Vicount De Crey/Maria Artago story line

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This page follows the story line of the Vicount De Crey's & Maria Artago's relationship. For more info, go to the Vicount De Crey page.

Vicount De Crey: a Sinister Vendetta


The Vicount De Crey, after cleverly hacking into the Youth LEagues website, had read the posts about Maria's journal. He sat in his manor in Cap Au Diable, reading and hanging on to every word, his hand on his chin. Reading the most recent entry, Erik laughs bitterly while taking a sip from his glass of wine.

"That damn Shadow of hers...gaining more control everyday..."

Erik stands up and walks through the halls of his massive Manor, remarking on how he had first met Artago.

"Kind of owe it to Volo" he remarks, noting the irony "If he had not come over to annoy me that night in Pocket D, i might have missed her...perhaps then i'd be bloody normal..."

He also noted, while laughing to himself, how she had loathed him & almost killed him when he first approached her in private. Erik wasn't new to this, many hated him simply for his name. He then remembered how they had talked, and then the end of the night, after she had told him about how her former Crey master had not even paid her last check before her career ended with them. He had then given her more than enough to repay her years of work. As he walked past a portrait of his father, Erik remarked her words before she had left:

"Perhaps you're the last hope for Crey."

Did she mean that? It was strange, being treated like that. With gratitude.

Then after that night, came his obsession. With every passing day, Erik could not get Artago off his mind. He had wanted her, but he knew she wouldn't have him as is. So, rather foolishly, he had decided to force her into his arms.

"Mother would be so proud" he sarcasticly remarked. "Taking a blood sample from her, turning it into a retro-virus, infecting her friends and the city, who would then pressure her towards him. The plan was flawless."

"But wait, IT FAILED!" He yelled at apparently himself, his enraged voice echoing through the empty halls.

She had found him out. After he tried to kill Volo, whom he had nursed a steady hatred of since the the day they had met, with the virus he cleverly called "The Artago Strain", she had found him out and had become, obviously, furious with him.

"Damn that Shadow of hers" He remarked again. "The bloody demon interogated my shadow. Damn traitor."

Though the next night, things had changed. They had talked. She had forgave him, for what by most standards was un-forgivable. He remembered her exact reasoning:

"You're misunderstood, mistreated... you come from a whole family of 'Mis'."

And then, the kiss.

Well, it wasn't mutual. She had just finished telling him how the Youth League could offer him a home, but he refused. "Too late in the game, my dear." he had said. Then, as he was about to leave, he played the oldest damn trick in the book. Kicked out her legs from under her, caught & kissed her. It was a scalawags move, but it was effective. He had gotten his memory.

"But she didn't mind that. Hell, I think she liked it. Why did you forsake me, Maria? Why did you abandon me? It was that damn Shadow of hers. It told her to cut off ties to me, I know it..."

As Erik neared his destination, he admired the still roaring fire place. Then, feeling rage boil within him, he pulled the classic cliche' by throwing his nearly empty wine glass into the fire place. As the resulting burst of flame singed the carpet, Erik entered a room where a thousand monitors showed several images at once. Volo, Maria, Erik's half-brother StatesLad & his friend Back Yard Boom, and several other images of Youth League and Young Phalanx members covered the screens. Admiring a blue rose he had taped to Maria's screen, Erik Von Crey, The Sinister Vicount De Crey, walked out to a blacony and looked down upon Cap Au Diable, like Caesar looking down upon Rome. Looking to the moon, Erik too off his red shades to reveal his pale green eyes with tiny scars around them. Noticing the shadowy figures behind him, Erik said, with both malice and passion in his voice:

"They will fear us soon, I think. They all will...Volo, Maria, My brother, and all the rest...they will loathe and fear my name...and i shall have her...they will fear the Young Rogues."

Then without a word, Erik went to bed, dreamingupon mad dreams and of where the wild things are...


After this story, Maria would lose a bet to Erik & she would have to stay with him for christmas. Though, the young villain had a way around thisl...

Demon in a Halo


Part One


12:32 AM. 12/12/06. Crey Manor Drawing Room. New Haven, Cap Au Diable

Erik Von Crey sat alone in his manor’s drawing room, as he usually did. But this time, he wasn’t plotting. No, that was off the agenda for the evening. He looked outside the window and saw the moon was still pouring through, unusually powerful this evening. He had taken to looking to the stars, mentally escaping his frame and seeing his dream world. Misty Magic Land he had called it as a child. Of course, his mother had disapproved. She had felt his love of fairy tales would be his undoing some day.

"Perhaps you were right" he thought as he picked up his wine glass from the table. Then, he realized music was playing. Erik glanced over at his radio and realized he had left his Johnny Sonata on. Then he realized what song was playing. "I’ll bring the Devil out of you". A classic and one of his favorites. He remembered hearing it that night at Pocket D, when they had first met and his mind was her’s. Maria Artago, his demon in a halo.

‘You say you’re an angel, but I see your horns...’

"HAH! YOU SAID IT JOHNNY!" Erik yelled apparently to the record. He then walked out of the drawing room, laughing to himself at a joke not said. It didn’t have to be. He had remembered the night they had met. Erik was out with a potential member of the Young Rogues, a psychic named Mindburst, when Volo strolled over, his friend Bad Day Boy in tow, to mock him. "They’ll get theirs" Erik thought as he walked out of the room & turned out the lights. Then she had come out of nowhere, Maria Artago, wielding her sword. How she had hated him, simply because of his name. But she intrigued him. Something hard to do without actually trying. Perhaps it was her aggression...yes, that was it. She seemed so ready to kill him. Of course, things changed a few nights later. It was a normal night in Pocket D, crowded and loud. His kind of night. Then, somehow, he had picked her out from the crowd. Erik still had no idea how he did. So, he strolled up to her, his Faustian grin in place. And she pulled her sword. Course, he had expected it. After reasoning with her, they had talked a bit. He had found out her story, why she hated Crey. Former employee betrayed. It was a classic story, not even getting her pay for the work she had done. "No wonder mother has to hire scientists so much" Erik jested to himself as he listened to Maria’s story "she keeps betraying them and turning them into heroes". After a drink and a bit more talking, she had gotten upset. Another classic, the reluctant hero who never wanted his/her powers, because they ruined their life. Smiling, he had taken her to the space underneath the stairs of the villains side of the club. There, they had observed Bob.

He was a dock worker for Crey in Independence Port who was going to be laid off tomorrow. Erik knew because he had signed the order to cut back workers. He had told Maria, how heroes and villains were no longer on the level of Bob, throwing up his Scotch from an hour ago. "We are gods amongst mortals" he had said to her. After his speech and after she had given Bob a pill for his sickness, he had picked up a curious scent. Cinnamon. As he picked up this scent, Maria had become nervous, scared of something. As she began to leave hurriedly, he had handed her a Crey Card. It was something reserved for the Crey CEO’s, but Erik had told her that she could use it to take out money she was owed for her services to Crey. Or more if she felt like it. After his usual cordial kiss on the hand, and some visible blushing on Maria's part, she had told him something that still stunned him to this day:

"Perhaps you’re the last hope for Crey"

Him? Son of the Countess herself, as ‘hope’? This is what had perhaps perplexed him most. He had sold weapons to murderers, terrorists, he in fact had hurt hundreds on a terrorist scale. Hope? Something he hadn’t believed in since he was a child. All he had ever truly believed in was the Wyrd. Anglos Saxon word meaning ‘Fate’. He was fated to be a villain. That was how it was supposed to be. He was supposed to hate the ‘gods’ of Paragon. So why did he feel so interested in this one? For nights he had pondered this at Crey Manor, a habit he had developed when he was 14.

Days progressed and he had gotten to know her better. They had become, dare I say it, friends. Of course, Volo still annoyed him, especially now that Maria and he were friends. Jealously perhaps? Then, came the night in Pocket D where he screwed up everything. Maria was helping this poor fellow out, a demon with a human side. The exorcism had gone fowl and things had gotten out of hand. When he saw Maria attempting this most risky venture, he had felt something he hadn’t felt in years. Genuine fear for another beings safety. Last time he had felt it, his German Shepard, Diablo was his name, had run out into the road surrounding the Crey vacation house in Scotland. His dog was almost killed by an oncoming car, driven by his mother. Erik had stepped out into the road just in time to stop his mother from hitting Diablo. That compassion he had felt then, he had felt when Maria attempted to sooth this maddened demon. The night had progressed since normally, after Volo and Maria pulled some trick to shut the demon down. Then as Erik was leaving, he called Maria over, apparently needing to ask her something. As she came, Erik tapped a small needle attached to his right hand, making sure it was secure.

Then, came the classic move. As he was about to leave, he had kissed her.

Oh, it was a dirty trick, kicking out her legs from under her and kissing her. But there was something done there much worse. He had stolen DNA from her, via a needle into her arm. He had taken blood from her without Maria even noticing. As he pulled back from the kiss, all she had done was smile and say "You louse". He had smiled as well, but something had stirred within him, as he saw her smile so trustingly at him. Later that night, he had worked in his private lab for hours, synthesizing a virus from her DNA. The plan was cliche’, make a disease from her blood, let it loose and embrace her when all around her leave her side. Volo and Bad Day Boy had ruined it though. After Erik had tested his virus on Volo, which he recovered from within the night thanks to Bad Day, they had gained proof of his plan and shown it to Maria. She was livid, of course, when she first saw him...but she forgave him. "How could she forgive me?" Erik thought as he walked up to the bedrooms of the house. Somehow, she gained an understanding of Erik that night and fond it capable to forgive him for the normally unforgivable. And then, as the night came to a close, he pulled his move again (did she know what he would do?). As Erik began to leave Pocket D, he had called Maria over to him by the villains elevator and had kicked her legs out from under her again. This time, he had made sure she could feel where his hands were this time. In response, Maria had kissed him, pulling away from him with a grin, saying: "Lets keep this our secret".

Flash forward to another night in Pocket D, one which still perplexed him to this day. In the newly renovated club, Maria had challenged Erik to a duel. She said if he won, he’d win a kiss from her. "Oh, I’m not that desperate, am I?" Erik thought as he neared the room of his choice. The stakes in his end were much higher, for if he lost, Erik would be have to kill Maria’s sister, Allis Artago, a villain on his side. Of course, he didn’t have to, he had won the duel. Though, they had changed the wagers in the end. If she won, Erik would be hers, a ‘hero’. If he had won, Maria would be his. "I could have had anything and she would have done it" Erik muttered to himself as he stood in front of a oak bedroom door, leaning against it thoughtfully. "I could have asked her to let me have my way with her...". But he didn’t. All he asked of her, was to stay with him for the holidays, him in Paragon with her for Christmas, Maria with him in Cap Au Diable for New Years. Ironically, the pair of them had birthdays on both holidays, Maria on Christmas, Erik on New Years. In a twist of fate, however, Erik’s bet with Maria had been nullified when Maria’s friend, Pask, had intervened and had taken away that time he could have been with her after beating Erik in a duel. It was then, Erik resolved as he lay beaten on the floor, he would have to play this game like a villain.

It was another night, Erik remembered as he opened the door, he had enacted his plan. Arriving at Pocket D with a blue rose, he had approached Maria later in the evening when she was alone. Talking for a bit, Erik handed her the flower, calling it an early present. Apologizing when a thorn pricked her finger, Erik left the club, knowing he had much more work to do. "It was simple" he remarked as he walked towards the four poster bed in the center of the dark bedroom "using a telepad to get her. She didn’t notice the teleportation process because of the sedative I laced in the flower. Only tough part was finding her room with the target seekers". Sitting in a chair next to the bed, Erik pulled back the covers, smiling as he did so.

There rested Maria Artago, resting peacefully under a large comforter. She curled up in her sleep, pulling the comforter around her self as Erik stroked her hair. "You are gonna be so pissed at me in the morning..." Erik thought as he got up to leave "But I think you’ll forgive me...I know you will...".

8:32 AM, 12/12/06. Crey Manor kitchen, New Haven, Cap Au Diable.

"ERIK!!!"

Erik Von Crey looked up from his breakfast of waffles as two figures entered the room. One was his loyal servant William Rogers, a balding old man with fierce, owl like features. Next to him stood Erik’s demon in a halo, Maria Artago, still in her pajama’s, as she wielded her Katana.


"I'm going to cut you open like a damn watermelon Erik..."


"Do try not to get his blood on the floor, Miss Artago." Rogers said as he left "My wife will be livid if she has to clean it again."

"I make no promises, Mr. Rogers." Maria said as she glared angerily at Erik. Also in his pajama’s, Erik looked Maria over with a smile, ignoring the apparent danger. Skewing a waffle on his fork, he raise up to her like an offering and said, in a remarkably calm voice:

"Waffle?"


Part two


8:32 AM, 12/12/06. Crey Manor kitchen, New Haven, Cap Au Diable.

"...What?"

"Do you want a traditional waffle? They’re a breakfast food invented by American pilgrims in 1620, normally cooked between two plates or in a toaster, which is similar to the previously mentioned plates. I love them."

"Erik...stop it, I’m supposed to be mad at you..."

Maria Artago let her swords tip fall to the ground as she tried her hardest to fight back an amused smile. There sat Erik Von Crey, asking her if she wanted waffles while she threatened his life and his manhood, if she felt like it. But she didn’t. She really did like Erik, no matter what he did. She could even forgive him for kidnaping her, which was the current situation. Only last night she had been in her dorm room, resting peacefully. This morning, she had awoken in a large, warm bed & to the sound of the crashing sea and squawking gulls. After almost killing Erik’s butler by accident, she had found Erik waiting for her in the kitchen, eating a simple breakfast. Biting the piece of waffle off his fork, Maria looked up at Erik, still mad at him.

"What’s going on Erik?" she said, still fighting back her smile.

"Very simple" he said as he got off his chair and stood, taking off his glasses to reveal his scarred eyes. "Your mentor Pask nullified the bet between us about you staying with me. So, I have decided I’ll show you at least one fun night in Cap Au Diable. Then, I’ll return you home, no fuss."

"Erik...my friends are gonna be worried...Pask won’t like this..."

"Well, never stopped you before. Sides, I’ll return you once the night is over." Erik said smiling "And come on, I’ll just show you a good time, I wasn’t asking you to run away and marry me. Though I do come with a fortune and a royal title."

This time, Maria laughed lightly & smiled amused, not trying to hold it back. "I should be livid with him" she thought "but...why do I want to go with him? He’s a villain, I should be fighting him...and yet..."

"So" said Erik as he washed his plate "I made some reservations at a place I partially own called the Ivory Club. It’s a nice place, sort of like a jazz club. Will you come or are you too ‘proper’ or angry to let this young gent show you a good time on the Rogue Isles?"

For a long time, Maria looked at Erik, trying to look mad. It wasn’t working, he was still smiling at her. "Damn that smile" she thought as she crossed her arms. "Alright" she said, finally giving in "but I’m still mad at you. So you’d better show me a good damn time."

"Of course." Erik said as he stepped towards her "I had a dress of yours brought from your dorm that you can wear. I hope you don’t mind."

"Erik, you just kidnaped me from my room in the middle of the night and I just forgave you."

"Hmm, good point. Well, I’ll go get dressed. I wanna show you some of the isles before we go. Ask the Rogers’s for help finding your way around". Reaching the arched door of the kitchen, Erik looked back at her, looking grateful & somber "And...thank you for staying with me..."

Leaving Maria questioning herself in the kitchen, Erik strolled up to his bedroom, his Faustian grin in place.

9:04 AM. Maria’s room, Crey Manor.

"He’s a jerk..."

Maria muttered to herself as she put his sword down and looked around her room. It was a gothic style, oak wood paneled room with many antiques within it. In the center of the room was the four poster bed she had awoken in, with a small night stand next to it. On the night stand was a glass vase holding a blue rose Erik had given her. Walking over to the table, Maria picked up the flower and smelled it, closing her eyes as she did.

"We shouldn’t be here Maria"

"Be quiet" said Maria to her demon symbion, Shadow.

"Erik will hurt you." persisted the concerned Shadow "I know he will. His type are only looking for one thing from a young woman like you."

"Shadow stop it." said Maria, feeling frustrated "Look, check his shadow and see if he has any evil plans for me. If he does, I’ll cut off his head. If not, you’ll be quiet for the next 2 days."

Suddenly, Maria felt Shadow leave her for a few seconds and return moments later. She smirked, knowing the demon had failed and now she could maybe have some alone time with Erik. Then, she felt a cold presence in the room. Grabbing her katana, she whipped around and faced the doorway.

"Wow...my dear, do you realize the Vicount De Crey is smitten with you & you basically have him wrapped around your finger?"

There stood Ghost Widow, leader of the Arachnos Night Widows. She had recently taken an interest in Maria, after meeting her in Pocket D. On the second night they had met, Erik had pulled his trick leading to her current situation. And deep down, Maria had the feeling Ghost Widow knew about his plans. "Hello, Ghost Widow" said Maria as she put down her sword. "How did you know where I was?"

"Very simple." Widow said as she floated over to Maria and sat down on her bed "Erik told me. He visits me in my tower occasionally, normally on business matters. So tell me, dear Maria, why aren’t you leaping into this young mans arms? He’s crazy about you, judging from all the trouble he went through to get you, & you’ve forgiven him on multiple occasions for things normally unforgivable."

"Well..." said Maria, scratching the back of her head & looking unsure "Erik’s...Erik’s this charming guy, I know, & he’s crazy about me, and...I’m a little...crazy about him, but...we’re on different sides..."

"Then ask yourself this my dear" Widow said as she smiled eerily at Maria "why are you staying here with Erik when you could go home & be with Ryan?"

"How did you...never mind. I dunno. I love Ryan, I do, but...we ended it a while ago and...I don’t think I could get into another relationship so soon, especially with a guy like Erik."

"You love Erik though. I can sense it, deep within yourself. You can’t help it."

"...yeah, I do...he's this really charming guy who...Wait, why does this all matter to you?"

"Well" said the Widow, as she rose up from the bed "I feel you do have potential & I hope to guide you through your life a bit, despite your affiliations. Plus, I do know a thing or two about secret lovers..."

As Ghost Widow faded & disappeared, Maria opened a back pack containing the clothes Erik had packed for her. As she pulled out the dress he had picked out, Maria muttered to herself: "Damn. It’s my favorite."

9:35 AM. Main Hall, Crey Manor.

Erik, wearing his usual blue suit, looked at his watch in the manors main hall, near the front door as he waited for Maria. As he saw it turn 9:36, Maria came downstairs dressed in her casual outfit, smiling at Erik’s choice of clothing.

"Are you planning on a business meeting or do you always dress like this?"

"Ha. I thought you liked my suits."

"I do, but if you’re trying to impress me or something, there’s no point. Now come on, show me the isles. The last time I visited here, I only stayed for a few days."

As Maria neared the door, Erik whistled and a black 2005 Rolls Royce Phantom pulled up, driven by apparently noone. Maria looked to Erik, surprised at the cars mysterious arrival. All Erik did was shrug and smile as he bounded down the steps leading from his manor and opened the passenger side door for Maria. Looking wary of the auto-pilot car, Maria slipped in and Erik came around to the drivers side and entered as well. Putting the car into manual, Crey and Artago drove off into New Haven, dodging a Gold Bricker who had lost altitude. Turning his head & smiling at Maria, Erik said:

"Feel like visiting Aeon City? I always love it in the winter time, reminds me of a technological Paris."

Part 3


11:12 AM, Crey Tower. Aeon City, Cap Au Diable

"So, this is where all your evil toys come from."

Erik locked his Rolls Royce in a parking lot as Maria stood in front of Crey Tower in Aeon City. It was a massive tower, matching the size of the original Crey Tower in Steel Canyon. On its roof’s ledges, gothic gargoyles looked down upon ths city, with eyes surely containing surveillance camera’s. Around its top, men in Crey security guard uniforms flew wearing Raptor jet packs, rounding Luddites who attempted sabotage on the buildings electrical system. At its base, workers scurried in and out constantly, pausing to say "Morning Mr. Crey" to Erik as they passed him. Standing behind Maria & putting a hand on her shoulder, Erik whispered concernedly:

"Are you sure you wanna go in? Someone might recognize you as a hero & rat to the spiders."

"No, I wanna go in. I want to see what you do all day." Maria said, looking over her shoulder at Erik & putting her hand on his "Sides, I’m with you, Erik."

Crey smiled down at Maria and led her in to the tower. During breakfast at a restaurant in New Haven, Erik had mentioned his work in Crey Tower & Maria had become interested in visiting the tower. After a small argument, Erik had conceded and said he’d show her the tower. It wasn’t that he didn’t want her there, it was just that he was worried about someone recognizing her as a hero & going to Arachnos with this info. Many of his employee’s came from Paragon, hence his concern. But Maria’s hand on Erik’s hand had convinced him she was confident in him protecting her. Taking his hand off her shoulder, Erik turned to Maria and said:

"Right then. Lets go in."

The pair entered the main lobby of the tower, which looked like any other office lobby, bustling and loud. Walking past security and the crowds, Erik & Maria stopped at a chrome plated elevator door with a key hole instead of an up or down indicator. Inserting the key and turning it, the door opened to a small lift also plated in chrome. Stepping in with Erik, Maria looked at him as the doors shut, puzzled as to where they were going.

"Um, Erik, where exactly does this go..."

"Hold on kiddo" Erik said with a grin "this goes fast."

Suddenly, the elevator shot downwards, so fast that it only seemed to go for two seconds. As it came to a stop, the door opened and Maria staggered out, dazed from the lifts speed. As she regained her sense’s, she looked around where she was.

The lift had taken them to a massive laboratory, about the size of a jumbo jet hanger. Inside, Crey scientists were at work, either with chemicals or technology, as Crey operatives, some Maria had never seen before in Paragon, flew over head while testing out their powers and weapons on each other. When ever debris fell from this friendly battle, an energy field would protect the scientists below, allowing them to work in peace. As she took in the scene before her, Erik stood behind Maria, smiling at her amazement.

"Welcome to department of Meta-Human Sciences & Technologies." he said as he took off his glasses. "This department was made a year ago, to focus on making better super heroes. I took over when I moved to the Rogue Isles. So," Crey said as he offered her his arm "wanna tour?"

Maria looked up to Erik and nodded, shaking off the shock of the sight of the lab. Other than the size of the lab, what surprised her was the fact that this lab looked exactly like the Crey lab she had worked in Europe, minus the sparring operatives. Trying to hide her dread of this similarity, Maria walked with Erik along the rows of experiments, with him explaining what each one was out of memory. As they approached the back, Erik stopped and guided her to a private lab.

"There’s something I want to show you, something you could take back to Paragon if you like."

Entering the lab, Maria saw what looked like a blue force field floating 2 feet of the ground. Inside was a Crey Protector, stretching as if preparing for a race. In the room were several monitors and scientists, guarded by what looked like Protectors garbed in a dark blue version of their usual uniform with gold colored armor plating.

"Crey Decimators." Erik explained at the sight of Maria’s perplexed face "Sort of like a super human Crey SWAT team." Turning to the Protector in the force field, Erik said "Alright Lawrence, full speed."

At Erik’s words, the Protector began to run at super speeds, making the field spin around him while keeping him inside. As he reached maximum speed, the field became a blue blur, but remained in place.

"Ok, stop. So, Maria, what do you think of the Hamster Ball Field?" Erik said.

As the Protector slowed down, Maria laughed, realizing why Erik showed her this. "Lemme guess" she said as the Protector came to a halt "you made this the same night you made that Cat-Powder that messed with Volo’s allergies, right?"

"You read me like a book." Erik said with a grin as the Crey scientists let the Protector out of the Hamster Ball Field. "I made it mainly as a gag weapon, for speedsters like Volo. It creates a force field around a target, then levitates off the ground. When a trapped speedster runs, they only move the field. And if you try to phase through it, you get spit back inside. Nice little gadget though."

"Heh, yeah. Applications?"

"Law enforcement non-lethal weapons, Longbow traps, stuff like that. It’s still in the prototype stage, won’t be ready till June. So, care to see more?"

The pair left the Hamster Ball Field lab and explored more, venturing into more private labs of mad Crey scientists. Bionic limbs, energy weapons, battle suits & all the like were there, being worked on constantly. As the pair walked along a cat walk above the labs & neared the end of their tour, Maria stopped & Erik did as well, looking back at Maria.

"Something wrong Maria?"

"No, everything is fine, I just have a question."

"Shoot, I’m an open book." Erik said confidently.

"Well...if you have all this technology and science available to you...why don’t you fix your eyes?"

For one of the few times in his life, Erik was genuinely surprised. His eyes, scarred around the sockets and turned pale from their original dark green from his battle with his half brother, were considered miracles by Crey standards. After he was taken to a Crey lab for his injuries, medics worked day and night to save his eye sight. They succeeded, but their surgery could not repair the scars and he was still a little blind. Stepping towards Maria, Erik took off his red shades he normally used to hide his eyes and looked at Maria.

"You don’t like my eyes?" he said simply.

"No! No, I do like your eyes, it’s just that..."

"You figured I didn’t like them. I see." Erik said with a small smile. "Well, I keep the scars because I do not want to go under the knife unless it’s an emergency and...I actually do like my eyes. They give me character."

"Oh god, I’m sorry. Did I offend you?"

"No, not at all. So, before we leave, anything else you wanna see?"

"No, you’re a good tour guide. These labs are amazing."

"Why thank you." Erik said as the pair walked down the catwalk stairs and towards the lift. "You know...if you ever wanted work...just come to me, I could get you a position here in half a heart beat. If you still wanted to live in Paragon, you could use one of the companies teleporters to go from the city to the Isles. "

"Oh...thanks Erik"Maria said, surprised at his offer "but I don’t think I’ll be working for Crey anytime soon again."

"Suit yourself dear." Erik said as they entered the lift and it went back up to the surface.

7:35 PM. The Ivory Club. New Haven, Cap Au Diable.

"Wow...this place is huge."

Maria & Erik had arrived at the Ivory Club, a massive club located in scenic New Haven. Erik, now wearing his regal blue tuxedo & red slick glasses, partially owned this club and used the income he gained from it to fund his private projects, such as a pheremone he had worked on at home. After leaving his labs, Erik & Maria, now in her dress normally worn for Youth League parties, had gone back to the manor and had then left for the club. The Ivory Club itself was massive, spanning about two buildings. It had 4 floors above ground and the outside of it was designed to match the gothic style of Cap Au Diable’s other buildings. As the pair entered the main lobby, massive ebony statues of men came into view. There were four of them in the lobby, each connected to an ivory pillar and all four held up the ceiling. The ceiling and the floor was made of ivory, and was somehow undamaged by the constant flow of people and groups moving through the lobby. Every person there was either in a black or white suit. Those in the white suits were waiters bringing guests waiting in the lobby drinks. Oddly, every one of the waiters was black.

"This place was made in 1789, originally made by a slave master, hence the ebony statues holding the ceiling up, who had moved to the isles from the U.S.." Erik whispered to Maria "He made this club as a present to his black wife, who was oddly named Ivory, who wanted to be a member of a social club even though no club would allow a black woman into their group. When this place was revamping in the 30's, there was a tradition started here were all the workers in the club had to be black."

"Isn’t that a little racist?" Maria said looking puzzled.

"Hey, they’re grateful for the work. Getting a good job in Cap is hard." Erik said at the host led them into the dining hall "So, when this revamping was going on, it became owned by an imortal wizard named Talex, who made it into a rogues club for villains. He's my co-partner in the club. I became a patron of the club a year ago & the rest is history. So, care for some dinner?"

9:49 PM, Ivory Club Balcony. New Haven, Cap Au Diable.

It had been a good night. Excellent dinner, accompanied by music from Johnny Sonata. Erik & Maria had enjoyed themselves, meeting several interesting, if not strange, guests of the club. Norman Morningstar, a leader of Crey Industries Mystech Department, and two other members of Mystech had approached Erik during dinner. Afterwards, Maria had seen Ghost Widow walk by to meet with Arachnos operatives in a private booth. Though she could not see her, Maria had the strange feeling Ghost Widow was watching her & Erik. After meeting a few villains who were enjoying a night on the town, Erik had suggested having a drink on the balcony to Maria, who readily accepted. after grabbing two glasses and a bottle of champagne from the bar, the pair went to the 3rd floor of the club and entered the terrace. It was beautiful, a massive balcony with blue roses growing around it, with almost supernatural moonlight pouring down on them. As Erik poured two glasses full of champagne, Maria plucked up one of the blue roses and carefully examined it.

"Huh...blue roses...I’m noticing a theme with you Erik."

"Blue’s my favorite color." Erik said as he handed a glass to Maria "It took Crey years to engineer a blue rose. We’re keeping a secret now, but in about two years we’re going to release it to the general public. Cheers." he said as he drank back the champagne.

As Maria also drank back her glass, music filtered in from down stairs. ‘Demon in a Halo’ by Johnny Sonata. It was almost too weird. Turning to Maria, Erik asked "care to dance? I love this song."

"Sure." Maria said with a small smirk as she put down her glass and reached up to Erik’s face "one condition though. Take off the glasses."

"I thought you didn’t like my eyes." Erik said with a smirk as he took off his glasses and put them in his suit pocket.

"I love your eyes." Maria said as Erik took her hand and she put her other hand on his shoulder and then danced with Erik. Almost mid-song, she laughed lightly about something.

"What’s so funny?" Erik said also laughing.

"Well, in our entire...this’d be a relationship right?"

"I’d like to think so, yeah."

"Well" continued Maria "in our entire relationship together, we’ve never had a mutual kiss, have we?"

"Heh, I guess not." Erik said as he came to this realization "It’s always been me kissing you. You know...we could fix that..."

"I know we can." said Maria as she leaned towards Erik.

As the pair kissed, mutually for the first time, Maria’s hand rested against Erik’s chest and she felt his heart beat kick up rapidly at her touch. And then she heard a line from the song downstairs that seemed to stand out to her.

‘You say you’re an angel, but I see your horns...’

To be continued.

Part 4


Maria was in deep thought as she contemplated her actions of the kiss that previous night, she thought of her future, and spoke out loud...

"Countess Maria Adrian Crey... hmmm... It's... cute I think I could like that name..."

unknown to her, Erik was listening through a hidden microphone he had planted in a blue rose in Maria's room.

"She...wants to...this can't be. do...do I ask her today... well, whatever it is I do, I'm sure she will back me up, or stand right beside me to help."

Maria, in a tight shirt and sleek pants, walked out of her room and headed down the hall towards the dining area. It was late in the morning, almost lunch time, Erik had asked her to come out there dressed casually, and in the most comfortable outfit she could find.

She entered the dining area only to be greeted by Erik "well, I did say casual, guess you took me seriously, eh?"

"Don't get cocky with me, Erik, “Maria said with an almost mischievous grin "what did you want?"

"Well, I wanted to ask you... if you would like to live here, permanently with me, in my home."

"Erik, are you asking me to abandon my friends in Paragon?"

"No, I promise you will be able to visit them, I can set up any means of transportation, even if it is by rocket, well, maybe not rocket, that seems a bit too extreme, but, I would do anything to make you happy…”


Maria, with the same serious face just looked at Erik; 10 minutes seemed like hours as the two young adult lovers stared into each others eyes. Finally, Maria sighed, about to give her answer, but as she started to talk another voice could be heard.


“Maria, if you go through with this, I will leave you with nothing but your sword and gadgets…”


Erik quickly realized that the voice was Shadow, Maria’s power in a form in which was unheard of to most people.


“Shadow…”Maria said grimly” If you dare get in the way of my relationships, I will cast you out myself, but you will have no form, no embodiment, and no where to go in the rogue isles…”


In a bright, almost blinding flash, a dim, but visible form of energy could be seen leaving Maria, she was in pain; her face seemed almost to tear apart as streaks of bright light exited throughout her body. What was once one, was now two, Maria was now on the ground, barely breathing, and Shadow was standing, no, hovering above Maria, in a form that could only be described as otherworldly.


“You fool, you could have had a great power, which in turn could lead you to do great things, but now, you’re just a fragile little twerp, laying on the ground… pitiful really.”


“You’re a bitch, Shadow, “Erik said as he was rushing towards Maria to get her some help “I hope you’re happy, you know now you can no longer find a host that can control your powers like Maria could…”


Shadow didn’t speak, but instead, seemed to fade away. Still, Maria lay there, barely clinging on to life, but, as if by some miracle, turned to Erik and spoke.


“You… know what… I… think I’ll stay”


Erik smiled, and carried her off to the medical bay in his estate. Erik thought in his mind many things as he carried Maria off, but not even he could plan the future now, only when he is around Maria is he unable to predict her actions, reactions, thoughts and all the complicated stuff Maria seems to reveal about her personality and emotions. But what he was aware of was that this was the beginning of something more grand then any of his previous schemes, and things had to change, fast.


And here is the end of their relationship, "Evil Angel".

Evil Angel


Part One: To break a dream…

8:45 AM. Crey Mystech Department. Grandville, Rogue Isles.


"Mr. Morningstar, you 9:00AM appointment, Mr. Eckhart, is here."

   Norman Morningstar, The Man in Black, sat in his dark Crey Industries office while practicing his Yo-Yo. The rooms design was abstract, with a demonic all black look. A style Morningstar jokingly called "chic’ Hell". When he heard his secretary tell him Dr. Charles Eckhart was here, he put his Yo-Yo away and pushed a button on his desk, opening the door of his office with over dramatic effect. In entered Dr. Eckhart, a man who looked more like an Indiana Jones explorer than a bookish scientist. Though, he was in his 50's with white, balding hair & glasses. The good doctor sat in the chair in front of Morningstar and was silent for about 5 minutes, then murmured:


"So...you still mad at me for my part in binding you to Crey Industries?"

   "Charlie Horse!" laughed Morningstar as he stood up and walked around his desk "It wasn’t your fault, you didn’t know what Von Crey was planning. Sides, this sorta turned out well for me, heh...but, if you feel really bad about it all, I have a job for you."

"Oh? What’s that, Norman?"

"I want you to perform some recon work on a hero for me." Norman said as he light up another cigaret and picked up his Yo-Yo "A speedster, pretty famous amongst the peons of Paragon. A bit stupid if ya ask me."

"What’s his name?"

   "Oh, he’s a bit of a nobody on the mystic plane." Norman said as he looked out the stain glass window of his office with his Yo-Yo in his hand. The window depicted an army of Angels fighting tooth and nail with a massive force of renegade Angels with spears and swords. In the lead was the renegade Angels was the all powerful being known as Mephisto, second only to Lucifer in the hierarchy of Hell. He then, for no apparent reason, threw the Yo-Yo at the glass window, directly at Mephisto, and pulled it back, shattering the glass. He then puffed on his cigaret and looked back at Eckhart, who had covered his face for protection. Morningstar then muttered one name as the morning sun poured over him.

"Volo."

10:03 AM. Maria’s bedroom, Crey Manor, Cap Au Diable.

   Maria Artago was dreaming. In her dream, she was back in Italy. It was a beautiful day near the coast of the Mediterranean. She saw herself sitting on a wall alongside a road in a small village that seemed to be Santarini. What was most strange of this scene was how dream Maria looked. She wore an all white version of her daily outfit and two small red horns grew from her forehead. Above her head floated a halo of fire, shimmering red & orange. Dream Maria turned her head and saw Erik Von Crey, her lover, walk towards her. He looked different as well, his suit was all black and black feathered angel wings grew from back. His eyes were dark green and long, curved black horns grew from his forehead. She smiled at him as he approached and he grinned back, holding out one hand to her. Dream Maria looked at the hand apprehensibly and looked to the shore. There, she saw all her friends from Paragon watching her, arms folded. She then looked at the village and saw all of Erik’s Young Rogues standing there, waiting for her. Dream Maria stood and caressed dream Erik’s face and the pair embraced and kissed. As dream Maria pulled away, she looked at Erik’s eyes and saw the were no longer his handsome dark green eyes, but his pale scarred eyes, looking lost and in pain.
   Maria awoke in her bedroom with a start to the sound of laughter from the hall. She instantly realized she was hugging her pillow and quickly let go of it. She stroked back her hair and looked at the time, cursing when she saw how late she had slept in. She quickly got up and pulled on her robe, walking to the bedroom door and poking her head out. There she saw Theorem 13 & Diabolesse, two female Young Rogues, chatting about a recent job. Theorem 13, Rachel Walters, wore a white coat & glasses while Diabolesse looked somewhat liked a street walker in fishnets & an all black ensemble, with red skin, horns, a tail, & demon wings. When Maria stepped out, the pair looked over and waved.

"Morning Maria" said Theorem as she continued to walk by "Your lover is downstairs. Think you could tell him to stop playing that bloody pipe organ?"

   "I’ll try Rachel." Maria said with a small smile as she went back into her room to change. She had really started to like things in Crey Manor, particularly the interesting company. Over time, she had noticed how similar some members of the manor were similar to her friends back in Paragon. Somewhat similar at least. Just different motivations for use of their abilities. But what she loved most of all was the time she spent with Erik. Everyday, he seemed to surprise her with something, a small present from his days endeavors. A cape from an enemy villain, she hoped, a red coral shard, old silver coins from a pirates treasure, stuff like that. But what she most of all loved was how much he cared about her. Every day he treated her like his personal goddess, going as far as having an ivory statue being made of her for his office in Cap Au Diable. A little bit over the top, but that was the young aristocrats style, like the going away party he was throwing her tomorrow. In 2 days time, she and Erik would fly to Paragon City, so Maria could see her friends in the Youth League again. She wanted to talk to Pask, Allen, Volo...she just wanted to settle things out between her friends while keeping her relationship with Erik. She wasn’t about to choose one over the other.
   Maria journeyed downstairs while listening to the far off sound of pipe organ music flowing in from Erik’s library. Maria slowed down on her walk and listened to the song Erik was playing. "Kind of dramatic today" she thought as she finally arrived at the door of the library, putting an ear to the door to hear Erik play. This was a new habit of his, waking up in the morning and playing his ancient looking pipe organ. Maria entered the room silently and walked up slowing behind Erik, who sat at the pipe organ wearing a black sweater and jeans. She hugged him from behind and kissed him on the cheek, smiling. "Morning, Mr. Von Crey" she said playfully. "Morning, Ms. Artgo." Erik said in his clipped accent, kissing her on the cheek as well. "Sleep well?" he asked.

"Oh, I slept fine, just had a funny dream. We were in it, I think we were in Santarini." Maria said as she sat next to Erik. "Yourself?"

"I didn’t sleep much. Had too much work. Some nasty business in England, some idiot blew up one of mothers labs. A Jihadist, we think. So, what’s on the agenda today?"

"Nothing much really....but speaking of your mother..." Maria said as she curled up next to Erik, stroking his chest. "Maybe try to convince you to let me meet her. You can’t keep hiding me from her, she knows about us."

   Erik sighed and tried to avoid Maria’s gaze. He was worried about this, Maria meeting his mother, Countess Crey. He knew she wouldn’t like Maria, she hated all of his serious relationship girlfriends. "She’s just possessive." he thought whenever Maria brought up this subject "Doesn’t like to share."
   "So...can I meet her soon? I just want to get this out of the way is all, before we visit the mainland is all..." Maria said as she stroked Erik’s chest, something she knew would normally get her what she wanted from Erik.
   "...today. I’ll call her today and see if she can meet us for dinner or something." Erik said, finally giving in. "Good thing she’s going to be in Europe for the rest of the week though sorting out those bombings I set up." Erik thought to himself.
   Maria smiled and kissed Erik on the lips. As she pulled away, she said jokingly "See? That wasn’t so hard, once you’ve got the motivation. So, we still on for that big going away party at the Ivory Club?"

"Of course, love. It’s all set up."

   As Maria walked out of the room, Erik reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver engagement right with a blue crystal on it. As soon as Maria was out of earshot, Erik muttered to himself: "Vicountess Maria Adrian Crey...sounds good."


10:25 AM. Atlas Park, Paragon City

   Volo strolled through Atlas Park, at human speed for once, which was an unusual habit for him. He had a lot on his mind. The previous night, he had an encounter with Erik Von Crey, another one of his self styled "ArchEnemies". Erik had been taunting the Speedster about his relationship with Maria again, going as far as saying Volo might be jealous of him. "Stupid pervert slowbie Von Pin Head." Volo muttered as he looked across the street. He then looked back and saw a man about 19 feet away in dark clothes, who was balding and looking about 50 years old. This mans appearence didn’t bother Volo, though the fact that he had seen this man 18 times today at a distance did. 

"Ok...lets see what this...hmm, gotta think up a nickname for this guy...wants."

   Volo walked toward a nearby bowling alley and feigned a conversation with a hot dog vendor near the entrance. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his stalker adjust an ear aid absent mindedly while standing at the sidewalk of the opposite street, looking for incoming traffic. As the man reached Volo’s side of the street, the young hero disappeared in a flash of white and gold, leaving the stalker looking confused around the street. 

Then, the stalker too was gone.

10:30 AM. Platinum Lake, Steel Canyon.

"So...why were you following me Mr...hmm this will be hard...Baldy Oldy?"

   Volo was holding his stalker, Charles Eckhart from his belt over Platinum lake from the wall over seeing it. Eckhart struggled to break loose of Volo while trying to grab onto the wall in order to avoid falling to his death. Realizing it was pointless, Eckhart looked up at Volo and was about to speak when he went into some sort of spasm, twitching and coughing. Volo quickly pulled the man onto the wall, calling out for anyone who knew CPR. He was about ready to pick up the man and book it to a nearby hospital, when all of the sudden, the man stopped twitching and looked up at Volo, his gaze now confident and sinister. "The name’s Norman Morningstar, we sorta met a while back..." the man said in Morningstar’s voice. "I contracted this nut to find you. Yeah, I’m possessing him, get over it. Any who, I’m the head of Crey Industries Mystech Department and I want to help you break up Von Crey and a certain Maria Artago. If you want to learn more meet me in Independence Port, by the Crossroads...you’re a speedster, you’ll know what it is, at 6:06 tonight... see ya then, hero."

Then, Charles Eckhart came out of his trance and passed out in Volo’s arms, cold sweat covering his face.

To be continued...

Part Two


Part Two: A Deal at the Cross Roads...


Independence Port-6:04 PM-Outside of Kings Row Entrance...

"So...you’re blowing me off?"

"No! It’s not that, it’s just...umm…yeah, I think I am..."

It’s was 6:04 at night and Volo was leaning up against a pay phone, talking to his girlfriend, Ghost Scream. They were supposed to hang out tonight, but now Volo had that call from Norman Morningstar, via a formerly possessed and now incarcerated Charles Eckhart, and he had to meet him in 2 minutes.

"Look, this might not take long, it might take a while. I promise I’ll be my fastest to get out of there and if this takes a while, I promise we’ll do something even better than Pocket D hangouts another time...ok?" Volo said warily.

"Heh, sure, but what ever we do it’d better be awesome. Take care of what you have to, I’ll be in Pocket D with some friends. Night hun."

And with that Ghost Scream hung up and Volo sped off in a burst of white & gold.

The Cross Roads

Volo had arrived at a five way dirt road intersection hidden away behind a series of Independence Port warehouses. This intersection was known among speedsters and cultists as The Cross Roads, the main intersection of a series of complex dirt roads speedsters used for running and a hot spot for cult activity. Volo looked around the litered intersection and saw no one and figured Morningstar was going to arrive on the dot, 6:06. After cleaning the intersection at super speed, Volo stopped abruptly when the sound of a guitar cut through the air. At the center of the Cross Roads sat a man on a bar stool wearing a dark blue suit and fedora. He was black and fairly young, perhaps only 27 years old. He held in his hands a guitar with which he played with an almost supernatural mastery. The young man looked up at Volo and sang:

"I went to the crossroad…fell down on my knees…I went to the crossroad…fell down on my knees….Asked the Lord above "Have mercy, now…save poor Bob, if you please." Mmmmm, standin' at the crossroad…I tried to flag a ride…Standin' at the crossroad…I tried to flag a ride…Didn't nobody seem to know me…everybody pass me by…Mmm, the sun goin' down, boy…dark gon' catch me here…oooo ooee eeee…boy, dark gon' catch me here…I haven't got no lovin' sweet woman that love and feel my care…You can run, you can run…tell my friend-boy Willie Brown…You can run, you can run…tell my friend-boy Willie Brown…Lord, that I'm standin' at the crossroad, babe

I believe I'm sinkin' down."

As Volo clapped in a somewhat nervous manner, the guitarist looked up at the confused hero starring at him with a grin that revealed white, shining teeth

"That was for you, Volo. A warning of sorts. I hope you listened reeeeaaal good son."

"Yeah I did…are you Norman?"

"Norman? Hell no boy, I’m Robert." The guitarist said in surprise. "But I was a former client of his. Boy you’ll get what you want…but at a Hell of a price, heh."

"Oh…" Volo said tapping his foot. "What does he charge?"

"Your ever lastin’ soul, son." Robert said as he stood up, slinging the guitar on his back. "But you’re lucky, in a way or two. Number one, Norman ain’t after your soul, he wants your help. Number two, you got a soul so pure he couldn’t even touch it."

"Uh, thanks…wait, why is my soul so supposedly pure?"

"Well" Robert said as he began to pace around Volo. "Number one, you’re a hero and you’re in it for the right reasons. Number two, you’re a virgin, which makes you physically pure. Number three, every time some creep like Tilla or Von Crey or Speed Beast tries to take you on, you rise to the challenge with honor. You’re one of several very pure souls in this city."

"Wait a minute, how the hell do you know about me?" Volo asked as Robert began to walk away into the darkness of the surrounding warehouses. Robert looked back with a smile and said:

"I’m sorta’ like your guardian angel. Just remember what I said tonight…and make the right decision when you meet Morningstar."

And with that, Robert was gone.

Volo looked back and now a new figure had appeared where Robert once stood. He was a man in all black and very old. He had grey hair that came to his shoulders and a pentagram hanging around his neck. Next to him was a black leather chair and side table with a cigar case on it.

"Robert does have a good speech, I’ll give him that." The old man said. "By the way, I’M Norman Monringstar, the Man in Black and Archduke of the 13th circle of Hell. It’s a pleasure to meet you Volo, I hear good things."

"Nice to meet you too." Volo said as he crossed his arms across his chest. "Listen, can we make this quick? I gotta meet up with my girlfriend in a bit."

"Heh, cute…then let me get to the point. I hold a rivalry with a certain Erik Von Crey, a rivalry which prevents me from getting far in my occupation. I have found a way to break Von Crey and liberate a certain female friend of yours, Maria Artago, from him. I need your help though. Whaddya think?"

Volo put his hand on his chin and went into deep thought for a moment. "This guy’s a villain, I know that…" Volo thought "…but he can’t be worse than Von Crey…"

"I’d have to see more proof that you’re sincere and not just trying to play me, dude." Volo said skeptically. Norman grinned and stepped forward, while pulling out 5 golden tickets from his pocket.

"Of course son. And here’s a bit of a present, to help you out in giving that girl of yours that night you promised." Norman said as he handed Volo the tickets.

"Ugh, I’m suck of people knowing way too much about me." Volo said as he took the tickets. They were pass’s into a place called "The Ivory Club" in Cap Au Diable for some big party in two days, hosted by Erik Von Crey no less.


"Check this place out, you might see something interesting." Norman said as he took something else out of his pocket. It was a golden yo-yo with a white V on its center. The old demon handed the young hero the yo-yo and said:

"Just give this thing a twirl when you need me." Norman said as he turned and disappeared into the shadows. "See you around hero."

Pocket D-Red Lounge

Ghost Scream sat alone in the Red Lounge of Pocket D sipping a drink. As she looked in the direction of the Blue Lounge, she saw a familiar white and gold blur and smiled. "He’s late but at least he showed up." she thought to herself. As Volo stopped in front of her, Ghost laughed and said:

"Hey there. What’s with the tux?"

"Huh?" Volo said as he looked at himself. Somehow, his costume had transformed into a white and gold tuxedo, with a white V with a gold outline on the lapel. As he looked himself over and took out the tickets, the now confused speedster said:

"Uh...you feel like going to a party tomorrow?"

Crey Manor-The Lounge-11:45 PM

Erik Crey & Maria Artago sat in the lounge of Crey Manor, curled up together on a dark red leather couch. Maria rested her head against Erik’s chest while he stroked her hair. The young heroine smiled with her eyes half closed.

"Hmm...sometimes you actually are too good to me." she said. Erik smirked and reached into his pocket, grabbing something gold while brushing his finger against the silver engagement he hid there as well. "I have something for you." he said as he pulled a gold necklace with a pendant bearing the Crey family crest. "This was a present from my ancestor, Erik the 1st Von Crey, to his wife on their wedding day. Its been up in my attic for a while, so I’m sure nobody will miss it."

"It’s beautiful..." Maria said as she examined the necklace carefully and kissed the young villain on the cheek. "Thank you..."

"I thought you could wear it at the party tomorrow." Erik said as he kissed Maria’s hand repeatedly with his everlasting grin. "It’d look perfect with that new red dress of yours..."

As Erik kissed her hand, all Maria could think of was her dream and Erik’s eyes looking at her in pain...and then he two lovers heard a noise at the doorway of the Lounge.

"Ahem. So, this is the famous Maria Artago..."

Diasumat, one of Erik’s Young Rogues, stood in the doorway in her causal clothes. The rogue had her arms crossed and a weak smile on her face. She stepped forward and shook Maria’s hand. "The name’s Diasumat, but just call me Dia. Erik talks about you a lot, so I already know a fair bit about ya."

"Well, it’s nice to meet you as well." Maria said with a smile. "Uh, Erik, I’m gonna head up yo bed. See you in the morning." she said as she got up, kissing Erik on the lips, and went to her bedroom. Erik watched her go and looked back to Diasumat. "What do you think?" he said with a grin.

"Hmm...she’s pretty, but I don’t like her." Dia said as she sat next to Erik on the couch.

"Oh? Why not?" Erik said, crossing his arms

"Because I want you something fierce in the sack and to let you have your way with me." Dia wanted to say, but she just said "I dunno." instead. "Well, I hope I’ll see you at the party tomorrow." Erik said as he stood and stretched. "Maybe you’ll like her more. G’night."

"Night Erik..." Dia said as she watched Erik go upstairs.

And from a window, an invisible Norman Morningstar watched this scene unfold before him.

"This looks good..."

To be continued...

Part Three


Part Three: Dancing with a Devil…


New Haven, Cap Au Diable-7:45 PM


"So, what do you know about this Morningstar guy?"


"Oh, I know lots…"


Volo and Ghost Scream sat in the back of a black cab traveling towards the Rogue Isles famous, Villains exclusive Ivory Club. Tonight was a massive celebration hosted by Erik Von Crey in the club and Volo’s new "Contact" had gotten him 5 tickets to get in. Along with Pask and Bad Day Boy, he had brought along his girl friend Ghost Scream because she could get the other 4 false Arachnos I.D. to get into the club & she knew a lot about Norman Morningstar. That and he owed her a nice night out.


"A while ago, a few goons from the Morningstar Family had killed a few Fortuna’s and, for the pending meeting between herself and Norman, Ghost Widow asked me to research the guy. He’s got a very colorful history." Ghost said. "Apparently, he belongs to a mobster family of demons that date back to the Revolution against Heaven led by Lucifer. His great grandfather, Maximus Morningstar, was Lucifer’s right hand man and constantly mistaken for him, hence why people call Lucifer, Morningstar. Maximus is known as the Dark Father in the family and is the unofficial leader, while Norman rules directly over the entire family. Now, each Morningstar’s name, like Norman, is an alias for their real name. The first letter in their ‘normal’ name matches the letter of their demon name, so Norman could be one of 34 demons. There’s a rule in magic that you have to hide your true name, because that’s where your power comes from, which also led to super humans getting code names and what not."


"Uh huh...." Volo said, not really interested in the family history. "So, what can you tell me about Norman?"


"Oh..." Ghost said, taking on a darker tone. "He’s got a big history with heroes..."


"Do tell."


"Well," Ghost said while readjusting herself. "Norman became head of the family in 1948 after years of harvesting human souls, with the help of his first hoard of demon bikers that used to be members of Hells Angels. He kills his father, Alocer-"


"Wait a minute." Volo interrupted. "I thought those guys made up new names cause their real names made em’ vulnerable. And that doesn’t sound like a normal name."


"Norman found out his fathers real name and was able to destroy him. Can I finish?"


"Sure."


"Anyways, Norman came to power and began trying to steal heroes’ souls, or at least bargain for them. Hell, there are rumors that he bought the soul of Hero One. His first real hero archenemy was Cavalier VI-"


"Hey, that’s Ted’s granddad I think. He’s the 8th and his dad was the 7th..."


"Can I finish while you research Ted’s family history?"


"Sorry Ghostie."


"So, he and Cav 6 battled for a few years, then 7th fought with him. He went quiet for a while, but he recently brought his family under the control of Erik Crey. And they’ve been harvesting souls with his ‘help’ ever since."


"Great." Volo said as he looked out the window of the cab. "I’m working with one of Erik’s minions."


"Oh, he hates working with Erik." Ghost said as the cab pulled to a stop. "When Norman was dating Ghost Widow, she told me how he always complained about Erik over pillow talk. And if your wondering how those two had sex, it’s complicated."


As Volo looked back at his girlfriend in surprise, BDB opened the cab door and poked his head in. The hero was in a black Smithson Spine Pore style tuxedo, while Pask behind him was in a black-blue dress. "C’mon guys, we’re here." he said as he walked off, Pask following him. "Gotta like Norman a bit though." Ghost said as she grinned in delight. "He got us into the Ivory Club."


When Volo had told Ghost Scream about the passes into the Ivory Club, she had been delighted. The Ivory Club is a villains exclusive club in New Haven where only the top of top got in. It was a massive Gothic building, spanning two stories and two buildings wide. On its outside, it had gothic Corinthian pillars with a gargoyle on each holding up the domed, church like roof. In the main lobby, the floors were ebony, while the walls with ivory and massive ivory pillars were held up by even more massive ebony statues of Greek looking men. Volo looked around and saw a familiar face in the crowded lobby. Robert.


"Hey Robby." Volo said as he walked over to the young man, who sat on a bench near the check in, strumming on his guitar. "How’s my favorite ‘guardian angel’ doing?"


"You’re making a big mistake Volo." Robert said as he began to stand up. "But I hope you’ll rectify it at some point. And as for your first question, I’m doing fine. I got gig here playing with Johnny Sonata during his ‘Demon in a Halo’ song."


"Huh...that’s good Rob." Volo said as he began to walk off. "Well, I gotta get back to my date, see ya."


"Who was that?" Ghost asked as Volo walked back to her at the check in.


"Oh, just a friend who knows WAY too much about me. It’s complicated."


"Well whatever, we’re in. lets go!"


And with that, Ghost grabbed Volo by the wrist and pulled him into the buzzing club.


Ivory Club-Rose Balcony At the same time...


Erik Von Crey and Maria Artago sat on a metal lattice bench embracing each other. Erik was in a an all black ensemble this evening, with a matching black tie and shirt to go with his black suit while Maria wore a dark red dress with thin slits up the sides that went up to the beginning of her thigh. Erik was busy kissing Maria around the neck while she laughed lightly and stroked his head.


"Mmm..." Maria said as she scratched uncharacteristically playfully behind Erik’s ear. "Feeling like an affectionate puppy tonight, Erik?"




"I always thought" Erik said between kisses. "I was more of a Wolf than anything else."


"Uh, sir?"


Erik and Maria looked up and saw Skullguy, another member of the Young Rogues, standing at the entrance of the balcony, with his girlfriend Crimson Princess right next to him. "I hate to break up this love-fest." Princess said as she motioned the lower floor to Erik. "But your mom showed up Erik. She’s looking for you."


"Dammit!" Erik cried out as he stood up in a rage. Maria stood as well and put a hand gently on his shoulder. "It’s all right, Erik." she said soothingly. "I can pretty much guess how she’s going to react to me. Let’s just get this over with..." Erik sighed deeply and said "You’re right...let’s go and get this crap over with." He offered Maria his arm and she took it, walking in perfect stride with him.


Ivory Club-Main Club


"So, we’re just here to check on Maria, no badger her about her relationship, Ok?"


Pask was talking to Volo, Allen, & Libby while Ghost Scream chatted with her mentor. When Volo had told her of this party, Pask knew she had to be there to ensure Maria was all right. She had a feeling Erik did genuinely care for Maria, but she knew how far a person like Erik might go to have her.


"Sounds like a good plan." Allen said as he grabbed a drink off a tray held by a waiter coming by. "All we have to worry about is Erik though. He might try to start something."


"Erik won’t do anything stupid while Maria is here." Pask said as she grabbed a drink as well. "He only acts like an evil bastard when he knows she’s not watching."


As his friends made their game plan, Volo was looking over his shoulder. He could have sworn he saw him...and he was right. Standing a few yards away was Norman Morningstar, in a black tuxedo with a dark red undershirt. Slipping away, Volo gave a short burst of super speed and stopped right next to Norman. The old demon seemed unfazed and looked over to the young hero with a devilish grin.


"Good to see you again son." he said as he pulled a Cuban cigar out of his tuxedo pocket. "Cigar?"


"I don’t smoke." Volo said, waving away the Cuban "So, what are you doing here?"


"Making sure you’re here son." he said as he lit up and Ghost Widow strode by, giving him a slight glance "...as well to see a rather lovely old friend of mine."


"Uh huh, I heard you dated Widow once. Anyways, who’s that Robert guy in the lobby?"


"Oh, he’s a bitter old customer of mine." Norman said as he licked his index and pinky finger, slicking out his eyebrows. "Now if you excuse me, I gotta see a ghost about a woman..."


And with that, the old demon disappeared in a small burst of flame.


Ivory Club-Ghost Widow’s private balcony




Ghost Widow stood in her private balcony over looking the main club. Then, in a small burst of flame, Norman Morningstar appeared next to her, puffing on his Cuban cigar. "Hey ghost baby." he said with his devils grin. "You miss me?"


"Norman Morningstar." said Widow as she watched Ghost Scream dance with Volo. "Where have you been lately? I’ve missed your company."


"Aww, cry my pardon." Norman said as he bowed sarcastically and looked at Volo and Ghost Scream as well. "Huh. That blonde kid down there is my new project."


"A word to the wise, Norman." Ghost Widow said in her distant tone. "That hero is courting my protégé. Should you do anything to harm him, which would lead to the sadness of my said protege, you will incur my wrath, and that includes the wrath of Arachnos."


"Hey, baby, I live for danger." Norman said as he put an arm around Ghost Widows waist. "Sides, if things go right, Volo should crash all by himself…just you watch."


Ivory Club-Main Club


"Lo mum. I thought you were in England."


"I was Erik. It was only for a short while; I just had to go over some things. So, is this Maria Artago?"


Erik stood, with Maria holding onto his arm, in front of his mother, the infamous Countess Crey. She was in her usual dark blue clothes and had on a gold necklace with the Crey crest on it, similar to the one Erik had given Maria to where. When the Countess noticed Maria that similar gold necklace, she looked up at the girl and studied her carefully.


"Yes, I’m Maria." Maria said, keeping her cool demeanor. "I’m surprised you don’t know me, I used to work in one of your major European labs. I won a scholarship from you."


"Oh, I knew of you, I just couldn’t place a face to the name." the Countess said as she extended a hand to shake, which Maria took. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you, but do you think I could talk to my son for a moment?"


"Sure, I’ll just get a drink." Maria said as she kissed Erik on the cheek and walked off. Erik stood facing his mother, his hands in his pockets. "So, I assume you don’t like her?" he said coolly. "No, I don’t know her well enough yet to not like her. Though, I do distrust her. How do you know she’s not playing you for the other team, eh?"


"I don’t. I just trust her."


Meanwhile, at the bar, Maria was grabbing herself a drink when she saw a familiar white and gold colored friend grabbing drinks himself. "Volo?" she said with a friendly smile. Volo looked over and saw Maria and instantly felt a pang of betrayal. "Ok, she wants to be with Von Crey, fine. She gets the same treatment" Volo thought.


"Hey Maria, fancy meeting you here, all dressed up. Say, did I miss that tongue wrestling match between you and Erik?"


Meanwhile, Erik had finally broken away from his mother and was walking around the club, looking for Maria, when he saw Ghost Scream and Pask looking for Volo. "Hey, it’s my favorite mother in law!" Erik cried out in his usual jovial tone. "How are we this evening, enjoying the party?"


"Hello Erik." Pask said in a calm tone. "So, where’s Maria tonight?"


"Oh, she’s over by the bar if you want to see her."


"Oh no…" Ghost Scream said as she looked over at the bar.


A small crowd had descended around the bar and the sound of two people’s voice resounded from its center. Erik, muttering to him rapidly, pushed past the crowd and said Maria yelling at Volo, who was leaning back against the bar nonchalantly. "I can’t believe you; I’d never betray the League!" Maria yelled at Volo as he scoffed. "Please, just by being with Von Asshole you’re betraying. The guy hates us!" Volo yelled back, throwing his arms up. Before Erik could reach her, Maria had pushed her way out of the crowd. Erik quickly followed, giving Volo a glare as he passed him. He eventually caught up to Maria, who had entered the lobby of the club with her arms crossed.


"Erik, I just want to go." She said sadly, trying to avoid Erik’s eyes. "I…I just don’t want to deal with Volo right now."


"All right, call Rogers and have him bring the car around. I just have to make a few announcements before I go."


Erik kissed Maria and brushed a small tear from her cheek and left to go back into the club, completely ignoring his mother who was on her way out. He walked straight up to the bar and right up to Volo, pure hatred etched onto his face. "You have ruined my evening and hurt the woman I love." He said as the other four arrived, Pask in the lead. "I intend to make you suffer for it."


"Oh what, you’re gonna throw drinks at me?" Volo said, his arms crossed.


Erik just grinned evilly and walked towards the center of the room. He leapt up onto a table and whistled loudly, grabbing the attention of everyone in the club. "Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, if I could just have your attention for but a few moments, I wish it announce tonight’s special event." The group "ooohed" and drew closer around Erik, while he kept and eye on Volo and Ghost Scream, who had held back at the bar. "As you know, this evening was supposed to be my and y girlfriend’s going away party before we leave for Paragon City. Sadly, my date was reduced to tears by this fellow here." Erik gestured towards Volo and every eye in the club was now on the speedster. "I am offering a special prize for his capture: Free drinks, food, and entrance into the Ivory club for the rest of the capturer’s life!"


"Oh boy…" BDB murmured as every villain in the club, which was EVERYONE, geared up to attack Volo. "You guys get out of here while they’re chasing after me, I can out run all of them." Volo said as he stretched and geared up to run. "Ghostie, you get them out of here, ok?"


"Sure."


"And Ghostie?"


"Hmm?"


"I’m sorry I screwed tonight up."


And with that, the young speedster disappeared in a burst of white and gold as every villain in the Ivory Club chased after him.


The Crossroads-Midnight


"Hey Volo. I’m glad to see you made it out of the club alive."


Norman Morningstar stood at the center of the Crossroads as Volo slowed to a stop in front of him, having just run back to Paragon from the Rogue Isles.


"Mr. Morningstar." Volo said as he crossed his arms. "I think I’ll take you up on your previous offer."


To be continued…

Part 4


Part Four: You can always come Home...

Somewhere Over the Atlantic Ocean-1:39 AM

Inside a Crey Industries private jet, Erik Von Crey and Maria Artago flew. It was another hour until they reached Paragon and Maria had already fallen asleep, resting in Erik’s arms. Erik himself was still fuming about Volos verbal attack on Maria back at the Ivory Club. "I can get it if he insulted me." Erik thought as he watched Maria sleep. "But to go after her..."

The young villain leaned down and kissed Maria on the forehead, spurring her awake. She looked around and looked up at Erik with a smile. "Huh...that normally just works in fairy tales." she said sleepily. Her eyes were still a little red and she definitely looked like she was going to sleep the rest of the way there. "Who says this isn’t a fairytale?" Erik said with a wolfish grin. "We’re gonna reach the mainland in about an hour. Are you sure you want to do this now? We can come back another time…"

"No, I need to talk with Pask." Maria said as she sat up in her seat. "I just need to smooth things over with her, I owe her that. I just hope we don’t run into Volo again…"

"If we do…" Erik said as he put a hand under Maria’s chin and kissed her again. "I’ll make sure he doesn’t get the chance to say anything."

Ware House 13, Independence Port- At the Same Time…

"Ugh. Kid love."

Norman Morningstar sat at a massive monitoring counsel inside Ware House 13, a derelict warehouse right outside of the Cross Roads. Over his shoulder, Volo watched the many screens showing different clients or targets of Norman. In North Dakota, a man who sold his soul for the heart of the woman he loved wept as he held her bloody heart in his hands. In England, a woman who sold her soul to be cured of a disease screams as a car runs her over as she exits a hospital. And in the top right corner, Ghost Scream escorts BDB and Pask onto a plane to exit the Rogue Isles. "Good girl." Volo thought as Norman watched Erik & Maria’s screen. "So, what’s your big plan Norm?" Volo said to the old demon.

"Very simple, Volo m’boy" Norman said as he lit up a cigar. "You’re gonna prove what kind of guy Erik Von Crey is. Have you been on a Crey raid in a while?"

"Not recently, I’ve been busy with other stuff. Why?"

"I want you to hit one of Crey Industries top secret labs in Steel Canyon, which happens to fall under Erik’s jurisdiction. Grab some evidence and we got Von Crap head where we want him."

Volo listened to the old demon intently, but something strange happened when Norman told him about the Steel Canyon lab. For a second, Volo could have sworn Norman’s eyes disappeared, replaced with shadowy nothingness. But when Norman got out of his chair and faced Volo, his gray eyes were definitely there. "I can’t tell you what to expect when you get there kid." Norman said as he puffed on his cigar. "But expect something big. REAL big."

"Will do Norm. But how are we gonna let Maria know about all this stuff Crey is harboring in that lab? It’s not like we can just go to her-…Erik’s house and talk to her."

"Heh, didn’t ya hear son? Those two love birds are swinging into Paragon City and they’ll be here by tomorrow, but I wanna wait before we start…give it a while and THEN we crush Von Crey..."

Volo looked at the old demon warily. He still didn’t like this, working with a Crey flunky, but what choice did he have? "By the time Maria figures out what kind of guy Erik is," Volo thought "she’ll probably be having his kid...ugh, gross."

"I’ll contact you when the time is right." Norman continued "But until then, keep a low profile. Try not to monkey around with Von Crey. Got it Slick?"

"Got it. Uh, Norman, you’re with Satan and stuff right? So, all that stuff in the Bible, it’s true?"

"M’yeah." Norman said curiously. "Why do you ask?"

"Oh, no-"

"Amp? Relax kid, if he’s dead and gone, he’ll probably be in Heaven. Unless there was some previous issues in his Virtue. Now scat, I got work."

And in a burst of white, gold and confusion, the young hero was gone as Norman grabbed a can of beer out of mid-air. "Nice kid." he thought. "Reeeeeal stupid though."

Youth League Base- 1:23 PM The next day...

"Where were you Volo?"

Pask sat cross legged in the Youth League lounge watching Volo enter the base. Her expression was hidden, though the young hero had a fair idea on how she felt towards him, especially after the Ivory Club incident.

"I was following up on a lead. What’s up?"

"Volo, do you remember our game plan last night? We were supposed to just check up on Maria, not reduce her to tears. What the hell were you thinking?"

"That I was annoyed with Maria" Volo said as he grabbed a bottle of Gatorade from his room at super speed "and I decided to voice my annoyance."

Pask put her face in her palms. "Volo…every time any of us do something like that to Maria, we push her closer to Erik. We’re trying to AVOID that." Pask stood and picked up her katana, resting it on her shoulder. "I don’t care if you’re pissed off; I don’t want you mouthing off at her when she visits later, all right? I want to make sure she’s safe."

"Fine, whatever, I’ll leave you two to talk." Volo said as he sped off to another room. He stopped suddenly when he heard talking from a TV. He searched around and saw Cavalier sitting on a couch watching "All My Children" with a bottle of soda and bag of popcorn at his side.

"You know" he said without looking up "sometimes, I don’t even need to watch my stories to see a good soap opera. I just gotta look in Pocket D or scrounge around the base. So, still pissed about Von Crey bonking your friend?"

"He hasn’t slept with her." Volo muttered as he sat down next to Ted and watched AMC "Maria would want to wait and see how things are really going."

"Uh huh." Ted muttered as he ate popcorn absent mindedly, keeping his eyes on the screen. "J.R., if you love Babe you’ll let her go!"

"…that was weird Ted…"

"Hey, most guys think it’s weird I watch soap opera’s, but I’m surprised most guys don’t watch them. They consist of 75% soft core porn."

Back at the YL Lounge-…

"Hello Maria."

Pask was sitting cross legged again on a couch in the YL lounge looking at her student Maria, who had just arrived. She had also brought her katana and looked very nervous upon seeing Pask. "Hi Pask." She said as she sat down in a chair opposite her mentor "I’m sorry I didn’t say anything to you at the Ivory Club, I didn’t notice you were there until I was leaving."

"It’s ok, I understand. So…how are things with Erik?"


"Good, very good. We’ve been very happy together in the Isles. Look, I’m sorry I didn’t say anything to you when I left…I just didn’t want to start something right then. I just wanted to see what life with Erik was like and…"

"You like it?"

"…I love it."

Pask pursed her lips and rested her chin on her fist, surveying her student. "Tea? I had a pot going while I was waiting for you to show."

"Sure, I’d like that." Maria said with a smile.

The two talked for an hour, trying to avoid the topic of Maria’s relationship until later. After a while of talking about changes in the Youth League and recent adventures, they had finally come back to it. Pask placed he empty cup on the side table beside the couch and looked up at her student, a stern look on her face.

"So, back on the subject…are you and Erik really serious or is this just a big fling?" she asked warily.

"I think we’re serious." Maria responded as she finished off her tea. "When you really get to know Erik, and providing you don’t jump down his throat for being a Crey, he’s a sweet guy. I know, weird thing to relate to a Crey, but he really is. When he cares about you, he’ll do pretty much anything to make sure you’re happy. Hell, that’s why he’s gotten so many members into the Young Rogues."

"Mm hmm…and what about the Rogues? They like you?"

"Most of them do, because they heard about me through Erik, but I’m a little wary on this cyborg girl that keeps eying Erik. She definitely doesn’t like me."

"I still don’t get it. Why do you like a guy like Erik? He’s arrogant, vicious, manipulative…"

"That’s a front for those who attack him. Erik is a good guy if you get to know him…he’s affectionate, intelligent, handsome…"

"Don’t judge a book by its cover Maria, even if it’s a good looking book."

Pask looked over her shoulder and saw Veronica Volt standing behind the couch she was sitting on. "I guess you’ve met Crey?" Pask asked.

"Yes." VV said as she sat down on the couch "and I’ll consent that Erik is appealing on the surface, but you can’t let that be a deciding factor for you Maria, or else this may all end in pain."

"There’s more to Erik than you could understand." Maria said as she sipped her tea "You just gotta get to know him."

Talos Island Private Ferry-An Hour Later...

"So, where are you taking me now?"

"Someplace special."

Erik and Maria stood on a ferry going across the bay of Talos Island heading towards a small cluster of islands in the distance. The ferry was small and occupied only by the couple and its captain, he kept his gaze resolutely from the young lovers. Erik held and caressed Maria as they stood at the stern of the ship, looking forward. "So, how was your time with Pask?" Erik asked as he rested his chin on Maria’s shoulder. "Fine, she didn’t seem mad at me and I didn’t run into Volo." Maria said as she absent minded scratched Erik’s head. "She told me she yelled at him for me."

"Good girl. Here we are."

The ferry had landed on a small island covered my Cyprus trees. As Maria got off the ferry, she looked back and saw Erik pay the ferryman, who promptly left the two. "Erik, how are we going to get off this Island if you just sent away our ferry?" she asked as Erik walked over to her and took her arm with a wolfish smile. "We’ll stay the night in this place I have here. C’mon, lets walk."

The pair walked along of dirt road cutting through the forest, talking with each other for what seemed like hours. It was nothing in particular, current events in Paragon and things they’d do in the city once they get the chance. After an hour of walking, they reached a small clearing and something there made Maria stop in awe.

It was a house.

Not just a house, but a manor twice the size of Crey Manor in Cap Au Diable. It was white and had Corinthian columns in its front. A massive garden covered the front part of the lawn and a massive fountain stood in the center of the cul de sac in front of the house. Maria let go of Erik’s armor and stepped forward, looking at the house in awe. She looked back at him and asked "Erik, what is this?"

"You’ll see Maria." Erik said as he stepped into the manor. "But first, dinner!"

An Hour Later...

"So, what is all of this Erik?"

Erik and Maria stood on the upper terrace of the manor, a bottle with two glasses of Champagne on the railing. They had just finished eating and Erik had taken Maria up to the terrace for an after dinner drink. The terrace was designed like the Blue Rose Terrace at the Ivory Club, with blue roses growing all around.

"Well Maria." Erik said seriously as he picked a rose and handed it to her "you’ll find the answer with this."

Maria smiled and smelled the rose, and looked up at Erik. "Heh, flowers normally get boring with most guys, but when ever it’s one of your flowers it’s always...special..." Maria had just noticed a small silver ring with a blue gem that had been slid onto the roses stem. She pulled it off and examined it and then looked up at Erik.

"Erik, what is all of this? The island, the manor, the ring..."

"Very simple Maria." Erik said as he stepped in front of Maria. "This is for us. I bought the island and manor for us to live here...and I think you understand the ring. Maria, the time I’ve spent with you has been some of the happiest of my life and...I want that for the rest of mine and your life...what do you think?"

Maria looked at Erik for a few seconds and embraced him quickly, kissing him while holding her ring and rose tightly in her hand.

The Cross Roads

"Hmm...looks about ready."

Norman sat at his counsel watching the screens showing Erik and Maria. He closed his eyes and said, in a genial voice "Volo, it’s show time."

To Be Continued...

Part 5


Part Five: All Good Things...


New Crey Manor, Talos Isle. Bay-11:03 AM


Maria Artago lay awake in her bed in New Crey Manor, pulling the comforter tightly around her body. She smiled to herself and looked around her beautiful room. Day light poured in from the terrace glass door and the sound of hungry gulls cries sounded from far off. Near an oak vanity, an ivory statue of an angel (which, she noted, looked like it was modeled after her self) stood with its wings spread and its hands stretching towards the terrace glass door. Have I really agreed to marry Erik Von Crey? she remarked to herself. Was she now, not only a Crey but a Vicountess and future Countess Crey? Maria laughed and got out of bed, stretching her legs and arms. "This should all go well with his mother." Maria sarcastically remarked to herself. "I’m the perfect daughter in law."


Maria pulled on a white silk robe and looked through her dresser, finding her costume and katana. She had to meet Pask later today for a mission get together. Lucky for herself, Maria had been fighting in the Rogue Isles alongside Erik, mainly against Gold Brickers or Snakes. After laying out her costume and sword, Maria walked to the terrace and looked out upon the bay surrounding her Island and said.


"Everything’s…Perfect."


Volo Speedway, Steel Canyon-12:12 PM


"Life’s been rough." Volo thought.


The young speedster was running down the streets of Steel Canyon, occasionally stopping to knock a mugger off a citizen. About a month and a week ago, his life had been sort of going to hell. He now rarely saw his best friend Bad Day Boy, Pask was mad at him for the events of the Ivory Club, Maria was practically married to Erik Von Crey, his mentor Amp was gone and probably dead, & now his own inner demon, the Speed Beast, might be coming back. Lucky for Volo, he had things to keep his mind pre-occupied.


"Gah!"


Zakka, Volo’s new apprentice, had just skidded on a turn and had slid into a hot dog stand. "Heh, kids." Volo thought to himself as he sped over to Zakka and helped her up with a grin. "Heh, if you think these turns are tough, just go to Independence Port and-"


And then he heard it. A cool but strangely sinister voice spoke into his head. It was Norman.


"Volo…" the old demon said silkily "It’s show time. Meet me at the Cross Roads, Now."


"Uh, Zakka." Volo said as he accidentally dropped Zakka, who promptly pulled herself up. "Look, something just came up, I gotta run. Bye"


And in a burst of white and gold, Volo left the novice speedster in the dust.


The Cross Roads- .02 seconds later…


"Norm, we ready to roll bud?"


"Indeed we are speedy."


Norman Morningstar stood at the center of the Cross Roads as Volo skidded to a stop in front of him. Volo had been waiting all day for this, the chance to stick it to Von Crey and to save his friend. He knew what Norman was and that he was as evil as Von Crey. But right now, he was offering Volo a good deal and the young speedster wasn’t willing to turn the old demon down.


"So, where am I going?" Volo asked as he crossed his arms and tapped a foot at super speed.


"Oh, just to a lil’ lab in Steel Canyon. Erik runs it whenever he’s in town." Norm said as he paced around Volo. "Go in and I’ll tell you what to grab once you get there, got it?"


"Yeah, sure. How can I get there?"


"Very simple m’boy." Norm said as he took out his Yo-Yo and began to whirl it. In a flash, Volo had disappeared from the Cross Roads and re-appeared in a Crey Industries lab hidden deep beneath Steel Canyon. "Magic." Norman continued.


"Ok…" Volo said as he did a quick speed search of the base. "Lets roll."


And with a burst, Volo had entered the main area of the lab and began his attack.


New Crey Manor, Talos Isle. Bay-11:33 AM


"Afternoon Countess."


Maria was walking down the curved stairs of New Crey Manor in her black, and rather risqué, costume that she originally made for Shadow. She had her katana resting on her shoulder and her hair pulled back. She smiled down at Erik, who was in his dark blue bath robe. He stepped to the bottom of the stairs and kissed Maria good morning, while placing his hand on her waist. "So are you going to tell Pask?" Erik asked her as he went back to preparing his breakfast. "Not yet." Maria said as she picked up some toast Erik had made and ate it. "I want to avoid that for a bit, but I’ll eventually tell everyone. Sides, the tabloids might beat me to it. So, any plans for the day?"


"Naked Island walking."


"What?"


Erik walked around the kitchen isle and picked up his coffee. "You heard me, Naked Island walking. Nobody is around for miles and I like the sun on my body. Care to join me when you get back?"


"Heh, maybe. I’ll see you around, k’?"


"Of course." Erik responded as he kicked out Maria’s left leg and caught & kissed her. "Have fun."


Maria laughed and left the manor, taking out her cell phone to call for the ferry. About 20 minutes after she left, Erik began to take off his robe when his cell phone rang. He cursed and threw his robe onto a chair as he answered his phone.


"What the hell is it, I’m trying to go for a walk." Erik instantly said.


"Sir, this is Dr. Daniels at Crey Lab B-498. We’ve had a break in by a hero, some speedster, we think his name is Volvo. Sir, I hate to interrupt you, but we need you and the Decimators help."


"…I’ll be right there."


Erik hung up his phone and went to the basement, where he had stored in Zeus armor and a beacon which would call a legion of Decimators. So, was Volo challenging him? Erik thought as he put on a black flight suit and began to pull on his armor. Nothing was of importance in that lab, the only thing there was chemicals Crey hadn’t used in years. "All right Volo." Erik said as he pulled on his Helmut and heard his Decimators flying towards the Island. "You want to settle this? Fine by me."


But then, as he rocketed out of the manor to meet with his Decimators, he remembered a promise he had made to Maria just last night. "I don’t want you fighting Volo anymore." She had told him as she lay in his arms. "I want there to be a peace, all right?" The young villain had agreed, but would he break his vow to protect his lab and his future relationship? "It has to be done." He thought resolutely as he rocketed towards Steel Canyon, his Decimators in tow. "Volo needs to learn to leave me and my Wife alone."


Crey Lab B-498, Steel Canyon-11:53 AM


"Yee-haw!"


Volo was rocketing through the lines of Crey Industries foot soldiers, tossing them left & right & occasionally into each other. "Hey Norm, where’s this thing I’m supposed to be looking for?" he said in his mind, expecting the old demon to respond.


Problem was, Volo didn’t hear Norman.


Something was off wrong. He still didn’t see anything significant in this lab. Hell, it looked outdated compared to other Crey labs. What was going on here? Was this all some trap set up by Norman? And then, they young hero realized he was trapped within a blue energy shield. Volo tried to run, but he was thrown back to the center of the ball. Then, he heard loud metal foot steps behind him. Though he couldn’t turn around, he had a fair idea who it was.


"You will leave my wife and I alone Volo." Erik said in a dark tone. "And I intend to enforce this fact."


Erik fired electricity into the Hamster Energy Ball. And Volo’s screams echoed through the lab.


A Council Base, Steel Canyon-At the same time...


"He bought you a house?"


Maria and Pask slashed through Council robots as they had a conversation about Erik. Maria cut off the head of a bot and looked back at Pask, who was leaning against a pile of KO’d Council troops and bots.


"Yeah, he did, on a little island in Talos Isle. Bay." Maria responded as she took a break. "Listen, Pask, there’s something else I should tell-"


Then, a loud message broke through the YL comm, interrupting Maria. It was Zakka, and she sounded scared.


"GUYS! Voloisgoneheranoffandhecommjustwentofflineandheseemednervousand-"


"WHOA! Chill Zakkalac, what’s going down?" cut in Cavalier.


"Volo! I was training with him and he ran off and his comm went offline leaving behind this emergency G.P.S.. Guys, I think he’s in trouble"


Maria sighed and locked onto Volo’s G.P.S. and Pask did so as well. "Some days, I think we need to tie him to the base." Pask muttered as she activated her teleporter to send her to Volo’s location. Maria did so as well, but felt something was wrong in her gut. Then, in a boom of energy, the two disappeared and re-appeared inside the Crey lab. Pask looked around and saw Volo’s fallen comm. Maria picked it up and looked around. Then, she heard Volo’s screams of pain and the sound of crackling electricity. Pushing past Pask, Maria ran ahead with her sword drawn and came across a scene that broke her heart.


Erik stood over Volo, still trapped in the energy field, while firing electricity upon the young hero. Maria stood there, horrified, and screamed "ERIK!". The young villain turned to see his fiance and took a step towards her, his arms out.


"Maria, please listen to-"


"You promised Erik."


"But he attacked-"


"You PROMISED Erik."


"Maria I... this was for us..."


"Let him go Erik...and then I never want to see you again."


The field around Volo dropped as Erik’s hands fell to his sides & he took off his helmet. Maria took off her ring as tears fell from her face and threw it at Erik’s feet. Volo sped to the other side of the room and looked back at Erik, seeing something in the villains face for the first time. He saw a human being who had just lost something near and dear to him...something that had happened to Volo all too frequently. As PAsk followed Maria out of the lab, Volo sped off with only one name on his mind.


Norman Morningstar.


Paragon City International Airport-1:03 PM


Maria Artago carried a duffle bag filled with her clothes, trinkets and cash that she had gathered from New Crey Manor. She was leaving both her lover and her home, flying off yet again to Italy. After making sure Erik wouldn’t follow her & that Pask knew where she’d be, Maria had made arrangements to stay with some friends in Italy. She still loved Erik, but...she couldn’t be his wife if she knew he was still was a threat to her friends. The heart broken girl walked through the security gate and boarded the plane in silence, knowing by leaving Erik she left a happy life...


The Cross Roads-6:06 PM


"NORMAN!"


Volo’s howl of rage echoed through the now dark looking Cross Roads. He looked around angrily, searching for the old demon. He then heard music coming from Ware house 13 and sped in, the doors blowing off as he came in. At the center of the ware house sat Norman in a black leather chair. Next to him a set of MP3 speakers was playing "Demonoid Phenomenon." by Rob Zombie. Norman grinned at the sight of Volo and said:


"So, you figure it out yet speedy?"


Volo made to run and hit Norman in his grinning face, but he couldn’t hit super speed. Something was wrong. As Volo looked himself over, Norman laughed and walked up to Volo, grabbing him by the throat and rasing him off the floor. "This ware house and the Cross Roads are sub-realms of mine. I control everything here. And here, you’re nothing. So, while I got you here, lemme ask you something. What’s more evil: the person who gives the option to perform evil or the one who actually commits the act?"


Norman threw Volo across the room and leaped into the air, landing on top of him. The old demon reached down and picked the speedster up. Holding him by the throat, Norman smashed Volo repeatedly into the ground while laughing maniacally. "I swear son, you’re one big ol’ hunk of stupid. How the hell did you make it so far in the hero biz?"


Norman laughed as Volo’s eyes became one large black X. "There’s my demon. Heh, I’ll see you around big guy. And remember..." Suddenly, the devils face transformed into Amphitrion’s and, in the lost heroes voice, he said "Never Stop Running!". Then, with a powerful throw, Norman threw Volo straight through the uppermost window of the building, sending the young hero flying through the Independence Port horizon. He landed ironically in Crey Cove, creating a massive shockwave. As citizens gather, a shocked & shaking Volo stood and suddenly sped off, tears in his eyes and streaking down his face.


Ghost Screams Villa, Her Bedroom, Port Oakes-11:32 PM


Ghost Scream pulled on her white night gown and light a candle as she got ready for bed. She placed the candle on the night stand and laid down in bed, pulled the covers over herself. As she began to fall asleep, an explosion brought her back to the land of the awake. She grabbed her candle and ran down stairs in a slight panic. As she reached the top of the stairs, she saw a shaking Volo standing in the foyer, the doors of her Villa laying on the floor.


"H-hey Ghostie." Volo said with a slight stutter. "T-think I we could talk for a bit? Sorry about the door..."


Fallon hurried down the stairs and took Volo by the hand, leading him to her kitchen. "Jesus Christ Volo." she said as she grabbed a Gaterade she kept in stock for the speedster in her fridge "what happened?"


"I...I screwed up big time."


Crey Manor Study, Cap Au Diable-12:00 AM


Erik sat at the seat of his pipe organ with his face in his hands. "God...why did she leave..." Erik muttered to himself. He reached to strike a key on the organ, but his hand dropped halfway. "I’ll make him pay...I swear, I’ll destroy all he loves..."


Then, he heard soft and cautious foot steps from the entrance of the study. He looked up and saw Diasumat looking in on him. "Erik, what the hell happened?" she asked as she walked towards the heart broken villain and sat next to him. "She left me Iris." he murmured. "She let me left me because of Volo...damn his eyes!". Erik smashed a fist on the keys of the organ, breaking them.


"Well..." Dia said as she placed a hand carefully on Erik’s upper thigh. "Maybe I could help make you feel a little better..."


Erik looked up at Dia with his scarred and pain filled eyes. "I’m not willing to get into another relationship right now, Iris." Erik said in a heavy voice. "Not what I’m asking for boss." she said with a grin. The two young villains would spend the rest of the night in each others embrace. During the whole time, Erik planned his revenger, swearing to haunt Volo for the rest of his life...


A Diner in Kansas-The Next Day


All Volo could remember was that ware house and falling asleep on Ghost’s couch. Now, he seemed to be sleeping with his face down on a table. The smell of pan cakes filled the air. He suddenly awoke and realized he was in a tiny diner sitting at a booth. In front of him was a massive plate of pan cakes in front of him. Sitting across from him was Robert, his guitar resting in the spot next to him.


"You done it now boy." he said while shaking his head. "Von Crey is gonna dog you till the day you die cause of this. Now, you gotta own up to what you did. See ya.". And with that, Robert simply shimmered away, leaving Volo. He sat there thinking over what Robert had said as he ate the pancakes at super speed. "I guess I will Rob..." Volo muttered as he looked down at his plate. And in a flash of white and gold, the speedster was gone.

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