Sand between the her toes and the sound of the surf crashing against the shoreline.

That's what it all came down to in the end. Just the endless crashing of one force against the other.

"Such a waste" she muttered as she bent down to pick up a shell, "Such an incredible waste"

It was all over now. Everything but the shouting as they said.

She heard laughter in the distance. She turned and walked away from it.

It was no one she knew.

BEFORE

They were close. She could feel them in her bones.

"Where are they?" she muttered as she looked through the cave she had found herself drawn to. Her children were somewhere close... the woman who was Jennifer March knew that they were. She had been through so much - for so long. But now things were going to be all right again. She was going to be reunited with her family. She was, at last, going to be at peace. And damn

	April- Year 5
	#204

if they tried to stop her.

He knew what death looked like. But if he hadn't, he knew that he could have gotten a fairly decent idea of it from staring into the eyes of the Valkyrie called Mist. He was called Dr. Amazing, and if he didn't start talking - he wouldn't even have the dignity of a likeness being cast in his honor as an former Avenger.

He would die as he had lived - unknown to most. Despised by those who did happen to know him. Dead either way.

He would die with the knowledge that he was protecting those that had paid him - those who had... he looked deeply into the eyes of the angry Valkyrie and told everything he knew and made up a couple things just to keep things interesting.

Jaine Cutter had seen alot of things during her time as an assasain for Hell. She had done even more things, things that she had cast her eyes away from so as not to have to see the horrible things she was doing. That part of her existence was ancient history though, she had died and been reserrected to be the Hand of Satan, Daimon Hellstorm's personal tool of vengeance. Now she looked at each and every thing she did, and hoped for a chance to get to do the things she had not looked at earlier, in hopes of catching what her squemishness had forced her to miss. She had thought she had seen everything. But this was indeed a unique curcumstance she had stumbled onto.

The man in who had interupted her interrogation of the woman called Typhoon was called Blade, known throughout the nether regions as the slayer of the undead. The fact that he was part vampire himself was something that was whispered about in the darkest of hall. He was one who had escaped his blood destiny - one who had turned his back on the lust and fought back the night that substained him.

But now - now, something was different.

She tried to put her finger on it. He was standing differently.

She sniffed the air. He smelled different as well. Smell...

"Normal" she said through a sinister smile, "You're a normal now."

Blade's expression remained neutral, "You can try me and see just how normal I may be. Or, you can let that woman go and let me talk to the Defenders."

"You can talk to the deadweight all that you want. Be my guest. But this one - this one is mine."

Blade shook his head, slowly, from side to side, as he unbuttoned the middle button on his jacket.

"Do you know who I am?" she hissed.

He shrugged, "I didn't figure it mattered."

"I am the Hand of Hell." Jaine Cutter declared.

He started to nod, dropped suddenly to one knee and through a wooden stake through the air. She moved her hand slightly, plucking the stake casually from the air.

She smiled sweetly at it as it wilted in her hand. Her attention returned to Blade, "I trust you have better than that to offer." she quipped, as she took a confident step toward him.

"Anyone want to bring me up to speed?" Cecilia Reyes didn't quite ask as much as demand as she and Isaac Christians entered the room.

Mist and Fandral had obviously taken matters into their own hands with Dr. Amazing, but she wasn't quite sure what to make of the fact that he was now calmly sitting in a chair talking with them.

He gave her his best smile as she walked in. Cecilia ignored it, her attention focused instead on Mist.

"There appears to be a misunderstanding," Fandral offered with a grin, "Apparently this fellow didn't quite know that the Defenders were the good guys here."

"Well," Dr. Amazing admitted, "It wasn't so much as not know as it was care. But now that I know, I want to help."

"And how did this misunderstanding come about?" Isaac pondered aloud, knowing he wasn't going to like the explanation.

"I was hired to abduct the heir to the throne of Hell - one Daimon Hellstorm by people claiming that they wanted to end his evil. Working against the powers of Hell - that's the good guys right? I was told that the Defenders were acting as his personal bodyguards..."

"Which we were not," Fandral interjected.

"...and so that pretty much made you the bad guys. No matter what your reputation might be, part of it is that you have a blindspot when it comes to your own..."

"Others have that blindspot as well, " Cecilia pointed out, thinking back to her days affliated with the mutant X-Men.

"Granted," Dr. Amazing allowed with a nod, "But the ties between your team and Hellstorm are pretty hard to miss."

"So you figured you'd take us out of play by kidnapping him and attacking us?"

Dr. Amazing smiled, "Well, it worked didn't it?"

Mist stared at him coldly, "You're sitting here now... you tell me how well your plan worked."

"I would have had you not had another sorceress on your team. She caught me by surprise."

Isaac looked to Cecilia, puzzled, then back to Dr. Amazing, "And what sorceress would that be?" he asked.

Mist stood up from her seat, drawing her blade once more from its hilt, "The one called Jennifer March." she declared, " She has shown her true colors at last. Perhaps truer colors than we had feared."

"Hate to say it, " Fandral said as he stood up, blade in hand, matching his comrade, "But we told you so."

He was the Lord of Hell.

He kept telling himself that. Hoping that it was still true.

If he wasn't the Lord of Hell anymore - what was he? A supernatural detective? Some sort of professor of the dark arts? An ex-superhero?

He shook his head firmly. He was not going down his father's path, returning to the light. He couldn't - even if he wanted to. After all, his father had fallen from grace. He had never seen it.

The darkness was all that he truly had. All that he would ever truly have. Perhaps, if he could find a way to return his powers... and return the soul of Patsy Walker to its rightful place... perhaps then he would be able to know peace.

Perhaps - if one were the happen without the other... perhaps that wouldn't be that bad either.

But the men he had come to look for - the ones who had been his best leads to finding the true Lesser Grey Gargoyle were dead. Even worse, the one in their care had been a false one. They had given their lives for a lie.

Daimon chuckled to himself over the irony. Lies were his domain... had been his domain, a part of his brain corrected before he overwhelmed it.

Without the gargoyle, the chances of undoing the damage done to him - to Patsy - were slim. He would have to look for another solution - another chance... another...

"Miracle" he found himself mouthing in awe.

He looked around the dungeon he had found himself in and shouted until his throat was raw.

"Father I beseech you!" he called out into the darkness, waiting for an answer from the light.

Blade dodged the blow, barely. His reaction time had slowed. His senses were... blunted.

The return of the Montesi Formula to the world had been a great service, ending the terror of vampires forever. Or at least until someone found a way to reverse his reversal. But it had cost the life of Hannibal King - and had taken away enough of his own natural abilities to the point that his life might well be next.

He hadn't come prepared for a fight. But when he had found the woman calling herself the Hand of Hell about to kill the woman he knew as Typhoon, as well as being the owner of the house they were in, he had been unable to avoid stepping into one.

Jaine Cutter threw another punch, this one also missing him.

He couldn't believe his luck - until he saw the glee dancing in her eyes.

"She's playing with me" he realized as his stomach dropped. He was no more than a plaything in her eyes, unable to present a real threat to her, but good enough to tease.

He stopped dead in his tracks. She pulled her punch at last minute in surprise.

The impact knocked him off his feet and left him sprawling face down on the floor, wondering if anything was broken.

"Why did you have to go and do that?" she mocked, "And here I was just starting to enjoy your company."

"You don't play with Blade," he muttered as he spat blood, "You fear him."

"Is that so?" she continued to mock, "Well then I guess I better finish you off before you get the chance to beat me."

"I'd highly suggest it," he groaned through the pain. He spat another drop unto the object he had carefully fallen upon and pushed his will onto it.

Jaine Cutter strutted her way toward him, drawing out the moment. He focused his will, not certain what he was going to receive, but hoping that it would be enough to turn the balance of the fight.

He used his reserve strength to propel himself from the ground back onto his feet, he thrust the Lesser Grey Gargoyle toward his attacker. "How do you like it if I reversed some spells placed on you?"

She looked blankly at him for a moment, then her attention shifted toward the idol. "You don't know what you're doing." she muttered.

"Maybe not" Blade retorted, "But whatever it is - I'm sure it's enough to take you down."

Jaine Cutter stared at him in horror for a moment, then struck out with her foot.

The eyes of the Lesser Grey Gargoyle glowed with fire as it reversed the spell upon her.

The woman who was Jaine Cutter fell in midstrike... her body collapsing and her soul returning to the death that her master had once returned her from.

Blade took a step back in shock, before looking down to the idol as its eyes started to cool.

"Damn" he muttered to himself in awe as he kicked the scattered bones of his foe out of his way, "I need to get me one of these."

Dr. Amazing watched reactions as he talked. The better he understood the situation, the better his chances of continued survival. The older man, the one they called Isaac seemed skeptical. The woman with him - Cecilia, seemed downright hostile. She seemed to want to hit him even though the battle was long since finished. Perhaps if he allowed her to do so, just once, she would think better of him. Perhaps though, he added to his estimate, he might not be in any shape to care what she thought if he allowed himself to be hit. He stared at her again, there was a bird of dark fire in her eyes, daring him to step forward.

He thanked his instinct not to.

The Valkyrie Mist was still rather hostile, but he seemed to have given her a piece of information that she had been waiting for. Which made her, while not friendly, at least less likely to get bored and kill him outright.

Fandral actually seemed to be warming up quite a bit. Some of that seemed to have to do with learning that he really had been an Avenger - and that he knew about the Warriors Three from the files. Dr. Amazing left out the part of his departure from the team. The less said about that - the better after all. If nothing else, it gave him a trump card.

Isaac had crossed his arms in front of his chest and was pacing back and forth, deliberating what to do with the new information, "We need to help Daimon. But we also can't have a rogue member out there causing who knows what problems."

"What if she is just looking for her kids?" Celicia asked, playing devil's advocate.

"Then she surely wouldn't mind the company for the reunion." Isaac answered without missing a beat, "We're down to four - unless Hannibal shows up soon..."

"Where did he go anyway?" Fandral queried.

"Personal business" the response came from the other end of the room.

They turned as one. Dr. Amazing tensed, waiting for a shoe to drop. He looked over to where the man in black leather was staggering in holding a small grey gargoyle. He exhaled, relieved.

"What brings you to these parts Blade?" Isaac asked.

Blade stopped dead, "Do I know you?"

"I used to be the Gargoyle" Isaac informed him.

Blade nodded, "Ah, then you and this little guy have a lot in common." He held up the statue. No one moved to take it.

"Where did you get that?" Cecilia demanded.

"I have my sources." Blade winked, "Actually Hannibal was the one who asked for me to bring it out of hiding for you."

"Where is he now?"

Blade looked at Isaac for a moment, hesitating, "One of the main powers of the Lesser Grey Gargoyle is reversing spells... shaping reality to the wielder's will..."

"That's what we're hoping to use it for..."

"So was Hannibal. He said something about doing something horrible... about attacking someone. He was starting to feel the urge in his gut... at least that's what he told me. He wanted to end the threat of vampires - the threat of him turning on people he cared about. So we brought back the Montesi Formula..."

"He... killed himself?" Isaac asked, processing the information faster than the others.

Blade nodded, "That's certainly a way to look at it. I'm sure he would say he was sacrificing himself. But it all ends up with the same pile of ashes in the end now doesn't it?"

"That's certainly an - enlightened view," Celicia observed.

Blade shrugged, "What can I say, I'm an enlightened guy."

Isaac locked eyes with Cecilia. She nodded, slowly. He turned around and left the room.

"Is he all right?" Fandral asked with concern.

Cecilia put on a fake smile, "He'll be all right. He just needs a moment. Meanwhile, we still have one missing member - one kidnapped member - a missing host and a homicidal maniac sidekick somewhere around here that no one's accounted for."

"She wouldn't happen to be the Hand of Hell would she?" Blade asked, holding his side.

Cecilia turned back to him suddenly, "Don't tell me that you killed her."

Blade said nothing.

"Well?" Cecilia asked.

"You told me not to tell you." he smirked.

"You didn't happen to kill anyone else we're looking for in your travels did you?"

Blade smiled. He thought for a moment, "Nope" he replied after a moment of tension.

"But," he added, "Your host is in the other room, where that Hand of Hell lady was trying to kill her..."

"I wonder why." Dr. Amazing asked no one in particular.

"Oh yes," Cecilia scoffed, "I wonder why she would be trying to kill a friend of the guy who spirited away her boss."

Dr. Amazing shrugged innocently.

"What about Daimon Hellstorm. And the hostages Typhoon wanted us to find."

No one answered.

"Ok then - so we know that they are at Helzapoppin' right?"

Dr. Amazing nodded, "That was where I was told they would be held. There's no reason to think that they might not there."

"Unless its misdirection," Mist offered.

"True, but these are people wanting the Prince of Hell. I doubt that they're going to be overly worried about misdirecting ME" Dr. Amazing replied with a self-depricating smile.

"I think you're right," Cecilia replied.

"He is," a voice boomed from no where.

Daimon Hellstorm simply appeared in the middle of the room. There was no flash of light, no burst of energy - one moment he wasn't there and the next moment he was...

Cecilia Reyes took a step back and summoned forth a force field between herself and the Ruler of Hell.

Daimon shook his head. "That's really foolish CeeCee." he said calmly, "If I had my powers back, I could wipe that aside with a gesture..."

"Your opinion" Cecilia muttered.

"But since I do not," Daimon explained, "I am certainly no threat to you and yours."

"That's a matter of opinion" Blade replied, relating the story of how he had battled Jaine Cutter.

At the conclusion of the story, Daimon stood motionless with his head bowed. Finally, he looked up at Blade. Cecilia glanced over to both Mist and Fandral, who were tensed and ready to fight if need be. Daimon Hellstorm took a step forward and extended his hand, "It sounds like you did the right thing," he replied finally, "I thank you for making it quick."

Blade took his hand reluctantly. The ruler of Hell shook his hand briefly, then turned back toward Cecilia.

"If you don't have your powers," Cecilia asked, "Then how did you get here?"

Daimon smiled, "Divine intervention."

No one spoke. Cecilia dropped her force shield, leaning as casually against a wall as she could.

"Where are the hostages?" Isaac asked as he returned. His eyes went to Daimon immediately.

"They were dead before I got there." Daimon replied, "Part of some sort of sacrifice. Long story."

Isaac nodded, "Somehow that doesn't surprise me. So that leaves us with finding Jennifer before she does something stupid."

"She's not Jennifer," Mist responded, "You have to stop thinking about her like that."

"What's going on with Patsy's body?" Daimon asked urgently.

"You mean Jennifer's body" Cecilia replied, "And the answer to that is that this guy," indicating Dr. Amazing, "Said that she used some sort of magic on him. Considering that neither Patsy nor Jennifer had ever exhibited such powers..."

"Not completely true," Daimon and Isaac replied as one. They smiled at each other, remembering better days among the Defenders, fighting alongside the yellow and blue clad spitfire.

Daimon cast an eye toward the gargoyle in Blade's hand, then to where Dr. Amazing was sitting before returning to his friendly smile.

"The bottom line," Isaac said, "is that no matter who's in control of that body - is that she needs to be found. We came out here to try to help her - to try to help them both. And now that we have the means," he nodded toward the Lesser Grey Gargoyle, "of setting things right, it would be a shame just to leave her out there alone to figure things out."

Seeing that no one was going to argue the point, he reached over and took Cecilia's trembling hand.

"You know what we need to do right?" he asked her. She nodded solemnly. "To the end" she mouthed, gripping his hand tighter.

She unleashed the Phoenix force within her, until it consumed the assembled group. "Take us to Jennifer March" she shouted, using her willpower to control the uncontrollable.

There was a burst of flame around them... and then, they were gone.

They reappeared in the middle of a cave. Isaac looked around.

Cecilia collapsed, exhausted.

Blade gripped the statue tightly, wondering who the best person would be to give it to. No one had asked for it yet... but sooner or later, they would.

Mist moved forward, Fandral took the rear guard. Their swords were out and ready for the worst. Or so they thought.

Jennifer March walked out of the darkness in front of them, smiling. Large ruby earrings hung from her ears. "Thank god you guys finally got here. I was starting to think you'd never show!"

"Is everything all right?" Isaac asked cautiously.

"Don't let her get close." Mist warned.

"It couldn't be better," Jennifer said with a wide and open smile, "I found them." she declared, "I found my children!"

"Where are they?" Isaac asked.

"Back there!" Jennifer beamed, "I can't believe that I forgot where they'd be! I remember so much now! I really can't thank you enough!"

"Don't trust her" Mist warned, "I'm getting a weird vibe here."

"So am I" Daimon Hellstorm muttered to himself. He took a step forward, trying to get a better look at the earrings she was wearing... trying to get a better look at her eyes.

"Why are they here Jennifer?" Isaac asked calmly, "How did you know they were going to be here of all places?"

Jennifer giggled, "Because this is where I buried them silly..." she declared, "when I gave myself heart and soul to Morgan Le Fay!"

LATER

It was all just jumbled memories of a fight... and then the stench of death.

She still hadn't sorted out the memories of what had really happened in the cave. Nor did she know what had become of the Defenders, when she had come to, they were all gone. Their lifeless bodies were scattered around the cave like dolls being tossed aside by giants.

She had hoped against hope... but hope seemed to be in short supply. She left them where they had fallen, trying to figure out what to do with them.

When she had returned from finding an appropriate place for burial they were gone. Had they simply gotten up and left or had they been taken? She didn't know.

All that she knew, as she walked along the coastline, was that her name was Patsy Walker, and that the long ordeal she had suffered through had come to an end, just in time for her to begin yet another one.

NEXT: The Wasp's team journeys to Asgard in "The Greater Good". Don't Miss it!

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