-------------------- The Red Lair -------------‐----------

The decapitated head of The One twisted into an uncanny smile.

"Merry Christmas."

......and just like that, the screen shifted back to the outside of the compound.

Red Wendigo took one last puff of his cigarette and flicked it away. The bud disappeared into the floor.

What timing.

He would've appreciated that whole stunt more if it hadn't interrupted one of his rare meetings, but still....it was impressive. They were just about done anyway.

Then again, his crew were unable to access the security feeds for the duration, so he might not have been all that favorable either way.

"....S-so....." His conversation partner stammered. The fop had made an effort to dress down for the occasion, presumably to avoid ruffling any feathers. ".....a-as I was s-saying.....a-as long as y-you leave me, m-my wife, and my k-kids alone, we'll give you wh-what you w-want."

The Villain chuckled heartily and flashed his sharpened teeth.

"Willing to sell out friends and family for safety. Just what I expected from a swine like you. But hey, as long as plenty of meat is available, I see no problem in leaving a few piggies alive."

He gestured toward the exit.

"Go now. We will leave you be. But I expect the first batch of money and the promised info next week. Otherwise, there might have to be a slight change of plans."

"Y-yes, o-of course. E-eat All The R-Rich!" The man scrambled to his feet and tried his best to imitate their salute before hurrying out the door. Red Wendigo waited until his footsteps had receded before he leaned back in his chair.

He hated dealing with these bougie fucks. They were a cancer, all of them.

Well, most of them.

The Angels and Alice Fontaine were true comrades. The rest of them though......

He shook his head.

"Shark!"

His shout reverberated around the room. Soon after, the head of a woman emerged from the floor. Small, concrete ripples lapped at his feet.

"Yeah, boss?" Her grin exposed her similarly sharp teeth, though her's were all natural. Both rows.

"Did you see it too? The broadcast?"

"Sure did. I watched in on my phone." she said as she climbed out of the ground.

"Thoughts?"

"The Petite Group doing their usual nonsense. The Master Controller though.....Didn't realize she was the de-sanctifier. Bet the Herald Queen is throwing a certified rich girl tantrum right about now."

She sat down on her leader's lap. She knew it annoyed him, that's what made it fun. This time, he seemed preoccupied though.

"If she can take down an Enlightened her Power may be a lot stronger than she let on. Or if not her Power, then her capabilities at least...."

"Thinking about recruiting her?"

Streetshark loved fresh meat. Watching the cause grow was almost as fun as their yearly banquet. Almost.

He shook his head.

"No.....no, I doubt she's radical enough for EATR. But if she worked with the Petite Group, she might be open to being hired on for a run. Full Possession is never not useful."

The second-in-command giggled.

"Want me to bring her on board for the feast?"

Wendigo thought for a long time before answering.

"Not yet. Let's wait until we have enough intel to formulate a proper plan. Then we extend the invite."

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She got up from his lap and did the salute.

"Got it, boss. I'm going to go back to guard duty if that's alright with you."

As soon as he gave her the nod she dove back into the ground.

Red took a deep breath and pulled out another cigarette. Just as he was about to light it though he reconsidered. The feast was only a few months away. With a sigh, he put the death-stick back in the box.

After all, he didn't want to ruin his palette.

---------------The Tower of Light ---------------

Luisa ran to the control panel as fast as she could. Her sweaty fingers slipped multiple times as she designated the correct room. What a goddamn mess. She hoped she wasn't too late.

The deafening scream that rang out of the room as it opened told her she was.

Fuck.

They really didn't need this right now. But this was not the time to lament.

Without further thought, she rushed into the luxurious bedroom and called out to its occupant.

"Angie! Angie, calm down!"

The angelic hero stood in front of her TV, wings spread wide and eyes glowing white. Her whole body had a light shine to it, and the closer Luisa came the hotter she felt.

This wasn't good.

"Calm down?! Calm down??!!!?? Did you see the same thing I did? This......this bitch! It was her! She took my halo! And......and look what she did to Ray!"

Sizzling hot blinding tears began running down her cheeks.

"I will go! I will raze the entire place if I have to! She can't escape!"

Determined, Angelica took to the air and raced in the direction of the exit, but Luisa managed to grab her by the ankle before she could slip away. The angry saint's eyes fixed on her. Honeybadger had to squint her eyes and look away to avoid lasting damage.

"Let me go."

"No. We've talked about it. You're still supposed to take it easy. Eamon and Avenir went already." Luisa grimaced in pain as Angelica's body heated up even further. "I'm sorry."

She reached into her pocket, grabbed a pair of cuffs, and snapped them around her enraged friend's ankles. Immediately, the enchanted shackles worked their magic and Angelica floated back down onto the ground, exhausted and calm.

The glow left her eyes and she closed them.

Luisa bent down, picked her teammate up, and carried her back to the bed.

".....She cut his head off, Lu..." she sobbed quietly. "He didn't deserve that."

"I know, Angie. I know. And we'll get her for this. We'll get all of them." Luisa whispered back as she tucked her in. Her mind wandered to the Memorial Hall of Legacy. Ray's wasn't the only gravesite she worried about. If they touched Mallory, then....she didn't know what she would do.

"When?" Angelica yawned.

.But she barely paid attention. Her thoughts were focused on something else.

Mal.....How would she have reacted to this? She'd have probably been more on Angelica's side here.

Luisa clenched her fist.

"As soon as you get better." she replied, finally.

"...what?" came the barely coherent mumble of the already half-asleep Hero.

Lu sighed.

"Soon." she said and turned to leave. This night had stirred up a lot of painful memories. Memories she needed to deal with alone. She looked back once more before exiting the room.

"Very soon."

-----------------The Streets of L.A. -------------------

Robert stumbled homeward, barely supported by his equally drunk wife. They were supposed to party til morning, but these stupid Villain assholes ruined everything. No one was in the mood anymore after that goddamn broadcast.

"Fuckin' Petty Group artist fucks..." he groaned as his wife giggled up a storm.

That's when someone passed them. He thought at first it was a man, because of the height, but a glance at the face confirmed that it was a woman. She was wearing a black cloak and her visage was caked with makeup.

This made his blood boil.

This had got to be a Cape. Clowns like these were not a rare sight at night in L.A. Most of them petty thieves, but still.

He hated them. Hated them all. Normally, he wouldn't have said or done anything but his current level of intoxication granted him a bravery that was anything but natural.

Besides, it's not like they had anything worth stealing on them anyway.

"Hey!" he yelled after her, but the figure ignored him. His nostrils flared as he threw his half-empty bottle of beer as hard as he could. "Hey, freak! Don't fucking ignore me!"

At this, she stopped. The bottle shattered on the back of her head, dousing her in alcohol.

"That's what you get!"

"Robby!" his wife scolded, still giggling. "Don't be so rude! Hey! My husband is very sorry for what he did."

"Don't put words in my mouth woman! I meant what I said!"

The couple was so preoccupied with each other that they didn't notice the figure approaching until it was too late.

Robert felt a light prick in his leg and looked down.

A bone was buried in his knee.

It came from the woman in black.

It took him a few seconds to put two and two together, but by then he was already incapable of moving.

With a cacophony of sickening crunches, he felt his bones rearrange themselves within him. His teeth grew longer and sharper until they pierced both the top and bottom of his jaw, two of them skewering his eyeballs.

The reformation of his inner ear took his sense of balance from him, and if his stomach had still been connected to his throat he would've vomited out all the cocktail sausages and snacks he inhaled at the party.

His ribs had twisted and turned, now exiting out of his back and chest. He didn't know if they had hit any vital organs on the way. He hoped so. The pain was unbearable, but he was unable to scream. The only thing he hoped was that his wife was okay.

"Ta.........da......" Boneyard whispered to the hysterical screaming woman in front of her. "......Merry........Christmas......."

Instead of thanking her for the thoughtful gift like was proper, the ungrateful damsel ran away in fright.

Really, some people. And after she spared her, too.

She knelt down to the twitching, moaning mess on the ground and pressed a small black clown nose on what had previously been his nose. With a smile, she booped it and continued on her way.

As she arrived at the Gas Quarter, her phone rang. She debated if she should wait until she was back in the tent to talk face-to-face but decided that it was best not to keep him waiting.

"What's up, boss?"

The Haunting Nightmare's raspy voice crept through the speaker. It was like music to her ears.

"Good work, B. You earned your rest privileges for next month."

"I'm flattered, Haunt, but I'd much rather keep working. Give them to Ariadne, she loves taking it easy."

He laughed in that half-growling tone of his.

"Will do, babycakes. How are things going with the Master Controller?"

"Well, I believe. She seems eager enough to join up. Do you think tonight's broadcast is enough to keep the vetos at bay?"

There was silence for a minute.

"Most of them, I think. Maybe all. But New York is the risk factor here. Pagliacci probably hates me just enough to block even now. We need a little bit more. Just a little."

Boneyard wandered past the abandoned buildings, enjoying the familiar thick, cloying air around her.

"Should I try pushing her?"

"No, no. It's fine. Now that Zen has helped me purge the traitors, we can take it slow. The One being headless may throw a little wrench in our plans, though."

"Oh, don't worry about that. I reattached it before I fled. The flesh is still loose, but the bones are where they should be."

"Oh, B....where would I be without you?"

She smiled softly.

"Still doing Othello's dirty work, I imagine."

"You're probably right. Anyway, get your ass back here, everyone is waiting. Twin made muffins. Stay away from the red one though, that one is for his sister."

"Understood. I'll be there in a moment."

"You better. We're one step closer now. If all goes well, by this time next year, we'll be ready to give L.A. a show they'll never forget."

With that, he hung up.

Boneyard stretched as she approached the secret entrance to her home. Her family.

"I can't wait."