Sorcerer in the Marvel Universe

"Well, hello, Coulson. It’s been a while."

Mephisto stepped into the hospital room, straightened the lapel of his suit with exaggerated elegance, and flashed Coulson a wicked grin.

Coulson’s face, meanwhile, twisted into an expression of unmistakable terror.

He thrashed against the hospital bed, but the restraints held him firmly in place.

"Get away from me, you bastard!"

"Oh? Bastard?"

Mephisto pressed a hand to his chest as though he’d been deeply wounded.

"What an unfair assessment."

He turned toward the others.

"Most of the prisoners in Hell aren’t particularly fond of me, but I went out of my way to treat this one well."

Nick Fury’s single eye narrowed dangerously.

"That doesn’t seem to be how he remembers it."

Coulson looked like he’d been tortured within an inch of his sanity.

Mephisto gave a quiet snort.

"Every sinner who enters Hell must be punished. That’s the rule. Even I can’t simply ignore it."

He gestured around himself.

"If I could, I wouldn’t have turned my entire palace into a prison. I’d just dump the souls somewhere in the wilderness and let them fend for themselves."

His smile returned.

"All I could do was make his punishment a little less severe."

"A little less severe?"

Coulson’s eyes nearly bulged from their sockets.

"You locked me in a doghouse!"

He strained against the restraints.

"You chained me up with a dog collar!"

"You should be grateful!"

Mephisto immediately fired back.

"Do you have any idea what I sacrificed to accommodate you?"

He pointed accusingly at Coulson.

"I had to release my favorite hellhound into the wilderness because I needed its kennel!"

"Normally, I convert a single doghouse into ten cells. The other prisoners don’t even have enough room to sit down."

He spread his arms.

"You had an entire doghouse to yourself!"

"You could lie down and sleep comfortably!"

"And while the other prisoners were being tormented by their own sins, your only punishment was being chained up!"

Coulson stared at him in disbelief.

"So I’m supposed to thank you?"

He was practically smoking with rage.

He’d suffered all that humiliation, and now this bastard wanted gratitude?

"There’s no need to thank me."

Mephisto sat down on the edge of Coulson’s bed.

Then he tilted his head toward Fury and Evenson.

"You should thank your friends instead."

His smile sharpened.

"They convinced me that you still had some value."

He glanced back at Coulson.

"Otherwise, you wouldn’t have the opportunity to speak to me like this."

Coulson opened his mouth to respond.

Mephisto immediately covered it with one hand.

"I’d advise you not to say whatever you’re about to say."

His voice became colder.

"You’re technically alive right now, but you will die someday."

He slowly turned his head.

His gaze passed over Fury, Evenson, and Clea one by one.

"And you three..."

"Perhaps you’re powerful while you’re alive. Perhaps you can do whatever you want and answer to no one."

His smile disappeared.

"But eventually, you’ll all die."

"And when you do, you’ll fall into my hands."

His eyes gleamed.

"So don’t offend me too badly."

"Understood?"

Evenson couldn’t help thinking of an old saying he’d once heard among the Horde’s devotees of their Warchief.

It didn’t matter whether you were an orc, tauren, or blood elf in life.

It didn’t matter whether you served the Warchief or the Regent.

Once you died, you belonged to the Queen.

Although, come to think of it, that saying probably wasn’t circulating anymore.

Sylvanas Windrunner had become Warchief.

Which meant the living members of the Horde were already expected to obey her.

Evenson pulled himself back to the present.

He glanced secretly at Fury, whose expression had become distinctly unfriendly.

"You only needed to say that to Coulson."

"Interesting."

Before Fury could complain about Evenson’s complete lack of loyalty, Mephisto smiled.

"Are you two planning on going to Heaven?"

He glanced toward Clea.

"Well, this lovely young lady might have a chance."

Then his eyes shifted to Evenson.

"But you..."

He chuckled.

"Hmm."

"I’ve heard Heaven is incredibly boring."

Evenson shrugged.

"Not interested."

He slipped an arm around Clea’s shoulders.

"I’m planning to live forever with her."

"Really?"

Mephisto didn’t argue.

He’d heard variations of that promise for thousands of years.

Human beings had been chasing immortality since the beginning of civilization.

Mephisto had already met most of them again in Hell.

"Then I wish you..."

He smiled.

"...good luck."

Clea looked up at Evenson.

"You’re serious?"

"Of course."

Evenson gently played with a strand of her hair.

"I’ve known how to achieve immortality for a long time."

Then, while Clea wasn’t paying attention, he leaned over and kissed her forehead.

"But an eternity without you would be empty."

Clea’s cheeks immediately warmed.

She nestled slightly closer to him.

This idiot really does know how to say exactly what I want to hear.

She thought about the incident on the plane.

Maybe she’d let that one go.

For now.

"You’re going to Hell for all this public affection!"

Mephisto stared at the couple in disbelief.

I’m trying to intimidate everyone, and these two are flirting?

Even Fury looked thoroughly annoyed.

Evenson gave him and Mephisto a dismissive glance.

"Neither of you is single."

He snorted.

"Why are you complaining about someone else’s romance?"

Mephisto and Fury answered at exactly the same time.

"I don’t have a wife."

"I don’t have a wife."

They both froze.

Then they slowly turned toward each other.

Their eyes met.

Something passed between them.

An unspoken understanding.

Evenson saw the flames practically appearing in both their eyes.

He immediately released Clea.

All right.

That had officially gone too far.

"Also..."

He glanced toward Coulson.

"If you don’t take your hand off his mouth soon, you’re probably going to have to go back to Hell and drag his soul out again."

Coulson was already turning blue.

His eyes were rolling back.

"Oh!"

Mephisto immediately removed his hand.

Coulson sucked in a huge breath.

Mephisto looked at his palm with disgust, then wiped it vigorously against the bedsheet.

"Fine. Let’s finish the actual business so I can get back to having fun."

He extended his right hand.

Black light immediately gathered around his fingers.

The darkness slowly spread toward Coulson’s head.

Coulson’s eyes widened.

"Director!"

He struggled against the restraints.

"Evenson! Tell this bastard to stay away from me!"

"Don’t touch me!"

"I really regret letting go of your mouth."

Mephisto rolled his eyes.

Then he fixed Coulson with a stare that seemed to pin him in place.

"I can only repair the membrane once."

His tone became almost casual.

"It might feel a little..."

He searched for the right word.

"...itchy."

He raised an eyebrow.

"So do me a favor."

"Don’t scratch it."

Coulson barely had time to process that.

Mephisto placed his hand fully against his head.

"AAAAAH!"

Coulson screamed.

His entire body convulsed against the restraints.

His bound hands strained desperately against the straps.

The bed shook violently beneath him, its metal frame creaking and rattling.

Five seconds.

Then the struggle suddenly stopped.

Coulson’s body went limp.

His eyes closed.

He passed out.

Mephisto slowly withdrew his hand.

"Done."

He stood.

"It worked."

No one responded.

Mephisto looked around.

Nothing.

Not even a thank-you.

He sighed.

"You’re welcome."

Still nothing.

He frowned.

Then, with deliberate emphasis, he looked down at the unconscious Coulson.

"You’re welcome."

Evenson and the others simply ignored him.

As far as they were concerned, the old devil was trying to make himself feel important after completing the job.

None of them noticed Coulson’s head turning slightly to one side.

None of them noticed his eyelid twitch.

Then one eye opened.

The pupil was no longer human.

A golden slit stared out from beneath the lashes.

Coulson’s lips moved silently.

No sound escaped.

But the shape of the word was unmistakable.

Thank you.

His tongue flicked out for the briefest instant.

Then the golden eye closed.

Coulson went completely limp again, returning to unconsciousness as though nothing had happened.

...

Read up to 75 Chapters ahead and access exclusive novels by joining my Patreon!

/Sinmerry

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!