Reborn as a Ghost Rider

Johnny froze, feeling something stir deep within his chest. The image was painfully familiar. He'd seen it just yesterday, when he had released that creature from the Cross of Vengeance, only to watch it fly into his throat, scorching his guts and soul alike.

"It's an endless fire," Melissa began, tracing her finger over the flaming skull. "Do you know emotions hold power? Joy, fear, anger... but the thirst for vengeance? That is the most burning desire of all. It creates a fire that cannot be extinguished. Millions of thoughts of revenge, hatred, and justice gave birth to something greater. They gave birth to him."

"Him?" Johnny clarified.

"Humans called him Zarathos," Melissa replied. "But that's just a name given by the ancients. In essence, he is the embodiment of an emotion—the most ferocious and destructive one."

Johnny frowned.

"Does he have a consciousness?"

"No," Naomi interjected firmly. "He has no reason, no logic. Zarathos is fire. He burns as long as there's fuel. He doesn't care who he consumes. He may push you to act, but he cannot speak or think. He doesn't deliberate—he just punishes, thoughtlessly and relentlessly."

She fell silent, then suddenly looked at Johnny intently.

"Do you, by any chance, remember what you used to say in your sleep ten years ago?"

Johnny met her gaze with a stone-cold expression.

"No," he answered curtly.

"What a pity," Melissa added sarcastically, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Witches are always so curious about children's prophecies."

Johnny ignored the comment, focusing instead on the grimoire. Flipping through the pages, he stopped at an illustration of a flaming skeleton holding a stone in one hand.

"Is this Cain?" he guessed, pointing at the drawing.

"Yes, the first Ghost Rider," Melissa nodded. "And in his hand is the stone he used to kill his brother—the symbol of humanity's first murder." Her lips curved into a pleased smile. "The artifact makes a fine addition to my collection."

"Tell me about Cain," Johnny said flatly.

"Cain and Zarathos were the greatest force, a symbiosis that even demons feared. Hell itself trembled before his flame. He was a warrior who burned away all that was unholy. But one day…" she paused, glancing at Johnny, "…one day, the Spirit left him."

"Why?" Johnny asked.

"Because the Spirit of Vengeance doesn't act based on logic—it follows its nature," Naomi explained. "It's drawn to vengeance. Zarathos felt a powerful emotion elsewhere and went to it."

"When the Spirit of Vengeance left Cain, he felt an emptiness consume him," Melissa added, as though she had been there. "It wasn't just the loss of power—it was betrayal. The Spirit, which had been a part of him, left without even saying goodbye. For Cain, it was worse than eternal damnation. And he sought revenge. Because revenge was all he knew."

Johnny felt a mix of awe and kinship. It was comforting to know his ancestor had been capable of defying gods.

"And what did he do?" Johnny asked.

"Do you know the story of Judas Iscariot?" Naomi interrupted.

"Of course," he sighed. "Judas was one of Jesus' disciples. He betrayed Him and then hanged himself out of guilt."

"Cain was there," Melissa said. "He found Judas' body hanging from a tree, and beneath it, the thirty pieces of silver. When Cain touched them, he felt an incredible power. The cursed metal was imbued with the very essence of betrayal. It was a dark force capable of killing gods."

Johnny said nothing, silently processing the revelation.

"Do you know what's most interesting?" Melissa continued with a devilish grin. "In this whole story, Judas thought he was the one who had been betrayed. He believed he was following the Messiah, the Son of God, an unstoppable force who would overthrow the tyrants in power. But in reality, Jesus turned out to be nothing more than a weakling and a pathetic martyr."

"That's blasphemy," Naomi said, her voice trembling with restrained anger.

"Those are facts," Melissa retorted with a smile. "I was there, remember? Or do you prefer fairy tales over the truth?"

"And what happened next?" Johnny interrupted.

"Judas betrayed Jesus because he felt deceived. His vengeance combined with his betrayal, becoming two sides of the same coin. That's why the thirty pieces of silver became so valuable," the maid explained, her amber eyes gleaming. "Cain forged the cursed metal of the God-killer into a perfect cage for Zarathos. And now, it's here."

Melissa leaned closer to Johnny, pointing a finger at his chest, brushing against his shirt and what lay beneath.

"The Cross of Vengeance," she whispered.

"So anyone who wears the Cross can become a Ghost Rider?" he asked.

Melissa shook her head.

"The Cross is drawn to those with the strongest blood of Cain. Cain himself has long been dead, but his curse lives on in his descendants. The Cross is a living key to the indestructible cage created by the first avenger. You were chosen because you are the purest descendant of Cain," her voice oozed with self-satisfaction. "The blood of Cain runs stronger in you than anyone else, and your willpower is extraordinary. My greatest creation."

"Well, thanks, I guess," he replied nonchalantly.

"For a teenager, you've adjusted to this new reality far too easily," Melissa noted, her eyes sparkling with sly amusement. "It's almost suspicious. Who knows? Maybe you've been carrying this thought for ten years already."

Johnny held the demoness's gaze, his face remaining impassive. He understood she was waiting for a reaction, but a decade of training had taught him to conceal his emotions. That was his armor, and it held strong now.

"I trust my mom," he said calmly. "She wouldn't lie. And these biblical stories… they logically explain what's happening to me."

"I've been a Rider, and I know how you feel," Naomi said, shifting her gaze to Melissa. "Can you extract Zarathos from him and seal him back into the Cross, like you did for me?"

"Alas, mistress, I am no longer the queen of Hell but merely a humble maid," Melissa replied, shaking her head skeptically as she adjusted the lace on her dress. "My magic is not what it once was."

"So, if I had left you in Hell," Naomi's voice wavered, "the seal wouldn't have broken, and my son wouldn't have known this curse."

"I'm sure, mistress," the demoness replied with her usual venom, "you regret enslaving me now."

Naomi didn't answer, but the slump of her shoulders spoke volumes.

"If I've understood the nature of this creature correctly," Johnny said slowly, looking at Melissa, "then ridding the world of Mephisto was your most righteous act, Mom."

"Sometimes you seem far too serious," Naomi said, her face breaking into a smile. "But I know I can always rely on you. Thank you."

"I'll continue before this turns into a scene," the maid interrupted, displeased. "The curse of the Rider can only be lifted by death. But I wouldn't recommend rushing to the graveyard, young master. If you want a happy future for Barb and Danny, you're better off staying alive."

"You're threatening my children!" Naomi flared, her voice shaking with anger.

"Threats?" Melissa repeated with feigned surprise. "Mistress, these aren't threats. These are facts. If you don't like science, blame biology, not me. Your marriage to Bart was my project. The goal was to create the purest blood of Cain. Johnny is a magnificent result, but blood doesn't stop with one generation."

"So, if I die…" Johnny began, but Melissa cut him off with a cynical smirk.

"The curse will pass to Barb, then to Danny. It's simple."

Naomi turned pale, her lips trembling.

"No. I won't let that happen."

"This isn't up for discussion, mistress. It's the blood of Cain. It flows through your children's veins."

Naomi tensed, her hand rising to the magical collar around Melissa's neck.

"Tell me how to save them!" she demanded.

Melissa cried out as the collar's magic activated. Pain twisted her face, but her smile quickly returned.

"Mistress, I've never lied to you," she hissed with apparent satisfaction. "And I won't start now. The only way to protect them is to create new offspring with even stronger blood." She turned to Johnny, her eyes narrowing in a sly grin. "And you don't need to look far for a bride. You already know who would be perfect."

"Roxanne," he said. "She has Cain's blood too."

Melissa nodded, like a pleased professor evaluating her star pupil.

"When did you start matchmaking me with Roxanne?" Johnny shot her a hard look.

"Oh, since the moment you were conceived," Melissa replied casually, as though discussing the weather. "But my centuries-long plans were slightly disrupted." She cast a disdainful glance at Naomi. "However, fate has brought you together again. Funny how life works, isn't it?"

"And what's so good about that?" Johnny asked grimly, his voice flat. "Now all my children will be potential bearers of this curse. A wonderful legacy, isn't it?"

"Johnny," Naomi said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I never wanted this. I hoped the seal would last longer, that you could live a normal life. I'm sorry."

"What's done is done." Johnny tilted his head slightly, meeting his mother's gaze. "There's nothing to regret."

"What now?" Naomi asked, her voice filled with worry.

Johnny stood, his gaze turning cold as steel.

"So, I have two options: marry Roxanne under false pretenses and doom my child to the curse, or do nothing and wait for the curse to pass to Danny and Barb. Neither works for me."

"And what are you going to do?" Melissa asked with a smirk. "More experienced sorcerers have tried to cleanse Cain's blood of the curse and hit a dead end."

Johnny didn't respond. He didn't know the answer, but he swore he'd find one.