Growing Pains

[Fathom]

Hellfire -- The White Knight’s Quarters

Carolina thanked Heidi again for the gift, and Heidi smiled warmly at the politeness.

“You’re quite welcome, Princess.”

She replied, and then she set up a chair and lifted the lid off the tank so Carolina could feed her new pets. She had seen fish eat millions of times, but she had never seen the fascination on a young girl’s face during the tamest of feeding frenzies. Carolina remarked that they were hungry, and Heidi nodded.

“Indeed. Shall we go down to the Aqua Ring?”

She proposed, when the feeding was done. She set the lid back on the tank and led Carolina deeper into her suite, through the living room and then downstairs, past the bedroom to a little alcove with an elevator. Every Inner Circle member had private access to the Catacombs, but Heidi’s quarters had a direct line to the Aqua Ring section of their underground lair.

The elevator dinged when they reached the right sub level, and the doors opened to reveal another tank, this one filled with the animals they kept as food for the larger species. There was a staff member with a clipboard there, counting stock. He glanced at Heidi and then looked curiously at Carolina. When he looked back at Heidi she dismissed him with a hand gesture.

“Leave us.”

She commanded, and he disappeared around a corner. Normally Heidi would’ve strolled by this tank without much regard, but with Carolina she lingered to allow time to enjoy it. Next they entered a tunnel that passed under the individual segments of the Aqua Ring, and let them see the large creatures that lurked there.

The Aqua Ring was not actually a singular ring, but three nestled together. The outer most, largest Ring wrapped around all the rest, and held the Neptunes, which were roughly the size of city buses and looked fiercer than any Great White, having more than just a tall dorsal fin, but spines and spiky growths, and wide gaping jaws with rows upon rows of massive sharp teeth. There were several of these sharks, including a couple of small younglings that were somehow as cute as any baby creature.

The next concentric Ring had the Moreias, enormous eel like creatures, as thick around as a whale and as long as a train. Along their bodies large dots glowed against dark skin, and from dot to dot electricity would spontaneously light up here and there as they moved. There were a few, but they were difficult to count, as it was often hard to tell where one ended and another began.

The Inner Ring was an enormous cylindrical tank, and held a couple colossal squid, but not soft looking cephalopods. These squid had bony outer armor plates, and long spikes embedded in the suckers of their tentacles.

“They look big and scary, but they aren’t so different than my pets upstairs.”

In the very middle under the central tank was another elevator, this one made of thick glass. It went up through the center of the Aqua Ring, and from within one could see through all the tanks as they ascended slowly to the Mezzanine level atop the tanks. Jack was up here amongst the laboratory equipment, looking into a microscope and talking to his assistant.

“Jack, I want to introduce you to the King’s daughter. This is Carolina Estrada. Carolina, this is my good friend Jack Chondrich. He takes care of all the big creatures here.”

 

[Sparrow]

The White Knight’s Quarters to the Aqua Ring

Carolina's mouth was in a perpetual state of openness as Heidi led her through the rest of her suite.

Carolina: "I can't believe you get to live here..."

There was so much to look at, her head was darting around her, trying to see everything. Not just the huge tanks of fish, but Heidi's pretty furniture and things. Carolina wished she could sleep in a bedroom just like Heidi's. She was a little bit disappointed when they reached the elevator, but she was excited too, to see where they were going next.

Carolina had just closed her mouth when the elevator doors opened and she was gaping again.

Carolina: "These ones are huge!"

There were sharks, all different kinds, and giant fish as big as the tank Heidi had given her. Heidi let her stare into the tank for a while, but it still didn't seem like enough time to see everything. But then she was leading her into a tunnel that was glass so they could look at more sea creatures as they walked. And the ones she saw here, she had never seen before and didn't know their names. But they were gigantic.

Heidi: “They look big and scary, but they aren’t so different than my pets upstairs.”

Carolina just stared in awe.

Carolina: "I don't think they're scary. I think they're beautiful."

And then there was another elevator, but this one was glass, so she could still watch the creatures swim as they rode to the top. Heidi led her to where a science-man was looking into a microscope.

Heidi: “Jack, I want to introduce you to the King’s daughter. This is Carolina Estrada. Carolina, this is my good friend Jack Chondrich. He takes care of all the big creatures here.”

"He's very handsome," Carolina whispered to Heidi before taking a slow step forward.

Carolina: "You get to take care of ALL these fish?"

She was impressed. Then her face turned quizzical.

Carolina: "How big is THEIR jar of fish food?"

Carolina looked at Jack's hands. They were bigger than her's, but still. She wasn't sure three pinches would be enough.

Elena entered the lab at the top of the Aqua Ring, looking around for a staff member she could ask about the whereabouts of her daughter. But then her eyes found Carolina, with Heidi.

"There you are, mija. Your father told me you were having an adventure with his"

She looked at Heidi.

"Friend."

Carolina started to positively jump for joy.

Carolina: "Mami! Yes! Heidi took me to see her room and it's FILLED with aquariums and she GAVE me a fish tank all my own to keep and it has Nemo, and Dory, and Marlin...I can't wait to show Sheldon..."

Elena wasn't sure if Carolina was talking about her stuffed turtle, or her horse.

Carolina: "And then I got to come here and see all the BIG fish!"

Elena shuddered. She remembered what Diana had used the Aqua Ring for.

Carolina: "And Senor Jack gets to take care of them all, isn't that amazing! When I'm all grown up I want to do that too! I can't wait for you to see my fish mami, they are so beautiful!"

Carolina was talking a mile a minute, but it was clear she was happy and unharmed.

"I can't wait to see them either!"

Elena smiled warmly down at her daughter, then looked at Heidi again, her expression softer this time.

"Thank you for watching her. And for the gift."

It was good that Carolina hadn't been around to see her father and stepmother fighting, or hear her conversation with Haleigh either. Plus, even though Elena knew that doing as Cameron asked was part of Heidi's job, the girl did seem to have gone all out to entertain her, rather than just shoving her in front of a television as most would have done.

 

[Fathom]

Hellfire -- The Aqua Ring, Mezzanine Level

Carolina gaped at the creatures in the Aqua Ring, and Heidi assured her that even though they looked big and scary, they weren’t really different from any of the others. Carolina wasn’t frightened, though, she told Heidi she thought they were beautiful, and Heidi looked upon the girl with an approving smile.

“How brave you are. And though perhaps not so pretty like you or I am, they are beautiful in their way, aren’t they?”

She replied, as they got into the glass elevator. Once they reached the mezzanine level, she introduced Carolina to Jack. Heidi watched his normally severe expression soften a bit when he saw the girl. When Carolina whispered that he was very handsome, Heidi tittered quietly.

“Yes, he’s quite dashing.”

She agreed, and then Carolina asked Jack if he got to take care of all these fish. And Jack, who would’ve scowled at any adult who simplified these creatures to mere ‘fish’, instead gave Carolina the slightest of smiles as he squatted down to meet her.

Jack: I do, indeed.

Carolina: How big is THEIR jar of fish food?

Jack: Their food won’t fit into any jar, little one. They need fresh fish in their diet.

Heidi had heard they also had a taste for humans, from the days when Malice was Queen, but thankfully Jack neglected to mention that detail.

Elena: There you are, mija. Your father told me you were having an adventure with his “Friend.”

Heidi turned to look at Elena, and Jack slowly stood up to his full height.

Jack: Miss Estrada. Welcome back.

He said gruffly, and as Carolina excitedly told her mother everything that had happened, Heidi moved closer to Jack and leaned in to talk to him in a low voice.

“You two know each other?”

Jack: Not well. I remember seeing her around the mansion before.

“Right, who could forget Cameron’s gorgeous ex-fiancé?”

She grumbled to him, even as he reached to put a hand on the small of Heidi’s back.

Elena: Thank you for watching her. And the for gift.

Heidi offered a wan smile.

“Well it was my pleasure, Miss Estrada, really. Your daughter is delightful.”

Jack: Are we still on for dinner, Heidi?

Her smile grew as she turned to look up at him. She was about to say yes when one of the men tasked with watching the surveillance monitors came over. He leaned into her ear to discreetly tell her she should come to the control room at once. She nodded, her lips pursed tightly.

“I hope so, I’ll let you know.”

She told Jack. She assessed Elena again for a moment. Without knowing what was going on, she wasn’t sure if she should find guards for the Estradas. She figured an offer was in order, at the very least.

“It seems I have a security situation to handle. Likely just some pawns trying to access parts of the mansion they aren’t authorized for. Would you like an escort back to your suite?”

 

[Sparrow]

The Aqua Ring, Mezzanine Level

Carolina was in the Aqua Ring, just where Cameron had said she would be. Elena also saw that she was indeed with Heidi, and someone else as well was kneeling down to speak to her.

Jack: Miss Estrada. Welcome back.

She recognized him as he stood to be the Red Bishop. She remembered that he used to work for MysTech as well. He must be in charge of the lab.

"Thank you, Dr. Chondrich."

Carolina was excitedly chattering away, telling her all the things she'd done since they'd parted. It made her a bit jealous, that Carolina had had so much fun with Cameron's blonde "knight". But still, she hadn't allowed her to fall into any of the tanks, and had kept her occupied and interested, so that was something. So Elena thanked her, for that and for the gift she had given Carolina. How they were going to get a fish tank home to Colima she didn't know.

Heidi: “Well it was my pleasure, Miss Estrada, really. Your daughter is delightful.”

Elena smiled, genuinely. Of course, she knew it to be true, but it was still nice to hear.

"Thank you. Sometimes she is a handful, though."

Elena smiled down at Carolina and mussed her hair.

Jack and Heidi began talking amongst themselves, and Elena felt it was her cue to leave. Not that she wanted to stay.

Heidi: “It seems I have a security situation to handle. Likely just some pawns trying to access parts of the mansion they aren’t authorized for. Would you like an escort back to your suite?”

Elena gave her a small smile.

"We'll be fine. Thank you."

Elena wouldn't trust her daughter's security to anyone but herself, and if someone was happening in the mansion, they probably needed all the help they could get. She looked down at Carolina.

"Time for your nap before dinner."

Carolina looked crushed.

Carolina: "But I'm not tired. Not at all."

A statement she punctuated with a giant yawn.

Elena reached down and picked her up, and smiled as Carolina's head sank to her shoulder. Elena looked from Jack to Heidi.

"Thank you, again."

She headed for the entrance to the lab, while Carolina waved excitedly to her new friends. When they reached their suite, Elena set Carolina down on her frilly white bed, and slipped her shoes off before covering her up and kissing her forehead. Then she went out to the sitting room and sunk into a chair. It was concerning that Cameron had just left her like that, especially since he had not come to find her afterward. That or he was still speaking to Haleigh. Which was equally concerning. Hopefully he was just reading her the riot act for the things Elena had broadcast to him from her and Haleigh's conversation. But she didn't trust Haleigh, and even though she said she wanted a divorce, it would be like her to try and take him back again, just because Elena was here. And Elena had to keep Cameron's interest on her and her daughter. Not only because she wanted Carolina to have only good memories of her father - not ones where he abandoned her for his new children. Also because she needed cards to play. Because she would not allow him to take her daughter and push Elena out of their lives. She had to tread very carefully.

The Bear had asked for a plan. So now she needed to come up with one.

 

[Pathfinder]

The White Corridor

He was on her in an instant, as she anticipated. Wild strands of hair decorated his face as his equally wild eyes met her silver ones.

"Alek, I swear I had nothing to do with this...I think one of the babies is using their power!"

Alek: "A likely story....what did you do?!"

Erika rolled her eyes.

"Do you think I'm like the world's WORST super villain or something? For fuck's sake."

He went to reach for Haleigh's face through the cage as Erika's eyes widened in fright.

"Alek no!"

But he was not harmed. Not killed. Not vaporized, when he most absolutely should have been for breaching the forcefield. It was peculiar to say the least. His angry eyes met hers again.

Alek: "Fix this. Now!"

"Oh NOW he wants help.."

These kings were all bark and no bite. She took a moment to ignore him completely and assess the situation. The cage would not have manifested itself unless the babies were in trouble, or if Haleigh was in trouble. She eyed their frightening pose. It was clear that whatever had been said between them, it was enough to get the other to strike, which did not bare well for the days to come. She squinted, igniting her silver sparkling energy signature, using her vision as a mystic to try and deduce the origin of this frozen renaissance painting in front of her. It wasn't magic. Which meant it was an ability. Either somebody in Hellfire could freeze time and was keeping quiet about it, or one of these children had acted out of panic and used their powers to protect themself.

"Okay..none of this is good, but it isn't bad, either. I mean, clearly, Haleigh was about to kill my brother. It was probably warranted, but still. The goal here is to try and keep ALL parents alive.."

She wanted to see the footage but she also didn't want Alek to see the footage. Whatever Cameron said, had sent Haleigh over the edge, and it would likely equally infuriate The Red King. This had to stay within The White Court, figuratively and literally. She needed thirty seconds alone maximum to destroy the footage, but there was no way Alek wasn't about to be on this like white on rice.

"I'm shutting down The White Wing. Your praetorians can stay, but the rest must go. This is a White Guard matter now. As the King and Queen are in no shape to lead, I am officially in charge here over what happens next. And I don't want this to leave this corridor. Are you clear on that Alek? Or am I going to have to remove you from the situation? I'm also the only magick user here, so that leaves me once again to take the lead. I'm going to attempt to communicate with them. They're in there, I just have to figure out how to reach them."

[thinking she called to The White Guard]

"Bring me some sage. My crystals from my altar..."

She looked at Alek.

"And can you think of anythin personal to Haleigh that you could bring me? Something she really loves? I'll need it for the spell."

It was all lies. She could cast a hearing thoughts spell in a flash, but she was trying to buy herself time to review the footage in The White Corridor and deliver a nice little virus spell her mother had taught her, destroying the footage from all record. Thankfully, nobody in Hellfire cared to learn much about magick, which was why it was such a valuable tool to have at one's disposal.

"Go, bring it to me."

[back to The White Guard]

"Bring me The White Knight."

she spoke in her private com link to Heidi]

[com link] "Fathom. The White Queen and King are in trouble. I need you."

She blinked a few times at Alek.

"Well can you go?! The sooner we figure this out the better!"

 

[Savage]

Adirondack Mountains — AJ’s Cabin

As they snuggled for a few moments of post coital bliss, His Ashley remarked that she didn’t know how she’d lived without him. He deflected with a joke that she must have been miserable, but she sincerely agreed. He looked at her then, reaching to stroke her cheek.

“No longer, I hope.”

He said, and then she told him she loved this place, and thanked him for sharing it, and he replied that his home wars hers, and not simply because she was his Queen. He didn’t want her assuming that everything he did and said was out of duty.

Ashley: I am your woman, and that is all that is important here.

“Yes, My Woman.”

He replied with a grin, and then he scooped her up and out of bed, and told her to go get dressed. She made a cute little bow and called him her love, and he grinned to himself the whole time he was in the kitchen as a result.

He came back to the bedroom to get dressed himself, for now at least. There may come a time when he stripped and shifted, as he often did when he hunted. But he’d still leave the house with clothes, because it could get chilly up in the mountains when he wasn’t covered in fur. He asked her if she remembered where she saw the mountain lion last, and she replied, as he looked over to see what she was wearing.

“I think that might be the most marvelous pair of pants I’ve ever seen in my life.”

He said, and he admired them all the way down the stairs, and even as she put on her boots and strapped a knife to her leg. He wasn’t sure they weren’t going to successfully track the lion. He was already distracted and thinking again about mating out in the woods.

But when the crisp mountain air hit him, and the sounds and smells of nature began to come alive, he focused on their intended task. He led the way up to the eastern ridge, so he didn’t have to watch her hike ahead of him. When they got close to the spot she thought the animal had last been, AJ started to sniff around the air. He honed in on a pine tree after a few seconds.

“Yes, marks here. The scent is distinctly female. Let’s look around for tracks.”

 

[Berserker]

The White Corridor

He found Erika in the White Corridor with an immobile Haleigh (and Cameron). So he did the rational thing, which was to ask her what the hell she'd done to them.

Erika: "Do you think I'm like the world's WORST super villain or something? For fuck's sake."

"Yes."

Alek touched Haleigh, and she was warm, didn't feel dead. But she also didn't move at all when he touched her. He commanded Erika to undo whatever it was she'd done.

Erika: "Okay..none of this is good, but it isn't bad, either. I mean, clearly, Haleigh was about to kill my brother. It was probably warranted, but still. The goal here is to try and keep ALL parents alive."

He scoffed.

"That might be YOUR goal. I don't give a shit about Cameron. Haleigh and those babies are my only priority."

And good on Haleigh, if she was finally about to rid them of Cameron for good.

"You said that the babies are doing this. So let's say that's true, how do we undo it?"

He looked at Erika.

"You said you wanted to help, so help."

Erika: "I'm shutting down The White Wing. Your praetorians can stay, but the rest must go. This is a White Guard matter now. As the King and Queen are in no shape to lead, I am officially in charge here over what happens next. And I don't want this to leave this corridor. Are you clear on that Alek? Or am I going to have to remove you from the situation? I'm also the only magick user here, so that leaves me once again to take the lead. I'm going to attempt to communicate with them. They're in there, I just have to figure out how to reach them."

"You can just go fuck yourself, Erika. You might be "in charge" of the White Court, but you aren't a Queen, so don't start barking out orders to me. That's MY daughter in there, and I'll do as I like to protect her. Funny how this is looking more and more like a power grab for you, Erika."

He put a finger to his lips.

"Maybe I should give your mother a call. I'm sure she'd have something to say on this subject."

He held up a hand.

"In the interest of keeping Haleigh safe, I'll keep this little problem under wraps. But don't fuck with me, Erika. If you're lying to me, I'll take your head myself."

Erika: "And can you think of anything personal to Haleigh that you could bring me? Something she really loves? I'll need it for the spell."

He stared at her for a long moment, before nodding. He addressed the praetorians, still standing by.

"You are not to leave this post for any reason. I want your eyes on the White Queen at all times."

Erika: "Go, bring it to me."

Then she was barking orders at her court.

Erika: "Well can you go?! The sooner we figure this out the better!"

He pulled out his phone as he walked towards the Red Wing. Erika was a little too eager to get rid of him there. And there was only one way to clear up whether she'd had anything to do with this. He dialed Security.

"Have the footage from the last hour in the White Corridor sent to my phone immediately."

 

[Valkyrie]

Adirondack Mountains — AJ’s Cabin

AJ sent her off to get dressed while he cleaned up, then returned to the bedroom to dress himself. She was wearing matching camo, with skin tight pants and a tank and hoodie.

AJ: “I think that might be the most marvelous pair of pants I’ve ever seen in my life.”

She gave him a look that said she'd like to remove them.

"Finally! I found some clothes you like."

He was infuriatingly difficult to dress sexily for, not acting much differently whether she was wearing a burlap sack or red lace. She made sure to put a little extra sashay into her bottom as she led the way downstairs.

When they got outside, he took charge and she followed him. Which she didn't mind at all. The hiked a ways up to where she had last seen the mountain lion the day before. It didn't take long then for AJ to find the animal's scent.

AJ: “Yes, marks here. The scent is distinctly female. Let’s look around for tracks.”

Ashley scanned the area, looking for signs of disturbance. There was a patch where the undergrowth had been disturbed, and she moved cautiously towards it, then knelt.

"Here."

She examined the prints on the ground carefully.

"She's stalking a deer. Or was."

Ashley stood, and pointed.

"This way."

 

[Pathfinder]

The White Corridor

Alek: You can just go fuck yourself, Erika. You might be "in charge" of the White Court, but you aren't a Queen, so don't start barking out orders to me. That's MY daughter in there, and I'll do as I like to protect her. Funny how this is looking more and more like a power grab for you, Erika."

"Your daughter is next to my nephew, contained in the body of my sister-in-law, who happens to be standing next to my brother. This isn't a power play. This is me doing what I need to do in order to protect MY family."

Alek: "Maybe I should give your mother a call. I'm sure she'd have something to say on this subject."

"Oh you son of a bitch!"

Alek put his hand up, halting things before they got too chaotic.

Alek: "In the interest of keeping Haleigh safe, I'll keep this little problem under wraps. But don't fuck with me, Erika. If you're lying to me, I'll take your head myself."

"The day you come for my head will be the day you die. So anytime you feel froggy, Alek. I'm not going to be threatened for much longer."

She tried to get him out of there, and for the most part it was working, before turning to his boys.

Alek: "You are not to leave this post for any reason. I want your eyes on the White Queen at all times.

Erika smirked. Slipping security detail had been her specialty as a girl. Thankfully he was gone. As soon as he rounded the corner, Erika snapped her fingers as he energy signature flickered around her.

"Sleep."

The White Princess' magick coursed over to the praetorians as they dropped to the floor one by one. Alek may have been leaving but she knew he was not about to wait to review that footage. She didn't want to, but she reached out to the one person who could likely help her - Elena. Igniting a hearing thoughts spell, she sensed Elena already in The White Corridor.

[to Elena, via Hearing Thoughts] "Cameron is in trouble. I need you to mentally block the bear for a few moments. If you don't believe me, come to the foyer of The White Wing, but move QUICKLY. We have NO time." [pausing for a moment] "Elena please, he needs your help."

There was a price of admission one needed to pay while living in the Hellfire Mansion, though Elena knew that well. And all Erika could do was hope that Elena could block Alek from reviewing the footage long enough for her to erase it. Once again she cast her energy signature out around him, attempting to warp her magick around all security footage at Hellfire. This was not her normal magick, and if it had been Kelly, the spell would have already gone off without a hitch. But she didn't have her mother here right now. She needed to keep The White Court safe, and for now she was going to have to rely on outside help to do it. Plus, Elena could likely enter Cameron's mind and figure out his location, she just hoped Elena would answer the call.

 

[Sparrow]

Elena & Carolina's Suite

Elena was sitting in her suite, sipping a coffee and making a plan. She needed to find out the outcome of Cameron and Haleigh's tete a tete before she could decide which way to play her own situation. Then she could get to work, with Alek as her ally. She did in fact remember him from before, and he was helpless when faced with a beautiful woman. He wouldn't be any trouble at all.

And then the most interesting thing happened.

Erika [via Hearing Thoughts]: "Cameron is in trouble. I need you to mentally block the bear for a few moments. If you don't believe me, come to the foyer of The White Wing, but move QUICKLY. We have NO time." [pausing for a moment] "Elena please, he needs your help."

She got enough from Erika's mind to tell that she wasn't lying, so she did the sensible thing while she figured out how to use Erika needing her help to her advantage.

It was a cinch to find Alek's mind and make him stop everything that he was doing. No thoughts going in and out of his head - and he wouldn't notice at all once she released him.

[mentally to Erika] "It's done."

And now, it was time to see what Erika was really up to. She would know the instant Carolina woke up, so she didn't worry about leaving the room to enter the corridor.

She picked the situation out quickly. Cameron and Haleigh were immobile and couldn't be roused. Alek and Haleigh's guards from the Red Court were the only ones that had seen. And Erika was afraid of what would be on the surveillance footage. Elena stepped into the foyer, noting Haleigh's posture.

"The psycho puta is at it again, I see. What, did she really think Cameron would allow her to physically hurt him?"

She clucked her tongue.

"Are you behind this, Erika? Is that why you're in such a hurry to cover things up?"

Elena turned to look at her, crossing her arms over her chest. No, Erika was too out of sorts to be playing some sort of trick, and there's no way she could have hid it in her thoughts if she was. Ah, there it was.

"So, the boy child. How can we reverse it? Is there any danger for me to contact Cameron telepathically?"

She didn't know what this "protective cage" was capable of, and didn't fancy getting zapped into unconsciousness by it.

 

[Pathfinder]

Elena: "It's done."

"Halle-fucking-lujah."

Erika said outloud as she had just garnered up enough power to send it out throughout the mansion. Her sparkling silver energy flooded the mansion as it could be seen going into telephone lines, television screens, and other monitors throughout. The spell would act like a virus, eating all Hellfire footage from the last two hours, including backups. She knew that even if Alek didn't see it, he would know she meddled, but it bought her time and she could handle The Red King's anger. She braced herself on the ground for a moment, having channeled a great deal of power to pull it off. She was still getting used to her surge in ability, despite her confidence. Her chest heaved up and down for a moment.

Elena: "The psycho puta is at it again, I see. What, did she really think Cameron would allow her to physically hurt him?"

Immediately Erika returned to a more dignified pose. She hadn't spoken to Elena since she left the mansion.

"It looks that way. Hello, Elena. And thank you."

Elena: "Are you behind this Erika? Is that why you're in such a hurry to cover things up?"

She knew she didn't have to answer, their hearing thoughts spell still intact. Plus Elena was a very good telepath, but very different from her brother. Elena wielded her telepathy as a different weapon. She was efficient and almost surgical. It was a sight to see.

Elena: "So, the boy child. How can we reverse it? Is there any danger for me to contact Cameron telepathically?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure. What I do know is that cage is inpenetrable. And even if we are able to unfreeze them, sheer momentum will vaporize them both. I can attempt to use my magicks to pierce the cage, but it won't be easy, if it's even possible. I've never seen it done."

[thinking]

"But first I need to know what we're dealing with. I've wiped the footage and transferred it to my scrying mirror."

From between her breasts she pulled out a white Chanel compact covered in swarovski crystals, opening it up.

"Trust me it's a lot more convenient than some giant spooky ass looking mirror on the ground. Scrying pools are even worse."

She moved over towards Elena as the scene replayed in the mirrored compact.

Cameron was now a few inches away from her face, his tone dark and cold and as twisted as it had been in her nightmares.

"If you think for one second, I will EVER let you embarrass me like you did last night ever again? you've got another thing coming, and it's clear you don't know who you married. If you THINK I am just going to sit idly by while you raise some fucking mongrel child next to mine, you're WRONG. You keep this charade up, and you'll be alone, because I swear to god the next time Alek looks at me wrong, I'm shredding his brain to pieces and I don't give a FUCK what it does to your unborn daughter. There was something I forgot this weekend that I have now remembered - I am the KING of Hellfire. This is MY kingdom and i'm taking it back baby. So either FALL INTO LINE - or get ready. That little nightmare took about all the power I have in my pinky.."

The White Queen had insulted his pride, his ego. And that was not something Cameron tolerated. Not from anybody. He had never been as vulnerable to anybody but her, and she had thrown it in his face, in a public forum for all to see. Thrown her ring at him and left with The Red King. He would NOT suffer something like that again.

[coldly]

"I am done fucking around. I'm not signing ANY paper, and I'm not about to give custody to a woman who has the decision making ability of a filthy WHORE."

Haleigh’s eyes flashed with rage.

“Fine, don’t sign the fucking papers. Seems there’s something ELSE you’ve forgotten this weekend. You married the White Queen — also known as the Black Widow!”

She replied, her left hand closing around his throat, her nails digging into his skin as she ripped him off his feet and raised her other fist high. In her right hand she clutched an ornate crown, the one she’d given him years ago when they were madly in love. One blow was all it would take. She had the strength to split his skull in one fell swoop. She might as well have been holding an axe in her hand.

But she never brought it down to bear. She froze in place, fury in her glare, murderous intent plain to see. A white shockwave radiated outward from them, causing pictures to shatter and the walls to shudder. The necklace Erika had given her glowed white hot, and emitted energy that surrounded them in a protective cage. Their bodies were as still as statues, while their consciousnesses were shunted away.

Erika's eyes widened with horror.

"Jesus Christ...I no longer feel bad about keeping this from Alek. If he sees this, Elena, it will start World War THREE. They'll ALL go after him."

The White Princess looked at Elena with a serious tone.

"Which means, we need to make sure Alek NEVER sees this, never even THINKS about it...if you catch my drift."

[pausing]

"Look, I know this is a bunch of shit to dump on you. But this is your baby daddy. And your daughter's brother is involved. I don't think anybody needs to die over this, do you?"

[smirking]

"Though if I recall, you never did anything unless it helped you serve your purpose. So either help out of the goodness of your heart, or name your price, but please...help me fix this."

She might have been getting in bed with the devil on this, considering how Haleigh felt about Elena, but Elena helping Cameron would in turn help Haleigh. Erika could explain her way out of this as there was simply not many options.

 

[Masque]

New York City – Unknown Location

Gia was nowhere near the Hellfire Club nor was she anywhere recognizable. Adriana had overplayed her hand by mentioning the fact that she [Gia] had killed some of her men. Now Gia knew that she couldn’t trust anybody in the Nefaria organization nor could she trust anybody in the White Guard — not with her sister out on the prowl. Luckily for Gia she, too, had some men whom she could count on, even if she was dubious about their ‘trust’.

She and Samuel had stumbled upon them accidentally years ago, when they were looking for new places to hang out fuck in. They were mutants/metahumans. One of them was cyberkinetic [Glassy], one had elasticity [Stretch], another was an actual golem [Clay], and the last one didn’t seem to have any powers at all [Dopey]. Samuel wanted to kill them and normally Gia would’ve been on board with that, but she saw the beauty of keeping them for themselves. Besides, she quite liked the idea of having mystery men on standby – just in case. Samuel ultimately agreed with her and so they kept the Island of Misfit Toys a secret.

They were ultra private about who they were and what they did. They were wary of both Samuel and Gia, but because they kept coming around – just because they could – the group tentatively accepted their comings and goings. They were a paranoid bunch as well, which Gia nicknamed The Paranoia Society as they eschewed living amongst the, well, living, favouring the underground instead because they were certain that eyes were following them through the various traffic cameras and other cameras throughout the city. They also didn’t want to involve themselves in the many skirmishes between the flatscans and mutants/metahumans that had been going on back then.

After the taxi dropped her off somewhere northeast, she started to make her trek to a secret location. She used a variety of transportation to get there: taxis, subway, walking, hell, even biking at one point. She crisscrossed the entire city, it seemed like. She zagged, when most people would’ve zigged, and she zigged when most people would’ve zagged.

Damn these paranoid freaks!

Gia grumbled as she faced the last leg of her trek. She was standing at the top of a certain subway entrance when her phone beeped with a text message…and kept on beeping as several of them came in – ALL of them from the White Guard. It seemed like there was some kind of situation back at Hellfire.

Eh, they can wait a few. I’m almost at my location.

Gia sure as hell wasn’t going to make the dumbass trip all the way back to Hellfire with her mask in tow. Not when she was so close to her destination. She texted back Be right there. I’m in the middle of something. There. Hopefully that would keep them happy. She headed down to the subway platform. It was full of greasy teenagers, businessmen and women, old people, buskers, etc, etc. You know, the usual cesspool of despicable humanity. Gia kept to the wall, trying to ignore the wasted and high teenager offering her some weed in exchange for a very vulgar sex act. Gia’s nose crinkled in disgust. How could these people go about their day to day on these dirty vehicles? With these types of people? Once she got back, Gia was going to have to have a long bath just to get rid of all of this…stuff. It was disgusting how some people lived.

“I’m NOT interested. Go away!”

The subway came roaring in just then and everybody, excluding the banjo-playing busker and herself, all piled into the car. The subway’s doors closed and it took off again, leaving Gia and the busker behind. He kept staring at Gia singing about some dog and, even though he was really cute with a really nice voice, Gia was NOT having it.

“Get a real job!”

She snarled as she made her way to the edge of the platform. She was examining the drop when the singing stopped.

Busker: “Uh, miss? I wouldn’t get too – OH!”

Gia wasn’t listening when she jumped off making sure to tuck into a roll. Yeah, she was definitely going to have a long bath when she got home. A shower just wouldn’t cut it. She jumped up, relatively unscathed, waved to the gaping busker, and went on her merry way down into the darkened tunnel.

She soon came upon an old electrical panel. Hearing another subway car behind her in the distance, she hopped up on the curb…and hugged the panel as close as she could as the car roared past her. She could feel the wind as the car roared past but she held on tightly, silently thanking her father for all of her gymnastic classes when she was younger.

Once the car was gone, Gia looked both ways before she did a series of twists, turns, and pulls, on the knobs of the panel. She was also blessed with an amazing memory, among other things. There, in the dim light, an outline of a door appeared and she casually pushed her way inside to The Atrium. Somehow they managed to somehow scramble their whereabouts from the city officials. Even her phone got scrambled when she was down here and it didn’t get ANY reception to begin with!

The Atrium, as The Paranoia Society calls it, is an old subway station, abandoned for decades. Apparently, according to Glassy, there was supposed to have been another subway line back in the 1930s but at the last minute, the city decided to forgo it and so it just stayed there abandoned and untouched [until TPS discovered it]. Glassy somehow manipulated the lights to work via his cyberkinesis, as with most things in The Atrium.

The Lobby, as Dopey calls it, is the long stretch located between The Atrium and Mainframe. This is where the tables go where they have meetings. About what, Gia didn’t know and she sure as hell never asked. It was also where Princess, Dopey’s dumb dog, slept.

Then there was the Mainframe. It was a souped-up abandoned subway car that had top-of-the-line computers and printers. Glassy was in charge of Mainframe. He was an excellent hacker and he somehow managed to disguise himself online that kept him invisible even as he ‘controlled’ ALL the cameras in New York City, as well as audio and video feeds. Why he chose to keep tabs on people when he, himself, was too paranoid at the thought of someone spying on him, Gia had no clue.

They had names and codenames, but Gia never bothered to learn them. Instead, she had given them her own nicknames for them. Sighing, she closed the ‘door’ behind her. Almost immediately, an alarm sounded and they all came running…well, except for Glassy. He was limping. Dopey got way too excited and somehow got himself tangled up in some wires.

Dopey: “Gia! Gia!! Hey girl! Hey!”

He stretched out a hand towards her.

“Yeah, let’s NOT do that and say that we did, okay?”

Glassy looked perturbed, but then, he ALWAYS looked perturbed about something.

Glassy: “You couldn’t have let us know you were coming, Miss Nefaria?”

“It’s nice to see you too, Glassy.”

She brushed off some of the dust from her outfit. Forget dry cleaning; she was going to have to throw this outfit out. Ugh. She also broke the heel on one of her grey booties.

“Besides, couldn’t you have just seen me coming?”

Gia asked, gesturing to Mainframe. Princess came running up yapping excitedly. Gia glowered at the animal. Glassy heaved a long sigh before heading back towards Mainframe.

Glassy: “That’s not what we do here.”

What DO you do?

She didn’t ask aloud, though. She would never get an answer. Maybe she should tell someone about this group…just to be the petty bitch that she was.

“I have something to ask you guys.”

Stretch came around the corner then, with Clay behind him drooling and whimpering as he [Clay, not Stretch lol] always seemed to do when she came around. He streeeeeeetched out his arm and patted her on the shoulder. When he did that for the first time, it freaked her out – a lot. Now she was kind-of-sort-of-but-not-really used to it.

Stretch: “Gia! Lovely to see you.”

“Hey Stretch.” [a beat] “Clay.”

Stretch was pretty cute, but Clay? Clay straight up gave her the willies. He was grotesque looking, but apparently he was great at security. Clay was a golem and he was made out of, you guessed it, clay. Stretch put down the cup of coffee he was drinking. In another life, maybe, Gia would undoubtedly consider fucking him on a regular basis but as it stands now…he was really weird if he wanted to stay below the earth.

Stretch: “You have something to ask us?”

Glassy: *wearily*: “Don’t encourage her, Mr. Matthews.”

Clay chattered at her before he scuttled away to a dark corner. Gia stared after him before turning to Stretch.

“I have no idea what he just said.”

Stretch shrugged his shoulders. Dopey, after disentangling himself from the wires, came up to them.

Dopey: “What do you need, Gia?”

Gia could see Glassy lean back in his chair.

“I know you’re interested, Glassy!”

Glassy gave a harrumph sound but he didn’t immediately sit back up. Gia pulled her mask out of her bag. Dopey let out a gasp of shock and awe and covered his mouth.

Dopey: “Is that real gold? Can I try it on? Please oh please???”

Gia gave him a hard look. Like hell he would.

“No. You wouldn’t last two seconds topside, I swear. No wonder you choose to be here.”

Glassy had come out of his computer-y office. He sighed again.

Glassy: “Why did you bring a mask here, Miss Nefaria?”

“I need to keep it safe. You guys are the safest. It’s a no-brainer.”

Stretch folded his arms and looked unsure.

Stretch: “From whom?”

*flippantly*: “From my sister. She wants it and she can’t have it.” *sighing*: “She’s an evil bitch monster from outer space and I don’t want her to find it.”

Dopey: *excitedly*: “Oh my god! Your sister’s an alien?!”

“NO, dumbass.” *huffily*: “Look, can I leave it here with you?”

Glassy huffed again. He and Stretch exchanged looks. Dopey was giving them a pleading look. Gia folded her arms and rolled her eyes.

Glassy: “Fine. It can stay.”

“Thank you.”

She handed the mask over to Stretch. Dopey reached out eagerly.

“DON’T TOUCH IT.”

Dopey looked down, crestfallen, and Stretch tried to hide a smile. Gia smiled at Stretch. He really was cute. Maybe, when things settle down, they could have a quick fuck somewhere.

“Do you know how to get to Hellfire quickly from here?”

Glassy: “I do.”

Gia followed him over to Mainframe and he showed her the route to take. He also drew up a map for her to take with her. He opened his mouth.

“I know, I know. Once I know where I am, I should automatically destroy this. Thank you, Glassy.”

Glassy scowled at her, but he was less scowl-y than usual so Gia knew that he was okay with everything. She waved at Stretch and Dopey.

“See ya, Stretch. ‘Bye Dopey.”

Gia raised her voice.

“’Bye Clay!”

A low growl could be heard coming from a dark corner. Gia let herself out and, following the map, began to make her way back to Hellfire.

 

[Fathom]

Hellfire -- The Aqua Ring, Mezzanine Level

Heidi got the notification of a situation from one of the surveillance staff, so she offered Elena and Carolina an escort back to their suite. Elena declined the extra layer of security as she picked Carolina up and thanked Heidi again for entertaining Carolina.

“Anytime, Miss Estrada, truly.”

She replied, and when Carolina waved goodbye, Heidi grinned widely and waved back, while Jack just mildly held up a hand as his ‘wave’. As soon as Elena and Carolina disappeared, Heidi’s face went serious and she turned on her heel to make her way to the control room, with Jack in tow. She looked at him curiously as they walked.

Jack: Security doesn’t interrupt you every time pawns turn down the wrong hall.

Well, he had her there. She had downplayed the issue in front of Carolina and her mother so as not to alarm them. Heidi and Jack moved quickly out of the Aqua Ring lab and through the black marble halls of the Inner catacombs to the control room.

The control room had several sections, each staffed with personnel in charge of watching the monitors for disturbances. They were trained to observe their sectors or in some cases, their personal assignments, and to dispatch any necessary assistance where it was required. Most of the time sound was muted on the camera feeds, but it was all still recorded in case they ever needed to review it.

The staff responsible for watching the White Wing stood up when Heidi and Jack arrived and waved them over. When she saw the feed from the White Hall, Heidi’s heart stopped. It looked like Haleigh was about to smash Cameron’s brains in, but she wasn’t moving. Alek and Erika were in the Hall with Haleigh and Cameron, talking heatedly to each other. Heidi ordered a playback of the altercation, with the sound turned on. By the time they’d seen everything, Heidi’s eyes were wide in alarm, and her hand covered her mouth.

Jack: I’ll have food delivered for dinner.

He said, when Erika summoned Heidi. Jack told her that he should check in with his King, and that he wanted her to be careful. Heidi nodded and rushed off to the White Hall. She found Erika talking with Elena now, Alek gone. Heidi didn’t waste any time on small talk, since she’d seen the altercation and most of the exchange between Erika and Alek.

“So. You think the babies have done this? Can’t blame them for not liking it when Mummy gets upset. Still, they must be really powerful to be able to act from the womb.... at like a week old. Ok, can we separate the King and Queen?”

 

[Savage]

Adirondack Mountains — AJ’s Cabin

AJ paid his Ashley a complement for her choice of pants — mainly because it was like she wasn’t really wearing anything more than camouflage paint. She gave him a look that made him want to rip the pants clean off.

Ashley: Finally! I found some clothes you like.

He gave her a lupine grin.

“You wear everything well, My Ashley. Please forgive me for preferring you as nature intended, unclothed. But I do like these, if only because I can still properly admire your perfectly shaped haunches.”

He replied as he followed her downstairs. He took the lead when they reached the wood line, since watching her hike for too much longer might cost them the hunt, and he didn’t want it to be his fault if she didn’t get her lion. When they reached the area she had last spotted the cat, he sniffed around and hit on the scent he was searching for.

He suggested they look around for other signs of the animal, and rather than checking her nails and waiting for him to do the work like most other women might do, she immediately started to help. It made him smile to himself as he searched too. He found another tree nearby where the lion had been clawing, and she called him over when she found tracks.

Ashley: Here. She's stalking a deer. Or was. This way.

“Excellent. If we catch her feeding we’ll have the advantage.”

He said quietly. They followed the tracks together then, him on one side and her on the other, taking care to not move too quickly or make too much noise. It was a long, winding trail, but Savage knew the lion would stalk her prey until it reached a good place to make a move. In the wild, a hunter must be cautious. Rushing a kill in a poor position could mean the prey’s escape.

It was at least an hour before AJ stopped and crouched down slowly. He looked at his Ashley and tapped his nose. He could smell blood in the air, which was likely from the lion’s kill. The trees were thinning out here but the brush was thick, providing them cover while they looked around for the lion.

 

[Valkyrie]

Adirondack Mountains — AJ’s Cabin

AJ had picked up the mountain lion's scent, so they set about looking for signs of her. AJ pointed out claw marks on a tree, and it wasn't too long before Ashley found some tracks. It was clear that the lion was stalking a deer.

AJ: “Excellent. If we catch her feeding we’ll have the advantage.”

She wasn't sure she liked the idea of taking her prize while it had a happy meal. Though, she supposed, it wasn't any different than taking a moose while it drank from a stream. Ashley decided the difference was that she didn't need to make this kill - neither she nor Savage would starve if it got away. The modern era was changing her, she supposed. But then she decided that was a bunch of crap and the mountain lion didn't feel bad about gutting the deer while it was minding its own business eating grass, so she wasn't going to worry about killing her either.

She focused on the trail signs, moving in tandem with AJ to follow the prints in the dirt. It was a perfect day, really. The ground was moist but not muddy, perfect for holding the shape of animal tracks.

Ashley stopped when AJ did, and she looked to him for direction as she crouched, tapping his nose. He could smell a kill, probably - hopefully - the mountain lion's. Ashley moved slowly forward through the brush, low to the ground. She spied a small clearing through a break in the tree branches. And there it was, feeding on a large doe, it's tongue lapping the blood of the still twitching animal.

Ashley turned her head to Savage and held two fingers to her eyes, letting him know she had eyes on the lion. Then she began to move laterally to find a good position to take a shot, after signalling that they should spread out. They were luckily both downwind of the creature, so she hadn't spooked as they approached. When she found a spot with a good view, she put one knee on the ground and braced herself against a tree, slinging her bow into position and pulling an arrow out of her back quiver. Slowly she drew it back, aiming for the animal's shoulder, then let it fly with a satisfying thwish. She hoped her shot would wound the animal so that Savage could go in for the kill.

 

[Sparrow]

The White Corridor

Elena was surprised that Erika thanked her. Her erstwhile almost sister-in-law had been a mess when she'd lived here before, and she hadn't been here to hang out with Cameron's sister anyway. It wasn't as if Elena hated her or anything, she was just...wary.

She questioned whether there was danger in trying to contact Cameron telepathically. The freezing hadn't been Erika, but the cage had been, and Elena had no desire to be electrocuted while her daughter had a nap down the hallway.

Erika: "Honestly, I'm not sure. What I do know is that cage is impenetrable. And even if we are able to unfreeze them, sheer momentum will vaporize them both. I can attempt to use my magicks to pierce the cage, but it won't be easy, if it's even possible. I've never seen it done."

"Then we can't even think of undoing it until we can neutralize their attacks."

Considering they had technically already made the attacks, that was no small feat.

They were able to watch the footage of Cameron and Haleigh, and it because clear exactly what Erika was trying to cover up. The Bear would probably come in here and kill Cameron himself if he heard that tape. He hadn't been known for his well-controlled temper as a knight; she doubted he was any better as a king.

Erika: "Jesus Christ...I no longer feel bad about keeping this from Alek. If he sees this, Elena, it will start World War THREE. They'll ALL go after him."

Elena scoffed.

"You didn't feel bad about keeping this from Alek at all. Nor should you. You're protecting your court - and this is court business."

Erika: "Which means, we need to make sure Alek NEVER sees this, never even THINKS about it...if you catch my drift."

Elena waved her hand in the air.

"He'll think he's a lounge singer from Peoria if I want him to, don't worry about it."

The last thing she wanted was for Carolina to go back to school and have her "What I Did On My Summer Vacation" report say, "Watched my father get mauled by a bear."

Erika: "Look, I know this is a bunch of shit to dump on you. But this is your baby daddy. And your daughter's brother is involved. I don't think anybody needs to die over this, do you?"

Elena's nose wrinkled.

"Please, never use the term baby daddy again."

She thought about it for a few seconds, weighing her options. Which Erika picked up on nicely.

Erika: "Though if I recall, you never did anything unless it helped you serve your purpose. So either help out of the goodness of your heart, or name your price, but please...help me fix this."

"Obviously Haleigh could die a gruesome death at Cameron's hands for all I care, but the children should not be harmed."

She thought a moment.

"However, Cameron will be my first priority of course."

She tapped a finger against her temple, studying Erika thoughtfully.

"I will help you...in exchange for your support should Cameron decide to try and keep Carolina here against my wishes. We both know what this place is like for children, and I intend to give your niece a normal childhood."

Elena stretched out her hand.

"Deal?"

It took very little time in the grand scheme of things for Heidi to show up. Elena nodded to her - no reason to be impolite and she didn't have to be able to read Heidi's mind to know where her interest lay in all of this. She would take her allies where she could.

Heidi: “So. You think the babies have done this? Can’t blame them for not liking it when Mummy gets upset. Still, they must be really powerful to be able to act from the womb...at like a week old. Ok, can we separate the King and Queen?”

"We'll have to. Otherwise un'freezing' them will do no good."

She looked at Erika.

"Diana MUST have had some sort of containment device ready for Haleigh should the TO virus overtake her. We could use it as both a barrier between her and Cameron and a shield for Haleigh."

Elena smirked just a bit at that idea.

"Assuming we could separate them at all. I could bolster it with my power, and I hear the Red Court has a mimic...if he could leech Cameron's power it might be enough to hold the attack at bay. Might."

 

[Savage]

Adirondack Mountains — The Forest

AJ was happy to discover that their lion was also hunting, and he hoped she was successful, because any advantage one could get when hunting a predator was a good thing, and if their lioness was gorging on deer entrails when they got to her, it would be quite the advantage. Plus they might end up with a restock on deer meat, too.

It was a long, slow hike. Arduous, and some might say tedious, but not AJ. He was as pleased as he could be, out here in the woods, hot on the trail of a big cat, with his woman by his side. There was no part of this experience he would change, even if it took all day.

It didn’t. A couple of miles into the trail, AJ caught the scent of blood, and he crouched down so he wouldn’t blunder upon the scene of the kill. He signaled to his Ashley, and she crept forward a bit before signaling back that she saw it, and they should spread out.

AJ nodded, and split off in the opposite direction, taking care to stay downwind. He stopped by a large cedar and unbuttoned his flannel shirt so he could shed it, along with his jacket. Silently he removed his boots and pushed off his pants before he shifted to his wolf form.

He saw the arrow strike the mountain lion, and that was his cue to move. He leapt over the remaining brush right into the clearing and bounded over to where the lion had been eating a choice buck. His Ashley’s arrow had felled the lion instantly, a clean kill. He found something else here too, something he hadn’t expected. A little cub, chewing on a rib. It noticed Savage and gave a tiny little roar.

Savage gave a huff of a laugh and tipped his head back to howl, letting his Ashley know it was safe to move in. But midway through his call there was the crack of gunfire, and AJ let out a bark of pain before dropping down into the tall grass.

 

[Valkyrie]

Adirondack Mountains — The Forest

They were on the mountain lion's trail. But it didn't even really matter, because the day was shaping up to be a beautiful one, and she and AJ were getting to spend it together, without having to pretend, or hold back. They could just be. And if they bagged a big cat? Well, that was just icing on the cake.

After about an hour AJ stopped, signaling that he could smell blood in the air. Ashley crept forward until she could still the mountain lion, then moved so she'd have a better shot, while AJ came from another angle. She let an arrow fly at the cat's shoulder, knowing that AJ could then swoop in and finish her off.

Ashley waited, not seeing or hearing the cat take off, only the sounds of her wolf going in for the kill, and then his howl. It still gave her shivers to hear, and to her was the most beautiful sound she'd ever heard. Until it was interrupted by the report of gun fire, and a noise from AJ that signaled he had been hit.

"Arthur?!"

She stood from her position and moved quickly forward, her eyes scanning the area the shot had come from. She went to AJ and knelt beside him, seeing the bullet wound and then the blood. Ashley pulled off her hoodie and pressed it against the wound. She touched his side gently.

And then Ashley saw him. Wearing a ridiculous orange colored vest over his camo. A hunter, his gun up. In a flash she had an arrow knocked and put it clean through the man's hand so he couldn't fire again, causing him to drop his rifle and yell out in pain. Just as fast she had a second arrow knocked and was moving rapidly towards him.

"You shot my-"

there was a pause

"dog, you motherfucker!"

Hunter: "You crazy bitch! You shot my hand!"

"Your head is next."

But an arrow would be too quick.

Hunter: "That's not a dog, it's a wolf!"

She reached him, and dropped the bow, grabbing the man by the throat instead and lifting him off the ground by it. She spoke through gritted teeth.

"This is my husband's land. You are trespassing here."

Ashley squeezed, crushing his windpipe. When he was dead, she tossed the body aside, and ran back to where AJ lay. The threat neutralized, she hovered over him, at a loss of what to do. She held the cloth against his wound, trying to decide if she should carry him back to the cabin, or try to take the bullet out first. She found his eyes.

"You're going to be just fine, baby, don't you worry at all. It's nothing. Just a scratch."

She tried to sound convincing but there were already tears falling down her cheeks. She stroked the fur on his head gently.

 

[Pathfinder]

She didn't hate Elena. Mostly because she never really knew Elena. She was also a pre-teen when they got together, so she sided with her mother and never gave it much thought because Elena dissappeared shortly thereafter. But she was wary of Elena. Showing up again after all this time? She'd been gone for seven years. If she was over it she would have kneed Cameron in the balls and made him walk home from Mexico. But she had agreed to stay for the summer. Erika didn't have kids. So maybe there was something she was missing but it was clear to Erika that Elena was either still hopefully devoted to Cameron or starting her game of revenge. She hadn't had enough time to figure it out. Erika let Elena know that she had more questions than answers.

Elena: "Then we can't even tihnk of undoing it until we can neutralize their attacks."

The White Princess appreciated Elena's diplomacy. Most people in Hellfire talked to her like she was an idiot. Elena was legitimately strategizing with her, like an equal. Perhaps she had misjudged Sparrow. They reviewed the horrifying footage together. Erika was worried. She was confident in her magick, but she could have messed up. Somebody could have saved it before her spell. If this got out, she was going to have to go to war with her brother. And she was not about to let that happen.

"Exactly."

She mentioned her relief at hiding this from Alek.

Elena: "You didn't feel bad about keeping this from Alek at all. Nor should you. You're protecting your court- and this is court business."

"My, my my. We agree on so many things. It's a shame you've spent the better part of a decade from us."

The White Princess began to test Elena's loyalty. To see how far she was willing to go for the father of her child.

""Which means, we need to make sure Alek, NEVER sees this, never even THINKS about it...if you catch my drift."

Elena had already put her neck on the line. There were not many people who would so quickly mentally manipulate The Red King of Hellfire. If it was discovered, Elena Estrada would find herself in more than a little hot water. Her decision meant that Elena valued family as much as she did.

Elena: "He'll think he's a lounge singer from Peoria if I want him to, don't worry about it."

Erika laughed, reinforcing her belief of peace in this current situation

"Look, I know this is a bunch of shit to dump on you. But this is your baby daddy. And your daugther's brother is involved. I don't think anybody needs to die over this, do you?"

Elena: "Please, never use the term baby daddy again."

[Erika scoffed]

"Then find a better word for whatever it is you are."

She wanted to give Sparrow an out, and force her to play a bit of her cards. Elena was all too agreeable, and Erika needed to see what was under the surface. She needed Elena, but she couldn't let her know how much.

"Though if I recall, you never did anything unless it helped you serve your purpose. So either help out of the goodness of your heart, or name your price, but please...help me fix this."

Erika was almost sincere. She truly wanted to know Elena's motives in Hellfire. She had already proven that she would work well with The White Princess. She was the mother of The White King's child. They had no Rook, and their Bishop was in constant fear of termination. They needed good people, and Elena's skill and wit could not be denied.

Elena: "I will help you...in exchange for your support should Cameron decide to try and keep Carolina here against my wishes. We both know what this place is like for children, and I intend to gie your niece a normal childhood."

She was a bit offended and relieved. She did know what it was like for a child in Hellfire. Especially the youngest child of Hellfire. More especially the youngest DAUGHTER of Hellfire. So much had been taken from her. But Erika knew that wouldn't happen to Carolina here. Despite the turmoil, things were different.

"I'll support you Elena, but I also cannot agree to have you hide her from him ever again. It's a two way street. The lines of communication are open, and I don't want them to close. Don't lump me in with my brother, either. I love him, but I'm my own woman. And I'd like to know my niece. Like to be there for her."

Elena: "Deal?"

"Deal."

The took shook hands. She knew Haleigh would likely be furious, but she also knew that Haleigh would hate that Cameron ahd brought her to the point he had, and if she could just get a few seconds to think on her own, she would know that Erika made the right move. Or at least Erika hoped. Thankfully The White Knight arrived.

Heidi: "So. You think the babies have done this? Can't blame them for not liking it when Mummy gets upset. Still, they must be really powerful to be able to act from the womb...at like a week old. Ok, can we separate the King and Queen?"

Elena: "We'll have to. Otherwise un freezing them will do no good."

"She's right. Sheer inertia would kill them both."

Elena: "Diana MUST have had some sort of containment device ready for Haleigh should the TO virus overtake her. We could use it as both a barrier between her and Cameron and a shield for Haleigh."

Erika smirked, amused.

"I mean, I don't think Diana would have created it in order to HELP Haleigh. But that doesn't mean it doesn't exist."

Elena: "Assuming we could separate them at all. I could bolster it with my power, and I hear the Red Court has a mimic..if he could leech Cameron's power it might be enough to hold the attack at bay. Might."

The White Princess thought quickly and spoke just as fast.

"That could work, Elena. Even if the mimic doesn't have the kind of control necessary, you do. Push comes to shove you could use his mimic as a bolster and reach out to him."

[pausing]

"But for now, I'll need you all to cover a lie for me. Alek thinks I need some personal effects from Haleigh in order to do a spell. I made it up. But, I can't have him start questioning me. Worst case scenario, I'll just lie and say I can't pull off the "spell". We need to figure out if he's friend or foe. So we can have him involved, but Elena, we need to know where he's coming from. I can't get a read on him. He's too eager to take Cameron's spot. And we need to know if he is as open to a "blended" family as we need him to be."

[turning to Heidi]

"There's a chance I could be completely wrong. We have no Rook and our Bishop is inconsistent. I need you to look at all other angles. Perhaps this is some kind of revenge plot I am unaware of. And talk to Jack about Alek. I'm sorry for putting you in that position but I can't run this court without having all cards on the table. You are The White Knight. Your King needs help. Understand?"

 

[Fathom]

Hellfire -- The White Hall

Heidi reached ground zero just as quickly as she could. Elena gave her a nod of greeting, and Heidi returned it with an uneasy smile as she dove into the problem at hand without hesitation, asking if they could separate the King and Queen. This was a Court matter, and normally Heidi would expel anyone without position on the Inner Circle or its Guard, but with Elena she knew the circumstances were special. Certainly she could count on the fact that Elena wouldn’t want anything to happen to the father of her child. Where she stood on the Queen, however, might be an issue.

Elena: "Diana MUST have had some sort of containment device ready for Haleigh should the TO virus overtake her. We could use it as both a barrier between her and Cameron and a shield for Haleigh.”

Erika: "I mean, I don't think Diana would have created it in order to HELP Haleigh. But that doesn't mean it doesn't exist."

“Wait, wait. I must object to the suggestion that we contain the Queen just because she’s having a row with her husband. The only reason Haleigh has kept the cryotube is to freeze the TO virus in the event that there’s another Jessica Marcus out there somewhere that I haven’t killed yet. Not to mention we have no bleeding idea what effect it’ll have on the children. No, I can’t allow it. Let’s just get them apart and when they unfreeze we can mediate.”

Elena: "Assuming we could separate them at all. I could bolster it with my power, and I hear the Red Court has a mimic..if he could leech Cameron's power it might be enough to hold the attack at bay. Might."

Erika: "That could work, Elena. Even if the mimic doesn't have the kind of control necessary, you do. Push comes to shove you could use his mimic as a bolster and reach out to him."

“Well, the energy needs to be dissipated, right? Why don’t we involve the Nefarias? I haven’t seen Gia in three days, but her sister’s been hanging around. Aren’t their skill sets based off kinetic energy manipulation?”

Heidi proposed, and Erika went on to ask Elena to help figure out Alek. Heidi didn’t really see the need for that. Alek was not difficult to figure out. He was clearly smitten with their Queen and he wasn’t secretive about wanting to protect her children, whether it was his daughter or her son.

Erika: “There's a chance I could be completely wrong.”

“Just a chance? The Red King is not an opponent to be stymied. He’s only a threat to our King’s marriage, not his life.”

Heidi replied dryly. She had spent enough time in the Red Wing to be familiar with the intricacies of the situation. If Alek was really planning on harming Cameron, Heidi would know it. But of course the Princess was taking command in a hurry.

Erika: “We have no Rook and our Bishop is inconsistent. I need you to look at all other angles. Perhaps this is some kind of revenge plot I am unaware of. And talk to Jack about Alek. I'm sorry for putting you in that position but I can't run this court without having all cards on the table. You are The White Knight. Your King needs help. Understand?”

“I needn’t be reminded of my role, Princess, nor instructed how to carry out my duties. And Our Queen needs help too, don’t neglect that little detail, lest you begin to think your ‘running’ of this Court is more than a temporary stand-in.”

Heidi warned, wary of Princesses seizing power during times of turmoil.