The Scarlet Fire

The Soul Crystal

A minute later in Y/N's loft, 'Sold My Soul' by Gare Du Nord plays in the background as they fall through the door and onto the floor where their clothes come off in a flurry of pent up passion. They kiss and caress each other as they roll over into a puddle of oil. 

"Y/N..." Zooey says in between kisses.

"Mmm...?" he responds oblivious. 

"Your bike's leaking oil..." 

She moans as he continues to kiss her.

"She's not leaking oil...she's just markin' her territory..."

They spend the night together, tangled in a passionate embrace of arms, legs and high performance motor oil. Neither of them notice a tendril of blue hellfire awakening within Y/N motorcycle's engine. 

Meanwhile in a downtown alley that night, a briefcase hits the ground as Blackheart holds a business man up by his neck - a lit cigarette still clenched between his dead lips. The victim turns a deep blue colour as Blackheart plucks the cigarette from the man's mouth. 

"I'm losing my patience."

The business man blows into dust down the alleyway. The blue poison is a litmus test for Blackheart as he's been searching for someone special. 

The lights along the alley begin to dim. A wicked smile creeps across Blackheart's face as he turns around to see The Stranger standing at the other end of the alley, looking exactly the same as years prior, down to his ominous silver skull cane. 

"Blackheart."

"Mephistopheles."

They face off like two gunslingers. 

"I was wondering when you'd show."

The Stranger, now known by his true name, points his cane.

"You have violated The Order."

"There is no Order. Just a God who's lost interest and an Adversary who's lost backbone."

Mephistopheles growls and starts for him but then Blackheart blows on the red ember of his cigarette as...

FLASH! FLASH! FLASH!

...the street lamps burn on in response. Mephistopheles cries out as he shields his eyes from the blinding lights. 

"Thousands of years old and you still can't stand the light. That's your problem, old man. You never evolved."

Mephistopheles thumps his cane on the ground as the streetlights explode, raining glass upon the street. 

"What's to stop me from dragging your insolent soul back to Hell now?"

"This."

Blackheart reaches into his coat and pulls out The Soul Crystal. And for once even Mephistopheles is afraid. 

"One thousand of the blackest souls ever to walk this Godforsaken earth. Right here in the palm of my hand."

"How...?"

"With a little help from my friends. You might say they were in their 'element.'"

Chattering is heard as Mephistopheles looks up to see, The Hidden, standing up on the rooftop. Their coats billow in the breeze like the outlaws in 'ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST.'

"You've wasted your time. The Crystal can only be unlocked by a Pure Soul."

"I'll find my Pure Soul. And when I do these streets will flow with the blood of the innocents."

Mephistopheles shakes his head.

"I might have spared you, Blackheart. But this is in The Rider's hands now."

Blackheart smiles at the Soul Crystal. 

"And this is in mine. Evolution."

He flicks his cigarette into the street.

"Ain't it a bitch?" 

Blackheart chuckles and turns away, leaving Mephistopheles behind. Pushing into the eyes of the silver skull as....