Their "First" Meeting

Deep within one of the dimly lit basements of the Baxter Building rested an elongated, rectangular box lined with rich, dark soil. Beside it, a clock quietly ticked, its display reading 9:30. When the alarm sounded, the figure within stirred, its two eyes snapping open in the gloom. A cold smile curled on its icy lips, as though savoring the first step of a grand design. Pushing open the lid, the figure emerged with an unnatural grace, standing tall before moving to the elevator.

The elevator ascended to a middle floor, pausing at the first stop as the doors slid open to admit Alicia Masters. The blonde woman, dressed for the day, wore her usual warm smile as if unaware of the danger lurking beside her. The elevator doors closed again, sealing the pair inside. By the time the elevator reached the upper-level apartment of the Fantastic Four, the predator and his prey had become one. Vlad Dracula stepped out with Alicia in tow, her cheerful demeanor betraying no hint of the fresh puncture wounds on her throat.

Alicia had fed her Master well, her blissful smile hiding the darkness that now bound her will. She had barely finished covering her bite marks when Dracula concluded his feeding for the morning from a container of cosmically charged blood. With his plans for a solitary day ahead, her role was clear: remain in the apartment and serve his interests. But before her day truly began, Alicia had one important task—she would visit the Queen herself, Susan Malice.

******************

It was a day with thick, dark clouds blocking out the sun, it was 2:36 in the pm, and she had just returned from a break during the indoor photoshoots. It had been 3 days since she and Glory had accompanied their mutual friend Betty Brant to that gathering for a raffle drawing. The raffle’s prize theme seemed out of the ordinary since October was so far away. Oh well, this was New York after all; normal was people in strange and colorful getups breaking the law constantly, not that she had any problem with the vigilantism so the raffle event would have to be part of the norm. The only problem seemed to be the feeling of being watched but being the center of attention was normal for her as well. The red head remembered the invitation her brunette friend gave her and Glory a day ago, the suggestion that they have a movie night since Peter had hooked up the TV in her apartment so they could watch movies. The model’s slight distraction of recent events that she almost walked into an outward swinging door. Almost if not for the sudden save of a stranger that had wrapped 1 arm around her shoulders and had stopped the door with the other arm outstretched with a pale hand. It took a few seconds for the model to realize what had happened and what had almost happened. Her green eyes shifted upward as she turned her head to the side until her eyes were looking at his face. The model broke from him as he released her and twirled once as to face from a distance.

“I’m sorry,” said the stranger in a familiar accent, “Did I frighten you?”

“N-no, no you didn’t,” answered the woman, there was something about him that was familiar.

His lips smiled and he nodded, “I’m very glad for that.”

She straightened herself out as she calmed down.

“I’m sorry I reacted that way,” she said, “I didn’t expect to be saved from a door.”

“I am happy to help,” the stranger told her, he then gave a polite curtsy, “I am Justin Drake, and you are Miss?”

“I-I’m Mary, Mrs. Mary Jane Watson-Parker,” MJ introduced herself and offered her hand; there it was, a feeling of deja vu.

He gently took her hand and bowed, then kissed her knuckle; despite the gentleness of his touch, Mary felt the strength in his hand.

“Shall I escort you to your destination?” Justin asked.

“No thanks,” Mary replied, almost coldly, “I know where I’m going.”

Mary jane could not ignore the fact that had saved her from injury, but she was grown woman and could take care of herself from non-superpowered events. Justin nodded and proceeded to go his own way which turned out to be the same direction as the red head he had saved.

“What are you doing?” Mrs. Parker asked, annoyed, “Look, I appreciate what you did before, but I told you I’m fine”

Drake just kept himself calm, “I am well aware, I’m merely going in the direction of my choice.”

“You mean…you’re not following me?” asked MJ as she felt her cheeks heat from embarrassment as her hand had raised to an inch from her mouth, “I…am…so, so sorry.”

“It matters not,” he responded, with a wave of his hand.

The 2 continued on their way, 1 to another photoshoot her manager arranged while the other proceeded to speak to about his investment.

******************

It was now 4:46 at the photoshoot and Mary Jane plopped herself on to the love seat next to the man she had run into in the hall after what felt like hundreds of hours. What she could not understand was how he seemed so familiar to her and why.

“Sooo, have we met somewhere before?” questioned the tired model, “It’s just that you’re so…familiar that I can’t get it out of my head.”

“If we had before, Mrs. Watson-Parker, why can’t you remember?” Mr. Drake asked with tact.

“I don’t know,” she simply answered as she hung her head, “I guess I’m being silly.”

“Nonsense, my dear,” Justin comforted her, as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, “you just need a rest.”

Mrs. Parker just smiled at his assurance and lifted her face then put on smile as only MJ Watson-Parker could wear. She then took a drink of water and went back to posing when she had seen the cameraman had finished setting up the camera. Justin did wonder if she would miss the camera after he had claimed her but that was a question for another time.

******************

It was now 7: 48 pm and our unwitting thrall was currently searching through her prize for a suitable movie, she had been in a good mood since her friends had agreed to the night’s festivities. Of course, she was plenty grateful for her ex-boyfriend’s help. It was funny how life turned out; her teen years’ boyfriend had a wife who became a good friend. Peter would always help if she asked for it.

“Now which 1,” Betty said to herself as she poured over the collection of movies.

She knew her master had a significant film in mind, and somehow, she knew; it was like what her sex called…intuition.

“Found it!” the brunette declared, as she lifted movie labeled Dracula with Béla Lugosi in black.

She did not know why but she could feel the master’s satisfaction. Just then there was a knock on the door, Betty immediately got up and answered it. Standing just beyond the threshold were Glory and Mary Jane waiting to be invited in.

“Hey, guys,” the reporter greeted, as she stepped aside to allow her guests entry, “How’ve you been?”

“Pretty good, girl” answered the black model as she carried in large bag of popcorn.

“So, what’s the movie today,” asked MJ with her lips pulled into a smile.

“Oh, well it’s an oldie,” Betty replied, “Like a before Captain America oldie.”

The 2 guests just looked at their friend with mixed expressions.

“Weren’t you a Drama Major, Mary Jane?” the brunette reporter inquired.

“Well, yes, but…” the red head began.

“Well, I thought you’d appreciate something from Hollywood’s past,” explained the ex-secretary.

Both of her guests just shrugged, walked over to the couch, sat down, and watched Betty prepare everything. With palpable excitement the brunette sat down between them with remote in hand. And with a determined smile, the reporter pushed play.