after your long-time dream is fulfilled, I can still count on my share of orgasms. – With a satisfied grin, Lydia pressed herself closer to Mortis, wrapping her arms around her neck and kissing her invitingly. Her heated pussy continued to flow even while it remained empty, while her belly rubbed invitingly against the cock squeezed between their bodies, as if wanting to be as full of sperm as the unconscious brunette's belly.

- Come on, baby, be a real savage for «mommy». – Running her fingers through Mortis's hair, Lydia kissed her even more passionately, running her tongue deep into her mouth and making a game with Futa's tongue. – Jump on me and fuck me like a raging lustful beast.

- Hey, that's why I live in this house, so you don't lack for orgasms! – Mortis laughed shortly, slapping Lydia's firm buttocks with a tinkle. – And I'm not going to shirk my duty in any way. – Futa's words were not at variance with the deed, especially since sex with the double of the porn star of her hottest fantasies, though it gave great pleasure, but only inflamed desire rather than quenched it, so that now both mind and body were eager to continue.

Lydia had not yet had time to express her desire to the end, and strong hands already picked her up under her thighs, spreading wide apart the slender legs of the milf and lifting her into the air.

- Oooh! – The elder Hardy exhaled happily as she was lifted off the floor and her slender legs immediately wrapped around Mortice's waist, crossed at the waist. – You hold me so lightly that I feel very, very young again.

Meanwhile, Futa wrapped her lips around one nipple of the woman, briefly bit the other – and in a few seconds more, the blonde's aroused and wet pussy was thrust to the limit on the long hard cock, with one penetration powerfully stretching her elastic hot walls – and Lydia was filled with a moan at her throat, arching in the hands of «daughter» and throwing back her head – Aaaaaaaa baby… Torture! Torture your lustful mommy's breasts!

Mortis really had plenty of strength to easily not only hold the blond milf in her arms, but to lift her up with ease, so that his cock was almost out of her wet pussy, leaving only the head in it, then to pull Lydia on the hard shaft again with a sharp jerk to the limit, literally beating the air out of the woman's lungs every time she rammed her deep inside. Her lush mistress's breasts bounced right in front of her face with every thrust – and it was just as easy, partly following the insistent pleas to either kiss or bite them, leaving traces of her passion on the tender spheres. Meanwhile, the movement was getting faster and faster, and the young lover's organ was stretching the milf's pussy more and more.

- Oa. – Already the first penetration made Lydia's vagina convulsively clench. She did not even have time to understand whether she cum right at that moment, or it was just her imagination, and in a minute she was moaning non-stop from the powerful and frenetic movements of the futa. It was the wild and furious fuck that she had longed for – and it was made all the more poignant by such an unfamiliar, completely passive role. Now the white-haired milf could not even wiggle – and she had only to relax, completely putting her body in the hands of the young Futa.

Sensing Lydia's mood, Mortis herself liked to fuck her just like that – holding her in her arms and using this rich and usually so bossy woman's body as a helpless sex toy to please her cock. Still, she soon wanted more. Taking a few steps, she laid the moaning middha with her back to the couch, hovering menacingly over her. In this position, the heated mature blonde looked even more defenseless and calling – and the futa didn't take long to squeeze herself, bursting into the hot pussy again with her straining cock. Now the dominant movements were her hips – sharp, deep, accelerating more and more every few thrusts. Mortis fucked the older Hardy with the vigor of a wild beast, a male not going to stop until he had covered his female.

-Mortis. – Through her moans, the milf wailed, feeling the couch beneath her wobble mercilessly and her cock making her wet pussy crack at the seams.-I'm going crazy…

- Aggrrr! – Futa only roared back, as if actually turning into a wild beast – and the wet walls of Lydia's vagina clenched convulsively, unmistakably guessing in that growl the promise of many more violent orgasms.

An hour later.

-You just… Ohhhh! A family of horny monsters! – Jennifer shrieked every time Futa's hard cock stretched her properly mauled and cum-filled asshole again. She shuddered weakly with her whole body, as if she hadn't stopped trying to wriggle out from under the table Lydia pressed against her.

- If we're a family of monsters too. Aahhhh! – unlike the brunette, the elder Hardy greeted each penetration of her anus with a long groan and pressed tighter into her subordinate. – you're like our family lawyer and you're a monster yourself. Awww!

Without distracting herself from the conversations of the shaking in a series of orgasms, Mortis moved rhythmically, entering them one by one and building up the tempo again. She wanted to make the women cum at the same time, and she was going to make it happen, no matter how many times they had to try…

- It was sudden, completely unprofessional, and insanely delightful. – Jennifer sighed contentedly, snuggling closer to me. I was sitting on the couch and both sex mills were hugging me from both sides. I, too, hugged them and pressed them tighter against me, ignoring the fact that both women's lush breasts and taut bellies were densely covered with my cum afterward. I felt good and comfortable now-and I kissed Lydia longingly for the umpteenth time.

- I liked it a lot, too, despite the spontaneity. – The older Hardy grinned, finally breaking the kiss. – We should definitely do it again sometime.

- Oh, I'll be sure to do it again sometime. – Now I was getting a light kiss from the other side. I didn't mind sucking on the lawyer's middling body any longer, but she pulled away from me and rose, stretching lazily to knead my stiff joints. Oh, how nice her taut ass and smooth back were! – Sometime in a less formal setting. But first, let's get back to business. And—maybe let's wash and dress first.

- Don't worry. When we're done. – The shower is all yours. – Lydia, too, got out of my embrace, went to her desk and rather provocatively leaned over and took out a package of wet wipes from the drawer. She kept some of them for herself, and handed the rest to Jennifer and me.

- Well, well. – The lawyer stretched out in surprise, taking her time wiping the cum off her gorgeous spheres, which I could never quite get my hands on. – To call you just a stud is a very modest thing to say.

- Uh. What do you mean? – I clarified, as I also cleaned myself up.

- She meant volumes. – Lydia explained. – And I agree, here, the most appropriate word would be «producer».

- And may I be more exact? – I asked, vaguely afraid that we were about to get to the Breed or even Genetics.

- Well, look how much you came off in just an hour and a half. – Jennifer said with her hands. – That's two or three months' worth of volume.

- And this is not an isolated incident. – Lydia, gracefully curved, wiped her thighs and buttocks with a napkin. – Do you remember how much sperm you gave out our first time?

- I only came a couple of times. – I think I was starting to get the idea of what this was all about.

- Just. – The blonde milf mockingly repeated, -Except the volumes were higher than what normal men give out. And the elite escorts at the peak of their careers could only do something like that by getting high on pills and stimulants until they were out of their ears. And then they also need a few days to recover. You can be ready to perform sex miracles again in

Half an hour, if not sooner. And again in the same amounts.

- So that's what you mean. – I thoughtfully stretched out. Hmm. I hadn't thought about it before, but it seems that I am now in the place of that character from a porn comic book or game, who pours buckets of sperm over his woman and one can only wonder where it comes from, since the human body can hardly take in so much fluid. I have no idea how it comes from. But I strongly suspect that the source of everything – my mother. She wanted to have a perfect lover for her tastes – and she created me, without much regard for the limitations of nature. I am happy, and the girls are happy too, but it looks like I will have to be careful with those who are not aware of my divine origins.

-That's another reason to keep your incognito. – Lydia somehow managed to combine a preachy tone with a very erotic lip lick. – And do everything within the law as much as possible.

- Yeah, now I know what you mean. No one would want to miss out on such a treasure. – smiled at Jennifer, who was fixing her makeup in front of the mirror. – Well, we'll work it through orphan registration.

- That's up to you. – I had no objections, the option sounded quite logical and without piling unnecessary complications. The main thing for me is to finally get that damn passport. So I watched with double pleasure as already clean, but not yet had time to get dressed again sexy Milf bent over the table, doing some paperwork. I only had to sign a couple of times. By the time we all started to get dressed again, I was in a pretty playful mood again, and I couldn't help but give Jennifer's luscious ass a little squeeze. Alas, there was no time for a second run, Lydia said firmly that soon should arrive and the other guests, but I still got a quality blowjob from a family lawyer. And when this projection of a porn star was leaving us, she kissed me on the cheek, whispering in my ear to check my pockets.

After Jennifer left, the advice from my guardian was to get some rest, and best of all, have some lunch as well. Since the new guests will be about my soul, too. I wonder – will they be like this family lawyer? That Jennifer. Jennifer… there's something vaguely familiar in my head, but what it is I can't quite grasp. And I can't remember the last name, but I'll ask again another time. Because I did check my pockets, and I can tell you that I didn't put Jennifer's panties in one of them, with a phone number and «Call me» written in lipstick.

I went to lunch – only to fall into another trap of the insidious head of the Hardy family. Because they decided to teach me table manners and other attendant manners of high society. But here I had something to answer for. Of course, growing up in Asgard, it would have been normal behavior for me to yell songs, to gulp down mugs so that the wine ran down my chin, and then to bang them against the table. But, as I told you once before, my mother had a very diverse contingent in the World of the Dead.

I hadn't thought about it before, but it seems that I am now in the place of that character from a porn comic book or game, who pours buckets of sperm over his woman and one can only wonder where it comes from, since the human body can hardly take in so much fluid. I have no idea how it comes from. But I strongly suspect that the source of everything – my mother. She wanted to have a perfect lover for her tastes – and she created me, without much regard for the limitations of nature. I am happy, and the girls are happy too, but it looks like I will have to be careful with those who are not aware of my divine origins.

-That's another reason to keep your incognito. – Lydia somehow managed to combine a preachy tone with a very erotic lip lick. – And do everything within the law as much as possible.

- Yeah, now I know what you mean. No one would want to miss out on such a treasure. – smiled at Jennifer, who was fixing her makeup in front of the mirror. – Well, we'll work it through orphan registration.

- That's up to you. – I had no objections, the version sounded from bloodthirsty cannibals, just pouncing on the food like a pack of rats, to subtle and graceful angelesses and alves. And we, as the ruling class, have to deal with both. So I have some experience. Maybe not exactly what I need right now, but it's never too late to learn. It wasn't hard for me, and it amused Felicia. Lydia, on the other hand, watched my progress rather nervously, feeling as if she wanted to mold me into the perfect escort in the shortest possible time. But I'm still a living person, not a lump of clay from which you can mold whatever you want, so even when I learn quickly I do not remember everything the first time. I learned some things, but I didn't have time for the rest. Because the new visitors just showed up. Doctors.

In general – at Lydia's suggestion I was given a full and comprehensive check. Firstly, to fill out my medical records. Secondly, to make my capabilities clearer. However, I immediately had a real question – are there such universal doctors? Usually a whole commission does this kind of examination, and everyone checks his or her own. And here there were only two people.

- Don't worry. – Hardy Senior brushed me off when I shared these doubts with her. – These are elite specialists, often dealing specifically with such specific issues as superhumans. That's why they have all the training and doctor-patient confidentiality. For an extra line on the fee bill.

- Hmm. All right, then. I'll be sure to pay you back on occasion. – I made another memory notch. No, I'd better say goodbye to this concubine role soon, because my debt is only growing and multiplying.

Lydia just waved me off with a jovial chuckle, making me want to throw a pile of diamonds at her feet right now, just to pay her right on the spot. But I restrained myself.

The examination itself was not particularly surprising. Standard measurements of height and weight, checking blood pressure, reflexes, lungs and heart, motor skills, vestibular system. Ears, throat, nose, eyes and teeth. They even brought mobile EKG and fluorography machines; it looked like Lilia had really paid them a lot of money. Why didn't they take blood and urine tests? But a portion of sperm was categorically demanded. Well, what the hell…

To show up with that request while Jennifer was here. And so, even with my rapid recovery from the recent triplet and a goodbye blowjob, it was not so easy to pour out again. I had to seclude myself in the next room-not so much out of bashfulness as to manipulate Necrosword freely. I had to send the Asgardian DNA to study it, and that was all I needed to be happy. So I had to play with the filters and settings. I also found out that if I come completely covered in symbiote, the sperm becomes dark scarlet in color and glows in the dark. So in the end I managed to get a filtered product of usual whitish color, without extra impurities, but active and still adjusting the fetus to the peculiarities of the mother. That is, no random demigods, though the children will initially have a physical form well above the average for their race.

- How are you? – Lydia came into the room without much ado.

- I'm fine, I guess. – I muttered, turning away.

- Are you really? You've been meditating in here for forty minutes. – She shut the door behind her. – Had Jen and I really ruined you, didn't we?

-No, of course not. – I grinned. – But after having a real orgy with two hot hotties, it's not easy to cum from regular handjobs.

- Wow, your appetite is growing, though! -murmured the woman, coming closer. – But you know this episode was completely spontaneous. I didn't want you to waste too much energy…

- There's nothing wrong with that. – I interrupted, not too politely. – It's a question of method and motivation. The need to get tested is not very exciting in and of itself.

- I hope so. Because if you're done for the day. – Lydia's speech was getting slower and slower. – That would be a shame. I have big plans for your presence in my bed tonight.

The white-haired milf's hand slid right up between my legs and mistressed my fleshy shaft, which was really only half-raised at the moment. Her soft palm began to move up and down with her former skill and dexterity, while her lips whispered softly in my ear.

- It would be interesting to know the limits of your stamina. – Her sharp teeth bit my lobe, and the movement sent shivers running through my body, igniting a pleasant tension. My cock reacted, too, coming alive in the stranger's hands, which now moved slowly, but very carefully, working the shaft from the head to the base. – I really didn't want to cancel my plans for tonight.

- Don't worry about that. – I turned to Lydia and pressed my lips to hers, feeling the sexy blonde's hand on my chest with pleasure. – Just explain to me, what kind of weird test is this? I've never been tested like this before.

- You bet. – I had never taken one before.- She laughed softly, pulling herself closer to me. – After all, these are tests to determine the male tax. In middle school and high school, as soon as puberty begins, all guys take sperm to determine its quality, fertility, and compatibility as a male. They are then assigned a monthly sperm tax for the seed bank. Haven't you heard of that?

- You said I'd still be listed as a woman. – I immediately switched to a less slippery and more interesting topic. It would be good if I could avoid that tax, because it would obviously annoy me. I'd rather save my seed for a better investment. – Gwen, MJ, Felicia, and Jennifer and Lydia. – So you're gonna get me out of this?

- Of course I am. I've got big plans for you – but I need to know what I've got on my hands. And what I can get out of it. – she obviously wanted to say something else, but instead she knelt down in a smooth motion – and gagged me with my balls.

Awww! – My arousal surged even higher, and I couldn't hold back a sweet moan. – Is that what you're implying, trading cans with me under the table?

- More… what. – She mumbled with her mouth full and playfully worked her tongue over my balls to the shaft. – The profits from selling cans in the alley… it's not even pocket change. – The blond milf appreciated the power of my newly risen boner and began playfully slapping it on her cheeks, lips, and tongue, all the while keeping her mouth shut. – If your results are half as good as they're supposed to be, I'll hit the jackpot. – with a very sly expression, she wrapped her lips around the head of my penis, without saying to whom and how she was going to sell my seed. However, I stopped caring about it at the second when the tongue of this experienced mistress began to slide over the head, her mouth trying to greedily suck the contents of my balls, which one hand was skillfully squeezing, while the other was powerfully thrusting the hard shaft. It was such a turn-on that it was hard to keep from grabbing her head and thrusting it in deep with force. But no, Lydia was doing a great job, so let her continue on her own-and let her come on my cock. And she did it, and she did it perfectly, not even thinking to stop when the head of my cock was right in my throat, skillfully relaxing my muscles and continuing to move, swallowing more and more with each second with a satisfied mooing and moaning. Grabbing my thighs with her hands, the blonde milf choked, but she took the powerful shaft so deftly and tightly that even the throbbing of the veins on it gave off searing flashes of pleasure when it touched the hot walls.

After a while, she released her prey from her passionate, wet captivity and, leaning back, released her wealth as well. The blouse unbuttoned easily, and her gorgeous breasts were displayed almost in all their glory. Only a little covering her lace bra was torn off the hostess in a second, luscious twins gently swayed – but immediately were picked up by my hands and used to encircle my cock on both sides.

- Does that feel good, baby? – Lydia purred, playfully, as she began to deftly thrust her breasts into the already aching shaft.

- Just gorgeous! – I bit my lip with pleasure – Just do not stop!

- Oh, yeah! Yeah! Fuck my tits, baby. – The fire of unbridled lust burned in Big Hardy's eyes. With it and a predatory smile on her lips, she looked more like a raging bitch in heat than a polished business lady, the head of a major corporation.

- Ahh… Aghhhhhh. – I held back as best I could, trying to stretch out this moment of pleasure as long as possible. But how delightful Lydia's breasts were, at the same time as she was heating my arousal with the passionate eye-to-eye look, and the dirty words that came off her lips.

- Fuck my tits, Mortis, fuck them harder! Ooohhh. I want you to cum all over them!

- Ugh. I'm gonna… Aah. – I was already on edge, ready to explode again.

-Come on my boobs, honey!

-Aww! – With a thunderous groan I did explode with a real fountain, making a full-fledged eruption between Lydia's breasts, covering the woman's breasts, face, and hair with sperm. The first volley was followed by a second one, but its fate was different – sexy young woman managed to put a test tank in the way of the jet, which was immediately filled to the brim, and a second later was knocked out of her hands by the frantic pressure.

- Oh, my gosh. – Lydia looked at the jar that had spilled some of its contents, but she was not confused, immediately wrapping her lips around the head of the penis and greedily swallowing large portions of sperm. The third volley was the last, and I finally calmed down, giving the delightful expert a break. However, as soon as I got away from the organ that had begun to lose its hardness, she rushed to the container, carefully pouring into it the remains of sperm from her mouth, and at the same time a little from her chest and face.

- That was close. – She grinned, licking her lips with visible pleasure.

- Yeah, a little more. – I would have had to do it all over again. – I winked cheerfully before I began to tidy up the room and then myself.

- I just don't know what's wrong with your device,- Lydia pointed out, hiding the sperm-cleared breasts in her blouse. – But for some reason I can't stop enjoying just how good it feels to choke on it.

- And I won't tire of enjoying your mouth. – I giggled, putting my clothes in order, too. – Very few people can boast of such skillful and powerful work with him and his tits.

- But, but, but, but, what's with the innuendo! – The blond bimbo jokingly wagged her finger at me as she picked up the jug of sperm with her other hand. – You're not being pampered by some random girl from the alley or even the nurse on duty at the sperm bank. It's the real Multimillionaire, and you appreciate every moment of it. Usually it's the other way around-it's people like me who get pampered and are willing to endure anything just to please their Rich Mommy one more time.

- Mmm. Mammy. – I stretched out playfully, hearing the familiar-very familiar intonation. That's right, outwardly joking and funny, but essentially saying all the right things and like to gracefully point out the rules not to forget. So I immediately played along and shook my hips and gently nudged Lydia's thigh. – I'm very grateful to you. Do you want me to honestly give you a few more orgasms as proof?

- Oh, baby. – The milf smiled, putting her palm down on my buttock and squeezing it a little. – I'd say yes now with great pleasure, however – let me save some energy for the night as well. I see you're really sure of yourself, but I, alas, am not as young as I used to be.

- Don't make this up. – I hugged her ass back, and we headed out of the room like a real couple. – You're still in your prime. I guess you could say my mammy's at that time when a woman is blossoming again.

- Oh, Mortis, I can't believe I picked you up in the middle of the street. – A clearly satisfied Lydia squeezed my buttock one more time, but that was the end of it. More precisely, the medical examination ended as soon as the doctors received their sample. But the examination of my abilities continued, so I had to change into my athletic uniform and go out to the open-air training area. Both the doctors and my patroness were curious about how physically different I was from the average person. But even though I had something to show them, at this point it seemed more advantageous not to show off and reveal the limits of my strength. After all, the original Peter Parker was also lazy in P.E., instead of easily knocking Flash Thompson off his pedestal as the school's best athlete.

Here I was, doing the one-mile run in no more than four and a half minutes. I could have easily cut that time in half, though. I did a hundred push-ups, squats and pull-ups each, making it clear that this was not my limit. True, it turned out that this also made the time count. I didn't even know there was such a standard. Well and when it came to the power tests I also did not try my best, and without that gave out high and plausible results. But when it came to the weight I did not pay attention and accidentally lifted 400 kilograms. But when it came to agility, dexterity and flexibility – a sore point of mine – I didn't even have to hold back.

- To be honest, I was beginning to have doubts. – If you were human at all. – Felicia sat down next to me when I was finally left alone and Lydia and the doctors began discussing the results in the distance. The younger Hardy handed me a bottle of water and continued. – But as it turned out, you weren't exactly superhuman.

- What's that supposed to mean? – I more than graciously accepted the mortal's gift.

- Some of the records you surpassed for normal people, but for mutants. – I don't know, I don't have that kind of data. – The girl glanced in the direction of her mother, but she was still absorbed in the conversation. – However, the highest results are registered in superhumans, and you do not reach her. And in some ways you're not as good as ordinary people like me.

- Let me guess, Cap America? – I don't know who else they'd get that kind of information from officially and put it in the public eye.

- Yeah. She runs faster than you do. And some of the olympic gold medalists lifted more weight. In pull-ups and stuff, you'd be outmatched in speed and technique by any of the SEALs. – She smiled broadly – And in dexterity and flexibility I could beat you myself.

- You're very concerned about that, aren't you? – I didn't even try to hide my chuckle.

- Don't be a sissy, sister. – Felicia jokingly poked me in the shoulder with her fist,- Now I believe you have the ability to work as a real bodyguard. And being near me I feel like a stone wall… which, if anything, I can flippantly jump on.

- Are you serious about your sister now? – I decidedly skipped the intriguing subject of jumping on me for a more pressing one. – Or was that just a tease?

- Mmm… Let's see how you do in our game. – The girl got up from her seat. – And don't ask me that stuff directly anymore-it makes it boring to play.

- I just wanted to know exactly what the boundaries were, so I could respect them. – I set the empty bottle aside. – But if that's the way you want it.

-Yoohoo! – Felicia suddenly took off from her seat and ran down the looped path. – Go, Silver!

- Eeeeeeee! – I caught up with her within seconds. And again, remembering the words «sis» about climbing up on me-sama picked her up right on the run and put her on my shoulders. After which cheerfully ran the same mile with the rider, who clearly enjoyed this three-minute ride. But our foolishness did not end there; we had another good-natured post-dinner scuffle before they brought me a new keycard to the house. Then it was as if the servants had disappeared, and Felicia had gone to her room, and there was silence in the house-all because Lydia had taken a nap. I didn't mind that, so I went to my room, too, intending to lie down and search the Internet for useful gizmos for my future workshop. But there I ran into a problem. The fluffy one, with soft paws and a high-pitched tail.

-So what do you want? – I asked bluntly.

-Meow. – There was an immediate reply.

- I don't understand that argument, and I don't accept it. – But it didn't look like those words had any effect on the green-eyed cat staring at me. The cat had taken over the toilet and was staring at me, nestled comfortably on the toilet lid, just as I felt a strong urge to take advantage of the convenience of the modern world.

- Mind you, I'm not going to stand on ceremony with you. – I had to arm myself with the sword-like toilet brush I had at hand. – Either defend yourselves or leave the battlefield while there's still a chance for peace.

-Miaiaia. – Kotya poked the ruff, clearly thinking it was being played with. And then she stared down, in the direction of the cat's litter box, which already smelled tangibly.

- No way. – I poked the cat in the side with the ruff, but it didn't seem to notice my brilliant swordsmanship. – If you were my pet, maybe I'd clean it up. But you have your mistress and her staff, so talk to them.

In response, the cat only meow once more and again stretched out on the lid. I had to go to extreme measures and use my knowledge of my opponent's weaknesses. He took a couple of pats on the tail, but then he flattened it and ran away from the battlefield. But I was wrong to think that was the end of it. As soon as I sat down, the cat returned, and while I couldn't get up, he insistently rubbed his head on my leg over my pant leg. It was kind of cute at first, but when I let my guard down, the beast decided to climb up me like a log, of course, with its claws. And I was fine-the scratchers couldn't even leave a mark on my skin. But my pant leg looked like it had been scraped with a knife.

I returned to my room, ignoring Fluffy entirely, though he lurched beside me all the way to the door. Which I slammed right in front of his cheeky face, and then I just collapsed on my bed to take a nap. And rightly so, because after an hour and a half there was a knock at the door and a polite maid handed me a voluminous package and instructions to quickly take a shower, get dressed and arrive in the next room. The private suite of the Head of the Hardy Family. I didn't feel like going to the shower, as I had already been in it several times that day, but I realized that something fun was waiting for me, and I didn't want to wait too long.

Inside, in addition to the cosmetic bag, there was an outfit, obviously bought in a sex shop, or even custom-made, like for an expensive porn movie. The lower part could be called tightly fitting black latex pants, but only the holes in the back and front, one of which left her buttocks completely open, and the other one her pubis, letting her cock loose, made the whole structure look more like stockings fastened to the belt. The top was a short jacket of the same black latex, just a hand below my shoulder blades, and so narrow that it was impossible to zip it up.

However, according to the designer's plan, this was clearly not required, and this thing was supposed to leave my chest open, and also to raise it slightly with a single strap at the bottom. In the end, I looked good, though it wasn't easy to get dressed in this outfit-it wasn't easy to put on, and I had to use force very carefully, because under my pressure even the latex was not just stretched, but began to tear. I was able to get away with just a couple of small holes, which only made the outfit even more spicy. But it was better not to think about how I was going to take it off.