When the Angelus looks for a new vessel She is weak. The Darkness seeks to gain the upper hand.

I wish to thank Top Cow for such great characters and give them kudos for showing the development of a lesbian relationship in mainstream comics.

I originally intended chapter 2 to be longer, but to give a greater description of things and better pacing I've made a long chapter two short chapters. For those who gave advice, thank you. Please enjoy.

“...Mademoiselle, mademoiselle arise... ...is coming around” a voice was saying. The beeping of the monitors told me where I was, even if I had been unaware of the anti-septic smell, nobody can mistake a the feel of a hospital bed. I opened my eyes and my memories came flooding back. I opened my eyes.

My mother was in tears, and I felt my eyes well up, “Finch.”
“I so sorry Danny.” My mother placed her hand on mine as I nodded.
“Mum, I said “ I felt her die.” Tears began pouring down my face.
I felt an intense anger rise inside me. I didn't even realise I'd said it until someone I'd never met said”Excuse met what did you say?”I looked up an saw a young man, who look about twenty-five years old. He was introduced to me as Agent Patrick Gleason of Interpol. I did a quick re-valuation of his age, a man that high in the international police force was more likely to be in his probably in his thirties.

...“Huh?” I looked at him blankly.
“I was just wondering if you realised what you said,” he repeated.
My mother answered for me, “He said that he hates Jackie Estacado, Mr Gleason. As would you if he murdered the woman you loved in front of your eyes.”
And how just how do you know Estacado?” Gleason asked in a tone that seemed to imply that if I didn't give him a suitable answer he wouldn't be happy.

I decided not to go into the entire explanation because I was tired. So I gave him the bare bones telling him how the mobster showed up at the Taxi Club, that my meta-gene gave me an ability to see his aura. I told him what I saw and that Finch had told me about him. Oh, and that he shot us.
He was about to ask me more but I cut him off. “Mum I'm tired, I need to sleep. Will you speak to him.” I indicated Gleason.

And with that said, she ushered him out the room before he could ask me more questions. After they left I lay back, closed my eyes and did my best to relax. I automatically began practising the meditation and calming techniques that Finch had showed me when we first met.

Thoughts of Finch brought a painful lump in my chest, but I persisted with my exercise. The feeling when I connect with the spirit realms came to the fore of my attention. I prepared myself for the ghosts that would clamour for my attention but there was just a silence. They were there, I knew they were there. I mean I could feel them, but they were silent...as if they were in awe of something.

It turned out to be someone. As I lay there my mind relaxed and I just seemed to float, suspended over my bed in my astral form. Gradually, a presence revealed itself and a Spirit that I'd never met before began to materialise in my room. I'd never met her but there was no way that I didn't know her. She is still famous and being of French background I'm still humbled every time I meet her. Her presence commanded instant attention. Jeanne D' Arc. Joan of Arc. Maid of Orleans.

Joan had been the holder of the Balance, also known as the Witchblade during her lifetime. The Witchblade was the child of the Darkness and Angelus. It's bearer helper to maintain the neutrality between the two. I wondered if Joan had come to offer the Witchblade to me. Unlikely I thought, as there had only been female bearers of the Witchblade. I believe it has to do with a man's emotional inability to fully connect to his feelings. What I knew of the Witchblade was that it was an object that didn't only bond with it's bearer physically but also emotionally. It chose a woman, not just any woman but someone who met very precise criteria.

However, legend stated and my visions also confirmed this, that the first holder of the Witchblade was a man. Although, he was believed to be a great sorcerer by some, my visions actually told me he was the final Atlantean king before that continent sank.

All stories about the Witchblade tell that it existed since the dawn of this world.
My visions said this was true but only because the Atlantean King took the Witchblade back in time.
I suppose it's possible that he was the not only the first bearer, but he was also the first wielder.

However it struck me that the trauma of watching his entire land be destroyed would have left him emotionally and mentally unstable, that would mean that he could not wield it. So no one but the Witchblade and it's bearer probably knew the whole truth.
Although if I followed simple logic I would have to say he either gave it to one of the first women on our world or more likely, went mad and lost it. It was probably found by some unsuspecting woman.

This brings me back to my current position. Maybe I was considered suited to be wielder because I was transgendered. I did know that if I was given the Witchblade, I would go after Estacado and kill him most painfully. Joan was studying me, I supposed the emotions were played out across my face pretty clearly. She obviously knew what I was thinking because the the conversation took the following direction.

“The Blade that Balances has recently chosen a new bearer, and while the man was a woman in spirit that is not enough. There were extenuating circumstances and now the spirit that was in a male body is now in a female body. She continued, Your position is somewhat different and as I am available, I have been asked to be a mediator on behalf of another. Shortly before your er, amant...how do you say...your lover's death you shared a dream. You were given a choice which you rejected. Your lover, however laid down conditions. The First Mother found these acceptable.”

I closed my eyes, feeling, not only a little worried. “Finch,” I whispered to myself, “what have you done?”
“Do not be afraid, your friend is a very … er you say... shrewd bargainer. I actually believe the Angelus is quite impressed.
Now then, these conditions also involve you.”
“I will not let her destroy our souls” I said firmly.
“Wee...yes...that is understood.”

She continued, “The earthbound that surround you,” she said talking about the ghosts, “in their lives they were in a position to help somebody but for various reasons, they didn't. They have wandered this realm until they found someway that they can finally be at peace. This was your Love's condition; that the Angelus serve and strengthen the soul of her next holder so that they are her host and not vessel; the earthbound have agreed to take on the essence of living flame to buffer your soul. Her second condition was, that She let the host decide how to combat the Darkness. All those souls that have been turned into darkings be saved. Avoid destruction as much as possible.”

It seemed that Finch had thought of everything. But the most surprising demand was her final one. She demanded that we be together. Always.
Tears welled in my eyes as I realised there was no possibility for that now. I decided that if she was giving to me right up to the moment of her death, I would give to her even now that she was dead. I would be the Angelus in memory of Finch.

“So Joan... uh...Jeanne...”
She smiled at me, and told me to call her whatever made me comfortable. In a lot of ways she reminded me of Finch. Beautiful Finch.
“Uh... again... how will this work if the Angelus is a woman?”
“Danielle...for that is who you shall become...you have consented to be let Her share your body. To ensure the safety of your soul the earthbound have chosen to help it change to support Her. The change shall be gradual, but you will physically become a woman. In effect, because of the rearranged contract, you will become the First Woman, but with masculine aspects. I was too tired to consider those implications.

Joan faded from sight and I fell into a deep sleep. I don't know if it was seconds, minutes or hours later that I awoke in the hospital room. But it wasn't the hospital room. It was like I was in a different realm. It was a place of light, Golden- white to white -gold it was incredible! It seemed like I shouldn't be able to tell the differences of one shade of light, but I could. It was beautiful. The furniture was amazing it was like a palace and the furniture would become whatever the mind wished. It was Light and Light was an idea that followed thought.

She walked, no she floated up to me. She was Grace personified and I was about to drop to my knees and give myself to her, to worship her, give her my soul. Wait something was wrong, my soul was my own. No one could have it.

As that though crossed my mind my thoughts cleared, She seemed happy that I had had that thought at the last; it seemed that I had passed some test. She glided up to where I stood, and did the most amazing thing right then and there. She stood in front of me and she bowed, She not only bowed but she knelt before me and offered obeisance. There was a gasp from her gathered hierarchies as she stood, took off her crown of flame and placed it on my head.

I was burning but I wasn't in pain and it was the most wonderful feeling I'd ever felt. Then she faced away from me and turned her back toward me. She began walking backwards one step, two, she stepped completely into my body and we were one.

It took me a moment to reorient myself and when I did I found myself search my feelings (No Jedi jokes please, but I think I did something similar to that esteemed body which according to Her, did indeed exist in a different dimension).

I was still myself but somehow I felt I was more. I was whole. Is this what the Darkness wanted? It didn't seem to much to ask. He was just going about it the wrong way. At the same moment the Angelus answered me, She spoke in a language of images, it was a wonderful way to communicate. It seemed that She had never considered problems between the two of them could be narrowed down so simply. But, She wondered, how do we put the solution into practice.

The Angelus was now part of me, it was actually more than that. She was me and I was the Angelus. I could even now feel myself begin to change. Be it ever so gradual but it was happening. I was sitting on the Throne of the First Woman. I knew that I was in the hospital but I was here as well. I had a hall full of warriors of Light and now I was looked up to as Queen.

From behind the throne I felt a presence. A soft gentle voice that I would recognise anywhere flowed over me like liquid fire, “Hello Lover”.

* * *

The Darkness was extremely satisfied even though other problems were in It's path. It's host for this generation was a let down, he had suborned It's darkings and they were now talking like gangsters working for a thug. It didn't seem to occur to The Darkness that it's host was a better organiser than it was. And that it was the real thug.

However the Darkness had to admit that it's host had achieved in a few short years what it couldn't in millennia. It didn't matter any more what It's host did because he had defeated the Light for the first time in millenia. Unfortunately it hadn't been able to take the Light of the Woman and light of the vessel for itself but it's host was unable to deal with an unfettered Angelus in direct sunlight and he had to kill using mundane means. Even if the Darkness found it disgraceful, the human method of the destruction of the vessel for the Angelus was used.

The Darkness was confused as to the mark over two people instead of one but lost interest in that puzzle when it felt the Angelus grow fainter and weaker as time passed. When it faded completely the Darkness was so excited that it had almost destroyed it's Host when it mangled and desecrated everything within physical range of it's host — including it's host.
* * *
Jackie Estacado was in a foul mood, he'd lost his Melbourne contacts, most of the cops he'd corrupted had been found out, the cops investigating the death of the Angelus' marked vessel were able to track his dealings with the Taxi Club. And to top it off the Darkness tried too kill him.

After everything that he had do for it! He couldn't believe it. It never occurred to him that he was acting as if he had been scorned by a lover. At least It had healed him.

He was sitting in the room that he had set up as an office in his hotel suite. When he got a call from the front desk telling him that an Interpol agent was here to speak to him. He couldn't believe it. Interpol! How did they even know he was here. He thought and then cursed himself for not using the Darkness to disguise him when he travelled abroad publicly. This whole situation was getting out of hand. He needed to be in control, he had to get back what he thought was a proper state of mind.
* * *
After talking to the boy's mother Agent Gleason of Interpol realised that he had a witness to Estacado murdering someone. He had told Interpol everything he had gleaned. All the information he had. He had a live witness under the age of 21, who's mother had assured him that she would give permission to swear what happened in a court of law.

He never showed his emotions, but he was ecstatic that the investigation turned out to be a meta situation. The reason for this was that the international extradition treaty was tricky but with the formation of the DEO, if it involved a suspected meta or meta there were certain loopholes that could be exploited.

To finally link to the crime boss to a crime, a murder no less, was too good to be true. He was still young and this would be a very good thing to have on his record. Capturing Jackie Estacado. He had organised the warrant to be processed through the correct channels. The judge in Australia had signed it and they were just waiting for it to be faxed back from the federal extradition office in the USA.

Patrick Gleason wanted to make the bust, he wanted the credit. It was too much for him to wait for the warrant to come through completely and he knew it would be there within the half hour He needed to do this now and although the boy witness's mother told them Estacado was a meta he wasn't that worried.

It was a well kept secret, and only those with the highest clearance in the agency knew that he was also a meta but his abilities were kept from all except the head of Interpol — and he hadn't told the boss how powerful he was.

They knew he was bulletproof, but Gleason his found out that he was impervious to attack from any out side force, similar to American Dream. So he felt no fear at the thought of confronting another meta-human.

Agent Gleason was lead into Estacado's hotel suite by a young woman who he was sure was actually a man. He couldn't be sure because she seemed to be a bimbo and the only thing that indicated any masculinity was the voice. And lots of women had deep voices anyway. But if Estacado's dealings at the Taxi Club were any indication, his original assumption was correct.

Gleason was a good cop and a decent human being but even though he was a lapsed catholic. His childhood background ensured less tolerance for those that he assumed were just dissatisfied with their lives, those people who chose to change what God didn't intend to be changed. The following events would have been easier for him if he didn't have these blinkers on.

He was taken to Estacado's office where the assistant knocked on the door and left after telling the detective to stay there and wait. Gleason would have told the man-woman that he was an agent and not a detective but he supposed Estacado had the woman act like she not know much, or maybe the person was really stupid. So he let it drop.

The door was opened by Estacado obviously using telekinesis. Estcado used a very good intimidation technique by keep the curtains drawn. Only a lamp was on. And The man looked too relaxed and he knew something was going on. On top of that the room smelt strange.

“I've heard rumours about you agent Gleason. People say that you were only made an agent because you have meta- abilities of your own. Shall we test to see if my sources are correct?' He reached into a draw, pulled out a gun and shot Gleason in the leg. The bullet seemed to ricochet away from him and embed itself into the wall.

Estacado smiled. “Ah, it seems that I have excellent informants. It would appear that you can't be harmed from the outside, but I wonder about the inside.

Suddenly Gleason found that he was unable to move his arms or legs. Estacado smiled benignly at him, “Ahh,” he said. For the first time since becoming invulnerable Gleason was was afraid, the smile that seemed so kindly only showed the maliciousness of Estacado's nature.

Estacado sat and relaxed back into his chair. “You see agent Gleason, I am no ordinary man. I may have a meta-gene but I sincerely doubt it. No my dear man, what I am is an avatar. You see I hold the essence of the first Man. He was scorned by his lover, she stole power from Him and he wants it back. But you don't really need to know that. You just need to know that I hold the essence of the first Demon.

Suddenly and shadow began to form at the paralysed man's feet and it became a creature. “This is the soul of one of the unsatisfied dead. A ghost, an earthbound spirit. I take that spirit and change it. I damage it so much that it will do anything for me because it can't face the pain or even the thought of pain. It eventually begins to enjoy working with me. I call those 'darkings.'

While you've been in this room I've had my little guys release a gas that negates your powers. Gleason was terrified, he could see no way out of his predicament. He had never thought of suicide that was one of the things the church had impressed upon him. Suicide was a sin but as the ghost began to scream and writhe in agony. He wished he could kill himself before Estacado got to him.

Eventually, after what seemed like forever the darking slid through the shadow and bowed before the man who embodied the Darkness and then it joined him, becoming one of his many shadows. Estacado walked slowly up to Gleason. He continued to talk in a mild tone but that made him all the more terrifying, “I've only ever been able to make ghosts become darkings. I think you'll be my first live human test. He turn and walked out of the room. Finally Gleason did scream but no one heard him as the Darkness ate the agony from his cries.