Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Witch and the Widows

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 16:

Kate Bishop was running late but school was the last thing on her mind. Her attention was on her girlfriend on the other side of the world, delivering rescued children to the news media. She couldn’t see her face behind the chilling black mask but would recognize her voice anywhere.

Kate didn’t bother stopping the tears from flowing when she saw the little girls clinging to the intimidating women in black. She had known this would happen. Yelena had called her from the island the day before and told her why they would be delivering the children to the media. Yelena didn’t give details of the mission, only saying that they had found the recipient of the girls meant for the Red Room and shut the base down. Yelena didn’t mention the experimentation, and as much as Kate didn’t want to imagine it, she couldn’t help herself.

As proud as she was of Yelena, proud to call the blonde her love, she was also saddened by the sight. Those sweet, young children had gone through hell.

Yelena was younger than they were when she was taken. Yelena had been six. She had been mind-controlled since she was twelve. She had been tortured, drugged and had other things done to her that Kate tried not to think about but couldn’t help to at times.

Seeing those little girls on the television, she realized with cold clarity that any of them could have been Yelena ten years ago.

The past years of her life, ever since the Battle of New York, Kate had pushed herself beyond her limits in the hope of one day being an Avenger. She thought heroes fought aliens and evil robots and Nazi terrorist groups like HYDRA.

That was true but Kate was now watching another kind of heroism. It was bloody and brutal but also gentle and kind. It required traumatized women to put aside their own problems and risk their lives to save others from the fate they went through. Even Wanda, the most powerful person she had ever personally met, was in constant danger. Yelena seemed larger than life and invincible, but Kate knew all it would take was one stray bullet, one lucky shot and she would never be with her again.

Kate wanted to share that risk. She wanted to save children, not give a damn about glory or colorful suits. She no longer wanted to be an Avenger. She wanted to be a Red Widow. She wanted to fight by Yelena’s side, share the same risks as the girl she loved.

She also knew Yelena would fight her on her wishes. Yelena never wanted Kate in danger, despite that she had trained to be in danger for years. She didn’t want Kate to kill. It didn’t matter. Yelena had no idea how stubborn Kate could be when she decided she wanted something.

Kate took a deep breath, wiped her eyes, and began preparing for school. The nice thing about having a driver was there was no bus to miss.

When she reached downstairs, she was surprised to see her mother in the living room. The woman was usually gone to the office by this time.

She walked into the living room and around the couch, to see her mother watching the same news she had been. What stunned her were the tears in her eyes and the smile on her face.

“Mom?”

Eleanor shook herself out of the world she had been lost in. She had received a text from Wanda on the phone the girls gave her, telling her what to expect and the reasoning behind it.

Norman Osborn.

She couldn’t say she was surprised. She did not know much about the man but despised him more than she had ever disliked Tony Stark. He was arrogant but also creepy, and she supposed she knew why now. He was a psychopath who funded a secret organization like Eleanor did. Only Osborn stole children while Eleanor saved them.

Watching the children clinging to the widows touched her. She had made the right choice. She was a part of this. Thirty children, more over the past months, had been saved because of the Red Widows and she was a part of that. Bishop Security was being used for more than making shareholders richer. It was being used as more than a tool for Wilson Fisk to monitor his enemies and, at times, launder money. It was being used for something good.

Eleanor felt good. She had not felt good in so long, it was exhilarating.

“Kate! I thought you would have left for school by now.”

“I was watching the news. It’s amazing.”

Eleanor nodded. “Yes, it is.”

Kate sniffed. “The Red Widows. I’d never heard of them but wow. I think they are a lot cooler than the Avengers.”

Eleanor eyes widened. She would never have suspected Kate of putting anyone above her personal heroes. “You think they are cooler than the Avengers. Kate Bishop thinks there are people cooler than the Avengers. I may need to visit my doctor.”

Kate smirked, enjoying her mother’s playful tone. Her Mom was not much for idle chatter and teasing, so when it happened, it was nice to see.

“A group of girls in black, kicking ass, saving kids, taking down bad guys and evil scientists. They wear masks. They don’t care if anyone knows them. They just do it because it’s right. That’s pretty cool, right?”

Eleanor nodded. “Yes, I think it is pretty cool. Does it bother you…”

“What?”

Eleanor thought of not asking but couldn’t help herself. She wanted Kate’s opinion even if it meant she became suspicious.

“Does it bother you that they have probably killed a lot of people to make this happen? I doubt the guns and other weapons they carry are for show.”

Kata shook her head quickly. “No. Ever since I was almost taken in Paris and saw those men killed in front of me, I’ve realized the world isn’t black and white. Sometimes, things have to be done that are extreme to protect others. The world needs more people like Wanda and Yelena. They saved me and did what they had to do. It’s not like they were excited to kill people. They did it because it had to be done. It seems like that is what the Red Widows are doing. What do you think about them? Do the weapons bother you? Is that why you are asking?”

Eleanor smiled and shook her head. “I think they kicked ass. You need to get to school, and I need to get to the office. We can share a car.”

Kate planned to call Yelena directly after school, so of course the day dragged on. The Red Widows had made a splash and were all anyone could talk about. People talked about them in the same tone as the Avengers, only the Widows identities and backgrounds were a mystery, making them cooler in teenagers’ eyes. If Yelena had shown her face on television, she would be more popular than the Black Widow. Wanda could be bigger than the Avengers combined. There would be merchandise, t shirts, posters and magazines with her image sold around the world.

They didn’t though. There was a reason they were doing what they were doing and it was not for fame. Kate knew that. Everything they did had a reason and personal fame was not the reason for their stunt.

They were trying to scare someone. Kate had been thinking about it all day. She knew if she asked Yelena, the blonde would tell her not to worry about it and then ask about her day or tell her a new trick Fanny had learned or maybe something funny Wanda or one of the widows had done.

She would get her answers though. She knew how to play to Yelena’s ego and get her to admit to anything.

Kate had an unexpected visitor, waiting for her outside the school, in front of where her driver had parked. He wore a plain blue ballcap, old jeans and a Yankees t shirt. She almost didn’t recognize him until he looked directly at her.

Before she met Yelena, meeting the Avengers was her dream. She was living the dream when she met Hawkeye and was taken to the Avenger’s Compound.

But Hawkeye was retired, and the remaining Avengers were beginning to get on her nerves. The Black Widow had no luck interrogating her for Yelena’s location and threatened to take her phone, which enraged her. Now Captain America had shown up at her school and she doubted it was to say hello or just hang out. The awe and nervousness she had once felt, wasn’t there anymore. Now, she was frustrated and wanted him gone so she could call Yelena.

“I don’t know where their base is, Captain, and if I did, I wouldn’t tell you. If you try to take my phone, Yelena will know, and she won’t be happy.”

Cap smiled, putting her slightly at ease but Kate was still on guard.

“I’m not here to take anything. I just wanted to ask a favor. When you talk to Yelena, could you pass on a message to Wanda? I need to talk to her. It’s important. I have information she needs to know.”

“What sort of information?” Kate, boldly, asked.

Cap smirked, appreciating the girl’s bravado. “The kind that needs to be told to her by me. She could be in danger and I need to warn her. That’s all I wanted.” Cap handed her a card with his number. “It’s in your hands if you pass the message, but I think you will. Have a good day, Miss Bishop.”

Kate did pass on the message as soon as she got home. She wasn’t sure what would happen and didn’t care. If Cap knew where the Widows were, he wouldn’t have needed Kate to pass on the message. The Widows were still safely hidden, wherever they were.

New York City, two nights later

Everett Ross walked into his small, one bedroom apartment, two miles from the United Nations headquarters, utterly exhausted. He had continued the fight against General Ross and the President against publicly naming Wanda Maximoff as a terrorist. He had lied to the Secretary of State, saying the Avengers had guaranteed him a meeting with the woman so an agreement could be made. He just needed time to work out the details.

He knew his lie would not hold up. It was a cold standoff. Ross believed it was a matter of time before Wanda declared herself the leader of the Red Widows. Everett argued that she would have done so already and that naming her as a terrorist could force her into becoming a terrorist. General Ross didn’t care. When Everett told him Ross’ life could be in danger if he pushed Maximoff, the General still didn’t care. This was a man who once thought he could control the Hulk, had ruined his relationship with his only child and family because he believed he was right and was ready to tear the Avengers apart rather than let them operate without his direct supervision.

Everett turned on the light in his living room and jumped back, a manly yelp escaping his mouth as he grabbed his chest.

Wanda Maximoff was in his favorite chair.

She was dressed as he had often seen her in photos, like a nineteen year old teenager who spent time in dark, European punk clubs. She had dark makeup around her eyes, several thin chains hung around her neck and each of her fingers was adorned with multiple rings. Her ripped jeans and black hoodie were different than her usual more provocative attire. The fact that her hood was over her head and cast a shadow over half her face was unnerving.

“Miss Maximoff. It is an honor to meet you. I wish I had known you were coming. I would have brought wine, tea or soda. All I have is beer.”

She casually lifted her hand and Everett heard the fridge open, then two bottles floated in. When one hovered in front of him, he grabbed it and the top popped off.

“My favorite brand.” Wanda told him.

“Really?”

“No, I was being polite. You went through the trouble of sending Captain America to set up a meeting between us, Agent Ross. What do you want?”

Ross took a moment to evaluate her. Her face was hard to read. Her dark features along with his poor lighting made it difficult to read her face. She spoke with a thick accent, but her words were measured and clear. She sounded older than the nineteen.

“You came all the way to New York City to see me?” he asked.

Wanda chuckled. “I could live down the block from you. You have no idea where we live. You have no idea why I am in New York. You are likely wondering where my sisters are. I’ll put your mind at ease. They are not here.”

Everett nodded. “Can’t we have a bit of small talk? We’ve never met, we are sharing a beer, we should relax and get to know each other.”

Wanda rolled her eyes. “This isn’t a date. You are old enough to be my father and aren’t my type regardless. You know enough about me. I know what I need to know about you. Steve Rogers seemed to believe you were genuine in intention and I trust Steve’s judgement for the most part.”

“For the most part?”

“He does consider Tony Stark a friend.” Wanda pointed out.

Everett nodded. “You aren’t a fan of Tony Stark. I was never very clear on the why.”

“You would have to ask him. You asked for me and I am here. What do you want, Everett?”

Ross sat back and took a long drink, keeping his eyes on her, always assessing her, taking in every detail. She was confident, jaded, but not overly aggressive. She had been shaped by trauma. This was a woman who had killed hundreds since the destruction of Sokovia. She tore through HYDRA bases, the Red Room, and human trafficking rings, picking up loyal followers along the way. Her followers happened to be some of the deadliest women in the world. That meant she had charisma whether she knew it or not. People wanted to follow her. She inspired others and it had more to do than just her powers.

“You called the Red Widows your sisters. Are they sisters or closer to followers?”

Everett dropped his beer and hung in the air, red lights traveling from Wanda’s finger to a noose around his neck, choking him.

He gasped, grabbing his throat trying to breathe, then the light was gone, and he dropped back onto his chair.

“This isn’t an interview. You are trying my patience. What do you want?” Wanda asked coldly.

Everett coughed and beat his chest until he regained his breath. “I wanted to help you until ten seconds ago! Couldn’t you have let me put down my beer before you did an impression of Darth Vader?! I’m not a millionaire and my job causes me to drink quite a bit! Even cheap beer still costs money!”

Despite herself, Wanda smiled at the man’s humor in the face of her aggression. He was different but she wasn’t sure if that was good or bad. She should have let Yelena come with her rather than her listen outside with a sniper rifle in the event of trouble.

“You want to help me. Why? No one does something for nothing.”

“What did you get out of freeing those women from Dreykov?” he asked. “Is someone paying you to take out scum? You do things for nothing in return. Why can’t I?”

Wanda said nothing, debating if she should just read his mind.

Everett raised his hands briefly in a gesture of surrender. “You want to get to the point, we can get to the point. Could you float me another beer in here?”

Wanda rolled her eyes but did as asked.

“General Ross and the President are scared of you. If you publicly come out as the leader of the Red Widows you will be more popular than the Avengers.”

Wanda shrugged. “I have no desire for fame. That isn’t what this is about.”

“If they can’t control you, they will discredit you before you can become popular. Ross wants to go to the press and name you an international terrorist. He will release everything on you. He will tell the world, you willingly joined HYDRA, that you assisted Ultron in destroying Novi Grad and fought the Avengers.”

“Let him. It’s the truth.” she told him uncaringly.

“He won’t tell them how you fought Ultron, how your brother gave his life to protect an Avenger and a child, how they couldn’t have beaten Ultron without you. He won’t tell the world how you used your power to evacuate most of Novi Grad before the battle began. He won’t tell the world about the despicable people you have taken out or the children you have rescued.”

Wanda shrugged once more. “I don’t see why I should care. Let them say what they will. What difference does it make to me?”

Everett sighed and took a long drink. “It makes a big difference, Wanda. You can continue your mission unimpeded or have to hide from the entire world. The international law enforcement community is not looking for you. They don’t have anything linking you to the bloody vigilante acts in numerous countries. If you are publicly named a terrorist you won’t be able to ride a bike down a street in Antarctica without a police officer trying to arrest you. They wouldn’t succeed but it would not make your mission any easier.”

Wanda was impressed the more she listened to Ross. Yelena was staying quiet so she supposed she was impressed as well. “I suppose you have a solution to my problem?”

Everett nodded. “I do. Work with me. Share information on what you know about A.I.M. Give me something to show the U.N. Secretary General that you are more valuable as an ally than an enemy.”

Wanda sat back and relaxed, a grin on her face. “We investigate, find the bases and give you the information so you can what? Arrest them? Read them their rights?”

Everett nodded. “Sure, why not? We can give them three meals a day, basic cable, free medical care. Of course not. You find them, you wipe them out. We take down the big money players behind this. If they get off somehow with less than life in prison you are going to kill them anyway.

“No one wants another HYDRA infiltration. Give me something and work with me. Just the two of us. I work the case with you and make sure the government stays off your back while you ladies do what you do.”

Wanda shook her head. “You are genuine. You are too good for this line of work, Everett Ross. The problem I have is while you work on a U.N. taskforce, you report directly to General Ross. I will never work with the United States Government.”

Everett nodded. “Any government! Take your pick. There are others like me on the taskforce, good men and women representing several nations. We just want to see the bad guys get what they deserve. Work with one of them. It doesn’t matter if the taskforce reports to Ross. The United Nations can keep the President off your back, no matter what Ross or the President wish.”

Wanda was impressed. He was excitable and sincere. This man wanted to do good in the world. Everett meant well and was honest, something she had not expected to find in a CIA agent.

“Tell me what you know about A.I.M. Wanda. Not the generic news briefing you gave the media. Tell me what you know. Just give me the name we both know you have.”

“I can never work with a group that has any connection to Thaddeus Ross. Working with me is dangerous for you. I’m the one who will kill the Secretary of State after all. Being associated with someone like me could not be good for your career.”

Everett shivered at the matter of fact tone of her voice. The conversation had just taken a very dark turn.

“Wanda, the guy is an asshole, but he is a well-connected asshole who has many friends. You cannot kill the Secretary of State.”

Wanda smiled and finished off her beer.

“Did you love your parents, Agent Ross?”

Everett sighed and nodded.

“I loved my parents. I idolized them. Maybe it’s because I never had the chance to be that rebellious teenager that argued with them, that they seem so perfect in my mind. We never had much but we had love.

“My father was a salesman. He sold anything he could get his hands on. Knock off watches, shoes, clothes, jewelry, DVDs. If he could get his hands on it cheap and turn it around for a profit, he would. Our mother was a seamstress. She also taught me and Pietro. You see, the streets of Novi Grad were not safe. We tended not to stray from home and the schools had mostly been destroyed anyway. Every night we would hear gunfire.

“The United States wanted to occupy Sokovia, so they could position their missiles closer to Russia and our corrupt government officials allowed this. They sold our country for American dollars. Some people fought back. We called them freedom fighters. The United States called them terrorists, rebels and insurgents.”

Everett nodded. “I’m aware. It was a dark time for your people and you were all treated unfairly.”

“Unfairly?” Wanda asked. “Unfairly. You have a way with understatements, Everett. The United States found Novi Grad difficult to take. Soldiers attempted to occupy it but were constantly fought off by our fighters. As a child I heard gunfire in the streets while trying to fall asleep. We stayed away from windows and we never played outside.

“The United States doesn’t like to lose. They told the world that Novi Grad was completely overrun with insurgents and all decent people had fled. They told the world a lie and the world believed them. The world celebrated when bombs fell on Novi Grad and the evil insurgents, rebels and terrorists died. The United States did what it always did when there was a problem they couldn’t solve. They dropped as many bombs as it took to accomplish their goal no matter how many suffered.”

Everett was becoming very worried with every word she spoke. He had thought he was making headway in building a rapport with Wanda that could lead to a partnership. Now he needed to convince an incredibly powerful, traumatized nineteen year old girl out of killing the Secretary of State.

“I understand your anger at this country, Wanda.”

“Do you know what I have recently found out? We have been going through Red Room intelligence we salvage, and I have discovered so many things. Do you know who gave the order to knowingly drop bombs on a civilian population in order to kill those who fought for their homes? You want a name? I will give you a name. Two time Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, five star General, Secretary of State and American hero, Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross. He made the decision and gave the order that killed my parents and two hundred and thirty other noncombatants that day including children. Think about that. Your people call him a hero. Americans call him a hero! He is a mass murderer and psychopath and I will be the one who ends him.”

“Oh shit.” Everett whispered.

“Blood must be paid in blood, Agent Ross. Of course there are worse things than death. How do you think he would look in a straight jacket in a padded cell, trapped in his mind under rubble, waiting for a bomb to go off? How long do you think his heart will last?”

Everett shivered at the idea.

“Wanda, I get it. I can’t stand him and he hasn’t done anything to me other than just existing. But you haven’t killed him or done whatever it is you do to make people insane yet. I’m sure you could do it at any time. Why not? What is the hold up?”

Wanda was impressed by the man once again. He had a keen insight. He should have been intimidated but was constantly pushing instead. He would make a good asset if handled right.

“Why do you think I haven’t killed him yet, Everett?”

Everett was happy she was still talking to him. He had to keep her on a hook. This was too important. Here in his small apartment, drinking cheap beer with a girl too young to drink, could and would have a huge impact on the future.

“Because he is still of use to you alive. Why? I don’t understand what use he could be. I could be of use. My friends could be of use. What use does he have? When does his use end?”

“When he causes Tony Stark to be the man who destroys the Avengers.” Wanda said.

Ross was quiet for a moment, reassessing her once again. Smart. She was angry and vengeful but also smart and lived with highly trained spies.

“You know it is coming. Ross and Stark are in bed together. The same Tony Stark that told the Government to kiss his ass years ago, is now best friends with the man who wants to control the Avengers. Steve Rogers will finally see the man Stark truly is. The world will see what Tony Stark is. Ross and Stark are doing something no one else could do. Not me and Pietro, not Ultron and not Hydra could accomplish it. They will destroy the Avengers.

“Then when the world needs the Avengers, Ross and Stark will be to blame for the team no longer being together. After they have both become pariahs instead of heroes to the world, then I will settle our debt.”

Everett couldn’t help but be impressed. She had given this deep thought. Or her sisters had. Black Widows were more than assassins and spies. They were infiltrators who were trained to topple governments from the inside and sometimes succeeded.

He also knew she was right in her assessment of Stark and Ross’ relationship. Stark had changed over the years. He was no longer the man who stood in front of Congress and told them they could not have his armor. The losses, the devastation and his own guilty conscience had Stark listening increasingly to Ross.

The Avengers were doomed.

“You are right. The Avengers are falling apart.” he told her. “I believe this world will still need heroes though. What about you, Wanda? Can the innocent count on you? Are kidnapped children the only ones who deserve your help? If aliens or killer robots attack again, will you stand by and let families be slaughtered? What would you do right now if a hole opened over New York and aliens poured out? I know what you would do. You would be in the sky making them regret ever coming here. You would have some pretty amazing and deadly women on your side also.

“I get it.” He continued. “You don’t want to be involved with the U.S. government and especially General Ross. I’m asking you to become involved with me. That sounded creepy but you get my meaning. If you kill or drive Ross insane one day, then you do you. I don’t like him anyway. We can do so much together though. Let me help you.”

Wanda stilled as if she were thinking but Everett knew better. She was listening. Was she listening to someone’s thoughts? Was she listening to his thoughts or was one of her teammates nearby?

Her hood was up, and one ear was covered completely. She had a com in that ear. Someone was listening as he had suspected and likely talking to her now.

He waited patiently.

“What do we get out of it? “Wanda finally asked. “You told me we do what we do for nothing and its true but working with you is a reach on our part. We found A.I.M. without you. We have been rescuing victims for months without you. Do you believe keeping Ross off our backs is enough? He can call me a terrorist. If a police officer wants to arrest me, I will change his mind and make him forget he saw me with a snap of my fingers. I need more for this partnership to be beneficial. So far I haven’t heard you offer anything we haven’t done ourselves beside stopping a man I plan to kill one day from calling me bad names.”

Everett had given this a lot of thought in the event this meeting actually happened.

“You are going to spend a lot of time and resources investigating A.I.M’s financials to cut their life blood, time that could be better spent tracking down bases and saving children. I investigate from that end and give you all our findings and you concentrate on following the trail I give you and finding those bases. Keep taking out the human trafficking rings. We hit A.I.M. from both sides. You blow a hole in their operations, and we gather evidence needed to take out A.I.M.’s organizational structure. To do this I need us to be partners. I need to know what you know.”

Wanda crossed her legs and waved for him to keep going.

“I can tell you what is going on behind the scenes with Stark and Ross. I’ll give you all the discussions behind closed doors about the Avengers, you and other enhanced individuals. I tell them you are cooperating with only me so Ross can’t publicly attack you. The U.N. Secretary General will believe that is enough and he is the one who is over Ross and the President in regard to the Joint Counter Terrorism Center.

“You must trust me because you are still here. Can you really say you couldn’t use a friend like me? That is only a taste of what we could accomplish. I want the same people you do. I’ve never had kids but just the thought of what has been happening makes me sick. The world knew things like this happened, but nothing was ever done. No real resources were put towards the problem until you showed up. Now the world is paying attention.”

Wanda closed her eyes and Everett felt a strange tickling sensation in his head. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it caught him off guard and made him a bit woozy.

When Wanda opened her eyes she smirked. “You did give me permission to read your mind.”

Everett finished off his beer and tipped the bottle towards her. “Point to you, Maximoff. You and the Red Widows are bad asses. If the Black Widow is considered a superhero, the Red Widows are defintely superheroes. Even superheroes need help. Let’s be more than partners. Lets be friends. Give me something. Work with me.”

Wanda was quiet and the silence seemed to stretch for eternity in Ross’s mind. In reality it was probably thirty seconds.

“Norman Osborn.” Wanda said, having made her decision.

Everett fought not to jump in the air and cheer like a child. Wanda or whoever she was listening to, was willing to work with him. He forced himself to remain calm. He needed to focus on the problem.

“Oscorp?”

Wanda nodded. “He is the main financer of A.I.M. We gave A.I.M. to the public to watch Osborn panic and monitor his movements, transactions and gather all the intel we can find. You work on tracking his finances. If we just killed him someone could step in and we would be searching for them. Find all his partners and cut them off. We will work on finding the other bases, raiding them and maybe leaving them in one piece so you can study the data and technology. Does that sound like a reasonable start to this partnership, Agent Ross?”

Everett reached out his hand. “You give me heads up on the bases before you raid them?”

Wanda took his hand. “You keep me informed on Ross, Stark and everything else regarding the Avengers. I need all information on any moves that affect the Avengers. I want Rogers warned before this comes to the confrontation we both know is coming.”

Everett nodded. “You won’t regret this.”

“I hope not. You are different, Everett Ross and we believe you are trustworthy. From my sisters that is a high compliment. I must go. I need to find vodka to wash the taste of this beer from my mouth.”

“That’s the kind of beer you get on a public servant’s salary.” he reminded her.

They walked to the door and she pulled out a phone to hand it to him.

“Only use this to contact me. The minute anyone tries to trace or hack this phone it blows up. I mean that literally so if it begins to feel warm throw it far from you.”

As soon as the door was closed, Everett began jumping and pumping his fist.

“Yes!”

He had done it. He wasn’t sure what it was yet, but he could feel it. What happened here in his apartment would be important for the future. Everett had a partnership with a powerful woman who the deadliest women on the planet willingly followed.

Of course she planned to drive the Secretary of State insane eventually or kill him slowly, but he really didn’t like General Ross.

He thought of the magnitude of secretly, investigating a company as large as Oscorp but that was a problem for tomorrow. Nothing would ruin his good mood tonight. Tomorrow he would tell his international task force about their new source of information and Ross and the President could do nothing to discredit her. The U.N. Secretary General would not allow it.

Outside the building, Yelena joined Wanda when she had walked four blocks from the apartment complex. Yelena was not in a combat uniform but did wear a black t shirt and her green vest over dark blue denim. She carried a case in her hand that held a broken down sniper rifle inside it.

“You think this is the best decision.” Wanda confirmed with her. Yelena had been in her ear the entire conversation, listening for tells and evaluating what he was saying. Wanda didn’t feel like she was enough of a spy to handle meeting a CIA officer on her own but didn’t want him outnumbered and on the defensive.

Yelena nodded. “You said you felt he was genuine. I trust your feelings. If this is real, he is a resource we can use. He could make our life easier in many ways.”

“I don’t like trusting or relying on outsiders.” Wanda said, despite her good feeling about the man.

“We rely on Eleanor Bishop and that is working out. The woman could literally lead the world to our doorstep. As much as I would like to say we can do everything on our own we know that is not true, unless we want to needlessly risk the lives of our sisters. We use Eleanor’s technology, our fallen enemies money, the Avengers to take down the Red Room and now we will use him to help the investigation into A.I.M. He cannot hold information back from you. He knows you would take it from his head.”

Wanda shrugged, knowing Yelena was right.

Ava joined them six blocks later. She had been Yelena’s back up in the unlikely event it had been an ambush. Wanda could most likely fight her way out but they took nothing for granted. She had called an Uber for them and was waiting its arrival.

“We have a resource in the CIA. This is a good night’s work.” Ava told them, satisfied with events. The widows were much more open to working with others, if just to use them, than Wanda was. They had a better understanding of networking assets.

Wanda and Pietro were homeless and learned to only count on themselves. The widows only had each other now but in the past lived in worlds where they would use people as assets for different purposes.

“How have the others fared?” Yelena asked. “Did they find her?”

Ava nodded. “Madison, Dani, and Antonia have found her. Amanda Sinclair, seventeen years old, goes to school at Wesley preparatory and poses as the daughter of two stockbrokers who are her handlers and Russian spies. She is under their control. The widows listened into their home. The fools did not have a sound dampening system. The handlers know Dreykov is dead and aren’t sure what to do. They are considering hiring her out for contract work and taking the profits.”

“So we go in, kill them, and take her. It should be simple enough.” Yelena said.

“Wanda, Antonia, Madison, Dani and I can handle it.” Ava told Yelena.

“Yes, I will make it like a murder suicide.” Wanda reminded her. “They can kill each other then in the chaos we take Amanda.”

“You should have fun with Kate tomorrow night, Yelena.” Ava told her. “Our sisters in France have found a widow in Ireland named Rowan. They are enroute to rescue her. Enjoy the time you are here. We will be very busy soon.”

Yelena sighed, thinking of how wonderful that sounded but not wanting to push her responsibilities off on others. “We watch Osborn tomorrow during the day.” she reminded Ava.

“He isn’t going to drive to an A.I.M. base. We have a CIA agent watching him now. Antonia and Dani will prep for the widow retrieval and you will relax. Kate is good to you, Yelena. She is good for you.” Wanda told her.

Yelena knew what she really meant. They were all worried about her since her breakdown over fireflies of all things. “I am fine.”

“No one said you weren’t.” Ava told her. “Kate’s hot. If you don’t want to spend time with her, I will be glad to keep… I’m joking! Do not become violent. New York City is not ready for a widow brawl.”

The scowl on Yelena’s face lessened. “Apparently I am a very jealous person. I will spend time with her tomorrow. I will surprise her. Antonia does not have patience with Fanny. We must return to luxury motel that charges by the hour so I can take her for walk. Next time, I choose the accommodations.”

The next morning Wanda and Yelena woke at the same time, as the first sunrays peaked through the blinds.

After having horrible motel coffee the two walked to a nearby diner and Yelena mentioned another recurring topic.

“You need witch lessons. After breakfast you should try to use some witchy stuff to contact the bald one.”

“Witchy stuff?” Wanda asked, humored.

“A Ouija board maybe? We can pick one up at toy store.” Yelena suggested. “I’m sure all powerful, bald one can write back through a Ouija board.”

Wanda snorted. “Her name is the Ancient One. That is the name she gave me. Maybe its like those old, scary tales about demons. If you know their true name you can control them.”

Yelena smiled. “Who told you that?”

“My Babica when I was a little girl.”

“You get being witch from your grandmother. That makes sense. You should still try to contact the all-powerful bald one.”

Wanda sighed. “Where and when will I learn? I cannot take time to leave the team. I will not bring some witch instructor to our base.”

Yelena shrugged off her concern. “Why not? It is better you be where we can watch your back and she is a witch. It is unlikely she will tell anyone where we are. I don’t like the idea of you learning magic away from us.”

Wanda scoffed at her concern. “You are really suggesting I bring a witch into our home.”

“Of course. If she is trouble, we kill her. You have heard of magic bullet, no? It can make head disappear. Unfortunately for her, it cannot make it reappear.”

Wanda thought of that. It would require an agreement of all the widows. The base belonged to all of them. Allowing a witch into their home was risky. Many widows often had breakdowns randomly, like Yelena did on the island. They had all gone through trauma, were still involved in a violent lifestyle and the unlikeliest triggers could set them off. They had gotten to a point where they were not afraid to break down in front of each other, allowed themselves to be comforted, especially at home. Bringing an unknown into the fold could cause setbacks.

“Talk to ancient bald one at least. Meet the witch teacher.” Yelena told her.

“I don’t even know how to contact her.” Wanda argued. “I doubt a Ouija board bought at a toy store will work.

A sudden gust of wind blew and a piece of paper flew straight into Wanda’s face, sticking to her nose. She pulled it off, looked at it and handed it to Yelena.

“177A Bleeker St.” Yelena read looking all around. “She is spying on us. After we find you witch teacher, we should kill the ancient bald one.”

Wanda looked around, wondering if someone actually was in hearing distance or had eyes on them or if this was something else.

“We should go.” Yelena decided. “I want back up. I will tell Antonia to stay nearby. Ava can go inside with us. Dani and Madison can prepare for op tonight. With Everett Ross involved, shadowing Osborn’s movements today is of less importance.”

The four women took a taxi to the address.

When the taxi drove away Antonia walked a block away. She wasn’t suited but her height caused her to look menacing with her hood draped over her head, covering her scars and bad eye from those who didn’t look directly at her. She could fit many weapons under that hoodie and was still the deadliest hand to hand fighter in the Red Widows.

The outside of the building seemed simple enough, old, gothic but not unlike other businesses in the Greenwich area. There was an old brass knocker on the tall wooden doors. The three looked at each other and shrugged, figuring they had come this far so they may as well knock. Ava adjusted the gun holstered behind her back and Yelena did the same and checked the knives under her vest, then both adjusted their widow bites.

“Maybe you two should stay out here.” Wanda suggested.

“We are going to forget you said that this one time.” Yelena told her. She then knocked loudly on the door.

The door opened on its own with a loud groan and a cold wind blew out of the interior of the building, blowing their hair back for a moment.

“Who wants to go in first?” Wanda asked.

“Ava does. It is no use trying to talk her out of it.” Yelena said. “We have you covered.”

Yelena pushed an annoyed Ava in front of the open door. She turned and scowled at the blonde.

“What? We have you covered.” The blonde defended, recognizing the look.

Wanda pushed them both aside and entered.

The Ancient One was present, standing in front of a grand staircase with a round Asian man by her side.

“Welcome Wanda. This must be Yelena and Ava. I was glad to hear you wished to speak to me again about furthering your education. This is a fellow sorcerer and friend, Wong.”

Yelena stepped in front of Wanda. “You were spying on us.”

“No. I had a spell over the city in the event Wanda came back that would alert me to her presence. I performed a simple tracking spell and listened to your conversation.”

Yelena scoffed. “What do you think spying is?”

“Something you will all become much better at when Wanda is fully trained. Your conversation with Agent Ross was enlightening. Imagine if you could see into Norman Osborn’s office right now from anywhere in the world. That is why you are in New York, right?”

“Among other reasons.” Wanda admitted. “You live here in New York?”

The Ancient One nodded. “This is the Sanctum Sanctorum. It is one of many sanctums around the world where our sorcerers are stationed, prepared to protect the planet. I prefer to stay here but our true home is a place called Kamar-Taj, a village in the Himalayas where many of our kind train.”

“Is that where you would train me?” Wanda asked, knowing she didn’t have time for a mystical retreat to the Himalayas.

The Ancient One shook her head. “You are no sorcerer, Wanda. You are different. Your magic is different. It requires a witch to teach a witch. Even so, no one has wielded chaos magic in centuries, perhaps millennium. I know of one who owes me a favor and is highly motivated to help you. May we speak alone in my library?”

“Of course we can speak alone. Lead the way.” Yelena answered. “Ava, would you keep an eye on the round one?”

Ava nodded and turned to face Wong while the three left.

“I’m not round. This is muscle. I just have a strange body type. I’m more like a powerlifter.” Wong told her.

Ava nodded. “You look like you run many marathons. You are a sorcerer.”

Wong smiled and nodded proudly.

“If I tried to shoot you, do you think you can perform a spell before I pull the trigger?”

Wong swallowed and placed his hands behind his back.

“Hands where I can see them, marathon runner, unless you want to find out what my bracelets do.”

Wong scoffed. “Are all you widows so violent and paranoid?”

“Yes.”

Wong nodded. “Makes sense. I have no doubt you are deadly warrior but going head to head against a sorcerer is not smart. We are very fast. I am faster than most. Want a drink?”

A full coffee cup appeared in his hand and he grinned proudly at his own show of power.

“Thank you for the demonstration.” Ava told him. “You could perform a spell faster than I could shoot you. Whoa, is that a real ghost?!” she shouted.

Wong turned around and saw nothing. He turned back to ask her what she saw and found himself staring down the barrel of a handgun held by a smirking Red Widow.

“Bang, you are dead. I guess your spells aren’t that fast after all.”

Wong grimaced. “Take the damn coffee. You want to see the place? Over there we have the Cauldron of the Cosmos.”

Ava raised an eyebrow and lowered her gun, then placed it back in its holster. “What does it do?”

“It allows us to glimpse into space, to monitor potential mystic threats to Earth and it is good for pondering the immutable mysteries of the Universe for hours at a time.”

Ava shrugged. “Cool. Show me how it works.””

While Wong and Ava were becoming friends, Yelena and Wanda were less certain of their host.

“Wanda, from the day I woke up in your house, I told myself I would follow you anywhere. We have been through a lot together. This right here though, this is some weird shit.”

“Definitely stranger than floating bases and robots with rifles and laser turrets.” Wanda agreed.

The Ancient One stood at the far end of the room behind a desk. Wanda and Yelena were still by the door, taking in the room.

There was no way the room could have been this large. It was dark and lit by starlight as if they were in some sci fi movie standing in open space. There were hundreds of rows of bookshelves on either side of them. The books seemed to move, some were floating in the air, and they heard indistinct bell sounds from all around them.

“What is this?” Wanda asked the woman who had brought them into this library surrounded by space.

The Ancient One smiled and snapped her fingers.

They were in a much smaller room, normal lighting, wooden floors and walls lined with full bookshelves.

“You could say what you walked into was the unabridged version of our library. We have almost every important mystical book throughout history, kept here under our protection.”

“Why here? Why in New York and not your spooky, mountain training base?” Yelena asked.

The woman shook her head and smiled. “Yelena, so smart, always looking at all angles, always looking to protect her friend. The bond the two of you share is powerful.”

“That is nothing I didn’t already know, and you didn’t answer the question.” Yelena told her.

The woman lifted a hand and beckoned them to come closer. Yelena and Wanda looked at each other for a moment and slowly walked to the desk.

It was when they reached the desk, that they both gasped. They felt cold and it was emanating from one of the two books on the desk.

“The answer is most of our students do not need to read these volumes. These are the ones deemed too powerful for all but the most advanced sorcerers. A spell book is essential for a witch to learn from. Wanda, these are two of the most powerful grimoires in existence. One is the Book of Vishanti, and the other is the Darkhold. I will tell you about each and you must decide for yourself which one you wish to learn from. Take special care with your decision. This could change not only your life, but the fate of the universe.”

“No pressure.” Yelena told her.

“Yeah, no pressure. Tell me about these books.”