Synopsis / Summary / Plot
The War Of The Realms released (it seems plant-based) shape-shifters called Vridai from Svartalfheim to Earth. They can only imitate people they have captured. Last issue some of them captured and replaced Angela of Asgard and several ex-Avengers, framed them for something and then let them go. Blade knew of these creatures and led the framed group to a confrontation with their leader Count Ophidian, who called in their Royal Ritualist Daimon Hellstrom. Thinking he was a replacement Blade killed Daimon, who turned out to be the real thing. And Daimon's sister Satana rang to say her brother was acting strange.
The team now enter Satana's Las Vegas club the 2nd Circle. Spectrum, Spider-Woman, Wiccan and Winter Soldier have changed into civvies, but Blade is in his 'work clothes' and Angela wears what seem to be her only clothes. Blade isn't worried about telling Satana they've killed her brother because they have the body (not on them) and Satana can revive it. Satana is ready to party, especially with Angela and especially after she learns that they have *both* ruled a hell, but Blade wants to get down to business.
Satana says Daimon came to see her and bit her. She responded by putting him in magic suspension in her office, and she takes them there. Blade wants to keep their cards close to their chests because knowledge of the Vridai is itself dangerous. But forthright Angela mentions the Svartalfheim 'fairies' so he tells Satana to leave. The succubus of course objects to that, unless Blade's bossing her around is meant as flirting. So Angela carries her out and dumps her there.
Now they want Wiccan to use his magic to bring the real Daimon's corpse here so they can swap them and destroy the Vridai version. Billy Kaplan also objects to being ordered around - he got dragged into this and it will require a lot of magical energy. He won't have enough left to teleport them out afterwards. While he's building up to it Blade sends Monica Rambeau and Bucky Barnes to search backstage for more Vridai, and he and Spider-Woman will check the dance floor. (Jessica Drew *knew* dressing for a party was the right look for this gig!) Angela will stay with Wiccan in case things go bad.
Spectrum finds a waiter tied up (with vegetation and slime) in a storeroom. But she recognises him as 1 they just passed in the corridor. She tries to warn Winter Soldier outside but the faux waiter drops his disguise and attacks Bucky. Monica turns into her blue energy form and pushes the Vridai away, and then Bucky shoots it in the head. Then she has a bright idea. She transmits herself to all the neon signs and lighting so she can scan the whole place for the enemy.
Wiccan is doing his 'chant what you want' method of spell-casting, and repeated "Bring me Daimon Hellstrom" results in the body floating in through a portal. He won't tell Angela where he's been hiding it. He's wondering what to do with the fake but Angela says she'll just kill it. But then Satana forces her way in. Wiccan uses his cloak to hide the real Daimon's body. Satana says she has many necromancers who owe her favours to resurrect him (looking at the Vridai 1). But then she turns her attention to Angela again and says she can tell she has a broken heart. Angela blusters but they end up kissing.
Jessica Drew has been cruising the dance floor using her Spider-Woman pheromones to arouse attraction in the dancers to check they are human. Blade has been checking the bar. They see a blue energy signal from a neon sign which they deduce is Spectrum and follow it. It leads them to Satana slimed up in a stairwell. They all 3 rush to her office where they find the kissing pair.
Angela sees the 2 Satana's and assumes that it was Vridai magic that made her succumb to Satana's charms - Satana says it's because she's a succubus, stupid! Both Satana's claim to be the real 1, obviously. Blade is all for killing both to be safe. 'Kissing' Satana says they need *her* to bring her brother back from the dead. Winter Soldier enters at this point and resolves the question by shooting the 'captive' Satana who promptly reverts to her Vridai form. Blade says it was a lucky guess, but Bucky points out that she wasn't wearing the bandage where Vridai Daimon bit the real Satana.
Then the Vridai Daimon breaks up into lots of little flying Vridai (that's a new trick!) bearing a message from Count Ophidian and his Liege Knight Birgit the Accursed (presumably the female with him last issue) saying that they have taken over ..., but we don't hear what they've taken over because 4 of the Strikeforce start killing them. Wiccan is too drained to help. But then Spectrum shows up and zaps them all with multiple electric bolts. However this seems to enable the Daimon Vridai to reform. He says they've stolen the Royal Sorcerer (remember Daimon Hellstrom seemed to be working with the Vridai last issue) so now he'll take a replacement. And he disappears with Wiccan.
It turns out Spectrum's outburst has blacked out Las Vegas. But she now restores all the lights. Blade believes the Vridai won't kill Billy because they obviously need a sorcerer for something, which is the team's next thing to worry about. They leave Satana to set about getting her brother back from death. On the way out Blade hints that the Vridai can duplicate Wiccan now that they have him prisoner. And we see 'Billy Kaplan' turning up on the doorstep to greet his fiancé Teddy Altman/Hulkling.