Marvel: The Awakened One

George froze.

Gwen, standing not far away, watched as the female vampire tried to pull down her father’s pants—and she froze too.

The next second.

Gwen’s hackles shot up instantly. She tried to rush forward.

Hawk grabbed her arm.

”Whoa, whoa. What are you doing?”

”She’s trying to take my dad’s pants—”

Gwen blurted out instinctively, then suddenly caught herself mid-sentence. She blinked and looked at Hawk, who was holding her back. ”Wait. Hawk, did you know this was going to happen?”

Hawk said nothing.

He shrugged.

”More or less...”

After all, the methods for coercing someone hadn’t changed much throughout human history. There were only so many plays in that particular playbook.

And for a man like George Stacy—a mid-level NYPD official with a spotless reputation and an iron will—the best leverage was always footage.

Sex tape footage.

The moment Hawk saw the bearded man pull out that portable camcorder, he’d already figured it out.

What he hadn’t anticipated was that they’d send in a female vampire.

He’d assumed they’d bring in a human woman first.

The bearded man would have George drink her blood, and then they’d film him in the middle of a live performance.

But instead...

Even Hawk had been momentarily caught off guard.

Gwen gritted her teeth, trying to wrench free from Hawk’s grip. When she realized she couldn’t break loose, she turned to look at him.

”You’re not actually going to let my dad go through with this.”

”No, I just want to confirm—are you really planning to step in and stop this?”

”Of course!”

Gwen didn’t even hesitate. Her eyebrows shot up, eyes wide. ”God, Hawk. Mom’s only fake dead, not actually dead.”

Hawk got his confirmation. He smiled.

”Then let’s discuss my appearance fee.”

”Wait, what?”

Gwen’s expression went blank. ”Appearance fee?”

Hawk shrugged. ”If you step out there right now, this is vampire central, remember? You really think you and George can walk out of here without me stepping in? And the second you show yourself, whoever’s pulling the strings behind all this is going to know something’s wrong. Which means I’ll have to step in anyway. So—appearance fee. Starting next month, one solid month of costumes, no repeats, and I don’t have to move a muscle.”

The gloves were off.

Hawk went straight for the jugular.

Gwen sucked in a sharp breath. Listening to Hawk’s terms, her mind raced. Her expression shifted to one of sudden realization mixed with disbelief as she lowered her voice.

”I knew it!! I knew there was no way you’d bring me here for free. And here I was actually thinking I’d misjudged you. You even told me to have a little faith.”

”I did say that. But you didn’t have faith in yourself. You really should’ve trusted your instincts.”

Hawk’s lips curved upward. ”Anyway, those are my terms. One month, no repeat costumes. I’ll provide the outfits.”

Gwen shot Hawk an irritated glare.

”You’re dreaming. Ten days, max.”

”Nope. One month.”

Hawk shook his head, refusing to budge.

Gwen’s eyes flashed a warning as she stared him down, teeth clenched. ”Aren’t you worried that after a month, you won’t even be able to get into bed? You get your fun now, but there’s always a price to pay later. I’m telling you, Hawk—be reasonable.”

Hawk shrugged. ”We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

There was an old saying, after all.

A lifetime is too long. Seize the day.

A real man doesn’t hesitate when opportunity knocks.

If you want something, go for it.

Just do it.

Gwen looked at the man in front of her—the one who’d rather face a month of celibacy later if it meant a month of paradise now. Her gaze drifted to her father George, who had just pulled the female vampire back to her feet. She took a deep breath, then let out a short laugh. She stopped struggling and stepped back to stand beside Hawk.

”Fine. I’m not going out there. I believe in Dad.”

”...”

Hawk raised an eyebrow. He glanced at the scene on the couch, then back at Gwen. He chuckled. ”You know me—my first offer is always the best deal. Pass on this one, and next time it’s two months.”

Gwen immediately clapped her hands over her ears.

Hawk didn’t push it. He turned his attention back to George.

By now, George had snapped out of it. He’d grabbed the wrists of the female vampire who’d been trying to undo his pants.

The female vampire let out an involuntary moan as George’s grip tightened.

”Ahh!”

The sound was sultry beyond belief—the kind of noise that would trigger protective instincts in any male creature who heard it.

Except Hawk.

Back in that tomb, even Vampire Queen Katherine’s advances hadn’t made him flinch.

This random seductress was nothing.

Once again—

He, Hawk Phoenix, had eyes for one woman only.

Of course, George was equally unmoved.

After all, George was a man of principle. That was precisely why the vampires had prepared this particular ”gift” for him in the first place.

George ignored the vampire’s moan entirely. His expression was dark as he stared at the bearded man.

”What the hell is this supposed to mean?”

”A gift.”

The bearded man set down his camcorder and smiled at George. ”Captain Stacy, our lifespans are... considerable. Long enough to see the next century. Perhaps even the one after that. Arya here is the most beautiful among us—and she’s our gift to you. After all, the road ahead is long. Having someone who understands you, someone who can stand by your side forever... that matters, doesn’t it?”

George’s face remained expressionless.

”Thanks, but no thanks.”

”No, you do need this.”

The bearded man’s smile didn’t waver. ”Captain Stacy, I know you loved your wife dearly. But your wife has passed away.”

George stared at the bearded man, stone-faced. ”I’ll say it again. I don’t need this gift.”

...

Gwen was also glaring daggers at the bearded man.

”I hate this guy.”

”Want me to step in?”

Hawk never missed an opportunity. ”Still the same price. One month of costumes.”

Gwen shot Hawk a look but said nothing.

Hawk wasn’t discouraged. He chuckled softly, then turned back to the bearded man and gave him an encouraging look.

Keep it up, buddy. Don’t lose points now.

Sure enough.

The bearded man didn’t disappoint. He maintained his smile as he looked at George.

But his voice had turned cold.

”Captain Stacy, let me say this one more time. This is our gift to you. A gift you cannot refuse.”

”Heh.”

George let out a cold laugh.

”And if I don’t want it? What then—you’ll kill me?”

”No, no, no.”

The bearded man shook his head, still smiling. ”Kill you? That’s not what we want at all. Besides, I don’t have the authority to make that call. Once again, Captain Stacy—I’m just following orders. My superiors tasked me with making sure you accept this gift. So help me out here, would you?”

George’s expression didn’t change. He glanced down at the female vampire still kneeling before him, gazing up at him with those dewy, pleading eyes, then looked back at the bearded man.

”I. Don’t. Want. It.”

”Then we’ll have no choice but to kill Ben Urich.”

”What??”

”You heard me.”

The bearded man’s smile vanished, replaced by a dark, sinister expression as he stared at George—who had refused to budge despite all his persuasion. His voice dropped low, dripping with menace.

”I don’t have the authority to kill you. But I do have the authority to kill your partner, Ben Urich, if you refuse this gift.”

With that—

The bearded man clapped his hands.

The next second.

The frosted glass wall facing the corridor suddenly turned into one-way transparent glass.

George’s peripheral vision caught the change. His body went rigid. He shot to his feet and was at the glass in an instant.

At the same time, the black-haired female vampire also appeared beside George.

But—

George didn’t spare her a glance. His gaze pierced through the glass to the scene outside—the dance floor below, where a gray-haired man hung suspended above the writhing crowd, trussed up like a pig ready for slaughter.

Ben Urich.

His first partner. His mentor.

Ben Urich dangled above the dance floor, blood dripping steadily from his bound limbs, driving the vampires below into a frenzy.

”DROP HIM!”

”DRAIN HIM DRY!”

”EAT HIM ALIVE!”

The vampires’ frenzied screams echoed from the dance floor. Every eye fixed on Ben Urich held no sympathy—only the raw hunger of predators eyeing prey.

Gwen was also staring at Ben, suspended helplessly above the crowd. ”Uncle Ben!”

Hawk, standing off to the side, hands in his pockets, glanced dispassionately at the man who was essentially a stranger to him.

He wasn’t a saint.

To him, this was all just a game. The only thing that would make him act was his fiancée’s word.

Forget Ben Urich—even if it were George being torn apart by these vampires, as long as Gwen didn’t say anything, he wouldn’t lift a finger.

George spun around, once again ignoring the black-haired vampire who had moved to stand before him. His furious gaze locked onto the bearded man.

”What the hell do you people want?”

”To be your friend!”

The bearded man lounged back on the couch, completely unfazed by George’s rage. His smile returned as he gestured toward the seat George had just vacated. ”Please, sit.”

George glared at the bearded man with ice in his eyes.

Their gazes clashed.

The bearded man looked at George, who hadn’t moved an inch. He wasn’t angry. He just chuckled and snapped his fingers.

SNAP!

”AHHH!”

”OH YESSS!”

”Drop him! Drop him!”

Following the snap, Ben Urich—who had been suspended above the dance floor, just out of reach of the vampires below with their hungry, upturned faces—suddenly began to descend.

Almost simultaneously, George caught the movement in his peripheral vision and shouted.

”STOP!”

SNAP!

THUNK!

Another snap from the bearded man. Ben Urich’s descent halted abruptly—the bound, trussed-up figure freezing in mid-air once more.

Once Ben had stopped falling, the bearded man looked at George with the same unchanging smile.

”Sit.”

”...”

George took a deep breath. Finally, expression still stone-cold, he sat back down on the couch.

The voluptuous black-haired vampire, seeing this, flashed a seductive smile. Then, as naturally as breathing, she knelt before George once again.

And then—

George grabbed her wrists again, stopping her hands before they could reach his pants. His face was expressionless as he stared at the bearded man.

If looks could kill, George was certain this bearded bastard would already be dead a thousand times over.

Sure, he believed in due process.

But—

He wasn’t naive.

In New York City, openly threatening a law enforcement officer? This guy might as well have eaten too many red beans.

He had a death wish.

Any officer who felt their life was in danger or was being threatened had the right to open fire without authorization.

George was no exception.

The bearded man ignored George’s icy glare entirely. His expression remained cheerful, though his tone had grown impatient. ”Captain Stacy, we’ve shown you considerable respect. Yes, we accidentally killed your wife. But we gave you immortality in return. And now we’re offering you a new wife—one who’s more tender, more beautiful, more captivating. Someone who can stay by your side forever. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”

Nice work.

Hawk, watching from the sidelines, mentally gave the bearded man another thumbs-up.

The next second.

GRIND. GRIND. GRIND.

Hawk heard the sound of teeth grinding beside him. He raised an eyebrow and glanced at his fiancée—who was also staring at the bearded man, but with eyes full of fury, jaw clenched so hard her teeth were grinding audibly.

More tender?

More beautiful?

More captivating?

Her?

This skank whose first move was to go for someone’s pants was supposed to compare to her mother?

Gwen’s fists clenched tight. She fixed the bearded man—who was comparing her mother to some vampire whore—with a death stare, wanting nothing more than to punch him square in the face.

Like father, like daughter.

Their thoughts were identical.

George listened to the bearded man’s words—the barely concealed impatience, the thinly veiled warning—and forced down his own rage. His expression remained blank as he stared at the man.

”Let Ben go first.”

”Heh.”

The bearded man actually laughed at that.

His dark face split into an even wider grin—like a chrysanthemum blooming—and he raised his hand to snap his fingers again.

Ben Urich, suspended outside over the dance floor, plummeted downward once more.

George’s pupils contracted violently.

”STOP!”

SNAP!

THUNK!

In that split second, Ben Urich was now mere inches from the vampires below—the ones reaching up with outstretched hands, desperate to tear him apart.

George shot up from the couch with a roar. Seeing Ben’s descent halt again, he let out an explosive breath of relief.

The bearded man also rose to his feet.

”Captain Stacy, it seems you still don’t understand your position.”

”At the Twenty-first Precinct, you’re the decisive, commanding, incorruptible captain.”

”But here? You’re not.”

”And in the future? You won’t be either.”

”We’re giving you the opportunity to become family. That’s because we respect you.”

”But—”

”If you don’t want to be family, then I’m sorry. You’ll have to be our dog instead.”

”So.”

”Last chance, Captain Stacy.”

”Your wife is already dead anyway. And frankly speaking, she wasn’t much to look at.”

”Just some plain Jane from a small town.”

”And she was getting up there in years.”

”Even if she hadn’t died, as time passed, you—now immortal—would have watched her grow older and older. Until she became too ugly to even look at.”

”...”

The bearded man’s voice was languid, utterly oblivious to the fact that Gwen—standing directly behind him—was no longer glaring with anger. She was staring at the back of his skull with eyes that were cold. Dead. Murderous.

Hawk could feel the killing intent radiating off Gwen like a physical force.

The bearded man kept talking.

”So—”

”Accept our gift.”

”I guarantee.”

”Once you accept, you can take your new wife and your partner and walk out of here without a scratch.”

”After all, once you’ve accepted, we’ll be family.”

”And family doesn’t make things difficult for family.”

His voice dripped with honeyed persuasion. Then his tone shifted—turning ominous.

”But if you still refuse... then we’ll have no choice but to conclude that you don’t want to be family. And if that’s the case, we’ll just have to make you our dog.”

George listened to the bearded man’s sinister words, his heart sinking. He kept his face expressionless as he stared the man down.

His mind raced, desperately searching for a way out of this.

But the bearded man didn’t give George much time.

After finishing his ultimatum and seeing that George still hadn’t moved, he let out a contemptuous snort and raised his hand to snap his fingers again.

George’s pupils contracted. Almost the instant the bearded man’s arm began to rise, the hands that had been restraining the female vampire in front of him... let go.

The bearded man saw this and smiled.

He said nothing more. He simply picked up the camcorder again, activated the recording function, and prepared to capture the moment when George consummated his arrangement with the female vampire.

The seductive vampire, who had risen when George stood but remained in front of him, also smiled.

Then, with that alluring smile still on her lips, she knelt down once more.

Gwen smiled too.

A furious smile.

Her mother was still alive, and these vampires had the audacity to arrange a new wife for her father—while constantly degrading her mother in the process.

After that bitter laugh, Gwen’s teeth clenched tight.

”Hawk...”

”Two months!”

”...”

Gwen whipped her head around to stare at Hawk, eyes wide.

”What?”

”It’s two months now.”

”But you just said—”

”My first offer is always the best. You know that.”

Hawk’s smile was radiant as he jacked up the price. His peripheral vision caught the female vampire, who had already gotten George’s pants down and was now reaching for—

”Better hurry. Clock’s ticking.”

”...”

Gwen’s expression flickered. Her gaze darted between Hawk and the female vampire whose hands were now on her father’s...

The next second.

Gwen completely lost it. She squeezed her eyes shut and shouted.

”FINE!”

”Deal!”

❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁❁

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