Highgate Cemetery, Late Morning

Jennifer Kale woke to a terrible throbbing in her neck. She sat up, knocking off the thin blanket that covered her body, and coughed. Rubbing her hands up and down over her arms for warmth, she stared blearily at the tomb she'd recently claimed as her home. The place was dusty and cold, not to mention dark. It was also terribly, terribly depressing.

Rising, she peered out of the tomb, blinking in the sunlight. Inside, she could feel Noble Kale -- the Spirit of Vengeance with whom she was now bonded -- stirring restlessly. The daylight hours belonged to Jennifer and Noble was eager for night to return so that he could continue his crusade.

Screw that for now, Jennifer thought. I've gotta find a place where I can wash up and get some food. Howard was supposed to wire me some money, so I can get a room somewhere... and Johnny should be on his way. Maybe between the two of us we can solve whatever's going on and maybe even split me and Noble back into two separate beings. If that's even possible, she added. According to Topaz, the empath who'd sacrificed her own life to bring Jennifer and Noble together, only a member of the Kale bloodline could house Noble's spirit. And I'm pretty sure that cousin John doesn't want anything to do with Ghost Riders of any sort anymore. He did his time already.

Jennifer ambled over to her bike, smiling when she realized that at some point she'd come to claim ownership over the vehicle. She ran a hand over the gas cap, wondering how many times her cousin Daniel Ketch had done that before he'd finally given his life in a futile attempt to his end his family's curse*.

(*In Ghost Rider, v. 2 # 93.)

With a wistful sigh, she pulled on her helmet and revved up the cycle's engine. First things first -- get her money and then get cleaned up. And after that, I just might start looking for a job, since my school's probably shot for the semester. Might as well find something for me to do during the day when Noble's not ruining my nights.

John Blaze rode through the streets of London, taking in the sights and sounds of a city he'd only been to twice in his life. Travelling all over America with the circus had dulled his enthusiasm for sightseeing, but he'd retained fond memories of Europe from when he'd journeyed here for stunt shows. The charm and ambience of London still called to him, so different from the other big cities of the world: a pleasant mix of the old and the new, it was, to Blaze, the protypical 21st Century metropolis, still trying to cling to the traditions of years past while struggling to cope with the changes of the present.

Damn. I'm getting way too philosophical in my old age, he mused. What I ought to be thinking of is how I'm suppose to find Jennifer in a city this size. Howard didn't pass on any kind of address or--

A lithe female figure on a serious motorcycle roared past in the opposite lane, forcing John to blink in surprise. He glanced over his shoulder in disbelief, watching as the figure turned a corner and sped off.

Grinning, he whipped around in pursuit. A few startled pedestarians gawked at the grizzled, leather-clad biker driving past, drawing a chuckle from John. He accelerated as fast as he could on the slightly drizzled London roadways, drawing ever closer to the woman ahead of him. She noticed him in one of her mirrors and slowed quickly, pulling over in front of a small cafe and bookstore.

John came to a halt nearby, watching as she pulled off her helmet and grinned. "Nice bike," he said.

Jennifer threw her arms around his shoulders, hugging him tight. She smelled slightly musty, but he didn't mind. "Jesus, John...! You don't know how good it is to see a friendly face!"

"Glad to see you, too, kid." He pulled back slightly, his eyes once more moving to the bike behind her. "That Dan's bike?"

"Yeah. Yeah it is." Jennifer ran a hand self-consciously through her thin hair, knowing that she probably looked terrible but dreading her next words too much to care. "Dan's dead. I'm sorry."

John lowered his shoulders and sighed. He had half expected this, had been dreading it ever since that phone call had come. "Damnit. It's not fair. If Skullface had left him alone to start over here...."

"It's not Ghost Rider's fault, Johnny. Dan's been dead for months."

"That's not possible. I heard from him a few weeks ago. He's been staying with--"

"That wasn't really him. He was just some mystic simulcra that Noble Kale created to keep himself sane. When he was forced to admit the truth to himself, he started to break down without a physical host."

John's eyes narrowed. "You didn't...."

"Let's not talk about this out on the street, okay?" Jennifer turned to look at the cafe behind her, seeing a few people seated inside, reading. Ancient Tomes was stencilled across the window, with a picture of a hot cup of tea resting beside a stack of books emblazoned next to the words. "I'm starved."

"Howard get your money to you?"

"Yeah. I just picked it up and had it converted." Jennifer looked into the sad, haunted eyes of her cousin and shrugged. "I wouldn't have gotten you involved in all this if I didn't feel like you needed to be here. I hope you know that."

John reached out and squeezed her hand. "You know I'm always here for you, kid. I just wish I could've helped Dan more than I did."

"He loved you, too, John." Smiling reassuringly, she helped him off his bike. "C'mon, we can talk inside."

Blaze followed alongside her, but his mind was reeling and his mouth was increasingly dry. Over and over, he thought of only one thing: Damnit... You're not taking anybody else from me. Not again. Jennifer's off-limits to you, Noble. You better start shopping around for a new home.

Clive Winthrop stepped away from the podium, waving to all the smiling faces. This press appearance had gone flawlessly, with Winthrop hitting on all of his favorite and most successful topics... fear of foreigners and the European Community, fear of the loss of British culture. There was so much uncertainty in the world today, it was child's play to fan the flames.

And Winthrop had more experience with such things than most anyone could imagine.

He allowed his attendants to usher him from the stage and into the shadows, where he watched with amusement as an Oriental man rushed forward to meet him. "Ah, Dr. Childress. Have you brought good news to me?"

The man blinked rapidly, his excitement making him fumble with his words. "Yes! It was brilliant, Mr. Prime Minister. Your notes...! I have been in the field of robotics for almost twenty years and I've never seen anything like those--"

Winthrop held up a hand, stopping Childress from continuing. "I know. Please stop dwelling on it."

"I took those scanners given you by Project: Wideawake and re-configured them as you asked. I'm now able to detect those wavelenghts that you were so interested in. It's bizarre... Most of them are focused in around Highgate Cemetery and--"

Winthrop touched the man's arm. "Excellent. You've done well. Your nation owes you quite a bit."

Childress beamed. "I brought the prototype for you."

Winthrop accepted the small, handheld device, noting that its screen was currently dark. He activated the power switch and was rewarded by a map of the British Isles, with several dots flashing dimly. He noted that several were on the island of Lyonesse, which did not surprise him. The Pendragons were host to a variety of magical powers, none of which were what concerned him. No, he'd had these devices -- originally meant to track down mutants -- altered using several mystical wards to instead trace beings who bore certain magical signatures. In particular, those who bore the mark of the Spirit of Vengeance.

The demonic biker's appearance in London now, when Winthrop was so close to ulttimate victory, was too big of a coincidence. Could he know? Winthrop wondered. There's no way he could... But then again, if anyone on Earth could see through my disguise, it's Ghost Rider.

Winthrop stepped past Childress, who blinked in surprise at the sudden dismissal. Winthrop's attention was now focused on the scanner in his hand, to the exclusion of all else. With this, Ghost Rider would not be able to hide.

I know where you are, my old enemy. And now all I have to do is send my pets to retrieve you.

Ancient Tomes Cafe & Bookstore

John Blaze watched as Jennifer finished off her third sandwich. The girl had been true to her word -- she'd been starving, holed up in some crypt during the days while Noble Kale ran free at night. It was just more proof that the Ghost Rider didn't give a damn about hosts, or at least that's how John saw it. "So, let me go over this one more time. You're bonded with the spirit of our ancestor -- the same one who led Dan to Hell and his own death -- and now you're living in London because you and Noble think that some great evil is coming, but you don't know what it is."

Jennifer nodded slowly. "Yeah. Pretty crazy, I know. But I used to wear a metal bikini and hang around with a swamp monster and a talking duck. Me and crazy are pals. There's more to it, though. Something took out most of the world's mages -- including me*. Whatever did that is here in London, I know it. And Blackout made it sound like sound he was sent to destroy Ghost Rider by someone or something... Someone who must think he's a threat."

(*Back in Black Mass, the special available elsewhere on the Pendragons site.)

"Look -- I've had it with all this! I quit!"

Jennifer and Blaze both looked up to see their waitress storming out the front door, while the shop's owner, a young Indian gentleman watched her go. He shook his head and cast an apologetic glance at his customers. "Sorry, folks. It's hard to find good help these days."

Blaze nodded, thinking of how hard it was to find people who could adapt to carnival life.

Jennifer watched as the owner picked up a few books and set them on a shelving cart. She cast a glance around the cafe, admiring the way it mixed a small cafe setting with an antique bookstore. Some of the titles on the shelves were rather obscure and of a mystical bent. Before she'd even thought it through, she said "Listen... If you're looking for someone to help out around here, I'm looking for a job."

The Indian shop owner looked surprised, but pleased. He was, Jennifer, noticed, a very handsome man with dark, penetrating eyes. "It doesn't pay all that much. And if you have allergies like my last waitress, all these books are going to kill you."

"I'm used to old books," she replied. Holding out a hand, she said "Jennifer Kale. Recently moved here from the States."

"I thought so. My name is Bansi. I'll go get the application and let you fill it out, okay?"

"Sure." Jennifer watched him go before looking back at Blaze. He was shaking his head. "What?"

"I'd been hoping to talk you out of all this but I can see that's hopeless. You got a place yet?"

"No. I was going to go looking but I spent all afternoon with you. Not that I minded," she added.

"Well, I've got a hotel room. You can sleep there tonight and I'll take the couch." Jennifer laughed at that, making Blaze look at her. With a sigh, he nodded. "Sorry, forgot. Guess you're doing most of your sleeping early in the morning and letting Noble have your nights?"

"Yeah. But I appreciate the offer anyway -- and I'll take you up on it whenever we get back in. Listen, I've been thinking... A couple of nights ago, Noble had a run-in with two of the Pendragons*. They have a magician on their team named Wynter. He wasn't included amongst those who were attacked. I doubt he's behind them but there might be a reason why he wasn't taken."

(*See Pendragons # 5.)

"So you want to drop him and pay him a visit?"

"Definitely." She hesitated. "You want to come?"

Blaze nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, I do." It'll give me a good chance to tell Skullface what I think of all this....

Lyonesse Island -- 9:57 p.m.

"...It's not just Wanda, either. Dr. Strange's manservant says that the Doc's been in a coma for a few days -- and he was struck down at the very same instant that Wanda and all the others were."

The Black Knight, defender of Avalon and leader of the British supergroup known as the Pendragons, pursed his lips together thoughtfully. None of this made any sense to him -- if there was some force out there powerful enough to disable most of the world's magicians*, why hadn't this force taken advantage of it and struck in the days since? And why were some not affected? He looked back at the monitor screen, seeing the equally concerned face of Janet Van Dyne, his former teammate in the Avengers. The winsome Wasp looked as tired as Dane felt.

(*In the Black Mass oneshot... Surely you've read it by now!)

"Thanks for the head's up on this, Jan. We've got a mystic specialist on the team, so maybe he can spot something."

"Well, there is one more thing."

"What?"

"Dr. Strange's manservant, Wong, says that a talking duck called him and told him that everything was under control."

Dane couldn't resist smiling at that. "A... talking duck?"

"That's what he said. Apparently, the duck made references to someplace called 'Duckworld' which clued Wong in. And the duck also said something about Jennifer Kale."

Dane nodded thoughtfully. He'd seen the girl's name in the Avengers' Databanks. Some sort of acolyte from some Atlantean magic cult or something. "Any luck finding her so far?"

"We've got a lead. We managed to trace a banking transaction made in her name. Someone wired pretty much her entire savings to London and it was picked up earlier today."

The Black Knight glanced to his left, at the small floating holographic sphere that showed an image of the British Isles. Tiny dots lined the map, nearly obscuring the surface of the land. It was one of the team's Monitor Spheres, designed to show trouble spots in the realm. With Wynter's help, it'd been re-configured to track the growing amount of magical energy in the air, as well. "Somehow that doesn't surprise me, Jan. Something big's coming. And it's all centered here in England." Dane glanced up as a proximity alarm began to sound. "Have to go, Jan. Somebody's dropping in for a visit."

As Jan bade him goodbye, Dane was already casting a glance at the other monitors. For a second, his eyes refused to accept what they were seeing. But there they were...

Two men on motorcycles riding across the waves, on a direct course towards Lyonesse.

And one of them was on fire.

"...gonna kick your bony ass."

Noble Kale, the undying Spirit of Vengeance, rode on in silence. His own mystic bike was more than capable of traversing the seas for short periods and Jennifer's magic had allowed him to enchant Blaze's cycle to do the same... but he was beginning to regret having done so. "There are innocents in danger and all you can do is promise physical assaults on my person? You are not the man I thought you were, John Blaze."

"Screw this innocent blood schtick of yours, Noble! You destroyed Dan's life, don't you get it? And now you're doing the same to Jennifer!"

The two bikes came to a halt on the beach, with the towering presence of Pendragons Castle looming overhead. The structure was orderly and clean, with a sense of history that pervaded the air around it. John Blaze temporarily forgot his anger, caught up in the magic of the place... It was like coming out of a terrible storm to find yourself in a warm, safe place.

He was brought back to the real world by Noble Kale's voice. "What would you have me do? Ignore the cries of the dying? Is that what you think Daniel would have wanted?"

Blaze drew his shotgun, placing the twin barrels directly in front of Ghost Rider's flaming skull. "Don't play games with me! I will not let you do this again! I want you out of Jennifer's body and I want you out right now!"

"Then you had best fire your gun, though you know that your Hellfire will not destroy me. Because I will not vacate this form. Jennifer accepted me into her life and though she still hopes to be free of me eventually, she knows that what I do is necessary. There have been innocents killed, John Blaze! And more will come! Someone must stop this... and I can do this, but not if you stand in my way!"

Blaze's finger tightened on the trigger and he felt a terrible, overpowering sense of loss. He lowered the gun. "Damnit. I wish I'd been there for him."

"You were in his heart and his mind. In the end, that is all that matters."

"Never heard you so touchy-feely before."

"I am now in full possession of my memories. It was Dan's final gift to me. I remember my life as Noble Kale for the first time in centuries and I owe that to your brother. I owe it to him to honor his sacrifice and continue my crusade! Jennifer understands this... Do you?"

"What I understand is that Jennifer's a big girl and make her own decisions. But if the day comes that she wants my help in getting rid of you, I'm giving it."

"That is fair eno--uf!"

Blaze blinked in surprise as a glowing rope of some kind dropped from the sky, ensnaring Ghost Rider. The flaming Spirit of Vengeance struggled against it even as his feet began to be lifted off the ground.

"Skullface! What's going on?" Blaze couldn't hear Ghost Rider's reply as it drowned out in a wave of noxious laughter. Above them both, towing Ghost Rider higher and higher, was a figure born of one man's nightmare. John Blaze had thought him dead, destroyed in an act of pure redemption... but there he was, nonetheless.

Demogoblin.

The yellow-skinned hobgoblin was perched on a goblin-glider composed of pure Hellfire, his eyes lit up with a zealous fire. His long, snakelike tongue flicked into the air as he towed his old foe out to sea. "No words of greeting, sinner? Or perhaps you'd rather turn from your foul ways and accept the power of the Lord?!"

Noble Kale did not speak, instead allowing the misguided creature to haul him farther away from John Blaze and the island of Lyonesse. Inside, he could feel Jennifer urging him to resist, offering up spells of assistance. Calm yourself, Jennifer. This being reeks of the magical energies we've been tracking. If he serves our true foe, then it is best to bide our time... and then seek vengeance for the innocent when we have found this creature's foul master!

Hearing his thoughts, Jennifer Kale ceased her pressurings, though her heard filled with dread. She and Noble both were flown high over London as the Demogoblin sought out some hidden location. At length, they were dropped down at the mouth of a large sewer tunnel, the ground fouled by mud and waste. Ghost Rider rested on his knees, still bound.

A voice from the shadows murmured, "You actually brought him. I'm amazed."

"Blackout," Ghost Rider said.

"Yes, it's me." The vampire moved into view, his nose still broken from their last encounter. "And this is the last time we're gonna meet. I promise you that."

"Hush." All three -- demon, vampire and spirit of vengeance -- turned to see a fourth man step out of the darkness. He was tall and thin, with an air of self-importance. In Jennifer's mind, Noble heard his name whispered again and again -- for Noble, his face bore no meaning, but to Jennifer, he was all too familiar, for she had seen him on the news during the recent elections. The man smiled softly. "Demogoblin, you did well."

"Thank you, my lord." The demon bowed low, making Blackout sneer.

The new arrival clasped his hands behind his back, staring down at the bound figure of his most hated enemy. "Ghost Rider. We meet again, for the first time."

"Prime Minister Winthrop. The blood of innocence has stained your hands...."

"Yes. I'm afraid so. And your blood will join them, ere this night is through...."

TO BE CONTINUED

Next Issue : Part two of "From a Flicker to a Flame". Ghost Rider finds himself confronted with the mastermind behind all his recent woes -- Clive Winthrop! Will the truth about Winthrop finally be revealed? Or is the new partnership between Noble and Jennifer about to cut short?

AUTHOR'S COMMENTS

Happy Halloween! This issue is the first to be released in conjuction with Omniverse Fanfiction, so let's give a big shout-out to Mike Sacal and the gang!

I had a blast writing this one and I'm looking forward to the upcoming issues, which will feature more of the vibe from the 1990s Howard Mackie run and a few new villains, to boot. For those of you surprised to see the Demogoblin here, his resurrection will be explained next issue -- though with a demon, you should never be surprised to see him return.

See all of you next issue,

Barry