"So, Dad.have you decided on a name for her?" Angela asked smiling up at her husband.

Neil smiled behind his surgical mask as he thought for a moment and nodded. "Yes, I think I like the name Sara. Sara Marie Ashwood."

Angela smiled and kissed the newly christened baby on her forehead. "Hello, Sara."

Mysteria #6
"The Flesh From His Bones"
by Robert Flynn

I hear you out there...calling me a pussy, telling me I'm a wuss because I backed away. How do you fight an invisible woman? I swear to God I will find a way. Even the undead use their eyes. I'll figure out something. Crowley must pay. The sick evil bastard. He helped me realize something, though: Alan Hoylan is dead. But I am not. I am his vengeance. I am his rage. I am the one who will flay the flesh from his bones.

I am Viral. Okay, maybe the name needs work...

* * *

"This is a nice apartment, V. Very nice of you to let me use it," Crowley said.

"Well, Jack, if you insist on staying in town, it's the least I can do. Besides which, I've been staying at the mansion anyway. This is just sort of a hideout," Victoria answered as she picked up a few stray pieces of clothing. "Of course, Alfonse doesn't clean up the apartment..."

"I don't mind a mess," Crowley said, smiling. "In fact, let's make a bigger one."

He stepped up behind her massaging her shoulders.

"Jackkk.," she squealed girlishly, giggling. "Knock it off... I really don't have the time..."

"Of course, you do," he said, kissing the back of her neck. "We have nothing but time. Now come on, Victoria, we are going to play a little game."

He steered her into the bedroom and onto her bed. "Victoria..."

He whispered something into her ear, and then she began to cry.

* * *

"Victoria?" Alfonse asked his eyes alight with concern as she came through the door.

"Yes, Alfonse?" she asked cheerfully.

"You're crying, dear."

"I am not," she said, feeling confusion as she noticed he was right.

He reached up and wiped a tear from her eyes, "Yes, dear, you are. Is something wrong?"

"Everything is wonderful, Alfonse. I don't know why I'm crying. Maybe I'm allergic to something." She smiled a moment. "Is Mr. Carter around?"

Alfonse allowed for a brief smile before he pulled her close. "Mr. Carter is out attending to business. I doubt seriously you are allergic to him."

Victoria chuckled. "Maybe just that ridiculous mask of his..."

"We had a telephone call earlier," Alfonse announced, breaking away from the hug. "Mrs. Marignolls will be in town for the evening. She thought perhaps you would care to join her for dinner."

"Of course, I will," Victoria said, smiling. It had been forever since she had seen Cindy Marignolls, not since shortly after her father's funeral. Victoria had known Cindy her whole life and that had been the only day she had ever seen the older woman cry. It would be nice to see her under better circumstances.

With that thought leaving a smile on her face, Victoria started up the stairs, tears still drying on her face.

* * *

"Alfonse..." The woman smiled and gave him a short hug.

"Mrs. Marignolls."

"You know better than that..."

"Cindy," he said, smiling back.

"That's better," she said with a chuckle. "It's nice of you to pick me up."

"Can't have you using one of those charter limo's...can't trust them a bit. They're always losing luggage, overcharging, taking wrong turns," Alfonse said as he grabbed her bags.

"How's Victoria doing anyway? You mentioned a new boyfriend of hers?" Cindy said. "I thought our little Vicky was too busy for men..."

"So did I," Alfonse muttered.

"Well, tell me about him," Cindy said as they walked to the car.

"Well, he's a detective...,"Alfonse said.

"Law enforcement. I'm surprised; I thought she was a male model kind of a woman," Cindy said chuckling. "Or someone from the television."

* * *

"Jack... No, I can't; I'm trying to work," Victoria said into the cell phone as she laughed. "No, I can't do dinner either. I told you I have plans...yes, maybe after. Wait a second."

Victoria rose from her desk and stared out the window, someone was hurtling face first towards her.

"What the bloody hell?" she muttered, and then the glass broke.

* * *

"You did what?" Daggon asked, stunned.

"I put a hit out on our Queen Bitch," Stevenson answered.

"You idiot!" Daggon was shouting now. "You idiot! That can be traced back to us!"

"No, it can't I used intermediaries. I was careful..."

"Lord... I told you I would take care of her. Instead, you go out, and what -- hire two bit goons?" Daggon asked sighing.

"No, I got pros, the costumed sort. Open invitation, money upon delivery of her head."

"You are such a fool," Daggon muttered.

* * *

"What the hell!?!" Victoria yelled as the person who had just slammed through her window got up and brushed himself off.

"Victoria Burke?" he asked as he pulled a piece of glass from his hair.

"Get the hell out of my office!" she demanded. She hoped that Neil had heard her and had called security. She couldn't risk being Mysteria here.

She backed off slowly as the man approached -- he was small and thin, wearing a business suit that had definitely seen better days. She didn't recognize him, though. What the hell was going on was he a disgruntled employee or something?

"Someone wants you very badly, Ms. Burke," he said as he tracked her movements.

"A lot of people want me. Too bad they can't have me," she said sarcastically, trying to plan a course of action.

He charged forward, and she grabbed the first thing that came to her mind. If the guy could slam face first through windows and be unharmed, it might not do much good, but...

She sprayed him in the eyes with the can of mace, and he went down screaming; she quickly planted a foot hard in his crotch, and he was still lying on the floor alternately clutching his privates and his eyes when security got there five minutes later.

* * *

"Neil?" she asked, watching as maintenance covered the busted window in plastic wrap. "Where in the hell is Neil?!"

"Ms. Burke?" a quiet voice asked from behind.

Victoria turned and found herself facing a mousy blonde. She didn't need this; she needed Neil to get in here and do his job.

"What?" she demanded.

Victoria cursed herself mentally -- the baby, of course. She had forgotten all about it. She would have to send flowers or something later in the day. "So, who in are you?"

"Nancy, Ms. Burke. I'm his replacement for the next couple of weeks. They brought me up from the third floor," the blonde said with a smile.

"Well, congratulations," Victoria said sarcastically. "And, where the hell were you when this happened?"

Nancy paled a little. "I was getting a drink from the water cooler."

"Fine," Victoria said; the blonde sighed in relief. "Remind me to fire and replace the entire Security staff. Five minutes is ridiculous."

"Yes, ma'am, Ms. Burke. Would you like for me to make temporary arrangements for a new office?"

"No," she paused, thinking. "This will be fine. Just see about getting me a new window."

"Of course, ma'am," Nancy said, smiling. "Are you alright?"

"I'll be fine. But I suppose this would be a reason to leave for the day if I had ever had one," Victoria said, pursing her lips. She tapped a finger absently off her bottom lip as she thought.

"Of course, no one would blame you," Nancy said.

"In fact, Nancy, after you arrange for a new window, you leave for the day, and the week, and the year. You're fired. Neil would have been in here helping, not cowering under a desk somewhere," Victoria said, grimacing in distaste.

The blonde looked as though she was about to start crying. Victoria pushed past her and entered the lobby where she caught an elevator. She smiled; at least she wouldn't have any complaints about leaving early today. And there was plenty of time to drop by and see Jack before she got ready for dinner.

* * *

He watched her exit the building. A quick look confirmed that, yes, this was Victoria Burke. He smiled and landed silently on the pavement behind her. He charged her quickly.

* * *

Victoria kicked back with her foot without turning, driving it deep into her pursuer's gut; she kept walking without missing a stride. "Sod off. I'm busy"

* * *

Jack stubbed out his cigarette on the arm of the chair as he rose and got himself another beer. Vicky was going to be busy tonight which meant he could get other things done. He popped the tab on the can and began to chug it down; he could have plenty of fun tonight...

"Jack?"

"Vicky, baby, that you?" he called back from the kitchen.

"Yes, they have to redo my office at work, so I left early," she responded, coming in and wrapping an arm around him.

"Redo?" he asked.

"I'll explain later," she promised, giving him a kiss as she walked to the bedroom.

He tossed the beer aside and followed. "V, you know what we're going to do now don't you?"

"Yes," she responded her voice uninflected as she looked at him.

"And you like it, don't you?"

She slowly shook her head. "No..."

"Yes, you do.... you love it," Crowley said, grinning his predator grin.

"Yes," she said, still shaking her head. "I love it..."

* * *

"You keep the place as lovely as I remember, Alfonse," Cindy said with a smile.

"This house isn't just my work Cindy. I would not trade it for the world," Alfonse said, handing her a cup of tea. "So, how are you?"

"Very well. I can still sing, and people still watch me sing," she smiled and sang him a bit of the aria she was performing on stages around the world.

"Just as lovely as ever," Alfonse said, smiling as he sipped his own tea.

"And you are as much a charmer, Alfonse. I'm afraid I can't hit that note quite as well as I used too," Cindy said with a chuckle.

"Who was discussing your voice?" Alfonse asked with a smile.

Cindy had started to respond to that, but the front door slammed shut, and Victoria entered her voice reaching deep into the mansion.

"Of all the asinine things. Alfonse? Are you here?"

He tipped a silent smile to Cindy as he got up from the table and motioned for her to keep quiet.

"I was just having some tea, Victoria. Would you like to join me?" He called out to her.

"You will never believe what happened today! Some moron flew through my office window and attacked me." Victoria stepped into the room, a hand rubbing her temples, her eyes closed. "I tell you some days...Cindy!!"

"Victoria, darling, if things are that bad," Cindy said as Victoria bent over to kiss her cheek.

"They aren't...well, not as bad as I make them out to be. I just had a really irritating day," Victoria answered, smiling.

Victoria pulled out a chair and sat down with them. Alfonse poured her a cup of tea, and she graciously accepted it. "I had decided that I would rather spend the day at home than in a drafty office while they were cleaning up, so."

"You mean someone actually jumped through your office window?" Cindy asked, surprised.

Alfonse chuckled. "This IS Pacific City. I hear we even have an American president in town that fights trees."

Victoria lost the fight not to giggle when Alfonse said that and gave her a knowing grin.

"I know all about Pacific City. There were people like that even when I still lived here," she said. "But, why would one be after you, Victoria?"

"Who knows? Disgruntled employee? Corporate Abduction? I dealt with him, though. Diamonds are nice, but mace is a girl's real best friend," She said.

Cindy broke out in a smile and nodded her head. "I've had to use it a time or two myself."

Victoria finished her tea. "Well, if you'll both excuse me, I need to take a shower."

"Of course," Cindy said. "I really need to go and get ready for dinner myself. Alfonse?"

"I'll show you to the door," he answered, smiling as he helped her to her feet.

Victoria turned and exited the room, leaving the two to themselves. She had been lying of course. She would take a quick shower before meeting Cindy, but, for now, there were desperate matters she needed to attend to, and they could not be handled in a business suit.

* * *

It was strange to hover over Pacific City like this. She rarely saw it in the daylight, but, seeing the city from this height, she understood why Manly preferred to do his heroing in the day. It was a beautiful city. Too bad all she ever saw was the darker, filthier, side of it. Too bad she was actually going to the filthier side now.

She touched down in a vacant alley, her soft padded boots not making a sound as she allowed herself to become visible again. She hadn't needed to come to a place like this in months. Hopefully, they wouldn't need another lesson.

She kicked open the front door and stepped into the empty bar. The lone occupant, the bartender, was taking down stools stools.

"Gregory," she said, her voice deeper than normal and uninflected, hollow.

"Mysteria," the bartender answered. "I don't know who you're after, but no one comes in here before dark."

"Then, I guess you'll have to do. Someone has been very naughty, and I think you know who," she said, staring at him through her domino mask.

"What kind of naughty?" the bartender asked, backing up a bit.

"Don't move, or I'll break your leg again," she said coldly. "Hired killer naughty. Super powered. An invulnerable guy and a flyer."

"I don't think I've heard of that someone. Who's the target?"

"None of your concern. It'd be a big money contract, though," she said as she watched him. He was sweating. That was good.

"I haven't seen anyone," he said again, slower.

"Haven't seen," she repeated in the same slow manner. "Then, you heard."

"I heard a guy mention a big score the other day. I don' know what he was talking about. For all I know, it was a football game," the bartender said dismissively.

"I find out you know anything else," Mysteria said, narrowing her eyes. "I'll be back tonight. And, we both know I am very bad for business."

* * *

She tried two other scum holes with similar results. If she was going to find out who was out to kill her, then she would have to try harder. No matter what it took, she'd find who wanted her head, and, so help her God, she'd have theirs.

She gritted her teeth, feeling frustrated. Someone wanted her dead, and she had no clue who the hell it was. She hated this; it was like doing a puzzle without all the pieces -- you got a general idea of the image but not the whole picture.

Whoever it was had guts; she would admit that much. It could be just about anyone, though. Someone from Lansing perhaps. She bit her lip in frustration, and then the answer occurred to her from nowhere. Jack. He could do a little digging. Hell, he was a detective; this was right up his alley.

Within moments, she was on the balcony of her apartment, picking the lock on the French doors and slipping in unseen.

"Jack?" she called as she slowly faded back into visibility. "Are you home?"

She thought she heard muffled curses from the bedroom. She stood at the doorway, her hand on the knob.

* * *

Crowley cursed as he rolled out of the bed. He motioned for the young woman, who had been sharing it with him, to hide as he pulled up his pants and stepped to the door. "V? Ummm, yeah, I'm here; I was just taking a quick nap. One minute, babe."

The young woman he had been with shot him an accusatory gaze, and Jack flicked his ingers at her. She crumpled to the floor, eyes blank. He slowly opened the door and stepped out. He made a big show of his yawning and stretching, but Vicky didn't seem to notice.

"What's wrong, V?" he asked as he noticed she was in costume.

"Someone is trying to kill me," she said.

"You're a superhero; someone is always trying to kill you," he replied, grabbing a cigarette.

"No, not Mysteria! Me - me me. Victoria," she said, pulling off the mask.

"Any idea who?"

"I was hoping you could find out. After all, you're the detective," she said impatiently.

"I don't work for free," he said. "Not even for you, so just remember: you owe me big time for this."

She nodded, and he sat down on the floor and began to chat.