Daddy's Girl (Part 4)
Title: Daddy's Girl Part 4
Author: quietprofanity
Fandom: Spider-Man
Warnings: Violence
Disclaimer: Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Mary Jane Parker, Norman Osborn/Green Goblin, etc. are all property of Marvel Comics and are used without permission for non-profit purposes. And Lydia Osborn is… uh… kind of my character, but not really.
Notes: Fanfic AU. Everything after Clone Saga bar "Hobgoblin Lives" never happened. The violence here is a bit gross, but I hope it doesn't distract from the story. Also, this part is very long! Hope you don't mind. :-\
Acknowledgments: Thank you Mr. Sinister for Beta Reading this last chapter (what happened to everyone else? It's the curse of the Beta Readers, I tell you! I should keep leashes on them…). Also thanks again for MadGoblin for coming up with this in the first place.
~*~*~
Mary Jane shrieked as Spider-Man leaped to the adjacent wall, just avoiding the electrical blast that came hurtling toward them. She grasped her husband tightly with her good arm as he stared down at their daughter.
"Oooh, running away?" the Goblin taunted. She threw a bomb at the couple as she jetted towards them.
Spider-Man jumped into the air at the last moment, shot a webline to the ceiling and swung up to the second floor through the opening in the ceiling where the Goblin had entered. He quickly repositioned Mary Jane so he could hold her in both of his arms and made a run for it.
The Goblin followed in close pursuit, sending a barrage of pumpkin bombs, gas ghosts and razor bats that the hero just barely dodged thanks to his spider-sense.
He couldn't keep running forever, though. As much as he wanted to stop his daughter, Spider-Man knew he couldn't fight carrying Mary Jane. Time to change tactics.
A door to one of the mansion's many rooms was coming up. Spider-Man jumped towards it, leg outstretched to kick it down.
"I just hope this room has a window," Spider-Man thought as the door shattered beneath his foot. He took a quick glance around the room. Yes! A window. Spider-Man ran towards it, quickly making a web ball as he did so. He then threw the ball through the window, shattering it, and leaped out into the mansion yard.
"Come back, Spidey!" the Goblin sneered as she flew out the window after him. The Goblin's eyes scanned the yard. Spider-Man and his wife were nowhere to be found. She cursed and pressed a button hidden beneath the false black hair that hung from her hat, turning on the microphone hidden in her mask. "Um, Dad. I… I lost them."
"You what?" Osborn's voice boomed over the microphone, making Lydia flinch a little. The old man sighed. "Where did they go?"
"I'm not sure, I think they're still in the yard."
"Keep looking for them. His wife's wounds are bad, but they're not fatal. He'll most likely hide her somewhere, then come back for us."
"What should I do?"
"Keep searching. And when you find him, don't bother with his wife, but lead him to the roof. Our surprise is waiting there."
~*~*~
Not far away, Spider-Man carefully lay his wife against the trunk of a large tree in the Osborns' backyard. He wasn't sure what type of tree it was (while he loved science, botany was never his strong point, he was more of a chemist), but the tree had branches which curved towards the ground so far they touched it. The clumps of leaves were also so thick that they created a nice little hiding place.
Spider-Man pressed down on his web-shooter in a manner that would create a thick, solid stream of webbing, just perfect for a sling. Then, careful not to injure her further, he took his wife's arm.
Mary Jane struggled not to cry out as Spider-Man swiftly pushed against her shoulder and popped her arm back in her socket. He then broke a short branch off the tree and webbed her lower arm to it, making a quick splint. He placed her arm in the webbing, and tied it together in the back of her neck.
"Peter…" Mary Jane whispered as her husband made more web-bandages. "That… that girl… she…"
Spider-Man nodded.
"You know… of course…" Mary Jane could feel the tears well up in her eyes as her husband tied some webbing around a gash in her leg. "Peter, what are we going to do?"
"I wish I knew," Spider-Man thought. Suddenly, he felt his spider-sense tingle. The Goblin was nearby! He turned to go.
"Peter, wait!"
Spider-Man stopped and turned to his wife. She closed her eyes and pressed her bloodstained lips to his own.
"I… Good… Please… I…" Mary Jane sighed. "Do… Do the right thing."
Spider-Man nodded, but as he ran out into the open, he and his wife asked themselves the same question.
Just what was the right thing?
~*~*~
"Spi-deeey!" The Goblin's high pitched mock rang out through the night. "Come on, old man. Where the hell are you?"
Her blue eyes scanned the yard from beneath her mask. Still nothing. She flew on her glider towards the back of the mansion. "Haven't checked here yet," she whispered to herself. The Goblin called out again. "Hey web-head, come on out!"
This time, a "thwipp!" behind her answered her call. Her false fangs glinted as she smiled. The purple cape on her back flapped behind her as she spun around.
Spider-Man had swung to one of the top branches of a nearby tree. He hung upside down, staring at her.
"May," he said to himself. "That girl in the costume is May. How can I fight my own child?"
The Goblin laughed. "Ah, so you've finally come out, Spidey. What took you so long? Did that bitch of yours keep whining for you to rub her feet?"
A frown appeared on Spider-Man's face as the Goblin laughed at her own joke. It hurt more than angered him, though. "Let it roll off your back," he told himself. "She's only trying to bait you. You have to keep control of the situation if you want to save her."
The Goblin tossed her head, throwing back her purple cap and false black hair. "Well, I do believe it's time we settled this. Follow me if you wish, old man!"
With a loud hum, the glider spun around and the Goblin flew to the roof of the mansion. Shooting a webline, Spider-Man followed after her.
"Please, God," he thought. "Let me do the right thing. I can't mess this one up. I owe May that much."
As soon as he landed, Spider-Man glanced over the roof. Norman Osborn was waiting for him. His burly hand was resting against a cylinder-shaped metal contraption that was about as high as his waist. ("What could that be?" thought Spider-Man.) The Goblin flew in back of Osborn, ready for a new command.
"Came back?" Osborn asked. "I knew you would. Well, I must say I've enjoyed this little game, but all good things must come to an end. Green Goblin, kill him, won't you?"
The Goblin laughed and zoomed towards her foe. "With pleasure!"
Spider-Man leaped to the side. "How can I do this? If only I had my voice back. I have to try to break through this. I can't let Osborn beat me!"
His spider-sense buzzed. The hero back-flipped into the air, avoiding the shower of razor bats. His spider-sense buzzed again. Spider-Man ducked as the Goblin's blast shot toward him.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" The Goblin shot more blasts toward him, but only ended up missing. "Why don't you fight me?"
"Because you're my daughter," Spider-Man thought. "Because you're the child I lost sixteen years ago to that murdering psychopath who's stopped at nothing to ruin my life. Because even though you hate me and don't know me, I love you." God, he did love her. Despite the fact that he didn't really know her, despite the fact that she hurt Mary Jane so, despite the fact that she despised him, he loved her.
Didn't that count for something?
The Goblin renewed her attack. She flew towards Spider-Man, seemingly aiming to crash into him. Spider-Man jumped to the side once again, but this time the Goblin was prepared. She leaped off her glider and towards her foe, intersecting him before his Spider-sense could react.
Spider-Man grunted as the Goblin's foot smashed against his ribs. He felt the roof slam against his body. He tried to get up, but the Goblin was on him in an instant. Her purple-gloved hand pulled him off the ground by the neck and she knocked him onto the contraption. Six metal cords shot from the device, pinning him to it.
He was trapped!
The laughter of Osborn and the Goblin rang in his ears.
"Very good, my girl." Osborn then turned to Spider-Man. "Ah, it does an old man's heart good to see you like this. And when my daughter sets off this bomb filled with the serum that killed my son goes off, I'll die a more than happy man. Lydia, if you please."
The Goblin laughed. "Oh, yes! I love to see poetic justice. Don't you, Daddy?" She laughed once more and set to work setting off the bomb.
Spider-Man twisted and turned in the grasp of the cords, but it was no use. His spider-sense buzzed louder and louder as the Goblin worked to start the bomb. Maybe this was it. Maybe this was the end.
Maybe this time he would die.
"Die?" he thought. "Die here? Strapped to a bomb set by my own daughter? By the hands of Norman Osborn, who took so much from me?"
Took so much…. His first love. His best friend. His dear brother. All of them had died because of Norman. Liz probably died by him as well. Then Normie had gone insane because of his grandfather's influence.
Now it was happening again. The bomb would kill him. They would leave Mary Jane to die. He would go to his grave never letting his daughter know the truth.
"No," Spider-Man thought. "I won't let that happen. I won't let Norman get them. I won't…"
The Goblin's finger loomed over the red button that would set off the bomb. She froze. "Dad… m-my danger sense… it's…"
"I won't!" The metal made an ear-splitting screech as Spider-Man ripped through it. The hero hardly recognized his voice. Although he had fought through the paralysis, he had not overcome it completely. His voice was low and scratchy. It sounded less like a human's voice and more like an animal's growl.
The Goblin pounced on him but Spider-Man knocked her away easily. He webbed her up as soon as she hit the ground.
"Sorry, honey," he thought sadly.
Norman Osborn pulled on an electronic glove. The fact that Spider-Man escaped was not so surprising; the bastard had an annoying habit of coming out of even the worst situations. Their scheme had clearly failed, and now that Spider-Man had learned to fight through his paralysis drug, remaining here was a danger to his plans.
The old businessman reached for the remote control of his own glider when Spider-Man ran towards Osborn and knocked him to the ground. Osborn growled as Spider-Man's hand clamped around his throat.
"Dad!" exclaimed the Goblin.
Osborn grunted and punched Spider-Man in the face. The wall-crawler reeled back as Osborn ran towards his daughter. Before he could get very far, though, the hero kicked him in the shins, tripping him. He webbed him up.
The Goblin gasped at the sight of her father's capture. She struggled in vain against the webbing. "You bastard! Let him go!"
Spider-Man grabbed Osborn's throat again. The white eyes of his mask stared down at the old man with contempt.
"Tell… her…"
The Goblin frowned. What was he talking about? Her father, however, simply gave Spider-Man a look of confusion.
"Tell her what?"
"You… know…" Spider-Man tightened his grip, making Osborn groan in pain. "Tell her… who… her father is…"
"He's my father, you moron!" snapped the Goblin. "Didn't you hear me before?"
"Her… real… father…"
The Goblin was taken aback. "Real father? Dad, what's he talking about?"
"Nonsense!" growled Osborn. "He's talking nonsense. He's just trying to confuse and trick you. Don't believe his lies."
"No… tricks… or lies… I wouldn't lie…" Spider-Man let go of Osborn, letting him fall to the ground, and turned to the Goblin, "to my daughter."
The Goblin's heart skipped a beat. "What?"
"Lydia, he's lying!"
"I'm your… your father… wh-when you were a baby… Osborn stole you from me…"
"How can you say such awful things?" Osborn asked. "Haven't you hurt my family enough?"
"You know it's true… your powers are the same as mine," Spider-Man gulped as he finally broke through the paralysis. "How could they have come from Osborn?"
"I… I mutated differently," the Goblin shook as she spoke. "My… no! My powers couldn't have come from you."
"They didn't," nodded Osborn. "Don't believe him. You know in your heart that you're my daughter."
"He's just manipulating you," Spider-Man said. "He does this to everyone."
"To say such horrible things about me in front of my own child. Have you no shame?"
"Lydia, I'm not lying. I know you don't want to believe me, but it's true. I'm the one you got your powers from. You didn't mutate differently."
"You're not believing him, are you?"
"O… Of course not!" The Goblin glared at Spider-Man. "You're lying!"
"What would I gain from lying to you?" asked Spider-Man.
"You're… trying to divide us! Just like you tried to take Harry from us by pretending to be his friend. You've always been jealous of the Osborns because you never had what we have. You've always had a horrible and lowly life…"
"She just swallows everything he tells her," Spider-Man thought as he bowed his head. "How can I convince her when she's so far gone? If only I had a fact she couldn't argue with… wait!" He turned back to the Goblin. "Lydia, why haven't I heard of you until now?"
Osborn's eyebrow raised at this new line of questioning. The Goblin seemed surprised as well. "Dad never told anyone who I was. He did it to protect me from scum like you."
"So…" Spider-Man said cautiously. "You never had a birth announcement. Otherwise, I would have seen it in the Bugle."
The Goblin paused, then nodded.
"Then…" Spider-Man took a step towards the Goblin. "How else would I know that you were born on Halloween."
The young woman's eyes widened. "How did you know that?"
"I'm your father, Lydia."
"No!" she cried. The Goblin's heart pounded in her chest. Her palms began to sweat. It wasn't true. It couldn't be true. So what if they had the same powers? So what if he knew her birthday? Dad was right. There was no way that annoying, stupid insect could be her father. He was a liar! He had to be. A slimy, stinking… "Liar!"
Spider-Man froze as the Goblin screamed in rage and ripped out of the webbing. His spider-sense went off, but he didn't seem to realize it until after the Goblin's fist cracked against his chin.
"Liar!" she screamed. "You stupid liar. I hate you. I'll kill you!"
Osborn reached into his pocket and pulled out a razor bat to cut through the bonds that held him, smiling as his daughter battered his greatest enemy. His eyes then glanced at the bomb. Perhaps their plan still had a chance after all. As soon as the villainous man was free from the webbing, Osborn slithered over towards the bomb and pressed the red activation button. His mouth formed an evil leer. One minute until it went off.
Spider-Man groaned as the Goblin hit him again. She was stronger than before; her hits were much harder this time.
"I can't let that stop me, though," he thought. "I can't lose this."
Spider-Man pushed the Goblin off him. She scowled and threw another bomb at her enemy. He dodged, then sent another glob of webbing hurtling toward her. Miss!
The Goblin pressed a button on her glove. Her glider's engine suddenly roared. It rose in the air, then dived like a hawk towards her foe.
The hero leaped to avoid it again. "Lydia, please! I'm telling the truth. I don't want to fight you." His spider-sense suddenly buzzed. Something smacked against his face. His world suddenly went hazy as he realized what it was. A stun bomb!
"Then sit back and relax, bastard," the Goblin sneered as she jumped on her glider. "And I'll just kill you, no fighting involved."
The old businessman rushed over and shouted to his daughter. "Lydia, knock him toward the bomb, it's about to go off."
"No problem, Dad!"
Osborn's heart thundered in his chest as she moved in for the kill. "Yes, my girl. Finish what I started!"
Spider-Man could barely hear or see anything through the thick haze of the stun bomb. His spider-sense, however, was screaming out. He knew that the Goblin was coming for him. Using all of his strength, Spider-Man groaned, folded his arms and threw himself at the Goblin's legs.
Norman Osborn froze. The force of the unexpected hit threw Lydia off the glider and straight towards the bomb. She landed with a thud, dazed from the impact.
"No!" Osborn cried. The old businessman raced towards her as fast he could. "Lydia, get away from there! That bomb's about to go off."
"What?" exclaimed Spider-Man. Oh, God! What had he done?
He shot a webline toward the Goblin. However, before the silk strand could connect, Osborn threw himself at Lydia, knocking her out of the way. The webbing hit Osborn, knocking him into the bomb, and a surprised Spider-Man didn't pull back.
Spider-Man was far enough away. The Goblin's danger sense caused her to instinctively roll to the side. However, there was no protection for Norman Osborn. A loud boom rang out as the bubbling, green liquid burst from the bomb, engulfing Osborn.
"Dad!" The Goblin ran towards him, tears rolling down her cheeks beneath her mask. "Oh my God. Dad!"
Spider-Man rushed over as the Goblin kneeled down at Osborn's side. Her father was shaking violently. Sweat poured from his brow as the strength-increasing chemical burned his skin. Osborn groaned in anguish.
"Dad, hold on. You… you can't go. It's too soon. It's…"
Her father fell silent. Osborn could feel the world slowly slipping away. His sight, his sense of touch… it was all fading. The old man could hear his daughter's pleas as he felt himself slip into unconsciousness. Please, don't go. I need you.
Osborn smiled to himself despite it all. No, this was the perfect time to go. Osborn now had what he had wanted for so long: a strong heir. Lydia was told who her true father was and refused to believe it. She stayed at his side as he was now dying, mourning for him as her true father.
Lydia was truly his daughter. And Osborn knew in his heart that she would always be his child. She would carry on the family traditions. She would see the Osborn fortune to its fruition. She would have children like himself to carry on after her.
And, best of all, she would destroy Spider-Man.
Osborn's eyes rolled back in his head. His body went limp. It was over.
Norman Osborn was dead.
"No…" the Goblin whispered. "No…"
At a loss for what to do and torn seeing his child so upset, even over the death of scum like Osborn, Spider-Man placed his hand on her shoulder. "Lydia..."
The green lips of the young woman's mask curled back in anger as she felt Spider-Man's touch. She whirled around and an energy blast exploded from her fingertips. "Get your hands off me!"
Spider-Man groaned as the blast hit him. The Goblin signaled for her glider to fly to her. She picked up her father's body, cradling it in her arms, then mounted the glider.
The wall-crawler shook his head, regaining his senses. He looked to the sky, meeting the Goblin's contemptuous glare.
"How dare you touch me!" she hissed. "How dare you call me by my name and talk to me as if I were your friend."
"You're my daughter."
"Shut up! I am not. You aren't my father. And don't you dare call that red-haired slut of yours my mother. Get this straight, Parker. I have no mother. My father is dead. And one day, murderer, you'll pay for all you've done. One day…" The Goblin glider backed up higher and higher into the night sky until the figures were barely visible. "I'll be back. And next time, I won't let you live."
~*~*~
Spider-Man tried to chase after Lydia, but the glider seemed to be faster than the wind itself. She was gone in a matter of seconds.
He leaped from tree to tree across the Osborn's backyard. The yard seemed nearly endless tonight, but he eventually did reach Mary Jane's tree. He pulled back the branches and peered inside.
Mary Jane's chin lay against her chest. Blood flowed in small streams down her face. It soaked through the web bandages, which were rapidly dissolving.
She was getting worse.
"Mary Jane" he called out. Spider-Man rushed to her side.
His poor, beloved wife slowly lifted her head. "Peter…"
"Shhh! Don't speak, honey. I'll get you to a hospital."
He scooped her up; careful not to move any of her broken bones. Mary Jane grasped him closely with her good arm, then looked around. Her lips parted, she let out a little whisper.
"Lydia… where is she?"
Spider-Man felt a cold hand squeeze his heart. He sighed. "I… She… I… I told her the truth. She… She didn't believe me."
There was a silence.
Mary Jane nodded. "I… I guess she wouldn't, would she?"
Spider-Man said nothing. He then leaped into the air and swung off, his wife sobbing softly against his chest.
~*~*~
The television droned on from its perch on the wall. Magazines lay open and cluttered on the small wooden coffee table. White fluorescent lights illuminated the tiny room where Peter Parker sat, elbows on knees, head in hands, waiting.
He glanced at his watch again. 3:52. So he'd been here about four hours then. Peter sighed sadly. Things couldn't get any worse.
No, that wasn't true. Things could be worse. Things could always be worse. He just needed to stay positive.
Stay positive? And just how was he supposed to do that? How was he supposed to stay positive when his own child had been brainwashed and wanted to kill him? How was he supposed to stay positive when she had battered his wife so badly that she could be close to death? How was he supposed to stay positive when she loved and was loyal to that murderer who killed so many people he had loved?
Peter sighed. "It's not her fault," he told himself. "She doesn't know any better. It was the way she was raised. It was just her parenting…"
"Just like Doc Ock?" a voice in his head reminded him. "Or Harry? Or Norman?"
He felt his heart sink. Tears welled up in his eyes. It was true.
She was no different.
She was just like Dr. Octopus. Just like Harry. She was just like…
Norman turned her into this! That scumbag turned her into one of them. His hand clenched into a tight fist.
He was almost glad Osborn was dead. Almost.
A Hebrew saying that Peter once heard from Randy's wife, Amanda, came to mind. "When your enemy falls, do not rejoice." It worked for Norman in this situation, certainly. What exactly was there to rejoice about? Even if you decided to be optimistic and ignored the fact that Osborn had a habit of coming back from the dead even under the most sure of circumstances, Osborn had still killed so many people Peter loved and now had another permanently in his clutches.
"He should have died thirty years ago," Peter murmured. "What difference does it make now? His death won't bring any of them back. His death won't make Lydia accept the truth. His death won't make Mary Jane bet-"
The sound of footsteps moving towards the room broke off Peter's thoughts. He sat up and turned his head as a nurse entered the room.
She was around his age. Wisps of gray grew in her dark brown hair. Wrinkles had formed under her soft gray eyes. Her mouth was curled downward in an expression that was both serious and sad.
"Mr. Parker?"
"Yes. How is she?"
"Well, your wife's injuries are serious."
Peter took a deep breath.
"But they're not fatal."
His eyes closed. He sighed with relief. "Thank God."
"She should be fine," the nurse nodded. "However…"
Peter's eyes widened. "However?"
"Even though the assailant did attack all areas of her body, the assault was centered mostly on the face. And short of very expensive surgery, I'm afraid the scars…"
"… Are permanent?"
She nodded again. "Yes."
Peter covered his face with his hands. "When can I see her?"
"Now if you like. Come with me."
~*~*~
The nurse pushed the metal latch and the door opened with a creak. "Mrs. Parker! Your husband is here to see you."
A soft whisper of "Oh good" was heard. Peter followed the nurse to the curtained bed near the window. The nurse pulled the curtain back and Peter saw his wife.
Purple lumps swelled on her beautiful face. White bandages were tied around her head and right eye. Her arm was wrapped in a thick cast. She looked better than before, but it was still sad to see her so hurt.
"I'll leave you two alone for awhile," said the nurse. Peter just stared at Mary Jane as the nurse walked away and closed the door.
Mary Jane's lips curled into a forced smile. "Hey, honey."
"Hey…" Peter pulled up a nearby chair. "How are you feeling?"
Her smile immediately faded. She closed her eye and choked back a sob. "How am I feeling? How do you think I'm feeling?"
Peter froze for a second, but only a second. "Mary Jane, it'll be okay. I told you I'd love you no matter what you looked like."
His wife sniffled and shook her head. "I don't care about my looks, Peter. It's our daughter."
"Honey, I'm sorry. I really did try-"
"Peter, I don't blame you, really. It's… it's…" Mary Jane broke into sobs, tears streamed down her face. "Why does this always have to happen to us?"
"Mary Jane."
"It's not fair. I hate him, Peter. I hate him! Why did he have to do this to us again?"
"Honey, it's all right. He's gone now. He was doused with the same serum that killed Harry. He's dead."
Mary Jane shook her head. "I know you don't truly believe that."
Peter sighed. She was right.
Mary Jane blinked in an attempt to dry away her tears. She gulped back another sob. A moment of silence passed.
"You know what I keep thinking, Peter?"
"No, what?"
"I keep thinking about how we used to talk about adopting a baby, and I always said no because I was afraid the real parents would come back and demand the baby back from us. Heh, and now I want my baby back. Funny, huh?"
"Mary Jane, this isn't the same…"
"I know. Hear me out. You know, I used to wish that somewhere out there, May was alive and in good hands. And now that we found out she was kept by that… that monster, all I can think about is how much I would have loved if May had been raised, if not by us, at least by a loving family."
Peter nodded. "I know. I feel the same way."
Mary Jane reached over and held her husband's hand. "Peter, I want us to be that loving family for someone else. I want there to be a woman or a couple out there who will be happy because the Parkers are raising their child. I've changed my mind. I want to adopt a baby."
"Really?" Peter asked. "You know they can still come back for the baby."
"I know. But I don't care any more. In fact, it probably wouldn't bother me as much as I thought it would. I know where they're coming from now. Don't you think so, Peter? Don't you think this is a good idea?"
Peter smiled. "Hey, you thought of it, so it must be pretty good. And I do want a baby. We'll look for one after you get better."
Mary Jane smiled as her husband wrapped his arms around her. She hugged him back with her good arm. "Thank you, Peter. Thank you."
~*~*~
The torches on the walls cast an eerie light over the dark, dank ceremonial hall. Two men in dark cloaks and ghost-like masks and a young woman in a black dress carried the corpse to the golden pyre in the front of the hall. One of the men lit the pyre as the other chanted.
"So we deliver our brethren back to the spirit realm. May you find peace in the world beyond."
Lydia Osborn's body was as stiff as a board as she watched the two Scriers place her father into the growing fire. She didn't want to do this, but she knew it was necessary. She had to protect the secret of the serum in his blood somehow. It would be far too suspicious if she bribed the coroner for a fake autopsy. Certainly someone remembered her brother doing the same twenty three years ago.
The Scriers turned from the pyre and walked back towards her. She turned to one of them. "You were sure he was dead, right?"
"Yes, Miss Osborn. The cells in his body have made no attempt to heal themselves. I'm afraid he's gone."
Lydia sighed. She almost felt a sob escaping her mouth, but forced it down. The Scriers were being polite to her now, but she knew they hated her and thought her to be nothing more than a selfish, inexperienced child. She would not show them any weakness.
The other Scrier walked over to her. "I'm quite sorry for your loss, Miss Osborn. Your father was a great man."
"Yes, he was. Other than Normie he was my only family. But I am glad that I will at least be able to continue his legacy."
The Scrier nodded. "Yes…. Good night, Miss Osborn."
"Good night, Mr. Chase."
Lydia turned back to the fire as the Scriers walked away. Chase gave the other Scrier a quick glance, then reached into his robe, pulling out a large, silver knife. He turned and lunged at the young Osborn.
The young woman's danger sense buzzed. She whirled around, knocking the knife out of Chase's hand with a quick kick. Chase froze. Lydia seized the opportunity and clamped her hands around his neck. The man gagged and shook, struggling to break free, but her grip was far too strong. His eyes rolled back in his head. He coughed up blood, then suddenly went limp.
He was dead.
Lydia's cold blue eyes met the other Scrier's. "You were going to kill me? Kill the daughter of your leader?"
The Scrier simply glared back. "You mean nothing to the Scriers, little girl. Even if Osborn did make you his heir, we do not follow you. The Scriers want nothing to do with you. The Cabal is mine."
"Fine," she spat. "But consider yourselves excommunicated, if you will."
"What are you saying?"
"Get all of your Scriers out of the mansion and other homes by the end of the week. All of you who work for Osborn Industries are now fired. I'll stay out of your cabal if you stay out of everything that is mine. Got that?"
The Scrier snorted. "I don't think so. Who will care for you?"
"Catherine is my friend. She'll care for me. The V. P. of Osborn Industries is also close to me. He will watch over the company until I am finished with college. And also let it be known that he has friends in the government. I'd just hate to see what will happen if they learn of your past crimes. I believe Mrs. Klaus is still looking for her husband's killer, is she not?"
The Scrier paused. "You're good, kid. Very good. Fine, we have a deal. But if you betray us…"
"I won't. Now get out. And make sure I never see any of you again."
The Scrier picked up the body of his fallen ally and left.
Lydia turned back to the fire. "So much for your loyal servants, Dad. But don't worry. I know they won't come back. I know too much for them to dare."
The young woman smiled. "You've raised me well, Dad. I won't let you down like Harry and Normie did. I will dedicate my life by destroying our enemies. From this day on, I will never let the Parkers have a moment of peace. They will pay for all they have done for us. Yes, they will pay with their lives!"
Lydia threw back her head and laughed, and as the funeral fires grew brighter and hotter she fancied she could hear a goblin in the flames, laughing along with her.
The End.
Author: quietprofanity
Fandom: Spider-Man
Warnings: Violence
Disclaimer: Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Mary Jane Parker, Norman Osborn/Green Goblin, etc. are all property of Marvel Comics and are used without permission for non-profit purposes. And Lydia Osborn is… uh… kind of my character, but not really.
Notes: Fanfic AU. Everything after Clone Saga bar "Hobgoblin Lives" never happened. The violence here is a bit gross, but I hope it doesn't distract from the story. Also, this part is very long! Hope you don't mind. :-\
Acknowledgments: Thank you Mr. Sinister for Beta Reading this last chapter (what happened to everyone else? It's the curse of the Beta Readers, I tell you! I should keep leashes on them…). Also thanks again for MadGoblin for coming up with this in the first place.
~*~*~
Mary Jane shrieked as Spider-Man leaped to the adjacent wall, just avoiding the electrical blast that came hurtling toward them. She grasped her husband tightly with her good arm as he stared down at their daughter.
"Oooh, running away?" the Goblin taunted. She threw a bomb at the couple as she jetted towards them.
Spider-Man jumped into the air at the last moment, shot a webline to the ceiling and swung up to the second floor through the opening in the ceiling where the Goblin had entered. He quickly repositioned Mary Jane so he could hold her in both of his arms and made a run for it.
The Goblin followed in close pursuit, sending a barrage of pumpkin bombs, gas ghosts and razor bats that the hero just barely dodged thanks to his spider-sense.
He couldn't keep running forever, though. As much as he wanted to stop his daughter, Spider-Man knew he couldn't fight carrying Mary Jane. Time to change tactics.
A door to one of the mansion's many rooms was coming up. Spider-Man jumped towards it, leg outstretched to kick it down.
"I just hope this room has a window," Spider-Man thought as the door shattered beneath his foot. He took a quick glance around the room. Yes! A window. Spider-Man ran towards it, quickly making a web ball as he did so. He then threw the ball through the window, shattering it, and leaped out into the mansion yard.
"Come back, Spidey!" the Goblin sneered as she flew out the window after him. The Goblin's eyes scanned the yard. Spider-Man and his wife were nowhere to be found. She cursed and pressed a button hidden beneath the false black hair that hung from her hat, turning on the microphone hidden in her mask. "Um, Dad. I… I lost them."
"You what?" Osborn's voice boomed over the microphone, making Lydia flinch a little. The old man sighed. "Where did they go?"
"I'm not sure, I think they're still in the yard."
"Keep looking for them. His wife's wounds are bad, but they're not fatal. He'll most likely hide her somewhere, then come back for us."
"What should I do?"
"Keep searching. And when you find him, don't bother with his wife, but lead him to the roof. Our surprise is waiting there."
~*~*~
Not far away, Spider-Man carefully lay his wife against the trunk of a large tree in the Osborns' backyard. He wasn't sure what type of tree it was (while he loved science, botany was never his strong point, he was more of a chemist), but the tree had branches which curved towards the ground so far they touched it. The clumps of leaves were also so thick that they created a nice little hiding place.
Spider-Man pressed down on his web-shooter in a manner that would create a thick, solid stream of webbing, just perfect for a sling. Then, careful not to injure her further, he took his wife's arm.
Mary Jane struggled not to cry out as Spider-Man swiftly pushed against her shoulder and popped her arm back in her socket. He then broke a short branch off the tree and webbed her lower arm to it, making a quick splint. He placed her arm in the webbing, and tied it together in the back of her neck.
"Peter…" Mary Jane whispered as her husband made more web-bandages. "That… that girl… she…"
Spider-Man nodded.
"You know… of course…" Mary Jane could feel the tears well up in her eyes as her husband tied some webbing around a gash in her leg. "Peter, what are we going to do?"
"I wish I knew," Spider-Man thought. Suddenly, he felt his spider-sense tingle. The Goblin was nearby! He turned to go.
"Peter, wait!"
Spider-Man stopped and turned to his wife. She closed her eyes and pressed her bloodstained lips to his own.
"I… Good… Please… I…" Mary Jane sighed. "Do… Do the right thing."
Spider-Man nodded, but as he ran out into the open, he and his wife asked themselves the same question.
Just what was the right thing?
~*~*~
"Spi-deeey!" The Goblin's high pitched mock rang out through the night. "Come on, old man. Where the hell are you?"
Her blue eyes scanned the yard from beneath her mask. Still nothing. She flew on her glider towards the back of the mansion. "Haven't checked here yet," she whispered to herself. The Goblin called out again. "Hey web-head, come on out!"
This time, a "thwipp!" behind her answered her call. Her false fangs glinted as she smiled. The purple cape on her back flapped behind her as she spun around.
Spider-Man had swung to one of the top branches of a nearby tree. He hung upside down, staring at her.
"May," he said to himself. "That girl in the costume is May. How can I fight my own child?"
The Goblin laughed. "Ah, so you've finally come out, Spidey. What took you so long? Did that bitch of yours keep whining for you to rub her feet?"
A frown appeared on Spider-Man's face as the Goblin laughed at her own joke. It hurt more than angered him, though. "Let it roll off your back," he told himself. "She's only trying to bait you. You have to keep control of the situation if you want to save her."
The Goblin tossed her head, throwing back her purple cap and false black hair. "Well, I do believe it's time we settled this. Follow me if you wish, old man!"
With a loud hum, the glider spun around and the Goblin flew to the roof of the mansion. Shooting a webline, Spider-Man followed after her.
"Please, God," he thought. "Let me do the right thing. I can't mess this one up. I owe May that much."
As soon as he landed, Spider-Man glanced over the roof. Norman Osborn was waiting for him. His burly hand was resting against a cylinder-shaped metal contraption that was about as high as his waist. ("What could that be?" thought Spider-Man.) The Goblin flew in back of Osborn, ready for a new command.
"Came back?" Osborn asked. "I knew you would. Well, I must say I've enjoyed this little game, but all good things must come to an end. Green Goblin, kill him, won't you?"
The Goblin laughed and zoomed towards her foe. "With pleasure!"
Spider-Man leaped to the side. "How can I do this? If only I had my voice back. I have to try to break through this. I can't let Osborn beat me!"
His spider-sense buzzed. The hero back-flipped into the air, avoiding the shower of razor bats. His spider-sense buzzed again. Spider-Man ducked as the Goblin's blast shot toward him.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" The Goblin shot more blasts toward him, but only ended up missing. "Why don't you fight me?"
"Because you're my daughter," Spider-Man thought. "Because you're the child I lost sixteen years ago to that murdering psychopath who's stopped at nothing to ruin my life. Because even though you hate me and don't know me, I love you." God, he did love her. Despite the fact that he didn't really know her, despite the fact that she hurt Mary Jane so, despite the fact that she despised him, he loved her.
Didn't that count for something?
The Goblin renewed her attack. She flew towards Spider-Man, seemingly aiming to crash into him. Spider-Man jumped to the side once again, but this time the Goblin was prepared. She leaped off her glider and towards her foe, intersecting him before his Spider-sense could react.
Spider-Man grunted as the Goblin's foot smashed against his ribs. He felt the roof slam against his body. He tried to get up, but the Goblin was on him in an instant. Her purple-gloved hand pulled him off the ground by the neck and she knocked him onto the contraption. Six metal cords shot from the device, pinning him to it.
He was trapped!
The laughter of Osborn and the Goblin rang in his ears.
"Very good, my girl." Osborn then turned to Spider-Man. "Ah, it does an old man's heart good to see you like this. And when my daughter sets off this bomb filled with the serum that killed my son goes off, I'll die a more than happy man. Lydia, if you please."
The Goblin laughed. "Oh, yes! I love to see poetic justice. Don't you, Daddy?" She laughed once more and set to work setting off the bomb.
Spider-Man twisted and turned in the grasp of the cords, but it was no use. His spider-sense buzzed louder and louder as the Goblin worked to start the bomb. Maybe this was it. Maybe this was the end.
Maybe this time he would die.
"Die?" he thought. "Die here? Strapped to a bomb set by my own daughter? By the hands of Norman Osborn, who took so much from me?"
Took so much…. His first love. His best friend. His dear brother. All of them had died because of Norman. Liz probably died by him as well. Then Normie had gone insane because of his grandfather's influence.
Now it was happening again. The bomb would kill him. They would leave Mary Jane to die. He would go to his grave never letting his daughter know the truth.
"No," Spider-Man thought. "I won't let that happen. I won't let Norman get them. I won't…"
The Goblin's finger loomed over the red button that would set off the bomb. She froze. "Dad… m-my danger sense… it's…"
"I won't!" The metal made an ear-splitting screech as Spider-Man ripped through it. The hero hardly recognized his voice. Although he had fought through the paralysis, he had not overcome it completely. His voice was low and scratchy. It sounded less like a human's voice and more like an animal's growl.
The Goblin pounced on him but Spider-Man knocked her away easily. He webbed her up as soon as she hit the ground.
"Sorry, honey," he thought sadly.
Norman Osborn pulled on an electronic glove. The fact that Spider-Man escaped was not so surprising; the bastard had an annoying habit of coming out of even the worst situations. Their scheme had clearly failed, and now that Spider-Man had learned to fight through his paralysis drug, remaining here was a danger to his plans.
The old businessman reached for the remote control of his own glider when Spider-Man ran towards Osborn and knocked him to the ground. Osborn growled as Spider-Man's hand clamped around his throat.
"Dad!" exclaimed the Goblin.
Osborn grunted and punched Spider-Man in the face. The wall-crawler reeled back as Osborn ran towards his daughter. Before he could get very far, though, the hero kicked him in the shins, tripping him. He webbed him up.
The Goblin gasped at the sight of her father's capture. She struggled in vain against the webbing. "You bastard! Let him go!"
Spider-Man grabbed Osborn's throat again. The white eyes of his mask stared down at the old man with contempt.
"Tell… her…"
The Goblin frowned. What was he talking about? Her father, however, simply gave Spider-Man a look of confusion.
"Tell her what?"
"You… know…" Spider-Man tightened his grip, making Osborn groan in pain. "Tell her… who… her father is…"
"He's my father, you moron!" snapped the Goblin. "Didn't you hear me before?"
"Her… real… father…"
The Goblin was taken aback. "Real father? Dad, what's he talking about?"
"Nonsense!" growled Osborn. "He's talking nonsense. He's just trying to confuse and trick you. Don't believe his lies."
"No… tricks… or lies… I wouldn't lie…" Spider-Man let go of Osborn, letting him fall to the ground, and turned to the Goblin, "to my daughter."
The Goblin's heart skipped a beat. "What?"
"Lydia, he's lying!"
"I'm your… your father… wh-when you were a baby… Osborn stole you from me…"
"How can you say such awful things?" Osborn asked. "Haven't you hurt my family enough?"
"You know it's true… your powers are the same as mine," Spider-Man gulped as he finally broke through the paralysis. "How could they have come from Osborn?"
"I… I mutated differently," the Goblin shook as she spoke. "My… no! My powers couldn't have come from you."
"They didn't," nodded Osborn. "Don't believe him. You know in your heart that you're my daughter."
"He's just manipulating you," Spider-Man said. "He does this to everyone."
"To say such horrible things about me in front of my own child. Have you no shame?"
"Lydia, I'm not lying. I know you don't want to believe me, but it's true. I'm the one you got your powers from. You didn't mutate differently."
"You're not believing him, are you?"
"O… Of course not!" The Goblin glared at Spider-Man. "You're lying!"
"What would I gain from lying to you?" asked Spider-Man.
"You're… trying to divide us! Just like you tried to take Harry from us by pretending to be his friend. You've always been jealous of the Osborns because you never had what we have. You've always had a horrible and lowly life…"
"She just swallows everything he tells her," Spider-Man thought as he bowed his head. "How can I convince her when she's so far gone? If only I had a fact she couldn't argue with… wait!" He turned back to the Goblin. "Lydia, why haven't I heard of you until now?"
Osborn's eyebrow raised at this new line of questioning. The Goblin seemed surprised as well. "Dad never told anyone who I was. He did it to protect me from scum like you."
"So…" Spider-Man said cautiously. "You never had a birth announcement. Otherwise, I would have seen it in the Bugle."
The Goblin paused, then nodded.
"Then…" Spider-Man took a step towards the Goblin. "How else would I know that you were born on Halloween."
The young woman's eyes widened. "How did you know that?"
"I'm your father, Lydia."
"No!" she cried. The Goblin's heart pounded in her chest. Her palms began to sweat. It wasn't true. It couldn't be true. So what if they had the same powers? So what if he knew her birthday? Dad was right. There was no way that annoying, stupid insect could be her father. He was a liar! He had to be. A slimy, stinking… "Liar!"
Spider-Man froze as the Goblin screamed in rage and ripped out of the webbing. His spider-sense went off, but he didn't seem to realize it until after the Goblin's fist cracked against his chin.
"Liar!" she screamed. "You stupid liar. I hate you. I'll kill you!"
Osborn reached into his pocket and pulled out a razor bat to cut through the bonds that held him, smiling as his daughter battered his greatest enemy. His eyes then glanced at the bomb. Perhaps their plan still had a chance after all. As soon as the villainous man was free from the webbing, Osborn slithered over towards the bomb and pressed the red activation button. His mouth formed an evil leer. One minute until it went off.
Spider-Man groaned as the Goblin hit him again. She was stronger than before; her hits were much harder this time.
"I can't let that stop me, though," he thought. "I can't lose this."
Spider-Man pushed the Goblin off him. She scowled and threw another bomb at her enemy. He dodged, then sent another glob of webbing hurtling toward her. Miss!
The Goblin pressed a button on her glove. Her glider's engine suddenly roared. It rose in the air, then dived like a hawk towards her foe.
The hero leaped to avoid it again. "Lydia, please! I'm telling the truth. I don't want to fight you." His spider-sense suddenly buzzed. Something smacked against his face. His world suddenly went hazy as he realized what it was. A stun bomb!
"Then sit back and relax, bastard," the Goblin sneered as she jumped on her glider. "And I'll just kill you, no fighting involved."
The old businessman rushed over and shouted to his daughter. "Lydia, knock him toward the bomb, it's about to go off."
"No problem, Dad!"
Osborn's heart thundered in his chest as she moved in for the kill. "Yes, my girl. Finish what I started!"
Spider-Man could barely hear or see anything through the thick haze of the stun bomb. His spider-sense, however, was screaming out. He knew that the Goblin was coming for him. Using all of his strength, Spider-Man groaned, folded his arms and threw himself at the Goblin's legs.
Norman Osborn froze. The force of the unexpected hit threw Lydia off the glider and straight towards the bomb. She landed with a thud, dazed from the impact.
"No!" Osborn cried. The old businessman raced towards her as fast he could. "Lydia, get away from there! That bomb's about to go off."
"What?" exclaimed Spider-Man. Oh, God! What had he done?
He shot a webline toward the Goblin. However, before the silk strand could connect, Osborn threw himself at Lydia, knocking her out of the way. The webbing hit Osborn, knocking him into the bomb, and a surprised Spider-Man didn't pull back.
Spider-Man was far enough away. The Goblin's danger sense caused her to instinctively roll to the side. However, there was no protection for Norman Osborn. A loud boom rang out as the bubbling, green liquid burst from the bomb, engulfing Osborn.
"Dad!" The Goblin ran towards him, tears rolling down her cheeks beneath her mask. "Oh my God. Dad!"
Spider-Man rushed over as the Goblin kneeled down at Osborn's side. Her father was shaking violently. Sweat poured from his brow as the strength-increasing chemical burned his skin. Osborn groaned in anguish.
"Dad, hold on. You… you can't go. It's too soon. It's…"
Her father fell silent. Osborn could feel the world slowly slipping away. His sight, his sense of touch… it was all fading. The old man could hear his daughter's pleas as he felt himself slip into unconsciousness. Please, don't go. I need you.
Osborn smiled to himself despite it all. No, this was the perfect time to go. Osborn now had what he had wanted for so long: a strong heir. Lydia was told who her true father was and refused to believe it. She stayed at his side as he was now dying, mourning for him as her true father.
Lydia was truly his daughter. And Osborn knew in his heart that she would always be his child. She would carry on the family traditions. She would see the Osborn fortune to its fruition. She would have children like himself to carry on after her.
And, best of all, she would destroy Spider-Man.
Osborn's eyes rolled back in his head. His body went limp. It was over.
Norman Osborn was dead.
"No…" the Goblin whispered. "No…"
At a loss for what to do and torn seeing his child so upset, even over the death of scum like Osborn, Spider-Man placed his hand on her shoulder. "Lydia..."
The green lips of the young woman's mask curled back in anger as she felt Spider-Man's touch. She whirled around and an energy blast exploded from her fingertips. "Get your hands off me!"
Spider-Man groaned as the blast hit him. The Goblin signaled for her glider to fly to her. She picked up her father's body, cradling it in her arms, then mounted the glider.
The wall-crawler shook his head, regaining his senses. He looked to the sky, meeting the Goblin's contemptuous glare.
"How dare you touch me!" she hissed. "How dare you call me by my name and talk to me as if I were your friend."
"You're my daughter."
"Shut up! I am not. You aren't my father. And don't you dare call that red-haired slut of yours my mother. Get this straight, Parker. I have no mother. My father is dead. And one day, murderer, you'll pay for all you've done. One day…" The Goblin glider backed up higher and higher into the night sky until the figures were barely visible. "I'll be back. And next time, I won't let you live."
~*~*~
Spider-Man tried to chase after Lydia, but the glider seemed to be faster than the wind itself. She was gone in a matter of seconds.
He leaped from tree to tree across the Osborn's backyard. The yard seemed nearly endless tonight, but he eventually did reach Mary Jane's tree. He pulled back the branches and peered inside.
Mary Jane's chin lay against her chest. Blood flowed in small streams down her face. It soaked through the web bandages, which were rapidly dissolving.
She was getting worse.
"Mary Jane" he called out. Spider-Man rushed to her side.
His poor, beloved wife slowly lifted her head. "Peter…"
"Shhh! Don't speak, honey. I'll get you to a hospital."
He scooped her up; careful not to move any of her broken bones. Mary Jane grasped him closely with her good arm, then looked around. Her lips parted, she let out a little whisper.
"Lydia… where is she?"
Spider-Man felt a cold hand squeeze his heart. He sighed. "I… She… I… I told her the truth. She… She didn't believe me."
There was a silence.
Mary Jane nodded. "I… I guess she wouldn't, would she?"
Spider-Man said nothing. He then leaped into the air and swung off, his wife sobbing softly against his chest.
~*~*~
The television droned on from its perch on the wall. Magazines lay open and cluttered on the small wooden coffee table. White fluorescent lights illuminated the tiny room where Peter Parker sat, elbows on knees, head in hands, waiting.
He glanced at his watch again. 3:52. So he'd been here about four hours then. Peter sighed sadly. Things couldn't get any worse.
No, that wasn't true. Things could be worse. Things could always be worse. He just needed to stay positive.
Stay positive? And just how was he supposed to do that? How was he supposed to stay positive when his own child had been brainwashed and wanted to kill him? How was he supposed to stay positive when she had battered his wife so badly that she could be close to death? How was he supposed to stay positive when she loved and was loyal to that murderer who killed so many people he had loved?
Peter sighed. "It's not her fault," he told himself. "She doesn't know any better. It was the way she was raised. It was just her parenting…"
"Just like Doc Ock?" a voice in his head reminded him. "Or Harry? Or Norman?"
He felt his heart sink. Tears welled up in his eyes. It was true.
She was no different.
She was just like Dr. Octopus. Just like Harry. She was just like…
Norman turned her into this! That scumbag turned her into one of them. His hand clenched into a tight fist.
He was almost glad Osborn was dead. Almost.
A Hebrew saying that Peter once heard from Randy's wife, Amanda, came to mind. "When your enemy falls, do not rejoice." It worked for Norman in this situation, certainly. What exactly was there to rejoice about? Even if you decided to be optimistic and ignored the fact that Osborn had a habit of coming back from the dead even under the most sure of circumstances, Osborn had still killed so many people Peter loved and now had another permanently in his clutches.
"He should have died thirty years ago," Peter murmured. "What difference does it make now? His death won't bring any of them back. His death won't make Lydia accept the truth. His death won't make Mary Jane bet-"
The sound of footsteps moving towards the room broke off Peter's thoughts. He sat up and turned his head as a nurse entered the room.
She was around his age. Wisps of gray grew in her dark brown hair. Wrinkles had formed under her soft gray eyes. Her mouth was curled downward in an expression that was both serious and sad.
"Mr. Parker?"
"Yes. How is she?"
"Well, your wife's injuries are serious."
Peter took a deep breath.
"But they're not fatal."
His eyes closed. He sighed with relief. "Thank God."
"She should be fine," the nurse nodded. "However…"
Peter's eyes widened. "However?"
"Even though the assailant did attack all areas of her body, the assault was centered mostly on the face. And short of very expensive surgery, I'm afraid the scars…"
"… Are permanent?"
She nodded again. "Yes."
Peter covered his face with his hands. "When can I see her?"
"Now if you like. Come with me."
~*~*~
The nurse pushed the metal latch and the door opened with a creak. "Mrs. Parker! Your husband is here to see you."
A soft whisper of "Oh good" was heard. Peter followed the nurse to the curtained bed near the window. The nurse pulled the curtain back and Peter saw his wife.
Purple lumps swelled on her beautiful face. White bandages were tied around her head and right eye. Her arm was wrapped in a thick cast. She looked better than before, but it was still sad to see her so hurt.
"I'll leave you two alone for awhile," said the nurse. Peter just stared at Mary Jane as the nurse walked away and closed the door.
Mary Jane's lips curled into a forced smile. "Hey, honey."
"Hey…" Peter pulled up a nearby chair. "How are you feeling?"
Her smile immediately faded. She closed her eye and choked back a sob. "How am I feeling? How do you think I'm feeling?"
Peter froze for a second, but only a second. "Mary Jane, it'll be okay. I told you I'd love you no matter what you looked like."
His wife sniffled and shook her head. "I don't care about my looks, Peter. It's our daughter."
"Honey, I'm sorry. I really did try-"
"Peter, I don't blame you, really. It's… it's…" Mary Jane broke into sobs, tears streamed down her face. "Why does this always have to happen to us?"
"Mary Jane."
"It's not fair. I hate him, Peter. I hate him! Why did he have to do this to us again?"
"Honey, it's all right. He's gone now. He was doused with the same serum that killed Harry. He's dead."
Mary Jane shook her head. "I know you don't truly believe that."
Peter sighed. She was right.
Mary Jane blinked in an attempt to dry away her tears. She gulped back another sob. A moment of silence passed.
"You know what I keep thinking, Peter?"
"No, what?"
"I keep thinking about how we used to talk about adopting a baby, and I always said no because I was afraid the real parents would come back and demand the baby back from us. Heh, and now I want my baby back. Funny, huh?"
"Mary Jane, this isn't the same…"
"I know. Hear me out. You know, I used to wish that somewhere out there, May was alive and in good hands. And now that we found out she was kept by that… that monster, all I can think about is how much I would have loved if May had been raised, if not by us, at least by a loving family."
Peter nodded. "I know. I feel the same way."
Mary Jane reached over and held her husband's hand. "Peter, I want us to be that loving family for someone else. I want there to be a woman or a couple out there who will be happy because the Parkers are raising their child. I've changed my mind. I want to adopt a baby."
"Really?" Peter asked. "You know they can still come back for the baby."
"I know. But I don't care any more. In fact, it probably wouldn't bother me as much as I thought it would. I know where they're coming from now. Don't you think so, Peter? Don't you think this is a good idea?"
Peter smiled. "Hey, you thought of it, so it must be pretty good. And I do want a baby. We'll look for one after you get better."
Mary Jane smiled as her husband wrapped his arms around her. She hugged him back with her good arm. "Thank you, Peter. Thank you."
~*~*~
The torches on the walls cast an eerie light over the dark, dank ceremonial hall. Two men in dark cloaks and ghost-like masks and a young woman in a black dress carried the corpse to the golden pyre in the front of the hall. One of the men lit the pyre as the other chanted.
"So we deliver our brethren back to the spirit realm. May you find peace in the world beyond."
Lydia Osborn's body was as stiff as a board as she watched the two Scriers place her father into the growing fire. She didn't want to do this, but she knew it was necessary. She had to protect the secret of the serum in his blood somehow. It would be far too suspicious if she bribed the coroner for a fake autopsy. Certainly someone remembered her brother doing the same twenty three years ago.
The Scriers turned from the pyre and walked back towards her. She turned to one of them. "You were sure he was dead, right?"
"Yes, Miss Osborn. The cells in his body have made no attempt to heal themselves. I'm afraid he's gone."
Lydia sighed. She almost felt a sob escaping her mouth, but forced it down. The Scriers were being polite to her now, but she knew they hated her and thought her to be nothing more than a selfish, inexperienced child. She would not show them any weakness.
The other Scrier walked over to her. "I'm quite sorry for your loss, Miss Osborn. Your father was a great man."
"Yes, he was. Other than Normie he was my only family. But I am glad that I will at least be able to continue his legacy."
The Scrier nodded. "Yes…. Good night, Miss Osborn."
"Good night, Mr. Chase."
Lydia turned back to the fire as the Scriers walked away. Chase gave the other Scrier a quick glance, then reached into his robe, pulling out a large, silver knife. He turned and lunged at the young Osborn.
The young woman's danger sense buzzed. She whirled around, knocking the knife out of Chase's hand with a quick kick. Chase froze. Lydia seized the opportunity and clamped her hands around his neck. The man gagged and shook, struggling to break free, but her grip was far too strong. His eyes rolled back in his head. He coughed up blood, then suddenly went limp.
He was dead.
Lydia's cold blue eyes met the other Scrier's. "You were going to kill me? Kill the daughter of your leader?"
The Scrier simply glared back. "You mean nothing to the Scriers, little girl. Even if Osborn did make you his heir, we do not follow you. The Scriers want nothing to do with you. The Cabal is mine."
"Fine," she spat. "But consider yourselves excommunicated, if you will."
"What are you saying?"
"Get all of your Scriers out of the mansion and other homes by the end of the week. All of you who work for Osborn Industries are now fired. I'll stay out of your cabal if you stay out of everything that is mine. Got that?"
The Scrier snorted. "I don't think so. Who will care for you?"
"Catherine is my friend. She'll care for me. The V. P. of Osborn Industries is also close to me. He will watch over the company until I am finished with college. And also let it be known that he has friends in the government. I'd just hate to see what will happen if they learn of your past crimes. I believe Mrs. Klaus is still looking for her husband's killer, is she not?"
The Scrier paused. "You're good, kid. Very good. Fine, we have a deal. But if you betray us…"
"I won't. Now get out. And make sure I never see any of you again."
The Scrier picked up the body of his fallen ally and left.
Lydia turned back to the fire. "So much for your loyal servants, Dad. But don't worry. I know they won't come back. I know too much for them to dare."
The young woman smiled. "You've raised me well, Dad. I won't let you down like Harry and Normie did. I will dedicate my life by destroying our enemies. From this day on, I will never let the Parkers have a moment of peace. They will pay for all they have done for us. Yes, they will pay with their lives!"
Lydia threw back her head and laughed, and as the funeral fires grew brighter and hotter she fancied she could hear a goblin in the flames, laughing along with her.
The End.