The Holy Son in Marvel

"Uncle…" Abigail tugged fearfully at Randolph Carter's sleeve, and Randolph grasped her slender arm, pulling her behind him.

"We're going home," he said, placing a hand on Abigail's head to keep her from looking back at the ignorant crowd. He didn't want her witnessing this scene or letting such people undermine her sanity. Although Abigail would one day have to return to her rightful place and reveal her true form—just like her brother born in Dunwich—it was not to happen here, and not until she was behind the right door.

In truth, Randolph Carter had only been able to locate Abigail because the One Who Unifies All sensed her transformation and the presence of a familiar spellcaster nearby.

After receiving the request, Randolph had descended in his physical form, focusing most of his energy on maintaining this illusionary reality. He'd erased Abigail's memories of everything after 1692, delaying her transformation. This act was a small selfish gesture on his part, for he came from Arkham, near Salem, where he had first encountered the Silver Key. Though he found it strange, he couldn't deny a lingering fondness for Arkham. If Abigail were to lose her sanity here, the outcome would produce something beyond his control.

However, maintaining this illusionary reality was no easy feat. Randolph had reset it multiple times, but every attempt to summon the One Who Unifies All was disrupted by the bothersome Dark Man. Nyarlathotep's mischief had but one goal: to destroy Abigail's sanity and force her to reveal her inhuman side here. For Abigail's true father, this delay of a few days held little significance; such moments were inconsequential to the One Who Unifies All, master of time and space.

Randolph Carter had initially believed he couldn't break free and search for the spellcaster whom the One Who Unifies All sought. However, to his surprise, that very spellcaster managed to transcend outer reality and arrive at his location.

Only then did Randolph comprehend the full picture. For someone like him, who had passed through the door of the Silver Key, time didn't flow linearly. He had glimpsed all possible outcomes, and when Solomon stepped into Salem, the final piece fell into place.

This was why Randolph Carter told Solomon that it was his last chance to settle his debt to the One Who Unifies All. If Solomon could return Abigail Williams to the space beyond the door, the debt of a minor sorcerer could be erased. Abigail, as the One Who Unifies All's most outstanding non-blood heir, far surpassed her brother—the beastly failure born in Dunwich. If Solomon succeeded in sending Abigail back, it would clear the debt tied to his Stigmata, and Solomon might even receive a reward.

With Tituba missing, Randolph Carter took care of Abigail himself. He waited until she had fallen asleep, clutching her teddy bear, then silently rose, closed her door gently, and went downstairs. He boiled a pot of water, fetched some Ceylon tea—expensive in the colonies—and set out pristine porcelain cups on the table. After completing these tasks, he took a pocket watch from his coat and watched the time closely. At 2:15 a.m., he pocketed the watch, moved to the foyer, and opened the door.

Solomon emerged from the alley, muddy and disheveled—he had encountered more than just a giant. The dark forest at night seemed like a gathering place for creatures, and in addition to ghouls and the giant, he'd been shadowed by a Shantak bird. His journey, filled with stench, filth, and moments of terror, was one he wished to forget. With no other options, he had decided to seek Randolph Carter's help—though he had no idea what Randolph's intentions might be after losing his humanity. But he had no choice; otherwise, he'd be trapped here indefinitely.

As he reached the door, it swung open on its own. His surprise faded when he saw Randolph Carter. "Honorable Elder," Solomon inclined his head respectfully, "I was unable to locate that chaos-loving presence."

"You failed," Randolph said with a hint of exasperation. It was the first time Solomon had seen any expression on his face. "You were too hasty," he continued, "I hadn't yet given you the knowledge you needed."

"My apologies…"

"You need to learn—there's a lot to learn," Randolph said, stepping aside to let Solomon enter. "But you have one night, and I will personally teach you. I have tea here; it won't be too unpleasant."

"Thank you, Mr. Carter," Solomon replied. "It's been days since I last had tea." He accepted the offer despite knowing the knowledge he'd gain might strain his mind. The darkness around them ran too deep, and he was out of leads.

In fact, had he pursued the four witches, he could have encountered the Dark Man. But time was running out—a feeling implanted in his subconscious through dreams by Randolph, urging him to come here.

The next morning in Salem was eerily quiet. It was as though everyone's energy had burned out like firewood during last night's witch trials. Men slept deeply, and women fell silent, haunted by the fear of the previous night.

Solomon emerged from Randolph's house, clutching his forehead. He'd packed Randolph's gifted book into his dimensional pouch—displaying its sinister cover would only invite trouble. Randolph had revealed many secrets to him, things unknown even to the Sorcerer Supreme.

For instance, the link between this universe and another was tenuous at best. Abigail's unique nature as a "living Silver Key" had granted her an unusual multitude of potentialities; otherwise, she would have been an ordinary girl. Solomon understood this, having seen the effects of parallel worlds. If mutants were ripples covering a pond, then Abigail Williams was a splash from an adjacent pond that just happened to land here, stirring up a few ripples.

Randolph Carter went on to explain Nyarlathotep's multiple avatars and the methods to deal with them. Before Solomon's arrival, Randolph had intended to call upon Nodens through the "Nodens Invocation," but Nyarlathotep's interference had weakened him to the point that his body couldn't withstand the power required. The bulk of the task now fell to Solomon.

"This is destiny," he said. "Whether you believe it or not, you came here for a reason, and in time, you'll acquire something. This event has already happened, but since you're following the timeline forward, you're unaware of your fate."

But when Solomon pressed him on the matter, Randolph avoided the topic, redirecting the conversation to the nature of this fragmented reality, which lay over the world like a veneer of 1692 atop the year 2010 (or 2011—Solomon was uncertain how much time had passed).

Randolph achieved this illusion with the One Who Unifies All's power, altering portions of reality. But Solomon began to suspect the hand of the Great Eternal—a being also tied to time and space.

Randolph continued, explaining that this reality was near collapse. If he used the Nodens Invocation and Nodens descended, this plane could not withstand it, and Abigail, exposed to true reality, would lose control. The best course was to eliminate the mastermind, then use the "Yog-Sothoth Invocation" to summon Yog-Sothoth, who could take Abigail away. With her gone, everything in this false reality would cease to affect the outside world.

Thus, Randolph Carter's task for Solomon was clear: eliminate or banish Nyarlathotep's avatar, the Dark Man, and then perform the Yog-Sothoth Invocation. As Randolph explained, Yog-Sothoth would arrive in the form of an ancient, kindly entity known as "Tawil at'Umr." As long as Solomon didn't gaze upon its true form, his safety was assured.

This was the heart of last night's lesson. Randolph spent hours drilling Solomon on the ritual, emphasizing every detail. Solomon carefully transcribed the ritual onto parchment. Randolph also gifted him a spellbook with a few spells, though Solomon would need to study them later.

Additionally, Solomon brought up Tituba. Randolph agreed to take her back and hide her within his home, as she, too, would vanish once this ordeal concluded.

——

"Where were you?" Coulson, looking like he hadn't slept, was waiting for Solomon back in the room. He noticed Solomon's clean appearance (a result of magical cleaning) yet detected fatigue on his face. "Natasha's off monitoring those four girls. What happened yesterday? Do we have a new plan? And what about those arrested?"

"Forget about the witches and the arrested," Solomon replied. "I've found the mastermind. If we deal with him, we can end this and leave. As for last night… trust me, dear Coulson, you don't want to know."

P.S. Books referenced: The Dunwich Horror, The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath, The Silver Key, Through the Gates of the Silver Key.

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