NIGHT FALL

Part II

By Wesley Overhults

San Francisco, California

June Moone looked at her phone and prayed that Sebastian Faust’s sense of timing wasn’t completely horrible.  She felt the eyes of The Enchantress looking at her phone along with her just as she always did.  June had stopped becoming unnerved by it long ago.  She shook her head and put her phone back in her pocket, looking at Rachel Roth.  The younger girl peeked around the corner and watched the line to get into Club Bewitched.

Rachel never understood the appeal of clubs or parties.  It wasn’t as if she was the most outgoing of people.  She never had been and saw no reason to do so.  Besides, Club Bewitched was definitely not her kind of place despite its supernatural theme.  She knew that the faux-Goth style was meant to attract people from the casual scene.  It was an easily-spotted marketing ploy but in the case of Brother Night, it was something else entirely.  Rachel had to hand it to him.  He was smart enough to cover up his actual supernatural dealings with his club’s aesthetic.  It was a good ploy but she saw through it just as easily as she saw through him.  Brother Night didn’t scare Rachel.  The only thing he did was piss her off and she would be quick to remind him what a mistake that was.

“Don’t think anyone’s coming back here,” realized Rachel.  “Have The Enchantress tell him that he’s got to go in the front way.”

“He’s not super happy about that but he’s on it,” informed June after a few moments of silence.  “I think The Enchantress can talk to him even when he’s inside.  We’re going to try it.”

Rachel kept her eyes on the line around the corner.  She watched one of the patrons shake his head for a moment and then return to normal.  The man looked over in Rachel and June’s direction and gave a slight nod.  It let Rachel know that Boston Brand had acquired a new body.  The only thing they could do now was wait and hope that this went smoothly.  Rachel knew she wasn’t going to hold her breath.

Boston Brand didn’t know whose body he was currently inhabiting.  It didn’t really matter.  He was going to ditch his host once he got inside and then explore the club.  It saddened him that he had to give up the body so soon after acquiring it.  Life as a ghost wasn’t really living.  You just existed and that was it.  You couldn’t interact with the physical world or let the physical world interact with you.  Boston missed being alive.  He missed the rush of flying through the air without a net to catch you.  It was a reckless and thrilling way to live and he had loved every minute of it.

“What’s the password,” asked a very large man at the door, keeping his hand on the velvet rope that was barring Boston’s way into the club.

“Nightfall,” said Boston without hesitation.

The man checked the papers on his clipboard and held out his hand for Boston’s ID.  Boston fumbled in his pockets, not really knowing where the man kept his wallet.  He produced it after a few seconds of searching and let the bouncer check it over.  Boston desperately hoped that the idiot he was using for a ride had a real ID instead of a fake one.

“You’re clean,” said the bouncer, unclipping the rope and ushering Boston beyond its border.

Boston took his ID back and strolled through the open doors of Club Bewitched.  His eyes and ears were immediately assaulted by the blinding lights and loud music.  He took his leave of his host’s body and simply floated along, scoping out everything the club had to offer.  There was the dance floor, the DJ’s booth, the bar, anything and everything a normal club would have.  He even saw a few barely-dressed girls dancing in cages for everyone’s entertainment.  Something was different about the girls though.  Boston inspected them closer and realized what it was.  They were demons, real demons who were hiding in plain sight.  The club’s patrons probably thought it was all just makeup and body paint but he could tell the difference.

Boston looked around and realized that the girls in the cage weren’t the only supernatural people in the building.  He could see some vampires moving through the crowd, a couple of them licking their lips at the sight of fresh blood.  It was amazing how brazen they were.  Boston knew the majority of the people in the club were humans but there was a sizable number of supernatural folk as well, more than he had ever seen in one place before.  He almost forgot that he had a job but he soon remembered it when his eyes focused on a familiar face.  Matson Hook wasn’t remarkable but Boston could always pick out his face in a crowd.  It seemed that his suspicions about Hook being under Brother Night’s care were confirmed.  He floated over to get closer to Hook but he couldn’t decide what his intentions were.  He had promised that this was a fact-finding mission, not one of revenge.

“Hell of a place you guys have,” said Hook to a redheaded woman that seemed to be his companion.

“That’s a pretty accurate description,” said Ember.  “Brother Night’s letting you stay here because of your story, Hook.  If I were you then I would take advantage of such generosity.  Go ahead and sample some of the merchandise.  Be careful though.  Some of it plays very rough.”

Boston watched Hook grin and then mingle with the crowd.  He wanted to stay with Hook but he knew that the assignment came first.  Ember was clearly someone important in Night’s organization just from the way she talked and carried herself.  Boston was sure that sticking with her was the smarter play.  He watched Ember watch the crowd before she finished her drink and moved towards the stairs.  Boston looked up and could see some sort of office that overlooked the club.  He knew that was where Brother Night was and where Ember was going now.  Boston shadowed Ember as she climbed the steps to the office upstairs.

Ember stopped when she reached the top of the steps and turned to look behind her.  She swore that someone was following her but she didn’t see anyone.  She shook off the feeling and headed upstairs, turning her gaze back to the office.  Boston was still following her but there was something he couldn’t see.  Ember was smiling as she opened the door and went inside the office.  Boston managed to pass through the door as it closed in an attempt to shut him out.  He knew that no locked door could keep him from entrance but there was something he didn’t count on.  He didn’t understand that he was walking right into a trap.

Brother Night nodded to greet Ember as she entered.  He knew exactly who else was in the room even though that someone was invisible.  Brother Night could sense him though and with great ease.  He didn’t get to be as powerful as he was without keeping his senses sharp.  Boston Brand was an interesting case, one he intended to study fully.  He had many magical wards placed on this club and even more on his office itself.  He had allowed Boston to come into his place of business because he knew that it wouldn’t matter.  There was no way that Boston would leave this building, at least not without hearing an offer first.  Night knew that he was most likely working with the daughter of Trigon given what had occurred earlier in the day.  Night wanted another shot at Rachel and he decided that Boston was the perfect operative for that assignment.  He would make the spirit an offer he couldn’t refuse.  It would be simple enough considering that Night knew what Boston wanted.

“I see no reason why I should engage in pleasantries,” said Night.  “I know you’re here, Boston Brand.  As you’ve no doubt discovered, the man that murdered you is currently working with me.  That is, of course, unless you’d like to hear an offer.”

Brother Night scanned the room and waited for an answer.  His gaze rested on Ember and watched a strange look come over her face.  She seemed surprised at first and then her demeanor settled again.  A smile crossed her lips and Night knew that she was no longer in control of herself.  Brand had hijacked her body so that he could haggle with Night.  It wasn’t a perfect arrangement but it would do for now.

“I’m willing to listen,” said Boston.  “What have you got to offer?”

“You are currently without a body and want to avenge your murder,” explained Night.  “I happen to have the man that claimed your life.  I also have the means to give you a body again.  It won’t be your original one, of course, but I think you’ll find it poetic.  I can give you Hook’s body.  A fitting compensation for your troubles, isn’t it?”

“And what do I have to do for you?”  Boston knew that there would always be strings attached.  Nothing ever came easy or free, especially not with people like Night.

“You’ve made some new friends recently,” reminded Night.  “Do you know who that girl is whose body you so haphazardly possessed?  You’ve gotten yourself mixed up with the daughter of Trigon, Brand.  That seems a bit out of your league.”

Boston had only heard the name “Trigon” in passing.  He had been dead for a long time and had possessed many people during that time.  He never paid attention to anything supernatural.  Even when he was alive, he didn’t put much stock in metaphysical things.  Still, he got the impression that Trigon wasn’t someone you wanted to mess with.  He trusted Rachel though because he had seen inside her.  She wasn’t a bad kid even with her inner darkness.  Everyone had their own demons that they were running from.

“I don’t know anything about Trigon,” said Boston, which was completely true.

“Trigon is an extremely powerful demon and his daughter is supposed to be equally if not more powerful,” explained Night.  “I want her out of my city.  Better yet, I want her not breathing if that’s even possible.  Why don’t we help each other out, Mr. Brand?  You help me get what I want and I help you get what you want.  That seems like a fair trade, doesn’t it?”

Boston knew that Night wouldn’t deliver on his promise, assuming he even could.  He didn’t want to wear the skin of the man that killed him.  He knew that getting his original body back was mostly hopeless.  At this point, he just wanted to pass on into the afterlife so he could rest.  However, he knew that Night wouldn’t take no for an answer.  The great thing about being in complete control of someone else’s body was that you could lie with impunity.  You could eliminate a person’s tells because you were the one that controlled their body.  Boston had learned that early on during his life after death.  It came in handy during times like this.

“What do you need me to do?” asked Boston.

“Get her into a situation where she’s alone,” ordered Night.  “I want the pleasure of finishing her myself.  Her little friend isn’t of interest to me.  I’ll deal with her on my own time.”

“I think that’s easy enough.  I’ll set something up and tell you when it’s time.”

“You’ll do it tonight or our deal is off.”

Boston eyed Night and could see that the man wasn’t lying and was deadly serious.  Why would he lie after all?  If he was as powerful as he seemed, he could easily carry out any threat he made.  Night’s power was his safety net, the thing he always fell back on in tight situations.  Boston was used to working without a net because he knew that life never offered one.  People had a sense of security but nothing protected them from death.

“Whatever you say, boss,” said Boston before kicking himself out of Ember’s body.  “Be seeing you.”

“That was extremely uncomfortable,” said Ember once she realized she was back in control of her own body.  “Was that necessary?”

“It was.”  Night could tell that Boston had left the room and was most likely making his way to the club’s exit.  “I’m going to need you and the others on the scene of this.  I don’t trust our new ally to hold up his end of our bargain.”

“I can kill a lot of things but not a ghost,” reminded Ember.

“Oh don’t worry, I can handle him.  I just want some insurance when the time comes.  I must say that I’m looking forward to meeting this girl.  I think it should be a very interesting experience.”

“The Enchantress says he’s still not back yet,” informed June.

Rachel was starting to get nervous.  She could see the yellow glow of fear on her own skin and it only agitated her even further.  This was supposed to be a simple act of gathering information.  She hoped that nothing had gone wrong but obviously something had.  The bad part was that they couldn’t even tell what was happening.  Their ghostly friend was completely undetectable.  If not for The Enchantress, Rachel and June wouldn’t even know if he had returned or not.

“If he’s in trouble then I have to get in there,” decided Rachel.

“He knows what you look like, Rachel.  The second you go inside that building, everyone’s going to want to tear you apart.”

Rachel nodded and tried to keep her emotions in check.  Going into the club wasn’t going to do anyone any good but she hated sitting around doing nothing.  A few moments passed in silence, June keeping watch on what was going on at the club’s entrance.  She suddenly nodded to herself, which was usually a sign that The Enchantress had said something to her.

“He’s back,” said June.  “He says he actually had a meeting with Brother Night.”

“That was definitely not part of the plan,” said Rachel.

“I think the plan is getting changed.  He says that Night made him an offer.  If he sells you out then he gets a new body.  He’s not taking the deal but he says he made Night think that he was.”

“So he’s supposed to lure me into a trap but really we’re setting one for Night,” realized Rachel.

“That’s the plan and it’s apparently going down tonight.”  June felt her phone vibrate and dug it out of her pocket.  “Ugh, he texted me back.”

“Don’t tell me he wants to do it tonight.”

“Yeah and he’s really big on honoring agreements.  Looks like I won’t…”  June stopped her sentence when she realized what she was about to say.

“You won’t be there for backup in case something goes wrong,” finished Rachel.  “You realize what’s going on here, right?  He’s still working for Brother Night, June.  It’s no coincidence that he texted you after Night set up all this.  Night wants me out there alone and he’s doing everything he can to make sure of it.”

‘I would listen to the girl, June.  Night knows that we’re a powerful ally to her and he’s trying to take us out of play.’

June nodded in agreement with what The Enchantress was telling her.  She couldn’t understand why she even entertained the idea of leaving her best friend’s side.  She wondered if Faust had done something to her with his magic.  She knew that he had tried to in the past but The Enchantress had stopped him and would likely do so again.  So maybe there was no magic involved then.  Maybe he was just doing what his boss told him to or maybe he just had terrible timing.  Either way, June wasn’t going to buy it.

“What if there’s a way that I can do both?” asked June.  “Boston told The Enchantress that Night’s coming to meet you face-to-face tonight.  If he sees that you’re not alone, he might not show up at all.  This is probably the only chance we have to actually get this guy.”

“So how can you be in two places at once?” asked Rachel.

“I’ll go on this stupid date with Sebastian and The Enchantress can teleport me over to where you are,” explained June.  “That way it looks like I’m occupied and Night will think his trap worked.  The only problem is I don’t know how you’re going to get in touch with me to let me know when to show up.”

“Yeah well we can figure that out back home,” decided Rachel.  “I don’t think the back alley behind a nightclub is the right place to have a strategy session.”

“I have to get ready anyways,” reminded June.  “Even if I’m only going on a fake date I at least want to look the part.”

“Okay so I’ve got my number in this,” said June as she handed Rachel the disposable cell phone they had bought on the way home.  “These things are only good for like one call though.”

“That’s all I’m going to need,” reminded Rachel.  “I’m probably not even really going to say anything.  The second you see I’m calling you, you know what to do.”

“You can always count on me.”  June nodded and handed the phone to Rachel.  “There’s something that you’re not going to like though.”

“Which is what?”

“Boston wants to possess you again.  He says it’ll help sell the whole thing.”

“I’m really not comfortable with it but he’s right.  If he possesses me and takes me to the trap against my will, it helps make it believable.”

“So you’re cool with it?”

Rachel shrugged but her face told June that she really wasn’t thrilled with the idea.  “Whatever makes this crazy plan work, I guess.”

“Right,” agreed June.  “I’m going to get going because I don’t want to be around for that.  Call me the second everything goes down and we’ll be there in a second.”

Rachel nodded and watched June leave.  She was bracing herself for her first meeting with Brother Night.  She still wasn’t sure if this was going to work or not, or that he would even show up in the first place.  This was the best chance at getting him though.  He had been hiding in the shadows for too long.  Rachel was going to drag him into the light of day and make sure everyone knew that he was nothing to fear.  She wasn’t afraid of him.  She was the daughter of Trigon, a being far more terrible than anything Night could be.  Having someone like that for a father put things in a different perspective.

“If you’re going to do it then let’s get it over with,” said Rachel to the empty apartment after June had left.

Boston Brand took that as the only invitation he was ever going to get.  He shoved his ethereal body into Rachel’s physical one.  The first time he did this to her, it had caught her by surprise and he had to wrestle with her spirit for control.  This time, she let him gain access to her body and her powers.  He knew that it was only to help with the deception and that she could force him out whenever she wanted.  He had to hand it to her that she was more powerful than any of his other hosts.  He found himself wishing that he had that power.  When you were a ghost, you longed for many things so it wasn’t a new feeling for him.

“Showtime, kid,” said Boston as he accessed Rachel’s teleportation and disappeared from the apartment.

“I was a little surprised that you agreed to go out with me tonight,” admitted Sebastian Faust as he saw June enter his shop.

“We did have a deal,” reminded June.  “I’m a girl who likes to keep her word.”

“A trait I do admire.  So where shall we go for dinner?  I’m leaving the decision up to you.”

“If I didn’t know you better, I would think you were being nice.”

Faust chuckled but made no effort to persuade June that he was anything more than her implication.  He normally tried to hide his indiscretions but he knew that it wouldn’t work with her.  June already knew more about him than most people did.  Trying to deceive her when she already had this knowledge would be foolish.  Faust sometimes felt burdened by the web of lies he had weaved for himself.  It was a heavy thing to live your life behind a mask.  He knew that June understood that feeling to a certain degree.  After all, it wasn’t as if she was completely forthcoming with everything in her life.  He doubted that many knew what truly lurked behind those sapphire-colored eyes.

“It’s just one dinner, June,” he told her.  “I know you can handle it.”

“Fine,” decided June.  “I think I’m in the mood for Italian.  Know any good places for that?”

“My dear, I know all the good places for everything.”

“Lead the way then.”  June gestured towards the door, letting Faust step in front of her.  “Oh and by the way, you’re the one picking up the tab for tonight.”

Faust turned to look at her and grinned.  “I was going to suggest that but I was afraid you’d find it too chivalrous for your modern sensibilities.”

“I’m just a broke college student,” reminded June.  “There’s no way I’ll ever say no to a free meal.”

Faust actually laughed at that as June followed him out of the shop.  He hailed a taxi for them and opened the door for her to get inside it first.  June appreciated the gesture but she couldn’t help feeling anxious.  Her hand slipped inside her pocket, fingers closing around her phone.  So far, she hadn’t received any calls but she was ready for anything.  She just hoped that this crazy plan was actually going to work.

Boston had brought himself, and Rachel by extension, to a secluded area on the outskirts of San Francisco.  He wasn’t sure why Night owned a piece of land like this but he knew why he was there.  Night wanted the confrontation to happen away from the city.  The crime lord thought that it would attract less attention than meeting at his club, although the club might have been safer for him.  Boston was a little nervous about the whole operation.  He knew that he didn’t have to do much but what he had to do was pretty crucial.  He understood the art of performing because it was what he had done for most of his life.  He had never done something like this though.

‘He better show up.’

Boston grinned even though he knew Rachel couldn’t see it.  He had sold the act well enough to Night on the phone when he called to arrange this meeting.  The bait was too tempting for Night to pass up.  Boston stared around at the area that would be a battleground in only a few moments.  He saw something out in the darkness.  A flame sprouted up from the darkness and he could see a woman standing behind that flame.  He recognized the woman as the one he had possessed at Club Bewitched when he and Night had their first meeting.  He assumed that Night would bring backup and Rachel’s thoughts confirmed it.

‘She usually has two others with her,’ explained Rachel.  ‘The three of them are Night’s top thugs.’

‘I’m going to see if I can reel Night in a little more before I let you go.  Once that happens, you might wanna call for backup.’

Ember stepped forward into a patch of light and Boston could see the other two Rachel warned him about standing with her.  Teddy grinned as he carried the box with his pets inside it in front of him, his fingers grazing against the latch that would open it.  The mask that passed for Romalthi’s face bore no expression and it unnerved even Boston.  The three of them stood there for a moment and Boston wondered what they were waiting for.  He watched the darkness next to them shimmer and contort.  A man stepped out of that darkness but Boston could tell by his face that he wasn’t a man.  Brother Night took a few steps to get in front of his thugs but left plenty of space between himself and Boston.

“I have to hand it to you, Mr. Brand,” said Night.  “You do deliver when the need arises.”

“I’ve got what you want,” said Boston.  “You better have what you promised me.”

“I understand the importance of holding up my end of a bargain, Brand.  You’ll get what you want once I get what you promised me.”  Night motioned to his three underlings and they started to encircle Boston.  “Now, please be kind enough to hold very still for just a moment.”

“I wouldn’t count on that.”  Boston knew Night wanted him to hold Rachel in place while his goons killed her.  “If you want her then you’re going to have to work for it.”

Rachel felt Boston eject himself from her body and she regained control.  She felt disoriented for a few moments but the confusion passed quickly.  She stared at Night’s grotesque face and realized why so many people were afraid of him.  She wasn’t impressed though.  She used her telekinesis to throw herself forward and out of the circle of death slowly closing in around her.  She cocked her fist back and then slammed it right into Night’s jaw as hard as she could.

Night smirked after taking the punch.  He cracked his neck and then simply held up his hand.  The darkness around Rachel began to constrict her, suffocating her in its cold embrace.  He thought the daughter of Trigon would have recognized a powerful adversary when she saw one.  There was a reason that he called himself “Brother Night” and it was because the darkness was his to command.  He was actually pleased that Boston had double-crossed him.  He wanted the pleasure of killing Rachel when she was in complete control of herself.

“I hear your name is Rachel,” said Night as he watched Rachel try to extricate herself from his trap.  “It’s a pleasure to meet you but I have to say I am disappointed.  You have an interesting reputation, Rachel, but I’m afraid you’ve left me a bit underwhelmed.  I expected so much more from Trigon’s only daughter.”

Rachel used her power to teleport out of the stifling shadows Night had conjured up.  She reappeared only a few feet away and used her telekinesis to pick up whatever objects she could.  She flung them at Night but Night used the darkness like a shield to block the oncoming debris.  Rachel realized that it was time to make the call to June.  She pulled out the phone June had given her and dialed her number.  She dodged a blast of fire from Ember’s mouth but dropped the phone in the process.  She scrambled for it and looked behind her to see Teddy open the box he carried.  A swarm of magical locusts erupted from the box and flew straight towards Rachel, eagerly awaiting the taste of her flesh.  Rachel used her telekinesis to keep herself safe and finally heard someone pick up the phone.

“I’m afraid your little friend is a tad busy,” said a woman’s voice.  “Looks like she won’t be coming to your rescue.”

As Night and his minions closed in around her, Rachel realized that he had been expecting her deception.  He had outmaneuvered her and now she had to come up with something quick if she wanted to survive.

EDITOR’S NOTE

It’s our sad duty to inform you that Wesley Overhults passed away on January 30th, 2017. From the time he joined Marvel Omega in 2009, Wesley was one of the Omega collective’s most devoted writers, consistently turning out high quality work and being an active participant in the community. He will be missed.