Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Witch and the Widows

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 46:

Wong opened the portal into Kamar-Taj and stepped back. He had done so against the wishes of many of the elders who lived after the London and New York Sanctums had fallen.

Other elders pointed out how close the Ancient One was to the Scarlet Witch and the foolishness of making an enemy of her.

Stephen Strange and Wong ended the debate when they announced they would be opening a portal and if anyone wished to tell the Scarlet Witch to leave, they could do so themselves. No one was eager to approach her so they kept any arguments to themselves.

Agatha Harkness and Wanda Maximoff stepped out of the portal first. They were both wearing long sleeve black dresses and black hooded cloaks. Agatha Harkness kept her face neutral but Wanda’s eyes glistened and her sorrow was evident.

Yelena stepped outside the portal and stood beside Wanda, taking her hand. She, like all the Red Widows, had worn their black combat suits with the helmets retracted. Agatha had told them the Ancient One saw them as noble warriors like the knights she had known in the past and they should wear their armor. The only weapons they carried were the ever present widow bracelets. They made an eerie sight walking two by two behind the two witches and their leader, their footsteps completely silent as if they were incorporeal.

Steve, Bucky, the Bishops and Yelena’s parents had stayed behind at the Mansion. The newest widows had joined the grieving group despite having no contact with the Ancient One in the past. They were one in their lives and if one was hurting they were all hurting.

They stepped out onto the open brick courtyard that was used for training in the front of the mountain compound. Sorcerers stood to the side, allowing them to join. The widows spread out with Wanda, Yelena and Agatha in the middle.

The Ancient One lay on a funeral pyre that would be lit and turn her immortal body to ash. According to Wong it was a simple ceremony, the type she would prefer. A woman who used immortality to protect the world instead of material gain would appreciate simplicity and abhor grand spectacles.

The witches and the widows took to one knee and lowered their heads in respect for a fellow warrior who had died in battle.

Wong had been chosen to lead the prayers. He stepped next to the funeral pyre and addressed the gathered.

“The world has lost it’s greatest protector. For unknown centuries, the Ancient One has defended the Earth from threats humanity never realized it faced. There are heroes in this world that are known. Heroes that have been celebrated, whose legends shall be written about for centuries to come. She was unknown and always will be. Only those gathered here know the true scope of what she did for this world and the hero she truly was.”

Wong paused, catching his breath and steadying himself.

“The Ancient One never spoke of her past. Her purpose was not to live in the past but to appreciate the moment and guide our future. She put herself into every one of us through her knowledge and love.”

A tear fell down Wong’s cheek. “She believed in forgiveness. She believed in making friends, not enemies. She was a protector who only went to war when she had no option. Even after a victory, she always offered mercy and redemption.”

Wong paused a moment.

“Like many of us when we arrived here, I was lost, aimless. I had no purpose in life. I had no direction or meaning. I had all the material world could offer and still felt empty inside. Like all of us, she gave me purpose. She recognized the power inside me and taught me to harness it and use it to protect others.”

Wong met Ava’s eyes. “She taught me and encouraged me to love.

“She guided and believed in those who did not believe in themselves. She offered us all choices and had faith that we would make the right ones.” he said, meeting Agatha and Wanda’s eyes. “Her faith was often rewarded. Even when it wasn’t, she would not give up on a person. She had the ability to see many different futures and chose to believe in the best.”

Wong sighed and turned back to the Ancient One’s funeral pyre.

“I will not say we will not know what to do without her because we do know. We will continue to protect this world with the knowledge, skill and wisdom she left in all of us. We will pass on her teachings to those who are lost, show mercy when we can, go to war when we have no other choice and seek friendship rather than animosity. We will continue to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.”

A sorcerer approached and handed him a lit torch. Wong then set fire to the wood below the pyre.

The rest of Kamar-Taj took a knee with the Red Widows except for one female sorcerer who began singing.

The gathered stayed for over an hour as her body burned until nothing remained.

As they rose, Ava approached Wong and hugged him. In the agony over losing another loved one, Wanda had not told Ava of what had happened to Wong and decided it was his place to tell her. Wanda had been watched carefully over the past few days, never alone, even at night. Bucky and Yelena had been with her almost every minute of the day and Yelena slept with her at night.

Wanda began to walk away but Stephen Strange approached her. He had three envelopes in his hand.

“I will be moving to the New York Sanctum. When I was preparing the few items I had to take with me, I found these in my room along with a letter to Wong and myself. She asked me to ensure that you received these and read them before you returned home.”

Wanda nodded and the three took their letters and walked in different directions to be alone. Many of the sorcerers stared at Wanda and gave her a wide birth. She found a spot to be alone and read.

Wanda,

I call you Wanda because you are Wanda Maximoff. You happen to be the Scarlet Witch but that is only a title for academics and prophets to call you. Never forget who you are. You are the girl who was offered untold power and turned it away because you wanted family, not followers. You are the one who has lost so much and yet still loves. You are the one who fights for those who cannot fight for themselves.

As I write this I suspect my time is coming to an end. My body may be unchanging but it is the truth of life that every living thing must die. You are more aware of this than most people. I am sorry to leave you but I am grateful to see the woman you have become.

You are now Earth’s greatest defender against physical and metaphysical threats. I wish this burden had not been placed on you so young but destiny has spoken. You will have a hard journey ahead. You will face obstacles that may feel insurmountable. I see pain in your future.

I have seen you overcoming this pain. I have also seen great love. You are loved Wanda. You are not alone. You are surrounded by a coven, not of witchcraft but of love. You have yet to meet your greatest loves but I see them in your future. I see you overcoming all and emerging victorious. I have seen you happy. I have seen this future. It is in your hands to make it happen.

Never fear yourself. Believe in yourself. Never turn away love. I have watched you often to Yelena’s chagrin and will continue to watch you with your brother and parents by my side. We shall meet again one day.

The Ancient One

Wanda folded the note and placed it back into the envelope. It was vague and full of mysteries and encouragements and faith, like the woman who wrote it.

“I will miss you.” she whispered, taking a look around Kamar-Taj at all she had built. It was an amazing legacy.

She almost approached Yelena, but saw she was in a corner alone, reading her own note.

Yelena had her back turned to the outside crowd. Wong was quietly showing the widows around the courtyard and pointing out buildings and training grounds.

Yelena,

Since you are reading this, I am dead. In my long life, I have never met someone like you. You fight like warriors of old. You lead like the greatest of generals. You face the unknown bravely and never falter.

You are a mystery I cannot unravel. If anyone has the right to be full of rage and hate, it is you. You have been betrayed by those you loved, been a pawn in the hands in others and had your own mind and body taken away from you to be abused and tortured.

Despite this, you love with a fierceness I have rarely seen. I ask that you keep the contents of this letter to yourself, even from Wanda. I would like it to stay between us. I saw many potential futures for Wanda when she first used magic in her destroyed apartment to save her brother and herself from a bomb inches from her face.

The potential futures held many similarities. They all involved a woman so consumed with pain and grief that it turned her to the blackest of magic. In some futures she destroyed the world, destroyed life in the universe, became the personification of the Darkhold. In others she ended her own life, having nothing and no one, no hope, no love, and no light.

The visions changed after she met you. You were an unknown not even destiny had foretold. You changed her path forever. Because of you, the futures I then saw were very different. I saw the two of you side by side, protecting the helpless, protecting this world, leading warriors and saving the universe.

The books that prophesized the Scarlet Witch destroying the universe all stated that she needed no coven.

There was only one book that foresaw her as a savior. This book wrote of the Scarlet Witch and her coven.

Wanda would be lost without you. She cannot fight the darkness in her soul without you. You are more important to her and the Universe than you have ever realized. You are her guardian. You are the reason she still loves. It has been a true pleasure to have known someone with your bravery and heart. You would think after so many centuries no one could surprise me but you have. You are truly one of a kind, Yelena Belova. I will be with you always.

The Ancient Bald One

Yelena shook her head and smiled, wiping a tear from her cheek. “She has sense of humor. I knew she loved me. Crazy woman. Spying all the time. I will miss you Ancient One.”

Yelena took a deep breath and found Wanda across the yard. They met each other’s eyes and smiled, having a wordless conversation.

They looked for Agatha and made their way to her. She had finished her letter and was placing it back into the envelope.

“Cheeky little thing, wasn’t she?” Agatha asked, forcing a bright smile on her face. “I’m going to miss her.”

Both women saw past the smile on Agatha’s face to the sadness she hid.

“Who else would beat a woman possessed by dark magic, a woman who was a mass murderer before she found the Darkhold and give her a chance to find a family. Talk about an idiot. So trusting and so naïve. She obviously wasn’t all there…”

The smile faded and Agatha began crying. Wanda held her tightly until she calmed down.

Stephen Strange who had been waiting in the wings approached when Agatha had calmed and called Wanda’s name softly from behind to not startle her.

“Could we speak alone?”

Wanda nodded and looked to Yelena.

“Of course.” Yelena answered. “Lead the way.”

Strange took in the short assassin. “I meant just Wanda.”

Yelena shook her head. “There is no just Wanda. You want to speak, you speak to Wanda and Yelena.”

Strange nodded and motioned for the two girls to follow him. Wanda gave a last look at Agatha who was already being comforted by the girls. Agatha did not need to be alone now.

When they reached Strange’s room there were only two wooden chairs. Wanda snapped her fingers and another chair appeared. All three had a seat.

“What I am about to tell you cannot leave this room. I have placed a dome of silence around us.”

“We understand.” Wanda assured him. She paid attention to the man’s appearance. He looked much better than before. He also wore a cape that Wanda could sense was magical in nature. His most glaring change was on his chest. He still wore the Eye of Agamotto as he had when he defeated Dormammu.

“I was with her astral form before she died.” he started. “To be more precise, I was with her at the moment of her death and we spoke. I found out things that you need to know. The Ancient One was drawing on power from the Dark Dimension to maintain her immortality. She told me she hated doing it but it was necessary.”

Yelena nodded.

“It was.” Wanda also agreed. “Sometimes we must use darkness to right the wrongs caused by the greater darkness in others. Sometimes the natural order must be broken for the greater good. She used her immortality to build the Masters of the Mystic Arts. She built the greatest defense against metaphysical threats this world has likely ever known.”

Strange nodded. “Unfortunately Mordo did not agree. He has left the Order. From what I gather he has told no one else of her drawing power from the Dark Dimension. Only Wong and I know. If it does become known, more sorcerers could leave the Order, weakening us further. Without the Ancient One we are not as strong as we need to be.

“I am not sure if Mordo intends to expose her actions. If he does this world will be in greater danger.”

Yelena understood. “So you wish for us to find Mordo and kill him. This is no problem. Give us a couple days to find him and there will be nothing left of him to ever prove he existed.”

Strange’s eyes widened. “No! That is not what I’m saying! I do not want anyone dead! I am a doctor!”

Wanda sighed. “I understand this, Stephen. You cannot kill anyone. You took a hypocritical oath. Of course you cannot say what needs to be done.” she finished with a wink.

“No! It’s Hippocratic oath and that is not what I want!”

“We understand.” Yelena smiled and winked at the man while nodding her head.

“No! Stop winking! I truly do not wish him dead!”

Both girls looked confused for a moment and then winked at each other.

“Stop that! No killing! I am saying if more sorcerers leave then I will need help. The Order will need your help.”

“With killing Mordo?” Wanda asked.

Stephen dropped his head, frustrated.

Yelena was surprised by his reaction. “Wanda, I really don’t think he wants us to kill Mordo.” she said, a bit amazed.

Wanda shook her head. “Then I am very confused. Why are you telling us about Mordo? Do you believe he will recruit other sorcerers to his cause and you want us to… arrest him? We are not magical police. Or do you fear a gang war over Kamar-Taj. I am quite knowledgeable about gang wars. They usually involve killing rival gangs.”

Strange chuckled. “I am simply saying if we face a great threat I will need you to fight beside us. I need to know if I can count on you. I ask this because I know all the sorcerers outside of Wong and myself fear you and half of them hate what you are. I know you would have come to the Ancient One’s aid despite that, because you were close to her. Now that she is gone, I want to know if I can rely on your assistance.”

“Wong is dear to us.” Yelena said. “He will always have our help when he calls us.”

“He won’t call you.” Strange told them. “He told me we all have our own battles to fight. I disagree. When it comes to protecting humanity we have one common battle. I am also not sure how long Wong will stay with the Order.”

Wanda was shocked to hear this. “He has mentioned nothing to us about leaving.”

Strange sighed, his frustration clear. “He was offered the role of Sorcerer Supreme. He turned it down. He told the elders that a Sorcerer Supreme must devote their entire heart and soul to the Order. He told them he believed in our cause but his heart belonged to another. When the Ancient One introduced you all on your last visit, it became clear who his heart belonged to.”

Yelena smirked. “Yes, he does as she asks. She has him well trained. They think we do not know he takes her all over the world at night with his portals despite our rule about Widows never traveling alone. For a spy she is bad liar. She walked out of her room one morning wearing a bikini and lei. Should we not be having this discussion with the new Sorcerer Supreme?”

Strange was silent and Wanda and Yelena understood what he didn’t say aloud.

“You?” Wanda asked to be certain.

“You have been here ten minutes!” Yelena pointed out, matching Wanda’s surprise.

Stephen nodded. “Yet, I know more spells than many sorcerers with decades more experience. I defeated Dormammu. I am familiar with the Eye of Agamotto and use it with ease. Finally, the Elders want nothing to do with the position. They have spent their lives as followers. None of them are eager to lead. None of them want the responsibility.”

Wanda took that in. “What about what you want? We looked you up after our last visit, Dr. Strange. You were a world renowned surgeon. No one was better. Then your hands were destroyed. No surgery could repair the damage.

“I could. I could make you whole. We owe you for saving Wong’s life. Say the word and I can give you the life you had. I can do it now. It would take seconds and everything you have searched for since the accident can be yours again.”

Strange knew she could do so. He had never asked Wong or the Ancient One outright but at least suspected as much. He knew from his readings and the Ancient One’s interest in her, that the Scarlet Witch was a being of unfathomable power. He knew what she had done to Novi Grad. She healed a city in minutes. How easily could she repair his hands?

“The Ancient One told me I knew enough magic… I could channel enough magic to steady my hands and be a surgeon again.”

“I could make it so you would never need to use magic again.” Wanda told him quietly. “You could walk away from here and never look back. Leave the defense of Earth to someone else, an elder who would be forced to step up. If you become Sorcerer Supreme your old life is over. There is no going back. I am offering you a way back now. The choice is yours.”

Stephen listened to her soft voice. Her thick accent was present but it wasn’t a distraction. She was seductive but truthful. He knew it. She wasn’t trying to trick him. She would heal him and he would owe her nothing.

He would have the power of a scalpel in his hands once again. He would have the power to use his own physical and mental skills to save lives others could not.

The riches he had grown accustomed to would be his once again. He would be respected again, idolized by the medical community.

He could have Christine back. The last time he saw her, he knew any chance he had with her was gone but this could change things.

It didn’t have to be the end. He could be different this time. He could be humble and treat her with the respect she deserved. She had loved him unconditionally and he could give her that love in return.

It would only take seconds. He would offer this powerful girl his hands and she would give him what he had been searching for when he started this journey.

He met her eyes and could read nothing in them. Her face gave away no emotion or judgement, simply waiting for him to make a choice. Her hands were on her thighs with her palms open to the ceiling. Red light beams twisted between her fingers.

He took a deep breath and did the hardest thing he had ever done.

“The Ancient One told me you were offered the Darkhold. She offered you unimaginable power, the power to make the entire world, even the universe fall at your feet.”

Wanda said nothing.

“You know about temptation. This is a test.”

Wanda shook her head. “I do not test others. It is not my place. I am struggling with math tests that twelve year old children have mastered. I am simply offering you what you have been searching for.”

Stephen nodded, believing her. “And I appreciate the offer but that life is no longer mine. It is no longer my purpose. My purpose is here, protecting this planet from metaphysical threats, just as it is your chosen purpose.”

The light dancing between Wanda’s fingers disappeared, and with it, Stephen Strange’s old life.

She reached out her hand and Stephen shook it.

“We are and will be friends, Dr. Strange. Without her, life will be much more difficult for all of us. We will need each other. The world needs a balance of order and chaos to thrive. You can be the order and we will be the chaos.”

“Thank you.” he told her gratefully.

The two rose but Yelena stopped on the way out. “If Mordo comes for us we will cut off his head and send it to you in a cooler.”

Stephen had expected no less.

---

A month then another had gone by. Eleanor had returned to her office continuing to work at night with Wanda over the computer and visiting Kate on the weekends. The fourth of July came and the girls reluctantly agreed to participate in a barbecue outing Steve had begged to put on. Dima and the two men along with some of the girls had completed one housing addition and begun work on a second with Wanda and Agatha providing the supplies.

Antonia had surgery to remove the chip in her head and was recovering nicely. Kate had also grown stronger, sparring with the girls, practicing archery and sword play. She had worked with Natasha and Stannic to learn to throw bolos and improve her staff work. During the week at night, her and Yelena slept together with the dogs at their feet and their nightmares lessened in frequency and intensity.

Wanda spent much time with Bucky when she wasn’t studying. She had started running with the girls in the morning, hoping physical exercise, studying and group therapy with the other girls participating in online recovery classes could keep her from drinking. Some days were better than others and though she lost her way more than a few times, Yelena was there to bring her back.

She also continued to meet with the Sokovian president through astral projection and watched over the growth of the city, while making plans to improve other areas of the country. She had sat in on a meeting with the Sokovian President and T’Challa as they worked out a deal she had no hope of understanding with her current level of schooling but Eleanor had talked her through the basics.

The last week of July they traveled to an uninhabited island where they spent four days camping and living on the beach while enjoying the ocean.

It was also where Anya and Dima broke the happy news to Yelena that she was going to be a big sister.

The summer was filled with fun and training but no missions. No widows had been found and Yelena was beginning to wonder if anymore ever would be. Despite the many that were still out there, she had no idea how many were off the drug and wandering the world on their own, how many had been killed by their handlers and how many just didn’t want to be found. Eleanor had been tracing several locations that could possibly house stolen children but they appeared to be in preparation stages and with an international crime syndicate with reach everywhere, she had to be very careful.

This all changed the first week of August.

The alarm sounded for the first time all summer.

The Red Widows, Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes gathered in the briefing room in the bunker. Rachel was at the front with Yelena, having briefed her first.

“Where is Kate?” Yelena asked.

Amanda raised an eyebrow. “She never comes down for these meetings.”

Yelena nodded. “She is not a Red Widow. Therefore she is not held by our rules. She is going with me. She will be safe and far away from the action but I have need of her archery skills.”

A series of grumbles went through the room.

“She has come far.” Antonia said. “This is still fieldwork though. She has trained with us, eaten with us, played in our Mario Cart, Mortal Combat and Call of Duty tournaments. She is one of us. She is beholden to our rules. She is underage.”

Yelena sighed. “She will remain in the jet, just as our younger pilots do in the field. If anyone else wants to come on these missions it can be considered as long as you stay in the jet and not in the field. Kate will be leaving us soon. She needs this.”

No one said anything for a moment.

“So long as she stays in the jet.” Naomi agreed.

“I would also like Stannic, Aino and Staci on the jets with us. You three are the youngest and the girls may feel more comfortable with you. They will need support and coming from someone closer to their age may help.”

Rowan caught what the others didn’t. “Missions. Not mission? Multiple jets? What is going on?”

“After a summer of no luck finding widows, we have four who have arrived on facial recognition in the past twenty four hours. The first is a fourteen year old girl in Chicago. Her assigned name is Sierra and she had been used as a hitman and enforcer. She is small, looks younger than her age, unassuming and very deadly. She has been in the field since she was nine. She was seen leaving the scene of a triple homicide. The victims were a local Irish mob boss and his wife and daughter. All three were double tapped while putting up no resistance. We believe she was controlled by Dimitri Abramov, head of the Russian Mafia for the entire East Coast and he has specialized in human trafficking in the past. We thought he may be dead but apparently went far underground when word of the Red Room’s fall and our organization’s actions became known. He does have a prior relationship with Dreykov.” Yelena explained.

“He lives in a large compound just over the border of Canada. The compound is more protected then many Missile East terrorist leaders’ compounds. It will take two teams to enter. The girls must be secured and the body count will be high. The kills will have to be quick and quiet for as long as possible. Ava, you will take your team and Natasha, you will take my team. The two of you can work out your plan of attack. Oksana, this mission has the highest likelihood of friendly injuries and the girl could be harmed in crossfire if she is not gotten to before the fighting begins. You will go with them.” Yelena ordered. “Stannic, when she is on board, comfort her. The others will be there but I want you to take lead. You can practice piloting skills on the trip.”

“Comforting isn’t what I do best.” she pointed out.

“Then look at this as an opportunity to improve.” Yelena told her. “We do not know what she has undergone or what her other purposes were in addition to being a killer. If she has been raped by that pig, no one will understand what she is going through better than you. You have always asked what your purpose is beside being a killer. Show me.”

Many in the room were surprised by Natasha being given Yelena’s team but no one spoke against it. As the summer went on and more widows had gotten to know her and seen the positive changes Stannic’s attitude had undergone, she had become more and more accepted. She worked with them or spoke to them as equals in the morning while going over what was known about aliens and their fighting styles and weapons. Her and Steve occasionally joined some of their activities in an effort to blend in. This would be her first time planning a mission from the beginning with another team leader.

Nat was thankful it was Ava considering she got along with her best out of all the team leaders. Ava was different than the others. She wasn’t as defensive and seemed less guarded, even involved in a long term relationship. Something was different about her but Nat never could figure out what. She doubted the other widows could either.

“Aino, I want you in the jet for the next mission. Tanya, age thirteen, been in the field since she was twelve and had been on loan to a gun for hire organization called Freedom’s Light. Natasha and Clint Barton infiltrated and dealt a severe blow to the organization her first year with SHIELD. These are scattered remnants, trying to rebuild in Madripoor. They rented her from Dreykov for what was supposed to be a one time mission. She was given an experimental drug that had longer effects than the regular drug. According to records, Melina found it caused significant brain damage in the first round of human tests but went ahead with the second after so called improvements.”

Yelena paused, the disgust washing over her face at the reminder of her one time mother’s evil.

“She was seen with a former member of Freedom’s Light. We weren’t aware he was alive. They do a good job staying low but they made a mistake. There are few cameras in that country but the Mossad placed a few recently and we hijacked them. Based on video we have a general location. Locals may need to be encouraged to speak. Agatha, we need you there. Steve, I need you as back up. Protect them from being flanked. We have no idea of the numbers we will be facing.”

Yelena paused.

“We have found the twins.”

The entire room stilled. No one was sure the twins were still alive. They were in the Red Room databanks and were on a mission for the Red Room at the time of Dreykov’s demise but the details were strangely vague on the customer.

They were only twelve years old, having been born and raised in the nursery and then the Red Room before going under chemical subjugation at nine years old. They were primarily used for missions requiring killers no one would suspect. They were not physically large nor abnormally fast. Their combat skills were not above others, even in their age group.

Their one advantage was their looks. They were cute twins, kids that made people think they were adorable on first sight. They could bump into someone in a crowded market and inject them with a deadly poison. The victim would look at the two innocent identical faces and brush it off as clumsy girls. They could drop a backpack full of explosives without catching attention if they were operating alone or in different locations of the mission parameters.

“The train bombing in Bucharest that happened two days ago, was the work of one of them. The bombing killed twelve passengers. Rachel caught her on an exit camera before the train took off. She also investigated other murders at or around the same time. An attaché for the President was killed in a mugging while the bombing took place. He was stabbed in an alley. Some witnesses have reported seeing him help a young girl who had fallen in the alley he died in. Rachel found the other twin in the same area shortly after. No one will believe a child brutally stabbed a government official five times in seconds. The train bombing has taken all of the investigative power of the country.”

“What was reason for taking out the attaché?” Rowan asked.

Yelena shrugged. “It could be any reason considering who was running the operation. Rachel tracked the second twin to an apartment building on the west side of the city. The building is three stories and supposedly at full occupancy. It is owned by the Ameritex Group, a U.S business specializing in real estate investments. We have found it is a shell company for the United States Central Intelligence Agency.”

None of the widows were surprised but Steve was shocked.

“Are you saying the C.I.A has been infiltrated by HYDRA?” he asked.

Yelena shook her head. “No, I am not. I am saying the twins are based in a building owned by the United States Central Intelligence Agency and being used by them. Does this surprise you, Steve?”

Steve clenched his jaw, not wanting to believe it.

“It must be a set up.” He reasoned. “The C.I.A. wouldn’t have had ties to Dreykov. They would have wanted him dead. They certainly wouldn’t be bombing a train causing mass casualties as a distraction to murder a government official.”

The widows looked at Steve and his face turned red. He couldn’t meet their eyes. As much as he didn’t want to believe it, he knew the words were wrong as they were coming out of his mouth. Of course the C.I.A. would do something like that.

“You have worked with the C.I.A.” he pointed out to Yelena trying to convince himself it wasn’t possible.

“Does…” Lerato paused… “has anyone asked Everett? Should we?”

“No.” Wanda answered immediately, the anger in her voice unmistakable. “Everett works in counter terrorism, not black ops. He wouldn’t know about this and I don’t want him to know. He would try to investigate and place himself in danger. He is too noble for his own good. If this C.I.A. group wants to use our girls like weapons then we treat them as we do any other handlers. We rescue the girls, find out all the information we can about the handlers, what their purpose is, how they controlled the girls and who knew what. Then we kill them.”

“The whole building is likely a C.I.A. safehouse.” Antonia pointed out.

“It isn’t safe anymore.” Wanda said.

Yelena cleared her throat. “We will gas the building before we go inside. On the roof are several AC units with vents. Kate, you will be in the jet, buckled in so you don’t fall out the back door. I need you to fire five gas arrows into five vents. Can you make the shots from possibly one thousand feet away? That is the nearest safe distance our jets can hover in stealth mode without being recognized in the dark from what we can tell of the landscape. You have a limited window and will be using night vision goggles.”

Kate’s eyes were wide, taking all this in. She was shocked at many things, the use of children by the C.I.A. above all.

“Kate?”

“I’m sorry?”

“Can you do it? Can you make the shots? If we can gas the buildings it will be easier to take with less resistance. The more fire, the greater chance of the twins being harmed.”

“Yes.” She answered. “I can make a shot from that distance with my bow. I can make all five.”

Yelena nodded, satisfied with her tone.

“Ingrid, I want you on the West side with the MRAD. In the event they call back up, you will have access to the front and back doors on North and South side. Wanda and I will be going with Barnes once the gas has had a chance to take effect. Wanda can keep the gas remnant away from us when we enter. Once the building is secure join us.”

Antonia stood. “I will join your team as well?”

Yelena cringed and shook her head. “Shuri said six months of no action, Antonia. You train too heavily as is. You must sit out.”

She stood immediately and shrugged Lerato’s hand from her shoulder. “This is unfair. I am fully capable.”

“Welcome to our world.” Sonia told her.

Antonia scowled at the girl. “I will stay in jet with Kate. If she misses I can complete the shots. Perhaps we can fire at same time.”

Yelena looked up at her. “Kate Bishop is the world’s greatest archer. You have all seen it. You know it is true, Antonia. Continue to recover, become one hundred percent and you will be back in the field soon. I will take no more chances with your health than you would with mine or any of us. If you were in my position you would do the same.”

Antonia quietly sat down. As much as she hated it, what Yelena had said was true.

That afternoon, the jets and their teams launched from the mansion and split into three directions.

Kate was nervous to the point of almost being sick. She had dreamed of this. She had wanted to be involved in a mission somehow, though she knew Yelena would never let her in the field. Their date in Paris was likely the only danger she would see in her life if Yelena had her way. But now she had a chance.

She was also suited up for the first time. Madison had shown her a suit the girls had made for her. It was purple and black, a half mask that covered over her mouth nose but left her eyes free, similar to what the Winter Soldier once wore. Her eyes had glasses resembling shades except these were equipped with night vision. Her quiver was built for trick arrows and the suit had places for her bows, blades and even a retractable sword strapped to her thigh.

If she missed, what could be a simple mission could turn into a warzone and two innocent, mind controlled kids would be caught in the middle.

It never occurred to her that Wanda could freeze everyone in the mansion.

It had occurred to Wanda, Bucky and Yelena.

Yelena had decided this would be the second option. She had no intention of getting into a fire fight in a crowded building with possible innocents mixed in with agents’ apartments. If necessary, Wanda would take control of the minds in the building and put everyone to sleep.

Taking over the minds of all those involved was not an easy feat. Of course she could do it but controlling that many minds left room for mistakes. She could easily mix her subjects memories. She could drive one or more insane. She knew the building was full of C.I.A. agents but not all of them might be agents. Putting everyone to sleep by natural means was preferrable to Wanda invading minds of innocents, not knowing who was friend or enemy beforehand.

Yelena sat in the copilots chair next to Kristina who was at the controls. Her mind was going over every scenario while also second guessing herself about the teams she had sent to the other locations. She worried about the girls they were sent to rescue. They would be bringing four children thirteen and younger to the mansion. They could not give these girls an option of taking their assistance and starting their own lives. They had nothing but the widows. Most, if not all of them, won’t remember a time when they weren’t mind controlled. She doubted they had the education that had been given to the others considering their short time in the Red Room. They would be more dependent and possibly more dangerous than any other rescued widow.

“Hey, could I have a moment?” Kate asked her, snapping her out of her thoughts.

Yelena smiled at her and stood, leading her to a corner.

“Thanks… for letting me come along and… what you said… about me… you know…”

Yelena shook her head and touched her cheek. “I only told the truth. This is not some stunt to prove how much I love you or to make you happy. I have seen you work. I have seen your skill firsthand. When I say you are the greatest archer in the world, I mean it. I trust you.”

“What if I miss?”

Yelena shrugged. “Then you miss. We go to plan B or C. We use magic or stealth, we kill silently. Maybe Wanda casts some hoodoo spell and everyone falls into a coma. I prefer to do this without magic until magic is necessary. You can do this. You won’t miss.”

“How do you know?”

“Because you are Hawkeye. Hawkeye never misses.”

“I’m not Hawkeye.”

Yelena nodded. “You are better looking than he is. Considering he spends more time milking cows, and less time with a bow, I believe he would not mind you carrying on his tradition. I told you before, every Widow needs a Hawkeye and you are mine. If you are nervous, I believe in you enough for both of us.”

Kate smiled and took a deep breath then kissed her.

“Do the twins have names?”

Yelena shook her head. “Dreykov just called them Twin Alpha and Twin Omega. I suppose they will have to choose their own. We must keep Staci away when they are doing so. I will not be calling girls Cinderella and Snow White. I am nervous, Katerina. We have so many children in the house. I thought as time went on we would find widows who were older. Now, we are finding widows who are younger than our youngest. Soon we will have toddler running around the mansion. Things are changing so quickly.”

Kate nodded. “It’s a good thing you are in charge then. I believe in you enough for both of us too.”

Two hours later, Bucky, Wanda and Yelena had floated to the ground. Reaper 4 hovered in the air in complete darkness and near silence. It was over a large warehouse and only a hundred feet off the top of its roof.

Kate stood at the open back, strapped into the jet. She had her night vision glasses on and bow in hand.

“The longest recorded archery target hit is 1083 feet. You are looking at 930 feet. You ready?” Kristina asked.

“Yes.” Kate said with no hesitation.

Kate held her breath and concentrated her heartbeat.

She pulled back…

“We can get you closer.” Staci told her.

Kate let her bow down.

“I got this. Just give me space and don’t say anything. I’ve never done this before. Its going to be a first shot in a real mission and I need to enjoy it in silence. Relax and watch the greatest archer in the world.

She aimed her arrow once again and listened to her heartbeat.

One, two, three…

Kate fired. Without waiting for it to hit the target she pulled the next and fired and again and again and again.

Within five seconds of each other all the arrows had landed in their vents.

Kristina patted her on the back. “Nice job, Hawkeye. Reaper 4 to ground team, the packages have been delivered.”

The team waited for a few minutes letting the gas spread inside. When they heard gas escaping a window they walked inside, Wanda first, spreading the gas around her and the others. Some men stumbled out of their apartments with guns in their hands and Bucky and Yelena dispatched them quickly with head shots. As they climbed to the top floor they found unconscious armed bodies along the way. Those who had guns in their hands were killed by Bucky and Yelena. A few in gas masks popped out and were shot quickly by the widow and the super soldier.

Wanda continued to march with a purpose, not paying mind to the dead bodies being dropped around her.

When they reached the largest apartment on the top floor, they found two men passed out with their heads on the table covered with maps and documents in front of them. In the right corner of the room were two sleeping girls in a large cage, sharing a bed and handcuffed to the headboard.

“Ingrid when you enter watch for stragglers and those who may wake. Clear each room and kill any occupants that are CIA agents. We have found the twins asleep in a cage handcuffed to a single bed. Make it as messy as you wish.”

“I’m going to give the antidote to the kids and free them.” Bucky said. In his anger he had switched to a Winter Soldier mentality and his voice and eyes were cold.

Wanda lifted the two men up and placed them in chairs away from the table, conjuring chains to bind their hands behind their backs. Yelena slapped them over and over. When they wouldn’t wake she used widow bites.

The men came to consciousness quickly. After looking around frantically they finally took in the fact that the Scarlet Witch and Yelena Belova were in front of them. Bucky Barnes was with the twins, trying to wake them.

“You… you can’t do this! We aren’t some slavers no one cares about!”

“No, you are American terrorists who are responsible for the bombing of a train and the murder of a government official. Just because you are employed by the C.I.A, does not change that. Wanda can read every nasty thought you have ever had. It is a long and painful process. I am what you would call old school when it comes to getting answers.”

Yelena pulled out her knife and the agents eyes widened.

“I am going to video this and you are going to tell us everything you have done and are doing.” she said.

The man who looked slightly less scared shook his head. “I admit to nothing. You can learn what you want from my head but if I don’t admit anything it is my word against yours and you are known to hate the United States and use torture to achieve your means.”

Yelena waked to the table and looked at the documents on the table. “We will go through every document you have, interview the agents still alive and find out your secrets whether you tell us or not. We don’t need you to say them. I just thought it might make Wanda’s process less invasive and save you some pain. You may be prepared for me and Barnes. You may be okay with having pieces of your body removed, your fingernails ripped off, your eyes taken out of your skull. One thing you are not prepared for is a witch in your head. She will rip you apart without touching you. She will make every fear you have come true. She will find your weaknesses, torture your brain, agitate nerves in your head, cause seizures and stop them at will. She will bring every regret, every dirty deed you wish to forget to the forefront. She will find out every foul thing you have ever done and make you relieve it from your victim’s point of view. You are in no way prepared for her.”

“I’ll talk.” The other agent said. “I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”

“Taylor!”

“Go to hell Peyton! They are going to kill us anyway! I told you what would happen if they found us! I told you to get rid of those girls! Its over. I’m not dying in more pain than necessary to protect the C.I.A.!”

“You are a smart man.” Yelena told him. “Bucky, find out how tough this loyal dog who chains little girls in cages after he uses them to do his dirty work really is. See if you can make him squeal before Wanda is ready for him.”

“It would be my genuine pleasure.”

Yelena began recording with her phone and pulled the man away from the other agent who was now screaming. Wanda soundproofed the room so the neighbors wouldn’t wake.

Ingrid walked inside holding a stack of bloody documents.

“There are no innocents. Most of the apartments are empty. The ones that weren’t belonged to C.I.A. agents. I woke them up and gutted them.”

Yelena shook her head and took the documents. “We have what we need here. Bucky has given the girls the antidote but they are still asleep. Can you sit with them if they wake up from the screams?”

“Taylor, was it? I want your real name. I want you to tell me what you are doing here, how long you have been using the girls, the reasoning behind the train bombings and the murder of the official. Then we will talk about your superiors, who knew what and who authorized this action. Do you understand?”

He nodded. “Your going to kill me, aren’t you?”

“Very much so, yes. I will save you from her though. I did not exaggerate. Your colleague is going to experience hell on Earth before he goes to hell. You have a chance to unburden your soul and then die quickly.”

He began talking.

The other agent began talking as well after Barnes had taken his eyes and the only sights he saw were the ones Wanda allowed him to see.

Four hours later the Widows were in the air with the twins who had still not awoken. It appeared they were given tranquilizers every night to ensure they did not wake and try to escape their cage. The group stood vigil over them as they rested. Staci held their hands.

“Can I name them?”

“No.” Wanda, Ingrid and Yelena answered her.

“They can choose their own names.” Yelena told her, patting her on the back.

Staci sighed. “They are going to be so scared when they wake up.”

“But they will be free. They will be safe. They will have us.” Wanda told her. “And no one will ever enslave them again. The ones responsible have not all paid, but they will. Everyone of them will pay, starting with the director of the C.I.A.”

10 hours later

Wanda and Bucky sat in a bedroom with the twins. They had awoken when they began their decent into the bunker and panicked. Wanda and Yelena had done their best to calm them but Wanda took a kick to the jaw for her efforts. Staci and Ingrid held one down while Bucky and Yelena held the other as they did their best to speak comforting words.

Bucky backed off once they stopped fighting and the girls took over. He attended to Wanda.

“How you doing, Doll?”

“That hurt.” she told him. “This is why I don’t spar.”

“Or maybe why you need to spar?” he suggested.

Wanda smirked and winced at the pain. “Our sparring sessions don’t teach me a lot about fighting. I don’t want to calm them with my power. I want it to come naturally.”

Bucky nodded. “Give the girls a chance. They are calming down. They don’t know what is going on. Probably the story of their lives.”

“Yep.”

Bucky and Wanda sat on the floor watching them as the jet made its landing.

“When?” he asked.

She didn’t bother to ask what he meant.

“You sure you want another list of bodies on U.S. soil?” Wanda asked him.

“If you are there, I’m going to be dropping them beside you.”

Wanda nodded, not surprised. “Let’s get the girls settled. The other two teams were successful and are bringing the widows home. The one who was under the experimental drug named Tanya hasn’t spoken or shown any stimuli since being given the antidote. I need to make sure they are okay and check the other one. I may have to calm these two. I’m going to approach them again.”

Bucky nodded, not happy but knowing he couldn’t stop her. Wanda crawled to the girls who were being held in Ingrid and Yelena’s arms.

“Hello?”

One twin waved shyly.

“I’m Wanda.”

Both girls nodded.

“What do you call each other?”

The sisters looked at each other and shrugged. As she suspected, they had no names.

Wanda glanced at Yelena whose concern was written all over her face. The girls had calmed down. They were no longer screaming but not talking either.

“Can I see your wrist? I can make it feel better.” Wanda offered. “Would you like me to do that?”

The girl looked at her suspiciously and then tugged her wrist close to her chest.

“Okay. Maybe later? You are safe now. Nobody is ever going to hurt you again. No more drugs, no more handcuffs, no more pain. Do you understand?”

The girls looked at each other but said nothing. They were malnourished and not exactly ready for prolonged physical combat. They were used for stealth and quick kills. They likely weren’t trained once they were bought. Oksana would have trouble examining the two. She would have to be very careful as it was obvious they had been abused.

Withing the next few hours, the other teams were back. Everyone was safe, no injuries and each mission had gone to perfection.

Sierra was coping with what had happened the best. She had responded well to the antidote.

Tanya was a concern. She was awake but catatonic. She didn’t eat but would drink if given a straw. She didn’t respond to physical stimuli. Her blood still showed traces of a foreign drug in her system. The antidote had weakened her levels but not completely healed her.

Oksana was in the process of breaking down the drug but running into dead ends.

She called the Widows together.

“The twins have been severely emotionally damaged. I’m not sure they were completely under the influence of the drug. I believe the drug wore out of their system but by that time they had been so used to being used…”

“They were psychologically conditioned to follow orders.” Nat realized, knowing herself how effective that was.

“Exactly. Physically other than scrapes, bruises and malnourishment, they are fine. They haven’t been raped, though I am sure physical abuse has happened. They may have fought when they woke up but it was probably because you weren’t their handlers. They aren’t fighting now. Its going to take a very long time to repair their mental states. I am talking about years. They need therapy. Extreme therapy. Not the kind of therapy we all need. I mean cult deprograming level therapy.”

Yelena sighed and glanced at Wanda who was frowning. What therapist in the world could they trust? Steve had told her his friend Sam was some sort of counselor but these girls would require much more. All the widows had for emotional support was each other.

But two twins who were psychologically scarred at the age of twelve was another ballgame. Anya Belova’s cooking and Eleanor’s tough love speeches were not going to cut it.

“Tanya?” Yelena asked for an update.

“There is no record of the chemical makeup of the drug she was given. I only saw the results of the first trial. Dreykov kept Melina’s work off his server. If I could get my hands on the chemical makeup I can have a chance at erasing the remains of the drug. I hope if we do that she may respond. If not we are looking at possibly uncurable brain damage. Time is of the essence. In hindsight it may have been a bad idea to give her the antidote. I should have known better.”

Nat stepped up. “I’ll find her. I will bring her here. We both will. If Alexei gets in the way, Steve will finish him.”

“I’ll go with her.” Naomi said, stepping beside her.

Yelena nodded. “Nat, pick a team, take all fighters you want. Rachel, Mika, work overtime. We need all efforts to find Melina Vostokoff immediately and bring her in alive.”

“You aren’t coming?” Nat asked.

Yelena looked at Wanda. “Wanda and I have a mission to finish. Bucky will come with us.”

The room understood.

“That’s dangerous, little sister.” Nat said, not admonishing, just stating a fact.

Wanda smiled. “It is inevitable. A message must be sent that no one is above our justice. If mind controlled black widows are kept the handlers die and the organization goes down. Even if that organization is the C.I.A.”

Wanda and Yelena walked off, asking Zarola to follow them.

“Yes? You want me to come with you?”

Yelena shook her head. “No, I have something more important for you to do. I need a favor from T’Challa. I want you to call him and fly to Wakanda. Take one of the younger pilots. Tell him of our situation and ask for a therapist. The Wakandans are the only ones we can trust now. The girls need help. We need someone for a while. Can you do that?”

Zarola was disappointed but understood. “You think you can trust him?”

“T’Challa is the only one I can trust with this. We have shed blood together and are friends. Wakandans are honorable. They will send us help.”

Zarola nodded. “I shall call him immediately.”

Zarola walked off but before she could leave the hangar Maria called out to everyone.

The giant screens were showing news from all over the world.

Romania had just announced that they had found the perpetrators of the terrorist bombing and the murder of the Presidential attaché weeks. Yelena had called the authorities before they left. She had sent the video to the head of international security of the confession of one of the agents and the documents were left in the top apartment.

Yelena was not sure what they would do with the information.

She did not expect them to have the guts to tell the International media about it.

Romania had just announced they had proof the C.I.A. was responsible for a terrorist attack and murder of a government official in Bucharest. They were calling for a NATO meeting and requesting the International Court become involved as well as calling for the arrest of the director of the C.I.A. and the President of the United States.

No mention was made of the Red Widows despite Yelena spray painting a giant red hourglass symbol on the wall next to the dismembered body of Doug Terry, aka Agent Peyton.

Wanda smirked.

“Not enough.” she said. “Agatha, I need your help on a locator spell. We are going to cast a net over the world and find Valentina de Fontaine. A statement must be made.”

Agatha left to prepare the items in the library for the spell and Wanda made her way to her room to change.

Steve was behind her.

“Wanda, can I have a word?”

“Shouldn’t you be leaving with Nat?”

“I am… Wanda, you can’t do this. You can’t kill the Director of the C.I.A. The world knows and she will pay.”

Wanda shook her head. “Who do you think you live with Steve? I understand. Since you have been with us we fought robots and took Zemo in alive. We fought a big bad warlord and his soldiers. We killed them all but that was okay because… why? I’m not sure. I don’t know what goes on in your noble head. But now you see what happens to our girls. Now you see how they are treated and you see how we treat those who hurt them. Now we don’t seem like such good guys anymore, do we? We look like vigilantes, right?”

Steve said nothing for a moment. “You are not vigilantes.”

“No, we are vengeance and fury and death. We are torturers. You saw the ugly side of our business. You thought we were wayward girls who just needed some help, maybe we stop drinking and become great heroes like the Avengers. Uncle Steve could make us good girls, right? We are the Red Widows. That is who Natasha is now as well. You wanted to be involved. If you cannot take that or decide you do not want to be a part of it, leave. Maybe you and Stark can reform the Avengers. This is who we are. We are not heroes, Captain America. You want to be a hero? Find Melina Vostokoff so Oksana can save a girl’s life and don’t let the Russian super soldier get in your way.”

Wanda closed the door and leaned against it, taking a deep breath.

She looked at her desk and a bottle of Vodka appeared. She walked over to it and took it in her hands. She opened it and smelt it.

Then her anger took over and the power in her hands flared, shattering the bottle.

She had a spell to do. No one could hide from the Scarlet Witch.