Scarlet Witch (4th series) #1

Wanda Maximoff is the Scarlet Witch, and currently, she is deep in the prison of her soul – having tea with a monster. The monster is the dark god Chthon, who is imprisoned within Wanda's soul, and the powerful demon asks Wanda why she has come here. 'To gloat?' he enquires. Wanda informs Chthon that this is a wellness check, and reminds him that Agatha Harkness ripped his heart out. 'As if an elder god needs one. My joy at your failings fills that void admirably' Chthon responds. He notes that Wanda claims to listen, but that she dismisses any view other than her own. 'Harkness deceives you... warriors, witch hunters and wizards assault you. Mysterium, a mere rock, defeats you -' Chthon rambles on, as Wanda interrupts him: 'Low Mysterium, and yet, I remain' she notes. Chthon continues: 'For now' he tells Wanda, before pointing out that his imprisonment weakens her, and she must vent power to survive.

The Scarlet Witch tells Chthon that he knows so little, and explains that she doesn't release the chaos brewed here out of weakness. 'You may be cruel, but chaos isn't. How it's harnessed matters' Wanda explains. Sipping his tea, Chthon remarks 'Ah yes. Your famed Last Door. A portal appearing to those with nowhere to turn... what of me, then? What if your heartless prisoner cries for aid? Chthon asks. The tea cup he is holding vanishes as Wanda stands up: 'Not today, great shadow...I've got better things to do' Wanda responds.

Shortly, in a courtroom foyer, Wanda wears a dark pantsuit while her shop assistant Darcy Lewis stands next to her. Several court users – lawyers, court staff and others – pass them as Darcy folds her arms and exclaims 'Imagine booting us from jury duty! So I brandished a magic death pillow once – once! Was I supposed to lie?' she asks, before claiming that she is cool, and relieved. 'But how could they reject you?' Darcy wonders. 'My history of demonic possession may have given them pause' Wanda suggests. 'For lawyers? Figured it was a plus. And how weird is it that we both got called?' Darcy notes. 'Small-town magic, Darcy. It can be quirky' Wanda responds. 'I mean, it's not like I'm rife with trust in our legal system. But the last few sweeks have been wild right? I was very into a quiet morning. You and me. Enchanted boss and witty employee – catching looks in the seat of the law' Darcy remarks. 'Employee? Darcy... you're a friend. You have been for some time' Wanda smiles as she puts a hand on Darcy's shoulder. 'Do friends still get paid?' Darcy asks as she and Wanda leaves the courthouse.

Wanda smiles for the briefest of moments, life is good, not just life, but business. So good in fact, that she has brought on more help.

Right now, at the Emporium, a man in a green oufit welcomes an elderly woman to the Emporium and asks how he can help. The elderly woman sits opposite the man in green and tells him that she isn't sure. The elderly woman introduces herself as Alaina Gabriele, and reveals that her son was a mutant. She explains that her son, Tom, was killed in that Orchis madness, and that he couldn't get life insurance, not as a mutant. 'Finding a mortuary to take his body was so hard. The burial ate my savings. Now rent's due...' her voice trails off before she motions to a bag she is carrying and tells the man in green that this is the most valuable thing she has got left, but the pawn shops said it was worthless. 'Emporium is my last stop. My last chance' she utters as she pulls a medallion from the bag.

The man in green smiles and, calling the elderly woman Al, tells her that she is in luck. He introduces himself as Nantor, and reveals that he is the Emporium's occult appraiser. Mantor takes a closer look at the charm, and notes that at first glance it doesn't look like much to the untrained eye. 'But look again' he tells the elderly woman as he waves his hand over the medallion. The medallion changes color and he tells Alaina that all it needed was a quick polish. He suggests she takes it to any vendor in town, and thinks she will be happy. Wanda's shop is in good hands. 'Mantor's adjusting well, Darcy. He was a good hire' Wanda smiled as she and Darcy arrive back at the Emporium. 'Good for my back, too. I've been delegating all week' Darcy jokes. The elderly Alaina approaches Wanda and asks her if this is her place. 'I swear, that Mister Mantor of yours just saved me life – thank you!' she smiles.

'You're very welcome. Mister Mantor is certainly something' Wanda responds. Alaina begins looking around the Emporium while Mantor approaches Wanda and explains that she came in with nothing, and the landlord is breathing down her neck, and her family charm, her last hope, was worthless, nothing more than fool's gold. 'I couldn't tell her that' he remarks, revealing that he transmuted it into bulk iridium, so rare that a chunk that size should buy her a house. 'Don't be angry, I -' Mantor begins, to which Wanda assures him that she is not. 'You saw her fate, and you subverted it. That's what we do' Wanda states. 'Whether people come through the front door or the Last Door' she adds, motioning to the doors. Wanda walks away from Darcy and Mantor as Darcy tells Mantor that hhe did a nice job, before holding up a takeaway burger box and asking 'How about transmuting this burger trash? Nothing fancy. Nice piece of gold would really put a dent in my college loans'.

Lotkill being “normal” would be a stretch, but lately, it has been welcoming. Less and less she is seen as the Scarlet Witch, and more and more she is seen as Wanda. To those visiting because she made Lotkill her home, she is Wanda. To those healing themselves at its Iozium Life Park, she is Wanda. To her fellow citizens going about their lives with the slightest of smiles, knowing their mysterious neighbor is keeping watch, she is no longer the strange sorceress changing the world – to them, she is the Avenger next door. School children are dropped off by yellow buses. People take photos with the Iozium at the Life Park, and a man checks his cellphone as he walks his dogs down the sidewalk. Wanda is part of their world, she is just Wanda. She approaches Darcy, who smiles at her, when suddenly, there is a loud rumbling. 'We're just doing earthquakes all the time now?' Darcy asks.

To those who endanger this world though, she is still the Scarlet Witch, and outside, civilians look up to the now darkened sky, where a tear appears. Wanda looks up and as her costume materializes, she tells Darcy that it is not an earthquake, before teleporting away. 'Who else felt that? It's like an -' Mantor begins as he approaches Darcy, who turns to him and snaps 'It's not an earthquake, Mantor! Get with it!'

It's terror, and as Wanda arrives outside, she can sense it in those around her. 'My god – the sky just unzipped – what could do that?' a man in a suit asks. 'Don't ask me – I sell single-varietal olive oil' a woman in an orange skirt exclaims. Wanda casts a spell, a flash of psychometric vision, which bares the truth. 'It's a dimensional tear...but it's dead on the other side. No life. Only a hunger, like staring into an endless maw...' Wanda announces, before turning to all the locals who have gathered nearby and telling them that she needs them to seek shelter, and that the Emporium is protected. 'Oh... okay' one of them responds.

Wanda then turns to Darcy and Mantor, who have arrived outside, and tells them that she needs them to get to safety, too. 'I raised new protective wards after the Wizard's attack' Wanda notes, to which Darcy tells her that they are here to help, not hide. 'This is help. Once inside, Lotkill's people will need protection. And I must see to this -' Wanda begins, as dozens of strange beings emerge from the tear in the sky. They appear to be bat-like with large gaping mouths with jagged teeth in place of their heads. Mantor and Darcy look at the creatures in shock, while Wanda urges them into the shop, telling them to take as many people with them as they can. 'You heard her, Mantor – herd the locals and leaf peepers!' Darcy exclaims, before shouting at Mantor to guide this place like his life depends on it. 'Trust me, Darcy. I've been in the magic trenches since World War II' Mantor responds as he turns to Darcy, assuring her that he can defend a keep with the best of them. 'Let mew take the lead on this' he smiles, small energy crackles darting around his hands.

'Nah, we'll take it together. Right after I hit the basement. Well, the vault that's under the basement' Darcy responds as she moves past the locals seeking refuge in the Emporium. Darcy reaches the basement, telling Mantor that they guard powerful secrets, like the Ensorcielammia. Darcy returns, holding a golden book, and remarking that there are plenty of dark ideas here, the kind that will boost Wanda's wards. 'Offense is all you – but I'm the defense. Let's see these magic suckheads get past us both!' Darcy declares.

Back outside, Lotkill screams as monsters lay siege to the Scarlet Witch's adopted home – so she welcomes the monsters, casting energy at them, while urging the remaining civilians to run, to get to the Emporium and to safety. The energy that Wanda unleashes is mystic radiation from the night star of Ghennthor, but the beasts simply gorge themselves on the energy, and seek Wanda's head as their next course. Thankfully, the Scarlet Witch has less direct tools than spellcraft, and casts a simply hex which severs one of the creature's strange heads. Her efforts may be less direct, but no less deadly. Blood spurts up from the neck of the creature as its body hits the ground, and Wanda shouts at the rest of the creatures: 'Come, then! You tore open our sky! You trample our streets! Don't back down now... we're just getting started!' Wanda declares.

The Scarlet Witch calls out to the probability field and a targeted hex summons the unlikely – and the painful – as several of the creatures find their limbs snapping. 'Get to the shop! It's safe there!' someone calls out.Mantor is in the doorway of the Emporium and he urges everyone to get inside, assuring them that the Emporium is shielded. 'Mister Mantor – there's so many of them!' the elderly woman, Alaina, exclaims as she returns to the Emporium, informing Mantor that she was barely down the street, and that these things are tearing people apart. 'You just step right inside, Al' Mantor tells her, as he stands before several of the creatures and announces that he is an appraiser...and he knows what to do with trash.

Mantor creates a thin string of energy and extends it outwards to the creatures who approach them. There is a brilliant flash of light, and the creatures are suddenly begin to crumble. '...is that salt?' Alaina asks 'It's style, Al. My favorite tool against the dark' Mantor grins as he turns back to the older woman. Alaina embraces Mantor, thanking him. Mantor tells her that thanks are not needed, and urges her to step into the Emporium. 'Of course. Right' Alaina responds, before the Scarlet Witch rushes over and tells Mantor that the beasts won't stop, and that an entire world hasn't sated them. Mantor tells the Scarlet Witch that he isn't wearing his glasses, but suggests that the creatures could be Endlings, revealing that he faced one back in the Depression. 'The Dead Realm Disaster. It devoured a pocket reality before we took it out' Mantor explains.

'And that was one. Who knows what a pack of them could do' the Scarlet Witch notes as she ushers Alaina into the Emporium, while informing Mantor that she will secure the shop, as her wards won't hold forever. 'Oh, they'll hold...Darcy's already secured them. You should be proud, Wanda. She's learning fast' Mantor remarks. He states that Wanda is the mightiest witch he has ever met, and that he is the orneriest magician ever born. 'Between the two of us, these rabid dogs don't stand a chance' Mantor smiles, while a shadow suddenly falls across him – as a large column-like structure falls from the sky and splats Mantor into the ground in gruesome display. 'Mantor' Wanda utters. 'MANTOR!' she screams in horror, looking on wide-eyed, while inside the Emporium, Darcy and the others glance out to the street: 'OH $#&%!' Darcy exclaims.

But there is no time for shock. Not yet. As more of the strange columns begin dropping from the sky. Death continues to fall, and there is more on the way. Wanda knows she must shut the door in death's face. She uses Cardea's Grip, a spell of healing and closure. Its use on a dimensional wound is novel, but infused with a hex for luck, it's almost working. There is a strange creacking noise, as the tear in the sky begins to spiral, and Wanda looks up, anxiously. 'Wait. What is that?' she asks as she holds her fists up, the spell weaving from her, as an enormous creature breaks through the tear and looms over the Scarlet Witch. 'No. You can't -' Wanda begins – before the creature's giant mouth shockingly engulfs the Scarlet Witch.

Inside the Emporium, 'Wanda! She – she's gone! It took her in one bite!' a man in a baseball cap exclaims. 'We're screwed, aren't we? Those things'll suck out our heads! They'll drain our brains! They'll -' a man called Bob utters, to which Darcy tells him to shut it, and that no one is getting their brain's drained. 'At least I hope not' Darcy mutters as she flicks through the book of spells she holds. 'There. She's got it. She hates it. But she's got it' Darcy remarks, before turning to a blonde woman and calling her Jonesy, Darcy tells her that she bequeaths this tome of dark knowledge to her. 'Me? I'm not even a regular' Jonesy responds. 'Sure. But you've got a strong interest in astrology. That's enough' Darcy tells her, explaining that Jonesy is about to defend the keep, and that the protective spell's been cast, it will hold, but Jonesy just needs to focus on the book. 'It's plug and play. I know you can do it' Darcy assures her.

Darcy notes that Manator is dead, and Wanda is lamprey food. 'She'd kill me if I let everyone die...  time to get drastic. See, I got here through the Last Door...just like plenty of others with nowhere else to turn, but I need help here' Darcy announces as she looks nervously over at the Last Door. 'I've got nowhere to go here, so how does the magic work from this end?' she wonders. 'Where does the Last Door go from this side?' Darcy shouts as she opens the door and steps through it, strange matter floating around her as she drops down towards what appears to be a shattered panel. 'Of all the – really? If that's where I need to be...' Darcy mumbles, deciding that someone up there hates her.

Back outside, the lampey monsters continue to torment some civilians who run in fear. They chomp and hiss at the civilians, two of whom hide behind a bus. 'No – no, please!' one of them pleads, while the other shouts at the monster to leave them alone – when suddenly, as the monster looms over them, the monster clutches its stomach in pain. 'As I was trying to tell you... you can't stop me!' the Scarlet Witch declares as she bursts forth from the monster's belly in spectacular display. 'What a pleasant experience' Wanda claims as the remains of the monster drop down around her. The situation was already dire, but bursting the gut of a cosmic gorilla leech lent additional urgency. Wanda gazes out over the streets she calls her own, she reads Lotkill as she would any other token object – and she hates what it reveals. 'The endlings... they're spreading. Every minute, a new block' Wanda realizes, knowing that soon, they will even reach the Life Park.

'There's just – there's no time... no time' Wanda declares as energy circles around her wrist, before slamming her fist on the ground, announcing that she can work with that, she releases a chronometric enchantment, one she has used before but never on this scale. This creates a change to one's subjective time, and in this case, and abrupt stop, or so one expects. Time, it seems, holds little sway over the endlings, who simply bite through the spell that attempts to stop them. 'No! It shouldn't – it can't be!' Wanda exclaims as she rushes towards the lamprey monsters. 'That spell binds all but the highest of beings – and they shrug it off!' Wanda gasps as the monsters descend upon the Emporium. Wanda realizes that the Emporium has seconds, and she sees the civilians trapped inside at one of the windows, calling for help. Wanda looks up and tells herself that she knows the endlings will keep going and will consume the entire town. 'Thousands of lives – more... sacrificed to their insatiable cravings. There's no choice' Wanda tells herself.

One mad power yet waits, locked deep in Wanda Maximoff's soul. She flips the lock – and energy swells around her as she utters 'The fury spills up. The mayhem of infinite bottled nightmares rises... and the Living Darkhold is unleashed!' Wanda's appearance is transformed as this dark magic takes over her soul, and fiery energy swirls up above her.

Elsewhere, in the nicest apartment within a complex, a shirtless Pietro Maximoff a.k.a. Quicksilver lies in bed next to Monet St. Croix when suddenly, a portal opens above their bed, and Darcy falls onto them. 'There's something in our bed, Pietro' Monet smirks. 'Darcy Lewis. One of my sister's projects We collaborated recently to cow a wizard' Pietro explains. 'Ugh! Quicksilver! It had to be you!' Darcy complains, before adding: 'One – is that Monet St. Croix? You're out of your league, Pete. Two – Wanda's in trouble. Her magic door dropped me here. For your help. You in?' Darcy asks. Monet remarks that she does miss the Hudson Valley. 'Shall I change?' she asks Pietro, who tells her that he is not quite ready to subject her to the family chaos. He adds that whatever mess Wanda has made his problem, he won't be long. 'Have fun – and try to work up a sweat' Monet responds, adding that she will keep the shower room, to which Quicksilver smiles.

Back in Lotkill, a new arrival descends among the chaos. 'Ah. Earth' they remark. 'The soil reeks of chaos. Of freedom. The witch has opened her little soul book... I'm not a moment too soon' the new arrival decides, easily cutting one of the monster lampreys who glows with energy in two as it runs towards them. 'Wait' the Scarlet Witch calls out as she detects the new arrival – one whose might once overtook her in a vision. Police officers surround the new arrival: 'Do – don't move, lady! I said freeze!' one of them calls out, while inside the Emporium, Jonesy turns back to the others, frightened: 'Mother of – she's looking right at us! Go – get away from the doors!' The civilians duck for cover just in time, as a surge of energy bursts into the Emporium. 'Imagine telling me to freeze' the mysterious new arrival remarks, while Wanda knows that this is one whose strength even she can barely describe. 'How could – what are you?' one of the civilians asks as they peer out of the Emporium.

'You ephemerals and your brief brains – I'm The End' the new arrival boasts, admitting that she has come a bit early, but for that, they may thank theitr local witch. 'THANK HER YOURSELF!' the Scarlet Witch shouts as she leaps at the mysterious, pale woman wearing a skimpy black dress, and with a stranght red mask across her eyes and forehead. But before the Scarlet Witch can strike, the new arrival raises a weapon, blocking the Scarlet Witch. 'There's my nuclear mayfly. My etsium gnat' the woman declares, while Quicksilver arrives on scene, carrying Darcy. 'Holy – this doesn't look great, Pete' Darcy remarks. But Quicksilver tells Darcy not to be absurd, and to look at Wanda. 'I pity any in her path when she's like this' Quicksilver smiles.

'Your name. Now' Wanda demands as she gets to her feet, scowling. 'Which one? I am Imminence – Heat Death. The Fist of the Grand Design... but armed with the edge of reality, more than ever, I am the Griever at the End of All Things!' the woman announces. Wanda, her appearance distorted by the Darkhold, tels the Griever at the End of All Things that she is mad, that she must be to have come here, to destroy what she has built. 'Only a fool would cross the Queen of Chaos... especially in her seat of power! Only a fool would challenge the Scarlet Witch!' Wanda declares.

'Is that so?' the Griever grins, wickedly, and from the mask covering her eyes a powerful beam of energy is blasted at close range – seemingly tearing the Scarlet Witch apart. Quicksilver and Darcy look on in horror, as the Scarlet Witch vanishes. 'Who's the fool now?' the Griever asks as she stands over the crater that formed where the Scarlet Witch once stood....