Rose of destruction

[Seer]

<< The Sanctuary>>

<< With Jake O'Brien now in recovery, and under protection, as facilitated by Alycia Barnett before her confrontation with Persephone, a weary, but far calmer Rose returns to her Sanctuary, along with Rae Reynolds and Danny Donnely.>>

<< Titan, Recall, and Tachyon are anxious to make their way to Charope, LLC, but are directed by Oracle to return to the clocktower, where she, Steel and Valkyrie would soon meet them.>>

<< Matrix refuses to leave Isis' side, and keeps watch over her, as Silver Swanwatches over Charope. MorningStar insists on staying - but not for Bishop's benefit. She stays out of concern for Alycia. With Black Widow and Persephone, one can never be too careful. But since a considerable amount of time has passed since anyone has heard from her, she is soon contacted by Spellbinder, who appears before her at Charope, LLC. She has come to see Alycia and Sharon, AND personally check in with Delilah. Delilah would immediately notice her edgier manner of dress, it was definitely a reminder of earlier days.>>

<< Spellbinder, who had once declared (in the dream time) no desire to resume her role of leadership in the six, has found herself slipping into that role far more easily than she would have thought, and with remnants of her "old" self reasserting, TEMPERED by the wisdom of experience, she finds that the strength and willingness to lead is far more apparent than she thought it would be. Delilah would notice it too as they communicated. Delilah is now in Alycia's office, with Bishop down in the Infirmary.>>

<< Zach is also still there. Soon, in the darkness and relative solitude, with only his thoughts to keep him company, He emerges from his room and is drawn to at least look in on Alycia, and finds that both she AND Sharon are now asleep.>>

<< How peaceful they both look...how small...and almost VULNERABLE they both look in this moment. These women helped save his life, and now here he was....looking at them both in the aftermath of the latest act of violence and betrayal by former friends and allies.>>

<< Just down the hall, Isis also sleeps, with Richard sitting nearby stone faced and sentry.>>

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

<< Back at the clocktower>>

<< The remaining Birds of Prey are gathered in the conference room.>>

<< Recall advises Oracle that Rose returned to the sanctuary with very positive news regarding Jake's status, and that Rae and Danny are staying with her. She also advises that Rose asked for Sharon Kelly.>>

<< This portion of the team is left to discuss all that has occurred, and ponder what their next move is.>>

<< Things can't continue as they were. Would they move forward with a different approach? Would Oracle's faith be justified?>>

<< Black Widow, Persephone, and the Hellfire Club have just made themselves as big of enemies of the BoP as they've always been of the Six!>>

------------------------------------------------------
<< For now, things are..."quiet." >>

<< There's an uncertain silence in the air all around...but it won't last for long.>>

<< Rose is alseep. Danny has performed structural repairs on the buildings on the block, removing all evidence of Black Widow's invasion. Rae and Sable did one last check on the children, before stepping outside in to the night. While watching out for the Silver Swan to arrive, Rae has a cigarette and takes a moment to look up and down the large city block that Rose owns outright. All the various buildings, the walls, the secret passages, , the doors. So many choices...so many possibilities. There was more to this place than most people would know, just like with Rose. >>

<< She knew she had a better chance than most of guiding Rose away from what she was perceiving was a growing HUNGER, one that her PSYCHO POWER was aching to satisfy. If she unleashed that power, even if she destroyed Black Widow, she wouldn't stop there.>>

<< Rae understood the theory of the relationship between Soul and Psycho power. As GOOD, nurturing, and benevolent as the Soul power was...the Psycho power was EQUALLY NEGATIVE, CHAOTIC, and CRUSHING, and once unleashed, Rose would likely gave in to sensations that she had locked away some time ago.>>

<< Rose sleeps...but her slumber is not peaceful>>

<< Zoom out of her master bedroom, and into her parlor, we have a lingering view of the glowing mystical tarot deck on the reading table. >>

<<FLASH!>>

I...used to think I had SUPPORT from people like Zach Armani...but the cards I pulled for HIM all FLIPPED. His judgement was CLOUDED, his decisions FLAWED. He believed in...LOVED a woman with NO SOUL!

Black Widow said it herself! She had ALL of them fooled.

<<FLASH!>>

<< Another view of Rose's face>>

The cards...

<< She let herself lay back in the chair. Danny and Rae could hear that soft "ambience" of her power signature all around them. The look of rage was gone, now there was a look of weariness, as if she'd been fighting an intense battle that was finally wearing on her.>>

...the night that woman...more creature than human...Cobra, of the hellfire club, tresspassed in the Sanctuary, I had performed a reading on myself.

I pulled...

<<FLASH!>>

<< EACH time, no matter how she focused her power over the glowing deck, she was given: FIVE OF CUPS, THE DEVIL, THE MOON, and DEATH!>>

<< Rose's face shows her genuine dismay!>>

Something's WRONG.

I have been able to read and divine since I was a little girl. My 2nd mother had the gift, and saw it in me, and nurtured it. It was enhanced my own SOUL power.

But THAT night, right before Cobra attempted her invasion, I pullsed those same cards...THREE times.

And the DEVIL card was upside down!

<< the Tarot deck is still cut from the last time Rose attempted a reading on herself, and we see on top of one half of the deck, the DEVIL CARD!>>

<< The reversed devil card: Ravage, violence, vehemence, extraordinary efforts, force, fatality; that which is predestined but is not for this reason evil.>>

<< PSYCHO power feeds off of fear, violence, crushing force, resentment, a deep...abiding...HATRED.>>

<<FLASH!>>

When the Purifiers, were casting their long, violent shadow across the city...she felt the disturbance...it was even heard across the astral plane! The screams of the parents, the children, the hurt, the wounded, the dying. And when the missle hit the bus with my children, I was rendered unconscious by the collective screams of DEATH from her children. Were it NOT for my own native power, and my will to LIVE, I would have been left in a COMA.

But even so...something within me was blown away...BURNED AWAY along with my children. I thought it was the grief and pain, and that as time passed, I would recover.

<< the deadliest weapons are often formed in the destructive fire. Was the serenity that Rose was known and loved for BURNED AWAY by the Purifiers? The resentment, which was now HATRED, was feeding a side of her and her POWER that would end up having mind bending, SOUL CRUSHING consequences for many around her. Would Black Widow and Persephone bear the BRUNT of her psycho power? Or would someone else?>>

<< We must watch and see.>>

 

[Recall]

Sanctuary to The Clocktower

:: They didn't have to wait for long. Almost as if anticipating the group's desperate need to hear news of what happened, they received intel that Jake was okay as well as Zachary, Alycia and Sharon. She lingered for a moment at the orphanage, making sure that her friend Julian knew that at any moment he could reach out to her, and doing a security sweep of the building in a way that only she could. Casting her ability against the current state of the entire city block, she was able to alert Rose and Danny to any weaknesses that still lingered and what would be good for them to fortify. When she felt in a responsible way to leave, herself, Tachyon and Titan made their way back to The Clocktower, each renewed in their relationship with each other. While there were cracks in the foundation, Vivica was relieved to know that both Andrew and Xavier had her back and vice versa. This meant that there was still hope. ::

:: When she arrived at The Clocktower, she embraced Oracle in a very firm and deep hug before pulling away and smiling. ::

"Goddamn is it good to see you, Zizi."

[exhaling]

"This has been the longest day of my LIFE."

:: Zach and Alycia were not there. She knew that Sharon would be okay. This was one of the few benefits of knowing a woman as strong as Sharon. She may have aggressive and somewhat hard to handle, but you knew that if even an atomic BOMB went off, at the very least, Sharon Kelly would survive it. She gripped Oracle's hand. ::

"I want to help...but I also...REALLY would like to see Zach and Alycia. This is the perfect opportunity to have the team rally around them..and I know I'm not the only one that wants to see them."

:: She looked at Andrew for a moment. Vivica knew there were things to do at The Clocktower. She knew couldn't leave just yet, so she mentally clicked into her com link, sending a message to Alycia and Zach separately. ::

>> To Alycia: "Thank you...I mean it, Alycia. Thank you. I love you. I'm here if you need me. I mean it."

>>To Zach: "You are such a bastard for going alone, but I'm so glad that you are okay. We're waiting for you at The Clocktower...also don't ever think of BREATHING again without alerting me of your intention. I love you Zach."

:: Vivica looked at Oracle. ::

"Rose...she seemed a lot more put together when she came back to the orphanage. Her friends, they seemed to help her, which was good. She seemed to know what had to be done...and..she even REQUESTED Sharon's presence...which..after everything? I'm just gonna assume it's a good thing. It means Rose hasn't completely left us alone."

:: She squeezed Oracle's shoulder. ::

"Are you okay? Like in a real way...and not in a "Elizabeth always gives the right answer kind of way." Do you need me to do anything? Do you want some tea? A vacation? That hot hacker man you've talked about? I'll get it."

 

[Jezebel]

To The Sanctuary

:: Rose was settled...for now. She seeemed to be on a clearer path and know what she needed to do. The fact that Rose felt compelled to Sharon spoke to Rae on a number of levels. She was still there, there was still hope to save the woman. Still, it wasn't any less of a somber time, and while Rae had experienced a number of lows, a biproduct of living life the way that she did, to see what was happening to Rose, it gave her pause. Rae didn't give her heart like most people did, her many ex husbands would tell her that. She loved like a freight train, and when she felt like things were about to get...too deep for her liking, she derailed the train in a beautiful disaster. The people that Rae consistently looked out for, they were special to her. She had seen a quality in them, be it physical, mental or spiritual. When she saw them, she knew. Danny had been one of those people...and Rose had been another. Rae had done the family thing to miraculous failure. She had a son she never spoke to anymore, and a grandbaby she had never met. But that life was separate from her calling. Rose had called to Rae on a deep and spiritual level. Psychics were people nobody believed in until they needed them. And when they needed them, they expected them to perform miracles, and if they couldn't, they were villainized. Rae had seen it during her tenure at Westin Hills, a part of her life she didn't like to think of, at least not fondly. ::

:: The history between Rae and Rose was their own, suffice it to say that Rae felt a maternal pull towards Rose, and that was a very rare and very unfamiliar feeling. As she stepped into the cold New York air, lighting a cigarette, leaning against a light pole, her guitar strapped to her chest, a small trinket from stopping by her apartment before returning to The Sanctuary, she exhaled deeply, looking around at everything that Rose owned and was entrusted to oversee. Rae could never do it. There was no way in Hell she could ever manage this amount of land. It would kill her. Rae liked to choose what and who was important to her, which led to her living a life with but a few people in it. She could never be like Rose, but she knew...that because of Rose's power, that there wasn't many people who could stand in the gap between her and absolute destruction. The people around Rose were strong...but they just didn't get it...not that they really could. Rose was coveted as an ASSET. People KNEW that...but they didn't really understand the implications behind it..not that they were equipped to do so. They didn't understand the CONSEQUENCE of that power she had. Rae did. She knew it wasn't worth it, and she also knew that Rose would lose ALL of her humanity in order to wield it. ::

:: For now, Rose was awaiting the arrival of The Silver Swan. The night was calm, but the air was thick with tension. Slumping down, she leaned against the light post as she sat on the concrete, one knee extended over the other leg, strumming her guitar, taking a moment for herself and taking in the energy of the area she was in. It was a place of GREAT hope and tragedy, and while the young kids that survived were now sleeping easily, the ones who had lost their lives were a different story. They needed a bit of piece. ::

:: Exhaling her cigarette, she threw it on the ground around her as she strummed and began to sing. ::

"I heard there was a secret chord...that David played and it pleased the Lord, but you don't really care for music do you?"

:: It was a cliche song for sure, but it was one that had always given Rae peace in her life. Beautiful, simple and easy. It was the first song she had ever learned on guitar. It was how she got an independent record label interested in her. It had made her who she was. As she strummed the instrumental on her guitar, in front of her, she saw the bus..not destroted, but as it was before, in a spectral image in front of her. She continued to sing...as one by one, the children who had been lost in the massacre, got off that bus, and began to make their way over to her. ::

"It goes like this...the fourth, the fifth, the minor fall and the major lift...the baffled king composing hallelujah.."

"Hallelujah...."

:: Her deep and sultry voice acted like a beacon for the fallen children of the massacre. She wanted to cry as she sat there, witness to the deep and horrible trauma they had experienced. But Rae Reynolds was a strong woman. She was a woman that endured...that survived everything that was thrown at her. One by one, these "spirit" children, came over to her and sat down, their legs crossed indian style, holding each other's hands, leaning on each other, grasping her own thigh as she continued. ::

:: From a young age...she knew the power of a person's testimony. At first she thought this needed to be presented a certain way. But along the way, she learned that the way she communicated her testimony, her journey towards a higher faith, and a higher purpose...was through song. While preachers enthralled congregates by their words, Rae was able to bring people together by her very specific and deep alto voice. Her "testimony" was one of her greatest powers, and she NEVER used it unless she KNEW that the person she was faced with truly, in the deepest part of their soul...needed it. She didn't want to create followers...she wanted to know people were devoted. Soon, it was almost like a spectral campfire, with the fallen children, listening in different states of slumber around her. She could feel them all around her, see them. Though the children that were alive were asleep and well protected, Rae wanted to extend the courtesy to those who had lost her lives, to the energy that had been created in the wake of tragedy. ::

"And I've seen your flag on the marble arch...and love is not a victory march...it's a cold and it is a BROKEN hallelujah...."

:: Rae sang, connected with the pain and determined to bring some light and healing to the experience. Almost nobody could see it, but for those who could, they would see Rae Ann, singing with a circle of children around her, hanging on her every word, listening to the pain in her voice, the beauty in her art, and being comforted by her testimony, being comforted by her POWER. In times like this, you had to do what you were able to do, and while Rae may not have been able to fix ALL of this..she could most certainly bring comfort to the ones who had passed on. The buildings would be fixed, Danny would correct the mistakes, but Rae would ensure the spiritual stability of this block, and she would do so with song. ::

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

Reassured that Zach, Alycia AND Sharon were going to be okay, Zizi returned to the Clocktower, Steel giving her a lift. Shortly after, Recall, Tachyon and Titan arrived as well. Vivica gave Zizi a big hug.

"Goddamn is it good to see you, Zizi."

“Vivica, language.”

"I want to help...but I also...REALLY would like to see Zach and Alycia. This is the perfect opportunity to have the team rally around them...and I know I'm not the only one that wants to see them."

“They are doing well – we left them resting. I would suggest holding off on a visit until morning so they can get some much-needed sleep. We could all go together.”

She smiled at Viv, but her tiredness showed on her face.

"Rose...she seemed a lot more put together when she came back to the orphanage. Her friends, they seemed to help her, which was good. She seemed to know what had to be done...and...she even REQUESTED Sharon's presence...which...after everything? I'm just gonna assume it's a good thing. It means Rose hasn't completely left us alone."

“That’s good to hear. I was concerned that she was trying to deal with everything alone, but it seems like she does have some support. We should keep a close eye on her and the children, and be ready to extend our help if she needs it.”

She looked at the three who had been at the Sanctuary.

“How is little Jake? And the other children? How are they holding up?”

"Are you okay? Like in a real way...and not in a "Elizabeth always gives the right answer kind of way." Do you need me to do anything? Do you want some tea? A vacation? That hot hacker man you've talked about? I'll get it."

Zizi smiled, but it was tinged with a little sadness.

“I need this whole mess to be over and for everyone to be safe. I’M fine – but I’m worried. We’re no closer to fixing this than we were yesterday.”

 

[Spellbinder]

Charope, LLC

<< Spellbinder emerged from a stepping disc. The first person to see her was Bishop, but he'd never seen her like THIS before [ minus the sunglasses]. The last time he'd "seen" her was in the dreamtime. He saw her using her arcane power to not only save Alexia from the mysterious outspace sorceress Badiane, but also to save DELILAH herself.>>

<< He was struck when she informed him there was a way other than HIS total sacrfice to save her life, knowing she could have witheld that information. Her efforts to save Delilah and Alexia were "operatic", and not only spoke to her POWER as Sorceress Supreme, but her friendship, that LOVE in her heart for her best friend since childhood.>>

<< And now, here she was, but it made sense, Sharon and Alycia were also in her inner circle, long before they became a mutate, and an amazon, respectively.>>

<< They looked at each other for a few moments. >>

Maxim.

<< She greeted him As she spoke, her voice had that icy resonance to it, yet another sign of the subtle changes she'd been exhibiting since the revelation of Haleigh, and the departure of both her and Persephone.>>

I already know where everyone is.

<< Courtesy of a view into her scrying glass before she teleported here>>

I came to check on Dominique, offer her mystical assistance if she needed it, and to see Alycia, Sharon and Zach for myself.

<< She walks past Bishop in her very high heels, showing off her long, smooth flawless legs in a way she hasn't in sometime. She makes her way through the infirmary, down the hall, where she looks in on Zach.>>

<< Morgan had never had a close PERSONAL relationship with Zach. But he was..."part of the family." He'd become an essential piece of the Six's tapestry in his own right, more than merely Haleigh's boyfriend or fiancee', truly one of the few MEN that had been received positively ACROSS THE BOARD by the majority of the women on the team, he also had earned favor from Karen, and was one of Sally Spectra's favorite men to "measure for fittings" >>

<< Isis was one of the world's most powerful magick users. She and Shadow Weaver stood with Harbinger against Circe's earth breaking attack on Minvera's Aerie, but she was different than Harbinger, Shadow Weaver and Spellbinder...she came from a different pantheon, and didn't just use her magicks for destruction. Her work on Zach was a testimony to her power as the goddess of REBIRTH , HEALING and RESTORATION as well. But Morgan could IMMEDIATELY sense the residual traces of HECATE'S power about Zach. He now bore the scars from the burns of her magick on his skin caused by Persephone's vicious attacks with those mystic daggers. >>

<< She knows that Isis could have pushed harder to wipe them away, but chose NOT to because HEALING was not always a "PLEASANT" thing for the body to go through. Zach would carry these scars forever, and no BUT Persephone AND Morgan would know the significance of them.>>

<< What happened to him tonight...it was unconscionable but that act, and the shockwaves it sent around the Six AND the Birds of Prey prooved that they weren't ready. SOME, like Arsenal, were starting to get it, and Morgan was GRATEFUL for his insight. In the absence of Harbinger, he'd shown himself to be quite the tactician. But there was still a piece that he was missing, it was something ONLY Morgan had. >>

<< After she looked in on Zach, she moved on, and made her way to see Isis, who was resting. She needed this rest. She HAD used an incredible amount of power and force of will to save Zach and Alycia's lives. Morgan registered that, for she was with Isis during the battle against Set, and had sensed the level of power output from her THEN via her magickal detection.>>

<< She found Richard Martin sitting there, sentry over his guardian. So young, so STRONG and possessed of of a power that offered nearly infinite possibilities. He was mysterious, just like his guardian, and no doubt Isis had trained and groomed him into the fine, effective young man he was now. What was CURIOUS though, was his emerging....connection to her SISTER, Firebird (!?), one that BLAZE seemed to be actively PURSUING. They still hadn't discussed THAT, but they would. Even NOW, she could almost FEEL Blaze's apple green eyes watching her, WAITING to see if SHE would fall into DEREK FORRESTER'S arms again.>>

<< FOR NOW though, drew near to Isis, and looked at Richard.>>

Dominique and I worked together. We helped each other to SURVIVE Set's captivity and escape, and then I watched as she used her power to drive Set out of this world, lock him away.

During that time, she and I established a secret "channel" of communication, and promised each other that in an our of great need, we would be there for one another.

I am here now to be true to that promise.

<< she gestures and extends her hand foreward, palm up, sparkling trail of arcane energy flows from her hand, as a humming, glowing violet orb of magick flows over to Isis' sleeping form. >>

Nicolas provided a buffer with his neural jumpstart, ensuring that she wouldn't simply CRASH after what she did. This orb will release a mist of restoration energy that will ensure that Isis is fully restored when she awakens. She will sleep the sleep of the just, and awaken with renewed vitality.

Continue to watch over her, Rich. She deserves this time of peace, and so do you.

<< she bends down, and kisses him on his cheek.>>>

And when this is all over, MAYBE I'll let you have playtime with my baby sister.

<< She gives him a knowing look and winks, as she departs.>>

<< Her last stop before finding Delilah, is Alycia's suite.>>

<< She finds Sharon sitting in a nearby chair, and...ASLEEP! A RARE thing to see, since Sharon's transformation into the powerful Silver Swan, but striking evidence to the emotional as well as the physical toll all of this has taken on many among the two teams.>>

<< And ALYCIA....>>

oh Alycia...

<< She says softly as she looks upon both of them with care and concern.>>

Thank the goddess (Isis!) you're alive.

<< Morgan thought about when they nearly lost her the LAST time, in the Arklay mansion.>>

All of you are alive...and will be...

<< she draws near, and gestures once more, conjuring a beautiful, magickal flower , and placing it by Alycia, as she bends down and gently kisses Alycia on her forehead,>>

<< Soon, the sound of her high heels could be heard as she makes her away back down the hall with a grim look on her face.>>


<< Persephone had been a busy girl. THIS world was unfamiliar with PERSEPHONE of the Masters of Evil, but the timeline in which MoE reigned supreme was ALSO the timeline where DARKCHILDE, Spellbinder's crosstime alternate, AND the "Crone" in the Dark Trinity, presided. Persephone and Spellbinder had encountered each other ONCE before, MANY moons ago, when BLACK was cutting a path of TERROR...ACROSS timelines, seeing to destroy the most powerful points of the Dark Trinity, and ensuring the downfall of all LESSER versions of Hecate's daughter. The MoE had split into teams , each group responsible for rescuing Darkchilde's direct and most important cross time alternates. Spellbinder was one of them.>>

<< But ORORO made sure that their paths would never cross again after that. The vengeful (and original) Dire Wraiths of legend changed all of that, and eventually, Persephone was freed by Harbinger, Foxfire, and Black Widow and SENT here to start a new life by Darkchilde, the last surviving member of the Masters of Evil from that timeline. Persephone's first official act when she arrived here was to HELP Harbinger rewrite time and history, as the Six, with a bit of assistance by Darkchilde, SAVED Spellbinder from her fate at the hands of Master Mold, rescuing her from the terrifying vortex of the Siege Perilous.>>

<< Spellbinder and Persephone became friends easily enough, and enjoyed a special, almost REFLEXIVE comfort with each other because of Persephone's relationship to Darkchilde, and to Hecate herself. >>

<< But NOW? Everything had changed once again. This world was not ready for Persephone, as she had once operated, but SPELLBINDER was back, and this world's Sorceress Supreme was going to have something to say about ALL that has occurred since Haleigh's truth bomb dropped.>>

This is ALL going to end.

<< She coldly thought as she came upon Bishop again.>>

<< He too owed his life to Isis. She wondered how he felt knowing that? She wondered if he'd learned from that dreamtime experience just as SHE had, but now was not the time to discuss it.>>

<< She left him where he was. If Alycia had given him sanctuary while he recovered, that was good enough for Morgan.>>

<< she made her way up one floor after another, until she reached the 3rd floor, where Alycia's office was.>>

<< She opened the double doors, and found Delilah inside, sitting at Alycia's desk, looking and feeling "some kind of way.">>

Delilah.

<< She closes the doors behind her as she moves further in.>>

I came to see about you. I'm glad that you chose to stay here, to watch over Alycia and the others.

But too much has happened, and it's important that I make sure EVERYONE is okay.

<< She came closer, and finally took a seat. There was a fire going in the fire place, and there was lingering evidence from Alycia's rampage earlier in the evening, when she destroyed momentos and pictures of herself with Cameron and Haleigh. Morgan saw them, as did Delilah.>>

How could they << Cameron and Haleigh>> do this to Alycia....

<< She said coldly>>

She's FAMILY.


We nearly lost her BEFORE...and now THIS [Tonight's attack]?

Persephone...and MY sister[Haleigh]...they have MUCH to answer for.

<< She looks at Delilah>>

And they WILL.

This lunacy that has been going on?

I'm going to put a stop to it.

<< Delilah noticed her manner of dress, and her demeanor, echoes of a woman she'd known before.>>

 

[Bishop]

Charope – Infirmary

Morgan arrived in the Infirmary courtesy of one of those discs things she used. She was dressed like she wanted some action…or was pretending to be 15 years younger.

“Maxim.”

He met her gaze evenly.

“Morgan.”

I already know where everyone is.

Exactly what did she expect him to do with that information?

“That’s…nice?”

She walked on past him. She must have been taking lessons from Isis, because she was acting even colder and more stuck up than usual.

It was late, and Delilah was upstairs in the office space, so he returned to his bed and laid down. But he didn’t go to sleep. His thoughts were troubled. He thought that Delilah had written off what had happened between him and Ashley as in the past, but he worried that she still harbored doubts, that the repairing of their relationship would be halted or even reversed by it. And then there was Haleigh… He was more convinced than ever that Delilah could never find out what had really happened the day he had almost died. What he had said about Ashley was true, and applicable – they weren’t together, and he wasn’t a monk. But he knew Delilah wouldn’t see things that way. Looking back on it, he felt guilty…but the promise of a future with Delilah overshadowed it. This would be a new beginning, for both of them.

 

[MorningStar]

Charope – Infirmary

Delilah had gone to Alycia’s office to be alone, leaving her friend resting downstairs in the Infirmary. In the silence of the empty space, the gravity of what had occurred finally hit her full force. BISHOP could have died. ALYCIA could have died. Why was this happening? Why were they doing this?

Delilah.

She looked up to see Morgan enter.

“Morgan! You’re here! Have you seen Alycia?”

I came to see about you. I'm glad that you chose to stay here, to watch over Alycia and the others.

She shook her head sadly.

“It’s just not safe…it’s not safe anywhere anymore. Someone needed to be here…just in case…”

How could they << Cameron and Haleigh>> have done this to her....She's FAMILY.

“All I know is, Cameron didn’t want to hurt her. That doesn’t mean that he didn’t, though. But she’s strong, she’ll get through this. All of this.”

Persephone...and MY sister...they have MUCH to answer for.

“They do.”

It was strange to hear Morgan refer to Haleigh as he sister. The turns their relationship had taken over the years…it seemed the most unlikely thing in the world that they would be related. But then again, Blaze and Morgan were as far away from each other as you could get.

And they WILL. This lunacy that has been going on? I'm going to put a stop to it.

Delilah gave Morgan a tired but amused smile.

“Oh, yeah? And just how are you going to do that, pray tell?”

There were a lot of people making big statements, but thus far Delilah had heard very little in the way of an actual plan.

 

[Valkyrie]

Charope to the Clocktower

Ashley laid next to Zach, her arm resting on his chest, tracing the lines of his scars. She burrowed her face into his shoulder, unable to wipe the smile of contented bliss off her face.

Rolling onto her stomach, she pushed herself up on her hands and leaned forward to kiss him softly. When she pulled back, she pouted, glancing at the door.

“I suppose they’re going to want to come in soon and do doctor stuff to you.”

She kissed him again, looking mischievous.

“Think we can go once more before someone barges in?”

As if on cue, there was a knock at the door.

Steel: “Ashley? [uncomfortable pause] Zizi wants us all to get back to the Clocktower. And there are some medical people out here who say Zach needs to get some sleep…”

She sighed.

She did want to go help skewer the bitch who did this – even if the scars were dead sexy. So with one last kiss she rolled off the bed and started putting her clothes back on. Not that she cared if any of them saw her naked, of course.

Once she was fully dressed, she gave Zach a lusty look and climbed back onto the bed, straddling his waist.

“Get some sleep. I’m going to need you well rested tomorrow. I’ll expect you to give 110%.”

She leaned over and kissed him, before jumping out of the bed again. Just as she reached the door, she turned back.

“I’ll see you tomorrow. And if you’re extra good, I’ll wear my naughty nurse costume.”

She winked and opened the door, to find Steel standing there, Zizi behind him.

“So, are we going or what?”

She asked them nonchalantly and sashayed towards the door. Zizi threw a “Sleep well, honey” to Zach on the way out, and John drove them back to the Clocktower. She was beat, and wanted nothing more than to climb into bed and sleep for days. Alas, they wanted to talk about what had happened. Ashley didn’t see how much talking was required. The next time they saw that hairy queen of the gyros or her bimbo of a sister, she would beat them into a coma and throw the remains into a dumpster where they both belonged. End of problem.

Viv and Zizi were having a “girl power” moment, so Ashley let them. She went over to the mini fridge they kept in the room, and started to take out a water but instead pulled out three beers and threw one to both Tachyon and Andrew, who both looked bored as hell.

She popped the cap off on the table and took a long drink, before pressing the cool bottle to her forehead.

“I need this whole mess to be over and for everyone to be safe. I’M fine – but I’m worried. We’re no closer to fixing this than we were yesterday.”

Ashley scoffed.

“We are way closer. We just need to get some sleep, rally the troops in the morning, then find those bitches and barbecue them.”

 

[Enchantrah]

Helena sat quietly, legs crossed at the knee and martini in hand. She took a sip of her drink, peering over the rim of the glass as the bathroom door opened.

Persephone: "Jesus!"

"No....BETTER."

She responded with a grin. Persephone was obviously startled by Helena's presents in her chambers, but the little renegade goddess should know by now that NOTHING was off limits or private to the Queens of the Hellfire Club.

"Imagine my surprise when I found out you returned an HOUR ago from your mission and didn't immediately come and debrief me."

Helena watched as Persephone sauntered passed her to the wet bar.

Persephone: "I thought I would spare dropping acidic blood on your Louboutins."

Helena glanced over at her with a steely glare.

"How considerate."

Finally Helena rose from her seat, walking up behind Persephone as she placed her empty martini glass on the wet bar. She remained uncomfortably close, boxing the goddess in so she couldn't move.

"How DID your mission go, hmm?"

Helena already knew EVERYTHING about what happened with Zach and the Amazons. AND what happened with Alek and Haleigh just an hour earlier. She was less than impressed and already TIRED of Persephone's psychotic and unbridled behavior.

Persephone: "You being here tells me you already KNOW."

The goddess quipped before she managed to turn herself around to meet eye to eye with Helena. She remained close, not giving Persephone an inch of room to move.

"That's NOT what I asked."

Helena's glare searing and unforgiving as Persephone stared evenly at her before relenting.

Persephone: "I lured Zach to a place that was special to him and Ava. I GUTTED him like a fish, and then the Charope and Silver Swan showed up. They double teamed me, I got a fatal hit in on Charope, then Silver Swan attacked me with her sonic scream. I had to retreat."

It was an accurate depiction....but it still didn't explain why Zach was STILL ALIVE. Helena kept her narrowed eyes locked on Persephone's, a small smile creeping along her lips.

"And is Zach DEAD?"

Persephone hesitated in her answer, causing Helena to lift her brow in anticipation.

Persephone: "I don't know. I had to leave before I could confirm it."

"Ahhhh, so you DON'T. KNOW."

Helena finally moved away from Persephone, allowing the goddess space once again to breathe. Slowly pacing across the room.

"So you're telling me that you FAILED."

Holding up her finger to halt Persephone before she spoke, Helena shook her head.

"No, no....that wasn't a question."

Folding her arms across her chest, her sapphire eyes moved down Persephone's body giving her a once over.

"Zach is ALIVE. As is Alycia for that matter. So what I would like to know is why I even BOTHERED to bring you out in the first place, Persephone? If you can't even complete ONE MISSION without FUCKING it up? And not only that, but coming back here and nearly having SCION kill you--oh WAIT! My mistake....ASKING SCION to KILL you."

Helena slowly began to move back towards Persephone, like a panther stalking its prey.

"You are a sociopath with a GOD complex. But even worse? You're RECKLESS with YOUR life and the lives of this Inner Circle. ONE FRACTURE will splinter and cause everything to CRUMBLE. And I will NOT have my Red Court FRACTURED and in turn DRAG the White Court down with it. Do you understand me?"

Persephone didn't respond immediately which was WISE. She was beginning to LEARN. Helena gave her a look, raising both brows as if to say she was waiting for an answer--that she COULD answer.

Persephone: "Yes."

"Your life is MINE to play with, not YOURS. And if I hear that you continue to flagrantly disregard this court and my rules? I will make sure that you DO BECOME HISTORY."

Helena was again, right in Persephone's face.

"As for Zach?"

Her face softened JUST a BIT.

"I DID enjoy your work. Which was why I brought YOU out in the first place. He may not be DEAD [her eyes showing a flash of anger].....however I got my confirmation of your willingness to kill without hesitation."

Persephone: "I'll tear them apart, believe that."

"I know you will...."

Helena said with a smirk as she turned away and began to head for the door.

"Heed my warning, Persephone. There won't be another one."

Helena stated in a sing-song manner as she exited the goddess' chambers with a fluttered wave of her fingers before shutting the door on her way out.

 

[Orion]

Charope, LLC -- The Infirmary

He relaxed on the euphoric high they had helped each other reach, playing with locks of her long blonde hair, wanting this moment to last as long as possible. It was like he was surrounded by her feeling of ecstatic satisfaction and he didn't want to go back to the nightmare that existed outside their embrace. She shifted in his arms, and kissed him, and he slid his hand down along her side to rest on her hip.

Ashley: I suppose they’re going to want to come in soon and do doctor stuff to you.

He groaned at the idea of being interrupted, then sighed in acceptance.

"Well I hope they bring me a pair of pants. Before you got here I was running around in that gown trying to argue while my ass was hanging out."

Another kiss, and this time, she had that expression he liked, the naughty smile that thrilled him.

Ashley: Think we can go once more before someone barges in?

"Mmmmhmmm...."

He hummed and kissed her neck, his fingertips traveling up her spine, drawing a line of passion along the way. Someone knocked and Zach dropped his head back onto the pillow in frustration.

Steel: Ashley? [uncomfortable pause] Zizi wants us all to get back to the Clocktower. And there are some medical people out here who say Zach needs to get some sleep…

He intertwined their fingers and renewed his efforts to resume their previous activities.

"They don't know what they're talking about."

He said, with a playful nip at her earlobe.

"I'm pretty sure we've just discovered that all I need..."

He stopped to kiss her again.

"Right NOW..."

He pushed his knee slowly between her legs and locked eyes with her again.

"Is you."

She pulled away and rolled out of bed. He held her hand as long as possible. She liked to tease him, he knew this. She liked to see his desire, and he didn't try to hide it from her. He watched her get dressed, already thinking about how to get her UNDRESSED again.

"Don't torture me, come back to bed."

She did, and climbed on top of him again, and for a second he'd thought she changed her mind, and he was exhilarated.

Ashley: Get some sleep. I’m going to need you well rested tomorrow. I’ll expect you to give 110%.

"If you stay, I'll give you one-twenty here and now."

She laughed, and it was the most beautiful sound. Then she kissed him goodbye, and when she pulled away, he tried his last ditch attempt to convince her. Puppy dog eyes. She was immune, he saw, and then he smiled in concession.

Ashley: I’ll see you tomorrow. And if you’re extra good, I’ll wear my naughty nurse costume.

She left him wide awake, and wanting more. He could be a good sport about it. He hoped she wasn't kidding about costumes.

He stared at the ceiling, as the harsh reality came back to him, and he tried to wrap his mind around how he was going to deal with this massive catastrophe. A nurse came in to check on him, and he charmed her into bringing him a set of scrubs to wear. When she returned, he eased out of bed and into pastel green pants that were slightly smaller than he would have liked, but anything was better than the gown, so he kept his criticism to himself.

He asked about Alycia, and got the information he needed. After sitting patiently through a blood pressure check, and the cold touch of a stethoscope, he pulled the matching green shirt on with a warm thank you. The nurse blushed, and assured him it was no problem, and he smiled as he turned to leave the room.

Vivica>> You are such a bastard for going alone, but I'm so glad that you are okay. We're waiting for you at The Clocktower...also don't ever think of BREATHING again without alerting me of your intention. I love you Zach.

To Vivica>> I am sorry, BELIEVE me. Love you too Viv. Be advised, I plan to breathe continuously for a while, and I probably won't make it out to the Clocktower until tomorrow, IF they let me leave the infirmary in the morning.

He replied. He wanted to tell her the whole story, the reason he hadn't included her, and the confirmation of his suspicions about Haleigh and Ava. He'd save that lengthy chat for the morning.

He found Alycia's room without much trouble, and poked his head in through the door. Sharon had fallen asleep holding Alycia's hand. Their dreams must have been much more peaceful than his. He slipped into the room, bare feet making no noise on the tile. He tried to patiently consider their point of view. He just couldn't understand how these two, of all the Birds of Prey, could so strongly want to destroy their former friends. Certainly what Haleigh and Ava had done, to ALL of them in turns, was tragic and terrible. There was no denying that. He wasn't in any way trying to gloss over that. But why were they refusing to even consider anything less than a death sentence?

He sank into a chair next to Alycia, on the other side of the bed from Sharon. Should he wake her, or just let her sleep? There was so much he needed to say to her. The realization that he'd almost died gave him a sense of urgency, and put him a mood that leaned towards reconciliation, but at the same time, there were going to be issues that he stood his ground on. He hoped that they could find their way back to friendship.

 

[Steel]

The Clocktower

For a good-looking guy, Bishop knew fuck all about women. Steel just shook his head as he heard the moronic things coming out of his mouth, and watched Delilah just get more annoyed. He did make a somewhat smooth comeback in the end, but Delilah made him pay for it just the same. Good girl.

Now that they knew Zach and Alycia were going to be fine, and Sharon didn’t seem to be planning to jet off alone to the Hellfire Mansion, all he wanted to do was get out of there. As much as he tried to think of something else, and make conversation with Delilah, he knew what Ashley and Zach were doing in that room, and he wished he didn’t. Not that he begrudged it to them – far from it, Ashley finding some comfort with Zach could only help her journey towards humanity. But that didn’t mean he wanted to hear or know about it. They could have at least waited for Zach to be released…

Having to knock on Zach’s hospital door was about the last thing he wanted to do, but a crowd was amassing outside and Zizi wanted him and Ash to go back to the Clocktower with her, despite the hour. He didn’t get to the position in the force that he was at by being shy, though, so he did what had to be done and soon she was bounding out of the room practically bursting from the seams and acting like she hadn’t just been shagging their teammate in his hospital bed.

He drove the girls back to the Clocktower silently, and since Zizi had arranged for Vivica, Xavier and Andrew to meet them in the conference room – which honestly, he hadn’t known existed – he helped Zizi to one of the lower floors. Zizi and Vivica were having a chat, and Ashley was preoccupied with the younger boys, so he took off his jacket and propped himself up against the wall in the corner of the room. He needed sleep – it has been a long, emotional day. He was glad to see that at least with those present, everyone seemed to have made up. He worried for Alycia and Sharon, and honestly hoped that they would come back to the team. Harsh things had been said, and emotions had run high – he was no exception – but he wanted them to be able to work it out. He liked both Alycia and Sharon, and was getting to know Dominique who, despite her outward coldness, seemed to be willing to do whatever was necessary to protect and help those who needed it. And that he couldn’t argue with.

He listened to Zizi and Vivica talk. Not trying to eavesdrop, just being in close proximity to them. Zizi was worried – though of course, she worried about her friends a lot. Vivica mentioned a “hot hacker man”? When had Zizi talked about some guy? HE’D never heard her mention some guy…

“We are way closer. We just need to get some sleep, rally the troops in the morning, then find those bitches and barbecue them.”

“Maybe that’s not too bad an idea. I’ll gladly take this fight to them, and I know Sharon and Isis are up for dealing out payback. Depending on how Sharon’s meeting with Rose goes…if the both of them would join us, we’d have a pretty strong chance in that fight…”

 

[Titan]

The Clocktower

Rose returned to the Sanctuary and after making sure everything was okay, Vivica told them it was time to leave Rose, Rae and Danny to watch over things. Zizi wanted them back at the Clocktower, and though Andrew would have liked to make sure Zach was okay, it WAS late and he did understand that Zach needed his rest. He felt like they had dodged another bullet, and that their luck couldn’t possibly hold.

He sat at one end of the conference table from Vivica and Zizi. After playing with the kids all day, he was beat. Ashley crossed the room and went to a mini fridge and took out some beers, throwing him one. He caught it and kissed the side of the bottle.

“God bless you, my child.”

He opened it on the table, and took a drink. He looked over at Xavier and held out the bottle.

“Looks like we’re getting to have that beer after all. Sláinte.”

The others started to discuss what to do next. Andrew got up and walked down to their end of the table, leaning against it and sipping his beer.

“Maybe that’s not too bad an idea. I’ll gladly take this fight to them, and I know Sharon and Isis are up for dealing out payback. Depending on how Sharon’s meeting with Rose goes…if the both of them would join us, we’d have a pretty strong chance in that fight…”

“I disagree. We need to focus on protecting our people and making sure no one else gets caught out alone.”

 

[Persephone]

Helena was no doubt pissed off, but ironically enough Persephone got off pretty easy. Easier than even SHE anticipated. The Red Queen wanted to test her ability to carry out a kill order, which she did without hesitation. However Helena was more pissed off about the fact that she was toying with her own life in regards to her situation with Haleigh earlier. The court system within the Hellfire Club was in place to keep order, build trust, and balance. Persephone was shifting that balance by pushing certain individuals buttons and BEGGING them to do something about it. It was how she had always functioned. She would toy with people, push them to their limits just to see how far their limits were. Then she would get bored and move on. The only people that this game didn't apply to were the Masters of Evil, and more particularly Darkchilde. There was an instant connection with Darkchilde because of her tie to Hecate--another person she pushed to the brink despite their friendship. But with the Masters of Evil, she was given a family she never had before. A family who didn't want to change her, or that looked down upon her methods of gaining power and glory. It was the first time she ALLOWED herself to be encompassed by what real love was. And then it was gone. They were all dead. And she was alone once again.

Ava had love through various outlets, and when Persephone finally emerged and took over, she immediately thought that the LAST outlet of love--Haleigh--would dissipate....but it didn't. So she pushed, toyed with, and threatened in a way only she could do. She wanted Haleigh to hate her. She wanted Haleigh to hate her enough to WANT to KILL her. But despite her best efforts, Haleigh wouldn't. It may have been reckless like Helena said, but it was almost a NEED Persephone had to fulfill. Haleigh was a variable she didn't expect....and neither was Alek.

He was fun to be with physically. He knew how to play the game perfectly. But Persephone could see something in him the day he found out what Ravena had done to her that flipped a switch in him. He WANTED to protect her much in the same way Haleigh did. It may have been because she was apart of the Red Court, but even so....there was far more too it, and it made Persephone uneasy. Enough so to shut down and push him away as well. The entire situation was almost like history repeating itself, and Persephone HATED to admit it, but Helena was right. If they were to survive what The Six and Birds of Prey were preparing to do to them, she needed to make things right at least on a professional level. Fractures within the Inner Circle would undoubtably be her one way ticket to hell.

Sighing out, Persephone stepped in front of the Red Knight's chamber room door, her eyes rolling shut in anticipation. She rapped her knuckles against the wood and waited. Soon the door opened and their eyes met.

"Hey..."

She could see the unforgiving look he was giving her didn't waiver a bit.

"I'm an asshole, I know. But can we talk for a minute?"

Her face softened.

"Please?"

 

[Berserker]

The Hellfire Mansion – Red Knight’s Quarters

“Fuck.”

Reports from his spies were coming in. Zachary Armani wasn’t dead.

He shouldn’t care. He should be happy to let her get the punishment she deserved for failure. But despite his best efforts to push it away, something gnawed at him. He didn’t want to care what happened to her. But after what they had witnessed Malice do to Haleigh…

Something in him didn’t want that to happen to her. And for the life of him he couldn’t figure out why.

There was a knock at the door. It was late, so he expected that something important had happened. He hoped it involved him beating the shit out of someone.

He opened the door, clad only in a pair of dark crimson boxer shorts.

He found himself looking into those dark eyes…

"Hey..."

His gaze stayed steely. She had all but thrown him out of her room earlier, after he had gone there to help her stay alive. Ungrateful hadn’t covered it. He leaned against the doorframe.

“’Hey’.”

He said it like there were air quotes around it.

“Here to check my bed for Haleigh, or did you just want to stomp your foot at me some more?”

"I'm an asshole, I know. But can we talk for a minute?"

“I don’t know, I might have to pencil you in later.”

Referring to their last conversation.

"Please?"

He closed his eyes briefly, sighed, then moved aside so she could pass.

“Why the fuck not.”

 

[Persephone]

Alek: “I don’t know, I might have to pencil you in later.”

Yeah, she deserved that, and didn't even hide the fact that she did. But with a sigh, he stepped aside and allowed her entrance into his room.

Alek: “Why the fuck not.”

Persephone parted her lips with her tongue, sighing herself as she walked past him. Looking up, she didn't immediately turn around to face him. She could feel herself getting angry that HE was angry. She wanted to tell him he's an asshole and to shove that pencil straight up his ass, but she refrained because she KNEW he wasn't in the wrong, she was. It fucking sucked. So with an easy breath out, she finally turned to meet with his eyes again.

"Helena confronted me."

She started, a soft scoff escaping her lips.

"Zach's still alive."

She added, not really needing to dive any further into the details of what happened during their conversation. Although it did sting to know she wasn't able to kill him despite how gruesomely she attacked him.

[sardonically] "I am too, for now."

She was stalling. She HATED apologizing for anything, but she finally relented.

"Look, i'm sorry. You were riding my ass about Zach....Haleigh was railing on me about him AND Ava....and I was PISSED that Sharon got a one up on me. I lashed out, okay?"

 

[Berserker]

The Hellfire Mansion – Red Knight’s Quarters

"Helena confronted me."

He started to move forward, concern flashing on his face, but he stopped himself.

"Zach's still alive."

He nodded.

“Yes, I know.”

[sardonically] "I am too, for now."

“You must be pleased with yourself.”

She didn't want his help, fine. She had managed to stay alive, so she had learned nothing and wanted to lord it over him.

"Look, i'm sorry. You were riding my ass about Zach....Haleigh was railing on me about him AND Ava....and I was PISSED that Sharon got a one up on me. I lashed out, okay?"

Now it was his turn to be angry.

“Jesus, Persephone!”

He turned away from her, clenching his jaw, his frustration with her coming out. Finally he turned back to her.

“I wasn’t ‘riding your ass’ about Zach! I was trying to HELP YOU. You saw what they did to Haleigh when SHE failed!”

He wiped his hand over his face, calming himself.

“You are so exasperating! I came to your room because I was worried about you, and you acted like I was invading your personal space!”

 

[Persephone]

Alek: “Jesus, Persephone! I wasn’t ‘riding your ass’ about Zach! I was trying to HELP YOU. You saw what they did to Haleigh when SHE failed!”


He snapped, turning around in frustration and anger in an obvious effort to keep his cool. He then faced her again, throwing what happened to Haleigh in her face. Persephone narrowed her eyes, a perplexed look on her face followed by a seething one.

"I DIDN'T FAIL. And I DIDN'T go to fucking Time Square and publicly broadcast what I did to Zach EITHER. I was OUT NUMBERED and PUSHED BACK by Silver Swan and Charope! If they didn't show up Zach WOULD be dead. Helena KNOWS that."

She shouted back, now letting her fury out. She may not have killed Zach, but she wouldn't considered what she did a FAILURE. She resented Alek for even SAYING those words.

Alek: “You are so exasperating!"

"Yeah well FUCK YOU too."

It was her turn to turn away in frustration and anger.

Alek: "I came to your room because I was worried about you, and you acted like I was invading your personal space!”

Persephone let her head drop back and eyes close. Her fingers raking through her chocolate hair as she tried to simmer the boiling inferno within her. It wasn't working. She wanted to rip her damn hair out. Finally, she turned back around, her hands gesturing to Alek.

"I don't NEED you worrying about me! [then gesturing around the room] I don't need ANYONE worrying about me!"

Covering her face with her hands in frustration, she shut her eyes hearing Helena's fucking voice echoing in her head. Heed my warning Persephone. She was doing exactly what she had done time and time again. She let out an exasperated sigh as she dropped her hands away from her face.

"I don't know how to DO THIS."

Gesturing between them.

"I've only ever relied on myself. And the only other people who ever DID care about me were killed."

Her tone was softer now as she shook her head in disbelief that she actually shared that with him. She needed to leave before things were beyond the point of fixing. If she didn't, Helena might ACTUALLY hurt her.

"Look. SORRY. Okay? Goodnight."

 

[Matrix]

I was glad no one made me cuss them out over staying with Miss D. I was in no mood to discuss it and Zizi always seems to know what to do, so they left me to do what I needed to do...make sure not shit else happens to Isis tonight.

She was amazing, and she was why there was not a trail of dead people in this town tonight. I stroked her hair every now and again, made sure she was comfy if she stirred, but her sleep was fitful. I considered turning into something more comfortable for her to lay on but I decided that security trumped comfort this time.

In walks Morgan Victoria...THE MODEL. No idea what she saw in Set-boy but his game must be pretty strong. I watched her walk in in a pretty sexy outfit and look to Miss D.

Dominique and I worked together. We helped each other to SURVIVE Set's captivity and escape, and then I watched as she used her power to drive Set out of this world, lock him away.

During that time, she and I established a secret "channel" of communication, and promised each other that in an our of great need, we would be there for one another.

I am here now to be true to that promise.

<< she gestures and extends her hand foreward, palm up, sparkling trail of arcane energy flows from her hand, as a humming, glowing violet orb of magick flows over to Isis' sleeping form. >>

It never got old to see them make something out of nothing. I made things, but they came from things. But to see these women move their hands and things HAPPEN, that was a trip and a half. Miss D told me already the Morgan was good people, so I just watched as she seemed to strengthen Isis, and her sleep became much more calm.

Nicolas provided a buffer with his neural jumpstart, ensuring that she wouldn't simply CRASH after what she did. This orb will release a mist of restoration energy that will ensure that Isis is fully restored when she awakens. She will sleep the sleep of the just, and awaken with renewed vitality.

Continue to watch over her, Rich. She deserves this time of peace, and so do you.

<< she bends down, and kisses him on his cheek.>>>

And when this is all over, MAYBE I'll let you have playtime with my baby sister.

<< She gives him a knowing look and winks, as she departs.>>

I am smiling like an asshole right now. I even winked back. WHAT IS MY DAMN PROBLEM?! Focus.

I go back to what I was doing...making sure that Miss D slept well. And thinking about Blaze (?)...

 

[Berserker]

The Hellfire Mansion – Red Knight’s Quarters

"I DIDN'T FAIL. And I DIDN'T go to fucking Time Square and publicly broadcast what I did to Zach EITHER. I was OUT NUMBERED and PUSHED BACK by Silver Swan and Charope! If they didn't show up Zach WOULD be dead. Helena KNOWS that."

“THAT DOESN’T MEAN SHE WOULDN’T PUNISH YOU ANYWAY!”

Now they were shouting at each other, and it felt REALLY GOOD.

"Yeah well FUCK YOU too."

“No, fuck YOU.”

She turned away, and he watched her try to gain control.

"I don't NEED you worrying about me! [then gesturing around the room] I don't need ANYONE worrying about me!"

He sighed.

“Do you think I WANT to worry about you? I can tell you, I sure as hell DON’T. But whether you need it or not, people DO worry. I DO.”

"I don't know how to DO THIS."

He threw up his hands.

“Well, neither do I.”

"I've only ever relied on myself. And the only other people who ever DID care about me were killed."

He was taken a bit back by this, by the vulnerability in her voice. He found his anger dissipating. After a pause he spoke again in a softer voice.

“I never care about anyone. Except Helena.”

He let out a half laugh.

“Does this work for you then? You hate me, so when I care about you you don’t have to worry about what happens to me? Maybe I should try it out.”

"Look. SORRY. Okay? Goodnight."

He grabbed her arm as she tried going past him, forcefully but not hard.

“You don’t have to go.”

He let go of her arm, and motioned towards the sitting area (complete with new furniture).

“You could tell me about them…if you wanted?”

 

[Persephone]

She felt him stop her, grabbing her upper arm with a gentle force before she reached the door. She didn't fight it, she just relented, rolling her eyes shut. He had given her the confirmation she was worried about--he did have feelings for her beyond just the 'Red Knight protecting his court'. She could see it in his eyes, past the frustration and anger. There were glimpses every so often and it terrified her because she didn't know what to DO with it, or how to react to it.

Alek: “You don’t have to go.”

He let go of her and she turned to see him gesturing to the sitting area.

Alek: “You could tell me about them…if you wanted?”

Persephone shook her head no, her jaw tightening at the thought. They were her family; she would NOT bring them into this mess. They meant far too much to her. But despite her turning him down to talk, she did walk over to the dark red couch, taking a seat. She ran her hand along the soft leather, filling the time it took for him to come over.

"You said you never cared about anyone but Helena...."

Persephone finally looked over at him, her midnight eyes meeting his aqua.

"What about the last Red Rook? Ashley?"

She paused.

"How do I know this isn't a pattern with you? How do I know this isn't Helena's work?"

Her expression became more stern and cold.

"I won't be made a fool, Alek. Not now, not EVER."