Hellfire Odyssey: Reckoning

Hellfire — Executive Conference Room

:: Diana was irate, and barely holding herself back. Helena had the nerve to just shrug it off as if it weren’t a big deal that she’d gone behind Diana’s back and ordered a hit on her King. Then she dared to suggest that Diana calm down.::

“Calm down?! You know, I would almost expect this type of FUCKERY from Kelly, but not from you, Helena. My KING?? You should have come to me first.”

:: Helena sighed as she got comfortable on the table, telling Diana that her King had manipulated her mind. Diana scoffed.::

“IMPOSSIBLE.”

:: She shot back. Helena countered that Ravena had attacked her Rook, twice.::

“A misunderstanding.”

:: She said, but she couldn’t deny feeling some type of way about it. Helena reminded her that she never would have stood for it, but she’d allowed Ravena to talk his way out of it. She had accepted his explanation at the time, but couldn’t remember why now. Truth be told she wasn’t even that upset he was dead. It was more bothersome that the Queens had acted without consulting her.::

:: She started thinking back on her brief affair with Ravena. She had been more impressed with him than any man. She LIKED him, even. In fact she’d felt jealous when her daughter hit on him, and when she saw Heidi getting a little smitten with her King. She’d told herself they were just falling prey to his glamour. Then a cold and bitter reality gripped her. He’d done the same to her, hadn’t he? She wasn’t immune to magick, and his was ancient. That BASTARD had tried to use her. She looked at Kelly coldly.::

“You have ONE JOB. Protect us from magick. Is that too DIFFICULT for you? I’m SURE you’re going to say he needed to be killed to break the spell. And just What EXCUSE do you have for destroying Ahadi? We could’ve made MONEY off that place.”

:: Her glare fell upon Persephone, standing bitterly amongst the others. Ravena had CONVINCED Diana to suppress the Rook’s memories of him, to keep her compliant. And he had violated her a bit. She was probably glad to have been ordered to kill him. Diana almost.... RESPECTED her for actually pulling it off. She was also annoyed now, that she hadn’t gotten to deal with Ravena herself.::

“Scion, bring the Red Rook over here.”

:: It was gratifying, at least, that Haleigh didn’t try another revolt. The White Princess obeyed immediately, marching Persephone across the room. Diana gave the Red Rook a cutting once-over, and then locked eyes with her.::

“You MURDERED My King. I SHOULD have you executed for that. However...”

:: She glanced at Helena for a moment before looking back at Persephone.::

“I understand you were given orders, and apparently that he deserved it, for what he did... to YOU.”

:: There would be no mention of the effect he’d had on Diana. The other Queens didn’t need to be told that.::

“Kneel, and swear your fealty to the Sisterhood, and you will be released and pardoned. Refuse and you’ll be slaughtered.”

:: Diana warned, looking at Scion. She was close enough now that Diana was confident she could make the White Princess do the wet work. Her halo glowed brightly and she stood calmly, awaiting another order like an unfeeling machine. Diana turned back to Persephone with a chilling smirk.::

“Make no mistake, Persephone. You will be proving your loyalty to Hellfire for a long time to come. You and Scion both. Piss off any Queen and I’ll MAKE her murder you. How do you think poor Haleigh will FEEL about doing that, deep down? Think she’ll want to die from the remorse? Maybe I’ll make her RELIEVED.”
 
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The Clocktower

Ashley: "Too bad you never fucked me - you'd have been a lesbian for life."

Vivica was a bit throttled, but embarrassing herself publically was something she had gotten used to long ago. Especially in these circles. She laughed to herself and sat the bags down.

Andrew: "You know, I'm avalaible for testing that out, Viv."

She shook her head.

"I'm done with fucking anything. At least for the time being. I'll keep you posted though, Drew."

There were other more important things to worry about these days, but history had shown her she had a penchant for cute little white boys, so she wasn't about to take all her options off the table.

Steele: "Show your teammate some respect."

"Thank you, John!"

She mentioned feeling left out for a moment but Zach quelled her fears. She smiled.

Zach: "Actually I was just about to shoot you a text. Ash and I came over with pizza to surprise Zizi, Andrew and Steel just turned up coincidentally. But now we're all here, let's eat. There's a bottle on the table."

Ashley: "And bring that sushi in here."

Zach handed her a glass of her favorite rose and she popped open the container or some rather delicious looking sashimi. She often felt competitive over the years because of the nature of her passive power, but if there was one thing she knew she couldn't beat the other Birds of Prey in - it was eating. The grocery bill alone could have afforded a small nation power for a year. It was insanity, but also some how comforting.

Zach: "Oh, this is perfect! We have news to share with everyody, as it happens. I'm glad you're all here."

He was practically giddy, and it warmed Vivica's heart to see. He was so damn handsome when he smiled and the world deserved to see that more. But it did make her a little suspicious as to why. After everything had just happened to him, and having known him for the better part of a decade, she could tell that Zach had found his next thing to worship and put all his extra emotional energy towards. She watched Zach head over to Ashley.

Zach: "Do you want to tell them? No, I want to tell them - Ashley and I are engaged!"

Ashley: "There's even a ring."

"An impressive fucking ring. Jesus."

It was the first thing she could think of to say as she shook her head back and forth breaking her gaze from it and staring at the two of them.

"I mean - Congratulations!"

"Nothing a girl likes more than seeing two friends get engaged after she just broke up with her girlfriend!"

Her eyes looked for somebody in the room to comiserate with. Surely not everything thought this was a brilliant idea. Both Ashley and Zach loved so hard. They burned so hard and so fast for the things that they loved. If this went south, it would really destroy them both. It was so soon. So sudden. They didn't even know each other. But she realized that she was the only one in the room with this thought, so she let the others take the lead. Andrew planning the bachelor party and John giving his congratulations.

She tried to shake herself out of this. She wanted the best for both of them, and with Hellfire and The Six breathing down their necks, they could all be dead tomorrow or by the end of the night - Who the fuck knew. So if this made them happy, then Vivica figured she shouldn't meddle, she should just let them be happy and go from their. It wasn't like they required her blessing anyway.

"And more importantly, do I get to pick the color of my bridesmaids dress?"
 
The Clocktower

Ash and Zach traded innuendos, but for Zizi’s sake he let Ash have the last word, only smiling and nodding when she suggested he had to dig deep. Had they been alone they might be getting busy on top of the pizza boxes on the table, but the whole crew showed up in parts and luckily for them, Zach had self control. He almost lost it when Viv suggested she maybe wasn’t a lesbian and Ash commented that she would’ve been if she’d gotten with Ash.

He was thisclose to telling Ash it really wasn’t too late if she wanted to have another woman in their bed, but Andrew told Viv he was available and got cuffed by John for the comment, so Zach contained his own comment. He welcomed Viv, and so did John. And then Zach changed the subject off of Viv, realizing he’d never get a better opportunity to tell everyone at once the big news.

He almost let Ash tell them, but then decided he was too excited and blurted it out himself, grinning widely. John was apprehensive at first, then relieved and happy. Zach wondered what he’d been afraid of hearing, but didn’t ask, instead shaking his hand vigorously and thanking him for the congratulations. Viv was surprised and apprehensive as well, Though she did congratulate them begrudgingly.

Zach tried not to take it too personally. Viv was a good friend and he’d hoped for her support, but he also understood she was going through a break-up and that had a way of affecting how you viewed other relationships. Meanwhile, Andrew’s mixed feelings were quite happy. He congratulated the couple as well, and then asked Zach when the date was.

“Oh, I guess we haven’t set one just yet. I imagine we’ll have to work it around all the appointments we have before we close on the townhouse.”

Andrew: “And when’s the Bachelor party? It’s going to be epic!”

“Ah, yes, actually I wanted to talk to you about that... I mean it’ll be up to you really. If you’ll agree to be my Best Man, that is.”

He grinned again, watching Andrew’s reaction, but then his phone rang loudly. He started to fish it out of his pocket.

“No pressure bud, give it some thought. Hmm, this is Delilah— she never calls unless it’s serious, I better take this.”

He said, the elation on his face melting into something more concerned. He walked across the open floor plan from the dining room to step away from the chatter.

Into the phone>> “Hey, Delilah, is everything okay?”
 
Hellfire Conference Room

Helena: "Oh shut up, all of you."

"NOW."

Thankfully Diana realized this was not something that needed to be public domain and moved towards the corner of the room as Helena and Kelly followed taking a seat at the table after Diana demanded that they explain themselves.

Helena: "Calm down, Di. You'll ruin your botox."

A devilish grin crept upon Kelly's lips for a moment. Helena never wasted an opportunity to insult someone, even in times like this. It was something she very much enjoyed about the woman.

Diana: "Calm down!? You know, I would almost expect this type of FUCKERY from Kelly, but not from you, Helena."

The Black Queen rolled her eyes.

Helena: "Your King - and I use that term loosely - was using his abilities to manipulate your mind. He had outwardly attacked my Rook, not once but TWICE."

Diana: "A misunderstanding."

"My ass."

Helena: "With out history, I know you would never stand for that. But you DID, and it was a problem Kelly and I rectified. We both made the decision to take Ravena out to protect our Queendom - to protect you."

Kelly watched as Diana began to connect the dots, and it did give her a bit of perverse pleasure to watch the realization wash over The White Queen. She wasn't as indestructable as she thought. But then Diana's eyes moved towards her.

Diana: "You have ONE JOB. Protect us from magick. Is that too DIFFICULT for you? I'm SURE you're going to say he needed to be killed to break the spell. And just what EXCUSE do you have for destroying Ahadi? We could've made MONEY off that place."

"I intervened the second I felt it necessary to do so, Diana. We both know the second I used ANY kind of magick against Ravena he would have come after me. I had to work around him, or he would have warped you even MORE than he already did. And I destroyed Ahadi because I wanted to and because I am not about to build ANOTHER empire off the backs of sexual predators. You saw how that worked for you last time. We don't need money. We have money. We need each other. And now there is no proof in the entire world that a man was ever clever enough to mind fuck the world's strongest telepath. So again...you're welcome."

Diana: "Scion, bring the Red Rook over here."

And Haleigh complied almost immediately. They had solved the problem of Ravena, but Haleigh and Ava were anther story. Kelly just couldn't see the endgame. Surely, a completely domesticated Scion was not going to satisfy Diana. She enjoyed their games of cat and mouse to let this go on for much longer. And Haleigh, though Kelly didn't like to admit it, would figure a way out of the control. She had been collecting friends in Hellfire like candy at Halloween.

Diana: "You MURDERED my King. I SHOULD have you executed for that. However...I understand you were given orders, and apparently that he deserved it, for what he did...to YOU."

So she wasn't entirely gone. Though part of Kelly would have liked to watch Ava be executed, it wouldn't have been right.

Diana: "Kneel, and swear your fealty to the Sisterhood, and you will be released and pardoned. Refuse and you'll be slaughtered. Make no mistake, Persephone. You will be proving your loyalty to Hellfire for a long time to come. You and Scion both. Piss off any Queen and I'll MAKE her murder you. How do you think poor Haleigh will FEEL about doing that, deep down? Think she'll want to die from the remorse? Maybe I'll make her RELIEVED."

Kelly looked for any indication from Helena to step in. She promised to back her and she meant it. And after what had just happened to Diana, there was no telling what she was prepared to do in order to work through the rage that was likely pulsating inside of her. Her eyes looked back to Persephone, wondering what the woman would do.
 
The Parthenon

The contentment of her "business dinner" with Gavin had given way to memories, and Delilah had realized that in the same way Morgan and Alison seemed to delight in blindsiding her, they were about to the do the same to Zach. So in a reversal of the usual "trust that Morgan is right", Delilah instead picked up the phone.

[via phone]“Hey, Delilah, is everything okay?”

"Hi. Zach. How are you feeling?"

She supposed she should make sure he wasn't still dying before she broke the news to him.

"I think we can both agree that everything is most certainly not okay."

She cleared her throat, wishing she'd planned what she was going to say more - especially how much she should tell him.

"Anyway, I wanted to let you know that Morgan and Alison have created kill teams for Haleigh and Ava. The rest of us weren't consulted, and our objections were shot down. Morgan says she has a plan to try and save Haleigh, one she won't disclose to us, but Zach if Haleigh doesn't take it..."

Delilah closed her eyes.

"I thought you should know."

She shook her head, her hand going to her forehead.

"There's something else. She called me. She threatened my daughter."

She couldn't bear to say what had happened with Bishop out loud.

"I...I don't want her dead, Zach, but...I won't let her hurt Alexia."
 
The Clocktower

After Andrew and John arrived (making their dinner hardly enough to go around), Zizi returned the conversation to how she hadn't found anything more out recently that was useful against Hellfire. Apparently Clandestine had a man on the inside, and he offered to get this information to Zizi, which she seemed overly grateful for. Surely they would have known about it already if anything of use was found, but she didn't say that to Zach. He was trying to help, after all.

Andrew: "Then there's nothing to find, Zizi. Let the Six handle it."

Steel: "We should go in there now, hit them hard. Raze that mansion to the ground. There's no one there worth saving."

Ashley couldn't agree more with THAT sentiment, but she looked over at Zach, feeling sad for him. She gave him a supportive smile.

Vivica arrived, with sushi. She joined the dinner table, and Zach decided he needed to announce their engagement to everyone right then. He was excited, but she sure didn't think any of them were going to be. She held up her ring as proof that Zach wasn't joking, and waiting for everyone to start telling them they shouldn't get married.

Viv: "An impressive fucking ring. Jesus."

That improved her mood immensely.

"I know, it's huge!"

Then under her breath to Zach.

"Like something else."

Surprisingly, VIvica, Andrew and Steel all congratulated them. John gave her a kiss which was mildly embarrassing.

Andrew: "When's the day?"

"Uh, soon?"

Ashley looked helplessly at Zach.

Zach: “Oh, I guess we haven’t set one just yet. I imagine we’ll have to work it around all the appointments we have before we close on the townhouse.”

Andrew: "And when's the bachelor party? It's going to be epic!"

Now that was something to get excited about.

"I know! I can't wait for it!"

Andrew looked at her strangely, but then, he was a strange boy.

Viv: "And more importantly, do I get to pick the color of my bridesmaids dress?"

Ashley shrugged.

"I...guess?"

She looked at Zizi, who reached over and put her hand over Ashley's.

Zizi: "Usually the bride gets to pick the bridesmaids dresses."

Ashley thought about it for a second, then turned to Vivica with a smirk.

"You can pick the color...when you tell Sharon to go suck it."

She grinned, happy with herself. Zizi was giving her a disapproving look, however.

Zach asked Andrew to be his best man then, but before he could answer, Zach got a phone call.

Zach: “Hmm, this is Delilah— she never calls unless it’s serious, I better take this.”

Ash narrowed her eyes.

"What does THAT bitch want?"

Probably trying to steal her man. Trying to get back at her for nailing Bishop. Fucking cow. She'd like to knock that light bulb back into the dark ages...

Zach's expression didn't look happy, though, which in some ways was good but in others bad. So she got up and went to the kitchen to get Zach a beer, which she was sure would cheer him up. But when she opened the door, there was none.

"Who drank all of Zach's beer?!"

She turned towards the dining table, fire virtually coming from her eyes. Well, she would just have to go get some.

She walked towards the door, eyeing the people at the table.

"I'll be right back."

And she headed to the bodega to get Zach his beer.
 
The Clocktower

Zach stepped away from the dining room to take Delilah’s call, crossing the floor past Zizi’s workstation to stand in the living room as he asked her if everything was ok. Concern came over him like a cloud, threatening to rain on his engagement parade. She asked him how he was feeling.

“Oh, you know. As good as can be expected, I think. There’s some happiness to balance out the horror. So, okay, depending on whatever you’re about to say.”

He replied honestly, trying to lighten his sense of foreboding with humor and feeling it fall flat. She suggested that things were most certainly not okay, and he swallowed hard, trying and failing to prepare himself. At least he knew no one had died. He would’ve felt the grief if that were the case. Still, he dreaded her next statement. Mercifully, she didn’t draw it out. Unfortunately, there was no easy way to tell him about kill teams.

“They.... WHAT??”

He interjected, his voice breaking a bit at the end. He sat quickly on the arm of the sofa.

“You can’t have agreed with that.”

He said, after clearing his throat. She told him all objections were overruled. He felt sick to his stomach. Apparently Morgan had some super secret squirrel plan to save Haleigh, but if it didn’t work, Delilah thought Zach should know all this. He nodded, though she couldn’t see it. He was grateful to know, It was horrific, but hadn’t he just said knowledge was power a few minutes ago?

“I can’t believe this is happening. Please tell me you intend to save her, Delilah, you’re her best friend. If her own sisters, and godsdamned Cameron King are going to do this to her and Ava, she needs you right now, more than ever—”

But there was something else he didn’t know. Haleigh had threatened Alexia. Zach inhaled sharply. He hated this, more than anything he’d ever hated in his life. More than he hated what his father had done to his mother.

“You have to know she’d never do it, Delilah. She can’t have meant it. She’s behind enemy lines— she had to say it. Gods only know what else she’s had to do to survive that place. She got a message out—“

He wasn’t supposed to tell anyone, but fuck that if it saved her life.

“A sextape of her and the Red Knight. I don’t know if it was.... if it was even consensual, it looked violent, but it had an encrypted message in it. She doesn’t belong there, and she’s worried about Ava. Look, she could’ve killed me!”

He added quickly, his tone more urgent now.

“Yeah, when she tried to help Hellfire get Jake the second time. Me and the Birds intervened, and Haleigh and I faced off. She could’ve killed me and everybody on that chopper, but she didn’t even hurt us. And I felt her pain then. She’s not well... She doesn’t want to do any of this, I know it. I can’t bear to think of the punishment she had to endure for letting us go.”

He was saying everything, desperately, to get her to hear him. He had gone from the happiest he’d ever been to the most despair he thought he could stand in the span of seconds. Delilah told him that she didn’t want Haleigh to die, but that she couldn’t let Alexia be hurt. Zach was quiet for a moment. He couldn’t find the words. Tears spilled over and his mouth went dry. He cleared his throat again as he hurriedly swiped at his eyes.

“Okay... Okay, well I have to do something, then. I can’t let them die— not like this. I’ll talk to the Birds, how much time do I have?”

He asked, sniffing to clear his sinuses.
 
Persephone was shackled, the tears she had cried for Alek dried on her cheeks. Her mind was on him and where Emiko took him. She knew he would be okay because of his durability, but the questions still remained whether Emiko helped him or took him to Diana herself. Persephone stood as Scion pulled the chains that connected them together. She felt like cattle going to slaughter.

Haleigh: “Let’s go. You can walk beside me with dignity, or I can drag you behind me like a stubborn animal on a lead.”

"Fuck you."

Persephone growled in anger. This wasn't her sister. This was a shell of her sister controlled by Diana. She had done everything to try and keep Haleigh safe. Everything to protect her from Diana, yet Diana took the cowards way out and decided to control Haleigh herself since she couldn't actually break her. And now, because Persephone had taken too long to save her sister, Haleigh was gone and she was being lead to her death. As they made their way into the red wing, the Red Guard was ready to attack and defend their color. Scion laid waste to them immediately, Persephone barely blinking as the bodies hit the floor. She walked with Scion to the catacombs and was greeted by Masque, Fathom, and Emiko; Diana standing in the distance. Alek was nowhere in sight, relief coursing through Persephone's tense muscles. Emiko must have saved him, her eyes going to the crazy White Rook hoping she would understand Persephone's gratitude.

Masque and Fathom both had something to say, Persephone not bothering to acknowledge either of them. It wasn't until the tip of Fathom's trident was under Persephone's chin that she lifted her dark eyes, glaring at the White Knight.

"Do it. I dare you."

Persephone taunted darkly, knowing the moment that power suppression collar was off she would fry the little flounder like a dish at Red Lobster.

Malice: “Hold off, Heidi. She will answer for what she’s done. So will the rest. They’re coming. All of you be ready, but wait for my signal to attack.”

Persephone shifted her dark eyes to Malice, and sure enough both Helena and Kelly walked in. The White Court immediately supported their Queen but Helena and Kelly both shut them all down like children. It made Persephone smirk despite her own grave circumstances. The Queen's went to the other side of the room, Helena sitting on the table casually, Diana looking like she had a stick up her ass, and Kelly playing with her nails. It was hard to tell exactly what was going on, but obviously no one was dying which meant Helena and Kelly had convinced Diana of Ravena's treachery.

Diana: “Scion, bring the Red Rook over here.”

Diana called out to which Scion immediately complied. As they were walking, Persephone gripped the chains tightly and looked over at Scion - at Haleigh. She was still in there somewhere, pushed back and unable to fight Diana's powers. But she was in there and Persephone needed to say her goodbyes..

"It's not your fault, Haleigh."

Persephone whispered as they walked down the long conference table to the Queens.

"Don't blame yourself."

Before they reached the Queen's, Persephone looked at her sister.

"I love you."

And then they were in front of them, Persephone looking evenly from Kelly, to Helena, and finally to Diana.

Diana: “You MURDERED My King. I SHOULD have you executed for that."

She raised her chin just a bit defiantly.

Diana: "However...I understand you were given orders, and apparently that he deserved it, for what he did... to YOU.”

Alek....Persephone looked over at Helena, taken aback that Helena knew and was actually using it as a means to keep her alive.

Diana: “Kneel, and swear your fealty to the Sisterhood, and you will be released and pardoned. Refuse and you’ll be slaughtered.”

The glow of the halo around Haleigh's head began to shine brighter than before, a clear show and tell that Diana wanted Persephone to know that her sister was no more. Persephone heart broke and stomach turned seeing her sister standing there emotionless and with zero control.

Diana: “Make no mistake, Persephone. You will be proving your loyalty to Hellfire for a long time to come. You and Scion both. Piss off any Queen and I’ll MAKE her murder you. How do you think poor Haleigh will FEEL about doing that, deep down? Think she’ll want to die from the remorse? Maybe I’ll make her RELIEVED.”

She barely heard what Diana was saying, white noise to Persephone's own thoughts. Despite the threats, Persephone already knew that she was staying. She wasn't leaving her sister behind. Persephone eyes shut and bowed her head. Every fiber of her being was fighting her from going onto her knees, but she forced herself anyway, the inner pain excruciating. Her jaw was tight and teeth clenched, the words bitter on her tongue.

"I pledge my fealty to Hellfire, to my Queen, and to her sister Queens. My word is my blood."
 
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Hellfire — The Halls

The White Bishop quipped that Scion would find her vastly improved, but the White Princess did not seem amused, just stared ahead and led them all down to the Executive Conference room to complete her orders. Once she crossed that threshold she felt a sense of relief. She’d satisfied her orders, obeyed every one. She wasn’t compelled to do anything else, so she idled.

The White Knight came over and rinsed the blood off. Scion stood there and said nothing. Even when Heidi threatened Persephone and the Red Rook egged the White Knight on, she didn’t speak, just looked over at her Queen, who commanded they wait. Scion reached up and gently guided the times of the crystal trident away from the Red Rook’s throat. Then she turned to face the door, ready, as her Queen ordered her to be. All she needed was a signal, and lethal force would be used.

Kelly demanded to speak with Diana alone. Scion was obligated to refuse, and so she did. The Queens split off to the other side of the room to talk, where most couldn’t hear, though Scion’s enhanced heading picked up every word. Scion shifted her gaze to watch her Queen for a signal. She didn’t fail to notice that the Black Knight was watching her, but she didn’t care. Gia watched Amanda. Heidi, meanwhile, watched all the Queens intently.

Her Queen summoned her, wanting her to bring her captive over. Scion glanced at the Red Rook to check for compliance, and then began to lead her across the room. Persephone whispered to Haleigh that it wasn’t her fault, and not to blame herself, and that she loved her. Scion stared ahead, her pupils dilating and then shrinking down small again. Her jaw clenched tightly as she marched forward.

Haleigh felt like she was having the most petrifying nightmare of all, the one where something terrible was happening, but she couldn’t move. She wanted to reply, she wanted to scream, she wanted to shoot herself in the head, but she couldn’t even make herself look at her sister. She was trapped in her own body, watching herself do these things. She’d never felt less in control. Her mother’s laughter echoed in her head. Her mother, who was in here with her, compelling her to comply, controlling her every move.

When they reached the Queens, Scion looked to her mother for further guidance, but Diana talked exclusively to Persephone. They did trade looks for a moment, when Diana warned the Red Rook that if she refused, she be slaughtered. Diana’s intense gaze implied silently that she expected Scion to do the task. Scion’s left hand, untethered to her captive, went to rest on the pistol holstered on her thigh, ready to draw and execute that order if necessary.

Diana warned Persephone further, and spoke as if Haleigh was somewhere else, not around to react to what she was saying. Scion stood still, calm, as if that was indeed the case, and she had no feelings about Diana suggesting that if Persephone stepped out of line, Scion would cut her down. This contingent order became engraved in her mind, more imperative than breathing.

Persephone knelt and swore fealty, as commanded. Scion watched her Queen smile coldly, and then Scion was smiling too, though it was empty, only mirrored mirth. Diana commanded the Red Rook be released. Scion leaned over Persephone where she knelt, first removing the power suppression collar with her right hand. Then her left hand abandoned her holstered pistol, and reached down to unlock the thick metal bands that cuffed Persephone’s wrists together. She never looked into the Red Rook’s face as she released her, just completed the task and stood back up to look at her Queen again. Diana was talking to the other Queens now.

Malice: “Our vacation is RUINED. I’ll have to rain check the Europeans. They’ll be EXPECTING to see Ravena. I don’t have the PATIENCE to deal with that right now. We might as well move forward with our other plans. Helena, Scion will help you broadcast our message to that MEDDLING little Oracle. I’ll accompany you.”
 
The Safe House

Alek awoke slowly, out of sorts. He blinked, completely having no idea where he was or how he had gotten there. The last he remembered he was standing in front of Haleigh...

"Seph!"

He sat up quickly, then regretted it, his head pounding, his throat sore. Now he recognized this place. The safe house where he and Seph meet. Who had brought him here?

He reached for his phone, which was thankfully still in his pocket and still working. His link to the Security feed was being blocked. He put the phone to his ear.

Red Security: "Yes, sir?"

[into the phone] "Tell me where the Red Rook is, NOW."

He had no idea how long he had been out.

Red Security: "In the catacombs. The queens and their courts are there as well, excluding yourself, of course sir."

[into the phone] "Is she alive?"

He closed his eyes.

Red Security: "Yes, sir."

He cut the call, slipping off the bed. If they meant to kill her, he could never get there in time. Helena was there, and he had to believe he'd gotten through to her, that she wouldn't allow Diana to kill Seph. At least not tonight. It had come to a point he hadn't wanted, and now he was forced to play his last card. But things were cutting too close now - it was only a matter of time until Helena signed Seph's death warrant.

His clothes were a mess, with bits of tv screen embedded in the jacket. He quickly pulled them off and put on a fresh suit from the closet, brushed his hair and pulled it back. It had to seem like nothing was wrong. Finally when he was presentable he pulled the phone out once again and called one of his little birds, who had been tailing Ashley for weeks. By some stroke of luck or divine intervention, she was only a couple blocks away.

He headed out the door. It was time to charm a valkyrie.
 
The Corner Market - Bowery

Ashley came out of the shop, two sixers of Shiner Bock in a bag under her arm. She was walking along, on her way back to the Clocktower, not paying attention to what was going on around her, when out of the corner of her eye she saw him and did a double take.

Alek.

Or she thought she saw him. In the blink of an eye he was gone into the crowd. She picked up her pace.

A flash of him up ahead - gone again as quickly as it had appeared.

Then she caught a glimpse of him when he looked back as he rounded a corner. Yes, it was definitely him. What was he up to?

He ducked into the Bowery Hotel. She followed, flashing her badge at the desk, and proceeded to the 14th floor. Alek kept places all over the city, and he always stayed in the penthouse. Coming out of the elevator and into the suite, everything was dark and silent. She set her bag on the table in the entryway and crept slowly inside, into the living room.

He sat on the sofa, arms stretched out along its back, the French doors open to the balcony behind him and moonlight spilling all around. A breeze blew his clothing gently.

Alek: "I really thought you were going to come in from the balcony."

She showed the badge and smirked.

"Work smarter, not harder."

He let out a slow chuckle. She narrowed her eyes and looked at him coldly.

"I am going to tear your arms off and beat you to death with them."

He stood up, and held up his hands in a placating gesture.

Alek: "Now, now, let's not be hasty."

He gestured towards the wet bar.

Alek: "Would you like a drink?"

"From you? Never. Why did you lure me here."

She crossed her arms over her chest. He clicked his tongue at her.

Alek: "Lure is such an ugly word. I wanted to talk to you, without prying eyes. I thought you deserved to know the truth."

"Talk faster or I might just shoot you to get it over with."

As if in defiance of her, he poured a dark liquid into two glasses, then crossed the room towards her, slowly.

Alek:" You were set up."

She looked into his face skeptically. He held one of the glasses out to her, and forgetting her earlier refusal, she took it.

Alek: "When you were sent on that last mission, to assassinate that senator, it was HELENA who made sure you failed. She needed an excuse to kick you out. Our alliance made her nervous; we were getting too powerful."

He smiled, that half smile of his she used to find so charming.

Alek: "She wanted to see if I would follow you."

"And you didn't."

Bastard.

He shook his head.

Alek: "If I had left with you, we'd both be dead."

He downed his own drink, and set the empty glass on a nearby table. He took another step towards her.

Alek: "The only way to save you was to let you go."

"Oh that is such bullshit."

Alek: "I had to prove my loyalty."

"Oh, you did alright. But it wasn't to me. After all I gave up for you..."

She threw up her hands and turned away, shaking her head.

"I needed to have my head examined."

Alek: "You want to hate me, but you can't."

She scoffed.

"Can't I?"

Alek: "You know I'm telling the truth. You know me, Ashley, better than anyone else. Everything I've done, I've done for us. We are Aslaug and Kalf...always..."

He moved to slip his hands around her waist.

Alek: "And your old position at Hellfire might be open soon."

Ashley felt his hands on her and quickly turned to face him, pushing him away from her not gently as she did so.

"Don't touch me."

She looked at him, incredulous.

"What, your two little play things not working out for you anymore? Or did they just wise up?"

She held up her left hand triumphantly.

"I'm engaged. To a good man. Who loves me."

Alek stood in front of her, slowly nodding. He smiled.

Alek: "I'd never have had you down for a nice guy, Ash."

"Don't call me that."

He breathed in sharply.

Alek: "But no, that's good, I'm happy for you, congratulations."

He moved back to the couch and sat back down.

Alek: "Still, you might want to reconsider. What Helena did to you? She's doing to Ava right now. Sending her on missions she can't possibly complete, until she can justify killing her. She and her sister might not survive the night, in fact. Certainly not the week. If your little friends are planning some sort of deluded rescue? They'd better do it soon. It's clear the two of them don't have Hellfire in their hearts, and they aren't fooling anyone."

He chuckled.

Alek: "Come on, Valkyrie. Come back to us. Play for the winning side. I'll convince Helena - she'll probably even let you keep your little 'good man' as a pet. I'm sure she knows about him already."

Ashley stared at Alek, sitting there so smugly, and she wondered how the hell she had ever cared for him. She downed the drink in her hand, which happened to be whisky, then threw the glass at him.

"Fuck you, Alek."

She turned on her heel, picked up her bag from the table, and left.
 
Bowery

He had to make it look real, or she would know something was up. So he didn't make it too obvious that he wanted her to follow him. It had to look like he was trying to avoid detection. But he made sure that she saw him. And he knew she wouldn't be able to help herself - her curiosity would make her do exactly what he wanted.

And when he had her at the hotel, somewhere private, he charmed her, sweet talked her, told her what she desperately wanted to know. And he wove in the details he needed her to hear.

She was still full of rage, which he had always loved about her. He told her what Helena had done, which he knew would make her even more angry. She would believe him, because it was the truth, and because Ashley already hated Helena and would be happy to accept another reason to. He made sure to tell her he had done everything out of love for her, to protect her.

She had acted exactly the way he had expected her to...until he had tried to seal the deal. He hadn't anticipated her resisting his advances, but in the end it worked to his advantage. It gave him something else to dangle in front of her, a danger close to home to spur her to action.

She held on to her anger towards him, which was fine, good even. He thought throwing the glass at him was a nice touch on her part. It was true what he had said, that she knew him well. But he knew her too, and he knew how to manipulate her as if she were his puppet on a string.

As soon as she was out the door he had sprung up from the sofa and moved to the window, watching for Ashley to leave the hotel. And then he was out the door as well, catching a cab back to the mansion, holding up a hundred dollar bill to the driver and telling him it was his if they got uptown in 10 minutes. Up until this point he had had a role to play. He couldn't think of anything else, he had to be precise in word and action. But now, as he sat in the car, precious minutes ticking away, the enormity of the situation hit him. That Helena could have changed her mind. That Seph could be dying right now. And even if she had been saved, at any moment her life could be over.

And he had just invited the enemy into their castle.

The cab pulled up at the front entrance to the mansion, and Alek tossed the bill at the driver as he got out, taking the steps two at a time to the door. He strode through the foyer like he owned the place, and made his way as quickly as he could without looking harried towards the catacombs.
 
The Parthenon

She called Zach, because he had a right to know what was going on. But she didn't really know what to say. So she asked him how he was.

Zach: “Oh, you know. As good as can be expected, I think. There’s some happiness to balance out the horror. So, okay, depending on whatever you’re about to say.”

She told him about the kill teams.

Zach: “They.... WHAT?? You can’t have agreed with that.”

She told him they hadn't been consulted. That Morgan and Alison couldn't be convinced it was lunacy. She could almost feel Zach's pain through the phone line, and she hated that she had done this to him. And she hated Haleigh, for putting him in this position. And her.

Zach: “I can’t believe this is happening. Please tell me you intend to save her, Delilah, you’re her best friend. If her own sisters, and godsdamned Cameron King are going to do this to her and Ava, she needs you right now, more than ever—”

She told him about Alexia.

Zach: “You have to know she’d never do it, Delilah. She can’t have meant it. She’s behind enemy lines— she had to say it. Gods only know what else she’s had to do to survive that place. She got a message out— A sextape of her and the Red Knight."

"A sex tape...of course..."

Tears were forming in Delilah's eyes at that.

Zach: "I don’t know if it was.... if it was even consensual, it looked violent, but it had an encrypted message in it. She doesn’t belong there, and she’s worried about Ava. Look, she could’ve killed me! Yeah, when she tried to help Hellfire get Jake the second time. Me and the Birds intervened, and Haleigh and I faced off. She could’ve killed me and everybody on that chopper, but she didn’t even hurt us. And I felt her pain then. She’s not well... She doesn’t want to do any of this, I know it. I can’t bear to think of the punishment she had to endure for letting us go.”

She had to stop him. She couldn't hear any more.

"She shot a child, Zach. She tried to kill Bishop. And even then, I thought, 'She knows how to kill, if she wanted them dead, they would be. They're making her do this.'"

She blinked away the tears from her eyes.

"And then she called me, to tell me she had FUCKED Bishop. And then she THREATENED MY DAUGHTER. The two things she knew would hurt me the most. The things the Haleigh who was my friend would NEVER do."

The hurt and anger in her voice was palpable.

"I don't know if I can believe in her anymore, Zach."

Zach: “Okay... Okay, well I have to do something, then. I can’t let them die— not like this. I’ll talk to the Birds, how much time do I have?”

She shook her head, even though he couldn't see it. Her voice was sad.

"I don't know, we haven't been given a time. It's not tonight. But it's soon, Zach. And Zach?"

She wiped her face with her hand.

"Good luck."
 
Persephone remained on her knees, bowing her head after pledging her loyalty to Hellfire and the Sisterhood. She needed to do it, in order to figure out a way to break Diana's control over Haleigh. If this bought her time, Persephone would grovel at their feet. It was then she felt Scion's hand's release the power suppression collar from Persephone's neck, the overwhelming feeling of her strength flooding back into her body making her dizzy. Persephone shut her eyes for a moment, feeling the metal cuffs fall off her wrists as well. She looked up at Scion through blurred vision to see she was a robotic and mechanical as ever before carrying out the task of letting Persephone go. Shutting her eyes once again, Persephone pushed herself to her feet as the Queen's and Scion began to walk off to the control room.

Persephone craned her neck to the side, wincing a bit as she did so. She began to slowly walk toward the conference room exit, passing Heidi as she did so. Looking at the White Knight, Ava's dark eyes narrowed as she rubbed the tender skin around her neck where the suppression collar was.

"If you ever fucking threaten me again, i'll shove that trident so far up your ass, Posiden himself won't be able to pull it out."

Persephone pushed past Heidi, purposely bumping her shoulder as she did so. She still felt weak, but getting stronger as the minutes passed by. She walked toward the catacomb exit to head back up to the Red Wing when she saw Alek quickly walk in. Persephone couldn't help herself, her eyes softening at the sight of him - seeing that he was okay.

"Alek..."

She wrapped her arms tightly around him, burying her face into his neck, holding him tightly. She beat death once tonight, living dangerously by outwardly showing Alek affection felt minimal in comparison. Plus, she could care less at this point.

"I was so scared I lost you..."
 
Bowery

Ashley hadn't been in a rush before, but she was now, barreling over stupid tourists and pushing her way past crowds of drunk college kids, growling at anyone who looked at her funny. She hated him. HATED him. No. Not him. HERSELF. For ever thinking he was worth a damn. And Helena, for destroying her life to prove a point. They all deserved to be flayed fucking alive.

She made the Clocktower in record time, not that it was far. As she rode the elevator upwards the rage was subsiding in her, being replaced by apprehension. She had to tell Zach what had happened, what Alek had said. Which meant admitting that she had followed Alek in the first place. And that she had left him alive, the reason even now escaping her.

She came in through the front door, and went directly to Zach.

"I need to tell you something. In private."

She pushed him towards her room, setting the bag of beer on the kitchen counter as she passed, taking one bottle out and carrying it with her. She called behind her.

"Andrew, put the rest of that in the fridge."

When they were inside her room, Ashley closed the door behind them, and handed Zach the beer. She realized he looked awful.

"You should sit down."

She pushed him towards the bed, and for once, she wasn't trying to seduce him.

"I just saw Alek."

She looked guiltily at him.

"Talked to him. He told me things. He said that Haleigh and Ava weren't really Hellfire, and that they're going to be killed soon. That they're being set up to fail. And he told me-"

She paused, her hands wringing in front of her as she started to get upset.

"That Helena knew about you. And me. What if she tries to hurt you to fuck with me?"

She shook her head, trying to get a hold of herself.

"He said Helena set me up, when I got kicked out of Hellfire. And now she's doing the same thing to Ava."

How dare that bitch in red. Playing with people's lives for sport. She had been completely loyal, never failing to complete whatever mission Helena had asked of her. Except that one. And she had acted like Ashley was a failure, like she wasn't the most valuable asset the Red Court had. Ashley wiped her nose on her sleeve.

"I hate Haleigh and Ava for hurting you, I hate them. I do."

She reached for his hands.

"But if you want to try and save them, I'm with you."
 
The Catacombs

He had no idea what the hell he was going to do when he found them. And he disliked doing anything without a plan. But he was flying blind, with no idea what they were doing to Seph. He mentally went through the permutations. If they were hurting her, he would have to step in physically, there was no choice. The best case scenario would be to get her collar off and try to keep them alive long enough for her to transport them somewhere. Unfortunately he had no idea how long it would take her to regain enough strength to do it. He prayed they were just talking about what to do with her. Then he could bolster the groundwork he'd laid with Helena earlier, convince them Seph wasn't at fault, and should be given another chance. Again, if he could get her out of her chains, even a brief reprieve would mean she could escape. If Helena had given her to Diana, he could offer to trade himself for her. Helena already wanted Seph dead, so it was no great boon for Diana to kill her. But him? No matter how disappointed she was with his actions lately, killing him would hurt Helena. Diana was just cruel enough to take that bargain.

He had just made it to the catacombs, when he saw Seph coming towards him. He thought he was hallucinating. She was alone, and she wasn't in chains. When he finally decided that she was real, he nearly collapsed from relief.

Seph: "Alek..."

"You're alive, thank god."

Her arms were around him, and he engulfed her.

Seph: "I was so scared I lost you..."

"Are you alright?"

He pulled back from her, started checking her for wounds. When he was satisfied she was intact, he looked into her face, and shook his head.

"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry...I should have been able to stop her..."

His hand touched her cheek.

"You should have gone. You should go now."
 
The Clocktower

There was nothing that could’ve prepared him for this call, nothing. There would’ve been no good time to get it, either. So he faced it now, head on, and he tried his damndest to make a strong case. He told her everything, hoping, praying she’d back him up. His heart sank to hear Haleigh had threatened Alexia, but she had to had done it under duress. She can’t have really meant it, he argued. Delilah reminded him that she’d shot Jake, nearly killed Bishop, and that was true, but she also acknowledged another truth they all knew deep down— Haleigh knew how to kill.

“YES, exactly! It’d be easier than connecting WiFi, if she’d wanted to do it—“

He said, but then she started telling him more things, more details about what had happened with Bishop, and Zach started feeling crushed again. She was too far away for him to sense her heartbreak, but he could hear it. She had to be crying, and then he was weeping too, because if Delilah couldn’t believe in Haleigh anymore, Zach knew none of the rest would, and Haleigh and Ava really WERE going to die in that place. That ghastly place where they had spent weeks being tortured, because nobody on this side had the stones to do a Godsdamned thing about it.

Well, HE was going to do something about it. He was going to do everything he could. He was going to try again to get the Birds to make a rescue plan. He couldn’t stand to let Haleigh and Ava die like this. He told Delilah as much, and asked how much time he had. Blessedly, she told him that while she didn’t know exactly, it wasn’t happening tonight. Delilah wished him good luck.

“Yeah, I’m going to need it. And thank you, Delilah, for warning me. I’m sorry, that she hurt you. I’m sure she is too, under whatever facade she’s put up to survive. Please be careful, when you.... do whatever you have to do.”

He replied, and then he ended the call, his thoughts churning. Ash came up to him, saying she needed to talk to him privately. She had beer in her arms. Had she gone out to get that? Everything was a blur. Delilah’s call had hit him like a freight train. He followed her into the bedroom, half dazed, half still racking his mind for how he was going to convince everyone to help him. Ash pushed a beer into his hand, and encouraged him to sit. She was worried about something, deeply worried, and it shook him from his stupor. He looked at her with care.

“What’s wrong?”

He asked, and she told him that she’d just seen Alek. His grip on the beer bottle went so tight his knuckles turned white. He stopped moving, stopped breathing, so he could listen to her every word. She told him what Alek had said, about the girls and how they were going to be killed soon.

“By Hellfire or their own fucking family, apparently.”

He grumbled darkly. There was more, though. Ashley was worried because Alek had told her that the Red Queen knew that Ash and he were together now, and Ash was afraid that Zach might get hurt as some sort of retaliatory measure. Zach remembered to breathe when his vision started to tunnel. He set his beer on the bedside table, preparing to console her, when she told him that she hated Haleigh and Ava for hurting him.

He knew she was being honest, he could feel it. He saddened further, knowing what he was about to say would probably just cause her more stress. Then she surprised him by taking his hands and saying that she was with him if he wanted to save them. It meant so much to him that she was willing to do that for him. It was the spark of hope he needed in the darkest hour. He gave her hands a squeeze.

“Good, because otherwise you’d miss a chance to see me in my battle armor.”

He said, with the smallest of smiles. The scar Persephone gave him tingled, and he didn’t even reach up to rub it like usual. He wouldn’t get tricked again. He’d play this smart. And with Ashley by his side, he knew the odds were much better.

“Come on, we need to see how many of the others we can recruit.”

He said, keeping one of her hands and picking up his beer with the other. He drained the entire bottle before they headed back out into the dining area. He could tell from the look on Viv’s face that she knew already, but he wasn’t sure what she’d told the others. He cleared his throat. There was no sense in hemming and hawing.

“The Six have a plan for Haleigh and Ava. They’ve set up kill teams. And Ash has just heard that even within Hellfire, their days are numbered. I’ve got to do something, to try to get them out. I need help, though. Volunteers.”
 
Helena, Diana, and Scion all made their way from the conference room to the control room, the Red Queen getting giddy with excitement.

"After this mess of an evening, i'm excited to finally do something entertaining!"

She clapped her hands, looking at Scion with a grin.

"Hack into the Clocktower. I want every television screen, every smart phone, every devise in that place to be playing. [turning to Diana] Have your guards bring him in."

She smiled wickedly as the entire control room began to warp around them and melt to black, her illusion filling the space like a thick void. On her order, Scion hacked the Clocktower's system like a good little robot puppet, each monitor within the tower flicking on with a loud static eruption. At first, they would only see black.

"Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Elizabeth....For such a smart girl, you are quite stupid to involve yourself in affairs that go beyond your pay grade."

Helena's voice echoed from the dark screen that played over all of Zizi's servers throughout the Clocktower. An eerie silence followed before the clicking of Helena's heeled shoes could be heard as she walked forward into the light, dressed in a sexy red dress suit that only a woman of her vintage could pull off.

"I'll admit, I found your plucky antics quite amusing at first. Believing that you could somehow lead a team in your [raising a brow] state, while also being a handicap. It was admirable. Sweet really. But i'll admit my error in misjudging just how much of a PEST you would become."

Helena's tone began to darken as the camera panned closer to her.

"You and your little boyfriend Cypher's involvement in hacking my network, exposing , and ultimately KILLING Dennis Nedry was MORE than enough reason to have my Bishop slit your throats while you slept like babies."

A wicked smirk spread across Helena's lips, leaving that little Easter Egg for them to enjoy and become paranoid about.

"She's been there many times, many hours, watching. Your little security systems are so darling....but nothing keeps my Mystique out."

Helena purred as she began to slowly saunter in the pitch black room toward the edge of the frame. That was Diana's cue, the White Queen having her guards bring in Gabe whom had just been brought to Hellfire.

"But that would have been too easy. Why kill you both when I can make you SUFFER?"

Helena's smirk slowly faded, her sapphire eyes narrowing into a deadly glare as she reached out of frame, grabbing the back of Gabe's head and pulling him into view. He was bound, gagged, and disoriented due to Diana's powers. Blood stained his eyebrow and nose.

"My dear Elizabeth, you put your big girl panties on and tried to play with the adults...now you must sit in your own shit."

Helena raised a blade to Gabe's throat, her eyes filled with merciless evil. With one swift pull of the blade, Helena slit Gabe's throat, his eyes going wide in horror as gargling sounds could be heard from his attempts to breathe. Helena continued to hold him by the hair, his neck unnaturally bending back at the wound as Gabe's body went lifeless.

[wickedly] "Don’t expect to win a game of chess by being a pawn, my dear."

Helena let go of Gabe's head, his body falling to the ground with a sickening thud. It was then Helena began to clean the bloody blade with a red handkerchief that suddenly appeared in her hand, stepping over the body and moving closer to the camera.

"Oh!"

Helena's voice much more peppy and light hearted now, as if she hadn't just slit a man's throat.

"Please do give my regards to Ashley and Zachary, I heard the splendid news!"

Helena's eyes flickered with a perverse joy.

"I’ll make sure to send them both a suitable engagement gift. Perhaps another visit from my Rook? Ta ta..."

Helena began to laugh a menacing laugh, her voice echoing loudly throughout the Clocktower even as the video ended and the screen was black.
 
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Hellfire — Executive Conference Room

Heidi suggested the most reasonable thing, that they just kill the Red Rook now, and she drew her trident, the gift from her King. She was hoping her Queen would give consent, and she could have the honor of delivering swift justice herself, but no. Diana wanted them to wait until the others arrived. More audience, then. Fine by Heidi. Haleigh reached up and gently guided the trident away from Persephone’s throat.

Heidi huffed and turned towards the door, just in time to see the other Queens and Amanda come in. The rest of the Red Court was conspicuously absent. Perhaps Helena was smart enough it to risk them, because Kelly insisted the Queens conference alone. The whole White Court objected to that, with Heidi asking if they’d gone mad. The other Queens snapped back, annoyed, but Heidi ignored them, glancing instead at her Queen.

Diana decided to give them a chance, so Heidi watched them cross to the other side of the room. Resting the butt of her trident on the floor, she spun it slowly in her hands as she kept her eyes on the Queens. Diana’s body language was irate, demanding, but Helena was relaxed and Kelly seemed almost bored. What they were saying couldn’t be heard, but there was no violence. Minutes passed, and then her Queen called for Scion to bring the Red Rook to answer for her crimes. Heidi was disappointed she didn’t get to do it, but maybe she’d still be able to feed the remains to the Aqua Ring residents.

She was further disappointed when she saw that while Persephone knelt with her head bowed and Scion grasped her gun, after a paused and a smile from her Queen, the Red Rook was released by Haleigh. Heidi’s grip tightened on her weapon, confused by the development. But the Queens and Haleigh left the room together, and Persephone picked herself up, evidently allowed to live. Heidi huffed again, as Persephone came near them so she could exit. Then the Red Rook stopped to threaten Heidi, who laughed.

“Big brazen words now that the Queens are gone. As if we didn’t just all watch you get down on your knees and beg for your pathetic life. You ought to count your lucky sodding stars that My Queen didn’t allow me to filet you alive. Run along now, little thunder cloud. I’m sure you’ll want to be putting lotion on those knees of yours.”

Heidi replied with a knowing smirk. After Persephone was gone, her trident evaporated like water. she glanced at Amanda and her smile turned friendly.

”Well. Now that we don’t have to fight each other, let’s go get a drink, shall we? Come on girls, you two are invited as well.”

She added, with a glance tossed over her shoulder at Emiko and Gia.
 
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Hellfire — The Control Room

They left the Red Rook kneeling there, and Scion never looked back, just followed the trio of Queens out of the room. Kelly split off, but Helena and Diana walked sided by side to the control room, and Scion stayed a step behind her mother, like a shadow of the Queen. Diana told her to help the Red Queen, and so when Helena wanted her to hack into the Clocktower, she began to do so.

The cellphones were easy hacks. The Clocktower itself was a great deal more challenging, with upgraded security, but there was no technology that Scion couldn’t defeat. It took several minutes, but then she was in, commanding every screen and speaker, feeding it exactly what she saw and heard. Diana stood behind her, out of ‘frame’ so to speak. Scion felt the Queen accessing information in her mind, discovering whose phones she’d seized.

Malice: You HAVE their attention, Helena. Oracle, Valkyrie, Orion, Recall, Steele, and Titan are currently present.

Helena was front and center, and Scion watched her every move, transmitting her image and her voice. Scion zoomed in on Helena as she began to talk about Cypher, and the interference into Nedry’s mission. Out of frame off to Scion’s left, Gabe was brought into the room, struggling against the guards. As Helena reached for a fistful of his hair, a psi javelin shot from Scion’s peripheral vision and struck Gabe’s skull. He was immediately disoriented, bleeding from his head and nose, and Scion watched as Helena pulled the man close and raised a blade to his throat.

The blood spilled everywhere then, pulsing out of his wound with his heartbeat, which was at first rapid, but slowed as the life drained out of him. Helena dropped his body as an afterthought, and Scion watched her clean her blade with a handkerchief as red as the blood it wiped off. Helena approached her then, congratulating Ashley and Zach on their engagement before threatening to send Persephone to visit them again, and then she signed off.

Haleigh tried to send another distress signal before Scion cut the feed and disconnected. Diana was laughing with Helena over Gabe’s corpse and the imagined reactions of the Clocktower group. Scion stood, motionless until her Queen beckoned her to follow, and then they were going back up to the Hellfire Mansion proper.

Malice: “Helena, about your Knight... He went up against my Scion.”

“He survived. It appears he escaped Emiko, as well. He’s with the Red Rook now.”

Malice: “They REFUSE to learn. I can MIND-WIPE their connection, reset them to zero if you like.”

“The attraction is instinctual. They’ll just start fucking again, and fall once more.”

Malice: “SILENCE, Scion. The ADULTS are speaking. It’s up to you, Helena.”
 
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