The Story So Far...

In a world similar to our own, a portion of humanity is able to manifest one of 22 glyphs, conduits of power able to alter the physical world as well as those that possess these enchantments. After a Great War, in which Earth has reached a level of modernization (thanks in part due to the fusion of technology and magick) the nations of the world attempt to maintain and uneasy truce in face of a power vacuum that as resulted from the collapse of the Alban Empire (a conglomerate of the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scandinavia, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, and several other countries).

With the rise of televised entertainment and broadcast media, the sport known as Spellbreaking remains highly popular. A fusion of contemporary pro wrestling, mixed martial arts, and magick, spellbreakers hail from a legacy of ancient guilds (specially, a class of fighters) but vaudeville and sideshow spectacles have transformed this way of gladiatorial combat into something more modern. 

Rise of a Champion Arc

Samuel "Spike" Waterford, a wayward but warm-hearted twenty-two-year old from Brooklyn, is kicked out of the navy for 'misconduct' (namely, being a pinup model for a sleezy magazine). A chance encounter with a wily spellbreaking promoter and former showgirl, Varla Montez, puts him on the path towards becoming a global contender. He is trained by a veteran spellbreaker, family man, and all-around good guy, Mr. Iron, descended from the legendary American folk hero, John Henry. The two men forge a wholesome relationship as coach and student.

Spike enters his first match and finds that the world of spellbreaking can be brutal and
contentious. He learns that the two main federations vying for global dominance are the Global Spellbreaking Alliance (GSA), which features diverse talent from around the world, and the cunning Firebird Pro Spellbreaking federation, who focus on employing only those with 'legendary blood'. Backstage, Spike meets Firebird's latest recruit, a tough, Irish lad, descended from Celtic heroes, named Cian Enbarr. Though Spike is eager to make friends, Cian is standoffish and insecure, though good natured.

Cian is supremely defeated by "The Killer Quarterback". Spike manages to use both brawn and his abilities to secure a victory. After being congratulated by Varla and Mr. Iron, he is introduced to his childhood hero, former champion, and president of the GSA, the bombastic and jovial Colt "The Bolt" Tamberly, who offers him a spot on the GSA roster.

The Global Spellbreaking Alliance Arc

Spike flies down to Texas (a separate nation from both the USA and Mexico) where he is shown around campus by Rosa, a lady spellbreaker and cousin to one of their rising stars. Spike becomes acquainted with several rookie spellbreakers, including an Earth-manipulating kushti wrestler, Sanjay, and a laid-back, water-controlling luchador named Dragon Azul (Blue Dragon). He is introduced to his roommate, the strong, shy, and gentle sumo wrestler, Kuma Kengo, whose beautiful back tattoo doubles as his spirit summon, the Bear King Minoru.

Spike also meets Colt's son, the artistic, sarcastic, and strong-willed Buck, who is tasked with most of the GSA's operations and media. Born without a glyph, Buck often expresses insecurity at the expectations of being Colt's son and laments not ever being able to become a spellbreaker. Buck is also in a complicated relationship with Rosa.

After several missteps, including inadvertently hurting Kengo's feelings, Spike slowly gets a handle on his spellbreaking training. At a fundraising gala, he is introduced to several of the school's benefactors, including the giant and eccentric Salim Netjeer, 'The Million Dollar Manager', who helps Spike come out of his shell. Salim introduces Spike to the cold, beautiful, Recida Di Sangro. Spike also meets Joseph Haw, a suave, gentlemanly spellbreaker with the power over wind and water. Spike has a run in with Vahni Rage, Firebird's champion, and immediately sparks a rivalry. During the celebration, a chandelier falls on the International Spellbreaking Committee's treasurer, leading to suspicions of sabotage. 

Spike accidentally insults Iggy Astro, a Rockstar heel and master of Light magick. Spike ends up fighting him at the GSA's Las Vegas show and ends up losing, wounding his pride. Cian ends up activating his uncontrollable 'Blood Frenzy' ability during his fight, which secures him a victory but leads to a temporary suspension. He and Spike begin to slowly reconcile in wake of their tough showing. During the title fight, Spike learns that Joseph Haw is actually the GSA's 'Platinum Champion' The White Tiger. Colt announces a 'world tour' and ongoing series that will pit the GSA against Firebird. Spike and his friends are also introduced to Lily Suarez, a glyph researcher and family friend of Colt and Buck, who is assisting Colt in his investigation into Firebird's shadowy dealings.

After the fight, the spellbreakers rush back stage to rescue an attacked security guard, who intervened in a potential assassination attempt on White Tiger. Colt suspects Firebird's involvement. The security guard mentions being helped by a mysterious, tall figure in a Gold Mask.

Meanwhile, Firebird's president, the creepy yet charismatic Semyon Grigorivich, pursues his sinister agenda. In addition to his role as Firebird's president, Semyon is also head of a Russian dark ops division called The Black Library, which has access to arcane and dangerous texts. He uses this ancient knowledge to raise the sunken, magickal city of Kitezh from the depths, to further an as-of-yet-unknown goal. He calls for a meeting of a 'Gray Triad' between himself, the man in the gold mask who officially goes by 'The Jackal', and the beautiful Recida Di Sangro, representing the alchemists. They learn that the Tsar Nicholas the Third has actually been dead for years, and his invalid wife, Empress Alexandra, has been acting in his stead. She conspires with Semyon to locate the seven Divine Chalices, un order to unlock "The power of the Goddess". It seems the 'world tour' between the GSA and Firebird is nothing but a front for Semyon to acquire these mysterious artefacts. In addition to this, Semyon forces his spellbreakers to inject 'rubedo', an elixir contacted by the alchemists that gives them enhanced power at the expense of their humanity. 

World Tour Arc: Mexico and Bolivia

Under Iggy's mentorship, Spike continues to train for the big world tour. Rosa is invited to join a Japanese federation called Okami, leading to an amicable but tense breakup between her and Buck. Supporting his friends is the powerful, Italian spellbreaker and "Earth Titan", Gio DiToro, who offers his support to the younger rookies.

Back in New York City, Lily and Salim recruit Mr. Iron to their cause. Salim, who is rumored to have dealings in covert intelligence, learns of Russia's attempts to acquire the Divine Chalices for purposes unknown. Salim and Lily are both involved with the non-profit, international oversight body, Aradia, whose goal is to prevent another 'Great War' by regulating dangerous, magickal artefacts. Mr. Iron reluctantly agrees to assist them, though is unaware that his wife Sandra is pregnant. Not wanting to hold him back, and knowing he wouldn't assist the GSA if he knew, she deliberately withholds this information from him.

The first leg of the the world tour is Mexico City, where the celebrated spellbreaker, Calavera Escarlata, welcomes the GSA in a reception. Calavera is also the grandfather of Rosa and her cousin, the masked 'Warrior of Love' who goes by Victor, better known by his ring-name El Amante Intóxico.

During the already awkward gathering, Spike meets Robbie Whitewolf, AKA "Icewolf" one of the two 'Prodigal Nightmares' who were banished from the GSA for causing problems. Though the hit it off, Buck and Rosa warn Spike of the Canadian, ice-controlling jock's scheming ways. The sinister Los Venoms, a heel stable lead by Colt's former rival, Serpent, interrupts the meeting and causes a fight. During the battle, Spike learns that El Amante was once a member of Los Venoms, and that they may have killed his father. Behind the scenes, Los Venoms is in league with Firebird to hunt down one of the Divine Chalices, rumored to be hidden somewhere in Mexico. Serpent has employed the animalistic, prehistoric Tirano Rex to help them, as well as his right-hand man, the 'Dark Bat' Camazotz Jr., the son of the man who may have killed El Amante's father.

Icewolf defeats T. Rex in their match and is invited back to the GSA. As the gang moves on to the Yucatan Peninsula, El Amante and some of the other spellbreakers take a detour to his hometown, near the ancient site of Chichen Itza. It is here that the Divine Chalice of Will is located. Spike, Cian, Buck, and Iggy sneak out at night to tail Mr. Iron, El Amante, and Rosa, who journey into the Pyramid of Kukulcan in Chichen Itza. After completing a test of courage that sees Victor unmaking himself to Iggy and revealing his true name, he procures the Chalice of Will. However, Camazotz Jr. attacks and takes Buck hostage, leading to a standoff. Though the spellbreakers escape with the chalice, a sneak-attack from Camazotz Jr. leaves Iggy critically wounded and El Amante turned evil via the powers of one of the Black Library's dark tomes, the Obsidian Tablet.

A week passes. The GSA moves on to Bolivia. Iggy is cleared to transfer hospitals. Colt and Mr. Iron disclose the true objective of their world tour, which is to retrieve the Divine Chalices on behalf of Aradia before Firebird acquires them. The GSA roster agrees to stand together and carry out the mission, with the priority of getting El Amante/Victor back. 

Colt confronts Serpent in a last man standing match on the Uyuni Salt Flats. Serpent attempts to bewitch Colt into harming Buck, but for reasons yet-unknown, Buck resists and is able to snap his father out of hypnosis. Colt defeats Serpent, thereby securing the Divince Chalice of Will and learning Victor's current whereabouts. The GSA learns that Victor will be fighting in the town of Copacabana, near the Isla Del Sol, which houses the corresponding Divine Wellspring of Will. 

With the recovering Iggy's mentorship, Spike is able to harness his power over energy to 'transfer' Iggy's affection and love for Victor to him during their match. The dark enchantment is broken. The gang heads to the Isla Del Sol to fill the Chalice with sacred water from its corresponding spring. Meanwhile, Serpent kills Camazotz Jr. when he tries to double-cross Los Venoms for Firebird. An unlikely ally, Dr. Tiago Reyes (the civilian form of Tirano Rex) offers his archaeological assistance to the GSA crew in exchange for a future spot on their roster. At Rosa's departure for Japan, Colt announces that his coming out of retirement full-time means his son, Buck, will be the GSA's acting president. Buck and Spike suspect it is to ground Buck and keep him safe from Firebird's reach.

World Tour Arc: Ireland, England, and Italy

Vahni Rage has suspicions Semyon is withholding information from him when he inquires about Rage's family's temple vault, rumored to contain one of the Divine Chalices. Rage stops taking rubedo, the serum that gives Firebird's spellbreakers extra powers at the expense of their humanity.

Back at the GSA, Buck has embraced his role as president with stellar feedback from his employees. However, the sinister tag team, The Infernals, has used this as an opportunity to try and take over the GSA along with Icewolf. Though Spike and company put that to rest, Deadboy Daemian--declaring Spike his unwitting 'boyfriend'--vows revenge against his federation and its champion, White Tiger. Buck announces that Spike will fight Cian in Ireland.

In Ireland, Cian reunites with his younger brother, a recovering addict, and promises him to win the match. Joseph/White Tiger expresses guilt that he wasn't present to save El Amante or Iggy from Firebird, with the implication he might step back from the tour (much to Colt's concern). Cian and Spike have a stellar confrontation that ends in a draw, allowing them to finally reconcile and begin to treat each other more as friends than rivals. Backstage, Rage and Spike trade threats and flirtations in equal measure, culminating with Rage giving Spike a clue as to the whereabouts of the Divine Chalice of Compassion in Glastonbury, England. 

Spike and Joseph arrive in Glastonbury, the Gateway to Avalon and rumored burial place of legendary King Arthur. Joseph warns Spike not to interfere in locating the next Chalice. 'Colt' appears and tells Joseph to let Spike and Cian do ground research. Suspicious, Joseph relents. 'Colt' turns out to be Cian in disguise. He is now working closely with Spike. After their hostess, the kindly witch Sara, tells them that Chalice lay with the Fae in the Otherworld, Spike and Cian take a walk to try and find a way to access the other realm. They end up running into Slayer St. George, Firebird's 'face' champion, in a ruined abbey. He uses the Dee Cyphers, one of the Black Library's 'forbidden tomes' to open a portal to the Otherworld of the Fae. Cian and Spike are able to enter a different portal at the top of Glastonbury Tor, in the hopes of stopping Slayer before he takes the Chalice.

In the Otherworld of the Faewild, Spike and Cian encounter the Lord of the Dead, Anywyn, who promises them the Chalice if they will entertain him in a fight. Slayer challenges the Guardian to a battle, raising the stakes. Cian must contend with a shadowy doppleganger, a manifestation of his Blood Frenzy ability, which he thwarts by accepting his true self, which he had previously denied. Slayer is defeated and trapped in the Otherworld, while Cian and Spike escape with the Chalice of Compassion. Caught up in the moment of their victory, they kiss, just as White Tiger confronts them for going off without Colt or his permission.

Two weeks later, the world tour has moved on to Paris. When Robbie finds out about Cian kissing Spike, he goes berserk, freezing the City of Lights and confronting Spike, Cian, and White Tiger atop the Eiffel Tower--with Deadboy goading them on. Vahni Rage appears on the scene to thaw Icewolf's magick and offer his alliance to him and Deadboy. The bumbling heels accept, using Dr. Reyes' stolen research to seek the Chalice of Voice in the Paris catacombs. Before they can reach it, however, a regretful Icewolf calls their partnership quits. An agent of the mysterious Alchemists intercepts the Chalice before Deadboy can get his devious hands on it. Yet, in uttering a spell used to raise the dead against them, the Alchemist inadvertently gives Deadboy the dark magick he seeks to overtake the GSA, once and for all.

Without his father, Colt, to help him, interim president of the GSA Buck confronts Deadboy himself. Deadboy is impressed by his bravery and offers him co-rulership of the GSA, but Buck refuses, instead calling upon the new GSA's 'HR Manager', El Amante, to fight him in an arena of his choosing: a local cemetery. Though Deadboy tries to use dark magick to raise the dead against El Amante, the 'Warrior of Love' turns the dead against him, ending his reign of terror for good. 

Meanwhile, the 'Gray Triad' between Firebird, the Alchemists, and the mysterious Gold Mask/Jackal is on shaky ground as the schemers start to distrust each other. Vahni Rage, already suspicious of events unfolding around him (and inspired by Deadboy's ambition) decides he will take over Firebird in due course. The next leg of the tournament is set for Italy, home turf of the dangerous and shadowy Alchemists.

In Rome, Gio defeats Spike in friendly combat. Gio introduces Spike to a young fan and aspiring photographer, Lucio, as well as his ex girlfriend and fellow spellbreaker, the femme fatale, Belladonna. At a dysfunctional family dinner with Gio's family, Belladonna gives Spike and Gio the schematics to the Pallazo Di Sangro, where the Alchemist liaison, Recida, will be hosting a ball in order to further her political schemes. 

The GSA take their positions and launch the assault on the Palazzo Di Sangro. While Recida rubs shoulders with the elite, she is approached by a handsome man, Conrad, who infatuates her. While the team breaks into the vaults, Belladonna betrays them and throws the whole plan into jeopardy. Recida uses a dark tome from the Black Library to hold her guests hostage, but she is thwarted by 'Conrad', who turns out to be El Amante out of mask. Recida nearly kills Mr. Iron, if not for the Gold Masked Jackal's intervention. The GSA flees with the Chalice, and in retaliation, Recida kills Belladonna for failure. Vahni Rage makes sure to 'remove the alchemists from the chess board' by burning down her palace. 

Dipping the Chalice of Power in its wellspring at Crater Lake, Grigorivich confides in Redback that neither Rage nor Jackal can be trusted, and appoints Redback as his new right-hand man.

Back in the comfort of the GSA, Buck announces his plans for the spellbreaking academy and world tour to Spike, who has grown closer to him. Varla, Spike's old manager, and her daughter, make a surprise visit. Buck has brought on Varla to help him run the GSA, much to Colt's annoyance. Colt and Buck get into an open fight, and Varla intervenes, accidentally revealing the truth of Laura's parentage: she is Colt's daughter, making her and Buck half-siblings.

                    World Tour Arc: Asia and Australia 

The gang celebrates Yuletide, however tensions remain between Buck and his father. White Tiger goes to Sydney to try and convince Deadboy to rejoin the GSA and help them find the next Chalice in Hong Kong. In Kowloon Walled City, Deadboy and Tiger bury the hatchet and decide to give dating a go, all the while securing the Chalice of Wisdom from the sinister Redback.

While White Tiger goes off to Japan in search of the Divine Wellspring of Wisdom, Deadboy whisks Brax and Spike off to Australia for the next leg of the World Tour, and ostensibly to locate the Chalice of Vitality. A wrong turn lands them in the middle of the outback, where Deadboy's adopted family tries to welcome their erstwhile family member back into the fold...and provide the GSA some clues about the next Chalice.

Meanwhile, in Papua New Guinea, an off-the-leash Buck takes Gio and Kengo into the jungle in search of Dr. Joanna Martin, who is of some unknown importance to Buck. The good doctor turns out to be none other than Buck's biological mother and Colt's first wife. She and Buck reconcile their past together. 

In Sydney, the irreverent and macabre spellbreaking league, sXs, happily teams up with the GSA to put on a show in the city of dark magick. As Cian and Spike unwind back in their hotel and discuss their boundaries, Redback unleashes an eldritch monster upon the city in attempt to acquire the Chalice of Vitality. Spike, Cian, Deadboy, and even Buck, team up to take care of the demon, while the mysterious Jackal is discovered working against Firebird's interests. The day is saved, and an unexpected kiss between Buck and Spike leads to them into what could be the early stages of courtship.

Meanwhile, Rage--sensing that Firebird is using him for their own ends--begins to plot his own agenda, and issues a challenge to Spike to come face him in India. The other spellbreakers head to Japan in order to locate the corresponding wellspring for the Chalice of Wisdom, and bump into Rosa in the process. The gang discovers that the wellspring they seek is hidden within the haunted Sea of Trees at the base of Mt. Fuji.

Rage calls out Spike and challenges him to a match, at last. Semyon takes the opportunity to try and acquire the Chalice of Spirit, hidden with Rage's family's ancestral temple. Buck and Colt have a falling out, both over his potential relations with Spike and his desire to put himself in harm's way. Defying him both, Spike and Buck journey to India together, where Spike has his match with Vahni Rage. 

However, Semyon has sabotaged Spike's protective elixir that spellbreakers imbibe before every match, leaving him vulnerable to Rage's assault. To make matters worse, the ref turns out to be an Alchemist assassin, under cover. As Rage attempts to land the killing blow, Buck interferes--his glyph awakening at last--and goes berserk, leaving Rage vulnerable for Spike to land a finisher and clinch the victory. This conquest is short lived, however. In the hospital, Spike rescues Rage from the alchemical assassin, earning his trust and respect at last. Buck remains in critical care. For putting his son in danger, an overwhelmed Colt releases Spike from contract, despite protest from the other spellbreakers. Dejected, Spike returns to New York.

Meanwhile, Lily Suarez's suspects Salim Netjeer is not who he says he is. The 'Million Dollar Manager' himself is assassinated by Russian forces, under Semyon and the Tsarina's guidance...however, he mysteriously resurrects himself and slaughters the soldiers with an unusual power, before vowing revenge on those sent to kill him. 

                        Final Arc: The Lost Champion 

Spike returns to Brooklyn and takes a job as a pizza waiter while staying at Varla's apartment. Sandra Iron, John Henry's pregnant wife, keeps a eye on Spike. Meanwhile, Salim kills the Tsarina of Russia during a coup. He journeys to New York City and reveals him as the World Champion, King Anubis, who commands the power to bend time.

Salim enlists Spike to journey with him into the past to uncover Semyon Grigorivich's plot. Spike reluctantly accompanies him, and the two spellbreakers end up in 13th century Russia, where they discover Salim's origins as Koschei 'The Deathless' Prince of Kitezh, an ancient city. Salim and Spike learn that Koschei attempted to unlock an exceptionally powerful type of magick, only to fail and doom Kitezh to the bottom of a lake. Journeying further down time's corridors, Salim and Spike discover the near-immortal Semyon/Koschei taking on many guises in order to manipulate great leaders.

Salim latches onto Spike's personal timeline and guides him towards the night they first met, at the fundraising gala. Spike witnesses the night unfold from an entirely different perspective, and uncovers Bruce Halsetti as the assassin, Redback's, identity. Salim and Spike return to the present--however, a glimpse of Salim's recent history uncovers his brutal slaughter, frightening Spike deeply. Salim vanishes upon return to the present.

At the GSA home base, Colt and Deadboy reconcile at last--only for Bruce, as Reback, to seemingly kill Deadboy. Events rewind to show Spike disclosing Bruce's real identity to Deadboy before he has a chance to kill him. Bruce is thwarted thanks to Deadboy and Brax's punishment, and Spike regains Colt's trust. 

Elsewhere, Salim and Vahni Rage solidify their tenuous alliance, resulting in Rage becoming president of Firebird, ousting Semyon on accusations of treachery, endangerment, and manipulation. An enraged Semyon attempts to wrest power back, but discovers his Black Library arsenal of artefacts has been destroyed by Rage and Salim's interventions. 

With nothing to lose, Semyon uses dark magick to summon a host of demons to break into Aradia HQ in Greece. A stalwart Lily--now going by the codename: Tornesol--uses one of the tomes acquired from the Dark Library to free Slayer St. George from the Faewild. The two manage to slay Semyon's demonic henchmen, but not before Semyon absconds with not only the seven Chalices, but Deadboy's Auntie and Uncle as well.

On the night before the GSA sets out for the World Championships in Russia, the team discloses their hopes and fears in a local diner--all the while, the USA and the new provisional Russian government threaten the end of the world. Vahni Rage, an unexpected guest, drops by and offers a truce with Spike, shifting their strange relationship in an even stranger direction. 

In Kitezh, Semyon--greatly damaged by Auntie Jacinda's radiation magick--drops all pretences and takes on his old name of Koschei, the Deathless. Recida of the Alchemists offers an alliance, and the gift of her golems, if Semyon will offer the Alchemists a place in his world to come.

Thus, the World Championships begin...

Chapter 8: The Storm

Many natural wonders were to be found among the countries of South America. The lush Amazon, with all of its rainforests and rivers, was one such treasure. There were also the remnants of the great Inca--Machu Pichu, among the clouds, and the silent ruins of Vilcabamba, hidden in the dark forests. More mysterious were the Nazca Lines, massive petroglyphs etched into the arid desert floor, whose true purpose is still hotly debated. More mysterious were those so-called 'lost cities' of gold and ivory, supposedly hidden in the farthermost reaches of forest, who would reveal themselves only to the most fortunate or worthy. Then there were the less obvious, but perhaps most priceless treasures of all: the hundreds of languages, cultures, and customs that abounded, even in the face of invasion, colonization, rebellion, disease. From corner to corner, the continent was, and would forever be, worthy of reverence.

But of all the jewels, it was what the Bolivians called The Mirror of Heaven that was, perhaps, the most breath taking. Officially known as Salar De Uyuni, miles of salt flats stretching on towards the horizon. When the rains covered the flats, leaving behind no more than an inch or two of water, a miracle of nature occurred: the largest, natural mirror in the world. The Salar became the perfect reflection of the blue sky, creating an endless sea of clouds. 

On the day of the title fight between Colt the Bolt and the notorious Serpent, the clouds accumulated overhead, growing darker, casting the unusual arena in an ominous shadow. The bout was a much more exclusive affair than normal, hence a higher price of admission (save for locals, who Colt insisted on providing a discount). A row of bleachers sat on either side of a circle demarcated by runes etched into the earth beneath the shallow water. No ring. It was a free fight, rarely seen in the spellbreaking world. 

This was back to basics.

Spike wished he could be excited. After all, he'd idolized Colt "The Bolt" since he was a child. He was the reason had gotten into spellbreaking in the first place. That he'd ended up taking Spike on board as a student....well, the Goddess really did work in strange ways, as the Sisters often said. 

The truth was that Spike was afraid. Nothing about this trip, this tour, had been particularly enjoyable. Still, as he sat next to Buck—Colt's son—he understood that this was no longer about his own feelings. If he couldn't fight, then he could support his friend. After all, Spike's symbol was the anchor, something cemented by the shape of his barrier manifestation. His gift was grounding and support.

Despite everything, Buck appeared to be more serene than one would expect of a young man about to watch their father engage in a blood sport. He had foregone his casual wear (cut offs, flannel, baseball caps, etc.) in favor for a rather snazzy dress vest, orange tie, and khakis. Earthy colors. Typical of Buck, the plant and animal lover. He had slicked his hair and shaved. Spike always thought him handsome, but there was a maturity and bravery about him today that moved him all the more. Or would have, if Spike wasn't scared shitless for his teacher's health. He could only imagine what Buck was thinking, as they sat on the bleachers, shoulder to shoulder with enthusiastic strangers.

In moments of fear or crisis, Sister Patience had always encouraged Spike to draw strength from the good. It wasn't just about looking at the positive, but recognize that there were always allies present, no matter how weak or strong. It had been very hard for Spike to recognize that truth these last few days, when evil seemed to triump and dominate every facet of his life. Iggy had been injured (though, by all accounts, was expected to recover fully). Rosa was heartbroken. Victor was gone. Los Venoms and Firebird had played them all.

But even the strangers here had showered Spike and the GSA with affection. The Bolivians were welcoming to a fault, buying them drinks, chatting to them about spellbreaking and other sports. Everyone here was just so...nice. Pure and simply nice. The GSA had also rallied quite strongly, internally. Rivalries and petty arguments had been put aside. Even Cian, normally the bane of Spike's existence, had been kind to him. 

Colt had also told his students not to bother attending for his sake. They could just watch it at home, he said. But most of the crew was here, save Rosa, who had politely expressed her desire to hold back at the hotel. Nobody blamed her. For some reason, though, Buck and Spike had ended up sitting by themselves, together, at the front row. Next to the barricade, the boys had the perfect view of the action.

Spike's thoughts were interrupted by the sound system, telling everyone to take their seats and prepared for the rumble. He hadn't really been to many outdoor matches before, and by all counts, this was very uncommon. 

"Dad would do something ballsy like this," Buck sighed. "A big spectacle. He's been training like hell, Spike. Last few weeks, I haven't even seen much of him."

Buck was usually so cool and confident. It was uncomfortable to hear him reserved. "I can't imagine what's going through your head, pal."

Buck forced a smile. "What's going through my head is how we're gonna manage to get a hulk like Serpent to a hospital when my daddy rips apart."

"Hell yeah," Spike said. "Hmm. Do you think Colt is really gonna kill him?"

"My dad is still a good guy. He'll probably just cripple him instead."

Spike gulped. "I forget how violent this sport can be sometime. I don't think I'd ever do a match like this."

"You're saying you wouldn't get into a cage with me?" Buck winked. "Nah, dad wouldn't expect you to. Some spellbreakers are silly. Big hams. Some are hardcore. Some just do it for the fun. He always says there's no one way to do this sport, which is why he makes an effort to employ diverse talent." 

The reflection of the sky and earth glimmered in Buck's hazel eyes. "If you gotta know, Grandpa Ox was a tough man, and he wasn't nice to dad."

"Ox?"

"Oxnard." Buck laughed. "Ox. Colt. Buck. We Tamberlys have a naming tradition. All names for strong beasts."

Known for very specific qualities, Spike thought, but decided not to say outloud. This was not the time for innuendo.

"Dad always swore to give his kids an opportunity to follow their own path," Buck said. "Or...so he tries. You don't get out of a childhood like his without retaining a few bad qualities from your father. Seems like a cycle sometimes, doesn't it? Fathers and sons..." He sighed. "Ignore me. I don't know what I'm saying. Guess I'm just nervous."

Spike's hand moved ahead of his brain. He placed his hand over Buck's. "I will never ignore you."

It was the first time he saw Buck look away out shyness. "Oh...thank you, Spike." He smiled, and squeezed his hand back. "I..." He stopped. "Hmm. Lost my train of thought..."

Even Spike was perceptive enough to know that wasn't the truth. Fate being fate, however, he wasn't able to tug on that thread. Boomer Harlow, sitting at the announcer's table a few feet away, cleared his throat. 

There were no entrance themes. No flashing pyrotechnics. This was a battle, in the ancient tradition of spellbreaking, before vaudeville and sideshows had transformed it into a modern form of entertainment. There were even some rumors that Colt and Serpent had initially agreed to fight in the nude, in the old style, but Buck had quickly shot that gossip down...for obvious reasons.

"Okay folks, introducing our first fighter!" Boomer Harlow shouted. "He's one bad hombre with a venomous tongue, and killer looks to boot. Er...well....he's probably handsome under that mask. Not too sure! But what I do know is that Serpent is the most vile, vicious, and dead sexiest stud this side of the Rio Grande! Whatever you do, don't look into his eyes!"

Half of the great circle beneath the salty water glowed intense, bright red, its runes visible even beneath the illusion of abyssal sky. From behind a red, standing curtain, Serpent slowly made his presence known. He relied on his intimidating aura for showmanship. No flash. A black, leather duster jacket barely restrained his bulging, oiled up muscles. His snakeskin mask's scales glimmered in the fading sunlight, but not so much as his glowing, evil, serpentine eyes. The boos and jeers from the crowd—Spike and Buck loudest of all—only made him grin and lick his lips. He walked forward, slow, refusing to acknowledge the audience. They were all so beneath him. At the end of his match, as in other victories, he would cast a spell and make all of them kneel to him by force. He would then pick the prettiest man in the audience, charm him, and take him back to his private quarters as his personal trophy.

"Perhaps that lucky one will be you," Serpent hissed, pointing directly at Buck.

The brave, handsome heir to the GSA raised an eyebrow but otherwise looked unbothered.

"Yessss. After I force you to watch me break your father, I think I'll sling you over my shoulder and take you back with me." His tongue slithered out of his lips. "I'll be your new papi, Buck. Get used to the name. It will be on your lips a lot. And your lips..." He motioned to his snakeskin covered bulge. "Hehehehehe."

Buck yawned and turned to Spike. "It's funny how he thinks I wouldn't enjoy that. Er...well except the part where he kills my dad. But that's not going to happen."

"Of course not," Spike, quite shaken, said hesitantly.

Buck's eyes went cold, distant. "Because I would skin that snake first. It's not just my dad he should be afraid of."

Maybe it was the look in Buck's eyes, or the quiet, icy, register in his voice, but Spike felt his blood run cold. "Buck...you're scary..."

"I know." Buck nodded to the blue, glowing semi-circle on the other side of the mirror surface ring.

A burst of thunder made the audience jump. Even Serpent blinked.

Boomer stood up to speak. It was obvious to see which fighter he favored. "The cowboy king is coming to the ring! The big damn hero himself, fresh out of retirement! With good looks and muscles to spare, here comes the storm himself, COLT THE BOLT!"

Lightning flashed, and more thunder peeled off in the distance.

"I thought there weren't any special effects for this match," Spike said.

Buck sighed. "My daddy IS the special effect."

If Colt was afraid or concerned, nobody could tell. His hair was styled wet, like the protagonist of a romance novel. Beard, trimmed. Muscles, pumped. There was lightning in his eyes, and his smile gleamed like the sun piercing the clouds. His entrance gear was almost the same as his glory days, with a twist to mirror Serpent. Instead of the fringed vest and chaps, a white duster jacket (embroidered with Colt's signature lightning bolts, of course) ran the length of his body. And, if anything, he looked even bigger now in his middle age than he did when he was younger. 

Buck had heard fans call Colt a bona fide sorcerer, or wizard, for how strong his magick was. Old, outdated titles to be sure. Now, Buck believed his dad really was the most powerful man on Earth.

Seemed Boomer believed it too. The Mouth of Spellbreaking struggled to find his words, but it didn't matter. Entrance music and flashing lights be damned, the crowd rose to its feet in celebration. Colt was showered in cheers and adoration.

Serpent, on the other side of the ring, grit his teeth in rage and envy. "Fools..."

But Colt was not the boastful, brash, fighter of his youth. He held his head high, in gratitude and humility, putting his hands together in profound respect for the crowd. "Thank you. Bless. Thank you, so much. Aw, shucks..."

Spike had tears in his eyes, and Buck beamed with raw pride. "Damn it. Big idiot..."

Colt was a man changed. Well, almost. Old habits being what they were, the cowboy king couldn't resist pumping his fist in the air and bellowing a hearty, "HOWDY, HOWDY, LET'S GET ROWDY!"

The crowd cheered again, but this was enough for Serpent. "YOU DOG!" he snarled, venom dripping from his mouth, as he charged forward with a fist. "I'LL END YOU IN FIVE SECONDS."

"Oh?" Colt pivoted like the wind. It was like slow motion, how he turned, removing his long duster, using it in the same manner as a bull fighter to his target. He tossed it over Serpent's body, twisted on his boots in the water, and delivered a stunning kick to Serpent's back, knocking him flat and wet.

The audience remained on their feet. Colt always brought the electricity, but this fight was already something else. The unusual scenery only enhanced the action, with both fighters were reflected in the thin strip of water. Serpent recovered, naturally, tossing his jacket aside and digging into Colt with a vengeful fury. Their bodies collided, sending up cascades of water. This wasn't spellbreaking but fighting in the purest form, a dance of violence, a god of the underworld clashing with a god of the skies.

The move chains were exquisite, proving to the audience that these veterans had only perfected their bodies in their age. Serpent pulled Colt into a wrist lock, swiftly reversed into a headlock, then back into a waist grab and a stunning suplex into the water.

Buck and Spike winced. "Shit," Buck said. "Come on dad. Get up."

Colt didn't need to hear his son's command. Wasn't his first knock to the back and skull. Probably wouldn't be the last. Since it was a last man standing, there was no pinfall. Serpent or Colt would beat the shit out of the other guy until he couldn't get up, one way or the other. Colt bridged and pulled out. The lubrication from the water helped. Heaving and wet, with salt water dripping down their bulky torsos, Colt and Serpent faced each other anew.

"That all you got, BOY?" Colt roared. He raised his fist and electricity crackled.

Serpent flashed a toothy grin. "Hmmm."

Colt's electricity fizzled as he shuddered, electrified by his own magick. "Damn it," he snarled, looking down at his beefy forearm in surprise.

The audience gasped. Buck understood what had happened. "The salt water," he said. "Damn it, dad. You ignored the obvious detail!"

"What's a matter, cowboy?" Serpent mocked. "Looks like your spark just fizzled out!"

Serpent went for a tackle, but Colt grabbed him around the waist, pulling him into a tight, wet bearhug. Spike kept his thoughts to himself, but anybody watching (save Buck) could see the eroticism in the fight. Some audience members had even playfully referred to the match as the "Battle of the Daddies".

Slick skin and muscle aside, Colt's grip was certain. He squeezed his muscles around Serpent's waist. The villainous snake braced back in pain, trying to control his breathing. This was where Colt would, normally, inject him with a thousand volts of pure punishment, but the water was making that a bit of an issue at present. He was down on magick, but that didn't bother him. He had muscle and might on his side.

"YOU GIVE, SNAKE? OR DO I END YOUR MISERABLE CAREER HERE AND BREAK YOU IN TWO?"

From the front row, Spike gulped and crossed one leg in front of the other. Okay, don't let Buck see you get turned on. Try not to think too much about being in Serpent's position...

Serpent leaned forward, breathlessly. "Did...you really think it would be that easy, vaquero? Do these look like the eyes of the defeated?"

"Huh."

!!!

Serpent's eyes glowed intense green. Colt had just enough wherewithal to look away at the last second, losing his grip in the process.

"Idiot!" Serpent snarled, freeing his hand and pushing the flat of his palm against Colt's chin. "I'll snap your neck!"

"UGH!" With no choice, Colt dropped him and backed off, dodging a punch and responding with a kick to the gut. The water rippled beneath his booths.

Serpent merely laughed at the blow. "That all you got, vaquero? Must be getting weak in your old age."

Colt jumped forward, into the air, creating a shockwave in the water with his launch. "I'm just gettin' started, hoss!" Turning himself into a missile, he aimed a dropkick right at Serpent's chest, knocking him to the water with a mighty splash.

"GET 'EM, DAD!" Buck shouted.

Colt didn't let the opportunity slip through his fingers. Body and trunks soaked through, and wet, tangled hair stuck to his back and shoulders, he looked like a hungry lion digging into downed pray. Colt jumped forward and tackled Serpent onto his back.

"I was gonna beat you clean," Colt growled. "But guess we gotta do this the hard way, huh?"

WHAP!

Colt's fist connected with Serpent's head. The fiend tried to put himself into a fighter's guard, wrapping his massive legs around Colt's mid section. Colt ignored it and kept hammering, fist against skull. It was brutal.

Serpent smiled through the blood on his face and mask. "Who....will...yield first, I wonder?" He said as he tightened his legs, thigh muscles and quads protruding from his skin. "Who can take the pain!"

Knuckles bloody, Colt did not let up. "I'll do what I have to! Give up now and I end this. Maybe you can keep what's left of your face!"

Like a cobra, Serpent spat blood at Colt, blinding him. "GAH!"

"Gross," Spike said. "And...kind of hot?"

Buck glared at him. "Spike, that's my dad..."

"Yeah, I know!"

"Poor cowboy," Serpent said, squeezing down hard with his legs, turning his defensive move into a full body scissors. "I will BREAK your ribs. And then I will devour you whole in front of this audience!"

Colt winced, blood in his eyes and his sternum under tight pressure. "You're....gonna devour my hole!?"

"WHAT? No, idiot, I said...! NEVER MIND."

Colt pushed off the water, trying to pull out from the trash-compactor level of pressure around his waist. "Gotta...get up..."

Buck held his breath. "Come on dad, come on..."

"Shit," Colt cursed. "Gotta' try it..."

Electricity ran into Colt and Serpent, shocking them both. The uncontrollable voltage forced Colt to black out for a brief moment, but it did do the trick in stopping Serpent, whose muscles were forced to contract, releasing his anaconda grip.

"That was one risky move from the cowboy king!" Boomer Harlow said, patting his brow with a rag. "Goddess, folks, this is a real nail biter."

Both combatants were on all fours in the water, Serpent drooling blood, Colt coughing and sputtering. The two were no longer men, but beasts, bruised and bloody and hungry for more. 

"They're winded," Buck said to Spike. "This can't go on much longer."

Serpent rose his head first, tasting the air as t he clouds overhead grew thicker and darker. Colt looked up next, into his opponent's eyes.

A fatal mistake.

"Goooood," Serpent hissed. "Look...into....my eyes."

"Wh-" Wet hair dangling in front of his face, Colt's body shuddered again. His eyes turned the same color and luster as Serpent's The enchantment was swift and certain.

Spike and Buck, in unison: "NO!"

The crowd gasped. Boomer Harlow hollered. Serpent licked his lips, hungry for ruin. "Now...rise. Do as I command."

The cowboy king was not short on willpower, but against Serpent's glyph, he was useless. With slack jawed expression, the hypnotized cowboy king stood and waited. Obedient.

"HAHAHAHA!" Serpent cackled, struggling to get to his feet. He spit blood into the water. Whatever he did, whatever dark magick he wrought, the crystalline mirror suddenly tinted crimson red, startling the audience. Overheard, thunder rolled.

Serpent extended his hands to the world and tightened his claws. "You...are ALL MINE!"

Of all present, it was Buck who realized it first. "Wait...no...it's a giant mirror! Spike, that means..."

But the emptiness in Spike's eyes was telling. And then, the glow. 

Buck reeled back, disgusted. He turned to his neighbor. The same. They were all under Serpent's thrall. 

Even Boomer Harlow. "S...Serpent. You are our master. You are our champion."

The rest of the audience joined in the zombified jubilation. "Master. Champion. We live to serve you, Serpent."

"HAHAHAHA!" Serpent licked the air with his tongue. "Glorious! Ohhh, it feels so GOOD to come out of retirement." He wiped his bloody face and saliva away with his forearms, and took his sweet time strutting over to his dumb, muscular opponent, standing there with his mouth open. Subservient. Obedient. 

"I could...do anything to you now," Serpent hissed, barely able to control his lust. He could choke slam him. Sleeper him out. Wail on him and have him take it. Break every bone in his body. But Serpent was far greedier. He wanted more.

Tongue hanging out of his mouth, Serpent leaned forward and slid it over Colt's pectorals, lapping up the sweat off of them. He licked him like a dog, tasting him deeply. It was grotesque. Violating. The cowboy could do nothing but stand there, blank faced, not even present for what was happening

Moaning, Serpent held his prize captive, looking into his eyes. Nothing there. He had him. The cowboy was his.

"This...is what I have really wanted for so long. To...taste you. Devour you." 

Serpent leaned over and parted Colt's mouth, slowly sticking his tongue inside. "Oh yes...first you, and then your son. Side by side. Both MINE."

"GROSS!" Buck shouted.

Serpent pulled back, embarrassed and surprised. He whipped his head to the ingrate who DARED interrupt the moment he'd been waiting for since he'd first tasted defeat at Colt's hands, years prior. "How is that possible?"

Like father like son, it was only THEN that Buck realized he was the only one seemingly unaffected by Serpent's dark magick. He looked around, wildly, at the zombies in his midst. "Oh shit..."

"Heh." Serpent tore himself away from his prize, but not before giving Colt a small kiss on the forehead. "No matter. This makes it more fun." He pointed to Buck in the front row. "Okay, Daddy Tamberly. Time to discipline your boy. Walk."

The mind-controlled Colt did as his master commanded, walking towards Buck at the side lines. There was nothing behind his eyes. An empty shell.

"Dad, snap out of it!" Buck called back. When he realized that wasn't going to work, he began looking for an exit.

Serpent accounted for this, nodding to Spike. "You there. Foul Twink. Restrain him!"

Spike did as he was told, bolting up and putting Buck into a tight full nelson. Buck gargled. "GAH! Spike...I always forget how strong you are...damn it, you been really hitting arm day, huh, stud?"

Colt approached his son. Buck, bracing against his friend's iron grip, tried to raise his head, even though his chin was practically burying itself in his own chest.

"Dad. It's me, Buck. Your son. Come on, dad! This is like the cheesy bit in the movie when the love of the son trumps the magick of the bad--"

"Strangle him," Serpent said.

Colt reached out and grabbed his son by the neck, squeezing down hard. 

"Apparently not," was all Buck managed to say, as his father's grip tightened.

Serpent laughed. "This is better than I could have POSSIBLY imagined. I will take EVERYTHING from you, Colton! Your men. Your title. Your fed. Your SON. When you have nothing, then you will be TRULY ALL MINE! HAHAHAHAHA!"

Colt's face remained impassive. But a single tear rolled down his cheek. Or maybe it was just sweat, or water...

Turning blue, and neck threatening to crack from the combination of Spike and Colt's strength, Buck looked up into his father's eyes. 

"Let go. Now."

At once, Spike and Colt heeded Buck's command.

The prince of the GSA gasped for breath, falling forward. Glaring blades of ice at Serpent, he whipped his head to his father. "Dad. Out of it. Do as I say."

Colt blinked. "Hm?" 

"WHAT?" Serpent gasped. "HOW IS THIS-"

But he didn't get far before a jaw, crackling with electricity, collided with his face. Only the burst of thunder overhead drowned the noise of Serpent's jaw cracking. He fell backwards, into the water, which resumed its lucid, crystalline composition. 

The heavens opened and the deluge came, thick curtains of water, flooding the bleachers, washing over the audience. All of them blinked and came to within seconds of each other, friends and family turning to each other to confirm what had just happened to him.

Spike, among them. "OH GODDESS!" He said, throwing his arms around Buck. "Bucky! I didn't mean to hurt ya!"

Emotionally and physically compromised, Buck gently pushed him away. "Don't worry. It was kind of hot when you did. We'll unpack this later."

"Oh nooo," Spike said, throwing himself back at Buck and sobbing into his chest. "I'm s-sorry. I would never." He stopped and sniffed the air. "What's that...odd, musky scent."

"Spike, calm down!"

Spike lowered his head. "Yes, sir. I'll do anything you say sir.

"UGH!" Buck slapped his head. It was already enough he'd just had his collar bone broken by his best friend, and his neck cracked like an egg by his father's own hand, he was now soaked to the bone too. "Why are you acting so weird all of a sudd--OH SHIT, LOOK!"

In the torrent of rain, Colt walked tall towards his target, nursing his jaw on the ground. Overhead, lightning flashed, the same color as Colt's glowing eyes. He looked no longer human, but a celestial harbinger of vengeance. 

His voice was low and quiet, barely audible over the rain on the mirror, disrupting the reflection. "Did you rally think I didn't know how my own damn magick worked, SNAKE?"

Colt kicked the serpent in the ribs, sending him into convulsions of pain.

Still, the villain protested. "Not...possible. How!?"

Colt looked down at him, planting a boot on the soft bits of his trunks, threatening to bring it down. "First, NEVER TOUCH SOMEONE WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT. And second..." He smiled wickedly. Been practicing shocking myself in my bath tub for weeks."

Now, Serpent realized his folly. He'd been duped. "But...my enchantment."

"Oh, you nearly had me alright," Colt laughed. "You definitely made it an interesting match. You're many things, Serpent. Heartless. Vain. Manipulative. And you got bad breath on top of it all! Seriously, pop a mint next time, bucko. BUT one thing you ain't? Boring."

Strangely, despite everything, and himself, Serpent cracked a smile. "Just...like old times." He tried to flash his eyes again, hoping to catch Colt off guard-

He pressed the boot down.

"AIII!" Serpent squeaked. "My huevos."

"Spellbreaking ain't just muscle and magick," Colt explained. "It's brains, too! Wisdom comes with age. And while you've been resorting to the same dirty tactics you did in your last match, I been learning. From my boys." He lowered his head and looked over at his son. "That's what it means to grow old the right way. Listening. Changing. Adapting. Knowing to admit when you're wrong."

"As if I would ever--" Serpent snarled.

Colt drove his boot down further into Serpent's groin.

Serpent gasped. "FUCK!"

He went quiet again, but the storm ahead roared stronger.

"You insulted my mentor and hurt my men. And then, hoss....you threatened my boy and tried to turn me against him. That'd make any man ornery."

The crowd, and serpent for that matter, couldn't believe what they were seeing. Colt's hair, despite the wetness, stood on end. He was levitating half an inch above the ground, eyes glowing.

"BUT I AIN'T JUST ANY MAN, BOY. I AM THE STORM. AND NOW...JUSTICE IS WROUGHT!"

The sky flashed. And then, accompanying the sound of the Earth splitting in two, a zig zag of bright, intense lightning came down and struck both Colt and Serpent. The crowd screamed, shielding their eyes. The lighting rig over head exploded into a shower of sparks. When the audience could at last make sense of everything, they gasped at what they saw before them, in the ARENA.

Colt's lightning strike had done its damaged. A crystalized tower of salt, at least seven feet tall, stood where the bolt had struck. Splayed atop it, body smoking and eyes rolled in the back of his head, Serpent's body twitched. His gear had melted onto his skin. It was a miracle his skin hadn't been burnt off. Yet, Colt had made his mark. Bright red lines, in the pattern of Serpent's nervous system, ran across his torso, marking the path of the electricity. He had been defeated. Branded by the cowboy king.

Kneeling in front, barely keeping it together, Colt the bolt sputtered. "Don't...don't worry," he sighed. "He's still breathing. Er...I think. Oh...Lady, I need a nap..." He stood. He stumbled. He looked over at Buck and met his eyes.

Buck, who felt as if he might join his father in collapsing, smiled back.

Colt gave his son a thumbs up, before his eyes rolled back into his head, and he fell back into the water.

Buck was on it at once. "MEDICS! NOW!"

As the medics at the side of the ring jumped into action, Buck Harlow called the match. He was not his normal explosive self. Instead, he proclaimed every word with the holy tones of a preacher. Above the ring, the clouds parted, bright and clear, restoring the mirrored salt flat to its crystal clarity. 

Spike looked up at the sun and smiled. Though it was faint and imperfect, a trace of a rainbow appeared overhead. 

Still, he was left with confusion. He looked at Buck, who appeared mid-prayer, hands folded on the side of the railing. He waited for him to finish before he spoke.

"Buck...how did you manage to shake Serpent's spell?"

"No idea," Buck said. He hoisted himself over the barrier, onto the other side. "Too busy right now."

Spike watched him run to his father's side. Colt had already risen off the ground, and now the medics primary concern was how the hell they were going to get poor Serpent down from his salty gallows. Buck and Colt exchanged words, but it wasn't Spike's business to hear them. With pride in his heart, and great relief, he wandered out of the throng of excited fans. He'd truly witnessed a legendary match.

Now, to get El Amante back.

Chapter 7: The Calm Before

Squeezed into a hotel suite somewhere in Cancun (with the AC running high to accommodate) the GSA roster huddled around Colt, standing at the front of the room. The atmosphere was decidedly funerary, though that had been the predominant mood since the gang had arrived in Mexico about a week earlier. Considering that one of their own was missing, and not in their right state of mine, with another of their ranks was in hospital, the situation was bleak.

Even Colt, a tall, strapping, bastion of enthusiasm, spoke softly, with a sadness in his eyes seldom seen by his students and employees. He considered his words, for a time, before addressing the listless audience. With Mr. Iron at this side to fill in the details, he spoke candidly about what had happened. Nobody bat an eye at the fact that a good portion of their contingency had been involved in a clandestine affair to secure an ancient artefact of immeasurable power. Typical, really. Spellbreakers were impulsive by nature and predisposed to adventure. Though some in the room rightfully expressed annoyance at all of this information having been kept secret from them for some time now.

Standing before a framed portrait of a Mayan calendar, the head of the GSA decided on an end to secrecy. "We were too damn reckless," he said, exhausted, concluding his proclamation. "I owe you all a huge apology."

Powerful men and women exchanged worried looks. On the couch, Rosa sat pale, flanked by friends Ice Princess and Calypso. Spike, standing behind her, draped his arms gently across her shoulders in a half-embrace. Stone faced, she stared ahead. Rosa had not uttered a word this whole time. 

Until now. "Colt...don't blame yourself." She had already done her fair share of crying earlier. It was time to woman up. "I should have been there."

"You saved my-" Colt started. He looked over at Buck, positioned away from the rest of the gang, legs tucked to chest in the window alcove. He wouldn't even look at his father. "As fed president, I have a duty of care. All of you kids are under my protection. Now, one gone. The other hurt." He sighed and acknowledged Mr. Iron. "What's Iggy's status, by the by?"

The huge man looked beyond tired. Spike had never seen his old coach so defeated. In a chair that could barely contain his mass, the giant crossed his legs. "They should pull through, but they're going to be out of commission for awhile. Who knows if they'll ever--"

"Don't finish that sentence," Spike said, quietly, with a vibrato in his unsure voice. Rosa reached up and placed her hand on his forearm, with affection. Assurance. "They'll be back. I know it. I know my teach."

Colt nodded. "Rosa. I owe you an--"

"No," she said, cutting him off. "Just...no. Thank you. We're going to get Victor back. Even if I have to do it myself."

"And we will help," Kengo, by the door (the most logical place where he could fit) said, with absolute certainty. Cian, next to him, held up his fist in solidarity.

Standing at the back of the room, arms folded tightly to his chest, Joseph in his white shirt and black dress pants cast a cool aura. He scanned the room, silent. Goddess knows what he thought, but he looked serious.

Colt continued. "So, now y'all know the score. This isn't just a global tournament anymore. This is something much bigger. The good folks of Aradia are partnering up with us to- 

Calypso raised her hand, her seashell bracelet dangling off her wrist. "Aradia?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Finally, the champion, Joseph, took the lead. "They function similarly to the United Nations. Or, I suppose, more like INTERPOL. They work with governments to secure magickal threats. They are supposed to be neutral but..."

"They helped with the reconstruction of my old village," Cian mumbled. "After the war. Not that I remember much about it. I don't trust many, but if Miss Lily is working with them, then they're at least half-decent."

"Except for the part where they nearly got Iggy killed," Sanjay, standing next to Blue Dragon, shot back. "They're just like any other big, government body. Suits at the top dictating assignments to the little guys at the bottom. Why the hell are we working with them?"

"Because we need authority and legitimacy at our backs," Mr. Iron said, patiently. "Put it into perspective."

"Oh yeah," Icewolf piped up. "It would sorta be like if the Calgary Flames were asked to run reconnaissance by the government, eh? I mean, at the end of the day, we're just sports players with glyphs, huh..."

"Salim is involved with them too," Mr. Iron said. "I wouldn't agree to come back if I didn't vet them."

Sanjay lowered his tone, but the suspicion remained. "And can even we trust Salim? Giant guy with a dubious business dealing who only shows up to fancy parties?"

He had a point. Colt shuffled his stance, uncomfortable. "Well, I'll just say this. When I look at this room, I see the world. I know it sounds rich coming from an old fogie from Texas, but one of our key strengths is we're an international bunch. Different faiths. Different backgrounds. We're the best equipped to deal with a global issue. That being said, if any of you wants to duck out and focus on the tournament, I won't fault you. No shame. No judgment. No pressure. This is tough stuff. I'll turn my back, and y'all can leave the room."

With a heart heavy, Colt 'The Bolt', turned around and faced the stone calendar. He was struck by the irony, that this stone artefact should outlast the civilization that had wrought it to measure centuries that they would never see. It made him uneasy. He was just some guy, some schmuck that had gotten famous for being loud and violent and handsome. Now? He had responsibilities, no longer solely to his employees, his kids, but possibly to something much larger. And the worst part of it was that he was required to maintain a brave face the whole time...

A moment passed, but the sound of an opening door, of people quietly taking leave, did not come. Confused, Colt peered over his shoulder. "Uh...I said, if any of you were uncomfortable..."

Ice Princess, the blonde, Scandinavian woman with severe eyes on Rosa's right, stood. She rarely spoke, so it was unusual to hear her voice. But it was clear and resonant. "We are uncomfortable, she said. "But we're not leaving."

Sitting cross legged on the loveseat next to her, her masculine counterpart, Icewolf, jumped up theatrically. "And Ice WOLF too!" He pointed heroically at Colt. "Listen here, Mr. Tamberly. My Lady is right. I may have only just gotten onto this roster for reals, but do you think I'm gonna wuss out on you guys?"

Next to him, Princess (an old friend) rolled her eyes mirthfully. "Robbie, we get-"

The boastful jock continued. "Divine Chalices? Firebird? Los Venoms? BRING 'EM ON! I'll CRUSH 'EM ALL!"

For a moment, there was levity. A few smiles. Even Cian, a mix of confused and entertained, met Robbie's eyes for a moment. The muscular Canadian promptly turned red and looked askance. "Aw shucks, he's looking my way..."

Cian took up the reigns. "Mr. Colt. I understand these Chalices are important, but what about El Amante? He's our big brother. Rosa's kin. I understand that I'm still suspended, so sorry if this sounds daft, but I don't give a toss about the competition anymore. I just wanna get our big guy back."

Spike looked over at Cian, surprised to hear him speak with such confidence. Even Buck, from his hiding spot, cocked his head to the side to listen.

Before Colt could address the Irish lad, the phone in the other room's desk nook began ringing.

Rosa was happy to get off the couch, gently brushing Spike's hands off her. "I'll get it," she said, with a profoundly deep breath. He peers assumed she had been waiting for news about her cousin's whereabouts. 

Colt took the moment to fill his kids in further. With her briefly indisposed, he felt more comfortable letting them in on the harsh truth of the matter. "So, here's what we do know, and it's all very simple. That bastard Serpent is using Victor as a bargaining chip. I have a score to settle with that snake. In a week, we go down to Bolivia. Serpent and I have agreed to a Last Man Standing. No ring. Right on the salt flats."

While than sank in with the other, Buck finally awakened. He pivoted around from the alcove and gave his head a cold, glance of death. "Dad, that's insane! You just came out of retirement."

Colt challenged his son right back, and grunted. "So? Boy, you ain't seen what your daddy can do! Besides, it's time I reminded y'all who used to the champion around here."

No point in arguing. Buck had learned these lessons long ago. He leaned back against the window and shook his head, shifting the tension in the room from dour to awkward.

Biting his lip, Spike looked to Joseph, the only person in the room with enough common sense and pull besides Mr. Iron to diffuse a situation like this. Joseph flashed a smile at Spike. I got this, kid.

He spoke like the leader he was. "From one champion to another, I will do anything in my power to rescue our comrade. I must admit to you all, that I feel as I should have been there at Chichen Itza instead of defending my title. This would have never happened."

That his statement came off more as a boast...well, it landed flat. Even Spike cringed at the delivery. Everyone was off their game, just a little bit. Los Venoms had really dealt a blow.

Colt did his best to take back control of the narrative. "Look, folks, we can spend a whole time on the coulda-woulda-shoulda's, but it ain't gonna get us nowhere. Serpent wants the Chalice. We ain't gonna give it to him."

Spike leaned against the couch and mustered his courage. "Even if it means we don't get Victor back?"

Several people in the room flinched. Of all the spellbreakers in attendance, nobody expected Spike, still a bit wet behind the ears, and a great admirer of Colt, besides, to question his authority. To his credit, Colt didn't snap. He looked more taken aback.

Before he could reply, however, Rosa appeared, phone and chord in her hand. She placed the device on the table. "It's Lily. She wants to be put on speaker. Says she thinks she knows what happened to Viki."

Colt nodded. "Put her on. Hey, Lil. You're a sound for sore ears."

Through static, Lily Suarez, the GSA's magick expert and "woman on the inside" came out clear enough. "Always one with a turn of phrase, aren't you? I understand spirits may be down, so please accept my fondest regards. I want to help. Thanks to the Institute's research wing...as well as several cups of espressos...I found the artefact in question that put that curse on Victor.

"Sounds like it was the Obsidian Tablet. Not the most creative name, I know. Infamous in dark magick circles. Seldom seen this side of history. It was a tablet crafted from a civilization that used dark magick to enchant its warriors into an insatiable bloodlust, filling their hearts with hate. Unfortunately, there was no way to quench their need for destruction, and they eventually turned on both the innocent and each other, wiping out their civilization entirely. During the pillaging of the New World, it was retrieved and sent to Spanish Alban, where it supposedly slew the court when attempts were made to use it, triggering the War of Succession."

Rosa, having taken a seat next to Buck, watched in amusement as Spike tried to correlate all this information inside his blond, curly head. "Thanks, Lil," she said, with a wry smile. It had been awhile since she'd felt anything other than sorrow, but she wasn't surprised that Spike had managed to coerce it out of her. "Some of us aren't as literate in magi history as you are, so we'll try and fill in the gaps for those of us who might need more help."

Surprising nobody, Mr. Iron was the first one to ask the right follow-up questions. "Miss Suarez, if I may...how the hell did something like this end up in the hands of Los Venoms?"

"Because of who is likely financing Firebird," the voice on the phone said. "The Black Library, part of the Russian secret service."

Spike blinked. "What the hell is a Black Library?" He was speaking on behalf of several in the room who were not as comfortable with their own idiocy as him.

Lily took charge of exposition. "A legend, though not so mythic anymore, it would seem. Supposedly founded by Ivan the Terrible, the Black Library was a collection of books--by no means extensive, but extremely dangerous. It was given to him by a Greek scholar and former priest said to be fleeing persecution, but a good majority of the collection were remnants of the Deep Archive of Alexandria. These are infamous, dangerous, artefacts.

"In practice, the Black Library is a research and development wing of the Russian secret services. To Aradia's knowledge, they have never actually used the contents of their forbidden archives until now. Not even during the Great War. To put it into perspective, Ivan himself had the library sealed upon his death, he feared it so much. When it was accidentally discovered during renovations on the Kremlin, Catherine the Great swore her builders to secrecy under penalty of death and had it re-sealed. That two of the greatest Russian monarchs of history forbade its use should clue you into just what we're dealing with here."

Colt placed his hand to his chin. "But apparently it's good enough for Nicky the Third..."

Lily acknowledge as much. "Russia is desperate, on the verge of a revolution long overdue. Firebird is making its moves now. If they have weapons like the Obsidian Tablet, thankfully destroyed, then Goddess knows what other tomes are at their disposal. The Library was a potential target of the Albans during their conquest of Europe. Though they never succeeded, a dossier was compiled speculating what else lurked in the Black collection. Nothing good."

Several faces in the room drained of color. Many of them had grown up with knowledge of glyphs and their proper applications. Most of them were aware of what the Albans had done to magi and non-magi alike during the Great War. But few, save for the likes Gio, Cian, and Kengo--all raised in faiths outside the Church--had experienced 'the old magick' before. It was dangerous stuff. There was a reason why a good lot of it was meant to be sealed away.

Colt did not share the same background, but he suspected the danger at hand nonetheless. "In other words, we ain't in the little leagues no more, y'all."

Rosa was content to hurry on to the point. "So, if Victor has been cursed by this tablet or whatever, is there any way for us to break the spell?"

"Yes," Lily said, with a confidence that elevated Rosa's spirit. "Though it will be difficult. He is currently gripped by an unquenchable blood lust. No doubt seeing what happened to Iggy was part of the trigger. To keep it brief, the enchantment appears to affect several regulatory parts of the body. Amygdala. Petitory. It effectively shuts out the chemicals that make us feel...well...happy, and pumps out stress hormones, overriding all reason. Fittingly, if he were to experience a break-through, or an overriding emotion, it might be enough to snap him out of his powerful rage. That's the one good thing about old magick. It's like a glass canon. Powerful, but easy to overcome. In theory, anyway..."

Colt nodded, satisfied. "Thanks, Lily. The Chalice is being held in a secret location. We'll make sure it gets to you in one piece."

"Thanks, Colt. You have Aradia's instructions for what to do next. Everyone else...please be safe."

Click.

Lily's sure and calm personality was like a much needed balm. Though Spike could tell everyone was still both shocked and confused (and perhaps, even in disbelief at the magnitude of what they were dealing with now), the collective sigh of relief was palpable.

No stranger to trauma, Spike always took the "get it done" approach to situations that called for action, which he found tended to surprise other people. That was the Navy in him. Lily had given them their orders. Colt was chain of command. But Spike was a grunt and it was his job to demand a full picture. 

Even Colt was surprised at how assertive he sounded. "What does this powerful rage look like? What do we know about El Amante right now?"

Colt bit his lip. He instructed Mr. Iron to turn on the hotel television, positioned in front of the bed. "Like this..."

The blurry static gave way to a equally grainy recording of a small arena fenced in by chain-link caging. The footage was jumpy, and it was hard to see in front of the throng of drunken, blood thirsty spectators, but Spike knew right away that what was watching was outside the normal bounds and safety restrictions of spellbreaking. This was a blood match. No soma. Just violence.

El Amante, or whatever he was now calling himself, wailed on a skinnier fighter in the corner of the cage. That was putting it lightly. He beat him mercilessly, a vacant stare the whole time. His chest and fists were covered in blood. Not his own. There was no sense of mercy, even as the ref tried to pull him off his broken, blooded opponent (victim was probably the better word). El Amante, not content with simple violence, wrapped his legs around his torso, squeezing down, while choking the poor soul's throat with his giant arms. Blood gushed, and the man's face turned blue. The ref was helpless to pull El Amante off him. Eventually, others stormed the ring, but El Amante tossed them aside like flies, each other receiving a different bone-breaking move in response. He slammed men against the chain and grated their faces across it. He threw others. It was an absolute blood bath.

This was the work of the Warrior of Hate. Illuminated by the ghostly glow of the TV set, Spike's head sunk low. "Shit..."

"Stop it," Rosa said, in a measured and even tone. "I've seen enough."

Gio obliged her, jumping off to switch the set off, though his massive frame would have concealed it anyway. "That cannot be Victor," he said, quietly. "Victor is the force of love. This is not him." He looked over to Rosa. "Rosita. I will get him back myself. Even if I have to knock his brains around!" He pounded his fist in his palm, and everyone flinched. "He is my friend! He is all our friend. I will move the Heavens to save him!"

Nobody doubted it, certainly not after that rousing promise. Spike even thought he saw Rosa blush in response. 

"Er...right," Colt said. "Let's discuss our next steps. I know my part in this, but this is going to be a team effort, y'all. Now, dear Miss Lily didn't mention this next bit, on the off chance the phone's been tapped, but...well, Joseph, you understand this stuff more than I do..."

The tall, exceedingly handsome Singaporean cleared his throat. "Correct. While the whereabouts of the other Chalices will require ongoing investigation, the locations of the equivalent Divine Wellsprings has been public knowledge for centuries. The corresponding spring for the Chalice of Will lies at the Island of the Sun, or Isla Del Sol, in Lake Chucuito, Bolivia. It's an Incan ruin of great spiritual energy. The closest town, Copacabana, is where the next leg of the global tournament will be held. We are now operating under the assumption Firebird will be there as well, possibly to hand Victor off in exchange for the Chalice."

"An hour ago I would have said just give it to them," Rosa said. "But now that I know what these things can do...or rather, not being sure what Firebird is trying to do with them..." She swallowed. "I felt that thing in my hands. It's not normal magick. It's something...'other'."

Colt surveyed the room. He had said his peace. Everyone knew where they stood. "Folks, I need sleep. And so do y'all. Next week, I'll confront Serpent. We'll get our loverboy back yet. Mark my words...the storm is coming to Los Venoms."

To Be Continued