Domestic Disturbance

[Silver]

The Hellfire Estate - Great Hall

:: Bretta felt herself being DRAGGED away from Maxine by Alec. She was perturbed that he was defending that PSYCHO BITCH. She would’ve wiped the floor with that poor excuse for a woman! ::

“Careful, Bretta. We still need her…”

*ornery*: “WE need her..!?”

“Yes…WE do. She’s the only one who can lead us through this horror show…”

:: Bretta stuck out her lower lip in a pout. Who the HELL did Alec think he was jumping in to defend that HORRID girl?! She could see in Alec’s eyes that he wasn’t backing down. ::

The NERVE!?

*irritated*: “FINE.”

:: She walked away in a huff, disappointed in Alec. She had thought that he was better than that. She could hear footsteps coming quicker and quicker, closer and closer. She thought she could hear voices as well. ::

Huh?

:: Soon people began popping up from out of NOWHERE hellbent on going for Maxine!! She clapped in delight at the thought of Maxine finally getting what was coming to her before she realized that SHE, too, would be in trouble if she didn’t move her butt! So she used her dark lightning and her wings to help fend off the attacks. She was so into it she barely heard Daniel telling everyone to get into the Great Hall. So she combined her powers with Archer’s, and they both were able to drive the group back as they headed into the Hall. ::

*impressed*: We make a good team…

“Archer! Seal the door! We don’t have much time!”

Archer: "I'm on it!"

She grinned as Archer sealed the door shut.

"Well THAT was a close one..."

"They got Maxine though! We have to get her..."

"Who says we HAVE to? They got what they wanted...they'll probably leave us alone now. At least give us time to plan our next move.”

"We don't have much time. Maxine is our only hope against those bio-hazards. Without her, we are basically sitting ducks...ripe for the picking..."

*sarcastically*: “Well, aren’t YOU just full of joy and happiness tonight?”

She yelped when she heard a gunshot…and watched in horror as Archer started bleeding from his CHEST!

“Use your ice to clot-!“

:: Archer passed out completely. ::

“Never mind.”

:: Bretta gave Alec a disapproving look. ::

”That?! Was for Heidi…”

:: Bretta couldn’t believe it when “Daniel” turned into the lovely Camille Rowe!! ::

“Oh, for FUCK’S sake…”

My thoughts EXACTLY…

"You children have made MORE than enough mess of the courts for one weekend...That stops now..Rebecca?! Our guests have arrived...."

*dismayed*: REBECCA?!

Bretta felt Alec come alongside her and she gripped his hand in thanks. Just then, the lights turned on and she and her two comrades could see all the horror and carnage that was done in this room that used to be so beautiful. Alec, meanwhile, had to run his mouth off one last time.

“You know, I think you need to get a new decorator…”

Camille: “Shut UP, Rook!”

Rebecca: "Perfect...Thank You Camille! You're just in time to meet my new pet! Come on, Ben..don't keep your QUEEN waiting!"

Bretta stared at Benjamin in horror. She and the White Rook had a FIERY [no pun intended] dalliance one night years ago. THIS Ben, however, made her stomach turn. There would be no passion tonight!! She GLARED at Rebecca, though she was extremely terrified.

Rebecca: "That's a good boy, Benjamin..."

Bretta grimaced at the terrible sound The White Rook made.

Rebecca: "Don't be rude!"

Rebecca "GREET OUR GUESTS!"

:: Bretta winced as Ben let out a loud GROWL and he flew into the air, barreling into both her and Alec! Bretta shrieked but she was still on the ball when Alec used his power of telekinesis to move Ben a few metres away, giving the faerie ample time to use her dark lightning on him, sending him into the curtains where he was ENGULFED in flames! She let herself smile before two shots rang out, hitting her squarely in the shoulder and the other hitting Alec precisely in the kneecap! ::

“No!”

:: Alec slid his athame towards her where she clutched it to her chest. ::

*wincing*: “Take it, love!”

Camille: "That's not all we've got for you tonight, my dears...There's MORE!"

*wincing*: “Oh, love, you REALLY shouldn’t have…”

:: Bretta shuddered as she realized that she was basically on her own…for now. ::

*terrified*: “Alec?!”

“Come ON, Bretta! You can do this!”

*panicked*: “Alec?! RAVENA!?”

:: She set about to work, but she felt unsettled. She didn’t LIKE being on her own like this, but Alec was hurt and who KNEW what Ravena was up to? She used her faerie wings and lithe body to dispatch these MONSTERS like she was doing a beautiful dance of ballet… ::

 

[Liam Forbes]

Down in the Dungeon

Liam massaged his swollen knuckles. He suspected Maxine' s skull was cast iron. HE may be the one built like a prize fighter, but SHE was, physically, the force to be reckoned with. That little scuffle they'd had was not easy for him..... and the hard part had been getting the power suppression collar on her. It had taken a full squadron to subdue her enough for him to stun her with the haymaker that bought him the time to snap it on.

At least once she was knocked out, she was much more congenial. He took her back to the dungeon room where she'd apparently killed his revolution, if Camille was to be believed. Of course, he had to take the word of a prescription junkie with a grain of salt.

He'd relieved a fraction of his fury in the initial fight with Maxine. There was plenty remaining, but he could remain calm for the 'chat' he was about to have with the not-so charming Miss DuPont. He didn't want to believe Juliette was dead. He would refuse it until he saw a body. He would allow Maxine a chance to reveal Juliette's location. He didn't HAVE to reduce her to primordial ooze, but he WOULD if that mouth of hers talked him into it.

"Nobody, and I mean NOBODY is allowed through this door, for any reason. I don't care if the White Queen HERSELF demands entry. The Black Knight and I have MUCH to discuss and I do not wish to be disturbed."

And with that, he shut the heavy wooden door and dropped the bar across it. The noise seemed to revive her. He gave her a few seconds to get her bearings, as he leaned against the table that had previously held her instruments of torture.

"Well good morning, Maxine...... now before you find something cleverly snide to say..... I would just like to suggest that this doesn't HAVE to be so very painful for you. It can be quick and easy..... just tell me what you did with my Princess."

 

[Avalanche]

The Great Hall

:: They were being attacked from every angle. They hadn't been granted a much needed reprieve like they wanted. As soon as they began to recover from their wounds, The White Guard stormed the place and went guns blazing for Maxine while ensuring that the rest of them would be too occupied to help the woman who was already in a weakened state. Had Archer been in his right mind and strong enough he woul have frozen the entire arena and smashed them all to bits, but he had exerted an incredible amount of force fending off the tyrant earlier and he was in need of a recharge. ::

"Goddamn PONCES! Liam needs to stop mourning that damn vampire and focus his energy on the REAL enemy..."

:: Archer did his best to keep the group at bay working in tandem with Silver as they were able to create somewhat of a distance between themselves and the throngs of men armed and ready to kill. Out of the corner of his eye he watched Maxine go down, but he was unable to properly respond to the situation. The sheer volume of The White Guard alone was enough to take down an entire building. It was nearly no match for this group of exhausted upstarts. ::

"MAXINE! Ravena! We have to HELP her! We need to get her out of---"

:: It was too late. Their only hope had been taken and The White Guard was still relentless in their efforts. The elemental heard Daniel from behind him calling out to the group. ::

"HURRY! In The Great Hall! Archer can seal the door with his power! We have to get out of here! Come ON!"

:: There was no time to assess his plan. It was the only course of action they had. Once again working with Bretta the group managed to make a field of force between them and The White Guard as they hurrily gathered behind the door and into the Great Hall. ::

Silver: "Archer! Seal the door! We don't have much time!"

Avalanche: "I'm on it!"

<< Using his ice powers, Archer was able to seal the door in a thick and incredibly durable seal of ice. Ice so strong that it would take The White Guard QUITE some time to break through...time they did not have. Soon, the pounding on the door began to subside as everybody took a sigh of relief. >>

Silver: "Well THAT was a close one..."

Duke: "They got Maxine though! We have to get her..."

Silver: "Who says we HAVE to? They got what they wanted...they'll probably leave us alone now. At least give us time to plan our next move.

Avalanche: "We don't have much time. Maxine is our only hope against those bio-hazards. Without her, we are basically sitting ducks...ripe for the picking..."

<< BANG! >>

<< The Whoosh! of a bullet and gunfire could be heard as Silver, Duke and Lord Ravena stepped back in HORROR as they watched a bullet zoom straight through Archer's chest and against the opposit wall. Archer's mouth began to pool with blood as he dropped to his knees before passing out completely. >>

Camille: "That?! Was for Heidi..."

<< The group looks confused as the man holding the gun, Daniel Reed began to shift and flicker before their eyes, becoming a blur before shifting into the form of The White Queen herself. >>

:: Archer hit the ground with a loud thud, smacking his head on the polished hardwood floor as he went. He was slipping into unconsciousness, barely able to make out what was going on around him. He felt like a failure. A member of his own court had been taken, something he had promised himself would not happen and now here he was, a bullet to his chest. The ice elemental forced himself to remain awake..and conscious. He couldn't allow this to be the end for his court. Not after everything they had been through. Mentally, he focused on the area that the bullet was in as he froze the space around it in his body, essentially freezing the area to refused clotting. From there, he created a shape around the bullet that caused it to be dislodged from his body. His breathing was shallow, but he was alive...and he would be okay. He could hear talking in the distance. ::

Rebecca: "Perfect...Thank You Camille! You're just in time to meet my new pet! Come on, Ben..don't keep your QUEEN waiting!"

<< The group would notice a glowing crimson red chain of shroud energy extending from her right hand that drifted down the hall and around the corner. Giving the chain a firm YANK, the chain flowed through the air before pulling on a tight collar composed of the same shroud energy. This collar was around the neck of Benjamin Buckingham aka Phoenix...The White Rook and the same man that Jessica had rendered unconscious during her first altercation with Liam. This wasn't the Benjamin that many in the group remembered meeting over the years...this Benjamin...had been INFECTED. His body looked bloated and his mouth began near the top of his head, with needle like teeth and an esophagus where his neck had been. He had been turned into an Ooze, a creature from Meridian Industries that Rebecca had succeeded in creating during her work with the T-Virus. These monsters were known for showing up in suprising places due to their unique body composition. They did not eat flesh so much as they drank blood to replenish the fluids in their body and they moved with instinctual hunger. Ben had not been completely turned, rather he still looked somewhat like himself. >>

Rebecca: "That's a good boy, Benjamin..."

<< The man growled with incredible volume and strength as he snarled his way down the stairs before stopping at the bottom of the staircase with Rebecca and waiting, much like an obedient dog might. >>

Rebecca: "Don't be rude!"

<< She SMACKED him on the head. >>

Rebecca: "GREET OUR GUESTS!"

<< Those words seemed to drive Benjamin CRAZY as he flew high into the air and extended his hands and clapping them together. All at once the Great Hall began to light on FIRE; the curtains, the furniture, the dead bodies all ablaze as flames RIPPED through the floor with great speed and force. He may have been a bio-hazard, but before that Benjamin had been a pyromancer. Rebecca's eyes lit up as she watched him. >>

:: The scene began to unfold as flames enveloped The Great Hall with rapid speed. He needed to pull himself together in order to stop this. If he would have been at full power, he would be easily able to control the situation at hand, but right now, he had to deal with the cards that had been dealt to him, like Evelyn had always told him he was VERY good at doing. ::

Camille: "That's not all we've got for you tonight, my dears...There's MORE!"

<< The bodies of those who remained from The Supreme Council Massacre began to RISE, encased in flames but INFECTED. They began to move with greater than expected speed as zombies from all over the room began to rise and linger towards the group. With all of the flames and Benjamin after the group...they would be HARD pressed to get out of this attack alive..and they ALSO had Archer and Daniel's unconscious bodies to worry about...if they were bitten...they would TURN. >>

<< Camille turned to Lord Ravena with a smile, as she pulled a small vial out of her pocket. >>

"And just to ensure there's no funny business from YOU.."

<< She SMASHED the vial on the ground as a familiar and debilitating scent began to fill the room. It hit Lord Ravena immediately as he suddenly found it incredibly hard to breathe. He would soon realize that these horrible fumes were from none other than The Black Lotus Flower, one of the only things that could incapacitate a magick user of his level. Camille cracked a smile as she watched Lord Ravena fall to his knees. She aimed her gun to shoot. A kill shot to the head. >>

:: Archer's vision began to come back into reality as he watched Lord Ravena begin to drop to his knees. He needed to help, he needed to do something...and FAST. He could see Camille holding the gun in her hand and it was aimed straight at Lord Ravena. ::

"I can't let his happen...That vial...I have to stop it..."

:: Gaining his strength, Archer exhaled as a frosty haze escaped from his lips. As Camille fired the gun she would realize that Archer had indeed frozen it and by firing it she had caused it backfire, knocking her back and off of her feet from a moment. Archer's eyes darted towards the vial and the area around it as a light blue globe began to encompass it. Archer was creating an ice construct around the vial, essentially freezing it in time and giving Lord Ravena a chance to recover. ::

:: On pure adrenaline, Archer rose to his feet and scurried over to Ravena, helping him up. ::

"Get Maxine back...We can handle this..."

:: He gave Lord Ravena a sincere look before turning his attention back to the group, ready to fight. He still needed to bide his time before unleashing an attack but for now he walked right over to Camille, grabbing her by the arm as she was attempting to get off the floor and FLUNG her in the air hoping to land her right square in the middle of the many FLAMES that now engulfed the once Great Hall. ::

 

[Lord Ravena]

Chaos. Utter Chaos.

In seconds the White Horde was upon them, Liam's stormtroopers. It seeme dthat the more he killed, the more sprang up to deny him passage to defend Maxine as she was carried away.

Then Daniel led them to another room for a brief respite and with the smells of death and decay Ravena did not detect the drugs in his blood until...

BLAM!!

Too LATE! Archer had fallen by REED?! NO! It was the changeling! And before he could reduce her to ash, he could already smell the fetid aroma of the Black Lotus, his magical essence being disrupted. He fell to his knees as the cow pulled a gun to try to kill him!

:: Archer's vision began to come back into reality as he watched Lord Ravena begin to drop to his knees. He needed to help, he needed to do something...and FAST. He could see Camille holding the gun in her hand and it was aimed straight at Lord Ravena. ::

"I can't let his happen...That vial...I have to stop it..."

:: Gaining his strength, Archer exhaled as a frosty haze escaped from his lips. As Camille fired the gun she would realize that Archer had indeed frozen it and by firing it she had caused it backfire, knocking her back and off of her feet from a moment. Archer's eyes darted towards the vial and the area around it as a light blue globe began to encompass it. Archer was creating an ice construct around the vial, essentially freezing it in time and giving Lord Ravena a chance to recover. ::

:: On pure adrenaline, Archer rose to his feet and scurried over to Ravena, helping him up. ::

"Get Maxine back...We can handle this..."

Nodding, Ravena placed a hand on the man's shoulder as he turned to enter the fray again. Archer would surely be healed...NO, STRENGTHENED by a spell of blessing triggered by touch from the Vampire Lord. As the battle raged anew in the great room, he entered a circular portal...

...arriving beside Juliette as she hurried to find the White King and Black Knight.

Vous pouvez utiliser une mention d'aide.

Standing at the side of the would-be White Queen, Ravena focused his hands together, then pulled them apart. The walls in front of them began to restore themselves to normalcy, and the path that Juliette sought was made more clear in waves. They would be there very soon. It was now up to Maxine and Laim to manage not to kill each other long enough for them to intercede.

 

[Domino]

Hellfire Estate - Catacombs - Torture Chamber

<< Bang! >>

:: The clammering of the wooden door of the torture chamber slammed shut as the cross beam sealed them into the room. All of which caused Maxine to begin to stir as she lightly opened her eyes, her vision blurred and her head realing with pain. Normally, The Black Knight was not down for the count for long as her durability and regenerative abilities often sheltered her from much of the burden of physical combat. Right now, however, thanks to the suppression collar that rested around her neck, she was feeling very weak and out of form. ::

"What? Where--where am I?"

:: She began to make out the various objects in her new surrounding before quickly deducing that she was in fact back in one of the torture chambers underneath the estate, the very same one that she had tortured Bretta and Juliette in earlier. ::

"But why?"

:: A simple darting to the left of her eyes confirmed it. Liam. Of course. The King was looking for his darling Princess. Even in her weakened state, a devilish smirk crawled across her face as The White King spoke to her with essentially his "demands". ::

And with that, he shut the heavy wooden door and dropped the bar across it. The noise seemed to revive her. He gave her a few seconds to get her bearings, as he leaned against the table that had previously held her instruments of torture.

"Well good morning, Maxine...... now before you find something cleverly snide to say..... I would just like to suggest that this doesn't HAVE to be so very painful for you. It can be quick and easy..... just tell me what you did with my Princess."

:: Maxine eyed Liam up and down for a moment, as she struggled lightly against her chains. ::

"You know a simple text message would have sufficed, Liam. No need to bring an entire ARMY down on me just to ask a question."

[smirking]

"Though I must admit...just knowing that you couldn't sedate me by yourself has left me feeling a little wet. The same kind of wet I was when I stuck my hands in Juliette's chest and watched the life drain from her face."

:: Her haunting blue eyes maintained intense eye contact with Liam as she watched his face reacting to the news about his beloved Juliette. If there was one thing that Liam had not taken into consideration in regards to Maxine DuPont, it was that there was NOTHING that intimidated her. Not pain. Not death. Not anything. She would be just as apt to die remaining loyal to her own agenda than let ANYBODY, especially a MAN feel like he could control her in any capacity through threat of violence. ::

"And in terms of this not having to be painful, I would think you should know by now Liam...PAIN is kind of my thing. You may be able to tear my body apart with your power, but POWER is fleeting... So please...continue on with this "sticks and stones" routine. We both know you can't kill me, because we both know that I'm no amateur. You so much as BREATHE on me the wrong way and you'll never see Juliette again...well, what's become of her that is. There are benefits to being a Lone Wolf, Liam. One of them being that your secrets die with you..."

:: Maneuvering her chains around, she lifted her hands up and stretched for a second as she crossed her arms behind her head, looking incredibly smug and comfortable. ::

"Not to mention...I was BORN from torture. VIOLENCE. I'm not telling you a goddamn thing, White King [sarcastically]...because nobody decided to tell Evelyn Pierce a damn thing right? You sat on your throne while The Red and White Queens plotted her destruction. And don't tell me you didn't know..because I WILL NOT accept that. Had ANY of you gotten off of your asses and dusted off your thinking caps..YOU could have done something. You could have most CERTAINLY have stopped Camille...and you could have stopped Rebecca. But you didn't. YOU got stagnant...and you got COMFORTABLE...and you were too busy planning your OWN ideas of reform with Juliette to see what was coming. I've blamed myself everyday since I heard the news of her death. I've punished myself for not being there. I shouldn't have left when she told me, Liam. I should have trusted my gut and stayed behind...but I believed Evelyn at the VERY least had SOMEBODY by her side that could have protected her. She didn't...so excuse me if I could give two shits LESS about you either rescuing or avenging Juliette...because now it seems like part of your CHARACTER to be walking around with your EYES SHUT!"

:: The Black Knight's face curled up with disgust as she SPIT in the face of The White King before turning away, her weakened state not allowing her the high degree of control over her emotions that she usually possessed. Her hands returned to her side as she stared at him, her eyes burning a hole in his head. ::

"But I digress, Liam. Do you worst...because if you think I am going to help you out in ANY capacity, you're an even bigger idiot than I thought."

 

[Liam Forbes]

And of course, she had something cleverly snide to say. She also had a vulgar implication to share. She stared him down, clearly watching for his reaction to the "news". He stared back coldly. She kept talking, kept trying to string him along, and hold the information over his head. At this point he knew Juliette was still alive. Just the way Maxine was talking was proof.

Maxine launched into the tough guy routine. You can't hurt me, you'll never make me talk, I'll take it to my grave, blah blah blah.

"Maxine, who ever said anything about killing you?"

But she didn't stop, she was on a roll. She brought up Evelyn's death, and brayed ad nauseam about who should have said what, and where she should have been, and what should have been done. As if any of that mattered now that Evelyn was dead.

She spit in his face, and he backhanded her right in the mouth. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his face with.

"You think you have ALL the answers, don't you lass? You think you have ALL the power. You think I'll torture you to try to get what I want, and that you'll hold out until the end and leave me quite unsatisfied. (He laughs) but I'm not going to do anything to you. Your father's done enough, hasn't he? You see, I did some research in regards to your..... condition. Your father left us some thorough notes on his experimentation of you. Did you know that when your powers are subdued, the virus that he infected you with will overpower your immune system? You won't die. You will mutate into something heinous and intellectually atrophied. You'll be trapped inside a twisted body, unable to do anything but follow your base instincts and your master's commands."

"You're going to turn into one of those creatures you were fighting upstairs, and I'm going to sit here and watch. I find it morbidly fascinating, on a scientific level. And when you're transformation is complete, I'm going to tie a bow around your head and take you to Rebecca, and let her keep you as a pet or a plaything, a subject or an experiment, whatever pleases her really. It's a shame you aren't feeling a bit more forthcoming with Juliette's whereabouts. I might be inclined to remove your power suppression collar, and let you go, in that case. But if you want to sit here and mutate, then I guess we'll just have to find a way to pass the time."

"Should we talk about Evelyn? Seems like you really fancied her. You act like a widowed lover almost. To bad Evelyn didn't feel the same way. She pitied you, we both did. What your father did to you was reprehensible, even to people like US. We tried to stop Jean Luc, but we were overruled in the end. There's too many aristocrats in this stagnant club who wanted to see what would become of you. They bought into the con he was selling. So Evelyn and I let it go. We couldn't waste time on a losing battle. We started recruiting, and planning a coup. She waited until your father was done with you, then took advantage of your seething rage. You were like putty in the palm of her hands. You strong armed her crown for her! I admired her ability to manipulate you, but now I can see you were just plain smitten with her, and it wasn't such a feat for her to win you over to her side."

 

[Juliette De Lacroix]

Dead bodies laid all around her. Dead dogs, dead zombies, dead creatures of unknown origin.

She was getting close now, she could sense it. The sounds and smells of men fighting and dying were getting nearer. But something was quite wrong on Juliette's end. She opened doors to find hallways that led in the wrong direction.

Merde Alors......

She heard Liam speaking, giving direction to his men. She could smell Maxine, and the earthy scent of the catacombs. She dropped down a ladder into the dirt. She knew she had to get there quickly, before Maxine or Liam killed each other. But they were a lot farther away than mere 'earshot'.

A portal opened next to her, prompting her to draw her bow, but it was Lord Ravena, and so she lowered it just as quickly. He mentioned offering assistance, and she nodded.

"Toujours. Liam a notre chevalier noir, et je ne pense pas qu'ils obtiendront le long du puits."

 

[Lord Ravena]

"Toujours. Liam a notre chevalier noir, et je ne pense pas qu'ils obtiendront le long du puits."

D'accord. Assister à votre roi blanc et je vais calmer le Chevalier Noir .

With a final sweep the pair are able to make the ground up necessary as the walls fall back into place. An eldritch blast destroys the door as they enter and Raven places a hand up as Liam rises to meet whatever has come.

Stay your hand White King. I bring you what you seek. And I come for what is mine.

Keeping his eyes locked on Liam, Lord Ravena fires an eldritch bolt with an index finger that finds its way to the suppression collar on Maxine, releasing her. Already recovering, he can sense the murder in her soul. Within an instant he is helping her up and steadying her for what is next, restraining her from beginning round two with the White King. Meanwhile his eyes are still fixed on Liam.

HOLD my Knight! In the end he is not the goal.

Embracing her, he ignites a healing and invigoration spell. There is much left to do and if he is right, Maxine has a hell of a night remaining.

 

[Domino]

Catacombs...and PISSED.

:: Maxine's face winced as Liam delivered a brutal verbal assault. The Black Knight was a smart woman. She knew where she stood with Evelyn and no amount of "convenient" plot hole filling was going to change that. She listened to his bravado and for a moment she was impressed. His voice always seemed somewhat removed from emotion, as is the case with most scientists. But here he was deliberate. He spoke with purpose and a strong voice and the words definitely hit home, no matter how much she tried to ignore them. She would not however, let Liam know any of these things. Liam was insignificant, collateral damage to her..and his words weren't going to dissuade her. ::


"Well look who knows how to read, Liam! I'm impressed...and already DEEPLY aware of how the virus coursing through my body works. But I would be careful..this club has a history of being destroyed by the monsters it creates."

:: Smiling to herself for a second. ::

"I'm not worried about becoming Rebecca's pet because any second now, her blood will be splattered all over the walls of The Great Hall. A beautiful CRIMSON hue to match the mangled bodies of The Supreme Council I left there. I'm not worried about YOU because all our little exchange has done is buy me enough time for the New Lion of Anatolia to find me...and when he does, and this little collar comes off? Well...I never had reason before to kill you, but I certainly do now."

[pausing]

"And after your little character assasination of Evelyn Pierce...Ravena might just do it for me."

"As for The Black Queen pitying me...MANIPULATING me? Well..as much as it pains me to say...that's the name of the game within these walls. She got to be Queen...I got my father's head...literally. How that came about I don't really care."

:: She eyed The White King up and down as she spoke. ::

"I may not know all the answers...but I CERTAINLY know more than you. You think any of this is some kind of happy accident? I mean I know I am one angry BITCH..but i'm not STUPID. I didn't come here to find Evelyn's killer. I've known that for quite some time. I'm not simply avenging her death, either. I'm making a power play. One that goes far beyond anything that those annoying novices upstairs are thinking of. Everything I have done here is bringing me closer to my ultimate goal...."

"Juliette is a part of that larger goal. As much as you care for her...her destiny does NOT lie with you. Not here. She has a bigger role to play. All i've done to her was set about the series of events required in order for that to happen. She needed to die again in order to be reborn into her potential..."

"And if i'm being honest...once I left her on Evelyn Pierce's bed for Lord Ravena..I have no idea where she went or where she is."

With a final sweep the pair are able to make the ground up necessary as the walls fall back into place. An eldritch blast destroys the door as they enter and Raven places a hand up as Liam rises to meet whatever has come.

"Stay your hand White King. I bring you what you seek. And I come for what is mine."

:: Maxine laughed ::

"See? What did I tell you..."

Keeping his eyes locked on Liam, Lord Ravena fires an eldritch bolt with an index finger that finds its way to the suppression collar on Maxine, releasing her. Already recovering, he can sense the murder in her soul. Within an instant he is helping her up and steadying her for what is next, restraining her from beginning round two with the White King. Meanwhile his eyes are still fixed on Liam.

"HOLD my Knight! In the end he is not the goal."

Embracing her, he ignites a healing and invigoration spell. There is much left to do and if he is right, Maxine has a hell of a night remaining.

:: The SECOND Maxine feels the supression collar fall off her body she breaks through her chains with ease and begins to BARREL towards Liam like a freight train. ::

"You insignificant son of a BITCH! I'll KILL you!"

:: But she is stopped by Lord Ravena who begs her to stop while restraining her with his might. She wants more than nothing to tear Liam apart for what he has said about Evelyn, but she also knows Lord Ravena is right. She still needed to save her strength for whoever the mystery woman on the sound system was. There was still blood to spill. She casts a look over to Juliette. ::

"Well here is the GIRL of the hour!"

 

[Chameleon]

Hellfire Estate - The Great Hall

:: Gaining his strength, Archer exhaled as a frosty haze escaped from his lips. As Camille fired the gun she would realize that Archer had indeed frozen it and by firing it she had caused it backfire, knocking her back and off of her feet from a moment. Archer's eyes darted towards the vial and the area around it as a light blue globe began to encompass it. Archer was creating an ice construct around the vial, essentially freezing it in time and giving Lord Ravena a chance to recover. ::

:: On pure adrenaline, Archer rose to his feet and scurried over to Ravena, helping him up. ::

"Get Maxine back...We can handle this..."

:: He gave Lord Ravena a sincere look before turning his attention back to the group, ready to fight. He still needed to bide his time before unleashing an attack but for now he walked right over to Camille, grabbing her by the arm as she was attempting to get off the floor and FLUNG her in the air hoping to land her right square in the middle of the many FLAMES that now engulfed the once Great Hall. ::

"Well son of a bitch!"

:: Camille winced as Archer grabbed her by the arm and flung her into the air at one of the many fires that was spread throughout The Great Hall as Rebecca's new pet began to torment the rest of the group. Thinking quickly on her feet, her form began to flicker and blur before seemingly dissappearing altogether. ::

:: If Archer hadn't been awestruck as Camille seemed to vanish in thin air, he would have notice the fly that zoomed past his face and circled behind his head. ::

"Boo!"

:: As Archer's shoulders reflexively tensed up, he attempted to spin around as fast he could. When he did, he was greeted by the form of an incredibly majestic and terrifying WHITE LION. Camille could shift forms in an instant and she often augmenting her animal shifts by appearing in stark and beautiful white color. Archer was shocked at the sheer size of the beast as Camille barrelled her giant paw into the elemental across the face, scratching him deeply with her claws as he was blasted back several feet by the brute force of her new form. She charged Archer head on, returning to her normal form in a split second as she grabbed him by the hair and lifted his bloody face up from the ground. She leaned in as she spoke to him in an oddly unemotional yet charged tone. ::

"Heidi was like a daughter to me. You ended her life for no other reason than to flex your feathers like a peacock to Juliette...and I cannot even begin to tell you how sick I am of the men around here tripping over themselves to garner her favor...and I'm about to take all of that out...on YOU."

:: Camille smashed Archer's head back to the ground as she gave the semblance of a smirk. As she surveyed the area, she noticed Rebecca's plan unfolding beautifully. Bretta and Alec were struggling, Daniel Reed was unconscious and about to be consumed by flames, and Archer was on the ground at her feet..a place she intended on keeping him. She wasn't just exacting some petty revenge...she was keeping him preoccupied. Much of his power involved focus. If she could keep him distracted and focused on her..he wouldn't use his power to freeze the area or dowse the flames. ::

"So get up."

:: In an instant her form blurred as a single flash of that brilliant white lion could be seen grabbing Archer by the neck with it's giant mouth and THROWING it into the adjacent wall before the visage of Camille resurfaced. She glanced over to Rebecca and gave her an understanding nod as she began to make her way back over to Archer who was barely returning to his feet, his face bloody and slashed. ::

 

[Liam Forbes]

Dungeons and Discussions

Maxine: Well look who knows how to read, Liam! I'm impressed...and already DEEPLY aware of how the virus coursing through my body works. But I would be careful..this club has a history of being destroyed by the monsters it creates.

He leaned back against the table again, the look of boredom taking over. He began to juggle small orbs of plasma.

"As is, the club ought to be destroyed, Maxine. I've been working towards that for years. We've been in a downward spiral since your father suggested super soldiers would be a boon. Evelyn and I were the minority against that turn of events, and we've been recruiting the right people for a coup ever since. It's a shame Evelyn was so proud. I advised her to take on a guard; she refused. 'I can take care of myself, Liam', said she. Now she's gone, at a great loss to those of us who would have Hellfire rise back to its former glory."

Maxine: I'm not worried about becoming Rebecca's pet because any second now, her blood will be splattered all over the walls of The Great Hall. A beautiful CRIMSON hue to match the mangled bodies of The Supreme Council I left there.

"Rebecca's NOT so easily overthrown, Maxine. Beware your own arrogance doesn't befall you like the former Black Queen's did to her."

Maxine: I'm not worried about YOU because all our little exchange has done is buy me enough time for the New Lion of Anatolia to find me...and when he does, and this little collar comes off? Well...I never had reason before to kill you, but I certainly do now.

"Ah, the imaginative threats of the damsel in distress..... I wonder, will your hideously deformed transformation be into some sort of androgynous android? Will you become some sort of brain dead robot? Surely your mutation will manifest your innate powers in some physical way. What do you think?"

Maxine: And after your little character assasination of Evelyn Pierce...Ravena might just do it for me.

He laughed, turning his gaze on her, continuing to juggle the orbs like brightly burning tennis balls.

"Character assassination? My dear girl, when did I ever do that? Evelyn was a dear friend to me, a respected colleague. How is it an assassination to say she had you wrapped around her finger? I paid her a compliment. You don't think she ruled the Black Court as a saint, do you?"

Maxine: As for The Black Queen pitying me...MANIPULATING me? Well..as much as it pains me to say...that's the name of the game within these walls. She got to be Queen...I got my father's head...literally. How that came about I don't really care.

"If you say so lass."

Finally, the girl started saying something that interested him: she started talking about Juliette. At first, a bunch of bollocks about Destiny this, and Fate that, and some other such nonsense revealing a belief in the preordained. That provoked an animated rolling of the eyes from him. But he didn't interrupt, because shortly after THAT she revealed that she left the vamp for Lord Ravena in Evelyn's bed.

"Well if that's true, then I'd quite like to see your little rescue fantasy come true, because I need to have a word with the Lion--"

The door was blasted to splinters, and Liam turned to greet the intruders. His orbs stopped moving, one in each hand, the rest suspended in mid air, poised to strike. Through the smoke and debris came none other than Lord Ravena himself.

"Speak of the devil."

Ravena: Stay your hand White King. I bring you what you seek. And I come for what is mine.

Maxine: See, what did I tell you?

Out from behind Ravena, his princess emerged, looking better than ever. But was it REALLY Juliette? Liam doubted Ravenna would ever be aligned with Evelyn's killers. Juliette came closer and made eye contact with him, and he felt relief wash over him as he realized his search was finally over. Their plan was still full steam ahead.

"What's this I hear about you dying?"

Juliette: It vas NOT dze first time. (She eyes Maxine) Cannot say I exactly enjoyed it.

Maxine practically exploded with fury towards Liam, but he just laughed as Ravena intervened.

Maxine: You insignificant son of a BITCH! I'll KILL you!

"Hahaha, I think I upset the girl. I thought you said you don't really CARE?"

 

[Juliette De Lacroix]

Ravenna made their journey much simpler. The labyrinth once again started to make sense, and before long, they were standing in front of the guarded door to the room she'd recently died in. The men of the White Guard blocked their entry. She locked eyes with one of them.

"Dze King is looking for 'is Princess. You should see to it dzat 'e finds 'er."

Guardian: "The King is looking for his Princess. We should see to it that he finds her."

They stood aside without further ado, and Ravenna blasted the door to smithereens. He entered first, and Juliette followed, adhering to his suggestion that she attend her King while he handles Maxine. She glanced at first to Maxine, who looked like she'd been hit by a train. Juliette felt the mark on her chest pulsate, almost as if it was her heart resuming its beat, but there was no sound, just a renewed sensation of burning.

She turned to Liam, reaching him, calming him with her gaze and the simple touch of her hand on his arm.

Liam: What's this I hear about you dying?

"It vas NOT dze first time. (She eyes Maxine) Cannot say I exactly enjoyed it."

But Maxine wasn't paying Juliette much attention. She was in murder mode, and locked on to Liam.

Maxine: You insignificant son of a BITCH! I'll KILL you!

Liam: Hahaha, I think I upset the girl. I thought you said you don't really CARE?

"Dzat is quite enough, BOT' of you. Ve are ALL on dze same team. If ve are going to succeed, ve vill need to put aside our disagreements and stop antagonizing each odzer."

Liam: Yes mum....

His tone was sarcastic enough to provoke an icy glance from her, but he merely chuckled and held up his hands.

"Vhere is Ben?"

Liam (more serious now): Pretty sure Camille took him after she clobbered me over the head.

She said nothing, but her expression was one of barely suppressed concern. If the other Queens had him, they would surely make an example of him, and TOO much time had been wasted already.

Maxine got her anger under control and turned to Juliette.

Maxine: Well here is the GIRL of the hour!

Juliette advanced a few steps to Maxine, taking a hold of her hands and turning them palm up. She studied them for a few seconds, these hands that had so recently destroyed her, then turned them over again. She kissed the back of each hand gently and replied with a smirk:

"Merci beaucoup, mon ange de la mort, pour toute votre aide dans mon évolution. peut-être à l'avenir, nous pouvons concevoir un plan qui n'inclut pas de ma disparition douloureuse?"

Liam: (with a huff) Oui, oui, nous sommes tous parlent Français. Je parle aussi l'allemand et l'anglais. N'est-il pas merveilleux de pouvoir donc de communiquer? mais : que diriez-vous nous revenons à notre révolution, puisque c'est un peu plus pressante?

(Without taking her eyes off Maxine) "Indeed. I saw your armor out in dze 'all. It vill be returned to you. Are you ready to rescue our comrades?"

 

[Lord Ravena]

Things were finally, and thankfully, calm in the chamber of torture. Additionally, he knew what had become of Ben, and it was not good.

(Without taking her eyes off Maxine) "Indeed. I saw your armor out in dze 'all. It vill be returned to you. Are you ready to rescue our comrades?"

Indeed, but Ben is likely beyond anyone's help at this point. His disposition will be yours Liam.

Ravena shook his head as he met eyes with the White King. They both knew what would likely need to be done. He continued after a brief pause.

You know who your quarry is Maxine as do YOU, Juliette. But Rebecca? She belongs to me, and what I have in store for her is not to be denied. NO ONE is to touch a hair on her head.

They were now standing in utter darkness. Even the White King's plasma globes left a singular light that cast no shadow. New Anatolia's fury had fully arrived, and as he exited the room he tore open a disc that allowed them to see the battle as it raged in the upper chamber before they would enter...

 

[Seer]

from the catacombs to the great hall

<< and as more than half the players in this deadly game took stock of the current situation and began to regroup accordingly, a newly freed and recovering Domino still had her mind on the WILD CARD of this game, VIPER. Surely that woman, who had brought such hell to this place, would not have disappeared so easily OR quietly after attacking Liam. Even if the others weren't immediately aware of it, Domino knew Viper would somehow be involved in the endgame now.>>

<< and up above, in the great hall>>

<< Archer, Alec and Bretta had their work cut out for them as they held off the latest round of assault.>>

<< But the creatures at hand seemed almost "ORDINARY" when Rebecca unleashed a mutated Benjamin upon them. The sight of Benjamin was a ghastly reminder that the pieces of the terrible entity shattered by THE SIX may not have been scattered FAR ENOUGH.>>

<< Archer found himself receiving considering physical punishment at the hands of the White Queen, who was lashed out at him with a VENGEANCE, not only for her fallen white bishop, Hydra (Heidi) but also in retribution for all the ARROGANCE and treachery she and every other woman in the Inner Circle who WASN'T Juliette had to suffer from the men who fell all over themselves to garner HER favor!>>

<< Meanwhile, Benjamin attacked Bretta and Alec with savage instinct, driven the instinctual need to replenish his liquid form, he was QUITE dangerous and capable of giving AND receiving a high degree of punishment.>>

<< He charged for Alec, shifting his elastic, fluent form into a "cannonball" and barrelling at him. His hands had become large pincers that were capable of cracking bones and other hard substances but ALSO slicing with the deadly effect of razors. Should he COLLIDE with Alec, the effect would be like getting run over by a large SPIKED TIRE.>>

<< Even if Alec manages to dodge, he would be unable to account for the creature's NEXT move.>>

<< BOUNCING OFF THE WALL, Benjamin now comes after Bretta. He prooves he is QUITE capable of pursuing and KEEPING UP with the agile dark faerie and his deadly passes at her are getting closer and closer to CONNECTING as he uses his elasticity to extend his reach as he snaps, bites , claws and SWIPES at her while pursuing her.>>

<< Bretta would find that evasion and outlasting this creature would NOT be enough! In order to survive, she was going to have to tap into HER OWN dark instincts that are TRUE to the classic dark faerie. She would have to play DIRTY and for KEEPS!>>

 

[Duke]

The Hellfire Estate - Great Hall

That’s it, now, easy does it…easy does it…

Alec managed to get up on his good knee and used his telekinesis to aid Bretta in her attacks. He marveled at how beautiful and graceful Bretta’s attacks were. She was like a ballerina…if a ballerina was fierce and cunning. At the last second, though, Alec spotted Benjamin, or, at least, what looked like the White Rook, barreling towards him like a humanistic CANNONBALL! Alec gritted his teeth and took a dive for cover, but not before Ben TORE his good leg wide open! He howled in pain and could only watch in horror as Ben went after…BRETTA.

*weakly*: “Br-Bretta…!”

He struggled to roll over. He reached out with one arm.

“BR-BRETTA!”

He SCREAMED with the effort and then, thankfully, his world became black.

 

[Silver]

The Hellfire Estate - Great Hall

:: Bretta was dispatching attackers left, right, and center. She was quickly growing tired of it…especially since she was the only one working. Alec was hurt, Archer was…whatever he was doing, Ravena just upped and left, so that left HER. Doing a beautiful pirouette, Bretta easily killed three monsters at a time with Alec’s athame. ::

Bored now.

:: She spotted movement out of the corner of her eye. She looked over and spotted ARCHER getting up and attacking Camille! Bretta grinned and began attacking things with renewed energy. Her team was slowly coming together! She kept an eye on Archer and Camille, though, as she continued with her own attacks. She noticed that Camille was trying to keep Archer’s focus off of the situation and only on HER. ::

Well…that’s not right!

:: Bretta’s wings fluttered as she zipped over to where Archer and Camille were, ready to knock the White Queen on her ass when she heard Alec. ::

”BR-BRETTA!”

:: At the last second, she spotted Benjamin barreling towards her! ::

“HELL NO!”

:: She used her wings to dodge him and trying to keep away from his scary-looking pinchers. She was alarmed to realize that he could easily keep up with her…no matter what she did. She did a backflip in the air, stopping him from getting her. But he wasn’t easy to dodge. She needed to really think about her next move. ::

I KNOW what to do!

:: Bretta did a triple twirl in the air and on the last twirl, a horde of purple orbs completely covered her! When the orbs faded, she was gone! Or was she? Bretta had shrank down until she was as small as a gnat and flew right towards Ben! ::

This is going to be gross!

:: Bretta flew straight into one of Ben’s nostrils and somehow managed to stay there…while she directed her DARK LIGHTNING BLASTS…straight up into his head, causing it to EXPLODE OPEN sending her flying back into the Great Hall covered in goo! ::

UGH! SO gross!

:: She hovered close to the ceiling, planning her next move. ::

 

[Seer]

Almost Time...

<< Everything seemed to be primed to reach it's breaking point...and SOON. As Maxine and Liam exchanged some brutal words, it was clear that although Maxine prided herself on being a cold hearted and uncaring bitch, even she had soft spots when it came to certain things. However, she was a woman who knew what cards to play and when to play them and in order for them to truly destroy Rebecca and the others, for the time being, they would have to work together. >>

<< As the group made their way to The Great Hall, a battle was already well under way. Silver & Duke were pit against the now warped Ben and Avalanche was finding it far harder to dispatch the Chameleon than he anticipated. >>

That’s it, now, easy does it…easy does it…

Alec managed to get up on his good knee and used his telekinesis to aid Bretta in her attacks. He marveled at how beautiful and graceful Bretta’s attacks were. She was like a ballerina…if a ballerina was fierce and cunning. At the last second, though, Alec spotted Benjamin, or, at least, what looked like the White Rook, barreling towards him like a humanistic CANNONBALL! Alec gritted his teeth and took a dive for cover, but not before Ben TORE his good leg wide open! He howled in pain and could only watch in horror as Ben went after…BRETTA.

*weakly*: “Br-Bretta…!”

He struggled to roll over. He reached out with one arm.

“BR-BRETTA!”

He SCREAMED with the effort and then, thankfully, his world became black.

<< It seemed as if Alec was down for the count, leaving everything squarely on Silver's shoulders...but she had proven herself time and time again within this caper, able to work with those she normally despised and showing that although many believed her to be a well liked socialite, she was also battle ready and now tested as such. When the dust settled from this night, people would not soon forget. >>

:: Bretta was dispatching attackers left, right, and center. She was quickly growing tired of it…especially since she was the only one working. Alec was hurt, Archer was…whatever he was doing, Ravena just upped and left, so that left HER. Doing a beautiful pirouette, Bretta easily killed three monsters at a time with Alec’s athame. ::

Bored now.

:: She spotted movement out of the corner of her eye. She looked over and spotted ARCHER getting up and attacking Camille! Bretta grinned and began attacking things with renewed energy. Her team was slowly coming together! She kept an eye on Archer and Camille, though, as she continued with her own attacks. She noticed that Camille was trying to keep Archer’s focus off of the situation and only on HER. ::

Well…that’s not right!

:: Bretta’s wings fluttered as she zipped over to where Archer and Camille were, ready to knock the White Queen on her ass when she heard Alec. ::


:: At the last second, she spotted Benjamin barreling towards her! ::

“HELL NO!”

:: She used her wings to dodge him and trying to keep away from his scary-looking pinchers. She was alarmed to realize that he could easily keep up with her…no matter what she did. She did a backflip in the air, stopping him from getting her. But he wasn’t easy to dodge. She needed to really think about her next move. ::

I KNOW what to do!

:: Bretta did a triple twirl in the air and on the last twirl, a horde of purple orbs completely covered her! When the orbs faded, she was gone! Or was she? Bretta had shrank down until she was as small as a gnat and flew right towards Ben! ::

This is going to be gross!

:: Bretta flew straight into one of Ben’s nostrils and somehow managed to stay there…while she directed her DARK LIGHTNING BLASTS…straight up into his head, causing it to EXPLODE OPEN sending her flying back into the Great Hall covered in goo! ::

UGH! SO gross!

:: She hovered close to the ceiling, planning her next move. ::

<< In a brilliantly planned and aggressive move, Bretta hovered quietly over the ceiling amongst a landscape of flames, blood and screams of pain as Ben's head EXPLODED covering the surrounding area with blood and brain matter. She looked over at Archer who was trying to get the upper hand with Camille...and failing. >>

"Well son of a bitch!"

:: Camille winced as Archer grabbed her by the arm and flung her into the air at one of the many fires that was spread throughout The Great Hall as Rebecca's new pet began to torment the rest of the group. Thinking quickly on her feet, her form began to flicker and blur before seemingly dissappearing altogether. ::

:: If Archer hadn't been awestruck as Camille seemed to vanish in thin air, he would have notice the fly that zoomed past his face and circled behind his head. ::

"Boo!"

:: As Archer's shoulders reflexively tensed up, he attempted to spin around as fast he could. When he did, he was greeted by the form of an incredibly majestic and terrifying WHITE LION. Camille could shift forms in an instant and she often augmenting her animal shifts by appearing in stark and beautiful white color. Archer was shocked at the sheer size of the beast as Camille barrelled her giant paw into the elemental across the face, scratching him deeply with her claws as he was blasted back several feet by the brute force of her new form. She charged Archer head on, returning to her normal form in a split second as she grabbed him by the hair and lifted his bloody face up from the ground. She leaned in as she spoke to him in an oddly unemotional yet charged tone. ::

"Heidi was like a daughter to me. You ended her life for no other reason than to flex your feathers like a peacock to Juliette...and I cannot even begin to tell you how sick I am of the men around here tripping over themselves to garner her favor...and I'm about to take all of that out...on YOU."

:: Camille smashed Archer's head back to the ground as she gave the semblance of a smirk. As she surveyed the area, she noticed Rebecca's plan unfolding beautifully. Bretta and Alec were struggling, Daniel Reed was unconscious and about to be consumed by flames, and Archer was on the ground at her feet..a place she intended on keeping him. She wasn't just exacting some petty revenge...she was keeping him preoccupied. Much of his power involved focus. If she could keep him distracted and focused on her..he wouldn't use his power to freeze the area or dowse the flames. ::

"So get up."

:: In an instant her form blurred as a single flash of that brilliant white lion could be seen grabbing Archer by the neck with it's giant mouth and THROWING it into the adjacent wall before the visage of Camille resurfaced. She glanced over to Rebecca and gave her an understanding nod as she began to make her way back over to Archer who was barely returning to his feet, his face bloody and slashed. ::

<< Archer was throttled to the floor as his blood spilled across the floor due to Camille's brutal and surprisingly strong attack. Many people in the court had underestimated her and she was proving to them that she was not somebody to be trifled with. Her strength and ease in combat was exactly what Liam had seen in her years ago when he brought her into The Inner Circle and where HE now felt she was no longer effective as a ruler, she was NOT going to go down without a fight. >>

Camille: "I said get up, Archer. Get up and PAY for your sins against The White Court!"

<< Coughing from his wounds, Archer slowly rose to his feet. He had been through so much this evening and he had basically had to fight himself out of a corner at every turn. He had fought Heidi and won...barely. He faced off against Duke, the bio hazards and now The White Queen herself. But what kept him going was the fact that throughout all of this The Black Court had remained strong. Intact. They had truly proven that no matter where allegiances were falling apart, they were truly the court to be reckoned with. The only court that didn't have the problems the others did. Evelyn had made sure of that. He looked at Camille with an intense glare as the flames around the area continued to BLAZE throughout the Great Hall, destroying everything slowly in it's path in a flurry of fire. >>

Archer: "If there is ANYONE who needs to pay for sins, it's YOU and Rebecca. All of this happening around us? All of this chaos and destruction? It's on YOUR hands. And as for me, I sold my soul a long time ago. My actions are of no consequence to ME..Not anymore..."

<< Archer looked at the ground, as if he were talking to Satan himself. >>

Archer: "That was the deal, right Lucifer?"

<< He turned back to Camille. >>

Archer: "Heidi died because she was a bargaining chip, which is more than ANYBODY can say about you these days. Look around, Camille. You're the only Queen that NOBODY wants. And while YOU'VE simply found a new BITCH to stand behind (Rebecca)...I've developed one HELL of a COLD SNAP!"

<< Archer stood eerily quiet as he looked around. The room had FINALLY gotten hot enough to trigger the sprinklers at the top of the very, very large vaulted ceilings of The Great Hall. He stared at Camille with a smile as tiny drops of water began to fall on the ground. Because of the size of the flames around him, this sprinkler system wasn't doing a very good job of dowsing the fire, but they gave Archer a LOT more things to play with. He shot a look at Bretta. >>

Archer: "Take cover..use your magick to shield yourself and the others..."

<< The ice elemental CLAPPED his hands together as he ignited his COLD SNAP attack. In an instant, The Great Hall began to become COVERED in a thick layer of ICE that encompassed everything. The walls and flames were frozen in time as Archer himself began to shift into his organic ICE form. His intent was to freeze and shatter BOTH Rebecca and Camille and END this right here, right now. >>

 

[Crimson]

Rebecca watched the scene in The Great Hall unfold from atop the expansive staircase in the middle of the room, tapping her crimson red nails against the banister, a calm yet sadistic smile on her face. Though she looked relaxed and even calm her mind was ablaze with activity. She was still calculating everybody's choices. She knew that most likely Liam and Juliette would reunite and that Maxine and Ravena would take them back into the fold. She knew that at the end of the day, this was not a fight against Archer or Bretta and Alec. She could dispatch them easily if she wanted. This was a battle for her life and it was against the people that were about to enter The Great Hall.

"The more people who perish before the real warriors get here, the better...!"

Her soft skinned hands balled into a fist as she watched the battles closely. Camille was proving herself even more to Rebecca than she had previously. Though Rebecca trusted Camille more than anybody else in The Inner Circle, she wasn't entirely sure how much The White Queen would be able to back up all the words she had been saying over the years. As medicated and a mess as she was, it was becoming clear to Rebecca that Camille was not just a stalwart ally but a woman with a mission of her own and the ability to back it up.

"Perhaps Liam should have kept his gaze on Camille.. after all..she's still alive...whereas Juliette has died TWICE..."

<< He turned back to Camille. >>

Archer: "Heidi died because she was a bargaining chip, which is more than ANYBODY can say about you these days. Look around, Camille. You're the only Queen that NOBODY wants. And while YOU'VE simply found a new BITCH to stand behind (Rebecca)...I've developed one HELL of a COLD SNAP!"

<< Archer stood eerily quiet as he looked around. The room had FINALLY gotten hot enough to trigger the sprinklers at the top of the very, very large vaulted ceilings of The Great Hall. He stared at Camille with a smile as tiny drops of water began to fall on the ground. Because of the size of the flames around him, this sprinkler system wasn't doing a very good job of dowsing the fire, but they gave Archer a LOT more things to play with. He shot a look at Bretta. >>

Archer: "Take cover..use your magick to shield yourself and the others..."

Benjamin had been dispatched by the dark faerie which was really of no consequence to her anyway. He was merely a plaything for Rebecca. An example to the others that whatever was left of their bodies after this battle belonged to her. To do with as she saw fit. However, Archer's words indicated to Rebecca that she was going to have to get her hands dirtier than intended at the moment if she intended to save her ally. For as ballsy and loud as Archer was being at the moment, he was predictable and boring to The Red Queen. With a flicker of her eyes, she dissappeared in a flurry of milky red electric orbs, using her power of The Crimson Shroud to become ONE with the shroud, allowing her the appearance of teleportation, when in reality, it just allowed her to travel VERY quickly and undetectable. As Archer unleashed his cold snap attack, Camille would feel a grip on her left hand before the world around her dissappeared for a few moments. Where Rebecca and Camille went at that moment would be anybody's guess but as SOON as Archer's attack was complete, he would hear a haunting voice from behind him.

"Nice try, Ice Boy."

Rebecca took her spiked red heel as she exerted an incredible amount of force in the form of a snap kick. The heel pressed into Archer's form, even THROUGH the organic ice as he was HURLED across the room, smashing into the rail of the stairs with a thud as Rebecca cast a glance over at Bretta who had been shielding the group with her dark faerie magick as a shield. She took a quick glance at Camille who was standing safely atop the stairs where Rebecca had left her, before looking back at Bretta with a sadistic smile.

"You are really making a name for yourself tonight, Bretta. I guess the time for pleasantries between us is over. Choosing Alec over The Red Court. Did they promise you Queen? Did they fill your head with lies?"

[laughs]

"You know...I'm well aware of the way people feel about me, Bretta. But YOU. I did trust you...looked after you like you were my own daughter. I made you and gave you a place to call home..and now you BETRAY me..all because I used you as a bargainning chip to show what a dirty traitor our RED ROOK was..."

[looking down for a moment]

"I never thought WE of all people would reach this point...but here we are..."

The Red Queen CLENCHED her fist as a halo of bright red crackling energy encased her hand. Bretta would find her shield of protection weakening and flickering against the crimson SHROUD ENERGY of Rebecca.

"You're aware of how my power works right...how people who have any kind of magick in them are quite simply.. intoxicating to The Shroud? You remember how it works right? How my power doesn't just assault your body, drain you of your energy..but instead assaults your very SOUL!?"

Her fist gripped TIGHTER as the haze of the crimson shroud began to permeate all around the dark faery. It had penetrated her shield and it began to do it's work on Bretta. Her entire SOUL felt as if it were on fire, as if she were drowning in pain. Pain that draining and BURNING her very core. Rebecca's eyes remained calm as she watched Bretta squirm. Her eyes showed an almost abandoned but hungry quality. Whenever she manifested her shroud energy, she became much like a shark who smelled blood in the water. It was compulsive, it was as if she NEEDED to be drain her victim. She was HUNGRY and BRETTA was about to be her next victim.

"This hurts ME more than it does you...you miserable, miserable little bitch."

Camille: "REBECCA!!!

The hair on The Red Queen's neck raised for a split second as Rebecca turned her gaze towards the sound of Camille's scream. She was met with a MEAN right hook from none other than Maxine Dupont as she was sent spiraling across the room, which was very lucky for Bretta who was a few moments away from being RIGHT on death's door. The Red Queen hit a wall with a LOUD thud as she slid down. Her vision blurred for a second as she began to make out the figures of Liam, Juliette, Maxine and Lord Ravena several yards away. Archer was now beginning to stir. The group would no doubt experience a surge of unity and strength at the sight of their friends alive and well.

"Well...all I have to do...is STALL!"

Rebecca had told Jessica Marcus that she would round up the group of horrible miscreants that were degrading her crown as The Queen of MysTech and leave them for her in The Great Hall. All she had to do was wait for Viper to show up and clean up the mess Rebecca was about to make, and ALL of this would FINALLY be behind her. She could continue her work and RULE over The Hellfire Club and FINALLY bury her competition in the ground. The Red Queen cracked her neck back and forth for a second. Rebecca rose to her feet in nearly the blink of an eye as she cast out her and lifted it HIGH.

"A simple HELLO would have sufficed, Maxine...but no worries. You have a history of being easily domesticated..so let's see if you still remember your commands. STAY!"

As The Red Queen snapped her fingers, dozens of GIANT spikes composed of crimson shroud energy SPRUNG up from the ground underneath the group as it attempted to pierce through them and assault them on a SOUL level just as it had Bretta only MOMENTS ago. Rebecca would do everything in her power to make them as weak as she could until Jessica arrived to finish them off. She gave an understanding look to Camille who's form began to shiver as she shifted into a beautiful and large WHITE EAGLE as she flew over the bannister at the top of the stairs and SWOOPED down, barrelling into Bretta, Alec and Daniel about to attack them with her claws and viciously large wingspan. The group would have to do their worst to face off against these queens if they wanted even a CHANCE at surviving...VIPER.

 

[Silver]

The Hellfire Estate - Great Hall

:: Bretta hovered near the ceiling, looking at all the carnage below her. It was peaceful where she was. Considering she was still the size of a gnat, she felt almost…INVISIBLE. She had thoughts about just abandoning all of this craziness and head for her retreat that she had bought in Tuscany. She had had enough of this. But then her gaze fell on…ALEC. Her green eyes widened at the sight of him. His one knee was pretty much blown to bits and his other leg was so torn open, it looked as if a LION had feasted on it. She could see his BONES. ::

Alec!!

:: Bretta was torn. She just wanted to shake this entire NIGHTMARE off and go reestablish herself but she couldn’t just abandon Alec and Daniel…could she? When she first became The Red Princess, she, Daniel, and Alec were pretty much in their own clique, thanks to Rebecca. Rebecca knew EXACTLY what to do, how to do it, and how to pull things off flawlessly. The Red Rook, Bishop, and Princess were a team, pretty much. Though they had their own opinions of each other, they had a sense of loyalty due to obligations. But that all changed somehow. ::

*musing*: Probably when Alec defected from Rebecca…

:: Alec’s defection was not that big of a secret, though Bretta always tried to shush him up. Bretta always was the peacemaker. She sighed. ::

Guess none of that matters NOW…

:: Softly, using her wings, she gently floated back to the ground and when her feet hit the ground, she was back to her full size. She didn’t have time to waste, though, as Archer told her to cover everyone with her magick. ::

"Take cover...use your magick to shield yourself and the others..."

:: Using her magick, she swiftly ‘pulled’ Alec to her side in a flurry of purple orbs and sent up a shield, protecting her team members. She could see Rebecca, Camille, and Archer through a purple haze. Suddenly the scene changed DRASTICALLY. Instead of fire, it was like a winter NIGHTMARE. Bretta and the rest of her team were safe…at least for the time being. ::

This is going to be good…

:: What she didn’t count on, though, and she of all people probably should have, was REBECCA. Suddenly Rebecca was nowhere to be found and then…she was in a different spot. Bretta began to feel uncomfortable. Rebecca had told her about her powers yet Bretta had never seen them in action. Until now. She could feel DREAD coursing through her body when Rebecca glanced at her after throwing Archer against the stairs. The feeling grew when The Red Queen smiled at her. It wasn’t a kind smile, either. This smile was…SADISTIC. Bretta grasped Alec’s athame that was in her boot for comfort. This was NOT going to go well at all. She pulled it out of the boot and held onto it for dear life. ::

"You are really making a name for yourself tonight, Bretta. I guess the time for pleasantries between us is over. Choosing Alec over The Red Court. Did they promise you Queen? Did they fill your head with lies?"

[laughs]

"You know...I'm well aware of the way people feel about me, Bretta. But YOU. I did trust you...looked after you like you were my own daughter. I made you and gave you a place to call home..and now you BETRAY me..all because I used you as a bargaining chip to show what a dirty traitor our RED ROOK was..."

“No…NO! YOU’RE the traitor! If you TRULY cared about me AT ALL, you’d never use my LIFE as something that you could just get rid of!"

"I never thought WE of all people would reach this point...but here we are..."

Right…

:: Bretta’s eyes widened when her shield weakened and the purple haze was flickering off and on like a candle. ::

N-no…!

"You're aware of how my power works right...how people who have any kind of magick in them are quite simply.. intoxicating to The Shroud? You remember how it works right? How my power doesn't just assault your body, drain you of your energy...but instead assaults your very SOUL!?"

:: Suddenly Bretta collapsed to the floor, gasping under the power of Rebecca. Her hand GRIPPED Alec’s athame so tightly it turned RED until finally she HAD to let it go. An unearthly SCREAM erupted deep within her, echoing into the Great Hall. She kept her eyes on Rebecca, KNOWING that her expression was pleading with The Red Queen to stop this insanity…and hating herself for it. Bretta fell onto her side, her eyes slits. ::

This is it, I guess.

:: Another unearthly scream erupted from the dark faerie. Bretta had never known this much pain in her entire life. She wanted to claw at herself, try to find relief that would not happen. Her purple wings wilted under the power of The Red Shroud. Bretta let out another SHRIEK. ::

"This hurts ME more than it does you...you miserable, miserable little bitch."

:: Using every ounce of strength that was in her, Bretta gritted her teeth. ::

“THAT…is…BULLSHIT…and…”

:: Bretta struggled to get the words out. She was not in a good place and she was sweating PROFUSELY under the stress and pain of it all. ::

“YOU…know…IT!”

:: Another scream erupted from the dark faerie. Her eyes only slits, she watched her world become blurry, darkening with every second. She whimpered once…and then it was as if an invisible hand UNCLENCHED her entire being, her entire SOUL, and she shut her eyes, gasping for breath. ::

"A simple HELLO would have sufficed, Maxine...but no worries. You have a history of being easily domesticated...so let's see if you still remember your commands. STAY!"

MAXINE?!

:: Even though Bretta was grateful for the save and she was still in recovery mode, it still irritated her that MAXINE had been the one to ‘save’ her. ::

She won’t let me live THIS down…stupid COW!

:: She noticed through half-closed eyes that Camille had turned into an eagle…and was heading straight for THEM. Bretta felt with her fingers and closed on Alec’s athame. At the last second that Camille swooped towards them, Bretta mustered up enough strength and energy to sit up and PLUNGE the athame right into the CENTER of the eagle’s chest!! ::

Please work, please work, please work…

 

[Lord Ravena]

The trap had been sprung. But who had trapped whom?

In the midst of the chaos that occurred around him, Lord Ravena began to laugh. At first a chuckle, then a uproarious laugh that seemed to fill the room, impossibly louder than could seem to come from one even such as himself. At once he stopped as he saw the tendrils of the Red Shroud recede as Maxine struck a blow to come to Bretta's aid. It seemed to him that the time for play had finally ended.

បញ្ឈប់

It was a language that no one in the room was familiar with, but the effects were unmistakeable as the Red Queen was frozen in her tracks, unable to move or, it seemed, to control her weapon as it retreated back to the gauntlet on her hand. As she stood, transfixed, eyes wide, obviously straining but to no avail, Lord Ravena began to hum a cheerful tune as he began to weave an obviously powerful spell. This time when he spoke, it was in flawless English.

Dark forces of hell, of death and the grave,
A bargain redeemed, now come to my aid,
Chaos and shadow, balance unhinged,
emerge and embrace my plan of revenge!!

A rift, or a gate perhaps. No matter...in any case a portal opens, revealing the deepest darkness. Any fighting still going on in the room has by now long ended as a dread overtook the place. From the darkness a shadow, a form can be seen. Smiling by now, Lord Ravena steps forward, turns to those gathered and takes a bow.

May I introduce to you for the final time, the Black Queen of the European Branch of the Hellfire Club, Evelyn Pierce!

And it was so. EVELYN steps out of the shadow, more beautiful than any of them could remember her. Her outfit was incredible, something from a dream, sexy and regal and terrible and wonderful all at once. But upon closer inspection, it was clear that this form was not corporeal. No...this was her spirit, her essence, in this place. Walking forward she strode past Rebecca as if she were not even there, coming at first to her Black Knight. Maxine took a knee and looked up, tears running down her face.

Do not despair Max. You have never failed me and you honor me now with your willingness to fight for me. All has happened as it should and I will watch over you in paradise. Your time here, however, is at its end. Go with Lord Ravena when he leaves this place. He alone will watch over you as I have and he alone is worthy of your trust.

Evelyn gave a parting smile to Maxine and then turned to the rest of the motley group, taking care to linger for a moment with Archer, Liam and Juliette.

You are here because you alone can take the Hellfire Club where it needs to go. Do not fail yourselves in this process. What happens after today will fall on the people in this room to be responsible for. And as for YOU-

Evelyn turns to face Rebecca looks upon her with contempt before it softens to...PITY?!

Oh Rebecca. Even in death I am your better. Because you see, you could only take my life. But there is something afterwards, and for those of us well connected enough, strong enough, those willing to sacrifice, there is paradise.

Have you heard of Elysium? The fields of paradise? There is a place for me there, somewhere to live forever, even my own body so as to TRULY live again. I MIGHT not pass into this dimension again, but I will never want again in my OWN.

But what sacrifice for such a gift, you may wonder? Why my dear, it is simple. YOUR SOUL!

And with that, Evelyn steps back as Lord Ravena strides forward, his fangs protruding. He would not give a sweet kiss or a lovers nip...NO. Lord Ravena slices open The Red Queen's throat with a fang, feeding on her for a moment and then allowing her to fall to the floor, her eyes wide with pain and the fear of impending death. Lord Ravena stands over her and gestures to the Red Shroud.

You won't be needing this where you're going.

A portal disc opens up at her elbow, SLICING away her arm and the Shroud with it! It reappears in his hand and with a gesture he renders the stump inside to ash, pouring it out before tucking the artifact into his robe. Raising his right hand, an eldritch blade forms of pure dark magic energy and with a flourish he finishes the job, slicing Rebecca's head neatly from her body. Moving quickly, he reaches for a pouch of what appears to be sand, pouring some of it in his hand and blowing on it to reveal...

...a spirit, a ghost lifting from the newly deceased. Slowly the form coalesces and it is indeed Rebecca, bewildered and afraid and slowly realizing that she is not in her body. By now Evelyn is leaving, her message delivered, but not before she yields at the portal as shadows emerge, slim and monstrous, growling, snapping and...LAUGHING?! They fall upon the new spirit and a scream can be heard as Rebecca is dragged away, into the portal past Evelyn and towards a figure who, as she sees who it is, her screams begin anew as she somehow realizes that she has been left to a fate far worst than that of her enemy.

With an audible ring the portal closes, the smell of brimstone and the bloody shell of the former Red Queen is all that is left to herald what has occurred. The Lion of New Anatolia stands silently, his lust for revenge nearly satiated.