Spider-Man: Instincts

AN: Incase you missed it, I re-edited Ch 14 (The End Pt 3).  I wasn't satisfied with the love scene & some of the dialogue before hand so that has been rectified.  You might want to check it out if you haven't visited the story in awhile.

Chapter 15: Epilogue

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Madame Web was sitting in her chair looking at the tarot cards that lay before her. Since the year of the spider she had watched over her extended family very carefully. Though only have her grand daughter before the events that occurred she watched as the family expanded first with a grandson, Charlotte's husband, which immediately drew the others in as well. Her great grandchildren soon entered the world and she saw them all through her visions. From birth to their eventual deaths, she saw more than some family members do living in a home with their loved ones. Now however she saw something new, something evasive. She tapped at the table before her as the cards refused to tell her what the darkness was.

She could clearly see Kaine and Charlotte Parker. The former villains turned heroes would live a long time and raise four beautiful children. She could clearly see one boy and one girl, although not which of these four children, becoming heroes like their parents and relatives. Based on what she knew about them she suspected the oldest boy and youngest girl would be the two but could not see clearly that this would occur.

Ben Reilly and his two wives would have a grand total of seven children. The Black Cat, the alpha female would give her husband a boy and three girls. The oldest girl would come first followed by identical twins. Ben's second wife, the only member of the family never to have been a costumed hero, would give him two girls of her own and one boy. She could not see their future beyond that and this greatly troubled her.

However the greatest darkness loomed over the originator of these families, Peter Parker. The original Spider-Man would have seven children as well, three from each of his two brides and his adopted daughter. Rachel Parker would grow into spider powers of her own and would eventually take over her mothers mantle as Spider-Woman. The girl would marry but not a male. Her family would except her for who she was and her wife as well. The fates of his biological offspring were currently unknown to her which was what had started her bewilderment at her families fate.

She was about to draw another card when the sound of something traveling through the air caught her attention. The arrow that she heard impacted next to her head but the second and third that she had not heard hit her above the heart and in her right lung. The blind seer gasped for air after the two arrows struck. She knew she was dying based on where the arrows struck her. She also knew that she was dying very slowly at that. The wounds were fatal, but not instantly. As she tried to breath Madame Web The room was suddenly filled with the sound of clapping.

“Bravo...” A male voice stated as he moved before the dying Cassandra. “Bravo my children.”

The figure moved before Cassandra, looking her in the eyes knowing that she could not see him, but would know before she passed on.

“Y... you...” Cassandra said. She could feel the blood coming up as she spoke.

“Yes... me. As you are short of breath, and time, I'll try and be brief.” The figure stated. Pushing the cards from the table the figure hopped up and sat before the dying Cassandra.

“Professor Miles Warren, but you can call me, the Jackal.”

“I... I know you... how...”

“How did we block your sight? Magic!” The Jackal proclaimed. “Serious though, it wasn't that hard, just the right bit of science... I am a scientist you know, and we were able to move against you. I know you want to know what we're up to, just a few more moments, can't have you astral projecting to anyone else, that would be cheating.”

As Madame Web felt her life force waning she became aware of the presence of three other individuals. The three mystery people entered the room and she guessed these were the three that actually were responsible for her impending death. The figures fell in behind the Jackal but said nothing.

“That should be enough time. Try looking into the future now blind one, what do you see?”

Cassandra used her powers and in an instant of clarity, the future came rushing at her. She immediately saw the identities of the three mystery figures, where they came from and what their fates and her families fates would be.

“I control the past, present and future blind one, and I will have my vengeance upon Peter Parker and his ilk. I made two of them and have more control over their fates that even they are aware of. They and their gene brother are no match for us!” The Jackal stated.

“Come along kiddies, there is work to be done.”

The four figures walked out of the room and as they did so, none of them saw the smile that crept up Cassandra Web's face.

“Always the forgotten one that changes the future Jackal. So it was with Reilly, so it will be again.” Cassandra Web then passed on to the heavens, knowing that there would be another that would take her spot as the seer, and another that would claim the role of the Spider-Man.

~The End~

AN: So ends Spider-Man Instincts. I have a series of one shots and a mini-series planned before I get to my big sequel. Original I had intended to say who the new mystery figures were but opted to forgo that for now. Let me know what you think of the overall story and look for the oneshots (that flesh out events) soon.