All characters are 18 years or older. Sorry for the delay. This piece took a little longer to weave together. It was a lot of fun writing and I hope you enjoy it.

*****

Warren Harrower: Arch Mage and Former Primarch of the Family

Loki Sutekh: Trickster Deity and Red Player

Nick Shaw: Founder and CEO of Numenor Technology [Iron Rain]

Louis: Archaeologist and Black Bishop for Yog Sothoth [Spell, Crook and Handle]

Gabrielle De Courtney: Inquisitor and Head of the Ordo Hereticus [Spell, Crook and Handle]

Yog Sothoth: Great Old One and Black Player [Spell, Crook and Handle]

Aaron Atwater: Illusionist possessed by ancient demon [Possession is 9/10ths the Law]

*****

This piece takes place a year after the assassination of the black king. The imminent threat of the Thanatons awakening has pushed the four players to make war upon one another. Each is striving to seize the ship S.S. Miskatonic and its unique power plant. While Warren and Nick strive to understand this alien technology the other players are out to take or destroy the ship if necessary.

*

South Pacific:

The six hundred foot Numenor cut through the water at nearly fifty knots. It like the ship it was trying to protect was caught within the eye of the hurricane. The air above it was torn by some kind of spatial rift. It had opened with little warning and out of the gulf of deep space a swarm of winged insect like creatures. The hideous things were carrying some sort of device in their pincered manipulators. Nick Shaw stared skyward at the monstrosities and watched in horror as the gleaming metallic cylinders released jagged beams of energy. The sea boiled where the beams touched and the armored exterior of his ship blackened where the weapons struck.

"Hard to port," he screamed as Surfer piloted the ship.

"Master Nick, this ship wasn't designed for this sort of combat," the A.I. said as the ship shuddered as it attempted the extreme maneuver.

"Don't care," Nick said as he raised the gauss rifle to his shoulder. "Power up the auxiliary generator and get ready to pop the guns," he said as he dodged a brilliant beam of energy. "Fucker!"

Nick squeezed off a shot and watched the thing explode as the hypersonic projectile made contact. He knelt and switched the weapon to full auto. He grits his teeth and smiled as he pulled the trigger and held on. The cluster of demonic insects scattered as a full half their numbers perished in the first onslaught of the gauss rifle. But there were hundreds more remaining and more coming through the rift. We need to close that goddamn rift!

"Surfer any ideas on closing that portal," he asked as he reloaded the rifle as he rolled out of a collective blast from the demons.

"I have word that someone is working on that," he replied. "Auxiliary generator is online and at full power. I await your word."

Nick raised the weapon once more when a brilliant white flash forced him to close his eyes. He looked over at the Miskatonic and the light had come from that direction. Warren what the fuck man? Nick blinked away the spots before his eyes and looked up to see the sky closing up. But it was creeping closed and thousands of those things would be on top of them soon. He tried to take aim when the ship suddenly altered course again. He was thrown off his feet and he tumbled towards the boiling sea. His gauss rifle spun away into the depths. Nick felt his grip slipping on the smooth exterior of the helipad.

"Rogue wave," Surfer called out and the Numenor turned into the wave.

Nick cursed as the next course correction broke his fragile grasp and sent him tumbling headlong to follow his weapon. He slid ten feet towards the edge when someone grabbed him by the wrist. He blinked away the salt spray and saw the smiling face of his savior. Akira Kusanagi had three points of contact as she held him from falling. She was bodyguard, lover and confidant. Nick found a new grip and they hurried for the command deck. Nick paused long enough to glance upward and forward. The dark wave rose up like the hand of god.

"Sweet Jesus," he cried as he sprinted for the open door.

The crashing roar of the wave struck the Numenor head on and the valiant craft endured. The holographic presence of Surfer stood in the captain's position on the bridge. Nick and Akira stood panting and gasping as the ship broke free of the wave's remnant. The ship shook again as the concealed gun ports opened and the eight gauss cannon roared to life. The weapons spat death skywards and the last ripple of the rift snapped shut leaving the demons to scatter but not for long. There were determined to bring down the Numenor no matter the cost.

"How is the Miskatonic doing?" Nick asked and the Numenor turned towards the largest cluster of the hovering entities.

"She is unharmed. There is some sort of energy screen protecting it. At the center of that bubble is Warren Harrower. He is the source of that power." Surfer said as the ship suddenly veered to port.

The whine of the gauss cannons filled the air as it fired at eight separate groups of the enemy. Some fell instantly while others were able to repel the deadly projectiles. The enemy shifted grouped and regrouped. The gauss cannon were no longer effective. Surfer paired the cannon now and the twin firepower took out a few smaller groups. All too soon four cannon were required to damage the smallest group.

"Master Nick, I have detected a signal passing between the creatures," Ghost, another A.I. said over the loud speaker.

"Send the frequency and everything we know to Warren," Nick ordered. "Any chance we can jam their communication?"

"I have been attempting just that but I have been unable to generate a counter signal yet. I will continue."

"We are running out of time Master Nick," Surfer advised. "We have an estimated two minutes before the gauss cannon are completely ineffective. These entities are testing the full limit of their capability. They are being very logical about it, sacrificing small numbers to test us. I suspect we will be dead in three minutes time."

"Great, fucking great," Nick snarled. "Maybe we should try and lure them into the hurricane."

"Concerning the hurricane," Surfer commented. "There is a strange atmospheric anomaly. I cannot get a proper reading because of the growing geomagnetic field."

"What could cause that?" Nick asked as the ship lurched starboard now.

"Unknown, but if this continues at the current rate the discharge could be as high as a terawatt of power. If it is friendly it could wipe out the entire host of the enemy. If it is hostile we will not feel a thing." Surfer said. "What do you advise Master?"

"Get out of here Surfer," Nick said. "I'll take the helm while you upload to the nearest satellite. In case this goes sideways someone needs to know what happened here."

"I am unable to comply sir..." Surfer began.

"Dear god what is THAT?" Akira said pointing to the wall of swirling air surrounding the eye of the hurricane.

Harrowing:

Warren stood on the top deck of the Miskatonic. The hurricane had formed around it and Shaw's ship, the Numenor. Some very powerful entity had laid a trap and they had fallen for it. Warren felt the buildup of power above them. Ever since he had finished his training with the Arch Mage and had taken seven out of the eight transfers of power required to take on the heavy mantle his senses had reached a whole new level of sensitivity.

"We are so fucked," he shouted to Shu and Bian Rong. "Somebody wants us dead in a very bad way."

"Who," Bian asked looking up at the sky. "Warren... WARREN... what is that?"

"Aw hell," he cursed. "It's a gate. A very big gate that leads to god knows where."

Warren looked over as the Numenor broke off and tore away drawing the attention of the things pouring in from the air born portal. He prepared the massive shield spell to protect the ship until Louis and the others were done below. If they could succeed then there was hope for a success encounter with the thrice damned Thanatons. Shu cried a warning and Warren cast the shield spell just in time. Several groups of the things that had been summoned strafed the Miskatonic. As he sustained the shield he drew on the huge amount of power from the storm around them.

With a roar he dropped the shield and unleashed the bolt of scintillating energy effectively closing the portal. Warren instinctively ducked as he restored the shield spell. Another more colorful curse passed his lips. Bian hopped in place as the gauss cannons were revealed and began pounding the demonic invaders. She clapped her hands until she saw how quickly the things adapted. Bian turned to speak with Warren but his eyes were closed and perspiration had popped out on his forehead.

"What is he doing?" Bian asked Shu.

"He is using the energy of the trap as a weapon." Shu said. "If he is successful he can destroy the creatures in one fell swoop. If he fails we are dead. They are a hive mind and will adapt enough to finish us off."

"I should have listened to him," Bian said. "I should have stayed home."

"What and miss all the fun," the armored woman said as she appeared from below.

"Gabbie," Bian squealed and hugged the Inquisitor. "How are things down there?"

"Louis is at a crucial stage," she said. "The smallest mistake and we won't feel the blast."

"What are they doing," Bian asked. "I have been left out of the loop, again."

"All I understand is this. They are taking a large sample of those green crystals from the metallic sphere. If they can study it they might find a weakness in the Thanatons."

The gauss cannons fell silent. The air was charged with energy. Warren's eyes snapped open and he spoke a single syllable. The world went dark as a massive bolt of black lightning lashed out from the wall of the hurricane. The fingers of the bolt reached out for the invaders and destroyed them to the last. Warren crumpled to the deck shaking as he pulled his body into a fetal position.

"Inquisitor... Inquisitor we have sonar contact," a uniformed figure called out from the wheel house.

Gabrielle raced to the wheel house while Bian rushed to Warren's side. Gabrielle flew into the room and stared at the recently installed sonar scope. She watched as whatever it was rise from the depths. She glanced at her subordinate at the helm and shrugged. He told her what the device was showing them. Whatever it was it was huge and moving fast. She took the Lord's name in vain and headed below decks.

"Inform the Numenor... we've got company!" Gabrielle said as she slid down the ladder. "Louis... we need to hurry Louis!"

She raced to the engine room and stopped cold. Louis was tracing the sixth and last Master Rune on the surface of the black metallic sphere. She felt the power coming off the thing. It was intoxicating and made her feel light headed. So much power, she licked her lips and fought the urge. One of the professors turned to her smiling like an idiot. He walked over to the Chief Inquisitor and whispered so as not to disturb the critical process.

"We are almost ready to extract the Thanatite," he whispered in her ear.

"Thanatite," Gabbie whispered back.

"It was Louis' suggestion for the name of the crystals. You are a lucky woman."

"Tell me about it," she said smiling. "I just wish we weren't in this situation."

"It was inevitable I am sure," the professor replied.

"No... NO... this is all my fault," she confessed. "This whole thing is my fault."

White Queen Takes Black King:

One Year Earlier:

The Chapter House was all abuzz with the word of the birth. The son of the Linguist and the Chief Inquisitor had come into the world. It was a boy and he was healthy as a horse. Mother and child were resting. The Linguist was standing guard and seemed indefatigable. He rarely slept and ate even less. It took the Lady herself to order him to eat and sleep. He reluctantly left their side and got some rest. It was the night nurse that had found her crying. Gabrielle wiped her tears away as she rocked her child to sleep. She had just finished breast feeding him and his appetite was enormous for a newborn.

"Lady, are you alright?" The nurse asked.

"Yes, I am going to miss him," she replied stroking her son's brow. "A few scant weeks and then he will be in Rome to begin his training."

"He will make you proud," the nurse said smiling.

"He will shake the very foundations of everything you hold dear," another voice spoke. "Leave us."

The nurse turned and left as the scarlet clad woman sat in the chair Louis had brought in to watch over mother and child. Gabrielle stared at the woman and knew she was anything but mundane. She was far too beautiful to be mortal and the power radiating from her outstripped anything Gabrielle had ever felt before.

"Who are you, no, what are you and how did you get in here?"

"I have many names but I have been using the moniker of Loki Sutekh. What I am, well that is difficult to explain to a limited being such as yourself. As to how I got in here, I simply walked in the front door."

"Loki Sutekh... the trickster god," Gabrielle whispered and clutched her son closer to her breast.

"I mean you and yours no harm," Loki said smiling. "I want to hire you."

"I am not a mercenary. I am the Chief Inquisitor of this Chapter House. I am not interested."

"You haven't heard who I want dead. If you succeed you will place your dear lover Louis in a better position than he could ever hope to ascend to on his own." Loki purred. "Isn't it worth your time to listen?"

"Who do I have to kill," Gabrielle growled.

"I knew you had it in you," the trickster said smiling. "Here is what you need to do."

Gabrielle held her child and shook from her 'touch'. The power flowing through her body made her giddy and had driven away the fatigue and pain of childbirth. She not only felt back to her old self, the Inquisitor felt better than she ever had. In a few days she would slip away and remove one of Louis' chief rivals. He would never know what she had done. She would with malice aforethought kill the mother fucker that stood in her lover's way. It was the least she could do after all the pleasure and joy he had brought into her life.

"That's right," she said tickling her son under his chin. "Mommy is going to kill the bad mother fucker for daddy, yes she is... yes she is..."

The touch of the goddess haunted her for many years that followed. It had awoken in her a gift to rival that of her dear Louis. It would continue to grow and blossom until she used it to lever the world's axis and change the course of history. Her son smiled up at her with his silver-blue eyes and chubby cheeks. He would have a great destiny, the goddess had told her so and goddesses don't lie. The night nurse returned and took her son from her arms. His head was lolling to the side drunk on her milk. Gabrielle smiled and got out of bed. The pain and lethargy were gone. She changed into workout clothes and went to the Chapter House's gymnasium. She began slowly still a little cautious after giving birth earlier today. But she soon realized that the Lady's touch had healed her completely.

One hour later she was performing physical feats she would have attributed to her lover Louis. Her speed, agility and stamina were apparently limitless. She ordered the Chapter House A.I. to lock down the gym and keep everyone out without exception. When she was sure she was alone she tried it. She attempted the idea that now blazed in her head. Oh it had just popped in there but where had it come from? It didn't matter she just had to attempt the impossible. She brought both her hands up and made a kind of clawing gesture as if she were holding a fighting pike in her hands. She willed it into existence. Nothing happened at first but over a minute she felt something. There was the smell of ozone in the air and a crackling sound, faint at first but it quickly grew louder and louder.

"Well I'll be damned," she said as the shimmering blue staff appeared in her hands.

It was irregular and mostly insubstantial at first but over the next few hours it became more and more defined. By the time the headache struck the staff was a blazing blue weapon that was as solid as anything carved from wood or cast in metal. She took a break to shower and change into clean clothes. She released the lockdown and went to morning prayers and ate breakfast with the others. Everyone, especially Louis, commented on how good she looked. There was color in her cheeks and even the baby fat seemed to have disappeared over night.

"We should take a walk and get some fresh air," Louis suggested.

"I'd like that Louis," she purred. "We have a son! We have a child, you and me!"

"Yes we do," he said smiling brilliantly.

"I would do anything for you, you know that don't you?" She said suddenly feeling the fear of losing him somehow.

"Gabbie relax, I love you too," he said taking her hand in his.

After breakfast they walked the grounds of the Chapter House. Neither of them had been outside since she went into labor. Even though it was cold the air felt amazing as it caressed her skin. She looked at him and oh when she saw his strong aura and strength blazing so prominently she just wanted to take him and prove how much she loved him. But the doctors had told her no sex for a few weeks at least.

"How is it going," she asked him. "The rebuilding of Nighthammer estates, is it going well?"

"It'll be finished soon. The Sidhe and the other Fae are helping out as much as they can. They are providing a lot of the wood and other materials I need for next to nothing. It will be gorgeous when it is finished. I can't wait for you to see it."

"How is your sister and your mom?" Gabrielle asked taking his arm and leaning close.

"Well sis is fine and mom is ready to pop any day now. I am a little worried. The Fae have offered to guard and protect him or her but I am worried Yog Sothoth will take it away to some hell dimension or another. It haunts me to no end."

"Send your child to Rome Louis, let them be raised and trained together. There they will be safe." She offered and saw the panic in his eyes.

"I know but... the thought of not raising one child is painful enough but both of them. I just don't know. I want to watch him grow up, take his first steps, run and fall down and scrape his knee. There are so many memories I want to have with my child. I respect your decision to send our son to Rome. I just don't know if I could do that to both of them."

"It isn't an easy choice. I want the same things you want. But he will be a force to be reckoned with. He will drive the darkness out from so many places. He will make us both proud."

Louis nodded but his expression told her that he didn't want a champion for a son. He wanted an ordinary child that would have an ordinary life. Louis hated the responsibility that had been placed on his shoulders. Gabrielle was about to mur... eliminate a competitor of his without his knowledge. She would eradicate this being without a hint of remorse and terminate with extreme prejudice. Louis was her world even more than Rome. Louis was her love and her life.

They walked amongst the barren trees. The trees had shed their leaves for a more stark appearance just as she was about to do. She was going to shed her morality and kill someone in cold blood again. Why did it bother her? Rome had called on her to slay evil over the years and it never upset her one iota. But when the goddess had called her to arms for Louis' sake she rankled deep down inside. She shivered suddenly remembering her touch. The simple brush of her fingers on her naked skin. Her body quivered and reacted to the memory.

She pinned Louis to one of the larger trees. Her kiss was hungry and fierce and so damn needy. As she pressed her body against his he kissed her back. She unzipped him and found her lover so hard and in need of her attention. She stroked his rigid flesh slowly. He moaned into her mouth as she teased him. She thought of all the lewd and naughty things she wanted to do to him. Gabbie broke the kiss and dropped down to her knees.
"I am going to suck this cock of yours," she purred. "Then you are going to bend me over this tree and fuck my ass. I need you inside of me Louis. I need it so damn bad."

He couldn't respond to the sudden and unexpected hunger of hers. She didn't need to use her hands much. She licked every inch of his cock before snaring it between her lips. Gabrielle swirled her tongue around the head as she gently massaged his balls. As he watched she took every inch down her throat until her lips touched the base. He snarled and grabbed her hair. She went limp as he fucked her throat slowly. He savored her eager tongue as it continued to tease him. Her eyes were blazing with lust as he slid his cock deep and then let her suck on just the tip.

"I don't know what's gotten into you but I like it," he moaned. "Loose the pants darling, it is time."

Gabbie stood up and pressed her palms on the trunk of the tree. She stuck her ass out and wiggled it as if to say, you want them off do it your own damn self. Louis smiled and tugged them off of her slowly. He remarked how wet she was and even teased her labia and clit while he eased two fingers into her ass. She had offered and he was eager to be intimate with her after two months of nothing. He fingered both her holes and used her own juices to lube up her rectum. He wanted to just plunge his cock into her pussy but she had just given birth.

"It looks like you are ready sweetness, here I come," he moaned as he eased the mushroom shaped head of his cock into her. "Damn, as tight as ever..."

She just lowered her head and let him take control. She let out a sigh when the head popped into her. Then he was thrusting the entire length in and out of her. Gabbie found herself grunting like a bitch in heat. Each time he filled her up she gasped as the pleasure built and built. God she wanted him in her pussy. She needed him inside of her.

"Louis... do it, do the dark miracle for me," she begged.

"But sweetie you just..." he stammered.

"Goddamn it Louis, fuck me," she snapped.

"How can I deny you anything," he whispered in her ear. His cold hands snaked under her top and she shivered as he cupped her breasts. "Here I come baby... I am going to be gentle."

"I know," she moaned as the second cock eased slowly into her. "I have missed this so much."

There was no hammering of bodies in the snow. Here was a gentle caress and a very slow rhythm of two lovers making love against an ancient tree. No pain, not a hint of discomfort for Gabrielle and she told him how good it felt. Louis had expectations from her and they never manifested. As he thrust she gently moved backward against him. When his toes curled and he could no longer fight it, he pulled out and covered her ass cheeks with cum. They were both panting as they recovered from their mutual climax.

"Are... are you okay," he asked for the Nth time.

"I am fine," she replied. "You were very gentle even with my ass this time."

They cleaned up and returned to the Chapter House. Louis wanted to see his son and Gabrielle had more training to do. She found the new talent she had manifested grew by the hour. She could manifest the power into any shape that pleased her. As she practiced she could shift from the staff to a sword to two swords if she wanted it. When she imagined a shimmering shield on one arm and a sword in the other it became a reality. So it could be defensive as well as offensive. It wasn't until the second day of training that she discovered the talent had a variety of flavors as she called it.

"It can burn hot or cold and hell even give off an electrical shock if I want," she said to herself as she toweled off. "I wonder what else it can do."

Gabrielle took a break and showered off the sweat from her workout. That tingling sensation returned between her legs. She looked around to make sure she was still alone. She closed her eyes and reached down to touch that special spot. The moan was deep and guttural as she gently parted her labia. Her index finger teased her clit as she eased two fingers inside.

"Oh Louis..." she whimpered remembering his hard cock inside of her. "UNNNN... fuck me Louis... fuck me hard... drive that fat cock of yours inside of me!"

She stabbed her fingers into her cunt as she continued to tease her clit. Gabbie was panting as she pleasured herself. Oh god she missed his touch. Her gasps echoed in the communal shower. Her hand moved to her puckered little hole now. His cock had been buried in here too. She gingerly eased a single finger there as the other hand jabbed at her pussy.

"NNNNN... I love it when you penetrate both of my holes," she growled as a second finger slid in her ass. "That's it lover don't be shy... fill me up like only you can."

The orgasm began as it always did by curling her toes. She felt it move up her legs making them shake as it did so. So damn close she thought as her inner thighs began to quiver. By now both her hands were thrusting with slow hard deliberation.

"I'm gonna cum... oh god yes... fuck me Louis..."

Her cry echoed off the walls and she snapped out of it. The Inquisitor looked around as she plucked her hands free. She was still alone. She placed her back against the wall of the showers. As she caught her breath she smiled. Oh was he in for a surprise tonight.

"I'm gonna fuck you rotten boy," she whispered. "You belong to me!"

Once she could stand up she finished her shower. Gabbie dried off and got dressed. As she left the gym she heard shouting and raced to see what was going on. The entire staff of the Chapter House was assembled in the meeting hall where Louis was showing a movie of some sort. She stood at the doorway and watched the cinematic action on the large screen. There were so many things going on it was hard to follow at first. But she quickly figured out who the heroes were and who were the villains. As she watched she saw Louis pointing out things just before they happened.

"Okay here it comes," he would say and the crowd would cheer or cry out as a man in bright red armor blasted an alien with bolts of raw power from his hands.

"We should ask Mr. Shaw for a set of armor like that," one of the Inquisitors said.

She smiled as a green skinned ogre punched a tall handsome blonde man in archaic looking armor. The group roared with laughter when the ogre called him a puny god. She laughed despite not ever having seen a movie before. Who were these people and why were they fighting? Suddenly Louis was there and pulling her to the front. He sat down and she sat on his lap. Gabrielle leaned against him as he told her the plot of the film. She looked up at the bigger than life characters and smiled. Here he was once again sharing his life with her so freely.

In the end the heroic knight in crimson nearly perished saving the day. She found him the most likable character of all. Though the tall 'Asgardian' made her body react quite nicely. At the end there was a thin built man in green and gold surrounded by the heroes. He looked like he had taken quite the beating. When she asked who he was Louis told her he was the other Asgardian, Loki. He was the god of mischief and trickery. He used illusions and mind control to get what he wanted. Gabrielle felt her body stiffen and felt the panic rise up to envelope her.

"Hey... hey... he's just a fictional character," Louis said holding her close. "Loki is just a piece of fiction sweetie."

But he wasn't, no she had come to her and she had touched her. The myth was reality and she was going to do her bidding. Loki was no villain she was a goddess who wanted to help. In less than two days she was going to follow her into the underworld and destroy a monster.

From the Depths:

Nick listened to the warning claxon as Surfer cried out about the massive sonar signature. Something god awful huge was coming from the crushing black depths of the Pacific Ocean. It was headed for the eye of the hurricane so in other words it was coming after them. Nick ordered the gauss cannons reloaded and prepped for combat. The Numenor swung wide and away from whatever was coming. He looked out and the Miskatonic was taking a similar position on the far side of the calm. He still couldn't believe what he had seen. The massive black bolt of lightning had lashed out and vaporized the entire legion of things.

"By the numbers Mr. Surfer," Nick chuckled. "Tell me when and where this bitch is going to breach the surface."

"Half a mile and rising," Surfer called out. "It will break the surface near the middle of the eye. Twenty five hundred feet and rising, if my readings are accurate this thing is at least ten stories tall. Twenty four hundred feet and closing..."

"How the hell can something alive be that big," Nick asked and Surfer had an answer.

"It isn't, alive I mean, not in the way we understand life," the A.I. tried to explain. "My readings indicate this being is comprised of some form of exotic matter. The kind that physicists dream of discovering to open and maintain wormholes."

"Oh, that kind of exotic matter," Nick said rolling his eyes in defeat. "Will the gauss cannons even work on it?"

"Unknown," Surfer said. "Two thousand feet and accelerating..."

"Are you sure about this exotic matter thing," Nick asked as Akira handed him a fully loaded gauss rifle.

"No, it is just a guess," Surfer said with a laugh. "I have eliminated all the possible explanations and ended with a limited amount of possibilities. So it is as good a guess as any."

"Satellite communication reestablished," Ghost chimed in. "I think you may want to see this."

The holographic display came to life and displayed a familiar blue globe. It was the earth from orbit. Displayed prominently the hurricane where Nick and the others were trapped. He was about to ask what the problem was when the object entering the atmosphere appeared on the display. It was spherical but even as they watched it broke up into three equally sized fragments. Ghost displayed the trajectory of the objects and it appeared they were going to hit the eye of the hurricane.

"Change course and parallel the eye wall and signal Miskatonic to do the same. Give 'em all the room they need." Nick ordered as he tightened his grip on the gauss rifle in his hands.

"One thousand feet and accelerating," Surfer called out. "The creature will breach in twenty seconds."

"Fire up the cannon and target the thing when it shows its ugly face..."

The thing falling to earth struck the water a moment before the thing breached the surface. The waves created by the impact and the thing from the depths nearly hurled the Numenor into the hurricane. It was only the inhuman reactions of Surfer that saved them. The Miskatonic wasn't so lucky. She had been hurled into the storm. The hundred miles an hour winds buffeted the science vessel mercilessly. Her helmsman struggled to regain the eye of the storm. Below deck Louis and the others worked their magic to extract and contain the volatile emerald crystals and the raw power they contained.

"Goddamn it, what the hell is going on up there," Louis screamed. "If we lose containment this ship and everything in a five mile area are going to be vaporized."

"I will find out," Gabrielle said racing out and upward towards the deck.

She reached the bridge where her subordinate fought the wheel. She took hold of the oaken wheel and used her body as leverage. The ship was lifted by a wave even as it changed course. As the ship fell downwards the forward momentum thrust it back into the eye. Gabrielle got to her feet and looked out and screamed when she saw them. The helmsman adjusted the course and mirrored its sister ship. The two ships followed the edge as the scene before them unfolded.

A great column of steam now filled the eye following the impact of the red hot objects fallen from the sky. The terrible thing from the depths loomed over the ships. It towered five stories over the surface of the ocean. Its bulbous flesh was bone white from the lack of illumination for centuries uncounted. The fog lent it a roughly humanoid shape but as it dissipated the horrifying truth was revealed. It was more amalgamation of nightmare than the design of any sane creator. It possessed the worst qualities of squid, dragon and arachnid. It had no perceptible eyes and yet the thing that must have been its head tracked the movement of the ships unerringly.

As Nick Shaw raised his hand to give the order to fire the three objects that had fallen from orbit broke the surface of the ocean. Their gleaming metallic skins shone bright in the noon day sun. The war machines face outward so that any hint of their loyalty was crystal clear. Nick hesitated as he stared at three nearly identical objects that belonged between the pages of fiction not out in the real world. He had read a lot as a child and what inspired more images of invasion and terror in the mind of a child than Martian tripods. Here were three of them, as large as devastating as detailed in the novel. The tripods raised themselves to their full height and emitted an ear shattering cry.

The pale monstrosity joined in and laughed as it waited for the tripods to attack. They attacked twenty seconds later. Clutched in the metallic tentacles of the war machines were three-sided pyramids of gleaming steel. They held the pyramids aloft and the albino monstrosity cried out as patches of burst flesh erupted where the invisible beams struck. Nick cried out his order.

"Fire at that god forsaken thing in the middle," he shouted.

The gauss cannon awoke with a terrible vengeance. The pale thing staggered a second time. The war machines spun quickly to face the thing from the depths. The machines fired a second time and the thing roared as it lashed out. Nick watched intently as the ill shaped appendage contacted some sort of force field surrounding the tripod. The thing snatched back what passed for a hand as if the shielding burned it. Hope welled up in those watching. There was a chance victory might be possible against the thing from the depths.

A sudden flash of light from the Miskatonic drew his attention. The blast of sun bright energy struck the creature and it roared at the contact. That single attack drove the thing into a blind rage. It didn't take Nick but a moment to realize that the gauss cannon and the beams from the war machines had only been a nuisance. The only attack that had actually harmed it was the one from the Miskatonic. The thing lashed out and drove its appendage through the magnetic shielding and grabbed the nearest of the war machines. It began to squeeze the glittering metallic dreadnaught. A second beam struck out from the science vessel and this one was as dark as the other was light. The blast spun the thing around and it broke its grip on the war machine.

"Sir, I am reading some sort of energy surge from the Miskatonic," Surfer cried in alarm.

"Put the tripods between us and the Miskatonic. They must have failed. Dear god this isn't happening."

Nick saw the hint of emerald light and dove, taking Akira with him to the deck. They squeezed their eyes shut as the science vessel disappeared in a plume of the verdant illumination. Nick saw spots before his eyes for a few minutes but he was alive and that is more than he could say for the others.

"Louis... Warren... Gabrielle... Shu... and all the others," He said listing off some of those he knew that were onboard the ship. "The professors from Miskatonic University and all over the country were our best hope to defeat the Thanatons. We are so fucked! Surfer... status report..."

"The systems are still coming back online," Surfer replied. "Two of the tripods are still intact, the third appears greatly damaged. No sign of the creature or the other ship. Radiation levels are returning to normal. The hurricane is gone."

"FUCK... they're dead... they are all fucking dead!" Nick screamed.

Wrath of the Great Old One:

11 Months Ago:

Louis held the invitation in his hand. It was written upon the finest parchment in the finest hand. The lettering was perfect and apparently there was going to be a wedding, a royal wedding in fact. The Arch Mage was to wed the daughter of Oberon. Louis was allowed to bring one other to the event. He stood looking at the nearly restored Nighthammer Estate. It was a work of love and was the perfect retreat from the outside world.

'Louissss...' the mind speech was faint but there was a specific direction to it.

He turned towards the ley line nexus. The voice was coming from there. Perhaps it was just an echo. Louis strode over to the nexus and the voice came a second time.

'Why Louis... why have you betrayed me?'

"I haven't betrayed anyone," he said.

"Oh but you have," the voice of Yog Sothoth spoke from that space between spaces.

Tendrils of power lashed out and gripped Louis by his extremities. They drug him forcefully to that terribly place that rains madness down upon the weak of will and even the sanest often lose their minds. This was no pleasant visit to his patron and mentor, no this was an interrogation and the dread god would have its answers. The pain was without equal and his mind was ravaged with no thought to either his survival or his sanity. His entire life was examined and a life time later he struck a hard stone floor.

"I was misinformed Louis," You Sothoth said in passing as an apology.

"I forgive you," Louis whispered as every single micron of his being felt as if it were on fire.

The gift of oblivion was rewarded to Louis and he knew no more for a timeless time. He neither dreamed nor slept but he was between thoughts and heartbeats. He opened his eyes and he was still in that space between spaces and before him the undiminished presence of Yog Sothoth. Just when he believed his torment was over the demonical god lashed out a second time and every fiber of his being blazed away in an agony beyond imagining. He couldn't scream he could only endure. Louis focused his thoughts on Gabrielle and his son. That single thought was his tenuous thread bare link that maintained his sanity.

"Do you know what that woman of yours did?" The dark god screamed. "She killed my king, my precious black king has been assassinated and that bitch of yours did it!"

Gabrielle murdered someone, well of course she did. Someone aimed her at a target and she dispatched it with cool clinical efficiency. That what she does, she is the Chief Inquisitor of the Ordo Hereticus. Louis would have laughed if not for the soul wrenching pain he was in. Who pointed her at this black king he wondered.

"It was that fucking cunt Loki Sutekh," the demon replied. "The trickster god at her worst, she set my king up and he foolishly fell into her trap."

Between blinding pulses of anguish Louis wondered why Yog Sothoth was angry at all. If this king was so damn stupid wasn't it better that he was removed before he could do anymore damage? The pain ceased and Louis floated in the stygian darkness mentally licking his wounds. Knowing the Key as well as Louis did, Yog Sothoth must have spent a long time grooming this black king. Now all that time had been wasted. Louis' environment changed and he was in a place he recognized. He hovered near a mass of swirling matter the size of a red giant. Orbiting the Mad Sultan Azathoth were his equally insane court and their eternal piping that kept the oldest living thing in our universe soothed and calm.

"You are made of stern stuff," the voice of the dark pharaoh whispered in his mind. "Lesser beings would have snapped under the rage of the Key."

"Fuck you Nyarlathotep and the Shoggoth you rode in on," Louis cursed.

"That is what I adore about you Louis, nasty to the end." It replied smiling. "Closing your eyes won't help. The Sultan can see right through you and into you. If you think the Key was harsh you'd never survive a single moment of the Sultan's rage."
"I know, I am only... I was only human," Louis remarked. "What the fuck do you want Pharaoh?"

"I want to help. I need you to do something for us." It giggled maniacally. "Will you help a brother out?"

"What do you want me to do?" Louis asked.

Gabrielle looked gorgeous in the gown provided by her the Fae seamstresses. Louis wore a tuxedo he reserved for weddings and funerals. He looked equally handsome as his plus one. The path to the grove was lit with Fae magic and gave the world an ethereal quality to it. The grove was spring eternal and was the heart of the Fae Realm. Even the constellations above were thousands of years old for those with the knowledge of such things. It was truly a timeless realm. There were hundreds of guests milling about waiting for the ceremony to begin.

Louis and Gabrielle mingled with the Fae and their honored guests. It was rare for the Fae to wed and even rarer for one of the royal family to take a spouse that wasn't one of their own. Warren Harrower wasn't exactly the typical groom either. The Althan were thought long extinct and for many that was a good thing. They were masters of the deep magic that none but they could tap. A child of two such houses would be pivotal in the conflict that was nearing by the day. The cycle was nearly upon the world and even the magic of the Fae couldn't keep it at bay forever. Things were going to change and those that survived might just envy the dead.

Presiding over the marriage were none other than Oberon and Titania the Lord and Lady of the Seelie Court. Louis was squinting as tears rolled down his cheeks as he looked upon the unveiled majesty of the Fae Monarchs. Gabrielle looked over at him and saw how red his eyes were. It was as if he were having an allergic reaction to the light streaming off the pair. Was this due to his true nature and form? Could the nameless blood that coursed through him be causing him harm? She touched his arm and he smiled.

'I am fine,' he sent to her silently. 'I can endure this for friendship sake.'

'I worry is all,' she sent back. 'I would do anything for you.'

'I know you would.' Louis sent and behind his thoughts a hint of pain, true pain.

Gabrielle flinched for the briefest of moments. Did he know? Had he somehow discovered what she had done for him? Did he find the Sicarius missing and figure out what had occurred? How stupid of her! The pain he had sent, it was a memory of what he had endured when Yog Sothoth had learned of the others death.

'I am so sorry,' she sent tears streaming down her own face. 'If I had known I never would have...'

'Stop, I do not blame you. You did what you felt was right. You were out monster slaying for the greater good. How can I be upset about that?'

The guilt welled up in her so fierce he didn't need telepathy to know how wrong he was. She hadn't murdered for the common good she had assassinated the black king for his sake. Gabrielle had killed for Louis and Louis alone. Loki had used her love for him to send her on that mission. He took her hand in his and wiped away the tears. To the onlookers the couple were shedding tears of joy for the soon to be bride and groom, how nice. If only they knew.

Fae musicians struck up a tune. It was a glorious melody played by artists that had honed their craft to utter perfection. The bride appeared out of the east and groom to the west. They took measured steps towards one another as the assembled crowd watched in silence. They reached the center at the exact same moment and reached out for one another. A sudden breeze like the first breath of winter filled the air.

"You weren't going to marry off my daughter without me being present did you?" A cold voice asked over the music.

The crowd cried out as the Queen of Air and Darkness manifested herself between bride and groom. She was as tall and fair as Titania and gave off an aura equal to Oberon. She was the Lady of the Unseelie court and the mother of Warren's bride to be. Warren unphased approached the newcomer, bent knee and kissed her hand.

"It is human custom to ask for the bride's hand in marriage. Will you give me your permission?"

"Oh Warren Harrower I never thought you'd ask," the Queen of Air and Darkness replied. "I will marry you!"

"Wait... what?" Warren said in utter confusion.

"MOTHER, he wants to marry ME not YOU," the daughter roared. "Release him from his troth or else..."

"Or else what little one," her mother said in a voice as cold as the outer void. "He asked me for my permission and I gave it to him. What's done is done."

"She is correct," Oberon said intervening. "All hail the consort to our beloved Queen of Air and Darkness!"

The crowd was cheering and laughing and even singing. Louis looked over at Gabrielle in confusion. He thought she was the villain but apparently not. The music began again as Warren got to his feet and took the other's hand.

"Do you Morgaine, Queen of Air and Darkness, Ruler of the Unseelie Court take Warren Harrower as your husband and your equal?" Oberon asked watching his ex-wife twitch at the word equal.

"I do so acknowledge and adhere to our ancient traditions," Morgaine replied.

"Do you Warren Harrower, Archmage of the Circle, Primarch of the Family and last of the Althan line take Morgaine as your wife and your equal?" Titania asked smiling at the shock on her sister's face when the word Althan was uttered.

"I do so acknowledge and adhere to the ancient traditions," Warren said most solemnly.

"If there is no one who would naysay this union," Oberon continued and waited the customary twenty seconds.

"He is not alone," a woman said from the crowd.

"I beg your pardon," Titania said the color draining from her lovely features.

"Warren is not the last," a man said from another corner of the assembly.

"No way," Warren said smiling from ear to ear.

"We are the Duskwalkers, we are the K'Ta'Viiri, we are the Althan of Old," another woman added from a third side of the guests.

"We are here to see our cousin married," the three of them said in unison.

"I'll be damned," Morgaine said nearly fainting.

"Since there is no conflict this wedding is officially sanctioned and hereby ordained. You may kiss your husband." Titania said grinning.

Morgaine grabbed Warren and kissed him fiercely much to the enjoyment of the crowd. One of the Althan passed near Louis and locked eyes on him and smiled. The crowd parted and allowed the Duskwalkers passage to the dais where the newlyweds stood awaiting their arrival. The Althan were dressed in strange garments of gold and white. They wore tunics and trousers of purest white material and over it as if spun and woven a glittering mesh of burnished gold. The trio bent knee before Oberon and Titania as they greeted their kinsman, Warren.

"Well met Warren Harrower," the two women said in salutation.

"Brother Warren," the man said smiling. "We heard whispers that another Althan walked the earth. I am glad the rumors are true."

"We need to talk," Warren said his eyes wide in wonder.

"We will, but first you have a wife to tame," the taller of the two female Althan said with a smile.

"Good luck on that part," the other woman added. "Fae are notoriously stubborn."

Warren turned to face his bride. He was about to ask what happens next when she took his hand and led him to the bridal bower. It was secluded but well within earshot of the assembled guests. Apparently it was good luck to make the bride scream on her wedding night. Warren, being the superstitious sort, fucked his wife not only into submission but made her scream so loud the musicians couldn't play over it. This was seen as not only fortuitous but a sign of just how determined he was.

Morgaine cuddled close and listened to his heart. They were both shivering at the last body shaking orgasm they had shared. She slipped out of the marriage bed and pulled him to his feet. Naked they walked amid the splendor of a world that had never seen a single winter. There were flora and fauna that had long died out in the human world as well as some that never set foot there. He marveled at the peace and tranquility here and envied the Fae that simple pleasure.

"Your thoughts are troubled husband," Morgaine said enjoying the word husband rolling off her full kissable lips.

"I am," Warren said. "There is a war coming."

"Humans are always going to war," she replied as she pointed to the natural spring up ahead.

"This is one that is being forced upon the entire world, a war we may likely lose."

"There is enough time to bathe with me I hope," Morgaine said as she dove into the pool.

"I suspect there will always be time enough," Warren said as he dove into the bubbling waters.

They floated in slow circles as eddies in the water pushed and pulled them about. Warren let go of his darker thoughts and simply enjoyed the moment. He kissed her and closed his eyes as she settled against him for another round of love play. As Warren took Morgaine from behind at the edge of the pool he saw a human woman holding a child spying on them. She was quite attractive and had that matronly glow all new mothers possess.

"We have an... oh god that feels good... an audience," Morgaine whimpered.

"Yes, but what is a human woman doing here?" Warren asked.

"She is under the protection of the Fae," Morgaine said as she thrust her hips backward. "Her child is very important to us, all of us."

"I am getting close," Warren warned her.

"Pick me up... pick me up damn you," Morgaine ordered. Warren grabbed her by her hips and lifted her so that the woman watching could see his cock slide in and out of her cunt. "See how big he is... my husband's cock is stretching me to my limits."

Warren held her in place as he thrust his hips up driving his cock as deep as it could go. The woman smiled as she rocked her sleeping son. Morgaine cried out as Warren's sperm painted her insides. The woman grinned and left the newlyweds to their antics. She had other things on her mind. Louis was supposed to visit her tonight. He was supposed to see their son. She had to show him the unusual birthmark. He had to tell her what it meant, what it represented. If she weren't mistaken it was an Egyptian hieroglyph, the eye of Horus.

"Am I supposed to name you Horus?" She said as she returned to the place prepared for her. "It's a good strong name. I think your father would like it. Sleep tight Horus."

The bungalow had been decorated to suit its human occupant. She carried the child to the master bedroom where the bassinette was waiting for its tiny lodger. Horus let out a soft sound and settled back to sleep. Louis and Gabrielle knocked on the front door. She walked into the foyer and opened the door welcoming her son and his companion into her dwelling. It wasn't really her home it was a temporary building until the worst had passed.

"How is he?" Louis asked kissing his mom on the cheek.

"Little Horus is sleeping," she replied tentatively.

"Horus," Louis said. "That is an interesting name."

"Well it was the birthmark that inspired it," she replied.

The trio walked to the bedroom and she pointed out the mark on her son's left shoulder. Louis looked at Gabrielle and something passed between them. Louis' mom didn't miss the exchange but waited patiently for the explanation.

"Well, it's odd..." Louis began but Gabrielle reacted to the news.

"He has one too," Gabbie said.

"Too, your son has a birthmark?"

"Yes, it looks like, well it looks like a phoenix," Gabbie said. "Doesn't it Louis?"

"Yeah, it's not just a bird it is definitely a phoenix." Louis added.

"Have you settled on a name," his mother asked.

"Peter," Gabbie replied. "He is going to Rome soon and he needs a good strong name."

"Louis," his mother said looking at him. "How often will you get to see him?"

"I won't," Louis said his voice hollow. "The Inquisitors will train him. We would just be a distraction. Besides they will keep him safe. I can't be there with everything that is going on."

"What is going on son?"

"War mom, there is a terrible war on the horizon." Louis replied looking down at his son Horus. "A war we cannot afford to lose."

Hollow Homecoming:

The Numenor dropped anchor in its private slip in Arkham Massachusetts. Nick was falling down drunk. He had to be helped off ship to the waiting limo. Akira never left his side since the destruction of the Miskatonic and the death of so many of his new found friends. Once inside the Hidden Master of the Order switched to coffee. He didn't want Petra or Kat seeing him in this condition. The coffee began to sober him a little. Surfer offered to purge his system but he refused until they actually pulled up to the estate. The driver pulled up and lowered the divider and told Nick something was wrong.

"What do you mean something is wrong," Akira asked as his head of security. She pulled a gauss pistol from underneath the seat and thumbed the safety off. "Give me a status report mister!"

"There is only one guard on duty and the gate is cracked open," the driver said.

"No alarms have been triggered," Surfer announced. "I am performing a biometric scan of the manor house. This can't be right... Sir, they are gone. The manor is empty. The entire staff is missing. Retrieving deleted data... all the security footage has been deleted. It will take a few minutes to restore."

"Ping their avatars Surfer," Nick said his sobriety restored with the aid of his interface. "Find my family!"

"All of the artificial personalities are in the manor, they have been left behind. However, I have located Lady Petra as well as Lady Kat. Downloading to your GPS now..."

"Akira sweep the house while Surfer and I go over the security footage," Nick ordered his lover into the line of fire.

The limo pulled through the gate and up to the house. Akira and the driver swept the entire house top to bottom. It was empty. Nick watched the holographic display as the footage was restored. It began with the taxi pulling up to the front gate. The guards confronted the man but he just glanced at them and their defensive posturing evaporated. The male guard kept his place while the female security officer, one of Akira's own led the man up the walkway to the house. The footage stuttered before the next sequence was picked up by the cameras at the front of the house. Surfer stopped the feed and zoomed in on the young man.

Nick didn't recognize him. He was tall with dark hair and eerie gray eyes. Surfer ran the image through facial recognition software. It didn't take long to discover his identity. His name was Aaron Atwater. He was a student at the local university. He was studying electrical and mechanical engineering. What the hell was going on? How did this kid just walk past the most loyal and best trained security force on the planet?

Nick watched as the scenes unfolded and each time he just glanced at security as well as his family and they welcomed him in like he was known to them. He ordered a full spectrum scan and there at the very edge of the ultra violet a plume of energy. Surfer was able to isolate the discharge to his eyes. When he looked at someone he sent that pulse of energy and it changed them somehow. Surfer isolated the wavelength and by monitoring their biometric readouts from their avatars he felt her could possible reverse the effects.

Nick stalked into his home and he felt violated. This fucker had taken every female in sight. He wished that Kat and Petra had still been in Japan. Maybe this could have been avoided. This wasn't a coincidence; someone had targeted his family and staff.

"Motherfucker, I am coming for you," Nick vowed. "Surfer... track anyone connected to Louis or Warren. I need to know if they were targeted as well."

"I am afraid we are too late Sir," Surfer said. "Wait, the Lady Willow's avatar is still with her and she is in hiding in a motel south of Boston."

"Good girl, send a security detachment to protect her. I don't want him finding her." Nick ordered as he went to the armory to gear up. "I am going to personally end this fucker!"

The next hour passed excruciatingly slow. It took time to find men to send to protect Willow Harrower. Her mother was missing as well as her aunt and cousin. The situation is the same for the loved ones of the archaeologist. Whoever was responsible knew who was working on extracting the energy from the Miskatonic. There had to be a leak somewhere. Nick fired up twenty avatars and had them work any and all communication surrounding anyone connected to Project Miskatonic.

Aaron Atwater stood up and adjusted the tails of the long coat he wore. It was done in a Victorian style as were all the dresses the ladies were now wearing. Each lady was wearing a unique gown and their hair style was also unique to each of them. They were like living dolls there for his personal pleasure. As they travelled the girls talked amongst themselves while Aaron's body bristled with power. The new recruits were quite potent and nearly doubled his existing power. He reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out the letter that had led to this moment.

"Dear Mr. Atwater, it has come to our attention that you have inherited your father's treasure. My employer would like to hire you to acquire for us certain women of great distinction. If you agree you can find the listed individuals at the following locations. A vehicle has been set aside for you to deliver said persons in style and elegance. They had indeed provided a mode of transportation.

The gentle rocking motion of the train was reassuring. As long as the train continued to move they were heading in the right direction. He had performed things flawlessly so why did he feel like something terrible was about to happen? He had kidnapped the mother and sister of the tech pioneer Nick Shaw. He had some serious resources but he was still out to sea. By the time he returned Aaron would be off the grid and living off the proceeds of this little transaction. The others were of no consequence, Louis and Warren were quite dead or so his sources had told him. He had nothing to fear from them.

"Lily," Aaron said and the very curvy gal with the dark red hair stood up. "Come on over here."

"Okay," Lily purred as she sashayed to within a few feet of him.

"I hate for you to ruin that dress but uh on your knees," he ordered and she did so but there was something wicked in her gaze. "What is it?"

"I suppose you want me to suck you off," she said licking her lips. "You think he's dead. There is no other reason you'd have the balls to take us."

"You seem quite clear headed," Aaron said frowning. "Why is that?"

"I warned you about binding another redhead," the demon whispered in his thoughts. "She is very strong willed."

"I'll fix that soon enough," Aaron growled. "Open wide bitch I am going to fuck that throat of yours!"

"Ahhhh... MMMMMM..." Lily purred.

He watched as his cock slid easily down Lily's throat. Her tongue worked the tip when he pulled out to let her lick and suck on it. Aaron shivered when the tip of her tongue traced the vein that ran the underside of the shaft. Lily drove her head downward taking his erection to the base with an easy that was astounding. Hell even his mother couldn't do that. Pity he couldn't keep her. She was a gifted cock sucker.

Aaron looked around at all the beauty around him and he saw one face that stood out over all the others. It was Willow Harrower. She seemed distracted and uninterested. For some reason that upset him so he snapped his fingers and pointed to her. Willow's head tracked slowly and she smiled at him. The hunger behind the eyes was clear.

"Get over here," he said and she slipped past the Asian woman next to her. "Help her out..."
"Whatever you want," Willow replied. "MMMMMMM excellent technique you got there sister."

Willow and Lily each took a side as they licked and sucked Aaron's cock. Willow took the top half of his erection between her lips while Lily suckled one of his balls. He let out a guttural cry as he shot his load down Willow's throat. But Willow had taken her thumb and pinched off the flow and offered Lily the other half of his cum. Aaron looked down as Willow's thumb was removed and Lily swallowed as the pulse of hot fluid hit the back of her throat.

Lily and Willow did rock, paper, scissors to determine who got fucked first, Willow won. She stood up and lifted her leg skyward and grabbed her ankle offering Aaron a clear shot at her soaked pussy. How could he possibly refuse such a lovely invitation? Willow took him in hand and lined up the tip between her pussy lips. Aaron pushed into her and they both moaned. Lily watched from the floor of the train car. As he thrust Willow moaned each time his cock buried itself inside of her.

"Aw come on fella you can fuck me harder than that," Willow said challenging him at every turn.

"You are an ornery bitch," Aaron replied as he slammed into her now.

"NNNNN... that's more like it," she purred. "I like your dick. It's nice and thick and a decent length."

"Thanks, I think," he replied as he thrust harder and faster into her.

The sound of their bodies coming together filled the ears of all those lovely ladies. Willow reached out with her free hand and gently cradled Aaron's cheek. He was close again and covered in sweat from pounding her relentlessly. Willow leaned forward and whispered in his ear.

"I am tired of cleaning up your messes," she said with a wicked smile.

Just as Aaron shot deep inside of her there was a soft crunching sound. Aaron leaned forward against her and gasped his last. The assembled women stared in horror at the scene before them. The succubus' spell was broken as the dead man crumpled to the floor of the train car. Willow lowered her leg and tugged the blade free from beneath Aaron's jaw. She wiped the blade on his long coat and collected the silver coin from between his fingers. The screech of air brakes and the forward motion signaled the train coming to a halt. She pocketed the coin just as the armed men entered the car from either end. They called out that they were police and here to help. Willow reached down and helped Lily to her feet.

"Where the fuck am I?" Lily asked as she looked around. "Holy shit, is he dead?"

"Yeah sweetie, he's dead as a fucking doornail," Willow replied with an evil smile.

There were similar cries of confusion and alarm as the armed men examined the corpse of Aaron Atwater. They pronounced him at the scene before his body was taken away. Nick Shaw appeared and Petra and Kat raced into his arms. He apologized for being late. They had to deal with the men waiting at the other end of the tracks. There were a few left for Akira to interrogate. Nick watched as Aaron was carried off. He cursed until he saw Willow standing there.

"Wait, you can't be here," he said. "You are in a safe house two hundred miles from here."

"I am not who you think I am," Precious said as she shed her Willow disguise. "I am a dear friend of Warren Harrower. Where is he?"

"How the... I have some bad news. Warren and everyone onboard the Miskatonic are dead. It exploded when they attempted to remove an unstable element from the ships power core. You have my condolences."

"Are you sure?" Precious asked having adopted her mundane shape once more.

"I was there. I saw the ship explode in an emerald cloud." Nick replied. "I am so sorry."

Aaron's mother and sister left the train so they could claim his body for burial. Nick looked around at all the women assembled. He had to admit the guy had great taste. There wasn't a single woman here that wasn't a jaw dropper. The train was evacuated and the ladies piled into the assembled limos. They would be returned home and interviewed to discover what happened. It must be some kind of mass hypnosis Nick thought.

He didn't believe that demonic magic was at work no matter what Precious said. There was no such thing as magic. So how did he explain the inexplicable energy surge that had come off of Aaron Atwater? Nick spoke to the head of the SWAT team. He wanted a complete workup of Aaron's body from DNA to every scan known to man. Nick needed answers and he was going to have them.

Music of the Spheres:

David Meinz was led blindfolded into the room. He could hear the others by the sound of their breathing. He was sat down in a chair and the lights were turned off, he could tell from the little light leaking through the edges of the blindfold. David held his breath and waited for the inevitable. The blindfold was removed and before him the dazzling illumination of the forty some odd candles on his birthday cake. His family surrounding him began singing 'Happy Birthday' at the top of their lungs. A single tear ran down his cheek.

"Blow out the candles Grandpa," his great-granddaughter cried out.

He took a deep lungful of air and blew. With the help of his nearest grandchildren and the single great-granddaughter the candles were extinguished. A joyous roar came from his family and David sat back and smiled. His daughter Joy took the cake and began removing the candles so that the cake could be cut and served. Ninety six isn't old he told himself. Anna plopped down in his lap and hugged him.

"I love you grandpa," she said giving him a good squeeze.

"I love you too pumpkin," he told her hugging her back.

David glanced at the conspicuous seat that was left empty for his dear departed Emily. Fifty two years they had been married. The pain of her loss flared white hot and he fought back the tears. He missed her so much! He blinked away the tears. He opened his presents, ate his slice of cake and sat and watched his grandchildren play. Over the next few hours one by one his children left and about seven at night his home was empty once more. It had been a lovely day. His children had cleaned up so there was nothing for him to do but make his way to his workshop.

David Meinz took the freshly brewed cup of coffee and opened the door to his workshop. The walls of the room were covered with sheet music. He had collected each and every piece of music from all over the world. Here was his life's work made manifest. He had always had a love of music since he was very young. He also had a love of travel and history. So it was a natural fit that he becomes an ethnomusicologist. He studied and collected the sacred songs of the native people from every continent. It wasn't until he was in his sixties that he had seen it. There in the most sacred of songs was a secret.

It had taken him another thirty years to decipher it. There was a song, a single powerful song that crossed every culture and had been shared by the oldest and diverse societies. He had written a piece of software that would analyze the thousands of songs for the common elements and finally it had fitted together the myriad parts together at last. Tonight on his birthday he would be the first human being in thousands of years to hear the tune that was the spiritual life's blood of the human race. He had contacted old friends and called in favors for this moment. Each musician had only been given his part to play and recorded separately. He had hired the best sound engineer to edit and paste the symphony together.

David sat in his comfy leather chair, picked up the headphones and placed them on his head. He settled them into position and reached to click the mouse over the MP3 icon. It was named 'Music of the Spheres'. It began softly like the first drops of rain hitting the surface of a lake. He closed his eyes as the first movement began to gather strength. His right index finger began to tap in time with the song. His foot soon joined in as the second movement began. The echo of distant thunder was on the horizon as the storm encroached and slowly gathered its strength patiently inevitable as the setting sun.

As the second movement ended and the third began David's hand rose from its position on the arm of the chair and he began to conduct the phantom orchestra. He was unaware he was humming now. The rain was pouring now as the storm was manifest. The deep rumble of thunder was loud as a flash of lightning split the fading light of dusk. David's other hand joined the other gesturing, commanding, demanding the full attention of the musicians. A wall of water fell from the pregnant clouds and the clash of lightning and thunder raged above as the full power of the symphony swelled to its apex.

The pain in his left arm was the first warning sign something was terribly wrong. The sledgehammer like stab in his chest removed all doubt that he was having a heart attack. David fought the pain and reached out for the flashing icon on the computer screen. Do you wish to send this email and attachment? David's last act on this plane was to click yes. As his sight began to fail him he saw the list of recipients and prayed they believed prayed they understood the significance of his life's work. He smiled as his heart slowed and stopped. Today had been a great day!

Nick Shaw sat in the back of the limo with the strange creature that called itself Precious. Surfer had informed him that he had an email with an attachment. When he asked who had sent the email Surfer spoke the name David Meinz. Who the hell was David Meinz? Surfer reminded him that he had funded Meinz's work as a sort of musical anthropologist. The attached music file was the culmination of his life's work. The symphony filled the back seat of the limo. Nick smiled but it was Precious' reaction to the music that was alarming.

"He found it," she said grinning wickedly. "They didn't die in vain. By the gods he found it!"

"Found what," Nick asked.

"A weapon, a fucking weapon against the Thanatons," Precious cried out. "Warren you will be avenged!"

"How the hell can a symphony be used as a weapon?"

Precious leaned close and spoke about a time so remote complex life on the earth was a dream. She spoke about the First Ones and their arrival upon this world. They had locked away the Thanatons. They were the ones that wove the magic in that very piece of music. Nick scoffed at the term magic but if the music could be weaponized he was all for it. His attention and that of everyone else was diverted from the symphony to a breaking news report.

Rough Landing:

Fitzwilliger's Diner or as anyone within a two hundred mile radius called it, Fitz's. Like many of its kind the diner had seen its heyday during the 1950s and 60s when the more adventurous driver took the scenic route between Las Vegas and Phoenix. Fitz's father had built the diner after returning from the Great War. The gas pumps were brand new and shiny and the diner was on every tourist map they made. Now the sun and the heat and time had dulled everything from a bright red to a dull brown. The original pumps were sold to a collector ten years back and the new ones did just enough business to earn their keep.

Fitz had just opened the diner and was wiping down the dull black counter when he spotted the man walking out of the desert. He crossed Interstate 11 and that's when he noticed the queer smoke like vapors coming off the dude. Fitz reached down and put on his glasses that hung on a chain around his neck. The man was halfway across the parking lot by the time he had his glasses on. Yep, it appeared to be some sort of cloud like wisps of white smoke coming off the guy. His skin was marked with patches of ice and even the man's moustache appeared to be frozen.

Fitz rushed out and opened the door to help the stranger as he stumbled at the entrance of the diner. Fitz snatched back his hands at the deep cold coming off the guy. He braced himself and slipped one of the man's arms over his shoulder. He opened the door and helped the stranger to a booth. He was obviously too weak to be sitting on one of the stools at the counter. Fitz raced out back and snatched the fresh pot of coffee and a large mug. He filled the mug to brimming as the man's hands went around the mug.

"Warm... oh god it's really warm," the man mumbled in his heavy Londoner's accent.

"Mister, are you alright, what the hell happened?" Fitz asked.

"I will be fine I think," he replied after taking a healthy drink from the mug. "Where the bloody hell am I?"

"Earth," Fitz replied smiling. "You are back on earth."

The stranger laughed and winced at the pain. He looked around at the interior of the diner and then out the window at the stark landscape. It had to America, maybe the southwest or there abouts he thought to himself. He took another sip of the god awful coffee but it was hot and that is all that mattered after what had happened. He was lucky to be alive really. After what had happened and the things he had seen.

"Mister, you want something to eat?" Fitz asked and the man nodded vigorously. "Good, the diner may not look like much but I am one hell of a cook."

The stranger watched Fitz don his apron and take up his spatula like it was a weapon of war. Soon the smell of cooking food filled the diner. The man got to his feet and with mug still clutched in his fingers he managed the short walk to the stools. He sat down and watched Fitz cook through the large opening in the back wall. The stranger smiled seeing the joy on the cook's face as he went about his tasks.

"I am Professor I.Q. Loveless," the man began. "I teach physics at Miskatonic University in Arkham Massachusetts. I was on board the ship of the same name the S.S. Miskatonic when everything went wrong..."

Elsewhere:

The strange looking water spout formed off the coast of Lamassa. The small village is located on the south western side of New Ireland an island that is part of the New Guinea archipelago. The locals were enjoying a gorgeous evening when the glowing water spout was seen approaching the coastline. The ghost like radiance coming off the twisting column of water and air alarmed many and the more superstitious locals fled into town to tell others of the strange occurrence.

Mark Lansdowne, a photographer for National Geographic, just happened to be staying in the village when the freak phenomenon appeared. He rushed to the beach and snapped shots of the water spout before it unceremoniously deposited a man in the shallows just off said beach. Mark and others rushed to the man's aid and carried him ashore before he drowned. The man was dressed in khaki shorts and a matching button up khaki shirt. His skin appeared to be badly sun burned and he was feverish and incoherent.

An ambulance arrived and the medics took the man to the village hospital. Mark spoke with the doctors treating him as well as the local constable. The man's identification was as perplexing as his appearance. He was none other than Professor James Heatherton and was reported lost at sea two days ago and six hundred nautical miles away from Lamassa. The entire crew of the Miskatonic were reported as dead after an explosion destroyed the ship. Some say it had to do with the freakishly large hurricane that formed without warning. It was that very hurricane that had brought the photographer to Lamassa.

"How is he doctor," Mark asked the attending physician.

"His burns aren't severe but he is in shock," the doctor replied. "He needs to rest, perhaps in a day or two he will be strong enough to speak with."

"Thanks," the photographer said and returned to his room at the local hotel. He emailed the story back to the states and that's when he discovered the other strange sightings.

Meanwhile:

Eyjafjallajökull volcano last erupted in 2010. The snowcapped volcano is located near the southern coast of Iceland. Hans and Ulrich were on patrol when they noticed the strange plume of blue-violet flame emerge from one of the volcanic vents. They drove closer to get a better look and that is when they saw the shapes silhouetted against the ghastly illumination. There were definitely two of them and they appeared human enough at first glance.

It was Ulrich Skarsol, a hulking bear of a man that decided to rescue them. What else would someone need in this god awful moment but help? He gunned his snowmobile forward followed reluctantly by his friend and companion Hans. The women were half naked and shivering when the men arrived. Ulrich scooped the closest woman into his arms, bundled her in a blanket from his emergency kit and headed back for the ski lodge. Hans mirrored Ulrich and wrapped a blanket around the violet eyed Asian and set her close for the ride back.

The women clung to their saviors and were carried inside and set down in front of the blazing hearth. The women were definitely not dressed for an arctic environment that was sure. One wore shorts and a simple but revealing white cotton top. The other was clad in a torn silk dress of oriental design. They were given hot drinks and when they could stomach it all the food they could handle. They appeared dazed and confused at first. It was the Chinese girl that drew the most attention. Her eye color was so vibrant and in the dim lighting they possessed eye shine relegated to felines and predators.

It wasn't until morning that the ladies finally spoke and when they did their story was impossible to accept at first. They were none other than Gabrielle De Courtney and Shu Fang thought lost at sea on the other side of the planet. How had crew from a doomed science vessel come crawling out of a semi active volcano? The news and political ramifications were unimaginable.

Gabrielle contacted the Chapter House for transportation and word about Louis and the others while Shu accessed the net and deep web for any hint of unusual activity. All she did learn is that a Wizard Class hacker by the call sign Demogorgan was seeking the same answers that she was. Shu suspected she knew the true identity of Demogorgan and if she was right Shu understood her concern.

Shu closed her eyes and tried to access her other half inside of Warren. There was a whisper but it was faint as to be nonexistent. Louis could be in the Maze or worse case he could be a mile down below the surface anywhere on the planet. Please be alive she thought as Gabrielle touched her shoulder lightly.

"I am sure they are both okay," Gabrielle said her expression a carefully constructed neutral mask.

"No word on Louis either I take it," Shu replied and Gabbie shook her head. "What are you going to do?"

"I am returning home. You can come along if you want."

"I could use a ride to civilization. From there I can start looking in all the strange places." Shu said smiling. "I will find them or terminate... or die trying."

Just before noon the helicopter arrived. It bore the Papal Seal on the side and both Gabrielle and Shu climbed on board. As it lifted off Shu could see an expression on the Inquisitor's face. If she had to put a name to it, it would have been regret.

"Having misgivings," Shu asked leaning close so that the pilot couldn't hear.

"Do you mean regret," Gabrielle asked and smiled. "Yeah, just one and that would be not bedding that blonde hair blue eyed grizzly Ulrich."

"Really, but he is so... and you are so... surely great bodily harm could have ensued."

"One can only hope," Gabrielle said with a deep mournful sigh. "One can only hope."

The Ball Drops:

New York City... New Year's Eve... 11:59 PM

"10..." The crowd shouts in one thunderous voice.

The first signs something is happening manifests in Time Square. Several of New York's finest feel a prickly sensation and move away from the area.

"9..." The crowd and onlookers keep counting down.

A crackling sound begins to build drowning out the closest of the merry makers. A visual halo forms of blue-white arcs of electricity.
"8..." The majority keep going as a few fall silent at the growing intensity of the phenomenon.

The police begin to usher people back away from the electrical discharge. The halo becomes a full-fledged sphere of ionized plasma.

"7..." The voices ring out, unaware of the impending event and its implication.

A hint of panic begins to fill the closest onlookers as the sphere grows to approximately seven feet in diameter.

"6..."The newscasters are now commenting on the strange light and the world watches as it unfolds.

The cameras move away from the ball drop to the sphere of electrical energy glowing brighter by the second.

"5..." The crowd's voice begins to falter as the screens facing Times Square show the sphere and its ever growing intensity.

The countdown ends as the crowd in New York and around the world watch in an almost hypnotic curiosity. What is this sphere and where did it come from? Four seconds later the ball drops, the fireworks are ignited and the sphere fades from existence revealing a tall hooded figure carrying what appears to be a black metal lantern shedding a deep emerald light. It was remarked by the pagans and other spiritually enlightened folk that the man looked exactly like the Hermit card from the famed Rider Tarot deck. Or for those less spiritual, it was the dude from the inside cover of Led Zeppelin IV.

Louis looked around at the thousands of people that had fallen absolutely silent at his miraculous appearance. In his head he heard the laughter of the demon god Yog Sothoh. Very fucking funny he though until a single male voice spoke from the throng.

"Dude... it's like Gandalf was a Green Lantern," he said and the crowd erupted in shouts, questions and threatened to swarm the solitary figure. Louis absently stroked the long white beard he was now sporting as if it had always been a part of his identity.

"Fuck this shit," Louis said as the police tried to manage the mob.

The cameras showed the disappearance live on television screens worldwide. The loud popping sound that accompanied the teleportation was barely audible over the screams and shouts of the New York crowd. The heads of every major news corporation went bat shit crazy minutes later. Physicists and even the Amazing Randy watched the footage over and over again looking for the illusion, the trick and found nothing. The multiple camera angles and the lack of smoke or flash that accompanied the vanishing defied logic, science and made Randy one million dollars poorer. He had to admit, it was the real fucking thing.

No one was able to claim the reward Randy was offering. Some tried to pass themselves off as the Hermit but they failed to reproduce the teleportation effect. Neil deGrasse Tyson even went on air offering a spot on his show Star Talk to the Hermit if he could explain what the hell happened. Social media exploded with memes and videos replaying the events of that unforgettable New Year's Eve.

Louis stood in the wilderness. He looked up at the afternoon sun from his position in the dreaded valley. The valley where the Black Dome resided and this entire butt fuckery had all began. He had reverted back to his normal appearance. He sat around the fire pit where his companions had once sat and tossed stones.

"Some people still believe if you throw stones it keeps the devil away," Nyarlathotep said appearing next to Louis.

"Didn't keep you away," Louis replied. "Why the fuck did he do it?"

"By he, I assume you mean Yog Sothoth," the Black Pharoah said and Louis nodded. "He is not a he or a she or even an It. Yog Sothoth is beyond such temporal measures as am I. Louis so are you. You still play at being a human male when the truth is so much more. You can assume any shape your mind can conceive of. You are not limited by animate or inanimate forms. You could be pure energy or even a thought itself. Why do you haunt yourself with these trifling limitations?"

"I was born human," Louis said his voice hollow and empty as the desert beyond. "I love a human woman with all my heart."

"Which one," Nyarlathotep asked. "You've fucked so many and killed quite a few as well. I'm not judging. I have had partners both male, female and ones your biology couldn't easily classify." That brought out a smile on the old man's face. "I have killed entire worlds for the sport of it. I walk timeless down avenues of existence few can perceive and even fewer can perambulate without perishing instantly. You could in time be worthy of much greater roles if you chose."

"Are you offering me a promotion," Louis asked raising an eyebrow.

"In a matter of speaking yes, we want you to be our ambassador with the Thanatons. When they wake up and they will we want you to negotiate for a non-hostility pact."

"Oh my god," Louis said his eyes widening in shock. "You are afraid of them aren't you? Whoa, I never thought..."

"SILENCE," the black pharaoh roared. "How dare you speak to me of fear? I am the destroyer of worlds! I am the slayer of gods! I am..."

"Afraid... why do you want a non-hostility pact unless you had something to lose..."Louis said smiling now at the Great Old Ones discomfort. "You can't stop them. Hell I think you can't even fight them. Sorry Pharaoh but I and my friends are going to study this energy and find a way of using it against them. It may be the one thing that saves the day."

"Nemesis is coming," Nyarlathotep said. "When it comes the world changes and nothing will stop them or us from taking back the mantle we once held on this world."

"What the hell is Nemesis?" Louis asked and the demon god smiled and told him.

Epilogue:

Warren felt the last of mana flow into him. The old man that had once been the Arch Mage lay prone on the floor panting and heaving as the last of his great strength was given up to the other. Warren bent down and touched him. He restored him to full health and then sent him to the one place in all creation he wanted to be, home. Warren stared out of the Glittering Abyss, a higher plane of existence that was the origin of art, music and magic. It was here that sentience first sprung from aeons past. It was here that mathematics and sorcery were born and kindled in the first Technomages a desire to learn and explore. It was here that the first Arch Mage was brought into being.

The Shimmering Tesseract allowed him to peer into potential futures and see what would likely manifest as mankind's destiny. It was either very bleak or a shining hope for countless generations unborn. It was here that he saw the true chess board and all of its players and pieces. He had once more changed sides and taken up the mantle of the White King. It was his duty to stop the Thanatons. It was his fate to guide humanity to its destined greatness. It was his choice to become the most manipulative and self-loathing son of a bitch on the planet.

"If I knew what was coming I never would have accepted this," he said to no one. "I am about to make every mass murderer the world has ever spawned look like a fucking amateur. But if I don't, no one survives what is about to happen. Please forgive me for what I must do. I have no other choice..."