Death_Shroud

That's good news! I put a lot of effort into my pet emote macros. Glad to see it wasn't wasted.

While I agree that this is going to indeed be an awesome issue, I have but one question. Is there ANY news about when we villains are going to get our Epic Archetypes? I've been holding my breath for the past 4 issues and quite frankly, I'm starting to turn a little blue in the face.

Chapter 3

Death Becomes Her

As the helicopter touched down at the Arachnos base in Mercy Island, I took in my surroundings. "It looks like Lord Recluse has spared no expense for us." I thought out loud. "Why would he go through so much trouble, just to break out a few prisoners?"

"No one questions the Master of Arachnos." replied one of the soldiers. Jenkins was his name. He had helped Kid Gloves escape by planting the bomb that destroyed the suppression field. "Lord Recluse has great plans for those of you that prove you are worthy."

"Come on! Let’s get out of this thing!" said Kid Gloves, "My legs have totally fallen asleep."

As we exited the chopper a woman in an iridescent purple uniform with a strange helmet approached. "My name is Kalinda." she intoned, “I will be your liaison to Arachnos. We have much to do, but first you need some rest. There are rooms waiting for you inside. Follow me." Without another word, she turned and began to walk away.

"What is with this chick?" asked Kid Gloves as we started to follow her. "Doesn't she know that purple is like...so yesterday? And that Helmet! What is this, Halloween!?"

"It’s probably best not to anger our new hosts." I replied, "Unless of course, you'd like to trade one cell for another."

"I'd totally like to see them try!" she responded. "I'd be all like...BAM...and through these walls in a second."

"I seriously doubt it. From what I've heard of Arachnos, they are not to be trifled with. Besides," I mused, "I believe Kalinda is one of the Fortunata Seers. She fits all the descriptions. She could lobotomize you with a sideways glance." I paused for a second, "Not that it would have much affect on YOU." I teased.

"What do you mean by........HEY!!" she yelled. Although she didn't say anything, Kalinda seemed amused as well.

We continued deeper into the base through mazes of hallways and rooms. I realized that the entire interior was designed like a huge web, with hub points where the strands connected. Not very efficient, but I could see how it would be easy to defend. "Yes." said Kalinda, reading my thoughts, "And the living quarters are at the center of the web. You will be most.....secure."

After showing us to our rooms, Kalinda took her leave and told us to feel free to explore the base. We decided to check out the common area. It was a large room with pool tables, a bar, and multiple other entertainment items. Most prevalent were several large screen Televisions, all showing an address by Lord Recluse, explaining our new "destiny" as a part of Arachnos. As I looked around at the other "guests" the wolf-man spotted me and sat down next to me at the bar. "I see you made it out in one piece." he said, "By the way, the name's Vagrant Hound."

"I can see why." I replied, "You made short work of that Longbow squad back at the prison. Thanks for that by the way."

He looked at me for a second, and then laughed, "After hearing about what happened to Carlos, I see now that you could have handled yourself just fine. Where is the old chap anyway?"

"He missed the chopper, but the last command I gave him was to follow me. I doubt he'll stop at anything to make it back to me eventually. By the way, I grabbed some of the inhibitor pills from the prison. Perhaps you can use them to keep your...inner beast under control?"

"Thanks!" he said "I've been working on controlling the transformation, but full moons can still be a pain."

"What have we here?" said a leering voice behind me, "Aren't you just the delicious little Goth-chick."

I turned around, ready for action, but there was no one there. "Show yourself if you dare!" I shouted, ready to release a dark blast in an instant.

"Now now, there's no need to get angry." said the voice from another direction, "I meant no disrespect little lady."

"Behave Uh'oh!" growled Vagrant Hound, "This is the one I was telling you about, so mind your manners!"

"Ahh...the necrophile." chuckled the voice. Just then, seemingly out of nowhere, appeared a short creature with robotic arms. On his back was strapped a katana blade. He looked to be part beast, part machine. "My apologies, dark lady, I am Uh'oh. So named because that what everyone says when I draw my blade."

"That is like...sooo corny!!" piped in Kid Gloves. "Couldn't you come up with something better than that?"

"I'd watch my tongue if I were you little girl." said Uh'oh darkly, "Or you may find it cut out!"

This was getting out of hand. Someone was going to kill somebody and then this whole room would explode into violence. "Enough!" I shouted, using a touch of magic to amplify my voice. The entire room went silent. As the din slowly returned I continued in a silent voice, "This egoism is pointless. We are all under Arachnos's thumb right now. Our only chance is to join forces for the time being until we find out what they want from us." Everyone nodded their agreement.

The next morning I awoke to the stench of death, and the sea. I looked at the foot of my bed and found Fester curled up in a little ball on the floor sleeping in a puddle of water. "It looks like you finally made it my pet." I said. Fester awoke and shambled to his feet. "I'm surprised you didn't just leave your shell and follow me in spirit form."

"The Mistress did not release Fester..." He rasped.

"Ha! More likely you didn't want to leave your corpse behind!" I said. "From now on, you will do my bidding in the quickest most efficient manner! If that means leaving behind your mortal body and finding another to inhabit, SO BE IT!"

"Yesss Mistress." He said as he bowed awkwardly before me.

"Now be gone. I don't know how you got in here, but I have no need for you at the moment." I told him. "Take your carcass outside and throw it into the sea for all I care, just get it out of here. But be ready for my call!"

"I obey." He said as he moved to follow my instructions. It really was amazing that he had found a way to infiltrate the base without setting off any alarms. I shook my head; I had other problems to deal with. First off was finding some new threads.

I went to the closet to see what my hosts had provided for me to wear. I was surprised to find my old costume that had been taken from me by the guards at the prison. It was a little worse for the wear from the battle with Freedom Phalanx, but that was fine by me. It had a definite Goth-look. I put on the torn black tights, and added a few rips to the legs to complete the look. I then affixed the skull and bone ornaments on my arms, legs and shoulders. Finally, I attached the skull of my dead mother to my chest. I had carved runes in the skull as she had instructed me in the tome. It bound her spirit to me and allowed me to benefit from her great knowledge and experience as a necromancer. She in turn was spared the fires of hell and was able to live life through my eyes. As I looked in the mirror, the eyes of the skull began to glow green, and I sprouted six small horns from my head. The spirit link was complete, and I felt my mother's presence.

Just then there was a pounding at the door. It was Kid Gloves. "Kalinda has summoned us to the War Room!" she said excitedly. "She has a mission for us! Isn’t that cool?!" When I opened the door she looked at my costume. "Whoa! Nice look DS! Its soo....YOU!"

"You look good too Kid", I replied. She was wearing a high-school cheerleading outfit with a small mask that covered her eyes. Of course the whole image was ruined by the huge metal gloves fused to her hands. "Lead the way; let’s find out what the Seer wants."

As we entered the War Room, I noticed that Vagrant Hound and Uh'oh were already seated at the briefing table. At the head of the table sat, Kalinda. "Welcome." she said, "Of course you already know each other. I've been monitoring your thoughts since I left last night. Arachnos has need of a group of villains with special....talents. And as you four have already formed somewhat of a bond, I've chosen you for the task."

"Can we get down to it please?" grumbled Uh'oh. "I'm not too keen on sitting around for so long."

"Of course." replied Kalinda, "Take your seats and we will begin." She gestured towards a large projection screen behind her and it sprang to life. "Your first target is Rot-gore, a local lieutenant of the 'Blighted'. He and his men managed to raid a convoy that was transporting an item of great value to my mistress, Ghost Widow. She wants the item recovered and the responsible parties to 'suffer great torment'."

"Ripping up a group of rag-tag mutants sounds a bit too easy." Vagrant Hound "Where do we fit in all this?"

"I can think of no better punishment for this...'Rot-gore', than to become one of Death-Shroud's slaves." she answered.

I was shocked! Of course she knew of my talents! She was a mind reader after all. I would have to find a way to keep this woman out of my head if I was to escape the 'destiny' that Arachnos had in store for me.

"Well at least Fester will have someone to play with!" quipped Kid Gloves. "I hope the perv likes other men!"

Thus we began our first steps into the web of Arachnos. The four of us together took on increasingly harder missions. We faced many different enemies such as Mutant Snakes, Gang members, and even Longbow agents! As our experience grew, so did our strength. I acquired more souls to do my bidding and mastered several new spells. I even learned to use my magic to fly! Kid Gloves became more adept at controlling the power of her gloves. Vagrant Hound learned to transform into the wolf on demand. Uh'oh....well, Uh'oh was Uh'oh. Although he thought he knew everything already, yet he still managed to increase his skills, becoming a faster and more efficient assassin. Eventually, once we had proven ourselves, Kalinda visited me in the privacy of my room.

"You have done well for yourself" she began, "Your powers have grown exponentially. My mistress has taken a personal interest in your career. She has sent you this message." Kalinda reached into her robes and pulled out a piece of parchment.

I took it from her and unfolded it. In a flowing script it read:


Dearest sister of the dark,

You have served me well. I foresee you becoming a great necromancer. We share much in common. I believe that we could learn much from each other. Come to see me in Grandville when you have reached the peak of your skills. I will further your education. Until then, take this spell. I think you will find it most....useful.

Farewell,

Ghost Widow


Kalinda produced a scroll of parchment, this one sealed with magic. When I took it from her it sprung open. Inside were instructions for a ceremony of some sort. I was instantly intrigued. This sort of ceremony was used to raise powerful spirits. I rolled up the scroll and thanked Kalinda.

As she took her leave she turned to me and said, "By the way, you and your friends are free to go at any time. With your reputation, there are many organizations out there that are clamoring for the chance to meet you. One man in particular is most interested in the four of you. His name is Slip Stream. He is the leader of 'The League.' You may want to look him up."

"I'll think about it." I replied. "Right now, I have a ceremony to prepare for."

That night, I left the base in search of a good site to perform the ritual. I instructed my souls to stay close. I would have need of them tonight. Together we flew to a remote island in Nerva. In the forest I found an abandoned altar that was probably used by the Circle of Thorns in one of their many sacrifices. It was perfect. Most of the reagents I needed could be found among the bones of the victims that lay strewn about. I quickly set about preparing the altar. When I was finished, I realized I needed some acolytes to assist me.

I began to summon the souls I had bound to me in my recent battles. Each of them responded in kind, inhabiting a nearby corpse, and bringing it to my aid. There was of course Fester, followed by Rot, (formally Rot-gore of the blighted). Then came Decay, who was a fellow "destined one" who went by the name of Lord Posidon. He had made the mistake of angering me and my allies. Then came the strongest of my pets, Pain and Agony. These two were actually the evil spirits of fallen knights from the Dark Ages. I had acquired them during an attack on a museum in Steel Canyon. Their souls were eternally bound to their cursed swords. They were so grateful to me for releasing them that they had pledged their undying loyalty.

Once everyone was in place around the altar I started to recite the words I had memorized from the scroll. The air began to shimmer, and the altar glowed green. Dark shadows of tortured souls began to fill the air above the great slab. I formed a web of magic around the spirits to keep them from escaping. Finally after hours of conjuring forth the dead, a dark form began to take shape among them. It used the poor wretches as fuel to fashion itself a corporeal body. When it was done, I realized that this was a Lich. But not just any lich, this one was by far more powerful than any even my Mother had encountered!

Then it spoke in a voice that sent shivers down my spine, "What do you want? Why have you summoned Death?"

My god! It was HIM! This was Death himself, the Grim Reaper! As I pondered this turn of events, an evil thought came to me. What if I could bind him to me as I did the other souls? The power I would wield would be immeasurable! But what if I failed? Death would be waiting to claim my soul....literally! I decided it was worth the risk. I quickly began to close the web of magic around Death. He shrieked in response!

"You cannot do this!" he screeched, "Do you not know WHO I AM!"

"Yes." I replied, "You are my slave...nothing more!"

He fought me as I tightened the web further and further. He sent out dark tendrils of magic and began severing the strands of the web, but I countered by forming new webs and layering them upon each other. It was a grueling battle that lasted for several hours. But finally I managed to enclose him completely, and bound him to me.

"You have won this battle, little witch." He conceded, "But you have also sealed your own doom! When you die, your soul will belong to ME!"

I fell to the ground, exhausted. I had done it! I controlled Death itself! I felt a sense of satisfaction emanating from the skull on my chest. I had made my mother proud.

Death-Shroud

Chapter 2

THE BREAK OUT


As I stepped out onto the rampway, I took in the carnage before me. Inmates were running in every direction. Guards were futiley trying to herd them back up and getting beaten to a bloody pulp for their efforts. Some rival gangs had even started fighting amongst themselves. And there was Carlos, stumbling through the middle of it all, clutching his paper bag of vomit to his chest, looking dazed.


"Hey Carlos!" I shouted over the din. "Remember Me?"


He had just enough time to look up and recognize me before I hit him square in the chest with a Dark Blast. The Impact threw him accross the room. Carlos screamed and writhed in agony as the shadows consumed his flesh like acid. It wasn't long before he was nothing more than a smoking corpse with a few tatters of clothing left on him.


A few inmates noticed my handywork and gave me a wide berth as I moved towards what was left of him. I summoned my magic to me using the incantations I had memorized from my mother's tomb. I quickly cast an etherial net over his body to snare his soul and entrap it in his corpse. Carlos gave a shudder and began to writhe again. "Rise you festering pile of bones!" I growled, "You serve ME now!"


"Yesss...Mistresss..." Carlos Rasped through his ruined mouth. He shuffled to his feet and stood in front of me swaying slightly as if drunk. He was a mess, but he would serve his purpose.


"From now on, your name is Fester, and you will do my bidding." I explained, "You see, your soul is bound to me now, which means whenever I summon you, you will inhabit the nearest corpse and use it to aid me. If you ever want to be free, you will not fail me." Carlos (or should I say Fester) nodded. I didn't bother telling him that when I released him, it would be to goto Hell with all the other perverts. "Follow Me." I commanded.


I began to make my way out of the cellblock with Fester close at my heels. A few guards began to move towards me, but as soon as they caught site of my escort, however, they quickly changed their minds. As I passed the infirmiry I decided to pop in and grab some of the inhibitor pills that

had held me prisoner for so long. "These things may come in handy." I thought to my self.


Suddenly another big explosion rocked the prison. When the dust settled I caught a glimpse of Kid Gloves stepping through a fresh hole in the wall. A guard ran towards her in an attempt to stop her. I readied another Dark Blast but before I could cast it, The Kid threw an uppercut that caught the guard under his chin. With a sickening crunch, his head was ripped from his shoulders and sailed twenty feet through the air landing with a wet thud on the ground at my feet. I gave a low whistle. So the suppression field was down too, Interesting.


Kid Gloves glanced towards the sound and caught site of me. "Raven!!" she squeeled, "I'm like...so happy to see you!" She ran over to me and threw her arms around in a big hug. Normally I wouldn't stand for such a show of affection, but after witnessing what she could do, I decided to let it go....for now at least.


"Hey Kid." I smiled, "I see you know how to take care of yourself at least."


She giggled. She broke the embrace and backed away. I noticed her eyes had gone wide and she was pale as a sheet. "Oh...my...god. What is that THING!" she stammered.


I looked over my shoulder to see my companion lumbering out of the infirmiry door. "I see you've met Fester." I laughed.


"Gross!! Wait a second." she studied the zombie for moment, "Is that....no way...Carlos!?" I grinned evily and without missing a beat she said,


"I am like...so not sitting next to him on the helicopter, he totally Reeks!" I laughed so hard I thought my chest would explode..then I realized what she had said.


"Did you say Helicopter!?" I exlaimed.


"DUH!! Arachnos Troops have landed out in the Yard and are totally grabbing up a bunch of super-powered psychos and like...loading them up on choppers and stuff!!" she said excitedly. "They keep going on and on about destined ones or something. Whatever...if these gloves can get me a ride out of here, I'm all for it."


"Well then, what are we waiting for!?" I asked. "Let's get a move on!"


"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!!!" shouted a voice behind me. "Don't move a mucle!" I turned around to see three men in red and white tights.


"Longbow agents." I hissed, "Get out of here Kid, I'll meet you in the yard."


"But...I...."


"...DO IT!!" I yelled. She jumped and ran off down the hallway. "Fester, time to make yourself usefull."


"So...Hungry...." he rasped and started towards the agents. "Braiiiins!!!"


The nearest agent yelled for Fester to Halt, and pulled out a can of pepper spray. The fools were trying to take us alive!? When Fester got into range he emptied the can into the zombies face. Fester stopped, looked at him for a second, then threw up all over him. The stream of bile was pure concentrated peptic acid, and the enzymes quickly began digesting the agent's flesh. As their comrade screamed in agony, the other two leveled their weapons at Fester and opened fire. He staggered back a few steps and then leaped at the next agent, tearing a chunk of meat out of his gun arm. The agent gave a yelp and tried to back away, but Fester was all over him in seconds...tearing at his skull, trying to get to the soft grey matter beneath. The third agent, seening the futility of fighting Fester turned towards me. As his eyes met mine, he froze..ensared in my petrifying gaze. As he cowered in fear, I reached out with my magic and ripped his life force from his trembling body. I used his soul as fuel for a healing spell, to close the bullet holes in Fester's Chest.


"Lets go bonebag!" I shouted at the zombie. I turned and ran for the Yard. As I stepped out into the pandemonium that was the exercise yard, a third explosion rocked the complex. I looked towards the sound and saw Kid gloves and an Aracnos soldier running out of a door towards a waiting helicopter. As I started to follow, six Longbow agents, with a small contingent of prison guards cut off my escape.


"Halt!", shouted the captain. "Your coming with us!".


"Like Hell she is!!" Suddenly a huge hairy shape came flying through the air landing on the guards sending them sprawling. It then began cutting a bloody swath through the Longbow agents towards me. It was the Wolf-Man!! "Get your [censored] to that chopper!!" He growled, "I'll keep these idiots busy."


I nodded and sprinted towards the helicopter. I heard the anti-grav engines firing up, and I knew I didn't have much time. "WAIT!!!" I shouted desperately. The helicopter started to climb, but Kid Gloves must have heard me because she tapped the pilot on the shoulder and gestured at me. The pilot nodded and eased off the stick, bringing the craft into a steady hover about 15 feet off the ground.


As I reached the spot the other Arachnos soldier cupped his hand over his mouth. "Jump!" he shouted.


"JUMP!?" I shouted back increduously. "Are you KIDDING!?"


"The Kid here says you are one of the destined ones!!" he yelled, "If that is true, this should be a piece of cake for you!"


"This is insane!" I thought to myself furiously, but I wasn't about to let this opportunity pass. I crouched down preparing to jump, thinking light thoughts, I immediately felt my magic respond to my call. I pushed off the ground with all the force my legs could muster. My leap carried me up 3 feet into the air. Just as gravity was about to take over, my magic kicked in and boosted me upwards into the door of the chopper.


"HOLY [censored]!!" shouted Kid Gloves, "That was totally AWESOME!" she rushed over and gave me another hug.


I was shaking all over. If I could do THAT, surely with some practice I could FLY!!


"Where are we going?" I asked the soldier as the craft began pulling away.


"Mercy Island." He replied. "Lord Recluse has a base set up there for you and the other destined ones."


Just then the Kid piped up, "What about Carlos...er Fester?"


"Let him swim", I smiled, "He needs a bath anyway."


Kid Gloves wrinkled up her nose and we both started laughing as the chopper flew towards Mercy Island and into the sunset.


________

To Be Continued.....

Death-Shroud

Chapter 1

THE SUPPORT GROUP

As I stepped into the small room, a cloud of cigarette smoke hit me in the face. Being a non-smoker, it was all I could do to keep from coughing my lungs out. As I looked around in the haze, I noted the rooms occupants. They were seated in a bunch of mis-matched high-school desks arranged in a semi circle around a plush leather chair. There was one empty desk and I made my way over to it and sat down. A few of the male inmates started undressing me with their eyes, but just as I was about to put them in their place (about 6 feet under) the counselor walked in.

"Hello everyone." she said cheerily, "Today as you can see we have a newcommer to our little group. Now, I want you all to make her feel welcome."

"I'll make her feel welcome." someone chuckled.

I glanced towards the voice. The pervert was practically panting at me! His one good eye moving up and down my body.

"Thats enough Carlos!" snapped the counselor, "One more outburst like that and its back to the kitchens with you! Now Raven, why don't you stand up and introduce yourself?"

As I stood up I gave Carlos my most fearsome stare, one that could freeze the heart of any mortal man and petrify him with fear. The fool just GRINNED! "Damn these inhibitor pills!", I thought angrily. I looked over to the counselor and she nodded at me to go ahead. "Hi My name is Death-Sh......"

"No!" the counselor interupted,"your REAL name, dear." Out of the corner of my eye I saw Carlos flinch. So the imbecile HAD heard of me! Good, let him contemplate his mistake. His time would come soon enough.

"Hi." I began again, " My name is Raven Bourne, and I am a Super Villain."

"Hello....Raven." the rest of the group intoned. I winked at Carlos and he went pale.

"Very good, now tell us a little about yourself and why you are here." said the counselor.

"Well, like i said, my name is Raven and I was born in Galaxy City. My father was a wealthy politician in Paragon, and my mother was his devoted wife, who supported his ambitions by throwing elaborate parties for his constituants. I was their little angel, and they doted upon me, giving me whatever I wanted. Supprisingly enough, I was not spoiled, but a well behaved little girl, except for a very short temper. I remeber having lots of friends (mostly children of other politicians and wealthy buisnessmen). My parents weren't home much. My father was always travelling to different cities and countries to speak with other politicians and dignitaries. My mother would dissapear for days on end, 'Keeping up the Homefront' she called it. I didn't mind, because whenever they came home, they would bring me something nice. It was the happiest time of my life, andi wish it could have lasted forever. But of course, it didn't"

"What happened?", one of the inmates asked. She was a young girl, couldn't have been more than eighteen. She had these wierd gloves fused to her hands that practically hummed with power. Of course the suppression field sapped them of their full strength just as the pills took away my ability to summon my magic.

"Well,", I went on,"One night, when I was seven, my mother was throwing one of her signature parties. I was upstairs with the guests' children playing. This one little brat, Carol was her name, decided that my favorite doll needed a haircut and grabbed some scissors from my desk drawer."

"What kind of doll was it?", asked the kid with the gloves.

"It was a Malibu Barbara doll.", I said, slightly annoyed at the interruption.

"Ooh!", she exclaimed bouncing up and down in her seat,"Those were like...the coolest! At first my daddy wouldn't let me have one, so I like...threw a big tantrum, and like...."

"Thank you, Kid gloves!", the counselor interjected. I guess she saw the look in my eyes. "Go ahead, Raven."

"Thank you.", I said, grinding my teeth. The kid was cute, but if she had said "like" one more time, I would have slapped her, gauntlets be damned! "Anyway, Carol was about to go all 'Paul Mitchell' on my doll when I grabbed her arm to stop her. Then it happened. There was a green flash of light and I felt her life force draining from her body into mine. Before I could let go, her eyes glazed over and she fell over, dead. The other children ran from the room screaming."

"Gruesome," said another inmate. He had a feral look in his eyes, like a wolf in a cage, looking for a way out. "So did the cops come and take you away?"

"No." I replied, "My mother convinced them that I had nothing to do with it. After all, who would believe that a little girl could kill someone just by touching them."

"Your mom sounds pretty cool." He said. Suddenly I recognized him. This was the wolf-man that had trashed paragon city last year! E had done a big special on him. I nodded to him with respect.

"She was the greatest." I said

"Was?" the girl asked. "Is She like...dead?"

"I'm getting to that!" I snapped.

"I was just asking, jeez! Don't bite my head off!" she exclaimed. I had to give it to her, she had guts. As annoying as she was, I had to respect that about her.

"As I was saying," I continued, "when my dad saw the news he flew home the next day from New York City, where he was having a meeting with the mayor. When he got home, he demanded that my mom tell him what was going on. I had never seen him so angry before. But my mother calmed him down, and with a quick wink to me, told him the same story she had given the cops. After he was convinced, he stormed up to his office to begin 'damage controll'. My mother followed behind, to lend her support. I gained a lot of respect for her that day."

Another inmate yawned loudly and I shot him a glare. His eyes went wide and he turned deathly pale. Strange, I almost felt my magic stirring that time. Could the inhibitors be wearing off early? I looked at Carlos, he seemed like he was about to throw up now. I smiled to myself. Something was deffinately happening.

I continued my story as if nothing had happened. "After that day, my father never looked at me the same again. My friends stopped coming over, and my mother stopped throwing her parties at the house. Whenever she came up to my room to tuck me in though, she wore a secretive smile. In my solitude I turned to books to keep me company. By the time I was ten, I was reading at a college level. My mother encouraged my new hobby by bringing me increasingly difficult books to read. By the time I was sixteen, I was reading books written in several languages, including several dead ones."

"Wow, what about like...you know...boys?" asked the girl.

I smiled, "I had a boyfriend once. I caught him cheating on me with a cheerleader ****. When he looked up into my eyes, he clutched his chest and fell over dead...'a heart attack', the coroners said. He had died of fear.

Just then, Carlos lost his lunch.

"Oh dear!" exclaimed the counselor. "Guards! Could you escort Carlos to the medical wing?"

"Yes Ma'am." replied the guard.

"And get someone in here to clean up this mess." After everyone was settled back down, she motioned for me to continue.

"Where was I?" I thought for a minute. "Oh yes, I had found an escape in reading, but I also had another hobby. I knew I was different from other children. I began to experiment with my powers. I knew about my 'life draining' abillity, and my 'petrifying gaze' as I called it. But soon I unlocked many more powers. I could, for instance, form shadows into weapons, which I could hurl great distances. I could also collect those shadows around myself and anything nearby forming a shroud that made anything inside impossible to detect from a distance."

"That is like...so awesome." said the kid. "That bank robbery would have been like....so easy if I could do that! I'd be all like...poof ya can't see me can you...and stuff."

"Kid Gloves!" snapped the counselor, "We are not here to encourage her behavior!"

"Whatever.." she replied with a pout. She crossed her arms defiantly and sat back in her chair. I was starting to like this Kid.

"What about your parents?" asked the wolf-man. "Didn't they suspect what you were up to?"

"My father was never home." I said, "But I suspect my mother knew. Though she never said anything."

"So how DID they die?" he asked.

"That's just it," I replied thoughtfully, "I don't really know for sure."

"Why didn't you bite HIS head off?" Kid Gloves muttered under her breath.

"What was that!?" the girl almost jumped out of her seat.

"Nothing! Please continue."

Smart Kid. "One night, I had just turned eighteen, both my parents were home in bed. I awoke from a nightmare. I decided to take a walk in the garden to clear my head. Suddenly, the entire house flashed witha familliar green light. I felt a tremendous surge of power very similar to my own magic. I ran inside and flung open my parents' bedroom door. They were dead. Drained of life, just like little Carol, so long ago.

"How did that make you feel, Raven?"

I spun around to face the counselor. As I glared at her she began to shake with fear. "How do you THINK it made me feel?!" Oh yes, I could definately feel the magic this time! The inhibitors were wearing off!

"N-now d-don't get angry." she stammered.

I released her from my gaze. Best not to give up the game just yet. I was still feeling the effects of the medication.

I continued with the story to buy myself some time. "I was devistaed. I barely remember lying to the police. I was in shock What could have done this?

Kid Gloves reached over and passed me a tissue. I took it gratefully. Sweet Kid. When I had composed myself, I went on. "Nobody came to the funeral. I had no family to speak of, and my father's popularity had apparently waned over the past few years. After the funeral, my mother's attorney (A real snake named Chris Jenkins) handed me a sealed envelope. On it, in ancient hebrew, were the words, 'Use it well'. In the privacy of the limo ride home, I opened the envelope. Inside I discovered a map depicting several secret passages in the manor. One of the passages led to a secret room. When I arrived home I changed into some casual clothing and began to explore. It didn't take me long to discover the secret room. When I threw open the door, the torches sprang to life on their own. Inside was a bloodstained altar encrusted with human skulls. On the altar was a single book. It was a huge tome, bound in what appeared to be human skin, and written in blood."

"Gross!!" shouted Kid Gloves she made a gagging motion sticking her index finger in her mouth.

"SHH!!" hissed the wolf-man, "What was in the tome?"

"It was an ancient book of spells, and dark rituals. As I skimmed the pages, everything fell into place. My mother had been a high-priestess of a necromatic order. It was SHE who had been behind my father's success as a politician. She KNEW about my powers and had taught me to read ancient languages so that I could decipher this tomb when the time came for me to follow in her footsteps!"

"What did you do next?" asked a wide eyed Kid Gloves.

For a decade, I studied the book, memorized it, and practiced the rituals within. I used my father's fortune to obtain powerfull artifacts to increase my power. When I couldn't buy an object, I stole it. Using my growing gifts.

"Cool!! So how did you like...end up here and stuff?" she ventured.

"She was caught trying to break into M.A.G.I.'s vault to steal one of her trinkets!" said the counselor. "But Sister Psyche stopped her."

"That TRINKET would have made me a GODDESS!" I roared, "And as for Sister Psyche, I would have killed the little tramp if it hadn't have been for the entire Freedom Phalanx showing up to give her a hand!"

"Ok, I think that is enough for today." sighed the counselor. We will continue this discussion tommorrow. Guards! take them back to their cells!"

As I sat in my cell, I contemplated what I should do now that my powers were almost fully returned. No sooner had I decided my course of action, when a loud explosion sounded through the cell block. As my cell door swung open I glanced down over the railing. There, holding a paper bag full of vomit was Carlos. Stumbling back towards his cell, not looking very well. "Oh boy!" I thought to myself as I gathered the shadows around me, "THIS is going to be fun!"