Character Creation Contest #135: Make A Villain For Blade

Attack of the Asgardian Vampires

It had been days and nights that the lonely streets of Brooklyn, New York City were been infested with vampires. The vampire hunter did everything by the book. He made sure that these evil things of the supernatural were vanquished off on a daily basis, and knew too well that he could bring them down with the tip of his sword. Blade.

Yes, his name was Eric Brooks, also known as Blade and in due time, he would face a lot of vampire enemies in the days to come, and the ones not so much important to this day. Perhaps this is what Blade had intended to do, from the time he fought Deacon Frost. If he had a choice to become human again, what would have happened? It was not most likely that Abraham Whistler would have agreed upon. Therefore Blade didn't make that choice. Only Deacon had made it for him. A bad choice, indeed. But it was only a matter of time when the hunger that grew within Blade, could tear his soul apart, and thus make him into one of a kind.

And not to mention, there were other kinds of vampires lurking behind these dark shadows that no other vampire hunter could detect, except Blade, other than the ones that he could easily kill. Daylight vampires, vampires who could shapeshift into anyone or anything they desired, or showed off their various magical powers. Even child vampires. Yes, Blade had to kill them as well. At first, he hesitated to do so. Why, vampire children are much older than they seemed to be, and they grew wiser by each day and night, and make their own plans to kill the Daywalker himself. But he managed alright. He managed it very well.

After tonight's killing, Blade had just walked into his apartment. Taking rest and pumping the blue juice into his veins, which kept his wild hunger at bay. If anything he could desire at this point that Blade might have been completely human, if taking the antidote by free will. Anything. But the cost was too high, and this is what Whistler had warned him about. "Blade, if you become human, there's no way for you to kill those damn things. Trust me. You don't want to do it."

The old man was right. Blade needed his half-vampire abilities the most. In fact, he would use them wisely, and add that to his skills of using a variety of weapons from his secret closet, he could triple kill these damned things in one go.

Second shot and he was done. He never gave himself more than one. Not like the last time though, but the hunger was growing again. Damn it, Blade thought. Damn this motherf***a. And then a flash of lightning appeared in the sky. Blade looked at it and thought, It's probably gonna rain. Need to get some shut eye before I kill those bloody f***ers again. Yes, he would. But out of all this tiredness of fighting the undead, there was someone else who needed his help. Someone who came down from above. Someone like...

KRA-KOOM!

"WHAT THE F***!" Windows shattered everywhere around the room, and the shards of glass sprinkled like water on the floor. Blade sighed and thought of what he would say to the tenant of this building. But most likely it wouldn't matter, because he had been caught in a similar situation, such as this one. It was nothing new, and now that someone had just broken those newly-made windows, Blade quickly raised his blade (no pun intended) high, while a dark figure appeared before him, hovering in the air. Blade said, "Who the hell are you?"

"My name is Thor, the son of Odin. And I have come from..."

"Wait a minute. Did you just say Thor? You, the God of Thunder?"

"Um... yes. That is who I am. And I have come here to..."

"Why the hell didn't you just knock the door?"

Thor looked at it and said, "I am sorry, Blade. But I have come to you in a matter of urgency. You see..."

"Just cut to the chase, Thor. What the hell do you want anyway?"

Thor looked at him and thought, This man had said the word, "hell" three times already. I wonder if Father was right about him.

"Listen, Blade," Thor tried again. "You must help me for I don't know how to defeat such an evil being. I have faced countless enemies in the past, which I'm sure you don't care much about. But you must..."

Blade sighed. "Okay, motherf***a. I'll listen to you for one thing. If it has anything to do with vampires, I'm on it."

"Um... mother what?"

"Never mind about that. Just tell me what you came here for."

This is madness, Thor thought. Perhaps I made a mistake in coming here. But then he knew that this Blade was the right person for the job. After all, he was one of the greatest vampire hunters ever to live in Midgard itself. Thor sighed. "Alright. But you must hear me out, Blade. I have to say this, but there is an Asgardian vampire on the loose."

"An @$$gardian vampire?"

"Um... No. It is pronounced, Asgardian. Not the one which you speak your language in bad terms."

"Oh, okay. Just get on with it."

"Yes... This thing is strong and has drained the blood from one of my people. And I know him well enough that I could not defeat the likes of him. No matter how I have tried, I..."

"You could have used your hammer to crush his head. Why do you want my help anyway?"

Thor sighed again. This is not going to work. Perhaps I must go back and deal with the current situation. But I will try again for the last time. "You are right, Blade. I could have crushed him, even with my own bare hands. But something has happened to him greatly. He has been bitten by a vampire, when he and I came down to Midgard to face our enemy, Skurge the Executioner. I had that chance to kill my friend when he was turned into one of those things, but I could not do it myself. He..." Thor paused, and thought of what his dear friend had become. It was unbearable. And further the damage, the realm of Asgard would soon be attacked by thousands like him.

"Hmm... okay then. So just where I can find this friend of yours?"

"He's still in Asgard, so to speak. But I can take you to him. It will be a long ride ahead of us."

"A long ride? Are we going in some kind of horse or something?"

"No, Blade. We're traveling in Bifrost."

The vampire hunter was about to say, What the hell is that? but thought better of it. Besides, he had heard enough for one day.

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Two weeks ago...

In Midgard, it was everything that Skurge the Executioner had hoped for. He just escaped from the likes of Thor and his great warrior friend named Turak, whose reputation of being an Asgardian warrior had earned himself countless applause in saving Asgard from such enemies like Skurge. However, Skurge used to be one of them, protecting the realm in their mightiest of need. And now a criminal who had just escaped from the deepest halls of the Asgardian prison, where all villains whom Thor had fought, were been kept alone in the dark, each cell of them. Skurge often wondered how anyone would try to escape from such a place as that. He even laughed about it.

But thanks to Loki's magic, Skurge was able to enter Midgard illegally, without the use of Bifrost. He never felt so much happier to see that smile, wiped off from Thor's face. Not to mention, Turak.

Now that he was here, he planned to hide himself in the city of Brooklyn. At first, he didn't know where he was. In the modern age of Midgard, technology had been vastly superior and unknown to him. He even saw the crowded cars and buses honking at each other, and some of their drivers yelling out, "Get the f*** outta here. I'm in a hurry." The other one said, "My wife is having a baby. We need to get to the hospital. Quick!" And some random kid said, "Mommy, are we there yet?" All these wild noises seemed strange to an Asgardian warrior. Skurge thought, I must somehow blend in, for my appearance shall question the likes of them. Yes, that would most likely arouse much attention, due to his size and appearance, and he often wondered if anyone that he had fought before in his realm, would recognize him. For instance, Thor's friends were the Avengers, and he wished he wouldn't stumble upon them, if given by any chance.

So he walked toward the darkest alleys of the city. He winced at the stinking piss of some homeless guy, who tried to get a good day sleep. But Skurge ignored this, and stopped. He noticed a couple of ragged clothes, which got left behind in one of the garbage cans. Yes, this was the moment he realized that he could cover himself with it, no matter how bad it smelled. But it would have to do.

And not to mention his huge double-bladed axe. Yes... I must hide it as well. Skurge grabbed the dirty clothes and wrapped himself up. In the name of Asgard, this stinks! But no matter. I can handle it. Yes, he could handle anything, this Executioner.

As he walked out of the alleyway, a plane could be seen flying in the sky. And then a group of men were fighting off each other across the street, until a police siren sounded off like an alarm. The car stopped, and the two officers of law enforcement got out and yelled, "Alright, freeze! Put your hands up where we can see them!" And then the next thing Skurge knew a series of gunshots exploded over his ears. He too winced at the sound of them. What weapons are they using?Is that... Yes, he remembered them all right when Loki had mentioned of these strange weapons on Midgard. Guns, my friend. That is what these Midgardians had called them. Guns.

Skurge again ignored the scene and tried to figure out where he could safely hide. There were these tall buildings that he still couldn't make of. A strange structure unlike the city of Asgard I have ever seen before. Strange, indeed. But Skurge had no time to be fascinated by the likes of them. He would have to stay hidden in this noisy city until... until what? He didn't know. What is my purpose of coming here? He asked himself in thought, now that he realized it. Like something important that he had to do here, other than escaping from the rotting cells of Asgardian prison?

I am free, that's what it counts. Yes... But then as he about to step further, he noticed two men looking for something to eat. They were too covered in ragged clothes. Skurge thought, It must be those men who have no homes. Yes, that's what it looks like. And so when Skurge almost passed them, the man grabbed his arm firmly.

What? Skurge turned around and saw whose hand it was. And then... Could it be? When the man revealed himself, it was Thor, the God of Thunder and his accomplice, the other "homeless guy" who had turned out to be Turak.

No! Skurge quickly removed his hand away from Thor's grip with great strength and then stepped back. "How did you find me?"

"By magic," Turak replied.

"Magic?" Skurge was confused. Then he thought, Did Loki really help them? After all, he was Loki and there were times that he could not be trusted.

"It's not that important, Skurge," Thor said. "You shall come with us."

"Never!" Skurge removed his dirty clothes away and then raised his axe. "I am Skurge the Executioner and I shall..."

Thor raised his hammer and struck lightning at him. Skurge managed to slip away from it, but the lightning traveled to and fro, thus making the bald warrior stunned and electrocuted at the same time.

Skurge screamed in pain, but he did not give up. He raised his voice, "I shall kill you, Thor! And you, Turak!" But Turak already raised his own weapon, a sword like no other that the Executioner had seen before. Two weapons clashed each other, and that Turak winced at the great pressure upon him. He said, "Did you really think you can get away from us, Skurge?"

"I shall not allow you to put me back in that rotten prison of yours, for I am Skurge the Executioner!" He stepped back again and when Turak was about to strike him, a hungry figure appeared out of the dark alley, and then grabbed him from behind.

What... Thor saw the thing, which had just bit Turak's arm. He cried out in pain as the thing got away while Thor immediately vanquished it, with a stroke of lightning.

When Skurge saw this, he quickly ran without looking back. But Thor didn't come after him. Instead, he looked at his dear friend. "Turak... Are you alright?"

"Damn... that thing bit me." He got up and then asked, "What in the name of Asgard was that thing?"

Thor looked at the ashes. "I do not know. But he must be one of Skurge's men."

"Yes," Turak said, feeling a bit weary. "But Thor... Skurge is gone. We must find him at once!"

When Thor looked back at his dear friend, he looked concerned. "Are you sure you're alright? You don't look..."

"I'm fine, Thor. It's just a scratch. Nothing more." Thor nodded and they both went to search for Skurge the Executioner.

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A long ride ahead for these two travelers. For Blade, he was the first vampire hunter to enter Asgard. But it didn't seem a long journey for him. In fact, the Bifrost just took them in a wide variety of colors, a rainbow to be exact. Blade was amazed by them, but hadn't said a word to Thor, the God of Thunder. It was strange for a vampire hunter to experience these sensations. And the hunger?

Not a damn thing, Blade thought. Strange...

Once they arrived, they met Heimdall, the tall and strongest warrior who just stood there, staring at both Thor and Blade. He said, "Welcome to Asgard, Blade. My name is Heimdall, the God of Vigilance, Protection, and Light. I, who guard the rainbow bridge that connects all the nine realms."

The vampire hunter raised his eyebrow. Even with his cool shades on, he certainly didn't take them off to get a better look at this Heimdall person. But then he said nothing. Blade just walked off in order to get the job done. But he was stopped by such a force that he couldn't even move.

"What the hell?" Blade looked sideways and noticed that Heimdall raised his right hand.

Thor smiled a little, but was serious at the way that Heimdall stopped him. "He wants to say more, Blade."

"Like what?"

Heimdall said, "I have grave news to tell you. Asgard is overrun by those things you call... vampires."

"What?" Both Thor and Blade said in unison. Even the God of Thunder couldn't believe it. No... I am too late.

As if Heimdall read his mind, he nodded. "Yes, I am afraid that you..."

"Okay, motherf***a," Blade interrupted him. "Just let me go, and I'll deal with the situation."

"Let me finish!"

Blade felt silent all of a sudden and then sighed. He waited for Heimdall to speak more of what he had to say.

"I am afraid that you are both late. Turak has turned everyone into those things." Then he looked at the God of Thunder. "I fear you must kill him, Thor. If you would have done this beforehand..."

"Yes, I know," Thor said. "I am sorry for that."

There was no more to be said. And this, Heimdall released Blade from the force grip.

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Asgard was almost in ruins. The Asgardian warriors had tried everything to fend off these things with great frustration. The Warriors Three did the same thing, for they kept coming and growing... These things who drain the blood out of everyone in the city of Asgard, felt like a nightmare. Fandral the Dashing used his sword to attack them and despite they were his people, he had to do it. So he cut off their heads, the only way to end their miserable existence. For these Asgardian vampires had no weakness such as sunlight. Even such ordinary weapons couldn't strike their hearts.

"Fall back!" An Asgardian warrior yelled out to the other men.

"We cannot retreat!" the other warrior yelled back.

"He is right," Volstagg the Valiant said, as he cut off the vampire's head. "We must protect Asgard at all costs. FOR ASGARD!"

"FOR ASGARD!" Everyone cried out in unison, except for the warrior who wanted to retreat from battle. This is madness, he thought. How could we possibly...

"Look!" Hogun the Grim said, pointing out toward the incoming figures. "It is them."

"Who?" Fandral said, while trying to see whom his silent friend was referring to.

"It... Yes, it's them all right. They have come for us!"

Volstagg sighed. "Oh, for crying out loud, Hogun. Just say who it is!"

"It's..." He stopped when he got stumbled upon by the Asgardian vampires. Then he swung his mace at their heads. Most of them fell backwards while the other one stood on its ground, probably wincing at the pain, which was caused by the weapon's impact. But luckily Hogun smashed his head off while the vampire had the chance to bite him.

"It's Thor!" An Asgardian warrior finally said. "And... Who in Odin's name is that?"

The vampire hunter said, "Call me Blade." Then he attacked the creatures viciously on all sides, with his signature weapon. Thor struck lightning, stunning them when all the rest of the warriors fell back. And when he realized that did not affect them, he threw his Mjolnir, hitting every single head. And when Blade stabbed one of their hearts, it didn't stop nor turned to ash.

Damn, Blade thought. This vampire thing is different. Must be the Asgardian blood, running in their veins. He stepped back and pondered on how best to kill them. Okay, heart-stabbing ain't good. Then there's the sun. Silver? He loaded his shotgun and fired several rounds across the air. But none of them worked.

Damn it! Blade put the shotgun away at his back and rolled over, slashing every single vampire with his blade. But when Fandral saw this, he called out, "Cut off their heads!"

Blade looked at the dashing warrior and then nodded. He eventually did that, but it was a hard task to be performed in such a battle. Volstagg had managed quite well in fighting these vampires, for he had used his glowing sword, the Brandrheid Undrsigr. By using this magic weapon, he sliced every vampire in half. But he was too slow to swing it down, due to his sheer size. When Blade saw him struggling, he said, "Hey fatso! Gimme that sword."

The fat warrior looked at Blade, seriously during the fight. "My name is Volstagg!"

"Okay! Mind if I borrow your sword?"

"It is called Brandrheid Undrsigr."

Blade looked at him. "Just gimme the damn sword."

"Humph! Alright." Volstagg threw his favorite weapon towards him, until Blade got it.

"Thanks!"

"You're welcome. But in Odin's name, you must give it back. Do you hear me?"

"Yeah, motherf***a. I hear you." When Blade went off to resume the battle, Volstagg said, "What? What did you just say?"

Of course, Blade ignored him because he didn't have time to explain his ill-manners of Midgardian style.

Blade ran quickly as he could and cut off their heads while slicing their bodies in half, all at the same time, thanks to his years of training. He almost felt like something new and thought, This place... is magical. The old man wouldn't believe this.

And when all was done, everyone looked at each other and then the bodies of the Asgardian vampires. Thor said, "Blade, we must find Turak."

Blade nodded. And then he turned towards Volstagg the Valiant. "I'll bring your... sword back. I promise."

Volstagg sighed.

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In the Asgardian castle, every warrior had befallen. Turak the Damned looked at them, and thought of how it all began when he and Thor found Skurge in Brooklyn. He was also put in prison, for the crime that he hadn't meant to do, but couldn't help himself. But what Thor didn't know was the infection had spread everywhere in two weeks time. Turak thought if he could increase it further, Asgard might be his, and possibly the other realms.

Yes... he thought. But then Odin even tried to stop him, for he had been weary at battle. Due to the fact that he was bitten as well. But as it turned out Odin didn't become like him, because he was a god. Instead his blood was drained out and it made him so weak, that Odin could barely stand and fight.

Still lying on the ground, the King of Asgard looked at his best warrior of years past. "Turak... You must stop this madness at once!"

Turak laughed. His skin was so pale that Odin couldn't believe that one of his best warriors in Asgard had been transformed by a Midgardian vampire. And that wild laughter actually sent the shivers through him. A god like him, shouldn't be afraid of Turak the Damned. But no, this was not it. Thor's former friend had made his plan clear. First, he was going to claim Asgard as his own kingdom.

And when the laughter died down, Turak looked at him. "You are a good king, Odin. But fear not, you shall become one with the dead. Valhalla awaits you."

Odin tried to get up, but then fell down. It is no use. He has drained more of my blood. He is strong now. Stronger than ever. My son... Where are you?

And as if that prayer was answered, Thor came crashing down into the throne room. And Blade was there with him. When Thor looked at his father, he cried out, "FATHER!"

Odin said, "I... shall be fine, Thor. Just... kill him."

"The Mighty Thor is back," Turak scoffed. Then he turned towards the vampire hunter. "Who in Asgard are you?"

"The name's Blade." Then he raised Volstagg's glowing sword. "See this? I'm going to cut you down, just like the others."

"No, Blade," Thor said. "I must act on this, alone."

Blade looked at him. "Well, you didn't have to bring me here, if you thought of that way. But since you were his friend, I can respect that."

Turak laughed. "You cannot defeat me, Thor. I am Turak the Damned!"

"We shall see about that," Thor countered. Then he raised his voice, "FOR ASGARD!" He struck the lightning again at his dear friend. It was that moment that Thor could have crushed his head two weeks ago, when he had the chance. But emotions had prevented him from doing so. Therefore, Thor had failed Asgard, again.

Heimdall was right, Thor regretted in thought. I let the emotions cloud my judgement for one man, and look what hashappened!

He eventually unleashed another strike of lightning. But Turak the Damned still wasn't affected. After all, he had drained Odin's blood.

Thor couldn't believe it. This... This cannot be happening.

Turak smiled. "Your father's blood lies within me, Thor. Mark my words, I shall do the same to you. But don't worry. You cannot be turned like me." Then he lifted his sword and rushed towards him, like a single flash of lightning. Thor felt several blows from front to back. Even Blade couldn't see him.

Damn, this motherf***a is fast. Gotta do something about it. He looked carefully for a few more minutes and then finally caught him. There! Then he threw the Brandrheid Undrsigr in the air.

Turak screamed in pain, as he felt the glowing sword, pierced towards his heart. When Thor saw this, he raised his Mjolnir high in the air while unleashing its full lightning force.

"So long, my dear friend," Thor said. Turak was about to say something when the God of Thunder smashed his head with a single stroke.

And it was over. Turak the Damned was no more.

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Two weeks later...

It was that time again. Blade was back in business in Midgard, and that the hunger still grew within him. More blue shots and the vampire hunting continued. There were times he thought of going back to Asgard, even while he fought the damned things. Damn, that place seemed nice. At least it kept my hunger in check. He came across a mutant vampire whose hunger drove him crazy enough, that he used his powers to wreck the city. This time he was aiding the X-Men to fight Magneto. And when Wolverine joined him, he said, "Must be tough, beatin' the hell outta these guys, eh?"

"You're telling me."

"Hmm..." He looked across the building, where Magneto just stopped and was about to fight the X-Men. "I heard that you were in Asgard, bub. What happened up there?"

Blade looked at him and smiled. "That place is magical, Logan. You should try it some time."

I walked in and sat down at the bar.

“Can I help you?” The bartender asked.

“Whiskey, neat.” I answered.

“What kind? We got…”

“Surprise me.” I said.

While he poured my drink, I said “You know, I was told I could find someone here. A fellow who goes by Gervase.”

“That would be me.” Someone said from the other end of the room. I didn’t even notice him when I skimmed the room, it’s as if he appeared out of nowhere.

He put down his pint glass and walked over to sit just a few feet down the bar from me. “Can I help you?”

“I’ve heard you work with a sister who goes by Stormcloud.” I said. “Mind answering a few of my…”

He then sprinted towards me, thinking he could kill me before I could fight back. But I was faster; in one fluid, almost instantaneous motion, I got up, sidestepped, and watched him land headfirst into the bar.

I then threw a shuriken at his hand. It had silver tipped points, so it must have hurt real bad.

The bartender tried to run off, but I drew my pistol and fired towards him, missing his head (on purpose) by just a few inches.

"I'll speak to you later." I said. I turned my attention back to Gervase and said "Stormcloud; tell me where I can find her or I’ll…”

He then came back at me, flailing his claws wildly, hoping to get a kill. But then, I simply put a silver bullet between his eyes, and that was that.

“Well damn.” I said, knowing that my only lead on Stormcloud was now good as dead.

I walked up to the bartender, and he said “I swear, I had no idea he…”

“Don’t bother lying, I know he was using this place to find and lure victims.” I said. “Just keep better company.”

______

I went back to my hotel, and before even entering my room, I knew something was up. I could faintly smell the odor of vampire in my room; a vampire could disguise their scent from humans with enough cologne and/or perfume (maybe even body spray for the young ones), but they’d need to clear out an entire perfume shop to hide their smell from me.

I drew my sword, and smelled again. Upon smelling a little closer, I could tell that it was a lingering smell, the vampire must have long left.

I then looked around; on my nightstand, I found a note. Without even reading it, I could tell just by the smell that it had been written in blood.

“I heard you’re looking for me. I’m flattered. Tomorrow, at midnight, me at Corner, a restaurant downtown.”

-Stormcloud

_____

I then began calling some of my closest allies, but many were busy. Ghost Rider, Moon Knight, even Morbius; all were too busy dealing with their own crap. It got to the point where I had to call my old frenemy, Elsa Bloodstone.

“Blade, always a pleasure.” He sarcastically said as he picked up the phone. “What’s the trouble this time?”

“I’ve finally caught up to Stormcloud.” I said. “But instead of running, she’s…invited me to dinner.”

“Blade, man, you gotta know this is a trap.” He explained.

“Damn right I do.” I said. “But this is also the first lead I’ve had on her in the six months I’ve been tracking. I’ve gone through three states and seven cities looking for her.”

“Who is she again?”

“She is Stormcloud. If the legends among the vampire community are true, she is one of the oldest, most powerful vampires on the planet. Some claim she’s powerful enough to create storms that wipe entire city blocks away in a matter of minutes.”

“Blade, there’s no telling what you might encounter at that restaurant. But if you’re dead set on this, I’ll pack an overnight bag, I should be there in about six hours.”

_____

The next night, I got my good shirt on (my only good shirt) and went out for dinner. To the surprise of me and Elsa, there was only one occupied table, despite the restaurant being in the middle of downtown, and fully staffed. But the stench of vampires was almost overpowering, so at least we knew we were in the right place.

“You must be the guests of honor the owner was expecting.” The host said.

“The owner?” I said, surprised. “Yeah, I guess we are.”

“This way, sir, ma’am.” He said as he escorted us to the table, and we sat down with Stormcloud.

“Can I start you off with anything to drink?” a waiter asked.

“Water.” I said.

“Water for me as well.” Elsa said.

“Glass of rose.” Stormcloud answered. “And I already know what I want; rare steak. Bloody as the chef will serve.”

I took a quick glance at the menu and said “I’ll just have the chicken.”

“Same.” Elsa replied.

When the waiter left, I said “So, you own the place?”

“Yes, I do.” She said. “And I told the staff to not allow any reservations tonight.

As the waiter came back with our drinks, she said “Why are you so tense? I just wanted to have dinner with a handsome young man.”

“What are you planning for this city?” I asked.

She chuckled and said “To rule it. It’s been hundreds of years since I had a city to call my own. But I have a plan; I’ve installed crooked, spineless politicians and bureaucrats in the local government, and the corporate boardrooms, and the union meetings, and anywhere else I felt would help me consolidate power. Within a year, this city will be my new kingdom.”

“And all I have to do is create an event that will begin the domino fall. Like, say, a devastating storm that will create lots of fear and reliance on just a handful of people.”

The waiter brought out her steak. But immediately after he put it down in front of her, he took out a knife and stabbed me in the torso before I could even react.

Moments later, Elsa simply shot him in the face, and I pulled the knife out. Luckily, none of my vitals were injured.

Elsa then tried to shoot Stormcloud, but she evaded each shot. “Boys, time to get the day walker.”

And then, the kitchen staff, all vampires, poured out of the restaurant, way too many for Elsa and I to take on all at once.

“To the streets, we can fight them better out in the open.” I said as we made a mad dash for the door.

As we got out, two particularly tall, strong vampires appeared right in front of us, knocked us down, and held us in place.

“Good job, Inguss, Jolanta.” Stormcloud said to her vampire compatriots. “I knew stationing two at the door would pay off, in case our guests tried to leave early.”

I thought Elsa and I were done for. But then, a moon shaped dagger hit Inguss in the face. And a flaming chain tore right through Jolanta, separating her chest from her waist.

And then, Michael Morbius leapt down to strike Stormcloud in the face.

“Who are these guys?” Elsa asked.

“Some friends I called in.” I answered as Ghost Rider, Moon Knight, and Morbius came to help me in my moment of need. “But I didn’t think they were coming.”

There were about eight of Stormcloud’s vampire mercenaries left. We quickly made short work of them and then moved on to Stormcloud.

“Hold her back!” Ghost Rider explained as the rest of us ran to restrain her.

“Enjoy a taste of your own suffering.” He said before giving her the penance stare.

“Ah, ah, AAAHHH!” she shouted in agony, which, for a moment, made me think we were winning. But then, she simply started laughing.

“I gave up my soul a longtime ago.” She said. She then pulled her right arm free from Hannibal and I, and freed her other from Moon Knight and Morbius as well.

She then flew off the ground, and began summoning a thunderstorm.

“You really thought that you, a bunch of little boys in ridiculous costumes, could stop me.” She said as thunder started rolling around her. “I will…”

Before she could finish her thought, Moon Knight threw a dagger at her face. It temporarily disoriented her, which gave Morbius time to leapt up there and knock her back down to Earth.

“Don’t let up, fight until she’s finished.” I said as I ran up to her, and slashed her across the torso with my sword.

Ghost Rider struck her in the face with a flaming chain. Elsa put three silver bullets in her. Moon Knight flew into the air and kicked from her above.

And then, all it took was one perfectly timed thrust from one of my stakes to put her down for good, and stop her lengthy reign of terror.

Yateveo

I've been on the trail of Count Wolfenstein for the better part of two months. He's the quadfecta of monsters. He started as a cursed mummy that was blown to pieces, then reassembled by a mad scientist. Only, she didn't use all of his parts. Some of them were werewolf, and some of them were vampire. Now, he has the looks and strength of Frankenstein's monster, plus the abilities of a werewolf and vampire.

I just want to make him a ghost.

Wolfenstein's been uniting the werewolf and vampire communities in the city, and since he's a little bit of both of them, they're drinking the Kool-Aid. The mummy part of him just wants to be pharaoh again. That's not going to be good for anybody.

I've managed to track him to this warehouse where the monster nations are meeting to hear his latest rallying cry. There's a stage, speakers, mic, podium, lights- the whole setup. I'm crouched in the shadowed rafters watching a sea of werewolves and vampires mingle with trepidation as they wait for the mix-n-match monster to make his appearance.

At last, he steps out on stage, and the monsters are actually cheering for him. He raises his hands, drinks in their adulation, and they fall silent. "My friends," he starts, his voice surprisingly deep and smooth. He must have gotten the voice box of a radio announcer. "This is the beginning of a new day. With the alliances made between vampire and werewolf, we have only become stronger. And soon, this very city will tremble beneath our onslaught!"

"Right. I've heard enough," I mutter to myself as I stand. I draw my sword, step off the rafter beam, and drop right on top of a werewolf, my blade piercing through his back as I land in a crouch. As I stand fully, the wolf's body disintegrates from the silver of my weapon. "That's new," I say to no one in particular. That disappearing act is usually reserved for vampires. If the wolves are doing it now too, then they must be more united than I thought. This is very bad.

I take in the room, looking at the monsters that surround me. The fangs on the werewolves elongate, and the vampires start growing fur. This is very, very bad. "Wolfenstein," I shout without looking at the stage, "You and I have business."

"Business? You're not 'business,' Blade," he says with amusement in his tone. "At best, Daywalker, you're a business lunch." The mirth leaves his voice as he says, "Someone bring me his head. Or just his shades."

The first few leap at me, and I make my cuts with a single arc of the sword, watching them disintegrate. Before the next wave can make their move, a woman in a light-green-and-dark-pink bodysuit with a matching hood and cloak drops from the rafters, landing back-to-back with me. "Surprised?" she asks as she takes up a fighting stance.

Yes. "No," I tell her. "I knew you were up there." I did not know she was up there. "I was just waiting for you to make your move."

"Well, here I am," she says, a faint accent putting an exotic lilt to her voice.

"Hope you're ready," I tell her.

And then the next wave leaps. I slice, they disintegrate. She fights them hand-to-hand, and she's holding her own. I'm surprised again when she starts choke-slamming vamp-wolves, and ripping their hearts out with clawed fingers. She looks up at me with a predatory smile. I raise an eyebrow, and nod my appreciation at her power. We continue to fight, and the monsters back us against a wall.

"I don't know about you," she says, "but I'm having a lot of fun."

I look at her over my sunglasses like she's crazy. "Oh, yeah. This is a real cut-up," I say as I disintegrate another wolf.

"You're bored?" she asks as she swipes her own claws through a vampire's throat.

"Just ready for the fight to be done," I say as I behead a vamp, and stab the wolf that jumps in while the vamp disintegrates. The wolf disintegrates in like fashion.

"Why didn't you say so?" she asks, stepping in front of me. Throwing her hood off, and holding her cloak open, her entire body opens up- from the top of her head, right down to her crotch- just opens like... well, like the giant Venus flytrap that she appears to be. Complete with teeth up one side and down the other.

It gives the vamp-wolves pause. Long enough for me to ask, "Lady, who... or what the hell are you?"

"My name is Nepenthes," she answers, although I'm not sure how in that state. "But you may call me what these monsters will call me. And they will call me: YATEVEO!" As she yells her name, a tangle of appendages shoot out of her body, looking like a mix of plant and human tissue. They grab the closest six or seven monsters, and draw them in all at once, her body slamming shut on them. Any pieces that weren't fully inside of her chop off and go flying. One 'vine' remains, trailing the length of her body, wiping away gore from her feet all the way up, and pushing towards her mouth. She licks the tip of the vine, and as two long, green, stem-like fangs protrude from her upper gums, she says, "That's... delicious."

She smiles, takes a step forward, and all of the vamp-wolves turn to run.

Laughing, her body springs open again, and there's surprisingly no trace of her former victims. The vines shoot out again, grabbing twice as many as before, and draws them in. Her body slams shut, she rolls her neck from one side to the other, and then she goes back for thirds. And fourths. And fifths.

When she's on her ninth helping, I remember that I'm supposed to be fighting too, and I run after some stragglers. I give them the easier death of disintegration by silver strike. When it's all done, I face her warily.

She smiles at me and winks, vines reaching out from beneath her cloak, and picking up all of the pieces that her attacks left behind. Then they withdraw beneath the cloak where vines and body parts alike disappear. She inhales deeply, as one does after a satisfying meal, and then turns her gaze towards the stage.

" 'Wolfenstein,' was it?" she asks the monster man.

"My dear," he says smoothly, "you are a delightful creature. What can I do for you?"

"You can spare me your attempts at gaining my confidence," she tells him, all traces of her former playfulness gone. "I have none for you. You are as much an abomination as these monsters you helped make."

"Says the human flytrap," counters the Count.

She takes a step forward. "My name," she starts, taking another step, "is Yateveo," she adds on the third step.

With the same rhythmic pace, she makes her way to the stage saying, "I am the vengeance of the plant world that has been systematically shoved aside to make way for... creatures... like you." Now at the stage, vines reach down from beneath her cloak, and push against the floor. Raising her body up, she steps lightly onto the platform. As the vines recede, she continues walking until she is face-to-face with Wolfenstein, who is unmoved.

"I will remove your kind from the face of this Earth, that my kind may flourish once again."

I don't like the sound of that, I think to myself.

"I don't like the sound of that," echoes the Count. With a lightning-quick move, he grabs Yateveo by the throat. "I simply can't allow it."

Yateveo chuckles. Her body springs open again, breaking Wolfenstein's hold. Vines shoot out, entangling him. The monster roars as his body grows a bit larger, and becomes covered in fur. His strength is great enough that he resists being pulled in. As they struggle, he slashes vines loose, and others stab into him. It only takes a minute for him to growl savagely, and turn to mist to escape her hold. As the mist flows out of a warehouse window, Yateveo withdraws her vines, and literally puts herself back together.

Then she turns to me. I stand near an exit, holding my sword out to my side, tip resting on the warehouse floor. "So, what now?" I ask her.

"Just what I said," she answers. "I remove the monsters from this world... and then the humans."

"I'm a part of both of those worlds," I tell her as I draw the tip of my sword along the floor in front of me. "Looks like you are too."

"And that's the only reason you get a pass," she says. "For now." Vines snake down to the floor again, and raise her up once more. As she backs towards an exit on the opposite side of the warehouse, she says, "Though like me, Blade, eventually you'll have to choose a side."

"Already have," I tell her as she reaches the door.

"Then we'll meet again," she warns as she slides through an open loading dock door.

"No doubt," I say to the air, and then leave through a door on my side of the building. I'd go after her now, but I'm going to need some phosphorous grenades, and maybe a flamethrower. Time to find Whistler.