A Weekend Affair # 7 - Exodus

Seer

Seer

The Watcher
Missions
1,332
Residence
every place
As the tumultuous weekend finally came to an end, the future of American Branch was far less stable than it had started when the Europeans arrived. The night faded to morning, and for the first time since the weekend started, no parties or grand breakfasts were on the itinerary. The halls of Hellfire were quite and calm, though the under current of drama was still very much present despite the impending departure of the European regents.

Now, as a new day began, the state of affairs within both American and European Branches were still very much up in the air. Zach and Brienne remained together all night, awaiting the inevitable interrogation to find out whether Brienne was working along side Archer. As promised, Ava headed down to the infirmary to get checked out with John by her side, making sure Erika had healed all serious injuries and to put John's worries to rest. Alek and Haleigh spent the night together once again, although a call from one of Alek's men brought him to the catacombs to find that they had captured the Black Guard who had lured Ava to Archer. Cameron was now preparing for a new chapter in his life as his ex and daughter were on their way to the club, but also trying to salvage his marraige with his wife. And Ashley and AJ got to spend a blissful morning alone without the worries of being interrupted by her spiteful King.

And so we watch...
 
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It had been a rough night for The White King, but he remained at the party, his pride refusing to give anybody anymore than he had already given. His wife had denounced him in public, made him feel like he was the only one to blame for what happened and then refused to acknowledge any part in organizing his takedown should it become necessary. She kept saying how dare he allow her to think he would hurt her, and Cameron couldn't understand how she could even ever fathom the idea in the first place. They were supposed to know each other better than the others, and the weekend had shown them that perhaps they didn't know each other at all. Haleigh had stated what she wanted very clearly, but he wouldn't be himself if he didn't make that difficult for her, and as he ended the night, he awoke with that very purpose in mind. She would get no divorce or regard from him until she was willing to admit that she played a part. Until she was willing to admit that there was something deeper going on with Alek than she admitted to him. Until she ate the crow she so desperately had wanted him to eat.

And while that anger kept him satiated through breakfast, The White King had a few more important things to do than to simmer about the behavior of his wife last night. His daughter was coming to live with him, and he had wasted no time in preparing the mansion for her arrival. Part of The White Wing, including the newly furnished White King's Quarters, just next to his study, had been rennovated with both Carolina and Elena in mind, the decorations still within the style of Hellfire but with accents that would remind them both of home. While his marital status had never been more bleak, this was something that brought him great joy. He sipped his coffee as he watched the workers put the final touches on the multibedroom penthouse as he heard a knock on the door. His sister appeared before him, looking both tired and worried as she sauntered over to him, unimpressed.

Erika: "You're really doing this, Cameron? Right now? After such a scene last night you're going to bring BOTH of them here to live? How exactly is this going to help things?"

Cameron looked at her unamused.

[sipping]

"Well I figure it's better than killing The European Black King, so..."

Erika: "Oh fuck off, Cam. I don't know if you've been paying attention to things around here? But The White Princess murdering The Black King for an attempt on The Black Queen's life is probably the only thing that's SAVED our court's asses since the start of the weekend....but who knows if it's even worth saving. You and Haleigh seem intent on DESTROYING us."

"Haleigh. Haleigh seems intent on destroying us. Publically."

Erika: "You're both being idiots quite frankly, but I'm not here for that."

[annoyed]

"Then why ARE you here?"

He watched his sister soften her expression.

Erika: "Brienne Shaw. Have you talked to her yet? Or have you been too busy playing Extreme Home Makeover?"

Cameron thought about Brienne for a moment. She had spent the night with Zach, so he had let her get a bit of a reprieve. For as much as she was icy and cold and a flat out bitch, Cameron and Erika had known her and The Shaws their entire lives. They were intermingled, and despite some unpleasantries now and then, there was an unspoken alliance between The Shaws and The Kings, and while he had agreed to investigate for John, he was reluctant to do so, in case he found out she was responsible and he would need to call for her execution.

"I haven't spoken to her, she's been with Zach. Which tough break by the way."

Erika rolled her eyes.

Erika: "Not really. He seems to have made his mind up about me as quickly as he thinks I made my mind up about him, but whatever. It's probably best not to fuck a member of The Inner Circle these days. Something is definitely in the water."

[pausing]

Erika: "ANYWAY...she didn't have anything to do with this, Cameron. I was there...when she found him. She had no idea what was going on. More than that...she was afraid..which I've never seen before. She needs our help."

Cameron furrowed his brow.

"Since when are you a champion of Brienne Shaw?"

Erika: "Since the entire Inner Circle has proceeded to go ape shit. Had you not walked in so vulnerable? They would have killed you Cameron. Haleigh almost killed Ava for an errant thought. We have to keep a level head. The Shaws are the only other family like us out there. I mean, we're definitely superior, but they deserve our loyalty. I killed her King. He may have deserved it, but she's alone. We can't send her back to Europe alone. We have to protect her."

"Erika, I don't HAVE to do anything. If she had something to do with this? My hands are TIED. And it will be her mistake. And sometimes people want to turn pigs into bacon. If John and Ava want her dead...even despite any evidence I might find that would absolve her, I have to back their play."

Erika: "Cameron, I am telling you right now, as somebody who has hated Brienne for years. She didn't have anything to do with it. So don't go in there and interrogate. Go in and see if she's okay. Continue to build the bridge between our families, and figure out how we can fix this."

Cameron groaned as he finished his coffee, setting it down on the table. He was sick of people telling how to act, what to say, how to feel. It was becoming suffocating.

"Alright, alright. Jesus. It's too early in the morning for all of this."

Erika: "No, it's too early for these curtains, Cameron."

His sister walked over to the drapes near the window, grabbing them and making a displeased look before turning back to him.

Erika: "It's clear my help is needed here. I'll fix this tacky penthouse, and you go speak with Brienne."

Cameron cocked an eyebrow. It was both unsettling and joyful to see his sister operating on such a clear head. It was also bittersweet, because Erika always had a rise before a fall. And though he hoped she would finally get her mind right, he knew inevitably, something would send her off the deep end. It was better to keep her busy and to delay the bomb.

The White King said goodbye to his sister and headed towards his study, having one of the White Guard escort Brienne over to him.
 
The Catacombs

Alek adjusted the cuffs of his perfectly pressed deep red suit as he made his way into the dungeon. His mind was most definitely not on business, though. It was on the night he and Haleigh had spent together, the second in his bed. There was still a hint of a smile on his lips as he moved through the doorway to find two of his guards watching one of the cells. The cell contained a Black Guard, the one who they suspected had lured Ava to her supposed death, the one Ava had specified was not to be touched. That made him antsy, his guards too. He would have liked to have worked the man over before she arrived, loosen his tongue. But he supposed that if someone helped try to have you killed, you got to decide what to do to them. So he had acquiesced to her request. But still, he wanted to see with his own eyes that this was the man they sought, and having confirmed, he pulled out his phone. He dialed John.

"We have him. Cell block six."

He slipped the phone back into his suit jacket pocket. He eyed the prisoner, wishing again that Ava hadn't wanted him unharmed. He would have liked word to get around, to his own guards even, what happens when a soldier betrayed their regent.

It was his duty to be here, to wait for for Ava to come. But his thoughts stayed with Haleigh. He knew she could handle what was coming her way, and she was tough, and wouldn't show it if she was hurt. But he was concerned about her, and wanted to get back to her as quickly as possible. So once Ava arrived, and got what she needed from this traitor, he would be at her side.
 
The Red Queen's Suite

Ashley groaned.

She hated mornings. Even late mornings. She was lying face down on her bed, most of the covers thrown completely off the bed and the sheet a tangled mess. It was only in slightly better shape than her hair, which looked like she'd lost a battle with a tornado. Her body was streaked with leftover paint, which looked like it had been half scrubbed off with barbed wire. She reached her hand out and felt AJ's warm skin next to her, and she patted it gently. She picked up her head, and yawned widely. Then she turned her head towards him, and moved so she could rest her chin on his side. She smiled playfully and chuckled.

"I was soooo drunk last night."

Her arm draped over him, and she used it to pull herself up and over to him, so that she was laying on top of him, her hands on his shoulders.

"Good morning."

She pressed her lips against his, then buried her face in his neck, finally resting her cheek on his shoulder. Her fingers found a lock of his hair, and began playing with it. She sighed lazily.

"And as soon as we say goodbye to the Europeans, we can get out of here and head to the mountains. And leave Haleigh and Cameron to sort out their shit."
 
Hellfire Mansion - Corridor

He kept stealing glances at Ava and smiling to himself, not able to get the images from the previous night out of his mind. He squeezed her hand, whose fingers were interlocked with his own, happy as could be. She had agreed to get checked out at the infirmary, something he knew she didn't want to do but which made him feel infinitely better about things. Despite everything that had happened that weekend, he had a distinct feeling that everything was going to be alright from now on.

"You know, babe..."

He bit his lip so he wouldn't laugh.

"I really think you're on to something with this whole, 'front massage' thing. Much better than the boring old back massage. In fact, I suspect you've started a fashion."

He turned and started walking backwards so he could face her.

"And I think we should give it another go as soon as you get the all clear."

He grinned then, and kept grinning as he pulled his phone from his pocket and put it to his ear.

"Yes?"

Alek: "We have him. Cell block six."

His grin faded.

"Excellent. We just have one thing to do and then we'll be there."

He pressed end, and put the phone back in his pocket, his eyes sliding to Ava's.

"Alek's caught him. He's being held in the dungeon."
 
The night had finished off far better than it had started, and there was a definite perk to being almost killed: no one dared to bother Ava or John all night. But soon night gave way to morning, and when Ava woke up her throat was still very horse and soft in tone. Staying true to her word, she allowed John to escort her down to the infirmary to get checked out just in case Erika's spell hadn't completely healed her wounds. Walking hand in hand with John, their fingers were interlinked and both couldn't help but keep the smiles off their faces. John squeezed her hand and Ava looked up at him, her smile carrying to her eyes.

"What?"

She croaked with a little laugh, seeing the glint of playfulness within John's.

John: "You know, babe...I really think you're on to something with this whole, 'front massage' thing. Much better than the boring old back massage. In fact, I suspect you've started a fashion."

Ava chuckled softly as John turned around, walking backwards as he pulled her with him.

"You liked that huh?....I liked it too."

She flicked her brows up playfully, a seductive smile spread across her lips.

John: "And I think we should give it another go as soon as you get the all clear."

"Sounds like my kind of breakfast."

Ava gently laughed as John's grin grew while digging into his pocket to answer his phone. But suddenly his smile fell causing Ava's to as well. Her brows furrowed with a concerned curiosity as John spoke before hanging up. Ava slowed as they reached the door to the infirmary.

"What is it?"

John: "Alek's caught him. He's being held in the dungeon."

Ava tensed, her eyes becoming dark with rage. She knew if anyone could find the Black Guard, it was Alek. There was a reason why he was the Red King, and it wasn't to play a wrench in Cameron and Haleigh's relationship. She would have to thank him when she was done tearing the guard apart.

"This can wait."

Ava saw the look on John's face and knew he would immediately protest. So she stepped forward, placing her hands on his chest as she looked up at him.

"I promise we'll come back here afterwards. But I need to do this now, John...I need to show everyone what happens when they make an attempt on my life."

Ava growled out, the thought like pouring salt on an open wound. She refused to be looked at as the 'weak link' amongst the Queens. Archer had played dirty, and Ava would make sure her reputation as Black Queen remained strong despite what happened. Taking John's hand, they headed past the infirmary and to the elevators that lead down to the dungeons. Walking down the hall, she could see two Red Guards standing outside one of the cellars. Ava's jaw tightened as they approached, Ava the first to enter the cell seeing Alek standing by waiting for them. Her eyes slid to the guard was chained to the wall, the man sneering at her with a steely gaze. Ava's heart was thumping in her chest, rage coursing throughout her veins. Her eyes were as dark as obsidian as they glared at the guard.

"Thank you, Alek."

Ava spoke, the quality of her voice not lost to the guard. He began to laugh, pulling at his chains as he did so.

Guard: "Watching Archer strangle you was almost as fun as watching you struggle to escape him. You looked like a wounded dog....correction, BITCH."

The man spit at Ava's feet, obviously proud of his defiance. Ava's face remained even and cold as she purposely stepped on the place the man spit with her heeled boot, slowly walking closer to him.

Guard: "What's wrong, sweetheart? Don't have anyone to do your dirty work? Daddy not around to help you? Fucking cunt....you never DESERVED the throne. Archer was a TRUE leader. He was the epitome of what it means to be a Black regent."

As fast as a viper, Ava grabbed the man's jaw, his mouth frozen open as she gripped it tightly, her thorn-like nails digging into his flesh and making him groan out as he began to bleed.

"You really are Archer's little lap dog aren't you?....Just as stupid....and just as mouthy."

Ava emphasized her point by quite literally snatching the guards tongue and ripping it completely out of his mouth, the guard screaming out in agony as blood began to pour from his mouth and onto Ava's hand that continued to hold him still.

"That's one problem solved."

She growled through gritted teeth, throwing the severed tongue across the cell as she pushed his face away roughly, the man still whimpering in agony.

"Now....lets get down to business, shall we?"
 
On the way to the Infirmary...

Ava's whole mood had changed when he'd told her they had the guard who had tried to lure her to her death.

Ava: "This can wait."

His brow furrowed.

"Your health cannot wait..."

Ava stepped towards him, putting her hands on his chest. He looked down at her, frustrated.

Ava: "I promise we'll come back here afterwards. But I need to do this now, John...I need to show everyone what happens when they make an attempt on my life."

"I think Archer made that point quite well."

But after a second he sighed, and nodded, and then they were on their way to the elevator. His emotions were all over the place. When they entered the catacombs, he found himself antsy, remembering what had happened the last time he had been down here. His eyes darted around, looking for threats. And when they entered the cells, and Ava thanked Alek, he bristled a bit, not terribly liking that another king had done this for Ava.

Guard: "Watching Archer strangle you was almost as fun as watching you struggle to escape him. You looked like a wounded dog....correction, BITCH."

Steel tensed, the anger now bubbling up inside of him. He was finding it difficult to hold back, even though he knew Ava wanted to deal with him herself.

"Watch your mouth, traitor. You address your queen."

Ava moved closer to the chained guard.

Guard: "What's wrong, sweetheart? Don't have anyone to do your dirty work? Daddy not around to help you? Fucking cunt....you never DESERVED the throne. Archer was a TRUE leader. He was the epitome of what it means to be a Black regent."

She grabbed the man's jaw, and Steel felt a sense of pride in her. She wasn't afraid. And she was about to show this asshole exactly who he was dealing with.

Ava: "You really are Archer's little lap dog aren't you?....Just as stupid....and just as mouthy."

And then Ava reached in and pulled out the man's tongue. A cruel smile spread over John's face. She was badass.

Ava: "That's one problem solved. Now....lets get down to business, shall we?"

John moved back to lean against the back wall next to Alek, where he could watch Ava work, and not be tempted to rip the guy's head off before she was done. His anger was fueled by the images in his head from the night before, when he'd arrived to find her on the ground, hurt, weaker than normal.

"You're lucky: I would have killed you already. Well, maybe you're not so lucky."
 
The Dungeons

John told him they had "one thing to do" before they came down to "interview" his guest. That "one thing" had better not be each other. She wasn't the only queen that could have died yesterday, and while he understood the desire to spend quality time together after something like that happens, he didn't have all day. Thankfully, it wasn't long before Ava arrived, with John in tow. She was angry, which was good. Too many women in her situation would be afraid, or not know what they were doing there.

Ava: "Thank you, Alek."

He grinned at her.

"You are welcome."

Guard: "Watching Archer strangle you was almost as fun as watching you struggle to escape him. You looked like a wounded dog....correction, BITCH."

"Yeah...not touching him like you asked? It hasn't been easy."

The man spit at Ava, which at the very least earned the man a blow to the face, but Ava just moved closer to him.

Guard: "What's wrong, sweetheart? Don't have anyone to do your dirty work? Daddy not around to help you? Fucking cunt....you never DESERVED the throne. Archer was a TRUE leader. He was the epitome of what it means to be a Black regent."

Alek rolled his eyes. Now, Arch had been Alek's friend and all. But harassing a queen at HIS event? Trying to KILL her the next day, during ANOTHER of his events? Archer had earned what he got. But in addition to all that, Alek had no illusions about what Archer was.

"Come on - not even YOU believe Archer was the epitome of a regent in any sense of the word."

Ava was holding the man's jaw tightly. Alek made a helpful suggestion.

"A knife would work well there, if you want to mark up his face a bit."

Instead, Ava made a quip and ripped the guy's tongue out, resulting in some very satisfactory screaming. It made for a good show, but it was a rookie mistake - made it very hard for the guy to give up any accomplices. Or say anything really.

Steel: "You're lucky: I would have killed you already. Well, maybe you're not so lucky."

Alek rolled his eyes. So cliche. How Steel was holding himself back, Alek didn't know. He couldn't help but compare this to what he and Haleigh had done to the servant who had tried to poison her. Much more effective. But nonetheless, he was enjoying watching Ava work the guy over. She looked cute doing it, at least.

"Do an ear next."
 
Ava entered the cell, Alek standing nearby awaiting their arrival. She thanked him and his grinned proudly, but that was when the guard began to spit his disrespectful words causing Ava to narrow her eyes into a glare.

Alek: "Yeah...not touching him like you asked? It hasn't been easy."

The guard spit at her feet, Ava's expression remaining even.

"I appreciate your restraint."

She answered as she slowly walked up to the guard who continued to throw insults at her defiantly, claiming Archer to be superior. Even Alek, who had been friends with Archer, knew bullshit when he smelled it and called the man on it. But Ava didn't care either way as she grabbed his face. This guard was supposed to be loyal to her and he was loyal to Archer. Without pause, Ava ripped out the guard's tongue, the man screaming in agony as she tossed it to the side and pushed his head away violently. She wouldn't listen to his insults any longer. She wouldn't listen to ANYONE'S.

John: "You're lucky: I would have killed you already."

Ava turned to look at John, lifting a single brow with a sinister smirk.

John: "Well, maybe you're not so lucky."

Ava turned back to the guard, running her tongue along her lips as she tilted her head to catch his eye.

Alek: "Do an ear next."

She lifted her brows questionably to the guard who profusely began to shake his head no, moaning out what could only be guessed as him begging. Ava grabbed his ear, pulling his head to her as he cried out.

"Do you hear that? The Red King wants me to rip your ear off...."

He began to make noises again, trying to shake his head no despite Ava's grip on him.

"Now who looks like a wounded BITCH."

She growled, yanking his head closer to her.

"Now...were you acting alone? Or are there other Archer loyalists amongst my guard?"

The guard began to nod, groaning and crying as he did so.

"Yes, you were working alone?"

He nodded again.

"Are you lying to me?"

He quickly shook his head no.

"Good boy....you get to keep your ear."

Ava pushed his head away again but stayed standing in front of him. She began to slowly undo the guard's bloodied button down shirt, watching her own fingers as she pushed the buttons through the holes. At this point, the guard was weeping, audibly trying to speak but the sound only gurgles of nonsense.

"Since you loved Archer so much....I want to do to you what he did to me."

Ava pushed aside his shirt to reveal his bare torso. Her index finger began to trace down the guard's sternum, her nail slowly scratching along his skin.

"But Archer was never one for creativity. *I* on the other hand..."

Ava's finger nail was now at the softest part of the guard's stomach, digging into his flesh like a knife. Blood began to pour from the wound as she sliced an inch long incision along his stomach, his groans of pain like music to her ears.

"Did you know that people can survive quite a while with their intestines outside of their bodies...?"

The guard's eyes immediately went wide as he began to shake his head, crying out protests as Ava's fingers began to dig into the wound. She hooked her index finger around his small intestine and began to slowly pull it out of the wound, the man now audibly screaming and writhing in pain. An inch of intestines became a foot, the organ draped within her hand like a rope. She continued to pull more and more as the man's body hung against the chains, unable to hold himself up any longer from agony.

With lightning quick speed, Ava circled the guard's intestines around his neck, pulling it taut as she shoved his body against the wall, using her strength to pull back and choke him with his own innards. Her face was inches from his, his gasps of air eerily similar to her own from the night before. Ava's eyes were dark - murderous. She wanted to watch as he struggled to breathe the way she had the night before. She wanted to watch the life fade from his eyes like hers almost did. She wanted to make him experience every. single. fearful thought of mortality that she felt in those moments when Archer's hands were around her neck. As the light in his eyes began to dim, Ava's own were lit with fire.

"Now..."

She throttled the intestines, the man's mouth slack as he gurgled weakly to breathe.

"You can DIE like your precious king."

Ava shoved her hand into the guard's gut, under his chest cavity, and ripped it out in one motion. Gripped within it was the guard's heart, like Erika had held Archer's the night before. The man went slack as Ava shoved the heart into the his agape mouth, pushing it until it stayed put. Letting the intestines go, the man's body hung dead as Ava's dark eyes stayed focus on him. Her chest was rising and falling as adrenaline coursed throughout her body. Her arms and hands were covered in blood, bits spattered along her chest and clothing. She may not have been able to kill Archer, but killing this mother fucker definitely made her feel much better.

"There's a reason i'm the Black Queen."

Spitting at the corpse.

"And it has nothing to do with 'my daddy'."

She hissed before finally taking a step back and turning to Alek and John. She had promised John the night before that he would get a shot or two in, and she knew Alek was chomping at the bit. But Ava needed this release, more than even she realized. Finally, she smirked.

"Sorry boys. I'll leave you a little something next time."
 
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Hellfire - The White Rook's Suite

Zach, after seeing some very enticing pictures of Brienne in lingerie, tried to bargain with her to get the pictures sent to him.

Brienne: “Oh really?”

“Oh yes. I’ll send you pictures of whatever you want.”

He promised, as she pulled his plate armor off. His hands found her waist and pulled her hips against his, while she kissed his chest, and named off some of the perks of being her King. Her mouth worked up his neck, sending chills down his spine, as she talked of videos and private shows.

Brienne: “and me.”

“Mmm....”

He murmured into their kiss, as his hands traveled up her back, seeking the zipper of her dress.

“This is starting to sound like a pretty good gig. But, I don’t want this to be a one-sided deal.... I’ll have to think of some perks to offer you in return.....”

He supposed, beginning to undress her. If she was leaving in the morning, he was planning to give her a night to remember. The morning came too soon, really, but there was one thing about it that was nice, and that was the way it felt waking up next to her. He snuggled closer, his face buried in her hair, as he pressed the front of his body against the back of hers. He breathed in the scent of her shampoo, his eyes still closed, a little smile on his face.

"Mmm.... I could really get used to this..."
 
Hellfire -- The Red Queen’s Suite

AJ smiled as he felt his Queen's hand creep across his chest. His eyes flickered open to find she was sliding on top of him.

Ash: I was soooo drunk last night.

"Yes, but you put three guardsmen under the table. It's so amusing when mortals think they can out-drink you. What fools they make of themselves trying to prove it."

He replied, his hands sliding around her back as she kissed him. He returned her good morning warmly, kissing her forehead as she rested her cheek on his chest and played with his hair.

Ash: And as soon as we say goodbye to the Europeans, we can get out of here and head to the mountains. And leave Haleigh and Cameron to sort out their shit.

"Now that we know there won't be war, there's no reason we should delay our vacation. I'm very much looking forward to sharing the cabin with you. And hunting...."

His fingertips were stroking the skin of her back, or attempting to. The paint from the night before was worn rough and uneven and he could feel it still rubbing off. Little flakes of the paint were all over him, her, and the sheets. His smile turned a bit devious.

"My Queen must be wanting a shower to wash all this paint off... I should lend my hands to help...."
 
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Brienne had been awake for about an hour, her mind wondering to the night before. She had basically asked Zach to be her King, a man whom she barely knew and held strong loyalties to a woman who hated her. But as his arm laid draped over her body, the intimacy between them strong even as he slept, she couldn't help but feel it in her gut that this was the right decision if he accepted it. Brienne always followed her intuition, likely guided by her magick, but still always leading her in the right direction. But there was still one giant problem that loomed over her: Archer. No one had come to get her the night before like she had anticipated, which meant that someone would definitely be coming for her today. She would be questioned, and although she was innocent, if they found her guilty, she would likely have to start a war with the American's in order to defend herself. She didn't want that for numerous reasons, but one of them was laying next to her.

Laying on her side, Brienne felt Zach stir next to her causing her to turn her head as he pulled his body closer to hers, pressing it against her. She smiled, her arm sliding down his as she hugged herself closer to him. He buried his face into her hair and she shut her eyes, enjoying the gesture.

Zach: "Mmm.... I could really get used to this..."

"Me too."

She softly replied, her hand gently stroking his arm. Rolling a bit onto her back, she hooked her arm around and placed her hand on Zach's face, guiding his lips to hers, kissing him gently. Her heart fluttered in a way that he could make happen. It was a feeling she was starting to love. But their moment of bliss was cut short by a pounding on Zach's chamber doors, causing Brienne to break the kiss and turn to the sound.

White Guard: "Sir, i'm here for Brienne Shaw on order from the White King."

She was fully expecting John to be the one to summon her, but Cameron made much more sense. If anyone could 'break' through Brienne's psi screen, it was Cameron. And with all the drama that happened the night before, he surely had something to prove as far as his alliance with the Black Court. Brienne knew Cameron wouldn't pull any punches for that very reason. But more than that, it was Zach's king...and she didn't want to put him in a position where he had to choose sides....and her in a position to find out which side he would choose. Zach called out for the guard to give them a moment as they both sat up in bed.

"Well, I can't say this is the first time i've been called down to the principles office."

Brienne quipped, though a bit grimly. Zach was very optimistic in his views as far as Cameron realizing Brienne's innocents, however she as not as confident. If John wanted her dead because of what Archer did to his Queen, Cameron would find a way to manipulate the situation and make it happen. Zach offered to go with her, but she gently shook her head.

"I don't want you getting involved. This is your court, your loyalty is to your King. I'll be fine..."

And she would. If Cameron tried to take her out, Brienne would make it extremely hard for him to do so. The Kings and Shaws had a very long history for a reason, and it wasn't because they were easily disposable. Climbing out of bed, Brienne went to her open suitcase and pulled out a simple pair of black denim skinny jeans and a black t-shirt. Slipping on a pair of black combat boots, she turned back to Zach as he approached her and gave him a long kiss, her arms wrapping around his neck as she pulled her body against his, savoring every second of it. Hell, it could be the last time.

"I'll see you soon."

With that, she opened the door and was soon escorted to Cameron's office. There were White Guards and workers shuffling everyone, likely preparing for his ex and daughter's arrival. The guard opened the office door and Brienne stepped in, seeing Cameron sitting at his desk.

White Guard: "Your majesty."

He bowed as he 'offered' Brienne to Cameron before stepping back outside and closing the door behind him. Brienne crossed her arms and sighed out, rolling her eyes.

"You can't possibly think I tried to kill Ava Cassadine."

She waved her hand in the air dismissively as she walked over to one of the chairs at the front of his desk. Taking a seat, she crossed her leg at the knee casually.

"The bitch is annoying, but I know she's a better asset alive then dead. Not to mention, i'm not stupid enough to start a war with your branch, Cameron. You know me. You may not like me, but you know me. And you know this isn't my MO."
 
The White King's Study

Cameron sat in his study awaiting the European Black Queen, though his mind was not entirely present. Last night had been incredibly rough for him, and his wife's words were still stinging in his mind. Outside of that, he still wanted more than anything to know that she was really okay. That their son was okay. That she was with Alek because she really wanted to be with him, and not because he was just saying all the right things. His mind was throttled back into reality as Brienne appeared in his study.

Brienne: "You can't possibly think I tried to kill Ava Cassadine."

"There was talk of you wanting her head in your trophy room..."


Brienne: "The bitch is annoying, but I know she's a better asset alive then dead. Not to mention, i'm not stupid enough to start a war with your branch, Cameron. You know me. You may not like me, but you know me. And you know this isn't my MO."

She sat down in one of the chairs in front of him as The White King poured a decanter of scotch for the both of them. It may have been early in the morning, but both of them were wasps in the highest order. Even tea time involved copious amounts of alcohol and cramming your emotions down your throat. Cameron raised his glass and took a nice long swig before setting the crystal glass back down on the table.

"Whoever said I didn't like you, Brie? My sister? My mother? Now they don't necessarily like you, but I've always enjoyed you."

The White King rose, pacing back and forthe as he spoke.

"I know you didn't kill Archer. PSI Screen aside, your emotions are amusingly out of sorts. Honestly, I wasn't sure you had it in you. And Erika believes you to be innocent, which is exoneration enough in my eyes. She could have sold you down the river easily, and yet she made a case for you this very morning. Don't think of this as an interrogation. Let's just have a conversation. This is a very...ambiguous time for all of us, and it would be blasphemous for us to turn our backs on one another, considering everything our families have been through."

He gripped the top of his white leather chair with his hands as he looked towards Brienne.


"I wasn't lying. I've always had a fondness for you. You are one of the only women I know who gets the artistry in tearing a body limb from limb. You understand loyalty like I do. Not the fleeting remnants of what loyalty is in Hellfire, but the kind of loyalty that spans across decades....centuries even. Our families, survived the witch trials, civil war, and many number of threats against us the likes of which the mortal world will never know - and they did it together."

[shaking his head]

"I'm not the biggest supporter of magick..and it's because I have never found a woman who does not end up corrupted by it. Consumed. Channeling mystical energies, drawing on forces that are so much greater than the powers of mutants...there is no way not to become intoxicated with it. Not to eventually separate from your loyalty and turn your gaze to yourself...but you haven't."

The White King returned to his seat.

"You are just about the only witch I've met that is able to separate her mortal life from the power she clings to. Not to stoke your rage, but people look at you and find you...petty...spoiled, uninterested. They underestimate you a great deal, but they don't know the kind of control it takes to do what you do, Brienne."

[flatly]

"You're a witch. Incredibly powerful. But it's not all you are. It's not what you LEAD with, and it's for that very reason you live. That you thrive....it's something..that has become very important for me to think about, after the revelation that I have a daughter and a son on the way."

He looked off into the distance for a moment, thinking of his children.

"My son is a gift from my mother, and she will not fail a second time. She will not give life to a man who refuses to embrace his magickal destiny. My powers have confirmed that my son will not only be a mutant, but a witch. And I can already sense the power within my daughter."

He took another sip of his scotch, looking her up and down. Cameron had shown the deepest parts of his own insecurity last night to a room of strangers, the least he could do was be honest with somebody that he actually respected. Brienne needed help, and so did he.

"I don't have many allies right now, Brienne. This weekend has shown me that I need one hell of an overhaul if I want to survive long enough to see my children grown. My family needs help, and so do you. I would like our families to work together for the first time in a long time not out of necessity or duty, but out of want. I should have realized this earlier, and I apologize for not approaching you sooner. But right now, our names hang in the balance. And I don't think either of us want to be the one that sends our family spiraling. My Inner Circle, we were built on the idea of righting the wrongs our parents made. Of proving that we could do this...that we could rule Hellfire without all of the pain and suffering that we endured as kids. Something you are all too familiar with. Maybe it's already too fucked up to fix, but I won't stop trying..."

[confidently]

"I can protect you, Brienne. I can help you navigate through this. I'm not sayiing you need it, and I know my performance last night is not necessarily instilling you with hope, but I'm good at this. I'm down, but I'm far from out. I'm the fucking golden boy of Hellfire, and it wasn't by mistake. All I ask in return is that you help me in return. That you name The White Court as an ally. That you help me protect my children. They all say they will, but at some point, my children will be too powerful to be protected by mutants. And as much as I love her, I cannot rely on my sister, and will not rely on my mother. I need you."

He rolled his eyes downing the rest of his scotch.

"Tell me, how fucking pathetic have I become in the last twelve hours? Be vulnerable they said, it will be fun they said."
 
The Dungeons

Alek had planned to leave as soon as Ava and John arrived, but now that they were, he was sort of getting into it. Ava might not have been a torturer by trade, but she did have a gift for imflicting pain whilst keeping her victim alive, he had to give her that. He made some suggestions, the last after she'd taken the man's tongue out by hand.

Ava: "Do you hear that? The Red King wants me to rip your ear off...."

He grinned, pleased she had taken his suggestion to heart.

The man was nearly whimpering, shaking his head no, yadda yadda.

"You know, funny how all that boasting went to shit as soon as you laid a hand on him?"

He scoffed.

"Not much of a man, is he? I mean, for someone who was complicit in your attempted murder?"

Ava: "Now who looks like a wounded BITCH."

Ava pulled out some more info from the former guard, making sure there wasn't anyone else who had been working with him.

Ava: "Good boy....you get to keep your ear."

Alek was a bit disappointed at that, but Ava was unbuttoning the man's shirt, and that made him curious about what she was going to do.

Ava: "Since you loved Archer so much....I want to do to you what he did to me. But Archer was never one for creativity. *I* on the other hand...Did you know that people can survive quite a while with their intestines outside of their bodies...?"

Alek looked at Steel, a light in his eyes.

"Oh, yessss."

Ava proceeded to pull out the prisoner's intestines, then strangled him with them, before finally pulling his heart from his chest.

Ava: "You can DIE like your precious king."

The Black Queen was covered in blood, and Alek had to admit, it was hot. And she hadn't backed down, which added to the hotness of the whole thing. He had thought she would give John the killing blow, but she had taken it for herself, and he respected that.

Ava: "Sorry boys. I'll leave you a little something next time."

Alek clapped his hands a few times.

"Sometimes I like to watch."

He raised an eyebrow at her.

"And that was surprisingly entertaining."

He ran a hand through his hair, despite his words feeling a little blue balled after the encounter.

"Do you need me to take care of the body? If not, I'll leave you to it. Oh, and Ava."

He took a step towards her, smoothing his suit.

"I want you to know: no hard feelings about Arch. Laying a hand on a Queen is unacceptable."

He gave a sort of half chuckle.

"I'm not sure how Brienne will react though."
 
The Red Queen & Knight's Suite

Ashley felt a need with Savage unlike what she'd felt with any lover before, and that was to touch him, as much as possible, with as much of her body as possible. She didn't know if it was because his warm skin felt so soothing to her, or if it was just to reassure herself of his presence, but she constantly wanted to be enveloped by him. And she did that now, crawling up on top of him so their fronts were pressed against each other.

She was definitely the worse for wear from the previous night, but it had been worth it for sure. They laughed together about how much she'd had to drunk, and the guardsmen who'd tried to drink more and failed. But, it would make them respect her, bond them to her, and grow the camaraderie in the ranks when they retold the story.

She snuggled in against him, her face in the crook of his neck, her fingers playing with his soft locks of hair. She happily mentioned how they could leave themselves once the European regents had gone home.

AJ: "Now that we know there won't be war, there's no reason we should delay our vacation. I'm very much looking forward to sharing the cabin with you. And hunting...."

"Mmm...I can't wait to see it..."

And in truth, she was excited to see him hunt as the wolf.

"And the only possible violence will be if Haleigh kills Elena, and I don't really care if she does, so...we don't need to stay."

She could feel the flakes of paint on her skin, itching as it came off.

AJ: "My Queen must be wanting a shower to wash all this paint off... I should lend my hands to help...."

She picked up her head and found his eyes, her grin matching his.

"There are no better hands for the job..."

She giggled, rolling off of him, but clasping his hand to pull him with her out of bed and towards the bathroom.

"Hmmm...should we start with the front, or the back?"

She gave him a coy smile, which grew to add a layer of mischief to it. As they got inside the doorway, she stopped and put her arms around his neck and kissed him, smiling when she pulled back.

"Also, we are keeping that costume of yours. We're going to have to break that one out again, for sure."

She looked at him lustily, remembering how he had looked in it, appreciating the fact that now he wasn't wearing it. She backed up towards the shower, leading him with her, then let go of his hand so she could reach out and turn on the water. She back in under the stream, letting the hot water run over her nude body.

"And you didn't tell me what flavor the paint was."
 
Flicking the dripping blood off her hands, she looked over at Alek as he began a slow clap. Ava rolled her eyes at that - at how after living together for years, he still didn't realize what she was capable of doing. He truly underestimated her, though she could take solace in the fact that he did believe her capable of assassinating a Queen [Haleigh], so there was that.

Alek: "Sometimes I like to watch. "

"Mmm, do you now?"

She played along as she casually wiped the palms of her hands on the back of her pants, trying to clean the majority of the blood off.

Alek: "And that was surprisingly entertaining."

Ava used the back of her hand to brush her hair outside of her face, unintentionally getting blood on her face. She gave Alek a look, as if to say 'oh please'.

"Yeah well, Haleigh and Ashley aren't the only ones who enjoy getting their hands dirty."

She deadpanned.

"You would know that if you didn't look at me like a porcelain princess, bearclaw."

That was when Ava noticed that Alek had a glint in his eye that he normally never got around her. They usually ignored each other, or snarked back and forth. But as Ava raised a single brow, a smirk tugging on her lips, was she detecting a bit of...arousal? He always played around, joking at the fact that he would fuck her like he did at the Red Hunt, but it was always around others and for show. This was different, and Ava had to admit, Alek finally seeing her beyond just being 'Stavros' spoiled daughter' made her feel a little warm.

Alek: "Do you need me to take care of the body? If not, I'll leave you to it."

Ava glanced at the mutilated body.

"Have your men hang him in the Great Hall for display."

She grinned as she looked back at Alek.

"A warning to anyone who thinks they can betray an American regents and live to tell the tale."

This wasn't just a warning for her own court, but for the Red and White as well. She looked over at John, who was standing casually by, and gave him a wicked smirk.

Alek: Oh, and Ava."

She turned back to Alek seeing him close the distance between them while smoothing out his suite. She lifted a brow up inquisitively at him.

Alek: "I want you to know: no hard feelings about Arch. Laying a hand on a Queen is unacceptable."

That surprised her. Alek seemed like the type of person who would back his friend up even if that friend did inappropriate things, just because they were friends. But the fact that he was actually supporting her really showed that maybe, he wasn't as much of an asshole as she thought. Or at the very least, their inter-regent relationship was getting better.

"Thank you, Alek..."

He then gave a half laugh.

Alek: "I'm not sure how Brienne will react though."

To that Ava scoffed.

"Her 'King' - and I used that term loosely - was a chauvinistic asshole. If the bitch was even remotely aware of Archer's plans to attack me, i'll make this [gesturing to the guard] look like a trip to Disneyland when I get through with her."

Ava knew Cameron was already in the process of interrogating Brienne, so she would find out soon enough if the a European Black Queen position would be open as well.

"And yes, you can watch again."

Ava cracked a smile. Then, her face became a bit more serious again.

"Thank you again, Alek. I would have had John go after the man himself..."

Her words trailed off as Ava shook her head, not wanting to admit that she was in rough shape the night before, her eyes moving over to meet with John's. She gave him a little smile, to show him that she was okay now. But also, as a thank you for being with her every moment last night when she needed him most.

"Anyway...[looking back at Alek] I appreciate your help."
 
Brienne entered Cameron's office, deciding not to waste time and call him out on believing that she would actually attempt to kill Ava Cassadine. It was ridiculous. She disliked the bitch, but she wouldn't actually try and kill her while visiting her home branch.

Cameron: "There was talk of you wanting her head in your trophy room..."

"And there was talk of you wanting your Red King's head in your trophy room....but I digress."

She shot back with a grin before sauntering over to one of the chairs in front of his desk and taking a seat. Cameron pulled out a decanter of scotch, Brienne watching him pour both of them a glass. A man after her own heart. He slid the crystal tumbler her way and she picked it up, giving him a cheers as he raised his glass before taking a sip. Sitting back against her chair, she went on to plead her innocents, stating that despite Cameron hating her he knew her, and knew this wasn't how she operated.

Cameron: "Whoever said I didn't like you, Brie? My sister? My mother? Now they don't necessarily like you, but I've always enjoyed you."

Brienne cocked up a skeptical brow.

"Uh huh..."

Cameron: "I know you didn't kill Archer. PSI Screen aside, your emotions are amusingly out of sorts."

Brienne flipped Cameron off as she took a long and leisurely sip of her scotch. On the plus side, a war wasn't about to start because he knew she was innocent, on the negative side, the whole Alek/Archer/Zach situation wasn't lost to him which was slightly embarrassing to say the least.

Cameron: "Honestly, I wasn't sure you had it in you."

"Oh fuck you. If I wanted Ava dead, she would be dead; but I wouldn't have attempted to kill her in your home club. Archer may have been a savvy King in some aspects, but he was a fucking dolt in others."

But Cameron went on to state that Erika of all people was singing her praises and fighting for her innocence. Erika had said she would protect Brienne the night before, but she didn't honestly believe her. So Brienne was taken aback by his proclamation, looking surprised as she scoffed out.

"I'll be damned..."

Then Cameron went on to talk about how their families had history and that he didn't hate her. This was the second time he claimed as much, making Brienne wonder why exactly he was suddenly showing a change of heart. Just the day before Erika had claimed he ordered her to punish Brienne if she continued to use magick, and now they were suddenly magickal family buddies who needed to watch each other's backs.

Cameron: "I'm not the biggest supporter of magick..and it's because I have never found a woman who does not end up corrupted by it. Consumed. Channeling mystical energies, drawing on forces that are so much greater than the powers of mutants...there is no way not to become intoxicated with it. Not to eventually separate from your loyalty and turn your gaze to yourself...but you haven't."

Then it all made sense. Cameron's mother was a fucking psychopath to the highest order, likely causing him strife since he was a child and all through adulthood. Kelly may have been a powerful witch, but she was ruthless and selfish, her powers corrupting her. As for Erika, she was as crazy as they came, and not reliable because of that fact. Brienne could understand why Cameron had such a diversion to magick when the two woman in his life were utterly incompetent at handling it. It just showed how the Shaws were superior in their methods of handling the magick that coursed throughout them. Brienne's grandmother taught her how to handle such power, and it was quite obvious the Kings were lacking in that.

"No, I haven't. I know my abilities well."

Brienne stated confidently. If there was one thing she was unwavering on, it was her ability to control and use magick.

Camron: "You are just about the only witch I've met that is able to separate her mortal life from the power she clings to. Not to stoke your rage, but people look at you and find you...petty...spoiled, uninterested. They underestimate you a great deal, but they don't know the kind of control it takes to do what you do, Brienne."

Brienne rolled her eyes at Cameron spitting out that others underestimated her because she was spoiled and uninteresting.

"No, they don't. Which is why, eventually, they all end up dead."

She warned, knowing that many people within his own club underestimate her, including his wife. Brienne allowed people to think she was nothing more than a pretty face with a spoiled attitude, but that gave her the upper hand for when she tore their jugulars out. However now, with Archer dead, she needed to be more direct with her approach. She used to coast by as Queen, letting Archer do the majority of the heavy lifting while she did the majority of the punishing; but that would no longer work. Archer's death was eye opening in many ways, causing Brienne to reevaluate her methodology in ruling. She would no longer let people underestimate her. She would prove them wrong before they had the chance.

Cameron continue, speaking about powers and his lineage. Brienne perked up a brow hearing that his son and daughter were not only mutants, but magickal as well.

"Fantastic...more King's."

She griped, though with a cheeky grin. She waved her hand with a sigh.

"Congratulations. Hopefully your children will take after you instead of your psychotic mother and sister."

It was as good as a compliment as she could give considering the line of King magick was continuing. But in a surprising twist, Cameron said he needed her help, causing Brienne's snarky attitude to fade as she listened to him. He actually wanted an alliance with her. He wanted to bridge their families together after centuries and actually work as a unit for mutual benefits. To say Brienne was surprised was an understatement. But the moment he asked for her to name the White Court as an ally and to protect his children because he couldn't rely on his mother or sister - that he needed her - Brienne out right laughed. Not a laugh in your face laugh, but a laugh out of utter astonishment.

Cameron: "Tell me, how fucking pathetic have I become in the last twelve hours? Be vulnerable they said, it will be fun they said."

She shook her head, still laughing, trying to get herself together.

"I'm sorry...sorry...no, i'm just..."

Finally, she took a breath in, her laughing finally subsiding.

"I'm just utterly shocked. If you would have told me last night that you would be asking for my help in protecting your children, I would have thought you were as mad as your family."

Brienne scoffed out in shock, still completely taken aback.

"Jesus, Cameron. I thought you were calling me in here today to start a war with me, not ask for my alliance. So forgive me, i'm trying to process all this."

Brienne downed the rest of her scotch, placing the tumbler on his desk as she sat back, looking at him. This man - this King - whom she had a long standing rocky relationship with, was asking for her help. Her alliance. Her ability to protect his children. For the first time since knowing Cameron King, he was looking at her not as a waste of space, but as a force to be reckoned with. And for the first time, Brienne was looking at him as someone who could be a very powerful acquaintance.

"I have a few terms before I agree."

If she were going to become an ally to the White Court, she needed to cover her own ass.

"I will not be ostracized or treated like some kind of rotten apple when visiting your branch. I will be treated by your guards, you staff, and more importantly, your Inner Circle with respect. Like the regent that I am. There has been a lack of that all weekend long and i'm tired of it."

Jack, Daniel, the guards. She was sick of them all acting like she was nothing more than a child playing dress up with no real clout.

"Secondly, I am free to use my magick as I please from here on out. I will not be ashamed or hide who I am because this club has a shitty history with witches. If you want your children growing up around magick, then you and your "wife" need to learn to embrace it."

Brienne mimed air quotes around wife, using that term loosely considering the state of his marriage.

"And third....your Rook, Zach. He has been the only person here who's treated me kindly since my arrival. I've grown....fond of him. And I would like to bid for his Kingship. I've spoken to him about it, and if he does agree, then I need for you to discuss this with your White Queen."

It was a rare moment of vulnerability for Brienne, especially in front of Cameron. But considering Cameron just opened his heart to her, she figured she owed him the same.

"If you can fulfill my requests? Then you will have the Black Court's alliance, which includes protecting your children."

Brienne gestured between them.

"This will also be a two way street, Cameron. I need to be able to rely on YOUR court in return if I ever need it."
 
The Dungeons


Steel stood back, leaving Ava to do what she needed to do - but ready in case he should need to intervene, or if she got too upset. He would be whatever she needed, as always: bodyguard, advisor, friend, lover. But Alek was enjoying this a little too much for his liking. It was no secret that there was no love lost between Alek and Ava, that he considered her a spoiled, entitled, brat, who hadn't had to work for anything she had. And Ava saw him as a brute. But from his years at Hellfire standing one step behind Ava, he knew Alek, and knew that the lure of a woman that unlike most didn't want him would be difficult for him to resist forever. He had two of their queens under his belt, and Steel had no doubt that Alek would love to make it three.

So John found himself increasingly uncomfortable as Alek and Ava appeared to bond over torture. Alek seemed to try to include him in his obvious glee that Ava was about to strangle the man with his own intestines, but John found he had no appetite for male bonding at the moment. Right then, he just wanted this guard that had tried to harm his queen dead, and to take her to Paris away from all of this.

Ava ripped the man's heart from his body, finally ending it. Her face and hands were spattered with blood, which normally he would have found incredibly hot, but he couldn't stop noticing the way Alek was looking at Ava.

Ava: "Sorry boys. I'll leave you a little something next time."

Alek clapped his hands a few times, then took a very flirtatious tone with Ava.

Alek: "Sometimes I like to watch. And that was surprisingly entertaining."

Ava: "Yeah well, Haleigh and Ashley aren't the only ones who enjoy getting their hands dirty. You would know that if you didn't look at me like a porcelain princess, bearclaw."

Since when did she call him bearclaw?

"Don't you have a queen you need to get back to?"

Any one would do.

Alek asked if she wanted him to take care of the body. John quickly interjected.

"I'm sure we can handle it."

But Ava had other ideas.

Ava: "Have your men hang him in the Great Hall for display. A warning to anyone who thinks they can betray an American regents and live to tell the tale."

And then Alek moved towards Ava, doing a move Steel had seen him do a hundred times. Straightening his suit to draw attention to perfection of it, to the way in which he wore it. And he told Ava that Archer deserved to die for raising a hand to her. That seemed to surprise Ava, and she thanked him. John scowled as Ava told Alek he could watch if she ended up having to kill Brienne.

Ava: "Thank you again, Alek. I would have had John go after the man himself..."

That sentence made him feel like a castrated bull. Like maybe he should have gone out and found this man himself, instead of drinking tea and giving massages. Ava looked at him, and gave him a little smile

Ava: "Anyway...[looking back at Alek] I appreciate your help."

Steel took Ava's hand awkwardly, and started leading her out of the dungeon.

"Yeah, thanks for taking care of the body. And I'm sure Haleigh will be wondering where you are, so we'll just get out of your way."

He cleared his throat, pulling her out into the hallway, where it definitely seemed like there was more oxygen.

"Maybe we should pack up and leave for Paris now."
 
Hellfire -- The Red King’s Suite

When she woke she reached across the bed, but it was cold and empty. There was a stab of concern, when the thought crossed her half-awake mind that maybe Alek had gone to deal with Cameron himself. But when she checked the cameras she saw that was not the case. She found Cameron in the midst of renovating the White Wing, because apparently though he was determined to deny her a divorce, he absolutely couldn’t wait another second to move out of the suite they shared.

She knew why and it irked her. Elena was coming, and bringing their child. Cameron had not expressed the slightest excitement about his own son, in fact he’d instead engaged in argument with Haleigh right after finding out she was indeed pregnant. But when it came to Elena’s child, he was pulling out all the stops. The girl had a room here already.

Haleigh sighed, again wondering how it was possible she’d been such a fool for Cameron. Her mother’s memory was haunting her now. How many times had her mother told her that she shouldn’t have even given the Black Prince the time of day? She hated it when her mother was right, but at least she was dead now, and not around to say ‘I told you, stupid girl.’

Haleigh called her lawyer, told him to prepare for a contentious divorce, and thanked him, for convincing her to get a prenuptial agreement on file. It simplified a lot, though there were still questions he needed to ask her, and then more to discuss when she told him about the baby. Right when she wrapped up that phone call, there was a knock on Alek’s door. She still had no clothes here yet, though she intended to address that issue this morning, but for now she pulled Alek’s red robe on again and went to answer the door, knowing already who it was, though what he wanted was a mystery.

Zach: Good morning?

“I suppose it could be worse. What’s up?”

Zach: The European Black King position is available. Brienne’s offered it to me.

Haleigh gave him a stark look.

“You barely know that woman, Zach.”

Zach: I know enough. This is a rare opportunity for us, Haleigh. I get a Kingship and you get a man in Europe you know you can trust. I can guarantee you the alliance of the Black Court.

He was giving her that look, the puppy dog eyes, pleading. She could never deny him when he got that look. But this wasn’t something she could just decide on without proper analysis of the tactics involved.

“I’ll consider it.”
 
Ava and Alek were going back and forth as he seemed impressed with her ability to torture a man. It was slightly insulting that he thought she were 'too good' to do so, but he seemed to finally get it, Ava even jokingly throwing in Haleigh's little pet name since he always had some snide pet name for her. But that was when John interjected, taking a step forward.

John: "Don't you have a queen you need to get back to?"

That was oddly sharp but Ava looked back at Alek as he asked her if there was anything else he could do in regards to the body. John once again interjected that they could handle it causing Ava's brows to furrow questionable. While they could handle it, she knew he wanted to go straight to the infirmary after this, so she countered with asking Alek to string the guard up in the Great Hall as a message to anyone else who decided it was a smart idea to betray an American regent. She once again thanked Alek for helping capture the man, not wanting to fully admit the reason she didn't send John to do it was because she was scared to be alone last night. She looked to John to give him a small smile, but she could see a scowl on his face which immediately made it fade.

"Anyway...[looking back at Alek] I appreciate your help."

John grabbed her hand and began to lead her toward the exit.

John: "Yeah, thanks for taking care of the body. And I'm sure Haleigh will be wondering where you are, so we'll just get out of your way."

Ava looked a bit perplexed as they reached the exit before looking back over her shoulder at Alek one more time, then exiting. John was basically pulling her down the hallway toward the elevator.

"John..."

John: "Maybe we should pack up and leave for Paris now."

Now that was out of character for him. The fact that he wasn't adamant on taking her straight to the infirmary was enough for Ava to know something was wrong.

"You know I would love that but...John..."

Ava tried pulling him to a stop as they finally reached the elevator. She turned to him, looking up at him puzzled.

"Hey....what's going on?"

She wanted to touch him, but her hands were sticky with blood, so she just held his hand tightly, her eyes both confused and concern.

"Is it something I did?"
 
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