Gale's lithe figure materialized in a blinding flash, dissipating into the drab entrance of a non-descript New York apartment building. The hallways were dimly lit, protruding with the faint scent of mildew and leaking pipes. The crimson-headed woman's face contorted at the intolerable stench.

It wasn't her first time in New York City, but her patience for the sordid underbelly of the city had thinned considerably. She adjusted the black sweater dress over her combat leotard and tightened the blue gingham scarf around her neck, her eyes wandering through the labyrinth of identical doors.

A few thoughts skittered across her mind like a spider weaving a web of deceit: what she would say, how she would act, her reactions to Iris Barnett's likely distress. After all, she had come prepared to rent an apartment, and there was no turning back now.

She scanned the area with caution, her gaze fixed on the door buzzers at the entrance, one of them faded, but still readable: Barnett. She paused momentarily, inhaling deeply to steady her nerves as her hand reached for the Superintendent’s buzzer.

The opposing door swung open on creaking hinges, revealing a young, attractive woman with light-red hair. Iris resembled Gale in many ways, with her cute, charming smile and thin-but-toned figure.

However, there was a youthful innocence that clung to her like ivy, creating a striking 25-year-old woman dressed in a frilly white off-the-shoulder blouse and a tight mini skirt. The contrast between her and Gale was as if day and night had collided.

"Hello, are you the new neighbor?" Iris asked, genuinely surprised by the unexpected visitor on the other side. She stepped aside to let Gale in, giving her a warm, hopeful smile, oblivious to the danger that had just slipped past her front door.

Gale returned the greeting with a confident charm, instantly forming an assessment of the woman: Innocent, naive, but undeniably resilient and intelligent. To her advantage, Gale knew that Iris's vulnerability would make her the perfect candidate for a trusting alliance.

She just needed to break down the defenses of this feisty young woman and delve deeper into her psyche, unbeknownst to her that her soul might become trapped in a spider's essence.

As she stepped inside the threshold of Iris' apartment, Gale glanced around, blatantly scanning the room for any sign of disturbance, remarking, "Your place is charming, Iris. Has a retro feel, I like that."

Iris' eyes wandered around the room, taking note of the stained walls and disheveled living room. However, whatever opinion Iris was going to give about the room was lost when a voice bellowed behind her. In the doorway stood three men. Two were of normal height, almost identical, but the third, their leader, was a bear of a man. His broad shoulders seemed to barely fit through the door frame. His hair was as black as the night sky, shaved on the sides, to hide the streaks of gray, representatives of his age and authority. Scars could be seen on his face, creating a map of his life's battles and yet, his deep-set blue eyes shone with a spark of concern.

"Iris," the leader growled, his voice deep and commanding. "You know, don't you? You know where Will is. Where is he? I won't ask again." The threat in the man's voice hung heavy in the air, sending a chill down Gale's spine. She had been so focused on making a connection with Iris that she hadn't noticed the danger lurking just outside the door.

Iris shook her head nervously, her voice trembling as she replied, "I swear I don't know where Will is. I haven't heard from him since he went missing."

The man stepped forward, closing the space between him and Iris, his towering figure blocking out the light from the hallway. "I know you're lying. I have connections. You’re still receiving messages from him, aren't you?" He snarled, his lips curling n a menacing grin as he loomed over the frightened woman.

Gale had to end matters, quickly. Not only was this an impromptu opportunity to develop her relationship with Iris, but she also couldn’t have this idiot blabbing more priceless intel, like the fact that Iris was still receiving messages from the missing William.

With calculated ease, Gale sauntered towards the menacing figure, shoulders pulled back, breasts boldly displayed beneath the snug fabric of her black sweater dress. Her hips swung side to side, glossy crimson locks cascading over her shoulders. The lioness persona took hold, and people parted for her like the Red Sea.

She stopped before the hulking man and placed a reassuring hand on his arm. The muscles were rock-hard under her fingers - a feeling that exuded masculinity and strength.

The hulking man's gaze shifted from Iris to Gale, lingering on her voluptuous figure and sultry eyes. He took a deep breath, breathing her in. Gale could feel his chest heave against her hand, his temperature rising. She leaned in, fluttering her eyelashes, purring, "Now my dear, let's not cause a scene here. If my new friend says she doesn't know anything, she doesn't..."

Leaving off the final confirmation question was more than a pregnant pause, it was to gain initiative, that allowed her to chop the first nondescript man standing by the entrance. He crumpled to the floor, grabbing his groin in blind pain, eyes wide with shock. "What the hell!"

The second man, smaller but craftier, rushed towards Gale, seeking to retaliate. He swung his fist in a wild arc, aiming straight for Gale’s face. Reacting with typical feline reflexes, she ducked under his punch and countered with a swift blow to his stomach.

As he doubled over, Gale spun on her heel and rammed her elbow into his chin, sending him sprawling on the ground beside his comrade.

The hulking man appeared frozen in time, a mixture of awe and fear etched onto his face as he surveyed the scene. Once the initial shock wore off, he sprang into action, charging at Gale like an enraged bull.

Instead of retreating, Gale stood her ground, awaiting his attack with clenched fists and flared nostrils. Sure, at any point in this fight she could have used her powers. She could have made a portal appear in front of his fist just as it was about to connect, sending the force of his attack careening back at him, but Gale had always been a believer in fair fisticuffs. She believed that the unnecessary use of her abilities went beyond what was needed to subdue. Besides, this was never about winning the fight, but constructing a more compelling narrative, the better to get close to Iris Barnett.

As the colossal man charged, Gale side-stepped, her boots scraping against the hardwood floor, just enough to receive the blow, but not the full brunt of his force. She angled her forehead so that her right brow, a spot that had received so many cuts it bled from a tiny scratch, bore the impact.

Grunting, she plopped to the ground on her shapely derriere, teeth clenched as white stars flashed behind her eyes. She glowered up at the snarling mass of muscle, a cut above her right eye, bleeding, seeing what effect it had on him. He was taken aback momentarily, realizing he probably hurt her more than he meant to.

In that brief instant of vulnerability, his demeanor changed. He at first offered a hand to Gale, but realizing it was likely a bad idea, dropped it back to his side. Gale dropped her guard and stayed seated, using the momentarily lapse in attack to survey the reactions.

"I'm... sorry," The hulking man stammered, "I didn't mean to hurt you. I just want to find my friend." He averted his gaze from Gale, ashamed of his sudden slip of humanity.

"I understand, my dear." Gale smiled warmly at him, slowly pushing herself to her feet, testing the weight of her legs. She pulled her gingham scarf from around her neck, pressing it against her brow to quell the trickle of blood. "I'm just helping a friend." Gale replied to the hulking man, her voice choked with pain and an air of insincerity. She couldn't get carried away by emotions, not in a situation like this.

"Well, your friend has secrets." He sighed and then turned to the other two, "Sailors. Let's go!" The hulking man barked, darting his narrowed, suspicious gaze between Gale and Iris. He turned on his heels and strode out the door, the other men scampering after him like frightened mice. Gale seized the opportunity to reclaim her composure, inhaling deeply as she touched the cut gingerly.

Iris watched the scene unfold, her emerald eyes reflecting the intensity and uncertainty. Once the door slammed shut, she bolted towards Gale. "Are you alright? I'm so sorry. I didn't know they were coming." Iris said, her voice trembling with worry and fear. Her delicate fingers brushed against Gale's cheek, fixing her gaze on the gash that was steadily weeping blood.

Gale flinched slightly, adjusting to Iris' touch. Pain medication was ineffective against healing powers that surpassed human capacity, but still, the sensation of having her skin opened and tingling irritation both tantalizing and intense was a part she enjoyed playing on the receiving end of sometimes.

It added authenticity to her facade.

With a seductive grin, Gale grabbed Iris's hand, the one that was gently touching her wound, adopting a softer approach. "Darling, don't apologize; it's quite all right." She paused, allowing her fiery-red locks to cascade dramatically over her shoulder. "What intrigues me is why these sailors felt so inclined to turn your home into a veritable war zone. And what about this 'Will' character they're so desperate to track down? The plot only thickens," Gale mused, lightly stroking the nape of Iris's neck with a seductive smirk. The gentle touch sent a shiver of pleasure coursing down Iris' spine, compelling her to lean into Gale's grasp.

The tension humming between these two women crackled with an undercurrent of lust, their bodies inching closer, hearts racing with anticipation.

"God, Gale... I don't know where to begin," Iris replied hesitantly, biting her bottom lip. She stared deep into Gale's emerald eyes and felt herself losing control, hypnotized by the succubus in front of her. Her skin tingled at Gale's touch, and an ache between her legs grew with a relentless desire.

Gale could sense Iris's vulnerability, her hesitation, and she knew that she had Iris right where she wanted her. At that moment, Iris did something, queer. She spread her legs, even though it jeopardized her stability. This sudden movement exposed her black lace panties. Gale, who was used to such blatant invitations, had to admit that it was working.

But why was Iris doing so?

Had Gale's flirtatious banter already influenced the shy woman? Did Iris find herself inexplicably drawn to Gale's alluring dominance and confidence? Gale pondered on this intriguing discovery. Granted, Gale's seductive talents knew no bounds, but this shy and unassuming lass's surrender to the lustful impulse came all too easily, to the point of suspicion.

Iris' pause had lasted too long. Iris must have realized this, because she continued, "I guess I should start with who William was. He was my husband." Her voice caught in her throat, tears brimming in her eyes. "We were married when we were both twenty-one, just over four years ago. But he was in the Navy, and he’s gone more often than he's home. This time, he's been gone for a year. Every few weeks since then, I get a message from him. It could be a text, an envelope, even a damn voicemail. He drops a clue and then disappears again."

Gale's curiosity was piqued. This was no ordinary missing person’s case; there was something deeper, darker at play. Iris used past tense when referring to William. Even a practiced card hustler can give away their hand. Iris assumed her husband was dead, but if so, why keep taking the messages she knew likely wasn't from William? If anything, they were most likely from Ivanov.

"And these messages, what do they entail?" Gale asked, pulling Iris closer, their bodies now intimately pressed together. She could feel Iris's heart hammering in her chest, her breath hot and erratic against her neck.

Without warning, Iris leaned in, crushing her lips to Gale's in a passionate kiss. Their tongues danced together, the taste of desperation and longing evident on Iris's lips.

Slowly, Gale broke the kiss, gazing deeply into Iris' eyes. The kiss was an obvious deflection, a hurried attempt to avoid answering such a simple question, and Gale knew that Iris was hiding something. Still, with a sharply arched brow and a sly grin, Gale decided to take the bait.

"I'm sorry. I'm not normally this forward. You never know how people are going to react to, well, you know." Gale trailed off, a mischievous grin playing at her lips. But Gale's mind was elsewhere, spiraling through a whirlwind of thoughts and desires. Iris' actions were confusing, yet intriguing, and Gale couldn't deny the strange allure that Iris held.

"I'm not normally like this either. I don't know what came over me." Iris whispered; her cheeks flushed as she pulled away from Gale.

Gale's devilish grin widened as she looked into the woman's eyes, which were still filled with desire. Gale rose and walked around the couch, deliberately swaying her hips and running her hands through her fiery red hair. Iris followed Gale's every move with a hungry gaze. That gaze allowed Gale to survey the room, seeking any clue as to why Iris's behavior shifted so noticeably. Why did Iris feel compelled to kiss Gale so suddenly? What had caused her to act so out of character?

Gale paused at a photo of William in uniform, as she noticed the rank and insignia on it, Gale showed her own hand, "He made Chief," She whispered, eyes raised in surprise, as if she knew something she was unable to articulate.

Iris froze and stammered while trying to respond, "We-were you in the Navy?" She asked, clearly caught off guard, her confusion palpable.

"A long time ago," Gale offered, her tone softer, almost nostalgic.