A savage heart

[Recall]

Near Vanguard

Simon: "VIVICA! MOVE! AVA! STOP THIS! JUST STOP!!!!!"

:: Her eyes WIDEN for a moment as she is thrown to the side, just barely dodging a FRUIT TRUCK as Persephone had recovered from her attack and was back on the path of vengeance. This was bad. Nobody from her team had shown up yet, and she could tell that Ava was truly going in for the kill. She had no choice in this moment, but to close her eyes and brace for impact. The winds HOWLED wildly as she continued to be BLASTED from the ground via a seismic attack. Rocks, sticks, hard pieces of concrete PUMMELED her body as she was thrown far ahead in the distance, nearly SMACKING into a powerline before meeting a BRICK wall. Her body was COVERED in debris. She felt her breath leave her stomach and for a moment, she began to panic. ::

"Shut up and BREATHE, Vivica. You will get OUT of this. She will NOT bury you AGAIN. SHUT UP AND BREATHE!"

:: Closing her eyes she began to think for a moment about the severity of this situation. This was an all out act of war. Ava Cassadine had been sent to kill her because of her associations to The Six. She was never a fan of Ava, but she knew how much the others loved her. To know that she could so easily target the friends of people she once claimed to love with such ease and almost joy, it sent chills down her back. Initially, she had wanted to investigate things further. She wanted to see if things were truly as bad as Sharon presented them. Both Sharon, Dominique and Alycia were quick to incite martial law or a public lynch mob. That was always their hyperactive aggressive nature. But Ava's appearance tonight quickly proved to Vivica that Sharon was right. As was Dominique, at least with regards to Haleigh and this act of betrayal. It didn't matter what Haleigh's reasons were. It didn't matter what Ava's reasons were. They wanted to declare themselves as traitors, then that is exactly how Vivica would treat them. The gloves were off, and she realized in this moment, that the growing anger and bitter rage she was experiencing was not exclusively going to be reserved for The Hellfire Club. It was time to draw some VERY clear lines in the sand, but first Vivica had to CLAW HER WAY out of this rubble, and prove to some uppity white bitch that she was NOT down for the count, and WOULDN'T be any time soon. ::

:: The problem was...she WAS a bit down for the count. The rubble had trapped her, she could feel heavy slabs of broken concrete on her stomach, locking her in and making it hard to breath. Vivica herself possessed peak human strength, but this debris was no joke. The small amount of room she writhed free for herself was not enough. She was getting pissed off as tears streamed down her face. She REFUSED to go out like this! ::

<< FLASH! >>

:: She was OFF! Danny surveyed the scene. The entire city block looked as if it had been destroyed. It was a huddled mess, cracked in half with a GIANT crater. He was not pleased. It was clear that Ava Cassadine had just amount as much respect for this city as a drunkard pissing on the sidewalk, which was par for the course with her family. This would not do at all. He extended his hand which was encased with a neon yellow halo of energy with a bold black outline. Flexin his power signature out, the city block began to REBUILD itself: the street began to patch up, boulders flew up into the air and back to their original positions, almost as if he was reversing time to before Ava unleashed her attack. As the city block came back into order, ahead in the distance, Danny could make out the bodies of Vivica and Simon. He flew into action. Running down the street, he jumped over dumpsters, swung around on a city streetlight and landed just at the sight of their bodies. They were alive. Incredibly beaten, possibly broken limbs...but ALIVE. He helped them up immediately. ::

:: She felt a strong and curious RUMBLING all around her as if she was in another Earthquake. For a moment, she thought it was Ava, sending them down to the Earth's core to disintegrate them both completely, but then...the pieces started to fly off of her body. Very quickly, she could see beams of moonlight and the night sky peak through her concrete coffin as her body was lifted UP and set down GENTLY on the ground. Vivica's LUNGS exhaled wildly as she began to breathe heavily up and down, clutching her chest and coughing loudly and frequently. ::

"Danny Donnelly...I'm an associate of Rose's. Stay close. We can't leave yet. If Rose gets into any trouble, I can have us anywhere in the city with a thought. Just stay back okay and don't try anything stupid. You're hurt. Don't try and be a hero."

:: He peered in the distance as he noticed Rose deliver an incredible and BRUTAL LOOKING attack on Ava Cassadine, SLAMMING her to the ground, the thirst of blood in her eyes, channeling an energy signature he had never seen from her before. ::

"It looks like Rose has a score to settle."

:: This was very troublesome. Had something been going on with her that he hadn't known about? Surely she would have reached out. What kind of power was she channeling? Was this new? Or had this kind of VISCIOUSNESS been inside Rose all along? He waited to see if the Cassadine Woman would survive such a brutal onslaught. ::

:: Vivica, gaining her barings slowly took the man's hand and let him prop her back up to the ground. She was pretty sure she had broken something and her eyes were both BLACK. The shirt on her stomach was shredded and she was bleeding...but she was ALIVE. And so was SIMON! ::

"SIMON!"

:: She grabbed a hold of him tightly, even though he winced in pain. He was worse for the wear than she was, but again...he was ALIVE. And almost never more thankful to be. She stood behind the handsome man who had saved her and squinted her eyes to see the scene ahead. ::

"He mentioned Rose...the woman from the orphanage..."

"WHOAAAHHH!"

:: Vivica watched with amazement as Rose, the normally serene and unassuming woman, delivered a totally brutal and incredible TWO PRONG attack against Ava Cassadine that took her to the ground in record time. And it looked like it hurt. It was a shocking moment, but Vivica scrunched her face. ::

"KILL THAT MISERABLE BITCH!"

:: She shouted out towards the battle. Ava realized that there were now too many factors, too many people for her to take on at once now. Whatever Rose was capable of, it was enough to get Persephone to back down, which only FURTHER infuriated Vivica. She had made it out alive, but watching Ava slither away like a pussy made her angry. ::

Persephone: "Consider this your friendly warning from the Hellfire Club. Your TIME is UP!"

"Eat me!"

:: She dissappeared in a tornado of winds as Vivica let out an exasperated sigh. ::

"Oh God DAMMIT!"

:: Mindlessly, not remembering exactly how much PAIN she was in, KICKED a dumpster with all of her strength as it was sent BARRELING down the street and into a WALL. And then she felt everything. Grabbing her leg in pain, she slunked back down to the ground. ::

"I....HATE...that woman!"

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower

Zizi: Oh, honey, you have nothing to be sorry about.

"I wish that were true."

He admitted, and she offered a hug. He knelt for it, grateful for the comfort, and she apologized for not leaving him out and letting him be sad. He gave a weak smile, and reminded himself again that he needed to be strong.

"I'm going to be sad regardless. I might as well be useful."

He said, fighting the urge to bail. She wheeled herself back, and asked him to contact Rose. He nodded, not rising from his knelt position, and sunk his hand into his pocket. That was when the alarms sounded, and their attention was drawn to the footage Vivica was beaming them.

Zach sank back onto his heels, watching with abject horror as he saw Ava there. But it wasn't Ava, after all, and he could see that plainly. The being that descended on Simon and Viv could only be Persephone, in all her glorious fury. Zizi looked back at him, and when Zach spoke, he was barely audible.

"I tried to convince her not to do this...... I tried to bring her back from the brink..... but she said goodbye in every way. That is not Ava..... That is the Queen of the Underworld RISEN. I fear to think of what Haleigh had to become for Hellfire. She will have unleashed the worst parts of herself to stand with her enemies, just as her sister has... Ava and Haleigh -- Persephone and Scion -- They will hurt us badly. They will MAKE us hate them to encourage OUR survival.... and they will do what they have to in order to remain alive in that place long enough for us to save them from it. We have to get them OUT of there Zizi. It's not too late. It can't be too late."

He managed, almost pleadingly. He still knelt, and watched the carnage, clearly bereaved by the loss, but he seemed to be held upright by faith alone. Persephone left the group on the street, with a warning 'from Hellfire'. Orion turned to Oracle with conviction.

"Let them hold on to their hatred, Zizi, it will be their armor. You and I must find a solution that gets everyone out alive."

 

[Longshot]

Near Vanguard - Help Arrives

:: He had gotten Vivica out of the line of fire at the last second before they were both sent FLYING through the air. As the debris flowed around him like a tornado, Simon saw everything in slow motion, as if this weren't really real, as if it were the only way to view the pure absurdity of the situation. Simon had seen Ava in battle, and on the battlefield, this was what Persephone was like. But the Ava Cassadine he knew was a good person. She cared about her family and she cared about the people around her. She fought like hell to save those children, to fight back against The Purifiers ::

"It changed my world...and it looks like...it finally BROKE hers..."

:: For a second he allowed himself to feel pity for Ava. Whatever she had gone through before meeting him, coupled with the trauma of having a hand in the deaths of so many children must have caused her to go to a very dark place, one that she didn't want to come back from. Or at least, that was the only logical reason he could come up with as to why Ava Cassadine was now leveling an entire city block for the sole purpose of killing two people she had intimate history with. That sympathy...that pity he felt was halted when his face met concrete...SCRAPING against the ground for a good seven feet, before his body was pummeled with stone and debris, burying him completely underground and nearly knocking him out cold. ::

:: He clang to whatever consciousness he could muster, doing everything in his power to work his ability to get him out of here, but he was too tense, and in too much pain. Simon's face looked as if it had a cheese grater taken to it and he was trapped. And then there was silence. Nothing but the cold blackness of what he was sure to be his grave. He thought of everything he had yet to do, all the best intentions he had, and all the time he had wasted not living up to who he was meant to be. All of it..everything he had went through in the last few months had been for nothing. The people who were stronger than him couldn't deal with it, so why did he think he could? How could he protect the city against somebody like Persephone? She was above the constraints of mortality and she could destroy the world with a THOUGHT. How does one get people to rally around somebody like her? Especially now. How could she cause this type of destruction and still wonder why the world HATED them. ::

"She's a goner...And I might be too.."

:: Simon was slowly fading into unconsciousness, frantically scared that he would die if he truly fell asleep...but then? ::

:: She was OFF! Danny surveyed the scene. The entire city block looked as if it had been destroyed. It was a huddled mess, cracked in half with a GIANT crater. He was not pleased. It was clear that Ava Cassadine had just amount as much respect for this city as a drunkard pissing on the sidewalk, which was par for the course with her family. This would not do at all. He extended his hand which was encased with a neon yellow halo of energy with a bold black outline. Flexin his power signature out, the city block began to REBUILD itself: the street began to patch up, boulders flew up into the air and back to their original positions, almost as if he was reversing time to before Ava unleashed her attack. As the city block came back into order, ahead in the distance, Danny could make out the bodies of Vivica and Simon. He flew into action. Running down the street, he jumped over dumpsters, swung around on a city streetlight and landed just at the sight of their bodies. They were alive. Incredibly beaten, possibly broken limbs...but ALIVE. He helped them up immediately. ::

:: He didn't know what was happening around him. It felt like another attack and immediately his body went into shock. He had no recollection of how he got to the sidewalk next to Vivica until he heard a familiar voice. ::

Citadel: "We've got to stop meeting like this Simon."

:: His vision was blurred. ::

"I..what's?"

:: Simon was incredibly disoriented, barely registering Vivica pulling him into a bear hug. Through his blurred vision he began to make out colors in front of him, ahead in the distance. Squinting his eyes with all his might, he focused. It was Rose! She had answered his call and she was FIGHTING against Ava. He wanted to reach out to her, WARN her of what somebody like Persephone was capable of. She couldn't do this by herself! She had shown her own capability just a while ago with Cobra, but Cobra was another story. She was a snake...and Persephone was a GODDESS. ::

"Rose...We...need to ...help her."

You're a DEMON wrapped in flesh. you STOLE the soul of one woman (Ava Cassadine) to cement your place here, but you dont belong. Betrayal and deceit follow you like a bitter winter frost, and Your heart, you soul are as tainted and FOUL as the pits of tartarus.

You REEK of DEATH, and just like you KILLED MY CHILDREN.

YOUR NEGLIGENCE. YOUR GROSS INCOMPETENCE. KILLED. MY. CHILDREN!

<< THREE glowing soul satellites now orbit around Rose as she spreads her arms out horizontal and her hair flows upward that flowing ribbon/scarf around her form begins to glow>>

You WON'T kill Simon or anyone ELSE!

<< Hovering in the air, Rose spins with form and grace, and grabs hold of her glowing scarf, snapping it like a WHIP and striking at Persephone. The scarf wraps around Persephone's wrist tightly and Rose YANKS her away from her original position, and then delivers a VICIOUS attack ( from 0:01 to 0:09 mark) as she assaults Persephone's very SOUL.>>

<< This is the FIRST glimpse of her channeling PSYCHO power instead of SOUL power, and for Simon and Danny, it's as though she's become a completely different person.>>

Get OUT OF HERE!

<< she Savagely hurls Persephone downward, slamming her to the ground!>>

"Mother of God!"

:: Was he hallucinating? Was he still actually conscious?! It looked like Rose had just delivered a brutal attack that had made a GODDESS drop to her knees! And then he realized, this was his waking reality. The anger and the hatred in Rose's eyes was palpable, Simon could almost feel it himself. Something was very wrong with Rose, and when this was all said and done, the moment she BLASTED Ava into oblivion...he would make sure to figure out just exactly WHAT that was. ::

:: Except instead he began to vomit, grabbing his stomach and dropping to his knees. The scenario was too much for him. Ava made her dissappearance giving him his SECOND warning from The Hellfire Club in the span of two hours and Vivica cried out in rage. Simon tried to rise to his feet, but he just didn't have the strength. ::

"My night could not POSSIBLY get worse..."

:: Vivica seemed to calm down and look somber at his words. ::

 

[Rose]

Outside of Vanguard

<< Rose continued to hover as she brutally attacked Persephone. She wouldn't be satisfied until she blew Persephone's soul APART, scattering it across the astral plane! But the goddess prooved to have an impressive, POWERFUL defense...>>

Gritting her teeth, she began to cry out in pain all the while sending a powerful mystic blast surging BACK AT Rose. As it STRUCK the woman, Rose released her and sent her flying across the street, SLAMMING into the concrete and rolling to a stop.

UGNNN!

<< Rose was KNOCKED from the air, releasing her hold on Ava as she was sent FLYING across the street and crashing into a building wall before slowly descending down to the ground, dropping to her knees.>>

oohhhhh....

<< She placed her hand over her forehead, shaking her head as she cleared her senses>>

That BLAST...it was MAGICK

<< Rose could recognize that form of energy, it had it's own special connection to the energy and ambiance of the astral plane, and Rose did channel it in certain subtle/passive ways.>>

The WIND WITCH caught me off guard....I was so...

<< the DEVIL card FLASHED across Rose's mind's eye once more...>>

Coughing, Ava struggled to get up. The attack Rose inflicted on her packed a fucking punch. Getting one knee down, she glared across the street at Rose before shifting her sights onto the mystery man, Vivica and Simon.

"Consider this your friendly warning from the Hellfire Club. Your TIME is UP."

Her eyes shot back to Rose once again, the two of them both glaring with contempt at each other.

<< Rose manifests two soul satellites around her, as she finally rises to her feet>>

Get OUT OF HERE!

ooking back over at Simon and Vivica, she winked giving both of them an 'air kiss' before disappearing in a tornado of winds.

<< Rose exhaled with utter agitation, standing there looking VERY angry.>>

:: Mindlessly, not remembering exactly how much PAIN she was in, KICKED a dumpster with all of her strength as it was sent BARRELING down the street and into a WALL. And then she felt everything. Grabbing her leg in pain, she slunked back down to the ground. ::

"I....HATE...that woman!"

She...killed my children...

<< Rose said with cold bitterness. >>

<< The ambient sound of her power signature could be heard as she stood tall, and turned away from the others.>>

"My night could not POSSIBLY get worse..."

:: Vivica seemed to calm down and look somber at his words. ::

It's not safe for you here, Simon.


<< She looks at Vivica.>>

Please tell Zach Armani that he has...

<< her eyes glow purple again>>

FAILED.

<< her voice, her very countenance looked DARK as she said that ONE word to Vivica regarding Zach.>>

<< And just like that, she reverts BACK to normal as she looks at Danny, she SMILES at him.>>

Citadel, THANK YOU for helping me.

I am going back to my sanctuary. I must be ready to protect my children.


Until next time.

<< Rose lifts her hands and surroundes herself in a large purple globe of psionic energy, TELEPORTING away via the astral plane back to her Sanctuary.>>

 

[Prophet]

The Parthenon - Top Floor Hallway

:: She said nothing. He was worried he might have completely broken her. And then The Silver Swan stormed the scene with the grace of a charging bull and Cameron grabbed the bridge of his nose with his fingers. ::

Sharon: "I'LL bury you, you BASTARD!"

:: WIth great speed, she charged him and BAKCHANDED him with GREAT force as he flew into the wall and hit it with a proper THUD, sliding down in a huddled mess. His jaw was broken and one would think he would feel great pain, but he wasn't feeling much of anything this day. In a gross display, he POPPED his jaw back in place and got up from the ground with a speed he shouldn't have been able to to have after such a brutal physical smack down. Numbness had it's advantages. ::

Sharon: "THAT'S for Alycia..and the PAIN you and that BITCH have caused, what she WOULDN'T do, what you so RICHLY DESERVE! I only REGRET that Haleigh is not here..for me to do the same to HER. Goddess knows you BOTH deserve it, and SO MUCH MORE!"

Cassandra: "SHARON!? WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"

Sharon: "STAND BACK, CASS! Cameron CAUSED this, let HIM suffer the consequences for it."

:: He looked at Cassandra with as much sincerity as he could muster, which wasn't much in this moment. ::

"It's okay, CJ. I'm fine."

[to Sharon flatly]

"Sharon? This is none of your GODDAMN business."

:: His own power signature flickered in the air around him. ::

"This is between Alycia and myself. THAT'S IT..."

:: She was provoking him. Begging him to react. She was winning. ::

You HOLD ON to those words, Cameron King. ESPECIALLY the part about HER [Haleigh] being WORTH it. You continue on THIS path, SHE'LL be the ONLY one who CARES to show up at your FUNERAL.

Meanwhile? STAY AWAY from ALYCIA! You've done ENOUGH damage. You and that treacherous COW, Haleigh!

"Funny how quickly you forget that people used to think that about YOU. And stupid of me for ignoring them, and trying to help YOU...because CLEARLY... [faintly laughing] that's REALLY being repaid to me right now. I have NEVER been ANYTHING but a GOOD FRIEND to you Sharon. I have NEVER ONCE lifted my hand in anger to you. I have remained open and available should you EVER need me from the moment we met, but you just can't help yourself from being everybody's savior, can you?"

:: His face became somewhat darker. ::

"You think I DESERVE THIS?! You REALLY think...after the kind of friend I have been to YOU...that I deserve to have my entire world turned on it's head because I made a mistake during a time of emotional CRISIS that I didn't deal with properly. Would you like NOW to be held accountable for the number of people who died at YOUR own hand because YOU couldn't process what had happened to you? Or would you like to remain so unjustly righteous in your need to defend Alycia and CASTRATE me? ME! Again! Somebody who has NEVER slighted you."

:: Shaking his head. ::

"How long did you KNOW, Sharon? You all are so MAD that you had to pick up the pieces?! Like WE forced this on you?! To annoy you?! To pester YOU!? To once again bring the people that we love into this fucked up madness for sport?! We are a FAMILY. We should have reached out earlier, but forgive us...we're all feeling pretty FUCKED IN THE HEAD RIGHT NOW. So sorry we aren't exactly operating at a level that is sufficient enough FOR YOU. Nobody PLANNED this...this isn't some staged stunt. This is REAL and we are TRYING to figure out what to DO about it!"

:: He gritted his teeth. ::

"So don't you DARE come in here and say that you defending Alycia because you are her friend. I know you, Silver Swan..you smell blood in the water and you are ALREADY on a war path. This whole fucking MESS [gesturing between him and Alycia] is HARD ENOUGH without YOU inserting your UNWANTED two cents."

:: The lights began to flicker in the hallway. ::

"Alycia is your friend. But you WERE also mine. But just as you all like to paint me and Haleigh as evil demons with foul intentions, you two haven't changed either. I have done everything in my power to make up to the BOTH of you everything that was handed to you because of The Six since I've returned, and I have NEVER missed an opportunity to tell the both of you how much I appreciate, love and respect you..but if you think Haleigh and I's dynamic is SICK and TWISTED? You both need to look in a mirror. The SECOND I fuck up, the SECOND I make a mistake and both of you want to burn me at the stake."

:: The windows in the hallway burst open as his eyes began to glow electric red, his power signature. ::

"This was NONE of your business, Sharon. I've ALWAYS had your back...and where the HELL have you been?"

"Now please. Get...out."

Sharon: "If you have ANY hope of surviving the changes that are coming your way, you'll THINK about who you put your trust in, and the kind of choices they make."

:: He turned to Cassandra ::

"You will survive, and we'll all see to it that you are protected. *I* don't toss people to the curb as easily as some do."

 

[Persephone]

She had returned to the Hellfire Club--home. Walking down the halls, she had literally looked like she had been hit by a tank. Her body bloodied and covered in dirt and sweat. Her clothing tattered and torn. Scratches and gashes across her body and face. She had passed a few members of the club who looked aghast as she passed by, but she didn't notice. She didn't notice anything. Beyond looking like she had just came from a war zone, she just looked different. No emotions, no clear sign of life behind her eyes. She just walked--the heels of her boots the only noise that could be heard as she made her way down the wood covered floors of the red corridor to her chambers.

Opening the door to her room, she gently closed it behind her and stood motionless. She looked tired and felt WORSE. A sharp pain jolted her head causing Ava to grab the dresser near by, hunching over and using her free hand to hold her head. Her eyes were shut tightly as she breathed through the pain. Then it passed. Ava remained in the same position, her eyes relaxing more but remaining shut. Her breathing was shallow as she slowly began to lower herself to the floor, sitting with her back against the dresser and her knees propped up in front of her. She finally opened her eyes, tears falling from the corners. What had she done? She didn't know if Simon was even alive....and she may of disliked Vivica but she didn't want her dead. She was Cameron's oldest friends, hurting her would hurt him. Placing her elbows on her knees, Ava covered her face with her hands.

"I can't do this."

She wiped the tears.

"Go AWAY."

She could feel the headache returning, intensifying. Hissing in pain, she buried her face deeper into her palms, holding herself in vain. But she wanted her gone. She NEEDED her gone. She couldn't feel remorse or guilt or pain. She couldn't do what she needed to if she were WEAK like Ava. And that was the problem, since the moment she merged with Ava she became more human--felt more human. She couldn't be that anymore. Not to survive in the Hellfire Club. Not to help Haleigh. Not to consider The Six and Birds of Prey her enemies. She needed PERSEPHONE. She needed the unforgiving, unhinged, sociopath. And whatever Diana did to her earlier was starting to bring that darkness to the forefront. She felt it on the battlefield. It was a feeling she hadn't felt in YEARS--since the Masters of Evil. It was EXACTLY who she needed to become again.

Lifting her head from her hands, the headache had finally dissipated. She slowly began to unzip her ankle boots, pulling them off and throwing them to the side. Ava remained seated against the dresser; still bloodied, still war torn, just staring blankly at the wall in front of her.

 

[Recall]

A Break In The Storm...

It's not safe for you here, Simon.


<< She looks at Vivica.>>

Please tell Zach Armani that he has...

<< her eyes glow purple again>>

FAILED.

<< her voice, her very countenance looked DARK as she said that ONE word to Vivica regarding Zach.>>

<< And just like that, she reverts BACK to normal as she looks at Danny, she SMILES at him.>>

:: Vivica's eyes widened as Rose appeared almost...DEMONIC in her presentation. Something was broken inside the woman. And it was more than just the revelation that Ava Cassadine was a treacherous bitch. She would be sure to relay the message to Zach as well as confer with Oracle. The two of them had both been interested in the level of high care that Alycia, Sharon and Zach all gave to Rose and NEITHER Oracle OR Vivica could find anything out about this woman. That was not a good sign to either of them, considering their resources. Rose said her goodbyes to all of them and dissappeared into the night. ::

Rose: "Citadel, THANK YOU for helping me. I am going back to my sanctuary. I must be ready to protect my children."

Citadel: "Anything for you, Rosie."

:: Vivica activated her comm link to Oracle, which was surprisingly still in tact despite the throttling of her life that she had just received. ::

[via comm link]

"Oracle...it looks like your girl lives to fight another day. Simon is badly injured. I am going to take him to Charope and get him some medical attention. And scream into a pillow. Please re-route Steel. I don't necessarily feel safe being alone right now. I'll be back at the Clocktower soon...I promise..thanks for always being in my head, Zizi..I appreciate it more than you know."

:: She looked over at Citadel who seemed a bit at a loss. ::

"You said you could get us anywhere in the city with a thought?"

Citadel: "Just say where and I can safely get you there."

"You know where Charope LLC is?"

:: Citadel nodded. ::

"Home base of Alycia Barnett. Yeah, I know the place."

:: Vivica grabbed Simon up by his torn shirt and slumped his arms over her shoulder as Citadel filled in the gap, grabbing the other side of Simon, easening the burden for Vivica. ::

Citadel: "Ready when you are."

"I'm ready...to get the HELL out of this place."

:: Citadel made good on his word. Everything went black for a split second before Vivica found herself, Simon and Danny at the front doors of the building where Charope had it's headquarters. It was late at night, but Vivica assumed that Ana-Leigh might still be there. She was a tireless workaholic, which you had to be if you worked for Alycia Barnett. She looked over at Danny warmly. ::

"Thank you...for all of your help. We would have died...without you..but..the bad news isn't over for this guy, and..I think he deserves some privacy...after everything. My team mate will be here soon, and the security measures of this building are highly sophisticated. We'll be fine...I promise."

Citadel: "No need to explain. I get it...please be safe. If Rose was willing to help you, it means your both good people...and it also means you have my protection as well, and trust me..in times like these, it's good to have the city on your side."

:: He handed Vivica a business card that read "Danny Donnelly - Owner - Heritage Bar/Live Music Venue". ::

"I own a bar in Brooklyn. But not a hipster joint. An actual bar. You need me again, seek me out. That goes for any of the Birds of Prey. Even if you don't need help...stop by..and help ME stop the gentrification of Brooklyn."

:: She could tell that he was still a bit uneasy about leaving them there. What a handsome and friendly new connection this man was. His powers, Vivica deduced were almost elemental in nature, like Blaze or Jasmine...but it seemed that his "element" was the city itself. It was a power set she hadn't seen, and one that could be invaluable to them ALL in the days to come. Vivica gave the man a hug. ::

"Thank you Danny. Maybe there ARE still a few good people in this city. I'll be in touch."

:: With that Danny dissappeared as quickly as he had arrived, dematerializing in an instant. Where he had gone, she didn't know. Right now, she looked at Simon who was still weak and somewhat incoherent, and she thought about what she still had to do. If he thought his heart was broken and his faith in humanity had been destroyed NOW...she didn't know how he would react to the second piece of information he was in the dark about. ::

:: Vivica called Charope headquarters on a private, secure line that was reserved for things of this nature and Ana-Leigh answered almost immediately. ::

"Ana-Leigh...it's Vivica Lennox. I'm outside with a badly injured Simon Pratt. I need access to the infirmary. Can you let us in?"

:: She was suspicious at first and with good reason, but seeing Simon Pratt's mutilated face through the glass of the front doors of the building changed her tune immediately. They were rushed in and headed downstairs where Simon was immediately tended to my the highly specialized and educated medical staff. Vivica and Ana-Leigh stood side by side, staring at Simon as he was getting treated. Their eyes never met but it was clear they were both feeling the same thing. ::

Ana-Leigh: "Ava Cassadine did this to him? That just doesn't seem real."

Vivica: "It's real. Don't worry..she was left scampering away with her tail between her legs and Oracle has confirmed to me the safety of Alycia and the others. It looks like there is a break in the storm. Once I know that Simon is safe...I will check in on Alycia...and Sharon. I've got a bit of crow to eat."

:: Ana-Leigh left back up to the upper levels after ensuring they had everything they needed and before long, Vivica had ushered the staff out of the room while Simon sat comfortably on an examination chair, with an IV in his arm and oxygen attached to his nose. He was beginning to be a lot more cohesive, his breathing stabilizing. ::

"I'm so sorry, Simon. You didn't deserve that."

Simon: "It's okay, Vivica. You were trying to warn me. Neither of us knew...that she would attack like that...I still can't wrap my head around it."

:: She placed her hand on his leg as she sat next to him. ::

"Well you need to get there quickly, Simon. You've been threatened by The Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club twice in one night. Whatever anonymity and protection you thought you might have? You don't anymore. Though...you're disconnect from your family, that was well timed and probably for the best."

Simon: "How do you figure? If I was still in their good graces..I'd have a bit more wiggle room. Be able to get things up and running so much faster. Get down to the work...to STOPPING them."

:: Her eyes watered for a brief moment. There would never be a good time for her to say this. He had been through so much, but he WANTED to be in this world. He wanted to help..he just didn't know the true price of admission into a club like this...but he was about to. ::

"Simon..the revelation about Ava..as horrible as it must have been to hear...there's..."

:: Her voice was breaking slightly as she spoke. ::

"That wasn't even the worst of what I had to tell you."

:: Simon tried to sit up straight but she held him down. ::

"Please..you just need to listen."

Simon: "Vivica. Please. Stop with the cloak and dagger. Just tell me! How could this possibly get any worse."

:: She swallowed hard in her throat. ::

"Ava and Haleigh are not the only person you know tied to the Hellfire Club. There's another one. One who has apparently been working for the Hellfire Club for close to three decades as the right hand woman and herald of The White Queen herself..."

:: Pausing. ::

"That woman is your mother. Her codename is Mockingbird, and I have every reason to believe that you've been in danger for quite some time now, before you met any member of The Six."

 

[Longshot]

To Charope

:: It was all a blur. Once he knew that Ava had dissappeared, he halted any attempts to try and remain strong and stand up and fight. He was badly injured and his body ached with a numbing pain that prevented him from being able to stand. He barely noticed Vivica and Danny hoisting him up or the trip to Charope. Simon just wanted to sleep. He wanted to forget everything that had happened tonight and he wanted to be alone. ::

:: Simon was also too weak to object to any kind of treatment and before long he found himself swarmed with aides who were checking his pulse, setting him up with an IV and an oxygen max and suturing his face back together. After a bit of time, Simon began to feel a lot better if not incredibly medicated. Still, the silence of the infirmary was welcome and as he slowly came back around, he was grateful to have survived and happy to have Vivica by his side. This would be just yet another encounter that had deepened their friendship and made him remember the importance of having people to lean on. Still, there was a small part of him that thought he could lean on Ava, and mourning that wouldn't be easy. Trusting anybody again wouldn't be easy, but if there was anybody to try and start that over with again, it was definitely Vivica. ::

:: He could tell that she was worried. ::

Vivica: "I'm so sorry, Simon. You didn't deserve that."

"It's okay, Vivica. You were trying to warn me. Neither of us knew...that she would attack like that...I still can't wrap my head around it."

:: That was the god's honest truth. Never in a million years would he have thought that Ava Cassadine would willingly lie down after everything they had put her through. He thought that she was stronger than that. He had been let down by a lot of people in his life lately, but this one stung. ::

Vivica: "Well you need to get there quickly, Simon. You've been threatened by the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club twice in one night. Whatever anonymity and protection you thought you might have? You don't anymore. Though...your disconnect from your family, that was well times and prbably for the best."

:: He cocked an eyebrow. ::

"How do you figure? If I was still in their good graces..I'd have a bit more wiggle room. Be able to get things up and running so much faster. Get down to the work...to STOPPING them."

:: He saw her eyes began to water. How much more could he possibly learn in one evening? ::

Vivica: "Simon...the revelation about Ava...as horrible as it must have been to hear...there's..That wasn't even the worst of what I had to tell you."

:: Simon was getting annoyed at Vivica and he propped himself up in his examination chair only to be held down by Vivica. ::

Vivica: "Please..you just need to listen."

"Vivica. Please. Stop with the cloack and dagger. Just tell me! How could this possibly get any worse?"

Vivica: "Ava and Haleigh are not the only people you know tied to the Hellfire Club. There's another one. One who has apparently been working for the Hellfire Club for close to three decades as the right hand woman and herald of The White Queen herself...That woman is your mother. Her codename is Mockingbird, and I have every reason to believe that you've been in danger for quite some time now, before you met any member of The Six."

"Oh come off it, Vee. That's not even funny. She has membership, but that's it. It's just a status thing."

Vivica: "No. It's not funny. And I'm not joking. Sharon went to The Blackout Party that the club threw last week. It was there that we found out about Haleigh and Ava as well as the arrival of a brand new, powerful inner circle. While there, your mother was in attendance. She remained in a special VIP Booth for exaulted Hellfire Club members..among those in the box was Sharon. She noted a closeness between Diana, The White Queen and Kristin..It was clear they were more than just friends, but business associates..."

"Wait a minute...DIANA? Tall..statuesque...PREDATORY Blonde woman? SHE is The White Queen of The Hellfiire Club?!"

Vivica: "Yes, she is. She's also Haleigh's biological mother."

:: Simon's face went white before his cheeks flushed BRIGHT RED. He hadn't been a part of this world for very long, but he couldn't believe that he hadn't put the pieces together. He knew Diana...on an INTIMATE level, but he had no idea just WHO she was..or that the Diana they spoke of was the same person he had met so many years ago. There had been enough BOMB SHELLS for one night. ::

:: She extended her hand on his leg and he rebuked her, shaking it loose from his body. ::

Vivica: "Simon..I know this seems impossible and...after what we just went through--"

"After what we just went through WHAT, Vivica?! Oh Goddammit!"

:: Simon SLAMMED over a stainless steel medical tray as it fell to the ground, a number of medical tools falling all over the floor. The staff prepared to sedate him but Vivica held up a hand. Simon rose from his chair. ::

"My life...."

:: He SMACKED his hand against his forehead a few times. ::

"How did I GET HERE?! What have I DONE? I KNOW I've been one SMUG son of a bitch sometimes...but god...DAMMIT Vivica. I'm a good person! How could I let myself get involved with YOU PEOPLE?!"

:: Simon shot a look towards Vivica. ::

"Sorry."

Vivica: "Don't be. Look, I understand what you're feeling right now. I have half a mind to head down to The Parthenon and give them a piece of my mind..and in fact, I still fully intend on doing so..but Simon..your mother has been in league with Diana since before you were born. That being the case, your days have been numbered since birth."

"It doesn't make any sense! My mother HATES mutants. She LOBBIES against them at every single turn! She came to my apartment...and she..DRUNKENLY begged me not to go public with Vanguard...I thought..I thought it was just because she didn't want me to tarnish the family name.."

:: shaking his head. ::

"God...does my DAD know?! Does he know his wife is in league with a MUTANT?!"

:: He buried his head in his hands. ::

"Vivica..I can't handle this. I really can't. I thought I could be a hero. I thought I could do this, but FUCK...you know...just...FUCK!"

:: This time he didn't pull away her embrace. He needed somebody he cared about to touch him, keep him grounded. He didn't have it in him to cry, and honestly, as he looked back over his life, it began to make a lot of sense. His mother had been an alcoholic for almost as long as he can remember, but he always thought it was because she knew...knew that he was a mutant. He knew that she loved him, but at times she treated him as if his very existence threatened her own. Certainly, she would never WORK with somebody like Diana of her own free will. The White Queen HAD to be blackmailing her, and it had to be BIG. His family could cover up ANY number of things...and HAD over the years. To pull one over on a Pratt required a kind of power that was RARE in this world. Diana had found some kind of weakness. ::

"What am I supposed to do with this information?"

Vivica: "You use every single bit of it to your advantage, Simon. And you CAN handle this. Look at you, Simon. You're still standing. Any number of people would have thrown themselves off the Brooklyn Bridge at this point. You CAN deal with this. And..sorry boo, but you don't really have a choice BUT to if you want to stay alive."

"Is it even safe to go home?"

Vivica: "Right now? Hell no. There's plenty of room at The Clocktower, and if that's a no go, then you can stay with me. After tonight, you need to keep yourself close to me...and The Birds of Prey. Do NOT reach out to The Six. Anything you do could be looked at as an act of aggression against the Inner Circle..."

:: She leaned in. ::

Vivica: "Simon, they're trying to pick us off because they think we're easy targets, and that they can use us to completely fracture The Six...what they don't know..is that The Six has been fractured for a LONG TIME. They are a sinking ship. It's time to put our heads down and move forward. Forget EVERYTHING you think you feel about Ava Cassadine and SMOTHER IT. She is no longer your friend, she is no longer your ally. She is the enemy. So is Haleigh. And depending on the situation, so are members of The Six."

"Vee...this is just crazy. How am I just supposed to pretend that none of this happened?"

Vivica: "Because it doesn't matter anymore, Simon. Because they don't care. And when push comes to shove, when it's your own head weighed against any of there's? Who do you think they will choose?"

:: She wasn't wrong. Simply by being an associate of The Six had altered his world forever. People had tried to warn him about this. Sharon..and even Vivica herself. But he felt compelled to help, guided by their strength and their power, poised to want to make a difference. He hadn't realized that in order to be a player in this game, he would have to have every single thing he thought he knew about this world be revealed as false. He felt like an alien in a human world that he didn't understand how to navigate. And what was worse? Was that there was no time to process, only enough time to make a decision and throw yourself into it completely. ::

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

"You're asking me to turn my back on the only people I know that can help me do what I need to do. I'll be starting back at square one."

Vivica: "I'm asking you to open your eyes, and trust your instincts. And I'm coming to you as a friend, Simon. It would kill me if anything happened to you because you were unlucky enough to know us, unlucky enough to be BORN to the woman you were born to. You won't be starting back at square one. You will have me..you will have people like Oracle and Valkyrie. People JUST as strong and capable, sometimes moreso, than The Six. Right now, the battle lines are blurred, and I need you to help me define them. I need to know that we can count on each other. That you have my back..and I promise..we will get through this together."

:: He had never seen Vivica so...forthright about something. She was always opinionated, but she was coming to him from a different place altogether. She was talking to him like if she didn't side with her, that if he didn't listen to what she was saying, that she would have no choice but to cut him lose, to isolate him. He knew the stakes were high in this moment, but he never expected to be this close to ground zero. ::

"I have your back, Vivica. I trust you with my life..and I hope the feeling is mutual. Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere."

:: The two hugged. ::

"I'm starting to feel better...but to be honest? I just want to sleep for a good three days. Can we head to The Clocktower now?"

:: He asked. ::

Vivica: "Yes. Steele will be here soon and he can escort us..and once I check in with Zizi...I'm going to pay Cameron King a little visit."

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

"I tried to convince her not to do this...... I tried to bring her back from the brink..... but she said goodbye in every way. That is not Ava..... That is the Queen of the Underworld RISEN. I fear to think of what Haleigh had to become for Hellfire. She will have unleashed the worst parts of herself to stand with her enemies, just as her sister has... Ava and Haleigh -- Persephone and Scion -- They will hurt us badly. They will MAKE us hate them to encourage OUR survival.... and they will do what they have to in order to remain alive in that place long enough for us to save them from it. We have to get them OUT of there Zizi. It's not too late. It can't be too late."

Zizi looked up gravely at Zach, and took his hand, gave it a squeeze.

“It’s not. No one is past saving, Zach. Not when there are people who love them.”

She gave him a small smile.

"Let them hold on to their hatred, Zizi, it will be their armor. You and I must find a solution that gets everyone out alive."

Zizi nodded. The wheels already turning. But she couldn’t shrug the feeling that while this was absolutely the right thing to do, that it would tear her team apart.

“A doublecross at the most opportune moment is the most likely scenario. But we are going to have to come up with a way to communicate with them that the Hellfire Club – namely Malice – can’t intercept or pull from their heads. That will take some time.”

Her attention was snapped back to the events at Vanguard by Rose:

Please tell Zach Armani that he has...

<< her eyes glow purple again>>

FAILED.

Zizi’s head snapped backward.

“What does she mean by that?”

[via comm link]

"Oracle...it looks like your girl lives to fight another day. Simon is badly injured. I am going to take him to Charope and get him some medical attention. And scream into a pillow. Please re-route Steel. I don't necessarily feel safe being alone right now. I'll be back at the Clocktower soon...I promise..thanks for always being in my head, Zizi..I appreciate it more than you know."

[via com] “Copy that, Recall. Steel, intercept Recall and Longshot at the Infirmary.”

[cutting the link to Recall] “And John, don’t let her out of your sight until she’s back here. Understand?”

Oracle sent a clip of the altercation between Vivica and Ava to all the BOP eyepieces.

[via com to all BOP except Recall] “Birds of Prey, this is Oracle. Be on guard. Those of you near Six members, relay this info, then return to the Clocktower. Oracle out.”

She blew out the air from her cheeks and looked up at Zach.

"So, I guess Rose doesn't need to be warned, then?"

 

[Matrix]

I stayed in the Diamond Suite while Miss D went to check on Set-boy. It was taking a while, so I knocked out 3 pineapples as I waited. Finally, the door opened and they were coming in as Oracle sent a message to my eyepiece.

Oracle sent a clip of the altercation between Vivica and Ava to all the BOP eyepieces.

[via com to all BOP except Recall] “Birds of Prey, this is Oracle. Be on guard. Those of you near Six members, relay this info, then return to the Clocktower. Oracle out.”

Hello, Richard. I assume everything was in order while you waited...

I stood and offered my cheek for a kiss, nodded in recognition to Nic, then spoke.

Miss D, Ava just tried to kill Vivica and Simon Pratt, managed to hurt them pretty bad. I have the footage. Zizi is asking us to return to the Clocktower. Shall I inform the others of a change in plans?

I awaited further orders.

 

[Steel]

Near Vanguard

Steel didn’t like the idea of leaving Ashley alone. Not because he didn’t think she could handle herself, but what message would it send for the Hellfire Club to murder someone who had essentially become a defector? Something that was directly his fault. And even without an attack by the Hellfire, Ashley out and alone was a recipe for trouble.

But he had acquiesced, because otherwise they would have argued all night and accomplished nothing. But in truth, he had accomplished nothing anyway. The only thing his informants really had to say what that the club was ramping up, swelling its ranks. Preparing. All things they knew. But when and where? No one seemed to know. Hell, maybe the HC didn’t know either.

[via com] “Steel, I need you at Vanguard, asap – Recall and Longshot are being attacked by Persephone. They need you. NOW!”

[via com] “I’m inbound, eta two minutes.”

Oracle [via com]: “This thing’ll be over in one minute if you don’t get there. So GET THERE.”

He floored the accelerator on his black Navigator.

Just as he was about the jump out of the car at Vanguard, where there were no signs of any major fight to be seen:

[via com] “Copy that, Recall. Steel, intercept Recall and Longshot at the Infirmary.”

“Aw for fuck’s sake!”

[cutting the link to Recall] “And John, don’t let her out of your sight until she’s back here. Understand?”

“Roger that, Oracle. On my way.”

He pulled up onto the sidewalk in front of Charope, flashing his badge as he ran inside and down to the Infirmary. Vivica was sitting next to a prone and worse for wear Simon Pratt.

“Thank god you’re okay.”

He pulled Vivica in for a relieved hug.

“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there. I should NEVER have let you go off alone. It won’t happen again, I promise.”

He looked down at Simon and Vivica, the relief now becoming anger as he set his jaw, his hand clenching and beginning to turn a metallic color.

“I’ll kill Ava Cassadine before I let her hurt anyone else. When Simon can travel, we need to get you both back to the Clocktower.”

 

[MorningStar]

The Parthenon - Delilah’s Suite

They were just about to announce the winner of the final challenge on Project Runway when Delilah’s ears were bombarded by screaming from a very upset Alycia. Followed by an even more upset (and destructive) Sharon.

“Oh what the HELL is going on now?”

Slipping into her sneakers as she walked, she listened for Sharon’s distinctive voice. She was going somewhere with Alycia, and Delilah followed, winding up at Dominique’s door.

Giving it a rap, she spoke through the door.

“It’s me, Delilah.”

 

[Berserker]

The Hellfire Club – Red Knight’s Quarters

Alek rolled over, and groaned. They had moved to the bed the second – or was it third? – time. His phone buzzed and he wiped his face as he brought the screen closer.

One of his eyes throughout the mansion was reporting that Ava Cassadine had just returned home, looking ragged and bleeding. He lightly hopped out of bed and picked up a shirt and pair of pants before exiting into the next room to put them on, careful to not wake Haleigh.

He went into the hall and moved to Ava’s door. He knocked softly.

“Ava?”

He tried the handle, and it was open, so he entered and found her sitting on her bed, staring blankly. Her clothes were dirty, torn and bloody, and so was her skin.

“Jesus, what the hell happened to you?”

He went into the bathroom and wet a towel, returning to kneel by her and began to gently wipe the blood off of her. He looked up into her face.

“Tell me.”

 

[Orion]

The Clocktower

Zizi: It’s not. No one is past saving, Zach. Not when there are people who love them.

She gave his hand a squeeze, and he returned it with a genuinely relieved smile. He wanted to kiss her, he was so grateful. He could see her gears turning as she considered the task. He finally rose to his feet again, bolstered by her support.

Zizi: A doublecross at the most opportune moment is the most likely scenario.

"Agreed.... but I can't even begin to imagine how they'd pull that off. If ANYBODY could do it.... it'd be Haleigh. But if she DOES have a plan? Ava doesn't know it yet, because she's letting go."

Zizi: But we are going to have to come up with a way to communicate with them that the Hellfire Club – namely Malice – can’t intercept or pull from their heads. That will take some time.

"Well.... Clandestine policy is to never initiate contact when an agent goes undercover-- we ALWAYS wait for them to get a message out. Ava's already delivered HER message. She could have killed ME, but didn't.... and she could have killed THEM instantly, but didn't. We got off with a warning; they must strike for Hellfire, and they WILL. Haleigh.... Haleigh will send a message TOO. It'll probably be horrible, but hopefully I'll be able to figure out what she means by it."

Rose: Please tell Zach Armani that he has... << her eyes glow purple again>> FAILED.

Zizi: What does she mean by that?

He leaned back to sit against the edge of her console, and didn't respond right away. Zizi communicated via their com-link, as Zach contemplated the message, his expression grim.

Zizi: So, I guess Rose doesn't need to be warned, then?

"Nope. She's already giving out warnings of her own."

Zizi looked perplexed, but she was always too polite to push someone to answer a question they were trying to dodge. He shrugged, because Sharon had already made his fling with Ashley public knowledge.

"Rose did a tarot reading for me a while ago, around the time I started working with her for the benefit of the Sanctuary. She pulled a card... The Lovers. She said I'd have a decision to make, and that the ramifications would be irrevocable. Apparently she doesn't approve of my recent choices... if she says I've failed to heed the Tarot warning."

He sighed and crossed his arms.

"It's too late to take it back NOW. And anyway.... failure is a necessity of life. How else would we learn to succeed?"

 

[Persephone]

She needed to take a shower but she didn't want to move. It felt nice to sit in the quiet away from everything and everyone, it made the time move slowly. She needed slow right now.

Voice>> "Ava?"

It was paired with a tapping on her door. She didn't answer. She wasn't close enough to anyone to care to answer, except Haleigh. And even then, she wouldn't answer.

The door opened.

Alek: “Jesus, what the hell happened to you?”

Of course it was him. There was no privacy in the Hellfire Club. There were no moments of peace when she was being watch 24/7 by EVERYONE. They were waiting for her to fuck up so they could attack her again. They were waiting for her to fail so they could kill her. She WOULDN'T. She wouldn't give ANY of them the satisfaction.

She heard the faucet turn on and off before Alek moved to her and knelt down in front of her. She didn't look at him, but her eyes were dark and unforgiving even without contact. He gently began to clean the blood off her face with the wet rag.

Alek: "Tell me."

Ava grabbed his wrist hard, holding it tightly. Her eyes finally locked with his.

"Why are you here."

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

"Rose did a tarot reading for me a while ago, around the time I started working with her for the benefit of the Sanctuary. She pulled a card... The Lovers. She said I'd have a decision to make, and that the ramifications would be irrevocable. Apparently she doesn't approve of my recent choices... if she says I've failed to heed the Tarot warning."

“I can’t imagine Rose holding you to such a…personal choice.”

Zizi’s brows knit together in thought.

“She just seemed…unreasonably angry.”

Like, I am going to kill you the next time I see you angry. Which seemed very unlike Rose. But then again, how much did they really know about her?

"It's too late to take it back NOW. And anyway.... failure is a necessity of life. How else would we learn to succeed?"

“Would you take it back if you could?”

Zizi looked up at him.

She wasn’t naïve. It’s not like she thought Zach and Ashley were going to become a couple. But…what did Zach really want? To get Haleigh back? To forget her? Did he find the thought of having slept with Ashley so distasteful that he wished it’d never happened? Zizi knew Ashley wouldn't care either way - she would do what she wanted no matter what, no skin off her nose. But ever since that first night when she had met Ashley for the first time, she had felt protective of her - that someone should care even if Ashley herself didn't.

 

[Berserker]

The Hellfire Mansion – Red Rook’s Quarters

She was silent as he dabbed at her face.

Then quick as a serpent, she grabbed hold of his wrist. Her amethyst eyes finally met his.

"Why are you here."

He stopped with the towel, setting it down on the floor.

“Because I was worried about you.”

He reached up to touch her cheek.

“You’re on the Red Court now. That means you’re under my protection. If someone hurts you, I want to hurt them back. Worse.”

He put his hands on her knees.

“Now. How about I draw you a bath?”

 

[Persephone]

Ava kept her grip on his wrist, her eyes not wavering from his. She didn't trust him, he was Helena's protector. He was her eyes. He was a good fuck there was no denying that, but a friend? No.

Alek: “Because I was worried about you.”

"There's nothing to worry about. You should've seen what happened to them."

Finally letting go of his wrist, Ava moved to the side and pushed her way off the bed and past him.

Alek: “You’re on the Red Court now. That means you’re under my protection. If someone hurts you, I want to hurt them back. Worse.”

"I don't need your protection."

His loyalty to his court was admirable, but she couldn't be vulnerable around him or ANYONE for that matter. He could use it against her, go to Helena. He may be protective of his court, but his queen was top tier.

Ava moved over to her dress, placing her hands on the edge of the wood and letting her head hang forward. The tense muscles pulled and stretched--the first good thing she felt all night.

Alek: “Now. How about I draw you a bath?”

"Don't you have a women waiting for you somewhere? Go draw HER a bath. I'm done with the games."

Ava slipped her one hand behind her hanging neck, unclasping her necklace and letting it fall onto the wood dresser. Finally craning her neck back, she then slipped her snake cuff off her wrist, tossing it next to the discarded necklace. Looking up into the mirror, she saw Berserker standing behind her staring at her.

"WHAT."

 

[Berserker]

The Hellfire Mansion - Red Rook's Quarters

"There's nothing to worry about. You should've seen what happened to them."

She pushed past him, retreating to the other side of the room.

“Fuck ‘them’. ‘Them’ is not what concerns me, unless killing them for you will make you feel better.”

Something had happened tonight that was scarring her. A trauma. And for someone with as…distinguished…a life as she had, that had to be something major. What did they make her do?

He got up off his knees, but didn’t turn around. He grabbed a hold of the end of the bed.

"I don't need your protection."

He shrugged.

“Maybe. Maybe not. But isn’t it possible that maybe, you need a friend in this place?”

"Don't you have a women waiting for you somewhere? Go draw HER a bath. I'm done with the games."

He chuckled softly and smiled.

“She’s not the kind of woman who would enjoy a bath.”

He turned and watched Ava stand at her dresser, stretching that long neck, removing her jewelry. He crossed his arms and put one hand to his lips. She saw him, in the mirror, staring.

"WHAT."

“I like you.”

The barest hint of a smile played across his lips as he returned her gaze.

He took a slow step forward, shaking his head.

“I don’t like anyone. I don’t have ‘friends’. But god help me, I like you. So let me give you some advice.”

He put his hands on her shoulders and gently turned her around to face him.

“This place, it isn’t like what you’re used to. It’s dangerous. One wrong move…”

His expression was serious.

“You can’t be what you were. You need to accept that. You have to embrace this life or it will break you, do you understand? If you try to be a member of the Six on the Hellfire Club, it will destroy you from the inside out. You can’t be both. Not here. DO your job. Follow orders. That is how you survive. And if you’re lucky you can scratch out some happiness for yourself, on occasion.”

He lifted her chin up so she had to meet his eyes.

“I’ve watched them do it, and I don’t want to have to watch it happen to you.”

 

[Recall]

From Charope to The Clocktower

:: She was relieved that Simon seemed to be understanding the severity of the situation, or at least the grave danger that he was now in. Wherever the chips would fall after this, at least they would be by each other's side. They sat there in silence for a few moments, both of them a little lost in thought. Even though, it seemed that at some point Simon would have been brought into this by way of his mother, it didn't subside her anger. Vivica didn't like being targeted like this. She only had minutes to wrap her head around the intel that Sharon had given them before she found herself squarely in the lion's den, fighting for her life. ::

:: Everybody should have been informed about this the moment that it happened. Personal pain and an inability to cope with the news just didn't cut it as answer to Vivica. The betrayal of Haleigh and Ava was everybody's business, especially now. Or did The Six only view them as valuable when they did things like HAND THEM The Purifiers on a silver platter? She knew it had to be hard for them, and she really was trying to see things from their side. She knew that this kind of betrayal and revelation would be enough to take any number of them down for a few moments, but outside of that, Vivica didn't care much anymore. They had a responsibility, despite their constant whining that they never asked for any of this. They had a responsibility that wasn't just because of teamlines, but because they SHOULD have cared enough about the people in their lives to let them know that they might be in danger. ::

"You know...BEFORE you almost get murdered by The Red Rook."

:: Vivica would not stand for this kind of ignorance from The Six, not when they were hemorrhaging members faster than a stock could crash. She wasn't going to burn down The Parthenon, but there was ONE person, at the very least, who SHOULD have reached out to her and hadn't..and unfortunately for him, this had become a character trait Vivica was tired of. ::

:: For a moment her anger subsided as Steel arrived at Charope, pulling her into a hug. She relaxed...for a moment. ::

Steel: "Thank god you're okay."

[smiling]

"I'm dealing. Thank you for coming John."

Steel: "I'm so sorry I wasn't there. I should NEVER have let you go off alone. It won't happen again, I promise."

:: He was such a sweetheart. ::

"Hey we can't all be everywhere all the time..but you're right, I should have taken someone with me. I just didn't plan on any of it happening so...fast"

Steel: "I'll kill Ava Cassadine before I let her hurt anyone else."

"You're gonna have to get in line, Johnny Boy."

Steel: "When Simon can travel, we need to get you both back to the Clocktower."

Simon: "Im READY."

:: Vivica nodded as the three of them made their way safely back towards The Clocktower. As she walked around the corner, she heard a conversation being had. ::

Zizi: It’s not. No one is past saving, Zach. Not when there are people who love them.

She gave his hand a squeeze, and he returned it with a genuinely relieved smile. He wanted to kiss her, he was so grateful. He could see her gears turning as she considered the task. He finally rose to his feet again, bolstered by her support.

Zizi: A doublecross at the most opportune moment is the most likely scenario.

"Agreed.... but I can't even begin to imagine how they'd pull that off. If ANYBODY could do it.... it'd be Haleigh. But if she DOES have a plan? Ava doesn't know it yet, because she's letting go."

Zizi: But we are going to have to come up with a way to communicate with them that the Hellfire Club – namely Malice – can’t intercept or pull from their heads. That will take some time.

"Well.... Clandestine policy is to never initiate contact when an agent goes undercover-- we ALWAYS wait for them to get a message out. Ava's already delivered HER message. She could have killed ME, but didn't.... and she could have killed THEM instantly, but didn't. We got off with a warning; they must strike for Hellfire, and they WILL. Haleigh.... Haleigh will send a message TOO. It'll probably be horrible, but hopefully I'll be able to figure out what she means by it."

:: Her eyes rolled so far bad in her head she thought she was having a seizure. ::

"I CANNOT believe this..."

:: He had left Haleigh. Finally pulled his BALLS from her neck, and yet he was still firmly in her pocket. She agreed with Zizi that everybody could be saved if they had people that loved them..but some people DID NOT want to be saved. Vivica loved Zach, but he had such a horrible habit of always trying to be the "best guy" around and it had hurt him a lot in his life, and everytime it blew up in his face, he became destructive and impulsive. He had just watched Ava attack Vivica and Simon, nearly kill them and he was still hoping against all odds that this was some kind of master class in the art of espionage at the hand of Haleigh, a woman that spent a good decade not even having enough respect for him to tell him that she DIDN'T want to marry him and that he was TOO good for her. ::

:: She felt like Zach was walking a DANGEROUS path and after what she had just experienced with Ava, she felt like she could see both Persephone and the former Black Widow pulling him closer and closer to the center of their web. She REFUSED to let Zach die at their hands. He had given them both too much for that. He had given HER too much. ::

"Dammit, Orion. Why do you always have to be the good guy...?"

:: She remained silent as they finished their conversation about Rose as she rounded the corner officially, greeting Zizi and Zach in a hug. ::

"Well...my day sucked! How about you guys?!"

[turning to Oracle]

"I brought Simon with me. I know this place is lowsy with houseguests, but we need to keep an eye on him."

Simon: "Hey Zizi. Sorry to crash your space, but I just can't seem to help being a damsel in distress these days. Take pity on me, please? I'm a pretty good cook!"

:: She listened to the idle chit chat for a moment. But her thoughts about Simon, about Zach, about AVA..they were starting to bother her yet again. Vivica needed to get out of here, but she knew that everybody would want her to have a buddy. ::

"I'm going to The Parthenon to get Sharon, Alycia and Dominique...and speak to Cameron."

[she waved her hands in the air]

"It's not far away, and The Hellfire Club isn't going to bomb The Parthenon..as satisfying as that would be right now. I'll be fine, I promise. And when I get there, I'll have two amazons and the avatar for Isis by my side. I'll be good. I promise, and I'll live stream the whole way."

"Be back in a few."

:: She didn't wait for them to answer or try and stop her. Vivica Lennox was soon on the streets of New York yet AGAIN, rounding the corner for The Parthenon, about to enter through the doors and give Cameron King a piece of her mind. ::