Hellfire Odyssey: Reckoning

[Black Widow]

Ahadi — Beachfront

Haleigh wandered the beachfront after the party, working her way a couple of miles from Ravena’s complex, with Jordan in tow with a fresh bottle of whatever she was drinking. She had found a way to throttle her own filtering “system”, and now she could maintain a heady buzz, if she just kept drinking. This way, the pain was a dull ache she could more aptly endure.

She sat down, originally at the edge of the surf. The tide continued to rise but she didn’t move, even as it tugged at her dress. She stared out at the vastness of the ocean. How long had it been since she’d been to a beach? She didn’t bother to compute the timeframe. The last time had been at Minerva’s, when Delilah had gone “swimming”. Haleigh drained her glass again. Jordan, who had been sitting back several paces, where the sand was still dry, waded through the water to give her a refill as the waves receded.

What if she hadn’t tried to save Delilah that day? What if she’d just let her end it? Haleigh would’ve grieved, and the others too, but Delilah would have been left to Rest In Peace. There would’ve been no Maxim ordeal, no blue moon debacle, no Badiane nightmare. And Alexia wouldn’t even exist, which meant Haleigh wouldn’t be about to orphan her own goddaughter. No doubt, it WOULD have been kinder to have let Delilah go back then, and not be torturing her now. More and more, it was getting difficult to argue with the Black Queen’s assertion that death was a kindness she should give to her former family. She felt adrift in this.

The sound of the tide was strangely comforting. If only it were as easy as swimming out into it, and drowning herself. Certainly there were worse ways to go, but with the clones it was pointless to even try. And then there was the fact that she still wanted to live, despite everything. There wasn’t a whole lot left to live for, but after everything she’d survived so far, it seemed an insult to allow this to be her undoing. She didn’t want to be a statue next to Blackout, two stone traitors in Ororo’s Garden, remembered the same way, having met the same end. The thought made her bitter.

A dorsal fin emerged from the water, fairly close. The moon was bright enough that she could see it clearly. The shark passed in front of her, right to left, then turned and rushed toward her. She watched it curiously, as it approached with the incoming tide. It bumped against her leg aggressively, but she didn’t budge, and then it washed away with the retreating wave. Out of the corner of her eye, Haleigh saw that Heidi had snuck up while she was distracted by the shark. Fathom had swum up and beached next to her, laying on her stomach in the sand.

 

[Fathom]

Ahadi — Beachfront

Heidi had gone for a quick swim offshore after the party, and come across a young tiger shark, just five feet long with vivid stripes and a curious personality. They explored a cave, and then a reef, as Heidi worked her way back towards Ahadi, a new pet swimming alongside her. Too bad this one would grow to be so large. A fifteen foot shark would be miserable in her bedroom tank, and ill suited for the livestock tank down near the Aqua Ring. They approached the beach, both sensing an exceptionally strong electric field in the water. Heidi could guess from the white dress that it was the Princess, but the shark clearly didn’t know what to think. Heidi swam up with the shark protectively as it bravely investigated, illiciting very little reaction from Scion, who was much more attentive to Heidi’s arrival.

Scion: Good Evening, Heidi.

“It is good, isn’t it, Scion?”

Scion: Forget to pack your swim suit?

“Swim suits are more trouble than they’re worth.”

Heidi replied languidly, shifting her weight to one elbow so she could tussle her hair a bit. Haleigh liked to think she was some great mystery to them all, but more and more she was becoming transparent. Heidi could see a barely concealed lust, surfacing through the sea of loneliness that had been there just seconds before.

Scion: Just as well, you look divine.

Heidi smiled knowingly, rolling onto her side and propping herself up on one elbow as her shark swam up onto the beach with the tide, wedging in between her and Scion. It dropped a dead barracuda on the wet sand as the water receded, and Heidi streamed water over its gills and pet the young shark as it laid there next to her. There was a moment, almost tender, between Heidi and the shark, then she gave it a kiss and pushed it gently back out into the water. Heidi waved over Scion’s attendant and told him to take the fish up to the kitchens for cooking. Scion waited until he was gone to speak again.

 

[Black Widow]

Ahadi — Beachfront

Haleigh flattered Heidi, knowing the Knight enjoyed it immensely, even if she feigned otherwise. With no one else here, Heidi didn’t pretend to be scandalized by it. In fact, she even encouraged it a bit, smiling and primping her hair and posing coquettishly. Heidi had only been vexed by the implication that others would think her and Haleigh were involved, because it was bad optics for the White Knight, but Haleigh suspected another reason as well.

“So how’s Jack?”

Heidi: Jack who?

Haleigh smiled at Heidi’s attempt.

“There’s no point playing coy.”

Heidi: It’s a common name, I know like three—

“But we only know one worth discussing. You know, the one you took to bed after the Blackout party? The one you always happen to bump into when you drop by the Aqua Ring?”

She had Heidi’s rapt attention, but the Knight seemed hesitant to answer. Haleigh stared back evenly, waiting to see if Heidi would deny an attachment or stake a claim. She suspected Heidi wanted to keep Jack to herself, but everyone knew from the way Ava-Alek was being handled that romance was discouraged in Hellfire. After a silent pause Haleigh decided to push Heidi further and provoke a choice one way or the other.

Hook.

“I’m just wondering if you can give me any intel on him, since I’m considering seducing him when we get back from this trip.”

She suggested nonchalantly. Heidi was not subtle, with a hard scoff and narrowed eyes.

Heidi: Must you sleep with everyone in Manhattan?

Line.

“No, not everyone. Just those with whom a sexual relationship would provide some tactical advantage.”

Heidi: Bollocks. What tactical advantage does Jack present? He’s not Inner Circle, he’s not connected to anyone outside the Aqua Ring.

Sinker.

“The very Aqua Ring that my mother is always threatening to consign me to, if I misbehave? It might serve me well to have a friend there, and to know my way around the facilities.”

Heidi: Well you don’t need Jack for that. I’ll show you around the Aqua Ring.

Haleigh smiled wickedly, as another play succeeded smoothly. Heidi was smiling too, no doubt thinking that she was clever for her quick play. Arrogance, that was Heidi’s weakness. Haleigh toyed with it a little more.

“But that would make us friends.... are you sure you don’t want any benefits?”

She asked, reaching towards Heidi, who slapped her hand away and rolled her eyes.

“Well that’s disappointing.”

Haleigh replied, and then she raised an eyebrow slowly, leaning in.

“Maybe you’ll change your mind.”

Heidi: Don’t hold your breath.

The knight replied with a smile, and Haleigh laid off the flattery, knowing not to oversell. Then Heidi got a bright idea, which provoked a devious smile from Haleigh, who was impressed to find the little shark could suss out tactical advantage for herself.

You ARE a clever girl after all, Haleigh thought.

 

[Persephone]

The days had been long and perfect in Greece, the summer heat at it's peak for the year. Lily adored playing in the ocean while Lucas preferred building sand castles and running from the water. Alek entertained both, making sure she was always involved, but resting under a shady umbrella. With her due date quickly approaching, Persephone welcomed the rest, knowing she wouldn't get much of it once Liam made his grand arrival. But the long summer days were always followed by absolutely beautiful evenings of cool, breezy temperatures and perfectly clear skies [no assistance from her]. Persephone had went upstairs to bed early after feeling extremely sick after dinner. It was rare that she would get any type of 'morning sickness' this late in the pregnancy, so at Alek's insistence, she retired while he finished putting the kids to bed.

Stirring at the cool breeze that danced along her bare skin, goosebumps formed on her body as Persephone shivered enough to pull her from her slumber. Opening her eyes sleepily, she looked over at the clock on the nightstand seeing it blinking 3:00am. It was strange for the power to have gone out, Persephone's eyes shifting to the opened french doors seeing it was perfectly clear with no signs of a storm. That was when she turned to look behind her to where Alek would have been, but the bed was empty.

"Alek?"

Maybe one of the kids had a bad dream, or he had fallen asleep watching tv downstairs? Either way, it was very unlike Alek not to be sleeping next to her. Persephone pushed her way up off the bed, her belly swollen large enough to make it a bit more difficult than usual. As she began to round the bed, the blood in her veins ran cold.

Lily: "MAMAAAAA!!!!!"

Lily's screams were filled with terror causing Persephone to sprint to the bedroom door.

"ELLARIA!!"

Swinging the door open, as soon as Persephone stepped out into the hallway, everything began to warp around her and the hallway elongating.

"ALEK!!"

Lily began to scream again, her cries hysterically coming from the end of the hall where her bedroom was. Persephone began to run, the entire space around her moving and pulsing making it nearly impossible for her not to lean on the bannister to try and keep her balance. She screamed for Lily and Alek, tears of panic filling her eyes. It was Helena, she had found them and she was destroying Persephone's entire world like she had promised she would.

"BABY I'M COMING!!"

FLASH

Persephone grimaced in her sleep, stirring next to Alek in bed. One moment she looked completely fine and the next her skin began to get clammy and sweat started to form almost immediately, an intense fever overtaking her body.

FLASH

"ALEK! ALEK!! Where are you?!?!"

Persephone screamed in a panic, still trying to get to her daughter's room in a never ending battle of illusions and warped realities. But what felt like an eternity of hearing Lily screaming in horror, Persephone finally made it to the door, bursting through it. That was when she saw Alek, Lily, and Liam, all mutilated on the floor. Persephone's eyes widened in absolute horror, her entire body convulsing in agony as she dropped to her knees.

"NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!"

FLASH

"NOO!!! NO!!!!!!!"

Persephone began to cry in her fever induced hallucinations, sobbing as she thrashed in bed weakly.

"Noooo noooo no no no no please noo....."

Her words weak and strung together between sobs. Everything felt so real, the distinction between reality and dream blurred because of the intense fever.

FLASH

She couldn't take her eyes off her dead husband and children, laying there torn apart with their blood smearing the walls around them. She was in shock, her worst nightmares becoming a reality. She had built a life -- a family -- and Helena had ripped it all away from her. Her family was gone....gone...EVERYTHING that kept her wanting to live was gone! Persephone couldn't breathe, hunched over on the floor trying to gasp in for any air that would fill her lungs despite wanting to die herself.

"You should have killed ME! I'M THE ONE YOU WANTED! NOT THEM!"

She choked out. But it was then, through blurred eyes, she saw a black shadow begin to overtake the floor around her causing Persephone to look up. The entire room was beginning to disappear in a black mass....that same familiar black mass she had seen before....The mass began to envelope her dead family, but before she could scramble to get to them, they were completely gone. Everything was gone. It was only her, in an abyss of nothing.

Persephone went to stand, only realizing then that it was far easier than before. Her hand immediately went to her stomach feeling that it was flat with a horrified gasp.

"WHAT IS THIS?!"

She sobbed out, her pregnant belly gone as quickly as her family had been taken away from her. It was just her, and only her, left in a black nothingness that was so stifling and uncomfortable it made her skin crawl. But there was no voice, no explanation, just a darkness that began to reach out with tendril like arms and wrap around her body. Struggling violently against the mass as she cried out defiantely, Persephone could 'feel' it touching her intimately in the deepest parts of her body and soul - a violation that was only comparable to what Lord Ravena had done so long ago. The mass moved through her body, wrapping itself around her, encompassing her, and becoming one with her despite every futile effort to fight it. She was helpless and alone. She had no one....no one....and all she could do was scream.

FLASH

Persephone weakly began to open her eyes; tears immediately falling to her cheeks as she slowly lifted them seeing the familiar setting of the safe house in New York City. Her vision was hazy from the raging fever, but she knew exactly where she was, the place still smelling of cooked egg scramble and baked peaches. It was then she realized she was being held, her eyes slowly lifting to see Alek was the one cradling her.

"Alek..?"

She managed to speak with a confused relief. They were both at the safe house....They were both in New York.... And that was when it hit her. Persephone's eyes immediately filled with pain as her hand went to her flat stomach realizing that everything she had experienced....every laugh, every sunny day in Greece, every game of hide and seek with her 'children', and every night of absolute bliss with her 'husband'....had all been a dream -- a nightmare -- created by this black mass that had been haunting her and now violating her mind and body.

"No...no...no...."

She weakly began to sob, over and over again. She had everything. She had escaped Hellfire and made a life and family with the man she loved....but it was all an elaborate lie to hurt her mentally and continue to drain her physically. She didn't know why she was having the nightmares before or who this black mass was that was haunting her. But there was no questioning it now - Persephone had felt him inside her, like she had felt him inside her that day in the corridor. Lord Ravena.

 

[Berserker]

The Safe House

Alek had promised to wake her in an hour, but he knew she needed the rest, so he had decided to let her sleep. He finished the meal she had prepared for him, eating one handed since the other arm was around Seph. She was a fabulous cook. He could grow old and fat if they ever made it out of Hellfire together, that was for sure. He set his plate on the bedside table as Seph started to move in her sleep. Her face had been so peaceful, but now she looked distressed. Alek brought his other arm over her to cradle her, try to pull her out of whatever bad dream she was having.

"Seph?"

He shook her gently. Which was when he noticed that her skin was on fire. He felt her forehead, looking down into her face, concerned.

"Seph, wake up. It's only a dream."

Her eyes started to open, and tears started to fall. It must have been a worse nightmare than he'd thought. Probably brought on by the fever. Which of course, according to her she shouldn't be able to have. He cursed himself for not waking her sooner, and again for letting her act like her feeling sick was no big deal. He smiled into her face, pushing her hair off her forehead.

"It was only a dream."

Seph: "Alek..?"

"Shh, I'm here. I think you have a fever."

Suddenly, Seph was agitated, moving around.

Seph: "No...no...no...."

"Baby, it's okay. You don't need to cry. It's all over now."

She was sobbing now. He tried rocking her, and then he realized it must be the fever.

"Come on, here we go."

He slid out of bed, picking her up with him.

"We need to get this fever down, baby."

He carried her into the bathroom, opening the glass shower door with his foot and slipping inside. He sat her on the bamboo bench, and turned on the cold water.

"Holy fuck!" he said under his breath as the water hit his skin. And he had grown up swimming in the North Sea.

He pulled Seph up and sat down with her in his lap, keeping her under the cold spray.

"Don't cry, baby...don't cry..."

 

[Persephone]

Persephone's eyes felt like they were on fire, both heavy and blurry from the terrible fever that was ravaging her body. She felt so disoriented, the line between dream and reality as blurred as her vision. But she knew the moment she realized where she was that everything she had experienced had been all a massively elaborate dream mimicked to mirror reality.

"No...no...no..."

She began to cry softly, everything from the dream playing in her head like a memory she had actually lived through. But it wasn't a memory, not even close. She was mourning a figment of her imagination brought on by an attack from Lord Ravena, and that made the pain that much worse. He had been behind this, raping her mind of her most deepest desires and giving them to her like food to a starving child. He made it so real, so detailed, so perfect that it made her question this reality.

Alek: "Baby, it's okay. You don't need to cry. It's all over now."

The pain became worse hearing Alek say 'it's all over now'. She didn't want it to be over, but it was. All of it.

Alek: "Come on, here we go. We need to get this fever down, baby."

Persephone's entire existence felt completely weakened as Alek picked her up and carried her into the shower. Even when he exclaimed out from under his breath the moment the icy cold water his him, Persephone didn't flinch, nor audibly protest. The water was numbingly cold, but she was already numb from everything. Alek sat down on the bench, keeping her under the cold spray as he softly told her not to cry. She laid her head against his chest, staring blankly into nothing. Her expression was empty, the tears falling from her eyes mixing with water to make it look like she had finally stopped. But the pain had not stopped, it worsened the longer she stayed under the cold water and she became more lucid. Her body began to involuntarily shiver as her fever finally broke, the cold water now feeling like little needles against her skin. Alek finally turned off the water and exited the shower, taking them both back into the bedroom.

Sitting on the bed, Persephone remained silent, staring forward. Her mind was racing with everything that had happened, and her body was still reeling from being forced back into reality. But she didn't outwardly show it now. She looked as still as the stone statue she once was in Ororo's garden.

"Ravena..."

After a few long moments of silence, she finally spoke softly, her voice low and horse.

"He's doing this..."

She remembered the first nightmare....

FLASH

She began to struggle, tears falling from her eyes as she looked at the horrific, terrifying faceless black mass hovering in front of her. She tried to push it back—FIGHT it—but she was PARALYZED and unable to defend herself. The mass remained there, unwavering; the deafening white noise building in a crescendo. Then finally, the faceless body PLUNGED it’s hand INTO Persephone’s chest causing her to SCREAM OUT in agony.

The second...

FLASH

Something grabbed her from behind, THROUGH the wall, holding her against the headboard like straps to a gurney. Screaming, she felt legs crawling on her shoulder, around her chest, her arm--EVERYWHERE on her body. But there was nothing--NOTHING. Only the black shadow casting over her body and encompassing her entirely. Then, the pain started. SHARP and PRECISE in her head causing her to close her eyes tightly and scream out in agony. It was like fire....everything around her felt like a cold fire, all at once, never leaving, all encompassing.

Persephone slowly shut her eyes, not wanting to remember the third.

"I didn't realize until now...he's been in every nightmare...his presents....his..touch..."

She could barely say the word without grimacing in disgust. Persephone slowly lifted her hand to her chest, the ring Alek had given her dangling low on her neck. She took it within her hand tightly in an effort to ground her thoughts and keep her present, because even the thought of looking at the one anchor left in her life made her heart ache.

"He's making me sick...attacking me to weaken me..."

Persephone finally opened her eyes. There was only one thing that she still couldn't figure out: why. Diana had stripped those memories from her, but they were still inside her subconscious trying to claw their way out. She knew Ravena from her past....she knew she had a turbulent history with him and that he was doing this because he hated her. But she couldn't remember anything beyond that. However, the one fact that she knew for certain was that Ravena wasn't doing this as a simple game to get off; he was trying to kill her despite Diana and Helena both telling him to back off.

"He's not going to stop unless I stop him..."

Persephone didn't need to finish her sentence for Alek to know if she defended herself and attacked Ravena, it would be an automatic death sentence for herself AND Haleigh.

 

[Berserker]

The Safe House

Seph wasn't moving, and that worried him. Her head rested against his chest as he held her under the cold water of the shower. Finally he felt her body shiver, the fever breaking, and he turned off the water. He wrapped her in a thick robe, and helped her back to the bedroom, helping her sit on the bed. He pulled the robe closer around her, then switched on the fireplace, not wanting her to get a chill.

And Seph just sat there. Staring.

"Seph?"

He knelt in front of her, taking her hands.

"Do you want to lie down?"

Seph: "Ravena...He's doing this..."

Her words echoed through his mind, as if she were saying it over and over.

Seph: "I didn't realize until now...he's been in every nightmare...his presence....his..touch..."

His blood had already started to boil, and when she said touch, it threatened to explode like a volcano.

Seph: "He's making me sick...attacking me to weaken me..."

Alek stood, his mouth set in a line. He was a pressure cooker about to explode.

"Ravena..."

And then he blew.

"I am going to KILL that MOTHERFUCKER!"

He turned away from Seph, and grabbing the nearest chair, picked it up and slammed it down onto the floor, shattering it to splinters.

"I'll drive a PHONE POLE through his heart! I'll put him in a CAGE on a BEACH and light him on fucking fire! I'll PULL OUT HIS GODDAMN FANGS WITH A PAIR OF PLIERS!"

How dare he. How DARE he?!

Alek stormed back and forth in the room, ranting.

"He thinks he can touch you?! A member of MY court? He doesn't know who he's goddamn dealing with. He's DEAD."

He looked down at Seph, his breath rapid with rage, his eyes on fire, filled with hatred.

Seph: "He's not going to stop unless I stop him..."

He shook his head.

"No. No way. I'LL kill the bastard. I can be on a plane in an hour. Diana can kill me, I don't care - just as long as that fucker's a PILE OF ASH!"

 

[Persephone]

Alek guided her to the edge of the bed, wrapping her in a fluffy warm robe before sitting her down. Persephone stayed silent, staring forward as he put on the fireplace before kneeling in front of her. Alek was saying her name, the obvious concern in his voice apparent to Persephone, but she didn't answer him. He asked her if she wanted to lay down, but she remained quiet. The thought of ever sleeping again making her chest hurt. The only thing that she could say in that moment, the only word that came out of her mouth, was Ravena. Persephone didn't need to look at Alek to know his entire body tensed with anger. She continued slowly, telling him that he was the reason behind the nightmares -- that he was in every one of them, his presents and his touch.

Alek: "Ravena...."

Alek's once concerned tone had become deep and even, and she could tell he was on the verge of exploding.

Alek: "I am going to KILL that MOTHERFUCKER!"

And he did. He growled out, turning to pick up a chair and slamming it back into the floor, shattering it into pieces. Persephone didn't flinch, or even blink for that matter. She just lifted her eyes to Alek, seeing him pace in absolute fury.

Alek: "I'll drive a PHONE POLE through his heart! I'll put him in a CAGE on a BEACH and light him on fucking fire! I'll PULL OUT HIS GODDAMN FANGS WITH A PAIR OF PLIERS! He thinks he can touch you?! A member of MY court? He doesn't know who he's goddamn dealing with. He's DEAD."

Blinking her line of sight away, it was knife to the gut hearing him proclaim 'a member of my court', as if that was all she was to him. But the reality was....that was all she was to him. The Red Rook he happened to fall in love with in the club that aimed to destroy them all. She had tasted what it was like to get away from all of that and see Alek beyond the Red Knight. Beyond the walls of Hellfire. The dream haunting her memories and making her question if he would ever love her the way she so deeply and irrevocably loved him....Persephone finally shook her head, telling him that for Ravena to stop she would have to kill him.

Alek: "No. No way. I'LL kill the bastard."

"Alek..."

Alek: "Diana can kill me, I don't care - "

Persephone's eyes shot up, the first time her expression was something other than blank. She looked terrified.

Alek: " - just as long as that fucker's a PILE OF ASH!"

"NO!"

Tears glassed over her eyes. It didn't matter if the dream was fake, it didn't matter if she loved him in this reality more than he would ever love her because of what she went through. She would not see him die, not again.

"Ravena took you from me once, I won't lose you again!"

She knew she made no sense to him, but it didn't matter. Persephone stood, grabbing Alek and tightly wrapping her arms around him. Her fingers clawed into his bare back, her face buried into his neck as she held onto him for dear life. She shook her head, her voice gently trembling.

"I can't see you die again....I won't."

 

[Fathom]

Ahadi — Beachfront

Scion expressed interest in Jack, which gave Heidi pause. She had her own interest in Jack, and didn’t want to have to watch Scion wrapping him around her finger. So she offered to give the Princess the tour herself, and eliminate the reason Scion gave for wanting to take advantage of Jack in the first place. To Heidi’s relief, Scion agreed, but then she tried offering to allow Heidi the same “benefits” she had been planning on extending to Jack.

Uninterested, Heidi slapped Scion’s hand away and rolled her eyes. Hadn’t the Princess been paying attention? Still, Heidi smirked a bit. She couldn’t hold it against Scion for being attracted to her, or being disappointed at once again being rejected. Scion hopefully suggested Heidi might change her mind, but Heidi told her not to hold her breath.

And then, something occurred to Heidi. If Scion had been scheming about seducing Jack, then she had probably done some research on him in the process. Heidi figured she might as well use Scion, if they were “friends” now.

“Is Jack seeing anyone?”

She asked, which made Scion smile like a co-conspirator.

Scion: Well, I haven’t seen him take anyone to his quarters on the staffing floor, and you’re the only one who visits him at work.

“What about that po-faced assistant of his?”

Heidi queried, her tone as neutral as she could manage.

Scion: The only person on earth more staid than Jack himself? They barely speak and there is absolutely zero observable chemistry between them.

“Jack’s not staid.”

Heidi replied defensively, and then she wished she hadn’t. If Scion thought Jack boring then she really did have no personal interest in him. Heidi didn’t need to give her a reason to be curious. Still, she was secretly pleased to hear that there was no need to concern herself with Jack’s little lab lackey.

Scion: Well, he does get more lively when you show up. He must like you.

“Perhaps he just possesses impeccable taste.”

Heidi played it off as she tried to subdue her smile, her gaze shifted out to the ocean. There was a pause in the conversation, as the Princess drained her glass and her attendant filled it yet again.

 

[Black Widow]

Ahadi — Beachfront

Haleigh had rather easily secured an alliance with Heidi. Of course, she knew it was tenuous at best, that the White Knight would side with Malice and/or Ravena if Haleigh got into anymore trouble. Yet, if she continued to obey her mother, getting along with Heidi would be advisable. On the White Court, Heidi ranked highest.

After discussing the aquarium scientist Heidi had taken an interest in, they sat in silence for a bit. Heidi stared out at the sea, and Haleigh drank some more. It was surprising that Heidi didn’t swim off again, that she just relaxed here on the beach, content to watch the waves crash onto the beach, and wash up over their legs as they lounged.

“Why do you bother coming ashore, when you so obviously enjoy being at sea?”

Heidi: Why don’t you create a virtual reality for yourself to withdraw into, where logic and reason solves all equations and conflicts neatly?

“I’d get bored after a while, knowing every ‘person’ I talked to was just scripted or programmed to act a certain way. Artificial intelligence has its limits.”

Heidi: Well, all the sea creatures have real intelligence, but even though they worship me, it’s still a bit lonely, not having anyone to talk to.

“Why Hellfire then? Why not just find some beach paradise?”

Heidi: What’s the difference between swimming in a lagoon and swimming in the sea? A long time ago, beings such as ourselves were revered as Gods among men. The people at Hellfire believe the world should be that way again. I enthusiastically agree. Don’t you?

Haleigh contemplated that a second. She didn’t truly care what the flatscans thought of Supers, so long as they didn’t try to regulate them. Flatscans didn't truly understand Supers, and had no business attempting to control them. Haleigh knew, however, that it would never be as simple as that. Humans feared what they didn’t understand, and most would be reassured by the passage of laws meant to keep Supers under control.

Heidi: If we don’t rule them, they’re going to try to rule us. It’s only a matter of time.

“Supers should be respected, and not controlled or regulated by any government agency. We ought to be free to make our own decisions, I could even agree we should be influencing the larger outcomes in our favor, but we don’t need to go so far as enslaving the flatscans.”

The White Knight gave a deep, genuine laugh, as if Haleigh had told some dry joke.

 

[Fathom]

Ahadi — Beachfront

Heidi laughed deeply at Scion’s knee-jerk reaction. ‘Enslaving’ was such a strong word. The weak could make themselves useful by serving the strong. A symbiotic relationship would benefit all. And the ‘Supers’ should, absolutely, be worshipped once more. This girl, this Scion, was still hung up on the wrong perspective. She was too deeply attached, still invested in the outcome of fates she was meant to transcend, and that was a pity. No wonder she was so miserable. She was smart enough to grasp the truth, but not yet wise enough to fully accept it.

“We deserve their respect, and their submission. Beyond that, we shouldn’t trouble ourselves with the toils of mortals. They suffer short lives, and are quickly forgotten.”

Heidi told her, and Scion didn’t immediately respond, but drank from her glass again, something she always seemed to be doing. It couldn’t have been helping her think clearly, or she would’ve already worked it all out. She was only handicapping herself, no doubt as some expression of her ‘humanity’.

It was then that Heidi realized she should help. If Scion could be helped past this, the White Princess would finally stop her antagonistic little games, and fall in line. The Queen would be so pleased, Heidi knew. But it wasn’t just Haleigh’s need to feel like she wasn’t morally bankrupt that was getting in the way. That was a learned flaw, and according to her Queen, it was the most vexing feature of the Princess— and it was her attachment to her previous little family that was driving her tragic heroism.

“You ought to start letting go of your former companions as quickly as you’re able. Even if we don’t crush them out of existence within the next few weeks, you’ll long outlive them eventually.”

Scion: I’ve heard this speech before.

“But when will you heed it, I wonder.”

She cut back with a look, before continuing as if she hadn’t been interrupted.

“By the next century, they’ll all be a distant memory, and you’ll realize you wasted far too much energy mourning them. These attachments only last a few decades at most. I’m not saying you can’t still enjoy them. Simply keep in mind the fact that such pursuits are ephemeral. You’re only crippling yourself to allow them to have such a profound affect on you.”

 

[Berserker]

The Safe House

Alek was going to FLAY Ravena. The motherfucker was making Seph sick - the headaches, the nightmares...all of it. Death was TOO GOOD for him. He had half a mind to let Emiko do it, because he knew how much she would make it hurt. But no, Alek was going to enjoy it. He didn't really care what happened to himself after that. Seph would be well again, that was all that mattered. Diana could go right ahead and kill him, and he said so.

Seph: "NO!"

That startled him, the look on her face.

Seph: "Ravena took you from me once, I won't lose you again!"

His expression turned quizzical but he didn't ask what she was talking about. Instead he just smiled at her, his blood pressure beginning to come down.

"I've died before...I always come back."

He chuckled in surprise as Seph stood up and threw her arms around him, gripping him tightly.

"Baby, I didn't know you cared."

His arms slipped around her back, and he held her agains thim.

Seph: "I can't see you die again....I won't."

It was beginning to come together for him now. He kissed the top of her head.

"It was just a dream. I'm right here."

He stroked her head, trying to calm her.

"But we should tell Helena about this. It's an attack on her court - she won't stand by and just allow something like that to happen."

 

[Persephone]

Persephone knew by telling Alek he would be furious, but he deserved to know what was going on considering he had been there since the start of Ravena's attacks. But as soon as he said it didn't matter if he died at Diana's hand just as long as he killed Ravena, that was when Persephone snapped out of her quiet daze.

Alek: "I've died before...I always come back."

He said so matter of factly and with a smile. Persephone wasn't reassured, nor was she swayed by his charm. She stood, wrapping her arms tightly around him, holding onto him with everything she had.

Alek: "Baby, I didn't know you cared."

"Shut up."

She grumbled against his neck before shutting her eyes and sinking into his touch. She told him she couldn't see him die again, the image of him laying torn apart flashing into her mind. And that seemed to make him understand what she was talking about.

Alek: "It was just a dream. I'm right here."

As Alek began to stroke the back of her head, Persephone sighed out heavily, resigning to the fact that he was right. Luckily, but also sadly. It was all just one big elaborate dream, and Alek was okay. He was alive, and she was in his arms. And there was NO WAY in hell she would lose him to Ravena, Diana, or anyone else for that matter.

Alek: "But we should tell Helena about this. It's an attack on her court - she won't stand by and just allow something like that to happen."

"Right."

Persephone pulled away from Alek, her midnight eyes meeting with his.

"A member of your court."

The faintest hint of pain flashed before it was shut down and enveloped within the darkness of her stare. It was then Persephone's phone started to ring Helena's ringtone, the bitch always having the perfectly worst timing.

"It's Helena."

And so the mask was back on - all the pain and emotions pushed back into the box and locked. She turned away from Alek, going to the nightstand and picking up her phone.

"Yes my Queen."

Helena: "Come to Ahadi immediately. Meet with Mystique upon your arrival."

Persephone's eyes shifted to Alek.

"Yes my Queen."

Helena hung up, not giving room for questions, not that Persephone would bother attempting to ask any. It seemed like a strange request considering Helena was adamant about keeping her and Alek at Hellfire to test whether they really did 'hate' each other. Likely this was another test, but it didn't matter. It brought Persephone to Ravena's island, and she was going to get the answers she wanted before destroying his entire existence.

Persephone put the phone back down on the nightstand before walking to her pile of clothes that sat on the dresser nearby. Disrobing, her skin looked grey and almost translucent as she began to dress in her court appointed color.

"She wants me to go to Ahadi immediately."

 

[Berserker]

The Safe House

Seph gripped him tight, and he joked, saying he didn't know she cared.

Seph: "Shut up."

He chuckled at her apparent display of affection. But she did seem genuinely concerned, so he told her not to worry. And then he suggested they tell Helena. He knew they were in super secret mode, but this was a blatant attack against the court. Helena couldn't do nothing. But he didn't really expect Seph to go for it.

Seph: "Right."

She looked up into his eyes, and he saw the sarcasm behind eyes he could get lost in.

Seph: "A member of your court."

And then there was something in her expression, something he couldn't quite place.

"You are a member of the court. Our court. When he attacked you, he attacked us all. I will NOT let him get away with that."

He reached down for her hand.

"With hurting you."

A musical sound broke the moment: Seph's phone ringing.

Seph: "It's Helena."

Seph answered, and after a short conversation where she said little, she hung up. She started dressing, and as interesting as it was to watch her slip out of her robe, he couldn't help but notice how pale she looked. Whether Seph agreed with him or not, he would make Ravena pay.

Seph: "She wants me to go to Ahadi immediately."

He inhaled sharply, crossing the room to her.

"No, Seph, you can't."

It was clear, however, that she rejected his attempt to prevent her from going.

"I'll go with you then. I'm not leaving you alone with that...thing."

 

[Tycoon]

Upper East Side — Jones Wood Foundry

Gavin thanked the Clandestine driver and stepped out of the back of the BMW sedan at the curbside of the Jones Wood Foundry. He was twenty minutes early out of sheer anticipation and not wanting to be late. Delilah was going to meet him here at 7, but it was fine. He’d get them a table and order a beer to help him stop over analyzing the event.

He made sure his shirt was tucked in neatly. He’d changed his suit and tie combo three times while getting ready, and then wondered if he was over dressing. He considered going in a t-shirt and leather jacket over jeans, which he always felt comfortable in, but then worried that it would seem impudent. It was, after all, ostensibly a ‘business dinner’. So he settled on wearing a business-casual suit, but to hell with the bloody tie.

Inside the pub-themed restaurant, the hostess led him to a table where he needed to decide whether he’d sit on the chair side or the booth side. With some apprehension he took the chair and set his briefcase on the floor beside his feet. How was it possible that this night made him more uncomfortable than jumping out of an airplane? Because a parachute won’t save you here, chap, he thought with wry humor. His mouth was dry, but a waiter came to the rescue.

“Ah, a Guinness draft would be splendid, please and thank you.”

He said, and then he glanced around at the tables nearby. His choice booth in the back was taken by a bunch of scoundrel-looking fellows. This little area was still nice and quiet, though not too romantic. The next table over was about two feet away, and there was nobody there yet, but he didn’t doubt that the restaurant would soon fill up and some other couple would be there, in eavesdropping distance. He used his foot to slyly push the other table and chair an extra foot away from his, to give him and Delilah a little extra room to breathe.

 

[MorningStar]

The Parthenon

It had been a few days since she'd helped Alycia set a meeting with Bianca Ceasul. Just a few days since she'd met Gavin Greeley in a pub, and played darts and drank beer with him. But it felt like an eternity since the night Bishop had destroyed her. Again. She had returned to her own suite at the Parthenon, at least. And decided that she'd cried too much over Maxim Sheremetyev. At least, that's what she'd told herself. But the wound Haleigh had inflicted...purposely inflicted...was open and gaping. She had expected it from Maxim. From Haleigh? Not so much.

And there was no one she could call. No one that would care. So now she was leaning over the sink, looking into the bathroom mirror and putting lipstick on, dressed in a blue outfit somewhere between pants and a ballgown, getting ready to meet Gavin at a restaurant she'd never been to.

Satisfied that her appearance was as good as it was going to get, she went out into the bedroom, then through the living room towards the door, picking up her fuschia-colored clutch on the way out. She had had enough of driving for this week, so she walked the six blocks to the restaurant.

Stepping inside, she wasn't really sure whether he'd made a reservation or not, but assuming so gave his name to the hostess and was directed to a table. The place was cozy, all leather and wood, and she was glad he had suggested it.

"I'm not late, am I?"

She scooted into the banquette across from him. Their server had seen her arrive and asked what she'd like to drink. She looked at Gavin, then back to the server, nodding towards Gavin's glass.

"I'll have the same. Thank you."

She let out a deep breath and gave Gavin a smile.

"And thank you for meeting me."

 

[Tycoon]

Upper East Side — Jones Wood Foundry

Delilah: “I’m not late, Am I?”

He was consulting his beer when he heard her voice behind him. He had to wonder if it was the best sound he’d ever heard. His heart threatened to leap out of his chest as he turned to greet her, as his smile overtook his face.

“Lovely is what you are.”

He replied, quite unable to stop the thought from expressing himself. He started to stand up to greet her in the customary British manner, but apparently wasn’t fast enough, or rather it was possible she slipped by quickly to avoid just such and attempt. At any rate she was sliding into place across the table and he found himself awkwardly easing back down into his chair as the waiter took her drink order.

Delilah gave him a smile after the waiter left, and Gavin was exceedingly grateful he was sitting down for it, or else he might have tripped over himself. He was grinning like a complete dunce, wasn’t he? He tried to look less like a fool and more like a serious financier, as he reached to straighten a tie knot that wasn’t there. Instead he fumbled at his collar a bit and cleared his throat as she thanked him for meeting with her.

“Ah, yes, of course. I was delighted to hear from you again.”

He was smiling widely again, he couldn’t help it.

“I mean, I’m glad to have the chance to help with your foundation. I do love kids. I never had any of my own, unfortunately.”

He offered, but then on second thought, it was probably better that he didn’t. Divorce was terrible, and even more so when children were involved. Change the subject before your ex-wife comes up, he thought with mild alarm.

“Shall we get some appetizers? I was thinking a scotch egg maybe, but don’t let me dictate.”

He suggested before sipping from his mug. He supposed he should breach the business topic, too, lest she begin to think he was wasting her time.

“So, Delilah, what can you tell me about your 501(c)(3) filings?”

 

[MorningStar]

Upper East Side — Jones Wood Foundry

Delilah found their table and slipped into the booth, asking good-naturedly if she was late. Gavin was nursing a beer, she noticed.

Gavin: “Lovely is what you are.”

She was pretty sure she blushed, letting out a nervous chuckle as she slid into the booth.

"Why, thank you."

She ordered, then sat across from him, smiling.

Gavin: “I mean, I’m glad to have the chance to help with your foundation. I do love kids. I never had any of my own, unfortunately.”

She tensed slightly, but tried to play it off.

"That's a shame. Still, it's not too late."

She smiled and took a drink of her beer.

Gavin: “Shall we get some appetizers? I was thinking a scotch egg maybe, but don’t let me dictate.”

She brightened at that.

"Oh I love scotch eggs. My mother used to make them."

She chuckled.

"Though we seem to be making a habit of beer and appetizers."

Gavin: “So, Delilah, what can you tell me about your 501(c)(3) filings?”

Right. Down to business.

She took another drink.

"Well, I tried to keep it as simple as possible. I put in the application myself, and have been approved for state and federal tax exemption. All volunteers and staff have their appropriate clearances."

She leaned forward.

"Most of the initial funding was from my personal savings. I want to make sure, now that the foundation has grown to include a New York arm, that everything is above board. That no one can use it to come at me or the kids I work with. And, of course, I want to make sure that if something happens to me, that the foundation continues its work."

 

[Oracle]

The Clocktower

"Talk soon. I love you."

Zizi signed off the video call with Gabe, who was still in Wales. She tried not to feel frustrated, but the entire thing was so very frustrating! Just as they'd finally started to make a go of things, Gabe's mom had gotten sick, and he had jetted off to the rescue the way he always did. She wouldn't expect him to react in any other way, but the timing still felt just terrible. And she missed him.

Not that she didn't have a million other things to worry about. They had foiled Dennis Nedry, though the man had been killed in the process. She knew things weren't over, that something more was brewing. Zizi worried for her team, but especially Zach, who was a clear target. Even if Haleigh was sending clandestine messages to Zach, things still didn't look good. She had been filling the long hours analyzing anything that Haleigh had touched to see if there was anything in them, but so far she had found nothing since the first message.

She took a look at the tracking screen to make sure everyone was where they should be. Most everyone had gone back to their own apartments now that things had quieted, but she still liked to check in. Of course, Alycia and Sharon had decided not to join her team after all, which saddened her. Not least of all because Alycia seemed to be going through something just now, and Zizi would have preferred keeping her close. She wanted to help her, but didn't know how - not when Alycia was shutting her out.

Losing Sharon and Alycia felt like failing, even though Zizi knew in her heart they had to do what was best for them. She tried to console herself with the fact that she knew if the team needed them, Alycia and Sharon would come through. But time was running out for them to figure out what should be done and do it. And as time went it on it became clear that they were going to have to do something.

 

[Tycoon]

Upper East Side — Jones Wood Foundry

Gavin expressed gratitude to be given the opportunity to help kids, and admitted he loved kids, despite not having any himself.

Delilah: “That’s a shame. Still, it’s not too late.”

Gavin smiled winsomely at that.

“Indeed, I’ll just need to find a suitable lady willing to get into such an epic adventure with me, I suppose.”

It crossed his mind to stop staring at her before he made her uncomfortable, but at the same time he found it difficult to look at anything else when she was there. In an effort to change the subject before his ex-wife (who hadn’t been willing to have kids with him) came up, he suggested appetizers.

Delilah: “Oh I love scotch eggs. My mother used to make them.”

“I like her already.”

He replied warmly, and then he had to remind himself that taking a liking to her mother was neither here nor there, because they weren’t on a date. Though you should be, his subconscious helpfully suggested. Delilah joked that they seemed to be making a habit of beer and appetizers, and for once Gavin was able to control his mind-mouth connection to avoid replying that he’d develop any habit with her that she might be pleased to allow.

Instead, he broached the topic that brought them here. Delilah replied that she’d tried to keep it simple, filling out the forms herself, to which Gavin nodded gently. He didn’t see any issues there, and she mentioned the staffing had been properly vetted. She also said she’d provided the startup funds herself, which produced his first question, but he let her continue to explain what specifically she wanted, as he continued to work on his beer and organize his thoughts.

“Of course. Well if you don’t mind me asking, did your accountant write off the start-up funds as a donation on your taxes? That would be one of the first things to audit, along with the actual 501(c)(3) forms. I’m sure it’s all on the up-and-up, but even a typo can come back to haunt you if the wrong vulture is circling overhead.”

He began, offering a small smile to soften the statement.

“As far as keeping it going, that’s just a matter of having the right people on board, and naturally, having a self-sustainable fundraiser network. Speaking of fundraising, if you aren’t having Clandestine vet your donor list, I’d recommend you start as soon as practical. Some organizations just give money for the tax benefits, but are quite nefarious otherwise, and if your foundation were found to be tangled up with the wrong people, you might see some collateral damage.”