Taking a Pit-stop (closed/Mistqi)

John wasn’t exactly sure why he was here. The New York area in general was a dangerous place to be, especially for someone who couldn’t be around a lot of evil. But Johnny figured that this little rural county, and this little rural diner that he was sitting at, wouldn’t be too bad.

So here he was, the devil’s bounty hunter, eating a cheeseburger and French fries at a diner in Salem Center. It was starting to get late, and Blaze thanked his lucky stars that there was no one in but him and the employees. He wasn’t sure if, at such a late hour, he would be able to take a group of punks walking in here without turning to flames.

What’s wrong with letting yourself go one and a while, Johnny-boy? whispered the laughing voice of Zarathos. But Johnny did not want attention drawn to him at the moment. With all these registration acts popping up, it was easy to mistake him as some kind of demented mutant when he started to smoke. Though, no one was thinking ‘mutant’ when he turned into skull and flames shortly after. They were more thinking ‘oh my god there is a skeleton on fire!’. Zarathos found that rather amusing, but Johnny didn’t.

Cheer up Johnny, the flame and skull look is in season this year. snickered Zarathos. That demon was too happy for his own good.

As Blaze chewed his burger, he gazed down at the headlines for the paper he had bought. After talking to Brother Voodoo, he realized just how behind on the times he was. Taking a hand, the Ghost Rider ran his fingers through his shoulder-length strawberry hair as he read about the rising mutant riots, and about a speech given from an anti-mutant group.

He had nothing against mutants. His best friend, Angel, was a mutant. He worked with homo superiors to bring down criminals all the time. And from what he could gather, he was more ‘freakish’ than any of them put together. At least none of them burst into hellfire and brimstone when near any kind of evil. In fact, if he was a human, he would be more worried about someone like Dr. Doom than someone like Magneto. At least Magneto had limits on how far he was willing to push things…. Or at least, that was what he heard from Iceman and Angel.

And suddenly, the door to the diner opened. Johnny looked up from his booth, but didn’t really notice who came in before looking back down at his paper. Turing the page, he started to eye a particular article about Stark Industries releasing a new defense-shield to the military, not really paying attention to what the new-comer was doing….

Raven has had a rather nice day, in some way she was always afraid. Afraid people may figure out what she was, but she shook her head. She didn't want to think about it any more, her eyes scanned the area. Her eyes soaked up the streets, the people. Raven had noticed children, she smiled as they passed them off as well. The wind was stroking his cheek, it was chilly. She enjoyed the moment, she stopped for a second. She looked up at the sky, she noticed the bright blue sky. The clouds merging into each other clouds.

But she forgot she had to be some place, she looked down and her eyes found her watch. her eyes went wide, she was going to be twenty minutes late. She was cursing herself, Raven never drove places, the city was to big and packed. She always wished she bought a car. But there would be no point to it. Raven heard people talking, she sat down for just a moment. She needed to tell her friends she was going to be late, but before she could do anything but take a breath in. She noticed someone in the diner, her eyes narrowed and was surprised.

She had taken on the appearance of her "human" self and went into the diner. She couldn't believe her eyes, she knew who this man was to. She found this rather interesting, she had heard of this man, but never saw him for herself. Raven made sure that she didn't let the door slam behind her, she had a big smile on her face. She didn't know what to say to him. No one was in the front of the diner. Raven ran her fingers through her black hair and sighed some. She walked towards him.

"Well look who we have here, Zarathos" she said simply.

Raven knew what she was getting into, and also knew she could be in danger because she couldn't mimic him. Then again she was a skilled hunter, one who cannot be screwed with.

"Well look who we have here, Zarathos"

Johnny Blaze, who had raised his coffee cup to his lips, paused and lowered the cup. Outwardly he showed no sign of alarm, but internally there was definitely a feeling of immense surprise as he looked up expressionlessly at the woman before him. His crystal clear blue eyes observing her black hair and dark eyes, and the smug look that seemed to go with it.

Blaze had been called many names. Ghost Rider, Johnny, Blaze, J.B., Demon Spawn, just to name a few. But never had someone called him Zarathos. Probably because that wasn’t his name, but the name of the demon that he hosted. And even Doctor Strange, a master of mystic arts, did not know that Blaze held Zarathos in his soul. It was quite alarming.

What a bad little girl she is too. purred Zarathos, I can taste her sin. Murderer, thief, seductress. Ole Lucy-fer will have a field day with her when he gets her soul.

Have you met her before? Johnny thought back, his hand going to his hip where his hellfire shotgun was located, both hand and gun shielded from her view by the table. Just in case she suddenly decided to attack him. Any acquaintance of Zarathos was bad news. (If you considered that the old demon’s mate was Lilith, then you would get his point).

Not that I recall, and I would remember meeting this particular piece of attractive slime. But she is familiar; perhaps buddy-buddy with Lill… Johnny snorted at the image of Lilith having girl friends. Or friends of any kind. Hey now, that’s my mate you are snorting at! Zarathos growled, but there was some amusement in his tone that told Johnny that he agreed.

John turned his attention to the woman. “Sorry ma’am, but I’m not Zarathos.” He told her without any visible emotion in his southern-like voice. It was true, he was 100% Johnathan Blaze at the moment. Just because he hosted Zarathos and the Spirit of Vengence didn’t mean that he wasn’t his own individual person.

With one hand still on the mythical shotgun, Johnny took a sip of his coffe, keeping his blue eyes locked on the mysterious woman. He hoped that she would be smart enough to stay at the distance she was now. Zarathos was right when he said that this woman was bad, the Spirit of Vengeance was already growling deep inside his soul. Any closer, and Johnny would end up flaming up as the Rider, and use his stare on her.

Ohhhh kinky….. snickered Zarathos. But this one is no stranger to having men get all hot and bothered by her…. John told the laughing demon to shut it, which only made him laugh harder.

Raven laughed "Very true, at least for now" She said simply and picked up the coffee cup and sipped it silently. "I like dangerous men Johnny Blaze" Looking back over at him, her smile grew wider. "Don't be foolish, I carry a weapon as well." she sighed a bit, thinking of how to "Play" with him. "You maybe the ghost rider at certain times, don't mean you can take me" She said simply. She could do many things, she knew however she was playing with fire. Literally, but she enjoyed this very much.

"I love a challenge' she said simply.

She walked over as her body changed into her true form. "Looks like we are a like. Holding a secret, to have two forms. But how would you feel if you could take on anyone Else's form" She crossed her arms and chuckled. She took her cup and threw it against the wall by Johnny.

"Come out and play" She grinned, she enjoyed being so bad. She was planning in her head, of what to do, she knew this was going to get ugly, very fast.

"Only difference between you and me, is the demons power." she laughed.

"Very true, at least for now, I like dangerous men Johnny Blaze"

Johnny frowned, watching her drink from his cup of coffee. What did she mean, ‘at least for now’? Did she perhaps think that he would loose himself to the inner demon? No, he would not. He was too stubborn, and he had the memory of his family that kept him human to some extent. Enough that Zarathos could not take total control.

Dangerous men? Probably because she is such a nasty little girl. I’d love to rip her in half…. purred Zarathos. John ignored him, knowing that, just by the way this conversation was going, he wasn’t walking out of here without turning into the Ghost Rider.

"Don't be foolish, I carry a weapon as well……..You maybe the ghost rider at certain times, don't mean you can take me"

Johnny doubted that her weapon shot hellfire that burned both the soul and body. But he didn’t say anything. He calmly shifted, one foot rested out of the booth. The perfect position to stand up quickly if he needed to. The more she remained in his presence, the worse it got to keep the Spirit of Vengeance at bay. Its what she wanted, him to loose control.

But Zarathos was laughing, long crackles that sent shivers up Johnny’s mortal soul. Not sure if I would want to take her….. I might catch something. Zarathos hummed mockingly. Johnny sighed gently at the crude statement. He couldn’t help but wonder if Zarathos and this woman were more alike than he thought. Probably because most all sinners were like some kind of demon.

"I love a challenge………..Looks like we are a like. Holding a secret, to have two forms. But how would you feel if you could take on anyone Else's form"

Johnny watched as she turned into what he assumed was her true form. With red hair, blue skin, and those yellowish eyes. She looked like some kind of demon herself. But Johnny knew better, she was a mutant that fancied herself as above humans because of her power. But she wasn’t, she was just like the slime that Johnny dealt with every day as Ghost Rider.

When she threw the cup, Johnny was ready, sliding out of the booth smoothly and whipping out the hellfire shotgun. He was shaking, his skin starting to smoke as the Rider started to take over. Zarathos laughed with glee as his blue orbs disappeared completely, replaced by the flames of hell.

"Come out and play……………Only difference between you and me, is the demons power."

”No….” Flames erupted over Johnny’s face, his skin disappearing and leaving only bone behind. ”You are guilty….. And your soul is stained by the blood of innocents, disgusting slime…..” The Ghost Rider shot the hellfire from his gun, ”I am the Spirit of Vengeance, and vengeance shall be mine!” He put the gun away on his belt, opening his hand and allowing the demon-chain to appear. He cracked it in the air, before whipping it out at Mystique, its pointed end ready to strike her through.

Mystique grew a bit smile, she watched his movements. When he shot at her, she dove at the right time. When he lashed out for her, using his chain she jumped right onto the counter. She smirked a bit, she ran right for him. But she jumped and moved behind him, grabbing his chain. It burned her hand, and all that was heard was a growl but she yanked at it. Before kicking him hard in the back, but knew it wouldn't be powerful enough. She backed away from him. She knew his power, what it would do to her. He could kill her easily, and yet she still did not back down. Her eyes narrowed at him.

"Am I supposed to be afraid ?" She smirked.

"Fire doesn't hurt me, I am used to pain" She said simply.

"We are a like you and I, even if you won't admit it" Was the last thing she said.

Everything was moving so fast, and she had to get out of the diner, it was to small to fight in. She bolted for the door and got onto the street, No one was around which was a good thing. She stopped in the middle of the street. She felt her heart pounding hard, this was going to be a challenge. But she was strong as well.

Perhaps he would see that, she placed her hands on her hips. Cracking her neck and yawned a bit. Stretching out, she was ready for the fight. Looking down for a moment, she closed her eyes. It was peaceful, for now any way.

The Ghost Rider could tell by the growl as she grabbed the chain that the hellfire infused in it had burned her hands rather badly. He didn’t even flinch when she kicked at his back, letting her get around him. Slowly, and in an extremely demented way, he rolled his bones, letting them crack. The sound made most horror movies seem like G-rated.

"Am I supposed to be afraid ?"

The Ghost Rider didn’t respond, turning around and letting loose a roar from the bowls of hell. The heat surrounding him started to slowly rise. The metal chairs of the diner were melting under the intense other-worldly heat. It would have made anyone frightened. Even this girl, because her words were empty. She was afraid, but she probably thrilled herself on fear. It was all fun and games before someone’s soul got burned.

"Fire doesn't hurt me, I am used to pain"

His eye sockets seemed to look at her burned hands, as if mockingly saying ‘uh-huh, sure you can’t be hurt by fire…’ By now, it was obvious that she was lying out of her blue bottom, and that just added to her sins. Zarathos just thought it was amusing, the idea of this woman’s impending damnation. She was defiantly getting the penance stare. And then, she would see how fire really hurt.

"We are a like you and I, even if you won't admit it"

”I have nothing to admit to, for I have admitted my sins. While you have not. But you will soon…..” Came the growled reply as he flicked out the chain to the side, getting ready to attack her again.

But she was fleeing to the outside, obviously trying to find more space to fight him. Ghost Rider took his time, flicking his chain so that it would wrap around his shoulder across to his hip. Then lazily he started to walk slowly out of the diner. Metal melting where he passed.

As for Mystique, she obviously didn’t know about his Hellbike, which transformed with him. The bike saw it’s master’s prey exit the diner, and immidiatly several demon chains shot out of the bike’s flame that surrounded it, and wrapped themselves around Mystique’s arms and legs, until she looked like a half-finished chain mummy. The chains themselves would tighten or loosen, depending on how she moved.

And as that went on, the Ghost Rider exited the diner. Zarathos chuckling madly as the flaming spirit approached the enchained shape-shifter.