Sorcerer in the Marvel Universe

"You want... me?"

Dottie might have been emotionally unbalanced, but she hadn’t lost the ability to think.

She didn’t believe for a second that this stranger was offering help out of kindness, or because he’d been moved by her tragic devotion.

Nothing in life came free.

If she wanted his help, she’d have to pay a price.

And the price wasn’t hard to guess.

She had several million pounds tucked away, a handful of prime London properties, and enough assets to retire comfortably. But judging from what she’d already seen, money meant very little to him.

Which left only one thing of real value.

Herself.

"You want me?" Evenson repeated with a faint nod. "It’s a slightly misleading way to put it... but yes."

"And what exactly would you have me do?" Dottie asked, crossing one leg over the other with practiced confidence. "Become your personal spy? Or..." She shot him a flirtatious smile. "Would you rather keep me as a pet? Perhaps both jobs at once?"

"Not my personal spy." Evenson corrected her calmly. "An agent for the company."

"The company?" she echoed. "What company?"

"Umbrella."

Seeing the question forming on her face, he raised a hand.

"I already know you’ve never heard of it. That’s because we’re good at staying hidden. And before you ask how large the company is... I’d rather not have that conversation."

People always asked the same questions.

He’d learned it was easier to answer them before they were spoken.

Dottie accepted the explanation without much suspicion. The world was full of secret organizations. One more wasn’t exactly shocking.

"What are you actually offering me?"

"Power."

It was practically a warlock’s reflex. Eventually every discussion ended with the same conclusion.

You need more power.

"If you want to keep your place in Peggy Carter’s heart," Evenson continued, resting his chin on one hand, "then you have to remain someone she can’t ignore."

He looked toward the unconscious Carter.

"When giants look down, they don’t notice ants beneath their feet. If you want Peggy to see you as irreplaceable, you’ll have to become someone impossible to overlook."

"So you’re planning to give me power."

She glanced toward the room where the ritual preparations waited.

"Using... whatever cult ceremony you’ve been preparing?"

"Don’t compare me to cultists." Evenson smirked. "They’re much nicer than I am."

He didn’t bother hiding that part of himself.

"But no. I have something else planned for you."

Dottie was quiet for a moment before making another offer.

"You know..." she said softly, "there’s a much easier solution."

"I’m listening."

"I’ll work for you."

Her smile became almost dangerously charming.

"In any capacity."

The implication needed no explanation.

"You don’t have to waste resources empowering me. Just stop Peggy’s ritual."

She leaned forward confidently.

"Trust me. As long as I’m not competing against Peggy herself, I can outperform any Black Widow you’ve got. In every sense of the word."

Evenson chuckled.

"Smart."

Then he shook his head.

"But you’ve misunderstood the game."

"How?"

"Why fight for a seat at the table... when it’s easier to remove everyone else from the competition?"

He understood exactly what she wanted.

Even if she gained power, she’d only earn the right to compete for Peggy’s attention.

And Captain America existed.

That alone made the odds laughably unfair.

But if Peggy never regained her youth...

Who would compete over a woman approaching ninety?

Leave everything exactly as it was, and Dottie would remain Peggy’s only constant companion until the end.

"You really do love her," Evenson said quietly.

Then his expression hardened.

"In the most selfish way imaginable."

"You know she’ll only have a few years left if nothing changes."

"I’ve never pretended to be selfless."

Dottie gazed at Peggy’s sleeping face with unmistakable affection.

"I won’t stop loving her because she’s old."

A gentle smile appeared on her lips.

"And when the day comes that she dies..."

"I’ll follow her."

"..."

Evenson stared.

She wasn’t exaggerating.

She intended to die with her.

That’s... considerably more intense than I expected.

"What a touching declaration." He theatrically wiped away an imaginary tear. "I’m almost emotional."

Then his tone turned cold.

"But you’ve overlooked one very important fact."

"What fact?"

He stepped behind her until his voice was barely above a whisper beside her ear.

"You aren’t nearly as valuable as Peggy Carter."

His fingers casually brushed through her hair.

"So why would I sacrifice her... for you?"

"You were never part of my original plan."

"I only bothered speaking with you because I thought your talents might prove useful."

He straightened.

"So your choices are actually quite limited."

"Do exactly as I say, and you might still have a chance to reclaim your place beside Carter."

"Otherwise..."

"You become the sacrifice."

The last sentence came from someone else.

A woman’s voice.

Sharp.

Cold.

And carrying the unmistakable irritation of someone already having a terrible day.

Space tore open across the room.

It wasn’t a clean portal but a jagged black wound in reality, as though countless invisible hands had ripped the world apart.

Two elegant figures stepped through the darkness.

The instant they crossed into the room, the rift shattered into drifting fragments before dissolving into nothing.

The Eredar Twins had arrived.

Not in human disguises.

In their true demonic forms.

Aurecess strode forward first, her cloven hooves clicking crisply against the floor.

She stopped directly in front of Dottie.

"Listen carefully, human."

Her golden eyes narrowed.

"You either accept our offer..."

"...or I tear your soul out and use it as ritual fuel."

"Easy." Evenson waved both hands. "Let’s not terrify our prospective employee."

He looked toward the other twin.

"Bad day?"

Had Aurecess consumed too much Felfire Brew?

Or was this simply... one of those days?

Saloras turned toward him wearing an equally sour expression.

Twins really are twins, Evenson thought.

Even their bad moods synchronize.

"Bad day?" Saloras repeated.

"Of course it’s a bad day!"

She glared at him.

"I have to say, your portal design is dreadful."

"The spell formulas are excellent."

"The rune structure is solid."

"But the material you used for the anchor beacon..."

She looked personally offended.

"...is absolute garbage."

She threw up both hands.

"Traveling through that thing felt like being packed into a subway train during rush hour."

"For four straight hours."

"Standing."

Evenson rubbed the back of his neck.

The stronger the demon being summoned, the more demanding the portal became.

His runic construction had been flawless.

The problem...

Had been the beacon.

"...It was the inexpensive option."

"So I figured we could make do."

The twins simply stared at him.

Aurecess finally grabbed one of her horns in disbelief.

"I’ve worked with countless warlocks."

"I have never met one who decided to save money on portal materials."

"You know..." Evenson admitted.

"I wouldn’t have believed it either."

A sudden gasp shattered the conversation.

Everyone turned.

Dottie inhaled deeply, as though surfacing after nearly drowning.

Apparently she’d forgotten to breathe from the moment the Eredar Twins had emerged.

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