Chapter 75

  Arc 6 - Ch 8: Hangover

  Date: Saturday, June 25, 2011.

  Location: Four Seasons Downtown, Manhattan, New York

  The first rays of m light filtered through the bedroom curtains causing Jubilee to stir. For a moment, she was disoriented, her mind still caught in the hazy remnants of sleep and the magical memories of the night before. She stretched nguidly, feeling a bit of soreness, but that was expected after the night they'd had. Tangible proof that Tyson had used more than just his illusions to be intimate.

  Rolling over, Jubilee found herself face to face with Tyson, his handsome features rexed in sleep. She smiled softly, reag out to trace the curve of his cheek with a gentle finger. But as her hand made tact, it passed through the illusion.

  Tyson's disembodied voice echoed through the bedroom, "e on out, breakfast is almost ready." His form flickered and dissipated, revealing the truth. She was alone in the bed. She sat up, fusion furrowing her brow. The Pokémon oasis that had seemed so real and tangible the night before was o be seen. Instead, she was surrounded by the luxurious trappings of Tyson's suite. But before disappoi could set in, Jubilee's senses were suddenly awash with the mouthwatering aroma of breakfast. The st of sizzling ba and freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, apanied by the faint sounds of movement from the kit.

  Jubilee realized Tyson had let her sleep in while he prepared a m feast for them to share. The illusionary version of him was just ann of his thoughtfulness, a way to let her wake up gradually without feeling alone. Slipping out of bed, she padded barefoot towards the kit, the plush carpet soft beh her feet. As she drew closer, she could hear Tyson humming softly to himself, the tune upbeat and cheerful. The sound brought a smile and a warmth to her chest.

  Rounding the er, Jubilee caught sight of Tyson. Dressed in long-sleeved pajamas with matg pants, he stood at the stove, tending to a pan of scrambled eggs.

  A brilliant smile spread across his face as he saw her. "M, beautiful," he greeted, "I hope you're hungry. I might have gone a bit overboard with breakfast."

  "Starving," she firmed.

  Tyson crossed the kit and she looped her arms around his waist. She rose ooes to press a soft kiss to his lips, sav the simple intimacy of the moment.

  Jubilee settled into her seat, enthused by the fluffy pancakes and the steaming omelet oe. She reached for her fork, but a sudden fsh of disfort crossed her features.

  "Ugh, the light," Jubilee groaned, shielding her eyes with her hand. "It's way tht in here."

  Tyson gnced up from his pte. "You okay, Jubes?"

  Jubilee waved off his worry with a dismissive gesture. "Yeah, yeah, probably just hungover. Need my shades." She pushed back from the table and headed for the bedroom, rummaging through her bag until she found her signature pink sungsses. Slipping them on, she returo the table, pig up her fork once more.

  She hesitated as she raised the omelet to her mouth. A strange sensation twisted in her gut. It was a visceral warning, letting her know something was wrong. She stared at the food on her fork, trying to decipher the source of her unease.

  Tyson noticed her hesitation. "What's up, Jubes? Not a fan of my cooking?" he teased gently.

  Jubilee shook her head, f a smile. "No, no, it's not that. I just..." She trailed off, uo pce the source of her apprehension.

  Taking a deep breath, she pushed past the inexplicable dread and took a bite. The fvors burst oongue, rid savory, but the moment she swallowed, a violent wave of nausea smmed into her. Jubilee lurched to her feet, the chair cttering to the floor behind her as she sprinted for the bathroom. She barely reached the toilet before the tents of her stomach surged back up. Jubilee retched and heaved, her body shuddering with the force of her siess.

  "Jubes are you okay?" He k beside her, one hand rubbing soothing circles on her back as she tio retch.

  When the worst of the nausea finally subsided, Jubilee slumped back against the cool tiles of the bathroom wall. Tyson handed her a damp towel and offered a gss of water, his brow furrowed with .

  "What's wrong, Jubes? Was it the food? I didn't think you drank that much to be so hungover. I'm sorry, it's hard for me to tell anymore because alcohol doesn't affect me as much. And I didn't think you had any food allergies. I only used onions, pepper, and garlic, but..."

  Jubilee shook her head, cutting off his anxious rambling. Tears welled in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks in hot, heavy trails. "It's not the food, Ty," she whispered, her voice raw and trembling.

  Tyson's touch was gentle and reassuring. "Hey, hey, it's okay. It's, not a big deal. We'll order some soup if you're sick. It'll be fine."

  But Jubilee pulled away, a choked sob tearing from her throat. "No, Ty, it's not okay. It's not going to be okay." With shaking hands, she pushed up the bracelets that encircled her wrist, revealing the angry red puncture marks that marred her skin.

  Tyson's eyes widened as he took in the sight of the vampire bite, the implications hitting him like a physical blow. He reached out instinctively, his fingers h just above the wound, fear and etched into every line of his face.

  "Jubes..." dread grew within his voice. "Why didn't you tell me?"

  He saw the desperate, ag fear in her eyes, "I didn't want to say anything st night," she whispered, the words scraping from her throat. "Because I was having so much fun with you. Everything was going so well." A sad smile twisted her lips, more tragic thaears. "It erfect. I didn't want it to end." Jubilee swallowed, then forced out the rest in a pained rush. "I didn't want to die a virgin. But now... now I feel it, Ty. The sunlight hurts my eyes. Garlic makes me sick." She shuddered, ing her arms around her body as if warding off a chill only she could sense. "I think I'm dying. Worse I'm turning into one of them."

  But even as the enormity of their situation crashed down around them, Tyson gathered Jubilee into his arms, holding her close, "We'll find a way, Jubes," he murmured into her hair. He refused to accept this fate, to let Jubilee slip away without a fight. "Listen to me, Jubes. I'm not losing you. Not today, not ever. We're going to figure this out, together."

  Jubilee searched his face, her lower lip trembling. "But the bite... the siess... Tyson, I've seen the movies, I know what happe."

  Tyson shook his head, unwilling to cede. "We don't know how it works for certain," he insisted. "There could be a cure, a way to reverse the effects. I have resources and allies. I'll find a way."

  He thought of Dr. ors's brilliant stifid, of The A One and sorcerers. Surely, betweehere had to be a solution… Then there was Bde.

  She straightened slightly, drawing strength from his vi. "You think we beat this?" she asked, her voice tentative but tinged with the fai hint of belief.

  "We ," Tyson replied without hesitation. "You're a fighter, Jubes. You're not that same girl who froze up on that train st year. We'll get through this together."

  Jubilee managed a watery smile, she leaned into Tysoing his strength and love around her like a protective co.

  "e on, we o get ready," he said softly, pressing a tender illusionary kiss to Jubilee's forehead.

  Jubilee's question came out timidly, "Where are we going?"

  "To get an apology gift for a sorcerer," Tyson replied, "She's the best shot at fixing this." More relutly he added, "But the st time I saw her, I kind of threateo kill her..."

  Jubilee muttered "Great," but Tyson could see she was at least smiling. His admission diffused some of the tense uainty hanging over them. Giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze, they disentahemselves to get ready.

  — Rogue Rept —

  Jubilee pulled up the hood of Tyson's oversized hoodie, shielding her sensitive eyes from the harsh gre of the sun as they stepped out onto the streets of New York. The journey uptown was a blur, Jubilee's mind still reeling from the revetion of her potential vampiric transformation. She g to Tyson's hand, drawing strength from his solid presence beside her.

  Their first stop was Multy's Tea & Coffee pany, a quaint shop on Christopher Street. As they ehe rich aroma of tea and coffee wafted over them. Tyson approached the ter, "I o pce a special order. This tea, and an assortment of several others, one for each day. I want te a regur, weekly delivery for the en years."

  The employee bliaken aback by the unusual request. "I... I'm not sure we aodate such a long-term arra, sir," she stammered.

  Tyson fixed her with a level stare. The employee's attention was fixed on his mismatched eyes.

  "I assure you, you ."

  "Of course, sir. We ."

  As Tyson finalized the details, Jubilee watched him with fusion. "Ty, what are you doing?" she asked.

  "Making amends," he replied, "And hopefully, seg the sorcerers' assistance."

  With the tea order pced and paid for, Tyson took Jubilee's hand and led her bato the street. He held the first of the regur deliveries in his other hand. Their destination was 177A Bleecker Street.

  As they climbed the steps to the front door of the New York Sanctum, Jubilee's heart raced with a mixture of fear and anticipation. She knew from the stories told by Tyson and Illyana that the building was the hub for the sorcerers in this try. She put her faith in Tyson. He seemed vinced if anyone could help her, it would be the sorcerers.

  Tyson raised his hand to knock, but the door swung open before his knuckles could ect. The A Oood in the doorway. She regarded the pair before her with a knowing gaze. "Tyson Smith, Jubition Lee," she greeted, "Five me for opening the door before you had a ce to knock. Last time, I fear Tyson would've wrecked it had I not done so."

  Tyson wi the memory, a sheepish expression crossing his features. "Fair," he ceded. He held out the peace . "I brought your favorite tea, and arranged regur deliveries to the Sanctum."

  The A One looked at the proffered bag, her gaze inscrutable. For a long moment, she stood there, making Tyson shift unfortably. Just as he began to worry that she wouldn't accept his gesture, she reached out and took the bag.

  Tyso out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, relief washing over him. "I'm sorry for threatening you at our st meeting," he said tritely, "My emotions got the best of me, and in a moment of weakness, I said some things that I should not have."

  The A One ined her head, aowledging his apology. "I khat your response would likely be unfavorable," she replied, "But one ever be certain. I uand the reasoning for your rea, though I caution you to be wary of how you allow your emotions, or perhaps the emotions of your other passengers, to trol you."

  Tyson knew all too well the dangers of letting the echoes of other minds sway his as. But he also sidered the A One's words; her phrasing was unusual for someone who should have known what his response would be.

  "I'm w on trol," he admitted, "I thought I mostly had the other psyches suppressed, but there are moments where it's not always easy, but I'm trying."

  She stepped aside, gesturing for them to ehe Sanctum. "e in," she invited, "I know there is more to your visit than just an apology and a delivery of tea."

  Together, they crossed the threshold into the Sanctum, the door swinging shut behind them with a soft click. The A Ohem to a small, intimate sitting room. She settled herself into a high-backed chair, gesturing for Tyson and Jubilee to sit on the sofa opposite her.

  "Now," she said, "Tell me what brings you here."

  "A vampire bit Jubilee," Tyson answered. With trembling hands, Jubilee pushed up the sleeve of the hoodie, revealing the angry red puncture marks that marred her skin. The A One leaned forward, examining the wound with a critical eye.

  "When did this happen?" she asked.

  "Last night," Tyson supplied, "We were at a club, and it was filled with vampires. She was bitten in the fighting."

  The A One nodded, her expression inscrutable. "And have you noticed any ges sihen? Increased sensitivity to sunlight, an aversion to garlic, a craving for blood?"

  Jubilee swallowed hard, her voice trembling as she replied. "The sunlight, yes. And earlier, when I tried to eat, I got sick. Really, sick."

  "The transformation is already beginning," she murmured, "But it is not yet plete."

  Tyson leaned forward, hope warring with desperation in his eyes. "Is there anything you do?" he asked, "Please, there must be some way to stop this, to save her."

  The A One was silent for a long moment, her gaze distant as she waged an internal debate. Finally, she spoke. "There is a book that exists," she said softly, "The Darkhold. The Book of Sins, the Tome of Eldritch Magic. It is one of the most a and powerful artifacts ie is a repository of dark wisdom and forbidden spells."

  He knew of the Darkhold, its corrupting influence, and the terrible price exacted from those who dared to delve into its pages.

  "It is the key to uanding the in of vampires," she tinued, "For it was through the Darkhold that the first vampire came into being, and through its pages, the curse has beeuated throughout the ages."

  "In the primordial dawn, before the rise of civilization, there was a being of great power known as Chthon. Chthon was banished from Earth, but not before his teags and power were left behind within the pages of the Darkhold." As she spoke, the shadows seemed to deepen around them. "Chthon poured his knowledge and esseo the pages, imbuing it with a fragment of his dark soul. Through the book, he sought to shape the world to his will, to bend the forces of life ah to his and, and ultimately for it to be the instrument of his return from banishment."

  "It was through the Darkhold that the first vampire was created," the A One tinued, her voice taking on a grim note. "A creature of the night, sustained by the blood of the living, cursed to aence of eternal hunger and darkness. And from that first vampire, the curse spread, a pgue upon the world that has endured for tless geions."

  The A arded them with a look of deep passion. "The path ahead will not be easy," she said softly, "The curse of vampirism is a powerful one."

  "Tell us what we o do," he requested. "We're ready."

  "The ritual te the vampiric taint will not be without risk," she warned.

  "I'll do whatever it takes," he said, "I won't let this curse take her from me."

  The A One nodded gravely. "The Darkhold is a dangerous artifact. Even if I knew where it was hidden, I would not share that knowledge with anyone, aainly not you, Tyson. The book corrupts all who e into tact with it, twisting their minds and souls." She tinued, her voice taking on a note of cautious hope. "However, the sorcerers of the Sanctum are aware of a ritual that may purge the vampiric taint before those ied succumb to the curse. It is an a rite that requires a great sacrifice."

  Jubilee leaned forward, her eyes wide with desperate hope. "What kind of sacrifice?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

  The A O her gaze, her expression a mix of passion and solemnity. "The ritual requires blood," she expined, "Blood untainted by the curse. Blood that carries within it a spark of the divine."

  Jubilee's brow furrowed in fusion, her mind rag to make sense of the A One's words. "Divine?" she repeated, her tone ced with disbelief. "Like gods? Gods are real? Where we find a god willing to give us their blood?"

  The A One's gaze shifted to Tyson, her eyes b into him with an iy that seemed to strip aretense. He shifted unfortably under her scrutiny, a flicker of uanding dawning in his mismatched eyes.

  Jubilee looked bad forth between them, her fusion only deepening. "Tyson is not a god... is he?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

  The A One shook her head but smiled faintly at the girl's misuanding. She answered, "No, Jubition, he is not," her tone amused at the notion. "But he has met oly."

  "Thor," he breathed, "But he's on Asgard, and the Rainbe was destroyed, just like you said it would be..." His voice trailed off as ahought occurred to him. "Amora?" he asked hesitantly.

  The A One ined her head. "The Entress, yes," she firmed, "She is a being of great power, one who walks the liween the mortal and the divine. And she has taken a keen i in you, Tyson, has she not?"

  Memories of his enters with the Asgardian sorceress fshed through his mind.

  "What would we have to do?" he asked, "What would she want iurn?"

  "Amora's desires are her own," she replied, "But I tell you this. The price she demands will be high, and the sequences of your choice will be vast."

  Tyso Jubilee's hand tighten around his, in a silent plea for reassurance, for hope in the face of the impossible. "I'll do it," he said, "I'll pay whatever price she asks."

  "Go now," she murmured, her voice soft but filled with quiet authority. "Seek out the Entress, if that is the path you choose. And Jubition, know that should the day e when Tyson walks the path of the Mystic Arts, should you still be at his side, you would be weled at Kamar Taj."

  "The ritual must be pleted before the transformatios in. When her heart no longer beats, it is too te," The A One said as she led the pair to the Sanctum's entrance.

  Tyson and Jubilee stepped out of the Sanctum, the weight of the daunting task settling heavily upon their shoulders. Just as they reached the pavement, Tyson paused. Turning back to face the A One, he asked, "Do you know where I find Amora?"

  "I do not," she replied, her words carrying a note of enigmatic amusement. "She has been quite good at warding her magid preseyson's heart sank, the prospect of trag down the elusive Asgardian sorceress seeming more daunting by the moment. But the A One wasn't finished. "Had I not been monit your return," she tinued, her voice taking on a tone of gentle admonishment, "I would not have been aware of her arrival. Amora may use magic, but her presen Earth is not directly uhe purview of the Sanctum's defensive purpose. She is yours to deal with."

  Tyso a flicker of frustration at the A One's words. But there was something else ione, a hint of satisfa that set his teeth on edge.

  "It's almost fitting that you must seek her out," the A One said, her smile widening ever so slightly.

  And then it hit him. This was more than just about saving Jubilee. It was a trial that the A One had set before him.

  Was this the cost she spoke about all those months ago?

  Or just a way to atone for his transgressions; for the threat he had made against her the st time they had met.

  Tyso a surge of irritation at the realization, a part of him bristling at the idea of being maniputed; of being forced to front the sequences of his as in such a way. But he pushed it down. He had e to her for help.

  And The A One had given it freely. The least he could do was face the challenge she set before him with a measure of grad humility.

  Plus, she was right.

  Amora was his problem to handle.

  So, despite the frustration simmerih the surface, Tyson bowed his head in resped gratitude. "Thank you," he said softly, his voice genuie the unhappihat colored his tone. "For your help, and yuidance. We won't fet it."

  The A arded him with a look of deep uanding. "I know you won't," she murmured, "And I have faith that you will find the strength within yourself to face the challehat lie ahead."

  With those parting words, she turned areated into the Sanctum, the heavy doors closing behind her with a sense of finality.

  — Rogue Rept —

  Tyson raised his hand, hailing a cab from the busy New York street. As one pulled up to the curb, he ushered Jubilee inside, sliding in beside her and pulling the door shut with a definitive thud. He leaned forward, catg the driver's eye in the rearview mirror.

  "House of M, please," he requested.

  As the cab pulled away from the curb, merging into traffic, Tyson slumped back against the seat. He ran a hand over his face, his fingers ping the bridge of his nose as if to ward off an impending headache. Jubilee watched him with , her brow furrowed.

  "Why are we going to the House of M?" she asked softly, her hand finding his aly squeezing.

  Tyson sighed, his mismatched eyes meeting hers with a look of weary determination. "There's no easy way to track Amora," he expined, "She's an Asgardian sorceress. The only lead on her location is an Asgardian dagger she held briefly, but even that's a long shot."

  "So, what's our move?"

  Tysoated, a flicker of reluce passing over his features. "I hate to ask," he said slowly, "But we o call the professor. Cerebro might be the only way to find Amora, and it's our best option."

  Jubilee's eyes widened in surprise and uanding dawned in their depths. She knew how much it cost Tyson to admit they needed help, especially from Professor Xavier. But now she khat he would do anything, put aside any personal reservations if it meant saving her life.

  Without a word, Jubilee pulled out her phoo scroll through her tacts. She found Jean's number, pressed the call button, and brought the phoo her ear.

  The line rang owice, before Jean's familiar voice came through, warm and ed. "Jubilee? What's up? Is everything alright?"

  "Jean, hey. Listen, we need your help. Well, the professor's help."

  There was a brief pause oher end of the line, a moment of fusion and worry. "Of course, anything. What's going on?"

  "It's a long story, but in short I've been bitten by a vampire. We're trying to find a way to stop the transformation. We must find a goddess named Amora, who might be our only hope. But we have no way to track her down."

  Jean's sharp intake of breath was audible through the phone. "Oh, Jubilee," she murmured, "I'm so sorry. Of course, we'll help. I'm sure the professor will locate Amora."

  A wave of relief washed over Jubilee, the knot of tension in her chest loosening ever so slightly. "Thank you, Jean," she whispered.

  As she ehe call, Jubilee turo Tyson, a flicker of hope kindling in her eyes. "Jean is sure the Professor will help us," she said softly.

  The cab sped through the streets of New York, carrying them towards the House of M and the step in their desperate quest.

  Tyson led Jubilee through the corridors until they were stopped by a familiar figure ed in a form-fitting bck dress. Felicia Hardy greeted them with a warm smile. She pulled both Tyson and Jubilee into a tight hug.

  As they pulled apart, Tyson asked curiously, "How'd yht go?"

  "I got the serum. There were no issues or problems," she replied, fident that the heist had gone off without a hitch. Thetention shifted to Jubilee, a mischievous gliering her eyes. "How'd the date go?" she asked, her tone light and teasing.

  But before Tyson could respond, Jubilee's words tumbled out in a frantic, breathless rush. "The date was going fine," she began, her hands gestig wildly as she spoke. "We talked everything out ao the club. We danced and drank and got close. But then blood started raining from the ceiling, a attacked by vampires!" Felicia's eyes widened, her mouth falling open in shock as Jubilee's story unfolded. "We fought them off," Jubilee tinued, her voice rising with each word, "but I got bit and hid it. We made it back to his suite and made love. But now we o find a magical goddess a some of her blood, or I'll die and bee a vampire!"

  Silence fell over the hallway as Felicia turo Tyson, her expression showed her disbelief and , silently asking for firmation.

  "She summed it up pretty well," he said, his tone a mastercss in uatement.

  Felicia blinked, her mind rag to process the incredible tale she had just heard. But then, to everyone's surprise, a slow, devious grin spread across her face. She turned back to Jubilee, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

  "Soo… How was he?" she asked, her voice l to a spiratorial whisper.

  Jubilee's eyes widened, a startled ugh esg her lips. A faint blush colored her cheeks. "He was... amazing," she admitted, her voice soft but filled with a quiet reverence. "Everything I could have hoped for and mentle and g, blended with just the right amount of being rough and demanding."

  There was no disguising the warmth that spread through Tyson at Jubilee's tender words. Felicia regarded the intimate exge with a fond smile, her eyes softening in genuine affe. "I'm happy for you both," she said early, giving Jubilee's shoulder an encing squeeze. "Truly."

  Despite the direness of her predit, Jubilee couldn't resist the urge to tease Tyson further. Turning to Felicia with a pyful lilt, she said, "You should have seen the look on his face when I asked if he wao go on a date with me, even though he hooks up with you all the time." She paused, biting back a grin. "When I said you were hot, he had the face of a man whose wildest dreams were about to e true."

  Felicia ughed, caught off guard by Jubilee's boldness. But then her expression sobered as the gravity of their situation reasserted itself. "While I'm not opposed to stealing you away from Tyson for a night, it seems there are more pressing matters at hand," she said briskly, "Finding this goddess, seg what we o save your life. That's the priority now. If you're curious about this cat, there will be time for that once you're safe."

  And with that, the three turned and tinued down the hallway. Tyson tried to put thoughts of Felicia and Jubilee's pyful versation out of his mind as he opehe door to the b. Ivan Vanko hunched over a workbench, but looked up at the sound of their entrance.

  "Tyson," Vanko greeted, his thick at curling around the name. "What brings you to my domain?"

  They took in the various projects scattered about. Felicia's exoskeleton hung from a rack. Tyson's eyes were briefly drawn to a small bck box on Vanko's workbench. It roject of the utmost importance. But he put thoughts of the bck box aside, instead fog on the Uru dagger mounted nearby.

  "Is it possible to make a tracker to detect the ual?" he asked, nodding towards the on.

  Vanko leaned back, stroking his thoughtfully. "Possible, yes," he mused. "The metal you call Uru has a distinct signature. A device could be calibrated to ses presence."

  "How long would it take to make?" he asked, his words ing fast and urgent. "And what would its range be?"

  Vanko's brow furrowed, his mind visibly w through the calcutions. "Tomorrow night," he said at st, "Half mile, maybe."

  Tyson's shoulders slumped, the brief spark of optimism fading as quickly as it had e. He remembered all too well the exhausting search he and Illyana had ducted going block by block through the streets of Manhattan. Even with Vanko's device, and even if Amora had Uru in her possession, the odds of finding her were slim.

  "Never mind. Keep w on your other projects." Tyson said, his tone heavy with resignation. "I'm going to take this," he said, reag for the on. "Did you get all the ss of it?"

  Vanko waved him off, his attention having refocused on the bck box before him. "Da, da," he muttered, his words distracted. "Ss are in the puter. Take the dagger, do what you must."

  Tyson's hand closed around the hilt of the Uru bde. He brought it close to his face, inhaling deeply. The barest hints of Amora's st still g to the metal.

  Suddenly, Felicia's phone vibrated insistently, demanding attention. She pulled the device from her pocket, studying the s. "Tyson," she said slowly, her voice tinged with . "Are you expeg pany? A man in a bck trench coat with what looks like a sword on his back is at the entrance."

  Tyson cursed. Of course, now would be when Bde showed up.

  After their frontation at the club, it was only a matter of time before the dhampir tracked him down. Tyson referred to himself as a mutant and his illusions had made it obvious whie. But with Jubilee having been bitten, he couldn't risk a frontation. But he also couldn't ignore Bde.

  "Damn it," Tyson growled, his grip tightening on the Uru dagger. "Of all the times for him to show up."

  "Wao handle him?" Felicia asked.

  Tyson shook his head, unwilling to pit Felicia against Bde. "No," he said, "This is my mess. I'll deal with it."

  He turo Vanko, his expression grave. "Ivan, Felicia's mission was a success. That means you're doing good work."

  Vanko nodded, "I will keep doing so," he vowed before adding, "The bck box will be ready soon."

  Tyson managed a tight smile. He turo Felicia, his mismatched eyes bzing with resolve. "Felicia, I need you to stay with Jubilee," he instructed, "Take her to Dr. ors. Have him take a blood sample, then keep her safe, no matter what happens."

  Felicia's gaze met his, "She's too cute to die, I'll make sure she's okay."

  Tyson tucked the Uru dagger into his belt. With a final nod to his allies, he strode out of the b. He quickly made his way through the halls of House of M toward the mairance.

  Deg a direct approach might be the best course of a; he opehe door to face Bde head-on.

  With a casual air, Tyson addressed the dhampir. "e to check that I wasn't sleeping in a casket?" he quipped, "Or are you looking for a ticket to the show?"

  Bde's response was far from amused. His eyes narrowed, his hand tightening on the hilt of his sword. "Were you or yirlie bitten st night?" he demanded.

  Tyso Bde's gaze defiantly. "Yeah," he admitted, the word blunt and unapologetic. "But I was also stabbed if you recall. Superhuman healing factor. I'm immuo diseases and vamp venom or whatever." Bde's stance remaiense, his expression unreadable. But Tyson pressed on, unintimidated, now that he knew his illusions worked on Bde.

  "But I'm curious," he said, his tone versational. "If a normie is bitten, what happens?"

  The dhampir regarded Tyson for a long moment as if weighing the merits of sharing his knowledge. Finally, he spoke, his words clipped and ical. "Vamp venom kickstarts produ of ichor in the body," Bde expined, "A big dose of silver nitrate and garlic might stop it early enough, but the ichor produ eventually repces blood. Once you reach a certain point, goodnight girlfriend, hello suck-head."

  Tyson nodded, abs the information with a grim set to his jaw. The clock was tig down on Jubilee's humanity with every passing moment.

  In a gesture of goodwill, Tyson held out his hand, his expression open and ho. "Tyson Smith," he introduced himself. "Also go as Mirage."

  Hesitating for a fra of a sed before nodding curtly, Bde grasped Tyson's hand in a firm shake. "Bde," he said.

  "I wiped the footage from the vamp security camera. I watched you fight. Pretty good unarmed. Saw yirl got bit."

  Tyso Bde's gaze, his own eyes burning with desperate hope. "Is it too te to dose her?" he asked.

  Bde's answer was a blunt ko Tyson's fragile optimism. "Yup. The mixture must be administered in the first few hours after a bite." The dhampir offered, "I take care of her if you're not up to it."

  "No ce," he replied. "With my healing, I'm an all-you--eat buffet. I handle her."

  Bde regarded him for a long moment as if weighing the siy of Tyson's words. Finally, he deed his head in acceptance. "Suit yourself," he said, "If I catch her in a hive or out ireets feeding, I'm going to off her." It was a warning and a promise

  "Uood," he ground out in bitter acceptance.

  Bde turo leave, his coat swirling behind him. But Tyson's voice stopped him, "If I kill the one who bit her, will it stop her from turning?" He asked hopefully.

  Bde shook his head. "Movie myth. Won't work."

  Tyson sighed but straightened. "Look, I'm not sure if you have a day job or whatever," he said, "but I'd guess that buying all that silver aher gets expensive. I'm always looking for friends, and I don't like the idea of too many vamps in my city." Bde's expression remained unreadable, but Tyson pressed ardless. "Call and ask for my assistant, Felicia. She'll tact me if you need help or we arrange a deal if you need a financial backer."

  With a curt nod, the dhampir turned and walked away.

  Behind the Ses

  - In Marvel ics, Vampires were created by an Atntean cult using the Chthon Scrolls. These scrolls were ter bio create the Darkhold. This in is told during a fshba Doctor Strange (Vol. 2) #61

  - Vampires' strengths and weaknesses differ between Bde (1998) and Marvel ics. The specifics of this are explored further in this Arc.

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