Night had fallen, covering the Carrington Estate in deep shadows. Everything was quiet on the outside, but deep within the main house there was plenty of activity. Underneath the house was an overly huge basement that doubled as the current secret base for Lady Darkness and Lord Evil. While not as large as their former DEMON base, it suited their needs perfectly. The fall of their former base had been a calculated risk, but one that had been necessary. They had removed most of the important items and their elite troops before the Avengers had even attacked.
One such chamber underneath the Carrington Estate had been converted into a makeshift Throne Room. Here, Lady Darkness received an update report from Vilsimbra, general of her armies. As always, Lady Darkness was dressed in a incredibly form-fitting shiny black costume. Her hair was equally jet black and the Stone Crown imperiously rested upon her brow.
Vilsimbra was a different matter entirely as she wasn't even human. She as an Ectolian, one of the numerous native species to the world of Terra Nova, the true home of Vilsimbra and her empress, Lady Darkness. Like all of her species, Vilsimbra had jet-black skin, pointed ears, and sharp features. While Ectolians were smaller in stature compared to humans, size was not a true indication of their powers. Although not the only other person in the room, Vilsimbra was the only one who maintained her free will. A situation that would change should her Empress deem it necessary, Vilsimbra knew.
Men wearing a variety of unusual costumes ringed the chamber, serving as personal bodyguards for Lady Darkness. They were criminals here on Earth, but each now served only the whims of Lady Darkness. Thanks to the powers of the Stone Crown, they had no choice in the matter. Their names-- Power Crusher, Deathsinger, Thunderbolt, Ogre, and Mechassassin-- no longer mattered.
"Repairs continue on Shadowhold," Vilsimbra reported in a clear voice as she stood before her Empress. "The Royal Palace should be ready for your return within a week."
"Excellent," Darkness purred in a pleased tone. There had been extensive damage done to the palace when Lady Darkness and her agents reclaimed her stolen throne. While the Carrington Estate was considered to be luxurious, it was nothing compared to her beloved Shadowhold. It would take days to completely explore the vast palace. Shadowhold was the place from which Lady Darkness would rule her Empire and crush her enemies. To her foes, it was the place of ultimate evil. To Lady Darkness it was home.
With the return to Shadowhold, Lady Darkness' plans of conquest could begin in earnest. First the rest of Terra Nova would fall, and then this accursed Earth that she had been exiled to for so very long. Thanks to the wondrous device created by her husband and consort, whole other dimensions would soon fall under her sway. Billions would be her slaves and billions would live and die according to her whims. That brought a perverse excitement to Lady Darkness.
"We continue to gather your forces to prepare for the wars to come," Vilsimbra continued. "The Tanbora Islands should fall without much resistance. The natives will become slaves and work in the Tanbora Mines for your pleasure, my Empress. The Dansig Province has already made overtures of surrendering rather than be subjected to your might."
"The Dansig were always a wise people."
"Indeed, Mistress. Cynalon will no doubt be a troublesome lot, but if we wait until their summoned defenders have departed, then they too should fall before your armies."
"The whole Northern Continent shall be mine once more," Darkness concluded, clenching her vinyl clad fist before her dramatically. "Then we can begin to take the Southern Continent from that fool Oeramm." The Empress smiled an evil smile. "I shall enjoy making him my personal slave."
"May victory be yours, my Empress!", Vilsimbra announced with a bow of servitude.
"Danger, mistress!", a new voice called out. An attractive young woman rushed into the chamber and presented herself to Lady Darkness. The woman had raven black shoulder length hair, gray-green eyes, and a classic white complexion. She wore a black catsuit that completely covered her from the neck down and accented her figure.
"Blaise?", Lady Darkness questioned in confusion. Blaise Morgan was a budding witch from this world whose lust of magic and power had driven her to serve Lady Darkness. While Darkness had long term plans for Blaise, for right now she was a useful assistant. Useful enough to allow her to retain her free will.
"The mystic shields have been breached!", Blaise explained fighting back gasps to get the words out. "We are under siege!"
"Guards!", Vilsimbra immediately commanded. "Protect your Empress!" At once, the mind controlled villains moved to form a protective circle around Lady Darkness.
"How is this possible?!", Lady Darkness commanded of Blaise as she rose from her throne, towering over the frightened sorceress. "If you have failed me, your punishment shall be most severe!"
Blaise Morgan gulped at the prospect. The young woman was beginning to wonder if she had made a mistake in serving Lady Darkness in spite of the great power that could be hers. However, the situation was long past such regrets. It was far too late for Blaise to turn back now. "The shields were as powerful as my meager abilities could make them, mistress! We must be faced with a more powerful practitioner of magic."
"For your sake, you had best be right."
"The invaders come!" Vilsimbra pointed towards the far side of the room as a quintet of beings simply appeared. There was no fanfare, no display of power. They were simply just there. The new arrivals were mostly known to Lady Darkness.
A figure in a medieval looking suit of armor attracted the immediate attention of those in the chamber. There were numerous spikes protruding from the armored hulk and he carried a oversized battleaxe in his large hands. The being was known as the Dreadknight, a type of magically created golem that served the whims of his master without question.
Beside the Dreadknight were two familiar figures. The first was a voluptuous woman with corn silk blonde hair. She wore a flowing costume of dark blue silk that left her arms and legs bare with lots of decolletage, and a blue-lined black satin cape. Around her waist was a belt of dark blue and gold sigil plaques.
The other was a man who was seemingly wrapped up inside a shadow. The darkness hovered about him, allowing parts of his body to be momentarily visible, but he was mostly obscured. In his hands he held a sword constructed out of some jet-black metal. You could almost feel the cold radiating from the man.
The last two beings were unknown to Lady Darkness. One was a woman in a form fitting white body suit with a tattered white hooded cape. Only the white slits of her eyes could be seen within the darkness of the hood. Lastly, there was a nondescript man who held the pulsating Crystal in his hands.
"Lady Zee and Lord Shadow," Lady Darkness greeted her fellow Morbanes with a nod. "I had wondered whatever became of you. Now I see that you have paid for your foolishness with your very souls. Still, I suppose that I should thank you. None of this would have come to pass without your incompetence."
Zee and Shadow had been the rulers of the New York DEMON Base until their untimely disappearance. It was this disappearance that caused Lord Thorne to transfer Lady Darkness and Lord Evil to New York. Now it was obvious that they had been enthralled by the same strange Crystal that Lady Darkness had once sought to possess and this Crystal had a mind of its own. (Editor's Note: Zee & Shadow disappeared in Avengers #0, while Darkness & Evil took over the DEMON Base in Avengers #2 and sought to claim the Crystal in Avengers #10)
"Your arrogance and smugness shall be your downfall, vile witch!", the blue clad Lady Zee cursed. "We now serve a power greater than any you could have ever imagined!"
"Now my purpose shall be fulfilled," the Crystal Bearer intoned without emotion. "As charged by my creator Oeramm the Merciless, now shall I destroy the Empress of Darkness!"
"Or be destroyed by her," Lady Darkness countered with a menacing smile. And by mutual consent, battle was joined.
| Roll Call: |
|---|
 Black Diamond |
 Muskateer |
 Enchantress |
 Firestar |
 Huntress |
 Lightburst |
 Nightingale |
 Supreme |
 Texas Ranger |
 Thing |
Guest Starring Guardian Angel |
 Jack O' Lantern |
 Photon |
"Permit me to brighten things up, beloved," the Enchantress stated as she followed Muskateer into the dark room. Upon the completion of her spellcasting, a glowing globe about the size of a soccer ball came into existence. The bright ball moved through the air at the direction of the sorceress, illuminating the dark chamber. In mere moments it completed a sweep of the chamber, revealing it to be currently uninhabited.
"You just being here is going to make things brighter, sweetie," Muskateer complimented as he sheathed his sword. "Besides, you're a lot better looking than a flashlight."
"Indeed," the Enchantress answered as she flashed her delightful smile. "In addition, this globe is emitting real sunlight. I'm sure that any vampire that we may encounter will find its effects most annoying."
"Good thinking. Now let's see if I can pick up that radiation trail once more..." Muskateer produced his hand held portable scanner and probed the air near the entranceway. It was this scanner that had first detected minute traces of radiation on the vampires at the Eldridge Fund Raiser hall. The trail first led the heroes to an apartment in Greenwich Village. Several other paths led away from the apartment and Muskateer and the Enchantress had been following them all for several hours now with little success. The latest trace led them into this basement of a condemned apartment building.
"What deplorable living accommodations," the Enchantress noted as she gingerly picked her way across the debris filled chamber following Muskateer.
"Makes sense that they would seek out places that living people would avoid," Muskateer explained as he followed the readings on his scanner. "Those bloodsuckers'd get lots of privacy in this dump."
"Still, how tragic it must be. To have once been human and now altered into such a perversion of life. Reduced to living like some kind of inhuman animal."
"I think we've hit the jackpot!", Muskateer noted excitedly as his scanner led him up to a closed door on the far side of the chamber. "I'm getting multiple strong traces from this doorway. This might be where the rest of the fangs are camping out." The Avenger stored his scanner once more and re-drew his sword.
He glanced at the Enchantress and she nodded that she was prepared. Stepping back, Muskateer kicked down this door as well and charged into the room. The light globe conjured by the Enchantress streaked after him, followed by the sorceress herself.
The chamber was dark and bleak. Nearly two dozen coffins filled the room, most of which had yet to be used. None of them currently held occupants, but several did show signs of recent habitation.
"Our boys are out for the night," Muskateer concluded, as he sheathed his sword once more. "No doubt hunting for someone."
"But they are likely to return before the night is through," the Enchantress added.
"That's my guess as well, sweetie. All we have to do is wait for the bloodsuckers to come home and roost." Pulling out his communicator, Muskateer added, "We'd better bring Di up to date on what we've discovered."
"Well done, Muskateer," Black Diamond responded in a pleased tone. The Avengers leader had just received her second in command's report concerning the vampire's lair and was currently speaking to her entire team. "I agree with your assessment of the situation. You and the Enchantress remain there and wait for their return. The rest of us will continue guarding our respective targets. Diamond out."
The blonde heroine closed her comlink and stashed it inside the light blue sash she wore about her waist. With a sigh, she turned back to her companion on this particular stakeout. The powerhouse known as Supreme was close by, keeping watch on the building across the street. "Spot anything?", she asked of Supreme.
"All quiet," Supreme responded. The pair were currently on top of a skyscraper, surveying the offices of the New York District Attorney across the street. It was one of the potential targets on a short list provided by Photon. The monster hunter had been summoned back to New York to assist against this current infestation of vampires. The large Avenger sat on the building's edge, his feet dangling below. "And boring as hell."
"Agreed. But until these vampires show themselves, or return to their lair, there's not a whole lot we can do about it. Other than keeping watch and waiting."
"At least we can keep each other company," Supreme responded hopefully as he gestured for Black Diamond to sit beside him. "Not quite the kind of date I had in mind, but sometimes you just have to make do."
"This is supposed to be a stakeout, not a date," Black Diamond gently chastised. Hunter would have never put up with something like this while he was leader of the Avengers. Of course, Diamond wasn't Hunter either. Hunter ran the team in a way that he found to be comfortable, while Black Diamond had to find her own path to achieve the same goals. When she had tried to run the Guardians as Hunter would have the Avengers, her efforts had met with disaster. With Supreme around to bolster her spirits, there was no way she could ever be as grim as Hunter had been. "But, if you won't tell anyone, neither will I."
After settling in next to Supreme, the two heroes held each other close, arms entwined about the other's waist. Together, they continued to maintain their vigil.
"You think any of the others are having as much fun as we are?", Supreme asked after a time.
"I hope not," the leader of the Avengers answered with a sigh as she continued her surveillance.
The story was much the same elsewhere. Lightburst and the Texas Ranger were staked out across from Mama Mia's, an upscale eatery in Brooklyn. It was the favorite haunt for many of the Marcelli family, making it a prime target from the Scatucci controlled vampires. Once all the Scatucci opposition had been removed, the criminal underworld would be theirs to control.
Ranger sighed as he watched a line of expensive cars pull up to the restaurant to drop off their passengers. It had been a dull evening thus far for the rookie Avenger. Lightburst had barely uttered more than two words since they arrived on the scene. In spite of his best efforts to engage in conversation, the light-wielding Avenger continued to remain silent. All in all, it was shaping up to be a very long night.
"No sign of the fiends as of yet, my friends," Guardian Angel informed her companions. The powder-blue, white, and Gold heroine peered intently at the building across the way. It was called "The Old Country Eatery" and appeared on the surface to be a European flavored supper club. But underneath the fine exterior were rumors of an illegal gambling club run by the Morelli Family. Yet another plump target for the vampires. "Fear not, for I am as vigilant as the northern star. No evil shall escape my sight!"
"That's great," Firestar answered hesitantly. The young Avenger was nearly twenty feet from the Champion of Order conversing with her friend and teacher, Nightingale. Both were dressed in their traditional heroic costumes. They had been assigned this particular stake out, while Guardian Angel had offered her assistance.
"She sounds exactly as she did on the TV show," Firestar told Nightingale in a low voice. "I thought it was neat at first, but this is kind of scary. She really thinks that she's Guardian Angel!"
"It's not really that mystifying," Nightingale responded. "Each of us creates our own version of what is real everyday. How that individual perceives reality basically defines how they see the world. The mysterious white energy that affected her seems to allow those exposed to it to shape reality to their whims. Actress Raquel Hamilton perceived herself as the heroine Guardian Angel. The energy responded to her whims and thus she literally became Guardian Angel, seemingly at the expense of her old self and life. Angel's mind is heavily shielded and resists my probing. I can't even be sure that any trace of Raquel still remains locked inside her mind."
"That's sort of sad," Firestar commented after taking in the full weight of Nightingale's words.
"Very much so. If things remain as they are, then there are going to be serious consequences involved. You've got Raquel's old friends and family missing her, not to mention a major television network. Then you've got Guardian Angel who is quite literally a stranger in a strange land. It will be interesting to see how she deals with all of this."
"I hadn't realized any of that," Firestar stated in a concerned voice.
Seeing the compassion in the young Avenger, Nightingale placed her hand on Firestar's shoulder. Firestar may have been a little naive, but her heart was in the right place. "I wouldn't be too concerned. As Guardian Angel, she is very strong willed. I'm sure she'll get through this just fine."
Gina Vertontese felt queasy as she gazed out at the crowd before her. Her father's rose garden was filled with guests and family members all here to listen to Gina's violin recital. Tentatively, the teenager raised the instrument into position and started to play. She focused her eyes on the music sheet in front of her, desperately trying to ignore the dozens of eyes watching her and concentrate on her playing.
The music that came forth from Gina's instrument was rough at first. As she moved further and further into the first piece of music her nervousness vanished and her movements became more fluid and smooth. The few painful looks that surfaced in the audience were quickly swept away as sweet sounds issued forth.
At the rear of the rose garden, Michael Vertontese beamed with pride as his little girl played. To the general public, Michael Vertontese was a respected businessman. Few, however, knew the true nature of his business dealings. He was the Boss of one of the four major crime families currently operating in New York City. Michael could be as ruthless as any mobster should the need arise. But in this instance he was a very proud father greatly enjoying the moment. It was a feeling that was not going to last.
There were noises, off in the distance at first. A muffled thud and then a crash. Michael glanced back towards the house with concern. He couldn't be sure exactly what was transpiring, but he was confident that his boys could deal with it in a quiet and efficient manner. Normally that was the case, but today Michael Vertontese was wrong.
The music came to a sudden and unexpected halt as the doors behind Gina burst open, shattering violently in the process. The young girl screamed in shock and ran for safety, dropping her violin in the process, music sheets going flying. Gasps of surprise and outrage filled the gathering.
A pair of uniformed police officers had barged in with three of Michael's men draped over them in a vain attempt to prevent the intrusion. The trio of thugs were rudely sent flying in a variety of directions across the rose garden. One landed in a pile of rose bushes, while the others crashed among the guests. The fact that the three large men were tossed around like rag dolls was not lost on most of those present.
Anger etched across his face, Michael Vertontese rushed to confront the intruders. They would pay dearly for this intrusion! No one crossed Michael Vertontese like this and lived. "You have no idea the trouble you're in! How dare you come in here like this!," Michael started to complain, but was unable to finish his line of reasoning as he was intercepted along the way.
A man stepped out of the crowd and blocked Michael's path towards the police officers. He was dressed all in black and sported ghost white hair. The most shocking feature was his eyes: they were red and glowed! The sudden interruption made Michael pause for an instant. It was all the opening that Gratz needed.
"Ah, my friend, it is you who have no idea of the sort of trouble that you are in. I bring you greetings from the Scatucci's," Gratz laughed in his Australian accent. The master vampire reached up and plucked Michael Vertontese into the air by his neck. The boss' hands rose to grasp Gratz's hand, but he was unable to pry it loose. Gratz reared back his head, baring his fangs.
"What do you want?!", Michael managed to squeal out in disbelief.
Gratz paused and looked his prey in the eyes. "I want your blood," he answered coldly. "And I want your friends and family to watch as I rip you apart. I desire your violent death to be forever etched into their minds as this is the beginning of the end for your little empire."
A deadly silence filled the rose garden following Gratz's announcement. Then, off in the distance, an eerie mocking laughter could be heard. No one noticed it at first, so focused they were on the sight of Gratz holding the Boss of the Vertontese Family like one would a child before him. The laughter slowly grew stronger until even Gratz noticed it.
Crestfallen, the master vampire looked away from his intended victim and sighed. "My luck continues to run true to form. Am I to have no peace from this eternal nemesis?!"
As if on cue, the Jack O' Lantern soared over the rose garden walls on his glider, a trail of grayish smoke issuing out behind him. The crowd below began to scatter with the arrival of the strange hero having broken the momentary spell of the moment. "My friend Gratz, I never knew you were such a cultured fellow. Why don't you put that poor schmuck down and give me a proper 'hello'?!"
All hell broke loose as Michael's mobsters opened fire on Gratz and the police in an attempt to save their boss. Dozens of bullets bored their way into Gratz, but didn't seem to have much of an effect on the vampire. The force of the impacts did separate Gratz from his intended victim. As soon as he had been released, Michael ran for safety, his men protecting him as best they could.
"Your weapons will have little effect on us!", Gratz announced as he watched Michael departing. "It is extremely difficult to kill those who are already dead! Take them, my children! Feast on their blood!"
Two more vampires emerged from the crowd of spectators. Like Gratz, they had been among the crowd attending the recital from the beginning simply waiting for the time to strike. Pulling out their concealed revolvers, they aimed and opened fire on Jack O' Lantern!
Those bullets that did happen to strike the strange hero seemingly bounced off him. Unfazed Jack O' Lantern seemed to ignore the incoming fire completely. As he circled over the garden, he pulled out a pumpkin and held the hissing projectile over his head for all to see. "I tot I taw a vampire! I did, I did taw a vampire!" He heaved the pumpkin at one of the undead attackers. It exploded in a fiery burst, engulfing the bloodsucker in flames. The vampire shrieked horrifically in pain. "I tot I blew up a vampire! I did, I did blow up a vampire!"
The crowd became even more panicked as the flaming vampire flailed about among them. The vampire stumbled into the wet bar, sending bottles of alcohol smashing to the ground. The liquid quickly ignited, sending a small ball of fire up into the night sky. Flames began to spread everywhere as the vampire collapsed in his death throes, his body dissipating. Those people still inside the rose garden renewed their efforts to escape. Screaming people ran every which way, trying to avoid the flames and the bombs dropped by Jack O' Lantern.
"Stop him!" Gratz commanded to no great effect in the midst of the chaos.
The flames continued to spread and another vampire was lit up, courtesy of yet another pumpkin bomb. This one only staggered a few feet before exploding in a shower of silvery white light!
"You're goin' down, bloodsucker!"
Photon paused only a moment to observe his handiwork. Already weakened by the flames, the vampire never had a chance against the power of the Astegor Armor. Photon's silvery white blasts were most often fatal to the undead. Using the powers of his armor, Photon had simply walked through the walls of the Vertontese home and had been keeping tabs on the rose garden. When Gratz had made his attack, Photon moved in, only to be upstaged by the enigmatic Jack O' Lantern. "Your whole stinking gang is going down! Permanently!"
Gratz and his remaining two minions understandably paused. Two of their numbers had been slain in a matter of seconds. Gratz had no idea who this new arrival was, but he was obviously someone to be taken most seriously. "Yet another annoying fool trying to stop me."
Jack O' Lantern seemed to be pleased at the turn of events as he circled overhead. "Don't know who you are, guy, but just watch this vampire fry!" Another pumpkin bomb was thrown, but the vampire managed to dodge the incoming projectile. The device burst into flames wide of the intended target, setting a section of rose bushes on fire.
Photon spared Jack O' Lantern a glance. He had only heard of the odd hero by reputation, having never met him before. So far, everything that had heard seemed to be right on the money. Looking back at Gratz, Photon added, "Believe me, you're going to be a lot more than annoyed when I'm done with you, chump."
Photon opened fire at Gratz with his silvery blasts. The energy tore into the vampire lord, wounding him. Made of sterner stuff than his minions, Gratz survived the assault, but not by much. Shifting into bat form, Gratz rose into the night sky, fleeing for his very existence. "I will kill you all at a time and place of my choosing, heroes! You have not heard the last from Gratz!"
The last two vampires paused in confusion as their master fled. That cost them as seemingly from out of nowhere a wooden shaft impaled one of them, piercing his heart. The vampire fell to his knees, collapsed to the ground, and quickly perished.
"Got 'im!", the Huntress cheered from the top of the rose garden wall. The heroine had taken a more conventional route than Photon in gaining access to the enclosed garden. Pleased with her results, the Huntress reached for another razor sharp bolt. "Don't move an inch, creep. I've got another stake with your name on it right here!"
But it was not to be, as Photon's silvery white energy attack tore into the remaining vampire, slaying him in a dazzling display of energy. "Don't sweat it, babe. I've got this turkey dead to rights."
Before the Huntress could respond, both heroes were drawn skywards as the Jack O' Lantern cried out once more. "Hi ho, hi ho! Off to kill Gratz I go!" Pulling out of his latest circle, the Jack O' Lantern locked in on Gratz's fleeing bat form and pursued the master vampire off into the night.
"They're getting away!", the Huntress called out, pointing off towards the rapidly fading Jack O' Lantern. "We've got to follow them!"
"You said it, babe," Photon replied. "Let's roll!"
Both heroes retreated from the now ruined rose garden, leaving those behind to clean up and figure out exactly what had just transpired. Michael's thugs went to work in putting the fires out. Michael himself swore vengeance against all those involved in this disastrous affair. No matter the price he had to pay, there would be a reckoning! Poor Gina would be in therapy for years to come.
New Yorkers, by nature, were a hard lot to impress. Spotting a superbeing was almost a daily event to them. They had lived through spectacular battles, rampaging robots, giant monsters, and alien invasions. But the sight of a giant bat being chased by a man riding a bat wing glider, his pumpkin head ablaze made even the most jaded New Yorker stop and stare. The fact that a black Corvette was speeding after the pair went virtually unnoticed.
Unaware that they themselves were being pursued by the Huntress and Photon, Jack O' Lantern continued to chase the fleeing Gratz. The pursuit had covered several miles by now. In spite of his best efforts, Gratz had yet to shake his annoying pursuer. To make matters worse, the Jack O' Lantern had taken to... singing?
"There is someone," the odd hero sung, "Flying behind you... turn around... look at me. Oh, I've waited... I could wait forever... For me, to kill you... So turn around... let's get this over with..."
"Shut up!", Gratz cried out in aggravation. "Your incessant prattling is driving me mad!" Had he hands, Gratz's would have certainly used them to cover his ears. Desperately, the vampire made a sudden turn, flying off in a new direction. Weaving his way through back streets and alleys, Gratz made his way towards his lair. If he could be safe anywhere, it was there.
Finally, Gratz's efforts were rewarded as the horrible singing could no longer be heard and the Jack O' Lantern could no longer be seen. Sighing in relief, Gratz dove into a condemned apartment building and flew towards the basement. The lowest level of the building was deserted when Gratz arrived. None of his current minions were there to greet him. Perhaps they had all been slain back at the rose garden.
"No matter," Gratz mentally concluded as he shifted back into human form. "I can always acquire other minions." His thoughts dark and troubled, Gratz made his way to the rearmost chamber in the basement, to the place where his coffin was waiting. So deep in concentration was he that he failed to notice the light coming from the normally darkened room as Gratz opened the door.
"Good evening," Muskateer announced doing a Bela Lugosi impersonation, his cape held in front of his face, that momentarily startled the master vampire. "The head fang, I assume!" With that Muskateer, swung his sword towards Gratz's neck! Thanks to the report radioed in by the Huntress, Muskateer and the Enchantress had been expecting guests.
Barely keeping his wits about him, Gratz stepped back, only narrowly avoiding the killing blow. A blast of some unknown energy slammed into his chest next, forcing him back further. The energy burned Gratz as if it were made of pure sunlight. All Gratz could do was scream in pain.
"Way to go, darlin'!," Muskateer complimented as he closed on Gratz once more. "Blast him again!"
"It would be my pleasure," the Enchantress announced as she followed Muskateer out of the coffin chamber. Her globe of sunlight shot after Gratz, dogging his every move further adding to his misery. "This creature must be stopped before he causes any more suffering!"
"No!", Gratz yelled as he shifted into wolf form in an attempt to escape. The two Avengers launched their next attacks, but both sailed over Gratz due to his unexpected change in size. "I will not be stopped by the likes of you!"
"Bad doggie!", Muskateer yelled as he chased after the vampiric canine. "Come back here, Spot!"
Ignoring the Avenger's taunts, Gratz rushed across the basement towards the nearest exit, his canine speed putting distance between himself and his new pursuers. Reaching the first floor, Gratz raced out of the condemned building and into the street. He hadn't gone more than a dozen feet when a pumpkin bomb exploded in front of him!
"Hi, guy!", Jack O' Lantern taunted from overhead on his glider, another pumpkin bomb in his hand. "Ready to fry?"
Cursing to himself, Gratz didn't bother to answer as he turned to flee in another direction. He had to find a place of safety where he could rest and heal. If only he could shake these annoying pursuers!
Gratz ran down the middle of the street, weaving among the light traffic, pumpkin bombs going off all around him. Finally, another blast of energy struck him in the side, sending Gratz flying off his feet. Landing with a thud, Gratz looked back to find Jack O' Lantern bearing down on him, the swordsman and the sorceress closely following behind.
"Vengeance! Vengeance!", the Jack O' Lantern cried out as he moved in for the kill. The pumpkin bomb was hurtled towards the prone Gratz.
As it approached, Gratz smiled a toothy grin and willed himself into mist form. The pumpkin exploded, but didn't harm the vampire in the slightest.
"You will never defeat me!", Gratz cried triumphantly as he started to float away. "You cannot harm me in my current state! It will take time to repair the damage you have done to my organization, but I shall rebuild! I will be back to sate my thirst with your life's blood!"
"Dream on, bloodsucker!"
Silvery white energy ripped into Gratz's mist form from seemingly out of nowhere, somehow hurting the vampire. Blast after blast struck Gratz, causing his form to become more and more unstable. Portions of the mist seemingly broke away from the main body and simply vanished. More and more of the mist faded into nothingness. Gratz screamed in agony, until that too faded away.
Those who could pry themselves from this spectacle saw Photon standing close by, several steps away from Hunter's Corvette, the passenger door ajar. He ceased his attack and lowered his arms. The Huntress moved in from behind Photon, her crossbow ready for use. Upon seeing that it was not going to be needed, the heroine simply stored her weapon.
"It's over," Photon announced to no one in particular. "Gratz has been destroyed."
Jack O' Lantern's mocking laughter could been heard emanating from somewhere overhead, but that too slowly faded until it was gone. None had seen the bizarre apparition depart.
"Who was that weirdo?", Muskateer wondered aloud.
Less than an hour later, the Avengers had reunited and gathered in front of the Mercer Street Apartment building. Firestar waited and watched nervously for the others to come out. Black Diamond, the Enchantress, Muskateer, and Photon had gone inside to deal with the last four remaining vampires. Each had been magically imprisoned earlier in the evening courtesy of the Enchantress' magic. (Editor's Note: Last Issue)
Waiting along with Firestar was the Huntress, Texas Ranger, Nightingale, Lightburst, Guardian Angel, and Supreme. There had been a few distant screams and cries of anguish that punctuated the otherwise silent night. They just further fueled the uneasiness that the young Avenger felt.
"They're coming out now," Nightingale suddenly announced. Thanks to her mental powers, she sensed this to be true. She had quietly listened in on what had transpired inside. A sigh of relief was uttered by Firestar, and shared by her teammates as they now relaxed.
Finally, the apartment door opened and Black Diamond led the way out. There was a look of sadness and determination on her face. Behind the ebony clad heroine was the Enchantress, followed by Muskateer with Photon bringing up the rear. Muskateer carried an unconscious woman in his arms.
"Case closed," Photon announced forcibly. "This latest crop of bloodsuckers has been wiped out."
"It's a fang-free zone," Muskateer added.
"What happened to the other vampires?", the Huntress questioned. Because she had been in the apartment earlier in the evening, she knew that the woman Muskateer now carried was one of the vampires. "I thought she was one of them."
"Was one of them," Muskateer responded. "I don't know how, but she's been changed back to a regular human again."
Upon hearing this, Nightingale moved to Muskateer's side to examine the woman. "She's weak, but should make a full recovery."
"With Gratz destroyed, his hold over the other vampires was broken," Photon explained to the Avengers. "See, a variety of things can happen when the master vampire is slain. Most just become free-willed fangs, and others go mad. And a few, a very precious few, are turned back to normal. She must've never tasted blood as a vampire and hadn't been completely converted.
"Remarkable," Guardian Angel uttered in amazement. "At least this one soul could be saved from a life of darkness. What of the others?"
Black Diamond just shook her head no, and upon seeing the look of disappointment on Firestar's face, placed her hand on her friend's shoulder. "With the exception of this young woman, all the others truly died when Gratz first bit them. We just laid to rest what they had become."
"There wasn't any other option, hotstuff," Muskateer added, trying to cheer Firestar up. "Each already became free-willed vampires. Better to nip their threat in the bud than to have to go through all this nonsense again. Besides carrying around stakes and garlic all the time would really cramp my style."
"It is unfortunate, but that is the truth of the situation," the Enchantress quietly added. "Unless I am needed further, I would like to return home. I suddenly feel very unclean."
"It's been a long day. Let's go home team," Black Diamond nodded in agreement. Turning to Photon, she added, "Thanks for your assistance, Photon. If you ever need anything from the Avengers, just ask."
"I'm going to hold you to that, babe." Photon waved goodbye and stalked off on his own, turning in invisible and intangible as he went. "Chill."
Quietly, the Avengers departed as well. Black Diamond took the recovered woman from Muskateer and would take her to the nearest hospital. The others headed home unaware that they were being watched. Unflinching eyes peered at them from the shadows across the street.
"So now what?", Derek Carson asked of himself. He still smelled like smoke from his nearly fatal burning back at the rose garden. Only by changing into mist form and rising up into the air along with smoke from the fire had he been able to escape total destruction. His wounds throbbed with pain but he was still alive. Or rather unalive.
He had felt something snap deep inside of him with the destruction of Gratz. It was as if he was emerging from a long, deep sleep. Finally he was back in control of his himself once more. Not knowing what to do, he slowly made his way back to Gratz's lair only to find that the coffins had been destroyed and that a ball of sunlight had been left behind. In his weakened state, it nearly killed Derek.
Leaving the condemned apartment building behind, Derek made his way to the Mercer Street lair only to find the Avengers gathered there. Fearing to show himself, he hid, watched, and waited. It was clear that this lair had been compromised as well. "Now what do I do?", Derek thought to himself as his hunger for blood grew...
Epilogue:
"You shall fall before my power!", Lady Darkness proclaimed. Sweat poured down the face of the Empress of Darkness as she unleashed mental assault after mental assault towards the Crystal. The two had been trading attacks for nearly ten minutes now. "You shall call me master, construct!"
The Crystal didn't respond as it warded off the attacks. However, each assault that it blunted just weakened its defenses further. It was only a matter of moments before its shields were obliterated under this unrelenting siege.
It was now clear that the Crystal had severely underestimated the power at the command of Lady Darkness. His servants had fared poorly so far. Only the Dreadknight had been unstoppable against his foes. However when the sorceress Blaise Morgan had tried to usurp the Crystal's hold over the golem, it took away more of the Crystal's resources to remain in command of the construct.
Lord Shadow had been the first to fall in the battle, his abilities not on par with the overwhelming foes he faced. Lady Zee fared little better and used her own magical abilities to aid in the Crystal's defense. Ghostfire remained uninjured, but her attacks served to annoy more than harm the Crystal's foes.
"I depart for now," the Crystal bearer suddenly announced. "But this conflict is far from over." Its shields crumbling, the Crystal had little choice but escape in order to fight another day. The Crystal's power reached out, grabbing a hold of each of its servants in preparation to teleport them all away.
"Stop them!", Lady Darkness commanded. "Don't let them escape!"
Sparkler threw her namesake attack at the Crystal Bear, blasting the man. He collapsed to the floor, relinquishing his hold on the Crystal. However, the alien artifact didn't fall but rather hung in midair. Gathering its remaining power, the Crystal began to teleport away.
Desperately, Blaise Morgan launched a counter spell to block the attempt. The sorceress was only partially successfully as the Crystal and his minions faded away leaving Lady Zee behind. Startled, the former Morbane sought to cast her own escape spell. Before she could complete her spell, the large man known as Ogre grabbed the blue clad sorceress pinning her arms to her sides.
Lady Zee struggled for a few moments before realizing that there was no escape for her. There was no hope of breaking free from Ogre's grasp. She watched fearfully as Lady Darkness approached.
"Well done, Blaise," Lady Darkness commended. "I am pleased with the gift you have provided me."
"I live to serve, mistress," Blaise quickly answered. At least she had made a few points from this unexpected invasion. The weakness of her magical wards that had allowed the attack to occur in the first place seemed to have been forgotten. So much the better.
"What are you going to do with me, witch!", Lady Zee spat out defiantly.
"You have spirit," Lady Darkness cooed, her vinyl clad hand grasping Lady Zee's chin. "I will enjoying breaking it. Consider this your first lesson, slave!"
Energy played about the Stone Crown and then shot into the forehead of Lady Zee. Her screams of agony echoed about the chamber. Vilsimbra found the sound to be pleasing while Blaise visibly squirmed. Finally, mercifully, Lady Zee fell unconscious ending her hideous wail.
"Take her to my playroom to await my pleasure", Lady Darkness commanded of Blaise with a hearty laugh. "I look forward to the entertainment she will provide me in the days to come. Oh, and get rid of that horrible outfit. Lady Zee will look much better in black. Much better indeed."
