The Ghost Rider strode through the flaming wreckage that was once a thriving meth lab, ignoring the hail of gunfire that still rained down upon him. Several bullets hit home, biting through the leather jacket that the Spirit of Vengeance wore. Those shells struck the dense bone that made up the Ghost Rider's form and fell harmlessly away. With a voice that echoed of Hellish intent, the Ghost Rider bellowed "Cease your attacks! There can be no escaping the punishment that you deserve!"

Dominic Valance peered over the edge of an overturned table, noticing that his right hand was shaking so badly that his gun was nearly out of his grasp. Another explosion rocked the house, making Dominic's ears ring in the aftermath. He had no idea how the flame-skulled motorcyclist had found him, though he suspected that the recent rash of deaths on the street had something to do it. Dominic had  mixed in a bit of fairy dust into the most recent batch of drugs he'd sent out, hoping to give his buyers a unique thrill. But the ground bonemeal that he'd produced from the slaughter of two dozen fairies had led to serious side-effects for those who'd ingested them. Dominic began to back away, hoping that he could somehow make it into the back room and out the exit there. "Go away, you bloody freak! "

"And where would you like me to go, despoiler of innocence?"

Dominic felt himself back into something that felt as immovable as a brick wall. He turned around to see the Ghost Rider looking down at him, his hollow eyes as deep and dark as any stygian crypt. "Oh, Christ...."

"Do not pray for forgiveness -- there is to be none!"

The dread power of Ghost Rider's Penance Stare suddenly flooded into the drug dealer's mind, letting him feel, in excruciating detail, the full enormity of his sins. 

While Dominic twitched in his grasp, the man once known as Noble Kale felt both elated and disgusted. He took a strong pleasure in bringing punishment to those who were deserving, but he also knew that his Penance Stare was such a horrible weapon, one capable of destroying the minds of men. I wouldn't worry about it, Noble, the voice of Jennifer Kale whispered in his head, This guy brought it on himself.

Yes, but is there never to be an end to this? Is there no way for me to help prevent evil before it happens? Even though the guilty is punished, his victims will never regain what he stole from them!

Jennifer's mute reply only served to further drive Noble to despair. He tossed Dominic to the side, letting the drug lord crumple to the floor, his eyes wide and his hands curled up into claw-like extensions. The Spirit of Vengeance stood staring into the flames for a moment more, lost in memory. He'd been more reflective than usual of late and perhaps that was why he now saw his lost love, Magdelena, writhing in the flames. Noble's own father had condemned her to die, as punishment for daring bear Noble's son in an interracial relationship. Noble heard her screams in his mind and he felt Jennifer draw back into the void, afraid of the emotions she now felt from him.

With an almost angry groan, Noble reached down and snatched up Dominic by the collar. He drug the man outside, ignoring the stunned looks upon the faces of those gathering to respond to the fire. They shrank back from him, aware that this was a being whose power extended far beyond this world.

Ghost Rider stepped towards a police officer and offered up Dominic, saying "This man is responsible for the rash of drug-related deaths."

The officer, a stout man with a shock of red hair and piercing green eyes, nodded slowly. He, unlike most of the men around them, did not appear afraid of the apparition before him. "Too bad you didn't leave any bloody evidence, you dumb sod."

Ghost Rider leaned closer to officer, his flames dancing dangerously close to the man's face. To Noble's surprise, the cop didn't pull away. "If your men move quickly, they will find more than enough. And once he comes out of his stupor, he will talk. Often and at length. He will want to share his misdeeds and accept his punishment."

"Is that so?" The officer reached into his overcoat and pulled out a badge, which he pressed in Ghost Rider's face. "The name's Eisner. Remember it -- because if f I see you or your bike in my jurisdiction again, I'm going to give a call to the Pendragons and tell them to drag their arses over here and take care of you. I don't like you. I don't respect you. And I find your supernatural riff a bit over the bleeding top." Eisner poked Ghost Rider in the chest, adding "So. Back. Off." 

The two men stood toe-to-toe for a moment more before Ghost Rider turned away. "I am not your enemy."

"So you say. Pardon me for not feeling real secure around a bloke with a flaming head."

Ghost Rider didn't reply, instead choosing to walk towards his mystic motorcycle, which roared to alive as he approached. Flames began to flicker about its wheels as the Spirit of Vengeance mounted the bike. He cast another glance at Dominic Valance, feeling a strange sense of foreboding. The drug dealer still looked dazed, but an unusual expression was beginning to form on his face... and it almost looked like one of pleasure. "Watch him carefully."

Eisner waved a hand dismissively. "Righty-o," he murmured.

Ghost Rider revved his motorcycle and the bike rocketed past Eisner, so close that the investigator had to jump out of the way for fear of his life. Noble knew that such a thing was hardly going to convince the man that Ghost Rider was on his side, but it definitely felt good, nonetheless.

Don't tell me you're developing a mischievous side, Noble. Jennifer's mental voice had taken on a teasing tone and Noble felt himself grow a bit embarrassed. Jennifer could feel his surprise as his own reaction and she knew that, since the death of Magdelena and Noble's transformation into Ghost Rider, he'd rarely had the opportunity to experience much beyond fear, anger and a burning desire for retribution.

My merger with you is different than ones I've had in the past. But they have all taken on different natures with time, Noble answered.

Do you like it?

Noble paused. I think that Topaz was right in choosing you. By merging with a willing host, I am able to experience far more through you than I ever have with others. And you are able to assist me even in my form as the Ghost Rider. We are... a good team.

Same here, big guy.

The two rode in mental silence from then on, each choosing to focus on their own thoughts. The Spirit of Vengeance cut a startling figure as he moved through the rain-slicked streets of London, weaving in and out of traffic. 

They came to a stop outside a rather dingy-looking flat, on the east end of London. There were only a few lights inside and they flickered wildly, leading Ghost Rider to assume that they were candles. He turned off the bike's engine and was about to approach the door when a woman's voice called down to him.

"Noble! Think you could douse the flames, bud? I'd rather not attract too much attention...."

The Ghost Rider looked up to see Satana leaning out of a window. She wore a barely-there mesh top and a black bra, making Noble wonder how she could possibly expect to avoid attracting attention to herself. Nevertheless, Noble willed the transformation to begin and within a moment or two the young woman known as Jennifer Kale stood panting next to the bike, a damp sweat making her hair curl. 

Smoothing back her hair, Jennifer fought back the brief sensation of nausea she sometimes felt after the transformation. She glanced back up to see Satana still watching her, a smirk on her face. Jennifer grinned in return. "Want me to come on up?"

"Sure thing, girlfriend -- But the better question is this one: Are you ready to become Ms. Numero Uno in the supernatural community?"

Jennifer pursed her lips thoughtfully. Satana had designs on gaining more power for the two of them, in the awful wake of so many magicians dying during Blackheart's schemes. Jennifer felt both intrigued and concerned by her friend's desires. "How about you fix me a rum and coke. Then we'll talk about it."

Satana winked. "You got it."

Elsewhere

Michael Badilino would have cried out, if he had still possessed enough strength to do so. Instead, he merely thrashed about in his chains, his eyes bulging as the pain raced through his weary bones. The chains which bound his wrists and ankles had burrowed into his flesh, leaving dried trails of blood down his limbs. The scent of death hung teasingly in the air.

The man before him, dressed in a long black coat that accentuated his lithe form, watched with mounting impatience. A burning brazier was all the lit the abandoned railway station, casting lengthening shadows on the graffiti-lined walls. A rather crude image of Margaret Thatcher engaged in sexual relations with a goat lined one wall, with the slogan "Still screwing us all" scrawled underneath. The man known as Flay found his eyes drifting back to the image again and again, for some reason. As Badilino sagged in his bonds, Flay murmured "The Barrier... Such a smashing piece of work, isn't it? Magick floods back into the old lands, enchanting one and all. Do you know that the last time I walked the face of the world, the Black Death was still spreading through the kingdoms of man? And now this Barrier frees me once more. So very nice."

Badilino forced words out past his cracked lips, muttering "I don't know who you are. And I don't really give a sh--"

Flay flicked a wrist and Badilino twitched once more. Flay's tongue flickered out, snakelike, to taste the air. He seemed to gobble down Badilino's pain and fear like candy. "No profanities, false Spirit of Vengeance. It offends me. I am a demon of high morals and standards," he whispered, a cruel smile spreading over his face. He had captured the being known as Vengeance just days after the creature had aided Ghost Rider in capturing the Furious, eager to test his renewed strength against someone stronger than mere mortals. The first stage, of course, had been to tear away the mystic construct that was Vengeance and house it outside Badilino's form. Flay reached into the brazier, ignoring the pain as the flames licked his flesh, and withdrew a small globe that shone with a brilliant intensity. Inside, the face of Vengeance peered out. Speaking more to the globe than to Badilino, Flay whispered "The old ways are reborn. Retribution shall once again be handed out by the demons and the High Lords -- and creatures such as you are no longer needed. One by one, I shall hunt you false deities down and I shall cast you into the pit of destruction."

Badilino watched in rising horror as Flay brought the globe up in both hands, raising it above his head. Since Mephisto had transformed him into Vengeance, he'd seen and done so many things -- but nothing compared to this. Even the eeternity he'd spent in Blackheart's realm, tortured by scorpions and thirst. Who or what this Flay was, he could not fully comprehend, but he recognized imminent danger -- and he almost welcomed it. To be free of this ungodly pain... "Noble's going to kick your ass, Flay. He's going to wrap that chain around your throat and drag you from one end of England to the other."

Flay laughed, a dry, hoarse sound that reminded Badilino of sandpaper being rubbed together. "You think I fear any of the Kales? Then you are a foolish human. I have tapped into the general unease that has begun to permeate England. I have given it new power. It comes in waves now, assaulting all that it touches. Soon, this island of man will be alive with horrible fear and despair. And then the eyes of man will turn to new saviors... and my kind will be waiting. Unfortunately for you and the Kales... there is to be no place in the new order for you."

Flay hurled the globe against the far wall and it shattered against the scrawled face of Margaret Thatcher. A dull roar filled the room as the magical construct once known as Vengeance dissipated from the mortal plane.

And Michael Badilino closed his eyes tightly, feeling a new emptiness in his soul. He was alone. Human. Gone was the power and the savage grace.

And then he heard a scraping sound, of metal against metal. Opening his eyes slowly, he saw Flay drawing forth a sword from an ancient scabbard. The blade gleamed darkly, its steel seeming to soak up the room's light.

Flay moved forward, pressing the tip of the sword against Badilino's throat. "Now you can die like any other mortal, Mr. Badilino. Do you want to beg? Do you want to mewl like a little baby? Or do you wish to cast one last great act of defiance in the face of overwhelming defeat?"

Badilino, a man who had always dreamed of being a cop, had once lost his way. He'd blamed Ghost Rider for things that had been beyond his control and he'd slowly begun to creep over the line between law enforcer and vigilante. He'd sold his soul to Mephisto in exchange for power. And he'd killed people. Many people. But, in the end, he'd found himself again -- and Badilino had done much in an attempt to atone for his mistakes. All in all, he felt he'd succeeded.

And so he said nothing. He did not beg. He did not cry out.

And the being known as Flay felt a trifle disappointed in return.

He drove the blade deep into Badilino's neck, slashing and cutting through the meat and gristle under Badilino's head fell to the floor with a sickening thump.

Flay sighed, wiping his hands off on the dark clothing he wore. He knelt down to pick up Badilino's head, staring into the glassy eyes. "And now you are mine," he promised. Flay leaned forward and opened his mouth, revealing needle-sharp teeth. He closed his mouth about Badilino's nose and mouth... and began to chew.

Satana's Flat

The melodious sounds of Dido filled the air and Jennifer Kale was beginning to feel a bit tipsy. She and Satana were sitting on the floor of the flat, looking through a series of magical texts and, the more she drank, the funnier that Satana's plans began to seem.

Stifling an unladylike snort, Jennifer leaned back and polished off her sixth (seventh?) drink of the evening. Wiping her mouth with the back of a hand, Jennifer regarded her friend through bleary eyes. "So you're serious? You want to call up Gaea and ask her to let you tap into this 'feminine magic' that's all around us?"

Satana moved from a sitting position into an on-all-fours one and crawled towards Jennifer. The current host to the Ghost Rider felt a bit dizzy as Satana approached and she wondered, again, if the girl's powers were enhancing her own sexuality -- or whether or not Jennifer was just really, really attracted to her. "Gaea was the only one of the elder gods that the second generation of deities allowed to exist. Every living being on Earth contains a portion of her essence in her. She's the mother, representing life, renewal and harvest. That's us all over, Jen."

"It is?" 

"Sure. I'm a girl. You're a girl. We're the life-bearers. And right now, life is abundant under the Barrier. Enchanted creatures are reborn left and right... Gaea's magic is flourishing."

Jennifer swallowed hard as Satana leaned forward and kissed her softly on the lips. A hammering in Jennifer's head made her almost black out for a moment. She wanted this so badly, she needed it... But then, in the back of her head, she felt Noble's presence. He gave her a bit of his own strength of purpose and the fog began to clear. With obvious reluctance, she pushed Satana away. "I need to think straight for this."

"What's there to think about? According to the text of these books, Gaea sometimes grants additional powers to certain priestesses. They're obligated to defend life and Earth but beyond that, they're free to do what they want. We can be the priestesses for this era. Let Paradox and every other man out there squabble over the title of Sorceror Supreme. We'll be tapping into the most primal of all forces -- life itself!"

Jennifer stood up on wobbly legs. "Yeah, but you're not exactly what I picture when I think of the Earth Mother type."

Satana, still on hands and knees, gave her what was obviously meant to be a come-hither look. "You and me together, Jen. We can be the queen bitches we were always meant to be!"

"But I'm the host to the Spirit of Vengeance," Jennifer replied. She felt Noble watching her, observing, but he gave no clue as to what direction he wanted her to go. Was he afraid of her being bound to Gaea, with conflicting loyalties? Or did he trust her to decide for herself?

"That's the beauty of it! You're already a union of male and female... Think of how perfect it would be to balance Noble Kale's essential maleness -- destruction and violence -- with the power of femininity? You'd be amazing."

Jennifer sighed. Staring at Satana, she slowly began to smile. "You know, the way you tempt me, I'd think you really were the daughter of satan."

Satana stood, taking Jennifer's hand. "So... Are you in?"

"Yeah. Count me in." I just hope I won't regret it, she thought.

W.H.O. Headquarters, Sub-Basement Level 12

Amber Greene held on as tight as she could, her arms locked around the waist of the original Ghost Rider -- a strange merger between former stunt cyclist John Blaze and the soul-stealing demon called Zarathos. She'd been helping him for hours -- maybe days? -- and the two of them were still inside the W.H.O. facility, going deeper and deeper, towards an exit route located near the maximum security holding cells. During that time, they'd plowed their way through security check points on four different levels and Amber's behind had become quite numbed by the bike's vibrations. 

Amber opened her eyes and realized with a start that she had dozed off. Zarathos had stopped the bike in the center of a large chamber whose floor was slick with several inches of water. "Where are we....?" she asked.

"About to leave this place."

"I wouldn't be too sure about that," a voice answered from the darkness.

Zarathos turned to see a figure emerge from the shadows, which had hung about him like a shroud. The man had long white hair and pale skin, with the soft, beautiful features of a model. "Blackout...."

"That's right," the killer whispered. "Nice to know you recognize me. Is that you under there, Blaze? Or is it still my old sparring partner in your duds?"

"Why are you out of your cell?"

"Because you shorted out half the systems in this place on your little trek through the building." The vampire moved forward, his canines showing as he smiled. Amber shrank away from him, having studied his files. He was mercurial and quick to anger. "These bastards still have Demogoblin but he's on his own. I don't need him. But you, old pal, do need me."

"I doubt that." Zarathos turned his bike back around and prepared to go forward, but Blackout's next words stopped him.

"If you go that way, you're headed into a trap!"

Zarathos glanced back at Amber, who remembered his earlier threat. She shook her head. "He's lying. The exit down here is known to only epsilon-level agents. There's no way they could have set up a trap before we got here."

"You don't think they've been expecting someone to make a break for it? Especially with dangerous types like me and Z locked up here," he said, gesturing towards Zarathos. "But I know of another way."

Amber leaned closer to Zarathos. "I don't trust him."

"I trust neither of you. But he is a known killer and you are not. For now, I will continue as you suggest, Amber Greene."

Before Blackout could reply, Zarathos had sent a powerful burst of Hellfire at him. The vampire howled in pain, ducking down a side passage to escape the attack. He heard the bike move away and peered out when he thought it was safe. Still cradling his singed arm, Blackout used the other hand steady himself against the wall. Truthfully, he had no idea if there was a trap up ahead -- but he did know of another way out. So much for gaining the trust of that soul thief, he mused. I'd hoped that he might need an ally or two if he was planning to seek power for himself again. But I guess little Mr. Blaze is still influencing him or something. Too bad for him.

With a sly grin, the vampire disappeared into the darkness once more... and headed to freedom. 

Satana's Flat

"Tell me again -- Why am I naked?"

Satana stood in the center of a mystic circle, candlelight illuminating her beautiful form, which gleamed slightly with sweat. The two young witches were in the center of Satana's flat, the music turned up high and their spell books arranged on the floor. "Because we should greet our Mother the way we came into this world."

"Naked, covered in goo and screaming our heads off?" Jennifer asked.

Satana winked again. "Close enough. You ready?"

"As I'll ever be."

Satana reached out and took her hand. Together, the two young women began reciting ancient words of power. Their voices melded together in a lilting pattern and both could feel a certain electricity in the air. Jennifer felt both spiritually and sexually charged as wavy lines of magical energy began to circle about them. 

And their words seemed to part one reality and reveal another:

As one we walk this earth together
As one we sing to her our song
As one we love her
As one we heal her
Her heart beats with our own as one.

As one we join with her our mother
As one we feel her sacred song
As one we touch her
As one we heal her
Her heart beats with our own as one.

Jennifer and Satana paused in their chant, feeling a powerful presence in their midst. Jennifer saw, on the periphery of her vision, a brown-haired woman dressed in a flowing gown. She seemed to be smiling at them, as if they were two little girls who had broken into their mother's closet for dress-up, only to be caught in the act.

With a barely audible whisper, the Goddess Gaea released the tiniest portion of her power and enveloped the witches in her loving grace. The touch filled both women from head to toe, but it also snaked outside this tiny flat -- to touch the spirit of a woman long thought dead.

And then Jennifer Kale and Satana felt themselves fairly exploding with power.

Satana let out an almost orgasmic squeal, pulling away from Jennifer's hand. "Damn... Do you feel that? It's like, all my old magical ability was just a prelude to this. I feel like I'm capable of tapping into... into...."

"The wild magic." Jennifer stared at her hands. "All my life, I've had Atlantean mysticism instilled in me... and I've learned how to use other schools, as well. But this... this is older than anything I've felt before. Even older than Atlantis."

"We're kicking it old school, Jen. Really old school." Satana's laugh sounded happier than Jennifer could ever remember it sounding. She looked over to see the young woman hugging herself happily.

Jennifer understood Satana's mood very well. She was bursting with power and life, each pulsing within her. "Now what?"

"Now," Satana replied, "We celebrate."

And, to Jennifer's surprise, the succubus kissed her once more. 

This time, Jennifer did not pull away.

The Void

Noble Kale watched from afar, his view of the outside world somewhat distorted. Here, in the void where he resided when not in control of the mortal form he shared with Jennifer Kale, he often had long periods to think, and to ponder what actions he would take next.

And now, more and more, the path seemed clear. Though he cherished the bond he now shared with Jennifer, he was growing increasingly frightened of how easily manipulated she was by this Satana person.

If you are a threat to us, Satana, I will unravel the truth. And then you may find yourself on the receiving end of my Penance Stare....

Next Issue: It's "Ladies' Night" and Satana aims to make quite a splash in the supernatural community. It's our big 13th issue fright-fest and I guarantee you'll be surprised by a few of the faces that show up! Plus: the return of Topaz!

AUTHOR'S COMMENTS

We've got a letter this time around, from Jason Trenner:

I love that series, its so incredible(and probably going to make the best use of the could have been Witches idea).  I have a few questions...

1) Is there any chance of the Mandarin showing up?

No plans for the Mandarin. I try to avoid character I've written in depth before, and I used the Mandarin in an Iron Man series I wrote at Avengers 2000.

2) Will the Counter Earth version of Dr. Strange return and also take a shot at trying to be Sorcerer Supreme?

No plans for Counter Earth at the moment, but down the road, who knows?

3) Is there any chance of the Secret Defenders (Shadow Woman, Pale Horseman and.. can't remember the last one though I remember he was Gaia's agent on earth) showing up?

Believe it or not, there are some plans for some of the Secret Defenders characters to pop up in the Pendragons Universe. Keep an eye out!

4) Is there any chance of Shang Chi showing up?

Shang-Chi won't be appearing anytime soon, I'm afraid. A nice character but not one I have desire to use.

5) Will Meggan's powers be effected by the barrier?

If Meggan were to return to England at the moment, then yes -- Her powers would be greatly affected. I would think she'd be much more powerful than before. In Otherworld, where she's been staying, there hasn't been any effects from the Barrier.

6) Since Satana is in the title..does that mean that Daimon Hellstrom's showing up isn't too far behind?

No plans for Satana's brother at the moment.

7) Will Marduk(from that Citizen V LS) show up? And will he be Marduk Kurios(aka Hellstrom and Satana's father)?

Marduk... Hmm. Possibly. Especially in light of the fact that Citizen V might be popping up soon.

 
8) Is the current Blazing Skull going to have anything to do with the original?

Nothing is planned.

9) Is there any chance of Tigra making an appearance?

I'm assuming that Tigra was outside the Barrier when it went up, so nothing like that is possible at the moment. 

Thanks for the questions, Jason!

See all of you next issue,

Barry