When we last saw our teenage witch Eldritch she was preparing to head off a heinous heist and in the process destroy the deuces. A set of four fiendish foes planning to lift the precious Bokuti Diamond on route to its return to the downtown museum of natural history. Once inside the museums own security would be far too much to for four mere thugs to crack, no matter who backs them. So Eldritch vows to protect the convoy as it travels all night to its destination.

Armed with the information Detective John Anderson provided Eldritch places her plans for the night. Floating from rooftop to rooftop Eldritch shadows the truck. Perhaps the night will remain a quiet one, for the museum decided to send a pair of trucks into the night, one of them empty and one carrying precious cargo.

There! Just as the truck turns a corner a hint of movement! Suddenly three men in masks stand in the middle of the street before the truck. But where is the final member of the two cards? The truck swerves to a halt and out comes a security guard, but what's this? The man is wearing the same masks as the three in front of the truck! Indeed it appears the plot lain by the deuces involves an inside man.

But how will this complicate Eldritch's defense of the diamond? For as she descends to the streets below it is the lone remaining guard she sets her sights on. He currently faces down the four gunmen with stoic poise. Clearly outnumber and outgunned his defense cannot last long nor will it. The sudden betrayal by his 'partner' leaves him caught in the crossfire and indeed this would be the end of our local hero's story but for a sudden intervention by the sorceress floating above. A shield of pure light materializes into being in between our security guard and his would-be slayer.

Whirling to face his rescuer he shouts, "Holy moley! Thanks for the assist lady, the strangest thing though, I ain't even transporting the diamond!"

At this declaration, the deuces scatter, disappearing like playing cards up a gambler's sleeve into the streets and buildings.

"Well I guess all it took was a white lie! I'd appreciate it if you could help defend the truck for the rest of the route." Seeing Eldritch's shocked look of surprise and then smile he continues, "Well they don't pay me just for my straight shooting! It takes real fast thinking in this business sometimes lady. There's probably no chance they'll be fooled for long."

A few tense minutes later, on a separate street corner, a different scene plays out between four masked men. The tallest speaks first, in an angry voice "What the hell was that Spades, you told us that truck had the diamond!" Spades, the man wearing the mask and guard uniform replies "I swear it is! I watched them load it up myself, but when you three decided to ditch I knew that I couldn't handle that flying lady alone so I decided to hotfoot it here with you guys. We've got to turn around though!" At this, the twos split into pairs and set out.

Back at the armored car Eldritch no longer floats so high as to remain out of sight, now she no longer floats at all. She sits in the passenger side of the car maintaining a shield about the car as her co-pilot chatters away. "So, yer a superhero huh? or is it superheroine? whatya like ta be called then?"

To this, she replies with a curt, "Heroine."

"So what's yer power anyways huh? Light stuff? Them shields or whatever?"

"No, I do not have a power. I tap into the mystic arts." Eldritch replies with a hint of a smile.

"The mystic arts? Whots that? Izzat like the feminine mystique or somethin? My wife read some book about that stuff a while back an' drove me up the wall fer a month after."

"The mystic arts are ancient and terrible secrets of the universe bent to the whim and will of humans through ritual and incantation. I am also bid to inform you that all feminine power is mystic to some extent."

"Bid to inform? But lady we're all alone!" The guard exclaims in wonder.

"Only alone in a physical sense," she replies with a quixotic smile.

What meaning could Eldritch have with such a strange statement? Our curiosity, and that of the driver, will have to remain on hold as out of the shadows appears a pair of masked men!

These are none other than the very same villains that vexed our quick thinking driver earlier! Yes, the deuces have returned! This time armed with military ordinance, a rocket launcher they swiftly aim and fire at the approaching truck. Although Eldritch's shield manages to blunt the blow, she herself seems shaken by the blast. Her wall of golden light winks out of existence, leaving behind a set of shimmering motes that soon fade. As the pair begin the arduous process of reloading the weapon, another set of deuces drop down from the buildings above to the roof of the truck.

Neither of our heroes can see them, but if they could, they would note the diamond and heart patterns each respectively sport. These are the red pair! The business they intend to do is certainly be red, both villains carry knives and wicked grins of anticipation. Now that the impact from the blast halted the truck, this pair intends to strike as the guardians of the diamond set out to apprehend the ordinance armed enemies down the street.

This nefarious plot might have succeeded. But note how we say 'might' for it is the quick thinking of Eldritch that saves two lives tonight! As the guard rolls out of the truck trying to open a clear line of fire on the RPG wielding maniacs down the street the knife of our heart adorned foe sweeps down to end this story in tragedy.

But on the passenger side, Eldritch has not attempted to leave the car, forewarned by her magical senses she sweeps across the intervening space and seizes the hand that holds the knife before it can harm a hair on the guard's head. Well, perhaps a few hairs, as the strength of a young girl does not match that of a hardened criminal. Still her shouted warning and swift action serve as all the warning the guard needs to duck down. The only casualty is his hat -and accompanying wig- but these are small prices compared to what he might have lost!

Yet for the two of hearts, tonight's action will not end quite so well. For his strike leaves him overbalanced! Even his strength is no match for the forces of gravity and he tumbles from the top of the truck to the pavement below. With a 'thud', his part in tonight's adventure ends. Nevertheless, fear not reader, the tumble from atop the truck is painful but not fatal. The police will have at least one person to question tonight. Even as he falls, the quick thinking guard manages to bring up his pistol and fire a warning shot in the direction of the two men frantically preparing a second rocket shot. The sharp report of the gun freezes them in place, but only for a moment.

The second man atop the truck leaps down, careful to avoid his compatriot's mistake. His wicked blade immediately threatens the guard, preventing him from placing a shot with considerable less warning attached. Swiftly he strikes and sends the gun careening into the gutter. The guard whirls and as the two men struggle, engaged in a deadly wrestling match with the glinting knife weaving dangerously between them, Eldritch places another barrier in front of the truck in preparation for the next blow of the rocket launcher.

Not a moment too soon! Just as she finished the intonations of her incantation, the heavy impact of an artillery shell explodes lighting up the dismal street. This time Eldritch prepared for the strike, unlike before she does not lose control of the barrier and instead whispers a hushed chant and races towards the danger at the end of the street. This truly is the mark of a heroine, one that runs towards danger and not from it! But bravery counts for little, especially in the face of two gangsters. Eldritch's actions may prove foolhardy no matter what sentiment or spirit back them.

Not today however as the thugs soon learn. The hastily drawn weapons they hide behind provide no cover as Eldritch's next spell reveals its purpose. A ball of light races towards the men and halts mere feet before them, cowering from the arcane blast the pair fail to realize it's real purpose was to distract them as a second set of blasts placed immediately behind the first removed them of their armaments leaving the deuces decisively disarmed. From this point forward it is merely a trivial matter for Eldritch to secure the men with two pairs of handcuffs, borrowed earlier from the chatty guard.

Back at the truck, the deadly dance continues to play. Now laying atop the guard the final member of the deuces places his bulk behind the dagger. Both men have locked hands upon the handle of the blade and struggle to push it mere inches forwards or back. It is these mere inches that decide who will live and who will die!

A moment of deadly concentration passes. No longer can each man speak, nor grunt, nor hiss, all effort focused on this confrontation. Then it is the bulk of the diamond deuce that determines this contest, overwhelmed by the weight of his foe the guard slips and the blade falls another inch closer to his vulnerable chest. Seconds away from death, the guard desperately holds out for his arcane ally's return. Twisting his head to the side, he looks down the street for a savior.

Yet Eldritch remains on the other end of the pavement, unable to arrive in time to save the guard. His mind casts back to what she said in the truck, that they were only alone in a physical sense. In desperation, he casts out his thoughts, seeking any aid or succor in his time of need! Only silence replies as the dagger falls yet another inch. This time it pricks through the top of his skin and for a moment, the sensation of blood leaking down his side distracts him.

That moment is all it takes the deuce to twist the blade ever so slightly causing waves of pain to wrack his body. Only the haze of adrenaline helps him hold the device of his demise at bay. Through this haze, he looks up to his foe's eyes. As they lock together in a staring contest whose intensity mirrors the battle of strength already raging the guard watches his enemy's face contort to a vicious grin. Driven by despair his hands begin to slack and he can feel the shining scalpel slide further into his sternum.

Then, moments before his certain death, a second wind fills his lungs and power courses through his ragged limbs! With a roar, he shifts the two card back! Given a moment of respite, he pauses as the two of diamonds reels incredulously. Blood flows down his chest but this paltry concern no longer grabs his attention. Rather his focus remains locked on the source of this wound.

Struck by an inexplicable terror the two card turns tail and flees trying to take a mulligan on the night's attempted larceny. Rather than allow such cowardly action Eldritch finally arrives and bludgeons the man with a strike of pure blinding light. Disoriented and disabled the final member of the two cards proffers no resistance as the cuffs snap about his wrists and as Eldritch shuffles him into the back of the car. Tonight the diamond reaches its destination with additional security, provided by the watchful eyes of the four playing cards that now ride trussed up in the back of the armored truck.

Another job well done and a crisis averted. With this defeat, The Deck retreats leaving the city's uneasy peace untouched for now. Detective John Anderson smiles, knowing that tonight he will not worry his wife or daughter by working late.

However, not everyone can smile free of burdens, our guard finds himself wondering where the surge of strength that saved him came from. Was it a well of power deep within or nefarious influence from without? But for now, his life in hand, such thoughts may rest unaddressed.

Moreover, what of our teenage heroine? The masked lady that secured the safety of the diamond. She too knows that the guard's sudden salvation did not come by her hand. Imbued with terrible knowledge from beyond she knows better than others the price such salvation may require.

Yet she can do nothing for the man now, nor will she have the chance. For even as The Deck folds another rises. But for a moment we give our heroine reprieve, after all the school dance is coming close and Hailey Penze will need all her fortitude to navigate the dangerous straights of high school. A frenzy grips the hallways as young men muster courage to ask blushing beauties to accompany them and those self-same young ladies maneuver the unsuspecting lads as they like. Though our heroine has little time these days for such activity, she too has her sights set on a particular boy. Whom you ask? The answer will have to wait, as next week we discover "The Origins of Eldritch!"