The old order changes

[Berserker]

The Red Rook's Quarters

Seph buried her face in the crook of his neck as he held her, her fitting against him as if she were made to do so. It had been too long since he had gotten to hold her, and right now he couldn't remember why he had ever let her go, why he had been hurt and angry. It seemed ludicrous that they had ever been apart, because surely this was how it was supposed to be. He forgot everything but her, here in his arms again at last.

She breathed slowly in and out, in and out, and he stayed silent, just listening her breath, feeling it on his skin. Then he felt her pull back, ever so slightly, and then stop, as if she were unsure. Her hand touched his face, that same electric touch he remembered. His eyes closed, but then opened again as she moved back enough to look at him.

"Thank you."

He studied her face like it might be the last time, brushed her tears away lightly with his fingertips, only to see new ones fall in their place.

"Don't cry, little queen."

He looked into her eyes, and didn't see the hatred he had become accustomed to since Haleigh's little revelation. This was the way she used to look at him. Before. And then she pressed her lips against his, and it was his turn to breathe rapidly, heart beginning to race.

"Seph..."

"I'm sorry..."

"Shhh..."

He touched his fingers to her lips.

"I should have told you everything..."

"I'm sorry.....I love you...I love you..."

He pulled her closer into his lap as they kissed.

"I never stopped loving you..."

Touching her, he felt like he had spent a lifetime in a cage and had only just now been set free. He slid his hands up her back, feeling her warm and soft in his arms. He tasted her mouth, his hands moving to either side of her face.

"There won't ever be anyone else, not ever."

He kissed her again and again, but finally pulled back and hugged her to him, whispering to her.

"I have a place we can go, to talk."

 

[Persephone]

He whispered her name as she met her lips with his, telling him that she was sorry through their kiss; barely parting their lips as she did.

Alek: "Shh....I should have told you everything..."

Persephone gently shook her head, because it didn't matter. None of it mattered. Whatever hell she had just experienced made her realize that the little bit of happiness she had within the walls of Hellfire were due to him and Haleigh. They were the only people that matter now, while the war continued to wage on. She repeated again that she was sorry, that she loved him, over and over, softly within her kiss. She felt him pull her into his lap, her arms pulling herself closer to him.

Alek: "I never stopped loving you...There won't ever be anyone else, not ever."

Her midnight eyes were wet as she looked into his eyes, wholeheartedly believing him. Pulling herself into his embrace, her body still trembled as she shut her eyes trying to calm herself further.

Alek: "I have a place we can go, to talk."

She heard him whisper in her ear. Opening her eyes, she knew that Helena was still very much a factor in this situation. That had not changed at all. If Haleigh was watching now, Persephone knew she would be confronted before the Queen's departed for Europe. If Mystique was watching? Then Helena already knew. But so far, there was radio silence from all front, Alek wisely suspecting as much which was probably why he wanted to leave now.

Persephone nodded as he whispered the address into her ear. Frankly, she felt weak and tired. Very much like she did during the night of the bus accident with the children. But they couldn't just walk out out of the club together. So while holding onto Alek, both he and Persephone disappeared in a tornado of winds, reappearing at his safehouse in an undisclosed location in New York.

"Whoa.."

A wave of dizziness hit Persephone, causing her knees to buckle as she held onto Alek for support. Shutting her eyes, she took a seat on the couch.

"I don't know what's wrong with me..."

She softly murmured breathlessly as she hunched over and held her head by propping her elbows on her knees.

"I'm so tired....I feel so weak."

 

[Black Widow]

Central Park

She was unplugged from everything right now. As much a part of her as technology was, sometimes she did like to disconnect from the network and reduce the amount of processing power she was using. She couldn't do that inside the club. At Hellfire, she had to be on point at all times.

But out here, in the park, it was easy to let her guard down, and just walk around like a normal person. Well, Haleigh could still slaughter all the normal people in her immediate vicinity, but that was beside the point. She sipped her coffee, she followed the path, and she let herself think about something other than survival.

And then she experienced a SHARP pain on the back corner of her skull. She felt her body lock up for a second, as blood trickled down through her hair, and the side of her neck, and ran down her chest. Her skin was crawling, her muscles spasmed painfully, and her joints felt like they were stuck full of pins and needles. But her thoughts were all glitches. All she could think of was the blood, and the way it poured out of Cameron's throat and down onto her.

She tried to shake the stars out of her eyes, and she felt something clamped against her face. Her hand traveled up to find his, holding some mask there, and it didn't compute. Her diagnostic systems were mostly haywire, but she was getting them back, starting with an alert that told her she had a high concentration of chloroform in her lungs. The mask. She tried to push it was away, and backed right into him. She turned to look at him, as she slipped into darkness.

"Bish...."

When she came back around, she was laying face down on the floor. Lifting her head gave her a mild sense of vertigo. Her whole body felt a bit heavier than usual, and her chest was tight, as if some weight were pressing down on it. No, there was no weight, just restraints on her wrists. This was a familiar type of discomfort. Must be magnets involved. Clever. She eased herself up a bit, getting her elbows underneath her for support, looking over at Bishop. She took one long, labored breath, and then she cracked a smile.

"Shackles and chains, Max? I bet Darlin' Delilah would never let you do anything like this. Good thing you're free of HER, right? You can thank me all night."

 

[Berserker]

Safe House

Alek whispered the address to her, and suddenly he was enveloped by winds, by her, reappearing exactly where he'd told her. He saw that she looked very weak, and she started to collapse, grabbing on to him to keep herself upright. He helped her sit down on the couch, then knelt in front of her, eyes searching her to see if she was alright.

"I'm sorry - I shouldn't have asked you to - it was too soon..."

That was stupid of him - he knew better than that. He touched her cheek, then a lock of her hair, looking into her face.

"I don't know what's wrong with me...I'm so tired....I feel so weak."

She bent forward, elbows on her knees, holding her head. He kissed the top of it.

"Haven't you been sleeping? Have you been having nightmares?"

He brushed some of her hair out of her face, looking worried.

"I know you don't normally get sick...but could this be...something new?"

If he didn't know better, he'd say that someone was poisoning Persephone. But of course, she was immune to that.

"Why don't you lie down?"

He took her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. He glanced around him.

"I have a few places like this all over the city. I pay the rent anonymously, in cash. Just in case."

He tilted his head so he could look down into her face.

"I am sorry. I never wanted to hurt you."

He sat down on the floor, still holding her hand.

"And I was hurt, so I lashed out at you even though none of this was your fault."

He stared off into the distance.

"Now what do we do?"

 

[Persephone]

Alek kneeled down in front of her, apologizing for asking her to bring them there. She shook her head as she put her head into her hands, dismissing his apology. She was HAPPY to get out of Hellfire and away from prying eyes and ears. She felt him kiss her head as he brushed back her hair away from her face.

Alek: "Haven't you been sleeping? Have you been having nightmares?"

Persephone gently shook her head again indicating that she hadn't been sleeping. She finally looked up into his eyes as he asked about the nightmares. A silent reply indicating that she had been. But what she had experienced just now? That was like nothing she had experienced before in her life. It felt so REAL. She could feel the utter doom the mass radiated--she could feel it ripping her from the inside out. This nightmare was different than all the rest. It was horrifying.

Alek: "I know you don't normally get sick...but could this be...something new?"

"I don't know...I don't think so. [sighing] I think I just need rest."

Honestly, she didn't know what was going on. Maybe this was an attack from Prophet or Shadow Weaver. Hell, even MALICE. But it just didn't seem like any of their style.

Alek: "Why don't you lie down?"

Persephone gently nodded, lowering herself onto the couch as Alek intertwined their fingers together. He took a seat next to her on the floor.

Alek: "I have a few places like this all over the city. I pay the rent anonymously, in cash. Just in case."

"Smart."

She responded with a weak smile.

Alek: "I am sorry. I never wanted to hurt you. And I was hurt, so I lashed out at you even though none of this was your fault."

Persephone's eyes softened as she turned onto her side to look at him.

"No...I should have trusted you....I should of trusted us."

Persephone's eyes filled with tears.

"I kind of have fucked up trust issues if you haven't noticed."

She choked out with a small laugh while wiping away her tears from her eyes. Inhaling a deep breath, Persephone watched as Alek stared forward silently.

Alek: "Now what do we do?"

That was the million dollar question, because really? NOTHING had changed. Persephone lifted herself up onto her elbow while using her free hand to guide Alek's face to look at her. She kept her hand there, holding his eye contact.

"We hide it."

She said simply.

"Nothing changes within those walls. I hate you. You hate me. Everything will stay in play....the game will go on as usual..."

Persephone leaned forward, her hand gently gripping his cheek.

"Then we meet here. Deal?"

 

[Bishop]

Upstate New York

Bishop drove, taking the most direct route north out of the city. It was only about an hour away, but it might as well have been ten for as remote as it was.

He pulled up to what looked like a gray box stuck in a clearing, and turned off the engine. Anyone who happened upon it would think it was a power station, or some new age hippie's cabin. But there were no windows, and the door was a nondescript panel that locked with a ceramic key, which he took from his pocket. The only other things he carried in with him were a polycarbonate knife stuck in his boot, and manila folder, which he set inside the door before heading back to the car for Haleigh.

He opened the back end, and after checking her pockets for metal objects, once again switched her mask to the small portable tank and undid the restraints. He carried her inside, dropping her roughly onto the floor and restraining her once again. Then he removed her mask and set the apparatus outside before locking the door. And then he waited.

Finally she started to wake up. Actually, it didn't take as long as he thought it would, but still. He didn't care that she was lying face down. Her comfort meant absolutely nothing to him. Quite the opposite, actually. She cleared her cobwebs enough to pick herself up a little, to look at him. And smile.

"Shackles and chains, Max? I bet Darlin' Delilah would never let you do anything like this. Good thing you're free of HER, right? You can thank me all night."

He planted his foot and kicked her hard in the face.

"How dare you say her name."

He went to the corner of the room, and picked up the folder. He began tossing photographs in front of her, stills from security cameras. All of Delilah. All of her crying.

"Do you want to see what you did to her?"

He looked down at her, his eyes ablaze.

"She defended you. Trusted you. Believed in you. And when she was finally happy you had to open your big mouth and destroy her."

He scoffed.

"Her best friend."

He stared daggers at her for a long moment.

"You ruined my life. You took everything from me, and now I'm going to take everything from you."

He looked around the room, holding his hands up to indicate it.

"Do you like your little cell? It was designed by those same government dicks who used to hire you for their little black ops missions. I'm sure you can feel the magnetism, like standing in a giant MRI. How's that making you feel?"

He made a sound in his throat, a mocking kind of laughter.

"You know, it's really amazing what you can accomplish when you have an obscene amount of money to work with. Thank you Athena."

He came forward, stopping in front of her, and leaned over, looking down into her face.

"You always acted like you were so big and bad."

His eyes roved over her, sizing her up.

"Well now you're going to find out what it's like to be just like everyone else."

He reached down and undid her restraints, then stood tall, taking a step back, fists raised.

"Payback's a bitch, bitch. Let's see what you got."

 

[Berserker]

Safe House

Alek knelt in front of Seph, who had her head in her hands. He asked her if she had been sleeping, to which she shook her head in the negative. Then he asked if she had been having nightmares, and she finally raised her head. The look she gave him told him all he needed to know. He should never have left her alone all this time. She didn't think she was sick.

"I think I just need rest."

He suggested that she lie down, and she did. He took her hand and talked to her, told her about this place and the other ones like it. She tried to smile, but she looked so drained. He told her the things he wanted to say, that he was sorry, that it wasn't her fault even though he had blamed her.

"No...I should have trusted you....I should of trusted us."

"You can, you know."

"I kind of have fucked up trust issues if you haven't noticed."

Tears welled in her eyes and he smiled at her, reaching out and touching her cheek.

"We'll work on that."

She took a steadying breath, as what was happening hit him. What the hell did they do now?

He felt her move behind him, and then she was turning his face to look at her, her eyes looking at him with deadly seriousness.

"We hide it."

He tried to look away but she wouldn't let him. This was what he had wanted to avoid all along. Why he hadn't told her everything in the first place, because it force her to try to hide her thoughts and feelings. But what was the alternative? Finally, he nodded.

"Nothing changes within those walls. I hate you. You hate me. Everything will stay in play....the game will go on as usual..."

He sighed out, then leaned down to kiss the hand he held.

"Then we meet here. Deal?"

"Deal. I hate it, but deal."

 

[Persephone]

Alek tried to apologize for everything that happened, but it took two to tango. She wasn't innocent in any of this. She could have trusted him--listened to him when he tried to explain. But she reverted to her defense mechanism of shutting down and closing herself off. She told him as much, telling him she should have trusted what they had.

Alek: "You can, you know."

"I know....I kind of have fucked up trust issues if you haven't noticed."

She half joked with a small laugh, though her eyes filled with tears showing that she was struggling with the trust aspect of everything. She knew he loved her....but in her heart she still questioned why. Like she had said to Haleigh before, all anyone ever wanted was to own her or kill her. There was no in between.

Alek: "We'll work on that."

She looked at him for a long moment, wondering how the hell she had met someone as understanding as him inside the fucking Hellfire Club. It didn't make sense...then again, not a lot of things did recently. Alek stared forward and asked what they were to do next and she answered him honestly. They would hide it from everyone, because if they didn't? They were back to square one. He didn't look happy, but Persephone held his face so he could see in her eyes that it was okay. She would rather be with him privately than not be with him at all. He kissed her hand and she gently smiled at him.

Alek: "Deal. I hate it, but deal."

And so it began; another layer to the game that was already in play. Lifting her eyes to the clock that hung on the wall, they still had a few hours before the Queens were to depart for Europe. At least THEY and the majority of the Inner Circle would be gone for a little while...it would make things a whole lot easier for now.

Gently pulling his hand to her, Persephone kissed the ring that adorned his finger before placing another kiss on the top of his hand.

"Come here..."

Persephone murmured as she shifted her weight toward the edge of the couch giving him room to climb behind her and lay with her. Slowly exhaling out as she felt his arms wrap around her, Persephone leaned back into his body and closed her heavy eyes.

"Just an hour, that's all I need...."

Her voice soft as it trailed off.

 

[Black Widow]

Unknown Location

He wasn't in a humorous mood. His kick came faster than she could shift to block it. She tasted dirt, and leather, and blood. Bishop asked her how she dared to even say Delilah's name. Haleigh spit the gritty blood onto the floor in answer. He was really frisky today. Still-frame photographs came sliding into her view.

Maxim: Do you want to see what you did to her?

They were pictures of Delilah, in various stages of misery. Haleigh stared down at them, gritting her teeth.

Maxim: She defended you. Trusted you. Believed in you. And when she was finally happy you had to open your big mouth and destroy her. [He scoffed. ] Her best friend.

"Oh, what the actual fuck, Max. She's crying. Crying, not DYING."

Haleigh growled, pushing the photos forcefully away. She didn't want to see what she'd done to Delilah. She was haunted enough just having listened it. Her best friend? The thought pained her.

Maxim: You ruined my life. You took everything from me, and now I'm going to take everything from you.

She laughed in the face of his fury.

"The only thing you can take from me now is MY BODY."

She sneered. Maxim asked her how she liked her cell, and explained its design. Now just WHERE did he get that intel? He mockingly asked her how it was making her feel. She glared up at him, and it was his turn to laugh. She got her knees up under her. The grogginess from the drugging was wearing off. She wondered if the magnetism was on a low setting, or if this was as strong as it would get. He leaned over her.

Maxim: You always acted like you were so big and bad. Well now you're going to find out what it's like to be just like everyone else.

Haleigh seriously considered just rolling back over and surrendering. At this point she was so low, she didn't want to even look up. She could just tell him to do whatever he wanted, torture her, or beat her, or fuck her, she didn't care, she just wanted to get to the part where she died already. But it didn't seem right, just lying there lamely. It'd be like letting her partner do all the work in bed.

Alright, I'll just keep egging him on then. And maybe wince from time to time like it hurts or whatever.

She thought, as he reached down. He undid her restraints, and for a second she didn't know what to say.

Maxim: Payback's a bitch, bitch. Let's see what you got.

He said, and brought up his fists like he wanted to fight. Haleigh smiled at him from the floor. He wanted a rematch. Well, she owed him that, didn't she? She got to her feet sluggishly.

"See, I knew you were craving more."

She started in on him, a couple of alternating punches to get him moving. She was more testing herself than her opponent. She circled around him, testing the feel of the room to see if she could find a dead spot, or at least a weakness in the fields.

"I just have one question. Can I be on top this time?"

 

[Malice]

Hellfire Catacombs

<< Soon, only Malice and Nogtisune were left in the control room.>>

<< Emiko was amusing herself with something or other, while Malice checked on Perle for a moment.>>

Emiko.

<< She called out to her White Rook, who came over to her>>

You're very good at riddles and secrets, creating them, AND unraveling them.

<< She smiled with knowing approval, after all, she was the one who helped Malice discover Raven's secret, who he really was. A secret that, outside of him, only she and Emiko knew. She MIND WIPED Persephone following her encounter with him several weeks ago.>>

I want you to keep an eye on EVERYONE that is staying behind while I'm gone.

<< She leans forward>>

ESPECIALLY Berserker and Persephone.

<< She takes a moment to drink from her flute of champagne>>

...they better HOPE they are as good on the battle field as as they are with their little reindeer games.

<< Helena had supposedly CLAMPED DOWN on them following the death of the ADA's son, and only because of the strength of her personal relationship with Helena had Diana stepped back and let her deal with them. Killing an upper level member, or their offspring was FORBIDDEN, with notable exceptions, such as William Stryker. But Alek had no valid reason for doing what he did, and his alpha male bravado DEEPLY annoyed Malice. She'd dealt with...and OUTLASTED men like him time and time again.>>

Undoubtedly someone will TRY IT while we're gone.


If ANYONE gets too beside themselves while we're gone, SCARE them back on the straight and narrow, as only YOU can, Emiko.

Report all findings to me.

 

[Masque]

Hellfire Mansion – Catacombs




The last few days have been great for Gia. Her father’s organization had staged a FABULOUS coup thanks to the insights of Lord Ravena, she had gained favour with both her Queen AND King, her training was going swimmingly, and, as a cherry on top, the few disgruntled nobodies that she had fired from her father’s organization tried to enact a show of retribution…which came to a disastrously end for ALL of them. Too bad, so sad.

Now, in full costume, complete with her new MASK, she was breathing heavily in the middle of a training room. She had just done some rigorous battling with a dinosaur-sized tarantula, scorpion, and coconut crab. But she had executed them all. It seemed that her new ‘besties’, Red and Yellow, found them just for her. She knew better than to ask where they came from; she didn’t want to know anyway.

Now they came from their darkened corner and chattered at her excitedly before vanishing without a trace to who knows where. A nobody employee walked into the room and told her that she was needed in the Control Room.

“Okay, thanks.”

Dismissing the nobody, she exited the training room and hurriedly went up to her suite before changing into a tasteful business suit before making her way back down to the catacombs. She was cutting it close by a few minutes but she wasn’t late. She entered the Control Room and noticed that she was the last to arrive.

The party don’t start ‘til I walk IN…

She immediately deduced that Heidi was disappointed that she WASN’T late so she blew her a sarcastic kiss before making her way to Diana and Ravena before dropping into a curtsy before both of them and then joined the rest of her court.

Perle was watching the proceedings from her little cat house and she mewed at Gia. Yesterday, the sweet kitten had wandered into her suite and hopped into Gia’s lap. Her cute little nose twitched as she smelled her and gaveher a small lick before jumping down and headed for Hayley’s terrarium. She mewled and placed her two front paws on the glass. “Oh, no you don’t!” Gia had said as she picked up the small animal. “A black widow’s bite is VERY venomous to humans, so I imagine it would be the same for a sweet little kitty like you!” Amazingly, Perle seemed to understand what she was saying and headed back out of Gia’s suite. Gia could only assume that the kitten was making the rounds of the White Court to check out everyone.

Then Alice and Viper were the last to arrive. Gia raised her eyebrows. Apparently there was going to be a party or whatever. Maybe SOMEBODY was going to get extremely humiliated. That might be nice. But…no. Apparently the Queens and King, as well as Alice, were going on the trip to Europe. Then it was revealed that Viper, Domino, Cobra, and Fathom would be going along as well. No Heidi for several days? Thank the heavens for that. But then Diana said, almost as an afterthought, that SCION would be joining them. REALLY?! So now she would be all alone with batshit crazy Emiko?! Gia calmed down. Maybe, since she didn’t end ALL of the fired nobodies, she could offer the remnant as a peace offering to the White Rook? Maybe they could start fresh, WITHOUT Little Mermaid barging in. Something to think about. She was so focused on the potential ‘friendship’ between her and Emiko, that she missed most of what Talisman had said…until:

"Cobra, during our absence, it will be Gorgon entrusted to watch over things. You will need to give him a detailed debriefing of your roles and responsibilities. If he does well, perhaps I'll consider letting him live upstairs again."

Gia hid a smile. She had heard through the grapevine that a member of the Black Court had been very, VERY, naughty. Maybe, while everybody and their grandmother were away, she could stop by the cell and screw with him a bit. You know, create some ‘bonding’ between the White and Black Courts. A sadistic smile appeared on her lips at the thought.

The meeting was finally over, but not without Helena and Domino cautioning them that, just because they were out of the country, they wouldn’t know what would be going down. Gia excused herself and made her way back to her suite. She was pretty sure she could still smell the scent of the various dinosaur-sized anthropods on her. She didn’t have time for a shower before the meeting. She stepped into her shower and had herself a long, hot, much-needed, shower.

 

[Nogitsune]

The Catacombs

Emiko had produced a pair of chopsticks, and was busy trying to catch a fly with them.

Emiko.

Emi caught the fly in her mouth and swallowed, then giggled to herself.

"Tickles."

She disappeared with a *POP* and then reappeared in front of Malice, holding up a suitcase questioningly. Had Miss M changed her mind? But no...

Emiko snapped her fingers and the suitcase disappeared.

You're very good at riddles and secrets, creating them, AND unraveling them.

Emi beamed up at Miss M.

I want you to keep an eye on EVERYONE that is staying behind while I'm gone.

She *POP*d out and then back in again, wearing a too large pair of coke-bottle glasses.

ESPECIALLY Berserker and Persephone.

"Panda?"

She snapped her fingers and she was now holding a Barbie and a Ken doll. She touched their faces together and made kissing noises. Then she stopped and shook her head.

"Not anymore."

Then she mimed the dolls yelling at each other, narrated in rapid Japanese.

...they better HOPE they are as good on the battle field as as they are with their little reindeer games.

She snapped her fingers, and the catacombs were decorated for Christmas, with Emi herself wearing a pair of reindeer antlers with bells on them.

Undoubtedly someone will TRY IT while we're gone. If ANYONE gets too beside themselves while we're gone, SCARE them back on the straight and narrow, as only YOU can, Emiko.

She grinned mischievously, and snapped her fingers again. The Christmas theme was now replaced by T-virus infected zombies.

Emi laughed hysterically before snapping her fingers yet again, returning the catacombs to normal.

Report all findings to me.

Emi stood at attention and mock saluted Malice. She turned away, then back again.

"Miss M should be careful while she's away."

She started skipping in circles around the room.

"When I’m metal or wood,
I help you get home.
When I’m flesh and I’m blood,
In the darkness I roam. What am I?"

 

[Malice]

The Catacombs

:: the others were either put off, or truly dismayed where Emiko was concerned, but oddly enough, she helped Malice LIGHTEN UP, JUST a bit. Perhaps because Malice was able to perceive the pattern, the method to Emiko's madness in a way that most others could not. ::

:: She smirked a bit as Emiko responded in her own unique way, right up till the moment she charged the sly fox with watching over the rest of the Inner Circle while she was gone, ESPECIALLY the star crossed Berserker and Persephone.::

:: But after Nogitsune responded with understanding, she had something ELSE to add.::

Emi stood at attention and mock saluted Malice. She turned away, then back again.

"Miss M should be careful while she's away."

:: Malice finished another drink of her champagne, and looked at Emiko, intrigued::

Oh really? You sense something?

She started skipping in circles around the room.

:: Malice watched her....::

"When I’m metal or wood,
I help you get home.
When I’m flesh and I’m blood,
In the darkness I roam. What am I?"

A bat...

:: She said as she looked at her white rook::

Ravena....

Is there something I should know about our Lord of the Undead?

:: She looked at Emiko with a more serious expression on her face::

 

[Bishop]

Upstate New York - Black Widow's Cell

Haleigh got up slowly, like she thought it was a trick that he had removed her restraints. But he didn't just want to beat her to a pulp, he wanted her to feel what he had felt, to know she had lost the fight. To him.

"See, I knew you were craving more."

"Well, yeah, my foot connecting with your face felt pretty damn good."

They circled each other, Haleigh finally throwing a couple of punches. Lightweight stuff.

"I just have one question. Can I be on top this time?"

"Only if you can get me on the ground, sweetheart."

The next punch she threw, he grabbed her retracting arm, delivering a quick left to connect with her face, rapidly followed by a headbutt, and then a knee to her ribs. Still holding on to her arm, he flung her away from him.

"Come on, make me work for it."

 

[Nogitsune]

The Catacombs

A bat...

Emi clapped her hands. She loved it when people answered her riddles. So often they didn't want to play with her. And that made her angry. But then most of the time she got to hurt them, and that made everything okay again.

Is there something I should know about our Lord of the Undead?

Emi did a hand stand, and tried nodding but ended up falling over. She pulled herself into a cross legged seat on the floor, and nodded again.

"He has friends in London. And here. Allies. Influence. He is the Kingmaker."

She paused, then looked up at Malice standing above her.

"Queens have died there before."

 

[Malice]

Hellfire- Catacombs

Emi did a hand stand, and tried nodding but ended up falling over. She pulled herself into a cross legged seat on the floor, and nodded again.

"He has friends in London. And here. Allies. Influence. He is the Kingmaker."

She paused, then looked up at Malice standing above her.

"Queens have died there before."

:: Malice nodded::

Indeed they have.

:: She slowly stood up. She was aware of what transpired at the London Branch, most of that bloody chaos had been caused by Domino, AND she'd had HELP from the inside, Lord Ravena himself!::

But I am NOT those other Queens.

:: She caught sight of herself in a nearby mirror, looking rather grim at the moment::

NOR am I any other woman that Lord Ravena has dealt with.

That has been made ABUNDANTLY clear to him by now.

:: Still, Malice had not got this far by allowing herself to rest on her laurels, ESPECIALLY where a MAN was concerned.::

:: She looked at Emiko, as an image of Amanda Sefton could be seen on one of the floating screens in the control room::

I am who I am, and that's why I'm WHERE I am...and EVERYONE within these walls, INCLUDING Ravena, would do WELL NEVER to forget that.

:: she said that in a cold, grim tone.::

:: Still, if Nogitsune felt the need to speak on this NOW of all times, Malice would take note.::

Thank you, Emiko.

Before you go...

...a gift

:: She gestured, as two of her Black Guards came in, dragging a man, a police officer from the X-UNIT that had been CAPTURED recently. ::

He works with that no-talent HAS BEEN, Ashley Oldenbug, you MIGHT remember her, she was ONCE on Helena's red court? Now she's about as relevant as a RED HERRING.

This poor, unfortunate soul will now go from being an officer of the law, to a MISSING PERSON.

:: The Black Guards THROW him on the floor in front of Emiko::

Enjoy.

:: She started to turn, but then she looks back::

But NOT here, my dear.

I have another private meeting, and the screams of your toys will be a bit...distracting.

:: And as Emiko took her latest "TOY" away with her, Malice refreshed her flute of champagne, and seated herself again, taking a moment to look at the image of Amanda Sefton::

Hmp.

This fresh faced little girl is the Red Queen of the London Branch, a powerful sorceress.


:: She looked over the information that she'd received regarding Amanda, and how she SAVED London Branch from a demonic infestation::

What IS it about that place...

:: She was expecting Lord Ravena. She'd be questioning HIM as well.::

 

[Lord Ravena]

After relaying instructions to Heidi and to his own HUMAN guards back home, he was stopped by a moving shadow that spoke to him in an unknown tongue. Nodding, he smiled. It appears that his Bishop was coming along very well. Her enemies had been maneuvered into place a most were dead, the rest likely to share the fate of most pour souls who crossed Emiko.

He was in a pretty good mood by the time he entered for the private meeting with Diana. However, he did not see in her face the usual pleasure or anticipation he expected. He walked over and took a seat beside her.

Diana, what is bothering you? I was hoping you would be excited to accompany me and take some time to network and celebrate. Even Helena seems to be on board with something special for the three of us. What are you bothered by? Is there something I can help you with?

Lord Ravena was genuinely concerned for her well-being. A troubled mind could crack under pressure and make mistakes. She was far from there, but Lord Ravena had no intention of allowing Diana to degrade in any way. He awaited her response.

 

[Viper]

Hellfire Mansion- Conservatory

:: Elsewhere in the mansion's very large, domed, conservatory, Viper was engaging in an exercise, part of a routine designed for her by Alice. ::

:: Inside the very large, spacious conservatory, filled with all sorts of curious flora, and creatures that would be utterly POISONOUS and FATAL to the basic human or even the average mutant and meta. But Viper, and Alice, for that matter are something all together different. In this contained jungle of unusual, and hazardous wonder, the daughter of Mystech moves, dashing on the ground at some points, flying through the air at others, refining her agility and her spacial perception. Alice has been teaching her to make the most of her enhanced speed, combining it with her power of flight, and her ability to LEAP incredible distances::

:: She's running an obstacle course now, with a final test at the end of the gauntlet, that will put other aspects of her power to use.::

:: Alice stands in the jungle with her, collecting various forms of data on Viper, which she will analyze and compare to previous sessions that help to chart her progress.::

:: The rehabilitation of Viper isn't concentrated on just one aspect of her being. James Marcus intended for Jessica to be his crown jewel, and essentially, she WAS. She not only the power of a spider-woman, she also had total control over all known viruses, poisons and toxins, thanks to the designer strain of the T Virus that she carried within her, the T-Veronica virus. She also had the power to call forth any number of bio hazards that had previously been created by mystech, and control them!::

:: But the years of testing and manipulation on her had taken its toll in other ways.::

:: Now, Alice had been working quite a bit to undo that damage, to bring Jessica back around, the progress was evident. But there were some things...some PEOPLE that would still evoke a PRIMAL reaction out of her. One of them was Black Widow. The OTHER was Persephone.::

:: As she reached the end of her gauntlet, she was confronted by a bio hazard, a GOLEM, a creature with the power of the earth itself coursing through it's veins, making it a very large, very strong, and durable foe, rivaling a TYRANT.::

:: Viper had in her abilities, flight, super strength enabling her to lift/press 50 tons, enhanced reflexes/speed, venom blasts, acid flame, poison/virus generation, psionic control over giant wasps and other bio hazards, and a vine whip to that she could use to increase of offensive reach, or channel her venom blasts through::

:: And now, Alice watched closely, as Viper faced off with the golem::

 

[Persephone]

Persephone had fallen asleep in Alek's arms, her body finally relaxed for the first time in what felt like days. But even during moments of calm throughout the past week, Persephone would still find herself plagued with nightmares. Whispers that would wake her--voices that pushed her from her sleep with a start. It was similar to what she had experienced after the Blue Moon....her mind unable to rest and her body taking the toll. Karen diagnosed her with PTSD and anxiety, but after some sessions with the doctor, she had gotten much better. Even after defecting from The Six, there hadn't been a single nightmare, not until recently. But now, they were worse and more frequent. Physically, mentally, and emotionally taking a toll on her. It was as if she were being drained of her energy with each passing day; the nightmares a narration of what was happening.

She began to stir, her hand instinctively gripping Alek's that she held close to her chest; his arm wrapped around her from behind.. Her brows furrowed in her sleep, the softest of groans protesting whatever she was dreaming. She heard a voice--her name. A haunting whisper echoing from a distance until it RUSHED upon her like a shrieking falcon to it's prey. Persephone gasped in, her eyes shooting open and her head quickly lifting off the couch throw pillow all in one motion. Her breath was quick as her eyes darted around the unfamiliar place until she turned her head to see Alek still there holding her. Exhaling a deep breath, she let her head rest back on the pillow, her free hand going to her head as she rolled her eyes shut.

"How long was I asleep?"

She softly asked while rubbing her finger tips roughly across her brow bone, feeling the pressure of a headache building. It couldn't have been too long, she could still feel the burn behind her eyes from being exhausted. Shifting her body on the couch, she turned herself to face Alek and closed her eyes, burying her face into his chest and away from the light that intensified her aching head.

"We have to go back soon."

She conceded, knowing the longer they were unaccounted for, the more suspicion it would arise. They needed to make face, at least until the Queens and Inner Circle left. At least then it would give them both a little more freedom until their return.

 

[Malice]

Hellfire-Catacombs

He walked over and took a seat beside her.

Diana, what is bothering you? I was hoping you would be excited to accompany me and take some time to network and celebrate. Even Helena seems to be on board with something special for the three of us. What are you bothered by? Is there something I can help you with?

Lord Ravena was genuinely concerned for her well-being.

:: Diana turned her head slightly, as her sapphire blue eyes shifted in the direction of Ravena's voice::

It's not that I'm bothered...so much as I'm being vigilant.

:: she replied in a low tone::

I AM looking forward to our little excursion.

Unlike the other two queens, I do not dismiss what I do not know. That is a short sighted, and often FOOLISH mistake to make.


:: the image of Amanda Sefton on the floating screen was now hovering in background, while the side profiles of Malice and Ravena, looking at each other, were in the foreground::

Don't forget, some of mystech's LEAST known, but MOST VITAL strongholds are housed in your realm, even beyond Sheena Island.

And I fully support your recognizing Alice, and naming a day in her honor.

:: Diana knew that it pissed Kelly off to no end that ALICE had been chosen instead of her. A pity that. Alice had seen through the petty foolishness of the founders of mystech, and saw where the TRUE power lay, not only with Diana, but WITHIN HERSELF. Kelly SHOULD recognize Alice for the kindred spirit that she is, and the reason why ALICE had enjoyed consistent favor with Diana was that she never went out of her way to FORCE people to recognize and respect her. She did what came naturally to her and let her work speak for itself. Even SCION respected her for that. Kelly, as she was NOW in this timeline, was only RECENTLY starting to take that approach, and reap the positive results of it.::

I've seen what the woman can do, she's no weakling, OR amateur.

She also took care of Scion, shepherded her through adulthood even....


I've grown rather AGITATED with the foolishness going on amongst the various members of the courts, as has Talisman, and the RED COURT owes it's continued existence to HELENA alone.

She has assured me that if necessary, SHE will destroy them herself and start again, and I'm holding her to that.

The trip to your country will a well deserved break from the norm as of late, and it will allow us a chance to REFRESH ourselves.

But while your mind is closed to me, I have OTHER ways of discerning what drives you, Ravena. You yourself are HIGHLY anticipating the return to your...old stomping grounds, the London Branch of the Hellfire Club..

:: She stares at him...with a slight look of displeasure on her face::

When we first encountered each other, you didn't tell me the truth about who you were. I don't like when men try to deceive me, Ravena.

You weren't expecting me to have the ability to FIND OUT the truth. You were expecting me to be like the other women you'd dealt with in times past...or even those weak willed amateur queens at the London Branch.

But I'm NOT them.

I am who I am, that's why I'm WHERE I am.

:: She stood up::

Don't you EVER forget that.

:: Perle was sleeping in her minature cat house now. Malice took a moment to look at her, before she picked up her flute of champagne, and began to slowly pace.::

:: As she walked, in her white high heels, a column of light beamed down on her in various places that she stepped to in her pacing pattern::

You never did tell me...

:: the lights shifted again, and various floating screens moved around them. The screen with Amanda Sefton shifted back a bit, and two other screens, showing the previous black, red and white queens of the London Branch shifted into the center::

...just WHY you decided to allign yourself with that upstart, Maxine Dupont.

How is it, that NONE of those Queens could see what was coming, before it was too late for them?

What part did YOU play in all of that, Ravena?

:: A fair, and DIRECT question. Malice had been aware of what was going on, as she'd already made her OWN arrangement with Ravena regarding Heidi Scarborough, but it was clear that Domino couldn't have cut the bloody path through the Lords Cardinal of the London Branch without some serious PRIMING.::

I allowed your tag along to remain, whole and unharmed, because she made me an offer that made tactical sense and because, my psi probes revealed to me that we had more in COMMON.

With the changing faces of the Inner Circle, it made perfect sense to have a "CLEANER" on hand, especially NOW, with Scion and Perseph0ne in our midst.

:: She THOUGHT about the two "play sisters" for a moment and offered a sidebar::

Those two thought they were SPECIAL...and ABOVE the rules...MY rules. Truth be told, if Scion had STRUCK Persephone DOWN, she would be having a much easier time of things now. That foot note "goddess" without a cause came here thinking SHE was going to protect Haleigh?

:: Diana LAUGHED heartily::

Even now...hidden deep within their thoughts, and nestled in their hearts...each of them DARES to hold on to some small hope that they might "get out of this." One or BOTH of them.

:: Another laugh::

But I digress. With Domino, the benefits of a partnership with her were apparent, and I already KNEW I had the means to stop her, DESTROY HER if she EVER tried here, what she pulled off at the London Branch BUT, she NEVER would've succeeded, had it not been for such POWERFUL insider help.

YOU, Ravena.

:: Helena and Kelly thought Diana was "dick whipped." An amusing idea, that she rarely disputed, because she knew how pleased with themselves they were over coming up with that idea, but deep down, HELENA (at least) knew that would NEVER be the case. Diana certainly ENJOYED herself, and had found her IDEAL match in Ravena, but he would NEVER overtake her, OR consumer her the way he had scores of others before her.::

So tell me, now.

:: She made her way toward him, slowly, setting her drink down, pulling over a chair, and sitting in it while staring at him with her sapphire blue eyes::

Just what was your motivation then?

And WHAT has you so...ANXIOUS to return there now?

:: She KNEW he'd had contact with Heidi after the official meeting, and she perceived his...fascination with the water elemental. Heidi WAS the apple of Diana's eye. She and Emiko BOTH, actually. ::

:: If Ravena even tried to lie, Malice would detect it::

And let me remind you, WE don't play dress up HERE at the New York branch, and I'm as FAR from Camille (the deposed white Queen of the London Branch) as the EARTH is from PLUTO.

::she watched, and waited for his response.::