After stepping through the portal, Su Zhan looked around and realized that Blink had vanished. He found himself standing in an abandoned parking lot surrounded by rows of scrapped cars. The silence pressed in on him, making the place feel even more desolate. He frowned, puzzled. Blink was not at the base, so why had she brought him here? If secrecy was her goal, there were far better places to open a portal than this.
He was about to call out for Blink when he heard footsteps behind him. Turning quickly, he saw her approaching, but something about her seemed off. Her expression was oddly blank, her movements mechanical.
"What are you doing here? Did you come out to buy something?" Su Zhan asked, trying to keep his tone casual. Because Blink could teleport, she was usually the one to handle errands, so the question felt natural.
"Yes," she replied, her voice flat as she walked closer.
Su Zhan's frown deepened. Something was not right. Blink's reaction was too dull, too robotic. Normally, she would greet him with a smile or at least some playful banter. This was not like her at all.
"Wait a minute," Su Zhan called, his tone sharpening. "Are you really alright?"
"Me? Of course, I'm fine," Blink answered, but there was a flicker of confusion in her eyes.
"No, you're not fine," Su Zhan said, his suspicion growing. He watched her carefully, every sense on alert. "I don't know if this is an illusion or mind control, but I do know you're not acting like yourself. Whoever you are, it's best you come out now. If I have to find you, you'll regret crossing me."
Blink's expression shifted, her tone changing subtly. "I'm curious. How did you see through it?"
"Mind control?" Su Zhan guessed. There were many in the Marvel world with psychic abilities, so it was impossible to know who was responsible just yet.
He answered her question calmly. "It's simple. Even if you control Blink, you can't fake our relationship. You don't know how we interact, so you can't imitate her perfectly."
Blink's lips curled into a slight smile, her eyes glinting with something new. "So you noticed from just a few words. You really do know her well." She paused, then added, "Want to know who I am? Then follow me."
Without waiting for a reply, Blink opened a portal and stepped through, glancing back at Su Zhan with a provocative look, as if daring him to follow.
Su Zhan smirked. "Did you think I'd be afraid?" He knew this was a trap, but he had no intention of backing down. If someone wanted to play games with him, he would see it through to the end.
He stepped through the portal. The world shifted, and he found himself in a lavishly decorated room. The furnishings were elegant, and the lighting was soft and inviting. On a plush leather sofa sat a striking blonde woman in a white dress, holding a glass of wine and smiling at him. Behind her stood a tall, imposing man with crimson skin and an air of otherworldly menace. Near the door, leaning casually against the wall, was a man with long black hair, a brooding intensity in his eyes, and two gleaming knives spinning idly in his large hands. His presence was powerful, unmistakable, and distinctly non-mainstream.
"Welcome to the Hellfire Club," the blonde woman greeted, raising her glass with a smile.
Su Zhan's eyes narrowed in surprise. The Hellfire Club was a name that carried weight among mutants. Unlike the X-Men, who sought peaceful coexistence with humans, or Magneto's Brotherhood, who wanted mutant dominance, the Hellfire Club took a different path. They were elitists, powerful and influential, preferring to pull strings from the shadows rather than wage open war.
He glanced around the room, recognizing the players immediately. "Emma Frost, the White Queen. Azazel, the Red Devil. And Warpath," he said, nodding toward the man with the knives. Warpath's stoic expression did not change, but his dark eyes met Su Zhan's with a silent challenge.
(TL: Unlike the other guy i manage to find the last mutant's name :P)
Emma smiled, clearly pleased by his recognition. "You know the Hellfire Club well. That makes things easier. In fact, the reason I invited you here is simple. I want you to join us."
Su Zhan arched an eyebrow. "You go to the trouble of controlling Blink just to invite me? That's a unique way to extend an invitation."
Emma laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "You have a reputation, Su Zhan. I didn't want to risk sending people after you like Magneto did. I have no desire to see my people get hurt for nothing." She gestured to the sofa opposite her. "Relax. I have no plans to fight you."
Su Zhan sat down, but not before feeling a subtle pressure on his mind. The mental barrier of his Lantern ring blocked it effortlessly. He looked at Emma and smiled coolly. "Trying to control me with your powers? That's not very hospitable."
Emma shrugged, unbothered. "Just a test. I didn't expect it to work, but I had to try."
"Let's get to the point," Su Zhan said. "Why go to all this trouble to bring me here?"
Emma's gaze was direct. "I want you to join the Hellfire Club."
He chuckled. "You recruit non-mutants now? Why me? And what's in it for me?"
Emma's eyes sparkled. "I've been watching you since you absorbed the fireman's power. At first, I thought you were a mutant. But when you devoured the Human Torch's ability, I realized you're something else entirely. Your power is terrifying. You're strong enough to make anyone fear you, and that makes you a target. Right now, people tolerate you because of your strength and your restraint. But that won't last. Sooner or later, someone will try to eliminate you, just like Magneto did."
Su Zhan nodded. He knew she was right. Anyone with the power to absorb and wield the abilities of others would be feared and, eventually, targeted.
Emma continued, her tone earnest. "That's why I want you with us. I can help you avoid trouble and grow even stronger. Any power you want, I can help you find it. With my help, you could become unstoppable in a very short time."
"It all sounds great, but nothing in this world is free," Su Zhan replied. "If you help me, what do you want in return?"
Emma shook her head. "You don't need to pay anything. All I ask is that you protect the Hellfire Club and help us grow. For someone like you, that's just a small effort, isn't it?"
Su Zhan leaned back, considering her offer. The Hellfire Club was powerful, resourceful, and had access to abilities and secrets that could be useful. But he also knew that aligning himself with them would come with its own risks and entanglements.
He smiled, his eyes never leaving Emma's. "I'll think about it. But if you ever try to control me or my people again, you'll regret it."
Emma's smile widened, her confidence undiminished. "I wouldn't dream of it. Welcome to the Hellfire Club, Su Zhan. I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together."
As the meeting ended, Su Zhan stood, feeling the weight of new possibilities settling on his shoulders. The game had changed, and he was ready to play.