Rose of destruction

[Persephone]

Haleigh: "OH, now all of a sudden I'm dealing with a fuckin' expert here, excuse the hell outta me."

"When it comes to men like him, YEAH, I'm a fuckin' expert."

She retorted with a roll of her eye, referring to her marriage with Hades. Haleigh didn't seem to buy it as she stared quietly at Persephone, contemplating whether or not to trust her. She resisted the urge to ask how it felt to have the roles reversed for once. But finally Haleigh relented and started the elevator back up.

Haleigh: "I didn't know about the man he killed. Not until after I'd already fucked him the first time. I just thought he came to me all pissed off because you were forcing him to keep sport-fucking me for cover. And he was PISSED."

Persephone kept her eyes focused forward as the elevator began to ascend up to the Inner Circle level of the club.

"I gathered as much by the note he burned into the man's chest."

The doors opened.

Haleigh: "Do you want me there, just in case?"

"You won't want to be there."

She responded evenly, her face cold and hard now. She exited the elevator and turned down the coridoor heading to the white wing. Approaching Haleigh's chambers her eyes darkened with anger. She opened the door, entering the room and seeing Alek.

"You're an asshole."

She growled.

"So this is what you want?"

Persephone took off her bracelet and tossed it onto a nearby table.

"To have me to yourself?"

Persephone reached behind her, tugging the zipper of her dress down. She peeled off the dress letting it pool to her feet.

"CLAIM me."

She stepped out of the pooled fabric only wearing her nude heels.

"Make me YOURS?"

She moved over to him SLAMMING her hand into his face.

"DO IT."

She shoved him in the chest, her strength making him stumble back.

"CLAIM YOUR PRIZE."

Persephone went to hit him again, anger radiating from her eyes.

"Or are you a FICKLE little BOY who doesn't know what he wants."

Shoving him again.

"COMMON ALEK. Show me what YOU WANT."

She growled as she slammed her hands into his chest again, shoving him even further back. It was time to awaken the beast...the man she fucked the moment she woke as Persephone. Anger and passion went hand in hand. And if he wanted Persephone, he would get her.

 

[Orion]

Charope, LLC -- The Infirmary

Ashley: Aw, honey, what if I promise to do it naked in a pool of mud?

"As awesome as that would be to watch, how about we just pretend I can put my foot down and tell the woman no?"

She smiled, and laid her head on his shoulder, as he admitted he didn't want to share her.

Ashley: You won’t have to.

That made him feel a little better.

Ashley: There hasn’t been anyone else, you know. Not since…that first time.

And that made him feel like an asshole, because he'd slept with Ava. Or had that been Persephone, taking advantage of him? But at least she already knew about that. Still, if he was going to ask for honesty, he had to be honest himself.

"I could almost say the same.... but for Persephone."

He said bitterly, unwrapping his burger.

"I should have been more careful when it came to her."

The subject changed to something less depressing, Star Wars. Ashley accused him of sounding like Zizi, and he chuckled.

Ashley: That was all anybody could talk about that year. Men going around wearing t shirts with weird space things on them. And that’s when they started sitting at home in their parents’ basements instead of going out and doing things. Everyone lost their appetite for war, they just wanted to sit at home and watch that damn movie…

"Oh, I don't know about all that. I was just a kid, running around with my blaster, pretending I was Han Solo. You gotta realize, most of us grew up with it, we weren't adults when it came out. It has a certain nostalgia factor."

Ashley: And I don’t really get the whole ‘space’ thing. How are all these things just like out there floating around and not running into things?

"That's why they call it 'space'?"

He answered teasingly.

Ashley: I mean, it’s supposed to be ‘the future’ but it looks like the past…

She was absolutely adorable in her attempt to make sense of details that were completely beside the point.

"Okay, it IS in the past, but in a whole other galaxy too, so their timeline is completely independent of ours. And anyway, never mind all that. The true value is in the epic adventure -- and the remarkable way they blurred the lines between heroes and villians."

Ashley: and that princess just wears really bad outfits and does her hair in those awful buns? [she shuddered.] What kind of princess is that?

"Yeah but she did have that one getup, in Return of the Jedi, with the bikini thing, and the long braid over the shoulder, and by then I was just old enough to understand what sexy was. And then the rest of the time, they totally downplayed her sex appeal, you know, so she could be a good role model for all the young girls out there, like Zizi, for example."

Ashley: Oh, but speaking of Zizi, guess who her mystery friend at the Clocktower is? Gabe, the Gabe. He’s pretty hot but what an idiot. It’s obvious she’s totally in love with him and he’s all like, ‘She’s too good for me…blahblahblah.

"Sometimes people can't see what RIGHT in front of them...."

He said with an amused smile.

Ashley: Of course, she probably IS too good for him, but when has that ever stopped any man ever? I left them playing those video game things. I think there should be fries…

He smiled as he ate, and listened to her talk. See, if the others could see her like this, they'd realize she wasn't as bad as they assumed.

Ashley: So…do you want Morgan to remove your scars?

"Well, I mean, but you said the chicks dig them..."

He replied playfully.

Ashley: Cause if you do, it's okay.

"I don't. Isis made the pain go away, you helped me recover my strength. If Morgan erases the scars, it'll almost be like it didn't even happen, like it was just part of the acid rain nightmare. And then I'll forget how close to death I got. I need to still be able to VIVIDLY see what she tried to do to me, so the next time I see Persephone, I don't look for Ava."

 

[Berserker]

The Hellfire Mansion – White Princess’ Suite

Alek had decided to finish eating while he waited to see if Haleigh was going to come back. As long as Persephone was icing him out, he might as well sample from other fruits. And speaking of Persephone, she suddenly stormed into Haleigh’s room. He raised his eyebrows. She was pissed. Even more so than she had been earlier in his room.

"You're an asshole."

He stood up, his own anger rising.

“Once again, you TOLD ME TO KEEP FUCKING HER.”

But apparently that wasn’t why she was angry.

"So this is what you want? To have me to yourself?"

She was tossing her jewelry around the room. He watched her, half amused by her and half just wanting to see what the hell she would do next.

“Is that a trick question?”

He gave her that smug smile of his, and then she was practically ripping off her dress. He sat down on the arm of the sofa and crossed his arms over his bare chest, preparing to enjoy the show.

But what she said next wiped the smile off his face.

"CLAIM me."

“Seph, what are you talking about…”

"Make me YOURS?"

“Calm down…I get it, you’re angry…”

And then she was in front of him, all anger and rage and aggression, and she slammed her hand into his face. He stood up, feeling his face and his hand coming back bloody.

“JESUS, Persephone!”

"DO IT."

She shoved him backwards.

“STOP it.”

"CLAIM YOUR PRIZE."

She moved to hit him again, but he grabbed her wrists and held them.

“Why are you acting so CRAZY?”

"Or are you a FICKLE little BOY who doesn't know what he wants."

“Oh I know what I want. It’s not me who has the problem with that, is it?”

She pulled free and shoved him hard again.

"COMMON ALEK. Show me what YOU WANT."

“No.”

She kept hitting him in the chest, pushing him further and further back. But he just took it.

What the HELL had Haleigh said to her? Whatever it had been, it obviously didn’t work. She was angrier, and was really doing an excellent impression of someone who hated his guts right now. Before, he could at least tell she cared, that she was just playing her part in the game. But now? It was as if Persephone was at def con 1 and ready to annihilate the planet.

She wanted him to fight her, he guessed. Force her to his will. Probably so she could justify hating him. No, so she could actually hate him. And he wanted to. As angry as she was, he wanted her. But this wasn’t like with Haleigh, where the fight wasn’t real. She would kill him right now if she could.

What. The Fuck. Did he do now?

Her hitting him was starting to piss him off to boot. As was the fact that ALL OF THIS was because she wouldn’t let herself admit what she felt. It was so stupid it was maddening. Finally he had had enough.

“ENOUGH!”

When she went to hit him again he grabbed her arm and spun her around so her back was to him, clasping his arms around her so hers were pinned at her sides.

“You damn well know you aren’t a prize to be claimed. I have NEVER treated you like one, not from that first night, so STOP ACTING LIKE A PSYCHO.”

He let her go, forcefully pushing her away from him.

“You’re angry at me? You hate me? I get it. But what the hell are you doing, Seph?”

 

[Valkyrie]

Charope, LLC - The Infirmary

"As awesome as that would be to watch, how about we just pretend I can put my foot down and tell the woman no?"

A naughty smile touched her lips.

“Okay, well then what if you and I find a pool of mud to get naked in?”

They sat together, laying their souls bare to each other about not wanting to share. She told him that she hadn’t been with anyone else since the first time they’d been together.

"I could almost say the same.... but for Persephone."

It didn’t feel good to hear him say it, but it wasn’t like she hadn’t known about it. And the fact that he wasn’t trying to hide it was a good sign, she guessed. She still wanted to chew that bitch up and spit her out into a dumpster.

“Well, that first night…it’s not like either of us thought it was going anywhere.”

She fluttered her eyelids at him dramatically.

"But then you won me over with your magnificent prowess in bed and animal magnetism."

"I should have been more careful when it came to her."

She sighed, hating that it was making him feel bad. She tried to be empathetic.

“Probably – but most of us are blind when it comes to people we care about.”

They tucked into their food, and subject matter turned to things that hadn’t tried to kill any of them.

"Oh, I don't know about all that. I was just a kid, running around with my blaster, pretending I was Han Solo. You gotta realize, most of us grew up with it, we weren't adults when it came out. It has a certain nostalgia factor."

She put a hand on his waist, feeling the muscles under his shirt.

“Ooh, yeah, Han was the hot one.”

She tried to imagine Zach as a child. A wild shock of sandy brown hair running around playing with his toys. The thought made her smile.

"Okay, it IS in the past, but in a whole other galaxy too, so their timeline is completely independent of ours. And anyway, never mind all that. The true value is in the epic adventure -- and the remarkable way they blurred the lines between heroes and villains."

She scoffed.

“Don’t get me started on the villains. I mean, that Darth Vader should have thrown the boy down the well and been done with his ungrateful ass.”

[in a mocking voice] “Here, son, take all this power and rule this empire I have built from nothing. No, dad, I think I’ll kill you instead and destroy your entire legacy. The end.”

She shook her head.

“You want to talk blurred lines between heroes and villains? Let’s talk about Loki and Thor…”

But he still wanted to talk about Star Wars. How typical.

"Yeah but she did have that one getup, in Return of the Jedi, with the bikini thing, and the long braid over the shoulder, and by then I was just old enough to understand what sexy was. And then the rest of the time, they totally downplayed her sex appeal, you know, so she could be a good role model for all the young girls out there, like Zizi, for example."

She hit him on the shoulder.

“Yes! That’s the one that I was trying to get from Zizi.”

She pouted a little.

“But she couldn’t find it.”

Now she had to find that costume.

After they talked a while, she finally asked him if he wanted Morgan to remove his scars.

"Well, I mean, but you said the chicks dig them..."

She laughed.

“Well, I DO – I think they look incredibly sexy on you. But to be fair I think pretty much anything looks incredibly sexy on you, so probably if you had no scars that would be incredibly sexy too.”

"I don't. Isis made the pain go away, you helped me recover my strength. If Morgan erases the scars, it'll almost be like it didn't even happen, like it was just part of the acid rain nightmare. And then I'll forget how close to death I got. I need to still be able to VIVIDLY see what she tried to do to me, so the next time I see Persephone, I don't look for Ava."

She took his hand.

“I honestly hope it doesn’t come to that, for your sake.”

And she would gladly kill Ava, to keep Zach from having to face her. Or if she ever tried to hurt him again. But she kept that to herself.

She tossed her pizza crust into the box and brushed the crumbs off her hands.

“I almost forgot…dessert.”

She got up onto her knees and put her hands on Zach’s shoulders, peering over him into one of the bags before leaning back and giving him a mischievous look.

“Whipped cream, honey or chocolate syrup?”

 

[Malice]

Hellfire Mansion- From Malice's master suite to the Catacombs

As he walked over to Diana, he saw the beautiful kitten! A defender of the dead, cats were sacred in many religions. But in this case the cat was a defender of the part of Diana that she had lost and she vowed that she would not lose again. This kitten was important to the White Queen, and so it was important to her King.

With a wave of his hands in intricate fashion, Malice would see a large white kitten bed with a pure white pillow, a cat condo for play in pure white, beautiful bowls for feeding in stainless steel with white trim, preset dispensaries containing the best dry food for the kitten, a pure white carpet-clad scratching post and a diamond collar which appeared in his hand. Sitting beside Diana, he places the collar gently on the kitten and chants an incantation.

Wards...protect this dear creature from harm,
Should true danger encroach, send me an alarm.
Turn away attacks and good fortune rise to dismay,
any harm that comes this way.

And with that, Diana could see the enchantment take hold of the collar on the kitten. Malice looked up at him and started to speak, but he held up one finger.

One last thing, my Queen.

Lord Ravena gave Diana in hand a pure white double-walled stainless steel baby bottle in order to feed the kitten. There was milk in it and s he handed it to her, he encouraged her to nurse the kitten, who could already smell the milk and mewled in hunger.

I hope that it brings you true joy.

:: Diana looked at Ravena, and it was one of the RARE times where it wasn't a look of lust, OR a look of contempt regarding Haleigh or some other poor unfortunate soul that had pissed her off.::

:: She looked...relieved, she looked HAPPY. Even Ravena couldn't have expected a moment like this, and it was too his credit that he invested himself in this moment made possible by Scion. She searched his eyes with her own opal blue eyes, and expressed her GENUINE gratitude to him on a level unspoken, in a way that only someone such as he could perceive.::

:: The little kitten mewled in hunger, and Diana brought down the beautiful bottle , holding it "just so" in order to let the kitten take hold of the nipple::

There now, little one.

:: She said softly as she held it, wrapped in the blanket that she'd once kept her original kitten in. She and Ravena watched for a moment as the kitten nursed::

She was indeed hungry.

:: Malice said ::

She picked up a box full of cat treats, cat toys, and some catnip, and headed out the door. Her ‘spies’ had told her that the White Queen had gotten a new kitten so Gia thought she’d give the little furball some presents.

Walking past the White Princess’ quarters, where it was now QUIET, Gia felt a little mischievious. Shifting the box to one arm, she POUNDED on the door.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Then she laughed hysterically as she walked away, setting down the box, along with a card from her, in front of the doors to the White Queen’s quarters before making her way out of the White Wing.

:: a noise drew Ravena's attention toward the large wooden double doors of Malice's master suite. As he went to investigate, continued to hold her kitten and look upon her with...genuine AFFECTION.::

Now, little one...whatever shall I call you?

:: The kitten mewed a bit, as she suckled and slowly blinked her little eyes- one of the earliest ways a kitten communicates her comfort and trust to her mother cat or person, and malice actually smiled as she gently pets the kitten's head::

How sweet.

In fact...I think I'll call you PERLE...

:: She said this with a noticeable french accent in her voice::

French for "Pearl" ... "sweet escape....protector of my dreams"

<< an odd, space/time defying sound rings out in the air as Malice smiles upon her precious Perle, and @Black Widow , who had been watching Malice through the feed, couldn't help but HEAR the name Malice chose for her kitten, as well as the look on the White Queen's face.>>

<< Perle....Diana...BADIANE?!>>

<< The line between dreams and reality was so thin, sometimes it BLURRED.>>

Ravena: My queen, gifts from the White Bishop, Gia. Gifts for the kitten.

:: She looks over as Ravena holds a box full of exquisite cat treats, toys and the finest catnip, along with a card::

Well now! Now THOUGHTFUL of CHRISSY.

:: Everyone else called her Gia, but Malice remembered Gia's FATHER, Count Nefaria, the ORIGINAL White Bishop, and what HE called his daughter- Chrissy. He had such high hopes for her, not unlike James Marcus had for his daughter, Jessica. Viper had surpassed her father's wildest dreams. But Chrissy, despite her tremendous potential, had not done so...YET.::

:: Malice was feeling very calm, and AGREEABLE. Ravena couldn't help but smile with some satisfaction as he placed the gifts in Perle's beautiful cat bed that he'd conjured for her.::

My Lord Ravena, the time has come for the "black out" of Scion to be lifted. I will allow the white court to engage the White Princess going forward.

Furthermore more, I'd like you to conjure a gift for our little Chrissy. Something that I hope will cause her to take her codename, and the mantle she inherited from her father, a truly fine White Bishop in his own right, more seriously.

Conjure for me, a beautiful feminine golden mask, crafted from the finest, most exquisite gold, as only you could find, and designed for only Chrissy's face. CHARM the mask, so that when she wears it, it will protect her from telepathic domination (such as possession) from anyone OTHER than me...AND it will protect her from certain attacks that could interrupt her visual sense. Make sure that it will protect her face and head from bullets as well.

:: She stands up, with Perle now full and content, wrapped in her blanket::

We shall present this gift to Masque together, with the Red and Black Queens in attendance.

When you're ready, find the girl, and bring her down to the catacombs. That's where I'm headed now. I want to show Perle to Helena and Kelly.::

:: She looks upon Ravena with a calm demeanor, and the exits her master suite, making her way to the catacombs.::

Telepathically to Helena: Helena, meet me in the catacombs, and tell Kelly to join you.

:: Helena would note Malice's calm, almost SOFT tone even in the telepathic contact! Soon, Diana was in the control room of the catacombs, sitting in her seat, with her back toward the entrance so that Helena and Kelly wouldn't immediately see what she was holding in her arms.::

:: Perle was now purring::

My precious baby...

:: Malice looked upon her kitten and smiled a bit, just as she became away of Helena's psi signature approaching.::

 

[Isis]

The Infirmary- Dominique's suite

“All well. Bishop has been released. Alycia has actually gone off apparently to some problem at Rose’s Sanctuary. And Zach seems fine. Except that he’s apparently been spending time with that bitch Ashley.

:: Dominique nodded with approval about Bishop, and Alycia. She knew that Bishop had obeyed Delilah's command for him to stay and give his body time to process Isis' magick, but when the time came, he would leave. Alycia was answering a call to aid from the Sanctuary, she knew the woman's connection to Rose, and Dominique had some investment in that situation too. And finally Zach. He had survived, Isis had given him that precious second chance, but they hadn't had the chance to see each other yet. Dominique looked utterly DISGUSTED as she heard the detail from Delilah about him spending time with Zach::

UGH!

:: She let her displeasure be heard, as she rolled her aqua blue eyes HARD::

He must have hit his head

And what about BEFORE?

:: She said with irritation::

Even during an earlier crisis, he was showing more interest and effort in debauchery with HER than he was the situation at hand.

:: She shook her head with disappointment.::

Youth...and vitality are wasted on the young apparently.

:: But that was only in ZACH'S case, since Valkyrie was older than everyone in the entire building::

:: She sighs as she looks at Delilah, then Nicolas, and Richard::

I can heal the sick and injured, I can bring vitality to the old, and strength to the infirmed. But not even the bright lady herself would attempt to fix a mind and a heart....they want what they want, no matter how inexplicable the desire may be. That is tied to free will. Some people chose things that are TOXIC for them.

:: She said with a bit of sadness. She CARED for the young man, and she hadn't forgotten what he did for her during the Purifier's caper. But she couldn't understand why he would draw near to someone like Valkryie! Richard and Nicolas knew just how deep her contempt ran where Ashley Oldenburg was concerned, and Delilah could see it now as well, the lightbringer wouldn't be by herself in her DIM opinion of Ashley, OR her concern for Zach's choice.::

I sincerely hope that he's learned something from his near death experience, and doesn't waste precious time with HER. I hope that he's going to REPAIR his relationships with Sharon and Alycia. They went to his aid immediately, they are the ones who made it possible for me to save his life.

But at this moment, where's concerned that's all I can do...HOPE.

:: Though she DID expect that he would at least do her the courtesy of coming to see her when he had a free moment::


I will do my self a favor and NOT try to figure his choices out, and instead, concentrate on what I CAN help with.

Delilah shook her head.

“No, we mustn’t. I spoke to Morgan yesterday – she has a plan. And the Six – without me – seem to have come to a plan B, which is to execute both of them.”

They [Black Widow and Persephone] may not leave ANY of us with any other option, Delilah.

:: Dominique said with a grim tone as she thought about both women. By NOW, Nicolas and Richard had excused themselves, leaving Delilah and Dominique alone::

Look what they've done so far, how many they've hurt.

Even now, as this new day begins, the risk of any of us being attacked, or worse, hangs in the air.

Beyond what the Six, OR the Birds of Prey may be creating in the way plans of action...each of us has the right to DEFEND ourselves, we also have an ethical obligation to PROTECT our loved ones.

Those two women have struck those that either could not, or were UNWILLING to fight back. People like you and I...along with my nephew and my ward, we are NOT in either of those categories.

If you find yourself confronted by them, Delilah, Morgan's plan...or any OTHER plan...may not matter. You will have to strike for your life, and you wouldn't be wrong for it!

But no sense in letting an opportunity of communication pass you by, my nephew is here. Before you leave, the two of you could talk, and he could tell you what was discussed among the members of the Six.

Thank you for coming to see me, Delilah, and for keeping watch over us last night.

They [Black Widow and Persephone] haven't won the battle, OR the war. Goddess grant that our powers are sufficient to make sure that remains the case.

:: As Delilah and Dominique bid each other farewell, and Delilah departs...Dominique calls out to her one last time::

Stay in touch, Delilah.

:: reaffirming the lines of communication the two women established during the Purifiers caper. She watched as Delilah disappeared around the corner::

She's an honorable woman. Her love for Bishop never left. She just pushed it down, for understandable reasons. But she is HAPPIER when she is true to herself. That much is clear. That happiness will translate into better interactions between her and her teammates too.

:: For a few moments, Dominique was now alone.::

:: She stretched and turned, to catch a glimpse of herself in a nearby mirror. She looked presentable, and she knew neither Nicolas or Richard would have let her sit there looking ridiculous with her hair out of place, or any similar thing, to guests::

:: Delilah's words stayed with her. She was concerned about Zach's choices, his very judgement. She couldn't understand this "twilight zone" esque attitude where Ashley Oldenburg was concerned. But she balanced that with her memory of his kindness to her during the Purifiers caper. If she had to, she would use that as her starting point with him.::

:: She was able to do this with Steel, Zizi, Sharon, Alycia, hell she'd been MORE than able to do that with Cameron, a man whom she onced dismissed as common rabble. But what was going to be her starting point with Vivica or Andrew?! Both of them tried her patience. And what of Xavier? Did he think his knowledge of the occult, and his "resistance to magick" made him some kind of AUTHORITY on the subject!? Still, she wondered about him. He WAS intriguing.::

:: A nurse came to check her vitals and such, and offered her support in the way of an assortment of elixirs they kept on hand specifically for magick users. Isis, grateful that Alycia's medical staff was also trained in some techniques BEYOND western medicine, accepted one of the refreshing elixirs.::

:: A moment later, when her vitals were confirmed to be back at their established normal levels, she was alone again. She she enjoyed this quiet. Nicolas had gone to see some of the others, and Richard was eating. The sounds of other conversation and activity in the infirmary were faint at best. She was further in than Zach and the others had been, with her room having been in the same wing as Alycia's, but now Alycia was gone, and she was alone....with her thoughts about Zach and some of the others this motley crew of a team.::

Have I made a MISTAKE!?

::FLASH!::

<< two nights ago, Isis diamond suite at the parthenon. She asked the SAME question her ward, looking for an honest answer...>>

I dunno, Miss D. When you met me I was a kid who swore a lot, washed MAYBE once a week if I was lucky, had NO MONEY and was completely incapable of not leering at you like a complete loser 24/7/365. I look back, I have no idea why you dusted me off and kept me anyway. But I am glad you did. And part of that journey has been overlooking sometimes when I overstep, correcting me when I am wrong and encouraging me. That is why I love you Miss D, because you did not have to do SHIT for me. But you DID.

Now why in the HELL was I crying? No idea, but I was.

Now this here? I dunno, maybe Isis is testing you again, seeing if you will be able to look past the surface crap and find the value underneath. When shit went left with the Purifiers, all of the BoP stepped up. Now there is messiness going on, and there is no excuse for dropping the ball on responsibilities or for prejudice against Amazons, but we know they WANT to do the right thing. Look, I will follow you to hell, Lady. I guess you have to decide if I used up all of your tolerance for one lifetime. If you have, I can only be grateful that you used it all up on me.

::Sighing, she waves her hand, and a mystic tone sounds off as the door to her suite closes, and the lights dim.::

:: she let herself fall back, and her head hit the pillows, she closed her eyes. She HAD it within her to work with ANYONE. She'd proven that with The Six, particularly her nephew, whom she once regarded as her MORTAL ENEMY, and now loved dearly. She proved that she could be gentle, nurturing, PATIENT even, with her young ward, Richard. But PATIENCE did not EQUAL PERMISSIVE or OVER INDULGENT, and HE knew that. ::

:: The others: Nicolas, Delilah, Cameron...even Haleigh, THEY understood her, how she operated, and that for those that gave her respect and regard, she would return it::

:: She had nothing to PROVE to these upstarts on the birds of prey. THEY were the amateurs, NOT her. How DARE they think they were above her? How DARE they expect her to extend herself to them when they showed no intention of doing the same to her! If they wanted something from her, they'd have to show that they DESERVED it.::

:: And yet, hadn't she saved Zach's life? Did he DESERVE that consideration from her? Should she have WITHELD her help just because of his questionable choices?::

...what HORRID thoughts I'm having!

::She shut her eyes tightly as she shook her head, trying to chase away these negative thoughts that were rising up in her just now. her defense mechanism that she'd relied upon for so long, because of the burden she carried.::

Goddess...give me clarity...help me to see what I should DO!

:: she said quietly but plaintively as she lay there with her eyes shut for a few moments::

 

[Persephone]

He was trying to fight his anger, keep himself in check as she pushed him and hit him. But Persephone could see the fury building within him. She just needed to fan the already growing flames.

"COMMON ALEK! Show me what YOU WANT."

Alek: "No."

"You're pathetic."

She sneered as she shoved him one more time, finally causing him to loose his temper.

Alek: "ENOUGH!"

He grabbed her, spinning her around and forcing her arms to her side by holding them down with his own. She struggled against his powerful strength, her own fury building with every passing moment.

Alek: “You damn well know you aren’t a prize to be claimed. I have NEVER treated you like one, not from that first night, so STOP ACTING LIKE A PSYCHO.”

He finally let Persephone go, pushing her away from him. Quickly turning around, Persephone's face showed utter disbelief mixed with anger. She couldn't believe that he didn't understand WHY she was angry. WHY she was there yelling at him--goading him on. The entire REASON she went from wanting him to wanting to KILL HIM. She was completely taken aback.

"Are you KIDDING ME? You KILLED a man because he FUCKED ME. Because HE was with me and NOT YOU. Because YOU LOST in this little made up game of yours. Then you left his body in my bed with a message burned into his chest. Please explain to me how that isn't you trying to CLAIM YOUR PRIZE. Please tell me how I'M the PSYCHO in this scenario. ENLIGHTEN me you smug BASTARD."

Persephone moved closer to him, getting directly into his face.

"Then you come here and FUCK Haleigh in SPITE of me."

She growled out through clenched teeth.

"What's wrong Alek? Can't have one sister so you go to the next?"

Alek: “You’re angry at me? You hate me? I get it. But what the hell are you doing, Seph?”

Persephone shoved him back again.

"I've giving you a healthy dose of reality, Alek. You're a small, insecure little boy who hates LOSING. And I don't FUCK LITTLE BOYS."

Tilting her head.

"What's wrong baby? Does the truth HURT?"

Letting out a low laugh.

"Want me to stop?"

Slamming her hand across his face once again, her glare was unwavering as she saw the bloodlust build in his eyes.

"MAKE ME, BERSERKER."

Persephone just poured gasoline onto the inferno.

 

[Orion]

Charope, LLC -- The Infirmary

She was forgiving about his tryst with Persephone, and for that, he was grateful. They took turns pulling fries from the bag and discussing Star Wars.

Ashley: Don’t get me started on the villains. I mean, that Darth Vader should have thrown the boy down the well and been done with his ungrateful ass.

"Luke was such a punk anyway. And Vader must be the greatest movie villain of all time."

Ashley: [in a mocking voice] Here, son, take all this power and rule this empire I have built from nothing. No, dad, I think I’ll kill you instead and destroy your entire legacy. The end.

He laughed.

"I know, such a waste of a redemptive opportunity for Vader. Sure, he sacrificed himself for his son and gave his life yada yada, but that's the easy way out. What if he actually switched sides again and we got to experience that journey of redemption as he worked his way back from the dark side? And then imagine if the Empire was ruled by the Jedi! The Republic was basically the galactic U.N. before Palpatine took over. It had potential to be an awesome governing body."

He mentioned Leia's ONE hot outfit.

Ashley: Yes! That’s the one that I was trying to get from Zizi.

"Yeah, I don't want to think about why Ziz has that in her closet, but GODS... you would look.... so sexy..."

He said, getting distracted by the thought of it. They discussed his scars, and the potential that he'd have to face Persephone again.

Ashley: I honestly hope it doesn’t come to that, for your sake.

"I hope it's not too late for Ava, but if she was willing to use my mother's suicide against me, there's no holds barred.... and at least I know that now."

She distracted him from bad memories with a mischievous smile.

Ashley: I almost forgot…dessert. Whipped cream, honey or chocolate syrup?

"Mmm.... honey."

 

[Black Widow]

The Hellfire Club --White Drawing Room

Persephone: When it comes to men like him, YEAH, I'm a fuckin' expert.

Haleigh pressed her lips into a hard line. 'men like him' was a generalization that could get her into trouble. No assumptions should ever be made, no characteristics supplanted from one man to the next. But she understood what her sister had meant, and she knew that she was going to have to let Seph do it her way at this point. She told her sister that Alek had been angry, very angry indeed, because she wanted Seph to be prepared for the bear's temper.

Persephone: I gathered as much by the note he burned into the man's chest.

However brutal Alek had been, Haleigh would not have been surprised to hear it. She understood savagery, it was one of the many things she and the Red Knight had in common. With that awareness, Haleigh had accepted Alek for what he was, a beast. She didn't want to tame him, on the contrary, she wanted to unleash him, but not on Seph. If he turned that brutality on her sister, Haleigh would grant Alek his second death.

"Do you want me there, just in case?"

Persephone: "You won't want to be there."

Her sister said, as the doors opened. They stepped out of the elevator, and Haleigh looked over at Seph as they walked back towards the White Wing.

"Well I won't be far."

She said, and split off from Seph, making her way to the drawing room. Her mother had indeed been pleased with her gift, and had lifted the ban. Haleigh could easily tell through playback of video feeds, but also because the staff seemed much friendlier this morning. She sat down at the card table.

Dealer: Welcome, Princess. We can play any game you like.

"Blackjack."

She replied, somewhat absently, as she checked the video feed of her own suite, because there was no WAY she wasn't going to watch her sister's back. What she saw was the last thing she expected.

Dealer: Your highness, can I order a drink for you?

"Yeah, I'm going to need a lot of whiskey for this."

She admitted. She was quite shocked by Seph's blitz attack, but she had to smile.

Way to take back control, Sis.

A bottle was delivered, a drink poured, cards were shuffled, then dealt, and Scion carefully monitored the situation between Persephone and Berserker while she considered her hand.

 

[Lord Ravena]

:: Diana looked at Ravena, and it was one of the RARE times where it wasn't a look of lust, OR a look of contempt regarding Haleigh or some other poor unfortunate soul that had pissed her off.::

:: She looked...relieved, she looked HAPPY. Even Ravena couldn't have expected a moment like this, and it was too his credit that he invested himself in this moment made possible by Scion. She searched his eyes with her own opal blue eyes, and expressed her GENUINE gratitude to him on a level unspoken, in a way that only someone such as he could perceive.::

The look on her face was one that Lord Ravena had searched to help her find! HE was happy. He had things to do, but he was still...HAPPY. But Diana, she was not. He made her content and often ECSTATIC, but happiness was something that one granted oneself and with all of the power the White Queen possessed, the might of her mind kept THIS from her. It was glorious to see her attain this level of joy!

:: a noise drew Ravena's attention toward the large wooden double doors of Malice's master suite. As he went to investigate, continued to hold her kitten and look upon her with...genuine AFFECTION.::

Lord Raven already knew it was the Bishop. He could smell her youth and vitality, as unique as a new flower. He came to the door but she had already fled. But not before leaving gifts! Well now, how thoughtful of her! He returned with the box.

My Queen, gifts from the White Bishop, Gia. Gifts for the kitten.

He lay the items from the box on the Double King bed they enjoyed and Diana was actually impressed, as was he. They were very nice gifts, the food was almost as good as the food he sourced, in fact. The child had found favor with them both.

My Lord Ravena, the time has come for the "black out" of Scion to be lifted. I will allow the white court to engage the White Princess going forward.

Furthermore more, I'd like you to conjure a gift for our little Chrissy. Something that I hope will cause her to take her codename, and the mantle she inherited from her father, a truly fine White Bishop in his own right, more seriously.

Conjure for me, a beautiful feminine golden mask, crafted from the finest, most exquisite gold, as only you could find, and designed for only Chrissy's face. CHARM the mask, so that when she wears it, it will protect her from telepathic domination (such as possession) from anyone OTHER than me...AND it will protect her from certain attacks that could interrupt her visual sense. Make sure that it will protect her face and head from bullets as well.

:: She stands up, with Perle now full and content, wrapped in her blanket::

We shall present this gift to Masque together, with the Red and Black Queens in attendance.

When you're ready, find the girl, and bring her down to the catacombs. That's where I'm headed now. I want to show Perle to Helena and Kelly.::

:: She looks upon Ravena with a calm demeanor, and the exits her master suite, making her way to the catacombs.::

Your wish, my command my Queen.

He had already sent a roomful of Helena's favorite flowers to her as a mea culpa for the prior unpleasantness and she had been agreeable in his presence, even back to normalcy. So he was looking forward to the meeting and he held out his hand, teleporting a small ingot of gold to his hand from his nation's treasury. He sent a deduction from his personal salary for the worth of the gold to his Treasurer - he was no thieving despot! - and held the gold in his hand.

It was 99.999% pure, but that was unacceptable. he began to rub the gold with his hands, molding and shaping it with his hands and his magic. In a couple of minutes a beautiful mask could be seen forming, to the specifications of Diana in form and a perfect fit for the child. From his working hands a few dark drops could be seen falling to the floor and rolling away; they represented the last imperfections in the ingot itself as they mask was magically made 100.0000000000% PURE GOLD. As he completed the forming of the mask he opened his hands and it was suspended aloft. The room became darker; indeed, the sky became darker as he made his incantation.

Lord of Chaos and Order take heed,
Your power is mine in performing this deed,
My will be exerted as I take to task,
The making of the true nature of MASQUE
HEED ME NOW!
​

A swirl of dark purple orbs surrounds the mask as it sits suspended and it begins to glow almost white as a nearly discordant chime sounds before settling back to a brilliant gold beyond anything any of the Queens will have ever seen.

Lord Ravena places the mask in a Mahogany silk- lined box and proceeds out of the double doors...


...entering the gym where Gia was working out. Clicking his tongue, he regards her as she is currently dressed.

No. This will not do.

He waves his hands and her clothes are replaced. He regards her for a moment and then smiles.

Come with me, my Bishop. We have a meeting with the Queens.

He leads her in walking down to the Catacombs, making sure the others are in place before he opens the door, gesturing for her to take her place before them. He takes his seat and holds the box as he cedes the meeting to the White Queen.

 

[Valkyrie]

Charope, LLC - The Infirmary

"I know, such a waste of a redemptive opportunity for Vader. Sure, he sacrificed himself for his son and gave his life yada yada, but that's the easy way out. What if he actually switched sides again and we got to experience that journey of redemption as he worked his way back from the dark side? And then imagine if the Empire was ruled by the Jedi! The Republic was basically the galactic U.N. before Palpatine took over. It had potential to be an awesome governing body."

Ashley stopped eating fries and looked at him for a moment, biting her bottom lip to keep unsuccessfully from laughing.

“You’ve thought about this a lot.”

"Yeah, I don't want to think about why Ziz has that in her closet, but GODS... you would look.... so sexy..."

She gave him a sultry smile and almost purred against him.

“I think she was saving it for Gabe but…I’ll make sure to find it…and then Han’ll have to rescue me…”

He told her why he wasn’t going to have his scars removed.

"I hope it's not too late for Ava, but if she was willing to use my mother's suicide against me, there's no holds barred.... and at least I know that now."

Ashley tensed every so slightly in shock. She hadn’t know that his mother had killed herself. She stroked his hair, concern on her face, searching his to see if he was okay. She put her arms around his back, and rested her chin on his shoulder.

“My mother died when I was very young.”

After holding each other for a while, she thought of something guaranteed to cheer him up, and asked his preference for dessert. She reached behind him for the bottle of honey and waived it mysteriously. Facing him and sitting in his lap, she very slowly undid the belt of her dress, then the buttons. She let the dress slide off her shoulders onto the floor. Holding his gaze for a long moment, she slinked to the head of the bed, positioning herself like an odalisque, one arm above her head on the pillow, her legs curved making her body into an S shape. Still watching him, she took the bottle of honey and slowly drizzled it over her neck, chest and stomach.

She put the bottle down and settled into the pillows, still looking at him.

“I believe the phrase is oral fixation.”

 

[Berserker]

The White Princess’ Suite

"Are you KIDDING ME? You KILLED a man because he FUCKED ME. Because HE was with me and NOT YOU. Because YOU LOST in this little made up game of yours. Then you left his body in my bed with a message burned into his chest. Please explain to me how that isn't you trying to CLAIM YOUR PRIZE. Please tell me how I'M the PSYCHO in this scenario. ENLIGHTEN me you smug BASTARD."

Was she serious? Alek’s jaw clenched as he tried to hold his anger in, but it exploded from him anyway.

“And I was what, supposed to watch that cocky little bastard walk around here every day, telling everyone who’d listen how the Red Rook had BEGGED him to fuck her? You fucked him to make me angry well you FUCKING GOT YOUR WISH!”

His hand shot out and slammed into the wall, denting the plaster.

“What was all that talk, huh, about loving the kill, the blood, the pain? I KILLED him so you would know I actually CARED – unlike YOU, you cold unfeeling HARPY! Maybe they should have made you queen of Antarctica instead of the Underworld!”

Seph got in his face, undeterred.

"Then you come here and FUCK Haleigh in SPITE of me."

“I DAMN WELL FUCKED HER! YOU ended things Seph, not ME. You don’t get to be HURT. YOU threw us away so I’ll FUCK THIS ENTIRE MANSION IF I WANT TO.”

"What's wrong Alek? Can't have one sister so you go to the next?"

“At least I don’t have to hold back with her. And SHE knows how to make me come. SHE’S not a fucking TEASE.”

He said it in the cruelest voice he could muster.

And she shoved him.

”I've giving you a healthy dose of reality, Alek. You're a small, insecure little boy who hates LOSING. And I don't FUCK LITTLE BOYS."

“Your sister didn’t think I was so little. In fact, she was INCREDIBLY vocal about how big it was.”

"What's wrong baby? Does the truth HURT?"

She laughed, and a low rumble came out of his throat. He wasn’t a nobody. Any woman in this mansion – this CITY – would spread her legs for him at the snap of his fingers. He despised himself, that he had ever wanted her. That he wanted her now.

“I FUCKING HATE YOU. I wish I’d never come into that lounge the night of the party. I wish I had NEVER FUCKED YOU. I WISH I HAD NEVER HEARD YOUR GODDAMN NAME!”

He turned away from her, seething in anger.

"Want me to stop?"

He turned back, boiling, eyes which may as well have been red with the fire in them.

“JUST FUCKING LEAVE.”

He would make her stop.

She hit him hard in the face again.

"MAKE ME, BERSERKER."

She taunted him again and again, she knew all the buttons to push, all the things to say. So finally he gave her what she wanted, what she had come here for. He erupted with a roar.

“DAMN YOU!”

He grabbed her by her upper arms, not caring how hard his grip was, whether he bruised her. He picked her up shoved her against one of the columns in the room.

“IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT?”

He ripped his shorts off and pinned her with his hips, eyes locking with hers. His free hand grabbed her breast roughly, his breath came rapidly, as he pressed his body against hers. His restraint was on a hair trigger.

“AM I BIG ENOUGH FOR YOU TO FUCK NOW?!”

 

[Enchantrah]

The Red Parlor was empty, Helena instructing the bartender to close it down temporarily for a 'private event'. Sitting legs crossed on one of the red velvet couches, Helena gently stroked Coco as he sat next to her looking stoic and at regal.

Mystique: "I handled the situation with Angelo Muniz. It won't fall back on us."

Helena was perturbed by the information Mystique had given her about what her Red Knight had done. Would she normally have cared if Alek dismembered someone and left their dead body in another members chambers? No. In fact, it was quite amusing if it hadn't been for the fact it was the son of a CLUB MEMBER. And not just ANY Club Member, but the ADA to boot. A very handsome ADA. An ADA she was seeing on Tuesdays when his wife had hot yoga and brunch with the girls.

Helena slowly nodded, her eyes narrowing in thought.

"Thank you, Mystique."

She said evenly before looking up at her Red Bishop.

"I don't need the ADA coming at me. Then *I* would have to kill him too, and that would become a little too messy to clean up without side eyes and suspicion. You made it look clean?"

She saw the satisfied smirk appear on Mystique's lips.

Mystique: "The police already found the charred car with the remains of Angelo I planted inside. The word has already spread among the different mafia families. Nothing is being directed at us."

Helena grinned.

"Good. Now...to deal with my jealous little bear..."

Diana: Helena, meet me in the catacombs, and tell Kelly to join you.

She sounded....pleasant?! Happy? Oh shit, she killed Scion.

"But that will have to wait until later. Good work Mystique."

Mystique bowed her head in respect.

"Diana requires mine and Talisman's presents in the catacombs. Relay the message to Kelly."

Mystique: "As you wish, My Queen."

And with that Mystique disappeared and Helena stood.

"Well Coco, we're either going to be walking into Scion dead or Scion dead. Which do you think it will be?"

She jokingly asked with a smirk. Coco barked as he jumped off the couch and began to follow Helena out of the Red Parlor.

"My thoughts exactly."

Disappearing down the corridors leading down to the catacombs, Coco prances next to her gracefully, the white wolf's massive hight reaching Helena's hip. She finally turned the corner seeing Diana....and much to her surprise a KITTEN where she thought Haleigh's head would be.

"Diana?"

Coco growled at the kitten instinctively and Helena firmly shushed him. The kitten was ADORABLE and Helena couldn't help but smile.

"Oh my God....look at that little FACE!"

Coco sat down unimpressed as Helena moved over to Diana, dipping her head down to see the kitten. She gently began to stroke it's little head as it mewed.

"It's yours? I mean....I never pegged you as a animal lover in all the years i've known you. Hell, you've always threaten to kill Coco."

She joked as she looked up to Helena with an amused grin. She then returned her attention back to the kitten.

"What's her name? Can I hold her?"

In rare fashion, the two Queens known for being heartless, catty, and evil were doting over a little kitten. It was a rare sight indeed.

 

[Orion]

Charope, LLC -- The Infirmary

Ashley: You’ve thought about this a lot.

He could hear the mirth in her tone, and immediately realized how geeked out he sounded. He dropped his voice an octave and scratched his beard, trying to recover his 'cool'.

"Nah, not really. Just, you know, some casual philosophical analysis of a cultural phenomenon."

She smiled at him and moved on to talk about the costume she'd tried to borrow from Zizi.

Ashley: I think she was saving it for Gabe but…I’ll make sure to find it…and then Han’ll have to rescue me…

"Oh, Han ALWAYS rescues his Princess..."

He replied suggestively, giving her a salacious smirk. They went on to discuss Persephone, and he mentioned the reason he'd fallen into the trap, his mother. Ashley brushed her hand through his hair, and he felt her compassion wash over him, and he didn't feel as horrible about it as usual. She pulled him into a hug.

Ashley: My mother died when I was very young.

"I'm very sorry."

He said quietly, understanding her pain. For a while they just comforted each other, and then she thought of something to lift the mood. Dessert.... She produced a bottle of honey, and he watched her with evident interest to see what her delightfully dirty mind would come up with. He was not disappointed, as he watched her undress, and lay back, pouring honey on herself.

Ashley: I believe the phrase is oral fixation.

His eyes traveled across her body, and he licked his lips in anticipation. Slowly, he stood up, and grabbed the pizza box and food bags from the foot of the bed and moved them to a chair. He pulled his shirt over his head, and then turned to face her again as he dropped his pants to the floor. He eased back into bed next to her with a smile, dragging his finger through the honey, watching her eyes as he lifted his hand and put that honey on her lips.

"Ragazzaccia...Donna dolce...."

He said in her ear, and then sucked the honey from her neck for a moment before lifting his head and kissing her lips lightly, then deepening it with a passionate groan. He pulled his lips from hers, only to lower his mouth to her body and lick the honey off her breasts.

 

[Persephone]

Alek: “What was all that talk, huh, about loving the kill, the blood, the pain? I KILLED him so you would know I actually CARED – unlike YOU, you cold unfeeling HARPY! Maybe they should have made you queen of Antarctica instead of the Underworld!”

"FUCK YOU!"

She screamed as she got into his face.

Alek: “I DAMN WELL FUCKED HER! YOU ended things Seph, not ME. You don’t get to be HURT. YOU threw us away so I’ll FUCK THIS ENTIRE MANSION IF I WANT TO.”

"YOU can but I can't?! THERE IT IS."

She hissed out in anger, PROVING her point ONCE AGAIN. He was getting more heated, the anger boiling in him, the rage in his eyes. She could feel the fury radiating off of him.

Alek: “At least I don’t have to hold back with her. And SHE knows how to make me come. SHE’S not a fucking TEASE.”

Persephone LAUGHED in his face, grabbing at the waist band of his short before pulling them and letting them snap back to his hips.

"You LOVE it. You LOVE IT NOW. Let me guess? You fucked her HARD without thinking about HER. Just doing the ACT. How fucking BORING. How fucking SAD. Like I said: LITTLE BOY.

She leered at him, shoving him back AGAIN.

Alek: “Your sister didn’t think I was so little. In fact, she was INCREDIBLY vocal about how big it was.”

"And you believed her? You're more GULLIBLE than you look. She talks a good game....you obviously played right INTO IT."

Persephone laughed maliciously, hearing him growl in rage. Hearing the beginnings of an explosion about to erupt.

Alek: “I FUCKING HATE YOU. I wish I’d never come into that lounge the night of the party. I wish I had NEVER FUCKED YOU. I WISH I HAD NEVER HEARD YOUR GODDAMN NAME!”

He then turned away and Persephone feigned a feeling of hurt, placing her hand on her chest with a sadden expression on her face. She gasped in condescendingly.

"Want me to stop?"

Alek: “JUST FUCKING LEAVE.”

He turned back around and she was right in his face AGAIN with a hard slap. TAUNTING him--BEGGING him to do something.

"MAKE ME, BERSERKER."

Berserker indeed. He roared out in anger, grabbing her roughly by the arms--his strength crushing her skin and muscle with little to no effort.

Alek: "DAMN YOU!"

Got him.

He picked her up and SLAMMED her against the near by column, causing the stone to crack and fracture upon impact.

"UGHHH!"

His eyes were locked on hers, the fury pouring from them as he glared at her, ripping his shorts off and pushing his body against hers. Her chest heaved as he roughly grabbed her breast, her eyes black, matching his fury.

Alek: “AM I BIG ENOUGH FOR YOU TO FUCK NOW?!”

Then Persephone's eyes narrowed into a sadistic, satisfied 'smile'. Her legs circling around his hips, locking him in place. She could feel he was ready despite the utter hatred he had for her right now.

"Go on."

She snapped forward, her eyes never wavering from his. Her face inches away. Heat from his breath dancing across her lips.

"CLAIM IT."

She goaded through gritted teeth, squeezing her legs tighter around his hips and pulling herself closer to him. The desire building in her. She knew it was a game that needed to be played, and despite EVERYTHING--the anger, hate, control he tried to take from her, she wanted it. She wanted him to fuck her hard. Maybe she was a masochist, or maybe it was just another way to prove she had him. That he was HERS. The roles reversing in that moment, even if he didn't realize it.

 

[Berserker]

The White Princess’ Suite

"FUCK YOU!"

His face twisted into a smug grin, pleased that he had been able to upset her, when she thought she was going to come in here and dish it out without getting any back.

"YOU can but I can't?! THERE IT IS."

“NO ONE FUCKING STOPPED YOU!”

Jesus, she acted like he stood outside her bedroom with a shotgun. He defaulted back onto taunting her about Haleigh, because it obviously was a hot button as much as she tried to deny it.

"You LOVE it. You LOVE IT NOW. Let me guess? You fucked her HARD without thinking about HER. Just doing the ACT. How fucking BORING. How fucking SAD. Like I said: LITTLE BOY.

“Isn’t that what I was INSTRUCTED TO do?! If I fuck her I’m a little boy but if I don’t fuck her I’m a fool? WHICH IS IT, PERSEPHONE! For once in your life why don’t you SAY WHAT YOU REALLY WANT.”

She shoved him again.

"And you believed her? You're more GULLIBLE than you look. She talks a good game...you obviously played right INTO IT."

“Keep telling yourself that, sweetheart. Cause she’s trying to keep me in her bed as long as possible.”

He took a meaningful glance at their surroundings.

She wouldn’t quit, wouldn’t let up and eventually he was so angry, so filled with rage he could barely see. He had her in his hands, he screamed at her, told her how much he hated her. He took it almost to the point of no return, giving her a last chance to get the hell out and never come back. Her dark eyes reflected his own anger back at him as she crossed the final line, sprung that hair trigger they had been sitting on.

Her legs locked around his waist, and feeling her against him almost drove him mad. There was no going back now.

"Go on."

He looked into her sneering face and matched it.

"CLAIM IT."

The blood pounded in his ears. He pulled back just enough and then slid inside her hard and fast, not bothering to be gentle with her. He pounded her against the column again and again, until it was about to collapse. He picked her up then and threw her to the floor, her dark hair a pool on the white carpet. He stood there and looked down at her, his chest rising and falling with exertion and anger, the lust and need in his eyes taking all of her in. And then he was on top of her, his hands grasping her thighs as he parted her legs and entered her again and again, harder and harder, growling as his mouth found her neck, biting the soft flesh there and at her shoulder, her breast. And still he thrust against her, all of her taunting and screaming coming out as he gave it back to her tenfold, craving her even as he despised her. For despite everything, this insatiable fervor he felt at being inside her, this ache to never stop taking her, it gave her what she had wanted: he was her slave.

 

[Malice]

The Catacombs

Disappearing down the corridors leading down to the catacombs, Coco prances next to her gracefully, the white wolf's massive hight reaching Helena's hip. She finally turned the corner seeing Diana....and much to her surprise a KITTEN where she thought Haleigh's head would be.

"Diana?"

Coco growled at the kitten instinctively and Helena firmly shushed him. The kitten was ADORABLE and Helena couldn't help but smile.

"Oh my God....look at that little FACE!"

Coco sat down unimpressed as Helena moved over to Diana, dipping her head down to see the kitten. She gently began to stroke it's little head as it mewed.

"It's yours? I mean....I never pegged you as a animal lover in all the years i've known you. Hell, you've always threaten to kill Coco."

She joked as she looked up to Helena with an amused grin. She then returned her attention back to the kitten.

:: Diana didn't respond to Coco growling at Perle, any OTHER time, she would have threatened to turn the creature into a fur rug or coat! But it was another example of how calm and serene the white queen was in this moment.::

:: Helena expressed genuine surprise, and approval as the Perle captured her heart in that moment. She asked a fair question, since she'd NEVER seen Malice be kind to an animal - but she'd never seen her HURT one either- although she barely seemed to tolerate Coco ::

...When I was a little girl, I was BROUGHT to the arklay mansion. All I had...was the dress I was wearing the night they [Lord Spencer's black guard] found me, and killed my family, this blanket (the very same original), and my kitten. She looked JUST LIKE THIS ONE you see in my arms now.

Spencer had her TAKEN AWAY from me.

:: Diana's voice trembled as she revealed this VERY personal piece of her backstory to the ONLY person in this mansion she called FRIEND.::

Marcus promised me that if I....'met expectations'...I would get her back. But they took her away...down into the underground lab, so far down where the aqua ring was. I was MORE than "up to par"...but I NEVER saw her again.

I NEVER forgot. NEVER FORGAVE.

:: And Helena realized that THIS was one of the motivating factors for Malice's VIOLENT and BRUTAL revolution, one that left nearly everyone in the original mansion DEAD. Malice had PERSONALLY disposed of Spencer, Helena knew that much. ::

But in all the years that passed, I never got over it. She was the last piece of who I was...long before you met me. I still have DREAMS about looking for her in that mansion, hearing her soft cries, searching room after room...and never finding her.

:: She telepathically shared flashes of her LATEST dream with Helena.::

I...don't like unresolved issues.

:: She said quietly, with a sigh::

Imagine my SURPRISE, when this little one was presented to me this morning...by SCION.

"What's her name? Can I hold her?"

In rare fashion, the two Queens known for being heartless, catty, and evil were doting over a little kitten. It was a rare sight indeed.

Her name is Perle.

:: Again, Malice says that name with a french inflection::

French meaning: "Sweet treat" or "Protector of dreams"

:: She carefully hands the wrapped kitten over to Helena to hold. Helena would note the beautiful, genuine diamond enchanted collar that Lord Ravena conjured for her. It protects her from those who would harm her, and would alert Ravena and Diana if she were in danger.::

Ravena has conjured the most lovely gifts for the baby.

::Again, she gave Helena a telepathic "snapshot" of kitten bed , the cat condo ::

There's now a condo for her on EVERY floor of the mansion....as well as cat doors for her to move through different areas with ease. She's already begun imprinting on me, as her mother figure.

::And Diana couldn't be more pleased with that.::

Little CHRISSY came calling, leaving gifts for the kitten as well. It was unexpected, but well timed. She's part of why I wanted you here. You remember her father.

:: Oh yes, both Diana AND Helena remembered Count Nefaria ::

It's time our little Masque began living up to her name and her father's mantle. I have JUST the idea to help her on her way. Ravena will down here to assist with that too. By the way, check your master suite....

:: One last telepathic snap shot...this time....::

::FLASH!::

He had already sent a roomful of Helena's favorite flowers to her as a mea culpa for the prior unpleasantness and she had been agreeable in his presence, even back to normalcy.

Oh...

:: She looked at Coco for a moment::

...I've also decided to lift the ban on Scion, allowing the rest of the White Court to interact with her. Perhaps she'll be able to make better use of her time than spending all of it in the RED WING.

:: An indication that she too was aware of Haleigh's dealings with Alek.::

 

[Persephone]

He was seething. She was seething. They were in a dead lock, both ready to rip each other apart in both anger and ecstasy. She kept pushing him and pushing him until finally, she had him. He pushed inside her HARD, Persephone immediately reacting with a groan. Her eyes shut and head fell back against the column as he slammed himself against her, all the anger she had built up in him being released in one singular motion. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders, fingers clawing at his bare skin as her body was being thrusted upward from sheer force. It was a mixture of pleasure and pain, the marble column beginning to buckle as pieces began to fall off in a mixture of chucks and dust.

Persephone managed to lean forward during the rapid assault, her mouth by Alek's ear.

"Make me scream."

She purred out through heaving breaths. He immediately picked her up, pulling away from the column and threw her onto the plush white rug. Her chocolate hair pooled around her as she laid naked looking up at him. A true vision of what a goddess really was. Her chest was heaving, watching him stare down at her, his eyes fucking her before he could. Then he was on her again, forcefully, without restraint. He grabbed at her legs, slamming back into her over and over again. His mouth roughly finding her neck in need. She extended it back, her nails digging into his back while her other hand gripped the fur rug tightly.

She had had rough sex with Alek before, but it was playful on both their ends. This was any thing but. This was a combination of pure hatred, anger, and complete and utter LUST. Persephone asked him to make her scream, and he did. With every forceful movement she followed it with an intense moan which built into a full on scream, followed by a shudder of ecstasy. But he kept going, their mouths never meeting. The anger never leaving. He wanted her, and she could FEEL it. He WANTED her to feel what he was capable of--what he could do to her--GIVE her. And she DID, over and over again.

 

[Recall]

Charope Headquarters

:: Things were moving at a rapid pace as Charope was filled with people wanting to wish Zach and Alycia well. She was glad to see Alycia so refreshed and glad to have a moment of "quiet" against all the crazy things that had been happening. She was grateful to see Cass stop by as well. Her mind wandered to Rose and The Sanctuary but she knew that Sharon and Alycia would not let anything happen to her. This was just a man, not The Red Rook. But still, she was on edge knowing that at any moment they could all be yet again summoned to fight. ::

:: As Cass left the room, Vivica finished her coffee and set the cup down on the table. She wanted to see Zach but it looked like he was having an influx of visitors and she wanted to make sure she could get a moment to hug him in private. However, it would have not been possible for her to hug him without the timely assist from Dominique Devereaux. She looked down the hall..knowing that she would need to check on Isis before she left. Figuring that now was a good a time as any, she was just about to leave to meet Dominique when Nicolas showed up! ::

Nicolas: "Hey, you! How are you? You are as fine as ever! I came in to check on the wounded but I was hoping to see you as well. Do you have time to chat."

"Nicky! So good to see you. Thank you for coming."

:: Nicolas was one of the members of The Six that she actually liked. He was fun and playful and he had always offered her support when she needed it the most. He was thoughtful...and although Vivica was still fuming over being in the dark about Haleigh and Ava for so long, nearly at the cost of her own life, sometimes you just had to suck shit up and move on, and that's what she was trying to do. She gave Nicolas a big hug. ::

"And thanks for the compliment, because I feel like shit."

[pausing, she smiled]

"I always have time to chat with you, Nicky! What's up?"

 

[Talisman]

Hellfire Mansion

< It had been a delicious evening as Talisman worked in The Body Shoppe, using the gifts she had just been given to start a whole new course of action for the Hellfire Club. That was farther down in the pipeline, but it was promising to say the least. When she finally looked at her watch, she realized she had worked well through the night and into the morning. Taking off her black rubber gloves, and undoing her surgical mask, she realized that she would need to return to the mansion and soon, if only to prevent being accused of only focusing on her work. >

< After a steaming hot shower, the black court attended to her, fixing the small imperfections in her manicure and putting her together in a glamourous fashion. Doing a once over in the mirror, she snapped her fingers, igniting a small glamouring spell that shifted her haircut into something shorter and lighter, just for the day. Since binding herself to the timeline, she was beginning to enjoy the trappings of what it took to present as a powerful woman. And to be honest? She looked damn good with a bob. >

< Satisfied with her appearance, she received word from Helena's aide that her presence was requested in The Catacombs. She cocked an interested eyebrow. >

"Well thank god I'm the Black Queen...I'll be sufficiently dressed and prepared for Scion's funeral..."

< She laughed, thinking that she was about to be summoned to another public punishment session, until she reached out with her Omni Sight. Haleigh was alive and well and there was a world of fighting and fucking happening at an alarming rate. In other words, it was business as usual. >

< Her black stilettos clacked on the stairs that led down to the catacombs until she reached Diana and Helena. Immediately she arched her eyebrow up, noticing that Malice was holding a kitten. It didn't compute. >

"What is she doing with THAT...going to eat it I suppose..."

< Kelly wasn't a pet person (ask Alexis Quartermaine). At least not in the traditional sense, though she often toyed with the idea of walking a bio hazard around the mansion on a leash and feeding it treats. To Kelly...a kitten was essentially the same as a lab rat, something used to test makeup on and use for research. But she wasn't about to say any of that to Diana. She looked calm and serene, and if that cat provided that..Kelly would put a kitten in every room of the goddamn mansion. >

"Well, well...Diana, you've taken a pet."

< She walked over to them and bent down, meeting the cat at eye level. It wasn't all that. But she faked it. >

"Charming.."

< Rising back up. >

"I've been putting that Bishop sample to some good use. I'll have something concrete for you in a few days."

< cocking her head to the side for a moment. >

"I assume the kitty isn't the reason you called us here. Scion up to her old tricks again already?"