Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Witch and the Widows

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 44:

Yelena took in the trio of people standing in her room. Kate, her mama and her papa were also joined by Lucky and Fanny. They all had crestfallen looks on their face, even the dogs. They had asked to say goodbye to her in her room in private. The girls were leaving in one hour in two jets to enter the Congo rainforest. Thanks to Wakanda technology and manpower they had the target area. To ensure they wouldn’t be flanked they had to arrive ten miles from the target area which was around five square miles of extremely difficult terrain. They would have a more accurate fix once they were closer and Wanda was able to travel ahead in her astral form and feel for minds over the rainforest.

“You must all relax. This isn’t my first mission. It is walk in park. We have more help and bullet proof suits. Even head is bulletproof. We can’t be hurt.”

“A bazooka could hurt you.” Kate pointed out.

Dima nodded. “Yes, bazooka. Bazookas are very bad. They could break your tiny bones under the suit.

“What if you get dehydrated?” Anya asked. “You won’t have enough to drink. If you do drink you will have to take down helmet and you will be vulnerable. It is hard to drink quietly. Are you going to take a straw? Straw can slurp and make noise.”

Dima scratched the back of his head. “Have you thought maybe letting other military handle this?”

Yelena shook her head. “We cannot give anyone a chance to take this drug or even learn how to make it. We must burn it all and Wanda will have to rip it out of bad guy’s head how he got it. Do not worry. I will be back in couple days. It is a short hike…”

“What if there are landmines?” Kate pointed out. “I read there are boobytraps in the jungle like landmines. I don’t think the suits will protect you from that. If they are so great why don’t the Dora ladies wear them?”

“I didn’t ask. We know to look for traps. We have set a few ourselves in past. Do not worry. I have gone on mission before Kate. This is not my first time.”

Kate frowned, knowing this but still having an uneasy feeling. When she had watched Yelena and the girls on the news breaking Chloe out of that jail it had seemed so cool. She knew Yelena had fought and won tougher battles.

Her parents didn’t know that. They knew it in their heads but this was the first time they had seen Yelena truly go into war. Their anxiety was rubbing off on Kate. Even Franny was less playful and Lucky had noticed Kate’s mood.

“I do not like this. I know you are a warrior.” Dima told her. “I know this. I am proud of this. But seeing you leave to go to real fight is difficult. How long will you do this?”

Yelena raised an eyebrow, not certain what he was asking. “We will be back in a couple of days.”

He shook his head and Anya clarified. “How long will you do this before you do something else? Maybe you can be a general and organize missions and watch big screen while girls are out there doing what you tell them. Wouldn’t that be nice?”

Yelena grinned. “You love the girls. Do you want them out there without me?”

None of them said anything.

“Maybe you can all quit after this? If no one else has the drugs you can stick to rescuing other girls and bringing them home.” Dima suggested.

Yelena hugged her father and mother, then kissed Kate.

“I love you all. I must go. Big battle and Yelena Belova is a big hero. I am needed. Take care of the pooches for me. Fanny, I would let you go but the ground is very dangerous and you cannot go potty outside without risk of a giant bug with teeth carrying you away or making you sick. Relax and I will be back before you know it. We all will be. Papa do not try to work by yourself. You promised.”

Yelena walked out of the room quickly without a last look. It unnerved her to have people worried about her going on a mission. Kate had never expressed concern before, believing Yelena was invincible. She knew it was new for her parents but Kate knew the risks she took. They were in a shootout only a few days ago, one that Eleanor was thankfully ignorant of thanks to Maria wiping all news feeds about any violent incidents in Paris from all devices in the Mansion. Eleanor may find out if she returned home but since it didn’t get much coverage Yelena doubted it.

Yelena’s parents were scared and that made Kate scared. She hated that. She hated any of them to be frightened but it couldn’t be helped. This was what she did. It was what they all swore to do.

The Widows assembled in the bunker, those who were going and those who were staying behind. Oksana and others were loading medical equipment into one jet that would serve as a field clinic for her to work out of if needed. Yelena had decided to leave her out of the field. Oksana hadn’t been happy but she knew it made sense considering she was the only one with real world surgical experience and Kate’s concern about landmines and RPGs wasn’t far off the mark. Dani and Angelica would be piloting two ships since they were the only pilots under seventeen.

“Last minute change to teams. I’ve been going over video footage of our training. Madison, you will join Ava’s team and Natasha will be on my team. Ingrid I want you to travel with Charlize. She is your scout. Charlize be ready for field injuries. Stay centralized as much as possible between the three teams. Search for high ground. Barnes is field general. I don’t care who says what, whether its Wakandans, or Steve, what Bucky says goes. Team leaders, listen for their cues. Wanda will be communicating with myself and Bucky, feeding us information on troops and movements. Steve and Bucky go in first. They will meet with T’Challa and advance to the target. Any questions before we load up?”

No one said anything.

“It is just another mission. It is the same as taking down A.I.M. bases and human traffickers and ridiculous billionaires dressed like goblins and iron babies. We stay sharp, kill silently and take your lead from the team leader who will be in contact with me. When in doubt, kill. If you run across children, look to your team leader and do not hesitate if ordered to kill. They were innocent children once and may still be but they can and will kill you. I know our suits are bulletproof but act as if they aren’t and remember blows can break bones. If it a choice between them and you, I want you all back home.”

Yelena looked over the group and caught Steve’s eye.

“Steve, would you like to say anything?”

Steve smiled widely then schooled his face. “Tonight we leave for a battle…”

“Ha!” Yelena laughed loudly “He thinks this is Avengers and we care about hero speech! Steve, you are so funny!”

The group began to move to the jets, the girls and Bucky laughing at Steve who had his eyes closed and his head down yet grinning as the widows patted him on the back when they walked by.

“Yelena, can you help me with one of my widow bites. I think it is jammed.” Nat told her.

Yelena rolled her eyes and followed Nat to the side.

“That was the best excuse you could come up with? Our new bracelets don’t jam. Actually they might since they are new, but you have no way of knowing that.”

“Why are you moving me from Ava’s team?”

“I thought you said you wouldn’t question my orders?”

“I said I wouldn’t question them in front of others. Do you see anyone around us? Ava’s team needs me. They are already handicapped with Antha.”

“What is wrong with Antha?”

Nat’s eyes widened. “She is like a damn giraffe in the wild! She isn’t exactly built for the great outdoors.”

Yelena nodded. “Yes she is built like bikini model she posed as for so long. You are upset she was in laundry room in underwear when Steve brought his clothes down, aren’t you? She did not mean to offend. We have been house of females for very long time. Girls walk around in their jammies and sometime undies on washing days.”

“She laughed and didn’t try to cover up. Then she started a conversation! You know Steve is too polite to walk away! She couldn’t have thrown a shirt on. She knew he was coming down. He does his laundry on the same day, same time. She wasn’t in her underwear. Strippers wouldn’t call what she had on underwear.”

Yelena barely held a straight face. “She is a free spirit.”

“I suppose she would be free if your father walked in?”

Yelena shrugged. “Of course not. She knows Mama does his laundry. She would have put on her robe. She did have robe. She just didn’t tell you. What does this have to do with anything? We are getting ready to kill. I need to have talk with my witch.”

“Look we got off track. Her little tricks she finds to entertain herself don’t matter. She is a weak link in the field. Either leave me with Ava or take Antha and send Amanda to us.”

Yelena sighed and nodded. “I understand.”

“So you will send Amanda to us and take Antha?”

“No. Orders have been given. I meant I understood your concern. That does not mean I care. Follow orders.”

Yelena left her and Nat followed. “Is this some attempt to keep an eye on me? Do you not think I can take care of myself out there?”

Yelena shook her head. “Of course. Why would I want to keep you close? I have good reasons. If Ava wants to know why or have a problem with it she would come to me. Do you see her complaining? Do you want to be on my team or stay home?”

“Of course. I want to… I don’t need my little sister looking out for me.” Nat whispered.

“You did in Germany.” Yelena pointed out.

“I… uh… that was different.”

Yelena smiled. “Go to jet, relax and flirt with your boyfriend. No PDA on jets. New policy because of you and lover boy.”

The Congo

Tetu had gone by many names in the past. The current name, Bosco, was the one attributed to the boogieman of the jungle, the vicious rebel leader, slaughterer of men, women and children.

Tetu lived behind different names and personas for a very long time. He was a warlock and layers of deception only aided him. He had been fighting for years to clear his jungle of those who did not belong. This meant anyone who did not worship him.

He was powerful enough to bend the world around him to his will. Many enemies were swallowed up by this jungle, never to be seen again, returned to the natural order as food.

His soldiers were a troubling concern. He had deserters in the past. Children were always available to turn into soldiers but required conditioning. They had to be broken and rebuilt, trained and even then, some would escape if given the chance. Many of them weren’t well trained and Tetu had to use his own power to repel invaders. As powerful as he was, the warlock was still mortal.

Then he had captured the HYDRA operative and his slave. HYDRA wanted a base in his jungle. He had come to negotiate with locals and offered the enslaved girl as trade for protection and land. Tetu had put him in a body bag. The girl had killed ten of his soldiers before he finally subdued her. Any thoughts of killing her left as he watched the havoc she wrought. She was a true warrior.

She was also mind controlled. He found the vials of the drug on the operative and a control box. The girl told him everything without hesitation when he declared himself her new master. She told him how she worked, when the drugs were to be injected and how her commands were to be given through the box, no matter the distance. He could even make her kill herself.

The power he held over another human gave him a rush unlike any he had experienced in his life. To hold the life of someone in your hands, to make them bend to your every command was a dream of his.

He needed more. While he set the Hispanic Black Widow named Sophie to work training his soldiers, he reached to other old allies of his. He paid a chemist to break down the chemical and learn the formula. When it was done, he killed the chemist and took back the gold. He reached out to his friend and sorceress, Zenzi for help. She searched the dark web, gathered lab equipment and brought it into the field. He now had the ability to replicate the drug and deliver it to new soldiers. Sophie believed she had been injected when she was nine or ten so the timing was perfect. In ten years he would have a perfect, loyal and fearless army trained by a Black Widow.

Zenzi had been his student once, a powerful witch in her own right. She had gone to avenge her own people as they fought for freedom but this wonderful drug had drawn her back to him. She could inspire others to go to their deaths without fear but complete control was unheard of.

Though not as powerful as he was, Zenzi had her areas of expertise that made her invaluable. She was an empath of the highest order.

This morning Tetu felt something wrong as soon as he stepped out of his cabin. The land was talking to him. He felt magic in the air that didn’t belong to Zenzi.

He checked the small sheet iron shed where the drug was being manufactured. The first batch would be available tomorrow and he had a new batch of children to experiment on due to arrive in the morning.

All was well inside the shed. It was hot and smelt horrible but the large vat held almost 900 hundred pounds of the wonder drug. It was insulated, the outside covered by wall insulation and had multiple beakers set to drip above it at just the right rate. To an outsider it may have looked like a large home brewed distillery.

Dreykov had been a true revolutionary. He knew Dreykov’s widows turned on him and they were likely the ones who now called themselves the Red Widows and fancied themselves heroes. He suspected the other member of that group was the reason Dreykov lost control.

Wanda Maximoff.

As a warlock he was impressed. He had thought of capturing her more than once but held back. He had no true knowledge of her power but he knew the Ancient One would have contacted one so young and such a public figure. If the Ancient One had made contact and the girl still roamed free, she must be very powerful. It was rumored the Ancient One had defeated the powerful Agatha Harkness who had been imbued with the power of the Darkhold. If she left Maximoff alone, Tetu would need more information before subduing her.

Perhaps when he had an army of soldiers as strong as her Red Widows he would introduce himself.

Zenzi walked out of her cabin with Sophie who often slept with her.

“Do you feel it?” she asked.

He nodded and knelt to press a palm on the ground. He listened and saw what the land was telling him.

Three figures, men, moving faster than possible for an average human.

All three were dressed in black.

He recognized one very well. He had met this one’s father. King T’Challa was here. That was the magic he felt. The magic of the Black Panther.

But where the Black Panther went his loyal guards followed.

He could feel them out there, crawling slowly through his land, wary of landmines and guards.

He also saw some sort of figures, only ripples on the landscape, blurring into the surrounding land.

They were all protected by another magic.

A witch was near.

They were coming for him.

Tetu stood.

“A witch has found us. She may be Wakandan. There are others beside the Dora Milaje but they fight as one. They blend into the landscape like magic. The Black Panther and two men with his strength and speed are making their way to us through the trees. Sophie, send everyone out. Prepare our soldiers for invasion and lead them. Kill our enemies.”

“Yes, Master.” The girl told him then rushed off to follow his orders.

Tetu Looked to Zenzi. “The Dora Milaje and these chameleons fight together but I suspect they are different units of the Wakandan military. Perhaps they are jealous of each other. Find them and turn them against one another.”

Zenzi nodded, not happy with going into the field but knowing better than to question her former teacher. If she wanted that drug she had to do as he said for now.

Tetu walked back into his cabin. He knelt down and beseeched his master to appear.

The smell of sulfur filled the small space. The daylight that had come from the door and small windows was gone.

A fiery demon stood in front of him.

“My master. We are under attack.”

The demon snorted and spoke in a soft, seductive voice that did not match his gruesome form. “You are under attack? We had a bargain. I gave you the land you sought. I guided you every step, gave you the power to take it. Keeping the land is your task. I never promised to defend it for you.”

Tetu began to tremble. “I am facing powerful foes. The Black Panther and his Adored Ones. Two others I suspect of being super soldiers. I also suspect there is a witch among them. These are not rivals. This is a concentrated and planned attack. I need help.”

“You have a witch and a Black Widow who does your bidding. What else do you need?”

“More power!” Tetu snapped, then remembered who he was speaking of and dropped his head again.

The demon laughed. “More power. Why should I do this? I gave you what you wanted and have the only thing that matters from you in return. What do you have to bargain with?”

Tetu had nothing and he knew it.

“I beg you, my Master. I will do anything, give you anything.”

The demon smiled. “Never let it be said I am not a merciful god.”

With a flash of fire the demon produced an old sheet of paper with strange symbols on it.

“The book that is the Darkhold is a copy. Before Chthon was banished to another realm, he inscribed the most powerful spells in existence into the walls of a throne room built into Mount Wundagore. The Ancient One keeps the written copy Darkhold but I have found this throne room and copied a spell for you. It will imbue you with the darkest of magic. This magic should destroy any witch with ease. When the witch finds you, use our darkness to burn her.”

“Thank you my Master!”

Tetu took the parchment and the demon was gone. Light filtered back into his hut as he read the incantation over and over in preparation for the coming battle.

In the jungle, Yelena’s team made its way slowly through the foliage. The Congo Rainforest was much denser than the wilderness of Wakanda. Areas of tall grass were rare. There were animal trails that were difficult to see. Yelena had to make the decisions on when to walk the paths, when to chop through and make their own way while maintaining silence and when to walk the open spaces that had very little cover.

“Come in Red 1 and White Wolf. A large contingent of troops has mobilized and are spreading out in your directions. I can only sense one mind controlled soldier. I think she is a widow .” Wanda told them.

“Are they close to us?” Bucky asked.

“No. I feel them moving towards the teams. The path to your target seems clear. Too clear. There is one… no two minds… Agatha believes she can feel magic. There are some in the field I can only feel but not penetrate their minds. I need to be closer for a direct link.”

Yelena did not like the idea. “Stay in position. You are our only radar. If we run into magic we can handle it.”

Agatha had enchanted the bullets like she had in Germany in the event they came in contact with vibranium. Yelena was confident if there was a magic person of some kind a bullet to the head would end the magic.

“Agatha is ready if needed. Okoye, you have a group of twelve soldiers waiting for you behind trees on the far side of a clearing you are approaching. They are hoping to ambush you if you take the open field.”

“We will not keep them waiting then.” Okoye responded. She ordered her soldiers to attack from the trees, throwing war spears thirty yards away with accuracy, flying through bushes and striking enemies torsos, running them through. The enemy soldiers opened fire and the Dora Milaje scatted, working their way around the foliage individually to attack the combatants hand to hand.

“Element of surprise has been lost.” Ava grumbled over the coms.

“They knew we were hear this morning. We may have set off a perimeter alert during the night and it was discovered this morning.” Yelena suspected. “Taskmaster, Red 2 move your teams together. We are joining.”

Yelena took stock of the area. “Wanda?”

“A half mile from Ava’s team to the north. A team is coming in from the northwest. They do not have your location but will split your path to Ava. The mind controlled Widow is leading them.”

Yelena thought on this while her widows held position in the thick coverage. The trees were thinner ahead and remembering the satellite images, she knew thinner trees led to sparsely covered ground like Okoye’s team was fighting for right now. Unfortunately they would have to go through it or delay an hour to reach Ava and Antonia by thicker foliage.

“We go forward.” She told her team. “Watch for traps. Trip wires and landmines.”

“Overwatch has the high ground over Okoye’s team. I am providing sniper support but there are injured. Charlize is moving in to help .” Ingrid told the teams.

Yelena’s team moved as quickly as safely possible until they reached a thin land area. It was only twenty yards long and ten yards wide. The trees were too thick to circle it. They ducked low with Yelena in the lead, making as much progress as they could.

“Wanda ?”

Yelena heard nothing.

“Red 1 to Scarlet Witch, copy?”

It was Dani’s voice that answered.

“Agatha has gone to ground but something happened to Wanda. She is in pain and says some force is clouding her mentally. She is fighting it but can’t get a grasp of the minds anymore. I’ll keep you updated, but for now, you are blind Red 1.”

“Is she okay?” Yelena repeated again.

“Affirmative. Agatha is flying over the land with a com. Wanda is fighting. If you see a witch beside Agatha out there shoot her.”

Yelena’s concern was cut short by a more pressing problem.

They all stopped when they heard a soft click.

The widows looked fearfully at each other but it was Maria who was frozen and standing in the open with her foot pressed down on the landmine trigger.

“Relax.” Maria told them. “Shuri said these suits are tough. All of you back away. No sense in all our suits taking the hit. I can handle it.”

Yelena crawled over and knelt beside her. “I am going to disarm it.” she told Maria. “Do not move.”

Maria nodded and Yelena placed her foot next to hers. She then shoved Maria hard and slid her foot where Maria had been kneeling, keeping pressure on the trigger.

Yelena was now kneeling on the trigger while Maria lay wide eyed on the ground.

Yelena looked towards a terrified Natasha.

“Antonia, Ava, I have a bit of a situation and it will take me a moment to disarm the high amount of explosives I am on. Romanoff has command of my team. I repeat, Natasha is in lead. Ava, take overall field lead. You are Red 1 now.”

Yelena retracted her helmet to speak without the com.

“I’m not leaving you.” Nat said, retracting her own helmet.

“Yes, you are. I need to take care of this and I need my girls to rally with the others. I am trusting you with my team because you are the second best widow after me.”

Nat smirked despite the situation. “I am the best.”

“Whatever you need to believe to get the job done. Take them to Ava and Antonia, form a single group and meet with the Dora Milaje. We have planned for this.” Yelena finished, raising her helmet once again.

“I am on my way .” Agatha told her.

“Negative. I can handle this. Find the witch who is blocking Wanda and take her out, Agatha.”

She looked once more at Nat. “Go team leader! You have a job to do!”

Nat gritted her teeth, raised her helmet again and took the lead, beckoning the widows to follow her.

Yelena watched them go and once they were securely back in the trees. She then began digging as much as she could in her awkward position, trying to get a feel for the bomb while keeping her weight perfectly still.

“Wonderful situation you have gotten yourself into, Belova.” she muttered. “Coms off.” she ordered, not wanting her team to hear what could potentially happen. Natasha had a mission and she would follow it. The Widows would form one unit and make a centralized strike.

She was concerned that she hadn’t heard from Barnes yet but he could handle himself. The plan had been for him, Steve and T’Challa to find the base and wait, clearing out as many enemies as they could on the way.

She listened to the gunfire in the distance. It was getting further away. She recognized the sounds the widows weapons compared to the rebels and knew her teams were advancing. By the sound of it at least two teams had joined together.

She heard Ingrid’s rifle go off over and over, farther and farther away, their ultimate wildcard.

She also had traced the outline of the mine. Her best guess was that it was an AUPS mine, made in two parts on top of each other, the bottom part filled with a mix of TNT and RDX with a blast radius of fifteen meters. Even in her kneeling position she wouldn’t be able to dig deep enough to try to disarm it without setting off the trigger. A difference of 1-5 kilograms was all it would take.

Knowing she couldn’t stay there forever, she slowly stood up.

“This is going to suck.” she grumbled. “I hope this suit is as strong as the princess says it is or it won’t hurt much after all because I will be dead. This is Kate’s fault. She had to mention land mines.”

Yelena jumped as far as she could. Unfortunately long distance jumping had never been a strength of hers and the blast caught her in midair, sending her flying and landing in a crumpled mess.

She had taken so many shrapnel hits, the breath was knocked out of her and the pressure nearly caved in her chest. Her lower right leg was fractured and judging by the unnatural angle and the wetness in her suit it was a compound fracture and blood was involved.

The vibranium weave had protected her body from being penetrated by shrapnel and burned but the other effects had disabled her. She would not be joining the fight. She could not call Charlize or Agatha away and she could not interfere with Wanda’s concentration. Instead she turned her com back on and listened.

At the base, Steve, Bucky and T’Challa had reached their destination. They remained hidden. There were only a handful of soldiers in the camp and none were old enough to be Bosco.

“Should we go back to help?” Steve asked quietly.

Bucky shook his head. “They can handle it. We may not wait for them though. Something is blocking our coms. The shed in the center is likely where the drug is being made. It might have the signal jammers.

“Then we attack.” T’Challa suggested. “I will go in as a distraction to draw the children away and you will fire into the shed. If it doesn’t explode, enter the campground and burn it to the ground. Steve, help me. Is that acceptable White Wolf?” T’Challa asked, calling Bucky by the codename the king had dubbed him.

“Yeah, lets get this done and go back to help the ladies. Bosco isn’t far. The last I heard, something is screwing with Wanda. The signal jammers somewhere might be affecting her mental witch power stuff. Steve, look for that while T’Challa takes the teenagers to school where they belong.”

The men prepared to move from the tree they were perched in until they were suddenly restrained by the tree. Steve broke free with the sharp triangular shield that extended from the wrist of his new suit. Bucky tried to break the limbs with his strength and T’Challa began swiping with his claws. The trio worked their way to the ground but as they moved into the campground together the ground swallowed them up to their knees. More branches rose from the ground and wrapped their bodies up, pressing their arms into their side so they couldn’t move.

“Bucky, I’m planning the next mission.” Steve told him, straining against the ever increasing grip of the trees.

“You assume there will be a next mission.” A dark skinned man in camouflage clothes said, walking up to them. Five soldiers surrounded them guns aimed at their heads.

“Captain America and the Winter Soldier. Far from home. Do not fire men. Tell me, who is the witch with you? Is it Maximoff? Those are the Red Widows, come to stop me from replicating the drug. Maybe it is time to put them back under where they belong. Maximoff will come for you when I stop blocking her pathetic telepathy. When she does I will be ready. The child’s body will make a fine trophy.”

Bucky smiled. “So you are the one screwing with her telepathy not equipment. Good to know.” He strained and broke the branches with his metal arm, a weapon in hand and shot at the man. Tetu dodged just enough while watching Barnes and the other two break from the grasp of the jungle and the shot grazed his head. He ran for cover, needing to save his power for the witch. He felt the power to destroy but knew it was limited. He had one shot to take her out and couldn’t waste power on these.

Barnes fired five times and five soldiers dropped before they could pull the trigger.

The coms were back on and Bucky heard the sounds of battle.

“Get him! I have the drug!” Bucky ordered. “Red 1 I need a status report!”

Steve and T’Challa raced after the man but the foliage grew behind him like tall prison walls.

Bucky walked through the camp, clearing it and shot two more soldiers, probably not even eighteen years old but carrying very old automatic rifles. Red 1 hadn’t responded but he heard gunfire in the open com. He shook his head and called Wanda.

“Scarlet Witch, you back with us?”

“Where is Yelena?! I can’t feel Yelena !” Wanda shouted. “The others are fighting themselves! I can’t break through to them!”

“What do you mean fighting themselves?”

“The Widows are fighting the Dora Milaje! You have to get to them. I’m on my way down.”

After a firefight involving widow bites, spears and bullets, the Red Widows and the Dora Milaje had joined together.

Then a woman walked out before them with glowing eyes.

Before they could shoot her their emotions overwhelmed them and they began seeing the other unit as the enemy.

A fight ensued and the combatants were too close for guns. They began a battle between spears, blades and widow bites.

The Dora Milaje had superior numbers and more experience with hand to hand fighting and the widows were being pressed back.

Antonia jumped in to battle Okoye. She had already downloaded the woman’s skills and fought her to a standstill, then incorporating other skills from different warriors, knocked her to the ground. Before she could land a killing blow with a sword, four Dora Milaje jumped her from behind and began beating her with vibranium spears.

Ava took the opportunity to jump onto Okoye and raised her knife for the killing blow. Their eyes met and Ava saw the hate, a reflection of what she felt.

A part of her hesitated.

This wasn’t right. She struck the woman with her fist, knocking her out and then stood shakily.

She knew this. She had lived her life with this. She had sworn she would die before it ever happened to her again.

Mind control.

Ava took in her surroundings, bones breaking, screams as her vibranium protected sisters used Wakanda tech to injure their own soldiers.

She blinked and slapped herself, then turned toward the woman with glowing eyes, fifty yards away.

She raised her handgun and fired.

Zenzi’s head exploded. Her completely black eyes were no more.

The fighting stopped.

“Red 1 to Scarlet Witch. We are good here. The witch is dead. Proceed to White Wolf, Black Panther and Cap’s location.”

“Where is Yelena!?”

While the battle had been going on, Yelena had passed out from the pain. She came to minutes later and heard footsteps rushing towards her. She had suspected her impromptu explosion would draw onlookers of the hostile variety.

She waited for them to come closer, playing dead. When the four soldiers approached, Yelena saw they were young, her age or younger. Her suit had protected her from burns and shrapnel but not the blast and pressure wave. A close up shot to her body by an AK47 or worse to her head would be too much. She raised her widow bites to fire but they were shorted out. Shrapnel had destroyed them.

They had seen her move and aimed. She fired with her handgun four times, taking out all four targets with head shots.

She had just killed four teenagers and if she weren’t afraid to take off her mask she would have vomited. Instead she held it down.

Another noise.

She raised up to aim but the pain was too great. The gun was shot out of her hand.

Yelena laid back and took in the woman standing over her. The dark haired and tan girl was dressed in black fatigues and wore widow bracelets. She was of average height, maybe five seven and was in obvious shape. Judging by the blank look on her face she was mind controlled.

The black widow observed her silently, staring at Yelena’s belt buckle and then raised her gun.

The gun was hit by a widow bite and knocked out of her hand.

Natasha attacked.

Yelena could only lay back frustratedly, watching her big sister fight the widow. The girl was very good. She had managed to cut Nat twice on the shoulder. Of course Nat was not fighting to kill while her opponent had no hesitation in doing so.

She made a potentially fatal mistake, missing on a kick. Nat lifted her in the air by her leg and slammed her into the ground, spraying the red dust into her face. The widow stood up in a daze and Nat spin kicked her in the jaw, sending her to the ground unconscious.

“What took you so long?” Yelena asked Natasha as she bent over her.

“I had to take my team to Antonia and Ava’s before I could come back for you. Boss’s orders.”

Yelena chuckled. “I mean what took you so long to beat her? You are getting old, сука.”

“Ungrateful brat. Agatha, if you are near I need you.”

“I can feel her again. I am flying to her .” Wanda answered.

“Wanda I need you at the campground. We have some magic guy who controls trees that just ran off. T’Challa and Steve can’t follow him. We have control of the drug but if he gets away he will start again somewhere else.” Bucky told her.

“I’m closer, Wanda .” Agatha said over the com. “I see them. Catch the bastard who is causing all this . Yelena is okay .”

“Wanda, go after the asshole. End this!” Yelena shouted.

Hearing nothing, Yelena could only hope she listened.

Nat deactivated Yelena’s helmet.

Yelena’s eyes were blacking, her nose was bleeding and her lips were bleeding from her teeth digging into them. Her breathing was labored as well.

Tears welled up in Natasha’s eyes. “Возлюбленная сестра, next time let me stand on the landmine.”

“Don’t get soft on me. My team, my responsibility.”

Nat shook her head. “I can’t believe they followed my orders. We had to make detours. I saw traps that delayed us. They actually followed me.”

“Of course they followed orders. You were team leader.”

“I’ve never been someone they would look toward to lead.”

Yelena laughed. “They recognize a hero when they see one. I didn’t have a strong second. None of them have led others. You have. That is why I wanted you with me, not to take care of you. I trust you and when it comes down to it, they trust you too even if they won’t admit it.”

Nat smiled and gently touched her cheek, still causing Yelena to hiss. “Everything hurts.”

“Your bodycam was active. That means everyone at the Mansion saw what happened.” Nat reminded her. “I don’t think Kate is going to be happy. You might be grounded as well.”

Agatha landed and cut off any further conversation. She began running her hands over Yelena, a soft purple light making her hands glow.

“Compound fracture of the leg. You are losing blood. Oksana, get O negative ready. Six broken ribs, cracked nose, ruptured ear drum on right side, loose teeth, minor concussion and shattered foot. That thing had a hair trigger, didn’t it? She may have internal bleeding. I’m going to have to undress her to be sure. Only you could put on an indestructible suit and get this injured, Short Stack. I can’t heal her here. I’m going to need Wanda’s help. I’m taking her to the jet. Oksana needs to check her for internal bleeding and reset this leg. We may need to pin her foot before we can heal it. Or several pins.”

Nat nodded and stood while Agatha wrapped Yelena in a purple cocoon of energy.

“What about her?” Agatha asked Nat, looking at the Widow on the ground.

“I’ll handle her. We will stay here. Have the other jet pick us up when possible. How are the others?”

“Got hoodwinked by a witch who caused the Dora Milaje and the widows to fight to the death when they came into contact. Ava blew her head off her shoulders and the fighting stopped but there are a lot of injuries, broken bones of our girls and stab wounds and widow bites on the Wakandans. Charlize is there doing triage. I need to get her to Oksana. Wanda made need help. She is about to have her first witch fight. There is dark magic out there. I can feel it. I used to wield it.”

Agatha lifted off with Yelena, leaving Nat alone with the formerly brainwashed Red Widow. She began to disarm the girl and then bound her hands behind her back. When she woke up she would be very confused and for the first time Nat would be the only one to comfort her.

She could only hope this one wasn’t as much of a free spirit as Antha.

Wanda had felt Agatha when she joined Yelena. She knew Yelena was in great pain and doing her best not to show it to others. Yelena could hide nothing from her. Wanda’s link was as strong as the one she had with Pietro. When Pietro had died Wanda felt as if she had died. The pain ripping through her and then the endless darkness then rage when she realized what the emptiness in her soul meant. She had been fighting against whatever was trying to block her telepathy when Yelena’s injuries blindsided her. She forced herself to work harder and then when Bucky did what he did, she couldn’t feel her mind the same as she usually did. She didn’t feel the emptiness so knew Yelena was alive but not what her condition was.

As much as she wanted to be with her now, she had to trust Agatha. Bucky was right. If Wanda didn’t find this Bosco and end it, they would be repeating these missions over and over.

He controlled the trees according to Bucky. He likely controlled the entire jungle, ground, vines, possibly the water. That was fine. Wanda had no problem with that.

A shadow rose from the forest in the form of a large beam and struck her body, lighting her senses on fire while chilling her as well.

Black magic. It had never been used on her but she recognized the feeling. It was the same feeling she got from being near Chthon and the Darkhold.

Another shadow blast came from the forest and she raised a shield to block it, deflecting the power.

Wanda dove down quickly and landed near the source of the blasts on her feet. Power radiated from her where she landed, knocking nearby trees over.

He was there. A dark skinned man dressed like one would expect a rebel warlord to dress. Dressed as a fighter when he was really a man who sent others to fight in his stead.

“Bosco.” Wanda called out ot him.

“Tetu. Bosco is but one name, Wanda Maximoff.” he said, taking in her strange red gown and the red crown on her head. He had seen photos of Wanda Maximoff and she did not look like this. Her hair seemed to on fire and she moved like a queen. His heart raced. He had read of someone once who would match this description. Could it be her? He had to remain confident and remember he had his master on his side. She was still a young witch.

Wanda smirked and moved closer, her hands radiating power while his radiated shadows.

“You are younger than I expected. I have heard stories of your power but now that I can feel you, I know they are stories. Your magic is weak. If you had the Darkhold you would be strong.”

He snapped his fingers and a page from the Darkhold floated in the air next to him.

“A single page? I am impressed. I know you did not get that from the Darkhold. It is kept safely away from people like you. So where did you get it? Who gave it to you?”

Fire flowed from the page into his body and he redirected it into Wanda’s body.

Wanda caught it in her hand and held it in a compressed ball. She smirked at the man and threw it back towards him, striking him in the chest. He screamed.

“You say my magic is weak. You have no idea who I am, do you? You don’t know who I really am. Someone gave you that page to test me.”

Tetu stood up on shaky legs and beckoned the trees around then to reach out. Wanda raised her hands and stopped the limbs from extending and the ground from swallowing her up. With a growl, red magic burst from her hands and incinerated the trees that were nearest them.

Tetu sent a continuous stream of magic towards her, wrapping her in a living shadow. He could hear the screams of the dark magic as it swirled around and drove her mad before it would corrupt her and snuff her life out. It would absorb her magic and leave her a shell while he gained…

His plan was ruined when a burst of chaos magic exploded, burning the darkness away.

He tried to raise his hands one again but was frozen in place. He was being dragged against his will and then knelt before her.

She tilted her head and her eyes glowed red.

“You have stolen children and turned the into killers. You have made a drug that is the ultimate invasion of a person, the loss of their free will. You have injured and tried to kill my sisters, your traps severely injured the one who is dearest to me. Now you carry a spell from the Darkhold and attempt to kill me with black magic.”

“I…”

“Quiet!” Wanda snapped and his mouth disappeared.

Tetu clenched his fist and put forth all his magic. The ground beneath her exploded. Wanda fell back and rolled back to her feet.

Tetu was standing once again, his mouth having returned and began chanting, an aura forming around him.

Wanda shook her head. “Now you are just being rude and you have exhausted my patience.”

She brushed the dust off her sleeves and let loose a blast of chaos magic that struck him through his black aura.

“You are a second rate magician. I have learned from a true witch. I have absorbed the power of the cosmos. The Infinity stones speak to me in my dreams from the vastness of space! The jungle may answer your call but all of existence answers my call! You hurt my friends and now you pay!”

The ground swallowed Tetu. Thick roots burst from the ground, wrapping around him, squeezing him tightly.

“Nature is mine. Magic is mine. You are mine. I am the Scarlet Witch and you have harmed my coven. Now you will suffer eternally!”

Tetu was lost. He had lost his magic and the connection to the Earth that had always given him strength was gone. The jungle was answering to her. The stories of the Scarlet Witch were true. No amount of black magic could defeat her. Her magic he had derided her about was truly unfathomable.

He held his breath as she approached him, her glowing red eyes sending shivers through his body.

“Please.” He told her when she was within reach.

“Please what?”

“Please don’t kill me!”

Wanda shook her head. “Pathetic. No wonder you must steal children to fight your battles.”

She placed her hand on his forehead and he screamed as she burned runes into and around his head. His hair disappeared as his skull was branded by her hand.

He was cut off. He was a hollow shell.

Another witch landed next to her. He knew this one. His Master had warned him of the redeemed one.

“I honestly thought he would give you a better challenge. You needed practice against dangerous magic.”

“He was very weak. His only power that could hurt me came from this.”

Wanda raised her hand and the page of the Darkhold floated towards her and stopped in midair so she would not touch it.

Agatha looked closely at it carefully keeping her hands away.

“It’s a copy. Living darkness, meant to snuff your light, steal your power and life essence and leave you dead. It could have killed you if you weren’t he living embodiment of the Book of Vishanti and knew its spells. He hit you with it?”

“Twice. It tickled the first time. The second time I became annoyed. He says his name is Tetu.”

Agatha walked to him and punched him in the jaw, knocking him out.

“It will take both of us to burn this page and not be affected. Its needs to be done quickly.”

Wanda followed Agatha’s chant and realized destroying the cursed spell was more difficult than stopping the man who tried to wield it. When it was finally gone they turned their attention back to the warlock who was regaining conscious. Wanda kicked him in the chin once again, sending him back to sleep.

“Nice haircut you gave him.” Agatha admitted. “The branded runes are a nice touch. Trapped in his own body. I’m liking your style more and more.”

Wanda shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. Soon he will be dead. We need questions answered first.”

Tetu woke up on the ground with his arms bound behind his back. He reached out to the Earth for power but felt nothing but emptiness.

He shuffled to a sitting position and saw the Scarlet Witch and Agatha Harkness standing in front of him. The burns on his head were still aching and he remembered the Scarlet Witch had bound him.

Behind and around him stood Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers, T’Challa, the Dora Milaje and the Red Widows. He also saw a very confused and angry Sophie standing next to a redheaded widow who had an arm around her.

“We have questions to ask you.” Wanda said. “It would be in your best interest to answer honestly or I will rip your head apart looking for the truth. It isn’t pleasant.”

What Wanda didn’t say was his thoughts were difficult for him to read. She wasn’t sure if it was the recent influence of the Darkhold spell or something else was protecting his mind but she didn’t like it. Vision was the only telepath she had known of who could match her own abilities. This didn’t feel like Vision or the Mind Stone. This felt like magic but it wasn’t his.

“What is it you want to know?”

Barnes stepped up.

“Every soldier killed was a teenager. Some were barely a teenager but you start younger. Where are your youngest?”

Tetu looked around and laughed bitterly. “Dead. I have a new batch coming tomorrow to test my new drug out.”

“A batch?” Bucky asked, then nodded. “A batch.”

He stuck two metal fingers in Tetu’s nostrils and pulled up, fish hooking the screaming man. When he finally let go, Tetu was no longer laughing.

“The drug, the technology to control her, where did you get it?” Barnes asked him.

Tetu looked around and closed his eyes again, hoping to feel a glimmer of power. When he opened his eyes he looked at the Scarlet Witch and knew it was hopeless. He thought his master would protect him. He should have known better. He never had a chance. He knew his master would have known who was there. If he wanted to protect him he would have told him to run.

“A HYDRA agent brought her and her technology. He offered her as a gift in exchange for allowing HYDRA to build a base here. I killed him, took her and she told me how to control her. I have had her training my soldiers. I hired a chemist to reverse engineer the drug from her blood and then killed him.”

“No one else knows the formula?” Steve asked.

He looked at the ground and shook his head. “As far as I know, only I have the drug and technology. I suspect my partner Zenzi is dead since you are not killing each other. How did you kill her?”

“I had enough of having my mind controlled.” Ava said from the back.

Wanda placed a hand under his chin and forced him to look up at her.

“Who gave you that page from the Darkhold?”

Tetu shook his head. “I cannot tell you. He will cause me great pain.”

“And I will cause you great pain while I kill you. Answer me!”

Tetu once again shook his head. “You can kill me once. He can kill me for eternity. I belong to him. He gave me this and has abandoned me. You will meet him one day. He is very interested in you, Scarlet Witch. He is more powerful than you as well. Enjoy your victories while you can.”

Wanda looked around at the gathered. The widows nodded to her. It was the permission she needed.

Wanda forced her way into his head, taking over his mind, breaking through his thoughts by force, ripping his mind apart.

“You wanted to control children, now I will control you. I command you, tell me who your master is!”

“Darkness!” Tetu shouted. “The source of evil, the demonic personification of death! He is the lord of demons, the first of them all! My soul belongs to him! He gave to me and takes away! He gave me the spell to test you! I am nothing to him. Just another wretched soul for him to control. He will have you too, Scarlet Witch! He has everyone he wants!”

Tetu began trembling, his entire body shaking and his eyes rolled up in his head.

“His name is…”

Tetu’s head twisted violently to the side and his neck snapped with the motion.

His dead body hit the ground.

Wanda stared at him for a moment.

“Why did you snap his neck?” Bucky asked.

Wanda shook her head. “I didn’t. Agatha what happened?”

“A demon owned his soul. He entered him and killed him. I only felt it for a moment. The runes made it easy for him to be possessed. Hard core stuff.”

Bucky didn’t like what he was hearing. “A demon? Like an actual demon? A demon wants Wanda. What do we do about it?”

Agatha waved his concern off. “She is the Scarlet Witch. Every demon in existence wants her soul. Hazard of the job. She can handle it, can’t you kid?”

Wanda sighed. “Bring the jets. Take our injured home. Anyone else want to stay and save some kids?”

T’Challa cleared his throat. “I will stay with the Dora Milaje. Go home. You have all had very long days. We can handle this.”

Wanda wasn’t in the mood to argue. She offered her hand in thanks and called in the jets. The drugs and equipment, all scraps of papers and hard drives had been destroyed. It would be a simple matter for the Wakandans to rescue the children tomorrow and turn them over to UNICEF.

“Perhaps we can speak soon about a trade agreement?” T’Challa told Wanda before she walked off.

“A trade agreement?”

“Between our countries. You met and had a very long discussion about the future of Sokovia with the President. I assume that means you are considering becoming a part of their government.”

Wanda laughed. “I’m afraid that isn’t for me.”

T’Challa stared at her for a moment and she was surprised to see he did not agree. “People follow you, Wanda Maximoff. You inspire them. You improved your home already. Think of what else you could do for your people. You are more than just a warrior.”

Wanda shrugged. “I do not have the education for something like that.”

T’Challa smiled gently. “Then learn. From our encounters I find it hard to believe there is anything you cannot accomplish. Take care, Wanda. Perhaps you can facilitate a meeting between myself and the leader of your country. If you are there I believe an agreement can be worked out that would be beneficial to both our people. Until we meet again, my friend.”

T’Challa walked away, his words giving Wanda much to think about. She had many things to deal with. She rushed into the jet to take care of Yelena. Yelena was in a fine mood explained by the painkiller Oksana had given her. Her leg was in a cast, her foot was in a cast and Oksana explained she would need several pins to piece together the foot. Her ribs were wrapped and she was being given blood to replace what had been lost when her leg snapped violently. Her skull had a minor hairline fracture.

Nothing that couldn’t be healed though the head injury would have to clear first. The pins would be helpful to ensure her bones were back in the correct place for Wanda to mend them back together. In other words, Yelena had a surgery and a few days of pain to look forward to before she could be healed. Wanda sat next to her and held her hand as did Natasha on the other side. The Widows all watched over her. Agatha was in the other jet healing minor fractures but some had bones that would also need to be reset before they could be healed.

Considering how many times the girls had been shot and stabbed, if not for those suits, the majority would be dead.

When they landed, Yelena was taken out first on a stretcher. Kate was waiting for her in tears. She and the other widows had seen the entire thing through body cam footage of every widow in the fight. Kate had been inconsolable when Yelena had finally jumped off the mine and the camera footage was gone.

She kissed her over and over while Yelena’s parents and Eleanor walked beside her stretcher to the sick bay.

Yelena stayed awake long enough to assure them all that she was fine, except for the broken body. Oksana began running tests and scans and within an hour had Yelena in the surgical suite. It took all night for Oksana to piece together her foot. She did find several small bleeds in her abdomen caused by cracked ribs.

It was daybreak when Yelena was out of surgery. Kate, Natasha and Yelena’s parents stayed by her bedside. Wanda stood outside looking in. She thought of entering Yelena’s mind but knew she would be up soon.

She took a walk and checked on the other girls. The younger ones were tense. They had never sat out a fight before. It didn’t sit well with them. Wanda could feel their frustration and aggravation.

Eventually she made it to the first floor of the Mansion. Eleanor had been in the bunker but once Yelena had settled after surgery she came upstairs.

Wanda found her in the library, working on her laptop in her normal spot. She looked exhausted but focused.

“Has she woken?” Eleanor asked.

“No. Oksana says it will be hours. She needs the sleep. The others are getting bones set and ribs checked. This afternoon we will begin healing those we can right away and determining how soon we can heal the others.”

“Good.” Eleanor told her with a soft smile.

Wanda sat down in front of her. Eleanor closed her laptop.

“Talk to me. What is wrong?”

Wanda laughed.

“Beside the obvious. Something else is on your mind.” Eleanor told her.

“I thought I was the mind reader.”

Eleanor waited until Wanda spoke with a blush.

“I can barely read English. I learned to speak it from television shows. I know the alphabet and can sound out… I only went to school through the fourth grade. My mama taught us after that because it was too dangerous for us to go to school. My mama was a seamstress, not a teacher. She did her best but my reading in Sokovian is not at the level it should be.”

“Understandable.” Eleanor said gently.

“I am no good at math. I kept the money I stole from HYDRA under my bed until I met Yelena because I did not understand banks. I know how to add and subtract and divide and multiply but that is all. I know little of science. I know little of everything.”

Elanor waited.

“One day… maybe I want to be president of Sokovia. Maybe I can learn these things so I can be. Maybe I am not as dumb as I thought. Maybe if you have time, you could help me learn. You know about business and governments. You know about everything. I know you are busy but I need help to learn. I don’t think I want to just be a witch my whole life.”

Elanor smiled. “I was beginning to think you would never ask.”

“So you will help me?”

“Of course.” Eleanor told her. “I would do anything for you, Wanda. This won’t be easy. It is a journey. It could take years. You understand?”

Wanda nodded.

“You cannot quit when it becomes hard. You will have to ask for help from others. You have those around you who can teach you about science and computers. There are programs I will set up for you, courses you will have to complete to bring you to the level you should be at so I can teach you about finance and advanced mathematics. This is harder than learning magic. I’m not saying this to talk you out of it. I just want your word that when we start, you will not stop.”

Wanda nodded. “I give you my word.”

“You will have to keep a clear head. No more staying up all night to make sure the girls sleep well. They can handle themselves. No more drinking yourself into oblivion when the pain becomes too much. You have to talk about it, not drink it away. You have to take care of yourself. You can’t learn and you are no good to anybody if you are a physical wreck.”

Wanda nodded, knowing it wouldn’t be easy. “I’m not sure how to stop drinking.”

“You can start a day at a time. I have some ideas to help.”

Wanda sighed, knowing this would be difficult. Eleanor, others would know just how uneducated she truly was. It was humiliating to her but she had to face it. “So when can we start?”

“You sleep tonight. You eat breakfast in the morning and then you come to the library. We can start on the courses.”

Wanda was surprised. “Don’t you have to install them or something?”

“I’ve had them installed for months, hoping you might want to use them one day. Go eat, sleep, and relax. Heal the girls and go to bed. Tomorrow you are starting an adventure.”

Despite her uncertainty Wanda felt a spark of excitement as she made her way to the bedroom. She called Rachel and asked her to call her when Yelena woke because she was going to take a nap.

There was a knock on her door. Wanda recognized his presence as always.

She opened the door and he held up two bottles. “Want a drink? I know you have never tried this before. I haven’t.”

“How is it possible you haven’t had Cherry Coke?” she asked.

“They didn’t make it until the eighties I think. I’ve had these bottles in a minifridge since our trip to Disney Land. I’ve been waiting for the right moment. Are you game?”

Wanda nodded. “Yeah, I am game. I’m taking a nap after this. You are welcome to join me.”

Bucky nodded. “That’s the best offer I have heard in a very long time.”

That night Yelena woke up and found Wanda at her bedside. She beckoned Wanda over. Wand stood over her and Yelena whispered.

Wanda could not hear and leaned down further.

Yelena grabbed her collar and pulled her down. “I asked, why haven’t I been healed yet?!”

Wanda winced. “About that… you have a concussion. Oksana wants to keep you under observation for a few days first.”

Yelena cringed.

“К черту мою жизнь.”