Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Grounded and Hexed
Bronte and the rest of the Midnight Suns were just in Transylvania not even a month ago. They were right next to him. They were breathing the same air. They fought a dark god right under his nose.
And had no idea…..
It could've been so much worse. It still could be, if he wasn't careful. They got their information. Tigra was damaged— but alive, thanks to Professor X. He pulled off an insane Telepathic feat, jumping from Tigra's mind to Daken's to surmise their location. But he was injured. He'll heal. Even so…
It had been a long year. He lost a brother. He lost his magic. He lost his purpose. But the upswing was in motion. The beat of his existence was increasing in tempo— no more nights with a bullet in his mouth. No more guilt for wrongs he didn't commit. He wouldn't carry the sins of Daken, he'd do what he was supposed to from the jump.
He just had to be careful.
"Bronte….. oh, hello Gabbie." Ilyana said from the top of the stairs leading into the basement of The Abbey.
Gabbie looked up from spotting Bronte on the bench press. The hood of her suit was pulled down, revealing her young lightly freckled face and rich brown hair. She smiled, despite the world growing more tense by the second, "Hey, blondie. Come join us."
Ilyana stepped down the stairs, "Do you call everyone by their hair color?"
"Only the good ones." Gabbie replied with a wink. "I'd call Emma The Hag Queen if I was a more honest person…."
Ilyana smiled faintly, "Why are we down here?" She asked as she stood beside Bronte.
He silently pressed the bar. It had six plates on each side, clanking against each other from the speed of his movements.
"Trying to stay grounded... That sounded philosophical but I mean literally. I don't think I do philosophy... I don't think any drop out does." Bronte pushed up the weight. After sixty repetitions and a night without sleep….. and a battle against Vampiric Neyaphem, he was beginning to feel it.
"Alright stop hogging I'm about to lose my pump." Gabbie helped Bronte rack the weight and took his spot on the bench as he got up.
"Grounded literally?" Ilyana questioned.
Bronte sighed as he adjusted his tanktop, "We know where he is... I've wanted those answers since it happened. So bad. I just gotta get my mind right and remember I can't…. I won't, walk my way in there on anger and nothing else. This time I need help. I just have to remind myself."
Ilyana warmed, "It's good you admit that. It takes strength to— I think. Piotr says the strongest men know their weaknesses. And don't forget, you have help all around you here. With me…."
They stared at eachother in the silence for a while. The dim lighting hid nothing on either of their faces. Their fast moving eyes.
"I'm sorry we haven't been able to talk much since the summit." Bronte said, "I won't say that's my bad cause it ain't. But….."
"Let's fix that once this is all over." Ilyana added.
"I'm down."
"How's your magic?"
"It's up. Yours?"
"Good. My blade is as ready as ever." Ilyana nodded. Their noses were almost close enough to touch—
"SPOT!!" Gabbie shook under the weight.
"Oh damn—" Bronte spun around and helped Gabbie rack the weight. "You good?"
She sat up as if she wasn't ever tired, "I'm great. I just wanted to remind you guys I was here before things got too steamy for an innocent teenage girl like myself…." Gabbie flashed her pronounced canines as she smiled.
"You remember I met you killing Lupines with your bare hands right?" Bronte questioned.
"Different time."
"That was a very different time…." Ilyana agreed.
"Y'all better not lose your fight, though."
Gabbie smacked her lips and stood beside Ilyana, putting her arms around her shoulder, "Are you kidding? We're the Bladed Ladies of Krakoa. We're the best fighters."
Ilyana side eyed her, "You're writing fanfiction, Gabbie."
"Let me have fun, blondie. We're gonna go to a nuclear power plant to fight vampiric super-mutants soon."
"Aye— who's we?" Bronte questioned.
Gabbie scowled, "If you try to bench me, I'm going—"
Ilyana disconnected from Gabbie and placed her hands on both their shoulders, "Before I watch this siblings argument that'll give me terrible flashbacks, let's focus on the task at hand."
"There's a task?" Gabbie questioned.
"Yea, what I miss?"
"We have a new friend to meet." Blade said from the top of the stairs. The sound of his katana sliding into its sheath made Bronte's hair stand on end.
"They gonna help?" Bronte asked.
Blade laughed, "C'mon, slim. Who have I introduced you to that hasn't helped us?"
"Are you being serious?"
"Man get the hell up here. All of you." Blade walked away from the stairs silently.
Quickly, the three of them headed upstairs where everyone rested in the livingroom.
Mr. Knight was playing connect four with William— Tigra's son, and Robbie was watching TV with his younger brother on the couch.
Jack and Blade stood with their backs to everyone as they approached.
"They've already been debriefed and I know Ilyana didn't catch you up yet."
Gabbie giggled like the teenage girl she was.
"Girl, what are you doing here?" Blade pointed at her.
Gabbie shrugged, "Hanging out."
Blade thought on her reply for a moment before shrugging himself, "Alright. Anyway, we got some info to run over with Doctor Strange. He's uncovered most of the Montesi Formula now. Perfect timing. That makes me nervous, so let's move before nightfall."
"I'm ready to go now." Bronte said.
"Good, so are we." Everyone behind Blade was already standing up and dusting themselves off.
***
Thanks to Ilyana's teleporting abilties, they didn't have to trust in New York's subway system to get them to the Sanctum Sanctorum on good time. Because if they did, it would've been hours before they stood before the surprisingly mundane library-esque building.
Instead it was minutes. And Brontë found himself staring at the glass eye leading into Doctor Strange's alcohol filled room.
A new scent lingered. Herbs. Cinnamon and lavender and spiced peppers that made Bronte want to sn—
"AchOO!" Gabbie sneezed, "The hell is that smell? I feel like I'm at Paganicon…"
"Let's go." Bronte headed for the door.
This time it opened before they reached it. Casually, everyone strolled inside.
The same massive stairway as before welcomed them, spiraling out to the left and right and give way to different portions of the building.
Wong turned around from sweeping the stairs. Brontë could hear Cranes from the Sky by Solange playing from Wong's earbuds. He pulled them from his ears, "You brought more people."
"You got good taste, still." Bronte replied.
Wong gave a bow, "I appreciate you sharing this world's musical artists, big and small. But, onto the big things….."
Wong started moving, "All of you, follow me to the library. The Doctors are waiting for us."
"There's more than one?" Bronte whispered to Ilyana.
Bronte's question was quickly answered as they entered the library full of ancient artifacts and rustic artistry. If he closed his eyes and focused he could still smell Bullseye's leather boots and sweat in the wood floors of the foyer behind him. The window to his left was still boarded up from where he kicked Tombstone.
Hopefully history didn't repeat depending on location.
Based on who stood beside Doctor Strange, it wouldn't.
"Welcome, everyone. Do any of you have whisky? Brandy? Scotch?"
Everyone was silent as they headed to the back to join them at the table.
"Terrible house guests it is." Doctor Strange mumbled as he worked.
He stood over The DarkHold. Arcane letterings glowing a brilliant shade of orange flowed from his fingers as he read through the dark pages. They stunk like a carcass.
"I heard a monster came out of that and turned an old sorcerer into a dark god…." Gabbie said to Bronte.
"Something like that."
Doctor Strange stood up.
"Good afternoon everyone, I'd like you to meet my co-worker." Strange referred to the man standing beside him.
He was…. Imposing.
He stood at the same height as Bronte. No taller than six feet. No shorter. His skin was dark. Dark like Bronte's mother, which did nothing but make his hair stand out in the library. Again, like Bronte he had dreads. Only his were shorter and the whole top-half was white. It almost had the same shape as the white logo on his black latex uniform and red cloak.
Beads and jewels hung around his neck along with a voodoo doll. A belt of skulls jingled as he crossed his arms and gave a nod to everyone.
"My name is Brother Voodoo." When he spoke it sounded like two different people speaking at the same time.
Everyone gave their hello's.
Doctor Strange went on, "We've figured out how to erase the vampires from this dimension. And Brother Voodoo is going to be there when it's time to do it. He's quite gifted with the dead."
Brother Voodoo nodded, "And I hear you all are quite good at killing."
"The best."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
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_Avatar0FFury_ YO! double upload because I do wtf I want. New character intro just in time for the fast approaching volume climax. Feel free to lmk what you look for in the end of this arc and we’ll see if it’s met soon! I already have it outlined and planned in my brain. all that comes next is what I love, writing.
thanks again and have a great night.
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