From Diana, with love

[Seer]

LATER...

<< Having time to rest, Delilah Trelevan was now awake. Her encounter with Morgan was no dream, neither was the one with Blaze.>>

<< Two conversations with two different outcomes. Morgan returned, Blaze moved on, and the winds of change were not done blowing in Delilah's direction this day.>>

<< Cameron was at Zenith, and busy. Nicolas and Cass were with Karen in Blaze's apartment, Morgan was elsewhere, and Haleigh was presumed to still be away on personal business. Ava was also out at the moment. >>

<< Delilah found herself alone once more, with time on her hands.>>

<< Soon, she emerged from apartment, making her way to the elevator. When doors open, HARBINGER is standing there looking directly at Delilah. >>

------------------------------

Clandestine Intelligence - Haleigh's Office

<< Morgan and Haleigh have covered all the bases in their renewed business dealings and associations, and their collaboration, along with that of King Enterprises, on Morgan's Sanctorum project, is well underway.>>

<< Soon, Morgan prepares to leave, and Haleigh asks if she'll give her a "LIFT", knowing that the sorceress will use her stepping disc to teleport. Morgan agrees, and so Haleigh asks her to wait around for just a few moments while she ties up a few things.>>

<< Morgan doesn't know it, but Haleigh is getting HER house in order now too, and part of the reason why she presented Morgan with the documents to renew the associations between LCI and Illustra was to make sure that no matter what happened to her, even if she OR Morgan were absent, their businesses, their brands, and the people they supported, would be able to carry on untouched. >>

<< Haleigh couldn't remember WHEN she and Morgan had ever had such a NICE interaction...and sadly...she wondered if this would truly be a ONE-TIME event for them, not because of anything MORGAN had done, but because of what HALEIGH was about to do later tonight. >>

--------------------------------------
Zenith

<< Cameron has had "a day", certainly not a GOOD one, but at least things on the business front were running smoothly.>>

<< He didn't know that the storm clouds that had gathered around him and Morgan had exploded, and that soon the "family" he thought he was holding together was going to spin further apart.>>

<< But the winds were blowing toward him as well. At the moment, in the form of Ava Cassadine.>>

<< She brings him disturbing news, and in the skies around the city, closing in on Zenith right now, a mysterious DRONE brings a GIFT to Cameron King. When it arrives, Ava will also bare witness to this gift, which for the sender, is an even BETTER outcome!>>

 

[Prophet]

The Zenith Group Offices - Financial District - Cameron's Office

:: Cameron was in his office at The Zenith Group. The altercation he had with Morgan was still on his mind but he found that he could bury most of that under work. Whenever he was pissed off, his business seemed to thrive, and tonight he had been pissed off. The things that she had said to him cut him deep, and he was having a hard time seeing a way out of this conversation. He also didn't like how he had spoken to Karen. She had simply chosen to speak at the wrong time, and she was defending her daughter as any mother would. Still, all of this was on the back burner as he went through a number of contracts and proposals the group was planning to bring to the board. ::

<< The drone moves across the skies, its design and technology mask it from any forms of detection in the area, and it's flight path is uninterrupted. Soon, it closes in on the Zenith office tower, at a level of the building far beyond the capability of any other standard issue drone!>>

<< Cameron has been so engrossed in his work, trying to distract himself from the storm that he's sure is waiting for him at the Parthenon, that he doesn't realize what's on his way to him RIGHT NOW!>>

<< But soon, he begins to hear something odd, and when he looks up and over to the floor to ceiling window, he sees the large ominous looking object coming toward his window, his BUILDING!>>

:: He peered up from his desk as he noticed something that seemed to be coming STRAIGHT at him with great speed. He rose from his desk and walked over to the window, squinting his eyes. Whatever it was...it was about to make a CRASH course right through his window and into his building. He squinted his eyes but found that his attempts to telekinetically maneuver the the device were futile. ::

"Oh FUCK!"

<< CRASH! >>

:: Cameron braced for impact as he flew to the side. Immediately his mind went to those in the outside area of his office as he pressed a security protocol button underneath a side table in his office. Thanks to Clandestine, this button would active an incredibly strong invisible forcefield, preventing most things from leaving the space or attacking his employees. With his "night job" he could never take any chances with the humans that dedicated their lives and careers to him. He would ALWAYS make sure they were protected and safe. ::

<< As it powers down, Cameron hears odd beeping and other sounds associated with this odd looking object. The top of the drone OPENS, and he sees a rather beautiful looking COFFIN inside of it! There's a funeral spray on top of the coffin, and a CARD. When takes the card to read it.... >>

:: He was confused. The beautiful and mysterious coffin appears in his office out of nowhere. The casket had a funeral spray on top...as well as a card that was dedicated to him. Slowly he walked over to the casket, and grabbed the card. ::

"Thinking of YOU. With love, DIANA."

"Diana?"

<< He even HEARD her voice to the words of the card!>>

<< The coffin OPENS, and inside, lays the badly burned, broken, DEAD BODY of HALEIGH DAVIDOFF!>>

<< BLACK WIDOW, the body that fell to the floor in a burning, spark emitting HEAP after MALICE cut her down with such brutality during their confrontation on Sheena Island. Malice MURDERED Haleigh and sent her BODY back to CAMERON! And there he was, in his office, with his staff JUST outside the door, about to COME IN to investigate the sound of that crash!? Not to mention that it would draw police and fire officials to the building SOON.>>

:: He sprang into action. Immediately casting his mind out and taking control of not just his assistant, but the entire floor. He compelled them to believe that a window washer had crashed through his window. They were not to be alarmed, and that they would be sure to distract any police and law enforcement that entered the building with beauracracy and a million random questions. They would be calm and even tempered and as hard working as ever, and they would under no circumstances enter the room. Cameron would normally never do something like this, at this level...but this was a unique situation. ::

:: He turned around and leaned against the double doors of his office. The room was painfully silent. He was hyperaware. His heartbeat pulsing in his chest. The sounds of the antique grandfather clock in his office, ticking away as if she weren't really dead in front of him. As if time could possibly be moving right now. His lip quivered as he walked over to the body in front of him slowly, as if he was afraid and secretly hoping that she would spring back to life in front of him. Her eyes were open and milky. They looked both shocked and calm at the same time, as if she were...resolved to die. He wanted to believe that this was a trick. Or a spell, but his mystical accents wouldn't let him. This was her body, this was where her spirit had resided and Cameron could sense it. ::

"My...god..."

:: He touched her arm delicately as he was pulled into a flash premonition of great force. ::

<< FLASH! >>

I. AM. THE WHITE QUEEN!

:: The PSYCHO BLAST SLAMS into/THROUGH Black Widow. She feels her MIND, her very SOUL taking off like a baseball being KNOCKED OUT OF THE PARK by a bat, swung by NIMROD. Her MENTAL structure is BLOWN APART and the pieces of it, the ones that Malice had previously put back together with such skill and attention to detail, are now SCATTERED, flying in INFINITE directions across the astral plane like RUN AWAY ROCKETS.::

:: TYPICALLY, Diana would REFINE the manifestation of this raw mental "electricity" into a powerful PSI JAVELINE, that she would use in one of her most infamous, "traemarked" attacks. But NOW? There's no time for FINESSE. There is only ONE need: SLAP. HER. DOWN.::

:: The PSI LIGHTNING BLASTS Haleigh's physical body and sends her FLYING, SPIRALING through the air, and looking like a manequinn as she is buffetted by the force of the psi lightning, before finally falling to the ground. Her body lays in a heap, a literally STEAMING heap. Her eyes are STILL open, there is no expression in them::

:: Malice is half standing...half LEANING against a computer console, clutching her chest, and breathing heavily. Her head is bowed, and her blonde hair fallen forward.::

:: The roar of her VIOLENT retaliation fades off into echoes around the chambers in the control room, and Diana slowly looks over to Haleigh::

"You STUPID little girl. I gave you a chance! You DARED to assume you had such favor with me that I would LET you trifle with my person? You thought that I would LET you kill me?

:: She slowly stands upright. the look of ANGER in her face flowly fades and she begins to look more like her "usual" self. ::

:: Cameron fell to the floor. The psychic event that had kept him up the night before. It had been this. Diana had killed Haleigh. His feelings about the last few weeks were confirmed in the worst way possible. The truce was broken and Malice was coming after them..she already had. Malice had murdered Haleigh Davidoff and sent Cameron the body. There were no words. Just him and the body of the woman he loved. Slowly he rose to his feet, looking at the clock. Forty six seconds had passed. Less than a minute. It didn't make sense to him. Nothing made sense to him anymore as he stood over her body. ::

:: What was he going to do? His heart continued to pound in his chest as he felt goosebumps manifest all over his body. He wished he was a better person. He wished that he wasn't just thinking about himself right now...but he couldn't stop. ::

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock

:: His face was blank, eerily calm. He didn't know what he was operating on in this moment, what strength he was summoning to be able to stand, but he took his hand and gently closed her eyes. He felt like he couldn't leave the room. That if he just stayed here, and just kept an eye on her, that nobody would have to know. That he could hide this forever. ::

:: Adrenaline began to leave his body. Making him vulnerable..making him unable to control the well of emotion that he was feeling. His lip began to quiver, as he linked his hand with her stone cold hand. He swallowed hard in his throat as his eyes watered for a moment. Cameron was fighting everything in him to not fall apart. A single tear began to roll down his cheek, despite his best effort. ::

[weakly] "I...Ha..Haleigh...I'm...so..I'm sorry."

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

:: Three minutes in. The forceful ticking being the only thing that kept his mind in this room...with her. He knew he should be doing something. He knew that he should run back to The Parthenon. He knew they needed to know. Cameron picked up his phone with his free hand. For some reason...he felt the need to call Zach. That if anybody should know, that if anybody else deserved to know..it was him. He would need to tell Zach before the others. But he couldn't make his hands move. He couldn't type the numbers into his phone. He couldn't be the one to tell Zach that the woman he loved, that they both loved was dead, and that it appeared to be a personal act of vengeance against Cameron. ::

"Haven't we done enough to him...?"

:: Cameron looked down at Haleigh's now "sleeping" face. ::

"Ava..."

:: How could he tell Ava? She had been there for his family in a way he could never repay her for. He had grown to respect and love her so much. She had been there for his sister exactly like a sister should, and Cameron had done his best to try and repay Ava for that, with the two becoming business partners, and getting close in a way that nobody had anticipated. But he knew that she had gone through something horrible. Something she wasn't willing to talk about, something she had been skirting around for months, despite his efforts to figure out what that was. She had just experienced a great loss in The Purifiers mission. He had held her hand and promised that he would see her through this. To see Haleigh dead before him, it felt like a failure on his part. Ava had protected his sister with her life...and he couldn't even do the same for her. How would she ever be able to look at him again? ::

:: Their histories were so deeply intertwined with one another. All of their parents, such stupid idealists, attempting to raise an army..to wield as a weapon.

Years Ago - Escape To Illustra:

:: Haleigh looked at Cameron... and licked her lips as she tucked the handheld away. She pulled what he asked for out... and tossed it to him underhand. She folded her arms across her chest, nodding in acknowledgement. She was aware that at this point it was pointless to withhold 'basic' information at this point. They were all exposed for the supernaturals that they were... and if anyone learned to much... Haleigh had ways of taking care of them... after the target outcome was acheived. ::

Black Widow: "You have a name?"

:: Her men were scanning the outside through the glass in the doorways with their weapons on full alert, while one continued to walk around. the man at Haleigh's side looked at each of those standing around... just like Haleigh, he was evaluating the situation and the participants. ::

:: Cameron smiled as he grabbed the compress and began to wravel it around his chest. He eyed Hayleigh with great intrigue, wondering what other tricks she had up her sleeves. She was obviously a powerful woman. At least powerful enough to have people working under her. He thanked her for the compress and gave his name. ::

Prophet: "Cameron.. Cameron King.. Thanks for the help.. I assume you have a name as well?"

Black Widow: "Yes, I do..."

:: She didn't give it to him. ::

Cameron's Funeral:

<< Erika reading Cameron's final words to the group. >>

To Haleigh, the one person I couldn't say those three words to. I love you. I owe you that. Ours was a relationship built on words we couldn't say. It must have been the spy in both of us. I guess along the way I got caught up in the web of the Black Widow and couldn't get out. But I soon saw that deadly spider turn into a glorious phoenix, ressurecting herself into something even more precious and deserving. Know that I love you, I really believe we are soulmates and knowing you, you will find a way back to my arms. Know that whatever body you inhabit, you are not made of steel, but warm flesh, spirit and heart. I cant wait to be with you again.

From the moment Erika started the eulogy, Haleigh began blinking back tears. It was a personal, touching speech and Haleigh nodded along at various points, a fond smile on her face as she remembered Cameron. The guilt of not being able to find him, with all her vast resources, and the grief of losing him after everything they'd been through weighed heavily on Haleigh... but she was willful and kept the tears at bay for as long as she could.... which was until Erika produced a letter, written by Cameron, adressing those he loved the most. Haleigh squeezed Alison's hand softly as his letter spoke to the seer. And when the letter turned to Haleigh.... her tears finally fell. Tears for the time that was stolen from them, tears for the monumental burden of carrying on without him... but most of all, tears for all the things she never said to him because they didn't have a moment to spare in the days leading up to his disappearance. As Erika finished speaking shakily, Haleigh rose from her seat. She strode up to Erika, wrapping her arms around her and giving her a hug, then wrapping her right arm around her shoulders and leading her down from the podium, whispering in her ear as they went.

Black Widow: "You did him right, Erika... he'd be honored."

It seemed like a river of tears falling down Haleigh's cheeks, her pride sacrificed by her love of a great friend.

St. Patrick's Cathedral - Front Steps

Haleigh stared increduously as Ororo prefaced Cameron's return.... mentioning that she secretly nursed him back to health.... it was a wild tale indeed.... nigh unbelievable.... but coming from Ororo, it HAD to be true, right?

"You.... did WHAT?!"

She asked, bewildered. Could it be true? It stirred up so many conflicting emotions.... to have Cameron back.... would be a true gift.... but also... it would complicate things. Letting Cameron go was the first step in becoming truly serious with Zach.... the thought of his return brought intense self doubt.... had she made the wrong decision? Given up on him too easily? He appeared in a swirl.... and Haleigh STARED at him, with a shocked expression... one that turned to horror quickly as he spoke. She BACKPEDDLED as he moved closer.... she didn't mean to hurt him... but she was so STUNNED by the one-two punch just delivered that she seemed overwhelmed.

Haleigh: "You.... NO.... I BURIED you.... I... God DAMN it.... I put flowers on your GRAVE two days ago!" She breathed, looking quickly to Ororo. "Is this some kind of SICK JOKE?? WHY are you doing this?! Haven't I done EVERYTHING you asked of me, Ororo? I know it can be lonely in Limbo... but it's not right to entertain yourself by cooking up some apparition to haunt me with!"

Haleigh was not taking it well... and her reaction no doubt dashed what ever hopes Cameron had of a pleasant reunion. Zach, meanwhile, glared silently at Cameron, as if he had come back JUST to interfere with his and Haleigh's wedding... it wouldn't be something that surprised Zach, knowing Cameron the way he did. Haleigh sat down in chair abruptly, raising her hand to her mouth, as the reality sunk in.... her heart raced as she looked at Cameron.... but she couldn't SAY anything more.... she could scarcely BREATHE.

:: Cameron's face fell back at the touch of Haleigh's hand slapping in the face. And for what? Zach's sake? He was a good man? So the fuck what? She didn't really love him, she didn't really love him, she was settling. She was doing what she thought was the right thing, moving on, and Cameron wasn't having it AT ALL. ::

Cameron: "I wasn't there for YOU!? Don't EVEN play that card with me, HALEIGH! DON'T EVEN! (laughs) Let's not forget how EMOTIONALLY unavailable you have been to me since day ONE! You sit on your THRONE of excuses Haleigh. EXCUSES for why you can't tell me what you REALLY feel, and how I WON'T until I hear it from you. I never REFUSED to be there for you Haleigh, I refused to be there for the WALL that you kept up around me, SO if you MARRYING this guy makes you REALLY feel like you did the right thing, that you MOVED on, Haleigh, then go ahead and do it, but we both know, its a fucking JOKE, a means to an end. I can't believe I REALLY thought we could make this work, I CAN'T BELIEVE it!"

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

:: By this time he was crying, so deeply that he wasn't making much of a sound, outside of a whimper every now and then, his hand never unclasping from hers, even though the only thing that was keeping their hands connected was him. Haleigh was dead. With his free hand, he brushed the hair out of her face, before wiping his face clean of tears. ::

"Why didn't you tell me what you were doing? I could have helped. I could have stopped this..."

[crying]

"Haleigh...."

[composing himself]

"I know...that's it's too late...but..."

:: squeezing her hand ::

"I LOVE YOU. I have always loved you...and I just don't know why we've made it so hard. It didn't have to be that hard."

"We could have just loved each other...we could have just had at least a few PERFECT moments before..."

:: Crying ::

"Before you died..."

:: He knelt down and pressed his lips against her stone cold lips. He felt nothing in return. This was just a body. A body that no longer housed the woman he loved. Cameron recoiled at the feel of her lips as she shot back, his hand unclasping from hers, a horrifying reality washing over him. Haleigh was dead and her body had been delivered to his office! ::

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

:: Cameron felt a surge of adrenaline course through his body. He felt compelled to move. To do something. To make something happen and immediately but he didn't know what. One of the only people he would have reached out to in a situation like this was dead in his office. He couldn't just send a THOUGHT CALL to somebody about this. He couldn't text or call anybody about this. He couldn't muster the strength to speak clearly. He needed to get to The Parthenon and NOW. Opening the doors to his office in a hurry he ran in a dead heat, a dead heat that ended in a collision with Ava Cassadine a few feet from his office door. They SMACKED into each other and fell to the ground. ::

"UGH!"

:: He shot up like a cannon upon the realization of who it was. He chest was heaving his eyes were puffy and red, though nobody in the office seemed to notice. Cameron looked at Ava, he grabbed her hands and attempted to get her to follow him, though something told her she needed to see whatever it was that he was running from. ::

"Ava! Ava we have to go! We have to go right now! We have to get to...The Parthenon--there's...we have...AVA! Stop resisting! We've got to go...I have to tell the---AVA!"

 

[Persephone]

Driving through the streets of New York City, for the first time she appreciated the stop and go traffic of the city. It gave her time to think...reflect on what Alison had just said to her. Who was she kidding? Her mind was racing from one extreme to another. As she sat at a stop light, she shut her eyes and groaned.

"Why couldn't you just tell me, Alison? For once, screw the cosmos and give me a heads up."

She grumbled, gently tapping her forehead against the horn of her BMW i8 , causing a couple short beeps to be heard. The light soon turned green again and Ava continued driving, finally reaching the Zenith Group offices. Already she saw police cars surrounding the building; the red and blue flashing lights illuminating the dark streets. Pulling to a stop, she got out of her car and looked around....she saw people standing on the sidewalks whispering about an accident with a window cleaner on the top floor. Ava's brows furrowed as she moved passed the crowd of people and made her way into the lobby. It was strange....everyone was very calm and orderly. It was like they were almost in a robotic like state. Something was way off....and she bet this was just the beginning of whatever Alison had warned her earlier.

"Cameron..."

Jogging through the lobby, Ava quickly tapped the elevator button a few times until finally the doors opened and she hurried inside. Things weren't adding up....why would there be a window cleaner in the evening? Where was the shattered glass if he crashed into the window. Why was everyone being so eerily calm can collected. This had Diana written all over it....and Cameron was Diana's favorite play thing. The elevator doors dinged as they opened on the top floor of the building. Ava quickly began to run down the hall towards Cameron's office. Only a few feet away from the closed doors, she didn't have time to react as Cameron came running out and SLAMMING into her, causing Ava to fall to the ground.

"UUGH!"

A bit startled by what happened, Ava pushed her torso up with a wince. She then saw Cameron.

"...Cameron?"

He looked like he had just seen a ghost. His eyes were blood shot and puffy....his face pale and clammy....his breathing accelerated. But it was Cameron....he was alive, thank god.

"Cameron! What....wha--"

Cameron grabbed her hand and pulled Ava up.

Cameron: "Ava! Ava we have to go! We have to go right now!"

He began to pull her away from his office. It was in that split second that Ava's eyes saw the shards of glass covering his office floor, the huge hole in the window, and some sort of white box.

"Wait! Whats going on!? What is that?"

Ava began to hold her ground as she tried to get a better look at what the mysterious white object was.

Cameron: "We have to get to...The Parthenon--there's...we have...AVA! Stop resisting!"

"Cameron! Calm down and just talk to me!"

She had never seen Cameron in this state before...he was a completely frantic and it HAD to be because of whatever was in his office.

Cameron: We've got to go...I have to tell the---

Ava managed to pull her hand from his and stumble back a couple of steps towards his office doors. It was in that moment her eyes saw the other half of the white box....except it wasn't a box at all...it was a coffin. Her brows lower in confusion as she took a step into his office.

Cameron: AVA!

The step was enough.

[barely audible] "Haleigh....."

There she was. Her sister. Half burned. Dead. In Cameron King's office. Ava's breath caught in her throat as she slowly moved closer to the casket in complete and utter shock. Her eyes were wide in horror, glassy in disbelief. She couldn't breathe....she couldn't remember how to breathe.

[whispering] "Haleigh?"

She didn't believe it. That couldn't be Haleigh....that couldn't be HER SISTER. Haleigh was tough....the toughest person she knew. She was STRONG, so so strong. She was resilient and stubborn. Haleigh couldn't be dead because even Hades wouldn't allow such a creature of power and strength to leave this world. The winds outside began to pick up, blowing a tunnel of cold winter air through the gaping hole in the window. It was then she remembered Alison's words....

"NOOOO!!!"

She screamed out in such guttural force the ENTIRE CITY began to QUAKE as she collapsed to her knees next to her dead sister. Gripping the edge of the white coffin, it was the only way she was able to stay upright at this point. She still couldn't breathe....she didn't know if she had even taken a breathe since entering the office. Gasping in, tears fell from her eyes effortlessly as she stared at the floor unable to look at Haleigh's burned and dead body. She lost everyone. Her father. James. Now Haleigh. She had no one. She was alone.

FLASH

Ava:"Common Haleigh, let me come with you!"

Thirteen year old Ava begged, watching a Haleigh slipped out her bedroom window to the tree branch outside. Her back was adorned with a backpack and she looked about as grown up as a 15 year old with overdone makeup and a skimpy outfit on would.

Haleigh: "No! And shhh! You're gonna wake up mom!"

Ava groaned in protest.

Ava: "You never let me do anything fun."

Haleigh: "You're 13!"

Ava: "With a big mouth!"

Ava gave her the look. The look that said she was going straight to mom's room if Haleigh didn't let her go. Haleigh sighed as she stepped halfway back into the window.

Haleigh: "Ava...look, I know you want to hang out with me all the time...I totally get it, i'm awesome.

Ava scoffed, rolling her eyes.

Haleigh: "But some things I do just aren't for kids..."

Ava: "You're a kid!"

Haleigh: "I'm 15...that's halfway to 30."

Ava's annoyed expression was soon replaced with that of sadness.

Ava: "You never want to hang out with me anymore....you're all about BRAD. I just want my sister back."

Haleigh's expression softened as she climbed fully back into the window. Pulling Ava into a hug, she squeezed her tightly.

Haleigh: "I promise, we're going to have so much time together in the future. Seriously, you'll get so sick of me you'll beg me to leave. [Haleigh laughed] And then i'll be the obnoxious one and won't leave you alone.

Haleigh nudged Ava playfully causing Ava to smile.

Ava: "Whatever....fine, I won't say anything to mom."

Haleigh: "Thanks kid. Remember, you and me: old and grey"

Ava smiled and nodded.

Ava: "Old and grey."

FLASH

The memory flashed in her mind so vividly, it was like it happened yesterday. And the words echoed hauntingly in Ava's mind. Old and grey....what they used to say about being stuck with each other until they were little old grey haired ladies. But now Haleigh was gone. She was dead. And in that moment, as Ava sat hunched over in agony, the air finally found her lungs as she gasped in, SOBBING out in pain.

 

[Prophet]

The Zenith Group Building - Financial District - Cameron's Office

No. NO. NOOO!"

:: She couldn't go into that room. He couldn't let her. He couldn't let her see. If she saw it. If somebody else saw this, it meant it was real. It meant that Haleigh was dead and that they would have to deal with this. But it was too late. She was in there. She was in there in that room with the body. The body of Haleigh Davidoff. ::

[barely audible] "Haleigh....."

There she was. Her sister. Half burned. Dead. In Cameron King's office. Ava's breath caught in her throat as she slowly moved closer to the casket in complete and utter shock. Her eyes were wide in horror, glassy in disbelief. She couldn't breathe....she couldn't remember how to breathe.

[whispering] "Haleigh?"

She didn't believe it. That couldn't be Haleigh....that couldn't be HER SISTER. Haleigh was tough....the toughest person she knew. She was STRONG, so so strong. She was resilient and stubborn. Haleigh couldn't be dead because even Hades wouldn't allow such a creature of power and strength to leave this world. The winds outside began to pick up, blowing a tunnel of cold winter air through the gaping hole in the window. It was then she remembered Alison's words....

"NOOOO!!!"

She screamed out in such guttural force the ENTIRE CITY began to QUAKE as she collapsed to her knees next to her dead sister. Gripping the edge of the white coffin, it was the only way she was able to stay upright at this point. She still couldn't breathe....she didn't know if she had even taken a breathe since entering the office. Gasping in, tears fell from her eyes effortlessly as she stared at the floor unable to look at Haleigh's burned and dead body. She lost everyone. Her father. James. Now Haleigh. She had no one. She was alone.

:: Cameron as well as everybody else in the building was THROTTLED to the ground under the wake of Persephone's power, though the workers on his floor simply fell to the floor and got up as if nothing had ever happened. He couldnt maintain this. Cameron was a telepath of great power, but this was becoming too big for him to manage, his emotions were too all over the place to attempt to mentally manipulate the whole building. But he didn't care about that that at this moment. He didn't care about anything. And he wasn't sure if he ever would again. ::

:: As broken as he felt, he made his way to Ava, dropping to the ground with her, enveloping her in his arms, holding her with all of his might as she bellowed out in pain. This was the worst thing that had ever happened to him. The worst, and now it was shared with Ava Cassadine. This would forever change them. Ava began to wail and he began to wail with her, his face completely hidden in her hair. ::

"Ava....oh god dammit...Ava..I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry....Ava..."

:: He cried heavily, clinging onto Ava for dear life. Cameron couldn't let her get lost in this. He couldn't let her lose it. She didn't deserve this. It wasn't fair to her. It was a beautifully macabre moment. Right now, Ava wasn't a powerful goddess and Cameron wasn't a world ranked telepath. He was a man and she was a woman and they had both just lost somebody who meant the world to them. He rocked her back and forthe, holding her tight. They couldn't live in this moment. As much as they should have been able to grieve, to lose themselves in this pain...they couldn't. Because of their role in this world, they weren't allowed. Cameron used ever fiber of his being to attempt to weakly compose himself, all the while still holding Ava tight. ::

[weakly]

"Ava....Shhhh....Ava....please...we...please, we have to get it together..."

[swallowing hard]

"It was Diana. She shipped the body to me. I saw it...We...Ava...I know it's not fair, but we have to...we have to get up off this FLOOR...and we need to go to the others. We need to AVENGE her...she needs us. She needs us to be strong...Ava..."

:: Squeezing her tightly. ::

"We have to get back to The Parthenon...maybe...we can fix this...Karen?! She's brought back the dead before. There has to be a way...this can't be it...I won't ALLOW this to be it...please, we...we have to go. We have to tell the others...Please..."

:: Crying heavily ::

"Ava..." [sobbing] "Please...we don't have much time...I know it's not fair...but PLEASE...for Haleigh's sake...PLEASE...we gotta go. She's safe here...I promise...she's safe here..."

:: Cameron got up off the floor and extended his hand to Ava, still broken. Still shocked. ::

"We have to GO, Ava...we have to go NOW..."

:: Crying. ::

:: Using his sibling bond, he cried out to Alison, his visceral and guttural reaction THROTTLED through the astral plane. He needed his sister. He needed Alison to make this better, to explain the unexplainable. He needed the Harbinger. ::

 

[Orion]

The Parthenon -- Haleigh's suite

Zach rolled the ring between his fingers numbly. He thought he should feel some strong emotion here, some kind of upheaval, or heartbreak, but he couldn't. He just felt tired of trying to make her feel something she didn't.

She loved him, he knew that. He loved her. But it was weighed down by infidelity. Physical once or twice [depending on who was asked], on his side, emotional on hers. Maybe she'd slept with Cameron already, maybe she hadn't. That wasn't the root of the problem, and so it didn't matter either way. This conversation had been a long time coming. Ever since the purifiers there had been rift between them, and he had been unable to mend it. If he was being honest with himself, things were never really the same after their failed engagement, but they had been limping on since their reconciliation.

Her boots on the hardwood floor warned him of her arrival. She walked in, returning from... where ever she had been this whole time. Haleigh looked drastically different than she had the last time he'd seen her. The building shook a little, but with THIS group, it was always something.

"Did you do something with your hair?"

The grim look on her face implied she wasn't happy with the way her appointment at the salon had gone. He couldn't determine WHY... she looked so beautiful, he almost changed his mind. He was about to compliment her when her gaze fell to his hand.

Haleigh: What the fuck is THAT?

"Your engagement ring."

He started simply, but before he could explain just why he was here, she launched into an embattled response.

Haleigh: Zach, I barely know how I feel about myself right now, you want me to decide how I feel about you?

He watched her rub her eyes, he sensed her ambivalence, and he shook his head softly.

"It's not something you should have to DECIDE, it's not something you should even have to THINK ABOUT, it's just something you FEEL. Here's a question you don't even have to answer. When you look at Cameron, do you have to decide how you feel?"

He asked, without a hint of bitterness. He had finally accepted that the Haleigh/Cameron thing would always be a train wreck and he wasn't interested in straddling the train tracks anymore. She stared at him, at a complete loss for words. He continued on calmly.

"I'm done with this mess, Haleigh. I can't keep going through the motions and hoping it'll feel REAL again. The sex may be phenomenal, but that's not enough. I need MORE. I'm an empath, I need to FEEL some kind of PASSION."

Haleigh: Wait.... are you saying..... You're..... LEAVING ME??

"Babe, you left a LONG time ago. I'm just not going to WAIT for you to come back any more."

Haleigh: Zach, I don't know what to say, I never been dumped before.

"I don't want to fight. We both grew while we were dating, we just grew APART. This is..... a relationship debrief."

He replied with a smile, trying to ease the tone a little. She blinked at him for a few moments. Curiously, she started to laugh, and it wasn't just an impudent chuckle, it was a deeply deranged laugh.

"Are you okay?"

Haleigh: Not even remotely. I've got shit to do, I trust you can show yourself out?

She could go cold with the flip of a switch, it never ceased to amaze him. He'd spent years trying to HELP her, and he'd thought he made SOME kind of progress, but it wasn't enough. He had to finally accept that he couldn't save her from herself anymore than he could have saved his mother. There were some things that were beyond his power.

"That's it? Nothing else to say, nothing to talk about?"

Haleigh: WHAT did you expect, Zach? You've made up your mind already, I can see that. This isn't an ultimatum, it's a notification. I got the message, and I mean really, you could have just texted me. I'll see you at the next board meeting.

"Wow."

It was all he could say really. She brushed past him. As she went, he grasped her hand, slowing her down, and passing her the ring.

"I've held onto this long enough."

She stopped and accepted it, stared at it, and for a moment, there was a fleeting sadness emanating from her. For that, he felt bad, but he didn't waver. He kissed her cheek, relieving that sadness, and underneath it he could sense a torrent of fluctuating emotion. He wanted to take her in his arms, ask her what was wrong, and help her deal with it, as he always had. He wanted that again, but he knew it led down the same path as always. She turned and resumed her former path, and he let her go.

 

[Black Widow]

The Parthenon -- Haleigh's suite

She couldn't delay it much longer. She'd been inside Diana's head again, and this time she'd come away with more than JUST what the mind-link memory had forced on her. She knew that there was some kind of event planned at Hellfire soon, and that following the event, they would be under threat of attack. This meant the calm before the storm was almost over.

Morgan gave her a 'lift' back to the Parthenon, wrapping up an interaction between the two that was, for once, actually pleasant, excepting that one outburst. Haleigh was concerned that later, when she gathered the group for her conference, moments like these would be completely forgotten or worse, held against her.

Her mind elsewhere, she didn't notice Zach was here until she walked in. He was leaning against the breakfast bar, half-assed on a barstool, looking as broody as ever. The ground rumbled under her feet, reminding her of the occasional earth quakes they got while they lived at Melrose. Was somebody fighting elsewhere on this floor? She couldn't deal with that right now.

This is SO not a good time.

Zach: Did you do something with your hair?

Her gaze fell on the little sparkling object he was rolling around between his fingers. Oh NO. She could NOT handle any more heart-stoppers right now. He'd picked NOW to propose again? NOW?!?! Maybe she was jumping to conclusions.

"What the fuck is THAT?"

Zach: Your engagement ring.

He couldn't be serious with this shit. She had so much piled on top of her, she was on the verge of snapping and going full scale maniac. She rubbed her eyes, digging down DEEP for some patience. She managed to keep the lunacy out of her tone.

"Zach, I barely know how I feel about myself right now, you want me to decide how I feel about you?"

Zach: It's not something you should have to DECIDE, it's not something you should even have to THINK ABOUT, it's just something you FEEL. Here's a question you don't even have to answer. When you look at Cameron, do you have to decide how you feel?

He asked, with much less venom than she expected, given the topic. She stared at him, unable to deny that he'd struck a chord, that he was right, that the way she felt about Cameron was beyond anything she could account for or even quantify.

Zach: I'm done with this mess, Haleigh. I can't keep going through the motions and hoping it'll feel REAL again. The sex may be phenomenal, but that's not enough. I need MORE. I'm an empath, I need to FEEL some kind of PASSION.

It finally occurred to Haleigh that Zach was not trying to propose, that he had not brought out the ring because he was holding on, but because he was letting go.

"Wait.... are you saying..... You're..... LEAVING ME??"

Zach: Babe, you left a LONG time ago. I'm just not going to WAIT for you to come back any more.

"Zach, I don't know what to say, I've never been dumped before."

Zach: I don't want to fight. We both grew while we were dating, we just grew APART. This is........ a relationship debrief.

He was smiling gently, as if saying this is okay, this will be good, no hard feelings. It was exactly the kind of break-up she would have given HIM eventually. She couldn't help it, she just dissolved into unhinged laughter.

Zach: Are you okay?

Was she okay? It was the most ridiculous question ever to have been asked. No, she was not okay.

"Not even remotely. I've got shit to do, I trust you can show yourself out?"

Zach: That's it? Nothing else to say, nothing to talk about?

She didn't understand how he could be surprised. He wanted to leave, he didn't want to fight, and he wasn't here to give her 'a chance' to fix it. It was over, he was giving up. She felt she had nothing left to offer, and she didn't care if he was disappointed or frustrated or WHATEVER.

"WHAT did you expect, Zach? You've made up your mind already, I can see that. This isn't an ultimatum, it's a notification. I got the message, and I mean really, you could have just texted me. I'll see you at the next board meeting."

Zach: Wow.

Her response seemed to amaze him, but she was stoic. She wondered how he'd expected this to go, what kind of romantic-epic-poetic bullshit gymnastics he'd had to do to mentally prepare himself for this simple conversation. She pushed past him and he caught her hand.

Zach: I've held onto this long enough.

The ring felt warm from having been at the center of his palm, and she looked down at it now, a sparkling representation of FAILURE. She knew she let him down, that he'd loved her even beyond reason and she'd squandered it, and that saddened her momentarily. He kissed her cheek and sapped away some of that pain, just like usual. She was going to miss him, for that reason and many others. But she held herself together, and walked away steadily. She let him have the clean break he wanted, the easy extraction he deserved.

 

[MorningStar]

The Parthenon – Delilah’s Suite

Sleep. Heavenly sleep. If someone were to ask her right now what her hobbies were? She would say, “Sleeping.”

After lying in bed for a while being completely lazy, tv on but not really watching it, her rumbling stomach got the best of her and she threw off the covers. She pulled on jeans and a t shirt, deciding she’d rather run downstairs for something rather than having room service bring it up.

She needed some air, especially after the whole Blaze thing. In a lot of ways, Blaze’s actions hurt her worse than Morgan and Alison’s. Misguided as they were, at least Morgan and Alison thought they were doing the right thing. Blaze sure as hell KNEW what SHE was doing was wrong AS she was doing it. Not in the heat of anger, saying things she didn’t mean. She MEANT them.

Delilah knew Karen wanted she and her daughters to kiss and make up. She and Morgan had made a start, but with Blaze? Blaze wanted to be forgiven, but she wasn’t really sorry. And she would do the exact same thing again. Not good enough.

She pulled on some boots and grabbed her purse before exiting the apartment. She pressed the button for the elevator.

She scoffed. DELILAH’S worst fear might be turning into the Justicer, but she didn’t expect that from Blaze. Not HER Blaze at least. It was clear to her that THIS Blaze didn’t trust her at all.

The elevator dinged, and the doors parted.

“Oh Jesus.”

Alison was standing in the elevator car. And she looked like she meant to be on this floor.

“If Blaze sent you to chew me out, just don’t bother. I’m not going to kiss her ass any more than I am your’s.”

 

[Titan]

The Parthenon - Bar Six

"Oh come ON, you total LANGER!"

Andrew dragged his pint glass to his lips and took a long gulp of Guinness. He signaled the barman.

"Terry, yes, please."

He had been at the pub all day. Footie was on the tele. He didn't remember that he'd watched this match once already today.

Andrew frowned down into his glass, swaying a bit on his barstool. How could this have happened? He'd thought everything was going great. Hadn't it been? She NEEDED him, he knew she did. So how could she just come home one day and tell him it was over?

He knew that APE of a man was responsible for this. Was she really that stupid? Andrew CARED about her, but this guy...he just used her and brought her nothing but pain.

She would come to her senses. She had to. Eventually. Wouldn't she?

 

[Orion]

The Parthenon -- Bar Six

That could have gone WAY worse.

He thought, riding the elevator down. He rubbed his chest absentmindedly. He had this weird awful feeling, like heartburn almost. He'd felt it before, and knew what it was. Second-hand heartbreak. The weird part was that it wasn't coming from Haleigh. He'd felt the full spectrum of her emotional upheaval while he was in the room with her. This heartache was coming from someone else, someone who's emotions he'd personally experienced before, so probably someone in the Six.

He wondered if he should stay, but was in an awkward position now. Without Haleigh as his 'connection', they might not WANT him there, and even if they DID.... it'd have to be a pretty big deal because otherwise he wanted to give Haleigh some space in case her initial reaction was just a fluke and she decided later on that she was mad about it.

He opted for only halfway leaving. The elevator dumped him into the lobby and he weighed his options, then settled on the pub. He'd just ended the longest running romance of his adult life. He needed a drink, and a rebound girl. There was only one seat left at the bar, next to a guy whose emotional status let Zach know that the seat wasn't 'saved'.

As he approached, he realized that he recognized the back of the guy's head. He slid onto the barstool smoothly and nodded to Andrew.

"Hey bro, whatcha stewing about?"

He asked, as the bartender came over, deposited a fresh Guiness in front of Andrew, and greeted Zach.

"Yeah, good evening. I'll take a pint of Killian's and a glass of Kilbeggan, neat please."

Terry: What year?

"Ah, 21, of course. And pour a whiskey for my friend here, as well, please."

 

[Titan]

The Parthenon - Bar Six

Andrew had his elbows on the bar, head resting in one hand. He wasn't watching the match any more. He was just staring straight ahead. He felt someone sit next to him, but didn't make any effort to move over. He moved his head enough to see the guy now sitting next to him. And he knew him. And now his pain had an audience.

"Hey bro, whatcha stewing about?"

Andrew's head slammed down onto his arms folded on top of the bar.

"She dumped me."

Zach was ordering.

"And pour a whiskey for my friend here, as well, please."

Andrew picked up his head, and looked bleary-eyed over at Zach.

"Good man."

He picked up the whiskey and drank the whole thing down. Then chased it with the fresh pint.

He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, eyes sliding over to Zach.

"So, what brings you into my unfortunate sphere of misery today?"

 

[Orion]

The Parthenon -- Bar Six

Andrew: She dumped me.

"'She' as in Delilah? That sucks."

He replied. He didn't sound all that surprised, but really, Delilah kind of had the same problem Haleigh did. There was a man they just couldn't let go, no matter how bad the asshole was for their mental, emotional, and physical health. What WAS it with these women??

So... Delilah maybe needs a rebound guy?

Yeah, he'd noticed Delilah before, more than once. She was right up his alley.

Nah, I can't do that. And by 'can't' I mean I would nail her to the WALL.... but that would be incredibly rude of me.

He sighed. He mentally ran through the women of the Six. Ava, the actual GODDESS. He'd worship her. He took a sip of his lager. Blaze, the frisky little firecracker. That'd be hot. Another sip of beer in her honor. Morgan, the scary side of sexy. He was pretty sure she'd be into some dominatrix stuff. He drank to THAT. Cass, the new girl, a little young for him. Schoolgirl fantasy fulfillment? DRINK. Why did Haleigh have to have such attractive friends?

Andrew: So, what brings you into my unfortunate sphere of misery today?

"Actually, you aren't the only one fresh off a break-up. The shitty part is.... she's probably in Cameron's room right now."

He replied. An admission like that required whiskey. He drank half of what he was given, savored the taste and then chased the burn with the rest of the glass. He tried not to feel angry about the idea. Wasn't he over it already?

"You know what we both need? A palate cleanser. I'm gonna be your wingman. There's NO women that hang out in a hotel bar unless they're hoping for a one night stand, trust me, I KNOW. Pick ANY girl in here, I'll work my magic."

 

[Titan]

The Parthenon – Bar Six

"'She' as in Delilah? That sucks."

Andrew gave Zach a drunken “WTF” look.

“Yes, DELILAH. Who else?!”

He drank another large gulp of his beer.

"Actually, you aren't the only one fresh off a break-up. The shitty part is.... she's probably in Cameron's room right now."

Andrew shook his head.

“Aw, man, I’m sorry.”

He shook his head some more.

“Bit…bitches.”

"You know what we both need? A palate cleanser. I'm gonna be your wingman. There's NO women that hang out in a hotel bar unless they're hoping for a one night stand, trust me, I KNOW. Pick ANY girl in here, I'll work my magic."

His ears perked up. When dealing with the kind of folks he was dealing with now, when they said magic they meant…

He looked around. But then his face fell and he shook his head.

“No…what if she changes her mind?”

He stared off into space again for a bit.

“You know…you know I did everything for her. Listened to her problems. Held her while she cried in my arms like a baby. But was that good enough for her?”

He took a drink.

“No! And do you know what she said to me? ‘I care about you, but I’m not in love with you.’ What the hell is that about?”

He looked over at Zach.

“And that Cameron. He’s shifty. Stealing your girl right out from under you. Total breach of bro code if you ask me. You should…we should…go up there and give him a bit of a kicking.”

 

[Orion]

The Parthenon -- Bar Six

Andrew: No…what if she changes her mind?

Zach looked at Andrew curiously, then took another swig of lager.

"Dude, these women here already have their minds made up. Check out the brunette at the end of the bar, looking like a huntress. She wants SOMEBODY, we just need to put you in her crosshairs. Not your type? There's a blonde over at the billiards table trying to bend over at JUST the right time. I doubt I'll NEED to even give 'em a little boost of passion when we introduce you, but it can't hurt your chances."

Andrew wasn't going for it. He started talking about Delilah. How he'd been there for her, been exactly what she needed, and gotten taken advantage for it. He was preaching to the choir with this sermon. Zach drained the rest of his beer. He patted Andrew on the back, and siphoned off some of the guy's frustration.

"Yeah but..... you got to see her naked, so...."

Andrew: And that Cameron. He’s shifty. Stealing your girl right out from under you. Total breach of bro code if you ask me. You should…we should…go up there and give him a bit of a kicking.

"A bit of a..... kicking? Sure. Why don't we get another round of whiskey first."

He replied diplomatically. Maybe if Andrew wasn't inebriated, he'd be a good distraction. But Cameron had a stunner of a right hook, it wouldn't be fair to put a sauced Andrew up against that. Especially since it was obvious Cameron had been working out a lot lately.

Probably trying to beef up so he could better compete with me. Yeah RIGHT. I'd still kick his ass.

"Hey, we'll take two more whiskeys and two more beers."

The bartender's expression was lukewarm, as he pushed a food menu toward the guys and then glanced pointedly at Andrew. Zach got the hint and pretended to look at the appetizers.

Well actually, that sounds good....

"Hey, did you eat yet?"

 

[Titan]

The Parthenon – Bar Six

"Dude, these women here already have their minds made up. Check out the brunette at the end of the bar, looking like a huntress. She wants SOMEBODY, we just need to put you in her crosshairs. Not your type? There's a blonde over at the billiards table trying to bend over at JUST the right time. I doubt I'll NEED to even give 'em a little boost of passion when we introduce you, but it can't hurt your chances."

He waved his hand at the air.

"Yeah but..... you got to see her naked, so...."

“Yeah, I did.”

He almost started to cry.

Zach ordered them more drinks. That Zach, he was a stand up guy.

“You know what? You deserve BETTER. If that Haleigh can’t see what a crackin’ guy you are, then fuck her. Alright? Just go out there and…and…”

He forgot what he was trying to say.

“…be you.”

"Hey, did you eat yet?"

“I think I had some peanuts around ten…”

Zach was looking at a menu.

“I’m not that hungry…I’ll just have some nachos. And a burger. With fries. And one of those onion things that’s fried.”

He looked at his phone. Or tried to look at his phone, which was pretty blurry by this point.

“You know what, you’re right, Zach. I deserve better. Who does she think she is, treating me like this?”

He starting typing on his phone.

[reading] “Dear Delilah. I don’t need you anymore. I’m in a bar right now and there are LOTS of women here who want to have sex with me. So have fun with your neanderthal. See if I care. SEND.”

He put his phone down.

“So…what are we going to do about you? You seem to be handling this breakup thing pretty well. I don’t think you’ve have enough to drink yet.”

 

[Persephone]

Ava's eyes were shut tight as she finally let go of the coffin and covered her face with her hands. This was wrong, it was so wrong on so many levels. It was in that moment she felt Cameron wrap his arms around her and hold her tightly. She had forgotten he was here....her mind was a raging storm of emotions and she couldn't think straight. He began to say something, but she couldn't make it out. Everything around her was like dull white noise. Then he said one word that snapped her out of it.

Cameron: "--Diana."

It was in that very moment, Ava stopped crying.

Cameron: "--she shipped the body to me. I saw it...We...Ava...I know it's not fair, but we have to...we have to get up off this FLOOR...and we need to go to the others. We need to AVENGE her...she needs us. She needs us to be strong...Ava..."

Ava's hands lowered from her face slowly, her face wet from tears but her eyes now dry. She stared blankly at the floor as Cameron continued to talk....again, white noise. She could hear his chokes of sobs, but nothing more than that. It was then she saw the discarded note lying on the floor from Diana: "Thinking of you. With love, Diana." Ava's body was still shaking, but it wasn't from anguish anymore. She was going to kill her. She was going to kill her and DRAG her STRAIGHT to HELL. She was going to toss her to the creatures her ex husband created and let THEM fight over her. She was going to sit there and WATCH as Diana was torn apart by creatures she couldn't control with her mind....creatures that would break even her precious little diamond form. Creatures that were created IONS before her pathetic soul plagued this earth.

Ava still hadn't said a word, as she stared down at the note in front of her. She felt Cameron let go and stand, but she still couldn't hear anything beyond her own heartbeat that filled her throbbing head. She had felt like this before....when she had killed Mike on Aerie.

Cameron: "--Ava--"

The glow from the topaz ring that Karen gave her was so bright it was almost blinding. Slowly shifting her eyes down to it, Ava gripped it within her fingers. Slipping the ring off, the glow immediately died.

Cameron: "We have to GO, Ava...we have to go NOW..."

Placing the ring onto the note, she ignored Cameron's hand and stood.

"She's not dead."

Ava said evenly and matter of fact. No emotion in her voice. Nothing. It was as if SHE was one of robotic people at Zenith now. If Diana was behind this, there was more to this situation than just Haleigh's corpse in front of them. This was a game....a game SHE used to play back in her day. And if Diana wanted to play games, PERSEPHONE would play.

Ava didn't bother to say anything else or even LOOK at Cameron. She just waved her arm around as a tornado of wind enveloped around both her and Cameron, causing them to disappear from Zenith and transport to the Parthenon.

 

[Orion]

The Parthenon -- Bar Six

Andrew: Yeah, I did.

Andrew agreed, and then he made the face. The ugly cry face. Zach really felt sorry for Andrew. Delilah did a NUMBER on the poor guy.

"Aww, man..... you got it bad, huh? Here, drown your sorrows."

He consoled, sliding Andrew his new drinks.

Andrew: You know what? You deserve BETTER. If that Haleigh can’t see what a crackin’ guy you are, then fuck her. Alright? Just go out there and…and……be you.

"Yeah, I'm trying."

He said, sipping his beer as Andrew spoke of ordering a quarter of the menu.

Andrew: You know what, you’re right, Zach.

"I am?"

Andrew: I deserve better.

"You DO."

He confirmed, going along with it.

Andrew: Who does she think she is, treating me like this?

"Yeah! Delilah, she's a real piece of work, huh? We're gonna hook you up with a NICE girl."

Zach actually thought Delilah was a 'nice girl', but Andrew needed some support right now. Zach knocked the whiskey back while Andrew started fumbling with his phone. And then he read the text out loud. Zach started reaching to slap the phone out of Andrew's hands -- because friends don't let friends drunk text their exes-- but Andrew was surprisingly quick about it.

Too late now.... if he's lucky she'll be too busy or too annoyed to respond.

Andrew: So…what are we going to do about you? You seem to be handling this breakup thing pretty well. I don’t think you’ve have enough to drink yet.

"I'm working on it. Like I said.... I need a rebound.... but I don't know.... After HALEIGH.... [he glanced around discreetly] none of these ladies have the right attitude. I need a wildcat, you know? [staring off distantly]A real warrior woman. Combative... Confident.... a little Crazy. [turning to look at Andrew] Do we know anybody like that?"

 

[Harbinger]

Parthenon- Hallway on Delilah's floor

“Oh Jesus.”

Alison was standing in the elevator car. And she looked like she meant to be on this floor.

“If Blaze sent you to chew me out, just don’t bother. I’m not going to kiss her ass any more than I am your’s.”

No one "sends" me anywhere, Delilah.

:: Alison said calmly, standing in the elevator car. After a moment, she steps out of the car and into the private hall on the floor that housed Delilah's suite.::

I need to speak with you.

:: Alison wasn't being cold or harsh in this moment, but she would also not be dismissed or denied. It was time to address this in its entirety. Something was COMING for ALL of them, and Alison had to be here for them, for Ava, for her brother. There was no room for second guessing or personal vendettas, time WAS of the essence.::


::Back in Delilah's apartment, they are seated.::

I've had visions...I've had dreams...nightmares...I've seen things that are beyond mortal perception, and comprehension of most metahumans even. I've seen things that I didn't WANT to see.

One of the biggest mistakes I've made...was adopting the attitude that because I "saw" something that's going to happen, IF I'm supposed to...OR IF i choose to intervene - ESPECIALLY if it has to do with someone I CARE about?...I should be able to do WHATEVER I deem necessary to avert outcome, WITHOUT the need for input OR approval from the person, and the person I'm trying to save should just stand back and let me do what's necessary.

The gift of sight is rare...but it comes with a high personal requirement and cost.

:: She paused::

...when it comes to someone I care about...I should operate ethically. I haven't always done that, and I would just reflexively assume that the person would be grateful that I averted the disaster or even DEATH glow that was around them, and overlook my methods.

:: Alison was echoing some of Morgan's very words to Delilah. Another coincidence? Not likely. But Alison was laying a foundation for Delilah. In order for her to get to Delilah, she had to start at the beginning with herself, and paint a picture.::

Morgan and I BOTH have operated like this, for a long time. In an emergency, especially a life threatening one, It was easier, and we felt - more effective- for us to just...DO, without considering other variables, other PEOPLE'S feelings.

Morgan and I...we loved you Delilah, we considered you ONE OF US through and through. But the truth us...we just assumed that you had more in common with us than you actually did. No matter the differences, you were so supportive and loyal, and look how we treated you....

:: sighing as she paused for a moment::

When BISHOP crashed down on us...Morgan and I...we castigated you. We were all traumatized and we had a right to our feelings, but we condemned YOU with a force we should have reserved for BISHOP. We hurt you, terribly. We didn't give you what you gave Morgan after the Inferno, and we didn't realize....I didn't realize what we were setting in motion.

After you killed Bishop to save Sharon, you ended up DYING from guilt and heartbreak in the aegean sea...outside of MY aerie!

Haleigh, Ava and I...we were RIGHT THERE...and we...were too late.

:: Alison closed her eyes , bowing her head for a moment, before looking back up and into Delilah's eyes::

The night I'd had my nightmare about Circe and you dying in the infirmary of my aerie during child birth just as Circe destroyed everything, Ava came to warn me that Circe and the blue moon were coming. Morgan and I immediately discussed this revelation, and I told her what I "SAW" happening to you- where it would happen, HOW and WHY.

I'll never forget the look of abject horror on Morgan's face. It was not unlike the utter fear I felt in my heart.

But here...we began to go in the wrong the direction. Wrapped up in fear, and yes, GUILT, we decided that after ALL the events surrounding Bishop, the revelation of the curse, and your decision not to let Hecate break it because it would terminate the pregnancy...

:: pausing for a moment, but then resuming, in an even tone.::

We decided that you were INSANE. We couldn't understand the choices you ... to stay connected to Bishop and this CURSE, and to keep this BABY! We were guilt ridden over your suicide. At that moment, There was no other explanation for us that made sense.

In that moment, We decided we were going to not only save your life, but save her from YOURSELF.

Instead of us REMEMBERING how unwavering in your support for MORGAN after the Inferno Event, a period during which she WAS insane, among the many OTHER demosntrations of sisterhood and loyalty you made, instead of INCLUDING you, and showing you that even though we didn't understand, we DID trust you- that we HAD moved on from the Bishop incident- , and that we'd do whatever we could WITH you to help you, we just...wrote you off as incompetent and WE were going to take over.

:: Alison said this with regret in her tone::

I offered the course of action that I "SAW" would save your life- removing the baby from your presence, Morgan, and Bishop- after seeing you flatline TWICE and learning from Sharon what the cause was, anctioned it. Morgan had ordered the rest of the Six NOT to discuss it with you. I showed Bishop all the information that I had, and told him he had a choice to make. It's ironic...all the time that i hated him so much, I ended up letting HIM have the option of choice, while taking it away from YOU.

Part of what I discerned as being a factor in altering your timethreads so that you would LIVE was HIS presence at Minerva's Aerie. Nicolas alerted him, against Morgan's order- she was trying to...keep the promise she made to you before about not telling him. But in the face of this truly life threatening emergency? And ALL of this against the backdrop of the Blue Moon- which was affecting us both mentally and physically, and Circe?

::Sigh!::

Our decision to handle this the way we did was a gross error in judgement, it was a mistake. a TERRIBLE mistake.

We WANTED to SAVE you, and we wanted you to have a chance to someday be with your child because no child should be in this world without her mother in it too. Our motives were genuine. We WERE in FEAR for you and your life...and my vision was TRUE. We ANGUISHED with GUILT over how we'd mistreated and failed you before, and instead of relying on the power of a more virtuous emotion, LOVE, and TRUST and SUPPORT- that you well deserved, as you had given it, we went about trying to protect you in such a wrong way, and we ended up harming you on a level that neither of us had stopped to imagine.

:: she shook her head slowly::

We THOUGHT if we could just save you, and buy you and the baby some time, assuming that we even SURVIVED the Blue Moon....that you'd understand. But how could you understand?

:: Alison stands up and moves toward the window...at that moment...there was some sort of TREMOR.::

an EARTHQUAKE in NEW YORK CITY!? Geologically UNLIKELY.

::Which only meant that something was WRONG, and she knew who this was emminating from. But as soon as it began, it passed soon after. Alison had come this far, she had to see this through. She would only be most effective in her role tonight if she addressed THIS with Delilah first.::

:: She stays by the window, looking at her refracted image in the glass::

We didn't tell you anything, and we were wrong for that. Whatever kind of resistance or opposition you would have presented...we could have found a way to make you understand what was at stake, but I underestimated you. Neither Morgan or I gave you the benefit that you often gave us.

I want you to know that I did NOT set out to hurt you. Sadly, that's what Morgan and I ended up doing. For that, and for not being ethical you, for not giving you what you needed as you have given us time and again before, for this terrible mistake that I made,

:: She turns back around to face Delilah, and look her in the eye::

I'm very sorry, Delilah.

I...hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me.

 

[MorningStar]

The Parthenon – Delilah’s Suite, Hallway

No one "sends" me anywhere, Delilah.

Delilah rolled her eyes as she turned back towards her apartment.

“Yes I forgot who I was talking to for a moment.”

And unfortunately, now I’ve remembered.

Her phone dinged. She swiped open the message. It was from Andrew. Oh lord, not now.

>>Deliah. I don kneed you mor. I’m inabat right now and therefore are LITS of wine here who want have aex wihme. Sove fun your meandering. Sea I can.

[to herself] “What the hell?”

She locked the phone and put it in her pocket. Maybe he was having some sort of breakdown.

She opened her door and walked inside, leaving it open. She sighed – this was going to be exasperating, she just knew it. And she really was hungry.

I need to speak with you.

“You might as well come in then.”

Delilah led Alison back to the living area, all the while having déjà vu from Blaze’s visit earlier in the day. And Delilah was just not in the mood for that.

I've had visions...I've had dreams...nightmares...I've seen things that are beyond mortal perception, and comprehension of most metahumans even. I've seen things that I didn't WANT to see.

Here we go. The “nobody listens to me it’s so hard being a precog” speech. AGAIN. Alison should just record it so she could just press play every time she wanted to use it and save her vocal chords.

One of the biggest mistakes I've made...was adopting the attitude that because I "saw" something that's going to happen, IF I'm supposed to...OR IF i choose to intervene - ESPECIALLY if it has to do with someone I CARE about?...I should be able to do WHATEVER I deem necessary to avert outcome, WITHOUT the need for input OR approval from the person, and the person I'm trying to save should just stand back and let me do what's necessary.

Yep, that’s about right. That’s what she does. But Delilah said nothing, just let her keep talking.

...when it comes to someone I care about...I should operate ethically. I haven't always done that, and I would just reflexively assume that the person would be grateful that I averted the disaster or even DEATH glow that was around them, and overlook my methods.

Delilah looked at Alison.

“But you’re not GOD Alison.”

Here tone wasn’t harsh this time, it was matter of fact.

“You can’t play with people’s lives as if they were pieces on a chessboard. They’re people, Alison. With a right to live their own lives.”

Morgan and I BOTH have operated like this, for a long time. In an emergency, especially a life threatening one, It was easier, and we felt - more effective- for us to just...DO, without considering other variables, other PEOPLE'S feelings. Morgan and I...we loved you Delilah, we considered you ONE OF US through and through. But the truth us...we just assumed that you had more in common with us than you actually did.

“What’s THAT supposed to mean, Alison? Because I didn’t think, look and act EXACTLY like you and Morgan that I didn’t deserve to be your friend all those years? That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”

No matter the differences, you were so supportive and loyal, and look how we treated you...

This part of Alison’s statement gave Delilah pause. Was Alison actually…admitting to behaving badly? Not Queen Marble Heart herself?

When BISHOP crashed down on us...Morgan and I...we castigated you. We were all traumatized and we had a right to our feelings, but we condemned YOU with a force we should have reserved for BISHOP. We hurt you, terribly. We didn't give you what you gave Morgan after the Inferno, and we didn't realize...I didn't realize what we were setting in motion. After you killed Bishop to save Sharon, you ended up DYING from guilt and heartbreak in the Aegean sea...outside of MY Aerie!

Delilah opened her mouth and closed it again. NONE of them had ever admitted that their treatment of her after she’d killed Bishop was anything other than what she deserved. And they certainly had never admitted that Delilah had killed Bishop to save Sharon, to save all of them.

The night I'd had my nightmare about Circe and you dying in the infirmary of my Aerie during child birth just as Circe destroyed everything, Ava came to warn me that Circe and the blue moon were coming. Morgan and I immediately discussed this revelation, and I told her what I "SAW" happening to you- where it would happen, HOW and WHY. I'll never forget the look of abject horror on Morgan's face. It was not unlike the utter fear I felt in my heart.

Delilah felt a sharp pang in her chest at hearing this last. Hearing what Morgan and Alison had felt then. Hearing ALISON who never spoke so candidly and openly about emotions.

We decided that you were INSANE. We couldn't understand the choices you ... to stay connected to Bishop and this CURSE, and to keep this BABY! We were guilt ridden over your suicide. At that moment, There was no other explanation for us that made sense. In that moment, We decided we were going to not only save your life, but save her from YOURSELF.

Tears were in Delilah’s eyes.

“I wasn’t INSANE, I was a mother! Hecate gave me an impossible choice, and only seconds to make it. Whether YOU thought it was the wrong decision or not, it was MINE, and even if it was wrong I needed your SUPPORT, your HELP with what the hell I was going to do now that I had made it. But you decided that anyone who didn’t do what you would do must be crazy and needed to be stopped. Do you understand how that sounds?! I needed BOTH of you, and you SHUT ME OUT.”

Drops rolled down Delilah’s cheeks.

“Tell me this, Alison. If you could have killed my child after I refused Hecate’s offer, would you have?”

She looked away a moment before continuing, not wanting to see the answer in Alison’s eyes.

“Danger was all around us that night. Did you ever stop to think about what would happen if you had failed? What if Circe had killed you all and I had died – Alexia would have been in Circe’s hands! And you didn’t think I needed to know about that risk?”

Instead of us REMEMBERING how unwavering in your support for MORGAN after the Inferno Event, a period during which she WAS insane, among the many OTHER demonstrations of sisterhood and loyalty you made, instead of INCLUDING you, and showing you that even though we didn't understand, we DID trust you- that we HAD moved on from the Bishop incident- , and that we'd do whatever we could WITH you to help you, we just...wrote you off as incompetent and WE were going to take over.

I offered the course of action that I "SAW" would save your life- removing the baby from your presence, Morgan, and Bishop- after seeing you flatline TWICE and learning from Sharon what the cause was, sanctioned it. Morgan had ordered the rest of the Six NOT to discuss it with you. I showed Bishop all the information that I had, and told him he had a choice to make. It's ironic...all the time that i hated him so much, I ended up letting HIM have the option of choice, while taking it away from YOU.

Delilah shook her head. She couldn’t believe not one of them had gone against Morgan’s orders and TOLD her what was going on. Not one.

“We should have made that decision together. You should have…you could have let me say goodbye…”

She broke down then, lowering her head and crying freely now. She covered her face with her hand, shielding it from Alison’s gaze.

Our decision to handle this the way we did was a gross error in judgement, it was a mistake. a TERRIBLE mistake.

Delilah looked up, her eyebrows raised in surprise, her face red and eyes puffy from tears.

We THOUGHT if we could just save you, and buy you and the baby some time, assuming that we even SURVIVED the Blue Moon....that you'd understand. But how could you understand?

She spoke softly, continuing Alison’s statement.

“My baby was gone…”

Delilah had to catch herself as the ground under her shook. She looked at Alison with alarm.

an EARTHQUAKE in NEW YORK CITY!? Geologically UNLIKELY.

But the tremor passed. And stranger things had happened in this city.

We didn't tell you anything, and we were wrong for that. Whatever kind of resistance or opposition you would have presented...we could have found a way to make you understand what was at stake, but I underestimated you. Neither Morgan or I gave you the benefit that you often gave us.

“No, you didn’t.”

I want you to know that I did NOT set out to hurt you. Sadly, that's what Morgan and I ended up doing. For that, and for not being ethical you, for not giving you what you needed as you have given us time and again before, for this terrible mistake that I made, I'm very sorry, Delilah. I...hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me.

Delilah was silent for a long while. When she finally spoke, tears were still falling from her eyes.

“I don’t WANT to feel this way. I don’t WANT to hate you. But you…”

She closed her eyes for a moment.

“You and Morgan betrayed my trust so deeply. You acted like you didn’t know me at all. Like I was some person – some CHILD - off the street you had to make decisions for because they were too incompetent to make them themselves. I can’t…I can’t have that and be part of this team. I can’t…pretend like it’s okay that you don’t TRUST me. That you will make decisions about my LIFE for me.”

She stood up, the hurt still apparent in her eyes.

“I can’t pretend it didn’t happen, but…”

She looked around for the words.

“I can give you the chance to earn back my trust. That’s all I can offer right now, I’m sorry.”

 

[Titan]

The Parthenon – Bar Six

He had told Delilah. Yes he had. Now feeling very satisfied with himself, he wanted to help Zach too. They guy was clearly keeping his feelings inside.

“Come on, man, let your feelings out. It’s okay. I’m here to help.”

"I'm working on it. Like I said.... I need a rebound.... but I don't know.... After HALEIGH.... [he glanced around discreetly] none of these ladies have the right attitude. I need a wildcat, you know? [staring off distantly]A real warrior woman. Combative... Confident.... a little Crazy. [turning to look at Andrew] Do we know anybody like that?"

“You know, I think we do.”

Andrew thought about it.

“And we know you like blondes…”

He thought about it some more.

“But there’s equal chance she’ll sleep with you or castrate you, so it’s whether you’re up for those odds.”

 

[Orion]

The Parthenon -- Bar Six

Andrew: You know, I think we do.

Andrew started as Zach sucked down some more Irish Red. He'd realized after he described this perfect rebounder that he could have been talking about ANY of the women they regularly socialized with, and that he wasn't near drunk enough to try to demolish one of those relationships. All of them were sexy, to be sure. And if they came onto him? He'd be MORE THAN happy to oblige. But each and every one of them came with strings attached.

Andrew: And we know you like blondes…

"I AM a gentleman, after all."

He replied with a lewd smile. He had a good buzz going now, and the 'heart burn' had gone away, with no one calling or texting him in alarm. Either they'd gotten over it, or they hadn't needed his help. Whatever the case, he apparently didn't need to worry about it anymore, which meant all his brainpower could be spent on figuring out who he could get into bed--with the least amount of consequences.

Andrew: But there’s equal chance she’ll sleep with you or castrate you, so it’s whether you’re up for those odds.

If there was ever a time for a light bulb to appear over someone's head, this was it. Zach's expression changed from contemplation to excitement. He drained the rest of his beer.

"If you're talking about who I THINK you're talking about, I am UP alright!"

He pulled his phone from his pocket, instantly putting up a hand to hold Andrew at bay. She was right at the top of his contacts. Gotta love a name that starts with 'A'. He used to have to scroll halfway down!

"NO, I will text her, thank you very much. Shit, what should I say? I got it, I got it."

To Ashley>> DTF?

Just one question mark, since two would seem a little bit eager. He hit send before he had a chance to second guess himself. Wait, would she know what that meant?