The Hellfire Club #3
‘Dammed if you do…’
-Boston, Massachusetts-
Marie-Ange Colbert AKA the former Hellion known simply as Tarot, flipped her namesake cards with a practiced grace, as she had done every day for most of her young life. These cards had been like an extension of herself these past years, silent comfort through the years as a ward of the Hellfire Club and through death and reluctant rebirth at the hands of an abusive former boyfriend and now through loneliness. She had never truly found a place to belong, but for now she was staying with her long time friends Amara Aquilla and her lover Manuel de la Rocha AKA Magma and Empath, also former Hellions, the three had formed something of a small family unit together.
The first card of this reading was ‘Death’, Marie being an experienced card reader was not alarmed, this card had little to do with literal physical death and more truly represented a transition, a closing door so that a new door can open.
The second card was what really disturbed her, ‘The Devil’ which frankly, unlike Death, was much more literal in its meaning. It meant ignorance, and despair, and bondage. It stood for the good man doing nothing in the face of evil.
She found herself staring at the card, the image of an immense demonic figure with a naked man and woman standing at his sides, chained to him. The more she stared, the more vivid the image became and it grew off the card.
The horned devil at its center changing to a skeletal figure immolated in fire, the nude pair changing into someone she recognized, falsely, as Jean Grey and an unfamiliar male. The woman called forth monsters at her whim and the man flew on a fiery bat winged creature hurling fireballs from his fingertips.
As the tremors of the vision increased so did the vision…she saw the man standing behind a podium, welcomed by great applause, as the image cleared she saw that he stood in front of the White House. Banners flew around, with the words ‘Vote Osborn/Pryor’; the man began his speech talking of the world needing a cleansing fire to wipe away the wrongs and evils of society. Both he and his lovely running mate bore pins with the all too familiar symbol of the Hellfire Club on their jackets.
The image than changed to the red-headed woman smiling as a newscast reported that she, the vice-president, had just been put in charge of the Midnight S.O.N.S.(Supernatural and Occult Negation Squad) A new Government task-force charged with eliminating the threat supernatural beings posed.
Vice President Pryor continued to smile as images of people being killed and imprisoned flashed across Marie’s eyes, some people she actually recognized. Such as the arcane motorcyclist the Ghost Rider, the Avenger the Scarlet Witch and the dark would-be goddess former Black Queen, Selene, as well others she didn’t know such as a mustachioed man in a flowing red cape, an elderly woman stroking a black cat and a red-haired man with a pentagram on his chest, holding a large trident.
Things began to turn faster, images of elephants and donkeys being destroyed in favor of the Hellfire club banner. Churches being dismantled as newspapers announce that President for Life Osborn has made Zaratheism the official religion of the United States.
“MARIE!” A loud voice screamed shaking Marie out of her stupor; she turned to see her friend Amara. “I called you like 50 times.” The blond girl said worriedly.
“I’m sorry, I was…” She looked away, than turned back an expression of determination on her face, “You should get Manuel…we need to talk.”
***
-The Hellfire Club Brownstone-
“So in closing I will regain control of OsCorp industries, and you all will continue to act as figureheads. And I must remind you; if one hint, one whisper of my resurrection escapes this room I will bring your wives, your husbands, your children, Hell even your mistresses here in much the fashion that I summoned you, though regrettably they will not be met with so warm a welcome.” Harry finished facing the OsCorp board of directors threateningly, Maddy all the while looking on with a cat-ate-the-canary grin.
“…You cannot intimidate us Osborn we’re all witness to your threats if anything should happen to our loved ones we’ll…”
“Call the cops? Go for it. They will either get lucky and somehow manage to take us in, or more likely there’ll be a firefight and we’ll decimate them. Either way…your families will already be dead anyways.”
One of the other executives looked like she was about to say something but decided against it and sat back down. All of them looked like they could die of fright at any moment.
“All right, this was a great meeting, you should all be very proud. Now, our drivers are waiting, go home, get some rest, I’ll be in touch.” Harry smiled.
As they got up to leave, shaken and silent, Maddy studied each of them intently.
“Well?” Harry asked expectantly.
“Morgan Ferris. He’s already making plans to anonymously contact the police.” She said tapping the side of her head.
“Just him?”
“It seems so, the rest are pretty cowardly…I supposed your father broke them in already.” She smirked.
“Okay, good. I’ll take care of him. Alert his driver…I have alternate directions for him.” Harry said as he and Maddy walked confidently out of the board room.
***
Jennifer Kale has managed to “finesse” an invitation to a last minute yet elaborate party being thrown at the Hellfire Club in honor of the triumphant return of Christian Frost. She was on the arm of Derek Macabe a highly successful investment banker who was under the impression that she was a young pop starlet.
At the head of the room, the clinking of glass could be heard. They all turned towards the sound to see the lovely new President of the Hellfire Club, Madelyne Pryor calling for a toast.
“I know most of you don’t know me as well as my predecessor Benedict Kane, but trust me when I say that I am not the kind of person for long-winded speeches. I’ve known the Frosts off and on for years and been around this great club of ours enough to know that this man right here,” She said warmly taking Christian’s hand, “Is gonna thrust new life into these dusty old walls.” She said raising her glass to a smattering of laughter, “To Christian Frost, the man of the hour!” She laughed taking a sip as everyone followed her.
“You certainly have them wrapped around your finger Maddy.” Christian whispered to her.
“Well I am the public face of the club now.” She smiled back.
“And what a face it is.” He winked.
“Flatterer.” She said playfully pushing his shoulder, though if she were to be honest she didn’t altogether like to be complimented on her looks, as they technically weren’t her own.
Jennifer meanwhile inched closer to the stage, keeping an eye on Maddy, recognizing her from the images she picked up from the Fire of Zarathos. She saw Madelyne approached by an older woman who introduced herself as Miranda Von Roehm.
“So Madelyne, those of us in the know hear that the Inner Circle will be recruiting soon.” Miranda said in a hushed whisper.
“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean Miranda.” Madelyne lied, with a smirk.
“My sources say that the position of Black Queen is still open.”
Before Jennifer could hear more she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to see Christian Frost staring at her.
“Can I help you? Or do you just want to eavesdrop some more?” He said sternly.
“I’m sorry I guess I just got distracted.” Jennifer said coolly, “Congratulations on your recovery.” She mumbled quickly and rushed away from him. She made an excuse to her date and walked out of the ballroom and onto the street.
“You thought you could just walk in and poke around?” A voice said from around the corner of the building, inside the alley. She prepared herself for a fight as three figures came into view; two women, one with blond the other with dark blood red hair, and a tall Hispanic young man.
“Who are you?”
“We’re here to help you.” Amara said confidently.
***
Morgan Ferris was getting terrified. His cell-phone wasn’t working and the driver wasn’t answering him. He was trying to calm down, when he saw them take a turn down the wrong street.
“I DEMAND YOU ANSWER ME NOW!” Morgan shouted. There was still no answer and the car drove on. Morgan tried to open the door to no avail and than began slamming his fists against the window, still with no effect.
The Driver pulled the car into the parking lot of an abandoned warehouse. He calmly parked the car and exited leaving the doors open as he did so.
Morgan scrambled out of the car after him, the driver paid no attention as Morgan shouted and screamed for him to come back.
“What the Hell is going on here?” Morgan pondered out loud trying his cell-phone again. His phone still refused to work, so he began to wander around the lot trying to get a signal.
“Hey Morgan…got flat tire?” Came an echoing voice from seeming nowhere.
“Hello?” Morgan asked, whipping his head around frantically.
“Look up.” The voice said simply.
The man looked upwards and he nearly fainted dead away. There was a man standing above him in the sky, flying on what appeared to be a large bat made of fire. The man wore ragged dark black clothing; with a hood falling over his face, underneath was horrible scaly pale almost gray green skin and just behind the shadows that the hood cast over his ghoulish face Morgan could make out his glowing yellow eyes.
“What are you?” The executive snapped, quickly crossing himself.
“Does it really matter?” The strange man laughed, and just as Morgan began to think that he recognized the voice, Harry hurled a fireball at him. Morgan threw himself to the ground, barely missing being vaporized by the blast.
“God help me!” Ferris shouted as he ran.
“Wow…you’re spry for an older guy.” Harry cackled again. He flew after him, the fiery wings under his feet spiriting him wherever Ferris ran to. “Morgan…you are going to die. I’m sorry but that’s just a fact. Do it with a little dignity.”
Morgan had run into a wall, literally, and out of desperation hurled his cell-phone at Harry, which missed him by a mile.
“So that’s a ‘no’ on the dignity than.” Harry sighed.
“Osborn…is that you?”
“Good for you Ferris!” Harry laughed, “He got it! Let’s give the man a prize!” With that Harry hurled another fireball towards Morgan, and soon just a burn mark on the wall and a pile of ash remained.
“Just like riding a bike…” Harry muttered to himself.
***
-Jennifer Kale’s Motel Room-
“So just who are you people?”
“I’m Amara and this is Manuel and Marie. We were trained personally by the Hellfire Club, and we’ll be the ones helping you bring this current incarnation down.” Amara said fiercely.
“But how’d you even know what I was doing?”
“That’d be because of me.” Marie said raising her hand, “I kind of see the future.”
“How do you “kind of” see the future?” Jennifer asked.
“Such a long story…” She laughed it off.
“The point is we’re intimately familiar with the Hellfire Club and we know how it works.”
“But I’m not really all that interested in “bringing them down” as it were. There is just an old enemy of mine that may or may not be in that building and I need to find out if he’s in there.” Kale explained.
“Oh he’s in there” Manuel smiled.
“How do you know?” Amara snapped playfully.
“Oh I know how these things work out, for us to go to all this trouble run into her, see her in visions, blah, blah, than there is no way that these things are not connected.” Manuel smirked.
“Back to the whole ‘bringing them down’ thing again than.” Jennifer smiled back.
“Well we need to strike from within.” Amara said.
“Yes they have too much clout and connections; any failed upfront attack would be devastating for us.”
“So how do we get in?” Jennifer asked twirling her hair.
“We three get in first. We have certain rights, having been technically former members, we can apply for Inner Circle membership without too many eyebrows raising.” Amara said.
“How do you know they even need members?” Kale asked.
“Trust me when I said that we know these people. There’s been a recent transition in power, it also doesn’t help that their public face is that bitch Madelyne Pryor who frankly should be very, very dead…again. Anyways, when power changes hands in the Hellfire Club, deaths follow, and after that they’ll be looking for new blood.” Amara said confidently.
“And where do I come in?”
“You Jennifer are the wildcard. Right now they are tight knit and close but I’ve seen them like that before…and than Selene showed up and everything went to Hell.” Amara laughed.
“We’ll get in and than nominate you, and than trust me…things will happen of their own accord almost before we can even begin to help the chaos along.” Empath smiled.
Marie had remained mostly silent this entire time, watching on as she let the others take the lead. She knew that times were tough; she knew they were in danger…but still…she couldn’t remember the last time she felt more alive.
***
Harry sat down in his chair with a sigh.
“Long day at the office?” Maddy laughed as she walked in.
“I haven’t exerted myself like this in quite awhile.”
She stood behind him and began to rub his shoulders.
<You both are doing so well.> Zarathos’ voice bled into their minds. They were used to it by now and were no longer as disturbed by it.
“Thank you, sir” They both said in unison.
<How comes the efforts to free me?>
“Very good sir, we just need to find the sword that your enemies used to defeat you and we can undo your transformation.” Harry said seriously, standing to his feet.
<Good, very good, do hurry. You two have done me proud, though I must admit I do miss our good times when you were on this side with me> He laughed maliciously. They both visibly shuddered.
“Were thankful you gave us a second chance at life sir.” Madelyne said stiffly, Harry grabbed her hand supportively.
<Yes well I didn’t have much choice and neither do you, but do me proud and I will reward you greatly when I am free to feed on the souls of the living once more!>
“We can hardly wait sir.” Harry said exchanging a look of guilt and misery with Madelyne.
<Ah yes…Good times are ahead…>
To be continued…
