Spider-Woman and

The Books of Doom

Aloud, she continued. "She also seemed to be something of a fetishist... that gear she had in her bag wasn't exactly standard kidnapping equipment. Being kinky is all well and good, but she's pretty obviously more than that - a true sexual predator," the super heroine responded. "Pretty scary, but no match for a couple of well-placed venom blasts."

Kate nodded, "That's true, but what if she comes back? There has to be more to The Order than just her."

"If she does, I'll make sure the police get her as an extra-special guest this time. As for The Order," Spider-Woman went on, stepping a bit closer to Kate and putting a gloved hand on her shoulder, "Let me worry about them. You go find those Books of Doom."

"Right," Kate nodded, reassured in part by Spider-Woman's confidence, "I guess we should get going - there's a lot to do today, and I can't afford to be late to that interview tonight. My publisher wouldn't appreciate it very much if I kept them waiting."

Spider-Woman merely nodded, continuing to present a confident exterior to Kate since it seemed to be helping the reporter. She had very strong feelings rapidly developing for the auburn-maned investigative reporter, which would have to wait for later. Still, she had pondered in the night what kind of restaurant would be nice to take her to once The Order was stopped. Now, though, she was questioning the confidence she was displaying for Kate's sake.

She was certain she could beat that long-haired witch again if they fought, but another more troubling question was in her mind. During the fight, she'd noticed how attractive the sinister woman was. You couldn't deny that, even if she was insane and evil. Something about the thought of actually being overpowered by such a woman made Spider-Woman tingle. To be completely helpless in the hands of a beautiful woman at all, for that matter, would be a completely new experience... and one that got her mind going to all sorts of places she didn't want it to.

Still, the question persisted: did she really want to beat the witch again... or did she somehow want to lose to her… to maybe experience those sensual possibilities? No, that's clearly insane! Banishing that inquiry to the dark depths of her mind, Spider-Woman left to escort Kate Cutler once again. And maybe, just maybe, encounter that other woman once more.

***

"Pheromones." Mab growled the word as she entered Kane's study. She had finished going over her brother's research on this Spider-Woman who had so humiliated her, and the abilities that had prevented Kane from seeing or approaching her. She also now knew that those pheromones had been part of what caused her to be attracted to the young heroine in the first place. She was well past that point now, though… Now, in the wake of her defeat and humiliation, arousal blazed within her at the thought of revenge. Her mind filled with thoughts of the long raven hair, and supple body… the body that she would soon have writhing at her mercy. Mab had sexually dominated many women in her life… this one, she would break.

Mab had expected to find Kane alone in his study; in fact, though, she could barely see him at all: his favorite chair seemed to be covered with pale limbs and white leather, beneath which she could barely make out her brother's form. His face was somewhere on the other side of a mane of shining auburn hair, and Mab could readily imagine the face beneath that hair practically glued to her brother's face. She waited to see if the kissing pair would notice, then impatiently repeated herself.

"Pheromones, are they?"

Kane laughed as he broke off the kiss, then looked around the woman at his sister.

"Mab, dear, you remember The Countess." The head of red-gold hair separated itself from Kane's face, and a beautiful, pale-skinned woman smirked at Mab.

"Darling Mab, it has been too long." A slight lilt of her Russian home still flavored The Countess' speech, but she readily conveyed the unspoken notion that she would have gladly gone even longer without seeing Kane's sister.

"Now that you've finally pulled your tongue from down my brother's throat, maybe you'll explain what is happening here. Just for starters, I thought you didn't do men anymore."

The woman laughed, and lewdly stroked a hand across Kane's lap as she got up. "I will always make an exception for your darling brother." She lowered her voice into a dark chuckle. "Any woman would."

Before Mab could snap out a response, Kane stood up and smiled.

"The Countess is here to assist us with the Spider-Woman problem."

"The only problem is that she took me by surprise. When I get my hands on her…"

"You see?" Kane glanced from Mab to The Countess and back. "Distracted."

Mab's murderous look would have terrified The Hulk, but The Countess simply smiled as Kane continued. "At any rate, those pheromones turn out to be the reason I couldn't see or approach her."

"I know. And this time?" his sister growled.

"Well, I've worked a ritual or two, cleansing some of my human weaknesses. I think I should at least be able to see her, though probably not interact with her."

"Oh, I'll take care of the interacting," Mab snarled.

Kane sighed. "I know you want revenge on this Spider-Woman--"

"Revenge? I'm going to strip her, tie her up, and--"

"Yes, I know," Kane was throwing all his psychic abilities into keeping his voice low and soothing--not that that ever seemed to help where his sister was concerned. "You'll have that chance. But our first priority is the capture of that journalist, so it's imperative that your next encounter with Spider-Woman results in her complete defeat and capture, leaving the journalist all alone for us to seize. We don't have time for another failure-- she's telling too many people about The Order. That's why you're going to have backup."

"Backup?" Mab snorted, looking at the Countess. "And what's she going to do-- worry Spider-Woman to death?"

The Countess retained her wintry smile. "My mental powers may stop short of reading minds or telekinesis, but don't underestimate the ability to plant uncertainty in an opponent's mind. If Spider-Woman can't remember how to use those blasts of hers…"

"Over-rated," Mab snapped.

Kane shook his head. "She nearly fried the human side of your brain the last time. We do this my way-- you bring The Countess and her team along."

"Team?" Before Mab had time to shriek further objection, Kane gestured to a door, that slid soundlessly open, and through it came a young, slender, dark-haired woman, with large, dark eyes, and very long legs and arms, kitted out in black leather.

"This is Leech." The young woman nodded at Kane's introduction.

"Charming," Mab growled.

"She has the ability," Kane went on as though he'd not been interrupted, "to drain special powers and abilities from a foe, once she has them in her embrace. She can even use them herself for a brief period."

Mab shrugged. She had to admit, at least to herself, that it sounded like a useful ability under the circumstances.

"Fine, then," she snapped. "Let's grab them both now."

"Tonight," Kane nodded. "The journalist is taping an interview at a small studio off Union Square. There's only one entrance, an easy approach. And lots of places for concealment nearby."

"Which means Spider-Woman will see us," Mab objected, "if she can hide nearby that easily. What's the point…?"

"She'll see the car. She'll see me." Kane kept his voice level. "But she can't have eyes everywhere at once. She will be so busy keeping an eye on her friend, that it won't occur to her to watch for danger to herself."

Again, though she hated to admit it, Mab realized that being patient, and doing things her brother's way, was probably the best course of action. She had been about to deliver a mental summons to have a car brought around, when Kane cleared his throat.

"Oh, I nearly forgot, your team does have one more member." Instead of looking toward the door, however, Kane pressed a button to open the enormous picture window; in a moment, an incongruous figure filled the window: a shapely young woman floated casually on the breeze, dozens of stories up in the air. Her costume consisted of cut-off denim shorts and a matching shirt tied off under perfectly-formed breasts, light sandals barely covering her feet. Golden hair settled gently about her shoulders as she landed inside the room.

"You remember Malibu ."

For a moment, Mab didn't respond. She resented the presence of The Countess, and thought that Leech seemed too young and inexperienced to be of help, but now they both seemed completely superfluous. Malibu was a California beach girl; she had spawned from the unholy coupling of an actress working on a low-budget horror movie and a demon haunting the set. Though Maliby's mother had died in childbirth, her heritage had left her with the ability to fly, and strength that was virtually unmeasurable.

"You see? With Malibu in your corner, you can't lose."

"Why not just send her to do the job?" Mab asked, genuinely puzzled.

Kane smiled warmly, and hugged his sister. "Because, my dear, I know just how much pleasure you'll get out of doing it yourself."

And as Mab returned the embrace, she thought with delight about just how right he was.

Chapter Five

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